Laws and Lives of others are assailed That none presume to call his Son and heir King nor to be mentioned in prayer Monarchy is attached the power of the Parliamentary Lords is abrogate the Major of London denuded the Council of the City changed and their own creatures introduced the Law against schismaticks repealed the Preachers are defrauded and threatned Countesses committed Noblemen executed the Nation stiled a Common-wealth but the power contracted in a few who erect an Oligarchy for themselves and are envied of the Democracies and take Arms encouraging the Oligarchies Enjoyn submission to the Government appoint Thanksgiving daies to God for their success and thereby are Invited to the City feast whom they requite with the Kings New Park and sell his householdstuff houses lands and all and yet not satisfied they burthen the people with Taxes and invade Ireland and conquer it and after Scotland This in brief the story follows And now the Parliament Assembled Mr. Iohn Glunvile speaker as was resolved this day the thirteenth day of April Entring their first business of the Earl of Strafford good services in Ireland who was led in to the house of Lords by two of their own as presenting him the more eminent for what he had done in Ireland speedily effectually Obtaining of the Irish the grant of four Subsidies for maintenance of Ten thousand foot and fifteen hundred Horse which might be a pattern in preparation for the English supplies And an accompt was given to the Lords of the Scots letter sent to the French King for it being Examined by the Lord Cotington Secretary Windebanck and the Atturney General Loudon conâ—essed the hand writing to be his prepared in a readiness before the late pacification at Barwick but no use was ever made thereof but supposed Nevertheless Loudon stood committed till further evidence might condemn or clear him The Parliament not very forward to fall upon the necessary business of supplies To quicken them the King by message represents to the house of Commons many particular Insolencies intolerable with which the Scots had heated him And that for their assistance answerable to the present occasion so much concerning him and the honour of this Nation he would acquit his claim of ship-moneys besides due satisfaction to all their demands This offer discovered to them the Kings extremities and how they pricked which would serve their turn in demanding the more of him And therefore they expect to be assured in these particulars which they well know would spend so much time in arguing that the Kings necessity might undo him and yet they would not be otherwise relenting For clearing the Properties of the Subject For establishing true Religion For priviledge of Parliament These were the grounds of former differences so often discussed whether the Kings supply or the Subjects sufferings should be first considered and now it took up sundry debates and several conferences of both Houses ere the Lords could Master it among themselves for the King the Commons were resolved the next to yield to him from their own intents first But coming to the Question how much might serve the present Expectation Secretary Vane told them by Command from the King Twelve subsidies would serve the turn and so it might for he had such authority to demand so much being double the Kings desire which Vane with indirect intention was known willingly to mistake and it took the effect firing them into so much fury and their compliance so desperate as that the Iunto advise the King to break up their sitting and so the fiâ—t of May after two and twenty daies they were dissolved Nor need we lodge the advice upon a Iunto to councell the King herein It was the common consent of the Privy Council openly concluded debate there needed none the frequent discourse of the publique observators fore saw so much and the Parliament found the Kings necessities so enforcing by which means they were resolved to draw advantage to themselves though prejudice to him For to think as is supposed that the Luxuriance of the Kings perogative being detrected or any other Spontaneous concessions could have calmed their animosities is much mistaken for it is truely observed that the house of Commons meant that morning to vote against the war with Scotland and to blast that design to which they were so much indisposed however hazardous to the Kings honour and the necessities of his affairs which was conceaved now at the point of time to resent and to prevent by renewing the present intention and so the Arch Bishop is to be cleared as the main adviser for both he and the Earl of Strafford in the next Parliament by their answers were forced to defend themselves from that occasion But though the Parliament break up yet the Convocation of Bishops sat still from their first meeting by writ the twentieth of February last and might no doubt do so with Commission April 15. after to act propose deliberate and conclude such Canons and Constitutions as they conceived conduceable to the peace of the Church During the session of that Parliament necessarily to be now revised by a new Commission to continue the Convocation for the conclusion of such matters then in treaty amongst them though it became a doubt whether they might not sit in Convocation still the Writ which called them having no limitation but during the Kings pleasure which was not as yet otherwise signified and the difference of the Writ and the Commission was by Commissioners considered and thus subcribed That the convocation called by the Kings Writ was not to dissolve but by the Kings Writ notwithstanding the dissolution of the Parliament The tenth of May Finch Manchester Littleton Banks Heath Sheffield and so was the old Convocation armed with a new Commission but not well armed against Lilburns Libels or the Riot of Rakehels upon Lambeth house which followed and the King was fain to set a guard about Westminster Abby during their whole time of sitting In much distresse besides well observed and in danger of the Kings displeasure if they rose of the peoples fury if they sat to be beaten up by Tumults while at work and beaten down by the next Parliament for doing the work and obnoxious to the last of evil tongues for all their good intents and to their pens too upon the main score not so much of the Bishops doing not well as of being Bishops to do any things such was the fate of the Prelates now to be under censure of the Presbyters with such prejudice to either as the contest of endeavouring to satisfie the world made the wound upon either side more wide especially if you take in for good Arguments the common fame of every Libeller As for the main It must not be supposed that the question began but now to be maintained for the Divine Right on which Bishops were founded Many writ for their defence in Queen Elizabeths time Dr.
scorn and the most hated man of all the Hierarchy where his turn came to be last devoured after he had eaten up some of his brethren The Earl of Strafford though in durance yet found friends abroad very active to serve him and accordingly it was the nineteenth day moved First That he might be bailed by divers Lords who offered caution But it was answered by the Lord Paget that it was against the Laws of the Land and the priviledge of the House and so passed the Major votes not to be admitted But was assigned Council and a solicitor in reguard of his restraint The one and twentieth one Iohn Iames son of Sir Henry Iames of Feversham in Kent a Romish Catholique stabbed Mr. Howard a Justice of peace of Westminster in Westminster-hall not unto death which was attempted because Mr. Howard had drawn a Catalogue of such Recusants as were within the Liberties of Westminster which he was to deliver up to the Committee of Religion for which fact Iames was secretly punished The eight and twentieth Mr. Pryn and Mr. Burton were conducted into London from their several Prisons in great pomp by many thousands of horse and foot with Rosemary and Bayes in their caps in despight and defiance of the course of Justice which had sentenced them and the third of December they presented their Petitions to the House of Commons for dammage against their Prosecutors This Parliament of Inquisition began to appear terrible to all that lodged but under suspition of guilt but insufferable to the conscience condemning which Sir Francis Windebank Secretary of State not able to bear having been questioned and mainly convinced for reprieving Iesuites and Priests and of worse matters suspected guilty got over into France where he remained to his death a professed Roman Catholique The seventh day unanimously in the Commons House was voted 1. That the Charge imposed upon the Subject for the providing and furnishing of Ships and the Assessments for raising moneys for that purpose commonly called Ship-mony are against the Laws of the Realm the Subjects right and property contrary to former resolutions in Parliament and the Petition of Right 2. That the extrajudicial opinion of the Iudges published in the Star-chamber and enrolled in the Courts of Westminster are in the whole and every part of them against the Laws of the Realm c. ut prius 3. That the writs commonly called Ship writs are against the Laws of the Realm c. ut pius 4. That the Iudgment in the Exchequer in Mr. Hamdens case is as to the matter and substance thereof against the Laws of the Realm c. ut prius And so was it voted in the House of Lords And the next day a Committe was appointed to draw up a charge of High Treason against such as had been abetters therein the Lord Keeper Finch and the rest of the Iudges But though the Parliament was thus severe against the legality of Ship-mony yet it is observed that amongst the best Lawyers the matter was justifiable ascribing much to the Judgment of that learned Lawer Mr. Noy who first preferred it Secondly All the Judges subscribing to it in time of danger of which danger the King was declared to be Judge Thirdly And being argued in the Courts of Justice and by all the Judges in the Exchequers Chamber it was definitively sentenced for the King 4. Nor was it voted down by Parliament but in a meer arbitrary way without review or Council heard as the Judges reason of their opinion so much as required 5. And yet the arguments of the two Justices Crock and Hutton for the Illegallity was by vote of the house of Commons put in print but the opinion of the other eight Judges which were for the legality of it continue suppressed which gave most men occasion to conceive the greater reason in those arguments which were kept in the dark 6. And in all this design to vote it down the Parliament was fain to have recourse to the King and to crave an act of Parliament to secure them from it for the future and to countenance their cause the Judges were impeached in order to the pretext not merit of punishment And now the eleventh of December Alderman Lack-land or Pennington with some hundred at his heels a rable of petty Shop-keepers and Prentices presented their Citizens Petition subscribed by fifteen thousand pittifully perplexed at the Ecclesiastical Discipline and sundry Ceremonies of the Church of England which was wholly debarred but was transmitted till a cooler time And because it was thought sit to strike while the Iron was hot this Petition ushering in much worke of Reformation It was thought convenient to condemn the illegallity of the proceedings in the late Convocation and their Canons which being canvased on both sides the houses and all of one party few Arguments need to be urged where the prevailing sence of the House opposed and so resolved the fifteenth of December That the Clergy in a synod or Convocation hath no power to make Canons Constitutions or Laws to bind either Layity or Clergie without a Parliament And first next day that the Canons are against the fundamental Laws of this Realm against the Kings Prerogative Propriety of the Subject the Right of Parliaments and do tend to Faction and Sedition This Parliamentary Doctrine was but now newly known Convocations never before depending on Parliaments but either in calling or dissolving confirming or authorising the Acts thereof but onely on the King himself not in Parliament neither but in his Palace and this seems to be proved by the Statute 26 Henry 8. and the constant practice ever since And for the Canons before they were subscribed they were imparted to the King and by him communicated to the Lords of the Privy Council the Iudges the learned Council then attending and were read and approved without any thing therein tending to Faction and Sedition or to the prejudice of the Subjects propriety or the Kings Prerogative or the Laws of the Land yet the Parliament frame a Bill for fining all the Clergie of that Convocation keeping them in such aw as none did appear in maintenance of their Authority or in opposing those Incroachments and Innovations which daily were introduced upon them And as to the Civil Iudges for case of Ship-money so the Parliament proceed with the Ecclesiastick Arch-bishop of Canterbury against whom they form a Committee to draw up a Charge against him as the Framer of these Canons and for other supposed Delinquencies aggravated by the Scots adjoyning him with the Earl of Strafford in their grand Accusation as an Incendiary in this National Difference promising to bring in their Complaint but in the mean time Master Hollis on Friday is sent up with the Impeachment and is seconded the same day with the Charge of the Scots Commissioners upon the reading whereof he was committed to the custody of the Black Rod
whereof six only were hanged Many treacherous designs of the Town Papists failed many Protestants fled to sea and although Docter Barnard their chief Minister had the conveniency offered him to be gon he would not desert his Congregation thin as they were telling them as St. Ambrose said to Iustina Non prodam lupis gregem mihi commissum hic â—ccide si libet At this time comes a competent strength of one hundred horse and ten hundred foot under command of Sir Henry Tichburn appointed Governour of the Town the fourth of November which the Catholiques resented coldly upon whom the Protestants had just suspition and therefore wearied succours were faine to stand Guard that Night And now it was time to name the Brat and call it a through Rebellion which till now was favoured with the interpretation of an Act of discontented Gentlemen Not long after the State added three companies of foot so beside the Town Arms they were compleat 1500. foot and 160. horse Not many nights after there was dropt in the street a faire Declaration of the Catholiques of Ireland framed upon presumption that the design contrived had been effected and by the way at each corner seems to have been fixed and this the most authentick that came to light Whereas we the Roman Catholiques of the Kingdom of Ireland have been continually loving and faithfull Subjects to his sacred Majesty and notwithstanding the several and heavy oppressions suffered by the subordinate Governments to the ruine of our lives honours and estates yet having some liberty of our Religion from his Majesty out of the affluence of his Princely love to us we weighing not corporal loss in respect of the great immunity of the soule are instantly resolved to infix our selves in an immutable and pure allegiance for ever to his royal Majesâ—y and successors Now it is That the Parliament of England maligning and envying any graces received from his Majesty by our Nation and knowing none desired of us as that of Religion and likewise perceiving his Majesty to be inclined to give us the liberty of the same drew his Majesties Prerogative out of his hand thereby largely pretending the general good of his Majesties Kingdoms But we the sad Catholicks and loyal Subjects to his Majesty do probably finde as well by some Acts to pass by them the said Parliament touching our Religion in which the Catholicks of England and Scotland did suffer as also by threat to send over the Scotish Army with the Sword and Bible in hand against us That their whole and studied Plots both was and is not onely to extinguish Religion by which we onely live happily but also likewise to supplant us and raze the name of Catholicks and Irish out of the whole Kingdom And seeing this surmise so dangerous tending absolutely to the overthrow of the liberty of our consciences and Countrey and also our gracious Kings power forced from him in which and in whose prudent care of us our sole quiet and comfort consisted and without which the fear of our present Ruines did prescribe opinion and premonish us to save our selves We therefore as well to regain his Majesties said Prerogative being onely due to him and his Successours and being the essence and life of Monarchy hoping thereby to continue a strong and invincible unity between his royal and ever happy love to us and our faithfull Duty and Loyalty to his incomparable Majesty have taken Arms and possessed our selves of the best and strongest Forts of this Kingdom to enable us to serve his Majesty and to defend us from the tyrannous resolution of our Enemies This in our consciences as we wish the peace of the same to our selves and our posterity is the pretence and true cause of our raising Arms by which we are resolved to perfect the advancement of truth and safety of our King and Countrey Thus much we thought fit in general to publish to the world to set forth our innocent and just cause the particulars whereof shall be speedily declared God save the King Upon the fifth of November the Lords and Council of Ireland sent their second Dispatch from Dublin unto the King in Scotland and several Letters also into England to the Parliament and Council and to the Earl of Leicester elect Lord Lieutenant setting down the particular Narrative of the Rebellion and so take together the success of both Dispatches The first Letters arrived at London the last of October and that Even were delivered and the next Morning the Upper House sent them down to the House of Commons by the Lord Keeper Privy Seal High Chamberlain Admiral Marshal Chamberlain the Earls of Bath Dorset Leicester Holland Berks Bristoll Lord Mandevil Say Goring Wilmot who had Chairs to sit while the Letters were read and so departed The House instantly resolved into a Committee and order That fifty thousand pounds be forthwith provided That the Lords be moved that Members of both Houses may declare to the City of London the present necessity to borrow fifty thousand pounds to be secured by Act of Parliament That a Committee of both Houses consider of the affairs of Ireland That Owen O Conally the Discoverer shall have five hundred pounds presently and two hundred pounds per annum Pension till provision of Land of Inheritance of a greater value That the persons of all Papists of quality in England be secured That no persons except Merchants shall pass to Ireland without Certificate from the said Committee To all which the Lords consented Then the House of Commons vote twenty thousand pounds for present supply A convenient number of Ships for guarding the Sea-coasts of Ireland That six thousand Foot and two thousand Horse be forthwith raised for Ireland and Officers to be appointed over them That Magazines of Victual be forthwith sent to Westchester to be sent to Dublin as occasion shall require That the Magazines now at Carlile be forthwith sent over to Knockfergus in Ireland That the Kings Council consider of a Pacification for Rewards to such as shall do service in Ireland and for a Pardon to such Rebells as shall submit within a time and of a Sum of Money for Rewards to bring in the Heads of the principal Rebells That Letters of Thanks be returned to the Lords Justices there That the Committee do consider how and in what manner to make use of Scotland here And a Bill to be prepared for pressing of Souldiers for Ireland An Ordinance passed for the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to raise three thousand five hundred Foot and six hundred Horse and not to press our dear Brethren of Scotland any further than for one thousand Foot to pass from Scotland to the North of Ireland And Arms to be delivered out by the Master of the Ordnance out of the store for Ireland for eight thousand Foot and a thousand Horse Thus much was discoursed upon the first Letters And now upon the second Dispatch the Parliament voted two
or to have made the Court too hot for her And therefore the King acquaints the Houses that he was pressed by the States Ambassadour to send the Princess Maria immediately into Holland to her late betrothed Husband the young Prince of Orange and upon the Queens earnest Desire to give her Majesty leave to accompany her And with her were conveyed all the King and Queens Jewels not leaving behinde any of those entailed to the Crown by his Predecessors with which and the Prince of Orange's assistance the King doubted not to raise his party considerable to oppose the Parliament But no doubt nothing could work more for the Parliaments advantage and although they were informed of the Purloin which might have been prevented and seized yet they suffered so much Treasure to be transported to be rid of all together We have time to consider to what miserable solitude the King was brought his dearest Consort the Queen and his eldest Daughter the Princess with the honour of her Court to be enforced to fly beyond Seas himself desolate enforced to withdraw from his Parliament his Privy Council from his usual residence at White-hall and from the strength and support of the City of London so wonderfully obliged to him for his grace and favour But all this appears by his own princely consideration which he expresseth thus Although I have much cause says the King to be troubled at my Wifes Departure from me and out of my Dominions yet not her absence so much as the Scandal of that necessitie which drives her away doth afflict me That she should be compelled by mine own Subjects and those pretending to be Protestants to with-draw for her safetie This being the first Example of any Protestant Subjects that have taken up Arms against their King a Protestant for I look upon this now done in England as another Act of the same Tragedie which was lately begun in Scotland the Brands of that Fire being ill quenched have kindled the like Flames here I fear such Motions so little to the adorning of the Protestant Profession may occasion a farther alienation of minde and Divorce of affections in her from that Religion which is the onely thing wherein we differ Which yet God can and I pray he would in time take away and not suffer these practises to be any obstruction to her judgment since it is the motion of those men for the most part who are yet to seek and settle their Religion for Doctrine Government and good manners and so not to be imputed to the true English Protestants who continue firm to their former settled Principles and Laws I am sorrie my Relation to so deserving a Ladie should be any occasion of her Danger and Affliction whose Merits would have served her for a protection among the savage Indians while their rudeness and barbaritie knows not so perfectly to hate all Virtues as some mens subtiltie doth among whom I yet think few are so malitious as to hate her for her self The fault is that she is my Wife All Iustice then as well as Affection commands me to studie her Securitie who is onely in Danger for my sake I am content to be tossed weather-beaten and shipwrackt so as she may be in a safe Harbour This comfort I shall enjoy by her safetie in the midst of my personal Dangers that I can perish but half if she be preserved in whose memorie and hopefull Posteritie I may yet survive the malice of mine Enemies although they should be satiated with my Bloud I must leave her and them to the Love and Loyaltie of my good Subjects and to his protection who is able to punish the Faults of Princes and no less severely to revenge the Injuries done to them by those who in all Dutie and Allegiance ought to have made good that safetie which the Laws chiefly provide for Princes But common civilitie is in vain expected from those that dispute their Loyaltie nor can it be safe for any Relation to a King to tarrie among them who are shaking hands with their Allegiance under pretence of laying faster hold on their Religion 'T is pitie so noble and peacefull a Soul should see much more suffer the rudeness of those who must make up their want of Iustice with inhumanitie and impudence Her sympathie with me in my afflictions will make her Virtues shine with greater lustre as Stars in the darkest Nights and assure the envious World that she loves me not my Fortunes Neither of us but can easily forgive since we do not much blame the unkindness of the Generalitie and Vulgar for we see God is pleased to trie both our patience by the most self-punishing sin the ingratitude of those who having eaten of our Bread and being enriched with our Bountie have scornfully lift up themselves against us and those of our own Houshold are become our Enemies I pray God lay not their sin to their charge who think to satisfie all obligations to Dutie by their Corban of Religion and can less endure to see than to sin against their Benefactours as well as their Sovereigns But even that policie of mine Enemies is so far venial as it was necessarie to their Designs by scandalous Articles and all irreverend Demeanour to seek to drive her out of my Kingdoms lest by the influence of her Example eminent for Love as a Wife and Loyaltie as a Subject she should have converted to or retained in their Love and Loyaltie all those whom they had a purpose to pervert The less I may be blest with her companie the more I will retire to God and mine own Heart whence no malice can banish her Mine Enemies may envie but they can never deprive me of the enjoyment of her Virtues while I enjoy my self It was mightily enforced then and the scandalous suspition continues to this Day That at the Kings late being in Scotland when the Irish Rebellion then brake out the Plot and contrivance was there hatched Not so horrid as it fell out to be a monstrous Massacre of all the Protestants but it was surmised that a Mutiny or shew of Insurrection there might be an occasion of raising Forces here for to subdue them and so to be made usefull in reducing the Parliament to Reason And to increase that opinion it hath been objected that how earnestly the King was fain to urge the Parliament for that Relief very often to reminde them of the Misery which they could not but deeply resent yet never was too hasty nor at all willing to intrust any power of Arms to the Kings dispose much less for him in person to be their General as he often offered To add to all it had been considered in Parliament how generally the Papists flocked over to Ireland and though the Houses had ordered a strict Examination for prevention thereof yet it was complained of by Master Pym at a Conference and printed by their Order That since the stop upon the Ports against
Parliament here after he had â—itted Supplies thither from Scotland and after his return hither he observed such forms for that service as his Council in Ireland did advise they desiring the Proclamation no sooner nor so many by twenty to be by him signed which he did and printed them for haste and sent them over which divers of the Members of both Houses here well know who are the more to blame to suffer such an envious aspersion upon the King when themselves could satisfie the action And wishes that they could with aâ— good a conscience call God to witness that all their counsels and endeavours have been free from private aims personal respects or passions whatsoever as he hath done and does And was it not time for our Brethren of Scotland to put in their Sickle into our Harvest besides their being invited their late entertainment of Fidlers have in England set their wheel a going The King had written a Letter to his Scotish privy Council there of the State of his affairs here Declaring and clearing such imputations which the Parliament endeavoured to fix upon him and his mis-governing together with the indignities and intrenchments upon his person and honour which he is assured will be tender in their natural affection rather to be kindled than extinguished by his distress to which their Covenant bindes them by Oath and Subscription and clears the calumniation to be popishly affected to be guilty of the bloudshed in Ireland to bring in foreign Forces Wherein he calls God to witness he is falsly aspersed And who ever hereafter shall distrust this his Declaration the fault is in the malignitie of their rebellious humours and no ways deserved by him This so wrought upon the hearts of the Scots for that time that I know not how such a Petition was framed by the Nobility and people of the whole Nation and presented to the Council as more could not be required from the most faithfull and indulgent Subject humbly shewing in effect That to call in question the Kings royal zeal and resolution of preserving the Religion Laws and Liberties of these his Kingdoms is so undoubted as after so many reiterated asseverations emitted in his Declarations and Answers and so many evidences of his justice and wisdom cannot be conserved in any but an unchristian distrust And therefore justly challenges from them all due respect to his sacred Majestie by so many ties and titles so much professed and promised by them in their solemn Oath and national Covenant and Oath at his Coronation to defend and maintain the person greatness and authoritie of our dread Sovereign as by the Act of General Assemblie we have all sworn and signed and therefore are bound to represent to their Lordships their humble desires to be assured and known to his Majestie of their loyaltie and resolution And that some course may be taken to the view of the world that they intend the brotherly and blessed conjunction of both Nations happily united in loyaltie and subjection to our Sovereign tending nor intending as they attest God the Searcher of all hearts for any other end but performance of their humble dutie to their dread Sovereign to which they are bound by all ties of Nature Christianitie and Gratitude and to which they crave their Lordships to contribute their wisdoms and and speedie answer hereto May 20. A man would be amazed to finde other effects hereafter of this most serious Protestation which in a word came to this end they sold this their dread Sovereign Lord and King to the death and execution for a piece of money The Parliament hear of this and turn the Scale for eight days after the Scots Council do declare their earnest desires both to King and Parliament to joyn in a perfect union imbracing his Majesties expressions to them of his religious care of the Liberties and Laws of both Kingdomes And do in like manner with brotherly reciprocal affections acknowledg the care and zeal of the Parliament of England to keep a right undâ—rstanding betwixt the two Nations as both the Parliaments have avowed to each other And although they neither will nor should meddle with publick actions of any other Kingdom but as they are called yet since the Parliament of England have drawn the former practices of the Parliament of Scotland into example of Declaration they humbly desire the King to hearken to his greatest his best and most unparalleld Council And utterly disswade the King from any personal journey into Ireland and that a Mediation may be at home ere the wound be wider or the breach deeper To which end they have sent with this Message the E. Loudon Chancellour of Scotland who will give a more full declaration of their minde and desires which in fine came out to be A large Manifestation of their true and heartie affection to the Parliament of England protesting to do nothing contrary to them in their Privileges May 28. Nay after all this the old accustomed Rabble meet at Edinburgh and hearing of the late Letters from the King with the petitionary Answer and the late Message from the Council to the King by the Lord Loudon and finding the affairs of England likely to bring Grist to their Mill these Multitudes I say being as they style themselves The intire bodie of the Kingdom petition or rather threaten the Kings privy Council there not to meddle with any verbal or real ingagement for the King against the Parliament of England And so from that time forward we finde them covenanting to the destructive conclusion as hereafter follows Upon all these Scotish passages the Parliament of England do Protest That those sufferings expressed in those Papers betwixt his Majestie and the Parliament cannot be imputed to any actions of ours who endeavoured with all fidelitie the happiness of his Majestie labouring to take the blame from the King and to lay it on his evil Councils And as touching the Petition we with much contentment and thankfulness observe the faithfulness and good affection of our dear Brethren of Scotland to prevent all Iealousies so timely expressed to the Lords of the Council and we shall never cease to answer their great care with the like diligent endeavours to promote the honour wealth and happiness of that Nation and to preserve the unitie so strongly fortified by mutual interest and affections on both sides And desire the English Commissioners to assure the Scots Commissioners how heartily and joyfully we imbrace their kindness manifested in that Petition Hoping that this constant and inviolable amitie between us and them will prove very usefull for the advantage and securitie of both which it did for a time and ruine to both hereafter In what a miserable condition is the Kingdom when King and Parliament are so divided What not one wise man amongst them Yes truly the Earl of Bristol had a large sense thereof and in this strait he moves for
Foot coming together by the Kings Commission or Warrant and all people of what rank soever are to be aiding to their suppression and these to be published in all Market Towns and Churches May 28. The King proclames as much against the Parliament Forbidding all his people belonging to the Trained Bands or Militia of the Kingdom to obey any Order or Ordinance of any of the Houses according to a Statute 7 Ed. 1. And the same day requires all the Ministers Free-holders Farmers and substantial Copy-holders of the Countie of York to meet at Heyworth Moor near York upon Friday Whitsun week by nine in the morning To the Sheriff of the Countie of York May 28. Which the Parliament declare to be against Law and of none effect and command all people to disobey it for so doing the Parliament will protect them And because divers Members of the Commons were ouâ— of sight and drooping after the King the House commands their personal appearance by the sixteenth day of this instant June upon pain of an hundred pounds to be disposed of to the Wars of Ireland excepting such Members in imploiments for the Parliament June 2. To prevent him of the sinews of War Money for which the Crownâ—jewels with the Queen in Holland are pawned at Amsterdam and other places beyond Seas The Parliament therefore mentioning the intent to make War against them do order That whosoever hath or shall pay leâ—d send or bring any money in specie into this Kingdom for or upon those Iewels or accept of any Bill thereafter shall be an Enemie to the State And the same day they vote their Frame of nineteen Propositions which are forwith sent to the King and truly of the first magnitude that ever any Subjects demanded and yet they must be accompanied with an humble Petition of his faithfull Subjects having nothing they say in their thoughts and desires more precious and of higher esteem next to their immediate service of God than their just and faithfull performance of their dutie to his Majestie and the Kingdom with honour peace and happiness The Propositions 1. That all the Kings privie Council great Officers and ministers of State may be put out excepting such as the Parliament shall approve and to assign them an Oath 2. That all affairs of State be managed by the Parliament except such matters as are transferred by them to the privie Council and to be concluded by the major part of the Nobilitie under their hands the full number not to exceed five and twentie nor under fifteen and if any place fall void in the intervall of Parliament then the major part of the Council to chuse one to be confirmed at the next Session of Parliament 3. That all the great Officers of the Kingdom shall be chosen with approbation of Parliament and in the intervall c. before said 4. The Government and Education of the Kings Children by Parliament c. ut supra 5. Their Mariages to be treated and concluded by Parliament c. 6. The Laws against Papists Priests and others be executed without Toleration or Dispensation except by Parliament 7. No popish Lord or Peer to have Vote in Parliament their Children to be educated in the Protestant Faith 8. To reform Church-government as the Parliament shall advise 9. To setle the Militia as the Parliament have ordered and for the King to recall all his Declarations published against their Ordinances therein 10. All privie Counsellours and Iudges to take Oath for maintenance of the Petition of Right and other Statutes which shall be made this Parliament c. 11. All Officers placed by Parliament to hold their places quam diu bene se gesserint 12. All Members of Parliament put out during this time be restored again 13. The Iustice of Parliament to pass upon all Delinquents and they to appear or abide their Censure 14. The general Pardon to pass with Exceptions as the Parliament shall advise 15. All Forts and Castles of the Kingdom to be disposed of by Parliament ut supra 16. The King to discharge all his Guard and Forces now in being and not to raise any other but in case of actual Rebellion 17. The King to enter strict Alliance with all reformed States for their Assistance to recover the Rights of his royal Sister and her princely Issue to those Dignities and Dominions which belong unto them 18. To clear the Lord Kimbolton and the five Members by Act of Parliament 19. No Peer hereafter to be made shall sit in Parliament without their consent And these Articles being confirmed the Parliament engage to make him a happie Prince June 2. These were the Propositions and how unreasonable may be seen by the Kings resentment of them and others such like after which drew from him the consideration expressed by himself in these words Although says the King there be manie things they demand yet if these be all I am glad to see at what price they set mine own safetie and my peoples peace which I cannot think I buy at too dear a rate save onely the parting with my Conscience and Honour If nothing else will satisfie I must chuse rather to be as miserable and inglorious as mine Enemies can make or wish me Some things here propounded to me have been offered by me others are easily granted the rest I think ought not to be obtruded upon me with the point of the Sword nor urged with the injuries of a War when I have already declared that I cannot yield to them without violaâ—ing my Conscience â—t is strange there can be no method of peace but by making War upon my Soul Here are many things required of me but I see nothing offered to me by the way of gratefull exchange of Honour or any requital for those favours I have or can yet grant them This Honour they do me to put me on the giving part which is more princely and divine They cannot ask more than I can give may I but reserve to my self the incommunicable Iewel of my Conscience and not be forced to part with that whose loss nothing can repair or requite Some things which they are pleased to propound seem unreasonable to me and while I have any masterie of my Reason how can they think I can consent to them Who know they are such as are inconsistent with being either a King or a good Christian. My yielding so much as I have already makes some men confident I will denie nothing The love I have of my peoples peace hath indeed geat influence upon me but the love of Truth and inward peace hath more Should I grant some things they require I should not so much weaken my outward state of a King as wound that inward quiet of my Conscience which ought to be is and ever shall be by God's grace dearer to me than my Kingdoms Some things which a King might approve yet in honour and policie are at some time to be
goodness of Almighty God Accusing that Malignant party to poison the hearts and corrupt the Allegeance of his Subjects by a false Imputation of his favouring Papists imploying them in his Army when he saith that numbers of Popish Commanders and others serve in the Army of the Earl of Essex being privately promised that if they would assist against the King all the Laws made in their prejudice should be repealed Another Scandal he mentioneth to be very senseless that the King should raise an Army against the Parliament to take away their priviledges when in truth it is raised to have some particular Members of this Parliament to be delivered up to Iustice. He being as tender of their priviledges and conform thereto which his Army never intends to violate That the Parliaments Army is raised to Murther and depose the King to alter the frame of Government and the established Laws of the Land That the greatest part of the Parliaments Members are driven away from their Houses by violence That the Book of Common Prayer is rejected and no countenance given but to Anabaptists Brownists and such Schismaticks That the contrivers hereof endeavour to raise an Implacable malice between the Gentry and the Commonalty of the Kingdome A common charge upon the King it had been and so continued to the end of his publique Actings That he favoured Papists and entertained them in his Army and so they were and might be in both subtilly and cunningly by practice on both sides conveyed thither under the masque and profession of Protestants which is a truth of no great wonder and yet in general those of Lancashire Recusants petition the King That being disarmed and so not able either to defend his Royal Person according to their duties nor to secure themselves and families they may be received into his gracious protection from violence being menaced by all kindes of people to whose malice they are subject and must submit And indeed great and heavy pressures were put upon them by both Armies notwithstanding Orders and Declarations to the contrary had been published by either Army And hereupon the King had given Warrant to Sir William Gerard Baronet Sir Cicil Trafford Knight Thomas Clifton Charls Townby Christopher Anderton and Io. Clumsfield c. Recusants in the County of Lancaster That although by Statutes all Recusants convict are to be disarmed to prevent danger in time of peace but now Armies being raised against the King and his Subjects are by them plundered and robbed and their Arms taken and used offensive against his Person His will and command therefore is and they are charged upon their Allegeance and as they tender the safetie of his Person and the peace of the Kingdom with all possible speed to provide Arms for themselves servants and Tenants during the time of open War raised against him and no longer to keep and use for his defence Yet the Parliament prepare Heads of an humble Address unto his Majesty for composing difference and â—â—â—ling a Peace but withall to prevent mis-constructions whereby their just defence may be hindered they do declare That their preparations of Forces for their defence shall be prosecuted with all violence And accordingly Letters are directed from the Lords To the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Faulkland principal Secretarie to his Majestie or in his absence for Mr. Secretarie Nicholas or any of the Lords or Peers attending the King Grey of Wark My Lord I am commanded by the Lords the Peers and Commons assembled in Parliament to address by you their humble desires to his Majestie that he would â—e pleased to grant his safe Conduct to the Commiâ—tee of Lords and Commons to pass and repass to his Majestie that are directed to attend him with an humble Petition from his Parliament This being all I have in Commission I rest Your assured Friend and Servant Grey of Wark Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore Westminster Nov. 3. 1642. Which is granted so as the said Committee consist not of persons either by name declared Traitors or otherwise in some of his Declarations or Proclamations excepted against by name as Traitors and so as they come not with more than thirty persons and give notice before hand upon signification they shall have safe conduct Your Lordships most humble Servant Edward Nicholas Reading Nov. 4. Hereupon these Names are sent Algernon Earl of Northumberland Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomerie and four Members of the Commons Mr. Perpoint the Lord Wainman Sir Iohn Evelin of Wilts and Sir Io. Hippislie being the Committee of both Houses and desire his Majesties Pass and Repass under his Royal Hand and Signet Nov. 5. The safe Conduct is inclosed for all but Sir Io Evelin who is excepted being proclamed Traitor at Oxford and that if the Houses will send any other person not so excepted in his place His Majesty commands all his Officers to suffer him to pass as if his Name had been particularly comprised herein Reading Nov. 6. To recruit the Parliaments Army it is declared That all Apprentices that will list themselves in their service for the publick cause shall be secured from indemnitie of their Masters during their service and their time included to go on towards their Freedom and all their respective Masters are to receive them again when they shall return This Liberty made Holy-day with the Prentices and they were listed thick and threefold and now spoiled for being Trades-men ever after But it is time to consider what out dear Brethren of Scotland intended to do in this Distraction and therefore they are put in minde by a fresh Declaration of the Parliament How and with what wisdom and publick affection our Brethren of Scotland did concur with the desires of this Kingdom in establishing a peace between both Nations and how lovingly they have since invited the Parliament into a nearer degree of union concerning Religion and Church-government wherefore as the Parliament did for them a year since in their Troubles so now the same obligation lies upon our Brethren by force of their Kingdom to assist us Telling them that Commissions are given by the King to divers Papists to compose an Armie in the North which is to joyn with foreign Forces to be transported hither for the destruction of this Parliament and of Religion and Liberties of the people That the Prelatical partie have raised another Armie which his Majestie doth conduct against the Parliament and Citie of London And hereupon this Parliament desire their Brethren of Scotland to raise Forces for securing their own Borders and to assist here against the Popish and Foreign Forces according to that Act agreed upon in the Parliaments of both Kingdoms for the comfort and relief not onely of our selves but of all the Reformed Churches beyond Seas Nov. 7. 1642. The King as quick sends his Message to the Lords of his Privy Council in Scotland stating the condition between him and the
the Savoy who succeeded Mr. White in the Mastership or Ministry there did preach to his Auditory That they ought to contribute and pray and do all they were able to bring in their Brethren of Scotland for the setling of Gods cause I say saith he this is Gods â—ause and if ever God had a cause this is it and if this be not Gods cause then God is no God for me but c. Such Blasphemy followed as I forbear to insert This Speech was then frequently reported nay imprinted and to this hour pretends to be justified by divers of his Parishioners and others and if the party be innocent he might do well to vindicate himself from such Aspersion in hope of which I forbear to name him Yet Sir George Chidleigh of the West and earnest sometime he had been for the Parliament ingeniously acknowledges his opinion of the Cause in a purposed Declaration written by himself to satisfie his Friends That Petitions of Right are commendable and Remonstrances may be lawfull but Arms though defensive are ever doubtfull My Lot saith he fell to be cast on the Parliament side by a strong opinion of the goodness of their Cause which to my judgment then appeared to be so Religion and the Subjects Libertie seemed to me to be in danger but the Destruction of Kingdoms cannot be the way to save it nor can the loss of Christian Subjects nor the Subjects loss of their Estates by Plunder or Assesment concur with pietie nor yet with proprietie as for Religion which is the chief his Majestie whom God long preserve hath given us unquestionable Securitie I have cast my self at my Sovereign's feet and implored his gracious pardon I will contend no more in word or deed And this my Resolution with the undisputable grounds thereof I thought good to declare to my Friends and Countreymen that they may understand my sitting to proceed from no compulsion The Earl of Holland having been of the Parliaments cause and in Arms against the King from the first beginning was conscious it seems of the Cause and therefore without taking leave accompanied onely with the Earl of Bedford was come to the King at Oxford where he had but slender Reception for the present although he put himself in a posture of Arms with the King in the Field but that not prevailing after nine Weeks he as privately returns back again to London the sixth of November and in some hope to be readmitted into the House of Lords he made the best means he could by his Friends but without the favour of admittance then by weak counsel advised he publishes in print his Reasons of stepping aside to the King and the best Arguments he could for his Return to the Parliament again with whom he professes to live and die By which the Parliament were sure to have him devoted to their service if they should accept of his proffer which being retarded and he not constant to himself to attend the time he most unfortunately engaged afterwards against the Parliament was taken Prisoner arreigned and this Apology of his the greatest Evidence to conclude him guilty and suffered death as hereafter in its due place The King had sent to the Marquess of Ormond Lieutenant General of his Majesties Forces in Ireland for the present Transportation of a part of his Army into England Novemb. 13. every Officer and Souldier taking Oath to maintain and defend the Protestant Religion the King and his just power against the Forces under Conduct of the Earl of Essex and all other Forces against the King These Irish Forces coming under command of Sir Michael Ernley an experienced Souldier in the Low Countreys And being landed in Wales were saluted by Letters from the Parliament Commanders there left either party might be mistaken in the publick Quarrel telling them That we apprehend and are assured your Voyage into Ireland was to fight against Popish Rebells and for the Protestant Religion and we imagine you are not fully informed of the cause to be engaged against us and if you be the same you were when you went over we doubt not but to procure satisfaction from the Parliament for your faithfull Service there with like Preferment here Wrexam Novemb. 18. 1643. Your affectionate and faithfull Friends c. To which the five Colonels from Ireland return this Answer Gentlemen We were not engaged in the Service in Ireland otherwise than by the Kings command The Service we have done none â—ares extenuate And although we are very sensible how unworthily we have been deserted by your pretended Parliament yet we are not returned hither without his Majesties special Commission and Authoritie If you have the like from the King for the Arms you carry we shall willingly treat with you otherwise we shall bear our selves like Souldiers and loyal Subjects Hawerden Novemb. 20. 1643. Michael Ernley c. Postscript That Officer of your Armie which came into our Quarters without safe Conduct we detain till his Majesties pleasure be further known And these English from Ireland not long after take in Hawerden Castle near Chester being soon yielded up to them by the greater number of Souldiers within which lately came out of Ireland and enforced to the Parliaments Service surrender to their old Comrades At this time was the Cessation of Arms with the Rebells in Ireland concluded by the Kings command for one whole year from the fifteenth of September 1643. at twelve a clock And because it was then and since charged home upon the Kings account and the effects of evil counsel we shall endeavour to lay down some Motives and Grounds inducing to the Cessation and the Articles themselves with the opinion of sundry of the Noblemen and Officers of the Kings Army there It was I confess the greatest Argument with which the peoples affections have been infected by the subtilty of the Contrivers of the Civil War of England The Kings neglect of his poor Protestant Subjects in Ireland Though we may remember his several Messages and Importunities to the Parliament in that business his Offer to engage his Person in that War his consenting to all Propositions for raising of Men and Money till it was evident that under colour of those Men and Money to quench that Rebellion were both imploied in kindling and maintaining the unnatural War at home nay the King grants his Commission to such as the Parliament named for managing the Irish affairs according to their own Instructions but none of them performed So then afterwards about November last 1642. the King had been advertised by the Privy Council in Ireland and by several Petitions and Remonstrances of all the principal Commanders and Officers of his Army there of the miserable condition of his Forces in want of Money Victuals and Ammunition Apparel and what not of either of which they were not like to be supplied from the Parliament of England that undertook for all The very Men
with a Design specially to kiss the King In earnest it was so strongly conceited that the Parliament were put to it thereupon to conâ—ider what to do and order That in case the King comes to any Guard of the City he shall be instantly conducted to James's House with a Guard to prevent Resort to him and there to tarry till fresh and greater Forces come thither and to remain till further order that all who shall come to him are instantly to be imprisoned unless by direction of Parliament that none shall resort to that House And to effect all this the Guards are to be trebled and strengthened accordingly And yet as busie as they are with these matters of State yet they had time and necessity it seems to vote the Sale of the Brass Monument in the Chappel of Windsor Cathedral to be sold and if the value exceed not six hundred pounds then that Money to be paid unto the Governour Colonel Ven who was so cunning and had so much kindness afforded him by the Committee as to have it sold for no more and so he had that Money besides other Sums shared by the by of which the Parliament were deceived This Monument which the Committee call Brass defaced was that curious costly elaborate Tomb erected at the immense charge of Cardinal Wolsey intended for the memory of King Henry the eighth And so served the Cardinal's Design also for his own memory as the re-edifying of Paul's Church in London continues the Monument of Laud the Arch-bishop of Canterbury The other was a piece of rarity and sold for a Song to a Dutch man that made of it much more for the weight of Brass There had been some necessary occasion at the Garison of Dennington Castle for the King as usual in most Garisons besieged to fire the Out-houses and after the Surrender thereof upon Articles and the Governour gone home he was there seized arrested till he gave satisfaction for the Damage to the Neighbour Inhabitants for that Fire And thereupon an Ordinance was framed That all Articles of Surrenders should insert the Dammages by wilfull firing Which was strange to the Governours of Garisons and afterwards upon the like account increased to Inconveniences intolerable to all such Commanders of the Kings party who were likely now to pay for all which yet made them endure hardship enough ere their Surrender for against this Ordinance there was no limitation or power in the Parliaments Commanders And therefore it was that the City and Garison of Exeter amongst others for the King had endured a hard Siege by the Forces of Fairfax left there some time since to block them up whilest himself marched into the West-countrey and Cornwall and having reduced those parts he now returns with his Army to the Siege before Exeter with his Lieutenant General Cromwel contemporary in all the great Actions of the West and now saluted with Vollies of Well-come instantly they call a Council and resolve upon Refusal of their Summons forthwith after to storm to which the Governour answers That yesterday he received the Summons and at his Council of War it was agreed on that Commissioners might meet on either side to treat on Friday next April 3. Which Treaty lasted a long time having to do the Souldier said with long-tongu'd Lawyers always in enmity with the Sword which lengthened the Treaty ten Days and the Surrender not yielded but upon honourable terms wherein the General Fairfax and Cromwell never offered less than noble Conditions To march out with Arms Colours flying Drums beating and with Bullet c. to Oxford the Cornish into their Countie And so the Governour Sir Iohn Berkley marched out with two thousand persons whereof seven hundred Cornish The Princess Henretta Maria the Kings youngest childe went out thence and is disposed of by the Parliament at St. Iames's with the rest of the Kings Children for the present till she was conveyed away afterwards by her Governess into France Barnstable Town in Devonshire was surrendered April 7. and the Fort a Sevennight after so that this Moneth have been delivered up to the Parliament Ruthen Castle Exeter Barnstable St. Michael's Mount Dunston Castle Woodstock Garison and others Mischiefs to the King which puts him upon desperate Resolutions for safety of his person closely besieged in Oxford And the General having done his Work Westward returns to Newburie the nineteenth of April But now comes strange News of an Ecclesiastick Apostate Doctor Williams Arch-bishop of York he being quite out of hope in this low condition of the King longer to uphold himself in his high place of Episcopal Prelacie and desirous at last to make his peace with the Parliament hath betaken himself to his house at Purin near Conway in VVales put a Garison therein and fortified the same protesting against the Kings party and disswading the County from Contribution to the King And hath written to Colonel Mitton of the Parliaments party to assist him against the the Lord Byron who understanding of his Revolt had sent a party from Conway to besiege him soon after this Metropolitan became an utter Enemy against the King and no doubt his own conscience changing his Canonical Habit for a Coat of Mail with that bold open malepert petulant impudence as for the less dishonour to the Function I forbear to mention leaving him whilest he lived neglected of the Orthodox Ministers and a scorn even to his own Abetters And now is Dudley Castle surrendered to Sir VVilliam Brereton May 13. by Colonel Levison the Governour for the King upon very reasonable Conditions The General Fairfax comes to the Leaguer before Oxford the King being removed from thence in disguise the seven and twentieth of Aprill now the second time besieged for indeed the General having done so much in the West returns hither and began the siege afresh that he might have the honour to carry this Royal Garison which after close begirting and noble Sallies received the King gon and most of his Garisons thereabout surrendred no relief to be hoped for This City comes to a Treaty at Heding the seventeenth of May The Commissioners for the Treaty were these whom we mention for their memory Sir Iohn Mounson Knight and Baronet Sir Iohn Heyden Sir Thomas Gardner Sir George Binion Sir Richard Willis Sir Stephen Hawkins Colonel Gosnol Colonel Tillier Doctor Zouch Thomas Christy Iohn Dutton Ieffrey Palmer Robert Mead Esq For the Parliament were Lieutenant General Hamond Colonel Ireton Lambert Rich General Scoutmaster Walson Majors Desborough and Harison Mr. Herbert and Mr. Waller But the Treaty went on slowly The Commissioners for the King were bounded by Instructions of the Lords and others of the Kings Privy Council and Sir Thomas Glenham Governour of the Garison of Oxon Authorising the said Commissioners for the Garison to Treat for us and in our names with Sir Thomas Fairfax Lieutenant General of the forces now before Oxford or
Scotland iâ—â—â—terposeth The Kings Letter to the Council of Scotland The Scots answer Scots Council declare Parliament of England's Protestation Earl of Bristol's Speech for Accommodation Parliament Declaration observed 19. Propositions to the King Eik Bas. c. 11. upon the 19. Propositions sent to the King The Answer to the 19. Propositions The King caresses the County of York Preparations for War The King Provides Arms. The Kings Letters with his Commission of Array Parliaments Votes thereupon The Kings Protestation And the Lords The Kings General Declaration Proclamation against Levies as by the statutes in force Parliaments answers The faction distinguiâ—hed by Cavalâ—ers and Round-heads The Authorâ— advice Introduction to this Civil War The King caresses his people in the County of Nottingham Proclamation Earl of Essex made General of the Foot and the Earl of Bedford of the Horse Parâ—â—aments Petition Earl of Stamford Proclaimed Traytor Parliaments Declaration of defence Earl of Essex General Eaâ—l of Essex proclamed Traitour and all other his complices Eikon Basil. upon the listing and raising Arms against the King Proclamation for aid of his Subjects The Kings gâ—and Declaration Scots Army kept up Bishops voted down Parliament give advises to their Deputy Lieutenants in the Northern Counties The King proposeth the 〈◊〉 Treaty for Peace and is reâ—used Sir Iohn Lucas Proclaimmed Traytor by the Parliament and committed Scots Declaration in answer to the Parliament of England The Parliament joyn with the Scots Kirk to reform all Christendom Parliament assure payment on Publick Faith out of Delinquents Estates Lord Strange impeached of high Treason Mich. Term adjourned The Articles of Nâ—utralâ—â—y for Yorkshire inâ—ringed Mr. Fountain committed Essex his Ensigns Colours Persons excepted out of pardon by the Parliament The Netherland States are caressed on both sides Eikon Basil. c. 10. Military effects Sir Iohn Hotham begins the quarrel in the North. Portsmouth beset Parliaments directions to their General Essex Sir Iohn Byron for the King Marches to Oxford Marquess Herford seizeth Sherborn Earl of Essex sets out oâ— London The Kings Speâ—ch to his Army Parliament petition the King by their General Essex The Kings Speech to the Gentry of Denbigh and Flintshire 〈◊〉 of the Kings Army to come to London A pitifull Plot by a poor Scot. Worcester Fight Sept. 23. Col. Th. Essex garisoneth Bristol L Col. Massey Governour of Glocester Edg-hill Battel The victory disputed Exchange of prisoners The King Marches to Aino Takes Banbury and Broughton House The King Marches to Brainford The Kings Declaration after his victory at Edgehill October 25. The King Charged with favouring Papists upon their Petition Address to the King voted Parliaments Declaration to the Scots The Kings Message to the Lords of his Privy Council in Scotland Parliaments commendance of their General Effects of the address to the King Lord Brook's Speech at Guild-hall His second Speech there Petition of the Parliament The Kings Answer Brainford Fight Nov. 15 The Kings Message to the Parliament Parliaments Answer The King replies Parliament petition the King A Letter from the Hague intercepted The military affairs in the North. City of London petition the King The Kings Answer Parliaments desires presented to the King at Oxford by the Earls of Northumberland Pembroke Salisbury and Holland with eight of the Commons Answered The actions of the North. The Lord Fairfax and others proclamed Traitors A Treaty proposed by the King The Treaty ends The Queen returns from Holland The state of the County of Glocâ—ster Cirencester taken by storm of Prince Rupert Synod began to sit Affairs of Germany In Catalonia Cardinal Riâ—â—â—lieu dies His Character Lewis the just and the 13. dies His Character Anno 1643. Sir Rudyerd's Speech Treaty at Oxford L. Brook killed at Lichâ—ield Close Lichfield Close besieged by the Kings party Lichfield won by P. Rupert Reading besieged by the Parliament Cheapside Cross pulled down Hotham to betray Hull and Lincoln The Queenâ— Army The King and Queen meet at Edghill Ambassadour from France Solemn League and Coâ—enant with the Scots Eikon Bas. c. 14. Yeomans and Bourchier hanged at Bristol and why Tomkins and Chaloner hanged at London and why A new Seal voted and framed Mr. H. Martin seizeth the Regalia at Westminister P. Rupert's â—ight near Tame Mr. Io. Hâ—mbden slain His Character The Hothams of Hull seized Prisoners to the Parliament Lands-down fight against Sir W. Waller by the Cornish Iuly 5. Gen. Essex advises of peace Fight at Round-wayâ—down The Queen entereth Oxford E. of Lindsey returns from his Imprisonment by the Parliament The Earls of Bedford and Holland revolt to the King and back again to the Parliament Prisoners animated to treachery Ministers make Propositions The City must set out Sir W. Waller again General Essex musters at Hounslo-heath Exeter delivered up to P. Maurice The King caresses the County of Cornwall by Declaration Judg Berkley fined Siege of Glocester by the King A general Storm A Mine wrought Two spies return unto the Town Essex's Army in distress The Leaguer take leave to depart the fifth of September Sir Nicholas Crisp kils Sir Iames Enyon Solemn League and Covenant Dr. Featly imprisoned and why Proclamation against the Solemn League and Covenant Minister of the Savoy his Blasphemy Sir G. Chidleigh leaves the Cause The Earl of Holland returns to the Parliament Irish Forces come over to the King in England Cessation of Arms in Ireland for a year Vide the Kings Narrative of Uxbridg Treaty Eikon Bas. c. 12. Articles for the Brittish Army in Irâ—land Cirencester surprized Newbery first fight Noble men slain aâ—d hurt Several successes on either side Sir William Vavisor for the Kings retire Sir Iohn Winter for the King More Irish Forces for the King The Kings Garisons Parliaments Garisons Cavaliers seek â—or Forage with success Captain Backhouse was to betray Glocester Backhouse his Letter of design Lord Digby's Answer Glocestershire Actions Waller retreats to Monmouth Prince Maurice enters Teuxbury Teuxbury surprized P. Maurice defeats Waller Parliament Forces defeated Sir Winter's house in Dean Forrest Sir W. Waller defeated at the Devices Bristol surrendered to Prince Rupert Eccleshal Castle and Town taken Stafford taken by treachery Ordinance to seize upon the Kings Revenues Virginia not assâ—ssed with Excise Sir William Wallers Commission Parliaments Manifesto concerning Professours Organs in Paul's Church pull'd down Treason to assist the King French Ambassadour affronted The Kings Successes Arundel Castle surrendred to Waller Protestation and Oath of the Associates of Devon and Cornwall for the King University of Cambridg ordâ—red Parliament assembled at Oxford The Parliament at Oxford write to General Essex for a Peace Scots Army enters England Their Declaration Eikon Bas. p. 100. c. 13. Montrose his undertaking for the King Sir Thomas Glenham's answer to Argiles Letters Newark siege raised by Prince Rupert Military affairs under conduct of the Marquesse of Montrose Battel of Rocroy for the French Battel of Burling for the Emperour Duke of Lorain
Caelum She lands at Dover 12 23 of Iune on Sunday seven a clock at Night and in the appearance of those who observed her in France at the first time of the Overtures for the Mariage she was grown from the fear of never being tall and already sits upon the very skirts of womanhood Her countenance sweet and lovely which opened a window with her heart where one may see Nobleness and Goodness and the actions of her self her own Will to be excellent full of Wit and a lovely manner of expressing it Her attire very plain for so great a Princess can be thought to have nothing mean about her His Majesty was come thither from Canterbury no otherwise to the Conquest of Love than to receive Her at the top of the stairs She on her Knee striving to kiss his hand He takes her up with treble surprized affection expressed in so many salutes on her lips And so with excessive strains of Love retire to the inmost chamber where after his expression of many sad fears for her hazard at Sea She whether in fright of the remembrance or sorrow to be now surprized into the subjection of a Stranger that was of her self free before she tenderly and unwilling slipt down some tears which trickled on her lips and he with the other passion of Love took that occasion to dry them up with kisses and so he said he would do till she had done confuting her that she was fallen into the effect of Gods divine Providence to forsake her kindred and cleave to her Spouse He professing to be no longer Master of himself than whilest he was a servant to her Here the Ceremony was accomplished and the Duke of Chevereux the Kings Representative in France renders her up to his Majesties Bosom and to his Bed at Canterbury From whence the whole journey in the way to Gravesend was laned through with millions of people crying out Halelujahs of Hasanna for their eternal happiness They were attended with a train of Gallantry the youth of Honour and others the Noblest of this Nation whom the Kingdom could send thither to wait upon their Majesties At Gravesend they take water towards London in the sumptuous Barge of State followed with numbers of other Barges and Boats The whole Naval Fleet designed to clear the stream and to Anchor neer either shore and their Majesties to be rowed through their ranks the Ships in comely order giving fire by degrees after the first shot vollyed these Princely Guests with the roaring Cannons that shook the ayre even to their landing at Somerset-House The third day appeared their Majesties on Royal Thrones to the Nobility and now their Mariage proclaimed with excessive joy at all From hence they too soon took leave of this evermore pestilential City but then and most usuall at the death of Soveraigns fatal which forced their remove of State to Hampton Court And so this disease of plague becoming casual we shall not need any idle suggestive Apologie to â—ake into other reasons or to fetch a freak of speculation as one hath done To mate all events passionately ascribing future calamities to the 〈◊〉 of the Kings Mariage with a Lady of Misbelief closing his excuse conjectural that No Protestant Princess was left alive to equal his Majesty for a Compleat Consort Necessity of State affairs and the custome of soveraigns enter their Inauguration with summons of their subjects Peers and People Politique and Necessary as Husband and Wife an Absolute and Natural the One may err the Other offend Not that a K. is bound up in all Acts of State lawfully to their Council and so the Parliament to be co-ordinate not subordinate to their Prince Yet King Iames often used the comparison in Matrimony And King Charles unadvisedly hereafter makes himself a Member of the Representative of Peers which the Parliament would never acquit him But for that a King is a man subject to errors in Judgement he assignes to himself Helps for directing and Rectifying his Will and Judgement by Laws and Councils Law Est mens quaedam nullo pertuâ—bata affectu So that a Prince by Law is more then a man deified but ruling by affections is brutified and nothing so outragious as injustice armed with power will and authority Councils are Privy and Publique his Privy Councill by his own free Election Publique his Parliament Peers and People so our Neighbor Nations Parliaments of France Courts of Spain Diets of Germany without which no Matters of Moment are concluded In the Monarchy of England all the three forms of Government do enter It hath one King as a Monarchy by certain Councils it participateth of Aristocracy and in the Commonalties voices and Burgesses in Parliament it taketh part of Democracy and all to temper somewhat the absolute form of Monarchy whose danger may be too peremptory At this Parliament Sir Thomas Crew was chosen Speaker of the House of Commons and was so the last of King Iames His place being as antient as Parliaments in the time of King William Rufus where he is termed Totius Regni Adunatio Afterwards stiled Vice totius Communitatis And the 51. of Edw. 3. He is named Speaker In the fifth of Rich. 2. the first that made any excuse to be discharged and in the 17. Rich 2. the first that was presented to the King in full Parliament But of late all these particulars are become proper to his place to do as this Speaker did And at the opening of this Parliament Iune 18. the King Himself salutes them which was not expected the common usage of former Princes being to speak by their Chancelour but King Iames altered that course as best able of any his Predecessors to speak for himself and King Charles began now to appear Inheritor of his Crown and Virtues though his Impediment of not speaking plain might spare him from a long Speech and have excused the grace of Oratory A note of Wisdome not weakness of understanding and in those dayes of less observation in the defect for the then Kings of Spain and France stammer'd but he with the least imperfection of them all who were men of Eminency in the effects of Government My Lords and Gentlemen YOu are not ignorant that at your earnest entreaty March 23. 1623. my Father of happy memory first took up armes for the recovery of the Palatinate for which purpose by your assistance he began to form a considerable Army and to prepare a goodly Armado and Navy Royal. But death intervening between him and the atchievement the war with the Crown is devolved upon Me. To the prosecution whereof as I am obliged both in Nature and Honour so I question not but the same necessity continuing you will cherish the action with the like affection and further it with a ready contribution True it is you furnished my Father with affectionate supplyes but they held no symmetry or proportion with the charge of so great
is very memorative how hardly King James the sixth procured the Post-Nati of Scotland by which they are admitted to all dignities priviledges and offices in England must they have freeâ—dom here and must the English be debarred there o Tempora o Mores 4. How many of themselves at that instant had preferment to hereditable rites of Iudiciary and why must the King be now limited 5. The Chancellour of Scotland holds his precedency without any positive Law why not the Treasurer and Privy Seal the first branch of the Kings Crown is to distribute honours and precedencies as he please But the King having knowledge of these their Extravagancies sent to his Commissioner the Earl of Traquair to Prorogate the Parliament until the second of Iune and if they should presume to sit still then to discharge them upon pain of Treason But if they did yeeld obedience thereto his Majesty was graciously pleased to admit such persons to his presence as they should send to represent their desires and his Commissioner to repair to the King and to bring all the transactions of that Session Against this command they protest and stile it a Declaration of the Parliaments 18. December 1639. WHereas John Earl of Traquair his Majesties Commissioner having closed the Assembly and sitting in Parliament with them did now take upon him without their consent or offence to prorogate the Parliament upon a private warrant this being a new and unusual way without president in this Kingdom heretofore once being convened have continuation by the expresse consent of the Estates We therefore declare that any prorogation made by the Commissioners Grace without consent of Parliament shall be of no force and the actors to be censured in Parliament And knowing that Declarations have been published against us and our proceedings made odious to such 〈◊〉 do not consider that we are not private subjects but a sitting Parliament We therefore declare that whatsoever we might do lawfully in sitting still yet we have resolved for the present to make Remonstrance to his Majesty and some of each Estate to remain still at Edinburgh to attend his gracious Answer And if it shall happen that our malicious enemies do notwithstanding prevail against us we professe our selves free of the outrages and Insolencies that may be committed in the mean time we do our best to prevent confusion and misery And the Committee appointed to expect the Kings Answer were the Earls Lothian and Dalhouse the Lords Yester Balmerino Cranston and Naper for the Barons the Commissioners of the Lothians Fife and Twidale the Burroughs named the Commissioners of Edinburgh Lithgow Sterlin Hadington Dunbar to attend at Edinburgh the return of his Majesties Answer Their Deputies came to the King at White Hall the Earl of Dumfirmlin and the Lord Loudon but coming without warrant from the Kings Commissioner Traquair being a high contempt they were in disdain commanded home again without audience Then comes Traquair and privately consults a whole night with Hamilton and between them was framed a writing a represenration to the Councel of the most considerable matters proposed in that Parliament satisfactory enough to make the wound wider for however Traquair managed his Commission the end of the designe was to foment a war and to engage the King and for the Scots they were prepared And it is most true that a muttering there was in Court against Traquairs treachery for the Arch Bishop of St. Andrews the Bishops of Rosse and Brichen accused Traquair of High-Treason in the grosse miscarriage of his Commission in the General Assembly and Parliament and subscribed the charge the Scots law in such cases bearing poenam Talionis if they could not prove it A strange law against the secutity of Kings certainly treasonable in the making and no where else is practized but in Scotland But upon the whole matter related by Traquair the debate was whether considering the Insolency and height of their demands even in civil obedience it were not fit to reduce them to their duty Then the Question whether by the presence of the Kings Person and acting power of justice there But that was expresly opposed by arguments of policy and other reasons offered in writing with this title Shall the King go to Scotland I wish he may if with honour and safety he can but as the case stands and spirits are affected I see neither 1. THe treaty of peace is by them most falsly interpreted without any regard at all to His Majesties honour 2. The many and palpable violations of the Articles of peace are known to the King 3. It is evident what his Majesty expects at their hands for to let go all the disgraces offered to his Royal authority since the beginning of these troubles what one thing the King hath obtained of them in acknowledgement of so many favours upon their several petitions bestowed upon them 4. Their obstinate resolution to adhere in all points to their Assembly at Glasgow is undeniable witnesse their false and disgraceful glosse upon that Article of the treatie witnesse their oath of adherence to that Assembly since the peace witnesse their protestation against calling of Bishops and Arch Bishops to the Assembly witnesse the violence offered to the Clergy for not adhering to the Assembly even since the peace 5. So the Assembly now to be holden at Edinburgh shall have but one act for all and that shall be the ratification of the Assembly held at Glasgow 6. Now shall the King countenance such an Assembly the very constitution and first meeting whereof is most derogatory to the honour of his Crown while by a mutinous crew of Incendiarie Preachers and a conspiracy of Lay Elders the Prelates of the Church are by meer violence against all authority Law example or reason excluded abjured excommunicated 7. Shall the most Christian Defender of Faith countenance such a conspiracy against God his Church and himself where the most matchlesse Villany that ever was hatched shall be made piety Rebelions conscience and Treason reason all the Loyal and Orthodox Clergy banished most Ignorant and trayterous fire-brands put in their places the Supream power in Spiritual and Ecclesiastical causes violently pulled from the Crown and devolved in the hands of a mixt meeting of Ministers and Lay-men 8. It is high Treason in my minde to conceal from His Majesty that his Supremacy in Elections is in greater security for the Crown in the hands of any whosoever then in the power of such men whose pernitious maximes subjects the Crown to the pleasure of the people whom they have ever since their Reformation set on fire when they have been so pleased and stirred up to Rebellion by their seditious Sermons have countenanced all the commotions against authority in King Iames his reign and robbed the King of the hearts of his Subjects by most trayterous calumnies And now there is not one Presbytery free of Seditious Sermons even since the peace 9. Shall
the King countenance an Assembly where Episcopacy is abjured though the prophetical Government of the Church from Christ and his Apostles the onely support of the Crown and in lieu thereof an Estate erected in the Kingdom Independent from the King which rejects his Supremacy and power in Elections which holds he may be Excommunicated by their Assembly censured and deposed by their Parliament which maintains most treasonable tenets with a discipline which was never yet in a Monarchy without Rebellion 10. Shall the King go to Scotland to do against his Oath at his Coronation to doe against his royal word and promise in open and Printed Proclamations to grant that that in his Declaration he professeth to all the world he never will endure 11. Shall the King go to Scotland where he is not able by power or prayer so much as to do Justice to the oppressed to obtain peace for his own servants exiled as Traytours to their Countrey for adhering to the King to re-establish the Prelates in their places or any one Orthodox conform or Loyal Preacher or professor in any Church or Colledge of this his Native and ancient Kingdom 12. Shall the King countenance that Assembly which is onely free from Gods Laws and his own where all the members are inviolably tyed by Covenant Oath and Band in alteram partem contradiction where deliberation can have no place all parties coming with prejudice and predetermination of the businesse in question 13. And yet this Assembly thus free from all Law and authority so hardly obtained so highly honoured with his Majesties presence howsoever contrary to his conscience and honour shall be the most solemn Assembly that ever was in Scotland and that be a president for England and Ireland 14. Shall the King go to Scotland to break Laws make Laws take Laws at the pleasure of lawlesse Rebells to absolve the Traytours with what Justice to condemn the Innocent with what conscience and both with what honour this is no lesse then to lay royalty at the feet of rebellion 15. Shall the King go to Scotland to hear see and suffer the honour of his Royal Father with the integrity of whole Parliaments the equity of his Laws quarrelled and questioned by those whom his Clemency hath imboldened to all villany 16. Shall the King go to Scotland to encourage the Rebells to futher mischief to discourage all his Loyal Servants and to make it a time never to be faithful to a King hereafter this is as much as to Un-King himself with his own hands 17. Now all this and worse if worse can be shall infallibly fall out if His Majesty go to Scotland for having him in their power they shall either force his approbation of their will or use him as their prisoner for thus they served his Royal Father of happy memory 18. As they wish to be absolved from Treason and have all their Rebellious proceedings justified as fervently must they desire to have the King at home among them 19. And having the King in their power can any man think that so desperate Rebels who have gone on in all this businesse with so high a hand with such contempt of authority with such successe that they have eluded all his Majesties Councels contemned his forces frustrate his Intentions and interpreted all this as Gods blessing upon their good cause I say can any man imagine that having so fair an occasion they will be deficient to themselves and not rather attempt or do any thing to Crown all their knavery with the Kings approbation 20. Now for so Mighty a Monarch to involve himself without any necessity into such a labyrinth of misery as shall presently burst out either upon his Majesties condiscendence to the Rebels or upon his detention by them is me thinks to tempt God 21. At any rate though at the highest that can be authority must be vindicated and redeemed from contempt the life of government is reputation make sure this and the other prospers 22. What will neighbour Princes say and think of the managing of this matter wherein all the honour and eminency of Majesty consists what will not posterity abhorre in all these proceedings if Royal honour for want of Councel or courage shall become a prey to Rebellion 23. Rebellion never leaveth Authority without addition or diminution of dignity 24. Usurped Royalty was never laid down by perswasion from Royal clemency for in armis jus omne regni 25. O that there were found so much Loyalty wisdom and valour in the whole Monarchy as to suppresse the Rebells and put the King out of these straits 26. This is the sorest blow that ever our Religion received and the greatest advantage that ever our adversary had this doe all Protestants owe to the Reformation of Scotland that no Christian Prince shall hereafter trust our profession 27. The King cannot go to Scotland with honour untill the Covenant be abjured the Assembly of Glasgow renounced and all things re-established as they were before the Covenant THE VOTE And upon all It was unanimously Voted To force them to their Duty Whereupon soon after the King resolved to call a Parliament and that it was so called and appointed hereafter let no man Imagine but that besides his Councellours advice his own Inclination was most affected thereto as himself hereafter professeth After this comes four covenanting Commissioners from Scotland Dunfirmlin Loudon Sir W. Douglas Mr. Robert Berkley of Derreyn The King receives a handsom Petition with humble thanks in the general and to be heard in their further desires but absolutely refuse to appear before a Committee of the Council without the Kings own personal presence And to him Loudon makes a long Speech of the Independency of the Parliament of Scotland subject to no Iudicature A Profession of their Loyalty and Affection to the King A Iustification of their Assembly and Parliament agreeable to the Articles of Pacification the Laws and practice of the Kingdom And thereupon they desire that the King would ratifie and confirm their Proceedings and that their Parliament might proceed to determine of all the Articles or Bills brought to them to the establishing of Religion and Peace c. But the Council examining their Commission it was found short of impowring them in any consideration to oblige those that sent them onely they produced a Paper authorizing Dunfermlyn and Loudon therein but their Parliament now not sitting they could have no other and indeed to avoid their clamour it was accepted and they went on Deans answer First for a free Parliament It was answered Not to pass the bounds of the Ecclesiastick and civil Laws to fly at Monarchical Government to rob the Crown of the fairest flowers and to destroy all regal power Dean They assume that liberty by the Kings allowing of their Covenant to which his former Commissioner Hamilton had signed and other Subjects Answer That Covenant subscribed by him is the same Covenant and
prevailing lessen the Army the souldiers mutiny by under hand applaud of their Commanders who being â—nabled openly appear Cashiering such as were too much Parliamentary an hundred Officers and more assisted by two in every Regiment selected Agitators forâ— the rest who intend a Democracy These seize the King indulge him with specious promises and frame propositions as to provide for the King and themselves and the Commonwealth which mollifies them into the Kings favour Taking boldnesse to declare envies on the Parliament accusing divers Members of High Treason endeavouring to dissolve them in seeming shew to Act for the Kings Interests The Army rises against the Parliament and both the Speakers fly to the Camp the City and Parliament prepare for defence but flagging their tail they deliver up themselves to the discretion of the Army and the Speakers are restored some members the Major and his Aldermen are imprisoned for High Treason but are dismissed impune A new Lieutenant set over the Tower of London a new model of the Militia and admiralty Thanks and payment voted for the Army but whether the Acts of the Camp or Ordinances of Parliament should be most prevalent holds a long debate which puts some Members to flight And most men at a gaze whether to elect Oligarchy or Democracy alike against the Presbytery Aristocracy and also against Monarchy and the King However Proposals are sent to the King in pretence of peace but in earnest to insnare him which he answers cautelously as referring rather to the Armies advice from whom He was forthwith aliened by impressions of fear from the Agitators in the Army and so cheated into a flight from Hampton Court to the Isle of Wighâ— designed so by his greatest enemies from whence He sends Concessions to the Parliament upon which he desires to treat but is brought to such extream overtures as that the Scots Commissioners at London absolutely oppose and so he was straitned struggling to satisfie discordant Interests and discovering his Inclination He was suddenly secured into close Imprisonment the Agitators are soon reduced into Order and the whole faction of Oligarchy railagainst the King in Parliament demand and obtain votes against any further commerce with him surreptitiously obtained of the Commons House but by menaces from the Lords not without Declarations of calumny upon the King published and preached to some Parishes and cunningly extort a few gratulatory Petitions of the people but coldly of all which notwithstanding the King is cleared by severall Apologies which wrought so as that the people began universally to resent the indignities done to the King and petition to settle again on foot the treaty with him over reasoning the mindes of the most Parliament Members And first Petitions from the County of Essex then from Surry and at last for the most of the other without prevailing some begin to Arm and in their Ensignes to be read in Capital the Liberty of King and People The Navy revolts to the Prince now beyond the Seas The Scots resent the Kings durance and make an Invasion by the Marquess Hamilton who is taken prisoner and their Army defeated and pursued home where in the midst of Domestick forâ—es raised against them by Argyle and the English Army also their foraign enemy that poor Nation was fain to submit to mercy and to the future effects of this conjoyned power Some other Insurrections also here at home not lasting out their besiegers were reduced which successes falling out thus on land the former Ships revolt from the Prince yet the Parliament now at liberty by the Armies Imployment abroad repeal the former votes of Non-address to the King and resolve to treat again with him at Newport in the Isle of Wight and necessary servants sent to him and some assistance of Councel but such was his admired wisdom and eloquence He alone discussed all Arguments And in the midst of the Treaâ—y the Parliament demand Ormonds Commission the Kings Deputy in Ireland to be recalled carping at the Kings answers though he grants many things unexpected and demands somewhat for himself easie enough for honest men to condescend unto which introduced great hopes of an happy issue but is choaked by the wilful faction pretending to joyne in their Desires until they had incited the Common Souldier against the peace and to demand the King to punishment And thereupon rendevouz near Londonâ— and Remonstrate against the peace and approved in a Council of war and exhibited to the Parliament but the Commons house incline to the Kings concessions which put the Army to a suddain seizure of the Kings person and bring him prisoner to London and enquarter round about the Parliament who yet debate concerning the King and vote that the Kings Concessions are a good foundation for setling a peace some principal Commanders herewith displeased beleaguer the houses of Parliament and Imprison certain Members and others are driven a way and the rest of the members now in power wrest Authority to themselves dependant on the Souldiery and determine publique affairs of punishing the King confirming the votes of no more address to him and anul such other and promise more reflecting on his life And erect a Tribunal of Subjects one hundred and fifty Iudges for that black deed to which the house of Lords dissent and reject the Commons vote which notwithstanding is confirmed and prosecuted for the Kings Tryal by a President oâ— an High Court of Iustice The Presbyterian Ministers declaim and the Scots protest against it The States of Holland Interpose The Lords offer themselves Pledges for the King The people murmur but in vain Mr. Peters in his pulpit animates the Iudges witnesses and Articles are publiquely cited against the King who is convented and accused he demurs to the authority of the Court which the president affirms to be denied from the people that chuse the King of England which the King denies He is convented the second and third time and reasoneth against the authority of the Court But he is prevented by the President with rebukes He is convented the fourth time and refuseth to submit to the Authority of the Court and craves leave to speak with the Members of both houses The President in a premeditated speech prepares to sentence of death which he commands to be read the Iudges rise up in approbation thereof Souldiers take him away and mock at him Inhumanely His behaviour magnanimous and prudent and prepares himself to undergo this bitter cup. The Iudges consult of the manner and time of his suffering whereto he is led forth His speech upon the Scaffoâ—d defends his Innocencie but submits to the justice of God pardons his Enemies pities the Kingdome points out the Errors of the factious shews them the way of peace professes to die a Protestant and is beheaded in monstrous manner they seize his writings Only his excellent Book is preserved to the Light The sadness of the people And ending in his Character He dead the
supposed they were but bugbears if you consult hereafter how they were beaten at Hereford put to flight at Marston Moor totally rowted by the gallantry and conduct of one Man in three several battales in Lancaster Dunbar and Worcester And lastly when they were put to it they have lately lost their Country and liberty and become conquered Vassals to the English whom at this time they so much despised But now the English Commanders condescended the sixteenth of October To a Cessation of Arms by Sea and Land from this present All acts of Hostility to cease Both parties shall peaceably return during the Treaty what soever they possess at the time of the Cessation All such persons in any of his Majesties forts beyond the River of Tees shall not exempt their Lands which lie within the Countries of Northumberland and the Bishoprick from such contribution as shall be laid upon them for the payment of eight hundred and fifty pounds per diem That none of the Kings forces upon the other side of Tees shall give any Impediment to such contributions as are already allowed for the Competencie of the Scots Army and shall fetch no victuals nor forrage out of their bounds except that which the Inhabitants and owners thereof shall bring voluntarily to them and that any restraint or retention of victuals cattel or forrage which shall be made by the Scots within those bounds for their Maintenance shall be no breach That no Recruit shall be brought into either Armies from the time of Cessation and during the Treaty That the Contribution of eight hundred and fifty pounds per diem shall be onely raised out of the Counties of Northumberland Bishoprick Towns of New-castle and Westmerland and that the non-payment thereof shall be no breach of the Treaty but the Countreys and Towns shall be left to the Scots power to raise the same but not to exceed the Sum agreed upon unless it be for Charges of Driving to be set by a Prisor of the Forage That the River of Tees shall be the Bound of both Armies excepting the Town and Castle of Stockton and the Village of Egistisse and the Countreys of Northumberland and Bishoprick to be the Limits within which the Scots Army is to reside having liberty for them to send such Convoys as shall be necessary for gathering up onely of the Contribution which shall be unpaid by the Counties of Northumberland and Cumberland That if any person commit any private insolence it shall be no breach of our Treaty if upon complaint made by either parties reparation and punishment be granted If Victuals be desired upon a price which shall be agreed upon and ready Money offered for the same and refused it shall be no breach of the Cessation to take such Victual paying such prizes No new Fortifications to be made during the Treaty against either parties That the Subjects of both Kingdoms may in their Trade pass to and from without any stay at all but it is particularly provided that no Member of either Army pass without a formal Pass under the hands of the General or of him that commands in chief But these were not all which the Scots meant to have and therefore time wasting here their chief Demands were transfered to a general Treaty to be proceeded in at London And here at this Treaty having the occasion of Freedom for either parties the Earl of Montross discovers his secret Faith and Loyalty to the King from the Confederacy with the Covenanters who had seized him at the first upon a mistaken ground and occasion which was thus At his Return formerly from his Travels in France where he had command of the Scots Guard and being recommended for the Kings favour and preferment to the Marquess of Hamilton who knowing his merit and unwilling to commend any Competitours with himself cunningly disswaded him laying some Scandals on the Kings intentions towards the Scots viz. of reducing that Nation to a Province and that the regret of his own private sufferings made him resent it only till time and opportunity And so having seasoned the youthfull Lord advises with the King how to receive him who he says is newly returned out of France with a purpose to serve his Majesty but being so powerfull and popular by his ancient Descent oâ— the royal Family in Scotland it were more necessary to keep him under with neglect And accordingly as to please Hamilton Montrose was brought to kiss the Kings hand who turned side-way from him with no more kindness And this confirming Hamilton's Design Montrose in malice poasts into Scotland where he found them fitted for his rancour with whom he becomes a Principal untill his conscience was convinced yet dissembled his Intentions untill the first onset upon English ground And now at York he found means by Letters to convey his Faith and Loyalty to the King which Letters were by Hamilton's means stollen at night out of the Kings Pockets copied out and communicated to the Covenanters at New-castle who concealed their Information labouring under hand to render the Earl odious to the People and thereby unserviceable to the King This was not the first nor last Exercise of the Bed-chamber men the most Scots not onely for the Covenanters but in prejudice of his secret Councils as hath been heretofore hinted to the King in the Case and Caution of the Arch-bishop concerning Andreas Not to trust your own Pockets with them The time for a Parliament approaching and the while not convened was conceived a kinde of retarding and so a grievance to the Subjects longing for a Parliament miserable without and happy with any and therefore being resolved on Tuesday the third of November an ominous Day in the time of Henry the eighths Parliament and thereof an Item was given to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury that the twentieth of Henry the eighth and third of November a Parliament was holden which began in the Fall of Cardinal Wolsey continued in the diminution of the powers of the Clergy and ended in the dissolution of Abbies and other Religious Houses and therefore advised the Arch-bishop for luck-sake as the Vulgar use to say to move the King to respit their sitting but to a day or two which he neglected and thereupon if not therefore this Parliament commenced with the Arch-bishop's ruine continuing in the dissipation of the remaining Rites of the English Clergy and ended in the subversion of Episcopal Government dissolution of all Capitular Bodies leaving the Cathedral of the Land without means for the time to come And hence is observed that when Pope Martin the third had besieged Furby that Guido Bonatus an Astrologer perswaded the People not to assault their Enemy before he gave the Signal and so they did and slew the besiegers with a great Victory But although the English Lords and Scotish were earnest for a Parliament to drive on their Design which afterwards appeared yet the King was much inclining also
contrary to the rights and power of all Monarchical Authority and also the duty allegeance and consciences of all loyal Subjects which with grief we take to heart as faithfull and loyal Subjects ought to do The Catholick Religion suppressed and put down in England and the Catholicks persecuted with all rigour even to death and the like have the Puâ—itans of this Kingdom threatned to have brought hither That there is a Law against Catholicks in this Countrey whereby the Kingdom hath been often impaired and ruined with persecutions by means whereof the Catholicks are made uâ—capable of any Office or Place of commodity or profit to the great and extraordinary decay of the Catholicks in their Estates Education and Learning That the Goverment of the Kingdom is wholly in the hands of strangers who in their beginning are generally poor of birth and means and very quickly become Noblemen and men of great Estates by oppression and ruinating the poor Natives That there hath been great threatnings of late of sending great Scotish Forces with the Bible in one hand and Sword in the other to force our consciences or end our lives besides our private report of a sudden surprisal and cutting the Catholicks throats intending which way we know not but it hath been both written and spoken by several Protestants and Puritans That the Catholicks are not allowed to have any Arms or Munition as the Protestants and Puritans were but stood like dâ—admen not able to defend themselves in such desperate Dangers All which being by them considered they saw no way but to attempt to seize upon Arms where they could get them to save their lives maintain the King and Queen their Religion and Countrey It is true that for the first Days horrid Rebellion and Butchery the Irish did forbear the Scots Plantation there knowing their good Natures to be such as to sit still and see the English destroyed so they might hope to escape and to have more room for Colonies of their own Nation it being more easie for the Irish to deal with one Nation than with both and they knew that the Scots had then in Scotland some formed Forces standing which in few hours might be transported and so to distract them before their intended progress into Rebellion To that end for a time they were spared with life but not with Gudes and Geer and so â—ad leave to return to Scotland a worse transmigration than into the other World Some pretence they make declaring in the sight of God and the World their Intentions and Resolutions to the last Man with their Lives Estates and Fortunes to endeavour the advancement and preservation of his Majesties service and Interest in that Kingdom and of all those whoever that prosecute his quarrel having no other Design or Intent but onely the free exercise of their Religion On the contrary it was wonderfull to observe what Irritations stirred up the English to revenge the Death of the Massacred and to defend the lives of those that survived A Mass of Money 300000. pounds sterling was soon raised in England but otherways disposed and great Contributions for pay of the Souldiers and Provisions and many thousands of English prepare for that War And yet so eminent was the divine wrath over England that even upon this very account our Incongruities and Feuds at home were inflamed which amongst others how intense soever yet soulder a peace for some interim Hereupon those that aimed at Innovations infused into mens mindes scruples and suspitions and though the King most intent to suppress the raging cruelty of that Rebellion by his personal hazzard to scourge their insolencies the Parliament would not consent that the War be mannaged by his Authority nor to trust the Souldiers with their Allegeance to the King nor any of them that had served him in the Scotish Expedition but such as themselves affected and he disgusted yet rather than the War should linger on those Differences he submitted to the joint authority of mannaging the same and so Patents and Commissions were signed by both King and Parliament leaving himself without power either to make peace or grant them pardon without the Parliaments consent And so by this concurrence of Affairs concerning the Rebells and mischievous Distractions in England ripening into a civil War the Parliament seize upon the collected sums of hundreds of thousand pounds for Ireland and two or three Regiments raised for that service they convert to the suppressing of the Kings War against them nay the very Benevolence begged for the relief of the perishing Evangelius they turn into pay for their Souldiery Though the Kings Souldiers having seized on some provisions sent by the Parliament towards Chester as but designed for Ireland the King upon complaint soon restored it for that service And although there appeared no evidence of truth it was rumored to the Kings dishonour that he had been Authour of that Rebellion which the King endeavours with greater validity of Reasons to retort upon the Faction of some Members of both Houses Notwithstanding these Traverses hindered not our Auxiliaries to defeat the Irish by fire devastations and slaughter of some hundreds of thousands of the Natives and to wilder that Kingdom far and near which happened alike pernicious to our selves when afterwards that the civil War in England was at the heighth victuals provision cloaths and pay failing our Souldiers in Ireland it is beyond the reach of expression how miserably our Countrey-men suffered there and the Parliaments help failing their daily Invocations for relief the Privy Counsellours of that Kingdom Commanders and Souldiers by peâ—itionary Letters to the King earnestly beg leave to depart and to be remanded any where else save against such an Enemy as Hunger The King either for necessity or prudence the Scots coming into the Parliament he being thereby reduced to an inequality of fight here at home makes a Cessation with the Irish for a year onely and so endeavours a peace to ensue leaving sufficient Garisons behinde the Souldiers return for the Kings assistance whose part began to totter But the Scots party in Ulster refuse to be bound by the Cessation and some English in Conaught and Ulster of a like conniving Faction But the Lord Inchequin Commander in chief of the Munster Forces comes over with some thousands to the Kings aid but not well resenting his entertainment withdraws himself into Ireland and gains all the Kings party of Cork and Munster to the Parliament and to a detestation of the Cessation they instantly sending him and the Scots Forces fresh aid of money and provisions Against whom appeared three several parties though conjoyned in enmity to the English the Popes Nuntio Owen Roe and the other under command of Preston and Taff the last more moderate endeavouring the compliance with the King to confirm the Peace yet were over-born by the Popes Bull against the Cessation and Peace and so deterred their Souldiers from their fidelity and Colours
service nor any Man to March upon such pretence the three and twentieth of October and Copies sent abroad to all the Countiâ—s And the same night the Lord Blaney arrived with the newes of the surprisal of his House his wife and children by the Rebels of Monâ—ghan This Rebellion began first in the North in the Province of Ulster so that every day and hour ill newes came posting like Iobs Messengers of fearful Massacres upon the English which increased a fear of some Massacre in Dublin by the Papists there The Council began to consider of their own forces to defend and were assured that the Mony was in the Exchequer the Kings revenues and English Rents for that halfe year lodged in Tenents hands a fit prey for the Rebels which they seized some Artillery Arms for 10000. men 1500. barrels of powder with Match and lead laid in by the last Earl of Strafford By which Lâ—st of his it appeared that the old standing Army in Ireland consisted only of 41. Companies of foot and 14. Troopes of Horse The foot Officers 246. and of Souldiers 2051. Inall 2297. The Horse Officers 42. and Horsemen 901. In all 943. These so dispersed as not without difficulty to march yet the Councel sent their Patents to several Garisons to march to Dublin And Letters dispatched to the King in Scotland and to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland not got out of London of the Rebellion and ill State of the Kingdome depending on Gods assistance the fidelity of the old English Pale and aid out of England that they intended to prorogue the Parliament and adjourn the Term. And that their present Army now subsisting contain but 2000. foot and 1000. Horse the five and twentieth of October 1641. with a poscript for recompense to Conally for his discâ—very as may stand with the Mark of his Majesties bounty for that service who had a present peece of money and a certain annuity during his life very considerable who carried these Letters to the Lord Lieutenant Those to the King were sent to Secretary Vane in Scotland and convayed by sea by Sir Henry Spotswood Other Letters were sent to the Earl of Ormond at Carick to repair with his forces to Dublin and commissions were sent to the Lords Viscounts of Clandeboys and Ardes and to others for the raising of the Scots in the Northern parts into Arms with power to destroy the Enemy or to receive them to Mercy but all these dispatches were sent by sea the whole Land passages stopt by â—he Rebels The Lords of the English pale repair to the Council offering their faith and service It is a large Circuit of Land possessed by the English from the first Conquest being the Countiâ—s of Dublin Mâ—th Lâ—wth Kildare Yet some of these Lords Popish â—umbly offered their sense of the wars in the late Proclamation as to be misinterpreted viz. the Conspiracy of evil affected Iâ—â—sh Papists as to reflect upon their persons which were afterwards explained to please them and so Proclaimed And now the Rebels up in all places they in Ulster had by the latter end of October possessed themselves of all the great part of the Province of Ulster except the Cities of London derry Colraingue and the Town aâ—d Castle of Eâ—cikillen the chief Rebels were Sir Philip Oneale 〈◊〉 Oneale his brother Rowry Mac Guire brother to the Lord Mac Guire Philip O Rely Mulmere O Rely Sir Conno Mac Gennes Call Mac Ruian Mac Mahon these with others the chief of every Sept had as at one instant surprized the Castles and places of the most considerable strengths and the English being lovingly intermixed with the Irish for a long time made the Conspiracy more easily to be effected Besides such of the English as had gotten into some places of strength able to indure a siege yet upon good quarter rendered themselves were sure to be butchered and murthered in cold blood men women and children And to keep of the Assistance of the Scots they openly professed and really did spare them the more easily afterwards to be swallowed up at a bit These were the first fruits of the Rebellion in all the Northern parts acted by Phelim O Neale the chief of that Sept and the onely remain of cruel alliance to the late Earl of Tirone He was of very mean parts with courage or conduct His education in England a Student of Lincolns Inn and a Protestant till of late lived lasily of a mean estate untill now that the Natives set him up for their General and with such Numerous a rabble that he marched down towards Lisnagarvy neer the Scots and fell upon them now without mercy and with other forces came up into the Pale and took in Dondalk about the beginning of November then they marcht to the County of Lowth and incamped at Ardee a small Town within seven miles of Tredagh antiently called Drohedagh which they Besieged afterwards The Newes from Dublin being instantly posted to the Town of Tredagh was there encountred with the like mischievous tidings from the North the treacherous surprisal of the Castles Blainey Carrick Charlemont Monahan with others came thick and three fold one upon another and a rumour that Dublin was already taken confirmed by numbers stripped and wounded that fled hither The first succour was the Lord Viscount Moor being then at Mellifont ten miles off who by the sad newes of his Sister the Lady Blanâ—y and her children imprisoned made speed to save himself with some part of his Troop not more than sixty hither at Midnight joyned in Counsel with the Major suddainly to prevent the mischief by many vipers in their own Bowels but of all the Muster not above fourty to be found gave great suspition the rest were not found Instantly were drawn out many old peeces scowred and planted at several Gates fower more were heaved out of a Merchants Ship in the Harbour and some powder the Lord Moor posts to Dublin offers to make up his own Troop and to raise one hundred foot with amunition which was speedily brought thither with him with a Commission to Captain Sea foule Gibson to command these Men and instantly to take the watch who was the 〈◊〉 and last worthy of Record for his faithful service watching 〈◊〉 own perâ—erson for ten nights together and continuing the war became Colonel of a Regiment By this time the Rebels had taken Dundalk and Dromiskin and pillaged all the Protestants within five miles The Papist Townsmen were discovered by their smiling countenance All promised relief failing Sir Faithful Fortescue being Governour posted to Dublin where finding no hope of Assistance he quitted his charge not willing to loose himself and his honour to boote in an impossible undertaking After a solemn fast some forces sallied out upon the thickest of the Rebells who fled and left much plundred goods and Cowes to comfort the Towns-people two hundred Rebels and eighty brought in Prisoners
hundred thousand pounds and make this Order The Lords and Commons c. having a due regard to the affections of the City of London particularly for fifty thousand pounds lent for the Irish affairs and fifty thousand pounds more lent to the Peers attending the King in the Northern parts before the beginning of this Parliament which are not yet paid shall be satisfied with Interest out of Moneys which are or shall be raised by Parliament and an Act to be passed therefore with all expedition Provided not to prejudice any Payments formerly appointed to be paid to any Members of Parliament that have lent any Moneys heretofore or before this Ordinance But to return to Ireland the Lords Justices and Council hastily provide for the victualling the Castle of Dublin for safety of that City and Commissions of Martial Law granted to several persons active men though Papists whom as yet they in prudence would not suspect as it appears to the Lord of Garmanston who after amongst the Popish Governours deserted their houses and openly declared themselves in actual Rebellion and found in his house which was in effect That they had power to whom they were directed Not onely to use Fire and Sword for the destruction of the Rebells and their Adherents but also to preserve the lives of any of them and to receive any of them into his Majesties mercy and favour which shewed their Intentions to reduce a rebellious Nation with lenitives which failing in the Cure they were enforced to violent Medicines Nay more to these in general now delivered Arms and Ammunition as to the Lord Garmonston for five hundred men for the County of Meath and so proportionable to others for all the Counties of the Pale and others round about arming the Enemy to cut the English throats so that by the midst of November several other Counties declare for the Rebells in Lemster and other Provinces and from all these places of Insurrection the poor miserable English that could fly were forced to come to Dublin for succour where they miserably perished for want of Relief that the publick burying places could not contain their Corps The Town of Dublin thus settled by Proclamation they prohibited the access of strangers to the Town and for loose people to depart Some Troops of Horse and Regiments of Foot were forthwith raised Sir Charls Coot had a Commission for a Regiment which he made up out of the poor wandring English and so had the Lord Lambert The Earl of Ormond was now arrived at Dublin with his Troop complete Curassers of an hundred men Sir Thomas Lucas with his Troop Captain Armstrong with his Troop Captain Yarner with his Troop Colonel Crawford a Scotchman came from thence recommended from the Prince Elector now with the King in Scotland And Sir Charls Coot made Governour of Dublin In August before the Rebellion the Parliament there had been adjourned to the seventeenth of November but upon the Rebellion the three and twentieth of October the Parliament was prorogued till to the four and twentieth of February which offended the Irish Papists Members as if so long time would be lost and no Grievances relieved Hereupon the Parliament had leave to sit one whole Day in case they would make a clear Protestation against the Rebells so that on the seventeenth of November there met a very thin Parliament of both Houses but the Popish would not endure to style the Insurrection a Rebellion but that they had rebelliously and traiterously raised Arms as the Protestation it self set forth by Parliament expresseth in effect Whereas the happy and peaceable estate of this Realm hath been of late and still is interrupted by sundry persons ill-affected to the peace c. who have traiterously and rebelliously raised Arms c. The said Lords and Commons in Parliament do detest and abhor their abominable actions c. and shall and will maintain the Rights of his Majesties Crown the Government peace and safety thereof against all opposers c. And if they shall not within a time limited lay down Arms submit and be suiters for grace and favour then the Lords and Commons will take up Arms and will with their lives and fortunes suppress them Phil. Percival Cler. Parl. The Parliament send Commissioners to treat with the Rebells in the North who heightened with their late Victories barbarously tore the Order of Parliament and Letter sent to them and returned a most scornfull Answer Within a few days after the Lord Dillon of Costelo and the Lord Taff imbarqued for England but by storm were driven into Scotland and so posted towards London and at the Town of Ware their Papers were seized and their persons committed by the Parliament of England and one Master Thomas Burk there at that time when the King retired to York and the Breach began in England where these Lords found means to ingratiate themselves at Court and so brought on the Cessation of Arms in Ireland which followed The twentieth of November the Lords Justices and Council sent a more particular account of the affairs of Ireland to the Lord Lieutenant who returns Answer that he had acquainted the King at Edinburgh with all their Dispatches and that his Majesty had referred the whole business of Ireland to the Parliament of England who had undertaken the charge and mannagement of the War as appears by the Order of Parliament transmitted over to Dublin where it was reprinted Novemb. 12. 1641. The Lords and Commons in this present Parliament being advertised of the dangerous Conspiracy and Rebellion in Ireland c. do intend to serve his Majesty with their Lives and Fortunes for the suppressing of this wicked Rebellion as shall be thought most effectual by the wisdom and authority of Parliament And have provided for a present supply of Money and raising six thousand Foot and two thousand Horse to be sent from England being the full proportion desired by the Lords Iustices in that Kingdom with a resolution to add such further succours as the necessity of those affairs shall require As also for Arms Munition and Victuals and other necessaries and have appointed three Ports Bristol Westchester and one other in Cumberland for Magazines and Store-houses They resolve likewise to be suiters to his Majesty for encouragement of such as shall upon their own charges raise Horse or Foot for this service that they shall be honourably rewarded with Lands of Inheritance in Ireland And for the better inducing the Rebells to repent they do hereby commend it to the Lords Iustices according to the power of Commission granted them to bestow his Majesties Pardon to such as shall in a convenient time return to obedience the greatest part whereof they conceive have been seduced upon false grounds And likewise to bestow such Rewards as shall be thought fit upon such as shall bring the Heads of the principal Traitours c. John Brown Cler. Parl. The Earl of Leicester having thus
the House of Peers whose authority interest and priviledges was now as much slighted and despised as the King was after and as the Lords fell towards themselves in after successes easily passing over those former singular Acts of grace passed by him already in this Parliament or else ascribing them to their own wisdoms in the procurement and conclude against a Malignant party that they have no hope of setling the distractions of this Kingdom for want of a concurrence with the House of Lords into which number all these Lords were cast who presumed to dissent from any Propositions made by the House of Commons But not to hold you in suspence the business was thus When this engine Remonstrance was prepared for the people by the prime Leaders It was presented to the house of Commons and the greatest art imaginable to procure consent to have it passed there And after the longest debate that hath been observed from three a clock afternoon till ten a clock the next morning when many through weakness and weariness left the House So that it looked as it was sawcely said like the verdict of a starved Iury and carried onely by eleven voyces And shortly after that the King had been received with all possible expressions of loyal affection by the City of London against which it was murmured and the chief advancers of that duty discountenanced and their Loyalty envied at And when it was publiquely said in the House of Commons upon some dispute of a pretended breach of the order of the House That their Discipline ought to be severe for the Enemy was now in view meaning the King returned then I say was the Petition and Remonstrance presented to his Majesty at Hampton Court I could wish you had it at length as it was printed but this History growes big with necessary abreviations suppose these what the wit and malice of man could rake together to make a Sovereign suspected of his Subjects Their Petition thus in effect Most gracious Soveraign Your Majesties most humble and faithful Subjects the Commoners in this present Parliament doe with joy acknowledge this favoâ—r of God for his safe return into England when the dangers and distempers of the State have caused them to desire his presence and authority to his Parliament for preventing of eminent ruine and destruction to his Kingdome of England and Scotland fomented by a Malignant party for alteration of Religion and Government the increase of Popery by the practice of Iesuits and other Engineers and factors for Rome corrupting the Bishops and Privy Council They being the cause of the late Scotish war and the Irish Rebellion now for prevention they pray that his Majesty would concur with his Parliament deprive the Bishops of their Votes To take a way oppressions in Religion Church Government and Discipline To purge his Councils of such as are promotors of these corruptions and not to alienate any escheated Lands in Ireland by reason of the Rebellion And these being granted they will make him happy To this the body of their Remonstrance was annexed very particular and large which they draw down from the beginning of the Kings Reign pretending to discover the Malignant party and their designs and consequently the miseries thereby to the State And this they intitle A Remonstrance of the Kingdom Die Mercurii December 15. 1641. In brief to set it down from these Heads 1. The Root and the growth of these mischievous Designs 2. The maturity and ripeness to which they have attained before the beginning of this Parliament 3. The effectual means which hath been used for the extirpations of these dangers evils and progress that hath been made therein by the Kings goodness and the wisdome of Parliament 4. The waies of obstruction and opposition by which the Progress hath been interrupted 5. The courses to be taken for removing those obstacles and for the accomplishing of their dutiful and faithful intentions and endeavours of restoring and establishing their ancient honour greatness and security of this Crown and Nation The Root of all this mischief they finde to be a Malignant and pernicious Design of subverting the fundamental Laws and Principles of Government upon which the Religion and Iustice of the Kingdome are firmly established The Actors and Promoters hereof have been 1. The Iesuited Papists who hate the Laws as the Obstacles of that change and subversion of Religion which they so much long for 2. The Bishops and the corrupt part of the Clergy who cherish formalities and superstitions as the natural effects and more probable supports of their own Ecclesiastical Tyranny and usurpation 3. Such Councellors and Courtiers as for private ends have ingaged themselves to further the Interest of some foreign Princes or states to the prejudice of the King and State at home And to make it more credible the Remonstrance moulds out some common Principles by which they pretend â—ll the Malignant Councels and actions were governed and these are branched in four particulars in effect That the Malignant party maintained continual differences and discontents betwixt the King and the people upon questions of Perogative and priviledge that so they might have say they the advantage of siding with him and under the notions of Men addicted to his service gain to themselves and their parties the places of greatest trust and power in the Kingdome They suppressed the purity and power of Religion and such as we asserted to it as being contrary to their own ends and the greatest impediment to that charge which they thought to introduce Then to conjoyn these parts of the Kingdome which were most propitious to their own ends and to divide those who went most opposite which consisted in many particular observations to cherish the Arminian part in those points wherein they agree with the Papists to multiply and enlarge the differences between the Protestant and those which they call Puritans to introduce and countenance such opinions and Ceremonies as are fittest for accommodation with Popery to increase and maintain ignorance looseness and prophaness in the people that if these three parties Papists Arminians and Libertinâ—s they might compose a body fit to act such Councels and resolutions as were most conduceable to their ends And politickly they disaffected the King to the Parliament by slanders and false imputations and by putting him upon other waies of supply which in shew and appearance were fuller of advantage than the ordinary course of subsidies though in truth they brought more loss than gain both to King and People and have caused the distractions under which we suffer Then the Remonstrance comes to particular charges against this Malignant party 1. The dissolution of the Parliament at Oxford two subsidies being given and no grievance relieved 2. The loss of the Rochel fleete by our shipping delivered over to the French to the loss of that Town and the Protestant Religion in France 3. The diverting of his Majesties course of wars
from the west Indies the onely facile way to prevail against the Spainard to an expenceful successless attempt upon Cales 4. The precipitate breach with France taking their goods and ships without recompense to the English whose goods were confiscate in that Kingdom 5. The peace with Spain without consent of Parliament the deserting the Palsgraves cause mannaged by his Enemies 6. The charging of this Kingdom with billeted Souldiers with the Design of German Horse to enslave this Nation to Arbitrary Contributions 7. The dissolving of the Parliament 2 Caroli and the exacting of the proportion of five Subsidies after the Parliament was dissolved by Commission of Loan and such as refused imprisoned some to Death great Sums of Money required by Privy Seals Excise the Petition of Right blasted 8. The Parliament dissolved 4 Caroli imprisoning some Members fining them and others Sir Francis Barington died in Prison whose bloud still cries for vengeance of those Ministers of State The publishing of false and scandalous Declarations against the Parliament And afterwards Injustice Oppression and Violence broke in The enlargements of Forests contrary to Charta de Foresta Coat and Conduct Money c. And then the Remonstrance ravels into all the particular pretended Designs corrupt Councils and the effects of what ever happened or usually doth happen in any Nation of Government even to Clerks of the Market and Commissions of Sewers Brass Farthings Projects Monopolies c. Then upon all the mis-actions of Courts of Iudicature Council-Table and all And principally against Bishops and their Proceeding by all their subordinate Officers their Writings Preachings Opinions in conjunction with Papists and Prote stants in Doctrine Discipline and Ceremony And endeavouring to reduce Scotland thereto and an Army was raised against them by Contribution of Clergy and Papists the Scots enforced to raise an Army for their Defence but concluded in Pacification and throughout excusing the Scots palliating all their Insurrections as necessitated to defend themselves against malignant Councils and Counsellours calling them Scots Rebells and the English War Bellum Episcopale Then to make a progress into Reformation the Remonstrance tells us what they have done by their care wisdoms and circumspection removed some Malignants suppressed Monopolies and all the aforesaid Disorders in an instant taking away High Commission and Star-Chamber Courts c. Procuring Bills of Triennial Parliament and continuance of this which two Laws they say are more advantageous than all the other Statutes enforce And in a word what ere the King hath done amiss they are not sparing to publish it what gracious favours he hath afforded by several Bills the Parliament ascribe to their own wisdoms and promise to the King and whole Kingdom more honour and happiness than ever was enjoyed by any his Predecessours And this the Parliament instantly printed and published contrary to the Kings desire though his Answer was speedy to the Petition and Remonstrance thus in effect That having received a long Petition consisting of many Desires of great moment together with a Declaration of a very unusual nature being confident that their own reason and regard to him as well as his express Intimation by his Controller to that purpose would have restrained them from publishing of it untill his convenient time of answer and tells them how sensible he is of this their disrespect To the Preamble of the Petition he professes he understands not of a wicked and malignant party admitted to his Council and Imployment of Trust of endeavouring to sow amongst the People false Scandals to blemish and disgrace the Parliament c. All or any of which did he know of he would be as ready to punish as they are to complain To their Petition the first part concerning Religion and consisting of several Branches as for that of Popish Designs he hath and will concur with all the just Desires of his People in a Parliamentary way To the depriving of the Bishops of their Votes in Parliament their Right is grounded upon the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom and Constitutions of Parliament For the abridging of the inordinate power of the Clergy The taking away of the High Commission Court moderates that and if there continue Usurpations in their Iurisdictions he neither hath nor will protect them And as to the clause of Corruptions in Religion Church-government and Discipline c. That for any Innovations he will willingly concur for the removal if any be by a National Synod but he is sorry to hear of such terms Corruptions since he is perswaded that no Church can be found upon Earth professing the true Religion with more purity of Doctrine than the Church of England doth which by the grace of God he will maintain not onely against all Invasions of Popery but also from the Irreverence of those many Schismaticks and Seperatists wherewith of late this Kingdom and this City abounds To the second prayer of the Petition concerning the Removal and choice of Counsellours that by these which he hath exposed to Trial there is none so near to him in place and affection whom he will not leave to the Law and to their particular charge and sufficient proof That for their choice of his Counsellours and Ministers of State that were to debar him the natural liberty which all Free-men have being besides the undoubted Right of his Crown to call to his Council whom he pleaseth being carefull to elect persons of ability and integrity To the third prayer concerning Ireland Not to alienate the Forfeited Lands thereof he concurs with them but then whether it be now seasonable to resolve before the Event of War be seen that he much doubts of but thanks them for their chearfull Ingagement for their suppression of that Rebellion upon which so many hazzards do depend And for their Conclusion and promise to apply themselves for support of his royal Estate c. he doubts not thereof from their Loyalties to which he will add his assistance The Kings Declaration to all his loving Subjects Although he doth not believe that the House of Commons intended by their Remonstrance to put him to any Apology for his past or present Actions yet since they have thought it so very necessary to publish the same he thinks it not below his Kingly Dignity to compose and settle the affections of his meanest Subjects He shall in few words pass over the narrative part wherein the Misfortunes of this Kingdom from the first entring to the Crown to the beginning of this Parliament are remembred in so sensible expressions And that other which acknowledgeth those many good Laws passed this Parliament To which he saith that as he hath not refused any Bill for redress of Grievances mentioned in their Remonstrance so he hath not had a greater Motive thereto than his own Resolution to free his Subjects for the future And possibly they may confess that they have enjoyed a greater measure of happiness these last sixteen years both in peace
the Kings Answers unsatisfactory And that the Kingdom be put into a posture of Defence in such a way as is agreed upon by Parliament and a Committee to prepare a publick Declaration from these two Heads 1. The just causes of the Fears and Iealousies given to the Parliament and to clear them from any Iealousies conceived against them 2. To consider of all matters arising from his Majesties Message and what is fit to be done A man would wonder upon what grounds they should arm by Sea and Land specially so hastily resolved as the next day March 2. Advertisements they say of extraordinary preparations by the neighbouring Princes both by Land and Sea the intentions whereof are so represented as to raise a just apprehension of sudden Danger to the King and his Kingdoms unless the wisdom of Parliament prevent it And therefore the Earl of Northumberland Admiral of England is commanded with all speed to order the Rigging of the Kings Ships and fit them immediately for the Sea And to frighten us into fear all Masters and Owners of Ships are perswaded to do the like for the emergent occasions of publick Defence In order to these the Beacons were new made up Sea-marks set up such riding posting with Pacquets whispering and Tales telling as put the people in fear of they knew not what wise men onely told the Truth discovering the Enemy wholly at home I have been as brief as may be in the business of this year and yet to satisfie the curious I cannot omit all the occasions of this miserable Eruption which follows presuming yet that this Declaration designed may be spared the recording for certainly no new matter can be invented and what hither to hath been the cause the Reader has leave to judg But not to amuse your imaginations it self must satisfie the Declaration was born to Roiston by the Earls of Pembroke and Holland He who read it to the King this Lord being raised and created to become his most secret Counsellour the most intimate in affection the first of his Bed-chamber his constant companion in all his sports and recreations even in that place and to this hour At the sight of him the Kings countenance me thought mixed into compassion and disdain as who should as Caesar did Et tu mi fili But on he went to this effect March 9. The manifold Attempts to provoke your Majesties late Armie and the Scots Armie and to raise a Faction in London and other parts the Actours having their dependence countenance and encouragement from the Court witness Jermin's Treason who was transported beyond Sea by your Majesties Warrant and that dangerous Petition delivered to Captain Leg by your Majesties own Hand with a Direction signed C. R. The false and scandalous Accusation against the Lord Kimbolton and the five Members Plotting and designing a Guard about your person labouring to infuse into the people an ill opinion of the Parliament as if to raise Arms for a Civil War in which Combustion Ireland would be lost That the Lord Digby was sent to Sir John Pennington to be landed beyond Sea to vent his traiterous conceptions for the King to retire to some place of strength offering to correspond by cyphers with the Queen as if to procure some forreign Forces to assist your Majestie answerable to your remove with the Prince as in a readiness for the acting of it Manifold Advertisements which they have from Rome Venice Paris and other parts expecting the effects of the Kings Design to alter Religion and ruine the Parliament That the Popes Nuntio hath solicited the Kings of France and Spain to lend his Majesty four thousand Men a plece to help to maintain his Royalty against the Parliament And this foreign Force the most pernicious and malignant Design of all the rest so they hope it is from his thoughts Because no man will easily believe you will give up your People and Kingdom to be spoiled by strangers if you did not likewise intend to change both your own profession in Religion and the publick profession of the Kingdom that so you might be more assured of these foreign States of the Popish Religion for the future support and defence They â—eseech his Majesty to consider how fair a way he hath to happiness honour greatness plenty security if he would but joyn with his Parliament and people in defence of the Religion and Kingdom This is all they expect from him and for which they shall return their Lives Fortunes and utmost Endeavours to support him and Sovereignty And for the present have but onely this to desire To turn away his wicked Counsellours and put his trust in Parliament At the reading of that part which mentioned Master Iermin's transportation by his Majesties Warrant the King interrupted him and said That 's false And at the business of Captain Leg he told him 'T is a Lie And at the end of all he said He was confident the Parliament had worse information than he had Councils What have I denied you The Militia said Holland That 's no Bill The other replied It was necessary Which I have not denied but in the manner His Lordship would perswade the King to come near the Parliament Have you given me cause said the King This Declaration is not the way to it and in all Aristotle's Rhetoricks there is no such Argument of perswasion Pembroke that he might say something said it over again The Parliament prays him to come to them The King told him Words were not sufficient What would you have Sir said he The King replied To whip a Boy in Westminster School that could not tell that by my Answer Then the Lord asked him to grant the Militia for a time Not an hour this was never asked of any King with which I will not trust my Wife and Children But his Majesties Answer to all was this That to their Fears and Iealousies he would take time to satisfie all the World hoping that God would in his good time discover the secrets and bottoms of all Plots and Treasons to set him upright with his people For his Fears and Doubts are not trivial while so many scandalous Pamphlets seditious Sermons sundry Tumults publick are uninquired into and unpunished He must confess his Fears calling God to witness they are the greater for the Religion for his people and for their Laws than for his own Rights or safetie of himself and yet he tells them none of these are free from Danger What would you have said he Have I violated your Laws Have I denied any one Bill What have ye done for me Have my people been transported with Fears and Apprehensions I have I offer a free pardon as your selves can devise There is a Iudgment from Heaven upon this Nation if these Distractions continue God so deal with me and mine as all my thoughts and intentions are right for the maintenance of the true Protestant profession the observation and preservation of
command upon a person of unquestionable sufficiencie into a Town and Fort and Magazine of his own and yet they to be so bold as to commit it without his consent to Sir John Hotham but is confident it shall be rendered to him when he is pleased to require it and so to dispose of the Magazine as shall be fitting in some proportion not altogether and hopes that they will not do here as they have done in the Militia petition him and make themselves the Carvers and tells them that if they shall attâ—mpt any thing herein without his consent he will hold it as an act of violence against him and so declare it to all the world And for the six Priests Reprieve the time being out he leaves them to the execution of the Law And refers them to Mr. Pym's Speech against the Earl of Strafford for preservation of the Law which he wishes them to peruse and not to infringe it themselves The Parliament seeing the King bent to his personal Voyage into Ireland and to dispose of affairs accordingly to put him off from that Design they petition him with Reasons not to enterprize such a Journey for the hazzard of his person and interruption of the proceedings of the Parliament here And conclude that they cannot consent to any Levies but such as they shall advise and direct if otherwise raised they must interpret it to the terrour of the people and suppress it and to refâ—se to submit to any Commissioners which the King shall chuse but to govern in his absence by consent of Parliament so praying him to desist from any such Design in the end of all they counsel him to come home to them c. It was sufficient they discovered themselves each to other for it was not likely the Parliament would trust the King with an Army that might be no boldness in them to disswade but to tell him how they would govern themselves and his people not to submit to any Commissioners in his absence that was strange indeed To which the King replies That he looks upon them as his great Council with great regard but yet upon himself as not deprived of his understanding or divested of any right he had before the Parliament sate he called them by his Writ and Authoritie to give him counsel but did not resign his interest and freedom nor will subject himself to their determinâ—tions nor hath he dissented at any time without his Reasons given with candour and conscience and however a major part may binde them in matter of opinion yet he holds himself free to dissent from them And as that part of their Petition which pretends to carry reason doth not satisfie so the other part rather reprehension and menace than advice cannot stagger him who is content to expect the event of their undertaking and care therein And for many other expressions in the Petition he forbears to take notice or to answer lest being tempted in a just indignation to express a greater passion than he is willing to put on But indeed so forward he was in the Design that the Lords Justices and Council in Ireland having a hint of his desire return his Majesty an Answer to his of the thirteenth of April inclosing his Message to his Parliament there which Letters and Message being instantly printed as it was commanded they all cast themselves at his feet for this high addition to all former gracious favours in not sparing the hazzarding of his sacred person for suppression of this hideous Rebellion rejoycing even in the midst of those calamities to receive assurance of his princely purpose therein and hold it agreeable to his resolution and their duty to acquaint him with the estate of his affairs there by Letters to Mr. Secretary Nichols That so he may appear there in that majestie which is sutable to the greatness and wisdom of a mightie King as God hath appointed him who bless him with glorie honour and eternal happiness Dublin April 23. 1642. Signed Will. Parsons Io. Burlace Justices and all the Council there This was welcome to the King and sutably they subscribe Your Majesties humble and obedient loyal and faithfull Subjects which was published here in Parliament and canvased too not with over much thanks to the Irish Commissioners and Council there who finding the Earl of Leicester their designed Deputy to be so long loitering and held so here against the Kings desire they promoved this his Majties royal undertaking with all possible instances of advantage to those Irish affairs But it must not be and so the King declining it the Parliament were put forward to their own proceedings therein which went on but lamely for a long time being retarded untill the Parliament should be better assured of the right to the Militia To which purpose a Question was started How Laws are to be understood and obeyed Which were answered and printed to the Parliaments advantage Whether the claim of the Kings disposing of the Militia be in him It was answered Rebus sic nolente Rege it is in the Parliament And the Reasons were these In Law an equitable and literal sense The King intrusted with the Militia for the people against a foreign invasion or domestick rebellion never to intrust him against themselves so that when there is an appearance of the letter against the equitie publick good then the commander is to be disobeyed by the commanded For the Law abstract from reason and end is as a bodie without a soul and the execution accordingly is the spirit that gives life the letter kills Instanced in the trust of Militia of an Armie to a General not to turn the Cannon against his own Souldiers though not so conditioned and they may disobey not binding them to cut their own throats or their companies If otherwise the legal and mixt Monarchie is the greatest Tyrannie as conferred legally when the other that rules by will and not by law are Tyrants by force and so justifie an arbitrarie tyrannie legal not assumed Herein the instance of a General is the Argument but how reasonable and justifiable may it be when an Armie mutinie the Commander may and ought to suppress by force of Cannon no doubt and so unquestionably may a Monarch if the established Laws be disobeyed he may reduce them by force All Laws may be laid aside if such seditious and treasonable distinctions to withdraw the Subjects obedience be suffered Indeed the Doctrines of this nature were then frequent discourse in Pulpits and Prints That humane Laws do not binde the conscience There needs no more to dissolve all civil Government and peace of a Kingdom And therefore the King in much regret requires the House of Peers to use all possible diligence to have the Authour found out and punished but nothing was done being there fomented April 22. The Magazine of Hull under Sir Iohn Hotham command by authority of Parliament and like enough now to be
out of the Kings aim for the present but to be hazzarded in the future if the Parliament do not remove it to London which was their Design Therefore the County of York petition the King that the Magazine may still remain in respect of securing the Northern parts especially where his person does reside being like David's the Light of Israel more worth than ten thousand besides The best assurance to give them sufficient answer was to seize it himself into his own hands or rather to take view of what might be fitting to remain there or to remove it for Ireland and taking onely a Guard for his person of his Domesticks and neighbour Gentry went in person the three and twentieth of April but contrary to his expectation the Gates were shut upon him the Bridges drawn up anâ— from the Walls appears Sir Iohn flatly denies him entrance his Reason without Breach of Trust to his Parliament and â—o seditiously put his Treason upon them to which the King demanded iâ— they had so directed him to shew their Order And after a reasonable time of parley Hotham having a thousand in Garison excepted against the greatness of the Kings Train at length against him and twenty Horse and at last against any at all unless by condition which the King disdaining Hotham was there to his face proclaimed Traitour And there being in the Town the Duke of York and the Prince Electour having gone there the day before to visit the place with much ado and long consultation ere they could be let out to the King And for this Treason his Majesty demands justice of his Parliament against Sir Iohn April 24. This act apprehended to be high Treason against the Kings person 25 Ed. 3. 11 H. 7. It was so certified by Letter to the Mayor and Fraternity of Kingston upon Hull as a warning to them and the Gâ—rison not to adhere to Hotham and declare their allegeance but to lay down their Arms and admit of the King and requiring them all not to permit any part of the Magazine to be removed without the Kings assent being more willing to enlarge their immunities than by any occasion to question their Charter April 25. And not being able to endure this affront he again sends to the Parliament that the Town and Magazine be immediately delivered up to him and exemplary justice upon Hotham and tells them â—ll this be done he will intend no other business whatsoever for to be worse in condition than the meanest Subject not to enjoy his own 't is time to examine how he lost them and to trie all possible waies by help of God the Law and his good Subjects to recover them and vindicate himself And concludes if we shall miscarrie herein we shall be the first Prince of this Kingdom that hath done so and God so deal with us as we continue in these resolutions To which Messages having no return Scouts are laid to intercept Letters or Messengers between Hull and the Houses which they vote to be such a Breach of Parliament as to defend it with all their lives and fortunes and order That the Sheriffs and Iustices of the peace of the Counties of York and Lincoln suppress all Forces that shall be raised or gathered together against the Town of Hull or to disturb the peace The Bill of the Militia as the King designed it to be drawn by his Council was declined by the Parliament and a new one fitted by themselves and presented to the King which he refused being the fiâ—st which he â—annot ought not must not pass for these Reasons he resolved upon against which they never gave one Argument to satisfie his judgment they having put the power in the persons nominated by them for two years excluding the Kings in disposing or executing any thing together with them without limitation or circumstance which he offered not to do neither withou their advice and in his absence in Ireland or other place to be soly in them and that for a year It was strange for them to press the King herein for the power in particular persons what to expect from an exorbitant legal power when Hotham's late insolency by a power not warranted by Law dares venture upon a treasonable disobedience Besides they had put Names out and in altering the former Ordinance with especial provision against such as would obey no Guide but the Law of the Land as in particular the good Lord Mayor of London Gurney a person now in their disfavour in whose behalf the King told them His demeanour hath been such as might be example to the Citie and the whole Kingdom This being thus refused they take to heart Hull and Hotham 's cauâ—â— by Declaration votes and orders therein That the desperate Desigâ— of Papists occasioned the Parliament to intrust Hull to Sir John Hotham a Member of theirs of the same Countie of considerable fortune and unquestionable approved integritie who not long after turned Traitour to them and the rather there because of former intercepted Letters of the Lord Digby to the Queen and Sir Lewis Dives And that Captain Leg should have surprized the Town the Earl of New-castle coming thitâ—er suspitiously aâ—d then the Kings cominâ— with force to surprize the Garison and to deprive Sir John of his life which the Parliament reserv'd for the Gallows All which being by the King a high Breach of the Privilege and violation of Parliament they think fit to clear by votinâ— it and Hotham justified and send a Committee of Lords and Commons to reside there for the better securing Hull and him April 28. It was no boot for the King to dispute these proceedings how unreasonable how unjust yet he does in an Answer to theirs advise the Subject to peruse the Statute 11 H. 7. cap. 1. and concludes with Mr. Pym's words in one of his Speeches If the Prerogative of the King overwhelm the Libertie of the People it will be turned into Tyrannie If Libertie undermine the Prerogative it will grow into Anarchie And the King adds of his own We say into confusion Nay to add to the Kings anger Hotham is authorized to issue out his Warrants to raise divers of the Trained Bands in the County of York and to march with their Arms into Hull where being come he disarms them and turns them home again This the King signifies to the High Sheriff and that it cannot be done legally but by the Kings Warrant or Writ or the Lords Lieutenants or Deputies by Commission And there being now no Lord Lieutenant and the former Commission to Colonels Captains and other Officers of Trained Bands derived from him being void And therefore commands him to signifie to all the late Colonels and Officers and to all Controllers upon their Allegeance not to muster or train or march with any Trained Bands without the Kings immediate command or Writ and if they refuse obedience then to command Posse Comitatus to suppress them
and to be published in all Churches c. May 5. And the Parliament finding no other way to encounter the King but by putting the people into a posture of War do require all persons in authority by virtue of their late Ordinance of the Militia to put the same in execution which by the Kings answer declares to be no legal power in any of the Houses and commands no Subject whatsoever to obey it And forthwith summons the Gentry of the County to York to whom he complains of all these illegal proceedings of the Parliament to the danger of his person and tells them his intent to have a Guard onely to secure his person in which he desires their assistance and the rather because the Members that came with the last Message to the King return not back but reside at York in whose presence all these passages were performed yet staid they here as a Committee to out-face the Kings actions keeping themselves in a double capacity as a Committee of Parliament and Free-holders of the County as they were all What Counsellours the King had at this time I finde not onely the Secretary Nicholas for as yet his affairs were but hatching at York the Parliament having spun out their business with humble and specious shews which amazed most men into some hopes of good effects those that could more narrowly pry into their actions and but Neuters were soon seized and presently questioned especially if he appeared a publick person of estate or interest Amongst whom Sir Thomas Gardner Recorder of London for six years last past was now impeached upon Articles drawn from Anno 1638. For advising the Mayor Sir Maurice Abbot and Common Council to pay the Tax of Ship-money and to levie the Loan-money for raising three thousand of the Trained Bands for the Kings service in his Expedition then against his good Subjects of Scotland That in 1639. he advised the Mayor Sir Henry Garraway and Common Council to impress Clothe and Conduct two hundred Citizens to serve in the said War against Scotland That he prevented the Citie Petition to the King against certain illegal Taxes and Levies That in May 1640. he perswaded them to lend to the King ten thousand pounds for that War against his good Subjects of Scotland And prevented sundry intendments of thousands of the Citie in December last to petition the House of Commons not to be diverted in their just way of proceedings That in January last he crossed the Order of the Commons House and the Citie election of the Committee for the Militia And advised two scandalous Petitions from the Citie to the King and to the Parliament viz. that the ordering of the Citie Arms was annexed to the Majoraltie and if otherwise conferred upon others it would reflect upon this Custome which every Free-man was bound to maintain And these were the high crimes for which they endeavour to hang him but he was carefull therein and got to the King May 5. Upon several Summons the County of York had meetings the Parliament Committee being there over-counselling the Free-holders in private prevailed with some of them by Protestation to oppose the Knights and Gentry who were willing to raise a Guard for the King And the Parliament declaring that it is against the Laws that any of his Subjects should attend him at his pleasure but such as are bound to it by special service and that such as do are disturbers of the peace and command the Sheriff to oppose any such with the power of the Countie and all people whatsoever to assist them herein May 17. In what miserable condition the people of the Kingdom were reduced unto no publick Officer knew how to command or Subject how or whom to obey so differing were their duties depending on several authorities thus distinct onely those for the King directly in love and duty for the other in fear or gain and so wrought upon gave the advantage on the Parliaments part whereas the the Kings assistance was purchased out of the fire of faithfull affections yet all ways and means of Prerogative were used as now for the King to adjourn the next Term to York which the Parliament vote illegal and order that the Lord Keeper Littleton issue out no Writs or seal any Proclamations to that end May 17. And now Designs being ripened into action the people are called upon and invited to a belief of the Parliaments just proceedings and the Kings mis-actions being guided by a malignant party summed up into a very large Declaration of the nineteenth of May ripping up all their former complaints and grievances from the first day of this Parliament to the date hereof in effect the very Exceptions and Repetitions formerly mentioned and controverted between the King and them even from the first dispute for the Militia the misprision of Kimbolton and the five Members Remembering the intended War against Scotland being a Design they say to alter Religion by thâ—se wicked Councils of the King from which God did deliver us never to be forgotten That the Rebellion in Ireland hath been countenanced by evil counsel about the King The Proclamation whereby they were declared Traitours was so long with-held as to the second of Ianuary though the Rebellion brake forth in October before and then but fourty Copies appointed to be printed nor any of them to be published without the Kings pleasure signified and so but a few onely could take notice thereof but the proceedings against the Scots were quick and sharp forthwith by Proclamations dispersed throughout all the Kingdom with publick Prayers and Execrations But to repeat the particulars they are but the same said over again The King calls it a Book and so for the bulk it may well be intituled and to answer each particular must needs be very tedious as himself professes His small malignant Iunto Council as the Parliament calls them to replie to their numbers of several Committees in these proceedings But the King being never weary of any of any pains to undeceive his people of these mischievous infusions daily instilled to corrupt their loyalty gives them answer the next day after the twentieth of May in effect what he had said as before recited in their due time and place The Parliaments complaints were always forced The Kings answers more ingenious and natural in the opinion of indifferent observers The Parliaments onely to amuze the people and to steal away their allegeance and duty to themselves and otherwise it had been but loss of time and business to answer or to reply And at length though penned on both sides with wit and art the wiser sort of the Subjects whom it most concerned were astonished at the reading of either But indeed as to the Kings connivence at or want of zeal against the Rebellion of Ireland so often hinted and now put home upon the Kings score He answers That he then being in Scotland immediately recommended the care of the business to the
dare present their tenderness of his sufferings their own just grievances and the sense of the violation of the Laws if they did it was stifled in the birth and called Sedition and burnt by the Hang-man They have so restrained his Houshold sworn Servants seized upon his Money which his credit had gotten to buy him Bread so that in effect they have blocked him up in York They have filled the Peoples ears with Fears and Jealousies idle Tales false Allarms by which to prepare the peoples impressions the better to advance their Design when it should be ripe And now the King it seems must be ready to receive these humble desires Nor do they tell the King that these Propositions are all No these are yet but Preparatives Some of these disguised with mixtures of real honest things others specious and popular and some already granted by the King all which are cunningly twisted with those other things of their main Design Ambition and private Interest and so not easily to be discerned in their proper colours Not that the King fixes this Design upon all and both Houses many absent many dissenting but professes to all the World that the malignity of the Design dangerous and wicked hath proceeded from all subtil informations mischievous practises and evil counsels of ambitious spirits dis-affected to God Religion unity peace and prosperity of the people with a strong influence upon the very actions of both Houses And these Propositions coming to the King in the name of both Houses he takes the more notâ—ce of every of them and answers to this effect following which because he expresseth in the first person plural not usual heretofore I shall so represent it If the nineteen Propositions had been in a Tragedie unknown to us and our people they might have been believed as they profess to be in order to the ends proposed in the Petition to us and our people honour peace and happiness But being understood will rather appear a Mockerie and a scorn And we unworthie of our Trust or Descent from so many famous Ancestours if we abandon that power which enables us to protect our people and Laws and so assume others into it as to divest our selves of it as if we were already vanquished and a prisoner and the most unfortunate of our predecessours that have been reduced to by the most criminal of their Subjects And though the Bait laid to draw us to it the promises of a plentifull and unparallel'd Revenue were reduced from generals which signifie nothing to clear and certain propositions would but resemble Esau's Bargain to part with such Flowers of our Crown as are worth all the rest of the Garland which gives us cause to believe that the Contrivers of these had no intention of a good Accommodation but rather to widen that Division which is by their fault fallen upon us both It is asked That all the Lords and others of our Privy Council and such or all great Officers and Ministers of State either at home or beyond Sea to leave out no person or place that our dishonour may not be bounded at home should be put from our Privy Council and from these Offices and Imployments unless by them approved How faithfull soever we have found them or how innocent in offending the onely Rule for all men to walk by But to this part of the Demand we are willing that they shall take a larger Oath than you desire in your 11th Demand for maintaining the whole Law That they shall be persons of Trust and abilities without exception reasonable And to be left to the justice of the Law upon sufficient charge or proof against any of them And that we have given you the best pledg of the effects of our promise and the best securitie for their dutie a Triennial Parliament to make them warie how they provoke and us warie how we chuse such as may discredit our Election But that without any fault objected onely because some persons who have too great an influence on both Houses shall judg them not affected to that new Utopia of Religion and Government into which they endeavour to transform the Kingdom we will never consent to the displacing of any of merit and affection to us and the publick whom we have intrusted since we conceive it would take away from the affection of our service the care of us and the honour of our justice And we the more wonder that it should be asked of us since by your twelfth Demand your selves count it reasonable after the present turn be served that the Judges and Officers who are then placed may hold them Quam diu se bene gesserint But this Demand is but one Link of a good Chain or but the first Round of the Ladder by which our just ancient regal power is endeavoured to be fetched down to the ground not with the persons now chosen but with our chusing that you are displeased for they must be approved by both Houses And of the two if we would grant away either we would sooner be content that you should nominate and we approve lest by our Election we should hazzard whom we esteemed to the scorn of your refusal if they be not agreeable to the passion interest or humour of the major part of the House Not to speak of the great Factions and Divisions which this power would introduce in the Parliament between both Houses and in the several Counties for the choice of persons and between them that were so chosen Nor is the potion prescribed onely for once for the curing of some pressure or present disease but for a Diet to us and our posteritie It is demanded That our Counsellours all chief Officers of Law and State Commanders of Forts and Castles and all Peers hereafter made be approved of by them from time to time and rather than ever it should be left to the Crown to whom it doth and shall belong if any place fall void in intermission of Parliaments the major part of the approved Counsellours is to approve them And so we must not onely acquit our Right but for Councellours we are restrained in the number as in the persons and if they have this power it were not fit we should be trusted to chuse those which were to be trusted as much as we It is demanded That such matters as concern the publick and are proper for the high Court of Parliament may be debated resolved and transacted onely in Parliament and such as presume to do to the contrary shall be censured by Parliament and such other matters of State as are proper for debate with our Privy Council shall be concluded by such of our Nobility or rather herein your Nobilitie and others as shall be chosen for that place by approbation of Parliament and that not publick acts concerning the affairs of the Kingdom proper for our privie Council be esteemed valid or proceeding from royal Authority unless it be done
by consent of the major part of our Council attested under their hands Which in effect being granted is to depose our self and posteritie These being past we may be waited on bare headed our hand kist be called Majestie and the Kings Authoritie declared by Parliament may be still the style of your Commands We may have Swords and Maces born before us and please our self with the sight of a Crown and Scepter Nor would these Twigs flourish when the Stock were dead and we receive but the picture and sign of a King We were ever willing our Parliament should debate such matters proper for them but not to extend their Resolutions beyond what is proper to them and so by degrees you draw as well all the causes as all the faults of Westminster-hall That the course of Law be not diverted as was actually done in the stop of the proceedings against a Riot in Southwark by Order of the Lower House by countenancing such popular Insolencies and discountenance to Law That you descend not to the leasure of recommending Lectures to Churches nor ascend to the Legislative power to command such to be received without approbation of either Parson or Bishop nor regarding whether they be Orthodox Learned or Moderate or have taken Orders and are not depravers of the Book of Common Prayer concerning you in dutie and the Common-wealth in consequence to be carefull there And that our Forts may not be seized our Arms not removed our Money not be stopt our legal Directions not to be countermanded by you nor such entrance be made upon a real War against us upon pretence of an imaginarie War against you and a Chimaera of necessitie We could have wished you had exprest what matters you meant as fit to be transacted onely in Parliament and what you meant by onely in Parliament You have been taught new Doctrines to debate what was never used within you walls to do but been trusted with our Predecessours and us which without the regal Authoritie since there were Kings of this Kingdom were never transacted It therefore concerns us the more that you speak out that the World may know the bottom of your Demands or know them to be bottomless What is more proper for the Parliament than the making of Laws but then you must admit us a part of the Parliament You must not denie us the freedom of our Answer when we have as much Right to reject what we think unreasonable as you have to propose what you think necessarie nor is it possible our Answers either to Bills or any other Propositions should be wholly free if we may not use the libertie of every one of you and receive advice from any persons in which the manage of our Vote is trusted by the Law to our own judgment and conscience which how best to inform is likewise left to us and most unreasonable it were for two Estates proposing something to the third that third should take no advice but from those two that did propose it We shall ever in these things not decline the advice of our great Council and shall also use to hear willingly the debate of our Privie Council and they shall not be terrified from that freedom by Votes and Brands of Malignants and Enemies to the State admitting no more than the nature of the business requires and of discoursing with whom we please and of what we please and not to tie our self not to hear any more than twentie five out of a Kingâ—dom so replenished with judicious and experienced persons in several kindes yet we shall alwaies look upon their Advices as Advices not as Commands or Impositions and upon such persons as our Counsellours not as Tutours or Guardians and upon our self as their King not as their Pupil or Ward And it is not plainly exprest in the first part of the second Demand whether they meant us so much as a single Vote in these affairs and no more power than every one of the rest of our fellow Counsellours onely leaving to us of all our ancient power a choice and great care is taken that the Oath which these men shall take shall be such in the framing as that we may be wholly excluded and that wholly to be agreed upon by the Parliament And to shew there is no more care taken of our safetie than of our power after our Town and Fort kept from us which sure your selves will not denie to be Treason our Arms taken and our Goods sent away our Money stopt our Guards are not onely desired to be dismissed but it is likewise desired that we shall not for the future raise any Guards or Forces but in case of actual Rebellion or Invasion whicâ— if it had been Law in our famous Predecessours few of those Victories which have made this Nation famous could have been legally atchieved nor could Queen Elizabeth have so defended her self in Eightie Eight and if no Forces may be raised untill Rebellions or Invasions be actual they must no doubt be effectual and prevalent And as neither care is taken for our Rights Honour nor Safetie as a Prince so our Rights as a private person are endeavoured to be had from us It being demanded that it may be unlawfull and punishable not onely to conclude but even to treat of any Mariage with any person for our own Children or to place Governours about them without consent of Parliament and in the intermission of these without the consent of our good Lords of our Council More despicable than any of our Predecessours or than the meaner and viler of the lowest of our Subjects who value no libertie more than that of desposing their Children from which we are asked to debar our self and have reason the more to take it ill we are so because that for the choice of a Governour for our Son and a Husband for Daughter we conceived we had reason to expect your thanks and the increase of your future Trusts We suppose these Demands by this time appear such as the Demanders cannot have such real fear of us as hath been long pretended they are too much in the style not onely of Equals but of Conquerours But we call God to witness that as for our Subjects sakes these Rights are vested in us so for their sakes and our own we are resolved not to quite them nor to sâ—bvert the ancient equal happie well poised and never enough commended Constitution of the Government of this Kingdom not to make our self of a King of England a Duke of Venice and thus of 〈◊〉 Kingdom a Republick There being three kindes of Government Absolute Monarchy Aristocracy and Democracy and in all these their particular convenienceâ— and inconveniences the experience and wisdom of your Ancestours hath molded this out of a mixture of these with the conveniences of all Three without the inconveniences of any One as long as the Ballance hangs even between the three Estates and in their proper Chanel begetting
Earl of Essex to Brainford so near the King and if peace had been intended by the Parliament it would be conceived more proper to have sent to the King rather a Paper of just Propositions than an unjust Accusation of his Councils proceedings and person And his Majesty sent them word that he intends to march to such a distance from London that may take away all pretence of apprehension from his Armie that may hinder them from yet preparing Propositions of peace to present him and thereby to receive them or end these pressures and miseries I am the more curious in the controversion of this Accident to relate the Narrative and leave the Censure to the Readers impartiality And now again the four and twentieth of November the Parliament with their old Mode petition the King to return to his Parliament with his Royal not his Martial Attendance and they shall be ready to give him Assurances of such security as may be for his honour and the safety of his person To which the King answers with so much reason confuting their pretended loyal desires by the effects of their violence against him from the first of their Petitions of this kinde remindes them of their pretensions and of his candid and gracious offers and actions wishes that his Declarations Protestations Messages Answers and Replies to the Parliament were ingenuously published by them to undeceive his people abused into misbelief of him and his best actions and so returns to Reading The effect of all this intended Address for Accommodation rather increased a more desperate Division between the King and Parliament by a far stretched exasperating Relation styling it The barbarous and cruel passages of the Kings Armie at Brainford The Preamble belcheth out such unnatural inhumane and strange cruelties which send forth a voice and that voice so loud that it awakes even secure mankinde and stirs up their bowels to an inflamed and united indignation like the divided pieces of that woman abused to death c. There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came out of Egypt c. It is a Lamentation and to be taken up for a Lamentation no such thing hath been done since England came out of the Egypt of Rome Acts so far out of ken and view of Christianitie that they are void of humanitie yea short of the nature of wilde beasts c. And a great deal more of such stuff that a man might be amazed to finde the Parliaments Order for the speedy imprinting it Nov. 24. Then follows the Relation so poorly penned so short of expectation so pitifully expressed and yet so far differing from the truth being within the ken of last days remembrance that in earnest I need not confirm it with Rhetorick that these times took up a liberty to amaze the people with even Impossibilities which yet were believed Some reputation the Kings successes here took with his Friends beyond Seas that by a Letter written from the Hague to Secretary Nicholas intercepted and read in the House it appears what effect it wrought Which successes of the King hath supported our credits here says the Letter that the Prince of Orange hath advanced all those sums we are to expect from him of which twenty thousand pounds are sent towards you as much to New-castle and as much at least we bring with us besides the great business we expect a final end of this day which will advance sixty thousand pounds more We have sent over ten thousand Foot Arms two thousand Horse Arms twenty Pieces of Canon we bring over Wagons and all Accommodation to march so soon as we arrive with considerable Officers from hence and by the advice we receâ—â—â— from that side there are eight thousand Foot already six Troops of Horse and the rest will not be long a raising after we come there General King is designed for Lieutenant General he hath been with the Queen and will be suddenly there From Denmark are likewise sent Arms for ten thousand Foot and two thousand five hundred Horse with a Train of Artillerie and every thing proportionable to the very Drums and Halberds Two good Men of War come their Convoy and in them an Ambassadour to his Majestie a person of great qualitie from Denmark Cokram comes along with him We have great apprehensions here intimated by my Lord of Holland of a Treatie entered into c. Hague Nov. 22. 1642. And this supposed to be from Colonel Goring or rather so set out by the Parliament for at the publishing of this Letter they shew so much Danger as necessarily to require thirty thousand pounds to be lent by the City on Tuesday next that the Ministers are required to stir up their Parishioners and the Church-wardens to assemble their Parish to morrow after Sermon and on Munday next the Money is to be brought in at Guild-hall which they shall raise of Contribution From Saturday to Tuesday thirty thousand pounds Loan and God knows how much Church-offerings and all upon a ranting Letter made up for that purpose 'T is true that afterwards supplies of Arms and Money did arrive but as yet no certainty but by intelligence from beyond Seas which you see did their work in earnest for borrowing Money Since the first of December to the tenth the state of the military affairs in the North stand thus the Earl of Newcastle for the King came to York and joyned his Forces to the Earl of Cumberlands making in all eight thousand Horse and Foot of which there are above two thousand Horse Dragoons a strength too potent to be resisted by the Lord Fairfax who now had Commission for the command of the North for the Parliament for upon Newcastle's coming over the Tees Sir Edward Loftus with all the Richmondshire Forces and Sir Henry Anderson with those of Cleveland about a thousand returned home to their houses so that the whole strength of the North is but one and twenty Companies of Foot and seven Troops of Horse and one Company of Dragoons That Captain Hotham is made Lieutenant General under Fairfax and the rest with Fairfax at Tadcaster but both of them joyned upon the coming of the Earl of Newcastle to Tadcaster where the several Forces encounter from eleven a clock till four in the evening in a sharp dispute the Earl had won part of the Town beaten Fairfax's men and placed some Companies in several houses which were forced back again to a Retreat and an hundred slain and seventeen Prisoners The Parliament party lost but six men they say and Captain Lister shot into the head and twenty more desperately wounded but not being able to sit it out for a second Encounter the Lord Fairfax quitted the Town and marched to Cawood and Selbie to receive Supplies dividing their Army into those places From Selbie Sir Thomas Fairfax is sent with five Companies and two Troops to Leeds but was forced back again That the
the Breaches of the State without the Ruines of the Church as I would be a Restorer of the one so I would not be an Oppressor of the other under the pretence of Publick Debts The Occasions contracting them were bad enough but such a discharging of them would be much worse I pray God neither I nor mine may be accessory to either And now dies Mr. Iohn Pym a Member of the House of Commons and a notable stickler for the Parliament he was ever observed to be an high Prebyterian in profession whose subtilty managed the most of their publick affair and ended his days when he had wrangled for the Mastery and left all in great doubt which party might overcome not without some regret and repentance they say that these Differences which he hatched should prove so desperate as he now too late fore saw would undo this Nation In the midst of May it was that Colonel Nath Fines Governour of the City of Bristol had discovered a Plot of the Inhabitants to betray the Town which after much Examination lighted upon Robert Yeomans and George Bourchier who had secretly provided themselves of Arms intending to kill the Centinels by night and possess the Main Guard whereby to master the greatest part of the other side within the Town to kill the Mayor and many others affected to the Parliament and by that means to betray the City to the Kings Forces which should lodg near hand for that purpose two miles off but the Plot pretended was discovered and those men condemned by a Council of War to be hanged This was known at Oxford whereupon the Kings Lord Lieut. of all his Forces the Lord Ruthen lately made Earl of Forth writes to the Governour of Bristol I having been informed that lately at a Council of War you have condemned to death Robert Yeomans late Sheriff of Bristol who hath his Majesties Commission for raising a Regiment for his Service William Yeomans his Brother George Bourchier and Edward Dacres all for expressing their loyalty to his Majesty and endeavouring his Service according to their Allegeance do therefore signifie to you that I intend speedily to put Mr. George Mr. Stevens Captain Huntley and others taken in Rebellion at Cirencester into the same condition I do further advise you that if you offer by that unjust Iudgment to execute any of them that those here in custodie must expect no favour or mercie At Oxford May 16. 1643. To the Commander in chief of the Council of War in Bristol Forth The Answer comes from the Governour Colonel Nathaniel Fines and the Council of War at Bristol in effect That if you shall not make distinction between Souldiers of Arms and secret Spies and Conspirators we will not onely proceed against them but others and if by any inhumane and unsouldierlike Sentence you shall execute those persons you named then Sir Walter Pye Sir William Crofts and Colonel Connesby and others whom we have here in custodie must expect no favour or mercie May 18. 1643. Nath. Fines President c. To Patrick Earl of Forth Lord Lieutenant General And so notwithstanding the Kings Letter also to the Mayor and Citizens in their behalf Yeomans and Bourchier were hanged May 30. There was a Plot discovered at London the last of May against the Cities of London and Westminster and by consequence the whole Parliament the chief of the Conspiracy were Mr. Waller a Member of the House of Commons Mr. Tomkins his Brother in Law and lately Clerk of the Queens Council Mr. Chaloner Mr. Hasel Mr. Blinkhorn Mr. White and others As for the Plot we have ravelled into the search of the truth but must take it from the Parliaments Declaration That they should seize into their custodie the Kings Children some Members of the Parliament the Lord Mayor and Committee of Militia all the Cities Out-works and Forts the Tower of London and all the Magazines Then to let in the Kings Forces to surprize the Citie and destroy all Opposers and to resist all payments of Taxes And much heartened they were by a Commission of Array sent from Oxford at that time and brought secretly by the Lady Aubigne Daughter to the Earl of Suffolk Widow of the late Lord Aubigne wounded at Edg-hill and died at Oxford the thirteenth of Ianuary This Commission was directed to Sir Nicholas Crisp and divers others This Plot was discovered the last of May. They were arreigned in publick at Guild-hall and all those four named condemned onely Tomkins and Chaloner executed the first 〈…〉 Door in Holborn the other in Corn-hill but the chief Conspirator Waller was by General Essex reprieved imprisoned a twelve-moneth in the Tower and after for a Fine of ten thousand pounds pardoned and for shame sent to travel into France The reason is much studied for satisfying the World why he the chief Actor the other but brought in by the by should receive such partial Justice because he was ingenious and confessed all and Mr. Pym had engaged his promise for his Life but certainly the most evident Reason is very apparent his great Sum of Money paid down and belike his ample confession of the particulars which the other at their death did not acknowledg Iuly 5. The Parliament having been put to it in want of the great Seal of England now at Oxford for confirmation of their Acts and Ordinances it had been oftentimes disputed and committed the making of another Seal for the use of the Parliament yet deferred the times not â—itted for so great a business the renewing of the Treaty being offered at on both sides But now the Parliament pass four Votes 1. That it is necessary the Great Seal to attend the Houses 2. That there hath been a failer of it at this Parliament 3. Much prejudice to the King Parliament and Kingdom 4. That the Houses ought to provide a Remedie thereof for the time to come Afterwards they made an Order That if the Lord Keeper Littleton upon Summons did not return with the great Seal within fourteen days he should lose his Place and whatever should be sealed therewith by him after that time should be null and vacate in Law A worthy Member desired the Serjeant at Law that ordered the Ordinance not to wade too far in the business before he did consult the Statute of 25 Edward 3. where Counterfeiting the Great Seal is declared high Treason To which the Serjeant replied That he purposed not to counterfeit the old Seal but to make a new Indeed the Parliament being the highest Court and Council had shewn their legislative power by passing Ordinances without the Kings assent to binde the Subject in the exercise of the Militia and that there wanted nothing but the executive part with a Great Seal for the administring justice in all Courts of Law and Equity which would sufficiently declare their power in all necessary Incidents of that supreme Council That since inferiour Courts had their proper Seals the
himself from the Ladder without any remorse for his monstrous Crime And now being executed for his Villany it may merit the moving why he was refused his Trial by Peerage The King had a great desire to remove the Siege against Dennington Castle but were beaten off and therefore it was concluded by the Council of State that Essex's Forces should not draw out of Newbury into the Field lest the King should possess it for a Winter Quarter but that they should fight him at his Retreat but he retreated to Marlborough without opposition and the Parliaments Forces quit Newbury which the King possesses and reserves as a covert Quarter for his Army when the other lay in the open Fields and forced from Basing Siege withdrew to Reading Hereabout we finde the first appearance of Exception which the Parliament had against the good management of their Armies Essex being now suspected as careless or discontent and therefore they fall to debate hereabout in the House for Colonel Norton had writ a Letter to them that he had received a Warrant from a chief Commander in the Army to withdraw from Basing which was a thing unexpected he says but accordingly he hath obeyed nay the commands of the Committee of both Kingdoms to the Army were lately much neglected and complained of It grew into a high Debate How chance the Parliaments Forces permitted the Enemie to relieve Dennington Castle when they were two for one and why the Town of Newbury was quitted before the Enemie was marched away as the pretence of not fighting before was because we would not quit Newbury And now the Kings Forces were quartered at Basing Odjam Newburie Blewburie and Marlborough and Essex at Reading Henley Abington and Farnham And whilest they thus lodg in Quarters the Actions of the Parliaments Army are arreigned and committed And the Earl of Manchester makes the Relation concerning the carriage at Dennington Castle of great length in writing wherein his Lordship makes his own Defence and gives a Charge against Lieutenant General Cromwel a Member of the Commons who had deserved much honour for his good Service to the State and who made answer to several particulars therein mentioned and the point of privilege of Parliament upon the transmitting of that business from the Lords before any Charge was brought to the House of Commons but it was committed and they to receive the proofs for making good of the Earls Information concerning Lieutenant General Cromwel and to make protestation of secrecy therein and so silent they were that we never heard more of it General Essex having sped so ill in the West was now returned to Westminster where the Faction was powerfull in the Commons House against him being suspected somewhat more royal than the House would have him to be And after long Debate it was resolved to new model the Army and by degrees and in time to be rid of their old General and to bethink of a new one in quality not more than a Knight with intention not over-long to trust to the Lords at all And begin with an Order That no Member of either House shall during this War enjoy and execute any Office or Command Military or Civil which hath been granted or conferred on any Member of either House or by any Authoritie derived from either House This was subtilly done and but very poor Reasons publick to satisfie the world in this policy That in relation to the Armie all Commissions to Parliament men being void the new molding the Armie may be carried on with less exception when all are concerned alike That all Differences militarie among the great Commanders Parliament men which may retard the work is hereby quieted And those that shall be new made Officers may be elected of the lesser quality and the sooner subject to question and punishment and the Armie maintained at a less charge And after fourty days expiring this Order all their Commands and Offices in the Army shall be null but in order to justice they publish their Resolution to pay off their Arrears which was slenderly performed when their Offices were out of date And to crown this Design they fast and pray and to boot the well-affected City give them thanks and promise to live and die with them for this their new voting And somewhat to sweeten the Earl of Essex's sowreness the Parliament ordered him ten thousand pounds per annum out of Delinquents Estates for his good Service and his great Losses and amongst their Commanders they elect Sir Thomas Fairfax in his room But this great Ordinance of Molding goes on slow and suffered much Debate and Alteration for the Lords House began to foresee the effects and would not assent untill Petitions from the City and several Counties drew them to conclude it with this Title An Ordinance for the raising and maintaining of Forces for the defence of the Kingdom under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax Who is sent for to London out of the North and comes in private and the next day Feb. 19. is conducted to the Commons House by four of their Members a Chair was set and he to sit therein M. Speaker telling him the great trust the Kingdom had put upon him in the command of this Army and the good opinion they had of his valour and fidelity for the defence of Religion Laws and Liberty encouraging him to go on as he hath begun Great Disorders in the modelling this new Army and long time setling hastened an Order to the Scots Army to march Southward with all speed This new Army consisted of twenty one thousand viz. fourteen thousand Foot and six thousand Horse and a thousand Dragoons The House of Commons finding the Peers so pregnant as notwithstanding the great Exceptions and publick discourse of an intention to lessen their Lordships it was thought fitting to caress them by an appointed Committee March 18. to congratulate their happy concurrence and to assure them of the Commons real affections and endeavours to support their Lordships in their Honours and Privileges A language which heretofore the Lords would have disdained to have received from them The List of the Officers thus passed were these besides those of the old which are kept in Sir Thomas Fairfax Commander in chief Major General Skippon who was indeed the City Champion New Officers of Foot Colonels Crayford Berkley Montague Aldridg Holborn Fortescue Ingolsby Pickering Rainsborough New Officers of Horse Colonels Middleton Sidney Graves Sheffield Vermindon Whaley Levisay Fleetwood Rossiter Sir Robert Pie The Kings Army was now under the chief command of the Prince of Wales Prince Maurice and Prince Rupert in the Northern parts and association of the Counties adjoyning the Earl of Derby and Sir Marmaduke Langdon in Byrone and Gerard in VVales Southward and these Counties thereabout Hopton Goring and Greenvile in the West with several small Armies Amongst those of the old Commanders for the Parliament I finde Lieutenant General Cromwel the
Conference and conclude of two Letters to Fairfax and Massie to be communicated to the chief of the Club-men of the Intentions of the Parliaments Forces in general in opposition to the King and of the present Design to advance to the Relief of Taunton and that done to leave the Countrey in defence and quiet and therefore the Countrey-men are required to retire to their habitations not to be questioned for this Insurrection and Tumult in case they shall speedily submit to the present Order otherwise the Commanders Fairfax and Massie are to take all advantage to force them and to bring the chief Actors to condign punishment and if it shall be necessary to execute martial Law upon them These Resolutions of the Parliaments and Fairfax and Massie joyned in a Body soon scared the Club-men into a moderate Treaty and Cessation The while Goring hearing of these powers against him draws off his Horse towards Chard but leaves sufficient Foot to keep the Town in Siege and so he keeps himself at distance to fight or fly the fury of his Adversaries Forces who the nearer they march towards him the farther he retreats and in fine falls off with his Forces and marches towards Exeter giving room for Fairfax to enter and relieve Taunton for the present The Club-men are now formed into a Body and countenanced into a publick cause as concerning all Counties and persons of some quality are chiefs in their Council these are sent for as Agents to treat with the General Fairfax near Dorchester Iuly 3. The chief or Spokesman was one Mr. Hollis of that County and Brother to him of Salisbury their Embassie but for a Pass to their Commissioners returning some to the King others to the Parliament Those to the King were Doctor Henry Goche and Thomas Browel Divines Io St. Loe Peter Hodskins Esq Thomas Young an Attourney and Robert Pawlet Gent. To the Parliament were directed Melchisedec Woltham and Richard Cook Club-teachers or Preachers Tho. Trenchard and Robert Culliford Esqs George Haule and Richard Newman Gent. And together with Hollis Desire he delivers the Petitions themselves with their devised Articles concerning an Association of the County independent of either Armies The effect of the Articles That those Associate shall finde Arms for themselves to be at peace unless in opposition of disorderly Souldiers on either side to be brought to the next adjacent Garison That they will submit to Quarter and Contribution to their abilities till their Petitions be preferred and timely answered Not to favour either party nor to protect any not so associated Then in their Petitions They desire a râ—newed Treaty of King and Parliament with Cessation of Arms. That the Garisons of Dorset and Wiltshire be put into their hands till the King and Parliament agree about the disposal of them That they be free from all charge but maintenance of those Garisons That all Laws not repealed be in force and to be executed by the ordinary Officers That all men that desire may lay down Arms and others who have absented themselves from their Dwellings may have liberty to return home This being the sum and sufficient to trouble the General what to do he and the Committee with him conclude of this Answer Although the Paper brought to me being not subscribed cannot challenge any Answer yet to clear my self from aversness to the satisfaction of the Countrey who are pretended to be intrusted in these Petitions I return this That my affections and the affections of this Army are as much inclined to peace as any mens whatsoever And we undertake the War for no other end than the establishment of a firm and happy peace by opposing the Enemies thereof and that I shall be ready so far as it concerns me to further all lawfull means to procure it But having seen the Petitions for the conveyance of which a Let-pass is desired I must profess my self not so well satisfied with some things contained in them as to concur to their delivering by any act of mine 1. In particular That a Cessation is desired whilest by Letters written by the King and Queen taken at the Battle at Naseby it evidently appears that Contracts are already made for the bringing in ten thousand French and six thousand Irish. 2. It is further desired That the Garisons in these parts whereof three are Sea-ports should be delivered up to the Petitioners which to grant were for the Parliament to acquit part of the Trust reposed in them by the Kingdom and considering these foreign Preparations to run very great hazzards of these Ports to themselves and the whole Kingdom It is further propounded That liberty be given to all Souldiers to disband and to return home if they desire it which may with equal justice be desired by all parts of the Kingdom and so the Parliament made unable to mannage the War before Peace be setled These Considerations with some other as yet to be debated will not allow me to grant the Desire of the Letter But as to that other part of the Petition which declares the Grievances of the Countie by Plunder and violence committed either by Garisons or Armies I do hereby promise and undertake for the Garisons and Armies under the Command of the Parliament that whatsoever Disorders are committed by them upon a Complaint making known the Offences and the Persons justice shall be done and satisfaction given As also that I shall endeavour that the Parliament Garisons be regulated according to any reasonable agreement with the Countrey and without doubt the Parliament will cause them to be slighted so soon as the condition of these parts and the publick good shall permit And that the Army under my command shall be ordered as may be most for the good and advantage of these Counties and the whole Kingdom of which some reasonable testimony is already given in their quiet and orderly passage through these and other Counties without many of those Complaints which usually follow Armies I further desire that in the publishing of this my Answer to your Request all assembling of the people to puâ—â—â—ck Rendezvouz may be forborn and that Copies hereof may be dispersed to the several Parishes that the Countrey may be acquainted herewith Th Fairfax But although these Club-ambassadors went away with no better satisfaction from so potent an Army yet they quarrelled with the Governour of Lime about Bridg-port who sent to them to disband and to return from tumult To declare themselves for answer they in scorn tore his Paper-Message and thereupon they had a Bickering and some scores slain on both sides and no doubt Goring had fomented that Difference and lent them some Officers But Goring having drawn off all his Forces from Taunton the seventh of Iuly marched to Lang-port expecting a party of Horse and Foot to joyn with him from the King which Fairfax resolved to prevent and first to fight him and to that end divides his Army Massie
make Peace with the Parliament from Cardiffe Aug. 1645. CHARLES REX Nephew this is occasioned by a Letter of yours which the Duke of Richmond shewed to me last night And first I assure you I have been and ever will be very careful to advertise you of my resolutions as soon as they were taken and if I enjoyned silence to that which was no secret it was not my fault for I thought it one and I am sure it ought to have been so Now as for your Opinion of my Business and your Counsel thereupon If I had any other quarrel but the defence of my Religion Crown and Friends you had full reason for your advice for I confess that speaking either as a meer Souldier or Statesman I must say there is no probability but of my ruine Yet as a Christian I must tell you that God will not suffer Rebels and Traitors to prosper or this Cause to be overthrown And whatsoever personal punishment it shall please him to inflict upon me must not make me repine much less give over this quarrel And there is as little Question that a composition with them at this time is nothing else but a submission which by the grace of God I am resolved against whatsoever it cost me for I know my Obligation to be both in Conscience and Honour neither to abandon Gods Cause nor to injure my Successors nor forsake my Friends Indeed I cannot flatter my self with expectation of good success more then this to end my daies with Honour and a good Conscience which obligeth me to continue my endeavours as not despairing that God may yet in due time avenge his own Cause though I must avow to all my Friends that he that will stay with me all this time must expect and resolve either to dye for a good Cause or which is worse to live as miserable in maintaining it as the violence of insulting Rebels can make him Having thus truly and impartially stated my Case unto you and plainly told you my positive resolutions which by the grace of God I will not alter they being neither lightlie nor suddenlie grounded I earnestly desire not in any wise to hearken after Treaties assuring you as low as I am I will doe no less then what was offered in my Name at Uxbridge confessing that it were as great a miracle that they should agree to so much reason as that I should be within a moneth in the same condition that I was immediatelie before the Battel at Naseby Therefore for Gods sake let us not flatter our selves with these conceits and believe me your very imagination that you are desirous of a Treatie will but loose me so much the sooner and therefore as you love me whatsoever you have alreadie done applie your discourse hereafter according to my resolution and judgement As for the Irish I le assure you they shall not cheat me but it is possible they may cozen themselves For be assured what I have refused to the English I will not grant to the Irish Rebels never trusting to that kinde of People of what Nation soever more then I see by their Actions And I am sending to Ormond such a dispatch as I am sure will please you and all honest men a Copie thereof by the next opportunitie you shall have Lastly be confident I would not have put you nor my self to the trouble of this long Letter had I not a great estimation of you and a full confidence of your friendship to CHARLES REX Cardiffe Aug. 1645. These are the Kings grounds and reasons rebus sic not to descend beneath the propositions offered at Uxbridge And herein he was resolved not trusting to publick counsels in the affairs of Peace And therefore in General most opinions of his Friends were for a Treatie grounding their reasons upon the Kings desperate condition little hope being left to him by force to end these differences To the desire of a Treaty some Councellors in the Princes Army now in the West had advised his Highness to send to his Majesty to that effect Whereupon the Prince writes to the General Fairfax who with his Forces were quartered about him to grant his pass for the Lord Hopton and the Lord Culpepper to go to the King and mediate with him for a Treaty with the Parliament To which after a fortnights consult with his Committee he returns answer or rather his advice for the Prince to disband his Army he now commands which he conceives would be the readiest way for the security of him and his posterity and of those who attend and adhere to him Which if he will do the General would in person conduct himself to the Parliament November 8. To which Answer the Lord Capel had Commission three weeks after to Reply In answer to yours of the eight of the last Moneth His Highness hath commanded me to let you know that he did not believe that his overture of engaging himself in the mediation of a blessed peace for his miserable Kingdome which he did and doth still very earnestly desire to labour in would have brought him an inhibition to quit his duty and loyalty to his royal Father by dividing his Interest from that of his Majesties whereby he should render himself unworthy and uncapable of the fruits of that peace he labours for If his former propositions may be consented unto he hopes God will so bless his sincere intentions and desires as to make him a blessed Instrument to preserve this Kingdome from desolation But if that be rejected he shall give the world no cause to believe that he will forfeit that honour and integrity which can onely preserve him in a capacity of doing that service and shall with patience attend Gods good pleasure untill his endeavours may be applied with preservation of his innocency This is all I have in command from His Highness Exon. Decemb. 1. Your servant Arthur Capel And no reply hereto the King then at Oxford taking knowledge of these passages is put to the extremity of seeking it himself whether of his own inclination or pressed thereto by his Council He sends a Trumpet to the Parliament with a Letter for safe conduct for certain persons of Honour to be sent with propositions of peace which came inclosed in a Letter of Sir Thomas Glenhams Governour of Oxford and directed to the Speaker of the House of Peers Decemb. 5. C. R. His Majesty being deeply sensible of the continuation of this bloody and unnatural war cannot think himself discharged of the duty he owes to God or the affection and regard he hath to the preservation of his people without the constant application of his earnest endeavours to finde some expedient for the speedy ending of these unhappy distractions if that may be he doth therefore desire that a safe conduct may be forthwith sent for the Duke of Richmond the Earl of Southampton John Ashburnham and Jeffrey Palmer Esqs and their attendance for
either by Treatie or Conquest the later of which his Majestie hopes none will have the impudencie or impietie to wish for And for the former if his personal assistance in it be not the most likely way let any reasonable man judg when by that means not onely all unnecessary Delaies will be removed but even the greatest Difficulties made easie And therefore he doth now again earnestly insist upon that Proposition expecting to have a better Answer upon mature consideration And can in be imagined that any Propositions will be so effectual being formed before a personal Treatie as such as are framed and propounded upon a full Debate on both sides Wherefore his Majestie who is most concerned in the good of his people and is most desirous to restore peace and happiness to his three Kingdoms doth again instantly desire an Answer to his said former Messages to which he hath hitherto received none Given at our Court at Oxon the four and twentieth of January 1645. To the Speaker of the House of Peers c. The King Prince and Rupert and Maurice were reconciled and all at Oxford extremely straitned for Provisions being blocked up but what Refreshments came at dear Rates he commands a Fast and Prayers to God directed to the Vice-chancellour and Heads of Houses in the Universitie of Oxford That Divine Service established by Law be read daily Morning and Evening as now it is in your respective Houses and also that upon Wednesdays and Fridays to meet four times each Day at Divine Service and so to continue during these sad Times and a general Fast each Friday from Food till five a clock after the Evening Service and this to be done now and hereafter according to the good Example of the Primitive Christians Edw. Nicholas But unhappily it fell out that now again the Parliament intercepted some Irish Letters and Papers in a manner the whole Transactions Copies between the King and the Irish Rebells Amongst many this Commission to Edward Lord Herbert Earl of Glamorgan to treat with the Irish Rebells CHARLS R. Charls by the grace of God c. To our trustie c. Edward Earl of Glamorgan We reposing great and especial trust and confidence in your approved wisdom and fidelitie do by these as firmly as under our great Seal to all intents and purposes authorize and give you power to treat and conclude with the confederate Roman Catholicks in our Kingdom of Ireland if upon necessitie any thing be condiscended unto wherein our Lieutenant cannot so well be seen in as not fit for us for the present publickly to own therefore we charge you to proceed according to this our Warrant with all possible secrecie and whatsoever you shall engage your self upon such valuable considerations as you in your judgment shall deem fit We promise in the word of a King and Christian to ratifie and perform the same of that which shall be granted by you and under your Hand and Seal The said confederate Catholicks having by their Supplies testified their zeal to our Service And this shall be in each particular to you a sufficient Warrant Given at our Court at Oxon the twelfth of May 20 Car. This Commission being but a Paper Copy and so hinted to the King he was pleased to pass it over as no sufficient ground to put him to the acknowledgment thereof yet it became him to excuse the effects of Glamorgan's Negotiations with the Irish which it seems were so averse from Ormond's Instructions as the Kings Lieutenant that Glamorgan was there committed by him and the Council And how to piece up these passages from censure he is pleased to frame a Declaration and sends it to the Parliament by Message Ian. 29. CHARLS R. His Majestie having received Information from the Lord Lieutenant and Council in Ireland That the Earl of Glamorgan hath without his or their directions or privitie entred into a Treatie with some Commissioners on the Roman Catholick partie there and also drawn up and agreed unto certain Articles with the said Commissioners highly derogatorie to his Majesties Honour and Royal Dignitie and most prejudicial unto the Protestant Religion and Church there in Ireland whereupon the said Earl of Glamorgan is arrested upon suspition of high Treason and imprisoned by the said Lord Lieutenant and Council at the instance and by the impeachment of the Lord Digby who by reason of his Place and former Imploiment in these affairs doth best know how contrarie that Proceeding of the said Earl hath been to his Majesties Intentions and Directions and what great prejudice it might bring to his affairs if those Proceedings of the Earl of Glamorgan should be any waies understood to have been done by the Directions liking or approbation of his Majestie His Majestie having in his former Messages for a personal Treatie offered to give contentment to his two Houses in the business of Ireland hath now thought fitting the better to shew his clear Intentions and to give satisfaction to his said Houses of Parliament and the rest of his Subjects in all his Kingdoms to send this Declaration to his said Houses containing the whole truth of the business which is That the Earl of Glamorgan having made offer unto him to raise Forces in the Kingdom of Ireland and to conduct them into England for his Majesties Service had a Commission to that purpose and to that purpose onely That he had no Commission at all to treat of any thing else without the privitie and directions of the Lord Lieutenant much less to capitulate any thing concerning Religion or any proprietie belonging either to Church or Laitie That it clearly appears by the Lord Lieutenants Proceedings with the said Earl that he had no notice at all of what the said Earl had treated and pretended to have capitulated with the Irish untill by accident it came to his knowledg And his Majestie doth protest That untill such time as he had advertisement that the person of the said Earl of Glamorgan was arrested and restrained as is abovesaid he never heard nor had any kinde of notice that the said Earl had entred into any kinde of Treatie or Capitulation with those Irish Comissioners much less that he had concluded or signed those Articles so destructive both to Church and State and so repugnant to his Majesties publick Professions and known Resolutions And for the further vindication of his Majesties Honor and Integritie herein he doth declare That he is so far from considering any thing contained in those Papers or Writings fraâ—ed by the said Earl and those Commissioners with whom he treated as he doth absolutely disavow him therein and hath given commandment to the Lord Lieutenant and the Council there to proceed against the said Earl as one who either out of falsness presumption or follie hath so hazarded the blemishing of his Majesties Reputaion with his good Subjects and so impertinently framed those Articles of hisown head without the consent
obvious to every body why it is fit for me to be attended by some of my Chaplains whose opinions as Clergie-men I esteem and reverence not only for the exercising of my Conscience but also for clearing of my judgment concerning the present difference in Religion as I have at full declared to Mr. Marshal and his fellow Minister Having shewed them that it is the best and likelyest means of giving me satisfaction which without it I cannot have in these times whereby the distractions of this Church may be the better setled Wherefore I desire that at least two of these Reverend Divines whose Names I have here set down may have the liberty to wait upon me for the discharging of their Duty to me according to their function Charles Rex Holmby 17. Feb. 1656. Bish. London Bish. Salisbury Bish. Peterborough Dr. Sheldon Clerk of my Closet Dr. Marsh Dean of Yorke Dr. Sanderson Dr. Baily Dr. Haywood Dr. Beal Dr. Fuller Dr. Hamond Dr. Tayler For the Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore c. The Guardians Commissioners had two of their own Ministers Mr. Marshal and Mr. Caryl who undertok the King but so lamely as that they may be said to halt after Henderson And truly the King rather pittying then despising them and would never be perswaded to hear their preachings nor overswayed with their Councel The Guardians had kept a bounteous house it seems and were soundly chidden by the Parliaments Letters for spending the States Revenue so fast and therefore for want of better work they are very busie to new Model his Majesties litle Family into lesse and by degrees to none at all His hard condition to be minced meat and drink out of his own We may not omit the Remembrance of that worthy learned Lawyer Mr. Serjeant Glanvile mightily persecuted for malignancy of being of the Kings party Imprisoned in several durances and lastly of long time committed to the Tower two years without any charge at all against him he is now released upon Bail and this justice was done to him by the favour of the Lords House to which the Commons had been alwayes and now was dissenting We may observe that he had been hardly used heretofore in the beginning of this Kings Reign for not consenting to some passages of State and then sent to Sea which he humbly endured with patience and Loyalty And now also his Conscience bearing witnesse he suffers for his Sovereigns sake faithful to his principles The King having no Answer concerning his Chaplains writes again for them to come and comfort him It being now seventeen daies since I wrote to you from hence and not yet receiving any Answer I cannot but now again renew the same And indeed concerning any thing but the necessary duty of a Christian I would not thus at this time trouble you But my being attended with some of my Chaplains whom I esteem and reverence is so necessary for me even considering my present condition whether in relation to my conscience or a happy settlement of the distractions in Religion that I will slight divers kindes of censures rather than not to obtain my demand nor shall I wrong you as in this to doubt the obtaining of my wish it being totally grounded upon Reason For desiring you to consider not thinking it needful to mention the divers reasons which no Christian can be ignorant of for point of Conscience I must assure you I cannot as I ought take in consideration those alterations in Religion which have and will be offered unto me without such help as I desire because I can never judg rightly of or be altered in any thing of my opinion so long as any ordinary way of finding out the truth is denied me but when this is granted I promise you faithfully not to strive for victory in Argument but to seek and submit to truth according to that judgment which God hath given me alwaies holding it my best and greatest conquest to give contentment to my two Houses of Parliament in all things which I conceive not to be against my conscience or honour not doubting likewise but that you will be ready to satisfie me in reasonable things as I hope to finde in this particular concerning the attendance of my Chaplains upon me Charles Rex Holmby 6. March For the the Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore To which the Parliament give Answer That all those the Kings Chaplaines are disaffected to the Established Government of the Church and have not taken the Covenant but for others that have if his Majesty please they shall be sent to him This troubled the King to be denied such as every Christian hath liberty to choose their Ghostly Fathers Spiritual Comforters This makes him complain When Providence was pleased to deprive me saies the King of all other civil comforts and secular Attendance I thought the absence of them all might best be supplied by the attendance of some of my Chaplains whom for their Function I reverence and for their Fidelity I have cause to love By their Learning Piety and Praiers I hoped to be either better enabled to sustain the want of all other enjoyments or better fitted for the recovery and use of them in Gods good time so reaping by their pious help a spiritual harvest of Grace amidst the thorns and after the plowings of temporal crosses The truth is I never needed or desired more the service and assistance of men judiciously-pious and soberly-devout The solitude they have confined me unto adds the Wilderness to my temptations for the company they obtrude upon me is more sad then any solitude can be If I had asked my Revenues my power of the Militia or any one of my Kingdoms it had been no wonder to have been denied in those things where the evil policie of men forbids all just restitution lest they should confesse an injurious usurpation But to deny me the Ghostly comfort of my Chaplains seems a greater rigor and barbaritie then is ever used by Christians to the meanest Prisoners and greatest Malefactors whom though the justice of the Law deprives of worldly comforts yet the mercy of Religion allows them the benefit of their Clergie as not aiming at once to destroy their Bodies and to damn their Souls But my Agony must not be releived with the presence of any one good Angel for such I account a Learned Godly and Discreet Divine and such I would have all mine to be They that envy my being a King are loth I should be a Christâ—an while they seek to deprive me of all things else they are afraid I should save my Soule Other sense Charitie it self can hardly pick out of those many harsh Repulses I received as to that Request so often made for the attendance of some of my Chaplains I have somtime thought the Unchristiannesse of those denials might arise from a displeasure some men had to see me prefer my own Divines
Common Enemy may yet be more honourable in the peoples eyes when they shall be called the Repairers of their Breaches and the Recoverers of their Peace Rights and Freedom And this is the prayer and the earnest endeavours of The Armies and all the peoples most faithful Servants The Agitators c. Gilford Octob. 9. 1647. The sum of the Generals Answer was That he judged their Intentions were honest and desired that every one of a publick spirit would be acting for the Publick and that he had for his part freely ventured his life for common right and freedom and should freely engage it again and referred it to the General Council And therefore according to the sence of some of these mischiefs evils and dangers the Parliament altered some of the Propositions to be sent to the King concerning the Period of Parliaments Act of Oblivion for the King and Queen waved in such others Then comes out a further Paper of Proposals from the said Agitators and also from other Agitators of four Regiments of Horse and seven Regiments of Foot joyning with them in very many particulars of Reforming abuses and ordering of the Government November 1. 1647. And in truth the Army was as sedulous in these and other such particulars as that we may conclude they were more busie than the Parliament But the Scots Commissioners here interrupted these proceedings with a Letter which they sent the sixth of November to the Speaker of the House of Commons in effect That since the Kings removal by force of the Army from Holmby and the resentment of the Kingdom of Scotland of that violent action the Commissioners applied themselves to his Majesty to shew there iâ— his usage but for his present condition he professeth he cannot and referreth us to the Parliament and Army That the Parliament by many engagements have declared to have care of his person power and greatnesse which both Kingdoms have sworn not to diminish therefore the Commissioners apply themselves to the Parliament presuming that the Army is under their command the rather because they are informed of the Armies intentions to remove the King from Hampton Court on whose safety their happiness depends and resolving that no alteration of affairs shall separate their duty and Allegiance to him to live and dye in all Loyalty under his Government Accordingly the votes of Parliament the twenty sixth of October resolved of sending Propositions to the King and therefore they desire that there may be a personal Treaty with him and that he may be invited to come to London or at least to remain at Hampton Court with that honour and freedom due to his Majesty and not to be under the power and restraint of the Souldiers and that the King be no more carried about at their pleasure These being the desires of the Kingdom of Scotland Worcester-house Nove. 6. 1647. And now the General excuses the Army promising his endeavours to settle the distempers there to answer the Parliaments desire to receive the Agitators against whose papers this daypresented to the Parliament called The case of the Army and another stiled The agreement of the People the Parliament voted them to be destructive to the being the Parliaments and the fundamental Government of this Kingdom Yet herein the Agitators continued so insolent that for example one of them White was shot to death at Ware for fomenting the said Papers Petition and Agreement The King in his late Answer to the Parliaments Propositions having therein given greater honour to the Army â—hen to the Houses he is therefore caressed by the Camp which exasperates some Members against him and plained the way for the Souldiers afterwards to excuse their not requiting him with sufficient kindnesse out of their due reverence to the Members and regard also to their Agitators of whom the King takes impressions of fear by private intelligence from the Camp who set them a work as also by some of the Members that they meant his personal danger which hazard the Commanders of the Army could not gainstand To make him more sensible it is apprehended likewise by three or four of the Kings Instruments often mixing with the Commanders and they are led into this construction That the Army was honest and more willing that the King should escape than that his destruction should happen under their Roof And by many circumstances the Kings Agents get the hint to prevent the danger by this foreign flight which yet if he did would Answer the general design of his undoing for by leaving his Government and People he should Denude himself of his Crown forsake the Protection of his Subjects and give just occasion to the Parliament to settle the peace of the Nation without him And so intricate was the Kings affairs to wade through that a confident of his intimate also with the councils of the Camp and at this time looking sadly the King told him his face presaged ill Newes He Answered Sir not for the danger but that I cannot council you Speak it out said the King he replied Sir your person is supposed in some hazard and yet because the Grandees of the Army advise your escape I am sure that their design is to ruin you by your own act My case is desperate said the King my condition in a sinking Barke no help at hand may I not leap over board to swim a shoar Yes whilst I submit my endeavours to Gods Providence I am in the best way of security Et sic fiat voluntas Dei As the scene is laid and taken the King consults with his confidents Mr. Iohn Ashburnham Sir Iohn Berkley and Colonel William Leg for his escape to the Isle of Iersey The Ship is prepared the place to Imbarke about Southampton and all things fitted his Horses are lodg'd in the evening on the other side of the Thames Hampton ferry and these men his attendants The time Friday night the eleventh of November when about noon that day a Letter of Intelligence devised by a Member to startle the King is conveyed into Colonel Whalies hands directed for his Majesty as from a dear friend Ignoto and dated two dayes before which he instantly communicates to the King and thus it was May it please your Majesty In discharge of my duty I cannot omit to acquaint you that my Brother was at a meeting last night with eight or nine Agitators who in debate of the obstacle which did most hinder the speedy effecting their design did conclude it was your Majesty And as long as your Majesty doth live you would be so And therefore resolved for the good of the Kingdom to take your life away and that to that action they were well assured that Mr. Dell and Mr. Peters two of their Preachers would willingly bear them Company for they had often said to their Agitators your Majestly is but a dead Dog My Prayers are for your Majesties safety but I do too much fear
him whether this suddain change be sutable to his Ingagement or for a man of honour or honesty to deal thus with them that had so freely cast themselves upon him and whether the Commissioners were acquainted herewith he answered No but that he had the Parliaments Authority to do it and that he plainly saw by his Answer to the Propositions that he acted by other councils than stood with the good of the Kingdom Do you infer this sayes the King from my Answer and commanded Ashburnham to read the Copy thereof aloud to the company Hamond replied to all that he hoped of the good liking of the Houses thereto The King answered for once I will dare to be a Prophet for if ever the Parliament return an Answer to this believe me not but instead of all they will give the Governour thanks for his severity and send him a gratuity which they did And all parted with tears and much grief to the King Which so exasperated the people of the Island that somewhat happened like a mutiny and one Captain Barley heated with passion and misjudgment beat a Drum in Newport crying out for God and the King and the people but was soon suppressed interpreting this attempt to be a design they said to take away the King to seize the Castle and to do such like impossibilities Hereupon the Vice Admiral Rainsborough is commanded with a Fleet to surround the Isle and Land Forces are sent thither to strengthen the places and Votes passed the House for the trial of the chief Actors in this Mutiny Decem. 30. And Baily was arraigned at Winchester condemned for High Treason and accordingly hanged drawn and quarterd for Sir Harry Mildmay sometime Master of the Jewel house to the King and his Houshold servant alwaies had particular thanks of the House for his good service at Southampton upon the Commission of Oyer and determiner for the trial of Captain Baily Febr. 2. The Kings Answer read in the Houses and the effect known to the Army that hereby he was in a Gin and upon ruine they all piece again and the Agitators are brought into order only two Dissenters in honour to Military Discipline were shot and others imprisoned and all men had leave and liking to exclaim against him even in Pulpits generally countenancing the opinion of the most exasperated Members to consult of Interdictory Votes against all Commerce with the King which was set out the tenth of Ianuary 1. That the Houses for the future should have no access to or commerce with the King 2. Nor by any person whatsoever unless having obtained leave of both Houses 3. That no Messenger nor Paper should be recieved at any time from the King 4. That he shall incur the pains of High Treason that shall act to the contrary These were long debated below and the Houses made thin ere they were resolved And the first Vote held the whole day the Members wearied perhaps sooner than perswaded to the hopes of better events than followed the latter three were harsh yet necessarily depending Howbeit the higher House held to the tugg for many dayes till the Messengers of the Army came and gave thanks to the Commons and the old Artifice was set on work by the Rabble to rail at the Lords and some other terrors of Guards to the dissenting Peers made them at last to joyn with the Commons in these Votes and had thanks from the Army that the Souldiers would defend the priviledges of the upper House And for what was done then and subsequently acted there were Emissaries ordained to extort gratulatory Petitions from the people for what was done and to desire some more severe course upon the King But in fine the Parliament was put to it to give their Reasons of those Votes in a publick Declaration 15. Febr. In which they endeavour to set forth the fruitless addresses formerly made to the King which besides the suffering of many hundred thousands free-born people have not moved him That 7. Applications with Propositions have been tendered wherein the Parliament have yielded up not only their will and affections but reason and judgment yet he never accepted of any sent him No not after he was gone from Oxford his Towns and Armies overcome The last address was but for four Bills which they judged just honourable and necessary for safety during the after Treaty Then they remember many nay all the passages complainable of his Reign as hath been particularly set forth heretofore in their several Remonstrances where to the King gave Answers all which are but the repetition of former observations sufficiently expressed throughout this History and to say it over again will but trouble the Reader nor make more advantage to either party than as heretofore hath been And they conclude That he hath not only forgot his duty to the Kingdom but care and respect to himself and Family and that they could give many reasons more why they will make no more addresses and yet they will use their utmost endeavours to settle the present Government as may best stand with the Peace and happines of this Kingdom And hereupon almost together comes out the Armies Declaration in reference to the former of the Parliament We finde say they That the Parliament have insisted only upon some few things so essential to that interest of the Kingdom which they have hitherto engaged for as that without betraying the safety of the Nation and themselves and all that had engaged with them in that cause without denying that which God in the issue of the War hath born such testimony unto that they could goe no lower and these things granted they have offered to Treat of all the rest so that by and with the Kings denial we can see no hopes of settlement or security that way And therefore understanding that on Munday last the House of Commons have resolved not to make any further address to the King nor receive any from him nor to suffer either in others We do freely and unanimously declare for our selves and the Army that we are resolved through the grace of God firmly to adhere with and stand by the Parliament in their said Votes and in what shall be further necessary for prosecution thereof and for the sitting and securing of the Parliament and Kingdom without the King and against him or any other that shall partake with him Windsor Ian. 11. It is true that it cannot be conceived that the King could have any possible means to make Answer to the Parliaments Declaration and Army there were too many spies upon him Yet not long after some one so well affected to the Kings Service that whilst he is a prisoner takes upon him the Kings Cause and published an Answer such as it is which we submit to censure The Title stiles it His Majesties Answer to a Pamphlet Intituled a Declaration of the Commons of England in Parliament assembled expressing their Reasons and Grounds
And the advantage that each party in Ireland had of the other was to burn kill and devastate the whole nation so that it appears a very deluge of destruction to the next years actions there One word more for the foreign affairs At Munster the Treaty concluded a peace between Spain and the united Provinces the 16. of February the circumstances thus Pignoranda and Le Bran Plenipotents of Spain there for the Arch-Bishop of Cambrey is dead came and visited the States Ambassadors in the after noon where after some conference and debate both parties signed in the name of their respective Masters viz. those two for Spain and seven for the six Provinces viz. two for Holland and one for each of the rest all but Nel-shurst for Utrecht who refused at which time came in a Letter signed by Longue Ville and Servient for the French to the State Ambassadours seeking to divert or retard their Pacification but in vain the Dutch Ambassadours declaring they had hitherto waited for the complyance of France and now at last had given them upon their desire fifteen daies respite which expired they have concluded yet giving them leave to come in within two moneths which is like to be the time of Ratification and Publication for the Papers must be sent into Spain for the Kings own consent Nel-shurst pretended he cannot in conscience sign because of the States confederacy with France without leave of the French Their Treaty bindes them in making peace to go paripassus This Act hath not so much pleased Spain as vexed France and many more The French Ambassadour La Tuillâ—ry endeavours to raise men in Holland to carry on the war next summer with Swede with the greater vigour and give out that they will call their Ambassadours from Munster and break up that meeting which now Spain will not fear The very day of concluding this Treaty there came in aâ— Rotterdam one Rololledo a Spanish Ambassadour coming as he saith from Denmark and sent hither for his pass much debate there was whether he should be prisoner for the Hostility lasts till the Publication but sith he came by England and by accident of cross winds and the peace so near it was waved and he had a pass And so we go on to the next year 1648. The King is laid aside the People Act for him And although the Parliaments Declaration against him may not indure any Answer from himself in his own defence yet sundry Pamphlets perignotos are scattered abroad endeavouring to clear him by many Apologies the Preachers coldly execute the publick commands yet some speeches by others appear gratulatory to the Parliament but the most of men universally murmur and Petition for setting on foot a Treaty with the King the Parliament in vain opposing multitudes of the Counties Petitions and other places who are ill intreated Part of the Parliaments Navy revolt the Scots invade England with bad success and accordingly the Princes Fleet make a kind of defection from him The Parliament consult of Peace Repeal their Votes of Non Addresse to the King and resolve to Treat with him by Commissioners with strict propositions and do yet the King grants many things giving hopes of a good agreement for the Grandees of the Army seem to carress peace whilst the Souldiers are dissenting and demand the King to Justice and to that end Rendevouz neer London and frame a Remonstrance against Peace in the name of the whole Army which is approved in a Council of War and exhibited to both the Houses the Commons seem to consider of the Kings concessions which the Army decline and seiz the King in the Isle of Wight and with him march to London and enquarter about the Parliament whilst the Members of the Commons debate the Kings concessions and Vote them a good foundation towards the setling of a peace to which the Lords assent The Grandees of the Army beleaguer the Houses and purge the Parliament and ill intreat the Members by imprisonment and order the rest to their intentions and determine of the chief affaires of the Kingdom of punishing the King and of modelling the foundation of Government And first confirm the Votes of No Address to the King and annull those for commencing a Treaty with him Promise Votes reflecting upon his life Erect a Tribunal constitute Judgement of all sorts of the Army and of the Members The Higher House neglected yet they reject the others Votes and therefore such of them are expunged out of the number of Judges against the King and all such others as are of their opinion The Presbyterian Ministery outed of all declaim against the proceedings the Scots also protest the States of Holland interpose the Lords doe their duty and the people grumble contrariwise others of the Pulpit pray them to proceed against the King the High Court of Justice is fitted the King Arraigned condemned and is beheaded We will enter this year with a notable Reformation The University of Oxford was supposed to be in disorder For upon the Ordinance of Parliament the last year for the Visitation and Reformation thereof they Ordained certain Gentlemen of several qualities or any five of them to be Visitors Amongst whom were Sir Nath. Brent Mr. William Prin of Lincolns Inn Mr. Reynolds Mr. Cheynel Mr. Wilkinson Mr. Harris Mr. Palmer c. to inquire hear and determine all Crimes Offences c. And accordingly they send their Summons And had Answer of the Delegates Wherein their Vice-Chancellor and Proctors being the Magistrates and publick Officers of this University have beâ—n required to appear they having imparted the same to us the Delegates of this University who doe humbly conceive we cannot acknowledge any Visitors but the King or his immediate Substitutes which we are bound to defend by Legal Obligation by our late Protestation as his Majesties undoubted Rights and also are obliged by divers Statutes and Oathes to maintain also and cannot submit otherwise without manifold multiplyed perjuries And this we hope to make more evident before our proper and competent Judges and to Answer whatsoever Crimes or misdemeanour shall be laid to our charge How violently and active the Resentments of liberty and freedom are in the mindes of men this late War hath given evidence wherein the most earthy souls with earnest zeal have sacrificed their blood unto the name and empty shadow of it and if the bare shape and apparition could actuate these Icie Spirits we may wonder to think that the more free and aëriall who endeavour to restore the soul to its native priviledge and Birth-right should be senceless of their just interest where Religion addes his Tittle unto Right and private Liberty built upon publick priviledge in its fall engages his foundation and renders the neglect of a single safety a desertion to the General and Treason to succession and therefore they refuse to submit to any Viâ—itors but to the King And which they make
up and Anarchy goes down yet rather then to sink the Presbyter complies and the Houses agree whom the Army resolve so to ballance as by their Authority for the present to doe the great work and to dissolve Monarchy Some Members out of honour and conscience forbearing the rest of them receive the Report of the 38. Committee-men and their general Charge against the King That Charls Stuart hath acted contrary to his trust in departing from the Parliament setting up his standard making war against them and thereby been the occasion of much bloudshed and misery to the people whom he was set over for good That he gave Commissions to Irish Rebels c. and since was occasion of a second War c. besides what done contrary to the Liberties of the Subject and tending to the destruction of the Fundamental Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom 27. December The Queen of England now at Paris in France writes to the King which was conveyed to him by one Wheeler imployed by Major Boswels man where the Queen expresseth her deep sence and sorrow for the Kings sad condition with whom she bears an equal share and wishes to dye for him nor will she live without him for whose interest she hath and will doe her utmost in all possible waies and means to help him Then another Letter was delivered by the French Ambassador to the General from the Queen and directed To her trusty and welbeloved Tho. Lord Fairfax General imploring his help and assistance that she may have leave as the Ambassador unfolded to come over to the King her Husband to see him before he be proceeded against by any Tryal or Charge and to have a Pass for her secure coming and returning which letter the General sent to the House and they laid it aside And to confirm the present intended Tryal the Commons House declare That by the Fundamental Laws of the Realm it is Treason in the King of England for the time to come to levy War against the Parliament and Kingdom The Ordinance for the Kings tryal was refused by the Lords Ian. 2. but they will send answer and presently adjourn for ten daies The Commons examining the Lords Journal Books finde three Votes 1. To send an Answer 2. That their Lordships do not concur to the Declaration 3. That their Lordships reject the Ordinance for tryal of the King Upon which the Commons Vote That all Members and others appointed to act in any Ordinance are impowred and injoyned to Sit Act and Execute notwithstanding the House of Peers joyn not with them The House 4. Ianuary turned into a grant Committee resolve and declare 1. That the People under God are the Original of all just power 2. That the Commons of England assembled in Parliament being chosen by and representing the People have the Supream Authority of this Nation 3. That whatsoever is enacted and declared for Law by the Commons of England assembled in Parliament hath the force of a Law 4. That all the people of this Nation are included thereby although the consent and concurrance of the King and House of Peers be not had thereunto 5. That to raise Arms against the Peoples Representative or Parliament and to make War upon them is high Treason 6. That the King himself took Arms against the Parliament and on that account in guilty of the bloodshed throughout the Civil War and that he ought to expiate the crime with his own bloud Thus they prepare for the design which must be attempted by degrees The Tryal of the King The Ordinance for his Tryal was 6. Ian. ingrossed and read and the manner is referred to the Commissioners who are to try him and meet in the Painted Chamber Munday 8. Ianuary and resolved that Proclamation be made in Westminster Hall that the Commissioners are to sit again to morrow and that those who had any thing to say against the King shall be heard In this manner Mr. Denby the younger a Serjeant at Arms to the Commissioners rid into the Hall with his Mace and some Officers all bare six Trumpetters on Horseback sounded in the midst of the Hall and the Drums of the Guard beat without in the Pallace Yard and in like manner at the Old Exchange and in Cheapside 9. Ian. The Commons Vote the Title in Writs Carolus Dei Gratiâ c. to be altered and referred to a Committee That the great Seal of England be broken and ordered a new Seal with the Arms of England and the Harp for Ireland with this word The great Seal of England And on the reverse the picture of the House of Commons sitting with these words In the first year of freedom by Gods blessing restored 1648. And in perpetuam rei memoriam the Mayor Aldermen and Common Council petitioned the House of Commons for justice against the King to settle the Votes that the Supreme power is in them and the City resolving to stand by them to the utmost And this Petition was ordered to be Recorded in the Books amongst the Acts of the Common Council And in respect of the Kings intended Tryal Hillary Term begining the 23. of Ian. was adjourned for 14. dayes after and proclaimed in London and Westminster and all Market Towns The Scots Parliament began Ianu. 4. and the proceedings of the Parliament of England being reported to them they unanimously did dissent First in the toleration of Religion in reference to the Covenant in the Tryal of the King and in the alteration of the form of Government And in order hereunto some Papers were brought to the House of Commons at Westminster directed To William Lenthal Esquire Speaker of the House of Commons and no more where they use to say to be communicated to the House of Commons by which they acknowledge them an House and so the House thought not fit to read them but Voted to send Commissioners to Scotland to preserve a good correspondence between both Nations The Commissioners for the Kings Trial debated and concluded That the Sword and the Mace although with the Kings Arms thereon should be ordered to be in Court at his Tryal And the King to be brought from St. Iame's whither he was come a prisoner to Sir Robert Cottons House at Westminster The Higher House sat and sent a Message to the Commons grounded upon the dissent of the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal joyned with the Commons That they could not agree to pass the Act of the Commons for adjourning the Term without the Lords concurrence first to be had And that by the instructions given to the said Commissioners the Commons Commissioners could do nothing without assent of one of the Lords The Message therefore was to the Commons to concur with the Lords for adjourning the Term for a fortnight and that the Commissioners of the great Seal may be required to passe the same under seal This Massage crossed the Commons late Votes
great Account 355 c. a Plot in Scotland 464. their Answer to the Kings Letter 516. Declaration of their Council 517. their Army kept up 554. their Declaration in Answer to the Parliament in England 563. their Army enter England 669. their Declaration 670. their Army Voted to be gon 904. their Letter to the Parliament 906. Declaration against their papers 914. their Army intend to return home 921 922. they urge the King with their Propositions 923. Letters of complaint against their Army 924. one years account of their Army 927. their Papers concerning the dispose of the King 930. Quaeries of their Parliament 936. and Result touching the King 937. their Declaration concerning the King 939. Horse from the Scots Army come into Engl. 968. their Commissioners Messenger staid at Newcastle 1005. their Letter to the Speaker 1014. their Estates disagree 1071. their Committee of danger vote a War ibid. their Army comes to Penreath and engages 1073 defeated at Preston 1074. and disbanded 1077. they dissent as touching the Kings Tryal 1120 they declare against it 1122. their private instructions touching it ibid. A new Seal voted and framed 622 1119 Fight near Shaw 737 Sherborn seized by the Marquess of Herford 576. taken by Storm by Sir Tho Fairfax 828 Fight at Sherburn in Yorkshire 835 Shipmoney debated 197. Lord Keepers Speech to the Iudges concerning it 204. again debated 213. Iudges questioned about it 429 Shrewsbury betrayed to the Parliament 798 Earl of Somerset confined 140 Overtures of Peace with Spain 139. which is concluded 144. the Spaniards design 281 〈…〉 Spine 737 Spoâ—swood executed 1045 Stafford taken by treachery 658. Earl of Stamford proclaimed Traitour 546 Sir Philip Stapleton dies of the plague 1003 〈◊〉 â—tar appears at noon day 142 Col. Stephens surprizing is surprized 788 Stode taken by Tilly 105 Sir John Stowel taken prisoner 930 Lord Strange impeached of high Treason 566 The Earl of Stratherns Descent and Title 230 raised to his Ruine ibid. County of Surrey Petition 1062 Fight at Sutton field 820 Swansey summoned 702 King of Sweden enters Germany 146. â—beats the Emperialists at Frankfuâ—t â— 147. is slain at Lutzen 189. his Character ibid. Ambassadour from Swedeland 199. Swedes displeased 208. Peace made with them 798 Synod began to sit 604 T. TAunton besieged by the Kings Forces 802. Relieved and again besieged 804 Tax of weekly meals 698 Tenby surprized 1056 besieged and surrendred 1060 Term adjourned to Reading 21. Mich. Term adjourned 567 Mr. Thomas his speech against Bishops 416 Tinmouth Caslte revolts and is taken 1073 Tomkins and Chal. hang'd at Lon. 621 â— of Traquair 191. is treacherous 225 Tilly defâ—â—ted 52 〈◊〉 with neighbouring Nations 18 Tredagh fortified 447. besieged 452. and in distress 455. is relieved ibid. invaded again 456. yet the besieged make several Sallies 457. have fresh supplies by Sea 459. the Siege raised 460 Tumults at Westminster for justice against the Earl of Strafford 402 Turin lost 371 V. LOrd Francis Villiers slain 1069 All Uâ—ster-pâ—ssessed by the Rebels 440 Treaty at Uxbridge 756. 758. Directions to the Kings Commissioners there 757. Observations concerning the Treaty 762 W. WAllestein murdered 190 Sir William Waller defeated at Lands down 625. and by Prince Maurice near Teuxbury 655. and at the Devices 657 He is set to take the King 706. and defeated at Copredy Bridge 708 Court of Wards and Liveries voted down 865 Lord VVentworth sent Deputy to Ireland 189. Impeached of High Treason 336. his condition examined ibid. charge against him 342 374. his Tryal at VVestminster 375. Conclusion of his defence 396. the Commons justifie their Charge against him by Law 397. he answ by Council but is nevertheless voted guilty of High Treason 398. Bill of Attainder against him 399. the Kings Speech in defence of him 400. voted guilty by the Lords 406. his Letter to the King upon the Tumult of the Apprentices and his Speech upon the Scaffold to p. 409 VVestchester besieged and surrendered 861 c. Mr. Whites Letter 421 Williams Arch Bishop of York against the King 889 VVinchester taken by Cromwel 833 The â—â—dy VVinter summoned to yield 705. her Answer ibid. Sir John VVinter recruited 805 Sir Fran. Windebank gets away 338 Col. Windebank shot to death 802 Withers complained of 892 Dr. Wren Bishop of Ely committed to the Tower 429 Y. YEomans hanged at Bristol Duke of York born â—â—4 brought 〈◊〉 London 891. escapes beyond Seas into Holland 10â— Arch-Bishop of Yorks Letter to the Lord Ashley 858 The County of York Petition the King and are Answered 506 The Articles of Neutrality for Yorkshire infringed 567. York relieved by Prince Rupert but the Siege is renewed and it surendered 719 c FINIS Anno. 1625. King James dies His Funeral Amiens described Boloign described Puts to Sea Lands at Dover Canterbury Hist. of King Charles pag. 7. A Parliament summoned H. 9. Ob. 28. Parliament siâ— The Kings Speech Hist. pag. 11 Observ. p. 28. Of Wars Petitions Answered Subsidies granted Dr Mountague questioned Caballa p. 115. Lord Mordant made Protestant Parliament at Oxford Observ. 34. Parliaments Petition Kings answer And urges for Supply Observ. p. 35. Cabal p. 107. Parliament dissolved Hist. p. 16. Treaty abroad Ill successe of Gades voyage H Pa. 18. Pa 19 Cabella pa. H. p. 17. Ob. p. 36. Term adjourned to Reading Of Coronation of Soveraigns Hist. 20. Kings 11. 12. Hist. 20. Ibid. Hist. 21. The Scaâ—â—old 2. February Epis. Hist. p. 16. Rex Epis. Rex Epis. Rex Epis. Rex Sworn Annointed Crowned A Parliament called Lords Petition The Kings Answer Earl of Arundel committed 1626. The King demands supply Anno 1626. Mr. Cook aâ—d Dr. Tâ—rners insolent speeches The Lord Keepers speech The Kings Speech The Commons Reply The E. of Bristows charge against the Duke Articles against the E. of Bristow Ob. p. 45 Hist. p. 45. Ob. p. 49. His ingrossing great Offices By buying the place of Admiralty And Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Not guarding the Seas Stay of the St. Peter of New-haven And of the East India Fleet. Lending the Vant guard to the French To be imployed against Rochel Selling of honour And Offices Procuring honors for his Kindred His applying Physick to K. Iames. Hist p. 53. Parliament dissolved E. of Bristow Committed to the Tower Hist. p. 54. England and France at difference Hist. p 56. The French Insolent here at Court Sr. Dudly Carlton sent to complain Mcro Fr. Du Châ—snâ— Ill news abroad Our fleet comes home Hist. p. 63. Loan monies Hist. p. 69. Hist. p. 64. Ob. p. 41. Proposition for a more Toleration of Papists in Ireland Hist. pag. 65. The Clergies Protestation against Papistry Primate of all Ireland his Speech Abroad At home Pat. 13. H. 3. in Tur. Lond. Pat. 13. H. 3. membran 9. Pat. Gascony 1 Ed. 2. memb 25. in dorso Bishop Andrews dies 〈…〉 〈…〉 Anno 1627. The Dukes Manifesto The cause of this War Isâ—ardus pa. 1. Isnard p. 16. The
A Compleat HISTORY OF THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF King CHARLES FROM His Cradle to his Grave Collected and Written BY WILLIAM SANDERSON Esq. LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley Richard Tomlins and George Sawbridge 1658. To the very Worthy and well-weighed Author of this Modern History WILLIAM SANDERSON Esq. SIR HISTORY may be well call'd the great Arbitress of Time and Truth a Tribunal that summons the Dead to judgement and a Court of Record to the Living Therefore among those industrious Spirits who by their Speculations and publique Writings do deserve well of their Countrey an Historian may march with the foremost I mean a knowing and faithfull Veridical Historian whereas an ignorant and false erroneous Chronicler is one of the worst Members that can be in a Common-wealth and indeed of Mankind in general for he wrongs the time passed the time present and the time to come But you Sir may be deservedly rank'd with the first for when you favour'd me with the perusal of this Modern History I finde that you have proceeded with that knowledge and Probity a prime vertue required in an Historiographer as also with that exactness and punctuality that you have confuted a late Paradox commonly repeated that it was impossible to compile the Story of these confus'd and entangled vertiginous Times without writing so many Volumes as would fill a Library I say that you have refelled this vulgar Error and while you bring our Royal Master to his grave you may be said to give him a Burial a Monument and a Resurrection Nor indeed was there any man more capable to pen this Story then your self being from your youth bâ—ed up at Court not only an Eye and Ear witnesse of most of those Transactions and Traverses of State you trasmit to Posterity but you were an Actor in divers of them having been imployed in so many Negotiations of good consequence both at home and abroad whereby you were par negotio But truly I mused much with my self when I observed the great discretion and cautionary prudence you use in your Comportment all along For though a great part of the Times you speak of were full of Tempests and Whirlewinds and that you were like one passing through a boysterous working Frete having on the Star-board side dangerous Rocks and Craggs and on the Larboard ill-favour'd Shelfs of Quicksands yet you skew the wind dexterously and steer your course so streight and steddy that you avoid splitting on either Lasty I finde that this elaborate work of yours which smells so much of the Lamp hath been cast into so good a mould and is so strongly limm'd the ingredients that went to the composition of it being so material and so necessary for our late Nephewes and all future Ages to know that by giving this Historical life to King Charls you may well promise to your self an Eternity For of all Sublunary things Chronology is of the longest extent having not only an affinity and commensuration with Time it self but makes the neerest approach to Immortality IAMES HOWELL The Introduction THUS far we are forward in our Compleat History successively continued from that exquisite Compendium set out by William Drummond Esq. of the Lives and Reigns of five the preceding Kings of Scotland James the 1. the 2. the 3. the 4. the 5. from the year 1423. unto 1542. At the end of which we have heretofore taken our Rise and Entrance having lately published the First and Second part from the birth of Mary Queen of Scotland to the death of her Son and Successour King James the sixth and after Queen Elizabeth of great Britain France and Ireland the first of that Name And now we proceed to the third part the Reign and Death of his Son and Successor King Charls the first But before we enter into his sad Story it may not be amiss to enlighten the Reader with the State and condition of these his three Kingdoms England Scotland and Ireland Of England King Iames having been imbarqued by consent of Parliament in a War against the House of Austria left this life and the Palsgraves hopes at a very low Ebb if not dispair while the Emperour and the Duke of Bavare shuffled the Cards and plaid the Game to others loss The Germane Army suppressing all the reformed Princes bandited the Palatine and forced the other Electors to make Bavaria one among them The wonder was why the Austrians should stand so stifly upon such an inconsiderable piece of that great Empire but through that Spot the Spaniard had free passage with his 〈◊〉 of Italy and other Parts to pass into the Netherlands to reduce them to obedience And this occasioned the Commotion and Combination of the Duke of Brunswick bringing in the King of Denmark and afterwards the King of Swede all which conversions were advanced partly by the assistance of King Charls with his monies returned to Hamborough and with other such meanes of vast expence even to his last ability and enforced his Councellors to invent and strain the waies of supply which advanced them but undid the King It was high time to endeavour the abating of the Austrian power which too long had disquieted the repose of Christendom and forced France at first and all Protestant Princes after with some Papists underhand to joyn in the Confederacy But mostly concerning the united Provinces who having long before through their just fears plotted the Bohemian Hubbub and invited the Palsgrave to the unhappy acceptance of that Crown bending all their wits to bring in the Swede assisted from England to patch up a peace for him with Poland These were the Foreign Engagements cast upon England which King Charls was enforced to espouse especially to oppose the Emperors inflexibility for the restauration of the Palatine And thus imbroyled the Parliament left him to shift for himself which his Privy Councellors undertake and therein possibly might wrest some Prerogatives for raising monies The Factious Clergy were at hand to make things worse not but that those times producing Learned and most Renowned able men at the Altar as ever any Age could parallel I mention those other young Wolves in Lambs cloathing who by their Lectures late Excrescencies led about the Vulgar under colour of depressing Popery to the destruction at last of the whole Church Between Papist and Puritan the honest Protestant was neglected for the Lords and Council not being byassed with one of these were so unhappily ignorant as to know little more then their own pleasure patching up their poor fortunes by unhandsome courses Others of them wrought their ends rather by the Bow then the string basely bending to private Advantage by dishonourable shiftings became odious to honest men forfeiting their honours by falsifying their words and lastly failing in their Duty Allegeance and all The Duke of Buckingham had been his Fathers Favourite and now became his by former engraffing and his late Loyal service to him in Spain A person he was most
all retired to Bugden where he lived very Hospitably and in manner and order of the good Bishops not without an eye and ear over him of such as were Intelligencers of Court And at Westminster Hall the Ceremony begun towards the Abbey Church in order thus 1. The Aldermen of London by couples ushered by an Herauld 2. Eighty Knights of the Bath in their Robes each one having an Esquire to support and a Page to attend him 3. The Kings Serjeants at Law Solicitor Atturney Masters of Request and Iudges 4. Privy Councellors that were Knights and the chief Officers of the Kings Houshold 5. Barons of the Kingdome bare-headed in their Parliament Robes with Swords by their sides 6. The Bishops with Scarlet Gowns and Lawn sleeves bare-headed 7. The Vice-Counts and Earls not in their Parliament but in their Coronation Robes with coronetted Caps on their Heads 8. The Officers of State for the day whereof these are the Principal Sir Richard Winn Sir George Goring The Lord Privy Seal The Archbishop of Canterbury The Earl of Dorset carrying the first Sword The Earl of Essex carrying the second Sword The Earl of Kent carrying the third Sword The Earl of Mountgomery carrying the Spurs The Earl of Sussex carrying the Globe and Cross upon it The Bishop of London carrying the Golden Cup for the Communion The Bishop of Winchester carrying the Golden Plate for the Communion The Earl of Rutland carrying the Scepter The Marquess Hamilton carrying the Sword of State naked The Earl of Pembroke carrying the Crown The Lord Maior in a Crimson Velvet Gown carried a Short Scepter before the King amongst the Serjeants The Earl of Arundel as Earl Marshall of England and the Duke of Buckingham as Lord High Constable of England for that day went next before his Majesty The King entred at the West Gate of the Church under a rich Canopy carried by the Barons of the Cinque Ports His own Person supported by Doctor Neil Bishop of Durham on the one hand and Doctorâ— Lake Bishop of Bath and Wells on the other His train six yards long of Purpleâ—Velvet held up by the Lord Compton Master of the Robes and the Lord Viscount Doncaster Master of the Wardrobe Here he was met by the Prebends of Westminster Bishop Lawd supplying the Deans Place in their rich Copes who delivered into the Kings hands the Staff of King Edward the Confessor with which he walked up to the Throne Which was framed from the Quire to the Altar the King mounted upon it none under the degree of a Baron standing therein save only the Prebends of Westminster who attended on the Altar Three Chairs for the King in several places first of Repose the second the antient Chair of Coronation and the third placed on an high square of five steps ascent being the Chair of State All settled and reposed the Arch-bishop of Canterbury presented his Majesty to the Lords and Commons East West North and South asking them if they did consent to the Coronation of K. Charles their lawful Soveraign The King in the mean time presented himself bareheaded the consent being given four times with great acclamation the King took his Chair of Repose The Sermon being done the Arch-Bishop invested in a rich Cope goeth to the King kneeling upon Cushions at the Communion Table and askes his willingness to take the Oath usually taken by his Predecessors The King is willing ariseth and goeth to the Altar and is interrogated and thus answereth Coronation Oath Sir Sayes the Arch-bishop will you grant and keep and by your Oath confirm to the People of England the Laws and Customes to them granted by the Kings of England your lawful and Religious Predecessours and namely the Laws Customs and Franchises granted to the Clergy by the glorious King St. Edward your Predecessor according to the Lawes of God the true profession of the Gospel established in this Kingdome agreeable to the Prerogative of the Kings thereof and the antient Customes of the Realm The Kings answer I grant and promise to keep them Sir Will you keep Peace and Godly agreement according to your power both to God the holy Church the Clergy and the people I will keep it Sir Will you to your power cause Law Iustice and discretion to mercy and truth to be executed to your Iudgement I will Sir will you grant to hold and keep the Laws and Rightfull Customes which the Comminalty of this your Kingdome have and will you defend and uphold them to the honour of God so much as in you lieth I grant and promise so to do Then one of the Bishops read this Admonition to the King before the people with a lowd voice Our Lord and King wee beseech you to pardon and to grant and to preserve unto Vs and to the Churches committed to your charge all Canonical privileges and do Law and Iustice and that you would protect and defend Vs as every good King to his Kingdomes ought to be Protector and Defendor of the Bishops and the Churches under their Government The King answereth With a willing and devout heart I promise and grant my Pardon and that I will preserve and maintain to you and the Churches committed to your charge all Canonical privileges and due Law and Iustice and that I will be your Protector and Defender to my Power by the Assistance of God as every good King in his Kingdom in right ought to protect and defend the Bishops and Churches under their Government Then the King ariseth and is led to the Communion Table where he makes a solemn Oath in sight of all the people to observe the premisses and laying his hand upon the Bible saith The Oath The things which I have here promised I shall perform and keep So help me God and the Contents of this Book Then were his Robes taken off and were offered at the Altar He stood a while stripped to his Doublet and Hose of White Sattin Then led by the Arch Bishop and Doctor Lawd the Bishopâ—of St. Davids he was placed in the Chair of Coronation a Close Canopy spread over him the Arch-bishop anointing his Head Shoulders Arms and Hands with a costly ointment the Quire singing an Anthem of these words Zadook the Priest anointed King Solomon Hence he was led up in his Doublet and Hose with a White Coife on his head to the Communion Table where the Bishop of St. Davids Deputy for the Dean brought forth the antient Abiliments of King Edward the Confessor and put them upon him Then brought back to the Chair of Coronation he received the Crown of King Edward presented by the Bishop of Saint Davids and put on his Head by the Archâ— Bishop of Canterbury the Quire singing an Anthem Thou shalt put a Crown of pure Gold upon his head whereupon the Earls and Viscounts put on their Crimson Velvet Caps with Coronets about them the
into one Opinion that thereby no reason given to the House their Restraint was an Arrest of the whole Body and a breach of Priviledge must needs follow which was so remonstrated to the King and they therefore released But what ground â—r Presidents had the Judges a late law of their own making for it is well observed That in the Parliament 35. Eliz. Sr. Peter Wentworth and Sr. Henry Bromley by petition to the Upper House to be supplicants with them of the Lower House unto her Majesty for entailing the succession of the Crown the Bill being drawn by them These two were summoned before Sr. Thomas Henage one of the Privy Councel and commanded to forbear the Parliament and to stand secured to their Lodgings and after further examination before the Councel were committed Wentworth to the Tower Bromley and other Courtiers to the Fleet. Another instance Mr. Morice Attorny of the Dutchy of Lancaster for moving against the justice of the Courts of Ecclesiastical Iudges Subscriptions and Oaths was taken out of the House so saith another Authour and committed to Prison for whose release Mr. Wroth humbly moved the House to be petitioners to her Majesty But was answered That the Queen must not accompt for actions of Royal Authority which may be of high and dangerous consequence nor can it become them to search into the Prerogative of Soveraigns These Members were five in all and might have been Precedents for the King and his five Members in due place hereafter But this course now taught the Lords to resent the like indignity to them in the Earl of Arundels case who lay committed to the Tower as before said and so they would sit still without motion to any matter till that he might be reâ—admitted which was instantly done To ballance with the Dukes Enemies Three Persons his confederates were made Barons to compeer in the Lords House the Lord Mandevil the eldest son to the Earl of Manchester created by Patent Baron Kimbolton Grandison son to the created Baron Imbercourt and Sr. Dudly Carlton made Baron Tregate being newly returned from his Trade of seven years Leiger Ambassadour abroad in Venice and Holland But it is said That the Lords found out an Old Order to Counter checque that designe That no Creations sedente Parliamento should have power to vote but onely to sit Not to Iudge but to learn to understand during that Session so that their Suffrages were excluded But I am assured of the contrary for they sate and voted Hence it is truly observed That in the late Parliament 1640. Seymor Littleton and Capel were so created sedente Parliamento and Digby Rich and Howard of Charlton called by special Writ were also admitted their votes and afterwards the last of the nineteen Propositions to the King at York for the King to passe a Bill to restrain Peers made hereafter to sit and vote in Parliament unlesse with consent of both Houses To which the King absolutely refused But however they were admitted the Duke was put to his own Innocency partially stiled impudency and lodges injustice on the Peers whose ill opinion he sayes deprest him and partial affection elevated the other who received the Attornies charge with undaunted spirit and returned so home an Answer as the House was amply satisfied of which take his own so saying for we hear not a word more nor other of it than that he saies so But the Dukes defence came quick to the Lords the eighth of Iune Who he sayes sequestered him from the House until his cause was determined upon which he was much dejected when really of himself he had forbore the House And therefore this morning had resolved to send it but was advised to present it himself which we shall finde to this purpose The Commons Impeachment and Declaration against the Duke of Buckingham FOr the speâ—dy redresse of the great evils and mischiefs and of the chief causes of those evils and mischiefs which this Kingdom of England now grievously suffereth and of late years hath suffered and to the Honour and Safety of our Soveraign Lord the KING and of his Crown and dignities and to the good and welfare of his people the Commons in this present Parliament by the authority of our said Soveraign Lord the King assembled do by this their Bill shew and declare against GEORGE Duke Marquesse and Earl of Buckingham Earl of Coventry Viscount Villers Baron of Whaddon great Admirall of the Kingdoms of ENGLAND and Ireland and of the principalitie of Wales and of the Dominions and Islands of the same of the Town of Calais and of the Marches of the same and of Normandy Gascoigne and Guyen Generall Governour of the Seas and Ships of the said Kingdoms Lieutenant Generall Admirall Captain Generall and Governour of his Majesties Royall Fleet and Army lately set forth Master of the Horses of our Soveraign Lord the King Lord Waâ—den Chancellour and Admirall of the Cinque-ports and of the Members thereof Constable of Dover Castle Iustice in Eyre of all Forests and Chaces on this side of the River of Trent Constable of the Castle of Windsor Lieutenant of Middlesex and Buckingham-shire Steward and Bailiffe of Westminster Gentleman of his Bed-chamber and one of his Majesties honourable Frivie Councel in his Realms both of England Scotland and Ireland and Knight of the most noble order of the Garter The Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences Crimes and other matters comprised in the Articles following And him the said Duke do accuse and impeach of the the said Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences and Crimes ARTIC I. The Duke 's 1. Reply THat he the said Duke being young and unexperienced hath of late years with exorbitant ambition and for his own advantage procured and engrossed into his own hands severall great Offices both to the danger â—f the State and prejudice of that Service which should have been performed in them and to the discouragement of others who are thereby precluded from such hopes as their virtues abilities and publique employments might otherwise have obtained THat his late Majesty did of his own Royal Motion bestow them upon him and he hopeth and concieveth he may without blame recieve what his bountiful Master conferred upon him if the Common-wealth doth not suffer thereby Nor is it without precedents that men eminent in the esteem of their Soveraign have held as great and many Offices as himself But if it shall be proved that he falsely or corruptly hath executed those Offices he is and will be ready to resign them with his life and fortunes to his Majesties dispose II. Reply 2. That in the 16. year of the Reign of the late King he did give and pay to the then Earl of Nottingham for the Office of Great Admiral of England and Ireland and of the principality of Wales and Generall Governour of the Seas and Ships of the said Kingdomes and for the surrender of the said Offices to the intent the said Duke might
thing in Religion or Laws and to satisfie not onely their desires but their doubts we do discharge the Serviceâ— Book Book of Canons and High Commission and do annull and resâ—ind all Acts for establishing of them and do discharge all persons from urging the practice of the five Articles of Perth That all persons whomsoever shall be liable to the censure of Parliament General Assembly or any other Iudicatories competent to the nature of the offence That no other Oath be administred for the free Entry of Ministers than that which is contained in the Act of Parliament That the ancient Confession of Faith and Band annexed should be subscribed and received as in the Fathers time that a General Assembly be holden at Glasgow the one and twentieth of November 1638. and a Parliament at Edinburgh the fifteenth of May 1639. Pardon 's all former offences and appoints a General Fast. Dated at Oatlands the ninth of September 1638. And immediately after this Declaration published the Confession of Faith was read and subscribed by the Marquess and the secret Council Then followed a Proclamation for a General Assembly for the amplier Parliament And lastly was claimed an Act of the Council requiring a general Subscription of the Confession of Faith and a Commission directed to divers for taking their Subscriptions And all these were finished and put into an Act of Council heartily and freely subscribed unto the two and twentieth of September 1638. with their Letter of thanks to the King Most sacred Sovereign If ever faithfull and loyal Subjects had reason to acknowledge extraordinary favour shewn to a Nation and in a most submissive and hearty manner to give real demonstration of the grace vouchsafed then do we unanimously profess that such Acts cannot proceed from any Prince saving from him who is on Earth the lively Image of the great God Authour of all goodness for return of so transcendent grace fortified with the real expression of unparalled piety royal inclinations to peace and universal love to all and every loving Subject we do in all humility render our most bounden thanks and offer in testimony thereof to sacrifice our lives and fortunes to your sacred majesties service And much more as could be expressed to which they subscribed and in truth the most rigid Covenanters could not challenge any one particular ever desired by them in any of their Supplications Remonstrances Protestations Declarations written and printed which was not in that gracious Declaration granted to a People who now seeing their Design utterly defeated wildly and madly assisted one Iohnston in reading a most wicked treasonable and yet ignorant Protestation and after printed wherein was Scripture grosly abused the Name of God solemnly invocated to such notorious false ends and to their rebellious courses and Covenant those Attributes of infallibility given which are onely proper to the sacred Scriptures Royal Authority affronted with such peremptory alterations ignorant and sensless reason as may appear upon the view which is very long and tedious and subsigned Iames Earl of Montross for the Noble-men Alexander Gibson for the Barons Potefield for the Burroughs Rollock for the Ministers and Iohnston the Reader hereof in name of all Covenanters c. giving a Copy thereof to the Kings Herald And now they proceed of themselves to elect Commissioners for the Assembly issuing out their Table Orders That every Parish should send to the Presbytery of their Limit one Lay-man a Ruling Elder with equal Vote to the Minister in the Presbytery And by alteration in Election it would happen to the Ministery to be over-numbred in Vote six to one an observation say some of indiscretion in the Ministery to weaken their party but surely they wanted not Brains for evil Designs which they might learn from Master Iohn Calvin in his disciplining Geneva where as there was a Civil Senate so he erected an Ecclesiastical Assembly of twelve simple Citizens and observe his modesty but six Ministers the odds making it more colourable for Calvin their 's for number his for value union in a prepared Conspiracy prevails more than number so these Ministers command all though to the regret of the Communalty whom at pleasure the other suspend from the Communion the very Scepter of their pretended Sion But these Ministers now went another way to work So soon as the Lay Elders came to sit they were refused First because for fourty years none had sate in their Presbyteries Secondly because at the first Reformation they were taken to assist not to equalize in number and so an Innovation Thirdly it seemed strange that Lay-men should chuse the Ministers Commissioners for the Assembly how could they know the Ministers sufficiency that were ignorant of themselves But for the present three Elders prevailed and possessed suffrage Then the Covenanters move the Commissioner to grant Citations against the Arch bishops and Bishops to appear at the Assembly as rei or guilty persons charging them with many misdemeanours But he refusing they presented this Bill to the Presbyters at Edenburgh which October 24. warned them to compeer at the next General Assembly November 21. at Glasgow at which Assembly the Marquess's Commission was read The next day a Declaration or Protestation was presented to the Commissioner in the name of the Arch-bishops and Bishops against the Assembly containing a Nullity of it which was refused to be read and therefore the Commissioner entered Protestation against the Denial and so did Doctor Hamilton for the Bishops then they elect Alexander Henderson the prime and most rigid Covenanter to be their Moderator Then again they come some offered the Declaration to be read which they yet refused untill the Assembly be fully constituted and so they fell to debate the Elections which was handled with much caution and scrutiny as that no man was left standing in the quality of a Commissioner who was not absolute for them and clear of their opinions The Lay Elders much opposed Many Exceptions were urged against the free and legal proceeding of their Session and the very Presbytery of Glasgow the place of their Assembly therein most forward to complain And so was it resented by the Marquess because they absolutely refused to entertain 6. Lords Privy Counsellours named by the King Assesses to his Commissioner in that Assembly nor to allow their Suffrage protesting That were the King himself present he should have but his Vote and not a Negative Vote neither No more than the meanest Shop-keeper that was elected a Lay Elder and had place there And to increase belief of their Diana Covenant they forged a Romish Imposture a Popish trick of deceit A Ministers Daughter one Milchesden distracted by fits they feigned her to be inspired with Divination her Raving tended to the Admiration of the Covenant and her good memory assisting with such Phrases of Scripture and bitter Invectives as the Pulpits used against the Opposers the Bishops the Service-book and Canons Master Rollock
Band made by King Iames the sixth 1580. obliging those mutually to assist one another at the Kings command but this Band of theirs made without the Kings consent and excepting him is a cunning Combination against and to abuse the People as if by it they were tied by Oath to joyn in Arms or Rebellion No Covenant in the whole World that ever had left out the Head or had not a Negative voice except in cases of Rebellion as this is Then they were told of their treasonable actions Their provisions of Arms. Their levying Taxes of ten Marks per centum every Mark a Hangmans wages in England thirteen pence half penny publishing seditious Papers burned by the Hangman refusing the Lord Estrich sent by the King to be Governour of Edinburgh Castle committing Outrages upon the Garrisons there Raised Fortifications against the Castle and Inchgarvy imprisoned the Lord Southeck and others for their fidelity to the King delivered up the power of Government of several Towns to a Committee which is High Treason and then to fill up the measure to the brim the King produces their own Letter to the French Kirk to call in forreign aid So then the Covenant the Articles of Perth the scandalous Paper burnt and this Letter is to be particularly expressed and somewhat to be said concerning them This Covenant was accompanied with a Supplication or Imprecation upon Record and witness to posterity against them That we the General Assembly acknowledg that there resteth nothing for crowning of his Majesties incomparable goodness towards us but that the Members of this Church and Kingdom be joyned in one and the same Confession and Covenant with God with the Kings Majesty and amongst our selves and do even declare before God and the World that we never had nor have any thought of withdrawing our selves from that humble and dutifull subjection and obedience to his Majesty and his Government which by the descent and under the Reign of an hundred and sevâ—â— Kings is most chearfully acknowledged by us and our Predecessors That we never had nor have any intention or desire to attempt any thing that may tend to the dishonour of God or diminution of the Kings greatness and authority but on the contrary acknowledg all our quietnes stability and happiness to depend upon the safety of his Majesties person and maintenance of his greatness and Royal authority as Gods Vicegerent set over us for the maintenance of Religion and Ministration of Iustice. We have solemnly sworn and do swear not onely our mutual concurrence and assistance for the cause of Religion and to the utmost of our power with our means and life to stand to the defence of our Dread Sovereign his Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the said true Religion Liberties and Laws of this Church and Kingdom but also in every cause which may concern his Majesties honour shall according to the Laws of this Kingdom and the duty of good Subjects concurre with our Friends and Followers in quiet manner or in Arms as we shal be required of his Majesty his Council or any having his authority and therefore being most desirous to clear our selves of all imputation of this kinde and following the laudable example of our Predecessors 1589. do most humbly supplicate your gracious Majesty and the Lords of his Majesties most honourable Privy Council to injoyn by Act of Council that this Confession and Covenant which as a testimony of our fidelity to God and loyalty to our King we have inscribed be subscribed by all his Majesties Subjects of what kinde and quality soever The thirtieth of August 1639. How they have faithfully observed this National Profession let the World judg and how they have grounded their Covenant which follows God will judg of their Oath It was presented to his Majesties Commissioners by this assembly That besides many other the true and real causes of so many evils which hath troubled this Kirk and Kingdome might appear First the pressing of this Kirk by Prelates with a Service-book or Common-prayer without direction or warrant from the Kirk and contayning besides the Popish frame thereof divers Popish Errors and Ceremonies and the seed of manifold gross superstitions and Idolatry with a Book of Canons without warrant or direction from the general Assembly establishing a Tyranical power over the Kirk in the persons of Bishops and overthrowing the whole discipline and Government of the Kirk by Assemblies with a Book of consecration and ordination without warrant or authority civil or Ecclesiastical apointing Offices in the house of God which are not warranted by the word of God and repugnant to the discipline and acts of our Kirk and with the High-commission erected without the consent of this Kirk subverting the Iurisdiction and ordinary Iudicatories of this Kirk and giving to persons meerely Ecclesiastical the power of both swords and to persons meerly civil the power of the Keyes and Kirk-censâ—res A second cause was the Articles of Perth viz. The observation of festival daies kneeling at the Communion confirmation administration of the Sacraments in private places which were brought in by a Null Assembly and are contrary to the confession of faith as it was meant and subscribed anno 1580. and divers times since and to the order and constitution of this Kirk Thirdly the change of the Government of this Kirk from the assemblies of the Kirk to the persons of some Kirkmen usurping priority and power over their brethren by the way and under the name of Episcopal Government against the confession of faith 1580. against the order set down in the Book of Policy and against the intention and constitution of this Kirk from the beginning Fourthly The civil places power of Kirkmen their sitting in Session Councell and Exchequer their riding sitting voycing in Parliament and their sitting on the Bench as Iustices of peace which according to the constitutions of this Kirk are Incompatible with their spiritual function lift them up above their brethren in worldly pomp and do tend to the hindrance of the Ministry Fiftly their keeping and authorizing corrupt assemblies in Linlithgow 1606. and 1608. at Glascow 1610. at Aberdine 1616. at Saint Andrews 1617. at Perth 1618. Which are null and unlawful as being called and constitute quite contrary to the order and constitution of this Kirk received and practized ever since the reformation of Religion and withal labouring to introduce novations in this Kirk against the order and Religion established A sixt cause is the want of lawfull and free assemblies rightly constitute of Pastors Doctors and Elders yearly and oftener pro ne nata according to the liberty of this Kirk expressed in the Book of Policie and acknowledged in the act of Parliament 1592. After which the whole assembly with one heart and voyce did declare that these and such other proceedings from the neglect and breach of the Nationall
to have been abjured 3. That if they return to this Kingdom they be used as accursed and delivered over to the Devil and out of Christs body as Ethniks and Publicanes 4. That all evil Councellours be accusable and censurable at the next Parliament conform to the Statute of 4. Jac. and that all persons in this Kingdom entertainer and maintainers of Excommunicated Prelates be proceeded against with Excommunication conform to the acts of this Kirk 5. That seeing this Session or Term is now appointed to sit in prejudice of the people who have been busie for the late defence of their Religion and this Nation and now retired to settle their own affairs and not having fourty dayes warning as legally it ought to be and now but twenty to come Wee Protest that all the Members of the Colledge of Iustice and all other subjects ought not to attend this Session that all their Acts which they shall doe shall be voyd 6. Lastly We Protest to have liberty to inlarge this our Protestation and Reasons and thereupon the Earle of Dalhouse for the Lords Sr. William Rosse for the Barons the Provost of Sterling for the Burroughs and Mr. Andro Ramsey for the Ministers take Instrument hereof Edinburgh 1. July 1639. They that would excuse this Insolent impetuosity of proceeding in the Covenanters so early after the accord and so fair do affirm that by the endeavours which was lately used by the Commissioner Marquesse Hamilton to disunite as they call it and corrupt the chief and most leading Covenanters as namely Argyle Rothes Lindsay Monrosse Lowdon Sr. William Dowglas Mr. Alexander Henderson and others by allurements of great offices And that Argyle offered his Daughter in Marriage with Rothes and Ten thousand pounds portion and to remain forthwith and for ever to Rothes in case Hamilton failed of performance But the Scots meet at their time appointed the sixth of August the General Assembly at Edinburgh continuing till the twenty fourth and there made good to themselves the first Article of the Kings reference to his Commissioners former promise which were in particular Abolishing Episcopacy the five Articles of Perth High Commission Liturgy and Book of Canons And the Marquesse Hamilton designed with new Commission from the King to assent thereto and to Act in other things But he cunningly cast that Imployment upon Traquair whose jugglings together proved false and treacherous to all succeeding affairs of their Soveraigne For after the Assembly the Parliament being prorogued to the twenty sixth of August they then sit And at the beginning debate the Interests to the Election of the Lords of Articles The King heretofore named eight Bishops and they eight Noblemen and these sixteen elected eight Commissioners for the Sherifdoms and eight others for the Burroughs and Corporations And these thirty two and no more had the names of Lords of the Articles and were a Committee to canvasse and correct all Bills before they go to Vote And so the King not to be prejudiced in his Nomination by the avoydance of Bishops the Parliament yeelded to his Commissioner to chuse eight Noblemen for the present bnt voted that hereafter every State should Elect their own Commissioners Thus far they were forward for businesse but then how and in what manner to supply the vacancy of Bishops Votes and how to constitute the Third Estate The Commissioner urged for the King fourteen Laiks of such as were called Abbots and Priors to represent the third Estate which after some alteration was settled and voted into small Barons that represent the Commonalty and then fell upon abrogating former Acts of Indictions of Courts of Exchequer Ward-lands and other things so peremptory to a kinde of Reforming all to a fresh new modeling of a Government of their own without reference to Regality the Commissioner had command from the King to Prorogue the Parliament until the second of Iune next against which they frame a Declaration to be of no effect without consent of Parliament and might sit still but in some shew of duty they for the present would make Remonstrance of their Propositions and proceedings and if by suggestions Informations and Imputations bad effects should follow the world should witnesse their constraint to take such courses as might best conserve the Kirk and Kingdom from eminent confusion And accordingly and as a consequence their Deputies the Earl of Dumfirmlin and the Lord Lowdon present their Remonstrance and the Commissioner Traquair came also to the King to give the account of all not before a select Committee of Councellours but the whole body of the Councel and to hear both parties with very fierce Reproofs Recriminations between them where the deputies their old impudent manner not at all qualifying any mistakes or oversights but absolutely insisting upon direct justification of all and every Act of both Assembly and Parliament in their transactions to the very not onely lessening of the Kings prerogative but over ruling if not destroying of all soveraign authority which nothing but power and force could reduce to moderation or reason and these passages made an end of the moneth September During these Scotish affairs about the middle of Iuly came over hither into England the Prince Elector who the last year had ill successe of his designe into Westphalia where he was beaten and his brother Rupert taken prisoner And now Duke Bernard a gallant Commander lately dead the Prince of Orange advised the Elector to procure assistance of his Uncle the King of England to get command of that Dukes Army And although our home affairs were in great necessity of support here yet the King upon his score encouraged him therein and withall dealt with the French Ambassadour Leiger here to procure his Master into a League of assistance with him Intimating so much to Cardinal Richlien the great manager of the French affairs and Councels and glad sayes one to serve his Majesty and Nephew Quite another way for though a Treaty therein was set on foot yet with no intent or policy in the Cardinal too much to further the effect and indeed but a by shift of our King for the present for how could Richlieu be righty perswaded to it being so lately hardly reconciled for the English account upon the Isle of Rhe and the relief of Rochel and from whence he took rise and resolution of revenge by plots and councels with the Scots in all their Rebellions against the King as you shall see hereafter And in truth even now whilst the Treaty the Palsgrave in November was treacherously advised even by the Cardinals designe to passe disguised through France to the Swedes army but discovered all the way first by our own Fleet at the Downs saluted with a voley of great Guns and so by the ship the like which landed him at Boullen for Paris and after to Lions where he was seized and denying himself arrested and as it was managed by the Elector very perfidious to the
your Sacred Majesty they humbly present unto your Princely and pious consideration the several and pressing grievances viz. 1. The great and unusual Impositions upon Merchandize exported and imported 2. The urging and levying of Ship mony notwithstanding which both Merchants their goods and Ships have been destroyed by Turks and Pyrates 3. The multitude of Monopolies Patents and Warrants whereby trade is decayed 4. The Innovations in matters of Religion the Oath and Canons newly imposed by the late Convocation whereby your petitioners are in danger to be deprived of their Ministery 5. The concourse of Papists and their habitation in London and the suburbs whereby they have more means and opportuâ—ities of plotting and executing their designes against the Religion established 6. The sudden calling and sudden dissolution of Parliaments without addressing of the subjects grievances 7. The imprisonment of divers Citizens for not paying Ship-mony and other impositions and the prosecution of others in the Star-Chamber for non conformity to commands in Patents and Monopolies whereby trade is restrained 8. The great dangers your Sacred Person is exposed unto in the present war and the various fears that have seized your petitioners and their families by reason thereof which grievances and fears have oâ—casioned so great a stop and destruction of Trade as neither to receive and pay as formerly and tends to the utter ruine of the Inhabitants of this City the decay of Navigation and clothing and other Manufactories of this Kingdom your petitioners humbly conceiving the said grievances to be contrary to the Laws of this Realm and finding by experience that they are not redressed by the ordinary Courts of Iustice do therefore beseech your Majesty to cause a Parliament to be summoned with all convenient speed whereby they may be relieved in the premisses The Scots proceeding hand in hand with some of the English petition also for the same in effect to call a Parliament for setling a peace between the two Nations and they had the like Answer which behoved the English to hasten for the Scots took liberty to ravage New-Castle seizing four great English Ships laden with Corn ere the masters knew who they were rifling houses and ranting every where laying a Tax of three hâ—ndred and â—ifty pounds per diem upon the Bishop of Durham and three hundred pounds upon Northumberland upon pain of plundering The day come the 24. the King salutes them thus My Lords UPon suddain Invasions where the Dangers are near and instant it hath been the custome of my Predecessors to Assemble the great Council of the Peers c. by their advice and asistants to give a timely remedie to such rules as could not admit a delay so long as must of necessity be allowed for the assembling a the Parliament This being our condition at this time and an Army of Rebells lodged within the Kingdome I thought it most fit to conform my self to the practise of my predecessors in like cases that with your advice and assistants we might joyntly proceed to the chastizement of their Insolencies and securing of our good Subjects In the first place I must let you know that I desire nothing more then to be rightly understood of my People and to that end I have of my self resolved to call a Parliament having already given order to my Lord Keeper to issue the writs instantly so that the Parliament may be assembled by the third of November next whither if my Subjects brings the like good affections that I do it shall not faile on my part to make it a happy meeting In the mean time there are two points to be considered wherein I shall desire your advice which indeed is the chief cause of your meeting first what answer to give to the petition of the Rebells and in what manner to treat with them of which that you may give a sure Iudgment I have ordered that your Lordships shall be clearly and truly informed of the State of the whole business and upon what reasons and advices that my privy-Privy-council unanimously gave me were grounded Secondly how my Army shall be kept on foot and maintained untill your Supplies of a Parliament may be had for so long at the Scots Army remains in England I think no man will Councel me to disband mine for that would be an unspeakable loss to all this part of the Kingdome by subverting them to the greedy appetite of the Rebells besides the unspeakable dishonour that would thereby fall upon this Nation And after several meetings and debates a Messenger Mr. Bellows was sent from the King and Lords to the Scots Army to give them notice on Tuesday next that sixteen of the English Lords shall meet with as many Scots Lords at York to treat of the differences The English Lords were these Earls Bedford Essex Barkshire Holland Herford Bristow Salisbury Warwick Barons Mandevil Savile Howard Brook Paget Dunsmore Paulet Wharton But the Scots refuse the place York as not secure for their Commissioners so long as the Lieutenant of Ireland commanded there in chief who had proclaimed them Traytors in Ireland before the King had done so in England threatning to destroy their memory against whom they had matter of high complaint And so the place was named at Rippon The Scots Commissioners take exception at the Earl of Traquairs presence being no Commissioner on either side but was admitted as a person indifferent to satisfie the English concerning the former affaires in Scotland if questions should be debated The English proposed a Cessation of Arms but the Scots as they would obey his Majesties Commands not to advance so they could not return till they had the effects of their Arrand and therefore desired the way and means of subsistence in their Quarters and so the second of October they present their demands First How their Army should be maintained untill the Treaty be ended and the Peace secured Secondly if more Commissioners be required then for their safe convoy Thirdly Safe convoy for all Letters from them and the Parliament and to them Fourthly That there may be free commerce of both Kingdoms and that the Common trade of New-Castle be not hindred especially for victuals Their first Article is otherwise than their Pamphlet before expressed for there you shall have them profess to take up nothing of the people without ready mony And that failing to give Bills and Bands of debt for true payment but finding good correspondence and weak resistance they did not only spoile and plunder but enforced this first Article Indeed they were cryed up as the sons of Enoch and the English as Grashoppers though the Earl of Strafford then General desired the King that he might give them battel and as his Letters speak to the Arch Bishop of Canterbury he durst undertake upon the Perill of his head to beat them home again although now he held it not councelable as the case then stood And certainly it was generally
for never were men so idolized as these Commissioners feasted and presented by all sorts of People their Lodgings visited as a Novelty to frequent their Praying and Preaching more than ever were the Houses and Chappels of Popish Ambassadours and with more danger for here were fabricked the Petitions and Tumults which followed as you shall see hereafter And it is to be remembred that in the time of Queen Elizabeth when some Scots Commissioners came to her to settle the Differences of both Nations and had nestled themselves about Petty-France in Tuttle-fields far enough from dangerous connivance of the City Puritan in those days and there exercised their Prayers and Preaching and so increasing boldness they petition for to be allowed in publick which so startled her and her Council in fear of Innovation as that they were absolutely forbidden to pray or preach at any Meeting Tuesday the third of November the time prefixt the Parliament assemble and Master William Lenthall one of the Benchers and Readers of Lincolns Inn was elected Speaker who during their continuance near years He was a Person of known integrity and ample sufficiency for the dignity of that place through all that time of wonderfull distraction carried himself with extraordinary wisdom and judgment without blame And being set the King salutes them thus My Lords The knowledg that I have of the Scotish Subjects was the cause of my calling of the last Assembly of PARLIAMENT wherein if I had been believed I do most sincerely think that things had not fallen as we now see but it is no wonder that men are so slow to believe that so great a Sedition should be raised upon so little Ground But now my Lords and Gentlemen the honour and safety of this Kingdom lying so heavily at stake I am resolved to put my self freely upon the love and affections of my English Subjects as those of my Lords that waited on me at York very well remember I there declared Therefore my Lords I shall not mention mine own interest or that support I might justly expect from you till the common safety be secured though I must tell you I am not ashamed to say those charges I have been at have been meerly for the securing and good of this Kingdom though the success hath not been answerable to my desires Therefore I shall onely desire you to consider the best way both for the safety and security of this Kingdom wherein there are two things chiefly considerable First the chasing out of the Rebells And secondly that other in satisfying your just Grievances wherein I shall promise you to concur so heartily and clearly with you that all the World may see my intentions have ever been and shall be to make this a glorious and flourishing Kingdom There are onely two things more that I shall mention to you The one is to tell you that the Loan of Money which I lately had from the City of London wherein the Lords who waited on me at York assisted me will onely maintain my Army for two Moneths from the beginning of that time it was granted Now my Lords and Gentlemen I leave it to your consideration what dishonour and mischief it might be in case for want of Money my Army be disbanded before the Rebells be put out of this Kingdom Secondly the securing of the calamities the Northern People endure at this time and so long as the Treaty is on foot And in this I may say not onely they but all this Kingdom will suffer the harm therefore I leave this also to your consideration For the ordering of the great affairs whereof you are to treat at this time I am so confident of your love to me and that your care is such for the honour and safetie of the Kingdom that I shall freely leave to you where to begin onely this that you may the better know the state of all affairs I have commanded my Lord Keeper to give you a short and free account of those things that have happened in this interim with this Protestation that if his account be not satisfactory as it ought to be I shall whensoever you desire it give you a full and perfect account of every particular One thing more I desire of you as one of the greatest means to make this an happie PARLIAMENT that you on your parts as I on mine lay aside Suspicion one of another as I promised my Lords at York it shall not be my Fault if this be not an happie and good PARLIAMENT The Lord Keeper in pursuance of the Kings Commands summarily related all things referring to the Scotish Invasion which I shall not be nice to call Rebellion for so the King gave their Character and because ill resented by some persons of note and so intimated to the King he confirmed it to the Lords two days after My Lords I shall explain my self concerning one thing I spake the last Day I told you the Rebells were to be put out of this Kingdom It is true I must needs call them so so long as they have an Army that do invade us And although I am now under a Treaty with them and under my Great Seal do call them my Subjects and so they are too but the estate of my Affairs is briefly this It is true I did expect when I called my Lords and great ones at York to have given a gracious Answer to all your Grievances for I was in good hope by their wisdom and assistance to have made an end with that Business but I must tell you that my Subjects of Scotland did so delay them that it was not possible for me to end there therefore I can in no wise blame my Lords that were at Rippon that the Treaty was not ended but must thank them for their pains and industry And certainly had they as much power as affections I should by this time have brought these Distempers to a happy period so that now the Treaty is transported from Rippon to London where I shall conclude nothing without your knowledg and I doubt not but with your approbation for I do not desire to have this great work done in a corner but I shall lay open all the steps of this mis-understanding and causes of this great Difference between me and them and I doubt not but by your assistance I shall make them know their duty and enforce them to return whether they will or no. This whole Week was in a manâ—er spent by the Parliament in the settling of the Commissions for general Grievances wherein they had work enough made so to their hands and partly also in several set Speeches the bane of business rhetorically declaiming against them and dissecting their particulars which were made up on Munday after the ninth of November by a world of Petitions some framed I know not where but brought in by Bands of men and Troops of Horse-men from several Countreys craving redress of general Exorbitancies
enforcing compositions so then if a Nusance compounded for 't is a hurt to the People if no Nusance then it is used to the parties prejudice The Commission for Buildings about London was presented as a Grievance in the time of King James now much more increased and more prejudicial The Commission for Depopulations began some few years since by both these Commissions the Subject is restraâ—red from disposing of his own demolishing their houses punishing and fining their persons so that they are still liable by Law for the King cannot licence a Nusance and although these are not Nusances yet it is an ill consequence to be compounded for and to make a President for Kings to licence such things as are Nusances indeed Military charges ought not to be laid upon the people by Warrant of the Kings hand nor by Letters of the Council-table nor by Order of the Lords Lieutenants of Counties nor their Deputies It began to be practised as a Loan for supply of Cote and Conduct-money in Queen Elizabeths time with promise to be repaid it as appears by a constant Warrant in the Exchequer and certain payments but now adays never repaid The first particular brought into a Tax was the Muster-masters Wages which being but for small Sums was generally digested yet in the last Parliament it was designed to be remedied but now there follows Pressing of Men against their wills or to finde others Secondly Provisions for publick Magazines for Pouder Spades and Pickaxes Thirdly Salary of Officers Cart-horse and Carts and such like The Extrajudicial Declarations of Judges without hearing of Council or Argument a seeming Grievance of many others Monopolies countenanced by the Council-table and the clause in their Patents of Monopoly commanding the Justices of Peace to assist them whereby the great ability of the Council receive a stain by such matters of so mean a report in the estimation of Law so ill in the apprehension of the people The High Court of Star-chamber called in the Parliament Rolls Magnâ—â— Concilium to which the Parliaments were wont to refer such matters as they had not time to determine A Court erected against Oppression A Court of Counsel and a Court of Iustice now an Instrument of erecting and defending Monopolies to set a face of publick good upon things pernicious Soap Ship-money c. This great and most eminent power of the King Edicts Proclamations called Leges temporis used heretofore to encounter with sudden and unexpected danger till the great Council of the Kingdom could be called hath of late been exercised for enjoying and maintaining Monopolies But the last and greatest Grievance lead him to step higher even as high as Heaven as high as the Throne of God his Word and Truth The ambitious and corrupt Clergy preaching down the Laws of God and Liberties of the Kingdom pretending Divine Authority and absolute power in the King to do what he will with us and this preaching is the high way to preferment as one Manwaring sentenced the last Parliament then a Doctor now a Bishop preferred for his Doctrines The Intermission of Parliaments contrary to the Statute to be called once a year the main cause therefore of all mischiefs to which Parliaments give remedy That these Grievances are hurtfull to the King as to the Subjects By interrupting their communion they have need of his general pardon and to be secured from Projectors and Informers to be freed from absolute Laws and from the subtil Devices of such who seek to restrain the Prerogative to their own private advantage and to the publick hurt And the King hath need of them for counsel and support Queen Elizabeths victorious Attempts were for the greatest part made upon the Subjects purses and not upon hers though the honour and profit was hers That these Discontents diminish the Kings reputation abroad and disadvantage his Treaties and weaken his party beyond Seas by encouraging Popery by forcing the Subjects to leave the Kingdom to the prejudice of the Kings Customs and Subsidies of divers Clothiers forced away who set up their Manufacture abroad to the hurt of the Kingdome The King hath received upon the Monopoly of Wines thirty thousand pounds Rent per annum the Vintner pays fourty shillings a Tun which comes to ninety thousand pounds the price upon the Subject by Retail is increased two pence a Quart which comes to eight pounds a Tun and for fourty five thousand Tun brought in yearly amounts to three hundred and sixty thousand pounds which is three hundred and thirty thousand pounds loss to the Kingdom above the Kings Rent Now the Remedies and removing these Grievances consists of two main Branches in declaring the Law where it is doubtfull and in provision for the execution of the Law where it was clear but these he referred to a further time but for the present he advised speedily to desire a Conference with the Lords and always to humble themselves to Gods assistance c. The Lord Digby excusing his County Dorset for whom he served not that they needed Complaints because without Petition or want of a Servant to present them boldly and therefore have intrusted those to him which he ranged into six Ranks 1. Ship-money 2. Levying of Souldiers 3. Monopolies 4. The new Canon-oath 5. Imposed upon all Ministers illegally 6. Requiring a Benevolence under penalty of Suspension Excommunication and Deprivation Thus much from them that sent him but begins from himself that sits there to have privilege and freedom of speech or to what end to speak at all where he said no more than had been told them often before somewhat too smart upon the Bishops concerning the Acts of their New Synode made of an old Convocation to presume to grant a Benevolence to the King a Malevolence in those against the Parliament and a Malevolence in the Refusers against the Bishops with a penalty of no less loss than Heaven and Earth Heaven by Excommunication Earth by Deprivation and these without Redemption or Appeal And calls the Oath a Covenant against the King for Bishops as the Scots Covenant is against the King and Bishops and in that of the other so much worse than this He could tell them of his own Counties griefs but single Laments are hardly distinguishable in universal Groans It hath been excused That what Money Kings raise from Subjects were but as Vapours drawn up by the Sun to be distilled in fructifying Showres But the Metaphor holds out unhappily to them of late years What hath been violently exhausted from the Subject by violent Attractions hath been formed into Clouds but how To darken the Sun's lustre and to light upon the Land onely in Hail-stones and Mildews to batter our Liberties and blast our affections had not the latter been kept alive by our Sovereigns perpetual virtues which will ever preserve him in spight of evil Counsellours a sacred Object of Admiration and Love
others progress to an equal poise and in a word the same Ministers of State spurred on by ambitions and to raise their families from time to time have increased suspicions which have hatched these fatal wars through all Europe France styles her self most Christian but meddles least therein ordinarily attracting the Reformates to her interests and being enemies to the Pope and so to Spain which suffers not their doctrines in her dominions But Spain will be Catholique-zealous for her Religion and seldome declines her aid to any of her own unless by force proceeding from the necessity of State affaires through some new conjuncture Lewes the thirteenth attached the house of Austria with much authorâ—ty and power in so much that Richelieu the Angel Guardian of France by his puissant alliances begat an opinion that amongst polititians there he endeavoured the Universality for his Master and so to overthrow the Emperial house by the helpe of the Hollanders and his other underhand underminings which he could never so poise for any time but that the Scales were now up then down to his dying day The Earl of Strafford had passed upon him the Commons accusation and now it was time to form their compleat charge into twenty eight particulars and being ready Ianuary the thirtieth they were presented by Mr. Pym to the Peers in the presence of the Earl and although it was long two hundred sheets and so time would be taken up for engrossing and though the Treasons therein alleaged were of a standing time above fourteen years not suddainly to be answered unto yet the Commons were earnest for dispatch and he enjoyned such hast as by the four and twentieth of February it was read to the Lords in the Kings presence and the next day after to the Commons He craved aid of the Council which in cases of Treason is not allowed in plea de facto it may not but in matters de lege it may and so he had Councel And the place of his Trial could not be in the Lords House being of little Room to hold the House of Commons who desired to be present and to manage the accusation by their own members and in a full body of their house compleat which the Lords would not indure and they come as a Committe and so Westminster-hall was the place assigned and that not to big for this unparralel Trial the King Queen Prince and Courtiers being present and all the Parliament The scene was at the upper end reared of some heigth and above that a Chaire and cloth of State on either side a close private Gallery for the King Queen and Prince Before them seats for the Peers and on either sides Scaffolds mounted for all the house of Commons who sate bare headed and hundreds of others Auditors who could get leave to enter The command of the place and stage was ordered by the Earl of Lindsey not as he was made high constable for the day but as he was Lord great Chamberlain of England in right of his mother Mary the daughter of Iohn de vere the sixteenth Earl of Oxford who maried Peregrine Berty Lord Willoughby of Earesby by whom she had issue this Robert now Earl of Lindsey and thereby the disposing of all the Scaffolding as his fee when the Tryal was ended The Bishops being by ancient Canons disabled to be present at the sentence of blood and death but not from being assistants in examining and deposing of witnesses or giving Councel till now abridged by this Parliament to sit as Peers And it is observed that they were defended to have right of place presence by a Manuscript in many hands de jure Paritat is episcoporum and their Priviledges thereby asserted in this particular which yet they as the times were did not interpose but were contented to be absent giving advantage thereby to the Parliament to deprive them of their votes and after to destroy their calling On Munday the two and twentieth of March the day fixed for his appearing at Westminster-hall almost five moneths time since his first Commitment which it seems was taken up and spent for procuring proofs of witnesses purposely sent for from Ireland And in truth the rather for Intertaining some Overtures of the Court to take of the edge of his adversaries and the best and usual way was by their several preferments The Earl of Bedford to be Lord Treasurer Mr. Pym Chancelor of the Exchequer the Earl of Essex Governour of the Prince Mr. Hamden to be his Tutor the Lord Say Mr. of the wards and Mr. Hollis principal secretary in the place of Windebanck the Deputies place in Ireland also to another and the Earl of Warwick in some command in the Navy And it was in part prosecuted in relation hereto for the Bishop of London did deliver up the Treasury staff and the Earl of New-castle the governance of the Prince the Lord Cottington resigned up his offices in the Court of wards and Exchequer and it was not to be doubted that the Bishop of Salisbury Dr. Duppa would willingly quit his place of Tutor to the Prince But whether the Kings mind was herein mutable or what else intervened they thus concerned and baffled became irreconciliable to the Earls destruction and that this is true may be hinted from the Kings Declararion of the twelfth of August after what Overtures had been made by them saies the Declaration and with what Importunities for offices and preferments what great services should have been done for him and what other undertakings even to have saved the life of the Earl of Strafford So cheap a rate it seems might have saved that Incomparable Statesman The Earl of Arundel was made Lord High Steward and the Earl of Lindsey Lord High Constable and thus set as before said the Earl of Strafford was told by the High-steward that he was called thither to answer the Impeachment of High Treason preferred against him by the Commons of England and Ireland expressed in their accusation to which he had answered and both of them read took up this day and the Court adjourned to the next day when the house of Commons fell upon the first seven general Articles of subverting the fundamental Laws of both Nations and this was managed by Mr. Pym a paper sealed was opened and read which signified from the Parliament of Ireland that they had voted the Earl guilty of High Treason To which he in passion said There was a conspiracy against him to take away his life It would not admit of recollection and the Commons cried out for Justice against him who standing impeached of high Treason accuseth the Parliaments of two Kingdomes of a conspiracy against him for which inconsiderate words he humbly craved pardon not thereby intending either Parliament but meant it by some particular persons Mr. Pym craved that he should forthwith answer to three Articles more which were lately annexed to the charge But although the
Strafford with the assistance of the said Arch-bishop did procure his Majesty by sundry Speeches and Messages to urge the said Commons House to enter into some Resolution for his Majesties supply for maintenance of his War against his Subjects of Scotland before any course was taken for the relief of the great and pressing Grievances wherewith this Kingdom was then afflicted Whereupon a Demand was then made from his Majesty of twelve Subsidies for the release of Ship money onely and while the said Commons then assembled with expressions of great affections to his Majestie and his service were in Debate and Consideration of some Supply before Resolution by them made he the said Earl of Strafford with the help and assistance of the said Arch-bishop did procure his Majesty to dissolve the last Parliament upon the fifth Day of May last and upon the same Day the said Earl of Strafford did treacherously falsly and maliciously endeavour to incense his Majesty against his loving and faithfull Subjects who had been Members of the said House of Commons by telling his Majesty they had denied to supply him And afterward upon the same did treacherously and wickedly counsel and advise his Majesty to this effect viz. That having tried the affections of his People he was loose and absolved from all Rules of Government and was to do every thing that Power would admit and that his Majesty had tried all ways and was refused and should be acquitted both of God and Man and that he had an Army in Ireland meaning the Army above mentioned consisting of Papists his Dependents as is aforesaid which he might imploy to reduce this Kingdom to obedience The Earls Reply That he was not the principal cause of dissolving the last Parliament for before he came to the Council-table it was voted by the Lords to demand twelve Subsidies and that Sir Henry Vane was ordered to demand no less but he coming in the interim he perswaded the Lords to vote it again declaring to his Majesty then present and them the danger of the breach of the Parliament whereupon it was again voted that if the Parliament would not grant twelve Subsidies Sir Henry should descend to eight and rather than fail to six But Sir Henry not observing his Instructions demanded twelve onely without abatement or going lower that the height of this demand urged the Parliament to deny and their denial moved his Majesty to dissolve the Parliament so that the chief occasion of the breach thereof was as he conceived Sir Henry Vane He confesseth that at the Council-table he advised the King to an offensive War against the Scots but it was not untill all fair means to prevent a War had been first attempted Again others were as much for a defensive War it might be as free to vote one as the other Lastly Votes at a Council-board are but bare Opinions and opinions if pertinaciously maintained may make an Heretick but never can a Traitour And to Sir Vane's Deposition he said it was onely a single Testâ—mony and contradicted by four Lords of the Iunto Tables Depositions viz. the Earl of Northumberland the Marquess of Hamilton the Bishop of London and Lord Cottington who all affirmed that there was no question made of this Kingdom which was then in obedience but of Scotland that was in Rebellion and Sir Henry Vane being twice examined upon Oath could not remember whether he said this or that Kingdom and the Notes after offered for more proof were but the same thing and added nothing to the Evidence to make it a double Testimony or to make a Privy-counsellours Opinion in a Debate at Council high Treason The four and twentieth Article not urged 25. That not long after the dissolution of the said last Parliament viz. in the months of May and June he the said Earl of Strafford did advise the King to go on rigorously in levying of the Ship-mony and did procure the Sheriffs of several Counties to be sent for for not levying the Ship-money divers of which were threatned by him to be sued in the Star-chamber and afterwards by his advice were sued in the Star-chamber for not levying the same and divers of his Majesties loving subjects were sent for and imprisoned by his advice about that and other illegal payments And a great loan of a hundred thousand pounds was demanded of the City of London and the Lord Maior and the Aldermen and the Sheriffs of the said City were often sent for by his advice to the Counsel Table to give an accâ—unt of their proceedings in raising of Ship-money and furthering of that loan and were required to certifie the names of such Inhabitants of the said City as were fit to lend which they with much humility refusing to do he the said Earl of Strafford did use these or the like speeches viz. That they deserved to be put to Fine and Ransom and that no good would be done with them till an example were made of them and that they were laid by the heels and some of the Aldermen hâ—nged up The Earls Reply That there was a present necessity for Money that all the Council-board had voted with yea before him That there was then a Sentence in Star-chamber upon the Opinion of all the Judges for the legality of the Tax of Ship-money and he thought he might advise the King to take what the Judges had declared was by Law his own He confessed that upon Refusal of so just a service the better to quicken the Citizens to the payment of Ship-money he said they deserved to be fined Which words might perhaps be incircumspectly delivered but conceives cannot amount to Treason especially when no ill consequence followed upon them and it would render men in a sad condition if for every hasty word or opinion given in Council they should be sentenced as Traitours But that he said it were well for the kings service if some of the Aldermen were hanged up he utterly denieth Nor is it proved by any but Alderman Garway who is at best but a single Testimony and therefore no sufficient Evidence in case of Life 26. That the said Earl of Strafford by his wicked counsel having brought his Majesty iâ—to excessive charges without any just cause he did in the moneth of July last for the support of the said great charges counsel and approve two dangerous and wicked Projects viz. To seise upon the Bullion and the Money in the Mint And to imbase his Majesties Coin with the mixtures of Brass And accordingly he procured one hundred and thirty thousand pounds which was then in the Mint and belonging to divers Merchants strangers and others to be seised on and stayed to his Majesties use And when divers Merchants of London owners of the said Bullion came to his house to let him understand the great mischief that course would produce here and in other parts what prejudice it would be to the Kingdom by discrediting the Mint and hindring the
valor for a wise man to set himself against the breaking in of a Sea which to resist at present threatens imminent danger but to withâ—draw gives it space to spend its fury and gaines a fitter time to repair the breach Certainly a Gallant man had rather fight to great disadvantages for number and place in the field in an orderly waie then skuffle with an undisciplined rabble Som suspected and affirmed that I meditated a War when I went from White-hall onelie to redeem My Person and Conscience from violence God knows I did not then think of a War Nor will any prudent man conceive that I would by so many former and some after-Acts have so much weakned My self If I had purposed to engage in a War which to decline by all means I denied My self in so manie particulars T is evident I had then no Army to flie unto for protection or vindication Who can blame Me or any other for with-drawing our selves from the daily baitings of the Tumults not knowing whether their furie and discontent might not flie so high as to worrie and tear those in pieces whom as yet they but plaied with in their paws God who is My sole Iudge is My Witness in Heaven that I never bad anie thoughts of going from my House at White-hall If I could have had but anie reasonable fair Quarter I was resolved to bear much and did so but I did not think My self bound to prostitute the Majesty of My place and Person the safetie of My Wife and Children to those who are prone to insult most when they have objects and opportunitie most capable of their rudeness and petulancie But this business of the Tumults whereof some have given already an account to God others yet living know themselves desperately guilty Time and the guilt of many hath so smothered up and buried that I think it best to leave it as it is onely I believe the just Avenger of all disorders will in time make those men and that City see their sin in the glass of their punishment T is more then an even-laie that they may one daie see themselves punished by that waie they offended Had this Parliament as it was in its first election and Constitution sate full and free the Members of both Houses being left to their freedom of Voteing as in all reason honor and Religion they should have been I doubt not but things would have been so carried as would have given no less content to all good men then they wished or expected For I was resolved to hear reason in all things and to consent to it so far as I could comprehend it but as Swine are to Gardens and orderly Plantations so are Tumults to Parliaments and Plebeian concourses to publique Councils turning all into disorders and sordid confusions I am prone somtimes to think That had I called this Parliament to any other place in England as I might opportunely enough have don the said consequences in all likelihood with Gods blessing might have been prevented A Parliament would have been welcom in any place no place afforded such confluence of various and vitious humors as that where it was unhappily convened But we must leave all to God who orders our disorders and magnifies his wisdome most when our follies and miseries are most discovered And with these Mutinies comes the Intimation of some practises in the North to distract the English Army the occasions you shall hear of hereafter But it gave â—ewel to the fiery faction and to the Parliament to fall into debate about a general National Protestation To maintain and defend with my life power and estate the true reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the doctrine of the Church of England against all popery and popish Innovations within this Realm contrary to the same doctrine his Majesties person Honour and estate The power of Parliament the lawful rights and Liberties of the subject and every person that maketh this protestation whatsoever he shall do in the lawfull pursuance of the same the third of May. This being too general in these words The true Reformed Protestant Religion c. They were explained by an ordinance to be only The publique doctrine professed in the Church of England so far as it is opposite to Popery and Popish Innovations and not to the maintaining any form of worship discipline or Government nor any Rites or Ceremonies of the Church of England the fifth of May And so it was taken by the Commons House the next day by the Lords and ordered to be taken by all the people of England Hereby it appears that they meant to question the discipline of the Church which they did They had no better way to qualifie the Kings discontent than to raise him some mony for the satisfying of high accounts which the Kingdom stood charged withall two Armies now on foot craving their pay And therefore a cunning Knight of Lancashire offered to procure his Majesty 650000. l. until such time as the subsidies should be raised with this declaration Provided that the King would pass a Bill not to adjourn the Parliament nor Prorogue it nor disolve it without the consent of both Houses to indure until the Greivances of this Kingdom were redressed And so complaints arising like Hidra's head never to have thereby any end yet to colour it they fell upon a great debate thereof but instantly order was given to draw up a Bill in pursuance of it And the Lords another way busie to lay a side the Bill of the Earls Attainder because it brought in the King as a Judge and so fell upon the several Articles of his Accusation resolving to send them to the Commons the next day with their Resolution when aâ—mongst forty five Lords twenty six of them voted him guilty of High Treason upon the fifteenth Article for Levying monies in Ireland by force in a warlike manner And upon the nineteenth for Imposing an Oath upon the subjects in Ireland which was for distinction of the Scots Covenanters as you have heard heretofore And so both these Bills of an everlasting Parliament and of the Attainder being compleated a conference was had of both Houses the next day after and some Lords dispatched to the King to request his answer who tells them That on Munday Following he would satisfie them I conceive it convenient in more particular to clear two mistakes of our Authors concerning The Articles of Ireland and the death of the Earl of Strafford reflecting upon the late most Reverend Prelate the Arch Bishop of Armagh Primate of all Ireland whilest he was living and worse pursued since his decease somewhat too sharp also on Dr. Barnard Herein I take leave in cool blood to interpose those Animadversions being intrusted therein by Command of the deceased Prelate Under whose hand writing and others also much of the matter is made evident to rectifie misunderstandings Intentionally thereby to end disputes The Historian takes
and so an abrogation of those of Ireland Now there was not a reception of the one instead of the other but the one with the other there being no difference in substance but onely in method number of subjects determined and other circumstantials argue no more an abrogation then that doth of the Apostles Creed by our reception of the Nicene Creed and Athanasius's wherein some points are more enlarged Or that the reception into our use the form of the Lords prayer according to S. Matthew abrogates that of S. Luke being the shorter Neither do I see but if for the manifestation of the union of the whole Reformed Churches We then should approve and receive the Articles of Religion agreed in other Reformed Churches and they receive ours it were no abrogating of either And the difference in them being onely in Circumstantials and not in substance all might be called one confession That as of many Seas one Ocean of many National Churches one Catholique Church so of many formes of Confessions but one faith amongst them That Argument from the Apostles speech of making void the old Covenant by speaking of a new or taking in the first day of the week to be the Sabbath instead of the last when but one in seven was to be kept doth not fit the Case for in these there was a superinduction and reception of the one for the other but in the Canon the Articles of England are received not instead but with those of Ireland And the practise of divers Bishops confirms it who many years after that upon an Ordination examined the persons as formerly according to the Articles of Ireland and took their subscription of them And in this I shall give you the sence of a most eminent learned and judicious person upon the view of what the Observator rescued had written of it I have received saies he the Book you sent me and have perused it I see he will have the allowance of our Articles of England by the Synod in Ireland to be a virtual disanulling of the Irish Confession which I conceive saith nomore but that both Confessions were consistent And the Act of that Synod not a revocation of the Irish Articles but an approbation of ours as agreeing with them He hath his flings at the Sermon preached at the Lord Primates Funeral but in truth he wrongs himself and our Church in those detractions from him Now this being so that the Articles of Ireland were not abrogated nor by the Primate so apprehended where was the ground of any displeasure disaffection or former grudge pretended very uncharitably by the Observator to be the cause of the Lord Primates carrying a sharp tooth against the Earl of Strafford It could not be for the first Canons passing which was all that was done in it for himself proposed and commended it and such as were intimate with him never heard him express any displeasure to the Earl upon that account And what Arguments soever may now be picked out of the draught of the Canon to imply an abrogation virtually or legally which is the last refuge the Observator flies unto are of no force to prove his displeasure then who did not so apprehend it and if he had then taken any such offence they are strangers to that holy man that can believe he could smother a grudge so many years but for such as have so aspersed him I shall pray that the thoughts of their hearts may be forgiven them So much for the clearing of that mistake concerning the Articles of Ireland which being made the Foundation of that other Building we are next to enter upon must accordingly fall with it also viz. The second Scandal in putting forward of the Earl of Strafford 's death But first to the whole matter which I shall lay down as plainly and briefly as the business will bear it The House of Commons having voted the Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Strafford which with some difficulty passed at last the House of Lords also and so tendered to the King for his royal assent He refused it for the present as not being satisfied upon his Hearing the Charge and Defence with the Evidence on both sides of which himself was witness That no sufficient proof was made nor any Law then in force whereby the Earl could be guilty of high Treason It was therefore necessary that Judges for the Law and Divines for his Conscience should satisfie him therein and they were with him to that end sent for by him and not sent to him The Houses of Parliament already really assured that their Proceedings and Votes for the Earl's condemnation ought to be sufficient satisfaction for the King without scruple of his own conscience to sign to their judgment the King being a party in Life and Death of a Delinquent ought to confide in the Verdict of the Iury. Nor was the King present as to satisfie his own conscience but his curiosity and it had been a strange President in the Parliament to consent unto much less to send any persons to the King to clear his conscience contrary to the Parliaments sentence especially such persons not having Vote in the House as the Judges have not Nor are the Bishops so much as assistant in cause of bloud or death by the fourth Canon of the Council of Toledo And it is confessed by both Authours that the Judges and Divines also were not willing to give their Opinions point blank against the Vote in Parliament And certainly if they had they might well have expected to be further questioned for it But in truth the Judges told the King that in point of Law the Oath made by Sir Henry Vane of the Earls advice to raise Horse to aw this Nation the Earl was guilty of Treason which though but singularis testis and which circumstances have been taken for sufficient testimony in Treason and more the King could not draw from the Judges as to any other particular but they flew to their general Opinion that super totam materiam he was guilty The King then starts his last Doubt that in his conscience he could not pass the Bill although the Earl were guilty having promised him under his hand that his Prerogative should save him never to pass that Bill nor to consent to the acting of any thing to take away his life And this was now that point of conscience Breach of Promise mostly insisted upon wherein the Divines were to satisfie And we have heard what hath been said of them And now let us see what the Arch-bishop of Armagh is pleased to say and that under his own hand-writing The Arch-bishop of Armagh's Testimony in Answer to the Historian pag. 257. l. 29. That Sunday morning writes he wherein the King consulted with the four Bishops London Durham Lincoln and Carlile the Arch-bishop of Armagh was not present being then Preaching as he then accustomed every Lords day to do in the Church of
to the King disarmed the wel-affected to the King in that Town And that the Earl of Warwick contrary to the Kings command under his hand being legally discharged of any conduct of his Majesties Ships hath taken upon him to dispossess the King of his Navy and imployed them against him and imprisoned divers of his Majesties loyal Officers and Subjects And therefore the King is resolved with Gods assistance to force Hotham and all other his Assistants in this his treasonable defence and invites all his good Subjects to assist him in this his resolution Dated at Beverley the eighth of Iuly Three daies after the Parliament Resolve That an Army shall be raised for defence of King and Parliament and of all such as obey the orders of both Houses That the Earl of Essex shall be the general and they to live and dy with him and that a petition should be sent to the King by the Earl of Holland Sir Iohn Holland and Sir William Stapleton to Beverley and that the Earl of Bedford be General of the Horse which so troubled the Earl of Holland who was refused upon voting that it was never digested Indeed the Parliament were wary not to intrust two Brothers with Land and Sea service together The effect of their petition was to pray the King to disband all his forces which are reckoned up to be about Hull and from Newcastle Tynmouth Lincoln and Lincoln-shire to recall his Commissioners of Array and to dismiss his guards and come to his People and Parliament and hearken to their advice and then what they will do for him The King might smile at this and therefore tells them They were never unhappy in their Petitions and supplications whilst they desired the preservation of Religion the Kings Honour and the peace of the Kingdome But after their martial designs and some proceedings and effects of their forces and after their votes and raising of an Army their Generals assigned and possessing his Navy to advise him to denude himself and wait upon them is pitiful councel to which he will not submit The Parliament provide for the sinews of war to that end they declare for Lone of Money upon publique faith of the Parliament upon which and the Ministers invitations the best part of their preachings turned into perswasions and prayers to the people for their contributions and assistance that it became incredible what a mass of money plate and Ammunition was presented even at the Parliaments feet from the golden cupbords of vessels to the Kitchen-maids silver bodkins and Thimble The King had some help from the diligent indeavours of the Queen beyond Seas and out of Holland upon the pawned Jewels and at home contributions of the Lords and Gentry Loyal to his service for what was publique he gives thanks To the Vice-chancellor and all other his Loyal Subjects of the university of Oxford for the free Loan of a very considerable sum of money in this his time of so great and eminent necessity shall never depart out of his royal memory Nor is it reasonable to deny them a memorable Record for ever which in duty to them I may not do Beverley 18. Iuly From thence the King removes to Leicester summons the appearance of the Gentlemen Free-holders and Inhabitants of that County telling them of the acceptable welcome he hath found in these Northern parts finding that the former errours of his good Subjects thereabout have proceeded by mistakes and misinformatioâ—s proceeding from the deceits used by Declarations and publications of the Parliament pretended for the peace of the Kingdom which rather would destroy it To prevent their mischief he needs not ask their assistance of Horse Men Money and Hearts worthy such a Cause in which he will live and die with them Iuly 20. The Earl of Stamford Lord Lieutenant of the County of Leiceister for the Parliament had removed the County Magazine from the Town to his own house at Bradgate over which he had set a Guard or Garison against the Kings command for which he and his Adherents are by name proclaimed Traitours which troubled the Parliament and discouraged their party untill they were vindicated by a publick Declaration that being for the service of the Parliament and the peace of the Kingdom it was an high Breach of Privilege in the King and that the said Earl and his Assistants are protected by them and all good Subjects The first of August brings the King back again to Yorkshire where he summons the Gentlemen of that County tells them the forward preparations of the Parliament to a War and desires their advice what Propositions they conceive for them to ask and he to grant in reference to their and his safety and for the present desires them to spare him some Arms out of their store which shall be redelivered when his provisions shall come thither and that his Son Prince Charls his Regiment for the Guard of his person under the command of the Earl of Cumberland may be compleated The Parliament declare for the raising of all power and force by Trained Bands and otherwise to lead against all Traitours and their Adherents that oppose the Parliament and them to slay and kill as Enemies to the State and peace of the Kingdom naming such of the Kings party that were his Lieutenants of Array of the Northern Counties viz. the Earl of Northampton the Lord Dunsmore Lord Willoughby of Eresby Son to the Earl of Lindsey Henry Hastings and others of the Counties of Lincoln Nottingham Leicester Warwick Oxfordshire And for the Western Counties the Marquess Hertford the Lord Paulet Lord Seymer Sir Iohn Stowel Sir Ralph Hopton and Iohn Digby and others in the County of Somerset And to oppose these and others the Parliament doth authorize the Earl of Essex the General as also these to be the Lieutenants of several Counties viz. the Lord Say of Oxon the Earl of Peterborough of Northampton Lord Wharton of Buckingham Earl of Stamford of Leicester Earl of Pembroke of Wiltshire and Hampshire Earl of Bedford of Somersetshire and Devon Lord Brook of Warwick Lord Cranborn of Dorsetshire Lord Willoughby of Parrham of Lincolnshire Denzil Hollis of the City and County of Bristol And thus ranked they are to kill and â—lay their Enemies August 8. And the King traceth them in these steps replies to theirs and will justifie the quarrel and for that purpose published his Proclamation against the Earl of Essex the General that he is Rebell and Traitour to the King and his Crown and all Colonels and Officers under him that shall not instantly lay down are guilty of high Treason And because of their two particular Designs to march Northward against the King and others Westward to seize and force the Garison and Fort of Portsmouth therefore he commands Colonel Goring his Captain Governour there to oppose the Rebells And commands his Cousin and Counsellour William Marquess Hertford his Lieutenant General of
Aug. 16. Upon these grounds The Parliament of England take resolution and declare their approbation and thanks to the secret Council and Assemblie in Scotland for their desires of unitie in Religion and uniformitie in Church-government in the three Kingdoms we having say they often had that matter in debate concurring in judgment and experience of the manifold mischiefs which the Government of the Prelacie hath in all times and ages produced in this Church and State and so we hope to satisfie the Christian desires of our dear Brethren of Scotland although we know that hereby we shall exceedingly irritate that malignant partie who will bend all their forces to ruine that holy work and to ruine and destroy us in the undertaking being the very same partie which hath now incensed and armed his Majestie against us The very same Design of rooting out Reformed Religion endeavoured to begin that Tragedie in Scotland which being perfected in one Nation will be accomplished in the other Religion is the band and safetie of both And as we resolve by the national Covenant betwixt the two Kingdoms to be carefull of Scotland so we doubt not but the secret Council and Assemblie there will be always ready to express their brotherly kindness to us according to the Articles ratiâ—ied between both Parliaments and advantagious to all the professours of the Reformed Religion in Christendom And so this being the Proeme to their Declaration the Parliament goes on with lamentable sighs and groans from the bowels of their hearts for being obstructed in this piaculous work of true Reformation and after much striving and seeking God wrestling with the Engines of Satan they have jumped in resolution with their Brethren in Scotland that the Prelatical party is the cause of all distraction And being thus backed they take the boldness to declare That this Government by Arch-bishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissioners Deans and Chapters Arch-deacons and other Ecclesiastical Officers depending upon the Hierarchie is evil and prejudicial to the state and Government of this Kingdom and resolve the same shall be taken away And according to our Declaration of the seventh of February we will consult with godly Divines to setle a Government of Reformation And intend that a Bill for this Assemblie may be passed for their Meeting the fifth of Novemb. next And desire their dear Brethren of Scotland to concur with them in petitioning the King for his approbation And because nothing will prosper without their handy work they pray them to send some out of their many good â—nd godly Divines of that Kirk to assist our Assemblie for setling of one Confession one Directorie and one Catechism in all three Kingdoms to the relief and deliverance of the poor afflicted Churches abroad and confusion of the tyrannie of Rome being the prime cause and fountain of all calamities bloudy massacres outrages cruelties and bitter persecution of Gods people and saints in all the Christian world for many ages Here is now a resolution to reform all Christendom and beat down Popery in a trice but the result was that under colour of Religion the Design went on and so prospered in outward success And now to encourage the well-affected to lend money and bring their Plate upon Publick Faith which without a mans strong belief could hardly get Customers to come in fearing belike that the Kings gentleness and mercy might agree to an Accommodation having been upon terms of Treaty on his part The Parliament therefore once again to ascertain their Resolution to fight it out to the last man and being confident of success do declare That the Arms which they have been forced to take up and shall take up for the preservation of the Parliament Religion the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom shall not be laid down untill his Majestie shall withdraw his protection from such persons as have been voted by both Houses to be Delinquents and shall leave them to the justice of the Parliament to the end that those great charges and damages wherewith all the Common-wealth hath been burdened since the Kings departure from his Parliament may be born by the Delinquents And all his Majesties good and faithfull Subjects who by loan of moneys or otherwise at their charges have or shall assist the Common-wealth may be repayed and satisfied out of the Delinquents Estates And these Delinquents were sure to be made so out of the noblest and richest persons in the Nation against whom there could be found but the scent of Malignancie so that it became a huge crime first to be rich or able in any condition to be either Neuter or not wel-affected to the Parl. or to be suspected so to prove it a slender Accusation would serve the turn witness sundry persons which we shall have occasion to speak of ruined upon that score onely And first they begin with Iames Lord Strange Son and Heir of William Earl of Derby who to the intent and purpose to subvert the Laws c. did upon the fifteenth of July last past at Manchester in the Countie of Lancaster traiterously summon call together and raise great Forces and did kill murder and destroy Richard Percival a Linnen Webster for which the Parliament impeach him of high Treason And the sixteenth of September he is so published in all Churches and Chapels and Markets in the Counties of Lancaster and Chester and where the Parliament had any power for the County was mostly for the King against which party the City of London are desired to advance sixteen thousand pounds for setting forth ten thousand Dragoons and some Troops of Horse for suppressing that party upon Publick Faith which was soon raised but not repayed The King being at Shrewsburie whither Judg Heath came and advised for the Adjourning part of Michaelmass Term from the first Return In Octab. Sancti Martini Octob. 4. And at Bridg-North he proclames Thomas Nichols Humphrey Mackworth and Thomas Hunt Esq guilty of high Treason active men in the Militia and assisting the Kings Enemies in their Rebellion Octob. 14. The L. Fairfax for the Parl and Mr. Bellases for the King with considerable parties Commissioners on either side had concluded upon certain Articles concerning the peace in Yorkshire and dated the 29. of September To which the Parliament take exception That the Parliament gave no such authoritie to binde that Countie to a Neutralitie it being prejudicial to the whole Kingdom for one Countie to withdraw from the rest which thâ—y are bound by Law to assist It being derogatorie to the power of Parliament for private men to suspend the execution of the Militia and therefore it is ordered that no such Neutralâ—â—â—e be observed in that Countie without any defensive force whereby it will be open to the King to return with his Armie for Winter quarter in that plentifull Countie New-castle near for his Supplies by Sea And so they declare the Lord Faâ—â—fax and his
Kings partie are Masters of the Field with Garisons round about plentifully supplied from the King but the Parliaments partie in great want are likely to disband within ten days And this is the Relation from the Lord Fairfax Decemb. 10. 1642. The Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Essex Cambridg the Isle of Elie Hertford and City of Norwich are authorized to associate and their General the Earl of Essex gives Commission to the Lord Grey of Wark to command in cheif as Major General over those Counties with Instructions to govern accordingly The most part of the Earl of Newcastle's Forces lie upon the County towards Halifax and the clothing Towns imposing Taxes upon the Inhabitants according to their qualities from one thousand pounds to one hundred pounds proportionable who found a Light-horse at an hundred pounds every one who found Musket or Pâ—ke at fourty shillings And about the fifteenth of December lands Colonel Goring for the King with more Arms some Pieces of Ordnance and some Money and fourscore old Commanders with the Queens Standard and to joyn with the Earl of Newcastle And in this Moneth of December the Kings Forces prospered Westward Marlborough and Tadcaster taken with a great Defeat of their Enemy Winchester and Chichester won by the Parliament The noble Lord Aubignie Brother to the Duke of Richmond died and was buried at Oxford And now it was thought time for the City to speak for themselves they well know what an odium lodged upon their disloyalty and therefore they petition the King how they are deeply pierced with Gangrene-wounds of his Majesties fear to hazzard his person in returning home to his Citie they abhor all thoughts of Disloyaltie making good their late Solemn Protestationâ— and sacred Oath with the last drop of their dearest bloud to defend and maintain the true Reformed Protestant Religion and your Majesties royal person honour and estate and do hereby engage themselves their estates and all they have to defend your Majestie with as much love loyaltie and dutie as ever Citizens expressed towards their Sovereign They are answered That his Majestie can distinguish some good Subjects in the Citie from the bad not all guiltie but what confidence can the King have there where the Laws of the Land are notoriously despised and the whole Government of the Citie submitted to the arbitrarie power of a few desperate persons of no reputation and names them Pennington their pretended Mayor the principal Authour of these Calamities which threaton ruine to that heretofore famous Citie Ven Foulk and Manwaring all of them notoriously guiltie of Schism and high Treason in oppressing robbing and imprisoning his good Subjects because they will not rebell against his Majestie nor assist those that do not that he condemns all for some that are guiltie and yet he offers his gracious pardon to all except such as are excepted if they shall yet return to their dutie if not he sums up the miserie that will necessarily fall upon every such person as shall continue acting and assisting the Rebellion This Answer full and home to the Cities conscience startled many into reluctancy when it was therefore thought fit by the Parliament to visit their Common Council and to caress them with a Committee of some Members lest this Answer should work too much with reluctancy And are told by Mr. Pym and others That this Answer reflects with wounding Aspersions upon persons of very eminent Authoritie of very great fidelitie amongst them that the Parliament owns them and their actions and will live and die in their defence and evermore concluding that their protection is the Armie and that it is hoped they will enlarge their Contributions for the maintenance of this Armie wherein as they have been liberal in former necessities so now they will exceed for safetie of themselves At the end of every period which Mr. Pym made in his Speech the applause was so great and so loud that he was silenced not without jugling and so concludes Worthy Citizens turning to the Rabble you see what the Parliament will do for your Lord Mayor and you 〈◊〉 your affections to do for the Parliament and State To which they replied We will live and die with them live and die with them All which says their printed Paper we may sum up in that Triumph of that Man of God In the thing wherein they dealt proudly God was above them There were some humble Desires and Propositions presented to the King at Oxford February 1. by four Lords and eight Members of the Commons but with so wilde and ranting a Preamble and the Desires so peremptory no less than fourteen viz. To disband his Armie and to return home to his Parliament Leave Delinquents to Trial Papists to be disarmed Bill for abolishing the Church-governours and Government and to pass such other Bills as shall be devised for a new Reformation Recusants to abjure Papacie To remove malignant Counsellours To settle the Mâ—litia as the Parliament please To prefer to the great Offices and Places of Iudicature such of the Parliament as they name and to take in all such as have been put out of Commissions of the peace A Bill to vindicate the Lord Kimbolton and the five Members To enter Alliance with his Proâ—estant Neighbours for Recoverie of the Palatinate To grant a general pardon with Exception of the Earl of Newcastle the Lord Digby and others To restore such of the Parliaments Members to their Offices and Places and to satisfie for their Losses c. The King answers with amazement If he had not given up all the faculties of his soul to an earnest endeavour of â—eace and Reconciliation or if he would suffer himself by any proâ—â—â—â—tion to be drawn to a sharpness of language at a time of Overtures of Accommodation he could not otherwise but resent their heavie charges upon him in the preamble and not suffer Reproaches which they cast upon him but his Majestie will forbear bitterness or the heat of his own sufferings throughout that if it be possible the memory thereof may be lost to the world And how unparliamentarie it is by Arms to require new Laws And he is pleased that a speedie time may be agreed upon for a Meeting and to debate those Propositions of theirs and these of his viz. That his own Revenues Magazines Towns Ships and Forts be restored That what hath been done contrary to Law and the Kings right may be renounced and recalled That all illegal power claimed or acted by Orders of Parliament be disclaimed The King will readily consent to the execution of all Laws made or to be made concerning Popery and Reformation so he desires a Bill for preserving the Book of Common Prayer and against Sectaries That all persons to be excepted against in the Treatie may be tried per pares with the cessation of Arms and for a free Trade But nothing followed till the third of March. In the North parts from
that Thirdly although somewhat may seem to be urged out of Scripture for the Scots Government with some shew of probability yet far from such evidence as may convince a mans conscience to swear it is agreeable to Gods word Next the Doctor excepted against that passage I shall endeavour the extirpationâ— of Prelacy in the Church of England c. I saith he dare not swear to that First In regard that I believe Episcopacy is an Apostolical Institution Secondly That the Church never so flourished as within five hundred years after Christ when it was governed by Bishops Thirdly That our English Episcopacy is justified by the prime Divines of the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas Fourthly That our English Bishops now and ever since the Reformation have disclaimed all Papal dependency Fifthly That the four General Councils confirmed in England by Act of Parliament 1 Eliz. assert Episcopacie And sixthly vvhich all men need to consider the Ministers of the Church of England ordained according to a Form confirmed by Act of Parliament at their Ordination take an Oath that they will reverendly obey their Ordinary and other chief Ministers of the Church and them to whom Government and charge is committed over them This Oath I and all Clergie men have taken and if we shall swear the Extirpation of Prelacie we shall swear to forswear our selves Lastly he excepted against that passage I will defend the Rights and Privileges of Parliament and defend his Majesties Person and Authoritie in defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdom Here said he the Members are put before the Head the Parliaments Privileges before the Kings Prerogative and the restraint of defending the King onely in such and such cases seems to implie something which I fear may be drawn to an ill consequence The Doctor urged that the intent of this Covenant vvas to bring in the Scots and to continue this horrid War the taking up Arms against the King being a thing supposed vvhich must not be contradicted In the end of the Letter the Doctor subscribed tvvo Greek Letters for his Name Delta and Phi the phi vvritten within the Delta which troubled the Parliament to interpret till Sir Walter Earl told them that Phi Delta stood for Fidelity yet because Delta stood above Phi it signified Malignancy and so the Doctor was punished accordingly for being afterwards convened before the Committee where the Counsellour at Law Mr. White the others Kinsman was Chairman not much better at Bar than able to dispute Arguments with that excellent School Divine but Mr. White went another way to work down-right conclusion to the Doctors last words who said I am of this minde and unalterable herein To whom the Chairman said If you will not be of another you must suffer The Doctor modestly made Reply Sir I must give you an Answer out of St. Chrysostome upon the like Censure Nec mihi ignominiosum est pati quod passus est Christus Nec tibi gloriosum est facere quod fecit Iudas And so he was sent back to their Gaol when not long after the learned Synod at Westminster were put upon a piece of work somewhat difficult for them and therefore writ a courteous Letter to him beseeching his pains and sufficiency in that excellent Comment upon Paul's Epistles which at their instance and for their honour he admirably performed in Prison yet for that service to them and his excellent merit of our Church these men of Westminster never moved Tongue Pen or Hands to help him out of Prison there he sacrificed the remain of his days and died a Martyr upon that score of the Scots Covenant Sir Robert Harloe moved in the House that the Popes Bull to the Irish might forthwith be printed For said he it will draw on the Covenant A pretty Spectacle said another to see a Bull draw a Covenant The Covenant Money Money War War Liberty and Liberty Rebellion for such were the Links of this Chain the City making this Order for the speedy raising of Money for the sudden advancing of the Scotish Armie And together with the pretence of Religion and Liberty there is now added a more eminent Danger assuring the Citizens That unless they sent in Money not onely these Islands will be ruined but the true Religion will be destroyed in all Protestant Churches c. And therefore the Ministers and Lecturers are to stir up their Congregations thereunto and to subscribe their Sums of Money c. for which they shall have the Publick Faith of both Kingdoms of England and Scotland together with such other Securitie as shall give content to all true lovers of their Religion and Countrey These ways hastened on the Scots Army whilest they cunningly lingred for their Salary a good Sum of Money And to let you see what that was take the particles of this Speech Our Brethren of Scotland says one are now moving to relieve us out of captivitie That the Cities great Honours and Privileges were conferred by Parliament and not by the King That the Cities chiefest glorie had ever been to cleave to the Common-wealth when Kings were seduced c. That the Scots coming would regain Newcastle whereby they might set a Rate upon Coals and raise great Sumâ— of Money c. That the Scots did not value Money as the end of their coming because we owed to them above two hundred thousand pounds And so be that they might have but this one hundred thousand pounds the Sum proposed they would demand no more but will assist us with twenty thousand Horse and Foot to free us from that popish plundering Armie c. But the King to undeceive his people not to swear to be forsworn publishes his Proclamation against the Covenant That whereas there is a Printed Paper intituled A Solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and Defence of Religion the Honour and happiness of the King and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland pretended to be ordered by the Commons in Parliament on the one and twentieth Day of September last to be printed and published which Covenant though it seems to make specious expressions of Pietie and Religion is in truth nothing else but a traiterous and seditious Combination against him and against the established Religion and Laws of this Kingdom in pursuance of a traiterous Design and Endeavour to bring in foreign Forces to invade this Kingdom His Majestie doth therefore straitly charge and command all his loving Subjects of what degree or qualitie soever upon their Allegeance that they presume not to take the said seditious and traiterous Covenant most straitly forbidding all his Subjects to tender the said Covenant as they will answer the contrary at their extremest peril Aâ—d this Proclamation came to the hands of the new Mayor of London Mr. Wollaston who succeeded Isaac Pennington and was sworn by Baron Trevor on Munday the last of October 1643. And yet that one of
Eccleshal Castle surrounded with the Enemies Garisons the Governour the more wary adds to his former number of Men and gets in good Provisions and prepares for a Siege And long it was not ere Sir William Brereton Colonel Gell Colonel Greeves Colonel Ridgby and Colonel Iackson joyning Forces with the Counties of Stafford and Derby fell suddenly into Eccleshal Town and with easie bickering got possession of it standing in guard within the Church which faces the Castle The Governour burns all about not an Out-house Barn or Stable affords them other shelter The next day Brereton summons the Castle for the King and Parliament Bird makes present Answer That his Commission was to keep it for the King and unless the other could produce his Majesties Warrant to the contrary it would be labour lost to expect any other Reply but what power and strength should enforce Immediately the Besiegers with two Pieces of Cannon of four and twenty pound Bullet played all day against the Wall without any effect the next day they battered a Turret which at the last fell down and hurt three men and so their Ordnance continued their utmost force for a Week vvhen by so long trial they could not make any Breach they drevv off their Guns and made a Line to surround the Castle not so soon done but that they vvere fain to endure the good effects of several Sallies out of the Castle whereby he lost a Lieutenant and others and some hurt with greater execution on the Enemy And thus it continued for some Moneths with extremity to whose Relief the King sends in September the Lord Capel and the Lord Loughborough with considerable Forces against whom the Besiegers not able to withstand quit their Trenches and retire to the Church and there fortified themselves Then forthwith the Governour sends out what Forces he could spare joyning with the Lords sufficient now to attempt upon the Church by straitning or storming But it seems they had order onely to relieve the Castle not to fight afterwards and force the Enemy away but to be gon themselves and so to leave the business to desperation which the Governour knew would be destruction which he could not prevent and therefore with long dispute and many reasons offered and nothing prevailing he delivered it up to the Lords who put in one Captain Abel a Dane to command there But the old Souldiers not pleased with their New Governour and a stranger to them and a Foreign most of them immediately quit their service and marched away with Captain Bird. The Castle thus relieved the Parliament Commanders call a Council and now resolve to draw off and quit the Siege but a false brother discovering the weakness of the Castle and the discontent with their New Governour the Enemy attempts the battery again and after two daies the Dane surrenders it upon reasonable quarter Thus while the fight they Parliaments Ordinance commands all men to pay nothing to his Majesty the Queen or Prince which is due or ought to be paid unto them whereas the Lords and Commons in September last passed an Ordinance for seizing upon all his Majesties the Queens and Princes Revenues and for receiving all and all manner of Rents certain or casual in England and Wales with all the Arrears and Debts any way due to his Majesty Queen or Prince shall be paid to the Receivers of the Committee for the Revenue c. whose Acquittances shall be sufficient discharge There was late news from Virginia that the Plantation there denied contribution to the Emissaries of the Parliament complaining of the obstruction of their trade at London whereupon an Ordinance of Moderation came forth For abating the Excise upon Virginia Tobacco that the Protestants their brethren in other Countries may not suffer among Malignants and Delinquents in England endeavouring to gain upon Foreign Plantations which in truth were first setled mostly by such as could not indure Discipline at home Sir William Waller having deserved well of the Houses had a new Commission to be Sergeant Major General of Hampshire Surrey Sussex and Kent having layen long before Arundel Castle and this Commission being promised heretofore the General Essex obstructed it being suspected to play his own game with much vanity It was wonderfull how much the Lectures were frequented in London the Town so full of Schollars calling themselves plundred Ministers and so began the coloured Leaguer long Cloak Boots and Spurs as constantly in the Pulpit as heretofore the Gown Canonical Cloak or Cassock but then the Independant a new name for such as liked neither were working to set up themselves or rather thaâ— spirit that set the other at work plaies tricks with them and scatters them into thoughts and factions grinning on each other but yet not setled into tenents neither so that moderate men could not as yet tell what to make of either The Parliament therefore publish their Manifest in effect That it belongs to Christian Magistrates to be Leaders in Reformation of the Church That it is the dutyâ— of all people to pray for them and wait upon them That the Parliament have required the Assembly of Divines to make the VVord of God their own Rule That nothing can be more destructive against the cause of Religion than to be divided amongst themselves That the Assembly and Parliament for so it runs will not onely reform Religion throughout the Nation but will concur to whatsoever shall appear to be the Rights of particular Congregations That all people forbear till they see whether the right Rule will not be commended to them in this orderly way we enjoying more Liberty to serve God than ever was seen in England Here 's fast and loose the People in doubt what Profession to undertake or by this Declaration of what Religion was the Parliament then began Iack Presbyter so styled to be baffled in every Pamphlet and they again to return encounters the people had sport enough to be for neither and in truth of no profession at all but went a wool-gathering to pick up the flieces pilled from the Orthodox Ministry now in much misery mourning for the fall of Sion The Committee for Innovations appointed Workmen to pull down that famous Organ in St. Paul's Church at London and it was imprinted the like they did in King Henry the Seventh's Chapell at VVestminster and all other parochial Churches in and about London and so by degrees the whole Church of Paul's not repairing but uncovering the Roof whereby in time the whole Church and Steeple will fall down after so great a Sum of Money that had been heretofore contributed to the Repair or rather re-edifying thereof more gracefull than the first erecting And now the Parliament do publish That whereas his Majesty doth make a VVar against his Parliament for the promoting thereof divers Forces both of Horse and Foot have been and are levied therefore that no man be mislead through ignorance the
Close Committee For Subjects to make foreign Confederacies without their Soveraigns assent to invade the Territories of their undoubted King to go about by force to change the Laws and Religion established is grosse Treason without all contradiction and in this case it argues strongly who have been the Contrivers and Fomenters of all our Troubles No Covenant whatsoever or with whomsoever can justifie such proceedings or oblige a Subject to run such disloyal courses If any man out of Ignorance or Fear or Credulity have entred into such a Covenant it bindes him not except it be to Repentance Neitheâ— is there any such necessity as is pretended of your present posture your selves cannot allege that you are any way provoked by us neither are we conscious to our selves of the least intention to molest you Those ends which you propose are plausible indeed to them who do not understand them the blackest Designs did never want the same pretences If by the Protestant Religion you intend our Articles which are the publick Confession of our Church and our Book of Common Prayer established by Act of Parliament you need not trouble your selves we are ready to defend them with our Bloud If it be otherwise it is plain to all the World that it is not the Preservation but the Innovation of Religion which you seek however by you styled Reformation And what calling have you to refâ—rm us by the Sword We do not remember that ever the like indignity was offered by one Nation to another by a lesser to a greater That those men who have heretofore pleaded to vehemently for Liberty of Conscience against all Oaths and Subscriptions should now assume a power to themselves by Arms to impose a Law upon the Consciences of their fellow Subjects A vanquished Nation would scarce endure such Terms from their Conquerours But this we are sure of that this is the way to make the Protestant Religion odious to all Monarchs Christian and Pagan Your other two ends that is the honour and happiness of the King and the publick Peace and Liberty of his Dominions are so manifestly contrary to your practice that we need no other motives to withdraw you from such a course as tends so directly to make his Majesty contemptible at home and abroad and to fill all his Dominions with Rapine and Bloud In an Army all have not the same intentions We have seen the Articles agreed upon and those vast Sums and Conditions contained in them as if our Countreymen thought that England was indeed a Well that could never be drawn dry and whatsoever the intentions be we know right well what will be the consequents if it were otherwise no intention or consequent whatsoever can justifie an unlawfull action And therefore you do wisely to decline all disputation about it it is an easie thing to pretend the Cause of God as the Jews did the Temple of the Lord but this is far from those evident Demonstrations which you often mention never make Consider that there must be an account given to God of all the Bloud which shall be shed in this Quarrel The way to prevent it is not by such insinuations but to retire before the Sword be unsheathed or the Breach be made too wide you cannot think we are grown such tame Creatures to desert our Religion our Laws our Liberties our Estates upon command of Foreigners and to suffer our selves and our Posterity to be made Beggars and Slaves without opposition If any of ours shall joyn with you in this Action we cannot look upon them otherwise than as Traitours to their King Vipers to their native Countrey and such as have been Plotters or Fomenters of this Design from the beginning But if mis-information or fear hath drawn any of yours ignorantly or unwillingly into this Cause we desire them to withdraw themselve at last and not to make themselves Accessaries to that Deluge of Mischief which this second Voyage is like to bring upon both Kingdoms The Scots for a Moneth together have likewise spread abroad this slander That divers of the Nobility have lately deserted the King which the Lords of the Assembly of Parliament at Oxford took upon them to convince that in time to come there might not be left one Loop-hole of Excuse for this their Rebellion Directing their Letters To the Lords of the Privy Council and Conservatours of the Peace of the Kingdom of Scotland Our very good Lords If for no other reason yet that Posterity may know we have done our Duties and not sate still whilest our Brethren of Scotland were transported with a dangerous and fatal misunderstanding c. We have thought it necessary to tell you that when you are informed that the Earls of Arundel and Thanet and the Lords of Stafford Stanhop Coventry Goring and Craven are beyond Seas and the Earls of Chesterfield Westmerland and the Lord Montague of Boughton under restraint at London for their Loyalty and Duty to his Majesty and the Kingdom your Lordships will easily conclude how very few now make up the Peers at Westminster there being not above five and twenty Lords present or privy to these Councils And so they go on to give their Reasons why this Assembly at Oxford are dissenting and absent from Westminster being forced away by the Multitude of the meaner sort of the City Rabble of London and prosecuted by unparliamentary Debates and Votes without freedom or safety to their Lives And therefore we do protest against any Invitation made to the Scotish Nation to enter this Kingdom with an Army And we do conjure your Lordships by our common Allegeance under one gracious Sovereign by the amity and affection of both Nations by the Treaty of Pacification and by all obligation divine and humane which can preserve peace upon earth to prevent the effusion of so much Christian Bloud and the confusion and desolation which must follow this Invasion c. And therefore your Lordships may be assured we shall expose our lives and fortunes in the just and necessary defence of the Kingdom Engaging our Honours to be our selves most religious observers of the Act of Pacification and we hope to receive such an answer from you as may preserve the two Nations c. Your Lorships most affectionate humble servants And signed by all the Lords and Peers of the great Assembly at Oxford about sixty as before in the Roll aforesaid We will end this year with Prince Ruperts relief of that gallant Garison at Newark from the three weeks hot siege of Sir Iohn Meldrum for the Parliament wasting his Army from seven thousand to five thousand the manner was thus Prince Rupert being at West-Chester upon Tuesday night March 12. received his Majesties commands to march with all speed to the relief of Newark with four thousand Foot under five Regiments and four Colours and two thousand Horse and Dragooners Upon these Summons he made haste to Shrewsbury speeding away Major Legge General of the
in London and Westminster and Lines of Communication shall pay upon each Tuesday the value of one ordinary Meal for himself and Family according to his quality and condition to be assessed by fitting persons in each VVard and to continue for six Moneths from 2. of April next The forwardness of the Citizens heretofore for VValler onely now draws it into an Ordinance which continued for many years Colonel Oliver Cromwell was by Ordinance of Parliament appointed Governour of the Garison and Isle of Ely in Cambridgshire of seven hundred Foot and three Troops of Horse with power to put in execution the several Ordinances of raising Moneys within the Isle of Ely also for support of that Garison I mention him not till now his great actions come together The Earl of Holland made his humble Request to the House of Commons That he might have leave to wait upon the General Essex in this his Expedition which both Houses assented unto but admiting afterwards some debate by the Commons the Negative was voted not a Member contradicting and sent word to the General of the whole sense of the House therein and so he did not go It was a handsome Exploit of Colonel Fox for the Parliament who with a single Troop of seventy Horse marched the third of May from Tamworth to Bewdley a strong Garison of the Cavaliers and coming late at night bold and confident demanded entrance at the first Guard under pretence of one of Prince Rupert's Troops the Chain was presently drawn up and they were welcome in this Guard he forthwith secures and passes to the next and so to the third with like success and with little noise went up to the Main Guard in the middle of the Town upon the Bridg over Severn killed the Centinels and seized the Guard without loss of a Man and so passed on and mastered the whole Town took Sir Thomas Littleton Prisoner with divers other Gentlemen about fifty Horse and carried all away with him returning home by dayâ— break The Lord Fairfax and his Son Sir Thomas joyning Forces had many several Successes in Yorkshire and the tenth of April drew near to the Kings Garison of Fairfax's Forlorn of Horse beat in the other and the next morning beset the Town in three Divisions and after a very hot Encounter entered the Town slew many and took the rest few escaping a thousand Prisoners sundry Commanders and other Officers and much Amunition Another like Success at Hemtough near Selby so that Fairfax was fain to desire the Parliaments Order how to dispose of the Prisoners by his own Letters he hoped very shortly utterly to roâ—t the Earl of Newcastle for now he was Master of the Field And upon all such like Successes so monstrously set forth in Pamphlets a Thanksgiving and a Play-day published with which the people were well pleased But the main business General Essex was not so well recruited as that he would march and therefore all possible means were made to raise Money A great Debate there was to borrow a hundred thousand pounds of the States Netherlands and a Committee came to the City to send their Agent thither to procure it and to offer their Security But it ended in this way That the City must do it themselves upon Publick Faith That is so much Money for levying of a Guard for the City Another Sum for Men for the Lord General and a Brigade in readiness as a Reserve and to pay them six Moneths provided some Taxes might be spared and no more laid upon them And evermore the necessity was urged upon some excellent Design which would give enâ— to the VVar and settle Peace for ever more And this in private was onely whispered To catch the King from his Cavaliers And because he had made proclamation for the assistance of all the neighbour Counties to come in with Provisions to Oxford the Parliament thereupon set out their Declaration observing therein That the same Councils now predominate in Oxford which have contrived and effected the destruction of Ireland by force and Sword do further labour to bring the same desolation in England therefore the Parliament declare that they will use their hearty endeavours with the hazzard of their Lives and Fortunes to prevent these Miseries and have ordered that considerable Forces shall speedily advance for defence and protection of the poor harressed people of England April 22. The Parliament Members assembled at Oxford had sate â—â—nce the 〈◊〉 of Ianuary last and with little business and to less purpose themselves were willing to recede which caused the King to come to them on Tuesday 16. April and tells them My Lords and Gentlemen I am brought to you by your selveâ— you desiring I shoâ—ld part with you the same zeal and affection which brought yoâ— hither and staid you here seeks this Recess so by distributing your selves into several Counties we all may reap the fruit of our Consultations I heartily thank you for what you have done and fully approve of what you desire To you that have charge in my Armies I recommend your Example and Discipline against License and Disorders To these engaged in civil affairs to expedite the Supplies of Money being the Nerves of War And be sure to inform all my Subjects of the odiousness of this Rebellion how solicitous I have been for Peace how insolently rejected that my Armies are raised and kept for defence of Religion Laws and Liberties and God who hath blessed this Meeting with unanimity bring us safe together again the eighth of October next But by Proclammation bearing date at Exeter Septemb. 21. prorogued the Assembly till Novemb. 9. The Parliament at Westminster having news of the intended Assembly of the Parliament in Scotland resolved to be timely fitted with Letters congratulatory to their Meeting Expressing therein the great obligation they have to that Kingdom for their effectual engaging in this common cause and their brotherly assistance in their greatest straits which hath mightily abated the violence of the Enemy already and are confident will be a powerfâ—ll means for setling of his Majesties Dominions for effecting thereof it is desired that they be as well joyned in their Councils as Armies and that there be a just correspondency between the two Kingdoms which as it hath been already the care of the Convention of Estates there and the general Assembly of Scotland to which end the Parliament of England hath appointed a Committee to reside with their Army and have setled a Committee of both Kingdoms at Westminster with return of thanks to the Kingdom of Scotland for their care and charge of their Armie in Ireland That therefore the Parliament of England hath thirty thousâ—nd pounds to be sent with speed to that Army and have already sent twenty thousand pounds to the Scotish Army in England and desire the Kingdom of Scotland to take in good part their Endeavours though not answerable to their deserts and
Father and Son Vaughan Windebank Greenvile Hide Morley Cole Riddell Ware Strongways Culpeper Floyd Esquires Endimion Porter Henry Jermin Jo. Bodevile David Jenkins Sir George Strode Sir Alexander Carew With twice so many Earls Lords Bishops Knights and Gentlemen of Scotland All Papists that have are or shall be in Arms against either Parliaments or of the Rebellion in Ireland Then are excepted all those of the then Parliament of Oxford and all such of Scotland that have assisted the King there All such as have deserted either Parliaments of both Kingdoms The Estates of such unpardonable to pay publick Debts The tenth part of all other Delinquents within the joint Declaration Then follows other Acts which the Parliaments shall mannage For arming the Kingdoms setling the Admiralties to name Commissioners That all Honours and Titles given since the great Seal went to the King viz. May 21. 1642. or hereafter to be made shall be null Not to vote in Parliaments and so for Scotland since June 4. 1644. The Governours of Ireland and the great Officers of both Kingdoms be nominated by the Parliaments of both Kingdoms The like for Scotland The Kings Children to be governed and married The Prince Elector to be restored Peace and War 〈◊〉 of Oblivion Armies disbanded All these as the Parliaments of both Kingdoms shall order Thus much in general Now for the City of London Acts for them Their Charters Customs Liberties to be confirmed notwithstanding any Non-user Mis-user or Abuser The Militia of London and the Liberties The Tower of London to be in the Mayor and common-Common-Council The Citizens not to be drawn out of London to any service The Acts of the Mayor and Common Council heretofore and hereafter to confirm as if by Act of Parliaments And these being granted they will endeavour that the King shall live in splendour c. 'T is true that all the Kings party were impatient for Peace which obliged the King to shew his real Intentions being assured that if he could come to a fair Treaty the chief of the Parliaments party could not hinder the Peace first because themselves are weary of the War and next because of their Distractions Presbyterians against Independents in Religion and General against General in point of Command Upon these grounds the most probable means for the King to procure a Treaty was to be used and the noise was therefore published of the Kings return to London the best Rhetorick to please the Popular that thereupon a Treaty would be procured or if refused it would bring most prejudice to the Parliament and advantage to the King for although he offered fair Propositions yet they were mixed with such Conditions as might not easily be admitted and so the Kings offer did but amaze the people into a milder opinion of his proceedings These Propositions for the present were neglected as unlimited yet the King imagined that in a Treaty Commissioners might Argue them into Reason and so returns the Messengers that he will send to the Houses which he did forthwith by this Letter CHARLES REX The Propositions presented to his Majesty being very long which contain matters in themselves of gâ—â—at weight and importance as being in great part in alteration of the frame of Government both in Church and State And the Messengers who presented them declaring that they have no power to treat or consent to any alteration it cannot be expected that his Majesty shall return a Present Particular and Positive Answer But as he hath from his soul alwaies desired the setling of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peace in this distracted Kingdom for that purpose hath from time to time tendred all possible Overtures in hope that all will work upon the hearts of all persons concerned That even this apprehension such as it is upon further thought and consideration may produce some good effect towards it to which his Majestie calls God to witness therein shall nothing be wanting on his part which is agreeable to Iustice Honour and Conscience and there shall all possible expedition be used in preparing his Majesties Answer yet â—e intends speedily to send by Messengers of his own and to that purpose that there may be no losse of time He desires safe conduct be speedily for the Duke of Richmond and the Earl of Southampton with their attendance to bring up his Majesties said Answer And his Majesty doth heartily wish that God may so deal with him and his as he endeavours all just and lawful waies to restore this poor Kingdom to a lasting and happy peace G. Digby Secretary Oxford 27. Novem. 1644. The Parliament excepts against this Letter as directed to No body the Parliament not so much as named therein And it was remembred that the Lord Digby by his Letters told them long since That the Foundation upon which the King did build all his designs was never to acknowledge this a Parliament and that if he receded from that Maxim the King would undoe himself and all those that have appeared for him Yet after long debate it was resolved that their General Essex do forthwith return a Letter to Prince Rupert who in the absence of the Lord Brainford appears the Kings Lieutenant General That if his Majesty shall send to the Parliament of England Assembled at Westmin and to the Commissioners of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland they will with all readiness grant a safe conduct for the Duke of Richmond and the Earl of Southampton and treat with them according to his Majesties desire Which was so acknowledged by Prince Rupert in his Majesties Name and directed to the Earl of Essex and so they were received into Somerset House with this Order That no Member visit or speak or send any Message to either of them during their stay here And had audience of a Committee of twenty four Lords and twenty eight Commons and the Scotish Comissioners in the Painted Chamber which was in effect only That the King designed a Treaty and time speedily to be fixed and to be certified by those Messengers but they had Answer of both Houses that they would hasten and so required them to return back Upon the rumour of this intended Treaty and hereafter of a peace the King was assured that the Parliaments chief Articles would be to continue the Irish Wars Indeed this Article of Ireland was a tender point and the King resolved not only not to break the Cessation but to make peace with the Rebels to which end he had promised the Queen in France of some favours to the Catholicks of Ireland And expressely a little before the Treaty he writes to the Marquesse of Ormond That he is sorry to finde the sad condition of his particular fortune for which saies he I cannot finde so good and speedy remedy as the peace of Ireland and to redresse most necessary affairs here Wherefore I command you to dispatch it out of hand with this Addition to my former dispatch And for Poinings Act I
please your Honour to admit us with safe conduct to impart some matters to your Honour c. August 14. 1644. From the Generals Quarter Herbert Westfalling Roger Hereford Ja. Newton The wise men were admitted and their secret counsel and advice was To render up all to the valiant Scots and so they parted And the good Doctor bringing them out of the Port had an unfortunate Shot from the Scot that killed him The fifteenth the face of their Battery against Frene-gate was discovered with five several Guns-ports and playing four Cannon jointly at the Wall and made a Breach which was soon made up again and the like on the other side with the same success The seventeenth was a notable Sally at Owen's Church with great execution and divers Prisoners taken they say within their own loss being but one man This is certain the very Boys came out and fired the Scots Works to some purpose and twice they had such success at this Port. At the Castle there were four several Sallies to very great effect and little loss to the Attempters who took many Prisoners and slew more beat them out of their Works with shame and anger Then they raise Batteries against Owen's Church but to little purpose for from the twentieth of August to the seven and twentieth they were weary from shooting but plied their Mine at Owen's and prepared for Scaling which was countermined from within fired their Works and what was not done by burning was effected by Water breaking in and drowning The nine and twentieth Leven assays again by Summons to surrender and is answered with slighting and therefore in terrour the Ladders are prepared the first of September playing with their Cannon upon Bistane-gate and the Half-moon by Owen's Gate but the same Night at the very Noise of the King coming from Worcester they prepared for Flight and the next Morning not a Scot to be seen felt or heard of they were all fled So you see after a Moneths Siege the Scots wasting their Men Money and time march away through Glocester and so to Warwick from thence they pretended to go homewards Indeed they were displeased for want of their Arrears And Leven was somewhat too strictly observed by the English Committee in his Army Besides there was ill News from Scotland Montrose there mightily prevailing for the King even to the hazzard of Edingburgh and so of that Nation Therefore the Scotish Estates call home Sir David Lesly with his Body of Horse and in a snuff the Scots General in England will be gone also with his Army and by leasurely Marches gets Northward and ever and anon he clamours for Money but no Work no Money for he will not be as yet intreated to besiege Newark And Leven being a General in England though an Hireling takes upon him to grant Commissions to English for new Levies against which the Parliament vote That the Scotish Armie in England hath no power to grant Commissions to any person for raising Forces within this Kingdome and that such Commissions are and shall be void And because they will not do as they are bidden the House of Commons vote That if the Scotish Armie in this Kingdom shall sit down before Newark by the first of November next the sum of thirty thousand pounds will be advanced for them else not Nay the Scots General is curbed in his own Quarters concerning Mr. Case who was to be tried by a Council of War of the Scots Army and after much debate thereof in the Parliament It is voted That the Scotish Armie in this Kingdom have no power to trie an English man by Martial Law and that Mr. Case ought to have satisfaction herein Now indeed it began to work and a Committee appointed to examine the Differences arising between the Parliament and Scotish Army who were gotten Northwards into Yorkshire where was no need of their Service and neglected Newark a piece projected for their regaining and therefore a Declaration is drawn up upon these Votes That the Houses will observe and desire to continue the assistance amitie and friendship betwixt both Kingdoms according to the Solemn League and Covenant c. That the residing of the Scots Armie in Yorkshire where they now are is not so usefull to this Kingdom as if they sate down before Newark neither ought they to lay Taxes on the Countrey where they come without making satisfaction That Carlisle Tinby Castle Hartlepool and other Garisons in the North now in the possession of the Scots were to be disposed of according to the directions of the Parliament That if the Scots Armie sate down before Newark according to a former Vote of the House by the first of November next they should have forthwith thirty thousand pounds towards their Pay c. And Commissioners appointed to treat with the Scotish Armie to deliver up all their English Garisons in their hands to the Parliaments Commanders which was obeyed These passages the Scots resent and take time to consider but to meet with their Masters they press the Parliament with Letters and Messages from the Scots Army to setle Church-matters according to the National League and Covenant Nor would they budge from the North parts though they are called Southward for the Kingdoms security and service And after some moneths solicitation and money to pay Arears Shooes and Stockings to boot they are intreated to march to the siege of Newark There they stayed not long but in a pet march Northward to Newcastle where they stuck till they got the King into their clutches sold him and so went home again as the particulars shall mention hereafter We left Fairfax before Sherburn Castle a fortnight since we stood out his Storms Underminings Breaches and what not that Valiant Defendants could doe for their honour But Sir Thomas was potent and prosperous and the Kings condition so low that it was hardly able to give relief to any besieged And therefore Fairfax falls to works with his Cannon shot and makes a breach in the wall thirty foot wide and then sends a second Summons but the Noble Governour Sir Lewis Dives returns a peremptory denial Hereupon he endures a furious storm with as much courage as man could doe But his Souldiers felt the Smart and Terrour and would needs call for Quarter the Governour told them their best security was to fight for absolutely he would receive no quarter and so both parties fall to a cruel encounter and many slain on both sides untill the Defendants were overpowred with numbers and forced to yield upon Quarter Those within were the Governour Sir Io. Strangwain a son of the Lord Paulet Captain Fussil sometime Sub-Governour of Weymouth for the King and many other prisoners And take the Thanksgiving-day for these together Bath Bridgwater Scarborough Pontefract and Sherburn 14. August The King this while marches up and down Wales upon defence and to raise Supplies then comes to Litchfield and by the way fights
so well furnished with able Horse as the other This fight was made Octob. 15. Colonel Sanderson was here taken Prisoner and soon exchanged for Colonel Slingsbie And here was taken Digbie's Cabinet and therein all those Letters concerning the Irish affairs and the Marquess of Ormond which are bound up together with those of the Kings at Nasebie But most of those Letters were indeed taken here being the Duplicates of the Originals For Digbie was sometime Secretary of State And indeed here were other Letters also of late date bewailing his low and decaying condition since Nasebie fight and evermore advises Ormond to make peace or cessation with the Irish Rebels But however he in person is to come over speedily to the King with all the Ammunition and Forces that he can command leaving the rest and the Rebels to dispute the quarrel together Promising Ormond to be rewarded and preferred to any dignity if the King prospers But if my undertakings succeed ill he and the rest of his Friends and Followers will have the honour to dye nobly in an honest cause In another Letter upon occasion of Prince Ruperts advice of a Treaty the King checks him for it wonders he was so much misled and tels him that to condescend lower than his terms at Uxbridge would be as bad as a submission which the will never do so long as he lives And in another Letter of late date at Newark Octob. 10. The King declares the ground of his coming to Newark rather than any other Garison being the most unlikely to be besieged Colonel General Poins being he saies much broken with pursuing him that he hath the greatest strength there to break out upon any occasion and to get to Montrose who by an express gave him to understand that his condition and late Rout at Philipbaugh was not so great as was reported but he was in a hopefull way to do his Majesty more service by an addition of Forces from Kilcan which were coming to him and be able to assist the King But Digby was met with at Carlisle Sands routed and he â—led to the Isle of Man and thence to Ormond in Ireland Indeed the King was staggering and unstable in his resolutions what to do which the Court observed and so mistrusting each the other a wonder it was what a wildeness possessed his affairs His Councellors endeavouring their own respective Interests which he saw plainly and therefore declined them and took up his trust with such as he could finde for his purposes which now began to be desperate and daily worse and worse His Armies separate without order or dependancy of Council at home or directions abroad so that now no supplies hopefull for his Garisons they were bought and sold onely some slight defence for the purpose thereupon to surrender them with the better colour Not a day passed but such News came Post to the Parliament being wearied with giving rewards to the bringers These Garisons in this moneth Bristol Farley Castle the Devises Laicuk house beaten at Rowton Battel Berkly Castle Winchester Basing Sherburn fight Tiverton taken Langford Shelford house Balton Castle Beeston Castle Belvoir Castle and other Garisons so hard beset as no hope of relief Newark Oxford Dennington Exeter and others Latham Hereford Dartmouth Poulderham not possible to hold out And to increase the Kings discontent upon these mishaps his friends fall out before his face At Newark it was thus Digby being gone as you have heard North-wards and out of the reach of revenge General Gerard said he was a Traitor and had done the King great dis-service The Lord Bellasis lately made Governour there in the place of Sir Richard VVillis took Digbie's part highly against the opinion of the two Princes Rupert and Maurice with divers others that stood for Gerard. In fine they fell to parties and to their swords But to this hubbub being at the end of the Feast which Bellasis made The King comes in to the fray unfortunate even in the Proverb and parts the fight but increases the fewd by siding for Digby For upon further debate of this business the two Princes Rupert and Maurice General Gerard the Lord Hawley Sir Richard VVillis late Governour of Newark and some hundreds more Gentlemen of quality one sayes 400 had laid down their several Commissions and were retired to VVorton House within fourteen miles of Newark standing upon their Guard and subscribing to a Declaration that if they can procure their Pass beyond Seas they will engage their Lives and Honour never to return and take up Arms against the Parliament and send to Colonel Rositer this their Resolutions and by him had their desires sent up to the Houses And that the Princes had sent Sir William Valentine Colonel Osbourn and some others to Treat with Colonel General Poins therein by whom they write Letters to the Parliament in all their behalfs and signed Rupert and Maurice To which the Parliament incline and give Rositer Order to grant them their Pass to London and from thence beyond Seas and this was done upon the late Ordinance That all Persons going beyond Seas by Warant of either Houses and afterwards returning take up Arms against the Parliament shall have neither pardon nor quarter given them by the State 28. October But the King is gone from Newark to Oxford guarded with 300. Horse who upon their return back were routed by Poins Thursday 6. Novem. And the same day he sits down before Belvoir and Summons the Governour Colonel Sir Iervas Lucas who returns this smart Answer SIR I am no lesse distrustful of Providence then you are and was not placed here by the King to surrender to Rebels and for the effusion of blood you mention the crime will be your own not mine Therefore I will not give you an inch of ground which I am able to maintain with my Sword in spight of all your attempts made against this place and your servant 21. Novem. Jervas Lucas This angered Poins who fell upon their Out-works took them by Storm and the Stables and Out-houses putting all to the Sword but with extream losse of his own many slain and divers wounded Together with those lye the Springs and Well that water the House which is closely besieged with a resolution to starve not to Storm it And indeed after four moneths suffering the House and Castle was delivered up to Poins the 2. of February with as honourable conditions as could be desired And the next day Sir Iervas and his Lady with their Officers and others 200. with a Convoy for six daies to attend them to Litchfield It was the fourth of December before the Countess of Darby could be enforced by these two years siege last past to render Latham House to the Parliament upon these Conditions The Governour Officers and Souldiers to passe out either to Tidbury or Ashby de la Zouch And not long after viz. the 18. of December was that stout
man so turbulent that as Judg Ienkins said If the World were emptied of all but John Lilburn Lilburn would quarrel with John and John with Lilburn Now for satisfaction to those Sufferers to be had from their Judges most or all Parliament Members yet the Judges in general were fined hundreds of pounds to be paid them in general but every one excusing Is it I little or none was paid untill that afterwards one of their Widows revived the Suit and petitioned for the Remain of the Fine which was ready to be voted upon old Sir Henry Vane there being never another honest man of all the Judges left alive in the House of Commons for satisfaction which he would fain have excused for his proportionable part but a wise Member stood up and told them all It was a blessed time now when a single Counsellour of State after twenty years opinion should be sentenced by a Parliament to give satisfaction for a mis-judgment acted by a Bodie of Council so many years since a leading Case for each Privie Counsellour that was present if either of them should be hereafter questioned for judgment given in these our last Daies And so it proceeded no further We are weary of the War the Reader tired the writer tending to an end of this Year we shall Conclude with two or three remarkable Surrenders of several Garisons to Fairfax in the West The Town of Dart mouth in Dorsetshire was governed by Sir Hugh Pollard a Devonshire Knight a strong and convenient Port in the West Garisoned to the purpose for the Kings service since the beginning of this war but when many other of Garisons were gone and lost Sir Thomas Fairfax in the West takes a resolution to gain it and first sends sufficient Forces to straiten their Quarters thereabout And after the besiegers for the King against Plimouth had quitted their Trenches and gone not able to withstand Fairfax then at Totnes He now at leasure hastens from thence to Dartmouth and sends before two Regiments of Foot to march to Dicsam and two more to Stokefleming being on the West side of Dart River and having summoned the Town he resolved upon storming it the 17. of Ianuary in three places The first Post on the VVest gate by Colonel Hamond on the North by Colonel Pride and on Trutstal Church and works by Colonel Fortescue The Evening come the Assailants fall on to whom Colonel Lambert's Regiment was a Reserve and to Allarm the Town elsewhere Hamond in hot service enters the West gate against four Guns planted there and two others upon the Mill-pool upon his Flank but he went on and was bravely repulsed till at last he got one Fort after another viz. Mount-flaggon the VVest gate Paradise-fort and beat them off the Main Guard and so possessed the Town by the West gate to little Dartmouth Pride did his part on the North side to the Draw Bridge and by the way he meets with Hamond and his Men and so by degrees each Assailants together gained all but the great Fort on the East side called Kingsworth Fort and the Castle with the Fort which lay over at the Mouth of the Harbour called Gallant Bowâ—â— out of which the Governour and the Earl of Newport and others got out and the Governour doing his duty in other places was shot into the Thigh upon which he retreated to the Castle Some others of the Assailants Allarumed Kingsworth first commanded by Sir Henry Cary with his Regiment having in it 12. Guns a very strong Fort with 4. Bulwarks and made a gallant resistance and slew many and gave not over until over-powered he marched off upon honourable conditions for all was lost but the Castle and Gallants Bower Fairfax the next day Summons the Castle and after long disputes and costly purchase the Governour there surrenders upon good Quarter Colonel Seaâ—or and Mr. Denham being Hostages and the whole Garison delivered up with 103. peices of Ordnance 500. Prisoners This being done the General Fairfax by his Letters acknowledgeth it a sweet Mercy of God and the hearts of all under his command with integrity to serve the Parliament the successe of whose affairs he sayes depends upon the ordering of a gracious Providence which will carry them on through the greatest difficulties until God hath finished his own work The Governour and the Earl of Newport Colonel Seamour and Twenty Captaines of note Prisoners in all Eight hundred and odd And for this good service the Parliament order him to be put in possession of 2500. per. an as it was formerly voted And he marches away from Dartmouth to the effectual blocking up and after taking in of Exeter The 25. of Ianuary he and the Lord General march to Pouthrane Fort within three miles of Exeter lately surrendered sends their summons to Sir Iohn Barkley Governour of Exeter with conditions to himself his Officers Citizens and Souldiers Ianuary seventeenth To which the Goverour made a short and bold reply That his trust was delivered to him from his Majesty which he would discharge to his power That they have no reason to distrust a blessing from God in delivering that Garrison who is able to deliver them and may be so pleased without a Miracle the Prince having so considerable force at so near a distance to them that if all actions of their lives were as Innocent as their hands of the blood that hath and shall be spilt in defence of their righteous cause they shall in all events rest in perfect Peace of minde and will not despare c. Fairfax replies with some ingenuity but as yet not prevailes and therefore makes two bridges over the River Ex blocks up the City on all sides and now within Musket-shot He leaves the siege to Sir Hardrese Waller and marches himself to the North-west of Devonshire Burnstable and so into Cornwal for prince Charles was in person raising the Trained-bands in Cornwal having committed his Army to the Lord Hopton to the end if the successe failed he might ttansport himself to Scilly which he did afterwards But by the way Fairfax falls upon the Princes Forces at Torrington who drew out into the closes where they skirmished with great courage till each retired the Lord General Cromwel rides to the Barricadoes and gives fire with six Dragoons to try what the engaged would do which they soon found to their cost answering them with a very sharp volley and killed many The Forelorn of Fairfax thus engaged the Reserve came up to the Reliefe and was beaten untill the whole Army advanced and about Eight at night the Battle began near the Town to which at last they retreated and being followed the Horse got in after and received a charge so resolutely that they were like to give over But the Army seconding their losses with fresh men the Town was wholly gained but the Magazine in the Church by a train was fired the Church blown up and more mischief to
rule as King I was alwaies bred to more modest and I think more pious Principles The consciousnesse to my Spiritual defects makes me more prize and desire those pious assistances which holy and good Ministers either Bishops or Presbyters may afford me especially in these extremities to which God hath been pleased to suffer some of my Subjects to reduce me so as to leave them nothing more but my Life to take from me and to leave me nothing to desire which I thought might lesse provoke their jealousie and offence to deny me then this of having some means afforded me for my Souls comfort and support To which end I made choice of men as no way that I know scandalous so every way eminent for their Learning and Piety no lesse then for their Loialty Nor can I imagine any exceptions to be made against them but only this That they may seem too able and too wel-affected toward me and my service But this is not the first service as I count it the best in which they have forced me to serve my self though I must confesse I bear with more grief and impatience the want of my Chaplains then of any other my servants and next if not beyond in some things to the being sequestred from my Wife and Children since from these indeed more of humane and temporary affections but from those more of heavenly and eternal improvements may be expected My comfort is that in the enforced not neglected want of ordinarie means God is wont to afford extraordinary supplies of his gifts and graces If his Spirit will teach me and help my infirmities in praier reading and meditation as I hope he will I shall need no other either Orator or Instructer The general inquirie was whether now we shall have Peace or a new War Most men imagine the old quarrel at an end but another between Presbyters and Independent We will have Uniformity saies the one and all to submit to the Covenant Liberty of Conscience saies the other and that in his sense is agreeable to the Covenant and Gods Word to back is But as the Quarrel grew high Pamphlets were published for either party Another to settle the brains of either of them or any besides offers the Reconciliation in his advice Intituled The Temple measured wherein are discussed the Questions about Constitution and Government of the visible Church the solution of such questions which he propounds and numbers them all the Objections against the Model of Ecclesiastical policie and particularly there is debated the unity of the Church the Members thereof the form of the Church and Church Government the power of the Church the Officers of the Church and their power The powers of Magistrates about the Church some Church Acts as admission of Members c. Tedious enough and all this set out for the final satisfaction of all differences by that Orthodox Divine the Lecturer at Newbery in New-England Mr. Noyes What a pretty pass we were come unto to fetch our Church-government from the West Indies And although Mr. Symson was silenced by Order of Parliament for dissenting from the Assembly of Divines it was now held fit to Null that Order and Symson admitted and why for his zeal it is said to the glory of God and edification of his Church and so upon this general ground he and others of any strain became admitted to the Pulpit We grow near an end of this year now the 19. of Mar. he Parliament Voting the Modeling of the Army into less Many Garisons dismantled some Forces Disbanded rather to be rid of the men than to spare the expences Much muttering there had been by the Officers and Souldiers very high in the esteem of their own power which increased as the Parliament lessened And therefore the Forces at their own dispose draw near together towards the City of London and Westminster which put the Citizens to advise at their Guid-hall and the whole number in Common Councel conclude of a Petition to either House but both alike To settle the Affairs of this long distracted Kingdom That his Majesty being come nearer in person to his Parliament they hope he will come home to their desires in the Propositions National and solemn League and Covenant That Malignants may be removed out of the City And here say they we should have ceased but that the Army which they hoped ere this should have been disbanded is now drawn so suddenly and quartered neer the Parliament and this City Besides that in this same juncture of time a most dangerous and seditious Petition is set on foot to be presented to this Parliament the Copy thereof is annexed which doth exact this addition from the Petitioners And pray That the Parliament would give command that the Army be forthwith removed and after with all speed to be disbanded the annexed Petition suppressed and that the City may make annual Election of the Members of their own Militia Soft and fair the Citizens ride post 'T is true the Petitioners had thanks of both Houses but they reckon without their Host the Army which we shall hear of to another tune The old Prince Henry of Orange died the 14. of March of a Fever sixty three years of age the most approved Commander in the Christian world and answerable in wisdom for State Government of an infirme body with the disease of the Gout the pain whereof increasing he fell into a Fever His only Son succeeded General and Admiral of the Forces of the united Provinces A faithful friend he had been in the assistance of the King contracted in the Mariage of his Son with the Kings Eldest Daughter and great sums of money and Ammunition had been sent to him in these Civil Wars of England and when he sees the King undone he dies deplored of all leaving his Son the hopefull Issue of such a Father And so we end this year 1646. The Scots Army is gone and left us the Bone to gnaw their Ecclesiastical Presbytery to which Reformation we were forward in forming of our selves This Discipline of Government in the Scotish Kirk had been long time a framing in Scotland according to the Tenets of the Church of Geneva and devised and setled there as afterwards in Scotland by treasonable practices against the power of Magistracie and Soveraignty The Prerogative of a King and the liberty of Subjects are consistent and dependent the one from the other Certainly the Kings power is primarily derived from God for the Subject He to establish good Lawes for Church and State they to obey them And it is true too that the chief of the Church Bishop or Presbyter have a power which the Supream Power hath not in Spiritualibus resting only in their persons But the King is in the External Affairs of the Church to call Synods Assemble Divines for ordering of the Church by Canons and Edicts and he hath a power also to punish the Ministers offending
well Irish as strangers that we have not nor will give our consent to such Peace except that safe condition as well for our Religion as for the King and for the Countrey according to our Oath be offered unto us And that our Flocks and all our Catholick people without confederate Forces who in these general meetings have sometimes asked our advice in this Spiritual business belonging only to a Spiritual Iudge may know certainly what hath been determined by us to the end that the godly and faithful Catholicks obeying their Shepherds and Pastors may concur in the same We have commanded this Decree to be written and published in all places in the English and Irish tongues which we have confirmed with our hands and Seals But to the other question concerning Excommunication we have referred until the next Sessions Given at Waterford 12. of August 1646. And Ormond being wanting of Amunition and Powder Articled with two Captains of the Parliaments Ships upon the Coast of Ireland to furnish him to be imployed against the Irish Rebels and condiscended to his Propositions with assured hopes of his complying with the Parliament of England the House of Commons confirmed the Transactions and Negotiations herein sending Letters of thanks to the two Captains and to Captain Willoughby 5. October The Rebels had taken Acklew Castle belonging to the Protestants who had refused to subscribe unto the Peace with eighty Souldiers and one hundred Arms therein as also the Fort of Marborough in the Center of the Province of Lemster to Quarter with Sir William Gilbert Governour thereof all his Officers and Souldiers all the Arms and Amunition and about a thousand persons men women and children now at the mercy of the barbarous and insulting Enemy Theâ— three Commissioners sent to the Parliament of England from Ormond landed at Chester being transported over by Captain Willougby 26. October The Committee appointed to Treat with them made report of the conditions from Ormond for the surrender of Dublin and the rest of the places of Strength in his power he desires Supplies and Moneys for the Forces with him and for himself he is willing to come into England if it shall be thought fit which accord troubled the King at Newcastle The Parliament of England send over Commissioners to remain in Ireland with two Regiments and all possible speed for Amunition and Victual to follow And now the President of Connaught and the British bestirring themselves on one side and Inchequin of the other but it s believed the Rebels will be able to attempt upon Dublin and yet leave sufficient number of Forces to make incursions upon the British and Inchequin For by Ormonds Letters the Rebells are fifteen thousand Foot and two thousand Horse commanded by Owen O Neal at Kilkenny and have frequent Councel the chief of whom are Preston Roger Moore Hugh Mac Phelin Brion Con. O Neal with many more of the old Natural Irish. Preston is at Agamoe intending to advance towards Dublin and to attempt the same before the Parliament can send relief But the intended high flying Excommunication of the confederate Catholicks against such as agreed to the peace and the great Declaration of these against the Nuntio and others for opposing the peace are now composed to a cunning agreement and altogether to joyn for the design of taking Dublin and are minded to storm it speedily 3. November Ormond was now in Dublin accompanied with Sir Arthur Aston sometime Governour of Oxford and the Lord Castlehaven with three thousand in the City The Rebells are strong in Force and numerous who straiten Dublin have taken all the Out-Garisons seven all yeelding upon discretion save one commanded by Major Piggot who had Articles agreed upon and sending his brother to have them signed the Irish run in at the Gate fell upon them within put the Major and all others to the Sword except the Majors Wife and Daughter saved by an Irish Gentleman the Minister in whose hands they found a Bible they Butchered him and bid him goe preach to his Patron the Divel The Popes Nuntio and Clergy have a mighty influence upon the people for when the Accord was made being not agreed upon by the Nuntio a Roman Catholick coming to serve with 1100. men according to the agreement a Frier came and standing at the head of them declared that if they marched a foot forward they should be all Excommunicated whereupon they returned all home And all Letters give assurance that Ormond means faithfully to the Parliament of England The Recorder of Dublin Mr. Bise came over and reported that the Enemy lay ten Miles round about Dublin with such truths of their barbarous cruelties in their Marches upon the miserable Protestants taking a Castle by the way and the Minister one Mr. Brereton with sixty men upon Quarter yet killed them all in cold blood the Town of Dublin hath Victuals for five moneths The two Justices of that Government Sir Adam Loftis and Sir Williams Parsons are coming for England Nov. 10. Colonel Monk one that had served the King in his Wars and now taken prisoner was tampered with to take the Solemn League and Covenant and the Negative Oath also which he did was released and ordered for the Service of Ireland And there were Shipt for the same 1870. Horse and Foot now at Chester together with the Parliaments Commissioners who came to Dublin safe and were nobly welcomed by Ormond and the Counsel with full assurance to deliver to them the Castle and Town of Dublin the Souldiers landed and the Treaty began between them but Ormond disagreed and at last gave an absolute denial of Surrendring Dublin unto them Affirming that his Letters to the King not being sent by the Parliament according to conditions and so he not having his Majesties full command for the Surrender he utterly refused protesting that to be the only reason which if procured he would forthwith Surrender Upon which the Commissioners sent away by Shiping all the Forces brought with them Northwards to joyn with the British which land at Belfast a Town possessed by the Scots The Commissioners are jealous that the War between Ormond and the Rebels was but calmly prosecuted on either side which makes them suspect they are not in earnest For there hath been since the first of October these Garisons lost to the Rebels Lese Strathbally Bifert Grange Mellon Rebend Athy Greenhill Castle Iordan Edenberry Marmegs Town Sir Io. Hayes House Honestow Nans Castle Warden Monmonck Leslip Lucan Palmeshore Tallon Bulloeis and Bellimont 1. of December And now Ormond in this distress is forced to make a Cessation with the Rebells if not some say a confederacy taking the Keys from the Mayor and giving them to the Lord Lambert of Ireland who is now Governour there 2. December And these Propositions give likelyhood that they are agreed being from the confederate Catholicks of the Kingdom of Ireland to the Marquess of Ormond and signed by the Generals
of Lemster and Ulster Novem. 1646. That the exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion be in Dublin and Drogheda and in all the Kingdom of Ireland as free as in Paris in France and Bruxells in Flanders That the Council of State called the Councel-Table be of Members true and faithful to his Majestie and such as may be no fear or suspition to go to the Parliaments party That Dublin Drogheda Team Newby Catherly Carlingford and all Protestant Garisons be manned by their Confederate Catholicks to maintain and keep the said Cities and Garisons for the use of our Soveraign Lord King Charls and his lawful Successors and for defence of the Kingdom of Ireland That the present Councel of the Confederators shall swear truly and faithfully to keep and maintain for the use of his Majesty and his Lawful Successors and for defence of the Kingdom of Ireland the abovesaid Cities and Garisons That the said Councellors and all Generals Officers and Souldiers whatsoever doe swear and protest to fight at Sea and Land against the Parliaments and all the Kings Enemies and that they will never come to any convention or agreement with the said Parliamentiers or any of the Kings Enemies to the prejudice of his Majesties Rights or of this Kingdom of Ireland That according to our Oaths of Association we will to the best of our power and cunning defend the Fundamental Lawes of this Kingdom the Kings Rights the Lives and Fortunes of the Subjects Owen O Neal Tho. Preston The Lord Lisle designed Lieutenant General of Ireland is but now this day taking leave of the Parliament to goe to Ireland Ian-28 and ere we can hope of his arrival there he writes to the Parliament he is willing to return for they had Debated his return before and so he came home again April 1. But the Parliament Vote the sending over more Forces into Ireland and with all vigour to carry on a Defensive War in that Kingdom with seven Regiments of Foot consisting of eight thousand four hundred besides Officers with three thousand Horse and one thousand two hunded Dragoons And all these to be taken out of the General Fairfax Army which was the occasion of much distemper between the Armies and the Parliament as will appear the next year But according to our former Method we may not omit the Kings affairs Military in Scotland under the Conduct of the Marquess of Montrose this year 1646. Montrose his late successe made him famous abroad which soon came to the Kings knowledg and although he were not able to send him supplies sufficient to Arm against the great power of his Enemies yet it was thought very fit to comply with him in Complements and therefore the King ot caresse him in some way sends from Oxford several Letters and Messengers to Montrose whilst he continued at Bothwel four miles East of Glascow amongst whom was Andrew Sandiland a Scotish man but bred in England a Church-Man faithful to the King and beloved of Montrose with whom he continued to the end of the War Another was Sir Robert Spotswood Son President of the Session in Scotland and now the Kings Secretary for that Kingdom The Instructions by all of them were to this effect That it was the Kings Pleasure Montrose should joyn unto himself the Earls of Roxborough and Traquair and to confide in their advice and endeavours of whose fidelity there was no question to be made That he should hasten towards the Tweed the River that runneth to Barwick and divides the Kingdoms where he should meet a party of Horse instantly sent by the King out of England with which he might safely give Battel to David Lesly if he should march that way with the Covenanters Horse as was suspected he would Each Messenger said as much and the King evermore over credulous confirmed the same by his Expresse which Montrose resolves to obey And here he receives a larger Commission from the King by Spotswood wherein he was impowered to give the honour of Knighthood which he did to Mack Donel at his departure Montrose intends the Kings commands and Journies to Calder Castle when the Earl of Albony whether Montrose would or no carries away with him his own men and all others of the Northern Forces Montrose passing by Edenburgh led his small Army through Louthian and in Straithgal joyns with Dowglasse whose forces mouldred daily In that coast Traquair himself came to him pretending faith and Loyalty to the King and the next day sends to him his Son the Lord Linton with a gallant Party of Horse as if to be under his Command that by that like pledg he might the better shadow his Villany which he intended the ungratfullest person to him and in him also to the King And now Montrose within twelve miles of Roxborough and Hume without any caresse from them and therefore mistrusting he resolves to seek them out and to bring them to reason But they cunningly send to David Lesly who by that time was come to Barwick with all the Scotish Horse out of England and willingly give him leave to pretend to the seizing of the Earls as Enemies to the Covenanters which was done the day before Montrose came to them Then comes Lesly over Tweed marching East of Lothâ—â—â— Montrose knowing their Wiles and fearing to be blocked up from passing to the North and Highlanders marches into Armindale so to Niddesdale South-westwards and the County of Ayre to raise Horse the Enemies strength being therein And from Kelsor comes to Iedburgh and Selkirk where he Quartered busied in some dispatches all night to the King and although he appointed the best of his Scouts who it seemes were false and suffered the Enemy with all their Forces to come within four miles ere he had warning Lesly that day when Montrose departed from Iedburgh mustâ—ered his Men upon Gladsmar in Lothianshire and marched straight to Serathgale to surprize Montrose upon the borders of Tweed and Linton had private Order from Traquair his treacherous Father to withdraw his party of Horse from Montrose and the Enemy within half a mile with six thousand the most Horse charged his Wing disorderly got together but Valiantly defended themselves until the third charge disranked routed the Foot after some resistance and over powered many who were all put to the sword after by Lesly's peculiar command and so to the very Women and Horse-boyes most of the Horse and some Foot shifted well and came to Montrose the next day An honest Irish Man seeing one of the Kings Standards engaged valiantly rescued it and stripping the staff wrapped it about his middle and brought it to Montrose who honoured him with the bearing thereof ever after The other Standard also born by William Hie Brother to the Earl of Kinole stript it off the staff and conveyed it with him to the borders of England and after when the coast was clear brought it to the North to his General But in
be desired to repair to the Army Which he did some weeks after viz. the twentieth of May. For the Army was in Mutiny against the Members and were not appeased until the Parliaments Declaration against the Army was rased out of the Journal Books of both the Houses seizing their Monies and Carriages as they passed for several Garisons and shared it as they thought good And the Reformado's and Souldiers about London flocked to the Parliament and for two hours blocked up the door of the Commons not suffering any to passe out or come in till their desires were granted And being in this fearful case the Commons vote concerning their self-denying Ordinance which upon such desperate distempers they would often debate and vote but never observe as now That such Members as have any Place Office or Sequestration granted to them be void and the benefit which they have received since the Ordinance be payed to the Common-wealth That the Members Lands be liable to their debts And freedom of Petitions against any Member That no Member receive any reparations for Damages by these times till the publick debts of the Kingdom be satisfied For indeed so many Members pretended damages that the poor Cavaliers Estates for private satisfactions were not able to compound for their Delinquency And the Commons of London were drawn to side with the Parliament and the multitude made a Petition in the name of many thousands well affected in the City of London which was canvased in the House of Commons and laid aside untill the Petitioners came flocking for Answer who were advised to depute a small Number to attend and they waited so long that some one of them was snap't for prating at the Parliament door which he justified at their Bar and was only bidden to return home and be Mannerly but the Petition was burnt several Copies at Wâ—stminster others at the Exchange London 22. May. But the Army is a powerfull party that must be otherwise handled and therefore the Parliament order Commissioners of their own to Treat with the Armies Commissioners The Parliaments Men were the Earl of Nottingham Lord Wharton Field Marshal Skippon Sir Henry Vane Jun. Sir Thomas Widrington Colonel White Mr. Scawen and Mr. Pory For the Army Commissioners General Ireton Sir Hardresse Waller Colonel Rich Colonel Lambert and Major Desbrough And their first mâ—eting was at Wickham the second of Iuly Little being as yet effected in relation to former desires of the Army they told them that they had several things of weight to be added which may very much conduce to the peace and safety of the Kingdom the preventing of a new War and to the sendâ—ng of some relief to Ireland which they will offer at the next meeting The King at Holmby with his Guardians and the Parliament and Army in distemper the Army thought it their Advantage to seize the King into their custody and accordingly the third of Iune a party of Horse under command of Coronet Ioice and sent from the Committee of Troopers in the Army came to Holmby where after they had secured their Guards demanded the King of the Commissioners who in a maze asked for his Warrant whose Answer That it was the sense of the Armie The same he said to the King promising security of his Majesties person and so the next Day after Dinner the Troop carried him and the Commissioners who would not leave him towards the Army of which the King sends word to the Parliament by the Earl of Dunferling That the King was unwillingly taken away by a part of the Armie five hundred Troopers that he desired the Parliament to maintain the Laws of the Land and that though he might sign to many things being in this condition yet not to be believed till further notice to the Houses This was strange and uncouth to the Parliament and therefore they order to sit again to morrow though Sunday and Mr. Marshal is voted to pray for them for the Army was in Rendezvouz near Kenford six Miles from Bury and the King in his way to them and so to Newmarket all the people in the High-way strewing the Streets with Flowers and Boughs and crying out Hosanna and therefore the Army conveyed him not through Cambridg but by Trumpington to Newmarket But the Generals Letter to the Parliament says That the Souldiers at Holmby had brought the King thence by consent and lay at Colonel Mountagues the next Night and would be at Newmarket the next Day the ground whereof was from an apprehension of some strength gathered to force the King from them thereupon I sent says he Colonel Whaley with his Regiment to meet the King and the Commissioners and to return them back again but they refused and were come to Sir John Cuts near Cambridg The General professing that this Remove was without his consent or his Officers about him or the Bodie of the Armie or without their desire or privitie and whose person he will secure from danger And assures the Parliament that the whole Armie endeavours Peace and are clear from opposing Presbyterie or to affect Independencie or to hold a licentious Freedom in Religion or Interest in any particular partie but to leave all to the Parliament Then on the sudden comes three Colonels Reformadoes and Actours at London with News to the Parliament That a Major of the Armie gave them assurance that the Armie was marching and would be with the Parliament by Noon next Day advising the Colonels to return with him to the Armie where they should be included within the Capitulation for their Arrears This strook the Parliament into a panick fear the Committee of Safety are sent unto to sit all Night The Sheriffs and Common Council of London present a Letter to them from the Army to that purpose of coming to the City A Massage presently is voted to the General to desire him not to come within five and twenty Miles of London and order ten thousand pounds more for the Army the Head Quarters being at Roiston Iune 11. And as the City moved for the Parliament so Petitions came from the Counties praying the Army not to disband ere all things were setled and so they come to St. Albans Then the Trained Bands are drawn out upon pain of Death and on the sudden all sent home again onely the Passes are strongly guarded about the Line of Communication then the Shops are shut up such clattering of Doors and Windows such Fears and Jealousies indeed as men would imagine the City were mad who send a Committee of their Common Council to the General And he returns Answer That the Armie was come thither ere the Parliaments Desires came to his hands and prays the House to send a Moneths Pay speedily to the Army which was done very dutifully And yet they vote That the General be required to deliver the person of the King to the former Commissioners to come to Richmond to the intent that
the old Speakers and many Members were fled to their Protection And the eleven Members that had leave to travel were now got into this new Parliament and Massie Sir William Waller and Colonel General Poins the City Favourites were Listing Reformadoes and others Souldiers And out comes the City Declaration 31. Iuly in effect That his Majesty was surprised at Holmby and though the Act was disavowed by the General Yet the Armie desire that his person may be Resident with them Improving their interest throughout the Kingdom That the City have indeavoured by Remonstrance and Petitions to satisfie all unbiassed men of their zeal to Peace by establishing the True Religion restoring his Majestie and maintaining Priviledge of Parliament easing the charge of the Kingdom securing the peoples Liberty and relieving of Ireland Endeavouring to hold good correspondency between the Army and City That the Priviledges of Parliament have been violated by the Armies causing the eleven Members to withdraw whilst the City Militia is demanded contrary to the Establishment by Ordinance of Parliament and is subject to no other Cognizance then of the King and Parliament That there is nothing in the world that we desire more then that his Majestie be left free in such an honourable condition and capacitie as his person may appear to be at libertie to receive and treat upon Propositions to be presented to him from the Parliaments of both Kingdoms for whilst his Royal person is invironed by an Army and remains under the power thereof He cannot give that free assent to Propositions as is requisite or if he doe we nor our Posterity have no hope to enjoy the same without alteration And therefore we are resolved to apply our selves to the Parliament and hope that all good Subjects touched with the sence of Duty and Allegiance which by the Law of God and man they owe to the King will unanimously joyn with us therein The matter of difference thus truly stated between us and the Army to wit That we would not submit the Militia of the City to be ruled at the pleasure of an Army after it had been so orderly setled into the hands of such as were intrusted with it for a year when there was a full and free Parliament So we finde it more then time that the whole Kingdom be possessed with the true state thereof and upon whom the guilt of a new War which God forbid must justly lodge and accordingly we expect a blessing from God in our just defence And conclude their desires summmond up to be The settlement of Religion by re-establishing his Majesty in his just Rights and Authority by upholding all lawful priviledges of a free Parliament by maintaining the Fundamental Laws by restoring the Subjects Libertie and propertie by freeing this long oppressed Kingdom of all Taxes enforceed Free Quarter of the Army which hath had no visible Enemy to encounter and from this resolution we shall never recede for any earthly consideration or advantage what soever And although the Parliament had by Ordinance of 19. Iuly given the General power over all the Land Forces under the pay of the Parliament they declare it shall not extend over the Trained Bands and Garisons And both Houses Order that this Declaration be Printed and published by the Militia of the City by sound of Trumpet and that the Sheriffs of the several Counties of this Kingdom and Wales do publish the same in their respective Limits accordingly The Army comes on this night at Wickam to morrow to be at Colebrook and the King now at Latimer The last of Iuly he was two dayes after at Stoke Abby near Windsor In this confusion the City differ among themselves at the sitting of their Common Councel at Guildhall the Trained Bands of Southwark came in a Muâ—inous manner and would not be commanded out of their Borough but there to stand upon their own Guard Then were presented Petitions of thousands well-affected one against another that matters might be composed but what way they cared not nor could they tell And therefore their new Leaders Massey Waller and Poins were displeased with the multitude at Guildhall fell to words and blows divers wounded and some slain and the Aldermen in Councel fearing the people were fain to sit all day and that night and only concluded to write to the General And Petitions are set on work on either side as their constitutions led them some against the Parliament others against the Army others made it their sport to see this confusion in Church and State and like true Bautofees kindled this fire into a flame Men they say that have wasted their Estates in the Kingdoms extremity Some complain for liberty of Conscience are now to a new tone and tune for their Faith are Imprisoned though nothing can be found worthy of death or of durance only for differing in the outside controversies though blameless in Conversation and Office So that in truth it was apparent to the people that after such a vast expense of Blood and Treasure the exchange was of men in Places but not of Manners old burthens with new names new men with old Corruptions Then in places of new Election for Members they first made the choice and then give the Voice complaining against the Parliamentary proceedings and pray the Army not to lay down their power till the Kingdom with its Ruler be committed to the care and chaâ—ge of such persons as may secure us from fear of future oppression The City send 6. Aldermen and 12. Commons with a Letter to the General and complain That the City is suspected though innocent from Acting against the Army and therefore these their Members they send to be added to their Committee now attending the Councel of the Army and pray the General to forbear the mischief of a new War No sooner come but they were presented with the Armies Remonstrance and Proposals And on Hownslow Heath they Rendezvouz twenty thousand Men Horse and Foot with a great Train of Artillery to astonish the City and therefore such of the Parliament as trusted to the Souldiers were there present the Earls of Northumberland Salisbury Kent the Lords Wark Howard Wharton Say and Moulgrave and others fourteen in all the Speaker Mr. Lenthal of the Commons and above a hundred more of their Members The City stand in a maze unresolved and inconstant the Army in the mean time send a Brigade under Command of Rainsborough and Hewson over Kingstone Bridge and all night March to Southwark being called thither in opposition to the City Massey was busie and knowing his own case desperate sent out his Scouts and are met with and taken prisoners some of the Train-men would needs march out and were worsted and lost their Colours for the General was now near Brainford And therefore the City meet him with humble Messages That finding that his desires of Marching so near is to settle the Members of the Lords and
Commons in their Liberties of Parliament to which the City will contribute all their Power and Service and pray with all submission that he will please to send such a Guard of several Regiments as may conduct them to the Parliament in safety and that the Passes and Ports shall be set open for them and what else to his Excellencies command 3. Aug. But on come the Brigades into Southwark to encompass the City and Rainsborough Hewson Pride Thistlewel Marched without opposition but rather heartily welcome till they came to the Bridge-gate of the City which was shut and the Portcullis let down and a Guard within They make a stand and plant two pieces and set a Guard without then Hewson Marched into St. Georges Fields sends a Summons to the great Fort in the Highway to Lambeth which was suddenly Surrendred by eight a clock that morning The Common Councel now sitting post away Messages to the General who slowly comes on and demands all the Forts of the West side of the City to be Commanded by him before six a clock at night To which the City submit Professing how ready they are to comply with the Army and have given order to their Militia for drawing off all Forces and Ordnance accordingly and speedily to be effected And that now next under Almighty God we doe râ—ly upon your Excellencies honourable word for our safety and protection 4. Aug. The King this while fast and loose on all sides thought it good to be as forward with the Army professing in his Letter that he acquits himself of the scandal cast upon him concerning the Tumults of London accounting it a dishonourable action to be brought to his City in Tumult desiring rather to rely on the General and the Army as more safe and honourable excusing that this Letter came but now which was writ the day before this agreement between the General and the City But he comes on and at Kensington is met by the City Commissioners by the Members of both Houses who had been driven away by tumult And forthwith a Declaration is published of the mutual joyning of the Parliament and Army making Null all Acts passed by the Members at Westminster since the 26. of Iuly last and so all March together towards Westminster And by the way in Hide Park waits the Lord Mayor and his Brethren to congratulate the good composure between the Army and City and then to Westminster thus First Regiment of Foot and Rich his Horse next the Lord General Cromwels Regiment of Horse and then the General of Horseback with his Life Guard the Lords in Coaches with the Speaker of the Commons and their Members Tomlinsons Regiment of Horse brought up the Rear-Guard and you must note that each Souldier had a green branch in his hat and at Charing Cross stood the Common Council humbly ducking to his Excellency and so went on to the Parliament And being sat in both Houses their first duty was to Enact the General to be High Constable of the Tower of London The next was for a Festival day on all sides which the sorrowful City must nevertheless pay for Then was the General sent for to receive thanks of both Houses for his preservation of their Liberties And to caress the Army a months pay is given to them as a largess for this great grace and favour And the next day the General with the whole Army Horse and Foot Marched in Triumph through the City from eleven a clock till eight at night the Generals Quarters went to Croyden and the Army all about in Essex and Kent from this day being Saturday till Munday When the General comes to takes possession of the Tower and the City Guard were turned out and after Dinner the City Committee did congratulate their happiness in his care of the City and could wish that the Records of the Tower might in time to come make known to the World this their safety in him being now made visible in subjection to the Souldier they crave pardon for not waiting upon him to the City in such equâ—page as he merited nor with such a present as the shortness of preparation could possibly admit and therefore they were now come to bid him to Dinner And in the end of all they desired that Mr. West might continue his Deputy Lieutenant But they were answered He had intrusted it to one of his own and a Citizen Colonel Titchburn Then he took view of the Amunition the strength of the White Tower and last of all of the Records where he was told of the great Charter of England Which he had a great desire he said to see And being shewed it with some Ceremonies he took off his Hat This is that said he which we have fought for and by Gods help we must maintain Some smiled to see his simple and single intention the sense of all pretenders which while we fight for we fly from And having done what they would do they begin again to think of the King the great expectation of the Kingdom and so he resides at his Quarters at Kingston August 13. But first the Parliament must undo what the City had lately done in their Apprentices Ordinance so called and voted unwarrantable and in a world to unravel and null all Acts in their absence and to prosecute Examinations and Punishments against the Actours in the late Insurrections And the King is come from Stoke to Oatlands August 14. But the Members were not well at ease unless some Setlement were made for them by Orders and Ordinances against the usurping Members from Iuly 26. to Aug. 6. to be forced and no free Parliament At last after long Debate the Question was put Whether the Question should be put or not And concluded Affirmative by two Voices Then Whether the Proceedings were forced and that Sitting no free Parliament And it was carried in the Negative by three Voices August 17. And the Army remonstrate the practice of the late force upon the Parliament That not any of those Members which did sit in the absence of their Speaker shall presume to continue in the House till satisfaction be given of their intention to raise a new War and imbroil the Kingdom by contriving the King to come to the City and they brought to condign punishment by the judgment of a free Parliament And so they have Letters of Thanks from both Houses for this Remonstrance August 20. But take it in effect Whereas there was a visible horrid insolent and actual force upon the Houses of Parliament Munday the six and twentieth of July last whereby the Speakers and many Members were forced to absent themselves and could not return and fit before the sixth of August and that the Ordinance of the six and twentieth of July for revoking and making void of the Ordinance of the three and twentieth of July for setling the Militia of London and all other their Votes
establishing such additional Laws as might make for the present and future good of the Kingdom and turning the Propositions into Bills and Acts. Yet the next day they Vote To apply themselves once more to his Majesty for his assent to such things in the Propositions as will most make for the good of this Kingdom And these were for the present concerning the great Seal Honours and Titles taking away Bishops c. Declarations and Propositions against the Parliament raising monies for paying the publick debts of the Kingdom The Head Quarters of the Army continuing at Putney and the King at Hampton Court much business was brewing and at last it burst out There had been of late some Souldiers elected out of each Regiment of Horse and Foot who meet and consult by the name of Agitators for the Army and in short time acted in Councels with others of their Commanders profess nothing more then the peoples Liberty and Power and appear for the present as a third Faction with the Presbyter and Independent in the way of Democracie and these were they that seemingly were for the King and as yet had indulged many kindnesses to him since his first restraint the better to bring their purposes to effect and though their Faction had power sufficient to make their own way and framed their Remonstrance into a Case of the Army yet they humbly present it in a Letter to his Excellency their General setting forth From the deep sence of our duty to God to our Countrey to your Excellency to this Army and to our selves we finde such Obligation upon our Consciences written naturally by the â—inger of God in our hearts that we cannot behold the honour of God to be impaired the works of his hands the Land of our Nativity your Excellency this Army our selves or Posterity ready to be swallowed in confusion and to sit still and not rise in the strength of his might to contribute our best endeavours for the prevention thereof c. and so not to be a strange thing that we the means should state the Case of the Army how declined from its Principles of safety what mischiefs are threatned and what remedies are sutable for prevention c. And from our Consciences we attest and protest in the presence of this all-seeing Deity as we desire safety in this life or that which is to come we have no other then cordial and faithful intents to the meek of this our Native Countries to the Parliament your Excellency and this Army in the business of these Papers presented to you from which we are resolved not to recede c. So humbly craving favourable constructions they remain Signed by the Agitators for Lieutenant Gen. Commissary Gen. Col. Fleetwood Col. Riches Col. Whalies Regiments Hamstead 15. October 1657. This the General recieved favourably and resolves to communicate with the General Council A man would admire against whom they would complain They complain in effect That the grievances of the Army many moneths since represented to the Parliament which upon view of our Narratives Representations c. nothing is done either for the Army or the poor distressed people of the Nation And so they ravel into all the neglects of the Parliament in references to the Army in general or in particular to the Widows Orphans or Maimed Souldiers or pay to the Army not burthening the distressed Countrey That there is no period put to this Parliament the House not sufficiently purged The Army not vindicated from the most horrid Injustice of that Declaration against the Army for Petitioning nor of suppressing burning Petitions and imprisoning Petitioners And reckon up the burdens oppressions arbitrary proceedings of Parliament against the Army deduced from their several Remonstrances in ten particular Articles And conclude That whilst we look for Peace and Freedom the Flood-gates of Slavery Oppression and Misery are opened upon the Nation Then in another Paper they insist upon The Mischiefs Evils and Dangers which are and will be the necessary consequence of the Armies declining or delaying the effectual fulfilling of its first Ingagements Promises and Declarations or of its neglect to insist positively upon its first principles of common Right and Freedom which is expressed in five particulars viz. 1. The love of the people to the Army is almost lost c. 2. The Army seems a burden to them whilst their Opressions are increased and no relief by the Army 3. By which means Distractions Divisions Tumults thereby increasing c. 4. That the People are willing rather to have one Tyrant King then hundreds of others such c. 5. And in the fifth they enumerate all the Mischiefs Clamours Complaints which the people suffer are say they ascribed to the Army which they conclude is occasioned by the misgovernment of the Parliament And amongst their eight particulars of the Armies delaying their promises expressed in several Declarations they insist upon That through the same Declension of the Armies first Principle for setling the Nation in peace before the Kings business be considered he is likely to receive his old capacitie before the peoples Freedoms which they have redeemed out of his hands and his forces by blood be cleared and established securely and likewise before any security be given for Arrears for the Army that conquered him let any rational man judge And likewise by the same means the Armies and their assistants Indemnities propounded to receive its strength from the Kings consent whereas only his Signing of or consent to anie Act is wholly Null and void in Law because he is under restraint but also it s the highest disparagement to the Parliament that when they have commanded an Army upon service against the King they should not have sufficient power to save them harmless for obedience to their Commands and also it s the highest dishonour to the Army that they should seek to the Conquered Enemie to save them harmlesse for fighting against them which is to ask him pardon and so will remain a perpetual reproach upon them Then they propose certain Rules and Orders for due Election of Members of Parliament and urge complaints against the late violence upon the Parliament and to be punished for voting a new War or for the Kings coming to London upon his own termes And that the people shall of course meet without any Warrant or Writ once in every two years upon a day appointed in their respective Counties for electing of their Representatives in Parliament and that all the free-born at the age of twenty one years and upwards be the Electors excepting Delinquents and such Parliaments to have a period of time to determine and before that time that they may not be adjournable or disolvable by any power except themselves and that their power be declared in the people and unalterable And these particulars being very large they sum up with their prayers that seing God hath clothed this Army with honour in subduing the
from Michaelmas last and out of Compositions that shall be made before the concluding of the Peace and the Arrears of such as have been already made the assistance of the Clergy And the Arrears of such Rents of his own Revenue as his two Houses shall not have received before the concluding of the Peace his Majesty will undertake within the space of eighteen moneths the payment of 400000. pounds for the satisfaction of the Army And if those means shall not be sufficient his Majestie intends to give way to the sale of Forest Lands for that purpose this being the publick Debt which in his Majesties judgment is first to be satisfied and for other publick Debts already contracted upon Church Lands or other Ingagements his Majestie will give his consent to such Act or Acts for raising of monies for payment thereof as both Houses shall hereafter agree upon so as they be equally laid whereby his people already too heavily burthened by these late distempers may have no more pressures upon them than this absolute necessity requires And for the further securing of all fears his Majesty will consent that an Act of Parliament be passed for the disposing of the great Offices of State and naming of Privy Councellours for the whole term of his Reign by the two Houses of Parliament their Patents and Commissions being taken from his Majesty and after to return to the Crown as is expressed in the Article of the Militia For the Court of Wards and Liveries his Majesty very well knows the consequence of taking that away by returning of all Tenures into common Soccage as well in point of Revenue to the Crown as in the protection of many of his Subjects being Infants Nevertheless if the continuance thereof seem grievous to his Subjects rather then he will fail on his part in giving satisfaction He will consent to an Act for taking of it away so as a full recompence be setled upon his Majesty and his Successours in perpetuity and that the Arrears now due be reserved unto him towards the payment of the Arrears of the Army And that the memory of these late distractions may be wholly wiped away his Majesty will consent to an Act for suppressing and making null of all Oaths Declarations and Proclamations against both or either House of Parliament and of all Indictments and other proceedings against persons for adhering unto them and his Majesty proposeth â—as the best expedient to take away all seeds of future differences that there be an Act of Oblivion to extend to all his Subjects As for Ireland the cessation there is long since determined but for the future all other things being fully agreed his Majesty will give satisfaction to his two Houses concerning that Kingdom And although his Majesty cannot consent in Honour and Iustice to avoid all his own Grants and Acts past under his great Seal since the two and twentieth of May 1642. or to the confirming of all the Acts and Grants passed under that made by the two Houses yet his Majesty is confident that upon perusal of particulars he shall give full satisfaction to his two Houses to what may reasonably be desired in that particular And now his Majesty conceives that by these his offers which he is ready to make good upon the settlement of a Peace he hath clearly manifested his intentions to give full security and satisfaction to all Interests for what can justly be desired in order to the future happiness of his people and for the perfecting of these concessions as also for such other things as may be proposed by the two Houses and for such just and reasonable demands as his Majesty shall finde necessary to propose on his part he earnestly desires a personal Treaty at London with his two Houses in Honour Freedom and Saftety it being in his Iudgement the most proper and indeed only means to a firm and setled Peace and impossible without it to reconcile former or avoid future misunderstandings All these things being by Treaty perfected his Majesty believes his Houses will think it reasonable that the Proposals of the Army concerning the Succession of Parliaments and their due elections should be taken into consideration As for what concerns His Kingdom of Scotland his Majesty will readily apply himself to give all reasonable satisfaction when the desires of the two Houses of Parliament on their behalf or of the Commissioners of that Kingdom or of both joyned together shall be made known unto him C. Rex Islle of Wight 17. Nov. 1647. For the Speaker of the House of Peers c. And although the King is sufficiently alone from evil Councellours the Parliament have no minde that he should have any company and therefore send a Messenger with Warrants to seize those three Servants that waited on him thither But Hamond excuses them not to be delivered up to the Officer his reasons are truly noble and like a Souldier which he directs to the Speaker of the Lords House the Earle of Manchester My Lord Yesterday came an Officer with Warrants for apprehending c. And finding the matter of very great importance I have desired the Messenger to forbear the execution of his Warrants till I have given the Parliament to understand that in case they should be put in execution it would be impossible for me to preserve the person of the King in security to be disposed by the Parliament unless I should keep him close prisoner which I concieve neither fit nor safe for me to do especially of my self The ground being this The King hath declared himself to me that he came from Hampton Court for no other cause but for the preservation of his Person which was as he apprehended in such danger that he could not with safety continue longer there otherwise he would not have departed thence nor from the Army and that he chose this place rather than any other where he was at liberty that he might still continue under protection of the Army my self being a member thereof and that he might have free entercourse with the Parliament for the settlement of Peace to which he professes greater inclinations and desires then ever The King saith that in case these Gentlemen be taken from him and punished as evil doers for counselling him not to go out of the Kingdom but rather to come to the place where he now is for the ends aforesaid and for their endeavouring accordingly in attending him hither he cannot but himself expect to be dealt with accordingly his case being the same My Lord besides the care I shall alwaies have of these Gentlemen they have engaged their Honours not to depart from me and truly were not their ends the same with their pretences in relation to the Peace of this Kingdom they would never have advised and conducted the King hither There will be none left here for his attendance which besides the offence how great the inconveniencies will be to him your
left him to acknowledg or mend it and yet this is the Kings present condition who is at this time laid aside because he will not consent c. Then Jealousies and fears were raised of some designs in London and therefore the Earl of Cleveland is now remanded into the Tower Sir Lewis Dives to be close Prisoner and Sir Iohn Stowel and Judge Ienkins to be tryed at the Kings-Bench-Bar And proceedings to be hastened against the late Mutinies of the City of London and of Canterbury and of other Towns and Counties about keeping the last Christmas-day And that Serjeant Iermin Mr. Bradshaw and Mr. Steel now Recorder in the place of Serjeant Glyn are appointed by councel of tâ—e Parliament against those Delinquents But the King thus sadly set aside and no more addresse to him nor Messages to be received from him or any other in his behalf He is put upon it in publick to complain to his people by his Declaration the eighteeth of Ianuary which came privately to many mens hands then and since very publickly in these words Am I thus laid aside saith the King and must I not speak for my self No! I will speak and that to all my people which I would have rather done by the way of my two Houses of Parliament but that there is a publick order neither to make addresses to or receive Messages from me and who but you can be judge of the differences betwixt me and my two Houses I know none else for I am sure you it is who will enjoy the happiness or feel the misery of good or ill Government and we all pretend who should run fastest to serve you without having a regard at least in the first place to particular interests And therefore I desire you to consider the state I am and have been in this long time and whether my actions have more tended to the publick or my own particular good for whosoever will look upon me barely as I am a Man without that liberty which the meanest of my Subjects enjoyes of going whither and conversing with whom I will As a Husband and Father without the comfort of my Wife and Children or lastly as a King without the least shew of Authority or Power to protect my distressed Subjects must conclude me not only voyd of all natural Affection but also to want common understanding if I should not most cheerfully embrace the readiest way to the settleâ—ent of these distracted Kingdoms As also on the other side do but consider the form and draught of the Bills lately presented unto me and as they are the conditions of a Treaty ye will conclude that the same spirit which hath still been able to frustrate all my sincere and constant endeavours for peace hath had a powerful influence on his Message for though I was ready to grant the substance and comply with what they seem to desire yet as they had framed it I could not agree thereunto without deeply wounding my Conscience and Honour and betraying the trust reposed in me by abandoning my people to the Arbitrary and unlimited power of the two Houses for ever for the levying and maintaining of Land or Sea Forces without distinction of quality or limitation for money taxes And if I could have passed them in termes how unheard of a condition were it for a Treaty to grant before hand the most considerable part of the Subject matter How ineffectual were that debate like to prove wherein the most potent party had nothing of moment left to ask and the other nothing more to give So consequently how hopelesse of mutual complyance Without which a settlement is impossible Besides if after my Concession the two Houses should insiâ—â— on those thing from which I cannot depart how desperate would the condition of these Kingdoms be when the most proper and approved remedy should become ineffectual Being therefore fully resolved that I could neither in conscience honour or prudence passe those four Bills I only endeavour'd to make the Reasons and Iustice of my denyal appear to all the World as they do to me intending to give as little dis-satisfaction to the two Houses of Parliament without betraying my own cause as the matter would bear I was desirous to give my Answer of the 28. of December last to the Commissioners sealed as I had done others heretofore and sometimes at the desire of the Commissioners cheifly because when my Messages or Answers were publickly known before they were read in the Houses prejudicial interpretations were forced on them much differing and sometimes contrary to my meaning For Example my Answer from Hampton Court was accused of dividing the two Nations because I promised to give satisfaction to the Scots in all things concerning that Kingdom And this last suffers in a contrary sense by making me intend to interest Scotland in the Laws of this Kingdom then which nothing was nor is further from my thoughts because I took Notice of the Scots Commissioners protesting against the Bills and Propositions as contrary to the interests and Engagements of the two Kingdoms Indeed if I had not mentioned their dissent an Objection not without some probability might have been made against me both in respect the Scots are much concern'd in the Bill for the Militia and in several other Propositions and my silence might with some justice have seemed to approve of it But the Commissioners refusing to receive my Answer sealed I upon the Engagement of their and the Governours honour that no other use should be made or notice taken of it then as if it had not been seen read and delivered it open unto them Whereupon what hath since passed either by the Governour in discharging most of my Servants redoubling the Guards and restraining me of my former Liberty and all this as himself confest meerly out of his own dislike of my Answer notwithstanding his beforesaid Engagement or afterwards by the two Houses as the Governour affirms in confining me within the circuit of this Castle I appeal to God and the World whether my said Answer deserved the reply of such proceedings Besides the unlawfulnesse for Subjects to Imprison their King That by the permission of Almighty God I am reduced to this sad condition as I no way repine so I am not without hope but that the same God will in due time convert these afflictions into my advantage In the mean time I am confident to bear these crosses with patience and equality of minde But by what means or occasion I am come to this Relapse in my affairs I am utterly to seek especially when I consider that I have sacrificed to my two Houses of Parliament for the Peace of the Kingdom all but what is much more dear to me than my Life my Conscience and Honour desiring nothing more than to perform it in the most proper and natural way a personal Treaty But that which makes me most at a losse is the remembring my
the power should be expelled the University and that all the Colledge Rents be paid to the Visitors appointed Although the King be at quiet the people murmur all South Wales against the powers that govern the Affairs of State and Army and supple the one part with Petitions to the Parlâ—ament but quarrel with the other One Colonel Poyer opposes and being already intrusted by the General with the command of Pembroke Castle in South Wales he refused to surrender to the Generals appointment nor will he submit to the Letters and Command of the House of Commons to that purpose and prepares for a Siege in defiance of the Parliaments Order Against him therefore the General is to send Forces to reduce the Castle and to bring him to justice and Vice-Admiral Rainsborough is commanded to block up the Harbour But not only Poyers case who will not surrender without his Arrears so also Major General Laughorn hath the same exceptions of not disbanding his who now joyn together against the Parliaments Forces under Colonel Fleming and in their Design seised Ordnance Arms and Ammunition possessing themselves not only of Pembroke Castle but Tenby also The manner thus Laughornes Foot being left without any Officers but an Ensign whom they forced the 26. of March consented to revolt and with Stevens their Serjeant and a dozen Souldiers came to Laughorne inâ—o the Castle of Tenby and seized the Commissioners of the Parliament Philips Burloe Sedgwich the Minister and Lort the rest got out of Town these men were guarded into the Castle and secured for the time till all things prepared they were shipped into a boat with some Souldiers and carried to Pembroke Castle forcing such out of the Town there with much slaughter on them that refused to joyn with them so that Fleming was utterly routed and he only escaped That night they seize a good ship of the Parliaments being aground and unlade all her Ammunition And instantly sent away a Bark of intelligence to France And in that time Poyer grows so formidable in the adjacent shires as the General disposes of Forces to reduce him Nor is this all several other places fall into petty insurrections and revolts which shew the disaffection of the People Nay at London begins the Mutiny and brake out on Sunday the ninth of April the Tumult took rise in Moore-fields who set upon a party of the Trained Bands in Finsbury drawn out to keep the peace and soon over powred them with number and hourly increasing they disperse into multitudes some to White-chappel seizing the Train-bands Colours others to Smithfield and many to White-hall but these were met with by the Mewes guard of Horse and forced to separate yet at night they gather head surprize Newgate and Ludgate with the Keys and shut up the Gates then to the Lord Mayors and force from thence a Drake piece of Ordnance and some slain This piece they plant within Ludgate the Mayor betakes himself to the Tower for that night The morning increases their number who labour to get Arms break open a sale mans house of Ammunition in Milk-street and other places and being furnished they march with their mounted Ordnance to Leaden-hall and master the Magazine The mean while drums beat on the River inviting the watermen and saylers for God and King Charls The General and his Council keep the head quarters at Whitehall spend the whole night in debate whether they shall hazzard their two Regiments at Whitehall and the Mewes or stay for more force but agree to engage with these And as early as day they enter Aldersgate and march to Leadden-hall and charge the rabble who with their Drake hurt Captain Merriman in the shoulder and his Lieutenant in the belly killd a woman and hurt some Souldiers The Waterman that discharged the piece was killd instantly Many hurt divers prisoners were seized but the rabble disperst the City wâ—s quiet by ten a clock at noon Had a man but observed the general murmur of the City at this time the private abetting of this multitude to mutiny the engaging of friends and forcing of servants to this outrage and yet in the very act at but the sight of some Horsemen with their swords drawn and pistols cockt riding up and down in disorder and commanding the shopmen to keep home How suddenly they shrunk in like snaâ—les into their shells and wondrous busie they were to direct the Souldier how to master their fellows bringing in their Horse at the new made Postern out of Moor-fields and so were brought upon the backs of the Prentices and subdued them on the sudden But however the City call a Common Council where this now monstrous mutiny is debated and resolved upon That the City was in eminent danger of destruction by this horrid detestable act that a Committee report to the Parliament their dislike thereof and request very humbly that the Actors may be severely punished by Triall of Oyer and Determiner that the Ministers give thanks in their Pulpit for this their deliverance under God by the forces raised and continued of his Excellency the Lord General Fairfax And the Common Council do promise for themselves and the City that they shall never do so any more And for assurance of their good behaviour hereafter the Committee are appointed to invite the General to a City feast which alwaies concludes their frays And hereupon as heretofore the City fortifications were demolished so now their very Posts and Chains must be pulled down and given to the Souldiers for their pains therein besides one thousand pound largess for the Horse Regiments that quelled the Prentices And to prevent the future insurrections in London the Tower is reinforced with two thousand Foot and a Troop of Horse to quarter there and all manner of provision fitted for their intertainment being as it was voted for the security and service of the City it may well be so for they paid for all And all the Prisoners there except the Lord Mayor and Aldermen should be removed to several â—astles Warwick Windsor Wallingford to make the more room for the Souldiers Indeed the late Mayor Sir Iohn Geer and three Aldermen Adams Langham and Bunch refused to kneel at the Lords Bar or to be tried by them denying their power to try Commoners but only by the common Law and were therefore fined five hundred pounds a piece and returned Prisoners to the Tower But Poyer appears formidable in Pembroke Castle in Wales having gained the contribution of the neighbour Counties The Parliaments forces are sent to oppose him under two Colonels Horton and Fleming who are sent with three Troops of Horse and Dragoons to gain a pass from Poyer who wittingly had quitted the same but lay in ambuscado and fall upon Flemings whole body and worsted him followed the flight so neer that they retreat into a Church the County coming in to Poyer the Church was taken and those within had
upon their purses at all times of need The general opinion of the people was never to have other but Uprores and Disorders untill the King were treated with To that end after sundry Petitions from several Counties had led the way The City also exhibit theirs for a personal treaty with the King to be at London Upon which Petition now so seasonable Committees are appointed to Treat That of the Parliament interrogate the Cities What was meant by these words of their Petition Viz. That the King and Parliament may meet and treat with freedom honour and safety according to the Ancient Fundamental constitutions of the Kingdom They Answer Free from force and violence to the King What was meant That the City will defend his Royal person and the Parliament during the Treaty according to the Covenant Answer As much as in us lyeth free from all fear and violence Whether will the City maintain their Guards during the Treaty there Answer They will and after the Treaty refer themselves to the King and Parliament for satisfaction thereof In case the King doe not consent in the Treaty whether the City will engage that the person of the King shall be disposed of by Parliament Answer They in such a case which God forbid will submit to the wisdom of Parliament By what means and in what manner will they make good their Engagement by defending the King and Parliament against all violence Answer As much as in us lyeth by the Trained Bands of the City and Lines of Communication To that end they desire that the Militia of the out places of the City may by the Ordinance of our intire Militia be speedily passed and no other Forces to be made use of within the City That no Forces in Arms may come within thirty miles thereof during the Treaty and that it shall be death for any within the City to make Tumult And desire the Treaty may speedily commence To which consent and engagement the Common Councel men get subscription of the chief of each Parish which was done to purpose But then how long did it last true some two dayes in which time a Rabble of Subscribers to another Petition sang to a contrary tune for which they had thanks but however the Parliament go on and made hast whilst the Officers of the Army were busied abroad The Propositions are ready the fourth of August a seasonable time to hasten them to the King for whilst the General Lieutenant General Major General Commissary General and the most of the chiefest Commanders are abroad in active service others are encouraged thereby and Major Huntington gave in his Narrative to the Lords House why he left the Army complaining against the most eminent Officers and their carriage since the Parliaments Orders to Disband the Army and in relation to Overtures made with the King and concerning the proceedings against the Lords and Commons and Aldermen These were large and being but Complaints not proved we shall forbear Yet Huntington delivered them in upon Oath and had the protection of that House for so doing The Prince of Wales also with his Fleet then in the Downs and in good condition and some bustling by the Prince of Orange for his assistance with Land Souldiers out of Holland gave hopes of success for the King And the Prince writes to the Speaker of the House of Peers not naming the Commons taking notice 〈◊〉 the progress of the Parliament with the King and desires That the Treaty may be in place and manner as may consist with the Kings Honour and safety of his person so that the agreement be not blemished with any face of restraint That the Treaty include the Kingdom of Scotland That during the Treaty there may be a Cessation of Arms and that an orderly moderate subsistance may be agreed upon for all Forces on foot and the Scots Army now in England as may be with the least pressure on the Northern parts And that some course may be taken to give content to his Ships in the Dowâ—s that common Trade be not hindered by them and to discharge the Ships which he hath lately taken into hold And joyntly with these Letters are presented Petitions to the Commons House of the very same nature with the others and have a fair Answer and great thanks The like from the reduced Officers of the Army according to the late desires of the City of London And in Order to the publick effects the Parliament Vote That the Houses desire a Treaty with his Majesties person in what place of the Isle of Wight that he shall appoint upon the Propositions tendered to him at Hampton Court and concerning Wards and Liveries and to treat with Honour Freedom and safety to his person and to the Coâ—missioners of Parliament 2. To receive such other Propositions to be treated on as shall be presented to his Majestie 3. The Commissioners sent with this Message to return in ten dayes The Messengers were the Earl of Middlesex Sir Io. Hepsly and Mr. Bulkley who arrived there Sunday the 6 of Aug. delivering their Votes first to be agreed unto and them for a Treaty The King told them no man desired Peace so much as he in his several Relations as a King a Husband a Father and a Master for who ever gained by these troubles He was like to lose And so without a Secretary he said he would frame an Answer to the Parliament with which the Messengers returned the tenth of August It was thus C. R. If the peace of my Dominions were not much dearer to me then any particular interest whatsoever I had too much reason to take notice of the several Vâ—tes which passed against me and the sad condition I have been in now above these seven moneths But since you my two Houses of Parliament have opened as it seems to me a fair beginning to a happy peace I shall heartily apply my self thereunto and to that end I will as clearly and shortly as I may set you down those things which I conceive necessary to this blessed work so that we together may remove all impediments that may hinder a happy conclusion of this Treaty which with all chearfulâ—ess I doe embrace And to this wished end your selves have laid most excellent grounds for what can I reasonably expect more than to treat with honour Freedom and Safety upon such Propositions as you have or shall present unto me and such as I shall make to you But withall remember that it is the definition not names of things which make them rightly known and that without means to perform no Proposition can take effect And truly my present condition is such that I can no more treat than a blinde man judg of colours or one run a race who hath both his feet fast tied together wherefore my first necessary demand is That you will recall all such Votes and Orders by which people are frighted from coming writing or
provision be made for the education of the Children of Papists in the faith and Religion of Protestants for the imposing of Mulcts on Papists and disposing the benefit thereof at the discretion of the Parliament That provision be made for suppressing the practises of Papists against the Common-wealth for the executing the Laws against them without fraud and for the stricter forbidding of administring and frequenting Mass whether in the Court or whatsoever place within England and Ireland 3. That the power of the Militia by Land and Sea throughout England and Ireland reside in the Parliament solely to raise train as many Souldiers as they please to lead them whither they please to levy what monies they think fit for their pay whereby they may encounter intestine troubles and invasions foreign and that the King and his successors shall not claim any right therein for the space of twenty years after the expiration whereof if the Parliam shall think the safety of the Commonwealth to be concerned that an Army whether for Land or Sea service be raised and pay alotted them and exact the same by their Authority that such Votes shall have the force of a Law or Statute even though the King refuse If persons of what quality soever to the number of thirty be gathered together in Arms and at the command of the Lords and Commons shall not lay down Arms they shall be accounted guilty of high Treason without hope of pardon from the King To these by way of Corollarie were added some provisions touching the City of London Priviledges and ordinary power of Ministers of Iustice in executing sentence given 4. That by an Act the Cessation of Ireland and all Treaties and Articles there made without the consent of Parliament be voided That the right of prosecuting the Irish War depend upon the discretion of Parliament That the Deputy and all Ministers whether of the Martial or â—ivil Government be nominated by Parliament the Chancellor of Ireland Keep of the great Seal Treasurer all Officers of the Kingdom all the Judges the places offices honours 〈◊〉 Donations of Lands grâ—nted by the King since the Cessation made be â—ulled 5. That all Honours and Titles since the second of May 1642. at which time the 〈◊〉 of the great Seal carried away the Seal with himself from the Parliâ—ment be declared Null No man likewise 〈◊〉 chosen into the Order of Peeâ—age shall sit in the House of Lords without the consent of both Houses 6. That the Parliament raise what moneys they please for payment of the publick debts and dammages and for whatsoever publick uses they shall see hereafter needfull 7. In the first tank of Delinquents be reckoned to whom no hope of pardon shall be left either for life or fortune with the Kings Kings consent The two Princes Palatine of the Rhine Rupert and Maâ—ricâ— three Earls five Lords two Bishops two Judges of the Kingdom twenty two Knights whose names to remember were too large but these persons were those who had done the King the most acceptable service All Papists which had been in Arms namely the Marquess of Winchester with two Earls two Lords and six Knights as also all that raised or fomented the Rebellion in Ireland In the 2. Rank were placed fifty Noblemen and Knights all Memberâ— of the lower House who deserting the Parliament passed over to the Kings Party as also all the Judges Lawyers Clergy-men be banished from the Kings Court and abstain from publick Offices and that under penalty of Treason loss of life and fortunes that the Judges and Lawyers be proscribed from Courts and their practice the Clergy interdicted their Benefices and liberty of Preaching Such fell upon the third Rank as had committed or councelled ought against the Parliament none whereof shall obtain in future the Office of Justice of Peace or Judge or Sheriff or publick Officer To the fourth Rank are reckoned the Common Souldier and all persons of baser rank whose fortunes were narrower then two hundred pounds All the Lands and goods of those of the first Rank be publickly sold to pay publick debts but of the Members which in the new Parliament held at Oxford pronounced those guilty of High Treason which adhered to Westminster two parts in three of their lands and goods The Moity of others of the Judges Lawyers Clergy-men the third part and the sixth of all the third Rank be sold for the foresaid points The rest be let goe without Câ—nsure Provided they have ingaged themselves in the National Covenant All in the second and third Rank after the payment of their Fines the pardon of Parliament being sued granted be entirely restored 8. That all Offices of the Kingdom and chief Magistracies for â—wenty years next ensuing be collated and constituted according to the pleasure of Parliament 9. That the new Seal framed aâ— the Houses appointment pass by the King into the Seal of England and that no other hereafter be used That all Grants and Commissions sealed by this new one remain firm all under the old Seal which was with the King be voided from such time as the Keeper Littleton conveyed it away from the Parliament 10. That all Priviledges Grants Charters and Immunities of the City of London be confirmed with itâ—rated Acts That the Tower of London and Militia be ordered at the discretion of the Mayor of the City Members and Common Council therein That no Citizen be compelled to Military service out of the Liberties of the City unless at the Parliaments appointment and the last was 11. That the Court of Wards with all Offices and Employments thereto belonging be exterminated That all services likewise on that accompt imposed cease all inheritances which formerly were held of the King in Capite c. namely by Knights service being freed from burden and charges fifty thousand pounds notwithstanding being paid the King yearly in compensation These were the conditions of peace propounded by the Parliament for the Argument or Matter of the Treaty to be commenced so vehemently sought after by the desires of all men and by the Arms of many Nothing changed from those which being formerly sent to the King whilst he remained at Hampton Court were not only rejected by the King but also of the Army as being somewhat too unequal In this one thing they differed that in these last the Scots are unconsidered The Parliament Commissioners are vested with no other Authority then to reply to the Kings Arguments rejoyn Reasons to force his assent having no power to sweeten or alter a word nay not to pass over the Preface but are forthwith to adverâ—ise the Parliament touching the Kings Concessions to transact all in writing and to debate the Propositions one by one in order not to descend to another before agreement touching the precedent and the time limited to dispatch within fourty dayes The Treaty goes on for a good while when suddenly advice comes to the Parliament that
Seyman which held a weeks debate and being very prolix we shall refer the Reader to the Papers on each particular then set forth by the Kings friends and since imprinted and bound up together with other Writings and Papers of the Kings annexed to his Eikon Basilike where the dispute is set out at large But the time limited in the Treaty being now consummaâ—â— the Commissioners return and make their report to the Parliament of the Kings Concessions no waies answerable to their desires and so are voted unsatisfactory And at an instand Hamond renders up the charge of the Kings person to Col. Ewers as hereafter And whilst the Treaty is likely to conclude in peace the Commanders of the Army seem to entertain the hopes with gladness and profess That they will obey the Acts of the Houses that publick peace will be welcom to them above others that being free from the toyls of War they might settle their own private affairs and after the end of their tedious labours sit down to rest But what ere they said their intermingled friends in the Houses advizing some Commanders and common Souldiers hold meetings and frame Petitions That the Treaty with the King might be broken off and punishment on all without distinction glancing at the Kings person the Enemies of the Common-wealth and these are Printed and dispersed and which taking flame the Souldiers Rendezvouz near London to frighten their adverse party and a Remonstrance is conceiving by an able pen-man who under colour of dislike with the General takes time in private for the present only to frame a large Remonstrance of the Army But to usher it in with County Petitions 〈…〉 most pertinent from thousands of the County of Leicester minding the Parliament in this time of Treaty of two Declarations the one from the Assembly of Scotland charging the King with spilling of the bloud of many thousands in his three Kingdoms And the other Declaration of Parliament An. 1647. wherein they give Reasons of their no further address to the King and speak as high as these of Scotland they add also the Houses Answer to the Scots Commissioners Papers 1647. All which have made their hearts to tremble expecting with amazement what satisfaction they may have to these loud cryings and Heaven-provoking crimes viz. The death of his Father betraying Rochel the Spanish Fleet with an Army in it Proclamations to cry down Parliaments his correspondency with Rome the private Articles of his marriage his Commissions to the Rebels in Ireland his violent attempt upon his House of Commons inviting Foreigners to enslave the three Nations his proclaiming the Parliament of England Rebels the designed bloody Massacre in London by his Commission his destructive principle of yielding accompt to none but God his inviting over of the Irish Rebels to subdue this Parliament and such like together with this eight years misâ—ries of these three Kingdoms And that these are but a few of the many Reasons why they cannot repose any more trust in him And pray that proceedings against him may be accordingly least they build their peace upon ruined foundations that they may neither fear Treating with him nor trusting him with great and weighty affairs of the three Kingdoms And conclude as most charitable and Christian that speedy justice be executed on all prisoners the Parliaments Enemies And had thanks for this Petition But the Tide began to turn in October whilst they were Treating for now we are almost at quiet abroad and the Army at leisure Insurrections calmed Garrisons in opposition surrendred Scotland inâ—aders overcome the two Kingdoms brought in confederacy in Arms. And the House of Commons bethinks of raising vast sums for composition of Delinquents and accessaries in the late Insurrections and in executing such persons prisoners as are fitted for Justice To which eâ—d they have Petitions from the Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of London and the like unchristian charity from the prayers and Preachings of the Presbyterian and accordingly the Parliament proceed They begin with the Earl of Norwich and the Lord Capell as to impeaching them of Treason and Rebellion who Petitioned the House of Lords with the sense of their condition and of the quarter consented unto by the General Fairfax at the Surrender of Colchâ—ster The Lords send to the Commons assuring them that by the Generals Letter to them all others were to have quarter after some were shot to deaâ—â— And upon great debate the Houses were fain to desire the General to explain his Letter of the 29. of Septem He was now at his Head Quarters at St. Albans and long after they had this Answer The General does not take upon him to conclude but stating the business leaves them to the Civil power and so in effect to tâ—yal for life But ere they had Answer they are troubled at a demand of the Army for present payment of their Arrears amounting to the sum of three hundred fourteen thousand three hundred fifty one pounds and five pence whereof near fifty thousand pounds is due from the City of London Besides one hundred thousand pounds to be advanced in part of the Arrears due to the reduced Officers and Souldiers in a List remaining in the House of Commons and the debate was whether the new Sequestrations in the County of Essex should be exempted from being part of the money assigned for this purpose and conclude in the Negative This made a hubbub over all England the reduced Officers of all Counties are coming up to London under pretence for their Arrears The Parliament bustle how to avoid the inconvenience and declare That the Houses are upon passing an Ordinance for their satisfaction and that their coming up to London will much impede this and other the great affairs of the Kingdom and therefore they are commanded to forbear upon that or any pretence whatsoever and so had an Ordinance passed for payment of 23000. l. part of their Arrears 9. October The Courts of Westminster Hall were thin and were to be filled with Judges And in order thereto a new call of Serjeants at Law Out of Greyes Inn thâ—se to be Serjeants Sir Tho. Widdrington Sir Tho. Bednifield Mr. Kebble Mr. Thorpe and Mr. Bradshaw Out of Lincâ—lns Inn Mr. Sollicitor St. Iohn Mr. Sam. Brown Mr. Recorder Glyn and Mr Erle Out of the Middle-Temple Mr. Whitlock Mr. Coniers Mr. Puleston Out of the Inner-Temple Mr. Chapman Mr. Gales and Mr. Will. Littleton And not long after were called Will. Powel Io. Clark Iohn Elcontread Ro. Nichols Io. Parker and Rob. Barnard and were made Serjeants at Law Serjeant Roll is to be chief Justice of the Kings Bench Iermin and Brown Justices there Mr. Sollicitor chief Justice of the Common-pleas Sir Tho. Bedingfield and Creswel Justices there Serjeant Wild chief Baron of the Exchequer Mr. Gates a Baron there Mr. Whitlock Atturney Gen. of the Dutchy Mr. Prideaux Sollicitor Gen. Mr. Widrington one of the Kings Serjeants
declaring the Kings Concessions to be a ground for settlement of a peace notwithstanding the visible defects of them in the Essentials concerning the liberties of the Kingdom c. And â—herefore desire that all such faithful Members who are innocent will protest against the said Votes by publick Declaration and the rest to be expelled the House that so the well-affected may proceed to set a short period to your own power to provide for a speedy succession of equal Representatives according to the Armies late Remonstrance But as we said the Parliament adjourning till this Munday 11. Decem. and not sitting that day neither the Army Dâ—clare a new Representative which they call an Agreement of the people for future Government of the Nation to be subscribed by all the people The Preamble whereof was in effect We having by our late labours made it appear at what rate we value our freedom and God owning our cause hath delivered our enemies into our hands we ought as bound in mutual duty to each other to avoid the danger of returning into a slavish condition and another chargeable war so that when our common rights shall be cleared their endeavours will be disappointed that seek to be our Masters Our troubles having been occasioned either by want of National meetings in Councel by the undue or unequal constitution thereâ—f or by rendring those meetings uneffectual And therefore we are agreed to provide that hereafter our Representatives be neither undertain for time nor unequally constituted nor be made useless to the end for which they are intended In order hereunto they declare That this Parliament be dissolved the last of April next The Representatives of the whole Nation to consist of three hundred persons The Manner of the eleâ—tion they propound 1. That the Electors be Natives such as have subscribed this agreement such as are assessed for the relief of the poor men of 21. years of age and House-keepers in that Division and for seven years no person that hath adhered to the King or shall oppose this agreement or not subscribe hereto shall have voice in Election 2. That after 14. years such persons may be elected that have voice in Elections and for the present none shall be Eligible who have not voluntarily assisted against the King either before June 1645. or in money Plate or Arms lâ—nt upon the Propositions May 1643. or have abetted the treasonable design in London 1647. or who declared for a Cessation of Arms with the Scots or ingaged in the last Summers Wars against the Parliament 3. That whoever is incapable by the former Rules and yet shall Vote in Elections or sit in Representative shall lose the moity of his Estate he having above 50. l. and if under then three moneths imprisonment And if any oppose the Elections then to lose his whole Estate or a years imprisonment if under 50. l. per an 4. That 150. Members at least shall make an Act of Law And these shall within twenty dayes after their first sitting appoint a Câ—uncil of State to continue untill the second Representative and the Council to Act as they shall direct by instructions 5. That no Officer of State Treasurer or Receiver while such shall be a Representative 6. No Lawyer shall practice whilst he is of any Representative or Council of State 7. That the Representative only without the consent of any other person shall Enact Alter Repeal and declare any Laws to the erecting and abolishing of Officers of Courts of Iustice but with these Exceptions following Not to compel tender Consciences in matters of Religion or Worship No person to be impressed to Serve in War by Land or Sea No person after the dissolution of this present Parliament shall be questioned concerning the late War otherwise then in execution or pursuance of the determination of the present House of Commons against such as have adhered to the King and also Accomptants for money That all manner of persons be subject to the publick Laws and such as have now priviledge shall be nulled and none priviledged hereafter That the Representatives meddle not with the execution of Laws not give Judgement upon any mans person That no Representative shall take away Common Right or Level mens Estates destroy proprieties or make all things common 8. That the Council of State in case of danger may summon a Representative for a Session of fourty daies and to dissolve two moneths before the next appointed Representative 9. The publick faith of the Nation shall be made good save that the next Representative may continue or Null all gifts of money made by the present House of Commâ—ns to themselves or any Lords 10. If any Officer or Leader in any Army or Garrison shall resist the Orders of any Representative shall forthwith lose the protection of the Law and dye without mercy The House moulded as others would have it yet many of the Members could not digest the Choake-paer Proposals Declaration Engagement Agreements but somewhat must be done they debate that point of Proposal of the eleven Members formerly put out and since re-admitted and to please the Army Vote and un-vote and conclude of these Votes now That the Votes of 3. Jan. 1647. for revoking the Order of 9. Septem 1647. for disabling Com. Copley to be a Member is of dangerous consequence and is hereby repealed That the receiving the other ten Members was unparliamentary and is therefore Null That the Vote of 30. June 1648. for the opening away to the Treaty with the King be Null That the Vote of 3. of Jan. 1647 forbidding all address to the King to be taken off was aparantly destructive to the Kingdom Divers of the proscribed Members were made Prisoners as Brown Clotworthy Waller Massey Copley to St. Jame's And now both Houses Vote no Address to be made to the King nor Message from him upon pain of Treason And that the Vote of 28 July to Treat with the â—ing was destructive to the Kingdom The King in a very sad condition by his stricter imprisonment in Hurst Castle and hearing of these Votes prepares his Solâ—loquies for comfort in death meditating thereon in these words As I have leasure enough saies the King so I have cause more then enough to meditate upon and prepare for my death for I know there are but a few steps between the Prisons and the Graves of Princes It is Gods indulgence which gives me the space but mans cruelty that gives me the sad occasions for these thoughts For besides the common but then of mortality which lies upon me as a man I now bear the heavy load of other mens ambitions fears jealousies and cruel passions whose envy or enmity against me maâ—es their own lives seem dâ—adly to them while I enjoy any part of mine I thank God my prosperity made me not wholly a stranger to the contemplations of mortality Those are never unseasonable since this is alwaies uncertain death being
Audley arraigned 154 manner of his Tryal and Iudges 155â—â— He is condemned and beheaded 1â—0 His character ibid. B. BAckhouse his Letter touching the betraying of Glocester 652 Lord Balmerino arreigned 200 Banbury taken by the King 586 Stormed by the Parliament and repulsed 729 The Besiegers defeated 730. Surrendred 893 Siege at Basing House 774 c. Relief of it 778. Stormed and taken by Lieu. Gen. Gromwel 834 Bastwick censured 218 Bath rendered up to Fairfax 823 Batten Vice Admiral for the Parliament goes to the Prince 1079 Fight at Banton Health 830 Earl of Bedford confined 140. He is made General of the Parliaments Horse 545. Revolts to the King and back again to the Parliament 626 Belvoir Castle besieged and surrendred 838 Iudge Berkley fined 629 Bewdley taken 698 Tumults against the Bishops who petition and protest 476. They are accused of high Treason 477. voted down 554 Blackington delivered to the Parliament 802 Boloign described 3 Bosvil in secret gives Letters to the King 980 Bourchier hanged at Bristol 620 Mr. John Bradshaw made President of the High Court of Iustice 1121. He interrupts the King with insolent reproofs 1126. His Speech to hasten the Sentence 1127 The King Marches to Brainford 587. Fight there 593 Fight at Branden Heath 697 Bridgwater besieged 822. bravely defended ibid. surrendred 823 Bristol surrendred to P. Rupert 657 besieged by Fairfax and Cromwel 830 Earl of Bristol articled against 37. committed 58 Earl of Bristols speech for accommodation 518 Broadway Arraigned and executed 160 Lord Brooks Speech at Guild-hall 591. His second Speech there 592. He is killed at Lichfield Close 612 Inquisition against the Duke of Buckingham 35. Earl of Bristows charge against him ibid. impeachment against him 46. His Manifesto 75. He sets forth for the Isle of Rhe ibid. summons Toras 86. is answered 87. Canophies Message to him and his Answer 97. he is murdered 120. His Funeral and Tomb 123. verses on him 124 County of Bucks Petition 479 Sir John Burroughs dyes 90 Burton censured 218. returns from durance 338 Sir John Byron Marches to Oxford 576 C. KIng Charls born 1. marieth Princess Henrieta Maria 5 calls the first Parliament 6. His Speech to them 7. Ceremonies at his Coronation 24 25 26 27. calls a second Parliament 28. He demands supply 30. Declares why he dissolved the third Parliament 134. falls sick of the small pox 178. Iourneys into Scotland 191. His declaration to the Scots 241. He prepares an Army against them and declares the occasion 247. His Declaration 252. He resolves of a Parli in England and another to be in Ireland 285. Goes into Scotland 313 His Speech to the Peers 319 For Bishops 348. Passeth the Bill for a Triennial Parliament 360. His Speech concerning it 361. His Reply to the Speaker touching Tunnage and Poundage 427. Other 2â— Speeches to both Houses 462 463. Answers the Parliaments Petition 469. and declares in Answer to their Remonstrance 470. He withdraws to Haâ—pton Court 479. Answers the Parliaments Petitions for the Militia 489 498 499. His Message to the Parliament from Huntington 505. His Proclamation at York concerning Tunnage and Poundage ibid. His Offers concerning Ireland 507. He is disswaded by the Parliament from going into Ireland 508. His Letter to the Council of Scotland 516. His Answer to the 19. Propositions 529. He caresses the County of York 536. Provides Arms 537. His Letters with Commissions of Array ibid. His Protestation 538. His general Declaration 539. His Proclamation against Levies 540. He caresses the County of Nottingham 544. his Proclamation 545. His grand Declaration 552. Proposeth the first Treaty for Peace is refused 562. His Speech to his Army 577. and to the Gentry of Denbigh and Flintshire 579. His Declaration after his Victory at Edge-hill 587. His Message to the Lords of his Privy Council in Scotland 590 and to the Parliament 593. He proposeth a Treaty but without success 601. His Proclamation against the Solemn League and Covenant 637. His Protestation at the Sacrament of the Eucharist 702. His Letter to the Earl of Essex 715. His Messages of Peace 717. His Letters taken and divulged 812. He writes to the Parliament for a Conduct for persons to Treat and is Answered 844. Several Messages of his touching a Treaty 845 847. which are Answered by the Parliament 849. Other Messages of the King 850 852 853. He desires to come to his Parl 885 He escapes out of Oxford 896 comes to the Scots Army before Newark 897. His Letter to Ormond 898. His Message to the Parli from Southwel 900. He comes to Newcastle 904. Argues with Henderson about Church matters ibid. gives warrant to disband his Forces 906. His Letter to the Prince 907. His Message to the Parliament and their Answer 918. His Answer to the Scots Petition and Remonstrance 922. His Message for a Treaty near London 934. He is voted to Holmby 935. His Queries to the Scots Army 938. Commissioners to receive his person 939. He desires two of his Chaplains to be with him 941 942. His Letters to the Lord General of Ireland 960. His Answer to the Parliaments Propositions 981. He is taken into the Armies power 985 desires to see his Children 992. His Letter to the General for protection 1001. He Answers the Parliaments Propositions 1009. The effects of his Answer 1014. He escapes from Hampton Court 1016. His Letters to Col. Whaley and the Lord Mountague ibid. and to the Parliament 1017 Death for any to conceal him 1018. He is carried to Carisbrook Castle 1020. Votes to secure him and his Message from thence 121. He writes to the Parliament for an Answer to his Message 1026. Four Bills offered to him with proposals 1027. which he Answers 1209. His servants dismissed 1031. Votes of no further address to him 1032. His Declaration to the people after the Vote of Non Address 1041. his title altered in all things 1044. his Message in Answer to the Parliaments Votes and a Treaty 1085 1087. He and his fast and pray 1089. Concedes to the Parliaments Propositions in most things 1094. is delivered to Colonel Ewers 1100. his Quaeries concerning his Tryal ibid. his Declaration concerning the Treaty 1101. he is seized by the Army 1103. he is brought to VVindsor 1116. the Charge against him 1118. Proclamation for any to accuse him 1119. he is brought to St. James's 1121. his first Trial 1123. his accusation 1124. he demurs to the Authority of the Court ibid. his second Trial 1125. he interrogates the power of the Court and offers reasons in writing 1126. his third and fourth Trial ibid. he refuseth to answer but before his two Houses of Parliament 1127. he is not suffered to reply 1128. his Sentence ibid. His reasons against the Jurisdiction of the Court 1130. he is abused by the Souldiery 1132. hindered in his devotion prayers ibid. his execution ordered by a Committee ibid. Ambassadours sue in his behalf 1133. his blessing and charge to his children 1133
8. Demand Hist. p. 212. Answer Question Answer Sir Benjamin Ruddier 's Speech Overtures of a Match betwixt the Lady Mary and Prince of Orange The Kings Speech to the Lords about it Pretended Plots of Papists The King passes the Bill for the Triennial Parliament His Speech concerning it Arch-bishop-accused of High-treason Lord Digby's Speech for Episcopacy Original of Dr. Reynald of Episcopacie Which the Arch Bishop of Armagh confirms Spanish Territories revolt Catalonia rebells Cassal lost And Turin And Arras Princes of France discontent and why Whether Spain aims at the universal Monarchy or no The charge against Strafford Answered His Tryal in Westminster Hall Ob. p. 224. Ob. p. 226. Anno 1641. March 25. March 27. April 1. April 2. Aprilâ— the conclusion of the Earls defence The Commons justifie their charge by Law The Earl answereth by Councel with satisfaction But is by the Commons voted by Bill guilty of high Treason Bill of Attainder The Kings speech in defence of the Earl of Strafford Prince of Orange maried the Princess Mary Tumult at Westminster crying out for Justice of the Earl Eikon Bas. chap 4. Upon the Insolencie of the Tumults National protestation Monies raised for the King Bill propounded for continuance of the Parliament Earl of Strafford voted guilty of High Treason by the Lords Hist page 257. Ob. pag. 240. Observatâ—r observed page 41. Observator rescued page 288. Articles oâ— Ireland The second Scandal of hastening the Earls death The kings foâ—mer promisâ— the main Dilemma The Earls Letter to the King upon the Tumult of the Prentices Eikon Bas. chap. 5. upon the Kings passing the Bill for the triennial Parliament and after setling this during this Parliaments Pleasure Bill for a perpetual Parliament Arch-bishop of Armagh's answer under his hand concerning the consult with the Bishops The Kings Letter in behalf of the Earl The Lords Answer The Earl brought to the Scaffold The Earl's Speech upon the Scaffold A design of the Aâ—my discovered Eikon Basilike c. 15. Upon Jealousies and Scandals cast upon the King Mr. Thomas his Speech against Bishops Bishops after the Reformation King Charls Mr. White 's Letter 〈…〉 New mods Ecclesiastical Government The Arch-Bishop of Armaghs Propositions in Church Government a The book of Ordination b Ibid ex Act. 20. 27. 28. x so taken in Mat. 2. 6. Rev. 12. 5. 19. 15. d 1 Tim. 4. 14. e Tertul. Apologet. cap. 39. f Nec de aliorum manibus quam praesidentium sumimus Id. de coronâ— militis cap. 3. g Dandi quidem Bâ—ptismi habet jus summus sacerdos qui est Episcopus dehinc Presbyteri Diaconi Id. de Bapt. cap. 17. h Omni actu ad me perlato placuit contrahi Presbyterium Cornel. apud Cyp. epist. 46. i Cyprian epist. 55. ad Cornel. k Concil Carthag 4. cap. 23. l Excerption Egberti cap. 43. m 15. q. 7. cap. Nullus x unde nomen Episcopi tractum est Hieron epist. 85. ad Evagrium Tunnage and Poundage The speaker to the King The King replies Bill of Poll-mony passed as also suppressing the High Commission Court and Star-chamber Court Qu. Mother of France dies at Colen Ambassadour to the Emperour at the Diet. Resolution to disband the Scots and English Army Dr. Wren Bishop of Ely committed to the Tower Judges questioned about Ship-money Commissioners in the Kings absence Bills signed Parliament sit on a Sunday Aug. 10. Disorders by connivance of Parliament Irish Rebellion the Proeme Parsons and Burlace made Lords Justices of Ireland The Earl of Leicester declared Lord Lieutenant Parliament adjourned for three Moneths Rebellion brake out Octob. 23. Motives to the Catholicks to take Arms. Irish Rebellion pre surmized Owen O Conally discovers the Conspiracy 22. October 1651. Conally examined Mac Mahon secured The discovery Proclaimed Rebellion first in Ulster The preparations of defence Letters sent to the King and Parliament All Ulster posessed by the Rebells Phelim O Neale the Generalismo Rebell his Character News sent to Droghedagâ— Lord Moor comes with succour Townes surprized by the Rebells The General Declaration of the Catholiques of Irelâ—nd Second Dispatch to the King in Scotland and to England Dublin victualled Protestation of the Parliament in Ireland against the Rebells The Parliam send to treat with the Rebells Letters again sent into England Order of Parliament in England concerning Ireland Tredagh fortified Lord Moor's house plundered English defeated at Gilingstone Bridge Surprise of shiping Letters summoning all the Lords of the Pale Their answer Netervile is commanded to disband His answer Tredagh besieged Skirmish at Greenhills Message from the Enemy The Oath of the Catholicks The Protestants Oath Several Enterprizes with effect against the Rebells The besieged in distress Relief to the Town The Enemies Invasion A Pinnace set out for Provision Several sallies O Neale returned Supply by sea O Neale storms the Town Letters from the Rebells iâ— the North. Base butcheries by the Rebells Feb. 26. Fresh Supply by Sea The Siege raised March 20. The Kings Speech to both Houses Proclamatâ—on for obedience to thâ— Lâ—ws concerning 〈…〉 The Kingâ— speech to the Houses The Parliament petition for priviledge A plot in Scotland Faction at hâ—â—e Parliament Petition and remonstrance Remonstrance of the Parliament The Kings Answer to the Petition The Kings Declaration in answer to the Parliaments Remonstrance Mutiny of the City Message concerning Ireland Proclamation of the Rebellion of Ireland The Lord Kimbolton and 5. Members are questtioned Articles against the 5. Members The King goes to the House of Commons to arrest the 5. Members Voted a breach of their Privilege Tumults against the Bishops who petition and protest Bishops accused of high Treason The House of Commons petition for a Guard The City in fear petition the King Answered 12 Ian. County of Bucks Petition The King with-draws to Hampton Court Eikon Bâ—s c. â— Upon the Kings retirement from Westminster Attourney General questioned about the five Members The Kings Letter concerning the Attourney General Upon the Kings coming to the House of Commonâ— Overtures for relief of Ireland The House of Commons petition for the Militia The Kings Answer Petition to the King concerning the five Members The Queen sent into Holland with the Princess of Orange Eikon Bas. c. 7. Petition for the five Members Petition to settle the Militia Lord Digby's Letters intercâ—pted Propositions for Ireland The Kings Answer concerning the Militia Parliament petition peremptorily for the Militia The Kings Answer Parliaments Declaration to the King of all his faults Parliament denude the King of all power and allegeance Proclamation at York concerning Tunâ—age and Poundage The County of York petition the King His Answer His offers concerning Ireland Hull and its Magazine desired by the Parliament Parliament disswade the King from going into Ireland Queries concerning the Militia concluded Magazine of Hull denied or entrance of the King Bill for the Militia Hotham's act at Hull avoâ—â—ed Parliament in a posture of War
to Dr. Balcanqual the penner of that Declaration a Creature of Hamilton and pâ—rfect hater of the Arch-Bishop who hindered his preferment to an English Bishoprick out of an innate disaffection to the Scots Nation but offered him a poor Scots Bâ—shoprick that he might dispose of his Benefices in England of 1200 l. per annum A fit Instrument he was to drive on Hamiltons designes being of a nimble Wit and clear expression dissolute of life and easily drawn to do evil for preferment which in part the Marquesse procured him to be Master of the Savoy and Dean of Durham the latter falling to him after the Declaration which the Scots say was his reward for betraying their Church therein And because it discovers their juggling to the life they forced the King in his necessity and time of declension by his act of oblivion first and then to call it in as containing untruths But they have not disproved any passage therein of the true Narrative part unlesse in too much respect and favour to Hamilton and his Complices See great Declaration page 324 326. But to pacifie these Distempers Hamilton must be designed the Kings high Commissioner into Scotland In which trust how treacherously he managed the Kings Interest hereafter follows The Bishops and others of the royal party advised the King to have delegated the Marquesse of Huntley his high Commissioner to manage the affairs of Scotland but by Morton Roxborough and Trahair Hamilton had that honour with the treacherous help of the Scottish Grooms of the Bed Chamber Mall Murrey and Maxwel who for all their falsities were made Scotish Earls for their reward Hamilton thus intrusted abuses the King in that Commission trifling the time from the three and twentieth of Iuly 1637. untill the sixth of Iune 1638. with Declarations Proclamations Messages Letters whilest the Scots raised Officers Arms Ammunition from abroad four Moneths more till the nine and twentieth of November in vain Disputes and three Journeys to the King and back again with the expence of so much Money as might have reduced them by reward or power Treachery always mercenary even to Liberty Life and all For by this time their General Lesly and other Commanders and Officers from far that never had or ever would come home again but by Design being likened to a Puff of Winde behinde that never returns and William Dyck Merchant at Edinburgh and Thomas Cunningham Factor at Camphere provides them Arms for which they were afterwards knighted and Cunningham preferred also Conservator an Office of trust taken from an honest man Sir Patrick Drummond without Law or Trial having served King Iames many years and ever since till now in that Place with good repute And although these Noble-men and others were main Enemies to the Scots Bishops yet they flattered them most into temporal Places of Judicature in the Council Exchequer and Sessions and were Suiters to the King for their Preferments thither as best able to serve him on purpose thereby to pick out matter of Exceptions for the Peoples hatred so that of fourteen Bishops eleven of them were thus invested And although sundry of the Nobility and Gentry were joyned with them in Judicature even in their High-commission Court the other were induced to forbear that the odium of Fines and Confinements might lodg on the Bishops alone the most of them very weak in temporal and most ignorant in State-affairs And to promote the Covenant the Countess of Roxborough a cunning old Courtier of Queen Anns being sent for from Scotland insinuates into this young Queens favour Lady of the Bed-chamber and Governess to the Princess Mary the chief Marian to mannage their Designs amongst the Women giving intelligence to her Husband a subtil old Fox who the rather resided with her at the Nursery-court St. Iames's the Rendezvouz of Scotish Designs against their Bishops Roxborough not in duty to Religion but in fear to lose his Lordships rich Abby of Kelso with the Demeans and seven and thirty Parish-churches impropriate a small Bishop himself and it not all to be returned to the Church yet the improprlate was in hazzard and so intimated towards the erection of the new Bishoprick of Edenburgh And with this Countess all the chief leading Covenanters in all Designs had their private Consults The honest Duke of Richmond mis-lead by Trahair and almost all the Scots in Court favouring the Covenanters Thus was the King amused to the time that the War commenced Iune 1639. before the King marched to Berwick and the Earl of Arundel made General by Land and Hamilton Admiral by Sea a considerable Fleet with Land-forces likewise of five thousand Foot and sent to the Frith sufficient enough to have reduced the Covenanters onely by hinderiâ—g their Commerce and forreign Trade had he not been false and a considerable Army of a few Scots standing for the King for the present aâ— Aberdene but much suspected since to be designed for themselves But Hamilton keeping intelligence under hand with the Covenanters and his Mother like a Virago riding with Pistols at her Saddle-bowe to encourage them and all his Kindred and Vassals Covenanters and this great Fleet doing no harm onely Colonel Gun was sent Northwards with a Regiment to betray those of the Kings Friends for which he was knighted at London The Scots Army incamped at Dunslow having before scattered in England a cunning Declaration to withdraw the People from assistance of the King alleging their taking Arms was for his Defence against wicked Bishops and their Episcopal War which Declarations were sent into the Kings Camp and divulged even by his Scotish Servants of the Court But the King came and the Treaty began Hamilton leaves his charge in trust to another posts to the Kings Camp promotes the base patched Pacification sudden and upon any terms the Covenanters assured that the Kings Army once disbanded their onely aim it would not be easie for his Majesty in these Times of the general Distemper of both Nations to raise another themselves resolving to keep theirs intire still whereas had but the King marched towards Edingburgh it was generally believed the Scots durst not have opposed him having five thousand the most accomplished Cavalry the prime Gentry of England and sixteen thousand well appointed good Foot The Covenanters not more than two thousand Nags hunting Saddles Scots Pistols no Back nor Breast or Head-piece and not twelve thousand Foot raw and ill armed But here begins their Pacification and ends the Quarrel for that time which was in Iune 1639. Thus much in brief the Particulars follow The Covenanters pretend their first cause of Rebellion was the Service-book imposed on their Kirk by the Kings immediate Authority All Christian Kings being they themselves confess Custodes utriusque Tabulae Nursing Fathers to the Church Episcopi extra Ecclesiam as Constantine is stiled by Eusebius in the first Nicene Council Vos estis Episcopi intra Ecclesiam Ego vero extra And
consequently have power to give order for the external part of Gods Service as was by Parliament granted to Queen Elizabeth and her Successours And the first Congregators calling themselves Protestants by Contract with Queen Elizabeth Anno 1559. received by Contract the Common Service-book of the Church of England for the better obtaining assistance from her to beat out the French then nestled in Scotland as Buchanan confesses Scoti ex servitute Gallica Anglorum auxiliis liberati eisdem Ritibus cum Anglis communibus subscripserunt lib. 19. in fine which was done by way of Indenture and thereupon Queen Elizabeth assisted them at their own charges and the English Service-book was so received by the Protestant Kirk of Scotland and practised as appears in Iohn Knox his History p. 111. of Buchanan's Edition in these words It is thought covenient advised and ordained that in all Parishes of this Realm Scotland the Common Prayer-book be publickly read weekly on Sundays and other Festival Days with the Lessons of the Old and New Testament therein contained conform to the Order of the said Book of Common Prayer and if the Curates of the Parishes be qualified to cause them reade the same and if they be not or refuse that the most qualified in every Parish shall reade it And that Preaching and Interpretation of Scriptures be used privately in the most convenient Houses where the People may quietly convene untill it shall please God to move the Princes heart to grant liberty of publick Preaching by faithfull and true Ministers And this was done Anno 1560. being so agreed upon the Year before And according to Queen Elizabeths Contract on her part she sent the Lord Grey with an Army of ten thousand Land-forces and an Navy by Sea which expulsed the French from thence but their turn served they afterwards devised another way of Discipline of their own like as those Covenanters did now refuse this Service-book not for any fault therein but because they would not have their Kirk depend upon the Jurisdiction and Order of the Church of England And whereas these Covenanters accused the Arch-bishop of Canterbury as Authour of this Book with the success thereafter as that they presumed to put their Platform of Geneva Discipline even upon the very Church of England as by their Solemn League and Covenant hereafter appeareth which though it take for a time with the prevalent party of their Faction in England yet shortly after as extravagant and they have since received their reward of slavery so just it is with God Some upright and honest Scots were in policy taken off either by subtilty or force And because the Earl of Strathern a bold man and had the Kings ear and deservedly too being faithfull and true these men set on Sir Iohn Scot Directour of the Chancery a busie Person to inform against his Descent which they call Service as Heir to David Earl of Strathern pretending to the Crown The story was thus briefly Robert the second of that Name and first of Stuarts about the Year of God 1370. entred his Reign at fifty years old having been Regent for his Uncle King David Bruce and had Issue by his Concubine Elizabeth Sir Moor's Daughter three Sons viz. John called Robert the third Robert Duke of Albany and Earl of Fife and Alexander Earl of Buchan In the second year of his Reign he married Aufeme Daughter to the Earl of Rosse and begat of her two Sons Walter Earl of Athol and David Earl of Strathern infeoffing upon them great Estates of Crown-lands intailed onely to their Heirs male legitime or to return to the Crown The King aged and infirm intrusted the power of the Militia to his eldest Son John Earl of Carrick and Lord of Kyll a valiant Person The Queen dying and leaving two young Sons the King marries his former Concubine Besse Moor and preferred her three Sons begotten out of Marriage before his legitimate Sons this being done by the Popes Dispensation and by Act of Parliament or by a Prior clandestine Marriage as was pretended yet the History bears it not But John succeeded by the name of Robert the third because two Kings Johns of England and France had been unfortunate And from this Robert lineally the Race of the subsequent Kings are descended David Earl of Strathern left onely one Daughter married to the Lord Graham's second Son who left onely one young Son Melissus Graham Earl of Strathern and King James the first returning to Scotland after eighteen years but noble Captivity in England and finding the Crown-rents much decayed caused a general search of the Dilapidation and the return made among others that the Earldom of Strathern ought to devolve to the Crown by the Intail and so it was reassumed but the young Earl so near a Kinsman he created Earl of Menteth with some small Rents at which the young mans Uncles the Earl of Athol aspiring to the Crown and Sir Robert Graham quarrel and murdered the King but were exemplarily punished and Athol forfeited since which time the Earls of Menteth lived privately untill this man was set up by the late Duke of Buckingham obtaining of the King neither of them acquainted with the Genealogy to be lineal Heir to that David Earl of Strathern his Predecessour to have the Title of Earl of Strathern who some years after vainly let fall these words that the King held the Crown of him and being tried and found guilty the Title was recalled and he had given to him the Title of Earl of Airth but discourted and put out of place or further medling in State-affairs extremely and specially aimed at by the former Contrivers of his ruine lest he might hinder their wicked intended Designs against the King and the estate of the Church and Bishops for the Man was noted to be very honest and faithfull though fâ—lly invented those words without any intention of mischief But it is dangerous to dally with the Sovereignty of Kings much more with their Crowns lest the wound become incurable nothing more dear than their Titles and Posterity And the restoring of Menteth in bloud was very disadvantagious to the King and indeed dangerous to the Earl himself comparing his case with others the like heretofore Henry the sixth of England restoring in bloud the Descent and Titlâ— of the Duke of York who openly thereafter made claim in Parliament for the Crown as in his own right laying down his Title thus The Son of Ann Mortimer who came of the Daughter and sole Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence third Son of King Edward the third is to be preferred by very good right in succession of this Kingdom before the Children of John of Gaunt the fourth Son of Edward the third but Richard Duke of York is come of Philippe the Daughter and sole Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence third Son of King Edward the third and to be preferred before the Children of the fourth Son