of the two Houses of Parliament And hereupon we think our selves bound to let Your Majestie know That seeing the continuance of this Parliament is setled by a Law which as all other Laws of Your Kingdoms Your Majestie hath sworn to maintain as we are sworn to our Allegiance to Your Majestie those obligations being reciprocall we must in duty and accordingly are resolved with our Lives and Fortunes to defend and preserve the Just Rights and full Power of this Parliament And do beseech Your Majestie to be assured That your Majesties Royall and hearty Concurrence with us herein will he the most effectuall and ready means of procuring a firm and lasting Peace in all Your Majesties Dominions and of begetting a perfect understanding between Your Majesty and Your People without which Your Majesties most earnest Professions and our most reall Intentions concerning the same must necessarily be frustrated And in case Your Majesties three Kingdoms should by reason thereof remain in this sad and bleeding Condition tending by the continuance of this unnaturall War to their Ruine Your Majesty cannot be the least nor the last sufferer God in his goodness incline Your Royall breast out of Pity and Compassion to those deep sufferings of Your Innocent People to put a speedy and happy issue to these desperate Evils by the joynt advice of both Your Kingdoms now happily united in this Cause by their late solemn League and Covenant Which as it will prove the surest remedy so is it the earnest prayer of your Majesties Loyall Subjects the Lords and Commons Assembled in the Parliament of England Grey of Wark Speaker of the House of Peers in Parliament pro tempore William Lenthall Speaker of the commons-Commons-House in Parliament Westminster the 9. of of March 1643. The Kings Parties Apprehension and Comment on the Letter in these words Whosoever considers that this should be a Letter from Subjects might well think it very unbeseeming Language in them to call His Majestie 's earnest endeavours for Peace but Professions and their own feigned pretences most reall Intentions but much more wonder at that menacing Language that His Majestie cannot be the least or last sufferer which expressions from Subjects in Arms to their Soveraign what dangerous construction they may admit We are unwilling to mention Thus much for the King's Parties Comment on the Letter One other intercourse of Messages between both Parties of a latter time * See the King's Letter March 23. 1644. and the Answer to the Committees Summons in April fellowing The Summons sent by the Committee of both Kingdoms to the Governour of Newark for surrendring that Town and Fort. The Summons expressing perswasive and valid reasons to surrender it the Governour rather his Secretaries Answer full of good Language courage and strength of wit wherein mentioning the King's Parties Letter sent the 23. of March 1644. unto both Houses of Parliament he urges the King's granting gracious Conditions and proves it in that He would Disband His Forces Dismantle His Garrisons c. He who penned the Answer recites not all the King's Proposals as that He would have His Friends Pardoned the Sequestration taken from off their Estates and the like either he saw not the King 's whole Letter being he recites one part only or else he smiles in his sleeve thinking by his reserved and short Comment on His Letter to satisfie the Committee there and the whole Kingdom besides of the King 's gratious inclination in that Letter whereof the Answerer reciteth but one part The Letter was full and easie to be understood taking it collectively and altogether not apart as of Disbanding Dismantling c. had not He expected to have his Friends pardoned and their Sequestrations wholy taken off Such manner of collective speaking is conditional the one to be done on the one side if the rest be performed on the other The Answerer's mentioning so much of the Letter as may serve the turn in reciting the King 's gracious promise leaves out on what Condition the Promise is made the condition annexed to the Promise frustrates the vertue of the Promise for that which the Answerer cals gracious in the King's Letter of Disbanding His Forces if nothing else were to be expected are in every mans judgment as in the Answerer's gracious indeed but that the King expects to have His Friends His party pardoned the Sequestrations wholly taken off from their Estates were by giving way to the revoking their own Judgements to accuse themselves of injustice-doing to put them whom the Parliament accounted offenders and their Enemies into as good or better condition then their own friends the Answerer if knowing the King 's whole Letter and would contract it into parts reciting only that which serves his turn the Committee being presumed solid and understanding Gentlemen would questionless follow the Dictates of their own Judgment without replying to the Answerer For Oratory and strength of wit which haply may delight some Readers but cures not the Distempers and Calamities of a Civill War nor satisfies the serious expectation of unbyassed Spectators or Actors in these Tragedies it is confess'd that the Assembly at Oxford their Party in their Quarters there having the more facete and nimble wits with the help and influence of the Youth and Schollars there may seem to exceed the Parliament and those whom the Parliament imploys in their Empressions But let the Books on either side be examined by the Test of Reason Prudence the Reader will soon discern the Difference And these four remarkable Messages instanced in may decide the Contest none other of all their Conflicts of that kinde being more opposite each to other nor any of their Messages reciprocally sent more disdainfully rejected on either side as far as I have traced their Writings then these four above-mentioned But to the Reasons of your deserting your first judgment if so you have I rather judg it to be a fencing and tryal of wits in an Argumentative way of discoursing only then any settled revolting from your first Opinion you are well read in the good man's Character who will not be afraid for any evill tydings His heart standeth fast and will not shrink c. The Arguments you have lately taken up against the residing part of the Parliament and the Army the maintainer of your Power next under God the preserver of our Peace are none of yours nor like to yours The House of Parliament being grown thin By your and other Gentlemen of your Eminency deserting it is become more thin the more weak it is through your Defections the more need it hath of being supported by your Return As for the Force which you and your subdivided party urge to be offered to ye by the Army your Servants an high affront and breach of Parliament Priviledges Both your parties Presbyterian and Independent seem to be forced alike not in an equall degree of Strength and Number but in a strict and closer
a See the King's Parties Censure of them in the Declaration printed at Oxford 1643. Neutrals too for not offering to defend the King Not to defend or Forbear to Assist is all one as to Offend Whosoever shall look on in a Conflict betwixt two opposite Parties his Affections questionless incline whatsoever his Actions are more to one Party then to the other So Neutrals such as have not acted for the King being already by His Party adjudged Guilty are subject to the Censure and may be brought in within the compass of the Prince his meaning On which account whosoever have not declared themselves to have been some way for the King will hardly avoid His Parties suspition of having been for the other side the Parliament Now where two Parties are extreamly opposite in their Endeavourings the one to maintain what They have got the other to recover what they have lost the judgment and practises on either part moving in a strong opposition each to other whether the Prevailing Power need to enjoyn or not new Tyes and Leagues to conform All to the Obedience of their Power and Government In a doubtfull Conflict where it is not agreed which Party will prevail for it is which we may believe either the Diurnals published by and on the Parliaments behalf or the Pamphletters on the King 's venting much of their Success and hopes to recover what they have lost it is requisite in either case that the vanquished and weaker Party should joyn and unite themselves by Engagements and Leagues to strengthen and keep up the Power they have when a small matter of Dividing as whether they shall Engage or not turns the Scale in weighing what is to be done The cunning and wit practised by many Disswading from a Subscription to such Engagement the maner of their practising of an abstruse and dark operation hardly to be perceived but by it's effects the maintenance of sedition thence a pursuit of the hopes of Conquering by keeping up Divisions even in matters of small weight or Difficulty Sir the scruple which some make disputing the quality the reason of the Engagement which the Parliament hath enjoyned is That it is strange and new which the People are to subscribe unto A * St. Augustine Father of the Church shews what is to be expected in an Innovation in a Common-wealth Ipsa mutatio quae utilitate adjurat etiam novitate perturbat The novity and the not examining the necessity of their enjoyning such Engagement to bring all men into one and the same entire judgment and agreement the Enemy divided now into several parties his aym to keep men from accord and unity under pretence of the Conscience insnared inthralled by such Engagements have raised these doubts to the hopes of a new distraction Besides the Novity of a strange and unheard of Engagement to be imposed other Discontents and heart-burnings are cherished as in the Nobility to be detruded from their Priviledges and Rights of sitting in the House of Parliament as Peers to joyn with the Commons in the debate and handling the weighty affairs of the Common-wealth as that those Lords who have been active and assistant both in their Estates and Countenance to promote the good of it during these Distractions may think themselves neglected and ill-rewarded to be now debarred from their Ancient and Native Liberty of Voting in the House The Reason of the Parliaments enjoyning of the Peoples subscribing to this Engagement rests upon the issue of these Questions Whether there be a Necessity or not of entring into such League or Engagement Whether the Conquest be fully made or there need no Engagement for compleating it Whether the Kingdom of Ireland be reduced and brought into it's former relation and commerce with this of England that there be no danger or fears of breaking out again when it shall be so reduced Whether through and by reason of the continuance of these Distractions which the Parliament would put a period unto were they not so much opposed and inveighed against this of England be not in danger of loosing their ancient Rights and claims their Freedom and Priviledges of Commerce and Traffique which heretofore they have enjoyed a See this Question in part cleared pag. 40. in the Scots part-taking with the King concerning one remarkable Article of the large Treaty agreed upon August 1641. Whether that of Scotland remain in the same condition of Amity and Brotherhood as in their League and Covenant with England they at first united in Whether whilest that is in dispute we may rest secure from an hostile Invasion from them or Forreigners Whether by these unnecessary Disputes and dissentions here at home the Common-wealth be not in danger to loose that in the twinkling of an eye which hath cost so much Treasure Industry and Blood for the Powers that be once shaken becoming weak will soon fall most men being apt to lay hold on the b Noli in caducum parictem inclinare Lipsius Polit. Polititian's advice Not to lean on a weak and tottering wall The Judgment and knowledge of deciding this rests in the Prudence and Experience of the State who after a long time casting and consulting what was fittest to be done what safest course to be taken for the strengthning and support of a firm and present Government have Resolved upon an Universall Engagement in such manner and form as to their Wisdoms seems most expedient and They have accordingly Declared and Ordained that They knowing the justness of their Cause ought in relation to the security and maintenance of their Power to the Preservation of a firme and lasting Peace to use all expedient and lawfull means against the violent and restless Opposition of their Enemies None so safe as by an Engagement and Subscription thereunto Which if throughly weighed crosseth no former Vow or Oath either of Protestation Covenant * See the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacie and why the taking it was enjoyned in this Treatise pag. 51. Oath of Allegiance or Supremacie the Subscriber only promising to be true and faithful to the Common-Wealth as it is now established without King or House of Lords Not that the Nobility are thereby excluded for ever from their Priviledges as to succeeding Parliaments if these continued Divisions beget not an universall ruin taking away the succession of Parliaments to be hereafter had nor from an Envy or Neglect had by the House of Commons to take the Lords away as hath been of late seditiously given out for so the Gentry of which the Parliament themselves consist being in the next Rank to the Nobility may fear their turn is next to be thrown from their station also and all become Levelled but that the Persons and Estates of such of the Lords as have assisted the Court of Parliament in the time of their extremities may hence be preserved from ruine as of others also of the Nobility whom the Enemy reckons since their first
Parliamentary Body remaining at Edenburgh So that as to the Parliament of England it must be confessed that He meant not what He expressed in allowing that Latitude of Power or that His Party hath since prevailed with Him to renounce that judgment which He declared to have had of Them That the contentions at the first sitting of the House were upon the point about matters of Fact what things were done what attempted to be done how the King and His Ministers of Justice had demeaned themselves since the beginning of His Raign how many Oppressions of severall kindes had been offered by them how they had offended against the Known and Fundamentall Laws in an Arbitrary way of Government The Question then tacitely disputed in all mens hearts betwixt Those who would that He should go on to do what He pleased and Those who contended to have Him govern according to the Laws Whether there were any Power in being to emulate and check a King 's except a Parliaments That this Parliament in contending to maintain the one against the other was interrupted and opposed and as the Scots aver b See the Scots Remonstrance 1640. cited by M. Tho. May in his History of the Parliament of England written 1647. For no other reason called then to give the King relief and ayd against their comming into England on which grounds they sent to the Parliament of England a Justification of their proceedings intreating Them to be wary in vindicating their own Laws and Liberties to frustrate the Designs of those Evill Counsellours who had procured this Parliament for no other end then to arm the King with warlike supplyes against His Scottish Subjects and by that War to enslave if not to ruine both Nations That after many violations and dissolutions of Parliaments in England This was not to redress Grievances but to be so over-reached if They were not carefull and couragious that no possibility should be left for the future redressing any That so dangerous Practices might be well suspected when at the same time a Parliament was denyed to Scotland although promised on the word of a King granted to England when not expected and obtruded upon Ireland when not desired The Rise of all which was from the Anger which the Scots knew the King conceived against them for some particular acts of theirs charged with disloyalty as That they refused and declared amongst other matters against His Messages sent them to receive the Service Book obtruded on them for which as for Vindicating themselves from the like charged Disloyalties they were Accused by the King to have wrote a a Cited and complained of by the King in the same Declaration against His Scottish Subjects for inviting Forreign Powers into this Kingdom Pag. 56 57. See the Letter it self in the same Declaration Signed by seven of the principall of the Nobility of Scotland Letter to the King of France imploring His Protection as weary of their Obedience to their own King For which disloyall Letter as it was termed a chief b The Lord Louden See in his Answer his prudent excuse Peer of theirs was imprisoned and condemned to die That the Pacification had and made to take away all differences past and which might ensue betwixt the King the English and the Scots by the prudent and joynt advice of a select Committee of English and Scottish Lords as to remove all jealousies betwixt both Nations was soon after it was made scorned and slighted The Scots then complaining in their Informations made unto the See the same Book English their Friends and Brethren of many injuries they had received since the Pacification made and contrary to that Agreement This the Condition then of the Scots These the very words of their Remonstrance That the Vnion and Brotherly League entered into by both Nations was in the King's Indignation no otherwise construed then an Invitation in the One and Invasion of a See the King's accompt of them how in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He keeps it in memory That they were the first that began His troubles in the Treatise of His leaving Oxford and going to the Scots and elswhere in severall places of that Book Also in the Declaration printed on the King's behalf at Oxford 1643. Page 23. Suggesting an intent in them to confound the Government and alter the Laws of England p. 28. The Marquesse of Montrosse declareth how they began His Troubles viz. by dispersing their Apologeticall Pamphlets as he terms them through great Brittain before the troubles began and before their coming with an Army into England See a Book entituled The History of His Majesty's Affairs under the Conduct of the Marquesse in the yeers 1644 1645 1646. Page 3. Forreigners in the other Nation and howsoever the Charge in the seven Articles exhibited against the six Members of both Houses was laid to those few only yet probably it had reached many other of the English Nation had not the first assault of Violence in the King's Party miscarryed as it did So many sad and direfull notes could not but portend a War against one or both Nations as Time and Opportunity should best serve to manage the Design in hand or else the Parliament knowing themselves to be a free and full Convention in all parts a Parliament both in the Substance and Form Summoned by the King 's Writ to meet c. as in the Circumstance of Time and Place must submit to the Will and Pleasure of an b Amongst other motives to His anger about the E. of Strafford's death which whether He would have avenged on the Party who condemned him may be guessed at in that He or an unknown Author in His name severall times repents the injustice of that act How Himself was forced to yeeld complyance for which sin as He mentions it He and His Kingdoms have felt long great and heavy troubles See the same Book in the Treatise concerning the E. of Strafford and the Marq. of Montrosse his Declaration set forth 1649. aggravating the same to incense the King and His Party against the Scots expressing in it their disloyall practices breach of Duty Covenants calling them Traytors c. incensed King So to be Dissolved or Awed at pleasure or to have Boundaries put upon their Acts and Counsels by such as they knew to be corrupt and would have removed from the King To the end His Throne might be established That in this agony and doubt whether They should Submit Desist or Act according to their Trust they thought it neerly land necessarily concerned them to provide for the publique welfare for their own and the Kingdoms safety some of their Members being impeached and charged two Kingdoms provoked and menaced the a See the King 's gratefull acknowledgment of the affection and loyalty of His Irish Subjects in offering to supply Him with Preparations c. together with their Persons and Estates even to the uttermost of their ability
side being in the next ranke unto the King and therefore likely to adhere to Him and the Commonalty on the other sticking fast to their native Liberties which the King had of late encroached upon not sparing the other's also an Emulation might or would be kindled by the Common Enemy to beget an universall Distraction and Division between two great Bodies the Gentry and Nobility on the One and the Commonalty on the Other side before a deliberate true examining the misunderstanding which the heat of War would scarce give leave unto should set it aright These Reasons throughly weighted could not but induce the Parliament to decline a war yea deter Them from leavying one These might withall together with many more which might be added hereunto imprint in you and in all men else who shall impartially look into the beginnings and progress of this War an undoubted knowledge of the Parliaments just Actings and these Reasons of Fore-sight together with what hath past might satisfie all knowing and discerning men that if the Parliament did intend to levy a War against the King's Evill Counsellours the Kingdome 's a K. James his Speech in Parliament 1609. Pests and Vipers rather Then they would be born down in their just defence They did not intend to leavy one against the King who had as many Freinds to adhere unto as the Parliament had Enemies of many sorts Offenders Interested and obnoxious persons to confront and oppose them But. I may spare the pains of setting forth what your own Prudence hath foreseen and your Actions have thitherto directed you For Sir R. C. his sake and yours rather through the same motions of Conscience Judgement many other Gentlemen of quality did take part with ye Before and after his untimely death you carried us on in an active constancy challenging about seven years since when the King began to make Oxford a Garrison some Travellers of His Party and enquiring whether they went they confessed to Oxford and their errand You roughly replied 'T was they and such as they that did take part with the King against His Parliament and People That they did magnifie the King c. to beget and foment a War A little before you with many other Gentlemen of the three neighbouring Counties did enter into an Association for a joyntly defending one another If the Enemy shall prevail whether it will be Treason for what is past or made so for the time to come I argue not but remember well how criminall and Traiterous the King's Friends have reported it About six years since the Enemy growing powerfull in these parts and Bristoll being gained by Him you lived within His Quarters bound by strong obligation not to depart but to be limited to a Summons The King soon after He had taken that City came thither to compose the difference between Prince Rupert and the Earl of Hartford about the Governourship of that Place He had then amongst other things a survey of the Gentlemen dwelling neer and their affections casting and examining with His Friends there who might be for who against Him some of His Courtiers undertook for this some for that Gentleman and Neighbour A great Courtier a Friend of yours undertook or moved His Majestie on your behalf whereunto the King having been belike possessed before with an ill opinion of you replied with harsh and disgracefull words as I have credibly heard against your person which 't is presumed He could not charge you with from any immediate or neer notice He had of you but as you were represented unto Him by some who loved you not He nevertheless whether out of His indulgence to gain you unto His Party or to Try you after when He had made sure His Conquest your name being in the Catalogue of this County Rebels the a Lent Assizes appointed to be held at Tewksbury April 11. 1643. Time and Place appointed for your Tryall was content to preserve you from being undone being then at His mercy What use might be made of His sparing you you knew best Two yeers after Bristoll was got from Him much of which service attributed unto you with some other Gentlemen of the Neighbourhood leading up the Countrymen unto the Siege thereof the Lord Generall then and afterwards giving you applause for that your aid About three years since you caused divers Meetings to be had in severall Towns neer unto us where the Countrymen were summoned to declare what Arms they had whatsoever the pretence was in looking into the Book which the Parishioners do keep for such their Poor as are relievable by a Statute-Law and taking care for them examining the estates of such as were of ability to relieve the Poor of such as were fit and best able to be at the charge of Arms for the repulsing Souldiers in case they came on the sudden to quarter below-hill or to do other violence then to return up hill to their friends who might assist them such was the condition of these and the adjacent parts where Parties were scattered up and down the Parliament having friends in these inclosed and nearer Parts the King in the Champeign and not far distant from us yet you my self and the Country-men knew we had another and more uniform aym of preventing sudden incursions which the King's Party many of them being Gentlemen and well horsed might offer unto our Neighbours Not long after you were chosen to be our Knight for the County in the competition of which place my self your servant was sedulous and successfull to take off all blemishes then thrown on you by those who laboured as much to fill the County-Court with the noyse of your being for the King Soon after that you were challenged by a * Sir J. H. fellow-Member sitting in the House of Parliament to be within one of the Qualifications which renders men Delinquents Notwithstanding which you Sate Voted and were Trusted in the House At severall meetings you enforced such Arguments against the King's Party and for the Parliaments You have them yet in your breast and can deal at single hand with any of the opposite Party if affection importunity and often dropping strange inventions into your ears shall not misleade you that you satisfied the hearers and even convinced them had they been convincible Since that upon the newly hatched and easie to be reconciled Difference between the Presbyterian and Independent you received a Letter from your above-named Servant mentioning the probability of the Armies advance in or about July was twelve moneth towards London in that Letter setting forth That neither of those two Tenents of Presbyterian Independent had taken as yet such root as to beget a quarrell to the overthrow of both upon their Conquering which I rather think to be an event of their good success then from any self-wilfull-humour many of them on either part being sober and discerning Gentlemen and if throughly weighed what is like to be the issue
of this new subdivision That for the dissentings sake of three or four Gentlemen you will not grant that there are many whom you think to have been forward to lead on a Party for whose known valour whose many continued and successfull atchievements in this War bringing yee to this plenitude of Power you may easily dispence with them for one puny error in Opinion that I say the People must embroyl in a second War about tearms meerly notionall about opinions strange and unknown to them In the first War they knew for whom they fought for the King or for the Parliament about a Form of Government which hath not nor can take deep root untill the War which confounds overthrows all Government be ended The direct and certain Issue in the Tryall of the Contention was Whether the King having by His Creatures actually invaded the Subject's Liberties the other differences in Church and State are collaterall accidentally emergent out of the grand Difference about the first and more principall the Subject's Liberty The Court of Parliament should sit as Scepticks to look on only without purposing or endeavouring to redress the same or to be confined in their Councels as their Enemies should prescribe or the extreamest of all so driven to new Councels to extraordinary high and severe proceedings to seldom practised and unheard of courses the passages and quality of the Persons with whom they had to deal being weighed withall as where the Disease is imminently dangerous the mischief desperate the Cure must be answerable or the whole Body perish for want of a timely and prudent remedy to be applyed Your actions Sir if rigid and severe as to your Enemies if variable and uncertain as to your selves may in these streights and exigencies whereunto Ye are driven and forced for safety be dispensed with It seems to fare with Ye as with Seafaring men in a boysterous storm who are feign to steer their vessell which way they may best secure their Fraught and Charge sometimes Northerly sometimes plain North sometimes Northwest sometimes Northeast sometimes plain South sometimes North again so from one cross point to another having still the Harbour and End of their voyage in their eye So with Ye encountring with such uncertainty and variety of oppositions from your Enemies yet all meeting in one Center to the subversion of your Power and strength such Non-conformity and Dissention even amongst your selves and friends that ye cannot as yet act within a direct certain and constant compass to please all Lookers on yet your aym and end may be one and the same the supreamest Law the Peoples * Nulla tam sancta Lex est quam non opporteat si salus Populi postulet urgeatque necessitas mutaâ—â— Bodin lib. 4. de Repub. Safety Wherein if ye shall fayl or not able to make good your undertakings We know by a seven years since experience how barbarously and cruelly your Enemies malice did shew it self against ye as being Rebels in case they shall recover their Power again how a desperate revenge added to will second their first and furious cruelty and to crown their glory as for the better exalting their pretence they shall impute it unto Gods justice saying It is the Lords doing it may be his suffering it through your Divisions and it is marvellous in our eys that he hath wrested the Sword out of our Enemies hands and put it into ours for no man they will say can think that Rebellion shall for ever pass unpunished Then when they have regained their Power they will not want Arguments from their own as from a Neutrall part siding with them upon their conquering to bring whom they please within the compass of Treason and Rebellion and to make your * See your Remonstrance 1647. Persons and your Acts their sport and scorn those Proclamations of the King 's lately proscribing and accusing many of both Houses of Parliament guilty of High Treason with other Edicts of His to be revived those Sentences and Judgments seriously denounced against Them and their Proceedings the Scoffs and Flouts jestingly passed on ye and your Friends to be recounted and by the Wit and Power of your Adversaries made good against ye when ye have lost your Power These stout and circumspect wayes of yours are most remembred and deeplyest lodged in their brests who speak least of them I am only the Remembrancer and cannot believe it to be a defection and falling off as that you think the Parliament and their strength too weak to protect their Members therefore to forsake it Your Power is visible yet your strength not shortned the great difficulties the fierce conflicts which ye have wrestled with the revolting of your Friends the multiformity of Opinions amongst your selves might have abated your success and weakened your strength had not an Almighty hand supported ye amongst those difficulties Never so many Stratagems Policies and Falshoods practised by an Enemy to impair your strength to advance their own but that the God of Truth hath discomfited and dispelled them all In which whether He hath done it in favour to the justice of your Cause or in His foreknowledg of their malice to be avenged if they could have got the upper hand I leave it to the judgment of the cryed up a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p 263 Author who hath more fitly observed That Gods wise Providence often permits what his revealed word approves not then he hath suited his resembling your Successes to prosperous windes filling the Sayls of Pyrates to justifie their Piracy when as the giving or denying Victory and Courage in the day of Battell is a more immediate and effectuall work of Gods Almighty Power acting and taking an especiall care in disposing the affairs of War To proceed and shew how petty a difference there is betwixt those two Tenents is easie for any man who shall enquire into the quality of either of what growth settlement or extent they are The one the Presbyterian not ripe enough as yet to be established neither the times now fit to entertain a fixt or established form of Government to binde all sorts of men Many having been left at liberty whether they have or will take the Covenant many who have taken it thinking themselves not obliged forthwith and in all parts to keep it having for some cause discovered since their taking set it aside The other the Independent a seeming rather then a certain abdication or a totall renouncing all Government or for ever The Lord Generall and his Army called Independents but why let them that call them so answer for it have solemnly b In their Remonstrance dated Novem. 1648. pag. 6 declared against such Disorder and Non-Government The Independent Party as they are called may haply desire to shake off that heavy yoke of Government which grown through the corruption of Manners and indulgency of Times into Abuse Exorbitancy and Oppressings doth gall and heavily
press their fellow Subjects necks not by an easie or ordinary course to be taken off The Contention indeed betwixt those two Presbyterian Independent growing as before observed through the pride of conquering or cunningly contrived by their common enemy on purpose by dividing to overcome them both The difference in dispute is not in Opinion but in Fact as amongst other things unto whose charge the deluge of Blood spilt in this war is to be laid Ye have declared That it is to be laid at the King His Parties doors particularly the bloodguilty and horrid act of hindring the relief of Ireland whereby thousands of his Protestant Subjects have been slain which holdes the three heretofore united Kingdoms in a languishing and mournful Estate even at this day the one divided against the other and the People of all three despairing to enjoy their former Peace ye instancing First In His sparingly and too late proclaiming their enemies Rebels when the Rebellion first broke out by signing Commissions to the chief Actors in the Rebellion The Parliaments Commissioners at the a See the Objections and Answers at large in the relation of the passages at the meeting at Vxbridg 1644. printed then at Oxford Treaty of Vxbridg urging besides His disapproving the subscriptions of the Adventurers and Officers of the Army employed for the relief of his Protestant Subjects there by means whereof the course intended was then diverted His making a Cessation with the Rebels which had it not been made in the time of their greatest wants and the Forces employed against them not drawn off they might in probability have been ere this subdued and the war even finished in stead thereof it is protracted That Kingdom having been by the prowess and wisdom of His a Hen. 2. Q Eliz. Predecessors kept entire united unto and a b The Law Book cases give the reason why the bringing counterfeit mony into England out of Ireland is but Misprision of Treason although the bringers know and utter it Quia Hibernia est membrum Angliae Dalton Justice of Peace in cap. de High Treason Member of this State of England is by His and His Party's strength abetting it put into a Condition and even invited to invade and conquer This. That the Commissioners sent by the two Houses of Parliament for the better supply and encouragement of the Army in that Kingdom were discountenanced and commanded from the Councel there where the prosecution of the war was to be managed and By whose Authority and Command was all this done The House of Lords and Commons in the debate with the King about the affaires of Ireland sent His Majesty word that His message then sent to Them wherein He chargeth Them with false pretences and a purpose in Them to divert large summes of money collected from the English from the proper use to which it was intended was an high breach of the Priviledge of Parliament and upon that occasion They declare many particulars of their care for the relief of Ireland and the King 's hindring it Those particulars there expressed are as followeth They declare That this bloudy Rebellion was first vaised by the same Councells that had before brought two Armies within the bowels of this Kingdom and two protestant Nations ready to welter in each others bloud which were both defrayed a long time at the charge of the poor Commons of England and quietly at last disbanded by God's blessing on the Parliaments endeavours That this designe failing the same wicked Councels who had caused that impious war raised this barbarous Rebellion in Ireland and recommended the suppressing thereof for the better colour to the Parliaments care who out of a fellow-feeling of the unspeakable miseries of their Protestant Brethren there not suspecting this horrid Plot now too apparent did cheerfully undertake that great work and do really intend and endeavour to settle the Protestant Religion and a permanent Peace in that Realm to the Glory of God the honor and profit of His Majesty and security of His three Kingdoms But how they have been discouraged retarded and diverted in and from this pious and glorious work by those trayterous Councels about his Majesty will appear by these particulars They there mention the sending over at first of twenty thousand pounds by the Parliament and that good way found out to reduce Ireland by the Adventure of private men without charging the Subject in general which would probably have brought in a million of money had the King continued in or neer London and not by leaving His Parliament and making war upon it so intimidated and discouraged the adventurers and others who would have adventured that that good Bill is rendred in a manner ineffectuall They mention that when at the sole charge of the Adventurers five thousand foot and five hundred horse were designed for the relief of Munster under the Command of an English Lord and nothing was wanting but a Commission to inable him for the service such was the power of wicked Councel that no Commission could be obtained from the King by reason whereof Lymrick was wholy lost and the Province of Munster since in very great distress That when wel-affected persons at their own charge by way of Adventure had prepared twelve Ships and Pinaces with a thousand Land Forces for the service of Ireland desiring nothing but a Commission from His Majesty that Commission after twice sending to York for it and the ships lying ready to set sail three weeks together at the charge of neer three hundred pounds a day was likewise denied and those Adventurers rather then to lose their Expedition were constrained to go by vertue of an Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament That although the Lords lustices of Ireland earnestly desired to have two Pieces of Battery sent over as necessary for that service yet such commands were given to the Officers of the Tower That none of the King's Ordnance must be sent to save His Kingdom That a prime Engineer and Quartermaster-General of the Army in Ireland and in actual employment there against the Rebels was called away from that important service by express command from the King That a Captain Controller of the Artillery a man in pay and principally employed and trusted here by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland for providing and ordering the Trayn of Artillery which was to be sent to Dublin and who had received great summes of money for that purpose was commanded from that employment and trust to serve the King in this unnatural war against His Parliament and when the Parliament had provided six hundred suits of Clothes for present relief of the poor Souldiers in Ireland and sent them towards Chester the Waggoners that undertook the carriage of them were assaulted by the King's Souldiers lying about Coventry who took away the Clothes That three hundred suits of Clothes sent likewise by the Parliament for Ireland with a Chirurgion's chest of Medicaments towards
Chester were all taken away by the King s Troopers under command of a Captain together with the Carrier's horses and Waggon for the King's service As likewise that a great number of draught-horses prepared by the Parliament for the Artillery and baggage of the Irish Army and sent to Chester for that purpose being there attending a passage were then required by the King for His present service in England whose Forces were so quartered about the Roads to Ireland that no Provision could pass thither by Land with any Safety That two other Captains the Admiral and vice Admiral of the Ships appointed to lie upon the Coast of Ireland to annoy the Rebels and to prevent the bringing Ammunition and relief from Forreign Parts were both called away from that Imployment by the King's Command and by reason of their departure from the Coast of Munster to which they were designed the Rebels there have received Powder Ammunition and other relief from Forreign Parts * See these Charges mentioned by the Houses of Parliament against the King in Mr. May his History lib. 2. cap. 6. pag. 118. By which particulars say they it may seem that those Rebels were countenanced there upon design to assist the Enemies of the Parliament here especially considering that those confident Rebels have presumed very lately to send a Petition to the King intituling themselves His Majesties Catholick Subjects of IRELAND and complaining of the Puritan Parliament of England and defiring that since His Majestie comes not thither according to their expectation they may come into England to His Majestie So the Question by way of Argument between the King and Parliament as between the Commissioners on either side is laid aside and now to be decided by no other Umpire then the Sword and what the two opposite Parties on either side have a long time strove for the one defending their Cause in their Books and Writings by vehemency and height of Wit the other theirs by solid and substantiall Prudence is left to the Conquerour to determine What the odds is betwixt their Writings because controverted by either side which Party doth declare and argue the more Prudentially the reasons of their severall undertakings in this quarrell as which Party the Kings or the Parliaments have writ more solidly and substantially concerning the Subject of this War which more genuinely and sincerely without expatiating or rayling Jests have argued let the impartiall Reader judg So because there may not want fuell for Contention 't is debated concerning the Actions of Cruelty on either part the Kings the Parliaments which did act with more cruelty by putting to the Sword spayling by consuming with Fire laying waste Towns Villages Houses I believe our Neighbour a BERKSHIRE and other places neer us County as far as you and I have observed gives Testimony against the One in a sad Record As to the Writings on either side for Instance sake take three or four here following for the rest First the Letter to the Governour and Councell of War at BRISTOL that City being then a Garrison for the Parliament from the Lord Generall of the King's Forces b See Mr. May his History of the Parliament of England mentioning the Demand and the Answer requiring the Governour and Councell there to forbear the putting to death the two Citizens threatning withall to retaliate the like Judgment and Execution upon some Gentlemen of the Parliaments Party kept Prisoners by the King 's with the Resolution and sober Answer of the Governour and Councell to such Message The quality of which Answer is fore-judged already and Replyed unto in Print To be an insolent c In a Book of an unknown Author called the States Martyr Pamphlet with other words of scorn when other men well seen in Morals and the Martiall affairs of War deem it to be a stout apposite and well penn'd Answer Secondly That from the Marquesse of Argyle and Sir William Armyne Commissioners from both Kingdoms of England Scotland fully d See the Message and the Answer and in few words delivering their Intentions and Reasons for the Summons sent to the Governour of Carlisle a Garrison for the King with his Answer unto them full of words pregnancy of wit and jealousie rejecting their Summons And some of His Party derogating elswhere from the worth of a See the History of the King's affairs in Scotland c. Where the Historian speaking of Montrosse and the Marquesse of Argyle the Generals of the two opposite Armies in the Kingdom of Scotland he highly extols Montrosse and as much reviles and derogates from Argyle rendring him in many passages of that Book a poor-spirited Souldier and a Knave when as in other mens judgments he hath proved himself a valiant and expert Commander a Religious and wise Gentleman one of the Commissioners b See this mentioned in the Declaration of the Lords and Commons assembled at Oxford March 1643. and Printed there A third Which because 't is short You have here recited in the very words sent from both Houses of Parliament to the King with His Parties descant and scornful Comment on the same The Message sent from both Houses of Parliament to the King May it please your Majestie WE the Lords and Commons Assembled in the Parliament of England taking into our Consideration a Letter sent from Your Majestie dated the third of March instant and directed to the Lords and Commons of Parliament Assembled at Westminster Which by the Contents of a Letter from the Earl of Forth unto the Lord General the Earl of Essex we conceive was intended to our Selves Have resolved with the concurrent advice and consent of the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland to represent to your Majestie in all humility and plainnesse as followeth That as we have used all means for a just and a safe Peace so will we never be wanting to do our utmost for the procuring thereof But when we consider the expressions in that Letter of Your Majesties We have more sad and despairing thoughts of attaining the same then ever because thereby those Persons now Assembled at Oxford who contrary to their duty have deserted Your Parliament are put into an equall Condition with it and this Parliament Convened according to the known and Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom the continuance whereof is established by a Law consented unto by Your Majesty is in effect denied to be a Parliament The Scope and intention of that Letter being to make provision how all the Members as is pretended of both Houses may securely meet in a full and free Convention of Parliament whereof no other conclusion can be made but that this present Parliament is not a full nor free Convention And that to make it a full and free Convention of Parliament the presence of those is Necessary who notwithstanding that they have deserted that great Trust and do Levy War against the Parliament are pretended to be Members
tye of Policy and Prudence by and through an extream and inevitable Necessity to the preservation of Ye and your Friends Neither you nor any of your Party can devise or act a means how to settle such a course as may prevent a totall confusion or the overthrow of those who have already prevailed by the. Sword nor to Still the common Enemy and Avenger But if He being hard-driven shall by Treaty or other unsafe way of setling a Peace prevail He is left at liberty to do His pleasure In Treatles or like wayes of Parleance what Security can He give or will He keep commensurate to the safety and welfare of many thousands engaged in this Quarrel to the avoidance of those Dangers and Jealousies already administred by Him Within these three years you instanced Hen. 3. His complyance and Signing Articles which when He had by that recovered His Power again kept none of them But to your Arguments and your paralelling the King 's offering a Force to six of the Houses of Parliament to the Force is offered you He might peradventure and by an usurped Authority do it to exercise a Regall Power above the Laws from assuming unto Himself an unlimited and strong conceit of His Soveraignty Transcendency of Might in nothing to be resisted to awe and force this present Parliament and all future Parliaments in case He had any purpose to convene any more to His beck as 't is probable Not long after by the like menacing and imperious act of Proclaiming those Gentlemen Traytors who either obeyed not or refused to conform to His present Will There was no necessity but His sole Will to force all those who complyed not with Him to save and rescue His Creatures from the hand of Justice And whether there be not now a stronger necessity then before the great and universall Engagement of many good and deserving men I appeal to you Sir In that you take it ill That your Servants so the Army style themselves should force their Masters They are not simply and precisely Servants immediate subordinate rather many of Them your Equals Commanders and Officers in the Army the common-Souldiery commanded and led by Them Or the Army relatively unto ye as Jurors in a triall of Assize before a number of Judges for so ye are although the resemblance holds not adequately as to an Army and to a Jury Let a Major part of Judges incline or direct which way they please Yet an upright Jury will finde according to the Evidence in being The Evidence in this case is the certainty of knowing and re-collecting things past the foresight of things to come which induceth them to bring in such Verdict as may render all things Just and Safe for when it shall happen to be debated which ought to be preferred the Priviledg of Parliament or the Safety of a Kingdom every one can judg which ought to sway the ballance Again admit the Army to be your Servants yet properly they are Servants unto those from whom they receive their pay that is from the Kingdom neither from the Presbyterian nor Independent Party In a mixt and joynt-Government where more then One commandeth and a mutuall consent had betwixt the Governours that the Servants shall obey the discreeter Party as between a Master and a Mistresse in a Family they mutually consent that their Family shall be directed by the wiser of the two there it is left to the election and discretion of the Family which of them Master or Mistresse to pay obedience unto It skils not in a Governing and Politique Body consisting of many Ruling all consenting in the main which is the Major part unless that Major part will do the whole work themselves without the help of those whom they do employ which of them is to be obeyed That Part rather which Acts and Endeavours without respect had to the Majority in the more prudent watchfull and safe way So 't is no Disobedience or Affront offered by your Army where Obedience may be dangerous to the Obeyours to your Party and your adherents For whereas some of the King's Party prefer the Presbyterian before the Independent some the Independent before the Presbyterian a See the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 224. hating both yet giving good words unto and complying with the more discontented and weaker Party untill by their cunning Artifice they overcome them also so in this Leger de main and sleight of wit blow the coals of Dissention betwixt ye both Ye of the Presbyterian can look for no other then Polyphemus his courtesie to be of those last to be devoured Besides as to the Major or Minor part of Members sitting in the House or secluded or voluntarily absenting themselves from the House so that the greater number are absent as you reckon Take heed of that objection lest you open an old wound long since salved up through God's blessing on your success and that Objection be made use of against ye all of both Houses and against that Authority whereby Ye have at any time acted since the Contention first began betwixt the King's Parties claim to their Parliament at Oxford and the Parliaments Parties claim to theirs at Westminster For if the King's Party did rightly calculate their numbers which were in both Houses of Lords and Commons b See their Declaration Printed at Oxford March 1643. towards the end of the Book 258. either personally sitting at Oxford or occasionally absent upon imployment for the King That number exceeded that of those sitting at Westminster so that the Argument for the major part of the number of Members Presbyterially affected that way Covenanted against which the King's Friends have learnedly as yet unansweredly * In a Book stiled The present Judgment of the Convocation at Oxford dated June 1647. Which if weighed with the Arguments in the late Letter written by the London Ministers to the Lord Fairfax and his Councell of War dated Jan. 1648. in behalf of the Covenant and the keeping it the Reader will soon discern the odds argued is no safe or prudent Argument at this time to be used however abetted and seconded by an elaborately written Letter by the London Ministers lest ye help your first and common Enemy to rowse an Objection which hath a long time slept for maintaining their Parliament at Oxford For by the way had those Ministers employed their pains in answering that Book their Letter might have been better credited and more universally received They much insist on the Protestation taken May 1641. wherein the Protesting is For the maintenance of the King's Honor Person and Estate yet the End at which all matters of weight do aym is the preservation of Religion Laws Liberties The maintenance of the King's Honor c. is but a piece of the Protestation the sum full sense scope thereof the preservation of Religion c. The drift of one of the Grecian wise men's advice
to themselves and upon the altering the present state of things Ordain and Act to the laying aside Degrees and Orders heretofore in use They or their successors may when the storm threatned is over the danger of being overcome is past reduce and bring the Government of this Nation the course of Parliaments and other Constitutions into some part of their pristine and former state again Rather the Royalist and Presbyterian seemes to give way to many practices tending to Irreligion c. when as their ill-will and envy are so eager against the opposite Party called Independents that they will rather submit unto and joyn with the Turk or Jew then to be mastered by that Party betwixt whom and one of them there is a kinde of difference no true or real only a notional and imaginary one The King's Parties Envy grows out of being overcome and doth appear from the judgment and censure he hath of them in the punishment had he prevailed he would have condemned them to For of the moderate sort of the Parliament and their Friends he holds them * See the Declarat of the Lords and Commons assembled at Oxford c. printed there 1643 Pag. 24 26 27. unskilful vulgar spirited weak and seduced men for siding with the People as they terme it and their multitudes the eminent and more active sort Traytors Perjured All yea the Neutrals too for not offerring to defend the King c. according to the Oath of Allegiance The Parliament Party having a more moderate and milde judgment of the King 's knowing many of them restless and virulent as yet judging others Mistaken only some of them being led away through Ambition and aspiring thoughts to adhere to the King upon the Proverb of No fishing to the Sea nor service to the Court whereupon the Parliament have accordingly passed by the errors transgressions of the King 's by an easy Mulcting them so that if the judgment at the first had been no worse nor no more erroneously passed against the one then it was against the other Party the War had soon been ended a Peace restored By the King's Party 's large extension of which Oath they may bring many within the compass of Perjury The King being to maintain the Laws c. and bound as a Supream Power to take vengeance on evil doers without which He bears the sword in vain as the Subjects are to their Allegiance the Obligation is reciprocal as the two Houses of Parliament when allowed to be stiled by King Himself a Parliament with an unanimous consent observed in their * See the Message printed with the above-named Declaration dat March 9 1643. message sent unto Him in a few words expressed If the King may dispense with His Oath and that He reckons Himself accomptable to none but God which the Parliament objects as a Maxime Ground for any Tyranny the Enacting Laws is of no value as to the King and how far swearing Allegiance is to the Subject is the question In this only lies the odds upon the event of which Party shall prevaile in this War If the Parliament shall They are notwithstanding subject to the Reproach and Obloquy of slanderous tongues and pens Their Demeanor not free from beeing censured Reviled and Charged with several Crimes as their Accusers please No such salve for them as for the King in case He should have prevailed by what means soever no man should have dared to have questioned His proceedings or the means by which He prevailed in case He had Conquered The wise man asks who shall say that a King is false or wicked and the French Proverb tells us Que la Coronne unifois prinse oste toute sorte de defaults The meaning is when the King shall have regained His former ful and Regall Power the Parliament and theirs then born down His repossessing His Crown shall as well quit all quarels and exceptions and cancel all disputes as it shall clear all manner of faults and Crimes concerning the means how He attained His Conquest The sustance of that Oath even now objected is in these words That the Pope hath no Power either of himself or by any means to depose the King nor Authorize any Forraign Prince to invade or annoy Him to bear Arms against or offer Him violence or hurt That no Declaration Sentence of Excomunication or Deprivation made by the Pope hath Power to absolve any Subject from his Allegiance by reason or colour of any such Sentence or Declaration c. The reason of enjoyning the Oath of Supremacy is expressed in the Preamble of that * See the Statut. 1 mo Eliz. 1. and the Preamble thereof Statute made for taking the same which was therefore done in opposition to Forraign Princes Prelates States and Potentates by reason of great exacted sums which they by their usurping took from the Subjects of this Kingdom so that the Oath of Supremacy concerns the Subject's duty towards the King His Heirs and Successors in their refusing to grant or pay any Tribute of Power to Forraigners but to oppose and resist all such to acknowledg the antient Jurisdictions Superorities and Preheminencies due to the King or His Successors against and in opposition to such usurpings The words and prime sense of the swearer beeing That he will renounce and forsake all Forraign Jurisdictions Superiorities and Authorities thence That he will defend the King His Heirs and Successor's Jurisdiction Authority c. So the Competition for Prehemmency Power c. is betwixt the King His Heirs Successors on the one and Forreigners only on the other part and by reason of such exactions practised by such Forraigners The Royalists to make good this charge of supposed Perjury in breaking the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance which they cannot unless they gain a Power leave no ways untried no stone unmoved what Wit and Invention can bring in to promote their Industry By all the Artificiall and feigned means they can to keep up their Party as by sowing the Tares of Discord and Sedition amongst the Parliament party and their friends hoping at last to reap themselves the fruit and harvest cunningly and insensibly carrying it on under fair pretences to the Peace and Publique good by their Pamphleters kept it may be thought in pay and pension to magnifie and talk high of their Cause and their good successes to vilifie and depress the Parliament's Theirs to publish and divulge their Falshoods in hope to discourage them and their Friends and knowing that the unstable and unresolved as many men unto whom the Justice of this Quarrell having seemed doubtfull have shewn themselves would fall in unto the stronger side By reporting of their own accord without warrant from the King more indulgently and favourably on His behalf then any of his own actions have declared which insinuatings and reportings in favour unto Him have peradventure powerfully wrought on the unstable wavering in their
affections By their subtile practices to pursue and continue their Designs disguising them under several habits that what a Lions strength cannot the Foxes skin put on may work each one acting his severall part to the best advantage and improvement of the whole some bemoaning their dejected and low condition thereby to draw pity to their suggested wrongfull sufferings not that they think it so but that they may be thereby the less perceived to exercise their Art of gaining their strength and Power again both by nourishing Discontents and Seditions here at home and having Factors and Emissaries to solicite their Cause abroad By traducing and depressing the esteem of the Parliament and their Actions to render their Persons the more odious and contemptible thence the more weak and easie to be subdued By contriving and inventing Falshoods sometimes in the nature of reporting Prophesies in favour to the King and His success as to give out how happy and victorious He or His Posterity shall be Many the like devised Inventions in the nature of Predictions and Divinings some whereof made on purpose others as vainly reported and given out to give hopes unto His Party to try if the reporting such Prophecyings can bring the fruits of their endeavours within the compass of such Prophesies fulfilled By seditious Pamphletings and privily dispersing such by publishing other more weighty no less seditious Books obtruding them on such Authors as they please all to affect the Reader sometimes in the King s name always in His behalf particularly that Posthume one called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by many men given out to be His which if the Parliaments often Declarations Charges and Remonstrances against Him and His Proceedings be true those applauded Tracts and Meditations in that Book are but a reinforced dissembling put upon Him and the Greek words might be rather translated into the Image and Pourtraicture of a Counterfeit For the Author counterfeiting the King makes the Falshoods and Impostures obtruded upon the King to be his own then into the Image of a Prince Whosoever shall read the Parliaments often Declarations and Charges against the King set forth since the beginning of this War not denyed or answered by any of His Party saving in a recriminatory and scoffing way calling the Parliament and their Adherents Rebels Or who shall read the a Written by Mr. Tho. May 1647. beginning at Pag 6. unto pag. 46. Moreover how Corruption and Oppressions irremediably grew through the Discontinuance and defect of Parliaments not called through the often Dissolving them in the time of His Reign and His Declarations published against the Members of some of them which the Historian reports the dejected People were forced to read with patience and to allow against their own Reason Wherein many things are there observed concerning the maner of the Scots proceedings before and even at the first beginnings of these Troubles Their sufferings how by their humble applying themselves unto the King for redress they could have none In fine the aversness of the English People from a War with Scotland pag. 46. History of the Parliament of England summarily reciting the Kings aversness from Parliaments cannot but acknowledg that b See the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on that Tract Book whatsoever the fair and plausible flourishes in it pretend of the King 's inclining to and desiring Parliaments to be falsly and injuriously Charged on him Falsely because They cannot but know how unwillingly and seldom He called any how oft he did dissolve or attempt to dissolve them when they were called whence the Answer meets the Objection That the Parliament's Party did begin the preparations for a War before the King 's The King's c Mr. May his History aversness to call Parliaments His d Mr. Hollis his Speech awing and dissolving them at pleasure often and long before any preparations could be thought of for a War may satisfie the objection when as moreover divers of his Friends and Party have long before fortified and furnished their houses in many parts of the Kingdom with Arms and Ammunition no other notice taken till of late then of adorning such for strength and splendor which w th some smal addition became strong Garisons for him The Parliaments friends had none or not so many Holds so soon or suddenly to be fortified for their defence The Author to have made his own Impostures and Dissembling the King's desires of Peace and Justice the more compleat and full might without blushing aswell have added one Treatise more to the twenty eight to have rendered the King free and innocent from that great offence of the Massacres committed in the Irish Troubles and declared Him guiltless of so much of his Subjects Blood as the Rebellion there hath cost A Treatise added to that Book with such an Apology on the King's behalf might have passed under the same belief and credit as other well penned passages in the Book when as the contrary is well known as the two Houses of Parliament have in their Charges and Remonstrances set forth to the publike view such Transactions of the King 's betwixt Him and the Irish concerning His conniving at and favoring the Rebels there under colour of raising freinds and Assistance thence to serve Him in the War against the Parliament here as to finde Him guilty of the Blood spilt in that Kingdom as in This. Injuriously charged on the King in that the Author and Reader also if a Friend to Him and would have the Book to be reputed His do wound His honor and render the maner of His death the more unchristian then otherwise it would be judged when whilest the Life is mortal they make the vices of Dissembling and uncharitableness to be surviving and immortall motions The reporting it to be the King 's seems besides to blemish the credit of those Penitentiall Expressions therein derogating from the serious retired and solid parts wherewith He was endowed then doubtless free from the affectated words whereof the Book is full in defence of the manifold actions of His incident to this War Many of them too weakly excused to be His although in an handsome way of writing to possess the belief of men obtruded on Him by indeed the Author of the Book Namely and more particularly That weakly objected Crime of the Author in the King's name blaming the Parliaments Army for discovering the King's Letters taken at Naseby Fight upbraiding them with an uncivil and inhumane dealing in publishing them Whosoever shall praise the Book and thence draw applause unto the King should for the better glory of it have expunged some improbable and extravagant passages and inserted others more necessary and satisfactory one Tract at least of the King's care and zeal for the security and maintenance of the true Protestant Religion what He hath written or acted to clear those doubts to wipe away those Jealousies had of Him no where to be found in the Book and a
great Incentive to this Contention Some passages there are plausibly set down by way of censuring and speaking against Novelties and new fashions in Religion about the Form and Maner how God is to be served and prayed unto against the extemporary and unpremeditated Prayers of some Ministers and the like somewhat also by way of * In the Treatise concerning the Ordinance against Common-Prayer defending the Common-Prayer-Book about which there is no lasting and finall discord betwixt the King's Party and the Parliaments For for ought we know it may with some alterations to be made be hereafter received again rather then the Peace or Discipline of the Church shall be disturbed about the Form and Method of the Liturgie the Common-Prayer-Book if in some parts altered little differing from the Directory saving in the exercise of the Ministers abilities and their choice of words and quantities how much or how little their Prayers and Divine Service shall be Nothing in that Book delivered touching the Substance of Religion whether we take it in point of Maners or in Faith or Doctrine or of His professing to defend and secure it from Superstition and Idolatry as part of His * Desensor Fidei Title implies Rather the contrary as to the matter of suspition by reason of His profest indulgence to the Queen as the Author presents Him Bewatling Her absence and Her Fortunes c. And whatsoever His advertisements in the King's name are to the Prince in a skilfull Dialect expressed to perswade him to begin and end with God with other good Instructions frequently given him to be well grounded in his Religion to keep the middle way between the Pomp of superstitious Tyranny and the meaness of Phantast que Anarchy The Councell delivered is good if the season of the delivery a weighty circumstance be observed as well That the suspition and fear of the growth of superstitious Tyranny in the peacefull times were no greater then that of Anarchy easie to be let in through the licentiousness and confusedness of a Civil War And wherefore is that Councell given As if the Parliament did intend or had brought in Anarchy or devised to root out all Government No Calumny whereby to render Them and their proceedings odious and detestable is of extent enough to serve and satiate their enemies appetite The Parliament in their Prudence and Experience might discern a reason for the changing the Monarchicall into some other Form of as much conducement to the maintenance of Peace and Justice But what that Religion is which the Author enjoyns the Prince unto whether opposite to Popery or * The speedy and effectuall suppressing Errours and Schismes is charged on him p. 138. Schism This like Weeds in Corn choaking and hindering it's growth That like Mildews blasting and destroying it he defining not makes it seem doubtfull to the Reader For presently after he would have the Prince his judgment and reason to seal to that sacred bond which education hath written in him in which he hath been bred Let a computation be had of his yong years how in his infancy uncapable of discerning the differences of Religion before this War began where and with whom he hath lived these seven or eight years since it began all men will not believe that to be the Reformed Protestant Religion which is there enjoyned him take it in its purity or as the corruption of times hath fashioned it the Prince seems to go in a contrary Diameter to either as to those instructions given him by the Author by what is reported of his favouring and entertaining at his Court the greatest and most known Catholiques Forraigners of all parts setting aside his Protestant and native English So that either he takes not those Instructions to be truly and genuinely the King 's or little observes them That which should have been expunged out of the Book to make it the more admired His is that one passage strange amongst the rest about His challenging the Parliament for discovering the Letters taken at Naseby Fight even how mentioned For who shall look upon a War where Parties are resolutely engaged to defend their own to consume their Enemies Forces as His Party did by Fire and Sword laying waste many Villages and Towns not sparing their own Friends so they might be avenged on their Enemies will not expect that in the heat of War any regard should be had to the concealing or divulging Letters when the opposition was so extream the enmity so violent that no other censure serves to fill up His Parties malice then to judg the Parliament and their Friends False and Rebels From which calumny and stain fastened on their Credit and Posterity They will rather fight it out to vindicate themselves and their Friends from Attainders Forfeitures threatned a In the Declaration printed at Oxford 1643 pag. 27. on Them and sacrifice their Lives to the justice of their Cause then undergo the guilt of those aspersions the dispute resting still upon the Question Who be Rebels To resist and oppose the Will of a Lawfull King may more resemble the name of Rebell and in that acception the Parliament and their Friends may by the King and His be reputed Rebels Those who by practice or councell shall infringe or subvert the Laws and Liberties of a free-born People although in a small degree of exaction and oppression the Laws have their Metes and Limits to bound out unto every man his own are in the judgment of a Religious and Learned b K. James's Speech before-mentioned pag. 14. Prince no better then Vipers Pests and Traytors to a Kingdom styled in these latter times evill Counsellours to the King The violating the ancient Law of Magna Charta so industriously and religiously preserved by our Ancestours and above thirty severall times confirmed in Parliament to use the very words of the Lords and Commons assembled at Oxford in their Declarations printed there is objected against the Parliament sitting at Westminster to be a c See the Oxford Declaration p. 19. bold avowed transgression of the Laws and Liberties of the People as if the Party of those Lords and Commons were altogether free from the like transgressions so they may in like manner object the violating the late King 's Grant to the Petition of Right when they and their Party are as culpable as the Parliaments Party are The pillaging the Earl of Stamford's house in Leicester shire by the Kings Party commanding there an undoubted and notorious Felony by the Letter of the Law all His Souldiers guilty of the same The storming by day and night and breaking into the Marquesse of Winchester's House in in Hant-shire by the Parliaments Party the highest degree of Burglary Many the like Hostile actions may be instanced in on either side but how In the heat of War in the pursuit of Conquest each Party striving which should overcome and destroy their Enemy One other passage of
The Constant Man's Character Intended to be sent first as a LETTER FROM A Gentleman in the Country to a Gentleman his esteemed Friend and Countryman a Member of the House of Commons Since inlarged into a DISCOURSE by way of humble ADVICE to keep him from Revolting either directly or collaterally by the side-winde of being Presbyterially affected through the mistaken and unhappy conceit That those who have taken the Covenant cannot without breach of the same assent and submit unto the late proceedings of the Parliament when as the parts of the Covenant seem to be inconsistent within themselves as the Author's Observations here discoursed do manifest The Scope whereof is 1 Historically to set down the Occasion and Beginnings of the War 2 To shew That the Parliament had no intention to leavy a War 3 That the Book called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is probably none of the King 's 4 To prove the fitness and necessity as matters now stand of complying with and submitting unto this present Government For the Powers that be are Ordained of God Rom. 13. Together With some Animadversions incident hereunto on the same Book and on the two Declarations intituled The Declarations of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament at OXFORD The One touching a Treaty for Peace Printed there 1643. Other concerning their Endeavors for Peace Printed at London for Giles Calvert at the Black Spread-Eagle neer the West End of Pauls 1649. Reader THis Letter rather this Narration is founded on a Discourse had betwixt two Gentlemen the one unto whom it was written having the abler parts of Wit and Speech the other the Writer having the juster cause or at least he judged it so the weakness of whose judgment may indeed be an Objection against the credit of the Work there being three means onely whereby to discern and report a Truth Judgment Knowledg Conscience the two first Judgment Knowledg in State-affairs the Author may be defective in the strength thereof notwithstanding in that he is neither engaged against the one nor obliged to the other Party other wise then by a common duty his judgment may seem the more right and clear by reason his Obligations are the less wherefore that which may be said in his behalf is That the Conscience and upright Truth by which he hath measured what he hath written is free from Faction or Partiality The danger whereunto a Writer in Divided and Seditious Times exposeth himself is known unto all men when whatsoever is received with Applause or Liking by the one is therefore rejected with Despight and Scorn by the other side The Promise and * See the Protestation taken May 1641. where the Protestors Vow by all good wayes and means to bring to condigne Punishment all such as shal by Force Practice Councels Plots and Conspiracies or otherwise do any thing to the contrary in this Protestation and further that he shall in all iust ways endeavour to preserve the Vnion and Peace betwixt the three Kingdoms c. Protestation made to Endeavour by all just ways out-weighs the Danger In this Discourse he arrogates nothing to himself but an even and true delivery of what he hath observed and is well known much less doth he think his strength or skill enough to help either side to Victory but according to his weak and spent abilities to endeavour the restoring the three Nations to their former Peace their mutual Interests and Rights unto which the only and next way is to deliver and uprightly to set down the truth A more able Pen-man may shew it more excellently None can shew a more excellent way The Constant Man's Character SIR I Know not how this Discourse may relish assure your self sent from the hand and heart of him who loves and honours you howbeit wise men leaning on their own wisdoms and sacrificing too much peradventure to their own Net commonly neither need nor care for the affections of their weaker friends What I am in relation unto you or in the rank of them is known to those who know us both what in my self I am conscious of wanting Experience and Learning to derive any knowledg from antiquated Times or Histories for the fashioning this into an elegant and polite work but in a downright way to fall on familiarly and plainly to set down the beginnings and first entrance into this present War which when it first broke out that the Gentlemen of this County did declare themselves unto what Party they would adhere Two eminent Leaders on the Parliaments side Sir R. C. and your self out-weighing as we judged so many more of the opposite Party did seem to joyn and go one way for the Priviledges of that Court and the Subject's Liberties The infringing which added to some late Jealousies was the first Ascent to these Divisions how and by what degrees it went higher follows in this Discourse In your resenting which He as a Member of the House You as a Patriot of the Country We could not think Ye did it in a light Factious or Seditious way but as having seriously weighed and by your Readings even before and since the beginning of this War known That the Institution of Parliaments was had and made by an Ancient Necessary and wholsome Law That the Power Priviledges and Authority thereof were to be kept inviolable and entire That as to this present Parliament the King Himself in a See His Answer to a Declaration from both Houses in May 1642. His Answer to a Declaration sent Him from both Houses of Lords and Commons doth confess and allow Them a full and juridicall power to judg and determine the most doubtfull high and weightiest Crimes and Causes although He seems to limit it by particular Cases regularly brought before them acknowledging withall together with the b See the Declaration of the Lords Commons assembled in Parliament as they called it at Oxford 1643. Pa. 12. Lords and Commons assembled at Oxford The Priviledg of Parliament to be so substantiall and entire a Right that the Invasion of the Liberties of either House is an Injury to the other and to the whole Kingdom In severall His Messages returned unto their Propositions He repeats and confirms the same judgment of their full and ample Power being legally summoned and By a Law consented unto by Him in full Parliament not to be dissolved unless by their own consent Notwithstanding which several attempts of force and violence were offered as far as His Party's Power could extend it self to the dissolving it by contending to divide and scatter Them accusing the remaining part of the Members sitting in the House of being Rebels so being divided to account no other of the Parliament at Westminster then He doth of the Parliament in Scotland a In His Declaration concerning His Proceedings with His Subjects of Scotland since the Pacification in the Camp neer Berwick printed 1640. pa. 38. The divided Members of that distracted