Selected quad for the lemma: parliament_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
parliament_n	king_n	kingdom_n	treaty_n	2,512	5	9.3701	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A83952	Englands condition considered, and bewailed. Wherein, the obstructions of peace, and the wayes essayed to effect it are rightly stated, and argued, between the Parliament, and the Scots Commissioners. With many observations on their late papers, concerning the foure bils, and propositions sent to the King. Imprimatur, Gilb. Mabbot.		1648 (1648)	Wing E2954; Thomason E423_6; ESTC R201918	16,879	20

have the Militia in the hands of the King and the Parliament and Kingdom lye again at his Majesties feet for a generall pardon for so they shall soone if once he get that power And now since I am falne on this it will not be much out of the way to spend a word or two in distinguishing how farre Scotland is to meddle in the concernments of England by the Treaty Let this be laid as a foundation that let the union be never so nigh it doth not necessarily imply a communication of properties there are intire and proper incommunicable Priviledges which are reserved to both As between man and wife which is the nighest conjunction there are titles and honours which are proper to each person which both have the benefit of but not the particular propriety in The union between England and Scotland can be only in those things which are of common concernment to both which belongs to the very being and well being of the union they are notwithstanding two Kingdomes and have distinct Lawes and Priviledges peculiar to each and which neither may meddle in Novv let it be seriously vveighed that to presse our union too farre even to an introaching on the properties of one another is to make our union uncomfortable and to lay a foundation for a breach Now vvhat concernes us in particular and doth not touch on the Interests of the Kingdome of Scotland must be left to the Parliament to determine as vvhat concerns them to their Parliament That which concerns us are especially our Lawes the Priviledges of Parliaments the Militia and these are so ours as that you may turne Scotland into England and make an Identity between us before they can meddle with them and doubtlesse the Parliament cannot choose but resent it highly that any Commissioners either of Scotch or of any Kingdome in the world shall take upon them to declare and protest against the sending those things in Propositions vvhich is their birth right and undoubted Priviledge and which they can have no competitors in without the highest breach of their trust And the Commissioners might as well have protested against any Ordinance made by the Parliament for Excise or against their making a new great Seale as against any of these foure Propositions vvhich are solely the concernments of England and have not so much as the least aspect on the Interest of Scotland nor influence upon the Treaty between the Kingdomes And as to that clause in the Treaty vvhich saith that we shall not make either peace or warre without each others advise and consent It must be still meant in these things wherein our mutuall Interests are contained for else we have covenanted our selves into a faire condition that the Scots negative voyce though in those things which essentially concerne our own Kingdome may hinder our happinesse as they please so that we must be beholding unto them for their consent in that vvhich God and nature hath invested us withall How much should vve have been overseen to deny his Majesty a negative voyce knowing the hazard of it and give it to the Scots You see how our exigencies have brought us into inconveniences vve have of our indulgence and brotherly respect made them privie to all our Counsels and Priviledges and they now claime an Interest in them I doubt that if this Parliament be dissolved our Brethren will challenge the right of calling the next that vve shall neither have Law nor Priviledge without their consent The last year they claimed a Right to the disposing of the Kings person in England and novv they claime a Right to dispose of the Parliament and their transactions though purely in matters of our own Kingdome They begin fair if the progresse be sutable vve shall have neither Law nor Liberty but what the Scots Commssioners shall vote for us But that by the by though they make it the great scope of their Declaration We have now seen our misery how vve lye at the brink of great dangers some would divide us into more parties then all the wise men among us know how to make up and what advantage men are taking daily to make the Breaches wider while others lie at the catch to disadvantage us Let us now see vvhat may doe us good if we be not past cure we have been long time in warre its time for us novv to think of a peace and I know that is in the expectation of all men Peace is a sweet word especially after war yet we had it a long time and could not prize it we have been long unacquainted with it and now have lost the way to it we all agree on the thing if we could on the termes Indeed to some the name of peace is as an unpleasant sound there be fish that cannot live but in troubled waters others love peace but have too common apprehensions of it I love peace and I hate it I love it as I find it wrapt up in the armes of truth I hate it as it s in iniquity and on base termes let others take it I shall not envie them I would men loved truth as I love peace I love that peace which may requite the bloud which hath been shed to purchase it such a peace as may keep God and the Gospel with us any other will be but a foundation of a future warre It s better suffer a little to settle a good peace It s better suffer a little longer then get a peace that will end in greater warre We know what vvill be the worst to stand to such conditions as may produce a solid peace but we knovv not vvhat will be the end of an unsound peace Divers as they have desired so have assaied to bring forth peace the wayes and means with the ends they act are not so consonant wee will a little consider what is proposed in such a transaction The Parliament and the Scots are the great Agitators of this work but with different principles and ends as we shall see anon the Parliament stick to the way of Propositions only those for security turned into bils the Scots urge a personall treaty and therefore have followed it hard that no other way may be thought on yea have protested against the Parliaments way of Addresse though they so far condescend as to bring down the number of Bils to four and to treat the rest Let us consider soberly which way is most likely to effect the end In generall I much question whether the Queen of Hearts and the King of Clubs will make a good match especially when the Queen of Diamonds is competi●resse But especially this must be taken in what the nature of that peace is we are to indeavor That peace which must make us happy must be a safe honourable and well grounded Peace The Question is whether in a personall treaty according to the Scots indeavor such a peace may be established they urge much for it and quote

former Declarations of the Parliament but what may be for the good of Scotland properly and as in its own constitution is one thing and what for England is another I doubt whether a peace grounded only on such things as are contained in the generall Treaty will serve for all the particulars we need have granted for our own Kingdome such a peace must be procured as will confirm our union with them and incourage our friends discountenance our enemies that may unite us at home and 〈◊〉 others abroad Now what way is most sutable to such an end is the question Let us take first into consideration the personall treaty which our Brethren are such sticklers for how like it is to produce such a peace First Consider the probable good that will come out of such a treaty in reference to this end The Parliament have sent Propositions which they have thought fit for the future good and security of the Kingdome without the granting which we can neither be happy nor hopefull they have altered some of them and qualified them more to the sense of the King rather then Kingdom that it might take better with him a long time he hath had to consider of them some he is willing to grant which are lesse materiall others he refuseth his consent to as being against his honour we are sure for our good the Parliament cannot but still insist on the substance of the Propositions they must be the matter of the treaty Now if his Majesty after so long time of consideration cannot consent to our demands how can we believe he will when he shall treat in person when the same things are urged and stuck unto for either the Parliament must treat only on what the King shall propound or else frame new Propositions of a different sense not so good for the Kingdome or else a personall treaty will be no more then a formallity or complement which yet may be hazzardous to us to speake truth the King can write plainer then speake and if we cannot have his hand and seale how can we expect his heart Secondly Neither is it honourable for the Parliament after so long waiting for his Majesties consent now to admit his person with freedom and honour to a personall treaty wherein they must be fain to retract all their former Propositions or have the same negative answer to the most materiall concernments of their priviledges and our liberty they have made too many sad retreats already to their own dishonour and the Kingdoms disadvantage It s our unhappinesse that his Majesty hath put himself in such a capacity as he is yet to be looked on under the notion of enmity and whereas the Scots urge the Parliaments own Declarations they must consider times and seasons can the Parliament in honour treat on equall tearms now as when the King had an Army to ballance their power It was the utmost the King desired to come to a personall treaty when he had his greatest strength and doubtlesse he knew his own ends then as now But it will be objected can any way be more honourable then to treat personally with the King I answer that is most Honourable to the Parliament which holds them to their first principles of justice and liberty and keeps up their resolutions for the good of the Kingdome and the personall treaty will not contribute much to this however if it be honourable touching Ceremony we must have it firme in regard of security which is the Third thing to be considered seriously How safe it may be though the Commissioners seem to make it out of Question they must give us leave to feare it especially when so many heart-burnings are already among us and fire balls ready for 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 up and down City and Countrey It is a sad condition we are brought in that what his Majesty thinkes honourable for his person is not safe for us How can we thinke to gaine any thing by a personall treaty or have security of any good by it seeing he refuseth to take the Covenant and here I wonder our Brethren can dispence with their Cause to trust the Kings person in such a Treaty when he refuseth and protesteth against the Covenant they highly charge the Parliament for that they left it out in the Propositions and yet our Brethren can willingly let it out of the personall Treaty The truth is they would gladly have his person with us for they know they can never have him further off them they 〈◊〉 go● what they can of the Parliament how they would try what they can get from the King But how safe it may be for us in these unsetled times vvhen most are discontented and seeme to be taken vvith any thing vvhich is nevv and seems but to speak of peace though it be in its remote principles at never so great a distance from it How safe I say let our brethren judge We have vvarping enough already the presence of a fevv apprentises hath made us retract Ordinances hovv much more the presence of the King looking smilingly for his ovvn advantages vvhat if the King should come in person to Treat and He and the Parliament should not agree they standing to their just and reasonable demands in the Propositions and the King vvithdravv his consent vvhat vvill follovv in regard of hazard and danger he being brought so nigh us before he hath given any security to us of our Liberties we know Kings are strange creaturs can carry that in their countenance which they never had in their hearts and the influences painted rayes of Majesty on Subjects may work strange things which may be strange indeed unto us His Majestie hath had a great share in the ruine of the Kingdome he must be content to share in the misery and abate something of his honour to make up our losses we should joy in his Person if we had his heart without which the other will doe us litle good the Kings honour lies in granting the just desires of his Subjects in Parliament and if he looks to his honour abstractively we must to our safety We have little cause to put our necks under his Majesties feet and lye at his mercy Besides neither can His Majesty come alone without his traine I mean those Incendiaries which have been actors of this Designe against the Kingdom those he calls friends which the Parliament calls Delinquents And I wish as his Person hath been ingaged with them in a bloody War so his honour be not left with them It s doubted He hath wrapt up his interests too much with theirs and cannot honourably come himselfe without good quarter for them However he will have an eye to them as his Favorites and how safe we can thinke our selves when such shall be about His Majesty let our Brethren of Scotland judge That Peace can only be Happy which is suited to the first Principles and Answers the ends of this War which was

that we interfere not in our proper priviledges even reckoning and fair stating of our peculiar concernments will keep us long friends Next in order to this what concerns our own particulars and are most fundamentall to our future happinesse must be proposed and not moved from These things are First The Priviledges and Authority of Parliaments our liberty and happinesse is bound up in them if they be discountenanced discontinued disesteemed so shall wee be too we must therefore be very wary of entertaining hard thoughts of them or reflecting on their proceedings that is the great advantage our enemies now look at this Parliament must be continued untill it hath done the work of this season Secondly The happinesse of our Peace will lye in the establishing of good Laws repealing bad or inconvenient ones and in a speedy and direct way for the profitable execution of them if our Lawes be never so good they will not be so to us if they be not in good hands to execute them the influences of them will be cold and destructive if they have bad Interpreters we know formerly how good Laws have been made use of against good men Thirdly The power of the Militia must be put in those whom the Parliament can trust and though we are hardly able to find such as could be wished yet we must take such as we can and are most cleer of scandall and have given best testimony of their faithfulnes to the Kingdome The next thing which might have been put in the first rank in regard of the concernment of it is an indeavour to unite among our selves untill this be done we shall be to seek of such a desired peace Something must be given in by each party as a sacrifice to this Design nothing undoes us but this that we strive to strengthen parties and doe not our parts to compose our differences And unto this must be added a constant cying of our publike enemy some distinction must be put on them whereby they may be known and observed in their actings while this Generation lasts their grudge will last against our peace above all things that so we may be out of fear against next Parliament something must be done to take away their Votes vvho have been in Armes and are adjudged Delinquents in election of Burgesses for else we are like to be as we were yea more sad for they are so numerous and desperate that they will over-vote all the Parliaments party and at length think of revenge by such an advantage they will soone have a Parliament of the old strain to make us more miserable and what act of this Parliament can bind the next I would this hazzard were more seriously in the hearts of men I knovv nothing of more ominous consequence then the allowing such a priviledge to Delinquents neither is it reason that those who have fought against the Parliament should have their Vote in the chosing of them again Besides God requires something as well as reason to be done in way of distinction to them who have acted in such a desperate Designe the Parliament will find few or no friends if their enemies be brought up in equall priviledge with them But some will say what shall be done with the King all this while the Parliament is about Propositions with him and if he will not consent to the termes of our Peace we must preserve him and our selves as we can The Parliament vvill take care of his Person with honour and safety and wait on God to change his heart in the mean time to proceed without him and see to the setling of the Kingdome great care must be taken for the satisfying the Parliaments ingagements to the Kingdome paying their debts performing their promises that publike faith may be had in reverence especially something must be done for meum tuum that the poore people may see Justice running like streams by their own doors this would ingage people much and indear them to the Parliament that the vulgar may be able to say this I have got by this Parliament that I could not have before this mechanick kind of Justice as its most honest so it s most profitable let people see some things visible that they may find in their plowing and sowing in their bargains and estates and they would never be against the Parliament more Let those especially which have been most forward and active and faithfull have most of the influences of the peace upon them and then wee shall act like wise men and honest men Many things might be added which are not so considerable as these I shall not want censures for these I can onely wish men honester or wiser Si populus vult decipi decipiatur If we will be fools we shall soon be slaves If we wince and seek to cast off the easie burrhen that will be but for a time till things settle we may sinke for ever under the intollerable mischief of an unsettlement and perhaps Tyranny and perpetuall flavery attend the issue If we will not see our happinesse we shall quickly our misery I cannot better conclude all than with this desire to all those which have any English bloud yet left in their veins or any sense of true liberty that as they have valiantly fought for peace so they would considerately weigh and stand to the terms of Peace against Scot or whoever attempt to encroach upon or enslave this Nation You are yet in the greatest hazzard Have not your own hands been your destruction Doe not lose all by playing one card Your enemies are waiting to see your folly and their own advantage and many of your pretended friends secretly undermine you leave nothing out you can foresee and trust not men further then you see our condition is sad and the worse because we are so but remember you are English men when you think of Scotland wait on the Lord seek his face and he will yet appear FINIS

First the King must be lookt unto and got away either into London or Scotland and so it was endeavoured in the mean while unknown unto the Army as the Generall profest in his Letter to the Speaker by the particular Act of Cornet Ioyce one of no great head for to lay any deep designe who was sent out with a party of horse towards Oxford but would needs go visit his Majesty the King was voluntarily brought to the Army which though it was strange to them and they were startled at it yet they thought they might make an advantage of him as well as others at least to keep him from being in a Faction against them But that designe is not yet broken all this while Reformadoes Apprentises and others are secretly listed great sums of money paid to the old Officers of Essex and Wallers and Masseyes Army and things grew so high as a great company of them beset the House of Commons kept them in till nine of the clock at night with threatning words make them recall their Ordinances vote in the King which made the Speakers of both Houses with many of the honest Members fly to the Army for safety These men are still in the City stirring up the Militia and Common counsell framing a new Army and those seeds which were formerly sown by the Scots and them come up into blades and Pikes they stand in a Posture of War to defend themselves and oppose the Army which never intended to come nigh them unlesse provoked the Army hearing of these doings march towards the City and when they came to Windsor accidentally met with the Speakers and the rest of the fled Members after congratulation and mutuall expresses of love and joy to see one another the Army Rendevouz at Hunslow heath and resolve to march to the City who prevented them with termes sutable to peace out of what principle we will not dispute the Members were brought to the House in peace the Army marches through the City in peace and now things seemed to be hopefull but though the eleven Members were gone yet the Spirit was not gone with them though the City durst not oppose the Army they will starve them and make them odious and a burthen to the Kingdome therefore they will lend no money delay their contributions not pay their Arreares that the Army is looked on as our misery the Countries undone and all businesse retarded above by the remainder of that party that while we look for peace behold threatnings of another War and we are now brought to such a passe that he is a wise man that knowes what to propose first The King is gone from us to the Isle of Wight and there he takes time to weigh his designes upon us Propositions are gone to him di●●●●ed by some and protested against by the Scots coldly and cunningly answered by himselfe Thus have we handsomly made way for our own misery we know not our own strength and therefore must divide and with David number the people Some men have plaid their own games and now leave us to pay stakes divisions are growne so high among our selves that our common enemy growes high in their hopes and expect a turn wherein they may be a third party and have one cast more for to recover their compositions When shall we learn to be wise But I crave pardon I have made this digression but it s to shew you the way you are come to this misery which if God prevent not will make us the spectacle of the Nations But what is become all this while of our Brethren of Scotland that they have been out of the transaction You will have enough of them anon The truth is they have not been idle all this while in the City And not unknowne how they have endeavoured to bring Edinbrough to London and Hallyrudehouse to White-hall they love us so well that they vvould not only be one with us in Covenant but Priviledge and would gladly have the name of great Britain comprehend us all And because our divisions were not wide enough out of their superabundant love to us they cast in bones betvveen us and publickly reflect on our strength the high Court of Parliament and the Army to strengthen the great animosities that is in the most against them that we may have a second need of them to be Umpires But now before I am aware I am faln into the bosome of the Scots Declaration a Declaration of the Scots indeed and of other men too by vvhich I hope all true hearted English men will take a copy of their countenance towards us Yet I shall not meddle much with the contents of it the Parliament no doubt will so fully doe Justice in it Only in the generall I shall take leave to animadvert something We may better speak plaine English then they I take notice of a grand Designe driven on against the Parliament and Army by those who wait for our ruine and of which this Declaration is but a Manifesto to the world Viz. to make the Parliament low in the eyes of the people and render them distastefull that so the King may have the fairer way to his old power so likevvise to render the Army so intollerable a burthen as that the Kingdome cannot subsist under them and to carry on this the more secretly the Covenant and Religion are made the veiles Two things I cannot but take notice of as generall in that Declaration First their so often zealous if not superstitious mentioning of the Covenant more then tvventy times in one leafe as if all Religion were vv●●p● up in that that it were not only the compendium but the exact forme of all divinity And as if they would make the world beleive that they preferre the Covenant before all their own Interests and Designes whereas I feare they and too many more have made it but a State trick to deceive poore ignorant devout soules It s a great question whether they think so highly of the Covenant of Grace I confesse vve have no reason to repent of taking the Covenant we tooke it honestly and sincerely little thinking the use which vvould be made of it to insnare us to the Scots designes I would only desire our Brethren to recollect themselves how they kept Covenant vvith our Commissioners in the North and then they will have little heart to charge it on us in the South I could name the particulars but that I am loth to disturb the honourable Commissioners in their Religion Secondly I cannot but take notice as all men else should of the tendernesse of our Brethren and the deep refenting of the affaires of England and that in so neer and intimate a way that they neglect their owne chiefly insisting purely and nakedly on these things which concerne our Kingdome and fcarce mentioning their own This is brotherly love indeed But lest we should be suspitious they fairely salve a mistake with this that they would