belong to Him and none ought to raise any forces or exercise any other power of the sword without His consent and without expresse authority derived from Him the power of the sword being that which principally makes and maintaines the Supremacy and therefore ascribed by the Apostle to the supreme power only Rom. 13.4 He beareth not the sword in vaine for he is the Minister of God a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evill and to grant the Parliament a just power of raising forces without the Kings consent much more to grant them power of raising Arms contrary to His Proclamation and other expresse Commands and they against the forces raised by the King is to set up two supreme Powers in one Kingdome and so two swords one against another and both to the ruine of the whole Kingdome Againe we sweare in the same oath That we would bear faith and true Allegiance to the Kings Highnesse his Heires c. and that we would to our power assist and defend all Jurisdictions Priviledges Preheminences and Authorities granted or belonging to the Kings Highnesse his heirs c. or united and annexed to the Imperial Crowne of the Realm As also in the oath of Allegeance we swear That we would beare faith and Allegeance to His Majesty His Heires c. and that we would defend Him and them to the utmost of our power against all conspiracies and attempte whatsoever which should be made against his or their persons their Crowne and dignity either by reason of any Sentence or Declaration of the Pope or otherwise and that we would doe our best endeavour to disclose and make knowne unto his Majesty his Heires c. all treasons and traiterous conspiracies which we should know or heare of to be against him or any of them And lastly in our late Protestation we sweare to maintaine and defend with our lives and powers and estates according to the duty of our Allegeance His Majesties royall Person Honour and Estate and to our power and as far as lawfully we may to oppose and by all good meanes to endeavour to bring to condigne punishment all such as should either by force plots conspiracies or otherwise do any thing to the contrary Now whether the assisting of forces raised by some of the Kings Subjects against the forces raised by the King be not expresly and fully contrary to all these particulars promised and sworn in all these oaths let any indifferent man judge as to name some contrarieties for many 1. Whether it be not usurpation or incroachment upon the Jurisdictions Priviledges Preheminences or Authority granted or belonging to the Kings Highnesse and united and annexed to the Imperiall Crowne and so flatly contrary to the oath of Supremacy 2. Whether it be not an attempt if not a conspiracy made against either the Kings Person or his Crowne and Dignity and so fully contrary to the oath of Allegeance 3. Whether it be not hazardous to the Kings person scandalous to His Honour and detrimentall to His Estate and so directly contrary to the late Protestation Lastly whether it be not a breach of that faith duty and loyall subjection which both by the bond of Allegeance and by the commandement of Almighty God as the Statute acknowledgeth 7. Jac. cap. 6 we ought to beare to His Majesty and so contrary to all three oaths and to his expresse command who is called to witnesse both in them and this For my part I appeale only to that which is most concerned and in most perill I meane the conscience of every one that hath taken the former oaths and is required to this wishing that every one that hath forgotten whether he ever tooke the oaths of Supremacy and Allegeance or not as I feare there are not a few such that he would consult with himselfe and the Statutes which enjoyne those oaths viz. 1. Elizab. cap. 1. 5. Elizab c. 1. and 3. Jacob. c. 4 7. Jacob. c. 6. the comparing of this new oath with those former oaths would occasion a multitude of Quaeres had some men the liberty of starting them I shall be bold only to point at one which in order to the preceding Quaeres upon this part of this oath makes the fourth 4. Quaer Whether the taking of a new oath and recommending and tendring it to others which is contrary to the oath of allegiance as this new oath is do not render the persons so doing guilty of the breach and liable to the penalty of that branch in that statute 3. Jacob. cap. 4. expressed in these words And further bee it enacted by the authority aforesaid That if any person or persons at any time after the tenth of June shall either upon the seas or in any other place within the Dominions of the Kings Majesty his heires or successors put in practise to absolve perswade or withdraw any of the Subjects of the Kings Majesty or of his heires or successors of this Realme of England from their naturall obedience to his Majesty his heires or successors or to reconcile them to the Pope or See of Rome or to move them or any of them to promise obedience to any pretended authority of the See of Rome or to any other Prince State or Potentate That then every such person their procurers counsellors ayders and maintainers knowing the same shall bee to all intents adjudged Traitors and being thereof lawfully convicted shall have judgement suffer and forfeyt as in cases of high Treason And if any such person as aforesaid c. shall be willingly absolved or withdrawne as aforesaid or willingly reconciled or promise obedience to any such pretended authority Prince State or Potentate as aforesaid That every such person or persons their procurers counsellors ayders and maintainers knowing the same shall be to all intents adjudged Traytors and being thereof lawfully convicted shall have judgement suffer and forfeyt as in case of high treason See the like stat 23. Eliz. cap. 1. I could wish that you would propound this Quaere privately to some honest able faithfull Lawyer and let me know his resolution it being of great and high concernment 5. Quar. Whether the swearing that we will according to our power and vocation assist the forces raysed and continued by both Houses of Parliament against the forces raysed by the King doth not swear us up to do that which will bring us within compasse of high Treason declared by that statute of 25. Edw. 3. cap. 2. wherein it is declared by the King at the request of the Lords and Commons in that Parliament assembled That it is high Treason to compasse or imagine the death of our Lord the King or of our Lady his Queene or of their eldest sonne and heire or if a man doe levy warre against our Lord the King in his Realme or be adherent to the Kings enemies in his Realme giving to them ayd and comfort in the Realme or elswhere and thereof be probably
THE ANTI-COVENANT Or a sad COMPLAINT Concerning The new Oath or Covenant Presented in a Letter to a dear and intimate Friend with earnest request for his advice and Prayers By a true loyall Subject and lover of the Parliament OXFORD Printed by Leonard Lychfield Printer to the University 1643. The Anti-Covenant Or A sad complaint concerning the new Oath c. DEare Friend and Brother it is not unknowne to the world as well as to those sober and pious Christians that are of our society and acquaintance what an honourable and reverend esteem the very name of Parliament hath alwayes carried with us two and how observant wee have beene of their commands without disputing their power or integrity When the Protestation was enjoyned we willingly and cheerfully tooke it hoping therby to give sufficient testimony both to the King and Parliament and to all others that should otherwise scruple it of our love and zeale to the true established Protestant Religion of our loyalty and obedience to our gracious Sovereigne of our honour and esteeme of both Houses of Parliament and their just power and priviledges and of our sense and care of the rights and liberties of the subject and this solemne Oath we have endeavoured to observe and keepe When the Poll-money and great Subsidy were granted both by King and Parliament we most readily paid both When the distressed condition of Ireland was recommended to us we cheerefully contributed Nay when the Propositions were made to us for plate money and horse to fetch our good King from his evill Counsellours it being declared to us by some of the Members of the House of Commons and others of their Commissioners that his Majesty was desirous to come from them and that those about him would flie from him upon the appearance of the Parliaments forces without striking one stroke wee were perswaded to lend liberally upon the Publike Faith towards that service And since that upon severall new suggestions we have given such credit to some Members of both Houses speeches and to some Preachers whom they have countenanced if not sent amongst us that we have not with-holden from the Parliament what we have beene able to spare Neither did we stop heere though our speed was by this time well taken off but often and often since partly out of feare and partly out of hope feare of being after all this reputed Malignants a name more odious then Turke Pagan or Papist and hope at last of an Accommodation a mercy too great for this sinfull Nation as yet to pertake of we have by our wives kindred or friends more then once subministred to the pressing necessities of the Parliaments forces But now deare Brother what shall we doe When all that we have done hitherto will keepe neither our houses from plundering nor our persons from imprisonment nor our names from being Malignant nor our wives and children from beggery and misery unlesse wee will wound our consciences and hazard our soules by horrid and palpable perjury Oh that we had but foreseen this imposing upon our soules and consciences when first the opening of our purses was called for but it was Gods just judgement upon us for our sinnes first to blinde us so long till we had made a rod for our selves and then to awe us with that rod till our severe masters have brought uâ— to that undoubted triall whether we feare God or them whether wee love our soules or our estates and liberties most But what is the matter Why read and the Lord give you understanding Whereas the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament have declared That there hath beene and now is a Popish and traiterous plot c. as it followeth in the Introduction and Covenant to be taken by the Armies and Kingdome With one clause more added in the Lords and Commons Oath for their not laying downe Armes This is the new vow and covenant taken by the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament and voted by them to be taken by the Armies and Kingdome together with the Introduction declaring the grounds and reasons inducing them thereunto I know it is not fit for private men to be too inquisitive into much lesse censorious of the decrees and ordinances of publike States unlesse it be where such decrees and ordinances concerne the soules and consciences of men and there every man is bound both diligently to examine and discreetly to judge whatsoever is injoyned him before he submit himselfe thereunto as also to counsell and advise his brethren Be pleased then deare Brother for so I have ever called and esteemed you to give me leave to acquaint you with my thoughts both of this Oath and its Introduction and wherein I erre as who is infallible not the Composers themselves much lesse any private man and least of all my selfe the weakest of ten thousand I beseech you be my gentle corrector and friendly instructor And first I begin with the Introduction The reasons and grounds of imposing and taking this new Oath heere alleadged are principally these three 1. For that the Lords and Commons have declared that there hath beene and now is a Popish and traiterous plot for the subversion of the true Protestant Reformed Religion and the liberty of the Subject and that in pursuance thereof a Popish army hath been raised and is now on foot in divers parts of this Kingdome 2. That the Lords and Commons have further in a solemne maner declared vowed and covenanted That in order to the security and preservation of the true Protestant Religion and liberty of the Subject they will not consent to the laying downe of Arms so long as the Papists now in open warre against the Parliament shall by force of armes be protected against the justice thereof 3. For that the Lords and Commons have declared that there hath been a traiterous and horrid designe lately discovered by the great blessing and especiall providence of God of divers persons to joyne themselves with the Armies raised by the King and to destroy the Forces raised by the Lords and Commons in Parliament to surprise the Cities of London and Westminster with the Suburbs and by Armes to force the Parliament all which reasons are amplified with an assertion That the said Lords and Commons doe finde by constant experience That many wayes of force and treachery are continually attempted to bring to utter ruine and destruction the Parliament and Kingdome and that which is dearest the true Protestant Religion And then followes the inference or conclusion that for the preventing and withstanding the same they have thought fit that all c. should binde themselves each to other in a sacred Vow and Covenant in manner and forme as followeth I A.B. In humility and reverence c. The grounds and reasons in their order First we are told That the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament have declared that there hath been and now is a popish and traiterous plot
c. Or is this In order to c. used heere for some evading reservation as the Iesuits have constantly used their In ordine ad spiritualia they being the only men that I can recall to mind for the present that ever used this kind of restriction or rather indeed this fast and loose knot of an oath that so they may evade some oathes formerly taken or the power of this in case they can get a faire glosse to bee made upon these termes charity and reverence command mee to take the best interpretation but an oath should bee framed in such plaine cleare tearmes as might be understood by all the takers therof without much difficulty of exposition but to leave that to themselves 2. Quar. Whom doe the Lords and Commons understand by Papists now in open warre against the Parliament whether legally convicted Papists only or all Papists at large If all Papists at large as I conceive they meane no lesse my 3. Quaere is Whether only knowne professed Papists properly so called or also all supposed suspected Papists commonly so termed If the former 4. Quaer Whether they have proceeded against all such that are now in the Kings army according to the established Law of this Kingdome and requiring justice to be done upon them they have beene by force of armes protected from the execution thereof 5. Quar. How or where doth it appeare that there have been or are any such so protected especially to such a number as that the protecting of them ought to move the great Actors and Contrivers for the Kingdomes peace for that cause to vowe and covenant to continue this unchristian unnaturall warre till they be delivered up to their justice 6. Quaer Whether the Queenes Majesty her selfe bee not one of those protected Papists chiefly aymed at 7. Quar. If by Papists they meane all that are supposed suspected and by divers termed Papists whether all those that are called Malignants or Delinquents or disaffected persons and so all that are eyther of the Kings army or have beene ayding and assisting to them are not by them reckoned in that number So that if the King would deliver up to their justice all that are Papists indeed even to his deare Queene within all his armies yet if hee will not with them deliver up also all his whole armies themselves or at least as many of them as they shall require they will not still thinke themselves bound by this vow and covenant not to lay downe their armes or to give their consent thereto 8. Quar. Whether the King be not bound in conscience by the Lawes of God and of this Kingdome by his owne solemn vows and protestations and by the common law of Nature too much pleaded by some in these dayes even against the law of Grace it selfe to defend and protect and that by force of armes need so requiring not only his owne deare Queene but all his faithfull and loyall Subjects both Papists and others such especially as repaire to him for his sacred persons defence and safety as well as for their owne protection and the preservation of their rights and liberties 9. Quaer Whether the King on the one part being so bound to defend and protect both his Queene and the rest now named and the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament having on the other part taken up Armes to force all those persons from the Kings defence and protection and bound themselves by a solemne new oath never to lay down their armes againe so long as â—ny such persons are so protected whether I say can there bee possibly any hope conceived of peace and accommodation either by way of Treaty or any other way whatsoever without the effusion of infinite streams of blood so much as will make any Christians heart to bleed but to think on it and his very joints to loose and his knees to knock one against another to have any hand in it knowing what the hand of God hath written against bloodshed 10. Quaer This being the true case of this Kingdome at this present whether is not this second reason of the Lords and Commons making such a new covenant as will if seconded by ours cost the expence of so much of our owne and fellow-brethrens blood rather a strong reason why we should abhorre this new oath by whomsoever it is taken then any the least inducement to perswade us to take it Before I part from this reason suffer me I beseech you to be sprinkle a few teares on it and to pant forth a few broken ejaculations concerning those that alleadge it Mourne on my soule Oh that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountayne of teares that I might weepe day and night for the slaine of the daughter of my people Jer. 9 1. How are thy mighty men O England fallen in the midst of the battell 2. Sam. 1.25 Yea how are they slaine from one end of the Land to the other How have the carkases of thy people beene made as dung upon the open field Oh thou sword of the Lord how long will it be ere thou be quiet put up thy selfe into thy scabbard rest and be still But how canst thou be quiet seeing the Lord hath given thee a charge against this Land O God of mercies as well as Lord of Hosts we acknowledge that we have deserved it and we see to our terrour that they whom we too much relied on for the setling our peace have sworne themselves and would swear us into a perpetuall warre but we hope thou hast not yet passed such a decree against us Spare us therefore we humbly beseech thee oh spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious blood and let not the sword be made drunke with blood any longer nor let drunkennesse of spirit we intreat thee sease upon our Princes and our wise men our Captaines and our Rulers and our mighty men to cause them to sleepe a perpetuall sleep but Lord doe thou awaken both them and us that we may yet at last in this our day of visitation see and seeke those things that concerne our peace And now I goe on to the third reason or ground The Lords and Commons have declared that there hath beene a treacherous and horrid designe lately discovered by the great blessing and especiall providence of God of divers persons to joine themselves with the armies raysed by the King and to destroy the forces raysed by the Lords and Commons in Parliament to surprise the Cities of London and Westminster with the Suburbes and by armes to force the Parliament If there hath beene a treacherous and horrid designe lately discovered by the great blessing and especiall providence of God we are all bound upon the knowledge thereof to magnifie Gods mercy and goodnesse and to extoll his power and providence for it and that man shall not want for a curse that shall slight or undervalue so great a blessing but I see no
reason why we should therupon or for that cause rush presently into a vow or covenant and run our Soules into a farre greater hazard then our Bodies were delivered from But it may be it was such a treacherous and horrid designe as may require a vow and covenant forthwith to bee made by us T is fit wee should throughly examine whether it be or not lest otherwise we be guilty of taking Gods name in vaine in the highest degree All that is made knowne to us concerning this treacherous and horrid design by the Introduction to this oath from which the takers thereof are to receive their surest information and by which principally they are to be induced to take it is only this There was a designe of divers persons for these fowre ends 1. To joyn themselves with the armies raysed by the King 2. To destroy the forces raysed by the Lords and Commons in Parliament 3. To surprise the Cities of London and Westminster with the Suburbes 4. To force the Parliament by armes Now let us looke upon this designe a while with a single cleare open eie neither squint nor blood-shot neither with a magnifying nor with a formidable-falsâ—-rendring glasse and discover if we can wherein the treacherousnesse and horridnesse of it lies For the first intent of the designe The joyning of divers persons with the armies raysed by the King t is so far from treachery and horridnesse that he that is an English man can scarce avoyd the being a Traytor and so most horrid that doth not so joine himselfe with those Armies in some way or other wherein he is best able to doe his Sovereigne service and for the discovery thereof t is well knowne not to be so lately as is pretended the Lords and Commons themselves having declared it often and often and that long since in sundry Declarations But that either those persons or those armies with whom they joine doe aime at or intend the destroying the forces raysed by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament or the surprising the Cities of London and Westminster with the Suburbes or the forcing the Parliament by armes though they have all three beene a long time spoken of and two of them again and again insisted upon by the Lords and Commons in their Orders and Ordinances hath never to this day been prooved but on the contrary so deeply and solemnly have all these aimes beene protested and sworn against by the King himselfe and are ready if that would give any satisfaction to be disclaimed and renounced upon the oaths of those armies and the persons joyning with them that were all other reall but concealed jealousies and feares as easie to be removed as those three now pretended all such forces on both sides would bee soone disbanded and these unnaturall and unchristian warres speedily ended This indeed is to be expected and cannot well be avoyued if after so many and so gratious overtures of peace pardon and all sweet accommodation made by his Sacred Majesty the forces raysed by the Lords and Commons shall not only refuse to lay down their armes but use them as hitherto they have to the subversion both of the Discipline and Order as also of the Doctrine and Worship of God established in our Church to indangering the Kings person the consumption of his treasure and estate and to the damage and ruine of his whole Kingdome and if the Cities of London and Westminster with the Suburbs thereof shall as formerly they have joine with them and ayd and assist them both with men mony armes and other warlike provision and if some of the Members of either or both Houses of Parliament shall countenance encourage justifie and maintaine all these ungodly actions against his Majesties Royall Person Crowne and Dignity Who can blame either those armies raysed by the King or those persons that joyne with them if they shall do their utmost to subdue or destroy those forces to surprise or bring into subjection those Cities and to force or some other way to reduce those Members to their duty and allegiance Nay what Christian or Heathen Subjects would not in such a case crie out against them now and rise up in judgement against them heereafter if they should doe otherwise And therefore if this bee the Designe so much talked of as for my part I believe it is what loyall subject can say he had no hand in it and who but hee that hath had no hand in it dare say it was eyther treacherous or horrid Oh but Mr. Pym hath declared it so to be in his speech at a Common-hall in London June 8. 1643. wherein hee shewes the intentions of that Designe to be no lesse then these 1. To take into their custody the Kings Children that are in or about London 2. To lay hold on all those that they thought could stand in their way as the Lord Say and the Lord Wharton of the House of Lords and of the House of Commons besides the Lord Major Sir Philip Stapleton Mr. Hampden Mr. Strode and which he acknowledgeth to be an honour to him to be named Mr. Pym. 3. To seise on the Committee of the Militia and the Magazines within London and Westminster 4. To release all the prisoners committed by the Parliament 5. To make a Declaration to satisfie the people Blessed be the Lord for it heer is no intention discovered of murthering or butchering any of the Kings children or of any of the Citizens or of any of the Members of either Houses of Parliament no not of the persons named neither is there heere any resolution intimated of blowing up any part of London or Westminster or of firing any house therein but only of taking the Kings Children into their custody of laying hold on certaine Lords and Commons and of seising the Militia c. and this it seemes in the sense of the contrivers of this Oath is to destroy the forces raysed by the Lords and Commons to surprise the Cities of London and Westminster and by armes to force the Parliament and all this a treacherous and horrid Design But how is that made good Surely the taking of the Kings Children into their custody if it were any part of the Designe is not thought by the Lords and Commons themselves to have much treachery or horridnes in it howsoever Mr. Pym to shew his superabundant care of those hopefull branches for their Royall Stemmes sake was pleased to make that the first branch of that treacherous and horrid Designe neither can the releasing of the prisoners committed by the Parliament if any such justice were purposed bee well judged to have much treachery or horridnesse in it for alas poore unarmed men all men abhorring treachery and all horrid designes so much that the greatest cause of most of their imprisonment is their declaming against and not contributing or consenting unto that Designe which they know to be both trayterous and horrid what could they have done had
all such designes And for the further clearing of His intentions in that particular He desired all His Nobility and Councell then attending Him to witnesse with Him whether they did see any colour of preparations or counsells that might reasonably beget a beliefe of any such designe and whether they were not fully perswaded to the contrary c whereupon the Nobility and Councell then present at yorke being in number above forty made a Declaration and Profession in these words We whose names are under written in obedience to His Majesties desire and out of the duty which we owe to His Majesties Honour and to truth being here upon the place and witnesses of His Majesties frequent and earnest Declarations and Professions of His abhorring all designes of making war upon His Parliament and not seeing any colour of preparations or counsels that might reasonably beget the beliefe of any such designe Do professe before God and testifie to all the world that we are fully perswaded that His Majesty hath no such intention but that all His indeavours tend to the firm and constant setlement of the true Protestant Religion the just priviledges of Parliament the liberty of the Subject the Law Peace and Prosperity of this Kingdome This solemne Profession was made by the King and attested by His Nobility and Councell June 15. 1642. which was five dayes after that the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament had made certaine propositions and orders for the bringing in of Money Plate or Horse c. for the maintaining an Army for their defence So that as I said before if feares and jealousies of the Kings intentions of raising and leavying War against His Parliament were a just cause or ground for his Parliament actually to raise or leavy forces against him and if we could also in our consciences believe that such feares and jealousies did really and truly possesse both Houses yet when it appeares by such evidence as greater and better could not be given that those feares and jealousies were not just it is strange to thinke what conscience or faith I might adde what hope or charity that man hath that can answer or declare in the presence of Almighty God that he beleeveth in his conscience that the forces raised by the Parliament upon that unjust ground or cause were raised for their just defence 3. Quar. How can any man sweare in Judgement and in Truth that he doth in his conscience believe that the forces raised by the two Houses of Parliament were raised and are continued for the defence of the true Protestant Religion when as first if by the true Protestant Religion be meant that Protestant Religion which is now established so far as ought can be said to be established in the Church of England as that must be meant or otherwise we know not what the true Protestant Religion is and so cannot take this oath in judgement it hath been found by lamentable experience that the true Protestant Religion hath been more invaded impugned and blasphemed by the forces raised by the two Houses of Parliament and their assistants and adherents in those parts where they have had the power then ever it was since Queene Maries dayes witnesse the many uncivill unhumane unchristian attempts assaults and outrages that have been committed by Anabaptists Brownists and other Sectaries upon our established Doctrine upon our established worship and service of God upon Gods holy Ordinances and upon those sacred places wherein all these were wont to meet and present themselves to us in such beauty and excellencie to our unspeakable benefit and comfort I must not forget how the most pious painfull and orthodoxall Protestant Divines they that in former times when the Protestant Religion suffered most by another faction bare the heat and burden of the opposition and stood in the gap against Arminianisme and other innovations have been since the raising of forces by the Parliament and by the power thereof abused imprisoned and cruelly handled when others that then deserted their stations have been magnified and extolled nay when drunken debauched innovating drones that have contributed towards the maintenance of the Parliaments forces have been connived at and favoured and if by chance apprehended speedily dismissed and set at liberty He must have a strong faith and a stretching conscience that can beleeve in his conscience that these are markes or signes of defending the true Protestant Religion If this be their defending of it God send us our old Defendor thereof once againe restablished in His Throne and let these new defenders defend themselves Secondly the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament did no longer since then in March last declare and publish to the world in that Ordinance of theirs for the speedy raising and leavying of money for the maintainance of the Army raised by the Parliament that the only Causes for which they had raised and did then continue an Army and Forces were first for the necessary defence of themselves which may be somewhat more easily believed then for their just defence Seconly for the necessary defence of this Kingdome from forraigne invasions a defence not now mentioned And thirdly for the bringing of notorious offenders to condigne punishment a thing also as was before hinted altogether forgotten in this new oath And if the Lords and Commons themselves have so lately declared and acknowleded that these were the only causes for which they raised and then continued their army and forces they have no cause to take offence at any that shall not believe that the same forces were raised and continued for the defence of the true Protestant Religion I praise God I have no such Moon-faith 4. Quar. How can any man sweare in truth That he doth in his conscience believe that the forces raised by the two Houses are raised and continued for the defence of the liberties of the Subject when by the raising and continuing of these Forces first the liberty of enjoying their owne goods chattells or lands Secondly the liberty of their trading and traffiquing Thirdly the liberty of their persons Fourthly the liberty their consciences towards God their King and their fellow-brethren Fifthly the liberty of their very lives is dayly and hourely either taken or endeavoured to be taken from the best of Subjects and all these contrary to the liberty of the established knowne Lawes of this Land Indeed to Bankrupts and Spendthrifts to Rogues Theeves Murtherers and such like there is such politick liberty of spoyling robbing plundering and killing yeelded to Anabaptists Brownists and other Sectaries such Ecclesiasticall liberty of Conventicle prating and printing permitted and to all sorts of factious seditious rebellious Miscreants such liberty of lying rayling and blaspheming indulged as the like was never heard of much lesse tollerated and countenanced in any Christian Common-wealth And though we had such faith as that we could beleeve that the forces raised by the two Houses of Parliament were raised for the defence of
certainly they may with no small advantage to their Masters must I vow and covenant to assist them 2. What if any Jesuits or Jesuited Papists shall joyne in the pursuance of the Cause Must I sweare to assist them Why then is there in the Introduction to this oath such a loud complaint made of a Popish Army now on foot c. It seems that it is not their being Popish that troubles them but their being an Army against their design for it appears by this clause of this oath That if an army of Papists would assist them against the Kings Forces and take but this oath they should have their oaths and the oaths of as many as they can prevaile with to swear that they will assist them in whatsoever they shall doe in that way I will not question their assisting of Anabaptists Brownists and other Sectaries they are so deep in their protection and assistance already that there needs no swearing to assist them But what thinke you in the third place what if Monopolizers Patentees Projectors scandalous Ministers c. which not long since were rendred the very bane of the Kingdome and unworthy to live nay what if notorious Rogues Theeves Plunderers Robbers Murderers incestuous persons perjured persons Traitors and Assasinates shall to former impieties adde the taking of this oath am I not likewise required by this clause to swear to assist them and every of them to leave persons and come to things perhaps the things wherein I must sweare to assist all persons that shall take this oath will prove such as that I may lawfully sweare to assist any persons in be they otherwise never so lewd and wicked Well suppose that though as God abhorres wicked mens sacrifices so where I know them to be such I like not to be their assistants or companions in their most specious undertakings yet let us examine what things they are that we must sweare to assist them in why the oath it selfe tells us plainly and without any limitation that we must assist them in what they shall doe in the pursuance thereof that is as far as I am able to construe it in whatsoever they shall doe for the assistance or advantage of the forces raised by the two Horses against the forces raised by the King and here ariseth a fourth Quaere quiet it that can What if any person or persons shall in the pursuance of this businesse rob spoyle or plunder any of the Kings Subjects What if he or they shall betray abuse or murder their owne fathers brothers masters or friends What if they shall preach or print horrid lies and blaâ—â—hemies besides old rotten ends of long since condemned Heresies mixt with new Sedition Treason and Rebellion Nay what if any person of persons shall in that pursuance mentioned attempt the deposing of our Sovereigne Lord the King or which is somewhat more to be trembled at in the very naming the killing of Him His royall Consort and all His hopefull Children Doe not as many as take this oath sweare to assist them and every of them that shall commit these and all these detestable execrable wickednesses when they swear that they will assist every one that shall take this oath without exception in whatsoever he shall doe in the pursuance of that their Cause without restriction Yes doubtlesse unlesse they sweare with some mentall reservation which is Jesuiticall or with some reservation orall as t is said some of the Lords tooke the whole oath which in effect made it no oath but a mock-oath And therefore that forenamed limitation As far as lawfully I may might well have been here also inserted had it seemed good to the Contrivers of this oath But t is likely they have some cause to the contrary or whether they did or not I am sure we have just cause from hence to suspect that this oath aimes at more then yet the Contrivers of it dare discover And let them now ascend never so high or dig never so deep be it to dare Heaven with an attempt or to ransacke Hell for one this clause of this oath once taken will assure them of companions There is but one piece more of this new oath besides the close and seale of all that remaines to be opened viz. And will directly or indirectly adhere unto nor shall willingly assist the forces raised by the King without the consent of both Houses of Parliament and that hath beene already examined in the unveyling the preceding parts thereof All therefore that I shall superadde concerning it shall be wrapt up in this one Question Quest What if God in his infinite mercy to this Nation shall please so to open the eyes of the blinded misled people thereof or so to â—â—â—lop their dull and heavy ears and so to molisie and humble their hard rebellious hearts that yet once againe they shall see with their eyes heare with their eares and understand with their hearts those things that belong to their peace and happinesse and to that purpose both see and hear and understand that their Sovereign Lord the King is in the right and the Lords and Commons in Parliament are in an error that t is he that hath raised forces or rather God most miraculously by Him for the safety of His owne Person and for the defence of the true Protestant Religion the Laws of the Land the just priviledges of Parliament and the liberties of the Subject when others raised tumults commotions and rebellion to the inexpressible perill of the utter ruining and subverting of all those our Nations greatest blessings what I say if God of his unspeakable mercy to this Nation and just vindication of Truth shall make us to see and acknowledge this Shall we before hand so swear our selves out of all mercy by this last clause of this oath that either we will not dare to acknowledge it when God shall manifest it or if we do acknowledge it we cannot either directly or indirectly make peace with or subminister helpe and assistance unto those forces of our most gracious King raised up by God for his owne Glory our Sovereignes safety and our own and our posterities preservation and comfort without being perjured Lord keep thou our feet out of this snare Thus have I at last gotten through each part of this Covenant except only that which I but now called the seale thereof in these words And this vow and covenant I make in the presence of God the searcher of all hearts with a true intention to performe the same as I shall answer it at the great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed Had this vow and covenant been made only of such things as are true and just and known so to be unto all that are required to enter into it the setting of this Seal had been requisite and necessary but the Vow and Covenant it selfe being such as it appears to be by the searching into it that no one intire clause of it can be taken at least not of the promissory part without transgressing fouly against one or more of those three inseparable conditions of a justifiable oath in my apprehension the requiring us to set to this Seale should be enough to terrifie all men that know what the affixing to such a seal meaneth from daring to enter into the place where this Covenant is token much more from entring into this Covenant it selfe and setting this soul-scarring Seale thereunto For how shall I may every such man say how shall I make such a Covenant as this in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts when he that searcheth my heart knoweth that some parts of it I understand not what they mean some parts I doubt of whether they be true some parts I know to be illegall and unjust and to some parts I have already once twice or oftner sworne the just contrary calling the same Almighty God the searcher of all hearts to witnesse thereunto and to be avenged on me if I made it not good And how shall I pawne all the mercy which I hope for at that great and terrible day of the Lord to all the wrath and judgement that shall be revealed upon the truth of my intention of performing this Covenant when either my heart already tells me or may soone tell me that I intend no such thing or to be sure it will be told me in that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed that no such thing ought to have been so much as intended much lesse sworne by me Thus have you most intimate of friends both my judgement of this new Oath and my earnest request for yours seconded with your prayers If you should chance to have rashly taken this oath your selfe ere these Quares come to your hands as who in these tempting turning times can be confident of any mans constancy yet I hope through Gods blessing upon them they may so work upon you as to cause you to reflect upon what you have done with sorrow and to resolve against the doing what you have thereby inconsiderately promised with spirit and courage knowing that it is a resolved case in point of conscience That in rash and unlawfull Oathes Qui non mutat dupliciter peccat quia injuste juravit quia facit quid non debet He that alters not his resolution doubleth his sinne because he both sweareth unjustly and then doeth that which hee ought not to do And holy David did exceedingly blesse both God the advice of a woman and the woman her selfe that gave it for keeping him off from performing a rash and unjust Vow that he had made 1. Sam. 25. You have seene my fidelity let me see yours and whatsoever answer you returne direct it to my Brother of Christ Church who is as I my selfe am Your faithfull friend and Brother in the Lord Christ
they were not called a Popish Army and it seemes there was not the least cause why they should be so stiled for that no sooner was the Name of Papists or Jesuiticall faction mentioned by them as having ought to doe in that service for the King but presently his Sacred Majesty caused a Proclamation to issue forth given at his Court at Yorke August 10. 1642. expresly commanding that no person or persons whatsoever being Popish Recusants should come to His Court contrary to the Law in that case provided or take any office or place or list himselfe as a souldier in His Service And though the King at the time of that terrible batâ—ell at Edgehill had admitted some few Papists of eminent abilities in command and conduct into His Service yet He is graciously pleased to yeeld such a faire and reasonable account thereof in His Declaration to all His loving Subjects after His late victory against the Rebells on Sunday 23 of October 1642. as must needs be to all that will credit the word of a King most abundantly satisfactory And since that battell that maske of fighting for the King being then blowne off with their owne priming powder t is not to be endured in point of Honour by any Protestant that regards the honour of his Religion that any should say the Papists have so outstript the Protestants in loyalty as to win the denomination of the Kings Army to be Popish from their super increasing therein And blessed be the Lord for it they have not the least cause so to brag for what cause soever others have been pleased so to declare Then for the Kings Army in the West so long under the command of that valiant and successefull religious and pious Sir Ralph Hopton I doe not remember that amongst all the lyes and slanders all the calumnies and reproaches that have been preached or printed any have yet been so wickedly impudent as to call that Popish or to affirme that any knowne Papists are listed in it I am sure both Houses of Parliament in their Ordinances made against Sir Ralph and his Forces viz. that in June 27. 1642. for the prevention of a most horrid wicked and unnaturall designe pursued by Sir Ralph Hopton and his adherents c. and that made the same day for the assessing of Malignants in the Counâ—y of Sommerset c. never call any of those that have assisted him or joyned with him Papists but only Rebells and Traitors So that we are forced to looke into the Northerne parts to finde out this Popish Army and for the Army in those parts though I finde some Diurnals and other such like lying and slanderous pamphlets wherein that Army was called Popish even at its first advancing into Yorkeshire yet I observed that the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament did not themselves stile it so no not in their Declaration for the suppressing of divers Papists and other malignant persons in the Counties of Yorke Northumberland Westmerland Cumberland Lancashire Cheshire c. Novemb. 23. 1642. They therein declare that the Papists and other malignants and ill affected persons in those Counties had entred into an association and caused great Forces both of horse and foot to be raised to aid and assist the Popish and malignant party in those parts but for all this they doe not yet brand them with the name of a popish Army afterwards indeed when they had found that the name of popish army spread abroad as I but now said by Diurnalls and other lying and scandalous pamphlets the constant pressures to prepare the way for more auâ—hentick Declarations had somewhat startled and amazed the poore Country people then we heare the stile of an Army of Papists under the command of the Earle of New-castle made use of as in that Declaration of the House of Commons Decemb. 15. 1642. the Declaration of the Lords and Commons still retaining their former stile But passe by the originall of that army Did that army as yet ever merit the name of Popish That there were and are more Papists in that army then in all the Kings armies throughout the Kingdome I do verily beleeve those Counties out of which it was raised abounding with Papists more then other counties by far And yet we have been assured from such as deserve our credit that all the Papists in that army are not a handfull in comparison of the whole body not above one of fifty and in all not so many as to make up two Regiments But why five times so many Papists if there were so many in this Kingdome should not be admitted to take up armes for the defence of their Sovereigne and rights and libertie of the Subject I never yet heard any argument worth answering nay how the papists or any for them could answer their not taking up armes in such a case without incurring the guilt of high Treason is past my resolving And for the Protestant Religion which they so much hate and the power and priviledge of Parliament which they so much maligne whereas it is objected that it cannot be thought that they should fight for the defence of either of them I doe conceive that if they might be let alone quiet and secure without intermedling their love to either is not so great as to inflame their spirits to such a hazard of their lives for their sakes but the pressing necessities of the present times ingaging them in a War and they finding the quarrell to be betwixt the safety of the Kings person honour and estate and the ambitious seditious and rebellious designes and attempts of some of His Subjects betwixt Protestants and some Anabaptists Brownists and other Sectaries betwixt the enjoying the just power and priviledges of Parliament together with their owne lives goods and estates and the being spoyled robbed and deprived of all or the most of these by the arbitrary power and priviledges of a few Lords and Commons t is no wonder to see them to offer themselves willingly to defend and maintain the former rather then to endure suffer the latter Besides when the Protestants in a Kingdome are imbroyled in a civill war amongst themselves or with any factious and schismaticall persons it would not be wisdome in them to suffer the papists to sit quiet and still if they should desire it lest when they have weakned each other the papists prove too strong for both But for further satisfaction in this point I refer you to the Earle of New-castle his excellent Declaration to that purpose and to that witty and solid lettter of a Worthy whosoever it was to his friend in Leceistershire Now these things premised thus cleared I cannot but wonder what is meant by the popish army which hath been raised and is now on foot in divers parts of this Kingdome had we been told that there is such an army flying in divers parts of this Kingdome if we could not have seen it it might happily have been
they beene released It would be safest for them if there should be any combustion or mutiny in the City or Suburbs which God forbid not to come forth of their prisons though they were intreated Perhaps indeed the making of a Declaration to satisfie the people might have advanced the Designe not a little for it seemes by Mr. Pyms speech it was some notable faire well-compos'd peece carrying a most specious shew of much intended goodnesse viz. The preservation of Religion the preservation of the Kings Prerogative and the preservation of the Liberties of the Subject and the priviledges of Parliament and the composers thereof were very confident as Mr. Pym intimates of the peoples crediting and believing it for that a thousand of them were to be printed and they to be set upon Posts and Gates in the most considerable places of the City and to be dispersed as much as they could against the time that the Designe should be put in execution as if that would cleare all their intentions and convince the people of their integrity in undertaking that businesse And to tell you my judgement of it for so much as I can collect from Mr. Pym it was such a piece of a treacherous Designe that Mr. Pym was afraid that it would have gone neer to have betrayed the people into their wits againe perhaps into their Religion and loyalty if not into some of their Estates and Liberties and therefore he lets it not passe without passing this most observable Sentence on it ratified from his owne practise and experience There be no designes bee they never so ill but they doe put on a maske of some good for that which is absolutely and apparantly evill hath no congruity with the will of man and therefore the worst of evills are undertaken under a shew and shadow of goodnesse sound doctrine and an excellent caution I confesse would to God the people had beene better instructed in it and more mindfull of it in these times but yet with reverence to that great Speaker be it spoken If that intended Declaration which he speakes of were worthy of no other blame but its appearing so extraordinary faire and specious as were there any other reall exception against it doubtlesse that quick-sighted Gentleman would not have balked it I see no reason why because by often and late experience it hath beene found that some Declarations full of Treachery and Mischiefe have appeared faire in shew therefore this Declaration full of loyalty and goodnesse should be thought treacherous and mischievous only because it was faire in appearance But then for the other two parts of the designe viz. the laying hold on those persons named and the seising upon the Militia and Magazines of London and Westminster together with those that now are the prime managers and disposers thereof that these were the ready way to destroy the forces raysed by the Parliament to surprise those Cities and to force the Parliament seemes clearly to be demonstrated by the forenamed City Orator Take only the extract of his Arguments in the case The seising upon the Militia of London and Westminster must needs be a surprising of those Cities themselves the surprising of those Cities is a destroying of the forces raysed by the Lords and Commons in Parliament if not by force yet by want of supply and maintenance observe by the way what maner of destruction intended against the Parliaments forces is heere acknowledged and if the forces raysed by the Parliament were once destroyed that is wanted supply and maintenance and then which is the most terrible if those named Members of both Houses and some few others of their temper and spirit together with their fast friends and sworne slaves of the City were once layd hold on the rest of both those Honourable Houses being but the carkase and shadow of a Parliament as Mr. Pym in his Common-hall speech doth not only call but labour to prove them alas what would they doe certainly that carkase would move in no other motion then according as the returning soule the known Lawes of the Land and the just priviledges of Parliament would steere it and not according as every furious and factious spirit should thinke to hurry it and questionlesse that shadow would not follow any other then its owne full compleat representative Body not a close Committee or a few seditious rebellious Citizens And then t is likely there would be a sweet correspondence betwixt the King and them the King yeelding to them as much as they would in due observance be willing to propound to him and they granting to the King as much as he could with honour desire of them And heer truly would be such a forcing of the Parliament as this Kingdome hath not knowne these many yeeres and yet all this is farre enough from a treacherous and horrid designe Only thus much we humbly thanke him for it Mr. Pyms discovery renders visible to every eye that will not shut it selfe against the light That were but the Militia of the Cities of London and Westminster with their Magazines in some mens hands with whom as hath beene at large declared by able and sound Lawyers the King may of right intrust it and were but the maintenance and supply which those two Cities subminister to the Parliaments army withheld or stopt and then which would follow of it selfe unlesse they made the more haste to flie from it were but some few Members of both Houses together with some busie Citizens laid hold on and laid up in hold as there are prisons enough and to spare ready provided in and about London till they could be brought to a legall triall for that Treason whereof by Proclamation they stand charged by the King our Land would soone enjoy her glorious rest and peace again nay happily if the last were but acted we should speedily see the last Act of this bloody Tragedy wherein this miserable Kingdome is ingaged hist off and beaten off the Stage by its greatest Applauders And therefore were those few persons at whom the late strange treacherous horrid designe aymed men of that piety towards God and of that tender compassion and bowels towards their bleeding and perishing Country that they pretend to be they would Jonah-like now they see the Church and State wherein they are imbarqued ready to be overwhelmed or split by the boysterous waves and tempestuous windes of these raging times and principally for their sakes deliver themselves up to be cast forth or otherwise exposed even to death it selfe that there might be a calm and likewise they that have hitherto rowed them now they have shewne their love and affection to them in rowing so hard to set them safe on shore and see that they cannot the sea working and growing more and more tempestuous against them by the mighty coworking of him that commands both sea and wind and they obey him me thinks they should after prayers and cries to God to
or State or any member thereof that it may be prevented Or whether the obligation of this oath be not restrained only to the discovery of designes against the two Houses of Parliament and especially against those Members of each House against whom the late discovered designe is said to be intended And I would you durst resolve me freely and fully whether this particular oath be not such a designe as every man that knowes of the contriving thereof be not bound in conscience to discover what he can of it to the preventing of the ruining of so many thousand poor souls as are like to be hazarded therby But to come to the main things aimed at in the imposing this oath those indeed unto which all the preceding parts of the oath are but a preparative and have been themselves prepared in a readinesse and resolved upon by some to be gotten confirmed by an oath long before the forenamed wicked and treacherous designe now made so advantagious to set of this oath withall was ever heard of insomuch that many sober judicious men doe verily suspect that rather that designe is declared to be so wicked treacherous horrid and detestable to draw on the taking the following part of this oath then that any part of this oath much lesse the whole oath it selfe was resolved upon as occasioned by the wickednesse treachery horridnesse and detestablenesse of that design as some would perswade us We are required in the fourth place to sweare or declare in the presence of Almighty God That We doe in our consciences believe that the forces raysed by the two Houses of Parliament are raysed and continued for their just defence and for the defence of the true Protestant Religion and Liberties of the Subject against the forces raysed by the King Where I intreat satisfaction in these Quaeres 1. Quaer Why is the defence of the King heere left quite out when as it hath beene so often professed and declared by the Lords and Commons in their severall Declarations and Ordinances that they raysed their forces for his defence in the first place It seemes they are afraid to sweare that though they have often and often declared it and why then should we make their declarations so firme a ground of our faith as thereupon to sweare that we do in our consciences believe that the forces raysed by them were raysed and are continued for such and such ends when they themselves will not sweare that they were raysed for that end which they have so many times declared 2. Quaer How dare any man sweare or declare in the presence of Almighty God c. that he doth in his conscience believe that the forces raysed by the two Houses of Parliament are raysed and continued for their just defence when the King hath made them so many gracious overtures of peace and they have refused them as appeares by sundry Messages and Declarations with the Answers and Replies that have passed betwixt them nay when the King hath woed and intreated them with such sweetnes of temper and lownes of condescension as never any Prince used towards Subjects that they would both name the persons and appoint the place for a Treaty betwixt him and them for setling the peace of the Kingdome and ending and quieting all differences betweene them yet still his offers have beene utterly rejected unlesse he would first take downe his Standard and call in what Proclamations and Declarations he had made against some of the Members of both Houses and their proceedings both which his Majesty yeelded to do so that they would revoke their Declarations against all persons that assisted him as also leave his forces and withdraw his protection both from such persons as were by both Houses voted Delinquents and from all such as should afterwards bee so voted as you may see more at large in his Majesties gracious Message to both Houses of Parliament sent from Nottingham August 25. 1642. The Answer of the Lords and Commons to that Message His Majesties reply to that answer Their answer and their Declaration to that reply and the former Message And can it be beleeved that the defensive part of this war be it just or unjust was on their side when the King was thus the offerer and suer for peace and they the refusers requiring Him to yeeld to those things which could not possibly stand with His owne Honour and Safety or with the safety of those that are His most faithfull and loyall Subjects called to His assistance by His Summons and their Allegiance Or can that be believed to be a defensive War much lesse a War for a just defence when many of the forces raised by them were raised and the Kings Goods Armes Townes Shipping and whole Militia were taken from Him and made use of and held against him before any the least warlike offence was offered them by any Forces raised by the King as hath been sufficiently cleared both by His Majesties Declarations and upon our sad and chargeable experience Besides we were told from severall Pulpits about the time of the first Proposi ions for Horse Plate or Money June 10. 1642. and often times since that the Forces then in raising and since raised by the Parliament were to fetch the King from His evill Counsellours and to remove them from Him and this was afterwards againe promised to have been done within such and such a time if we would contribute but the other odde forty or fifty thousand pounds and I assure you we beleeved it then or else we had not parted with our monyes so freely And therefore I cannot but wonder that we who at the first raising of Forces by the Parliament and some good time since did verily beleeve that those forces were raised to catch away the King from His evill Counsellours and to take away or drive away His evill Counsellours from Him promising our selves such hopes of accomplishing our desires with so much ease and speed should now sweare that we do in our consciences beleeve that the same forces were raised for the just defence of the Parliament as though the King had been then fetching them from their evill Counsellours or their evill Counsellours from them If only feares and jealousies of the Kings intention to raise and leavy warre against His Parliament were a just cause or ground for His Parliament to leavy forces against Him which to grant would be of most dangerous consequence both to King and Kingdome perhaps some might thinke that the present Parliament now assembled did feare and were jealous of some such thing and so had cause to provide such a defence but how can we be perswaded in our consciences that those feares and jealousies were just when upon the Kings first knowing that such feares and jealousies did possesse them He did not only declare the contrary but did solemnly disavow all such intentions professing before God and the World that he alwayes had and then did abhorre
being suspected that they had done it for some evill intent or purpose should swear only that they doe in their consciences believe that they did it for such or such an end most fair and just their very swearing so would cause more suspition of them then if they had held their peace and said nothing 7. Quaer How dare any man sweare or declare in the presence of Almighty God c. that he doth in his conscience believe that the forces raised by the two Houses of Parliament are raised and continued for their just defence and for the defence of the true Protestant Religion and liberties of the Subject against the forces raised by the King when so to sweare or declare is to sweare and declare in Gods presence that he doth in his conscience believe that the forces raised by the King are raised and continued for the subversion and ruine at least for the extream damage and detriment of all the same things And what a hard case is it that a man must be put to such an oath as to sweare not only that he doth believe well of both Houses of Parliamen but also that he doth believe so much evill of a good King as were He the worst of Kings worse could not be thought of Him all things considered Why perhaps there may be some of so loyall and just thoughts towards their Sovereigne and yet withall of so charitable and reverentiall thoughts towards both Houses of Parliament as to thinke that the forces on each part were raised and continued for the same ends and they those three mentioned only most unhappily differd in the meanes and wayes of accomplishing those ends And what shall these poore souls do when they cannot satisfie the Parliament by taking this oath but they must thereby abandon all loyall thoughts of their King Lord be thou their Directour It followeth in the oath as an inference inforced from the last thing believed and sworne I do here in the presence of Almighty God declare vow and covenant that I will according to my power and vocation assist the forces raised and continued by both Houses of Parliament against the forces raised by the King without their consent Concerning which part of the oath that I may still keep withing the prescribed bounds of a lawfull oath I desire these Quaeries may be cleared 1. Quaer What is here meant by Vocation that so we may swear in judgement knowing what we swear whether are we to understand by Vocation that ordinary course of life or externall profession whereunto God doth ordinarily call men and where he doth externally place them as when some are called to be Pastors and Teachers in the Church others to be fed and taught some are called to be Masters others to be Servants some are called to be Husbandmen others are called to be Tradesmen c. or whether by Vocation here may not be understood some extraordinary calling by secret inspiration divine revelation or the like as certainly some such calling must be presupposed or else I cannot see what warrant they can pretend for the assiâ—ting any forces against their Sovereigne This Quare I could not baulke because the using of this expression According to my Vocation is not any where to be found that I know of any oath that hath been taken in this Nation though the other limitation According to my power hath been usuall in most or all our promissorie oaths which makes me to think that some Divine or other was the framer and contriver of this new oath or at least had a great hand in it howsoever it was pretended to have been suddenly framed by some Members of the House of Commons upon the discovery of the great designe and being called to that calling his conscience minded him somewhat of the unlawfulnesse and unseemlinesse for a Minister of the Gospel of peace to be an assistant in war especially in such a war or else rather he thought that the adding of this limitation According to my vocation would excuse him both from contributing much money to the warre as also from hazarding his owne person in it as some of their furious brethren to their shame and confusion have done so that he did but in his preaching and by his praying those two glorious but now prophaned and blasphemed Ordinances intice and stir up others thereunto But then I cannot but still wonder why the Lords should each of them sweare According to my vocation c. I believe if one should aske any of their Lordships what vocation he is of he would not take it well though for the House of Commons we know divers of them are of severall vocations and so this limitation might become them well enough 2. Quaer How any man that professeth himself to be either of the same judgement with the Church of England and with the glorious Martyrs and renowned Divines and other learned Worthies that have since the Reformation lived in this Church or of the same judgement with any other of the reformed Churches and the most renowned Members thereof can swear in Judgement that he will assist any forces raised by Subjects against the forces raised by their Sovereign when it hath been so fully and amply declared by all those Churches and by their chiefe Worthies successively in all times that t is altogether unlawfull for any Subjects to take up Armes against their Sovereigne though a Tyrant though a persecuter of the Gospel though never so wicked and ungodly as is to be seen in our owne Homilies against Rebellion in the Acts and Monuments of our Martyrs in the Harmony of Confessions of the reformed Churches in Luther Calvin Oâ—â—lampadius Zâ—â—inglius Buder Peter Martyr Capitâ— Bullinger and many other forraigne Divines as also in multitudes of our most famous and pious English Divines whose testimonies with the testimonies of many others I am credibly informed had been long since for the satisfaction of those that question it faithfully published by an orthodox Divine now a prisoner in Ely House had not some of the House of Commons prevented him by seizing upon his book wâ—ilst it was in the Presse as fearing all such information of the people 3. Quaer How any man that hath taken either the oath of Supremacy or the oath of Allegiance or the late Protestation can without perjury ipso facto sweare that he will according to his power assist the forces raised and continued by both Houses of Parliament against the forces raised by the King seeing all those three oaths are so flatly and fully contrary to this part of this oath of all the rest as first in the oath of Supremacy we sweare That we did testifie and declare in our consciences that the Kings Highnesse is the only supreme Governour of this Realm c. and as well in all spirituall or Ecclesiasticall things or causes as temporall and if so the just power of raising forces and other power of the sword doth only
attainted of open deed by people of their condition I believe when the established Law of this Land comes to be in force againe it will puzzle all the Lawyers of this Kingdome to assoile us of that guilt by the subtillest interpretations they can invent And truly I doe not yet value eyther soule or body at so low a rate as to venture eyther upon such an hazard But suppose that it should not be found high treason yet I have another Quaere to put concerning this oath that will make many looke before they leap into it lest they thereby leap out of a great part of their estates and that is this 6. Quar. Whether the taking this part of this oath and practising accordingly do not expose as many as have Offices Fees Annuities Honours Lordships Castles Mannors Lands Tenements and other possessions and hereditaments of the Kings gifts and grants which are throughout this Kingdome a considerable number to an inavoydable forfeiture thereof whenas by those two statutes viz. 11. Hen. 7. cap. 18. 19. Hen. 7. cap. 1. it is enacted That every person or persons within the Realme of England or Wales that have any such offices fees annuities c. and doth not in person attend upon the King being in person in warres against his enemies and rebells within the same Realme or without for repressing and subduing of them and their mischievovs purpose shall forfeit all his offices fees annuities c and that all the Kings gifts grants and letters patents wherby they enjoy them shall be utterly annulled void of none effect and at the Kings pleasure unlesse it be such as have speciall licence under the Kings signe manuall or signet or else have such unseigned sickenesse letting or disease that he may not in his person come to doe that attendance The same Statutes as they require such attendance upon the Kings person in his warres more especially from such men as have any promotion from the King so they declare also that every Subject by the duty of his Allegiance is bounden to serve and assist his Prince and sovereigne Lord at all seasons when need shall require and what he shall be adjudged worthy to forfeit or suffer that shall fail of that duty any knowing Lawyer will soon informe you 7. Quaer How can any man sweare in Righteousnesse that he will assist the forces raised and continued by both Houses of Parliament against the forces raised by the King when by the Lawes of the Land it is enacted that no manner of person or persons whatsoever he or they be that attend upon the King and sovereigne Lord of this Land for the time being in his person c. or be in other places by his commandment in his warres within this Land or without shall for the same be either convict or attaint of high Treason or any other offences either by act of Parliament or otherwise by any processe of Law whereby to suffer any losse or damage but for that deed and service to be utterly discharged for any vexation trouble or losse and if any act or acts or other processe after the time of that act shall happen to be made contrary to that act that then that act or acts or other processe of the Law whatsoever shall stand and be utterly void 11. Hen. 7. cap. 1. It is no wonder then if in this new covenant when we swear to assist the forces raised and continued by the two Houses of Parliament against the forces raised by the King that necessary restriction or limitation so carefully inserted in the late Protestation viz. As far as lawfully I may be here in this oath wholy omitted when as the established Laws of the Land are in so many things so fully contrary to all such assistance that if we had sworne only to assist the Parliaments forces against the Kings forces as farre as lawfully we may we had sworne not to assist them at all but to our utmost to resist and represse them And whereas t is further intimated in this part of this oath and in that which followeth by way of aggravation against the Kings forces that they were raised without the consent of both Houses of Parliament I would willingly bend an eare either to Priâ— himselfe that great pretender to Law and Parliaments though a Traitor to both as well as to his King or to any other that shall please to tell me of any one act of Parliament of any other established Law of this Land that doth allow the two Houses of Parliament in any case whatsoever to raise any forces without the consent of the King much lesse against the Kings consent and against the Kings forces or which is a bold chalenge of one that is no Lawyer that doth expresly binde the King in no case whatsoever no not for His owne safety and preservation nor for the safety and preservation of His Kingdome of the true Religion of the Lawes of the Land and liberties of the Subject c. to raise any forces without the consent of the two Houses of Parliament And if in any case the King may raise forces without the consent of the two Houses of Parliament then surely much more in the present case when not only all possibility of consent from the two Houses was impossibilitated but the two Houses themselves had actually raised forces without the Kings consent and had seised upon the Kings Castles and Armes and held them against Him But I have stayed too long amongst Acts and Statutes the proper Authenticks of Lawyers I returne to the Divine of whom I desire to favour most and with his leave and likeing I passe to the next clause of the oath and that is yet more desperate if more desperate can be for having sworne only in this last clause That we will according to our power c. assist the publick open forces raised and continued by the two Houses of Parliament against the forces raised by the King we are required in the next clause to sweare That we will according to our power also assist all private and close conspirators in whatsoever they shall attempt or doe either against the Kings forces or against the King Himselfe His Queen the Prince or any other so that what they attempt or doe be but for the advantage of both Houses and their forces now on foot the words import no lesse he that runs may read it And will likewise assist all other persons that shall take this oath in what they shall doe in pursuance thereof c. This is a hard saying who can beare it nay that is too too gentle a saying for it This is a most terrible saying what Christian but will tremble at it For first What if the Turke Pope or Spaniard shall by their agents or instruments do ought in the pursuance of this businesse as I verily beleeve some of them have done too much if those agents or instruments will but take this oath as
possible for the most of men to sweare this in judgement according to the second necessary condition of a lawfull oath seeing t is no where declared by the Lords and Commons what that wicked and treacherous design was further then in the generall and generalls are no sufficient ground for the abjuring any particular only Mr. Pym hath collected some particulars of it in his speech before mentioned but how shall thousands reach that collection And when they have it what proofes and testimonies doth he bring to convince any reasonable man of the undoubted truth of what he saith It seems by that very speech that himselfe and the rest of the House of Commons who know most of it do not know it throughly or at least doubt whether they doe or not for that pardon is offered by him in their names to any except those who are taken or fled that shall within 15. dayes discover what he knowes of this conspiracy And will any man that knowes what God is call him to witnesse that he abhorres and detests that which he doth not certainly know T is to be feared God will abhor that man as an extreame vaine foolish man that shall so vainly and foolishly prophane his great name and â—uch a man may easily be induced to sweare an abhorment and detestation of what God most likes and loves he knowing as little of that as of this But suppose the designe be sufficiently declared though not so fully as some desire it might be yet Mr. Pym himselfe hath withall declared that of it in his fore cited speech that would move any loyall Subject to make a second Quaere 2. Quaer Whether any such can sweare justly and righteously that the designe discovered is such a wicked and treacherous designe as ought to be abhorred detested by him for besides the intentions or aimes of it whereof you heard in the introduction he tells us that for the principles of it it did rise from the ashes of another designe that failed namely that mutinous Petition for Peace as he is pleased to honour it by his quiet Epithite contrived in the City and how that was to be abhorred and detested let every true lover of peace judge Then for the steps of it he assureth us that it came to that high step at the last how they might procure power and countenance to the action by authority from His Majesty in the way of Commission and this saith he afterwards they did procure and this doth not render it very horrible and detestable unlesse to those that abhor to obey any Commission that His Majesty grants So for the Actors or Agents in it he is pleased to cloud some in their generall qualifications or relations and some few he cloaths with their owne names In the generall he tells us that some Members of the City had a hand in this designe whereof there were divers they are his words and some Members of both Houses and of the Lords House if Mr. Waller were to be credited of the ablest of the best and of the greatest in particular he names two Gentlemen Mr. Waller as though Mr. Waller an eminent Parliament man were not worthy to be reckoned amongst the Parliament Members and his brother in law Mr. Tomkins I wonder he forgot Mrs. Tomkins who was also apprehended and committed but chaste man he mindes not women especially others mens wives and the Lord Faulkland one of the Secretaries of State And how the design should deserve to be abhorred and detested from such mens being the prime actors in it is beyond my skill I should rather thinke the better then the worse of a designe for such actors sake besides because Mr. Pym should have lost his old wont if he had made any speech especially to the Citizens without throwing some dirt in the Kings face we are further let know from the same mouth that this matter was prosecuted in part and agitated and promoted by those which were sent from His Majesty and seemed to be Messengers of Peace and for fear any should thinke he aimed only at the Kings Messengers and not at the King Himselfe in the same breath he falls foule and heavy like himself upon the Kings gracious Message of Peace and would fain insinuate that those Messages sent by His Majesty were but to amuse the people with pretences of peace whilst this villanous project was a working and so the King is made one and perhaps Mr. Pym will allow Him in this so much of His royall Title the chiefe of this conspiracy and what true hearted Subject will be easily induced to say much lesse to sweare that he abhorres and detests as wicked and treacherous that design whereof his Sovereigne is not only throughly informed but is with reverence to His Sacred Majesty be those termes used the chiefe Complotter and Abettor 3. Quar. Whether the swearing that I never gave my assent to that designe be not to all those that had any finger therein and they are voiced to be many thousands as sore an oath and as much betraying either of their soules to the hazard of hell or of their bodies and estates to the probability of utter ruine as ever the oath ex officio was so much cryed out upon in the world This I am sure of upon the discovery of all the wicked treacherous horrid detestable designes that have been in this Kingdome since the Reformation whether powder-treason or what other soever there was never the like course of soul-cruelty taken for the insnaring of so many soules the Lord in His mercy looke upon them and deliver them 4. Quaer Whether the adding of these words Nor will give my assent to the execution thereof but will according to my power and vocation oppose and resist the same and all other of the like nature c. doe not argue strongly that the designe was of that nature that if it should appeare in its owne colours it would appeare so fair that multitudes would yet assent to the putting it into execution and therefore is not so horrid and detestable as some would make us beleeve for certainly if it were so the whole Kingdome need not to be sworne never to assent to the execution of it after t is once discovered but to their power to oppose and resist the same and all other of the like nature every man would of his owne accord set himselfe against it with all his might and power The third thing tendred in this oath is That in case any other designe shall hereafter come to our knowledge we will make such timely discovery as we shall conceive may best conduce to the preventing thereof Concerning which I shall only start these two questions 1. What is to be accounted for a designe 2. Whether every man that takes this oath be not truly bound to make such timely discovery of whatsoever he knowes plotted projected contrived or purposed to the prejudice either of the King Church