generall way 20. To passe by the Popish Clergy so called in Ireland with the cruel Murthers and bloody Massacres by their instigations committed in that Land during that late horrid Rebellion Call to mind and remember who they were that about the tenth year of the late King before the said Rebellion brake forth assembled in Dublin Composed an Instrument and thereby raised a Subsidy called a free Subsidy of four shillings out of each pound of all their promotions and Spirituall Livings so called in order to a War that had such an inordinate desire to bear Rule and exercise Authority thereby to maintain and support their new sound Altar-Worships Bowings and other their then then Inventions their frequent Disturbances by medling with matters of Civil Government so by writing preaching and otherwise of what they liked or disliked in Magistrates or others the severall Inventions and Designings in the time of the said Rebellion the solemn Oath many took and preached up and which many of the people there did take in the latter end of the year 1648. to be true and faithfull to him they called their young King Charls the second how they would fight for him assist him c. Who were they that before and about that time Preached for extolled and encouraged those they called their Excellent and Right Honourable Lords Ormond and Inchequin to make Leagues and Cessations and joyn in amity with the said Popish Priests and Irish Rebels and that about the same time in 1648. Composed and set forth in Print certain Prayers so call'd for their said young King and therein such execrations and expressions against the said Parliament and their Armies as I find not freedome here to name then and in these times frequently read in their Congregations and yet since how forward and prevalent have some been in preferring their friends and favourites severall that assessed them in those their former actings into imployments of publick trust by having divers faithfull servants of the Common-Wealth put out of such imployments to make room for them and because of not complying to do such unfit things as some of that sort of men desired whereby Justice hath been turned into wormwood and gall and of such persons so brought into Authority have they severall times prevailed by letters preaching and otherwise to have men chosen as Members to serve in Parliaments there also to carry on their Designs Not to say much how the said sort of men have been enabled to do such things by their large Salaries or how frequently divers of them have caused the Publick Peace to be broken by the rude people in and near their Meeting-houses in beating stoning and abusing sober persons that did but tell or offer to tell them plainly of their Deceits and lying inventions in love and for amendment that the people might cease from these that so beguile unstable Souls the time being come that Christ Jesus will have all spirits to bow and bend to his spirit which is if they were acquainted with they would not onely favourably resent but lovingly entertain such discoveries and Counsels as tend to their own and the peoples knowledge of him of whom many have as yet got but a sound of words not knowing whereof they affirm 1. Ob. But divers of the before mentioned men would not have so taught encouraged or done the things they did in the Bishops dayes but that they were then under the Bishops Commands and liable to their Censures so that they durst not disobey them lest they should be silenced and lose their Benefices whereby themselves Wives and Children might have come to want and they ought to provide for their Families he denies the faith and is worse then an Infidel which doth not that and the like may be said in the beginning and time of the Wars some of them dwelling under the Kings Power and others where the Parliament had power and likewise where both Armies came upon occasions and further that their affections led them some to encourage and assist the one side and the other as they could have opportunities c. which I take to be their strongest Reasons for I suppose none of them will now say their Altar-Worships were done for Conscience sake much lesse will they say they so laboured to set men to kill one another for Conscience sake or thereby to exalt themselves into greater Authority and Estates and therefore briefly answer An. It was Christs meat and drink to do the will of his Father who came not to destroy mens lives but to save them and his love in all his Ministers constrains them to be obedient to him and labour even so to walk as he walked in all things seeking the good of others that they might be saved but never did taught or allowed the doing of such things as these in any Nation or amongst any people upon any accouunt whatsoever much lesse for a worldly maintenance Wives Children or like affections to any man or thing and they that are such lovers of their own selves fear outward wants or so please men cannot be the servants of Christ his Ministers were never such and therefore let no man deceive you so any more with vain words Besides this who or what enforced any such men so to preach or incite men to Wars on the one side or on the other or who occasioned such sidings making Parties and causing enmity in each against other surely this Parliament did it not for that it was begun some years before they sate besides they were necessitated to make use of all means and helps they had or could conveniently have for their own and your safeties and preservations when the then King would not be perswaded to Peace but raised a War by means of many of these men in his own Land with and against his own Subjects and yet where or when did the Parliament so much as imprison any of these men because they would not preach in their names for Wars provided they sate quiet and medled not against them 2. Ob. But the Priests or Ministers are not to be blamed in such cases because what they do is for the good of the peoples Souls to have them of an uniform Religion whereby to prevent Sects Schismes Heresies and all sorts of Divisions amongst â—hem wherein the Magistratate is to take the said mens Advice and they to assist and help the Magistrate therein they being so usefull in Government for support of Authority that all would fall into confusion without them it being their duties to satisfie mens Consciences that all Governments are of God and to direct their minds to Obedience and Subjection to every Ordinance of man in every change of Government and Governours and to help therein by inciting to Wars or otherwise as they shall see occasion An. Instead of doing good to your Souls or bodies have they not done the contrary on all occasions pretending to be Christs Ministers to Preach the
them and provoking the people to disobey that Authority supposing to carry on their design by interrupting and preventing the Parliaments proceedings in order to your Rights and Liberties 7. Who were they that seeing they could not be advanced by means of the Bishops preached against railed on and earnestly endeavoured to have them supprest whom but little before they prayed for as their Right Reverend Fathers saying The Bishops did them wrong by taking upon them as they did that as Presbyters they the said men ought to have been authorized and called for to join in the choice and ordination of Ministers Did it not thereupon generally ring in their Sermons That Presbytery is the true Clergy and the Church of Scotland a true Church then contending for the Scots and Scottish Religion which but a little before they cryed outagainst and also proclaimed the Scots Rebels and prayed against them because that then seemed their hopeful way of rising into the like Authority as the Bishops had each to be at least a Master Bishop or Presbyter in his Parish and the chief men there his Lay-Elders and yet herein they did not then very well agree amongst themselves 8. What sort of men and who were they that divided themselves as nncertain whether by the help of Rome or Scoeland might be their readiest way of rising into Authority and Estates into several Parties and by Writing Praying Preaching and pressing Arguments perswading you to go forth from your dwellings some to fight â—or the King some for the Parliament others taking all advantages in their Parish-Meetings and elsewhere to stir up discontents and enmity in your spirits one against another thereby hasting you into a bloody and desperate War one party against another And what was this for but the obtaining of their ends by the first Way of Rome or the other of Scotland Either of which it seemed would have served their turns to maintain them their Wives and Children in ease pride and idleness with Authority to punish all such as should presume to contradict them or deny what they would have by way of tythes or otherwise or impose any publike Charges on them Thus prevailing with you to enlist your selves into two great Bodyes or Armyes one against another and by several inventions and execrations against those that were afraid or unfree to go forth in Arms to shed the blood of their Neighbours Brethren Fathers c. one party of the said men crying Come forth fight for God and your King the Lords annointed and the Protestant Religion come forth willingly you fear not God unless you serve and honor your King The fearful shall have their portion in the Lake c. said another party Come forth fight for Christ your Religion Laws and Liberties c. And a third party so on both sides by Preaching Praying and Writing as they stood affected and as either Army came near their beings I say Was not this the means used And who were those men that then took this way to beget and encrease your enmity and hatred one against another so between nearest Relations as is scarce to be found or named amongst sober men such as some call Heathens that have but natural affections to the end that through these storms they might find out an easie way to their desired Haven wherein to sport themselves and rant it over other persons souls bodies and estates and this all under colour and vizard of Religion duty to God and your good so must the King by some of these men be perswaded to take Oaths and Protestations and set forth Declarations that all he did was for the Protestant Religion and your Liberties thereby to strengthen his Party and perswade you to believe it and also perswaded him to seem to comply in several Treaties with the Parliament even to the very last at the Isle of Wight c. Shall I need to ask or remember you how active some of these men were in plundering on each side and encouraging Officers Souldiers thereto under pretence of weakning that party they set themselves against Or of the Contrivances Means and Friends many of them made use of to get into each others Livings or Benefices if greater then they had before of some thereby so entering into two or three such Benefices Or how divers of these men strove to give content to both Armies to pray for preach for and sometimes give thanks on either side as they come near the places of such mens residence and either had prevailed in any storm or Victory or did but say so Were not some then so forward as to commend any killing of English men on the one side or other for exrellent service and thereupon rejoice and give thanks as they call'd it in somuch that sometimes there hath been such Thanksgivings and Rejoicings on both sides for one and the same Victory Or shall I need to remember you of their Railings Revilings and evilâ— speakings against those they call'd Antinomians Anabaptists Arminians Sectaries Schismaticks Hereticks c. Or some of these mens petitioning against such sundry times blowing the Coles on both sides the fire as they got room and still adding Fuel thereto for their design sake when a fit opportunity might serve the particulars whereof when collected may swell to a very great Volume which Work its like may be by some other more diligent observer thereof their Ways and Deeds of darkness being not easily discerned and therefore I mention some most obvious least they should think them altogether buryed in oblivion and continue impenitent and you in security Let me here add this also not to be forgotten that the Parliament were necessitated for your and their own safeties rights and liberties to call upon you to enlist and maintain each other in a defensive way when the late King had set up his Standard and proclaimed a War in his own Land amongst and against his own Subjects was not this the real difference between his Case and their endeavours for you but how far that will justifie any the aforesaid mens designs I leave to you to consider of and them to the light of Christ in the conscience c. Which of these parties of this sort of men are your Ministers of Christ Or did he or his Ministers at any time so seek to destroy mens lives 9. When many of the aforesaid sort of men saw they were not like to obtain their desires by the King in the way of Rome What Art Industry and Diligence did they use in their next design to have the help of their said Brethren of Scotland which they saw could not be plausibly carried on and established to their Wills without some consultations about it and therefore would needs have it by an Assembly of themselves which they called a Synod or Assembly of Divines scarce taking rest until they were so owned though called together upon their entreaties only to offer their humble Advice to the Parliament
Errours and Heresies as they said and labouring with the Parliament for an Ordinance to inhibit privat Meetings they called Conventicles as the late Bishops had done which they had oft before sought for when the former Armies were at a distance from London and they supposed the time seasonable but as oft prevented by some considerable losses in the Army or forces when in any measure the Parliament incline to such persons therein And who about the same time stirred up those called the Clubmen in many parts of the Land and some priests with them under colour of defending themselves and estates from plunderers even when this sort of men saw the Parliament like to prevail and their ends not accomplished 14. Whose designe was it to have the late King carried to the Scots when the whole Nation was even brought almost into obedience of the Parliament and great hopes of a speedy settlement As supposing themselves sure that way to make their own market by and with him and who were they that so earnestly perswaded to have the said Army speedily Disbanded when the King was bought and brought back againe from the Scots and nothing else seemed to stand in their way perswading there was then noe need of that Army and noe way would serve to Disband it but by troops companies apart one from another before due satisfaction given them or any satisfaction of them in what they had done or any the Rights and liberties for which so much blood had been spilt and Treasure spent so much as ascertained much lesse setled and established unto you and them arguing that the great Taxes might then be much abated bloody Ireland relieved by these that should after be enlisted under other Commanders for that Service some souldiers goe back to their former imployments and others of their chusing be imployed here by this meanes to have broken all in pieces and set one party against another rather then to fail of their intendments further pleading how dangerous it was to continue that army or to send them together for Ireland under their own Officers how soon they would so conquer Ireland and fill that land with sectaries and then how should they be dealt with here at that armies return when their doctrine should likewise further spread over England some saying though they could not but confess that God had manifestly appeared in and by them and they had done great services they were not to be continued and therfore nothing could satisfie but such a disbanding as might disperse discourage them c. whereupon some officers of the said Army and souldiers having notice of the design the designers prevalency and evil consequences thereof to the whole Nation advised together how to draw up a Petition to their then General for satisfaction in a few particulars whereof some of the said persons got intelligence and without any certaine knowledge what the said Officers intended to Petition for first had an Order got to suppress the said Petition and thereupon a Theme to preach of and cry out of dangerous principles in the Army and designs to oppose the covenant labouring to have the Petitioners censured as enemies to the State and how then and by whom did the slanderous libels and Pamphlets fly abroad divers Officers of the Army imprisoned and after released without being told the cause of their commitment and when in much mercie to this Nation they were prevented therein how did some prevaile with divers Londoners to prepare a Remonstrance against the army and then stirred up Refarmado Officers and others to enlist men and there got up another Army and prevaild so far as to have the Militia there taken out of the hands of faithful men and put into other hands to carry on their designe by heading forces against the Army and set on foot a new war which might have proved more bloody and terrible then that before but the Lord of all the earth pleased to turn their counsels like that of Achitophels into foolishness and direct the Army in obedience to the Parliament to do their duties soberly so as that in a mild way of prevention things were brought back into their former condition of peace and the said Militia againe into safe hands 15. Who in the next place procured the said Reformado Officers whereof some had been disbanded some cashiered and some served the King with divers Londoners to force the Parliament to pass several votes c. which was so great a breach upon the priviledges of Parliament as that the Speakers and members of both the then houses were necessitated to repaire to their said Army for safety and when returned at their then next free sitting to recal these votes so by these pastwhile under that force and also dispersed these Offisers so made use of to put that force upon them but the many Contrivers Abettors escaped though much then spoken of because of the State of affairs at that time but rested they here or did they not rather wait for other oppertunities wherein the Lord by his wise providence prevented them sundry times yet for all this they were not willing to see his hand stretched out against them and turn to him neither do they yet seem willing now all you that in any measure are turned into the light brought into the fear of the Lord and did see his mercy and marvelous works in these times forget not all his benefits his deliverances in your low estates from intended deaths when that Army was so despised and railed on by scorners that oft sought their lives to take them away low and weak in their own esteem then did the Lord strengthen and put courage into his servants that truly trusted in him and believed his salvation cleaving unto him and one to another with all their hearts Yea truly then blessed were they while many others before mentioned were exercised in cursing them and sorrowing at their safeties and successes and when the Lord enabled ten to chase hundred and a hundred to put a 1000. to flight for that was the Lords doing marvelous in the eyes of many beholders being in order to the great war manifestly begun between Michael and his Angels and the Dragon and his Angels in this day of God almighty to the terror and amazemen of all enemies that would not Christ should reign over them but stand in the enmity equally fearing and hating the goodniss wisdome and mighty power pf God in his sons and daughters 16. Who and what men were they that in the heat and height of these Military affaires and taxes upon you were so restless until they obtained an ordinance for tythes with trebble damages or value for non-payment fo far prevailing that those who had not wherewith to pay should be imprisoned c. he that remembers these things need not be farther advertised of that sort of mens practices or prevalency that could obtaine such an ordinance never before heard of at
such a time in such a manner and only upon their bare words that tithes are due to them that they are the Ministers of Christ or that tithes are ordained by him for their maintenance c. being a task they never could nor now by Scriptures dare take upon them to prove but they can tell you one while that they are due to them by Divine right another while by some authority of man though noe act of man makes them due but supposing them due did order the setting forth thereof that their predecessors received tythes of their parishoners for many generations that tythes are not now to be questioned that several Parliaments have Judged them due ordered payment accordingly that the Israelites paid tythes by special command from God and would you now under the Gospel pay less to Christs ministers that Gleab lands and tythes are their free-holds c. while all is but deceit and covetousness for they have no colour to demand any thing but as Officers or servants for performing service and that from the Persons they serve and during such respective times as allowed and therein continued but as for Christs work or wages they neither know the one nor will be contented with the other 17. Who were they that encouraged the raising of forces in London and the adjacent counties as also in Wales and other parts and that then took and caused Oaths to be taken with him they call'd Lord Capel and other Officers for the King and gave their assistance therewith against the Parliament accordingly and about the same time held correspondency with them of the Kirk or Clergy of Scotland whereupon an Army of Scots were raised and came under command of Duke Hambleton to join with others here and invade this Land hasting so farâ— towards London as Stafford-shire before the Parliaments Forces could meet with them by the then directions given therein and what or who occasioned the long dispute between the Nobility and said Kirk of Scotland whether should appoint a Commander in chief of that Army some of that sort of men here being not ashamed to say that Duke Hambleton died a Martyr It is is like they meant for that intended service and who were they that deluded the late King by their Sermons and otherwise seem to accomplish but not to consent to severall things proposed to him by the Parliament some telling him it stood not with his honor as a King so to yield to his Parliament asking him whether he would make himself a Subject c. and at other times so craftily acting and advising between both for their own ends untill he was thereby brought to his last gasp and who in like manner lull'd asleep and misled the Parliament severall times untill c And who since have prevailed with and misled their late Great Benefactor and Protector and those with him untill he also fell and so shall all such Builders of Babylon and upholders of her Merchants even they that help and they that are holpen shall speedily fall together 18. Who were they that preached up the aforesaid Covenant in opposition to the Engagement To be true and faithfull to the Common-Wealth as established without a King or house of Lords both in the year 1648. and 1649. c Who sent Letters and books into the English Army when going against the Scots to discourage and divide them and thereby to disable that Army and prevent their Proceedings and all whose charge pains and diligence was that correspondency held between the Presbyters in England and Scoâ—land in and about the yea 1650 1651 and who so generally then preach'd up the Scots religion Church-government Worship and discipline here in England and likewise in Ireland and all the time the Kirk of Scotland were carrying on their Design with â—harls Stuart whom they afterwards crowned there and then with all their might hasted to bring him into his late Fathers Throne by way of Conquest with that potent Army of Scots and others here prepared to assist therein and how sad and unquiet were this sort of men in all the three Nations upon the defeating and routing of the said Army at Worcester and who were here the chief Actors therein that sent intelligence and timely notice of the fittest season and way of that Armies so coming for which some of the most notorious were called to account and its like one or two suffered but the generality of them remain the same to this day as they can find out opportâ—nities in like manner to act for their own ends whether by such correspondency with any like men in Holland or else where And who caused the Turkish Alcaron to be Printed in English after the Parliament inhibited the so Printing thereof and to what end and who are the men subject to changes and alter and change those they call Religions in all ages when and as they see it may be most pleasing to Kings Queens or Rulers and profitable to themselves and augment their Authority over the bodies and Estates of others and upon such changes Preach that for the Word of God and true Gospel which seems to lead to their preferments by taking best with such Authority and in Authorities greatest weakness and Distempers to take advantages over and against it as who is able to make mention of the many factious Sermons in the times of your late troubles preached before authority for which they were so cunning therein they rendred thanks seldom reproofs but have they not often thereby hindered businesse of importance because not suitable to their intentions 19 Who were they of the Presbiters Kirk of Scotland that acted and contrived their Intendments so mysteriously during all the time of Englands troubles bookingin all interests with their like Brethren here as also in Ireland Hell and Haguâ— and other parts for the carrying on of their designs Their railing accusations and slanders so oft raised against the English Army while here As also when at Glascoe or other parts of Scotland their occasioning the poor people there to hide their goods in the earth and their bodies also by perswading them that the English Army of Sectaries would kill them and take what they had the said sort of men exalting themselves against the Civil Authority there in matters of the greatest moment their raising of Forces giving Commâ—ssions in the name of the Kirk and Kingdome their inviting young Charls Stuart to them putting him to take their Covenant upon his own Constructions and then Crowning him to strengthen their Party and Cause their disagreements amongst themselves about him and his and otherwise their seeking assistance from France their treacherery against the English Army by their Kirk Army at Dunbar and other parts c. yet could they not have much harmed or troubled you what ever they intended had not many of their said like Brethren here fomented Differences and assisted them for the more easie accomplishment of their Kirk-Design in a
Gospel of Peace when they stirred up strife and prepared for War and in stead of assisting in Government been the disquieters of mens minds disturbers of publick Peace hinderers of Rulers in the making and due execution of Righteous Laws have not this sort of men been the causers of Sects Schismes Heresies and Divisions and the means whereby Governours and Governments have been changed with great hazard charge and trouble to you when not suitable to their dispositions and intentions and is not this their compliance with and pretending to assist Magistrates and do good to peoples Souls their great Engine of Deceit whereby they invent and contrive your Troubles and carry on their subtil and crafty Designs under specious pretences solemn formalities and ceremonies without spirit or life Now let the wise in heart judge who in Authority or otherwise have received any good by them or their Counsels and whence else should your troubles have had their Rise the King have so raised his Army or came by his Fall as he did and others in somewhat a different manner before and since and contrarily what peace and concord was in the Parliaments faithfull and unanimous Army in scorn called New Noddle when this sort of men had least to do therein most imployed themselves in railings thereat Doth the Lord God change or do changes in Governours or Governments alter his mind or the way of his Worship and Service or is his fear truly taught by the Precepts of men or are his Ministers subject to changes as Governments change from Popery to Prelacy from Prelacy again to Popery to Protestanisme Presbytery Independency c. hurrying people as it were headlong sometimes one way and sometimes another thereby driving all as into confusion and causing such to become sad sufferers that follow them not therein Consider whether these will be sufficient Arguments to justifie before the Lord Jesus Christ at his appearing in his glory and pure power to render to every man according to his Deeds it is most manifest that Christs Ministers would have rather suffered and do willingly suffer at this day the spoiling of their goods imprisonments and bodily death rather then yield to any such vile affections in themselves or others Consider also who enforced any of this sort of men or what necessitated them to become such violent persecutors of consciencious men by the names of Puritans Precisians Separatists non-Conformists Brownists Anabaptists Seekers Quakers c. to commence and prosecute such and so many vexatious suits against their Patrons Parishioners and others to hast so earnestly into each others livings and turning Wives and children forth of doors to get augmentations unto their former Benefices to run from a lesse to a greater Benefice to seek and take Pluralities to intrap men by Oaths and Covenants to revile and speak evil of persons in Authority to force mens goods from them without consideration or such contract made with them or such mens owning them in their deceitfull practices to cause such and so many disturbances in the Nations or to become so Nabal-like that a man may not speak to them what Rules or directions are to be found in Scriptures which they say is their Rule for these things c The restraining of this sort of men from making disturbances by medling with State matters or otherwise from a forcible taking of mens goods that for Conscience sake disapprove of their practises and leaving the said men in equal condition with others to prove their Doctrines by their deeds according-to the Scriptures as also clearly ascertaining your other Rights and Liberties and securing you therein might be a safe speedy and honourable way of proceeding in the cure of the yet unhealed wounds Ruptures and distempers of this Common-Wealth And now to your Omen herein about others concerned consider soberly of your respective wayes and workings to accomplish your own ends what your aims are and how evilly you have required the Lord God and this people of these Nations for all the good things done for you your Wives and Children for I deal plainly with you in love to your souls and bodies and desire to manifest that I have no hatred to any mans person nor can be free to let sin lie upon your souls but put you and others in mind of your former miscarriages and reprove you soberly as the onely Lord God the righteous Judge of all the earth hath commanded me who is now shaking not the earth onely but the heavens also that the things which cannot be shaken may remain wherefore deal plainly truly and faithfully with him and your souls be willing at last to hearken to the voice of Christ in his true light in your Consciences bring all your deeds to that light which never did doth or can deceive you in any thing but as diligent heed is taken thereto will shew you plainly all your deeds done in your mortall bodies of what sort they have been and are with all your most secret thoughts thereupon and intentions therein with what you should do and what you ought not to do for that would bring you to true Repentance not to be repented of teach you to walk honestly as in the day to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the Flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof c. Hearken to that voice of the wel-beloved Son and wait for his appearance that he may hearken unto you and receive you graciously before the doore of Mercy be shut against you sorrow shame and sadnesse overtake you and so seise upon you that you find no place for repentance though you may seek it diligently with tears for there is such a day of black and thick darknesse hasting upon many evil doers that harden their hearts against Christ and would not he should reign over them though that of him in all Consciences shews how to come to him and learn of him who was lowly and meek holy and harmlesse which is your duties in an especiall manner lest after so many his warnings he leaves you to your hardnesse and hearts lusts and say why should they be smitten any more they are turned to Idols let them alone and then you justifie your selves and Act yet greater and greater abomination in fighting against God stirring up strife amongst the people and belying the Lords Servants his truth and true Church that is without spot blemish wrinckle or any such thing and what will you do in the end thereof There hath been a time of ignorance which the Lord God hath seemed to wink at but now calls upon all men every where to repent and believe in his onely begotten Sonne whose Gospel never came in word onely but in plain demonstration of his spirit and of power nor doth the faith of Gods Elect stand at all in the Wisdome of man but in the pure power of God as Abraham believed God and followed him not knowing whither he went so do they that are
serve and grief of the persons then scornfully called Puritans and others the sober minded amongst you which then were by that means cruelly mocked contemned scorned despitefully used and abused because they ran not with others into the same excess of riot and those of you that remembers these things consider who the prophane the then irreligious and vicious persons did applaud and rejoice in for publishing encouraging and joining with the said Exercises they then called lawful sports and pastimes 2. From whence and by whose Ordination Concurrence and Agreement in the late Kings reign were the then Altars and by whose Practice Example and Commands the frequent bowings thereto and at such distinct distances and differnt manners with other the Inventions and Actions then and there performed with so great zeal for their new high places Rails Garments and other Innovations And who were they that in those performances and in visiting Crosses Wells and other places in Preambulations singing the Letany c. were adorned with Canonical Coats Girdles Surplices Rockets Tippits Hoods and the like besides the great reverence said to be due to their persons Office and Ministry which their Followers were directed to manifest by distinct Bowings standings up and kneelings down before them when and as they pleased to teach order and command to be performed in their Meeting-Houses and elsewhere 4. Who were they that as the aforesaid services were increased flockt to London Westminster and Lambeth to have their Wages also increased to ten Groats or at least eight Groats out of each pound of every mans Lands Stock and Labours and a part of poor servants Wages not then esteeming Tythes Gâ—ebe-Land and other their Offerings Incombs and several plurallities a competent or sufficient maintenance but they being over hasty therein and the time not judged seasonable failed in that particular and then what frequent Counsels and Consultations held those men in the several Countâ—es and corners of the Land under colour of Lectures Emâ—er-Week-â—asts and otherwise to consider of consult and find out sâ—nse other way for Augmentation to their Authority and Maintenance 4. Who were they that began and continued such and so many vexations Suits in Law with their Patrons Parishioners and others wherewith the Courts at Westminster the Great Assizes in Counties and other Inferior Courts were even pestered as Records may manifest besides their frequent Suits and Summons before and in the then Bishope Courts sometimes for small Tythes working upon some Popish Holy Days though but in repairing a Fence to save Corn and preserve peace amongst Neighbours for not gâ—ving them timely notice when Tythes were to be set forth to them for going from some of them to hear in other Parishes for Meetings by them called Conventicles or for not allowing Servants to join in the before mentioned sports and pastimes and oft times obtaining Excommunications therefore and speedily turning them into Writs and thereby causing mens bodies to be attached and imprisoned whereby many consciencious persons were in a manner necessitated to leave their dwellings and this Land to seek peaceable Habitations elsewhere which divers of the said active persons made use of as an encouragement to their then design some boasting thereof and that they hoped to have another Authority before it were long wherein their labours have not been lacking neither at their then High Commission Court nor other places as hath notably appeared to all that have been willing to see it Who served assisted and encouraged the late Bishops in making the Cannons Liturgy and Service-Book little differing from the Mass-Book to be imposed upon Scotland and preached against the Scots when that Book was refused by them endeavouring to make them their Religion and practise seem odious their own new-invented Altar Worships forms and bownâ— acceptable services to God thereby then obtaining a Declaration against the Scots whereby with great zeal they proclaimed them Rebels and after that a Form of Prayer against them which divers of the said men as zealously read and seemed to pray in their said Meeting-houses And who after that preached up an Army of Londoners and others to enforce the said Book upou the Scots and for the maintenance of those Forces did the like to have Ship-Mony paid by you as also concerning Grants to Pattentees and pleading for such and other Monopolies and Arbitrary Inventions all oppressive to tender consciences Besides the many Articles the Bishops and they then set forth so numerous and contradictory that they could not be performed by the Church-Wardens so called whom they caused or rather forced to swear to present men by nor could others find how to escape the Snares thereby laid for them 6. Who or what sort of men continued the Convocation-House ut Westminster about the year 1640. after the then Parliament was dissolved by a Commission obtained of the then King under the Name or Title of a Synod and thereat made new Constitutions Canons c. Armed with Censures Deprivations and Excommunications whereat was the then new Oath made for establishing their usurpations and to justifie their Altar-Worships Inventions and Innovations And who of them there imposed that great Tax upon themselves in general and on divers others for the raising of more Forces as an Additional-army to go against the Scots and procured divers of their Creatures to go and send forth men Horses and Arms to carry on that their Design all contrary to Law and your Rights and Liberries and for the raising of those differences so far prevailed as to obtain the discountenancing and putting out of favour trust and office in the Common-Wealth divers of the most consciencious sober discreet and fit persons for those services and thereupon procuring others that they knew would comply with them to be setled in such Offices and Imployments thereby uniting a sort of the Nobility and Gentry to themselves as also the generality of the prophane ignorant negligent professors but these then call'd Puritans they found themselves unable to seduce Have I need to remember you or ask you concerning the charge of those Forces what or how many hundred thousand pounds was paid the said Scots afterwards or who paid it or of those other Matters of dangerous consequence by the said Convocation or Synod contrived whereof all other sorts of persons besides themselves have sufficiently tasted Or how they so continued acting until the next Parliament call'd them to account and punished some few of them but the generallity escaped and ever since have stood in the way of and endeavoured to prevent all just proceedings tending to your Rights and Liberties Was not your fire hereby kindled unto which the Authors have ever since been adding Fuel of one kind or other to this very day Were they not of this sort of men that made Libels against the Parliament in the year 1642. imputing it as a crime that the King was not then believed and those with him trusted several ways charging