valor for a wise man to set himself against the breaking in of a Sea which to resist at present threatens imminent danger but to withâ—draw gives it space to spend its fury and gaines a fitter time to repair the breach Certainly a Gallant man had rather fight to great disadvantages for number and place in the field in an orderly waie then skuffle with an undisciplined rabble Som suspected and affirmed that I meditated a War when I went from White-hall onelie to redeem My Person and Conscience from violence God knows I did not then think of a War Nor will any prudent man conceive that I would by so many former and some after-Acts have so much weakned My self If I had purposed to engage in a War which to decline by all means I denied My self in so manie particulars T is evident I had then no Army to flie unto for protection or vindication Who can blame Me or any other for with-drawing our selves from the daily baitings of the Tumults not knowing whether their furie and discontent might not flie so high as to worrie and tear those in pieces whom as yet they but plaied with in their paws God who is My sole Iudge is My Witness in Heaven that I never bad anie thoughts of going from my House at White-hall If I could have had but anie reasonable fair Quarter I was resolved to bear much and did so but I did not think My self bound to prostitute the Majesty of My place and Person the safetie of My Wife and Children to those who are prone to insult most when they have objects and opportunitie most capable of their rudeness and petulancie But this business of the Tumults whereof some have given already an account to God others yet living know themselves desperately guilty Time and the guilt of many hath so smothered up and buried that I think it best to leave it as it is onely I believe the just Avenger of all disorders will in time make those men and that City see their sin in the glass of their punishment T is more then an even-laie that they may one daie see themselves punished by that waie they offended Had this Parliament as it was in its first election and Constitution sate full and free the Members of both Houses being left to their freedom of Voteing as in all reason honor and Religion they should have been I doubt not but things would have been so carried as would have given no less content to all good men then they wished or expected For I was resolved to hear reason in all things and to consent to it so far as I could comprehend it but as Swine are to Gardens and orderly Plantations so are Tumults to Parliaments and Plebeian concourses to publique Councils turning all into disorders and sordid confusions I am prone somtimes to think That had I called this Parliament to any other place in England as I might opportunely enough have don the said consequences in all likelihood with Gods blessing might have been prevented A Parliament would have been welcom in any place no place afforded such confluence of various and vitious humors as that where it was unhappily convened But we must leave all to God who orders our disorders and magnifies his wisdome most when our follies and miseries are most discovered And with these Mutinies comes the Intimation of some practises in the North to distract the English Army the occasions you shall hear of hereafter But it gave â—ewel to the fiery faction and to the Parliament to fall into debate about a general National Protestation To maintain and defend with my life power and estate the true reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the doctrine of the Church of England against all popery and popish Innovations within this Realm contrary to the same doctrine his Majesties person Honour and estate The power of Parliament the lawful rights and Liberties of the subject and every person that maketh this protestation whatsoever he shall do in the lawfull pursuance of the same the third of May. This being too general in these words The true Reformed Protestant Religion c. They were explained by an ordinance to be only The publique doctrine professed in the Church of England so far as it is opposite to Popery and Popish Innovations and not to the maintaining any form of worship discipline or Government nor any Rites or Ceremonies of the Church of England the fifth of May And so it was taken by the Commons House the next day by the Lords and ordered to be taken by all the people of England Hereby it appears that they meant to question the discipline of the Church which they did They had no better way to qualifie the Kings discontent than to raise him some mony for the satisfying of high accounts which the Kingdom stood charged withall two Armies now on foot craving their pay And therefore a cunning Knight of Lancashire offered to procure his Majesty 650000. l. until such time as the subsidies should be raised with this declaration Provided that the King would pass a Bill not to adjourn the Parliament nor Prorogue it nor disolve it without the consent of both Houses to indure until the Greivances of this Kingdom were redressed And so complaints arising like Hidra's head never to have thereby any end yet to colour it they fell upon a great debate thereof but instantly order was given to draw up a Bill in pursuance of it And the Lords another way busie to lay a side the Bill of the Earls Attainder because it brought in the King as a Judge and so fell upon the several Articles of his Accusation resolving to send them to the Commons the next day with their Resolution when aâ—mongst forty five Lords twenty six of them voted him guilty of High Treason upon the fifteenth Article for Levying monies in Ireland by force in a warlike manner And upon the nineteenth for Imposing an Oath upon the subjects in Ireland which was for distinction of the Scots Covenanters as you have heard heretofore And so both these Bills of an everlasting Parliament and of the Attainder being compleated a conference was had of both Houses the next day after and some Lords dispatched to the King to request his answer who tells them That on Munday Following he would satisfie them I conceive it convenient in more particular to clear two mistakes of our Authors concerning The Articles of Ireland and the death of the Earl of Strafford reflecting upon the late most Reverend Prelate the Arch Bishop of Armagh Primate of all Ireland whilest he was living and worse pursued since his decease somewhat too sharp also on Dr. Barnard Herein I take leave in cool blood to interpose those Animadversions being intrusted therein by Command of the deceased Prelate Under whose hand writing and others also much of the matter is made evident to rectifie misunderstandings Intentionally thereby to end disputes The Historian takes
their affairs and was resolved to be relieved the recruit of the Parliaments Army was too slow for the service the London trained bands must do the deed and shop-windows must be shut up and trading suspended the expedition cried up out of every Pulpit and an Army was raised in an instant and upon their March Against whom Prince Rupert is sent from the siege at Glocester to retard their speed untill the King might rise and be gon which was upon the fifth of September and the Rear guard had fired their huts The Earl of Essex came to the brow of the Hills seven miles from the City and gave his warning piece but the Town had no minde to hinder the King being glad of his departing when all his indeavours were now prepared ready for a storm the besieged in want their Amunition consumed to three Barrels of powder but the Towns loss of men were not many not one hundred say they and two or three Officers Captain Harcus and his Ensign the King lost many more and especialy his precious time to no purpose had he waved Glocester and Marched to London directly whilst the Parliament had no Army in the Field London full of discontent and disorder and their actions of Council unresolved The Kings Northern Army under the Earl of Newcastle there also prevailing but it was his fate to be overtaken with this idle siege Sir Nicholas Crisp One of the Farmers of the Kings Customs of England had a high command also both in the Army by Land and afterwards in the Navy by Sea He being Colonel of a Regiment of Horse and his first service took the charge of Convoy of the train of Artillery sent from Oxford to the siege of Glocester and brought it in safety to the Kings Camp and there very much esteemed He was quartered in Rouslidge near Glocester at a Knights house where finding Sir Iames Enyon and other Gentlemen of no Command in the Army and had taken up so much of the house as was Incommode to the Colonel yet he continued then there with much civility Not long it was that the Guests had some horses missing out of the Pastures and so charged upon default the Colonels Souldiers and indeed very ruffly demanding the accompt from the Colonel himself who promised indeavours to finde them out buâ— refused to draw out his Regiment for that purpose onely to satisfie Sir Iames who urged it for his friend himself no otherwise concerned But being a person of eminency and of a Spirit answerable impatient of any delay or orderly proceedings departs and sends a Gentleman with this summon to Sir Nicholas Crisp to meet him with his sword in a field near the Quarters and with this express addition That if he did refuse upon any pretence he would pistoll him against the wall Upon which sharp and suddain summons of an hours warning the Colonel accompanied with a Gentleman findes Sir Iames at the place with him that brought the challenge and as it became a Christian desired to understand the true reason of the meeting professing that his Duty to the King in the charge he had there of present service might justifie his refusal to fight Yet he told him he was come to give him all satisfaction first as a Christian if he had done him Injury of which he professed ignorance Sir Iames shortly replied He came thither to receive no other satisfaction but by the sword which instantly he drew out and as soon so don by the other whose fortune was at an encounter to give a pass that pierced Sir Iames about the rim of the belly of which he was caried off to the same house in eminent danger But whilst he had life and memory the Colonel gave him a visit beseeching him to put by all passions and receive him infinitely afflicted at this misfortune unwillingly provoked to this mischief and so with Christian reconciliation they parted and he died two daies after Hereupon a legal trial was offered for any complainant to prosecute the matter And after some time on Munday the second of October a Council of war being set thereupon gave their opinion and sentence thus In the cause depending against Sir Nicholas Crisp Knight concerning the death of Sir James Enyon Knight slain by him in a Duel in September last The Court being informed that an Affixer was duly set up upon the Court house door according to their Order of the eight and tewentieth of September last and the affixer afterwards taken down and brought into the Court and Proclamation being made and no man appearing against him according to the Affixer yet upon examination of all the matter and difference between them and that the friends of the slain taking notice thereof The Court proceeded to sentence That although the Court doth condemn all manner of Duels and utterly disallow them yet in this particular case of Sir Nicholas Crisp in consideration of the great injury he received in his own Quarter and how much he was provoked and challenged the Court hath thought fit to acquit him from any punishment in this Court and doth leave and recommend him to his Majesties mercy for his gracious pardon the second of October 1643. Forth Lord Lieutenant general and President Dorset Bristol Northampton Andover Dunsmore Jacob Astley Arthur Aston William Brumchard John Byron Who all reported to the King the whole matter and brought him to kiss his hand and received a Pardon under the great feal of England and to confirm him in the Kings affection He had a Commission to be Admiral of a Fleet at Sea set out by himself and was undon for his Masters service The solemn League by Oath and Covenant being ordered to be sworn unto by all and divers consciencious persons excepting against the same and refusing were therefore committed and sequestred to their utter undoing Amongst many Doctor Featly that excellent and learned Divine and Minister at Lambeth had given by Letter to the Lord Arch-Bishop of Armagh Primate of all Ireland an accompt of his demeanour in this business of the Scotish Covenant and was therefore committed to the prison in the Lord Peters house in Aldersgate Street as many other noble houses turned into Jayles both his livings given away and his books bestowed upon White of Dorchester It was the Doctors reasons that raised all this stir He first excepted against these words We will indeavour the true reformedâ— Protestant Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Discipline worship and Government according to the word of God These words said the Doctor imply that the Worship Discipline and Government of the Church of Scotland is according to the word of God which said he is more than I dare subscribe unto much less confirm by an Oath for first I am not perswaded that any Plat form of Government in each particular circumstance is Jure Divino Secondly admit some were yet I doubt whether the Scots Presbytery be
indignitie of his carriage to do or say any thing unbeseeming my self or unsutable to that temper which in greatest injuries I think best becom's a Christian as coming nearest to the great example of Christ. And indeed I desire alwaies more to remember I am a Christian then a King for what the Majestie of one may justly abhor the charitie of the other is willing to bear what the height of a King tempteth to revenge the humility of a Christian teacheth to forgive Keeping in compasse all those impotent passions whose excess injure's a man more then his greatest enemies can for these give their malice a full impression on our soules which otherwaies cannot reach very far nor do us much hurt I cannot but observe how God not long after so pleaded and avenged my cause in the eye of the world that the most wilfully blinde cannot avoid the displeasure to see it and with some remorse and fear to own it as a notable stroak and prediction of Divine vengeance First Sir John Hotham unreproached unthreatned uncursed by any language or secret imprecation of mine only blasted with the conscience of his own wickedness and falling from one inconstancie to another not long after paie's his own and his eldest Son 's heads as forfeitures of their disloialtie to those men from whom surely he might have expected an other reward then thus to divide their headâ— from their bodies whose hearts with them were divided from their King Nor is it strange that they who imploied them at first in so high a service and so successful to them should not finde mercie enough to forgive him who had so much permerited of them For Apostacie unto Loialtie some men account the most unpardonable sin Nor did a solitarie vengeance serve the turn the cutting off one head in a Family is not enought to expiate the affront don to the Head of the Common-weal The eldest Son must be involved in the punishment as he was infected with the sin of the Father against the Father of his Countrie Root and Branch God cut 's off in one day These observations are obvious to every fancie God knows I was so far from rejoicing in Hotham's ruin though it were such as was able to give the greatest thirst for revenge a full draught being executed by them who first imploied him against me that I so far pitied him as I thought he at first acted more against the light of his Conscience then I hope other men do in the same cause For he was never thought to be of that superstitious sowerness which some men pretend to in matters of Religion which so darkens their judgment that they cannot see any thing of Sin and Rebellion in those means they use with intents to reform to their Models what they call Religion who think all is gold of pietie which doth but glister with a shew of zeal and ferveney Sir John Hotham was I think a man of another temp erand so most liable to those down-right temtations of ambition which have no cloak or cheat of Religion to impose upon themselves or others That which makes me more pitty him is that after he began to have some inclinations towards a repentance for his sin and reparation of his duty to me he should be so unhappie as to fall into the hands of their Iustice and not my mercy who could as willingly have forgiven him as he could have asked that favour of me For I think Clemency a debt which we ought to pay to those that crave it when we have cause to believe they would not after abuse it since God himself suffers us not to pay any thing for his mercy but only praiers and praises Poor Gentleman he is now becom a notable monument of unprosperous Dislloyalty teaching the world by so sad and unfortunate a spectacle that the rude carriage of a Subject towards his Soveraign carries alwaies its own vengeance as an unseparable shadow with it and those oft prove the most fatal and implacable Executioners of it who were the first Imployers in the service After-times will dispute it whether Hotham were more infamous at Hâ—ll or at Tower-Hill though 't is certain that no punishment so stains a mans Honour as wilful perpetrations of unworthy actions which besides the conscience of the sin brands with most indelible characters of infamy the name and memory to posterity who not engaged in the Factions of the times have the most impartial reflections on the actions The squeamish stomachs of the Scotish Army could not brook the Orders and ceremonies of the Church of England in and about their Quarters at Newcastle and therefore they write to the Committee of both Kingdoms at Westminster of the disorders of the Church in several parts of this Kingdom and desire a settlement of Religion in the Worship of God and government of the Church Which no sooner conceived but instantly the Parliament confer and concur that the Assembly of Divines should speedly bring in such particulars as they had digested for finishing a government of the Church to be approved by the Houses November 4. the Scots Letters was seconded the same day with a Petition subscribed by thousands of hands the easy and old way of signing Iohn a Nokes and Iohn a Stiles to make up a confused number confirming the Scots desires and that such as do refuse the Covenant might be punished If a due and orderly course had been herein they might have punished many Members that made this Law who never took that Covenant The Assembly were ready and by the 12. day resolved upon the Presbyterial way but being now in hot sent divers Divines dissented and spent much time in the debate of the House And by the 22. of November they had finished so far as concerning Prayer reading of Chapters Preaching and Baptisme but as to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper it was committed and soon resolved all may receive but the prophane and ignorant How rightly to discern such is that which puzled the chair-Man Then the Parliament vote the Abolishing of the Book of Common Prayers and as earnest the same day for passing an Ordinance against the Arch Bishop of Canterbury so that he and the Book were Martyred together Hereupon the King concludeth It is no news sayes He to have all Innovations ushered in with the name of Reformation in Church and State by those who seeking to gain reputation with the Vulgar for their extraordinary parts and piety must needs undo what ever was formerly setled never so well and wisely So hardly can the Pride of those that sâ—udie Novelties allow former times any share or degree of wisdom or godlinesse And because matter of Praier and Devotion to God justly bears a great part in Religion being the Souls more immediate converse with the Divine Majestie nothing could be more plausible to the People then to tell them They served God amiss in that point Hence our publick Liturgie or
in the sight of Almighty God that I will not disclose nor reveale unto any Person or Persons whatsoever who is not a Commissioner any matter or thing that shall be spoken of during the Treaty by any one or more of his Majesties Commissioners in any private Debate amongst our selves concerning the said Treaty so as to name or describe directly or indirectly the person or persons that shall speak any such matter or thing unlesse by the consent of all the said Commissioners that shall be then living Memorandum That it is by all the said Commissioners agreed that this shall not binde where any ten of the Commissioners shall agree to certifie his Majesty the number of the Assenters or Dissenters upon any particular result in this Treaty not naming or describing the persons Upon the Kings former Message from Evesham Iuly 4. And his second Message from Tavestock Septem 8. and the consideration of the Parliaments late Propositions sent to the King at Oxford Novem. 23. which he Answered in the general the effect whereof produced an offer of the King for a Treaty so that at last it was assented unto and Commissioners appointed on all sides for the King and for the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland to Treat at Uxbridge the 30. of Ianuary The day came and after eithers Commission was assented unto the Kings Commissioners complain against one Mr. Love who preached in Uxbridge to the people that very day Thursday Market day Telling them that the Kings Commissioners came with hearts full of bloud and that there is as great distance between this Treaty and Peace as between Heaven and Hell With divers other seditious passages against the King and his Treaty It was Answered that Mr. Love was none of their Train and that they would present this Complaint to the Parliament who will no doubt proceed in justice therein who was sent to the Parliament and slightly blamed but grew into so much favour with a Faction and therein very bold that we shall finde him hereafter a Traitor and sentenced to be hanged drawn and quartered but had the favour of the Ax. The observable end of many such in these times Commissioners pro Rege Duke of Richmond and Lenox Marquess of Hertford Earl of Southampton Earl of Kingston Earl of Chichester Lord Capel Lord Seamour Lord Hatton Lord Culpepper Sir Edward Nicholas Sir Edward Hide Sir Richard Lane Sir Thomas Grandure Sir Orlando Bridgeman Mr. Io. Ashburnham Mr. Ieffery Palmer Doctor Stuard Commissioners pro Parl. Earl of Northumberland Earl of Pembroke Montgomery Earl of Salisbury Earl of Denbigh Lord Wenman Mr. Hollis Mr. Pierpoint Sir Hen. Vane Iunior Mr. Crew Mr. Whitlock Mr. St. Iohns Mr. Prideaux Lord Loudon Sir Charles Ersken Scots Commissioners Mr. Doudas Mr. Brackley Mr. Henderson Then they proceed to their Order of Treaty 1. concerning Religion 2. Militia 3. Ireland But ere the Treaty began this Paper was delivered in to the Commissioners of Parliament from the other for reconciling all differences in the Matter of Religion and procuring a Peace we are willing 1. That freedom be left to all Persons of what opinion soever in Matters of Ceremony and that all the penalties of the Lawes and Customs which enjoyn these penalties be suspended 2. That the Bishops shall exercise no Act of Iurisdiction or Ordination without the consent and Councel of the Presbyters who shall be chosen by the Clergy of each Diocess out of the Learned'st and gravest Ministers of that Diocess 3. That the Bishop keep his constant Residence in his Diocess except when he shall be required by his Majesty to attend him on any occasion and that if he be not hindered by the Infirmity of old age or sickness he preach every Sunday in some Church within his Diocess 4. That the Ordination on Ministers shall be alwayes in the Publick and Solemn Manner and very strict rules observed concerning the sufficience and other qualifications of those men who shall be received into holy Orders And the Bishop shall not receive any into holy Orders without the Approbation and consent of the Presbyters or the Major part of them 5. That competent Maintenance be established by Parliament to such Vicarages as belong to Bishops Deans and Chapters out of the Impropriations according to their value of the several Parishes 6. That no Man shall be capable of two Parsonages or Vicarages with cure of Souls 7. That toward the setling of the Publick peace a hundred thousand pounds shall be raised by Parliament out of the estates of Bishops Deans and Chapters in such manner as the King and Parliament shall think fit without the Alienation of any of the said Lands 8. That the Iurisdiction in causes Testamentary Decimals and Matrimonials be setled in such a manner as shall seem most convenient by the King and Parliament And likewise that Acts to be passed for regulating of Visitations and against immoderate Fees in Ecclesiastical Courts and abuses by frivolous Excommunications and all other abuses in Ecclesiastical Iurisdictions as shall be agreed upon by King and Parliament And if the Parliaments Commissioners will insist upon any other things which they shall think necessary for Religion the Kings Commissioners shall very willingly apply themselves to the consideration thereof But no Answer was given thereto The Parliaments Commissioners paper concerning Religion That the Bill be passed for Abolishing and taking away of all Archbishops Bishops c. according to the third Proposition That the Ordinances concerning the calling and sitting of the Assembly of Divines be confirmed by Act of Parliament That the Directory for Publick Worship already passed both Houses and the Propositions concerning Church Government annexed and passed both Houses be Enacted as a part of Reformation of Religion and Vniformity according to the first Proposition That His Majesty take the Solemn League and Covenant and that the Covenants be enjoyned to be taken according to the second Proposition To this was annexed the following Paper That the ordinary way of dividing Christians into distinct Congregations and most expedient for edification is by the respective bounds of their dwellings That the Minister and the Church Officers in each Congregation shall joyn in the Government of the Church as shall be established by Parliament That many particular Congregations shall be under one Presbyterial Government That the Church be Governed by Congregational Classical and Synodical Assemblies to be established by Parliament That Synodical Assemblies shall consist both of Provincial and National Assemblies Which Papers suffered three dayes of the Treaty in dispute The next three dayes were ordered for the Militia and was afterwards resumed for other three dayes Propositions concerning the Militia 4 February We desire that the Subject of England may be Armed Trained and Disciplined as the Parliament shall think fit That the like for Scotland as the Parliament there shall think fit An Act for setling the Admiralty and forces at Sea and
without the House of Lords We the Commons c. remembering that in the beginning of this War divers Protestations Declarations Suggestions c. were spread abroad by the King whereby the sincere Intentions of the Parliament for the publick good were mis-represented and so no need of a present War which is otherwise apparant by discoverie of the Enemies secrets and Gods immediate Blessings and Successes upon the Parliaments affairs and which Mistakes for some time had blemished the justice of this cause that if the Enemie had prevailed how dangerous the consequence would have been is now apparant And now notwithstanding Gods blessing on all our Endeavours Forces and Armies c. there are still the same spirits though under Disguise putting false constructions upon what hath already passed the Parliament as upon the thing under present Debate begetting a belief That we now desire to swerve from our first grounds aims and principles in the undertaking this War to recede from the solemn League and Covenant and Treaties between us and Scotland and that we would prolong these uncomfortable Troubles and bleeding Distractions to alter the fundamental constitution and frame of this Kingdom to leave all Government of the Church loose and unsetled and our selves to exercise the same arbitrary power over the persons and estates of the Subjects which this present Parliament thought fit to abolish by taking away the Star-chamber High Commission and other arbitrary Courts and the exorbitant power of the Council Table All which c. though our former actions are the best Demonstrations of our faithfulness to the publick yet if mis-believed may involve us into new Imbroilments We do declare our Endeavours are to setle Religion according to the Covenant to maintain the fundamental Rights of the Kingdom the Liberties of the Subject to desire a well-grounded peace in the three Kingdoms c. In effect Concerning Church-government we having so fully declared for a Presbyterial Government having spent so much pains taken up so much time for setling of it passed most of the particulars brought to us from the Assemblie of Divines called onely by us to advise of such things as shall be required of them by the Parliament and having published several Ordinances for putting the same in execution because we cannot consent to the granting of an arbitrary and unlimited power and jurisdiction to near ten thousand Iudicatories to be erected within this Kingdom and this demanded in a way inconsistent with the Fundamentals of Government excluding the power of Parliaments in the exercise of that Iurisdiction nor have we yet resolved how a due regard may be had that tender consciences which differ not in any Fundamentals in Religion may be so provided for as may stand with the Word of God and the peace of the Kingdom And let it be observed that we have had the more reason not to part with the power out of our hands since all by-past Ages manifest that the Reformation and purity of Religion and the preservation and protection of the people hath been by Parliament and the exercise of this power our Endeavours being to setle the Reformation in these Kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the Example of the best Reformed Churches and according to our Covenant Concerning a peace which is the right end of a just VVar to that purpose both Houses of Parliament have framed several Propositions to be sent to the King such as they hold necessary for the present and future safety of this Kingdom some of which are transmitted to our Brethren of Scotland where they now remain whose consent we doubt not to obtain since the Parliament of England is and ought to be sole and proper Iudg for the good of this Kingdom wherein we are so far from altering the fundamental constitution and Government of this Kingdom by King Lords and Commons that we onely have desired that by the consent of the King such powers may be setled in the two Houses to prevent a second and more destructive VVar not judging it wise or safe for the pretended power of the Militia in the King to have any authoritie in the same for the future introducing an arbitrary Government over this Nation and protecting Delinquents by force from the justice of Parliaments the chiefest grounds of the Parliaments taking up Arms in this Cause We do declare we will not interrupt the ordinary course of Iustice nor intermeddle in cases of private interest And as the Parliament have already for the benefit of the people taken away the Court of Wards and Liveries and all Tenures in capite and by Knights Service so we will take special care for the peoples ease in Levies of Moneys and in reducing Garisons Lastly whereas both Nations have entered into a solemn League and Covenant and Treaties between us concluded which we shall and have duly performed that nothing be done to the prejudice of either of them presuming that the good people of England will not receive prejudicate opinions by any forced constructions of that Covenant which is only to be expounded by them by whose authority it was established in this Kingdom April 18. But in great regret the Parliament order that the Preface to the Pamphlet intituled The Scots Commissioners Papers and the stating of the Question about the Propositions of Peace was this day burnt by the Hangman April 21. At length of time the eleventh of Iuly the tedious Propositions are finished and sent to the King by the Committee Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery and the Earl of Suffolk Mr. Goodwin Sir Iohn Hippesley Mr. Robinson and Sir Walter Earl The Propositions in general are these 1. That his Majesty would pass an Act for the Nulling of all Oaths Declarations and Proclamations against the Parliament of England of Scotland their Ordinances or their Adherents 2. The King to swear and sign the Covenant and an Act for the three Kingdoms to swear unto 3. An Act to take away Bishops and their Dependents 4. To confirm by Act the Assembly of Divines at Westminster 5. To settle Religion as the Parliament shall agree 6. In unity and uniformity with Scotland as shall be agreed upon by both Parliaments 7. An Act to be confirmed against Papists 8. Their Childâ—en to be educated in the Protestant Religion 9. And for Levies against their Estates 10. Against saying of Mass in this Kingdom 11. And in Scotland if they think fit 12. For observation of the Lords Day against Pluralities Non-Residents and for Regulating the Universities 13. That the Militia of England Ireland and Wales by Sea and Land be in the hands of the Parliament for twenty years and the like for Scotland and to raise Moneys for the same and to suppress all Forces raised in that time without their authority against all foreign Invasion Provided that the City of London may enjoy their Privileges to raise and imploy their
Sanderson Shelden Hamond Oldsworth Turner Haywood Lawyers Sir Tho. Gardner Sir Orlando Bridgman Sir R. Holburn Mr. Ieffery Palmer Mr. Tho. Cook Mr. Io. Vaughan Clerks and Writers Sir Edward Walker Mr. Phil. Warwick Mr. Nich. Oudart Mr. Charles Whittane To make ready the House for Treating Peter Newton The Commissioners nominated to attend the Treaty for the Parliament were the Earls of Salisbury Pembroke Middlesex Northumberland and the Lord Say And of the Commons were the Lord Wainman Mr. Hollis lately re-admitted into the House Mr. Perpoint Sir Harry Vane Jun. Sir Harbotel Grimston Mr. Brown Mr. Crew Mr. â—lin lately re-admitted into the House Sir Io. Pots and Mr. Bulkley And the King desired a safe conduct for Commissioners to come out of Scotland to joyn in the Treaty with him viz. the Lord Carnagy Sir Alexander Gibson the Lord Clerk Register and Sir Iames Carmichel The two first were refused as having been in arms against the Parliament of England And that four Bishops might attend him Armagh Exeter Rochester and Worcester and for Doctor Ferne and Doctor Morley And for his Advocate Sir Thomas Reves and for Doctor Duck Civil Lawyers but none of these aforesaid the Kings friends were intromitted into the Scene or to speech but to stand behind the Hangings and in the Tâ—ring-room so that the Kings single solitary self opposed all the other party And Order is given to Colonel Hamond to free the King of his imprisonment to ride abroad where he pleaseth upon his engagement to return at night to Sir William Hodges House the place appointed to Treat where galloppiâ—g down a steep Hill 14 Septem and reining his Horse too hard the Bridle broke and he without a Curb ran with speed endangering the King whose excellent Horsemanship saved him from the terrible effects which amazed the beholders And it is remarkable that long before this Lilly had foretold in his Astrological Predictions pag 15. lin 31. And were his Majesty at liberty it shews or threatens danger to his person by inordinate Horsmanship or some fall from on high Friday the 15. of September the Commissioners of Parliament are come to the King and Saturday was kept a fast by him and all his Family and Friends assistant with the ancient service of the Book of Common Prayer and preaching with this particular Prayer for a blessing on the Treaty O Most merciful Father Lord God of Peace and truth we a people sorely afflicted by the scourge of an unnatural war do here earnestly beseâ—ch thee to command a blessing from Heaven upon this Treaty brought about by thy providence and the only visible remedy left for the establishment of an happy peace Soften the most obdurate hearts with a true Christian desire of saving those mens blood for whom Christ himself hath shed his O Lord let not the guilt of our sins cause this Treaty to break off but let the Truth of thy Spirit so clearly shine in our mindes that all private ends laid a side we may every one of us heartily and sincerely pursue the publick good and that thy people may be no longer so blindly miserable as not 〈◊〉 see at least in this their day the things that belong unto their peace Grant this gracious God for his sake who is our peace it self even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The King told the Commissioners that he was glad of their coming to treat with him for a Peace and desired God to perfect that good work professing that he was in charity with all men not willing to revenge upon any nor to delay the hopes of a blessed issue and concludes to begin the Treaty on Munday morning 9. a clock 18. Septemb. The Treaty begins and to make it more difficult to Peace Occasion is given to oppose four Demands or Bills to the Kings demands which as a pledge of trust should be granted before whereto if the King assent they promise to commence a Treaty to the rest 1. To order for the future the Militia without the Kings consent to raise what Arms they please and that all others upon the pain of Treason shall not assemble to the number of thirty persons without the Authority of Parliament 2. That the Houses may sit and adjourn and assemble to what place and at what time at their own discretion 3. All Oaths Interdictions and declarations against the Parliament to be declared void 4. Whomsoever the King had dignified with Titles from the time himself departed and conveyed away the great Seal of England be degraded of their honours And these must be first ratified and to command them to be passed into Laws Then they go on with the Preface the matter of the Treaty For as much as both Houses of Parliament have been necessitated to undertake a War for their just defence and for the prosecuting thereof have bound themselves in a Covenant be it enacted by the Kings command The Propositions were in number eleven 1. That all Declarations and Proclamations against the two Houses of Parliament or their Adherents and all Judgments and Indictments c. against them be declared Null 2. That a Satute be Enacted for abolishing of all Arch Bishops and Bishops out of the Churches of England and Ireland for the selling of their Lands and Revenues As also that the calling and sitting in Synod of the Divines be approved 〈◊〉 the Royal assent the Reformation of Religion for England and Ireland according to such Models as the Members of Parliament have or shall decree consultations first had with the said Divines In particular that the King grant his assent that the Act of both Houses formerly made concerning the Directory as concerning the publick Celebration of Gods worship throughout England and Ireland for the abolishing the Ancient Liturgie for the form of Church Government and Articles of Religion with the Catechisms the great and the less for the more Religious observation of the Lords day for supressing of Innovations in Churches and Chappels for the incouraging of the publick Preachers to their duties by a just reward for prohibiting of Pluralities of Benefices and non-residence to Clergy-men henceforth pass into Statutes or Laws That the King would set his hand to the National League and Covenant and suffer himself to be bound by the same that by publick Act it be enjoyned all the Subjects of both the Kingdoms of England and Scotland to be bound thereby under a penalty to be imposed at the pleasure of both Houses That it may belong to the Houses of Parliament to visit and reform the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge the Colledges also of Westminster Winchester and Eaton That it be provided by Statutes that Jesuites Priests and Papists disturb not the Common-wealth nor elude the Laws as also for the discriminating of them an Oath be administred to them wherein they shall abjure the Pope of Romes Supremacie Transubstantiation Purgatory Image-worship and other Superstitious errors of the Church of Rome That
to call one which his candid and ingenious consideration of necessity grounded upon such Reasons as himself expresseth in his most admired Treatise his excellent Book EIKON BASILIKH which we hereafter shall have several occasions in some Particulars to mention it being the Portraicture of his Sacred Majesty in his Solitudes and Sufferings with his spiritual Meditations upon each Chapter and Occasion written no doubt from the truth of a troubled Soul and indisputable to be of his own compiling And although an industrious malignant Pen hath laboured to wrest that honour from his Sacred memory he cannot fix it in likelihood upon any other person in the World the majesty and manner of the style onely his and unimitable by any other None but the same sad sorrowfull Soul could be able to compose so much upon several occasions so evenly concurring but he himself the true Sufferer Besides if you please to observe it is not unlike the gravity of Master Hooker's style in his Ecclesiastical Policy which the King often perused and was a sufficient Master of Defence thereby and which Book in his last words to his Children he recommends to them to reade Nay more observe his publick Declarations and Answers following when other helps very often failed him compare their styles and see how they agree in the dialect This Book whilest in loose Papers ere it was complete and secured into his Cabinet and that being lost was seized by the Enemy at Naseby Fight but these Papers happily rescued and so came to his Majesties hands again who in the end commended them to his faithfull Servant that Minister of Gods Word Master Symonds with command to see them imprinted And his Study being searched they were by good Providence secured about him in his Bosom and though the industry of the Adversary had been to prevent it the Book came forth some time after the Kings death with so incredible an esteem as that it hath been since translated into all modern Tongues but Spanish the Iesuits malice and envy suppressing it there and into all manner of Folio's for bigness And a learned Traveller Macedonian by birth being here read it over and translated it into Greek and carried it over beyond Seas where it was so imprinted from his Copy The first beginning of this Book enters upon his Majesties calling this Parliament THis last Parliament I called says the King not more by others advice and necessity of my affairs than by mine own choice and inclination who have always thought the right way of Parliaments most safe for my Crown as best pleasing to my People and although I was not forgetfull of those sparks which some mens Distâ—mpers formerly studied to kindle in Parliaments which by forbearing to convene for some years I hoped to have extinguished yet resolving with my self to give all just satisfaction to modest and sober Desires and to redress all publick Grievances in Church and State I hoped by my Freedom and their Moderation to prevent all misunderstandings and miscarriages in this In which I feared affairs would meet with some passion and prejudice in other men so I resolved they should finde least of them in my self not doubting but by the weight of Reason I should counterpoize the over-ballancings of any Factions I was indeed sorry to hear with what partiality and popular heat Elections were carried in many places yet hoping that the gravity and discretion of other Gentlemen would allay and fix the Commons to a due temperament guiding some mens well-meaning Zeal by such Rules of Moderation as are best both to preserve and restore the health of all States and Kingdoms No man was better pleased with the convening of this Parliament than my self who knowing best the largeness of mine own heart toward my Peoples good and just contentment pleased my self most in that good and firm understanding which would hence grow between me and my People All jealousies being laid aside mine own and my Childrens Interests gave me many obligations to seek and preserve the love and welfare of my Subjects the onely temporal blessing that is left to the ambition of just Monarchs as their greatest honour and safety next Gods protection I cared not to lessen my self in some things of my wonted Prerogative since I knew I could be no Loser if I might gain but a Recompense in my Subjects affections I intended not onely to oblige my Friends but mine Enemies also exceeding even the Desires of those that were factiously discontented if they did but pretend to any modest and sober sense The odium and offences which some mens rigour or remisness in Church and State had contracted upon my Government I resolved to have expiated by such Laws and Regulations for the future as might not onely rectifie what was amiss in practice but supply what was defective in the constitution No man having a greater Zeal to see Religion settled and preserved in Truth Unity and Order than my self whom it most concerns both in Piety and Policy as knowing that No flames of eivil Dissentions are more dangerous than those which make religious Pretensions the Grounds of Factions I resolved to reform what I should by free and full advice in Parliament be convinced to be amiss and to grant whatever my Reason and Conscience told me was fit to be desired I wish I had kept my self within those Bounds and not suffered mine own Iudgment to have been overborn in some things more by others Importunities than their Arguments my confidence had less betrayed my self and my Kingdoms to those Advantages which some men sought for who wanted nothing but Power and Occasion to do mischief But our sins being ripe there was no preventing of Gods Iustice from reaping that glory in our Calamities which we robb'd him of in our Prosperity And this Parliament must be summoned to appear at Westminster which Assembly being there it is observed as a greater prejudice to the Kings affairs than when he was at York not to have held it there which was nearer to the danger and occasion of this Scotish Parliament for the Scots War take to boot his former knowledg of this City Londons disaffection to his service and the President of Edward the first before in the Conquest of Wales kept his Assemblies and Parliament near the Scene of Action at Acton Barnell the Marches of that County And when he turned his Forces to the Conquest of Scotland he called his Parliament to Carlile on the Borders of Scotland Indeed King Charls considered thus much and it was thought would have changed his place for another accordingly but then it was too late So then he followed the Fate which by admitting the Treaty also at London the Scots Commissioners had that opportunity and they were not nice to make the good use to themselves here to inflame this City into a capacity of the worst Impression which those of the Scotish Nation were cunning to imprint
from the west Indies the onely facile way to prevail against the Spainard to an expenceful successless attempt upon Cales 4. The precipitate breach with France taking their goods and ships without recompense to the English whose goods were confiscate in that Kingdom 5. The peace with Spain without consent of Parliament the deserting the Palsgraves cause mannaged by his Enemies 6. The charging of this Kingdom with billeted Souldiers with the Design of German Horse to enslave this Nation to Arbitrary Contributions 7. The dissolving of the Parliament 2 Caroli and the exacting of the proportion of five Subsidies after the Parliament was dissolved by Commission of Loan and such as refused imprisoned some to Death great Sums of Money required by Privy Seals Excise the Petition of Right blasted 8. The Parliament dissolved 4 Caroli imprisoning some Members fining them and others Sir Francis Barington died in Prison whose bloud still cries for vengeance of those Ministers of State The publishing of false and scandalous Declarations against the Parliament And afterwards Injustice Oppression and Violence broke in The enlargements of Forests contrary to Charta de Foresta Coat and Conduct Money c. And then the Remonstrance ravels into all the particular pretended Designs corrupt Councils and the effects of what ever happened or usually doth happen in any Nation of Government even to Clerks of the Market and Commissions of Sewers Brass Farthings Projects Monopolies c. Then upon all the mis-actions of Courts of Iudicature Council-Table and all And principally against Bishops and their Proceeding by all their subordinate Officers their Writings Preachings Opinions in conjunction with Papists and Prote stants in Doctrine Discipline and Ceremony And endeavouring to reduce Scotland thereto and an Army was raised against them by Contribution of Clergy and Papists the Scots enforced to raise an Army for their Defence but concluded in Pacification and throughout excusing the Scots palliating all their Insurrections as necessitated to defend themselves against malignant Councils and Counsellours calling them Scots Rebells and the English War Bellum Episcopale Then to make a progress into Reformation the Remonstrance tells us what they have done by their care wisdoms and circumspection removed some Malignants suppressed Monopolies and all the aforesaid Disorders in an instant taking away High Commission and Star-Chamber Courts c. Procuring Bills of Triennial Parliament and continuance of this which two Laws they say are more advantageous than all the other Statutes enforce And in a word what ere the King hath done amiss they are not sparing to publish it what gracious favours he hath afforded by several Bills the Parliament ascribe to their own wisdoms and promise to the King and whole Kingdom more honour and happiness than ever was enjoyed by any his Predecessours And this the Parliament instantly printed and published contrary to the Kings desire though his Answer was speedy to the Petition and Remonstrance thus in effect That having received a long Petition consisting of many Desires of great moment together with a Declaration of a very unusual nature being confident that their own reason and regard to him as well as his express Intimation by his Controller to that purpose would have restrained them from publishing of it untill his convenient time of answer and tells them how sensible he is of this their disrespect To the Preamble of the Petition he professes he understands not of a wicked and malignant party admitted to his Council and Imployment of Trust of endeavouring to sow amongst the People false Scandals to blemish and disgrace the Parliament c. All or any of which did he know of he would be as ready to punish as they are to complain To their Petition the first part concerning Religion and consisting of several Branches as for that of Popish Designs he hath and will concur with all the just Desires of his People in a Parliamentary way To the depriving of the Bishops of their Votes in Parliament their Right is grounded upon the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom and Constitutions of Parliament For the abridging of the inordinate power of the Clergy The taking away of the High Commission Court moderates that and if there continue Usurpations in their Iurisdictions he neither hath nor will protect them And as to the clause of Corruptions in Religion church-Church-government and Discipline c. That for any Innovations he will willingly concur for the removal if any be by a National Synod but he is sorry to hear of such terms Corruptions since he is perswaded that no Church can be found upon Earth professing the true Religion with more purity of Doctrine than the Church of England doth which by the grace of God he will maintain not onely against all Invasions of Popery but also from the Irreverence of those many Schismaticks and Seperatists wherewith of late this Kingdom and this City abounds To the second prayer of the Petition concerning the Removal and choice of Counsellours that by these which he hath exposed to Trial there is none so near to him in place and affection whom he will not leave to the Law and to their particular charge and sufficient proof That for their choice of his Counsellours and Ministers of State that were to debar him the natural liberty which all Free-men have being besides the undoubted Right of his Crown to call to his Council whom he pleaseth being carefull to elect persons of ability and integrity To the third prayer concerning Ireland Not to alienate the Forfeited Lands thereof he concurs with them but then whether it be now seasonable to resolve before the Event of War be seen that he much doubts of but thanks them for their chearfull Ingagement for their suppression of that Rebellion upon which so many hazzards do depend And for their Conclusion and promise to apply themselves for support of his royal Estate c. he doubts not thereof from their Loyalties to which he will add his assistance The Kings Declaration to all his loving Subjects Although he doth not believe that the House of Commons intended by their Remonstrance to put him to any Apology for his past or present Actions yet since they have thought it so very necessary to publish the same he thinks it not below his Kingly Dignity to compose and settle the affections of his meanest Subjects He shall in few words pass over the narrative part wherein the Misfortunes of this Kingdom from the first entring to the Crown to the beginning of this Parliament are remembred in so sensible expressions And that other which acknowledgeth those many good Laws passed this Parliament To which he saith that as he hath not refused any Bill for redress of Grievances mentioned in their Remonstrance so he hath not had a greater Motive thereto than his own Resolution to free his Subjects for the future And possibly they may confess that they have enjoyed a greater measure of happiness these last sixteen years both in peace
a fourth part of the Members of either House whose judgments free single and apart did approve or desire such destructive changes in the Government of the Church I am perswaded there remains in far the major part of both Houses if free and full so much Learning Reason Religion and just Moderation as to know how to sever between the use and the abuse of things the institution and the corruption the Government and the mis-government the primitive paterns and the aberrations or blottings of after copies Sure they could not all upon so little or no Reason as yet produced to the contrarie so soon renounce all regard to the Laws in force to Antiquitie to the pietie of their reforming progenitours to the prosperitie of former times in this Church and State under the present Government of the Church Yet by a strange fatalitie these men suffer either by their absence or silence or negligence or supine credulitie believing that all is Gold which is gilded with the shews of Zeal and Reformation their private dissenting in Iudgment to be drawn into the common Sewer or stream of the present Vogue and humour which hath its chief rise and abetment from those popular clamours and Tumults which served to give life and strength to the infinite activitie of those men who studied with all diligence and policie to improve to their innovating Designs the present Distractions Such Armies of Propositions having so little in my judgment of Reason Iustice and Religion on their side as they had Tumult and Faction for their rise must not go alone but ever be back and seconded with Armies of Souldiers though the second should prevail against my person yet the first shall never over-come me further than I see cause for I look not at the number and power so much as I weigh their Reason and Iustice. Had the two Houses first sued out their Liverie and once effectually redeemed themselves from the Wardship of the Tumults which can be no other than the Hounds that attend the Crie and Hollow of those men who hunt after Factions and private Designs to the râ—ine of Church and State Did my judgment tell me that the Propositions sent to me were Results of the major part of their Votes who exercise their freedom as well as they have a Right to sit in Parliament I should then suspect mine own judgment for not speedily and fully concurring with every one of them For I have charitie enough to think there are wise men among them and humilitie to think that as in some things I may want so 't is fit I should use their advice which is the end for which I called them to a Parliament But yet I cannot allow their wisdom such a compleatness and inerrabilitie as to exclude my self since none of them hath that part to act that Trust to discharge nor that Estate and Honour to preserve as my self without whose Reason concurrent with theirs as the Sun's influence is necessarie in all Natures productions they cannot beget or bring forth any one compleat and authoritative Act of publick wisdom which makes the Laws But the unreasonableness of some Propositions not more evident to me than this is that they are not the joint and free desires of those in their major number who are of right to sit and vote in Parliament For many of them savour very strong of that old Leaven of Innovations masked under the name of Reformation which in my two last famous Predecessour's daies heaved at and sometimes threatned both Prince and Parliament But I am sure was never wont so far to infect the whole mass of the Nobilitie aâ—d Gentrie of this Kingdom however it dispersed among the Vulgar nor was it likely so suddenly to taint the major part of both Houses as that they should unanimously desire and affect so enormous and dangerous Innovations in Church and State contrarie to their former education practice and judgment Not that I am ignorant how the choice of many Members was carried by much faction in the Countreys some thirsting after nothing more than a passionate revenge of what ever displeasure they had conceived against me my Court or the Clergie But all Reason bids me impute these sudden and vast desires of change to those few who armed themselves with the many-headed and many-handed Tumults No less doth Reason Honour and Safetie both of Church and State command me to chew such morsels before I let them down If the straitness of my Conscience will give me leave to swallow down such Camels of Sacrilege and Injustice both to God and man as others do they have no more cause to quarrel with me than for this that my throat is not so wide as theirs yet by Gods help I am resolved that nothing of passâ—on or peevishness or list to contradict or vanitie to shew my Negative power shall have any byass upon my judgment to make me gratifie my will by denying any thing which my Reason and Conscience commands me not Nor on the other side will I consent to more than Reason Iustice Honour and Religion perswade me to be for God's glorie the Churches good my peoples welfare and mine own peace I will studie to satisfie my Parliament and my people but I will never for fear or flatterie gratifie any Faction how potent soever for this were to nourish the Disease and oppress the bodie Although many mens loyaltie and prudence are terrified from giving me that free and faithfull counsel which they are able and willing to impart and I may want yet none can hinder me from craving of the couâ—sel of that mightie Counsellour who can both suggest what is best and incline my heart stedfastly to follow it It is now by these Propositions laid open to all men that the Cabalists of their business have with great cunning reserved themselves untill due preparations should be fitted for their grand Design to quarrel with the King for they having removed a troublesom Rub in their way the Law that they might undermine the very foundation of it a new power had been assumed to interpret and declare Laws by extemporary Votes without any case judicially before them and without the King Orders and Ordinances pressing upon the peoples as Laws The next step an upstart Authority without the King to command the Militia the Magazine and Town of Hull and bestrid Hotham in his bold-faced Treason with unpresident Invectives against the Government with false Aspersions of His favouring a Rebellion in Ireland that the King ought to pasâ— all Laws offered by them to him however his Conscience shall be unsatisfied notwithstanding the clause in Law 2 H. 5. They do acknowledg there That it is of the Kings Regalitie to grant or denie such of their Petitions as pleaseth himself That the King's Guard is with intent to levie War against the Parliament to render him odious to the people They have so awed his good Subjects with censures and imprisonments that none
discharge the Debts and Loan monies of the Common-wealth September 6. What wayes endeavours and real expressions the King had made to prevent subsequent Miseries the world may judge and yet they have been so fruitless that though he hath descended to desire nay to press it not so much as a Treaty can be obtained unless he will denude himself of all force to defend him from a visible strength marching against him and to admit those Persons as Traytors to him whose duty Allegeance and the Law have appeared in his defence Indeed his power was now weak which the Parliament consider so that they would put him upon the Providence of God the Justice of his cause and the affection of his good people without doubt though it was far from his thoughts to put them out of his Protection yet if ever the Parliament should desire a Treaty of Him he promises piously to remember whose blood is to be spilt in the quarrel and would most cheerfully imbrace any reasonable accommodation And now the war on Foot and Forces raised a wonder it was what Tumults and Insurrections were dayly complained of to both parties which the King endeavoured to reclaim by his Declarations and exemplary Punishments So do the Parliament party and send down Sir Thomas Barrington and Mr. Grynistone into Essex to rectifie their disordres but being there they seize Sir Iohn Lucas and his Lady at Colchester and commit them to the Jayle and their eight Coach horses sent to their General Essex and Mr. Newcomen then for the King was sent to prison resolving to bring them speedily to their Trials in order to that Lucas was proclaimed Traytor by the Parliament brought up to London and committed to the Gatehouse I have not troubled the Reader with the remembrance of the Scots Nation who have so much troubled us And now I find them working on their design to set us forward to a further distance that they may the better come into the distraction with their ill Councel They kept a kind of Commissioners here to be at hand for their purpose who sent Advice and Intelligence to their General Assembly of Scotland of the condition and transaction of all our affairs here And accordingly the Parliament caress them with a Declaration as it was most fitting for their purpose to be believed To which the Assembly with universal consent in their canting manner held forth this Answer in the beginning of August last to this effect 1. That from the sense of their own late deliverance they bless God for preserving themselves in the midst of their divisions and troubles from a bloody war the compend of all Calamities 2. That the hearts of all their Members of this Assembly and of others well affected are exceedingly grieved that in so long a time the Reformation moves so slowly not onely Prelates formal professors prophane and Popishly affected but bad Councellors with spiritual wickedness in high places have prevailed so far that as in the times of the best Kings of Iudah of old and the most part of the reformed Kirk of late a through Reformation hath been a work full of difficulties Their Kirk and nation when God gave them the calling considered not their own dulness nor staggered at the promise through unbelief And who knoweth but the Lord hath now some controversie with England which will not be removed till the worship of his name and the Government of his House be setled 3. That the Commissioners of Scotland in the late Treaty of peace did represent their serious thoughts and desires for unity of Religion that in all his Majesties dominions there might be one confession of faith one directory of worship one Catechism and one form of Kirk Government when all his people may resort to one worship This Assembly doth now enter upon the labour of their Commissioners into which they are encouraged by the zeal of former Assemblies at Edenburgh December 1566. which ordained a Letter to be sent into England against the Surplice Tippet and Corner Cap and such other Ceremonies of that Kirk that they might be removed by the Assembly at Edinburgh April 1583. desiring their King to Command his Ambassadors then going to Queen Elizabeth that there might be an Union and Band betwixt them against the persecution of Papists in their Holy League of Trent and to disburthen their Brethren in England from the yoke of Ceremonies against the Liberty of the word And by the Assembly at Edinburgh March 1589. ordaining their Proselytes to use all means for the relief of the Kirk of England for maintaining the true discipline and Government of the Kirk of England And why not now much more being many waies encreased their zeal ought to be no less especially encouraged by his Majesties personal worship when he was with them and many acts of grace to their Ministry and Kirk and his gratâ—ous Letter to them Intimating that when any thing is amiss he will in a fair and orderly way reform and so done He will maintain and defend it in peace against all troubles without and against all Sects Heresies Schismes within And likewise the Parliament of England hath shewen their zeal and expressed their grief that the work hath been interrupted by a Malignant party of Papists evil affected persons a corrupt and dissolute Clergie by the Instigation of Bishops Their hope is that when they shall return to a peaceable Parliamentary proceeding to setle a Kirk reformation firm and stable Union between both Kingdoms they being mightily encouraged by a Letter from the reverend brethren of the Kirk of England upon all these grounds the Assembly doth confidently expect that England will now bestir themselves to a Reformation and first to begin with Kirk Government and that Prelacy the main cause of all their miseries be pluckt up root and branch which God hath not planted bearing no better fruits then sowre grapes which hath set on edg the Kingdom of England The Hierarchy being put by the work will be easie without forcing any Conscience by setling the Government of the Kirk by Assemblies for although the Reformed Kirks do hold without doubting their Kirk Offices and Kirk Government by Assemblies in their strong and beautiful subordination to be Jure divino and perpetual Yet Prelacy as it differeth from the Office of a Pastour is universally acknowledged by themselves and their adherents to be but an humane Ordinance introduced by humane reason and setled by humane Laws and Customs for supposed conveniency which therefore without wronging any Mans Conscience may be altered and abolished to which Reformation their Kirk will contribute their power and prayers c. Saint Andrews August 3. And answerable to this Declaration the secret Council of Scotland upon petition of the Assembly do concur and commend this Declaration as a means for the unity of Religion and uniformity of Kirk-government in his Majesties three Kingdoms Extractum ex libris actorum secreti Câ—ncilii
of this Synod is to have meetings and Counsels together and are able to draw their brethren Pupils of their Faction as servum pecus slavishly yet with much zeal to voice as they please for their ends These prime men of God are almost deified by the Commons and are honour'd by the subtil and cunning Nobles and Gentlemen caressed and invited principal Guests to their Ladies and Wives And therefore however this Church Government pretends purity it is protestatio contra factum And Mas Robert Bruce was so attended into Edenburgh which occasioned King Iames to say Bruce intends to be King and to declare himself heir to King Robert the Bruce and it may easily be so believed if we confer the story of Mas Bruce his carriage with King Iames being seriously asked by the King whether upon his coming to the Crown of England he might not redeem the Roman Catholicks of Scotland Angus Huntly and Arrol in point of State security and give them a pardon and to restore them to their honour and Lands Bruce answered you may pardon Angus and Arrol but not Huntly Nay said the King rather he then they he my kinsman and friend doe as you think fit replyed Bruce you shall not have me and Huntly both for you see the story and yet this man was but a Minister at Edenburgh The General Assembly the great and high Sanhedrim the last resolution of faith the ultimate decision of all Controversies Infallibilitie the Jurisdiction universal concerning Ecclesiastica Ecclesiasticos and all Temporalia in ordine ad spiritualia It hath an Independent Soveraignty immediately from Christ to punish in Estate Life or Body in Life and death The King is to be Excommunicable and every Individual person whatsoever is to concur to compel censure punish dethrone un-King to kill c. It is composed of Commissioners from all the Presbyteries each Presbyterie sending two preaching Elders and a Lay Elder Every Corporation one Commissioner The Universities send Commissioners Lay-men and Graduates in Liberal Arts and Sciences The King is a Member Personally or Virtually and Representatively He hath one voice affirmative only Some hold he is there Princeps membrum some say he sits there as the Representative of the Civil body of the Kingdom and hath power to keep the peace there He may have four or five Assistants for advice whilst matters are in debating but in Vote he hath only one voice and that Affirmative only not Negative and is bound to put it to execution though against his conscience for Potestas juris is radically in the whole Assembly the King having but potestatem facti to be an Executioner Rei judicatae The King presides they say but so that it is only civilly in his civil capacity He cannot propose any thing Spiritual the Moderator must He cannot hinder the proposing of any thing concerning the Kingdom of Christ for then it were no free General Assembly Nay if the thing proposed be Spiritual and twisted with things civil and so endanger a change and distemper in the State and Government or danger to the King or Crown the Moderator or any Commissioner only hath power to propose and to determine it and that for God and Christs glory And observe that the proper Moderator should be a Preaching-Elder though we have noted before how Laymen Buchanan Melvil and Bruce have been Moderators but a Lay Elder cannot be Moderator Here is the Legislative Power the Soveraignty of Christs Kingdom the highest Tribunal and Judicatory of Christ upon Earth from which no Person no Officer no condition of Creature is priviledged from it no appeal They indict the Assembly by their own power Necessarily once a year they meet This Assembly vindicateth to it self only authoritativè within the Church of the Kingdom and Nation Yet consensivè and charitativè to extend to all Churches in the World what ever it be that concerneth fidem cultum Regimen c. credenda agenda And in ordine ad Spiritualia they will give the King Laws repeal his Laws command obedience to theirs otherwise Excommunication follows and if he neglect that then they incite inferiour Magistrates Nobles and Commons to order him compel and force him He is in a worse condition under this Soveraignty then under the Pope who is but One these a multitude And in this Assembly the Lay Judges Elders are de jure divino in the highest points of Faith Worship c. and have Vocem deliberativam vocem decisivam and to give Normam fidei cultus politiae what shall we say now to that of the Councel of Chalcedon Concilium Episcoporum est c. and that old verse Ite for as Laici non est vobis locus ici By the power of this Assembly all things there done are animated with a Potestative power by the influence which these Orders received from that Legislative power Christ hath intrusted them within his Oeconomical Kingdom They are above the King and his Soveraignty Their constant Tenet That if the King Queen Regent or Protector of the people or any other in whose person Soveraignty is fixed or will not submit to this holy Scepter any man or men are bound to doe it at their direction Representatively by a Fiduciary trust One of their own says that there is no authority above the Brotherhood No Magistrate may lawfully maim or deform the body of Christ the Church no lawful Church Government is changeable at the pleasure of the Magistrate of necessity all Christian Magistrates are bound to receive this Government Another says That what the holy Brotherhood cannot obtain by suit and dispute the people must bring it to pass The Scots maintain Religion may be reformed or preserved by violence if the King will not the Nobles may if neither of them will the people must Inferiour Magistrates and people may joyn every Individual in this good work may and ought to their utmost power intend and endeavour Reformation they have Texts of Scripture for all of Phineas who killed the Adulterers of Ehud who slew Eglon of Iael who killed Sisera of Matthias who killed a Iew for committing Idolatry and who in the same zeal killed the Kings Commissioner and all to be done in zeal as they fancy to God and his Cause All well affected may Covenant and Combine for doing this work The Confederates may by themselves give Orders of Reformation without the Authority of Soveraignty The have protested in Scotland against King and Parliament contemned Soveraign Authority usurped Royal power renounced their lawful Soveraign command all the Brotherhood to be assistant Denounce War against their Adversaries hear of no peace but enter combination for mutual defence Depose the Queen Regent And for Presidents of all or any of these we may have them in the History of Knox. In a word so absolute so incontroleable is this high Celestial Court that it commandeth conscience and Soul disposeth of Body and Estate that if you conform not to their
for the Spaniard Cockram's Instructions to the King of Denmark Annâ— 1644. 〈…〉 Sir W. Waller 's Commission The Scots are caressed Fight at Braâ—dean Heath Essex's Army recruited Tax of weekly Meals Bewdley taken Fairfax in the North. Parliaments Army hastened The Parliament assembled at Oxford proroguâ—d Parliament at Westminster write to the Parliament in Scotland Anno 1643. The Queen journeys to the West and so to France The Kings Protestation aâ— the Sacrament of the Eucharist Swansey summoned Anno 1644. Siege at Latham House from Aâ—ril 17 raised May 27. The Lady Winter summoned to yield Her Answer Malmsbury taken The Kings design to march from Oxford Essex and Waller divide Forces Waller to catch the King Waller defeated at Copredy Bridge General Essex defeated in Cornwal Anno 1643. Anno 1644. The King returns to Oxford The Kings Letter to the Earl of Essex The Lords Letters to Essex Another from Tavestock Holland Ambassadours have audience for Peace York relieved by P. Rupert York surrendered to the Parliament Dennington Castle assaulted by the Parliaments Forces A second Attempt upon the Castle Church Reformation Princess Henretta Maria born at Exceter Iune 16. Ambassadours mediatours for Peace A Letter from beyond Seas to a member at Westminster The Kings Letter to the Parliament for a Peacâ— Upon the Victory against Essex's Army in Cornwal Banbury stormed by the Parliament and repulsed Earl of Northampton defeats the Besiegers Massey meets Myns design Grâ—y and Hammond fall out Myn de feated and slain Prince Rupert near Bristol Ast Ferry Fight Lieutenant Col. Kirle betrays Monmouth to Massey Military affairs in Monmouthshire Fight on the East side of Spine Earl of Cleveland commended Fight near Shaw Monmouth surprized and how Sir Iac. Astley at Cirencester Sentenced to death Captain Hotham arraigned Hothams Letter to the Earl of Newcastle Eikon Bas. cap. 8. p. 46. A new Government of the Church voted Eikon Bas. Cap. 16. Parliaments Propositions for Peace Directions to Ormond to make peace with the Rebels in Ireland Memorials for Secretary Nicholas at the Treaty Directions to the Kings Commissioners to treat Treaty at Uxbridge The Kings Commissioners offers concerning Religion Ireland Observations concerning the Treaty Anno 1644. Upon Uxbridg Treaty and other the Kings offers Eikon Bas. Chap. 18. Irish Rebels Macquire and Mac-Mahone Executed The design of new modelling the Army Newcastle siege Newcastle surrendred The siege of Basing House Basing relieved the 12 of Sept. The Besiegers rise from Basing Arch-Bishop of Canterbury arraigned Acts 6. 12. Acts 12. 3. Isa. 1. 15. Psal. 9. 12. Heb. 12. His Prayer at the Block Colonel Stephens surprizing was surprized The Cavaliers prevail Price Rupert in Wales with additional Forces Military affairs in Scotland Montrose spoils the Mâ—neses Dâ—feat at Aberdinc Fight at Favy Montrose in Arguile divastates all Arguile defeated A Design for the Duke of Lorain's assistance to the King The reason of the Danish War Anno 1645. General Fairfax his Commission Peace with the Swedes Shrewsbury betrayed to the Parliaments Forces Anno 1645. The Earls of Essex Manchester and Denbigh surrender their Commissions A Paper delivered to the Lord by the Earl of Essex together with his Commission Declaration in behalf of these Generals Grand Ordinance to disable Members from Offices and Commands Both Armies how disposed Blackington delivered to the Parliament Colonel Windebank shot to death Taunton besieged by the Kings Forces Taunton relieved for the present and again besieged State Ambassadours take leave Sir Iohn Winter recruited Lidbury fight A Protestation of Loyalty to the King Leicester taken by the King Naseby Fight Their Order The Kings Letters taken and divulged Upon his Majesties Letters taken and divulged Eikon Bas. ch 21. And his Declaration Leicester Surrendered upon Articles to the Parliament Prince Elector arrested for debt at the City feast Oxford straitned Carlisle surrendered Club-men are up Club-men treat with Fairfax His Answer Club-men's mis-rule Goring and Fairfax fight at Sutton Field Goring goes Westward Fairfax to Bridgwater Bridgwater bravely defended Bridgwater bravely defended at last surrendered Scarborough Castle delivered to the Parliament Bath rendered to Fairfax Siege of Hereford by the Scots raised by the King Summons Answers The King raises the Siege The Scots in discontent Sherburn taken by storm Club-men surprized by Cromwel Huntington taken by the King The King comes to Wales Fight at Bauton Heath Bristol besieged by Fairfax and Cromwel Cromwels Letter from Bristol to the Speaker He takes the Devizes And Winchester His Letter A Ranting Commander Basing taken by storm The wealth of Basing The Kings condition His Forces defeated at Sherburn in Yorkshire Digbie's Letters taken concerning Ireland The Kings Officers quarrâ—l Commanders quit their Commissions Belvoir surrendred to the Parliament Latham House rendred to the Parliament Hereford surprized for the Parliament Of treachery or Corruptions Qualifications concerning Delinquents Prince Charles desires conduct for two Lords to treat about a peace Fairfax's Answer The Princes Reply The Kings Letter to the Parliamentâ— for a conduct for persons to treat The Parliaments answer The Parliaments Answer to the Kings former Letters Anno. 1645. Fasting and Prayer at Oxford Irish Letters Intercepted The Kings Commission to the Barl of Glamorgan Message about Ireland and personal Treaty Arch-Bishop of York his letter to the Lord Ashley Digby's letter Glamorgans letter to the King out of Ireland Westchester besieged and surrendered Court of Wards and Liveries voted down Lilburn petitions for justice Dartmouth besieged and surrendred to the Parliament Exeter summoned Hopton defeated at Torrington Lamiston quitted Hopton agrees to disband Eikon Bas. pa. 17. 2. His expedition to Dundâ—e Aldern Battel Kilsithe famous Battel Foreign Affairs Prisoners of note Anno. 1646. The Prince of Wales invited to the Parliament The King at Oxâ—ord in distress Lord Ashley defeated totally The King desires to come to his Parliament He is answered negatively Cavaliers to depart the City Court Martial and their Articles Misery of the Cavalier The Brass Tomb of Windsor sold. Garisons surrendred Exeter surrendred Garisons rendred up to the Parliament Williams Arch-bishop of York turnned Souldier against the King Dudley Castle surrendred Oxford City besieged the second time Instructions to treat Oxford surrendred upon Articles Prince Elector visits his Brothers The Kings Seal of State broken The Duke of York brought to London Princess Henretta conveyed into France Sir Richard Onslow complains of Withers Newark siege and surrender of it First summons Second summons Banbury Castle surrendered and Carnarvan Ragland Castle besieged The King escapes out of Oxford And arrives at the Scots Army before Newark The Kings Letter to Ormond of his intention to go to the Scots Army Order to dispose of the King Levens Letter concerning the King The Kings Message to the Parliament from Southwel Votes to dispose of the King Eikon Bas. chap. 21. The Prince invited again to the Parliament The King enters into Newcastle The Scots Army voted to be gone
Against abuses committed on Sundays The King to make Leases of Lands parcel of his Dutchy of Cornwall For ease of obtaining Licences of Alienation and in the Pleadings of Pardon in the Exchequer or else where For restraining Misbehaviour in Inns and Alehouses That this Session shall not determine by his Majesties royal assent to these Acts. Then passed a Bill in the Lower House of Tonnage and Poundage but because it was limited to one year whereas former Grants to his Majesties Predecessors were for Life It was foundred in the Upper House The Reason of this Restraint was thus In a Parliament the 18. of King Iames the Kings learned Councill culled out of that Act reasons for pretermitted Customes and other Impositions which were accounted Grievances to the Subject and an Imoderate charge upon those Customes and therefore their Design was to reduce them to the rate settled long since tempore Mariae but they wanted time enough to mold it now The next Assembly met the first day of August at Oxford The Divinity School for the Commons and the Gallery above for the Lords Hence is observed a pretty Note To give up the Divinity-School to the Commons and that Chair to their Speaker put them into an usurpation of Determinations of Divinity and henceforward no Parliaments without a Committee of Religion of Lay-Persons not onely to mannage controversies of Divinity but to ruine the old and to establish a New And because the Kings designes required Expedition He summons both Houses to Christ-Church Hall where he urged to them his Necessities for setting forth his Fleet. But his desires found no other consideration than for a formal Petition against Recusants and the causes of their increase with the Remedies Most Gracious Soveraâ—gn IT being infallibly true that nothing can more establish your Throne and assure the peace and prosperity of your People then the unity and sincerity of Religion We your Majesties most humble and loyal Subjects and Commons in this present Parliament assembled observing that of late there is an apparent mischievous encrease of Papists within your Dominions hold our selves bound in conscience and duty to present the same unto your sacred Majesty together with the dangerous consequences and what we conceive to be the most principal causes and what may be the remedies thereof 1. Their desperate ends being the subversion both of Church and State and the restlessness of their Spirits to attain those ends The Doctrine of their Teachers and Leaders perswading them that therein they shall do God good Service 2. Their evident and strict dependance upon such Foreign Princes as no way affect the good of your Majesty and this State 3. An opening a way of Popularity to the ambition of any who shall adventure to make himself head of so great a party The principal causes of the increase of Papists 1. The want of due execution of the Laws against Iesuits seminary Priests and Papists Recusants occasioned partly by Connivance of the State partly by many abuses of Officers 2. The interposing of foreign Princes by their Ambassadours and Agents in favour of them 3. Their great Concourse to the City and their frequent conventicles and conferences there 4. The Education of their children in Houses and Seminaries of their Religion in foreign parts which of late have been greatly multiplied and enlarged for the entertainment of the English 5. That in many places of this your Realm your people are not sufficiently instructed in the knowledge of true Religion 6. The licentious publishing of Popish and seditious Books 7. The imployment of men ill affected in Religion in places of Government who countenance the Popish party The Remedies be these 1. That there be great Care taken in the choise and admitting School-Masters and that the Ordinaries make diligent inquiries of their demeanours and proceed to the removing of such as shall be faulty 2. That the antient Discipline of the University be restored being the famous Nursery of literature 3. That for the propagation of the Gospel such able Ministers as have been formerly silenced may by fair entreaty of the Bishops be reduced to the service of the Church and that Non-residency Pluralities and Commendums may be moderated 4. That a straight provision may be made against transporting of English children to Popish Seminaries beyond Seas and for recalling such as are there already 5. That no Popish Recusant be permitted to come within the Court unless upon special occasion agreeable to the Statute 3â— Iacobi 6. That all Jesuits Priests and others having taken Orders from the See of Rome may be banished by Proclamation and in case of disobedience may be proceeded against according to the Laws of the Land 7. That none by any authority derived from the See of Rome be permitted to confer Orders or exercise any Ecclesiastical function within your Majesties Dominions 8. That all former Grants of Recusants lands made to the use and interest of such Recusants may by the advice of your Majesties Council be voided 9. That all Recusants may be excommunicated and not absolved but upon conformity 10. That all Recusants be removed from places of authority and government 11. That all Recusants be disarmed according to the provision of the Law 12. That they may be all confined to remain at their Country habitations and not to travel above five miles from thence 13. That none of your Majesties natural born Subjects be suffered to repair to the hearing of Masses or other superstitious service at the Chappels or houses of foreign Ambassadours or elsewhere 14. That all such insolencies as any Popishly affected have lately committed to the dishonour of our Religion be exemplarily punished 15. That the penalâ—y of 12. d. every Sunday for default of coming to Divine Service in the Church without lawful excuse may be put in Execution Lastly that your Majesty would be pleased to order that the like courses may be taken in Ireland for the establishing of true Religion there The Kings Answer was so satisfactory and sodain to each particular being heretofore branched to his Father and the remedies resolved upon them and now so reasonably required as that the King took him from hence to speak for himself and to put them to it to supply his very urgent Necessities to set forth his Navy It found affection in some earnest to give and to satisfie the present occasion with expedition Others having no heart to deny nor willing to contribute but cunningly to gain convenient time as to prejudice the Design which was to be sodain and there were these the most averse that quarreled not the Expedition for it was secret and so ought to be but old Sir Robert Mansel a quarrelous person for his interest in the Glass house then in dispence must be set up a Man of great Experience and sound Judgement but where in the Narrow Seas And he by Guess had declared against the Design and tendered some overtures
semblance of hardship or Invasion upon the Subjects Liberties which the very Papists in this the better Partners seemed more really to resent and offered in lieu of some favour to them in the penal Lawes not Toleration to contribute very largely to the safeguard of the Narrow Seas which put the State into present condition rather to collect their Arrears of Thirds due to the King by Law It appeared not for private gain but extream necessity of State which involved all and therefore with possible endevours the Naval Forces were to be compleated for the summer But let us passe over to Ireland to see what they do there It was Michaelmas Term in Ireland when the Papists there offered Propositions to maintain five hundred Foot for a more Toleration of Religion but the Protestants to pertake in some measure of the charge To that end a great concourse of the Nation of both professions appeared before the Lord Deputy Fawkland in the Castle of Dublin but the Primate and Bishops in their Assembly prevented their further proceedings subscribing to a Protestation as their judgement concerning Toleration of Popery That the Religion of the Papists is Superstitious and Idolatrous their Faith and Doctrine erronious and hereticall their Church in respect of both Apostaticall To give them therefore a Toleration or to consent that they may freely exercise their Religion and professe their Faitb and Doctrine is a grievoâ—s sin and that in two respects For first It is to make our selves accessary not only to their superstitious Idolatries Heresies and in a word to all the abominates of Poperty but also which is a consequent of the former to the perdition of the seduced people which perish in the Deluge of the Catholique Apostacy 2. To grant them Toleration in respect of any money to be given or Contribution to be made by them is to set Religion to sale and with it the souls of people whom Christ our Saviour hath redeemed with his most precious blood And as it is a great sinne so also a matter of most dangerous consequence the consideration whereof we commend to the wise and judicious Beseeching the zealous God of Truth to make them who are in Authority zealous of Gods Glory and of the advancement of true Religion zealous resolute and couragious against all Popery Superstition and Idolatry Amen Ja Armachanus Auth Medensis Ro Dunensis c. Richard Cork Cloyne Rosses Tho Kilmore Ardagh Mich. Waterford Lismore Mal Casohellen Tho Hernes Laughlin Geo Deceus Andr Alachadeus Theo Dromore Franc Lymrick Conferred and agreed upon 6 Nov. 1626. And this their judgement in April 23 after 1627. Dr. Downham Bishop of Derry at the next Assembly and before the Lord Deputy Falkland and his Council took occasion to publish in the midst of his Sermon His preamble herein was That many amongst us for gain and outward respects are ready to consent to a Toleration of false Religion and are guilty of putting to sale their own and others souls and so unwilling to deliver his own private opinion onely but the judgements of the Arch-Bishop and Bishops which he thinks good to publish to them to cleer themselves from consenting To which the people gave their vote Amen But then he went on Not hereby said he to hinder the Kings service for we desire that not onely the sole Army of 5500 may be maintained but also a far greater Army besides the trained Souldiers onely he wished that the King would reserve to himself the most of those peculiar Graces of late offered and granted to the dishonour of God and the King the prejudice and Impeachment of true Religion and what is wanting might be supplied by the County to which he exhorted all good Christians and faithfull subjects The Text the Bishop took was Luke 1. 25. 23 24 25. verses speaking against mens subordinating Religion and the keeping a good Conscience for worldly respects and to set their souls to sale for gain of earthly things The L. Primate preached the next day before the same Auditory and took his Text 1 Ioh. 5. 15. Love not the World nor the things that are in the World when he made the like application as the Bishop did rebuking such who for ready gain like Iudas sold Christ for 30 pieces of silver or as Balaam following the wages of unrighteousnesse c. foretelling as he had often the judgement for these our Inclinations to such permissions and Tolerations and spake as Ieremiah did to Baruch of Gods being about to pluck up what he had planted and to break down what he had built and his bidding him not to seek great things for himself he applied to these times Indeed the judgement of the Bishops prevailed much with the Protestants that the Proposals sank by degrees and therefore induced the Lord Deputy to desire the Primate as the fittest person of the Assembly and a Privy Councellor and so concerned to promote the Kings affairs to summe up the state of the Business and to move them to an Absolute Grant of some competency to the Kings Necessities without any such former Conditions which was so done with much prudence and to this effect his Speech followeth My Lords THe refusal of those Gentlemen to contribute supply to the Army for defence of this Nation minds me of the Philosophers observation That such as have respect to a few things are easily misled Their minds so intent to ease themselves of a petit burthen without regard to the desolation of a heavy war which an Army may prevent forgetting the lamentable effects of our late Civil War by famine rapine and what not and now again the storm is foreseen which if not prevented our state may prove irrecoverable The Dangers are from abroad and from home Abroad we being now at odds with two potent Princes France and Spain to whom heretofore our dis-affected persons have offered this Kingdom to their Conquest In the daies of Henry the eight the Earl of Desmond did it to the French King the Instrument in the Court of Paris yet extant expresses so much and the Pope afterwards transferred the Title of Ireland to Charles 5. and so afresh confirmed to his Son Philip in the time of Queen Elizabeth with a resolution to settle this Crown upon the Spanish Infanta These Donatives though of no value yet they serve for a colour to a potent Pretender powerfully to supply what is defective And of late even when our Match was on foot with Spain a Book was countenanced there the Author a Spaniard Philip O Sullevan wherein he concludes the only way to establish that Monarchy first to set upon Ireland the Conquest of Scotland then of England and after of the Low Countries will easily follow Nor is the fear more from abroad then the like danger at Home Domestick Rebellion but lest I be mistaken now as your Lordships have been lately I must distinguish the Inhabitants Some
and so quit the place for we think it a hatefull thing that any mans leaâ—ing the Bishoprick should almost undoe the Successor And if any man shall presume to break this Order we will refuse him at our Royall assent and keep him at the place which he hath so abused Ninthly Lastly we command you to give us an Accompt every year the second of Ianuary of the performance of this our Command Dorchester Our Naval forces now Compleat the Duke of Buckingham is resolved to satisfy their expectation who heretofore complained of his great neglect being Admiral of England in committing the late Expeditions at Sea to other Commanders and stay behind himself He is now therefore made General also of six thousand Horse and foot in ten ships royall ad ninety Merchant-men and set sail from Portsmouth the 27. of Iune and his MANIFESTO came out the one and twentieth of Iuly following as it was there published in France declaring The emergent causes of his Majesties present Arming What part the Kings of Great Britain have alwaies taken in the affairs of the reformed Churches of France and with what care and zeal they have laboured for them is manifest to all and the Examples of it are also as ordinary as the occasions have been The now King my most honored Lord and Master comes nothing short of his Predecessors therein if his good and laudable Designs for their Good had not bin perverted to their Ruin by those who had the most interest for their accomplishment What advantages hath he refused VVhat parties hath he not sought unto that by his alliance with France he might work more profitably and powerfully the restitution of those Churches into their antient liberty and splendour And what could be best hoped by so strick an alliance and from so many reiterated promises by the mouth of a great Prince but effects truly royall and sorting with his Greatness But so far fails it therein that his Majesty in so many promises and so strait obligations of Friendship hath found means to obtain Liberty and surety for the Churches and to restore peace to France by the reconciliation of those whose breath utters nothing else but all manner of obedience to their King under the liberty of the Edicts that contrarywise they have prevailed by the interest he had in those of the Religion to deceive them and by this means not only to unty him from them but also to make him if not odious to them at the lest suspected in perverting the means which he had ordained for good to a quite contrary end VVitness the English Ships not designed for the extirpation of these of the Religion but to the Contrary express promise was made That they should not be used against them which notwithstanding were brought before Rochel and were imployed against them in the last Sea-fight what then may be suspected from so puissant a King as the King my Master so openly eluded but thorough feeling equal and proportioned to the Injuries received But his Patience hath gone beyond Patience and as long as he had hope that he could benefit the Churches by any other means he had no recourse by way of Arms so far that having been made an Instrument and Worker of the late Peace upon Conditions disadvantagious enough and which would never have been accepted without his Majesty's Intervention who interposed his credit and interest to the Churches to receive them even with threatnings to the end to shelter the honour of the most Christian King under assurance of his part not onely for the accomplishment but also for the bettering the said conditions for which he sends caution to the Churches But what hath been the issue of all this but only an abuse of his goodness and that which his Majesty thought a Soverain remedy For all their forces hath it not brought almost the last blow to the ruin of the Churches It wanted but little by continuing the Fort before Rochel the demolishing whereof was promised by the violence of the Souldiers and Garrisons of the said Fort and Isles as well upon the Inhabitants of the said Town as strangers In lieu whereas they should wholly have retired they have daily been augmented and other Forts built and by the stay of Commissioners in the said Town beyond their Term agreed on to the end to make broils and by the means of the Division which they made to open the gates to the Neighbouring Troops and by other withstandings and infractions of Peace Little I say failed it that the said Town and in it all the Churches had not drawn their last breath And in the mean while his Majesty hath yet continued and not opposed so many Injuries so many faith-breakings but by Plaints and Treatings until he had received certain advise confirmed by intercepted Letters of the great Preparation that the most Christian King made to showr upon Rochel And then what could his Majesty do less but to vindicate his Honor by a quick arming against those who had made him a Party in their Deceit and to give Testimony of his Integritie and zeal which he hath alwayes had for the re-establishing of the Churches which shall be dear and precious to him above any other thing This was not published until the first assault of the Castle of Saint Martins in the Isle of Rhe about the 21. of Iuly following And because I have laboured the Truth of this Expedition from the calumnies of our Adversaries I shall name them now to direct the Reader in the examination and crave the patience to excuse the length of the story in some measure to vindicate our Honour The first is Anonymus and the Title Ladiscente des Anglois somewhat ingenious The French Mercury or Vulgar Fragmentarian herein despicable the brand of Malice and Immodesty The third was Isnardus the Parisian Advocate whose contumelies even the best of them were censured culpable as being published after a perfect Peace was established by the polite Polititian Cardinal Richlieu And the last of them was Monetus a Iesuit more close and wary yet blasting the beauties of our best Martialists But because this Action of the English might not lodge upon mistakes of our too hasty quarrelling without just cause I shall enter the Reader by remembring former passages and state the cause as it now stood between Us and France King Iames succeeding Q. Eliz. his Neighbors and Him courted each other into friendship and confederacy so that no plot or frame of domination invaded each other by jealousie or envy and so soon as Henry 4. was murthered how often and sundry waies did King Iames assist Lewis the 13. his Son and Successor quieting his Civil Wars and after such a League entred into with the Emperour as neither affinity with the Palsgrave utility with aiding the Spaniard or Religion by assisting the Hugonotes could in him any way dissolve and so became Arbiter and Umpire of Europe Yet cause we had
the Kings looks He told them plainly He expected not such a Romance to answer his gracious consent to their Petition of Right But for their just Grievances they would deserve his consideration And so suddenly rose up and stepping down short from the degrees of steps raised under the Cloth of State the Duke stayed him by the hand which now is supposed to be given him to kisse in spight of the Parliament or otherwise rather but his low Congie to his Majesties hand which in Court-complement was too much But in truth I saw that passe and that other Lords near the King offering as much as the Duke did which I well know was then devised to lodge upon him against whom their inbred dislike increased to all exceptions even of Circumstance or Shadow But how suddenly the Commons House incroach upon the Lords Liberties excluding the words the Lords spiritual and Temporal in the very Grant of the Bill of Subsidies which they resented with very high Indignation though the Commons were known to be cunning enough to palliate the designe if discovered with an excuse of bare mis-omission yet the most of them stood it out pretending ever more in such cases That heretofere some Acts had so passed which they knew well enough how to avoid the proving But if their good Lordships would return the Bill their names should be inserted as if they were not able to put themselves in as the others were cunning to leave them out During these disputes and the Kings necessities in purse was the main cause of his consenting so much to raise the Parliaments and lessen his own Power One Doctor Manwaring observing the Clench meant to mend all by marring it with his two false Assertions The one to be preached before the King That the Kings Royal Command imposing without common consent of Parliament Taxes and Loans doth so farre binde the conscience of the Subjects of this Kingdom that they cannot refuse the payment without peril of damnation The other he preached at his Parish Church That the Authority of Parliament is not necessary for the raising Aydes and Subsidies To these he was questioned by a Committee and in reason justly sentenced 1. Imprisonment during the pleasure of the Parliament 2. Fined one thousand pounds to the King 3. To make such submission as shall be set down in writing at the Lords Bar and Bar of Commons 4. To be suspended three years from the exercise of the Ministry 5. Never to preach at Court hereafter 6. Never to have Ecclesiastical dignity or Secular Office 7. To move his Majesty for calling in of his Book and to be burnt And truly I remember the Kings answer to all He that will preach other then he can prove let him suffer I give them no thanks to give me my due and so as being a Parliament businesse he was left by the King and Church to their Sentence But why this case must be marked out for a sixth Presage from the Kings vailing his Crown to the Parliament by suffering the House of Comâ—mons to set up sayes he a Committee for Religion to question Manwaring and Sibthorp and others for Doctrinal matters more proper to be censured in the High-Commission or Convocation to which Courts the cognizance do belong and not unto a Consistory of Lay-Elders which perhaps wise men but never the greatest Clerks We may consent to his opinion in the Main for matters of Divinity and Orthodox points But that the Preacher is Iure Divino not to be censured but by themselves smells of the Presbyter or Papâ—st both alike their Tenets and so to ingrosse all into their General Assembly which was wont to be above Privy-Counsel Parliament and King But the King bent his busie time to frame an Answer to their late Remonstrance so tart that the Commons resolved to double upon him against Tonnage and Poundage which he would not indure bnt prorogued the Parliament unto the twentieth of October delivering his minde to them before his Assent to their Bills My Lords and Gentlemen IT may seem strange that I come so suddenly to end this Session therefore before I give my assent to the Bils I will tell you the cause though I must avow I ow an account of my actions to none but God alone It is known to every one that a while ago the House of Commons gave me a Remonstrance how acceptable every man may judge and for the merit of it I will not call that in question for I am sure no wise man can justifie it Now since I am certainly informed that a second Remonstrance is preparing for me to take away my profit of Tunnage and Poundage one of the chief maintenances of the Crown by alleadging that I have given away my right thereof by my Answer to your Petition This is so prejudicial to me as I am forced to end this Session some few hours before I meant it being willing not to receive any more Remonstrances to which I must give an harsh answer And since I see that even the House of Commons begins already to make false constructions of what I granted in your Petition lest it be worse interpreted in the Country I will now make a Declaration concerning the true intent thereof The Profession of both Houses in the time of hammering this Petition was no waies to trench upon my Prerogative saying They had neither intention nor power to hurt it Therefore it must needs be conceived that I have granted no new but onely confirm the ancient Libertie of my Subjects Yet to shew the clearness of my intentions that I neither repent nor mean to recede from any thing I promised you I do here declare That those things which have been done whereby men had cause to suspect the Liberty of the Subject to be trencht upon which indeed was the true and first ground of the Petition shall not hereafter be drawn into example for your prejudice and in time to come in the word of a King you shall not have the like cause to complain But as for Tonnage and Poundage it is a thing I cannot want and was never intended by you to ask never meant I am sure by me to grant To conclude I command you all that are here to take notice of what I have spoken at this time to be the true intent and meaning of what I granted you in your Petition But especially you my Lords the Judges for to you onely under me belongs the interpretation of the Laws for none of the Houses of Parliament joynt or separate what new doctrine soever may be raised have any power either to make or declare a Law without my consent This Session were enacted these Laws and first of all For further Reformation of Divers abuses committed on the Lords day commonly called Sunday 2. To restrain the passing or sending any to be Popishly bred beyond Seas 3. For the better suppressing unlicensed Ale-House Keepers 4. For
Reprobates and therefore believes our Churches regeneration is by infusion of Grace by sowing the good seed But to answer him in this Let all Christians religiously pray and live according to the grace of Restitution and humbly submit their judgements concerning the secresie of personal Election and so this man sins against the 17. Article 4 The Anabaptist His purenesse is a supposed birth without Original sin and his Tenet that Infants must not be baptized and this believer opposeth the 9. and 27. Articles 5. The Brownists purenesse is to serve God in Woods and Fields and his opinion is that Idolatry cannot be reformed without pulling down of Churches Christ indeed whipt the buyers and sellers out of the Temple though it was prophaned yet without any pulling down and this man is against the 35. Article 6. Loves familist serves God as well at his neighbours charge as at his own omnia sunt communia the things which they possesse are not their own but all are Common He teacheth that unlawful swearing is worse than murther and this is against the 39. Article 7. The Precisian will not swear before a Magistrate That unlawful swearing is a greater sin than murther God indeed is greater then man here is the compare but then the effect destructive is greater by murther God commands that the murtherer die blood for blood he deals not so severely with the swearer See the 39. Article 8 The Sabbatarian preaches down Holy dayes preaching that the Instrumental directing cause to keep holy the sabbath day he makes to be the keeping holy the sabbath But Gods holy Worship prayer is keeping holy the sabbath day for preaching the holy direction teacheth holy worship prayer to be the holy practise of that day to praise the Lord for our Redemption the sole principal end of preaching on the Lords day His preaching is a Sylva synonymorum Tautologies Iterations His praying much erroneous and this is against the 35. Article 9. The Anti-disciplinarian is above the Kings supremacy Imperious Imagination his highnesse is the Churches greatest Authority and he saith this is as good a rule to know the reformed true faith is the holy Writ He is a strict observer of the Law therefore he accounts it the best Religion His tenet is That Kings must be subject to the Puritan To the Puritans Presbyters Censure submit their Scepters throw down their Crowns lick up the dust of their feet This Mr. Rogers in his eleventh page of his Preface to the 39. Articles And T. Cartwright teacheth in his Reply page 1080. And here the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance are broken against the 21. Article His tenet that all Priests should be equal See Varellus and Vivetus sermons two Geneva Presbyters against the â—3 33. and 36. Articles and against the twentieth Article 10. The presuming Predestinatist hath an inspired knowledge to be saved by Gods absolute Election as sure as it were now in Heaven no life in him but Gods essential glory against the 17. Article and the 3. Article Thus was it then amongst us Reformed and since it hath increased ten times worse But the Papist is not clear from Crimes schismes and sins The contest between Iesuites Priests and Secular Priests have evermore their debates and now grounded upon this occasion Richard Smith titular Bishop of Calcedon his honour there in Greece but his profit from England over all the Romish Catholicques especially for ordaining of Priests and confirmations of persons Baptized But when he came hither we cannot finde till now we have caught him here Yet Pope Gregory the thirteenth delegated one William Bishop to Calcedon who died 1624. After him succeeded another by Mission of Urbane the eighth 1625. this Richard Smith to the same Title But why to a foreign Title and not at as easie a rate to English as in Ireland he had to all Sees there the reason is He had in Ireland a Counter-party of People for Number and Quality in every Diocesse and Parish not so in England where it had been ridiculous in the Granter and dangerous in the Accepter To oppose his power up starts Nicholas Smith a Regular in malice to his advancement and quarrelled also against Doctor Kelson President of the Colledge of Doway who had printed a Treatise of the dignity and necessity of Bishop and secular Clergy Nicholas Smith's Reasons were for the Regulars first such Bishops uselesse in England in times of persecution Either for Ordination which might be supplied by foreign Bishops Or Confirmation of children which any Priest might perform by Commission from the Pope Secondly Burthensom to the already pressures of the English Catholicques And Thirdly the Person of Calcedon not lawfully called Kelson undertakes Answers to all these and the Insolency of the Regulars seemed more secular And indeed the Irish Regular exceeded such in England maintaining That the superiours of Regulars were more worthy than Bishops which caused the Doctors of Sorborn in Paris to censure the Proposition and the Arch-Bishop of Paris to condemn Nicholas Smiths Book and other Tractates of that sense But Bishop Smith would take upon him to approve of such Regulars Priests as were to be constant Confessors which the Jesuites opposed as an usurpation upon them And being the better Polititians contrive a Declaration under the name of the most noble and eminent Catholiques against his pretended Authority which Declaration was offered to the Spanish Ambassadour Don Carlos de Coloma together with the Kings Proclamations to ferret his person He declined both his power and presence to seek safety in France The Bishop fled the dogs bark Knot vice provincial of the English Jesuites and Flood another of St. Omers undertake him and Kelson also but were censured and silenced though not their several factions unto this day But this bickering is lodged under the product of the peace with Spain as if to encourage the Catholiques to rant it in Ireland also towards a Toleration The Lords Justices at Dublin at Church in one Parish the Priests at Masse in another who were seized by the Arch-Bishop and Major and all the City Officers their Trinkets taken away Images hewen down the Priests and Fryers delivered up to the Souldiers and yet rescued by the people from whom a strong power enforced them and eight Popish Aldermen clapt in prison for being remisse to attend their Major upon which mis-behaviour and mutiny fifteen Houses were seized to the Kings use and the Fryers and Priests persecuted and Two of them to save publique Execution hang'd themselves in their hose-garters The Earl of Essex would needs try Mastery with a fresh Mistresse being over born by his first Wife as their story is truly told in the life of King Iames 18. years since He then but a stripling but ever since getting strength and being falsely fram'd for Martial Exploits in the Low-Conntries where he Disciplin'd himself but without any high renown or feats of Arms or any extraordinary
restrictions and bounded the writ at the first but to Maritime Counties as mostly receiving the present benefit of security from Pyrates but that not sufficient for the common necessity the wits became afterwards Generall to all Counties and so did the quarrel The whole amounting unto two hundred thirty six thousand pounds in lieu of all payments came but to twenty thousand pounds per mensem The Clergy never pleaded but indeed they muttered their case to be free from all secular and civil charges And to prevent the boldness of any pretence the Laws made disputes of the three fold necessity binding all Clergy and Laity viz. aid in war building of Bridges and raising of Forts Nor had they any Execution that which the Arch-bishop did for them was upon their just Complaint of their unequal Tax by their Neighbour therefore the Sheriffs were required not to tax the Clergy of Parsonages above a tenth part of their Land-rate of their several Parishes and no doubt we may easily believe the Inlanders might mutter as conceiving it strange to be concerned in the Sea But in truth the main Exception was to be taxed out of Parliament against the late Petition of Right and indured long debate in Courts of Iustice thereafter whilest the first Mover Noy the Attorney having set the Wheel a going took his last leave in August to rest for ever from the toil of an Attorney General And now was the great Design of the Swedes quarrel in Germany prosecuted and Ambassadours abroad to all the Neighbour Allies for assistance and Axel Oxenstiern the great Chancellour and Guider of those affairs of State sent hither his Son in Ambassy impowred with Credential Letters no doubt from his Sovereign Queen or from interest of the Chancellour of which our King could not pretend ignorance for in all outward reception he appeared so I was present in the Banquetting-house at White-hall when he had Audience of his tedious peremptory Oration But indeed whether because his Address had been before to the French King from whom he had large promises and a great Present or whether because our Reasons of State gave slender hopes to engage against the Emperour with whom we were in Treaty concerning the Palatinate he refused our Kings Present of equal value with that of France and returned not well pleased The state of Ireland in some disquiet dangerously now divident between Papist and Protestant the wise Lord Deputy Wentworth being necessitated to summon a Parliament for the supply of a fresh Contribution for the Army the former of twenty thousand pounds per annum determining the next year and provision must be assured before hand to discharge the Kings Debt of eighty thousand pounds besides It is most true that there was no ill Husbandry of former Governours that caused a contraction of this Debt but the wisdom of the Sovereign not to charge the Nation with Levies for they had granted but one Subsidy since primo Iacobi the Kingdom in good condition since the Wars and their Estates being by the King so lately setled they could do no less than raise their Purses with their plenty and give the King Subsidies which they did The Civil affairs well forwarded the care was to setle the Ecclesiastick by Assembly of a Synod The Design was not more politick as pious to repeal the Body of Articles formed Anno 1615. and to substitute those nine and thirty Articles of the Church of England in their room and the rather because the nine Articles of Lambeth were included with the Irish which in truth had been purposely inserted by King Iames to ballance against the Tenets of Arminians and were evermore started by the contrary Opinions where the Points of Predestination and the Lords Day Sabbath had found free acception to these indeed the Alteration seemed strange some referring it to power others to piety and reason also the reason might be in relation to the Papists who made a wonder that the Churches of three Kingdoms united being under one chief Head and Governour there should be three several and distinct Confessions of Faith and yet all pretending to one Religion and the conclusion and concession not huddled but canvased and with some advantage in Vote for the Church of England although as some say the Primate of Ireland interposed his Negative The Scots are busie fomenting sundry pretended Designs of State against their Liberties they became very bold endeavouring to blast the Kings Proceedings in their last Parliament as indirect charging him with corrupting and suborning the then Votes and evermore of some tendency in favour of Papists and to publish it in print they framed a Libel which passing through malignant hands and so vented but the Lords of the Council there searching narrowly for the Authour it fell upon one William Hagge and he escaping his Abetter was brought to the Board being the Lord Balmerino the Son of a Father of small Conscience and less Religion but Secretary he had been to King Iames who shuffled a Letter of his own contriving amongst others for the Kings signature too much complementing with the Pope Clement in favour of the Catholicks which Letter being so sent and some years after mentioned by Cardinal Bellarmine to the Kingâ—s prejudice and Balmerino questioned for it did ingeniously confess the same and after some outward sufferings had his pardon and preferment but time discovering the Policies of State another way it is now averred that the Letter was then devised by the Kings command in some reason to gain upon the Romish party in reference to his interest in England where the Papists were prevalent and more powerfull abroad but now this Lord the Son whether by nature perfidious or made so by Revenge elapsed into the like crime indeed and suffered the same Trial and Eviction and found the same mercy the Kings pardon and preferment for the present but fell more foul in offending some years after But the Kings Pardon to him gave great encouragement to the discontented Party in Scotland having now found by experience the Kings inclination either by fear or affection to be wrought upon if not mastered and having continual intelligence from his Majesties Bed-chamber the bane of the King by persons near about him Scots of all passages in England concerning the interruption of three Parliaments imprisoning the Members and other civil Distractions sufficient to discover a discontented condition in England also but it appears not who gave the first invitation for assistance to each other of a War Either party Scots and English so forward as that it seems they met joyn'd at last in an unnatural War with their dread Sovereign And yet untill 1637. that the Service-book was imposed on the Scots both parties lay dormant without any perfect correspondence that I can meet with till that time or a little after And then also Cardinal Richelieu sent over his Chaplain Chambers a Scotishman to stir up the
a fitting occasion was never offered whereby he might insinuate himself into the Lord Arch-Bishop to whom free access was to be impetrated by the Earl and Countesâ—e of Arundell as also by Secretary Windebank all whose intercessions he neglected and did shunne as it were the Plague the company or familiarity of CON. He was also solicited by others of no mean rank well known to him and yet he continued immoveable Trial also was made of another Secretary Cook who impeded accesse to the detestable design an utter enemy he was to the Iesuites whose access to the King he obstructed He treated many of them as they deserved he searcht into their factions by which means every incitement breathing an attractive power to the Romish Catholiques was ineffectual with him for nothing was so dear to him as his own Innocence whence being rendred odious to the conspirators he was in perpetual hazzard of losing his Place which being laboured for three years was at length obtained But for all this the King had left him a knotty piece for the Lord Arch-Bishop by his constancy opposed himself as an immoveable Rock Con and his party finding the Lord Arch Bishop so impregnable and that they laboured in vain began to boyle with malice and to plot how the Lord Arch-Bishop together with the King should be taken Sentence also is passed against the King who was the main concernment in the plot because nothing is hoped from him which might seem to promote the Popish Religion but especially when he had once declared himselfe that he was of the minde that any good and pious man may be saved in his own Religion To Act the Treason undertaken the criminall execution at Westminster caused by some puritanical writing gave the first spark a thing so much exasperated and exaggerated by the Papists and Puritans that if it went unrevenged it would be thought a blemish to their Religion the flames of which fire the subsequent Liturgie encreased In this heat a certain Scottish Earle one Maxwell if I mistake not was dispatcht to the Scots by the Popish party with whom two other Scottish Earles were correspondents he was to excite the people to commotion He was to raise commotions to re-inforce the sense of every injury and to spur on the people to Rebellion whereby the great disturber of the Scottish liberty might be destroyed There by one labour sâ—ares are laid for the King for which purpose the affaire was so ordered that very many English should adhear to the Scots That the King should be inferiour to them in Armes whereby he might be inforced to crave ayd from the Papists which yet should be denied him unlesse he would descend to conditions by which he should permit a general toleration of the Romish Religion which was the thing the Papists did aim at And should he be difficultly brought to such terms there was a Remedy hoped for For the young Prince who from his Cradle was educated in advantage to the Romish perswasion growing on fast in his youthfull age the Kings Death was contrived by an Indian Nut stuffed with a most fierce Poyson kept in the Society which Con then shewed me in a boasting manner and prepared for him as there was another for his Father During the Scotch Troubles the Marquess of Hamilton was often imployed by the King as Commissioner to compose Disorders there and pacifie the discontented party but returned as often without fruit His Chaplain repaired at that time to us and had secret conference with Con of whom I demanded in jest Whether also the Iews agreed with the Samaritans To which Con answered I would to God all Ministers were like him you may conjecture of this as you please Things standing thus there came to London from Cardinal Richelieu Master Thomas Chamberlain his Chaplain and Almoner a Scot by Nation who was to assist the College of Confederacy to advance the business and to â—ttempt all ways of exasperating the first heat for thâ—s service a Bishoprick was promised him Four moneths space he co-habited with the Society nor was he permitted to depart untill matters succeeding as he wished he might return with good News Sir Toby Mathew a Jesuited Priest of the Order of Politicians the most vigilant of the chief Heads who never went to Bed but got a Nap of an Hour or two in a Chair Day and Night plotted Mischief A Man principally noxious and the very Plague both of King and Kingdom a Man most impudent hunting all Feasts called or not called never quiet always in action and perpetual motion intruding into the company of all his Betters pressing Discourses whereby to fish out mens inclinations whatsoever he sucketh from thence either of advantage or noxious to the Conspiracy he imparteth to the Popes Legate reserving the most secret intelligence for the Pope himself or the Cardinal Barbarino In short he associates himself with any not a word can be spoken but he lays hold of it and accommodates it to his turn In the interim all his Observations he reduceth into a Catalogue and every Summer carrieth it to the general Consistory of the Jesuits Politicks which privately meet in the Province of Wales where he is a welcome Guest There are Councils closely hammered which are fittest for the ruining of the Ecclesiastick and Politick state of both Kingdoms Captain Read a Scot dwelling in Long-Acre Street near the Angel-tavern a Secular Jesuit who for his detestable service performed in perverting of a certain Minister of the Church with secret inticements to the Popish Religion with all his Family taking his Daughter to Wife obtained as a Reward an Impost upon Butter paid by the Countrey people procured for him from the King by some chief men of the Society who never want a Spur whereby he may be constantly detained in his Office In his house the whole Plot is contrived where the Society which hath conspired against the King the Lord Arch-bishop and both Kingdoms convene but on the Day of the Posts Dispatch they meet in greater Numbers for then all their Informers assemble and confer their Notes together and that they may be the less suspected convey all their secrets by Toby Matthew or Read himself to the Popes Legate who transmits the Pacquet of Intelligence to Rome With the same Read are intrusted the Letters brought from Rome under forged Titles and Names and by him delivered to whom they belong for all their Names are known to him Upon the same occasion Letters are also brought over under the covert of Father Philip though he be ignorant of the Plot who distributeth them to the Conspiratours In that very House there is a publick Chappel wherein an Ordinary Jesuit consecrates and dwelleth In this Chappel Masses are daily said by the Jesuits and the Children of some of the Domesticks and some the Conspiratours are baptized They who meet there come often in Coaches or on Hors-back in Laymens
February had required the Arch-bishop of Armagh lately come into England to give them his Directions concerning the Liturgy and Episcopal Government whose Answer was thus The Bishop of Armagh's Direction to the Parliament concerning the Liturgy and Episcopal Government being thereunto required by them Febr. 1640. To satisfie you Demands both concerning the Liturgie and Episcopal Government First for the Book of Common Prayer it may be alleged First that God himself appointed in the Law a set Form of Benediction Numb 6. 23 24 25 26. Secondly that David appointed set Psalms to be sung upon especial occasions as the Title to each of them sheweth Thirdly that the Prophet Joel appointed a third Form of Prayers to be used by the Priests at a solemn feast Joel chap. 2. verse 15. 17. Fourthly That Christ not only commands us to pray after such a manner Mat. 6. 9. but to use a set form of words Luke 11 2. when you pray say Our father c. Fiftly the spirit of God is no more restrained by using a set form of Prayer then by singing set hymns or Psalms in Meeter which yet the adversaries of our Common-prayer Practise in their Assemblies Sixtly of All Prayers premeditated are the best Eccle. 5. 30. of Premeditated Prayers those which are allowed by publique Authority are to be preferred above those which are uttered by any private Spirit Seventhly All the Churches in the Christian world in the first and best times had their set formes of Liturgie whereof most are extant in the writings of the Fathers to this day Eightly Let our Service-book be compared to the French Dutch or any other Liturgies prescribed in any of the former Churches and it will appear to any indifferent reader that it is more exact and compleat then any of them Ninethly Our Service-book was penned and allowed of not onely by many Learned Doctors but glorious Martyrs who sealed the truth of the Reformed Religion with their Blood Yet it cannot be denied that there are quaedam in pulchro Corpore mendae And it were to be wished so it be done without much noyse First That the Calendar in part might be reformed and the Lessons taken out of the Apocrypha might be struck out and other Lessons taken out of the Canonical-Scriptures appointed to be read in the place of them for besides that there is no necessity of reading any of the Apocrypha there are in some of the Chapters set in the Index passages repugnant to the doctrine of holy-scriptures as namely in some Chapters of Tobit Secondly that in the Psalms Epistle and Gospels and all sentences alledged out of holy-scripture the last translating of King James Bible may be followed for in the former there be many passages not agreeable to the Original as may be proved by many instances Thirdly That in the Rubrick where of late the word Priest hath been put instead of the word Minister it may be expunged and the word Minister restored which is less offensive and more agreeable to the language of all Reformed Churches And likewise that some clauses which seem to have surreptitiously crept into it to be expunged as namely after the Communion every Minister shall Communicate and shall so receive the Sacraments and other rites according to the order in this Book appointed which words can carry no good sence in a Protestants eare nor those after Private baptism that it is certain by Gods word that Children being baptized have all things necessary for their salvation and be undoubtedly saved Fourthly that in the Hymns instead of the song of the three-Children some other word might be placed out of the Canonical scriptures and that a fitter Psalm were chosen at the Churching of a woman for those verses he will not suffer thy foot to be moved and the Sun shall not burn thee by day nor the moon by night seem not very pertinent Fiftly that in the Pravers and Collects some expressions were better as where it is said Almighty God which only worketh great wonders send down upon our Bishops c. And let thy great mercy loose them for the honour of Jesus Christ his sake and from fornication and all other deadly sins and the like Sixtly That in the singing Psalms either the lame rythms or the superfluous words as I say's and for why's And homely phrases as thou shalt feed them with brown bread and take thy hand out of thy lap and give thy foes a rap and mend this geer and the like may be corrected or at least a better translation of the Psalms in meeter appointed in place of this old Secondly for Episcopal-government it may be alleged First That in the old-law the Priests were above the Levites Secondly that in the Gospel the Apostles were above the Seventy Disciples Thirdly That in the subscriptions of St. Paules Epistles which are part of the Canonical Scripture it is said that Timotheus was ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians Fourthly That Episcopal ordination and Jurisdiction hath express warrant in holy Scripture as namely Titus 1. 5. for this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders that is Ministers in every City and of Tim. 5. 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man and 5. 19. Against an Elder or Minister receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses Fiftly The Angels of whom the Epistles were indorsed the unanimous consent of all the best Interpreters both ancient and latter expound it to be the Bishops of those Cities Sixtly Eusebius and other Ecclesiastical writers affirm none contradicting them that the Apostles themselves chose James Bishop of Jerusalem and that in all their Apostolical Seats succeeded Bishops which continued in all the Christian world and no other Government heard of in the Church for fifteen hundred years and more then by Bishops and the Canons of Councels both General and Provincial which consisted of Bishops Seventhly That so many acts of Parliament and Laws of the Kingdome and Statutes of Colleges of both Universities have relation to Bishops that the removing of them especially there haveing been never any other Government setled in this Kingdome will breed an Infinite confusion and no Reformation but rather a deformation in the Church yet it were to be wished that in something our Government might be reduced into the constitutions and practice of the Primitive Church especially in these particulars First that Bishops did ordinarily Preach either in the Metropolitan Church or in the Parochial-Churches in their visitations Secondly That they might not Ordain any Minister without the consent of three or four at the least grave Pastors Thirdly That they might not suspend ab officio et beneficio at their pleasures by their sole authority and only with a necessary consent of some assistance and that for such causes and crimes only as the antient Canons or the Laws of this Kingdome appoint Fourthly that none might be
the field Observations upon his History The Historian replies Observator observed The Observator Rescued and Rejoynes And the Historian at a Non-plus his friend even Squire Sanderson as the man that mediates for him The Interim took up the Kings time in doubt what answer to return to his subjects a discontented people Himself their Soveraign troubled with a distracted conscience They for Justice He for Mercy In this perplexity saies the Historian the King consults with feur Bishops the sunday morning desiring them as Casuists to advice him what course to steer between these twog â—eat Rocks c. That three of them urged the opinion of the Judges and the votes of Parliament c. That they advised yea partly perswaded his Majesty though not fully convinced to pass the Bill But the motive to all he saies was a Letter to the King from the Earl himself that very day viz. Sir To set your Majesties conscience at liberty c. more of this hereafter But this Observator enforceth reasons That the Bishops were not sent for but sent to the King by the Parliament to inform his conscience and bring him to yeild to the Bill who consulted rather their own ends And names them the Primate of Armagh the Bishops of Lincoln Durham and Carlile the two last unskilled depended wholly on the other two and those two as the Parliament knew full well carried a sharp tooth against the Lord Lieutenant upon former grudges that of the Primate for abrogating of the Articles of Religion established in the Church of Ireland and setting in their place the Articles of the Church of England and because Doctor Bromel once chaplain to the Lord Lieutenant then Bishop of Derrie had opposed most in it c. That of the Bishop of Lincoln on whom was the most dependance of worse affections than the other c. The Historian replies in his observator observed page 41 That the Bishops were not sent to the King but sent for by the King That they were five not four Bishops That if any of them depended on the Iudgment of others it was the Bishop of London who at the last meeting spake not a syllable That Durham and Carlile spake as freely as any other That the Lord Primate had no sharp tooth against the Lieutenant and instances in that of the Articles of Ireland which were never abrogated and produces this Certificate of two Doctors of Divinity We who were present at and Members of the Convocation holden at Dublin Anno. 1634. do hereby testifie That upon the proposal of the first Canon wherein for the manifestation of our agreement with the Church of England in the confession of the same Christian faith and doctrine of the Sacraments as was then expressed wee did receive and approve the Book of Articles of Religion agreed upon in the Convocation holden at London Anno 1562. One of the Assembly stood up and desired that the other Book of Articles agreed upon in the Convocation holden at Dublin Anno 1615. should be joyned therewith Unto whom it was then answered that this addition was altogether needless that Book having been already sufficiently ratified by the decrees of the former Synod But that the least motion was then or there made for the suppressing of those Articles of Ireland hath no truth at all in it And therefore the Observator and whosoever else hath or doth aver that the said Articles either were abolished or any motion made for the suppressing or abolishing of them are grosly mistaken and have abused the said Convocation in delivering so manifest an untruth The eighteenth of March 1655. Nicholas Bernard Samuel Pullen And to prove no discontent between the Primate and Earl he remarks That before his sentence He did advise with the Primate concerning his defence And after sentence the Earl desired that the Primate might serve him in his ministerial office in his last and fatal extremity who prayed with him sent Messages to the King by him took him by the hand and led him to the Scaffold That there was never any controversie in that Synod of Ireland between the Primate and the Bishop of Derrie concerning the Articles That the King pressing the Judges to declare any particular Article which if proved was treason could not extort from them one single instance but that the Earl was guilty upon the whole matter So much saies the Historian The Observator is rescued with witty Arguments to make good his defence in justification of what he had said before concerning the Bishops in which he puts himself upon a very unhandsome expression is it likely saies he c. that the King would confide in Potter Bishop of Carlile a man of so much want and weakness concluding the Historians Ipse dico no proof at all And so keeping the field the Historian appears no more But the Observator having dispatched that adversary he finds out another and indeavours to be rescued from the back blowes of Dr. Barnard Indeed if there were any they could be no other for the Author there turned the back not the face being an Anonymus and so appeared in that disguised for he that smote a Clergie Man without his Priestly habit was thereby excused A man that walks in the dark may meet with a knock by such as mean him no harm for the Doctors aim was if I mistake not from his apprehension of the Authors disaffection to the Primate of Ireland endeavouring to blemish that worthy Prelate of our Church in some particulars following and gave it then suspected by the Arch-Bishop himself and others to be some Agent of the See of Rome though as yet not any one of them hath moved his tongue against this Isralite at his exile hence And wee may be sorry to see his sole enemies to be those of his own house in profession that out of themselves should arise Men speaking perverse things such pen and tongue combates are gratefull to none but to the grand adversary of us all It comes in my way by calm endeavours and command of the dead to vindicate him that holy Prelate and to compose what relates to him on either side specially in these two mistakes concerning the Articles of Ireland and the scandal put upon him in relation to the Earl of Straffords death as I have received it from himself and others and charged upon me to publish which was long since prepared by it self but after conceived more convenient to be inserted in this history First for the Articles of Religion established in the Church of Ireland Anno. 1615. and pretended to be abrogated Anno. 1634. it so far onely concerns the late Primate as being chosen by the Synode to draw them up which was no more a Scandal to them than for King Iames his sending into Ireland the Articles of Lambeth as the Author tells us were to those Indeed Dr. Heylen in his History of the Sabbath pag. 2. Cap. 8. hath
taken a latitude in affirming that the whole Book of Articles of Ireland was called in and in the place thereof the Articles of the Church of England confirmed by Parliament in that Kings name Anno. 1634. whom the Observator hath followed in the like terms pag. 241. and so both imagined to be from the same Person for there was no such motion made and indeed no likelyhood to have taken place there being then so many Papists of both Houses who would have received neither For the further clearing of which this part of a Letter will evidence being written by the late Primate in Answer to an Honourable person of this Kingdom upon the first coming forth of that Book As for Dr. Heylens relation concerning our Articles of Ireland it is much mistaken For first where he saith they did pass when his Majesties Commissioners were imployed about the settling of the Church Anno. 1615. and chargeth them with this strict aâ—sterity as he termeth it in the prescript and observation of the Lords day he sheweth himself very weak there having been no such Commissioners here at that time and our Articles having been published in Print divers years before that the Commissioners whom he meaneth came hither as Sir Nathaniel Rich who was one of them himself can sufficiently inform you Secondly where he saith he is sure that till that time the Lords day had never attained such credit as to be thought an Article of faith he speaks very idely He that would confound the ten Commandements whereof this must be accounted for one unless he will leave us but nine with the Articles of the faith had need be put to learn his Catechism again and he that would have every thing which is put into the Articles of Religion agreed upon in the Synod for the avoyding of diversity of opinions and for the maintenance of peace and uniformity in the Church to be held for an Article of the faith should do well to tell us whether he hath as yet admitted these two here instanced were not by way of diminution for he did highly approve of both as being most excellent composures but because they are either for the most part to be reckoned among the Agenda rather than the Credenda or that in both there are some circumstantials observed and exhorted unto onely for decency and order according to the wisdom of the Church which come not within the compass of the Creed as upon the view of them without descending to Particulars may easily appear the Book of the Ordination of Bishops and the two volums of Homilies into his creed for sure I am he shall finde these in the Articles of Religion agreed upon in the Synod held at London 1562. To which Dr. Heylin himself having subscribed I wonder with what face he can oppose the conclusion which he findeth directly laid down in the Homily of the time and place of prayer in the fourth Commandement God hath given express charge to all men that upon the Sabbath day which is now our Sunday for these are the plain words of the Homily which the Doctor with all his sophistry will never be able to elude they shall cease from all week-day labour to the intent that like as God himself wrought six daies and rested the seventh and blessed it and Sanctified it and consecrated it to quietness and rest from labour even so Gods obedient people should use the Sunday and rest from their common and dayly business and also give themselves wholly to heavenly exercise of Gods true Religion and service By the verdict of the Church of England I am sure the Lords day had attained such a pitch of credit as nothing more could be left to the Church of Ireland in their Articles afterward to adde unto it Thirdly he shameth not to affirm that the whole book of the Articles of Ireland is now called in which is a notorious untruth and lastly the Articles of the Church of England were confirmed by Parliament in this Kingdom Anno. 1634. which it is well known that they were not so much as once propounded to either house of Parliament or ever intended to be propounded the truth is that the house of convocation in the beginning of their Canons for the manifestation of their agreement with the Church of England in the confession of the same Christian faith and the Doctrine of the Sacraments as they themselves profess and for no other end in the world did receive and approve of the Articles of England but that either the Articles of Ireland were ever called in or any Articles or Canons at all were ever here confirmed by act of Parliament may well be reckoned among Dr. Heylins fancies who sheweth how little credit he deserveth in his Geography when he bringeth us news of the remote parts of the world that telleth us so many untruths of things so lately and so publiquely acted in his neighbour nation Now although this of that most Reverend Primate writ many years since with the said Certificate of Dr. Barnard and Dr. Pullein may be satisfactory that the said Articles were not repealed or abrogated for we must keep the Authors own terms who is so precise that he hath at large contended for it yet I shall further confirm it by this brief Narrative of the whole matter as I had it from such as were present First in the house of the Clergie which was then in the Cathedral of St. Patricks Dublin there was a motion made for the reception a new of the Articles of Ireland and all unanimous were for the affirmative excepting two who went out Another time the whole house of the Clergie being called into the Quire where the Bishops sat and the same thing again propounded to them they all stuck to their former vote excepting seven The intent of the whole Clergie being by this sufficiently understood and it appearing there was no need of any such confirmation having been Anno. 1615. fully and formally established that motion was no more repealed only the Primate was consulted conâ—erning the approving and receiving of the Articles of England also to which he readily consented therein being no substantial difference between them which he had subscribed himself voluntarily long before in England and conceiving it to be without any prejudice to the other Hereupon the first Canon being all that was done in relation to them was drawn up the Primate approved it and proposed it himself as president of the Synod in the House of the Bishops commended it to the House of the Clergie where by his motion many assented the more readily they all gave their Votes man by man excepting one person who suspended his out of the suspition that some might make that construction which is the Observators conclusion to whose Arguments somewhat may be answered His chief is from the words of the Canon where they do not onely approve but receive the Articles of England from this must infer a super inducing
and so an abrogation of those of Ireland Now there was not a reception of the one instead of the other but the one with the other there being no difference in substance but onely in method number of subjects determined and other circumstantials argue no more an abrogation then that doth of the Apostles Creed by our reception of the Nicene Creed and Athanasius's wherein some points are more enlarged Or that the reception into our use the form of the Lords prayer according to S. Matthew abrogates that of S. Luke being the shorter Neither do I see but if for the manifestation of the union of the whole Reformed Churches We then should approve and receive the Articles of Religion agreed in other Reformed Churches and they receive ours it were no abrogating of either And the difference in them being onely in Circumstantials and not in substance all might be called one confession That as of many Seas one Ocean of many National Churches one Catholique Church so of many formes of Confessions but one faith amongst them That Argument from the Apostles speech of making void the old Covenant by speaking of a new or taking in the first day of the week to be the Sabbath instead of the last when but one in seven was to be kept doth not fit the Case for in these there was a superinduction and reception of the one for the other but in the Canon the Articles of England are received not instead but with those of Ireland And the practise of divers Bishops confirms it who many years after that upon an Ordination examined the persons as formerly according to the Articles of Ireland and took their subscription of them And in this I shall give you the sence of a most eminent learned and judicious person upon the view of what the Observator rescued had written of it I have received saies he the Book you sent me and have perused it I see he will have the allowance of our Articles of England by the Synod in Ireland to be a virtual disanulling of the Irish Confession which I conceive saith nomore but that both Confessions were consistent And the Act of that Synod not a revocation of the Irish Articles but an approbation of ours as agreeing with them He hath his flings at the Sermon preached at the Lord Primates Funeral but in truth he wrongs himself and our Church in those detractions from him Now this being so that the Articles of Ireland were not abrogated nor by the Primate so apprehended where was the ground of any displeasure disaffection or former grudge pretended very uncharitably by the Observator to be the cause of the Lord Primates carrying a sharp tooth against the Earl of Strafford It could not be for the first Canons passing which was all that was done in it for himself proposed and commended it and such as were intimate with him never heard him express any displeasure to the Earl upon that account And what Arguments soever may now be picked out of the draught of the Canon to imply an abrogation virtually or legally which is the last refuge the Observator flies unto are of no force to prove his displeasure then who did not so apprehend it and if he had then taken any such offence they are strangers to that holy man that can believe he could smother a grudge so many years but for such as have so aspersed him I shall pray that the thoughts of their hearts may be forgiven them So much for the clearing of that mistake concerning the Articles of Ireland which being made the Foundation of that other Building we are next to enter upon must accordingly fall with it also viz. The second Scandal in putting forward of the Earl of Strafford 's death But first to the whole matter which I shall lay down as plainly and briefly as the business will bear it The House of Commons having voted the Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Strafford which with some difficulty passed at last the House of Lords also and so tendered to the King for his royal assent He refused it for the present as not being satisfied upon his Hearing the Charge and Defence with the Evidence on both sides of which himself was witness That no sufficient proof was made nor any Law then in force whereby the Earl could be guilty of high Treason It was therefore necessary that Judges for the Law and Divines for his Conscience should satisfie him therein and they were with him to that end sent for by him and not sent to him The Houses of Parliament already really assured that their Proceedings and Votes for the Earl's condemnation ought to be sufficient satisfaction for the King without scruple of his own conscience to sign to their judgment the King being a party in Life and Death of a Delinquent ought to confide in the Verdict of the Iury. Nor was the King present as to satisfie his own conscience but his curiosity and it had been a strange President in the Parliament to consent unto much less to send any persons to the King to clear his conscience contrary to the Parliaments sentence especially such persons not having Vote in the House as the Judges have not Nor are the Bishops so much as assistant in cause of bloud or death by the fourth Canon of the Council of Toledo And it is confessed by both Authours that the Judges and Divines also were not willing to give their Opinions point blank against the Vote in Parliament And certainly if they had they might well have expected to be further questioned for it But in truth the Judges told the King that in point of Law the Oath made by Sir Henry Vane of the Earls advice to raise Horse to aw this Nation the Earl was guilty of Treason which though but singularis testis and which circumstances have been taken for sufficient testimony in Treason and more the King could not draw from the Judges as to any other particular but they flew to their general Opinion that super totam materiam he was guilty The King then starts his last Doubt that in his conscience he could not pass the Bill although the Earl were guilty having promised him under his hand that his Prerogative should save him never to pass that Bill nor to consent to the acting of any thing to take away his life And this was now that point of conscience Breach of Promise mostly insisted upon wherein the Divines were to satisfie And we have heard what hath been said of them And now let us see what the Arch-bishop of Armagh is pleased to say and that under his own hand-writing The Arch-bishop of Armagh's Testimony in Answer to the Historian pag. 257. l. 29. That Sunday morning writes he wherein the King consulted with the four Bishops London Durham Lincoln and Carlile the Arch-bishop of Armagh was not present being then Preaching as he then accustomed every Lords day to do in the Church of
so many forward to engage against me who had made great Professions of singular pietie For this gave to vulgar mindes so bad a reflection upon me and my Cause as if it had been impossible to adhere to me and not withall part from God to think or speak well of me and not to blaspheme him so many were perswaded that these two were utterly inconsistent to be at once Loyal to me and truly Religious toward God Not but that I had I thank God many with me which were both Learned and Religious much above that ordinrie size and that vulgar proportion wherein some men glorie so much who were so well satisfied in the cause of my Sufferings that they chose rather to suffer with me than forsake me Nor is it strange that so Religious Preâ—ensions as were used against me should be to many well-minded men a great tempâ—ation to oppose me especially being urged by such popular Preachers as think it no sin to lie for God and what they please to call Gods cause cursing all that will not curse with them looking so much at and crying up the goodness of the end propounded that they consider not the lawfulness of the means used nor the depth of the mischief chiefly plotted and intended The weakness of these mens judgments must be made up by their clamours and activitie It was a great part of some mens Religion to scandalize me and mine they thought theirs could not be true if they cried not down mine as false I thank God I have had more trial of his grace as to the constancie of my Religion in the Protestant Profession of the Church of England both abroad and at home than ever they are like to have Nor do I know any Exception I am so liable to in their opinion as too great a fixedness in that Religion whose judicious and solid Grounds both from Scripture and Antiquitie will not give my Conscience leave to approve or consent to those many dangerous and divided Innovations which the bold Ignorance of some men would needs obtrude upon me and my People Contrarie to those wel-tried Foundations both of Truth and Order which men of far greater Learning and clearer Zeal have settled in the Confession and Constitution of this Church in England which many former Parliaments in the most calm and unpassionate times have oft confirmed in which I shall ever by Gods help persevere as believing it hath most of Primitive Truth and Order Nor did my using the assistance of some Papists which were my Subjects any way fight against my Religion as some men would needs interpret it especially those who least of all men cared whom they imploied or what they said and did so they might prevail 'T is strange that so wise men as they would be esteemed should not conceive That Differences of perswasion in matters of Religion may easily fall out where there is the sameness of Dutie Allegiance and Subjection The first they own as men and Christians to God The second they ow to me in common as their King Different Professions in point of Religion cannot any more than in civil Trades take away the communitte of Relations either to Parents or to Princes And where is there such an Oglio or Medley of various Religions in the World again as those men entertain in their service who finde most fault with me without any scruple as to the diversitie of their Sects and Opinions It was indeed a foul and indelible shame for such as would be counted Protestants to enforce me a declared Protestant their Lord and King to a necessarie use of Papists or any other who did but their Dutie to help me to defend my self Nor did I more than is lawfull for any King in such Exigents to use the aid of any his Subjects I am sorrie the Papists should have a greater sense of their Allegiance than many Protestant Professours who seem to have learned and to practise the worst Principles of the worst Papists Indeed it had been a verie impertinent and unseasonable scruple in me and verie pleasing no doubt to mine Enemies to have been then disputing the Points of different Beliefs in my Subjects when I was disputed with by Swords points and when I needed the help of my Subjects as men no less than their praiers as Christians The noise of my Evil Counsellours was another usefull Devise for those who were impatient any mens counsel but their own should be followed in Church and State who were so eager in giving me better counsel that they would not give me leave to take it with freedom as a Man or Honour as a King making their counsels more like a Drench that must be poured down than a Draught which might be fairly and leisurely drunk if I liked it I will not justifie beyond humane Errours and Frailties my self or my Counsellours they might be subject to some Miscarriages yet such as were far more reparable by second and better thoughts than those enormous Extravagancies wherewith some men have now wildered and almost quite lost both Church and State The event of things at last will make it evident to my Subjects that had I followed the worst counsels that my worst Counsellours ever had the boldness to offer to me or my self any inclination to use I could not so soon have brought both Church and State in three flourishing Kingdoms to such a Chaos of Confusions and Hell of Miseries as some have done out of which they cannot or will not in the midst of their many great Advantages redeem either me or my Subjects No men were more willing to complain than I was to redress what I saw in Reason was either done or advised amiss and this I thought I had done even beyond the expectation of moderate men who were sorrie to see me prone even to injure my self out of a zeal to relieve my Subjects But other mens insatiable Desire of Revenge upon me my Court and my Clergie hath wholly beguiled both Church and State of the benefit of all my either Retractations or Concessions and withall hath deprived all those now so zealous Persecutours both of the comfort and reward of their former pretended Persecutions wherein they so much gloried among the vulgar and which indeed a truly humble Christian will so highly prize as rather not to be relieved than be revenged so as to be bereaved of that Crown of Christian Patience which attends humble and injured Sufferers Another Artifice used to with-draw my Peoples Affections from me to their Designs was the noise and ostentation of Libertie which men are not more prone to desire than unapt to bear in the popular sense which is to do what every man liketh best If the divinest Libertie be to will what men should and to do what they so will according to Reason Laws and Religion I envie not my Subjects that Libertie which is all I desire to enjoy my self so far am I from the desire of
this Kingdom by a most wicked and cruel Rebellion there and to divide the King from his Parliament and people here and by false slanders and imputations of things never done nor intended by us hath incensed his Majestie so as that after many bitter Invecâ—ives published against us without any just cause given he hath now at lastresolved to set up his Royal Standard and draw his Sword for the destruction and ruine of his most faithfull and obedient people whom by the Laws and Constitutions of this Kingdom he is bound to preserve and protect The cases and the fortunes of both Estates being so involved and united we cannot expect to be hindred by them in our just defence or that they will do any thing to aggravate the Miseries and Troubles of this Kingdom in the peace and happiness whereof they have found much advantage and by such unfriendly and unseasonable Supplies of our common Enemies make a way to their own as well as our ruine We therefore desire they may betimes look into this mischief and having searched it into the bottom to stop the further progress of it That they will not suffer more Ordnance Armour or any other like warlike provision to be brought over to strengthen those who as soon as they shall prevail against the Parliament according to their principles and interests by which they are guided will use that strength to the ruine of those from whom they have had it We desire they would not send over any Countreymen to further our Destruction who were sent to them for their preservation That they will not anticipate the spilling of English bloud in an unnatural civil War which hath been so chearfully and plentifully hazzarded and spent in that just and honourable Waâ— by which they have been so long preserved and to which the bloud of those persons and many other Subjects of this Kingdom is still in a manner dedicated but rather that they will cashier and discard from their Employment those that will presume to come over for that purpose And in satisfying these our reasonable and necessarie Desires they shall thereby not onely secure us but themselves yea they shall most of all advantage his Majestie for whose service those things are pretended to be done The question between his Majestie and Parliament is not whether he shall enjoy the same prerogative and power which hath belonged to our former Kings his Majesties royal predecessours but whether that prerogative and power should be imployed to our defence or to our ruine We expect nothing from him but securitie and protection from those mischievous Designs which have been so often multiplied and renewed against us though hitherto through Gods providence as often frustrated It cannot be denied by those who look indifferently on our proceedings and affairs but that it will be more honour and wealth safetie and greatness to his Majestie in concurring with his Parliament than in the course in which he now is but so unhappie hath his Majestie and the Kingdom been in those who have the greatest influence upon his Counsels that they look more upon the prevailing of their own pâ—rtie than upon any those great Advantages both to his Crown and Royal Person which he might obtain by joyning with his people And so cunning are those Factors for Poperie in prosecution of their own aims that they can put on a counterfeit visage of honour peace and greatness upon those courses and counsels which have no truth and realtie but of weakness dishonour and miseries to his Majestie and whole Kingdom We have lately expressed our earnest Inclinations to that National love and amitie with the United Provinces which is nourished and confirmed by so many civil respects and mutual interests as makes it so natural to us that we have this Parliament in our humble Petition to his Majestie desired we might be joyned with that State in a more near and strait League and union And we cannot but expect some returns from them of the like expressions and that they will be so far from blowing the fire which begins to kindle amongst us that they will rather endeavour to quench it by strengthening and encouraging us who have no other Design but not to be destroyed and preserve our Religion save our selves and the other Reformed Churches of Christendom from the massacres and extirpations with which the principles of the popish Religion do threaten us and them which are begun to be acted in Ireland and in the hopes endeavours and intentions of that partie had long since been executed upon us if the mercie favour and blessing of Almightie God had not superabounded and prevented the subtiltie and malignitie of cruel wicked and bloud-thirstie men And thus being fleshed they go on amain having seized the Kings Magazines Forts Navy and Militia leaving him naked and indisposed no doubt to the beginning of this War whereof himself complains How untruly I am charged says he with the first raising of an Armie and beginning this Civil War the eys that onely pitie me and the loyal hearts that durst onely pray for me at first might witness which yet appear not so many on my side as there were men in Arms listed against me mine unpreparedness for a War may well dishearten those that would help me while it argues truly mine unwillingness to fight yet it testifies for me that I am set on the defensive part having so little hopes or power to offend others that I have none to defend my self or to preserve what is mine own from their prerâ—ption No man can doubt but they prevented me in their purposes as well as their injuries who are so much before hand in their preparations against me and surprisals of my strength Such as are not for them yet dare not be for me so over-aw'd is their loyaltie by the others numbers and terrours I believe mine innocencie and unpreparedness to assert my Rights and Honour makes me the more guiltie in their esteem who would not so easily have declared a War against me if I had first assaulted them They knew my chiefest Arms left me were those onely which the Ancient Christians were wont to use against their Persecutours Prayers and Tears These may serve a good man's turn if not to conquer as a Souldier yet to suffer as a Martyr Their preventing of me and surprizing my Castles Forts Arms and Navie with the Militia is so far best for me That it may drive me from putting any trust in the arm of flesh and wholly to cast my self into the protection of the living God who can save by few or none as well as by many He that made the greedie Ravens to be Elias's Caterers and bring him food may also make their surprizal of outward force and defence an opportunitie to shew me the special support of his power and protection I thank God I reckon not now the want of the Militia so much in reference to mine own protection as my
Companies of Horse under command of Sir Charls Cavendish Brother to the Earl of Newcastle the Enemy having left within Nottingham a thousand Foot The Queen marched with three thousand Foot thirty Companies of Horse and Dragoons six Pieces of Cannon and two Morters Mr. Iermin commanding all these Forces as Colonel of her Guard and Sir Alexander Lesley a traiterous cowardly murderous Scot ordered the Foot and Sir Gerard the Horse and Captain Leg the Artillery and her Majesty Generalissima extremely diligent with an hundred and fifty Wagons The King and Queen met at Edg-hill the first time since she landed out of Holland and so to Oxford where she continued till the seventeenth of April the next year and then she took her last leave of the King at Abington for the West and was brought to Bed at Exeter of a Daughter the sixteenth of Iune named Henrieta Maria and afterwards in Cornwall she passed over to France lands at Brest the fifteenth of Iuly and so to Paris where she since continues a sad sorrowfull afflicted Princess with incomparable sufferings which she hath undergone And now comes over an Ambassadour from France Monsieur Harcourt to mediate an Accommodation between the King and Parliament but prevailed not and so returned it being rather a flourish from the policy of Cardinal Mazarine to pry into the Actions of this great Difference and so to set them at a greater distance for it was Richlien's Master-piece to frame the Quarrel first and now for Mazarine not unlike to put them far asunder And presently after is Sir William Armin sent to Edinburgh from the Parliament to hasten the Scots Army hither having first sworn to the Solemn League and Covenant each to other The English Presbyters now scotiâ—ied throughout take Example by the Brethrens Principles in their former Insurrections of Scotland and therefore as they did heretofore so now the Parliament engage that Nation in a strict solemn League by Vow Oath and Covenant taken by the Parliament and afterwards sent down to all the Counties in England and Wales upon which the King observes That the Presbyterian Scots are not to be hired at the ordinary Rate of Auxiliaries nothing will induce them to engage till those that call them in have pawned their Souls to them by a solemn League and Covenant Where many Engines of religious and fair pretensions are brought chiefly to batter or rase Episcopacy This they make the grand evil Spirit which with some other Imps purposely added to make it more odious and terrible to the Vulgar must by so solemn a Charm and Exorcism be cast out of this Church after more than a thousand years possession here from the first plantation of Christianity in this Island and an universal prescription of time and practice in all other Churches since the Apostle's times till this last Century But no Antiquity must plead for it Presbytery like a young Heir thinks the Father hath lived long enough and impatient not to be in the Bishop's Chair and Authority though Lay-men go away with the Revenues all Art is used to sink Episcopacy and lanch Presbytery in England which was lately buoyed up in Scotland by the like artifice of a Covenant Although I am unsatisfied with many passages in that Covenant some referring to my self with very dubious and dangerous limitations yet I chiefly wonder at the Design and drift touching the Discipline and Governmet of the Church and such a manner of carrying them on to new ways by Oaths and Covenants where it is hard for men to be engaged by no less than swearing for or against those things which are of no clear moral necessity but very disputable and controverted among learned and godly men whereto the application of Oaths can hardly be made and enjoyned with that judgment and certainty in one's self or that charity and candour to others of different opinion as I think Religion requires which never refuses fair and equable Deliberations yea and Dissentings too in matters onely probable The enjoining of Oaths upon People must needs in things doubtfull be dangerous as in things unlawfull damnable and no less superfluous where former religious and legal Engagements bound men sufficiently to all necessary duties Nor can I see how they will reconcile such an Innovating Oath and Covenant with that former Protestation which was so lately taken to maintain the Religion established in the Church of England since they account Discipline so great a part of Religion Bâ—t ambitious mindes never think they have laid Snares and Gins enough to catch and hold the Vulgar credulity for by such politick and seemingly pious Stratagems they think to keep the populacie fast to their parties under the terrour of perjurie Whereas certainly all honest and wise men ever thought themselves sufficiently bound by former ties of Religion Allegiance and Laws to God and Man Nor can such after-contracts devised and imposed by a few men in a declared partie without my consent and without any like power or precedent from God's or Man's Laws be ever thought by judicious men sufficient either to absolve or slacken those moral and eternal bonds of dutie which lie upon all my Subjects consciences both to God and me Yet as things now stand good men shall least offend God or me by keeping their Covenant in honest and lawfull ways since I have the charity to think that the chief end of the Covenant in such mens intentions was to preserve Religion in purity and the Kingdoms in peace To other than such ends and means they cannot think themselves engaged nor will those that have any true touches of conscience endeavour to carry on the best Designs much less such as are and will be daily more apparently factious and ambitious by any unlawfull means under that title of the Covenant unless they dare prefer ambiguous dangerous and un-authorized novelties before their known and sworn Duties which are indispensible both to God and my self I am prone to believe and hope That many who took the Covenant are yet firm to this judgment That such later Vows Oaths or Leagues can never blot out those former Gravings and Characters which by just and lawfull Oaths were made upon their Souls That which makes such Confederations by way of solemn Leagues and Covenants more to be suspected is That they are the common Road used in all factious and powerfull perturbations of State or Church where formalities of extraordinary zeal and piety are never more studied and elaborate than when Politicians most agitate desperate Designs against all that is setled or sacred in Religion and Laws which by such Scrâ—â—es are cunningly yet forcibly wrested by secret steps and less sensible degrees from their known Rule and wonted Practice to comply with the humours of those men who aim to subdue all to their own will and power under the Disguises of holy Combinations Which Cords and Wit hs will hold mens Consciences no longer than force
attends and twists them for every man soon grows his own Pope and easily absolves himself of those ties which not the commands of God's Word or the Laws of the Land but onely the subtilty and terrour of a party casts upon him either superfluous and vain when they were sufficiently tied before or fraudulent and injurious if by such after-ligaments they finde the Imposers really aiming to dissolve or suspend their former just and necessary obligation Indeed such illegal ways seldom or never intend the engaging men more to Duties but onely to Parties therefore it is not regarded how they keep their Covenants in point of piety pretended provided they adhere firmly to the Party and Design intended I see the Imposers of it are content to make their Covenant like Manna not that it came from Heaven as this did agreeable to every man's palate and relish who will but swallow it They admit any mens senses of it though divers or contrary with any Salvo's Cautions and Reservations so as they cross not the chief Design which is laid against the Church and me It is enough if they get but the Reputation of a seeming increase to their party so little men remember that God is not mocked In such latitudes of sense I believe many that love me and the Church well may have taken the Covenant who yet are not so fondly and superstitiously taken by it as now to act clearly against both all piety and loyalty who first yielded to it more to prevent that imminent violence and ruine which hung over their heads in case they wholly refused it than for any value of it or devotion to it Wherein the latitude of some general Clauses may perhaps serve somewhat to relieve them as of Doing and endeavouring what lawfully they may in their Places and Callings and according to the Word of God for these indeed carry no man beyond those bounds of good Conscience which are certain and fixed either in God's Laws as to the general or the Laws of the State and Kingdom as to the particular Regulation and Exercise of mens duties I would to God such as glory most in the name of Covenanters would keep themselves within those lawfull bounds to which God hath called them Surely it were the best way to expiate the rashness of taking it which must needs then appear when besides the want of a full and lawfull Authority at first to enjoyn it it shall actually be carried on beyond and against those ends which were in it specified and pretended I willingly forgive such mens taking the Covenant who keep it within such bounds of Piety Law and Loyalty as can never hurt either the Church myself or the Publick Peace Against which no man's lawfull Calling can engage him As for that Reformation of the Church which the Covenant pretends I cannot think it just or comely that by the partial advice of a few Divines of so soft and servile tempers as disposed them to so sudden acting and compliance contrary to their former judgments profession and practice such foul scandals and suspitions shouldbe cast upon the Doctrine and Government of the Church of England as was never done that I have heard by any that deserved the name of Reformed Churches abroad nor by any men of learning and candour at home all whose judgments I cannot but prefer before any mens now factiously engaged No man can be more forward than my self to carry on all due Reformations with mature judgment and a good Conscience in what things I shall after impartial advice be by God's Word and right Reason convinced to be amise I have offered more than ever the fullest freest and wisest Parliaments did desire But the sequel of some mens actions makes it evident that the main Reformation intended is the abasing of Episcopaâ—ie into Presbyterie and the Robbing the Church of its Lands and Revenues For no men have been more injuriously used as to their legal Rights than the Bishops and Church-men These as the fattest Deer must be destroyed the other Rascal herd of Schisms Heresies c. being lean may enjoy the benefit of a Toleration Thus Naboth's Vineyard made him the onely Blasphemer of his Citie and fit to die Still I see while the breath of Religion fills the Sails Profit is the Compass by which Factious men steer their Course in all seditious Commotions I thank God as no man lay more open to the sacrilegious temptation of usurping the Churches Lands and Revenues which issuing chiefly from the Crown are held of it and legally can revert onely to the Crown with my consent so I have always had such a perfect abhorrence of it in my Soul that I never found the least inclination to suâ—â— sacrilegious Reformings yet no man hath a greater desire to have Bishops and all Church-men so reformed that they may best deserve and use not onely what the pious Munificence of my Predeâ—essours hath given to God and the Church but all other additions of Christian bountie But no necessitie shall ever I hope drive me or mine to invade or sell the Priests Lands which both Pharaoh's divinitie and Joseph's true pietie abhorred to do so unjust I think it both in the eye of Reason and Religion to deprive the most sacred Emploiment of all due Encouragements and like that other hard-hearted Pharaoh to with-draw the Straw and increase the Task so pursuing the oppressed Church as some have done to the Red Sea of a Civil War where nothing but a Miracle can save either It or Him who esteems it his greatest Title to be called and his chiefest glorie to be The Defender of the Church both in its true Faith and its just Fruitions equally abhorring Sacrilege and Apostacy I had rather live as my Predecessour Henry the third sometime did on the Churches Alms than violently to take the Bread out of the Bishops and Ministers mouths The next work will be Jerboam's Reformation consecrating the meanest of the People to be Priests in Israel to serve those golden Calves who have enriched themselves with the Churches Patrimoniâ— and Dowrie which how it thrived both with Prince Priests and People is well enough known And so it will be here when from the tuition of Kings and Queens which have been nursing Fathers and Mothers of this Church it shall be at their allowance who have already discovered what hard Fathers and Step-mothers they will be If the povertie of Scotland might yet the plentie of England cannot excuse the Envie and Rapine of the Churches Rights and Revenues I cannot so much as pray God to prevent those sad consequences which will inevitably follow the paritie and povertie of Ministers both in Church and State since I think it no less than a mocking and tempting of God to desire him to hinder those Mischiefs whose Occasions and Remedies are in our own power it being every man's sin not to avoid the one and not to use the other There are ways enough to repair
Eccleshal Castle surrounded with the Enemies Garisons the Governour the more wary adds to his former number of Men and gets in good Provisions and prepares for a Siege And long it was not ere Sir William Brereton Colonel Gell Colonel Greeves Colonel Ridgby and Colonel Iackson joyning Forces with the Counties of Stafford and Derby fell suddenly into Eccleshal Town and with easie bickering got possession of it standing in guard within the Church which faces the Castle The Governour burns all about not an Out-house Barn or Stable affords them other shelter The next day Brereton summons the Castle for the King and Parliament Bird makes present Answer That his Commission was to keep it for the King and unless the other could produce his Majesties Warrant to the contrary it would be labour lost to expect any other Reply but what power and strength should enforce Immediately the Besiegers with two Pieces of Cannon of four and twenty pound Bullet played all day against the Wall without any effect the next day they battered a Turret which at the last fell down and hurt three men and so their Ordnance continued their utmost force for a Week vvhen by so long trial they could not make any Breach they drevv off their Guns and made a Line to surround the Castle not so soon done but that they vvere fain to endure the good effects of several Sallies out of the Castle whereby he lost a Lieutenant and others and some hurt with greater execution on the Enemy And thus it continued for some Moneths with extremity to whose Relief the King sends in September the Lord Capel and the Lord Loughborough with considerable Forces against whom the Besiegers not able to withstand quit their Trenches and retire to the Church and there fortified themselves Then forthwith the Governour sends out what Forces he could spare joyning with the Lords sufficient now to attempt upon the Church by straitning or storming But it seems they had order onely to relieve the Castle not to fight afterwards and force the Enemy away but to be gon themselves and so to leave the business to desperation which the Governour knew would be destruction which he could not prevent and therefore with long dispute and many reasons offered and nothing prevailing he delivered it up to the Lords who put in one Captain Abel a Dane to command there But the old Souldiers not pleased with their New Governour and a stranger to them and a Foreign most of them immediately quit their service and marched away with Captain Bird. The Castle thus relieved the Parliament Commanders call a Council and now resolve to draw off and quit the Siege but a false brother discovering the weakness of the Castle and the discontent with their New Governour the Enemy attempts the battery again and after two daies the Dane surrenders it upon reasonable quarter Thus while the fight they Parliaments Ordinance commands all men to pay nothing to his Majesty the Queen or Prince which is due or ought to be paid unto them whereas the Lords and Commons in September last passed an Ordinance for seizing upon all his Majesties the Queens and Princes Revenues and for receiving all and all manner of Rents certain or casual in England and Wales with all the Arrears and Debts any way due to his Majesty Queen or Prince shall be paid to the Receivers of the Committee for the Revenue c. whose Acquittances shall be sufficient discharge There was late news from Virginia that the Plantation there denied contribution to the Emissaries of the Parliament complaining of the obstruction of their trade at London whereupon an Ordinance of Moderation came forth For abating the Excise upon Virginia Tobacco that the Protestants their brethren in other Countries may not suffer among Malignants and Delinquents in England endeavouring to gain upon Foreign Plantations which in truth were first setled mostly by such as could not indure Discipline at home Sir William Waller having deserved well of the Houses had a new Commission to be Sergeant Major General of Hampshire Surrey Sussex and Kent having layen long before Arundel Castle and this Commission being promised heretofore the General Essex obstructed it being suspected to play his own game with much vanity It was wonderfull how much the Lectures were frequented in London the Town so full of Schollars calling themselves plundred Ministers and so began the coloured Leaguer long Cloak Boots and Spurs as constantly in the Pulpit as heretofore the Gown Canonical Cloak or Cassock but then the Independant a new name for such as liked neither were working to set up themselves or rather thaâ— spirit that set the other at work plaies tricks with them and scatters them into thoughts and factions grinning on each other but yet not setled into tenents neither so that moderate men could not as yet tell what to make of either The Parliament therefore publish their Manifest in effect That it belongs to Christian Magistrates to be Leaders in Reformation of the Church That it is the dutyâ— of all people to pray for them and wait upon them That the Parliament have required the Assembly of Divines to make the VVord of God their own Rule That nothing can be more destructive against the cause of Religion than to be divided amongst themselves That the Assembly and Parliament for so it runs will not onely reform Religion throughout the Nation but will concur to whatsoever shall appear to be the Rights of particular Congregations That all people forbear till they see whether the right Rule will not be commended to them in this orderly way we enjoying more Liberty to serve God than ever was seen in England Here 's fast and loose the People in doubt what Profession to undertake or by this Declaration of what Religion was the Parliament then began Iack Presbyter so styled to be baffled in every Pamphlet and they again to return encounters the people had sport enough to be for neither and in truth of no profession at all but went a wool-gathering to pick up the flieces pilled from the Orthodox Ministry now in much misery mourning for the fall of Sion The Committee for Innovations appointed Workmen to pull down that famous Organ in St. Paul's Church at London and it was imprinted the like they did in King Henry the Seventh's Chapell at VVestminster and all other parochial Churches in and about London and so by degrees the whole Church of Paul's not repairing but uncovering the Roof whereby in time the whole Church and Steeple will fall down after so great a Sum of Money that had been heretofore contributed to the Repair or rather re-edifying thereof more gracefull than the first erecting And now the Parliament do publish That whereas his Majesty doth make a VVar against his Parliament for the promoting thereof divers Forces both of Horse and Foot have been and are levied therefore that no man be mislead through ignorance the
am sure the Sale of their King was never inserted in their Solemn Covenant and for the true effects of their Declaration let the King give them an Answer for upon the calling in of them and their coming he avers That the Scots are a Nation upon whom I have not onely common Ties of Nature Sovereignty and Bounty with my Father of blessed memory but also special and late obligations of favours having gratified the active Spirits among them so far that I seemed to many to prefer the desires of that party before mine own Interest and Honour But I see Royal bounty emboldens some men to ask and act beyond all bounds of modesty and gratitude My charity and Act of Pacification forbids me to reflect on former passages wherein I shall ever be far from letting any mans ingratitude or inconstancy make me repent of what I granted them for the publick good I pray God it may so prove The coming again of that Party into England with an Army onely to conform this Church to their late New Model cannot but seem as unreasonable as they would have thought the same measure offered from hence to themselves Other Errand I could never understand they had besides those common and vulgar flourishes for Religion and Liberty save onely to confirm the Presbyterian Copy they had set by making this Church to write after them though it were in bloudy Characters Which design and end whether it will justifie the use of such violent means before the divine Iustice I leave to their Consciences to judg who have already felt the misery of the means but not reaped the benefit of the end either in this Kingdom or that Such knots and crosness of grain being objected here as will hardly suffer that Form which they cry up as the onely just Reformation and setling of Government and Discipline in Churches to go on so smoothly here as it might do in Scotland and was by them imagined would have done in England when so many of the English Clergie through levity or discontent if no worse passion suddenly quitted their former Engagements to Episcopacy and faced about to their Presbytery It cannotâ— but seem either passion or some self-seeking more than true Zeal and pious Discretion for any foreign State or Church to prescribe such Medicines onely for others which themselves have used rather succesfully than commendably not considering that the same Physick on different constitutions will have different operations That may kill one which doth but cure another Nor do I know any such tough and malignant humours in the constitution of the English Church which gentler Applications than those of an Army might not easily have removed Nor is it so proper to hew out religious Reformations by the Sword as to polish them by fair and equal Disputations among those that are most concerned in the Differences whom not Force but Reason ought to convince But their Design now seemed rather to cut off all Disputation here than to procure a fair and equal one For it was concluded there that the English Clergie must conform to the Scot's pattern before ever they could be heard what they could say for themselves or against the other's way I could have wish'd fairer proceedings both for their credits who urge things with such violence and for other mens Consciences too who can receive little satisfaction in these points which are maintained rather by Souldiers fighting in the Fields than Scholars disputing in free and learned Synods Sure in matters of Religion those Truths gain most on mens Iudgments and Consciences which are least urged with secular violence which weakens Truth with prejudices and is unreasonable to be used till such means of rational conviction have been applied as leaving no excuse for ignorance condemn mens obstinacy to deserved penalties Which no charity will easily suspect of so many learned and pious Church-men in England who being always bred up and conformable to the Government of Episcopacy cannot so soon renounce both their former opinion and practice onely because that party of the Scots will needs by force assist a like party here either to drive all Ministers as Sheep into the common Fold of Presbytery or destroy them at least fliece them by depriving them of the benefit of their Flocks If the Scotch sole Presbytery were proved to be the onely Institution of Jesus Christ for all Churches Government yet I believe it would be hard to prove that Christ had given those Scots or any other of my Subjects Commission by the Sword to set it up in any of my Kingdoms without my Consent What respect and obedience Christ and his Apostles paid to the chief Governours of States where they lived is very clear in the Gospel but that he or they ever commanded to set up such a parity of Presbyters and in such a way as those Scots endeavour I think is not very disputable If Presbytery in such a supremacy be an Institution of Christ sure it differs from all others and is the first and onely point of Christianity that was to be planted and watered with so much Christian bloud whose effusion runs in a stream so contrary to that of the Primitive Planters both of Christianity and Episcopacy which was with patient shedding of their own bloud not violent drawing other mens Sure there is too much of Man in it to have much of Christ none of whose Institutions were carried on or begun with the temptations of Covetousness or Ambition of both which this is vehemently suspected Yet was there never any thing upon the point which those Scots had by Army or Commissioners to move me with by their many Solemn Obtestations and pious threatnings but only this to represent to Me the wonderful necessitie of setting up their Presbytery in England to avoid the further miseries of a War which som men chiefly on this design at first had begun and now further engaged themselves to continue What hinders that any Sects Schisms or Heresies if they can get but number strength and opportunity may not according to this opinion and pattern set up their waies by the like methods of violence all which Presbytery seek's to suppresse and render odious under those names when wise and learned men think that nothing hath more marks of Schism and Sectarism then this Presbyterian way both as to the Ancient and still most Universal way of the Châ—â—ch-Government and especially as to the particular Laws and Constitutions of this English Church which are not yet repealed nor are like to be for Mee till I see more Rational and Religious motives then Souldiers use to carry in their Knapsacks But we must leave the success of all to God who hath many waies having first taken us off from the folly of our opinions and fury of our passion to teach us those rules of true Reason and peaceable Wisdom which is from above tending most to God's glory and his Churches good which I think My self
Close Committee For Subjects to make foreign Confederacies without their Soveraigns assent to invade the Territories of their undoubted King to go about by force to change the Laws and Religion established is grosse Treason without all contradiction and in this case it argues strongly who have been the Contrivers and Fomenters of all our Troubles No Covenant whatsoever or with whomsoever can justifie such proceedings or oblige a Subject to run such disloyal courses If any man out of Ignorance or Fear or Credulity have entred into such a Covenant it bindes him not except it be to Repentance Neitheâ— is there any such necessity as is pretended of your present posture your selves cannot allege that you are any way provoked by us neither are we conscious to our selves of the least intention to molest you Those ends which you propose are plausible indeed to them who do not understand them the blackest Designs did never want the same pretences If by the Protestant Religion you intend our Articles which are the publick Confession of our Church and our Book of Common Prayer established by Act of Parliament you need not trouble your selves we are ready to defend them with our Bloud If it be otherwise it is plain to all the World that it is not the Preservation but the Innovation of Religion which you seek however by you styled Reformation And what calling have you to refâ—rm us by the Sword We do not remember that ever the like indignity was offered by one Nation to another by a lesser to a greater That those men who have heretofore pleaded to vehemently for Liberty of Conscience against all Oaths and Subscriptions should now assume a power to themselves by Arms to impose a Law upon the Consciences of their fellow Subjects A vanquished Nation would scarce endure such Terms from their Conquerours But this we are sure of that this is the way to make the Protestant Religion odious to all Monarchs Christian and Pagan Your other two ends that is the honour and happiness of the King and the publick Peace and Liberty of his Dominions are so manifestly contrary to your practice that we need no other motives to withdraw you from such a course as tends so directly to make his Majesty contemptible at home and abroad and to fill all his Dominions with Rapine and Bloud In an Army all have not the same intentions We have seen the Articles agreed upon and those vast Sums and Conditions contained in them as if our Countreymen thought that England was indeed a Well that could never be drawn dry and whatsoever the intentions be we know right well what will be the consequents if it were otherwise no intention or consequent whatsoever can justifie an unlawfull action And therefore you do wisely to decline all disputation about it it is an easie thing to pretend the Cause of God as the Jews did the Temple of the Lord but this is far from those evident Demonstrations which you often mention never make Consider that there must be an account given to God of all the Bloud which shall be shed in this Quarrel The way to prevent it is not by such insinuations but to retire before the Sword be unsheathed or the Breach be made too wide you cannot think we are grown such tame Creatures to desert our Religion our Laws our Liberties our Estates upon command of Foreigners and to suffer our selves and our Posterity to be made Beggars and Slaves without opposition If any of ours shall joyn with you in this Action we cannot look upon them otherwise than as Traitours to their King Vipers to their native Countrey and such as have been Plotters or Fomenters of this Design from the beginning But if mis-information or fear hath drawn any of yours ignorantly or unwillingly into this Cause we desire them to withdraw themselve at last and not to make themselves Accessaries to that Deluge of Mischief which this second Voyage is like to bring upon both Kingdoms The Scots for a Moneth together have likewise spread abroad this slander That divers of the Nobility have lately deserted the King which the Lords of the Assembly of Parliament at Oxford took upon them to convince that in time to come there might not be left one Loop-hole of Excuse for this their Rebellion Directing their Letters To the Lords of the Privy Council and Conservatours of the Peace of the Kingdom of Scotland Our very good Lords If for no other reason yet that Posterity may know we have done our Duties and not sate still whilest our Brethren of Scotland were transported with a dangerous and fatal misunderstanding c. We have thought it necessary to tell you that when you are informed that the Earls of Arundel and Thanet and the Lords of Stafford Stanhop Coventry Goring and Craven are beyond Seas and the Earls of Chesterfield Westmerland and the Lord Montague of Boughton under restraint at London for their Loyalty and Duty to his Majesty and the Kingdom your Lordships will easily conclude how very few now make up the Peers at Westminster there being not above five and twenty Lords present or privy to these Councils And so they go on to give their Reasons why this Assembly at Oxford are dissenting and absent from Westminster being forced away by the Multitude of the meaner sort of the City Rabble of London and prosecuted by unparliamentary Debates and Votes without freedom or safety to their Lives And therefore we do protest against any Invitation made to the Scotish Nation to enter this Kingdom with an Army And we do conjure your Lordships by our common Allegeance under one gracious Sovereign by the amity and affection of both Nations by the Treaty of Pacification and by all obligation divine and humane which can preserve peace upon earth to prevent the effusion of so much Christian Bloud and the confusion and desolation which must follow this Invasion c. And therefore your Lordships may be assured we shall expose our lives and fortunes in the just and necessary defence of the Kingdom Engaging our Honours to be our selves most religious observers of the Act of Pacification and we hope to receive such an answer from you as may preserve the two Nations c. Your Lorships most affectionate humble servants And signed by all the Lords and Peers of the great Assembly at Oxford about sixty as before in the Roll aforesaid We will end this year with Prince Ruperts relief of that gallant Garison at Newark from the three weeks hot siege of Sir Iohn Meldrum for the Parliament wasting his Army from seven thousand to five thousand the manner was thus Prince Rupert being at West-Chester upon Tuesday night March 12. received his Majesties commands to march with all speed to the relief of Newark with four thousand Foot under five Regiments and four Colours and two thousand Horse and Dragooners Upon these Summons he made haste to Shrewsbury speeding away Major Legge General of the
Forms of constant Praiers must be not amended in what upon free and publick advice might seem to sober men inconvenient for matter or manner to which I should easily consent but wholly cashiered and abolished and after many popular contempts offered to the Book and those that used it according to their Consciences and the Laws in force it must be crucified by an Ordinance the better to please either those men who gloried in their extemporarie vein and fluency or others who conscious to their own formalitie in the use of it thought they fully expâ—ated their sin of not using it aright by laying all the blame upon it and a total rejection of it as a dead letter thereby to excuse the deadness of their hearts As for the matter contained in the Book sober and learned men have sufficiently vindicated it against the cavils and exceptions of those who thought it a part of piety to make what prophane objections they could against it especially for Poperie and Superstition whereas no doubt the Liturgie was exactly conformed to the doctrine of the Church of England and this by all Reformed Churches is confessed to be most sound and Orthodox For the manner of using Set and Prescribed Forms there is no doubt but that wholsom words being known and fitted to mens understandings are soonest received into their hearts and aptest to excite and carrie along with them Iudicious and Fervent Affections Nor do I see any reason why Christians should be weary of a well-composed Liturgie as I hold this to be more then of all other things wherein the Constancie abates nothing of the excellencie and usefulness I could never see any Reason why any Christian should abhor or be forbidden to use the same Forms of Praier since he praies to the same God believes in the same Saviour professeth the same truths reads the same Scriptures hath the same duties upon him and feels the same daily wants for the most part both inward and outward which are common to the whole Church Sure we may as well before-hand know what we pray as to whom we pray and in what words as to what sence when we desire the same things what hinders we may not use the same words our appetite and digestion too may be good when we use as we pray for Our daily bread Some men I hear are so impatient not to use in all their devotions their own invention and gifts that they not only dis-use as too many but wholly cast away and contemn the Lord's Prayer whose great guilt is that it is the warrant and original pattern of all set Liturgies in the Christian Church I ever thought that the proud ostentation of mens abilities for invention and the vain affectations of variety for expressions in Publick Praier or any Sacred Administrations merits a greater brand of sin then that which they call Coldness and Barrenness Nor are men in those Novelties lesse subject to formal and superficial tempers as to their hearts then in the use of constant Forms where not the words but mens hearts are to blame I make no doubt but a man may be very formal in the most extemporary variety and very fervently devout in the most wonted expressions Nor is God more a God of variety then of constancy Nor are constant Forms of Praiers more likely to flat and hinder the Spirit of Praier and Devotion then un-premeditated and confused variety to distract and lose it Though I am not against a grave modest discreet and humble use of Ministers gifts even in Publick the better to fit and excite their own and the peoples affections to the present occasions yet I know no necessity why private and single abilities should quite justle out and deprive the Church of the joynt abilities and concurrent gifts of many learned and godly men such as the Composers of the Service-Book were who may in all reason be thought to have more of gifts and graces enabling them to compose with serious deliberation and concurrent advise such Forms of Praiers as may best fit the Churches common wants inform the Hearers understanding and stir up that fiduciarie and fervent application of their Spirits wherein consists the very life and soul of Praier and that so much pretended Spirit of Praier then any private man by his solitary abilities can be presumed to have which what they are many times even there where they made a great noise and shew the affectations emptiness impertinencie rudeness confusions flatness levity obscurity vain and ridiculous repetitions the senslesse and oft-times blasphemous expressions all these burthened with a most tedious and intolerable length do sufficiently convince all men but those who glory in that Pharisaick way Wherein men must be strangly impudent and flatterers of themselves not to have an infinite shame of what they 〈◊〉 do and say in things of so sacred a nature before God and the Church after so ridiculous and indeed profane a manner Nor can it be expected but that in duties of frequent performance as Sacramental administrations and the like which are still the same Ministers must either come to use their own Forms constantly which are not like to be so sound or comprehensive of the nature of the duty as Forms of Publick composure or else they must every time affect new expressions when the subject is the same which can hardly be presumed in any mans greatest sufficiencies not to want many times much of that compleatness order and gravity becoming those duties which by this means are exposed at every celebration to every Ministers private infirmities indispositions errors disorders and defects both for â—udgement and expression A serious sense of which inconvenience in the Church unavoidably following every mans several manner of officiating no doubt first occasioned the wisdome and piety of the Antient Churches to remedy those mischiefs by the use of constant Liturgies of Publick composure The want of which I believe this Church will sufficiently feel when the unhappie fruits of many mens ungovern'd Ignorance and confident Defects shall be discovered in more Errours Schisms Disorders and uncharitable Distractions in Religion which are alreadie but too many the more pitie However if violence must needs bring in and abet those Innovations that men may not seem to have nothing to do which Law Reason and Religion forbid at least to be so obtruded as wholly to justle out the publick Liturgie Yet nothing can excuse that most unjust and partial severitie of those men who either lately had subscribed to used and maintained the Service Book or refusing to use it cried out of the Rigour of Laws and Bishops which suffered them not to use the Libertie of their Consciences in not using it That these men I say should so suddenly change the Liturgy into a Directorie as if the Spirit needed help for Invention though not for expressions or as if matter prescribed did not as much stint and obstruct the Spirit as if it were clothed in and
their eyes are wide open to see Heresies and Sects are so multiplied and Schism so much prevails that the Church after so many Miseries of a bloudy and long-lasting War will be in worse case than the former was From which it was pretended for a great happiness to be delivered And in a Treaty of the tenth of March 1641. the Scotish Commissioners had pressed unity and uniformity in matters of Religion in the three Kingdoms unto which the Parliament gave a hopefull Answer Thereafter Anno 1642. the general Assembly in Scotland renewed the same and received thanks for the Motives then further urged therein In fine the mutual Desires were concluded with a solemn League and Covenant and that translated in other Tongues as a Rule and Direction to other Reformed Churches All which considered the Commissioners did tell the Parliament That it would be a sin and shame to England that all sorts of Blasphemies Heresies and Sects now multiplied and liberty of conscience now pleaded for should have place nay that unity and uniformity so much preached should now be slighted and the Covenant it self wrested and perverted to speak any thing and the Churches further from uniformity and unity than ever before And they pray God that the Ruine of Religion and the consequence thereof do not forthwith follow There had been an Ordinance of Parliament March 14. 1645. and Directions thereupon August 19. then next following and now of late some Questions debated in the House of Commons and propounded to the Assembly of Divines at VVestminster touching the point of Ius Divinum as aforesaid the last of April in which the Commissioners of Scotland thought themselves concerned as being intrusted by the Church of Scotland first concerning The subordination of the Assemblies of the Church to the Parliament making no question but the Parliament to be superior to all Assemblies of the Church in place Dignity Honour and earthly power That civil powers are the Vicegerents of God on earth Ministers onely Servants and Ambassadours the Magistrate is Custos utriusque Tabulae and to compell the Ministers to perform their Duties and to account to the civil powers But yet somewhat troubled the Commissioners or rather Mr. Alexander Henderson First the expression of Subordination may be altered lest it should suppose that the relation of one Church-assembly to another and of the Assemblies to the Parliament and of appeals of one to another are of the same kinde and in the same line as if the civil power were not onely about matters of the Church and Religion but were formally Ecclesiastical to be exercised Ecclesiastically because some may interpret it such a Supremacy in the Church as sometimes was in the Pope and hath been as they pretend retained in substance in this Kingdom which they account to be the Fountain of the late High Commission and Foundation of other corruptions and because it is pretended against the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches which are next to the Scripture proposed they pretend in the Covenant as the Example of Reformation Secondly the provincial Commissioners for judging of Scandal there being no Warrant for such a mixture in Church-government from Christ who hath appointed his own Spiritual Officers to whom he hath committed the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and to whom the Reformed Churches conceive the judging of Offences and qualification of Communicants doth as properly belong as Preaching of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments Nor can it be supposed that some few civil men having no calling from God can be more able to judg of matters of this nature than the Assembly of the Church separated for the work of the Gospel The same Churches and particularly the Church of Scotland which all this time hath been in expectation of great purity and perfection of Reformation in the Church of England were in jealousies and fears that this may be the laying of a new Foundation of an High Commission Court or Episcopacie and so for a new partition-wall to divide the Church of England and Scotland into Schism and Separation Thirdly concerning the Meeting of the National Assemblie it was acknowledged that the supreme Magistrate may call a National Assemblie and the Church is to obey his call but then the Commissioners would have it withall acknowledged that this power of the Magistrate is accumulative or positive but it is not a privative or destructive power and therefore they would that the liberty of the Church from Christ be not restrained the safety of the Church being here the supreme Law And so they moved the Parliament to appoint fixed times for the Meeting of the National Assemblies otherwise what will become of the ill administration of Provincial Synods and of Appeals from them to the National Assemblies These considerations were discoursed and considered by them as being bound they say to endeavour the Reformation of the Discipline and Government of the Church of England and Ireland according to the Word of God and the Example of the best Reformed Churches And with these and the like Discourses Considerations and Exceptions was the Propositions of long time hammering and modelling into some kinde of Agreement without which the Commissioners themselves concluded and however we finde by the sequel all their Labours and our Sufferings were in vain the long consultations of the Divines of both Kingdoms fruitless and the Commissioners in a Labyrinth what to answer to the Church and Kingdom of Scotland returned home afterwards as wise as they were when they came hither of these Arrands So then we see that the Propositions of Peace have been seemingly a long time in preparation and several Debates thereupon evermore referring to the knowledg and consent of the Commissioners of Scotland here who must be allowed convenient time to send to the Assemblie and Parliament of Scotland and to stay for their Return of Answer but now that the Parliament of England were so prosperous not having hardly an Enemy left unless that of the Scots Army began to neglect their former dependence and concordance with Scotland which their Commissioners here well observing and that their Papers of reasonable Exceptions to some points of the Propositions would not take with the Parliament the Commissioners caused them to be printed published and justified they contained four papers of consequence 1. Their Answer upon the whole Propositions of Peace 2. Reasons touching the Militia 3. The Citations of several passages out of the Declaration of the Houses of Parliament concerning the Militia and Uniformitie in Religion 4. Reasons why the Result of the Committee of both Kingdoms at Edinburgh Novemb. 28. 1643. is a Treaty These were the Heads but the matter was accounted exactly satisfactory and reasonable to all indifferent apprehensions truly stating the several cases comprehended in these papers Which so troubled the Houses that out comes the Declaration concerning the Scotish Papers by the Commons onely for they were now entered and could do things
before their Ministers whom though I respect them for that worth and piety which may be in them yet I cannot think so proper for any present Comforters or Physicians who have some of them at least had so great an influence in occasioning these calamities and inflicting these wounds upon me Nor are the soberest of them so apt for that Devotional compliance and conjuncture of hearts which I desire to bear in those holy Offices to be performed with me and for me since their judgments standing at a distance from or in jealousie of me or in opposition against me their Spirits cannot so harmoniously accord with mine or mine with theirs either in Praier or other Holy Duties as is meet and most comfortable whose golden Rule and bond of perfection consists in that of mutual love and Charity Some Remedies are worse then the Disease and some Comforters more miserable then Misery it self when like Job's friends nhey seek not to fortifie ones minde with patience but perswade a man by betraying his own innocency to dispair of Gods mercy and by justifying their injuries to strengthen the hands and harden the hearts of insolent Enemies I am so much a friend to all Church-men that have any thing in them beseeming that Sacred Function that I have hazarded my own Interest chiefly upon Conscience and Constancy to maintain their Rights whom the more I looked upon as Orphans and under the Sacrilegious eyes of many cruel and rapacious Reformers so I thought it my Duty the more to appear as a Father and a Patron for them and the Church Although I am very unhandsomly requited by some of them who may live to repent no lesse for my sufferings then their own ungrateful errors and that injurious contempt and meannesse which they have brought upon their Calling and Persons I pittie all of them I despise none onely I thought I might have leave to make choise of some for My special Attendants who were best approved in My judgment and most suitable to My affection For I held it better to seem undevout and to hear no mens praiers then to be forced or seem to comply with those Petitions to which the heart cannot consent nor the tongue say Amen without contradicting a mans own understanding or belying his own soul. In Devotions I love neither Prophane boldness nor Pious non-sense but such an humble and judicious gravitie as shews the Speaker to be at once considerate of Gods Majesty the Churches Honour and his own Vileness both knowing what things God allows him to ask and in what manner it becoms a Sinner to supplicate the divine Mercie for himself and others I am equally scandalized with all praiers that sound either imperiously or rudely or passionately as either wanting humility to God or charity to men or respect to the duty I confess I am better pleased as with studied and premeditated Sermons so with such publick Forms of Praier as sare fitted to the Churches and every Christians daily and common necessities because I am by them better assured what I may join My heart unto then I can be of any mans extemporary sufficiency which as I do not wholly exclude from Publick occasions so I allow its just libertie and use in private and devout retirements where neither the solemnity of the Duty nor the modest regard to others do require so great exactness as to the outward manner of performance Though the light of understanding and the fervency of affection I hold the main and most necessary requisites both in constant and occasional solitary and social Devotions So that I must needs seem to all equal minds with as much Reason to prefer the service of My own Chaplains before that of their Ministers as I do the Liturgie before their Directory In the one I have been alwaies educated aâ—d exercised in the other I am not yet Catechized nor acquainted And if I were yet should I not by that as by any certain Rule and Canon of Devotion be able to follow or finde out the indirect extravagancies of most of those men who highly cry up that as a peice of rare composure and use which is already as much despised and disused by many of them as the Common-praier somtimes was by those men a great part of whose pietie hung upon that popular pin of railing against and contemning the Government and Liturgie of this Church But I had rather be condemned to the wo of Vae soli then to that of Vae vobis Hypocritae by seeming to pray what I do not approve It may be I am esteemed by my Denyers sufficient of my self to discharge my Dutie to GOD as a PRIEST though not to men as a Prince Indeed I think both Offices Regal and Sacerdotal might well become the same Person as anciently they were under one name and the united rightes of Primogeniture Nor could I follow better precedents if I were able then those two eminent Kings David and Solomon not more famous for their Scepters and Crowns then one was for devout Psalms and Praiers the other for his divine Parables and Preaching whence the one merited and assumed the name of a Prophet the other of a Preacher Titles indeed of greater honour where rightly placed then any of those the Romane Emperours affected from the Nations they subdued It being infinitely more glorious to convert Souls to Gods Church by the Word then to Conquer men to a Subjection by the Sword Yet since the order of Gods Wisdom and Providence hath for the most part alwaies distinguished the gifts and offices of Kings and Priests of Princes and Preachers both in the Iewish and Christian Churches I am sorrie to finde my self reduced to the necessitie of being both or enjoying neither For such as seek to deprive me of my Kingly Power and Sovereigntie would no lesse enforce me to live many Months without all Praiers Sacraments and Sermons unlesse I become my own Chaplain As I ow the Clergie the protection of a Christian King so I desire to enjoy from them the benefit of their gifts and praiers which I look upon as more prevalent then my own or other mens by how much they flow from mindes more enlightned and affections lesse distracted then those which are encomb'red with Secular Affairs Besides I think a greater blessing and acceptablenesse attends those Duties which are rightly performed as proper to and within the limits of that Calling to which God and the Church have specially designed and Consecrated some men And however as to that Spiritual Government by which the devout Soul is subject to Christ and through his Merits daily offers it self and it's Services to God every private believer is a King and Priest invested with the honour of a Royal Priest hood yet as to Ecclesiastical Order and the outward Politie of the Church I think confusion in Religion will as certainly follow every mans turning Priest or Preacher as it will in the State where every one affects to
declaring the Kings Concessions to be a ground for settlement of a peace notwithstanding the visible defects of them in the Essentials concerning the liberties of the Kingdom c. And â—herefore desire that all such faithful Members who are innocent will protest against the said Votes by publick Declaration and the rest to be expelled the House that so the well-affected may proceed to set a short period to your own power to provide for a speedy succession of equal Representatives according to the Armies late Remonstrance But as we said the Parliament adjourning till this Munday 11. Decem. and not sitting that day neither the Army Dâ—clare a new Representative which they call an Agreement of the people for future Government of the Nation to be subscribed by all the people The Preamble whereof was in effect We having by our late labours made it appear at what rate we value our freedom and God owning our cause hath delivered our enemies into our hands we ought as bound in mutual duty to each other to avoid the danger of returning into a slavish condition and another chargeable war so that when our common rights shall be cleared their endeavours will be disappointed that seek to be our Masters Our troubles having been occasioned either by want of National meetings in Councel by the undue or unequal constitution thereâ—f or by rendring those meetings uneffectual And therefore we are agreed to provide that hereafter our Representatives be neither undertain for time nor unequally constituted nor be made useless to the end for which they are intended In order hereunto they declare That this Parliament be dissolved the last of April next The Representatives of the whole Nation to consist of three hundred persons The Manner of the eleâ—tion they propound 1. That the Electors be Natives such as have subscribed this agreement such as are assessed for the relief of the poor men of 21. years of age and House-keepers in that Division and for seven years no person that hath adhered to the King or shall oppose this agreement or not subscribe hereto shall have voice in Election 2. That after 14. years such persons may be elected that have voice in Elections and for the present none shall be Eligible who have not voluntarily assisted against the King either before June 1645. or in money Plate or Arms lâ—nt upon the Propositions May 1643. or have abetted the treasonable design in London 1647. or who declared for a Cessation of Arms with the Scots or ingaged in the last Summers Wars against the Parliament 3. That whoever is incapable by the former Rules and yet shall Vote in Elections or sit in Representative shall lose the moity of his Estate he having above 50. l. and if under then three moneths imprisonment And if any oppose the Elections then to lose his whole Estate or a years imprisonment if under 50. l. per an 4. That 150. Members at least shall make an Act of Law And these shall within twenty dayes after their first sitting appoint a Câ—uncil of State to continue untill the second Representative and the Council to Act as they shall direct by instructions 5. That no Officer of State Treasurer or Receiver while such shall be a Representative 6. No Lawyer shall practice whilst he is of any Representative or Council of State 7. That the Representative only without the consent of any other person shall Enact Alter Repeal and declare any Laws to the erecting and abolishing of Officers of Courts of Iustice but with these Exceptions following Not to compel tender Consciences in matters of Religion or Worship No person to be impressed to Serve in War by Land or Sea No person after the dissolution of this present Parliament shall be questioned concerning the late War otherwise then in execution or pursuance of the determination of the present House of Commons against such as have adhered to the King and also Accomptants for money That all manner of persons be subject to the publick Laws and such as have now priviledge shall be nulled and none priviledged hereafter That the Representatives meddle not with the execution of Laws not give Judgement upon any mans person That no Representative shall take away Common Right or Level mens Estates destroy proprieties or make all things common 8. That the Council of State in case of danger may summon a Representative for a Session of fourty daies and to dissolve two moneths before the next appointed Representative 9. The publick faith of the Nation shall be made good save that the next Representative may continue or Null all gifts of money made by the present House of Commâ—ns to themselves or any Lords 10. If any Officer or Leader in any Army or Garrison shall resist the Orders of any Representative shall forthwith lose the protection of the Law and dye without mercy The House moulded as others would have it yet many of the Members could not digest the Choake-paer Proposals Declaration Engagement Agreements but somewhat must be done they debate that point of Proposal of the eleven Members formerly put out and since re-admitted and to please the Army Vote and un-vote and conclude of these Votes now That the Votes of 3. Jan. 1647. for revoking the Order of 9. Septem 1647. for disabling Com. Copley to be a Member is of dangerous consequence and is hereby repealed That the receiving the other ten Members was unparliamentary and is therefore Null That the Vote of 30. June 1648. for the opening away to the Treaty with the King be Null That the Vote of 3. of Jan. 1647 forbidding all address to the King to be taken off was aparantly destructive to the Kingdom Divers of the proscribed Members were made Prisoners as Brown Clotworthy Waller Massey Copley to St. Jame's And now both Houses Vote no Address to be made to the King nor Message from him upon pain of Treason And that the Vote of 28 July to Treat with the â—ing was destructive to the Kingdom The King in a very sad condition by his stricter imprisonment in Hurst Castle and hearing of these Votes prepares his Solâ—loquies for comfort in death meditating thereon in these words As I have leasure enough saies the King so I have cause more then enough to meditate upon and prepare for my death for I know there are but a few steps between the Prisons and the Graves of Princes It is Gods indulgence which gives me the space but mans cruelty that gives me the sad occasions for these thoughts For besides the common but then of mortality which lies upon me as a man I now bear the heavy load of other mens ambitions fears jealousies and cruel passions whose envy or enmity against me maâ—es their own lives seem dâ—adly to them while I enjoy any part of mine I thank God my prosperity made me not wholly a stranger to the contemplations of mortality Those are never unseasonable since this is alwaies uncertain death being
afterwards recovering that inconvenience he was so constant to himself and over-weaning that his opinions became resolves In all his defects we may more reasonably fix the occasions rather upon others who had their influence from him then upon his own defect for the mis-choice of fit and able persons to be his best and dearest friends proved fatal to him to them and to us all The King left his Queen a miserable disconsolate Lady the Daughter of France and therefore while he suffered she was there supported with their three Sons Charls Prince of Wales Iames Duke of York and Henry Duke of Glocester Princes of high eminent and Heroick vertue 〈◊〉 Two daughters also the one Elizabeth the Relict Princess of Orange the other Mary an Infant all of them are banished Orphanes This Letter came to hand since the Kings death intrusted to the Bishop of London with his blessing to the Prince of Wales To the Prince of Wales Son if these Papers with some others wherein I have set down the private reflections of my conscience and my most impartial thoughts touching the chief passages which have been most remarkable or disputed in my late Troubles come to your hands to whom they are chiesly design'd they may be so far usefull to you as to state your judgment aright in what hath passed 〈◊〉 whereof a pious is the best use can be made and they may also give you some directions how to remedy the present distempers and prevent if God will the like for time to come It is some kind of deceiving and lessening the injury of my long restraint when I finde my leisure and solitude have produced something worthy of my self and usefull to you that neither you nor any other may hereafter measure my Cause by the success nor my judgment of things by my misfortunes which I count the greater by far because they have so far lighted upon you and some others whom I have most cause to love as well as my self and of whose unmerited sufferings I have a greater sense then of my own But this advantage of Wisdom you have above most Princes that you have begun and now spent some years of discretion in the experience of troubles and exercise of patience wherein Piety and all Vertues both Moral and Political are commonly better planted to a thriving as Trees set in Winter then in warmth and serenity of times or amidst those delights which usually attend Princes Courts in times of peace and plenty which are prone either to root up all Plants of true vertue and Honour or to be contented only with some leaves and withering formalities of them without any real fruits such as tend to the publick good for which Princes should alwaies remember they are born and by providence designed The evidence of which different education the holy Writ affords us in the contemplation of David and Rehoboam the one prepared by many afflictions for a flourishing Kingdom the other softned by the unparalleld prosperity of Solomons Court and so corrupted to the great diminution both for Peace Honour and Kingdom by those flatteries which are as unseparable from prosperous Princes as Flies are from fruit in Summer whom adversitie like cold weather drives away I had rather you should be Charls le Bon then le Grand good then great I hope God hath designed you to be both having so early put you into that exercise of his Graces and Giâ—â—â—estowed upon you which may best weed out all vitious inclinations and dispose you to those Princely indowments and employments which will most gain the love and intend the welfare of those over whom God shall place you With God I would have you begin and end who is King of Kings the Sovereign disposer of the Kingdoms of the World who pulleth down one and setteth up another The best Government and highest Soveraignty you can attain to is to be subject to him that the Scepter of his word and Spirit may rule in your heart The true glory of Princes consists in advancing Gods glory in the maintenance of true Religion and the Churches good also in the dispensation of civil power with Iustice and honour to the publick peace Piety will make you prosperous at least it will keep you from being miserable nor is he much a loser that loseth all yet saveth his own soul at last To which center of true happiness God I trust hath and will graciously direct all these black lines of affliction which he hath been pleased to draw on me and by which he hath I hope drawn me nearer to himself You have already tasted of that cup whereof I have liberally drunk which I look upon as Gods Physick having that in healthfulness which it wants in pleasure Above all I would have you as I hope you are already well-grounded and settled in your Religion the best profession of which I have ever esteemed that of the Church of England in which you have been educated yet I would have your own Iudgment and Reason now seal to that sacred bond which education hath written that it may be judiciously your own Religion and not other mens custom or tradition which you profess In this I charge you to persevere as coming nearest to Gods word for Doctrine and to the Primitive examples for government with some little amendment which I have otherwhere expressed and often offered though in vain Your fixation in matters of Religion will not be more necessary for your souls then your Kingdoms peace when God shall bring you to them For I have observed that the Devil of Rebellion doth commonly turn himself into an Angel of Reformation and the old Serpent can pretend new Lights when some mens Consciences accuse them for Sedition and Faction they stop its mouth with the name and noise of Religion when Piety pleads for peace and patience they cry out Zeal So that unless in this point you be well settled you shall never want temptations to destroy you and yours under pretension of Reforming matters of Religion for that seems even to the worst of men as the best and most auspicious beginning of their worst designs Where besides the novelty which is taken enough with the Vulgar every one hath an affectation by seeming forward to an outward Reformation of Religion to be thought zealous hoping to cover those irreligious deformities whereto they are conscious by a severity of censuring other mens opinions or actions Take heed of abetting any Factions or applying to any publick Discriminations in matters of Religion contrary to what is in your judgment and the Churches well settled your partial adhering as head to any one side gains you not so great advantages in some mens hearts who are prone to be of their Kings 's Religion as it loseth you in others who think themselves and their profession first despised then persecuted by you take such a course as may either with calmness and charity quite remove the seeming
differences and offences by impartiality or so order affairs in point of power that you shall not need to fear or flatter any faction For if ever you stand in need of them or must stand to their courtesie you are undone the Serpent will devour the Dove you may never expect less of Loyalty Iustice or Humanity then from those who engage into Religious Rebellion their interest is alwaies made Gods under the colours of piety ambitious policies march nor only with greatest security but applause as to the populacy you may hear from them Jacobs voice but you shall feel they have Esau's hands Nothing seemed less considerable then the Presbyterian Faction in England for many years so compliant they were to publick order nor indeed was their party great either in Church or State as to mens judgments but as soon as discontents drave men into sidings as ill humors fall to the disaffected part which cause's inflamations so did all at first who affected any Novelties adhere to that side as the most remarkable and specious note of difference then in point of Religion All the lesser Factions at first were officious servants to Presbytery their great Master till time and military success discovering to each their peculiar advantages invited them to part stakes and leaving the joint stock of uniform Religion they pretended each to drive for their party the trade of profits and preferments to the breaking and undoing not only of the Church and State but even of Presbytery it self which seemed and hoped at first to have ingrossed all Let nothing seem little or despicable to you in matters which concern Religion and the Churches peace so as to neglect a speedy reforming and effectual suppressing Errors and Schisms what seem at first but as a hand breadth by seditious Spirits as by strong windes are soon made to cover and darken the whole heaven When you have done justice to God your own Soul and his Church in the profession and preservation both of truth and unity in Religion the next main hinge on which your prosperity will depend and move is that of Civil Iustice wherein the setled Laws of these Kingdoms to which you are rightly Heir are the most excellent Rules you can govern by which by an admirable temperament give very much to Subjects industry liberty and happiness and yet reserve enough to the Majesty and Prerogative of any King who owns his people as Subjects not as Slaves whose subjection as it preserves their property peace and safety so it will never diminish your Rights nor their ingenious Liberties which consist in the injoyment of the fruits of their industry and the benefit of those Laws to which themselves have consented Never charge your head with such a Crown as shall by its heaviness oppress the whole body the weakness of whose parts cannot return any thing of strength honour or safety to the head but a necessary debilitation and ruine Your Prerogative is best shewed and exercised in remitting rather then exacting the rigor of the Laws there being nothing worse then Legal Tyranny In these two points the preservation of establisted Religion and Laws I may without vanity turn the reproach of my sufferings as to the worlds censure into the honour of a kinde of Martyrdom as to the testimony of my own conscience the troublers of my Kingdoms having nothing else to object against me but this that I prefer Religion and Laws established before those alterations they propounded And so inded I do and ever shall till I am convinced by better Arguments then what hitherto have been chiefly used towards me Tumults Armies and Prisons I cannot yet learn that Lesson nor I hope ever will you that it is safe for a King to gratifie any Faction with the perturbation of the Laws in which is wrapt up the Publick Interest and the good of the Community How God will deal with me as to the removal of these pressures and indignities which his Iustice by the very unjust hands of some of my Subjects hath been pleased to lay upon me I cannot tell nor am I much solicitous what wrong I suffer from men while I retein in my soul what I believe is right before God I have offered all for Reformation and safety that in Reason Honour and Conscience I can reserving only what I cannot consent unto without an irreparable injury to my own Soul the Church and my people and you also as the next and undoubted Heir of my Kingdoms To which if the divine Providence to whom no difficulties are insuperable shall in his due time after my decease bring you as I hope he will my counsel and charge to you is that you seriously consider the former real or objected miscarriages which might occasion my troubles that you may avoid them Never repose so much upon any man's single Counsel fidelitie and discretion in managing affairs of the first magnitude that is matters of Religion and Iustice as to create in your self or others a difâ—idence of your own judgment which is likely to be alwaies more constant and impartial to the interests of your Crown and Kingdom then any mans Next beware of exasperating any Factions by the crosness and asperity of some mens passions humours or private opinions imployed by you grounded only upon the differences in lesser matters which are but the Skirts and Suburbs of Religion Wherein a charitable connivence and Christian toleration often dissipates their strength whom rougher opposition fortifies and puts the despised and oppressed Party into such combinations as may most enable them to get a full revenge on those they count their persecutors who are commonly assisted by that vulgar commiseration which attends all that are said to suffer under the notion of Religion Provided the differences amount not to an insolent opposition of Laws and Government or Religion established as to the essentials of them Such motions and minings are intolerable Alwaies keep up solid Piety and those fundamental truths which mend both hearts and lives of men with impartial favor and justice Take heed that outward circumstances and formalities of Religion devour not all or the best encouragements of learning industry and piety but with an equal eye and impartial hand distribute favours and rewards to all men as you finde them for their real goodness both in abilities and fidelity worthy and capable of them This will be sure to gain you the hearts of the best and the most too who though they be not good themselves yet are glad to see the severer wayes of vertue at any time sweetned by temporal rewards I have you see conflicted with different and opposite Factions for so I must needs call and count all those that act not in any conformity to the Laws established in Church and State no sooner have they by force subdued what they counted their common enemie that is all those that adhered to the Laws and to me and are secured from that fear but they
are divided to so high a rivalrie as sets them more at defiance against each other then against their first Antagonist Time will dissipate all Factions when once the rough horns of private mens covetous and ambitious designs shall discover themselves which were at first wrapt up and hidden under the soft and smooth pretensions of Religion Reformation and Liberty as the wolf is not less cruel so he will be more justly hated when he shall appear no better then a Woolf under sheeps cloathing But as for the seduced Train of the Vulgar who in their simplicity follow those disguises my charge and Counsel to you is that as you need no palliations for any designs as other men so you study really to exceed in true and constant demonstrations of goodness piety and vertue towards the people even all those men that make the greatest noise and ostentations of Religion so you shall neither fear any detection as they do who have but the face and mask of goodness nor shall you frustrate the just expectations of your people who cannot in Reason promise themselves so much good from any Subjects Novelties as from the virtuous constancy of their King When these mountains of congealed Factions shall by the sun-shine of Gods mercy and the splendor of your virtues be thawed and dissipated and the abused Vulgar shall have learned that none are greater oppressors of their Estates Liberties and Consciences then those men that entitle themselves the Patrons and Vindicators of them only to usurp power over them Let then no passion betray you to any study of revenge upon those whose own sin and folly will sufficiently punish them in due time But as soon as the forked Arrow of Factious Emulations is drawn out use all Princely Arts and Clemency to heal the Wounds that the smart of the cure may not equal the anguish of the hurt I have offered Acts of Indemnity and Oblivion to so great a Latitude as may include all that can but suspect themselves to be any way obnoxious to the Laws and which might serve to exclude all future jealousies and insecurities I would have you alwaies propense to the same way when ever it shall be desired and accepted let it be granted not only as an Act of State Policy and necessity but of Christian charity and choise It is all I have now left me a power to forgive those that have deprived me of all and I thank God I have a heart to do it and joy as much in this grace which God hath given me as in all my former enjoyments for this is a greater argument of Gods love to me then any prosperity can be Be confident as I am that the most of all sides who have don amiss have done so not out of malice but misinformation or misapprehension of things None will be more Loyal and faithfull to me and you then those Subjects who sensible of their Errors and our Injuries will feel in their own souls most vehement motives to repentance and earnest desires to make some reparations for their former defects As your quality sets you beyond any Duel with any Subject so the nobleness of your minde must raise you above the meditating any revenge or executing your anger upon the many The more conscious you shall be to your own merits upon your people the more prone you will be to expect all Love and Loyalty from them and to inflict no punishment upon them for former miscarriages you will have more inward complacency in pardoning one then in punishing a thousand This I write to you not despairing of God's mercy and my Subjects affections towards you both which I hope you will study to deserve yet we cannot merit of God but by his own mercy If God shall see fit to restore me and you after me to those enjoyments which the Laws have assigned to us and no Subjects without an high degree of guilt and sin can devest us of then may I have better opportunity when I shall be so happy to see you in peace to let you more fully understand the things that belong to Gods glory your own honour and the Kingdoms peace But if you never see my face again and God will have me buried in such a barbarous imprisonment and obscurity which the perfecting some mens designs requires wherein few hearts that love me are permitted to exchange a word or a look with me I do require and entreat you as your Father and your KING that you never suffer your heart to receive the least check against or disaffection from the true Religion established in the Church of England I tell you I have tryed it and after much search and many disputes have concluded it to be the best in the world not only in the Community as Christian but also in the special notion as reformed keeping the middle way between the pomp of superstitios Tyranny and the meanness of fantastick Anarchy Not but that the draught being excellent as to the main both for Doctrine and Government in the Church of England some lines as in very good figures may haply need some sweetning or polishing which might here have easily been done by a safe and gentle hand if some mens precipitancy had not violently demanded such rude Alterations as would have quite destroyed all the beauty and proportions of the whole The scandal of the late troubles which some may object and urge to you against the Protestant Religion established in England is easily answered to them or your own thoughts in this that scarce any one who hath been a beginner or an active prosecutor of this late War against the Church the Laws and me either was or is a true Lover Embracer or practiser of the Protestant Religion established in England which neither gives such Rules nor ever before set such Examples 'T is true some heretofore had the boldness to present threatning Petitions to their Princes and Parliaments which others of the same Faction but of worse spirits have now put in execution but let not counterfeit and disorderly zeal abate your value and esteem of true Piety both of them are to be known by their Fruits the sweetness of the Vine and Fig-tree is not to be despised though the Brambles and Thorns should pretend to bear Figs and Grapes thereby to rule over the Trees Nor would I have you to entertain any aversation or dislike of Parliaments which in their right constitution with Freedom and Honour will never injure or diminish your greatness but will rather be as interchangings of Love Loyalty and confidence between a Prince and his people Nor would the events of this black Parliament have been other then such however much biassed by Factions in the Elections if it had been preserved from the insolencies of popular dictates and tumultuary impressions the sad effects of which will no doubt make all Parliaments after this more cautious to preserve that freedom and honour which belongs to such Assemblies
when once they have fully shaken off this yoke of vulgar incroachment since the publick interest consists in the mutual and common good both of Prince and people Nothing can be more happy for all then in fair grave and honourable waies to contribute their Counsels in Common enacting all things by publick consent without Tyranny or Tumults We must not starve our selves because some have surfeited of wholsome food And if neither I nor you be ever restored to our Right but God in his severest Iustice will punish my Subjects with continuance in their sin and suffer them to be deluded with the prosperity of their wickedness I hope God will give me and you that grace which will teach and enable us to want as well as to wear a Crown which is not worth taking up or enjoying upon sordid dishonourable and irreligious terms Keep you to true principles of piety vertue and honour you shall never want a Kingdom A principal point of your honour will consist in your deferring 〈◊〉 respect love and protection to your Mother my Wife who hath many waies deserved well of me and chiefly in this that having been a means to bless me with so many hopeful Children all which with their Mother I recommend to your love and care shee hath been content with incomparable magnanimity and patience to suffer both for and with me and you My prayer to God Almighty is whatever becomes of me who am I thank God wrapt up and fortified in my own Innocency and his Grace that he would be pleased to make you an Anchor or Harbour rather to these tossed and weather-beaten Kingdoms a Repairer by your wisdom justice piety valour of what the folly and wickedness of some men have so far ruined as to leave nothing entire in Church or State to the Crown the Nobility the Clergie or the Commons either as to Laws Liberties Estates Order Honour Conscience or Lives When they have destroyed me for I know not how far God may permit the malice and cruelty of my enemies to proceed and such apprehensions some mens words and actions have already given me as I doubt not but my bloud will cry aloud for vengence to heaven So I beseech God not to pour out his wrath upon the generality of the people who have either deserted me or engaged against me through the Artifice and hypocrisie of their Leaders whose inward horrour will be their first tormentor nor will they escape exemplary judgments For those that loved me I pray God they may have no miss of me when I am gon so much I wish and hope that all good Subjects may be satisfied with the blessings of your presence and virtues For those that repent of any defects in their duty toward me as I freely forgive them in the word of a Christian King so I believe you will finde them truly zealous to repay with interest that Loyalty and Love to you which was due to me In sum what good I intended do you perform when God shall give you power much good I have offered more I purposed to Church and State if times had been capable of it The deception will soon vanish and the vizards will fall off apace This Mask of Religion on the face of Rebellion for so it now plainly appears since my restraint and cruel usage that they fought not for me as was pretended will not long serve to hide some mens deformities Happy times I hope attend you wherein your Subjects by their miseries will have learned That Religion to their God and Loyalty to their King cannot be parted without both their sin and their infelicity I pray God bless you and establish your Kingdoms in righteousness your soul in true Religion and your Honour in the Love of God and your people And if God will have disloyalty perfected by my destruction let my memory ever with my name live in you as of your Father that loves you and once a KING of three flourishing Kingdoms whom God thought fit to honour not only with the Scepter and Government of them but also with the suffering many indignities and an untimely death for them while I studied to preserve the Rights of the Church the power of the Laws the honour of my Crown the priviledge of Parliaments the Liberties of my people and my own Conscience which I thank God is dearer to me than a thousand Kingdoms I know God can I hope he will restore me to my Rights I cannot dispair either of his mercy or my peoples love and pitty At worst I trust I shall but go before you to a better Kingdom which God hath prepared for me and me for it through my Saviour Iesus Christ to whose mercy I commend you and all mine Farewell till we meet if not on earth yet in heaven The world was busied with Epitaphs upon his death and there were those who have been passionately disposed to parallel his sufferings with the holy Jesus but we forbear to censure them or to say so much Only we may aver that he was a King whose Reign and Death makes as full and perfect a Story of goodness and glory as earth would suffer and whose Christian virtues deserve as faithful a Register as Earth can keep but Reader not to overwhelm thee in a deluge of sorrow as I am drowned in tears I conclude The End Those wonderfull mutations in Church and State which followed hereupon even to this day we may God willing adventure to sum up hereafter in a succeeding continued History whilst these by favour finde acceptance A Table of the chief Occurrences in the preceding HISTORY A. A Rch-bishop Abbot sequestred fol. 104 dies 194 The King Marches to Aino 586 Aldern Fight 876 Sir Giles Allington his incest 160 his case and sentence 161 French Ambassadour affronted 661 Amiens described 2 Sir Robert Amstroder sent Ambassador to the Emperour 143 and again the second time 162 Bishop Andrews dies 72 Princess Anne born 218 Arguile defeated 795 Bishop of Armagh his Speech 68. His direction to the Parliament touching the Leiturgie and Episcopal Government 363. He confirms Dr. Reynalds original of it 366 367. His Propositions in Church Government 423 Design of the Army discovered 409. New Modelling of it 770. They mutiny for money 926. They Petition the Parliament 979 are discontent 984 draw towards London 986. Their Representative 987. They come to Southwark 1000. March in state to Westminster and through London 1001. Their desires 1008. Their Agitators send Letters to the General 1011 which he answers 1013. They demand their Arrears and are voted payment 1098 Their large Remonstrance 1099 and Declaration 1100. They come to White-Hall ibid. Their Representative stiled the Agreement of the people 1107 Arras lost 371 Earl of Arundel committed 30 sent Ambassador to the new Emperour of Ger. 212. and aboard the Spaniards 280 Arundel Castle surrendred to Waller 662 Ashburnham sent into England 89 Lord Ashley defeated 885 Ast Ferry Fight 733 Lord
provision be made for the education of the Children of Papists in the faith and Religion of Protestants for the imposing of Mulcts on Papists and disposing the benefit thereof at the discretion of the Parliament That provision be made for suppressing the practises of Papists against the Common-wealth for the executing the Laws against them without fraud and for the stricter forbidding of administring and frequenting Mass whether in the Court or whatsoever place within England and Ireland 3. That the power of the Militia by Land and Sea throughout England and Ireland reside in the Parliament solely to raise train as many Souldiers as they please to lead them whither they please to levy what monies they think fit for their pay whereby they may encounter intestine troubles and invasions foreign and that the King and his successors shall not claim any right therein for the space of twenty years after the expiration whereof if the Parliam shall think the safety of the Commonwealth to be concerned that an Army whether for Land or Sea service be raised and pay alotted them and exact the same by their Authority that such Votes shall have the force of a Law or Statute even though the King refuse If persons of what quality soever to the number of thirty be gathered together in Arms and at the command of the Lords and Commons shall not lay down Arms they shall be accounted guilty of high Treason without hope of pardon from the King To these by way of Corollarie were added some provisions touching the City of London Priviledges and ordinary power of Ministers of Iustice in executing sentence given 4. That by an Act the Cessation of Ireland and all Treaties and Articles there made without the consent of Parliament be voided That the right of prosecuting the Irish War depend upon the discretion of Parliament That the Deputy and all Ministers whether of the Martial or â—ivil Government be nominated by Parliament the Chancellor of Ireland Keep of the great Seal Treasurer all Officers of the Kingdom all the Judges the places offices honours 〈◊〉 Donations of Lands grâ—nted by the King since the Cessation made be â—ulled 5. That all Honours and Titles since the second of May 1642. at which time the 〈◊〉 of the great Seal carried away the Seal with himself from the Parliâ—ment be declared Null No man likewise 〈◊〉 chosen into the Order of Peeâ—age shall sit in the House of Lords without the consent of both Houses 6. That the Parliament raise what moneys they please for payment of the publick debts and dammages and for whatsoever publick uses they shall see hereafter needfull 7. In the first tank of Delinquents be reckoned to whom no hope of pardon shall be left either for life or fortune with the Kings Kings consent The two Princes Palatine of the Rhine Rupert and Maâ—ricâ— three Earls five Lords two Bishops two Judges of the Kingdom twenty two Knights whose names to remember were too large but these persons were those who had done the King the most acceptable service All Papists which had been in Arms namely the Marquess of Winchester with two Earls two Lords and six Knights as also all that raised or fomented the Rebellion in Ireland In the 2. Rank were placed fifty Noblemen and Knights all Memberâ— of the lower House who deserting the Parliament passed over to the Kings Party as also all the Judges Lawyers Clergy-men be banished from the Kings Court and abstain from publick Offices and that under penalty of Treason loss of life and fortunes that the Judges and Lawyers be proscribed from Courts and their practice the Clergy interdicted their Benefices and liberty of Preaching Such fell upon the third Rank as had committed or councelled ought against the Parliament none whereof shall obtain in future the Office of Justice of Peace or Judge or Sheriff or publick Officer To the fourth Rank are reckoned the Common Souldier and all persons of baser rank whose fortunes were narrower then two hundred pounds All the Lands and goods of those of the first Rank be publickly sold to pay publick debts but of the Members which in the new Parliament held at Oxford pronounced those guilty of High Treason which adhered to Westminster two parts in three of their lands and goods The Moity of others of the Judges Lawyers Clergy-men the third part and the sixth of all the third Rank be sold for the foresaid points The rest be let goe without Câ—nsure Provided they have ingaged themselves in the National Covenant All in the second and third Rank after the payment of their Fines the pardon of Parliament being sued granted be entirely restored 8. That all Offices of the Kingdom and chief Magistracies for â—wenty years next ensuing be collated and constituted according to the pleasure of Parliament 9. That the new Seal framed aâ— the Houses appointment pass by the King into the Seal of England and that no other hereafter be used That all Grants and Commissions sealed by this new one remain firm all under the old Seal which was with the King be voided from such time as the Keeper Littleton conveyed it away from the Parliament 10. That all Priviledges Grants Charters and Immunities of the City of London be confirmed with itâ—rated Acts That the Tower of London and Militia be ordered at the discretion of the Mayor of the City Members and Common Council therein That no Citizen be compelled to Military service out of the Liberties of the City unless at the Parliaments appointment and the last was 11. That the Court of Wards with all Offices and Employments thereto belonging be exterminated That all services likewise on that accompt imposed cease all inheritances which formerly were held of the King in Capite c. namely by Knights service being freed from burden and charges fifty thousand pounds notwithstanding being paid the King yearly in compensation These were the conditions of peace propounded by the Parliament for the Argument or Matter of the Treaty to be commenced so vehemently sought after by the desires of all men and by the Arms of many Nothing changed from those which being formerly sent to the King whilst he remained at Hampton Court were not only rejected by the King but also of the Army as being somewhat too unequal In this one thing they differed that in these last the Scots are unconsidered The Parliament Commissioners are vested with no other Authority then to reply to the Kings Arguments rejoyn Reasons to force his assent having no power to sweeten or alter a word nay not to pass over the Preface but are forthwith to adverâ—ise the Parliament touching the Kings Concessions to transact all in writing and to debate the Propositions one by one in order not to descend to another before agreement touching the precedent and the time limited to dispatch within fourty dayes The Treaty goes on for a good while when suddenly advice comes to the Parliament that