bless and sanctify by thy Word and Spirit these Creatures of Bread and Wine that they may be to us THE BODY AND BLOOD of thy beloved Son In a word the Scots affirmed that all the material Parts of the Mass-Book were seminally in this and they could not relish it that Laud and his Set of English Bishops should urge them to a Liturgy more Popish than their own and observed that for Vnity they were content to meet Rome rather than Scotland The Book being read by a Bishop in the City of Edinburgh the People expressed great detestation thereof and the Bishop who read it had probably been slain coming out of the Church had not a Noble-man rescued him The Nobility Gentry and Ministers petitioned against it The King threatned to prosecute them as Rebels and commanded the Council to receive no more Petitions Thereupon several of the Nobility in the Name of the Petitioners made a Protestation that the Service-Book was full of Superstition and Idolatry and ought not to be obtruded upon them without consent of a National Synod which in such Cases should judg That it was unjust to deny them Liberty to accuse the Bishops being guilty of High Crimes of which till they were cleared they did reject them as Judges or Governours of them They justified their own Meetings and subscribing to Petitions as being to defend the Glory of God the King's Honour and Liberties of the Realm The Scots concluded to renew the COVENANT which had been made and sealed under King James 's Hand in the Year 1580 afterwards confirmed by all the Estates of the Kingdom and Decree of the National Synod in 1581 THIS COVENANT was for the Defence of the PVRITY OF RELIGION and the King's Person and Rights against the Church of Rome This was begun in February 1638 and was so fast subscribed throughout the Kingdom that before the end of April he was scarce accounted one of the Reformed Religion that had not subscribed the Covenant The Non Covenanters were Papists not exceeding 600 in number throughout the Kingdom Statesmen in Office and Favour at that time and some few Protestants who were affected to the Ceremonies of England and Book of Common Prayer The King sent the Marquess of Hamilton to deal with the Scots to renounce their Covenant but they affirmed It could not be done without manifest Perjury and Profanation of God's Name and insisted to have the Service-Book utterly abolished it being obtruded against all Law upon them That their Meetings were lawful and such as they would not forsake until the Purity of Religion and Peace might be fully settled by a free and National Synod And they declared THAT THE POWER OF CALLING A SYNOD IN CASE THE PRINCE BE AN ENEMY TO THE TRVTH OR NEGLIGENT IN PROMOTING THE CHVRCHES GOOD IS IN THE CHVRCH IT SELF And that the State of the Church at that time necessitated such a course The King at length fearing lest the Covenanters if he delayed would do it themselves called a National Synod to begin at Glasgow the 21st of November 1638 but within seven days it was dissolved by the Marquess of Hamilton in the King's Name and they commanded to sit no more But they protested against that Dissolution and continued the Synod when the Marquess of Hamilton was gone and deposed all the Bishops condemned the Liturgy took away the High-Commission Court and whatsoever had crept into the Church since the Year 1580 when the NATIONAL COVENANT was first established When they themselves broke up the Synod they wrote a Letter of Thanks to the King and published a Declaration Feb. 4. 1638 directed to all the sincere and good Christians in England to vindicate their Actions and Intentions from those Aspersions which Enemies might throw upon them This Declaration was welcome to the People of England in general and especially to those who stood best affected to the Reformed Religion and the Laws and Liberties of their Country In fine the Scots are declared Rebels and the King in Person with an English Army resolved to chastise them But The generality of the Nation detested the War knowing that the Scots were innocent and wronged by the same Hand that they were oppressed and they concluded that the same Sword which subdued the Scots must destroy their own Liberties Yet glad they seem'd to be that such an Occasion happen'd which might in reason necessitate the King to call an English Parliament but whilst he could make any other shift how low and dishonourable soever he would not endure to think of a Parliament He borrowed great Sums of Money of the Nobility and required Loans of others and the CLERGY contributed liberally to this VVar which was called BELLVM EPISCOPALE THE BISHOPS WAR The King being animated to the War by the Bishops both of England and Scotland the last perswading him that the COVENANTERS were in no sort able to resist him that scarce any English Army at all would be needful to fight but only to appear and his MAJESTY would find a Party great enough in SCOTLAND to do the VVork He thereupon raised a gallant Army which rendezvouzed at York The Scots likewise to render the King unwilling or unable to be a Tyrant levied a brave Army which advanced forward under the Command of General Lesley They nevertheless continued their first course of Petitioning the King which being favoured by almost all the Nobility of England at last by the happy Mediation of those Wife and Noble Counsellors a PACIFICATION to the great Joy of all good Men was solemnly concluded on the 18th of June 1639 and the King granted them a free National Synod to be holden August 6 and a Parliament to begin the 20th to ratify what the Synod should decree Hereupon the English and Scots returned home praising God who without any effusion of Blood had compounded this Difference and prevented a War so wickedly design'd But Shortly after the King's return to London his Heart was again estranged from the Scots and thoughts of Peace and he commanded the PACIFICATION to be burnt by the Hands of the common Hangman An Act than which nothing could more blemish his Reputation as rendring him not to be believed for any thing For what Tie would hold him when the Engagement of his Word his Royal VVord given in sight of God and Man could not bind And having upon the 18th of December broke up the Scotch Parliament he began to prepare for a new VVar. The Scots complained that it was a Breach of their Liberties not heard of before in twenty Ages That a Parliament should be dissolved without their Consent whilst Business of Moment was depending That whatsoever Kings in other Kingdoms might do it concerned not them to enquire but it was absolutely against their Laws They hereupon sent four Earls as their Commissioners to the King to complain that nothing was performed which he had promised at the PACIFICATION and to intreat redress of those Injuries which had
A LETTER FROM General Ludlow TO Dr. Hollingworth Their Majesties Chaplain AT St. Botolph-Aldgate Defending his former Letter to Sir E. S. which compared the Tyranny of the first Four Years of King Charles the Martyr with the Tyranny of the Four Years of the late Abdicated King And vindicating the Parliament which began in Novemb. 1640. Occasioned by the Lies and Scandals of many bad Men of this Age. Veritas emerget Victrix I acknowledg it were better if we could have Job's Wish That this Day should perish that Darkness and the Shadow of Death should cover it that it should not see the dawning of the Day nor should the Light shine upon it It were better to strike it out of our Kalendar and to make our January determine at the 29th and add these remaining Days to February Dr. Burnet Bishop of Salisbury his Sermon at St. Laurence Church London January 30 1680. AMSTERDAM Printed Anno Dom. 1692. To all sincere Lovers of OLD ENGLAND Inhabiting in the Parish of St. Botolph-Aldgate London Dear Countrymen 'T Was a great Man's Saying That EVERY CLERGY-MAN is not qualified to sustain the Dignity of the Church's Jester That therefore before Men be admitted to so important an Employment it were fit that they underwent a severe Examination and that it might appear 1. Whether they have ANY SENSE for without that how can they pretend and yet they do to be Ingenuous Then Whether they have ANY MODESTY for without that they can only be SCURRILOUS and IMPUDENT Next Whether ANY TRUTH for true Jests are those that do the greatest Execution And lastly 'T were not amiss that they gave some Account too of their CHRISTIANITY For the World has always hitherto been so uncivil as to expect something of that from the CLERGY in the Design and Stile even of their lightest and most uncanonical Writings But With very little regard to these two dull Books have been lately obtruded upon the World by one and the same Author as I am assured The one under the Title of A DEFENCE of King Charles the First OCCASIONED by the Lies and Scandals of many bad Men of this Age By RICHARD HOLLINGWORTH D. D. THEIR MAJESTIES CHAPLAIN at St. Botolph-Aldgate The other called A VINDICATION of their Majesties Wisdom in the late nomination of some Reverend Persons to the vacant Arch-Bishopricks and Bishopricks OCCASIONED by the scandalous Reflections of unreasonable Men By A MINISTER of London Now This Author having sought these OCCASIONS to be troublesome and declaring a doughty Resolution that he will be further so rather than lose the Lechery of his Scribling and the vain Glory of his Pedantry 't is fit that such an arrogant Levite who seats himself in * Epistle Dedicatory to the Defence a Juncto with their Majesties to consult wisely how to preserve them from a People who mean them no Harm should be a little animadverted upon which task I undertook after I found that Persons of better Ability would not trouble themselves with such contemptible Pamphlets I had prepared and did purpose to have sent with this some Remarks upon the pretended Vindication of their Majesties Wisdom but finding that my Notes upon the Doctor 's Defence of King Charles the First are swell'd beyond the Bulk which I intended I have laid aside those Remarks till I have occasion to write again to this mighty Vindicator When I wrote to Sir E. S. this time twelve-Month I only discours'd of the King 's first Four Years and did intend if ever I wrote further upon that Subject to have proceeded regularly with the succeding Years of his Tyranny but having engaged my self to follow the Doctor in his Ramblings I could not at present pursue my Intention but may hereafter do it Having resolved to make this Address to you my honoured Countrymen I will take the liberty to observe two or three things which are omitted in my Letter to the Doctor He saith pag. 3. That great Numbers call this King a Tyrant and A PAPIST too though he so stronuously asserted and pleaded the Protestant Cause as it is professed by THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND That means THEIR PARTY Now that he highly favoured POPERY is most evident and to what I have already offered to evince the Truth of that Charge I do add these Instances I have told the Aldgate-Chaplain that this King by a Letter to the Pope saluted Antichrist with the Title of Most holy Father That Letter from the beginning to the end savours of Popery For 1. He professes therein that nothing could affect him so much as AN ALLIANCE with a Prince that had the same apprehensions of THE TRUE RELIGION with himself That was the KING of SPAIN A NOTABLE PROTESTANT 2. He calls Popery THE CATHOLICK APOSTOLICK Roman RELIGION all other NOVELTY and FACTION 3. He protests he did not esteem it a Matter of greater Honour to be descended from great Princes than to imitate them in the Zeal of their Piety who had often exposed their Estate and LIVES for THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS 4. He solemnly engaged to the Pope to spare nothing in the World and to suffer all manner of Discommodities even TO THE HAZARDING OF ESTATE AND LIFE for to settle a thing so pleasing to God as UNITY WITH ROME Behold what a good Sign of PROTESTANTISM here hangs at the King's Door Moreover when the Pope's Nuncio delivered a Letter to him from the Pope wherein PROTESTANTS are called MONSTERS of HERESIES and the King was invited to return the Possession of these most noble Isles to the PRINCE OF THE APOSTLES He expressed himself in these words I KISS HIS HOLINESS FEET for the Favour and Honour he doth me so much the more esteemed by how much the less deserved of me HITHERTO And HIS HOLINES SHALL SEE WHAT I DO HEREAFTER So that his Holiness shall not repent him of what he hath done He was as good as his word here passed to the Pope as all the World afterwards saw Tho that most horrid IRISH REBELLION broke out the 23d of October 1641. the Lords and Commons who complained that it was framed and cherish'd in England could not obtain a Proclamation to declare those blcody Miscreants Traitors till January ensuing and then the following Warrant went to the King's Printer from his Secretary of State IT is his Majesty's Pleasure that you forthwith print in very good Paper and send unto me for his Majesty's Service forty Copies of the Proclamation inclosed leaving convenient space for his Majesty to sign above and to affix the Privy Signet underneath And HIS MAJESTY'S EXPRESS COMMAND IS THAT YOU PRINT NOT ABOVE THE SAID NUMBER OF FORTY COPIES and forbear to make any further Publication of them till his Pleasure be further signified for which this shall be your Warrant Whitehall January 2 164â— Edw. Nicholas See here what special care was taken that a few only should come to the knowledg of this Proclamation which was at that time more
whose Printer by an unhappy omission of one Letter ran him and me by consequence into a great mistake and I relying upon that Print said That the noble Lord Conway had avowed in Parliament that he never hated Popery whereas his words in truth were that he ever hated it convict me of Falshood in any one Particular there charged upon his incomparable Prince yet I have not had one Word either from him or Sir E. S. Therefore in good Manners I dismiss them from further trouble as I might have done my self had you not fallen foul upon me But seeing you must be scribling and have taken up the Cudgels we must come to A TRIAL OF SKILL To begin You appear very warm at first and therefore not so civil as a Man might hope you would be found who profess so much Candour and Temper as you sometimes do You say 'T is A LEWD PAMPHLET which goes under the Name of LUDLOW Why Lewd dear Sir 'T is a received Opinion amongst your Acquaintance at Billingsgate that to call a Woman Whore and say you will prove her so will bear an Action otherwise not I shall not therefore prosecute you for that because 't is only your say so you neither undertake nor offer one word to prove it And indeed should I implead you upon it I perceive you have express'd your self with that Caution that I should be Non-suited For you add that it goes under the Name of Ludlow by consequence it may not be his Why thus unmerciful Doctor You will not allow me to be Author of my own Book or Letter and yet you declare it a barbarous Act in a certain Essex Doctor his Name I understand is Walker and his Vertues and Piety will I doubt not find a room in future Annals and Records 't is your own delicate Expression when yours will be forgotten I say you allow him not to deny that your Martyr was the Author of Eicon Basilice I meet Sir in the next place with a taste of your healing Spirit You treat me and those who believe the Truth that you are no way able to gain-say in a highly obliging and most endearing manner Pag. 2 3. A vile Brood a factious Crew We are say you I may not now betray my own Innocence so far as to suffer any thing of this to pass upon me without a Vindication I have asserted that your SAINT was a NOTORIOVS TYRANT and for ought you tell me to the contrary very fairly proved it and that by abundance of Instances Am I Unjust therein Why then do not you refute me Am I in the Right Why then will you set your self to out-face the Truth That you do so I shall demonstrate after I have minded you out of my former Letter what things you are either to falsify or justify for you must know that Railing no more than Persecution can ever make a Convert when you scrible again if you intend to convince any Man of an Error who believes that King Charles the First was a Tyrant And I must tell you that I am induced to make the Repetition which ensues because I cannot perceive by the reading your Tract that you have look'd beyond my Title Page for there you find the only thing you mention of mine and that with Indignation THE VILE BROOD you say call this Day THE MADDING-DAY I am most sure that you do not answer nor so much as cast a look towards any one Paragraph or Sentence of my Letter Therefore This informs you that amongst many others the following Acts of Tyranny are there enumerated and placed to your Martyr's Account I shall to oblige you begin with the Church for I know 't will please you to see that precede the State 1. THE KING we are talking of in a Letter which he wrote to the Pope saluted Antichrist with the Title of Sanctissime Pater Most holy Father HE procured the Pope's Dispensation for his Marriage which was solemnized according to the Ceremonies of the Romish Church HE agreed to Articles upon his Marriage that Papists should be no more molested for their Religion HE built Somerset-House Chappel with conveniency for Friars and permitted them to walk abroad in their Habits HE assumed to himself a Power to dispense with the Laws in favour of Popery particularly the 21th and 27th of Queen Elizabeth by granting Pardons to Jesuits and Papists which passed by immediate Warrant HE inhibited and restrained both Ecclesiastical and Temporal Officers to intermeddle with Papists which amounted to a Toleration Popish Jurisdiction was exercised and avowed in Ireland Monasteries and Nunneries were erected there and filled with Men and Women of several Orders HE made above an hundred Popish Lords and Gentlemen Lot as Lieutenants Deputy Lieutenants Justices of the Peace c. And his LORD TREASURER Weston died a Papist Are these my good Doctor any of the VERTVES and GRACES which King William and Queen Mary as you tell them in your Dedication do daily imitate 2. To pass on to the State of the Church of England in his Reign Well might Men cry in that day The Church O THE CHVRCH This King's Bishops generally speaking were unsound in their Principles they laid new Paintings on the Face of the old Whore of Babylon to make her shew lovely They countenanced and cherished Papists and depressed Orthodox Preachers how conformable soever in particular Archbishop Land whom you Doctor will have to be a tolerably good Man allowed Books which favoured Popery but denied to license Books that were written against it This King's CHAPLAINS endeavoured to reconcile England to Rome and scoffed at Preaching Bibles and all shew of Religion MOVNTAGVE one of his Chaplains being prosecuted in Parliament for Crimes of this nature your Martyr was incensed thereat granted him a Pardon and made him Bishop of Chichester And now Doctor pray tell me have our most Excellent King and Queen made any such Bishops or Chaplains as these 3. THIS KING in his first Year lent eight SHIPS which he equipp'd with Monies given for the Relief of his distressed Protestant Sister the Electress Palatine and the oppressed Protestants of the Palatinate TO THE FRENCH KING to fight against the distressed Protestants of Rochel These Ships were employ'd against the Rochellers and the French boasted that they mowed the Hereticks down like Grass Pray Sir your Opinion in the case Can you think their present Majesties will ever imitate their ROYAL GRANDFATHER in this Point 4. King Charles the First in the very beginning of his Reign took our Goods from us against our Wills and our Liberties against the Laws he raised an Army and required the Countries to furnish Coat and Conduct-Mony and against the known Laws put several to Death by Martial Law HE levied Money upon the Subject by way of Loan and menaced the City of London that if they would not advance him Money HE WOULD FRAME HIS COUNSELS AS APPERTAINED TO A KING That surely dear Doctor
been offered them since the Pacification But to add to the Grievances of that oppressed Nation the King committed two of their Commissioners to Prison In April 1640 the King called a Parliament in England not to seek Counsel and Advice of them but to draw Countenance and Supply from them resolving either to make the Parliament pliant to his Will and to establish Mischief by a Law or else to break it The Scots wrote a Justification of their Proceedings to this Parliament and advised them to be wary in vindicating their own Laws and Liberties this Parliament being procured to no other End but to arm the King against his Scotish Subjects and by that VVar to enslave both the Nations That after so many Violations and Dissolutions of Parliaments in England this was not called to redress Grievances but to be so over-reach'd if they were not careful that no possibility should be left for the future of redressing any That some dangerous Practice might be well suspected when at the same time a Parliament was denied to Scotland tho promised by the WORD OF A KING granted to England when not expected and obtruded upon Ireland when not desired The Parliament met the 13th of April when the King required a Supply to carry on his VVar against the Scots with a Promise that he would afterwards redress the Kingdom 's Grievances To which it was answered by many That redress of Grievances was the chief End of assembling Parliaments and ought to precede granting of Subsidies That the People had no reason to pay for that which they neither caused nor desired and which could not prove to their Good but quite contrary to the great detriment of the whole Kingdom That they would more willingly pay to prevent that unhappy VVar That the VVar would make the Breach wider and the Remedy desperate That THE BEST JVSTICE VVOVLD BE TO FILL VP THE PITS VVHICH VVERE MADE TO INTRAP OTHERS VVITH THE BODIES OF THOSE THAT DIGGED THEM Upon the 5th of May the King to the great grief of both Kingdoms * Upon the News of the Dissolution of this Parliament Cardinal Barberini intituled The Protector of England though he greatly affected Arch-Bishop Laud declared That he feared he would cause some great Disturbance in England and that certainly for his sake and by his means the King had dissolved this Parliament which he feared Scotland and most part of England would take very ill dissolved this Parliament finding them no way disposed to countenance the War But he PROTESTED HE WOULD GOVERN ACCORDING TO LAW as if the Parliament were constantly sitting And yet the very next day to the extream Grief of the People he was seen to break his Word for he commanded the Lord BROOKS Study and Pockets to be searched and Mr. Bellasis Father of the present Earl of Fanomberg Sir John Hâ—â—haâ— and Mr. Crew Members of the House of Commons were imprisoned And the King published a false and scandalous Declaration against the Commons He then betook himself to other Courses to carry on this VVar The CLERGY contributed freely to it and Collections were made among the PAPISTS Great Loans were attempted to be drawn from the City and for not complying therein Sir Nicholas Rainton Sir Stephan Soumâ— and other eminent Citizens were imprisoned Nay he went further and had it under consideration to â—oin 400000 l. of BRASS MONEY A Precedent for what the late King James did in Ireland The Scots taking Alarm at the Breach of the English Parliament and at the King's Preparations and finding themselves bereaved of all possibility of satisfying him by any naked Supplication they provided for their own Safety and resolved to enter England with a Sword in one hand and a Petition in the other The King marches his Army Northwards but the Common Souldiers were found sensible of Publick Interest and Religion though many Commanders and Gentleman seemed not to be so They declared their aversion to the War and questioned whether their Captains were not Papists Upon the 28th of August 1640 the Scots marching towards Nowcastle the English Army encamped to intercept their Passage but many of the Souldiers not liking the Cause forsook their Commanders However the Horse engaged the Scots but received a Repulse some on both sides being slain and Colonel VVilmot with Sir John Digby and Oniale both Captains of Horse and PAPISTS were made Prisoners Hereupon the Scots became Masters of Newcastle and Durham The King by Proclamation summoned all the English Nobility with their Followers and Foroes to attend his Standard at York upon the 20th of September against the Scots But about twenty Peers considering the great Calamity into which the King 's rash Proceedings had thrown the Kingdom framed and sent his Majesty an humble Letter representing the Mischiefs attending his wicked War the Rapines committed by his Army wherein Papists were armed though the Laws permit them not to have Arms in their Houses c. and they humbly entreated him to summon a Parliament The King thereupon summoned all the Lords to appear at York upon the 24th of September and then declared to them that OF HIS OWN FREE ACCORD he had determined to call a Parliament and sixteen Lords were agreed upon to treat with the like number of the Scots and at length a Cessation of Arms till the 16th of December was agreed upon and that during that time the Scots should be paid 850 l. a day and they allowed Winter-quarters in England Both Nations hereupon rested in assured Confidence that the Parliament would put a Period to this War which could never have been begun but for want of a Parliament They were also confident that the Freedom which the Fundamental Laws allow to Parliaments could not be denied to this to which the King WAS NECESSITATED and upon which THE PEOPLE had set their utmost Hope whom it seemed not safe after so many and often repeated Oppressions to provoke any further So much for the Scotish Affairs Now it may be thought that I have too long digressed therefore to return to you Reverend Doctor Hollingworth We will try what Inferences may be raised from this Melancholy History to render it useful to the English Reader I have declared that King Charles the First was an insufferable Tyrant you affirm him to have set a Pattern for the best of future Princes and that King William and Queen Mary are daily imitating him And the last thing you said was That when the Parliament met in November 1640 He frankly told them that he was resolved to put himself freely and clearly on the LOVE AND AFFECTION OF HIS ENGLISH SUBJECTS Now I have been taking a great deal of pains to set this Matter in its true Light and to shew whence this sudden Fit of Love to our Nation with an exclusion of Scotland arose And with your leave Sir here are two or three Vses of Information or Instruction from what hath been said 1. That this Declaration of
yielding up the Claim of Ship-Money to be an Act of pure Grace for very able Lawyers gave their Opinion that the King might exact it by Law and so I have told you did as able and no less knavish Divines But hearken I beseech you what the Wisdom of Parliament told him They declared it a new and unheard of Tax they voted it a most illegal Taxation and unsufferable Grievance they look'd into the Carriage of those Judges who advised the King in this matter and found that Sir JOHN FINCH a Gentleman of good Birth of an high and imperious Spirit ELOQUENT IN SPEECH tho in the knowledg of the Law not very deep in the Year 1636 when Ship-Money was first plotted and set on foot was made Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas and it appeared that by his Brokage and Sollicitation and that with Threats and Promises several of the Judges were wrought upon to give it under their hand that the King might by Law exact Ship-Money Thereupon an Impeachment of High Treason was drawn up against him and the great Lord FAVLKLAND tho an Admirer of the Church as you tell me presented it to the Lords with a very pithy and sharp Oration against Finch but he being at this time Lord-Keeper not daring to abide the Test took his Wings and fled in a disguise to Holland In Conclusion the Arbitrary Power pretended to be in the King of taxing the Subject without Consent in Parliament was not only declared to be against Law by the Judgment of both Houses but also by Act of Parliament Thus we rid our Hands of SHIP-MONEY And Now indeed Sir you come to that which might well raise your Choler and stir your Indignation The King passed a Bill to remove the Bishops out of the House of Lords he also passed a Bill for attainting the great Earl of Strafford which offered Violence to the Peace and Quiet of his Mind all the days of his Life To tell you the Truth Doctor the Parliament found the Bishops of that day to be the Troublers of the State and that it was by consequence become most necessary to abridg their immoderate Power usurped over the Clergy and other good Subjects which they had most maliciously abused to the hazard of Religion and great Prejudice and Oppression of the Laws of the Kingdom and just Liberty of the Subject They had cherish'd Formality and Superstition as the probable Supports of their own Ecclesiastical Tyranny and Vsurpation they had multiplied and enlarged the Differences between the common Protestants and those whom they called Puritans under which Name they included all those that desired to preserve the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom and to maintain the true Protestant Religion They had been designing a Conjunction between Papists and Protestants in Doctrine Discipline and Ceremonies only it must not yet be called Popery They had triumphed in the Suspensions Excommunications Deprivations and Degradations of divers learned and pious Ministers in the Vexation and grievous Oppression of great numbers of the People whereby many thousands were impoverished and others were so afflicted and troubled by them that great numbers departed into new-New-England and other parts of America others into Holland The most of the Preaching that was allowed was degenerate into railing against Parliaments and Puritans because they were tenacious of just Liberty and true Religion crying up Absolute Authority Passive Obedience c. Streins of Wit fitter for a Stage than a Pulpit After the Dissolution of the Parliament in May 1640 They continued the Convocation and by unheard-of Presumption they made Canons contrary to the King's Prerogative to the Fundamental Laws of the Realm to the Right of Parliaments to the Property and Liberty of the Subject thereby establishing their own Vsurpations justifying their Altar-Worship and other Superstitious Innovations which they had formerly introduced without Warrant of Law they imposed a new Oath on the Subjects for maintenance of their own Tyranny and laid a great Tax upon the Clergy And now to sill up the measure of their Iniquity the House of Lords upon the 30th of December 1641 at a Conference with the Commons told them that the Bishops by a Protestation which they made to the King and Lords had deeply intrenched upon the Fundamental Priviledges and Being of Parliament whereupon the Commons impeached twelve of them of High-Treason in endeavouring to subvert the Fundamental Laws of the Realm and the very Being of Parliaments and they were by the House of Peers sequestred from Parliament committed to the Tower and shortly after by Act of Parliament most deservedly deprived of voting in the House of Peers I hope good Doctor you will acquiesce in the Reasons which I have here offered for the passing this Bill of Exclusion but the other Bill for attainting the great Earl of Strafford you say offered Violence to the Peace and Quiet of the King's Mind all the days of his Life This great Man who had long run on in a full Career to establish Tyranny trampling down the Peoples Liberties leaping the Hedges of the Laws or making Gaps through them was impeached by the Commons in many Articles some whereof were for ruling Ireland or which he had been Lord-Lieutenant in an Arbitrary way against the Fundamental Laws which he had endeavoured to subvert For abusing his Power to the increase and encouragement of Papists for maliciously endeavouring to stir up Hostility between England and Scotland for labouring to subvert Parliaments and incense the King against them for levying Money by force of Arms for imposing an Oath upon the Subjects That they should not protest against any of the King's Commands for telling the King That he had an Army in Ireland which his Majesty might imploy to reduce this Kingdom to Obedience Upon this Impeachment the Earl was brought to Trial before the Lords which lasted from the 22d of March with but few days intermission till the midst of April After this long Trial the Commons voted him guilty of High-Treason in divers Particulars and drew up and passed a Bill of Attainder against him but 59 dissenting This Bill being carried to the Lords the King's Sollicitor General made it good by Law to the satisfaction of almost all that heard him The Judges also delivered their Opinions That the Matters proved against him amounted to Treason and so the Lords passed the Bill The King having after this called all the Judges to deliver their Opinions before him and also sent for FOUR BISHOPS TO RESOLVE HIM UPON SCRUPLE OF CONSCIENCE He at length gave the Royal Assent to this Bill Prithee now Doctor tell me what ail'd your Martyr's Conscience at this time There must be something extraordinary and not commonly taken notice of in this Matter that must as you affirm offer Violence to the Peace and Quiet of his Mind all the Days of his Life You know he exacted the Ship-Money without scruple of Conscience upon the Advice of some Lawyers And
him about it What say you next Pag. 10. Mr. Chaplain at Aldgate Why To let the World see what the King aimed at He does assure the Gentlemen whose Loyalty engaged them early on his Side and does promise them in the Presence of Almighty God and as he hopes for his Blessing and Protection that he would to the utmost of his Power defend and maintain the true Protestant Religion establish'd in the Church of England You almost provoke me Doctor to draw up a Petition to your Right Honourable and Right Reverend Diocesan to suspend you from writing DEFENCES till you swear to do them honestly then and not till then we may hope for the Truth the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth I am credibly informed that there was something more in this Speech than you are willing to acknowledg 'T is the same I take it for granted that his Majesty made at the Head of his Army between Stafford and Wellington the 19th of September 1642. He then had these Expressions also The time cannot be long before we come to Action You shall meet with no Enemies but TRAITORS MOST OF THEM â—ROWNISTS ANABAPTISTS AND ATHEISTS These were the Words of a King I shall not therefore reflect further upon them than to ask you upon the Oath which you are to take Whether you do in your Conscience believe that the Great the Good the pious King spoke Truth here Whether he had not more Atheists and Papists in his Army than the Parliament had Brownists and Anabaptists in theirs Your next Effort is this Pag. 12. You fall upon the Consideration of the Steps his Majesty made towards Peace and thus express your self Truly I think ACCORDING TO MY POOR JVDGMENT he now Acts according to what he always pretended and solemnly avowed to wit as a true Father of his Country for be proposes That HIS REVENVE MAGAZINES TOWNS SHIPS AND FORTS may be restored to him and all should be well Now I will readily agree that there is here and there found a Doctor nay a Chaplain too of a poor Judgment but one would think that he that is conscious of his own Weakness and Incapacity should not assume the Arrogance to judg in Matters of Right between Princes and their People And I will here tell you what better Heads than you or I ever wore said upon this Point The Opinion of the Parliament was That his Majesty's Towns were no more his own than his Kingdom is his own and his Kingdom is no more his own than his People are his own And if the King had a Propriety in all his Towns what would become of the Subjects Property in their Houses therein And if he had a Propriety in his Kingdom what would become of the Subjects Property in their Lands throughout the Kingdom or of their Liberties if his Majesty had the same Right in their Persons that every Subject hath in his Lands This ERRONEOVS MAXIM being infused into Princes THAT THEIR KINGDOMS ARE THEIR OWN and that they may do with them what they will AS IF THEIR KINGDOMS were for them and not they for their Kingdoms is the Root of all the Subjects Misery and of the invading of their just Rights and Liberties whereas INDEED THEY ARE ONLY INTRVSTED with their Kingdoms and with their Towns and with their People and with the Publick Treasures of the Common-Wealth and whatsoever is bought therewith and by the known Law of the Kingdom the VERY JEWELS OF THE CROWN are not the King 's PROPER Goods but are only intrusted unto him for the Vse and Ornament thereof as the Towns Forts Treasure Magazines Offices and the People of the Kingdom and the whole Kingdom it self is entrusted unto him for the Good Safety and best Advantage thereof And AS THIS TRVST IS FOR THE VSE OF THE KINGDOM SO IT OVGHT TO BE MANAGED BY THE ADVICE OF THE HOVSES OF PARLIAMENT whom the Kingdom hath trusted for that purpose it being their Duty to see it be discharged according to the condition and true indent thereof and as much as in them lies by all possible means to prevent the contrary Not to enquire what you Sir in your poor Judgment do think of this high Principle I will move with what speed I can to a Conclusion I told you not long since That the Lords and Commons voted the raising an Army to be commanded by the Earl of Essex and at the same time humbly but in vain supplicated the King for Peace and to return to his Parliament When the General marched with his Forces towards the Army raised against the Parliament and Kingdom He was instructed to fight at such Time and Place as he should judg most to conduce to the Peace and Safety of the Kingdom but was also commanded to cause a Petition of both Housâ—s to be presented to his Majesty wherein they thus expressed themselves We cannot without great grief and tenderness of Compassion behold the pressing Miseries the imminent Dangers the devouring Calamities which do extreamly threaten the Kingdoms of England and Ireland by the practice of a Party prevailing with your Majesty who by many wicked Plots and Conspiracies have attempted the alteration of the true Religion and the ancient Government of this Kingdom and the introducing of POPISH IDOLATRY AND SVPERSTITION in the CHVRCH and TYRANNY and CONFVSION in the STATE And for the compassing thereof have long corrupted your Majesty's Counsels abused your Power and by sudden and untimely dissolving of the former Parliaments have often hindred the Reformation and Prevention of those Mischiefs and being now disabled to avoid the Endeavours of this Parliament by any such Means have TRAITEROVSLY attempted to over-awe the same by Force And in prosecution of their wicked Designs have EXCITED ENCOVRAGED AND FOSTER'D an unnatural REBELLION in IRELAND and have drawn your MAJESTY to make War against your Parliament as if you intended by CONQVEST to establish an ABSOLVTE ILLIMITED I OWER over them And by YOVR POWER and the countenance of your Presence have SPOILED IMPRISONED MVRDERED divers of your People And for their better assistance in these wicked Designs do seek to bring over the Rebels of Ireland to join with them WE HAVE for the just and necessary Defence of the Protestant Religion of your Majesty's Person of the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom and the Priviledg and Power of Parliament TAKEN VP ARMS and appointed Robert Earl of Essex to be Captain General of all the Forces by us raised and to head and conduct the same against these REBELS and TRAITORS and them to subdue and bring to condign Punishment And do most humbly beseech your Majesty to withdraw your Royal Presence and Countenance from these wicked Persons and THAT YOVR MAJESTY WILL NOT MIX YOVR OWN DANGER WITH THEIRS but in Peace and Safety forthwith return to your Parliament and by their faithful Counsel and Advice compose the present Distempers and Confusions abounding in both your Kingdoms and
Inquisition and imprison'd in the Gatehouse Westminster In the Year 1636 Mr. Burton preached a Sermon upon the 5th of November at his Church in Friday-street London wherein he laid open the Innovations in Doctrine Worship and Ceremonies which had lately crept into the Church and wished the People to beware of them For this LAVD caused Articles to be drawn against him in the High-Commission Court and suspended him Then causing his House to be broken open took and committed him to the Fleet close Prisoner and he was shut up there divers Weeks from his Wife and Friends Upon the 11th of March 1636 they exhibited an Information against Dr. Bastwick Mr. Pryn and Mr. Burton in the Star-Chamber And upon the 14th of June 1637 they pass'd this Sentence on them viz. To lose their Ears in the Palace-yard Westminster To pay a Fine of 5000 l. a Man and be perpetually imprisoned in three remote Places of the Kingdom viz. the Castles of Carnarvan Cornwal and Lancaster and Mr. Pryn to be stigmatized in the Cheeks with two Letters S. and L. for a seditious Libeller Upon the 30th of June 1637 to the great regret of the People who strowed their way with Herbs these Confessors for the English Liberties were brought to the Place appointed for the Execution of the accursed Sentence which was done in a manner extraordinarily cruel Dr. Bastwick being upon the Pillory spoke thus to the lamenting People I wrote a Book against the Pope and the POPE OF CANTERBURY said I wrote against him So far am I from base Fear that had I as much Blood as would swell the Thames I would shed it every drop in this Cause Had I as many Lives as I have Hairs on my Head I would give them all for this Cause Being let out of the Pillory he took the Spunge from one of his Ears which was all bloody and waving it over his Head said Blessed be my God who hath counted me worthy and of his mighty Power hath enabled me to suffer any thing for his sake And as I have now lost some of my Blood so am I ready and willing to spill every drop in my Veins in this Cause for which I have now suffered which is for maintaining the Truth of God and the Honour of my King against Popish Vsurpations LET GOD BE GLORIFIED AND LET THE KING LIVE FOR EVER These were not Expressions of a COMMON-WEALTH'S MAN or a Rebel Were they good Doctor Chaplain at Aldgate Mr. Pryn's turn being next he express'd himself thus We are accounted FACTIOVS FELLOWS Hereticks and REBELS for * Discoverers of Plots against the Protestant Religion and English Liberties have been ever used at the rate which Mr. Pryn was ever since Laud's Faction got up in the Church DICOVERING A PLOT OF POPERY Alas POOR ENGLAND What will become of thee and thy Religion if thou maintainest not thy own ESTABLISH'D FAITH you see Doctor Mr. Pryn was for the Church as establish'd by Law AND LAWFVL LIBERTIES Ay that spoils all for it renders him a Common-wealth's man no doubt yet 't is but such a one as the late King Charles the second frankly told the Duke of Buckingham he would have been had he not been a King Christian People proceeded Mr. Pryn I beseech you all stand firm and be zealous for the Cause of God and his true Religion to the shedding of your dearest Blood otherwise you will bring your selves and your Posterities INTO PERPETUAL BONDAGE AND SLAVERY c. The Executioner coming to â—ear and cut his Ears he said Come Friend Come burn me cut me I fear not I have learn'd to fear the Fire of Hell and not what Man can do unto me Come sâ—ar me sear me I shall bear in my Body the Marks of the Lord Jesus The Executioner having done his part and that with the utmost Cruelty Mr. Pryn with a smiling Countenance said Now blessed be God I have conquer'd and triumphed over the Bishop's Malice and returning to the Tower he made these Verses by the way S. L. STIGMATA LAUDIS Stigmata Maxillis referens insignia Laudis Exultans remeo victima grata Deo Triumphant I return My Face descries Laud's scorching Scars God's grateful Sacrifice Next follows Reverend Mr. Burton he being in the Pillory said I was never in such a Pulpit before but little do you know what Fruit God is able to produce from this dry Tree MARK MY WORDS I say through these Holes God can bring Light to his Church Moreover he said My Conscience in the discharge of my Ministerial Duty in admonishing my People to beware of the CREEPING IN OF POPERY and exhorting of them to stick close to God and the King in Duties of Obedience was that which first occasioned my Sufferings For the Truth I have preached I am ready to seal it with my Blood for this is my Crown both here and hereafter After this Execution done they were banished to the remote parts of the Kingdom and there kept several Years in close and solitary Confinement not allowed Pen Ink and Paper nor the sight of any Friend and in this most deplorable case did the Parliament in November 1640 find these three distressed Gentlemen of several Professions the noblest in the Kingdom Divinity Law and Physick but they were soon sent for from their Exile and brought into London by many thousands of rejoycing Gentlemen and Citizens who went out on Horseback to meet and congratulate their Deliverance And the Parliament taking their Case into Consideration voted THAT THE JUDGMENTS GIVEN against them were illegal unjust and against the LIBERTY OF THE SUBJECT Now good Doctor was not here reason with a witness to open every Man's Mouth with Complaints against these most arbitrary and pernicious Courts and to induce the Parliament to remove these Forges of Misery Oppression and Violence Nevertheless the KING with a very unwilling Mind as I have shew'd yielded therein but as he lost much of the Thanks which so great a Grace freely and forwardly express'd might have deserved so I doubt it will be some diminution to your Credit dear Doctor that contrary to what you affirm HE DELAYED and did not presently comply in this matter Well! what follows now The King is still on the giving hand no doubt of it THE SHIP-MONEY you add tho great and very learned Lawyers had given their Opinion Pag. 5. that the exacting of it in some Cases was according to Law yet he GOOD MAN gives up that also Here good Doctor you speak like A MEER CLERGY-MAN and I begin to suspect that you never read any other than Dr. NALSON's HISTORY and are tainted with the Principles of those famous Gentlemen of the Cassock SIBTHORP and MANWARING who as well as some designing Lawyers told your Martyr That Authority of Parliament is not necessary for the raising Aids and Subsidies That all Antiquity is absolutely for absolute Obedience to Princes in all Civil and Temporal Things You make the
Monarch might invade the just Rights of the People nor the People incroach upon the Rights of his Crown and Dignity Having said this you intimate that he told them something upon their presenting Petitions to him at Theobalds and New-market Then it seems that they called upon him likewise and 't is fit my Country-men should know for what seeing you do maliciously withhold it Upon the 1st of March 1641 BOTH HOUSES CALLED UPON HIS MAJESTY by their Petition presented at Theobalds That for the dispatch of the great Affairs of the Kingdom the Safety of his Person the Protection and Comfort of his Subjects he would be pleased to continue his Abode near the Parliament and not to withdraw himself to any the remoter Parts which if he should do must needs be a cause of great Danger and Distraction And they prayed him to accept this humble Counsel as the Effect of that Duty and Allegiance which they owed unto him and which would not suffer them to admit of any Thoughts Intentions or Endeavours but such as were necessary and advantagious for his Majesties Greatness and Honour and the Safety and Prosperity of the Kingdom Expressions surely that do not in the least savour of that Sedition and Rebellion with which at this time by you Doctor and many other WICKED Clergy-men the Memory of this great Parliament is charged The King being deaf to the importunate Supplication of the Lords and Commons for his Return They again called upon him more earnestly sending after him a Declaration to Newmarket by the Earles of Pembroke and Holland and a Committee of the Commons wherein they laid before him the Causes of their own Fears and Jealousies in these Particulars 1. That the design of altering Religion had been potently carried on by those in greatest Authority about him the Queen's Agent at Rome the Pope's Nuncio here are not only Evidences of this Design but have been great Actors in it 2. That the War with Scotland was procured to make way for this Intent and chiefly fomented by the Papists and other Popishly affected whereof we have many Evidences 3. That the Rebellion in Ireland was framed and contrived here in England and that the English Papists should have risen about the same time we have several Testimonies c. The Irish Rebels affirm that they do nothing but by Authority from the King they call themselves the Queen's Army The Booty which they take from the English they mark with the Queen's mark and it is proved that their purpose was to come to England after they had done in Ireland 4. The labouring to infuse into your Majesty's Subjects an evil Opinion of the Parliament and other Symptoms of a Disposition of raising Arms and dividing your People by a Civil War in which Combustion Ireland must needs be lost and this Kingdom miserably wasted and consumed if not wholly ruined and destroyed 5. That your Majesty sent away the Lord Digby by your own Warrant beyond the Sea after a Vote had passed in the House of Commons declaring that he had appeared in a Warlike manner at Kingston upon Thames to the Terror of your Majesty's good Subjects that he being so got beyond Sea he vented his traiterous Conceptions That your Majesty should declare your self and retire to a place of Strength and intimated some Service which he might do in those Parts whereby in probability he intended the procuring of some Foreign Force to strengthen your Majesty in that Condition into which he would have brought you which malicious Counsel we have great Cause to doubt made too deep an Impression in your Majesty CONSIDERING THE COURSE YOU ARE PLEASED TO TAKE OF ABSENTING YOUR SELF FROM YOUR PARLIAMENT and carrying the Prince with you which seems to express a purpose in your Majesty to keep your self in a readiness for the acting of it 6. The manifold Advertisements which we have had from Rome Venice Paris and other parts that they still expect that your Majesty has some great Design in hand for the altering of Religion the breaking the Neck of your Parliament and that you will yet find means to compass that Design That the Pope's Nuncio hath sollicited the Kings of France and Spain to lend your Majesty 4000 Men apiece to help to maintain your Royalty against the Parliament These are some of the grounds of our Fears and Jealousies which made us so earnestly to implore your Royal Authority and Protection for our Defence and Security in all the ways of Humility and Submission which being denied by your Majesty We do with Sorrow apply our selves to the use of that * The Militia Power which by the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom resides in us yet still resolving to keep our selves within the Bounds of Faithfulness and Allegiance to your Sacred Person and your Crown And as to the Fears and Jealousies which his Majesty seemed to have entertained of them The Lords and Commons thus answered We have according to your Majesty's Desires laid our Hands upon our Hearts we have ask'd our selves in the strictest Examination of our Consciences we have search'd our Affections our Thoughts considered our Actions and can find none that can give your Majesty and just occasion to absent your self from Whitehall and the Parliament but that you may with more Honour and Safety continue there than in any other place Your Majesty lays a general Charge upon us if you will be graciously pleased to let us know the Particulars we shall give a clear and satisfactory Answer But what hope can we have of ever giving your Majesty Satisfaction when those Particulars which you have been made believe were true yet being produced and made known to us appeared to be false and your Majesty notwithstanding will neither punish nor produce the Authors but go on to contract new Jealousies and Fears upon general and uncertain grounds affording us no means or possibility of particular Answer to the clearing of our selves WE BESEECH YOUR MAJESTY TO CONSIDER IN WHAT STATE YOU ARE how easy and fair a way you have to Happiness Honour and Greatness Plenty and Security if you will join with the Parliament in the Defence of the Religion and publick Good of the Kingdom THIS IS ALL WE EXPECT FROM YOU and for this we return to you our Lives Fortunes and utmost Eadeavours to support your Majesty your just Soveraignty and Power over us but IT IS NOT WORDS THAT CAN SECURE US in these our humble Desires We cannot but too well and sorrowfully remember what GRACIOUS MESSAGES we had from you this Summer when WITH YOUR PRIVITY the bringing up the Army was in Agitation We cannot but with the like Affections recal to our Minds how not two days before your own coming to the Commons House you sent a GRACIOUS MESSAGE that you would always have care of their Priviledges as of your own Prerogative of the Safety of their Persons as of your own Children that which we expect which will give
Confidence were begot betwixt your Majesty and your Parliament whose grave and loyal Counsels are we humbly conceive the visible way under God to put a speedy end to the Troubles of Ireland and establish your Throne in Righteousness We most humbly supplicate that we may represent our Vnfitness to become Judges betwixt your Majesty and Parliament in any thing or dispute the Authority of either which we humbly conceive do fortify each other We shall be ready to maintain your Majesty's just Rights the Priviledges and Power of Parliaments and the lawful Liberties of the Subjects I have now shown you Doctor that the King wanted not Invitations to return and live in Honour and Safety at London The Parliament importunately press'd it the Gentlemen and Freeholders of Yorkshire humbly supplicated it But nothing is more certain than that instead of hoping to cool the Heats at London by retiring to York 't was his sole purpose and intention to put that Country and the whole Kingdom into a Flame as he quickly did and pursuant to that Design having rejected with Scorn the Petitions I have mentioned he persisted in his former way of raising Forces and made Proclamation requiring all Gentlemen and others of that County to attend him in Arms. The Lords and Commons wisely foreseeing the impending Mischief and observing the Clouds to gather so fast and threaten a Storm they as wisely endeavoured to prevent it and therefore passed a Vote May 20 1642 That it appears the King seduced by wicked Counsel intends to make War against the Parliament who in all their Consultations and Actions have proposed no other end unto themselves but the Care of his Kingdom and the performance of all Duty and Loyalty to his Person 2. That whensoever the King maketh War upon the Parliament it is a Breach of the Trust reposed in him by his People contrary to his Oath and tending to the Dissolution of the Government 3. That whosoever shall serve or assist him in such War are Traitors by the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom and have been so adjudged by two Acts of Parliament and ought to suffer as Traitors 11 Rich. 2. 1 Hen. 4. But I must hear you Pag. 10. Sir upon this Point of the first beginning of the unnatural and bloody War you suggest that he was forced to raise an Army which was after the Parliament had voted a Necessity of a War with him Will you never leave your L Doctor The Parliament did not vote a necessity of a War They indeed voted as I told you but now That it appeared that the King intended to make War against them and it was near two Months afterwards viz. the 12th of July 1642 that the Lords and Commons finding his Majesty to persist in that Intention voted that an Army should be forthwith raised for the Safety of the King's Person Defence of both Houses of Parliament and preserving of the true Religion the Laws Liberty and the Peace of the Kingdom That the Earl of Essex should be General and that they will live and die with him in this Cause and that the Earl of Bedford should be General of the Horse Nevertheless they resolved that a Petition should be presented to his Majesty by the Earl of Holland Sir John Holland and Sir Philip Stapleton to move the King to a good Accord with his Parliament to prevent a Civil War which was to the effect following Although We your Majesty's most humble and faithful Subjects the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament have been very unhappy in many former Petitions to your Majesty and with much Sorrow do perceive that your Majesty incensed by many false Calumnies and Slanders doth continue to raise Forces against us and to make great Preparations for War both in the Kingdom and from beyond the Seas yet such is our earnest desire of discharging our Duty to your Majesty and the Kingdom to preserve the Peace thereof and to prevent the Miseries of Civil War That notwithstanding we hold our selves bound to use all the Means and Power which by the Laws and Constitutions of this Kingdom we are trusted with for Defence and Protection thereof and of the Subjects from Force and Violence We do in this our humble and loyal Petition prostrate our selves at your Majesty's Feet beseeching that you will forbear and remove all Preparations and Actions of War That you will come nearer to your Parliament and hearken to their faithful Advice and humble Petitions which shall only tend to the Defence and Advancement of Religion your own Royal Honour and Safety the preservation of our Laws and Liberties And we have been and ever shall be careful to prevent and punish all Tumults and seditious Actings Speeches and Writings which may give your Majesty just cause of Distaste or apprehension of Danger And we for our Parts shall be ready to lay down all those Preparations which we have been forced to make for our Defence And for the Town of Hull and the Ordinance concerning the Militia as we have in both these Particulars only sought the preservation of the Peace of the Kingdom and the Defence of the Parliament from Force and Violence so we shall most willingly leave the Town of Hull in the state it was before Sir John Hotham drew any Forces into it delivering your Majesty's Magazine into the Tower of London We shall be ready to settle the Militia by a Bill in such a way as shall be honourable and safe for your Majesty most agreeable to the Duty of Parliament and effectual for the Good of the Kingdom that the Strength thereof be not employed against it self and that which ought to be for our Security applied to our Destruction And that the Parliament and those who profess and desire still to preserve the Protestant Religion both in this Realm and in Ireland may not be left naked and indefensible to the mischievous Designs and cruel Attempts of those who are the profess'd and confederate Enemies thereof in your Majesty's Dominions and other Neighbour Nations To which if your Majesty's Courses and Counsels shall from henceforth concur We doubt not but we shall quickly make it appear to the World by the most eminent Effects of Love and Duty That your Majesty's personal Safety your Royal Honour and Greatness are much dearer to us than our own Lives and Fortunes which we do most heartily dedicate and shall most willingly imploy for the support and maintenance thereof And now Sir I appeal to you and to all the World Whether these Men talk'd here as though they were resolved to make War and engross all into their own Hands let what would become of the King as a certain Aldgate Doctor of Divinity falsly accuses the Lords and Commons Thanks be to God Sir John Holland as well as Sir John Prattle is yet alive in Norfolk in perfect Health and Understanding and is ready to give the same account I have here given you to any Man that asks
provide for the Security and Honour of your Royal Posterity and the prosperous Estate of all your Subjects And we do in the presence of Almighty God profess That we will receive your Majesty with all Honour yield you all due Obedience and Subjection and faithfully endeavour to secure your Person and Estate from all Danger and to the uttermost of our Power to procure and establish to your Self and to your People all the Blessings of a glorious and happy Reign You see Sir the LORDS AND COMMONS TALK'D LIKE CHRISTIANS They were grieved at the Miseries of the Kingdoms They detested the Romish Idolatry When they sent their Army against the Enemies of the King and Kingdom they supplicate his Majesty not to mix his Danger with theirs but to return in Peace to his Parliament and compose the Distempers of his Kingdoms and provide for the Security and Honour of his Posterity They IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD PROFESS that they would receive him with all Honour yield him all due Subjection endeavour to secure him from Danger and make his Reign Glorious and Happy WHICH WORDS CERTAINLY ARE NOT THE WORDS OF TRAITORS But all this would not do for he resolved to answer their Petitions in Blood and proclaimed the Earl of Essex Rebel Yet to blind the Eyes of the Multitude and disguise his pernicious and cruel Intentions under the semblance of Peace and Justice he made as you Doctor have observed divers solemn Protestations with fearful Imprecations upon himself and invocation of God's Holy Name That he intended nothing but the Peace and Welfare of his People the maintenance of Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom and for his own security only to raise a Guard for his Person and that he did from his Soul abhor the thought of making War against the Parliament or to put the Kingdom into a Combustion Nevertheless his contrary intentions were at that very instant manifested by these ensuing Actions and Proceedings before the Parliament voted the raising of their Army He put a Garison of Souldiers into Newcastle The * Upon the 27th of Septemb. 1642 he not only allowed but required the Papists of Lancashire to provide Arms for themselves their Servants and Tenants and all without doubt for the Service of the Church of England Papists in a peremptory manner in the King's Name demanded their Arms taken from them according to the Laws to be again restored to them He caused the Mouth of the River Tine to be fortified whereby the whole Trade of Newcastle for Coals was subject to be interrupted whensoever he should please A Ship laden with Cannon for Battery Powder and Ammunition was brought for him into the River of Humber which also brought several Commanders from Foreign Parts Also divers other large Preparations of Warlike Provisions were made beyond the Sea and shortly expected besides great Numbers of Gentlemen Horses and Arms were drawn from all parts of the Kingdom and all the Gentlemen of Yorkshire required to bring in their Horses for the King's Service Commissions for raising Horse were granted and divers Officers for his Army were appointed Upon the 4th of July the King rendezvouzed an Army of a considerable number of Horse and Foot and Beverly amongst whom there were divers Papists and other Persons of desperate Fortune and Condition ready to execute any Violence Rapine and Oppression He sent some Troops of Horse into Lincolnshire to the great Terror of the People They began to take away Mens Horses by force and to commit Acts of Hostility These are sad Truths Reverend Doctor and the King having thus contrary to his solemn Protestation begun the War the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament held themselves bound in Conscience to raise Forces for the preservation of the Peace of the Kingdom and Protection of the People in their Persons and Estates according to Law and for the Defence and Security of the Parliament and accordingly upon the 12th of July 1642 and not before as I have already told you they voted the raising an Army for these purposes Now in regard as I understand you were before your Dotage a Presbyterian Minister of Essex I would gladly set your poor Judgment right in this great Point of as well the Necessity as Justice of the Parliament War and in regard that I find you prejudiced against Dr. Seaman and Mr. Calamy I will not offer their Opinion to you but pray see what the learned and pious Mr. Daniel Rogers of Wethersfield Mr. Matthew Newcomen of Dedham and above sixty eminent Ministers of so many several Towns in Essex left under their hands in relation to this Controversy between you and me We say they call the God of Heaven and Earth to witness upon our Souls that it was not hatred to any Party or Person much less to the Person of OUR KING that first drew â—â—s to engage with and for the PARLIAMENT but clearly this some Years before the assembling of this Parliament we evidently saw the Affairs of Church and State in imminent and apparent hazardâ— many and great Alterations made in Doctrine Innovations in Worship the Power of Godliness disgrac'd true Religion undermined the faithful and conscientious Professors of it persecuted even to Bonds Flight and Imprisonment POPERY CONNIVED AT COUNTENANCED COURTED besides many grievous Oppressions of the Subjects in their Liberties and Properties These things we saw and signed for but had no thoughts of inviting any to make Resistance tho against the abused Name and Power of a misguided King whom we much pitied in his Miscarriages until it pleased God to bless us with A PARLIAMENT THE ORDINARY MEANS WHICH HE HATH APPOINTED IN THIS NATION FOR THE REDRESSING OF SUCH GROWING EVILS The Parliament meet declare their Apprehensions of the Danger of CHURCH AND STATE apply themselves to all humble and submiss ways by PETITIONS See the Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom Decemb. 15. 1641. REMONSTRANCES c. speak nothing but honourably of the King lay the blame of all Miscarriages upon Evil Counsellors require them to Trial But God for our Sins and his shuts up his Majesty's Heart against these Addresses instead of yielding up those whom the Parliament demands he demands some of their Members seconds his Demand with a. Face of Violence And HERE BEGAN THAT MOST UNHAPPY BREACH the Parliament upon this desire a Guard the King apprehended OR PRETENDED Terror he leaves his Parliament upon it and UNDER SHADOW OF A GUARD for his Person RAISETH AN ARMY sets up his STANDARD c. The Story is too long and sad for us to relate but hence arose that Fire which since hath burnt almost to the very Foundation and who knows when it will be quenched The Parliament seeing which way the Counsels of the King steered apprehend a necessity of raising Arms FOR THE DEFENCE OF THEMSELVES AND THE KINGDOM When the War was first commenced their Army carried a Petition in the one hand as well as a
Sword in the other in which the Lords and Commons do IN THE PRESENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD profess That if his Majesty will forthwith return to his Parliament c. they will receive him with all Honour yield him all due Subjection and Obedience and faithfully endeavour to secure his Person and Estate from all Danger and do the utmost of their Power to procure and establish to himself and his People all the Blessings of a glorious and happy Reign WE DID THEN VERILY BELIEVE AND YET DO that these were the sincere and cordial Intentions of the Lords and Commons and altho the King was so unhappy as to reject that Petition yet they persisted still in the same Loyalty of Intentions and Affections towards him as appears in their many Messages to himself and Declarations to the Kingdom Upon these Grounds we engaged in this CAVSE being called to it by a lawful Authority The TWO HOVSES OF PARLIAMENT BEING THE ORDINANCE OF GOD VNTO THIS NATION FOR THE PREVENTING OF TYRANNY AND THE REGVLATING OF THE EXORBITANCIES OF REGAL POWER and being convinced in our Judgments both of the Equity and Necessity of THE PARLIAMENT'S DEFENSIVE ARMS c. WE APPEAL TO GOD the Searcher of all Hearts to whom we must give an Account of all our Ways THAT THESE WERE THE GROVNDS OF OVR FIRST ENGAGEMENT Now Sir to look back to your Defence of the King I find you frequently glorying in his Majesty's oft-repeated Gracious Messages Offers Proposals and Condescentions for Peace and in relation to the Deportment of the Parliament you thus express your poor Judgment I cannot but perswade my self Pag. 17. they were resolved to continue the War and engross all into their own hands let what would become of the King But yet that they might pacify the Minds of a great number of the Nation who groaned under the Miseries of the War and began to see too much of a private Spirit under publick Pretences they consent to a Treaty at Uxbridg they did so and you declare that two Heads were agreed to be there debated viz. 1. Of Religion and Church Government 2. Of the Militia Now in reading the History of that Treaty I find that a third great thing was agreed to be also debated viz. The business of Ireland but that being a Point which you care not to touch I must not allow you to hide it To discourse a little about this Treaty notwithstanding the King for his Credit-sake and to satisfy his own Party weary of War yielded to a Treaty I cannot perswade my self but he was resolved to continue the War and if you appear not a Man of resolved Prejudices or else of profound and stupid Ignorance I do half think that I may bring you over to my Opinion in this matter For to let you see what disposed him to hearken to this Treaty take his own words in his Letter to the Queen in December 1644. I shall shew thee upon what Grounds I came to a Treaty to the end thou mayst the better understand and APPROVE of my Ways Then know as A CERTAIN TRVTH that all EVEN MY PARTY are strongly impatient for Peace which obliged me so much the more at all occasions to shew my real Intentions to Peace NO DANGER OF DEATH SHALL MAKE ME DO ANY THING VNWORTHY OF THY LOVE At the very instant of this Treaty which was had in February 1644 the King used all imaginable means to bring not only FOREIGN FORCES but the Irish CUT-THROATS against the Parliament to clear up this Point and also to evince how insincere he was in his pretended Intentions of Peace I will briefly present to your view his under-hand Transactions as well with Foreign Princes as those Rebels and in the first place I shall mind you of some Passages between Him and the Queen in relation to this and other Treaties In a Letter to her of January 9 1644 he writes thus The Scots Commissioners have sent to me to send a Commission to their General Assembly WHICH I AM RESOLVED NOT TO DO but to the end of making some use of this occasion by sending an honest Man to London and that I may have the more time for the making A HANDSOME NEGATIVE I have demanded a Passport for Phil. Warwick by whom to return my Answer At another time in the same Month he tells her that as for my my calling those at London * He had agreed to treat with them as a Parliament the Queen upbraided him for so doing and he thus vindicates himself A PARLIAMENT IF THERE HAD BEEN BUT TWO OF MY OPINION I had not done it THE CALLING DID NO WAYS ACKNOWLEDG THEM TO BE A PARLIAMENT upon which Condition and Construction I did it and accordingly it is registred in the Council-Books Nothing is more evident than that the King was steered by the Queen's Counsel in the Management of this Uxbridg Treaty and that which you call the Church of England THE BISHOPS was greatly her Care By Letter in January 1644 before the beginning of that Treaty She instructs him not to abandon those who have served him lest they for sake him in his need that SHE hopes he will have a care of her and HER RELIGION That in her Majesty's Opinion RELIGION SHOULD BE THE LAST THING UPON WHICH HE SHOULD TREAT for if he do agree upon Strictness against the Catholicks it would discourage them to serve him and if afterwards there should be no Peace he could never expect Succours either FROM IRELAND or any other CATHOLICK PRINCE In another of her Letters we find her writing thus Jan. 17 1644. It comforts me much to see the Treaty shall be at Uxbridg I RECEIVED YESTERDAY LETTERS FROM THE DUKE OF LORRAIN WHO SENDS ME WORD IF HIS SERVICE BE AGREEABLE TO YOU HE WILL BRING YOU 10000 MEN ABOVE ALL have a care not to ABANDON those who have served you AS WELL THE BISHOPS AS THE POOR CATHOLICKS By the King's Letters to the Queen in February when the Treaty at Vxbridg was depending he stiles the Parliament UNREASONBLE STUBBORN PERFIDIOUS REBELS presses her to hasten all possible Assistance to him particularly that of the Duke of Lorrain He tells her that the limited days for treating are now almost expired without the least Agreement upon any one Article wherefore I have sent for enlargement of Days THAT THE WHOLE TREATY MAY BE LAID OPEN TO THE WORLD and I ASSURE THEE THOU NEEDEST NOT DOUBT THE ISSUE OF THIS TREATY for MY COMMISSIONERS ARE SO WELL CHOSEN tho I say it that they will neither be threatned nor disputed from the Grounds I have given them which upon my word IS ACCORDING TO THE LITTLE NOTE THOU SO WELL REMEMBERS Be confident that in making Peace I shall ever shew my CONSTANCY IN ADHERING TO BISHOPS AND ALL OUR FRIENDS and not forget to put a short Period to this perpetual Parliament We find him in another Letter dated the 5th of March expressing himself in these