go out of the line of Communication yet now that they were rais'd they meaning the Parliament might dispose of them whether they pleased without asking their consents And whereas the first Ordinance for Excise was but only for maintenance of the Army and paiment of Debts due by the Common-wealth they passed another wherein was a consideration added for securing of Trade which occasioned the enlargement thereof upon such Commodities as had not been formerly tax'd besides an alteration of the rates Which Commodities were Strong-waters Medicinal-Drugs Haberdashers-ware Vpholsters ware Salt Sallets Sope all sorts of Woollen-cloth Paper Skins and Glasses Having also thus taught the new Auxiliaries the force of an Ordinance of Parliament they passed another for the pressing of five thousand men in the Cities of London and Westminster with the Counties adjacent to go under the command of Sir William Waller And to hasten on the march of their Brethren the Scots to their aid and assistance the Members of the House of Commons with great formality and no less seeming devotion entred into that unhappy Combination called the solemn League and Covenant so fram'd in Scotland in St. Margarets-Church at Westminster Which under the specious veil of Reformation was that fatal Engine whereby not only the Hierarchy in the Church was by them soon after destroyed and the patrimony thereof with the Lands and Revenues of the Crown swallow'd up by those pretenders to Godliness but the sacred Person of the King most inhumanly murthered and this ancient and long flourishing Monarchy so far as 't was in their power wholly subverted and destroy'd as to the whole world is most notorious In the Preamble whereunto they had the confidence to say that this their League and Covenant was according to the commendable practise of these Kingdoms and the Example of God's people in other Nations Whereas there is not only no mention of any such things by our Historiographers nor in the History of any other Realm that I have ever seen excepting that of the Holy League in France whereof I shall take farther notice ere I finish this work but Mr. Philip Nye one of their mighty Champions for the Cause and an especial assertor of this Covenant hath expresly affirmed in print that it is such an Oath as for matter persons and other circumstances the like hath not been in any age or Oath we read of in sacred or humane stories And it is also observable that whereas in the Preamble they farther affirm that they did it to preserve themselves and their Religion which must needs be intended the known Religion publickly profess'd and by Law establish'd in the Church of England from ruine and destruction they immediatly vow to reform Religion here in England according to the pattern of the Kirk of Scotland and to extirpate Episcopacy and all Ecclesiastical Offices depending thereon Notwithstanding they knew full well First that the King was by his Coronation Oath sworn to maintain and defend the Bishops and the Churches under their charge Secondly that all the Clergy of England had testified their approbation of Episcopal Government by personal Subscriptions thereto and thirdly that by a solemn Protestation made and framed by themselves in that very Parliament and recommended by them to be taken by all the people of England they had oblig'd themselves neither for hope nor fear or other respect to relinquish the true Protestant Religion express'd in the Doctrine of the Church of England But all this Pageantry in their thus taking of that solemn League and Covenant could not allay the loud clamours of the people occasion'd by the great pressures and daily exactions under which they miserably groaned the Members therefore were constrain'd to betake themselves to another way for the easing them at least in shew and this was by an Ordinance for selling the King's Queen's and Princes revenues and the arrearages thereof as also to another for felling and cutting down Woods within sixty miles of London in all Forests Chases and Parks belonging to the King or Queen or any Arch-bishop Bishop Dean and Chapter c. Papist Delinquent Malignant c. to be disposed of for supply of the City of London Which seeming favour was for no other purpose than that they might afterwards bring the greater load upon them as they did ere long For within few days upon a jugling Report made to the House of a Pope's Bull translated into English with a Declaration upon it which was pretended to be newly sent into England for the more effectual prosecuting of the Catholic war here a Committee of the House of Commons and of the Assembly of Divines came to a Common-Hall in London to consult with the Citizens for the speedy raising of an hundred thousand pounds for the advance of the Scottish Army to be lent for that service and repay'd when moneys were procured from forreign parts upon the public faith of both Kingdoms And to obtain more men as well as money there issued out another Order that the Committee for the Militia or London should have power to appoint six Regiments of their Trained-Bands and one of their Auxiliaries as also one Regiment of Horse and Dragoons to march out with their Commanders and joyn with the Earl of Essex's Forces Likewise an Ordinance for the pressing of five thousand Souldiers more to be sent to the Islands of Ieresey and Garnsey under the command of the Earl of Warwick those Trained-Bands being appointed to meet in St. Iames Fields and from thence to march unto such place as the Earl of Essex or his Officers should appoint and in default thereof their Shops to be shut up themselves depriv'd of Trade and liable to expulsion out of the lines of Communication And about the same time they passed another Ordinance for assessing the Twenty fifth part upon all Members of Parliament who then were either in the King's Army or otherwise absent their estates to be let in case of not paiment And having lately sped so well upon credit of the public faith they adventured again upon the same security recommending to the Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Essex and Lincoln with the City of Norwich the aid of the Lord Fairfax in Men Money Plate Horse and Amunition passing an Ordinance for repaiment of what should be lent for the speedy bringing in of the Scots to their assistance and securing it in the mean time by the before-mention'd public faith But the reputation of the public faith was now grown so low that moneys came not in either quick enough or in such large sums as were expected it being left arbitrary to the Creditors what they would lend another Ordinance therefore was passed for raising the full sum of sixty six thousand six hundred sixty six pounds thirteen shillings four pence within the Cities of London and Westminster with the Counties of Hertford Bedferd Middlesex Essex Suffolk
to posterity he should sooner be willing to be rolled to his Grave in blood and buryed with Infamy than to give consent to the throwing it away And therefore that he had caused a stop to their entrance into the House till such time as they should subscribe a Recognition thereof and did submit thereto And that if things were not satisfied as were then reasonably demanded he for his part should do that which becom'd him seeking his Council from God The truth is that which principally emboldened him to be thus peremptory with them was the strength of the Souldiery which were generally of his side and which the adverse party knew full well So that of the whole number of those Members though there was not above sixty that did at first subscribe the Recognition yet the greatest part of the rest after private consultations together being well aware that by taking their best advantages upon all occasions within the House they might do him more mischief than they could any way to otherwise came in by degrees and formally signed the same But as those who were his chief Confidents did strive all they could to carry on affairs for his peculiar Interest according to the frame of that Government whereby he was so advanced to that place and Title sure it is that the rest by those rubs and obstructions which they cast in his way did make all their endeavours totally fruitless So that after well near five Months expectance and nothing at all done he was necessitated to dissolve that his first and once hopeful Parliament I should here have concluded this years Transactions but that I cannot omit to relate a very pregnant Instance how timely our now gracious Soveraign King Charles the second did adhere to the Protestant Religion professed in the Church of England even in those days when there was so little hopes to see it ever restored the Rebels in this Realm being then so prosperous that the greatest Potentates courted their alliance but even then so fervent was his Majesties zeal thereto that by his great and effectual care he prevented the perverting of his Brother the Duke of Gloucester to that of the Church of Rome In the relation of which there are so many considerable circumstances whereof very little publick notice hath been taken that contrary to the designed brevity of this History I shall give a full account of the same partly taken from a Relation Printed at London in an 1655 and partly from the certain information of persons of undoubted credit yet living who were present at the transacting thereof His Majesty understanding that there was a firm League very far advanced betwixt the French King and Oliver Cromwell withdrew himself this year into Germany out of France where till then he had ever resided since his happy and miraculous escape from Worâ—ester and designing to take the Duke of Gloucester with him was prevailed with by the Queen his Mother to leave him with her at Paris upon promise she would not permit any force to be put upon him to change his Religion but that he should be attended by those Protestant-Servants himself had placed about him and have free liberty to resort to the publick Service of the Church of England at the King's Chappel in Sir Richard Brown's House then his Majesties Resident at Paris But about the beginning of November in this year the Duke under pretence of weaning himself from the company of some young French Gallants who being in the same Accademie were grown into a more familiar conversation with him than was thought convenient was removed to Abbot Mountague's House at his Abby near Potoiso And after a few days Mr. Lovel his Tutor going to Paris for one day only on business designedly contrived as was suspected by Abbot Mountagu during his absence was most vehemently pressed by the Abbot to turn Roman-Catholick with all the motives spiritual or temporal he thought might prevail upon him having at that time no Protestant near him to advise with but Mr. Griffin of his Bed-Chamber a young Gentleman since dead but his Fame for his servent zeal to the Protestant Religion and faithful service to his Master yet living who deported himself with greater prudence than could with reason have been expected for one of so tender years assisted only by so young a second for both their ages did but some few years exceed thirty replying to their Arguments with great ingenuity evidencing no little zeal for his Religion For he told the Abbot he admired how he durst make this attempt upon him knowing how the Queen his Mother had engaged to the King his Brother that no change in his Religion should be endeavoured Also that for his own part he was resoly'd not to incur the Kings displeasure by neglecting the observance of his command which was not to listen to any Argument for change of his Religion Likewise that as to the specious proposals of making him a Cardinal and promising to advance him to be King of England he did with indignation and contempt deride and reject them complaining withal how disingeniously he was dealt with to be thus assaulted in the absence of his Tutor whom the King had placed over him and who he doubted not could easily refute all their Arguments which in truth at his return to Ponroise he did so fully that it was thought convenient to remove the Duke back thence to Paris where he was permitted to resort to the Kings Chappel and enjoy the free exercise of his Religion though not long For after some little time the Queen his Mother did own the attempt made on him to have been done with her approbation and declared she could not but labour to have her Son shew'd the right way to Heaven and though she had promised he should not be forced by her yet to have that way proposed to him she thought requisite And that he might the easier be prevail'd upon his Protestant Tutor was put from him and he himself hurryed out of Paris in such hast that he might be deprived of the Assistance and Advice of any Protestant that he could not though he earnestly beg'd it prevail to stay till he might get some warmer Cloaths and convey'd to Mr. Crofts afterwards Lord Croft's his House but under the direction of Abbut Mountagu none of his Servants but young Mr. Gryffin being permitted to attend him The News whereof did deeply afflict all the loyal-Protestant Exiles then in Paris but no man was more passionately concern'd than that Eminent sufferer for his loyalty to the Royal Family and Zeal to the Protestant Religion the late Lord Hatton Who as soon as he understood how violently this young Prince was Persecuted for his Religion he consulted with that famous Confesfor for the Church of England Dr. Iohn Cosens late Bishop of Durham but at that time Dean of Peterborough and Chaplain to his Majesty then residing in Paris and drew up what Arguments and
p. 500. z Compare with this the Propositions to his Majesties Commissioners at Vxbridge concerning the War of Ireland Full Relation c. p. 95. a See the like demands by the Members at Westminster Exact Coll. p. 259. 465. b Ib. p. 502. c Ib. p. 503. d Ib. p. 508. e Compare with this the Expression of the Members at Westminster in their Petition to his Majesty 26. Martij 1642. Exact Coll. p. 123. f Ib. p. 118. g Compare with this the Protestation framed at Westminster 3 Maij. 1641. b Ibid. p. 523. i D'Aubignie Tom. 2. lib. 3. cap. 3. col 828. k Davilaeâ— 548. l Ib. p. 566. m Annal. Eliz. in An. 1589. p. 557. n Davilae p. 561. o Ib. p. 562. p Compare with this his Majesties Answer to the two Papers concerning Ireland Full Relation c. p. 215. Was not his Majesties Statua abused both at the Old Exchange in London and at Wincheâ—ster q Ib. p. 563. r Ib. p. 564. s Ib. p. 565. t Ib. p. 567. u Exact Coll. p. 503. x Davilae p. 568. y Ib. p. 569. z Was not the like done by our Men against his Majesty for Assenting to the Cessation in Ireland a Ib. p. 591. b Ib. p. 593. e Ib. p. 596 d Ib. p. 597. 599. e Ib. p. 601. f Ib. p. 603. g Ib. p. 606. 609. h Ib. p. 612. i Ib. p. 613. k Ib. p. 627. l Ib. p. 6â—8 m Ib. p. 629. n Ib. p. 6â—0 o Ib. p. 662. 663. p Ib. p. 669. q Ib. p. 676. r Ibid. p. 733. Such hath been the Pollicy of the Scots with us Anno. 1. 591. s Ib. p. 679. t Ib. p. 701. u Ib. 742. x Ib. p. 702. y Brigard Ib. p. 742. z Ib. p. 740. a Ib. p. 726. b Ib. p. 733. c Ib. p. 740. d Ib. p. 747. e Ib. p. 761. f Ib. p. 792. 851. g Ib. p. 724. b Ib. p. 811. 821. Thus did Cromwell here i Ib. p. 862. k Ib. p. 865. l Ib. p. 837. m Ib. p. 161. 866. n Ib. p. 867. o Ib. p. 868. p Ib. p. 879. q Ib. p. 845. r Ib. p. 743. s Ib. p. 901. t See their Solemn Leagus and Covenant u See the full Relation of the Treaty at Vxbridge p. 209. x Ib. p. 206. y D'avila p. 943. z Piere Mathew Lib. 2. Narrat 1. Sect. 4. a Du Tillet p. 242. b Davila p. 994. c Duplex Hist. p. 27. d K. Henry the 4th e K. Lewis the 13th Davila p. 629. f Du Tellet p. 263. g Davila p. 936. b Cokes Instit part 3. p. 35. i Numb 16. 31 32. 27. 3. k Reg. 11. 36. l Esther 6. 2 3. m Sam. 2. 18. 9. 14. n Ib. 17. 23. o Reg. 2 21. 26 27. p Sam. 2 16. 5 6. Et Reg. 1 2. 8. 4. 6. q Reg. b 16. 9. 18. r Act. Apost 5. 36 37. s Prov. 24. 21. THE INDEX A. ANabaptists of Germany their Tenets and Progress Page 2. Calvins Character of them 8. Dangerous to Church and State 9. Luthers Request to the Duke of Saxony in favour of them 4. Afterwards exhorts all Men to destroy them 6. St. Antholin 's Church in London made the grand Nursery of seditious Preachers 37. Articles of Pacification with the Scots 55. Articles of the Treaty at Edenburgh for bringing in the Scots Army 131. between General Monk and the Committee of Safety 480. Articles called The Agreement of the People 260. Articles assented to by the King at the Treaty at Uxbridge 291. Assembly at Glasgow dissolved 52. The Impious Saving of one of the Assembly of Divines 225. Apprentices of London force the House of Commons 248. Army marcheth towards London 251. B. BArons War in the time of King Henry the 3d parallel'd with that of King Charles the First 592. A Benevolence proposed for raising Money 32. Bishops voted to have no Voice in Parliament 68. Booth Sir George his Insurrection 470. Brook Lord slain 117. Buckingham Duke his Expedition to the Isle of Rhee 33. murdered by Felton 34. C. CAnterbury and other Cathedrals defaced 557. Carew Sir Alex. his ominous words 198. is beheaded ibid. Carnarvan Earl slain 187. Charles I. King pawns his Lands to the City of London 33. is denied entrance into Hull 91. his Messages to the Parliament for Peace 102 103 134 237 268. his Protestation at the Head of his Army 104. goes from Oxford to the Scots Army 209. is sold by the Scots 232. is brought from Newcastle to Holdenby 234. his Answer to the four dethroning Bills 271. last Scene of his Life 361. rejects the Proposals made to him on the Sunday before his death 372. is murdered 373. his Legacies to his Children and others 382. his Burial 383. Charles II. King his Care when in Exile to preserve the Duke of Glocester in the Protestant Religion 429. marches from Scotland to Worcester 400. proclaimed King at London 488. Cheapside Cross pull'd down 560. Church Livings plurality of them allowed by the Presbyterians 225. Colchester Men petition the Parliament against Bishops c. 85. Common Prayer abolished 193. Commissions of Array 97. Common-Council-men turned out 79. First Covenant by the Scots 46. Conference at Hampton-Court 14. Cromwel Oliver his Extraction and Education 458. his persidious dealing with the King 261. his pretended Revelation 366. his Speech in Parliament ibid. Preaches at White-hall 391. made General of the Army 397. his Answer to a Letter from the Governour of the Castle of Edenburgh 397. turns the Rump Parliament out of doors 405. made Lord Protector 414. The manner of his riding to Grocers-hall in State 418. calls a Parliament 423. The manner of his proceeding to Parliament ibid. his Speech at the opening the Parliament 424 426. dissolves his first Parliament 429. Second Parliament called 450. dissolved 455. his Death 457. Cromwel Richard calls a Parliament 462. is set aside and the Ramp Parliament restored 465. D DEclaration of the City of London 250. Declaration of the Scots Commissioners 258 271. Declaration of the Scots for a publick Fast. 246. of the Committee of Safety 482. Denbigh Earl slain 185. Directory established 193. E. EPiscopal Government abolished in Scotland 52. in England 122. Earl of Essex made Lientenant-General of the Kings Army going against the Scots 54. made Lord Chamberlain 71. made General of the Parliament Forces 98. Essex-Men petition to the Parliament in behalf of the King 282. Excise first began 120 123 127 132. F. FAlkland Lucius Visc. slain 187. Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine elected King of Bohemia 20. French Ambassador's Speech to Cromwel 421. French Holy League parallel'd with the Rebellion in England 600. G. GLoucester Duke the attempts made upon him by the Queen Mother at Paris to turn to the Romish Religion 429. Grenvil Sir Bevil slain 186. Gurney Lord Major of London is deposed by the Rebels 101. H. MArquess of Hamilton sent into Scotland to appease
the Ecclesiastical and Civil Laws of his Kingdom of Scotland he did not only agree to the same but should always protect them to the utmost of his power they yielding him in the mean time such civil and temporal obedience as could be justly required of loyal Subjects Upon this Petition therefore Articles of Pacification were concluded on at Barwick whereby his Majesty was contented not only to confirm whatsoever his Commissioner had promised in his name but that all Ecclesiastical matters should be determined by the Assemblies of the Kirk Likewise matters Civil by the Parliament and other inferior Judicatories establish'd by Law Moreover that for setling the distractions of that Kingdom he was willing to grant a free general Assembly to be kept at Edenborough the sixth of August ensuing and after that a Parliament the twentieth of August for ratifying what should be concluded in the Assembly being graciously pleased to declare that upon disbanding of their Forces dissolving all their pretended Tables restoring his Forts Castles and Amunition c. To his good Subjects their Liberties Lands Goods c. detained since the late pretended general Assembly he would recall his Fleet retire his Land-forces and make restitution to them of their Ships and Goods arrested c. Which Agreement was entertained by them with so much outward acceptance that by the Subscriptions of the chiefest of them it was promised they would ever in all things carry themselves like humble loyal and obedient Subjects But instead of performance of their parts at the very publishing the Articles in their Camp a Protestation was made dishonourable to his Majesties Government to the further encouraging of the People in their disobedient and mutinous ways And at the same time they delivered into the hands of some of the English Nobility and spread among others a scandalous Paper intituled Some conditions of his Majesties Treaty with his Subjects of Scotland wherein were contained such untruths and seditious positions and so contrary to what was concluded in the Articles of Pacification that howsoever they pretended a desire of peace yet they intended nothing less and instead of disbanding their Forces within forty eight hours after publication of those Articles they kept great parts of them together and held in pay almost all their Officers continuing their unlawful meetings and conventicles to the great vexation and trouble of all such his Majesties good Subjects as did not adhere to their rebellious Covenant and Act of the pretended Assembly at Glasgow keeping up all their Fortifications Yea such was the fury of the People animated by that Protestation with divers scandalous Papers and seditious Sermons that they deterred his Majesties good Subjects from going to their dwellings threatning them with loss of their lives if they repaired to their own Houses labouring also to pervert them in the choice of the Commissioners for the general Assembly appointed by anticipating their voices in making them swear to and subscribe the approbation of the same Assembly at Glasgow and Acts thereof deterring others from repairing thereto So that by these new disorders the peace and quiet of his Subjects was greatly disturbed great Insolencies being offer'd to the Earl of Kinnowl his Majesties high Treasurer as also to Sir Iames Hamilton Justice-general and other his Majesties Councellors and good Subjects so that the King sorbore to come to Edenborough such of his Loyal Subjects as attended his Person and adhered to him being branded by them with the vile aspersion of Traitors to God and their Country and threatned to be proceeded against with censures accordingly And lastly shaking off all respect due to sacred Majesty protested that all members of the Colleges of Iustice and Leiges were not to attend the Session and that all Acts Decrees and Sentences therein past against any of them should be null void and ineffectual contrary to the King 's express Warrant for the down-sitting thereof and the heavy damage of his good Subjects who were thereby frustrated of Justice And having laid these insolent and seditious foundations for a Parliament it could not be expected but that the structure must be full of confusion as indeed it proved their Actions and demands favouring of nothing but undutifulness and disloyalty for they stuck not to deny to his Majesty the most essential and inherent Prerogatives of his Crown striving by all means to change and alter the constitutions of the Parliament and frame of Government Likewise to restrain his power in point of coinage custody of Castles grants of Honour and Commissions-Justiciary or Lieutenancy And his Majesty by his Commission having allow'd them the liberty of convening and meeting until a certain day for distributing of their pretended charges amongst such as should willingly condescend thereunto they did not only without Warrant continue their Conventicles and Tables since that Commission expired contrary to the positive Laws of that Kingdom the Act of Pacification and their own acknowledgment in petitioning for the aforesaid Commission but urged that all those his good Subjects who adhered to him in defence of his Royal authority against their rebellious commotions should be made equal if not more liable to the defraying of their pretended charges Which might imply his Majesties countenance and justification of all their Rebellions and Treasons The King therefore discerning their persistance in such unsufferable demands return'd to England signifying to the Earl of Traquier his Commissioner that it did evidently appear unto him that their aim was not now for Religion as they always pretended but rather the alteration of the Government of that Kingdom and withall the total overthrow of Royal authority commanding his said Commissioner to prorogate the parliament till the second of Iune next following Notwithstanding which Prorogation they continued their sitting at Edenborough and sent their Deputies over into this Kingdom to make Remonstrance of their doing without knowledg of his Commissioner Whereupon his Majesties Commissioner came over and acquainting him with those Insolencies also by his command relating them at his Council-board the King there proposed to the consideration of the Lords then present whether it were not more sit to reduce them to their duty by force than give way to their demands so much prejudicial to his Honour and safety Which being unanimously voted in the affirmative his Majesty resolved to call a Parliament soon after In which Interim the Scots lost no time but making fair pretences by their Remonstrance protested against this Act of Prorogation and declared that the same was contrary to the Constitutions and practise of all precedent Parliaments contrary to the liberties of that Kingdom and repugnant to the Articles of the late Pacification and that it was ineffectual and of no force to hinder their proceedings professing that it was never their intention to deny his Majesty any part of that civil and temporal obedience which is due
it would be lawful to that Kingdome to assist him for the recovery of the Government he not granting the Propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and not giving a satisfactory answer to the remanent Propositions Their Answer The Quaere presupposeth the King's coming into this Kingdome which case for the reasons expressed in our late warning we humbly conceive should not be put into the Question and therefore desire your Lordships to go about all means for the present preventing of it as a matter of most dangerous consequence to Religion this Kirk and Kingdome and to the King himself and his posterity But if the Question be stated simply without supposing such a case in these termes If the King be excluded from Government in England for not granting the propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and for not giving a satisfactory Answer to the remanent propositions whether in that case it be lawfull for this Kingdome to assist him for the Recovery of the Government Or if it be not lawfull being put to it we cannot but answere in regard of the Engagement of this Kingdome by Covenant and Treaty Negative 1. Resolv'd upon the Question That the Kingdome of Scotland shall be governed as it hath been these five years last past all means being used that the King may take the Covenant and pass the Propositions 2. Resolv'd that the taking of the Scottish Covenant and passing some of the Propositions doth not give warrant to assist him against England 3. Resolv'd that upon bare taking the National Covenant we may not receive him 4. Resolv'd that the Clause in the Covenant for defence of the King's Person is to be understood in defence and safety of the Kingdomes 5. Resolv'd that the King shall not execute any power in the Kingdome of Scotland untill such time as he hath granted the Propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and given satisfactory answer to both Kingdomes in the rest of the Propositions presented to him by both Kingdomes at Newcastle 6. Resolv'd that if His Majestie refuse to pass the Propositions he shall be disposed of according to the Covenant and Treaty 7. Resolv'd that the union be friendly kept between the Kingdomes according to the Covenant and Treaty By what hath last been instanc'd t is easy enough to be discern'd that bargain so long in driving on was by this time concluded in reference to the person of the King I mean the certain price for which the Scots did sell him which prompted them so eagerly and frequently to press his taking their Covenant and consent to those destructive Propositions which they well knew he could never do without apparent hazard to his Soul and that he had manifestly confuted the Arguments of Mr. Alexander Henderson whom they brought to convince him therein I shall therefore need to say no more of that matter then to set down the Quaeres which His Majestie delivered to the Commissioners of Scotland upon their last importuning him thereto when they threatned to deliver him up to the Parliament of England as they then called those Members at Westminster in case of his refusal It is a receiv'd opinion by many that Engagements Acts or Promises of a restrained person are neither valid nor obligatory How true or false this is I will not now dispute but I am sure if I be not free I am not fit to answer any of your Propositions wherefore you should first resolve me in what state I stand as in relation to freedome before I can give you any other Answer The Reason of this my Question the Governour can best resolve you But if you object the loss of time and urgency of it certainly in one respect it presses none so much as my self which makes me also think it necessary that I be not to seek what to do when this Garrison shall be surrendred up to demand of you in case I go into Scotland if I shall be there with Honour Freedome and Safety or How being ready to give you a farther and more particular Answer so soon as you shall have resolv'd these two Quaeres Whereunto they give this insignificant Answer 1. To the first in what state you stand as in relation to Freedome the Parliaments of both Kingdomes have given such orders and directions as they have thought fittest for the safety of your Majesty and the Kingdomes to the General and Governour 2. To your second Quaere of your going into Scotland we shall humbly desire that we may not be put to give an Answer but if your Majesty shall either deny or delay your assent to the Propositions we are in that case to represent to your Majesty the resolutions of the Parliament of England ¶ Having now done with their attempts upon His Majesty in reference to the Covenant and Propositions I come to their farther Progress for the establishing of Presbytery Wherein I am to look back a little About the latter end of August a Bill for Ordination of Ministers being the third time read in the House of Commons at Westminster and thence transmitted to the Lords not long after they received a Petition from the County of Lancaster subscribed by twelve thousand hands for setling of the Classes in those parts with the names of such as they had made choyse of and presented to the House for ordering thereof Nor were the Assembly of Divines sitting at Westminster less active who having fram'd a new Confession of Faith were hard at work in adding quotations of Scripture in the Margent of their Copies for justification thereof And that this blessed Presbytereal Government might be the more secure from danger the Houses at Westminster passed an Ordinance not onely for abolishing the name title and dignity of Arch-Bishops Bishops c. but nominated Trustees in whom their Lands should be setled Likewise for the fitter moulding this new Confession of Faith Copies thereof purposely printed were delivered to each Member of both Houses at Westminster to the end they might consider of the same and advise the better therein But notwithstanding all this holy Reformation there were some who had not onely the Conscience to adhere unto the Liturgy establisht by Law in the Church of England in their publick service of God but the Courage to prosecute those by Indictment which neglected the reading thereof in their Parish-Churches In so much as upon notice of this high presumption from Buckinghamshire an Ordinance was forthwith voted to be brought in for repealing the Statute which enjoyn'd it At which time the House also ordered that all Malignant Ministers for so were the Orthodox called should be disabled from Preaching and an Ordinance to be brought in for that purpose And though by an Order of the House of Commons Mr. Sydrach Sympson one of their Assembly of Divines and an eminent stickler for the Cause was for some opinions and expressions savouring of Independencie to have been
more than they can and leave the Triumph and Conquest of Souls to the Wisdom of God who only forms and Reforms the Hearts of Men as he pleasech and gives the signal to many wandring Souls to bring them into the way of Salvation it being not possible for Men to impose a necessity upon that which God hath left at Liberty the Conscience which should be as free in a State as Thought Where going on he shews by the continued Practice of former times that such Princes as were well advised never killed their Subjects to Convert them nor wasted their Dominions by War to inform their Consciences by the Sword knowing that Religion is an Act of Union and Concord and must be planted by Instruction whereas Wars are all for Division and Destruction And those who in these later times have mingled Heaven and Earth together to compell the Consciences of their Subjects to an Unity in Religion have at last been fayn to give over and let them alone and to reject the advise of those unskilful Physitians who prescribe nothing but Antimony and Letting Bloud for all Diseases Then he proves that the accord made with the Protestants was both just necessary and profitable The whole Discourse is not unworthy the consideration of our times but I shall not trouble the Reader with Transcribing farther Having now dispatch't the Holy-League and made good I hope so much as I undertook that it was for the most part parallel to this of ours One thing only I have not insisted on not knowing whether it be convenient to particularize in it namely the strange Disasters and Unfortunate ends which befell many Eminent Persons of that League Like to which our own Story hath afforded us some Examples already and Posterity may be able to observe more To say nothing of any that were Kill'd in those Wars on either Party nor much of the Tragical ends of many of that Family who were the first Authors and constant Upholders of that League it cannot be forgot that the Duke of Guise and his Brother the Cardinal were both of them suddainly taken away by Trechery when their hopes were at highest And the Duke of Nemure their Brother by the Mother Betray'd by one whom he most trusted Dyed in Despair in the declining of the League Likewise That one of the Duke of Guise his Sons a Person of special note for his Valour was some Years after the Peace miserably torn in peices by a Canon at Arles which burst when he gave Fire to it Shooting at a Mark. The chief of the Duke of Lorreynes Family who thought to have gained the Kingdom of France to his Son from the Father that Son lost all his own Dukedom to the Son The Duke of Merceur who aimed to have had Brittany at least for his share Dyed of the Plague in a Forrein Countrey left no Heir Male so that his whole Estate came to the Duke of Vendosine with his Daughter much against her Will. The Count of St. Paul who had been advanced by the Duke of Mayne to the Title of Mareschal of France was in the time of the League Stab'd by the young Duke of Guise as he came forth of the Church at Remes Villiers the Admiral was basely Kill'd by a Spanish-Souldier in cold Bloud and his Finger cut off by another for his Ring Brisson the Primier President of the Parliament at Paris who had been first most Violent against the King upon suspicion of complying afterwards was with some others Strangled by the Tumultuous Citizens of Paris And the Lord Gomeron Governour of Han in Picardy who sold that place to the Spaniard was Beheaded before the Walls of the same Town a Reward not much Inferior to that of the two Hothums I take no pleasure in reckoning up many of these Instances He that will seek may find more in France and he that will observe I do not wish but fear it in time may discover as many in England One Observation more I shall Intreat the Reader to carry home with him and then I have done with the Holy-League It hath already been shew'd at full that when the Leaguers first took up Armes and bound themselves by Oathes against their King the pretended grounds of the one and the Subject of the other were nothing but the Defence of the true Religion the Laws and Liberties and Property of the Subject with many fair Promises to make the King a Glorious King Where I cannot chuse but observe how the Hand of God by a strange Providence turned all their Vows into Prophecies and their Promises into Predictions by fulfilling them all though in far different sence from what they intended By setling the True Religion they meant the Roman but God fulfilled it of the Protestant And those Armes which they Vowed to the Ruine God Converted to the Advancement of it the Protestants of that Kingdom having upon that occasion obtain'd and ever since enjoyed greater Immunities and a more free and setled course of the Profession of their Religion than ever they had before As to the Laws the Fundamental Laws of France to speak with the French-Man the Salique-Laws touching the Succession of the Crown and Prerogative of the King which they intended to alter they did in the event confirm And as Henry the third was Advanced to a State of Glory by the cruel Hands of Iaques Clement an Instrument of the League and Henry the fourth by Ravilliac one Trained up in the same Principles So was King Charles the first by his bloudy Murtherers here But as it fell out consider what a purchase the Glorious Nobility the Gallant Gentry the Rich Citizens and the Secure Farmer had when by siding with the Leaguers they Exchanged their Loyalty and present Peace which they enjoyed under the King's Protection for the aiery hopes of a greater Liberty and if not bettering at least securing their Estates Did not the long continuance of those Wars so inure the Souldiers to a Military course of Life and the People to Patience under Contributions and Impositions that the former could never since be won to lay the Sword out of his Hands nor the latter get the Yoke shaken off their Shoulders Only the Scene is somewhat altered for whereas before their own Countrey was the Stage of the War they have now removed it to their Neighbours And the Crown of France by reason of their many Victories and Successes is now become justly formidable to a great part of Europe whereby the promise of the Leaguers is fully verified the King is made Glorious but how far they so intended is easy to imagine And how the Liberty of the Subject in general is enhaunted and their Property Establisht by these Glorious Atchievements of the King when their Yearly Taxes for support of his Wars amount almost if not altogether to the value of their Lands let the French if they have any cause make their boast And
in the House tending thereto first by a Proposal of four then five nay six were mention'd and the motion not dislik'd told them peremptorily that it was in vain for them to think of less than twelve in regard he knew under that number would not be accepted And having by that sinister dealing kept such distance betwixt his Majesty and his good Subjects was by some other of the faction so seconded with a hideous representation of their Grievances together with dangerous Innovations in Religion and fears of introducing Superstition besides certain motions as did not without cause put strange apprehensions in the Queen of peril to her person or at least some others very near unto her that his Majesty was constrain'd to dissolve that Parliament And taking consideration of the Scots rebellious Insolencies which every day increased proposed the business of money to his Privy-Council who contributed a considerable sum to his aid his domestic-Servants and Officers making good addition thereto The Earl of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland speedily hasting into that Kingdom where he call'd a Parliament raised an Army of eight thousand men with money to maintain them and within the space of six weeks return'd into England That the meeting of these Members of Parliament from all parts of the Realm being many of them men of turbulent Spirits and principles totally Antimonarchical gave opportunity for those contrivances which afterwards were put in Action there is nothing more sure For in the first place they took care to infuse Fears and Iealousies into the people every where that the Government was then design'd to be Arbitrary and Popery like to be introduced to promote which Scandals many seditious Preachers took no small pains in their Pulpits especially in and about London Whereupon several tumultuous meetings were made in divers parts of the Suburbs and a Paper set up in the night at the old Exchange animating the Apprentices to sack Lambeth House Which took such effect that two nights following it was beset with above five hundred of the rascal multitude and an attemt made thereon though without success some of them being taken and imprisoned in Southwark But here they rested not for within a few nights after they broke open the White-Lion and King's-bench Prisons and let out their fellows The Scots also having made such preparations for a second Rebellion continued likewise their Parliament according to the Fundamental Laws as their phrase was having enacted a Band to be subscribed by all men before the first of September to maintain it to be a free and lawful Parliament whereupon they form'd another Army and knowing certainly what store of well-wishers they had in this Kingdom as also how easy the work was like to be made through the subtile contrivances of the factious party here from whom they were sufficiently instructed and animated by private Invitations and large promises invaded this Realm passing the Twede at Barwick But the King being slow to believe what they designed was not so forward as to encounter them upon the Borders his Army which he rais'd that Summer lying at that time about New-Castle of which the Earl of Northumberland was made General who alledging himself to be then ill in health staid in London His Majesty therefore having certain advertisement that the Scots were ready to enter Northumberland intended to have made the Earl of Strafford General who declin'd it out of an honoured respect to the Earl of Northumberland but being much pressed in regard of this present occasion desired to serve as Lieutenant general under him and had his Commission accordingly On Thursday the twentieth of Aug. the King set forwards from London towards the North and on Munday following the Earl of Strafford having in that short time fitted himself for his journey posted from London by Coaches and arriving at York the Wednesday after though then much troubled with the Stone rode to Topcliffe on Fryday At that time the Lord Conway was General of the Horse and at Newcastle with the Army Where by reason of the General 's and Lieutenant-General's absence he had the cheif command thereof but made such slender resistance that the Scots forc'd their passage over the River of Tine at Newburne that very Friday and entred Newcastle without opposition himself then retreating with the Army towards York and in some confusion And now that the Scots had thus possess'd themselves of Newcastle they began to strengthen that place and bring all those Northern-parts under contribution Which strange passages made most men amazed scarce any man knowing whom to trust or speak freely to Much labour indeed there was to make the people believe that all this did work for their good and that the Scots were their surest friends this being the certain way to have a Parliament and that the undoubted cure of all things amiss both in Church and State And truly such a burthen was Ship-money then esteem'd to be and some few other extraordinary Impositions so wanton were many grown being surfeited with that plenty which long peace had produc'd that the Scots then had not a few well-wishers in all parts of this Realm their piety and goodness being so cried up by the whole Puritan-party His Majesty therefore in this difficult Labyrinth took resolution to summon a meeting of the Peers at York a course which had anciently been used especially when exigencies were so great that the Convention of a Parliament could not be staid for and at the meeting of this grand Council represented to them the present danger of this Invasion with desire of their advice touching the maintenance of his Army as not safe to be disbanded whilst the Scotish-Forces were on foot as also what course was fittest to be taken to get them out Whereupon without long deliberating a Treaty was determin'd on and for that end sixteen of the Lords then present were assign'd on the King's part to meet with Eleven of the Scots with power to compose and conclude all differences Whereunto the Scots assented upon condition that the King should first revoke his Proclamation whereby he had declared them Traitors COMMISSIONERS Of the English these Francis Earl of Bedford William Earl of Hertford Robert Earl of Essex William Earl of Salisbury Robert Earl of Warwick Iohn Earl of Bristol Henry Earl of Holland Thomas Earl of Berkshire Philip Lord Wharton William Lord Paget Edward Lord Kymbolton Robert Lord Brook Iohn Lord Paulet Edw. L. Howard of Escrick Thomas Lord Savile Francis Lord Dunsmore Of the Scots these Iohn Earl of Rothess Ch. Earl of Dumfermeling Iohn Lord Lowdon Sir Patrick Hepburne of Waughtone Sir Will. Douglas of Cavers William Drummond of Riccarton Iohn Smith Bailiff of Edenborough Alexand Wedderburn Clerk of Dundee Hugh Kennedy Burgess of Aire Alexander Henderson Archibald Iohnstone Which Treaty began at Rippon upon the ninth of October but what good effect it was like to produce we
now plainly see Eleven of those sixteen English Lords which were chosen on his Majesties part being afterwards Actors or Assisters in the late war against him The first demand there made by the Scots Commissioners being no less then forty thousand pounds a month for maintenanne of their Army during the Treaty Which tho not directly granted was so far yielded to as that the Assessment impos'd by them upon the Countie of Northumberland Bishopric of Durham and Town of Newcastle should stand good for the raising of Eight hundred and fifty pounds a day allowance for the space of two months to begin upon the sixteenth of that instant October And that there should be a cessation of Arms the Scots Army to be confin'd on the North part the River Tese and the English to the South thereof CHAP. VII WHich footing thus gotten by the Scots in the North gave no small encouragement to their well-wishers in the South especially in London who in contemplation also of the ensuing Parliament which by his Majesty was summon'd to meet upon the third of November following were not a little animated in divers bold Enterprizes for scandalous papers and Libels were frequently thrown in the streets against the Bishops Yea so bold were the multitude grown by the example of the Scots in an 1637 and through the incitation of many Citizens and others of note who would not then shew themselves that on the 22th of October a rabble of no less than Two thousand Brownists and the like Sectaries entred St. Paul's Cathedral where the high Commission Court then sat tore down all the Benches and cried out No Bishop No High Commission To the consideration of which Parliament begun on the third of November accordingly did the King represent the safety and security of this Realm earnestly desiring that care might be speedily taken for riddance of the Scots which had thus invaded the North and to satisfy their just Grievances promised his hearty concurrence desiring that his Army might not be suffer'd to disband for want of pay before the Rebels for so he then call'd the Scots were put out And that they would lay aside all suspicions to the end it might become a happy Parliament resolving to cast himself wholly upon the love and affection of his English Subjects But the house of Commons consisting of the same or persons worse affected then those in April before the prevalent party purging the House of divers persons whom they concieved would not comply with their destructive enterprises for such they either finding fault with their Elections or making them criminals as to some public Grievances though others of a deeper guilt were not touch'd whose offences might make them obnoxious to their power or obsequious to their designs went slowly on with what his Majesty had proposed to them for the busy-party who were the great Actors in the ensuing Tragedy then fell to contrivance about the accomplishment of their long desired work To which purpose the Treaty at Rippon was soon after remov'd to Westminster to the end that there they might have the Scots Commissioners at hand and the power of the Londoners to assist them for it had been impossible without the conjunction and help of the Prevalent and factious party in that City ever to have accomplish'd the ruine of the establish'd Government and destruction of the King as they afterwards did In order whereunto the first step they made was the entertaining Petitions of Grievances from all parts of the Realm which made such a noise as if the Subjects of England had suffered under the greatest slavery and oppression that had ever been heard of and being devised and framed by themselves were receiv'd with such great acceptance as that the People began to shew no small expressions of Joy in their new Reformers Who to win them the more besides the Impeachment of the Earl of Strafford which was within two days following whom they had made sufficiently odious by representing him to be one of the greatest causes of their oppressions and an especial Enemy to Parliaments expell'd divers Projectors and Monopolists out of the House of Commons impeach'd the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Ely and Lord Keeper Finch for Treason against the State having in order thereto by libellous Pamphlets and Pictures rendred them hateful to the People Damn'd that hideous Grievance of Ship-money by vote Pass'd a Bill for a Triennial Parliament as also impeach'd Justice Berkley of High Treason for his activeness in the business of Ship-money And to try how safely they might adventure to strike at the establish'd Government of the Church which might make the easier way for ruine of the State they brought Pryn Burton and Bastwick in triumph to London who had been censured in the Star-Chamber for Libels against the Hierarchy countenancing a Petition exhibited to them by Alderman Penington against Episcopacy and Church-Discipline Yet that there might be no doubt of their zeal and dutiful affection to the King they sent a Message to his Majesty to desire leave that they might advance and settle his Revenue offering to make him the richest King in Christendom And having thus gain'd a strong confidence with the people what blessed Patriots they were like to be that they might also seem as zealous for God's cause they exhibited a Remonstrance in the name of both Houses to his Majesty grounded upon divers Petitions which they had subtilly procured from all parts of the Realm of the increase of Popery Also that the danger thereof might the more amaze the world they then began to open their Cabinet of Plots and Conspiracies four of the House of Commons imparting to the Lords a a discovery of an horrid design by many thousands of Papists in England Ireland and Wales Moreover because of the great complaint of Innovation in Religion increase of Popery and growth of Superstition they appointed Commissioners for removing Rails from about all Communion-Tables throughout the Realm Likewise to the end that the Bishops might the better attend their Spiritual functions they voted that none of them should have voice in Parliament nor meddle in temporal affairs And to assure the Scots whose Army they as yet thought not fit to part with till their work was brought to more maturity they gave them three hundred thousand pounds towards a supply of their losses and Necessities Which signal favour got them the stile of Brethren and thanks from the Scotish-Commissioners who seem'd so tender of our good that they desired the Treaty might be accelerated and the Kingdom eased of the burthen of the two Armies by their returning home The next thing wherewith they went in hand was the Trial of the Earl of Strafford for 't was resolv'd he must be cut off being a person of such integrity to the King and known abilities To which purpose
being too strong But no sooner was the King gone than that the turbulent Spirits in the House of Commons set to work in framing a bitter Remonstrance of the general Grievances of the Kingdom to make his Majesties Government seem odious to his Subjects which was ordered to be brought into the House Whereupon grew great debates and disputes which lasted from three of the clock afternoon the whole night following and till ten of the Clock on the morrow But at length many who disliked and opposed it partly by reason of their age of infirmity of Body being wearied out and departing others through sloth or timorousness leaving the House it was voted by some few voices divers of the factious party being fetcht out of their Beds to assist This Remonstrance being a compendium of all the mistakes and misfortunes that had hapned since the beginning of his Majesties reign to that hour objected to him the Actions of some and the Thoughts of others reproacht him with such things of which he never knew and reviled him to his people complained also of the House of Peers and ascribed all the Acts of Grace already passed in that Parliament to their own wisdom in procuring with intimation of their despair in setling the distractions of the Kingdom by reason of the power of a malignant-party and want of concurrence by the House of Peers wherein so many Bishops and malignant Lords then sat This being done their next work was to get the whole command of the Militia which being had nothing afterwards could be difficult to them For the better effecting thereof they therefore had again recourse to those shadows of Conspiracies and Plots which had stood them in good stead before The first of them being a new pretended Treason by the Earl of Craford and others against the Marquess of Hamilton then in Scotland and other Peers of that Realm this being signified by Letters from their Committee in Scotland dated 14 Oct. Whereupon that the like here might be prevented orders were directed to the Sheriffs of London Middlesex and Surrey for setling strong Guards of armed-men in places of moment Likewise the whole Trayned-Band of Westminster was brought into the Palace-Yard on the morrow and there attended all that day giving this reason for that order viz. Because the mischeivous designs and conspiracies lately discovered in Scotland against some principal and great men there by some of the Popish-faction gives just occasion to suspect that they may maintain correspondency here and practise the like in this Realm In like manner the same Trayn-Band of Westminster was brought into the Palace-Yard on the morrow and attended all that day until the Houses rose And the next day following Mr. Pym made a large Speech at a conference to lay open the Conspiracy Neither wanted they the Pulpits to advance their designs their Lecturers in several parts being men neither of learning nor conscience insinuating to the People all those falshoods and scandals which might work in them a dislike towards his Majesty depraving the conformable-Clergy charging them with Revolt from the Protestant Religion with purpose to introduce Popery one of them preaching to the Brotherhood in the Artillery-Garden expressing that for the defence of Religion and Reformation of the Church it was lawful to take up Arms against the King As a preparative whereunto a Bill was brought into the House for putting all the Forts and Castles and the whole Militia of the Kingdom into such hands as they might confide in CHAP. VIII IN this time the Rebellion in Ireland breaking forth it will not be improper to say somewhat thereof wherein though I shall not charge our grand Conspirators here with having any hand as to matter of council or contrivance with the Ring-leaders of that barbarous Insurrection yet can I not at all excuse them from giving great occasion for it and not without suspicion of Design if all be true that I have seen in a brief discourse thereof publish'd in print in an 1644. Which I shall leave to the better judgment of such as then lived and well observed the Actions of those times The substance of which Narrative is this viz. That the Irish being a people born and bred in the Romish Religion which they did glory to have derived from their Ancestors for no less than Thirteen hundred years and wherein they had connivence ever since the Reformation it could not be imagined when they saw such a Storm approach them by the harsh proceedings of the Parliament then sitting at Westminster against those of their profession in England who were daily cavill'd withall charg'd with sundry forged Conspiracies and Plots to render them odious and distastful to the world the wardship and education of their children voted to the disposal of others their votes as Peers in Parliament endangered and the large Progress made in England and Scotland towards the extirpation of the Protestant Religion as it then stood establish'd by Law in both Realms under which they had enjoyed their estates though upon certain penalties with the charge whereof they were well acquainted but they had cause enough to fear that their own misery was not far off especially discerning that the Insolency of the Scots did daily increase toward them whose large footing in their Kingdom having an inveterate hatred towards the Natives might endanger their shouldring them out Considering likewise the frequent Reports given out in that Kingdom to extirpate their Religion and Nation as also that Orders were made by the Houses of Parliament in England incroaching upon their priviledges of Parliament in Ireland and that their Committee after nine months attendance on his Majesty who was graciously pleased to hear their grievances being referr'd to the Houses of Parliament here upon his departure from London towards Scotland 10 Aug. 1641 was constrain'd to return without any redress through the prevalency of some leading Members who before had all they could misinterpreted to his Majesty the proceedings and Actions of the Parliament in Ireland It was therefore not a little fear'd by some that those provocations were purposely exercised to exasperate the Irish to take up Arms that so under colour of suppressing them as Rebels they might be utterly destroyed and eradicated Nor was it without suspicion by others considering how eagerly that Act for confiscation of their Lands was prosecuted by those Members at Westminiter at the very beginning of that Insurrection Also how his Majesties going over in person after the same brake out was hinder'd which in probability might have quencht that flame Moreover how they ingrossed that war into their own hands thereby to have the power to employ any forces raised or levied for it to assist in pursuance of their design upon this Kingdom as they should see cause as was evident by those under the command of the Lord Wharton and others which were in the Battel of
whose endeavours were to kindle that combustion in England which they had in so great a measure effected in Ireland and which nothing could do as they said but the granting that Petition Which Petition together with an Ordinance of both Houses setting forth a most dangerous and desperate design upon the House of Commons and many discoveries importing fears of rebellious Insurrections by Papists and other ill affected persons in this Kingdom they then exhibited Whose answer thereunto being that for the City of London and other Corporations which by any antient Charters had power of ordering the Militia he conceiv'd it unfit to alter their government but that he could not consent to the indefinite time propounded for this Posture Whereupon they forthwith voted this Answer to be a flat denial and that his Majesties advisers thereto were Enemies to the State and mischeivous Projectors against the defence of the Kingdom Also that this denial was of such dangerous consequence that it would hazard the peace and safety of all his Kingdoms unless some speedy remedy were applyed by the Parliament And immediately dispatch'd another Petition to his Majesty then at Theobalds wherein they protested that if he did not speedily pass his assent to the satisfaction of their desires they should be inforced by authority of both Houses to dispose thereof and that they did accordingly so resolve to do Farther voting that the Kingdom should be forthwith put into a Posture of defence by Authority of both Houses that the Navy should be speedily rigg'd and a Declaration of their just Fears and Jealousies speedily drawn up with the grounds of their former votes for putting the Kingdom into a Posture by authority of both Houses to clear the Parliament of all mistrusts And to carry out all this under colour of the Peoples desires New Petitions were brought from several Counties viz. one from Staffordsh pretending such dread of the Papists rising there that every man was constrain'd to stand upon his Guard not daring to go to Church unarm'd Others from Worcestersh Berksh Norfolk Norwich Lynne Royston Salop all of them earnestly desiring this Posture of Defence And the very next day the Ordinance for ordering the Militia of the Kingdom by authority of both Houses sent to his Majesty 22 Febr. was assented to by the Lords and thereupon new Lieutenants were assign'd throughout all England and Wales And having in a grand Committee at Merchant-Taylers Hall contrived the Declaration mention'd in their Votes of March the second wherein they made a very great noise of a design to alter Religion in this Kingdom and that the wars with Scotland and Ireland were framed to that end they presented the same to his Majesty at Newmarket within few days after voting the King's Commissions of Lieutenancies in the several Counties illegal as also that there was an urgent and inevitable Necessity for putting his Majesties Subjects into a Posture of Defence and that the Ordinances of both Houses for the Militia being obliging to the People ought to be obeyed by the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom And lastly that the Earl of Warwick should be appointed Vice-Admiral of his Majesties Ships And having now by these their exorbitant courses together with the Tumults so much endangered his Majesties Royal person that he was forced for safety of himself and the Prince to retire into the North they voted that they would go on with their former Votes concerning the Militia Also that when the Lords and Commons in Parliament should declare what the Laws of the Land be to Question it was a high breach of the Privilege of Parliament After this within few days they sent a Petition to York which was there presented to his Majesty by the Lord Willoughby of Parham and others wherein they alledged that his Majesties denial to their petition for disposing the Militia was a great hinderance to their other proceedings and justified the Tumults at Westminster by taxing his Majesty with denial of such a Guard to them as they might confide in aspersing his Government for many continued Acts of violation of Laws c. And to keep the people still awake by allarming them with new dangers they caused Letters to be read in the House which were said to come from Amsterdam intimating intelligence from Denmark of a great Army ready prepared there to be transported for England and to land at Hull upon some dangerous enterprize The like Letter pretended to come from Newmarket then produced and another from France Whereupon having receiv'd a Petition from the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of London in which great Thanks was given to the House for ordering the Militia of the City as they had done with their resolutions therein signified to obey the same As also another from the Cinque-Ports desiring that those places might be strongly guarded and fortified and the Kingdom put into a Posture they ordered that every of his Majesties Forts and Castles should be presently fortified with an Hundred men of the Trained Bands next adjoining to them and ten pieces of Ordinance to each place Also that no Forces should be admitted into Hull without the consent of the Lords and Commons and that Instructions should be sent thither for the farther fortifying of that place Likewise upon another pretended discovery made by one Mr. Cartwright and the Speaker of the House of Commons that they were advertised by Letters from France of an Army preparing there to come for England or Ireland the Lords sent a message to the Commons to let them know that they had designed the Earl of Warwick Vice-Admiral of the Fleet. Whereupon both Houses joyn'd in a Message to the King to inform him of the grounds and reasons of their sending out that Earl as Vice-Admiral without his Majesties consent The King therefore discerning that they had got the Royal Navy into their hands thought it high time to make sure of his Magazine which had been laid up at Hull about two years before part for the service of Ireland and the rest for the security of the North and accordingly rode from York thither for the disposal thereof But when he came to the Gates of that Town Sir Iohn Hotham a member of the House of Commons being a confiding man with the factious party there and by their contrivance got privately thither with Souldiers refused him entrance affirming that in so doing he had the authority of Parliament to bear him out For which insolent act he was declared traiterous by his Majesty and by a special Message so signifyed to both Houses with demand of Justice against him according to the Laws But instead thereof they forthwith not only publish'd a bold Declaration with Votes and order of assistance in the name of both Houses of Parliament justifying Hotham therein
aid from any man nor protection from Heaven when he willingly should fail in these particulars Which pious intentions of his thus declared were of no small advantage to him at that time his Army increasing daily beyond expectation The Rebels therefore hearing which way the King moved beâ—t their course speedily towards him making their Head-quarter in and about Worcester from the four and twentieth of September till the nineteenth of October following Near to which place upon their approach some few Troops of his Majesties under the command of Prince Rupert most happily defeated a far greater number of the Rebel 's principal Cavalry Colonel Sandys Major Douglas and other Commanders with divers other being there slain six Cornets of Horse taken and all this with the loss but of one man Which being the first notable encounter that his Majesties forces had with them and so successful did not a little amaze most of the Rebels party Lest therefore the truth thereof being divulged should dishearten their friends in London and other remote parts they not only caused divers printed Papers to be spread about bragging of it for a special victory but that it might gain the more credit ordain'd a public Thanksgiving in London for the same And to hinder his Majesty from the assistance of his good Subjects under one pretence or other though they had cryed out against his raising an Army by the help of Papists to destroy the Protestant Religion they were not ashamed to make a public Order that if any Papist would bring in considerable sums to them upon the Propositions it should be accepted of As by these subtile devices they had rais'd the flames of Rebellion to this height and deprived the King of all visible means here for the quenching thereof so did they use their utmost endeavours to prevent any help that might be obtained for him from forreign parts as appears by their negotiation with the States of the Vnited Provinces wherein they imploy'd one Walter Strickland with a special Declaration to them complaining of the Prince of Aurange for countenancing the Lord Digby in his making warlike Provisions in those parts for the King's use and in favour of that Lord and other wicked Counsellers and Incendiaries to have licensed experienced Officers and Souldiers to resort into this Kingdom in aid of his Majesty against the Parliament Scandalizing the King also that his Councils were corrupted by a Jesuitical faction and that he had drawn his sword for the destruction of his people desiring therefore that his Majesty might have no manner of Supplies from thence and withall insinuating how near a relation there was betwixt that model into which they aimed to cast this Government and the State of those Provinces and that therefore they expected assistance from them Nor did they rest here as is evident from those Instructions which were brought up by a Committee to be sent into Holland for this Mr. Strickland upon the 29th of February an 1643 by which he was to represent to the States of those Provinces that the Parliament of England did only strive for Reformation of that Religion and State they live in and therefore desired those States that they would now afford them their Brotherly assistance as they had formerly assisted them As also that they would enlarge their union to other Princes and lend them some money upon the public faith of both Kingdoms and the rather because they made Reformed Churches the pattern of their endeavours Neither could they be silent at home but the more to stir up the people inculcated to them that the King had raised an Army by the help of Papists the corrupt part of the Clergy the Delinquent Nobility and Gentry and some notable Traitors beyond-Sea that they had liberty to rob and spoil all sorts of people as also to exact Money and Plate from Corporations by threatning Fire and Sword to the refusers that he had hired a Scotchman to murther Sir Iohn Hotham that by violent oppressions he had exhausted the parts about Shrewsbury and that the Cavaliers were hungry for the wealth of London and the fruitful Counties adjacent that if he should prevail there was no expectation but that all would be exposed to the malice and rapine of his ravenous Souldiers and all honest and religious mens throats cut And therefore that the means of curing and preventing these dangers must be by Loan and contribution to the Earl of Essex's Army which was not inferior in number to the King 's besides better armed full pay'd c. but above all well encouraged and instructed in the Cause by the labour of many Godly and painful Divines and therefore that all Trained Bands Voluntiers c. in all places should assist the Lord General c. Whereunto they added these ensuing Votes viz. 1. That such persons as should not contribute to the charge of the Common-wealth in this time of Necessity should be held sit to be secured and disarmed 2. That the Fines Rents c. of Arch-Bishops Bishops Deans c. and of such notorious Delinquents who had taken up Arms against the Parliament or had been active in the Commission of Array should be sequestred for the use and service of the Common-wealth 3. That the King's revenues should be brought into the several Courts and other places where they ought to be paid in and not issued out until farther order was taken by both Houses of Parliament And to sum up all they set forth another Declaration and Protestation wherein they did in the presence of Almighty God protest and declare to this Kingdom and the whole World that no private passion or respect nor evil intention to his Majesties person no design to the prejudice of his just Honour and Authority had engaged them to raise Forces and take up Arms c. that they had professed their Loyalty by several Remonstrances that they had passed by ignominious Slanders c. that for the avoiding of blood they had directed the Earl of Essex by himself or others to cause an humble Petition to be delivered to his Majesty to return in peace to his Parliament that his Majesty had refused to yield safe conduct for the delivery thereof that he was engaged to the Popish-party for suppression and extirpation of the true Religion and exposing the wealth of this Kingdom to be plundered and spoil'd by Cavaliers c. contrary to his solemn Oaths Protestations and Execrations and therefore that they resolved to enter a solemn Oath and Covenant to defend this Cause with the hazard of their lives against the King's Army And that they expected help from the Brethren of Scotland herein His Majesty therefore having in a very short time and beyond expectation raised an indifferent Army though his wants of many accomodations were very great finding no means of Peace or Safety but by the hazard of Battel which the Rebels eagerly sought casting himself wholly upon
cleared and those difficulties explained to him which he then conceived to be destructive to his just regal power in case he should give a full consent to those Propositions as they then stood Engaging himself to give his chearful assent to all such Bills as should be really to the good and peace of his people and to prefer the happiness of this Kingdome before his own particular And as a farther means to work a confidence in them of his own sincerity in these things he offered again to trust them with his own person conjuring them as they were Christians and Subjects and as they were men who desired to leave a good name behind them so to receive and make use of that his Answer that all issues of bloud might be stopped and those unhappy distractions peaceably setled But as his former gracious and frequent offers so this could not then find any acceptance at all with them by reason that it tended to the composure of those lamentable distractions which tended to the utter ruine of the King and Realm their aims at first and continued resolutions still being to share the spoyl which by their strength and power they had most unjustly got Nay in stead of any kindness or comfort which he might rationally expect from their many and most solemn promises and protestations they perpetually tormented his pious Soul with incessant importunities to take their hypocritical Covenant and sent for several of their most rigid Preachers to terrify him with their Kirk-censures upon his refusal thereof In which sad and disconsolate condition I shall for a while leave him and take a short view of the transactions betwixt the Members sitting at Westminster and those at Edenborough with their respective Commissioners The principal work being now done here in England by the help of the Scots the Grandees here as well as others began to be weary of their dear Brethren and for the sooner riddance of them passed a Vote that a Message should be sent to the Scottish Army that in regard they were not usefull in this Kingdome for the present and that the payment thereof would be a great burthen thereto they should with all convenient speed return into their Country But the Scots never intending to be loosers by their journey hither knowing full well how to make the best use of those advantages they then had gave their dear Brethren very good words telling them in their answer to the demands made in pursuance of that Vote that their earnest desires were the setling of Religion and Church Government which as it was the principal ground of their engagement in this Cause so would the perfecting of it be their chiefest joy and Glory of both Kingdomes it being the constant resolution of that Kingdome against all opposition to strengthen and cherish the Brotherly kindness between the Kingdomes and Peace setled with Truth and those things performed by the Honourable Houses which by Treaty they were obliged unto to recall their Army with as great alacrity as they were ready to send the same into England for the assistance of their Brethren And in another Letter speaking of the Arrears due to their Army they had these words This Kingdome lyeth under the burthen of great and vast expence in raising and entertaining of Armies and hath with the lives of many precious men set their own Houses on fire to quench the flame of yours And seeing by the seasonable assistance afforded by this Kingdome to you and by the late successes wherewith God hath blessed your Armies you are in a great measure freed of your troubles and are in a far better capacity to pay the moneys due to our Armies in England and Ireland than you were at any time since the beginning of these Wars we demand of the honourable houses to make payment of the summs of money duly owing to this Kingdome ¶ The state of things standing thus made the Game now to be play'd betwixt these great Masters not a little difficult to each the chief business of the then predominant party at Westminster being to gain the person of the King into their own hands and in case he should not upon the matter totally quit his Regal power to them by taking their Covenant and assenting to those their destructive propositions before-mentioned then to keep him close prisoner and exercise the same power without him And the design of the Scots not onely to use the like Regal-power in Scotland but to get a large sum of mony to boot considering that having the King in their hands the Grandees there were able to make their own terms on the behalf of themselves as to Riches and Honours There was therefore no means unessayed by each for accomplishing their respective ends But the Arguments and debates about this business continuing no less than six months before all things were fully agree'd I shall reserve my observations upon them till then and in the mean time take notice of what else did occur that is most remarkable in order to the carrying on their main work and divide the same into two parts the one touching their attempts upon the King in relation to the Covenant and Propositions the other towards the advancement of the Scepter of Iesus Christ for by that title they called their Presbyterean Doctrine and Discipline As to the first About the beginning of September Iames Duke Hamilton Lindsey Earl of Craford the Earl of Cassiles and some others from the Estates of Scotland came to Newcastle to the King and there earnestly solicited him to take the Covenant and sign the Propositions To second which motion there was a petition presented to His Majesty from the general Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland for Reformation of Religion according to the Covenant and uniformity of Church government denouncing God's anger upon him and the hazard to lose the Hearts of his good subjects in case he assented not thereto Soon after which Mr. Andrew Cant Mr. Robert Blayre and Mr. Iames Douglass came thither also to press him to the same purpose To torment him likewise yet more one of these violent men I mean a rigid Presbyterean-preacher besides many rude and uncivil expressions in his Sermon there before the King called for the 52. Psalm to be sung by the congregation which beginneth thus Why do'st thou Tyrant boast abroad thy wicked works to praise Whereupon His Majesty instantly stood up and called for the 56. Psalm beginning thus Have mercy Lord on me I pray for men would me devour Which the people readily sung waving the other Nay the fierceness of these Scottish-presbyters against His Sacred Majesty was such as that upon certain Proposals made to those of them who were Commissioners from the general Assembly viz. If the King shall come into Scotland and that the Kingdome of England shall exclude him of the Government there for his leaving them without granting the Propositions Whether or not
each differing from other in divers material points but all centring in opposition to Presbyterie which strange opinions no less absurd than various were so inconsistent with the zealous Disciplinarians who termed them Heretical and Blasphemous that they spared for no pains in endeavouring to suppress them As to the Tenets and practices of these Independent Libertines let this one instance serve for a Tast one Mr. Gregory of Colonel Rich his Regiment preaching at a Widows house near Northampton told his Auditors that he thought he was obliged to unfold the Scripture as it was revealed to him Likewise that he hoped to see the Shop-windows open on the Lord's day Also that the Psalms were no Scripture and that the Parson of that Parish was a Minister of Antichrist But notwithstanding this apparent danger to the Disciplinarians from this blessed brood of their own hatching some confidence they yet had of putting a stop to their farther growth to that end therefore as to their former notable pranks they frequently did by a special Ordinance they caused a day to be set a part for humbling themselves and seeking of God as they term'd it by fasting and prayer the preamble whereof I have thought fit here to insert We the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England having entred into a solemn Covenant to endeavour sincerely really and constantly the Reformation of Religion in Doctrine Discipline and Worship and the extirpation of Popery Superstition Heresie Schism Prophaneness and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of Godlyness And having found the presence of God wonderfully assisting us in this Cause especially since our Engagement in pursuance of the said Covenant have thought fit lest we partake in other mens sins and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues to set forth this our deep sense of the great dishonour of God and perillous Condition that this Kingdome is in through the abominable Blasphemies and damnable Heresies vented and spread abroad therein tending to the subversion of the Faith contempt of the Ministry and Ordinance of Iesus Christ. And as we are resolved to imploy and improve the utmost of our power that nothing be said or done against the Truth but for the Truth So we desire that both our selves and the whole Kingdome may be deeply humbled before the Lord for that great reproach and contempt which hath been cast upon his name and saving Truths and for that swift destruction which we may justly fear will fall upon the immortal Souls of such who are or may be drawn away by giving heed to seducing Spirits In the hearty and tender compassion whereof we the said Lords and Commons do order and ordain that Wednesday being the tenth day of March next be set apart for a day of publick Humiliation c. And to back this their Godly Exercise forasmuch as their solemn League and Covenant had effected such great matters otherwise the House of Peers soon after voted an Ordinance to be brought in for disabling every person whatsoever from bearing any office Civil or Military that should refuse to take the Covenant But that which they deemed above all not onely to get a hand over this many-headed-Monster Independencie but to establish to themselves a lasting dominion over the persons and Estates of all other people was to gain the King's person into their power concerning whom they had been trucking with the Scots for the space of six months at the least his Majestie being all that while at Newcastle upon Tine and their Army quartered in the Adjacent Counties not without some Heart-burnings towards those their dear Brethren for keeping him so long and continuing their Army in this Realm at so vast a charge and intollerable a burthen to those Northern parts having had no use thereof at all after the render of Newark Nor did this deteiner pass without some quick disputes betwixt them the Grandees here affirming and insisting stiffly upon it that the Kingdome of Scotland had no right of joynt exercise of interest in disposing the person of the King in the Kingdome of England urging likewise that forasmuch as he had deserted his Parliament and People entred into and continued in a bloudy and dangerous war against them had not granted those Propositions which by both Kingdomes were sent unto him as a means of a safe and well-grounded peace he was not therefore at present in a condition to exercise the duties of his place or be left to go or reside where and when himself pleased Farther objecting that the Commissioners of Scotland at a conference with theirs had declared that it would be prejudicial to both Kingdomes for the King to go into Scotland But after much dispute the Scots in brief told them that their Army by the Oath of Allegiance their Committee of Estates by their Commission and their Officers by their Military Oath ought to defend the King from harms and prejudices Often affirming that the King came to their Army for shelter and defence Adding that it was the Law and common practise of all Nations not to deliver the meanest subject fled to them though for the greatest crimes and that if the meanest were not to be delivered how would the world abroad condemn them for so base and dishonourable an act the King having cast himself into their hands They likewise said if it be considered that the Scottish Army was invited and called into this Kingdome by both Houses of Parliament in a Treaty for prosecuting the ends of a solemn League and Covenant whereof one Article is to preserve and defend his Majestie 's person there can remain no doubt concerning this exercise of that Right and Interest in this Kingdome And therefore said it seemed very strange that when upon invitation they were come into England as for other ends so to defend his Majestie 's person their being in England should be made use of as an Argument why they should deliver up the person of the King to be disposed of as both Houses should think fit Whereunto the English Commissioners replyed that the Scotch-Army came in hither as Auxiliaries under pay and therefore they ought not to capitulate herein at all And that whereas the Scots did so much urge their Obligation by the Covenant to preserve and defend the King's person and Authority they told them that they left out the principal Clause which was relative viz. in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdomes without which the other part ought never to be mention'd But the plain truth is that all this fencing with Arguments came at last to a meer Money-business For whereas the Grandees at Westminster by stipulation with the Scots for their Expedition into England had promised to pay them after the rate of thirty thousand pounds per mensem so long as they should have occasion to make use of their
an Execration upon his wife and children in asseverating thereof And as heretofore the leading-members at Westminster did usually pen petitions and send them into the City of London and elsewhere to be subscribed by those of their party for countenanceing whatsoever they had a mind to act so then did the Grandees of the Army not being ignorant what advantages had formerly been made of those devises viz. one from Essex to the General in the name of the well-affected-People there desiring that in regard of the present unsettled condition of the Kingdome and the design of many to deprive the subject of their liberty he would not consent to the disbanding of the Army nor any part thereof untill there should be a general settlement of things in the Kingdome The like Petitions from Norfolk and Suffolk desiring that there might be no disbanding untill the general grievances were redrest and Iustice done But see the dreadfull horrors and apprehensions which attend the Consciences of wicked men in times of distress and danger No sooner did the Army march from the parts about Triplo towards St. Albans but the Presbyterean-Members at Westminster and those of that gang in London fell into such Agonies that they forthwith ordered all the Trayned-Bands in London to be raised upon pain of Death and strong Guards to be set about the Line nay that all the Citizens should shut up their Shops So that whereas formerly his Majestie 's incessant Messages to them for peace were contemn'd and laid aside and when they had bought him of the Scots he must not be suffered to come nearer Westminster where they hatch'd all their barbarous contrivances against him than Holdenby in Northamptonshire now they voted his coming to Richmund and did vouchsafe to write Letters to him But alas too late Independencie being then triumphant and Presbytery gasping as you will see by and by For in answer to this Vote it was desired that no place might be proposed for his Majestie 's residence nearer unto London than where they would allow the Quarters of the Army to be And not many days after a paper was sent to the Houses at Westminster intituled the Representation of the Army In which it was in the first place required that the Houses should be speedily purged of such Members as for their Delinquencie so they were pleas'd to term it or for corruptions or abuse to the State c. ought not tosit there Which terrible news put the Presbyterean-party upon mustring up all their power and once for all to try what one strong blast could do Whereupon they Voted that the Army should remove fourty miles from London But this vote signified very little for instead of any obedience thereto the Army presently gave order for purging the House by an impeachment of high Treason of all the most able and active men which stood for the Presbyterean-Interest viz. Denzill Hollies Esq Sir Philip Stapleton Sir William Lewes Sir Iohn Clotworthy Sir William Waller Sir Iohn Maynard Knights Major General Massye Iohn Glyn Esq Recorder of London Walter Long Esq Colonel Edward Harley and Anthony Nicholls Esq being in number no less than Eleven of their chief Members who had from the beginning vigorously born the heat of the day Great stickling indeed there was by all their party to have preserv'd those men still in that holy conclave but all would not do for it was clearly discern'd that by their power in the House the Ordinance for disbanding the Army did pass So that to avoid suspending the whole House it was thought most fit that these men should retire And so they did it being high time for the Army did not stick to threaten to march up to Westminster if those Members were not suspended courting the City of London to sit Neutralls and let them work their will with the Parliament This indeed was a stroke almost fatal to the Presbyterean for it lost them not onely all these leading-men but a far greater number that staid some falling off from that side under colour of clearer Illumination and some others were so much daunted thereat that they had not afterwards courage enough to hold up their heads as formerly But upon the retiring of these Eleven Members the prosecution of their charge was totally forborn And now that the House was thus purged the greater part of the remaining Members became most obsequious to the Army and declared that they owned it as their Army and would make provision for the maintenance thereof ordering that so soon as mony could be conveniently raised they should be payd equally with those who had left the Army CHAP. XXIV HAving thus garbled the House of Commons no wonder it was that the whole Presbyterean-party every where became highly incensed and the rather for that they had so imprudently slipt their oportunity of complying with the king in due time For then when 't was too late they would have gladly joyn'd with any Interest to work themselves again into some authority Which being discern'd by the Independents who then had the King in their Hands to spoyle the Presbyterean-design they not onely fell to Courting His Majesty with great civilities and favours such indeed as he never enjoy'd since he fled to the Scots for refuge admitting the Duke of Richmond to come and attend him and two of his own most desired Chaplains but the people also by many printed Books and Papers spread over all England and likewise by the Pulpits whereby they stirred up the vulgar to make loud complaints of their pressures and grievances and to make addresses to the Army as their onely Saviours Restorers of their Laws Liberties and Proprieties Setlers of Religion and Preservers of all just Interests pretending also to establish the King in his just Rights and Prerogatives to uphold the Priviledg of Parliament to reform and bring to account all Committees Sequestrators and others who had defil'd their fingers with publick moneys and to free the people from Excise and other Taxes Seeing therefore that the work of Reformation was now thus obstructed by the Seraphick Brethren here who walkt by more new and clear Lights those in Scotland grew so highly moved thereat that they indicted a publick Fast and solemn day of Humiliation to be kept throughout the whole Kirk of that Kingdome setting forth a Declaration of the Causes moving them thereunto the Copy whereof I have thought fit here to insert 1. That notwithstanding our solemn Engagement in the Covenant our Obligations for great and singular mercies and our many warnings by Iudgments of all sorts yet not onely do we come far short of that sobriety Righteousness and Holiness that becometh the Gospel of Iesus Christ but ungodliness and worldly lusts abound every where throughout the land unto the grieving of the Lord's Spirit and provoking of the eyes of his glory and to
confiding-friends in all parts of the Realm Who acted for them so vigourously as that from Launton a populous corporation in Somersetshire they had very great Thanks for the same So likewise from the Godly-party in Buckinghamshire who also made large promises to adhere to and stand by them in the farther prosecution thereof to the utmost of their abilities against all opposers desiring that they would proceed to a speedy setling of the civil Government in such a way as might best conduce to the freedome and happiness of this Nation and that they would put forth their power for promoting of Religion according to the word of God to give due encouragement to all Godly and able Ministers to cast out such as were scandalous and unfit for the work of the Ministry and to be tender of the Consciences of such whose conversations were as becometh the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For which the Petitioners had not onely thanks thereupon rendred unto them for their constant affections to the Parliament but an order was forthwith made that the Petition should be printed to the end that the world might take notice of the singular affections of the Petitioners and that they might be an example for other Counties of the Kingdome Which transactions here so awakened the Brethren of Scotland that seeing no good could be effected by words they resolv'd to dispute the business otherwise and therefore agreed of raysing an Army But the general Assembly of that Kirk endeavouring to oppose them therein the estates of Parliament there declared that the breaches of the Covenant and Treaties should be represented and reparations sought for the same Next that the War which they were to make with England should be for strengthning the Union betwixt the two Kingdomes and encouraging the Presbytereans and well affected there Moreover that they would declare His Majestie 's concessions concerning Religion not to be satisfactory And that whereas Religion had been and they trusted should be the principal end of all their undertakings so they would be carefull that the then present question to be stated should contain security and assurance to be had from His Majesty by his solemn Oath under his hand and Seal that he should for himself and for his successors give his royal assent to pass Acts of Parliament injoyning the League and Covenant establishing Presbytreal Government the Directory for Worship and Confession of Faith in all his Dominions and that he should never make opposition to any of these nor endeavour any change thereof As also that this security should be had from him before his restitution to the exercise of his royal power All this notwithstanding the Kirk was not one jot satisfied but earnestly urged that the Parliament should declare against His Majestie 's concessions positively without any condition and presently without delay they being as they exprest so prejudicial to the Cause and Covenant And when they discerned that Forces were levying throughout that Kingdome they so much feared that His Majesty and his good Subjects might receive any benefit thereby that they did put up a large Petition to the Parliament there wherein they earnestly desired the Lords as they would answer the contrary at the great day of Judgment that they would not proceed so as to give any encouragement unto the prelatical or malignant party in England nor be any grief to the Presbyterean Party nor to restore the King untill he had resolved the settlement of Presbytery and that what they intended on the King's behalf might be with subordination to those ends exprest in the Covenant Whereupon the Parliament there declared that they would be so far from joyning or associating with the popish prelatical or malignant-party if they should again rise in Arms either to oppose or obstruct all or any of the ends of the Covenant that on the contrary they would oppose and endeavour to suppress them as Enemies to the Cause and Covenant on the other side Likewise that in regard His Majestie 's late concessions and offers concerning Religion were not satisfactory and that the principal ends of all the undertakings of that Nation had been and they hoped should be to see Religion in the first place setled and that as they should endeavour the rescuing of His Majesty from those who malitiously carryed him away from Holdenby-House against his own will and the declared resolutions of both Kingdomes and did still detein him close prisoner to the end he might come with honour freedome and safety to some of his Houses in or about London where both Kingdomes might make their application to him for setling of Religion and a well grounded Peace So they did resolve not to put in His Majestie 's hands or in any other whatsoever such power whereby the ends of the Covenant or any one of them might be obstructed or opposed Religion or Presbyterean-Government endangered but on the contrary that before any Agreement should be made His Majesty should give assurance under his solemn Oath and under his Hand and Seal that he should for himself and his successors give his Royal assent and agreement to such Act or Acts of Parliament of both and either Kingdomes respectively for enjoyning the League and Covenant and fully establishing Presbyterean-Government Directory for Worship and Confession of Faith in all his Dominions and that he should never make opposition to any of these nor endeavour any thing thereof Moreover that if any war should be made as it should be on just and necessary grounds so did they resolve to give the trust and charge of their Armies and Committees to none but such as should be and were of known integrity and against whom there was no just cause of exception Also that the Parliament was willing to subscribe for the grounds of their undertaking an Oath wherein both in the framing of it and otherwise they were willing the Church should have interest as had been in the like case And that the resolutions of the Parliament thereupon might be the more effectual and in regard of the then present condition of affairs it was their opinion that the Kingdome of Scotland should be put in a Posture of Defence as it was in the year 1643. And like as they had drawn that Act of Posture which being allow'd in Parliament and sent to the Shires they thought it fit time to send their demands to the Parliament of England and that some descreet man should be sent with the same and a limited time appointed for his return with answer ¶ I shall not stand here to give instance of such particulars as further happened betwixt the Grandees at Westminster and the Scots upon this business for all those passages were to no other end than by thus fencing with each other to prevent any censure in their respective Actings and consequently to obtain the peoples assistance upon occasion For in short the state of the business stood thus the
then sequestring himself from any diversion for a while to ponder seriously what she and he had said to him and that night either send or bring her a full and final answer The Duke upon the first appearance of this intended privacy of his Mother with him in the little interim of clearing the Room he took opportunity of sending Mr. Gryffin to find out the Marquess of Ormond and to desire him to come to him as soon as he returned from the Queen that he might be advised by him how to deport himself as occasion should serve And as soon as he came from her according to her command retired to his Chamber Whereunto the Abbot coming before the Marquess of Ormond could be found after he had at large expatiated on what the Queen had but briefly hinted to him he pressed him for his final Answer Which the Duke refused to give till he had first consulted with the Marquess Whereupon the Abbot withdrew desiring to be sent for when the Marquess should come which if not in an hours time he would return again though not sent for As soon as the Marquess came the Duke quickly resolved what answer to make but having been so long harassed was desirous to take a little breath so that he neglected sending to the Abbot and went out of his Lodging into the Court to divert himself No sooner was he gone but the Abbot came and missing him sought up and down At last finding him he severely rebuk't him for neglecting his Mothers Commands and his Instructions which were seriously to Ponderate on what he had said and for having not sent for him Well Sir says the Duke I have seriously considered on all hath been said to me and my final answer is I am resolved to continue firm in my Religion Then replyed the Abbot I am Commanded from the Queen your Mother to tell you that she charges you to see her Face no more At which dismal expression the Duke being not a little moved with great earnestness intreated that he might at least begher parting Blessing till he could prevail for her Pardon but could not obtain it though he endeavoured it again the next Morning being Sunday before her Majesty went to her Devotions by the Intercession of his Brother the Duke of York who did with great tenderness compassionate his condition and with much earnestness moved on his behalf But the Queen was inexorable to all that spoke in favour of him nor would she intimate her pleasure to him by any Person but Abbot Mountague who again sollicited him aggravating the Peril of his Mother's displeasure advising him at that instant being the most proper time as she was going to Mass at her Monastery to apply himself to her For she had proposals to make to him which would set his heart at rest though he could not then name them To which the Duke replyed if so I can For my heart can have no rest but in the free exercise of my Religion but I fear her Propositions will not I am sure yours never tended to give me any ease or quiet At which Instant the Queen passed by in her Coach going to her Nunnery Whereupon the Duke approached towards her attempting to beg her Blessing but was with great Indignation rejected Whereat being much discomposed the Abbot came up to him and askt him what it was her Majesty had said to him which put him into so great disorder To which he briefly replyed what she said I may thank you for Sir and it is but reason What my Mother therefore said to me I shall say to you Be sure I see your Face no more and so turn'd away from him Whereupon the Abbot calling after him said Whither are you going good Sir To whom the Duke looking over his shoulder answered to Church and so went with a sad and dejected Countenance which did much abate the joy of the Congregation who were much pleased to see him accompany his Brother the Duke of York thither But they partook with him in his sorrow when they understood that after Sermon he was to seek where to get a Dinner for which he must send to the Cooks or Fast for there was a very strict Prohibition given to all the Officers in his Mothers Court that they should not furnish him with any Provisions or Necessaries That Night after Evening Prayer he had hopes to enjoy one moment of satisfaction by conversing with his Sister the Princess Henrietta afterwards Dutchess of Orleans during his Mothers absence But as soon as the young Princess heard the news of his designed Adventure she was so frighted into shrieks and tears that she cryed out Oh God my Brother Oh me my Mother I am undone for ever what shall I do Which as soon as the Duke heard he retyred not being willing his dear Sister should by her kindness to him purchase her Mothers displeasure In this disconsolate condition he went to his Lodging Where at nine of the Clock at night his Groom came to know what he should do with his Horses For the Queens Comptroller was come to him with a charge to remove them instantly Whereupon the Groom Pleaded it was then too late and that on the morrow it would be time enough But the Comptroller replyed he should then be put out of his place ere Morning The next day the Sheets were taken off his Bed Finding therefore that he could not be permitted to stay at the Pallace-Royal he thought until he could provide Necessaries for his Journey into Germany to retire to the House of Mr. Crofts afterwards Lord Crofts near Paris whereof the Queen hearing she chekt Mr. Crofts for being willing to receive him with which he acquainted the Duke but submits however to his pleasure In this straight the Duke betook himself to the advise of that faithful Servant to his Family and zealous Protestant the Lord Hatton by whose judicious Instructions he had received much satisfaction in this his distressed Condition who so soon as the Duke had made known to him that he was not only turn'd out of his Mothers House but that all persons that had any dependency on her were forbidden to receive or assist him His Lordship told him if his Highness would please to honour his House with his Presence he should there be received with all the dutiful regard that could be payed to him by so antient and faithfully devoted a Servant to his Royal Family and with an entertainment as suitable to his Quality as the remains of that Fortune he had spent in his Fathers Service would afford But this the Duke out of great modesty seemed to decline alledging the hazard his Lordship might run to having his Estate again sequestred in England and likewise incurring the displeasure of the French Court as well as of the Queen his Mother to be exiled that Realm for his Kindness to him as he had been England for his Service to his Father and perhaps be endangered in
his person by the Rabble animated by some enraged Papists for thus disappointing them of making a Proselite of him as they boasted they had done and given publick thanks in divers Churches But his Lordship assured him that as he had spent the greatest part of his life and fortune in the Service of his Highnesses Royal Family and defence of the Protestant Religion he would willingly Sacrifice the remainder of both on so honourable an occasion as this With which hearty invitation his Highness was so pleased that he took no farther thoughts whither to go but remained with his Lordship Being thus gone from the Pallace-Royal the Queen Mother of France came immediately thither to try again as 't was thought if she could prevail with him to change his Religion And as soon as she came sent her Son the Duke of Anjou afterwards of Orleans to visit him who return'd with the news that he was not to be found But as soon as it was known that he was at the Lord Hatton's House she sent the then Marquess since Duke of Plessis a Person of such famed parts and abilities that in consideration thereof he was made Governour to the Duke of Anjou to perswade with him to comply with his Mothers advise for effecting whereof he exercised all his parts and elocution with great earnestness urging that since the Death of his Father the Queen his Mother had the sole Power and Authority over him Disputing whether the King his Brother as his Sovereign had equal Authority to dispose of him And the discourse growing somewhat publick the Marquess of Ormund and the Lord Hatton then present arguing in the Dukes defence the French Marquess finding himself overmatch't in great passion return'd without the success expected at the Pallace-Royal where the French Queen staid very late till he came back Whose report when both Queen 's heard they were then fully satisfied in the Dukes firmness to his Religion so that after that no considerable attempt was made on him though he continued for near two months very nobly entertained by the Lord Hatton until through the Marquess of Ormund's and his Lordships Interest Necessaries could be provided for his going into Germany CHAP. XXXVIII IT is not to be doubted but that the Convening of these persons from all parts of the Nation considering that divers of them being Members of the Old Long Parliament and eagerly thirsted to obtain their wonted power again having to that end corrupted a great part of the Army did not a little endanger his new-raised Dominion But such was his vigilancy that their Plots took no effect Seeing therefore both how and by whom his Authority had been thus affronted lest others in time by such examples might be swayed his next business was to gain some shadow of being owned by the generality of the people throughout the three Kingdoms which by the help of his Emissaries in short time he accomplisht first from Scotland by Gratulatory Petitions and next from the Counties and chief Places throughout England and Ireland Which being effected he then put on the Mask of a most tender and zealous Patriot earnestly promoting the performance of Justice encouraging Virtue and discountenancing Vice And to gain those of the Clergy who might be most serviceable to his purpose he made no small shews of his favours unto them yet with a check to the insolency of the Presbyterian and depressing the Episcopal and Orthodox To those also of the Romish persuasion though he seemed severe 't is certain enough that he did somwhat favour them there being not any sort of men to whom he carried not some shew of respect having an excellent faculty of courting them with some appearance of kidness But to captivate those who were seemingly Religious he had a singular art of discoursing with them most Divinely and not only so but Praying Sighing Groaning and somtimes shedding Tears in their presence yet having a special vigilancy upon all Parties and Interests which possibly might disturb his quiet So that the Royalists whose generous and active Spirits were ever prompting 〈…〉 our the Kings Restauration and to 〈…〉 a Rising in the West were soon 〈…〉 some of them were brought to Tryal amd 〈◊〉 death for the same But the lives of these Loyal 〈…〉 this subtle Tyrant for he took advantage thereby to cause the Estates of all others of that 〈◊〉 sate quiet to be decimated except such as by mony could free themselves from that great exaction And for the strict Levying of that most oppressive Tax he constituted fourteen select Major-Generals each of which had several Counties under his Jurisdiction who not only exercised their Authority in an Arbitrary and unlimited manner but at length grew so insolent that he thought it not fit to continue them in that power And now looking upon himself as an absolure Monarch he exercised the Authority of conferring the Honour of Knighthood first upon the Lord Mayor of 〈◊〉 And having soon after concluded a League 〈◊〉 France he went on and Knighted two of his Colonies Pride and Barksted the one who had been a Dray-man the other a seller of Thimbles and Bodkins of Silver And having throughout all parts of England by underhand practices those of his Preaching-Clergy serving him therein to some purpose made way for an Election of such Members for another Parliament as might best advance his future ambitious designs he sent out Writs of Summons for Convening of them accordingly At which meeting none were permitted to enter the House which refused to acknowledg and subscribe to his Authority Whereupon some being excluded went back to their Countries But those which sate went stoutly on with the work having made choice of Sir Thomas Widdrington to be their Speaker That the chief end whereat this proud and subtle Tyrant at that time drove was by the help of this Convention to be invested with the Title of King few there were to whom it was not evident enough though he cunningly seemed to look another way That there might therefore be the less suspicion thereof the design was so laid that the work should be brought about by degrees and in a Collateral way To which end in the first place as a preparation thereto they passed an Act whereby the Knights Citizens and Burgesses there assembled for so are the words did in the name of all the people of that Common-Wealth fully clearly and absolutely and for ever disclaim and renounce all Fealty Homage or Allegiance pretended to be due unto Charles Stuart Eldest Son of the late King Charles Iames Stuart c. or any other Issue or Posterity of the said King or any person or persons pretending or which should pretend Title by from or under them or any of them And soon after that another Act for security of the person of his Highness the Lord Protector and continuance of the Nation in Peace and Safety the
next following landed at Dover Whence attended by most of the Loyal Nobility and Gentry of this Realm he came to London upon the 29th of that Month being the Anniversary of his Birth where with stately Arches of Triumph costly Pageants Bells various sorts of excellent Musick Bonefires and joy inexpressible he was received and proceeded in State through that great City to his Royal Palace at White-Hall the chief and happy Instrument of this His Majesties most miraculous Restauration without blood-shed being the above-mentioned Colonel George Monke a Devonshire Gentleman of an Antient and Worthy Family lineally descended from King Edward the IV by the Lady Frances Daughter and Coheir to Arthur Plantagenet Vicount Lisle his Natural Son Who having put himself in Arms for the King at the Commencement of this grand defection and so continuing till by a second Invasion of the Scots the Rebels prevailed in sundry parts by taking divers Garrisons and many of His Majesties Loyal Subjects Prisoners amongst which it was his hap to be one he thought it better to gain his Liberty by receiving entertainment in their Army until he could discern a proper opportunity to do His Majesty service than by so suffering Which at last with no less Prudence than Courage he most faithfully performed as hath been observed and for which he hath since that time been deservedly remunerated not only with several great and honourable Titles viz. Baron Monke of Powtheridge Earl of Torington Duke of Albemarle and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter as also made Captain General of all his Forces Horse and Foot throughout his whole Dominions but with ample Possessions for the better support of those high Dignities A SHORT VIEVV OF THE LATE TROUBLES IN ENGLAND CHAP. XLIII HAving now finished this Narrative with as much brevity as I well could do whereby it hath been fully made evident by what Artifices this seeming-Godly Generation did at first get power into their cruel hands that is to say their many specious Declarations and solemn promises for the Defence of the Protestant Religion the Laws of the Land the Liberties of the Subject and Priviledges of Parliament I shall now crave leave to make some short Observations thereon and give most ample instances of their contrary Actings in every of these even in those very times in which their Dagon of Presbytery was visibly Triumphant And first as to the Protestant Religion After they had under pretence of great danger by a Jesuitical-party of destroying the Protestant Religion fram'd a protestation for preserving the same as it was exprest in the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England Which protestation the farther to satisfy the People of their own integrity was solemnly taken by all the Members and Ordered to be Printed and sent down into the several Counties within few days after they made an Explanation thereof viz. That by the true reformed Protestant Religion was meant so far as it was opposite to Popery and that the said words were not to be extended to the maintenance of any Form Discipline or Government nor of any Rules or Ceremonies of the said Church of England And having given themselves such Latitude by that their After-explanation viz. not to desend the Protestant Religion as it stood establisht by Law and was exprest in the XXXIX Articles but as it was repugnant to Popery and taught perhaps by all Brownists Anabaptists Familists and other Sectaries which made way for all that brood to joyn with them They then Ordered that no Minister should take any Oath at his Induction but what should be warranted by Scripture And soon after fell into debate for the Extirpation of Episcopacie Then Ordered that no Service should be Read nor Psalm sung in going pâ—ocession Next Voted that the Government of the Church of England by Archbishops Bishops c. had been found by long experience to be a great impediment to the perfect reformation and growth of Religion and very prejudical to the civil Government of this Kingdom As also that Archiepiscopal and Episcopal Iurisdiction should be exercised by themselves And brought in a Bill for abolishing the Cross in Baptism Surpliss Bowing at the name of Iesus standing up at the Gospel c. Nevertheless to set up Lectures Likewise that whosoever should refuse to take the Protestation should be held unfit to bear Office in the Church or Common-Wealth conceiving it to be a true testimony for that was their expression to distinguish the Ephramites from the Gileadites And within four days after Voted Thirteen Bishops Delinquents with desire that they might be impeached as Authors of Sedition for having a hand in the later Canons What private Conferences they had about this time in order to the Extirpation of Episcopacy whereby for want of Government in the Church they might the sooner bring all to confusion take their own Testimony At an assembly of about an hundred Priests at Mr. Calamie's a London Priest about a Petition against the Bishops it being insisted on that Heresies would farther spread if Bishops were put down the Priests thereupon sent for Mr. Green and Mr. Spenser of the seperate Congregations to desire them for a time they would suspend their open meetings and be more private in their practise in regard that their publique meeting was an obstacle to the suppression of the Bishops but afterwards they might have free libertie of their practise The words were uttered by Mr. Calamine who was afterwards to violent against their toleration And to hasten this universal Confusion they appointed the pulling down of Rayles about Communion Tables and the removing of such Tables giving liberty by a special Order to the Inhabitants any where throughout the Kingdom to erect Lectures whereby Mechanicks and Illiterate-men were set up to the infinite scandal of Religion and increase of Schisme And when the House of Lords discerning these licentious and irreverent courses made a publique Order injoying the due observation of the Book of Common Prayer in all Churches without alteration the House of Commons by means of the prevalent Partie therein in opposition thereto and extenuation thereof declared that but Eleven of the Lords assented to that Order and that Nine refused ordering that their Declaration therein should be dispersed and Read throughout all the Churches in England It can hardly be imagined what strange effects these their practises in the House of Commons did in a short time produce one of their own partie then acknowledging in Print That all Government and Discipline of the Church was lay'd in her Grave and all the putredinous Vermine of bold Schismaticks and frantick Sectaries glory in her Ashes making the fall thereof their own rising to mount the Pulpits c. And another of them crying out in these words Alas your poor Church is oppressed and who layeth hand to help the
us and another as bad is come in the room Yea this last extremity into which we are fallen is far more high violent and dangerous in many respects c. Have we not a deformation and worse things come in upon us than ever we had before were any of those Monsters heard of heretofore which are now Common among us and denying the Scriptures c. You have broken down the Images of the Trinity Virgin Mary Apostles and we have those who overthrow the Doctrine of the Trinity oppose the Divinity of Christ speak evil of the Virgin Mary and slight the Apostles You have cast out the Bishops and their Officers and we have many that cast down to the ground all Ministers in all the Reformed Churches You have cast out Ceremonies in the Sacraments as the Cross kneeling at the Lords Supper And we have many who cast out the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper You have put down Saints Days and we have many who make nothing at all of the Lords Day and Fast-days You have taken away the superfluous excessive maintenance of Bishops and Deans and we have many that take away and cry down the necessary maintenance of Ministers In the Bishops Days we had singing of Psalms taken away in some places conceived Prayer and Preaching and in their room Anthems stinted forms and Reading brought in And now we have singing of Psalms spoken against and cast out of some Churches Yea all publick Prayer questioned and all Ministerial Preaching denied In the Bishops time Popish Innovations were introduced as bowing at Altars c. And now we have Anointing the Sick with Oyl Then we had Bishopping of Children now we have Bishopping of Men and Women by strange laying on of Hands In the Bishops days we had many unleaâ—ned Ministers and have we not now a company of Jerobam's Priests In the Bishops days we had the fourth Commandement taken away but now we have all the Ten Commandements at once by the Antinomians yea all â—aith and the Gospel denyed The worst of the Prelaâ—es in the midst of many Popish Arminian-Tenets and Popish Innovations held many sound Doctrines and had many commendable practises yea the very Papists hold and keep to many Articles of faith and truths of God have some order amongst them encourage Learning have certain fixed principles of truth with practises of Devotion and good Works but many of the Sect and Sectaries in our days deny all Principles of Religion are enemies to all holy-duties Order Learning overthrowing all being vertiginosi Spiritus whâ—lgigg-Spirits And the great opinion of an universal Toleration tends to the laying all wast and dissolution of all Religion and good manners c. What swarms are there of all sorts of illiterate mechanick Preachers yea of Women and Boy-Preachers What liberty of Preaching Printing of all Errors or for a Toleration of all and against the Directory Covenant Monthly-fast Presbyterial Government and all Ordinances of Parliament in reference to Religion These Sectaries have been growing upon us ever since the first year of our sitting and have every year increased more and more And in his Book from pag. 18. to pag. 36. he instances no less than one hundred seventy six Heretical and Blasphemous Tenets broacht by the Sectaries the Off-spring of the Presbyterian within the compass of the four years next and immediately insuing the Convention of that Long-Parliament But to draw towards the end of this point touching their Preservation and Defence of the Protestant Religion exprest in the Doctrine and Discipline Establisht by Law in the Church of England so much protested declared and voted for at the first I shall be bold to observe after all these Barbarous and Blasphemous Practises That having by their Malitious and Causless Impeachment of that worthy Pillar of our Church the late Arch Bishop of Canterbury kept him a Prisoner for above four Years and had nothing against him by the Law of the Land worthy of Imprisonment much less of Death these Blood-thirsty Harpyes by their own usurped Legislative Power Condemn'd him to Death And the very same day to accompany that Horrid Fact damn'd the Reverend Liturgy of the Church of England Establishing a thing called a Directory instead thereof and within six days following Executed that Bloudy Sentence upon that worthy Prelate whole Memory and Martyrdom for the Protestant Religion as it stood here Establish't by Law will be precious with the best of Men to all Succeeding Ages And having done this they sent Commissioners Scottish and English to treat at Uxbridge with others from his Majesty concerning Peace Where the very first day of their Meeting they countenanced a Bold and Scandalous Person to Preach to the People that they had no Enemy but the King adding that if they had no truth with their Peace they should have God to be their Enemy Bidding them not dote upon that Treaty saying that there was as much distance between that Treaty and Peace as between Heaven and Hell And How can ye hope for truth since there are so many Prophane Lords such an Un-preaching and un-gifted Clergy so many Erroneous Papists perverse Bishops so many Irish Rebels who are the chief Assistants at Oxford I tell you these Lords come hither with Hearts full of Bloud Towards which Blessed Peace as they call'd it a mongst other things to the absolute Ruine of Monarchy they there demanded no less than the utter Extirpation of the Protestant Religion as it stood Establish't by Law with the Patrimony of the Church to boot as a Prey to themselves and the Scotts who would serve God if I may fitly call it a Service in Barnes or Stables at a cheaper Rate which makes me call to mind that Expression of Sir Walter Raleigh in his History of the World Where making mention of the Care which Moses had of all things that concern'd the Worship and Service of God which Care of his all Ages have in some Degrees imitated Says thus it is now so forgotten and cast away in this Superfine Age by those of the Family by the Anabaptists Brownists and other Sectaries as all Cost and Care bestowed and had of the Church wherein God is to be Served and Worshipped is accounted a kind of Popery and as proceeding from an Idolatrous Disposition in so much as time would soon bring to pass if it were not resisted that God would be turned out of Churches into Barnes and from thence again into the Fields and Mountains and under the Hedges and the Offices of the Ministery Rob'd of all Dignity and Respect be as contemptible as those places All order Discipline and Church Government left to newness of Opinion and Mens Fancies Yea and soon after as many kinds of Religion would spring up as there are Parish-Churches within England every Contentious and Ignorant Person Cloathing his Fancy with the Spirit of God and his Imagination with the Gift of Revelation In so much
Rebellion That the first Seeds of it were sown in Queen Elizabeth's time grew up in K. Iames and came to perfect ripeness in K. Charles his Reign is proportionably true of the Holy-League The first Platform of that was laid in the time of K. Charles the Ninth soon after the Reformation of Religion got footing in France It broke out in K. Henry the third's time and was at last suppressed by K. Henry the Fourth So that it infested the Reigns of three Kings no less than this of ours The cheif pretended occasion of it was the defence of Religion which the Ring-Leaders of that Faction did if not conceive themselves yet labour to perswade the People to be in danger of utter Ruine and Extirpation And that by reason of some Indulgence and Toleration granted by Charles the ninth and the Queen Mother and continued by Henry the third unto the Huguenots or Protestants who were as odious to them as Papists were with our Men though the truth was those Princes did as intirely detest the Religion of Protestants as the most zealous among ours can do the Papists And what they did in favour of them was meerly to preserve the Peace of the Kingdom Before the League was fully hatch't the State of that Kingdom was not much unlike this of ours before the late Troubles Some Grievances there were which waited upon it into the World For besides the Toleration of the Huguenots which distasted the Zealots the greatness of some new Men at Court bred an high discontent in divers of the Nobility And the heavy Taxes and Impositions upon the Common-People made them generally dissaffected with the present Government And this Variety of Malignant Humors rising from several Springs all met in the same Stream and bent their course to the same common end Innovation and Subversion of the Establish't Government A Parliament for so I shall take leave to call the general Assembly of the three Estates in France not according to the modern use of the Word in that Country from whence this Kingdom borrowed at first the name and thing but in compliance with our own Language was thought to be a sure Remedy at a pinch for â—etling the publick Distractions And though such Assemblies had been long intermitted in that Realm and the Kings of later time were grown out of love with them as conceiving that while they who represent the whole Nation are convened together with such Supream Power the Royal Authority in the mean time remained little better than suspended Yet upon a consultation had with a Council of Peers like that of ours at York and a motion from them to that purpose Francis the second was content to call a Parliament at Drleans which was quietly Dissolved by his Death before the States had done any thing but only shew'd their Teeth against the Protestants taking a solemn Protestation for Defence of their Religion and by that excluding all others from any Vote in that Assembly By the like exigence was Henry the third driven to have recourse to the like Remedy which proved indeed worse than the Disease For after his Intimation of a Parliament to Commence at Bloys the Duke of Guise and his Allies laid the Foundation of the League who being the most Popular and Powerful Subjects in the Kingdome sought by that means to augment their own greatness and secure the State of Religion which was so straitly twisted with their Interests This Duke besides his Ambition which prompted him sufficiently to those Turbulent Undertakings has formerly received some disgust at Court not much unlike that of Philip Earl of Pembroke for the Keys of the Pallace were taken from him and bestow'd upon the King of Navarr With which disgrace he was extreamly vexed and his Brother the Cardinal much more though they cunningly Dissembled and made a shew as if nothing troubled them but the Toleration of and connivence at Calvinisme by that means veiling their own Passions and Private Interests with an honest Cloak and colour of Religion So by little and little the Factious among the great ones were confounded with the differences in Religion and instead of Male-Contents and Guisards they put on the name of Catholicks and Huguenots Parties which under colour of Piety ministred so much the more Pernicious Fewel to all the Succeeding Combustions and Troubles The League was ushered in with Declarations Remonstrances and Protestations to the same effect and much in the same Language with this of our Covenanters We the Princes Noblemen Gentlemen and Commons Parties to that League profest that nothing but pure Zeal and Sincere Devotion which we bear to the Honour of God his Majesties Service the Publick Peace and Preservation of our Lives and Estates together with the Apprehension of our utter Ruine and Destruction hath necessitated us to this Resolution which we are constrained to put on for which we cannot any way be taxed or traduced for Suspition of Disloyalty Our Councils and Intentions having no other Design but meerly the Maintenance and Advancement of the Service of God Obedience to his Majesty and Preservation of his Estate And perceiving by what is past that our Enemies have not nor ever had any other aim but to Establish their Errors in the Kingdom to extirpate Religion and by little and little to undermine the King's Authority and totally alter the Government we can do no less in discharge of our Honours and Consciences than withstand the Sinister Designs of the Supream Enemies of God and his Majesty by a common Covenant and Association it being no more than time to divert and hinder their Plots and Conspiracies for all Faithful and Loyal Subjects to enter into a Holy Union and Conjunction which is now the true and only means left in our Hands by God for restoring of his own Service and Obedience to his Majesty The chief Heads of the League to which they swore were either altogether or in Proportion the same with those in our English Covenants viz. 1. To Establish Religion the Law and Service of God in its Pristine State according to the form and usage of the Catholick Roman-Church there as of the Protestant Reformed-Church here 2. As our Covenanters swore in the second Article to extirpate all Popery Heresy c. So did the Leaugers Renounce and abjure all Errors contrary to their Religion 3. As our Men in the third Article swore to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliament and Liberties of the Kingdom and to preserve the King's Person and Authority but with a Reservation in the Preservation and Defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdon So did they to preserve Henry the third of that Name and his Successors the Most Christian Kings in the State Splendour Authority Right Service and Obedience which are due unto him from his Subjects but with this Abatement according as is contained in
B. Ib. p. 403. D. The second Parliament of K. Charles I. dissolved 15. Junii An. 1626. 2 Car. 1. Ib. p. 419. B. C A Loan of money required by the K. Ship-money required Privy Seals Ib. p. 420. A Benevolence proposed Ib. p. 422. An. 1626. Short View of the Life of K. â— Charles impr Lond. 1658. p. 46. An. 1627. Rushw. Coll. p. 428. E. p. 429. 27 Junii Ib. F. * 8 Nov. Ib. p. 469. Life of King Charles by Dr. Perenchef impr Lond. 1676. An. 1627. 3 Car. I. Rushw. Coll. p. 480. C. The third Parliament of K. Charles I. 17 Martii Ib. p. 481. D. Ib. p. 531. B. 26 Junii 1628. Ib. p. 644. B. Ib. D. Short View of the Life of K. Charles p. 26. Rushw. Coll. p. 647. C. Ib. p. 651. C. Ib. p. 656. C. An. 1628. * Febr. Ib. p. 670. F. Short view of the life of K. Charles p. 53. The third Parliament of King Charles the first dissolved 2. Martii Rushw. Coll. p. 672. A. Planting Schismatical Lecturers * Hist. of the Presbyterians by Dr. Heylin p. 11. 12. * Hist. of the life and death of Archbish. Laud. p. 9. Buying in impropriate Tythes for their support * Ib. p. 211. 212. Ib. p. 311 312. The absurdity and ill effects of them Their practising of military Discipline His Majesties Declaration printed at London An. 1639. p. 6. Ib. p. 7. Ib. p. 9. An. 1633. An. 1634. The Inland parts charg'd with Ships for defence of the Realm A usual mask for evil designs Hist. of Arch-Bishop Laud's life c. p. 92. 93. Multitudo ubi religione capta est potius vatibus quam Ducibus suis paret Curtius lib. 4. An. 1637. The Service-book sent into Scotland King Charles his large Declaration p. 16. Ib. p. 17. Ib. p. 18. 19. Ib. p. 19. Ib. p. 22. Ib. p. 23 24 25. 23 Julii 1637. Tumults at Edenborough by reason of the Service-book * Ib. p. 26 27. Ib. p. 31. 17. Oct. 1637. 1638. Ib. p. 35. 18. Oct. Ib. p. 37. Ib. p. 41. Ib. p. 47. * 19. Febr. 1638. Ib. p. 40. Tables of Advice erected The first Covenant by the Scots His Majesties Declaration Ib. p. 40. * Dated at Windsor 20 May 1638. The Marq. of Hamilton sent into Scotland to appease the people there Ib. p. 85. 86. Ib. p. 88. Ib. p. 96. 28. Junii Ib. p. 110. 111. 22 Sept. Ib. p. 137. Ib. p. 147. Ib. p. 156. 24 Sept. Ib. p. 188 189. Ib. p. 195. * 13. Oct. Ib. p. 197. Ib. p. 208. Ib. p. 210. Ib. p. 226. An. 1534. 25. H. 8. Holinsh p. 936. 937. Ib. p. 228. Ib. p. 229. 230. Ib. p. 224. 28. Oct. Ib. p. 248. Ib. p. 264. Ib. p. 281 282 283. Ib. p. 287. 27 Nov. Ib. p. 290. 29. Nov. The Assembly at Glasgow dissolved Ib. p. 294. Ib. p. 317. Episcopal Government abolish'd in Scotland Ib. p. 319. Ib. p. 366. * 18 Dec. Ib. p. 375. Ib. p. 402. Ib. p. 404. The Scots put themselves in Arms. The King raised an Army whereof he made the Earl of Arundel General 27 Martii 1639. * 28 Maii at the Birks The King's Declaration since the Pacification in the Camp near Barwick p. 3. 4. Ib. p. 17. * 17 Junii Articles of Pacification with the Scots * 20 Junii Ib. p. 17. Ib. p. 19. Ib. p. 20 * 2 Julii * 20 Julii Ib. p. 30. August Novemb. * Earl of Dumfermelyn Lord Lowdon * 5 Dec. Ib. p. 41. 18. Dec. Scots raise more forces Jan. 1639. Act. 34. Ib. p. 57. * The King's Declaration printed at Lond. 1639. Ib. p. 8. * Sir Henry Vane junior * Preface to the Memoires of the lives of James and William D. of Hamilton Impr. Lond. 1677. 1640. An. 1640. 13 Apr. The Short Parliament call'd The Short Parliament dissolved 5 Maii. 9 Maii. * 11 Maii. 11 Julii Ad. 38. * 17. Aug. The first Invasion of the Scots * 18 Aug. * 28 Aug. A grand Council of the Peers at York 24 Sept. 9. Oct. Treaty at Rippon The long Parliament began 3. No. Will. Lenthal of Lincolns Inn being Speaker * 9 Nov. * 11 Nov. The Earl of Strafford impeach'd of Treason * 13 Nov. * 18 Dec. * 19 Dec. * 21 Dec. * 14 Jan. * 5 Febr. * 11 Febr. * 28 Nov. * 11 Dec. * 15 Dec. * 16 Dec. * 29 Jan. * 10 Febr. * 11 Febr. 1641. * 10. Martii * 2. Febr. * 16. Martii Tryal of the E. of Strafford * 22. Martii * 23. Martii An. 1641. * 3. Apr. * 5. Apr. * 7. Apr. * 19. Apr. * 12. Maii * 3 Maii Pretended Plots and Conspiracies * 5 Maii. * 7 Maii. * 10 Maii. * 12 Maii. * 13 Maii. * 14 Maii. * 17 Maii. * 17 Junii * 24 Julii * 16 Aug. Posture of Defence Bill for perpetuating the Parliament * 7 Maii. * 9 Junii * Lord Say sworn Master of the Wards 17 Maii. Earl of Leicester made Deputy of Ireland 19 Maii Earl of Essex made Lord Chamberlain 29 Julii Oliver St. John made Sollicitor General The King went into Scotland * 2 Aug. * Will. Strode * 12 Aug. The grand Remonstrance * 19 Oct. * 20 Oct. * 31 Oct. Alderman Penington and others made a Committee for setting up Preaching Ministers 19 Dec. A. 1640. * Dr. Downing * Exact Col. p. 543. * 23 Oct. The Rebellion in Ireland * 22 Junii * 3 Julii * Sir William Parsons one of the Lords â—ustices in that Kingdom and Sir Adam Loftus Vice-Treasurer there persons experimentally known to have much adhered to and furthered the designs of these Rebellious contrivers in England that an Army of a thousand Scots was to arrive in Ireland to force the Catholicks to change their Religion and that Ireland could never do well without a Rebellion to the end the remnant of the Natives might be extirpated wagers being laid at the general Assizes by divers of them that within one year no Catholick should be left in Ireland * See his Majesties Answer to the two Papers concerning Ireland printed with the full and perfect Narrative of the Treaty at Uxbridge p. 212. * See the full Relation of the Treaty at Uxbridge p. 133. 136. * Impr. Londan 1658. p. 86. * 25 Oct. * 30 Oct. * 12 Nov. * 14 Nov. * 15 Nov. * 20 Nov. * Exact Coll. p. 1. * 22 Nâ— * 25 Nov. The King returned from Scotland * 26 Nov. * 27 Nov. * 29 Nov. 30 Nov. 1 Dec. * Exact Coll. p. 22. * 11 Dec. * 15 Dec. * Exact Coll. p. 532. * 19 Dec. * 26 Dec. * 27 Dec. * 28 Dec. * 29 Dec. * Exact Coll. p. 533. * 31 Dec. * 31 Dec. 1 Jan. 4 Jan. See the Articles against them Exact Coll. p. 34. * 7 Jan. * 8 Jan. The King with the Queen Prince and D. of York