and the fruit of their doing It is said the Archbishop of York if he have not too much or too little Grace can tell you more of this businesse Let our trembling pen passe on to His now Majesties reign and here doubtlesse some Apologie is expected but I hope to say nothing that needs it I shall endeavour to avoid known falshoods or unseasonable truths An earnest affection to the Preservation and Reformation of the Church of God hath put me upon this disquisition and the desire of preserving good men from a snare which shall be in vain spread in the sight of any bird hath prevailed with me for the discovery of my thoughts It is in service to that Cause which I desire not to over-live the welfare of And therefore without any more complement Let us begin to search out the Plaâ—…formes Groundworks Materials Instruments of this great service for recovery of Britain to Babylon In the beginning of His Majesties reign the Popish Faction having in Spain and otherwise obtained testimonies of His disposition a strange wiâ—…e is prepared for him which according to Scripture truth is a dangerous preparative for a strange god Surely they will turn away your heart after their gods 1 Kings 11. 2. Upon this marriage is the Court sufficiently loose and luxurious enough at all times dissolved into Riots and Masquings and in the midst of that noise were our Counsells and Enterprises most perfidiously mis-laid and betrayed as those of Ree and Cales and especially that of Rochell which as if no sleighter a Complement could be thought of for the fair Lady received from France must by English hands and Popish Councels be betrayed in its Religion and Liberty Thus is our guilt increased and our strength diminished and lest the Remainder of it should be imployed according to the Interests of our Religion and Nation a peace with Spain is concluded the Palatinate left to that which leaves it yet miserable and is hastening us after it a Course of treating with them who carry destruction and misery in their paths but the way of peace they have not known These things have been long known but little considered and it stands well enough with my intent and purpose to repeat things mentioned by others because I aym at shewing the dependance of the Jesuiticall proceedings one upon another and all upon the main end of subverting Religion and Liberty After these parts so well plaid abroad Let us consider how the design was carried on among our selves from the fourth yeer of His Majâ—…sties reign And here as good workmen use to do They forecast the manner and provide the Instruments of their work It must be done either by force oâ—… fraud the first is disapproved probably upon these reasons 1. The King could not be supposed to yeeld to an invasion of His own Kingdom and it was pitie to betray so hopefull a Prince 2. It was more full of hazard as subject to the Accidents of warre as also that a violent attempt would probably joyn the Protâ—…stant and Puritan against the Papist whereas a fraudulent graduall proceeding might possibly unite the Papist and Indifferent Protestant against the Puritan which they have now accomplished The latter way is resolved upon and Instruments accordingly fitted which are certainly the most considerable requisites in any work And because it was of very great concernment That the King should be brought to favour and further these Popish proceedings and preparations He must be ingaged either upon religious or politike considerations to promote this Reconciliation with Rome Not to dispute how farre He was prevailed with in matters of Religion if not for an absolute alteration yet an Accommodation or whether the ultimate End and full Design were discovered to Him or rather He made to prosecute it under another Notion This is certain That He manifestly favoured those Courses that made way for Popery and Tyranny and it is to be conceived rather with respect to power and profit which were alwayes observed to be His Majesties well consistent Interests then to the Popish or any other Religion which is evidenced by that passage that fell from His Majesty observed by the Venetian that wrote the Narrative called the Popes Nuntio sc. That His Majesty could at that time reconcile Himself to Rome with much advantage And when it was discerned that the Interest of absolute Rule with its advantages was so firmely setled in His Majesty and that He was subject to be violent in the prosecution of it and not likely to stumble at small blocks which they might well ghesse by the dissolution of Parliaments billeting Souldiers the design of the Germanâ—… horse c. They cherish him in it and set France with its broken Parliaments and full power as an Object of Emulation before him as finding the Interests of Popery and Tyranny very well to agree Now therefore is His Majesty perswaded that His Crown and the Popes Chair have common Friends and common Enemies Parliaments and Puritans are their Enemies Prelacy and Prophanenesse their Friends Let us see how things were carried with respect to them all First For Parliaments which the Popish Party knew to be very good advantages in their constitution to the preservation and reformation of the Protestant Religion they represent them to his Majesty as most disadvantagious to his desired power and profit These were onely times of recompence for wrong of petitions for right Controllers of Prerogative Assertors of popular Liberty and therefore are they dissolved disgraced by scandalous Declarations publikely aspersed both from the Presse anâ—… Pulpit as by Doctor Alablaster Beale Manwaring and others of that stamp And that there might be no occasion of drawing supplies of money that way which had so many other Inconveniences attending it severall exquisite Engines of iniquity and oppression were found out by Weston Noy and others as Loans Patents Ship-money c. And thus for twelve years or thereabouts were Parliaments intermitted and the hopes if not remembrance of them almost worn out Then for Puritanes men cordially Protestant and zealous of their own Religion which no where but among us is a fault because they were tenacious of just Liberty and true Religion how studiously and spightfully are they disgraced as men of Antimonarchicall Principles factious spirits ranked with Iesuites who were yet better used as the Incendiaries of Churches and States For the suppressing these men the authority of the High Commission Star-chamber Bishops Courts and the ordinary Courts of Justice through the corruption of Judges and other inferiour Officers were made very serviceable and that they might have no shelter neerer then New-England most of the faithfull Ministers and religious Justices were for some pretence or other discountenanced displaced and it was grown to that passe that he that departed from evill made himself a prey For the rooting out of Ministers whose onely fault was painfulnesse in their places severall artifices were used And because there were
the inside or the outside of my paper be the tiuer And this I shall doe with all due respect both to the King and Parliament that his Majesty may see that there was some fire in the midst of all the smoak and that the jealousies of his people concerning the Irish businesse were not altogether groundlesse as also that the King may have a sit occasion to abâ—…ure this Commission and cleare himselfe of the aspersions cast upon him with respect thereto and chastise as his Majesties phrase is those wicked fellows but I crave mercy they are not my fellows they are owned Subjects but I and the rest of the Parliaments friends proclaimed Rebels And that the more full and particular satisfaction may be given for discourses and protestations will not be taken any longer for payment I shall give all the Arguments I can to prove the reality of it First therefore let us consider the time a materiall circumstance when this Commission is dated that is the first of October 1641. in one copy and the fourth in another no great difference the Massacre beginning the 23. of the same month which was presently after the Conferences at White-hall with the Lord Muskerie and his fellows who returned into Ireland the same month his Majesty went for Scotland leaving the Lord Dillon who was presently after sent with the Queenes Letters requesting or requiring his being made Counsellor of Ireland to his Majesty then at Edinburgh where it is said this Commission was signed with the broad Seal of that Kingdome being not then setled in the hands of any Officer who could be answerable for the use of it but during the vacancy of the Chancellors place intmsted with Marquesse Hammilton and by him with one master Iohn Hammilton the Scribe to the Crosse Petitioners in Scotland and sometimes under the care of master Endimion Porter a very fit opportunity for such a clandestine transaction And let it not be omitted that presently after the date of this Commission Dillon Butler and divers other Irish Commanders of which the Court was then full were dispatched for Ireland by his Majesties Licence not without the just suspition of By-standers The Commission it selfe for the grounds and language of it is very suitable to other dispatches and writings under his Majesties name expressing much bittemesse against the Parliament and jealousie of the diminution of his Prerogative which was alwayes his great feare But I shall be unwilling to fetch the least proofe from the matter or stile of the Commission the Argument is not so beggarly as to necessitate a Petitio Principii Let us go on to examine the grounds why such a thing should be forged and why such a thing should be granted and see which are the more probable I know no ground why such a Commission should be forged It was not to make his Majesty odious for in all their writings they expresse all tendernesse of his honour and forwardnesse of their obedience particularly in the forementioned Assembly at Kilkenny where next after the Article for the injoyment of all the Priviledges and Immunities of the Romane Church as in the ninth yeare of Henry the third the Oath of Allegiance to his Majesty is established its likely according to the agreement of the Reconciliation with a Salvo to the Sea of Rome and their constant and generall professions of loyalty now so well confirmed by his Majesties expressions to them and their contributions to him do clearly evince that they had not so much ill will to the King as to raise such a scandall of him And more especially though a Commission might do them some advantage yet the forgery of one could not but be prejudiciall it being a necessary ingagement of his Majesty in his owne justification to have used the utmost of his skill and power against them as to have staid with his Parliament and prevented a war in England But though a forged Commission might be unprofitable yet a reall one I wonder not should be demanded though a stranger to the Mystery would wonder it should be granted First that hereby the King whom they knew in his own disposition apt enough to start from his Expressions upon an advantage might be firmly bound to them and their proceedings as also that the more backward Papists who were more good natured then to rebell against a King whom they had â—…ound so propitious and more wary then by such Rebellion to forfeit their Estates which under him with the advantage of their Religion they doubted not to enjoy might the more easily be brought in If it be objected this might be done by a forged Commission I answer not so well Forgery is an unruly help being often requited with the double hinderance of a discovery Papists though sometimes they delude us they deale freely especially in a common Catholique Cause with one another And what end such fraud could have upon the Protestants unlesse a little to amaze them at first then exasperate them I cannot conceive However it is be assured that Oneale and Mac-â—…arty beare so high upon this Commission that they have offered Major Monro and the Scots in Vâ—…ster an appeale to the King which have the truer Commission and which are the better Subjects and according to that determination to quit or hold their employment if the Scots would mutually promiâ—…e the same But sure sayes my honest Reader who thinks other men meane as well as he this cannot be Why not as well as that Commission for the cutting thy throat at London much after this â—…enour and pasted in the same private manner But how can it stand with his Maâ—…estes Protestations against them under the name of wicked and detestable Rebels with his Declaration against any toleration of Religion there or 〈◊〉 of the Lawes in force against Recusants with his Prâ—…clamation of Rebellion against then dated â—…anuary â—… 1641. directly opposite to this Commission It were heartily to be wished that his Majesty had â—…ept his word as well with the Protestants as with the Popish Faction There passed one Article in the Treaty of marriage with the Queen which through the care of Canterbury and the paines of Windebank hath been better kept then any Protestant Protestation The words of which Article are faithfully translated out of the French copy to this effect The 27. Article is That the King of Great Brittaine having regard unto the prayer of the Lady and 〈◊〉 testifie his affection to her shall grant unto his Catholique Subjects the security of their lives and goods so that they shall not be troubled for making profession of the Catholique Religion they rendring unto him that obedience and fidelity they owâ—… unto him to which they shall not be thought deficient for refusing to take any Oath or doe any act contrary to their Religion But it is answered It concernes his Majesty most to look to that how his words and warrants agree yet we will be so bold in a
Cause of so great consequence as the imminent danger of the Protestant Religion as to examine some of his Actions and see whether they have been more suitable to the Commission oâ—… Proclamation The Proclamation it selfe though in its nature opposite yee in its time and circumstances was too suitable to the Commission being deferred from the latter end of October to the first of January and then so sparingly printed so warily published as if it had been under the controll of some former Act whose leave must first be craved But his Majesty hath reason to expresse violence against these his Catholike Subjects or to chastise them at least for they went beyond this Commission though supposed reall that gave but a Yard they took an Ell though they were allowed to seiâ—…e the goods estates and persons of his Majesties Protestant Subjects yet they were not allowed to cut their throats unleâ—…le the private Letters concomitant can help out at such a pinch and their very transgression in this matter might justly occasion and provoke the title of mercilesse wicked Rebels But to return to Actions the best Commentaries upon words it is to be feared they will be found more agreeable to the Commission then the Proclamation as may be discerned in the unanswered Remonstrance of the rise and progresse of the Grand Rebellion in Ireland For instance What shall indifferent men think of his Majesties withdrawing himself from his Parliament declared by the then reall though now pretended Parliament to be a great obstruction to the prosperity of the Irish undertakings Of his raising war against his Subjects here the greatest service that could be done to the pretended rebels there being a diversion of that strength and a distraction of those Counsels that should have suppressed them Of his granting passes for notorious Papists as Butler the sons of the â—…ord Nettersfield and others to go thither for which see the Declaration of Parliament March 16. 1641. and if you will the Answ March 19. The stopping of provisions going to the supply of the Army against them taking away the horses prepared by the E. of Leicester for that service as appears by his complaint in a printed letter to the Earl of Northumberlana Of the free accesse of those that have been active in that Design to his Majesties camp and Court Of his putting in demuâ—…res to the Bill of pressing souldiers and deniall to the sending ships for that service It must not be denied that his Majesty was earnest in pressing care of that businesse of Ireland upon the Houses and passed some things to the advantage of it and in a message of the 8. of April 1642. spared not to offer his going in person to chastise those wicked and detestable Rebels with the renouncing of all other Ends but if his Majesty had continued in that angry minde hee might with ease have chastised them when they came over to him as they have done â—…ince plentifully I wish I had many more such actions to repeat But it must be considered there was a Proclamation that required some countenance and could not well have lesse then it had but I forestall no mans judgement but leave the impartiall reader to the weighing what hath been said and what hath been produced upon Oath in the Declaration of the Commons Iuly 25. 1643. And if the ballance be equall I shall only cast in some scruples of the late Cessation which unlesse the beame be false will make the Commission weigh down the Proclamation 1. First the scruple of c. in the nomination of the parties in this Treaty Is his Majesties Title of Defender of the Faith come to an intricate c. Yâ—…s and good reason for the other party with whom his 〈◊〉 treats upon equâ—…ll terms are content with an c. and are called His Romane Catholique Subjects now in armes c. whereas it should have bâ—…en added according to the Acts of Kâ—…lkenny for the Exaltation of the Holy Roman Catholique Church 2. The scruple of their sudden transformation from monstrous mercilesse Rebells into Subjects conjâ—…yned with other his Majesties good Subjects What shall the 〈◊〉 of Scotland thinke of this who hardly obtained the lâ—…ke retractation when they defended the Pâ—…orestant Religion or the Parliament of England and their Adherents who cannot yet finde that favour But yet Mopso Nisa datur quid non speremus c. His Majesty sure had thoughts of this dishonourable recancation when hee was so loth to publish the Proclamation against them 3. The third scruple is â—…ersecute for that is the word in the Irish coppy not prosâ—…cute A license granted to 〈◊〉 â—…ure the Bishops had a finger in this Article and that Persecuted Protestants should expect no protection from his Majesty nor any of his forces against the Parsecution of the Papists but rather have occasion to feare the joyning of the forces the King shall have interest in in the Persâ—…cution as is desired by the Catholiques to whom no such trifle must be denied is to me a sad story 4. The fourth scruple that these Catholique Subjects shall have liberty to send such Agents to his Majesty as thâ—…y shall thinke fit from time to time Priests and Iesuites not excepted If the Scales be not yet turned take the whole Cessation and the thirty thousand eight hundred pound and that will 〈◊〉 weigh it downe to the ground But I have much 〈◊〉 leave the contemplation of this Cessation Let us take a second view 1. Of the time whâ—…n it was granted moâ—…t seasonably when the Pâ—…pish party was driven to great Extremities for want of victual â—…nd had bâ—…en in greater had nor the Forces raised and 〈◊〉 by the Parliament bâ—…en seducâ—…d into a disaffâ—…ction to their service 2. Oâ—… the Grounds all Acts of importance that are to passe the eye and censure of the world use to come armed against aâ—…l Exceptions with a preamble shewing the ground and necessity of them How comes it to be here â—…mitted that we have neither real nor * pretended causes and considerations but a down-right Cesâ—…ation or rather Accommodation as Souldiers judge it Was it such broadâ—â—ced iniquity that no mask neitâ—…er in Oxford nor Dublin would fit it Was it neither for the preservation of the Protestant Religion nor affection to the ancient and native â—…ingdom of Scotland nor for the reconciling of the Distractions of the Kingdome of England Since those dull contrivers could fâ—…nde no matter for a foundation give us leave to â—…upply Seing the Catholike cause which the King of England is induced to serve either nakedly or cloathed with this pretâ—…rce oâ—… upholding his Poweâ—… and Prerogative which is suggested to be invaded and endangered by the Puritans there is now very much concerâ—…ed in the due ordering of the affaires of Great Brittain aâ—…d Ireland And whereas the Irish Catholikes have given so good tâ—…stimony of their approved zeal and cruelty in massacring near two hundred thousand Hereticks
the use made of Newcastle hath vindicated the securing Hull The Ship from Denmarke hath justified their suspition grounded as it is said upon the slighted testimony of the Skipper at Roterdam The Lord Digbies endeavours and the residence there of King and Cochran the Propositions to the Scots at Newcastle hereafter to be mentioned for the joyning of the Scottish and English Armies against the Parliament have justified all the suspitions and accusations then pretended and protested to be unjust and groundlesse In such times and cases as these feares and jealousies are pardonable and distrust especially after evident breaches of trust is the mother of security It is a very unequall thing that the King with his Cavaliers should renounce the Parliament destroy his good Subjects upon the jealousie that Parliaments and Puritans are Enemies to his Prerogative and Power which can never bee proved if Iustice be made the Rule of Power and we railed on for defending our selves against the confederacie of Papists Prelates Court Parasites and their Adherents whose endeavours of introducing Popery and Tyranny are farre beyond jealousie as is now to be demonstrated I will not retire so farre backe having so much work before me as to insist upon the manifest and manifold attempts upon this Kingdome in the dayes of Queene Elizabeth whom when they had discerned to have settled her Interests for the Protestants against Spaine and Rome and established her Councell according to those Interests So that though the Bishops brought her to dis-favour Puritanes yet they could not perswade her to favour the Papists but she still kept a strict and vigilant eye over them as being rightly informed that they and not the other were the greatest Enemies to Royall Power When they saw this the usuall arts of Rome against dis-affected Princes are put in practice viz. Bulls Interdicts Poysonings Assassinations which God wonderfully preserved that heroicke Ladie from the Spanish Armado the Rebellion in Ireland may be further Testimonies of their zeale in this businessâ—… To the enumeration of these let us onely adde thankfulnesse and caution and proceed to their after Machinations the bitter fruits of which the Protestant Churches yet feele King Iames before he came to the Crowne of England had a heart too large for his Dominion and therefore extended his affectionate thoughts to the Kingdomes of England and Ireland which he longed for a peaceable possession of The Factors of Rome having studied his interest and nature according to their wonted confidence attempt him as for his Understanding so well informed in the Forgeries and Falshoods of the Romish Religion it was not to be ventured on and therefore they proportion their workings to his Passions which were desire of the accession of power mixt with a more then ordinary feare in which he was naturally unhappy lest he should be interrupted if not disappointed in the entrance And in this Conflict obtaine from him some intimations if not assurances of favour to the Catholique Cause with which they were for the present satisfied The King upon his entrance and settlement in England saw cause rather to dispence with his promises then his principles whereupon the Popish Faction grew discontented against him and a fruit of that discontent was the Romish Hellish Powder-plot never to be mentioned by any good Protestant but with due gratitude to Almighty God and just detestation of the Romish Religion This Treason wrought not kindely with his Majesty for whereas he might have made the Plot a ground of defiance and the Deliverance a ground of confidence the horrour of the businesse wrought such impression of dread upon his timorous spirit that though he was not blowne up yet he was shaken by it all his life after and drawn successively to a Compliance with at least a Connivance at their proceedings And notwithstanding the free exercise of his wit and pen against Popery which they could well allow him they constrained him to purchase his own security contrary to the Interests of Protestant Religion and Paternall affection with the ruine of the neigbour Churches of Bohemia and the Palatinate We should not have looked upon the day of our Brethren to that we may reduce the many impediments that have fallen in betwixt us and the help of our friends and that posture wherein God himselfe stands towards us even as a man astonished a mighty man that cannot save Jer. 14. 9. Though we have this hope left that God will recompence that mischiefe not upon the Nation the body whereof had a just fellow-feeling with the distresses of their neighbours but upon that cursed Faction whose pernicious Councels yet rule among us This was the most considerable Progresse made in his time though the preparatory workings for a fitter opportunity were not omitted as the cherishing in him a dis-affection to Puritanes an inclination to Bishops procuring countenance to Prophanenesse both by practice and Declaration to the remote Counties for licentious Sabbath-breaking and settling about him persons regardlesse of the good of Church or Common-wealth To which may be added the untimely death of Prince Henry when it was once observed that he grew popular inclined to martiall affaires and dis-affected to Spanish proceedings As also the Propositions of the Treaty of marriage with Spain offered from England revised at Rome and then by the Negotiation of Bristoll agreed to though after broken with so many advantages to the spreading of Popery in England as might discover the designe to have been considerably advanced in King Iames his time I shall shut up the discourse of his Reigne with this observation of the providence of God That those Princes who have trusted God with their lives and Kingdomes and kept Spain and Rome at distance and defiance have sped better then they who to their dishonoured selves have sacrificed the welfare of the Church of God as by comparing the History of Queen Elizabâ—…th with those of Henry the fourth of France and King Iames may appear who trusting to their own politike Conservations the thing that they feared came upon them For so it was That when by the journey into Spain fairer hopes were conceived of the Prince as by his intercourse with the Pope and the presumptions of the jesuite which you shall finde in the Treatise of the English Pope not unworthy an English-mans deligent observation most fully appears King Iames came to be looked upon as {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and must be taken out of the way that the Mystery might work the more effectually and so died he both a Friend and Martyr of the Catholique Cause Though it was doubted and feared there were severall ingredients into his death the world talks of a drink and a plaister the Cup might be mingled for Romes sake and some other hands accessary to spreading the plaister if so Let them share the guilt I leave them to him whose eyes are upon all the wayes of men to render them according to their wayes
petition the King who being betwixt the Scylla of a Northerne Army and the Charibdis of a Southerne petition yeelded to a second parliament yet continued and enters into a Treaty with the Scots being out of hopes of any other End unlesse it were of his men and money Thus have you a briefe account of the Scottish broiles and let the Reader but consider the ground thereof viz. the reducing that Nation to a conformity with England now in treaty of accommodation wtth Rome the Instruments raising and â—…omenting it Canterbury and the rest of that Faction zealous for popery and Tyranny and the forwardnesse of the papists who use not to make blind bargaines in the furthering that Designe and give a free and impartiall liberty to the use of his owne reason I doubt not but he will conclude with me and for me that this warre was undertaken as a hopefull meane of subverting the protestant Religion and the native Liberty of the Brittish Naâ—…ion Well Hac non successit alia aggrediendum via The disappointment and foile that the enterprize received by the Scottish businesse was so farre from making them cast away their confidence that they doe but double their diligence and call a Colledge of these State Physitians to recover life into this broken businesse And 〈◊〉 the proverb might not be renewed Dum consulitur Romae capitur Saguntum the sudden result of those Councels appeares to have beene that some way or other this Parliament going a course so contrary to theirs through the lownesse of their present State gaining ground apace though put to dispute every step must be interrupted and disappointed nay rather then faile destroyed And no wonder at this practice against the parliament which went on at that time so roundly against their interests and courses formerly mentioned propounding a further distance from Rome by a Reformation in stead of their reconciliation by corruptions striking sore at the abatement threatning the abolition of Prelacy which they could not spare countenancing Puritans whom they could not endure accusing and punishing Delinquents their grand Instruments not sparing Canterbury or Strafford who were the left and right hands of the Designe So that we need not looke any further for a ground of all possable mischiefes to be plotted and practised against the Parliament then its direct opposition to the projected Designe of Tyranny and Popery which had beene so farre advanced and was now like to be interrupted and broken All the other differences as particularly that of Hull was but the picking a Quarrell and seeking occasion to raise an Army under pretence of a Guard for that purpose to which it is now employed And it being of so great consequence to the discovery of this Mystery that we understand the true naturall ground of this warre on the Kings part as also that the Cure is more easily prescribed when the Cause is found out I shall take a little paines to demonstrate that the ground of these present calamities was not the pretended invasion of the Kings right in the businesse of Hull and the Militia but a resolution to persist in the intended mischiefe to Religion and Liberty To which purpose let it be knowne to the world which to me is sufficiently evident that before the execution of the Earle of Straffoâ—…d when his Majesty had received no other carriage from his Parliament then what he professed himselfe satisfied with and that if the Biâ—…s he had past were againe to be offered he should cheerfully and readily assent unto them even then were dispatched Letters and an Agent to the King of Denmarke from his Majesty complaining of the Parliament that instead of his supplies expected from thence among other Ends ad propulsandos hostes you may easily ghesse who were meant we being in a deepe peace with all popish princes he found it pertinaciter injustis de causis in 〈◊〉 virâ—… exitium intentum defixum undoubtedly Strafford betwixt whose impeachment and execution the Letters were sent and thereupon declares himselfe in these words ad alia consilia â—…nimum convertendum duximus What those Counsels were will hereafter more fully appeare One part of them was executed in the same Letter wherein an Agent was named with credit given and aid desired And that it may appeare this Letter was sent out of which these passages are excerpted not onely the Copy of the Letter but the authentick Answer hath beene seene and that it prevailed in some sort appeareâ—… not onely by the Answer from Denmarke but the Kings declaring upon the Offer to the Scots at Newcastle that he was to have money and horse from Denmarke to encourage them to joyne with him and all this notwithstanding the deepe protestations at that very instant against Forraigne Forces And if there want further proofe it may be added that the intention to bring up the Army to over awe if not destroy the parliament was long before his Majesties departure from London which intention if it he not sufficiently proved by the Declaration of the Lords and Commons of the nineteenth of May 1642. with the depositions and Letters annexed which may possibly prevaile with the indifferent Reader yet the propositions about the same time made to the Scots at Newcastle of joyning with the English Army against the parliament and the bonntifull Offers made thereupon Of 300000. l. to he paid downe Of foure Northerne Counties and the plunder of London The quitting of his Revenues and customes in that Kingdome to their publike use The Kings residence at Yorke for the better accommodation of both Nations or fuller râ—… 〈◊〉 to London which Sir Iohn Henderson who imparted that gracious Message by vertue of Letters of full credence given him by his Majesty signed C.R. can testifie or if he will not many honester men may though the paper be regained may sufficiently convince any man who hath not determined with himselfe Non persâ—…adebis etiamsi persuaseris which I have made the more bold to adde because though the Penner of the Answer to the Petition of both Houses March 26. 1624. defie the Devill whom he knew would never take paines to discover his owne plot to prove there was any such Designe with his Majesties knowledge yet he denies not honest men liberty of speaking the truth And not to let this businesse passe without the just honour and vindication of the Scottish Nation let the world take notice that they not onely refused this offer but acquainted those who were most entrusted with the affaires of the English Parliament and offered rather if need were their best assistance to secure the just and lawfull proceedings and priviledges of Parliament and settle both Nations in truth and peace the embracing whereof might have probably prevented a great deale of bloudshed both in England and Ireland and had beene the Fore-game of our present After-game But they were then so farre more tender of his Majesties honour then their owne safety
that they made use neither of the Kings offer to the Scots by declaring it nor the Scots to them by accepting it and one of them was so farre more ambitious of his Majesties favour then carefull of his owne honour as to acquaint the King with the businesse Aâ—…ke the Lord of Dorset who it was But I hasten from this Digression and returne to that conclusion which I thinke I may clearely make from these premises That his Majesty before any of these apparent Quarrels about Tumules or the like used earnest endeavours for destroying the Parliament so contrary both in its constitution and proceedings to the intended subversion of Religion and Liberty either in their persons or priviledges So that though these plots and transactions did not serve the Kings turn for the intended mischiefe yet they serve mine very well in the cleare proofe of the intention of the mischiefe Something might further be added out of the Irish businesse to make this assertion cleare but I reserve that to its owne place being the Mystery of this Mystery and the Iniquity of this Iniquity By what hath beene declared it may appeare what aspect the King and the Councels in which he was ingaged had toward the Parliament of England Let us proceed to examine the courâ—…es which were afterward taken in prosecution of this Design against them and those that for love of Religion Liberâ—…y adhered to them and by considering the Wayes Counsels Instruments which have beene used in this service we shall obtaine yet further evidence that this present warre undertaken by the King and his party was intended for the subvers on of the professed Religion and establisht Government When therfore the Armies raised both in England and Ireland not without some relustancy as not having performed their intended service were unavoidably to be dis-banded in the declining part of the yeare 1641. we must suppose a Counsell most solemnly to be called at White-hall about July or August before the Kings going into Scotland it being then very seasonable in regard that the Irish Committee especially so able and active men as Gormonston Muskery Plunket Browne and Bourke who were privately treated with was then in England wherein as may appeare by the precedent and future practises it was laid as a ground That this Parliament with the Puritanes their Adherents who stood so obstinately in the way of this propounded and so farre promoted Designe must be removed or subdned And to this End wayes of violence blood being the Whores drinke Revel. 17. 6. and iâ—…perium quolibet pretio constans bene an absolute rule being cheap at any rate are resolved upon especially considering that many broken pieces of the Armies raised against Scotland might easily be made use of againe the Occasion being very little different And in this Conspiracy was that monstâ—…ous Rebellion in Ireland to use the words in the Kings answer to the Petition of the Irish Commanders dated at Oxford December 1. 1642. for we cannot wish better words though we expect better deeds practised by those mercilesse and idolatrous Rebels more then probably contrived Let us stand behind the curtaine some policie may be learnt and honesty too by way of defiance After the Proposition of the destroying this Parliament in case it could not be reduced to the service of this Catholique Designe which was almost past hope seeing no more royall inclinations in them after so many Acts of Grace besides personall honours and offers made to some accepted by others which was resolved doubrlesse nemine contradicente The next consultation must naturally and necessarily be of the manner which must likewise be Confusion and Blood sceleribus non nisi per scelera tutum est iter But nothing is to be done rashly the Cause being as full of hazard as importance let therefore the State of the Kingdome of England and the neighbour Kingdomes and States in reference to this Cause be duly considered The condition of England may be thus represented for the body of it It consists of Papists Protestants viz. the King Prelates Courtiers and Cavaliers the dissolute Gentry the superstitious Clergy the profane and ignorant people the only Protestants now accounted of all the rest are but Anabaptists and Brownists and a third party of Purita is that is Lovers of the Protestant Religion with the desire of Reformatioâ—… friends to the Parliament and native Liberty of the Subject This latter part though very strong yet may be supposed well ballanced by the other two whom they without a mistake as now appeaâ—…es presumed might be made one upon the Coincidencie of popery absolute power Prelacie indifferency in Religion and profanenesse especially with the advantages of their opposition to puritanisme and Reformation and the manifold pretences that might be continually made against the Parliament And whereas it might be objected that the Parliament now made indissoluble by a late act would be a very great impediment in regard of its power and estimation with the people especially now after their pressures sustained for want of Parliaments This was put of with the projects of defaming and disgraceing it withdrawing some of the Members corrupting others and bringing the Kingdome into that condition that the Parliament shall be constrained to disingage the people by requiring Contribution rather then ingage them by present freedome and reformation England thus represented is no great discouragement to the worke But what shall be done with Scotland a people full of foresight and resolution thâ—…ir late carriage towards this very businesse hath given abundant testimony That they upon the stateing of the Quarrell by the Parliament for Religion and Liberty will easily be drawne into their assistance The course since taken seemes grounded upon such Councell as this The King is to goe into Scotland and so to pasâ—…e by the Armies the Commanders of which may occasionally be saluted and there he may upon the place be advised to what may be best for his ends If by faire offers and pretences they can be deluded let them not be spared that they may be either ingaged by kindnesse or upbraided with unkindnesse If they be found peremptory since there is an advantage of the Kings presence and so many resolved Cavaliers to attend him as there did both Popish and others let some of the Heads of the faction bt taken off as Argyle for one and Hamilton likewise who by playing booty on both sides that he might be sure to save his stake had like to have lost all which was accordingly attempted by Crawfords Designe but through Gods providence prevented by making a difference betwixt the Contrivers and stirring up a more â—…oble resolution in one of the Commanders though since unworthy enough who thought and said it was the worke of Butchers and not Souldiers that was propounded But let the worst be supposed and provided for As Scotland is for the most part Puritanicall so is Ireland Popish And the Irish Papists may first
and may hereafter do the liâ—…e service in England and Scotland if in this their preâ—â—nt extremity they may be respited and relieved And whereas it is of very great consequence that the Papists and all that will upon any pretence or for any advantage adhere to them in this Cause be firmely united together against the Puritans and their adâ—…erents whether in Engâ—…and or Scotland It is concluded and accorded betwixt the two Etcaetera's that a Cessation oâ—… Armes the like was never heard of should bee agreed on from whence the Catholike Cause and Party may expect these Advantages 1. Free importation of Armes Ammunition Victuals and Provisâ—…ons of all kinds and free accesse of any of their Conâ—…ederates â—…rom any part of the world 2. 〈◊〉 tranâ—…portation iâ—…to Eâ—…gland or other parts of such suppliâ—…s which sâ—…all be necessary for his Majesties service against the Puritans and Paâ—…iament tâ—…ere 3. The strengthning the Popish party with the Union of the indifferent Protestants and consequently weakning and dividing the Adversary upon whom the whole strength may bee now turned 4. Either an advantage to ruine the Scottish Army in Ulster if they refuse the Cessation and stay or if they withdraw an opportunity to settle Ireland and among England or Scotland as occasion shall be 5. That some usefull Prisoners as the Earl of Antrim who was then in hold might be released 6. That there shall be a Reserve of Wood-Kernes whom this Cessation shall not reach who shall kill and spoil at their pleasure thâ—…se who may be presumed disaffected to the Catholike Cause And thus have I made bold to represent to the world this horrid gastly Monster of the Irish massacre and I hope more to the worlds benefit then my own content raked in this sink of iniquity The Evidence is furnished Let the diligent impartiall Reader and the Conscience of mankinde make a judgement upon it But seeing the discovery and foresight of mischief is but half a wise mans work which now every body pretends to and I for company Let us study in a few words to declare the best Rules of prevention to this Inundation of Tyranny and Popery which from the Romish Sea is like to overwhelm us The prudâ—…nt man foresees the Plague and hides himselfe Many rules both of Piety and Policy might be laid down upon the grounds of Scripture Reason and Experience But since the most of them are so well summed up in that solemne League and Covenant agreed on and entred into by these two Nations of England and Scotland I will not scatter them but propound the deliberate Entrance into that Covenant and the faithfull pursuance thereof to be the most Religious and reasonable way to unite and strengthen the too much divided party of true Protestants against these Conspiracies discovered which are likely yet further to enlarge their bounds There are some it may be who stand off for want of the Kings consent We want not good authority though such is our unhappinesse that for the present his concurrence is rather to be wished then hoped In the mean time let not the Truth and Gospel of Christ be sacrificed to the Counsels and Consederacies of evill and unreasonable men Especially when they who have a great share in enacting and conserving those Lawes by which our Religion is confirmed have engaged themselves and their authority with us Neither let us be startled at the noise of a Proclamation that turns Religion into Treason and Union into Sedition Proclamations are neither the Laws of England nor yet of the Medes and Persians which alter not but may be retracted either with some difficulty as that against Scotland or more ease as that concerning Irelâ—…nd Others there are who are not strangers to the present affaires but there is something that â—…its nearer them then Religion or publike Liberty which they are loath to adventure by such an engagement in this declining State of the Parliament affaires and therefore study an ungodly and unprofitable Neutrality To these men I wish a sound mind and a changed heart to 〈◊〉 first the Kingdome of God Let such conâ—…ider that if he who was the Way the Truth and the Life prescribed the true way to life they are in the false his rule in such cases is He that saves shall lose And let them know further that they will one day have more need of protection from God then his Cause hath now of theirs when they shall without repentance receive this repulse Goe to the gods whom yee have served Me think it should not be in vain to spend a word or two upon that more tâ—…mperate party of them who are now unhappily engaged against the Parliament in this wretched Cause Sure there are some to whom the Counsels of the Digbies and the insolent carriage of Prince Rupert his Harpyes are little lesse odious then these courses which the two Houses of Parliament are constrained to There is yet place for Repentance God send Grace And if the sense of their own honour which they take so much paines to bury in the ruines of their Countries Liberty nor yet of the honour of God which if not their intentions yet certainly their Actions desperately strike at in this apparent danger to Religion yet let the consideration of the issue of that work they are about supposing their prevailing not so probable as they may conceive a little move them Will it not as much trouble them to see the Kingdome governed as now one part of it is by a Spanish Popish â—…unto as by an English Protestant Parliament To see their beloved moderation swallowed up in the violence of that desperate Iesuiticall party that rules at the Court as in the supposed Severity oâ—… those Councels Civill or Ecclesiasticall that govern at the City Let such men be assured that their Ends unlesse such as are consistent with Tyranny and Popery must give way to the predomâ—…nant Interest which will be sound to be that of the Feminine Planet in the Issue when they have served they shall like uselesse Instruments be laid aside and dis-regarded Certainly the intentions of those who are drawn in to this Popish confederacy are so different that I am confident if they prevaile against us their Quarrels will be as many and bitter against each other as now against the Parliament Vices are opposite and destructive not only to vertue but one to another Me thinks these Gentlemen who pretend to justice peace moderation and something of Religion should think themselves but ill associated in the midst of such prophane plundering companions to which they are not so much companions as subjects Sure they cannot be well at ease to see the first fruits of this Irish Cessation presented to their union but how then can they endure when his Majesties Reregard of his Romane Catholique Subjects shall be brought over with their hands full of the bâ—…ood of more then 100000 offencelesse Protestants whom they have cruelly massacred Sure
the apprehensions of this cannot but shake their Prerogative faith and make them apprehâ—…nd themâ—…elves in more danger from their confederates then tâ—…eir supposed 〈◊〉 Iâ—… this labour to them be lost I am sorry but gâ—…ad it was â—…o more 〈◊〉 me â—…peak to them who are counsellable that is â—…hose who in the trutâ—… aâ—…d uprightnesâ—…e oâ—… their Hearts have â—…ntred into this 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 engaged 〈◊〉 to the presâ—…rvation oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…nd Libeâ—…ty such must labour â—…or stedâ—… in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lest out medicinâ—… prove our poyson Let none of us go about to deceive our selves with unprofitable Treaties or hopes of a yet impossible Accommodation but cheerfully and faithfully accomplish a speedie and firm Union with the Councels and strength of Scotland which will encourage not onely religious but wise men to joyn with us it being beyond a reasonable expectation that by our own strength or wisdom we should extricate our selves from this growing calamity in which we are daily more and more involved It now becomes every man to wind up his thoughts to a Christian resolution befitting the present necessities and Condition of the Church of God and walk worthy of it and let the Lord do what seemeth good unto him I might now make my self a great deal of more work and create some trouble to my Reader if I should after this satisfaction I have given to my own heart and the friends of this Cause of Religion go about to satisfie the world and answer their severall quarrels with this undertaking but I will be more mercifull to the Reader and more just to my self then to accuse my self by excuses Onely I will give you a taste of that which I am like to have plenty The first Question will be Who is this I answer it matters not who but what The next is a position Sure he was a mad-man thus to provoke Maiesty it self did he ever learn that verse in Homer {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Yes but he hath and that in Iob too In such a cause as this let me not I pray you accept any mans person neither let me give flattering titles unto man I hope to see the day when I shall be accounted a better subject to the King then he that accuses me In the meane time I am satisfied with being a good subject to the Kingdom no Traitor to the Church If I have incurred any danger it is to shew thee thine if a good Protestant But there need not have been so much bitternesse used which often disadvantages a good Cause It is the language of the times and not mine A filthy ulcer must have a sharpe lance the massacre of Ireland is a bitter cup Quis temperet invectivis Here are many things produced in this Treatise that are but slender proofs Then take them altogether Altogether are but a rapâ—…idy scraped up out of the Parliament Declarations and such scandalous pamphlets as Plain English and the English Pope Truth is a common inheritance and now so scarse that I was glad to take it where I could find it Tush I can tell mrre of these affairs then this Discoverer Then tell them or tell me and I will But Mercurius Aulicus will be sure to meet with you This is no time to be afraid of Court Bull Beggers but if he meet with me he must go out of his way I tell truth he tels lies But I have now done and it may be done that which hath provoked almost every body but my own conscience which witnesses with me that I have not written any willing or negligent falshood nor to my best understanding any unseasonable or unnecessary truth There is no man but will stand in need of some charity I shall find it from them that have it from those that have it not I will not expect it There are other Mysteries in this world of Iniquitie carried on by them who under the pretence of Service do the greatest dis-service and dishonour to the Cause of Religion and Liberty which must either be amended or not concealed let other men do their share as I have done mine and the world will certainly be either honester or wiser This Discourse cannot be better concluded then with that which is the earnest and constant request of the Author to the Lord God of Hosts the God of Israel that seeing wisdom and might are his he would vouchsafe wisdom to the Councellors courage and constancy to the Souldiers willingnesse to the people and faithfulnes to all those that have or shall engage themselves in this great Cause so infinitely valuable beyond the estates and lives of all that undertake it To him be glory and peace upon Israel FINIS Imprimatur hic Liber Decemb. 12. 164â—… IOHN VVHITE O duâ—…um a Puâ—…itan in another copy * This discovery was pâ—…nned upon the sight of the naâ—…ed Cessation as it came from â—…reland before the short coveâ—…ing of the Grounds and Motives c. which are not so considerable â—…s to occasion â—…ny alteration unlesse of the â—…ord pretended