Birth-right of the English Gentry a supine and carelesse Ignorance let in in stead of the vertuous Emulation which they have alwayes studyed Seeing then Peace and Justice are the Blessings which the Subject lives by both Issues of Religion when to expect a blessing on a Kingdom The Kingdom of Heaven must first be sought Gods Worship especially provided for to be built on firm unshaken Pillars when the care thereof principally resides in those chosen men set apart for Gods and their Countreys service Their endeavor is to be fully ascertained of their Princes inclination thereunto that by His Countenance and Authority the love of Gods Honor may like the pretious Oyntment on his head run down to the skirts of his lower garments and so seated in his heart as all Jealousies to be abandoned all Evil and appearance thereof to be abstained from and the Parliament not to leave that in suspence or doubt which they would have provided to make more sure for it is not a transitory matter of Arbitrary Event or Chance to be or not to be performed but most weighty of great concernment and whereon the prosperity and welfare of the Common-wealth depends whether the Laws shall be kept entire and God certainly and constantly honored or whether the Laws shall be in danger to be broken his Name to be prophaned The main Jealousie grows by reason of an Army under the Conduct of Papists which no man will imagine is raised for the defence of the Protestant Religion for howbeit that there may be peradventure Papists in the Parliaments Army when as the number of them hath been great their Presumption increasing more and more the chief and eminent Commanders Papists are in the King 's And which is to be observed few of them miscarry in the Quarrel as not exposing themselves to the danger and hardship of the War as if they did hope through the effusion of Protestant blood and lessening their number under the name of Rebels to make unto themselves a Province yet both parties the Kings the Parliaments do professe the maintenance of the Protestant Religion And the Kings recriminatorily chargeth the Parliament with a Design to subvert the same The reason given is because Schismaticks or other the preciser sort relishing not the book of Common-Prayer are adhering to the Parliament Answ That Prayer is but a Form and humane Constitution although anciently received and of use directing us to pray blesse give Thanks c. And alterable by Authority upon devising a better Form But the difference betwixt Protestant and Papist is in Fundamentals as in Doctrine and Points of Faith so opposite as no man will judge that the parties on the one side will fight to maintain the others Cause Popery and Schism opposite in themselves agree in this that they both do undermine and seek the rooting out of the true Protestant Religion This participatively and by secret wiles That privatively and by open Enmity the one may be an aberration from the other is Idolatry and opposition to the true Protestant Religion What upon an upright discussion that is whether we take it in point of Manners or of Doctrine the one enjoyned by and comprehended in the Decalogue the other set down and fenced in by a moderne and learned * Mr. Rogers his 39. Articles Writer against the force and wiles of Popery and Schisme both parties the King and Parliament do contest for and protest to maintain the Protestant Religion so whilst there is no equivocation in the word Protestant Religion a divers acception may be in the extended sence the aforenamed Writer hath by his industry composed the difference in determining what it is and that agreed upon the contention as to that particular may cease Truth and Uniformity in Religion which cannot be without Accord without a distinct and certain knowledge what it is is the foundation and corner stone of Peace If in this Contention the Kings Army shall prevail many Papists engaged and Commanders in it what is like to be the sequel Those Papists and their followers will hope and challenge it as a condign Reward to have an especial interest in His favour because they say it was their Sword their Arme that got the victory so the King must tread a slippery and narrow path either to desert His friends who have assisted Him in this War or disabling Himself to make good His often Protestations for the maintenance of the Protestant Religion And if in this Quarrel Popery shall be let in when Justice and Law shall fail when every one given up to his own heart's Lust the Papists and other the Parliaments Enemies will in an exprobratory way thank the Parliament as the cause thereof It is true it may be said so accidentally and very remotely but neither the Impulsive Formal or Efficient cause rather if Logick will bear such a member in the division of causes a deficient cause as the absence or rather the Ecclipse of the Sun the cause of Darknesse their endeavours having failed of successe being interrupted by a strong and countermanding Power opposing them In a more fit resemblance if a Band of Souldiers should be sent out to guard a Town and a stronger Power then theirs to be imployed to oppose and master them in whom lies the fault in case the Town be lost in the watchmens deficiency or in the stronger Power opposing them so Popery and Treason the Parliament are guilty of alike and what other contumelies the wit and restlesse malice of their Enemies accuse them of And unlesse to every objection this opposite observation be applyed that in the whole course of this Quarrel there be a distinguishing between what hath been Intentionally and Principally aimed at and what hath accidentally and through necessity fallen out there can no clear judgement be given in deciding the Question How the War began who have been the Cause and Authors of these Miseries It may be as well objected by malitious and cruel Enemies that His Majesties Clemency and goodnesse have been the cause of so much blood already spilt for that he hath not put those whom His party call Rebels to the sword or hanged them to teach others their duty of Submission such Doctrines are spread abroad to foment the War when the Doctors themselves are the incendiary and impulsive means together with those Soldiers now in Arms which incites the surviving suffering people to make resistance least if they submit also as in many places they have done they are undone by it No marvel if Subjects be called Traytors and Rebels if resistance against opposition and violence be Rebellion the often Robbing and Spoiling used in the Kings name and for the King which were wont to be conservative and saving terms tending to peace and security but now grown destructive as the Souldiers use them to the Subject are able to turn him out of his natural and accustomed Frame Oppression saith the wise man makes wise men
the one or Restraint of the other may be had whether by a meeting for a Treaty or by pursuite of Victory by the sword A Treaty hath been had Commissioners of eminent quality met and PROPOSITIONS inter-changeably sent What the carriage and event thereof hath been the Author of the Relation of the passages there hath expressed but whither impartially set down the Commissioners are the onely witnesses whither his relation makes for or against his own party the Reader is to judge The Parliament whither in their proposing or accepting of the Treaty shewed their Inclination to a Peace gaining nothing by the meeting for no one PROPOSITION demanded was granted them save only the credit of their sincerity in really meaning to acecomplish that for which the end of their meeting was The seeking and ensuing Peace is to be presumed to be the fervor and end of their desires Neither they nor their friends shall gain by the protraction of the War It is likewise to be so presumed on His Majesties party save some Officers and Commanders in chief in either Army Forraigners and Out-landish who empty ours to fill their own purses And other Instruments appendent on the War and imployed for raising money to defray the charge may haply be thrivers by the War But for the means of obtaining Peace standers by may be able to discern wise to observe and contemplate on the means Howbeit none are called none sent none on whom the power and authority of managing the Peace is devolved save the Court of Parliament alone in whom we have entrusted all expedients to our Safety If they shall judge the PROPOSITIONS formerly tendred to His Majecty to be the onely and effectual means The Subjects are to abide by their Judgement which PROPOSITIONS may seem in number many in their strict quality extream and harsh especially in the Kings friends eye as seeming to abate His accustomed Regal Dignity Extreme diseases require extreme remedies for their cure and when Jealousies are a long time breeding the task will be as difficult in the means of dispelling them Evils when grown strong multiplied and closely wrought need a proportionate instrument to lance and remove to stop the new springing up of the same or the like The PROPOSITIONS are of two sorts the The PROPOSITIONS to be sent suitable to the present exigent in hand viz. the Preservation of the Honor and just Power of a King displeased the Parliament and people threatned are not of a tumultuary and easie dispatch not to be concluded in haste nor quarrelled with for the delay in sending them when as many interveening accidents may give occasion for altering them Nor can every looker on be a fit Dictator or judge in this most weighty Cause and Controversie touching the quality and fitnesse of what is to be insisted on the Parliaments most choice elaborate and well weighed Councels are no more then needs to deliberate compute and a long time to be advising what is once and for ever to be established that His Majesty may be no more a loser nor the welfare of His Subjects which is the foundation of His happinesse endangered for the future If the PROPOSITIONS be too high His Majesty may think the Parliament to be His King and Himself may seem to stoop too low and beneath His Soveraignty to grant and sign them If they be of too low and short assurance to secure the Subjects peace The Parliaments forepast Acts and Councels are wholly frustrate the labour of their endeavors lost And what is like to be the sequel any man may guesse one a calling Delinquents to accompt demanding Justice according to the degree of their offendings The other of their tendring to the King the Counsels and result of their own experience and maturity of Wisdom for the Government of His Kingdom wherein they only prompt and dictate to His Majesty what they desire Him to assist and joyn with them in the compleating and establishing the same The first of calling offenders to accompt expressely named in the PROPOSITIONS whither they all shall suffer in their livelihoods accordingly as they are challenged Or only some few known to be the Principal and long since contrivers of these mischiefs the subversion of the Protestant Religion and the Laws is left to the Judgement of the Parliament which being a Court of mercy mercy no negative of Justice can in case they are able to maintain their own proper Power make use of what the Heathens Judgement with a Christians spirit hath advised ut pena ad paâ—cos metus ad omnes perveniat Bis vicit qui pepercit and honestum ac nobile genus vindictae est ignoscere to have Cicer. Senec. forgiven or given a longer time for offenders to come in shews their Clemency whether or no the deep lodged envy and discontented anger of many the offenders throughly convinced of their own offending shall apprehend and make use of the Clemency of their forgivers The quality of the PROPOSITIONS thus examined and His Majesty altogether refusing to sign any of the same as judging them unequal and incompetent to His Regal dignity He propounds His return to LONDON there to Treat in Person as an expedient means of Peace But on what terms to Treat is not proposed For His Majesty with His party and the Parliament there to meet to recapitulate and argue the Reason Authors and Accidents of this War were to revive the heat thereof His * See His Letter March 1646. Majesty laying the guilt of shedding all this Christian blood at the Parliaments doors His professing not to desert His friends which the Parliament accompt their Enemies when the persons with whom He is to Treat against whom He hath waged War near four years the place whereunto He is to come against which he hath denounced His displeasure are all considered without any retractation of His former anger without Repealing His bitter Messages expressed against those persons that place and the people assisting them a meeting once had for a Peace made frustrate When those are any way salved any Act passed by His Majesty to remove these doubts and dangers when he shall have changed His inclination to severity denounced against His Subjects when He shall in His serious and sad regard had to His people and their sufferings have His heart turned within Him when his repentings shall be rowled together as God himself by his Prophet disdains not to his people their hearts will fill with Hosea 11. Acclamation and joy to receive and welcome him a tender and nursing Father to his Church and people and the common and easie objection wiped away that whereas the Parliament and people have petitioned and prayed for His return they now shew their Inconstancy in refusing that which they have so earnestly desired The motion of Petitionings doth cease when the end whereunto they move the hopes of a Peace to be had by His Majesties return seems frustrated
the power of both is indivisible so intermixt that when the Court of Parliament the end of whose Councels is to establish Justice Peace industriously intends the same when we desert our duty unto them we are wanting to our selves unthankful unto them The Government of England as in these latter times it stands since Laws and a setled Forme established since Religion and Laws have met together flourished like couples in a building each supporting other and God honoured in both is not simply a Subordinative but a Co-ordinative and mixt Monarchy yea the highest supremacy it self is compounded of three estates Co-ordinate King Lords and Commons now it is true Subordinata non pugnant but Co-ordinata invicem supplent Fundamentals are equal and all Principals alike Rex est universis minor Bracton the great Lawyer saith Rex habet superiorem sc Deum Legem per quam factus est Rex Curiam sc Comites Barones The agitating this and the like Questions incident hereunto hath disturbed the mindes of men and cost much blood as which hath the Preheminence which ought to bear the greater sway the King or the whole number of the people in their collective Body which the Court of Parliament doth represent Another Question is which is the certain and proper Parliament as the case now stands that summoned by his Majesties Writ to Westminster or that by a latter command to Oxford whither the Principles of the Subjects Peace Religion justice have been of late and before this Quarrel in danger of being born down And whither the conflict in the Quarrel undertaken by those who have endeavoured to provide against that danger be Rebellion The King and His Party whither in their own defence See His Majesties Declarations and Messages since Ianuary 1641. The Oxford Mercury moves the jealousie making the Kings sincerity questionable for whilest the Mercury knowing the Dyet and full digest of the Kings party there cals the Parliament whensoever he names them The Rebels at Westminster notwithstanding the King cals them The Parliament and words of professing Friendship and Complacency being more uncertain then words of Hatred and Defiance although His Majesty terms them now a Parliament a Phrase of Truth and Credit he mâ—y reserve unto himself more bitter thoughts of Anger and future Accusation according to what the Mercury expresseth towards them or not hereafter have sought against them as being Rebels The King not alwayes and constantly calling them so as his Party doth for sometimes he calleth them the Parliament sometimes Rebels whether in sincerity or reservednesse of heart He varieth the phrase His own heart can witnesse It is the note of the wisest of Kings on Earth that the Heavens for height the Earth in depth and the Kings heart no man can finde out not that a King is therefore more transcendently wise or perfect above and beyond all other men nor that his heart is more Divinely inspired or illuminated from above more incomprehensible or His ways like Gods past finding out the Text bears no such construction the frailty and uncertainty of all Kings Actions do evidence the contrary although their Flatterers may peradventure vainly infuse such Doctrine into their ears and from this place of Scripture instruct a King with the necessity and excellency of dissembling the meanest and worst part of wisdom although resembling it Amidst the many Doubts and Jealousies the Suggestions and Machinations at home and abroad against the Peace and well-being of the Kingdom it concerns the Court of Parliament to look unto and prevent in as much as in them lyes the growth of approaching Danger which are then Dangers only when near and in sight when they are instant and befallen they and the opportunity of preventing them is past and become above the name of Dangers Calamity Seeing therefore the Parliament are by Gods special providence met together entrusted in their Countries welfare their courage and unanimity is requisite in perfecting that work for which they were assembled viz. the Maintenance of Gods worship the Kings honour the Subjects Liberty these two the Kings Honour and the Subjects Liberty propagating each other when as it is a larger accesse of dignity to be a King of a free people then of Slaves unlesse He shall in the pursuit of this War reckon to purge the Kingdom of the worst and most enslaved of His people which as the case now stands will otherwise fall out and prove as in letting blood the natural body the best the most free and spirituous to be wasted and spilt as well as that which His Majestie doth in His own sence call the worst Where by the way Gods immediate hand of Providence manifested to his people in the preservation of his glory is especially to be taken notice of that whereas his chiefest End in the creation of Mankinde hath been his own true Worship and the salvation of his people of which he hath a peculiar care seen even in the disposing and ordering of humane affairs as a second and subservient means to his own Decrees That at the same time the Subjects Liberty should be invaded when the Protestant Religion the subversion of which was probably first and principally aimed at howbeit in the managery thereof the Enemies to Both Religion Liberty were ill advised in that the Power and Priviledge of Parliament the Fabrick of all Laws the Subjects Right should be overthrown and fall together with the Protestant Religion Arist Polit cited in the like case by Sir Walter Raughleigh in his Dialogue between a Councellour of state and a Iustice of Peace The Philosopher observes that Homines minus timent injustum pati à Principe quem cultorem Dei putant had they singled out either Religion the Subjects Liberty or the Priviledge of Parliament to be destroyed apart many it is like especially among the common sort of men might have failed in their zeal to the one yet have endeavoured the preservation of the other so the Enemies Design might have better thrived in the successe if Religion singly or the Subjects Liberty alone had been left unshaken without a complication of both to fall together at the same time and by the same power The Parliaments next endeavour is to maintain entire and against all opposition the Power Priviledge and Dignity of their Court no so sure a way as by their constant accord and unity which if overthrown by an advers Power all Parliaments are in danger of languishing in their esteem and must either comply or submit to the Arbitrary will of the Prince who conventeth them at His pleasure and so lose their Freedom What then follows a discontinuance of enacting Laws a dull carelesse and obsolete use for want of due execution of such Laws as are in Being thence an Arbitrary and unlimitted way of Government that Force or the Sword must be the Umpire besides a certain although a remoter consequence a failer of that well-breeding the
other Acts in several Counties for raising money c. or otherwise for discharging some Trust to them committed when as themselves the more eminent the more aimed at by the Enemy and the nearer to danger cannot appear with safety to execute the same Let any man suppose it to be his own case then he will not blame them for absenting themselves and substituting others in their room Many are the objections in this kinde which beget Disputes many accusations had against either part What the Parliament findes and complains to be practiced in opposition to them by their Enemies they observe most sensible presumptions for no one thing in bar to such presumptions to make up one tittle of compensation in lieu of the dangers which might happen or to give any the least satisfaction for removing the imminency of the same The vulgar and common salve used by His Majesties party of His passing bills since the Parliament began for the relief and ease of His Subjects as a pledge of His Princely goodnesse and care of His peoples welfare His often and deep Protestations for the maintenance of the Protestant Religion and the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom yet as matters now are these Acts of His not compensatory to those hostile Acts practiced by His party against His Parliament and people Besides those Acts of Parliament passed by His Majesty are in His and a new Parliaments power to retract or repeal them at pleasure For let it be granted that they were Acts of Parliament which His Majesty hath thus passed in that the Members of both Houses at WESTMINSTER are by His party denied to be a Parliament yet sometimes called a Parliament sometimes Rebels there is like to be little stability in what they have enacted neither is that which is contingent and possible to be altered to be adjudged compensatory to what is certain and actual The difference of times that they were reputed a Parliament when those Acts passed but since reputed Rebels or the distinction into persons that some are reserved to be a Parliament others Rebels will breed a greater confusion then help to frame an Answer by those of His Majesties party who object this favour of His Majesties passing divers Bills for the welfare of His Subjects c. That they may be repealed altered in part or all dissolved or want their vigour in execution it is probable when the persons who have and are the chief assistants in this War are the greatest Losers by those Acts recited Next as touching His Protestations His frequent Declarations of manifesting His intentions His late actions of Clemency and Pardon shewed to those whom he calls Rebels when they were taken prisoners at a late Seige by His Majesty His releasing and setting them free when He might have detained and proceeded against them as Traytors and Rebels in the judgement of His party These are to be acknowledged indulgent and merciful Acts becoming a just and Christian Prince yet they may be two wayes understood First in relation to the good of His own party prisoners in the Parliaments power and in danger to have suffered the like in case the King should have punished theirs Secondly those His Acts of releasing of His milde using of those His prisoners it is possible might be construed as present Acts of Clemency to endure only for a time and that He may be perswaded afterwards to punish them as Rebels These are times of wit and jealousie and the same Reasons which have occsioned this War even His peoples Jealousies may continue them without abatement there is no lesse cause of fears and dangers His party having tried every way by traducing the Parliament at home by attempting to set them at varience with Forraigners abroad having moved every stone as the Proverb is to subdue those whom they term Rebels no way left untried to take away their power and shadow of power no means left unassayed either milde of Inviting or violent in Affrighting and those plausible and gratious Acts used possibly to encrease yet the number of his party may cease from a total pardoning only remitting for a time until a full Conquest be obtained And when the Crown is repossest the Conquest fully had the French Proverb tells us Que la Coronne unifois prinse oste toute sorte de defaults i. e. that when the King shall be reinvested to His former full Power and Regal Dignity the Parliament and the power thereof then laid aside and become void the possessing of the Crown doth as well quit all quarrels and acceptions and cancels all disputes as it clears and purifies all manner of defaults imperfections or exceptions to be made concerning the means whether fair or foul of gaining the Conquest As Jealousies have been the cause of this Contention so what the cause of Jealousies The principal and most certain one hath been in matter of fact namely the infringing the Subjects Liberty soon after the Petition of Right was granted in full Parliament to be omitted here because set forth in several Declarations and Remonstrances One and more universal was that in the case of Ship-money which had it not been withstood by a Gentleman of repute let his Ghost be railed at and a Parliament soon after summoned what had become of the Subjects Liberty If a Writ comes down directed to a Sheriff of a County he bound by Oath or fearful of incurring displeasure in case he refuse to execute the Kings Writ and having the Posse Comitatus within his Office what remedy shall the poor Countrey man have dwelling one hundred or two hundred miles from the Court if he refuse or hath it not to pay against Imprisonment or his Goods taken from him by Distresse Justice hath its boundary and is circumscribed by Law Injury and Injustice like the violent Torrent of an Inundation over-flowing the Banks and Metes overwhelms and drowns as Decency and Order when bound up by good and wholsom Laws if disturbed and broken down falls into Uncertainty Indiscretion and becomes Confused Let men talk of fears and jealousies and in an Ironical way smile at those whose peculiar care is to prevent and remove the same no man knows what the Progresse of that wrong had been had it not been withstood The mention whereof seeing so often inculcated in other Writings can be no pleasing Theme to any Subject And whereas His Majesty hath confessed and retracted that His Error being now condemned to an utter abolition ought to be buried in Oblivion neither doth it become every ordinary Subject to traduce and accuse His Soveraign of Injustice doing it comes too near to what the wise man expresly forbids of Cursing the King in their thoughts as of what the Statute Law provides against Only to satisfie one Objection used by some of His Majesties party in His behalf touching the same Better say they the payment thereof should have continued then so much blood spilt such vast Sums of Money spent in
had not been taken away by the Kings Souldiers near COVENTRY and within His Quarters the English and Protestants there had been relieved c. That the goods and Cloaths so taken away was not without His Majesties knowledge and direction unto which the Kings Commissioners reply That those Cloaths had not been taken away if they had had a Conduct to have more safely passed through the Countrey and further urge That those Forces and other Provisions intended for the Relief of His Majesties Subjects in that Kingdom were diverted and imployed against Him namely in the Battel at EDGE-HILL For proof whereof they mention three or four witnesses some of whom engaged for the service of the Parliament and deserting now the same engagement are advers and none more extreme Enemies to the Parliament whither they be competent witnesses in so extreme a Conflict to prove the Accusations If witnesses may be admitted known to be ☞ maliciously opposite to that party against which they are witnesses the inconvenience may prove in these loose and desperate times as generally noxious as the War it self hath been The Answer to such Accusation as the Kings Commissioners therein urge is no where more fully to be had then to the Enquiry into the Original of this War whereunto all Treaties had to compose this vast difference must have recourse otherwise a meeting to conclude a Peace will vanish into Contention and Disputes for want of a certain Rule or constant Principle to guide the Treaters by The well weighing of the Protestation lately taken might have confined and setled the doubtful and various thoughts of man in what the end and aime of the Protestation was a promise to fulfil in as much as in us lies the Commandments of the first and second Table of the Law directing our duty towards God and man the several parts in the Protestation tending in the sum to the maintenance of Gods Honor the Kings the Subjects Right and Liberty no one part thereof if rightly understood and applied crossing another and therefore how it comes to passe that the Protestation being one and the same the course of mens affections should be thus divided into partakings or that some should be of opinion that to maintain the Kings Honor Person and Estate is to adhere unto Him in this present War in what He shall command They should withal consider the other parts of the Protestation viz. The Defence of the Protestant Religion the Power and Priviledges of Parliament the Subjects Right and Liberty for by the Protesters observing all the King is best observed and trullest His Honor and promises being ingaged to maintain the latter three when as every one who takes the Protestation doth thereby endeavor to make Him a Soveraign Lord of a free and flourishing people The Kings Protestations concurring with and tending to that end so the Protestation taken altogether is best observed and kept To the Protestation for the defence of the Protestant Religion every one who takes it is not immediatly bound by vertue of his Vow to extirpate or remove all Papists that is above the power and liberty of every common person but if he sees the Protestant Religion in danger of declining and that the Papist is connived at and countenanced by higher powers for the question is not about the certain and actual bringing in of Popery but touching the causes of suspition if the Protester adhereth to that party which promiseth to defend the Protestant and opposeth that which countenanceth the Popish his Protestation is the truliest kept a Promise or Vow the more pursued the more fulfilled In like maner to the other part of the same Protestation viz. The maintenance of the Kings Honor every one who takes the same is not thereby bound to comply assent unto and obey the King in whatsoever He may command whether unlawful or unjust or to think all His attempts and actions Justifiable throughout This were indeed in the highest degree to Honor Him but in a more serious and as truly a loyal way of His being honored by His Subjects is when they or those who are put in place and authority over them shall enquire into and provide against all things incident to His Dishonor when they shall endeavor to chastise and suppresse all Affronts and insolencies which may be offered to His Honor This although a more remote and lesse flattering yet a more stable and certain discharge of Duty in Honoring Him But to proceed and examine wherefore His Majesties Page 119. Commissioners presse the want of a Conduct for the guard of those Forces and other provisions intended for the relief of His Majesties Subjects in the Kingdom of IRELAND c. it seems strange when as His giving way to many subscribers and adventurers into that Kingdom His often and tender expressions of the deplorable and sad Estate of His Subjects there His offering to go in Person for the better reducing the Rebels there all or most of these being known to all His Subjects was safety enough in all likelihood and above the strength of many Regiments of Souldiers or above the validity of any Commanders passe to have secured the transporting of such Cloaths and other Provisions intended thither from the violence of His own party The Parliament Commissioners urge farther That it was Declared from His Majesty That he did disapprove the subscriptions of the Officers of the Army by means whereof that course was diverted That the Commissioners sent by the two Houses of Parliament for the better supplying and encouraging the Army in that Kingdom were discountenanced and commanded from the Councel there where the prosecution of the War was to be managed unto which no Answer or Excuse is set down by the Author of the Relation His Majesties Commissioners derive the good and Justice of the Cessation from the Lords Justices and Councel of that Kingdom intimating the same by Letters sent from those Lords to His Majesty and the Speaker of the House of Commons and that had it not been for such Cessation the Protestants there could not have subsisted The Parliament Commissioners answer That Page 135. those Letters sent do no way intend the inducing a Cessation nor that the Copies shewed to them do contain any thing tending to or any the least intention of a Cessation and that those Letters sent were therefore written to quicken a supply from the Kingdom of ENGLAND They farther averring That notwithstanding such Cessation which many and considerable persons of that Kingdom do still oppose many English and Scotish there do yet subsist The Arguing and Debating which hindering the Supplies and Assistance which otherwise might have been afforded hath added much to the Affliction and Calamity of His Protestant Subjects there and to be imputed wholly to the Authors and Persisters in this War For whilest both parties in the War do contend to maintain and increase their power in opposition each to other and consequently
protestors Vow when as he Voweth he will endeavor c. The next amongst external causes is the importunate and restlesse power of Flatterers making a Prince believe in the vastnesse of His Power over and above all Laws excusing and making lesse His faults then indeed they are rendring withall His actions exempt from Sin or Error The seasonable Accident which befel Antigonus King of SYRIA setting forth the falshood of His Parasites made him repent His Error in the Event Himself and His Kingdom happy who Hunting in a Forrest and earnestly pursuing His Chase being benighted lost His Followers and happening into a poor mans house to take His lodging demanded of His Host What that Country who and what maner of Governor the King of that Countrey was The poor man answered at large not knowing Him nor sparing to tell Him or any of His faults for which round dealing the King discovering Himself at His fellow-Hunters â—oming rewarded well His Host and afterwards better knew Himself and His flattering Courtiers using these words in their hearing Verum de me nisi hae Nocte audivi nunquam There are two causes of Pride an Inward Ignorance Outward Flattery That no whit appliable This the more dangerous as being inevitable because by surprize it seizes and annoys the person flattered and by perswading him to what he is not robs him of the possibility of being what he should Other occasions and incentives have been of this War the angry maner of Impeaching the Hostile of demanding the six Members of both Houses together with the Proclamations since accusing other Members of High See what the Assembly at OXFORD acknowledges The Priviledge of Parliament to be so substantial and entire a Right that the Invasion of the Liberties of either House is an injury to the other and to the whole Kingdom in their Declaration printed there p. 12. Treason hath added to the fuel of this War On what the Impeachment was first grounded otherwise then as general Articles is known to few unlesse it were for some supposed ill committed in their activenesse to perform what they thought their duty did enjoyn In every design and purpose there will be some more Activity in one two or more then in the rest otherwise the purpose in hand is likely to stand still Every compleated Act is first the conception of some one individual person then the consent of the rest If the first beginners shall for their forwardnesse of no advantage to themselves be therefore accused of Crimes and in a violent way pursued it could not but strike at the Root of the Subjects Liberty invaded lately then in agitation to be maintained and the sequel prove dangerous the infringing the Power and Priviledge of Parliament which so many Thousands have protested to maintain The Quarrel was as the Division great and 't is probable there would not have wanted witnesses on the one party as to prove the Articles so to have aggravated the guilt of them to the highest against the other The examination of which Articles whether the six Members were guilty in matter of Fact of what they were accused or whether the Articles were Treason in case they were guilty is not proper to this Discourse The beginning and maner of the first entring into this War being set down the Reader is left to judge on which the Offensive on which the Defensive is If it were as certain that the Parliament did before this War intend any thing against the Honor of the King as it is certain the Subjects Right and Liberty were encroached upon to say no more of what is vehemently presumed against the Protestant Religion no question then but the War must be thought Defensive on the Kings part But when these three endangered the Incendiaries contriving the subversion of the same consequently the promoters of this War are judicially required to answer their Misdemeanors when as they shall by a strong hand be rescued from the hand of Justice and in stead thereof Misdemeanors of as high a nature retorted on their Judges the Court of Parliament Nothing but a War could decide the Controversie an impartial understanding discern between the Offensive and Defensive part The Contention grew at first in point of Trust who should be rather believed for what is promised the King rather those about Him whom the Parliament suspected or the Parliament it self The several Reasons for requiring Trust are obvious to every mans view who hath observed their several Actions The Parliament may plead their undertakings cannot be made good nor the Trust committed to them discharged in that free and just way as they would because themselves opposed A Court of Judicature confronted and by an advers and equal power interrupted in their course of Justice must needs abate in their power and efficacy They have enough to do to detect and defeat the Fraud and Circumventions hourly practised against their place and person their condition like to the closely besieged in a Town of Garison who to subsist and maintain themselves do many things against their natural just and wonted course Friends may be sometimes oppressed and injured Enemies favored Justice cannot in perplexed times of danger be dealt with an exact and even poised hand the Sword hanging ready to fall like that of Damocles on each mans head A cunning Craftsman in dissembling and secret Enemy to that Court privily engaged to supplant the same may in his very demanding Justice and expecting by reason of the greatnesse of his place to be hearkned unto pressing withal their sedulous listening to his Complaints do it on purpose to divert their thoughts from their care of safety a small matter in equality of strength and in a doubtful Conflict helpeth to some Advantage Many are the exceptions against their Actions This a certain one the greatest and most inevitable inconvenience in their proceedings Martial and Civil that some injury must be done the very Act of War presumes as much and it is not their fault it may be their unhappinesse to be served by ill Instruments Those Instruments will expect also to be winked at in that they run the hazard of being censured to be Rebels for their sakes who do imploy them if not a little winked at there is danger in these dividing and doubtful times of turning to the advers part so the Subject is destined as it were to be oppressed And marvel not saith the wise man if thou seest oppression of the poor or a violent perverting of Justice in a Province and it must be that offences come The Miscarriages Violence and Insolencies done by a few or many particular men are not to be imputed to that Power which Governs them unlesse done by the Authority and Commission of that Power One other unfitnesse may appear in the proceedings of the Parliament as inevitable as the rest namely in that they have in a subordinate way deputed men of a lower rank to execute their Commissions and
should depend thereupon which if the demands on either side were granted by the other might haply have determined into Peace The reason for demanding on the one side as for refusing on the other are too tedious for this Discourse The OXFORD Relator hath by a large Discourse taken pains to satisfie the world of the justice of their own demands the Parliaments experience and wisdom in the transaction of matters incident to this Quarrel declares the reason for their demands here to be insisted on To the first that is to say the Protestant Religion exercised rather in Manners and Doctrine then in Church discipline comprehends and secures the second the businesse concerning IRELAND for unlesse a discreet and saving hand be had in reducing as of Governing that Kingdom and managed by a most choise wisdom the increase of the Papists and Rebels there will endanger the subversion of the first the Protestant Religion so these two first PROPOSITONS demanded on the Parliaments part having a mutual connexion and depency seem to attract each other in the maintenance of justice and the Subjects Right Religion being the ground of justice as justice is of Peace In matter of Church-Discipline or in the forms of Hierom. Zanch. in quartum Mandatum quod multiplex genus est Christi Ministrorum pag. 950. probat Presbyter Episcop idem esse Edw. Leigh Armig. in libro titul Sacrar Critic novi Testam in nomine Episcop ubi recenset Plutarch in Numâ vocat custodem Sacrarum Virgin Episcop citat Septuaginta vertere Episcop in Ezek. Hosea legit a Watchman Paulo post dicit Episcop esse qui verbo gubernat prâ—erat puta Doctior Pastor Presbyter pag. 158. Neither is there so great and material a Difference betwixt the two subdivided parts of the Parliament side The Presbyterian and Independent as for a quarrel to continue and depend upon The wisdom of that Court hath taken away the virulency of any quarrel which might happen betwixt them two by constituting the one yet with respect had to the tendernesse of Conscience in the other Although the one be fully declared for by the Lords and Commons in the Parliament in their solid and satisfactory Declaration this present April yet with a due regard had to Tender consciences not differing in Fundamentals of Religion that they also may be provided for c. wherefore it is rather Luxury Pride of Wit and contempt of Authority then any object of a real difference which animates and maintains these quarrels Divine Worship that which His Majesty demands of Episcopal Government differs little from what the Parliament doth intend of Presbyterial Bishops and Presbyters in their primitive Institution being all one In the Forms of Divine Worship the Directory injoyned by the Parliament not really differing in the material parts thereof from the Common-Prayer-Book required by the King onely the one expugning for the present what the other doth contain That being more painful to the Minister not more declaring his Abilities This the more easie as being dictated unto him either may be of use either behoofful to the Auditory as meeting with all the necessities and deprecating the contingency of all afflictions incident to man-kinde the Common-Prayer-Book compiled by sound and learned Divines and accordingly ordained by an ancient Law the Directory framed by the like learned men and Ordained by a Modern Authority to be made use of for the present season or so long as Authority shall think good But that which abates the value of this is the weaknesse of the Argument in the defender thereof preferring it therefore before the Common-Prayer because the use of the Directory sets forth the gifts and Abilities of the Preacher beyond his reading or exercise of Common-Prayer which is digested already into a Form when as that rather denotes the best Abilities and parts of Schollership in point of Science Study Judgement which is able to perform the hardest work to dispence Gods Mysteries aright to set them forth in a hansome and polite stile the power of the spirit is no whit checked or blemished by an eloquent expression to raise and apply sound Doctrine winning the Attention and edifying the hearer is harder then to conceive and utter Prayer One other reason for using the Directory is that seeing we and the Scots are United by a Solemn League and Brotherhood and they not using the Lyturgy of our Church we should therefore abstain from using the same Answ They and we are born and Governed under different and distinct Laws their Manners and Customs differ much from ours The Union betwixt the Nations will serve for support aid of both being under one and the same Dominion in case of either infested by an enemy but for the same numerical Form of Divine Worship to be performed after the self same kinde this Arguing seems rather an Illustration then a proof God is an uncircumscribed and incomprehensible Spirit to be Worshipped in truth and spirit he cares not whether by heart without book or in a book opened so he be Worshipped with the heart This onely by the way to shew as there is no identity of Form betwixt the Directory and Common-Prayer-Book so no such Discrepancy unlesse in the persons using them as to heighten or continue these unnatural differences The reasons given by His Majesties Commissioners for making a Cessation betwixt Him and the Irish Rebels and the Parliaments Commissioners contending to have such Cessation void are of greater moment the Kings urging it dishonorable on His part to vacate the Cessation wishing also that it were in See the Relation pag. 131. His power to do it But why dishonorable or how comes it to passe that it is out of His Majesties Power to suppresse the Rebellion there as his Commissioners urge unlesse by employing and making use of his strength against this he abates and lessens it as against that Kingdom His Commissioners their reasons given for both are answered in what follows and the judgement in deciding the Question to be given according to the late past occurrences which the Declarations and Remonstrances within these few years published have set forth If His Majesty did make the Cessation to the end to save the Remainder of His Protestant Subjects there it was an Honorable and Pious care in him towards those his Subjects but if from a more principal and ultimate end of making such Cessation to make use of the contending parties in that Kingdom against his Subjects called Rebels in this the Parliaments Commissioners had reason to presse the vacating of such Cessation They farther insisting thereon that if the Cessation had not been made in the time of the Rebels their greatest wants and the Forces imployed then and there against them not drawn off they might in probability have been subdued and this War even finished They also urge that if the Cloaths going into IRELAND for the supply of the Protestants and Army there
THE REASON OF THE WAR WITH The Progress and Accidents thereof Written by an English Subject VVherein also the most material Passages of the Two Books printed at Oxford in which His MAJESTIES party do undertake to justifie their Proceedings are briefly examined VIZ. The Declaration entituled Tending to Peace The Relation of The Passages at the meeting at UXBRIDGE Imprimatur July 1. 1646. NA BRENT LONDON Printed for Iohn Field and are to be sold by Stationers 1646. READER THere were some parts of this Book published the last year but passing from the Author in much imperfection and some baste it is revised and augmented according to the Progresse and Occurrences of the War Many of the Passages therein are his own Collections observed at single hand the rest produced through the Arguing and Discourse betwixt some opposite in opinion to him and himself a lover of Learning although of ordinary and too mean parts to Discourse it as an able Schollar for he cannot but acknowledge that the subject of this Treatise might have been managed by a more learned and elaborate hand The greater part thereof was begun about a twelvemoneth since in the turbulent and divided times by way of an Animadversary of the War of the Occasions and Accidents thereof and had been printed a good while since had not an unexpected chance crossed in the very instant of putting it to the Presse Now if in these more quiet and composed times the Beams of Peace seeming to shine out again it should give offence or in the least way interrupt the happy and hoped for Reconcilement which it doth not in the Authors sence and to his best understanding his heart is against the publishing the Discourse relating rather to what is past and may serve for future times It is probable that in these times of Conflict this Discourse as milde and plain as it is may meet with rough harsh answers and unkinde censurings as that the Author is an Ambidexter Neutral that he cunningly carries himself betwixt both parts sometimes and in some things for the King at other times and in other things for the Parliament Whereunto he replyes and ingenuously declares himself both for whom and against whom he is For whom For the King and Parliament Against whom Against the Disturbers of the happy Peace having long since been the authors and now the promoters consequently of this horrid War and that there are and have been such a woful and sad Experience doth manifest A favorable and upright interpretation is all the Reward the Author either looks or wishes for next unto That His Majestie and His Subjects may reciprocally enjoy and hold firmly and entirely their several Rights The Reason of the VVar with the Progresse and Accidents thereof TO describe the Power and Dignity of a King the quality and several formes of a Parliament is not the purpose of this discourse Or what Esteem a Parliament in other Kingdoms carrieth That is left unto the curious Pen of a more learned Antiquary In this Kingdom breifly In the ancient and usual acception it is an Assembly of the Nobility and Gentry chosen by their Country and solemnly called together by the King his writ to such a place at such a time to debate the affairs of the King and Kingdom The manner of being called is by * See the form of the Writ in the Crown Office Writ directed to the high Sheriff of every County as to the chief Magistrate of Burrough Towns to return Knights and Burgesses for that service so Habited viz. with swords girt on their sides c. Which habit a Note and Embleme of the valour in them required the Object to do and go on with Courage and Magnanimity in discharging their trust which their Country hath repoâ—ed in them against all Forces opposing And no Question if former Kings have deputed none to place of Justice but menltz valianntz as King Edw. 3. expresseth them none but such are to defend and serve their Country in the high Court of Parliament which controules and is to give Laws to Justice The end of their Assembling is to determine Ordain and provide for the peace Justice and safety the supreamest Law of the Kingdom called thereunto by his Majesty Entrusted by their Country Whose Councels and Ordinances become Laws Or in case of variance in Judgement that so many as are there met cannot all agree in the same opinion that passeth for a Law which the major part concludes on so it fares in every body Politique and Aggregative And those the Parliament Orders and Ordinances are binding to the Subject as Orders in Inferiour Courts of Chancery Common Pleas c. untill decrees and Judgements passe to confirm the same which decrees and Judgements in those lower Courts hold Analogy with Acts and Laws in the higher Court of Parliament The work and end of the Parliament being consummate the Laws enacted the Parliament then determining the King governes onely and supreame binding himself to observe those Laws by a double Oath Tacitely as being a King and so bound to Rule and govern according to the Laws Expresly by his Oath taken at his Coronation To speak in a plain grammatical and obvious way the Latine Etimon directs the duty of a King Rex is so called à Regendo Government is dispenced in wisdom and justice * From which text the Kings Party do contend that Kings are immediatly from God no more then as follows in the subsequent verse Nobles do Rule and judges of c. By me Kings rule saith the wisest of Kings and Justice exalts a Nation insomuch as when commands shall prove irregular either wanting the one or exceeding the Limits of either of these they provoke the people free borne Subjects to a loose obedience and the consequence commonly becomes dangerous The Peers and Gentry thus assembled and the Parliament now in being the Kings power is not so compleat and total having imparted it self to that Assembly if it be what then is the Parliaments power If they have no power they are assembled to no purpose if a minc'd and diminish'd power in whom doth it ly to lessen or to greaten it if in the King He then may by the same reason rule Arbitrarily and by his own will as well as over-rule a Parliament so whilst the King imparts the power which he hath by communicating it to that His Court of Councel He lesseneth it in Himself or retracts His Grace in assembling them which were a blemish to His Princely wisdom unsuitable also to that common presumption The King cannot do amisse The King as the Head of His People and Father of His Country is by the common opinion of all dutiful and sober Subjects to be obeyed simply in all things Lawful and Honest when there is no Court of Parliament in Being when there is a Parliament the Heart of that Body whereof the King is the Head betwixt whom an unity of Coalition is presumed