preservation of his Person in imitation of the Parliament who had taken a kind of choice Praetoriaâ— band many moneths before for their safeguard though without the Kings consent The Northern men came cheerfully to this service wherewith the Parliament being not well pleas'd they interdicted all trade to Newcastle But I must make a step back when the King was return'd from Scotland he retir'd to Hampton Court yet upon the Lord Mayors and Cities solicitation hee came back to White-Hall to keep his Christmas But when the Bill against Bishops was in agitation which lasted above ten Months and was twice cast out of the House of Peers a crue of hold sturdy mechanicks Marriners and Tar-pawlings came from the City and ruffled again before White-hal and Westminster-hall and would have violated the Abbey of Westminster under the Parliaments Nose so that for many nights a Court of Guard was forc'd to be kept in the body of that Church The King finding such distempers still in the Parliament and knowing the chiefest Authors of them who he had impeach'd before but could get no justice against them in an ordinary way though he desir'd the Parliament to direct him in a course how to go on in the Empeachment in such extremity for desperate diseases requiring desperate cures He took the Palsgrave with him and making use of the next Coach he met withall at the Court gate he went to the House of Commons in person to demand five Members which he would prove to be Traytors in the highest degree and to be the fomenters of all these divisions protesting unto them upon the word of a King that they should have as fair and legal a Trial as ever men had in the interim he desir'd onely that their persons might be secur'd The Walls of both Houses and the very stones of London streets did seem to ring of this high carriage of the King and the sound thereof far and neer into the adjacent Countries whence the Plebeans by incitement of some of the Members came in whole Herds to the City and strutting up and down the streets had nothing in their mouths but Priviledge of Parliament Polyander Yet as I observ'd in your discourses before Queen Elizabeth though she was so popular and such a minion of Parliaments did the like and far higher things But now that you have given a touch of the Palsegrave I remember a Manifesto of that Parliament which they passed and published in favour of his restitution which was laughed and libelled at in Germany Philanglus 'T is true the King went in state one day to the Parliament in his behalfe where he clear'd unto them the whole business and because he doubted that Sir Thomas Roe his Embassadour should have but sorry success in the Diet which was then held in Germany in regard he understood of an Amnestia to come forth whence the Prince Palatine was excluded he desired the two Houses to joyn with him in a publique Manifâ—sto The Parliament did cheerfully approve hereof praying that Scotland would joyn with them The Manifesto consisted of two parts or protestations one against all Acts whatsoever that should passe in the Imperial Diet in the prejudice to the Palatine the other that the King and Parliament of great Britain were resolv'd to espouse his quarrel but this business was little thought of afterwards The King as I told you before having gone to the House of Commons himself to demand those Members it happened none of them were there but retir'd to London for refuge the House having had notice of the design from Marquis Hamilton who was us'd to reveal unto them whatsoever was intended at Court Polyander It may well be said then that the infortunate King had greater Traitors within dores then abroad but it concern'd Hamilton with Holland and others to keep in with the House because they were the chiefest Monopolizers specially the Earl of M. who in regard his son was so great a Zealot in the Upper House was permitted to keep a kind of Office to compound for his corruption and briberies whereof there were above forty prov'd against him yet he scap'd without any punishment at all or least mark of Infamy Philanglus Well Sir the Londoners grew stark wild when they heard of this attempt of the King and the Countries about specially Essex and Buckinghamshire men being incited by Hamden who was kill'd afterwards upon the same turf of earth where he call'd the people together came in great swarms to Town and joyning with the City and Suburbian rabble They brought the five Members the next day to the House in a kind of Triumph being guarded by water as wel as by land by such companions A little after sundry Troops of Countâ—y horse came and instead of Feathers or Ribands they carried a paper-Protestation in their Hats as the Londoners had done a little before upon their Pikes point Polyander I heard much of the said Protestation but I pray oblige me to tel what it was Philanglus It consisted of many parts being penn'd and enjoin'd by the Parliament for every one to take The first part was to maintain the true Protestant Religion against all Popish Innovations but no other The second was to maintain the Person Prerogative and honoâ— of the Kin The third The Priviledge and Power oâ— Parliament And lastly the prâ—priety and liberty of the Subject Polyander Where was the King during all these popular Riots Philanglus Rather then expose himself to such indignities and there being dark whispers of an attempt upon his Person he retir'd to Hampton Court thence to Windsor Castle whence having accompani'd the Queen and his eldest Daughter to the Sea-side for Holland and having commanded the Prince to attend him at Greenwich against his return the Prince had been surpriz'd and brought to London had the King stayed but a quarter of an hour longer Thence he remov'd to York where he sojourn'd all that Summer and among other things he sent for his Great Seal thither which rid Post and was pursued by the Parliament but not overtaken The King being setled at York the Parliament still move him to have the disposing of the Militia and not to be limited to any time which he denied for he was loth to be dis-arm'd and part with his sword Therefore he put forth his Commissions of Array according to the old Law of England as he alled'd which declares it to be the undoubted Right and Royal Signory of the King to arm or disarâ— any Subject The Parliament send out Counter-commands for the executing the said Militia so by this clashing 'twixt the Commission of Array and the Militia the first flash of that cruel and cruentous civil War may be said to have broke out A close Committee was appointed which was mix'd of Lords and Commons and I cannot tell how many Rural and subordinate Committees of mean mechanical men who stood higher a tip-toe in conventing Lords and Knights before them
the interpretation of Laws and in that point the twelve Judges who are called the Sages and Oracles of the Law are to be beleeved before the Parliament whose office is more to make new Laws then to expound the old Parliamentâ— being composed of men may erre Mr. Pryn as I alledged before tels us how many usurpers they have preferred before the rightful Heirs How often did Henry the eight make Parliaments the panders of his lust in whose time there are three acts observable 1. That Proclamations shold be equivalent to laws 2. That Queen Elizabeth was illegitimat 3. That the King in his will might name whom he pleas'd to be his successor Besides in lesse then four yeers Religion was changed twelve times in his raign by Parliament Polyander Touching the last Act of naming a successor I have seen a manuscript which makes mention that Henry the eight som 2. yeers before his death summoned a Parliament wherein he intimated unto them that one of the main designs of convoking that Parliament was that they should declare a successor to the Crown But the Parliament with much modesty answered that touching that point it belonged to his Majesty to consider of it and consult with his learned and Privy Councel about it And whomsoever his Majesty would please to nominat in his last Will they would confirm and ratifie Whereupon old Harry made a formal Will which was enrolled in the Chancery wherein remembring the perfidious carriage of James the fourth his brother in law he declared the issue of his eldest sister the Queen of Scotts being forreners incapable to inherit and the issue of Charles Brandon after the progeny of his own body to succeed next This Will continued in the Chancery all Edward the sixts time till Queen Mary who about the midst of her reign did cancel it But now Sir be pleas'd to pardon this Parenthesis and resume the thread of your former discourse in displaying what are the priviledges of Parliament which were so much insisted upon and cried up in the late long Parliament till they swell'd so high that they swallowed up and devour'd the Prerogative Philanglus If we will give credit to Sir Ed. Coke who was a great Champion of the House of Commons and no friend to Prerogative which he was us'd to call that Great Monster the priviledge of freedom from Arrests is the onely priviledge of Parliament He cannot or at least he doth not so much as name any other in his Section of the priviledge of Parliament neither is this priviledge so unquestionable and cleer as some do imagine as divers examples may be produced in the reign of Queen Elizabeth who was so great a darling of the Commons In the 39. of her reign Sir Ed. Hobby and Mr. Brograve Attorney of the Dutchy were sent by the House to the Lord Keeper to require his Lordship to revoke two writs of Subpoena's which were serv'd upon Mr. Tho. Kâ—â—vet a Member of the House the Lord Keeper demanded of them whether they were appointed by any advised consultation of the House to deliver this message unto him with the word require they answered yes he replyed as he thought reverently and honourably of the House and of their liberties and privileges so to revoke the said Subpoenas in that sort was to restrain her Majesty in her greatest power which is in the publick administration of Justice in the place wherein he serves her Therefore he concluded that as they had required him to revoke his Writ so he did require farther deliberation 18 Eliz. report was made by the Attorney of the Dutchy upon the Committee for the delivering of one Mr. Halls man that the Committee found no precedent for setting at large by the Mace any person in arrest but onely by Writ and that by divers precedents of records perus'd by the said Committee it appeared that every Knight Citizen or Burgesse which doth desire privilege hath used in that case to take a corporal oath before the Lord Chancellor or Keeper for the time being that the party for whom such writ is prayed came up with him and was his servant at the time of the arrest made Thereupon Mr. Hall was directed by the house to repair to the Lord Keeper and make oath and then to take a warrant for a writ of privilege for his servant 270 Eliz. Richard Coke a Parliament member being served with a subpoena of Chancery The Lord Keeper boldly answered that he thought the House had 〈◊〉 such privilege against subpoenas as they pretended Neither could he allow of any precedents of the House used in that behalf unlesse the House of Commons could also prove the same to have been likewise allowed and ratified by precedents in the high Court of Chancery Now the Original writ for Election which is the foundation of the whole business makes mention of no such privilege and 't is a rule that to vary from the meaning of the Writ makes a nullity of the cause and the proceedings thereupon For where a Commissioner exerciseth more power then is warranted by his Commission the act is not only invalid but punishable Now the end and scope of privileges of Parlement is not to give power to do any publick act not warranted by the writ but they are intended as helps only to enable the members towards the performance of their duties and so are subservient to the power comprized in the Writ For instance the freedom from Arrests doth not give any power at all to the House of Commons to do any extraordinary act thereby but the Members are made the more capable to attend the publick service by being free from the trouble of arrests so that this privilege giveth no further power at all but only helps to the execution of the power derived from the Royal writ Nor can the Freeholders by their Elections give any such privilege of exemption from arrests but it is the meer gift and grace of the Soveraign Prince yet in point of treson felony or breach of the Kings peace this privilege extends not Now privileges are things contrary to law or at least they serve as a dispensation against law intended originally for the better expediting of the Kings businesse or som publik service Nor could the House of Commons punish any for breach of this their privilege till they had conferr'd with the Lords and till the punishment had been referred by them to the Commons there is a notable example hereof in the 33. of Henry the eight George Ferrers the Kings servant and Burgesse of Plymouth going to Parliament was arrested by process out of the Kings Bench for debt which being signified to Sir Thomas Moyl then Speaker the Sargeant that attended the House was sent to the Counter to demand Ferres the Officers of the Counter refuse to deliver him anâ— giving the Sergeant ill language a scuâ—â—â— happened the Sheriff of London being sent for took part with the Counteâ—â— and so the Sergeant
propound unto you that some sit persons may bâ—e by you inabled to treat with the like number to be authorized by us in sâ—ch a manner and with such freedoâ—e of dâ—bate as may best tend to that happy coâ—clusion which â—ll good people desire viz. The Peace of the Kingdom wherein as we promise in the 〈◊〉 of a King all saâ—ety and â—ncouragement to them who shall be sent unto uâ— if ye wâ—ll chuse the place we are to meet for the TREATY which we wholly leâ—ve unto you presuming the like care of the safety of those wee shall employ if you shall name another place So we assure you and all our good Subjects that to the best of our understanding nothing shall be wanting on our pâ—rt which may advance the true Reformed Religion oppose Popery and Superstition secure the Law of the Land upon which is built as well our just Prerogative as the propriety and liberty of the Subject confirm all just power and priviledges of Parl and render us a people truly happy by a true understanding 'twixt us and our great Council bring with you as firm a resolution to do your duty and let our people join with us in prayer to Almighty God for his blessing upon this work If this Proposition be rejected by you wâ—e have done our duty so amply that God will absolve us from the guilt of any of that blood which shall be spilt And whatsoever opinion other men may hâ—ve of our power we assure you that nothing but our pious and Christian care to prevent the effusion of bloud hath begot this motion in us Our provisioâ— of men Armies and Money being such as may secure us from violence till it please God â—o open the Eyes of our people Polyâ—ndâ—r What impression did thiâ— Letter make for it promis'd much Philanglus It made little or none at all though it was all written with the Kings own hand for the Parliament was formerly nettled at a Declaration he had sent when having made â— motion to go himselfe in person to suppress the Irish Rebels which attempt the Scots approved of and highly applauded but being not liked by the English Parliament he replied unto them to this effect When we recommended the reductâ—on of Ireland to you we intended not to exclude our Self or not to be concernd in your Councils but that if there were any expedient which in our Conscience and understanding we thought necessary for that great work we might put it in practise We look upon you as our great Council whose advice we always have and will with great regard and deliberation weigh and consider of but we look upon our Self as neither depriv'd of our understanding or devested of any right we had were there no Parliament at all sitting We call'd you together by our our own Royal Writ and authority without which you could not have met to give us faithful Counsel about our great affairs but we resigned not hereby our interest and freedom we never subjected our Self to your absolute determination we have alwayes weighed your Counsel as from a body intrusted by us and when we have dissented from you we have returned you the reasons which had prevailed with ouâ— understanding and conscience and with such candor that a Prince should use towards his Subjects and with that affection a Father should express to his Children What applications have been used to rectifie our understanding by reasons and what motives have been given by you to perswade our affections we leave the world to judge Moreover we must not forget to tell you however a major part may blind you in matter of opinion We hold our selfe and we are sure the Laws and constitutions of the Kingdom hath always held the same as free to dissent till our reason be convinced for the general good as if you delivered no opinion When we summoned you first together we did not intend to put the reins of all Rule and Reason into your hands and by a kind of blind bruitish formality and unprincely simpleness to assent to every thing without examining our own Conscience and judgement which yet never pleased us more then when they concurr'd with yours This were to bring us back to a nonage now that we are come long since to the perfect growth of discretion you must not think to take from us the Mastery and use of our innated reason and the dictates of our own conscience or that we will raise a Tempest at home within our brest to calm a storm abroad In fine we called you together to propound not to give Law to be our Counsellors not our Controllers for Counsel degenerates from the nature of Counsel wâ—en t is coercive Nor shall we ever enfeeble our regal power or suffer it to be invaded so far as to give way that any Ordinance or Omnipotency of Votes shall be able to suspend an Act already in force without our assent To conclude as we firmly resolve to make the Law the measure of our actions so we expect it should be also the Rule of your obedience and deliberations and that the result of all your Counsels be derived from it Polyander This was home and high but what answer did the Parliament make to the former letter from Notingham Philanglus The noble Personages who carried that Letter were looked upon with an ill aspect by the Parliament yet an answer was returned containing this proposal That the King woâ—ld revoke and annul in the first place those Proclamations and oâ—her publique instruments whereby their Adherents were declared Traytors uâ—der which notion 't was neither honourable for his Maâ—esty to tâ—eat with them nor were they capable to treat with Him Polyander This Doctrine I believe they had learnt of the Scot but what did the King reply Philanglus He sent word that he was willing so to do provided that the Parliament would recal likewise their Votes Orders or Ordinances passed against such whom they declared Delinquents for adhering to the King according to the clear known Law of the Land in the reign of Hen. 7. which was that nâ—ne should be molested or questioned for adhering unto or assisting the Royal person of the King This the King desir'd by way of reciprocal correspondence but it being denied those overtures for a Treaty came to nothing so the Parliaments Army begin to advance and the Kings did daily increase Thereupon the Lords that were about the person of the King whereof there were above threescore made this publick Manifesto WE do ingage our selves not to obey any Orders or Commands whatsoever that are not warranted by the known Laws of the Land We ingage our selves and fortunes to defend your Majesties Person Crown and Dignity with your just and legal Prerogatives against all persons and power whatsoever We will defend the Religion established by the Law of the Land the lawfull Liberties of the Subjects of England with the just priviledges of your Majesty and the
could England but be in apparent danger considering how all her Neighbours about her were in actual hostility which made huge Fleets of men of War both French Dunkerkers Haâ—burgers and Hollanders to appear ever and anon in her channel and hard before her Royal Chambers He declared further that not one peny of that publique contribution came to his private Coffers or was given to any favorite but he added much of his own treasure for the maintenance of a Royal Fleet abroad every Summer yet he was ready to passe any Bill for the abolishing of the said Ship-money and redressing of any grievance besides provided his Parliament would enable him to suppress and chastse the Scot Some say the House was inclinable to comply with the King but as the ill spirit would have it that Parliament was suddenly broke up and it had been better for him that they who gave him that counsel had been then in Arabia or beyond the Line in their way to Madagascar yet those men were of high request in the Long Parliament afterwards being The King reduced to such streights and resenting still the insolence of the Scot proposed the business to his Privy Council who suddenly made a considerable sum for his supply whereunto divers of his domestick servâ—nâ—s did contribute Among others who were active herein the Earl of Strafford bestirred himselfe notably who having got a Parliament to be called in Ireland went over and with incredible celerity raised 8000. men and procured money of the Parliament there to maintain them An Army was also levied here which marched to the North and there fed upon the Kings pay a whole Summer The Scot was not idle all this while but having punctual intelligence of every thing that passed at Court as far as what was debated in the Cabinet Council or spoken of in the Bed-chamber where of the six grooms five were Scots which was a great advantage unto him He armed also and preferring to make England the Stage of the War rather then his own Country and to invade rather then to be invaded he got ore the Tweed where he found the passage open and as it were made for him all the way till he come to the River of Tine And though there was a considerable English army of horse and foot at Newcastle yet they never offered to face the Scot all the while At Newburg there was indeed a small skirmish but the English foot would not fight so Newcastle Gates flew open to the Scot without any resistance at all where 't is thought he had more friends then foes for all Presbyterians were his confederates The King being advanc'd as far as York summon'd all his Nobles to appear and advise with in this Exigence Commissioners were appointed on both sides who met at Rippon and how the hearts and courage of some English Barons did boil within their breasts to be brought to so disadvantagious Treaty with the Scot you may well imagine So the Treaty began which the Scot would not conform himself unto unlesse he were first made Rectus in Curâ—a and the Proclamation wherein he was call'd Traitor revoked alledging how dishonourable it would be for his Majesty to treat with Rebels This Treaty was then adjourn'd to Londoâ— where the late long Parliament was summon'd Polyander Truly Sir I must tell you that to my knowledge those unhappy traverses with the Scots made the English suffer much abroad in point of National repute But in this last expedition of the Scot England may be said to have been bought and sold considering what a party he had here in Court and country specially in the City of London Therefore his coming in then may be call'd rather as Invitation then an Invasion Philanglus The Scot having thus got quietly into a Town he never took and nested himself in Newcastle Our late long long Parliament began at Westminster Being conven'd the King told them that he was resolved to cast himself and his affairs wholly upon the affection and dâ—lity of his people whereof they were the Representatives Therefore he wished them to go roundly on to close up the Ruptures that werâ— made by that infortunate War and that the two Armies one English the other forraign which were gnawing the very bowels of the Kingdom might be both dismissed Touching grievances of al natures he was ready to redress them concerning the Shipmony he was willing to passe a law for the utter abolition of it and to cancâ—l all the enrollments therefore he wish'd them not to spend much time about that For Monopolies he desired to have a List of them and he would damn them all in one Proclamation Touching ill Counsellours either in White-Hall or Westminster-Hall either in Church or State hee was resolved to protect none Therefore he desired that all jealousies and misunderstandings might vanish and so concluded with this caution That they would be carefull how they shook and dâ—â—jointed the frame of an old setled Government too much in regard 't was like a Watch which being put asunder can never be made up again if the least pin be left out Thus at the beginning of the Parliament there were great hopes of Fair weather after that cold Northern storm and that we should be rid of the Scot but that was least intended till some designs were brought about The Earl of Strafford the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Judges and divers other are clapp'd up and the Lord Keeper Finch took a timely flight t'other side of the Sea And in lieu of these the Bishop of Lincoln is inlarged Bastwâ—ck Burton and Pryn who were strong Presbyterians were brought into London with a kind of Hosanna Polyander It is possible that the lenity of the King should be such as to yeeld to all this Philanglus Yes and to comply further with them he took as it were into his bosom I mean he admitted to his Privy Council such Parliament Lords who were held the greatest Zealots among them The Lord Say was made Master of the Court of Wards the Earl of Essex Lord Chamberlain Moreover to give a further evidence how firmly he was rooted in his Religion and how much he desired the strengthning of it abroad the Treaty of marriage went on 'twixt his eldest daughter and the Prince of Orange Hereunto may be added as a special Argument of compliance the passing of the Bill for a Triennial Parliament and lastly he was brought to passe the Act of Continuance which prov'd so fatal unto him Polyander Touching the Triennial Parliament I heard of a Prophetick mistake that came from a Lady of honour who sending news that time to the Country did write that the King had passed a Bill for a Tyrannical Parliament whereas she should have said Triennial And touching the Act of Continuance or perpetual Parliament I heard a tale of Archy the fool who being asked whether the King did well in passing that Bill answered that he knew not whether the King
any thing was amiss in that divorce he wish'd it might light upon his own Soul but I pray be pleas'd to go on Philanglus The King understanding that the Parliament did thus arm he was told that it was not fit for him to be idle so having levied some forces in the North he marched with them to Nottingham where he set up and displaied the Royal Standard but the Beam thereof by a gust of wind towards the evening was broke which was held an ill augury Polyander I heard by some of those that were then on the place that the King had not 4000 effective fighting men when he put up his Standard and the Parliament had an Army of above 15000 in a compleat body and upon their march about Northampton therefore I heard it censured a great oversight in the Parliament that they did not inorder their General to find out the King at Nottingham where he might have either taken him Prisoner or forc'd him to flie with his little confus'd Army But I pray pursue your discourse Philanglus I must again step a little back and inform you as that Army of the Parliaments was a levying these Propositions were sent to the King with a complemental introduction which because they are of a very high nature I will particularly relate unto you the preamble was this WEE your Majesties most humble and faithful Subjects having nothing in our thoughts and desires more precious and of higher esteem next to the honour and immediate service of God then the just and faithfull performance of our duty to your Majesty and this Kingdom and being sensible of the great distractions and distempers and of the iminent dangers and calamities which the said distractions and distempers are like to bring upon your Majesty and your Subjects all which have proceeded from the subtile informations mischievous practises and ill counsels of men disaffected to Gods true Religion your Majesties honour and safety and the publick Peace and Prosperity of your people After a serious observation of the Causes of these mischiefs Wee do in all humility and sincerity present to your Majesty our most humble Petition and Advice that out of your Princely wisdom for the establishing of your own honour and safety and gracious tendernesse of the welfare and security of your Subjects and Dominions You will be pleased to grant and accept these our humble desires and Propositions as the most necessary effectual meanes through Gods blessing of removing those jealousies and differences which have unhappily fallen 'twixt you and your people and for procuring both your Majesty and them a constant course of honour peace and happiness 1. That those of your Privy Council and such great Officers and Ministers of State either at home or beyond the Seas may be put from about you and from those Offices and Employments excepting such as shall be approved of by Parliament And that the persons put into the places and employments of those that be removed may be approved of by Parliament And that all Privy Councellors shall take an Oath for the due execution of their places as shall be agreed upon by Parliament 2. That the great affairs of the Land may not be concluded or transacted by the advise of private men or by unknown and unsworn Councellors but that such matters that concern the publique and are proper for high Assemblies which is your Majesties great and supream Council may be debated resolved and transacted here and no where else and such as shall presume to do any thing to the contrary shall be reserved to the censure and judgment of Parliament And such other matters of State as are proper for your Privy Council shall be debated and concluded by such as shall from time to time be chosen for what place by approbation of Parliament And that no publique Act concerning the affairs of the Land which are proper for your Privy Council may be esteemed of any validity as proceeding from Royal Authority unless it be done by the advice and consent of the major part of your Council And that your Council be limited to a certain number noâ—t exceeding twenty five nor under fifâ—â—een And if any Councellors place happen to be void in the intervalls of Parliament it shall not be supplyed without the coâ—â—sent of the major part of the Council which voice shall be confirmed at the next sitting of Parliament or else to be void 3. That all the great Oâ—ficers of State and Civil Justice as also your Secretaries may be chosen with the approbation of Parliament and in the intervals as formerly 4. That he or they to whom the Government and Education of the Royal issue shall be committed shall be approved by Parliament and in the intervals as formerly And that all such servants which are now about them against whom the Parliament shal have any just exception shal be removed 5. That no All â—nce of any of the Royal issue by way of marriage shall be concluded or treated with any forraign Prince or other Person whatsoever at home or abroad without consent of Parliament under the penalty of a Praemunire unto such as shall conclude or treat of any such Alliance And the said penalty shall not be pardoned or dispensed with but by consent of Parliament 6. That the Laws in force against Papists be strictly put in execution without any toleration or dispensation to the contrary And that some more effectuall course be enacted to disable them from making any disturbance in the State or â—luding the Law by Trusts or otherwise 7. That the Votes of all Papists in the upper House may be taken away as long as they continue Papists and that such a Bill be drawn for the education of their Children in the reformed Religion 8. That your Majesty will be pleas'd to consent that such a Reformation bee made of the Church-government as the Parliamsnt shall advise of And that your Majesty will contribute your best assistance for the raising of a sufficient maintenance for Preaching Ministers throughout the Kingdom And that your Majesty will be pleas'd to give your consent to Laws for the taking away of Innovations and Superstition and pluralities and against scandalous Ministers 9. That your Majesty will be pleas'd to rest satisfied with that course the Parliament hath appointed for ordering the Militia untill the same shall be further setled by â—â—ill and that your Majesty will recall your Declarations and Proclamations against the Ordinance made by the Parliament concerning it 10. That such Lords and Gentlemen that are Members of the House which have been put out of any Place or Office may either be restor'd or have satisfaction for the same upon the Petition of the Court whereof he or they are Members 11. That all Privy Councellors and Iudges take Oath the form whereâ—f to be agreed upon and setled in Parliament for the maintenance of the Petition of Right of certain Statutes made by this Parliament And that an Inquiry
Parliament And we ingage our selves further not to obey any Rules Order or Ordinance whatsoever concerning any Militia that hath not the Royall Assent To this was subjoined another We whose naâ—es are under written in obedience to his Majesties desire and ouâ— of the duty we ow to his honour and to truth being here on the place and witnesses of his Majesties frequent and earnest Declarations and Professions of his abhorring all designs of making war upon the Parliament And not finding any Councels that might reasonably beget the belief of any such design We do promise before God and testifie to all the World that we are fully perswaded his Majesty hath no such intention but that all his indeavours tend to the â—â—rm and constant settlement of the true Religion and the just priviledges of Parliament the Libâ—rty of the Subject with the Laws Peace and Prosperity of this Kingdom But all this would not serve the turn for neither Parliament nor people would give credit to any thing that drop'd from King or Peers specially the City of London where the Presbyterians played their parts notably by inciting the people to a War for preventing the introduction of Slavery and Supâ—rstition so unusual voluntary collections were made both in Town and Country the Seamstress brought in her silver thimble the Chamber-maid her Bodkin the Cook his silver spoon the Vintner his Bowl into the common Treasury of War and they who contributed to so pious a work were invited more then others in some Churches to come to the Holy Communion in the very time of administration And observed it was that some sorts of Females were freest in those contributions as far as to part with their Rings and earings as if some Golden Calf were to be molten and set up to be idolized which prov'd true for the Covenant a little after was set up which may be said to have been a kind of Idol as I shall make it appear hereafter Thus a fierce funestous civil War was a fomenting in the very bowels of England which broke out into many storms and showers of blood The fatal Cloud wherein this storm lay long ingendring though when it began to condense first it appeared but as big as a hand yet by degrees it did spread to such a vast expansion that it diffused it self through the whole Region and obscur'd that fair face of Heaven which was used to shine upon this part of the Hemisphere The King fell to work then in good earnest and made choice of the Earl of Linzey for General of the Infantry which choice was generally cried up of all Prince Rupert was made General of the Horse but that election did not find such an applause The first incounter that Prince Rupert had with his Godfather the Earl of Essex was near Worcester where he defeated some of the flower of the Parliaments horse The King having remov'd from Nottingham to Derby and so to Strafford his forces increas'd all along but passing by Chartly the Earl of Essex house the Souldiers hop'd to have had some plunder there but a strict command was given by the Kings own mouth that nothing should be touch'd not as much as a Buck whereat their teeth 〈◊〉 water as they march'd through his Park So he came to Shrewsbury where the Coâ— kept above a month at which time the Army multipâ—i'd exceedingly to neer upon â—o Mâ— men and the Welchmen coming so thicâ— down the Mountains did much animate thâ—English From Shrewsbury the King took a resoâ—â—tion to remove to Oxford but after seveâ—â— daiâ—s tiresome march hee understood the Parliaments Army were within six mile of him so he went out so far to find theâ— out and fac'd them on a Sunday morninâ— from Edgâ— Hil as they lay in Kinton fieldâ— where their Colours were displayed A sight of the Royal Army they discharge some peeces of Ordnance in Defiance so both Parties prepared for Battel aâ—â— the Sun had declined above two hours the afternoon before the Cannons aâ— Kings Infantry could get into the bottom Being put there in a fighting posture and having the wind favourable the King gave command to let fly the Cannons to begin Battail Thus a most furious Engagement began which lasted about three houres till night parted them and some old French and German Commanders who were there employed in the Royal Army reported afterwards they never saw such a manful fight in all their lives Prince Rupert springing ore a low hedge lind thick with the enemies Musqueteers pursued their Horse very far and did notable execution upon them all the way and had he not worried them so far and deserted the Infantry or had not his German Souldiers fallen a plundring too soon matters might have gone better with the King Polyander I heard it reported that this Battail was fought just the same day twelve month that the Rebellion and Massacre began in Ireland It was so being the 23. of October a day fatal for blood Now though this Battail of Edg-Hill may be said to be sudden inexpected and unpitched yet for position of ground 't was fought in as indifferent and a fit place for a battail as possibly could be lighted upon for the Combatants had scope enough to fight and the Spectators whereof there were multitudes upon the rising adjacent grounds might behold all as plainly as a Tragedy acted upon a Stage or Cock fighting in a Pit The Parliaments Army had the advantage of the Kings in point of Infantry who were very good Fire-locks most of them having been trained up in London and so left their Wares to follow the Wars They had also the advantage of the King in point of Arms for scarce three parts of four were Armed in his Army But for Cavalry the Royalists had the greater advantage for the flower of most of the English Gentry was there in so much that the life-Guard of the Kings was computed to above one hundred thousand pounds sterling of yearly Revenue About the evening of the day following both parties retired from the field the Parliaments back towards Northampton the Kings to their former road towards Oxford and in the way they took Banbury where there was a strong Garison for the Parliament which sure as the Cavaliers gave out the Earl of Essex had preserved had he been then Master of the field After this battail of Edge-Hill there happened diverse other traverses of war 'twixt King and Parliament for about four years in which revolution of time there were more skirmiges and battails fought then happened in those last thirty years wars of Germany or fourscore years wars 'twixt Spain and Holland Polyander This shews that the English have still the same old innated valour that they had when they made the gray Goose wing fly through the heart of France which made Comines one of their greatest Authors to confeâ—s that no Nation is more greedy of battail and more impatient of delayes that way then the English
they first interdicted trade They countenanced all tumultuous Riots gave way to Club-law and They kept the King by force out of Hull issued Commissions for Horse brought in foren force and had a compleat Army in motion a good while before the Royall Standard was set up Polyander I remember a witty Motto that the last French Cardinal caused to be engraven upon the brich of some new Canons which were cast in the Arsenall at Paris it was KATIO ULTIMA REGUM Viz. That the Canon was the last reason of Kings But whether this Motto may fit Subjects I will not now dispute But sure the King was ill advised so to rush into a War considering what infinite advantages the Houses had of him for as you say'd before they had the Sea the Scot and the City on their side and the King had no Confederate at all at home or abroad I am sure he had no friend abroad that one might say was a true friend unto him unless it was the Prince of Oraâ—â—e in regard he had disobliged all other Princes For you know as soon as he came to the Crown he rushed into a War with the King of Spain and in lieu of making him his Brother in â—awâ—e made him his foe which stuck still in his stomach as also thâ—â— he had given so fair a reception to the Ambassadors of Don Juan de Braganza now King of Portugâ—ll A little after he broke with the Frâ—nch King Notwithstanding that he had his Sister every night in his Arms The Hollandâ—rs gave out that he had appeard more for the Sâ—aniard than Them in that great fight with Doâ— Antonâ—o d'Oquâ—ndâ— and that he suffer'd his own ships and others to convey the King of Spains mony to Dunkerke He was ingag'd to his Oncâ—e the K. of Deâ—mark in great old sâ—mâ— whereof there was little care taken to give satisfaction the Iriâ—h cryed out They had bin oppressed The Swed observed that he was more for the House of Austria than for Gustavus Adolphus And at home I have been told that the Irish cryed out he had bin oppressed And the Scot whom he had obliged most of any by such Mountains of favours with divers of his own Creatures and domestic bosome servants whom he had engaged most started aside from him like a broken bow so that all things did co-operat and conspir'd as it were to make him a hard-Fated Prince and to usher in a Revolution Philanglus Yet I heard that all Princes were very sensible of his fall Polyander T' is true they did must resent it at first yet they were affected rather with â—stonishment then sorrow And touching the Roman Catholique Princes they did afterwards rejoyce at it considering what a blemish the manner of his death brought upon the Reformed Religion but Sir I pray be pleased to proceed Philanglus The Sophies or Gran signo'rs of the Common-wealth whereof we spoke before scrued up their authority every day higher and higher They declare that an Ornance of Parliament without the Royal assent is equivalent to an Act They declare that not onely the consultative ministerial and directive power is in them but also the Judicatory Despotical and Legislative highest power is inherent in the Walls of their two Houses That their power is also Arbitrary Vbiquitary and incontrolable That they are not subject to Dissolution or Time being the eternal and irrevocable Trustees of the Commonwealth with such Rodomontado's which made one to think that a Mid-summer Moon had got betwixt them and therefore thought this Anagram a very fit one to be set upon the dore of the House with the distic annexed Parliamentum Lar Amentium Fronte rogas isto P. cur Anagrammate non sit In promptu causa est Principem abesse scias Polyander They who have pryed into the true humour of a Portuguez have observ'd that He useth to act more according to what hee thinks himself to be then what he really is It seems that these Parliamenteers were possess'd and puffed up with the same humour But if the supream power were in an Assembly when that Assembly is risen I wonder what 's become of the power sure it must rest in the air or sticking to the Walls of the Chamber where they breath'd Now Sir touching long Parliaments I am of opinion it is the greatest and generallest grievance that can be possibly to the English people by reason that besides other irregularities it stops the ordinary course of Law in regard of the priviledge they have not to be subject to arrest with others to whom they give protection now not one in four of that long Parliament men but ow'd money and what use Sir Peter T and others made of that priviledge to the detriment of a thousand poor Creditors is too well known And were such men think you fit to keep the Kingdomes Purse in their Pockets so long but having got the Great Seal as well as the Sword into their hands what signal Acts of Justice did they do Philanglus 'T is true they had got the Seal and Sword which the Law of England doth appropriate to the chiefest Magistrate the one should be girt onely to his side and the other hang at his Girdle And it was told them to their faces by the knowingest Members in the House that to cut a broad Seale of England was the highest reason that possibly could be attempted without the assent of the Governor in chief Now Sir touching any signal Act of Justice they ever did I am to seek to this day but for horrid acts and passages of in justice I think there could be produced a thousand clear and yet crying examples which would make a greater volume then the Book of Martyrs I mean Acts that were done before the wars begun and after it was ended which takes away the specious colour of necessity wherewith they varnished all their excesses and actions I will instance onely in two for this was intended for a short discourse not for a story viz. The business of the Lord Craven and Sir John Stawel the first a personage who is a great ornament to this Nation by his gallant comportments beyond the Seas the other one of the considerablest Knights in the whole Country Touching the Lord Craven he went with consent of Parliament to his charge in the Low Countries not onely before the War but before any discontentment happened at all 'twixt King and Parliament and being attenâ—ing his said military charge at Breda when the King of Scots came thither and the Queen of Bohemia being also there he could not avoid seeing them sometimes nor was there any Order or Act of Parliament to prohibit any body from doing so but for intermedling with any affairs of State or mixing with the Scots Council he never did it At that time there happened to be in Breda many cashiered English Officers and among them one Faulkner who having a Petition drawn and written all with his own