Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	kingdom_n	liberty_n	majesty_n	3,438	5	6.1731	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A82540	The answer of the Parliament of England, to a paper, entituled, a declaration by the Kings Majesty, to his subjects of the kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland. Printed at Edinburgh, 1650. Whereunto is annexed, copies of four letters to the King of Scotland, which were found in the Lord Loudouns cabinet. Die Veneris, 20 Septem. 1650. Ordered by the Parliament, that this answer and letters be forthwith printed and published. Hen: Scobell, Cleric. Parliamenti.	England and Wales. Parliament.; Loudoun, John Campbell, Earl of, 1598-1663.	1650 (1650)	Wing E1227; Thomason E613_2; ESTC R206510	21,416	40

Guilt stands incapable of the meanest Priviledge amongst us Doth he think himself qualified to Exercise the Greatest Shall the Malefactor be presumed to have Power to give Pardon to his Judge Or do the Scots or their King imagine under pretence of an Act of Oblivion to seduce England to receive their Laws from Scotland The Obstructers of real Reformation we are as much against as he or they can pretend to be as by our Acts and Actions appears Amongst which we reckon it not the least That that Grand Enemy to Reformation the Father of the now Declarer after his long and Bloody progress made in Destruction and Devastation of the Innocent people in the Three Nations the Guilt whereof upon him being a Truth so apparant as both Himself and Son and our now Enemies of Scotland have been forced to acknowledge hath been by Our Authority Tryed Adjudged and Executed for his notorious Treasons Tyrannies and Murthers whereof whatever the Interpretation be given by the Son of that Murtherer or other his Partizans Old or New Malignants late Apostates or detestable Neutrals who stile the Act of Justice Murther with like Truth and Reason as those who call Good Evil and Evil Good Light Darkness and Darkness Light We for our parts bless God for that opportunity put into our hands of offering that Sacrifice to Divine Justice towards vindication and cleansing of our Land from that Blood wherewith by that Murtherer and his party it was so miserably defiled And as we have been obliged in a faithful and conscientious discharge of that Power and Trust committed to us by God and the People of this Nation to Avenge that Innocent Blood upon the Head of that Tyrant and some others the chief Authots and Actors under him in shedding thereof So for the seduced Multitude and those who in simplicity have been misguided by them to act to their own and Countreys ruine We have in the view of all expressed our tenderness and forbearance towards them And being invested with the Authority of the Nation whose Representative we are in that behalf as to such mis-led persons The Parliament of England thinks fit further to declare That as they have already long since had it in their thoughts and for that purpose have under consideration An Act of general Pardon in the progress whereof they have been interrupted by the renewed Endeavors of Charls Stuart and his Adherents to disturb the Peace of this Common-wealth and hinder its Settlement they will with all convenient speed apply themselves to the passing of such an Act And in the mean time do expect from all persons living under the Protection of this Commonwealth That they make not themselves any way Ayders or Abettors of the said Charls Stuart in his Pretences to the Government of this Nation under what fair and specious shews soever upon the penalties in the Laws in that behalf provided §. 5. THe Committee of Estates of the Kingdom and General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland having declared so fully in what concerns the Sectaries and the present Designs Resolutions and Actings of their Army against the Kingdom of Scotland And the same Committee and Assembly having sufficiently laid open publique Dangers and Duties both upon the right hand and upon the left It is not needful for his Majesty to adde any thing thereunto except That in those things he doth commend and approve them and that he Resolves to live and dye with them and his Loyal Subjects in prosecution of the Ends of the Covenant ANSWER THe Parliament of England and also their Army having so fully declared the Justice Necessity and Ends of undertaking the present Expedition into Scotland and having also put it in a way how those Declarations from the Committee of Estates and Commission of the Kirk in Answer thereunto shall have their invalidity detected as some of them already in part have been It will be needless to say any thing further on this subject in this place §. 6. ANd whereas that prevailing party in England after all their strange Usurpations and insolent Actings in that Land Do not onely keep his Majesty from the Government of that Kingdom by force of Arms but also have now Invaded the Kingdom of Scotland who have deserved better things at their hands and against whom they have no just quarrel His Majesty doth therefore desire and expect That all his good Subjects in England who are and resolve to be faithful to God and to their King according to the Covenant will lay hold upon such an opportunity and use their utmost endeavors to promove the Covenant and all the ends thereof and to recover and re-establish the Ancient Government of the Kingdom of England under which for many Generations it did flourish in peace and plenty at home and in Reputation abroad and Priviledges of the Parliament and Native and Just Liberty of the People His Majesty desires to assure himself That there doth remain in these so much confidence of their Duty to Religion their King and Countrey and so many sparkles of the ancient English Valor which shined so eminently in their Noble Ancestors as will put them on to bestir themselves for the breaking the Yoke of those mens Oppressions from off their Necks Shall men of Conscience and Honor set Religion Liberties and Government at so low a Rate as not rather to undergo any hazard before they be thus deprived of them Will not all generous men count any Death more tolerable then to live in servitude all their days And will not Posterity blame those who dare attempt nothing for themselves and for their Children in so good a Cause in such an Exigent Whereas if they gather themselves and take courage putting on a Resolution answerable to so Noble and just an Enterprise they shall honor God and gain themselves the Reputation of Pious men worthy Patriots and Loyal Subjects and be called The Repairers of the Breach by the present and succeeding Generations and they may certainly promise to themselves a Blessing from God upon so just and honorable undertaking for the Lord and for his Cause for their own Liberties their Native King and Countrey and the unvaluable good and happiness of the Posterity Whatever hath formerly been his Majesties guiltiness before God and the bad success that these have had who owned his Affairs whilest he stood in Opposition to the Work of God yet the state of the question being now altered and his Majesty having obtained Mercy to be on Gods side and to prefer Gods Interest before his own He hopes That the Lord will be gracious and countenance his own Cause in the hands of weak and sinful Instruments against all Enemies whatsoever This is all that can be said by his Majesty at present to those in England and Ireland at such a distance and as they shall acquit themselves at this time in the active discharge of their necessary Duties so shall they be accepted before God indeared

hath by your Answer to the same Desires given full contentment to the General Assembly I doubt not but your Majesty is willing to give the same conent to your Parliament and Committee of Estates Therefore I trust your Majesty will pardon my boldness for I know no better service can be done to your Majesty than that any thing which proceeds from you may be acceptable to your People and that your Majesty may be more and more endeared in their affections which is the duty and shall be ever the desire of Endorsed A Copy of my Letter to the King July 22. 1650. Most gracious Soveraign THe condition of your Majesties Army here and what our Resolutions are at present will be so exactly shewn to your Majesty by Sir James Lumsden as I shall refer the particulars to his Relations rather than trouble your Majesty with a long Letter yet briefly I hold it fit to shew your Majesty That Cromwel hath gotten more than a moneths provision for his Army by Sea and that he expects shortly new Recruits And victuals being so scarce as it will be very difficult to entertain our Army in a Body till the Harvest that Corns be cut and reaped It s resolved for this and other Reasons That this Army shall march out to the fields nearer the Enemy and if they force us to fight in Gods strength to give them Battel or if they shall not pursue us some Enterprise will be undertaken to make a diversion to give the Enemy work in England rather than consume us with a lingring War and make the seat of it in Scotland In order to which your Majesties hastning hither your Declaration is so necessary as the delay of it will retard and obstruct any Expedition into England and time is so precious as the loss of opportunity can hardly ever be recovered So praying God to bless your Majesty and so direct your Councels and the actions of your Armies as may serve most for his honor may restore your Majesty to your just Right And Sir It is the desire and judgement of many That Sir J. L. should be Lieut General of the Foot but was not thought expedient to do it presently to shun contest and emulation yet his affection to the Cause and to your Majesties Service is such as he is willing to give his best assistance in ordering the Army and to act his part in a day of Battel And truly Sir he is a person of so much valor and experience in War that your Majesty would give him all encouragement and lay your Commands upon him to return presently to the Army and not leave it Endorsed A Scroll of my Letter to the King Aug. 10. 1650. SIR THere hath been so much said by these who are here and those were sent from the Committee of Estates and from the Commissioners of the General Assembly to move your Majesty to emit that Declaration for satisfaction of the Church and State and of such in all your Kingdoms as desire Religion and your Majestics Throne to be establish'd according to the Covenant as I can adde little to perswade your Majesty yet if your Majesty shall ponder in the Ballance of righteous judgement the consequences will follow upon your granting or refusal your Majesty will not deny it If your Majesty grant and emit this Declaration you satisfie the Church the State the Army and all your gude Subjects They all concur to act for you and the Army is ready if they be not engaged in present Battel to march into England and leave Scotland and all which is dear to them to the utmost hazard and sacrifice their Lives for carrying on the Work of Reformation and restoring your Majesty to your Right and Crown of England And then if there be any in England who dare appear for Religion for their own Liberties or for your Majesties Interest they will finde a fit opportunity for it Your Majesty is now obliged by the Oath of Covenant with God and your People to promote the Ends of the Covenant in your Royal Station and Place to the utmost of your Power And your Majesty by the Treaty with this Kingdom and in gude Reason is bund to follow the Counsel and Advice of your Parliament and Church and of these who are by them authorized and since this which is earnestly desired by both as necessary for the good of Religion and the Covenant and engaging of the Church and Kingdom to hazard their Lives and Estates for carrying on your Majesties Interest with the Interest of Religion your Majesty should not deny but cordially and speedily condescend to it If your Majesty after so earnest intreaty and such offers from the Church the State and the Army shall refuse to satisfie the desire and clear your Resolutions your Majesty will grieve their Spirits cool their Affections and weaken their Hands And since your Majesty refuseth to do what is necessary for the good of Religion and Gods Interest they will look to the safety and good of Religion and to their own Safety and emit a Declaration how willing they are to hazard their lives for your Majesties Interest if ye had been for Religion but that being denyed they will separate the preservation of Religion from your Interest and so to the Safety of this Kingdom and if there be a difference and separation upon those grounds there will never in humane appearance be such a conjunction and your Enemies who will grant any thing which may destroy your Majesty will win their ends Endorsed A Copy of my Letter to his Majesty upon sending the Declaration to him to be Signed FINIS

himself and his Interests wholly upon God and in all matters Civil to follow the Advice of his Parliament and such as shall be intrusted by them and in all matters Ecclesiastick the Advice of the General Assembly and their Commissioners and being sensible of his duty to God and desirous to approve himself to the consciences of all his good Subjects and to stop the mouthes of his and their Enemies and Traducers doth in reference to his former Deportments and as to his Resolutions for the future Declare as follows ANSVVER THe Dispensations of Divine Providence are indeed merciful by which Princes or Governors are at any time really recovered out of the snare of evil Counsel yet when this is done by the violence of an absolute Necessity 't is seldom real or lasting and then the Mercy in it is but little to the People who will taste the bitter fruit of such dissimulations when it is too late It seems that the King of Scotland can now profess to the world he hath been in the snare of evil Counsel whilest he entertained any doubts or diffidence of the loyalty of his People of Scotland and stood at a distance from them and their Cause and was unconvinced of the righteousness of it and did not joyn in one Covenant with them nor cast himself and his Interests wholly upon God and in all matters Civil follow the advice of his Parliament and in all matters Ecclesiastick the General Assembly or the Commissioners thereof We do not deny but his former Counsels as well as himself have suffered a great change through the merciful Dispensation of Divine Providence to this Commonwealth prospering so wonderfully our Armies in Ireland as to exclude him and his Interest in a great measure from thence and preserving this Nation in Peace within it self to prevent any footing to be given to him here whereby he was reduced to the course he hath now taken to say what the Parliament and Kirk of Scotland shall put into his mouth and tell him is fit for him and his Affairs to declare or else to lose all And if Scotland do esteem it so great a mercy to have him reduced to this pure necessity of casting himself into their Arms We know to whom under God they owe the Obligation a Blessing which we confess we do not envy them and which were we secured never to be partaker of with them or by their means we should not hinder them from the free and full enjoyment of Having by fad experience found what it is to have a King though never so well beset in appearance with good men about him or to trust to his Repentances and Promises Oaths or Declarations how fair soever in shew and how strong soever laid down in words As to the Evil of the Counsel out of which its said He is recovered by this change We say That if the future Resolutions mentioned in this Declaration be the evidences whereby we are to judge of the goodness of the new Counsel we cannot but take notice That they do onely vary the means but not the end which still is evil to wit The enslaving the three Nations and do change the Instruments but not the Cause as is before and shall further be made evident and therefore we must be excused if we judge that their yong King is yet in as great a snare of evil Counsel as ever and thereupon endeavor what in us lies to keep this Nation from falling under the bad effects thereof §. 2. THough his Majesty as a dutiful Son be obliged to honor the memory of his Royal Father and have in estimation the person of his Mother yet doth he desire to be deeply humbled and afflicted in Spirit before God because of his Fathers hearkning to and following evil Counsels and his opposition to the work of Reformation and to the Solemn League and Covenant by which so much of the blood of the Lords People hath been shed in these Kingdoms and for the Idolatry of his Mother the Toleration whereof in the Kings House as it was matter of great stumbling to all the Protestant Churches so could it not but be an high provocation against him who is a jealous God visiting the sins of the Fathers upon the Children And albeit his Majesty might extenuate his former Carriages and Actions in following of the advice and walking in the way of those who are opposite to the Covenant and to the work of God and might excuse his delaying to give satisfaction to the just and necessary Desires of the Kirk and Kingdom of Scotland from his education and age and evil Counsel and Company and from the strange insolent proceedings of Sectaries against his Royal Father and in reference to Religion and the ancient Government of the Kingdom of England to which he hath the undoubted Right of Succession yet knowing that he hath to do with God he doth ingeniously acknowledge all his own sins and all the sins of his Father House craving pardon and hoping for mercy and reconciliation through the blood of Jesus Christ And as he doth value the constant Addresses that were made by his People to the Throne of Grace on his behalf when he stood in opposition to the Work of God as a singular Testimony of long-suffering patience and mercy upon the Lords part and loyalty upon theirs so doth he hope and shall take it as one of the greatest tokens of their love and affection to him and to his Government That they will continue in Prayer and Supplication to God for him That the Lord who spared and preserved him to this day notwithstanding of all his own guiltiness may be at peace with him and give him to fear the Lord his God and to serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing minde all the days of his life ANSVVER THe first Testimony of the good of the New Counsels into whose hands the Scots King hath cast himself is The Repentance towards God which they advise him to make in reference to his own Sins and Sins of his Fathers House A matter in it self truly praise-worthy and the consequence whereof in the words wherein it is express'd doth in no small measure reach to the Acknowledgement of the just Hand of God upon his Father and Mother in the Banishing of the one and taking away the life of the other by the hand of Justice putting it into the hearts of those here that remained faithful to their Trust in Parliament to cause his Blood to be poured forth by whose personal Actings Authority and Commissions so much of the Blood of the Lords People hath been shed in the Three Nations as this Declaration it self acknowledges and for which therefore we have reason to bless God and admire his Providence That out of the mouth of the Son there hath in the sight of the whole World been brought forth such a Justification of the Sentence passed and Executed upon the Father But as to

the manner of Declaring this his Repentance that is to say with the Qualifications therein allowed of whereby under the pretence of a dutiful Son He may still retain in Memory his Fathers Actions of Tyranny for his Patern and through the high Estimation of his Mother have his Ears still open to her Councels as often as she can convey them to him And as sensible as he must be of his own and his Fathers Enmity and Opposition against the Lords People in the Three Nations yet he must still be encouraged to persist in the same against those that are truly the Lords People under the pretence of Sectaries These are such Inconsistencies and Haltings in so serious a Work that as it is justly to be feared that God will not be well pleased therewith so neither will it have its expected effect amongst men who with ease may see through the deceit and lameness of it and will with greater abhorrency be aware of them and their Designs that strive to cover themselves with Webs that will not prove Garments but whose Nakedness doth still appear §. 3. ANd his Majesty having upon full perswasion of the Justice and Equity of all the Heads and Articles thereof now Sworn and Subscribed the National Covenant of the Kingdom of Scotland and the Solemn League and Covenant of the Three Kingdoms of Scotland England and Ireland Doth Declare That he hath not Sworn and Subscribed these Covenants and entred into the Oath of God with his People upon any sinister Intention and crooked Design for attaining his own Ends but so far as Humane Weakness will permit in the truth and sincerity of his heart And that he is firmly Resolved in the Lords strength to adhere thereto and to prosecute to the utmost of his power all the Ends thereof in his Station and Calling really constantly and sincerely all the days of his life In order to which he doth in the first place Profess and Declare That he will have no Enemies but the Enemies of the Covenant and that he will have no Friends but the Friends of the Covenant And therefore as he doth now detest and abhor all Popery Superstition and Idolatry together with Prelacy and all Errors Heresie Schism and Prophaneness and resolves not to tolerate much less allow any of these in any part of his Majesties Dominions but to oppose himself thereto and to endeavor the Externation thereof to the utmost of his power so doth he as a Christian Exhort and as a King Require That all such of his Subjects who have stood in Opposition to the Solemn League and Covenant and Work of Reformation upon a pretence of Kingly Interest or any other pretext whatsoever to lay down their Enmity against the Cause and People of God and to cease to prefer the Interest of Man to the Interest of God which hath been one of those things which hath occasioned many Troubles and Calamities in these Kingdoms and being insisted into will be so far from Establishing of the Kings Throne that it will prove an Idol of Jealousie to provoke unto wrath him who is King of kings and Lord of lords The King shall always esteem them best Servants and most Loyal Subjects who serve him and seek his Greatness in a right line of subordination unto God Giving unto God the things that are Gods and unto Cesar the things that are Cesars And Resolveth not to love or countenance any who have so little Conscience and Piety as to follow his Interests with a prejudice to the Gospel and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ which he looks not upon as a duty but as flattery and driving of Self-Designs under a pretence of maintaining Royal Authority and Greatness Secondly His Majesty being convinced in Conscience of the exceeding great Sinfulness and Unlawfulness of that Treaty and Peace made with the Bloody Irish Rebels who treacherously shed the Blood of so many of his faithful and Loyal Subjects in Ireland and of allowing unto them the Liberty of the Popish Religion for the which he doth from his heart desire to be deeply humbled before the Lord And likewise considering how many Breaches have been upon their part Doth Declare the same to be void and that his Majesty is absolved therefrom being truly sorry that he should have sought unto so unlawful Help for Restoring of him to his Throne and resolving for the time to come rather to choose Affliction then Sin Thirdly As his Majesty did in the late Treaty with his people in this Kingdom agree to recal and annul all Commissions against any of his Subjects who did adhere to the Covenant and Monarchical Government in any of his Kingdoms So doth he now Declare That by Commissionating of some persons by Sea against the people of England he did not intend Damage or Injury to his opprest and harmless Subjects in that Kingdom who follow their Trade of Merchandize in their lawful Callings but onely the opposing and suppressing of those who had Usurped the Government and not onely bar him from his just Right but also Exercise an Arbitrary Power over his people in those things which concern their Persons Consciences and Estates And as since his coming into Scotland he hath given no Commissions against any of his Subjects in England or Ireland so he doth hereby Assure and Declare That he will give none to their prejudice or damage and whatever shall be the Wrongs of these Usurpers That he will be so far from avenging these upon any who are free thereof by interrupting or stopping the liberty of Trade and Merchandize or otherwise That he will seek their good and to the utmost imploy his Royal Power That they may be protected and defended against the unjust Violence of all men whatsoever And albeit his Majesty desires to construct well of the Intentions of those in reference to his Majesty who have been active in Councel or Arms against the Covenant yet being convinced that it doth conduce for the Honor of God the good of his Cause and his own Honor and Happiness and for the Peace and Safety of these Kingdoms That such be not employed in places of Power and Trust He doth Declare That he will not employ nor give Commissions to any such until they have not onely taken or renewed the Covenant but also have given sufficient Evidences of their Integrity Carriage and Affection to the Work of Reformation and shall be declared capable of Trust by the Parliament of either Kingdom respective And His Majesty upon the same grounds doth hereby recal all Commissions given to any such persons conceiving all such persons will so much tender a good Understanding betwixt him and his Subjects and the setling and preserving a firm Peace in these Kingdoms That they will not grudge nor repine at his Majesties Resolutions and Proceedings herein much less upon discontent act any thing in a divided way unto the raising of New Troubles especially since upon their pious and good deportment

diligently done for the House of the God of Heaven and whatever heretofore hath been the suggestions of some to him to render his Majesty jealous of his Parliament and of the Servants of God Yet is he hath declared that in Scotland he will hearken to their Counsel and follow their Advice in those things that concern that Kingdom and Kirk So doth he also declare his firm Resolution to manage the Government of the Kingdom of England by the Advice of his Parliament consisting of an House of Lords and of an House of Commons there and in those things that concern Religion to prefer the Counsels of the Ministers of the Gospel to all other Counsels whatsoever And that all the world may see how much he tenders the safety of his People and how precious their blood is in his sight and how desirous he is to recover his Crown and Government in England by peaceable means as he doth esteem the service of those who first engaged in the Covenant and have since that time faithfully followed the ends thereof to be Duty to God and Loyalty to him so is he willing in regard of others who have been involved in these late Commotions in England against Religion and Government to pass an Act of Oblivion excepting onely some few in that Nation who have been chief obstructers of the work of Reformation and chief Authors of the change of the Government and of the Murther of his Royal Father Provided That these who are to have the benefit of this Act lay down Arms and return unto the obedience of their lawful Soveraign ANSVVER THe Treaty that was touched upon in the former Paragraph made between the kingdom of Scotland and their King in reference to England and Ireland is here at large and in the particulars of it set down it will be needless to repeat them In the whole Frame of which we dare boldly affirm There are those Grounds laid of inslaving this Nation to the Scots and especially to the power of their Clergy That no Parliament that hath ever yet sate in England have had the least drop of true English blood in them but would disdain and abhor to be thus imposed upon by the Scotish Nation And are these the hopes that are given to this Nation of having two Houses of Parliament sitting in Freedom when what they must desire and what they must have must be prepared and agreed for them by a Forraign Nation Will the Parliament be more the Parliament of England when two Houses shall be brought upon the Stage again with a King at the Head of them by the power of a Scotish Army enforcing this upon the Nation then when the Parliament is in actual possession of such Power and Freedom as through the blessing of God upon their endeavors they are able by Law to exclude both King and House of Lords the known opposers of the Peoples Freedom out of their National Counsels and by the force God hath enabled them with to preserve the common Peace and Safety of the whole under the Government of a Commonwealth and Free-State It is too late now to think that the People have no better discernment of their own true Interest then to be ●atched with any satisfaction that can be offered and given by a King if he himself with his power must come in at the end of it Nor will the great promises of what he will do in the Cause of God and Work of Reformation under that pretence to let in upon us the return again of Tyranny much work upon the pious and judicious among us who want not the full and free enjoyments of their consciences in this kinde in a voluntary way under this Government without being beholding to the Concessions of a King nay we may truly say That since the change of Government in this Nation there have been more Laws made and means used for the propagating the Gospel and the power of godliness and encouraging the true Professors thereof and more done for the extirpation of Prophaneness and open Wickedness then hath been during the whole time of the Reigns of Kings over this Nation And as to the King of Scotland's declaring his firm Resolution to manage the Government of England by the Advice of his Parliament consisting of a House of Lords and of a House of Commons and in those things that concern Religion to prefer the Counsel of the Ministers of the Gospel before all Counsels whatsoever We trust it shall never be in his nor in the Kingdom of Scotlands power to impose either himself or his Creatures the House of Lords upon the Supreme Authority and National Counsel of the Free-born People of England who if they once become corrupted in that which is the Fountain of their Liberties their own Representatives in Parliament assembled which with thus much cost hazard are set up in some measure already in their Primitive and Original Purity and are going on every day more and more to the compleating thereof must expect nothing but the flowings forth of Tyranny and Mischief upon them in and by their very Laws and that which should be the chief and onely remedy against all their evils would by this means become the greatest cause and author of them Nor would this at all be mended or helped by the Clause which is put in That in those things which concern Religion he will prefer the Counsels of the Ministers of the Gospel before all Counsels whatsoever and so by undenyable consequence before the Parliament it self for we have learned by experience That there is hardly any Debate had in Parliament but the subject-matter of it in some sense or other may be brought under the concernment of Religion and by that means all the Laws must be or not be as the Clergy will approve or not approve of them A practice so inconsistent with the Fundamental Priviledges and Freedom of Parliament and the Peoples good that it hath always been exploded and resisted by all Assertors of English Freedom and whenever any visible Attempts have been made to promote such a Design as too often have been since the sitting of this Parliament the Parliaments have highly Resented it and frequently adjudged it High Treason looking at it as that which Introduces a Forraign Jurisdiction and makes way for the setting up again a Popish Supremacy changed in Name onely Touching the Act of Oblivion offered It is no doubt the effect of a great desire the King of Scots hath to receive that which he pretends unto in the Government of England An Acknowledgement of his Power to dispense such Favors But in the mean time we must observe who it is that makes this Offer A Traytor to the Parliament and People of England and who by his past Actings against them hath rendred himself obnoxious to their severest Censures from which we hold him no way Absolved by Assumption or Declaration of a Scotish Kingship He who by Law and his