suppresse the Protestants among themselves and so not onely occasion the Exhaustion of England and the distraction of the Parliament there by a warre but also be servâ—…ceable upon the perfection of their worke or an allowed Cessation from it to strengthen the Kings party in Enâ—…land or annoy Scotland to the prevention of their Assistance Very good or at least very true But what may be expected of Holland from the people little hindâ—…ance being drowned in their owne interest of gaine Were we all Spaniards we could have supplies from thence for our money and from the Prince of Orange who hath well gained not onely by that state but upon it all possible assistance by reason of the contraâ—…t of marriage with England and the possibility there may be of requiting him in the same kind when our worke is done Which by the way when the Netherlanders are awake they shall doe well â—…o consider of and reflect upon the Belgick blood and English treasure expended in the freeing them from that bondage to which by 〈◊〉 at supplies against the Parliament they are hastening againe As for Denmarke the case is cleere the Obligation of Consanguinity the interest of Royaltie will ingage that Prince and to put it utterly out of doubt the incouragement given by Letters under his owne hand is abundantly sufficient As for France and Spaine Popery and Monarchy or rather Tyranny will bring â—…n them notwithstanding their great and important differences as Pilate and Herod to joyne in crucifiing Christ The greatest doubt may seeme of France Spaine having a firmer interest in the Papists of Ireland and England but considering it is for the Catholique Cause And that if the proceedings of the true Protestants of England and Scotland prosper it may be an ill president to the Protestants of France to strive to regain what the other strive to keep no doubt he will cast a favourable eye upon this businesse as now appeares by sending his Agent into Scotland to hinder the Union of the two Nations Things being thus digested as in all reason they might and were no wonder though the King upon his returne from Scotland and the Rebellion begunne in Ireland altered his language and carriage to the Parliament and sought nothing more then occasions of beginning the Quarrell as by the illegall accusation of their members Going to the house of Commons to demand them so attended upon whose instigation and with what intention appeares by the Queenes carriage at his frustrate returne as also by the confessions of divers of that desperate Guard These violent assassinating courses attempted in England and Scotland practised in Ireland though they are not certaine Evidences are usuall signes of a Popish Designe and Jesuiticall Councels After this attempt not through pretended feare for his Majesty adventured into the City the next day with a small Guard but through indignation at the disappointed mischiefe and as the Lord Digbie saith to keepe the Cavaliers from trampling and reproach the King removes from London cum tota sequela except some who were left to be Agents in City and Parliament for this great service whom we could as well have spared And now the plot of raising an Army long before contrived being ready for the birth Iune Lucina fâ—…r opem Let the Queen find a pretence to goe into Holland taking with her the Crowne Jewels which were pawned or sould not to gaine but lose the Pearle of price with the more freedome to negotiate forreigne supplies of Money Armes Ammunition and Commanders whither likewise some other officious persons as Iermine Digbie c. were before by his Majesties warrant despatched and to speake without flattery she did speciall service for which no doubt she shall have her Indulgences and Pardons free as she hath occasion to use them In the meane while the King is going on pilgrimage in Devotion to this Romish Cause and though continually petitioned for returne and obtested by bleeding Ireland makes little stay till he comes to York where after the Courting of that Country and his many Protestations taking the Lords in for security Iune 15. 1642. whose honours were pawned for his Majesties intentions whereby it was thought the people were better prepared then indeed they were he goes to Hull and upon Sit Iohn Hothams refusall takes occasion to raise a Guard for his person in a place whose Loyalty was so much magnified which by the helpe of the Commission of Array and forreign supplies hath ingendred a plentifull issue of three or foure Armies But what is all this to the subversion of the Protestant Religion if there had been any such intention in the raising the Army the Papists whose speciall interest it was should have beene taken in who are by a Proclamation dated at York August 10. 1642. forbidden not onely the Court a place so unfit for them the Queen being now absent but any Office or service in the Kings Army and as if his Majesty were so farre from expecting their assistance that he feared their vengeance in his instructions to the Commissioners of Array August 29. 1642. dated at Nottingham charge is given that Recusants be disarmed This cannot be denied but it may be contradicted as it was by his Majesty in an answer to the Petition of the Recusants of Lancashire dated at Chester September 27. 1642. where they are not onely allowed but according to the knowne Law of the Land required to provide sufficient armes for themselves their servants and tennants And wheras it may be said the case was different in August and September it s yeelded his Majesties Case was different though his Cause the same To have received them before others were ingaged had beene to disingage the Protestants and interrupt the worke in its tender beginnings And therefore it must be so timed that as many Protestants as could be deluded with pretences might be drawne in and ingaged beyond a retreat before the assistance of the Papists was required Thus have you an account of those groundâ—… for which those Counsels Conâ—…rivances and disguises by which the maine Army countenanced by the Kings favour and presence was raised against the Parliament I have no minde to trace it over-shooes through that innocent blood which hath been spilt by it neither is it to my present purpose to doe it The indeavours to the same end in the North by the Earle of Newcastle in Wales and Cornewall by the Marqu of Hertford and Sir Ralph Hopton These latter grounded rather as I suppose upon the Principles of Prerogative then Popery I purposely omit onely let me take notice that this worke of darknesse hath made the darke corners of the land its refuge and received most assistance from places most void of the knowledge of God which we are in a high degree to impute to the more then barbarous cruelty of the Prelats not onely not providing but preventing their supplies and discouraging the Liberality and Piety of those who indeavoured the
the use made of Newcastle hath vindicated the securing Hull The Ship from Denmarke hath justified their suspition grounded as it is said upon the slighted testimony of the Skipper at Roterdam The Lord Digbies endeavours and the residence there of King and Cochran the Propositions to the Scots at Newcastle hereafter to be mentioned for the joyning of the Scottish and English Armies against the Parliament have justified all the suspitions and accusations then pretended and protested to be unjust and groundlesse In such times and cases as these feares and jealousies are pardonable and distrust especially after evident breaches of trust is the mother of security It is a very unequall thing that the King with his Cavaliers should renounce the Parliament destroy his good Subjects upon the jealousie that Parliaments and Puritans are Enemies to his Prerogative and Power which can never bee proved if Iustice be made the Rule of Power and we railed on for defending our selves against the confederacie of Papists Prelates Court Parasites and their Adherents whose endeavours of introducing Popery and Tyranny are farre beyond jealousie as is now to be demonstrated I will not retire so farre backe having so much work before me as to insist upon the manifest and manifold attempts upon this Kingdome in the dayes of Queene Elizabeth whom when they had discerned to have settled her Interests for the Protestants against Spaine and Rome and established her Councell according to those Interests So that though the Bishops brought her to dis-favour Puritanes yet they could not perswade her to favour the Papists but she still kept a strict and vigilant eye over them as being rightly informed that they and not the other were the greatest Enemies to Royall Power When they saw this the usuall arts of Rome against dis-affected Princes are put in practice viz. Bulls Interdicts Poysonings Assassinations which God wonderfully preserved that heroicke Ladie from the Spanish Armado the Rebellion in Ireland may be further Testimonies of their zeale in this businessâ—… To the enumeration of these let us onely adde thankfulnesse and caution and proceed to their after Machinations the bitter fruits of which the Protestant Churches yet feele King Iames before he came to the Crowne of England had a heart too large for his Dominion and therefore extended his affectionate thoughts to the Kingdomes of England and Ireland which he longed for a peaceable possession of The Factors of Rome having studied his interest and nature according to their wonted confidence attempt him as for his Understanding so well informed in the Forgeries and Falshoods of the Romish Religion it was not to be ventured on and therefore they proportion their workings to his Passions which were desire of the accession of power mixt with a more then ordinary feare in which he was naturally unhappy lest he should be interrupted if not disappointed in the entrance And in this Conflict obtaine from him some intimations if not assurances of favour to the Catholique Cause with which they were for the present satisfied The King upon his entrance and settlement in England saw cause rather to dispence with his promises then his principles whereupon the Popish Faction grew discontented against him and a fruit of that discontent was the Romish Hellish Powder-plot never to be mentioned by any good Protestant but with due gratitude to Almighty God and just detestation of the Romish Religion This Treason wrought not kindely with his Majesty for whereas he might have made the Plot a ground of defiance and the Deliverance a ground of confidence the horrour of the businesse wrought such impression of dread upon his timorous spirit that though he was not blowne up yet he was shaken by it all his life after and drawn successively to a Compliance with at least a Connivance at their proceedings And notwithstanding the free exercise of his wit and pen against Popery which they could well allow him they constrained him to purchase his own security contrary to the Interests of Protestant Religion and Paternall affection with the ruine of the neigbour Churches of Bohemia and the Palatinate We should not have looked upon the day of our Brethren to that we may reduce the many impediments that have fallen in betwixt us and the help of our friends and that posture wherein God himselfe stands towards us even as a man astonished a mighty man that cannot save Jer. 14. 9. Though we have this hope left that God will recompence that mischiefe not upon the Nation the body whereof had a just fellow-feeling with the distresses of their neighbours but upon that cursed Faction whose pernicious Councels yet rule among us This was the most considerable Progresse made in his time though the preparatory workings for a fitter opportunity were not omitted as the cherishing in him a dis-affection to Puritanes an inclination to Bishops procuring countenance to Prophanenesse both by practice and Declaration to the remote Counties for licentious Sabbath-breaking and settling about him persons regardlesse of the good of Church or Common-wealth To which may be added the untimely death of Prince Henry when it was once observed that he grew popular inclined to martiall affaires and dis-affected to Spanish proceedings As also the Propositions of the Treaty of marriage with Spain offered from England revised at Rome and then by the Negotiation of Bristoll agreed to though after broken with so many advantages to the spreading of Popery in England as might discover the designe to have been considerably advanced in King Iames his time I shall shut up the discourse of his Reigne with this observation of the providence of God That those Princes who have trusted God with their lives and Kingdomes and kept Spain and Rome at distance and defiance have sped better then they who to their dishonoured selves have sacrificed the welfare of the Church of God as by comparing the History of Queen Elizabâ—…th with those of Henry the fourth of France and King Iames may appear who trusting to their own politike Conservations the thing that they feared came upon them For so it was That when by the journey into Spain fairer hopes were conceived of the Prince as by his intercourse with the Pope and the presumptions of the jesuite which you shall finde in the Treatise of the English Pope not unworthy an English-mans deligent observation most fully appears King Iames came to be looked upon as {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and must be taken out of the way that the Mystery might work the more effectually and so died he both a Friend and Martyr of the Catholique Cause Though it was doubted and feared there were severall ingredients into his death the world talks of a drink and a plaister the Cup might be mingled for Romes sake and some other hands accessary to spreading the plaister if so Let them share the guilt I leave them to him whose eyes are upon all the wayes of men to render them according to their wayes
Pander to the Whore of Rome As also a booke of corrupt Canons which though they comprehended abundant iniquity yet it was thought fit by one Canon commended by Rosse to Canterbury that a doore should be left open wide enough for the Pope himselfe to enter at a fit opportunity to this effect That since no Reformation in Doctrine or Dâ—…scipline can be made perfect at once it should be lawfull by his Majesties consent c. which fell in so directly with Canterburies Designe that he procured it to be approved by the King at Greenwich May â—…3 1635. and injoyned it to be inserted giving thankes to his Agent the Bishop of Rosse in a lerter yet to be seene saying he was glad of the canon so 〈◊〉 placed behind the curtaine and commanded it to be fully printed But these Southerne plants being slips of an Italian Stocke could not endure this Northerne Climate but were sorely nipt and hinc illâ—… lachrymae the Scots instead of a Common-prayer Booke joyned in a Covenant which when Spotswood saw he said prophetitaâ—…ly I hope as once Caiaphas the bottome of their businesse was broken out and for his part he thought it seasonable to repaire into England which he forthwith did and with griefe dyed a Martyr to this Designe and so was the prediction of Master Walsh a famous Scottish Minister fulfilled upon him who in a Letter to the Bishop written 1604. told him he should dve an Out-cast The resolute rejection of this booke together with the Prelates altered the Scene but no way the Plot of this Tragedy and gave occasion for new Actors to enter in a military 〈◊〉 it being determined by this Romish confederacy that force must be added to fraud the peoples blood to the Prelates sweat rather then this blesâ—…el worke dis-appointed When therefore it was resolved that the many humble Petitions and Remonstrances of the Scottish Nation should be answered in blood preparations are accordingly made and because the Bishops had rendered themselves so odious by their Superstitious and Lordly carriage though the quarrell was theirs the action must be entred in the Kings name the warre must be called Bellum Ragale and not Episcopale and the Scots persecuted not as men dis-affected to Episcopacy but to Monarchy And thus by blowing the Trumpet of Lyes and Slanders some desperate some deluded persons were gathered together to force the Scottish Nation to Canonicall obedience and a Conformity to England now in Confederacie with Rome His Majesties person for the credit of the Cause must be ingaged who comming downe to the Borders and finding the Scots standing upon their defence at Dunce hill the King having left his firebrands at home in stead of fighting treats and concludes a Pacification at Berwicke which when the Councellours of mischiefe especially Canterbury and Strafford saw as they had before incensed his Majesty against his people to now as became the Grace of the one and Lordship of the other they make him fall out with himselfe and his owne act and sacrifice his faith and honour to the Quarrell This poore paper because it gave advantage toward a peace so unsatisfying to them and unserviceable to their ends it must receive the measure more due to the Incendaries be dis-avowed and burnt by the hands of the Hangman And this was done upon these or the like considerations If Scotland be so left it will not onely be hopelesse in regard of it selfe and so hinder the perfection of the good worke but remaine as an ill president to all good Subjects to stand up in defence of their Religion and Liberties which Canterbury and Strafford had a mind to invade against all illegall and violent attempts though in orced with the Kings personall preâ—…erce And further the example of that Kingdome will not onely remaine as an encouragement but their unbroken strength 〈◊〉 it is to feared prove serviceable to the Puritans of England who are justly thought so many and obstinate that without a blow they are not to be subdued It is therefore concluded necessary by the Factours for Tyranny and Popery that Armes be resumed by the King of which at least they thought to reap this advantage that which side soever prevailed it would be an ingagement of the Kingdomes in warre which was so earnestly pressed by Strafford that so they might be dis 〈◊〉 and made the more unserviceable to each other in case of necessity Thereupon they further perswading the King of the possibility of prevailing which he used to regard more then the nature of the Councell Armes are taken un againe Strafford with his Assistant Sir Toby Matthews an Episcopall extract are dispatched for Ireland the one deales with the Parliament the other with the Papists for supplies in this Catholique cause and prevailed not onely in that but an auxiliary strength is there raised of about 8000. men most of them papists who might be transported for Englâ—…nd or Scotland as occasion should require And Canterbury no lesse busie at home dispatches his Bulls to the Clergy for Contributions to the present designe and Souldiers are pressed with the advantages of Coat and conduct money in the severall Counties But the Souldiers a sed in 〈◊〉 Hartfordshire and thereabouts as if they had rather beene to serve under a Scottish Covenant then a popish Command fâ—…ll to pulling downe Images burning the railes about the Altaâ—…s and affronting papists which was an unâ—…oward Omen but yet dis-heartned not the stout prelates and rest of the Faction from their enterprises While these Firebrands were smoaking in England and Ireland the Scottiâ—…h Nation who love not After games were not idle but made good their bearing their Lyon was rampant while the English were but passant and so not being willing to trust another pacification at the Borders march into England with an Arny carrying a petition to the King and Declaration to the Kingdome in one hand and Armes the onely arguments then hopefull in the other and forced their passage at Newburn with the repulse of the English if they deserve so to be called most of them having changed their hearts for French and Spanish so were they possessed of Newcastle and the Bishopricke of Durham and fought with their Adversaries upon their owne ground and charges The successe of this designe being ill and the experce great and insupportable to the Contrivers notwithstanding all their extravagant oppressions they are so impudent as to try if they could intitle the English Nation to the maintenance aâ—…d countenance of that war which was levied by a Faction and perswade the King to call a parliament intending through the specious pretences of Loyalty and promises of taking away grievances to deceive them into a contribution to this warre which through Gods great mercy and good providence they avoyded though it cost them a dissolution Hereupon the Instruments of violence double their diligent injustice which grew so intolerable that some of the Lords take the confidence to
that they made use neither of the Kings offer to the Scots by declaring it nor the Scots to them by accepting it and one of them was so farre more ambitious of his Majesties favour then carefull of his owne honour as to acquaint the King with the businesse Aâ—…ke the Lord of Dorset who it was But I hasten from this Digression and returne to that conclusion which I thinke I may clearely make from these premises That his Majesty before any of these apparent Quarrels about Tumules or the like used earnest endeavours for destroying the Parliament so contrary both in its constitution and proceedings to the intended subversion of Religion and Liberty either in their persons or priviledges So that though these plots and transactions did not serve the Kings turn for the intended mischiefe yet they serve mine very well in the cleare proofe of the intention of the mischiefe Something might further be added out of the Irish businesse to make this assertion cleare but I reserve that to its owne place being the Mystery of this Mystery and the Iniquity of this Iniquity By what hath beene declared it may appeare what aspect the King and the Councels in which he was ingaged had toward the Parliament of England Let us proceed to examine the courâ—…es which were afterward taken in prosecution of this Design against them and those that for love of Religion Liberâ—…y adhered to them and by considering the Wayes Counsels Instruments which have beene used in this service we shall obtaine yet further evidence that this present warre undertaken by the King and his party was intended for the subvers on of the professed Religion and establisht Government When therfore the Armies raised both in England and Ireland not without some relustancy as not having performed their intended service were unavoidably to be dis-banded in the declining part of the yeare 1641. we must suppose a Counsell most solemnly to be called at White-hall about July or August before the Kings going into Scotland it being then very seasonable in regard that the Irish Committee especially so able and active men as Gormonston Muskery Plunket Browne and Bourke who were privately treated with was then in England wherein as may appeare by the precedent and future practises it was laid as a ground That this Parliament with the Puritanes their Adherents who stood so obstinately in the way of this propounded and so farre promoted Designe must be removed or subdned And to this End wayes of violence blood being the Whores drinke Revel. 17. 6. and iâ—…perium quolibet pretio constans bene an absolute rule being cheap at any rate are resolved upon especially considering that many broken pieces of the Armies raised against Scotland might easily be made use of againe the Occasion being very little different And in this Conspiracy was that monstâ—…ous Rebellion in Ireland to use the words in the Kings answer to the Petition of the Irish Commanders dated at Oxford December 1. 1642. for we cannot wish better words though we expect better deeds practised by those mercilesse and idolatrous Rebels more then probably contrived Let us stand behind the curtaine some policie may be learnt and honesty too by way of defiance After the Proposition of the destroying this Parliament in case it could not be reduced to the service of this Catholique Designe which was almost past hope seeing no more royall inclinations in them after so many Acts of Grace besides personall honours and offers made to some accepted by others which was resolved doubrlesse nemine contradicente The next consultation must naturally and necessarily be of the manner which must likewise be Confusion and Blood sceleribus non nisi per scelera tutum est iter But nothing is to be done rashly the Cause being as full of hazard as importance let therefore the State of the Kingdome of England and the neighbour Kingdomes and States in reference to this Cause be duly considered The condition of England may be thus represented for the body of it It consists of Papists Protestants viz. the King Prelates Courtiers and Cavaliers the dissolute Gentry the superstitious Clergy the profane and ignorant people the only Protestants now accounted of all the rest are but Anabaptists and Brownists and a third party of Purita is that is Lovers of the Protestant Religion with the desire of Reformatioâ—… friends to the Parliament and native Liberty of the Subject This latter part though very strong yet may be supposed well ballanced by the other two whom they without a mistake as now appeaâ—…es presumed might be made one upon the Coincidencie of popery absolute power Prelacie indifferency in Religion and profanenesse especially with the advantages of their opposition to puritanisme and Reformation and the manifold pretences that might be continually made against the Parliament And whereas it might be objected that the Parliament now made indissoluble by a late act would be a very great impediment in regard of its power and estimation with the people especially now after their pressures sustained for want of Parliaments This was put of with the projects of defaming and disgraceing it withdrawing some of the Members corrupting others and bringing the Kingdome into that condition that the Parliament shall be constrained to disingage the people by requiring Contribution rather then ingage them by present freedome and reformation England thus represented is no great discouragement to the worke But what shall be done with Scotland a people full of foresight and resolution thâ—…ir late carriage towards this very businesse hath given abundant testimony That they upon the stateing of the Quarrell by the Parliament for Religion and Liberty will easily be drawne into their assistance The course since taken seemes grounded upon such Councell as this The King is to goe into Scotland and so to pasâ—…e by the Armies the Commanders of which may occasionally be saluted and there he may upon the place be advised to what may be best for his ends If by faire offers and pretences they can be deluded let them not be spared that they may be either ingaged by kindnesse or upbraided with unkindnesse If they be found peremptory since there is an advantage of the Kings presence and so many resolved Cavaliers to attend him as there did both Popish and others let some of the Heads of the faction bt taken off as Argyle for one and Hamilton likewise who by playing booty on both sides that he might be sure to save his stake had like to have lost all which was accordingly attempted by Crawfords Designe but through Gods providence prevented by making a difference betwixt the Contrivers and stirring up a more â—…oble resolution in one of the Commanders though since unworthy enough who thought and said it was the worke of Butchers and not Souldiers that was propounded But let the worst be supposed and provided for As Scotland is for the most part Puritanicall so is Ireland Popish And the Irish Papists may first
Cause of so great consequence as the imminent danger of the Protestant Religion as to examine some of his Actions and see whether they have been more suitable to the Commission oâ—… Proclamation The Proclamation it selfe though in its nature opposite yee in its time and circumstances was too suitable to the Commission being deferred from the latter end of October to the first of January and then so sparingly printed so warily published as if it had been under the controll of some former Act whose leave must first be craved But his Majesty hath reason to expresse violence against these his Catholike Subjects or to chastise them at least for they went beyond this Commission though supposed reall that gave but a Yard they took an Ell though they were allowed to seiâ—…e the goods estates and persons of his Majesties Protestant Subjects yet they were not allowed to cut their throats unleâ—…le the private Letters concomitant can help out at such a pinch and their very transgression in this matter might justly occasion and provoke the title of mercilesse wicked Rebels But to return to Actions the best Commentaries upon words it is to be feared they will be found more agreeable to the Commission then the Proclamation as may be discerned in the unanswered Remonstrance of the rise and progresse of the Grand Rebellion in Ireland For instance What shall indifferent men think of his Majesties withdrawing himself from his Parliament declared by the then reall though now pretended Parliament to be a great obstruction to the prosperity of the Irish undertakings Of his raising war against his Subjects here the greatest service that could be done to the pretended rebels there being a diversion of that strength and a distraction of those Counsels that should have suppressed them Of his granting passes for notorious Papists as Butler the sons of the â—…ord Nettersfield and others to go thither for which see the Declaration of Parliament March 16. 1641. and if you will the Answ March 19. The stopping of provisions going to the supply of the Army against them taking away the horses prepared by the E. of Leicester for that service as appears by his complaint in a printed letter to the Earl of Northumberlana Of the free accesse of those that have been active in that Design to his Majesties camp and Court Of his putting in demuâ—…res to the Bill of pressing souldiers and deniall to the sending ships for that service It must not be denied that his Majesty was earnest in pressing care of that businesse of Ireland upon the Houses and passed some things to the advantage of it and in a message of the 8. of April 1642. spared not to offer his going in person to chastise those wicked and detestable Rebels with the renouncing of all other Ends but if his Majesty had continued in that angry minde hee might with ease have chastised them when they came over to him as they have done â—…ince plentifully I wish I had many more such actions to repeat But it must be considered there was a Proclamation that required some countenance and could not well have lesse then it had but I forestall no mans judgement but leave the impartiall reader to the weighing what hath been said and what hath been produced upon Oath in the Declaration of the Commons Iuly 25. 1643. And if the ballance be equall I shall only cast in some scruples of the late Cessation which unlesse the beame be false will make the Commission weigh down the Proclamation 1. First the scruple of c. in the nomination of the parties in this Treaty Is his Majesties Title of Defender of the Faith come to an intricate c. Yâ—…s and good reason for the other party with whom his 〈◊〉 treats upon equâ—…ll terms are content with an c. and are called His Romane Catholique Subjects now in armes c. whereas it should have bâ—…en added according to the Acts of Kâ—…lkenny for the Exaltation of the Holy Roman Catholique Church 2. The scruple of their sudden transformation from monstrous mercilesse Rebells into Subjects conjâ—…yned with other his Majesties good Subjects What shall the 〈◊〉 of Scotland thinke of this who hardly obtained the lâ—…ke retractation when they defended the Pâ—…orestant Religion or the Parliament of England and their Adherents who cannot yet finde that favour But yet Mopso Nisa datur quid non speremus c. His Majesty sure had thoughts of this dishonourable recancation when hee was so loth to publish the Proclamation against them 3. The third scruple is â—…ersecute for that is the word in the Irish coppy not prosâ—…cute A license granted to 〈◊〉 â—…ure the Bishops had a finger in this Article and that Persecuted Protestants should expect no protection from his Majesty nor any of his forces against the Parsecution of the Papists but rather have occasion to feare the joyning of the forces the King shall have interest in in the Persâ—…cution as is desired by the Catholiques to whom no such trifle must be denied is to me a sad story 4. The fourth scruple that these Catholique Subjects shall have liberty to send such Agents to his Majesty as thâ—…y shall thinke fit from time to time Priests and Iesuites not excepted If the Scales be not yet turned take the whole Cessation and the thirty thousand eight hundred pound and that will 〈◊〉 weigh it downe to the ground But I have much 〈◊〉 leave the contemplation of this Cessation Let us take a second view 1. Of the time whâ—…n it was granted moâ—…t seasonably when the Pâ—…pish party was driven to great Extremities for want of victual â—…nd had bâ—…en in greater had nor the Forces raised and 〈◊〉 by the Parliament bâ—…en seducâ—…d into a disaffâ—…ction to their service 2. Oâ—… the Grounds all Acts of importance that are to passe the eye and censure of the world use to come armed against aâ—…l Exceptions with a preamble shewing the ground and necessity of them How comes it to be here â—…mitted that we have neither real nor * pretended causes and considerations but a down-right Cesâ—…ation or rather Accommodation as Souldiers judge it Was it such broadâ—â—ced iniquity that no mask neitâ—…er in Oxford nor Dublin would fit it Was it neither for the preservation of the Protestant Religion nor affection to the ancient and native â—…ingdom of Scotland nor for the reconciling of the Distractions of the Kingdome of England Since those dull contrivers could fâ—…nde no matter for a foundation give us leave to â—…upply Seing the Catholike cause which the King of England is induced to serve either nakedly or cloathed with this pretâ—…rce oâ—… upholding his Poweâ—… and Prerogative which is suggested to be invaded and endangered by the Puritans there is now very much concerâ—…ed in the due ordering of the affaires of Great Brittain aâ—…d Ireland And whereas the Irish Catholikes have given so good tâ—…stimony of their approved zeal and cruelty in massacring near two hundred thousand Hereticks
petition the King who being betwixt the Scylla of a Northerne Army and the Charibdis of a Southerne petition yeelded to a second parliament yet continued and enters into a Treaty with the Scots being out of hopes of any other End unlesse it were of his men and money Thus have you a briefe account of the Scottish broiles and let the Reader but consider the ground thereof viz. the reducing that Nation to a conformity with England now in treaty of accommodation wtth Rome the Instruments raising and â—…omenting it Canterbury and the rest of that Faction zealous for popery and Tyranny and the forwardnesse of the papists who use not to make blind bargaines in the furthering that Designe and give a free and impartiall liberty to the use of his owne reason I doubt not but he will conclude with me and for me that this warre was undertaken as a hopefull meane of subverting the protestant Religion and the native Liberty of the Brittish Naâ—…ion Well Hac non successit alia aggrediendum via The disappointment and foile that the enterprize received by the Scottish businesse was so farre from making them cast away their confidence that they doe but double their diligence and call a Colledge of these State Physitians to recover life into this broken businesse And 〈◊〉 the proverb might not be renewed Dum consulitur Romae capitur Saguntum the sudden result of those Councels appeares to have beene that some way or other this Parliament going a course so contrary to theirs through the lownesse of their present State gaining ground apace though put to dispute every step must be interrupted and disappointed nay rather then faile destroyed And no wonder at this practice against the parliament which went on at that time so roundly against their interests and courses formerly mentioned propounding a further distance from Rome by a Reformation in stead of their reconciliation by corruptions striking sore at the abatement threatning the abolition of Prelacy which they could not spare countenancing Puritans whom they could not endure accusing and punishing Delinquents their grand Instruments not sparing Canterbury or Strafford who were the left and right hands of the Designe So that we need not looke any further for a ground of all possable mischiefes to be plotted and practised against the Parliament then its direct opposition to the projected Designe of Tyranny and Popery which had beene so farre advanced and was now like to be interrupted and broken All the other differences as particularly that of Hull was but the picking a Quarrell and seeking occasion to raise an Army under pretence of a Guard for that purpose to which it is now employed And it being of so great consequence to the discovery of this Mystery that we understand the true naturall ground of this warre on the Kings part as also that the Cure is more easily prescribed when the Cause is found out I shall take a little paines to demonstrate that the ground of these present calamities was not the pretended invasion of the Kings right in the businesse of Hull and the Militia but a resolution to persist in the intended mischiefe to Religion and Liberty To which purpose let it be knowne to the world which to me is sufficiently evident that before the execution of the Earle of Straffoâ—…d when his Majesty had received no other carriage from his Parliament then what he professed himselfe satisfied with and that if the Biâ—…s he had past were againe to be offered he should cheerfully and readily assent unto them even then were dispatched Letters and an Agent to the King of Denmarke from his Majesty complaining of the Parliament that instead of his supplies expected from thence among other Ends ad propulsandos hostes you may easily ghesse who were meant we being in a deepe peace with all popish princes he found it pertinaciter injustis de causis in 〈◊〉 virâ—… exitium intentum defixum undoubtedly Strafford betwixt whose impeachment and execution the Letters were sent and thereupon declares himselfe in these words ad alia consilia â—…nimum convertendum duximus What those Counsels were will hereafter more fully appeare One part of them was executed in the same Letter wherein an Agent was named with credit given and aid desired And that it may appeare this Letter was sent out of which these passages are excerpted not onely the Copy of the Letter but the authentick Answer hath beene seene and that it prevailed in some sort appeareâ—… not onely by the Answer from Denmarke but the Kings declaring upon the Offer to the Scots at Newcastle that he was to have money and horse from Denmarke to encourage them to joyne with him and all this notwithstanding the deepe protestations at that very instant against Forraigne Forces And if there want further proofe it may be added that the intention to bring up the Army to over awe if not destroy the parliament was long before his Majesties departure from London which intention if it he not sufficiently proved by the Declaration of the Lords and Commons of the nineteenth of May 1642. with the depositions and Letters annexed which may possibly prevaile with the indifferent Reader yet the propositions about the same time made to the Scots at Newcastle of joyning with the English Army against the parliament and the bonntifull Offers made thereupon Of 300000. l. to he paid downe Of foure Northerne Counties and the plunder of London The quitting of his Revenues and customes in that Kingdome to their publike use The Kings residence at Yorke for the better accommodation of both Nations or fuller râ—… 〈◊〉 to London which Sir Iohn Henderson who imparted that gracious Message by vertue of Letters of full credence given him by his Majesty signed C.R. can testifie or if he will not many honester men may though the paper be regained may sufficiently convince any man who hath not determined with himselfe Non persâ—…adebis etiamsi persuaseris which I have made the more bold to adde because though the Penner of the Answer to the Petition of both Houses March 26. 1624. defie the Devill whom he knew would never take paines to discover his owne plot to prove there was any such Designe with his Majesties knowledge yet he denies not honest men liberty of speaking the truth And not to let this businesse passe without the just honour and vindication of the Scottish Nation let the world take notice that they not onely refused this offer but acquainted those who were most entrusted with the affaires of the English Parliament and offered rather if need were their best assistance to secure the just and lawfull proceedings and priviledges of Parliament and settle both Nations in truth and peace the embracing whereof might have probably prevented a great deale of bloudshed both in England and Ireland and had beene the Fore-game of our present After-game But they were then so farre more tender of his Majesties honour then their owne safety
propagation of the Gospel by disappointing the intention of buying in Impropriations and discountenancing Lecture These Armies thus raised and made up by Papists prelats Courtiers superstitious Clergy-men dissolute Gentry and a Herd of prophane ignorant people what by treating and fighting by false friends and bitter enemies though the just hand of God upon this Nation for their idolatry and backsliding bloudshed and oppression and undervaluing the precious Gospell of Jesus Christ have turned this Kingdome into a Field of bloud and of the esteem and envie of other Nations have made it the pitty of our few friends and the reproach of our adversaries But why should all this Calamity be reduced to his Majesties Counsels and Courses hath not he offered Treaties of peace as at Nottingham and entertained them as at Oxford I know there are many that afflict themselves with the neglect of the offer from Nottingham sent from the desolate Standare and looke upon it as the losse of a happy opportunity I deny not but his Majesty in that condition not out of love to peace an affection that could not well consist with those 〈◊〉 endeavours to leavie warre but feare lest he might lose that power he strived to increase might be for some time reall in that motion but his inclinations to it were not so strong as to revoke his Proclamaâ—…ion which measure not onely the Scots found but the Irish Rebels likewise now by authority derived from his Majesty called Catholique Subjects or to resist as the reâ—… is the suggestions of the Earle of Bristoll who desired him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his promise to the Qâ—…eene and therefore not like to have been so constant as to have produced a setled peace As for the other Treaties offered and entertained as they were intended so they proved accommodations for war rather theâ—… peace as that Overture before the Brainford businesse And as for that treaty at Oxford If the King had entertained the same disposition towards his Parliament in England as he hath since expressed towards his late Rebels in Ireland hee would not have been so scrupulous in all the passages of it and so indulgent to the almost starved Rebels by the manifold advantages of that Cessation afterward to be examined It is tâ—…ue there have been divers Overtures since the most of them private but we have lost by every bargain among the rest the Queen was appointed and used as a most hopefull instrument of quenching the flames she had so diligently kindled and blown and as I am too truly informed favour offered to her faction by those who though all this was come upon us ought not to have stretched out their hands to a strange God shall not God search this out Psa. 44. But what peace so long as c. There were possibly some Lords and Gentlemen in other respects of worth as Hartford South hampton Falkland and some others who finding things contrary to their expectation and being wearied with the tediousnesse of this unnaturall war that had and have reall inclinations to peace but what doth this availe us when his Majesty is wholly swayed by those Counsels which are as averse to peace as to the Protestant Religion and the Liberties of the Kingdom so that there is little hope that the Armes taken up by the King should be willingly laid down till the ends for which they were raised the subduing the Parliament and Puritans the subversion of Religion and Liberty which God prevent be accomplished But I am not ignorant of the prejudice and unbeliefe that all which hath been or can be said in this businesse is like to meet with so averse are men from looking upon this as a Quarrell of Religion and from laying it to heart accordingly I shall therefore take the boldnesse to produce yet some further Evidence whereby it may appeare that the Interests of the King and Papists as in all parts so particularly in Ireland are deeply and desperately involved First in generall the Papists who do not use to reckon without their Host in all places interpret the Cause of the King against the Parliament to be their owne and declare it not only in words but in their personall assistance and plentifull Contributions as appears by the notice given to the Papists in Flanders of the acceptable service they should doe to the Catholike Cause by sending money for the maintenance of the Army against the Parliament witnessed upon Oath And though our selves who are most nearly concerned are so hard of beliefe in this Case yet the neighbour Protestants as of Zeland and Scotland do so state it as appeares by the Letter of solicitation for a seasonable engagement in the behalf of the English Protestants from Zeland to the Generall Assembly of Scotland and by the Remonstrance of the Assembly of Scotland to the Convention of Estates there and their answer thereunto dated June 27. Iuly 4. 1643. But the fullest and saddest Evidence in this businesse is to be drawn from the due examination and consideration of the Rebellion in Ireland for so it was once called wherin there have perished neare two hundred thousand soules by the hands of those wicked and detestable Rebels as they are called by his Majesty in his Declaration of April the 8. 1642. so odious to God and all good men with whom if his Majesties Counsels prove consederate I think it will be sufficient to convince our moderate men and awake them out of that Neutrality which is as unprofitable as it is detestable since it neither procures friends nor reconciles enemies That the ground of that Rebellion was the advancement of the Catholike Cause is professedly declared by the Acts of the Generall Assembly of Rebels at Kilkenny held 1642. which Acts were printed at London March the sixth 1643. in these words FOR the exaltation therefore of the Holy Romane Catholike Church for the advancement of his Majesties service and for the preservation of the Lives Estates and Liberties of his Majesties true Subjects of this Kingdome against the injustice murthers massacres rapes depredations robberies burnings frequent breaches of Publiâ—…e Faith and quarter and destruction daily acted and perpetrated upon his Majesties said Subjects and advised contrived and daily executed by the malignant party some of them managing the Government and affaires of Estate in Dublin and some other parts of this Kingdome to his Highnesse great disservice and complying with their Confederates the malignant party in England and elsewere who as it is known to all the world complot and practise to dishonour and destâ—…oy his Majestie his Royall Consort their Children and Monarchicall Government which is of most dangerous consequence to all the Monarchies and Princes of Christendome The said Assembly doth order and establish a Councell by the name of a supreame Councell of the confederate Catholiques of Ireland c. You see how neare the Exaltation of the holy Romane Catholique Church and the advancement of his Majesties service stand together
and may hereafter do the liâ—…e service in England and Scotland if in this their preâ—â—nt extremity they may be respited and relieved And whereas it is of very great consequence that the Papists and all that will upon any pretence or for any advantage adhere to them in this Cause be firmely united together against the Puritans and their adâ—…erents whether in Engâ—…and or Scotland It is concluded and accorded betwixt the two Etcaetera's that a Cessation oâ—… Armes the like was never heard of should bee agreed on from whence the Catholike Cause and Party may expect these Advantages 1. Free importation of Armes Ammunition Victuals and Provisâ—…ons of all kinds and free accesse of any of their Conâ—…ederates â—…rom any part of the world 2. 〈◊〉 tranâ—…portation iâ—…to Eâ—…gland or other parts of such suppliâ—…s which sâ—…all be necessary for his Majesties service against the Puritans and Paâ—…iament tâ—…ere 3. The strengthning the Popish party with the Union of the indifferent Protestants and consequently weakning and dividing the Adversary upon whom the whole strength may bee now turned 4. Either an advantage to ruine the Scottish Army in Ulster if they refuse the Cessation and stay or if they withdraw an opportunity to settle Ireland and among England or Scotland as occasion shall be 5. That some usefull Prisoners as the Earl of Antrim who was then in hold might be released 6. That there shall be a Reserve of Wood-Kernes whom this Cessation shall not reach who shall kill and spoil at their pleasure thâ—…se who may be presumed disaffected to the Catholike Cause And thus have I made bold to represent to the world this horrid gastly Monster of the Irish massacre and I hope more to the worlds benefit then my own content raked in this sink of iniquity The Evidence is furnished Let the diligent impartiall Reader and the Conscience of mankinde make a judgement upon it But seeing the discovery and foresight of mischief is but half a wise mans work which now every body pretends to and I for company Let us study in a few words to declare the best Rules of prevention to this Inundation of Tyranny and Popery which from the Romish Sea is like to overwhelm us The prudâ—…nt man foresees the Plague and hides himselfe Many rules both of Piety and Policy might be laid down upon the grounds of Scripture Reason and Experience But since the most of them are so well summed up in that solemne League and Covenant agreed on and entred into by these two Nations of England and Scotland I will not scatter them but propound the deliberate Entrance into that Covenant and the faithfull pursuance thereof to be the most Religious and reasonable way to unite and strengthen the too much divided party of true Protestants against these Conspiracies discovered which are likely yet further to enlarge their bounds There are some it may be who stand off for want of the Kings consent We want not good authority though such is our unhappinesse that for the present his concurrence is rather to be wished then hoped In the mean time let not the Truth and Gospel of Christ be sacrificed to the Counsels and Consederacies of evill and unreasonable men Especially when they who have a great share in enacting and conserving those Lawes by which our Religion is confirmed have engaged themselves and their authority with us Neither let us be startled at the noise of a Proclamation that turns Religion into Treason and Union into Sedition Proclamations are neither the Laws of England nor yet of the Medes and Persians which alter not but may be retracted either with some difficulty as that against Scotland or more ease as that concerning Irelâ—…nd Others there are who are not strangers to the present affaires but there is something that â—…its nearer them then Religion or publike Liberty which they are loath to adventure by such an engagement in this declining State of the Parliament affaires and therefore study an ungodly and unprofitable Neutrality To these men I wish a sound mind and a changed heart to 〈◊〉 first the Kingdome of God Let such conâ—…ider that if he who was the Way the Truth and the Life prescribed the true way to life they are in the false his rule in such cases is He that saves shall lose And let them know further that they will one day have more need of protection from God then his Cause hath now of theirs when they shall without repentance receive this repulse Goe to the gods whom yee have served Me think it should not be in vain to spend a word or two upon that more tâ—…mperate party of them who are now unhappily engaged against the Parliament in this wretched Cause Sure there are some to whom the Counsels of the Digbies and the insolent carriage of Prince Rupert his Harpyes are little lesse odious then these courses which the two Houses of Parliament are constrained to There is yet place for Repentance God send Grace And if the sense of their own honour which they take so much paines to bury in the ruines of their Countries Liberty nor yet of the honour of God which if not their intentions yet certainly their Actions desperately strike at in this apparent danger to Religion yet let the consideration of the issue of that work they are about supposing their prevailing not so probable as they may conceive a little move them Will it not as much trouble them to see the Kingdome governed as now one part of it is by a Spanish Popish â—…unto as by an English Protestant Parliament To see their beloved moderation swallowed up in the violence of that desperate Iesuiticall party that rules at the Court as in the supposed Severity oâ—… those Councels Civill or Ecclesiasticall that govern at the City Let such men be assured that their Ends unlesse such as are consistent with Tyranny and Popery must give way to the predomâ—…nant Interest which will be sound to be that of the Feminine Planet in the Issue when they have served they shall like uselesse Instruments be laid aside and dis-regarded Certainly the intentions of those who are drawn in to this Popish confederacy are so different that I am confident if they prevaile against us their Quarrels will be as many and bitter against each other as now against the Parliament Vices are opposite and destructive not only to vertue but one to another Me thinks these Gentlemen who pretend to justice peace moderation and something of Religion should think themselves but ill associated in the midst of such prophane plundering companions to which they are not so much companions as subjects Sure they cannot be well at ease to see the first fruits of this Irish Cessation presented to their union but how then can they endure when his Majesties Reregard of his Romane Catholique Subjects shall be brought over with their hands full of the bâ—…ood of more then 100000 offencelesse Protestants whom they have cruelly massacred Sure
the apprehensions of this cannot but shake their Prerogative faith and make them apprehâ—…nd themâ—…elves in more danger from their confederates then tâ—…eir supposed 〈◊〉 Iâ—… this labour to them be lost I am sorry but gâ—…ad it was â—…o more 〈◊〉 me â—…peak to them who are counsellable that is â—…hose who in the trutâ—… aâ—…d uprightnesâ—…e oâ—… their Hearts have â—…ntred into this 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 engaged 〈◊〉 to the presâ—…rvation oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…nd Libeâ—…ty such must labour â—…or stedâ—… in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lest out medicinâ—… prove our poyson Let none of us go about to deceive our selves with unprofitable Treaties or hopes of a yet impossible Accommodation but cheerfully and faithfully accomplish a speedie and firm Union with the Councels and strength of Scotland which will encourage not onely religious but wise men to joyn with us it being beyond a reasonable expectation that by our own strength or wisdom we should extricate our selves from this growing calamity in which we are daily more and more involved It now becomes every man to wind up his thoughts to a Christian resolution befitting the present necessities and Condition of the Church of God and walk worthy of it and let the Lord do what seemeth good unto him I might now make my self a great deal of more work and create some trouble to my Reader if I should after this satisfaction I have given to my own heart and the friends of this Cause of Religion go about to satisfie the world and answer their severall quarrels with this undertaking but I will be more mercifull to the Reader and more just to my self then to accuse my self by excuses Onely I will give you a taste of that which I am like to have plenty The first Question will be Who is this I answer it matters not who but what The next is a position Sure he was a mad-man thus to provoke Maiesty it self did he ever learn that verse in Homer {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Yes but he hath and that in Iob too In such a cause as this let me not I pray you accept any mans person neither let me give flattering titles unto man I hope to see the day when I shall be accounted a better subject to the King then he that accuses me In the meane time I am satisfied with being a good subject to the Kingdom no Traitor to the Church If I have incurred any danger it is to shew thee thine if a good Protestant But there need not have been so much bitternesse used which often disadvantages a good Cause It is the language of the times and not mine A filthy ulcer must have a sharpe lance the massacre of Ireland is a bitter cup Quis temperet invectivis Here are many things produced in this Treatise that are but slender proofs Then take them altogether Altogether are but a rapâ—…idy scraped up out of the Parliament Declarations and such scandalous pamphlets as Plain English and the English Pope Truth is a common inheritance and now so scarse that I was glad to take it where I could find it Tush I can tell mrre of these affairs then this Discoverer Then tell them or tell me and I will But Mercurius Aulicus will be sure to meet with you This is no time to be afraid of Court Bull Beggers but if he meet with me he must go out of his way I tell truth he tels lies But I have now done and it may be done that which hath provoked almost every body but my own conscience which witnesses with me that I have not written any willing or negligent falshood nor to my best understanding any unseasonable or unnecessary truth There is no man but will stand in need of some charity I shall find it from them that have it from those that have it not I will not expect it There are other Mysteries in this world of Iniquitie carried on by them who under the pretence of Service do the greatest dis-service and dishonour to the Cause of Religion and Liberty which must either be amended or not concealed let other men do their share as I have done mine and the world will certainly be either honester or wiser This Discourse cannot be better concluded then with that which is the earnest and constant request of the Author to the Lord God of Hosts the God of Israel that seeing wisdom and might are his he would vouchsafe wisdom to the Councellors courage and constancy to the Souldiers willingnesse to the people and faithfulnes to all those that have or shall engage themselves in this great Cause so infinitely valuable beyond the estates and lives of all that undertake it To him be glory and peace upon Israel FINIS Imprimatur hic Liber Decemb. 12. 164â—… IOHN VVHITE O duâ—…um a Puâ—…itan in another copy * This discovery was pâ—…nned upon the sight of the naâ—…ed Cessation as it came from â—…reland before the short coveâ—…ing of the Grounds and Motives c. which are not so considerable â—…s to occasion â—…ny alteration unlesse of the â—…ord pretended