of all these Treasons was it Liberty Religion No some three hundred thousand Soules perish an hundred Millions of Treasure is spent some five thousand Families are undone the principal men are brought to shameful ends some eight thousand persons are ruined by publick faith King and Bishops Lands Vane glozeth but dieth on a Scaffold Pym debaucheth the Parliament but ends his dayes miserably Hampden takes Armes but falleth on that place where he first Rebelled Lenthal Collogues but dieth in much horrour and trouble of Conscience Cromwell Ireton Harrison Scot Carew and others domineer but are hanged drawn and quartered and set up to assure the World that the punishment of Treason may be slow but is very sure and that a Rebell labours in vaine The late Purchasers lived nobly and now begge their Bread the approving ejecting and sequestring Ministers are now silenced themselves the Church Government is most firmly setled the tender-Conscienced are more closely held in and the Reformation it self become a by-word and an hissing among all Nations Argile and Warreston had their time and now in the place of Traytors scattered up and down in several places of their Country § 23. Anno 1660. But to mention no more of those thousands that were ruined by the late defection his Majesty is restored by a Wonder received with the applause and satifaction of all men And yet one Venner a Fifth-Monarchy man and many of his followers are perswaded that now was the time to set up the Kingdome of Jesus Christ they first preach it up then they draw such a Declaration for it as might draw in all dissenters against the Government whatsoever they agree upon such rules maximes and Principles as suited with most mens humours they pray'd and preached themselves to very great resolutions and all this very closely upon Sunday Twelfnight 1660. they continue at their exercise in Coleman street till late at night when they arme themselves to attacque a secure City in the dead of night being assured that one man should chase an hundred and ten men a thousand but alas do they promote their cause or advance the Kingdome of Jesus Christ nothing less they are discovered by the Owner of the meeting house yet they march through the City without controule but Sir Rich. Brown then Lord Mayor drawes towards them the Kings Guard surroundeth them the Train-bands engage them of some thirty of them six die upon the place Venner Hodskins and the chief of them are hanged drawn and quartered their flesh rots and their memories are rooted out from the Earth and all people even they of their own perswasions detest them and in several Remonstrances declare against them Anno 1662. when some severe Lawes were made against dissatisfied persons and the Government grew towards a settlement Tongue Philips Stubes Sallows Gibbs Baker and others lay a Plot to deliver themselves from those at Whitehall they first set up a Councel of forty for satisfying all Interests and reconciling all differences and out of this Councel they chose another of 8. which was not to sit twice in any one place to consider of Officers Ammunition Musters and particular designes upon whose dissolution the Plot was to begin viz. to secure Windsor Castle by a Gunner there and the Tower by a party following the Lords Mayors Coach late at night to admit of Ludlow for General to engage some of the Trained Bands to spread abroad a rumour of a Popish Massacre to buy up all the Armes that could be met with to list their Country friends under the old Officers of the Army that were then scattered up and down to set up a Magazine in Crutched Friers and seize the City Magazine to seize Whitehall by the way of the Privy-Garden the General and Sir Rich. Brown being beforehand dispatched to set up the old Parliament and the Kingdome of Jesus Christ But is any of these things done or were not these men betrayed by their own brethren Hill and Riggs hanged drawn and quartered by the Common Hangman and made a prey for the Foules of the aire rotting upon the face of the Earth are not their Families undone and their parties under more severe Lawes and confinements to this day their liberty lost their meetings dispersed and all his Majesties Indulgence towards them forfeited Anno 1663. Yet some Anabaptists taking advantage of some generall discontents lay a Plot in the Bishoprick of Durham in March 1. To reconcile all their Brethren of different perswasions 2. Upon an Oath of secrecy to send Agitators all over England with propositions most comprehensive of all Interests who met at one Ouldreds house the Devil of Dewsbury as they call him and afterwards at Stankebouse in that County from whence Marsden and Palmer are sent Agitators to London to the secret Committee there whence they bring a Resolution to rise Octob. 12. with assurance that the Insurrection should be general 3. To attempt White-hall upon some Shew-night to secure New-castle for a passage to Scotland and Bolton in Lincolnshire for correspondence with Forreign Parts for succour and Ammunition 4. To lay hold upon the Gentry 5. To oppose Subsidies and Chimney-money to restore the Long Parliament to establish a Gospell Magistracy and Ministry and to check the Clergy the Gentry and the Lawyers 6. They preached all over the Nation in Order to the Generall Rising calling it Following the Lamb and inferring from that expression the lawfulnesse of the Designe so it were carried on for love of the Cause and for no by-ends 7. They were to Garrison Nottingham Glocester c. and 〈…〉 They drew a 〈…〉 the sectaries against the Government 10. They were to begin in Ireland 11. To seize the Lord Fauconbridge and the Lord Fairfax his Horses and Armes and indeed all the Gentry and Clergy thereabout But what was the issue of all this The Parties are treacherous to one another the Design is discovered and some thirty are gone into another world To see whether God said FEARE GOD HONOUR THE KING AND MEDDLE NOT WITH THEM THAT ARE GIVEN TO CHANGE FOR THEIR CALAMITY SHALL RISE SUDDAINLY AND WHO KNOWETH THE RUINE OF THEM BOTH LET EVERY SOULE BE SUBJECT UNTO THE HIGHER POWERS FOR THERE IS NO POWER BUT OF GOD THE POWERS THAT BE ARE ORDAINED OF GOD WHOSOEVER THEREFORE RESISTETH THE POVVER RESISTETH THE ORDINANCE OF GOD AND THEY THAT RESIST SHALL RECEIVE UNTO THEMSELVES DAMNATION Whether it be not certain as an Article of Faith that by Christ Kings reign and Princes decree justice that Power is given of the Lord and Soveraignty from the Highest and therefore that Mankind must be Subject to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake and that we must needes be subject not only for wrath but for Conscience sake and as to Christ i. e. by the same necessity for the same reason to avoid the same punishment to have the same rewards and by the force of the same Religion and that they may
Authority T. F. Neither but a Parliament being called 29. March 1585. they set up underhand a National Synod who were better discovered by their moving then by their meeting whose practices were more conspicuous then their places some Agents for them were all day at the door of the Parliament House and some part of the night in the Chambers of Parliament men effectually solliciting their business with them Court How did this their diligence appear P. H. In the effects of it this Parliament was observed so extraordinarily busie in Church Affaires about approbation of Ministers about Ecclesiastical Courts Bishops c. that the Arch-Bishop Whitgift was faine to write to the Queen to own her own Lawes Orders and Authority which she did consenting to no Material alteration Court When this way failed them what course took they T. T. They piece the Lions skin with the Foxes tayle and what they could not do by Interest against the Arch-Bishop they attempt by compliance with him L. B. D. How I pray I P. H. Why Mr. Cartwright by Leicesters Mediation gets in with the Arch-Bishop and is so civilly used by him that Leicester writes a Letter of thanks to the Arch-Bishop with a promise that Cartwright shall be at his service L. B. O. But doth the Arch-Bishop trust him T. H. The wary Arch-Bishop is not overfond of his friendship but keepes him at distance and writes to Leicester That he is at peace with him but that he cannot without further tryal of him give him any License to preach Court What doth Travers do all this while P. H. He complaines to his Patron the Lord Burleigh against the Liturgy L B. E. What answer doth that wise Lord make him T. F. He demanded whether they desired the taking away thereof They answered no but only the amendment of what was offensive therein Then said he Do you make a better such as you would have setled instead thereof Court What did they F. F. They divided themselves into four Classes The first whereof framed a new Liturgy after the forme of Geneva The second altered it in 600. particulars The third resolved on another model The fourth dissented from the former And so that wise Statesman put them off for the present untill they should agree Court Then we may observe that it is not so much the Liturgy and Cannons that trouble them as that they have no hand in composing them now we may presume that they are quiet F. F. No for now they endeavour to overthrow the High Commission and the Oath ex Officio the one they perswade the World is against the Law of Liberty none is bound to betray himself the other against the Law of the Land none ought to be disseized of his Liberty or Estate without a tryal by his Peeres Court This was very subtilly done to bring in as many of their party as either were molested in the High Commission Court or troubled with the Oath ex Officio who were the greatest part of the Kingdome Although to avoid the Odium of these things Arch-Bishop Whitgist brought the Nonconformists to the Star-Chamber a Court without dispute and as the High Commission was her Majesties highest Court for Ecclesiastical Causes over which sue was Head so the Oath ex Officio is usually tendred in Chancery in matters not touching life or Limb and there was no man there tyed to betray himself but he that was first betrayed by a common fame from which he was to cleer himself by his Oath according to the Scripture Deut. 21. 7. and the practice of Geneva its self in Camparel and Baltasers case Would none of the Nonconformists when they were indited for a fame of a Conventicle or so clear themselves by an Oath F. F. 1. Some of them would not take this Oath at all but would say If our faults be unknown why are we accused if they are known produce your evidence 2. Some would take the Oath but with a protestation that they would not thereby accuse either themselves or their brethren 3. Others would take the Oath to accuse those that were truely guilty to remove evil from the Land but not to accuse their brethren for those things which are not faulty 4. Others would take the Oath where there were no Witnesses to be had Jo. 17. 21. Court When the Powers in being would not establish them what paines they take to weaken those powers that they might not oppose them but when their Arguments failed them against these Courts did they sit down Cambd. No but in the next Parliament they had such an influence upon the Commons choice that they at their first sitting offered the Lords a Petition of sixteen branches in favour of the Nonconformists 1. That they might be free from the Cannonical Oath 2. That they might not be troubled for some things omitted in the Common Prayer 3. That they might be called before lay Officers 4. That those that were suspended for Non-subscribing might be restored 5. That they might not be troubled at the High Commission but for high offences 6. That they might have in every Arch-Deaconry common conferences among themselves 7. That the high censure of Excommunication might not be denounced for small matters nor by lay-men 8. Non-residency may be removed out of the Church c. And other things against insufficient Ministers in the discussing of these particulars the House fell most fiercely against Non-residence Court Truly Non-residence may be allowed in way of recovering of health by changing of air of study for a time in the University of mortal enmity borne by some of the Parish of prosecution of law or of being employed in publick affaires L. B. Truly I could allow Pluralities as encouragements to learned men so they be in one Diocess L. H. It is fit her Majesty as Head of the Church should confer with the Bishops about these matters T. F. Therefore the Bishops very prudently petition her Majesty to take the case to her own hand to whom it properly belongeth remonstrating the inconveniences ensuing to the State present future to Cathedral Churches to Universities to her Majesty to Religion in case Pluralities were taken away Court Who was it that promoted this cause so far T. F. The Lord Grey seemed the most jealous who wished the Bishops might be turned out of Doores as in the case of premunire in H. 8ths time because they upheld abominable Non-residence and Pluralities against their own consciences and the good of the people Court If the Lord had not been on my side might the Church now say if the Lord had not been on my side they had swallowed me up quick for these were but the pretences under which the adversaries threatned the whole Church for take away encouragements and you take away worth and Parts take away Parts and you overthrow the Church When this most hopeful enterprize that ever the adversary undertook failed him was he satisfied P. H. No for having formerly as
they said tried all serious and sober meanes to reclame the Bishops which hitherto proved ineffectual they set up Libelling in these Pamphlets 1. The Epitome 2. the Demonstrance of Discipline 3. the Supplication 4. Diotrephes 5. the Minerals 6. Have you any work for Coopers 7. Martin Marre Prelate sen. and jun. 8. More work for Coopers A new way whereby whom they could not in earnest make odious in jest they would make ridiculous for their garbs gate apparel youth defects and infirmities its strange how secretly these were Printed how speediy dispersed how generally bought how greedily read yea and how firmly believed especially among the Common sort to whom no better Musick then to see theie betters abused Court Such Bookes are altogether unbecoming a pious Spirit to print or publish or with pleasure to peruse which supposed true in matter and measure charity would rather conceal then discover the best of men being so conscious of their own badness that they are more careful to wash their own faces then busie to durty other mens An Archangel thought himself too good to bring and Satan not bad enough to have railing accusations brought against him But what was the Law asleep all this while C. N. The Law fined two Knights Knightly and Wigston for entertaining the Press Gentlemen and discovering the Press which was first set up at Mously in Surrey and removed thence to Faushey in Northampton shire then to Laton thence to Coventry thence to Welstone in Warwick shire thence to Manchester and there found by H. E. of Derby in the Printing of more work for the Cooper they found out Udal Penry Greenwood and Barrow and Condemned them Penry for being the Author of Martin Marre Prelate Udal for being the Author of Demonstration of Discipline who were executed afterwards to the great terrour of evil doers and peace of the Kingdome Court Poena ad unum terror ad omnes L. B. C. L. O the sad condition of the Church which like Rebeccab had Twins of Discipline strugling within her the Hierarchy antient and established the Presbytery newly founded by some Clergy men favoured by many of the Gentry and followed by more of the Common sort who being prompted with that natural principle that the weakest must be the most watchful what they wanted in strength they supplied in activity Court I pray wherein were they active when all these courses failed them L. B. C. L. A Synod of Presbyterians of the Warwick shire Classis was called at Coventry the tenth day of the fourth Moneth as they said that is April where they resolved 1. private Baptisme unlawful 2. Homilies useless 3. the sign of the Cross dangerous 4. not to Communicate with unlearned Ministers yet they may hear Lay-men 5. Bishops are unlawful 6. That they have no power of Ordination or jurisdiction 7. That they will privately bring wise men to the approbation of the holy Discipline and afterwards teach it publickly to the people These and other things necessary at all times were subscribed by all the Classes in England with humiliation for their former Conformity as Mr. Johnson witnessed against them when he revolted from them Court What became of these men P. H. Cartwright was cited to the High Commission on the 1. of Sept. 1590. to answer to these Articles against him 1. that he had renounced his Orders 2. that he was ordained beyond Sea 3. and there had setled a Presbyterian Consistory where he had presumed to ordain others that new way 4. that they had exercised their authority in admonition suspension c. against the Lawes of this Realm 5. that though he had promised not to oppose the Lawes yet he did it in neglecting and opposing the orders of the Church and inveighing against the Governours in publick preaching and private conference 6. that when he should pray for Bishops he used these words Because that they who ought to be Pillars in the Church do bend themselves against Christ therefore O Lord give us grace and power all as one man to set our selves against them and by his perswasions others did the like 7. that he received the Sacrament sometimes sitting sometimes walking 8. that since his suspension by the Bishop of Worcester he had presumed to appeal from him and preach publickly and by his own authority to own a servant of his guilty of fornication a forme of Penance in St. Maries in Warwick 9. that he presumed to ordaine Fasts contrary to the Church of England 10. that he had nourished dissentions between Her Majesties Subjects by distinguishing them into Godly and Profane 11. that he concealed the Authors of some late Libells and said in their behalf That they who would not amend by grave admonitions should be further dealt with to their reproach and shame 12. That he had composed a Book called Disciplina Ecclesiae sacrae verbo Dei descripta allowed at several meetings in Oxford Cambridge Warwick c. and practised in several places where Mr. Cartwright was chief Court What saith Mr. Cartwright to these Articles Cartw. I think I am not bound to answer to them by the Lawes of God Bishop Almer You must then to the Fleet. Cartw. Gods will be done L. B. C. What were the discourses that were abroad of these proceedings T. F. I pray hear Mr. VViggingtons words in a Letter to Mr. Porter of Lancaster Mr. Cartwright is in the Fleet for the refusal of the Oath as I hear and Mr. Knewstubs is sent for and sundry worthy Ministers are disquieted so that we look for some Bickering ere long and then a Battle which cannot long endure Court And no wonder that they talked at this rate for they had now by their private Agents procured a Letter from King James to the Queen Not to straiten men for setting forth the Evangel in the simplicity of their Consciences But did they break out into any excesses and extravagancies P. H. Yes for with these encouragements Hacket Arthington c. were animated to kill the Queen the Privy Councel and to speak and do such strange things that they were hanged August the twelfth 1591. Court What was that Hacket A. B. He was so civil by nature that he bit and eat his Mistress Note when a School boy he was at first an informer against Recusants and then by his access to great men so busie that he was the great patron of Non-conformity despising all Ministers and though in their Company yet saying Grace himself alwaies and so in all Ministerial duties so angry he was with the Queen that once he stabbed her Picture c. Court Enough of him Good Lord to see what a Schisme will come to in time Nonconformity was now much improved many State businesses are by turbulent spirits shufled into that cause it were worth the while to have before us a series of their meeting and actions in general Mr. Stone To satisfie my own conscience and for the peace of the Kingdome
to Archippus I mean did you not see a Book called so wherein they were stirred up by all the arguments in the world to invade their Pulpits and the Newes yonder yonder at London was so stronge that some of their Reverences they say took Coach very demurely to Whiteball to wipe off forsooth that aspersion although many of them creep up into some careless mens Pulpits and you know how Mr. Calamy Preached boldly at his own Church and how he made it a Moot-point whether he had offended or no. C. Was the late plot in the North a general one B. D. They would not a great while believe it was any yea and that was the main plot to perswade others that it was none yet in the mean time how insolent how busie are they what riding what posting what writing We will be in Chester the 24. of the sixth Moneth saith one Tell brother Owen we are 6000. stronge of our own friends c. How sullen how dogged are they here as well as some of our wel-wishers abroad untill the design was broken which in the breaking discovered a Committee here in London that united all interests and managed all affaires Now the question will be whether the dissenting brethren considering their carriage and behaviour since the fancy began in King Henry the Eighths time of which we have given an exact account to this hour are to complain if they are restrained by laws and kept from meeting or acting by publick constitutions For answer to this it is the observation of all men 1. That private men must be checked rather then the publick Government violated 2. That it is not safe or reasonable for any private opinion or fancy to controule or guide a publick authority 3. That the King must either violate his own Conscience and so not have the liberty of it which they insist on for themselves or else check their pretences of theirs 4. That they were never satisfied with any thing that was granted them he that allowed them a little doth but give them a power to take more Could all the late Kings concessions keep them from his blood first its Liberty but at last it is a Warr they are a party not to be gained by Obligations 5. That neither Scotland nor England had an houres peace or quiet since Knox set footing in the one or they who had conferred notes with him in the other but that blood rapine violence malice animosities and plots have been the attendants of the good old cause since it was in the cradle 6. That the Law must not be ruled by a faction and yet that the question is now whether they who overthrowed the Law formerly may now controule and they who raised a Warr against it may be free from it in peace 7. That the indulging of men because they are many is rather an encouragement to Villany then a provision for tenderness 8. That to ask liberty of Conscience is to ask liberty to what they please which they may call conscience for who shall judge what is really Conscience and what is really malice 9. That to grant these people what they desire is to allow the reason of the reason of their requests and so at once to reward one injury and justifie another 10. That the late Warr begun with calling that Christian liberty which the Law calleth treason that Religion which the Church calleth Schisme 11. That no Oathes or Vowes but one to rebell can tye these people 12. That they would never trust others with the least indulgence 13. That they are a people that rather then submit expostolate whose Addresses look like mutinies and their Petitions like threats 14. That the whole business and bustle is but a contest between a Law and a Faction And now considering these things we must conclude that either the Government must be again banished or the Faction that either the King for upholding the Church according to Law must be an exile or they for supporting Conventicles against the Law must be proscribed and which is fittest let the World judge THE History of Plots OR ALL The Plots against the Government of England since the Conquest to this day which are 247. in Number unsuccessfull In a continued Series of them from year to year to this present of February 1663. Concluding with an Exact Narrative of the Plot in York-shire History is the knowledge of things past whereby we may judge of things present and guess at things to come Dionys. Pet. Pref. WHen I had taken up perswasions that Interfered with the established Religion of this Nation the publick Laws laid hold upon me as well for my former engagements under the late Revolutions as for my present sentiments of the state of things that now prevailes those unruly lusts of pride ambition envy covetousness and looseness that remain in the best assisted with prejudice discontent and sufferings and all improved by those vehement impulses of conscience and a desire of liberty that all men are sensible of transported my impatience not only to murmuring to speak evil of Dignities to despise Dominions to entertain evil thoughts of the Rulers of my people but so endlesse and boundlesse are the workings of a foule heart under fouler temptations to some dangerous Considerations how necessary how lawfull how easy and how successfull an attempt more upon this Government might be all the Principles and Grounds of our late Engagements that are scattered in our Remonstrances Apologies Declarations Propositions and States of the Case immediately offering themselves unto me then prepared for such Impressions yea the Scripture it self wherein I was much conversant in my solitudes to my apprehension exactly answering my thoughts and inclinations and with those glosses upon it thee lay before me there twenty years looking like one great remonstrance for the good old Cause so that my exceptions of things being before hand wrapped in Scripture notions I saw my own mind there so clearly that I was resolved that an undertaking for the alteration of the present frame of things was not only my interest but also my duty not only a kindness to my self and our common cause but some service to my God under these temptations a reverend and a most excellent person endeavoured to relieve me with three sorts of arguments 1. The first whereof was from the concernment of private persons in the publick peace and welfare and the great advantages men had from all Governments in general and every English mans Interest under this Government in particular which I easily evaded with the maximes of a Commonwealth which possess more men then are publickly observed and carry them to the affront and weakening of all the rules lawes and principles of Monarchy that are now extant in the world 2. The second was from the great Obligations laid upon men to peace and obedience in great rules and examples by Christianity above all the Religions in the World it being not the least