through the whole Kingdome of great Britaine for as much as at that time it was seared and that not without cause an intent was with the sword to cut in sunder this onely Band with ties and knits up King People together in one firme and indissolvable knot of Peace and Unity 5. Whether the Obstrucing the proceeding of the Parliament were not absolutely intended first by the Rebellion in Ireland to the consuming of that Kingdome the heads of which Rebellion many if not most of them were transported into Ireland by the Kings speciall Warrants the names of which Rebells may be seene in an Answer of both Houses to the Kings Message sent to him March 16. 1641. which Answer was set forth by their Authority to be Printed and published Secondly whether the hindering of the proceedings of Parliament were not absolutely intended by the distempers distractions and jealousies fomented here at home to teare out the bowells of this Kingdome the Parliament being by that meanes disabled from helping it witnesse that Master peece whence all the rest receive countenance and support viz. His Majesties absence from and not agreeing with his Parliament but withdrawing his influence whereby such remedies could not be applied as was necessary but what was done it was with infinite trouble to the Parliament and excessive charge to the Subject double and treble what otherwise would have served the turne So the Subject is grieved and oppressed with charge and the blame of all is laid upon the Parliament as being unjustly charged to be the cause of all those evills which the Authors of them have made 6. And last Appeale Whether the wicked practises of enemies at home and a broad are not the cause of hindering the Parliament from their Actings and Operatings towards the setling of the great Affaires both of Church and State and providing for the defence and safetie of his Majestie and his Kingdome both from forraigne Invasions abroad and secret stirrings of the discontented party at home Unto this last Appeale there are severall particulars as gradations to Confirme the same and left to the World to Judge 1. When the Parliament was in a faire way by the blessing of God to wade through and overcome those difficulties which lay in their way Then there was an Assay made by the Malignant party to weaken the proceedings and power of the Parliament utterly to subdue it first by his Majesties departing from his Parliament in such a manner as gives all his loving Subjects just occasion to suspect He intends not good to His three Kingdomes and then by gathering of Forces commanding a Garrison of souldiers to be put into New castle under the command of the Earle of New-castle who should have formorly seised upon Hull had he not by the providence of God giving vvisedome to the Parliament to prevent him and sundry Commissions granted by his Majestie for the raising of Horse and divers Officers being thereunto appointed likewise his Majestie upon a Munday morning being the fourth of July came to Beverly with an Army of a considerable number of horse and foote and some Regiment of Trained bands commanded to be raised amongst vvhich Souldiers in this Army are divers Papists and other persons of desperate fortunes ready to execute any rapine violence and opptession besides severall troopes of horse vvere sent into Lincolnshire to the great terror of the well affected people vvho are thereby forced either to forsake their dwellings or to keepe them with armed men Now in these and many more vvhich might be instanced here is an Appeale made to the vvorld vvhether his Majestie intends not the subversion of the Parliament together vvith the distuction of the vvhole Kingdome and hath not already begunne the vvarre 2. Consider under vvhat vaine pretences his Majestie is pleased to gather forces at Yorke viz. to have a Guard for his Person as if his ordinary Guard was not as sufficient to protect his person there as they vvere vvhen he was at White-Hall there being no other cause of feare then was here neer London unlesse himself produceth the causes For if there be any cause of feare it may rather arise from the Parliament lest his Cavaliers and his Counsellors there about him take away his Majesties life when they have accomplished their own ends by his means for feare lest he should not prove as faithfull to them hereafter as is feared he hath not to those now vvho have ever proved faithfull to him at all times and upon all occasions and never gave cause at any time why he should be so opposite to the Parliament and by a strong hand to support Delinquents in such a manner that no order of the Parliament can be obeyed but rather slighted and scorned Witnesse the Report of his Majesties Cavaliers upon Haworth Moore at York June 3. 1642. as may be seen in a Letter sent from York to a friend in London declaring that they vvere wholly for the King against the Parliament Whereupon the County of York being summoned by his Majesty to appear that day to propound some things to their considerations and nothing was then propounded to require their Answer they went away very much unsatisfied and discontented Yet before they departed in answer to those Cavaliers they declared unto them That they came not with any intent or resolution to divide the King and Parliament nor would they ever condeseend thereunto 3. When the Parliament understood by evident demonstrations that the King seduced by evill counsell intended to make War against the Parliament the doing whereof is enough to destroy both Himself and his posterity for ever from enjoying any of his three Kingdomes hereafter Then they petitioned his Majesty to disband all such forces as were by his command assembled and to rely for security upon the laws and affections of his People as his Predecessors have done before him c. notwithstanding it is evidently seen he proceedeth in his illegall courses against the Parliament making good every day more and more the expressions of his Cavaliers expressed upon Heworth-more and now hath set forth a Paper in form of a Declaration and printed at York and reprinted at London for Robert Young wherein is exprest that He will defend every one of them and all such as shall refuse any Commands whether they proceed from Votes and Orders of both Houses or any other way from all dangers and hazzards whatsoever and yet he further declares in the same Paper that He vvill not engage any in a War against the Parliament except it be for his necessary defence c. If this be not to delude the World as Himself is deluded let the World judge whether his intentions are not to hinder the preceedings of the Parliament in their Actings and Operatings towards the setling of peace and quietnesse in the Kingdome and principally intends nothing lesse then War against them and his Kingdome His Majesty saith likewise that He will defend the true
Protestant Religion c. How can that possibly be believed of any wise man seeing there is no other meanes so effectuall as to advise with His Parliament for if the Parliament would side with the King in whatsoever he vvould have them to do then there would be no greater argument to aggravate the sin of disobedience in any person then to disobey the Laws and Ordinances of the Parliament which now he so contemnes and villifies as is obvious to the sight of the world in Print But in stead of punishing offendors against his Parliament he causelesly departs from them and forbids any to obey them Now let the world judge whether his Majesties expressions which hee had often professed in his Papers and his practises or Actions are not different hee professeth to maintaine that Religion which is established by the Law of the Land and yeâ— hee is pleased to countenance and protect those against whom the Law is principall intended Lastly it appeares that the enemies to the peace of the Kingdome are the cause of hiâ—dering the proceedings of Parliament by provoking and instigating his Majestie to senseverall Papers in forme of declarations and messages and in them expressing bitter invective speeches against the Parliament to perplex them and ingage them in the expencâ— of time to answer those Declarations and Messages now let the World judge whether iâ— be not better to say lesse and doe more by a speedy proceeding according to Law against the offenders who or Whatsoever they are The world now is wearied out with reading of Declarations Remonstrances and Petetions from both Houses to the King and vvith Declarations and Messages from the King to them againe together with their replies to the King from time to time The Spirits of men begin now to languish considering the malignant partie daily increases and according to their strength such are their designes first cunningly to insinuate and infuse into the people by false colours and glosses an evill opinion and dislike to the Parliament and then Jehu-like in a hostile manner to rise against the Parliament and in it all other Parliaments to the ruining of them their wives and children Now let the World judge every mans conscience being appealed unto as the case now stands his Majesty being seduced by the wicked counsell of such desperat persons whose care study and industry is not onely to provoke his Majestie to be the head of their Rebellion but also to bring the King and Kingdome either to utter desolation or to an Arbitrary and Tirannicall Monarchy vvhether in these extreame distractions and distempers your lives and all you have being in continuall feare to be lost it be better to obey a Seduced King then the wise representative body of the vvhole Kingdome so constituted by the Lawes of the land to mannage the affaires of the Kingdome Judge yee vvhether it be not better and more sutable to a good conscience to stand or fall live or die vvith the Parliament according to your protestation and so with your hands upon your Swords bee ready at their command to performe your vowes to God and your oathes of fidelitie to his Majestie in rescuing him from his enemies by taking up armes to desend your selves against those false flattering Traytors who abuse his Majesties Royall favour intending under the glorious title of his name and Standard to fight against the peace and Honour of their Soveraigne against Religion and the Lawes and so make a prey and spoyle of three flourishing kingdomes at once Therefore quit your selves like men and strengthen your selves in the Lord your God rouze up your drooping spirits and strengthen your feeble knees and resolve to spend and be spent in the defence of the lives and liberties one of another a harmonious union in the cause of Jesus Christ is an astonishment to the enemy and halfe the victory is then obtained delaies prove dangerous and faint heartednesse gives strength and advantage to the adversary therefore now if ever stand fast and shew your selves friend for your King and Parliament Let it appear before God and all the Nations of the vvorld round about you that truâ— generous blood runs in all your veins consider the honour and cause of God the good and happy successe of this present Parliament your lives your laws and liberties your Temporall and Spirituall vvelfare lies all bleeding at your feet earnestly supplicating your besâ— assistance give your consciences leave a vvhile to expostulate with you vvill you live and the Parliâ—ment die can it possibly go vvell vvith you whilest it goeth ill with them O no rather purchase their life by your death so shall you be a good example to all generations yet to come being considently assured there was never a greater prize in your hands than at this time is in the Kingdome of England viz. The Gospell of Jesus Christ and the Peace of the Kingdome each of which in value and estimation in respect of injoyment far exceeds all the vvealth the vvhole vvorld can afford What comfort and contentment can you take in your health wealth houses lands wife children and friends vvhen in the enjoyment of these you are bereaved of peace and quietnesse with them vvhen on a sudden it may be before you expect it the enemy rusheth in upon you and presently makes your habitation desolate ravishing your wives and ripping them up before your faces using all violence and mischiefe upon you as they have done to our neighbour Nations Germany and Ireland and have attempted the like upon Scotland Therefore be intreated once more and that without delay letting no opportunity slip joyn your heads hearts and spirits together with one consent to present to his Majesty one Petition more not in the name of some particular County but in the name of the vvhole Kingdome of England that he vvould be pleased to vouchsafe the influence of his Royall presence to his great Counsell the high Court of Parliament that so the bleeding wounds of this distracted England may be prevented Let the Kingdom of Scotland and Irelands practise induce you to it but more especially you London Shew not your selves so backward in this main vvork you have shewed your selves most couragious and free in all other businesse slack not therefore in this great work seeing you O London are the chiefest object upon whom the eyes of all the Countries are sixed Now O England help the Lord against the mighty stand in your owâ—â— defence but strike not the first stroke in case it comes to such an exigency lest you kindle such a fire in England that vvill never be quenched but rather manifest vvith humble boldnesse your extream unwillingnesse unto such a streight that so the peace of God and the God of peace may dvvell amongst us FINIS
the preservation of his Majesties person from the vvicked designes of his and our enemies and that vvith great care labour and industry to the hazard of their lives and fortunes let the vvorld judge If they should call heaven and earth God and man to vvitnesse the same they might doe it vvith a more safer and peaceable conscience then c. There needs no other Plea for them than those good and legall Votes Ordinances Remonstrances Declarations and Pititions which hath issued from them since his Majesties absence since which time he hath refused to assist them in their lawfull Designes for the setling of the three Kingdomes in peace and prosperitie but hath rather hearkened to the destroying Councells and reproachfull speeches of the Ishmaelites of the Times as the effects doth declare to the saiuing of the spirits of his best and most faithfull Subjects of his three Kingdomes laying all the blame upon the Parliament Indeed if there be any thing in them blame-worthy certainely its onely their too much lenity and patience towards those offenders who have beene the prime causers of all those distractions namely the Prelats who have beene formerly accused of High Treason by both Houses of Parliament and since they have taken bayle for all or most of them the evill effects whereof hath lately appeared in the practise of one amongst the test to wit that Archenemy Jo. Eborac who is â—ow gon to Yorke in a Warlicke manner and for ought that can be gathered to assist the King seduced by evill Councell in his intended warre against the Parliament whose adherents have and still doe foment nothing but threats against those whom the Kingdome of England confideth in and hath chosen to be their guide Resolving not only to obey them in all their just lawfull Commands but also to defend them against all illegal oppositions what or who soever they are witnes their frequent free larg bringâ—ng in of mony plate and horse and also their acknowledgements published in the Petitions of most of the Counties of Endland as may hereafter in time convenient be printed together and compared wiâ—h a few Collections of Pititions many of which collections are pretended though falsely to have beene delivered to his Majestie and others to his Privy Councell To instance one amongst the rest viz. That false Petition of the Nobility Gentry Burroughes Ministers and Commons of Scotland delivered to his Majesties most honourable Privy Councell and printed at his Majesties Printing House to delude the world and make them beleve it was a true Petition Now let all the world judge whether his Majesties intentions can be good and whether it be not below himself to suffer such things to passe in silence without requiring from the Parliament Justice to be execured upon such pâ—rsons There hath beene Printed divers times many false scandalous and invective Pamphlets against the Parliament and those who stand for the publike good and they have never been inquired after nor complained of to the Parliament from York or those parts To instance some few of late viz. the New Orders of the Parliament of Roundheads the Round Heads race the Wardens Speech the Declaration or Resolution of the County of Hereford with many more which might be named and shall if neede require and as for the new Orders of the Parliament of Roundheads it was observed that John Thomas for whom it was Printed as is credibly reported was knowne to set out of London for Yorke that very day it was published and there resides to send to his wife to Print here in London whatsoever is there Printed in Yorke but as for such Bookes which haâ—ve beene Printed or such Sermons which have beene preached for and in the behalfe of the Parliament justifying their legall and righteous proceedings The Authors Printers and Publishers thereof must be found out and proceeded against by Law as Treasonable Factious Seditious Schismaticall and I know not what persons These things being premised and compared together an Appeale is here made to the whole world for the vindication of the Parliament in Sixe particulars to consider of and judge 1. Whither the Parliament hath protected any such Preachers Pampheteers at any time as is unjustly laid to their charge when it hath bin discovered to them who and what they are by stopping the course of Justice from taking place against them it they have beene proved Treasonable Factious Seditious or Schismaticall 2. Whether the end of such conâ—â—iâ—ance or taking notice of such false scandalous Pamphlets be not purposely intended to suffer the affections of his Majesties subjects to be drawne away from the Parliameâ—t that so an utter extirpation of the vâ—ry being of Parliaments may be obtained as well for future Generations as for the time present For it is well knowne that if this Parliameâ—t could once be either exringuished or its power weakened which is all one Then all will be at the Kings meere Will and the mercy of His and the Parliameâ—ts Enemies Nothing then will stand in their way to oppose them but a flood of violence will runne over and cover the whole surface of the Kingdome and carry away all both present injoyments and future hopes of Religion Liberty and whatsoever else is precious and deere to the whole Kingdome 3. Whether it hath not beene since this Parliament first begun the pollicy of evill Councellors who are the greatest enemies the King and the three Kingdomes can possibly have to strike at Parliaments or divide Parliaments by making factions and casting in Diversions and Obstructions to hinder and interrupt the proceedings of the same and to perswade the King so to doe whose advice and counsell he hath adhered unto as evidently it doth appeare by the evill effects that hath followed therupon to wit the causelesse division betwixt him his Parliament continuing solong that it hath caused a very great jealousie of much danger and misery suddenly to come upon this Kingdome if it be not speedily prevented by the wisedome of the Parliament and the concurrence of the well disposed Subjects of the Kingdome the which if they shall so doe they will manifest to the world that they are carried by no other respect but of the publike good which should alwayes be preferred before their owne lives and fortunes 4. Whither there hath not beene a Succession of designes against the Parliament first to awe it secondly to take away the freedome of it by the terror of an Army then to bring force against it actually to assault it witnesse his Majesties comming to the House of Commons in such a manner with such a troope to demand those five Members which He accused of High Treason and other misdemeanours which is judged by both Houses of Parliament to be a high breach of their Priviledges The deliverance of which Members at that time the whole world is Appeal'd unto whether an Annuall day of Thanksgiving ought not to be kept unto God