want of pay the bishops bags either being emptied or shut up now if the Parliament pass an act for so many subsidies upon the confidence of their security then though the King continue them to sit by a Law yet may the Army or a considerable part thereof be by money hired to break them up upon pretence of necessity first created and then pleaded upon which resolution the King is wonne to passe that act so much pleaded as matter of his justification and concessions to the Parliament But whether he did really know or were privy to the after game that was to be plaid upon them after they had granted their supplies I shall forbear to censure onely leave it to the judgement of the Reader upon the consideration of subsequent transactions But this is evident to the knowledge and experience of the Author that accordingly both by Letters and Commissions under the hand and Seal of the King many endeavours were used to engage the Army to breake up the Parliament the forementioned Act for their continuance notwithstanding and upon discovery whereof the Parliament were constrained though by contracting great debts upon the publick to undertake to satisfy the Scots and to pay and disband that Army to prevent the designes that were hatched and carryed on under their covert And this I may call the first visible cause of the Parliaments jealousie that the King although he did seemingly comply with them yet under-hand did depend upon and was guided by other Councells It is not my businesse to give an account of the weekly proceeds of the Parliament onely by generall hints of things to lead you by a succession of some generalls unto the remembrance of such affaires as may be conducible unto the end proposed The business of Delinquents especially the Earle of Strafford and disposition of the Militia were the most considerable visible causes of difference between the King and Parliament other things might and did intervene as additionall fuell to increase that flame which since hath scorched if not burnt all on both sides that had a hand in the kindling of it but probably busie instruments in each party having designes retrograde to the grand end which should have been peace and unity viz. Souldiers of fortune that desired to fish in troubled waters and hoped to rise by others ruines animating the Court to extreames the greatest whereof was the illegall demand of the five Members and others as busie to take that advantage to abet the people in Petitioning with seeming violence for such things as could not but in that juncture of affaires create jealousies and feares in the King I say things being brought thus into a suddain hurry and the people which not many dayes before upon his return from Scotland had entertained him with acclamations of joy now declaiming against him upon pretence of the denyall of Justice And being seduced by the forementioned Counsellours he first sends the Queen for Holland and afterward leaves the Parliament and retires himself from place to place till he arrived at York to whom the Parliament sent an humble Petition praying his return and severall Members are Commissioned to give his Majesty satisfaction touching his demands But the designe for War was laid although peace was pretended and a seeming necessity for his departure pleaded upon pretence of tumults the Parliament was a burthen and must be removed and it is submitted to judgement whether the designe of the Queens going to the Spaw publishâ— long before any of these pretended tumults which never appeared untill the erection of the Guard of Cavalry against Whitehall to hinder the peoples recourse to Westminster though with peaceable Petitions according to their just liberty And his denyall of justice upon Strafford I say it is left to judgement whether the bottom of the business of that voyage was not to buy Armes and engage Orange and the Dutch to grant their assistance towards the carrying on of the intended War otherwise it is not probable that the Jewels of the Crown by her pawned and the money imployed for that purpose would have been hazarded in such a voyage But to proceed To initiate the War instead of returning to the Parliament although often Petitioned to that purpose a guard must be raised for the security of his Majesties person and accordingly is in the meane time severall Members of Parliament whether through fear of the event or hopes or promises of advantage or by what other allurements I shall not determine Betrayed their trusts left the Parliament and went to the King at York thereby not onely giving countenance to those proceedings but also much lessening the power of Parliament In the mean time Commissions were issued under-hand for leavies of men in order to form an Army against the Parliament and Provisions in hand for the erection of his Standard at Nottingham which was soon after put in execution These preparations put the Parliament upon new thoughts and seeing neither Messages nor Petitions could prevaile and that there was a necessity laid upon them either to betray the Liberties of the people that had trusted them and the Lawes of the Nation into the power of those evill Counsellours who had as aforesaid abused and betrayed the King and Kingdome into so many troubles or otherwise to cast themselves upon the affection of their Trustees and the justice of their cause and in defence thereof to raise an Army which they accordingly did and put the same under the Command of the Earl of Essex with Commission onely to defend their Authority and protect the people as much as might be from the force of the enemy I shall not enumerate the various successes of the Armies being unwilling to renew the teares of the Parents Widowes and Orphans made Husbandlesse Fatherlesse and Childlesse in that unhappy War onely in respect of some subsequent transactions I must give a hint or two of some remarkable passages upon the basis whereof a great part of the succeeding narrative depends The War being prosecuted with violence in all parts of the Nation an association of Essex and other Counties was made and a distinct Army raised under the Command of the Earl of Manchester others were on foot in other parts according to their respective necessities under Sir William Waller c. But Manchesters Army being moulded for the most part of sober serious Christians though of different judgements God was pleased signally to own them in their actings and successes more then any other force imployed at that time on the behalf of the Parliament and particularly in that engagement at Marston-Moore and the siege of York The defeat then given being the first considerable weakning that ever the Kings party received I confess there were joyned in the said engagement the Scots who had been called in to the Parliaments assistance But as to their merit in that engagement except some few of the Gentry I think it will become me to be silent the whole
PEACE and not WARRE OR THE MODERATOR Truly but yet Plainly STATING the CASE OF THE COMMON-VVEALTH As to several of the Considerable COUNCILS TRANSACTIONS from the Year 1636. to 1659. By JOHN HARRIS Gent. An affectionate Lover of his Countryes Peace LONDON Printed for Nath Brook at the Angell in Cornhill 1659. The EPISTLE to the READER EXpect not that I should apologize or beg thy favour either in Buying Reading or Approving the Contents of the ensuing Treatise If in the Publishing thereof I had had profit in my eye then it would have been a necessary Duty incumbent upon me in order to my ends to have fawned flattered and baited my Hook with Courteous Ingenuous Reader and the like but the bent of my Spirit and Intention carrying me another way I have rather chose to play at hap hazard and although I may content none else I am satisfied that I have pleased my self I shall not give you an Abstract thereof or like one that would allure your liking tell you more in the Title and Epistle than you 'l find in the Book there it is let it speak for it self Possibly some may judge me peremptory others phantastique but for that I am armed as neither seeking or valuing Applause or fearing or esteeming the Contempt or Malice of men Let it suffice it is the product of several years experience briefly but truly according to the succession of Councils and Affaires related and may serve as a Clue to guide your memories yea and judgments too unto a right understanding of those things which probably hitherto you have had but some confused Notions of and they too so disordered that thereby you have not been able to weigh things aright so as to owne or adhere to those principles of Freedom and Justice in the attainment whereof your Peace and Prosperity principally consists If I have been or shall be judged too severe or bitter in any expressions in relation to Persons or Councils I am sure it is so much against my principle that if the Nature of the thing could have been expressed in any other terms and have retained the similitude I should have forborne but although all Truths ought not to be spoken yet necessary ones must and in many Cases it is better not to speak at all than not to the purpose I have reason to believe that some will be angry because probably they 'l judge themselves concerned it is no news for the gall'd Horse to kick especially when he feeles the smart his sore being cauterized But I have this advantage Wise men will not shew it and for such as are otherwise their Malice cannot prejudice I will not Tantalize you longer but leave you to your Likeing having no other end herein than to manifest my self thine in the service of my Country J. H. ERRATA PAg. 37 l. 16. r create for treat p. 43. l. 11. r. you for them l. 16. r. in this Age for strange Age p. 45. l. 15. r. neer for meer The Moderator Truely Stating the CASE OF THE COMMON-WEALTH c. I Shall not look back so far as to the Originall of the Government of Kings whether before the Conquest or since nor dispute the equity or conveniency of the principles upon which they were established although much hath and may be spoken for and against that form both from principles of Divinity and Reason on the one hand the Divine institution being pleaded and not to be denyed although on the other side as to the manner of conveyance of and investiture in the exercise of the office of Kingship it is alleadged that there can be no power vested in one man over many but it must be either immediate or mediate An immediate power given by God say they none can claime if they can let it appeare and we will obey gladly but if not then their power must be mediate and if so then it must have its birth either from force because stronger or consent and election if by force how long soever continued freedome may be regained by the people under that force when ever opportunity serves if by consent then there is a mutuall obligation the one to governe by a Law the other to obey by a Law and this say they is the most sure basis of Government whether it be exercised by one or many The reason they give for this opinion ought also to be considered to prevent popular confusions They say where the Government of one or many is established by compact there the people do not convey a power to any to be exercised over them according to the lust or will of the Magistrate neither do they bind themselves unto any servile or slavish obedience unto his or their commands and therefore they establish on their behalf Trustees not onely to make and form the Law and compact by which they will be governed but also to see that the same be duely performed on the part of the Magistrate without which say they it were a mockery and not a Government each party obliged having upon principles of reason the same latitude of liberty to break the bond whether of command or subjection But my designe driving me another way I shall onely take a short view of the State of the affaires and Councils of this Nation under the Government of the late King in the yeares 1636. 39 40. And so proceed till after many revolutions we come to find England as it were clothed with feares and buryed in trouble and confusion as at this day from the consideration of the causes whereof the naturall consequences will by all unbiassed persons be readily deduced and applyed It may be remembred into what parties the Ecclesiasticall and civil Councels under that unfortunate Prince were divided viz. Arminian and Puritane among the Bishops and Clergy French and Spanish among the temporall Lords each party seeming to be most active in advancement of the Kings interest while under-hand they not onely introduced but also nourished and made their own designes to flourish I need not mention the consequences of the Councels of those times because the long intermission of Parliaments the excesse of monopolies even to pins and all things of necessary use the many illegall and unwarrantable Taxes of money upon the Subject as in the Case of ship-money which though but small in it self yet in respect of the principle upon which it was demanded viz. a pretended necessity of which the King was sole judge by which the very propriety of every mans Estate was and would have been destroyed It being by the same rule as lawfull for the supreame Magistrate to demand twenty shillings or twenty pounds if he see cause out of every mans Estate as one penny or any other summe because by the Grand Charter of England and severall other Lawes then in force nothing ought to be leavied upon the subject but by and with the consent of the people in Parliament I say these things are so
had a desire as is pretended to perpetuate their power the hair-braind actions of the generality of the present Generation doth not treat a real occasion it not being safe to trust unskilful riders with such wild Asses 12. Whether if notwithstanding the present Parliament through the blessing of God shall attain the desired end of peace and freedom by the settlement of successive Representatives and make due provision for the equal distribution of Justice and having established this Nation upon a sure basis or form of Government as a Common-wealth shall in some convenient time dissolve themselves whether I say most persons in England will not have just cause to take shame to themselves for the Slanders Reproches Interruptions and hard Thoughts they have harboured against their faithful Patriots who maugre all difficulties have been supported in their spirits to prosecute their work resting upon the righteous judgment of God and not valuing the threats or tumultuary disturbances of contrary-minded men My Friends pardon my plainness I do not speak from a principle purchased by Reward that which swayes with me to assert the forementioned Premises is a reall knowledge of many of the Gentlemen and of their aym in the general and if the unbelief of England make not their Chariot wheels heavy I am confident that God will make them as great Instruments of good to this Nation as they have been examples of wonder and astonishment to their Enemies abroad and at home But if by Jealousies Murmurings and Repinings Plots Insurrections and Rebellions men will not onely interrupt them in their work but also necessitate them to act upon principles of safety and severity I refer it to all rational persons whether it be likely that they should ever be able to answer those ends which you so much desire and yet by all crooked endeavours hinder How can you expect peace when you design war How can you expect ease from your burthens while you create a necessity rather of encrease of an Army than of lessening it Certainly if men would but consider former Experiences and eye what different methods God hath observed in bringing about his great and unparallell'd dispensations in these Nations contrary to all the designs or expectations of men I say certainly were these things soberly considered it would teach men patiently to wait in hope for the good they expect in Gods own way and not take upon them to prescribe how and in what manner or by what Instruments it is convey'd His Arme is not shortned why then should any man despair of attaining his desires Is it not because he will confine God to such and such means and without it be done in such a way it is presently concluded it cannot be done Whereas both Experience and late Examples manifest that God hath transformed the hearts and judgments and turned the designs of the Great men of the World topsy-turvy beyond all expectation as in the very case of the present Parliament and without doubt when ever they shall cease from designing his glory and the publick good or render themselves unfit Instruments for the work which he is doing in the World then and not till then shall their Counsels fail and they shall be shattered and cast away as uselesse and unprofitable servants others better fitted shall be raised in their stead for God hath a succession of Providences and all his Councils are ordered and sure therefore wait patiently and you shall see the salvations of the Lord LAMBETH August 30. 1659. This is the assured hope and expectation of him that desires to manifest himself Friendly Reader thine in the advancement of his Countries peace J. H. A POST-SCRIPT to the Parliament and Council Right Honourable HAving in the foregoing Narrative taken the boldness to treat of you give me leave now in plainness of heart to speak a few words to you I confess you may justly demand How dares such a poor despicable obscure Creature as I am presume to paraphrase of or dictate to you that are the Princes of our little world I know by sad experience it many times falls out that Integrity is accounted Arrogancy and Singularity Flattery better pleases the eares of great men than plain dealing but I hope better from the greatest part of you however I have not learnt to flatter nor know how to fear therefore my Reward is with that God that knows the bent of my spirit and will in the latter end bear testimony that what I have done herein proceeds from a principle of affection not onely to your persons but to the publick Interest concentred in you Those Travellers that fear dangers or desire safety in their journeys use diligence in their enquiries and receive direction with thankfulnesse but if an unknown or unthought-of danger be discovered unask'd that doubles the obligation and 't is not an unusual thing in long and dangerous travels especially where Enemies are on all hands for such occasions to offer themselves It is an old but true Proverb Standers by see more sometimes than they that play and the reason is obvious high conceit doth usually occasion oversight and we are apter to discern other mens mistakes then our own Self-opinion and Self-love are two of the most dangerous Steers men that can possibly be employed at the Helm and if Captain Humility look not carefully to the Compasse 't is ten to one but the Ship will either be split upon the Rock of Ambition or swallowed up in the Quicksand of Oppression That you have a difficult I may say dangerous Journy to go as being incompassed with enemies abroad I wish I could not say at home too besides the clogs and remora's occasioned by domestick divisions flowing from the difference of Interest and Principles I think will not be disputed or denyed I might to the difficulty and danger adde the distance for if ever you arrive at your journeys end as you have set out from the Wildernesse of Tyranny and Slavery so you must never cease till you have attained the desired Canaan of justice and freedom You know it is said that none obtain the prize but they that run to the end of the Race and truly I may say to you in the same sense that it will not be sufficient for you to bring England to the borders or within the sight of the enjoyment of those promised ends you have so frequently declard for and they have so earnestly desired unless God shall deal with you as with Moses of old and for your transgressions suffer you onely to see the Land a far off but you must with Joshua conduct the people into the possession of your Promises and their Hopes maugre all opposition And though there be many Corah's that create fears and disparage the work both as to the matter and manner of it yet be not discouraged but proceed and consider that if the work was good when you first declared for and undertook it although the way to the