would against the light of our minds and consciences have sinned against God and condemned our owne deed Thus way was made to the pacification and for praeoccupying all mistakes whether wilfull possibly by some or through weaknesse of memory by others These vocall interpretations and expressions were collected keeped by our selves and in papers delivered to some of the Counsellours of England in the words follow-ing Some conditions of his Majesties Treatie with his Subjects of Scotland before the English Nobility are set down heere for remembrance AS for the preface and conclusion of his Majesties last Declaration although it conteined hard expressions of the Subjects in Scotland yet his Majestie declared that he had no such opinion of them but required the paper to stand for his credit and for a point of honour with forraigne Nations and required they should not stand with him for words and expressions so they obtained the matter 2. As for calling the late Assembly pretended seeing the Subjects of Scotland professed they would never passe from the said Assembly and decrees thereof His Majestie professed as he did not acknowledge that Assembly further then as it had registrat his Declaration so would he not desire the Subjects to passe from the samine 3. Concerning the constitution of the Assembly It was showne his Majestie that none could be members of the Assembly but such as had a Commission viz. two or three Ministers from every Presbyterie with a ruling Elder one from each Burgh and University and his Majesties Commissioner His Majestie contended that his Assessours had vote and upon an expression in his Majesties Declaration that referred to some reasons contained in former Proclamations which were totally against the lawfulnes of ruling Elders It was desired that according to the custome of this Kirk all contraversies arising should be remitted to the Assembly it self His Majestie had some expressions craving these to be remitted to himself but being told that it was against the constitutions of the Kirk to have any other Judge but the voycer of the assembly where his Majestie or his Commissioner should be present and give the first voyce It was concluded that the word Free Assembly in his Majesties Declaration did import the freedome in judging all questions arising there concerning constitution members or matter 4. Concerning the restitution of the Castles as the subjects did it freely so did they expresse that what might concerne the safetie of the countrey they referred to the time of the Parliament at which time they should signifie their desires by Petition to his Majesty As also they told it had cost much charges in fortifying and keeping thereof The representation whereof to his Majestie they referred to that time 5. Concerning the restitution of persons goods and houses required by his Majestie It was promised provyding the great summes contracted for the publick were repayed in an equall way by all which behoved to be done either by commission from his Majestie or by Parliament And when it was objected that much goods were already spent The King answered That as for goods or ammunition that was spent they could not be restored but these that are extant must bee 6. His Majestie not allowing of the late assembly for the reasons contained in his severall Proclamations being excepted against as a declaration of his Majesties judgement against ruling Elders which prejudged the right constitution of a free assembly His Majestie after full hearing deleted that clause 7. That part of his Majesties Declaration which beares that no other oath be exacted of Intrants then that which is contained in the act of Parliament as also that clause bearing that the pretended bishops c. shal be censurable by the generall assembly being excepted against as presupponing and importing the continuance of episcopacie which wee could not acknowledge as being incompatible with the Confession of faith and constitution of the Kirk His Majestie was pleased to delete both these clauses 8. And it being with all instancie and humilitie prest Saturday June 15. That his Majestie would satisfie that main desire of the Subjects by declaring that his Majestie would quite episcopacie did answere that it was not sought in our desires And when it was replyed that our first desire to have the acts of the generall assembly ratified imported the same his Majestie acknowledged it to be so and averred that he did not refuse it but would advyse till monday the 17. At which time his Majestie being prest to give some signification of his quytâ—ng episcopacie and it being plainly shown to his Majesty that if he would labour to maintain episcopacie it would breed a miserable schisme in this Kirk and make such a rupture division in this Kingdome as would prove uncurable and if his Majesty would let the Kirk and Countrey be fred of them his Majesty would receive as hearty and duetifull obedience as ever Prince received of a people His Majestie answered that he could not prelimite and fore-stall his voyce but had appointed a free assembly which might judge of all Ecclesiasticall matters The constitutions whereof he promised to ratifie in the ensuing Parliament It were against duety for us to doubt of his Majesties intention to be personally present in the Assembly as it is expressed in the foresaid Declaration And we are no lesse assured that if it had pleased God so to dispose matters this day might have been in a better and more peaceable posture through giving and receiving in presence mutuall contentment betwixt the King and his Subjects But the penner of the Declaration hath been evill advised in rendring the reasons of his Majesties diversion from any disorders in Edinburgh or from the refusall of some Noblemen and others to goe to Barwick For that stir of some of the people did arise upon a rumor that the Lord Aboynd who had lately come from the troubles in the North where some of Edinburgh had lost their friends and acquaintance And that the late pretended bishop of Edinburgh the more odious to the people that in the recent Proclaclamation the prelats were called to be members of the Assembly that they both were at that time in the Coach about which the multitude made the concurse But no sooner were the persons discerned and the Lord Thesaurer seen and known but the tumult incontinent ceased All which being made known to his Majesty by Commissioners sent from Edinburgh and seconded by the Lord Thesaurer his owne relation his Majesty seemed to rest satisfied Neither was the refusing of the Lords and others sent for the true cause of his Majesties going away What means have been used by some bad instruments to disturb and cut off a treatie of peace is too manifest from the records of times past when men simulat and make a show to do that of a free mind which indeed necessitie constraineth them to do for the time there can bee no firme peace expected Wicked men also who find themselves prejudged
A TRUE REPRESENTATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE KINGDOME OF SCOTLAND Since the late pacification BY THE ESTATES OF THE KINGDOME Against mistakings in the late DECLARATION 1640. Printed in the year of God 1640. A true representation of the proceedings of the Kingdome of SCOTLAND since the late Pacification By the Estates of the Kingdome against mistakings in the late DECLARATION 1640. ALTHOVGH our adversaries should not onely whet their tongues and swords but also dippe their pennes in the gall of bitternesse and every day write a book against us in this cause yet will it bee accounted of us as an ornament to our head and a chain to our neck for not wee so much as trueth it selfe doth suffer by them It being their ayme and designe to make Antichristian errour triumph above that truth which is coaeval with time it self their Art suitable cūning not only to conceal deprave verities which will prove the daughters of time but also to forge such lies as may serve most for their wicked ends But it wounds us sore that they are permitted to prefixe the sacred face and name of authoritie ordained of God to defend and vindicate trueth to their base and crooked wayes and that by their Sophistications as the goings of the Serpent the world should be obfirmed in errour and the simple and ignorant pitifully seduced and snared to be made the instruments of the execution of their malice and crueltie Wee may truely say if forgeries depravations and misconstructions were taken out of the minds and libells of our adversaries in this cause they would bee but poore and shrunken things unpleasing to themselves when they look upon them and of small power to worke upon others that heare them but they finde that this miserable mixture although agrosse embasement maketh their mettall the more pliant and flexible and to worke the better for making up their Idoll That book which carried the name and title of His Majesties large Declaration hath yet received no publîck and particular answer So many as are acquainted with our proceedings since the beginning of this worke as have taken diligent heed to such pieces of ours as it hath ingrossed which alone may be an antidote against all the venome of it and as have perused what beside came from us to the view of the world do find that it hath nothing against the cause or against the persons of men but what they are able to confute from their owne knowledge Before that Declaration was seene of us for it was not intended to open our eyes but to dazell the sight of our neighbours and therefore a long time kept without our borders we had given unto his Majestie and the Nobility of England satisfaction concerning our proceedings which were perverted by the author of that Declaration the pacification was concluded and an Assembly and Parliament promised and appointed Like as at the time of the pacification diverse of his Majesties gracious expressions were found contrary to the aspersions and blotts which had fallen from that foul pen. And this at that time was told his Majestie by some of our Commissioners and did teach us how impudent the forger was and how injurious to the King from whose justice wee hoped he should receive his deserved censure and punishment at the desire and supplication of the Assembly and Parliament which was judged to be a more generous way and more honourable for the King the Kingdome and many particular persons who were knowne to bee wronged then to trifle with such a party in a reply about things that were past and to make the wounds green which were begunne to close Neither in this was it our desire so much to do the party hurt as to make him repent and palinode without which wee cannot yet see how either his Majestie can be restored to his honour or the Kirk and Kingdome and many of his Majesties subjects repaired in their credite Although wee know that this our plaine and open profession of our judgement and desire wîll make him except God touch his heart the more desperatly wicked and if he have any power to abuse it that he be not called to that reckoning which he is not able to make The case is now changed It was time then to keep silence and now it is time to speake when our just exceptions against this late Declaration and our presenting of the naked and open truth as in day light without maskes and mummeries may if the Lord will prevent the mischief now intended the second time which was by other meanes in the mercy of God turned away at first And if this our endeavour shall proue uneffectuall to our wished ends of tranquillity and peace we must rest upon the determination of the Supreame providence and upon this testimony that we have delivered our own soules The steps of the Declaration shall be trod by us In the relation of our proceedings from the pacification to the Parliament In the time of the sitting of the Parliament and after the Parliament to this day In all which when the Declaration wandereth out of the way we shall modestly and with that respect which we owe to authority which shall never be vilified but ever be in high esteem with us keepe the way of truth and shal note the wilfull aberrations of our adversaries whose delight is to walk in wanderings and by-paths The question proponed in the beginning who they are that have been the disturbers of the peace is that which we desire to be debated and may be the more easily and clearly defined upon this threefold consideration First that Innovation in Religion and the infringing of fundamentall Liberties and Lawes which are universally acknowledged to be the maine causes of commotions have been the first motives and meanes of our Tempests and troubles When Religion and Justice which are the pillars of government begin to be shaken or under-myned no marvell there be disturbance in the house of the Common-wealth which yet is not to be imputed to all who are under the roofe but to such as have a hand and are workers in the mischief Secondly our wayes of redresse and deliverance from common ruine were no other but humble and frequent supplications to the Councell of the Kingdome first and not being heard in all reverence to the King himself as the great Master of the house fair legall protestations against the threatning pressing evils every one of thē bearing the testimonies of our loyaltie of our high honouring of Monarchicall government in the Royall person of our native King And when our supplications protestations proved nothing but fewell to that fire which was burning in the breasts of those Incendiaries our enemies and had inflamed our King to take armes against us and to put all in a common combustion We did still present in the one hand our humble supplications most earnestly begging to injoy our Religion and Liberties in peace under
to his Majesty All this was done immediatly after the confession of faith was subscribed by his Majesty and his houshold in January and was commanded to bee subscribed by the Subjects in March so that there can be no question about the intention and meaning of King Councell and Assembly in the point of the discipline of the Church mentioned in the confession of faith Yet One thing is mainly objected to prove that his Majestie and his councell did not intend the abjuration of Episcopacie In the yeere 1571. there was a solemne agreement between the Commissioners of his Majesties Councell and the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly that during the Kings minoritie or without a contrary order from Parliament there should be Archbishops and Bishops Deans Chapters Abbots and Priors their office and forme of election the oath taken by them at their admission the restitution to their Temporalities were all particularly agreed upon This agreement in the yeare 1571 was in precise tearmes confirmed by his Majesty and Councell in the yeere 1581. when the Covenant was commanded to bee sworne by the Subject and therefore it cannot be conceived that his Majesty and Councell did in the same yeere give order to abjure Episcopacie wherein they took such speciall care to confirme it Ans For answering this objection we are to consider first that in the yeere 1571 January 12. there was indeed a convention of Superintendents Ministers and other Commissioners for consulting about the governement of the church but that convention was not a Generall Assembly of the Church for the Register calls it onely a Convention and not an Assembly the ordinary Assembly was holden at Saint Andrewes in the same yeere 1571 March 6. according to the appointment of the Generall Assembly the yeere before This convention was procured by the Court for worldly ends especially that titles of Bishops Abbots and Priors which were not proper in the persons of Noblemen might be given to Kirk-men or Ministers with some small portion of the benefice that the noble men themselves might reape the benefite of the Rent which was the cause of the Scottish name of Tulchan Bishops at that time a name not improper for them a Tulchan in our language being the skin of a calfe stuffed with straw and set up beside the Kow to make her give milk to the owner 2. Although that convention at Leith was not a Generâ—ll Assembly yet did it not appoint those Bishops by it selfe but gave power to seven of the number or any foure of them to conferre with the Regent some of the Lords of secret Councell who did agree upon the office of Archbishops and Bishops Deanes and Chapters within the bounds of Dioceses c. which was of lesse authority in a matter of so high importance then if it had been their own doing 3. The articles and conclusions agreed upon by the Commissioners of his Majesties Councell and that convention were not approven in the next ordinary Generall Assembly holden at Saint Andrewes March 6. 1571. the Generall Assembly at Perth 1572. was not only offended with the names of Archbishops Deanes Archdeacons Chancellours c. as sounding to Popery but also declared that they did not approve that order of Church governement but did tolerat the same allanerly till a more perfect should be obtained for which they laboured afterward at all occasions So that the conclusions of that meeting at Leith 1571. never had the authority of this Church but were disclaimed by it During the time of this toleration many complaints were made in the Assemblies against Bishops and in the yeere 1573. and afterward some were appointed by the Assemblies to conferre with the Regent and Lords of secret Councell upon the jurisdiction and policie to bee continued and established in the Church till at last after many disputations and much reasoning the matter was brought to a finall conclusion the office of Bishops was abolished and Presbyteriall governement established Next concerning the act of Councell in the yeere 1580. confirming the agreement at Leith we answere 1. That the Councell lawfully could not confirme that agreement introduce Episcopacie or change the governement of the Kirk contrary to the acts of so many Generall Assemblies keeped from the yeere 1571 to 1580. wherein the policie and governement of the Church was so expressely set downe 2. The act of Councell was never published nor made known to the subject nor heard of in this cause till this time wherein no other thing can be alledged for salving of Episcopacie from abjuration 3. This act of Councell was posterior to the command for subscribing the confession of faith for the act was made in October 1581. and the commandement came forth in March many moneths before 4. No such intention was professed when the charge was given for subscription neither could the confession of faith in any sense beare the conclusions of that agreement these offices and the forme of their election being damned as Popish in the Assembly before no man will marvell much at such an act of Councell who knoweth what other acts passed that yeere in Councell and who is not a stranger in the history of that time the perusall and knowledge whereof will both shew how suddenly Covenants have been broken and will easily give satisfaction against all mistakings of this kind to so many as desire to know the trueth AGainst this our abjuration of Episcopacie first and last our adversaries arise with great hate strength and fight with tooth and naile for upon the one hand Episcopacie must be asserted by no other then by divine right and Hierarchie maintained not only as tollerable and lawfull but as necessary and divine Although before this time neither our own Doctors and Prelats nor the English have been so peremptory bold about this point for while some of them have maintained Episcopacie by divine authority yet others have been more ingenuous confessing it only to be grounded upon ancient custome and therefore to be an humane invention or Ecclesiastick tradition And a third sort different from both will have it to be Apostolick Again some of them make the forme of Kirk government to be universall and perpetuall and others hold it to be locall and conformable to the civill policy Thus have they been divided one of them from another But in this exigence and point of time one must undertake for all to cry up Episcopacie as coming from Heaven not from the earth even as it hath the altitude of fixed superiority the latitude of spirituall jurisdiction And why because we have abjured it and our Assemblies have found it unlawfull in this Kirk this was their modesty of expression desiring more to reforme at home then to be busie abroad for which they find no more courtesie nor lesse acerbity of spirit then if they had given out a generall sentence concerning the government of the Kirk It is not for us nor for this naked relation
Commissioners subscription is declared to be one and the same with that of 1580. which giveth no warrant to such actions as ours are Where fiâ—st we desire it to be known universally that the Earle of Traquair his Majesties Commissioner did subscribe the Confession of Faith and Covenant with the explanation of the Assembly First in the house of Parliament in presence of the Lords of articles Septemb 6. both as Commissioner with the declaration made in the Assembly to be prefixed to his subscription and as Traquair simplie as other subjects have done Next that he subscribed the Covenant in the new house of Exchecquer as a Counsellour with other prime Lords of Counsell Roxburgh Lawderdaile Southesk and many others and that without any Declaration at all even the Marques of Huntlie shew his desire to subscribe with others but that he would have done it with protestation of his liberty outwith the Kingdome which the Ministers who were present to take the oath and subscription of the Lords could not admit But neither his Lordship nor any other pretended any scruple either in Religion or civill obedience to the King against their subscription so that neither in the Assembly nor in the Parliament-meeting of the articles nor at the Councell Table was there any suspition of treasonable combination against the King from this subscription Secondly if both that of the 1580. and this of 1638. be one then certainly this hath no more then that and that hath no lesse then this Neither is there any other difference of the one from the other but as was expressed in our Protestation Septemb. 22. 1638. such as is of a march stone hid in the ground and uncovered c. for this end and for giving full satisfaction to authority these words Wee have sworne and doe sweare not onely our mutuall concurrence and assistance for the cause of Religion c. but also that wee shall concurre with our friends and familiars in quiet manner or in armes as wee shall be required of his Majesty his Councell or any having his authority in every cause that may concerne his Majesties honour according to the Lawes of this Kingdome and the duetie of good Subjects c. are insert in the Supplication of the Generall Assembly first part of this representation pag. 48. Our third objection is That the demands proponed by us in Parliament are but matters in fieri which is so praegnant that it cannot be answered if it be considered as it was modestly proponed and very truly exponed by our Commissioners in their proceedings pag. 45 46. for many demands may be made to the articles which may be rejected by them and many things may be concluded in articles to be proponed to the Parliament which in face of Parliament being disputed may be judged inconvenient Demands are not definitions nor propositions to be accompted conclusions Things done by men must be in fieri before they be in facto esse every conception cometh not to the rypenesse to be a birth BY that which we have said we believe we are free before and in the Assembly and Parliament of insolencies and the heavy censures of Rebellion and Treason which are so ordinarily and at every other word thundered out that they are become the lesse formidable unto us who desire that all our actions and proceedings in this cause may be seen in their own colours and who are supported with this inward testimony that we fear God and still honour the King although nothing can proceed from us which will please our adversaries except we will follow their rules which are not unlike those of the Jesuits found at Padua when they were expelled the territory of Venice One of them was that men should take heed that they presse or inculcat not too much the Grace of God Another was that men must beleeve the Hierarchicall Church although it tell us that that is black which our ey judgeth to be white Vnto which we may adde the third invented by Ignatius Loyola of blinde obedience which we have no mind to practise because it is repugnant to the essence of the vertue of obedience which proceedeth from knowledge and election We intreat our adversaries to shew us in good earnest and not by way of railing In what sense have we incurred the censure of Rebellion and Treason in the Assembly as is alledged pag. 52. The Assembly was conveened by his Majesties authority countenanced from the beginning to the end by his Majesties high Commissioner all things were done with high respect to the Kings Majestie and with frequent prayers for his happines Nothing was put in deliberation till it was first proponed to his Majesties Commissioner nor any thing determined without his advice consent and approbation all was done in that order and decencie which this Nation out of use of Assemblies through the tiranny of Prelats usurping the jurisdiction of the Kirk could attain unto at the first or second time and all was closed with rejoycing in God and with many praises and prayers for the King under whose Majestie the Commissioner also had his own part And yet in the Assembly we must be guilty of Rebellion and Treason We cannot be mooved to think but the mitre of an usurping Prelat by the authority of a Nationall Councell may be thrown to the ground without the violation or smallest touch of the Crown or Scepter of Imperiall Majesty because we deny both the Tenets of the Romanists One that the temporall power of Princes is directly subordinat and subject unto persons Ecclesiasticall as having all power given them of God Another of such of them as are touched with a little shame that the temporall authority doeth not reside in persons Ecclesiasticall but is given unto them indirectly as necessar for the Spirituall which is but a shift and a difference of words what then should our judgment be of unlawfull and usurping prelats and popâ—lâ—ngs may be easily known by others or if need were made known by our selves if this were not a digression onely this much we intended that to dethrone a prelat and to over-turn prelacie we judge it no Treason against the King And so we come to the answer of the third part of the Declaration touching our faults since the Parliament Not three or foure but Ten transgressions and exorbitancies are here libelled against us The first three are the provyding of men munition and moneyes for our own defence which in us who are the Estates of a free Kingdome is held lawfull by the Law of God and Nature by our acts of Parliament by the practise of other reformed Kirks by the testimony of famous Divines by the assistance contributed by our own Princes to other Kirks and States invaded and distressed and we adde by the judgment of many amongst our selves who in the beginning of our troubles and before the late pacification had about this their own scruples wherein since considering what is done in England for
it unlawfull by the Law of God and man to call for help from God and man Is there no help nor assistance by intercession by supply of money c Is all assistance by the sword and by men Is all imploring of assistance an argument of subjection unto the assistant May not friends and equalls assist as well as superiors Shall it be thought that diverse Princes and Estates sued unto for help are all invited to be rulers and governours over one and the same people We love not shrouds nor disguisements we speak the plain truth and feare nothing so much as that truth be not known We never had intention to preferre any forrain power to our native King whom God hath set over us We love not our selves or the English Nation so little as to raise up any wall of partition between them and us The Proclamation at that time as may be seen in our last Remonstrancepag 34. was without example Great forces by sea and land were coming upon us Informations went abroad in other nations to the prejudice of us and our Cause This made us to resolve to write unto the French King apprehending that upon sinister relation his power might be used against us as may be seen in our Instruction printed in our Remonstrance pag. 37. What kind of assistance we called for whether of men or mediation may be best known by the Commentary of our Letter our Instructions which are ready to be seen and are signed also by the Lord Lowdouns hand now in prison and therefore if we should need to say it not falsified without subjection or soveraignitie of either of the Nations Scotland or France Aide and assistance hath been given in former times If we had called at that time or have called now in the return of our troubles upon Denmark Holland Sweden Poland or other Nations for help are we therefore inviting them all to soveraignitie over us And when all is said or done the Letter was but an Embrio for saken in the birth as containing some unfit expressions and not agreeable to our Instructions and therefore slighted by the Subscribers but catched for some great advantage by this treacherous and secret accuser of the Kingdome Another Letter was formed consonant to the Instructions and signed by many hands But neither was this sent from us although some invent or imagine that it was intercepted by the way to France would be but late to avert the danger which was so neere The Letter it self carieth two tokens that is was unperfected one that it wanteth a date another that it beareth no superscription from us Both these are craftily turned against us The blank date hath made our enemies to number this Letter amongst our pretended faults committed after the Parliament where as it is universally known that it was written in May 1639. before our marching to the Border and therefore ought to have been buried in the pacification This is well known to the Commissioner who talked of it before his going to England was occasionally made known to some of quality in his Majesties Camp The want of the superscription hath made them to indorse it Au Roy a title say they used by the subjects of that Kingdome to their own Prince only But we affirme that the Letter was neither sealed folded nor written on the back by us or by our knowledge we hold it but a poore argument ground of accusation against the French or Dutch supplicating or writing to our King if they should say To the King every King being the King in his own Dominions We love not to harp more upon subscribing superscribing or sending of letters to other Princes to the Pope himself from examples of old of late which are not hid from the eyes of the world It is sufficient to us to have justified our selves to show how innocently the Lord Lowdoun suffereth for putting his hand to such a Letter the guiltines or innocencie here not being personall or proper to the Lord Lowdoun but nationall and common to us all And although it had been a fault his alone yet what soever it was it did in time for along time go before his cōmission imployment therfore ought not to have bin challenged till he had returned to his country unclothed himself of his commission turned again to be what he was a privat Nobleman The dignity safety of nations kingdomes Estates Republicks are much interessed in their Cōmissioners Legats whether they be sent from one Prince to another or from a kingdom province or republick to their own Prince Their dignity for what is done to the Legat is interpreted to be done to them that sent him their safety because if Legats be wronged there can be no more composing of differences nor possibility of Reconciliation which is the ground of the Law of Nations whose being consists in their honour and safety and therefore it will have no Legat to be accused during his Legation for any thing committed by him befor it It commands Legats to be free even from the inferiour Law of Reprisall and doeth reckon these to be the excellent effects which it produceth in all places where it is obeyed Religion to God Pietie toward our Countrey propulsation of injurie keeping of faith and that Legats be inviolable And although there were not such a Law of Nations yet his Majesties own roy all and inviolable warrant for the coming of our Commissioners to his presence at this time is enough for their safe conduct and security If they have committed any thing at home against their King Countrey or any particular subject the fundamentall Liberties and indepencie of the Kingdome and the practises of the former times since 1603. not onely in the persons of Noblemen but of others of mean quality doe require that they be tryed and judged at home in a Legall way by the ordinary Judicatories of the Land How many bloody warres and what horrible calamities have ensued upon this transgression of the Law of Nations we leave to be remembred from the Records of history and earnestly intreat for their liberty and safety who are to us as our selves When the wittinesse and malice of our adversaries are vented to the uttermost against all our proceedings since the pacification for things done before on either side ought not to be remembred not that we fear a new try all but because they are unty mous and impertinent By that which we have said and represented the unpartiall and such as are not praepossessed will find that till the peaceable ending of the Assembly and the proroguing of the Parliament not onely the bonds of piety to God loyaltie to our King and zeal to be approved of our neighbours but our desire our care and hope that all should end in a setled peace did oblige and tye us to bear many injuries to construct all so far as was possible to the better