these Nations to the astonishment of the enemies and satisfaction of the good people y thereof and they hoped God would make his mountain to stand strong z And they thought it their duty to give a publick testimony a of their hearty affections and readinesse in their several places and capacities to the utmost of their powers faithfully and cheerfully to assist b and serve him c. The Priests and others of Buckingham County Addressed as others did unto R. C. ANd in their addresse they expressed their deep sence of their great losse by the death of his Father of ever blessed memory c And they hope he will make the example d of his Father to be his patern And they also did declare they would be ready to testifie their affections e to him and obedience to his Government The Priests and others of the County of Northampton Addressed to R. C. ANd in their Addresse they speak of the precious memory of his thrice Renowned Father who was so in love and tendernesse to the people of God f in zeal for Reformation in Church and State in bounty and compassion to the suffering Saints g under whose shadow we sate for a time with great safety h and sweet repose And that they were amazed at the divine stroke that took from them in a time so unlooked for mark the light of our eyes i and the breath of our nostrils whom they declared to be the wisest and most glorious k of Princes And so treading l in the steps of their Brethren that had gone before them they humbly prayed That his Highnesse would exercise just severity against despisers of dignities m and revilers of Aâ—thoritie whose unhallowed n tongues spare not to flash out their insolent o reproaches and impious execrations against your Fathers Sepulchre and your Highnesse Throne That his Highnesse would countenance a faithful p sound able and godly Ministry And that his Highnesse would still own and adhere q unto the faithful Friends and Counsel of his Renowned Father Then shall the people of God be with you to obey r you to assist you to love you to rejoyce in you to blesse God with incessant s prayers for you And as for themselves they unfainedly acknowledge as falsly they said themselves obliged to pay unto his Highnesse all the duties of faithful Subjects to a good and worthy Prince even to the utmost hazard t of life and estate c. The Priests and others of Berks County Addresse to R. C. VVHerein they say that with much sadnesse u of heart they bewail their great losse w in the death of his Princely Father And withall they also declared that they would stand by him with their estates x and hazard of their lives c. The Priests of Hampshire they also Addressed unto R. C. ANd some things they made mention of that was done by his Father which they said was but the first fruits of far greater blessings desired a and expected and as it were clusters of Canaan to refresh them in their wildernesse condition And flattering of him said they observed in him zeal for Gods glory affectionate actings for the Truth b faithfull execution of Justice c countenancing of godly Ministers tendernesse towards such as feared the Lord a humble frame of Spirit and a most amiable behaviour towards all c. saying they should never d cease to pray that the God of all their Mercies would be present with him in his person c. The Priests and others of Dorchester and of the County of Dorset they Addressed unto R. C. WHerein they speak of the losse of his Renowned Father of whom say they themselves and the three Nations may say they have lost their Father e of their Countrey yet being he is established his Rightfull Successor in the Government their sorrow was turned into joy f so to him and his Government they declared they would adhere c. The Priests and others of Wilts County made their Address to R. C. VVHerein they pretend to bewaile g the death of his Father but with all thankfulnesse acknowledgeth and admireth as they say the wonderful workings of God in preventing their fears h by bringing him legally to succeed him in Government and do declare their free and cordiall owning of him whom the Lord had set over them i And they also declared their firm resolutions k to stand by him assist him in the Administration of his just power c. The Priests of Taunton and others of the Inhabitants of that Town Addressed to R. C. VVHerein they expressed their deep sence of the heavy l stroke of God in taking from them his renowned Father But since say they it was the Will of God this Glorious Sun m Mark should set yet no night hath followed And they promised to be wholly at his command and humbly to submit was their unalterable resolution n as they falsly said and readily with all chearfulnesse assist by their Persons and Estates c. The Priests of Chard in the County of Somerset with others of the Town addressed to R. C. WHerein they expressed their deep sence of the terrible providence in taking off from their heads the joy of their hearts o his most Illusterous Father but they blesse God that providence gave them such a Ioshua p to conduct them into the Land of promise And as they subscribe their hands so shall be ready to hang their lives and estates as Labels to that sincere fealty and most cheerful obedience which God and his Highnesse called for from them The Priests of Tiverton with others of the Inhabitants of the Town Addressed to R. C. ANd confessed they had had a share in the Priests Astonishments and Fears q at the sad news of his renowned Fathers death And they did unfainedly congratulate his Highnesse serene pious and prudent beginnings and they did bless the Lord as they said who had laid up un-thought-of provisions for the good of the People in these Nations c. The Priests of Hereford County and many others Addressed to R. C. SAying That the great loss in this Common wealth wâ—h happened by the death of his dear Father had oppressed their spirits with fear had not divine providence given r his princely person to succeed in the protection of Religion s Laws and Liberties of the Nations over which the Lord had placed him t as chief Magistrate and they did declare their firm Resolutions u to yield all Loyalty fidelity and obedience and to assist him to the utmost w extent of their abilities The Priests and others of Warwick County Addressed to R. C. SHewing their sorrow for their late unspeakable loss by the death of his Highnesse incomparable Father so worthy a nursing Father a
for him Do they continue for him to this very day I suppose nay h Are your engaged affections yet to his Government If so wherefore did you then so much rejoyce when you were brought under the power of another i when or how did you seek his preservation when he could not preserve you in your Pâ—rsonage-houses glebe Lands and faâ— Benâ—fices did you not then withdraw from him like the rest of your Brethren Oh you deâ—eitful men k Had you said politick then many would have believed you For his policy was more apparent to many then his piety l Here your tongues have uttered falshood like the rest of your Brethren could he give life to you who could not preserve his own life from death And have you been without light and life since life and breath was taken from him Are you not ashamed of your sayings who set up that vain man in the room of Christ who onely gives Light and Life which is his gift unto the sons of men which it appeares you have not yet received who thus blasphemes m But in his dayes Religion came not to a perfect growth among you neither were the Liberties of Gods people in his dayes perfectly preserved by him from your cruelty n In few months after your Addreâ—â—e to him he had many opposers and where did any of you either to the hazard of Life or Estare oppose any of them so your thus Addressing hath â—ended to the manifesting of your folly to the Nation o Your losse was tollerable for you while you retained your Tythe Sallaries and Augmentations which he and his Parliaments procured you p What did you then neglect your duty when you declined from him and encouraged and strengthned the hands of his enemies against him q In countenancing you in your making a prey upon the innocent he imitated his Father in that sin especially And therefore was not the Lord well pleased with his doings r Your faith he deâ—ended but a very little time Oh ye earthly-minded men where do you find that ever the Ministers of Christ Addressed to the powers of the earth as Defenders of the Faith for the defence of their faith Did not this custome get up in the Apostacy since the Apostles whose faith stood in the power of God And he who was the Authour and fiâ—isher of it was their Defender and Protector in it now were you in that faith which the Apostles were in then would you not Addresse and Petition to one power after another as your manner is in order for receiving and obtaining help from them â—or the procuring of your Tythe and other prâ—fits which are looked upon to be your livelihood that you get by your trade of preacâ—ing And by them things you subsist and live rather then by faith by which the just do live s I suppose that was one of the clusters of Canaan which your brethren inHamâ—shire spoke of when they told of the good things good in their Account done by O. C. t That you might have your proportionable Revenues and that your number might be encreased in the Nation to the filling of every Parâ—onage-house and to the deceiving of unstable souls in every Masse-house for which they become more apt and in which they became more expert by being at that place which your Patriot as your brethren called him had founded then they were before u The fruit of many of those that have proceeded from such places as it and Oxford and Cambridge have been so detestable to many sober minded people that at this time I judge I need not particularly prescribe it it hath been so plenteously published to the Nation w What then was all that ever he did in the time of the late and deploreable warrs and after he came to be made Protector tell his dâ—ing day right just Lawful and unreproveable seeing you say his hand never miscarried but the same flattering tongue which will speak lies in hypocrisie is found in and among you which I have found all along among your brethren who like your selves could hold persons in â—dmiration because of advantage And that was one of your miscarrages among the many that is to be found in your Colledges the Fountains of the Waters of strife and among the filthy dreamers that proceed from them who who are like the raging Waves of the Sea that foam out their own shame as you and your brethren have done in these Addresses Iude 1. a Had you never payed it I judge he would never have called you to an account for it and I know that your shame will be the greater then it would have been if you had kept silent which might better have become you then thus to have uttered words without knowledge b Nay the Nations lamentation was not like Rachels who wept for her children and refused to be comforted because they were not for the most of the Addresses that came from sundry parts of the Nation did signifie the joy and comfort which the inhabitants pretend they had received by the news of his being proclaimed rightful successor And therefore did they sundry times declare that their sorrow was turned into joy c. c Have you not now more need to crave pardon for breaking your promise to him then you had to crave pardon of him for sending this no sooner to him d Yet it will add to your shame who Who have forged such a bundle of lies and falshoods in your Addresse what a debt is that that this can pay which is not worth a mite e I believe you very well in this thing that your desire is to go hand in hand with your Brethren in falshoods hypocrisie and vain deceit in cruelty persecution and oppression as witnesse your severe proceeding against the inhabitants of that County who have sustained as much cruelty and wickedness from you as any people in the Nation have done from your Brethren f It appears plainly that you have not like Iacob prevailed with God for which of you all dare say that he was blessed oâ— the Lord beyond all his Princely fellows and have you not contrary to your word let the Lord go and so have given over wrestling with him â—n his behalf the day is broken and the Light of the morning discovers you whither can you go or where can you hide your selves so as the Light will not find you out and manifest your folly and nakednesse to your shame as it is at this day g His time of defending you and your faith was very short but who shall now defend you from the shame and contempt which will come upon you and be as dung upon your faces yea so shall your blasphemies lyes and flatteries which your Addresses are stuft withall be upon you and your Brethren h This is rather exprest by you as your formality in your stile of writing then in the simplicitie and sinceritie of your hearts i This was because you would not be behind
to his people yet they have no more cause of mourning that they were deprived of him so soon then of thankfulnesse they enjoyed him so long b saying though their Sun was set yet no night ensued For no sooner was the most illusterous Light c of these three Nations extinguished but it pleased the Father of Lights to set up another d And they speak of Gods renewing his loving kindnesse unto them saying that taking away a Moses e bestowed on them a Ioshua f though their governour be removed their government remains g and their happinesse under it and for his Highnesse whom next unto their most high their eyes and hearts were upon and their hopes h they should uncessantly pray The Priests and others of the City of Coventry Addressed to R. C. ANd in their Addresse they pretend to bewail the sad stroke of providence that took away the breath of their nostrils i Mark and smote their head from off their shoulders his Highnesse most Gratious renowned Father c. But Gods aim and end say they in taking away his Moses was to usher him in his Joshua k And now they desire the zeal of Good Iosiah for a reformation l may center in him they declare they are resolved to stand by and adhere to him in his Person and Government with their lives and estate m c. The Priests of Leicester County and City with others Addressed to R. C. WHerein they do encourage him to endeavour the just liberties and freedom of this Nation n from whom God hath taken so eminent a pillar o who was looked upon both at home and abroad as the great support and Protector of their peace p and joy And they do declare they will humbly beg at the Throne of Grace that as his renowned Father who as a designed instrument helped them our of Aegypt q haveing Canaan in his eye yet he as another Ioshua with his Fathers Spirit redoubled upon him may by the efficatious conduct of the Captain of the Lords Host lead them into a more full possession r of Truth Righteousnesse and Peace as their desired Canaan c. The Priests and others of Derby County Addressed to R. C. VVHerein they also expresse sorrow for the death of his Father yet they had hopes that God had raised him up to promote the same common interest of Zion s And they sincerely and cordially t as they said promised to submit to him and did declare in the strength of Christ to be assistant to him with whatsoever was precious in their eyes c. The Priests and others of the county of Stafford Addressed unto R. C. VVHerein after many lying and flattering expressions of his Father whom they call their glorious Sun v and himself their no lesse glorious shining Sun by whose light heat and influence these three Nations are quickned w to a lively hope of enjoying happy times They desire that in his dayes the Righteous may flourish and the lying lips put to silence that speak proudly x and contemptuously against the faithful Ministers the Stars of this Nation y and they do engage to be assistant to him with their lives and estates against all that shall seek to annoy his sacred Person and Government The Priests and others of the Town of Nottingham and County Addressed to R. C. WHerein they pretended to bewaile the stroke of Gods sore displeasure in taking away his Renowned Father who admirably got a and never lost b but left three Nations in peace And they do pray that he will vestigate the good foot-steps c of his dear Father And they shall to their utmost readily and chearfully serve and obey d him The Priests of Lincoln County and many others of the same County Addressed to R. C. AFter they have spoken something of his renowned e Father of ever blessed memory say they their hearts pressed them f forwards to make that humble Addresse to testifie their good affection to his Person and Government declaring they shall engage their continual prayers g sincere affections h and faithful endeavours to seek the preservation i of his Person and Government The Priests of York County did also make their Addresse like the rest of their Brethren to R C. but at present I have it not by me But here followeth a Câ—py of one from the Priests and oâ—hers of East Ridding of the County of York to R. C. WHerein they expresse their hearty sorrow for the losse of his Father the Nations pious k and worthy Patriot and that which gave them Life and Light mark to their fainting spirits l And they were confident that through his Highnesse Religion the Laws of the Land and liberties of the people would be preserved and nourished unto a perfect m growth And did unanimously offer to contribute to him their utmost services and to stand by him with their lives and estates against any opposers n The Priests and others of the City and County of Durham Addressed to R. C. VVHerein they say they bewaile that great losse which themselves sustained o by removall of his most Illustruous and endeared Father and that which remaines as their duty p is to encourage and strengthen his hands not doubting but they shall find him treading in the imitable steps of his Father q saying they were perswaded that God had given him to them as a plâ—dge of his purpose of mâ—ch love to be defender of the Faith r Liberties c. And in so doing he may with their greatest confidence and fullest assurance expect their best services The Provost and Fellâ—wes of Durham Colledge they also Addressed to R. C. VVHerein they speak very highly of his Father for founding that Colledge and proportioning a revenue to it s c. And they blesse God for his providing for the continuance of their peace and liberties by setting him in his Fathers Throne And they beseâ—ched God to make him an heir to all his Fathers matchlesse abilities for war and Goâ—vernment so of Love Zeal and Resolution to promote that work t which he begun in that place that by the vital beams of his prospicious Aspect it may be cherished and grow till it bear much fruit u for the good and happinesse of those parts of the Land in which it was planted by a hand note well which never miscarried w in any of its high and magnanimous atchievements The associated Priests and others in the County of Cumberland Addressed to R. C. ANd craved his pardon that they payed this debt so late a for they had heard that his eyes and heart had been big and full with tears for the losse of his most incomparable Father a losse so individual that 't is no marvel the whole Nations Lamentation b is like Rachels
that even refused to be comforted and further they do say they have lost a Father as well as himself whose heart and hands they declared to strengthen c what in them laid And though this poor mite can add nothing to his merits d yet the desire of their soules are to go hand in hand e with their Brethren and they declare they will not let the Lord go f till he hath blest him above and beyond all his Princely fellows through the Christian world and that he may live long the Defender g of the Faith and them c. The Priests and others of Lancaster Liverpool Priston and Wiggan in Lancashire Addressed likewise to R. C. WHerein they exprest the sadness of their of their hearts at the newes of the death of his Renowned h Father and do render their most humble acknowledgements i to his Highnesse the noblest branch of that Illustrous Stock and congratulate him as the inheritor of his Fathers spirit k as well as dignity Further they say they look upon him as the precious l person upon whose safety the right interest of establishment both in Church m and State depend and under God the repairer of their breaches n and prime preserver of their Rights and Liberties c. And do promise to uphold him in the supream dignity as their undoubted Prince and Leader with the utmost hazard o of their lives and estates The Priests of Cheshire and others of the inhabitants of that County Addressed to R. C. WHerein they twice expressed they cordially though in the rear of Englands Mourners joyn in a real deep resentment of their incomparable losse p in the decease of his illusterous Father on whose shoulder the good hand of providence had laid the Government q of these Nations and that their fear of spliting in the fall of his said Highnesse had risen to a higher tide but that he his serene Highnesse succeeded in his stead as a skilful pilot r to guide that Vessel wherein their chief concernments were imbarked into the desired Haven And they also said they hoped that God had designed him s in special mercy to the advancement of his Glory the propagation of the Gospel the vindication of this Truth against heresie error and the encouragement of Magistracy and Ministry and defence of their Rights Laws and Liberties and so promised to yield entire obedience to his Government The Priests and others of Salop County Addressed to R. C. WHerein they said happy may that Nation be called of whose late chief magistrate it may be justly said Gloririous things are spoken of thee t c. a Moses who through the good hand of God with him not onely led them out of the land of Aegypt u but himself attained to more then a Pisgah fight of the Land of Canâ—an and gave to them more then a tast of the clusters w of its grapes into their cup and they hoped that he would walk with the Lord in the steps of his Father of most happy memory and they declare their most effectual prayers x shall be no wayes wanting with their faithful enendeavours and ready obedience c. Thus it appears how they Addressed from sundry parts of the Nation unto R. C. whom they applauded and extolled and his help they craved and he added something to what his Father had done for them by putting forth his helping hand to support and uphold them by that unconsecrated way of Tythes but behold his time was very short and his help to them was very little And when he could help them no longer then did they decline from him and renounced his Government notwithstanding their many promises which they made in their sundry Addresses unto him Afterwards when he was laid aside then did they cry unto the Parliament and the Army for help from them but in this thing they were not all of one mind for many of them plotted and conspired both against the Parliament that then was and against the Army also and when they were discovered and they and their party subdued then their Brethren excused themselves and flattered the Parliament who let in their spirits and gave them thanks with other flattering expressions beyond what they gave to other petitioners And that Parliament did for them as others had done before them thinking thereby to appease their unruly spirits and to satisfie their unsatiable desire by their putting into their mouths yet neverthelesse they could not thereby quiet them but they stirred up and incensed the people against them and shot their arrows at them and that was all the thank they gave them for the favour they had shown them And when they were overturned then was their faith abundantly renewed and great was their expectations from them that then were the supream who countenanced and encouraged them as others had done before them Thus all along have they fawned upon and flattered the supream Authoritie of the Nation and that lying spirit wherewith they were possessed hath mightily prevailed time after time over the Rulers and Magistrates of the Nation who have been often forewarned by the Servants of the Lord of that cup of fornication which the Priests have put into their hands And when they were inflamed with it then were they easily perswaded that the Lord was with them when indeed he had left them unto themselves and then did they begin to turn their backs upon their enemies and were conquered without shedding of blood either with sword or spear And then some of them begun to see that those that had flattered them and had cried Peace unto them and cried for help unto them against such as could not uphold them that those were the men that had betrayed them and those in whom they had reposed confidence had dealt treacherously with them * Now the most of those that they cried and petitioned unto for help are split and broken And they whom they cried for help against yet stand in as much dominion power and Authoritie in the Truth of God as ever what then had not they need that have been holpen to take heed how they stand seeing so many as have holpen them are already fallen and broken to pieces like a potters vessel surely if that stone upon which they have been broken that have helped them do fall upon these Priests that haâ—e been holpen it will even grind them to powder And in that day they shall know that the Lord hath a remnant among them for whose sakes he hath reproved many of the mighty and many of the wise who have gloried more in their wisedom and strength then in the Lord who hath formed a people for himself in this Nation who have been persecuted and withstood both by Professors and prophane Teachers and have suffered both by Priests people of almost all sorts either in one