part of its glory renown that it provides best for Government and obedience for the security of Princes and the peace of the people of any perswasion under Heaven is the Reverend person instanced in many of its Theorems and principles especially Rom. 13. a Pet. 2. to which I had my replies ready from the several discourses in justification of the late War and the Kings death still extant and still someting mens dangerous and discontented thoughts especially the sermons before the Parliament from 1641. to 1649. 3. The third and so much the more cogent argument as Fear is more prevailing then Conscience and a care of our selves of more force with us then a sense of our duty was the dreadful event of all attempts against Government mentioned in Holy Scripture which the good man urged with much earnestness and power As Had Zimri peace that flew his Master Can a man touch the Lords Annointed and be guiltless My Son fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them who are given to change for their calamity shall arise suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both Whosoever loveth Rebellion a cruel Messenger shall be sent unto him Curse not the King no not in thy thought for a Bird of the air shall carry the voice and that which hath wings shall tell the matter The terrour of which words was yet much allayed by the immunity and indulgence we already had and might alwaies expect only one day considering with my self that the events and issues of things in the World were exactly correspondent with the Prophecies and predictions in the Scripture that Heaven and Earth might pass away and the Government of the Creation be altered and not one jot or title of the Word of God should fall to the ground I resumed the last argument examined those sayings of Scriptures aforementioned comparing them with what happened upon that occasion in the World and particularly recollected such Memoires and observations of that nature as occurred in the English Nation from the time of William the Conquerer to our Age out of which to my great astonishment I gathered this great Conclusion which I think it the interest of this present age and posterity to take notice of that as the Scriptures have foretold some 3000. years Since so we find it true in every age that Government is so secured by the ordinance and providence of God that all attempts against it have come to nought and all open and secret conspiraties and plots have had only this remarkable issue That they ended in the â—â— ine of those that were engaged in them § 1. It is now near 600. since the Government and Monarchy of this Kingdome was after the barbarousness of the Brittains and Romans the confusion and unsettledness of the Saxons the Incursions and Intervalls of the Danes setled upon the Foundation it now stands upon by William Duke of Normandy In the year 1074. Edgar Æthelin King Harolds Son with his Mother Agatha and his two Sisters Margaret and Christine all of the Blood Royal retyred in discontent to Scotland Our ancient and most desperate enemy followed by the great Earles Edwyn and Morchor his Uncles the two Arch-Bishops Stigand and Aldred and many other Lords where first by alliance with the King of Scots who married Margaret 2. By a correspondence with the Danes they procured an invasion that made the North for 60. miles desolate 3. And by their Agents in England raised Insurrections in Exceter Oxford the Isle of Ely the issue of which notwithstanding the dangerous combination was first the ruine of the King of Scots who submitted to King William's mercy 2. The Imprisoument of Edgar and his Lords during the Kings pleasure and the settlement of the Government by the Curfeau bell the Law against the peoples Armes and the provision against the Clergies temporal Jurisdiction § 2. But restless discontent notwithstanding those dreadful examples foregoing of the ill success of Rebellion goeth ou for the year 1079. Waltheoff Earle of Northumberland with the Earls of Bologn Norfolk and Hereford with the King of Scotland and the Princes of Wales whom the Kings of Denmark and Ireland asisted with 265. sail of Ships contrived a most dangerous plot to seize the Kings Castles and Sea-Towns while the King was engaged in the Siege of Dole in France a conspiracy that threatned another change when behold Lanfrank to whom Waltheoff had communicated the design discovereth the whole to the King who prevented their uniting and engaging them one by one overcame them all putting Waltheoff to death sequestring imprisoning banishing all the rest Who are observed never after to prosper in any thing they undertook § 3. In the year 1087. King William leaving his Dukedome to his eldest Son Robert and his Kingdome to his youngest Son William Robert making use of the Bishop of Bayeux and many other Lords grudges against his Brothers Government especially his Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Lanfranke with their assistance surprizeth the North as furthest from Loudon divides the Kings Councel raiseth some disturbances in the South and West thereby dist acting the King so that he knew not where to begin nor where to turn himself the King having the Arch-Bishop and the Bishop of Winchester of his side and obliging his people by some Acts of grace defeated all the Rebells made his Brother abjure the Realm and be contented with a Pension and ruined 700. Families that were concerned in that Conspiracy And a while after hearing that Mans in Normandy was besieged as he was at Supper the King asked which way it lay and immediately commanded Masons to make way for him thither through the Wall and when his Lords entreated him to stay untill his people were ready he replied That they who loved him would immediately follow him and a Tempest arising when he was at Sea he commanded the Master of the Ship to go on notwithstanding For said nt never was King drowned Thus he came suddenly to Mans raised the siege dispersed the Rebells undid 652. Families that were of the Confederacy and left a fatal Monument of conspirators success behind to late Posterity § 4. Anno 1100. no sooner had Henry the first succeeded his brother William who died Childless and compounded with his brother Robert of Normandy but Robert de Belesm Earle of Shrewrbery and the Earle of Cornwall in discontent made a general Insurrection about Wales and the borders surprize the Castle of Bridgenorth stop Trade gathered the people together who no sooner heard that the King was drawing towards them but they fled and left their traiterous Leaders at the mercy of an incensed Soveraign who seized their Estates banished their Persons and put a period to their Names Honours and Families in England § 5. Although Steven invaded the Kingdome against the right of
Maud the Empress the Oath of Allegiance which the people had taken to her was countenanced by very few at his Coronation yet such is the futality of conspiring against a setled Government that divers Lords having the Empress of their side to justisie and Scotland without which no Rebellion can prosper in England to assist them several Castles to secure them a general discontent to second them all England in a combustion to advantage them were yet strangely suppressed by the Usurper their Castles dismantled their Children disinherited their heads taken off no less then 3000. Families undone in their cause the Empress Maud is streightned at Oxford and the whole combination dispersed King Steven dying quietly in his Bed § 6. Upon Stevens death King Henry the Second the right Heir is established upon the Throne but troubled first with the Welsh who cunningly invited all the Male-contents of England to their inaccessible Mountaines where his Majesty no sooner sheweth his Sword but they desert their Leaders who are utterly ruined and their Country made Tributary to England And then by Robert Earle of Leicester who thought to have surprized the Generals at their own houses and his Majesty at Court when poor man he was overthrown himself and though afterward he was furnished by the French King who waiâ—ed all opportunities to invade England with an Army yet he perished and 12000. men with him as did Biggot and Ferris who tried the old way of Scotland in the head of 16000. Scots who with all their Confederates threw themselves upon the Kings mercy § 7. In the year 1189. Richard the First succeeding his Father with the consent and applanse of all his people had you some desperadoes who would teach the World what providence alwaies secures Government and what disasters and mischiefes attend Rebellion for proud Long shorope Bishop of Ely in the Kings absence who was now deep in the Holy Warr made a faction in the Kingdome entertained all the discontented complaints of ill Councellors promiseth liberty and 〈…〉 to the people sets up for the Pope and Religion is opposed by the Lord St. John trepanned by two Women banished his native Country derided by the French and comes to a miserable end § 8. Anno 1199. King John upon Richards death usurped the Crown yet none durst contradict him dispossessed Arthur yet none durst say to him What dost thou peoples business being the performance of their own duties rather then discourses of other mens Titles The English more troubled with his Tyranny 〈…〉 his Usurpation suborne the Welsh and Irish to perplex him as the embroyling of Ireland or Scotland is the surest way to gain England the plot is discovered to him he sends his own Courtiers to ripen it they discover to him all the methods steps and proceedings of it so that he surprized the Welsh putteth 3000. of them to the Sword taketh 28. Pledges of the best Families among them for their good behaviour for the future with whom upon their second Revolt he was so angry that the day he heard of it he would not dine untill the 28. pledges were hanged before his face But the Barons forsooth stand for the Liberty of the Subjects assert the ancient Franchises of England make a general party debauch the whole Nation secure all the stronge Holds engross all the Treasure draw over the French King to their party yet the odious weak King John so sacred a thing is Soveraignty in the meanest person recovereth their Castles excommunicates their persons layeth wast their Estates undoeth their adherents cutteth off their posterity and makes them wander up and down poor and destitute exiles in the Earth § 9. Anno 1216. King Henry the Thrid though a Child had that success against Rebells that were not that sin a sin of Witchcraft no such thing as treason would ever shew its self in the world for although the Child could not secure the government to weak he was yet the Government protected the Child so sacred that is Lewis the Fair King of France indeed as it was his interest set up some Lords against this Child viz. the Bishops of Winchester Salisbury and Chester the Earles of Salisbury Ferrers and Albemarle who bore great sway in the Kingdome stopped Trading were favoured by the Pope yet they and their French Auxiliaries were cooped up in Lincoln before which City the Kings Forces doubling their Ensignes appeared twice more then they were awed the besieged brought to an humble submission to the Kings mercy who at that time degraded 18. Barons 300. Knights ruined 6000. Families who were sad instances of the miserable event and issue of Rebelsion and treason King Henry disposeth of Barhainstead Castle which belonged to the Duke of Cornwall to a Dutchman whereupon the Duke in revenge consults with the Earle Marshall the Earles of Chester Glou ester Hereford and Warwicke who declare for their Liberties the great Charter and the Charter of the Forrest with whom some great Officers lately displaced joyne themselves they gain the whole Kingdome win over all the people declare against evil Counsellors yet the King providence still appearing in the behalf of that great Ordinance of God sends for a few Poutovins Summons a Parliament at Oxford to which the Lords refuse to come and another at Winchester whither they will not come neither they are proclaimed Out-lawes their Estates are seized the Earle Marshall is trepanned into Ireland to save his own stake and there circumvented and slain the other Lords are won over by the Bishops with money the Earle of Pembrook is dispossessed of his Estate money is raised by force the King put by the peevishness of his Subjects upon rigour tyranny and strange Levies so that 4000. Families are undone The great Earle of Leicester with other Lords declare for the Liberty of the Subject indeed they prevaile a little against the King but at last the Earles of Gloucester and Leicester fall out the Rebells are divided the Earle of Leicester and 7000. of his Followers fall at a pitch battel near Evesham his Sons flee the Kingdome his Estate is confiscated all his complices undone and most of the Rebellious Barons disinherited and the whole Kingdome desolate § 10. King Henry is dead his Son Edward is absent in the Holy Land Leolin Prince of Wales disputes his Homage but see how his dear Lady is taken by the English and he glad to submit for her sake upon any termes after her death he revolteth again goeth on and prospereth untill the Earle of Pembroke slew him before his own House at Bere Castle and a Common Souldier brought his Head to the King who Crowned it with Ivy and set it upon the Tower of London And not long after his brother David is taken in Wales and judged in England to that ignominious death that Traytors usually come to And as alwaies Subjects lose and Princes gain by Rebellion all Wales was
intermedling made against them and the Queen at last so incensed that she would not to her dying day heare any in their behalfe To mention no more Conspiracies in her Reign the Earle of Essex a popular and powerfull Man that had some pretence in that variety of claimes to the Crown that were layed in the latter end of her reign to the Throne that was Governour of Ireland and General of England had a great Army at his command and a great Interest to serve him for 158. Lords favour him and the people generally love him this upon some affronts in the declining age of the Queen sets up a plot to remove ill Councellors keepes open house for all comres entertaines silenced Ministers to preach to great throngs of people every day engageth the Lord Mayor and Aldermen resolves to seize VVhitehall by Water and by Land under the pretence of a Shew what success I pray Why the City fail him his Complices disclose him the Queens Councel surprizeth him with a summons and a Message the Nobility follow him to the City proclaime him Traytor he flieth to his house he is there besieged taken and secured in the Tower whence he is brought forth to Trial and Execution with 20. more of his Complices in whose busi-300 good Families were utterly undone and ruined § 21. Anno 1603. King James is setled on the Throne of his Ancestors by all the establishments that are as yet discovered to the World when the Lord Cobbam Sir VValter Rawleigb the Lord Grey of VVilton and others some Protestants some Papists some Priests some Lay-men some upon discontent some for Conscience some Noble-men some Knights some Gentlemen and these backed by the Popes Bull seconded by the Kings of France and Spaine endeavoured to alter Religion and change the Government but with what fortune why their Plot is discovered they themselves are apprehended arraigned and condemned VVatson Clarke and Brooke are executed and the rest come to miserable ends within a while after Yet the discontented will take no warning for not long after Catesby Percy VVinter Sir Everard Digby Garnet contrive to blow up the Royall Family the Clergy Nobility and Gentry of Great Brittain sitting in Parliament they are encouraged by the Pope set on by their own Ghostly Fathers assisted from Spain take an Oath of secresie hire a convenient Room under the Parliament House furnish it with Materials for the blow as Powder Faggots Iron the Villain is ready his Candle and his Match light but doth it succeed No the Parliament is twice adjourned and the very night before they were to sit a Letter must be sent from one of the Conspirators to the Lord Mounteagle to save himself yet the Court understood not the Letter but the King laying hold upon some odde expressions as this There is no danger as soon as the Letter is burned c. ordereth a more diligent search the store-house is found 36. Barrels of Pouder are discovered Faux that should have fired them is apprehended the other Catholiques that made the Hunting match to surprize the Lady Elizabeth are amazed at the discovery and commit Outrages are pursued by the high Sheriffes of Warwick and Worcestershire Catesby and Piercy are slain the rest are hanged drawn and quartered several Lords are fined the Government is firmely setled the Oath of Allegiance is devised two thirds of Papists Estates are forfeited to the King most severe Lawes are made against the Papists who lye under the dismal consequences of this treason to this day § 22. Anno 1625. King James dieth and leaves King Charles an empty Treasure a Warr abroad an incensed Parliament and People at home envied and hated persons of his Councel his necessities put him upon calling Parliaments the Kingdomes discontents debauched those Parliaments they demurre his Supplies they draw up remonstrances they clip the Prerogative they question his Favourites and Servants they set the Ministers of State one against another as Digby and Buckingham they raise some petit disturbances in Lancashire and thereabouts and occasion some ill resented Proclamations upon those disorders some Favourites are murthered Parliaments are dissolved in discontents many great men are laid aside the King is necessitated to take some displeasing courses for Money daring offendors provoke his Majesty to severe courses and those severe courses make more daring offendors a dark Cloud hangs over the face of the Nation Scotland armes Ireland Rebells England could not remedy either without a Parliament after twelve years discontinuance and grievances all the ill humour of the Nation meets in Parliament as in the Common-Shore where some would reforme Religion others would reforme Grievances all would embroyle the State the King parts with his most faithful Councellours it becomes dangerous to serve him he gives away his Prerogative the Tower the Militia of London a power to the Parliament to sit as long as they pleased suffers the Scots to rage and domineer leaves the City the whole Kingdome is up against him for Religion Law Liberty and the removal of ill Councellors the Treasure the Magazines and Militia is in his enemies hands with whom yet he contested four or five years When they prevailed they seized on the whole Kingdome imprison the King defeat all the attempts for his release and at last put him to death reduce his three Kingdomes under their Tyranny Banish all his Family and notwithstanding all forreign assistance all endeavours at home all the resolutions of Scotland and Ireland and Holland with thirty thousand men to restore his Son at several times as 1649. 1650. 1651. 1654. 1655. 1657. 1658. they settle first a Commonwealth then a Protectorship the first Protector carryeth all before him dieth a natural death and succeeded by his Son Credimus esse deos And now you will say Treason prospereth and Rebellion thrives but alas nothing less the first party is divided into Presbyterians and Independents they are first jealous of one another the Presbyterian Officers are displaced as Essex c. they plot against one another in the House the Old Officers fall off the City of London and the old Puritans revolt close with the Kings party for peace Duke Hamilton marcheth in order to that peace in the head of 30000 men Waller Brown and Massey correspond with him the Ministers preach against the present Proceedings the Scotch stand by the K. Son the Presbyterians are all discontent neither are the Independents unanimous an evil spirit of division creepes into the Army Cromwell takes the Government upon him and so disobligeth the Commonwealths men and the Long Parliament aimes at a succession and displeaseth the great Officers they watch the opportunity of his death and with the countenance of the people lay aside his Son and Interest they Quarrel among themselves call in General MONK who suppresseth them all makes way for his most Excellent Majesty and puts a period to twenty years Treason what was the effect