Henry the Third sent Armies against them to destroy them and yet they came to his help as soon as they saw him in danger Is it not true that they saved his life at Tours and delivered him from an extream peril Is it not true that they never forsook him nor his Successors in the midst of the revolt and Rebellion of most part of the Kingdom raised by the Pope and the greatest part of the Clergy Is it not true that they have assisted him in all his Battels and helped much to raise the Crown again which was ready to fall Is it not true that they which persecuted the late King Henry the Fourth injoy this day the Fruits of the Services done by the Protestants Such a Judgment saith Dr. Du Moulin is of good weight coming from a wise King who was truly informed of the business of his Neighbours And if so then Dr. P. H. surely was mis-informed himself and hath misrepresented the Case of the French Protestants to the world in his late History of the Presbyterians as he hath also done of the Netherland and Scots For the Reformed Religion saith Dr. P. Du Moulin was spread in the Netherlands over the Seventeen Provinces many years before there was any thought of making an Union against the Spaniards and neither was that Union made upon the score of Religion but of State for maintaining their Franchises against the oppression of Spain As it was sufficiently justified by their chusing Francis Duke of Alenson a Roman Catholick for their Prince So here for a farther clearing of the Netherlands from Rebellion Mr. Cambden tells us that after Reasons had been urged before Queen Elizabeth to prove them Rebels Her Majesty resolved that it was both Christian Piety to relieve the afflicted Netherlanders embracers of the same Religion She professed and Wisdom to provide for the safety of Her People And again he tells us that Anno 1587. the States in Parliament where were the Bishops also congratulated Queen Elizabeth as for good Laws so for the French King and the Netherlands relieved 'T is worth the observation that Queen Elizabeth and the Parliament of England looked on the Presbyterians in Holland as of the same Religion with themselves notwithstanding the difference in Church-Government and Ceremonies Mr. Gattaker observes out of John Bodin an Ingenuous and Judicious Writer and a Papist himself an Author of good note amongst Papists and Protestants both a notable commendation of Geneva See Method Histor cap. 6. page 245 That of the Genevians saith Bodin is landable if ought in any Nation and that which makes a Common-wealth to flourish if not in Riches and Majestical Empire yet sure in Piety and Virtue to wit the Pontificial Censure so he calls the Ecclesiastical or Presbyterial Discipline In that City therefore no Harlotry no Drunkenness no Dancings no Beggars no idle persons are found The aforesaid Mr. Gattaker to clear those of the Genevian way from Sedition tells us a Story of Bishop Elmor Bishop of London in Queen Elizabeths Reign viz. that when one Preaching at Paul's Cross had inveighed bitterly against the Puritans as a crew of seditious and turbulent persons and had affirmed the Puritans to be worse than the Papists No quoth the Bishop he said not therein aright for the Puritans if they had me amongst them would cut my Rochet only but the Papists would cut my Throat The same Author Mr. Gattaker tells us that his Successor Bishop Vaughan when another in the same place was no less eager in the same Argument the Bishop said to a Gentleman of his inward Acquaintance who Dined that day with him as the Gentleman himself told Mr. Gattaker I wish I could have had the Preachers Tongue to day for some space of time in my Pocket The way is not to convert or convince that party by Invectives and untruths It is true they affect not the present form of Government they are for another but they seek it by Petition not by Insurrection or Sedition And further to balance Dr. P. H's testimony against the Calvinians and Presbyterians and to undeceive well-minded persons who read his History of Presbyterians and believe him on that subject as much as they do his Comment on the Creed it self It will not be amiss to cite here some passages out of Mr. Bedel afterwards Bishop Bedel in his Answer to Wadsworth who objected against the Reformed Religion what Dr. P. H. doth against the Calvinian Reformers viz. That they were the cause of Sedition and Rebellion You have wronged saith Mr. Bedel those you have named and either lightly believed or unjustly surmised your self touching Luther Calvin Knox the French and the Hollanders when you make them the raisers of Rebellion and shedders of blood whose blood hath been shed like water in all parts of those Countreys against all Laws of God and Man against the Edicts and publick Faith till necessity enforced them to stand for their lives Pag. 136. As for the War in Germany saith the same Author it began not till after Luthers death neither was it a Rebellion of the Protestants the truth is they stood for their Lives The Emperor with the help of the Popes both Money and Arms intended to root them out and although at the first the Emperor did not avow his raising Arms against them to be for Religion yet the Pope in his Jubilee published upon this occasion did not let to declare to the world that himself and Caesar had concluded a League to reduce the Hereticks by force of Arms to the obedience of the Church and therefore all should pray for the good success of the War So the same Author pag. 124. As for Calvin he saith he did not by his unquietness and Ambition revolve the State of Geneva unjustly expelling and depriving the Bishop of Geneva and other Temporal Lords of their due obedience and ancient inheritance for he came to Geneva 1536. but Bodin in his Second Book de Repub. Chap. 6. affirmed and that in the same year Geneva was established a State Aristocratical which was he saith 1528. Geneva changed from a Monarchy Pontifical into an estate Popular governed Aristocratically although that long before the Town pretended to be free against the Earl and against the Bishop c. Further whereas Mr. Wadsworth layes to the Hugonots and Ghenses of France and Holland the raising of Civil Wars shedding of Blood occasioning Rebellions Rapines Desolations principally for their new Religion Mr. Bedel afterwards Bishop Bedel Answers pag. 132. These poor people having endured such barbarous Cruelties Massacres and Martyrdoms as scarce the like can be shewed in all Stories are now accused by you as the Authors of all they suffered No no Mr. Wadsworth they be the Laws of the Roman Religion that are written in blood It is the bloody Inquisition and the perfidious violating of the Edicts of Pacification that have set France and Flanders in combustion An evident Argument may be for Flanders
CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS Tending to promote PEACE AND GOOD WILL Amongst PROTESTANTS Very useful for the present Times LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside near Mercers-Chappel 1674. Considerations tending to promote Peace 1 Cons THat some of the most considerable ranks and orders of men from the Reformation of Religion amongst us have manifested a desire to have some Favour and Indulgence shew'd to Dissenters in point of Ceremonies c. 2. That Dissenters or Non-conformists have often been misrepresented to the World 3. The late Civil Wars in England were not begun for the extirpation of Episcopacy and Liturgy or to settle the Presbyterian Government here 4. That the Modern English Presbyterians as they are call'd cannot be charged with divers of the Principles imputed to those called Presbyterians in England in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth or to the Presbyterians in Scotland 5. That there have been since the first Reformation in England men of Parts Piety and Learning and of good esteem in the Church of God who have boggled or scrupled at something in Subscription or the Conformity injoyned or practised 6. That divers Dissenters in former times have found favour with the Bishops 7. That the Parliamentarians in the beginning of our Troubles declare to abhor and detest all designs of Deposing or Murthering His late Sacred Majesty 8. That the Non-conforming Presbyterians had both their hearts and hands in the Restauration of His present Majesty to His Royal Throne 9. Many Bishops Clergy-men and Scholars though Non-conformists to the late times then enjoyed Places of Profit notwithstanding 10. That it is the declared Doctrine of the Church of England in her 34th Article of Religion That every Particular or National Church hath Authority to ordain change and abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the Church ordained only by mans Authority so that all things be done to Edification 11. That if the New Impositions and the Ceremonies should happen to be legally taken away many Thousands who now stand aloof off would Joyn with our Church-Assemblies 12. That the use of force or violent coursos for by Matters in Religion ought by all lawful wayes and means to be shunned and avoided Certain Considerations tending to promote Peace and Good will amongst Protestants useful for the present Times INstead of Preface and to prepare the minds of men for such Considerations as follow I desire the Reader to read certain excellent sayings of the Reverend Dean of the Chappel now Primate and Metropolitan of all England in a Sermon of his Preached before the King June 28th 1660. and after Printed viz. I hat 's the best the most Christian Memorie which as Caesar forgets nothing but Injuries Again Let 's all seriously and sadly look back consider and bemoan one another for what we have mutually done and suffer'd from each other let 's all be sorry for it and all mend perfectly forgiving what 's past and returning to as great a kindness as ever and a greater then ever that so by all mutual good Offices we may make amends for former animosities Shall God saith he so great so glorious after so high so many Provocations descend to be at peace with us and shall we poor worms be at enmity among our selves for tristes and that to the hazard of all the comforts of this life and hopes of a better And further shall we retain the memory of former unkindnesses and make a publick Act of Oblivion which we expect a Publick Lye without either fear of God or shame of the world This is not to have peace or enjoy it but with great ingratitude to throw it at him again it is but to change one War into another the open into secret hostility into treachery and by pretending peace and kindness to smooth the way to supplantation and injury the most base Serpentine and unmanly thing in the world These Golden sayings premised I humbly offer these Considerations 1 Consid That some of the most considerable Ranks and Orders of men since the Reformation of Religion amongst us have manifested a desire to have some favour or Indulgence shewed to Dissenters in point of Ceremonies c. King Edward the 6th wrote a Letter to Archbishop Cranmer in behalf of Mr. Hooper elected Bishop of Gleucester RIght Reverend Father and Right trusty and Well-beloved Whereas We by the advice of our Council have called and chosen Our right Well-beloved and well worthy Mr. John Hooper to be Our Bishop of Gloucester as well for his great Learning due Judgment and long study both in the Scriptures and other profound Learning as also for his good discretion ready utterance and honest life for that kind of Vocation c. from Consecrating of whom We understand you do stay because he would have you omit certain Rites and Ceremonies offensive to his Conscience whereby ye think you should fall in Praemunire of Lawes We have thought good by advice aforesaid to dispense and discharge you of all manner of dangers penalties and forfeitures you should run into and be in any manner of way by omitting any of the same And these Our Letters shall be your sufficient Warrant and Discharge therefore Aug. 5th Given under Our Signet at Our Castle of Windsor the fourth year of Our Reign King James also wrote two Letters to Queen Elizabeth in favour of Non-conformists one whereof you may read in D. Fuller's History of the Church Book the 9th Page 203. After these King Charles the First of blessed Memory in His Answer to the Remonstrance of the House of Commons presented to Him at Hampton Court December the first 1641. saith as follows In differences amongst Our selves for matters indifferent in their own Nature concerning Religion we shall in tenderness to any number of our Loving Subjects very willingly comply with the Advice of Our Parliament that some Law may be made for the exemption of tender Consciences from punishment or prosecution for such Ceremonies and in such Cases which by the judgment of most men are held to be matters indifferent and of some to be absolutely unlawful And again in his Message of the 20th of Jan. 1641. His Majesty proposeth to both Houses of Parliament the security of the true Religion now professed in the Church of England and the setling of Ceremonies in such a manner as may take away all just offence In His Message of the 14th of February following His Majesty more fully expresseth himself viz in these words Because His Majesty observeth great and difficult troubles to arise in the hearts of his People concerning the Government and Liturgy of the Church His Majesty is willing to declare that he will refer that whole Consideration to the Wisdom of His Parliament which he desires them to enter into speedily that the present Distempers about the same may be composed Since His most Gracious Majesty that now is and long and long may he continue our Soveraign Lord and
Hooper Rogers Philpot and others who disgusted the Ceremonies In Queen Elizabeth's Reign Coverdale as Dr. Heylin tells us waved the acceptation of the Bishoprick of Oxon or any other vacant out of a disaffection to the Habit of that Order He sayes further That Alexander Nowel Dean of St. Pauls spoke irreverently of the Sign of the Cross Moreover he makes Mr. John Fox the the Martyrologist Sampson Dean of Christ-Church in Oxfod Hardiman a Prebendary of Westminster both the Professors of Divinity in the Universities and Whittington Dean of Durham all Non-Conformists and relates that one Whitehead who had been Chaplain to Ann Bullen the Queens Mother was offered the Amh-Bishoprick of Canterbury but refused it because he was more inclined to the Presbyterians than the Episcopal form of Government Besides we are told that Peter Martyr never could be got to wear the Surplice all the time that he was in Christ-Church in Oxford and Divinity Reader in that University Dr. Heylin also tells us that Arch-Bishop Vsher dreaded bowing at the name of Jesus and as we are informed opposed the introduction of the English Ceremonies into the Church of Ireland Not long before the Wars Mr. Dod Mr. Cleaver Mr. Lancaster and others of eminent worth were silenced for Non-Conformity on which occasion a Conformist of good note in the life of Dr. Harris thus expresses himself Now was there a fearful Eclipse upon the Church a Constellation of Ministers even at once darkned amongst the rest those three shining Stars Mr. Dod Mr. Cleaver Mr. Lancaster Mr. Dod was a very eloquent man he saith in English and Latine so facetious and pithy that Mr. Harris would often say that if his Apothegms were collected they would exceed all that Plutarch in Greek and other in Latine since have published Mr. Cleaver was asolid Textman Mr. Lancaster a most humble and self denying man for whereas he was by birth a good Gentleman and had been Fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge where being called to sundry Lectures and Speeches he delivered himself in as pure Latine to use the words of that Master of Speech Dr. Collins as ever Tully himself uttered having no Notes before him but what he wrote on the Nail of his Fiugers Yet this man thus accomplished contented himself with a Living under forty pounds per annum and made no noise of any Learning at all To these I might add Mr. Hildersham Mr. Baines Mr. Perkins Dr. Ames Mr. Cotton and others men famous in their generation and yet in some things some more some less dissatisfied 6. Consid That divers dissenters in former times have notwithstanding found favour with the Bishops Some of those before named were never deprived of their Benefices for Non-Conformity as Peter Martyr Mr. Fox the Martyrologist and Mr. Perkins Others were for a long time by connivance continued in their places and Imployments although but half Conformists Conformity was not rigorously pressed by Arch-Bishop Grindall nor were all Nonconformists thrust out of all imployment in the dayes of Arch Bishop Whitgift though himself a Champion for Conformity When Mr. Cartwright himself who had written against Conformity and brandished pens with the Arch-Bishop in the cause yet was by him quietly suffered to injoy an Hospital at Warwick Mr. Brown said to be the Father of the Brownists did notwithstanding injoy his Living of a Church in Northampton Shire a Parsonage of good value to his dying day And Doctor Fuller informs us that Bishop Williams when he was Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England procured a License from King James under the Great Seal of England for Mr. Cotton to Preach notwithstanding his Inconformity as to some Ceremonies And Bishop Rudd Bishop of St. Davids declares in his Speech to the Convocation that those things meaning Conformity to the Ceremonies were not so extreamly urged but that many learned Preachers injoyed their liberty herein in the dayes of the late Arch-Bishop of Canterbury which was Arch-Bishop Whitgift conditionally that they did not by word or deed openly disgrace or disturb the State established Concerning Mr. Hildersham I find in the History of his life that he was frequently silenced and yet frequenly by the favour or connivance of the Bishops permitted to Preach publickly He was silenced in June 1590. and restored again in January 1591. Again he was deprived and silenced by Bishop Chaderton Bishop of Lincoln April 24. 1605. for refusal of Subscription and Conformity yet after some time by the connivance and favour of Bishop Overton Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield he Preached sometimes in that Diocefs and was the main upholder of two famous Exercises at Burton in Stafford-Shire and at Repton in Derby-Shire for livers years In January 1608. by the favour of Bishop Barlow Bishop of Lincoln he was allowed to Preach again at Ashby where he was formerly and so continued from January 31 1608. to November the 12th 1611. In Novemb. 1611. He was silenced by Bishop Neales means then Bishop of Coventry and Litehsield who complained to the King of him infomuch that the King commanded the Arch-Bishop to write to the Bishop of Lincoln to send for Mr. Hildersham and to silence him which was done accordingly April the 22. 1613. he was judicially admonished and injoined in and by the High Commission that saving the Catechising of his own family only he should not any time hereafter Preach Catechise or use any of the Offices or Function of a Minister publickly or privately until he should be lawfully rostored and released of his said suspension June 20. 1625. he was Licenced by Doctor Ridley then Vicar General to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to Preach in the Diocefs of Lincoln London and Coventry and Lichfield under the Seal of that Office March 25. 1630. he was silenced again and so continued till August 2. 1631. when he began to preach again and continued till December 27. 1631. which was the last time he preached soon after he sell sick and died Concerning Mr. Dod. I find in his life that he was suspended from his Ministry at Hanwill by Doctor Bridges Bishop of Oxford that after he preached at Fenny Compton in Warwick-Shire from thence he removed to Canons Ashby in Northamptonshire where he lived quietly divers years preached over the whole Prophecy of Douitl afterwards he was silenced from Preaching at Ashby upon a complaine made against him by Bishop Neal to King James who commanded Arch-Bishop Abbot to silence him After the death of King James his liberty was procured for preaching again publickly by Mr. Knightly and then he was settled at Fausley where he preached twice every Lords day By these two last instances it appears that every stroke of the Crosier formerly did not cause a perfect Apoplexy and prove mortal though it made Ministers speech less for a time yet by the Keys of the Church their Mouths were often times opened again and they were able to speak and preach as formerly And here I could name if
quarrel was and is the Militia for which so much blood hath been spent and treasure 'T is observable that the two Houses just before the breaking out of the War viz. April 9th 1642. published a Declaration wherein are these words The Lords and Commons do declare that they intend a due and Necessary Reformation of the Government and Liturgy of the Church and to take away nothing in the one or the other but what shall be civil or justly offensive or at least unnecessary and burdensom This Declaration of the Lords and Commons was Printed and Ordered to be published by the Sheriffs in several Counties in all the Market Towns within the Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales Moreover in the 8th of the 19 Propositions sent by the Parliament to His Majesty June 2. 1642. The Lords and Commons desire that His Majesty would be pleased that such a Reformation be made of the Church Government and Liturgy as both Houses of Parliament shall advise wherein they intend to have Consultation with Divines And His Majesty in his Answer to the 19 Propositions takes speciall notice that they seem in their 8th Proposition to desire but a Reformation and not a destruction of the present Discipline and Liturgy Hitherto then viz. June 2. 1642. the two Houses of Parliament were for a Reformation only and not for the abolition of Episcopacy and Liturgy 'T is acknowledged that afterwards there was a League and Covenant for the extirpation of Prelacy But yet they who took the Covenant were bound only to endeavour it in their places and Callings and so far as lawfully they might and men were told in those dayes from the Press and Pulpit that they might take the Covenant in a sense not exclusive of or destructive to a Primitive Episcopacy After this when the four Bills were sent to His Majesty to the Isle of Wight upon signing whereof the Parliament offer'd to treat for all the rest in difference The Bill for the Abolition of Arch-Bishops and Bishops was none of the four In the year 1648. the House of Commons voted His Majesties Concessions a Ground of Peace notwithstanding His Majesty had not consented to the extirpation of Episcopacy only it was 't is said agreed betwixt the King and the Commissioners that Bishops should be laid aside for three years till the King and the Parliament should agree upon some setled Order for the Church and upon a free debate had with the Assembly of Divines then sitting and twenty more of His Majesties nomination they might 'tis said have admitted of Episcopacy if they found that Government most agreeable to the Word of God and best Reformed Churches Lastly as to this Consideration His Majesty that now is and long and long may he continue to Reign over us hath declared that the Presbyterian Ministers he had discoursed withall could submit to a Primitive Episcopacy and a Reformed Liturgy 4. Consid That the Modern English Presbytcrians as they are call'd cannot be charged with divers of the Principles imputed to those called Presbyterians in England in the days of Q Elizabeth And that the Presbytery where it was voted by the Houses of Parliament to be setled was far different from the Scottish Presbytery Doctor P. Heylin tells us that Mr. T. C. and others formerly renounced the Orders they had from the hands of the Bishops and look a new Vocation from the Presbyters beyond Seas that the Presbyterians in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth crected their Discipline in England without Authority from the Civil Magistrate that they held the calling of Bishops unlawful that 't is not lawful to be ordained by them that 't is not lawful to appear in a Bishops Court but with a Protestation of their unlawfulness These are not the Principles and Practices of the present Presbyterian Non-conformists amongst us they do not renounce their Episcopal Orders Some of them have been ordained by Bishops since 1660. Yea are willing to submit to the Government of the Church by Bishops and to use the Liturgy Only they bumbly desire that the new Impositions by the Act of Vniformity 1662. may be taken away and some of them that they may be dispensed withall for the three Ceremonies which are of their own Nature Indifferent even in the Judgment of the Imposers And which we are told were offer'd to have been abated in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth if that would have given satisfaction And as for the late Presbiterian Assembly at Westminster if you will have it called so they differed much from the Assemblies of the Church of Scotland They at Westminster attribute power saith Dr. P. Heylin to the civil Magistrate not only of calling Synods and Church-Assemblies but also of being present at them and to provide that whatsoever is therein concluded be done agreeably to the mind and will of God As to the matter of Church Government the divine right of their Presbyteries the setting up of Christ upon his Throne the Parity or Imparity of Ministers in the Church of Christ not a word delivered And a little after he adds It is to be observed that in the setling of the Presbyterian Government in England as the Presbyteries were to be subordinate to the Classical Provincial and National Assemblies of the Church so were they all to be subordinate to the power of the Parliament as appears plainly by the Ordinance of the 14th of March which makes it quite another thing from the Scottish Presbiteries and other Assemblies of that Kirk which hold themselves to be Supream and unaccountable in their actings without respect to the King the Parliament and the Courts of Justice So the Historian pag. 475. of his History of the Presbyterians And as for those of the Congregational way here they do not pretend to exemption from all judgement or censure from the civil Magistrate or neighbouring Churches if we may believe the Apologists in their Apologitical narration p. 21. where they tell us that at a time when they had least dependency on this Kingdom or so much as hopes ever to abide therein in peace it was openly and publickly professed That it was the most to be abhorred Maxim that any Religion hath ever made profession of and therefore of all other the most contradictory and dishonourable to that of Christianity that a singular and particular society of men professing the name of Christ and pretending to be endued with a power from Christ to Judge them who are of the same body and society within themselves should further arrogate unto themselves an exemption from giving an account or being censurable by any other either Christian Magistrate above them or neighbour Churches about them 5. Consid That there have been since the first Reformation men of parts Piety Learning and of good esteem in the Church of God who have yet boggled or scrupled at something in subscription or the conformity injoined or practised In King Edward the 6th his Reign there were Bishop
it were fit to do so a great man of our own Church who was one also of great Moderation towards diffenters and who when he came to dye never that I heard of repented the great Latitude or comprehenfiveness of his Charity May the Mantle of that Elijah fall on Elisha his Successor as I hope it will and on all the Fathers and Brethren of the Church of England as I pray it may that so there may be no complaining in our Streets that so peace may be within our Walls and Prosperity within our Palaces that there may be glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace to men and good will 7. Consid That the Parliament in the beginning of the late War declared for the defence and safety of his Majesties person and their abhorreney to be thought to design either the deposition or death of his sacred Majesty Or else it had been impossible for them to have gained the people as they did Presently after the Battel at Edge-hill in a declaration by them published they express their congratulation for the safety of his Majesties Person and his Children and their sorrow that they had been in any danger there In which Battel t is credibly reported that when Sir William Balfore who commanded a Brigade of Horse in that Battel was ready to charge part of the Royal Army with his Horse perceiving his Majesty to be amongst them in that Squadron and fearing least his Royal Person might have been otherwise endangered wheeled off without attempting to make any impression there whereupon by some he was complained of but acquitted from censure or blame by the Parliament And I my self knew some since Non-conformist Ministers who made it their business to stir up some of the Commanders of the old Army to join with some of his Majesties Commanders and to have endeavoured the rescue of his Majesties Person after he was scized on in the Isle of Wight Sure it was the fear the Army had that the Parliament would agree with his Majesty which made them so garble the Parliament in December 1648. The London Presbyterian Ministers laboured to save his Majesties Crown and Life And the Ministers of some Lectures in the Country framed and presented to the General and his Councel of Officers their humble advice with all zeal and earnestness disswading them with Scripture Reason and the Conscience of Oaths from deposing his Majesty or embrewing their hands in his blood It was no Protestant Minister or Presbyter but a Roman Priest and Confessor we are told that when he saw the fatal stroke given flourished with his Sword and said Now the greatest Enemy we have in the world is gone And how Dr. Peter Du Moulin and upon what grounds laid the Murther of his late Majesty on the Jesuits the Reader may see in his Answer to Philanax Anglicus pag. 58 59. c. And if the Testimony of the French may be accepted and why not for Standers by often see more than Gamesters we have the Letters of Monsieur Daille of Monsieur Gache and of the Marchioness of Turin to clear the Presbyterians from this horrid Act. And some there are at home who are so noble though themselves fought under the Royal Standard as yet acknowledge that the Presbyterians hated this Murther as much as themselves 8. Consid That the Nou-conforming Presbyterians had both their hearts and hands in the Restauration of His Majesty to His Royal Throne First the English Presbyterians did concur with and assist the Scots some in person others with their Purses most with their Prayers in bringing His Majesty to His ancient Kingdom of Scotland in the year 1650. for which endeavours Mr. Love and Mr. Gibbous lost their Heads by the Axe and for which Zeal for His Majesty many more were imprisoned and condemned though not executed Mr. Cawton was Indicted of High Treason for Praying for His Majesty that now is as King of England in those dayes Mr. George Firmin in Print tells us that he and some others in those times Prayed even in their Congregations for the afflicted Royal Family Mr. Kirby a Yorkshire Minister was brought up to London and imprisoned for Praying publickly for His Majesty by Name Yea so great and publick was the London Ministers Zeal and Loyalty that there was a Pamphlet Printed entituled A Mourning Lecture for our Morning Lecturers calling them the cloudy Clergy and Beadsmen for the King of Scotland Most certain it is also that our French Neighbours the Protestants there looked on the Presbyterians of England a little before His Majesties Restauration as possessed of the power and sitting at the Hem in England That illustrious Assembly i. e. the Parliament saith Monsieur Drelincourt in his Letter from Paris April 3. 1660. afterward Printed who would have preserved to the King his life and his Royalty was without doubt very far from designing to rob his Children of that right which is conveyed to them by a continued Succession in their Royal Family for many Ages And again in the same Letter he thus expresses himself God intrusts at this day you Presbyterians the Gentlemen now in Power with the honour and Reputation of our Church for if without the intervening of any Forreign Power they recall this Prince and seat Him in His Throne they acquire to themselves and their posterity immortal Glory and stop their Mouths for ever who charge us falsely as enemies of Royalty make appear that the Maxime of No Bishop No King is injuriously imputed to us Now what was desired by this Letter was done within a short time and by the Power Interests and Endeavours of those here called Presbyterians The Royalists at that time not for want of Zeal or Loyalty but through Policy and Prudence not appearing so publickly least thereby upon that account or occassion the desigh should miscarry 9. Consid Many Bishops Clergymen and Scholars though Nonconformists to the late times yet injoyed Places or Profit notwithstanding The Bishops by Ordinance of Parliament were to have for their Lives 200 l per ann each of them Bishop Morton that Learned Bishop of Durham received a Thousand pound which was given him by the Parliament and with which he purchased if I mistake not an Annuity of 200 l per ann for his life The Arch-bishop of Armagh Bishop Brownrig Bishop Skinner had places of Imployment and Profit in those times Dr. Saunderson afterwards Bishop of Lincoln kept Boothby Pagnel Parsonage during the Troubles Many in several Colledges in Cambridge kept their Places without ever taking the Covenant Dr. Collins was suffer'd to keep his Place of Regius Professor without ever taking the Covenant So did all the Fellows of Emmanuel Colledge except Dr. Soreby who was Ejected on another accompt continue in their Fellowships without taking the Covenant Some Fellows were put into Trinity Colledge by Ordinance of Parliament without having the Covenant imposed on them as I have heard Further in the Visitation of the University