Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	bishop_n	king_n	part_n	2,994	5	4.2601	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87143	Peace and not warre: or The moderator. Truly, but yet plainly, stating the case of the Common-VVealth, as to several of the considerable councils & transactions from the year 1636. to 1659. By John Harris, Gent. An affectionate lover of his countryes peace.	Harris, John, Gent.	1659 (1659)	Wing H859; Thomason E1000_25; ESTC R202581	28,992	53

fresh in memory that I shall not need to stir those embers any further that have kindled such a fatall fire in the bowels of these divided and distracted Nations Onely give me leave to mention the method that was observed by the Catholick Caball then governing in Councill to introduce those troubles that have since been the necessary consequences of their then designments As to the King an unlimited Prerogative was made the sugred bait to allure him to a countenance of and compliance with them it being naturall for all men especially Princes not onely to admire but to reach at and covet the encrease of power and dominion especially when the attainement thereof seemes to be facile and the end advantageous Having brought him to their bent in that particular then they began to spring that mine which had for severall yeares lain hid viz. the introduction of Popery though not in its own name nor with its own face for as yet neitheir their Councils nor forces were ripe for so great a work and therefore the two factions Spanish and French being joyned to the Arminian part of the Clergy who at that time greatly over-powered those that were called Puritans set on foot the orders for conformity and uniformity in publick worship and imposed the publick Liturgy or Common Prayer setting the same above preaching c and this not out of any zeal to the Glory of God but in design to heat and perplex all such in the two Nations of England and Scotland as were conscientious to the intent that by that opposition which must consequently be made by them whose principles could not submit to those unwartantable innovations an occasion might be given them to incite the King to make use of his power by force to impose what otherwise his Proclamations and commands could not effect And this from reason and experience I alleadge to be the parent of the Scotch War begun under the command of that great Spanish Factor Arrundell Generall who indeed was the fittest to execute what had been so long hammering between him his brother Cottington and other the Cabalists of that faction And by the way it is worth remembring that while the King with all the power of the nation was engaged in the borders of Scotland by force to subject them to the designes both of his own and their enemies the Spaniard arrives in the Downes with a powerfull Fleet and Army the comming whereof was never so much as known by England or at least taken notice of untill seen although forraign preparations doe and ought generally occasion nay necessitate domestick provisions for security But the Dutch dissipating them diverted the storme and left England destitute of that proof of their designe which if it had taken we have cause to believe that pretended peace patcht up with the Scots had not been so soon made but being put upon new Councells and that forraign assistance failing they feared to rely upon the strength of their Army which though as to men gallant and numerous yet being somewhat divided and all England behinde them in feares the appearance of the Spaniard as aforesaid having put men upon consideration lest the designe should appeare both to the King and his people I say a peace is patcht up the Army disbanded and a Parliament called by the expectation whereof the people began a little to be quieted in hopes that by those Physitians the nation might be cured of all its distempers But such was the composition thereof by reason of the prevalency of the Court in point of Elections of the Commons and mixture of interests of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall that as little could be rationally expected from them as was effected by them at their meeting for as the intention of calling was only to justifie the Scotish War by a Law and to get money by a loane or subsidie to carry it on to which the Commons would by no meanes assent so all expectations became frustrate by their speedy dissolution and the setting on foot new Councells and designes to increase the flame and encite the King to make new leavies against the Scots imprison severall Members of the Parliament and Scotch Commissioners sent and attending to ratify the Treaty seize severall of the Ships and Goods of the Scotch and by all meanes endeavour to suppresse and destroy the Puritane party as they call them who they judged the onely great enemies to the King whereas they took the exactest course in the world to make them such all their designes and actings being clothed by his power and strengthened by his warrant and Commission And to the end the want of money might not retard or hinder the vigorous prosecution of the War the Bishops open their bags and raine showers of Gold thereby justly giving occasion for it to be called Bellum Episcopale but notwithstanding their haste the Scots who suspected foule play had formed an Army and were upon their march into England before they could raise and rendezvouz and maugre their speed after their routing of a party nigh Newborn engaged by the Earle of Strafford as is really believed upon designe to make the War certain the Scots enter Newcastle and possesse Durham and parts adjacent while the King retires to York neither Army proceeding any further to acts of hostility But by the way it is observable the Earle of Northumberland who a little before could not be suffered upon any termes to pass Trent being popular in the North and a moderate Protestant must be made Generall the better to colour the businesse and since the Spanish assistance failed a new forraign force must be made use of and the Catholick Irish His Majesties then pretended most loyall Subjects must be armed and engaged in this religious War contrary to reason common rules of prudence or safety and the consequences whereof did soon after visibly appeare in that horrid rebellion which ended in the sorrow and ruine of the designers The Scots being in England and necessities encreasing many of the Nobility and Gentry were summoned to attend upon the King at York where after mature consideration of the State of affaires a Paliament is agreed to be summoned and Writs issue out accordingly The Parliament being met and an account being taken of the necessities and demands of the King after many debates the Parliament resolve and declare That unlesse they might be secured to sit untill the grievances of the people were considered and redressed they would grant no supplies nor intermedle with the Scotch War but leave it as they found it or to that purpose This resolution was a bitter pill to the Court and hard of digestion but yet necessity has no Law down it must and therefore an antidote must be prepared and lie in readiness as a cure for this poyson For the case stands thus if the Parliament be not satisfyed then no supply there is an enemy in the Land and an Army ful of discontents for

attainment be strowed with briars and thorne yet certainly the end will be crowned with peace glory and joy unspeakable But what do I speak of the Wildernesse when you have already entered into Canaan The yoke of Pharaoh is broken and we are under a solemn tye and engagement never more to return to Egypt then in your March beware of the Gibeonites There be many that because they cannot conquer will flatter and cry peace peace many will and do walk your wayes with other intentions I beg of them therefore to beware of such Covenant-mongers for fear instead of freedom you entail slavery or at least thrust an incurable thorn into the sides of your and our Posterities I shall not take upon me to point out the persons that merit this appellation but I say you may know them by their fruits unless Thistles do in this strange age of strange productions bear Figs. I shall therefore proceed to present a few things to your view and humbly submit my self and them to your serious consideration 1. That great engagements do not onely occasion great expectations but also create answerable obligations both toward God and man Now give me leave to appeale to you and beg of you to consider whether ever a Generation of men in Power as you now are lay under or stood obliged to such and so many solid serious reiterated religious and civill engagements as you are and remain at this day and if so what need have you to take heed to your standing and as that noble Heathen who had his Remembrancer every night to put him in mind that he must dye so you to recount your Declarations and Engagements to the end not one of them be broken so far as they are consistent with the glory of God and good of this people with the Government of whom you are entrusted 2. Consider that great mercies require suitable returnes that you have been partakers of infinite mercies inward and outward I hope the greatest part of you experience now pray what is a more suitable fruit of mercy received then to manifest mercy to others I am sure forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others that trespasse against us is the best argument that our Saviour hath left us to make use of when we beg forgiveness of God and if so I cannot but judge it to be the best rule of our proceedings and much better then an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth I speak not this to indulge or indemnifie Traitors or disturbers but I offer it as an expedient in order to moderation Summum jus est Summa injuria there is a vast difference between justum and justa as too much security may endanger safety so too much severity may by degrees introduce slavery the consequence whereof is an equall if not a greater and more incurable mischief 3. That afflictions like the Sun either harden or soften make better or worse God hath for your own and Englands sinnes for severall yeares past judged you in the presence of the people and for my part I do not doubt but under the sense thereof you have secretly and solemnly humbled your selves before the Lord acknowledged your wanderings and waywardnesse and not onely so but have made your vowes and taken up resolutions that if ever you were restored you would do what ever your hands found to do with all your might without dallying denyall or delay And I really believe your late I may say miraculous I am sure unexpected restauration hath been the fruit if not of yours of many of the good people of this nations prayers who mourned over and longed for you as instruments by whom they expected deliverance from their threatned Spirituall and then inflicted temporall enthralments now upon this consideration judge seriously both your work and your way Your work is to relieve the oppressed and to let the bound go free I might here inlarge but in short all oppressive Lawes whether relating to the Consciences Persons or Estates of men all oppressive rules used in Courts of Judicature all oppressive exactions of Bayliffs Goalers and Prison-keepers as to matters of debt and the like ought with speed to be prevented and removed as being Ulcers that will suddenly occasion the whole body to Gangreen and give me leave by the way to hint one thing that in a more speciall and immediate manner concernes your inspection it is suggested very frequently that there are exceeding great exactions used by some of your inferiour Officers intrusted with the Custody of your Prisoners of war which if true renders your very mercy as meer cruelty as may be I do not charge it and I know if any such thing be it is both against your principles and former practise and I am sure it is contrary to equity or the present interest many are prisoners that probably deserve more and I believe others that merit not so much however though all are and ought to be subject to the Law so far as guilty yet none ought to be slaves to the will of their keepers further then in order to their sure keeping and whatever authority may be pleaded the great exaction of fees and the monopolizing of their bellies and purses by denying the supply of provisions from any but themselves and that sold too at a dear rate I say if it be true it is a great dishonour to the State a punishable crime in the keepers and a positive oppression to the prisoners and would be worthy your speedy inquisition to the end your honour and the publick justice may be vindicated Having heard great complaints to that purpose I have thought it my duty in this way to inform your Honours and if it be possible to shame them out of such by paths all that is so gotten being but like a moth that will devour and eat up the honest profit that might be got by their imployments but probably the thought of the gain will vanquish the shame and if so a just punishment seasonably inflicted may work that repentance which friendly admonition could not accomplish As to those declared foundations of Freedom upon which a sure Basis of Government is to be setled I shall not take upon me to intermeddle not doubting but the wisdom and Interest of Parliament is such that as they will on the one hand take care to curb restrain licentious prophanesse and oppression so on the other hand those that are pious and peaceable though of what Opinion soever not contradicting the written revealed Word nor opposing the fundamental Principles of Religion may and shall receive protection and encouragement and not be left to the fury of Phanaticks and in so doing you will bring much glory to God good to his people in these Nations and lasting honour to your selves and Posterities which is the daily Prayer of Right Honourable Your faithful Servant John Harris FINIS