and who are accounted his Majesties true Subjects who Malignants But all this is easily blasted with the Consideration that they are the Expressions of Rebels pretending his Majesties name and service for their advantage No under favour they are the expressions of his Roman Catholique Subjects so stiled in the late Cessation concluded in his Majesties name and by his Majesties authority September 15. 1643. and ranked equally with other his Majesties good Subjects and therefore no reason to discountenance this Evidence not yet those of the like nature hereafter to be produced However it aboundantly shewes the end for which it was mentioned the proving that Rebellion to be a Quarrell of Religion Let us now trie what Evidence may be brought forth to prove that the Papists in Ireland and the Armies in England engaged against the Parliament are doing the same work and that there is a line of Communication betwixt their Counsells To this purpose let us consider a Commission and a Cessation to which whatsoever else is to be said in this matter may be reduced Common fame none of the worst witnesses hath brought to every mans eares the noyse of the Kings favouring the Irish Massacre and that the Catholique Subjects there have called themselves the Queenes Army and intimated themselves the Kings by saying they had good warrant in black and white for their proceedings and crying out upon the English Parliament and Puritanes as the Kings Enemies and theirs It were well worth the knowing the truth of this so important businesse Let us goe as neare it as the nature of a Mystery will admit And first let the Copy of the Commission said to be given by the King to his Catholique Subjects of Ireland be read and examined From our Camp at Newrie this fourth of November 1641. Philem Oneale Rorie Macguire To all Catholiques of the Romish Partie both English and Irish within the Kingdome of Ireland we wish all Happinesse Freedome of Conscience and Victory over the English Hereticks who have for a long time tyrannized over our bodies and usurped by Extortion our Estates BE it hereby made known unto you all our Friends and Countrey-men that the Kings most excellent Majesty for many great and urgent Causes him thereunto moving reposing trust and confidence in our fidelities hath signified unto us by his Commission under the great Seal of Scotland bearing date at Edingburgh the first day of this instant October 1641. and also by Letters under his signe manuall bearing date with the said Commission of divers great and heinous astronts that the English Protestants especially the Parliament there have published against his Royall Prerogative and also against our Catholique Friends within the Kingdom of England The Copy of which Commission we have here sent unto you to be published with all speed in all parts of this Kingdome that you may be assured of our sufficient warrant and authority herein THE COMMISSION CHARLES by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the faith c. To all our Catholike Subjects within Our Kingdome of Ireland greeting Know ye that We for the safeguard and preservation of Our person have been enforced to make Our abode and residence in our Kingdom of Scotland for a long season occasioned by reason of the obstinate and disobedient carriage of Our Parliament in England against Vs who have not onely presumed to take upon them the government and disposing of those Princely Rights and Prerogatives that have justly descended upon Vs from Our Predecessours both Kings and Queens of the said Kingdome for many hundred yeares past but also have possessed themselves of the whole strength of the said Kingdome in appointing Governours Commanders and Officers in all parts and places therein at their own wils and pleasures without Our consent whereby we are deprived of Our Soveraignty and left naked without defence And forasmuch as we are in Our selfe very sensible that these stormes blow aloft and are very likely to be carried by the vehemency of the â—…rotestant Party into Our Kingdome of Ireland and endanger Our Regall power and authority there also Know yee therefore that we reposing much care and trust in your duties and obedience which we have for many years past found Doe hereby give unto you full power and authority to assemble and meet together with all the speed and diligence that a businesse of so great a Consequence doth require and to advise and consult together by sufficient and discreet numbers at all times dayes and places which you shall in your judgements hold most convenient and materiall for the ordering setling and effecting of this Great work mentioned and directed unto you in Our Letters and to use all politick wayes and meanes possible to possesse your selves for Our use and safety of all the Forts Castles and places of strength and defence within the said Kingdom except the Places Persons and Estates of Our loyall and loving Subjects the Scots and also to arrest and seize the Goods Estates and Persons of all the English Protestants within the said Kingdom to Our use And in your care and speedy performance of this Our will and pleasure we shall perceive your wonted duty and allegiance unto Vs which we shall accept and reward in due time witnesse Our selfe at Edinburgh the first day of October in the seventeenth yeare of Our Reigne This Deponent maketh Oath that about the middle of November last living then in the Parish of Saint Michans neare Dublin being accompanied with one master Stapleton of Dublin aforesaid Gentleman they happened into the company of a Popish Priest commonly called Father Birne who being formerly acquainted with the said master Stapleton desired to drink with him at a Taâ—…ern called the Bull upon Merchants key in Dublin where 〈◊〉 of the injuries and troubles of the times the Priest answered that the Irish not enduring to have them called Rebels had sufficient warrant for what they did and stood strongly in defence of their actions and presently to justifie his words produced a writing according to the tenour of the premises mentioned in this writing abovesaid whereof the Deponent desired a Copy and he willingly yeelded unto it and thereupon he wrote this Copy out of his literatim in the presence of the said master Stapleton who is now living in Dublin This is the true copy of that Commission with the annexed Warrant and Deposition for I will conceale nothing in a businesse of this importance as it came to my hands in a paper thus endorsed A copy of the forged Commission in Ireland published by those traiterous Rebels Sir Philemy Oneale Knight Rory Maguier Esquire and others with their lying perswasiâ—…n to seduce and stirre up the whole Romish Party to Rebellion wherein may be seene how heinously his Majesty is abused and the Parliament unjustly taxed by the â—…apists This last clause I take for granted but as for the rest give me leave to try whether
the use made of Newcastle hath vindicated the securing Hull The Ship from Denmarke hath justified their suspition grounded as it is said upon the slighted testimony of the Skipper at Roterdam The Lord Digbies endeavours and the residence there of King and Cochran the Propositions to the Scots at Newcastle hereafter to be mentioned for the joyning of the Scottish and English Armies against the Parliament have justified all the suspitions and accusations then pretended and protested to be unjust and groundlesse In such times and cases as these feares and jealousies are pardonable and distrust especially after evident breaches of trust is the mother of security It is a very unequall thing that the King with his Cavaliers should renounce the Parliament destroy his good Subjects upon the jealousie that Parliaments and Puritans are Enemies to his Prerogative and Power which can never bee proved if Iustice be made the Rule of Power and we railed on for defending our selves against the confederacie of Papists Prelates Court Parasites and their Adherents whose endeavours of introducing Popery and Tyranny are farre beyond jealousie as is now to be demonstrated I will not retire so farre backe having so much work before me as to insist upon the manifest and manifold attempts upon this Kingdome in the dayes of Queene Elizabeth whom when they had discerned to have settled her Interests for the Protestants against Spaine and Rome and established her Councell according to those Interests So that though the Bishops brought her to dis-favour Puritanes yet they could not perswade her to favour the Papists but she still kept a strict and vigilant eye over them as being rightly informed that they and not the other were the greatest Enemies to Royall Power When they saw this the usuall arts of Rome against dis-affected Princes are put in practice viz. Bulls Interdicts Poysonings Assassinations which God wonderfully preserved that heroicke Ladie from the Spanish Armado the Rebellion in Ireland may be further Testimonies of their zeale in this businessâ—… To the enumeration of these let us onely adde thankfulnesse and caution and proceed to their after Machinations the bitter fruits of which the Protestant Churches yet feele King Iames before he came to the Crowne of England had a heart too large for his Dominion and therefore extended his affectionate thoughts to the Kingdomes of England and Ireland which he longed for a peaceable possession of The Factors of Rome having studied his interest and nature according to their wonted confidence attempt him as for his Understanding so well informed in the Forgeries and Falshoods of the Romish Religion it was not to be ventured on and therefore they proportion their workings to his Passions which were desire of the accession of power mixt with a more then ordinary feare in which he was naturally unhappy lest he should be interrupted if not disappointed in the entrance And in this Conflict obtaine from him some intimations if not assurances of favour to the Catholique Cause with which they were for the present satisfied The King upon his entrance and settlement in England saw cause rather to dispence with his promises then his principles whereupon the Popish Faction grew discontented against him and a fruit of that discontent was the Romish Hellish Powder-plot never to be mentioned by any good Protestant but with due gratitude to Almighty God and just detestation of the Romish Religion This Treason wrought not kindely with his Majesty for whereas he might have made the Plot a ground of defiance and the Deliverance a ground of confidence the horrour of the businesse wrought such impression of dread upon his timorous spirit that though he was not blowne up yet he was shaken by it all his life after and drawn successively to a Compliance with at least a Connivance at their proceedings And notwithstanding the free exercise of his wit and pen against Popery which they could well allow him they constrained him to purchase his own security contrary to the Interests of Protestant Religion and Paternall affection with the ruine of the neigbour Churches of Bohemia and the Palatinate We should not have looked upon the day of our Brethren to that we may reduce the many impediments that have fallen in betwixt us and the help of our friends and that posture wherein God himselfe stands towards us even as a man astonished a mighty man that cannot save Jer. 14. 9. Though we have this hope left that God will recompence that mischiefe not upon the Nation the body whereof had a just fellow-feeling with the distresses of their neighbours but upon that cursed Faction whose pernicious Councels yet rule among us This was the most considerable Progresse made in his time though the preparatory workings for a fitter opportunity were not omitted as the cherishing in him a dis-affection to Puritanes an inclination to Bishops procuring countenance to Prophanenesse both by practice and Declaration to the remote Counties for licentious Sabbath-breaking and settling about him persons regardlesse of the good of Church or Common-wealth To which may be added the untimely death of Prince Henry when it was once observed that he grew popular inclined to martiall affaires and dis-affected to Spanish proceedings As also the Propositions of the Treaty of marriage with Spain offered from England revised at Rome and then by the Negotiation of Bristoll agreed to though after broken with so many advantages to the spreading of Popery in England as might discover the designe to have been considerably advanced in King Iames his time I shall shut up the discourse of his Reigne with this observation of the providence of God That those Princes who have trusted God with their lives and Kingdomes and kept Spain and Rome at distance and defiance have sped better then they who to their dishonoured selves have sacrificed the welfare of the Church of God as by comparing the History of Queen Elizabâ—…th with those of Henry the fourth of France and King Iames may appear who trusting to their own politike Conservations the thing that they feared came upon them For so it was That when by the journey into Spain fairer hopes were conceived of the Prince as by his intercourse with the Pope and the presumptions of the jesuite which you shall finde in the Treatise of the English Pope not unworthy an English-mans deligent observation most fully appears King Iames came to be looked upon as {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and must be taken out of the way that the Mystery might work the more effectually and so died he both a Friend and Martyr of the Catholique Cause Though it was doubted and feared there were severall ingredients into his death the world talks of a drink and a plaister the Cup might be mingled for Romes sake and some other hands accessary to spreading the plaister if so Let them share the guilt I leave them to him whose eyes are upon all the wayes of men to render them according to their wayes
a sort of conformable Puritanes whom the old Ceremonies reached not who were the least toleraâ—…le because the least liable severall Innovations and that pâ—…stilent Declaration of the Sabbath were introduced which to oppose or refuse was to be marked out to destruction And all this done that the Faction as they called it that so much hindered the good worke in hand this intended reconciliation might be weakened and removed But were not the Cup in the hand of the Whore very stupifying it were impossible to make Princes so much mistake their friends for enemies The Principles of Popery are certainly more propense to Treasons and Rebellions then those of the Protestant Religion which alwayes made good Subjects though not Slaves And besides reason and experience of former Princes this present Conjuncture of time and affairs may give testimony therof Suppose a Popish Prince that had broken the Originall Contract bound with Oath subverted the fundamentall Constitutions of government in this Kingdome imagine by Parliaments and gave evident testimony of not being firme to the established Religion can it be conceived that such a one could enjoy any security in the midst of Romane Catholiques Yet with us after manifold oppressions breaches of priviledge intrenchments upon liberty setting up of the Standard which some would have interpreted a renouncing of the peoples protection upon which their allegiance depends casting off a Parliament by so late an Act made indissoluble without their own consent charging them with actuall Rebellion and disclaiming all acts done by them or right in them to exercise his or their own power The King hears no other language then Gracious Soveraigne Your sacred Majâ—…sty not onely in formall compellations but solemne Covenants Let the world judge whether the challenged Power of the Pope and the grounds of Popery would not have given the Subjects an absolution and established proceedings upon other grounds then the Puritanes of England and Scotland yet do Yet so farre through the just judgements of God have the intoxications of Rome backed with continuall evill Councels prevailed with His Majesty as that it may be said justly of him as David he loves his enemies and hates his friends and prefers them who have plaid some of Absaloms tricks with him to his most faithfull servants and people It may be his Majesty is led by this Principle That if he prevaile he gaines much if not he loseth nothing onely is where he was but this may prove a decâ—…itfull arguing if not prevented in time That of the wise man may be peculiarly applyed to these Councels so full of folly and hazard The wicked worketh a deceitfull work But pardon this digression it was well meant however it may be interpreted So fared it with the Friends of Popery the Prelates who but they must be the Kings Friends Neal to King Iames Laud to King Charles and there they suborned a fraudulent Proverb to serve their turn which was No Bishop no King nay in Sydenhams Rhetorick no God whereas the truth was No Prelate no Pope And here again was the King cheated by the Bishops which will evidently appear if ever which God forbid these Cockatrice Eggs be hatched In the mean time let reason and former experience be Judges The pomp and splendour of the Church is the Popes proper Interest to which the greatnesse of Princes is rather opposite then subservient Increase of power was in the Negotiation pretended for the King intended for the Bishops who onely made use of the Kings power for the advancement of their own And though the King might easily judge that no addition of power could be in them without a Diminution of His yet so farre had this Circean Cup prevailed that Bishops and their Agents because they served the turn for the present and prostituted their learning power and consciences to the vindication of illegall Actions and Authority were entrusted not onely with Ecclesiasticall but a very great share in Civill affairs some of them being of the Privy Councell in all the three Kingdoms and more especially the Archbishop of Saint Andrews Chancellor of Scotland the Archbishop of Canterbury Controller of the Councell in England who through the Kings confidence and his own pragmatick disposition had an influence upon all businesse of consequence that was transacted And as the King presumed them his friends so the Pope knew they were his own Their function was a degree nearer in kindred to him then any other Government of the Church and the persons of some of them as being men addicted to Superstition and Idolatry were more serviceable then their Offices And it is worth the observation what care the Faction did take to keep this main out-work to Popery in pressing their Calling upon mens consciences which every body unlesse some of their own Favourites found so offensive in all other respects And therefore from the Pulpit and Presse was their Ius divinum pleaded as by others so by the prostitute pen of D. Hall who must also contribute his Mite towards this Reconciliation by his Printed Reconciler being a pennance enjoyned him for writing formerly No peace with Rome And lest their Rhetorick should fail They took care in their Conclave for it was neither Synod nor Convocation held 1640. for the binding men to this Government by an Oath so absolutely necessary to this work was their standing justly thought to be Lastly Another Introduction made for the resignation of this Church and Kingdom into the bosome of Rome was that Ignorance and Prophanenesse which were generally countenanced in the Kingdom That there was all means used for the growth of these Cardinall vertues is evidently manifest As for Ignorance how studiously did the Pharisaicall Prelates keep from the people the Key of knowledge by disgracing and discountenancing Preaching silencing painfull Ministers putting down Lectures and when good men willing to take any advantage to discharge their Consciences in stead of Preaching expounded the common Catechisme in that they were restrained by Wrens Articles and all discourse of Religion forbidden upon occasionall meetings But I am sure that is no Apostolike Rule if Saint Paul be consulted Col. 3. 16. for the advancement of the Apostolike Sea as it is called The most of the Preaching that was allowed was degenerate into railing against Parliaments and Puritans crying up absolute authority passive obedience strains of wit fitter for a Stage then a Pulpit And that men might not be relieved from the Presse where the Pulpit failed some Superstitious prophane Chaplains were set to be Overseers of it to whom an Egyptian command was given as to the Midwives there to kill the Males in the birth and not satisfied with that as if one age were too narrow Limits for their iniquity to be exercised in Order was given for the Re-printing Books formerly licenced with their corrections or rather corruptions according to the Tridentine invention of Index expurgatorius The like care was taken in matters of Prophanenesse which as if it
had not been sufficiently provided for by Ignorance the naturall mother of it the Prelates by the examples of their own families for the most part and the procuring and pressing the Book of licentiousnesse upon the Sabbath were diligent Nurses thereof And if it be further enquired how these Twinnes became serviceable to Popery the resolution is very cleer Ignorance you know is the mother of Popish Devotion that is Superstition and a speciall qualification of a disciple of Rome where blindfold is the onely play a trick the Pope borrows from the Divell The god of this world hath blinded their mindes 2 Cor. 4. 4. And so likewise Prophanenesse is a borderer upon Popery by the loose Principles of which it is much countenanced It is true Some sins are not so good cheap among them as others but all may be had at a reasonable rate And prophane persons whose remainders of Conscience tell them they must at least pretend to some Religion or other unlesse they have arrived at the height of Atheism readily pitch upon that next hand which would allow most Liberty And our present experience gives testimony of the service these two fruits of the Bishops Government have done Prophanenesse hath made a generall aversenesse to Reformation and Ignorance with the help of that hath furnished the King with an Army against the Parliament fetcht from the barren Mountains of Wales Cornewall and the North which were kept sâ—…re without the means of knowledge as a fit reserve for such a time as this I speak of the common sort of souldiers many of the rest have too much knowledge and too little conscience Thus have we an account of the more remote preparations for this great service which had wrought so well that it was thought seasonable to adventure more boldly upon the businesse And the Prelats with their forward dependants as impatient of this dilatory proceeding begin to offer presse Popish innovations to preach divers doctrines of grosse Popery for the which I referre you to the Canterburians self-conviction The Schooles the Presse the Pulpit began to speake Italian apace The Martyrs of the Protestant Religion disgraced the Conspirators in the Powder-Treason excused as in a Sermon at Saint Maries in Cambridge by Kemp of Queenes Colledge And the affront to Rome in the Common Prayer Booke viz. Whose Faith is Faction Religion Rebellion must be taken out that the Proverb might be verified Misso non mordet Our Churches began to put on the attire of the Harlot Altars Crucifixes and other idolatrous Pictures were frequently set up and â—…ervently maintained The Divine service as they called it was a Messe so prepared as that strangers from beyond Sea could scarce beleeve themselves to be in England but rather in France or Italy and cryed Non tam ovum ovo simile nec lac lactâ—… c. And if all this will not perswade the incredulous Reader that there was a strong endeavour of altering Religion among us I shall commend to his consideration not so much Romes Master-piece which may be Canterburâ—…es Master piece for ought I know it lookes so like a disguise as that serious and ingenious Tract called The English Pope together with the Popes Nuntioes annexed which gives a more exact account then I thought the secrecie of those Negotiations could have afforded to a man dis-affected to them Wherein you have the propounding and driving of the bargaine betwixt the Agents for Rome and the Archbishop with his Complices who bought and sold the Puritans for Cardinals Caps and pensions among whom the then Chichester now Salisbury was a Chiefe and therefore fiâ—…est to be the Princes Tutour But I should wrong both that Authour and my Reader to tell that Storie after him And though England was the maine Shop of this Forgerie as being most considerable as also because in Ireland there needed not so much diligence and in Scotland there was not much matter to be wrought upon yet in the two other Kingdomes this pious inclination to peace with Rome was not neglected In Ireland in the fourth yeare of his Majesty severall Immunities and Encouragements were granted to the Papists The then Deputie though his Veine lay more right for tyranny and exaction in regard of his imperious spirit yet he failed not to doâ—… many good Offices for the papists by connivence and countenance given to the free and publike exercise of Idolatry This the King helped on by making many popish peeres that a parliament in that Kingdome might occasionally prove rather advantageous to the designe then otherwise The fruit of which liberality of honour was reaped in the Irish parliaments allowing a Contribution to the warre against Scotland and their sending a Committee many of which were forward papists now chiefe Rebels to White hall the summer before the Rebellion brake forth who in all probability shuffled the Cards for the cloudy Game which was plaid October after And that Canterbury might not stand idle he dispatcht thither Chappell and other such Agents who by their Arminianisme and Superstition might traine up the ordinary sort of Protestants there and bring them to that temper that upon a difference they should propend rather to the Papists then the true Protestants of which allay Ormond Canterburies Nursling and his followers now prove Thus was Ireland managed that it might serve the turn it now doth of which afterwards In Scotland likewise all possible industry was used to facilitate an Accommodation with Englad first and so with Rome And to that purpose the Popish and prelaticall partie were very busie there particularly Spotswood Archbishop of Saint Andrews a deepe and subtle Dissembler who had discouraged and extirpated by degrees and under divers pretexts most of the faithfull Ministers there and had he been left to his own Politicks in which he was beyond his patron Canterbury in probability he had made the condition of that Nation almost desperate But Canterbury meeting with a man of his owne mettall Maxwell Bishop of Rosse â—…it to be Iehu's coachman being a furious driver to this Samaritane mixture who apprehended and represented the condition of that Nation too forwardly and presumptuously in his zeale rather then discretion gave heed to him and would needs be gathering the 〈◊〉 of the Scottish endeavours before they could be ripened in that cold Countrey more backward then England and so set his owne and fellowes teeth on edge In confidence therefore that the Scottish Church and Nation was so well prepared as by other endeavours so by his Sermon preached at Edinburgh when he was there with the King about the Partition-wall Eph. 2. 14. which he miserably handled when he made it to be the Jesuits and Puritans hindering his Reformation that is Reconciliation with Rome as to receive the English Liturgie and that corrupted or to give good advantages to the Designe by their refuâ—…all It was boldly offered them back'd with the Kings power prostituted to all such services by that Prelaticall
Pander to the Whore of Rome As also a booke of corrupt Canons which though they comprehended abundant iniquity yet it was thought fit by one Canon commended by Rosse to Canterbury that a doore should be left open wide enough for the Pope himselfe to enter at a fit opportunity to this effect That since no Reformation in Doctrine or Dâ—…scipline can be made perfect at once it should be lawfull by his Majesties consent c. which fell in so directly with Canterburies Designe that he procured it to be approved by the King at Greenwich May â—…3 1635. and injoyned it to be inserted giving thankes to his Agent the Bishop of Rosse in a lerter yet to be seene saying he was glad of the canon so 〈◊〉 placed behind the curtaine and commanded it to be fully printed But these Southerne plants being slips of an Italian Stocke could not endure this Northerne Climate but were sorely nipt and hinc illâ—… lachrymae the Scots instead of a Common-prayer Booke joyned in a Covenant which when Spotswood saw he said prophetitaâ—…ly I hope as once Caiaphas the bottome of their businesse was broken out and for his part he thought it seasonable to repaire into England which he forthwith did and with griefe dyed a Martyr to this Designe and so was the prediction of Master Walsh a famous Scottish Minister fulfilled upon him who in a Letter to the Bishop written 1604. told him he should dve an Out-cast The resolute rejection of this booke together with the Prelates altered the Scene but no way the Plot of this Tragedy and gave occasion for new Actors to enter in a military 〈◊〉 it being determined by this Romish confederacy that force must be added to fraud the peoples blood to the Prelates sweat rather then this blesâ—…el worke dis-appointed When therefore it was resolved that the many humble Petitions and Remonstrances of the Scottish Nation should be answered in blood preparations are accordingly made and because the Bishops had rendered themselves so odious by their Superstitious and Lordly carriage though the quarrell was theirs the action must be entred in the Kings name the warre must be called Bellum Ragale and not Episcopale and the Scots persecuted not as men dis-affected to Episcopacy but to Monarchy And thus by blowing the Trumpet of Lyes and Slanders some desperate some deluded persons were gathered together to force the Scottish Nation to Canonicall obedience and a Conformity to England now in Confederacie with Rome His Majesties person for the credit of the Cause must be ingaged who comming downe to the Borders and finding the Scots standing upon their defence at Dunce hill the King having left his firebrands at home in stead of fighting treats and concludes a Pacification at Berwicke which when the Councellours of mischiefe especially Canterbury and Strafford saw as they had before incensed his Majesty against his people to now as became the Grace of the one and Lordship of the other they make him fall out with himselfe and his owne act and sacrifice his faith and honour to the Quarrell This poore paper because it gave advantage toward a peace so unsatisfying to them and unserviceable to their ends it must receive the measure more due to the Incendaries be dis-avowed and burnt by the hands of the Hangman And this was done upon these or the like considerations If Scotland be so left it will not onely be hopelesse in regard of it selfe and so hinder the perfection of the good worke but remaine as an ill president to all good Subjects to stand up in defence of their Religion and Liberties which Canterbury and Strafford had a mind to invade against all illegall and violent attempts though in orced with the Kings personall preâ—…erce And further the example of that Kingdome will not onely remaine as an encouragement but their unbroken strength 〈◊〉 it is to feared prove serviceable to the Puritans of England who are justly thought so many and obstinate that without a blow they are not to be subdued It is therefore concluded necessary by the Factours for Tyranny and Popery that Armes be resumed by the King of which at least they thought to reap this advantage that which side soever prevailed it would be an ingagement of the Kingdomes in warre which was so earnestly pressed by Strafford that so they might be dis 〈◊〉 and made the more unserviceable to each other in case of necessity Thereupon they further perswading the King of the possibility of prevailing which he used to regard more then the nature of the Councell Armes are taken un againe Strafford with his Assistant Sir Toby Matthews an Episcopall extract are dispatched for Ireland the one deales with the Parliament the other with the Papists for supplies in this Catholique cause and prevailed not onely in that but an auxiliary strength is there raised of about 8000. men most of them papists who might be transported for Englâ—…nd or Scotland as occasion should require And Canterbury no lesse busie at home dispatches his Bulls to the Clergy for Contributions to the present designe and Souldiers are pressed with the advantages of Coat and conduct money in the severall Counties But the Souldiers a sed in 〈◊〉 Hartfordshire and thereabouts as if they had rather beene to serve under a Scottish Covenant then a popish Command fâ—…ll to pulling downe Images burning the railes about the Altaâ—…s and affronting papists which was an unâ—…oward Omen but yet dis-heartned not the stout prelates and rest of the Faction from their enterprises While these Firebrands were smoaking in England and Ireland the Scottiâ—…h Nation who love not After games were not idle but made good their bearing their Lyon was rampant while the English were but passant and so not being willing to trust another pacification at the Borders march into England with an Arny carrying a petition to the King and Declaration to the Kingdome in one hand and Armes the onely arguments then hopefull in the other and forced their passage at Newburn with the repulse of the English if they deserve so to be called most of them having changed their hearts for French and Spanish so were they possessed of Newcastle and the Bishopricke of Durham and fought with their Adversaries upon their owne ground and charges The successe of this designe being ill and the experce great and insupportable to the Contrivers notwithstanding all their extravagant oppressions they are so impudent as to try if they could intitle the English Nation to the maintenance aâ—…d countenance of that war which was levied by a Faction and perswade the King to call a parliament intending through the specious pretences of Loyalty and promises of taking away grievances to deceive them into a contribution to this warre which through Gods great mercy and good providence they avoyded though it cost them a dissolution Hereupon the Instruments of violence double their diligent injustice which grew so intolerable that some of the Lords take the confidence to
that they made use neither of the Kings offer to the Scots by declaring it nor the Scots to them by accepting it and one of them was so farre more ambitious of his Majesties favour then carefull of his owne honour as to acquaint the King with the businesse Aâ—…ke the Lord of Dorset who it was But I hasten from this Digression and returne to that conclusion which I thinke I may clearely make from these premises That his Majesty before any of these apparent Quarrels about Tumules or the like used earnest endeavours for destroying the Parliament so contrary both in its constitution and proceedings to the intended subversion of Religion and Liberty either in their persons or priviledges So that though these plots and transactions did not serve the Kings turn for the intended mischiefe yet they serve mine very well in the cleare proofe of the intention of the mischiefe Something might further be added out of the Irish businesse to make this assertion cleare but I reserve that to its owne place being the Mystery of this Mystery and the Iniquity of this Iniquity By what hath beene declared it may appeare what aspect the King and the Councels in which he was ingaged had toward the Parliament of England Let us proceed to examine the courâ—…es which were afterward taken in prosecution of this Design against them and those that for love of Religion Liberâ—…y adhered to them and by considering the Wayes Counsels Instruments which have beene used in this service we shall obtaine yet further evidence that this present warre undertaken by the King and his party was intended for the subvers on of the professed Religion and establisht Government When therfore the Armies raised both in England and Ireland not without some relustancy as not having performed their intended service were unavoidably to be dis-banded in the declining part of the yeare 1641. we must suppose a Counsell most solemnly to be called at White-hall about July or August before the Kings going into Scotland it being then very seasonable in regard that the Irish Committee especially so able and active men as Gormonston Muskery Plunket Browne and Bourke who were privately treated with was then in England wherein as may appeare by the precedent and future practises it was laid as a ground That this Parliament with the Puritanes their Adherents who stood so obstinately in the way of this propounded and so farre promoted Designe must be removed or subdned And to this End wayes of violence blood being the Whores drinke Revel. 17. 6. and iâ—…perium quolibet pretio constans bene an absolute rule being cheap at any rate are resolved upon especially considering that many broken pieces of the Armies raised against Scotland might easily be made use of againe the Occasion being very little different And in this Conspiracy was that monstâ—…ous Rebellion in Ireland to use the words in the Kings answer to the Petition of the Irish Commanders dated at Oxford December 1. 1642. for we cannot wish better words though we expect better deeds practised by those mercilesse and idolatrous Rebels more then probably contrived Let us stand behind the curtaine some policie may be learnt and honesty too by way of defiance After the Proposition of the destroying this Parliament in case it could not be reduced to the service of this Catholique Designe which was almost past hope seeing no more royall inclinations in them after so many Acts of Grace besides personall honours and offers made to some accepted by others which was resolved doubrlesse nemine contradicente The next consultation must naturally and necessarily be of the manner which must likewise be Confusion and Blood sceleribus non nisi per scelera tutum est iter But nothing is to be done rashly the Cause being as full of hazard as importance let therefore the State of the Kingdome of England and the neighbour Kingdomes and States in reference to this Cause be duly considered The condition of England may be thus represented for the body of it It consists of Papists Protestants viz. the King Prelates Courtiers and Cavaliers the dissolute Gentry the superstitious Clergy the profane and ignorant people the only Protestants now accounted of all the rest are but Anabaptists and Brownists and a third party of Purita is that is Lovers of the Protestant Religion with the desire of Reformatioâ—… friends to the Parliament and native Liberty of the Subject This latter part though very strong yet may be supposed well ballanced by the other two whom they without a mistake as now appeaâ—…es presumed might be made one upon the Coincidencie of popery absolute power Prelacie indifferency in Religion and profanenesse especially with the advantages of their opposition to puritanisme and Reformation and the manifold pretences that might be continually made against the Parliament And whereas it might be objected that the Parliament now made indissoluble by a late act would be a very great impediment in regard of its power and estimation with the people especially now after their pressures sustained for want of Parliaments This was put of with the projects of defaming and disgraceing it withdrawing some of the Members corrupting others and bringing the Kingdome into that condition that the Parliament shall be constrained to disingage the people by requiring Contribution rather then ingage them by present freedome and reformation England thus represented is no great discouragement to the worke But what shall be done with Scotland a people full of foresight and resolution thâ—…ir late carriage towards this very businesse hath given abundant testimony That they upon the stateing of the Quarrell by the Parliament for Religion and Liberty will easily be drawne into their assistance The course since taken seemes grounded upon such Councell as this The King is to goe into Scotland and so to pasâ—…e by the Armies the Commanders of which may occasionally be saluted and there he may upon the place be advised to what may be best for his ends If by faire offers and pretences they can be deluded let them not be spared that they may be either ingaged by kindnesse or upbraided with unkindnesse If they be found peremptory since there is an advantage of the Kings presence and so many resolved Cavaliers to attend him as there did both Popish and others let some of the Heads of the faction bt taken off as Argyle for one and Hamilton likewise who by playing booty on both sides that he might be sure to save his stake had like to have lost all which was accordingly attempted by Crawfords Designe but through Gods providence prevented by making a difference betwixt the Contrivers and stirring up a more â—…oble resolution in one of the Commanders though since unworthy enough who thought and said it was the worke of Butchers and not Souldiers that was propounded But let the worst be supposed and provided for As Scotland is for the most part Puritanicall so is Ireland Popish And the Irish Papists may first
suppresse the Protestants among themselves and so not onely occasion the Exhaustion of England and the distraction of the Parliament there by a warre but also be servâ—…ceable upon the perfection of their worke or an allowed Cessation from it to strengthen the Kings party in Enâ—…land or annoy Scotland to the prevention of their Assistance Very good or at least very true But what may be expected of Holland from the people little hindâ—…ance being drowned in their owne interest of gaine Were we all Spaniards we could have supplies from thence for our money and from the Prince of Orange who hath well gained not onely by that state but upon it all possible assistance by reason of the contraâ—…t of marriage with England and the possibility there may be of requiting him in the same kind when our worke is done Which by the way when the Netherlanders are awake they shall doe well â—…o consider of and reflect upon the Belgick blood and English treasure expended in the freeing them from that bondage to which by 〈◊〉 at supplies against the Parliament they are hastening againe As for Denmarke the case is cleere the Obligation of Consanguinity the interest of Royaltie will ingage that Prince and to put it utterly out of doubt the incouragement given by Letters under his owne hand is abundantly sufficient As for France and Spaine Popery and Monarchy or rather Tyranny will bring â—…n them notwithstanding their great and important differences as Pilate and Herod to joyne in crucifiing Christ The greatest doubt may seeme of France Spaine having a firmer interest in the Papists of Ireland and England but considering it is for the Catholique Cause And that if the proceedings of the true Protestants of England and Scotland prosper it may be an ill president to the Protestants of France to strive to regain what the other strive to keep no doubt he will cast a favourable eye upon this businesse as now appeares by sending his Agent into Scotland to hinder the Union of the two Nations Things being thus digested as in all reason they might and were no wonder though the King upon his returne from Scotland and the Rebellion begunne in Ireland altered his language and carriage to the Parliament and sought nothing more then occasions of beginning the Quarrell as by the illegall accusation of their members Going to the house of Commons to demand them so attended upon whose instigation and with what intention appeares by the Queenes carriage at his frustrate returne as also by the confessions of divers of that desperate Guard These violent assassinating courses attempted in England and Scotland practised in Ireland though they are not certaine Evidences are usuall signes of a Popish Designe and Jesuiticall Councels After this attempt not through pretended feare for his Majesty adventured into the City the next day with a small Guard but through indignation at the disappointed mischiefe and as the Lord Digbie saith to keepe the Cavaliers from trampling and reproach the King removes from London cum tota sequela except some who were left to be Agents in City and Parliament for this great service whom we could as well have spared And now the plot of raising an Army long before contrived being ready for the birth Iune Lucina fâ—…r opem Let the Queen find a pretence to goe into Holland taking with her the Crowne Jewels which were pawned or sould not to gaine but lose the Pearle of price with the more freedome to negotiate forreigne supplies of Money Armes Ammunition and Commanders whither likewise some other officious persons as Iermine Digbie c. were before by his Majesties warrant despatched and to speake without flattery she did speciall service for which no doubt she shall have her Indulgences and Pardons free as she hath occasion to use them In the meane while the King is going on pilgrimage in Devotion to this Romish Cause and though continually petitioned for returne and obtested by bleeding Ireland makes little stay till he comes to York where after the Courting of that Country and his many Protestations taking the Lords in for security Iune 15. 1642. whose honours were pawned for his Majesties intentions whereby it was thought the people were better prepared then indeed they were he goes to Hull and upon Sit Iohn Hothams refusall takes occasion to raise a Guard for his person in a place whose Loyalty was so much magnified which by the helpe of the Commission of Array and forreign supplies hath ingendred a plentifull issue of three or foure Armies But what is all this to the subversion of the Protestant Religion if there had been any such intention in the raising the Army the Papists whose speciall interest it was should have beene taken in who are by a Proclamation dated at York August 10. 1642. forbidden not onely the Court a place so unfit for them the Queen being now absent but any Office or service in the Kings Army and as if his Majesty were so farre from expecting their assistance that he feared their vengeance in his instructions to the Commissioners of Array August 29. 1642. dated at Nottingham charge is given that Recusants be disarmed This cannot be denied but it may be contradicted as it was by his Majesty in an answer to the Petition of the Recusants of Lancashire dated at Chester September 27. 1642. where they are not onely allowed but according to the knowne Law of the Land required to provide sufficient armes for themselves their servants and tennants And wheras it may be said the case was different in August and September it s yeelded his Majesties Case was different though his Cause the same To have received them before others were ingaged had beene to disingage the Protestants and interrupt the worke in its tender beginnings And therefore it must be so timed that as many Protestants as could be deluded with pretences might be drawne in and ingaged beyond a retreat before the assistance of the Papists was required Thus have you an account of those groundâ—… for which those Counsels Conâ—…rivances and disguises by which the maine Army countenanced by the Kings favour and presence was raised against the Parliament I have no minde to trace it over-shooes through that innocent blood which hath been spilt by it neither is it to my present purpose to doe it The indeavours to the same end in the North by the Earle of Newcastle in Wales and Cornewall by the Marqu of Hertford and Sir Ralph Hopton These latter grounded rather as I suppose upon the Principles of Prerogative then Popery I purposely omit onely let me take notice that this worke of darknesse hath made the darke corners of the land its refuge and received most assistance from places most void of the knowledge of God which we are in a high degree to impute to the more then barbarous cruelty of the Prelats not onely not providing but preventing their supplies and discouraging the Liberality and Piety of those who indeavoured the
the inside or the outside of my paper be the tiuer And this I shall doe with all due respect both to the King and Parliament that his Majesty may see that there was some fire in the midst of all the smoak and that the jealousies of his people concerning the Irish businesse were not altogether groundlesse as also that the King may have a sit occasion to abâ—…ure this Commission and cleare himselfe of the aspersions cast upon him with respect thereto and chastise as his Majesties phrase is those wicked fellows but I crave mercy they are not my fellows they are owned Subjects but I and the rest of the Parliaments friends proclaimed Rebels And that the more full and particular satisfaction may be given for discourses and protestations will not be taken any longer for payment I shall give all the Arguments I can to prove the reality of it First therefore let us consider the time a materiall circumstance when this Commission is dated that is the first of October 1641. in one copy and the fourth in another no great difference the Massacre beginning the 23. of the same month which was presently after the Conferences at White-hall with the Lord Muskerie and his fellows who returned into Ireland the same month his Majesty went for Scotland leaving the Lord Dillon who was presently after sent with the Queenes Letters requesting or requiring his being made Counsellor of Ireland to his Majesty then at Edinburgh where it is said this Commission was signed with the broad Seal of that Kingdome being not then setled in the hands of any Officer who could be answerable for the use of it but during the vacancy of the Chancellors place intmsted with Marquesse Hammilton and by him with one master Iohn Hammilton the Scribe to the Crosse Petitioners in Scotland and sometimes under the care of master Endimion Porter a very fit opportunity for such a clandestine transaction And let it not be omitted that presently after the date of this Commission Dillon Butler and divers other Irish Commanders of which the Court was then full were dispatched for Ireland by his Majesties Licence not without the just suspition of By-standers The Commission it selfe for the grounds and language of it is very suitable to other dispatches and writings under his Majesties name expressing much bittemesse against the Parliament and jealousie of the diminution of his Prerogative which was alwayes his great feare But I shall be unwilling to fetch the least proofe from the matter or stile of the Commission the Argument is not so beggarly as to necessitate a Petitio Principii Let us go on to examine the grounds why such a thing should be forged and why such a thing should be granted and see which are the more probable I know no ground why such a Commission should be forged It was not to make his Majesty odious for in all their writings they expresse all tendernesse of his honour and forwardnesse of their obedience particularly in the forementioned Assembly at Kilkenny where next after the Article for the injoyment of all the Priviledges and Immunities of the Romane Church as in the ninth yeare of Henry the third the Oath of Allegiance to his Majesty is established its likely according to the agreement of the Reconciliation with a Salvo to the Sea of Rome and their constant and generall professions of loyalty now so well confirmed by his Majesties expressions to them and their contributions to him do clearly evince that they had not so much ill will to the King as to raise such a scandall of him And more especially though a Commission might do them some advantage yet the forgery of one could not but be prejudiciall it being a necessary ingagement of his Majesty in his owne justification to have used the utmost of his skill and power against them as to have staid with his Parliament and prevented a war in England But though a forged Commission might be unprofitable yet a reall one I wonder not should be demanded though a stranger to the Mystery would wonder it should be granted First that hereby the King whom they knew in his own disposition apt enough to start from his Expressions upon an advantage might be firmly bound to them and their proceedings as also that the more backward Papists who were more good natured then to rebell against a King whom they had â—…ound so propitious and more wary then by such Rebellion to forfeit their Estates which under him with the advantage of their Religion they doubted not to enjoy might the more easily be brought in If it be objected this might be done by a forged Commission I answer not so well Forgery is an unruly help being often requited with the double hinderance of a discovery Papists though sometimes they delude us they deale freely especially in a common Catholique Cause with one another And what end such fraud could have upon the Protestants unlesse a little to amaze them at first then exasperate them I cannot conceive However it is be assured that Oneale and Mac-â—…arty beare so high upon this Commission that they have offered Major Monro and the Scots in Vâ—…ster an appeale to the King which have the truer Commission and which are the better Subjects and according to that determination to quit or hold their employment if the Scots would mutually promiâ—…e the same But sure sayes my honest Reader who thinks other men meane as well as he this cannot be Why not as well as that Commission for the cutting thy throat at London much after this â—…enour and pasted in the same private manner But how can it stand with his Maâ—…estes Protestations against them under the name of wicked and detestable Rebels with his Declaration against any toleration of Religion there or 〈◊〉 of the Lawes in force against Recusants with his Prâ—…clamation of Rebellion against then dated â—…anuary â—… 1641. directly opposite to this Commission It were heartily to be wished that his Majesty had â—…ept his word as well with the Protestants as with the Popish Faction There passed one Article in the Treaty of marriage with the Queen which through the care of Canterbury and the paines of Windebank hath been better kept then any Protestant Protestation The words of which Article are faithfully translated out of the French copy to this effect The 27. Article is That the King of Great Brittaine having regard unto the prayer of the Lady and 〈◊〉 testifie his affection to her shall grant unto his Catholique Subjects the security of their lives and goods so that they shall not be troubled for making profession of the Catholique Religion they rendring unto him that obedience and fidelity they owâ—… unto him to which they shall not be thought deficient for refusing to take any Oath or doe any act contrary to their Religion But it is answered It concernes his Majesty most to look to that how his words and warrants agree yet we will be so bold in a
Cause of so great consequence as the imminent danger of the Protestant Religion as to examine some of his Actions and see whether they have been more suitable to the Commission oâ—… Proclamation The Proclamation it selfe though in its nature opposite yee in its time and circumstances was too suitable to the Commission being deferred from the latter end of October to the first of January and then so sparingly printed so warily published as if it had been under the controll of some former Act whose leave must first be craved But his Majesty hath reason to expresse violence against these his Catholike Subjects or to chastise them at least for they went beyond this Commission though supposed reall that gave but a Yard they took an Ell though they were allowed to seiâ—…e the goods estates and persons of his Majesties Protestant Subjects yet they were not allowed to cut their throats unleâ—…le the private Letters concomitant can help out at such a pinch and their very transgression in this matter might justly occasion and provoke the title of mercilesse wicked Rebels But to return to Actions the best Commentaries upon words it is to be feared they will be found more agreeable to the Commission then the Proclamation as may be discerned in the unanswered Remonstrance of the rise and progresse of the Grand Rebellion in Ireland For instance What shall indifferent men think of his Majesties withdrawing himself from his Parliament declared by the then reall though now pretended Parliament to be a great obstruction to the prosperity of the Irish undertakings Of his raising war against his Subjects here the greatest service that could be done to the pretended rebels there being a diversion of that strength and a distraction of those Counsels that should have suppressed them Of his granting passes for notorious Papists as Butler the sons of the â—…ord Nettersfield and others to go thither for which see the Declaration of Parliament March 16. 1641. and if you will the Answ March 19. The stopping of provisions going to the supply of the Army against them taking away the horses prepared by the E. of Leicester for that service as appears by his complaint in a printed letter to the Earl of Northumberlana Of the free accesse of those that have been active in that Design to his Majesties camp and Court Of his putting in demuâ—…res to the Bill of pressing souldiers and deniall to the sending ships for that service It must not be denied that his Majesty was earnest in pressing care of that businesse of Ireland upon the Houses and passed some things to the advantage of it and in a message of the 8. of April 1642. spared not to offer his going in person to chastise those wicked and detestable Rebels with the renouncing of all other Ends but if his Majesty had continued in that angry minde hee might with ease have chastised them when they came over to him as they have done â—…ince plentifully I wish I had many more such actions to repeat But it must be considered there was a Proclamation that required some countenance and could not well have lesse then it had but I forestall no mans judgement but leave the impartiall reader to the weighing what hath been said and what hath been produced upon Oath in the Declaration of the Commons Iuly 25. 1643. And if the ballance be equall I shall only cast in some scruples of the late Cessation which unlesse the beame be false will make the Commission weigh down the Proclamation 1. First the scruple of c. in the nomination of the parties in this Treaty Is his Majesties Title of Defender of the Faith come to an intricate c. Yâ—…s and good reason for the other party with whom his 〈◊〉 treats upon equâ—…ll terms are content with an c. and are called His Romane Catholique Subjects now in armes c. whereas it should have bâ—…en added according to the Acts of Kâ—…lkenny for the Exaltation of the Holy Roman Catholique Church 2. The scruple of their sudden transformation from monstrous mercilesse Rebells into Subjects conjâ—…yned with other his Majesties good Subjects What shall the 〈◊〉 of Scotland thinke of this who hardly obtained the lâ—…ke retractation when they defended the Pâ—…orestant Religion or the Parliament of England and their Adherents who cannot yet finde that favour But yet Mopso Nisa datur quid non speremus c. His Majesty sure had thoughts of this dishonourable recancation when hee was so loth to publish the Proclamation against them 3. The third scruple is â—…ersecute for that is the word in the Irish coppy not prosâ—…cute A license granted to 〈◊〉 â—…ure the Bishops had a finger in this Article and that Persecuted Protestants should expect no protection from his Majesty nor any of his forces against the Parsecution of the Papists but rather have occasion to feare the joyning of the forces the King shall have interest in in the Persâ—…cution as is desired by the Catholiques to whom no such trifle must be denied is to me a sad story 4. The fourth scruple that these Catholique Subjects shall have liberty to send such Agents to his Majesty as thâ—…y shall thinke fit from time to time Priests and Iesuites not excepted If the Scales be not yet turned take the whole Cessation and the thirty thousand eight hundred pound and that will 〈◊〉 weigh it downe to the ground But I have much 〈◊〉 leave the contemplation of this Cessation Let us take a second view 1. Of the time whâ—…n it was granted moâ—…t seasonably when the Pâ—…pish party was driven to great Extremities for want of victual â—…nd had bâ—…en in greater had nor the Forces raised and 〈◊〉 by the Parliament bâ—…en seducâ—…d into a disaffâ—…ction to their service 2. Oâ—… the Grounds all Acts of importance that are to passe the eye and censure of the world use to come armed against aâ—…l Exceptions with a preamble shewing the ground and necessity of them How comes it to be here â—…mitted that we have neither real nor * pretended causes and considerations but a down-right Cesâ—…ation or rather Accommodation as Souldiers judge it Was it such broadâ—â—ced iniquity that no mask neitâ—…er in Oxford nor Dublin would fit it Was it neither for the preservation of the Protestant Religion nor affection to the ancient and native â—…ingdom of Scotland nor for the reconciling of the Distractions of the Kingdome of England Since those dull contrivers could fâ—…nde no matter for a foundation give us leave to â—…upply Seing the Catholike cause which the King of England is induced to serve either nakedly or cloathed with this pretâ—…rce oâ—… upholding his Poweâ—… and Prerogative which is suggested to be invaded and endangered by the Puritans there is now very much concerâ—…ed in the due ordering of the affaires of Great Brittain aâ—…d Ireland And whereas the Irish Catholikes have given so good tâ—…stimony of their approved zeal and cruelty in massacring near two hundred thousand Hereticks
petition the King who being betwixt the Scylla of a Northerne Army and the Charibdis of a Southerne petition yeelded to a second parliament yet continued and enters into a Treaty with the Scots being out of hopes of any other End unlesse it were of his men and money Thus have you a briefe account of the Scottish broiles and let the Reader but consider the ground thereof viz. the reducing that Nation to a conformity with England now in treaty of accommodation wtth Rome the Instruments raising and â—…omenting it Canterbury and the rest of that Faction zealous for popery and Tyranny and the forwardnesse of the papists who use not to make blind bargaines in the furthering that Designe and give a free and impartiall liberty to the use of his owne reason I doubt not but he will conclude with me and for me that this warre was undertaken as a hopefull meane of subverting the protestant Religion and the native Liberty of the Brittish Naâ—…ion Well Hac non successit alia aggrediendum via The disappointment and foile that the enterprize received by the Scottish businesse was so farre from making them cast away their confidence that they doe but double their diligence and call a Colledge of these State Physitians to recover life into this broken businesse And 〈◊〉 the proverb might not be renewed Dum consulitur Romae capitur Saguntum the sudden result of those Councels appeares to have beene that some way or other this Parliament going a course so contrary to theirs through the lownesse of their present State gaining ground apace though put to dispute every step must be interrupted and disappointed nay rather then faile destroyed And no wonder at this practice against the parliament which went on at that time so roundly against their interests and courses formerly mentioned propounding a further distance from Rome by a Reformation in stead of their reconciliation by corruptions striking sore at the abatement threatning the abolition of Prelacy which they could not spare countenancing Puritans whom they could not endure accusing and punishing Delinquents their grand Instruments not sparing Canterbury or Strafford who were the left and right hands of the Designe So that we need not looke any further for a ground of all possable mischiefes to be plotted and practised against the Parliament then its direct opposition to the projected Designe of Tyranny and Popery which had beene so farre advanced and was now like to be interrupted and broken All the other differences as particularly that of Hull was but the picking a Quarrell and seeking occasion to raise an Army under pretence of a Guard for that purpose to which it is now employed And it being of so great consequence to the discovery of this Mystery that we understand the true naturall ground of this warre on the Kings part as also that the Cure is more easily prescribed when the Cause is found out I shall take a little paines to demonstrate that the ground of these present calamities was not the pretended invasion of the Kings right in the businesse of Hull and the Militia but a resolution to persist in the intended mischiefe to Religion and Liberty To which purpose let it be knowne to the world which to me is sufficiently evident that before the execution of the Earle of Straffoâ—…d when his Majesty had received no other carriage from his Parliament then what he professed himselfe satisfied with and that if the Biâ—…s he had past were againe to be offered he should cheerfully and readily assent unto them even then were dispatched Letters and an Agent to the King of Denmarke from his Majesty complaining of the Parliament that instead of his supplies expected from thence among other Ends ad propulsandos hostes you may easily ghesse who were meant we being in a deepe peace with all popish princes he found it pertinaciter injustis de causis in 〈◊〉 virâ—… exitium intentum defixum undoubtedly Strafford betwixt whose impeachment and execution the Letters were sent and thereupon declares himselfe in these words ad alia consilia â—…nimum convertendum duximus What those Counsels were will hereafter more fully appeare One part of them was executed in the same Letter wherein an Agent was named with credit given and aid desired And that it may appeare this Letter was sent out of which these passages are excerpted not onely the Copy of the Letter but the authentick Answer hath beene seene and that it prevailed in some sort appeareâ—… not onely by the Answer from Denmarke but the Kings declaring upon the Offer to the Scots at Newcastle that he was to have money and horse from Denmarke to encourage them to joyne with him and all this notwithstanding the deepe protestations at that very instant against Forraigne Forces And if there want further proofe it may be added that the intention to bring up the Army to over awe if not destroy the parliament was long before his Majesties departure from London which intention if it he not sufficiently proved by the Declaration of the Lords and Commons of the nineteenth of May 1642. with the depositions and Letters annexed which may possibly prevaile with the indifferent Reader yet the propositions about the same time made to the Scots at Newcastle of joyning with the English Army against the parliament and the bonntifull Offers made thereupon Of 300000. l. to he paid downe Of foure Northerne Counties and the plunder of London The quitting of his Revenues and customes in that Kingdome to their publike use The Kings residence at Yorke for the better accommodation of both Nations or fuller râ—… 〈◊〉 to London which Sir Iohn Henderson who imparted that gracious Message by vertue of Letters of full credence given him by his Majesty signed C.R. can testifie or if he will not many honester men may though the paper be regained may sufficiently convince any man who hath not determined with himselfe Non persâ—…adebis etiamsi persuaseris which I have made the more bold to adde because though the Penner of the Answer to the Petition of both Houses March 26. 1624. defie the Devill whom he knew would never take paines to discover his owne plot to prove there was any such Designe with his Majesties knowledge yet he denies not honest men liberty of speaking the truth And not to let this businesse passe without the just honour and vindication of the Scottish Nation let the world take notice that they not onely refused this offer but acquainted those who were most entrusted with the affaires of the English Parliament and offered rather if need were their best assistance to secure the just and lawfull proceedings and priviledges of Parliament and settle both Nations in truth and peace the embracing whereof might have probably prevented a great deale of bloudshed both in England and Ireland and had beene the Fore-game of our present After-game But they were then so farre more tender of his Majesties honour then their owne safety