That the Supream power of England is immediately invested only in the people and their Representatives and had Voted therefore that all Committees which before consisted of Lords and Commons should have power to Act though the Lords joyn not herein After much debate the Commons resolved that the House would not agree with their Lordships This day Friday 19. of Ian. the King was brought from Windsor to St. Iames's And the Argument of the people thus long a hammering was perfected by the Commonwealth of the Army at White-hall and presented to the House of Commons by Sir Hardress Waller and 16. Officers Nay more there came a Woman-witch out of Hartfordshire who justified the Armies proceedings by her Revelations from God which was well accepted of the Council as coming from an humble spirit and her advice taken as very seasonable The Commons House being possessed of this great power as great as they list to take erect a new Tribunal for Tryal of the King which is called the high Court of Iustice and so to gain reverence from the Name over which are appointed 150. Judges or Tryers that so in number they might represent the people who are impowered to Convent Hear Iudge and Execute Charls Stuart King of England Into this number are Elected Members of both Houses and others of neither men of several conditions and professions Nay if it were necessary to prove it it was reported for truth there was one man and No-man or rather of double Sex an Hermophrodite But amongst the number were six Earls of the upper House the Judges of the Kingdom Commanders of the Army Members of the Commons and no Members of the City of London of Lawyers nay of several Trades and Professions And all these supposed themselves to deserve much for this desperate enterprize and twenty of them made up the Quorum Little regard is had of the higher House unless of a few Lords whose Authority there was deemed sufficient for Acting Yet when the Vote of the Commons House against the King was carried up there were unwittingly 17. Lords and the major part refused to assent and did reject the Vote as not grounded upon Law Hereupon such Lords which were to be Tryers of the King are expunged the Roll. And afterwards the Judges of the Kingdom are put out as deeming That it was against the received Laws of England that the King should be brought to tryal But on they go and appoint Mr. Iohn Bradshaw lately made Serjeant at Law to be President of the Court and one Cook to be Sollicitor The Presbyterian Ministers now too late declaim against it many more of other Sects by their Sermons Conference Protestations and Remonstrances publish and beseech That against the dreadful tyes of so many Oaths against the publick and private faith backed by Declarations and promises against the Law of the Land against the more sacred Dictates of divine Scripturâ— and Religion nay against the good of the Common-wealth they would not distain their own hands and the Kingdom with the Kings blood The English Nobility offer themselves Pledges on the Kings behalf and universally the people murmur but in vain The 19. Ian. the Scotish Commissioners delivered some Papers and a Declaration from the Parliament of Scotland wherein they express a dislike of the present proceedings against the King and declare That the Kingdom of Scotland have an undoubted interest in the person of the King who was not delivered to the English Commissioners at Newcastle for the ruine of his person but for more speedy settlement of the peace of his Kingdoms That they extreamly dissent and declare against the Tryal of him in regard of the great miseries that are like to ensue upon the Kingdoms And crave leave to make their personal addresses to the King The like Papers and desires were presented to the Gâ—neral and these were publick But we have met with a Scotish Paper of privacie belike from the other Faction and it was intercepted by our English Army it was intituled Instructions sent to the Scotish Commissioners from the Parliament of Scotland To use in your amplification the same mentioned in your Letter that it seemed not to import by proofe of any violence used against the Parliament or any member thereof That you have address to such Lords and Commons as are our friends and not ill-affected to the honest party That your amplifications be so concise that they give no occasion of offence That nothing proceed from you justifying the Kings proceedings Nothing in approbation of the late engagement Nothing which may import a breach or give or be a ground of a new War That they would delay to meddle with the Kings person according to their several promises and Declarations at Newcastle and at Holmby If they procâ—ed and pronounce sentence against the King that you enter your dissent and protest that this Kingdom may be free of the miseries which unevitably will follow without offering in your reasons that Princes are exempted from Tryal and Iustice. That none in this Parliament had or hath had any hand in any the proceedings of the Army against the King and Members of Parliament If they proceed then to shew the calamities that will follow and how grievous it will be to this Kingdom considering his delivering up at Newcastle If the Papers called the Engagement of the people be passed and shall import any thing anent the Processing of the Prince the changing of the Fundamental Government of the Kingdom that you enter your dissent You shall alter these Instructions or mannage your trust therein by the advice of our friends there To prosecute your instructions anenâ— the Covenant and against the toleratio To shew that the Kings last Concessions are insatisfactory to ours in point of Religion But all these Scotish tricks on either side signified little not to frighten Resolutions for the Actors in England arm themselves with pretensions of Gods providence and impulsions of the holy Spirit some there were even in the Pulpit bids them Courage that the time was come that the Saints of the earth should binde Kings and their Nobles with chains of iron and not to doubt but that the Prophesie belongs to them And in the Pulpit another with bended knees tears and hands lift up in the name of the people of England earnestly beseeching they would execute justice against Charls and not suffer Benhadad their Enemy to go away in safety raging and railing against Monarchy one expounds the story of the Trees in chusing a King when the Vine and Olive refused that Office underwent the harsher government of the Bramble After sundry meetings of the 38. Commissioners in the Painted Chamber at Westminster they had prepared all things expedient for the Tryal and the high Court of Justice was framed at the upper end of Westminster Hall the place of the two Courts Chancery and Kings-Bench were ordered into one and all
things fitted for to morrow Saturday 20. of Ian. the King is brought from St. Iames's through the Park in a Sedan to White-hall thence by water with Guards to Sir Iohn Cottons House at the back end of Westminster Hall The Judges met in the Painted Chamber attending the President Bradshaw in his Scarlet Robe the Sword born before him by Colonel Humphrey the Mace by Serjeant Denby the younger and twenty men for his Guard with Partizans Himself sits down in a Crimson Velvet Chair of State fixed in the midst of the Court with a Desk before him and thereon a Cushion of Crimson Velvet The seats of each side Benches covered with Scarlet cloth all of bloudy colours for the Tryers the Partizans divided themselves on each side O yes and silence made the great Gate of the Hall was set open for any to enter Col. Thomson was commanded to bring forth the prisoner who was with twenty Partizans and other Guards The Serjeant with his Mace receives him to the Bar where was placed a red Velvet Chair The King looks sternly upon the Court and up to the Galleries and then sits down not shewing the least regard to the Court but presently rises up and looks downâ—ards on the guards and on the multitude of people spectators The Act of Parliament for the Trying of Charls Stuart King of England was read over by the Clerk one Phelps who â—at on the right side of the Table covered with a Turkey Carpet placed at the feet of the President upon which lay the Sword and Mace The several names in the Roll of the Tryers were called over and 80. answered to their names In the charge the King is accused in the name of the people of England of Treason Tyranny of all the murders and rapines that had happened in the war many things being added for aggravation they repose all the vveight of the accusation on this That he raised war against the Parliament A vast number of people looking on vvith groans and sighs deploring the miserable condition of their good King The President stood up and said Sir You have heard your Charge containing such matters as appears in it and in the close it is prayed that you Answer to your Charge which this Court expects The King vvhilst he heard the Charge vvith countenance of Majesty and at some passages vvith a brovv of scornefull smile and novv in ansvver to the President asks these nevv Judges By what Authority they did bring to Tryal a King their most rightful Sovereign against the publick Faith so lately given him when he commenced Treaty with the Members of both Houses By what saies he emphatically Lawful Authority for said he I am not ignorant that there are on foot every where very many unlawful powers as of Theeves and Robbers in the High way he bids them only declare by what Authority they had arrogated this what-soever-power to themselves and he would willingly answer to the things objected Which if they could not he adviseth them to avert the grievous crimes from their own heads and the Kingdom Whatsoever they did he was resolved not to betray the Charge committed by God and confirmed by ancient descent The President rejoyns That he was called to account by Authority of the people of England by whose Election he was admitted King The King replyes The Kingdom descended to him in no wise Elective but Hereditary for above a thousand years That he stood more apparantly for the Liberties of the people of England by refusing an unlawful and urbitrary Authority then the Iudges or any other whosoever by asserting it That the Authority and power of the people was shewed in Parliamentary Assemblies but that here appeared none of the Lords who to the constituting of a Parl ought to be there and which is more some King ought to be there present but that neither the one nor the other nor both the Parliament Houses nor any other Iudicature on earth had any Authority to call the King of England to account much less some certain Iudges chosen only by his accusers masked with the Authority of the Lower House and the same proculcated Howbeit he wills them again they would at least-wise produce this their Authority and he would not be wanting to his defence forasmuch as it was the same offence with him to acknowledge a Tyrannical power as to resist a lawful one The President often interrupting the Kings speech told him That they were satisfied with their Authority as it is upon Gods Authority and the Kingdoms in doing of Iustice this their present work To which the King replyed That it was not his own apprehension nor theirs neither that ought to decide it And so the President commanded the prisoner to be taken into custody and so the Court adjourned till Munday next 22. Ianu. to the Painted Chamber and from thence to the same place again and the King returned in the manner as before to St. Iames's Munday the Court met in the Painted Chamber and considering the Kings Resolution to deny ther Jurisdiction and Judicature They resolve that he should not be suffered to argue either the Courts Jurisdiction or that which did constitute it of which debate they had no proper Cognizance nor could they being a derivative power which made them Judges from which there was no appeal And therefore with that distinction they Order That if the King offer to dispute the same again the President shall tell him that the Commons of England assembled in Parliament have constituted this Court whose power may not be permitted to be disputed by him That if he refuse to answer it shall be recounted a contumacie to the Court That if he answer with a salvo his pretended Prerogative above the Court He shall be required to answer positive yea or no. That he shall not have a Copy of his Charge till he own the Court and declare his intentions to answer This concluded they assemble in Westminster Hall and the King called for and brought to the Bar in the same manner and with much contumacy as the other day when the Sollicitor Cook moves that the Prisoner may make a positive answer or that the Charge may be taken pro confesso and the Court to proceed to Justice The President repeats in brief the passages of the last day and commands the King to Answer to the Articles of his Charge unless he had rather hear the Capital Sentence against him The King persists to interrogate concerning their Authority and saies That he less regards his Life then his Honour his Conscience the Laws the Liberties of the people all which that they should not perish together there were weighty Reasons why he could not prosecute his defence before the Iudges and acknowledge a new form of Iudicature for what power had ever any Iudges to erect a Iudicature against their King or by what Laws was it granted surely not by Gods Laws
which on the contrary command obedience to Princes Nor by mans Laws nor by the Laws of our Land sith the Laws of England injoyn all accusations to be read in the Kings name nor do they indulge any power of judging even the most abject subject to the lower or Commons House Neither lastly does their power flow from any Authority which might be pretended extraordinary delegated from the people seeing ye have not asked so much as every tenth man in this matter The President ever and anon as before interrupting his Speech now very unhandsomly if not insolently rebukes the King bids him be mindful of his doom affirming That the Court was abundantly satisfied of their Authority nor was the Court to hear any Reasons that should detract from their power But what saies the King or where in all the world is that Court in which no place is left for reason Yes answered the President you shall finde Sir that this very Court is such a one But the King presses That they would at least permit him to exhibite his Reasons in writing which if they could satisfactorily Answer he would yield himself to their jurisdiction Here the President not content to deny grew into anger commanding the Prisoner to be taken away The King replyed no more to these things then Remember saies he That 't is your King from whom you turn away the ear In vain certainly will my Subjects expect justice from you who stop your ears to your King ready to plead his cause The 3. daies Tryal Tuesday was in effect the same the same Demands of the Court and the like Answer of the King and so adjourn to the next morning Wednesday ten a clock but they were so busied in the Painted Chamber before in the examining of witnesses as they said that an Officer came out to the people and told them so and that they should finde the Court there upon Summons for as yet they were not resolved when to sit For it was Saturday after 27. Ian. before they Assembled and 68. of the Tryers answered to their names The President in Scarlet Robe and as the King came the Souldiers were directed to cry out for Execution of Justice Execution belike to forwarn the King of what he should now expect The King speaks first and desires to be heard a word or two but short and yet wherein he hopes not to give just occasion to be interrupted and goes on A suddain Iudgment saies the King is not so soon recalled But he is sharply reproved of contumacy The President profusely praises the pâ—â—ience of the Court and commands him now at length to submit otherwise he shall hear the Sentence of death resolved upon by the Court against him The King still refuses to plead his cause before them But that he had some things conducing to the good of the people and peace of the Kingdom which he desires liberty to deliver before the Members of both Houses But the President would not vouchsafe him so much as this favour lest it should tend he said to the delay or retardation of Iustice Whereupon the King replies It were better sustain a little delay of a day or two then to precipitate a sentence which would bring perpetual Tragedies upon the Kingdom and miseries to children unborn If saies he I sought occasions of delay I would have made a more elaborate contestation of the cause which might have served to protract the time and evade at least the while a most ugly Sentence but I will shew my self such a Defender of the Laws and of the Right of my Countrey as to choose rather to dye for them the Martyr of my people then by prostituting them to an Arbitrary power go about to acquire any manner of Liberty for my self but I therefore request this short liberty of speaking before a cruel sentence be given for that I well know 't is harder to be recalled then prevented and therefore I desire that I may withdraw and you consider They all withdraw The King to Cottons House the Tryers into the Court of Wards and in half an hour return And the President with the same harshness as he began proceeds into a premeditated Speech to hasten Sentence which the King offers reason to forbear whilst he may be heard before his Parliament and this he requires as they will answer it at the dreadful day of judgement and to consider it once again But not prevailing the President goes on wherein he aggravates the contumacy of the King and the hatefulness of the crimes he asserts Parliamentary Authority producing examples both Domestick and Foreign especially out of Scotland wherein the people had punished their Kings He affirms that the power of the people of England over their King was not less That the guilt of this King was greater than of all others as being one who according to Caligulas wish had attempted to 〈◊〉 off the neck of the Kingdom by a War waged against the Parliament for all which the Charge calls him Tyrant Traytor Murtherer and a publick Enemy to the Common-wealth and it had been well Sir saies he if that any of all these terms might have been spared if any of them at all This wrung a start from the King who astonished could not Answer but with an Interrogatory how Sir And the other goes on to argue that Rex est dum bene Regit Tyrannus qui populum opprimit and by this definition he lodges on the Kings Arbitrary Government which he saies he sought to put upon the people His Treasons he stiles a breach of trust to the Kingdom as his superiour and is therefore called to an account Minimus majorem in judicium vocat His Murthers are many all those that have been committed in all the War between him and his people are laid to his charge all the innocent bloud which cannot be cleansed but by the blood of him that shed the blood so then for Tyranny Treason Murthers and many more crimes And so as a Iudge indeed uses to Iayl birds he wishes the King to have God before his eyes And that the Court calls God to witness that meerly their conscience of duty brings them to that place and this imployment which they are resolved to effect and calls for Gods assistance in his Execution The King offered to speak to these great Imputations in the charge but he was told his time was past the Sentence was coming on which the President commanded to be read under this form Whereas the Commons of England in Parliament have appointed them an High Court of Justice for the Tryal of Charls Stuart King of England before whom he had been three times convented and at the first time a Charge of High Treason and other crimes and misdemeanours was read in the behalf of the Kingdom of England c. as in the Charge which was read throughout To which Charge he the said Charles Stuart was
A Compleat HISTORY OF THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF King CHARLES FROM His Cradle to his Grave Collected and Written BY WILLIAM SANDERSON Esq. LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley Richard Tomlins and George Sawbridge 1658. To the very Worthy and well-weighed Author of this Modern History WILLIAM SANDERSON Esq. SIR HISTORY may be well call'd the great Arbitress of Time and Truth a Tribunal that summons the Dead to judgement and a Court of Record to the Living Therefore among those industrious Spirits who by their Speculations and publique Writings do deserve well of their Countrey an Historian may march with the foremost I mean a knowing and faithfull Veridical Historian whereas an ignorant and false erroneous Chronicler is one of the worst Members that can be in a Common-wealth and indeed of Mankind in general for he wrongs the time passed the time present and the time to come But you Sir may be deservedly rank'd with the first for when you favour'd me with the perusal of this Modern History I finde that you have proceeded with that knowledge and Probity a prime vertue required in an Historiographer as also with that exactness and punctuality that you have confuted a late Paradox commonly repeated that it was impossible to compile the Story of these confus'd and entangled vertiginous Times without writing so many Volumes as would fill a Library I say that you have refelled this vulgar Error and while you bring our Royal Master to his grave you may be said to give him a Burial a Monument and a Resurrection Nor indeed was there any man more capable to pen this Story then your self being from your youth bâ—ed up at Court not only an Eye and Ear witnesse of most of those Transactions and Traverses of State you trasmit to Posterity but you were an Actor in divers of them having been imployed in so many Negotiations of good consequence both at home and abroad whereby you were par negotio But truly I mused much with my self when I observed the great discretion and cautionary prudence you use in your Comportment all along For though a great part of the Times you speak of were full of Tempests and Whirlewinds and that you were like one passing through a boysterous working Frete having on the Star-board side dangerous Rocks and Craggs and on the Larboard ill-favour'd Shelfs of Quicksands yet you skew the wind dexterously and steer your course so streight and steddy that you avoid splitting on either Lasty I finde that this elaborate work of yours which smells so much of the Lamp hath been cast into so good a mould and is so strongly limm'd the ingredients that went to the composition of it being so material and so necessary for our late Nephewes and all future Ages to know that by giving this Historical life to King Charls you may well promise to your self an Eternity For of all Sublunary things Chronology is of the longest extent having not only an affinity and commensuration with Time it self but makes the neerest approach to Immortality IAMES HOWELL The Introduction THUS far we are forward in our Compleat History successively continued from that exquisite Compendium set out by William Drummond Esq. of the Lives and Reigns of five the preceding Kings of Scotland James the 1. the 2. the 3. the 4. the 5. from the year 1423. unto 1542. At the end of which we have heretofore taken our Rise and Entrance having lately published the First and Second part from the birth of Mary Queen of Scotland to the death of her Son and Successour King James the sixth and after Queen Elizabeth of great Britain France and Ireland the first of that Name And now we proceed to the third part the Reign and Death of his Son and Successor King Charls the first But before we enter into his sad Story it may not be amiss to enlighten the Reader with the State and condition of these his three Kingdoms England Scotland and Ireland Of England King Iames having been imbarqued by consent of Parliament in a War against the House of Austria left this life and the Palsgraves hopes at a very low Ebb if not dispair while the Emperour and the Duke of Bavare shuffled the Cards and plaid the Game to others loss The Germane Army suppressing all the reformed Princes bandited the Palatine and forced the other Electors to make Bavaria one among them The wonder was why the Austrians should stand so stifly upon such an inconsiderable piece of that great Empire but through that Spot the Spaniard had free passage with his 〈◊〉 of Italy and other Parts to pass into the Netherlands to reduce them to obedience And this occasioned the Commotion and Combination of the Duke of Brunswick bringing in the King of Denmark and afterwards the King of Swede all which conversions were advanced partly by the assistance of King Charls with his monies returned to Hamborough and with other such meanes of vast expence even to his last ability and enforced his Councellors to invent and strain the waies of supply which advanced them but undid the King It was high time to endeavour the abating of the Austrian power which too long had disquieted the repose of Christendom and forced France at first and all Protestant Princes after with some Papists underhand to joyn in the Confederacy But mostly concerning the united Provinces who having long before through their just fears plotted the Bohemian Hubbub and invited the Palsgrave to the unhappy acceptance of that Crown bending all their wits to bring in the Swede assisted from England to patch up a peace for him with Poland These were the Foreign Engagements cast upon England which King Charls was enforced to espouse especially to oppose the Emperors inflexibility for the restauration of the Palatine And thus imbroyled the Parliament left him to shift for himself which his Privy Councellors undertake and therein possibly might wrest some Prerogatives for raising monies The Factious Clergy were at hand to make things worse not but that those times producing Learned and most Renowned able men at the Altar as ever any Age could parallel I mention those other young Wolves in Lambs cloathing who by their Lectures late Excrescencies led about the Vulgar under colour of depressing Popery to the destruction at last of the whole Church Between Papist and Puritan the honest Protestant was neglected for the Lords and Council not being byassed with one of these were so unhappily ignorant as to know little more then their own pleasure patching up their poor fortunes by unhandsome courses Others of them wrought their ends rather by the Bow then the string basely bending to private Advantage by dishonourable shiftings became odious to honest men forfeiting their honours by falsifying their words and lastly failing in their Duty Allegeance and all The Duke of Buckingham had been his Fathers Favourite and now became his by former engraffing and his late Loyal service to him in Spain A person he was most
to inform at Court the valuation thereof and so to insinuate into the Kings favour A person he was not improper for the Court of comely behaviour quick wit and nimble in tongue and being Son in Law to the Earl of Sowthesk was by him brought in and so crept up into esteem with the Duke of Lenox and by degrees mounted to great preferment the most unworthy ingrate treacherous firebrand to all future mischiefs Taking rise from private wrongs disputable with the Bishop of Rosse For Traham being made Deputy Commissioner and afterwards sole Treasurer this Bishop Io. Maxwell Minister of Edinburgh was set up by Laud then Bishop of London who finding him eloquent and factious enough placed him a Bulwark against adverse Forces and to that end he was Authorised to be Lord of the Session and Exchequer who prying too narrowly into Trahams Accompts and falling foul on personal accusations the Earl of Traquair made it his work to rid him out of all but before that fall he failed not to ruine that Bishop and Episcopacy also not without malice and revenge upon the interest of the King and his affairs Of Ireland But somewhat may be said concerning Ireland that Kingdom bearing a fatal part in this confused malady The Kings of England have born the Title of Sovereigns over Ireland for above four hundred years yet not till of late throughly subdued and reduced to obedience the causes have been first from the faint prosecution of the War in former Kings Reigns and secondly in the business of the Civil Government untill the time of King Iames who supplyed the defects of former Government in his first nine years and perfected it in the remain of his Reign more than was formerly done in four hundred fourty years since the first Conquest for though the Conquest was finished at his Commencement to these Crowns yet he maintained an Army â—ustly and royally paid to give strength and countenance to Civil Government only one rebellion of O'dogherlye which was instantly suppressed And for the Civil Government he granted his Act of Oblivion for Offences done before his Reign the Subjects received into the Kings protection and the most universal peace over all Ireland so that in six years there was not found so many Malefactors worthy of death in all the six Circuits now divided into thirty three Shires as in one Circuit of six Shires in the West of England And now was the peoples Estates setled all the Irish Lords aswell as English surrendring their Lands for new Grants of the Crown and for strengthening defective Titles And lastly the late Plantations setled there not granting any intire County to a particular person or Iura regalia or extraordinary Liberties as heretofore The revenue of the Crown double to what it ever had been all their Charters renewed and their Liberties enlarged so that this Land of Ire because the Irascible power was predominant for four hundred years is now become the Land of peace and Concord and King Iames left it so to his Son King Charls But how they fell into Rebellion and so into destruction All three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland the most glorious Monarchy of Christendom concentring in the ruine of themselves the sub sequent Historie will open not to be told but in Tears wherewith my eyes are already Dim One word by the way Intent upon this History we overtook two Writers One with a piece of the Reign and yet Intitles it The History of King Charls Him we know not but by his Nominal Letters H. L. Esquire The other an Observator upon him Anonymus whose Fame needs no Name nor to be shrouded from reverence due to his Function and great Abilities we oppose not but crave leave to mediate the difference as we meet it in either ERRATA In the absence of the Author beyond Seas the Printer hath failed to number the pages from 406. unto which being so corrected by your pen you will finde eight lines in page 410 inserted into the Primates Letter which were to be a Marginal Note only The words begin in the tenth line these two here instanced c. and end in the seventeenth line may easily appear Gulielmus Sandersonus Aetat suae 68 Etsi Se nescit quod senescit tamen up it dissoâ—â—â— The REIGN OF King CHARLES WE come now to the Descendent Son and Heir Charles the first of the Name King of Great Brittain France and Ireland Born the second Son to King Iames at Dunferling in Scotland the 19. day of November 1600. And whilst the Elder Brother Henry was hopeful to succeed this Prince may be said to be the less looked upon and so no Overtures of merit brought to Observation in competition with the Other Besides this Prince was directed by such as knew the forwardness of the former to make himself rather less than he was then to appear more then he should be a Rule not improper for most men specially Princes untill Soveraignty hath set them up Examples to all beyond the Mark and power of envy And it may be referred to his wisdome not to his meekness so far to comply with that Policy And therefore we find him the less apparent to open examination till time and opportunity might present him to the publique Not without some regret to his Domestick and other ordinary Observations that he lost time with overmuch neglect giving advantage and grace to the great Favourite Buckingham by assisting to set him up and to eclipse himself whereby some men took that occasion in his 〈◊〉 time to form tales of distempers between them which because in tâ—uth they could not find they were pleased to frame But for his Acts in the age of his youth and tutelage of subjection we shall not have use here to remind what hath been so particularly mentioned heretofore in the History of his Fathers life but what hath been since so improved to admiration of our Christian World Nor need we now to quarrel the mistakes concerning the Spanish Match or the French Negotiation or other Characters of King Iames with which an Author and his Observator enters his History but refer the truth and story to what we have said of those times and actions mentioned in his Fathers life In a due and compleat season therefore of age and time King Iames that famous Monarch dies at Theobalds the 27. day of March 1625. leaving the Diadem of three Kingdomes in succession to his Son immediately proclaimed being on a Sunday morning when Doctor Lawd then Bishop of St. Davids was in the Pulpit at Whitehall and broke off his Sermon upon this first notion of the Fathers death Whose Funerals the 14. of May following were sumptuously performed at Westminster King Charles attending these Obsequies contrary to the Old custome when chief Mourners use to be retyred into Chamber-recluse this complyment he conceived more fit for him in duty and piety to observe in Person And now the
France and Charles the Emperour and King of Spain shews them so provident as between themselves to keep the ballance of Europe upright Not one to edge upon the other and herein not to stay for the first blow or to be the last to be eaten up The Crown of Spain hath enlarged her bounds these last sixty years more then the Ottamans Did not England assist the French to keep him from Britany Picardy and Piedmont and enable the Netherlands not to be swallowed up these are our outworks Nay hath he not twice invaded England Once under the Popes Banner next in his own Name and hath more than a months minde to it again These grounds are causes sufficient for a War with Spain But what ere the King had said as to the matter and form of Argument the Parliament forgot not their old Mode with his Father Not too hastily to resolve and his death left much business in the deck which now they take up to engage his son And in truth all Parliaments commence with Petition from the People Reasons of Religion and Complaints of their suffering came to his Father in the close of his last Session and so unanswered which they are resolved now to dispatch and did so To that of Religion the King assured them his pious resolution to effect their desires with all convenient speed and as that business of weight required And for their Greivances they were distinctly separate and satisfactory answers he gave to each apart And so accounting to them the disbursement of his Land and Naval Forces with a clear and even audit of the Charge and Expence to come they were so candid that the Laity gave him without conditions Two Subsidies from Protestants four from Papists and the Clergy three Richard Mountague Doctor of Divinity and Chaplain to the King was summoned this Session for certain Tenents supposed prejudicial to the Protestants faith but were only against the Calvinist and was from the Commons Bar without Tryal committed to the Serjeant of their House untill two thousand pound Bail be procured for him to appear the next Session which the King had reason to resent being his antient Chaplain and ought to have his Masters protection sooner than the Servants of an Ordinary Burgess which at last was granted but not his bail-bond excused Of which he complains to the Duke of Buckingham and that the Parliament had not in right to do with him for that which King Iames commanded and King Charles authorized and challenges any Accusers if he may answer for himself It seems he was summoned and committed without any Tryal Iuly 29. And hereupon three Bishops Rochester Oxford and St. Davids being tender not of his Person but of his cause meerly the Church of Englands upon this Ground That the Church being reformed from the Roman refused the apparent and dangerous errours but was tender of every School point as not expedient in the unity of Christians to subscribe to each particular And so though some of his opinions are the resolved Doctrine of the Church of England which he is bound to maintain So some others are School points and there to be discussed but not to distract the Church nor for any man to be bound to subscribe unto which if inforced would hazard their former subscription in Orthodox Tenents and was indeed one great Fault of the Council of Trent But the Clergy submitted in Henry the eighths time with this caution That for differences Doctrinal the King and the Bishops were to be Judges in a National Synod and that with the Kings leave under his hand and seal else not Nor did ever the Church or can submit but so which is the constant practice of the Church For if the Church be brought down beneath her self Schism will follow And King Iames allowed of each point of Doctrine in Mountagues Book who was able of most men to judge thereof There can be little use of Civil Government or of Preaching and external Ministery in the Church if such fatal opinions as are contrary to Mountagues shall be publickly taught and maintained All or most of the contrary opinions were treated of at Lambeth and then ready to be published but Queen Elizabeth upon knowledge how little they agreed with the practice in Piety and obedience to Government suppressed them and so continued ever since till of late some of them received countenance at the Synod of Dort but that being a Synod of that Nation cannot give authority to any other National Church till publique authority and it is to be hoped that this Church will advise before they submit to a foreigne Synod especially of such a Church that condemneth our Discipline and manner of Government And therefore the King referred the consideration to the course of the Church Then for the person of Mountague they affirmed him to be an able Scholar right honest and fit to do God and the Church and his Majesty great service 2 August 1625. And after the next session he was consecrate Bishop of Chichester The Books in question were these His answer to the Romish Gagger And his Defence thereof afterwards styled Apello Caesarem formerly opposed by Information prepared against him of which he was discharged by King Iames with leave to appeal to his Majesty from his defamators and Doctor White then Dean of Carlisle was ordered to authorize the Imprimatur But two years after Ianuary 1628. it was called in by Proclamation to please the then Parliament not charged with any false doctrine but for being the first cause of those disputes and differences which hath since much troubled the quiet of the Church it seems with such unnecessary questions And to humour that time also Doctor Potter a zealous Calvinian was preferred to be Bishop of Carlisle to please the Parliament and and yet for all these passages the Parliament lookt asquint at the Kings actions as hereafter followes anno 1628. The Lord Mordant afterwards Earl of Peterborough being a Papist and willing to winne his wife from Protestancy offered the combate of his Confessor with a fair dispute against any This Confident was a cunning Iesuite Beaumona but his right name Rookwood his brother executed in the Gun-powder-Treason 1605. and the Lady elected Doctor Usher Primate of Ireland at this time in England the place Drayton in Northampton shire but after three dayes controversie concerning Transubstantiation Invocation to Saints Images visibility of the Church the Iesuite directly confessed he was so deficient in his memory that Gods just judgement had infatuated him to this desertion and put his excuse upon his presumption to dispute with so eminent a Protestant without leave of his Superiour But the good effect was the conversion of the Lord Mordant and confirmation of his Lady Whereupon a Secular-Priest Chaloner in a jeer to Beaumond bids him beware of coming to Drayton for fear that Usher foil him again These Lawes are enacted this Session
supposed to be framed before their dissolution Wee have been Ingenuous and clear in the particulars of Buckingham and Bristow in which the Historian may be susspected partially affected with his distinctions though he seems in his Paragraph of reference to his former Story to vindicate the King and Buckingham as if he meant to forestall the Readers judgement with his own opinion such presumption not consisting with the duty of a just Relator And he will seem to intimate that by this sudden Rupture of the Parliament the Duke scap'd a scouring And because Bristow may be thought to have hard measure now imprisoned at the Kings mercy where he lodged under the Notion of a high Delinquent to the King and State for his former mis-actions in Spain but time wrought upon his discretion and by his private means and submission he was afterwards reprived to his Countrey House Sherbourn and after taken into favour and became a faithfull servant to his Master But to cleer this story the passages are heretofore sufficiently laid open in the History of King Iames their proper place where both in Germany and Spain He and others acted so much in the Match to which I refer the Reader We shall onely conclude That he was no sooner returned home but brought under strict Examination of twenty Interrogatories full and home to which he gave Answer in writing to King Iames long and tedious in twenty sheets of paper And by that Narration the several Treaties of the whole Match from first to last are amply opened and may hereafter see light by it self By which it is apparent that when able and prudent men come to act their own parts they are then mostly not of the clearest sight and commonly commit such errours as are both discernable and avoidable even by men of mean abilities And it was thereupon considered whether the tendring him any further Charge unto which he might be able to frame a probable satisfactory Answer would not then rather serve to declare his Innocency than to prepare his Condemnation and so instead of pressure upon him reflect back with disadvantage upon the proceedings against him which were intended by Star Chamber Whether it were not better to desist from further questioning him without blemish to the Princes honour or prejudice to the service And though Bristol in sundry places of that his intended Answer seems diversly to violate the Rule of the provident Mariner who in foul weather and storm to prevent Shipwrack rather puts down than sets up his sailes Yet it was considered either to have him quick and roundly put to it or to proceed slowly and moderately permitting him for a time to remain where he was reprieved to his own house laid aside and in the way to be forgotten a state of being no doubt by his complexion and so apprehended by himself equivalent to the severest and sharpest censure that could be possibly afflicted on him And in this condition he found means from the Parliament to set upon the Duke to prevent the Kings design who first by his Attorney accused Bristol of Treason And thus much of their quarrel which ended with this Parliament And happy it was for Bristol to end so for though it is supposed That he had the better head-piece and the other only the better back Certainly the Dukes head was too hard for him and his brains more quick and nimble Besides other advantages for Bristow's own Creatures stole his papers into copies from time to time which were communicated to the Duke who had he lived would have undone the Earl Lewis of France some years since having a designe against Italy and the Valtoline and upon that score obtained of King Iames the loan of a gallant ship of his Navy-Royal the Vantguard and the Merchants consent for six of their own ships to joyn with that But in the Interim before they was fitted for that purpose K. Iames dies He dead and Lewis finding the cause of the Hugonots too strong and violent to be mitigated by Treaty and the Card. Duke Richlieu intent to bring them under by success of former designs plotted his main force against those of Rochel a strong maritain city in France forâ— countenanced into a firm revolt by the practice of Count Subize upon Sundry Overtures heretofore and now waxed formidable and fit for subjection But this violent resolution had been palliated by Embassies of King Iames and very lately by two more of King Charles the Earl of Holland and Sir Dudley Carlton his Assistant in Commission who pacified that high difference upon which the power and design of the Hugonotes depended And gave a real resolution for Lewes to advance greater forces against the Valtoline then very hotly pursued by advantage of Confederation with England in enmity against Spain also and gave the suddain occasion to hasten those former ships lent to the French in that design and Sir Iohn Pennington a Gallant Sea Commander intrusted Admiral over them Subiâ—e an Out-lodger in Revolt had gotten together a scattered number of small Ships which unawares surprized the Isle of 〈◊〉 and some Ships in that Harbour even at the instant when the French Army was ready to March into the Valtoline But the Duke of Vendosm not far off with Forces of the French King got thither some Troops and prevented of the seisure of the Fort Lewes neer Rochel And now not trusting to any Overtures evermore counterfeit from that City for the time only to palliate their Rebellion All possible speed was resolved upon to bring them under by power and to turn the present Design for Italy upon Rochel And first Lewes finds means to him shipping of the Dutch pretended for the Valtoline demanding of Pennington now in the French Port The delivery of those Ships agreeable to former promise which he utterly refused But was ready to receive a Commander in Chief and a competent number of Land Men not exceeding the English and so to be imployed in the French Kings service Nor could he be courted from this into any other conditions of yielding up his Masters Ships though he did at last which was urged against the Duke of Buckingham as a great crime by his permission But the passages we discover from Penningtons own Letters to the Duke from Stokes-Bay and afterwards at Diep in answer to Letters sent Express to him by his own Secretary Nicholas peremptorily to deliver these six Ships to the hands of the French Kings Command and according to his Masters pleasure signified by Secretary Conway and to take security of the French for their valuation dated 21. Iuly 1625. And at that time a Letter from the French King to receive his Cousin the Duke of Momorancy and his Souldiers aboard to join with his great Fleet against his rebellious subjects and to have possession that night Pennington offered to accept of all particulars but not to quit his Ships and dispossess himself of their Command T is true
the States preferred to the Throne and a fair occasion was offered to signalize his Inauguration and to be the terrour of his enemy the Muscovite who having done much spoyl in Lituania besieged the Polish Town of Smolensko The War was high and either party endeavour their succour Both of them in this quarrel indifferent to Great Brittanes Interest unlesse the Scots will afford the Pole their favour for countenancing their pedling trade of Land Merchandizing from Fair to Fairs And indeed they have reception there also for such of them as have been souldiers of fortune But the English upon a double account have increased their Naval trade to the Muscovite and our Merchants thereby inriched into an Incorporate Company setled in the time of Queen Elizabeth and so that great Duke or Emperour solicits King Charles for Assistance in his intended War and siege of Smolensko where because the English and Scots both had entertainment on either side they shall not want a Remembrancer The King of Swede at his first descending into Germany fomented this quarrel willing he was to engage Poland and all our neighbour Princes and States in any War the better to prevent their assistance to the Emperour countenancing and enâ—â—uraging divers of his own Officers strangers to take pay on either side The Muscovite sends abroad his Ambassadours for aid with particular Letters to King Charles for Men and Officers who recommended Colonel Thomas Sanderson which for a compleat double Regiment of two thousand English by the North Cape the first that ever transported Military men to that Nation by sea to the Town of Arch Angel the North part and Port to the Musco and the place where all Merchants strangers keep their Staâ—le There they land the sixth of August 1632 Commissioners are appointed to receive them upon such conditions as never were more noble for Souldiers the Colonels own single pay near 200 l. sterling a Moneth And being received and Carressed at Musco the whole Army march to Smolensko a strong Town in the borders of Poland formerly taken by Sigismund from the Muscovite with a two years siege like that of Ostend in Flanders if we consider the length of the siege and the number of the slain which amounted as Authours reckon to more than twenty thousand men and now was the Muscovite resolved to bid fair for the Game with an Hoast of fifteen hundred thousand Souldiers And being come after some Skirmishes the King of Poland in person draws down his whole Army thither to besiege the Besiegers Entrenching himself which was all he could do for the present against such a powerful Army of 120 thousand and so by degrees he cuts off all provisions which put the Musco General to quicken the siege and to make several attempts upon the strong Town And at last having summoned his Councel of War And amongst them of several Nations Colonel Sanderson Colonel Alexander Lesly a Scot differing in opinions fell to quarrel which the General opposed saying These that will not fight the Enemy let them keep their own quarters But gave command to countenance Colonel Sanderson with 3000 Foot to fall upon the Polish quarters weakened by drawing off their choisest Horse and Foot to Dorogobuse to prevent their Muscovite provision of relief and the General privately took Sanderson crosse the River to get a secret view for the best advantage of the designe When suddenly an Alarm came to the General who commanded Sanderson with speed to his quarters who passing by the brow of an Hill where Lesly drew out into Order and seeing Sanderson without any guard with a dozen of Horse followed him that took no heed of any Treason but minding his enemy before his face Lesly came close behinde him and with a brace of bullets shot him by the nape of the neck into the head stark dead the second day of December 1633. Upon which Murther the English drew into a Body with resolution of revenge upon Lesly and his Scots but for the instant were both commanded into a truce with great protestation that the Murtherer should be subject to severe punishment and so submitted him to a Guard of which the enemy having knowledge takes the advantage falls upon the Muscovite and in this disorder put them to a great losse and kills six thousand enforcing them to a Parly and to these base unheard-of conditions That an Army of an hundred and twenty thousand should cast their Arms and Colours at the feet of this King a Monster of Victory He pardons them all the strangers near fourteen thousand are never to bear Arms against the Crown of Poland and all Arms and Ammunition submitted to the Conquerour And not long after the general peace was ratified between them That the King of Poland should relinquish his Title and pretensions upon the great Duchy of Musco and the grand Duke his upon Smolensko and other such places formerly depending on the Muscovite These dishonourable conditions fell heavily upon the General who was at his return home soon-beheaded His Son the Lievetenant General whipt to death about the streets and his family banished for ever into the Countrey of Ibera there to catch Sables for the Emperours profit a customary punishment of such as have relation and dependance upon Traitours Nay the King of Swede had called in the Turk who to besiege Poland was entred into the Countrey but the King had timely gotten this Victory to put fire in the Turks tails beating them out again and forcing them also to beg a peace upon most honourable terms for the King at that same time when the third part of Constantinople was burnt to the ground with incredible losse a Prodigie threatning the Turk with that misfortune which afterward befel him The Murtherer Lesly after some time of imprisonment with great summes of money wrought his release there and to be sent Prisoner to the justice of King Charles whose subject he was Here he was cast into prison and suffered under the trial onely of the High Court of Honour where being arraigned he produced the Kings pardon who was pleased thus to excuse and that truly That being the Murther was committed in a foreign Nation the Laws of England could not reach to punish with death which said the King having passed a formal Tryal may give caution to his Subjects not to execute the like The pardon being onely to shadow from publick knowledge the weakness of our Laws against such foreign Offenders But the Hand of Heaven prosecuted this Murther for He wandring in foreign Wars came over hither again with some command in the Queens forces which She brought over from Holland for assistance of the King in the late Civil War where upon his first service he was 〈◊〉 and maimed in his Murtherous hand Then he returns into Muscovia where but for suspicion of Treachery he was imprisoned in a Tower and from the top was flung 〈◊〉 sharp stakes and lingred out a reasonable time of
annum which was now begged by the Great Ones without the least benefit to the King but much regret of the people And at this Parliament the King found the first sparks of a discontented party of the Nobles by their opposing of an Act granted to his Father King Iames and his successors in the year 1617. giving power to him and them to ordain any Habits for the Clergy and Judges Professions and this not repealed was valid The first that opposed this Act was the Lord Lowdon a bold young man of a broken Estate lately come from School their Coledge and a Master of Arts A deft Lord he was who missing of the Court to Civilize his studies must needs want morality to bring him to manners And being besides of a cavelling contradictory Nature Nothing would seem to him so positive in reason as his own opinion And therefore now as heretofore at School he argued with his distinctions duplici quaestioni non potest dari una Responsio Ita est sic probo And after his syllogisming in this kind he sits down with a challenge Responde Perge Urge Punge The King told him the Orders of the House not to dispute there but to give his Vote yea or nay which I do said he Negative and so sat down in a snuff yet the King had the major voices Affirmative Lowdon stands up and questioneth the Register scans the Calculation with great contest before the King could carry it Thus much for his Character being wee must be troubled with him hereafter The beginning of the next Moneth died Abbot Arch Bishop of Canterbury of whom I have heretofore in the History of King Iames spoken sufficiently when there was occasion to mention the Acts of so eminent a Person and truly I did discover whether his erudition all of the old stamp in the doctrine of St. Austin which ignoâ—ant men call Calvinism and so disrelished by the Arminians or whether the Characters bestowed upon him now or his merit somewhat spoken of by me then be his due yea or no I shall not now say any more But William Laud out of London was translated his Successor September 19. The Queen was delivered of her second Son the thirteenth of October 1633. and not upon the fourteenth of November 1634. He was Baptized ten dayes after and named Iames and Created Duke of York by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England in due form of Law and of which Title nothing but Treason can deprive him though some Writers seem to side with the News Books and sayes He was after stiled Duke of York as if it were afforded him in former time but of Favour which indeed is his due Title to his death Edward the fifth Son of King Edward the third was by Richard the second created Duke of York and his Son and heir Edward Plantagenet succeeded Duke of York and died without Issue Richard Plantagenet his Nephew was created Duke of York and after his death this Dukedom hath been by the Kings of England reserved to their second Sons As Edward the fourth created his second Son Richard Duke of York Henry 7. his second Son Henry King Iames his second Son Charles now King and He upon his second Son Iames and so to give him his due is to acknowledge him to be a Duke to his death What care King Iames took heretofore to rectifie Religious Worship in Scotland when he returned from his last visiting of them The like does King Charles so soon as he came home The foul undecent Discipline he seeks to reform into Sacred Worship And sends Articles of Order to be observed onely by the Dean of his private Chappel there as in England That Prayers be performed twice a Day in the English manner A Monethly Communion to be received on their knees Hee that officiates on Sundayes and Holy-Dayes to do his duty in his Surplice Which the Dean then Bishop of Dumblane durst not do for displeasing the people And here at home too it was necessary to look narrowly into the creeping neglect and duty of Religious Discipline in our own Churches The Communion Table in the body of the Chancel was now commonly used for the lolling elbow-ease of the Idle hearers and not onely so but to set their breech thereon or else loaden with caps and hats of every boy And whilest the Provision of Bread and Wine for the blessed Sacrament was on the Table the danger of ravening dogs have submitted it to their rapine or overturning of all These considerations might move the Dean and Chapter of Saint Pauls London to transpose the Communion Table in Saint Gregories Church to the upper end of the Chancel and placed Altar-wise which some few of the Parish opposed and an Appeal from their Ordinary to the Dean of the Articles and so by command from thence to the King and his Privy Counsel where the Act of the Ordinary was adjudged and confirmed and that the Dean of the Arches should confirm the act of the Ordinary And the King did then satisfie himself that the Rules and Ordering of the Church were no Innovations but the ancient Rules of the Church and this a renovation of a Right disused And in case there were occasion The Statute 1. Elizabeth Authorizeth the King by advice of his Metropolitan upon the happening of any irreverence to be used by the Ceremonies or Rites of the Church by misusing the Orders appointed in this Book of Common Prayer to ordain and publish such further Rites and Ceremonies as may be most for advancement of Gods Glory the edifying of the Church and the due reverence of Christs holy Mysteries and Sacraments But hereupon what happened when it was commonly commanded 4. years after we shall then finde the effect See 1637. And in the same moneth the King reviving his Fathers Declaration anno 1618. for tolerating lawful sports on Sunday which was never by him called in nor by any till after by the long Parliament The reason that moved King Iames therein was by a Petition from the Ministers of Lancashire in his return from Scotland shewing the great increase of Popery in that County the People consisting of Papists and Puritans and that by the stricktness of Puritans not granting their Servants the least relaxation on Festival-days and so straitly observing the Sabbath as the Iews the Recusants having Recreations on both caused the others for some freedom from servitude to change their Religion and turn Papists The neglect of the Dedication Feasts of Churches and the inclination to Iudaism by barbarous Books maintaining the Indispensible Morality of the fourth Commandment and Iewish Sabboth and now by Puritans more severely yoaked to the Conscience of those poor Labourers than was ever laid upon the Iews by their Scribes and Pharises On Candlemass night the second of February the ordinary time of celebrating some extraordinary solemnity at Court and now the larger by the joynt
Councel at Hampton Court the case was concluded for the Arch Bishop as the greatest reason not to rule themselves having suffered such an Inconvenience there without so much as taking notice much lesse reforming It had been more then fifteen moneths that the Writs of Ship-money were issued out to divers Counties many Men and in special Mr. Hambden of Buckingham Shire being Assisted by the Sherifâ— made default of payment this Person well known and supposed a stake for others not without a resolved factious assistance of powerful parties And therefore the King this Michaelmas Term not precipitate into a quarrel advised the opinion of his Judges stating the Case by Letter to them To our trusty and well-beloved Sir John Bramstone Knight Chief Iustice of Our Bench Sir John Finch Knight Chief Iustice of Our Court of Common Pleas Sir Humphrey Davenport Knight Chief Baron of Our Court of Exchequer and to the rest of the Iudges of Our Courts of Kings Bench Common Pleas and the Barons of our court of Exchequer Charls Rex Trusty and well-beloved we greet you well taking into our Princely consideration that the Honor and safety of this Our Realm of England the preservation whereof is onely entrusted to Our care was and is more dearly concern'd then in late former times as well by divers councels and attempts to take from Us the Dominions of the Seas of which We are sole Lord and rightful Owner or Propriator and the losse whereof would be of greatest danger and peril to this Kingdom and other Our Dominions and many other wayes We for the avoiding of these and the like dangers well weighing with our self that where the good and safety of the Kingdom in general is concerned and the whole Kingdom in danger there the charge and defence ought to be born by all the Realm in general did for the preventing so publique a mischief resolve with our self to have a Royal Navy prepared that might be of force and power with Almighty Gods blessing and assistance to protect and defend this Our Realm and Our Subjects therein from all such perils and dangers and for that purpose We issued forth Writs under our Great Seal of England directed to all Our Sheriffs of Our several Counties of England and Wales Commanding thereby all Our said Subjects in every City Town and Village to provide such a number of Ships well furnisht as might serve for this Royal purpose and which might be done with the greatest equality that could be In performance whereof though generally throughout all the Counties of this Our Realm We have found in Our Subjects great chearfulnesse and alacrity which We gratiously interpret as a testimony as well of their dutiful affection to us and our service as of the respect they have to the Publique which well becometh every good Subject Nevertheless finding that some few happily out of ignorance what the Laws and Customs of this Realm are or out of a desire to be eased in their particulars how general soever the charge be or ought to be have not yet paid and contributed to the several Rates and Assesments that were set upon them And fore-seeing in Our Princely wisdom that from thence divers Suits and Actions are not unlikely to be commenced and prosecuted in our several Courts at Westminster We desirous to avoid such inconveniencies and out of Our Princely love and affection to all Our People being willing to prevent such Errours as any of Our loving Subjects may happen to run into have thought fit in a case of this nature to advise with you Our Judges who We doubt not are well studied and informed in the Rights of Our Sovereignty And because the Trials in Our several Courts by the Formalities in Pleading will require a long protraction We have thought fit by this Letter directed to you all to require your Judgments in the Case as it is set down in the inclosed Paper which will not onely gain time but also be of more authority to over-rule any prejudicate opinions of others in the Point Given under Our Signet at our Court of White-hall the Second Day of February in the Twelfth Year of Our Reign 1636. CHARLS Rex CHARLS Rex VVhen the good and safety of the Kingdom in general is concern'd and the whole Kingdom in danger whether may not the King by VVrit under the great Seal of England command all the Subjects in his Kingdom at their charge to provide and furnish such number of Ships with Men Victuals and Munition and for such time aâ— he shall think fit for the Defence and Safeguard of the Kingdom from such Danger and Peril and by Law compel the doing thereof in case of Reâ—usal or Refractoriness and whether in such case is not the King the sole Iudge both of the Danger and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided The Judges return their Opinions thus May it please your Most Excellent Majesty we have according to your Majesties Command severally and every Man by himself and all of us together taken into serious consideration the Case and Questions signed by your Majesty and inclosed in your Letter And we are of opinion that when the Good and Safety of the Kingdom in general is concerned and the whole Kingdom in Danger your Majesty may by Writ under your Great Seal of England command all the Subjects of this your Kingdom at their charge to provide and furnish such number of Ships with Men Victual Munition and for such time as your Majesty shall think fit for the Defence and Safeguard of the Kingdom from such Peril and Danger And that by Law your Majesty may compell the doing thereof in case of Refusal or Refractoriness And we are also of opinion that in such Case your Majesty is the sole Iudg both of the Danger and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided John Bramston John Finch Humphrey Davenport John Denham Richard Hutton William Jones George Crook Thomas Trever George Vernon Robert Barkly Francis Crauly Richard Weston Thus they subscribe which was inrolled in all Courts at Westminster Hall and without doubt Warrant sufficient for the King to proceed against any Defaulters specially singly against Hambden who appeared upon Process and required Oyer of the Ship Writs and so being heard he demurred in Law and demanded the Iudges opinion upon the Legality of those Writs which being argued in the Exchequer all the Iudges and those Barons except Crook and Hutton were of opinion for the Writs and the Barons gave Iudgment accordingly against Hambden who under hand advised held up the Quarrel by Intermissions till further time and conveniency The Queen bare the Princess Ann the seventeenth of March the third Daughter to the King This Midsummer Term were censured in Star-chamber three Delinquents confederate A medley of Mal-contents The one a Divine Mr. Burton who is a mistiled Sometime Tutor to the King which he never was nor any
not upon it 8. Psalm 114. 6. Yea I will pray yet against their wickedness for within a while I shall even pray in their miseries 9. Isai 63. 11. Israel remembered for He that is God remembered See Epist. Mund. East 10. Matth. 27. 9. Whom they bought of the children of Israel for whom the children of Israel valued See Gosp. last Lent 11. Luke 1. 28. Hail full of grace for freely beloved See Annunc 12. Luke 1. 48. The lowliness of his hand-maid for poor degree See Magnificat 13. 1 Cor. 9. 27. Should be a castaway for reprovable See Epist. Septuag 14. Gal. 4. 25. Agar in Arabia bordereth upon Ierusalem for answereth to Ierusalem that now is See Epist. 4. Lent 15. Phil. 2. 7. Christ was found in his apparel like a man for in shape as a man See Epist. last Sund. in Lent 16. Heb. 9. 25. The high Priest entred into the holy place with strange bloud for other bloud that is not his own See Wednesd before Easter 17. 1 Peter 3. 20. When the long-suffering of God was once looked for for The long-suffering of God abode or waited See Easter Eve XII Because it mis-applieth some places of the holy Scriptures to the countenancing of erroneous and doubtfull matters 1. Revel 14. 1. To those children whom Herod caused to be murdered whom the Collect calls Gods witnesses See Innocents 2. 1 Peter 3. 17. To the time that Christ abode in the grave See Easter Eve 3. Revel 12. 7. To Michael as a created Angel See Michael And then they protest before Almighty God That we acknowledg the Churches of England as they be established by publique Authority to be true visible Churches of Christ That we desire the continuance of our Ministery in them above all earthly things as that without which our life would be bitter and wearisom unto us That we dislike not a set Form of Prayer to be used in the Church and finally That whatsoever before written is not set down of any evil minde or with a purpose to deprave the Books of Common Prayer Ordination or Homilies but onely to shew some Reasons why we cannot subscribe to all things contained in the same What they protest now was otherwise concluded to confound it A brief Narrative of the Scots affaires from 1639. We may not conceal the valiant and admired Actions of the Kings affaires in Scotland under conduct of the most Noble Iames Marquesse of Montrose Earl of Kinkardin c. General Governour by Commission for his Majesty in that kingdom A Narrative wherein we may finde Montrose his judgement and ingenuity gallantry in person patience in travel evennesse of spirit in dangers quick in resolution his wisdom in counsels his excellent vertue in all things and to all men which his very enemies could not but afford him For while the Covenanters at the first in 1638. pretended preservation of Religion the honour and dignity of the King and good of the people He sided with them they all then engaging by solemn Attestation and Oaths never to move by force but by petition to their Soveraign In 1639. Montrose was their Minion to whom they spoke out that the Stuarts had governed too long and they would now be at liberty and would strike at the Head resolving to raise an Army and at Dundee the solemn Convention resolve to invade England but had it counsel six weeks before in which time they divulge in all the three Kingdoms their several Pamphlets Apologetical seting some gloss upon their intended expedition Montrose was absent whilst this was working and being returned and made acquainted with all was intrusted to command 2000. Foot and 500. Horse and his meer friends conducted 5000. more of this Army with intention on their parts to side with the King and at the River Tweed that separates both Nations Montrose was by lot to passe over first which he did on foot and his men followed by which and other his forwardness he shadowed his intentions of Loyalty and service to his Soveraign when opportunity should minister the occasion for now a pacification is concluded Another Scotish Army is raised and marching over Tine neer Newcastle the English Army come thither to oppose them retreated to York and gave way willingly for the Scots to possesse Newcastle and a cessation agreed upon and the Treaty began at London In this time the King at York receives private Letters from Montrose professing his duty and fidelity to the King nor did they contain any more but being stollen out of his pocket by the treacherous Scots of the Kings Bed-chamber and copied out were sent to the Covenanters The Army disbanded Montrose returned into Scotland joynes in League with some prime of the Nobility to defend the Kings Cause and so by a division which was his aim but betrayed to the Covenanters who joyning with the Parliament of England by solemn engagements designed Montrose his ruine They corrupt the Courtiers and understand that the King had writ Letters to Montrose quilted in the Messengers Sadle one Stuart servant to Traquair whom they seise at the borders of Scotland and rip out the Letters yet nothing therein but what became the best of Kings to write and the best of Subjects to obey Neverthelesse the Covenanters scattered abroad Tragicall Reports of Plots between the King and Montrose for the overthrow of Religion and ruine of the Kingdoms which their Mercenary Ministers made use of to winde and turn the mindes of the people the best way to promote their cause and Rebellion They seise Montrose on the suddain with Napier Lord of Marcheston and Sir Sterling Keer his kinsmen and friends into the Castle of Edenburgh The peace concluded and the King come into Scotland called a Parliament gives them their hearts desire but could not procure Montrosses tryal nor release till after the Kings departure towards the end of the year and Montrose retires to his own house The next year 1642. the Covenanters unmask on all sides the English raise Armes for a civil war the Scots are caressed who raise forces also to assist the Parliament of England and labour all possible means to win upon Montrose and offer him to be Lord General of their Army He holds off and privately with the Lord Ogleby comes with two Troops of Horse to the Queen newly landed out of Holland at Burlington in Yorkshire and discovering to her all the former passages and the danger of the King and that there was no other way of remedy but to resist force with force and to oppose their entrance into this evil But Hamilton now returnes out of Scotland sent thither by the King to appease the Scots with whom he traiterously combines and purposely comes to the Queen to deâ—â—oy Montrose his Counsels as rash and unadvised offering himself to pacifie the Scots and so returns home and Hamilton seems there active for the King as his chief Commissioner The Scotish Covenanters of themselves summon a
up and Anarchy goes down yet rather then to sink the Presbyter complies and the Houses agree whom the Army resolve so to ballance as by their Authority for the present to doe the great work and to dissolve Monarchy Some Members out of honour and conscience forbearing the rest of them receive the Report of the 38. Committee-men and their general Charge against the King That Charls Stuart hath acted contrary to his trust in departing from the Parliament setting up his standard making war against them and thereby been the occasion of much bloudshed and misery to the people whom he was set over for good That he gave Commissions to Irish Rebels c. and since was occasion of a second War c. besides what done contrary to the Liberties of the Subject and tending to the destruction of the Fundamental Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom 27. December The Queen of England now at Paris in France writes to the King which was conveyed to him by one Wheeler imployed by Major Boswels man where the Queen expresseth her deep sence and sorrow for the Kings sad condition with whom she bears an equal share and wishes to dye for him nor will she live without him for whose interest she hath and will doe her utmost in all possible waies and means to help him Then another Letter was delivered by the French Ambassador to the General from the Queen and directed To her trusty and welbeloved Tho. Lord Fairfax General imploring his help and assistance that she may have leave as the Ambassador unfolded to come over to the King her Husband to see him before he be proceeded against by any Tryal or Charge and to have a Pass for her secure coming and returning which letter the General sent to the House and they laid it aside And to confirm the present intended Tryal the Commons House declare That by the Fundamental Laws of the Realm it is Treason in the King of England for the time to come to levy War against the Parliament and Kingdom The Ordinance for the Kings tryal was refused by the Lords Ian. 2. but they will send answer and presently adjourn for ten daies The Commons examining the Lords Journal Books finde three Votes 1. To send an Answer 2. That their Lordships do not concur to the Declaration 3. That their Lordships reject the Ordinance for tryal of the King Upon which the Commons Vote That all Members and others appointed to act in any Ordinance are impowred and injoyned to Sit Act and Execute notwithstanding the House of Peers joyn not with them The House 4. Ianuary turned into a grant Committee resolve and declare 1. That the People under God are the Original of all just power 2. That the Commons of England assembled in Parliament being chosen by and representing the People have the Supream Authority of this Nation 3. That whatsoever is enacted and declared for Law by the Commons of England assembled in Parliament hath the force of a Law 4. That all the people of this Nation are included thereby although the consent and concurrance of the King and House of Peers be not had thereunto 5. That to raise Arms against the Peoples Representative or Parliament and to make War upon them is high Treason 6. That the King himself took Arms against the Parliament and on that account in guilty of the bloodshed throughout the Civil War and that he ought to expiate the crime with his own bloud Thus they prepare for the design which must be attempted by degrees The Tryal of the King The Ordinance for his Tryal was 6. Ian. ingrossed and read and the manner is referred to the Commissioners who are to try him and meet in the Painted Chamber Munday 8. Ianuary and resolved that Proclamation be made in Westminster Hall that the Commissioners are to sit again to morrow and that those who had any thing to say against the King shall be heard In this manner Mr. Denby the younger a Serjeant at Arms to the Commissioners rid into the Hall with his Mace and some Officers all bare six Trumpetters on Horseback sounded in the midst of the Hall and the Drums of the Guard beat without in the Pallace Yard and in like manner at the Old Exchange and in Cheapside 9. Ian. The Commons Vote the Title in Writs Carolus Dei Gratiâ c. to be altered and referred to a Committee That the great Seal of England be broken and ordered a new Seal with the Arms of England and the Harp for Ireland with this word The great Seal of England And on the reverse the picture of the House of Commons sitting with these words In the first year of freedom by Gods blessing restored 1648. And in perpetuam rei memoriam the Mayor Aldermen and Common Council petitioned the House of Commons for justice against the King to settle the Votes that the Supreme power is in them and the City resolving to stand by them to the utmost And this Petition was ordered to be Recorded in the Books amongst the Acts of the Common Council And in respect of the Kings intended Tryal Hillary Term begining the 23. of Ian. was adjourned for 14. dayes after and proclaimed in London and Westminster and all Market Towns The Scots Parliament began Ianu. 4. and the proceedings of the Parliament of England being reported to them they unanimously did dissent First in the toleration of Religion in reference to the Covenant in the Tryal of the King and in the alteration of the form of Government And in order hereunto some Papers were brought to the House of Commons at Westminster directed To William Lenthal Esquire Speaker of the House of Commons and no more where they use to say to be communicated to the House of Commons by which they acknowledge them an House and so the House thought not fit to read them but Voted to send Commissioners to Scotland to preserve a good correspondence between both Nations The Commissioners for the Kings Trial debated and concluded That the Sword and the Mace although with the Kings Arms thereon should be ordered to be in Court at his Tryal And the King to be brought from St. Iame's whither he was come a prisoner to Sir Robert Cottons House at Westminster The Higher House sat and sent a Message to the Commons grounded upon the dissent of the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal joyned with the Commons That they could not agree to pass the Act of the Commons for adjourning the Term without the Lords concurrence first to be had And that by the instructions given to the said Commissioners the Commons Commissioners could do nothing without assent of one of the Lords The Message therefore was to the Commons to concur with the Lords for adjourning the Term for a fortnight and that the Commissioners of the great Seal may be required to passe the same under seal This Massage crossed the Commons late Votes
according to the prescript of his word which hath long since been miserably convulst and disjoynted And this a National Synod duly called and freely debating will best effectuate To the King namely my Successor you will render full right if you restore those things which by the clear letter of the Law stands expressed Lastly you will put the people in their rights and due Liberties not by listing them in the consort of the Throne and sway of the Scepter but by recovering unto the Laws their Authority and the peoples observance to the abrogating of which by the enormous power of the Sword when as by no means I could be induced I was brought hither to undergoe a Martyrdom for my people So his last breath gently dissolving into a most meek prayer the Bishop of London promps him â—hat if his most excellent Majesty pleased he would openly profess what he thought touching his Religion not that any one alive could suspect it of which himself at all times throughout the whole space of his life had given manifest testimony but for custom and the peoples satisfaction Hereupon saies the King That he deposited the testimony of his faith with that holy man meaning the Bishop or else expected defence on this behalf of all men who well knew his Life and profession Namely That I dye saith he in the Christian faith according to the profession of the Church of England as the same was left me by my Father of most blessed memory Then looking about upon the Officers Having saies he a most gracious God and most just Cause that I shall by and by â—â—â—ange this corruptible Crown for an Immarcessible one I both trust and exult and that I shall depart hence into another Kingdom altogether exempt and free from all manner of disturbance Then preparing towards the Circumstances the Bishop put on his night-cap and unclothed him to his Sky-colour Satten Wastecoat He said I have a good Cause and a gracious God and gave his George Order to the Bishop bidding him remember to give it to the Prince There is but one Stage more Sir saies the Bishop this is turbulent and troublesome and but a short one but it will soon dismiss you to a way further even from Earth to Heaven there you are assured of joy and comfort I go saies the King from a Corruptible to an Incorruptible Crown where no disturbance can be but peace and joy for evermore Then lifting up his eyes and hands to Heaven mildly praying to himself he stooped down to the Block as to a Prayer Desk and most humbly bowed down his generous neck to God to be cut off by the vizarded Executioner which was suddenly done at one blow Thus fell Charles and thus all Britain with him Tuesday 30. of Ianuary about the minute of two a clock afternoon There are those persons who have seriously observed some passasages afterwards against the Corps which they stile barbarous in relation to his blood shed thereabouts nay to the Block and to the Sand distained therewith and to his Hair the ground whereof was 〈◊〉 those things were procured by the Royal party well-affected even for a price Certainly there were very many such that coveted any thing as a Relique which evidenced his Martyrdom as they esteemed it And to this day there are divers Devoters that affirm the effects of Cure by application of those things distained with his bloud we need not go farre to finde out the truth hereof if we take the Narrative of the Woman-patient at Dedford near the City of London being thereby cured of her blindness and many others of like infirmities His Head and Trunk was instantly put into a Coffin covered with black Velvet and conveyed into the Lodgings at Whitehall There it was imbowelled by Chirurgions of their own but a Physitian privately thrusting himself into the dissection of the body relates that Nature had designed him above the most of Mortal men for a long life And all sides manifested by those that beheld the admirable temperature almost all ad pondus of his body and mind Then they bear it to St. Iames's House and Coffin it there in Lead About a fortnight after some of the Kings Friends the greatest of Nobility and Honour the Duke of Lenox Marquess of Hartford the Earl of Southampton and the Bishop of London begged the Body to bury it which they conducted to Windsor Chappel Royal and interred it there in the Vault of King Henry the eighth having only this Inscription upon the Coffin Charls King of England From the Bishop of London long time kept Prisoner they take away all the Kings Papers ransack his Coffers and clothes for Scripts and Scroles but Almighty God in his providence hath preserved a Volume of the Kings own a Posthume work of which if any man or Broughton shall impartially weigh the matter the Elegancy of the Stile the nerves of Reason the ardour of Piety even envy it self will confess he deserved the Kingdom amongst Writers and though his own is wrested from him the mercy of his Lord and Saviour hath given 〈◊〉 Crown of Erernal Glory He was a King worthy to be numbred amongst the best of Princes in al-beading ages a strength of will but of more and greater Endowments of vertue of a most strict temperature in the natural disposition of flesh and blood and by the effects of Divine grace the most exact observer of Conjugal Rites and therein for his continency much admired His personage comely of an even well timber'd tallness which assisted him to be excellent in all exercises and therein to be indefatigable for the minde or body None of the Kings no not one not of Britain only but also all as many as any where sat on Throne ever left the world with more sorrow for his his luck women miscarried men fell into melancholly some with Consternations expired men women and children then and yet unborn suffering in him and for him The Pulpit places of all Sects and Opinions lamented even the same men in vain bewailing the losse of him whom they strove heretofore who should first undoe now they extoll and compare to Iob for patience to David for piety to Solomon for prudence most worthy he was of Government if otherwise it had not been his due to Govern herein he performed that great piece to Act one man in every place with the same Tenor of Vertue and condition The same Mean in the most different fortunes without any mutation of the temperature of the mind He addulced as with Charms his Enemies to be made his adorers Reproaches he converted into Praises He in a word excelled in goodness of whom this world was not worthy and therefore the Heavens have him there He had his failings of perfection in the first years of his Reign not so well versed in the affairs of State but that he being put to it trusted too much to others
so much of the success of our English Army in Scotland 27. Sept. The Scots Armies are accordingly Disbanded Barwick and Carslile delivered up to the English and the Writs gone out for a new Parliament 20. of Ianuary And a fresh General Assembly of their Kirkmen Somewhat strange in the capitulation that the English Assistants to the Scots in both these Garrisons are submitted to the mercy of the Parliament of England And a Letter of thanks is sent from the Committee of Estates of Scotland to the Lieutenant General Cromwel for his orderly government of his Forces and his many civilities and respects to that Nation and they excuse themselves from any guilt or connivance in the late engagement against England acknowledging that his Army so near is the means and occasion of advantage to that Nation to make peace and to prevent distraction and confusion which otherwise had continued amongst them And for confirmation of all he is invited to Edenburgh to Feasts and Banquets with all expressions of Honour of Arms and so returns homewards Octo. 20. by the way is received with Hosannah's of joy by all the Northern Counties and invited to take in the strong Garrisons of Pomfreit and Scarborough which infested the County all about them But let us return to Sea affairs This while the Prince was put aboard the Revolted Ships which with some others of his own were formed into a Fleet and with him his brother the Duke of York Prince Rupert Lords Hopton Wilmot and Willoughby Earls of Branford and Ruthen formerly General for the King the Lord Culpepper and Sir Henry Palmer and increasing number came into Yarmouth Rode with twenty Sail and two thousand men the Town being much divided in affection some would have him land and march to Colchester then besieged with such as will come to his assistance To prevent him Colonel Scroop is coming not fourty miles off with Horse and Foot to attend his motion if he land some hopes he had of landing and therefore provided a Declaration his forerunner 27. Iuly The establishing of Religion according to his Majesties agreement 26. December last The performance of the said Agreement and pursuance of all Concessions on the Kings part The restoring the King to a personal Treaty The maintenance of the just priviledges of Parliament The liberty of the Subject abolishing of Excise contribution for quarter c. with an Act of Obliâ—ion The Disbanding of all Armies setling Peace The defence of the Narrow Seas securing Trade support of the Navy and Sea-men His Commissions to his Commanders were thus stiled Charls Prince of great Britain Duke of Cornwal and Albany Highest Captain General under his Majesty of all Forces both by Sea and Land within the Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales and Town of Barwick c. Whereas we hold it convenient to Arm and set forth to Sea for the weakning and suppressing the usurped power c. Bearing date heretofore from St. Germin in Laye 6. June 1648. A correspondence likewise we finde fixed with the State of Scotland by Letters intercepted and directed to Sir Alexander Gibson Clerk of the Signet at Edenburgh from London 26. Iuly telling him that we are here in the City very right only Skippon makes disturbance by listing Horse and Foot whom we hope to out of his Office The Lords wait for some further incouragement from the City to which purpose the Common Council are framing petitions Our Design to free Colchester is not yet ready c. But the Prince finding no footing in Norfolk sailed back Southwards to the Downs in Kent seizing what Merchants Ships and goods that he could light upon sending Letters to the City of London together with his Declaration and that if the City will redeem their goods they must send him two hundred thousand pound But Anchoring in the Downs he hath a Design upon the Parl. Besiegers of Deal Castle in which were Royalists and Lands five hundred men who March forwards and at first beat off the Horse which Colonel Rich and Hewson had drawn out to Encounter them untill some more Forces of Foot followed routed the Princes Forces killed many and took others Prisoners and the rest hardly got aboard again Whilst the Prince Anchors with his Fleet in the Downs the States of Scotland invite him May it please your Highness Amongst all the Calamities which this Nation these late years hath wrastled under none doth more wound and afflict us next to his Majesty your royal Fathers sad condition and restraint then your Highness long absence from this Kingdom whereunto your right Title is so just and unquestionable and seeing our Forces are now again in England in pursuance of their duty to Religion and his Majesties rescue we humbly beg That your Highness would be pleased to honour and countenance with your presence and assistance our pious and Loyal endeavours which we look upon as the only means of uniting us in this great work being confident that your Highness will effectually apply your self to procure from his Majesty just satisfaction to the desires of Parliaments And if your Highness will grant these our humble requests and trust your peâ—son amongst us we doe ing age the publick Faith of this Kingdom for your well being in honour freedom and safety either here in Scotland or with our Army in England and to remove from us or the Army when or whither you please And these they send by the Earl of Louderdale with Letters of Credence in what he shall further communicate to the Prince From the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland in whose Name and Warrant are signed Aug. 10. Crawford Lindsey The Parliaments Vice-Admiral Batten having heretofore served them with faithfulness and good success was by the Army Voted out of his place and Rainsborough a Land Captain put into his Command Not long after being Governour of Deal Castle which cost him six hundred pound repair He was turned out and made a Delinquent upon the old quarrel for suffering some of the eleven Members to pass beyond Seas Rainsborough was refused by the Sea men not suffering him to come aboard then they â—aress Bâ—â—ten to take up his Commission again which he disdained the Parliament being in distress for a Commander they Vote in the Earl of Warwick who was served so before And now Batten comes to the Prince in Holland who receives him with favour and honours him with Knight-hood where he publishes the reasons of his declining the Parliaments Service and was faithfull to the Prince for ever after It was the middle of Iune as aforesaid that the Kâ—mish Insurrectors got over to Essex and from thence into the Town of â—â—lchester and with such Forces as they could gather they strengthen the place and prepare for a Siege The Commanders in chief were the Eâ— of Norwich old Goriâ—g the Lord Capel Sir Charles Lucas and others in opposition to 〈…〉 and all
speaking freely to me Next that such men of all professions whom I shall send for as of necessary use to me in this Treaty may be admitted to wait upon me In a word that I may be in the same state of freedom I was in when I was last at Hampton-Court And indeed less cannot in any reasonable measure make good those offers which you have made me by your Votâ—s for how can I treat with honour so long as people are terrified with Votes and Orders against coming to speak or write to me And am I honourably treated so long as there is none about me except a â—arber who came now with the Commissioners that ever I named to wait upon me or with freedom untill I may call such unto me of whose services I shall have use in so great and difficult a work And for safety I speak not of my person having no apprehension on that way how can I judge to make a safe and well-grounded peace untill I may know without disguise the true present state of all my Dominions and particularly of all those whose interests are necessarily concerned in the peace of these Kingdoms which leads me naturally to the last necessary demand I shall make for the bringing of this Treaty to a happy end which is That you alone or you and I joyntly doe invite the Scots to send some persons Authorized by them to treat upon such Propositions as they shall make for certainly the publick and necessary Interesse they have in this great settlement is so clearly plain to all the World that I believe no body will deny the necessity of their concurrence in this Treaty in order to a durable peace Wherefore I will only say that as I am King of both nations so I will yeeld to none in either Kingdom for being truly and zealously affected for the good and honour of both my resolution being never to be partial for either to the prejudice of the other Now as to the place because I conceive it to be rather a circumstantial than real part of this Treaty I shall not much insist upon it I name Newport in this Isle yet the fervent zeal I have that a speedy end be put to these unhappy distractions doth force me earnestly to desire you to consider what a great loss of time it will be to treat so far from the body of my two Houses when every small debate of which doubtless there will be many must be transmitted to Westminster before it be concluded And really I think though to some it may seem a Paradox that peoples mindes will be much more apt to settle seeing me treat in or near London then in this Isle because so long as I am here it will never be believed by many that I am really so free as before this Treaty begin I expect to be And so I leave and recommend this point to your serious consideration And thus I have not only fully accepted of the Treaty which you have proposed to me by your Votes of the third of this moneth but also given it all the furtherance that lies in me by demanding the necessary means for the effectual performance thereof All which are so necessary implyed by though not particularly mentioned in your Votes as I can no wayes doubt of your readie compliance with me herein I have now no more to say but to conjure you by all that is dear to Christians honest men or good Patriots that ye will make all the expedition possible to begin this happie work by hasting down your Commissioners fullie Authorized and well instructed and by enabling me as I have shewed you to treat praying the God of peace so to bless our endeavours that all my Dominions may speedily enjoy a safe and well-grounded peace Caresbrook Castle 16. Aug. 1648. Charles R. For the Speaker of the Lords House pro tempore to be communicated to the Lords and Commons in the Parliament of England at Westminster Here we see the Commissioners of Scotland are not to be communicated for they dissent And the King desired two of his Chaplains might be allowed to attend him which were appointed viz. Doctor Sheldon and Doctor Hamond Upon Debate of the Kings Answer the Lords Vote That the Votes of non addresse to the King be recalled That such persons as he shall send for as necessary to him in the Treaty be admitted And that he be in the state of freedom as at Hampton-Court with such servants as he desires That the Treaty be at Newport That the Scots be invited to treat with his Majesty upon the Propositions of both Kingdoms delivered to him at Hampton-Court That his Majesty be admitted to invite the Scots thereto That the Instructions of Parliament to Colonel Hamond be recalled That five Lords and ten Commons be chosen Commissioners to treat with the King That it be referred to a Committee of Lords and Commons for peace to prepare all things in readiness hereto To all those the Commons agree with this Proviso That the King invite the Scots to treat only concerning that Kingdom And these Votes were sent to the King who returns Answer My Lord and Mr. Speaker I have received your Letter of the 25. present and Votes which though not so full as I could wish for the perfecting of a Treaty yet because I perceive by what you have done that I am in some measure fit to begin one Such is my incessant and earnest desire to give a peace to these my now distracted Dominions as I accept the Treaty and therefore desire that such five Lords and ten Commons as my two Houses shall appoint be speedily sent fully Authorized and instructed to treat with me not doubting but what is now wanting will at our meeting upon debate be fully supplyed not only to the furtherance of this Treaty but also to the consummating of a safe and well-grounded Peace So I rest your friend Charles Rex I have sent you inclosed the List you desired and wish that according to one of your Votes you would send me a Pass for Parsons a Messenger of my Presence Chamber to go to Scotland and to receive his dispatch from me Carisbrook 28. August The List inclosed names these which I mention for the honour they had in their Masters esteem Gentlemen of my Bed-chamber Duke of Richmond Marquess Hartford the Earls of Lindsey and Southampton Grooms of my Bed-chamber George Kirke Iames Leviston Wil. Murrey Iohn Ashburnham Wil. Legg Barber Tho. Davis Pages of my back staris Hugh Hern Humphery Rogers Wil. Levit. Yeomen of my Robes Revet Queries with four or six Footmen as they shall finde fittest to wait Mr. Ro. Ternhit Mr. Io. Hensden Mrs Laundreâ—s with her Maid-servants A Groom of my Presence Parsons to wait as they did or as I shall appoint them these Sir Foâ—lk Greenvil Captain Tytus Captain Burroughs Mr. Cresset Mr. Hansted Firebrace Chaplains the Bishop of London Bishop of Salisbury Doctors