himself in the Vindication of both and that this is not repugnant to the Doctrines and Principles of the Church of England It was not thought disagreeable to them for Q Elisabeth to assist the Dutch against the King of Spain yet she had no such reason for it as our King and Queen had to prevent the suppression of their own Religion here and the Rights of that People to whom they were so nearly related For there was nothing in her Case so considerable as the growing Power of Spain and the danger of overturning the Religious and Civil Liberties of a neighbour People The Queens Professor of Law in Oxford at that time saith that it was then made a Question by some whether Q. Elis. had just Reason for that War in assistance of the Dutch and he resolves the Lawfulness of it upon 3 Grounds First That it was to prevent ensuing Mischief Secondly From the ancient Alliance between the two Nations Thirdly That if the Dutch were totally vanquished by the Spaniard they would be made Slaves under an Arbitrary Power The Queen herself owned this as the Ground of her Resolution That it was Christian Piety to relieve them who were of the same Religion which she professed and Wisdom to prevent the pernicious designs of her Enemies And in her Declaration she published this as the Reason of her sending Forces to the Aid of the Netherlanders That they might peaceably enjoy their ancient Freedom In the latter end of the Reign of King Iames I. the War broke out in Germany wherein the Emperor used his utmost endeavour to establish absolute Power and Popery together There was occasion offered to try whether the giving Assistance against these were against the Principles and Doctrines of the Church of England For the Prince Elector Palatine was chosen King of Bohemia and sent over for King Iames's Advice about it But his Designs lay then so much another way that he had no mind he should engage in it But the Archbishop of Canterbury in his Letter to Sir R. Naunton then Secretary of State saith That God had set up this Prince his Masters Son in Law as a Mark of Honour throughout all Christendom to propagate the Gospel and to protect the oppressed that for his own part he dares not but give Advice to follow where God leads apprehending the Work of God in this and that of Hungary that he was satisfied in Conscience that the Bohemians had a just Cause that the King's Daughter the Elector's Lady had professed she would not leave herself one Iewel rather than not maintain so Religious and so Righteous a Cause In the beginning of the Reign of King Charles the First when I suppose it will be granted That the Doctrins and Principles of the Church of England were understood and followed the King of Denmark had taken up Arms to settle the Peace and liberty of Germany as he declared But he met with a great Defeat Whereupon King Charles the First thought himself concerned to give Assistance to him And Archbishop Laud was then employed as Dr. Heylin confesseth by the King's Command to draw up a Declaration to be published in all the Parishes of England which was read by the King and approved by the Council wherein the Greatness of the Danger they were in is set forth and the People are exhorted to serve God and the King and to labour by their Prayers to divert the Danger Wherein lay this Danger It is there said to be That by the Defeat of the King of Denmark there was little or nothing left to hinder the House of Austria from being Lord and Master of Germany And what then Why then there will be an open way for Spain to do what they pleased in all the West part of Christendom It seems then it was not thought disagreeable to the Principles and Doctrins of our Church to hinder the growth of a Western Monarchy although it be by assisting Subjects against their Princes who promote it And then follow these remarkable Words You are to know therefore that to prevent this is the present Care of the King and State and there is no probaâ—le way left but by sending of Forces and other Supplies to the said King of Denmark to enable him to keep the Field that our Enemies be not Masters of all on a sudden And not long after If he be not presently relieved the Cause of Religion is not only like to suffer by it in some one part as it hath already in a fearful manner in the Palatinate but in all places where it hath got any footing So that if we supply not presently our Allies and Consederates in this case it is like to prove the Extirpation of true Religion and the Replanting of Romish Superstition in the Neighbouring parts of Christendom And the Coldness of the State shall suffer in all places as the Betrayers of that Religion elsewhere which it professeth and honoureth at home which will be an Imputation never to be washed off And God forbid this State should suffer under it And in the last place You are to call upon God your selves and to incite the People to joyn with you in humble and hearty Prayers unto God That he will be pleased now after long Affliction of his dear People and Children to look in mercy both upon them and us and in particular for the Safety of the King of Denmark and that Army which is left him That God would bless and prosper him against his and our Enemies Thus far Archbishop Laud. Let those who now with as much Ignorance as Confidence upbraid Men with Renouncing the Doctrins and Principles of the Church of England read and consider these Passages and if any thing will make them more wise and humble this will Did Archbishop Laud go off from the Church of England or King Charles the First who both suffered for the sake of it But some Men have never throughly penetrated into the Doctrins and Principles of our Church but look only on some Principles in opposition to the late Times of Rebellion and think there is nothing farther to be looked after Whereas the Consideration is very different as to our Duties with respect to our own Princes and those of a more general Concernment as to the state of Religion and Government in the World But from hence it is plain that it was then thought not only Lawful but a Duty to prevent the dangerous growth of such a Monarchy which designs to suppress Religion and Civil Liberties and not only to give Assistance to those who joyn in the same Design but to pray God to bless and prosper it And accordingly a Form of Prayer was then Appointed for those Dangerous Times Not long after this a Breach with France hapned and the King Published a Declaration of the ground of the War wherein it is laid down as the first Ground That the House of Austria Conspiring the Ruin of all those
the Intention from the Overt Act but that Overt-Act must be manifestly proved The Overt-Act in this case was the carrying over Treasonable Papers into France in order to an Invasion The sole Question then was Whether there was manifest proof as to these Papers That the Papers were found about him was manifestly proved and he owns Fol. 110. that they were unfortunately found upon him but he saith that he knew not the Importance of them It was manifestly proved that he had an extraordinary Concernment to have these Papers thrown Over board which he saith was perfectly out of Friend ship and whether that was a true Answer was left to the Consciences of the Iury who were to judge of this by all the Circumstances antecedent concomitant and subsequent by which they did conclude him Guilty And I cannot see how they went against Common Iustice therein especially since Mr. Ashton well knew that one of the most material Papers taken was of his own Hand writing not the first Draught but the Copy which was shewed him in the Court and when it was so he desired Fol. 106. that the Original may be read and not the Copy and he had good reason for it For as far as I can judge upon perusal of both it is the very same Hand in which this Speech was written But what said Mr. Ashton to the Iury to clear this matter He faith Fol. 129. That his hand was not proved to any of the Papers and therefore there was nothing but supposition or suspicion against him It is true there was no direct and plain proof of the Hand as there was in the case of my Lord Preston and it is a wonder it was omitted for that would have been plain proof of his knowing what was in those Papers However all the other Circumstances put together were a sufficient proof of his Privity to the Contents of them And I wonder how Mr. Ashton could so confidently in his Paper declare himself Innocent as to the matter for which he was Sentenced to Die when he knew the Paper was of his own Hand writing and plain proof hath been since made of his own delivery of it to a third Person Can a man be Innocent and Guilty of the same thing The only thing to be taken notice of which remains is a Reflection on the Government for his Close Imprisonment and the hasty and violent Proceedings against him If there were any thing more than usual in such cases as to his Imprisonment he ought to have mentioned the particulars for otherwise it is to Arraign the Common Iustice of the Nation As to the hasty and violent Proceedings of his Trial it was then told him That the greatest Advantage he had was in putting off his Trial For by that he knew how to lay the Papers on my Lord Preston which yet could not clear him as to those Papers which were not written with my Lord's Hand nor related any ways to him but one of them was Written with his own Hand Upon the whole Matter I cannot see how he hath either Proved his Innocency or that he acted according to the Principles and Doctrins of the Church of England As to his Concluding Prayer I cannot but observe That in the Beginning of the Speech the Reason he gives why he would not make any to the People was because he would employ his last Minutes in Devotion and holy Communion with God Which I hope he did But those who contrived the Speech were to make a Prayer for him too but not a Prayer of Devotion but rather of Faction and Sedition For it hath no other meaning than that God would overturn this Present Government and restore the Former in order to the Flourishing of the Church of England notwithstanding the Wounds she hath received from her Prevaricating Sons I cannot imagine how a Man could joyn these things together in a Prayer unless he could think all those are Prevaricating Sons who are against Popery For I know no Bottom large enough for Popery and the Church of England to stand upon together But this I do not think of Mr. Ashton and therefore Conclude as I began That this seems rather the Speech of a Party than of Mr. Ashton who made use of his Name and Hand to convey into the Minds of the People the most malicious Insinuations against this Present Government and all who live in Obedience to it A Catalogue of some Books lately Printed for R. Clavell FORMS of Private Devotion for every Day in the Week in a Method agreeable to the Liturgy with Occasional Prayers and an Office for the Holy Communion and for the Time of Sickness Humbly recommended to all the Pious and Devout Members of the Church of England A Sermon Preached before the Queen at White-Hall February the Fifteenth 1690 1. By Henry Dove D. D. Chaplain to Their Majesties Roman Forgeries in the Councils during the first Four Centuries together with an Appendix concerning the Forgeries and Errors in the Annals of Baronius By Thomas Comber D. D. Precentor of York A Scholastical History of the primitive and general Use of Liturgies in the Christian Church together with an Answer to Mr David Clarkson's late Discourse concerning Liturgies in Two Parts in Octavo By the same Hand Seasonable Reflections on a late Pamphlet Entituled A History of Passive Obedience since the Reformation wherein the true Notion of Passive Obedience is setled and secured from the Malicious Interpretations of ill-designing Men. The Golden Rule or the Royal Law of Equity explained By I. Goodman D. D. The Frauds of the Romish Priests and Monks set forth in Eight LETTERS lately written by a Gentleman in his Journy into Italy A late Letter concerning the Proceedings in Scotland and Sufferings of the Episcopal Clergy there in Quarto price 6 d. Political Arithmetick or a Discourse concerning the Extent and Value of Lands People Buildings Husbandry Manufacture Commerce Fishery Artizans Seamen Soldiers Publick Revenues Interest Taxes Superlucration Registries Banks Valuation of Men Increasing of Seamen of Militia's Harbors Situation Shipping Power at Sea c. As the same relates to every Country in general but more particularly to the Territories of His Majesty of Great Britain and his Neighbors of Holland Zealand and France By Sir William Petty late Fellow of the Royal Society Their present Majesties Government proved to be throughly setled and that we may submit to it without asserting the Principles of Mr. Hobbs shewing also That Allegiance was not due to the Usurpers after the late Civil War occasion'd by some late Pamphlets against the Reverend Dr. Sherlock FINIS D. 25. Tit. 4. Bract. l. 2. c. 32. Fleta l. 1. c. 15. In the Case of one Robins's Child at Hereford Assizes about An. 1668. Alberic Gent. de Jure Bel. l. 1. c. 16. Life of Archbishop Laud sol 161. Motifs de la France pour la guerre d' Allemagne p. 94 95 117.
Speech which at least do not become the Charity of one just going out of the World Therefore I rather believe it to be drawn up by some Persons of more Art and Leisure who thought it best to convey their own Sentiments as they call them under the more popular Name of one who suffered for their Cause But the Weight of what is said doth not depend on the Person and therefore I shall calmly and impartially consider the Things themselves and shew how unjust and unreasonable the Insinuations are which respect the present Government and all such who act in Obedience to it There are two Things this Paper is said to be design'd for to assert his Principles and to testify his Innocency For his Principles he professeth that he dyes in the Faith and Communion of the Church of England And he might have lived longer in both if he had pleased for I cannot see how the Faith and Communion of the Church of England obliged him to do that for which he suffered But by the Faith of the Church of England he means the Doctrine of Passive Obedience Be it so however he suffered not for his Passive Obedience but for the want of it If he had regulated his Life by this Principle he had preserved it yet he saith he did so and dyed for it There must be certainly then some great Mistake about the Doctrines and Principles of our Church I alwayes thought those are to be found in the Articles and Constitutions of it Which of these did he suffer for They are he saith her Principles and late much esteemed Doctrines tho now unhappily exploded I know of no Doctrines or Principles of the Church of England which are exploded among us and therefore this is unhappily insisted on by a dying Man unless he had given some Proof of it Well but he believed himself obliged by his Religion to look upon his Rightful Lawful Prince whatever his Principles were or his Practices might be as God's Vicegerent and accountable to God only from whom he received his Power All this he might have done and have been alive still for the Matter in dispute is not whether Rightful Lawful Kings are to be obeyed but who in our present Circumstances is our Rightful Lawful Sovereign not whether Kings be not God's Vicegerents ' but whether God doth not sometimes confer the Right of Sovereignty by a Law superiour to the Laws of particular Countries that is by the Law of Nations which establisheth such a Right upon the success of a just War not whether Sovereign Princes are not accountable only to God but whether Allegiance be not due where the Rights of Sovereignty are placed by an extraordinary Act of Providence and the concurrent Consent of the Nation But he goes on And alwayes believing it to be contrary to the Laws of God the Church and the Realm upon any Pretence whatsoever to take up Arms against him and let all the World take notice in this Belief I dye I had much rathor have taken notice that in this Belief he lived for I see no Reason of his dying for it For why must a Man be said to die for not taking up Arms who was Condemned to die for a Design just conâ—rary viz. for the subverting the present Government by Domestick Insurrections and Foreign Power So that the Question is not about Passive Obedience but to whom it is due I grant that the Laws of God and of the Realm are to determine the Measures of our Obedience but here lies the only Point whether the Rights of Sovereignty may not be transferred by the success of a just War and the Consent of the People For if they may then according to his own Principles he suffered justly And if the Directors of his Conscience did not speak to this Point they led him into a dangerous Error and have been too much the Occasion of his suffering Therefore to clear this whole Matter and to prevent the like Mistakes in others I shall endeavour to state the present Case of our Government so as to shew both that it is our Duty to submit to it and that no Principles or Doctrins of the Church of England are violated thereby To do this we must of necessity look back to the Occasions of this great Revolution And there were two principal Occasions of it First Great and violent Presumptions of an Injury to the Right of Succession Secondly Too great Evidence of a formed Design to subvert the established Religion and Civil Liberties of the Nation Now there are two very material Questions which arise from hence First Whether these were the just Occasions of a War Secondly Whether upon the success of this War the Rights of Sovereignty were duly transferred If these were just Occasions of a War and upon the Success thereof the Sovereignty was duly transferred then there can be no Dispute left to whom our Allegiance is due It is taken for granted by all who understand these Matters that as there is a Law of Nature which determines the Rights and Properties of particular Nations and that all private Persons are bound to submit to the municipal Laws of those Societies for their Peace and Security So there are other Laws which concern those Nations as they make up several independent Governments upon each other And there are several Rights which belong to them with respect to one another which do not belong to private Persons as they live in subjection to any particular Government And as there are such Rights so there must be a just and lawful way for Reparation of Injuries In particular Governments the thing is plain by established Laws and Courts of Judicature whose Sentence is Executed by the Civil Power but in Separate Nations and Independent Governments although there be Laws by consent called the Law of Nations yet there is no common Judicature to determine of Right and Wrong and therefore in case of Injury there is an allowance for the injured Party by this Law of Nations to Right himself by Force as there would be to every particular Person if there were no Laws nor Power to see them executed There is then a Right in every Sovereign and Independent Prince to exercise Force against another Prince who detains any Right from him or doth any Injury to him or to those he is bound to defend The Question then comes to the Iust Occasions of such a War and here are two assigned First great and violent Presumptions of an Injury to the Right of Succession This is expresly mentioned and insisted on in the Declaration of the then Prince of Orange our present King in these Words But to crown all there are great and violent Presumptions inducing us to believe that those evil Counsellors in order to the carrying on of their ill designs and to the gaining to themselves the more time for the effecting of them for the encouraging their Complices and for the discouraging of all good
of the Reformed Religion as plainly appeared in the Affairs of Germany had such an Influence on the Councils of France as to make them break Promise in such a manner as hazarded the loss of the whole Party in Germany The next is That he had broke his Articles with his Protestant Subjects when he had been a Mediator of Peace between them and they had done nothing to violate them So that a Design to suppress the Protestant Religion in a Neighbour Country was looked on as a just Cause of War when he was concerned to preserve it And then another Form of Prayer was Appointed to be used suitable to that Occasion which plainly evidence That such a Design was no ways thought repugnant to the Doctrins and Principles of the Church of England But since the French Conduct seems to be now admired by this sort of Men I shall bring some remarkable Instances from them It is Notorious to the World what Powerful Assistance the French gave to the Confederate Princes of Germany against the Emperour their Lawful Prince and what Defence they made for this They Published an Account to the World of the Reasons of it and the Chief was this viz. That they had Reason to suspect that from Charles the Fifth's Time the difference of Religions had been secretly supported by the Emperours in order to their making themselves Absolute and that the Changing the Form of Government in the Empire was sufficient for a Neighbour Prince to interpose by force of Arms. In the Revolt of Catalonia from the King of Spain their Lawful Prince the French King accepted of the Sovereignty over them being offered him by the States of that Country and caused Discourses to be written in Justification of their Transferring their Allegeance And yet their Complaint was nothing but the Severity of the Spanish Government and a desire of some greater Liberties than they enjoyed under it Why then should it be now thought an Unjust thing for a Sovereign Prince so nearly related to the Crown of England to espouse the Cause of our Religions and Civil Interests when the Design was so apparent for the Suppressing them If that Opportunity had been lost they might before this time have been past all reasonable hopes of Recovery II. But suppose this were allowed yet here is another Difficulty ariseth concerning the transferring Allegeance from a Lawful Prince to him that met with unexpected Success in his Design And here I shall endeavour to make it plain That this is not against the Doctrins and Principles of the Church of England If we allow the Church of England to have declared its Sense in the Matter of Government it can only be with respect to Subjects But I think the Measures of our Obedience are not to be taken from the Rules of the Church but from the Laws of the Realm Because they are not the same in all Countries where the same Religion is Professed as is plain in the Case of France and Poland The Reason of the different Measures in these Countries is not from the Church but from the different Constitution of the Kingdoms And I do not see how the Rules of the Church can alter the Fundamental Laws For the Church only enforceth the Duty of Obedience on the Consciences of Men but it doth not prescribe or limit the Bounds of it Whether our Monarchy be Absolute or Limited or if Limited whether in its Exercise of Power or in the Right of Sovereignty how far the Limitation gives a Right of Resistance in case of the Breach of it are nice Questions but not to be Resolv'd by the Rules of the Church but by our Legal Constitution and the General Reason of Mankind And therefore in such Cases where the Right of War and a Foreign Power are concerned we are not to judge meerly by Municipal Laws but we are to proceed by a more General Law viz. that of Nations which takes in the Effects of a just War which the particular Laws of a Country have nâ— regard to But where hath the Church of England declared its sense about the Right of War The Articles of our Church declare that the chief Government of all Estates of this Realm doth appertain to the Civil Magistrate But they no where say that in a just War the Supream Power cannot be acquired or that God doth never confer it in an extraordinary method The Book of Homilies is very severe against Disobedience and wilful Rebellion but it is no where said that where the Right of Sovereignty is transferred by a successful War there is no Allegeance due to those who possess it On the contrary it is said in the first Part That If God for their wickedness had given them an Heathen Tyrant to Reign over them they were by God's Word bound to obey him and to pray for him Can it then be agreeable to the Doctrins and Principles of our Church to refuse Allegeance to good Religious Princes whom God hath made the happy Instruments of preserving our Religion and Liberties In the same Part the Iews are commended for praying for the King of Babylon when they were in Captivity that they might live under his Protection and do him Service and find Favour in his sight And what is this short of Allegeance to one who had nothing but bare Success in War to plead for his Title to it If any Princes of their own Religion had rescued them from that Captivity would they have scrupled Allegeance to them when we see how far the Maccabees went in the Defence of their Religion and Laws In the Second Part the obedience of the Iewish Nation to Augustus is commended and it is evident that he had no Authority over them but by the Right of War And our Blessed Saviour's example is mentioned who being brought before the Roman President acknowledged his Power and Authority to be given him from God And how was this Authority conveyed to him but by the success of War So that we can find nothing in the certain established Doctrin and Principles of our Church which is repugnant to our Allegeance to the present Government I might easily produce considerable Testimonies of some of the greatest Divines of our Church which assert that Soverignty may be transferred by a just War but I leave that to others and proceed Mr Ashton saith That we were born leige Subjects to another that we have solemnly professed our Allegeance and often confirmed it with Oaths I know no body denies it But is this all Is our Allegeance so inseparable from the Person we have once sworn to that no Case whatsoever can alter it Not the Case of plain voluntary Dereliction Not the Case of putting the Kingdom under a Foreign Power Not the seeking the utter Ruin and Destruction of the People Is Allegeance inseparable in these Cases because we were Born Subjects and did swear Allegeance If not then it is not always so notwithstanding the Oaths For
White-Hall March 18. 1690. Let this be Printed SYDNEY AN ANSWER To the PAPER Delivered by M r ASHTON at his Execution TO Sir Francis Child SHERIFF of London c. Together with The Paper it self LONDON Printed for Robert Clavell at the Peacock in S. Paul's Church-Yard 1690. M r. Ashton's Paper Mr. Sheriffe HAVING observed that the Methods of making Speeches at the place of Execution was not alwayes attended with the designed Success And thinking it better to imploy my last Minutes in Devotion and Holy Communion with my God I have prepared this Paper to leave in your Hands as well to assert my Principles as to testifie my Innocency As to my Religion I professe by God's Grace I dye in the Faith into which I was baptized that of the Church of England in whose Communion nothing doubting of my Salvation thro the Merits of my Saviour I have alwayes thought my selfe safe and happy according to her Principles and late much esteemed Doctrines tho now unhappily exploded I have regulated my Life beleiving my selfe obliged by my Religion to looke upon my rightfull lawfull Prince whatever his Principles were or his Practises might be as God's Vicegerent and accountable if guilty of Male-administration to God only from whom he received his Power and alwayes beleiving it to be contrary to the Laws of God the Church and the Realme upon any pretence whatsoever to take up Arms against him and let all the World take notice in this Beleife I dye But I have more particular Obligation to the King my Master whom I have had the honour to serve and received many signal Favours from him for sixteen years past so that Gratitude a thing not much esteemed at this time as well as Duty and Religion Commanded the utmost Service I could pay him and when I add these Considerations that we were born his Liege Subjects that we have solemnly professed our Allegiance and often confirmed it with Oaths That his Majesties Usage after the Prince of Orange's arrival was very hard severe and if I may so say Unjust And that all the new Methods of settling this Nation have hitherto made it more miserable Poor and more exposed to Foreign Enemies And the Religion we pretend to be so fond of preserving now much more than ever likely to be destroyed There seems to me no way to prevent the Impending evils and save these Nations from poverty and destruction but the Calling home our Injured Sovereign who as a true Father of his Country has notwithstanding all his Provocations and Injuries a natural love and tenderness for all his Subjects and I am so far from repining at the loss of my life that had I ten thousand I should think my self obliged to sacrifice them all rather than omit any just and honest means to promote so good and necessary a work and I advise and desire all my fellow Subjects to think of their Duty and return to their Allegiance before the severe Iudgment of God overtake them for their Perjury and Rebellion but certainly the good and Interest of these Nations abstracted from all other Considerations will ere long convince them of the necessity of doing it Having thus frankly declared my Principles I know the Inference will be that I have acted accordingly and consequently that am I now justly condemned but as I ingenuously own the Premisses so as I positively deny the Consequence for whatever my Inclinations or Actions have been yet as to the Matter I was sentenced to dye for I declare my self innocent and will appeal even to the Iudges themselves whether or no upon my Tryal there appeared the least proof that I knew a tittle contained in the Papers but Presumption was with the Iury thought sufficient to find me guilty tho I am told I am the first Man that ever was condemned for High Treason upon bare Suspicion or Presumption and that contrary to my L. Coke's and other eminent Lawyers Opinions The knowledg of my own Innocency as to the Indictment and Charge against me was that that armed me with so much assurance and occasioned my casting my Life upon the first Twelve Men of the Pannel without challenging any But tho I have I think just reason to complain of the severe Charge given by the Iudges and hard measure I have received not to mention my close Imprisonment the hasty and violent Proceedings against me nor the Industry used in the Return of fitting Persons to pass upon me the denying me a Copy of the Pannel c. Yet as I hope for Pardon and Forgiveness at the hands of my God so do I most heartily pray for and forgive them and all my Enemies all the World nay even that Iudg and Iury-Man who did so signally contrary to common Iustice expose themselves to destroy me But let the Will of God be done I rely wholly upon his Mercy and the Merits of my blessed Saviour for Salvation I do chearfully and entirely resign my self into his Hands as into the Hands of a faithful Creator in sure and certain hopes of a happy Resurrection Bless protect and strengthen O Lord God my good and gracious King and Master in thy due time let the Virtue Goodness and Innocency of the Queen my Mistress make all her Enemies blush and silence the wicked and unjust Calumnies that Malice and Envy have raised against her make her and these Nations happy in the Prince of Wales whom from unanswerable and undoubted Proofs I know to be her Son restore them all when thou seest fit to their just Rights and on such a bottom as may support and establish the Church of England and once more make her flourishe notwithstanding the Wounds she hath received of late from her prevaricating Sons Forgive forgive O Lord all my Enemyes bless all my Friends comfort and support my deare afflicted Wife and poor Babes be thou a Husband and a Father to them for their sakes only I could have wished to live but pardon that Wishe O good God and take my Soule into thy everlasting Glory Amen JN o ASHTON The ANSWER THE Paper which passeth under the Name of Mr. Ashton's SPEECH seems to me to be composed with too much Art and Care to be the Work of one who professeth he thought it better to employ his last minutes in Devotion And if he was so illiterate and unskilled in the Law as he said at his Tryal Fol. 111. one may justly wonder not only at such Terms as Impending Prevaricating Premisses and Consequènce c. but at such a peremptory Judgment as he gives about the Laws of the Realm in a Case that must be acknowledged by all ingenuous men of his own Party to have a great deal of Difficulty in it But there are some Men who think to bear down all others by their Confidence and would have it taken for granted that the whole Nation themselves excepted is under the guilt of Perjury and Rebellion These are the modest Terms in this