was the greater Fool to grant it or they the greater knaves to ask it But the saying of the late Earl of Dorset is remarkable who saluted the King the next morning with the stile of fellow Subject in regard that by that grant he had transferred both Crown Sword and Scepter to the Parliament for now we may say that England hath four hundred and odd Kings in her But t is observed that Princes of a hard destiny do follow the worst Councils But Sir in lieu of these monstrous Acts of Grace and trust what did the Parliament all this while for the King Philanglus They promised specially upon the passing of the last Act that they would make him the most glorious the best beloved and richest King that ever reigned in England which promise they voted and confirmed with the deepest protests and asseverations that could be Adde hereunto that the Earl of Strafford was passed over unto them who after a long costly tryal was condemned to the Scaffold and so made a Sacrifice to the Scot and them who stayed chiefly for his head Polyander Touching the Earl of Strafford 't is true he was full of ability courage and Elocution yet I heard his wisdom questioned beyond Sea in divers things First that having a charge ready against his chiefest Accusers yet he suffered them to take the start of him and have priority of suit which if he had got he had thereby made them parties and so incapable to proceed against him Secondly that during the time of his tryal he applyed not himselfe with that compliance to his Jury as well as to his Judges for he was observed to comply only with the Lords and slight the House of Commons Lastly that knowing he had both Parliament and Scot his enemies as also the Irish he would not go aside a while and get beyond Sea which he might have easily done from York in lieu of coming up to London Philanglus I beleeve his death was resolved upon before his comming from York if not by ordinary way of justice yet by way of publique expedience which appears in regard the proceedings against him was by a clause in the Act not to be produced for a leading case for example to future ages and other inferior Courts Good Lord how the rabble of the City thirsted after his death who were connived at and countenanced by the Parliament it selfe to strut up and down both before White Hall and Westminster Hall where they cryed out that if the Common Law failed Club Law should knock him down nay their insolency was permitted to swell so high that they demanded the names of those Lords who would not doom Strafford to death Polyander Is it possible that the grave and solemne high Court of Parliament should permit such popular insolencies to be committed before their faces Philanglus Yes and notwithstanding that the Lords did often solicit the House of Commons to take a course for suppressing them yet 't was not hearkened unto nay when the King had commanded a double guard of Constables and Watch-men which is the usual way by law to attend at Westminster Hall for suppression of such disorders the Commons cryed out that it was a breach of the privileges of the House and a trenching upon their liberties so they took afterwards a band of Souldiers to guard them of their own election which was never known before Polyander Me thinks that the Earl of Strafford being gone fair weather should have followed he was the cause of the tempest being thus thrown over board Philanglus 'T is true the Scots were dismissed a little after having Fidlers fare Meat Drink and Money for eleven Months together in England with Straffords head to boot So the King prepared to go for Scotland according to Articles to hold a Parliament there This fill'd the house of Commons with odd kind of jealousie therefore they cast about how to prevent the journey so they did beat their brains night and day about it so far that they sate upon Sunday in debate but with another proviso that it should not be made a Precident for future ages as the other Caveat was for their proceedings against the Earl of Strafford Well the King went to his Scots Parliament where he fill'd every blank for they did but ask and have He granted them what possibly they could propone in point of governing both for Kirk and State many received new honors they made havock and divided all the Bishops Lands amongst them for all which unparallel'd Concessions and Acts of grace as an argument of gratitude they caused an Act though already in force to be publish'd and reviv'd That it should be detestable and damnable treason in the highest degree that could be for any of the Scots Nation conjunctly or singly to levy Arms or any Military forces upon any pretext whatsoever without the Kings royal Commission but how the Scot observed this solemn Act afterwards the World knows too well During the Kings being in Scotland that formidable hideous Rebellion in Ireland broke out which the Irish impute to the English Parl. First in regard that one of their accusations against Strafford was that he used the Papists in that Kingdom too favourably Secondly for the rigorous proceedings intended by the said Parliament against the English Catholicks Thirdly for design the English Parliament had to bring the â—utch and the Scot to plant in Ireland the last of whom the Irish do hate in perfection above all other Nation and Lastly the stopping of that Irish Regiment of cashiered Souldiers which the King promised by Royal Word and Letter to the King of Spain who relying upon that imploiment which was denied them by order from the English Parliament rather then to begg steal or starve they turned Rebels Polyander Indeed I heard that Act of staying the Irish forces much censur'd abroad to the dishonour of the King of England and reproach of the Parliament considering hoâ— the Marquis de Velada and Malvezzi and Don Alonzo de Cardenas who were all three Ambassadours here for the King of Spain at that time having by dependance upon the sacred word and Letter of a King imprested money and provided shipping for their transport which came to a great charge but I pray be pleased to proceed Philanglus The King having setled Scotland was his return to London received with much joy but though he was brought with a kind of Hosanna into one end of the Town he found a Crucifige at the other for at Westminster there was a Remonstrance fram'd a work of many weeks and voted in the dead of night when most of the moderate and well-minded members were retir'd to their rest in which remonstrance with as much industry and artifice as could be all the old moats in government were expos'd to publick view from the first day of the Kings inauguration to that very hour Polyander How could this agree with the Protestation the House did make formerly
over-heard to mutter at the remoteness and absence of their King and that they should now become a kind of Province truckling under England by reason of such a distance from the Royal Court Moreover some of their Nobles and Gentry found not at the English Court nor at the late Kings Coronation in Edenburgh that countenance familiarity benefit and honours which they expected And 't is too well known who He was that having got some Wealth in the Swedish Wars and being denied to be Lorded took a pet and went hence discontented to his own Country These discontented parties tamper'd with the Mercenary preach-men up and down Scotland to obtrude and hold out to the people what Doctrines were put into their mouths by their Patrons so that the Pulpits every where â—ung of nothing but of invectives against certain obliquities and solaecisms and I cannot tell what in government and many glances they had upon the English Church Yet all this while there was not matter enough for an insurrection nor to dispose the peoples hearts to a mutiny untill by the Policy of the said discontented party the English Liturgy was sent thither This by the incitement of those fiery Pulpiteers was cried up to be the greatest Idol that possibly could be brought into their Kirk insomuch that when it was first offer'd to be read the women and baser sort of mechanicks threw stools at the Bishops head in the Kirk and were ready to tear them in pieces And here began the first storm The King having notice hereof sent a Proclamation signifying that whereas he had recommended that Book of Common Prayer to be practised among them whereby be himself served God Almighty twice a day he did it onely out of a design to establish an uniformity of publick Divine Service in all his Dominions specially in that his native Country But since it had produced such dangerous effects he was contented to revoke it absolutely it never being his purpose to press the practise of thesaid book upon the conscience of any for he did onely commend not peremptorily command the use of it Therefore he exhorted and required that every one unto whom it had given any scandal should return to his former obedience and serve God as he was wont offering therwith a general pardon and to passe an Act of Amnestia for the abolition of all offence passed Polyander And would not this suffice In natural motions we find that the cause being taken away the effect ceaseth and will not this rule hold in civil Actions Philanglus It seems this would not serve the turn but there was a further reach in it and to take the advantage of fishing in these troubled waters You know the Scots since their single Lyon came to quarter with our three were much heightned in their spirits more respected employed and trusted abroad more elevated in their resolutions and aims they grew rich for you have heard of a Silver Mine that reached from Westminster to Edenbrough And I beleeve you have not forgot Bâ—ccolinies ballance wherein Lorenzo de Medici was appointed by the Oracle at Delphos to weigh all the States of Christendom and throwing England into the Scales to counterpoise France you know how much he made her to weigh lesse by the addition of Scotland Polyander I beleeve we had been better without this addition for the union 'twixt Scotland and England may be said to be a mixture of Vinegar with Oyl Philanglus To resume my discourse the former Proclamation though it breathed nothing but grace would not suffice the Scots but having an inch given them they would take an Ell and nothing would serve their turn but an utter extirpation of Episcopacy for by trampling the Miter under their feet they hoped to have some of the Birds Plumes being plucked to feather their own Nests and they brought their work about Good Lord what a deal of dirt was thrown into the Bishops faces by every rural petty Clerk what infamous Ballads were sung up and down what a thick Cloud of Epidemical hatred hung suddenly over them so far that a Dog with a white neck was called Bishop amongst them The chiefest contrivers of this uproar finding their designs to fadge so well and perceiving the Country to be so eagerly bent against Bishops and what Artifices and suggestious were used to render them so odious is incredible But finding withall the King unwilling to alter the Government his Father had left him and to which he had been sworn at his Coronation They put themselves in Arms and raised Forces to beat down the Miter with the Sword if the Scepter would not do it To the English frontires they marched with a numerous Army pretending they came as Petioners but they brought their Petition upon the pikes point Hereupon the King raised a Counter Army and marched as far as Barwick but some of the great ones about him grew cold in the Action so a pacification was shuffled up and I think it was the most dishonourable that ever England made Polyander I could have wished two things that either the King had then given them battel having the flower of his Nobility and Gentry about him who understood came with all promptitude and cheerfulness to the service or else that after the pacification he had with a royal freedom and a commanding confidence gone amongst them in person to hansel their new Parliament house at Edenburgh for in all probabilitie this course might have averted those showrs and Cataracts of miseries which fell upon him afterwards but I pray Sir proceed Philanglus Hereupon a Parliament was summoned in England a Parliament do I call it it was rather an Embrio of a Parliament a kind of Ephemeran thing In this short sitting the King declared to both Houses the indignities he had received from his Scots Subjects and therefore he proposed a supply to be made of twelve Subsidies to suppress that rebellion and in lieu thereof he was willing to forbear and utterly to abolish the Ship-money which he had reason to think legal being advised thereunto by Noy his Attorney General who was cryed up to be so great a Clerk in the Law yet he would not rest there but he advised further with his learned Council of the Sergeants at Law and others who concurred in opinion with No Nor would he rest there but he had the approbation of all the Judges siâ—gly and afterwards of the major part of all the twelve upon a leasurely debate this he thought sufficient to induce his conscience to hold the things legal It was proved that the moneys levied that way were employed to the right use and no other viz. to the garding of the narrow Seas and to preserve the right of his dominion in them being the fairest flower of his Crown which was not onely discoursed of abroad but the French Cardinal was over heard to question his right that way And touching the danger that hung over England he alledged how
could England but be in apparent danger considering how all her Neighbours about her were in actual hostility which made huge Fleets of men of War both French Dunkerkers Haâ—burgers and Hollanders to appear ever and anon in her channel and hard before her Royal Chambers He declared further that not one peny of that publique contribution came to his private Coffers or was given to any favorite but he added much of his own treasure for the maintenance of a Royal Fleet abroad every Summer yet he was ready to passe any Bill for the abolishing of the said Ship-money and redressing of any grievance besides provided his Parliament would enable him to suppress and chastse the Scot Some say the House was inclinable to comply with the King but as the ill spirit would have it that Parliament was suddenly broke up and it had been better for him that they who gave him that counsel had been then in Arabia or beyond the Line in their way to Madagascar yet those men were of high request in the Long Parliament afterwards being The King reduced to such streights and resenting still the insolence of the Scot proposed the business to his Privy Council who suddenly made a considerable sum for his supply whereunto divers of his domestick servâ—nâ—s did contribute Among others who were active herein the Earl of Strafford bestirred himselfe notably who having got a Parliament to be called in Ireland went over and with incredible celerity raised 8000. men and procured money of the Parliament there to maintain them An Army was also levied here which marched to the North and there fed upon the Kings pay a whole Summer The Scot was not idle all this while but having punctual intelligence of every thing that passed at Court as far as what was debated in the Cabinet Council or spoken of in the Bed-chamber where of the six grooms five were Scots which was a great advantage unto him He armed also and preferring to make England the Stage of the War rather then his own Country and to invade rather then to be invaded he got ore the Tweed where he found the passage open and as it were made for him all the way till he come to the River of Tine And though there was a considerable English army of horse and foot at Newcastle yet they never offered to face the Scot all the while At Newburg there was indeed a small skirmish but the English foot would not fight so Newcastle Gates flew open to the Scot without any resistance at all where 't is thought he had more friends then foes for all Presbyterians were his confederates The King being advanc'd as far as York summon'd all his Nobles to appear and advise with in this Exigence Commissioners were appointed on both sides who met at Rippon and how the hearts and courage of some English Barons did boil within their breasts to be brought to so disadvantagious Treaty with the Scot you may well imagine So the Treaty began which the Scot would not conform himself unto unlesse he were first made Rectus in Curâ—a and the Proclamation wherein he was call'd Traitor revoked alledging how dishonourable it would be for his Majesty to treat with Rebels This Treaty was then adjourn'd to Londoâ— where the late long Parliament was summon'd Polyander Truly Sir I must tell you that to my knowledge those unhappy traverses with the Scots made the English suffer much abroad in point of National repute But in this last expedition of the Scot England may be said to have been bought and sold considering what a party he had here in Court and country specially in the City of London Therefore his coming in then may be call'd rather as Invitation then an Invasion Philanglus The Scot having thus got quietly into a Town he never took and nested himself in Newcastle Our late long long Parliament began at Westminster Being conven'd the King told them that he was resolved to cast himself and his affairs wholly upon the affection and dâ—lity of his people whereof they were the Representatives Therefore he wished them to go roundly on to close up the Ruptures that werâ— made by that infortunate War and that the two Armies one English the other forraign which were gnawing the very bowels of the Kingdom might be both dismissed Touching grievances of al natures he was ready to redress them concerning the Shipmony he was willing to passe a law for the utter abolition of it and to cancâ—l all the enrollments therefore he wish'd them not to spend much time about that For Monopolies he desired to have a List of them and he would damn them all in one Proclamation Touching ill Counsellours either in White-Hall or Westminster-Hall either in Church or State hee was resolved to protect none Therefore he desired that all jealousies and misunderstandings might vanish and so concluded with this caution That they would be carefull how they shook and dâ—â—jointed the frame of an old setled Government too much in regard 't was like a Watch which being put asunder can never be made up again if the least pin be left out Thus at the beginning of the Parliament there were great hopes of Fair weather after that cold Northern storm and that we should be rid of the Scot but that was least intended till some designs were brought about The Earl of Strafford the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Judges and divers other are clapp'd up and the Lord Keeper Finch took a timely flight t'other side of the Sea And in lieu of these the Bishop of Lincoln is inlarged Bastwâ—ck Burton and Pryn who were strong Presbyterians were brought into London with a kind of Hosanna Polyander It is possible that the lenity of the King should be such as to yeeld to all this Philanglus Yes and to comply further with them he took as it were into his bosom I mean he admitted to his Privy Council such Parliament Lords who were held the greatest Zealots among them The Lord Say was made Master of the Court of Wards the Earl of Essex Lord Chamberlain Moreover to give a further evidence how firmly he was rooted in his Religion and how much he desired the strengthning of it abroad the Treaty of marriage went on 'twixt his eldest daughter and the Prince of Orange Hereunto may be added as a special Argument of compliance the passing of the Bill for a Triennial Parliament and lastly he was brought to passe the Act of Continuance which prov'd so fatal unto him Polyander Touching the Triennial Parliament I heard of a Prophetick mistake that came from a Lady of honour who sending news that time to the Country did write that the King had passed a Bill for a Tyrannical Parliament whereas she should have said Triennial And touching the Act of Continuance or perpetual Parliament I heard a tale of Archy the fool who being asked whether the King did well in passing that Bill answered that he knew not whether the King
then the Parliament members themselves an Admiral also was sent to sea against whom the King excepted Polyander That was strange considering how oft the King had complied with them that way having at their request remov'd two Lievtenants of the Tower and taken one of their Election having remov'd the Governour about his son and taken one of their choice having remov'd Sir Thomas Glenham from Hull and nominated Hotham c. Philanglus The Presbyterians who had brought in the Scots Army before and were the activ'st men cried out that the whole Kingdom was like to be ruin'd by secret Plots and machinations That there was a design to bring in the Pope and to cast the civil Government into a French frame wherof they made the Pulpits to ring up and down nor did the Pulpit onely help to kindle this fire but the Presse also did contribute much thereunto dangers and jealousies and a kind of superfaetation of fears did daily increase in every corner Traduntque metus nâ—c poscitur Author As the Poet saith Polyander There be sundry sorts of fears There are conscientious fears there are pannick fears there are pusillaminous fears and there are politick fears The first proceeds from guilt of conscience which corns oft to phrensie The second fear may be called a kind of Chymera 't is some sudden surprizal or consternation proceeding from no grounds Pusillaminous fear makes a Mountain of a Mole-hill it proceeds from poverty of spirit and want of courage and is a Passion of abject and degenerous minds and is call'd cowardize Politique fear is a created forg'd fear wrought in another to bring some design about And as we finde the Astronomers as is said elsewhere do imagine such and such shapes and circles in the Heavens as the Zodiack Equinoctial Câ—lurâ—s Tropiqâ—es and others though there be no such things really in nature to verifie and make their conclusions good so the Staâ—ist doth often devise and invent imaginary fears to make his proceedings the more plausible and thereby to compass his ends Or as the Sun useth to appear far bigger in the morning and evening then at noon when he is exalted to his Meridian and the reason the Philosophers use to give is the interposition of the vapours and exhalations which are in the lower Region of the air through which we look upon him as we find a piece of Silver look bigger in a Bason of water then elsewhere so the Polititian useth to cast strange mists of fears and fogs of jealousie before the simple peoples eyes to make dangers seem bigger It is observed that the Torpedo fish when he fears to be catched useth to disgorge an â—nky â—lack froth to puddle and darken the water that he may not be seen and so avoids taking so one trick of a Statist when he goes a fishing after some ends of his own is to cast out before the eyes of the credulous vulgar strange mists and apprehensions of fears and dangers that they may scape in them if need be But I pray deal clearly with me was there a design to bring in the Mass again Philanglus The Mass you may say there was a plot to bring in Mahomet as soon to bring in the Alchoran or Talmud as soon yet I believe there was a pernitious plot to bring in a new Religion but what Religion I pray it was not Papery but Presbytery and with it to Usher in Buchanan and Knox and to cast our Church and State into a Scots mould Polyander I must tell you indeed that I heard the English much censured and undervalued abroad for enslaving as it were their understandings and judgements in point of Religion to the Scots whom we made Christians and Reformed Christians first and now for us to run to them for a Religion what a disparagement think you is it But you spoke before of an Empeachment of high Treason the King had against the five Members for which he desired only the benefit of the Law I pray what was that Treason Philanglus The main charge of Treason that was intended to be exhibited against them was the private intelligence and combinations they held with a forreign nation and to have been the prime instruments of bringing in the Scots Army which had done so much mischiefe to England and was dismissed upon such inglorious terms for besides the plunder they got they had a vast sum of treasure to be gone which was not the usua◠〈◊〉 that our Progenitors used in dealing with the Scot for in former times England was 〈◊〉 to pay the Scot his Arrears when he came to visit her borders in another kind of mettal viz. with good Iron and Steel not with Gold and Silver but she hath soundly revenged her selfe since for the insolencies of that hungry Nation But to proceed The Hierarchy and English Liturgy being voted down there was a general liberty given to all consciences in point of Religion The Taylor and Shoomaker might have cut out what Religion they pleas'd the Vintner and Tapster might have broach'd what Religion they pleas'd the Druggist and Apothecary might have mingled her as they pleas'd the Haberdasher might have put her upon what block he pleas'd The Armorer Cutter might have furbrish'd her as they pleas'd the Dier might have put what colour the Painter what face they pleas'd upon her the Draper and Mercer might have measur'd her as they pleas'd the Weaver might have cast her upon what loom he pleas'd the Boat-swain and Mariner might have brought her to what deck they pleas'd the Barber might have trimm'd her as he pleas'd the Gardner might have lopp'd her as he pleas'd the Black-smith might have forg'd what Religion he pleas'd And so every one according to his profession and fancy was tollerated to form what Religion he pleas'd as was observ'd elsewhere Polyander Indeed I was told often beyond the Seas that the Liberty of the Gospel and the Liberty of the People were the two things which were mainly aim'd at but how did the war begin Philanglus I told you before that besides other causes the clashing of the Militia with the Commission of Array did put all things in disarray throughout the whole Kingdom many Declarations came from the King but they were prohibited at last to be published and the Printers punish'd A little after the Parliament voted an Army to take away ill Councellours from about the Kings person and the Earl of Fssex was appointed General with whom they voted to live and die Polyander Me thinks that Lord was not so proper for the service in regard his Father before him lost his head upon the like occasion for offring to amove ill Councellors from about Queen Elizabeth but I beleeve he might have a private quarrel of his own with the Court in that his first wise was Articled and sentenc'd away from him and married to a Scotch man whom he much hated in King James his time who made a deep asseveration that if