Newcastle and before Or how come they to be his chief pleaders that were first fighters against him And had not that apprehension frighted he had gone into Scotland and not come this way when he was at Newcastle If they were esteemed enemies that drew him from Parliament What are they that hinder his return They that drew him away were occasions of a war therefore enemies and for that end did it The Parliament to prevent a war are not willing he come untill all is agreed and what is that comming to London What if there were no London cannot the King and Parliament agree Have Kings been so in love with London and Parliaments in times of peace King James counted the one his hell the other his purgatory But the new Propositions the foundation of Peace which concern Religion the interest of the Crown the Vnion and Joynt-concernment of both Kingdoms are not so well stated as in the old For first The Covenant is left out which is a solemn vow by creatures made to God The Covenant was entred into to bring a good peace now to stand upon it is to bring an ill War for the reasons before and because there is a generall adversnesse to the taking it more then against the matter of it It s the opinion of learned Perkins that Jeptha did not sacrifice his daughter but did that which was equivolent and better so may the Parliament The parts of which Covenant are in preservation and reformation of Religion Not the Scots Religion farther then against the common enemy and let any disturb them for it or go about to destroy it England will hazzard life and estate for them and their best blood No better quarrell to fight then when any will destroy others because not of their Religion For Reformation it is to be according to the word of God and best reformed Churches for the word of God that must be as the Parliament conceive for best reformed Churches what have you against that in the Netherlands where many different professions are tollerated Happinesse of the King As he is King of England sure the Parliament of England are as fit judges as the Parliament of Scotland is as he is King of Scotland and therefore may make their lawes for his happinesse as well as they in Scotland and so no need England be in ward to Scotland Peace and safety of the three Kingdomes The best way for that is to destroy and keep under the Common enemy to all and they that consider how the Scots prosecute the war in Ireland now and long since too much favouring the Rebels and at this time upon treaty with them to deliver vvhat they there hold the transactors on the Rebels side being Romish Clergy as by credible Intelligence is certified never having for years marched one foot or made one shot against them and how active with small help the English have been and victorious insomuch that had the Scots done what they could Ireland had in all likelyhood ben conquered by this time which had they as much minde unto as to subdue their enemies in Scotland would have appeared by the like activity and to pretend supplyes from England is idle they having all necessaries about them and growing rich As for England the third kingd how forward they have been al know is mentioned before The King is adverse to the Covenant is our obiection and why then take we so much liberty in other matters of God We take that liberty that in our judgement is according to the minde of God and dare maintain by Argument and Scripture that it is Consonant to both against whomsoever But the Covenant must be kept unto let the King be as adverse as he will because good for King and Kingdomes That is He must not be King of England Scotland or Ireland as to government unlesse he will take the Covenant and where is his reason or what he can say or his Commissioners in a personall Treaty allowed him in this Let an Angell come from heaven and say he must not take it yet unlesse he will he must not govern when they will reason must take place and when they will not then it must not So that what is good for Kingdoms in the opinion of Scotland may be stood upon though his Majesty and England Ireland have never so much reason against it But this must not be understood that his Majestie be kept in prison or wronged Truly for a King to be at liberty and not to governe can be no great content to see a mans wife and not to enjoy her to be hungry and see good food and not permitted to eat it is an unhappinesse rather then an happinesse the King undoubtedly were it put to him would rather choose to end his dayes in the Isle of Wight then to live in any outward contents in London or any of his houses divested of his Government Or that Armies should be kept on foot after the enemy is overcome to burthen the Kingdome or force the King to grant what they please Why keep you an Army on foot in Scotland having no enemy in field can there be no need of an Army to prevent an enemyes rising how many discontents are in England and Scotland what tampering is there between the Crown of France and Scotland at this time how are the people disposed unto insurrection occasioned by their present and future suffering the latter you cannot wash your hands off nor well of the present let England have assurance Scotland will not stirre up nor act new troubles the Parliament will undertake to reduce to as small a number as you shall in Scotland As for the Armies forcing the King to grant what they please its clear his Majestie being Judge the Army hath made as pleasing overtures for him as the Parliament of England or Scotland and for the burthen of England what is it to any other that the owner carryed his cow besides you know England can bear to maintaine an Army as well and as long as Scotland But you expected that when you departed the Army in England should be disbanded You meane the Independent part of it for sure you have not forgot that before the 11 Members went away long an Army of many thousand horse and foot was voted to be a standing Army for this Kingdome and Colonels named Governors of Towns appoynted and had they been of your party no doubt you would have stood for their continuance and excused the burthen and imposing upon his Majesty which now you cry out of but is it in any of the Treaties great or small or in the Covenant that England shall not keep an Army on foot without the approbation of the Commissioners or Kingdome of Scotland And not have taken the King away contrary to his will That he never yet said but if true the Parliament are proper Judges of that offence To whom the Parliament of both Kingdoms were to make
content dismist And yet take this That an Army of Presbyters will not have that Antipothy and so not so secure for Presbyterian Government for if a little opposition should come our new Presbyters would choose to read the Common-Prayer book and so assure themselves of the hearts of their Parishioners the force whereof will be full Tythes Oblations and good Chear rather then want these Armies were raised For defence of the Kings Person Authority Religion and Priviledges of Parliament Are any of these so secure as there needs no power to defend them how many days is it since wrong hath been offered to all these And though other nations have need to continue Souldiers yet the sea is Englands and Scotlands bulwarks But there 's no sea about the Presbyterian pulpit the Royalists discontents and sufferings nor between England and Scotland though His Majesty be in an Island and beside there are ships to go between England and Scotland and France and Robert Write saith There are passengers come in them who frequent St. Germans and Fountain-blew And if we study Peace and Vnity between the Kingdoms under the Government of the King we need not fear Enemies abroad The way to it is not to offer to His Majesty a dissent in the name of the Kingdom of Scotland from what the PARLIAMENT of England thinks necessary for their safety and a good and lasting Peace It s a custom in other nations to keep Soldiers to raise money but the people of England and Scotland are a free people and why then should War be made a Trade among them Be assured of it as a truth the Army is so far from continuing onely to raise money that if the Parliament can be without them they will be willing to disband with reasonabler Arrears then you went out of England with and for the Kingdoms being free it will appear at last the Parliament and Army of England will be no inslavers at least of this to their credit and others shame as for war being made a trade it hath not been the custom of this nation nor of yours its true as a trade abroad you know how well Scotland hath driven it and truly to bend both Powers to restore Allies there 's no doubt England will hearken to as readily as Scotland and yet take care to reduce rebellious Ireland besides For a Proposition of Pay of Arrears and disband all in one Why you should so much affect Englands weal therein appears not because you are so opposite to their designs tending to an Accord besides if you mean after an agreement would you have His Majesty restored and forthwith His and His parties words taken that they will conform to all that is agreed and the Parliament have only the name of a Militia Titles of Honor you desire the King may not be hindered from bestowing or conferring it being a chief flower of the Crown But how shall the Parliament and so England be assured that none shall be honored who have not wherewith to maintain it but must put his Majesty upon unjust grounds to maintain that honor and whether his Majesty will not confer honors to the prejudice of the ancient Nobility of England and make so many Lords as may bring honor into disesteem That the Lords house may not be founded so as it will be King-trod against its own and the Kingdoms good For honors in Scotland let him give as many as he will so he gives not as formerly the wealth of England to maintain them And now thus much hath been said it will be no great digression to say That there seems to be reason that there should be no more Scotchmen about His Majesty as servants or preferred in England to any thing that expends the Revenue of England then there are English in Scotland and though there be a necessity that Scotchmen attend His Majesty as in relation to the affairs of Scotland yet there is no reason that Englands Revenue maintain them nor that English honor be bestowed upon them but that they wait what falls in Scotland All expressions of Joynt Interest in these Propositions are left out If the Parliament make them good they do well if nor God will be angry with them for to act against the true Interest of Kingdoms ever proves fatal and hath been the alone cause of the present condition of His Majestie Children and Party But there is left out of the Proposition that which joyntly concerns both and that contrary to agreement viz. That peace should not be made with the King without the consent of Scotland That there is a necessity of treating or debating Joyntly because an agreement is That no Peace shall be concluded but by mutual consent doth not follow The Princes of Christendom have had a long time you know a Treaty at Munster wherein each have treated apart yea and without the privity of other And those who have been in confederacy not to agree to Peace but by Joynt consent for have not each their several business distinct from the other as the French Dutch Sweads Hassians and others all in confederacy Now the Joynt Interest is of several natures and will take his proper place and you have the exceptions as any of the forementioned have but that the Parliament may not treat for their own particulars and forbear the other there 's no question all the question is how far a Joynt Interest obliges for they are alterable as you know well but in regard it is onely charged upon the Parliament to have left it out it may be after assumed The Parliament is obliged as they have declared to Ambassadors to set aside Episcopacy in England and hinder its coming again into Scotland And if they do not wo be to them for if they shall forget what slaves they were to the Lordly power of Prelates and what by that way they suffered and resetle any such like thing it were pity but they should be bored through the ears and so marked for eternal slaves And sure the rooting out of Episcopacy in England is enough alone to make good the Interest increase Union and perpetuate Amity The next blame is laid upon the Army for medling with the matter of Peace and proposals so much disliked and declared against by Parliament As for the Armies medling it was but to put the great wheels off the Scots Axeltrees and having as they conceive fixt them upon English they intend to let them alone hoping the Pins will keep them there but if they should go back its like they will make bold with them again onely with this distinction as Subjects not as Soldiers If the master hath got a cup too much of Scots ale the servant is not to be blamed if he takes him by the arm and leads him until he be recovered again and in his right minde yea though it be with giving a frown or two to those that made him to drink too much As for proposals remember
some part of it it was argued on both sides by a Committee of Parliament and learned Councel of the Kings and upon Debate the Kings Councel yielded and the King consented Bills or Acts of Parliament do not hinder His Majesty of making his exceptions These words His Majesty will advise These and many other you bring to prove His Majesties Negative ought to be allowed Him But do you mean that He shall say so and that is sufficient for shame do not urge it so for if after a Parliament hath been long in making Laws it may be for the support of the Being of the Kingdom and to prevent immediate Ruine and Destruction and while these Laws were making have spent the Kingdom many thousands shall His Majesty by the Advice of a Favorite dissolve the Parliament and say He will advise to what end are Parliaments they were as good never sit or Debate when such an answer shall blast all It s one thing to give Reasons against and another thing to blast good endeavors by saying I will but do nothing And in this case if the Kingdom stand in eminent and real need no doubt the Parliament may declare a Law and so Keeper Littleton said this Parliament That an Ordinance was good if His Majesty refused with I will advise and not do so And in protecting and defending His Subjects Sure the Parliament will not deal with His Majesty as the Egyptians did with the Israelites if they intreat Him to take again the Protection of them they will give Him wherewith Yet remember that Kings of England in their fullest Power could not raise Men or Money to defend themselves or Subjects without Parliament And all know that these two wanting it s a poor defence that can be made And though Kings who usually studied the weal of their People were permitted to make War and Peace as they saw cause yet it cannot be proved nor seems it reasonable the premises considered that de Jure the Militia was so in the King or Power of War and Peace as that he could do it without consent of the Parliament but that the People whom it chiefly concerned and who were like to undergo the miseries or good incident to them were asked and yet His Majesty in as full Power as any of the Kings of England Many a time it hath been said in Parliaments before this That the King could not go to War without consent of His Subjects and how often did Kings when they saw a necessity of War call Parliaments and communicate their desires and had consent from Parliament Which are the Essence and Being of all Kings and the chief part of their Duty and Function The main Conditions at the Coronation it s confest is to 〈…〉 but they are both according to Law 〈◊〉 the Militia you are content it be setled so as it may not 〈…〉 agreed but you would have His Majesty have it as to Foraig◠States and His Posterity after Him which to deny roots up the foundation of Monarchy If His Majesty have it as to any Affair how is it consistent with the Parliaments having it and may not a Power intended to one place be converted to another how often hath it and so presently a new Wat As for His Majesty no doubt the Parliament when they see Him so moved as that He is cordial for the Liberty of the Subject The Interest of Religion as agreed no doubt they will be apt again to repose in him and until he hath taken the Covenant if you remember the Negotiation with the Queen you are neither willing he have the Militia or any thing else For His Posterity you know how the Heir apparent hath acted where he is how he there acts and moves what assurance he hath given of acting better then his Father and is not the Parliament wise in being shie how they intrust their Life and Death and into whose Hands they put that Power As for rooting up the foundation of Monarchy it s but restricting it thereby to bring it to be consistent with the Peoples Liberty the stick that is crooked must be set for a time the contrary way or it will never be strait Yet you would not have Monarchy as high as Tyranny The Father would not have the Son take evil courses but yet gives way that he have the same allowance company place opportunity as before And you by no means can agree to an Armies being up in England now there 's no Enemy when some Garisons and the Train bands may do it and not an Army to inslave King and Subject Hath the Parliament of England taken any notice of what you in Scotland continue or disband you would fain have us naked once more that we might either be surprised by our Adversaries or need again your help For the Trained bands we have had experience of them and seen the miserable inconvenience in London and Countrey of taking housekeepers from Trade Wives Children and Servants and how many thousand have been thereby undone and how the Kingdom hath thereby been impoverished You are not ignorant that in other parts of the world the Plow and Trade pays the Soldier and that those who are not faln upon that fight but were these Trained bands Sectaries then by no means Trained bands would not do well As for the Armies inslaving King and Subject it s not so they are kept on foot that England may not be slave to King and Scotland When your Army returned into Scotland it was expected the Parliament disband this in England Was it sure it was not imagined England was so much fool somewhat hath been said to that before Farther thus Were there not an Army in England what think you would become of Presbytery let any reasonable man judge if it would stand a moneth and not be rooted out and the preachers and professors of it Do not think to deceive the world with words England in general loves Episcopacy better and Popery as well as Presbytery for in time of Episcopacy they had all things in plenty and good fellowship to boot who shall expect to enjoy Bishops Lands in lieu of their money you had if no Army when will the Parliaments debts be paid without an Army how will money be had to reduce Ireland without an Army You see an Army can hardly do these things but in spight of Parliament and Army Common-Prayer book and whatever is Episcopal enters openly and men refuse to pay any kinde of Taxes Therefore you declare that Propositions go for disbanding That is Sectaries that so an Army of Presbyters may come in the room and if you put it not so it s not as the Eleven Members would have nor according to the Compact with them and their Party And truly could Presbyters have been kept from being tampering with Royalists to patch up an unsound Accord its probable Sectaries had never been used so much and could such be had its like They might be with
AN ANSVVER To the chief or materiall Heads Passages in the late Declaration Called The DECLARATION of the Kingdome of SCOTLAND AND ANSVVER OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO BOTH HOVSES OF PARLIAMENT UPON The new PROPOSITIONS of Peace and the foure Bills Imprimatur Gilb. Mabbot LONDON Printed for Robert White Ian. 4. 1648. AN ANSVVER To the chief or materiall Heads Passages in the late Declaration called The DECLARATION of the Kingdome of SCOTLAND c. THey say they have patiently indevored according to Covenant to settle Religion and happy peace by pressing the sending Propositions Their patience was seen when after they had fastened themselves in England they concurred not to subdue the power under his Majesties command nor take his Towns obvious to every common understanding and which they persisted in to the last and by that meanes prejudiced this Kingdome millions According to Covenant here 's their limitation The Covenant as Scriptures usually is expounded as the opinions of men are But why that should not be overmuch stood upon or kept over close unto Consider First it was made in Scotland when the Parliaments power was very low through the trechery of the Hothams revolt of Lords and Commons to the King and the absurd managing of the Parliaments war wherein the Scots Commanders had the chief stroke who knew how to make a little work goe a great way insomuch as Hurrâ—y then but an ordinary man cride shame of it Secondly it was that which our Commissioners would by no means have brought but could get no better Thirdly it is ambiguous and hard to be understood nay never yet ageeed as to the meaning an eminent Lawyer being asked whether he understood it when he tooke it answered no it being replied why then did he take it why said he they would have undone me else Fourthly it was forc't upon men a way profest against in Scotland to the ruining of many hundreds who other way were without exceptions both Ministers and Laymen Experience proved it crooked Conscientious men men of parts and great learning refusing it Fifthly it s conceived absurd and hypocritical to swear the preservation of the Kings person as a man when at same time a war is ingaged in against him and he known to be in the field subject to death by the bullet and sword Sixthly it never made man friend to the Parliament that was not so before Seventhly humane and so alterable Eigthly how hath it been observed by the founders except for their own ends with many more By sending Propositions That is as they like and such as made for the good of Scotland and Scots-men in England and for ruine and extirpation of those whom they hate who are just honest wise and pious men only differing in judgement and life from them and who have merited better then they in subduing the enemy the best way to a good and happy peace let what will be pretended otherways why agree they not to the Propositions now sent against which they have no exception but that they are not for the Scotch Interest which is to continue to reap the sweetnesse of England They offer the best way for a peace a Treaty at London And why at London because there are many discontented persons who will when his Majesty comes to London joyne to force the Parliament as they did lately and had done more had not the Army prevented The words of Mr. Hollis are considerable it never repented the King and his party that they fought against the Parl. but that they fought against London after the wars between King Subject King and he that put in to be King take the words of the story the overcomer never thought himselfe safe untill he was master of London and if he had London he car'd not for his enemies wirnesse Henry the seventh and many others so that it cannot be otherway in reason concluded but that they that are for his Majesties coming to London to treat are so far from a good and happy peace that they are for a new war for if they intend peace they will avoyd differences and reason will take place as well at South-hampton as London The Reason why a personall Treaty is best because first other means have been ineffectuall I have gone severall times in a rationall way about a businesse but it hath not succeeded therefore I will now goe in an irrationall But admit a Treaty sure it s not meant that his Majestie and the Parliament argue the business for then they will being so many be too hard for one if some of his and some of Parliament then it hath been before Secondly the Kings removall from Parliament hath been acknowledged the cause of the war The Kings removall as a good King was not for Kings have frequently been absent from Parliament the Kings coming as a good King intending peace cannot hurt but what appeares that his Majestie is other then when he went hence hath he not the same Counsell friends and takes he not the same wayes he ever said he was sorry for the miseries of his Subjects he saith no more now Thirdly but Commissioners on both sides may give Reasons Proper Commissioners that can give Reasons no where but at London nor no where but where and when his Majesty is at London or present Fourthly the King may have just desires to move for the Crown And God forbid but they should be considered and granted but when all that hath been done by his influence in England and Scotland since his Reigne shall be waied in the scales of Justice it will be little that will fall in for the Crowne in away of Justice said the Scots in generall when at beginning of their troubles they were for deposing him and his had not the next heir stuck with them and yet it cannot be denyed that what the Kings of England had formerly setting aside the calling dissolving and peremptory negative voyce in Parliaments there was nothing but would stand well with a Kingly or Monarchicall government and without prejudice to the people Fifthly It will beget mutuall confidence If the ends be the same otherway not after agreement it may not before love is from similitude those that differ are best asunder It cannot be expected his Majesty will grant whatever is sent him without discourse of or exception against Therefore the Parliament are willing to a personal Treaty for most things The Parliament will not give full power to their Commissionesr Nor will the Kingdome of Scotland to you nor have you any such nor is it fit you or theirs should Must all the Kings and Princes in Christendom meet at Munster because their Embassadors have not power to determine without first sending the Agreement to them as its made head by head excellent Scots reason But his presence will do hurt at London and make divisions it s objected and they answer it cannot be for he hath no Army It did upon the Scots at
if persecution or throwing out be a mark sure it s of truth rather then error The Parliament gives tolleration for Sects to set up in any place convenient This is but for trial to see whether they be consistent with the Civill Peace which if not they will suppresse them besides would not the Presbyters have that liberty Then as you would that men should do to you so do you to others And not liable to any penalty That 's the businesse The sword of the spirit is nothing without the fleshly sword That phrase Sir you shall be of this Religion Will you Nill you and none other not shall you worship any other way but the States way if you do to Lollords Tower you go Iesus Christ his Apostles tested or rather drank deep of this Cup of mercy from Jews and others Though it seems that this extends not to tollerate the worst yet men may write and discourse of all whatsoever For writing no doubt care will be taken that none shall so as to do hurt As to opinions you know in all parts in Latine men have taken liberty the main care is in not writing to disturb the civill Peace and truly all that can be written in seven years cannot strike deeper to set a kingdome in a fire of difference and a new War then this very Declaration of yours Printed in England without any Authority yea in defiance of Parl. yet is there not one word in any of the Treaties or Covenant that Mr. Iohn Cheesly shall have power to Print in England no nor any of the Commissioners For discouse you knovv disputations vvere allovved in the Universities and the best Schollars ever studied to maintain that vvhich vvas contrary to received truths as the best vvay to finde out truth It vvere a sad fruit of all our troubles and suffering if vve might notdiscourse without imprisonment and banishment and upon any subject Argument never did truth hurt They would have the Parliament call to mind former sayings and doings and consider that Divines have sate foure years framing a Directory for Doctrine and Worship and at last are laid aside Either the Divines have done their part or they have not if they have not let them end it give it to the Houses publish it to the kingdom and avvay to their charges there is nothing on their part required as to establishing of it if it be done vvhy are they yet here they vvere called but to advise and present The Houses Ordained a Fast for extirpation of Heresies and Schisms Are Heresies and Schisms so because contrary to the vvord of God Then every man hath his liberty to judge and to there may be danger for if the generality of the people of England shall think Presbyterie a Sect or a Schisme then the Covenant svvears them to root it out and fasting puts an edge to this oath if they be only so that the State declares so then vvhen they have made a civill Lavv declaring vvhat shall not be and vvhat shall the subject ought to and no doubt vvill give active or passive obedience thereto The Covenant bindes to observe the authority of the supream Magistrate priviledge of Parliaments and firme Peace between the Kingdomes The Parliament offers the return of his Majesty upon such tearms as they conceive safe and good and truly if the King be to be resident among them there is need of other manner of tearms in England and for England then in or for Scotland A Scepter bruiseth not at distance as it doth at hand Priviledge of Parliaments How many of Scotlands priviledges have England or its Parliament violated It were well if Scotlands Commissioners could wash their hands as well of breaking the priviledges of Englands Parliament As for a firm peace between the Kingdoms the Parliament and kingdom of England sure have not hitherto been wanting when it shall be considered what they have suffered and yet do suffer and what they have parted with to Scotland It s confest and hath been acknowledged in word and deed that England was beholding to Scotland very much and truly if they kick not down that soop of milk it will never be forgotten by this Nation But this may be said their own interest and safety was involved And England have sundry times done as much and more for them when thoy were trampled upon and brought to misery by their Princes many sheets close written will not contain the favours England hath shewed to Scotland in their distresse and this over and above at Englands own charge And sure its a good prayer That God would confound those who shall be instrumentall in a War between the kingdoms or shall not assist each other against a common enemy but on the other side let not Scotland think because of intercourse of favours and kindnesses to each other that therefore England must become Ward to Scotland no more then they would have Scotland be in Ward to England for like and gretter favours Yet it is evident that many Sectaries with their adherents and abetters do by their Doctrine and actions offer violence to the King his Person and Authority For their Doctrine its possible other men may Preach as vvildly as many Presbyters vvho have in all times but chiefly of late in their Pulpits Preached up this or that faction rather then Iesus Christs Doctrine and as the party increases or decreases so they do in their zeal Shevv such an example of four Sectaries as that delivered in by four Divines to the Common Counsell vvhose names shall be omitted because men of good life certainly vvhere they say they had done vvhat they could to stir up the people in the late tumult and force upon the Parliament For their actions if it be examined it vvill be found they have rather gone the contrary vvay and vvhen it vvas apprehended they vvould be instrumentall to restore the King Hovv vvere they hugg'd by the royall party and hated by the Presbyters for the Kings Authority vvhere is it Is it not agreed he have none untill he do so and so And against Rites and Priviledges of Parliament so that there is not any one Article of Covenant which is not in high degree violated by them When the Parliament of England shall intreatyour help to repair them for the Sectaries breaking of Priviledges of Parliament you shall doe well to give your help according to Covenant But why speak you not of the late force done upon the Parliament where the Lords and Commons were kept prisoners untill they had voted what the Presbyters and Royalists would have and after the Lords had said what they would have them yet were kept up not being suffered to depart and the Members of Parliament fored from London and a war commenced armes raised and upon those extorted Votes what say you will you according to Covenant right the Parliament in this Priviledge if they desire you No no you will halt then as when you were to
follow the Kings forces to Worcester goe quite another way As for the violation of every Article of the Covenant by the Sectaries shew where they have violated that which saith they will amend their lives or that which saith they will bring Delinquents to condigne punishment or that where it s said they will maintaine the Doctrine and Discipline of Scotland against the common enemy nay indeed shew that they have violated any of the Articles of the Covenant Dividing between the King and his people or making factions against the Covenant and taking to them the name of Saints yet are to be accounted Mulignants Intendiaries evil instruments What is casier then to charge what harder then to prove no worse character then to be apt to charge and unable to prove Have the Sectaries divided between the King and his people What said the Propliec to the King are the Presbyters in England only the Kings people what shall become of the Episcopall party are the Presbyters and they the Kings people why a Cavalier more then a Sectary and how doe these divide by seeing farther into the plots of those that would make fruitlesse all our bloud and sufferings then others that would faine patch up an unfound peace Take here two expressions the first of Mr. Sir Jo Chees Well said he talke what you will and doe what you will with the King now you have him at Holdenby if ever he agree or doe any thing by way of compliance or condescention then never trust Scotland who have tryed him over and over The other of an honest and wise Presbyterian Minister now in North hamptonshire who used these words If else Independints bad not seen farther into King Charles then the Presbyters we had been the miserablest people in the world by this time and this was said upon occasion of discourse of the Battle at Nusehy The name of Saints is justly given to holy men sanctity is sanctification the good living shews the saint not a swearer a drunkard a whore master a flet a thief a plunderer but he that prays medirates hears the word preached doth no hurt to his neighbour is a saint Now if all be saints that are thus affirmative and negative what a poore company of Saints are in England and Scotland and how many Sectaries will be found Saints For Saint must not be confind to such a mind or judgement then what will become of all men that differ though but in circumstances if only one sort be Saints they were mighty in Scripture and holy no doubt who had not heard that there was a holy Ghost They are to be accounted Malignants Incendiaries and evill Instruments that hinder a good peace and foment an evill war but to put that upon them that differ from you in Judgement and therefore and conclude your selves contrary because Covenanters or of another Judgement is ridiculous give an instance and prove it and you say and doe something but to say it only may be in like kind retorted upon you and if it were necessary proved it may be And in show take this Argument They that doe most conforme to and comply with those that have been the principall cause of all the miseries that have of late been in these three Kingdomes are most malignant but in writing Declarations overtures and attempts the Scots Commissioners if not the Kingdom of Scotland have Ergo. they that will read and consider may prove the assumtion That pious and peaceable men should be troubled because that in all things they cannot conforme to presbyterian Government and may stand with publick peace and is not destructive to Order and Government of the Church is not your desire Bellarmin writ twelve books to prove Justification by works and towards the end saith the best and surest way is to be justifid by the merits of Christ alone You have done the same in this for sure there cannot be found a man this day in England that would have any man or opinion tollerated that is not accompanied with piety and peace and will stand with and is not destructive to the Order and Government of the Church that shall be or is crected and if th one be its fit he be rooted out as an one my to the peace of the kingdom Yet they doe from their hearts and foules abhor such a vast and generall Tolleration as is inconsistent with the Covenant and will see all in confusion But what if it may stand with publick peace and not destructive to the Order and Government of the Church which should have been the assumtion and not the Covenant for that was never understood nor is ever like to be but the civill peace and Government of the Church being undermined or destroyd will behavious when a toleration hath so done then complaint the Parliament is the proper Judge what will make for Englands pâ—â—ce if they allow it let others be patient untill they see contrary and then no doubt the Parliament will hear and reforme Therefore they obtest the Parliament by the Covenant and what ever they have said or done to induce the Kingdom of Scotland to joyn with them that they do not establish such impious tolleration The Parliament what ever they have said or done to induce the kingdom of Scotland to joyn met with a reciprocall inclination and for the Covenant they do not violate it in their own judgements in satisfying tender consciences If it be such as will stand with the peace of the kingdom and not destructive to the Government erected you allow it and you will not allow that which is impious have patience and see whether this tolleration be so If you say impious in your Judgement that will be but your Judgement the Parliament would be loath to be thought the tolleraters of any thing that is impious do not charge them unlesse you are able to prove it which yet appears not The second Difference is the Interest and Power of the Crown and so by Covenant bound to support the Kings Just Power and Greatness That is answered before But thus much if the Kingdom of Scotland will say the King notwithstanding what hath been past by his instruments in His Name to the hurt of both Kingdoms ought to be restored in His Just Power and Greatness that is for so they must say whatever de jure was His formerly must again be His what then needs any Personal Treaties any new Bills or any more but an humble Petition to His Majesty to come and govern again without any Conditions at all But if any restriction may be how comes it or what is meant by this Just Rights of the Crown This consists they say in consenting to Laws And who denies it Is the Parliament about to restore the King and not Laws upon Him without His consent Wherefore then do they send them to Him nay sure they will not deny Him his Reasons they did not in the Petition of Right when He stuck at