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A95952 Brittish lightning or suddaine tumults, in England, Scotland and Ireland; to warne the united Provinces to understand the dangers, and the causes thereof: to defend those amongest us, from being partakers of their plagues. Cujus aures clausæ sunt veritati, ut ab amico verum audire nequeat, hujus salus desperanda est. The safety of that man, is hopelesse, we, may feare, that stopps his eares against his friend, and will the truth not heare. Mors est servitute potior. Grim-death's fierce pangs, are rather to be sought; than that we should to Babels-yoke, be brought. VVritten first in lowe-dutch by G. L. V. and translated for the benefit of Brittaine.; Britannischen blixem. English G. L. V. 1643 (1643) Wing V5; Thomason E96_21; ESTC R20598 42,972 73

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likewise performed on the Scots side but not in the least on his Majesties behalf N. This was yet a happy issue but wherin did the king hold his word E. He did exceeding slowly cashiere his souldiers insured the Castels contrary to agreement 't is true he consented to the Synode but many waies abridged their freedom by his Committers which caused great jealousies For although the king hath consented to the deposing of the Bishops called in his proclamations against the Preachers and approved their Covenant yet there was much deceipt under it for the king did in the mean time strengthen himself against that partie as well with in as without Scotland shewing all courtisies to the Bishops privily taking in and fortifying certain holds where at every one began to look about him to take up arms a new with a purpose to come into England to the king by him to be mainteyned in their freedomes which exceedingly distracted distracted the faction in England and also the King N. That 's easy to imagine for the King who is the head of the kingdome might easily conclude that a kingdome divided could not stand and therefore it must exceedingly prick him at the hart E. I may be the King did well fore see the danger but he was never himself but alwayes lead by others and therefore they made him believe what they would perswading him that the Bishops and their adherents alone could maintein him against the Scots if the King would but let them alone as he hath done whereupon they held a kind of a bastard ynode where all the institutions of the Bishops were approved to contribute out of the means of the Clergie to the maintainance of the war against the Scots which came all toolate In the mean time the Scots seeing their leagers in the land their havens blocked up their trading to fail their kingdom in danger of ruine did resolve to march into England as also they happily did and overcame New-Castel where they fortifyed themselves yet without blood excepta little in the conquest or indammaging any of the inhabitants of England to the wonder of the whole English nation N. It is also greatly to be wondred at that the Scots durst enter upon so populous a kingdome to come so far out of their own country but it is much more to be wondered at that they knew how to keep such a strict order in their leager that they should do violence to no man which is almost unheard of but how could this be cleered E Our whole nation is by this coming in of the Scots yet more confirmed that they intended not to spoil England as the Bishops had accused them but that they were led by Gods Spirit and intended nothing but their own freedome and the freedome of England and the maintainance of the purity of Religion whereby the eyes of our nation were also opened to take notice of their oppression under that insupportable yoake of the Bishops N. Were not the English exceeding jealous of this invasion and did they not indeavour by all means to drive the Scots out of the Kingdome E. In no wise but on the contrary all were glad that such a reformed leager was in England which gave some freedome to many that sate bowing under the burthen then also a great number of the gentrie went unto the king at York laying open before him the grievances of the Kingdomes and also of England in divers notorious instances desiring that the Scots and they might have satisfaction and that to this end a Parliament might be called which the king also granted whereupon the Bishops presently sent their agents through the whole kingdomes to many hundreds to procure Burgesses to their own minds by them to hinder all their former proceedings and to procure means to fall upon the Scots which they knew how to effect by the Earle of Strafford in Ireland where the Parliament had granted many men and divers subsidies against the Scots that so they might to purpose bring under the Scots and the purity of Religion N. You report strange things The Bishops faction did well perceive that it should now come to the point and therfore they took such pains to get men after their own mindes in the Parliament but did they effect it E In no wise although they made use of the king himself to desire in many places that such such might be chosen but the inhabitants would not suffer themselves to be so over reached but as the election of Parliament men is in the power of the commons so have they chosen none but such as with whom they knew religion and the liberty of the land to be in highest estimation and went with absolute power as their Deputies so that the Parliament being independent in her resolutions and having power out of her own head to make and alter lawes to appoint impositions as great and as many as it will therefore every good man was carefull to send conscionable and couragious men that could not easilie be overcome either by deceipts or promises but goe resolved to suffer all thinges rather than to yeeld to any thing that shall be to the least damage of the Inhabitants as ordinarily divers Parliament men at the dissolving of the Parliament have beene by the King set in the Tower because they durst with such libertie resist him in the Parliament to the advantage of he inhabitants N. That is a great priviledge of the inhabitants of England that all free-borne doe chuse and appoint to the highest assemblie there can be no cup prepared that can corrupt so many thousand men the commons are ordinarily good all the corruption is about the head and the great ones who to get into places and offices carry themselves a loft and they are no sooner come upon the cusheon but presently they are Politicks though they were never so good Patriots before which we have also had experience of in our popular goverment Many so long as they are citizens are lovers of Religion and Libertie But so soone as they come into the counsill house then observe they presently how the winde blowes and suffer themselves to be misse led by some great ones that beare sway in all assemblies and begin to be enemies to Religion and helpe to suppresse the cities and provinces making one or two masters who then direct all things in goverment for themselves and their fat offices yea it goes so grosse in this point that 't is to be feared that the Commons shall one time or other go to pot oh that there might be once amongst us also a general Parliament assembled for the redresse of that great declining amongst us and that the governours themselves though upon their Oath and for all those advantages which they reape by the goverment would take care to maintein our dear bought freedome and watch to the furtherance of the prosperity and welfare of their citizens then should the lords have honour
have had not onely ecclesiasticall but Civill offices also have been also privy-counsellers Treasurers Keepers of the great Seal and I know not what therefore they have been a member of the Parliament in the upper house yea they have spent the most part of their time in politick affairs and had so far ingrossed them that scarce any man without their assistance could attaine a civill office N. I hear you but I thought that the preachers much more the Bishops had so much to do in their own offices that it well required the whole man and therefore that they had no time to trouble themselves with states matters But tell me pray how had the Bishops and Politiks contrived it to bring all goverment into their hands to finish their dessigne E. To this purpose they had conceived strange windings and first they put it in to the kings head that he ought to be an absolute Soveraigne not to be under any according to the example of France and that they would bring him thereunto by means of the Ecclesiastical persons which they had now at hand in all places and sate in the ear of the people When they had made the King to relish this to make him confirm all their design then they made him presently believe that all their doing tended thereunto N. Was the King then no absolute King so that he might do all that he would not having any man above him E. In no wise for Kings are limited by laws so that they can make no new laws nor lay any impositions on their subjects nor go to war with any without the consent of the Parliament els the inhabitants are not bound thereunto yea they are lyable to punishment if they pay any impositions or subsidies to the king upon his particuler order or will and those that counsil the King therunto or assist him therin are guilty of high treason N. What is the Parliament under which the King stands also E. It is the highest assemblie of the Kingdome which consisteth of the King Dukes Earles Barrons Bishops the Commons which is two persons out of every shire and chief citie deputed with absolute power that together they might redresse the enormities of the kingdom according to the lawes and to ordeyne new laws and impositions to the advantage of the King or kingdome without any compulsion of votes which assembly is gathered and dissolved by the King N. That is a stately and powerfull assembly if they understand themselves and of great might to redresse the greatest abuses and to assist the King with great sums of mony It were to be wished that we had sometime also such Parliaments as in former times the assemblie of the states generall used to be before that there was a Parliament companie of states generall set up thereby might great abuses amongst us also be reformed under which now 't is to be feared we shall sinck But have the great ones liked this Parliament E. That you may easilie imagine O no the Arch-Bishop and all Courtiers and those that were in favour with the King have alwayes withstood it many yeares delayed it or when it was assembled and that it began to touch the soars and to search out the bad practises of the great ones then knew they how to order the King that he from time to time hath caused the Parliament to break up and now the last time in May 1640. not withstanding that the King and state was in an exceeding great distraction by reason of great stirs that were in all places of the kingdome N. I hear it well there is much-adoe in all places it goes so with us also that they that know how to make themselves masters in the Provinces they hinder as much as they can that the states may not come together or when they are together they set one city against the other casting many things in amongst the members that so they might not understand one another and so depart a sunder without effecting any thing to the highest discommodity burthen trouble dishonour and spoil of the Provinces and unspeakable disavantage of many that it concerneth that can procure no expedition from the table which in the end if the members be not wise to understand one an other to use their own freedome without depending upon these or any will bring all into confusion as you said it was in your three kingdomes But tel me what were the stirs that were in all places of the kingdomes E. Unmeasureable great and dangerous for Scotland was in arms we had a leager in the field on the frontiers of Scotland the King was set on to fall upon the Scots and they practised daily to set the two Kingdoms together by the ears N. But tel me pray whence proceeded this disunion for the two Kingdomes have one King one Religion and have till this time lived in peace what hath brought forth this disquiet E. This disunion hath been a long time in breeding by the Bishops and Papists whose designe was not onely the changing of Religion in England but also in Scotland yea to thrust in all their superstitions into Scotland first as being the weaker nation and ftom thence into England to which end they have by little and little thrust in Bishops there against the minde of the Kingdome which they first pretended should but serve to keep good order in the Church without having such authoritie over the church and Ecclesiasticall persons as in England but growing by little and little in authoritie power so 't was that they indeavoured alwaies to have as great authoritie in Scotland as in England wherein they were heartened by the Bishop of Canterbury and through his advice by the King also and in the end set on work to thrust in the Service-book that is the Lithurgie of England into the church of Scotland augmented with many additions some openly and some covertly opposing the reformed Religion together with all those former papish Caeremonies that were before in England which first of all began to be set on work when the King was in Scotland to be crowned N. How have the Scots behaved themselves therein for they have been alwayes famoused for great Protestants and lovers of the puritie of worship ful of courage to mainteyn rhe liberties of the Kingdome against all opposers E. The Scots so soon as they were aware of these novelties and that they were propounded by the king himself in their Parliament so to thrust in some beginning thereof into Scotland then have all the gentrie and burgesses cried it down in the presence of the King and persisted therein notwithstanding that the King took it very discourteously and manifested the same by his suddain discontented departure out of the Kingdome commanding his Counsell to thrust in such church orders as he had given them in charge by authority N. Durst the Kings counsell attempt such a thing against the minde of the gentrie and Commons for they
offence of the Comunalty and that by false reports brought to his Highnesse against them who unwittingly and without his fault is therby ill thought of in all places as if he where a patron of such vile persons which we must notwithstanding judge to be far from his princelike disposition But tell me what is there more fallen out in the Parliament E. Continual Requests of the inhabitants ful of complaints against the Kings Courtiers concerning the great oppression which they have used over the people in Monopolies and unjust impositions whereby they have drawn millions from the comunalty part for the King but most for themselves wherof many that sate in the Parliament are found guilty which were presently put out of their commissions and places as well in the Higher as the Lower house whereby the Parliament was more and more refined which being disanulled and declared to be unlawfull to the great content of the common alty who thereby have gotten more affection to the Parliament and given them the more incouragement to proceed in the Reformation so that they themselves have caused the Earl of Strafford to be apprehended made his proces and proved that he had brought the King to many bad enterprises made him break his covenant with the Scots tyrannized over the Irish as was daily confirmed by a thousand abominable instances out of Ireland held the Dominion for himself compelled the Parliament of Ireland to graunt great summes of money and men to imploy against the Scots and other criminall causes more for which they have with an enforced consent from the king who would willingly have saved him beheaded him and so made him an example whereupon yet more that were also guilty are fled N. This was a great resolution of the Parliament and I wonder exceedingly how they could bring the King to consent unto that seeing I have alwaies understood that he was one of the principallest instruments by whom the King hath brought out his designes having promised to maintein him E. The King hath done much for him taking all his guiltinesses upon himself by practises hath sought to get him out of the Tower but the stream was too great against him as wel of the Parliamēt who manifested unto the King by many learned lawyers that he was worthy of death as also of the people that by force would have him out of the way so that the King must although exceedingly constrained consent thereunto but he did not subscribe the sentence himself but caused it to be done by others N. There cometh to my minde the Marriage of the young Prince tel me once how it went about that for he was in England when the Deputy of Ireland was executed I think I have heard some say that it was thought that the young Prince would have made intercession for him to the Parliament but I understood that he did it not least he should thereby gain the hatred of the people which should be discommodious for him E. Concerning the Marriage of your Prince it was first set on foot by the Queen Mary being in the Hague to make her acceptable but many judged that she meant it not for being in England it was opposed by her faction as also by the Bishops and most of the Courtiers and great ones which are yet by the King but the Parliament did exceedingly presse it forward to hinder her that she should not go to Spain from whence she was solicited by many Ambassadours one after an other but to marry with a Reformed Lord who presently coming into England was gracious and welcome to the inhabitants so that in the end that Marriage was solemnised made sure to the great content of the good inhabitants in England who have judged that it would be a faster bond to maintain rhe true Religion resist the Popish faction and binde the king faster to the Parliament but I hear that many amongst you have bin much troubled about that Match N. I know nothing of that all have accounted it also a good Marriage for our state thereby to make yet a neerer friendship with England which is of one faith with us Onely some are troubled least by this Marriage all the corruption pride vanity and ungodlinesse of the English Court coming over with her should break in upon us seeing that our nation at this time is exceedingly inclined to pompe and novelties to the ruine of many E. No that is not it which I have heard but I have understood that some were jealous of this great Marriage because they thought it might be an alurement to the young Prince to affect the Sovereignty of the Provinces whereunto his Father in law and his Uncle the King of France should help him N. Those are but evill aspersions like those wherwith Prince Maurice was accused by the Arminians for therewith our Prince should win nothing but loose much for he hath now more to say than any Duke of Gelderland or Earle of Holland or Zeeland ever had disposing of all places and offices in the state and Camp by which meanes every one reverenceth him and seeketh to doe him all manner of service without having any burthen of warr to beare or to have his head troubled from whence the money should come to manteyne the warr he lets the States take care for that so that it is not to be thought that there is one hair on the Princes head that thinks therupon Besides his Prince like Excellency hath been brought up in this land and knoweth the nature of our Netherlanders who should not be brought under any Soveraigne every one would rather adventure his life and goods as they have done now these sixty or seventy years than that they should let go their liberty or stand under the absolute goverment of one Sovereigne Should that be ever attempted it would prove the ruine of the land therefore it is not to be thought that the King of France or England would lend any assistance thereunto although the Prince should desire it How dangerous it is to entertain Soveraingty hath bin well to be seen in the King of Bohemia the English nation hath yet too great a feeling thereof than that they should attempt the like again in any of theirs and therefore entertein not such callumnies let us leave this and return again to the English affaires What more hath since that passed there E. After that both the English and Scots leager was cashiered the King went into Scotland where he disburthened the Scots and pronounced them free from rebellion confirmed all the Acts of the Parliament and the resolution of the Synod and declared that they were falsly accused by him whereupon there was made a new covenant betwixt the King and them as also with England to the great joy of both the Nations who therupon have performed solemne thanksgiving in both the Ki●gdoms that GOD the LORD hath brought to shame the evill counsillers about the King who alwayes incensed him thereby
Brittish LIGHTNING OR Suddaine tumults in England Scotland and Ireland to warne the united Provinces to understand the dangers and the causes thereof to defend those amongest us from being partakers of their plagues Cujus aures clausae sunt veritati ut ab amico verum audire nequeat hujus salus desperanda est The safety of that man is hopelesse we may feare That stopps his eares against his friend and will the truth not heare Mors est servitute potior Grim-death's fierce pangs are rather to be sought Than that we should to Babels-yoke be brought VVritten first in lowe-dutch by G. L. V. and translated for the benefit of Brittaine Printed in the yeare 1643. The Translator to all his loving Countriemen EXperience teacheth that a skilfull physitian standing by beholding a patient and asking him of his paines and order of his bodie findeth the nature of the disease sooner than the partye himselfe that groaneth vnder the burden of it The same we finde often times in cases Ecclesiasticall and Politicall we can sooner see an others blemish than our owne imperfections The reason is becaus mankind is generallie negligent in self-examination I must ingenuously confesse I can not say so of the author of this dialogue the verie cause of his publishing it witnesseth the contrarie and proveth him what soever he be by calling a feeling member of his owne bodie and a good freind to his neighbours For though I have sene manie excellent remonstrances resolutions of questions c published by the High court of Parlament in England whom I take to be vnder God the Physitian of the land and their well-willers which have most exactly layd out the sicknesse of their body with the causes and cure which must have the preheminence yet so soone as I first began to read this considering that it is the worke of a stranger and composed in a method and style most pleasing to some capacities I thought it might helpe to the information of my poore Countriemen in the estate of their bodie politicke that knowing their disease they might being humbled for their sin which is the cause flye unto him for cure who changeth the times and seasons shaketh the mountaines and maketh the earth to tremble and the great ones to hide them selves when he is angrie who maketh the warres to cease and sendeth peace into the habitation of the righteous If in the publishing hereof I shall doe my Country anie profitable service I shal be bound to give God thankes for his mercie and the acceptation of it shal be my reward In the meane time whither this profit or no my prayers shal be incessantly to the Lord that England may not be a seate of warre but that therein may flourish the Gospell of peace which bringeth downe the loftie spirits of men making the wolfe to dwell with the lambe the leopard to lye down with the kid and the calse and the young lyon and the fatling together and a little child to lead them c. Isa 11 6. yea causeth them to beat their swordes into plowshares and their speares into pruning hookes Isa 2. 4. c and that he who is the King of Kings Lord of Lords by whom Kings raign Princes Rev. 19 16 Pro. 8 15 Pro. 24 1 decree Justice who hath their hearts in his hand turning them as the rivers of water which way soever it pleaseth him would be pleased to make the King a nursing father and the Queen a nursing mother unto Isa 49 23. his Israel Holland this 20 of the first moneth according to our new computation 1643. The AUTHOR To the READER MY Lords and you the honest Inhabitants of the united Provinces That star with a tail seen in the year 1618. was a warning and type of a rod that should come over all Christendome whereupon followed those bloody effects those horrible warrs lamentable wastings barbarous destructions of countreys and cities the ruine of so many costly buildings of so many gentle men so many inhabitants men and women young and old in Germanie And ô that we could yet see the end the bottome of the cup of indignation but the rodd flourisheth still the destroyer is yet busie the hand of God is stretched out still there is yet too much chaffe to hang away the fanne the silver is yet too unclean to blow out the refyneing fire The inhabitants and those that are fled from Germany must by the weight of their miseries and plagues be brought to a better minde to farther reformation to a greater feeling of and sorrow for their past and present sins before there can be any hope that the rod of Gods wrath wherewith they are now oppressed shall be cast into the fire That earthquake not long since felt in the year 1640. was a token of great commotions and mighty shakings of the Kingdomes of the earth for a little before and shortly thereupon was concluded the revolt of Cathalonia the falling-off of Portugale the stirres in Scotland the rebellion of the Ireish those civill uncivill warres great alterations unexpected tumults in England amongst which none more neare none more fearfull and dangerous to us than the rebellion of Ireland which had its originall and rize in England from the great ones from the Papists from the enemies of our religion and state seconded by our deadly enemie the King of Spaine plotted by the Jesuits executed by the barbarous Ireish who are already growne such profitiens in the schole of those murdering Iesuits that they according to their disposition and counsell strive for the prize who can invent the cruellest manner of torments for the Protestants cutting of their privie-members eares fingers handes boareing out their eyes stripping some wives naked and that in the presence of their husbandes and bruitishly abuseing others ripping infants out of their mothers wombe and presently dashing them against the stones exerciseing many other cruelties which are published and dispersed farre and neere in print to the amasement of all men upon our fellow-members that are of the same covenant and faith with us Doe not then these miseries touch us which are executed on our bodie and that so neere yea the civill warres in England are yet more dangerous for us where the friends members citizens inhabitants subjects of one Kingdome professors of one faith Manasse and Ephraim strive one against an other They there are our confederates bretheren friends antient assistants neerest neighbours There wrestleth the King against his subjects the head against the members the master against his servants There the defender is become a Spoiller the Sheepherd a destroyer Eden an Adamah Cunaan a wildernes There a long-lasting misse-used peace is changed into an unexpected wasting warre There may we now see worne in the place of plush velvet silkes sattines costly apparrell chaines of gold and pearle harnasse swordes bandaleers musquets There may we beare now in stead of Luxurious wantonnesse danceing masking viols fluits harpes
water at the brim then God takes most pleasure to manifest his power But tell me I pray more particulerly what wayes the Bishops have further proceeded in to bring the papish Religion into England E. Besides that spoiling the Kingdom in all places of their faithfullest Preachers and thrusting in others according to their own humour in their places or leaving the church unprovided giving them onely a reader that read their Injunction in the church out of the service book so that great circuites of land of 30 or 40 miles in compasse had scarce two or three sermons in a whole year to the unspeakable spoil of the people who neverthelesse must bear the burden of Gods worship and pay out of their Parrishes two three or foure hundred pounds sterling per annum according to the quantity of the Parish unto such lasie and idle bellies that had the name to be their preachers Besides this wicked practise I say they have used many other meās to bannish wholy all saving knowledge of the truth out of the Kingdom that so they might the better draw the people unto poperie N. Loving friend what do I hear have they so took care for sowls as to feed them onely with humane Traditions without the preaching of the word of God the hey and grasse and yet were so shamelesse as to take such great wages of the people God will revenge it But proceed to shew me what have been their further practises E. They had a thousand tricks to blow out that zeal and practise of Godlines which had been exceedingly inflamed by so many excellent preachers for an example to the world and to set up in the place thereof an Athiestical liberty and worldlinesse to which end they have with-stood the means of salvation and set the contrarie readie for the people as when they brought into contempt the sanctifying of the Sabboth by exceeding ungodly practises for they knew so far to abuse the power of the King that they have stirred him up to give out a Proclamation in the year 1633. wherein he required that all his subjects should have libertie servants against the will of their masters and children against the will of their parents to spend the Sabbath after service in all manner of recreations and danceing men and women going to playes in running shooting bowling stool-ball and all to this porpose that they might change the repeating of sermons and other Spirituall exercises into such idle wanton sports and that by Proclamation as if men were not sufficiently of themselves inclined to profane the day of the Lord by such vanities N. Is it possible knew they so far to mislead the king as that he should give out a Commandement directly contrary to the Command of God wherein he willeth that the Sabbath should be sanctified and set a part to all such exercises which tend to the prosperity not only of the bodie but of the soul of man You must surely have given strange attention when you heard such things proclaimed for I have alwayes heard that the English make great conscience of the Sabbath yea when they went in the streets of the City they saw not the least work done or any wātonnesse vsed but that in all houses the Sermons were repeated psalms sung and profitable questions propounded So that all understanding men did judge that the sanctifying of the Sabbath was the principall reason of Gods blessing and mercie over England There is great profanation of the Sabboth in our land by working playing riding stool-ball diceing drinking wrestling and runing but God be thanked they are not done by vertue of any command of our Govervours but contrary thereunto so there be many excellent Proclamations against the prophanation of the Sabboth in many Provinces come forth ô that God would graunt they might be well mainteyned E. Yea so is it come to passe amongst us and yet the Bishops are so shamelesse that whereas they ought to have stood for Gods right and to have informed the King better they have caused all preachers to read the same Proclamation out of the pulpit to all the people and to exhort them to observe the same against the fourth Commandement those that have refused have been deposed to more then an hundred in number not with standing that the Dean which was sent by the Bishops to see this executed in all churches a little without London fell dead from his horse for a warning yet they could there by be brought to no remorse but went foreward with the busines N. O how inst are Gods judgments and how sottish are the hearts of men if God mould them not It was never heard that preachers were commanded to deliver from the pulpit that which cleerly and evidently opposeth the command of God those that have refused to do it have done like Christians But what more practices had they E. They have also forbidden to preach twise on the Sabbath under the pretence of Catechising which was then ordeined appointed and directed to instruct the children and teach them the traditions of the Pope or Bishops They have to their power forbidden the printing of all good books and contrarily suffered to be printed all Arminianish Papish vaine books of Amadis de Gaule and of Commedies to 40 thousand in a yeare They have also suffered Reliques to be solde openly yea they have been sent from the Pope to the Arch-Bishop himself who knew well how to make his profit by them N. Well! those were great wickednesses which God will seeke and finde How soever it goeth also very bad amongst us in those things for there is here in our land also great libertie to print all unfeemlie hurtfull hereticall bookes yet the honourable Magistrates of Amsterdam have exceeding worthilie caused to be burned certaine Socinian books and have hindered the players and dancers on the ropes which follow fayres and Markets from playing oh that it were in all places imitated yet 't is so that here in our land there bee some papish booke-sellers that openly sell nothing but papish bookes of Breviaries Masses Rosaries Legends and publikly hang out Idolatrous Images Crucifixes Beads Paternosters Agnus Deis c. without hinderance which is to be feared wil bring Gods judgments on us nd although by Gods blessing it is not so yet ordered amongst us that good bookes are forbidden yet there are few printed because there is so little vent while all hands are full of vain unfit uncivil venemous works that hinder thē from reading good ones But tell me what are the deceipts the Bishops have used to bring in the Popish Religion E. As it appeareth from that which hath been said that the Bishops and papists understood one the other in all things well enough so have they given them great libertie in all places not executing the Proclamations and orders against them but have connived at their assemblings Idolatrous exercises absence from sermons in all places so that England became full of Iesuits
love and all things from their subjects who with great affection are taken up with all those lords which shew themselves good Patriots E. Yea have you also flatterers amongst you I thought that all Netherlanders were free born that the blood of their forefathers was in their veins who did not fear the mighty king of Spain but adventured their lives and estates for their liberty and would not be slaves to these or any Whom hath any man need to fear amongst you you have no Soverreign the cities themselves make the sovereignity amongst you every Lord amongst you is a member of the assembly and each can have in himself great attention and power if they be but wise enough to imploy it N. You speak with understanding concerning our goverment and no man needeth to be a slave if every one were content with his own and were not too ambitious but there are many who for an office or to remain on the Cushion fear not much to damme their souls and to ruine their countrie to give away all to some great ones to make the cities Amen-sayers and the provinces slaves that by their means they may effect that which the time all too soon as is to be feared shal manifest but we digresse from our purpose tell me then how had the Parliament its beginning and how all things went there E. The Parliament by Gods wonderfull direction against the wil of all the great ones are come together after that the Scots had shewen the end of their falling into England that it was not out of any covetous desire either of the goods or bloods of the English nation but only out of an upright desire and love to their own freedom and the freedoms of their loving and affectionate Brethren in the Kingdome of England then have they presently more exactly understood one an other and the Parliament began more narrowly to consider the disorders of their own state N. So was there then presently concluded a brother hood between the English and the Scots O wonderfull work of God! that knew how so suddainly to remove that dispersed jealousie and to use so small a nation but full of courage and religion to open the eyes of the mighty Kingdome of England to affect their own freedomes But how did the Parliament then farther proceede E. That would be too much to relate but we will only point at some principall things They have first inquired what were the inormities of the Kingdom and who were the causes thereof and they found such a masse of corruption that in the whole Kingdom either in the church or common weal there was scarce any thing sound and all occasioned principally by the Bishops and some Espaniolized English about the king as it was manifested to the Parliament daily by an overflood of requests and greevances of the inhabitants out of all quarters of the Kingdom with the subscriptions of many thousands of men exhorting them to remove the evill and Authors thereof N. We may see that the boil was ripe for the launce no sooner came neer it but presently the matter issued out But what were those matters which they found out E. Concerning the church matters and the exorbitances thereof I have noted them before there was a generall crye against them all calling for the deposing of the Bishops and the rooting out of their Hierarchie whereupon presently there arose a great adoe and opposition of the whole Episcopall faction especially in the Higher-house where they about fower and twenty or more are members and also all the Papish lords of the Vpper-house which were also 24. or more which constantly held with the Bishops whence men may easily judge what correspondence the Bishops have had with the Papists who ought by the form of their office to have been so far seperated from them as light and darknesse Christ and Belial so that whatsoever was concluded against them or their popely institutions in the Lower-house was presently opposed in the Vpper-house so that there could be no proceeding till by degrees divers matters were discovered whereby now these Bishops are in the Tower and at last the Arch-Bishop also for divers heavy accusations which the Scots brought in against him by whose absence the good Lords of the Parliament procured now one and then ano●her good resolution to the hinderance of many sorts of newly appointed institutions N. These are great beginnings of Reformation it is wonder that the Bishops have not as it began to be thought of them incited the king with whom they are at all times conversant to dissolve the Parliament as other Nimrods have done in the like case E. That was prevented for the Parliament being desired to graunt the King certain subsidies have graunted the same upon this condition that the King should passe an Act that he should not dissolve them but by consent of both houses which he hath subscribed beside there were many thousands of apprentices stood up in London to defend the Parliament desiring that the Arch-Bishop and other bad instruments might be punished so that the Parliament could not be dissolved especially seeing the Parliament men had bound themselves to each other by oath not to depart till all things were redressed N. Therein hath the King yet manifested an inclination to reformation in that he hath graunted the Parliament such an act E. The King perceived well in what hatred all his servants that were about him were by reason wherof many through an evill conscience fled to France or the Netherlands so that the King without the Parliament could not have quieted the people and therefore he was necessitated to agree to it hoping through his authority those persons which he had in the houses to bring all yet to his own minde but the King was too great a Patron of all the malignants which he sought to save that made the members more and more to strengthen themselves against the King to resist him therein whereupon the King put on the foxes skin dissembling and abandoning many persons yea did passe an Act that the Bishops should sit no more in the Higher house which gave great content and had the king left all his bad servanrs and joyned himself with the Parliament there had never bin a more mighty king in England then this N. I am also of that opinion but do we not see ordinarily that the servants of Kings and Princes abuse their masters with calumnies and lyes against the best to displace them and then alone to abuse the ear of Princes to their own ends not careing whither their masters be beloved or hated if they can but be great with them and by their power work but their own passions against others It goeth alwayes so amongst us also that the servants that are most about our Prince in all places where they have authority bring in drunkards and novices thrusting out the antient honorable beloved grave gentlemen to the great distast and
to cause war between the two Kingdomes that so by the help of the papists and the force without as they perswaded themselves they might be master of the King and the two Kingdomes to root out the true Religion and bring in popery but GOD be thanked that hath made the King to see how shamefully they have possessed him against Scotland that he himself before the whold world must callin and nullifie all his poclamations against the Scots as having unjustly proceeded against them N. So knoweth GOD how to bring the Counsils of the wicked to shame GOD preserve the King that he may no more hearken to those bad instruments that he come into no greater danger which I exceedingly fear for I have heard that most of his bad Counsillers are yet with him those that are fled for their misdeeds do yet hold correspondence with the King and especially with the Queen who is a papist and hath many Jesuits about her who together will never rest but alwayes stir to bring in the popish Religion and to incense the King thereunto who is kind and hearkeneth much to the Queen what think you thereof E This troubleth many amongst us also exceedingly so much the more because it hath appeared to the Parliament that the Queen by an Act in her name subscribed by the Secretary which is fled to France hath ordained a fasting-day amongst the Papists to pray to the Saints that the great designe which was in hand for the favour of the Catholikes might prosper from whence may be easily gathered that she hath knowledge of all those bad designes N. Yea is it so Then shall you quickly see though so long as the king is among the Scots who open his eyes it now goeth well with him that he shall be soon otherwise led when he shall return into England to the Queen and his bad counsellers for if they knew how to make the king unfaithful and to break his kingly word in that first agreement made between him the Scots wherupon the Scots layed down their Arms and surrendered the Castels and Forts in Scotland to the king they wil know how to do it yet once more as is to be feared But tell me have I not heard that there are now and then many treasons discovered E. You must not have so bad a conceipt of our king but that there are divers treasons discovered is true both before the kings goeing into Scotland in the time of his being there and also since his return thence unto London and especially there is discovered by some intercepted letters written out of Scotland to London a treason against the principallest Lords of Scotland by some great ones in Scotland as also against the eminentest gentlemen of the English Parliament whereupon the papists in all quarters should instantly have stood up mastered the Tower of London and in all parts over run the strong holds and then have massacred those of the Religion according to the example of the murther in Parice N. O horrible designe if it were so but were these not counterfeit letters by that means to make the communalty more inraged and to stick closer to the Parliament E. Oh that it had been so that they were but shadows flourishes yet many things that followed therupon do demonstrate that it was but all too surely intended for there are many great ones before this apprehended in Scotland which had intended to have massachred some of the greatest as was discovered by some who themselves should have had a hand in it for whom the King did intercede before his departure out of the Scots Parliament which did also pardon them where of they shall in time feele the smart In England a french Cooke hath confessed that he had undertaken to poyson all the meate at a certaine feast where all the principallest gentlemen of the English Parliament should have been by that meanes to have murdered them N. O wonder full worke of God that discovereth such hellish designes these come no other wise than out of the bosomes of the Iesuits who after the example of their father the devill are murderers of men Trulie out of these instances it sufficiently appeareth that the traitors were in the knot but should there be any thing of that that the papists if this murder had succeeded should have betaken themselves to Armes E. There is nothing more sure for so soone as the treason in Scotland was discovered then did the Papists of Scotland stir up the English to proceede nevertheles with the designe as also the Ireish did revolt at the same time who as is probable had no certaine intelligence of the ill successe which the designe in England and Scotland had and therfore went they forward with the concluded work as also certain of the chief in this rebellion being taken prisoners have confessed that there was intelligence concerning this point between the papists in Ireland England and Scotlaed that with the knowledge of the Queen whose leager they have openly professed themselves to be so that the effects have shewed that while the King was busie in England and Scotland with deep protestations declarations and remonstrances to manifest his zeal for the reformed Religion against the Papists whom he hath caused to depart from his court and from about London with giving out sharp Proclamations against them to make all the world believe that he meant it In the mean time not withstanding that the Queen and the Minions and counsillers of the king were busie to raise up strengthen and arm the papists against the Religion Parliament and good inhabitants of England which made many to fear that such a thing is not come to passe without the kings knowledge though it be not to be believed that a king should play so with his fidelity certainly God would not suffer such things unpunished N. A crafty country clown would judge if that the king had no hand therin he would not retein such servāts by him as were found guilty of such mischiefs but punish them as traytors to justifie himself but is there nothing come to pass whence we may wel perceive that the king is no longer in the Scottish aire but hath forgotten all his fair conclusion in Scotland E. There are sure enough heavy things come to pass wherinto the king hath suffered himself to be led which give great suspition that the king is yet ruled by the malignants for the king hath suffered himself to be so far carried away by his bad counsill that he went with armed men to the Parliament and that as his servants themselves have confessed to fall upon the Parliament Lords whereby the king did put himself in the greatest danger to cause a common massachre had not GOD himself wonderfully prevented it for which the king hath yet thanked GOD afterward for through but one unadvised word from the King those blood-hounds should have fallen on as they alreadie began to justle and strike
and like barbarous men have handled the men and women and children So that 't is to be feared if these blood thirsty persons should once get the upper hand and effect their designe there would follow as bloody dayes as in the time of Mary N. In truth the estate of your kingdome and church is exceeding pittifull it is wholy a popish work the LORD go forth with the Parliaments Leager bring to shame such blood thirsty men have you not heard whither any thing hath passed between the two Leaguers E. I got even now writings that the 2 Leaguers are on each other that there hath bin a fierce battail yea with great advantage for the King seing that 2. Regiments of the Parliament presently took flight but the Earle of Essex with some other assistance fell on with new courage and have after a bloody fight put the kings folk to a retreat and with honor and advantage kept the field so that on the kings side well 3000. and amongst them many great ones were slaine and on the Parliaments side but about 400. God the Lord fought for them N. This was a bloody beginning God stay this fury heale the wound appease the quarrels and change the wa●r into peace E. There is little signe of it for the King seemeth rather to be a king of a pillaged people wasted country than that he should study to agree with the Parliament to the reforming of the Kingdome yea since this battail his folke and especially Prince Robert have to the great distast of the English who have bin so tender hearted of their troubles more and more inraged plundered Banbury and some other places and used the people most shamefully and so they approached close towards the city of London with their leaguer there to share the best boote if they could but get it N. There must then needs have been great feare in London E. You may wel thinke that but there was good order held in all places within and without the Citie watch set at all passages and ordnance planted besides this the Earle of Warwicke is on foot with a new leager to joyne with the Earle of Essex and then apparantly to fall againe upon the kings leaguer God graunt that we may heare good newes I must goe about my businesse we must breake off till a better oppertunitie N. One word more is there no more hope af an accommodation E. Those that now speake of an agreement in the Parliament are fearfull hearted men and it may be also many of them not true hearted enough the busines is goen too farr not with standing seing many have good hope to bring the king to a good agreemēt therfore the good members of both houses to give unto his Majestie full measure have againe nominated certaine persons to deliver a request to his Majestie tending to peace and agreement and ther upon some intercessons begun but they in the meane time fell upon the Parliaments troopes and occasioned new blood shed contrary to all protestations and so all proved fruitelesse and now all things are made ready in London to adventure the utmost for the religion and libertie The people are full of courage alla like willing to pawne their lives upon it and a new bloudy battaile is spoken of the Lord fight for his E. Well is the cause so exceeding pittifull how shall we answere it before God that we take no more compassion upon you God shall see and search it that we are now so carelesse knowing nothing but of divellish masking ungodly and wanton ballades and daunces superfluous meals wherwith we dayly pamper our selvs as on afeast day and the queene of England with our greatones cā make themselves merry with these in this time of sorrow as if this misery concerned thē not how can it goe well with them and us is it now your turne it can quickly be ours my heart is so overwhelmed with sorrow that I can scarce speake any more I thanke you for your friendly communication I shal pray to God for England that he will spare that glorious Kingdome discover the malignants open the eyes of the King and also of all our states men that we may either remaine neutrall or chuse the right partie Fare well my good friend If you heare any more newes I pray make me partaker thereof FINIS