so much opposed A. No it was for some smart truths concerning that party which they were not willing to hear of Court What did wisemen judge of that stir the Commons kept with Mr. Mountagues Book A. My Lord of Canterbury hath entred it in his Diary thus ' I seem to see a cloud arising and threatning the Church of England God for his mercy dissipate it Court What was the Danger A. It was this That the Nonconformists under pretence of suppressing Arminianisme were able to be revenged of Master Mountague for some tart expressions against them notwithstanding his Majesties protection of his own Chaplain so that the King was faine to leave him to himself and to stand or fall as he told the Duke of Buckingham who sounded him to that purpose according to the justice of his Cause C. How went they on P. H. As the great Champions of truth forsooth they procure two conferences at Yorkehouse before the Duke of Buckingham by the mediation of R. E. of VVarwick between Dr. Buckridge Dr. VVhite Mr. Mountague on the one hand and Bishop Morton and Dr. Preston on the other where their design was to divide the Nobility Clergy and Gentry and get as many as they could on their side against Arminianisme until they had got such a party as might be able to carry all before them for they knew that those learned Gentlemen and Ministers who were of their mind in some points would being provoked by their adversaries be of their mind in all C. But do they stay here L. No but being intent upon their Design and knowing that the King was well setled and resolved against all Innovations they intend to weaken his power and to that purpose they retrenched his Prerogative by many Laws and Statutes and questioned Dr. Manwaring for preaching up his Prerogative being resolved to put all power in the Parliaments hands who were too well affected to their way F. Yea they were so bold as to employ two persons Humphreys and Jones to hinder Bishop Mountagues Confirmation by alledging against him some frivolous exceptions so much did they prevaile now they had joyned themselves to the discontented the Antiarminian c. S. But while the wisemen of this party were driving on their design covertly and politickly one Leighton was to break the Ice and feel the pulse of the times and to that purpose he sets out a Book called Zions Plea rayling against the Queen as Idolatrous and exhorting men to kill the Bishops and to smite them under the fifth rib C. Was he suffered A. No when his party saw that he was not suffered they let him shift for himself and they go on in a more prudent method Court How F. That they might engage the Clergy to themselves they set up a Committee for buying in impropriations viz. Dr. Gouge Sibbs Mr. Offspring Davenport c. who were to buy so many Livings to be bestowed on the Favourers of the new way whereby of nine thousand Ministers three thousand and nine hundred might be sure to their side beside those presented by the many Patrons that were devoted to their party Court Here they took care to prefer their friends how did they bring men up still in their way notwithstanding the discouragement of publick authority P. H. When they had preferment they were sure to have friends yet they had persons of their way in both Universities very vigilant for their Interest as appeared in Oxford where one Thorne of Baliol and Ford of Magdalen Hall broke out into bitter invectives in their Sermons on this Text Numb 14. 4. Let us make us a Captain and let us return into Egypt 1 King 13. 2. And be cried against the Altar in the word of the Lord and said O Altar Altar Court It was a notable way to buy out impropriations to set up Lecturers knowing that they who hold the helm of the Pulpit in England alwaies steer peoples hearts whether they please whereby they might have more Chaplains depending upon them then either King or Bishops but the great plot lay in securing the Universities where if young men were tainted with their way they would not depart from it when they were old But did any Countenance these persons A. Yes the Proctors and Dr. Prideaux with Dr. Wilkinson untill the King appeared against them at Woodstock Court Now the King interposed his authority we may presume this faction was quite dashed E. G. By no meanes for the expelling of these Preaches expelled not but encreased the differences in Oxford which burnt the more for blazing the less Court How came Dr. Prideaux to favour such persons A. H. His love to the Predestinarian way which these men promoted in an high degree this was these mens policy to joyne with some eminent men in some opinions that they might have their favour and assistance in other things Court What was their next project A. W. They set up the Sbabatarian controversies again by one Bradbourne which if the Church allowed of she went against her own judgement if she disallowed she was looked upon as an enemy of Godliness and a friend to all prophaneness yea so high did they raise these controversies that they made a difference between the Judges and the Bishops the one allowing a liberty on the Lords day the other punishing it And when the Church declared her judgement moderately they procured underhand many reproaches and hard speeches to be cast upon her as if she intended to destroy that Godliness which she taught and to undermine that Religion she professed Court Not a word all this while of their Discipline A. No for they resolved upon other wayes of undermining the Church of England and upon her fall they would raise themselves but some hot-headed persons as Bastwicke Burton and others break out to some excesses for which they are severely punished Court What is the reason that they are so fierce now F. M. Upon Bishop Abbots death who was over-indulgent to them the Arch-Bishop pressed conformity very severely whereupon they who hid themselves under other pretences discovered themselves against Altars kneeling at the Sacrament holiness of Churches c. L. C. M. Let me tell you that there was one accident happened that helped this party very much Court What was that L. C. M. The Bishop of Lincolnes discontent who said that all flesh in England had corrupted their wayes and maintained many private correspondencies dangerous to Church and State L. C. N. The design of these men growing now ripe as they had by Lectures and private conferences debauched many here so they go abroad for aid to the brethren of Scotland who are at their Devotion and ready upon their call to disturbe the peace of England Court How durst Scotland stir J. C. The people in England having kept the King bare put him upon some displeasing courses to furnish himself and maintaine the peace of the Kingdome who should oppose this his Majesties course but the
part of its glory renown that it provides best for Government and obedience for the security of Princes and the peace of the people of any perswasion under Heaven is the Reverend person instanced in many of its Theorems and principles especially Rom. 13. a Pet. 2. to which I had my replies ready from the several discourses in justification of the late War and the Kings death still extant and still someting mens dangerous and discontented thoughts especially the sermons before the Parliament from 1641. to 1649. 3. The third and so much the more cogent argument as Fear is more prevailing then Conscience and a care of our selves of more force with us then a sense of our duty was the dreadful event of all attempts against Government mentioned in Holy Scripture which the good man urged with much earnestness and power As Had Zimri peace that flew his Master Can a man touch the Lords Annointed and be guiltless My Son fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them who are given to change for their calamity shall arise suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both Whosoever loveth Rebellion a cruel Messenger shall be sent unto him Curse not the King no not in thy thought for a Bird of the air shall carry the voice and that which hath wings shall tell the matter The terrour of which words was yet much allayed by the immunity and indulgence we already had and might alwaies expect only one day considering with my self that the events and issues of things in the World were exactly correspondent with the Prophecies and predictions in the Scripture that Heaven and Earth might pass away and the Government of the Creation be altered and not one jot or title of the Word of God should fall to the ground I resumed the last argument examined those sayings of Scriptures aforementioned comparing them with what happened upon that occasion in the World and particularly recollected such Memoires and observations of that nature as occurred in the English Nation from the time of William the Conquerer to our Age out of which to my great astonishment I gathered this great Conclusion which I think it the interest of this present age and posterity to take notice of that as the Scriptures have foretold some 3000. years Since so we find it true in every age that Government is so secured by the ordinance and providence of God that all attempts against it have come to nought and all open and secret conspiraties and plots have had only this remarkable issue That they ended in the â—â— ine of those that were engaged in them § 1. It is now near 600. since the Government and Monarchy of this Kingdome was after the barbarousness of the Brittains and Romans the confusion and unsettledness of the Saxons the Incursions and Intervalls of the Danes setled upon the Foundation it now stands upon by William Duke of Normandy In the year 1074. Edgar Æthelin King Harolds Son with his Mother Agatha and his two Sisters Margaret and Christine all of the Blood Royal retyred in discontent to Scotland Our ancient and most desperate enemy followed by the great Earles Edwyn and Morchor his Uncles the two Arch-Bishops Stigand and Aldred and many other Lords where first by alliance with the King of Scots who married Margaret 2. By a correspondence with the Danes they procured an invasion that made the North for 60. miles desolate 3. And by their Agents in England raised Insurrections in Exceter Oxford the Isle of Ely the issue of which notwithstanding the dangerous combination was first the ruine of the King of Scots who submitted to King William's mercy 2. The Imprisoument of Edgar and his Lords during the Kings pleasure and the settlement of the Government by the Curfeau bell the Law against the peoples Armes and the provision against the Clergies temporal Jurisdiction § 2. But restless discontent notwithstanding those dreadful examples foregoing of the ill success of Rebellion goeth ou for the year 1079. Waltheoff Earle of Northumberland with the Earls of Bologn Norfolk and Hereford with the King of Scotland and the Princes of Wales whom the Kings of Denmark and Ireland asisted with 265. sail of Ships contrived a most dangerous plot to seize the Kings Castles and Sea-Towns while the King was engaged in the Siege of Dole in France a conspiracy that threatned another change when behold Lanfrank to whom Waltheoff had communicated the design discovereth the whole to the King who prevented their uniting and engaging them one by one overcame them all putting Waltheoff to death sequestring imprisoning banishing all the rest Who are observed never after to prosper in any thing they undertook § 3. In the year 1087. King William leaving his Dukedome to his eldest Son Robert and his Kingdome to his youngest Son William Robert making use of the Bishop of Bayeux and many other Lords grudges against his Brothers Government especially his Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Lanfranke with their assistance surprizeth the North as furthest from Loudon divides the Kings Councel raiseth some disturbances in the South and West thereby dist acting the King so that he knew not where to begin nor where to turn himself the King having the Arch-Bishop and the Bishop of Winchester of his side and obliging his people by some Acts of grace defeated all the Rebells made his Brother abjure the Realm and be contented with a Pension and ruined 700. Families that were concerned in that Conspiracy And a while after hearing that Mans in Normandy was besieged as he was at Supper the King asked which way it lay and immediately commanded Masons to make way for him thither through the Wall and when his Lords entreated him to stay untill his people were ready he replied That they who loved him would immediately follow him and a Tempest arising when he was at Sea he commanded the Master of the Ship to go on notwithstanding For said nt never was King drowned Thus he came suddenly to Mans raised the siege dispersed the Rebells undid 652. Families that were of the Confederacy and left a fatal Monument of conspirators success behind to late Posterity § 4. Anno 1100. no sooner had Henry the first succeeded his brother William who died Childless and compounded with his brother Robert of Normandy but Robert de Belesm Earle of Shrewrbery and the Earle of Cornwall in discontent made a general Insurrection about Wales and the borders surprize the Castle of Bridgenorth stop Trade gathered the people together who no sooner heard that the King was drawing towards them but they fled and left their traiterous Leaders at the mercy of an incensed Soveraign who seized their Estates banished their Persons and put a period to their Names Honours and Families in England § 5. Although Steven invaded the Kingdome against the right of
brought upon that occasion under an English Prince who established the Government thereof according to the Lawes of England § 11. Edward the Second goeth on in his Fathers exorbitant wayes entertaineth evil Councellors viz. Gaveston and Spencer to the great grievance of the Lords and Kingdome Upon this the Lords arme and rebell the Pope writes to them they would not read his Letters saying That they were men of the Sword the Bishops treat with them but they would not hear affronts are put upon the King by the Lords as that of the mad woman who brought him all his faults in Writing and upon the Lords by the King as that of the Duke of Lancaster's Wife being challenged from him by an ugly fellow who made it good he was Married to her the Lord Baldesmers Keeper is hanged and his Wife and Children in prison for holding the Castle of Leedes against the King many of the Barons fall off and submit to his Majesty the whole Kingdome is dissatisfied yet the King defeates Lancaster takes him and many of his Followers prisoners condemnes and beheads him as he doth the Lord Clifford the Lord Lisle the Lords Tuchet Cheyney Mowbray Danell Teyes Aldenham Baddlesmore the last of whom with many noble Knights are hanged drawn and quartered as thousands more upon that occasion came to a miserable end And afterwards when the Queen and the Barones by a joynt interest prevailed so far as to depose the King yet first within three years after was she in Parliament voted uncapable of her Jointure put to a Pension of a 1000 l. a year and kept a Prisoner 30. years to her dying day 2. And her Minion Mortimer seized after this manner the King her Son takes a Torch light and two or three to attend him and steales privately under ground into the Queens Chamber about Bed time where the Wanton undressing himself for her Bed they immediately carry him away notwithstanding the Queen shreeks Bel fils bel fils ayes pity du Gentile Mortimer good Son good Son pitty Gentle Mortimer he is commited to the Tower and hanged drawn and Quartered by Tyburn where his body remained two dayes an opprobrious espectacle to all Beholders And in a word so remarkable were the disasters that befell those that contrived any thing against the Government in this Kings Reign that we hear of no more treasons in the others who lived fifty years in perfect peace all men looking upon the former examples Seeing and fearing and not daring to do any more presumptuously § 12. Untill the beginning of Richard the Seconds Reign when by reason of some extravagances by the exactors of Poll-money the common people at Deptford and indeed all over the Kingdome rising as one man Upon this occasion a Collector of Pollmoney comes to one John Tylers house demands Pollmoney of his Wife for her Daughter and she saying that her Daughter was not of age to pay the rude fellow said he would see whether that were so or not and thereupon forcibly turned up her Cloaths whereat the Mother cryed out the Father being at Work hard by upon that comes in and with a Lathingstaffe which he had in his hand knocked the fellow on the head upon Tylers complaint among his Neighbours and one Ball a Priests seditious discourses of Liberty levelling c. whose saying was When Adam dug and Eve span where was then the Gentleman the Commons of Kent Essex Hertfordshire Sussex Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgeshire are up 100000. declaring for the King and the Commons and resolving to have no King John entered the City besiege the Duke of Lancasters house at the Savoy abuse the Kings Mother in the Tower behead the Lord Chancellour and the Lord Treasurer the Lord Chief Justice they pull down Lawyers houses they compell many Noblemen and Gentlemen to ride with them their Leaders keep the state of Kings they resolve to destroy all Knights and Gentlemen But what was the issue 1. Two and thirty of them are burnt in the Duke of Lancasters Cellar 2. Fear and trembling siezed on several of them who deserted their brethren 3. Their Leader is stabbed to death by the Lord Mayor Sir W. Walworth for whose sake the Dagger is in the City Armes to this day 4. The rest of them laying down their Armes upon Sir Rob. Kuolles his approach to them submitted to the Kings mercy who executed 1500. of them in divers places in which exploit 25000. Families perished Not long after the City of London that dares do any thing for a Riot against the Lord Treasurers servants in pretence but indeed a plot against the Kings Government had their Liberties seized on their Charter taken from them their Lord May or removed and a Warden set over them and a fine of 15000 set upon them All this would not allay the discontents and ambitions of men for the Duke of Glocester and other Lords upon an Abbots Vision of the Destruction of the Kingdome by the misgovernment of King Richard and was there ever Treason without a Clergy man consult about seizing and deposing K. R. and executing the Lords of the Councel at Arundel Castle where they received the Sacrament and took upon it an Oath of Secrecy by the hands of the A. B. Canterbury now the Earle Marshall Deputy of Callice discovered all the Plot to the King who thereupon by a stratagem devised by his Counsel took the Duke of Glocester a Bed who hearing of his coming cast his Cloak about his shoulders and with all reverence bid him welcome the King courteously requesting him to make himself ready to ride with him a little way within a mile of his House he was arrested by the hands of the Earl Marshall and sent to Callice where he dyed a miserable death the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury is banished the Earle of Arundel and the Lord Treasurer are beheaded and 1500. Families of their brethren and adherents perished § 13. Anno 1399. Henry the 4th was in full Parliament declared King of England but having let fall an expression to this purpose when he was Earle of Darby viz. That Princes had too little and religious men too much the politick Abbot of Westminster laid hold of the words and inviting to his House the discontented Dukes of Surrey Exeter Albemarle the Earles of Salisbury and Glocester with many more communicated their grievances to each other and lay a Plot to invite his Majesty to asolemn Just at Oxford where he was to be murthered by an unknown hand in the heat of the pleasure and action taking oaths of secrecy and sealing Indentures Sextipartite for the performance of Conditions on all sides the Justs are proclaimed the King is invited and promiseth to come secrecy on all hands kept most firmly to that very day but there is a God in Heaven that revealeth secrets unto Kings for it happened that as the Duke of Albemarle rid to
Puritans who thereby became the Patrons of their Country and were sure to be chosen to the next Parliament where they might joyne with their brethren the Scots who if they made a War were assured that the King should not be able to resist them for they being sure to be chosen in Parliament let them know that they would not assist the King against them Court When they got at last to be the prevailing party in Parliament what did they A. They called to an acount all persons who had pressed strict Conformity and countenanced those that refused it witness Dr. Cozens and Smart Bastwicke and Burton who came triumphantly to London and were ordered reparations for their services and sufferings Court How did they proceed A. They setled a Commitee for Religion who appointed a Subcommittee to prepare matters for their Cognizance where was CONFORMISTS Bishop Williams Doctor Hacket Bishop Vsher Doctor Holdsworth Bishop Morton Bishop Hall Doctor Prideaux Doctor Ward Doctor Browning Doctor Featly NONCONFORMISTS Doctor Burgess Mr. White Mr. Marshall Mr. Caryl Mr. Calamy Mr. Hill Mr. Newcomen Doctor Twisse C. But this meeting was only a pretence while the House carried on higher designes against Deans and Chapters root and branch for whom Doctor Hacket made a Speech in the behalf of the Church against whom Dr. Burgesse made a speech in behalfe of the faction L. C. N. Yes and they began to pull down the Bishops step by step First From the Lords House 2. From all civil power and then they pull down those Courts that kept them in Order all this while viz. the Star-Chamber and the High commission N. O. I observed that the poor Bishops went down first in their reputation and esteem they not suffering them to be called right honourable nor to have precedency N. M. And to make sure work the Rabble were stirred up against them to the danger of their lives and strange Petitions procured in so much that the poor men were in a streight to keep the House was dangerous to leave it at this time was unworthy C. What did they do N. They were trepanned by Bishop Williams to a Remonstrance for which they were all committed to the Tower and Impeached of High Treason and now the Bishops were safe in the Tower the Bill against them passed the House and they were for ever excluded the House C. Now the King could not help the Church the Bishops were secured the severe Courts against the Factions were down how did the people appear N. Q. Their restraint being removed they broke out to an excess of Riot in Petitioning Preaching Rayling a Company of Fanaticks in Southwark crying that the Law of Uniformity was the Law of Bishops and so to be repealed the Citizens crying to your Tents O Israel Court Having now almost destroyed the Church Government Discipline and Worship what do they not endeavour to set up their own way N. H. Yes by all meanes but by degrees that the Kingdome might not perceive it but think they were easing it all this while C. How did they contrive to set up their new Government N. H. They called an Assembly of that way 〈…〉 Gouge Mr. Calamy Mr. Caryl Dr. Spurslaw Tho. Goodwyn Phil. Nie c. who proposed to the Parliament the new Church Government and Directory who thereupon abolished the ancient Church Government Worship and Discipline and took a Solemn Oath as they of Scotland had done before every one in his place to stand by this new way which Oath they Imposed upon the Kingdome C. What do they Impose any thing K. C. O yes there are none more severe in Imposing upon others than those that would have liberty themselves Court Where was the King all this while L. B. N. Being not able to reach the Church but through him they having made him as odious as they could to the people by ripping up all the faults of Government in a remonstrance and having frighted him away with the fury of the incensed multitude that were in open War with him that the World may see that there are no Innovators in the Church but such as are Traytors to the State Court It was very strange the whole House of Commons should go along with them in these enormities N. H. The honest Gentlemen could not help it for they were overawed by the rude rabble who came to the House in whole multitudes with Petitions remonstrances grievances about Religion Liberties and rights to which was added all that prevailes with men of force or flattery of craft or terrour Court Now Ireland was all in a Rebellion Scotland was up in Armes and they in England practised they after some Treaties with the King and Disputations with his Divines alter Church Government and settle that Discipline which they had contended for these 120. years L. B C. When it was established did the people submit to it N. H. No for they looked upon it as a yoake which neither they nor their fathers could bear Court How did they propagate it H. J. They sequestred all the Orthodox Clergy and setled in their places such men as were ready to advance their new project th 〈…〉 who complained so much when a dozen Ministers were 〈…〉 made nothing to silence five or six hundred at a time L. H. Yet for all this the new Government was not owned for there arose other factions innumerable who though they differed among themselves yet agreed in this viz. that they would have no Government but that every one according to his own conscience might do what was good in his own eyes as the Presbyterians cryed formerly so the Independents cried now that Christians should have liberty of Conscience to do according to the best light afforded them Court It pleased God to let them set up what they so long looked for that the World might see what they are and what is their way and what is the dreadful consequence of that way when it doth prevaile their pretences before they had the Government in their own hands were such as rendred them very amiable and made them the darling of the people their practices when they had it made them the most odious of Mankind L. B. C. The people would never believe their mischeif untill they saw their practice and providence let them take a turn upon our stage to see how they would behave themselves untill they went off Odium humani generis L. H. When they had suppressed the Orthodox Clergy alienated their maintenance overcome their Friends and put him to death who they knew must otherwise avenge on them these abominations for these people had the face too before the world to lay violent hands upon the Lords Annointed they made an Act wherein it was not lawful for an Orthodox man by any meanes to exercise his Ministry being made uncapable either of performing the duty or of enjoyning the maintenance of a Minister either as Chaplain Tutor Schoolmaster Curate Vicar or Pastor L. H.