a Remonstrance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament of the second of Novem. 1642. to these words wee did and doe say that the Soveraigne power doth reside in the King and both Houses of Parliament Here you thinke you have given the Replyer a faire fall and therefore insult over him ever and anon upon this point but forbeare Mr. Bellamy turpe insultare jacenti for however you thinke you have given the Replyer such a full and ample satisfaction yet all the world cannot so easily be satisfied and therefore though for my part I was never yet a Common Counsell man and therefore cannot so possitively speak to such deep states businesse yet since you are so willing to satisfy the ignorant what I shall say herein shall be by way of quere First then I quere Mr. Bellamy What meane you by three Estates I have heard the tearme once by the Bishops friends when they were a falling and they concluded that there were three Estates in this Kingdome viz. the King and the Lords temporall were the first Lords spirituall were the second the Commons the third Estate and they gave this reason that the King and the Lords were but one Estate because the King made the Lords but though the King conferr'd the Honours and profits of Bishops yet did not make the Bishops themselves they as Bishops were jure divino you determine it otherwise I pray you Sir a little more satisfaction to that point 2. What meane you by fundamentall you say the King Lords and Commons are the three Estates of which the fundamentall constitution of this Kingdome is made up are there three fundamentals I confesse I have not understood so much I ever thought there had been but one and that I took to be the Commons and these reasons made me think so First because I ever thought that the Commons made the King and the King made the Lords and sâ— the Commons were the Prime foundation Secondly I ever took this for a truth likewise that both the King and the Lords were advanced for the benefit quiet and welfare of the Commons and not the Commons made for them and if I was deceived the Common maxim of saluâ—-populi suprema lex deceived me You see my doubt you see my reason a little satisfaction here also Mr. Bellamy Thirdly I quere whether upon this supposition that the Kingdome is made up three Estates as you say and so wee must not understand the Parliament consisting of so many men but of three Estates distinct quatenus estates apart by themselves those are your termes I quere I say whether that the King and suppose the major part of the Lords which make up two Estates doe agree together suppose it be to set up absolute prerogative and the Commons will not assent here unto whether the major part of Estates must not conclude the minor the two conclude the third and so as for the Commons will they nil they slaves they must be and slaves they shall be your judgment here likewise good Mr. Bellamy Fourthly Whereas you say the King is present in Parliament viz. in his Kingly power though absent in person I quere whether he is present with them as a distinct Estate I know Sir hee is present in power in all his inferiour Courts of justice as well as in the parliament but is he present as a distinct estate If so if one distinct Estate may be present in power quatenus an estate and absent in person may not a second Estate be so present though absent in body yea a third Estate so present and yet absent in body and so we shall have three Estates in Parliament and not a man amongst them this is a Riddle indeed Mr. Bellamy I pray you unfould this also Fiftly The Replyer observing the Remonstrants ascribing only a share of the Supreame power to the House of Commons proposeth this question to them will not you allow so much power to the Kingdome Representative in reference to the Kingdom as to the representative City in reference to London see page 13. And so do I quere wil not the CoÌ„mons of London yeild of ascribe unto the Commons of England as the CoÌ„mons of London to thmselves wil ascribe Therefore Mr. Bellamy to make your absurdities the better appeare in your paralel between the Kingdome Representative and the City Representative I come upon you thus First you grant that the Common-councell is the City Representative page the 2. of your Vindication Secondly You grant that the House of Commons in Parliament assembled is the Kingdome Representative in the same page Thirdly You say the City Representative hath power to make a Law for those whom it Represents in the 12. page of your plea for the Cmonalty of London Fourthly I desire to know whether you allow the Kingdome Representative the same power to make a Law for those whom it represents if so then let us examine your argument May wee reason after your Logick Mr. Bellamy see your Sillogisme Sir in the said book called a plea for the Comonalty of London I think I hit the right name of it though the Replyer was mistaken before in the 12. page it stands thus That Court which hath a power to make a Law and by that Law to conferre a power upon the Lord Major and Aldermen which as Lord Major and Aldermen theâ— had not beforâ— must needs be quoad hoc unto the making of a Law above the Lord Major and Aldermen But this Court of Common-councell hath c. Ergo this Court of Common-councell so farre as to the making of a Law must needs be above the Lord Major and Aldermen Now Sir I quere only for I cannot presume such skill may not I reason thus after your patterne That Court that hath a power to make a law and by that law to conferre that power upon the King and Lords which as king and Lords they had not before must needs be quoad hoc unto the making of a Law above the King and Lords But the House of Commons which say you is the Kingdome Râ—presentative even as the Common-councell is the City Representative upon your supposition hath a power c. Ergo the House of Commons so farre as unto the making of a Law c. May I not reason thus likewise according to your example from your owne supposition still that Court which hath a power to make or repeale what lawes they judge meet for the Common wealth and whereunto the King himselfe is bound by his oath and therefore ought in duty to consent must needs be quoad hoc unto the making and repealing Lawes the Supream Court But the House of Commons which say you is the Kingdome Representative as the Common-conncell is of the City of London upon your supposiâ—ion hath such a power c. therefore Or may I not reason thus for I doe not conclude any thing I doe but as a Pupill to his Tuter propound queres to
proceedings against such persons whom your owne soule and consciâ—â—ce cannot but know to be as tender unto God as the apple of his eye will you put the Lord Iesus againe to open shame by representing his Servants and redeemed ones in the eyes of the world for Sectaries Schismaticks Hereticks will you prove the earth that drinketh the rainâ— that commeth oft upon it I meane one of those who have been so ancient a professor conversant in so many precious meetings heard and received so many glorious truths of God powred forth so many prayers and tears unto Cod made so many Covenants of love tendernes to the Saints of God professing such indeered intimate respects to godly men retained such noble resolutions to follow God according to your light c not bringing forth â—â—earbs I mean meat for him his children family viz. Glory to God love kindnesse gentlenesse meeknesse mercy goodnesse to his children meet for him by whom it is drest that you might receive a blessing but contrary wise bring forth thornes and briers scratching galling and vexing your brethren in the faith undermining their peace and comfort not only joyning with but stirring up the Magistrates against them and appearing in print in the vindication thereof is not the end of such ground everlasting burnings God deliver you from it consiâ—eâ— Sir your master is comming if you smite your fellow servants he will call you to an accompt for it and how will you answer it I know you doe not thinke that you persecute the Saints but what is persecuâ—ion if this is not To seeke for a suppression by an effectuall course of those Saints and servants of God that submit not to Presbyteriall Church Government which your selfe except altered of late in your judgement will not acknowledge of divine institution If you doe the same things which the Bishops did is it persecution in them not in you I hope Mr. Bellamy you have yet those sparkes in you of divine heat and fire which may yet kindle into a glorious flame quenchâ—t not I confesse it will be a great piece of selfe-denyall in you to retract such unworthy proceedings especially lying under such great temptations to the contrary as you doe but Sir the world to come is the everlasting world the riches thereof the durable substance the praise of God and not of men the chiefest honour consider of it and doe as God shall perswade your heart but listen then unto his perswasions and stifle not the motions and dictates of your owne light hereunto Consider Sir the day wasteth the night is comming your house of clay cannot last long your soule must shortly sit upon your trembling lips you have a precious soule in a vile body and your Antagonist loves it what ever you suppose who is more bold with you in this kind of dialect because you very well know the meaning thereof I have more to say concerning your booke otherwise I would be more pressing and urgent with you thâ—n I am But you demand What is Londons care of keep their Covenant now become Londons ruine I answer Sir did our Covenant bind us to suppresse all the holy godly conscientious sons daughters of God which were but even diâ—affected to Presbyteriall government if so bold I am to affirme that Londons care to keep the Covenant Will now become Londons ruine a bloody cruell cursed Covenant if that be the meaning of it but confident I am as there is no such thing exprest in the Covenant so no such meaning can be rationally gathered there from and therefore it is not the Covenant but such an interpretation that is here impleaded can wee think that the present Parliament of England the great benefactors of tender consciences for which the good will of him that dwelt in the Bush be ever amongst them would ever bind the inhabitants of this Kingdome in such amonstrous designe if persecution of tender consciences evidenced but by so much as disaffection â—o the Presbyterian government be the matter of the Covenant what have wee done but even struck hands with the Devill and said a confederacy with all his cursed seed that we will root out a great part of as holy harmelesse and blessed a generation as is in the world is this the meaning of the lifting up of your hands unto the most high God to give the greater blow upon the head of his servants here upon earth Surely Sir if I had lifted up my hand in taking the Covenant with such an intention I should have expected the withering of it and better it should be so then ever it should be found performing such a cursed thing but the truth is the holy Scripture it selfe by a wicked interpretation proves the bane and ruine of some and so may this Covenant upon such an interpretation but who ever it is that maketh such an interpretation of the Covenant let him be for ever numbered among the Cananites covenanted Enemies against the Isralites but let the Heavens be astonished and the earth tremble that ever any professing Christ not fild with malice and despite against the Spirit of grace should take such a covenant with such an interpretation You goe on with more interrogatories which are little more then meer flourishings and that which any impartiall man may answer even in reading them and therefore I shall wave them In the next place where you deale with the Replyer for I observe nothing else you take upon you to decide a State question and that none of the meanest neither I confesse some Common-councell men need to be states-men for they intermeddle with States-matters more I presume then ever any that were before them and more I beleive then ever God or man gave them authority to doe I feare some of them doe much forget themselves and take themselves to be Londons Parliament and not Londons Common-councell for it is the Kingdome the Church the State-affaires that they intermedle with not confining themselves unto their City-Charter but acting according to Parliament principles in time they may be better instructed but to the question and that is this Wherein resides the Supreame power of this Kingdome Mr. Bellamy answers thus The two Houses of Parliament viz. the Lords and Commons with the King who is alwaies in his Kingly power present with them though in person somtimes as now is absent from them are those three Estates of which the fundamentall constitution of this Kingdome is made up and have in them ioyntly and together all the Supreame power of this Kingdome and not any one of those three Estates considered apart and by it selfe can properly be said to have the whole Supreame power of the Kingdome residing in it and therefore the House of Commons being but one of those three estates well might the Remonstrants say that they are betrusted but with a share of the Supreame power of the Kingdome and for proofe of all this his reading referres us to
Master Bellamy That Court which hath a power to make Lawes and rules for all the Courts and people in the Kingdome to be steered and acted by and whereunto the King is bound bâ— oath to consent must needs have the supreame power of the Kingdome residing in it But the House of Commons in Parliament assembled which say you as the Kingdome Representative even as the Common-councell is the City Representative upon your supposition hath such a power c. Therefore the House of Commons hath it seemes even by your owne arguing the Supreame power of the Kingdome lesiding in it One touch moâ—e Mr Bellamy from your Plea for the Comonalty of Lâ—nâ—on 〈…〉 Mr. Bâ—llamy you grant this arguing from your for 〈…〉 of the Kingdome and City Representative to 〈…〉 or â—râ—â—se I may reason upon you and that thus Sir He thâ—â— shâ—ll aâ—â—â— be that power unto the City Representatiâ—e in refâ—ence to the government of the City which he shall deny unto the Kingdome Representative in râ—ference to the Government of thâ— Kingdom doth quoad hoc preferre the City Representative in its power before the Kingdome representative in its power But Mr. Bellamy ascribes that power unto the City Representative in reference unto the government of the City which he denyes unto the Kingdome Representative in reference unto the government of the Kingdome Thereforâ—â— Bâ—llamy doth quoad hoc preferre the City Representative above the Kingdome Representative The Major proposition I think will not bee denyed for the proofe or the minor I must doe two things First shew what power Mr. Bellamy ascâ—ibes unto the City Representative in reference to the government of the City Secondly shew what he denies the Kingdome Representative iâ— reference to the government of the Kingdome Forth first Mr. Bellamy ascribes so much power unto the City Representative in reference unto the government of the City that the Lord Majâ—r and Aldermen must have no negative vote as Lord Major and Aldermen out must be considered as so many distinct persons together with the Commons concluding by the major vote of the whole Conjunctim and as unto such conclusions regarding the Lord Major and Aldermen but as so many distinct persons aâ— is the whole drift of the 15. and 16. pages of the said Plea for the Comonalty of Londâ—â— Secondly let us consider what he deniâ—â— the Kingdome Representative in reference unto the government of England and that is in termâ—â—is that the Suprâ—am◠〈◊〉 of this Kingdome doth not râ—side there neither wiâ—â— he 〈◊〉 the King Lords Commons in Parliament to be conâ—â—â—erâ—â— peâ—sonaliter and as so many distinct persons but 〈…〉 so then this 〈…〉 case The City is governâ—â—joy Common-councell consisting of Lord Major 〈…〉 Commons of the City but not three distinct Estaâ—e but as 〈…〉 men amounting to such a number the may 〈◊〉 concluding but the Kingdoâ— is governâ—â— by a Parliament 〈◊〉 sâ—tting of King Lords Commons not consider 〈…〉 persâ—ns who have their equall vot◠〈…〉 Mr. Bellamy and so the two Estates being the major part of Estate must conclude the third Now I appeale to all whether according to Mr. Bellamyes Logick the Kingdom representative which he himself saith is the House of Commons be not quâ—ad hoc 〈…〉 in its power in 〈◊〉 government of the Kingdome then the City 〈◊〉 in â—â—ference for the government of the City Well Mr. Bellamy 〈◊〉 the case be so I only quere for my further satisfaction and untiâ—â— you have answered these queâ—es do not insult over 〈…〉 nor charge him with destroying the power of two â—statâ—s oâ— the Kingdome when he did 〈◊〉 dâ—sire you â—o 〈◊〉 him the tâ—uth as concerning the residence of the suprâ—ame power of the Kingdome until I heare your answers I shall never in 〈◊〉 of your 〈…〉 to vnâ—ouâ—d Riddles and by 〈…〉 your selfe thâ— questions will be no 〈◊〉 unto you neither are they intended so to 〈◊〉 Take heed you doe not make a Nâ—t of your answers Here you slide â—rom the Replyer and deale with others as Lieu. Col. John Lilburn and anon after with Mr. 〈◊〉 Burroughs and the truth is I wonder how you can write so irreverently of him as you doe you call him one of the most moderate opposers of Presbyteriall Government and as if your bitternesse and unworthinesse of Spirit did resolve to be master you checke your soft saying with if any of them may truly be so called well Sir what say you of Mr. Burroughs thus in his book which he writ against Doctor Ferne page 125. of the first impression of his book called the glorious name of the Lord of Hosts but in the last impression the 9. page It seemes by the way that Doctor Ferne and you are agreed and now what was written against Doctor Ferne proves written against you is this becomming a christian thus in your Spirituall warfare at the command of the world to face to the right to the left to the front to the reare halfe face face about and as you were but what saith Mr. Burroughs in the place before quoted thus But if the Parliament should degenerate and grow tyrannicall what meanes of safety could there be for a State Answ I confesse the condition of such a State would be very dangerous and like to come to confusion particular men could not helpe themselves and the whole State ought to suffer much before it should helpe it selfe by any wayes of resisting but if you can suppose a Parliament so farre to degenerate as all to conspire together with the King to destroy the Kingdome and to possesse the lands and riches of the Kingdome themselves in this case whether a law of nature would not allow of standing up to defend our selves yea to reassume the power given to them to discharge them of that power they had and to set up some other I leave to the light of nature to judge You will say This cannot be because the higher Powers must not be resisted by any Answ This is not properly to resist the power but to discharge the power and to set the power else-where hitherto Mr. Burroughs and is this all you can say of Mr. Burroughs It is well malice it selfe can pick no worse from his writings and truly Sir you might have spared your marginall hand and finger except you intended to direct the Reader to observe your ignorance and envy in collecting his saying for first Mr. Burroughs did assert nothing but left it to any mans determination whether the Law of Nature would not allow of such and such a course in such and such a case and it seemes you the State case resolver generall undertakes the decision Once more Mr. Bellamyâ— give us but this foundation to build upon as none but malignant-royalists will deny it viz. salus populi suprema lex and then I thinke you will hardly like a wise and solid man speak otherwise to that point the rest of your proceedings in your Vindication is
will be ever an annon before our eyes and as we apprehend it we shall speake unto it OR AN ANSWER TO TWO LATE LIBELLS PUBLISHED BY TWO ANONYMUSSES 1 And why two libells Mr. Bellamy you might have forborne that untill you had proved them so but it seemes this is a tast of your Presbyteriall justice we are like to find from you when power is in your hands First passe sentence and after examine what ever it is because written as you suppose by an Antipresbyter it must needs be a Libell is this Christian Mr. Bellamy to condemn mens persons for Heretiques Sectaryes Schismatiques though you never define the things you affirme their doctrines for errours untruths blasphemies though you heare not what they say their writings for lyes falsity libells so soone as ever you looke on their bookes But Secondly must they needs be libells because reflecting upon the City Remonstrance is not the Remonstrance it selfe reflecting upon the High Court of Parliament by this kind of arguing what would follow Thirdly Are they therefore libells because written by two Anonymusses if so how many Presbyterian Libells doe you fell in a yeare may it not as well be the modesty of some to forbeare as the impudency of others as the case may stand to affix their names to their writings some men will blush even in a good cause when others will brazen their foreheads and audaciously set to their names to that which is bad apprehension of selfe abilities wit and worth and affectation of popularity being strong temptations hereunto but what are names to things the Author to the matter doth this adde or take away it is the weakenesse of the Reader when the knowledge of the Author helpes his opinion as touching the matter he that shall judge the better of your vindication because Iohn Bellamy appeares in the frontispiece or the worse of the reply because written by an Anonymus is more acquainted with titles then bookes and regards more the authority of mens persons then Arguments but because some men cannot find fault with that that is they will be quibling at that that is not and truly Sir by that time your vindication hath been throughly examined it willappeare to have been as much for your credit if you had crouded your selfe among the sect of Anonymusses as to stand out by the name of Iohn Bellamy In the title page thereof And the truth is of all Sects that is the most innocent for though they differ from one another in many points yea all the heavens over yet they never seeke the ruine and distruction of one another may not you learn of them Mr. Bellamy Fourthly In the fourth place are they therefore Libells because containing in them lyes falsities untruths as for one of those bookes viz. the Interest of England maintained I never read and therefore shall not at all intermeddle therewith but leave it to the Authors justification as for the other viz. The moderate reply to the Citie Remonstrance I confesse I have read it over and over once and againe and however there may possibly be mistakes more then enough for the holy Scripture it selfe excepted where is that writing without mistakes surely neither this Vindication nor the City Remonstrance are any but I am so perswaded of that spirit that fram'd it that he would not willingly write lyes for all the estate and preferment either Civill or Martiall that the Citie or Kingdome can conferre upon him but let us see what mistakes untruths or lyes you can find therein that so we may the better know the nature of a libell hereafter Fiftly In the last place are they therefore Libells because little bookes though the word is alwayes taken with us in the bad sence yet it properly signifies nothing more why then your Vindication yea the Remonstrance it selfe with those you speake of may all passe for Libells and the Authors of them all for so many Libellers We have done with your title-page wherein you have been very free in accusations and promises but how short you are in the proofe of the one and performance of the other your booke will declare It begins thus in Capitall letters A VINDICATION OF THE CITY REMONSRANCE That is A Vindication of that which is invindicable and therefore better it would be that both the City Remonstrance and the Vindication thereof were written in Ashes with the finger of vanitie then in marble with the pen of a Diamond except men should looke upon it as a beauty spot the better to set off the other more faire beautifull and praise-worthy expresses from the City of London But to come to your Booke You begin with a truth in the position and proofe to this purpose Sathans instruments like Athaliah 2 King 11. have alwayes accused others first whereof themselves are chiefly guilty even so the disturbers of the quiet and peace of the Church and State viz. the Heretiques and Sectaries which of late in this Nation doe so much abound cry out upon those which endeavour their discovery as the only perturbers of the Parliaments proceedings Ans It was the observed custome of the Bishops Chaplins great Apostates in their latter dayes that they did very frequently carrie on the Doctrinall part of their Sermons after a very sollid and orthodox manner but mar'd all in the Application thereof bending the force of all that they said against the peaceable in the Earth the sons and daughters of the most high God under the black and ugly vizards of Heretiques and Sectarâ—es disturbers of the quiet and peace of the Church and State even so Mr. Bellamy whose former wayes were the very selfe same as shall be proved anon upon which the mallice ignorance and envie of those present times writes Heresies Sectarisme Disturbance of the quiet and peace of the Church and State layes downe a truth in the position cleares it by Scripture but bends the application of it against others though it turnes back like a sharpe sword into his owne side for see his applycation of the aforesaid truth Mr. Bellamy Aâ— by two late libells put forth in answer to the City Remonstrance and in defence of Heretiques and Sectaries doth appeare But Sir were you as wise or rather conscientions in giving to every one his portion and to devide the word of truth aright as you seeme to be able to observe truth from the word you would apply it else where and nor where you have done for if you examine things by their nature or by their effects you shall not find the moderate Reply but the City Remonstrance to be the disturber of the quiet and peace of the Church and State witnesse the divisions which it hath wrought in Bedfordshire Hartfordshire Norfolke Suffolâ—â— and in many other places an accompt whereof you may have in season raising up parties after Londons example to set forth such peremptory Remonstrances to the Parliament and people as never were known in this Kingdome before
dâ—ssent from it c. For this as Paul did referre the Athenians to one of their owne Poets so shall I you to your own Oracle the City Remonstrance where you do in expresse terms affirme from the botome of your heart you do seriously professe before Almighty God that you do not conceive it in the power of any humane Authority King Lords Commons together or apart in Parliament or out of ParliameÌ„t to discharge or absolve you from adhering to the Covenant see Mr. Bellamy if you your self with al your brethen Remonstrants do not make good w ht I have affirm'd viz. that when the Kngdome representative acts in a direct evident obvious manner against the expresse will word of God the Kingdome collective ought in duty to dissent from it if not to protest against it and thus Mr. Bellamy your foot is taken in that very snare which you laid for your Brethren now Sir should I as weakly sult over you as you do over the Replier I may say what I pray you will thaâ— produce think you in the common Wealthâ—er Kingdom of England and anon after if this be not then I pray tell me what is the highway to desolution of Parliaments and consequently to the distructon of the Kingdome and therefore have not I as good reason to say to you and the rest of the Remonstrants as you had to the Replyer either shew me whether the Remonstrants have not said as much as the replyer or else confesse your error and cry peccavimus but to go on the Replier saith All which granted as cannot be denied You demand what he meanes by all which granted as cannot be denied I answer for him that surely he meanes nothing but what he did affirme Viz The undoubted truth of those 4 conclusions for he had said no more although he might have made it very good that the Common couâ—cell had acted in all and every one of the 4. fore-mentioned cases I shall instance in the first of the 4 and if that be cleared that the Common-councell by their Remonstrance did act in a direct evident and obvious manner against the expresse will and word of God it will follow that they did act against the apparent welfare of City and Kingdome c. LET VS TRY THEN WORD OF GOD. CITY REMONSTRANCE Rom. 14 5. Let every man he fully perswaded in his own minds That as we are subjects of one Kingdom so all may be equally required be they perswaded in their own minds or not perswaded to yeeld obedience to the government 〈◊〉 forth or to be set forth by Parliament Rom. 14. 13. That no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in bâ— brothers wâ—y That all such Sectaries as conforme not to the publique Discipline established or to See stablished may be fully declared against and some effectuall course setled for proceeding against such persons 5. Petition Heare is a stuâ—blingblock viz. a menace in a Brothers way Deut 19. 15. At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every thing be established That Quarter-man may be brought to some exemplary punishment for the affront done by him c. Though no such thing was ever proved by one witnesse or testimony that what he did was any affront done to the priviledges and government of the City Hang him hang him what hath he done Mat. 7. 12. As you would that men should doe unto you so doe unto them for this is the Law and the Prophets Page 3. We will not receive impression of any forced construction of the Covenant Compare this with page the 7th The 4. Petition That no person disaffected to Presbyterian Government may be imployed in any place of publique trust but some effectuall course setled to proceed against such persons as in the 3. Petition Presbyteriall government is not in the Covenant therefore an interpretation and this you force upon others though you will receive no forced construction of the same your selves And thus the word of God and the City Remonstrance proclaime open warre one against the other and it is no hard matter to determine which shall get the victory and take the spoyle And for the other 3. cases the Replyer hath said more then your Vindication as substantiall as it is hath yet disproved But let us heare what your Vindication further affirmeth The Replier dealeth with your Remonstrance 1. In the Narrative Part of it 2. Petitionary Part of it 3. The tendency and dangerous effects of both 1. In the Narative part of it he tels you the phrase and Dialect of it carried afull complyance with his Majesties wonted declarations against the Parliament to this you answer it complies in verbis with a declaration of the House of Commons and referres your reader to the Remonstrance of the state of the Kingdome Page 19. where there are in deed the same words with your Remonstrance the Replier tels you that the phrase stile and dialect of your Remonstrance agrees with the Kings wonted declarations against the Parliament infinuating into the people that all manner of Heresies and Sectaries c. are tolerated by the Parliament c. you doe not seem to deny such things in the Kings Declarations but you deny any such things in the City Remonstrance and for this you compare the words of the Remonstrance with the words of the Replyer and demand whether the words of the Remonstrance be the same with the words of the Replier I answer you the Replier did not say they were the same but yet they were insinuations for the boldest and brazen â—ac'd Malignant that is durst not positively affirme it in the Parliaments quarters and should we produce as a very little labour will serve to doe it several passages and expressions from the tongues pens and pulpits of severall and divers sorts of men who had no small influence in the businesse of the City Remonstrance and reference unto it since it came out it would very easily appeare what were the Insinuations of the phrase stile and dialect thereof you say the Sectaries are incouraged by their misconstruction of that expression in the late declaration concerning tender consciences but how doe you know they are incouraged Surely it must be your observation of them and their expressions as you have occasion to converse with them give us but this ground to build assertions upon and we can boldly affirme that the phrase stile and dialect of the City-Remonstrance insinuates that the Parliament under a pretence of their respects to tender consciences designes a toleration of Sectaries Heretiques c. and more that Malignants Royalists Cavaliers Ignorant Scandalous Prophane Lewd and wicked persons are more imboldned encouraged tickled and comforted by this Remonstrance then by anything that ever came out against the Parliament blessed be God the Parliament hath still respect unto tender consciences surely the Remonstrants consciences were not very tender in taking any offence thereat and if they were
not offended why is there not one word in all the Remonstrance arguing some care in reference to Tender conscience nay if there be but disaffection unto Presbyteriall government in any though never so holy Godly learned fit able yet let them not have any place of trust in martiall or civill affaires saith this hard hearted Remonstrance You bid the Replyer tell you which are the words in the Remonstrance which intimates to the people that a sacred obligation lyeth upon them from the solemne league and covenant unto a downe right suppression of all those who out either of weake or tender conscience cannot submit to Presbyteriall government He tell you they are the words of the Second Third and Fourth Petition wherein you desire that all non-conformists to Presbyterie may be proceeded against and put out from any place of publique trust and this you inferre to be the intent of the Covenant by comparing these petitions with the third page of the Remonstrance upon which you build the same In the next place you except against the Replyer for saying the Parliament hath promised in severall Declarations a gracious respect unto Tender Conscience You bid him shew those Declarations it seemes you are wiâ—â—ing to hide your eyes from such observations in the Parliaments Declarations as though this were an abomination to you that they should have any respect to Tender Consciences have you foâ—gotten the very last Declaration of the 17 of Aprill 1646 page 5 Pray you mind it it is worth your imitation it is the Parliament of Englands Declaration by your own assertion for you call the House of Commons the Parliament In the 4 page of this Vindication and the last Line and were I as well furnished with bookes as your selfe doubtlessed I could shew you severall other Declarations where they promised a Christian respect unto Tender Consciences I am sorty Mr. Bellamy you should be so apt now adayes to â—ast out of your memory the praise worthy acts of the Parliament You proceed againe affirming the Replyer chargeth another falshoâ—d upon the Remonstrants by this interrogation is it not most abjurd that the Parliament shall compose and enjoyne the Covenant and other shall put their sense upon it and endeavour the enforcement of their owne sense both upon them and the whole Kingdome for no lesse is insinuated saith he in this Remonstrance page 3. I pray you Sir doe not you enforce both upon the Parliament and whole Kingdome this to be the sense of the Covenant viz. such an universal settlement of the Presbyteriall government as that all that will not submit thereunto should be by some effectuall course proceeded against admitted into no place of publique trusts and yet you say you will not receive any forced construction thereof and doe not you in your owne judgement walke according to the word of God in so doing and yet you endeavour to enforce all Annabaptists Brownâ—usts Sectaries c. to receive this for a reformation viz. Presbyteriall Government and is there such a word in the Covenant is it not therefore a forced interpretation You goe on and tell the Replyer he jeares you in saying you told the People in print as well as the Parliament in their written Remonstrance what vowes you have made in the Covenant and bring in the order of the House of Lords for the printing thereof together with their gracious answer thereunto as your justification for your princing the same and hereupon you quibble and insult over the Replyer as if now you had met with him to purpose but I le answer for him by asking you a question or two Did the House of Lords command or order the printing of your Remonstrance before it was ever tendered to them I am confident they did not and as confident I am and can prove it by a cloud of witnesses that a copy of that Remonstrance of which the Replyer speakes was printed come forth of the Presse and many of them sold when you were at Westminster with the Originall thereof yea severall houres before you came home Secondly I demand further did their Lordships order that Remonstrance to be printed which you tendered to the House of Commons If they did not you doe but falter and baffle as if you had children to deale withall by urging their Lord-ships order to print that that was delivered to them as a justification of printing the other and the Replyer speakes of that which was tendered to the Commons not of that which was tendered to the Lords Page 3. You said the Replyer deales like a jugglâ—r who juggles now Mr. Bellamy Doubtlesse juggling better becomes an Anonymus then a Colonell In the next place you demand of the Replyer wherein the Remonstrance discourageth the Parliament and it is answered to your hands by pressing them to a suddain enfeebling of their strength by crushing a considerable party of as Cordiall friends as ever they had since the wars began And is not this evident when you desire an effectuall course might be taken for the suppression of all those whereof there are many thousands in the Kingdome as cordiall friends to the Parliament as any the Remonstrants whatsoever who cannot submit to Presbyteriall government In the next place you begin with an Interrogation and as if you had gotten a commission to insult thus What Is Londons care to keep their Covenant now become Londons ruine c. Doubt lesse these are doctrines of a new date and neere a kinne to those new lights which so many now a dayes doe so much boast of Whether now Mr. Bellamy I professe my heart akes and my hand trembles shall I write or shall I forbeare I passed by your scoffing at new lights page 10. once before and tooke no notice of it But I meet with it againe yea with an additionall scoffe Doctrines of a new date and new Lights well Sir are you not ashamed to appeare as you doe against your brethren under the name of Heretiques Sectaries Schismatiques in Common-Counsell in the City Remonstrance and in print after such a jearing and scoffing manner what can the world judge of your selfe who have made so many turnings in matters of Religion as you have made How can you scoffe at new lights since your selfe have been of so many various and contrary opinions in matters of Religion If intelligence speakes true you are that Mr. John Bellamy who was borne at or neere Oundle in North-Hamptonshire a Sonne of the Church of England under Episcopasie who after breeding yeares and capacity had made you meet was brought up to London and bound Apprentice to Mr. Nicolas Bourne Citizen and Stationer of London and in a considerable part of the time of your Apprentice-ship As concerning Religion for thereto only I refâ—rre was a very zealous professor even to a very popular observation exercising such strictnesse and exactnesse in keeping and preserving that rich Jewell a quiet and tender conscience as that you would not
of little worth granting almost what the Replyer required only I see you most extreamely shuffling in one point that were you nor so well skil'd in facings might make men wonder at you and that is where the Replyer chargeth an untruth in the Remonstrance and bring in your self to stand by him and that is about the displacing or casting out of Mr. Quarterman from his Marshall ship of London the Remonstrance saith the City did cast him out the Replyer saith the City did not cast him out but it was the Lord Major and Court of Aldermen which are not the City either collective or representative in no sense the City as having power hereunto and hee produceth you to stand by him What Master Bellamy will you not stand by him in your booke called a Plea for the Commonalty of London wee have your judgement under your hand in blacke and white and will you faulter now you are called out to make it good Had you not better been an Anonymus when you writ that booke Then Master John Bellamy what kind of man are you They that observe your sayings what they have been formerly concerning the King concerning the Lords concerning the power of the Commons whispering your thoughts in the ears of many that now speak of it what your carriages have been not very long since in the Common Councel in or among your brethren the Stationers the Committee appointed for the keeping up and maintaining the expository Lectures and what your carriages are now stand with admiration and amazement at your wheeling thus about You say little more to the Replyer only I find you once more in an extreame heat of passion against him because he told the Remonstrant s of their pressing the Parliament to a suddaine payment of their debts c. you take on thus What is it now come to that passe that when the City and Cityzens of London who have lent and expended for the use and service of the Parliament more and greater vast sums ofâ—money then ever any if not all the Cities in the Land have done nay then ever any Citie in all the world a great word Mr. Bellamy and you need to be as able and dilligent a Reader as seller of bookes to make good what you say have done at any one time to and for the service of that State in which it stood and yet must it now by an Anonymus a Libeller be taxed c. Hold Mr. Bellamy leâ—'s have lesse of your passion and more of your reason doe not you give as just an occasion for others to say if they should steer their pens by your compasse What is it now come to that passe Shall not only the City overtaken as the best of Ciâ—ies may sometimes be see forth as strange a Remonstrance reflecting prejudice upon a Parliament that have done more and suffered more for them and by whom they have received more good then by any Parliament that ever they had nay it is verily believed then ever any Parliament in the world ever did for a City in any state where it hath been but must a private person a John Bellamy an Episcopall man an Anti-Episcopall man an Anâ—baptist an Anti-Anabaptist a Separate an Anti Sepâ—rate an Episcopall man again an Anti Episcopall man a Presbyterian a halfe Presbyterian so bi-fronted as to deny Presbyterie to be Jure Divino and yâ—t helping on the pressing and inforcing of it upon his bretâ—ren that cannot submit unto it because they cannot see it Jure Devino a Sectary an Anti-Sectarie a Schismatique an Anti Schismatique a Scoffer at new lights Doctrines of a new date a some thing an any thing an every thing must such a man as this stand forth in print with his vindication of such a Remonstrance You have a few words more yet to the Replyer he tells you he knowes not your meaning by private and separate Congregations you tell him what the City meanes but truly Sir except you shew your commission to be the City Interpreter you must give men leave yet to scruple what they meant thereby he tells you again he knowâ—s not your meaning by Anâ—baptists and Brownists you tell him they mean those so called by the Parliament not by the King printed in the booke of Declarations pag 659. What ever the Replyer thinkes I believe the Remonstrantes meanes those who ever they be that are but disâ—ffected to Presbyteriall Government as will easily appeare by comparing that second Petition of the Remonstrance with the third and fourth which next followes You find fault with the Replyer because he will not joyne with you in the third Petition viz. that as wee are all subâ—â—cts of one Kingdome so all may be equally required to yeild obedience to that government set forth or to be set forth by the Parliament The Reâ—â—yer saith that such a thing is against Religion and reason you answer no the meaning of this Petition is that one Law may equalâ—y obâ—iegâ— every Subject in this Kingdome and for this you give us a cluster of proofes you bid the Replyer make it out iâ— he can â—f there was any more then one Law that did bind the Church of Israell of old in the times of any of the Pattiarchs the Judges the Kings the Governors either before in or after the Captivity oâ— since the comming of Christ or of the Apostles either in the Churches of Jerusalem Antioch Rome Corinth Galatia Ephesus Philippi Colosse Thessalouica and the seven Churches of Asia c. But what is all this to the point in hand were any of these Churches you speake of governed by a politticall government according to the prudence of the States wherein they were or according to a divine rule given unto them from God doe yon Mr. Bâ—llamy with your bretheren Remoâ—strants desire the ParliameÌ„t to settle that pâ—atâ—forme of government which Christ hath appointed or noâ—lâ— no alâ— yâ—ur great â—cap of Scripâ—ure â—nstances are not to the purpose 〈◊〉 so be you doe so Why then one turne more Mr. Bellamy and conlesse that though yesterday you did not own any plat forme of Church government to be Jurediâ—ino yet to day you have new light and if so doe no longer jeare at new â—ight 〈◊〉 so be you hold Church government to be Jure politice why then iâ—â—he Parliament judge Jus politicum to permit uâ—en differing in judgment in that point let them alone You have here done with the Replyer and â—un to his Partner and let him answer you for I neither know him nor his Book FINIS