People freely to Elect their Representatives In the Year 1634. The Design of Ship-Money was first set on Foot and Attorney General Noâ— being consulted about he pretends out of some Musty Records to find an Ancient President of raising a Tax on the Nation by the Authority of the King alone for setting out a Navy in case of danger which was thereupon put in Execution though noâ— without great Discontent both among the Clergy and Laiety Discontents in Scotland likewise began to increase and a Book was Printed and Published charging the King with indirect Proceedings and having a tendency to the Rtmish Belief And now to blow up these Scotch Sparks to a Flame C. Richeliâ— sent over his Chaplain and another Gentleman to heighten their Differences And some time aâ—ter viz. the latter end of the Year 1653. great Differences arose about Church-Matters in England chiefly occasioned by A. B. Laud's strict enjoyning many new Ceremonies not formerly insisted on and now vehemently opposed by those called Puritans to whom adhered many of the Episcopal Party Several Gentlemen of Quality had refused to pay the Ship-Money and among the rest Esquire Hambden of Bucks upon which the King refers the whole Business to the Twelve Judges in Michdelmas Term 1636. Ten of whom gave their Judgments against Hambden but Hutton and Cook refused it The King 1637. Issuing out a Proclamation in Scotland Commanding the Use of the Liturgy Surplice Altar c. There occasioned great Disorders and Tumults among the Common People who sometime after with the Genâ—ry entred into a Solemn League and Covenant to preserve the Religion then profest The Covenant the Scots were resolved to maintain and to that purpose they sent privately for General Lesley and other great Officers from beyond Sea providing themselves likewise with Arms c. After this they Elect Commissioners for the general Assembly whom they cite to move the Arch Bishops and Bishops to appear there as guilty Persons which being refused the People present a Bill of Complaint against them to the Presbitery at Edenburg who accordingly warned them to appear at the next General Assembly At their Meeting the Bishops sent in a Protestation against their Assembly which the Covenanters thought not fit to Read And soon after they abolished Episcopacy and then prepared for a War On which the King prepares an Army against them with which Anno. 1639. He Marches in Person into the North but by the Mediation of some Persons a Treaâ—ise of Peace was begun but soon broken off The King therefore confiders how to make Provisions for Men and Money and calling a Secret Cabinet Council consisting only of Lauâ— Strafford and Hamilton it was concluded That for the Kingâ—s Supply a Parliament must be Called in England and another in Ireland The Scots fore-seeing the Storm prepared for their own Defence making Treaties in Swedeâ— Denmark Holland and Poland And the Jesuits who are never â—dle endeavoured to Foment In the Year 1640. and the Sixteenth of the Kings Reign a Parliament was Called in which the King prâ—sses theâ—â—or a speedy Supply to Suppress what he calls the Violences of the Scots buâ— this Parliament not complying with the Kings desire were by the advice of the Iuncto Dissolved having only sate Twenty Two Days Laud by his violent Proceedings against those called Puritans and by his strict enjoyning of old un-observed Ceremonies which by many were thought Popish procured to himself much Hatred from the generality of People That upon May 9. 1640. a Paper was fixt on the Royal Exchange inciting the Prentices to go and Sack his House at Lambeth the Monday aâ—ter but the Arch-Bishop had notice of their Design and provided accordingly that at the time when they came endeavouring to enter his House they were repulsed The King calls a select Juncto to consult about the Scots where the Earl of Strafford delivered his Mind in such terms as afterwards proved his ruine War against them was resolved on and Money was to be procured one way or other The City was invited to Lend but absolutely reâ—used Some of the Gentry contributed indifferent freely So that with their assistance the Army was compleated the King himself being Generalissimo marches his Army into the North where was some Action in which the Scots had the better A Treaty is then set on foot and at last concluded the chief Conditions for the calling a Parliament in England who accordingly Met Nov. 3. 1640. And the King in his Speech tells them That the Scotish Troubles were the cause of their Meetingâ— and therefore requires them to consider of the most expedient means for câ—sting them out and desired a Supply from them for maintaining of his Army The Commons began with the Voting down all Monopolies and all such Members as had any benefit by them were voted out of the House They then voted down Ship-Money with the Opinion of the Judges thereupon to be Illegal and a charge of High Treason was ordered to be drawn up against Eight of them and they begun with the Keeper Finch Decemb. 11. Alderman Pennington and some Hundreds of Citizens presented a Petition subscribed by 15000 Hands against Church Discipline and Ceremonies and then the Commons Voted That the Clergy in a Convocation have no power to make Canons or Laws without Parliaments and that the Canons are against the Fundamental Laws of the Realm the King's Prerogative and the Property of the Subject the Right of Parliaments and tend to Faâ—tion and Sedition In pursuance hereof a Charge was ordered to be drawn up against Arch-Bishop Laud and others and after voted Guilty of High Treason and sent to the Tower The Scâ—ts likewise preferred a Charge against the Arch-Bishop and the Earl of Strafford requiring Justice against them both as the great Incendiaries and Disturbers both of Church and Stâ—te On Monday March 25. 1640. the Earl of Sâ—rafford's Tryal began in Westminâ—ter Hall the King Queen and Prince being present and the Commons being there likewise as a Committee at the managing their Accusation the chief of whom was Pym. The Earl made a long defence but the Commons were resolved to prosecute him to Death and to proceed against him by Bill of Attainder which they proceeded to dispatch And upon the 25th of Apâ—il they passed the Bill and a few days after the Lords did likewise The Bill being finished and the King willing to save the Earl May 21. makes a Speech to both Houses in the Earl's behalf and so Dismissed them to their great Discontent Which was propagated so far that May 23. weâ—e 1000. Citizens most of them Armed came thronging to Westminster crying out for Justice against the Earl of Strafford On Sunday following the King consulted the Judges and several Bishops Mâ—nday May 10. The King gives Commission to several Lords to Pass Two Billsâ— One the Bill of Attainder against Strafford the Other for continuing the Parliament during the Pleasure of Both Houses The next
but their pity and compassion â—o thâ— King which would not permit them to expose him so black tho it was as certain that they frequently imported their knowledge to their Friends Noâ— did it a litâ—le add to confirm the Truth of what is here related That Emislariâ—s should be sâ—nt from the Court to deal under-hand with the Coroner and the Jury to have gotten a Verdict of Felo de se â— But the Proofs of his being murthered were so apparent such as his Neck being broke and the cleanness of his Shoâ—s that nothing could corrupt the Jury from bringing it in otherwise than it was Under these distresses did the King and Duke labour terribly afraid of the approaching Parliament for the sake of their Popish Minions and Instruments whose utmost Care and Industry could not prevent itâ— but that several of Coleman's Letters and Papers were found which detected the Negotiations of the King and Duke for all the World can never separate them by maintaining that the Duke durst ever have transacted such Treasons abroad being then no more than another Subject without his Brother's consent so that they were in an extraordinary quandary whether the Parliament should Sit or not But the King 's extream necessity for Money prevailed upon him to let them Sit Besides that the King who had all along acted under his Protestant Mask was sensible that the Kingdom would have cry'd out Shameâ— had he put off the Parliament at such a conjuncture of Combuâ—tion and Distraction as that was But when the Parliament met according to the usual wont how many Stories and Shams was there endeavoured to be put upon them For in the interval of the Session notwithstanding that the Parliament had givâ—n him Money to Disband the New-raised Army He to try an Experiment how the Nation would brook his wrigling iâ—to that Arbitrary Power which he aimed at all along had spent the Money upon his other Occasions and kept up the Army still Nevertheless to excuse the Fraud which he had put upon the disgusted Nâ—tion he tells the Parliament That he had been obliged â—o keep up his Troops to keep his Neighbours from absolute Despair and that he had bâ—en sollicitâ—d from abroad not to Disband them Now was ever such a Story told by a Prince and vouched in the Face of the Nation by a bred Lawyer viz. his Chancellor to justifie the Breach of a Law of the Three Estaâ—es of the Kingdom as soon as made and then to â—â—im the Parliament off with Christendom and the Worlds commending us for the breaking our own Laws to patch up a Peace which tended to nothing but the ruine of those for whom it was made The Sum of which was in short that the King to serve his own Arbitrary Ends had run himself into an Inconvenience by defrauding the Nation however the Parliament was to be contented with it and to pay for it to boot that is to pay double for the keeping up a Popish Army to secure the Protestant Religion But the Parliament taking little notice of these fine Stories fell to the main Business which was to sound the depth of the Plot. Upon Examination of which notwithstanding that many Papers of great Importance had with a more than ordinary Industry been conveyed away â—et by those that were sound so much appeared that the House Voâ—â—d it to be a Damnable Plot to root up and desâ—â—â—y the Religion and Government of the Kingdom and privately got the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs to Sign Warrants for the Apprehending the Popish Lords which was done accordingly Anâ— for their further Security they prepared a Bill for putting the Nation into a posture of Defence and for raising the Miâ—iâ—ia throuâ— hour the Kingdom to be in Aâ—ms for so many days which passed both Houses without â—ny difficulty but the King out of his Zeal to the Protestant Religion refused to Pass it And then it was that the Parliament found too late the Complement which they had pasâ—ed upon him in returning him the Power of the Militia which he made use of keeping up standing Armies for their Destruction but refused for the Security of the Nation This therefore not prevailing they began to provide against Papists Sitting in either House and â—ram'd a Bill with a Test to be taken by every Member of both Houses â— or else to losse thâ—ir Seat This though his Protestant Majesty did not openly oppose himself yet after a close Consulâ—ation held at St. Iames's He ordered all his Instruments in the Lords House to witâ—stand the passing of it thereâ— which though â—hey could not Effect yet they prevailed so far that they got a Proviso in it â—or the D. of York whereby they did him the kindness as to declare him a Papist to all the World After this the Parliament proceeded to the Impeachâ—ng of such Persons as they had found to be dâ—epest in the Contrivance of all our Mischiefs but That his Majesty lookt upon 't as a Business that so â—early concerned his own Honour that like his Father when the Duke oâ— Bâ—ckingham was accused of poysoning Iames I he would not endâ—re the Parliament in such a Iehu-like Chase after the Popish Conspirators but Foot baâ—â—ed them again with a Prorogation for several Months So careful was his Proâ—estant Majesty to stiâ—e as much as in him lay and to prevent the Prosecution of an Inâ—ernal Plot which he knew was so deeply laid like the Axe of Popary to the Root of all his Protestant Dominions Nor was this all for so soon as he had dismissed the Parliament and had secured his Accomplices he took all the Care imaginable to discredit Oates and Bedlow's Evidence Forty One was again inculcâ—ted into all the ignorant Paâ—es about the Town and Merry â— Andrew Roger had his Pension out of the Gazette coutinued to ridicule the Plot which he did in a most leud and shameless manner and Money given to set up a new Divinity Academy in a publick Coffee-House to Act the Protestant Whore of Babylon and give about his Revelation Cup to the Raw Inferior Clergy and instract them in beâ—â—er Doctrine than ever they learnt in the University Nor did he stop at the endeavouring to discredit the Testimonies of those Witnesses but sent his Head Emissaâ—ies to corrupt them to a denial and retracting what they had discovered and when that would not do Knâ—x and Lane were sub-armed to accuse Oates of Buggery thereby to have taken him Add to this his Dissolving of this Enquiring Parliament at the Solicitation of the Duke and the extraordinary diligence of his Protestant Majesty to get the next Parliament fit for his Turn which was suddenly to be called to stop the Mouths of the People To which purpose all the Money that could possibly be spared out of the Exchequer was Issued out to divers Persons to manage the Elections all ovâ—r the Kingdom under the old notion of Secreâ— Service in one Article 1500 l. in another
have lately called themselves a Common-wealth To meet with and prevent the infernal Endeavours of such Rebels our Agent most humbly offers to your Holiness the following Propositions 1. That your Holiness would make an annual Supply out of your own Treasury unto the said Charles the Second of considerable Sums of Money suitable to the maintaining the War against those Rebels against God the Church and Monarchy 2. That you would cause and compel the whole Beneficed Clergy in the World of whatsoever Dignity Degree State and Conditions soever to contribute the Third or the Fourth part of all their Fruits Rents Revenues or Emoluments to the said War as being Universal and Catholick And that the said Contribution may be paid every three Months or otherwise as shall seem most expedient to your Holyness 3. That by your Apostolick Nuncio's your Holyness would most insâ—antly endeavour with all Princes Common-wealths and Catholick States that the said Princes Common-wealths and States may be admonished in the Bowels of Jesus Christ and induced to enter into and conclude an Universal Peace and that they will unitedly supply the said King And that they will by no means acknowledge the said Regicides and Tyrants for a Common-wealth or State nor enter into or have any Commerce with them 4. That by the said Nuncio's or any other way all and every the Monarchs of all Europe may be timely admonished and made sensible in this Cause wherein beside the detriment of the Faith their own proper Interest is concerned The foresaid Tyrants being Sworn Enemies to all Monarchy as they themselves do openly assert both by Word and Writing and to that end both in Germany Spain France Poland â— c. and in the very Dominions of the great Turk they have raised dangerous Insurrections being raised they foment them and to that purpose they supply the Charge and make large Contributions to it 5. That yoâ—r Holyness would Command under pain of Excommunication Ipso facto all and singular Catholicks that neither they nor anâ— of them directly nor indirectly by Land or by Sea do serve them in Arms or assist them by any Counsel or to help to favour or supply them any way under whatsoever pretext Holy Father the premised Remedies are timely to be applied by which the Catholick Faith now exposed to extream and eminent Hazzard may be conserved and infinite number of Catholicks may be preserved from Destruction Monarchy may be established and the most invincible King of Great Britain restor'd to his Rights All which things will bear your Holyness to Heaven with their Praises whom God long conserve in safety c. The Propositions and Motives abovesaid if occasion be our Agent will more largely set forth Viva voce This Letter as it seems to clear a great portion of Doubts and Suspitions of Charles the Second's Integrity to the Protâ—stant Religion so it is a shrewd Argument that all that glistered in this King and his Father was not Gold But I must beg the Readers Pardon for this long digression The Lords Justices sent Sir H. Spotswood from Dublin to the King then in Scotland with an Account of all that happened He dispatched Sir I. Stuart with Inâ—tructions to the Lords of the Privy Council in Ireland He applied himself to the Parliament of Scotland as being near for their Assistance And an Express was sent to the Parliament of England The King being returned out of Scotland December 2 d. Summoned both Houses together and tells them That he had staid in Scotland longer than he expected yet not fruitlessly for he had given full Satisfaction to the Nation but cannot chuse but take Notice of and wonder at the unexpected Distractions he finds at Home and then Commends to them the State of Ireland After which the Commons ordered a Select Committee to draw up a Petition and Remonstrance to the King The one was against Bishops and Oppressures in Church Government and for Punishing the Authors of it And the other contained all the Miscarriages and Misfortunes since the beginning of the King's Reign Not long after happened the Tumults of the London Apprentices at Whitehall and Westminster December 28. The King sends a Message to the Lords That he would raise Ten Thousand Voluntiers for Ireland provided the Commons would pay them Some time after the King upon Information that the Lord Kimbolton and five of the House of Commons viz. Hollis Sir A. Hasâ—erig Mr. Pym Hambden and Stroud had Correspondence with the Scots and Countenanced the late City Tumults He thereupon ordered their Trunks Studies and Chambers to be Sealed up and their Persons seized the former of which was done but they having timely Notice they went aside Upon which the Commons the same day Voted high against these Actions of the King Hereupon the King Charges Kimbolton and the five Members with several Articles and â—cquaints both Houses That he did intend to Prosecute them for High Treason and required that their Persons might be secured And the next day the King attendâ—d with his Guard of Pensioners and some Hundreds of Gentleman went to the House of Commons and the Guard staying without the King with the Palsgrave entred the House at whose Entrance the Speaker rises out of the Chair aâ—d the King sitting down therein views the Housesâ—round and perceives the Birds he aimed at were flown whereupon He tells them That he came to look for those five Members whom he had Accused of High Treason and was râ—solved to have them where ever He found them and expected to have them sent to Him as soon as they should come to the House but would not have them think that this Act of His was any Violation of Parliament This Act of the King was highly Resented by the House that the next day Ianuary 5. the Commons Voted it a Breach of Priviledge And it it was said in the City that the King intended Violence against the House of Commons and came thither with Force to Murther several Members and used threatning Speeches against the Parliament The next day the Londoners came thronging to Westminster with Petitions envying bitterly against some of the Peers but especially the Bishops as the Authors of all these Disturbances Upon which they were so affrighted that Twelve Bishops absented themselves from the House of Lords drawing up a Protestation against all Laws Orders Votes Resolutions and Determinations as in themselves Null and of none Effect which had Passed or should Pass during their Absence Presently after which at a Conference between both Houses it was agreed That this Protestation of the Twelve Bishops did extend to the deep intrenching on the Fundamental Priviledges and Being of Parliaments And in a short time they were Accused of High Treason Seised and brought on their Knees at the Lord's Bar Ten of whom were Comitted to the Tower and the other Twoâ— in regard of their Age to the Blackâ—Rod And now such Numbers of ordinary People daily gathered about Westminster
deteriora sequar for he indeed made the worst choice it could not be thought but such an Imployment was much better to him to have accepted than to be confined to a loaâ—hsome Prison Having him now fast in Prison Herodias by pleasing her Herod must also ask and have his Life for Perscelus ad sceleâ—â— tutiâ—r est via to that end they preferred Emposides to be Servant to Sir Gervase Elway's then Lieutenant of the Tower and a very Wise Religious Gentleman he was so ignorant of the Plâ—t as he never Dreamt of any such matter until one day as it should seem Weston being told Eâ—â—ays did know wherefore he was preferred unto him to wait on Overbury he aâ—ked the Lieutenant whether he should now do iâ— Elways replied What Weston at that being somewhat abashed which Elways quickly apprehended replied No not yet for he did believe there was something known to Weston instantly he hasted away being a little before Dinner and went into his Study and Weston being come he exaâ—iâ—ed him the meaning of that Question at last between fair means and threatning perswaded him to conâ—ess the â—ruth then Elways as he well could laid before Weston the horridness of the Fact the torments of Hell c. At last made him so sensible that he gave the Lieutenant humble thanks for that he had been instrumental in saving his Soul by putting him off from so soul intentions and faithfully promised never to be concerned in so foul at Act and for a long time as faithfully performed The Lieutenant ordered Weston to bring him such things as were sent to give Overbury which he accordingly did the Lieutenant ever gave them to Doggs and Catts some of which died presently others lingred some time During this time the Earl continued sending to visit Overbury wheedling him with an assurance that he did not forget his Release At last the Countess growing impatient sent for Weston reviling him saying he was a Treacherous Villain on which he promised her Fidelity to the future yet the Countess would not trust him alone any more but joined one Franklin to him a greater Villain than himself Some time after these Two Villains had carried Overbury the Tarts they went to his Chamber and found him in great Torment with Contention between strength of Nature and working of the Poyson and they fearing Nature would have gotten the better and that it might come upon the judgment of Physicians that foul Play had been offered him they immediately stifled him between Two Pillows and so ended his miserable Life with the assurance of the Conspirators that he dyed by Poyson none thinking otherwise but the Two Murtherers Now this grand obstacle being removed the Adulterous Marriage must be brought about and for the more easie effecting of it they did without much trouble make the King a Party in this Bawdy business and the Bishops likewise must be principal Actors in bringing this Bawdery to a Marriage of whom Bilson Bishop of Winchester was chief for which the King Knighted his Son The Bishops had many Meetings in which there wanted no Bribes from the Lord and Lady to hâ—ve this Nullity brought to pass wherein the Discourse would have better befitted the Mouths of Bawds and Ruffians than grave Divines Arch-bishop Abbot opposed and protested against all their Proceedings for which the King held him in disgrace to his Dying day To make up the full measure of Bawdry and to justifie the Nullity a search must be made into the Lady to find whether there had been a Penetration and a Jury of grave Matrons were found fit for that purpose who with their Spectacles ground to lessen not to make the Letter larger after their Inspection into the Premises gave Verdict she was Intacta Virgo which was thought very strange for the World took notice that her way was very common before ever Somerset trod in it besides they two having lived so long in Adultery together The Plot was contrived thus The Lady of Essex pretending Modesty makes humble Suit to the Bawdy Bishops who were all concerned in this Stratagem that she might come Vailed into the Court which they all readily granted One Mrs. Turner was dressed in the Countesses Cloaths and at that time too young to be other than Virgo Intacta Now is the Nullity pronounced and the Marriage with Somerset speedily Solemnized but sweet Meat must have sowr Sâ—wce For not long after Thrumbal Agent at Bruxels had by one Reeve an Apothecaries Prentice in London that was come there on some Occasions gotten hold of this Poysoning Business on which he presently wrote to Secretary Wynwood that he had business of great consequence to discover but would not send iâ— therefore desired License to come over which after some time the King granted and now had they good Testimony by the Apothecary who revealed Weston Mrs. Turner and Francklin to be the Principal Agents yet it being the time of the King's Progress nothing was done in it till his Return Secretary Wynwood having been affronted and much abused by Somerset in his Secretaryship does now carry himself in a kind of braving way against him being struck in with the Faction of Viller's who was now the risiâ—g Sun and King Iames's darling Favourites King Iames being returned from his Summers Progress returns to Windsor from thence to Hampton-Court then to White-Hall and shoâ—tly after to Royston to begin his Winter Journey And now begins the Game to be plaid in which the Earl and Countess of Somerset must be Losers the Lord Chief Justice Coke and Secretary Wynwood the managers against them The day the King went from VVhite-Hall to Theobald's and so to Royston he sent for all the Judges his Lords and Servants encircling him where kneeling down in the midst he spoke to them as followeth My Lords the Iudges It is lately come to my hearing that you have now in Examinatiâ—n a Business of Poâ—soning Lord in what a most miserable Conditiâ—n shall this Kingdom be the only famous Nation for Hospitality in the World if our Tables should become such a Sâ—are as none could Eâ—t without daâ—ger of Life and the Italian Custom be introduced among us Therefore my Lords I Charge you as you will answer it at the great and dreadful day of Iudgment that you will examine it strictly without Fâ—vâ—â—â— Affection or Partiality and if you shall spare any that are found Guilty of this Crime God's Curse light on you and your Posterity And if I spare any God's Curse light on Me and my Posterity for ever But how this dreadful Thunder Curse or Imprecation was performed the following account will shew The King goes to Roâ—ston accompanied with the Earl of Sâ—merset the next day the Earl being to go to London went to kiss the King's Hand who hanged about his Neck slabberiâ—g his Cheeks saying When shall I see you again On my Soul I shall neitheâ— Eat nor Sleep until you come again The Earl told him
day the King writes a Letâ—er to the House to excuse his not Signing Strafford's Execution But the Commons would not be satisfied until the Bill was signed The Fall of this great Mâ—n startled many other Officers of State and occasioned the resigning their Places August 6. Both the English and Scotâ—h Armiâ—s were Disbanded and Four Days after the King went towards Scotland and was entertained with great Demonstrations of Affection by that Nation and conferred several Places of Honour and Power upon divers of them He confirm'd likewise the Treaty between the Two Nations by Act of Parliament Octob. 23. 1641. The Horrid and Notorious Massacre and Reâ—â—llion broke out in Ireland At which time the Irish to dishearten the English from any Resistance asserted That the Queen was with their A mâ— That the King would come amongst them also anâ— assist them That they did but maintain his Câ—use agaiâ—st the Puritans That they had the King's Commâ—ssiâ—n for what they did Whether these Assertions wâ—re true or falseâ— we shall not pretend to determine but leave it to the Readers own Senâ—imentsâ— only we beg leâ—ve to incert here by way of Parenthesis a Letter sent to the Popâ— by order of Charles the II. when he had taken the Câ—venâ—nt and was professing the Presbyterian Religion in Scotland it was carried thither and pressed forward by one Dallie an Irish Priest and Confessor to the then Queen â—f Portugal under the Title of Propositions and Motives for and on the behalf of the most iâ—vincible King of Great Britain France and Ireland to Pope Innocent the X. in the Year of Jubilee 1650. which Dallie taking France in his way spake with the Queen Mother and received her Directions for the better management of the Affair Most Blessed Father OUR Agent at present Residing at Rome with all Humility shews your Holiness That the principal Cause and Occasion of that Regicide Tyranically perpetrated upon the Person of Charles the First Father of the aforesaid Charles the Second by his Rebels and cruel Subjects the like whereof was never heard of â—rom the beginning of the World not only among Civil Nations but even among the most Barbarous themselves have been the Graces Favours and Concessions so often and so many ways extended to the Catholick Religion and the Asserters and Professors thereof in the Kingdom both of England and Ireland The Truth of which appears in that the aforesaid Charles the First gave Authority to the Marquiss of Ormond by several Commissions for the Establishing and Perfecting all Conditions with the Confederate Catholicks of the Kingdom of Ireland of sufficient Security for the Catholick Faith Furthermore the said Charles the First fearing lest the said Ormond being an Heretick should not satisfie the said Confederates in all things He sent thither the Marquiss of Worcester a Man truly and wholly Catholick with a more ample Commission in which Commission the said Marquiss of VVorcester had fâ—ll Authority of concluding a Peace with the said Confederate Catholicks and of giving them Conditions altogether satisfactory as well concerning Liberty of Religion as also as to other Injuries that had been done unto them which the said Marquiss of VVorcester making with them an abâ—olute Peace did abuâ—dantly fulfil Further This appeareth in that the said Charles the First even in England it self did by Commissions set the Catholicks namely the said Marquiss of VVorcester Sir Arthur Ashton and many others over his Armies and made them Governours of Cities Castles and Strong Holds notwithstanding the Clamour of the People against it and which was not a slight motive of the Regicide committed upon him wheâ—eby it appears that although the said King Charles the First dyed not a Catholick yet he died for them Again most Blessed Father the same Agent most humbly â—epresents That the present King Charles II. the true and undoubted Heir of the foresâ—id Charles I. and of all his Kingdoms to whom the said Kingdoms belong of Right according to that of Christ Give to Caesar the thing that are Caesars while his Father yet lived was known to have good and true Inclinations to the Cathâ—lick Faith following which and going on in his Fathers steps he did not only râ—commend it to the Marquiss of Ormond but gave it him in Express Command to satisfie in all things the Confederate Caâ—holicks in Ireland namely That he shouâ—d grant them the â—ree Exercise of their Religion That he should abrogate the Penal Laws made against them and that he should restore to the said â—atholicks whether Laicks or Ecclesiâ—sticks their Lands Estates Possessions or what other Rights did at any time belong unto them and by the said Laws had been unjustly taken away In Obedience to which Commands the said Marquiss in the Name and by the Authority of the said two Kings namely Charles the First and Second made and concluded a firm Peace with the said Confederate Catholicks By the Conclusion of which Peace the said present Kingâ— and all his Dominions hath involved himself with the Catholicks in an irreconcileable War against the Parliamentarâ—an Regicides of England whose Blood therefore the said Cruel Tyranâ—s insatiably thirst after as they did after his Fathers The said Agent further offers to your Holiness That the inhumane Regicides do wickedly Usurp to themselves in the Dominions aforementioned all the Authority of the King do most cruelly Persecute all the Catholicks both in England and Ireland pâ—rtly by condemning them to Banishment partly by putting them into Prisons and otherwise corporally punishing them and lastly by putting them to Death a Witness of the Truth hereof is that great Slaughter made by Cromwel in the taking of the two Cities of Droghedah and VVexâ—oâ—d and other Places where all the Catholicks without Distinction of either Sex or Age were Slaughtered Witness hereof also the raging Persecution and Death of Catholicks in England by all which and by their Parliamentarian Decrees themselves and their Covenant with God as they call it it is evident even beyond the clearness of the light of the shining Sun That these Tyrannical Regicides do ultimately intend and put forth all their Power for the utter Destruction of all Catholicks and to â—xtirpate by the Root and wholly to extinguish the Catholick Faith throughout the World openly asserting and boasting with great Glory that these things being once finished in those Dominions they will then invade France and after that run through Germany Italy and all Europe throwing down Kings and Monarchs whose very Titles are most odious and abhorrent unto them Briefly they have no other thing in their Aim than these Two Namely The extirpation of the Catholick Religion and the destruction of Monarchy To which wicked Machination of theirs forasmuch as it could never have any the least Hopes that either the King or his Father should at any time in the least Assent they have put the one to Death and the other to Exile And these Rebels now with a neâ—arious boldness
Sovereign Igniâ— fatuus to misguide them into all the Snares of Ruine and Perdition Execrable Oathes were the chief Court-Acknowledgments of a Deity Fornications and Adulteriâ—â— the Principal Tests of the Peoples Loyalty and Obedience Certain it is That the Kingdom was never in a better Posture for the King to work upon it than at the time of his return into England For such were the Contests for Superioriâ—y among those who had taken upon them the Government after the Death of Oliver such the Confusions and Disorders that from thence arose that no body could probably see where would be the end of the general Distraction unless it were by reducing all things to their primitive Condition under a Prince whose Title was so fair to the Crown For which all Parties were the more inflamed by the King 's reiterated Oathes Promises and Declaâ—ations to those of the Church of England to maintain the Protestant Religion to the Dissenters That he would Indulge their Tender Consciences with all the Liberty they could rationally desire And so inâ—atuated they were with these Ingratiating Wheedles that should all that knew him beyond-Sea both at Colen and in Flanders have spoken their Discoveries with the Voices of Angels nay should the Letter which he Wrote with his own Hand in the Year Sixty Two to the Pope have been shewn them in Capital Letters they would have been all looked upon but as Fictious and Inventions to obstruct the Happiness of the Nation The king was not ignorant that in order to bring his intended Designs about he was furnished already with a Stock of Gâ—ntlâ—men who being forced to share the misfortunes of his Exiles and consequently no less imbitteted against those whom they looked upon as their Oppressors he had moulded many of them to his own Religion and Interest by Corrupting them in their Banishment with them insomuch that a certain Gentleman offered to prove one day in the Pensionary House of Commons That of all tâ—e Pâ—râ—ons yet Persons of all Ranks and Qualities who sojourned with the King Abroad there were scarce any then alive except Prince Rupert Lord M. and Mr. H. Coventry who had not been prevailed upon by His Majesty to Nor could their being restored to their â—states at his Return separate them from their Master's Interest for that besides the future expectations with which the King continually fed them they had bound themselves by all the Oaths and Promises that could be expected from them to assist and co-operate with him in all his Dâ—signs though they were dispensed with from appearing bare-fac'd So soon therefore as the Parliament that gave him Admittance into the the Kingdom was Dissolved the King call another the first of his own Calling and so ordered the matter that the greatest part of the Masked Revolters got in among the real Protestants By which means all things went Trim and Trixy on the King's sideâ— They restored him the Milltia which the Long Parliament took from his Fatherâ— They Sacrificed the Treasure of the Nation to his Profuseness and Prodigality They offered up the Righâ—s and Liberties of the People by advancing â—is Prâ—rogative and what was most conducing to the King's P. Designs they made him by private Instructions those Penal Statutes which divided the Two prevailing Protestant Parties and set them together by the Ears by Arming one Party of the Protestants against the rest such a darl-advantage to the Papists and upon the obtaining of which he set so high a value that neither the necessity of his Aâ—â—airs at any time afterwards nor the Application and Interposure of several Parliaments for removing the Grounds of our Differences and Animosities by an Indulgence to be past into Law could prevail upon him to forego the Advantages he had got of keeping the Protestants at mutual Enemy one with another and making them useful to his own Designs Nor was this all But that he might carry on his Popish Designs the more saâ—ely and covertly under the cursed Masque of Hypocrisie he procured the passing of an Act in his Pensionary Parliament 1662. whereby it was made Forfeiture of Estate and Imprisonment for any to say The King was a Papist or An Introducer to Pâ—pery Nevertheless notwithstanding he was thus become a Protestant by the Law of the Laâ—d to repeat how he exerted the Power given him by the Parliament how he Persecuted and Prosecuted the Protestant Nonconformists throughout the Kingdom how he caused to be Excommunicated Imprisoned and Harrased when not a Papist in the Three Kingdoms was so much as Troubled or Moleâ—ted is a thing that would be altogether needless as being so well known to the World I had almost forgot another great kindness which the Parliament did him which was at the private Instance of the King to Abrogate the Trienial Act by which the Sitting of a Parliament once in Three Years was infallibly secured to the Kingdom So well did this Monarch know where the Shoe pinched him and so crafty was he to take his Advantage from the Delirium and Frensâ—e the Nation was in upon his Restoration to obtain the repealing of the Principal Laws by which his wrigling into Arbitrary Government would have often been curbed and restrained But whether it were that the prodigall Zeal of those Members began to cool conscious perhaps that they had already opened too large a Gap to Tyrannous Invasion upon the Liberties of the People which they had so Treacherously laid at the King's Mercy or whether it were that the King resolved to quicken his to Arbitrary Rule to the end he might see Popery flourish in his own days certain it is that the next attempt was to make Parliaments themselves the Ministers and Instruments of his own Popish Ambition and our Slavery In order hereunto He falls a Buying and Purchasing at certain and Annual Rates the Vote of the Members at what time the greatness of the Number of those that stood ready for Sale as well as their Indigencies and Lusts made the Price at which they were to be bought so much the easier Now being thus hired by His Majesty with their own free Offerings of the Nations Money How many Bills did they pass into Acts for Enslâ—ving and Ruining a Third part of the Kingdom under the Notion of Phanaticks and Dissenters And all this in graritude of their Sallaries and to accomplish the Will and Pleasure of their Lord and Master the King whose Bought and Purchas'd Vassals and Slaves they were All this while what can we say or think other but that the Purchaser as well as the Sellers were guilty of betraying the People who had intrusted them And then to make a President by Law for Tyranny these Hirelings empowered the Justices of the Peace to disleize Men of their Estates without being Convicted and found Guilty by Legal Juries of the Transgressions whereof they stood Accused By which they not only overthrew all the Commons and Stature Law of the Land but they