Doctrine many faire approaches made towards Rome as he that pleaseth to search may finde in the Books of Bishop LAUD MOUNTAGUE HELYN POCKLINGTON and the rest or in briefe collected by a Scottish Minister Master BAILY And as their friendship to Rome encreased so did their scorne to the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas whom instead of lending that reliefe and succour to them which God had enabled this rich Island to do they failed in their greatest extremities and in stead of harbours became rocks to split them Archbishop LAUD who was now growne into great favour with the King made use of it especially to adâ—vnce the pompe and temporall honour of the Clergy procuring the Lord Treasurers place for Doctor JUCKSON Bishop of London and indeavouring as the generall report went to fix the greatest temporall preferments upon others of that Coat insomuch as the people merrily when they saw that Treasurer with the other Bishops riding to Westminster called it the Church Triumphant Doctors and Parsons of Parishes were made every where Justices of Peace to the great grievance of the Country in civill affaires and depriving them of their spirituall edification The Archbishop by the same meanes which he used to preserve his Clergy from contempt exposed them to envy and as the wisest could then prophecy to a more then probability of losing all As we reade of some men who being fore-doomed by an Oracle to a bad fortune have runne into it by the same meanes they used to prevent it The like unhappy course did the Clergy then take to depresse Puritanisme which was to set up irreligion it selfe against it the worst weapon which they could have chosen to beat it downe which appeared especially in point of keeping the Lords day when not only books were written to shake the morality of it as that of Sunday no Sabbath but sports and pastims of jollity and lightnesse permitted to the Country people upon that day by publike Authority and the Warrant commanded to be read in Churches which in stead of producing the intended effect may credibly be thought to have been one motive to a stricter observance of that day in that part of the Kingdome which before had been well devoted And many men who had before been loose and carelesse began upon that occasion to enter into a more serious consideration of it and were ashamed to be invited by the authority of Church-men to that which themselves at the best could but have pardoned in themselves as a thing of infirmity The example of the Court where Playes were usually presented on Sundaies did not so much draw the Country to imitation as reflect with disadvantage upon the Court it selfe and sowre those other Court pastims and jollities which would have relished better without that in the eyes of all the people as things ever allowed to the delights of great Princes The countenancing of loosenesse and irreligion was no doubt a good preparative to the introducing of another Religion And the power of godlinesse being beaten downe Popery might more easily by degrees enter men quickly leave that of which they never took fast hold And though it were questionable whether the Bishops and great Clergy of England aimed at Popery it is too apparent such was the designe of Romish Agents and the English Clergy if they did not their owne worke did theirs A stranger of that Religion a Venetian Gentleman out of his owne observations in England will tell you how farre they were going in this kinde his words are THe Vniversities Bishops and Divines of England do daily imbrace Catholike opinions though they professe it not with open mouth for feare of the Puritans For example They hold that the Church of Rome is a true Church That the Pope is superiour to all Bishops That to him it appertaines to call generall Counsels That it is lawfull to pray for soules departed That Altars ought to be erected in summe they believe all that is taught by the Church but not by the Court of Rome The Archbishop of Canterbury was much against the Court of Rome though not against that Church in so high a kinde For the Doctrine of the Roman Church was no enemy to the pompe of Prelacy but the Doctrine of the Court of Rome would have swallowed up all under the Popes Supremacy and have made all greatnesse dependant upon him Which the Archbishop conceived would derogate too much from the King in Temporalls and therefore hardly to be accepted by the Court as it would from himselfe in Spiritualls and make his Metropoliticall power subordinate which he desired to hold absolute and independent within the Realme of England It is certaine that the Archbishop of Canterbury as an English Gentleman observes would often professe against those Tridentine Papists whom only he hated as Papists properly so called For at the Councell of Trent all matters concerning the Court of Rome which are of themselves but disputable were determined as points of faith to be believed upon paine of damnation But matters of faith indeed concerning the Church of Rome were left disputable and no Anathema annexed to them But that Venetian Gentleman whom before we cited declares in what state for matter of Religion England at that time stood and how divided namely into Papists Protestants and Puritans Papists are well knowne The Protestant party saith he consists of the King the Court Lords and Gentlemen with all that are raised by favour to any honour Besides almost all the Prelates and both the Vniversities What the Protestants are he farther declares viz. They hate Puritans more then they hate Papists That they easily combine with Papists to extirpate Puritans and are not so farre engaged to the Reformed Religion but that they can reduce themselves againe to the old practise of their fore-fathers That they are very opinionative in excluding the Popes Supremacy He speaks then concerning the Puritans and saies That they consist of some Bishops of almost all the Gentry and Communalty and therefore are far the most potent party And further declares what they are viz. They are such as received the Discipline of the French and Netherlanders and hold not the English Reformation to be so perfect as that which CALVIN instituted at Geneva That they hate Papists far more then they hate Protestants c. Thus farre of this strangers observation concerning England CHAP. III. The condition of the Scottish State and Clergy when the new Booke of Lyturgy was sent unto them how it was received with some effects which followed The Kings Proclamation sent by the Earle of TRAQUARE against which the Lords make a Protestation IN this condition stood the Kingdome of England about the yeare 1636. when the first coale was blowne which kindled since into so great a combustion as to deface and almost ruine three flourishing Kingdomes Neither was this coale blowne by the grieved party of England the Communalty and those religious men that prayed for Reformation but by
the other side who had oppressed them No commotion at all was raised from the oppressed party though it consisted of the body of the Nation and therefore strong enough to have vindicated themselves would they have risen in illegall tumults The Land was yet quiet and that storme which the people had feared before the death of the Duke of BUCKINGHAM was not in so long a time fallen upon England although the causes in Government which made them feare it had continued at the height ever since They onely wished for a Parliament but durst not hope it unlesse some strange accident not yet discovered by them might necessitate such a cure The Commons therefore But in Scotland it was once quite ruined and by degrees built up againe not without many difficulties not without great reluctancy of the Peeres Gentry and most of the Ministers not without extraordinary interposition of Regall Authority and great art used by two Kings in managing the businesse and raising it to that height in which then it stood as you may reade at large in some late Writers of that Kingdome Neither were the Peeres and Gentry of that Kingdome so impatient of this new yoakeâ— onely out of zeale to preservation of Religion in purity though that no doubt were their greatest reason that Church having been ever much addicted to the Reformation of Geneva And those other Churches as it appeared by their great unwillingnesse to receive those few Ceremonies of the English Church at their Synod of Perth but as loath also to suffer any diminution of their Temporall Liberties which could not be avoided in admittance of Episcopall Jurisdiction and was manifested in that Kingdome by divers examples of rigorous proceedings which some Bishops used against Gentlemen of quality by way of Fines and Imprisonments and the like which particulars are too large to be here inserted in this Narration In the yeare 1637. a Booke of Lyturgy was composed and sent out of England which they complained of because it was not before allowed by their Church in a Nationall Synod as was fit for a businesse of so great import with an expresse command from the King that they should reverently receive it and publikely reade it in their Churches beginning on Easter day and so forward against which time the Privy Councell of Scotland had commanded that every Parish should buy two at the least of them That Service-Booke was the same with the Common-Prayer Booke of England excepting some few alterations of which some as they observed were alterations for the better but others for the worse For the better they esteemed that so many Chapters of the Apocrypha were not appointed to be read as in the English Prayer Booke and where the English retained the old vulgar Latine Translation especially in the Psalmes that Booke followed the last Translation commonly called that of King JAMES Those alterations for the worse were divers observed by the Scots especially in the Lords Supper of which some were these The expresse command for situation of the Altar so called to the Easterne Wall together with many postures of the Minister whilest he officiated expressed in their exceptions but especially this that in the consecrating prayer those words which in the English Common-Prayer Booke are directly against Transubstantiation were quite left out in that Booke and instead of them such other words as in plaine sense agreed with the Roman Masse Booke As for example Heare us O most mercifull Father and of thy Omnipotent goodnesse grant so to blesse and sanctifie by thy Word and Spirit these creatures of bread and wine that they may be to us the body and blood of thy beloved Sonne Many other alterations the Scots have observed and expressed in their writings and in one word affirmed that wheresoever that Booke varies from the English Lyturgy it approaches directly to the Roman Missall and offered to prove that all the materiall parts of the Masse Booke are seminally there It was thought by many that if the Booke without any alteration at all had been sent into Scotland though the Scots perhaps would not have received it they would not have taken it in so evill part And it might have been construed onely as a brotherly invitation to the same service which England used But what the reasons were of those alterations I finde no where expressed but onely where the King in his Declaration concerning that businesse is pleased to say thus WE supposing that they might have taken some offence if we should have tendred them the English Service-Booke totidem verbis and that some factious spirits would have endeavoured to have misconstrued it as a badge of dependance of that Church upon this of England which we had put upon them to the prejudice of their Lawes and Liberties We held it fitter that a new Booke should be composed by their owne Bishops in substance not differing from this of England that so the Roman Party might not upbraid us with any weighty or materiall differences in our Lyturgyes and yet in some few insensible alterations differing from it that it might truly and justly be reputed a Booke of that Churches owne composing and established by Our Royall Authority as King of SCOTLAND These were the Kings expressions which as it seemed were not satisfactory to the Scots in that point For they were as is before specified not well affected to their owne Bishops whose power and jurisdiction over them was rather enforced then consented to Neither did they suppose that a conformity in Church-Worship had it been such as their consciences could well have imbraced had beene any badge of their dependancy upon England as being a people not conquered but united in an equall freedome under the same King Besides they could not relish it well that the Archbishop of Canterbury and other English Bishops who in many points of Ceremony and Worship which they accounted things tolerable did make as neere approaches to the Church of Rome as possibly they could for no other reason as they professe in their writings then that they laboured to bring union into the Christian Church if it were possible should now invite the Church of Scotland whom they accounted more puritanicall then themselves to union by a quite contrary way as in stead of framing their Service neerer to the Scottish profession and Discipline to urge them to a Lyturgy more popish then their owne So that it seemed for unity they were content to meet Rome rather then Scotland To returne to the Narration The Service-Booke according to the Kings command was offered to the Church of Scotland and the Councell there and published by Proclamation a day for the reading of it in all Churches appointed which was the Easter day following 1637. But then upon some considerations and further triall of mens minds as the King declares the first reading of it was put off untill the 23. of Iuly next ensuing to the end that the Lords of the Session
their Session being the same with the Terme in England and others who had any Law businesse might see the successe of it before the rising of the Session which alwaies endeth upon the first of August and that so upon their returne into their severall Countries they might report the receiving of this Booke at Edenburgh it being ordered That on that Sunday the Booke should be read only in the Church of Edenburgh and some other neere adjacent and warning was printed and published in those severall Pulpits the Sunday before that it was to be read On the 23. day of Iuly being Sunday the Booke was read in Saint Gyles Church commonly called the great Church at Edenburgh where were present many of the Privy Councell both Archbishops and divers other Bishops the Lords of the Session the Magistrates of Edenburgh and a great auditory of all sorts But the people especially the meanest vulgar for they first appeared against it and some women expressed so great a detestation of the Booke not onely in words and outcries but actions that the City Magistrates were troubled much to get the Service performed and the Bishop who read it comming out of the Church had probably beene slaine by the multitude if he had not been rescued by a Nobleman Betweene the two Sermons the Councell and Magistrates met about preventing future tumults but though the Booke were read more quietly in the afternoone yet the tumult was farre greater after evening Prayer from the people who had stayed in the streets and the Bishop in the Earle of ROXBOROUGH his Coach hardly escaped from being stoned to death The greatest men and Magistrates of Edenburgh to excuse themselves to the King some of them also writing to the Archbishop of Canterbury layed all the fault upon the Rabble for as yet none of quality had appeared insomuch as that the Privy Councell and Magistrates of Edenburgh the next morning held some consultation about finding out and punishing the ringleaders of that uproare But not long after upon the appearing of some others of higher ranke and Petitions from divers Ministers That the reading of that Booke might be a while tespited till his Majesty might be further petitioned and informed the Councell yeelded so far as that it should not be urged by the Bishops till his Majesties pleasure were further knowne Upon which many Gentlemen and Ministers who had resorted to Edenburgh with Petitions not long before returned in part satisfied to their owne habitations and at many places met together with fastings and Prayer That God would be pleased to direct the Kings heart in that way which they conceived most conducible to the happinesse of the Church and State of Scotland Upon the 18. of October following harvest being now ended a great conflux of all sorts was at Edenburgh to heare what the King was pleased to determine of the businesse where they finde an Edict against them That upon paine of being guilty of Rebellion all should within few houres warning depart the City and because the Citizens of Edenburgh had twice tumultuously opposed the Prayer Booke and assaulted the Bishop of Edenburgh as a punishment to that City the Terme was to be removed to the Burgh of Linlithgow and the next Terme after the ordinary vacants to be held at the Burgh of Dendie there to remaine during his Majesties pleasure The Petitioners as they were then called were much moved at this Edict and on the 19. of that October presented to the Privy Councell a great complaint against the Bishops whom they conceived the Authors of all this businesse and desired justice against them as well for other crimes as for introducing contrary to Law that superstitious and idolatrous Book To this complaint a great number of all ranks subscribed and professed to the Councell that they could not depart out of Edinburgh till some way were found out to settle the present grievances Whilest they stayed there their number daily increased from all the remotest Provinces that the Councell were enforced to give way that till the Kings pleasure were yet further knowne they might chuse some out of their number of all ranks to represent the rest and follow the cause in the name of all the rest Upon which they chose foure of the higher Nobility foure of the lower ranke of Nobility as representers of Provinces as many Burgesses of Townes and foure Pastors as representers of the Classes having setled this the rest quietly departed to their owne homes The King hearing of these things sent a command to the Councell of Edenburgh not to take upon themselves any more the decision of this controversie which he reserved in his owne power And Proclamation was made in December 1637. concerning the Kings intentions that they were not to infringe the Lawes or Liberties of the Kingdome When therefore the Commissioners petitioned the Councell to give way to them to bring their Actions against the Bishops the Councell answered That the King had commanded them to receive no more Petitions against either the Bishops or Booke of Service Whereupon the Commissioners discontented prepare a Protestatâ—on against the Kings Councell declaring That what mischiefe soever might afterwards ensue was to be all imputed to the Kings Councell for denying Justice The Councell fearing what effects might follow desired the Bishops to absent themselves and gave leave to the Commissioners to appeare before them where the Lord of Lowden in name of all the rest made an Oration in which charging the Bishops with other crimes besides these stirres he desired them to be altogether removed from the Councell Table till they had answered and cleered themselves To the like purpose spake one of the Ministers The Councell seemed sorry that it lay not in their power since the Kings Command was peremptory to give satisfaction to their desires but intreated their patience for so small a time as till they might againe receive notice of his Majesties pleasure The King further certified by them sent for the Earle of TRAQUARE into England who was soone dispatched againe into Scotland and in February 1638. caused the Kings Mandate in Sterlin where the Councell then sate to be published The Proclamation declared that the Bishops were wrongfully accused as Authors of sending the Prayer Booke That his Majesty himselfe was Author of it and all was done by his Command That he condemned all tumultuous proceedings of his Subjects to exhibite Petitions or complaints against the innocent Bishops and booke of Lyturgy and all subscriptions to that purpose hitherto as conspiring against the publike peace pronouncing pardon to those which repented and the punishment of high Treason to such as persisted promising to heare the just complaints of his Subjects so they offended not in matter or forme After the Proclamation was made at Sterlin the Earle of HUME Lord LINDSEY and others in name of all the Petitioners made a Protestation against it which Protestation was afterward repeated at Lithgow and last at Edenburgh
superstitious Ceremonies or such as they conceived so upon them put downe accustomed Lectures and deprived many Ministers much beloved and reverenced among them By which rigour he grew accidentally guilty of a wonderfull crime against the wealth and prosperity of the State For many Tradesmen with whom those parts abounded were so afflicted and troubled with his Ecclesiasticall censures and vexations that in great numbers to avoid misery they departed the Kingdome some into new England and other parts of America others into Holland whether they transported their Manufactures of Cloth not onely a losse by diminishing the present stock of the Kingdome but a great mischiefe by impairing and indangering the losse of that peculiar Trade of Clothing which hath been a plentifull fountaine of Wealth and Honour to the Kingdome of England as it was expressed in the Parliament Remonstrance but more particular crimes were laid against the Bishop which there may be occasion to discourse of hereafter in the proccedings against him The day before Bishop WRENNE was accused being the 18. of December a greater man both in Church and State WILLIAM LAUD Archbishop of Canterbury was voted in the House of Commons guilty of High Treason Master DENZILL HOLLIS a Member of that House was sent up to the Lords to appeach him there upon which he was sequestred and confined to the Black Rod. He was also charged by the Scottish Commissioners together with the Earle of Strafford as a chiefe Incendiary in the late Warre betweene both Nations and divers Articles laid against him which to examine and discusse further a Committee was appointed Upon the 23. of February Master PYMME made report to the House of Commons what hainous and capitall crimes were objected against him Upon which the House fell into a serious debate and a Charge of High Treason in fourteene Articles was drawne up against him which Charge two daies after was sent from the House of Commons by Master PYMME up to the Lords The Archbishop was that day brought before the Lords to heare that Charge read and it was there voted That he should immediately be sent to the Tower but upon his earnest suit for some speciall reasons he was two daies longer suffered to abide under the Black Rod and then accordingly sent to the Tower where we will leave himâ— till the course of this Narration bring him to further triall upon those Articles Civill offendors as well as Ecclesiasticall must needs be many in so long a corruption of Government of whom one as he was first in time and soone leâ—t the Stage besides his chiefe Crime concerning matters of Church and Religion so he shall first be named Sir FRANCIS WINDEBANKE Principall Secretary of Estate a great Favourite and friend to the Archbishop of Canterbury and by his friendship as was thought advanced to that place of Honour was upon the 12 of November questioned in an high kinde concerning Popish Priests of whom in that seven or eight yeares that he had been Secretary he had bayled a great number and released many by his power contrary to the Lawes made and then in force against them which being examined by a Committee and certaine to prove foule against him as it did afterward for upon examination there were proved against him 74. Letters of grace to Recusants within foure yeares signed with his owne hand 64 Priests discharged from the Gate-House 29 discharged by a verball Warrant from him he thought it his best course before triall to fly the Land so that upon the fourth of December newes was brought to the House that Secretary WINDEBANKE with Master READ his chiefe Clarke was fled and soone after notice was given that he arrived in France where he long continued About that time came the great businesse of Ship-Money into debate in Parliament and was voted by both Houses to be a most illegall Taxation and unsufferable grievance in reference to which case almost all the Judges were made Delinquents for their extrajudiciall opinions in it as more particularly will afterward appeare As for other petty grievances such as were the multitude of Monopolies upon all things and Commodities of greatest and most familiar use the House daily condemned them and the Delinquents of meaner note in that kinde were examined and censured too many to be here named Nay so impartiall was the House of Commons in that case that many of their owne Members who had been guilty of such Monopolies were daily turned out of the House for that offence But the businesse of Ship-money did reflect with a deeper staine of guilt upon the then Lord Keeper FINCH then upon any of the other Judges whatsoever for his great activity and labouring in it by threats and promises working upon the other Judges as we finde alleadged against him Sir JOHN FINCH in the yeare 1636. when that Taxation of Ship-money was first plotted and set on foot was newly made Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas a man in favour with the King and many of the greatest Lords in Court having before been the Queenes Attorney a Gentleman of good birth of an high and Imperious spirit eloquent in speech though in the knowledge of the Law not very deepe Upon the death of the Lord Keeper COVENTRY about December 1639. the King was pleased to conferre that high Trust of keeping the Great Seale upon him which Office at this time he held Upon the seventh of December when Ship-money was fully debated and absolutely damned by the House of Commons and the offence of the Judges began to be scanned sixteene Gentlemen of that House were chosen to examine those Judges that had given their extrajudiciall opinions for it for three gave their opinions otherwise The arguments of two Judge CROOKE and Judge HUTTON were very famous Baron DENHAM by reason of sicknesse could not declare his opinion in so large a manner what threats or promises had been used to them and by what persons Upon which examination and further light given the next day a Committee was named to draw up Charges against the Judges and against the Lord FINCH then Lord Keeper a Charge of High Treason He not many daies after became an humble Suâ—tor to the House of Commons That before the Charge of High Treason were delivered against him they would be pleased to heare him Ore Tenus in their owne House His suit was granted and the next day save one in a long Oration he endeavoured to cleare himselfe but all in vaine was that endeavour though his deportment were very humble and submissive and his Speech full of perswasive Rhetorick it could not prevaile to divert the Judgement though many in the House were moved to a kinde of Compassion He either secretly informed by friends or himself perceiving by evident signes how things were likely to go with him conceived it best to use a timely prevention and the next day disguised fled and soone crossed the Seas into Holland After his flight he was voted
slaine That Commission of Array was directed from the King to Sir NICHOLAS CRISPE Sir GEORGE STROUD Knights to Sir THOMAS GARDINER Knight Recorder of London Sir GEORGE BINION Knight RICHARD EDES and MARMADUKE ROYDEN Esquires THOMAS BROWNE PETER PAGGON CHARLES GENNINGS EDWARD CARLETON ROBERT ABBOT ANDREW KING WILLIAM WHITE STEVEN BOLTON ROBERT ALDEM EDMUND FOSTER THOMAS BLINKHORNE of London Gentlemen and to all such other persons as according to the true intent and purport of that Commission should be nominated and appointed to be Generals Colonels Lieutenant Colonels Serjeant Majors or other Officers of that Councell of Warre The Commission it selfe is to be read at large in the Parliament Records But this Conspiracy was prevented and proved fatall to some of the Contrivers being detected upon the last day of May which happened at that time to be the day of the Monethly Fast and Master WALLER Master TOMKINS with other of the forenamed Conspirators being apprehended were that night examined by divers grave Members of the Parliament of whom Master PYM was one and afterwards reserved in custody for a Tryall They were arraigned in Guild-Hall and Master WALLER Master TOMKINS Master CHALLONER Master HASELL Master WHITE and Master BLINKHORNE were all condemned none were executed but Master TOMKINS and Master CHALLONER being both hanged Master TOMKINS in Holborne and Master CHALLONER in Cornhill both within sight of their own dwelling houses Master HASELL dyed in Prison BLINKHORNE and the other were by the mercy of the Parliament and the Lord Generall Essex reprived and saved afterwards Master WALLER the chiefe of them was long detained Prisoner in the Tower and about a yeare after upon payment of a Fine of ten thousand pounds was pardoned and released to go travell abroad It was much wondered at and accordingly discoursed of by many at that time what the reason should be why Master WALLER being the principall Agent in that Conspiracy where Master TOMKINS and Master CHALLONER who had been drawne in by him as their own Confessions even at their deaths expressed were both executed did escape with life The onely reason which I could ever heare given for it was That Master WALLER had been so free in his Confessions at the first without which the Plot could not have been clearly detected That Master PYM and other of the Examiners had ingaged their promise to do whatever they could to preserve his life He seemed also much smitten in conscience and desired the comfort of godly Minister being extremely penitent for that soule offence and afterwards in his Speech to the House when he came to be put out of it much be wailed his offence thanking God that so mischievous and bloody a Conspiracy was discovered before it could take effect CHAP. III. Matters of State trans-acted in Parliament touching the Assembly of Divines The making of a new Great Seale Impeaching the Queene of High Treason and other things The Lord Generall Essex after some Marches returneth to quarter his wasted and sick Army about Kingston The Kings Forces Masters of the West The Earl of Newcastle his greatnesse in the North. Some mention of the Earle of Cumberland and the Lord FAIRFAX AT the same time that these Conspiracies were closely working to undermine the Parliament and Warre was raging in highest fury throughout the Kingdome many State-businesses of an unusuall nature had been trans-acted in the Parliament sitting For things were growne beyond any president of former ages and the very foundations of Government were shaken according to the sense of that Vote which the Lords and Commons had passed a yeare before That whensoever the King maketh Warre against the Parliament it tendeth to the dissolution of this Government Three things of that unusuall nature fell into debate in one moneth which was May 1643. and were then or soone after fully passed one was at the beginning of that moneth concerning the Assembly of Divines at Westminster Among other Bils which had passed both Houses and wanted onely the Royall Assent that was one That a Synod of Divines should be chosen and established for the good and right settlement of Religion with a fit Government for the Church of England This Bill was oft tendred to the King to passe but utterly refused by him The matter therefore was fully argued what in such cases might be done by Authority of Parliament when the Kingdomes good is so much concerned when a King refuseth and wholly absenteth himselfe from the Parliament And at last it was brought to this conclusion That an Ordinance of Parliament where the King is so absent and refusing is by the Lawes of the Land of as good Authority to binde the people for the time present as an Act of Parliament it selfe can be It was therefore Voted by the Lords and Commons That the Act for an Assembly of Divines to settle Religion and a forme of Government for the Church of England which the King had oft refused to passe should forthwith be turned into an Ordinance of Parliament and the Assembly thereby called debate such things for the settlement of Religion as should be propounded to them by both Houses which not long after was accordingly put in execution The case seemed of the same nature with that of Scotland in the yeare 1639. when the Scottish Covenanters as is before mentioned in this History upon the Kings delay in calling their Nationall Synod published a writing to that purpose That the power of calling a Synod in case the Prince be an Enemy to the truth or negligent in promoting the Churches good is in the Church it selfe In the same moneth and within few daies after another businesse of great consequence was by the Lords and Commons taken into consideration which was the making of a new Great Seale to supply the place of that which had been carried away from the Parliament as before is mentioned This businesse had been fully debated in the House of Commons and the Moneth following at a Conference between both Houses the Commons declared to the Lords what great prejudice the Parliament and whole Kingdome suffered by the absence of the Great Seale and thereupon desired their speedy compliance in Votes for the making of a new one The matter was debated in the House of Peeres put to Votes and carried for the negative The onely reason which they alleadged against the making of a new Seale was this That they have hitherto dispatched all business since the absence of the Seale by vertue of Ordinances of Parliament and they conceived that the same course might still be kept in what matters soever were necessary to be expedited for the good of the Kingdome without a Seale Yet the Lords gave a respective answer That if the House of Commons would informe them in any particular cases wherein the Kingdomes prejudice by absence of the Great Seale could not be remedied by vertue of an Ordinance they would take it into further consideration to induce complyance accordingly Neither was
as might ecclipse their owne the King of Spaine being now weake and no such feare from him as might inforce them to need Englands strength as heretofore But the Parliament about the beginning of this Iuly were busied in such a multiplicity of Affaires which by severall Committees they daily did concerning the reformation of domesticall abuses that it were an endlesse and indeed an improper thing for an Historian to describe them all The Records will at large satisfie those that are curious in particulars onely some of the chiefe I will briefly touch which happened before the King went into Scotland Upon the fifth of Iuly 1641. the Committee appointed for that purpose made their report to the House of Commons of the Charge against MATTHEW WRENNE Bishop of Ely whose Accusation was before mentioned consisting of many Articles which all tended to the introducing of Superstition and too neare approaches to the Roman Religion as â—hose Articles will declare After some time spent in debate upon the Articles it was resolved upon the question and voted That it was the opinion of the House That Bishop WRENNE was unworthy and unfit to hold or exercise any Office or Dignity in Church or Common-wealth And further voted That there be a Message sent to the Lords to desire them to joyne with the Commons in petitioning His Majesty to remove the said Bishop both from his Person and Service About the same time also the Charges against those Judges before mentioned who gave their extrajudiciall opinions for leavying of Ship-money being five in number Judge BRAMSTON Baron TREVER Baron WESTON Baron DAVENPORT Judge CRAWLEY were read in the House of Commons and severall Members appointed to present those particular Charges against every Judge which they all did making large Speeches in aggravation of their Crimes Against Judge BERKLEY there was a higher Charge so great as amounted to High Treason The King was now wholly intent upon his journey into Scotland which he determined to take upon the tenth of August to which both Houses had once agreed but afterwards upon mature consideration desired the King to deferre it fourteene daies longer for divers reasons That the distempers of the Kingdome were such as could not well be composed unlesse His Majesty would stay the desired time there being many weighty affaires to be taken into consideration and no course yet set downe for the Government of the Kingdome in his absence The King notwithstanding their often and earnest pressing this suit was stedfast to the first day alleadging that the affaires of Scotland did necessarily require his presennce there at that time and that he would passe any thing of just concerne before he went and that he had to the same purpose many times desired them to hasten their businesses for him before such a time The King accordingly upon the tenth of August departed out of London toward Scotland but the same day before he tooke his journey coming to the Lords House he passed divers Bills which the Houses had prepared for him some concerning the publike as the Bill for Knighthood the Bill for free making of Gunpowder and Saltpeter and others concerning the Estates and affaires of private men He likewise signed the Commission for passing of Bills in his absence the Commissioners appointed were the Lord Keeper the Lord Privy Seale the Earle of Lindsey the Earle of Essex Marquesse Hartford the Earle of Bath and the Earle of Dorset He signed them also another Bill whereby he made the Earle of Essex Generall of all his Forces on this side Trent by which he had power to raâ—â—e Forces in case of necessity But to another request which both Houses had made to him the day before which was That the Earle of Pembrooke might be made Lord Steward in the Earle of Arundels place during his absence for the Earle of Arundell was then going over with the Queene Mother and that the Earle of Salisbury might be appointed Lord Treasurer he said he would take further time to consider of it By this time many jealousies began to arise in the hearts of people many divisions and differences of opinions concerning the Parliament which being by degrees formented by such persons as were disaffected to it by reason of their owne losses and particular interests whose number could not be small did fatally prepare the way to that miserable confusion which after followed Bishops had been much listed at though not yet taken away whereby a great party whose livelihood and fortunes depended on them and farre more whose hopes of preferment looked that way most of the Clergy and both the Universities began to be daily more dis-affected to the Parliament complaining that all rewards of learning would be taken away which wrought deeply in the hearts of the young and most ambitious of that Coat Another thing which seemed to trouble some who were not bad men was that extreame License which the Common People almost from the very beginning of the Parliament tooke to themselves of reforming without Authority Order or decency rudely disturbing Church-Service whilest the Common-Prayer was reading tearing those Bookes Surplaces and such things which the parliament either too much busied in variety of affaires of perchance too much fearing the losse of a considerable Party whom they might have need of against a reall and potent Enemy did not so farre restraine as was expected or desired by those men To this were added those daily reports of ridiculous Conventicles and preachings made by Tradesmen and illitterate people of the lowest ranke to the scandall and offence of many Which some in a merry way would put off considering the precedent times that these Tradesmen did but take up that which Prelates and the great Doctors had let fall preaching the Gospell That it was but a reciprocall invasion of each other callings that Chandlers Salters Weavers and such like preached when the Archbishop himselfe instead of preaching was daily busied in Projects about Leather Salt Sope and such commodities as belonged to those Tradesmen Many people by degrees grew dis-affected to the Parliament being daily poysoned by the discourses of the friends kindred and retainers to so many great Delinquents as must needs feare such a Parliament who though they be no considerable party in respect of the whole Common-wealth yet ply their particular interests with more eagernesse then most do the publike Some are taken off by time and their owne inconstancy when they have looked for quicker redresse of grievances then the great concurrence of so many weighty businesses in a long discontinued and reforming Parliament can possibly admit how industrious soever they be distracted with so great a variety those people after some time spent grew weary againe of what before they had so long wished to see not considering that a Prince if he be averse from such a Parliament can finde power enough to retard their proceedings and keepe off for a long time the cure of State when that happens
in the House of Lords concerning a Bill for pressing of Souldiers had broken the fundamental Priviledge of Parliament which is that he ought not to take notice of any matter in agitation or debate in either House but by their information and agreement and that he ought not to propound any condition or limitation to a Bill in debate and preparation or to manifest his approbation or dislike of the same until it be presented to his Majestie in due course of Parliament and that every particular Member of either House hath free liberty of speech to propound or debate matters according to Order of Parliament and that the King ought not to conceive displeasure against him for such opinions or propositions They intreated likewise a reparation for that great breach of Priviledge and for prevention of the like that the King would make known who they were by whose mis-information and evil counsel he had done it that they might receive conding punishment This businesse took up some time and was one unhappie impediment to the sudden relief of Ireland notwithstanding the high necessities of that Kingdom and the affections of England in general to it and so heavily went on all preparations that it was long before the House of Commons could finde means to enable the Lord Lieutenant to send over so much as one Regiment for defence of the Castle and City of Dublin which was commanded by a worthy Gentleman Sir SIMON HARCOUT who being designed Governour of the City of Dublin was sent away by Order of Parliament with his Regiment and landed there on the last day of December 1641 to the great comfort of that City being much distressed and terrified by the neer approach of the Irish Rebels Another obstruction of the relief of Ireland happened about three weeks after when the Scots delivered eight Propositions to the English Parliament touching the sending over of Two thousand five hundred Scots which were then in readinesse into the north of Ireland Both Houses of Parliament consented to all the Propositions but the King excepted against one of them being the third which was That the Scots desired to have the keeping of the Town and Castle of Carricksergus with power to remain there or enlarge their Quarters at discretion and if any Regiments or Troops in that Province should joyn with them that they receive Orders from the chief Commander of the Scotish Forces Against this Article the King took exceptions and desired the Houses to take it again into consideration as a thing of importance which he doubted might be prejudicial to England But if the House desired it should be so himself would speak with the Scotish Commissioners to see what satisfaction he could give them therein The Scots told his Majestie that since it was agreed â—pon by both Houses of Parliament and that the strength of his Majesties argument was That Article implied too great a Trust for Auxiliary Forces they were in good hope that his Majestie being their native King would not shew lesse trust in them then their neighbour-Nation had freely done Upon which the King at last was content to admit the Article and the advice of his Parliament This fatal obstruction of Ireland's relief did but second another immediately before For at the first the Commissioners of Scotland had not power given them from the State there to treat for sending over a lesse number then ten thousand men which the Lords were unwilling to yeeld to But that obstacle seemed to be removed by the zealous affection of the House of Commons who according to those Instructions of the State of Scotland to their Commissioners voted the sending over of ten thoâ—sand Scots But the House of Lords after long debate would not yeeld unto it unlesse the House of Commons would give assurance that ten thousand English might be as speedily sent over which the Commons as much desired and promised their endeavour in it but that the English then could not be so soon raised much lesse transported as the Scots every man understood There was no other reason given that ever I understood but onely That it was dishonorable for England that Ireland should be reduced by the Scots and this was the discourse of Papists and other persons disaffected to the Cause among the people every where Though it were much wondered at by all good Protestants that so nice a point of Honour should be stood upon when their Religion and Cause lay bleeding in Ireland after so sad and deplorable a kinde which began to deject the spirits of the poor Protestants in Ireland and make them suspect some secret workings under-hand against the good affections expressed by the House of Commons and those Lords who were well-affected to the State for they by the greater number were over-voted so many Popish and ill-affected Lords besides four and twenty Bishops for the Bishops voices in Parliament were not then taken away sitting in that House It was then also generally talked and much complained of among the well-affected people that the King had been so backward in proclaiming those barbarous Irish Rebels and not onely talked among the people but alleadged by the Parliament it self in their own Declaration afterward when the breach between King and Parliament grew greater as a signe that those inhumane Rebels had been countenanced by the Court of England in that the Proclamation whereby they were declared Traitors was so long with held as till the first of January though the Rebellion broke forth in October before and then no more then fourty Copies were appointed to be printed with a special command from His Majestie not to exceed that number and that none of them should be published till the Kings pleasure were further signified as by the Warrant appears a true copie whereof was printed so that a few onely could take notice of it And this say they was made more observable by the late contrary proceedings against the Scots who were in a very quick and sharp manner proclaimed and those Proclamations forthwith dispersed with as much diligence as might he thorow all the Kingdom and ordered to be read in every Church accompanied with publike Prayers and Execrations That Declaration of the Lords and Commons in which this is expressed concerning the Kings slowe proclaiming of the Irish Rebels was published when the King was gone to York at which he was much distasted in many particulars and returned Answer to them Among others because that of Ireland seemed to lie heavie upon his reputation it is just that the Reader should see the King 's own Answer to that point that he may the more fairly judge which shall be therefore inserted in the very words of the Kings Declaration To countenance those unhandsome expressions whereby usually they have implied Our connivence at or want of zeal against the Rebellion of Ireland so odious to to all good men they have found a new way of exprobation That the Proclamation against those bloodie
hath since been confirmed if I mistake not by his example and Your Majesties Chief Iustice Sir JOHN BANKS both in accepting their Ordinance and nominating their Deputy-Lieutenants how much further they proceeded I know not But Sir if the opinions of those great Lawyers drew me into an act unsutable to Your Majesties liking I hope the want of yeers will excuse my want of judgement And since by the Command of the Parliament I am now so far engaged in their Service as the sending out Warrants to summon the County to meet me this day at Lincoln and afterwards in other places I do most humbly beseech Your Majestie not to impose that Command on me which must needs render me false to those that relie on me and so make me more unhappie then any other misery that can fall upon me These things Sir I once more humbly beseech Your Majestie may be taken into Your Gracious consideration and that You would never be pleased to harbour any misconceit of me or of this Action since nothing hath yet passed by my Commands here or ever shall but what shall tend to the honour and safety of Your Majesties Person to the preservation of the Peace of Your Kingdoms and to the content I hope of all Your Majesties Subjects in these parts amongst whom I remain Your Majesties most humble and most dutiful Subject and Servant FRA. WILLOUGHBY Upon the receipt of these Letters the Lords sent a Message to the House of Commons in which they expressed how much they did value and approve the endeavours of this Lord in a service so much importing the safety of this Kingdom not doubting of their readinesse to concur with them upon all occasions to manifest the sense they have and shall retain of his deservings which appear the greater by how much the difficulties appearing by the circumstances of those Letters have been greater The Lords therefore as they resolved to make his Interest their own in this Service for the publike good and safety of the Kingdom so they desired the Commons to joyn with them in so just and necessary a work To this the House of Commons consented and resolved to joyn with the Lords in this Vote making the like resolution also for the Deputy-Lieutenants for the County of Lincoln and desired the Lords concurrence therein Upon which it was ordered by the Lords in Parliament that they agree with the House of Commons for the resolution concerning the Deputy-Lieutenants of the County of Lincoln In Essex also which proved a most unanimous County and by that means continued in peace and happinesse the Earl of Warwick whose care and action was not confined onely to the Sea chosen Lord Lieutenant by the Parliament when he went down to muster and exercise the Country was received with great applause The Trained Bands were not onely compleat but increased by Voluntiers to unusual numbers and so affectionate to that Cause they were in general that they presented a Petition to the Earl of Warwick and the Deputy-Lieutenants in the name of all the Captains and Lieutenants of the several Companies and in the name of all persons belonging to the Trained Bands To which Petition when it was read in the field they expressed a full consent by their general acclamations and applause in every Company The Earl of Warwick therefore sent the Petition to the Parliament to let them see the extraordinary alacrity and affection of that County of Essex to them which was in these words which follow To the Right Honourable ROBERT Earl of Warwick Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Essex and to the worthy Gentlemen the Deputy-Lieutenants of the same County confided in by the most Honourable the high Court of Parliament We the Captains and Lieutenants with the full consent of the Trained Bands and Voluntiers of the County now assembled having before the accesse of this present Parliament seen our Religion our Laws and Liberties brought to the brink of ruine and subversion by the results of most desperate and wicked Counsels could not but with exâ—â—ding joy behold the assembling and continuance of so great and faithful a Councel the Representative Body of this Kingdom and with most certain confidence commit thereto all that was dear unto us And having also seen the late hellish designes and actings of a malignant party in this Kingdom and the bloody Rebellion in Ireland all working to retard the progresse or subvert the being of this worthy Parliament and therein to bereave us of all our hopes of Reformation or future peace and happinesse to this Church or State we cannot but ascribe all glory praise unto the Lord of lords expresse most hearty thankfulnes to his blessed Instruments that great Assembly for their undaunted resolutions unparallell'd endeavours and happie proceedings for the common good And herein as not the least means of our safety for the most necessary and seasonable Ordinance of theirs touching the Militia whereby we are put under the Command and Guidance of so noble a Lord and such worthy Gentlemen whereunto we humbly desire this present day and meeting may be an evidence and pledge of our free and willing obedience Having intrusted our Religion our Laws and all into the hands of that great and most faithful Councel the Parliament whose care and fidelity we have so abundantly found we even bleed to see the heart and actions of our Royal King contrary to his own Royal expressions declining from the Counsels of his Parliament carried after other Counsels whom as the Laws and Constitutions of this Land have not known nor reposed upon so we for our own parts neither will nor dare intrust with our Religion or Laws and whom we verily believe could they prevail against that highest Court under God our chiefest Bulwark and Defence would soon deprive us both of Religion and Law and notwithstanding all their specious pretences reduce us to a condition no lesse miserable then slavish From the deep apprehensions of all which we do freely and heartily promise and tender our persons and estates to assist and defend to the uttermost the high Court of Parliament now assembled the Members Power and Priviledges thereof and therein his Majesties Person and Authority and the Kingdoms Peace according to our late Protestation against all contrary Counsels Power or force of Arms whatsoever which shall be reared up or attempted against them And this our humble Acknowledgement and Resolution which we doubt not will be accorded unto by all good Subjects we humbly desire your Honour and Worships to tender on our behalf to that most honourable Assembly of Parliament for whose happie progresse and successe we shall daily pray Subscribed J. KITELEY HENRY FARRE JOHN BALLET JOHN FLEMMING WILLIAM MARSHAM ROBERT BARRINGTON Captains THO. HARPER JOHN WOODCOCK RICH. LAWRENCE GEORGE COLWEL THO. CLARK WIMLIAM BURLS Lieutenants The Parliament were very forward to expresse their approbation of this most affectionate Declaration of the Essex men and returned
Musketeers of his Regiment on the right hand before the two Demy-Culverings that were placed at the end of the Lane on the top of the Hill and the red Auxiliaries he placed on the left hand of those Peeces which before were slenderly guarded The Artillery was well ordered that day by the skill and care of Sir JOHN MERRICK While this was acting two Peeces which belonged to the Major Generals Regiment and one Drake of Sir WILLIAM BROOKES were by the Generals Regiment under the Command of Major BOTELER with the assistance of 200. Musketeers recovered and the Enemy drew away from their Pikes which with their Colours kept standing with many great Bodies of Horse to guard them five or six hundred Musketeers besides Dragoones to encompasse our men on the right hand among the hedges just at which time his Excellency sent to have 300. Musketeers of the Forlorne Hope to go to the reliefe of Colonell BARCLAY and Colonell HOLBORNES Souldiers But then the Enemy falling on upon our right hand diverted them who with other of our Musketeers thereabouts beat the Enemy off who else had done us great mischief This was about foure a clock in the afternoone when all our whole Army of Foot was ingaged in the Fight But then he also caused some of the red Auxiliary Regiment to draw neerer to Colonell BARCLAYS Post as he himselfe required At length night drew on when the Enemy both Horse and Foot stood in good order on the further side of the Greene where we expected their stay till next morning and that they were working as was reported to place their Canon to make use of them against us when day should breake Against which supposed encounter we encouraged our Souldiers before hand and resolved by Gods help the next day to force our way thorow them or dye But it pleased God to make our passage without blows for the Enemy was gone by night so that the next morning we marched quietly over the same ground where the Battell was fought and where the Enemy stood for on Thursday early his Excellency gave Command for the Armies March towards Reading to which purpose it was all drawne up upon the Heath where the Battell was fought and after that his Excellency had given order for burying the dead about ten a clock we began to march Colonell MIDDLETON with his owne and three Regiments more Lord GREY SHEFFIELD MELDRUM and 400. commanded Musketeers under Colonell BARCLAY had the Reere-guard During which March the Enemy at a great distance shot from severall hedges but troubled us not When we came to a long Heath we drew up the whole Army severall times and no Enemy appeared But at the entrance of a narrow Lane toward the evening the Enemy fell upon us with 800. commanded Musketeers and most of their Horse who caused our Horse then in the Reare to make a very disorderly and confused retreat But when Colonell MIDDLETON with the rest of the Commanders in the Reare hasted to charge the Enemy with our Foot he made them retreat with as much confusion over the Heath as they had us before the losse not great on either side Lieutenant BROWNE was taken Prisoner After this the same evening the Lord Generall drew up the Army to Theale and taking some refreshment there marched the next morning being Fryday with the whole Army to Reading where he stayed till the Sabbath was past and gave publike thanks for the great Victory This was a Victory not denyed to the Parliament nor at all disputed although the Lord Generall Essex for want of Victuals marched away to the necessary reliefe of his Army and could not stay to pursue the Victory which he had gotten The number of slaine in that Battell were judged to be by those who speak most moderately foure times as many of the Kings Party as of the Parliaments but others have spoken of a farre greater difference Divers Captains as Captaine MASSY and Captaine HUNT with others were slaine on the Parliament side but scarce any of higher ranke Three of the Nobility fell on the Kings side the Earle of Carnarvan the Lord SPENCER newly made by the King Earle of Sunderland and the Lord Viscount Fawlkland After this Victory the Lord Generall was received at London with great joy and Honour The Trayned Bands and Auxiliaries of London marched home in full Companies and were welcomed by their friends and met by the Lord May or and Aldermen at Temple Barre And now the face of things seemed much to change and the reputation of the Parliament rise higher At the time of this Expedition for reliefe of Gloucester a Cessation of Arms was made by the King with the Irish Rebels of which together with the great Victories which small numbers of the English Forces obtained over great multitudes of those Irish Rebels before the time of that Cessation which was here omitted as not to interupt the Relation of proceedings in the English Warres there may be a larger Discourse in the continuation of this History as also of the Covenant which the Parliament and that part of the Nation which adhered to them about this time entred into with their Brethren of Scotland for maintenance of the Religion Lawes and Liberties of both Kingdomes FINIS In the English Pope Sir Ioh. Temple