King after much losse of men and money enforced to leave and forsake it 65. The most noble and right honourable Earle of Essex was ordained Lord Generall over all the Parliaments Forces for the preservation of the kingdom which he famously and faithfully managed and marshalled as especially Edge-hill and Newbery and other places can abundantly witnesse 66. A plot to have blown up all the Lord Generalls Magazine of powder and another at Beverley in Yorkeshire to have slain Sir John Hotham both intended by one David Alexander and hired thereunto by the Kings party but both by Gods providence timely prevented 67. Commissions granted to popish Recusants to levy men and armes against the Parliament but the Parlia published a Declaration or Protestation to the whole world against the Kings dealings and most unjust proceedings therein 68. The King received the most bloody Irish rebels petition and permitted their persons with great favour and allowance about him calling and counting them his good Catholick Subjects but utterly rejecting the Parliaments petition exhibited by the Lord Generall desiring peace and reconciliation with him 69. A Treaty of peace was really intended by the Parliament but meerly pretended and fraudulently for a while transacted by the Royalists in which interim that most bloody bickering at Brainford was most treacherously committed by the Kings party and a most wicked piece of villany carryed on therein but though with much losse on both sides but especially on theirs by Gods great mercy the mischiefe prevented and the City of London mightily preserved 70. A dangerous plot against the kingdom in new High-Sheriffes to be listed by the King for his better collecting of the 400000 li. Subsidies intended to have been confirmed to the King in a former Parliament but that plot crost by the Parliaments providence and an Ordinance of Parliament set on foot for the successefull Association of Counties for mutuall defence one of another against regall injurious taxations and oppressions on them 71. A wicked design of the Royalists at Oxford and elsewhere to proceed against the Parliaments prisoners as traytors and so to put them to death by which Doctor Bastwick and Captain Lilburn were to have been tryed for their lives but prevented by an Ordinance of Parliament for execution of a Lex Talionis and so of executing the Royall prisoners among us Anno 1643. 72. A notable plot against the City of London immediately upon the Cities preferring a petition to the King by the hands of two trusty Aldermen and foure Commoners of the said City in reply to which petition the King sending as his messenger one Captain Hern to the City and the whole body of the City assembling at a Common-Hall as they terme it in their Guild-Hall this Hern desires Faire-play above-board of them But the businesse being found to be a notable designe of the malignant-Citizens against the Parliament and the then Lord Mayor of London and the Government of their City the honest and farre major party cry out in the hearing of Hern they would live and dye with the Parliament and so sent Hern away with a flea in his eare 73. Another plot immediately after contrived by the King and his agents at Oxford by a Letter sent by his Majesty to all the Freemen Journey-men and Apprentices of the said City to assemble at their severall Halls and there the Masters and Wardens of all Companies to read the Kings Letter to them and to perswade them to yeeld to all the Kings commands against the Parliament and City but this letter was nipt and crost also in the neck and nick of it and voted by the Parliament to be evill and scandalous 74. A plot also to betray Bristol into the Royallists hands by one Yeomous and Bowcher and divers other their associates but by Gods mercy the plot being timely discovered and the danger avoyded those two principall conspirators were by Martiall Law condemned and hanged and so the plot utterly frustrated 75. Cheapeside crosse Chaering-crosse and all other crosses in and about London utterly demolished and pulled down and that abominable and blasphemous book of tolerating sports and pastimes on the Lords daies voted to be burnt and shortly after accordingly burnt together with many crucifixes and popish trinckets and trumperies in the very same place where Cheapeside-crosse stood 76. M. Prynne sent by the Parliament to the Towre of London to search the Arch prelate of Canterburies chamber and Study there where he was prisoner who accordingly searching his Study and his pockets of his wearing cloathes a just requitall of his dealing with Mr. Prynâ—e and others found the originall Scotch Service-book with the Arch Bishops owne hand-writings in it the cause of all the Scots warres and his Diary Devotions and discoveries under his owne hands of matters of high concernment 77. The City of London to have been betrayed into the hands of the Royalists under a pretence of a petition for peace plotted by Mr. Waller a member of the Hâ—â—se of Commons M. Tompkins Mr. Challenor and others and this wicked plot termed by King Charles in his letter to the Queen one of his Fine Designes But God manifested them to be wicked and accursed Designes and Waller one of the prime complotters was by the sentence of the Parliament fined 10000 li. in his estate and sent out of the kingdom into perpetuall banishment and Tompkins and Challenor hanged in London 78. The breaking out of Sir John Hothams rotten-heart and infidelity to the Parliament in his intended and attempted plot for the betraying of that mighty strong Town of Hull into the Queens hands which treachery was plotted and contrived between Sir John the father Captain Hotham his son and Sir Edward Roades and began to be suspected by Sir John Hothams deserting of the most noble Lord Fairfax by an intercepeed letter of the Queens to the King and divers other sumptomes of it but especially by Captain Moyers letter to Mr. Ripley and Mr. Ripley's faithfull acquainting the Mayor of Hull therewith and their first seizing on the Block-houses Castles and Commanders of them and at length their apprehending of the persons of Sir John Hotham and Captain Hotham his Son was also apprehended and both of them beheaded at the Tower of London 79. A desperate plot for the betraying of the City or Town of Lincolne by the two Purfries two Captains of Hull who let in 60 Cavaliers by night in disguised habits and who issuing out about 12 of the clock that night to act their design where a plain fellow of the Town discharging a piece of Canon upon them slew 10 of them at one shot the rest slain and taken by the centinels and Souldiers of the town and so by Gods mercy the City preserved 80. The Queen wrote a dangerous letter to the King to come with all his forces to surprize London but by Gods over-powring wisedome and good providence the King refusing that counsell resolved to take Gloucester first
which he siercely assaulted but was as bravely repulsed and by Gods blessing on Major Generall Massies fidelity magnanimity of spirit timely aide comming to relieve the town it was admirably freed and by the Lord Generalls Army and the City of Londons Regiments delivered 81. A desperate rebellion raised by the Kentish malignants but by Gods mercy timely suppressed about Tunbridge by the valour of Colonell Brown the wel-affected Gentry of the County of Kent 82. A Ship bound from Denmark to the King of about 300 tun richly laden with armes and ammunition another Ship bound from Newcastle to Holland laden with Sea-coale but in the midst thereof was found between 3 4000 li hid in the coales sent to buy arms for the King and a third great ship called the Fellowship of at least 400 tun carrying 24 pieces of Ordnance all these 3 ships taken by the Parlia ships made prize of 83. The comming in of our brethren of Scotl. with an army of at least 20000 horse and foot invited thereunto by the Parl in the bitter depth of winter when they marched up to the middle in snow and were forced to bring their Artillery over the ice of the frozen river of Tyne and the Citizens of London lent the Parliament a 100000 li. for the Scots first pay ro encourage their advance to help us against the Kings forces 84. A desperate plot of the Rovalists to starve up the City of London by breaking into Surrey Sussex Kent the other associated Counties but disappointed by the Parl Victories at Auâ—ton Alsford fought by Sir Will Waller with the help of the City of Londons regiments and the Royalists plots to hinder our brethren of Scotl comming in to our help by letters and Embassadors sent from France and messengers from King Charles to inveagle them to keep from us but all in vain by Gods good providence and mercy to us 85. The King granted a cessation of arms with the bloody rebels of Ireland and afterward justified it by a Declaration of his printed and published at Oxford but it was remarkably observed that he never prospered in any of his great designs after it 86. A Solemn League and Covenant taken by the Lords and Commons in Parl by the City of London and all parts of the kingdom in the Parliaments power for a pure reformation of Religion and Church-Government and a mutuall defence betwixt us and our brethren of Scotland 87. A notable plot by the Royalists to have Nottingham town Castle betrayed unto them the Officers therein being proffered above 10000 li. to câ—nsent to it but prevented by Gods mercy in the fidelity of Colonell Hutchinson who was then the Governour thereof 88. A Generall plot against the Protestant Religion over all Christendom and the Danes and Hollanders also contribute to helpe King Charles therein but God wrought a mighty overture therein by the sudden breaking out of the Danes plot against the Swedes and their over-running almost all Denmark thereupon 89. A desperate plot against the City of London under a pretence of petitioning for peace acted by Sir Basil Brook Colonell Read and one Mr. Riley Vilet 2 Citizens of London others but by Gods providence discovered and prevented 1645. 90. Two desperate plots for the betraying of Ailsbury into the Royalists hands and another against Southampton but all three by Gods mercy timely discovered also and prevented 91. One Mr. Edward Stanford a Papist plotted with Captain Backhouse a Capt. of Horse under Colonell Massie for the betraying of the City of Gloucester into the Enemies hands and proffered 5000 li. for a reward thereof 200 li. whereof was paid in hand to the said Captain but by Gods providence the plot frustrated and Gloucester safely preserved 92. Englands great wonder to Gods glory there being about May 30. 1644. six brave armies in the kingdome on the Parliaments side and other forces for defence of the City of London besides 93. A plot to have betrayed our whole Army in Cornwall in the VVest but by Gods blessing most of the Souldiers lives were preserved though with the losse of our Artillery 94. Sir Alexander Carew Sir John Hotâ—am Captain Hotham and the Arch-prelate of Canterbury beheaded on Tower-Hill for treason against the Parliament 95. A peace onely pretended by the royalists at Uxbridge and a treacherous petition framed by the malignants of Buckingham shire wherein one Sir John Lawrence of that County was a great stickler but the mischief of both was frustrated 96. A desperate assault on Melcomb-Regis to have betrayed it into the royalists hands wherein divers of the malignant Townsmen had a principall hand and Colonell Goring and Sir Lewis Dives were agents therein but by Gods blessing the plot was frustrated the Town and Forts recovered and two ships with rich prize from Rhoan in France were seized on to make amends for their trouble 1645. 97. Divers Earles and Lords disaffecting the Kings courses forsook Oxford and came in and submitted themselves to the Parliament 98. The King in great distresse after our famous Victory at Nazeby is forced to fly up and down from Leicester not knowing where to stay in safety 99. A desperate plot in the West against the Parliament by the Clubmen but by Gods providence turned to the Enemies greatest hurt in the issue 100. A devillish sudden plot upon Scotland which was almost over run by traiterous Montrosse but as suddenly recovered again by Gods blessing on Generall David Lesley and Montrosse discomfitted and beaten away into the mountaines 1646. 101. A Discovery of grosse impiety in the King and his Oxonians the King pretending a desired personall treaty with the Parliament for a wel-grounded peace and yet at that time granted a Commission to the Earle of Glamorgan to the ruine of all the protestants in Ireland and so consequently of us in England also 102. The King before his departure out of Oxford sends a Commission or Letter to the Marquis of Ormond to make an absolute peace with those bloody rebels granting them full profession of their Romish religion by his voluntary authority to the shame of himself and his religion notwithstanding which Commission or Letter the King sent a letter to the Parliament another to the City of London protesting in them that nothing in the world was more desired by him than that in religion and peace with all the comfortable fruits of both they might thenceforth live under him in all godlinesse and honesty that foresaid Commission or Letter being discovered to the Parliament after the sending of those Letters and thereby the notorious unfaithfulnesse of the King manifested to us 102. The King after that disloyall peace with the bloody Irish was now at last inforced out of absolute necessity to get out of Oxford in a most disgracefull disguise as a Servingman to Ashburnham and by this ignoble escape to put himself into the hands of our loyall brethren of Scotland for
Belfore then Leivtenant of the Tower promising and assuring him twenty thousand pound and the marriage of his daughter to Sir Williams Son if he would but consent unto and assist his escape but loyall Sir William hated such bribes of trechery and still kept him fast and so the neck of all that plot was broken 48. Then they attempted by foule and false scandals on the Parliament to intice the Army of the Scots then still in the North to a newtrality and to sit still whiles our English army acted the farther designes hatched and hammered still in their heads and hearts but this plot prevailed not neither All these preceding passages were the confused effects of 15 or 16 yeares of the Kings reigâ— Anno 1641. Octob. 23. 49. About this time that most horrid and inhumane bloody rebellion and monstrous massacring of almost 200000 innocent English Protestants men women and children brake out in Ireland namely about October 23. 1641. This also being a main branch of this most mischievous design against this Parliament by Gods wonderfull power and providence so firmly fixed and setled that they knew not how to ruinate it those accursed Rebels having had their principall encouragements and Commissions to authorize them in that horrid and hideous rebellion from the Court of England and of purpose to have made England the chiefe seat of the warre and of all the papists prelates and malignants utmost wrath and rage 50. For the still effecting and underhand working on of this wicked designe the malignant party in private much prevailing still the designe now went on chiefly against the City of London for which purpose the noble and loyall Leivtenant of the Tower Sir William Belfore was for his loyalty displaced by the King from his Leivtenantship and popish Lord Cottingâ—on made Constable of the Tower but his dangerous designes being soon discovered he was as soon displaced and Colonell Lunsford not long before a Newgate-bird and fitter for Newgate was made Leivtenant of the Tower But he also by the Parliaments petition and importunity to the King was displaced and Sir John Byron a desperate malignant who afterward proved the most bloody Lord Byron in Chesâ—ire was made Leivtenant of the Tower in Lunsfords stead but he also on many just jealousies being petitioned against was at length with much adoe removed and put out thence and Sir John Coâ—yers by the power of the Parliament was put in his place 51. About which time a most wicked fellow sent to Mr. John Pymm a most pious Patriot of his Country and then a most eminent member of the House of Commons a most reviling Letter therein calling him traytor and in the said Letter inclosed a plague-sore plaister thinking thereby to have destroyed him But God mightily preserved him from the infection of it 52. None of all these plots yet prevailing against the Parliament neither in generalls nor particulars they yet persist to plot and attempt against it and about this time found occasions craftily and causelesly in secret to foment many jealousies and jarreâ— to dis-joynt both Houses of Parliament within themselves thereby at least to obstruct and retard their then most weighty and great affaires in Church and State 53. The Bishops also themselves had a pestilent plot about this time to subvert and overthrow the Parliament by endevouring to get the King to protest against their proceedings in it But twelve of them were thereupon presently impâ—ached of high treason and ten of them imprisoned in the Towre of London and afterward they were all disabled from ever sitting again in the Parliament 54. After this the King himself being guarded with about 500 armed russianly desperate Cavaliers or Souldiers violently rushed into the House of Commons accused five of their most eminent and pious Members of treaÌ„son demanded their persons to be delivered up unto him intending to destroy all that resisted him therein but this plot was blessedly crost by the happy absenâ—e of the Gentlemen this plot was attempted Jan. 4. 1641. Anno 1642. 55. After this one Binion a Silkman of London and the Kentish Malignants wherein Sir Edward Deering had a principall hand framed dangerous and destructive petitions against the proceedings of the Parliament but were both most justly rejected and themselves fined and imprisoned for them 56. Immediately after this things grew still worse and worse among the malignants the King himself in unjust discontent by the desperate and wicked counsell of that pernicious Cataline the young Lord Digby forsakes the Parliament and getting the Prince to him leaves London and presently posts into the North and there attempts to get Hull into his hands but was happily prevented and bravely opposed by Sir John Hotham then in that time of his outward and seeming fidelity 57. The King being at York interdicts the Militia then set on foot by the Parliament for their just safety and defence endevouring to remove the Term from the City of London but in both is opposed by the Parliament 58. The Lords and Gentry of Ireland and of Scotland too petition the King to return to his Parliament yea and the Gentry and Commons of Yorkeshire do the like but are all rejected 59. The King set on foot a most illegall Commission of Array to clash against the Parliaments Militia which occasioned much mischief and misery over the whole Kingdom but the Parl. Militia prevailed in most places and parts of the land 60. Three letters were intercepted discovering a most desperatâ—â—lot against the Parliament by the Royalists Commissary Wìlmot Digbie Jermine Crofts and others which by Gods mercy failed them and came to nothing but we in taking some of their ships were advantaged thereby 61. Sir Richard Gurney then Lord Mayor of the City of London proving a desperate malignant and Array man and more apt than able to act for the King was crost in his desires and clapt up prisoner in the Tower of London by the power of the Parliament 62. Proclamations and Declarations against the Parliaments proceedings were Printed and published and commanded to be read in all the Churches and Chappels over the whole kingdom within the Kings power 63. Sir John Penington a brave Sea-man but a desperate malignant was constituted Admirall of the Seas for the Kings service but displaced and dispossessed thereof by the Parliament and the most noble and loyall Earl of Warwick notwithstanding the Kings Letter and command to interdict him therein and to give way to Penington being put in by the power and authority of the Parliament and possessed of the Ships most happily and honourably kept and continued in the place and office for the Parliaments service 64. Hull having been long besieged by that most mischeivous and atheisticall Marquesse of Newcastle for the King and in that interim one Beck with a known Papist plotting to have betrayed it by firing it in foure severall places and then assaulting it yet Hull by Gods mighty providence was preserved and the
of Popish and Arminian tenets but shut up and restrained from Printing sound and Orthodox Doctrines 27. Nay not onely thus lamentably molesting us at home in England but attempting the like on our Brethren of Scotland indevouring to impose upon their consciences also a New Liturgye and a book of Canons upon the first introducing whereof into their Church they not induring them threw stones and stooles at the Arch-Bishop of St Andrews head and beat him out of the Church crying out a Pape a Pape and so rid themselves of them 28. Upon which refusall of theirs O what foule calumnies and scoffes were immediately cast upon them and they called and counted rebels and Traytors yea so proclaimed in all Churches in England 29. An Army was also raised to oppresse and suppresse them for thus resisting those the Kings and the Arch-prelates most injurious impositions on them 30. Our Brethren of Scotland likewise raising an Army in their own just defence and by force of armes inforcing their own peace 31. A first pacification being then made by the King and some of his Nobility and ratified under hand and Seal twixt them and the Scots yet was it shortly after shamefully violated and broken quite off by the Arch-prelate of Canterbury and the Earle of Straford 4. Parliament 32. A fourth Parliament was thereupon shortly after called again by those complotters meanes but to a very ill intent and another Parliament summoned also at the same time by the Earle of Straford in Ireland both of them onely to levy and procure monies to raise another Army and wage a new Warre against the Scots 33. The Ships and goods of our Brethren of Scotland were in all parts and ports of this kingdom and of Ireland also surprised and seized on for the King their Commissioners denyed audience to make their just defence to the King and the whole kingdome of Scotland and England too hereupon much distracted and distempered with leavying of monies and imprisoning all among us that refused the same 34. This Parliament also refusing to comply with the King Cant and Straford in this Episcopall warre against the Scots was soon dissolved and broken up by them and thereupon they returned to their former wayes of waste and confusion and the very next day after the dissolution thereof some eminent members of both Houses had their Chambers and studies yea their cabinets and very pockets of their wearing cloathes betimes in the morning before they were out of their beds searched for letters and writings and some of them also imprisoned and a false and most scandalous declaration was published against the House of Commons in the Kings name 35. A forced Loan of money was attempted in the City of London to be made a president if it prevailed there for the whole kingdom but some Aldermen refusing were sorely threatned and imprisoned 36. In which interim the Clergies Convocation continuing notwithstanding the dissolution of the Parliament new conscience-oppressing Canons were forged and a strange Oath with a monstrous c. in it was framed for the establishing of the Bishops Hierarchy with severe punishments on the refusers to take it 37. In this Convocation sore taxations were also imposed upon the whole Clergie even no lesse than six Subsidies besides a bountifull contribution to forward that intended warre against our brethren of Scotland 38. For the advancing of which said summes for this warre the popish pontifician party and their scandalous priests were most free and forward yea and a solemn prayer was composed and imposed by the Bishops on their Ministers every where to be used and read in all Churches against the Scots as rebels and traytors 39. The papists also in a high measure enjoyed even almost a totall toleration and a Popes Nuncio suffered among us to act and govern all Romish affaires yea a kinde of a private popish-parliament kept in the kingdom and popish jurisdictions erected among them 40. Commissions were also secretly issued out for some great and eminent papists for martiall Commands for levying of Souldiers and strengthening their party with Armes and Ammunition of all sorts and in great plenty 41. His Majesties treasure was by these meanes so extreamly exhausted and his revenues so anticipated that he was inforced to compell as it were his own Servants Judges and Officers of all sorts to lend him great summes of money aad prisons filled with refusers of these and the other illegall payments yea many High-Sheriffes summoned into the Starre-chamber and to the Councill-Board and some of them imprisoned for not being quick enough in levying Ship-money and such like intolerable taxations 42. In summe the whole kingdome was now brought into a lamentable and languishing condition of being most miserably bought and sold to any that could give and contribute most of might and malice against us and no hope of humane help but dolourâ— desperation and destruction to be the portion of all 43. In which interim our Brethren of Scotland being entred into our kingdome for their own just defence the King had advanced his Royall-Standard at York where the creame of the kingdome Nobles and Gentry being assembled and a treaty twixt the prime of both Armies had at Rippon for a faire and peaceable accommodation the King was at last inforced to take his Nobles Counsell and in the first place a cessation of Armes agreed on and then this fifth present Parliament the Parliament of Parliaments was necessitously resolved on to begin November â— 1640. 5 Parliament Anno 1640. Novemb. 3. 44. But behold a desperate plot and design was herein also immediately set on foot to spoâ—le or poyson it in the very Embrio and constitution of it in the first câ—oyce of the Members thereof by Letters from the King Queen malignant and popish Earles Lords Knights and Gentry posted into all parts of the kingdome to make a strong party for them But by admirable divine providence this their plot was counterplotted and wonderfully frustrated and the Parliament most hopefully congregated and setled 45. Shortly after a very formidable Spanish-Fleet or Armado appeared on our English narrow Seas in sight of Dover and was comming in as was on very strong grounds more than probably conjectured as a third party to help to destroy us the Spaniards hoping that by this time we and the Scots were together by the ears but they were by Gods mercy beaten off from us by our Neighbours of Holland 46. In the time of ours and the Scots Armies residing in the North which was in June 1641. the Popish and malignant Lords and Prelates fearing the effects of this present Parliament complotted together to disaffect that our English Army against the Parliament and indevoured to bring it out of the North Southward and so to London to compell the Parliament to such limits and rules as they thought fit 47. For the advancing of which designe the Earle of Straford then prisoner in the Tower attempted an escape with Sir William
safeguard Yet he persists and continues at Newcastle in as much obduracy and hardnesse of heart as at the first and the Lord onely knowes what will become of him if he return not to God his people and Parliament which the Lord in mercy worke his heart unto Amen 104. The great Seale broken before the Lords and Commons on Tuesday the 11 of August 1646. The Speech of the Lord Louthen Chancellour of Scotland to the King at Newcastle July 1646. YOur Majesty was plcased on Monday last to call the Lords of Your Councell and Committee to acquaint them with the Propositions and told them before you would deliver Your Answer You would make the same known to them The time assigned to the Commissioners stay is so short and the consequence of your Majesties Answer of so great importance either for the perservation or ruine of Your Crowne and Kingdomes as we could not be answerable to God nor to that Trust reposed in us unlesse we represent to your Majesty how necessary it is that your Maiesty assent to the Propositions as the 〈◊〉 of affaires now 〈…〉 that the danger and 〈◊〉 of your refusall will be remedilesse and bâ—ing on a suddaine ruine and destruction I shall begin first with the last which is the danger and shall next speake a word of the remedy The differences betwixt your Majesty and your Parliament which no man knoweth better than your Majesties selfe are growne to such a height that after many bloudy battels the Parliament having your Majesty all the Forts Garrisons and strong holds in their hands having your Majesties Revenue Excise Assessements Sequestrations and the Authority to raise all the men and money in the Kingdome and having after many victories and great successes a strong Army on Foot are now in such a pâ—sture for strength and power they are in a capacity to doe what they will both in Church and State And some are so afraid and others so unwilling to submit themselves to your Majesties Government that they desire not you nor any of your Race longer to reigne over them But the people are so wearied of the Warre and great burthens they doe groane under are so loath to have Monarchieall Government destroyed that they dare not attempt to cast it totally off till once they send Propositions of Peace to your Majesty least the people without whose concurrence they are not able to carry on their design should fall from them but after so great Warre and trouble that they may have a perfect security from opposition and Arbitrary power they have resolved upon the Propositions which are tendred to your Majesty as that without which the Kingdome and your people cannot be in safety and that there cannot be a firme peace upon any other tearmes Your Majesties friends in the Houses and the Commissioners from Scotland after much wraâ—â—ing did consent to the sending of those Propositions or to be rated the hinderers of peace or otherwayes to send no Propositions at all And now Sir if your Majesty as God foâ—bid shall refuse to assent to the Propositions You will lose all Your friends in the Houses lose the City and all the Countrey And all England will joyne against you as one man they will processe and depose you and set up another Government they will charge us to deliver your Majesty to them and to render their Garrisons and remove our Armies out of England and upon your Maiesties refusall of the propositions both Kingdomes will be constrained for their mutuall safety to agree and settle Religion and peace without You which to our unspeakable griefe will ruine your Maiestyy and your posterity and if your Maiesty refuse our faithfull advice who desire nothing on Earth more than the preservation of your Maiesties Royall Throne And if your Maiesty lose England by your wilfulnesse You will not be permitted to come and reigne in Scotland Sir we have laid our hands upon our hearts we have asked Counsell and direction from God and have had our most serious thoughts upon the remedy but can finde no other to save your Crowne and Kingdomes than your Maiesties assenting to the propositions and dare not say but they are higher in some things if it were in our power and option to remedy than we approved of but when we see no other meanes for curing the distempers of the Kingdomes and closing the breach between your Majesty and your Parliament our most humble and safe advise is your Majesty will be graciously pleased to assent to them as the onely way to establish your Throne because your Majesty shall be thereby received againe in your Parliament with the applause and acclamations of your people by your Royall presence all friends will be strengthened and all Enemies who feare nothing so much as the granting the propositions will be weakned your Maiesty will have a fit opportunity hereafter to offer such propositions as You and your Parliament in wisedome shall thinke fit for your Crowne and Kingdome the Armies will be disbanded and your people finding the sweet fruit of a peaceable Government you will gaine their hearts and affections and that will be your Maiesties strength and glory and will recover all that you have lost in this time of tempest of trouble And if it please God to incline your Royall heart to this advise of your humble and faithfull servants who next to the honour and service of God esteem nothing more pretious than the safety of your person and Crowne our actions shall make it appeare that we esteem no hazard too great for your Maiesties safety and that we are willing to sacrifice our lives and fortunes for establishing your Throne and iust Right Collected by John Vicars FINIS Printed at London by John Dever 〈◊〉 Ibbitson for T. Jennâ—â— and are to be sold at the Royall-Exchange 1646.