and they have just cause to believe it to be true Fifthly the Papists as publickly and with 〈…〉 importunity resort to Mass at Denmark house Saint James's aâ—d the Ambassadours Chappel as others do to their Parochial Churches Sixthly there is found already so bad consequence of this Priest John Goodman his 〈◊〉 that the City of London being solicited by the Parliament for their assistance in the advancement of Money for the supply of his Majesties Army have absolutely denied the same for that very reason which may become an ill 〈…〉 To which the King makes answer That it was against his minde that Popery or Superstition should any way increase within this Kingdom that he will restrain the same by causing the Laws to be put in execution That he is resolved to provide against Iesuits and Papists by setting forth a Proclamation speedily commanding them to depart the Kingdom within one Moneth of which â—f they fail or shall return then they shall be Proceeded against according to Law Concerning the Popes Nuncio Rosetti he hath no Commission 〈◊〉 onely to retain correspondency between the Queen and the Pope in things requisite for the exercise of her Religion which is warranted to her by the Articles of Marriage which gave her a full liberty of conscience yet 〈◊〉 he hath perswaded her that since the mis-understanding of that persons condition gives offence she will within a time convenient remove him Moreover he will take special care to restrain his Subjects 〈◊〉 resorting to Mass at Denmark house Saint James's and the Chappels of Ambassadours Lastly concerning Goodman because he will avoid the inconvenience of giving so great discontent to his People as his Mercy may produce therefore he doth remit his particular case to both Houses But he desired them to take into their considerations the Inconveniences that may upon this Occasion fall upon his Subjects and other Protestants abroad especially since it may seem to other States to be a Severity But this while though of consequence to the main Affairs we have been enforced to leave the Scots in their five Moneths warm Quarters in this Kingdom The Treaty at Rippon produced a Câ—ssation of Hostility referring further to a Treaty at London which was impowred by Commission the three and twentieth of November to the former Lords the Earls of Bedford Hartford Essex Salisbury 〈◊〉 Bristow Holland and Berkshire the Lords Wharton Paget 〈◊〉 Brook Paulet Howard of Estrick Savile and Dunsmore 〈◊〉 to any ten or more of them to treat with the Scotish Commissioners or any seven of them being the Earls of Rothes and Dumferling the Lord Loudon Sir Patrick Hâ—pburn Sir William Douglas William Drummond Iohn Smith Bailiff of Edinburg Alexander Wedderburn Hugh Kennedy Alexander Henderson and Archibald Iohnson to take into consideration their Demands and to compose all Differences thereupon in pursuance of which Commission these Demands were assented unto The Scotish Comissioners demanded First that his Majesty would be graciously pleased to command that the Acts of the late Parliament may be published in His Higness Name as our Sovereign Lord with the consent of the Estates of Parliament conveâ—eal by his Majesties Authority To this it is answered and agreed 30 Decembris 1640. That forasmuch as the Kings Majesty at the humble desire of his Subjects did call and convene a Parliament to be holden at Edinburgh the 2. of Iune 1640. wherein certain Acts were made and agreed upon which Acts his Majesty is pleased to publish in his own Name with the consent of the Estates and therefore commands that the said Acts bearing date the 2. day of Iune 1640. be published with the Acts to be made in the next Session of the same Parliament and that all the said Acts as well of the precedent as of the next Session to be holden have in all time coming the strength of Laws and to be obeyed by all the Subjects of the Kingdom of Scotland Secondly that the Castle of Edinburgh and other Strengths of the â—ingdom should with the advice of the Estates of Parliament according to their first foundation be furnished and used for defence and security of the Kingdom It is agreed unto Thirdly that Scotish men within his Majesties Dominions of England and Ireland may be freed from censure for subscribing the Covenant and be no more pressed with Oaths and Subscriptions unwarranted by their Laws and contrary to their National Oath and covenant approved by his Majesty It is agreed Decemb. 8. 1640. that all those who in his Majesties Dominions of England and Ireland have been imprisoned or censured any way for subscribing of the Covenant on for refusing to take any other Oath 〈◊〉 to the same shall be freed of these Censures and shall be fully restored to their Liberties Estates and Possession and for time coming that the Subjects of Scotland as Subjects of Scotland shall not be constrained to any Oath contrary to the Laws of that Kingdom and the Religion there established but such of the Kingdom of Scotland as shall transport themselves into the Kingdom of England or Ireland and there be settled Inhabitants either by way of having Inheritance or Freehold or by way of settled Trades shall be subject to the Laws of England or Ireland and to the Oaths established by the Laws and Acts of Parliament in the said Kingdoms respectively wherein they live And the English and Irish shall have the like privilege in Scotland Fourthly that his Majesty would be pleased to declare that whosoever shall be found upon Trial and Examination by the Estates of either of the two Parliaments they judging against the persons subject to their own Authority to have been the Authours and Causers of the late and present Troubles and Combustions whether by labouring to make and foment Division betwixt the King and his People or betwixt the two Nations or any other way shall be liable to censure of the said Parliaments respectively It is answered December 11. 1640. That his Majesty believeth he hath none such about him therefore concerning that point he can make no other Declaration than that he is just and that all his Courts of Justice are to be free and open to all men Our Parliament in this Kingdom is now sitting and the current Parliament of Scotland near approaching the time of their meeting In either of which respective he doth not prohibit the Estates to proceed in trying and judging of whatsoever his Subjects And whereas it was further demanded that none after the Sentence of the Parliament should have access to his Majesty or be maintained or enjoy Places or Offices and have credit or authority to inform or advise his Majesty It is declared in his Majesties Name Decemb. 30. 1640. That he will not imploy any person or persons in Office or Place that shall be judged incapable by Sentence of Parliament nor will he make use of their service without the consent of
Parliament or grant them access to his Person Fifthly that their Ships and Goods and all Dammages thereof may be restored It is agreed Ian. 7. 1640. That all Ships taken and staid should be reciprocally restored on both sides And that the Scotish Commissioners having informed that about eighty Ships of Scotland are yet staid in the Ports and are like to suffer much loss if they shall not be delivered into some hands who may have care of them It is agreed that Warrants shall be presently granted for delivery of all their Ships And that four thousand pounds be presently advanced for Caulking Sails Cordage and other necessaries for helping the presenâ— setting forth of the said Ships Sixthly they desire from the justice and the kindness of the Kingdom of England Reparation concerning the Losses which the Kingdom of Scotland hath sustained and the vast Charges they have been put unto by occasion of the late Troubles That this House thinks fit that a friendly assistance and relief shall be given towards supply of the Losses of the Scots and that the Parliament did declare that they did conceive that the Sum of three hundred thousand pounds is a fit proportion for the friendly assistance and relief formerly thought fit to be given towards supply of the Losses and Necessities of their Brethren of Scotland and that the House would in due time take into consideration the manner how and the time when the same shall be raised Seventhly that as his Majesty hath approved the Acts of the late Parliament wherein all such Declarations Proclamations Books Libells and Pamphlets that have been made written and published against his loyal and dutifull Subjects of Scotland are recalled and ordered to be suppressed So his Majesty may be pleased to give order that the same may be suppressed recalled and forbidden in England and Ireland and that the loyalty integrity and faithfulness of his Majesties Subjects of Scotland towards his Majesties royal Person and Government may at the closing of this Treaty of Peace and at the time of publick Thanks-giving for the same be made known in all places and all Parish-churches of his Majesties Dominions It is agreed upon the 10. of February 1640. That all Declarations Proclamations Acts Books Libells and Pamphlets that have been made and published against the loyalty and dutifulness of his Majesties Subjects of Scotland shall be recalled suppressed and forbidden in England and Ireland And that this be reciprocal in Scotland if any such have been made or published there in prejudice of his Majesties honour And this upon diligent enquiry to be done by the Authority of Parliament next â—itting in Scotland of which the Commissioners of Scotland do promise to have an especial care And we do also agree that when it shall please Almighty God to grant an happy close of this Treaty of Peace the Loyalty of his Majesties Subjects of Scotland shall be made known at the time of publick Thanks-giving in all places and particularly in the Parish Churches of his Majesties Dominions That all Monuments Tokens and shews of Hostility upon the Borders of the two Kingdoms may be taken away That not onely the Garrisons of Barwick and Carlile may be removed but that the Works may be â—lighted and the places dismantled To the eighth Demand it is said that being offered the twelfth of this Moneth there was no Answer But there waâ—â—his Answer Die Lunae 8. Martii 1640. This house of Commons concur with their Lordships that when a peace shall be established all things reciprocally be reduced into the Termes they were before the Treaty And do agree with their Lordships that the Scotish Commissioners shall set down all their particular heads and demands at once together that so their eight Articles which they propound for establishing a peace may with all speed be concluded that being done this house shall willingly concur with their Lordships to settle all things for their just satisfaction Then comes the Scots remayning heads to the Eight Demands 1. Our desires concerning Unity in Religion and Conformity of Church Government as a special means for preserving of peace between these Kingdomes 2. That some Scotish-men of respect and intrusted by their Nation may be in place about the King Queen and the Prince 3. That none be in place about his Majesty and the Prince but such as profess the Reformed Religion 4. Concerning the manner of chusing the Councel and Sessions in Scotland 5. Naturalization declaring the capacity and mutuality of the Subjects of both Kingdomes 6. Concerning Customes in the Kings dominions and Foreign Nations 7. Concerning freedome of trade and intercourses 8. Concerning Manufactory and assessations by Sea and Land 9. Concerning Equality and course of coyn in his Majesties dominions 10. Concerning Fishing 11. An Act of Oblivion of all by gone deeds betwixt the Kingdomes of Scotland England and Ireland since the beginning of the late troubles 12. An act of Parliament for the ratifying this Treaty and Articles and establishing the means of a firm and perfect peace 13. That none of his Majesties dominions shall take Arms or invade others without consent of the Parliament of that Kingdome and after declared Peace no stopping of Trade or taking of ships or any Acts of hostility the contemners to be punished as Enemies to the State 14. That neither Scotland nor England ingage in a foreign war without mutual â—â—nsent and to assist each other against all foreign Invasions 15. Concerning the remanding of offenders or debtors in both Kingdomes 16. Concerning exacting deâ—rees and sentences 17. In either Nation authentike extracts without production of the principal warrant about the late borders and middle Marshes and that this peace may be inviolably observed Trials may be taken in the triennial Parliament of both Kingdomes of all wrongs to be done by either nation to other that the differences may be removed and some commissioners to be appointed of both Kingdomes for the conserving of peace in the Intervall of Parliaments And being required to bring in a full Accompt of their charges in writing according to their sixt Article they enlarge it unto five hundred and fourteen thousand one hundred twenty and eight pounds nine shillings c. abating only the odde pence A monstrous sum Besides what losses their Nation Nobility and Gentry have sustained which they amount unto Two hundred and twenty one thousand pounds and the neglect of their fortunes at Two hundred and twenty thousand pounds Besides the Eight hundred and fifty pounds a Moneth Contributions of the Northern Counties and besides the exhaustable Insolencies also upon them by the Scots Army All which because it may seem an impudent Account impossible to be made out upon any pretences See it in their own particulars which was set out in print if it had been possible to have made them odious to the suffering English Subjects The Scots Great Account BEsides the particular charges
of England and Ireland and to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Goverment against Law in the said Kingdoms and for exercising a tyrannous and exorbitant Power over and against the Laws of the said Kingdoms over the Liberties Estates and Laws of his Majesties Subjects and likewise for having by his own Authority commanded the laying and assessing of Souldiers upon his Majesties Subjects in Ireland against their consent to compell them to obey his unlawfull Commands and Orders made upon Paper-petitions in Causes between party and party which accordingly was executed upon divers of his Majesties Subjects in a warlike manner within the said Realm of Ireland and in so doing did levy War against the Kings Majesty and his Liege-people in that Kingdom And also for that he upon the unhappy Dissolution of the last Parliament did slander the House of Commons to his Majesty and did counsel and advise his Majesty that he was loose and absolved from Rules of Government and that he had an Army in Ireland which he might imploy to reduce this Kingdome for which he deserves to undergo the paines and Forfeitures of high Treason And the said Earl hath been also an Incendiary of the wars between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland all which offences have been sufficiently proved against the said Earl upon his Impeachment Be it therefore Enacted by the Kings most excellent Majesty and by the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by â—â—thority of the same that the said Earl of Strafford for the hainous crimes and offences aforesaid stand and be adjudged and attainted of high Treason and shall suffer such pain of death and incur the Forfeitures of his Goods and Cattels Lands Tenements and hereditaments of any estate of freehold or Inheritance in the said Kingdomes of England and Ireland which the said Earl or any other to his use or in trust for him have or had the day of the first sitting of this present Parliament or at any time since Provided that no Iudge or Iudges Iustice or Iustices whatsoever shall adjudge or interpret any Act or thing to be Treason nor hear or determine any Treason nor in any other manner than he or they should or ought to have done before the making of this Act and as if this Act had never been had or made Serving alwaies unto all and singular persons and bodies politique and corporal their Heirs and successors other than the said Earl and his Heirs and such as claim by from or under him all such right title and Interests of in and to all and singular such of the said Lands Tenements and Hereditaments as he they or any of them had before the first day of this present Parliament any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding Provided that the passing of this present Act and his Majesties assent thereunto shall not be any determination of this present sessions of Parliament and all Bills and matters whatsoever depending in Parliament and not fully enacted and determined And all Statutes and Acts of Parliament which have their continuance until the end of this present session of Parliament shall remain continue and be in force as if this Act had not been This Bill of Attainder being read opened and affirmed by sundry Presidents and Acts of Parliament might no doubt remove the misty cloud of the Peers understanding And therefore the next day the heat of that house appeared towards his destruction contrary to the Kings conscience whose Judgement was that he deserved relief And to that end the first of May he called both Houses together and to them he opened himself for the Earls defence thus My Lords and Gentlemen I had no intention to have spoken to you of this business to day which is the great business of the Earl of Strafford because I would do nothing which might hinder your occasions But now it comes to pass that I must of necessity have past in the judgment I think it most necâ—ssary to declare my conscience therein I am sure you know I have been present at the hearing of this great cause from one end to the other and I must tell you that in my conscience I cannot condemn him of high Treason It is not fit for me to argue this business I am sure you will not expect it a positive Doctrine best becomes the mouth of a Prince yet must I tell you three truths which I am sure no man can tell so well as myself First That I had never any intention of bringing over the Irish Army into England nor ever was advised by any body so to do Secondly That there was never any debate before me either in publique Councel or private Committee of the disloyalty of my English subjects nor ever had I any suspicion of them Thirdly That I was never counselled by any to alter the least of any of the Laws of England much less to alter all the Laws Nay I tell you this I think no body durst ever be so impudent as to move me to it For if they had I should have made them such an example and put such a mark upon them that all posterity should know my intentions by it they being ever to govern by the Law and no otherwise I desire rightly to be understood for though I tell you in my conscience I cannot condemn him of high Treason yet cannot I clear him of misdemeanours therefore I hope you may find out a way to satisfie justice and your own fears and not oppress my conscience My Lords I hope you know what a tender conscience is and I must declare unto you that to satisfie my people I would do great matters but in this of conscience neither fear nor any other respect whatsoever shall ever make me goe against it Certainly I have not deserved so ill of this Parliament at this time that they should press me in this tender point therefore I cannot suspect you will go about it Nay I must confess for mis-demeanours I am so clear in them that though I will not chalk out the way yet I will shew you that I think my Lord of Strafford is not fit hereafter to serve me or the Common-wealth in any place of trust no not so much as a Constable Therefore I leave it to you my Lords to find out some such way as to bring me out of this straight and keep your selves and the Kingdome from such inconveniences So then in effect he tells them of his presence at the hearing of that great cause from one end to the other and that positively in his conscience he cannot condemn him of High Treason but could not clear him of misdemeanours and he hoped that they might finde out a way to satisfie Justice and their own fears and not to oppress the Kings conscience which neither fear nor any other respect whatsoever should make him go against it and leaves them the way to bring him out of this straight This
the Gentry in reference to their Shires these consulted of Propositions for the gâ—nâ—ral Table consisting of Commissioners elected out of the other four Tables which should be put in practice by a blinde Jesuitical zeal of obedience a neâ— form of Government in a Kingdom evermore Monarchical to this day and so they then would call it And the first Dung from this General Table oâ— Sâ—able rather of these unruly Horses was their Covenant and seditious Band pretended to preserve their Religion in renewing their ancient Confession of their Faith and security of the Kings person but aiming really at the destruction of both Concerning this their Confession of Faith 1. First It is observed against the vulgar Errour That the Ministers have been alwayes the Instrumental party subservient to the prevalent faction of the Nobility in all these late troubles as in all former since the first alteration of Religion And when Hamilton and Argyles power vanished it is manifest that the Ministers authority likewise took end having the rise and fall together 2. That the Confession of Faith in anno 1580. upon which the late Covenanters grounded and derived their Covenant in anno 1638. was onely a Negative Confession containing an abjuration of all points of erroneous doctrine of the Romish Church which a Iew Pagan Turk or any except a Romane Papist might have taken being consonant to the Oath of Abjuration here in England imposed upon suspected Recâ—sants 1643. and lately renewed by the Lord Protector though upon different ends And that it was no Covenant containing any Band of mutual defence without and against the Kings consent as this did but onely a Band for the maintenance of the true Religion and the Kings person with the Kings warrant and the Councels and the General Assemblies approbation anno 1590. as their own words bear in the frontispice of this their Covenant 1638. All which it wanted and consequently was a clear illegal combination of subjects against the King their undoubted lawful Supreme Magistrate which is High-Treason by the laws of all kindes of Government And that all strangers to the Scots History may the better apprehend what the Negative Confession was It will not be amisse to set down briefly the reason that moved King Iames to impose the same upon his Scotish Subjects It being inserted in the large Declaration page 57 58 59 concluding in these words To whom with the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost c. The rest therein after mentioned is forced in by the New Covenanters The occasion of that Confession King Iames the sixth having no kinred left in Scotland of his Fathers side except the Earl of Lenox an aged decreped Man without hopes of issue sent to France for Esâ—re Lord Aubigny near in blood that was to Lenox And being a young Gentleman of a comely personage and sweet disposition he was made first Gentleman of the Bedchamber then Earl of Lenox to preserve the house delapsed by right to the King and then Lord High Chamberlain Duke of Lenox and Privy Councellour with very great affection to boot whom a strong part of the Nobility oppose and set on some bâ—utefeu Ministers to pulpet him a Papist and to be sent into Scotland by the House of Guises in France to pervert the King and subvert the Protestant Religion and got Interest with Queen Elizabeth to side with them The King commends him to Mr. David Lindsay Minister of Leeth who understood French and was by him converted making his publique Recantation in St. Giles Church afterwards the Cathedral of Edinburgh and constantly came to the duties of the Church But this they said was done by dispensation from the Pope so that the King commanded his Chaplain Mr. Craig to draw up that Negative Confession subscribing it first himself then the Duke and after them his whole Houshold All this would not satisfie the Nobles nor their factious Ministers but they seized the King at Ruthen Castle and enforced him to banish the Duke who died shortly after a true Protestant at Paris 3. That the Interpretation which the New Covenanters without any lawful warrant of publique authority put upon the Negative Confession by making it abjure Episcopacy and the five Articles of Perth Assembly anno 1618. was contrary to the former practice of their own Kirk ever since either of them was determined See Grand Declaration page 364. which proves by Acts of Parliament that the Bishops had still votes in Parliament according to former times 4. That the Negative Confession was an un-hand som way for a King to take to suppresse a few Mutinous Ministers appears clearly by common reason and King Iames his own dissallowing of it afterwards in his conference at Hampton Court anno 1603. But his first Ordination thereof was onely pro tempore morte Mandatoris expirat Mandatum unlesse it had been renewed by the present King it could not be loyal 5. King Charles by his Coronation Oath 1633. is sworn to maintain the Church as then it was And all Ministers upon their Admission did take Oath of obedience to their Ordinary Bishops and to the five Articles of Perth by Acts of Parliament so commanded for so many years past at least these should have been removed by Acts of Parliaments before they could be renounced without perjury 6. Whether the Limitation contained in the third Article of the Solemn League and Covenant viz. To preserve and defend his Majesties Person and Authority in the third place and conditionally in the defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms not exprest nor known in the large extent as newly interpreted doth not fetter the subjects Allegiance and open a back door for them to rebel against the King if they imagine he doth oppose it which they conceive to be the true Religion and Liberties though never so falfe and how this can stand with the three and twentieth Article of the large Confession of Faith authorized in both Kingdoms 1645. by acts of Synods Holding forth That Infidelity or difference in Religion doth not make void the just Authority of the Magistrate or free the people from their due Obedience to him this being so how can the Covenanters give answer hereunto But the Title to this New device was thus The Confession of Faith subscribed at first by the Kings Majesty and his Houshold in the year of God 1580. thereafter by persons of all ranks 1581. By Ordinance of the Lords of secret Counsel and Acts of General Assemblies subscribed again by all sorts of persons 1590. By a new Ordinance of Councel at the desire of the General Assembly with a general Band for maintenance of the true Religion and the Kings person and now subscribed in the year of God 1638. by us Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers and Commons under subscribing To which the Royall Narration makes these Questions By what authority they durst exact an Oath without him or his
is very memorative how hardly King James the sixth procured the Post-Nati of Scotland by which they are admitted to all dignities priviledges and offices in England must they have freeâ—dom here and must the English be debarred there o Tempora o Mores 4. How many of themselves at that instant had preferment to hereditable rites of Iudiciary and why must the King be now limited 5. The Chancellour of Scotland holds his precedency without any positive Law why not the Treasurer and Privy Seal the first branch of the Kings Crown is to distribute honours and precedencies as he please But the King having knowledge of these their Extravagancies sent to his Commissioner the Earl of Traquair to Prorogate the Parliament until the second of Iune and if they should presume to sit still then to discharge them upon pain of Treason But if they did yeeld obedience thereto his Majesty was graciously pleased to admit such persons to his presence as they should send to represent their desires and his Commissioner to repair to the King and to bring all the transactions of that Session Against this command they protest and stile it a Declaration of the Parliaments 18. December 1639. WHereas John Earl of Traquair his Majesties Commissioner having closed the Assembly and sitting in Parliament with them did now take upon him without their consent or offence to prorogate the Parliament upon a private warrant this being a new and unusual way without president in this Kingdom heretofore once being convened have continuation by the expresse consent of the Estates We therefore declare that any prorogation made by the Commissioners Grace without consent of Parliament shall be of no force and the actors to be censured in Parliament And knowing that Declarations have been published against us and our proceedings made odious to such 〈◊〉 do not consider that we are not private subjects but a sitting Parliament We therefore declare that whatsoever we might do lawfully in sitting still yet we have resolved for the present to make Remonstrance to his Majesty and some of each Estate to remain still at Edinburgh to attend his gracious Answer And if it shall happen that our malicious enemies do notwithstanding prevail against us we professe our selves free of the outrages and Insolencies that may be committed in the mean time we do our best to prevent confusion and misery And the Committee appointed to expect the Kings Answer were the Earls Lothian and Dalhouse the Lords Yester Balmerino Cranston and Naper for the Barons the Commissioners of the Lothians Fife and Twidale the Burroughs named the Commissioners of Edinburgh Lithgow Sterlin Hadington Dunbar to attend at Edinburgh the return of his Majesties Answer Their Deputies came to the King at White Hall the Earl of Dumfirmlin and the Lord Loudon but coming without warrant from the Kings Commissioner Traquair being a high contempt they were in disdain commanded home again without audience Then comes Traquair and privately consults a whole night with Hamilton and between them was framed a writing a represenration to the Councel of the most considerable matters proposed in that Parliament satisfactory enough to make the wound wider for however Traquair managed his Commission the end of the designe was to foment a war and to engage the King and for the Scots they were prepared And it is most true that a muttering there was in Court against Traquairs treachery for the Arch Bishop of St. Andrews the Bishops of Rosse and Brichen accused Traquair of High-Treason in the grosse miscarriage of his Commission in the General Assembly and Parliament and subscribed the charge the Scots law in such cases bearing poenam Talionis if they could not prove it A strange law against the secutity of Kings certainly treasonable in the making and no where else is practized but in Scotland But upon the whole matter related by Traquair the debate was whether considering the Insolency and height of their demands even in civil obedience it were not fit to reduce them to their duty Then the Question whether by the presence of the Kings Person and acting power of justice there But that was expresly opposed by arguments of policy and other reasons offered in writing with this title Shall the King go to Scotland I wish he may if with honour and safety he can but as the case stands and spirits are affected I see neither 1. THe treaty of peace is by them most falsly interpreted without any regard at all to His Majesties honour 2. The many and palpable violations of the Articles of peace are known to the King 3. It is evident what his Majesty expects at their hands for to let go all the disgraces offered to his Royal authority since the beginning of these troubles what one thing the King hath obtained of them in acknowledgement of so many favours upon their several petitions bestowed upon them 4. Their obstinate resolution to adhere in all points to their Assembly at Glasgow is undeniable witnesse their false and disgraceful glosse upon that Article of the treatie witnesse their oath of adherence to that Assembly since the peace witnesse their protestation against calling of Bishops and Arch Bishops to the Assembly witnesse the violence offered to the Clergy for not adhering to the Assembly even since the peace 5. So the Assembly now to be holden at Edinburgh shall have but one act for all and that shall be the ratification of the Assembly held at Glasgow 6. Now shall the King countenance such an Assembly the very constitution and first meeting whereof is most derogatory to the honour of his Crown while by a mutinous crew of Incendiarie Preachers and a conspiracy of Lay Elders the Prelates of the Church are by meer violence against all authority Law example or reason excluded abjured excommunicated 7. Shall the most Christian Defender of Faith countenance such a conspiracy against God his Church and himself where the most matchlesse Villany that ever was hatched shall be made piety Rebelions conscience and Treason reason all the Loyal and Orthodox Clergy banished most Ignorant and trayterous fire-brands put in their places the Supream power in Spiritual and Ecclesiastical causes violently pulled from the Crown and devolved in the hands of a mixt meeting of Ministers and Lay-men 8. It is high Treason in my minde to conceal from His Majesty that his Supremacy in Elections is in greater security for the Crown in the hands of any whosoever then in the power of such men whose pernitious maximes subjects the Crown to the pleasure of the people whom they have ever since their Reformation set on fire when they have been so pleased and stirred up to Rebellion by their seditious Sermons have countenanced all the commotions against authority in King Iames his reign and robbed the King of the hearts of his Subjects by most trayterous calumnies And now there is not one Presbytery free of Seditious Sermons even since the peace 9. Shall
that were condemned for Arminianism by the Council of Dort than new Calvinistiâ—al Presbyterian inventions contrary to all antiquity If you desire to be further informed there-anent See the four and twenty Demands or Questions of the six Divines of Aberdene and their Replies and Duplies never sufficiently answered Against Alexander Henderson David Dickson and Andrew Gaunt the three leading covenanting Ministers It is concluded and assented unto by the Scots that the seven Articles of Pacification were signed and sealed unto at the Kings Camp both parties consenting Iune 17. Yet at the Scots return home and the King come back to London a Paper was scattered in a clandestine manner intituled Some Conditions of his Majesties Treaty with his Subjects of Scotland before the English Nobility are set down here for remembrance Which in truth are point blank in effect contrary to the signed Articles of Pacification The Paper was this As for the Preface and Conclusion of his Majesties last Declaration although it contained hard expressions of the Subjects in Scotland yet his Majesty declared that he had no such opinion of them but required this Paper to stand for his credit and for a point of honour with foreign Nations and required they should not stand with him for words and expressions so be that they obtained the matter Secondly as for his calling the late Assembly pretended seeing the Subjects of Scotland professed they would never pass from the said Assembly and Decrees thereof His Majesty professed as he did not acknowledg that Assembly 〈◊〉 her than as it was registrate His Declaration so would he not desire the Subjects to pass from the same Thirdly concerning the constitution of the Assembly it was shewn to his Majesty that none could be Members of the Assembly but such as had a Commission viz. two or three Ministers from every Presbytery with a ruling Elder one from each Burrough and University and his Majesties Commissioner His Majesty contended that his Assessors had Vote and upon an Expression in his Majesties Declaration that referred to some Reasons contained in former Proclamations which were totally against the lawfulness of ruling Elders It was desired that according to the customs of this Kirk all controversies arising should be remitted to the Assembly it self His Majesty had some Expressions craving these to be remitted to himself but being told that it was against the constitutions of the Kirk to have any other Iudg but the Voicer of the Assembly where his Majesty or his Commissioner should be present and give the first voices It was concluded that the word free Assembly in his Majesties Declaration did import the freedom in judging all questions arising there concerning constitution members or matter Observations Then the King had no Negative Voice onely one Affirmative as the meanest ruling Elder had By the second Article of Pacification all facts were to be delivered presently to the King The fourth and seventh Articles of Pacification are absolute and the King accordingly performed the fourth but the Covenanters invented a back-door to elude the seventh contrary to the words of it Fourthly concerning the restitution of the Castles as the Subjects did it freely so did they express that what might concern the safety of the Countrey they referred to the time of the Parliament at which time they should signifie their desires by Petition to his Majesty As also they told it had cost much charges in fortifying and keeping thereof the Representation whereof to his Majesty they referred to that time Fifthly concerning the restitution of persons goods and Houses required by his Majesty it was promised providing that the great Sums contracted to the publick were repaid in an equal way by all which behoved to be done either by Commission from his Majesty or by Parliament And when it was objected that much goods were already spent the King answered that as for goods or ammunition that was spent they could not be restored but these that are extant must be rendered Sixthly his Majesty not allowing of the late Assembly for the Reasons contained in the several Proclamations being exceâ—â—ed against as a Declaration of his Majesties judgment against Ruling Elders which prejudged the right constitution of a free Assembly his Majesty after a full Hearing deleted that clause Seventhly that part of his Majesties Declaration which bears that no other Oath be exacted of Iurants than that which is contained in the Act of Parliament as also that clause bearing that the pretended Bishops c. shall be censurable by the General Assembly being excepted against as presupponing and importing the continuance of Episcopacy which we could not acknowledg as being incompatible with the Confession of Faith and constitution of the Kirk His Majesty was pleased to delete both these clauses Eighthly and it being with all humility and instancy pressed Saturday June 15. that his Majesty would satisfie that main desire of his Subjects by declaring that his Majesty would quit Episcopacy did answer that it was not sought in our desires And when it was replied that our first desire to have the Acts of our General Assembly ratified imported the same His Majesty acknowledged it to be so and averred that he did not refuse it but would advise till Munday the seventeenth At which time his Majesty being pressed to give some signification of quitting Episcopacy and it being shewn to his Majesty that if he would labour to maintain Episcopacy it would breed a miserable Schism in this Kirk and make such a rupture and division in this Kingdom as would prove incurable and if his Majesty would let the Kirk and Countrey be freed of them his Majesty would receive as hearty and dutifull obedience as ever any Prince received of a People His Majesty answered that he could not prelimit and forestall his voice but had appointed a free Assembly which might judg of all Ecclesiastical matters the constitutions whereof he promised to ratifie in the ensuing Parliament This Paper being divulged by the Scots but with cunning secrecy and as appears in effect with most Machiavilian policy to elude the former seven Articles and to delude the ignorant People perswading them that these conditions aforesaid were the very Articles signed at Barwick and they confessed in their Declaration pag. 34. that their Commissions had no exact Ioint Register of them and that their several Relations taken by their Notes were found to be somewhat different both in word and writing But all the English Lords disclaimed them as most false forged and scandalous and some of them point-blank contradictory to the seven Articles and others altogether derogatory to the Kings express Speeches in his former Declaration and inconsistent with Monarchy and if those could be had which were delivered to the English covenanting Lords as the Scots pretend they did I am perswaded that they would be found different from these of their last Edition as pias fraudes de novo their grand Principle being Quod nulla via
are contained in our late printed Declarations which were sent to your Lordship which summarily we here repeat That the late Acts of Parliament may be published in his Majesties Name with the States of Parliament That Edenburgh Castle and other Strengths of Scotland may as to their first foundation be fortified and used for our defence and security That our Countreymen in England and Ireland may not be pressed with Oaths and Subscription warranted by your Law and contrary to their National Oath and Covenant That the common Incendiaries the Authours of Combustions in his Majesties Dominions may receive their Censure That our Ships and Goods with all the Dammage thereof may be restored That the wrongs losses and charges which all the time we have sustained may be repaired That the Declarations made against us as Traitours may be recalled That by the advice and consent of the States of England to be convened in Parliament the Garrisons may be removed from the Borders and any Impediment that may stop free Trade and settle Peace for our Religion and Liberties against all Fears of Molestation and the undoing of us from year to year or as our Adversaries shall take the advantage And that the meeting of the Peers the four and twentieth of this instant will be too long ere the Parliament will be convened the onely means of settling Peace the sooner they come the more shall we be enabled to obey his Majesties Prohibition of our advancing with our Army Nothing but invincible necessity hath brought us out of our Countrey to this place and no other thing shall draw us beyond the Limits appointed by his Majesty wherein we hope your Lordship will labour for our Kings honour and the good of our Countrey Leaguer at New-castle Septemb. 8. 1640. Your Lordships loving and humble Servants and Friends c. Those English Lords that meant not to fight either for necessity or honour fearing that their next Meeting might prevent a Parliament had this while devised their Petition to the King in effect for a Parliament the great aim on all sides answerable to the Scots desire before they set out from home which they published at the head of their Army in a Pamphlet called The Intentions of their Army viz. Not to lay down Arms till the Reformed Religion were settled in both Nations upon sure grounds the Causers and Abetters of their present Troubles be brought to publick justice and that in Parliament And these Abetters were the Papists Prelates and their Adherents in general but more particular the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and the Lieutenant of Ireland And therefore to answer them comes out a correspondent Petition from a Compound of six Earls one Viscount and four Barons being a Descant on the Scots Plain-song And to back these Petitions are poasted from London and other places presently after The Lords Petition was thus Most gracious Sovereign The zeal of that duty and service which we ow to your Sacred Majesty and our earnest affection to the good and welfare of this your Realm of England have moved us in all humility to beseek your Royal Majesty to give us leave to offer to your Princely wisdom the apprehension which we and others your faithfull Subjects have conceived of the great Distempers and Dangers now threatning the Church and State and your Royal Person and of the fittest means by which they may be removed and prevented The Evils and Dangers whereof your Majesty may be pleased to take notice are these 1. That your Majesties Sacred Person is exposed to Hazzard and Danger in the present Expedition against the Scotish Army and by occafion of this War your Majesties Revenue is much wasted your Subjects burthened with Coat and Conduct-money billeting of Souldiers and other Military charges and divers Rapines and Disorders committed in several parts of this your Realm by the Souldiers raised for that Service and your whole Kingdom become full of Fears and Discontents 2. The sundry Innovations in matters of Religion the Oath and Canons lately imposed upon the Clergy and other your Majesties Subjects 3. The great increase of Popery and the imploying of Popish Recusants and others ill-affected to the Religion by Laws established in Places of power and tâ—ust especially in commanding of Men and Arms both in the Field and sundry Counties of this your Realm whereas by Law they are not permitted to have any Arms in their own Houses 4. The great Mischiefs which may fall upon this Kingdom if the intentions which have been credibly reported of bringing in Irish and foreign Forces should take effect 5. The urging of Ship money and prosecution of some Sheriffs in the Star-chamber for not levying of it 6. The heavy charge upon Merchandise to the discouragement of Trade the multitude of Monopolies and other Patents whereby the Commodities and Manufactures of the Kingdom are much burthened to the great and universal grievance of your people 7. The great grief of your Subjects by long intermission of Parliaments and the late and former dissolving of such as have been called without the happy effects which otherwise they might have produced For remedy whereof and prevention of the dangers that may arise to your Royal Person and to the whole State they do in all humility and faithfulness beseek your most Excellent Majesty that you would be pleased to summon a Parliament within some convenient time whereby the causes of these and other great grievances which your people lie under may be taken away and the Authors and Counsellors of them may be there brought to such legal trial and condign punishment as the nature of their several offences shall require And that the present War may be composed by your Majesties wisdom without blood in such manner as may conduce to the Honour and safety of your Majesties Person the comfort of your people and the uniting of both your Realms against the common Enemy of the Reformed Religion And your Majesties petitioners shall ever pray c. Concluded the 28. of August 1640 Francis Bedford Roberâ— Essex Mulgrave Say Seal Edward Howard The Earl of Bristow William Hartford Warwick Bulling brook Mandevil Brook Paget The Kings Answer was BEfore the receipt of your Petition his Majesty well foresaw the danger that threatens himself and Crown and therefore resolved to summon all the Peers to his presence upon the 24 of this September and with them to consult what in this case is fittest to be done for his honour and safety of the Kingdom where they with the rest may offer any thing that may conduce to these ends And so accordingly the Lord Keeper had command and did issue out Writs of summons for their appearance at York the 24. of September And to meet them there comes To the Kings most Excellent Majesty The Humble Petition of your Majesties Loyal Subjects the Citizens of London Most Gracious Soveraign BEing moved by the Duty and Obedience which by Religion and Laws your Petitioners owe unto
the Kings Answers unsatisfactory And that the Kingdom be put into a posture of Defence in such a way as is agreed upon by Parliament and a Committee to prepare a publick Declaration from these two Heads 1. The just causes of the Fears and Iealousies given to the Parliament and to clear them from any Iealousies conceived against them 2. To consider of all matters arising from his Majesties Message and what is fit to be done A man would wonder upon what grounds they should arm by Sea and Land specially so hastily resolved as the next day March 2. Advertisements they say of extraordinary preparations by the neighbouring Princes both by Land and Sea the intentions whereof are so represented as to raise a just apprehension of sudden Danger to the King and his Kingdoms unless the wisdom of Parliament prevent it And therefore the Earl of Northumberland Admiral of England is commanded with all speed to order the Rigging of the Kings Ships and fit them immediately for the Sea And to frighten us into fear all Masters and Owners of Ships are perswaded to do the like for the emergent occasions of publick Defence In order to these the Beacons were new made up Sea-marks set up such riding posting with Pacquets whispering and Tales telling as put the people in fear of they knew not what wise men onely told the Truth discovering the Enemy wholly at home I have been as brief as may be in the business of this year and yet to satisfie the curious I cannot omit all the occasions of this miserable Eruption which follows presuming yet that this Declaration designed may be spared the recording for certainly no new matter can be invented and what hither to hath been the cause the Reader has leave to judg But not to amuse your imaginations it self must satisfie the Declaration was born to Roiston by the Earls of Pembroke and Holland He who read it to the King this Lord being raised and created to become his most secret Counsellour the most intimate in affection the first of his Bed-chamber his constant companion in all his sports and recreations even in that place and to this hour At the sight of him the Kings countenance me thought mixed into compassion and disdain as who should as Caesar did Et tu mi fili But on he went to this effect March 9. The manifold Attempts to provoke your Majesties late Armie and the Scots Armie and to raise a Faction in London and other parts the Actours having their dependence countenance and encouragement from the Court witness Jermin's Treason who was transported beyond Sea by your Majesties Warrant and that dangerous Petition delivered to Captain Leg by your Majesties own Hand with a Direction signed C. R. The false and scandalous Accusation against the Lord Kimbolton and the five Members Plotting and designing a Guard about your person labouring to infuse into the people an ill opinion of the Parliament as if to raise Arms for a Civil War in which Combustion Ireland would be lost That the Lord Digby was sent to Sir John Pennington to be landed beyond Sea to vent his traiterous conceptions for the King to retire to some place of strength offering to correspond by cyphers with the Queen as if to procure some forreign Forces to assist your Majestie answerable to your remove with the Prince as in a readiness for the acting of it Manifold Advertisements which they have from Rome Venice Paris and other parts expecting the effects of the Kings Design to alter Religion and ruine the Parliament That the Popes Nuntio hath solicited the Kings of France and Spain to lend his Majesty four thousand Men a plece to help to maintain his Royalty against the Parliament And this foreign Force the most pernicious and malignant Design of all the rest so they hope it is from his thoughts Because no man will easily believe you will give up your People and Kingdom to be spoiled by strangers if you did not likewise intend to change both your own profession in Religion and the publick profession of the Kingdom that so you might be more assured of these foreign States of the Popish Religion for the future support and defence They â—eseech his Majesty to consider how fair a way he hath to happiness honour greatness plenty security if he would but joyn with his Parliament and people in defence of the Religion and Kingdom This is all they expect from him and for which they shall return their Lives Fortunes and utmost Endeavours to support him and Sovereignty And for the present have but onely this to desire To turn away his wicked Counsellours and put his trust in Parliament At the reading of that part which mentioned Master Iermin's transportation by his Majesties Warrant the King interrupted him and said That 's false And at the business of Captain Leg he told him 'T is a Lie And at the end of all he said He was confident the Parliament had worse information than he had Councils What have I denied you The Militia said Holland That 's no Bill The other replied It was necessary Which I have not denied but in the manner His Lordship would perswade the King to come near the Parliament Have you given me cause said the King This Declaration is not the way to it and in all Aristotle's Rhetoricks there is no such Argument of perswasion Pembroke that he might say something said it over again The Parliament prays him to come to them The King told him Words were not sufficient What would you have Sir said he The King replied To whip a Boy in Westminster School that could not tell that by my Answer Then the Lord asked him to grant the Militia for a time Not an hour this was never asked of any King with which I will not trust my Wife and Children But his Majesties Answer to all was this That to their Fears and Iealousies he would take time to satisfie all the World hoping that God would in his good time discover the secrets and bottoms of all Plots and Treasons to set him upright with his people For his Fears and Doubts are not trivial while so many scandalous Pamphlets seditious Sermons sundry Tumults publick are uninquired into and unpunished He must confess his Fears calling God to witness they are the greater for the Religion for his people and for their Laws than for his own Rights or safetie of himself and yet he tells them none of these are free from Danger What would you have said he Have I violated your Laws Have I denied any one Bill What have ye done for me Have my people been transported with Fears and Apprehensions I have I offer a free pardon as your selves can devise There is a Iudgment from Heaven upon this Nation if these Distractions continue God so deal with me and mine as all my thoughts and intentions are right for the maintenance of the true Protestant profession the observation and preservation of
that Thirdly although somewhat may seem to be urged out of Scripture for the Scots Government with some shew of probability yet far from such evidence as may convince a mans conscience to swear it is agreeable to Gods word Next the Doctor excepted against that passage I shall endeavour the extirpationâ— of Prelacy in the Church of England c. I saith he dare not swear to that First In regard that I believe Episcopacy is an Apostolical Institution Secondly That the Church never so flourished as within five hundred years after Christ when it was governed by Bishops Thirdly That our English Episcopacy is justified by the prime Divines of the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas Fourthly That our English Bishops now and ever since the Reformation have disclaimed all Papal dependency Fifthly That the four General Councils confirmed in England by Act of Parliament 1 Eliz. assert Episcopacie And sixthly vvhich all men need to consider the Ministers of the Church of England ordained according to a Form confirmed by Act of Parliament at their Ordination take an Oath that they will reverendly obey their Ordinary and other chief Ministers of the Church and them to whom Government and charge is committed over them This Oath I and all Clergie men have taken and if we shall swear the Extirpation of Prelacie we shall swear to forswear our selves Lastly he excepted against that passage I will defend the Rights and Privileges of Parliament and defend his Majesties Person and Authoritie in defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdom Here said he the Members are put before the Head the Parliaments Privileges before the Kings Prerogative and the restraint of defending the King onely in such and such cases seems to implie something which I fear may be drawn to an ill consequence The Doctor urged that the intent of this Covenant vvas to bring in the Scots and to continue this horrid War the taking up Arms against the King being a thing supposed vvhich must not be contradicted In the end of the Letter the Doctor subscribed tvvo Greek Letters for his Name Delta and Phi the phi vvritten within the Delta which troubled the Parliament to interpret till Sir Walter Earl told them that Phi Delta stood for Fidelity yet because Delta stood above Phi it signified Malignancy and so the Doctor was punished accordingly for being afterwards convened before the Committee where the Counsellour at Law Mr. White the others Kinsman was Chairman not much better at Bar than able to dispute Arguments with that excellent School Divine but Mr. White went another way to work down-right conclusion to the Doctors last words who said I am of this minde and unalterable herein To whom the Chairman said If you will not be of another you must suffer The Doctor modestly made Reply Sir I must give you an Answer out of St. Chrysostome upon the like Censure Nec mihi ignominiosum est pati quod passus est Christus Nec tibi gloriosum est facere quod fecit Iudas And so he was sent back to their Gaol when not long after the learned Synod at Westminster were put upon a piece of work somewhat difficult for them and therefore writ a courteous Letter to him beseeching his pains and sufficiency in that excellent Comment upon Paul's Epistles which at their instance and for their honour he admirably performed in Prison yet for that service to them and his excellent merit of our Church these men of Westminster never moved Tongue Pen or Hands to help him out of Prison there he sacrificed the remain of his days and died a Martyr upon that score of the Scots Covenant Sir Robert Harloe moved in the House that the Popes Bull to the Irish might forthwith be printed For said he it will draw on the Covenant A pretty Spectacle said another to see a Bull draw a Covenant The Covenant Money Money War War Liberty and Liberty Rebellion for such were the Links of this Chain the City making this Order for the speedy raising of Money for the sudden advancing of the Scotish Armie And together with the pretence of Religion and Liberty there is now added a more eminent Danger assuring the Citizens That unless they sent in Money not onely these Islands will be ruined but the true Religion will be destroyed in all Protestant Churches c. And therefore the Ministers and Lecturers are to stir up their Congregations thereunto and to subscribe their Sums of Money c. for which they shall have the Publick Faith of both Kingdoms of England and Scotland together with such other Securitie as shall give content to all true lovers of their Religion and Countrey These ways hastened on the Scots Army whilest they cunningly lingred for their Salary a good Sum of Money And to let you see what that was take the particles of this Speech Our Brethren of Scotland says one are now moving to relieve us out of captivitie That the Cities great Honours and Privileges were conferred by Parliament and not by the King That the Cities chiefest glorie had ever been to cleave to the Common-wealth when Kings were seduced c. That the Scots coming would regain Newcastle whereby they might set a Rate upon Coals and raise great Sumâ— of Money c. That the Scots did not value Money as the end of their coming because we owed to them above two hundred thousand pounds And so be that they might have but this one hundred thousand pounds the Sum proposed they would demand no more but will assist us with twenty thousand Horse and Foot to free us from that popish plundering Armie c. But the King to undeceive his people not to swear to be forsworn publishes his Proclamation against the Covenant That whereas there is a Printed Paper intituled A Solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and Defence of Religion the Honour and happiness of the King and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland pretended to be ordered by the Commons in Parliament on the one and twentieth Day of September last to be printed and published which Covenant though it seems to make specious expressions of Pietie and Religion is in truth nothing else but a traiterous and seditious Combination against him and against the established Religion and Laws of this Kingdom in pursuance of a traiterous Design and Endeavour to bring in foreign Forces to invade this Kingdom His Majestie doth therefore straitly charge and command all his loving Subjects of what degree or qualitie soever upon their Allegeance that they presume not to take the said seditious and traiterous Covenant most straitly forbidding all his Subjects to tender the said Covenant as they will answer the contrary at their extremest peril Aâ—d this Proclamation came to the hands of the new Mayor of London Mr. Wollaston who succeeded Isaac Pennington and was sworn by Baron Trevor on Munday the last of October 1643. And yet that one of
thence she was conveyed to Cornwal to Pendennis Castle where she imbarqued and landed at Conquest in France in base Britain Iuly 15. Nobly received and with a Princely Train attending she was waited on to the Court at Paris where she remaines to this day Ambassadours were come and gon from France and the Netherland States to compose and mediate a Peace but to no purpose they returned Nay the King had ingeniously solicited his Parliament for a Peace but therein nothing prospered Whereupon we may see what was said from beyond the sea in answer to a Letter sent thither from a Member at Westminster for now having two Parliaments we must so distinguish them and thus it is Sir To answer you concerning his Majesties message of Peace and the refusal of it upon the grounds you mention give me leave to tell you in the way of friendship and confidence that whilest I reflect upon his Majesties pious Propositions and the aversness of the other party to imbrace the several overtures which he hath made by scandalizing his goodness in the eares of the people with interpretations of insincerity designs opposite to his professions me thinketh I see the true and the false mother disputing for the living child before Salomon and you know whose bowels yearned when it was to be divided with the sword I need not apply but you never yet read in any History that the true Patres Patriae refused to sacrifice their private animosity and interests to the tranquillity and happiness of their Country and it is an ill argument of their integrity who will be satisfied with nothing but its division and ruine If any man will have me believe that his Majesty doth not seriously labour to make up the breach he must first bespeak me to part with my understanding for I cannot but know that the common interest is only his and that he is impoverished in each Subjects losse and as for the substance of his Message which you say is absolutely destructive to your priviledges and which draweth into consequence a nullitie of your Parliament and a subversion of all your Acts I cannot gather any such thing out of it nor do I conceive it a disparagement to you that his Majesty should stile you fellow members which excludeth your conceit of two Parliaments Put the case there were no King at Oxford nor Lord nor Commoner only a Rebellious Army raised against King and State yet if it were so considerable as are his Majesties Forces I should esteem it a want of ordinary policy in you to refuse a Treaty with them and therefore I may not qualifie this rejection otherwise betwixt you and me then an act of the highest irreverence and disloyaltie that Subjects can commit against their Soveraign and a wilful betraying the trust reposed in them by the Kingdom for its security and doubtlesse they who acknowledg God to be a God of order can expect no blessing upon such an affected confusion It is no wonder all this while that the interpositions of the French and Holland Ambassadours prove ineffectual since his Majesties own messages which in civility ought first to proceed from you are thus vilified Had the Scots really taken New-Castle as you advertised me three weeks ago you might have had more plausible ground to staâ—d upon but since they are beaten from their Siege with such a considerable losse and his Majesty hath chosen such a time for his Propositions as will convince those of malice and falshood who seek to stain his good motions under the title of ill Councel it is most apparent that there are foul consciencies amongst the leaders who fear to come to peaceable trials and therefore they seek to drown the cry of their sins under the noice of the Drumme otherwise no wise man can expect that there shall ever be an accommodation unlesse both sides passe by more real inconveniencies then any you mention I direct not this discourse against your self for I gather out of your general wishes that you are a friend to peace But thus much by way of reply and so I rest Yours c. And so far the Parliament was from peace that they the twenty fourth of Iune voted twelve thousand Scots more should be brought into England the rather to spread abroad their power that if those in Yorkshire chance to miscarry they have a Magazine of more such for supportation of the Cause You have lately heard how earnest the King hath been with the Parliament for a Peace and from Evesham in Iuly he invited them there by Letters even then when he had an Army to command his desires And it was thus Charles R. We being sensible of the miseries and calamities of this our Kingdom and of the grievous sufferings of our poor Subjects do most earnestly desire that some expedient way may be found out which by the blessing of God may prevent the â—â—rther â—â—â—sion of â—â—ood and restore the Nation to Peace from the earnest and constant endeavouring of which as no discouragement given Us on the contrâ—â—y part shall make Us cease so no success on Ours shall ever divert Us for the effecting whereof We are most ready and willing to condescend to all that shall be for the good of Us and Our People whether by way of confirmation of what we have already granted or of such further concession as shall be requisite to the giving a full assurance of the performance of all Our most real professions concerning the maintenance of the true Reformed Protestant Religion established in this Kingdom with due regard to the ease of tender consciences the just priviledges of Parliament and the Libertie and Propertie of the Subject according to the Laws of the Land As also by granting a general Pardon without or with exceptions as shall be thought fit In order to which blessed Peace We do desire and propound to the Lords and â—ommons of Parliament assembled at Westminster That they appoint such and so many Persons as they shall think fit sufficiently Authorized by them to attend Us at Our Army upon safe conduct to come and return which we do hereby grant and conclude with us how the premises and all other things in question betwixt us and them may be fully setled whereby all unhappy mistakings betwixt us and our people being removed there may be a present Cessation of Arms and as soon as may be a total disbanding of all Armies the Subject have his due and we be restored to our Right Wherein if this our offer shall be accepted there shall be nothing wanting on our part which may make our people secure and happy They not hearkning to this His Majesty sent again from Tavestocke in Devonshire having sealed His Gracious Message with a most glorious Victory the week before but what answer it deserved let the Reader judg when he hath read this copy of the Message it self CHARLES R. It having pleased God in so eminent a
in the sight of Almighty God that I will not disclose nor reveale unto any Person or Persons whatsoever who is not a Commissioner any matter or thing that shall be spoken of during the Treaty by any one or more of his Majesties Commissioners in any private Debate amongst our selves concerning the said Treaty so as to name or describe directly or indirectly the person or persons that shall speak any such matter or thing unlesse by the consent of all the said Commissioners that shall be then living Memorandum That it is by all the said Commissioners agreed that this shall not binde where any ten of the Commissioners shall agree to certifie his Majesty the number of the Assenters or Dissenters upon any particular result in this Treaty not naming or describing the persons Upon the Kings former Message from Evesham Iuly 4. And his second Message from Tavestock Septem 8. and the consideration of the Parliaments late Propositions sent to the King at Oxford Novem. 23. which he Answered in the general the effect whereof produced an offer of the King for a Treaty so that at last it was assented unto and Commissioners appointed on all sides for the King and for the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland to Treat at Uxbridge the 30. of Ianuary The day came and after eithers Commission was assented unto the Kings Commissioners complain against one Mr. Love who preached in Uxbridge to the people that very day Thursday Market day Telling them that the Kings Commissioners came with hearts full of bloud and that there is as great distance between this Treaty and Peace as between Heaven and Hell With divers other seditious passages against the King and his Treaty It was Answered that Mr. Love was none of their Train and that they would present this Complaint to the Parliament who will no doubt proceed in justice therein who was sent to the Parliament and slightly blamed but grew into so much favour with a Faction and therein very bold that we shall finde him hereafter a Traitor and sentenced to be hanged drawn and quartered but had the favour of the Ax. The observable end of many such in these times Commissioners pro Rege Duke of Richmond and Lenox Marquess of Hertford Earl of Southampton Earl of Kingston Earl of Chichester Lord Capel Lord Seamour Lord Hatton Lord Culpepper Sir Edward Nicholas Sir Edward Hide Sir Richard Lane Sir Thomas Grandure Sir Orlando Bridgeman Mr. Io. Ashburnham Mr. Ieffery Palmer Doctor Stuard Commissioners pro Parl. Earl of Northumberland Earl of Pembroke Montgomery Earl of Salisbury Earl of Denbigh Lord Wenman Mr. Hollis Mr. Pierpoint Sir Hen. Vane Iunior Mr. Crew Mr. Whitlock Mr. St. Iohns Mr. Prideaux Lord Loudon Sir Charles Ersken Scots Commissioners Mr. Doudas Mr. Brackley Mr. Henderson Then they proceed to their Order of Treaty 1. concerning Religion 2. Militia 3. Ireland But ere the Treaty began this Paper was delivered in to the Commissioners of Parliament from the other for reconciling all differences in the Matter of Religion and procuring a Peace we are willing 1. That freedom be left to all Persons of what opinion soever in Matters of Ceremony and that all the penalties of the Lawes and Customs which enjoyn these penalties be suspended 2. That the Bishops shall exercise no Act of Iurisdiction or Ordination without the consent and Councel of the Presbyters who shall be chosen by the Clergy of each Diocess out of the Learned'st and gravest Ministers of that Diocess 3. That the Bishop keep his constant Residence in his Diocess except when he shall be required by his Majesty to attend him on any occasion and that if he be not hindered by the Infirmity of old age or sickness he preach every Sunday in some Church within his Diocess 4. That the Ordination on Ministers shall be alwayes in the Publick and Solemn Manner and very strict rules observed concerning the sufficience and other qualifications of those men who shall be received into holy Orders And the Bishop shall not receive any into holy Orders without the Approbation and consent of the Presbyters or the Major part of them 5. That competent Maintenance be established by Parliament to such Vicarages as belong to Bishops Deans and Chapters out of the Impropriations according to their value of the several Parishes 6. That no Man shall be capable of two Parsonages or Vicarages with cure of Souls 7. That toward the setling of the Publick peace a hundred thousand pounds shall be raised by Parliament out of the estates of Bishops Deans and Chapters in such manner as the King and Parliament shall think fit without the Alienation of any of the said Lands 8. That the Iurisdiction in causes Testamentary Decimals and Matrimonials be setled in such a manner as shall seem most convenient by the King and Parliament And likewise that Acts to be passed for regulating of Visitations and against immoderate Fees in Ecclesiastical Courts and abuses by frivolous Excommunications and all other abuses in Ecclesiastical Iurisdictions as shall be agreed upon by King and Parliament And if the Parliaments Commissioners will insist upon any other things which they shall think necessary for Religion the Kings Commissioners shall very willingly apply themselves to the consideration thereof But no Answer was given thereto The Parliaments Commissioners paper concerning Religion That the Bill be passed for Abolishing and taking away of all Archbishops Bishops c. according to the third Proposition That the Ordinances concerning the calling and sitting of the Assembly of Divines be confirmed by Act of Parliament That the Directory for Publick Worship already passed both Houses and the Propositions concerning Church Government annexed and passed both Houses be Enacted as a part of Reformation of Religion and Vniformity according to the first Proposition That His Majesty take the Solemn League and Covenant and that the Covenants be enjoyned to be taken according to the second Proposition To this was annexed the following Paper That the ordinary way of dividing Christians into distinct Congregations and most expedient for edification is by the respective bounds of their dwellings That the Minister and the Church Officers in each Congregation shall joyn in the Government of the Church as shall be established by Parliament That many particular Congregations shall be under one Presbyterial Government That the Church be Governed by Congregational Classical and Synodical Assemblies to be established by Parliament That Synodical Assemblies shall consist both of Provincial and National Assemblies Which Papers suffered three dayes of the Treaty in dispute The next three dayes were ordered for the Militia and was afterwards resumed for other three dayes Propositions concerning the Militia 4 February We desire that the Subject of England may be Armed Trained and Disciplined as the Parliament shall think fit That the like for Scotland as the Parliament there shall think fit An Act for setling the Admiralty and forces at Sea and
monies thereto for maintenance may be as the Parliament shall think fit The like for Scotland An Act for setling all forces by Sea and Land in Commissioners to be named by Parliament and as both Kingdoms shall confide in and to Suppresse all powers and forces contrary hereto and to act as they shall be directed by Parliament So for the Kingdom of Scotland That the Militia of the City London and of the Parishes without London and the Liberties within the weekly Bills of Mortality be in the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-council That the Tower of London may be in the Government of the City and the Chief Officers those be nominated and removable by the Common-council That the Citizens or forces of London may not be drawn out of the City without their own consent and that the example in these distracted times may be no Precedent for the future The next three dayes began the 7. of February and the same was also taken up again Feb. 18. for other three dayes for Ireland That an Act of Parliament be passed to make void the Cessation of Ireland and all Treaties of the Rebells without Consent of Parliment and to settle the prosecution of the War of Ireland in the Parliament to be managed by the joynt advice of both Kingdoms and his Majesty to assist and to do no act to discountenance or molest them therein But the Kings Commissioners were so far from yeilding to this Proposition that they had intimation from the King how he was ingaged for Ireland having two dayes before in great earnest writ to hasten the Peace in Ireland in these words Ormond I cannot but mention the necessity of hastning the Irish Peace But in case against all expectation and reason Peace cannot be had you must not by any means fall into a new rupture with them but continue the Cessation c. for a year for which you shall promise them if you can have it no cheaper to joyn with them against the Scots and Inchequin for I hope by that time my condition may be such as the Irish may be glad to accept lesse or I be able to grant more 16 February 1644. Oxford By those Letters the mystery is opened why the King is so violent for Peace with the Irish but this was tenderly treated by the Kings Commissioners and well they might be willing to shadow these designs if they were acquainted with the bottom which few could fathom In general the Kings Commissioners had upon the matter of the Parliaments Propositions consented unto many particulars and alterations of great Importance and complain that the other have not abated one title of the most severe of their Propositions nor have offered any prospect towards Peace but by submitting totally to those Propositions which would dissolve the Frame of Government Ecclesiastical and Civil In the matter of Religion the Kings Commissioners offered all such alterations as they conceived might give satisfaction to any Objection that hath or can be made against that government with their reasons why they cannot consent to the Propositions but if consented unto could not be in Order to Reformation or publique Peace And though in the Parliaments Covenant enjoyned to be taken by the King and all his Subjects they undertake the Reformation in Government and in Doctrine too thereby laying an imputation of Religion it self yet the Parliaments Commissioners have not given the other the least Argument nor the least prejudice to the Doctrine of the Church of England Nor given any view in particular of what they would propose to be abolished And therefore the Kings Commissioners offered That if the Articles proposed by them did not give satisfaction that then so great an alteration as the total abolishment of a Government established by Law may for the imparlance of it and any reformation in Doctrine for the scandal of it be suspended till after the Disbanding of all Armies the King may be present with the Parliament and calling a National Synod may receive such advice both from the one and the other as may be necessary and as any Reformation thus calmly made must needs prove for the singular benefit so whether the contrary that is an alteration even to things though in themselves good can by the principles of Christian Religion be enforced upon the King or Kingdom In that of the Militia Though the Parliaments Commissioners did not deny that the apprehensions of danger are mutual and that the chief end of depositing the Militia into the hands of certain persons is for securitie against possible dangers Yet they did insist that those persons should be nominated by the Parliaments of England and Scotland and that the time of that great unheard of Trust shall be in such manner that though it seems limited for seven years yet in truth it shall not be otherwise exercised then as the King and Parliament shall agree and he may thereby be totallie divested of the Sword without which he cannot defend himself from Foreign or Domestick or protect his Subjects Add to all that Scotland professing distinct and different Laws shall yet have a great share in the Government of this Kingdom Instead of consenting to these Changes the Kings Commissioners proposed That the persons to be Trusted with the Militia may be Nominated between them or that an equal number the one half by the King the other by the Parliament and all those to take Oath for the due discharge of that Trust so their securitie being mutual neither can be supposed to violate the agreement the whole Kingdom being eye-witnesses of the failing And as it is reasonable that for this security the King parting with so much of his own power as makes him unable to break the Agreements so it is most necessary when the apprehension of all danger of that breach be over that then the Soverain power of the Militia should revert and be as it hath alwaies been in the Kings proper Charge And therefore the Kings Commissioners proposed that the Trust should be for three years a time sufficient to produce a right understanding of both sides and if any thing else material may be necessary to be done that the same may be considered after the Peace setled But in all that this Kingdom may depend of it self and not of Scotland as Scotland shall without advice of this Kingdom Concerning Ireland The Parliaments Commissioners proposed that the King Nul this Cessation made by Royal Authority The Lords Justices and Councels desires and for the preservation of the remain of the poor Protestants there from Famine and Sword And to put the whole War Militia and Government of Ireland into the hands of the Scots General by advice of a Ioint Committee of both Kingdoms wherein each to have a Negative voice To which the Kings Commissioners acquainted them with the just Grounds of the Kings proceedings in that businesse of Ireland which they conceived might satisfie all men of his
privitie or directions of his Majestie or the Lord Lieutenant or any of his Majesties Council there But true it is that for the necessarie preservation of his Majesties Protestant Subjects in Ireland whose case was daily represented unto him to be so desperate his Majestie had given Commission to the Lord Lieutenant to treat and conclude such a Peace there as might be for the safetie of that Crown the preservation of the Protestant Religion and no way derogatorie to his own Honour and publick Professions But to the end that his Majesties real Intentions in this business of Ireland may be the more clearly understood and to give more ample satisfaction to both Houses of Parliament and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland especially concerning his Majesties not being engaged in any Peace or Agreement there he doth desire if the two Houses shall admit of his Majesties Repair to London for a personal Treatie as was formerly proposed that speedy notice be given thereof to his Majestie and a Pass or safe Conduct with a Blank sent for a Messenger to be immediately dispatcht into Ireland to prevent any accident that may happen to hinder his Majesties Resolution of leaving the managing of the business of Ireland wholly to the two Houses and to make no Peace there but with their consent which in case it shall please God to bless his Endeavours in the Treatie with success his Majestie doth hereby engage himself to do And for a further explanation of his Majesties Intentions in his former Messages he doth now declare that if his personal Repair to London as aforesaid shall be admitted and a Peace thereon shall ensue he will then leave the nomination of the persons to be intrusted with the Militia wholly to his two Houses with such power and limitations as are expressed in the Paper delivered by his Majesties Commissioners at Uxbridg the sixth of February 1644. for the term of seven years as hath been desired to be given immediately after the conclusion of the Peace the disbanding of all Forces on both sides and the dismantling of the Garisons erected since these present Troubles so as at the expiration of the time before mentioned the power of the Militia shall intirely revert and remain as before And for their further securitie his Majestie the Peace succeeding will be content that pro hac vice the two Houses shall nominate the Admiral Officers of State and Iudges to hold their Places during life or quam diu se bene gesserint which shall be best liked to be accountable to none but the King and the two Houses of Parliament As for matter of Religion his Majestie doth further declare That by the libertie offered in his Message of the fifteenth present for the â—ase of their consciences who will not communicate in the Service already established by Act of Parliament in this Kingdom he intends that all other Protestants behaving themselves peaceably in and towards the Civil Government shall have the free exercise of their Religion according to their own way And for the total removing of all Fears and Iealousies his Majestie is willing to agree that upon the conclusion of Peace there shall be a general Act of Oblivion and free Pardon past by Act of Parliament in both his Kingdoms respectively And lest it should be imagined that in the making these Propositions his Majesties Kingdom of Scotland and his Subjects there have been forgotten and neglected his Majestie declares That what is here mentioned touching the Militia and the naming of Officers of State and Iudges shall likewise extend to his Kingdom of Scotland And now his Majestie having so fully and clearly expressed his Intentions and Desires of making a happy and well-grounded Peace if any person shall decline that happiness by opposing of so apparent a way of attaining it he will sufficiently demonstrate to all the World his Intention and Design can be no other than the total Subversion and Change of the ancient and happy Government of this Kingdom under which the English Nation hath so long flourished Given at our Court at Oxon the twenty fourth of January 1645. To the Speaker of the House of Peers c. This did not satisfie for upon the reading of this Declaration or Message in the House of Commons they produce other Letters and Papers taken at the Defeat of the Lord Ashley amongst which they finde Letters of the Arch-bishop of Yorkâ—o â—o the Lord Ashley and the Lord Digby's Letter from Ireland to the Archbishop concerning this business out of which and Glamorgan's own to the King hereafter they concluded much matter To the Right Honourable the Lord Ashley Most Noble Lord Your Lordships Letter of the twelfth of January I received late at night the nine and twentieth I have communicated to the Lord Byron the Marquess of Ormond his Letter of the twelfth of December and by this time not sooner the Lord Byron's Answer is at Dublin which I sent by his Lordships Chaplain it implied some Fears of holding out Chester thus long c. Colonel Butler tells me even now that the men and the shipping are still ready in Ireland though retarded hitherto by reason of this Distraction which sithence Tuesday last is so composed that the Earl of Glamorgan is out upon Bail of six or eight Noblemen whereof the Marq. of Clenricard is one c. from the Lord Lieutenant I have received no Answer in writing as yet though mine to him were many since the first of January nor from the Lord Digby any more to the purpose than this inclosed There is no relying on these Irish Forces for this Service though if they come they shall be carefully transported to such Rendezvouz as I shall hear is most â—itting for the passage of your Lordships Armie and to that end your Lordship shall be punctually informed of their landing and condition Conway Jan. 25. 1645. Your Lordships c. John Eborac The Lord Digby's Letter inclosed May it please your Grace I give you many thanks for your obliging Letter by Mr. Moor I have likewise sent yours to the Marquess of Ormond and I am glad to finde there that you do nott ake the Allarm at my Lord Glamorgan's Commitment so hot as upon it to despair of the Relief of Chester which though it hath been somewhat retarded by it yet I make little question now but it will go on speedily and effectually and of this I desire you to certifie my Lord Byron Dublin Jan. 21. 1645. Your Graces c. G. Digby And then to discipher the Mystery this of the Earl of Glamorgan's to the King was read also in the House For his Sacred Majestie May it please your Majestie I am now at Waterford providing Shipping immediately to transport six thousand Foot and four thousand more are by May next to follow I hope these will yet come opportunely to the Relief of Chester What hath been the occasions of so long Delay and
yet suffers not your Majesties Service herein to proceed with that advantage it might do I conceive it not so fit to commit to Paper but I shortly send my Brother who shall fully inform your Majestie with all particulars and thereby rectifie your opinion and give you true 〈◊〉 who are your faithfull Servants I hope long ere this that â—â—ptain Bacon hath arrived with you since mine Enlargement and therefore I need onely tell your Majestie that my further Services intended for you will I hope without further crosses be suffered to go on though strange is the industrie used by many seeming Friends to hinder me therein but I am confident it shall not lie in their power your Majestie remaining still constant as I doubt not but you will to your favourable opinion and right interpretation of my poor Endeavours which if they may take place will procure you to be a glorious and happie Prince I having no other ends but to approve my self Your Sacred Majesties most dutifull and most obedient Subject and passionate devoted Servant Glamorgan Waterford Febr. 23. 1645. But in the mean time ere this last Letter of Glamorgan's was discovered the King had sent another Message Febr. 26. CHARLS R. His Majestie needs to make no Excuse though he sent no more Messages unto you for he very well knows he ought not to do it if he either stood upon punctilio's of Honour or his own private interest the one being already call'd in question by his often sending and the other assuredly prejudg'd if a Peace be concluded from that he hath already offered he having therein departed with many his undoubted Rights But nothing being equally dear unto him to the preservation of his People his Majestie passeth by many Scruples Neglects and Delaies and once more desires you to give him a speedie Answer to his last Message for his Majestie believes it doth very well become him after this very long Delay at last to utter his impatience since the Goods and Bloud of his Subjects cries so much for Peace Given at our Court at Oxford the six and twentieth Day of February 1645. For the Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore to be communicated c. The King hears of their Votes and Debates daily canvasing the Heads of Propositions and to remove these Remora's that stuck in their way he clears them by another Message and presses for his coming to London CHARLS R. Notwithstanding the unexpected silence in stead of answer to his Majesties many and gracious Messages to both Houses whereby it may appear that they desire to 〈◊〉 their ends by force rather than by Treatie which may justly discouraâ—â— his Majestie from any more Overtures of that kinde yet his Majestie conceives he shall be much wanting in his Dutie to God and in what he oweth to the safetie of his People if he should not intend to prevent the great Inconveniences that may otherwise hinder a safe and well-grounded Peace His Majestie therefore now proposeth that so he may have the Faith of both Houses of Parliament for the preservation of his Honour Person and Estate and that Libertie be given to all those who do and have adhered to his Majestie to go to their own houses and there to live peaceably enjoying their Estates all Sequestrations being taken off without being compelled to take any Oath not enjoyned by the undoubted Laws of the Kingdom or being put to any other molestation whatsoever he will immediately disband all his Forces and dismantle all his Garisons and being accompanied with his Royal not his Martial Attendance return to his two Houses of Parliament and there reside with them And for the better securitie of all his Majesties Subjects he proposeth that he with his said two Houses immediately upon his coming to Westminster will pass an Act of Oblivion and free Pardon and where his Majestie will further do whatsoever they will advise him for the good and Peace of this Kingdom And as for the Kingdom of Scotland his Majestie hath made no mention of it here in regard of the great loss of time which must now be spent in expecting an Answer from thence but declares that immediately upon his coming to Westminster he will applie himself to give them all satisfaction touching that Kingdom If his Majestie could possibly doubt the Success of this Offer he could use many Arguments to perswade them to it but shall onely insist upon that great one of giving an instant Peace to these afflicted Kingdoms Oxford March 23. 1645. For the Speaker of the House of Peers c. But not prevailing we shall end this years Proposals hoping by the next to finde the Parliament herein better disposed The Garison of Westchester for the King was of great consequence and therefore commanded by a Noble Person the Lord Byron the Port and Passage for Ireland the Countrey Contribution was of such a Circuit and sufficiencie that the Parliament now somewhat setled in successes resolved in the begining of August last to besiege it But ere their Forces undertook it they drew considerable strength into the Shire Quartering thereabout and Associating with other of their Garisons The work begins enduring many a brunt from Chester who were well appointed and vexed their Enemies with several repulses to resolve upon a design thus Col. Iones who commanded the Horse for the Parl in a Leaguer near hand at Beeston drew off with Col. Louthian at midnight who commanded the Foot and both making a Party of 1300. Horse and Foot came the next morning at 4. a clock before Chester on the East-side dividing their Forces into four parts to storm in 4. places and being so early and undiscovered Captain Ginbert got upon the Out-works at Forrest-street end Finch on the left hand Holt and Davis at two other places They were opposed by as gallant resolute Commanders but came too late for the Enemy was got in and paid dear for their purchase The Forrest-street and Lanes thereto was taken with the possession of the Mayors House Sword and Mace and the Sheriffs Wand and these sent to the Parliament for signal of thus much success Sept. 23. These Suburbs they possess against the Sallies of the Town daily incounters of either side within and without the Town The Kings Forces thereabout endeavouring with all possible waies to relieve this so useful Garison But then the Enemy enlarges by degrees almost block up the West-side of Chester Oct. 2 The distress comes close which troubles the King at Oxford who gives order to draw out from several Garisons of Hereford Ludlow Bridge-North and Worcester such considerable Forces as made up 1700. Horse and 700. Foot commanded by a Noble Knight Sir William Vaughan and got into a Body near Denbigh Castle twenty miles off of Chester when the Besiegers hear of this and go to Council whether to rest their near appoach or to fight them far off They resolve draw out 1400. Horse and
upon these faithless Creatures is to force them by the Sword which may cut off the rebellious Members and cause others to keep within the compass of Loyalty for no sooner were the English Forces called over out of Ireland for the Kings Service in England Anno 1643. but the Rebells broke all Contracts and began their Rapines and Murders as at first and in a word all Treaties of Peace with Irish Rebells from the first of their Insurrections have ever proceeded fatal to the English producing no other effects than Treacheries which being not timely discovered brought Mischief and Misery upon the heads of them who had too much relyed on them But now it may seem unreasonable say some to neglect an adventure of a second Treaty of Peace when the English are not able to force them by the Sword nor to defend themselves And 't is as true that the English deserve blame for trifling so much time before the Association with the Scots was concluded or the counsels of both communicated each to other uniting into one Body and might have prevented that unfortunate Blow which was given to the Scots by the Arch traitour Owen Ro Oneal who now wants nothing to crown his Designs but the winning of Dublin and Drogheda the onely two places of Importance within the Province of Lemster now remaining in the Kings possession The wilfull separation of the English and Scots which should hold together in this Irish War verifies the Observation Dum pugnamus singuli vincimur universi And by this means the Rebells prevailed in their Cruelties enforcing the Protestants to abandon their Habitations nay theiâ— Nation and to cross the Seas by Hundreds and Thousands to prevent the cruelty of the barbarous Enemy bemoaning themselves as formerly the Britains said by the Scots Repellunt Barbari ad Mare repellit Mare ad Barbaros inter haec duo genera funerum aut jugulamur aut mergimur But in effect good counsel was not accepted and so misery followed for a long time to the English Protestants The King now with the Scots Army was wrought upon to comply with them and the Parliament as he had cast himself into their hands so now it was his necessity also to put his own affairs to their managing and under his hand to give command to all his Garisons to surrender to the Parliament His affairs in Ireland were kept up as yet being at this distance not so soon to be submitted yet in order thereto he writes to the Marquess of Ormond his Lieutenant General there from Newcastle the eleventh of Iune 1646. requiring him and peremptorily commanding not to fall into any Treaty with the Irish which might engage the King to the Romish Catholicks party with whom he was induced to a Pacification which being communicated with the Council Board they all resolved to yield obedience in that point and a Letter instantly drawn up to return to the King with their punctual submission with an ample Relation of other Occurrents and passages concerning the Kings Service there where on the sudden one of the Council of honourable Rank gave it in to be considered that the King being now under Restraint may not be free to do as himself might think fit but what his new Masters may enforce from him and this Command of his was likely to proceed from them in the Scots Army To clear this Doubt the Bishop of Meath gave his Opinion that it seemed to him to be the Kings free act without enforcement Observing that they are not required by his Majesties Letters to take the Covenant or to conform to the new way of Reformation in Divine Worship nor to withdraw obedience from the Government established by his Royal Authority but the King being now disobliged of all former Engagement which the Irish had upon him by their wilfull Breach of Conditions he would not now again trust them any more upon the like score and therefore the matter of Peace being now the Rebells aim no longer than they may be anew furnished for a more fearfull War besides the Kings party must be enforced to make War upon the Parliaments party who are absolutely resolved never to afford them a Peace untill they have revenged the inhumane Murders made upon our Countreymen and Protestants And being now united with the powers of two potent Kingdoms England and Scotland this same Nation of Ireland if supposed to be faithfull can never be able to oppose them But this advice was somewhat checked by the visible assistance of the French who had already heightened up the Kings party to a War against the Parliament and to joyn in Peace with the Irish having already sent the Lord Digby with ten thousand pounds to Ormond as the earnest of some particular matters hereafter the pretence was to restore the King But in truth the French King aimed at his own advantage by favouring the Irish for the French Resident there had written to Ormond That if the King and Parliament should conclude a Peace it must be necessary to comprehend the Irish therein and for their settlement in their due Rights otherwise his Master must take the Irish into his Protection A practice evermore of the Irish to seek protection of Foreign Princes Bodin in his first Book de Republ. mentioneth an Earl of Desmond Gerald Fitz Iames the last of that House was killed in actual Rebellion and was afterwards attainted by Act of Parliament This Gerald had writ a Letter to Henry 2. of France That if his Majesty could procure a Grant of the Kingdom of Ireland from the Pope he would be content to hold it of him as in fee. Which Letter seems to have some reference to the Popes claim of a Right or propriety challenged by him in all the Islands of the World and so in Ireland upon which pretended ground Pope Adrian the fourth called Nicholas Breakspear â— and sometime a Monk of St. Albans licenced Henry 2. of England to invade Ireland and passed a Grant to him of the whole Kingdom reserving to his Holiness an annual Rent of Peter-pence to be passed out of every House in the Land the Original Record is kept in the Vatican and the Copy to be read in Baronius Annals And why not the same Design of France at this time the Popes Nuncio and the French Agent had been there above a year resident amongst the Confederates And it seems considerable for any ambitious Prince to purchace thereby to step into the Conquest of England It was the Observation of one of the Irish petit Kings who being driven out by some seditious Inhabitants sailed over into Anglesey then called Monae the Isle of Man and getting access to the Roman General Iulius Agricola told him that the Kingdom of Ireland might be kept in subjection Regione una modicis auxiliis adversus Britaniam profuturum If the Britains should by any sudden Insurrection shake off their yoke under the Roman Emperour And certainly
unto them whereby it may be determined by his Majesty and the two Houses how the Church shall be governed after the said three years or sooner if differences may be agreed Touching the Covenant his Majesty is not yet therein satisfied and desires to respite his particular Answer thereunto until his coming to London because it being a matter of conscience he cannot give a resolution therein till he may be assisted with the advice of some of his own Chaplains which hath hitherto been denied him and such other Divines as shall be most proper to inform him therein and then he will make clearly appear both his zeal to the Protestant profession and the union of these two Kingdoms which he conceives to be the main drift of this Covenant To the seventh and eighth Propositions his Majesty will consent To the ninth his Majesty doubts not but to give good satisfaction when he shall be particularly informed how the said penalties shall be levied and disposed of To the tenth his Majesties Answer is that he hath been alwaies ready to prevent the practises of Papists and therefore is content to passe an Act of Parliament for that purpose And also that the Laws against them be duly executed His Majesty will give his consent to the Act for the due Observation of the Lords Day for the suppressing of Innovations and those concerning the Preaching of Gods Word and touching Non-Residence and pluralities and his Majesty will yeild to such Act or Acts as shall be requisite to raise monies for the payment and satisfying all publick debts expecting also that his will be therein included As to the Proposition touching the Militia though his Majesty cannot consent unto it in tirminis as it is proposed because thereby he conceives he wholly parts with the power of the Sword entrusted to him by God and the Laws of the Land for the protection and government of his people thereby at once divesting himself and dis inheriting his Posterity of that right and Prerogative of the Crown which is absolutely necessary to the Kingly Office and so weaken Monarchy in this Kingdom that little more then the name and shadow of it will remain Yet if it be only security for the preservation of the peace of this Kingdom after the unhappy troubles and the due performance of all the agreements which are now to be concluded which is desired which his Majesty alwayes understood to be the case and hopes that herein he is not mistaken his Majesty will give abundant satisfaction to which end he is willing by Act of Parliament that the whole power of the Militia both by Sea and Land for the space of ten years be in the hands of such persons as the two Houses shall nominate giving them power during the said term to chang the said persons and substitute others in their places at pleasure and afterwards to return to the proper Chanel again as it was in the times of Queen Elizabeth and King James of blessed memory And now his Majesty conjures his two Houses of Parliament as they are Englishmen and lovers of peace by the Duty they owe to his Majesty their King and by the bowels of compassion they have to their fellow Subjects that they will accept of this his Majesties offer whereby the joyful news of peace may be restored to this languishing Kingdom His Majesty will grant the like to the Kingdom of Scotland if it be desired and agree to all things that are propounded touching the conserving of peace betwixt the two Kingdoms Touching Ireland other things being agreed his Majesty will give satisfaction therein As to the mutual Declarations proposed to be established in both Kingdoms by Act of Parliament and the Modifications Qualifications and Branches which follow in the Propositions his Majesty only professes that he doth not sufficiently understand nor is able to reconcile many things contained in them but this he well knoweth That a general Act of Oblivion is the best bond of Peace and that after intestine troubles the wisdom of this and other Kingdoms hath usually and happily in all Ages granted general Pardons whereby the numerous discontentments of Persons and Families otherwise exposed to ruin might not become fuel to new disorders or seeds to future troubles His Majesty therefore desires that his two Houses of Parliament would seriously descend into these considerations and likewise tenderly look upon his condition herein and the perpetual dishonour that must cleave to him if he shall thus abandon so many persons of Condition and Fortune that have engaged themselves with and for him out of a sense of duty and propounds as a very acceptable testimony of their affection to him that a general Act of Oblivion and free Pardon be forthwith passed by Act of Parliament Touching the new great Seale his Majesty is very willing to confirm both it and all the Acts done by vertue thereof untill this present time so that it be not thereby pressed to make void those Acts of his done by vertue of his great Seal which in honour and justice he is obliged to maintain And that the future government thereof may be in his Majesty according to the due course of Law Concerning the Officers mentioned in the ninteenth Article his Majesty when he shall come to Westminster will gratifie his Parliament all that possible he may without destroying the alterations which are necessary for the Crown His Majesty will willingly consent to the Act for the confirmation of the Priviledges and Customs of the City of London and all that is mentioned in the Propositions for their particular advantage And now that his Majesty hath thus far endeavoured to comply with the desires of his two Houses of Parliament To the end that this agreement may be firm and lasting without the least face or question of restraint to blemish the same his Majesty earnestly desires presently to be admitted to his Parliament at Westminster with that honour which is due to their Soveraigne there solemnly to confirm the same and Legally to passe the Acts before mentioned and to give and receive as well satisfaction in all the remaining particulars as likewise such other pledges of mutual love trust and confidence as shall most concern the good of him and his people upon which happy agreement his Majesty will dispatch his Directions to the Prince his Son to return immediately to him and will undertake for his ready obedience thereunto Holmby May 12. 1647. The Commissioners sent down to the Army return this Accompt That they had sent to the Army the result of the Parliament for the addition of fourteen dayes pay more and the Act of Indempnity to the Officers But the Parliament Voted That all the Forces of this Kingdom not subscribing for the service of Ireland shall be disbanded excepting those for the continued Garisons and to be referred to the Committee of Derby House to consider of the time when that the General now at London
at Carisbroke Castle The King not to be wanting to the Common-wealth sends his Message to the Parliament and therein Concessions even beyond the hopes of most men and Arguments also why he could not assent to the late Propositions and desires a personal Treaty resolving to neglect any thing of his own Right to redeem the Peace of his people C. R. His Majesty is confident that before this time his two Houses of Parliament have received the Message which he left behind him at Hampton Court the eleventh of this moneth by which they will have understood the Reasons which enforced him to go from thence as likewise his constant endeavours for the setling of a safe and well-grounded Peace wheresoever he should be And being now in a place where he conceives himself to be at much more freedom and security than formerly he thinks it necessary not only for making good of his own professions but also for the speedy procuring of a peace in these languishing and distressed Kingdoms at this time to offer such grounds to his two Houses for that effect which upon due examination of all Interests may best conduce thereunto And because Religion is the best and chiefest foundation of peace his Majestie will begin with that particular That for the abolishing Arch-bishops c. his Majesty clearly professeth that he cannot give his consent thereunto both in Relation as he is a Christian and a King For the first he avows that he is satisfied in his judgement that this order was placed in the Church by the Apostles themselves and ever since that time hath continued in all Christian Churches throughout the World untill this last century of years and in this Church in all times of change and Reformation it hath been upheld by the wisdom of his Ancestors as the great preserver of Doctrine Discipline and Order in the Service of God as a King at his Coronation he hath not only taken a solemn oath to maintain this Order but his Majesty and his Predecessors in their confirmations of the great Charter have inseparably woven the right of the Church into the Liberties of the rest of the Subjects and yet he is willing it be provided that the particular Bishops perform the several duties of their callings both by their personal residence and frequent Preachings in their Diocesses as also that they exercise no act of Iurisdiction or Ordination without the consent of their Presbyter and will consent that their powers in all things be so limited that they be not grievous to tender consciences Wherefore since his Majestie is willing to give ease to the consciences of others he sees no reason why he alone and those of his judgement should be pressed to a violation of theirs Nor can his Majestie consent to the alienation of Church Lands because it cannot be denied to be a sin of the highest Sacrilege as also that it subverts the intentions of so many pious Donors who have laid a heavy curse upon all such profane violations which his Majestie is very unwilling to undergo And besides the matter of conscience his Majestie believes it to be a prejudice to the publick good many of his Subjects having the benefit of renewing Leases at much easier Rates than if those possessions were in the hands of private men not omitting the discouragement which it will be to all Learning and Industry when such eminent rewards shall be taken away which now lye open to the Children of meanest persons Yet his Majestie considering the great present distempers concerning Church Discipline and that the Presbyterian Government is now in practice his Majestie to eschew confusion as much as may be and for the satisfaction of his two Houses is content that the said Government be Legally permitted to stand in the same condition it is in for three years provided that his Majestie and those of his judgement or any other who cannot in conscience submit thereunto be not obliged to comply with the Presbyterial Government but have free practice of their own profession without receiving any prejudice thereby and that a free consultation and debate be had with the Divines at Westminster twenty of his Majesties nomination being added unto them whereby it may be determined by his Majesty and the two Houses how the Church Government after the said time shall be setled or sooner if differences may be agreed as is most agreeable to the Word of God with full libertie to all those who shall differ upon Conscientious grounds from that settlement alwaies provided that nothing aforesaid be understood to tolerate those of the popish profession nor the exempting of any Popish Recusant from the penalties of the Laws or to tolerate the publick profession of Atheism or Blasphemy contrary to the Doctrine of the Apostles Nicene and Athanasian Creeds they having been received by and had in reverence of all the Christian Churches and more particularly by this of England ever since the Reformation Next the Militia being that Right which is inseparably and undoubtedly inherent in the Crown by the Laws of this Nation and that which former Parliaments as likewise this hath acknowledged so to be his Majestie cannot so much wrong that trust which the Laws of God and this Land have annexed to the Crown for the protection and security of his people as to divest himself and Successors of the power of the Sword yet to give an infallible evidence of his desire to secure the performance of such agreements as shall be made in order to a peace his Majesty will consent to an Act of Parliament that the whole power of the Militia both by Sea and Land for and during his whole reign shall be ordered and disposed by the two Houses of Parliament or by such persons as they shall appoint with powers limited for suppressing of Forces within this Kingdom to the disturbance of the publick peace and against Foreign invasions and that they shall have power during his said reign to raise monies for the purposes aforesaid and that neither his Majesty that now is or any other by any Authoritie derived only from him shall execute any of the said Powers during his Majesties said reign but such as shall Act by the consent and approbation of the two Houses of Parliament nevertheless his Majestie intends that all Patents Commissions and other Acts concerning the Militia be made and Acted as formerly and that after his Majesties Reign all the power of the Militia shall return intirely to the Crown as it was in the times of Queen Elizabeth and King James of blessed memory After this head of the Militia the consideration of the Arrears due to the Army is not improper to follow for the payment whereof and the ease of his people his Majesty is willing to concur in any thing that can be done without the violation of his conscience and honour Wherefore if his two Houses shall consent to remit unto him such benefit out of Sequestrations
from Michaelmas last and out of Compositions that shall be made before the concluding of the Peace and the Arrears of such as have been already made the assistance of the Clergy And the Arrears of such Rents of his own Revenue as his two Houses shall not have received before the concluding of the Peace his Majesty will undertake within the space of eighteen moneths the payment of 400000. pounds for the satisfaction of the Army And if those means shall not be sufficient his Majestie intends to give way to the sale of Forest Lands for that purpose this being the publick Debt which in his Majesties judgment is first to be satisfied and for other publick Debts already contracted upon Church Lands or other Ingagements his Majestie will give his consent to such Act or Acts for raising of monies for payment thereof as both Houses shall hereafter agree upon so as they be equally laid whereby his people already too heavily burthened by these late distempers may have no more pressures upon them than this absolute necessity requires And for the further securing of all fears his Majesty will consent that an Act of Parliament be passed for the disposing of the great Offices of State and naming of Privy Councellours for the whole term of his Reign by the two Houses of Parliament their Patents and Commissions being taken from his Majesty and after to return to the Crown as is expressed in the Article of the Militia For the Court of Wards and Liveries his Majesty very well knows the consequence of taking that away by returning of all Tenures into common Soccage as well in point of Revenue to the Crown as in the protection of many of his Subjects being Infants Nevertheless if the continuance thereof seem grievous to his Subjects rather then he will fail on his part in giving satisfaction He will consent to an Act for taking of it away so as a full recompence be setled upon his Majesty and his Successours in perpetuity and that the Arrears now due be reserved unto him towards the payment of the Arrears of the Army And that the memory of these late distractions may be wholly wiped away his Majesty will consent to an Act for suppressing and making null of all Oaths Declarations and Proclamations against both or either House of Parliament and of all Indictments and other proceedings against persons for adhering unto them and his Majesty proposeth â—as the best expedient to take away all seeds of future differences that there be an Act of Oblivion to extend to all his Subjects As for Ireland the cessation there is long since determined but for the future all other things being fully agreed his Majesty will give satisfaction to his two Houses concerning that Kingdom And although his Majesty cannot consent in Honour and Iustice to avoid all his own Grants and Acts past under his great Seal since the two and twentieth of May 1642. or to the confirming of all the Acts and Grants passed under that made by the two Houses yet his Majesty is confident that upon perusal of particulars he shall give full satisfaction to his two Houses to what may reasonably be desired in that particular And now his Majesty conceives that by these his offers which he is ready to make good upon the settlement of a Peace he hath clearly manifested his intentions to give full security and satisfaction to all Interests for what can justly be desired in order to the future happiness of his people and for the perfecting of these concessions as also for such other things as may be proposed by the two Houses and for such just and reasonable demands as his Majesty shall finde necessary to propose on his part he earnestly desires a personal Treaty at London with his two Houses in Honour Freedom and Saftety it being in his Iudgement the most proper and indeed only means to a firm and setled Peace and impossible without it to reconcile former or avoid future misunderstandings All these things being by Treaty perfected his Majesty believes his Houses will think it reasonable that the Proposals of the Army concerning the Succession of Parliaments and their due elections should be taken into consideration As for what concerns His Kingdom of Scotland his Majesty will readily apply himself to give all reasonable satisfaction when the desires of the two Houses of Parliament on their behalf or of the Commissioners of that Kingdom or of both joyned together shall be made known unto him C. Rex Islle of Wight 17. Nov. 1647. For the Speaker of the House of Peers c. And although the King is sufficiently alone from evil Councellours the Parliament have no minde that he should have any company and therefore send a Messenger with Warrants to seize those three Servants that waited on him thither But Hamond excuses them not to be delivered up to the Officer his reasons are truly noble and like a Souldier which he directs to the Speaker of the Lords House the Earle of Manchester My Lord Yesterday came an Officer with Warrants for apprehending c. And finding the matter of very great importance I have desired the Messenger to forbear the execution of his Warrants till I have given the Parliament to understand that in case they should be put in execution it would be impossible for me to preserve the person of the King in security to be disposed by the Parliament unless I should keep him close prisoner which I concieve neither fit nor safe for me to do especially of my self The ground being this The King hath declared himself to me that he came from Hampton Court for no other cause but for the preservation of his Person which was as he apprehended in such danger that he could not with safety continue longer there otherwise he would not have departed thence nor from the Army and that he chose this place rather than any other where he was at liberty that he might still continue under protection of the Army my self being a member thereof and that he might have free entercourse with the Parliament for the settlement of Peace to which he professes greater inclinations and desires then ever The King saith that in case these Gentlemen be taken from him and punished as evil doers for counselling him not to go out of the Kingdom but rather to come to the place where he now is for the ends aforesaid and for their endeavouring accordingly in attending him hither he cannot but himself expect to be dealt with accordingly his case being the same My Lord besides the care I shall alwaies have of these Gentlemen they have engaged their Honours not to depart from me and truly were not their ends the same with their pretences in relation to the Peace of this Kingdom they would never have advised and conducted the King hither There will be none left here for his attendance which besides the offence how great the inconveniencies will be to him your
good by Lawes Statutes Oaths Protestations But on the Visitors proceed and inquiry being made of that neglect to take the Solemn League and Covenant and the Negative Oath and oppose their obedience to the discipline and directory or shall not promote them to their several places and callings Upon which the Masters Scholars and other Officers and Members of this University not to judge the Consciences of others but to clear our selves before God and the world from all suspition of obstinacy whilst we discharge our own Present to consideration the true Reasons of our present judgement concerning the said Covenant Oath and Ordinances expecting so much Justice and hoping so much Charity as either not to be pressed to conform to what is required in any of the Premisses further then our present judgement will warrant us or not condemned for the 〈◊〉 so to doe without real and clear satisfaction given to our just scruples And first they except against the Preface as not conceiving the entring into such a League and Covenant to be a lawful proper and probable means to preserve our selves and our Religion from ruine and destruction Nor can believe the same to be according to the commendable practice of these Kingdoms or the example of Gods people in other Nations when we finde not not the least foot-steps in our Histories of a sworn Covenant ever entered into by the people of this Kingdom upon any occasion whatsoever nor can remember any commendable example of the like done in any other Nation but are rather told by the defenders of this Covenant That the world never saw the like before Mr. Nye Covenant with Narrative pa. 12. And of the Covenant in gross they are not satisfied first how they can submit to the taking thereof as it is now imposed under a penalty as being repugnant to the nature of a covenant a volantary mutual consent of the â—ontractors not compelled Pactum est duorum pluriúmve in idem placitum consensus Nor can they take it without betraying the liberty which we swear with our lives and fortune to preserve and is expressed in the Petition of Right and by the Parliaments Declarations acknowledged to be contrary 3. Without acknowledging in the Imposers a greater power then can consist with our former Protestation Nor can we in wisdom and duty being Subjects enter into a Covenant wherein He whose Subjects we are is in any wise concerned without his consent It being in his power by the equity of the Law Numb 30. to Annul and make void the same at his pleasure And seeing the King hath by his publick Interdict expresly forbidden the taking thereof Proclam 9. Octob. 9. Car. Then they except against some Branches in each of the six Articles And concerning the Negâ—tive Oâ—th They cannot take it without forfeiture of that Liberty not to take any Oath unless established by Act of Parliament without abjuring our National Allegiance violating the Oaths of Supremacie and Allegiance whereby every Subject is bound to serve and assist his Prince and Soveraign at all seasons when need shall require 11. H. 7. 18. and without diminution of his Majesties just power and greatness And concerning the Discipline and Directory all together they are not satisfied how they can submit to the Ordinances of Parliament not having the Royal assent contrary to the Laws of the Land and also pretend by repeal to abrogate them a lesser power to Annul the Act of a greater especially the whole power of ordering all matters Ecclesiastical being by the Lawes for ever annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Kingdom For as for the Discipline and the Government also we cannot consent without the eradication of a Government of Reverend Antiquity in the Church continued and confirmed by the Laws and Charters of the Kingdom which the successive Kings at their Coronation have sworn to preserve And as to the Directory they cannot without regret of conscience consent to the taking away of the Book of Common Prayer which they have subscribed unto and have used in our Churches to the comfort of our Souls and is justly defensible and maintained by godly men and they shall be able to justifie against all Papists and other Oppugners or Depravers thereof It being established by act of Parliament expresly commanded to all Ministers to use the same and severe Sanctions of punishment to the refusers c. And after all they conclude Thus have we clearly and freely represented our Present judgement concerning the said Covenant Oath and Ordinances only we desire That if any one single scruple or reason in any the premisses remain unsatisfied the Conscience would remain still unsatisfied And in that case it can neither be reasonable for them that cannot satisfie us to press us nor lawful for us that cannot be satisfied to submit to the said Covenant Oath and Ordinances Quis damnaverit eum qui duabus potentissimis rebus defenditur Iure mente Quintil. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that which he alloweth Rom. 14. 22. These Exceptions were approved by general consent in a full Convocation the last year 1. Iune and presented to consideration But no Answer nor Reply hereto so that the University thought themselves secure untill now that the Earl of Pembroke their Chancellor makes his Visitation 17. April At his entrance Mr. Mayor a Member of the Commons House makes a Speech to him in what Language I need not remember Another by Mr. Chenil at Martin Coll. where he lodged The next morning he went to force out Mrs. Fall the late Deans Wife to settle Mr. Reynolds there which was done Vi Armis the Souldiers breaking open all at his Lordships command And in the afternoon he being Cathedrantus in the Convocation he delivered over his power to his Vice-Chancellor now made Dr. Reynolds and so were others Cambers Callicot Harris made Doctors of Divinity Palmer of Physick Wilkinson and Chenel Batchelours of Divinity and many others made Masters The next day the Chancellor and his Band brake open the door of the President of Magdalen Colledge and gave possession to Wilkinson The like at All-souls where the Warden Doctor Shelden refused to submit because the Visitors had no Authority from the King but his Chamber door was broken open upon him and he confined to a Room in the Town and Palmer put in his place Then to Trinity where forcing the doors Harris was made the Master At St. Iohns Doctor Bayly denyed their Authority and Chenel had his place Next to Wodham Colledge where breaking open what was shut Wilkins was put in And to end all many of the Commons of Christ-church were ejected as Doctor Hamond and others and so ended the Scene and his Lordship came home again and had thanks by the parliament for his wonderful wisdom in rectifying and reforming the University of Oxford and Voted that all such Masters Fellows and Officers there as refused to submit to
France and Charles the Emperour and King of Spain shews them so provident as between themselves to keep the ballance of Europe upright Not one to edge upon the other and herein not to stay for the first blow or to be the last to be eaten up The Crown of Spain hath enlarged her bounds these last sixty years more then the Ottamans Did not England assist the French to keep him from Britany Picardy and Piedmont and enable the Netherlands not to be swallowed up these are our outworks Nay hath he not twice invaded England Once under the Popes Banner next in his own Name and hath more than a months minde to it again These grounds are causes sufficient for a War with Spain But what ere the King had said as to the matter and form of Argument the Parliament forgot not their old Mode with his Father Not too hastily to resolve and his death left much business in the deck which now they take up to engage his son And in truth all Parliaments commence with Petition from the People Reasons of Religion and Complaints of their suffering came to his Father in the close of his last Session and so unanswered which they are resolved now to dispatch and did so To that of Religion the King assured them his pious resolution to effect their desires with all convenient speed and as that business of weight required And for their Greivances they were distinctly separate and satisfactory answers he gave to each apart And so accounting to them the disbursement of his Land and Naval Forces with a clear and even audit of the Charge and Expence to come they were so candid that the Laity gave him without conditions Two Subsidies from Protestants four from Papists and the Clergy three Richard Mountague Doctor of Divinity and Chaplain to the King was summoned this Session for certain Tenents supposed prejudicial to the Protestants faith but were only against the Calvinist and was from the Commons Bar without Tryal committed to the Serjeant of their House untill two thousand pound Bail be procured for him to appear the next Session which the King had reason to resent being his antient Chaplain and ought to have his Masters protection sooner than the Servants of an Ordinary Burgess which at last was granted but not his bail-bond excused Of which he complains to the Duke of Buckingham and that the Parliament had not in right to do with him for that which King Iames commanded and King Charles authorized and challenges any Accusers if he may answer for himself It seems he was summoned and committed without any Tryal Iuly 29. And hereupon three Bishops Rochester Oxford and St. Davids being tender not of his Person but of his cause meerly the Church of Englands upon this Ground That the Church being reformed from the Roman refused the apparent and dangerous errours but was tender of every School point as not expedient in the unity of Christians to subscribe to each particular And so though some of his opinions are the resolved Doctrine of the Church of England which he is bound to maintain So some others are School points and there to be discussed but not to distract the Church nor for any man to be bound to subscribe unto which if inforced would hazard their former subscription in Orthodox Tenents and was indeed one great Fault of the Council of Trent But the Clergy submitted in Henry the eighths time with this caution That for differences Doctrinal the King and the Bishops were to be Judges in a National Synod and that with the Kings leave under his hand and seal else not Nor did ever the Church or can submit but so which is the constant practice of the Church For if the Church be brought down beneath her self Schism will follow And King Iames allowed of each point of Doctrine in Mountagues Book who was able of most men to judge thereof There can be little use of Civil Government or of Preaching and external Ministery in the Church if such fatal opinions as are contrary to Mountagues shall be publickly taught and maintained All or most of the contrary opinions were treated of at Lambeth and then ready to be published but Queen Elizabeth upon knowledge how little they agreed with the practice in Piety and obedience to Government suppressed them and so continued ever since till of late some of them received countenance at the Synod of Dort but that being a Synod of that Nation cannot give authority to any other National Church till publique authority and it is to be hoped that this Church will advise before they submit to a foreigne Synod especially of such a Church that condemneth our Discipline and manner of Government And therefore the King referred the consideration to the course of the Church Then for the person of Mountague they affirmed him to be an able Scholar right honest and fit to do God and the Church and his Majesty great service 2 August 1625. And after the next session he was consecrate Bishop of Chichester The Books in question were these His answer to the Romish Gagger And his Defence thereof afterwards styled Apello Caesarem formerly opposed by Information prepared against him of which he was discharged by King Iames with leave to appeal to his Majesty from his defamators and Doctor White then Dean of Carlisle was ordered to authorize the Imprimatur But two years after Ianuary 1628. it was called in by Proclamation to please the then Parliament not charged with any false doctrine but for being the first cause of those disputes and differences which hath since much troubled the quiet of the Church it seems with such unnecessary questions And to humour that time also Doctor Potter a zealous Calvinian was preferred to be Bishop of Carlisle to please the Parliament and and yet for all these passages the Parliament lookt asquint at the Kings actions as hereafter followes anno 1628. The Lord Mordant afterwards Earl of Peterborough being a Papist and willing to winne his wife from Protestancy offered the combate of his Confessor with a fair dispute against any This Confident was a cunning Iesuite Beaumona but his right name Rookwood his brother executed in the Gun-powder-Treason 1605. and the Lady elected Doctor Usher Primate of Ireland at this time in England the place Drayton in Northampton shire but after three dayes controversie concerning Transubstantiation Invocation to Saints Images visibility of the Church the Iesuite directly confessed he was so deficient in his memory that Gods just judgement had infatuated him to this desertion and put his excuse upon his presumption to dispute with so eminent a Protestant without leave of his Superiour But the good effect was the conversion of the Lord Mordant and confirmation of his Lady Whereupon a Secular-Priest Chaloner in a jeer to Beaumond bids him beware of coming to Drayton for fear that Usher foil him again These Lawes are enacted this Session
with the Original in the Signet Office and so these proceedings lay in the Deck of other complaints which the King understood and took time to number them up to the Parliament as Indignities to his Person and Honour to be so inquisitive after his actions But for the present he went on with his own more important affairs and sends Sir Richard Weston Chancelour of the Exchequer with this message to them That his Fleet is returned and their victuals spent the men must of necessity be discharged and their wages paid them or else mutiny will follow which may be of dangerous consequence That he hath in readiness about 40. Ships to be set forth upon a second service which want a present supply of moneys That the Armies quartered on the Coasts want victuals and clothes and they will disband if not furnished The Companies of Ireland lately sent must speedily be provided for else they may be subject to rebel Lastly the season for providing healthful victual will be past if this moneth of March be suffered negligently to elapse And therefore he desired to know without more ado what present supply be must depend upon from them that accordingly he might shape his course This necessary message produced no other Supply than this insolency from a Member Mr. Clement Cook Son to Sir Edward Cook now in Malignancie to the affairs of State It is better saies he to dy by a Foreign Enemy than to be destroyed at home And to make him the more One Turner a mean mad Doctor of Physick who got a room in the House for such like rants and he re-assaults with 6. Queries teaching to the Duke 1. Whether the King hath not lost the Regality of the Narrow Seas since the Duke became Admiral 2. Whether he not going as Admiral in this last Fleet was not the cause of the ill success 3. Whether the Kings Revenues hath not been impaired through his immense liberality 4. Whether the Duke hath not ingrossed all Offices and preferred his kindred to unfit places 5. Whether he hath not made sale of places of Iudicature 6. Whether Recusants have not dependance upon his Mother and Father-in-law Alas poor Doctor He did but gape saies one and had this clamour put into his Mouth by such as had enough rudeness and Raâ—cour in their hearts but not the courage to let the world see it in them Thereupon the King sends to them all for satisfaction from the whole House intent upon severe punishment against â—â—ose men but finding them earnest to aggravate the more he summons both Houses together and conveys his displeasure to them by the Lord Keeper Coventry My Lords and you the Knights Citizens and Burgessâ—s of the House of Commons His Majesties command hath summoned you hither and the same Command hath put me upon the service of signifying his Will to you His Will was that both Houses should be called together you my Lords as witnesses of the Justice of his Resolutions and of this Address to the House of Commons His Majesty would have you know there never was King who better loved his peoplâ— or was more sincerely affected towards the right use of Parliaments or more ready tâ— redress what shall be represented unto him in the quality of Grievance provided it be in a regular and decent way than Himself but he would also have you know that as he loves his People so he regards His Honouâ— and if he be sensible of his Subjects Grievances of his own he is much more especially when they flow from offences of such a nature as not onely blast his Reputation but impede the Progresse of his Weighty Affaires To come to Particulars His Majesty saith That whereas Mr. Coke spake very seditious words in your House he was so far from being questioned or censured for them by you as Doctor Turner animated with the same spirit made them his introduction to certain articles of Inquiry of as unsavory a condition pretended against the Duke but in truth libelling his Majesties Government And though his Majesty did not only by Sir Richard Weston but in his own Person declare his just displeasure and demanded Justice against those exorbitants yet have you not only halted in your obedience to him but have followed the very steps of Dr. Turner and upon false bottom'd suggestions endeavored to distain his Own and Fathers Honour He also complaineth That you have taken upon you to search his Signet-Office and to examine the Letters of his Secretary of State leaving him nothing free from their discovery a thing not formerly practised As concerning the Duke whom you seem to persecute with such asperity of disgust I am also commanded to tell you that his Majesty knows none better he acted nothing of Publique Employment without his Special Warrant that he hath discharged his Trust with abundant both Care and Fidelity that he merited that Trust both from his now Majesty and his late Father by his Personall hazard both at home and abroad And that since his Return from Spain he hath been sedulous in promoving the Service and Contentment of your House It is therefore his Express Command that you absolutely desist from such unparliamentary disquisitions and resign the Reformation of what is amiss to his Majesties Care Wisdome and Justice I am also to speak about the business of supply you have been made acquainted with the posture of his Majesties affairs both foreign and domestique and with his necessatous condition the charge of all martial preparations both by sea and land hath been calculated to you you promised a supply both speedy and sutable to his occasions but his Majesty complaineth that as yet you have performed neither failing both in the measure and in the manner In the measure by granting onely three subsidies and three fifteens a proportion vastly short of what is requisite In the manner being both dilatory and dishonourable to the King as arguing a distrust of him for you have ordered the Bill not to be brought into the House until your grievances be both heard and answered which is such a tacite condition as his Majesty will not admit of Therefor his Majesty commands you to take it into your speedy consideration and to return your final answer by Saturday next what further addition you will make and if your supplies commensurate and equal the demands of the cause he promiseth to continue this Session to your just content else he must and will entertain thoughts of your dismission Lastly I am commanded to tell you that his Majesâ—y doth not charge these distempers upon the whole body and the assembly of the House but as he is confident the greater number are persons of a more quiet dispose so he hopeth their influence and this his Majesties admonition will prevent the like for the time to come When he had done the King went on I Must withall put you in minde of times past you may
executâ—â—◠〈◊〉 he wretchedly died IRELAND The State of England must be cleared of an Imputation That the not reducing Ireland to Civility since the Martial design 17 H. 2. above four hundred years was so continued in policy But if otherwise intended why not the Conquest perfected till their subjection to K. Charls In truth their former defects have been the faint prosecution of the War and loosness of Civil Governments The Souldiers ill paid and worse commanded the more barbarous the greater difficulty witness Caesars to reduce Brittains and their petty Princes a longer War then with all Asia and under one Monarch The King of Spain hath felt that by the States of the Netherlands not as yet but the whole Kingdom of Portugal he got in a trice Tributaries they were the first degree of subjection but more properly Soveraigns than Subjects And H. 3. grants run thus Rex Regi Tosmond salutem c And the Record says Onale Rex 100 l. de auxilio domini Regis Henrici c. and in truth the English Kings might rather deserve their Title Rex Regum for each Rebel is a King and vi armis Regnum suum obtinuit and the Armies sent over at several times were ill paid more unruly worst commanded till 36. Edw. 3. Extorting Coin and Livery Free-quarter and Money the general fault of all Commanders there which the Irish call damnable Custom and so did nothing but undo one another the English Colonies as hardly used as the Irish Until 9 Eliz. who sent over more men and spent more money there than all her Progenitors since the first onset on that Nation for she had three Rebellions Oneal anno 1566. was soon defeated with a thousand men or rather he was slain by accident of the Scots not the English Army Desmond more deep six thousand English quite defeated him But Tyrones Rebellion universally spread enforced the Queen to send Essex with forces indeed twenty thousand by Poll yet did nothing till Mountjoy made an end of that war under King Iames and so submitted to English Government Laws Magistrates the Kings pardon and Peace in all parts an intire and perfect Conquest as Merline prophesied At Sextus maenia Hiberniae subverteâ— Regiones in Regnum redigentur But concerning the Civil Affairs they were never brought to any degree of Reformation till the Governour Earl of Sussex laid the platform and proceeded in the way which Sr. H. Sidney pursued reducing the Countries into â—hires placing 〈◊〉 and Ministers of Laws but yet rather in a course of 〈◊〉 than by Civil Courts for though the greatest part of 〈◊〉 were vested in the Crown by Act of Parliament yet no seizure nor brought in charge the Irish having all and though the Name O-Neal were damn'd as High Treason yet Tirlagh Leynnagh was suffered to leave that Title and to intrude upon the possessions of the Crown and that with favour of the State and the Abbaries and Religious Houses in Tyrone Tirconnel and Ferminagh dissolved in 33 Hen. 8. were never reduced into charge but were continually possest by the Religious Persons until King Iames came to the Crown Nay more strange the Donations of Bishopricks being a flower of the Crown which the Kings of England did ever retain when Papacy was at the highest There were three of them in Ulster namely Derry Rapho and Clogher which were never bestowed by any former Soveraigns though they were undoubted Patrons until King Iames the first King that ever supplied these Sees with Bishops Indeed after the Government of Henry Sidney followed Sir Iohn Perrolt who advanced the Reformation in three principal points In establishing the Composition of Conaught in reducing Ulster into seven Shires though in his time the Law never executed in those new Counties by Sheriffs or Justices of Assize but the people left to be ruled by their own barbarous Lords Laws Lastly by vesting in the Crown the Laws of Desmond in Munster and planting English there After Perrot comes Sir William Fitzers He raised a Composstion in Munster and setled the possessions of the Lords and Tenants in Monahan one of the last Acts of State tending to Reformation in Queen Elizabeths days Thus former Soveraigns endeavoured since Edward 3. to reduce this Nation and before the Civil Wars of York and Lancaster the chief aim was to order the degenerate English Colonies not respecting the meeâ— Irish. But after Hen. 7. who united the Roses they laboured to bring both English and Irish to Alleageance but never perfected till King Iames. The former 〈…〉 〈…〉 And for the Civil part to settle peace after Tyrone that Act of State or Act of oblivion by Proclamation pardoned all offences against the Crown and particular Trespasses don before King Iames his time and the inslaved Irish under their tyrant Lords were received into his Majesties immediate Protection As publick Peace so publick Iustice the first Sheriffs in Tyrone and Tyrâ—onnel in Ulster and Pelham and the first Justices in those Counties and afterwards in the first years Government of Sir Arthur Chichester he established two other new Circuits of Assize in Connaught and Munster where for two hundred years before had not been executed and publick Iustiâ—e grew so great as that there was Magna messis sed operarii pauci round about the whole Kingdom twice a year which heretofore was but about the Pale like the Circuit of Cynosur a about the Pole Quae cursu interiore brevi convertitur orbe By the Circuits of Assize the Commons were taught to be free Subjects to the King not Slaves to their Lords that their Cuttings Cosheries Sessings and such Extortions were unlawfull so that these tyrant Lords wanting means humbly petitioned for licence to take some competent contribution for their support which being denied them they were fain to fly into foreign parts and as Extortion banished them who could not live but under the Law so the Law banished the Irish Lord who could not live but by extortion that in five years not so many Malefactours of Death in the six Circuits or two and thirty Shires as in one Circuit of the West of England the Irish in peace fearfull to offend the Law and thereby â—ull knowledge of the Irish their Countries Persons and Actions and so their ancient Allowances in their Pipe Rolls pro Guidagio Spiagio was well spared Under Officers doing that Aâ—rand the neglect of the Law made the very English 〈◊〉 Irish which now counts them to be civil English The â—est was the setling of the Irish Estates as well as English for though a Law of Queen Elizabeth enabled the Governours to take Surrenders and regrant Estates unto the Irish yet but few Irish Lords in her time offered to make any if they did it was regranted to them again and to no other and the poor Septes paid their Duties as before so 〈◊〉 such a Surrender there was but one Freeholder made in a whole County which was
Band made by King Iames the sixth 1580. obliging those mutually to assist one another at the Kings command but this Band of theirs made without the Kings consent and excepting him is a cunning Combination against and to abuse the People as if by it they were tied by Oath to joyn in Arms or Rebellion No Covenant in the whole World that ever had left out the Head or had not a Negative voice except in cases of Rebellion as this is Then they were told of their treasonable actions Their provisions of Arms. Their levying Taxes of ten Marks per centum every Mark a Hangmans wages in England thirteen pence half penny publishing seditious Papers burned by the Hangman refusing the Lord Estrich sent by the King to be Governour of Edinburgh Castle committing Outrages upon the Garrisons there Raised Fortifications against the Castle and Inchgarvy imprisoned the Lord Southeck and others for their fidelity to the King delivered up the power of Government of several Towns to a Committee which is High Treason and then to fill up the measure to the brim the King produces their own Letter to the French Kirk to call in forreign aid So then the Covenant the Articles of Perth the scandalous Paper burnt and this Letter is to be particularly expressed and somewhat to be said concerning them This Covenant was accompanied with a Supplication or Imprecation upon Record and witness to posterity against them That we the General Assembly acknowledg that there resteth nothing for crowning of his Majesties incomparable goodness towards us but that the Members of this Church and Kingdom be joyned in one and the same Confession and Covenant with God with the Kings Majesty and amongst our selves and do even declare before God and the World that we never had nor have any thought of withdrawing our selves from that humble and dutifull subjection and obedience to his Majesty and his Government which by the descent and under the Reign of an hundred and sevâ—â— Kings is most chearfully acknowledged by us and our Predecessors That we never had nor have any intention or desire to attempt any thing that may tend to the dishonour of God or diminution of the Kings greatness and authority but on the contrary acknowledg all our quietnes stability and happiness to depend upon the safety of his Majesties person and maintenance of his greatness and Royal authority as Gods Vicegerent set over us for the maintenance of Religion and Ministration of Iustice. We have solemnly sworn and do swear not onely our mutual concurrence and assistance for the cause of Religion and to the utmost of our power with our means and life to stand to the defence of our Dread Sovereign his Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the said true Religion Liberties and Laws of this Church and Kingdom but also in every cause which may concern his Majesties honour shall according to the Laws of this Kingdom and the duty of good Subjects concurre with our Friends and Followers in quiet manner or in Arms as we shal be required of his Majesty his Council or any having his authority and therefore being most desirous to clear our selves of all imputation of this kinde and following the laudable example of our Predecessors 1589. do most humbly supplicate your gracious Majesty and the Lords of his Majesties most honourable Privy Council to injoyn by Act of Council that this Confession and Covenant which as a testimony of our fidelity to God and loyalty to our King we have inscribed be subscribed by all his Majesties Subjects of what kinde and quality soever The thirtieth of August 1639. How they have faithfully observed this National Profession let the World judg and how they have grounded their Covenant which follows God will judg of their Oath It was presented to his Majesties Commissioners by this assembly That besides many other the true and real causes of so many evils which hath troubled this Kirk and Kingdome might appear First the pressing of this Kirk by Prelates with a Service-book or Common-prayer without direction or warrant from the Kirk and contayning besides the Popish frame thereof divers Popish Errors and Ceremonies and the seed of manifold gross superstitions and Idolatry with a Book of Canons without warrant or direction from the general Assembly establishing a Tyranical power over the Kirk in the persons of Bishops and overthrowing the whole discipline and Government of the Kirk by Assemblies with a Book of consecration and ordination without warrant or authority civil or Ecclesiastical apointing Offices in the house of God which are not warranted by the word of God and repugnant to the discipline and acts of our Kirk and with the High-commission erected without the consent of this Kirk subverting the Iurisdiction and ordinary Iudicatories of this Kirk and giving to persons meerely Ecclesiastical the power of both swords and to persons meerly civil the power of the Keyes and Kirk-censâ—res A second cause was the Articles of Perth viz. The observation of festival daies kneeling at the Communion confirmation administration of the Sacraments in private places which were brought in by a Null Assembly and are contrary to the confession of faith as it was meant and subscribed anno 1580. and divers times since and to the order and constitution of this Kirk Thirdly the change of the Government of this Kirk from the assemblies of the Kirk to the persons of some Kirkmen usurping priority and power over their brethren by the way and under the name of Episcopal Government against the confession of faith 1580. against the order set down in the Book of Policy and against the intention and constitution of this Kirk from the beginning Fourthly The civil places power of Kirkmen their sitting in Session Councell and Exchequer their riding sitting voycing in Parliament and their sitting on the Bench as Iustices of peace which according to the constitutions of this Kirk are Incompatible with their spiritual function lift them up above their brethren in worldly pomp and do tend to the hindrance of the Ministry Fiftly their keeping and authorizing corrupt assemblies in Linlithgow 1606. and 1608. at Glascow 1610. at Aberdine 1616. at Saint Andrews 1617. at Perth 1618. Which are null and unlawful as being called and constitute quite contrary to the order and constitution of this Kirk received and practized ever since the reformation of Religion and withal labouring to introduce novations in this Kirk against the order and Religion established A sixt cause is the want of lawfull and free assemblies rightly constitute of Pastors Doctors and Elders yearly and oftener pro ne nata according to the liberty of this Kirk expressed in the Book of Policie and acknowledged in the act of Parliament 1592. After which the whole assembly with one heart and voyce did declare that these and such other proceedings from the neglect and breach of the Nationall
Covenant of this Kirk and Kingdome made anno 1580. have been indeed the true and main causes of all our evils and distractions And therfore ordaine according to the constitutions of the generall Assemblies of this Kirk and upon the grounds respective above specified That the aforesaid Service-book Books of canons and ordination and the High-commission be still rejected That the Articles of Perth be no more practized That Episcopall Government and the civil places and the power of Kirkmen be holden still as unlawfull in this Kirk That above named pretended Assemblies at Linlithgow 1606. and 1608. at Glascow 1610. at Aberdine 1616. at St. Andrews 1617. at Perth 1618. be hereafter accounted null and unlawfull and of none effect And that for preservation of Religion and preventing of all such evils in time coming general Assembles rightly constitute as the proper and competent Judge of all matters Ecclesiastical hereafter be keeped yearly and oftner pro re nata as occasion and necessity require The necessity of the occasional Assemblies being first remonstrate to his Majesty by humble supplication As also that Kirk sessions Presbyterians and Synodal Assemblies be constituted and observed according to the order of this Kirk our session the seventeenth of August Hereupon an Act of Councell is formed and all subjects are to subscribe And the Commissioners consents to an Act of Assembly for confirming it To which also the Commissioner doth subsign witht his proviso That the practice of the premisses prohibited within this Kirk and Kingdome out with the Kingdome of Scotland shall neither bind nor infer censure against the practizes outwith the Kingdome but this last Proviso was not approved by the Assembly nor upon Record but only inserted in the Register That in commanding to swear the Covenant 1580. and 1581. King Iames the sixt and his Council did not intend the abjuration of Episcopacie and the reasons were put down in a paper which paper was sent to the Covenanters they were these First that if under those words we abjure the Popes wicked Hierarchy Episcopacie be sworn down then they abjure both their Presbyters and Deacons for the Council of Trent makes the Hierarchy to consist of these three orders Bishops Presbyters and Deacons and abjure one and all but then they answer that they retain Presbyters and Deacons as they are ordained in the Reformed Churches The like may be replyed for Bishops being ordained in a form allowed by Reformed Churches yet they took that forenamed Oath as Iohn Arch Bishop of St. Andrews 1572. and Iames Bishop of Dunkel 1573. as appears by their Council books And certainly their Presbyters must needs derive their orders either from Bishops of that obedience or from Presbyters ordained by such Bishops either from such or none for they will not affirm That non Presbyter can ordinare Presbyterum But thus much by the way let their Inscribed destinctions reply Inter Regnum constituendum and Regnum constitutum and such like evasions But in a word we conclude in the Commissioner Traquair 's own words That the Assembly saith he ought to render thanks to those that had been his Majesties good Informers in working these effects If any think or conceive this to be due to me I protest to act nothing but the part of an Eccho for this Imployment came upon me by my Lord Hamilton's work and if you knew what I know you should acknowledg him to be both a carefull painfull and faithfull Agent in this business and in all that you have intrusted with him This is not entered in their Record it smells too rank of his Treachery but it is most certain he ended so after he had subscribed But to encounter this their Covenant it was ordered in England that all the Scotish Subjects that were to take upon them the trust of the King or Imployment in his Affairs were put to an Oath in England and Ireland I A. B. one of his Majesties Subjects in the Kingdom of Scotland do by the presents sign with my hand upon my great Oath and as I shall be answerable to God upon my Salvation and Condemnation testifie and declare That Charls by the grace of God King of Great Brittain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith is my Sovereign Lord and that next unto Almighty God and his Son Christ Jesus he is over all persons within his Majesties Kingdoms and Dominions and in all Causes as well Ecclesiastical as Civil supreme Governour to whom his Heirs and Successours I am bound in duty and allegeance to all obedience if it were to the loss of my life estate and fortunes and do hereby abjure all Combinations Covenants and Bands that can be pretended upon pretext of Religion or Liberty of the Kingdom and specially the damnable and treasonable Covenant commonly called the popular Covenant so much magnified now in Scotland and do promise never to take Arms against his Majesty his Heirs and Successours offensive or defensive but to abide constant in allegeance duty and obedience which I profess Almighty God hath tied me unto and to do the utmost of my power against all oppositions whatsoever foreign or home-bred So help me God And concerning the five Articles introduced by King Iames at the general Assembly of Perth Anno 1618. it will not be amiss to know what they were First Kneeling in the taking of the Communion and out of the Ministers hands whereas it was before taken sitting â—n their breech and the Bread taken by themselves out of a Bason and the Cup from one another as if they were drinking to others and the Beadle filling up the Cup as it was emptied out of a Flagon which he filled in the Belfery as it was spent Secondly Private Communion to sick persons that were not able to come to Church to be given with three or four Communicants besides Thirdly Private Baptism in case of necessity that the Childe is so sick or weak that he cannot be brought to Church without eminent danger of death and to declare it to the Congregation the next Sunday thereafter Fourthly Confirmation of Children after the Primitive way which was the bringing of them at eight nine or ten years of age to the Bishop of the Diocess to give him account of their Christian Faith and receive his encouragement commendation and benediction to make them continue carefull in it as they were carefully catechised by their Parents and Parish Priests and if any were not well instructed in their Faith the Bishop sends them back without blessing and some rebuke to be better instructed Fifthly Festival days onely five to be kept viz. The days of our Saviour's Birth Passion Resurrection Ascension and Descent of the Holy Spirit Now let any man of reason judg whether any of these could truly fall under the censure of Popery and if any man of any Reason and Learning would not rather follow the practice of the purest Primitive times in these as likewise in those
est mala cujus finis est bonus contrary to Saint Paul Non est faciendum malum ut bonum inde eveniat And because the major part of that ignorant infatuated Nation remained as yet intangled in that Errour that these were the seven Articles of Pacification and burnt by the Hangman as the Ministery thundered out of their Pulpits to make the King odious I conceive it very necessary for the undeceiving of the Multitude and satisfying the most curious to set down verbatim his Majesties Proclamation there anent which is now rarely to be found for the Scots endeavour to suppress such Truths A Proclamation publishing an Act of State and his Majesties Command concerning a scandalous Paper lately dispersed amongst many of his Subjects WHereas a Paper containing many Falshoods and tending much to the dishonour of his Majesties late Proceedings in the Pacification given to his Subjects of Scotland hath been dispersed in divers parts of this Kingdom whereupon an Act of Council hath been made in these words ensuing viz. On Sunday the fourth of August sixteen hundred thirty nine his Majesty being in Council was pleased to acquaint the Lords with a Paper which he had seen in Barwick intituled Some Conditions of his Majesties Treaty with his Subjects of Scotland before the English Nobility are set down here for remembrance Which Paper being in most parts full of falshood dishonour and scandal to his Majesties Proceedings in the late Pacification given of his Princely grace and goodness to his Subjects of Scotland hath been very frequently spread here in England and avowed in Scotland by some to have been approved and allowed as Truth by somâ— of these Lords in England who attended his Majesty and were present at the Pacification in the Camp Whereupon the Paper having been read and his Majesty commanding these English Lords to declare their knowledg thereof The Earl Marshal first began to put his Majesty in remembrance that some few days after the Pacification was concluded some of the Scotâ— Lords coming to the Chamberlain's Tent sent to speak with him and the Earl of Holland and offered them a certain Paper which they pretended to have been collected for the help of their memories and not otherwise nor to be published but the said English Lords very dutifully and discreetly refused to accept of that or any such Paper but referred themselves totally to the Articles of Pacification in writing and the said Earl Marshal further declared that now upon the reading he for his part held the said Paper for the most part false and scandalous and no way agreeable to what his Majesty expressed at the Pacification Next the Lord Chamberlain declared that being ready to take horse and a number of his Friends about him taking their leave the Lord Loudon pressed him with much importunity to receive a Paper which he took not knowing what it contained but at night when he came to his Lodging doubting it might be some such Paper as was formerly offered and was refused took it without reading of it and sealed it up and so kept it untill he presented it to his Majesty at White-hall professing that till that time he had never read any one word of it nor seen any other Copy thereof which Paper being that which had been divulged was the very same which his Majesty commanded to be read at the Board The Earl of Salisbury likewise desired to justifie himself of a particular Scandal laid upon him that he had received and brought Copies of this Paper from the North which he declared could not be because he was come away from the Camp before that Paper was offered and had never seen it nor any Copy thereof before his Majesties return to Theobalds After this the Lord Chamberlain the Earls of Salisbury Holland and Berkshire concurred with the Earl Marshal that the Contents of that Paper were for the most part notoriously scandalous false and contrary to what his Majesty clearly expressed at the Pacification His Majesty likewise declared that before his coming from Berwick he shewed a Copy of this scandalous Paper to the Earl of Lindsey the Earl of Holland Mr. Treasurer Dorine and Secretary Cook who fully concurred in the foresaid opinion with the other Lords all which Lords and particularly the Earl of Holland avowed the falsness thereof to the faces of these Scots Lords who were believed to be the divulgers thereof the Lords of the Council of Scotland being there likewise present All which considered the whole Board unanimously became humble Petitioners to his Majesty that this false and scandalous Paper might be publickly burnt by the Hangman and that his Majesties pleasure might be published by Proclamation that no person or persons hereafter of what Degree or Condition soever presume to keep any Copy thereof but that within ten days after the said Proclamation published every such person and persons shall deliver to the next Iustice of Peace all and every Copies thereof the same to be immediately sent to one of the principal Secretaries upon peril of such punishment as the Law inflicts upon such as keep up seditious Papers which was accordingly ordered and commanded to be entred into the Council-book as an Act of State His Majesty therefore by the advice of his Privy Council doth hereby publish the said Act of State unto all his loving Subjects to the end that being forewarned they may avoid the Danger which may ensue by the detaining or concealing any Copy or Transcript of the said Paper strictly charging and commanding all manner of persons what soever that they presume not to keep any Copy of the same according to this Act upon such Penalties as are done by Law And his Majesty is hereby graciously pleased to pardon and remit the offence of such persons as have had any Copy of the said Paper and shall deliver it up within ten Days after Publication hereof as aforesaid Given at our Palace of Westminster the eleventh of August 1639. How evident it is to all men how poorly these pacifying English Lords Commissioners came off Pembroke Salisbury Holland and Berkshire Sir Harry Vane senior and Secretary Cook all except honest Berkshire sided afterwards with the Covenanters against the King And when the King charged the Scots Commissioners with this Paper they made no Answer as not being within their Instructions but afterwards in their grand Declaration the State of Scotland makes this pitifull Answer or Excuse As we are most unwilling to fall upon any Question which may seem to import the least contradiction with his Majesty so if it had not been the trust which we gave to the Relation of our Commissioners who did report to us his Majesties gracious Expressions related daily to us at Dunce the place of their Camp and put into Notes by many of our Number which were a great deal more satisfactory to us than the written Declaration the same would not have been acceptable which
supposed they were but bugbears if you consult hereafter how they were beaten at Hereford put to flight at Marston Moor totally rowted by the gallantry and conduct of one Man in three several battales in Lancaster Dunbar and Worcester And lastly when they were put to it they have lately lost their Country and liberty and become conquered Vassals to the English whom at this time they so much despised But now the English Commanders condescended the sixteenth of October To a Cessation of Arms by Sea and Land from this present All acts of Hostility to cease Both parties shall peaceably return during the Treaty what soever they possess at the time of the Cessation All such persons in any of his Majesties forts beyond the River of Tees shall not exempt their Lands which lie within the Countries of Northumberland and the Bishoprick from such contribution as shall be laid upon them for the payment of eight hundred and fifty pounds per diem That none of the Kings forces upon the other side of Tees shall give any Impediment to such contributions as are already allowed for the Competencie of the Scots Army and shall fetch no victuals nor forrage out of their bounds except that which the Inhabitants and owners thereof shall bring voluntarily to them and that any restraint or retention of victuals cattel or forrage which shall be made by the Scots within those bounds for their Maintenance shall be no breach That no Recruit shall be brought into either Armies from the time of Cessation and during the Treaty That the Contribution of eight hundred and fifty pounds per diem shall be onely raised out of the Counties of Northumberland Bishoprick Towns of New-castle and Westmerland and that the non-payment thereof shall be no breach of the Treaty but the Countreys and Towns shall be left to the Scots power to raise the same but not to exceed the Sum agreed upon unless it be for Charges of Driving to be set by a Prisor of the Forage That the River of Tees shall be the Bound of both Armies excepting the Town and Castle of Stockton and the Village of Egistisse and the Countreys of Northumberland and Bishoprick to be the Limits within which the Scots Army is to reside having liberty for them to send such Convoys as shall be necessary for gathering up onely of the Contribution which shall be unpaid by the Counties of Northumberland and Cumberland That if any person commit any private insolence it shall be no breach of our Treaty if upon complaint made by either parties reparation and punishment be granted If Victuals be desired upon a price which shall be agreed upon and ready Money offered for the same and refused it shall be no breach of the Cessation to take such Victual paying such prizes No new Fortifications to be made during the Treaty against either parties That the Subjects of both Kingdoms may in their Trade pass to and from without any stay at all but it is particularly provided that no Member of either Army pass without a formal Pass under the hands of the General or of him that commands in chief But these were not all which the Scots meant to have and therefore time wasting here their chief Demands were transfered to a general Treaty to be proceeded in at London And here at this Treaty having the occasion of Freedom for either parties the Earl of Montross discovers his secret Faith and Loyalty to the King from the Confederacy with the Covenanters who had seized him at the first upon a mistaken ground and occasion which was thus At his Return formerly from his Travels in France where he had command of the Scots Guard and being recommended for the Kings favour and preferment to the Marquess of Hamilton who knowing his merit and unwilling to commend any Competitours with himself cunningly disswaded him laying some Scandals on the Kings intentions towards the Scots viz. of reducing that Nation to a Province and that the regret of his own private sufferings made him resent it only till time and opportunity And so having seasoned the youthfull Lord advises with the King how to receive him who he says is newly returned out of France with a purpose to serve his Majesty but being so powerfull and popular by his ancient Descent oâ— the royal Family in Scotland it were more necessary to keep him under with neglect And accordingly as to please Hamilton Montrose was brought to kiss the Kings hand who turned side-way from him with no more kindness And this confirming Hamilton's Design Montrose in malice poasts into Scotland where he found them fitted for his rancour with whom he becomes a Principal untill his conscience was convinced yet dissembled his Intentions untill the first onset upon English ground And now at York he found means by Letters to convey his Faith and Loyalty to the King which Letters were by Hamilton's means stollen at night out of the Kings Pockets copied out and communicated to the Covenanters at New-castle who concealed their Information labouring under hand to render the Earl odious to the People and thereby unserviceable to the King This was not the first nor last Exercise of the Bed-chamber men the most Scots not onely for the Covenanters but in prejudice of his secret Councils as hath been heretofore hinted to the King in the Case and Caution of the Arch-bishop concerning Andreas Not to trust your own Pockets with them The time for a Parliament approaching and the while not convened was conceived a kinde of retarding and so a grievance to the Subjects longing for a Parliament miserable without and happy with any and therefore being resolved on Tuesday the third of November an ominous Day in the time of Henry the eighths Parliament and thereof an Item was given to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury that the twentieth of Henry the eighth and third of November a Parliament was holden which began in the Fall of Cardinal Wolsey continued in the diminution of the powers of the Clergy and ended in the dissolution of Abbies and other Religious Houses and therefore advised the Arch-bishop for luck-sake as the Vulgar use to say to move the King to respit their sitting but to a day or two which he neglected and thereupon if not therefore this Parliament commenced with the Arch-bishop's ruine continuing in the dissipation of the remaining Rites of the English Clergy and ended in the subversion of Episcopal Government dissolution of all Capitular Bodies leaving the Cathedral of the Land without means for the time to come And hence is observed that when Pope Martin the third had besieged Furby that Guido Bonatus an Astrologer perswaded the People not to assault their Enemy before he gave the Signal and so they did and slew the besiegers with a great Victory But although the English Lords and Scotish were earnest for a Parliament to drive on their Design which afterwards appeared yet the King was much inclining also
importation of Bullion he the said Earl told them that the City of London dealt undutifully and unthankfully with his Majesty and that they were more ready to help the Rebel than to help his Majesty and that if any hurt came to them they might thank themselves and that it was the course of other Princes to make use of such monies to serve their occasions And when in the same month of July the Officers of his Majesties Mint came to him and gave him divers reasons against the imbasing of the said money he told them that the French King did use to send Commissaries of Horse with Commission to search into mens estates and to peruse their accompts that so they may know what to levy of them by force which they did accordingly levy and turning to the Lord Cottington then present said That this was a point worthy his Lordships consideration The Earls Reply That he expected some Proofs to evidence the two first Particulars but hears of none For the following words he confessed probably they might escape the Door of his Lips Nor did he think it much amiss considering their present posture to call that Faction Rebells As for the last words objected against him in that Article he said that being in conference with some of the Londoners there came to his hands at that instant a Letter from the Earl of Leicester then at Paris wherein were the Gazets inclosed relating that the Cardinal had given order to levy Money by Souldiers This he onely told the Lord Cottington standing by but made not the least Application thereof to the English Affairs 27. That in or about the Moneth of Aug. last he was made Lieutenant General of all his Majesties Forces in the Northern parts against the Scots being at York did in the Moneth of September by his own authority and without any lawfull warrant impose a Tax on his Majesties Subjects in the County of York of 8. d. per diem for maintenance of every Souldier of the Trained Bands of that County which Sums of Money he caused to be levied by force And to the end to compell his Majesties Subjects out of fear and terrour to yield to the payment of the same He did declare that he would commit them that refused the payment thereof and the Souldiers should be satisfied out of their Estates and they that refused it were in very little better condition than of high Treason The Earls Reply That his Majesty coming to York it was thought necessary in regard the Enemy was upon the Borders to keep the Trained Bands on foot for defence of the County and therefore the King directed him to write to the Free-holders in Yorkshire to declare what they would do for their own defence that they freely offered a Moneths pay nor did any man grudg against it Again it was twice propounded to the great Council of Peers at York that the King approved it as a just and necessary act and none of the Council contradicted it which he conceived seemed a tacit allowance of it That though his Majesty had not given him special order therein nor the Gentry had desired it yet he conceived he had power enough to impose that Tax by virtue of his Commission But he never said that the Refusers should be guilty of little less than high Treason which being proved by Sir William Ingram he was but a single Testimony and one who had formerly mistaken himself in what he had deposed 28. That in the moneths of September and October last he the said Earl of Strafford being certified of the Scotish Army coming into the Kingdom and he the said Earl of Strafford being Lieutenant General of his Majesties Army did not provide for the defence of the Town of Newcastle as he ought to have done but suffered the same to be lost that so he might the more incense the English against the Scots And for the same wicked purpose and out of a malicious desire to ingage the Kingdoms of England and Scotland in a National and bloudy war he did write to the Lord Conway the General of the horse and under the said Earls command that he should fight with the Scotish Army at the passage over the Tyne whatsoever should follow notwithstanding that the said Lord Conway had formerly by Letters informed him the said Earl that his Majesties Army then under his command was not of force sufficient to incounter the Scots by which advice of his he did contrary to the duty of his place betray his Majesties Army then under his command to apparent danger and loss The Earls Reply That he admired how in the third Article he being charged as an Incendiary against the Scots is now in the Article made their Confederate by betraying New-castle into their hands But to answer more particularly he said that there was at New-castle the 24. of August ten or twelve thousand Foot and two thousand Horse under the Command of the Lord Conway and Sir Iacob Astley and that Sir Iacob had written to him concerning the Town of New-castle that it was fortified which also was never under his particular care and for the passage over the River of Tine his Majesty sent special Directions to the Lord Conway to secure it and therefore that Lord is more as he conceives responsible for that Miscarriage than himself When he had done the House of Commons urged that if he had any further Defence he should perform it presently but had time set next Day when the Court met but the Earl being taken with a terrible Fit of the Stone and in danger of his Life if he stirred abroad which Message though assured by the Lieutenant of the Tower for more satisfaction to the violency of the Commons the Lords agreed to proceed the next Day if he did not appear and sent some of the Upper House thither who found him in some hopes of better health against the next Day Not that any one could imagine that his Cause needed the help of dissembling having satisfied all indifferent persons with his Justification as to Treason and no other Crimes could daunt him But as in such Cases his Adversaries the Commons had reserved their Evidence most pernicious which the next Day they desired to produce The Earl also pressed the like on his own behalf which as yet had not been offered a reasonable Request for the Defendant as well as the Plaintiff or to wave them on both sides And because the Lords were absolute of this opinion the Commons in apparant discontenâ— took no leave but departed without ordering any certain Day for their next Meeting But on Monday two Days after the Parliament sate in their several Houses when Master Pym produced to the Commons a Copy of some Notes taken by Secretary Vane of several opinions upon Debates at the Council-table the fifth of May 1640. being the Day of the last Parliaments Dissolution and the Discovery is thus made our The Father delivers
of morning-stars so called terrible weapons on the walls A world of Crescets for lights to the Town An iron chain cross the River warning to all Neighbours to draw in their Corn and Hay which was prevented the Enemy at midnight firing the worth of 1000. l. yet some grain was with much hazzard brought in and fired all our out houses from sheltring the Enemy At the beginning of December the first fruits of Skirmish at St. Lawrence Gate and west Gate The Town â—allied out 350. foot and two Troops of Horse for securing some carriages sent out for Corn from the Green Hills within half a mile the Enemy having intelligence from within and met in the middle way in a mighty Fog standing in Batalia and numbred to be 3000. At their shout the English Officers advised to retreat and no sooner said but the horse in the Rear ran back to the Gates discouraging any supply to speed for their succour yet the Governour Titchburn in this confusion the more resolute alighted and led the Foot forwards to the Succour advanced the Shot to the Hill and placed the Pikes in the narrow passage of the Lane to open for the Horse and so soon made ready The Rebells by this time had charged twice without doing hurt but the Aid being come up they charged them so full and effectual that without standing to the shock they fell back and fled chased a Mile and more in sight of the Town Walls with loss of two hundred and not one of the English hurt Amongst the Dead were one priest and three Captains one of them near a Kin to the Earl of Tyrone with pillage of some money Cloaths and Arms very useful to the Assailants Such of them Prisoners were often ransomed and if returned were well fed by their Town-sisters and so fully supplied as if they had been Martyrs Those of ours from them had been crouded in Dungeons fed with Garbage and Offals Dogs meat without Salt or Fire with Cabbage-stalks or a Sheaf of Beans and being returned almost starved seldom recovered Such of the Town Souldiers that were Papists were so poysoned by the Priests that they stole over the Walls at Mid-night by Dozens But after their usual manner with affording us false Allarms The Enemy sent an extraordinary Embassage by a Frier one Father Darcy lately a Prior of the Dominicans in that Town his Companion was a Captain of his own name beating a parley was admitted to the Captain of the Port who received his Commission in effect That the General and Captains of the Catholick Army had sent Father Darcy with others to treat with the Governour und Captains of the Town of Drogheda to whom they were to give credit as in their Names desiring safe Conduct and Return under the Governours hand before they would enter But ere it could be considered the Frier upon the bare word of an Officer presents himself By which he was told the safety of his life yet being imputed to his inconsiderate Act not skilled in arms he had Audience And his Arrand no less than the absolute surrender of the Town for his Majesties use and service assuring them beside of such Projects and Forces by Land and Sea as would confirm it impossible to be relieved The Governour and Council told him of their Commission from the King of such a Date to defend it against them but if theirs were of a later Date from his Majesty or the Lords Justices they would submit In the mean time they were better able to keep the Town than the Countrey was to keep them No such distress within to admit of so mean a thought were it by Sword or Famine to endure the most extremity And so having this â—nswer to his Arrand he took leave giving to the Governour a Copy of the Oath lately taken by the Lords of the Pale and by the rest of the Catholicks I A. B. in the presence of Almighty God and all the Angels and Saints in Heaven promise vow swear and protest to maintain and defend as far as I may with my life power and estate the publick and free exercise of the true Catholick Roman Religion against all persons that shall oppose the same I further swear that I will bear faith and true Allegeance to our Sovereign Lord King Charls his Heirs and Successors and that I will defend him and them as far as I may with my life power and estate against all such persons as shall attempt any thing against their royal Persons Honours Estates and Dignities and against all such as shall directly or indirectly endeavour to suppress their Royal Prerogatives or do any Act or Acts contrary to royal Government as also the power and Priviledges of Parliament the lawfull Right and Priviledges of the Subject and every person that makes that Vow Oath and Protestation in whatsoever he shall do in the lawfull pursuance of the same And to my power as far as I may I will oppose and by all ways and means endeavour to bring to condign punishment even to the loss of life liberty and estate all such as shall either by force or practice Counsels Plots Conspiracies or otherwise do or attempt any thing to the contrary of any Article Clause or any thing in this present Vow Oath and Protestation contained So help me God Upon this the Governour and Council thought fit to draw up a Protestation and Oath as followeth The Protestation Whereas we are beset with such who pretend their Attempts in taking of this Town to be for the advancement of his Majesties service which notwithstanding is but a pretext to delude the vulgar we the Governour and Captains for the further manifestation and approbation of our loyalty and faithfulness to his Majesty by whose immediate command we are charged for the defence of his royal Title in it doth likewise hereby unanimously make this following Protestation and Oath The Oath To defend this Town against all outward and inward attempts whatsoever for his Majesties service And discover any Plot Conspiracie or Combination which may or shall come to my knowledge from without or within which may be any way intended to the prejudice of the whole Town or Governours and Council Nor consent that the Town shall be givâ—n up upon any pretence or cause whatsoever without the consent of the Governour and Officers or without the special command from his Majesty or chief Governour or Governours of this Kingdom But Master Mayor and Aldermen after time allowed for consideration utterly refused this Oath pretending that thereby they might hazzard the favour of a fair Quarter and two chief Officers papistical yet having taken the Oath and afterwards stealing over the Wall the one brake his Back the other his Neck and sundry others none escaped without Maims The Siege growing hot yet thâ— weather cold about the end of December friezing the River Boyn in one night a boy was taken very early upon the
the Laws of this Land God bless and assist the Laws for my preservation But his complete Answer to all comes in a Declaration to the Parliament and to the people Having little encouragement to Replies of this nature when he is told of how little value his words are with them though accompanied with love and justice He disavows the having any evil Counsellours about him but leaves such to their censure where they shall finde them in the mean time they ought not to wound his Honour under the common style of Evil Counsellours He hath formerly declared his faithfull affection to the Protestant profession his whole life answerable in practise which should rather be acknowledged by them than to declare any Design of his to alter it in this Kingdom Imprecating God to be witness and that the Judgments of Heaven may be manifested upon those that have or had any such Design As for the Scots Troubles these unhappy Differences are wrapt up in perpetual silence by the Act of Oblivion passed in Parliaments of both Kingdoms which stays him from any further Reply to revive the memory of these Evils He thinks himself highly and causlesly injured in his royal Reputation to have any Declaration Action or Expression of the Irish Rebells or any Letters or strange Speeches to be uttered by such in reference to beget any mis-apprehension in the people of his justice piety and affection an evident advantage to the Rebells by raising Fears to us here and security to them there Concerning this sense of his good Subjects in Ireland what hath he not done in his Messages to both Houses offering his own person ready to adventure for their Redemption being to give an account to God for his Interest in them He calls God to witness he never had thought of any Resolution with his late Army to raise a Faction in London or to force his Parliament That Captain Leg was then lately come from the Army to White-hall with a Petition from the Officers desiring the Parliament might have no interruption in the Reformation of the Church and State to the modell of Queen Elizabeths days and for confirmation to Sir Iacob Ashley of my opinion therein I writ C. R. The Petition will satisfie if you shew it Master Iermin was gone from White-hall before the Restraint nor had he the Kings Warrant after that time fo◠〈◊〉 Lord Kimbolton and the five Members it hath been rubbed over so oft that but looking to his former Answer they will appear abundantly satisfied He had great reason to raise a Guard at White-hall to secure his own person and to receive the dutifull tender of his good Subjects service which was all he did to the Gentlemen of the Inns of Court And assures them in the word of a King that the Lord Digby had left the Court with Warrant to pass the Seas before the Vote of the House of Commons or that his absence could be excepted against As for the wilde Advertisements from Rome Venice Paris the Popes Nuntio the Kings of France and Spain which he is confident no sober man in all the Kingdom can believe that the King is so desperate so sensless to entertain such Designs to bring the Kingdom in destruction and bury his Name and Posterity in perpeal infamy And having done with his Answer somewhat he says besides interrogates them Can there yet want evidence on his part to joyn with his Parliament Hath he given no earnest but words Bids them look back upon their own Remonstrance in November last of the State of the Kingdom which valued his Acts of Grace and Iustice at so high a Rate that it declared the Kingdom a Gainer though it should charge it self by Subsidies and Poll-money six Millions of Pounds besides the contracting the Scots Demands of two hundred and twenty thousand pounds Nay more hath he not passed these Bills for the Triennial Parliament for relinquishing his Title to impose upon Merchants Goods and his power of pressing of Souldiers for suppressing the Courts of Star-chamber High Commission regulating the Council-table Are thâ—se but words The Bills for the Forests the Stannerie Courts the Clerk of the Markets the taking away the Votes of the Bishops nothing but words What greater earnest can he give than the Bill for the continuance of this Parliament the length of which he wishes may never alter the nature of Parliaments and for a perfect reconciliation with his people he offers a free Pardon Nor doth he repent but will meet them to add more with alacritie and kindness for the peace honour and prosperitie of this Nation We have heard what he hath done and his promise to do more which the common man and of the wiser sort also conceived very satisfactory I remember Master Hambden's Answer to an honest Member who demanded what they could desire more He answered To part with his power and to trust it to us And to that end they went on First by resolving or absolving the Oath of Allegeance no whit prejudiced by the Ordinance of the defence of the Kingdom That the Kings Commissions of Lieutenancy over the respective Counties are illegal and void But that their Ordinance for the Militia is to be obeyed as the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom And that these shall be the Heads of another Declaration The King removes on his way Northward evermore looks back with a Heart eâ—rning after his People and Kingdom and at Huntington March 15. sends them this Message That he means to make his Residence at York desires them to expedite the business of Ireland and if calamities increase upon that People he shall wash his hands before all the World from imputation unto him He expects that as he hath been forward to retract any Act of his entrâ—nâ—hing upon them so he expects an equal tenderness in them towards him in an uâ—questionable Privilege and fundamental His Subjects not to be obliged to obey any Act Order or Injunction to which his Majestie hath â—ot given consent And therefore he requires that they presume not upon any pretence of Order or Ordinance to which his Majestie is not a partie of the Militia or any other thing to do or execute against the Laws he being to keep the Laws himself and his Subjects to obey them and commends unto them his Message of Jan. 20. To this they give no other Answer but resolve their former Vote of the Militia That to have their Votes questioned or contradicted is an high Breach of Privilege of Parliament and a Committee appointed to examine where and by whom this Message was counselled being suspected therefore Favourers of the Rebellion in Ireland and return Message to the King justifying their last Declaration in every particular And lest the Parliaments late proceedings should work in the people any Jealousie of the Kings inclination to favour Popery He proclames for putting the Laws in due execution against Papists Recusants at Stamford March 16. At York he
Parliament here after he had â—itted Supplies thither from Scotland and after his return hither he observed such forms for that service as his Council in Ireland did advise they desiring the Proclamation no sooner nor so many by twenty to be by him signed which he did and printed them for haste and sent them over which divers of the Members of both Houses here well know who are the more to blame to suffer such an envious aspersion upon the King when themselves could satisfie the action And wishes that they could with aâ— good a conscience call God to witness that all their counsels and endeavours have been free from private aims personal respects or passions whatsoever as he hath done and does And was it not time for our Brethren of Scotland to put in their Sickle into our Harvest besides their being invited their late entertainment of Fidlers have in England set their wheel a going The King had written a Letter to his Scotish privy Council there of the State of his affairs here Declaring and clearing such imputations which the Parliament endeavoured to fix upon him and his mis-governing together with the indignities and intrenchments upon his person and honour which he is assured will be tender in their natural affection rather to be kindled than extinguished by his distress to which their Covenant bindes them by Oath and Subscription and clears the calumniation to be popishly affected to be guilty of the bloudshed in Ireland to bring in foreign Forces Wherein he calls God to witness he is falsly aspersed And who ever hereafter shall distrust this his Declaration the fault is in the malignitie of their rebellious humours and no ways deserved by him This so wrought upon the hearts of the Scots for that time that I know not how such a Petition was framed by the Nobility and people of the whole Nation and presented to the Council as more could not be required from the most faithfull and indulgent Subject humbly shewing in effect That to call in question the Kings royal zeal and resolution of preserving the Religion Laws and Liberties of these his Kingdoms is so undoubted as after so many reiterated asseverations emitted in his Declarations and Answers and so many evidences of his justice and wisdom cannot be conserved in any but an unchristian distrust And therefore justly challenges from them all due respect to his sacred Majestie by so many ties and titles so much professed and promised by them in their solemn Oath and national Covenant and Oath at his Coronation to defend and maintain the person greatness and authoritie of our dread Sovereign as by the Act of General Assemblie we have all sworn and signed and therefore are bound to represent to their Lordships their humble desires to be assured and known to his Majestie of their loyaltie and resolution And that some course may be taken to the view of the world that they intend the brotherly and blessed conjunction of both Nations happily united in loyaltie and subjection to our Sovereign tending nor intending as they attest God the Searcher of all hearts for any other end but performance of their humble dutie to their dread Sovereign to which they are bound by all ties of Nature Christianitie and Gratitude and to which they crave their Lordships to contribute their wisdoms and and speedie answer hereto May 20. A man would be amazed to finde other effects hereafter of this most serious Protestation which in a word came to this end they sold this their dread Sovereign Lord and King to the death and execution for a piece of money The Parliament hear of this and turn the Scale for eight days after the Scots Council do declare their earnest desires both to King and Parliament to joyn in a perfect union imbracing his Majesties expressions to them of his religious care of the Liberties and Laws of both Kingdomes And do in like manner with brotherly reciprocal affections acknowledg the care and zeal of the Parliament of England to keep a right undâ—rstanding betwixt the two Nations as both the Parliaments have avowed to each other And although they neither will nor should meddle with publick actions of any other Kingdom but as they are called yet since the Parliament of England have drawn the former practices of the Parliament of Scotland into example of Declaration they humbly desire the King to hearken to his greatest his best and most unparalleld Council And utterly disswade the King from any personal journey into Ireland and that a Mediation may be at home ere the wound be wider or the breach deeper To which end they have sent with this Message the E. Loudon Chancellour of Scotland who will give a more full declaration of their minde and desires which in fine came out to be A large Manifestation of their true and heartie affection to the Parliament of England protesting to do nothing contrary to them in their Privileges May 28. Nay after all this the old accustomed Rabble meet at Edinburgh and hearing of the late Letters from the King with the petitionary Answer and the late Message from the Council to the King by the Lord Loudon and finding the affairs of England likely to bring Grist to their Mill these Multitudes I say being as they style themselves The intire bodie of the Kingdom petition or rather threaten the Kings privy Council there not to meddle with any verbal or real ingagement for the King against the Parliament of England And so from that time forward we finde them covenanting to the destructive conclusion as hereafter follows Upon all these Scotish passages the Parliament of England do Protest That those sufferings expressed in those Papers betwixt his Majestie and the Parliament cannot be imputed to any actions of ours who endeavoured with all fidelitie the happiness of his Majestie labouring to take the blame from the King and to lay it on his evil Councils And as touching the Petition we with much contentment and thankfulness observe the faithfulness and good affection of our dear Brethren of Scotland to prevent all Iealousies so timely expressed to the Lords of the Council and we shall never cease to answer their great care with the like diligent endeavours to promote the honour wealth and happiness of that Nation and to preserve the unitie so strongly fortified by mutual interest and affections on both sides And desire the English Commissioners to assure the Scots Commissioners how heartily and joyfully we imbrace their kindness manifested in that Petition Hoping that this constant and inviolable amitie between us and them will prove very usefull for the advantage and securitie of both which it did for a time and ruine to both hereafter In what a miserable condition is the Kingdom when King and Parliament are so divided What not one wise man amongst them Yes truly the Earl of Bristol had a large sense thereof and in this strait he moves for
so much the more bound in conscience to attend with the most judicious zeal and care by how much I esteem the Church above the State the glory of Christ above mine Own and the salvation of mens souls above the preservation of their bodies and Estates Nor may any man I think without sin and presumption forcibly endeavour to cast the Churches under My care and tuition into the moulds they have fancied and fashioned to their designs till they have first gained My consent and resolved both My own and other mens consciences by the strength of their reasons Other violent motions which are neither Manlie Christian nor Loyal shall never either shake or unsettle My Religion nor any mans else who knows what Religion means and how far it is removed from all Faction whose proper engine is Force the arbitrator of beasts not of reasonable men much lesse of humble Christians and loyal Subjects in matters of Religion But men are prone to have such high conceits of themselves that they care not what cost they lay out upon their opinions especially those that have some temptation of gain to recompense their losses and hazards Yet I was not more scandalized at the Scots Armies coming in against My will and their forfeiture of so many obligations of duty and gratitude to Mee then I wondered how those here could so much distrust Gods assistance who so much pretended Gods Cause to the People as if they had the certainty of some divine Revelation considering they were more then competently furnished with my Subjects Arms and Ammunition My Navy by Sea My Forts Castles and Cities by Land But I finde that men jealous of the Iustifiableness of their doings and designs before God never think they have humane strength enough to carry their work on seem it never so plausible to the people what cannot be justified in Law or Religion had need be fortified with power And yet such is the inconstancie that attends all minds engaged in violent motion that whom some of them one while earnestly invite to come into their assistance others of them soon after are weary of and with nauseating cast them out what one party thought to rivet to a settlednesse by the strength and influence of the Scots that the other rejects and conteâ—â—n's at once despising the Kirk-Government and Discipline of the Scots and frustrating the successe of so chargeable more then charitable assistance For sure the Church of England might have purchased at a far cheaper rate the truth and happinesse of Reformed Government and Discipline if it had been wanting though it had entertained the best Divines of Christendom for their advice in a full and free Synod which I was ever willing to and desirous of that matters being impartially setled might be more satisfactory to all and more durable But much of God's justice and man's folly will at length be discovered through all the films and pretensions of Religion in which Politicians wrap up their designs in vain do men hope to build their pietie on the ruines of Loyalty Nor can those confederations or designs be durable when Subjects make bankrupt of their Allegiance under pretence of setting up a quicker trade for Religion But as My best Subjects of Scotland never deserted Mee so I cannot think that the most are gon so far from Me in a Prodigality of their love and respects towards Me as to make Me to dispair of their return when besides the bonds of nature and Conscience which they have to Me all Reason and true Policie will teach them that their chiefest interest consist's in their fidelitie to the Crown not in their serviceablenesse to any party of the People to a neglect and betraying of My safety and Honour for their own advantages However the lesse cause I have to trust to men the more I shall apply My self to God But the entrance of the Scots startled the King of which the gallant Earl of Montrose had heretofore advised but the Traytor Hamilton hood-winkt the King from the truth and now discovers it by pretence of his private letters of intelligence from Scotland which follow'd the tail of the Army and not before To Montrose the King shews Hamilton's treachery and thus advises That the King should send some Souldiers out of Ireland which the Earl of Antrim engages to doe That the Earl of Newcastle General for the King in the North to assist Montrose with a party of Horse to enter Scotland and to deal with the King of Denmark for some Troops of Germane Horse and some Arms and these to meet in Argile by the first of April next but all failing yet their men shall find Montross at that time and afterwards doing wonders alone There was a Letter and the Scots Declaration sent to Sir Thomas Glenham Commander of the Kings Forces in the North from the Marquess of Argile and Sir William Armin the Parliaments Agent to hasten the Scots Army whence they labour to excuse the Scots for invading England the chief heads of their Letter we may find by Glenhams answer which is richly worth the reading My Lord I have this day February the first 1643. received yours together with one to the Gentlemen of the Countrey and having communicated with them we return you this Answer That without the sight of that Letter we could not have been induced by any flying rumours to believe that the Scotish Nation or the prevailing party for the present in that Nation would have attempted an invasion of England so contrary to the Laws of God of Nations of both Kingdoms and especially to the late Act of Pacification so opposite to their Alleagiance and gratitude to his Majesty to that neighbourly love they pretend to that discreet care which they should have of their own safety We could not otherwise have imagined that they who by his Majesties goodness enjoy a settlement of their Church and State according to their own desires should needlesly and ingratefully imbroyl themselves in a business that concerns them not forfeit their Rights disoblige his Majesty and hazard the loss of their present happiness No Order of any Committee or Committees whatsoever of Men or Angels can give them power to march into the bowels of another Kingdom to make offensive War against their natural Soveraign upon the empty pretence of Evil Councellours who could never yet be named And for the English Agents we cannot believe them to be any Commissioners lawfully authorized either by the Parliament or by the two Houses or yet by the House of Commons whence so many of the Members are expelled by partial Votes so many banished by seditious tumults so many voluntarily absent themselves out of Conscience where desperation or want of opportunity to depart or fear of certain Plunder are the chiefest Bonds which hold the little remnant together from dissipating where the venerable name of Parliament is made a stale to Countenance the pernitious Counsels and Acts of a
had their several successes and losses on each other recovered from suddain ruine by the assistance of either Allies their Colleagues for the French Swede and all the Protestant Princes against the Emperour and House of Austria who had the help of Spain with the most of Catholiques The Weymarians were well reinforced by the conduct of four Marshals of France with their French Troops and undertook to quarter in Bavaria and were thwarted by the Duke of Loraine whose sufferings from the French forced him to accept the Spanish Command he was accompanied with Iohn de Werde and the Baron of Mercy directors of the Cavalrie to spie out the enemy and in the end met with the Messieurs routed each quarter after other took the Marshals prisoners with four hundred Officers and one thousand common Souldiers without counting the pillage This defeat was as famous for the Spaniard and saved Bavaria from that storm intended and put the French to raise another Army under the same name Weymarian but with a new General for Guebriana was killed the day before the fight And this glorious battel takes name of Durling where it was disputed we shall not read of any such battels so memorable in this last age the first was in May and began the happy reign of Lewis 14 th The other in the end of November and these may stand parallel with those of Leipsick and Northingen the last year This Victory set up Lorain who was caressed into a treaty by the French without any fruit having been once at Paris to that purpose and abused back again to take revenge and marches away to the Low-countries takes Falconstia and leaves the Army to the brave Baron of Mercy who takes Rotweil and Uburling comes to Fiburgh and Brisquer where he meets with his match the Prince of Conde The Parliament having sent their Emissaries to the neigbour Princes and States to caress them for their friendships the King was careful likewise to satisfie them of the true cause of these differences And as they had sent to the King of Denmark so does he also by an expresse one Colonel Cockram with these instructions You are to inform the King â—f Denmark that by his Majesties command as to the nearest ally of his Crown his Unkle and who he believes will not be unconcerned in his affairs as well in interests as affections you are sent to give a particular account of the state of his Majesties affairs to renew the antient League and Amity between the two Kingdoms and Families Royal and to reduce it to more exact particulars such as might be useful to the present affairs of England and all occurrence of those of Denmark That the present affair of your negotiation is to demand an assistance from his Majesty such as the present state of the affairs of England requires against a dangerous combination of his Majesties Subjects who have not only invaded his Majesty in his particular rights but have laid a design to dissolve the Monarchy and frame of Government under pretence of Liberty and Religion becoming a dangerous precedent to all the Monarches of Christendom to be looked upon with successe to their design That the nature of their proceedings hath been such as hath not admitted any foreign treaty to be interessed in suppressing their design without giving them advantage of Scandaling his Majesties intentions and drawing away universally the hearts of his people whom they had insinuated under pretence of Reformation of particular abuses of Government and Ministers of Estate to concur generally with approbation of their proceedings and in which though the dangerous consequence aâ—d design were visible to his Majesty a present compliance was necessary lest any publick opposition on his Majesties part that might seem to defeat the great expeâ—tations which they had raised in the Commons in those plausible particulars might have occasioned a general revolt throughout the Kingdoms great jealousies being dispersed and fomented amongst them of his Majesties Foreign Treaties and Force to be used to oppose and suppresse those their desires and the movers therein Upon the credit they had herewith on the peoples opinions they proceeded under pretence of Reformation of Religion to disolve the Government of the Church according to its constitution in England a chief column and support to that Monarchy and Crown They lastly invaded his Majesty in all the prerogatives of his Crown and under pretence of ill Ministers and Councellours of Estate whom they pretended to remove endeavoured to invest in themselves in all times for the future the nomination of all Ministers of Estate and of his Majesties Family withdrew all his Revenue into their own hands and to confirm themselves in an absolute power of disposing His estate entred upon possessing themselves of the Militia of the Kingdom His Navy and Magazines in which his Majesty being forced to appear in opposition dangerous Tumults were raised against Him so that He was forced to forsake London for preservation of His Person His Queen and Children That since for the safety of the Queen He hath been forced to send her into Holland to retire Himself to the best affected party of His Subjects from whence by Declarations setting forth the sinister proceedings of that Faction discovering their designs of innovating the Government and falsifying the scandals they had imputed to Him He hath had the advantage generally to undeceive His people to draw to Him universally the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdom But the other Faction still keeping up some interest and credit with the Commons in the desperate estate they finde themselves begin to make head against Him have appointed a General and are levying Forces to maintain their party committing divers acts of hostility violence and Rebellion That his Majesty having great encouragements given Him by the exceeding numbers of Gentry and Noblemen that resort to Him is already advanced near them with six thousand Horse and ten thousand Foot That the States of Holland have condescended to give Her Majesty the Queen a convoy of the greatest part of their Fleet now at Sea for her â—eturn into England That divers Forts and Counties upon his Majesties personal appearance have declared for Him so that His affairs at home grow daily into abetter estate as he likewise expects and hopes that all His Neighbour Princes and Allies will not look upon so dangerous a president to their own Crowns and Monarchies without contributing to suppressâ— this so pernicious a design begun within His Kingdom That to give His Majesty the juster ground to reflect upon the dangerous consequences in relation to His own interest of their successe it hath been by them publickly moved in the Commons House long since to interpose in the accommodation of the Dutch and to set out a Fleet to take away His Customs of the Sound That they have since imputed to his Majesty as a ground to scandal Him with His people that he did
hath to dispose of the King of England if he were in Scotland That he came voluntarily and continues voluntarily That the Scotish Armies are not tied to be subject to the Resolutions and Directions of the either Kingdom but of both jointly The Scots say It is a fundamental Right and Libertie c. That none can without consent impede or restrain the Scotish King from coming amongst them to perform the Duties of a King Under which the Scots cover over their act of Admission and Reception of his person And in opposition to the Votes of Parliament the Scots say It is one thing what the Parliament of England might have done in another Cause and War before their Engagements and Covenant it is anther thing what ought to be done after such Conditions and Ties imposed c. That the ends of the Covenant are not to be prosecuted by the two Kingdoms as they are two distinct Bodies acting singly but they were united by solemn Covenant made to Almighty God and by League each to other as one entire Body to prosecute the Cause That if the Scotish Army should deliver up his Majesties person without his own consent c. this act of the Army were not agreeable to the Oath of Allegeance obliging them to defend his Majesties person from all harms and prejudices nor to the solemn League and Covenant which was not intended to weaken but to strengthen the mutual Allegeance c. whom therefore the Scotish Army cannot deliver to be disposed of by any others at pleasure The Scots do assert That the King coming voluntarily to their Army they cannot in duty deliver him against his will to the two Houses of Parliament without the consent of the Kingdom of Scotland The place of the Kings Residence is at his own Election in either of the Kingdoms as the exigence of affairs shall require and as he shall think fit or else must be determined by the mutual consent and advice of both Kingdoms And much more to this effect which was scoffingly answered somewhat impudently in a Pamphlet intituled An unhappy Game at Scotch and English wherein says the Title their Scotch Mists and Fogs and Gain-sayings their Iuglings their Windings and Turnings hither and thither backwards and forwards and forwards and backwards again their Breach of Covenant Articles and Treaties their King-craft present Design against the two Houses of Parliament and People of England their Plots and Intents for Usurpation and Government over us and our Children detected discovered and presented to the view of the World as a dreadfull Omen Allarm and Warning to the Kingdom of England Then follows Scripture-proof Ier. 5. 4. And although they say the Lord liveth surely they swear falsly Hosea 10. 3. They have spoken words swearing falsly in making a Covenant thus Iudgment springeth up as Hemlock in the Furrows of the Field EDINBURGH Printed as truly as the Scotch Papers were at London by Evan Tyler Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty and are to be sold at the most solemn Sign of the two Houses of Parliament 1646. Then in the Pamphlet he recites a pretended Argument of the Scots Argument The two Houses of Parliament have voted the Disposal of the Kings person as they shall think fit Ergo The Scotch Armies may not deliver up his person to the said two Houses for fear of harm to his person Which Argument he retorts upon them thus Argument 1. My gude Lord Lesley says he came to Monsieur Montril Ambassadour for France residing at Southwell there to commune with the King Ergo My gude Lord Lesley fell down on his knees resigned up his Sword and laid it at the feet of the King and then received it again of the King Argument 2. My Lord of Northumberland and Sebran the French Agent looked through an Hedg and the one saw the other Ergo They two are both nigh of a kindred Now having says he sent you a pair of brave Scotified Arguments wee 'l throw an English Bone after them for your Armies to gnaw upon Argument Sir John and the King are skipt on the Colt of an Ass. But the King and the Scots have agreed on their Lots Ergo When the King hath got all hee 'l turn our Brethren to grass And so runs on in an impudent jearing non-sense way not able to answer the reasonable Arguments of the Scots in that point But of this Injury the Commissioners complain to the Parliament and had no Remedy It was the eighth of December before the Money could be procured for the Scots Army raised out of the Sale of Bishops Lands and other the Lands of the Church for from that Sacrilege they must have their Rewards and Payment of the first two hundred thousand pounds upon these terms viz. That the two hundred thousand pounds is to be told at York and one hundred thousand pounds thereof to be paid at Northallerton within five Days after it is told That when that Money comes to Topcliff the Scots shall give Hostages that they shall quit all tâ—â—ir Quarters Possessions and Garisons on the South side of Time and of Newcastle and Tinmouth with all the Arms c. within ten Days upon which performance the Hostages to be redelivered Upon the Delivery of the Garisons on the South side of Tine and Newcastle Tinmouth c. the Kingdom of Scotland shall have Hostages upon re-delivery of theirs for assurance that the other one hundred thousand pounds shall be paid on the North side Newcastle within a Mile of the Works within eight Days after the quitting Newcastle Tinmouth c. and all the Forces to be drawn on the North side of Tine Upon the Delivery of the other hundred thousand pounds on the North side of Newcastle our Hostages to be delivered to us And upon the coming of the Money out of Newcastle Hostages are to be delivered to us That their Army do march out of the Kingdom Barwick Carlisle and the Garisons of Scotland slighted within ten Days after the Payment and the Hostages then to be delivered back For the Payment of the other two hundred thousand pounds the Scots Commissioners desired That it might be paid out of the sale of Delinquents Estates or setled by some other particular security But the Parliament would give no other security but the Publick Faith of the Kingdom for the same Nine hundred pounds was allowed to the Tellers of this first two hundred thousand pounds Sixteen thousand pounds were allowed for the Charges of the Carriages and conveying this two hundred thousand pounds to York which was just six and thirty Carts laden from London the sixteenth of December And instantly an Ordinance passed in Parliament That all such persons as shall hereafter raise Forces against the Parliament of England or either House of Parliament or their Forces shall die without mercy and have their Estates confiscated What Mass of Moneys were issued out by Parliaments Order for although they had all in
down thither for Subscribers Then comes out an Apology of the common Souldiers to their General presented under the Hands of the Agents or Commissioners as they call themselves for the several Regiments wherein they complain of the Design of Modelling and Disbanding some of their Forces styling the publick proceedings To be a Plot a meer Cloak for some who have lately tasted of Sovereigntie and being lifted beyond their ordinary Sphere of Servants seek to become Masters and degenerate into Tyrants and therefore utterly refuse the Service of Ireland untill their Desires be granted the just Right and Liberties of the Subject vindicated and maintained To which they all subsign April 28. for which some of them were questioned and imprisoned but then they are angry indeed and complain to their General That they speaking but for the Rights and Liberties of this Nation are some of them slighted abused beaten and dragged to Goals to the Ruine of their Estates and loss of their Lives The Parliament bussle and vote the Apologizers Enemies to the State and such as they could catch were laid by the heels at London The King was close beset with watchfull eys over him and yet one Major Bosvil once of his Army and of the Lord Cleveland's Regiment disguised in a Countrey-mans Habit the King walking out passed over a narrow Bridg he put a Pacquet into the Kings hand but was discovered by the Miller directing the Pursuit after the Major who was overtaken and brought to confession That the Letters came from the Queen at Paris and that they contain a Desire of the Prince of Wales to go with the Duke of Orleans into the Field this Summer who commands the French Armie against the Spaniards in Flanders But the King being desired to acquaint his Guardians with the Contents he answered That he was not to give account to any man living And because the Countrey flocked to the Court for cure of the Disease called The Kings Evil the Parliament declare That the People shall be satisfied of the fond Superstition of that custome to be touched by the King and that they are not suffered to be healed by him And being the Feast of the Church called Easter the Parliament discharged that Solemn Custom But were told by the King that the Feast was Instituted by the same Authority which changed the Iewish Sabbath into the Lords day or Sunday for the Scripture doth not mention this So then we may as well return to the Sabbath Saturday if we refuse the Church Authority which Instituted both 23. April This day was read the Kings Letter to the Parliament in effect to Answer the Propositions formerly sent to him which he had lying by him and that himself without a Secretary had formed this Answer CHARLES REX As the daily expectation of the coming of the Propositions hath made his Majesty this long time to forbear giving his Answer unto them so the appearance of their sending being no more for any thing he can hear than it was at his first coming hither notwithstanding that the Earl of Louderdale hath been at London above these ten daies whose not coming was said to be the only stop hath caused his Majestie thus to anticipate their coming to him and yet considering his condition that his Servants are denied accesse to him all but very few and those by appointment not his own election and that it is declared a crime for any but the Commissioners or such who are particularly permitted by them to converse with his Majesty or that any Letters should be given to or received from him may he not truly say that he is not in case fit to make concessions or give Answers since he is not master of those ordinary actions which are the undoubted rights of any free-born man how mean soever his birth be And certainly he would still be silent as to this Subject untill his condition were much mended did he not prefer such a right understanding betwixt him and his Parliaments of both Kingdoms which may make a firm and lasting peace in all his Dominions before any particular of his own or any earthly blessing and therefore his Majesty hath diligently emploied his utmost endeavours for divers moneths past so to inform his understanding and satisfie his Conscience that he might be able to give such Answers to the Propositions as would be most conformable to his Parliament but he ingeniously professes that notwithstanding all the pains that he hath taken therein the nature of some of them appears such unto him that without disclaiming that Reason which God hath given him to judge by for the good of him and his people and without putting the greatest violence upon his own Conscience he cannot give his consent to all of them Yet his Majesty that it may appear to all the World how desirous he is to give full satisfaction hath thought fit hereby to expresse his readinesse to grant what he may and his willingnesse to receive from them and that personally if his two Houses at Westminster shall approve thereof such further information in the rest as may best convince his iudgment and satisfie those doubts which are not yet clear unto him desiring them also to consider that if his Majesty intended to winde himself out of these troubles by indirect means were it not easie for him now readily to consent to what hath or shall be proposed unto him and afterwards choose his time to break all alleging that forced Concessions are not to be kept surely he might and not incur a hard censure from indifferent men But maxims in this kinde are not the guides of his Majesties actions for he freely and clearly avowes that he holds it unlawfull for any man and most base in a King to recede from his promises for having been obtained by force or under restraint wherefore his Majestie not only rejecting those acts which he esteems unworthy of him but even passing by that which he might well insist upon a point of honour in respect of his present condition thus answers the first Proposition That upon his Majesties coming to London he will heartily joyn in all that shall concern the honour of his two Kingdoms or the Assembly of the States of Scotland or of the Commissioners or Deputies of either Kingdom particularly in those things which are desired in that Proposition upon confidence that all of them respectively with the same tendernesse will look upon those things which concern his Majesties honour In Answer to all the Propositions concerning Religion his Majesty proposeth that he will confirm the Presbyterial government the Assembly of Divines at Westminster and the Directory for three years being the time set down by the two Houses so that his Majesty and his houshold be not hindered from that Form of Gods Service which they formerly have And also that a free consultation and debate be had with the Divines at Westminster twenty of his Majesties nomination being added
the old Speakers and many Members were fled to their Protection And the eleven Members that had leave to travel were now got into this new Parliament and Massie Sir William Waller and Colonel General Poins the City Favourites were Listing Reformadoes and others Souldiers And out comes the City Declaration 31. Iuly in effect That his Majesty was surprised at Holmby and though the Act was disavowed by the General Yet the Armie desire that his person may be Resident with them Improving their interest throughout the Kingdom That the City have indeavoured by Remonstrance and Petitions to satisfie all unbiassed men of their zeal to Peace by establishing the True Religion restoring his Majestie and maintaining Priviledge of Parliament easing the charge of the Kingdom securing the peoples Liberty and relieving of Ireland Endeavouring to hold good correspondency between the Army and City That the Priviledges of Parliament have been violated by the Armies causing the eleven Members to withdraw whilst the City Militia is demanded contrary to the Establishment by Ordinance of Parliament and is subject to no other Cognizance then of the King and Parliament That there is nothing in the world that we desire more then that his Majestie be left free in such an honourable condition and capacitie as his person may appear to be at libertie to receive and treat upon Propositions to be presented to him from the Parliaments of both Kingdoms for whilst his Royal person is invironed by an Army and remains under the power thereof He cannot give that free assent to Propositions as is requisite or if he doe we nor our Posterity have no hope to enjoy the same without alteration And therefore we are resolved to apply our selves to the Parliament and hope that all good Subjects touched with the sence of Duty and Allegiance which by the Law of God and man they owe to the King will unanimously joyn with us therein The matter of difference thus truly stated between us and the Army to wit That we would not submit the Militia of the City to be ruled at the pleasure of an Army after it had been so orderly setled into the hands of such as were intrusted with it for a year when there was a full and free Parliament So we finde it more then time that the whole Kingdom be possessed with the true state thereof and upon whom the guilt of a new War which God forbid must justly lodge and accordingly we expect a blessing from God in our just defence And conclude their desires summmond up to be The settlement of Religion by re-establishing his Majesty in his just Rights and Authority by upholding all lawful priviledges of a free Parliament by maintaining the Fundamental Laws by restoring the Subjects Libertie and propertie by freeing this long oppressed Kingdom of all Taxes enforceed Free Quarter of the Army which hath had no visible Enemy to encounter and from this resolution we shall never recede for any earthly consideration or advantage what soever And although the Parliament had by Ordinance of 19. Iuly given the General power over all the Land Forces under the pay of the Parliament they declare it shall not extend over the Trained Bands and Garisons And both Houses Order that this Declaration be Printed and published by the Militia of the City by sound of Trumpet and that the Sheriffs of the several Counties of this Kingdom and Wales do publish the same in their respective Limits accordingly The Army comes on this night at Wickam to morrow to be at Colebrook and the King now at Latimer The last of Iuly he was two dayes after at Stoke Abby near Windsor In this confusion the City differ among themselves at the sitting of their Common Councel at Guildhall the Trained Bands of Southwark came in a Muâ—inous manner and would not be commanded out of their Borough but there to stand upon their own Guard Then were presented Petitions of thousands well-affected one against another that matters might be composed but what way they cared not nor could they tell And therefore their new Leaders Massey Waller and Poins were displeased with the multitude at Guildhall fell to words and blows divers wounded and some slain and the Aldermen in Councel fearing the people were fain to sit all day and that night and only concluded to write to the General And Petitions are set on work on either side as their constitutions led them some against the Parliament others against the Army others made it their sport to see this confusion in Church and State and like true Bautofees kindled this fire into a flame Men they say that have wasted their Estates in the Kingdoms extremity Some complain for liberty of Conscience are now to a new tone and tune for their Faith are Imprisoned though nothing can be found worthy of death or of durance only for differing in the outside controversies though blameless in Conversation and Office So that in truth it was apparent to the people that after such a vast expense of Blood and Treasure the exchange was of men in Places but not of Manners old burthens with new names new men with old Corruptions Then in places of new Election for Members they first made the choice and then give the Voice complaining against the Parliamentary proceedings and pray the Army not to lay down their power till the Kingdom with its Ruler be committed to the care and chaâ—ge of such persons as may secure us from fear of future oppression The City send 6. Aldermen and 12. Commons with a Letter to the General and complain That the City is suspected though innocent from Acting against the Army and therefore these their Members they send to be added to their Committee now attending the Councel of the Army and pray the General to forbear the mischief of a new War No sooner come but they were presented with the Armies Remonstrance and Proposals And on Hownslow Heath they Rendezvouz twenty thousand Men Horse and Foot with a great Train of Artillery to astonish the City and therefore such of the Parliament as trusted to the Souldiers were there present the Earls of Northumberland Salisbury Kent the Lords Wark Howard Wharton Say and Moulgrave and others fourteen in all the Speaker Mr. Lenthal of the Commons and above a hundred more of their Members The City stand in a maze unresolved and inconstant the Army in the mean time send a Brigade under Command of Rainsborough and Hewson over Kingstone Bridge and all night March to Southwark being called thither in opposition to the City Massey was busie and knowing his own case desperate sent out his Scouts and are met with and taken prisoners some of the Train-men would needs march out and were worsted and lost their Colours for the General was now near Brainford And therefore the City meet him with humble Messages That finding that his desires of Marching so near is to settle the Members of the Lords and
Lordships cannot be ignorant And further give me leave to adde if so unworthy a servant as I am and that which concerns my honour were at all worthy your consideration whether it would not much reflect on me in case these Gentlemen should be removed from hence The King and they have freely thrown themselves upon me for safety upon confidence as they please to say of my honour and honesty and the satisfaction they expect it would have given the Parliament the King being necessitated to remove c. Yet whatever is commanded by Authority of Parliament though never so contrary to my sense or honour shall never be disobeyed by my Lord Carisbroke Caste 19. Nov. 1647. Your Lordships servant Ro. Hamond The King was now at leisure to bethink himself what advantage a personal Treaty would be to him and being mindful of what he had lately writ to the Parliament concerning the same in his last Message to them from Carisbroke Castle He writes to them again 6. December for an Answer CHARLES REX Had his Majesty thought it possible that his two Houses could be imployed in things of greater concernment then the peace of this miserable distracted Kingdom He would have expected with more patience their leisure in acknowledging the receipt of his Message of the 16. of November last But since there is not in nature any consideration preceding to that of Peace his Majesties constant tenderness of the welfare of his Subjects hath such a prevalence with him that he cannot forbear the vehement prosecution of a personal Treaty which is only so much the more desired by his Majesty as it is superiour to all other means of Peace And truly when his Majesty considers the several complaints he daily hears from all parts of this Kingdom that Trade is so decayed all Commodities so dear and Taxes so unsupportable that even natural subsistence will instantly fail His Majestie to perform the trust reposed in him must use his utmost endeavours for Peace though he were to have no share in the benefit of it And hath not his Majesty done his part for it by divesting himself of so much Power and Authority as by his last Message he hath promised to doe upon the concluding of the whole Peace And hath he met with that acknowledgment from his two Houses which this great grace and favour justly deserves Surely the blame of this great retarding of Peace must fall somewhere else than on his Majesty To conclude if ye will but consider in how little time this necessary good work will be done if you the two Houses will wait on his Majesty with the same resolutions for Peace as he will meet you he no way doubts but that ye will willingly agree to this his Majesties earnest desire of a personal Treaty and speedily desire his presence amongst you where all things agreed on being digested into Acts till when it is most unreasonable for his Majesty or his two Houses to desire each of other the least concession this Kingdom may at last enjoy the blessing of a long wisht for peace Carisbook Castle Decemb. 6. 1647. For the Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore to be communicated c. And accordingly the monstrous distractions of the State and Army wrought upon both to satisfie the King and peoples desires and therefore to oppose his demands they prepare four Bils as a pledge of trust to which if he assent it would draw on a Treaty touching the rest which they intended by Propositions to be compleated with speed The four Bills were these 1. That it be lawful for the future to order the Militia of the Kingdom without the Kings consent to raise what Armies they please All others under pain of Treason are prohibited to assemble to the number of thirty persons without the Authority of Parliament 2. That it be lawful for the Houses to sit to adjourn their sitting to what place they please to assemble at what time soever and at their own discretion 3. That all the Oaths Interdictions and Declarations sent forth in publick against either Houses be accounted and declared void 4. Whomsoever of the Nobility the King had dignified with Titles from the time himself departed and carried away the great Seal of the Kingdom the same be degraded of their Honours And these to be passed into Acts. The Bills and the Propositions in effect as before with some alterations were thought fitting to be sent together which were brought to the King by Commissioners but the Scotish Commissioners followed at their heeles and presented the day before the Scots came 29. of Decem. at Carisbrook Castle to which he said though they were long yet he would shortly give Answer The next day the Scots came and present a Paper of their dissent in these words That the new Propositions and the Bills therewith presented to your Majesty are so prejudicial to Religion the Crown and the Union and Interest of the Kingdoms and so far different from the former proceedings and engagements betwixt the Kingdoms as we cannot concur therein Therefore we do in the Name of the Kingdom of Scotland dissent from these Propositions and Bills now tendered to your Majesty Louderdale Erskin Kenners Barkey And Publish their Reasons in a Declaration First in the matters of Religion Next concerning the interest and power of the Crown which they are bound by Covenant Allegeance and Duty not to diminish which power principally consists in making and Enacting Laws and in protecting and defending his Subjects and the exercise of that power are the parts and duties of that function That the Scepter and Sword are the Badges of that power And concerning the Militia they conceive that in his Majesties Message from Carisbroke Castle he hath offered that which is very satisfactory but that the King his posterity and Crown should be thereof divested for ever how can he or his posterity protect either without that power Touching confirming of Titles of honour the King ought not to be deprived of that which hath been held and is a Flower of his Crown See the Kings own Arguments in his Declarations May 1642. and concerning Hull That they had desired a personal Treaty with the King in London November 5. and afterwards November 17. to all which they never received Answer and that some things were to be distinguished but the expresse conditions of their League and Covenant the duty of their Allegeance and the treaties between the Kingdoms are such strong obligations as all that Honour or Conscience must acknowledg to be inviolably observed That the sending of Propositions without a Treaty hath been essayed without successe That the new Propositions are lesse to the advantage to the Crown then the former therefore unlike to have better successe than formerly That the Parliament have ever acknowledged the removal of the Kings person from his Parliament to be the chief cause of all the War and that then his presence
so much of the success of our English Army in Scotland 27. Sept. The Scots Armies are accordingly Disbanded Barwick and Carslile delivered up to the English and the Writs gone out for a new Parliament 20. of Ianuary And a fresh General Assembly of their Kirkmen Somewhat strange in the capitulation that the English Assistants to the Scots in both these Garrisons are submitted to the mercy of the Parliament of England And a Letter of thanks is sent from the Committee of Estates of Scotland to the Lieutenant General Cromwel for his orderly government of his Forces and his many civilities and respects to that Nation and they excuse themselves from any guilt or connivance in the late engagement against England acknowledging that his Army so near is the means and occasion of advantage to that Nation to make peace and to prevent distraction and confusion which otherwise had continued amongst them And for confirmation of all he is invited to Edenburgh to Feasts and Banquets with all expressions of Honour of Arms and so returns homewards Octo. 20. by the way is received with Hosannah's of joy by all the Northern Counties and invited to take in the strong Garrisons of Pomfreit and Scarborough which infested the County all about them But let us return to Sea affairs This while the Prince was put aboard the Revolted Ships which with some others of his own were formed into a Fleet and with him his brother the Duke of York Prince Rupert Lords Hopton Wilmot and Willoughby Earls of Branford and Ruthen formerly General for the King the Lord Culpepper and Sir Henry Palmer and increasing number came into Yarmouth Rode with twenty Sail and two thousand men the Town being much divided in affection some would have him land and march to Colchester then besieged with such as will come to his assistance To prevent him Colonel Scroop is coming not fourty miles off with Horse and Foot to attend his motion if he land some hopes he had of landing and therefore provided a Declaration his forerunner 27. Iuly The establishing of Religion according to his Majesties agreement 26. December last The performance of the said Agreement and pursuance of all Concessions on the Kings part The restoring the King to a personal Treaty The maintenance of the just priviledges of Parliament The liberty of the Subject abolishing of Excise contribution for quarter c. with an Act of Obliâ—ion The Disbanding of all Armies setling Peace The defence of the Narrow Seas securing Trade support of the Navy and Sea-men His Commissions to his Commanders were thus stiled Charls Prince of great Britain Duke of Cornwal and Albany Highest Captain General under his Majesty of all Forces both by Sea and Land within the Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales and Town of Barwick c. Whereas we hold it convenient to Arm and set forth to Sea for the weakning and suppressing the usurped power c. Bearing date heretofore from St. Germin in Laye 6. June 1648. A correspondence likewise we finde fixed with the State of Scotland by Letters intercepted and directed to Sir Alexander Gibson Clerk of the Signet at Edenburgh from London 26. Iuly telling him that we are here in the City very right only Skippon makes disturbance by listing Horse and Foot whom we hope to out of his Office The Lords wait for some further incouragement from the City to which purpose the Common Council are framing petitions Our Design to free Colchester is not yet ready c. But the Prince finding no footing in Norfolk sailed back Southwards to the Downs in Kent seizing what Merchants Ships and goods that he could light upon sending Letters to the City of London together with his Declaration and that if the City will redeem their goods they must send him two hundred thousand pound But Anchoring in the Downs he hath a Design upon the Parl. Besiegers of Deal Castle in which were Royalists and Lands five hundred men who March forwards and at first beat off the Horse which Colonel Rich and Hewson had drawn out to Encounter them untill some more Forces of Foot followed routed the Princes Forces killed many and took others Prisoners and the rest hardly got aboard again Whilst the Prince Anchors with his Fleet in the Downs the States of Scotland invite him May it please your Highness Amongst all the Calamities which this Nation these late years hath wrastled under none doth more wound and afflict us next to his Majesty your royal Fathers sad condition and restraint then your Highness long absence from this Kingdom whereunto your right Title is so just and unquestionable and seeing our Forces are now again in England in pursuance of their duty to Religion and his Majesties rescue we humbly beg That your Highness would be pleased to honour and countenance with your presence and assistance our pious and Loyal endeavours which we look upon as the only means of uniting us in this great work being confident that your Highness will effectually apply your self to procure from his Majesty just satisfaction to the desires of Parliaments And if your Highness will grant these our humble requests and trust your peâ—son amongst us we doe ing age the publick Faith of this Kingdom for your well being in honour freedom and safety either here in Scotland or with our Army in England and to remove from us or the Army when or whither you please And these they send by the Earl of Louderdale with Letters of Credence in what he shall further communicate to the Prince From the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland in whose Name and Warrant are signed Aug. 10. Crawford Lindsey The Parliaments Vice-Admiral Batten having heretofore served them with faithfulness and good success was by the Army Voted out of his place and Rainsborough a Land Captain put into his Command Not long after being Governour of Deal Castle which cost him six hundred pound repair He was turned out and made a Delinquent upon the old quarrel for suffering some of the eleven Members to pass beyond Seas Rainsborough was refused by the Sea men not suffering him to come aboard then they â—aress Bâ—â—ten to take up his Commission again which he disdained the Parliament being in distress for a Commander they Vote in the Earl of Warwick who was served so before And now Batten comes to the Prince in Holland who receives him with favour and honours him with Knight-hood where he publishes the reasons of his declining the Parliaments Service and was faithfull to the Prince for ever after It was the middle of Iune as aforesaid that the Kâ—mish Insurrectors got over to Essex and from thence into the Town of â—â—lchester and with such Forces as they could gather they strengthen the place and prepare for a Siege The Commanders in chief were the Eâ— of Norwich old Goriâ—g the Lord Capel Sir Charles Lucas and others in opposition to 〈…〉 and all
the Queens Attorney chosen Speaker of the Commons house And thus the King Salutes them My Lords and Gentlemen THese times are for Action for Action I say not for Words therefore I shall use but a few and as Kings are said to be exemplary to their Subjects so I wish you would imitate me in this and use as few falling upon speedie Consultation No man is I conceive such a stranger to the common Necessitie as to expostulate the cause of this Meeting and not to think supply to be the end of it and as this necessitie is the Product and Consequent of your Advice so the true Religion the Laws and Liberties of this State and just Defence of our Friends and Allies being so considerably concerned will be I hope arguments enough to perswade Supply for if it be as most true it is both my Duty and Yours to preserve this Church and Commonwealth this exigent time certainly requires it In this time of Common Danger I have taken the most antient speedy and best way for Supply by calling you together If which God forbid in not contributing what may answer the quality of my occasions you do not your duties it shall suffice I have done mine in the conscience whereof I shall rest content and take some other course for which God hath impowred me to save that which the folly of particular men might hazzard to lose Take not this as a menace for I scorn to threaten my inferiours but as an admonition from him who is tied both by nature and dutie to provide for your preservations and I hope though I thus speak your demeanours will be such as shall oblige me in thankfulnesse to meet you oftner then which nothing shall be more pleasing to me Remembering the distractions of our last meeting you may suppose I have no confidence of good successe at this time but be assured I shall freely forget and forgive what is past hoping you will follow that sacred advice lately inculcated to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace The present Cause for supply of the Kings Necessities was for the Religious defence of our Reformed friends now in present danger And though the Parliament were convinced for their speedy Asistance yet they looked a squint upon themselves and but for shame had a minde first to do their own work the Peoples Grievances which were suggested to be many or else were made so by themselves But to put the King upon an after-game was not reasonable and so they gave him five Subsidies with unanimous consent Nemine contra dicente as Secretary Coke told him Whereupon sayes One the King wept for joy and bad him assure them he would deny them nothing of their just Liberties This the Observator notes as the fourth Presage taking it for granted that the King cried and which tendernesse of his the Parliament ever after made use of to his great dammage Therein insisting it seems by their continuall exacting upon the Kings Grace the more he gave the more they crave demanding to his death For indeed He denied them nothing either what was their due or what his favour could in reason afford them And forthwith they fall upon the peoples Liberties No freeman to be imprisoned by King or Council without legall cause alleaged As being an unreasonable thing To send a Prisoner and not withal to signifie his Crimes laid against him Acts 25. 27. But this their Opinion indured large debate in the Upper House wisely considering where the Prerogative should be suppressed in the King their interests depending would soon bring them low and at last contemptible And withal having the Kings Counsel to defend his right where the chief of them his Attorney General it is said pleaded impertinent for his Majesty but in what he doth not notifie and so we suppose him here to be partial for he confesseth that the Ducal or Royal party were so prevalent as that the other popular party or as in truth they were stiled the Lower House Lords of the Upper House durst not venture upon the Orderly Vote but moulded themselves into a Committee until the Lord Say which is understood to be such a Lord made his motion That they who stood for the liberties not fifty might make their Protestation upon Record and that the other opposit party the greater number but the weaker Head-piece should with Subscription of their Names enter their reasons upon Record that Posterity might not be to seek who they were that so ignobly betrayed the freâ—dom of our Nation and this being done then to proceed to Vote Indeed the Court-party might be daunted at such a designe which would have involved them in the danger to be stoned to death by the ignâ—rant Multitude who were wilde to have liberty in all things and might be easily drawn to do to those Lords as they did after in my Lord Sraffords case post them up to be knockt on the head for dissenting Lords Thus was Personal liberty setled against all presidents of former Soveraignty or future use and Custom Themselves the first breakers of this their Ordinance as we shall hereafter have too too sad occasion to mention but certainly their meaning was evermore to excuse themselves from positive laws though of their own devising Then whilest it was warm They crouded in all complaints upon liberty of goods unbilleting of Souldiers and nulling of Martial law in time of Peace To which indeed Magna Charta and six other Statutes which explain it affords them law for which they now petitioned and were answered by the Lord Keeper That the King consented those Evidences to be all in force and he would govern them accordingly His Royal word and promise being as binding to his conscience as any laws they could make whatever which he hoped would encourage them to proceed to the effecting of their necessary businesse This not so sufficient begat a question very modest Whether or no His Majesty should be trusted upon his word for his Coronation Oath swears him to maintain the Laws of the Land more of force then any Royal word could be and should it be voted in the Negative all foraign people would lodge that on them as dishonourable not to trust their King When up starts Sr Edward Coke We â—it sayes he to take his Majesties word but in a Parliamentary way sitting on his Throne in his Robes with Crown and Scepter in full Parliament both Houses present thus to be done with Ceremony makes his Royal word in Parliament and not a word delivered in his Chamber or sent to us by his Secretary or Lord Keeper And so he moved that More Majorum the House should draw a Petition de Droict of Right to his Majesty which should be confirmed by both Houses and assented to by the King and that Word be as firm an Act as any And so they framed a Petition presenting it to the Lords and after the severall
Statutes were verbatim recited the substance of the Petition was this 1. THey do pray your most excellent Majesty that no man hereafter be compelled to make or yeeld any Gift Loan Benevolence Tax or such like charge without common consent by Act of Parliament and that none be called to make answer or to take such oath or to give attendance or be confin'd or otherwise be molested or disquieted concerning the same or for refusal thereof 2. And that no freeman be taken and imprisoned or be disseised of his free-hold or liberty or his â—ree customs or be out-lawed or exiled but by the lawfull judgement of his Peer or by the law of the Land 3. And that your Majesty would be pleased to remove the Souldiers and Mariners now Billitted in divers Counties and that your people may not be so burthened in time to come 4. That the late Commissions for proceeding by Martiall-Law may be revoked and annulled and that hereafter no Commission of like nature may issue forth to any person or persons whatsoever to be executed lest by colour of them any of your Majesties subjects be destroyed and put to death contrary to law and the franchises of the land All which they most humbly pray of your most excellent Majesty as their rights and liberties according to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm and that your Majesty would also vouchsafe to declare that all awards doings or proceedings to the prejudice of your People shall not be drawn hereafter into consequence and example And now indeed their Lordships Eyes were opened and fearing the eminent mischief to the King and in him to themselves as having more interest in Prerogative then the Commons their first existence present subsistence and yet not altogether to leave the publique without remedy they annexed to the Petition this addition of Salvo We present this our humble Petition to your Majesty not onely with care to preserve our own Liberties but with regard to leave intire that Soverain Power wherewith your Majesty is trusted for the Protection safety and happinesse of your People But the Commons refused this and procured a Conference and Mr. Noy is sent with reasons and resolutions of the Lower-House which signified little but at a second meeting managed by Sr. Henry Martin and Serjeant Glâ—nvile the Lords did comply and so presented without that saving To which the King took a little leasure ere he returned them this for answer THe King willeth that right be done according to the laws and Customs of the Realm and that the Statutes be put in due execution that his Subjects may have no cause to complain of any wrong or oppressions contrary to their just Right and Liberties to the preservation whereof he holds himself in conscience as well obliged as of his Prerogative Certainly the sense was as the very Essence the matter being the Main aud was excepted against as too firm but not full enough without their own formalities of the old Model for which they agreed to Petition but were surprized with this Item from the King My Answer was made with so good deliberation and approved by the judgement of so many wise men that I wonder it hath not satisfied you to the full but to avoid all ambiguities and to clear my just meaning I am willing to please you even in Words as well as Substance Read your Petition and receive an Answer I am sure will please you Which was Le droict soit faict comme iâ— est desire This I am sure is full yet no more than in my first you may see now how ready I shew my self to satisfie your demands so that having done my part if this Parliament have not a happy conclusion the sin is yours I am free Hereto the Houses shout with mighty acclamations of joy testified also with the usuall consent of the publique Bonefires and Bellsâ—inging â—inging over all the Cities and the Upper-House finding this a fit time of reciprocal contexture the King glad to see them satisfied with little aâ—doe procured his Majesties Grace to extend even to those Lords in former disfavour To Abbot Arch-Bishop of Canterbury William Bishop of Lincoln the Earl of Essex Lincoln Warwick Bristow and him that was alwayes out the Lord Say This did the King do the fifth Presage from the King vailing his Crown to the Parliament which doth so astonish the Historian that he breaks out into Ravishment That this session that Gallant Standard of Common Liberties the Petition of Right was granted That never did Arbitrary Power since Monarchy first founded so submittere fasces so vail its Scepter Never did the Prerogative descend so much from Perch to Popular Lure as by that Concession a Concession able to give satisfaction even to supererogation for what was amisse in all the Kings by-past Government But what did they do having now thus sentenced all Illegalities they fell to Execution of Commission of Loan and Excise and cancelled them in the Kings presence And now thus secured they yet ride on ripping up all manner of Grievances and Grievers in a large Remonstrance 1. THe danger of Innovation and alteration in Religion This occasioned by 1. The great esteem and favours many professors of the Romish Religion receive at Court 2. Their publique resort to Masâ—e at Denmark house contrary to his Majesties answer to the Parliaments Petition at Oxford 3. The Letters for stay of proceedings against them Lastly the daily growth of the Arminian faction favoured and protected by Nele Bishop of Winchester and Laud Bishop of Bathe and Wells whilest the Orthodox parts are silenced or discountenanced 2. The danger of Innovation and alteration in Government occasioned by the Billetting of Souldiers by the Commission for procuring one thousand German Horse and Riders as for the defence of the Kingdom by a standing Commission granted to the Duke to be General at land in times of peace 3. Disasters of our Designes as the expedition to the Isle of Rhe and that lately to Rochel wherein the English have purchased their dishonour with the waste of a million of treasure 4. The want of Ammunition occasioned by the late selling away of thirty six Last of Powder 5. The decay of Trade by the losse of three hundred ships taken by the Dunkyrkers and Pirates within these three last years 6. The not guarding the narrow Seas whereby his Majesty hath almost lost the Regality Of all which evils and dangers the principall Cause is the Duke of Buckingham his excessive power and abuse of that power And therefore they humbly submit it to his Majesties wisdom whether it can be safe for himself or his Kingdom that so great power both by Sea and Land as rests in him should be trusted in the hands of any one Subject whatsoever This and the Bill of Subsidies went cheek by joll and were presented to the King in the Banquetting house at White-Hall which being read out with some regret in