his Majesties Message and the Parliaments Answer and stand amazed that such a profession of zeale for God should ever bee found in conjunction with such unfaithfulnesse amongst Brethren for thus stands the case The King having set up his Standard at Notingham set out severall Proclamations and Declarations whereby the Parliaments actions were declared treasonable and their persons Traytors did send a Message to his Houses of Parliament 25 August 1642. for a personall Treaty whereunto the two Houses of Parliament sent an answer which because it is short and pertinent to the present case is here set downe verbatim The answer of the Lords and Commons to his Majesties Message of the 25. of August 1642. May it please your Majesty THe Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled having received your Majesties Message of the 25. of August doe with much griefe resent the dangerous and distracted state of this Kingdome which we have by all meanes endeavoured to prevent both by our severall advices and petitions to your Majesty which have been not onely without successe but there hath followed that which no ill counsell in former time hath produced or any Age hath seene namely Those severall Proclamations and Declarations against both the Houses of Parliament whereby their Actions were declared treasonable and their Persons Traytors And thereupon your Majestie hath set up your Standard against them whereby you have put the two Houses of Parliament and in them this whole Kingdome out of your protections so that untill your Majestie shall recall those proclamations and Declarations whereby the Earle of Essex and both Houses of parliament and their adherents and assistants and such as have obeyed and executed their commands and directions according to their duties are declared Traytors or otherwise Delinquents And untill the Standard set up in pursuance of the said Proclamations be taken downe your Majestie hath put us into such a condition that whilst we so remaine we cannot by the fundamentall priviledges of Parliament the publique trust reposed in us or with the generall good and safety of this Kingdome give your Majestie any other answer to this Message John Brown Cler. Parliam H. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com. This Answer of the parliament occasioned severall expresses mutually to passe betweene the King and the Parliament and amongst the rest this Answer to his Majesties Message of the 11th of Septemb. 1642. as appeared in the 586. and 587. pages of the booke of Declarations printed by Authority in which very Answer they doe professe themselves in no capacity to treat with the King whilst his Standard was up his Proclamations and Declarations unrecalled whereby the Parliament is charged with Treason and having humbly advised him what he should doe upon the performance whereof they invite him to his great Councell being the only meanes of a Treaty with hope of successe and in pursuance of that very resolution of theirs not to treat with his Majesty untill he had recalled his Proclamations and Declarations against his Parliament they have made that one of the foure Bills which were sent to be signed by his Majesty in order to a Treaty Now let Heaven and earth God and man judge of your unfaithfulnesse in the businesse in hand You tell the people that the Parliament was once for a personall Treaty with the King why should they now be against it and hide from the people the termes upon which they were for it have the Parliament forsook their primitive principles or your selves hath the King recall'd those Proclamations and Declarations yea or no hath hee given satisfaction for blood and security to the peace of the Kingdome yea or no If not would you have the Parliament betray their trust break their Covenant treat as Traytors doe the Parliament forsake their principales no Though Israel play the har lot yet let not Judah offend We know your objection the Parliament did admit of a Treaty since that time it is true but have you not read what David did in a case of necessity when hee was a hungry the shew-bread which at other times was unlawfull for him to eare was lawfull then The life of the Kingdome then in danger provoked the love of the Parliament to forget themselves to save the Nation but is the case now as it was then piety humanity will allow a man to treat yea begge for his life at the hand of his enemy in power to destroy him though the principles of either will not admit the like submission in another case Again though they did treat yet did they not forsake the principles of humanity or the rules of Justice rather then they would betray their trust break their Covenants enslave our just liberty into the hands of tyranny They broke up the Treaty and resolving to sacrifice themselves in the Kingdomes service committed themselves to Gods providence who succeeded their desires acccordingly for Gods love courage and constancie in a good cause You tell us there are some things which properly concerne the Kingdom of England their rights Lawes and liberties But why do you stop there why do you not proceed in declaring your resolutions not to intermeddle with such things why do you notwithstanding this acknowledgment interpose in things concerning the Kingdome of England their rights lawes and liberties as in the disposall of the Kings person while remaining in this Kingdome in the 7th page of your papers concerning the Covenant and Treaty in the Kings negative voyce page the 18th of this Answer in the businesse of the Militia page the 20. in the disbanding of our Armies page 21. in conferring titles of honour page 22. the revenews of the Crown page 5 c. Nay why have you cast such glosses senses and interpretations upon the Covenant and Treaty which being granted confounds the interest of England with the Kingdome of Scotland for these are your words in the 5th and 6th pages of your papers concerning the Covenant and Treaty Vnlesse we lay aside the Covenant Treaties Declarations of both Kingdomes and three yeares conjunction in this warre neither the one Kingdome nor the other must now look back what they might have done SINGLY before-such a strict union But look forwards what is fittest to be done by both JOYNTLY for the common good of both c. And again pag. the 7. of these papers If the disposall of the Kings Person mentioned in the vote of both Houses be intented for the good peace and security of both Kinghomes then it should not be done without the mutuall advice and consent of both By the first of these expressions do not your argument stand thus If we must not lay aside the Covenant Treaties Declarations of both Kingdomes and three yeares conjunction in this warre neither the one Kingdome nor the other SINGLY but both JOYNTLY must heareafter act for the good of both But we must not lay aside the Covenant c. Therefore neither the one
words Concerning the personall Treaty desired by your Majesty there having been so much innocent blood of your good Subiects shed in this Warre by your Maiesties Commands and Commissions Irish Rebels brought over into both Kingdomes as also forces from forreigne parts c. There being also forces in Scotland against the Parliament and Kingdome by your Majesties Commission The Warre in Ireland fomented and prolonged by your Majesty whereby the three Kingdomes are brought neer to utter ruine and destruction We conceive that untill SATISFACTION and SECVRITIE be first given to both your Kingdoms your Majesties comming hither cannot be convenient nor by us assented unto Now let God Angels and men judge of your proceedings in the present case Brethren your lines doe seem to carry a Christian Dialect and you oftentimes seem to be serious with us give us leave to be serious with you is this suitable to your exellent straines and expressions of zeale for the glory of God the blessed Reformation the solemne League and Covenant your pathetick pretences and devout exhortations to the Parliament of England to give testimony and beare witnesse to the truth and not deny it remembring that whosoever shall give testimony to Christ and his truth by confessing him before men he will also confesse them before his Father which is in Heaven and whosoever will deny him before men them will he deny before his Father which is in Heaven Is this your zeale against superstition heresie schisme and all such scandalous doctrines and practices which are contrary to the known principles of Christianity or the power of godlinesse which you so devoutly desire should bee supprest by an act of Parliament pag. 26. of your answer what one while to confesse the name of Christ before his Majestie to deale plainly with him in telling him in so many words to the affecting of the hearts of all your Brethren Ministers and others which did see your zeale that untill his Majestie had given satisfaction for the bloodshed and security to both Kingdomes in relation to peace his Majesties comming to London could not by you be assented unto and now to tell the people that the reason why you could not formerly yeild unto his Majesties comming to London was because then his Majestie had Armies in the Field Garrisons and strong holds to return unto now he hath none yea to say that this was the reason which you formerly gave pretending to nothing else Brethren what doe you make of Religion a meere piece of State-policie or somewhat else Brethren we would perswade you that integrity and uprightnesse are jure divino and that Brethren ought to speak the truth from their hearts each to other Shall we minde you of some other zealous passages concerning his Majestie see and review what is said by the generall Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland approved by those that imploy you and by you sent to the King The troubles of our hearts are enlarged and our feares encreased in your Majesties behalfe perceiving that your peoples patience is above measure tempted and is like a Cart pressed downe with sheaves and is ready to break while as besides many former designes and endeavours to bring desolation and destruction upon us c. our Countrey is now infested the blood of divers of our Brethren spilt and other acts of most barbarous and horrid cruelty excercised by the cursed crew of Irish Rebels and their complices in this Kingdome under the conduct of such as have commission and warrant from your Majestie and unlesse we prove unfaithfull both to God and to your Majestie we cannot conceale another danger which is infinitely greater than that of your peoples displeasure therefore we the servants of the most high God and your Majesties most loyall Subjects in the humilitie and griefe of our hearts fall downe before your Throne and in the name of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ who shall judge the world in righteousnesse both great and small and in the name of this whole Nationall Kirk which we represent we make bold to warne your Majestie freely that the guilt which cleaveth fast to your Majestie and to your Throne is such as whatsoever flattering Preachers or unfaithful Counsellours may say to the contrary if not timely repented cannot but involve your selfe and your Posterity under the wrath of the everliving God for YOVR BEING GVILTY OF THE SHEDDING OF THE BLOOD OF MANY THOVSANDS OF YOVR MAJESTIES BEST SVBJECTS c. How did the glory and lustre of these plaine honest and christian proceedings dazell the eyes of your English Brethren who did much rejoyce therein how did your zeale provoke many to plead your cause against those which did but whisper jealousies of you Can we thinke that reverend Assembly did not speake the truth in Christ from their hearts and soules and lyed not as the Apostle saith in these their addresses to his Majesty and can we suppose they will owne with you this answer of yours wherein you tickle the hearts of the malignant party plead for their designe a personall Treaty and that at London without any mention of Satisfaction for blood and Security to the Kingdomes wee cannot conceive so irreverendly of them untill we have better reasons than yet we perceive neither will we indulge the least jealousie that the Noble men Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers and Commons of your owne Kingdome should ever so farre decline from their first principles of zeale for God righteousnesse and justice against all offenders without respect of persons and of love friendship and amity to this Kingdome whereof God Angels and men are witnesses and will concurre with you in these expresses how will the Firre-trees howle if such Cedars should fall if this should bee once told in Gath and published in Askelon how will the daughters of the Philistins rejoyce and the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph and therefore to you wee speake and not unto your Nation Brethren was his Majestie blameable in the spilling of so much innocent blood of his best Subjects in his three Kingdomes yea or no If no why is it charged on his score representing him in such horrid black and bloudy colours in the eyes of his Subjects If he be guilty as the words have expressed what Satisfaction for blood what Security hath beene given as yet at least to the two Kingdomes for what you may call saisfaction we know not Brethren wee say no more but this the integrity of the upright shall guide them but the perversenesse of transgressors shall destroy them Whereas you quote the Parliaments answer to his Majesties Message of the 11th of September wherein they desired his Majesties comming to London as being the only meanes of any treaty between his Majesty and them with hope of successe thereby insinuating the mutability of the Parliament from their present aversenesse to a personall Treaty compared with this answer We give you to know that we have perused
for mentioning Religion in the first place in his addresse to the Parliament and to charge the Parliament with profanesse for post-poning Religion But wherein doth the piety of the King so much consist is it in asserting the Episcopacy or the toleration of all sorts of Religions only prohibiting the Masse and the publishing of Atheisme and blasphemy or wherein else Is it true that the King whom your generall Assembly so deeply charged with guilt of the shedding the bloud of many thousands of his best Subjects hath passed through the valley of Bacha weeping and lamenting with ashes upon his head and sackcloth on his loines for his former wayes exhibiting his repentance as a doore of hope that his three Kingdomes will be happy in him notwithstanding all that is past have you heard that his heart is tender that it hath melted before the Lord for all his abhominations that he hath cut downe the groves broken the Altars destroyed the Images which were a provocation to the eye of Jealousie hath he given satisfaction for bloud and security for peace untill which you once professed you would never assent unto his comming to London to treat hath he recall'd his Declarations and Proclamations against his Subjects English and Scotch as Traitors and Rebels c is it thus indeed or * are you like men that dream as once you were that you applaud the King for his zeale for Religion putting the Reformation of that in the first of his proposals to the Parliament at the best and chiefest foundation of peace If the cause be thus deferre not our joy your very feet would be beautifull to us would you bring us these glad tidings it would be unto us as the resurrection from the dead but if you have no such newes to cheere us with all no such fruit from the tree of life to revive our hearts sicke through our hopes deferred what 's your meaning of this Royall applause do you thinke your consciencious Brethren Presbyterian or Independent will commend you for this Having done with the Order you now come to the materiall differences and alterations concerning Religion which you branch out into the Parliaments errour of omission and difficiency and into that of commission and excesse The first thing you complaine of under the head of omission is no lesse than the solemn League and Covenant and here you abound with your pathetick interogations to affect the hearts of those whose eyes are in their bowels whose understandings are drown'd swallowed up in their passions after this manner And shall the Covenant which is as solemne a vow as creatures on earth can make to God in Heaven c And againe shall the Covenant for the preservation of c. And againe like the Papists which holds up their Idolatrous Eucharist in the eyes of the people that they may fall down and worship it shall the Covenant which both Houses recommended to the Assembly of c Yet againe as if here lay all your baite to catch gudgins shall our mutuall and solemne League and Covenant subscribed by the Parliaments of both Kingdomes c Once more yet for if this Springe failes all our sport will be lost shall the Covenant even with those that tooke it to be already out of date c. To all which we reply First What if the Parliament thinke it â—â—â— fit to trouble His Majestie with pressing the Covenant in the Propositions for Peace was it not your owne reason * for the altering your judgements about sending Propositions will you not give the same allowance to others which you assume to your selves are you all for having will you give nothing Secondly If the Covenant be laid aside out of date deleted as your words are your perverting it hath beene the occasion of it did we promise to take the Covenant and after to submit to what sence thereof our Brethren of Scotland would please to impose upon us hath not the Covenant been so perverted that many Covenanters are ready to enter into a new Covenant against the sence that is put upon the old Brethren we haue taken the Covenant in a true proper plaine English sense as well as your selves and stand unto 〈…〉 Thirdly Whereas you 〈…〉 that the Covenant is brought in by the Parliament in the 7th qualification of the 14. Pâ—â—position only as a hooke to catch some into the notion of Delinquency we reply that if any 〈◊〉 on this side Tweed should have said the Covenant was made a hooke to catch men into Delinquency you would have marked him with an M. or an S. for a Malignant or Sectary we will not say the Covenant was first intended as a booke to catch men into the notion of Delinquency though you are so bold and peremptory to charge this upon our Parliament to their very teeth and that in the face of the Kingdome tempting their civility and patience above measure the like affronts we presume were never offered to any Nation by Commissioners of another State yet we wish it had not been used as a hooke to catch not a few but even the Parliament and Kingdome of England into a new designe by introducing another Nation to be one of the Estates of this Kingdome and to have a negative voice in all things concerning their welfare You tell the Parliament from their omission of the solemne League and Covenant to your very much wonder that they are so liberall in the matters of God and so tenacious in what concernes themselues Your zeale for the Covenant is your zeale for God that is your zeale to introduce your Nation to be one of the Estates of this Kingdome and to have a negative voyce in all things concerning our welfare Your zeale to intermeddle with the Militia of England with disbanding our Armies with conferring titles of honour with the revenue of the Crowne with all our goods by vertue of the solemne League and Covenant Is your zeale for the matters of God and the Parliaments care in their preservation of the pure and unmixt interests of this Kingdome according to their solemne League and Covenant without suffering you to intermeddle therewith is their prophane tenaciousnesse in that which concernes themselves See my zeale for the Lord was Iehu's tone when the tune of his heart plaid another game As for the King you are pleased to tell us Though His MAIESTY shall not come up to the full length of your desires yet WE must never depart from our Covenant It seemes you have a royall sence to bestow upon His Majestie but vae pauperibus woe to the poore they must abide the fire of this purgatory is it true here also no penny no Pater-noster Is there no allowance for tender consciences except it be of Kings and Princes You say your zeale for the Covenant doth not abate or diminish your loyalty and duty to the King though he cannot
concerning printing and publishing yea with maligne reflection upon them be not contrary to the practise of all publique Ministers yea and directly repugnant to all principles of common justice and infinitely unworthy that profession of love friendship and brotherly respects which you have so solemnly made in the face of heaven and earth unto them Secondly tell us bona fide whether you think in your consciences for you pretend to be very religiously conscientious that the Parliament of England people therof did ever intend any such sense of the solemne League and Covenant either concerning the interest of the kingdom or government of the Church as you have endeavoured to extort from it in your severall papers or that they did intend when they took it any otherwise by it than the promotion of holinesse in the general though with difference of judgement about discipline and the uniting us together in our mutuall assistance against and the discovery of the common enemies of both kindomes Thirdly tell us bona fide whether you desire or rather would permit that the King should have the same power in Scotland the same negative voyce the same absolute command and authority every way as you would he should have in England especially if he should refuse to take away Episcopacy to establish Presbytery to recall those proclamations and declarations whereby you are declared traytors and rebels to give satisfaction and security to your kingdome yea or whether upon the performance of these things you would let him have such a power yea or no Fourthly whether you think in the secrets of your hearts it be agreeable to the principles of religion rules of equity justice and policy an acceptable sacrifice in the sight of Almighty God and comfortable for his people to advance the King in statu quo prius untill he hath according to the pious advice and Christian exhortation of the generall Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland viz. Fallen down at the Footstoole of the King of glory acknowledging his sinnes repented of them and made his peace with God in Jesus Christ whose blood is able to wash away his great sinnes And whether you thinke in your consciences he is a changed man yea or no Fifthly and lastly whether it would not be most agreeable to the will of God the declarations protestations promises and professions of love betwixt the two kingdoms the true intent of the solemne League and Covenant and most conducing to the glory of God and the mutuall support security safety and benefit of the two nations united together that you and we be true faithfull constant and single hearted each to other assisting each other according to Our severall places and callings in the preservation of each others Peculiar proper and distinct interest And whether it would not be as great a dishonour to God scandall to the Gospell scorne to Religion rejoycing of the wicked grieving of the godly gratifying the Devill and the affaires of his kingdome among Jewes Turks Infidels Papists Prelats and all sorts of prophane men that You and We should be at variance Should we not make our selves therby an abomination to the Lord a hissing to all nations a prey unto our enemies obnoxious to the wrath and curse of God and men and bring upon our selves swift destruction for the prevention whereof let us both bow our knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ night day that we being rooted and grounded in love may grow up together in Christ perfecting holinesse in the feare of the Lord and by all Christian forbearance and wisdome may keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace OUr request is onely this that you would either giue a Reply unto the Answer of the Commons assembled in Parliament to the Scotch Commissioners papers of the 20. and their letter of the 24. of October 1646. or else to cease any further to trouble Englands eares with what you call the sense and meaning of the solemne League and Covenant Treaties c. for if you doe you will but sow the winde and reap the whirlwinde for your paines Valete FINIS Pâ—ov. 10. 9 * â—â— turneth them upside down 2 Sam. 15 7. 8. Pag. 3. by figure but the first in order Reply Reply Vide the Answer of the Commons in Parliament to the Scotch Commissioners papers of the 2d of Octob 1646 pag. 1â— The Marquis of Aâ—giles speech to the grand Committee of both Houses Iune 25. 164â— page 4. Page 3. Reply ☞ Page 3. Reply See the Chancellor of Scotlands speech to the Kings Majesty at Newcastle Reply Page 6. Page 9th 2 Sam. 1. 20. Prov. 11. 3. Page 6. Reply Vid. the book of Declar pag. 580. Hosea 4. 15. At Vxbridg Page 4. Reply Page 5. Page 5. Reply 1 Reason Reply 2 Reason Repâ—y 3 Reason Reply 4 Reason Reply 5 Reason Reply 6 Reason 1 Reason 2 Reason Page 6. Reply Prov. 27. 10. Page 6. Reply Page 7. Reply Page 14. See the Remonstrance of the generall Assembly of the kirke of Scotland sent by the commission of both Kingdomes Iune 12. 1645. to Oxford See the Parl. answer to his Majesties message to two Letters the 26 and 29. of Decemb. 1646 Page 5. * See the Letter from the Commissioners of the Parl. of Scotl. to the Commissioners of the Parl. of Engl. concerning his Majesties comming to the Scotch Army May 5. 1646. Ibid. Reply * Page 3. See the Parl. answer to the Scotch papers of the 20. of Octob 1646. Page 9. Reply 2 Kin. 10. 16. Page 10. Ibid. Reply Page 17. Reply Ibid. Reply Lev. 22. 22. Ibid. Reply Page 11. Page 18. Reply Iam. 1. 21. Reply Pag. 17 18 Reply Pag. 19 20 Reply Page 21. Reply Page 22. Page 21. 2 Cor. 11. 26. Reply Reply Page 2â— Reply Reply Page 23. Reply See the Answer of the Commons to the Scotch Commissioners papers of the 20. and their letter of the 24. of Octob. 1646. page 11. Pag. 23. Reply Page 25. Reply Ibid Reply Ibid. Reply Page 25. Reply See Indepency of England c. lately set forth pa. 18 19.
severall alterations therein which were principally in matters that did concern the neare union of the Kingdomes Propositions were sent to the King long before the time you speak of so that surely the Parliament of England did endeavour the peace of the kingdome before our Scotch brethren put them upon it you would make us beleeve that you alone minde the peace safety of the Kingdome of England as if your own interest was forgotten and ours remembred pure love unmixed friendship if the Houses would not so suddenly concurre with you to send the Propositions again we do presume they had reason for it neither do we conceive that the Scotch Commissioners have cause of offence if the Houses did not presently act upon their first motion being not Commissioners to direct the Parliament of England if they thought fit to make severall alterations we think fit to acquiesce in their judgements having chosen them to judge for us neither can we presume their least neglect of those matters which do near concern the union of the Kingdomes though perhaps with reason enough their judgment and yours may not concurre in those things it is likely they were carefull to maintain a distinction and prevent a confusion of both Kingdomes interest they would avoid an occasion of your claming from the new Propositions something like a negative voyce and right of joynt consent with this Kingdome in all things in relation between the King and the Kingdomes of England and Ireland which heretofore you have taken from the Covenant and Treaty Brethren religion teacheth contentednesse and the doctrine of Community is reckoned in England among the novelties for which we beleeve there will be no tolleration It may be the two kingdomes may not think fit that though we are all of one language under one King in one Religion yea in one Covenant yet that we might be altogether one as was once the wish of one of your honest and honourable Commissioners would you not have the honour of the Kings of England preserved in their Royall Title to two Kingdomes of England and Scotland and not that two should become one although we heartily desire to be one with you one in religion one in affection and one in assistance yet let us remaine two Kingdomes though we hold parity of interests in things spirituall and desire to be one with you in Christ and one in the Spirit yet like united Israel Covenanted Israel of old in their dividing of the Land of Canaan among their Tribes let you and we rejoyce in our distinct portion love one another cleave together and be content let Tweed divide but nothing else Brethren may be brethren without community in each others Patrimonie Again you urge that it was agreed upon betwixt the Kingdomes that the same Propositions should be presented again to his Majestie at his comming to Holdenby the performance wherof being delayed by the Houses for divers moneths you did wair patiently yet upon a sudden they did appoint a peremptory day for sending the Propositions to his Majesty First you had notice of the day and were earnestly prest unto the thing and the cause of your delay your owne consciences can tell better than we whether it was not by way of designe yet neverthelesse before you charged the Parliament with delayes now you blame them for their haste why should brethren be so froward such relations inhebits wranglings Secondly did not both Parliaments agree that those very Propositions that were sent to Newcastle should againe be sent to the King If so what shew of reason can be imagined why you should not though upon the sudden concurre with the sending them since they could not be altered Brethren le ts have fair play above board Again in the same page you affirm thus that finding no successe in that way of sending Propositions to the King and insisting upon his positive answer thereunto without giving any reason for the justice of our desires or hearing any Proposition from his Majesty we did in November last propose to the Honourable Houses and with much earnestnesse desire that their might be a personall Treaty with his Majesty here at Lond. it being in all probability the best meanes to obtain a peace First whereas you appropriate the successelesnesse of sending Propositions to the King to your not giving reasons for the justice of yours desires we demand Did not one of your selves rally a whole army of arguments and reasons against the Kings refusall to signe the Propositions at Newcastle in a Rhetoricall speech before him to that purpose professing among many other motives that upon his Majesties refusing the Propositions both kingdomes will be constrained for their mutuall safety to agree and settle religion and peace without him And moreover there was added If your Majesty reject our faithfull advice and lose England by your wilfulnesse your Majesty will not be permitted to come and ruine Scotland Further pressing him thus We know no other remedy to save your Crown and Kingdomes than your Majesties assenting to the Propositions Yet now you are pleased to say that not any reason hath been given for the justice of your desires If your desires were not just why did you press him to grant them But secondly is the case thus indeed you were not alwayes of this opinion as you confesse page 6. Brethren let 's make a little use of this We see now what reason there is of a brotherly forbearance of varieties of judgment yea and of the same persons though changing their judgments over and over yea even in things civill much more religious being more enigmaticall than these by farre you were against the Kings personall treaty with the Parliament at London now you are for it Suppose the Parliament of England hath not yet attained to your new light beare with them a while till your reasons prevail You tell us that indeed heretofore his Maiesties presence might have bred divisions and continued our troubles and when his Maiesty desired to come hither from Oxford with freedom and safety it was thought unfit and denyed by the Houses and the Commissioners from Scotland but that argument now hath no force at all for the case of affaires the Kings condition and ours which were given for reasons in that answer to his Maibsty are quite altered from what they were then the King had Armies in the fields and Garrisons and strong holds to returne unto now he hath none of these Brethren were these all the reasons then given why you could not admit of a personall Treaty with his Majesty at London viz. because then the King had Armies in the field and Garrisons and strong holds to returne unto had it been our assertion as it is yours we should have feared that divine hand of Justice which met with Ananias and Saphira Acts 5. And that all might see your dealings herein we have here added your owne
Kingdome nor c. Thus you would argue us into a confusion of interests Againe by the other expression quoted from your papers page 7. doe you not argue thus Whatsoever is intended for the good peace and security of both Kingdomes must be done by the mutuall advice and consent of both Kingdomes But the disposing of the Kings person while in this Kingdome and upon the same ground the disposing of all the Militia Forts Castles Townes and Forces by Sea and Land all offices and places of Trust yea all our estates and interests are intended for the good peace and security of both Kingdomes Therefore these must be disposed of by the mutuall advice and consent of both Kingdomes Brethren confident we are you will sooner beate out English mens brains than force that argument into their heads surely God hath given us a better stocke of reason and humanity than thus to be charmed into bondage and slavery we have read your owne words declared by you 1641. viz. that neither by your Treaty with the English nor by seeking your peace to be established in PARLIAMENT nor any other action of yours you doe acknowledge ANY dependency upon them or make them Iudges to you or your Lawes or any thing that may import the smallest prejudice to your Liberties Are you so tender of the Mint and Cummin of Scotlands Liberties that you will not admit of the smallest prejudice thereof and shall the Parliament of England the grand Trustees of the Kingdomes Liberties dispence with the Great things of Englands interest betraying their trust and breaking their covenant yea and bringing upon them the guilt and cry of so much bloud as hath been shed in the just defence of the Kingdomes interest Brethren did you come to free us from slavery by others that you might enslave us to save us from rods that you might whip us with Scorpions to deliver us from the little finger of the King that we might feele the loynes of the Scot Doubtlesse brethren though we thankfully acknowledge that your help was seasonable in the day of our trouble which we hope we shall never forget yet were we not so profane as to contract the parting with our birthright for that Scottish pottage and therefore remember your promise page 4. That you woùld not stretch your selves beyond your line and that which is within the EXPRESSE condition of your solemne League and Covenant the duty of your Allegeance the Treaty and Declaration between the two Kingdomes And before we leave this we pray againe remember the word EXPRESSE and doe not presse us with an extorted sense for we shall never abide it In the next place you begin methodically to speak unto two heads First of the best and most probable meanes to procure a good agreement with the King for setting Religion and a lasting Peace And next of the Propositions which are to be the foundation of the peace and safety of both Kingdomes We shall not take upon us to speak unto every particular expression of yours wherein you seeme to reflect upon the Parliament our daily imploiments and busines of our callings not affording us those opportunities of knowing and understanding the severall transactions which it is very likely have passed between the Parliament and you and we doubt not but an answer to satisfaction will be given by that Honourable Assembly whom you have blemished by your writings and the publication thereof but such things which are of most plaine and obvious observation whereof there is plenty sufficient to take away those scandals which are cast upon the Parliament are these that we shall insist upon First then in your method you begin with that which you call The best and most probable meanes to procure a good agreement with the King for the setling Religion and a lasting peace and you say It is still your opinion and judgement that it must be by a personall Treaty with the King and that his Majesty for that end be invited to come to London with honour freedome and safety If you are of that opinion we pray you tell us what satisfaction for bloud and security as to peace you have received from his Majesty that this Kingdome if possibly may be of your opinion Have you concluded a peace with his Majesty without the Parliament of England Then have you broken your Treaty If you have not say so You know they are not of your opinion for a personall treaty but we would gladly weigh your reasons for it we can better beare your reasons then blowes you tender us your reasons by the halfe dozen Let us see your Position and your reasons your position is this The best way to procure a well-grounded Peace is by a personall treaty with the King at LONDON Here we are to consider first the thing a personall Treaty secondly the place at London We shall looke upon your reasons with reference to both First for the thing your first reason is The sending of Propositions without a Treaty hath been oftentimes assayed without successe and the new Propositions are lesse advantagious to the Crown than the former were 1. What if Propositions have been successelesse heretofore Doth it follow they will be so still English spirits to speake without vanitie are more noble and generous then to despaire because of repulse So many Garrisons had not been taken by some and so few by others if this Argument had prevailed with all as it hath with some 2. These foure Bills were so model'd as might have administred hopes of his Majesties concurrence being in order to a Treaty had you not anticipated by charging the new propositions to be lesse advantagious to the Crown than the former were and which we have cause to suspect hath made this last addresse to his Majesty through your means as successelesse as the former hath been contrary to the hopes and expectations of many And the truth is his Majesties answer and your lines doe so consimilate that a man would thinke that Sir John Cheisly was the Scribe to both Your next reason is this The Kings removall from the Parliament was the cause of the warre therefore his returne may be the means of peace 1. That may not follow especially as the case now stands when pretended friends change principles for self-ends and forgetting their solemne League and Covenant decline the Parliament and the Kingdoms interest and turn Royalists 2. Was not this reason as valid when you did concurre to send Propositions Your third reason is this In a personall Treaty the Commissioners of both Kingdomes may give reasons of their desires but Propositions without a Treaty may be esteemed impositions 1. We make no question but the Parliaments propositions carry their reasons in their foreheads and may be easily discerned by an English eye And doe not you know that the King of England is bound by his Oath to grant the just desires of his Parliament
2. Were they not impositions as well when you did concurre to send propositions as when you did dissent The King may have some just desires to move for the Crowne and for himself as that be may have his Revenues c. 1. It is true the Crowne aod Revenues goe together in England however it is in Scotland neither doe we presume any propositions shall be sent by the Parliament in prejudice to the Crown or Crown-Revenues both being for the Kingdoms honour and safety 2. Was not this likewise as good a reason when you did concurre Your next reason A personall Treaty with the King is the best way to beget a mutuall confidence c. 1. That is as the Treaty may be managed and so may propositions as instructions be given 2. And was not this likewise as good a reason when you did concurre Your last reason is this we cannot expect his Majesty will grant in terminis whatsoever propositions shall be sent unto c. neither will the Houses of Parliament give full power to commissioners to make altrrations as they shall see cause He is to passe Bills in terminis why not propositions being matter for Bils Confident we are had he wrested the sword out of the Parliaments hands as it is wrested out of his hands they should have had such propositions as he would have judged fit for traitors it may be the axe in stead of the halter heading in stead of hanging for traitors hath he proclaimed them without recalling it to this day 2. Was not this also as valid when you did concurre as now it is Thus your weighty reasons for the thing A personall Treaty vanish into the aire Let us now examine your reasons for the place at London for there lies the emphasis of your motion and perhaps designe 1. Propositions have been often essayed without successe and therefore the personall Treaty must be at London 2. The Kings removall from London was the cause of the warre and his returne or presence may be a remedy Ergo the Treaty must be at London Thirdly in a personall Treaty things may be mutually debated for that is the summe of your reason Ergo the Treaty must be at London Fourthly the King may have some desires to move for the Crowne Ergo the Treaty must be at London Fifthly a personall Treaty is the best way for giving and receiving satisfaction Ergo the Treaty must be at London Sixthly it cannot be expected his Majesty will grant all the propositions neither will the Houses give full power to their Commissioners to make alterations as they see cause upon debate Ergo the Treaty must be at London Brethren we shall not so much prejudge the weaknesse of our countreymen as to shew them the difficiencie of these starved suggestions Englishmens eyes are in their heads and they need no spectacles to see mountaines only we would gladly know your meaning by the advantage of the Crown and motions of the Crown which ever and anon you hint out to us if our judgements faile us not as possibly they may for we are no Statesmen but as the late times have made us all enquire into State-cases we say if our judgements be right both the King and the Crown and all things belonging unto them as such are for the Kingdomes advantage and for no personall interest whatsoever in prejudice of that we have had many things which they call Aphorismes divulged amongst us as that THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE IS THE CHIEFEST LAW THE KING IS ABOVE EVERY PARTICULAR MAM BUT LESSE THAN THE WHOLE KINGDOME that THE KING IS THE KINGDOMES BUT THE KINGDOME IS NONE OF THE KINGS except with a distinction and twenty more such sayings which are our ordinary discourse and we thinke there is a great deale of equity justice and reason in them and a light to instruct us to give unto the Magistrates their due and to preserve our selves from tyranny and by these things were we rallied by the Parliament together to maintain the truth of these sayings and we have paid for our learning it hath cost us deare and we would not quickly forget all like dunces untill we are knockt into our former lessons your talking so much of the advantage of the Crown and motions for the Crown seems to us to interfier with these sayings Having exhibited your reasons such as they are for a personal Treaty you fall into invectives with the Parliament of England thus If they were esteemed enemies to the Parliament and peace of the kingdome who advised the King to withdraw from his Parliament what estimation will the world have of them who will not suffer him to returne to his Parliament when he offers to cast himselfe into their arms The plaine English whereof is this to insinuate into the people that the Parliament of England being against the Kings treating at London are the Kingdomes enemies and so to stirre up the people against their Parliament Is this like Commissioners of State Would you suffer such things in your owne Kingdome Is this according to your solemne League and Covenant Is this your brotherly love your zeale for the parliament of England and the interest thereof We say no more but better is a neighbour that is near than a brother that is farre off But secondly if the Parliament be the Kings enemy because they will not admit of a personal Treaty at London what were you when you refused the same things Doe not you give a just occasion for the Cavaliers to call you Enemies all-a-row Having dispatcht the first particular in your method viz. The readiest meanes for a lasting peace which you say is a personal Treaty with the King at London you fall to the second viz. The consideration of the propositions which are to be the foundation of peace and therein First to consider and remove the differences which you divide into three heads which are 1. Matters of Religion 2. The interest of the Crown 3. The union and joynt concernment of the Kingdomes First you begin with that of Religion and hint it in one of your biting parenthesis as a most flagitious neglect that it is put by the Parliament amongst the last of these new propositions 1. You know Brethren that that may be primum in extentione which is ultimum in executione we use to make our hedge before we plant our garden 2. Religion was not the first of those propositions which were sent to New-Castle with your consent as appeares in print but now you are more zealous than before 3. The best sort of English-men loves Religion in the bottome to have it in designe as well as pretence to make Religion the end and not the means unto their intentions 4. We have generally observed that the emptiest zelots are the greatest advocates for the circumstances of Religion time and order mighty matters in some mens eyes You commend the King
come up to the full length of your desires c. That is take the Covenant Your zeale for the Covenant and His Majestie runs together though His Majestie and the Covenant are a great way asunder your loyalty and allegeance will suffer you to indulge the King in His refusing to subject to the matters of God the solemne League and Covenant and yet your brotherly affection and honesty will admit of quarrelling with the Parliament of England for not haling urging and pressing Him to come to the full length of their desires viz. to take the Covenant The Commissioners of Scotland can give a dispensation but the Parliament of England must not so much as appeare to favour him upon paine of dispensing with the matters of God asham'd of Christ denying him before men and his denyall of them at the great day of the Lord It seemes you would make us younger brethren not only in the matters of the world but in matters of God too Thus farre for the businesse of the Covenant the primum mobile of all other motions and therefore ever and anon you refer unto that The next thing omitted by the Parliament is the Proposition for confirming the Ordinance concerning the calling and sitting of the Assembly of Divines The calling and sitting of the Assembly of Divines was not intended in sempiternum neither do we beleeve but an authoritative dismission of that revered Assembly especially for a season would be as acceptable to themsâ—… as serviceable to the respective places whereto they belong for the weeding up of those tares of errour and prophanesse which the enemy hath sowne in their absence and it is no parradoxe to affirm that the sitting so long of so many learned and godly Ministers together for the suppression of Errour Heresie and Wickednesse and advancing the affaires of Jesus Christ hath been an occasion through their absence from their people of more Errour Heresie Profanesse and prejudice to the affaires of Christ than did appeare before men erre not knowing the Scriptures and how can men but erre when their Teachers are long removed into corners The next thing omitted was the Proposition for Reformation of Religion in England and Ireland according to the Covenant According to the Covenant That implies that the Covenant must first be taken and then the Reformation must be setled according to the Covenant you have said enough to the Parliament for their prophane neglect to presse the King to the Covenant that they should omit no lesse then the solemne League and Covenant though you can dispence with him but will you have the King to settle Religion in England and Ireland according to the Covenant and not take the Covenant then would you have Him settle a Religion against His Conscience and is that reasonable a blind Sacrifice is not acceptable The next thing omitted was the Proposition for setling unity and uniformity in matters of Religion betweene the Churches of both Kingdomes according to the Covenant The reply to the last might well serve for a reply to this also according to the Covenant is the burden of your song and it seemes the life of your game by the Churches of God in both Kingdomes do you not meane the two Nationall Churches that is the two Nations themselves for it concernes us now to know your meaning if you interpret that which you call matters of Religion as you have done the solemne League and Covenant for you have an excellent facultie of interpretation You may call community and parity of interests matters of Religion and if so it may be the Parliament may thinke fit to omit the Proposition for setling unity and uniformity in matters of Religion betweene the Churches of God in both Kingdomes according to the Covenant and one Kingdome at least is engaged to them for it But secondly why do you make the solemne League and Covenant the unicum necessarium the ballance of your Sanctuary and the golden reed to measure your Temple you have not a tittle of the word of God but all your crie is the solemne League and Covenant instead of the Word of God the Jew hath his Talmud the Turke his Alkeron the Papist his Masse-booke the Prelate his Service-booke and must we have the solemn League and Covenant instead of the Oracles of heaven the Word of God Better it is that this brazen Serpent should be broken to pieces and ground to powder then that men should fall down and worship it though formerly a healing benefit was received from it It was the hypocriticall Pharise's pretending to heaven though minding the earth who making void the Law of God did teach for doctrine the traditions of the Elders Let us not put up mans posts the Covenant by Gods posts the holy Scripture Having done with the Parliaments omissions in matters of Religion you fall upon their Commissions and excesse the first thing you complaine of under that head is that instead of the Propositions which they have omitted so farre as concernes Religion You find nothing but a meere shadow of Presbytery Government and instead of uniformity of Religion a vast deformity or multiformity of Heresies and Sects A liberty granted for all sorts of service and worship of God an opening a doere to Atheisme to all Religions to liberty of conscience being indeed liberty of errour scandall schisme heresie dishonouring God opposing truth hindering Reformation and seducing others First do you find no more in the Propositions as concerning Discipline and Religion but a meere shadow of Presbyterian government we have no reason to thinke but the Parliament supposeth it such a Presbiterian government in the very substance thereof as they can imagine to be most agreeable to the Word of God and according to our solemne League and Covenant If you can informe them better confident we are their eares are open shall they receive the patterne of the house of God from their Scotch Brethren for the Word of God If they see but the shadow they are not far from the substance If they honour the shadow which is all they see what will they do to the substance when their eyes are open Is it not better that they should doe as they see and see what they doe than to drive a great trade of confidence about the will of God in Discipline with a small stocke of Scripture to maintaine the same did all men truly see what they act and act what they see we should have more love and lesse wrangling more truth and lesse shew men would not be so forward in pretence of zeale for government in the house of God with the neglect of the government of their owne tongues and pens in reproaching and slandering whole States and Kingdomes you see little but the meere shadow of GOVERNMENT in the Parliament we see little but the meere shadow of RELIGION in some others Secondly Perhaps the KINGDOME sees little as