will procure a confusion and grudging among them Upon reading the Petition of the Six Persons chosen by the Commonalty of the City of London it is Ordered by the Lords in Parliament Order about Books to be used in the Case between Lord Major and Commons That the Book of Reversions shall be perused by them and afterwards with theBooks of A. D. E. F. G. H. I. K. L. Z. O. Liber Albus Transcript Dunthorn Customs Repertory Hamersly Journal of 6 H. 7. Journal Swinerton Middleton Hayes Journal Garroway shall be brought into the Vpper House of Parliament on Monday next being the 26th of this Instant Month of July by Nine of the Clock in the morning at which time their Lordships have Ordered to hear the said Cause Sir John Hotham Reports Friday July 23. That there will be due to the Scots upon the 12th of August 57400 l. 10000 l. is expected from the voluntary Loan of the Members so that 47000 will be requisite to pay them off Ordered That there shall be a Conference with the Lords to borrow 40000 l. of the City which the Lords agreed to and the Poll-Bill was proposed to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen for Security Earl of Essex made Lord Chamberlain This day His Majesty was pleased to give the white Staff to the Earl of Essex and he was Sworn Lord Chamberlain of His Majesties Household Sir Arthur Ingram carries up the Bill with amendments for the certainty of the Forrests as also a Bill for the Earl of Bedford Saturday July 24. The House of Commons then entered upon the Debate of the Articles from the Committee of Seven against Mr. Percy Mr. Jermyn c. Upon which they came to these Votes Votes upon the Articles from the Committee of 7. Resolved c. That Mr. Henry Percy in the Months of March and April last past in the Parish of St. Martin 's in the County of Middlesex did Compass Plot and Conspire with others to draw the said Army together and to employ them against the Parliament and by fear and dread thereof to compel the said Parliament to agree to certain Propositions by them contrived and to hinder and interrupt the Proceedings of the said Parliament Resolved c. The same against Mr. Henry Jermyn Sir John Suckling and Mr. William Davenant Resolved c. That in pursuance of the said Design the said Henry Percy by the Plot and Combination aforesaid did endeavour to persuade divers Members of the House of Commons of the said Parliament and others being Officers of the said Army that is to say Henry Wilmot William Ashburnham Esq Sir John Berkly Hugh Pollard and Daniel Oneal Esquires that they were disobliged by the Parliament thereby to incense and disaffect them against the Parliament and did hold divers Consultations with the said persons to effect the said wicked and dangerous Designs and for that purpose did set down in writing certain Propositions to the effect following that is to say The preserving of Bishops Votes and Functions the not Disbanding of the Irish Army until the Scots were Disbanded and to endeavour the settling of the King's Revenue to the proportion it was formerly The House fell upon the further Debate of the Articles from the Committee of Seven and it was Resolved Further Votes about Mr. Percy c. c. That the said Henry Percy in pursuance of the said Plot and Combination for the more secret Carriage and further Engagement of the said Conspirators and others the Persons aforenamed did minister unto the said Henry Jermin Hugh Pollard Henry Wilmot William Ashburnham Sir John Berkley and Daniel Oneal a wicked and unlawful Oath whereby they did Swear upon the Holy Evangelists not to reveal any thing spoken concerning that business in consultation directly or indirectly nor to think themselves absolved by any other Oath that should be after taken from the Secresie enjoyned by the said Oath Resolved c. That Mr. Henry Jermyn at the time the said Oath was Administred as aforesaid and at divers other times did propound and endeavour to perswade the Persons aforenamed and other Officers of the said Army to put the said Army into a Warlike Posture and to bring them up to London and likewise to make themselves sure of the Tower and so by force to compel the Parliament to conform to their Will Resolved c. That the said Henry Jermin Sir John Suckling and William Davenant in further Prosecution of the said Design by the Conspiracy aforesaid to disaffect the said Army towards the Parliament and to work a belief in the said Army that the King and Parliament would disagree and so under pretence of adhering to His Majesty to incense the said Army against the Parliament thereby the better to compass their wicked Design and further endeavoured to perswade the Army that all the French about London would assist them and to the great scandal of the King and his Government that the Prince and the Earl of Newcastle were to meet the said Army at Nottingham with a Thousand Horse Resolved c. That the said Sir John Suckling by the Conspiracy aforesaid for the better effecting the said wicked Design under the pretence and colour of some service to the King of Portugal did raise Men both Officers and Common Soldiers and further did contrive that a hundred of those Men should be put into the Tower of London under the Command of Captain Henry Billingsley thereby to possess themselves of the same as was formerly propounded by Mr. Henry Jermin that so they the said Henry Jermin and Sir John Suckling might better effect their said wicked Designs and have better opportunity to Master and Command the City of London that the said City should not be able to make any resistance when the said Army should come up according to the aforementioned Desing And the said Sir John Suckling in further pursuance of the said wicked intentions did by the means aforesaid Plot and Endeavour that Thomas Earl of Strafford then Prisoner in the Tower for High Treason and since Attainted and Executed for the same should make an Escape that by his Power they might the better compass and bring to pass the said wicked Design Resolved c. That the said Henry Wilmot William Ashburnham Hugh Pollard Sir John Suckling Sir John Berkley and Daniel Oneal by the inticement practice and insinuation of the said Henry Percy did take the aforesaid unlawful Oath Resolved c. That the said Henry Percy for the advancement of the said wicked Design did propound unto them the aforesaid three Propositions Resolved c. That the said Henry Wilmot William Ashburnham Hugh Pollard Sir John Berkley and Daniel Oneal were acquainted with the said Design mentioned in the first Article Resolved c. That the said Henry Wilmot William Ashburnham Hugh Polland Sir John Berkley and Daniel Oneal were together with the said Confederates present at divers Debates and Consultations touching the
For the City and County of the City of Lincoln the Major for the time being and Thomas Grantham Esquire For the West Riding of the County of York Ferdinando Lord Fairfax Sir Edward Roads Sir William Strickland Henry Cholmley Esquire For the East Riding Sir Marmaduke Langdale John Allured Esquire For the North Riding Thomas Hebblethwait Esquire Sir Henry Anderson Sir Henry Slingsby John Wastell Esquire For the City and County of the City of York the Lord Major for the time being Sir Thomas Widdrington and Sir William Allison For the County of Sussex Sir Thomas Pellham Mr. Shelley Mr. William Hay For the Ports in Sussex William Hay Herbert Morley Esquire For the County of Bucks Sir William Andrews Baronet Sir Alexander Denton Knight Sir John Parsons For the County of Berks Sir George Stonehouse Sir John Bacchus Roger Knight Esquire For the County of Cornwal Sir Richard Carey Baronet Alexander Carey Esquire Sir Richard Butler Knight For the County of Cumberland Richard Barwick Esquire William Pennington of Seaton Esquire For the County of Cambridge Sir Dudley North Sir John Cutts Thomas Chichely Thomas Wendy and Thomas Symonds Esquires For the County of Devon Sir Samuel Rolle Sir John Bramfield Baronet For the City of Exceter the Major for the time being For the County of Dorset Sir Walter Erle Sir Thomas Trenchard Knights For the County of Essex Sir Harbottle Grimston Sir Richard Everard Sir Thomas Bendish Sir Robert Kemp. For the County of Gloucester Henry Bret Esquire Sir Robert Cook Edward Stevens Thomas Hodges Esquires For the City and County of the City of Gloucester the Major for the time being and the two Ancient Aldermen For the County of Huntingdon Sir Sydney Mountague Anslow Winch Esquire Tirel Josseline Esquire Henry Cromwel Esquire For the County of Hertford Edward Chester Edward Wingate Esquires John Butler For the County of Hereford Walter Kerle Esquire Sir William Crofts Knight John Scudamore of Kenchurch James Kirle Edward Broughton Esquires For the County of Kent Mr. Edward Boyes Sir Thomas Walsingham Sir Edward Partridge Knights Richard Lee Esquire For the City and County of the City of Canterbury Sir Edward Masters Knight and for the Ports in Kent and their Members Sir Edward Boys Knight For the County of Leicester Sir Arthur Haslerigg Thomas Lord Grey For the County of Middlesex Sir John Danvers Sir William Roberts Sir Henry Roe Sir Gilbert Gerrard Sir John Franklyn For the City of Westminster Sir Robert Pye William Wheeler John Glyn Esquires For the City of London the Lord Major Thomas Soame Isaak Pennington Aldermen Samuel Vassal and Captain John Ven Merchants Members of the House of Commons For the County of Northampton Edward Montague Esquire Sir John Dryden Sir Christopher Yelverton Zouch Tate Esquire For the County of Norfolk Sir John Potts Sir Thomas Woodhouse Sir Edmond Moundeford For the City and County of Norwich the Major for the time being For the County of Northumberland Sir John Fennicke Henry Ogle Thomas Middleton William Shafto of Babington Esquires Town of New-Castle the Major for the time being Mr. Ledyard For the Town of Barwick Sir Robert Jackson Mr. John Sleigh Gent. William Fenwick Gent. For the County of Oxon. James Fynes Sir William Cobb Sir Thomas Penniston and John Doyley Esquire For the County of Rutland Sir Guy Palmes Sir Edward Harrington Robert Horseman Esquire For the County of Surrey Sir John Evelyn Sir Ambrose Brown Baronet For the County of Salop Sir Richard Newport Mr. Richard Moore Charles Baldwin Esquire For the County of Southampton Richard Whitehead Esquire Sir William Lewis Town of Southampton Major for the time being For the County of Suffolk Sir Roger North Sir Robert Crane Robert Reynolds Esquire Sir William Platers William Cage Esquire For the County of Somerset Sir John Horner Sir John Pawlet Knights John Pyne Esquire City of Bristol the Major for the time being John Gunning John Tomlinson For the County of Westmorland Sir Philip Musgrave Knight and Baronet Sir Henry Bellingham Gawin Braithwait Esquire For the County of Wilts Sir Nevil Poole Anthony Hungerford Esquire For the County of Worcester Humphrey Solloway Esquire Edward Dingley Edward Pitt Thomas Rouse Esquire City of Worcester the Major for the time being For the County of Warwick Sir Richard Skeffington William Combes Esquire John Hales Richard Shugborough Esquires For the City and County of Coventry the Major for the time being Alderman Million John Barr Esquire For the City of Litchfield the Bailiffs for the time being For the County of Anglesey Thomas Buckley Owen Wood Esquires For the County of Pembroke Henry Williams Thomas Gwyn William Morgan Esquires For the County of Carnarvan Thomas Glyn of Nantley William Thomas Owen Wynn Thomas Madrin Esquires For the County of Denbigh Thomas Middleton John Loyd William Wyn Esquire For the County of Flynt Thomas Mostyn Humphry Dymock John Eaton John Salisbury Esquires For the County of Glamorgan William Herbert Sir Thomas Lyne Miles Buton Esquires For the County of Merioneth William Salisbury Esquire Sir James Price Knight For the County of Pembrook Sir Richard Philips Baronet Sir Hugh Owen Knight and Baronet For the County of Montgomery Arthur Price Esquire Richard Griffith Edward Vaughan Esquires For the County of Radnor Thomas Lewis Robert Williams Richard Jones Esquires For the County Palatine of Durham Sir Lionel Madidson Sir Alexander Hall George Lilburn Clement Fulthorp For the County of Cardigan Walter Loyd James Lewis Esquires For the County of Carmarthen Richard Earl of Carberry Francis Loyd Esquire For the County of Monmouth Sir William Morgan Thomas Morgan William Herbert of Colebrook William Baker of Abergany Sir Robert Cooke Sir Charles Williams James Kirke Esquires Which said Persons so appointed and nominated or any one or more of them together with the Justices of the Peace of every Shire County or Riding respectively or any one or more of them or the Major Bailiffs Justices of the Peace Jurats or other Head-Officers within any City or Town Corporate or other Priviledged places or any one or more of them respectively shall have Power and are hereby authorized and required to do and perform all and every such thing and things as shall be necessary to the due execution of this present Ordinance according to the Instructions herewith annexed which said Instructions are hereby Ordered and Commanded to be duly observed and executed by all and every Person and Persons whom it shall or may appertain as they will answer the contrary at their Perils This Ordinance to continue no longer then till the end of this present Session of Parliament Instructions appointed by Ordinance of Parliament to the Persons thereby Authorized for the Disarming of Popish Recusants Instructions to the Comissioners for Disarming Popish Recusants and others and other dangerous Persons I. SUch Members of the House of Commons and other Persons as in and by the said Ordinance are particularly named and appointed or any one or more of them and the Justices
it those for the King's Debts and by consent these not so that the Proclamation his Lordship mentions was an Offence in it self and Treason is no justification of Treason that for Bern 's Case if my Lord was in England yet if done by his Warrant it was the same thing To the Plea of the Deputies Power a Deputy in case of Rebellion may make a Defensive War but this was in a time of Peace and on the King's People under his Laws and Protection his Plea that because the King unless named is not concluded in any Statute is to apply Soveraignty to himself and that a Subject should not be comprehended more than the King himself as to the Repeal of 18 H. 6. the introducing of our Laws was not to Repeal theirs but to make a Consistance of both Laws so far as they both may stand together but this being matter of Law he leaves to those who are to give satisfaction to their Lordships hereofter That the Statute 11 Eliz. does not at all justifie the Earl that being made for Defence against Rebels not as the Charge was for things done in full Peace That the 2 Clauses of 25 E. 3. are to be considered separately for a man may levy War and not adhere to the King's Enemies And so he concluded that they had proved the Charge Upon the Earl's Motion not without some difficulty a day was granted for his refreshment and indeed it was no more then reasonable after such Expence of spirits in making and speaking his Defence against so many reputed the ablest men in England Upon Saturday the 16th Article was read Saturday April 3. Artic. 16. concerning his procuring from the King an Order That no complaints should be received in England unless Address were first made to the Deputy Mr. Palmer managed the Charge and first the Propositions concerning the Government of Ireland offered to his Majesty were read and the Order upon them That no particular complaint of Justice or Oppression be admitted here against any unless it appear the party first made his Address to the Deputy Then a Proclamation importing That all the Nobility undertakers and others that hold Estates and Offices in Ireland such only excepted as are imployed in his Majesties service in England should personally reside in Ireland and not to depart to England or any other place without Licence from the Lord Deputy any former Letter to the contrary notwithstanding c. so that all complaints were prevented and restrained from coming over into England To this Richard Wade deposed on Oath That my Lord Esmond sent him August 1638. Witness Richard Wade to Petition for Licence to go over to make an end of the Cause wherein my Lord Strafford was Plaintiff but was denyed that the Lord Esmond procured the King's Letter but could not yet get Licence Lorky deposed the same Lorky L. Roche The Lord Roche deposed That he was denied Licence intending to come over to justifie himself against an Information in the Star-Chamber James Nash deposed James Nash That in the Case of Mac-Carty my Lord after obtaining two dismissions of the Suit Decreed for Sir James Craig 5496 l. against Mac-Carty and on this Decree an Order to dispossess him of all his Fathers Estate That Mac Carty Petitioned for Licence to come into England but was denied both by the Lord Deputy and Sir Christopher Wainsford Henry Parry deposed Henry Parry That his Lord and Master the Lord Chancellor Ely being committed to the Castle of Dublin the Earl sent for him and commanded him to attend the Judges to be Examined about some Papers seized that he attended 6. dayes but his Lord having occasion to make use of his Friends interest sent him over into England to Sollicit HIs Majesty for Relief that here he was attached by Mr. Secretary Cook 's Warrant that he entred into Bond before he could be discharged of the Messenger to return into Ireland That after his Return he was Fined 500 l. and ordered to acknowledg his Offence at the Board and that he was imprisoned and utterly ruined that his Fine was reduced to 250 l. that he paid 184 l. Sir Robert Smith deposed Sir Robert Smith That having a Command from the House of Commons in Ireland to come over hither he was denyed Licence and a Restraint was laid upon Shipping upon that account Fitz-Garret Mr. Fitzgarret deposed to the same Effect Then the Irish Remonstrance was read importing the Fears they had of the Proclamation prohibiting their coming to England to obtain Redress of their Grievances from His Majesty After some Recollection The Earl's Defence the Earl made his Defence That he might very justifiably say that he had never in his life any thoughts or intentions before his going into Ireland or during his abode there but Justly and Faithfully to serve His Majesty and the Kingdom That as to the Order obtained from His Majesty the Reason annexed which was read would justifie it importing That it was not only a Justice to the Deputy but to the Government it self to prevent Clamors and unjust Complaints and that they might be redressed nearer home and no way to hinder any man's just complaint That for the Proclamation that it was warranted by the Laws of Ireland 25 H. 6. cap. 9. 26 H. 6. c. 2. whereby Subjects are restrained from going out of the Land upon forfeiture of their Estates without Licence from the King or his Deputy That by an Article preferred by the Irish Agents 1628. His Majesty was Petitioned to order the Residence of Vndertakers at least half the Year upon which His Majesty answered in these words ALL the Nobility Vndertakers and others who hold Estates and Offices within that Kingdom are to make their personal Residence there and not to leave it without Licence such persons Excepted only as are imployed in Our Service in England or attend here by Our Command Pursuant to which my Lord Faulkland's Instruction were in that particular verbatim the same being read Then he produced his Majestie 's Letter commanding the Proclamation Jan. 20. 1634. which was read and was in these words C. R. To the Lord Deputy of Ireland WHEREAS amongst other things in the Graces vouchsafed to Our Subjects 1628. We signified Our Pleasure That the Nobility His Majesties Letter to the Lord Deputy Jan. 20. 1634. Vndertakers and Others holding Estates in Ireland should be resident there and not to depart without Licence And being now given to understand That notwithstanding those Directions divers persons not of the meaner sort take liberty to pass into this Kingdom or Foreign Parts as if they understood not what they owed to Vs in their Duty or themselves in their evil Carriage which presumption we may not long suffer c. We do therefore hereby Will and Require you by Act of State or Proclamation to make known Our Pleasure That all Nobility Vndertakers and others that hold Estates and Offices
aforesaid did on the deliver his Opinion in the Exchequer Chamber against John Hampden Esquire in the Case of Ship-Money that he the said John Hampden upon the matter and substance of the Case was chargeable with the Money then in Question A Copy of which proceeding and judgment the Commons of this present Parliament have delivered to your Lordships 7. That he the said Sir Robert Berkley then being one of the Justices of the Court of Kings-Bench and one of the Justices of Assize for the County of York did at the Assizes held at York in Lent 1636. deliver his charge to the Grand-Jury that it was a lawful and inseparable Flower of the Crown for the King to command not only the Maritime Counties but also those that were In-land to find Ships for the defence of the Kingdom And then likewise falsely and maliciously affirmed that it was not his single judgment but the judgment of all his Brethren witnessed by their subscriptions And then also said that there was a rumour that some of his Brethren that had subscribed were of a contrary Judgment but it was a base and unworthy thing for any to give his Hand contrary to his Heart and then wished for his own part that his Hand might rot from his Arm that was guilty of any such Crime when as he knew that Master Justice Hutton and Master Justice Crook who had subscribed were of a contrary Opinion and was present when they were perswaded to subscribe and did subscribe for Conformity only because the major Number of the Judges had subscribed And he the said Sir Robert Berkley then also said that in some Cases the Judges were above an Act of Parliament which said false malicious Words were uttered as aforesaid with intent and purpose to countenance and maintain the said unjust Opinions and to terrifie His Majesties Subjects that should refuse to pay Ship-Money or seek any remedy by Law against the said unjust and illegal Taxation 8. That whereas Richard Chambers Merchant having commenced a Suite for Trespass and false imprisonment against Sir Edward Bromfield Knight for imprisoning him the said Chambers for refusing to pay Ship-Money in the time that the said Sir Edward Bromfield was Lord Mayor of the City of London in which Suite the said Sir Edward Bromfield did make a special Justification The said Sir Robert Berkley then being one of the Justices of the Court of Kings-Bench in Trinity Term last then sitting on the Bench in the said Court upon debate of the said Case between the said Chambers and Sir Edward Bromfield said openly in the Court that there was a Rule of Law and a Rule of Government And that many things which might not be done by the Rule of Law might be done by the Rule of Government And would not suffer the Point of Legality of Ship-Money to be argued by Chambers his Councel all which Opinions Declarations Words and Speeches contained in the Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh and Eighth Articles are destructive to the Fundamental Laws of this Realm the Subjects right of Property and contrary to former Resolutions in Parliament and to the Petition of Right which Resolution in Parliament and Petition of Right were well known to him and Resolved and Enacted when he was the King's Serjeant at law and attendant in the Lords House of Parliament 9. That he the said Sir Robert Berkley then being one of the Judges of the Court of King's-Bench and being in Commission of the Peace and duly sworn to execute the Office of a Justice of Peace in the County of Hertford on or about the seventh of January 1638. at which time the General Sessions of the Peace for the said County were there holden The said Sir Robert Berkley then and there sitting on the Bench did revile and threaten the Grand-Jury returned to serve at the said Sessions for presenting the removal of the Communion Table in All-Saints Church in Hertford aforesaid out of the Place where it anciently and usually stood and setting it Alter-ways against the Laws of this Realm in that Case made and provided as an Innovation in Matters concerning the Church the said Grand-Jury having delivered to them in Charge at the said Sessions by Master Serjeant Atkins a Justice of the Peace of the said County of Hertford that by the Oath they had taken they were bound to present all Innovations concerning Church Matters And he the said Sir Robert Berkley compelled the Fore-Man of the Jury to tell him who gave him any such Information and thereby knowing it to be one Henry Brown one of the said Grand-Jury he asked the said Brown how he durst meddle with Church Matters who affirming that in the said Charge from Master Serjeant Atkins the said Jury was charged to do he the said Sir Robert Berkley told the said Brown he should therefore find Sureties for his good Behaviour and that he the said Sir Robert Berkley would set a great Fine on his Head to make him an Example to others and thereupon the said Brown offered sufficient Bail but he the said Sir Robert Berkley being incensed against him refused the said Bail and committed the said Brown to Prison where he lay in Irons till the next Morning and used to the said Brown and the rest of the Jurors many other reviling and terrifying Speeches And said he knew no Law for the said Presentment and told the said Brown that he had sinned in the said Presentment And he compelled the said Grand-Jurors to say they were sorry for that they had done in that Presentment and did bid them to trample the said Presentment under their Feet and caused Brown to tear the said Presentment in his sight And he the said Sir Robert Berkley when as John Houland and Ralph Pemberton late Mayor of Saint Albons came to desire his Opinion on several Indictments against John Brown Parson of Saint Albons and Anthony Smith Vicar of Saint Peters in Saint Albons at the Quarter Sessions held at the said Town of Saint Albons on the four and twentieth of June 1639. for the removal of the Communion Table out of the usual Place and not Administring the Sacrament according to Law in that Case provided He the said Sir Robert Berkley then told them that such an Indictment was before him at Hertford and that he quashed the same and imprisoned the Promoters by which threatning and reviling Speeches unjust Actions and Declarations he so terrified the Jurors in those Parts that they durst not present any Innovations in the Church Matters to their great Grief and Trouble of their Consciences And whereas several Indictments were preferred against Matthew Brook Parson of Yarmouth by John Ingram and John Carter for refusing several times to Administer the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper to them without any lawful Cause at the Assizes held at Norwich in 1633. He the said Sir Robert Berkley then being one of the Judges of the Assize proceeded then to the Tryal on the said
But Obedience due to Kings is only for certain Respects of Order and Policy 11. 11. Ibidem That those very Church-men that are Born and Inhabit in Soveraign Princes Countries are notwithstanding not their Subjects and cannot be Judged by them although they may Judge them 12. 12. Ibidem And that the Obedience that Church-men give to Princes even in the meanest and meer Temporal Things is not by way of any necessary Subjection but only out of Discretion and for Observation of good Order and Custom Here we find what base Estimation Prelates had of Princes may we not then justly except against their delivery as it is by them urged No Bishop No King Whoever will have the Patience to read over this long and tedious Speech and compare it with the Histories of those Authors which he has gleaned it from may possibly find the matters of Fact either mistaken or falsly represented nor indeed can we give intire credit to all that was written by the Monks of those Times who being great Enemies to the Bishops may be supposed very partial in relating some Passages of their Lives however it is not my Province to vindicate the Ill Actions of any sort of men whatever and is confessedly known that several of those Bishops as particularly Becket the famous Romish Saint were notorious Traytors and ill men But that which I think ought not to be passed by without animadversion is the Weakness of this Gentleman's Argumentation for it is evident that the main stress of his Argument is from the Actions of former ill Bishops to prove the necessity not only of taking from them all Temporal Power and Estate but also to Abolish and Extirpate the very Office for when ever he or any of his Party talk of Reformation as he does when he tells you They were degenerated from the Primitive Institution and that he only wishes there were Reformation not Demolishing but Amendment and Restitution the Reader is to Understand that by those soft Words of Reformation Amendment Restitution and Primitive Institution is meant the Utter Extirpation of Episcopacy as then it stood and the Reducing it to the Geneva standard which with them was a Restitution of it to its Primitive Institution Now how weak and inconsequential the Argument is from the Abuse of any Office Power Dignity Trust or Order to argue the Abolition or Taking it away there needs little more to be said then that Admitting the truth of this for a Practicable and Necessary Maxim all Laws Government and Order must cease in the World for it will as necessarily follow That because there have been ill Kings and Parliaments Magistrates and Laws Therefore they ought wholly to be taken away as because there have been ill Bishops that therefore the whole Order ought to be Abolished And indeed a few Years succeeding brought the same Consequences and Effects upon the King and House of Lords as it had done upon the Bishops who for Mal-administration and pretended Miscarriages by the Usurpation of these soft Reformers and Reducers of Men to their Primitive Institution were both Exauctorated and discharged of any share in the Government and many of them with the King himself of his Royal Crown and Innocent Lives verifying literally to a tittle what he takes such pains to confute in the Close of his Speech as a false and foolish Maxim No Bishop No King And certainly this Gentleman ought to have considered that Ecclesiastical Persons have in all Ages in all Places of the World under all Governments among all Religions Pagan Jew Christian Mahometan universally had a share in the Administration of Civil Affairs and particularly in Legislation so far as the preparing of Laws for the Royal Impress amounts to and with very good reason by a Rule which upon some Occasions these Gentlemen have a Great Veneration for Quod tangit Omnes ab Omnibus debet tractari and Ecclesiasticks as well as others being to be bound by Laws ought to have their part in preparing and consenting to them And further he ought to have considered that Under the Jewish Oeconomy instituted by the Only Wise God himself the chief Administration of all Civil as well as Religious Affairs was Vested in the Ecclesiasticks And for our English Constitution the Laws had incorporated the Episcopal Order into the Very Fundamentals of the Government making them one of the Three Estates of the Land as they are by several Acts declared and to their Sitting not only in Parliament but in all Great Councels during the Saxon Government all Records so long as we have any unanimously inform us so that they had an immemorial Prescription for their Right and it was an ill presage what the future Reformation would prove when it was begun with the over-turning of one of the three Fundamental Pillars upon which the Weighty Frame of the Government was built After all the long Harangue of the ill Actions of former Bishops in the times of Popery when he comes in the period of his Speech as one would reasonably have Expected to speak something to purpose of the Protestant Bishops instead of that as if he had designed to Gratifie the Papists he falls to calumniate the first Reformers Cranmer Ridley c. as factious turbulent Traytors and Incendiaries and when he comes to those of his own time the Pope of Lambeth and his Cardinals Wren and others as he is pleased to stile the Archbishop and Bishops he makes a most hideous Out-cry of Popery Arminianism Idolatry and what not of irreligion to the Deity mischief and danger to the King and prejudice to the People and Kingdome without offering so much as one single testimony or proof by any Action Word or Writing of theirs to support so gross and black a Charge But this was a Method these Worthy Patriots had learnt from the Jesuits Fortiter calumniare aliquid haerebit to throw all the dirt imaginable upon the Albs and Lawn Sleeves of the Bishops not doubting but some of it would stick to them in the opinion of the People and they were such great Masters in the Art of Blackening that I think even the Great Master of the Black Art who has his name from calumniating and falsly accusing the Innocent might have been their Schollar as doubtless he was their Tutor in this hellish Trade But to leave Mr. Thomas with his long Speech let us return to the other Affairs the Faction was now under great Fears of both the Northern Armies who were not only Discontented for want of Pay both Scots and English but several of the latter seeing Evidently whither this procedure of the Anti-Episcopal Faction tended had some warm thoughts about them to endeavour to prevent it while they had the power in their hands knowing that as soon as possible the King would be stript of this Power and those Forces be Disbanded but the matter it seems was either not so well contrived or so secretly managed but that
deferred those Agreements which else he might have seasonably composed at home This is a Calumny so black and yet so Fertile and Politick that it doth not by Retail charge the Fatal Miscarriages of the late War upon the evil Counsellors and Ministers as the more modest Regicides did but delivers them in Gross and by whole-Sale upon the King making him by deferring those Agreements which else he might have seasonably composed at Home a felo de se and Guilty of his own Execrable Murther When all the World knows those Agreements which he might so seasonably as our Historian saith have made were upon no easier Conditions then parting with his Crown and Scepter and contenting himself with the empty Name of a King and that too at the discretion of the two Houses who would have the Sword and the Purse of the Nation at their absolute Command It is certainly true this perfidy of the Irish did Contribute much to his Majesties Ruine but it is as certain that other things conspired more the Obstinacy of the English Rebels whose Flagitious Guilt would not permit them to think any thing less then his Death could secure their own Lives and Usurpations and certainly the Calumnies and Detractions of favoring Popery and Designing to Govern Arbitrarily of countenancing the Irish Rebellion and contriving to deliver up the Remainder of the Protestants and their Religion by the Cessation c. which Calumny Dr. Borlase has taken Care to revive contributed more to his Majesties execrable Murder for with these Slanders and Aspersions they at first Poisoned the Minds of the Credulous Multitude by these Incentives and Motives they hurried them on to an open Rebellion by these Arts they supported the War and overcame the Loyal Party and in fine by these pretended Crimes they blackned his Majesty and brought his Royal Neck to the Infamous Block and for what Reasons Dr. Borlase should again raise these Hellish Calumnies to Possess the People at a Time when the very same Faction of Sectaries and Republicans were putting the Nation into the Old Ferment of Fears and Jealousies it will be difficult to conjecture unless it were to inspire the present Age with Animosities and Hatred against his Majesty his Ministers and his Government as pursuing the same Methods with which he falsly Arraigns the Memory of his Royal Father and by the same wicked Arts to Compass and Effect the same unparalell'd Mischiefs and Villanies The truth is when it is considered by what Stars he directed his Sails it will be apt to Confirm the Belief that he hath received his Measures from some Persons whose Interest it is to have their own Actions palliated and those of his Majesties most Loyal Subjects who followed the Marquiss of Ormonds as he did his Majesties Directions lessened and vilified and I cannot see the Sketch of his History drawn by the Hand of the Bishop of Meath without which he saith P. 19. of his Preface The History must want much of its due Method and more Eloquence without giving a short Stricture upon that Prelate and then leaving it to the most Partial Judge to determine what Right the King and Royal Party and particularly his Grace the Duke of Ormond are to expect from such an Historian and such a History when one of his principal Authorities from whom he saith he had several Passages in the insuing History was in actual Arms in the Parliamentarian Party who though they fought against the Rebels yet were no less Enemies to the late King then the Irish Rebels whom they opposed This Bishop of Meath was in the beginning of the Irish Rebellion a Dean in Ireland Nephew to Primate Vsher and being delivered from the Danger he was in by a Gentleman of the Reyleys who also saved many other Protestants Lives by conveying such as put themselves into his Protection safely into the English Quarters Feeding and Clothing such as were Stript and in Necessity the Doctor when he came to Dublin was imployed to take Examinations of all the English and Protestants that had scaped the Fury of the first Insurrection he was afterwards sent to London to sollicite for Relief for the distressed Protestants of Ireland either from the Parliament or by Contributions from Charitable Persons upon his Return from that Negotiation he was made Bishop of Clogher by the Recommendation of the then Marquiss of Ormond and so continued till the Surrender of Dublin into the Hands of Mr. Arthur Annesley now Earl of Anglesey and other Commissioners from the Parliament and that Bishops Hand is to an Address to the Marquiss of Ormond among other of the Clergy by the Name of Henry Jones But after when Dublin was given up and the Parliaments Forces prevailed in the whole Kingdom saving the Irish Quarters he so far complied with those Anti-Episcopal Regicides as that from a Bishop he became a scout-Scout-Master General changing his Episcopal nay even his Ministerial Habit into a Military the Sword of the Spirit into one of Steel and upon Occasion dying it in the Blood of his Enemies However upon the King 's happy Restauration wherein he was in his Station in Ireland Instrumental he was for that Reason notwithstanding his Irregularities restored to his Bishoprick of Clogher and afterwards promoted to be Bishop of Meath The Reader possibly will look upon this as a large Digression but I hope the Influence it must necessarily have towards the Discovery of Truth will frame an easy Apology for me and possibly I should not at this time so soon have dismissed the Doctor without acquainting the Reader how personally by the Propension of his own Inclinations he was interressed to be Partial to the Actions of those Persons Things and Times whose Principles he had so warmly Espoused being declaredly of the late Parliament Faction but he being not now in Condition to Answer for Himself common Humanity inclines me to be sparing in that particular and where I have Occasion to contradict his History only to shew how he hath deviated from the Integrity of a just Historian Having thus cleared my own Way and I hope dispelled some of those Mists which otherwise might make me not only apt to mistake my self but also unable to Guide others in these Irish Affairs I am in the Next place to give the best account I am able of the Reasons Grounds and Occasions of this detestable Insurrection wherein I do assure the Reader I will endeavour to hold the Beam of Truth with all the Integrity I possibly can and will solemnly avow That I know no Temptations in the World that are capable of removing me one single Hairs breadth out of the Honorable Paths of Truth and Honesty It is therefore agreed on all hands That for some time before the Eruption of this Flaming Rebellion the Affairs of Ireland were in all humane appearance in a better Condition then Generally they had been since the Accession of that Kingdom to the Crown of England You shall