rule as King I was alwaies bred to more modest and I think more pious Principles The consciousnesse to my Spiritual defects makes me more prize and desire those pious assistances which holy and good Ministers either Bishops or Presbyters may afford me especially in these extremities to which God hath been pleased to suffer some of my Subjects to reduce me so as to leave them nothing more but my Life to take from me and to leave me nothing to desire which I thought might lesse provoke their jealousie and offence to deny me then this of having some means afforded me for my Souls comfort and support To which end I made choice of men as no way that I know scandalous so every way eminent for their Learning and Piety no lesse then for their Loialty Nor can I imagine any exceptions to be made against them but only this That they may seem too able and too wel-affected toward me and my service But this is not the first service as I count it the best in which they have forced me to serve my self though I must confesse I bear with more grief and impatience the want of my Chaplains then of any other my servants and next if not beyond in some things to the being sequestred from my Wife and Children since from these indeed more of humane and temporary affections but from those more of heavenly and eternal improvements may be expected My comfort is that in the enforced not neglected want of ordinarie means God is wont to afford extraordinary supplies of his gifts and graces If his Spirit will teach me and help my infirmities in praier reading and meditation as I hope he will I shall need no other either Orator or Instructer The general inquirie was whether now we shall have Peace or a new War Most men imagine the old quarrel at an end but another between Presbyters and Independent We will have Uniformity saies the one and all to submit to the Covenant Liberty of Conscience saies the other and that in his sense is agreeable to the Covenant and Gods Word to back is But as the Quarrel grew high Pamphlets were published for either party Another to settle the brains of either of them or any besides offers the Reconciliation in his advice Intituled The Temple measured wherein are discussed the Questions about Constitution and Government of the visible Church the solution of such questions which he propounds and numbers them all the Objections against the Model of Ecclesiastical policie and particularly there is debated the unity of the Church the Members thereof the form of the Church and Church Government the power of the Church the Officers of the Church and their power The powers of Magistrates about the Church some Church Acts as admission of Members c. Tedious enough and all this set out for the final satisfaction of all differences by that Orthodox Divine the Lecturer at Newbery in New-England Mr. Noyes What a pretty pass we were come unto to fetch our Church-government from the West Indies And although Mr. Symson was silenced by Order of Parliament for dissenting from the Assembly of Divines it was now held fit to Null that Order and Symson admitted and why for his zeal it is said to the glory of God and edification of his Church and so upon this general ground he and others of any strain became admitted to the Pulpit We grow near an end of this year now the 19. of Mar. he Parliament Voting the Modeling of the Army into less Many Garisons dismantled some Forces Disbanded rather to be rid of the men than to spare the expences Much muttering there had been by the Officers and Souldiers very high in the esteem of their own power which increased as the Parliament lessened And therefore the Forces at their own dispose draw near together towards the City of London and Westminster which put the Citizens to advise at their Guid-hall and the whole number in Common Councel conclude of a Petition to either House but both alike To settle the Affairs of this long distracted Kingdom That his Majesty being come nearer in person to his Parliament they hope he will come home to their desires in the Propositions National and solemn League and Covenant That Malignants may be removed out of the City And here say they we should have ceased but that the Army which they hoped ere this should have been disbanded is now drawn so suddenly and quartered neer the Parliament and this City Besides that in this same juncture of time a most dangerous and seditious Petition is set on foot to be presented to this Parliament the Copy thereof is annexed which doth exact this addition from the Petitioners And pray That the Parliament would give command that the Army be forthwith removed and after with all speed to be disbanded the annexed Petition suppressed and that the City may make annual Election of the Members of their own Militia Soft and fair the Citizens ride post 'T is true the Petitioners had thanks of both Houses but they reckon without their Host the Army which we shall hear of to another tune The old Prince Henry of Orange died the 14. of March of a Fever sixty three years of age the most approved Commander in the Christian world and answerable in wisdom for State Government of an infirme body with the disease of the Gout the pain whereof increasing he fell into a Fever His only Son succeeded General and Admiral of the Forces of the united Provinces A faithful friend he had been in the assistance of the King contracted in the Mariage of his Son with the Kings Eldest Daughter and great sums of money and Ammunition had been sent to him in these Civil Wars of England and when he sees the King undone he dies deplored of all leaving his Son the hopefull Issue of such a Father And so we end this year 1646. The Scots Army is gone and left us the Bone to gnaw their Ecclesiastical Presbytery to which Reformation we were forward in forming of our selves This Discipline of Government in the Scotish Kirk had been long time a framing in Scotland according to the Tenets of the Church of Geneva and devised and setled there as afterwards in Scotland by treasonable practices against the power of Magistracie and Soveraignty The Prerogative of a King and the liberty of Subjects are consistent and dependent the one from the other Certainly the Kings power is primarily derived from God for the Subject He to establish good Lawes for Church and State they to obey them And it is true too that the chief of the Church Bishop or Presbyter have a power which the Supream Power hath not in Spiritualibus resting only in their persons But the King is in the External Affairs of the Church to call Synods Assemble Divines for ordering of the Church by Canons and Edicts and he hath a power also to punish the Ministers offending
Polo Dic divina mihi tractans aenigmata coeli Haec oriens nobis quid sibi stella velit Magnus in occiduo Princeps modo nascitur orbe Moxque sub eclipsi regna oriâ—ntis erunt When to Paul's Cross the gratefull King drew near A shining Star did in the Heavens appear Thou that consult'st with divine Mysteries Tell me what this bright Comet signifies Now is there born a valiant Prince i' th' West That shall eclipse the Kingdoms of the East But this Star now appearing some say was the Planet Venus others Mercury the Sign of Merlin's Prophecy The splendour of the Sun shall languish by the paleness of Mercury and it shall be dreadfull to the beholders Any Planet says the Astrologer within its Degrees of the Sun is very unfortunate And Mercury being the Lord of the Ascendent and Mid-heaven was a chief Significator of the Prince his person who being afflicted by the presence of the Sun yet miraculously God did by his power make this Star shine bright in a clear Sun-shine day which was contrary to Nature The German Empire much weakned from the former greatness partly by the Popes in Italy advancing themselves and the Papal Authority besides the translation of the Seat to Constantinople and much diminished by several pretexts of Provinces and Towns and Kingdoms have loosened themselves from this great Body But the principal subject of all is drawn from the diversities of Doctrines heretofore resolved into two Professions Roman Catholick and the Confession of Auxburgh or Lutheran with the ambition of the House of Austria too powerfull both in Spain and the Low-cuntreys Theâ— temperament in Religion was concluded in the Contract of Passavia the Protestants to enjoy all their former Ecclesiastical Possessions and to rest in perpetuity to the Catholicks but not performed And Complaints arising by many of the States of Germany against the House of Austria continuing their greatness about two hundred years in Imperial Dignity as if hereditary and having increased Victories by humbling the King of Denmark and the Protestant party chastized Bethlem Gabor destroyed the Peasants of Austria deprived the Prince Palatine of his States Mansfield dead and the Empire at quiet The Emperour too much partial to the Catholick Complaints against the Protestants concerning their Divisions in reference to the Composition of Passavia which the Protestant Princes were resolved not to be wrested from them and for the maintenance of which they were resolved to call in Strangers The Emperour the sixth of March 1629. commands the render of all Ecclesiastical Goods taken after the Contract of Passavia This Sentence was so hard of digestion to the Protestants somewhat like the Exaction of the Tenth Penny upoâ— the Low-countreys by the Duke d' Alva that they protest to oppose it and petition for Suspension till the Decision of a general Diet at Ratisbone at the same time when News came thither of the King of Sweden's entrance with an Army into Germany which made the Protestant Ambassadors peremptory for the Revocation of the former Edict and it being refused they got all away and met at Leipsick Herein the Emperour receives his first check and prosecuted with Confederations and Leagues and Strangers called in the ambition of Spain was universally canvased nay the People in general Protestant and Papist were wilde for a change according to their several self-interests The Prince Electour Palatine had invitation to put in his Plea for his Restauration and thither he sends his Agent not without his particular address hither to his Uncle King Charls to countenance his entertainment at the Diet with an Ambassadour of his own for mediation and the Imployment fell upon Sir Robert Amstroder concerning the Pressures and Relief of the Palsgrave whose Message was in effect That nothing could affect his Master the King of Great Brittain more than the consideration of the daily calamities undergone by his Brother in Law the Prince Elector his Wife and Children That no place was more expedient to treat of Reconâ—iliation and re-establishment than in the Diet therefore he made it his most ardent Request to his Imperial Majesty that having regard to the many Intercessions of his late Father and other Kings and Princes he would remit the displeasure conceived against his Brother and recall the Proscription issued out against him True it was his Brother had offended and was inexcusably guilty unless the rashness or precipitation of youth may somewhat plead for him but others had been as culpable whom yet his Imperial Majesty had received into favour And would he be pleased to extend to him the same clemency it would oblige his Master to demonstrations of deepest gratitude and raise a glorious emulation in others to imitate so excellent a Patern That the Palsgrave would entertain this favour with an heart so firmly devoted to his service as all the intention of his spirit should be disposed to compensation and reparation of his former miscarriage That his Master held nothing so dear as the affection of his Imperial Majesty and establishment of a durable Peace between them And as upon all occasions he hath been forward to represent himself solicitous for it so at this time he is ready to give more ample testimony if his Imperial Majesty be pleased to incline to a Treaty This was fair and full of respect which gained civilities to the Ambassadour But that the present affairs of Germany which occasioned the Diet were so important as may not admit any foreign debate and yet when opportunity and leisure afforded the King of Great Brittain should receive such satisfaction as would be agreeable to their honour and assurance they hoped to his content And this was all the form and effect of his Ambassie Doctor Leighton a Presbyterian Scot full of fire had intituled a Book Sions Plea and dedicated it to the last Parliament counselling them to make quick work to kill all the Bishops by smiting them under the fifth rib Railing at the Queen whom he called a Canaanite and Idolatress How he might have sped with them then his confidence gave him good hopes But now in power of the King he was sentenced in Star-chamber his Body to be whipt his Forehead stigmatized his Ears cropt and his Nose slit but though he escaped out of the Fleet he was got again by the Warden in Bedfordshire and these Punishments executed upon him to the full purpose The Peace with Spain was pieced in November the same in effect formerly made up by King Iames and Philip the third but for the Palatinate that the King of Spain should dispose all his interest in the Emperour towards the Restitution of the Prince Electour this was so much as for that present could be gotten and as the Kings affairs permitted more could not be quarrelled The end of November Sunday the 27. proclaimed it in great solemnity and two days after sworn unto in the Chapel at Whitehall the King and the
of those Times see the boldness of some particulars Reading at the Middle Temple the Lent Vacation February 24. by Master Bagshaw making his choice of the Statute 25 Edward 3. cap. 7. He had intended he said to meddle with Prohibitions but not with Tacitus to follow Truth too near the heels for fear of his teeth nor too far off lest he lose it and so neither to offend nor to be offended Dividing his Matter into ten parts for ten Days and every Day into ten several Cases I shall oney insist upon such as then became the common discourse then but misreported His first Case thus Whether or no it be a good Act of Parliament without assent of the Lords Spiritual He for the Affirmative proved thus First that they sit not as Bishops but as Baronies annexed to their Bishopricks 5 William 1. and all of them have so save the Bishop of Man and he is not called Ergo Secondly he proved some Parliaments held without any Bishops at all Kelway's Reports 7 Henry 8. fol. 184. that the presence of Bishops are not necessary Thirdly that divers Acts have been made when they were present and would not consent as the Act of Conformity 1 Edward 6. and Supremacy 1 Eliz. Fourthly that if at any time of Parliament they should dis-assent yet the major part of Barons concluding and the House of Commons concurring the Act shall pass because their Voices are over-ruled by the major of Barons Fifthly that the Bishops cannot sit in case of Bloud in Iudicature but they may sit to assist to enact Laws but not to give assent for Execution of them in case of any Murder or Bloud His second Case thus If any beneficed Clerk were capable of temporal Iurisdiction at the time of making that Law He held the Negative point and these his Proofs First the first that ever were made Iustice of Peace or had power in temporal Iurisdictions were the Bishops of Durham and York 34 Edward 3. nine years after the same Act so not a principio but a tempore Secondly before the Statute of Conformity 1 Edward 6. the Clergy were never put in Commission for temporal and the reason why they were then admitted was to perswade the People to Conformity not to give sentence against them Thirdly if they conceive in conscience because they have spiritual calling therefore not to meddle in temporal causes then they may refuse it for they are never desired nor put in Commission but at their own suit so then they may either refuse or be allowed as their desires affect His third Case thus Whether a Bishop without calling a Synod have power as Diocesian to convict an Heretick And so he maintained he could not His Reason thus That albeit by the bloudy Statute of 2 Henry 4. some supposed grounds may be raised for maintenance of that authority yet it is not full and besides which is the main reason the Commons did not assent to the making of that Law for he had searched the Records and found that Act onely past by consent of the Lords Spiritual and Tempâ—ral and the Commons never mentioned therein Some other Matters he held in point of Law and had he gone forward he would have delivered his opinion both of the High Commission and Prohibition as is conceived but he was commanded silence and within two Days after he repaired to the Lord Keeper carrying with him the Heads of Argument which the Lord Keeper said was good Law but not seasonably delivered And told him that as he was prohibited by the King from his Reading so he must be set at liberty again by his Majesty and advised him to move the Archbishop of Canterbury for his Proceeding After the Reader had been twice at Lambeth without admittance the third time he spake with the Arch-bishop there who told him he had fallen upon an unfit subject and in an unseasonable time and that it would stick closer to him than he was aware of He answered that he had not done it of any evil intentions neither had he taken this resolution of late time but that above two years ago when he knew he must now perform the Exercise he then made choice of that Statute and untill within these twelve Moneths he never heard of any opposition against the Prelacy and thinking the same that was moved against them in another Kingdom nothing concerned this therefore he conceived no offence would have been taken by it and for him to have altered the frame of his Reading specially before this time he should have disappointed the House and wronged himself in his studies Profession and Practice in regard he would not have been able in so short a time to have performed so great a Task as that was His Lordship answered that perhaps he had been better have given it quite over at the first than to suffer that by it which he was like to do The Reader replied that what he had delivered was good Law and he was able to maintain it and would stand by it and hoped he needed not fear any mans power in regard his cause was lawfull and warrantable but he humbly desired his Majesties leave to finish what he had begun He was answered that his Majesty had otherwise resolved of it This Reader went out of Town on Friday the sixth of March accompanied with fourty or fifty Horsmen in very good credit and applause of the House in which he is a Member to this instant time The Scots Commissioners lately here having done their arrand and thereby settled a resolution in this State to have a narrower search into their national actions returned home to Edinburgh that same night the nineteenth of November that a great part of the Castle wall fell to the ground with the Canons mounted as if undermined and to be surprized by an Enemy which so dayly they supposed was done by design of treachery to them who were all Traytors themselves But recovering their fears and Jealousie this time was calculated to be the just Anniversary of the Kings birth day the nineteenth of November 1600. just thirty nine years since and so they turned the accident to an ominous presage of the ruines of the Kings design now in hand against their Idol Covenant yet the more subtiler sort made a better use and more politique for the King having commanded the Lord Estrich Colonel Ruther and the commander of the Castle to order the reedifying the Covenanters withstood those appointed not permitting any materials to be carried in for repaire this was the highest in dignity and signified their resolution not to be mastered To which the King gave suddain apprehension concluding upon force to bring them to obedience And therefore he drawes out a select choyce of his Council into the Cabinet for the Scotish affaires and indeed directly to cashier such the most especially as were light headed and as the Arch Bishop is said to nickname them Hunting Lords
continuance and Repeal of divers Statutes 5. For the establishing of the Estates of the Tenants of Brumfield and Yale in the County of Denbigh and of the Tenures Rents and services thereupon reserved according to a late composition made for the same with the King then Prince of Wales 6 For the confirmation of the Subsidies granted by the Clergy 7. For the grant of five intire Subsidies granted by the Temporality There was a Design in the King to lay it up under deck amongst other Crimes fit for Star-chamber Censure that when the State should have been at leasure their Charter might have paid for all and I know the Attorney Generall had Order in these In Iuly dies Doctor Preston an excellent Preacher of whom something hath been said in the Historie of the Church which concludes his Character A subtile Disputant and great Polititian having large parts of sufficient Receipt to mannage the broad Seal which if the Condition had pleased was proffered unto him and might have been the Dukes right hand Or rather lesse then his little finger who despairing of being Patriarch of the Presbyterian party used the Duke no longer Excellent parts no doubt he had His pieces are in Print His Posthumus And his Pupil left nothing unsaid of his life to give him merit and eternall memory Somewhat must be said as to his Politiques He was esteemed indeed a proper Patron for the Puritan Presbyter which now got head to prick up And all the Plot was to bring him in forsooth to make the Duke in that Ministery which they durst intrust to his Management And first to appear aloof the manner of Court observers his addresse must be to the Dukes Confident rhe Earl of Holland made easie to him by favour of that family But yet a Remembrancer was thought upon to move by the by a dependant of that Lords who in truth dealt Ingeniously Intimating to the Duke Doctor Prestons power and interest with the Presbyters in that time more necessary to be sought unto then to be put by To which the Duke answered with an Oath The King knows him too well and hath no good opinion of him If so replied the Other and already known the advantage the better to make alike use of him so they did In which truly the Dukes head was not too easie for the Doctors for in shew he was carressed to undo him which wrought the effects suspected of his own followers lest he should be not onely besprinkled but drencht in Court Holy-water And in very earnest somewhat tainted he was and tempted with ambitious hopes and if I may speak it himself was brought to accept it But it was very necessary for him to undeceive his Disciples and there to intrust One in whom Obedience and Blindnesse met together A being made to do as he was bidden To him the Doctor writes a Letter under hand to be communicated onely unto special friends wherein to blazon himself he relates what he thought fitting to be believed more to his own glory and disparagement of the weaknesse of Court wits as he stiled them then many vain men might be thought to imagine That not enough he vents therein his own policy working upon the witlesse Statists at Court bestowing on each of them by Name such characters as he conceived would caresse his Pupils with a Stanza or two short and Satyrical This Letter sealed was found in Smithfield broken open and carried to the Duke But by a noble friend of his handsomly descried to him How witty he was in Rhimes and bidden to look about him Of which when he had but a hint He clapt his hand on his heart and confessed he was undone But his party to procure their Patrons peace of minde and to silence such a Witnesse they dealt subtilly indeed down-right Bribes to the Dukes Barber to finger the Letter out of the Dukes pocket and so being brought to the Doctor to bury the obloquie before his death not much time after This I say to shew how partially Mens pens put down private Actions which they guesse at Other such I could unravel And for this with the Testimony to boot of a Person then his disciple and since of that eminency in honour and justice as we shall fail to finde out his example Sithence the return home of the second unfortunate Fleet designed to relieve Rochel this whole vacation took up the time with those ships and others appointed for a fresh Expedition thither The most accomplished Armado that was set out by England And the Duke designed himself to be the General Commander once more to give adventure for the fatal effects or final end to their languishing misery And because the Earl of Marlborough had been a dull and unactive Treasurer for raising money to the Exchequer he was removed to be President of the Privy Counsel And Sr Richard Weston lately created Baron supposed more solid for the weight of that Staffe And in truth the King was put upon it to seek for such men whose abilities might recover him from the hazzard and defection he was fallen into both in his Purse and power He for the one and Sr. Thomas Wentworth of the North was made a Lord ready for the next Session to sit with the Peers He had been too heavy against Prerogative and this was a way to bring them in for the King The Fleet now in readinesse the King draws down his Guests of Progresse towards Portsmouth where the Ships were and from thence to dis-embogue The Town so full of Gallants and so pestered with lodgings that the King kept aloof and made his Court four miles distant The Duke very diligent to hasten his designe treating daily with the Commissioners of Rochel and Soubize in Portsmouth with his Duchesse and Family when He took his last leave of this life And because the Historian is much mistaken in relation of the Dukes Murder I shall ingeniously and truly not upon surmize or Hear-say resolve all the particular That fatall morning the three and twentieth of August the Duke having fitted himself to wait upon the King he hastily called for Breakfast His servants attending the sewer to bring in the meat the Duke came down stairs from his upper Chamber to eat in a lower Parlour turning in at the foot of the Stairs in a narrow Entry And Sir Thomas Friar one of his Colonels following him to the Parlour door stooping to take his leave the Duke declining imbraced Friar with these words Honest Tom. and so turning into the Room one Iohn Felton at that instant shadowed behinde them stabbed him to the heart with a back-blow of a Coutel-knife which stuck in his body till the Duke dragg'd it out and so enlarged the orifice that streamed with the effusion of so much bloud and spirit that instantly he died not able it seems to utter a syllable and certainly no soul there present for he fell backward into the Parlour and the Assassinate
former Reader Important reasons no doubt for a Rebellion yet it somewhat appeased the multitudes rage and gave opportunity for some of the chief Officers to endeavour to raise the siege against the poor Bishop of Galloway and Lords at the Councel and to passe thorow the rude company who cryed out God defend all such as defend the Cause and confound the Service-Book and the maintainers of it In this outrage Trahair trodâ—n down under foot almost to death the City Officers were sent to sundry Lords privately assembled on behalf of the common Cause against the Service-Book who resenting the present danger of destruction to all guarded those out of the Councel chamber through the croud to their several Lodgings and amongst those Ring-leaders who more busie then two of the Bayliffs that subscribed these former Letters to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Somewhat calmed That afternoon was Proclaimed this their seditious Insurrection for all persons to disband their convention and to keep the peace upon the highest pain to offenders But to little effect for now the Citizens send Commissioners to the Councel Table to expostulate and require satisfaction and performance of the Paper promised upon the Pacification And thus began their new Religious and glorious Reformation which they say God hath so miraculously prospered The first acted as we have heard in the Church The second in the streets of the chief City upon the persons of the most eminent of Birth and Authority by the very pattern of Geneva their Mother Discipline And by this rascal example the third Insurrection becomes countenanced by others and at last Acted and drawn into the form of two Petitions to the Chancellor The first from the common rowt of gathering hands of Men Women and Children The other brings up the Rear to the Councel In the Name of the Noblemen Gentry Ministers and Burgesses And both of them against the Service-Book and Canons of the Church To my Lord Chancellor Wee Men Women and Children c. urged with this Book of Service and having considered the same c. childrens consideration c. To the Secret Councel Complaining That the Arch-Bishop and Bishops have drawn Two Books the One of Prayers centaining the seeds of several superstitions Idolatry and false doctrine The Other of Canons against such as oppose that Book on pain of Excommunication And a hundred Canons more say they tending to superstition and errours which we must i the obey or break our Covenant with God or be Horned for Rebels These Petitions were Poasted to the King who rather expected submission and for pardon of the former Insurrections and therefore delayed any answer but caused the Councels Proclamation there to satisfie the subjects of the Kings aversnesse from Popery which was pretended in all their Pulpits to make him odious in their intentions And Rixburgh Lord Pivâ— Seal being come to Court to tell the Newes was returned back with Instructions to the Councel who sat at Dalkieth near Edinburgh lest by a further distance the Rebellion might take boldnesse to increase And they removed the Session or Term from Lithgow to Sterling a place of strength twenty four miles from Edinburgh And Trahair also coming to the King was soon returned also with further Instructions and all the Councel being met proclamed the dispersion of the Multitude got together And now indeed the confederate Lords and others did the same thing which formerly they called the Uproars of Rascalls Themselves avowing the first affront to the King his Authority and Laws The Earl of Hume and the Lord Lindsey being assisted with numbers of all Ranks made Protestation against the Proclamations at Sterling and after at Lithgow and last at Edenburgh And the Kings Hearlds with their Coats of Arms forced to stay and hear the Protestation in scorn of all Authority In which Protestation of theirs may be observed their Insolent demands in humble terms protesting against All Acts to be done in Councel where the Bishops shall be present Their Protestation against them making them parties that they may not be Iudges and so they must be forthwith removed and then afterwards accused Condemn first and try them after And comparing these demands now with such other succeeding you will finde that a nearer in likelihood of the Kings Concession the farther they fly to Capitulations intolerable And now begins that most unnatural causelesse and horrible Rebellion that former times or I hope after ages will paralel But somewhat more must be said to discover the temper of such of the Nobility actors herein The Earl of Trahair by his subtile insinuations and seeming affections to the Church crept into close friendship with Laud Arch Bishop of Canterbury and by his means advanced to be Lord Treasurer of Scotland by the resignation of the Earl of Morton for a sum of money from the King and the command of the Kings Yeomen of the Guard resigned to Morton by the Earl of Holland who was then made Groom of the stool Trahair thus setled into favour and power professed his obligations to the Arch Bishop calling him Patron the better to deceive him who in truth raised him up thereby to be a more able Instrument and as he thought him willing for the service of the Church and setling the Service Book and Book of Canons than the Scottish Bishops themselves could be But the very day before that the Book was to be read Trahair with others of the Privy Councel there accessary with him withdrew to Dalk-house seven miles from Edinburgh to expect the event at that distance and though the story is truly set down by the Kings grand Declaration and with much favour to Hamilton Roxburgh and Trahair whose treacheries were shadowed in those actions and in that time even from the King himself and all others until of late discovered by the event See page 124. grand Declaration But most strange it is that not any one of them nor their complices nor of the Councel should prove so honest or loyal to their Soveraign that had deserved well from them all as to give the least Intelligence to the King from thence to have set him in the right way of preventing their treachery And yet 't is true that the honâ—st Earl of Nidsdale Sr. Robert Spotswood and some of the Bishops posted hither to Court Informing the King of their strong combination which might have been then dissipated but Hamiltons and Roxburghs power and Interest put them by for upon the first tumult 23. Iuly the King sends Roxburgh to discover and examine the setters on of the common people who returns with assurance that not any person of quality had been abetters all the Officers and Ministers of Justice very dutifull and earnest to suppresse them and to prevent the future which soon after proved the contrary when it was too late to discover the mischief And indeed the Arch Bishops direction failed hereafter in not discovering the subtilty
I think never Bill passed here in this House of more favour to the Subject than this is and if the other Rock be as happily past over as this shall be at this time I do not know what you can ask for ought I can see at this time that I can make any qâ—â—stion to yield unto Therefore I mention this to shew unto you the sense I have of this Bill and the Obligation as I may say that you have to me for it for hitherto to speak freely I had no great encouragement to do it If I should look to the outward face of your actions or proceedings and not to the inward intentions of your hearts I might make question of doing it Hitherto you have gone on in that which concerns your selves to amend and not in those things that meerly concern the strength of this Kingdom neither for the State nor mine own particular This I mention not to reproach you but to shew you the state of things as they are you have taken the Government all in pieces and I may say it is almost off the Hinges A skilfull Watch-maker to cleanse his Watch will take it asunder and when it is put together it will go better so that he leaves not out one Pin of it Now as I have done all this on my part you know what to do on yours and I hope you shall see clearly that I have performed really what I expressed to you at the beginning of this Parliament of the great trust I have of your affections to me and this is the great expression of trust that before you do any thing for me I do put such a confidence in you And then also the King signed the Bill of Subsidies both which Acts so pleasing to the Parliament that at a Conference it was agreed to wait upon his Majesty at White-hall and by the Lord Keeper Sir Edward Littleton return their humble thanks And Bonfires and Bell-ringing throughout all the City were signs of joy which were so done by Order of Parliament The eight and twentieth of February Master Pym was sent from the Commons House to prefer the Charge of High Treason in fourteen Articles against the Arch-bishop of Canterbury who was thereupon ordered to the Tower but upon humble suit and some Reasons besides his Commitment thither was respited till the first of March and to that time he was Prisoner to the Black Rod. Nor would this Mans remorse serve their turn but the down fall of Episcopacy a total Reformation in the Hierarchy it self Nay they must not mannage any secular power nor Votes in Parliament And at length they would quite extirpate them Root and Branch And the ground of their guilt was framed into an Induction of Particulars annexed to their Petitions as may in part appear which it seems were not sufficient but that they meant to make it up with more and yet the other were eight and twenty very large Articles and from them an Addition of as many evil Consequences as might serve for a Treatise And after the Reading in the House were put under the consideration of a Committee We may imagine it impossible to express the various Debates pro con upon that subject the wit of man could not invent more either for Tongues in the House or Pens abroad at home and beyond Seas Amongst many Tongues this Speech of the Lord Digby against the Petition and for Episcopacy deserves the mentioning in effect thus That he looked not upon that Petition as a Petition from the City of London but from he knew not what fifteen thousand Londoners all that could be got to subscribe That therein he discovered a mixture of things Contemptible Irrational and Presumptuous Contemptible Did ever any man think that the Fables of Ovid or Coriat's News should by fifteen thousand have been presented to a Parliament as a motive for the extirpation of Bishops For the scandal of the Rocket the Lawn-sleeves the four-corner'd Cap the Cope the Surplice the Hood the Canonical Coat c. may pass as Arguments of the same weight He did not know whether it were more preposterous to infer the Extirpation of Bishops from such weak Arguments or to attribute as they do to Church-government all the civil grievances Not a Patent not a Monopoly not the price of a Commodity raised but these men make Bishops the cause of it Irrational A Petition ought to be like a kinde of Syllogism the Conclusion the Prayer ought to hold proportion with the Premisses that is with the Complaints and to be deduced from them but in this Petition there was a multitude of Allegations of Instances of Abuses and Depravations in Church-government and what is thence inferred Let the Use be utterly abolished for the Abuses sake For the moveables sake to take away the solid good of a thing is just as reasonable as to root up a good Tree because there is a Canker in the Branches Presumptuous What greater boldness can there be than for Petitioners to prescribe to a Parliament what and how it should do For multitude to teach a Parliament what is and what is not the Government according to Gods Word Again it is high presumption to petition point-blank against a Government in force by Law the honour of former Acts must be upheld because all the reverence we expect from future times to our own Acts depends upon our supporting the dignity of former Parliaments He said We all agree that a Reformation of Church-government is most necessary but to strike at the Root he can never give his Vote before three things were cleared to him First that no Rule no Boundaries can be set to Bishops able to restrain them from such Exorbitances Secondly such a Frame of Government must be laid before us as no time no corruption can make liable to inconveniences proportionable with those we abolish Thirdly whether the new Model is practicable in the State and consistent with Monarchy For the first he was confident a Triennial Parliament would be a curb sufficient to order them For the second he was also confident that if we did listen to those who would extirpate Episcopacy we should in state of every Bishop we put down in a Diocess set up a Pope in every Parish For the last he was of opinion that it would be unsafe for Monarchy for if the Presbyterian Assemblies should succeed they would assume a power to excommunicate Kings as well as other men And if Kings came once to be excommunicated men are not like to care much what becomes of them But notwithstanding all their Debates and banding Episcopacy was alive though drooping for the Commons the tenth of March voted That no Bishop shall have any Vote in Parliament nor any judicial power in the Star-chamber nor bear any sway in temporal Affairs and that no Clergy-man shall be in Commission of Peace And yet in some doubt what to do as to the Hierarchy they in
from the west Indies the onely facile way to prevail against the Spainard to an expenceful successless attempt upon Cales 4. The precipitate breach with France taking their goods and ships without recompense to the English whose goods were confiscate in that Kingdom 5. The peace with Spain without consent of Parliament the deserting the Palsgraves cause mannaged by his Enemies 6. The charging of this Kingdom with billeted Souldiers with the Design of German Horse to enslave this Nation to Arbitrary Contributions 7. The dissolving of the Parliament 2 Caroli and the exacting of the proportion of five Subsidies after the Parliament was dissolved by Commission of Loan and such as refused imprisoned some to Death great Sums of Money required by Privy Seals Excise the Petition of Right blasted 8. The Parliament dissolved 4 Caroli imprisoning some Members fining them and others Sir Francis Barington died in Prison whose bloud still cries for vengeance of those Ministers of State The publishing of false and scandalous Declarations against the Parliament And afterwards Injustice Oppression and Violence broke in The enlargements of Forests contrary to Charta de Foresta Coat and Conduct Money c. And then the Remonstrance ravels into all the particular pretended Designs corrupt Councils and the effects of what ever happened or usually doth happen in any Nation of Government even to Clerks of the Market and Commissions of Sewers Brass Farthings Projects Monopolies c. Then upon all the mis-actions of Courts of Iudicature Council-Table and all And principally against Bishops and their Proceeding by all their subordinate Officers their Writings Preachings Opinions in conjunction with Papists and Prote stants in Doctrine Discipline and Ceremony And endeavouring to reduce Scotland thereto and an Army was raised against them by Contribution of Clergy and Papists the Scots enforced to raise an Army for their Defence but concluded in Pacification and throughout excusing the Scots palliating all their Insurrections as necessitated to defend themselves against malignant Councils and Counsellours calling them Scots Rebells and the English War Bellum Episcopale Then to make a progress into Reformation the Remonstrance tells us what they have done by their care wisdoms and circumspection removed some Malignants suppressed Monopolies and all the aforesaid Disorders in an instant taking away High Commission and Star-Chamber Courts c. Procuring Bills of Triennial Parliament and continuance of this which two Laws they say are more advantageous than all the other Statutes enforce And in a word what ere the King hath done amiss they are not sparing to publish it what gracious favours he hath afforded by several Bills the Parliament ascribe to their own wisdoms and promise to the King and whole Kingdom more honour and happiness than ever was enjoyed by any his Predecessours And this the Parliament instantly printed and published contrary to the Kings desire though his Answer was speedy to the Petition and Remonstrance thus in effect That having received a long Petition consisting of many Desires of great moment together with a Declaration of a very unusual nature being confident that their own reason and regard to him as well as his express Intimation by his Controller to that purpose would have restrained them from publishing of it untill his convenient time of answer and tells them how sensible he is of this their disrespect To the Preamble of the Petition he professes he understands not of a wicked and malignant party admitted to his Council and Imployment of Trust of endeavouring to sow amongst the People false Scandals to blemish and disgrace the Parliament c. All or any of which did he know of he would be as ready to punish as they are to complain To their Petition the first part concerning Religion and consisting of several Branches as for that of Popish Designs he hath and will concur with all the just Desires of his People in a Parliamentary way To the depriving of the Bishops of their Votes in Parliament their Right is grounded upon the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom and Constitutions of Parliament For the abridging of the inordinate power of the Clergy The taking away of the High Commission Court moderates that and if there continue Usurpations in their Iurisdictions he neither hath nor will protect them And as to the clause of Corruptions in Religion Church-government and Discipline c. That for any Innovations he will willingly concur for the removal if any be by a National Synod but he is sorry to hear of such terms Corruptions since he is perswaded that no Church can be found upon Earth professing the true Religion with more purity of Doctrine than the Church of England doth which by the grace of God he will maintain not onely against all Invasions of Popery but also from the Irreverence of those many Schismaticks and Seperatists wherewith of late this Kingdom and this City abounds To the second prayer of the Petition concerning the Removal and choice of Counsellours that by these which he hath exposed to Trial there is none so near to him in place and affection whom he will not leave to the Law and to their particular charge and sufficient proof That for their choice of his Counsellours and Ministers of State that were to debar him the natural liberty which all Free-men have being besides the undoubted Right of his Crown to call to his Council whom he pleaseth being carefull to elect persons of ability and integrity To the third prayer concerning Ireland Not to alienate the Forfeited Lands thereof he concurs with them but then whether it be now seasonable to resolve before the Event of War be seen that he much doubts of but thanks them for their chearfull Ingagement for their suppression of that Rebellion upon which so many hazzards do depend And for their Conclusion and promise to apply themselves for support of his royal Estate c. he doubts not thereof from their Loyalties to which he will add his assistance The Kings Declaration to all his loving Subjects Although he doth not believe that the House of Commons intended by their Remonstrance to put him to any Apology for his past or present Actions yet since they have thought it so very necessary to publish the same he thinks it not below his Kingly Dignity to compose and settle the affections of his meanest Subjects He shall in few words pass over the narrative part wherein the Misfortunes of this Kingdom from the first entring to the Crown to the beginning of this Parliament are remembred in so sensible expressions And that other which acknowledgeth those many good Laws passed this Parliament To which he saith that as he hath not refused any Bill for redress of Grievances mentioned in their Remonstrance so he hath not had a greater Motive thereto than his own Resolution to free his Subjects for the future And possibly they may confess that they have enjoyed a greater measure of happiness these last sixteen years both in peace
of a known Fortune and unquestionable Reputation wonders that he should be pressed to remove him without any particular Charge objected against him and therefore untill some just Exception be he is obliged to preserve his own work lest his favour and good opinion become a mis-fortune to his Servants As for his Forts and Castles of this Kingdom they shall alwaies remain in such hands as the Parliament may conâ—ide in which being the inseperable Flowers of the Crown vested in him derivative from his Ancestours by the Fuâ—damental Laws of the Kingdom he will reserve to himself and to bestow them as their Eminencie shall not be disproved by his Parliament For the Militia which by Law is subject to no command but his own when any particular course shall be digested by them for ordering the same inreference to his honour and safetie of the Kingdom He will then return to them a satisfactorie Answer therein And that he having granted to them more than ever any King hath done they will not ask more than ever any Subjects have desired And therefore conjures them by all the Acts of Dutie and Favour which they have received by their hopes of future happiness by their love of Religion and peace of the Kingdom in which that of Ireland cannot be forgotten That they will not be transported by unâ—â—cessarie Iealousies and Fears but that they will speedily pursue the proposed way by his former Messages to compose the Distractions of this Kingdom Nor was this satisfactory but that again they petition for the same and for his Majesties speedy and gracious Answer To which the King not over-hasty to resolve or rather not to alter from his former Resolutions therein The old way of Petitions are set on work from all Counties From the County of Suffâ—lk to the number of 1500. against the Votes of Popish Lords and Bishops in the House of Peers Ian. 31. and were answered approving their care and endeavour for the publick good with promise that the House of Commons will use their endeavour for their Desires Another Petition of 2000. Mechanicks Tradesmen about London to the same effect And were answered that the House of Commons were just now in consideration thereof The People were taught to reply that they doubted not the care of the Commons House but they were told that all their Distrust was in the House of Lords where the Popish Lords and Bâ—shops had the greatest power and there it stuck whose Names they desired to know and were so earnest that unwillingly they would withdraw whilest it was debated And afterwards had this Answer That the House of Commons had already endeavoured Relief from the Lords in their Requests and shall so continue till Redress be obtained And at the tail of these the City Dames accompanied a Petition to the like effects and were heartily treated for their care of the common good The second of February the House of Commons sent for Sir Edward Dearing one of their Members and examined him concerning his Book of all his Speeches this Parliament and some intended to be spoken in which some Particulars thereâ—n tended to the dishonour of that House and their Privileges for which he was excluded the House and his Book to be burnt at Westminster Cheapside and Smithfield and he committed to the Tower during pleasure The Committee met at Merchant-tailors Hall upon the Bill for raising four hundred thousand pounds for Ireland which was afterwaâ—ds effected but very little thereof sent to their succour A Message was sent from the Lords to the Commons that they had passed the Bill for disabling all persons in holy Orders to have any Place or Vote in Parliament or to exercise any temporal Jurisdiction which receiving some Amendments voted in the House of Commons the Bills were carried up by Sir Robert Harley to the Lords with high expressions of the Commons joy for the even Agreement and their Desire to the Lords to hasten the Bill for the King to pass But not to let him take breath for his second Answer hereto and being sensible that their five Members are lodged under the obloquy of Delinquency and under the Charge of high Treason both Houses once again petition that they may be informed within two Days what proof there is against them that they may be called to a legal Trial it being their undoubted Right that no Member of Parliament can be proceeded against without the consent of Parliament Febr. 2. And to these two Petitions presented both in a Day they receive this Answer That to the first of them when he shall know the extent of power which is extended to be established in those persons to be Commanders of the Forts and Militia and to what time limited no power shall be limited no power shall be executed by his Majestie alone without advice of Parliament so that they declare them such by Names whom he shall have just cause to refuse And to the other Petition That as he once conceived he had ground enough to accuse them so now he findes as good cause wholly to desert any prosecution of them And lest some of his Subjects may be involved in some unknowing and unwilling Errours he is ready to grant such a free and general pardon as his Parliament shall think convenient And now the Parliament considers the Kings Resolution in both those Petitions not to intrust the power of the Militia out of himself nor otherwise to clear Kimbolton and the five Members but inclusive by a general Pardon which they utterly refuse These two Demands of the Parliament necessarily depending each of the other the breach of Privileges giving them just cause of Fears and Jealousies to what excess the Kings will to do and power to execute might increase In these two therefore they as violently resolve to binde his hands and never left him till he was forced to take his leave of them which so daily follows But to prepare his affairs to his own intentions he resolves to send the Queen out of the Danger who was lately scared with a Report that the Parliament had an intent to accuse her of high Treason and that Articles were drawn up to that purpose which the Parliament excuse as a publick Scandal upon them To which she mildly makes answer That there was a general Report thereof but she never saw any Articles in writing and having no certain Authour for either she gave little credit thereto nor will she believe that they would lay any Aspersion upon her who hath ever been very unapt to mis-conster the Actions of any one person and much more the proceedings of Parliament and shall at all times wish an happy understanding between the King and his People In truth there had not been onely a Rumour abroad but a dangerous conceit that the Queen had so much power with the King as to mis-advise him and had she not resolved to be gone aside they did intend to drive her away
Pietie and Iustice therein And offered to joyn in any course for the good of that Kingdom These being the Particulars it will be considerable how far these Propositions trench upon the Kings rights without any considerable compensation First In that of Religion The Parliaments Commissioners proposed the taking away his whole Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction his Donations and Temporalities of Bishopricks His first Fruits and Tenths of Bishops Deans and Chapters instead whereof the Parliaments Commissioners did not offer to constitute the least dependance of the Clergie upon the King And for this considerable a part of his Revenue they proposed only the Bishops Lands to be setled on him reserving a power even in those Lands as the Parliament shall think fit whereas all the Lands both of Bishops Deans and Chapters if those Corporations must be dissolved doe undoubtedly belong to the King in his own Right And for the Militia as it is proposed The King is so totally divested of the Regal power of the Sword that he shall be no more able either to assist his Neighbour Allies though men were willing to engage therein or to defend his own Dominions from Rebellion or invasion and consequently the whole power of Peace or War the undoubted right of the Crown is taken from him And so for Ireland The power of nominating his Deputy or Officers there of managing or the least medling in that War or making Peace is thereby taken from the King Nay it was proposed to bereave him of the power of a Father Education or Mariage of his own Children and of a Master in the rewarding of his own Servants And it was observed to the Parliaments Commissioners That after a War of neer four years for which the defence of Religion Property of Subjects and Priviledges of Parliament were made the Cause should be treated and concluded in 20. daies the time limited by the Parliament Nor indeed in all the Treaty there hath not been offered to be treated concerning the breach of any Law or of the property of the Subject or priviledge of Parliament but only Propositions for altering a Government established by Law and for the making of new laws by which almost all the old are or may be cancelled and there was nothing insisted on of the Kings Commissioners which was not Law or denied that the other Commissioners have demanded as due by Law And for conclusion of all which we conserve for the last place the Kings Commissioners being agast at the others sudden Declaration of no more time to Treat besought them to interpose with the Parliament that this Treaty may be revived and the whole matters not treated on may be considered and that depending the Treaty to the end they may not Treat in blood there may be a Cessation of Arms and the miserable people may have some earnest of a blessed peace And because they cannot give a present Resolution they are desired to represent all to the two Houses and that the King may have their speedy Answer So then in all the fore-recited passages it may easily be observed First the Parliaments Indisposition and Aversion from Treating Secondly their Impotency and Qualification of their Commissioners to Treat Thirdly their Expostulations and Demands in the Treaty And lastly their Obduration against all Enlargement Prorogation or Reviving of the Treaty The King complaines of what is come to pass the fruitless end of this Treaty that his Commissioners offered full measured Reasons and the other Commissioners have stuck rigidly to their demands the same with their former propositions which had been too much though they had taken him Prisoner and transmitted the command of Ireland from the Crown of England to the Scots which shewes that Reformation of the Church is not the chief end of the Scotish Rebellion But it being in him presumption and no piety so to trust to a good cause as not to use all lawfull means to maintain it Therefore he gives power to the Queen in France to promise that he will take away all the penal laws against the Roman Catholicks in England as soon as he shall be able to do it so be he may have assistance the visible necessity of his affairs so much depending on it the ill effect of the Treaty enforcing And professes in these words I look saies the King upon the way of Treaties as a retiring from fighting like Beasts to arguing like men whose strength should be more in their understandings then in their limbs And though I could seldome get opportunities to Treat yet I never wanted either desire or disposition to it having greater confidence of My Reason then my Sword I was so wholly resolved to yield to the first that I thought neither my self nor others should need to use the second if once we rightly understood each other Nor did I ever think it a diminution of me to prevent them with expresses of my desires and even importunities to Treat It being an office not onely of humanitie rather to use Reason then Force but also of Christianitie to seek peace and ensue it As I was very unwillingly compell'd to defend my self with Arms so I very willingly embraced any thing tending to peace The events of all VVar by the Sword being very dubious and of a Civil VVar uncomfortable the end hardly recompensing and late repairing the mischief of the means Nor did any success I had ever enhance with me the price of Peace as earnestly desired by me as any man though I was like to pay dearer for it then any man All that I sought to reserve was mine Honour and my Conscience the one I could not part with as a King the other as a Christian. The Treaty at Uxbridge gave the fairest hopes of an happy composure had others applied themselves to it with the same moderation as I did I am confident the War had then ended I was willing to condescend as far as Reason Honour and Conscience would give me leave nor were the remaining differences so essential to my peoples happiness or of such consequence as in the least kinde to have hindered my Subjects either security or prosperity for they better enjoyed both many years before ever those demands were made some of which to deny I think the greatest Iustice to my self and favour to my Subjects I see Iealousies are not so easily allaied as they are raised Some men are more afraid to retreat from violent Engagements then to Engage what is wanting in equity must be made up in pertinacie Such as had little to enjoy in peace or to lose in war studied to render the very Name of Peace odious and suspected In Church-affairs where I had least liberty of prudence having so many strict ties of Conscience upon me yet I was willing to condescend â—o far to the setling of them as might have given fair satisfaction to all men whom Faction Covetousness or Superstition had not engaged more then any true zeal charity or love of
Kings cause the danger of the Kingdome and after all to beseech a conference with Montrose But he returned answer with peevish scorns Wherefore Montrose resolves to surprise into reason Therefore in depth of Winter the last of December he marches through Angus over Gransbaw hills and so with a few men he comes direct North into Sâ—ratbogge where Huntly kept in hold but with wondrous cunning escaped to his Castle Bogye upon the mouth of the River Spey that runs North and South Thither posts Montrose with two men and so disguised rushes in and salutes him Where they confer and over-mastred with Montrose's reason and perhaps loyalty to his Sovereigns cause they agree and shook hands in earnest Huntlâ—y to pass over the Spey and fall down into Murray Land South-West Montrose to march Southwards on the East side to Strath-spey and then suddenly to meet and Besiege Innerness a Garison in the North of Murray Land on the Sea Coast above the great Lake Nessa which was near froze And his two Sons Alboin and Lewis coâ—firmed friendship and obedience hereto upon the most assurance by oath that could possible be given from men of Honour and by force of fair means to draw to them the Earl of Seafort Montrose accordingly Marches with his Forces towards Innerness and sends Patrick Graham and Dromond to raise the whole men seven hundred who were put to it for the Arguile Party and others were fallen upon the Mack-Gregories and Mack-Nubies who sided with Montrose with fifteen hundred men Having already fired a Town in the Lakes and besieged Ample Castle from which they are forced by the Athole men and pursued but Face about and fight and being Routed fly and many slain and so return to Montrose Of whom we take leave till we meet the next year The Foraign Affairs speak the surrender of Dunkirk to the French the tenth of October and the same day the news was carried to the King and Queen Regent newly arrived at Paris from Fountain-Bleau the Spaniards have now but three Haven Towns in Flanders Newport and Baukerber which are not fit for greater Vessels then of ten Tun and that of Ostend in truth capable of greater but those less safe there than in the open Road. The Besieged Marched out of Dunkirk that night with fifteen hundred Foot and three hundred Horse besides four hundred sick and wounded persons they have lost in their defence six or seven hundred of their best men those that marched out were conducted to Newport The Duke of Anguien now Prince Conde put in the Marshall of Rantzaw Governour thereof The Holland Ships assisted the French here We may not confound the Original and Natural Inhabitants with an heap of divers Nations who being brought under the Banners of Spain into their Haven commodious for Sea-roads did exercise that Piracy which naturally the Spaniard doth not profess The chiefest of the Natural people are Flemings a Generation of good men lovers of Traffique Improvers of Handicraft as appears by the great Trade and Commerce of those most populous Towns of Flanders and the rest of the Netherlands Another sort of them subsisting wholly by Thieving and Piracie The fifth of September the Emperour at Prague came attired in his Emperial Robes with his Eldest Son in white cloth of Tyssue early into the Cathedral Church of the Castle attended with divers Princes and Lords that bare several dignities and honours in the State of Germany the Emperour sat upon a Throne of Gold the Son upon Silver who having been re-attired with Royal Abiliments in a side Chappel was conducted by the Estates of Bohemia unto his Throne where after Masse he went and kneeled down before the Cardinal of Harach invironed with sixteen Prelats in Pontificalibus Annointed him and put on his Head a Regal Crown whereupon he was proclaimed King of Bohemia and received the Oath of Allegeance of the Peâ—rs and States of that Kingdom and the Ceremonies and Feastings finished the Father and Son went to Lintz The Parliament and Scot having bought and sold the best Bargain are soon decieved of their Prize by a third party as bad as both the other The Parliament jealous of any present Power to prevail but themselves by degrees debate the lessening of the Army thereby to be rid of such whom they misliked And to send over thousands of them into Ireland to manage that War against the Rebells there But the Souldiers set on begin to Mutiny and being ripe for acting their Commanders underhand abet them and after some alteration it â—ell into Sedition and so into Division those for the Parliament fared the worse and were Cashiered And therefore â—twas necessary for some truly affected to discriminate the other Those who were intrusted were called Agitators two out of each Regiment who indeed with others of more power Acted for erecting a Democracie having seized the King out of custody of the Parliaments Commissioners under pretence of favour and freedom of his person they indulge him with many small Experiments for the present of his Chaplains converse with his Children caress him to his most eminent Palace so that the Camp and Court seemed one nay they frame Proposals to provide for the King the Army and people envy at the Parliament accuse divers Members of high Treason urge the Dissolution of the Parliament regnant and all this seemingly for the Kings Interest In fine the Military march up to the Parliament and formidable put them in fear Some of the Members of either Houses with their Speakers fly to the Camp for succour the City and such as stay behinde prepare for a Defence whose Circle being too wide for their Management and unfaithfull to themselves fall into Factions the whole City submit to the Discretion of the Army who first ingratiate the Speakers and Members in the Camp and setle them into their Seats again with condign punishment and Impeachment of high Treason upon the Lord Mayor Aldermen divers Lords and many Members The Tower and City Militia are new-modelled into other hands their Fortifications demolished and their Lines of Communication levelled the Admiralty ordered into Commissioners ad yet for all these punishments the City give thanks and pay a Largess to the Army Thus the former eminent power the Presbyter by their own weight and pride sink and raise the other yet these are at their wits end also unresolved and unsetled The people at gazâ— for a Government Proposals from the Army and Propositions from the Parliament the King refuses as in hope to have them lessened which they take for an advantage to themselves The Wheel turns and he is threatned and under hand advised of some Danger to his person which whilest he seeks to avoid he falls into their Pit prepared for him and afterwards into eminent Destruction which the story too soon discovers We may wonder what becomes of the Prince Elector Palatine he remained at Westminster for his Interest might
establishing such additional Laws as might make for the present and future good of the Kingdom and turning the Propositions into Bills and Acts. Yet the next day they Vote To apply themselves once more to his Majesty for his assent to such things in the Propositions as will most make for the good of this Kingdom And these were for the present concerning the great Seal Honours and Titles taking away Bishops c. Declarations and Propositions against the Parliament raising monies for paying the publick debts of the Kingdom The Head Quarters of the Army continuing at Putney and the King at Hampton Court much business was brewing and at last it burst out There had been of late some Souldiers elected out of each Regiment of Horse and Foot who meet and consult by the name of Agitators for the Army and in short time acted in Councels with others of their Commanders profess nothing more then the peoples Liberty and Power and appear for the present as a third Faction with the Presbyter and Independent in the way of Democracie and these were they that seemingly were for the King and as yet had indulged many kindnesses to him since his first restraint the better to bring their purposes to effect and though their Faction had power sufficient to make their own way and framed their Remonstrance into a Case of the Army yet they humbly present it in a Letter to his Excellency their General setting forth From the deep sence of our duty to God to our Countrey to your Excellency to this Army and to our selves we finde such Obligation upon our Consciences written naturally by the â—inger of God in our hearts that we cannot behold the honour of God to be impaired the works of his hands the Land of our Nativity your Excellency this Army our selves or Posterity ready to be swallowed in confusion and to sit still and not rise in the strength of his might to contribute our best endeavours for the prevention thereof c. and so not to be a strange thing that we the means should state the Case of the Army how declined from its Principles of safety what mischiefs are threatned and what remedies are sutable for prevention c. And from our Consciences we attest and protest in the presence of this all-seeing Deity as we desire safety in this life or that which is to come we have no other then cordial and faithful intents to the meek of this our Native Countries to the Parliament your Excellency and this Army in the business of these Papers presented to you from which we are resolved not to recede c. So humbly craving favourable constructions they remain Signed by the Agitators for Lieutenant Gen. Commissary Gen. Col. Fleetwood Col. Riches Col. Whalies Regiments Hamstead 15. October 1657. This the General recieved favourably and resolves to communicate with the General Council A man would admire against whom they would complain They complain in effect That the grievances of the Army many moneths since represented to the Parliament which upon view of our Narratives Representations c. nothing is done either for the Army or the poor distressed people of the Nation And so they ravel into all the neglects of the Parliament in references to the Army in general or in particular to the Widows Orphans or Maimed Souldiers or pay to the Army not burthening the distressed Countrey That there is no period put to this Parliament the House not sufficiently purged The Army not vindicated from the most horrid Injustice of that Declaration against the Army for Petitioning nor of suppressing burning Petitions and imprisoning Petitioners And reckon up the burdens oppressions arbitrary proceedings of Parliament against the Army deduced from their several Remonstrances in ten particular Articles And conclude That whilst we look for Peace and Freedom the Flood-gates of Slavery Oppression and Misery are opened upon the Nation Then in another Paper they insist upon The Mischiefs Evils and Dangers which are and will be the necessary consequence of the Armies declining or delaying the effectual fulfilling of its first Ingagements Promises and Declarations or of its neglect to insist positively upon its first principles of common Right and Freedom which is expressed in five particulars viz. 1. The love of the people to the Army is almost lost c. 2. The Army seems a burden to them whilst their Opressions are increased and no relief by the Army 3. By which means Distractions Divisions Tumults thereby increasing c. 4. That the People are willing rather to have one Tyrant King then hundreds of others such c. 5. And in the fifth they enumerate all the Mischiefs Clamours Complaints which the people suffer are say they ascribed to the Army which they conclude is occasioned by the misgovernment of the Parliament And amongst their eight particulars of the Armies delaying their promises expressed in several Declarations they insist upon That through the same Declension of the Armies first Principle for setling the Nation in peace before the Kings business be considered he is likely to receive his old capacitie before the peoples Freedoms which they have redeemed out of his hands and his forces by blood be cleared and established securely and likewise before any security be given for Arrears for the Army that conquered him let any rational man judge And likewise by the same means the Armies and their assistants Indemnities propounded to receive its strength from the Kings consent whereas only his Signing of or consent to anie Act is wholly Null and void in Law because he is under restraint but also it s the highest disparagement to the Parliament that when they have commanded an Army upon service against the King they should not have sufficient power to save them harmless for obedience to their Commands and also it s the highest dishonour to the Army that they should seek to the Conquered Enemie to save them harmlesse for fighting against them which is to ask him pardon and so will remain a perpetual reproach upon them Then they propose certain Rules and Orders for due Election of Members of Parliament and urge complaints against the late violence upon the Parliament and to be punished for voting a new War or for the Kings coming to London upon his own termes And that the people shall of course meet without any Warrant or Writ once in every two years upon a day appointed in their respective Counties for electing of their Representatives in Parliament and that all the free-born at the age of twenty one years and upwards be the Electors excepting Delinquents and such Parliaments to have a period of time to determine and before that time that they may not be adjournable or disolvable by any power except themselves and that their power be declared in the people and unalterable And these particulars being very large they sum up with their prayers that seing God hath clothed this Army with honour in subduing the
at Carisbroke Castle The King not to be wanting to the Common-wealth sends his Message to the Parliament and therein Concessions even beyond the hopes of most men and Arguments also why he could not assent to the late Propositions and desires a personal Treaty resolving to neglect any thing of his own Right to redeem the Peace of his people C. R. His Majesty is confident that before this time his two Houses of Parliament have received the Message which he left behind him at Hampton Court the eleventh of this moneth by which they will have understood the Reasons which enforced him to go from thence as likewise his constant endeavours for the setling of a safe and well-grounded Peace wheresoever he should be And being now in a place where he conceives himself to be at much more freedom and security than formerly he thinks it necessary not only for making good of his own professions but also for the speedy procuring of a peace in these languishing and distressed Kingdoms at this time to offer such grounds to his two Houses for that effect which upon due examination of all Interests may best conduce thereunto And because Religion is the best and chiefest foundation of peace his Majestie will begin with that particular That for the abolishing Arch-bishops c. his Majesty clearly professeth that he cannot give his consent thereunto both in Relation as he is a Christian and a King For the first he avows that he is satisfied in his judgement that this order was placed in the Church by the Apostles themselves and ever since that time hath continued in all Christian Churches throughout the World untill this last century of years and in this Church in all times of change and Reformation it hath been upheld by the wisdom of his Ancestors as the great preserver of Doctrine Discipline and Order in the Service of God as a King at his Coronation he hath not only taken a solemn oath to maintain this Order but his Majesty and his Predecessors in their confirmations of the great Charter have inseparably woven the right of the Church into the Liberties of the rest of the Subjects and yet he is willing it be provided that the particular Bishops perform the several duties of their callings both by their personal residence and frequent Preachings in their Diocesses as also that they exercise no act of Iurisdiction or Ordination without the consent of their Presbyter and will consent that their powers in all things be so limited that they be not grievous to tender consciences Wherefore since his Majestie is willing to give ease to the consciences of others he sees no reason why he alone and those of his judgement should be pressed to a violation of theirs Nor can his Majestie consent to the alienation of Church Lands because it cannot be denied to be a sin of the highest Sacrilege as also that it subverts the intentions of so many pious Donors who have laid a heavy curse upon all such profane violations which his Majestie is very unwilling to undergo And besides the matter of conscience his Majestie believes it to be a prejudice to the publick good many of his Subjects having the benefit of renewing Leases at much easier Rates than if those possessions were in the hands of private men not omitting the discouragement which it will be to all Learning and Industry when such eminent rewards shall be taken away which now lye open to the Children of meanest persons Yet his Majestie considering the great present distempers concerning Church Discipline and that the Presbyterian Government is now in practice his Majestie to eschew confusion as much as may be and for the satisfaction of his two Houses is content that the said Government be Legally permitted to stand in the same condition it is in for three years provided that his Majestie and those of his judgement or any other who cannot in conscience submit thereunto be not obliged to comply with the Presbyterial Government but have free practice of their own profession without receiving any prejudice thereby and that a free consultation and debate be had with the Divines at Westminster twenty of his Majesties nomination being added unto them whereby it may be determined by his Majesty and the two Houses how the Church Government after the said time shall be setled or sooner if differences may be agreed as is most agreeable to the Word of God with full libertie to all those who shall differ upon Conscientious grounds from that settlement alwaies provided that nothing aforesaid be understood to tolerate those of the popish profession nor the exempting of any Popish Recusant from the penalties of the Laws or to tolerate the publick profession of Atheism or Blasphemy contrary to the Doctrine of the Apostles Nicene and Athanasian Creeds they having been received by and had in reverence of all the Christian Churches and more particularly by this of England ever since the Reformation Next the Militia being that Right which is inseparably and undoubtedly inherent in the Crown by the Laws of this Nation and that which former Parliaments as likewise this hath acknowledged so to be his Majestie cannot so much wrong that trust which the Laws of God and this Land have annexed to the Crown for the protection and security of his people as to divest himself and Successors of the power of the Sword yet to give an infallible evidence of his desire to secure the performance of such agreements as shall be made in order to a peace his Majesty will consent to an Act of Parliament that the whole power of the Militia both by Sea and Land for and during his whole reign shall be ordered and disposed by the two Houses of Parliament or by such persons as they shall appoint with powers limited for suppressing of Forces within this Kingdom to the disturbance of the publick peace and against Foreign invasions and that they shall have power during his said reign to raise monies for the purposes aforesaid and that neither his Majesty that now is or any other by any Authoritie derived only from him shall execute any of the said Powers during his Majesties said reign but such as shall Act by the consent and approbation of the two Houses of Parliament nevertheless his Majestie intends that all Patents Commissions and other Acts concerning the Militia be made and Acted as formerly and that after his Majesties Reign all the power of the Militia shall return intirely to the Crown as it was in the times of Queen Elizabeth and King James of blessed memory After this head of the Militia the consideration of the Arrears due to the Army is not improper to follow for the payment whereof and the ease of his people his Majesty is willing to concur in any thing that can be done without the violation of his conscience and honour Wherefore if his two Houses shall consent to remit unto him such benefit out of Sequestrations
Ormond was arrived in Irelaâ—d with the Kings Commission and dignified with the Title of Deputy to establish a common peace on the best terms he might and so might raise Arms and deliver the King out of Prison The Commissioners therefore are directed to require the King to recall Ormonds Commission and annull his Authority And this is Answered also amongst the Propositions hereafter This while the transactions are reported to the Parliament by piece-meal where such as were averse to peace carp at all particulars unless they were assented to in their own terms yet at last the King unlookt for grants many things And first to the Preamble he hardly and not without caution assents with this That nothing in the Treaty should be taken for granted unless upon a full agreement in all things 1. The King assents to the first Proposition for the calling in of Declarations 3. To the third touching the Militia 4. Touching the Government of Ireland 5. Touching publick payments provided that those debts be audited and ascertained within two years 6. For nulling all Titles of Honour 8. Touching the chief Magistrates of the Kingdom 9. Touching the great Seal 10. Touching the Priviledges of London 11. Touching the Court of Wards Provided that one hundred thousand pounds be yearly paid by way of compensation Secondly He assents to all the Articles of the second Proposition except only one touching Bishops and their Revenues yet not altogether wanting to the desires of the Parliament for whatsoever did appear not to have clearly proceeded from divine Institution he gives way to be totally abolished and so the dignity of arch-Arch-Bishops to fall Episcopal Jurisdiction also viz. of exercizing Ecclesiastical Discipline or Gubernation he suffers to be taken away but not likewise the power of Ordination standing in the right of ordaining Priests and Deacons as being Apostolical But at length hoping the Members would agree to him in other things he condescends that the Office of Ordination for three years should not be exercised by the Bishops without the assent of the Presbytery yet to be suspended untill by twenty Divines of his own nomination consulting with the Synod some thing of certainty should be determined touching Ecclesiastical Government whereto together with the Parliament he promiseth to consent In the mean time that Presbytery be setled for experiment sake he doth not much gain-stand The Bishops Lands and Revenues he affrighted with the horrour of Sacriledge would not suffer to be sold and alienated from the Church yet he would permit them to be let out for 99 years paying a small price yearly in testimony of their hereditary right and for maintenance of the Bishops Provided that after this term be expired they return to the right of the Crown to be imployed or to the use of the Church In the interim determining with himself being redeemed by their own Revenues to return thence for Ecclesiastical uses The seventh Proposition touching Delinquents in his own dangers not unmindful of his friends he could not confirm but condescends 1. That moderate pecuniary fines be imposed on them 2. That they be prohibited access to the King and Court that some of them be banished the Kingdom but not under the brand of Treason nor with loss of life and possessions but with a pecuniary Mulct to be awarded in case they should do otherwise 3. That they be deprived for three years of their right of sitting in the Parliament 4. That they be brought to trial if the Parliament think fit and if they have committed ought against the established Laws of England that they suffer according to their deserts Nevertheless he was contented to grant the other Articles of the same Proposition with this salvo if so be such of the Clergy as were honest learned and free from scandal might enjoy the third part of their Benefices And that such might not be wholly put by the Office Preaching The Authority committed to Ormond in that instant when he was delivered into custody the King cannot recall unless the Houses and he agree in other matters if this come to pass then according to his Concessions to the fourth Proposition he will be conâ—ent the Irish affairs be managed according to the discretion of thâ— Houses only In the mean time he writes Letters to Ormond to act nothing in the execution of that power as long as the Treaty or any hopes of peace lasted During the Treaty that the King might feel the pulse of the Members how they stood affected to him He exhibits Proposals equal he conceived in Conscience and for the publick good to be transmitted to the Parliament 〈◊〉 That he may have liberty to reside in London or in whatsoever of his own Houses and act at a nearer distance with the Parliament with Freedom Honour and safety The which demand the Propositions conceded the Parliament engage should be granted him but having first tasted the palate of the Citizens and been encouraged by the subscriptions of many the ablest Citizens but of worst affections Secondly The King demands He may receive all the Revenues and Emoluments of the Crown Thirdly That he may receive a compensation for the lawful Rights which the Parliament shall think fit to abolish These likewise the Houses consented unto Fourthly That an Act of Amneâ—ie or Oblivion be passed the very means of all traverses which happened in the heat of War may be utterly deleted This Demand they liked not but with cautely and limitations by the benefit whereof the Parliament might persecute many of the Royallists In fine most things were accommodated beyond expectation the Commissioners promised the King also the peace which they fancied supposing belike that the Houses would something recede from their rigid demands for indeed the King upon the matter of his Concessions had almost quitted the Rule of both his Kingdoms England and Ireland And in truth the hopes of almost all good men were thereto had not Factious persons choaked the wished fruit of that Treaty and given a check to peace ready to cement For concerning the Church the Kings Concessions had brought things into so narrow a compass that the chief visible obstruction is that wherein really in conscience he is not satisfied and yet hopes that time and debate may happily reconcile these small differences And if his Parliament shall not think fit to recede from the strictness of their demands in these particulars He can with more comfort cast himself upon his Saviours goodness to support and defend him from all afflictions that may befall him rather 〈◊〉 for any politick consideration which may seem to be a means â—o restore him to deprive himself of the inward tranquillity of a quiet mind wherefore as to these and others before mentioned particulars he adheres to his former Answers and hopes that his Reasonâ— will sufficiently satisfie 20. Novem. These Reasons were referred to the Ministers Assistants 〈◊〉 Commissioners Mr. Marshal Mr. Vines Mr. Carrol and Mr