civil Government I now descend to those their Arts and Devices whereof by the help and influence of a most subtile corrupt and schismatical party in Parliament they made use in order to the raising this late nefarious Rebellion the consequence whereof viz. the extirpating of Monarchy here was in their design long before however it may be thought by some that Necessity and Despair put them upon that blod Exigent after they had gone farther than they thought they could by any outward reconciliation or pardon be safe for if need were sufficient and undoubted testimony might yet be produced who did hear a principal Actor in this late woful Tragedy about a twelve-month after the barbarous murther of King Charles the First express these words I bless God that I have now lived to see the ruine of Monarchy and that I haue been instrumental in it for I do here acknowledge that it hath been in my design ever since I was at Geneva which is now thirty eight years Of these the first and indeed most fatal Artifices was the reducing his Majesty to Necessities to the end he might be inforc'd to betake himself unto such extraordinary means for supply as would certainly attract the odium of his Subjects For accomplishing whereof that war wherein King Iames became engaged on the behalf of his daughter and her children for recovery of the Palatinate gave them a seasonable opportunity the Story whereof I shall briefly here set down Upon the death of the Emperour Matthias 8. Aug. An. 1619. 17 Iac. Ferdinand his Brother adopted by Matthias in his life time was elected Emperour and crowned 19 Septemb. following Which Election the Bohemians disclaiming they chose for their King Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine Who thereupon by his Letters to King Iames whose daughter he had marryed acquaints him therewith craving his advice as to his reception thereof Howbeit before King Iames his answer could come to his hand which was utterly dissuasory he had accepted their choice Whereof King Iames hearing in no little perplexity disavow'd the act and would never stile him by that Title That this unhappy business prov'd most destructive to the Count Palatine will immediately appear For the Emperor Ferdinand became so highly irritated thereat that he soon after publish'd a Proscription against him proclaim'd him guilty of High Treason and declared his resolution to prosecute him as a public Enemy of the Empire and accordingly sent Marquess Spinola with numerous Forces to invade the Palatinate as also Buquoy and D. Balthasar into Bohemia who with a powerful Army gave him Battail near to the City of Prague upon the eighth of November An. 1620 utterly routed the Bohemians and forc'd that new King with his Queen to flee the Country The Report whereof arriving soon after in England caused King Iames to advise with the Lords of his Council upon the 13 th of Ianuary following for recovery and protection of the Palatinate it being the antient Inheritance of his Son in Law and his Children Whereupon thirty thousand Pounds was forthwith sent to the Princes of the Union for their assistance therein and in order to farther help a Parliament call'd to sit at Westminster upon the 30 th of the same month of Ianuary At which Convention the King acquainting the two Houses with what had happened farther represented unto them that he had already treated a Peace in this business but Perswasions without power being as he said of little effect he told them that he thought it fit to provide an Army against the Summer following and desired them therefore to think upon his Necessities Which Parliament having sate about four months and done little in this matter the King considering of a Recess for a time in regard of the season that might cause Infection represented to them by the Lord Treasurer his purpose to adjourn them Whereat the Commons growing displeased they desired the Lords to joyn with them in petitioning against it the King therefore taking much exception thereupon judging it derogatory to his Prerogative it being in his sole power to call and adjourn and dissolve Parliaments they thereupon for satisfaction of his Majesty publish'd a Declaration wherein they signified unto him that in case his endeavours by a Treaty could not effect the restitution of the Palatinate upon signification of his pleasure in Parliament they should be ready to the utmost of their powers both with their lives and fortunes to assist him so as by the Divine help of Almighty God he might be able to do that with his Sword which by a peaceable course could not be effected After this the Parliament was adjourn'd from the fourth of Iune until the twentieth of November at which time of meeting again the King being absent for lack of health the Lord Keeper told them that unless they took farther resolutions and were expeditious the Army in the Palatinate would fall to the ground The Lord Treasurer also acquainting them how empty the King's Coffers were and that his Majesty had assisted the Palatine and Princes of the Union with great Sums which had so exhausted his Treasure that he was much in debt Also that notwithstanding the King had declared for War he pursued Peace and resolv'd therefore to close with Spain hoping by that Alliance to heal the breach Which Speech of the Lord Treasurer tending to Peace so startled the House of Commons wherein the Puritan was predominant that they soon after drew up a Remonstrance to his Majesty wherein representing Religion to be in danger by the growth of Popery they incited him to take his Sword into his Hand for the aid of those of our Religion in forreign parts and that the bent of this War might be against that Prince whose Armies and Treasures had maintained the War in the Palatinate Signifying that they had given him one Subsidy for the present Relief of the Palatinate But in this Remonstrance there being also divers things which the King esteem'd to tend unto his high dishonour and to trench upon his Prerogative-royal he forbad them farther to entermeddle concerning his Government and deep affairs of State and particularly with the match of his Son with a Daughter of Spain Certain it is that the Parliament made little hast in the offering of that for which they were chiefly called together viz. the giving to the King considerable aid for relief of the Palatinate in so much as the Lord Digby then took occasion to put the Peers in mind thereof and that it was to that end they were summon'd thither reporting the present distress of that Country and danger thereto by the Duke of Bavaria as also that the Army of Count Mansfeild which came in for defence thereof if not speedily supplyed was like to desert that service But instead of hasting such Relief Christmass approching and the King upon the
Kineton against the King And lastly how averse they were to any peace or cessation with them though never so necessary as appears by those earnest and bitter incitements used by their Commissioners in the Treaty at Uxbridge for the prosecution of that war It is likewise farther to be noted that these high provocations met with a concurrent opportunity of those eight thousand disbanded Irish not permitted to be transported into Spain and other parts though desired by that King's Ambassador and assented to by his Majesty who being out of employment were ready for any desperate enterprize As also with the want of a Lieutenant in that Kingdom by reason that the Earl of Strafford was so cut off who had kept them in such exact obedience And lastly what an Example they had from their Neighbours the Scots who sped so well by their own Insurrection that they not only obtained their full demands even to the introducing a new Religion and new moulding the whole form of their Government both in Church and State but when they rebelliously invaded England with an Army were treated as good Subjects had three hundred thousand Pounds given them with an Act of Pacification and Oblivion to boot Whereunto I shall add what a late Writer in his Short view of the life and reign of King Charles the First hath expressed Of this Rebellion saith he for it must be call'd a Rebellion in the Irish though not in the Scots the King gives present notice to the Houses of Parliament requiring their Counsail and assistance for the extinguishing of that flame before it had consumed and wasted that Kingdom But neither the Necessity of the Protestants there nor the King's importunity here could perswade them to levy one man towards the suppression of those Rebels till the King had disclaimed his power of pressing Souldiers by an Act of Parliament and thereby laid himself open to such acts of violence as were then hammering against him Which having done they put an Army of Scots their most assured friends into the Northern parts of Ireland delivering up into their hands the strong Town and Port of Carick-Fergus one of the chief Keys of that Kingdom and afterwards sent a small Body of English to preserve the South Which English Forces having done notable service there against the Rebels were kept so short both in respect of pay and other necessaries by the Houses of Parliament who had made use of the money rais'd for the relief of Ireland to maintain a war against their King that they were forced to come to a Cessation and chearfully returned home again to assist the King in that just war which he had undertaken for his own defence CHAP. IX BUT notwithstanding all these instances forbearing to give any censure therein I shall now proceed and trace them in farther practises for accomplishing their designed ends and give instance in the Militia for obtaining whereof I find my self best guided by their feigned Plots and Conspiracies the first of which was Mr. Pym's Letter delivered to him at the Parliament House by a Porter from a pretended Gentleman on Horseback in a gray Coat which having in it a contagious Plaister taken from a Plague-sore the Letter it self also being full of invectives against Mr. Pym gave occasion for publishing of a Pamphlet intituled The discovery of a damnable Treason by a contagious Plaister c. and afterwards of a Report to the House made by Mr. Pym that there were divers Posts come several by-ways from Scotland and that the Papists had many meetings in Hâ—nt-shire Moreover within few days following one Iohn Davis discovered to the House that the Earl of Worcester had large Stables under ground at Ragland-Castle and a number of Light-Horse in them likewise Arms for an hundred and forty Horse and two thousand men whereof seven hundred were then in pay and Ammunition proportionable And one Thomas Beale of White-Cross-Street declaring that he heard some who were walking late in Moor-fields discourse of their intentions to murther certain Members of the Parliament and amongst others Mr. Pym order was presently given that the Lords and some other Members should have part of the Trained-Band of Middlesex to conduct them to their Lodgings that night Also the next day upon the discovery of another Plot to kill some Noblemen of which one who lay in a ditch pretended to hear two Gentlemen speak it was order'd that the Earl of Worcester's House and Sir Basil Brookes House should be guarded all Papists disarmed Soldiers raised with speed to secure the Isle of Wight and two Lords appointed to raise Forces one beyond â—rent and the other on this side â—rent And within five days after this there was a discovery of another conspiracy by the Papists in Cheshire viz. that certain of them were in Arms at the Lord Chomley's House and had attempted the surprizal of Chester But advertisement being given that the King was upon his journey from Scotland and would be at London within three days the hunting after any farther discovery of Plots was for awhile laid aside and that scandalous Remonstrance beforementioned which was brought in the twelfth of August was read again in the House Against the passing and publishing whereof many worthy Gentlemen freely express'd their minds Nevertheless after long dispute and much ado the factious party prevailed partly by tyring out some for they sate up all night and partly by promises or threats to others insomuch as it was carried by Eleven voices So that though there was the greatest shew of gladness by the Citizens of this his Majesties arrival as that solemn reception of him by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen on Horsback did import who feasted him with the Queen and Prince at Guild-Hall the Companies all standing in their Liveries to congratulate his safe coming home as he rode through the streets yet had he little joy thereof for instead of that happy progress which he expected that the Parliament had made in the great affairs of the Kingdom during his absence he found the people not a little disturb'd with strange apprehensions and Guards set upon the Houses of Parliament Which so astonish'd him that he forthwith sent to the Lords desiring that for the prevention of farther jealousies and fears the Train'd-Bands might be discharged But no sooner did those Citizens take notice of that Message then that great numbers of them in person offer'd to attend the House of Parliament in their Arms. Nay so forward thenceforth were they upon all occasions to act their parts for hast'ning that general confusion which soon after ensued that on Munday following a multitude of them made a hubbub in Westminster-Hall crying Down with Antichrist and the Bishops adding that if they could not then be heard they would have a greater number next day to back them And so they had many of them coming tumultuously to the doors of
himself in a Chayr of State where he had great Thanks given him by the Speakers of both Houses Which being done a publick day of Thanksgiving was appointed for this happy restoration of them to their old Seats again Sir Thomas Fairfax voted Generalissimo of all the Forces and Forts throughout England and Wales and Constable of the Tower of London and the Common-Souldiers one month's gratuity besides their pay And on the next day following the whole Army marcht triumphantly through London with their Train of Artillery and soon after demolish'd the Lines of Communication environing that great City CHAP. XXV AND now that the Fugitive-members were thus brought again to the House the chief business was to make null and void all that was acted by those that sate in their absence But in debating thereof the Presbytereans held up most stoutly insisting with great courage on the validity of them Insomuch as the Speaker finding it difficult for the Fugitives to carry the Votes by strength of Reason or Number shew'd forth a Letter from the General of the Army accompanied with a Remonstrance full of high language and not without threats against those that sate whilst the two Speakers were with the Army calling them Pretended Members and laying to their charge in general Treason Treachery and breach of Trust and protesting that if they should presume to sit before they had cleared themselves that they did not give their assents to some certain Votes they should sit at their peril and that he would take them as Prisoners of War and try them at a Council of War Which Letter though it did not a little startle the Presbyterean-Members yet were they loath to leave the House having sate there so long as absolute Dictators In order therefore to their continuance within those walls it was earnestly moved by some of them that the Speaker should command a general meeting of the whole House upon the next day and declare that they should be secured from danger as also that no more than the ordinary Guards might then attend the House But these motions were violently opposed with shrewd menaces by the Independent-Members the Speaker also declyning to put any Question therein and adjourning till the morrow so that the Presbytereans were left to come again at their peril Which hazzard of their safety occasion'd a very thin House the next day many of that party absenting themselves and of those which came 't was observ'd that some tackt about to the other side and some sate mute At last a Committee was appointed to bring in an Ordinance of Accommodation as they called it but more properly the Ordinance of Null an Voide which damn'd all the Votes Orders and Ordinances passed in the House from the xxvjth of Iuly that the Apprentices forc't the Members then sitting to vote and do as they required untill the sixth of August that those Members which fled to the Army were brought in Triumph again to the House Which Ordinance within few days was passed And soon after that another wholsome one for establishing of well affected Ministers in sequestred Livings But though this Ordinance of Null and Voide was thus passed the Independent-party thought not themselves secure enough and therefore erected a Committee of Examinations to enquire into and examine who they were that had been active in procuring the City Petition and Engagement to be subscribed or instrumental in that force upon the House on the twenty sixth of Iuly before mentioned or in any other endeavour to raise forces Which Committee hunted so close after them that had been busy therein that Sir Iohn Maynard Knt. of the Bath a Member of the House of Commons Iames Earl of Suffolk Theophilus Earl of Lincoln Iames Earl of Middlesex Iohn Lord Hunsdon George Lord Berkley William Lord Maynard and Francis Lord Willoughby of Parham were all of them impâ—ached of High Treason in the name of the Commons of England for levying war against the King Parliament and Kingdome Sir Iohn Maynard being thereupon committed to the Tower and the Lords to the custody of the usher with the Black-rod And to the end that this now predominant-party might the more engage the Common people to joyn with them upon occasion Agitators were imploy'd into several Counties for getting Subscriptions to Petitions against Tythes Inclosures and Copy-hold-sines which were uncertain ¶ Being thus entring upon one of the last Scenes in this most woful Tragedy I must look back a little and from what hath been said summarily observe first that however specious and plausible the Protestations Vows and Declarations of these monstrous men have otherwise been their chief design originally was to destroy and extirpate Monarchy in all His Majestie 's Realms and Dominions Secondly that when by the assistance of the giddy-multitude deluded and captivated with many glorious promises they had got the sway of all into their Hands they most traiterously murthered the King in his politick capacity setting him totally aside as to Authority and Rule and inhumanely burying him alive by a severe and barbarous imprisonment most insolently tooke the Reynes of Government into their own usurping power Next that as Ambition and Avarice eagerly incited some Grandees of the faction to shoulder out the rest from sharing with them in the spoyl they had got though no less active than themselves in accomplishing the general ruine the like haughty and covetous desires prompted others to be no less solicitous for their own temporal advantage So that as the Reformation of miscarriages and corruptions in Government was at first cryed up by the Presbyterean-Brethren and nothing in sted thereof exercised but oppression and destruction So likewise under as fair and plausible pretences the power was soon wrested from that seeming Holy Generation by the more Seraphick-Saints of the Independent Tribe who captivating the Souldierie at last as the Presbytereans had done the people at first by their splended allurements with an imaginary Happiness got the King by that means into their own cruel Hands and then subjugating the City of London which had been both Mother and Nurse to that Imparallel'd Rebellion made the remainder of their Task the less difficult And as this grand work was originally begun by the Presbytereans under the Popular name of a blessed-Blessed-Parliament by which subtile Enchantment the vulgar were at first most cunningly abused and pursued to the utter subversion of the King 's regal power So was it carryed on by the Independent to the last as by and by shall be manifested untill it became thoroughly compleated in the horrid murther of his royal person towards the perpetration of which prodigious Fact I shall now briefly shew by what degrees and steps they did most audaciously proceed CHAP. XXVI HAving thus subjugated the City and purg'd the two Houses at Westminster as is already observed they then put on a Presbyterean-cloak for a while and
under that disguise pretending their desire to make peace with the King presented him with the same Propositions in effect as he had formerly received from the Grandees at Westminster when he lay at Newcastle in custody of the Scots Whereunto he made answer that unto some of them he could not consent without violation of his Conscience and Honour nor to some others for that they were disagreeable to the present condition of affairs as things then stood and destructive to the main and principal Interests of the Army and of all those whose affections concurr'd with them And therefore desired that the Proposals of the Army might be likewise treated on in order to the setling of a lasting peace still urging his desires of a personal Treaty But to this vouchsafing him no reply at all they cast off that veile and proceeded yet farther in brideling the City by Impeaching the Lord Mayor divers Aldermen and some eminent Citizens for having an Hand in the Petition Engagement and Force upon the House of Commons upon the xxvith of Iuly before-mention'd who were thereupon committed to the Tower About this time also for the better encouragement of those that had a mind to buy Bishops Lands they passed an Ordinance whereby the Purchasers were promised to have their Bargains comfirm'd under the great Seal of England And to the end that the multitude of Wild-headed Schismaticks Limbs of this monstrous Independent-Body whose help they might need at a desperate pinch might propagate the more throughout all parts of the Nation a Petition was fram'd and Subscriptions got to it by many thousands of the Godly-party in the City of London and presented to the Houses at Westminster for sending of able gifted men as they call'd them though not of the Clergy to preach the Gospel throughout the whole Kingdome Whereupon Thanks was return'd to the Petitioners by the Houses About this time likewise an Ordinance was brought in to the House of Commons for setling the Church-Government in a Presbyterean-way with a Clause for tender Consciences and such as were Godly and made Conscience of their ways Wherein upon large debate had it was resolved that all manner of Sects should partake of this Indulgence excepting those of the Church of Rome and such as should make use of the Common-prayer according to Law establisht in the Church of England It is not the least observable that as at this time the Independent Grandees were laying the foundation of their own future dominion So the Presbyterean Brethren though then under Hatches were as busy as in such a condition was possible setting on the old-Covenanters in Scotland to make a loud noise as appears by a Letter from their Commissioners then residing at Westminster sent to the two Houses of Parliament chiefly concerning their Lord and Sovereign the King for so they call'd him wherein they took notice that he was still under the power of the Army and of the many Professions and Engagements made by the said Houses to the Kingdome of Scotland viz. that they would take care of the preservation of his person and of his just Power and Greateness which both Kingdomes had sworn as that Letter did import not to diminish Also that they were Informed of some intentions by the Army to remove His Majesty from Hampton-Court And finding that their stability and happiness did so much depend upon the safety and preservation of his royal person being resolv'd that the alteration of affairs should never ☜ separate them from the duty and allegiance they did owe unto him nor from their constant resolution to live in all loyalty under his Government they had often shewn their earnest desires and contributed their utmost endeavours towards the composure of those unhappy differences And that the Houses at Westminster having by their Votes of October the xxvith intimated unto them their resolution to apply themselves to His Majesty as also that they were preparing Propositions to be tendred to him they desired that they might be expedited and communicated to them that according to their many Engagements and relations there might still be a conjunction of Councils in those things which were for the Common-peace and joynt Interest of both Kingdomes And therefore that for the assisting of them in clearing His Majestie 's doubts and for giving mutual satisfaction to each other they desired in the name of the Kingdome of Scotland that there might be a Personal Treaty with His Majesty as the best and readyest means to obtain the joynt desires of both Kingdomes And to that end that the King might be invited to come to London with that Honour Freedome and respect as was due to His Majesty or at least remain at Hampton-Court and not to be under the power and restraynt of the Souldiers But this project of the Scots for a Personal Treaty which might in any sort tend to the good of His Majesty or the people was then set on foot too late the Grandees of the Army at that time driving on another designe in order to his absolute destruction wherein the common Souldiers were to act their parts by those pernicious Instruments called Adjutators which was by making shew to frame certain Articles in order for setling the Liberties of the people and Interest of the Army and this to be called the Agreement of the people To which end they chang'd their Guards putting such upon him as were more strict and discharging well nigh all his Servants whom they had formerly admitted to wait on him The tenor of which Instrument called the Agreement of the people was to this effect 1. That there should be a more equal distribution by Counties Cities and Boroughs for election of their Representatives in Parliament 2. That the Parliament then sitting should be dissolved upon the last day of September anno 1648. then next ensuing 3. That the people might of course choose a Parliament for themselves every two year and to begin on the first Thursday in April then next following and to end upon the last of September ensuing 4. That the people were thenceforth to be declared the Supream-power whereunto that and all future Representatives should be subordinate and accountable This not pleasing the Members at Westminster was by them voted to be the very destruction of the Parliament and fundamental Laws of this Kingdome But no less active were they themselves though in private in framing an Impeachment against the King by the name of Charles Stuart a Committee being appointed to collect together all His Majestie 's Letters and other Papers taken at Navesby or elsewhere to the end they might be ready when the House should have occasion to use them Yet all this while Cromwell who was the very Soul of that party did so play the Ambodexter that he sometimes made shew to the King how well he was pleased with his late Answer to those Propositions from the Houses
be destructive to order and Government or to the peace of the Church or Kingdome That the Ordinances concerning the calling and sitting of the Assembly of Divines be desired to be confirmed by Act of Parliament That the Proposition for the confirmation of the Treaties betwixt the two Kingdomes and the proceedings betwixt them be expressed And that Treaty for the return of the Scots Army of the date of Decem. 23. 1646. be inserted amongst the rest That His Majestie 's assent be desired to what the two Kingdomes shall agree in the prosecution of the Articles of the large Treaty which are not yet finished and that all other things be inserted concerning the joynt Interest of both Kingdomes or the Kingdome of Scotland in particular That the Armies in both Kingdomes which were raised for the preservation of Religion and defence of the King's person may be disbanded now the war is ended and have due satisfaction for their arrears That speedy releif may be sent to Ireland and that an Act of Oblivion may be agreed upon to be passed in the Parliaments of both Kingdomes That His Majesty be restored to His Rights and that in the Propositions a conclusion may be added promising all real endeavour that His Majesty may live in the splendor and glory of his royal progenitors as beseemeth his royal place that so all differences and troubles may end in a mutual confidence and rejoycing Upon debate of which Message from His Majesty Nov. 16. and of that Declaration and those Proposals by the Scottish-Commissioners the House of Commons passed these following Votes 1. That no more addresses be made from the Parliament to the King nor any Letters or Message received from him 2. That it should be Treason for any person whatsoever to deliver any Message to the King or receive any Letter or Message from him without leave from both Houses of Parliament 3. That the Members of both Houses and the Committee of both Kingdomes had power to sit and act alone asformerly the Committee of both Kingdomes had for the safety of the Kingdom 4. And that a Committee should be nominated to draw up a Declaration to be published to satisfy the Kingdome of the reasons of passing these Votes To back which Votes the General and Council of the Army did put forth a Declaration signifying their Resolutions to adhere to the Houses for setling and securing the Parliament and Kingdome without the King and against him or any other that should thereafter partake with him And sent Thanks to the House of Commons for those Votes To shew the people likewise the Reasons of those four Votes the Grandees at Westminster appointed a Committee to search into the King's conversation and errors of his Government and to publish them in a Declaration to the World wherein they objected as high crimes against him his father's death the loss of Rochell and the Massacre and Rebellion in Ireland Which Declaration being printed by their authority was afterwards ordered to be dispersed throughout the whole Kingdome by the several Members of the House of Commons in those Countries and places for which they did serve CHAP. XXVIII THE King therefore seeing himself thus layd aside penned a Declaration with his own hand for the satisfaction of all his people which soon after was made publick by the Press Whereby representing his sad and most disconsolate condition through a long and strict Imprisonment together with his earnest endeavours to have composed all things by an happy peace whereunto he added most just cleer and undeniable Reasons why he could not assent to pass those four dethroning Bills before-mentioned farther shewed what usage he had endured by Colonel Hamond the Governour in whose custody he then was most of his servants being by him discharg'd the Guards redoubled and himself restrain'd of that Liberty which before he had been allowed Appealing also to the world how he had deserved that dealing from his subjects having sacrificed to them for the peace of the Kingdome all but what was much more dear to him than his life viz. his Conscience and Honour and desiring nothing more than to perform it in the most proper and usual way viz. by a personal Treaty Taking notice likewise of the often repeated professions and Engagements made to him by the Army at Newmarket and St. Albans for asserting his just Rights in General by their voted and revoted Proposals which he had reason to understand should be the utmost that would be expected from him yea that in some things he should be eased And conlcuded that if it were peace they desired he had shewed the way thereto being both willing and desirous to perform his part in it by a just complyance with all cheif Interests Was it plenty and Happiness Those were the inseperable effects of peace Was it security His Majesty who wisht that all men would forgive and forget like him did offer the Militia for his own time Was it Liberty of Conscience He who wanted it was most ready to give it Was it right administration of Iustice Officers of Trust were referred to the choyse of the two Houses Was it frequent Parliaments He had legally and fully concurred therewith Was it the Arrears of the Army Upon a settlement he told them that they would be certainly payd with much ease but before that there would be found much difficulty if not impossibility in it But all this was then to no purpose for having got the power of the Sword into their hands the Voice of an Angel from Heaven could have been nothing regarded for on they went with their great worke In order whereunto a Pamphlet was publisht by authority that is to say licensed by a publick Imprimatur where the Prophet Ezekiel was produced to discover what they intended Thus saith the Lord God concerning the prophane wicked Prince whose day is come when Iniquity shall end Remove the Diadem Take off the Crown This shall not be the same Exalt him that is low and abase him that is high And to cajole the Presbyterean having formerly secured themselves from the reach of their Holy Discipline they passed an Ordinance for the speedy dividing and setling the several Counties of this Kingdome into distinct Classical-Presbyteries and Congregational Elderships And desiring to seem men of the greatest Sanctity imaginable they constituted a Committee for the enumeration of great crying sins appointing that they should daily meet and do their utmost endeavour to suppress them And passed another Ordinance for suppressing of Stage-plays and demolishing Play-Houses But all these devices were meerly circumstantial those which more immediately tended to the carrying on their grand work being the chief viz. the approbation which the people then had or seem'd to have of their Votes for no more Addresses to the King Towards the obtaining whereof having been not a little sollicitous they imploy'd their most busy Emissaries and
â—wordsâ— this Ordinance and others likewise presented to hiâ— alterations should be made of some expressions in them which did reflect on former establisht Laws it being therefore necessary that they should be penned in other termes 7. That he would pass an Act for prevention of saying Mass in Court or other places provided onely that his Queen might have free exercise of her Religion for her self and her ordinary servants according to the Articles of Marriage made between the two Crowns France and England 8. Lastly that for the Covenant he could not in Conscience take it himself nor impose it upon others therefore hoped that it should not be insisted on in regard the imposing thereof could not tend to peace a great part even of the Parliaments-party being utterly persuaded against it And further because all the ends of the Covenant would be obtained if an agreement were made in the rest of the Propositions These were the chief referring the rest untill his coming to Westminster where he might personally advise with his two Houses and deliver his opinion with the reasons thereof which done he would leave the whole matter of those remayning Propositions to the determination of his two Houses But as His Majesty had formerly well observed the humours of these impious men to be restless ever altering and changing their Principles with their success So did he then find the greatest and most wofull experiment thereof For having by the defeat of D. Hamilton's Army the reducing of Colchester and subduing the Welch in Pembrokeshire cleared all opposition which any could make against them they then did openly manifest to the world that nothing should suffice but the absolute destruction of the King and utter extirpation of Monarchy Towards the accomplishing of which execrable designe a prodigious Remonstrance was contrived by Cromwel and his son Ireton with some other venemous-minded officers in the Army then at St. Albans and presented to the House of Commons by Colonel Evre and seaven other Officers of the Army whereby they fiercely declaymed against any peace at all with the King and likewise against his Restauration demanding that he should by a Tryal be brought to Iustice. So likewise against those Members of Parliament as had been impeached the year before and all others that sate when the Speaker and Members fled to the Army that they might be excluded the House Requiring that the Souldiers arrears should be paid out of the King 's and Dean and Chapters lands Moreover that a certain terme should be prefixed to that present long-Long-Parliament as also a more equal number of persons as Representatives of the People to be thenceforth elected in whom the supreme power should thereafter reside In which Remonstrance it is not unworthy observation that they said whereas it might be objected that by the Covenant they were obliged to the preservation of His Majestie 's person and authority it was with this restriction viz. in the preservation of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdome So that considering Religion and the publick Interest were to be understood the principal and supream matters engaged for and of the King's person and authority as inferiour and subordinate thereto As also whereas the preservation of his person and authority was not consistent with the preservation of Religion and the publick Interest they were therefore by the Covenant obliged against it And the better to illustrate this they instanced the practice of the Parliament all along the late wars which not onely opposed his Majesty and his authority but really endeavoured to kill and destroy both his person and authority by Bullets and otherwise in order to the preservation of Religion and Liberties of the Kingdome Which Remonstrance was soon after presented to the House of Commons and tendred to the consideration of the whole Kingdome But three days after they Treaty having continued fourty days whereunto they limited it ended And here it is not improper to take notice that as they had frequently used to procure Petitions from sundry places to countenance the carrying on of any notable design which they had in hand So now having publisht this wicked Remonstrance they obteined Congratulations from those called the Well-affected in several parts to the end that others might be the more danted from any opposition thereto CHAP. XXX THIS business of the Treaty being therefore thus over I come now to the last Act of this afflicted King's life A Scene indeed of much sorrow and which cannot well be represented without great lamentation and the deepest expressions of sadness wherein I shall be as brief as well may be pointing chiefly at the times of the most notable passages therein but leaving the larger Narrative thereof to such of our Historians as have already or shall hereafter set forth the Life and Sufferings of this incomparable Prince As an Introduction whereunto it may be sit enough to observe that though the Parliament had been garbled as before is shewed whereby the Remnant of the Presbyterians was totally disheartened Yet did the Invasion from Scotland and Risings in other Parts about that time put so much Life and Courage into the drooping Spirits of that Party as that having with no little difficulty carryed the Vote for a Treaty they strugled to their utmost for such an issue thereof that the King might be at some better Liberty than he was at that time and the Administration of his Authority in the Two Houses as formerly And then though the Army stood not right to them at present the Majority of Votes might some time or other so alter the case as that the sweetness of Dominion might return to them again To second therefore what they had so vigorously begun discerning that the Army in pursuance of their late Remonstrance were on their March towards London they Voted a Letter to the General forbidding his nearer approach Which Vote so irritated the Souldiary that immediately they publisht a sharp Declaration therein accusing the Parliament with Breach of Trust Inconstancy and Indiscretion saying that they would appeal from them to the People threatning forthwith to advance up to Westminster and there to do what God should enable them and accordingly came up to the corner of Hide-park Where upon it was put to the Question in the House whether that approach of the Army were not prejudicial to the Freedom of Parliament But into such a terror were the Presbyterian Members then 〈◊〉 that they durst not hold up their Heads to give their Votes therein Nevertheless within two days following they took better heart and set on foot a debate touching the satisfactoriness of His Majesties Answer to the Propositions in the late Treaty And though the same day the General entred Westminster with Four Regiments of Foot and Six of Horse taking up his Head Quarters at White-hall and that soon after the King was seized on in his Bed-chamber and carryed to Hurst-Castle
as when the truth which is but one shall appear to the simple Multitude no less variable than contrary to it self the Faith of Men will soon after dye away by degrees and all Religion be held in Scorn and Contempt CHAP. XLIV FOR the Laws of the Land with the Liberty and Property of the Subject because the first ought to be a Defence to the latter let us see what these great pretended Champions for both did for their Preservation Or rather how manifestly they violated them all by their unjust Practises Was it not for Execution of his Majesties Legal Writ grounded upon the Statute for Suppressing of Tumults that Justice Long was Committed to the Tower And were not Commands laid upon the Judges of the King's Bench that they should not grant any Habeas Corpus the Antient Remedy for the Peoples Security for such as the Members had Committed to Prison by their own Authority And did not Mr. Rigby a beloved Member move twice that those Lords and Gentlemen which were Prisoners for no cause but being Malignants as they term'd them should be sold as Slaves to Argiere or sent to the new Plantations in the West-Indies because he had Contracted with two Merchants for that purpose Though Mr. Pym himself had in a Speech in that Parliament acknowledged it against the Rules of Iustice that any Man should be Imprison'd upon a General Charge when no Particulars were proved against him As these things were most evident so was their Order against Publishing the King's Proclamation contrary to Acts of Parliament then in Force Likewise their Barbarous murther of his Majesties Messenger for bringing a Legal Writ to the Sheriffs of London to that purpose As also Collonel Nathaniel Fienes his causing the King's Proclamation concerning Marriners to be burnt in the open Market-place at Bristol by the Common Hangman he being then Governour there and Imprisoning the Earl of Bristol and Justice Malet for having an hand in the Kentish-Petition And notwithstanding the Statute in force against Loanes and Benevolences grounded upon the Petition of Right and that on Magna Charta which the Lord Say Mr. Pym and Mr. Hampden once held so Sacred that being asked upon occasion in King Iames his time why they would not then Contribute to the King's Necessities by way of Loan They Answered that they could be content to lend as well as others but that they feared to draw upon themselves that Curse in Magna-Charta which should be read twice every Year against the Infringers thereof Nevertheless did not these men Commit Mr. Fountain the Lawyer and divers others which refused to lend Money for advancement of their Rebellion And by a special Order sent those Loyal Citizens Sir George Whitmore Alderman Gurney Mr. Gardner and others to several Remote Prisons viz. Yarmouth Colchester Norwich c. for not submitting to their Lawless and Rigorous Tax of the twentieth part for the support of their Rebellious Forces And give power to their Officers to break open Trunks to search for Money and Plate and to seize the same for that purpose Mr. Strode one of the five Members in Justification of these heavy Oppressions saying that it was no more than they had right to do And that every Man in England had trusted his whole Estate to be disposed of as the Members of both Houses should think convenient For if the Members of both Houses quoth he think fitting to seize the Estate of every Man in England all the whole Kingdom is bound to submit to them And was not their Licentious Boldness such that Mr. Pym a single Member during a recess of both Houses by an Order under his own hand did dispence with the Act of Parliament 1. Eliz. for Uniformity of Common-Prayer And when upon a motion of the House that certain Gaolers should be tryed by Marshal Law by reason of some Prisoners escape and that it was opposed by divers Lawyers as an illegal course the Gaolers being answerable by the Law for the same was it not Replyed that they were not to be tyed to any Forms of Law those being to be laid by at such times as this when Necessity is the Rule by which they must guide their Actions What Misery have many Reverend and Orthodox Divines and others suffered by long Imprisonment some sent on Ship-board and kept under the Deck lying many days upon the hard Boards for no other Offence than their firm Loyalty to the King and Constancy in the true Protestant Religion Establish't by Law His Majesties Servant coming only to them on a Message for Peace being likewise so long Imprisoned that he dyed therein with hard Usage How partially Indulgent have they been to those of their own Rebellious Tribe is evident from sundry Instances as that of Mr. Gryffith one of their Members who was made a Captain of Horse with Silver Trumpets and extraordinary Bravery though he had Ravish't the Lady Sidley and was by her Accused for so doing Mr. Lenthall their Speaker having also six Thousand Pounds given him of that Money which had been raised by Act of Parliament for publick Service Having therefore thus trampled down the Laws and made seizure of the Kings Forts Towns Navy and Magazine whereby he was devested of all Power to protect his good Subjects no marvel that they deprived him of all other Authority declaring his nomination of Sheriffs Illegal and authorizing his Deputy Lieutenants and Trained-Bands to Suppress and Apprehend such Sheriffs Levying Money for Horse and Plate as also the twentieth part and a vast Weekly Tax by Distresses and Imprisonment to say nothing of Sequestrations and Plunders Add hereunto the Hanging of those Loyal Persons Mr. Yeomans and Mr. Bourchier at Bustol Likewise Mr. Tompkins and Mr. Chaloner at London And that the Oppressed People might take no benefit of the Law an Order and Declaration was set forth by Authority of both Houses that the Judges of Assize should forbear to go their Circuits as they would answer their Contempt to the Parliament Moreover to let the Reins of all Government loose they discharged all Apprentices from their Masters Service as would serve in their Rebellious Armies Compelling divers against their Parents good will Nor is it less observable that though by their own Fundamentals they had declared that the Subject was not to be forced unto the Wars against his will except it were by the consent of the King and the Estates in Parliament there being an Act in that Parliament passed also to that purpose Nevertheless they frequently pressed great numbers of Men to serve them in their Rebellious Armies And by a special Ordinance gave Power to any three of the Militia of London to raise and send out Men as also to Fine Imprison and Execute Martial-Law By the like Authority it was that they raised vast Sums upon Merchandize under the name of Tunnage
and Poundage contrary to an express Act made also that very Parliament So likewise a new Imposition called Excise upon Victuals and all other Commodities against which they themselves had much declaimed And to countenance these grand Oppressions voted that an Ordinance of Parliament was as binding to the Subject as an Act of Parliament Thereupon ordaining that such Persons as ought to pay any Rents Debts c. due to those who are assessed and refused so to do should be Discharged against the Landlord or Creditor And at length became so bold as that their new Lord Mayor Isaac Pennington chalenging a Sturgeon which was taken above London-Bridge and it being answered that it belonged to the King or Lord Admiral Replyed you Malignant Rogue I would have you to know that there is neither King nor Admiral that hath any Power in London but my self Add thereunto their Ordinance for keeping Michaelmas Terme at Westminster notwithstanding his Majesties Proclamation And another Constituting the Earl of Warwick Governour and Lord Admiral of all the Islands in America Inhabited or Planted by the King's Subjects Another declaring the King's Broad-Seal Invalid and Commanding Obedience to all Writs c. to be issued under a new great Seal made by themselves And Sequestring all Offices of those Clerks in Westminster-Hall which were with the King The authority given to the Earl of Manchester by another Ordinance to deprive and displace all Masters and Fellows of Colledges and Halls in Cambridge and all other Clergy-Men within the Association as he should think convenient The Ordinances for seizing the Kings Queens and Princes Revenew for cutting down their Woods For Commanding all Men to pay nothing to his Majesty the Queen and Prince which was due and ought to have been paid to them for those are the words also the Commitment of Laughern and Vivian to Colchester-Goal for denying to pay two Thousand Pounds which was due to the Prince from them though the Receiver was Plundred of the Money And when it was told Mr. Strode Chair-Man to the Committee for raising Money that no more Money could be advanced their Purses having been so drain'd already he Replyed that they must have no denial for their Money was demanded by the Supream Court of Iudicature adding that those were times of necessity Another of the Members sticking not to say shortly after that if it would advantage their Cause he thought it lawful to unvote whatsoever had passed since the beginning of that Parliament Besides which grievous Impositions upon the Subjects Estates they stuck not at the like to their Persons upon pain of Death restraining all Persons for going from London to the King or Queen And for a farther Testimony of their dealing with the People in point of their Proprietie take their Governour of Abington's Answer viz. Coll. Browne to no less than Seven-score poor People which came thither to him at one time wringing their hands and begging for some small Pittance of what he had caused to be taken from them in the Villages thereabours which was no less than all their Goods even to part of their wearing Apparel which was thus with Tears in his Eyes Alas good People it is not in my Power to help you For if this were done by meet Rudeness of my Souldiers I could say something but you have not lost a Pin but according to the Command of both Houses of Parliament who injoin'd us to spare nothing Therefore said he whispering to one or two of them if you have any thing left 't is your best course to Convey it away quickly for the Parliament hath Commanded me to take all I can carry and burn up the rest before the King comes These and the like as by many Instances might be made apparent have been their Practises in violating the Laws of the Land with the Liberties and Properties of the Subject however Fair and Specious their Promises were otherwise until they had got Power into their hands being at length not ashamed to discover their full Intentions by those Propositions which they tendred to His Majesty at Oxford upon the 23d of November 1644. And whereupon a Treaty was had at Uxbridge Where it was judiciously observ'd by his Majesties Commissioners That after a War of near three Years for which the Defence of the Protestant Religion the Liberty and Property of the Subject and the Priviledges of Parliament were made the cause and Grounds in a Treaty of full twenty days nor indeed in the whole Propositions upon which the Treaty should be there was nothing offered to be treated on concerning the Breach of any Law or of the Liberty or Property of the Subject or Priviledge of Parliament but only Propositions for the altering a Government Established by Law and for the making of new Laws by which all the old were or might be Cancelled there being nothing insisted upon on the part of his Majesties Commissioners which was not Laws or denied by them that the other demanded as due by Law The next and last particular for which they made such great Pretences is the Priviledge of Parliaments Having therefore under that colour justified most of their pernicious Actions let us take notice how consonant to Justice Reason or common Honesty their Practices upon this point have been Did they not soon after the beginning of that Unhappy Parliament without any president found a Close-Committee consisting of eight persons whereof no less than seven were principal Contrivers of the ensuing Rebellion And in the business of the Earl of Strafford was not their Bill for his attainder twice read and voted in one day and fifty-five of the Members Posted for not assenting thereto whose Names to their lasting Honour I have here added 1. George Lord Digby 2. Iames Lord Compton 3. Richard Lord Buckhurst 4. Sr. Robert Hatton 5. Sr. Thomas Fanshaw 6. Sr. Edward Alford 7. Sr. Nicholas Slanyng 8. Sr. Thomas Danby 9. Sr. George Wentworth 10. Sr. Peter Wentworth 11. Sr. Frederick Cornwallis 12. Sr. William Carnaby 13. Sr. Richard Wynn. 14. Sr. Gervace Clifton 15. Sr. William Widdrington 16. Sr. William Pennyman 17. Sr. Patricius Curwen 18. Sr. Richard Lee. 19. Sr. Henry Slingesby 20. Sr. William Portman 21. Mr. Gervase Hollies 22. Mr. Sidney Godolphin 23. Mr. Cooke 24. Mr. Coventrey 25. Mr. Benjamin Weston 26. Mr. William Weston 27. Mr. Selden 28. Mr. Alford 29. Mr. Llhoyd 30. Mr. Herbert 31. Captain Digby 32. Serjeant Hyde 33. Mr. Tailor 34. Mr. Gryffith 35. Mr. Scowen 36. Mr. Bridgman 37. Mr. Fettiplace 38. Dr. Turner 39. Capt. Charles Price 40. Dr. Parry a Civilian 41. Mr. Arundell 42. Mr. Newport 43. Mr. Holburne 44. Mr. Noell 45. Mr. Kirton 46. Mr. Pollard 47. Mr. Price 48. Mr. Trevanion 49. Mr. Iane. 50. Mr. Edgcombe 51. Mr. Chichley 52. Mr. Mallorey 53. Mr. Porter 54. Mr. White Secretary to the Earl of
Eyes and Screw'd faces do they make And pag. 41. l. 3. Again how like a company of Conjurers do they mumble cut the beginning of their Prayers that the people may not bear them and when artificially they have raised their voices what a pulling do they make But that which afforded them no little advantage was that horrid Gun-powder Plot which happened in the third year of King Iames being hatch'd by those fiery-spirited men of the Romish-perswasion whom the bloudy-minded Jesuits had influenc'd for that most wicked practise For after this to terrify the people with the Church of Rome their Sermons were little less than Declamations against the Papists aiming thereby to represent them formidable and odious insinuating to the world that all the fear of danger was from those of that Religion whilst they themselves in the mean time did insensibly poyson the people with such other unfound Doctrines as became at length the fountain of this late unparallel'd Rebellion which terminated in the execrable Murther of our late gracious King and would have put a Period to this famous and long flourishing Monarchy had not almighty God of his great mercy miraculously prevented it But how far the Principles of these Holy Reformers do differ from the most rigid of the Romish profession against whom they have so long and loudly clamoured these ensuing observations will briefly manifest The Jesuits Tenets In Regnis Hominum potestas Regis est a populo quia populus facit Regem In the Kingdoms of men the power of the King is from the People Potestas immediate est tanquam in subjecto in tota multitudine si causa legitima adsit potest multitudo mutare Regnum in Aristocratiam Democratiam The power is immediately as in the subject in the multitude and if there be lawful cause the multitude may change the Kingdom into an Aristocracy or Democracy De side certum est quemcunque Principem Christianum si a Religione Catholica de flexerit alios avocare voluerit excidere statim omni potestate dignitate idque ante prolatam Papae sententiam posseque debere subditos si vires habeant istiusmodi Haereticum Hominum Christianorum dominatu ejicere It is certainly a matter of Faith that whatsoever Christian Prince shall depart from the Catholic Religion and shall withdraw others doth immediately fall from all power and dignity even before the Popes sentence given and that the Subjects may and should if they have strength cast forth such an Heretick from the dominion of Christian men Talis consensu omnium potest imo debet privari suo dominio Si hoc priscis temporibus minus factum sit causa est quia deerant vires Such a King by the consent of all may yea ought to be deprived of his dominion If this in old time was not done the cause was for that they had not strength Non dissimulandum esse c. This is not to be dissembled that it is the most expedient and safe way if a public meeting may be granted to deliberate what shall be done by common consent First of all the Prince is to be admonished and to be brought to his wits again c. If he reject the Medicine and no hope of his recovery be lest when the Sentence is passed upon him the Common-wealth may first refuse his command And because of necessity there will be a stirring up for war they may unfold their Councils for defence thereof and shew that it is expedient to have weapons and to command the people to advance moneys for the charge of the Wars And if the matter will suffer and the Common-wealth cannot otherwise defend it self with the same right of defence but with a better authority and peculiar of their own Principem publice Hostem declaratum ferro perimere They may kill the Prince he being publickly declared an Enemy The Presbyterian Tenets Populo jus est ut Imperium cui velit deferat The people may confer the Government on whom they please Without the Prince the people may reform and must not tarry for the Magistrate Not Kings and Magistrates only ought to punish crimes against God but the whole body of the people and every member of the same to his ability must revenge the injury done to God If Princes be Tyrants against God and his Truth their Subjects are free from their Oath of Obedience Subjects do promise obedience that the Magistrate might help them which if he do not they are discharged of obedience Evil Princes ought to be deposed and inferior Magistrates ought chiefly to do it Subjects must withstand wicked Princes they must take up Arms against them God hath appointed the Nobility to bridle the inordinate appetite of Princes and in so doing they cannot be accused as Resisters of Authority Judges ought to summon Princes before them for their crimes and proceed against them as against all other offenders When Magistrates cease to do their duties God giveth the Sword into the peoples hands Let every Soul be subject to Superiors Paul says he wrote this in the Infancy of the Church There were but few Christians then not many of them rich or of ability so as they were not ripe for such a purpose As if a man should write to such Christians as are under the Turk in substance poor in courage feeble in strength unarm'd in number few and generally subject to all kinds of injuries would not he write as Paul did So as the Apostle did respect the men he wrote unto and his words ought not to be extended to the body or people of a Common-wealth or whole City If Paul were alive and did see wicked Kings reigning in Christian Common-wealths Paul would say that he accounted no such for Magistrates he would forbid all men for speaking to them and from keeping them company He would leave them to their Subjects to be punished neither would he blame them if they accounted no such longer for their Kings They may kill wicked Princes as Monsters and cruel beasts And if neither the Magistrate nor the people do their office in deposing or killing them then the Minister must excommunicate such a King Any Minister may do it against the greatest Prince A private man having some special inward notion may kill a Tyrant In other things also were it not for brevity the like parallel might be made in what those of the Romish Perswasion and the Presbyterians do hold as that the Office of Priests and Bishops is one and the same as is judiciously observed by the learned Author of the History of the Reformation of the Church of England printed at London 1679 pag. 366 whereunto I refer my Reader CHAP. III. And having thus demonstrated that the Principles by which this sort of men be unhappily guided are most dangerous and destructive to
designs The Marquess therefore shewing a dislike to those their sinister dealings departed from the Assembly at Glasgow Whereupon the Covenanters protested against all that he had said and done there as his Majesties Commissioner And at the same instant the Lord Areskyn and three other mean persons came and beg'd to be admitted into their blessed Covenant Which offer though of purpose contrived was made so good use of by the Moderator that he desired it might be admired as God's approbation and Sealing of their proceedings And it being put to the question whether they should adhere to their Protestation and continue the Assembly notwithstanding the King's Commissioners departure it was voted by most affirmatively Secondly whether the Assembly though dissolv'd by his Majesties Commissioner was competent judge against the Bishops and whether they would go on in their Tryal it passed also affirmatively nemine contradicente And now no sooner was the Marquess thus departed having caused his Majesties Proclamation to be publish'd by Heraulds at the Market-Cross in Glasgow for dissolving the Assembly but that Mr. Archibald Iohnston the then Clerk to the Assembly made a scandalous Protestation against it After which all things were transacted by some few pack'd Committees of the most fierce Covenanters which sate till the thirtieth of December following Which Committees amongst other of their Acts declared six general Assemblies to be Null and void whereof two were then in force by several Acts of Parliament and divers Acts of the other four confirm'd by Parliament They condemned likewise all the Arminian Tenets as they call'd them without defining what those Tenets were They also deprived all the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of that Realm excommunicating many of them without examining any one witness to prove no nor offering to produce any to testify ought against them And next declared Episcopal Government to be inconsistent with the Laws of that Church and Kingdom abolishing it for ever though it then stood confirm'd by many Acts both of Parliament and Assemblies They also depriv'd divers Ministers for Arminianisme without ever questioning them for what Tenets or opinions they held Moreover towards the end of their Assembly they divided themselves into several Committees which after their rising should see all their Acts put in execution And at the conclusion of all the Moderator gave God thanks for their good success congratulating the Nobility for their great pains giving thanks also to the Earl of Argyle for his Presence and Council Which Earl in a long Speech then excused his late declaring himself yet protesting that he was always set that way though he delay'd to profess it so long as he found his close carriage might advantage their Cause but now he must openly adjoyn himself to their Society or prove a Knave as he said Hereupon the Marquess his Majesties Commissioner resolving to ask the King's leave to return for England came first to Edenborough where he found strong Guards put upon the Castle and the people much abused by false Reports viz. that his Majesty had made good nothing at all which was contained in his Declaration at Edenborough upon the two and twentieth of September last whereupon he caused a Proclamation to be published in his Majesties name at the Market-cross there containing the sum of his whole proceedings at Glasgow Which being encountered with a blustering and undutiful Protestation in the name of the general Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland and published at the same time and place he return'd into England Then the Faction proceeded to levy Soldiers impose Taxes and requiring obedience to their Acts menac'd the Refusers raised divers Fortifications in that Kingdom block'd up his Majesties Castles and Forts and took the Castle of Edenborough procuring their Preachers seditiously to teach the People that there was a Necessity of bearing Arms against his Majesty under pain of Perjury and Damnation and caused such an infamous Ballad to be sung up and down against the Bishops as that in hatred of them the people called a Dog with black and white spots a Bishop as he went in the Streets Moreover they procured divers Libels to be scattered in England for justification of their rebellious courses and defamation of Ecclesiastical Government inciting his Majesties Subjects in this Realm to attemt the like Rebellion here refusing to admit such to the Communion who had not subscribed their Covenant and preaching that the Non-subscribers were Atheists Nay one of them in his Sermon exhorted the people never to give over till they had the King in their power and then he should see what good Subjects they were Others preach'd that the Service-Book was fram'd at fome These and many other groundless scandals and falshoods to amuse the People they published in their Pulpits which they call'd the Chairs of truth And to hasten on the Peoples Insurrection endeavoured to perswade them that his Majesty intended an Invasion of that Kingdom and to make it a Province as also to despoil them of their Laws and Liberties and to give them new Laws as if they were a conquer'd Nation And having thus prepared the People and fitted themselves with all Provisions for war they put themselves in Armes and march'd to the Frontiers of England pretending they came as Petitioners The King therefore discerning the danger raised a gallant Army whereof he made Thomas Earl of Arundel his General and on the seven and twentieth of March set forwards towards Scotland having with him the flower of his English-Nobility and Gentry whose cheerfulness then to serve him was very great Yet was the Earl of Essex at that time his Lieutenant-General and the Earl of Holland General of the Horse so much was his Majesty then mistaken in their affections to him who did afterwards sufficiently discover themselves And advancing with his Army encamp'd four miles West from Barwick What correspondence was then held betwixt the Scots and divers of the great ones then in his Majesties Camp considering also who were of his Bed-chamber may easily be guest by the consequences Certain it is that divers of them grew cool in the business so that after the Scots had by a formal Petition expressed that they falling down at his Majesties feet did most humbly supplicate him to appoint some of the Kingdom of England to hear by some of them their humble desires his Majesty assented thereunto and after several meetings thereupon and their demands presented in writing professed that it was their greif that his Majesty had been provoked to wrath against them his most humble and loving Subjects and that it should be their delight upon his gracious assurance of the preservation of their Religion and Laws to give example to all others of all civil and temporal obedience which could be required of loyal Subjects To which his Majesty answered that if their desires were only the enjoying of their Religion and Liberties according to
to all Kings from their Subjects and from them to their dread Soveraign after a more special manner but meerly to preserve their Religion and Liberties of the Kingdom and that whatsoever course they should take it should be no imputation to them being constrain'd thereto for best securing that Kirk and Kingdom from the Extremity of confusion and misery taking God and man to witness that they would be free of all outrages and Insolencies that should be committed in the mean time And then they began again to levy and raise Forces in several parts of the Realm in great numbers excercised train'd and assign'd them a Rendezvouz as also a day to be in readiness to march making Provisions of Artillery Amunition and Armes in great quantities from forreign parts laying Taxes and Impositions of ten marks in every hundred upon all the Subjects of that Kingdom according to their several Revenues for support of their Rebellion exacting the same with the greatest rigour that could be imagined spreading sundry Papers and Pamphlets scandalous to the King's proceedings block'd up the Castle of Edenborough and fortified divers places imprisoned the Earl of Southeske one of his Majesties Privy-Council there and sundry others of quality for not adhering to them in their Rebellious courses endeavouring to settle Intelligencers in parts beyond-Sea and practising to let in forreign power inclining rather to prostitute themselves to a forreign Government and different in Religion than yield obedience and conformity to his Majesty their natural Soveraign as appears by their Addresses and Letter to the French King By what hath been said it appearing that the first glimpse of this grand and destructive Rebellion shew'd it self at Edenborough upon the three and twentieth of Iuly an 1637 the scum of the people then taking fire at thâ— reading of that Service-book which was sent over by his late Majesty of blessed memory as a proper Liturgy for the Church of Scotland and most nearly suting with this of England Forasmuch therefore as from those Sparks the ensuing flames arose which from and after that time continued burning for the space of many years until they had overspread and much wasted the cheif parts of this great Isle to make the Bishops of both Kingdoms odious there are not a few who either out of malice to their sacred function or ignorance as to matter of fact have imputed the original of all this mischeif unto them as the first Authors or procurers of that Book which they would have believed to be the first rise thereof To the end therefore that those reverend persons soon after ruin'd and since dead may be fully vindicated from being primarily instrumental therein though had they so been no person of upright judgment could justly have blamed them from endeavouring an uniformity in the service of God in both Kingdoms I shall desire my Reader to cast his eye upon that faithful Narrative written by the command of our late Soveraign King Charles the first and corrected throughout with his own hand as many yet living can testify whereby he will clearly discern that the then Lords of the Privy-Council of Scotland were the men who advised the King to commend a Service-Book to be received and used in all the Churches of that Realm of which there was no little want every man being left to his own giddy fancy Now whether this advice of those Lords was not with purpose to trepan his Majesty to do that which as they resolv'd to order the business should occasion a tumultuous Insurrection by the rabble whence their grand Design of raising a general flame of war might ensue let the Reader judge when he looks back upon their discontents upon his Majesties Revocation of such things as had been passed away in prejudice of that Crown especially by some of his Progenitors in their minorities though not without advice of those who were then his Privy-Councellors in that Realm as hath been already observed And withall consider what combinations were driven on divers years before betwixt the most considerable persons of the Puritan-party in England and the Grand-Contrivers there Mr. Knightley's house in Northampton-shire being the chief place where that restless faction had their frequent meetings whence a Gentleman of quality was sent into Scotland afterwards a great Parliament-man here who residing there for some time before the troubles broke out represented to those which had the chief Interest there that the business of the Ship-money and Habeas Corpus with divers other things whereof there was much noise made afterwards had so irritated the greatest part of the English Nation that if they made sure work at home they needed not to fear any thing from England Moreover how earnestly and eagerly after that Tumult at Edenborough was so raised all sorts of people took advantage thereof the Kirkmen laying about them in their Pulpits so that the Citizens Gentry and Nobles speedily put themselves in Armes entring into a rebellious Confederacy called the Covenant And lastly that when his Majesty most gratiously offered to recall the Service-Book which was the great business at which they seem'd to take offence they were no whit lenified It will be visible enough to any person of judgment who doth not wilfully shut his Eyes that the hatching of this Rebellion was of a much elder date than that Service-Book But I now return to England CHAP. VI. HIs Majesty thus seeing his danger from Scotland and hoping of help from his English Subjects resolv'd of calling a Parliament here But no sooner were Writs out for that purpose than that the Schismatical Party used all possible endeavour to strengthen their side by choosing of their own faction for Knights and Burgesses And to accomplish the same spared for no pains in packing of Voices and making parties wherein their Seditious Pulpit-men bestir'd themselves to purpose such being then their fury that those meetings for Elections appeared more like riotous tumults than orderly conventions nevertheless the Nation was not then so generally tainted but that many good men were chosen Which Parliament began at Westminster upon the thirteenth day of April wherein his Majesty declared to both Houses the indignities receiv'd from his Scotish Subjects and to suppress their Rebellion proposed a Supply of twelve Subsidies in lieu whereof he was content to forbear Ship-money than which nothing seem'd so grievous Had not that Parliament been broke by the subtile artifices of the Grand-Contrivers in the immediate Rebellion no doubt but all those miseries which were thereby soon after brought upon this Realm might have been easily prevented and that the breach thereof was wrought by them is plain enough For Sir Henry Vane Senior a member of the House of Commons at that time and one of his Majesties principal Secretaries of State having by the King's appointment moved for a Supply of twelve Subsidies yet with power to stoop to eight when he saw an inclination
in the House tending thereto first by a Proposal of four then five nay six were mention'd and the motion not dislik'd told them peremptorily that it was in vain for them to think of less than twelve in regard he knew under that number would not be accepted And having by that sinister dealing kept such distance betwixt his Majesty and his good Subjects was by some other of the faction so seconded with a hideous representation of their Grievances together with dangerous Innovations in Religion and fears of introducing Superstition besides certain motions as did not without cause put strange apprehensions in the Queen of peril to her person or at least some others very near unto her that his Majesty was constrain'd to dissolve that Parliament And taking consideration of the Scots rebellious Insolencies which every day increased proposed the business of money to his Privy-Council who contributed a considerable sum to his aid his domestic-Servants and Officers making good addition thereto The Earl of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland speedily hasting into that Kingdom where he call'd a Parliament raised an Army of eight thousand men with money to maintain them and within the space of six weeks return'd into England That the meeting of these Members of Parliament from all parts of the Realm being many of them men of turbulent Spirits and principles totally Antimonarchical gave opportunity for those contrivances which afterwards were put in Action there is nothing more sure For in the first place they took care to infuse Fears and Iealousies into the people every where that the Government was then design'd to be Arbitrary and Popery like to be introduced to promote which Scandals many seditious Preachers took no small pains in their Pulpits especially in and about London Whereupon several tumultuous meetings were made in divers parts of the Suburbs and a Paper set up in the night at the old Exchange animating the Apprentices to sack Lambeth House Which took such effect that two nights following it was beset with above five hundred of the rascal multitude and an attemt made thereon though without success some of them being taken and imprisoned in Southwark But here they rested not for within a few nights after they broke open the White-Lion and King's-bench Prisons and let out their fellows The Scots also having made such preparations for a second Rebellion continued likewise their Parliament according to the Fundamental Laws as their phrase was having enacted a Band to be subscribed by all men before the first of September to maintain it to be a free and lawful Parliament whereupon they form'd another Army and knowing certainly what store of well-wishers they had in this Kingdom as also how easy the work was like to be made through the subtile contrivances of the factious party here from whom they were sufficiently instructed and animated by private Invitations and large promises invaded this Realm passing the Twede at Barwick But the King being slow to believe what they designed was not so forward as to encounter them upon the Borders his Army which he rais'd that Summer lying at that time about New-Castle of which the Earl of Northumberland was made General who alledging himself to be then ill in health staid in London His Majesty therefore having certain advertisement that the Scots were ready to enter Northumberland intended to have made the Earl of Strafford General who declin'd it out of an honoured respect to the Earl of Northumberland but being much pressed in regard of this present occasion desired to serve as Lieutenant general under him and had his Commission accordingly On Thursday the twentieth of Aug. the King set forwards from London towards the North and on Munday following the Earl of Strafford having in that short time fitted himself for his journey posted from London by Coaches and arriving at York the Wednesday after though then much troubled with the Stone rode to Topcliffe on Fryday At that time the Lord Conway was General of the Horse and at Newcastle with the Army Where by reason of the General 's and Lieutenant-General's absence he had the cheif command thereof but made such slender resistance that the Scots forc'd their passage over the River of Tine at Newburne that very Friday and entred Newcastle without opposition himself then retreating with the Army towards York and in some confusion And now that the Scots had thus possess'd themselves of Newcastle they began to strengthen that place and bring all those Northern-parts under contribution Which strange passages made most men amazed scarce any man knowing whom to trust or speak freely to Much labour indeed there was to make the people believe that all this did work for their good and that the Scots were their surest friends this being the certain way to have a Parliament and that the undoubted cure of all things amiss both in Church and State And truly such a burthen was Ship-money then esteem'd to be and some few other extraordinary Impositions so wanton were many grown being surfeited with that plenty which long peace had produc'd that the Scots then had not a few well-wishers in all parts of this Realm their piety and goodness being so cried up by the whole Puritan-party His Majesty therefore in this difficult Labyrinth took resolution to summon a meeting of the Peers at York a course which had anciently been used especially when exigencies were so great that the Convention of a Parliament could not be staid for and at the meeting of this grand Council represented to them the present danger of this Invasion with desire of their advice touching the maintenance of his Army as not safe to be disbanded whilst the Scotish-Forces were on foot as also what course was fittest to be taken to get them out Whereupon without long deliberating a Treaty was determin'd on and for that end sixteen of the Lords then present were assign'd on the King's part to meet with Eleven of the Scots with power to compose and conclude all differences Whereunto the Scots assented upon condition that the King should first revoke his Proclamation whereby he had declared them Traitors COMMISSIONERS Of the English these Francis Earl of Bedford William Earl of Hertford Robert Earl of Essex William Earl of Salisbury Robert Earl of Warwick Iohn Earl of Bristol Henry Earl of Holland Thomas Earl of Berkshire Philip Lord Wharton William Lord Paget Edward Lord Kymbolton Robert Lord Brook Iohn Lord Paulet Edw. L. Howard of Escrick Thomas Lord Savile Francis Lord Dunsmore Of the Scots these Iohn Earl of Rothess Ch. Earl of Dumfermeling Iohn Lord Lowdon Sir Patrick Hepburne of Waughtone Sir Will. Douglas of Cavers William Drummond of Riccarton Iohn Smith Bailiff of Edenborough Alexand Wedderburn Clerk of Dundee Hugh Kennedy Burgess of Aire Alexander Henderson Archibald Iohnstone Which Treaty began at Rippon upon the ninth of October but what good effect it was like to produce we
the Almighty's providence and protection began his march from Shrewsbury upon the xijth of October Which was no sooner known but that they feircely pursued him having order for that purpose from the Houses at Westminster to march against his Majesties Army and fight with them and to rescue the persons of the King Prince and Duke of York So that on Sunday the xxiijth of October being in view of the King's forces they put their Army in order near Kineton in Warwickshire and bid his Majesty Battel by a signal thereof given with their great Ordinance wherewith they made five shot at his Army before any fire was given on the other part But then began a sharp encounter which continued near three hours Wherein God so preserv'd his Majesty that instead of being utterly destroy'd by these violent Rebels who reckoned all their own their invincible Army as they esteem'd it was so bruis'd and shattered that instead of farther pursuing the King it retreated eight miles backwards where the Souldiers secur'd themselves many days by the advantage of the River Avon under the protection of the Town and Castle of Warwick Of which Battel I purposely omit the Description Nor shall I herein make any farther mention of the course of this war it being a work fit to be handled by it self by some more able pen than in a breif Chronologick way to point at the times of the most memorable Battels and Seiges as also to the Towns Castles and other fortified Places first possess'd or afterwards forcibly gained by either party But instead thereof shall observe the wonderful providence of Almighty God whereby notwithstanding these matchless Conspirators who had by so many subtile artifices arrived to that strength and power and made seizure of his Majesties Forts Ports Navy Magazine and Revenue insomuch as the Lord Say in a publick meeting at Oxford of the Gentry and others thither summon'd by him in September preceding told them upon his Honour that the King had neither Money Power nor Credit his Subjects every where being also not a little tainted with the most Antimonarchical principles that by their seditious Preachers or otherwise could possibly be infused into them Yet that in the space of two months he could be enabled to meet them in open Battel having no Amunition but what came to him from Forreign parts through many perillous adventures the Ports being block'd up by his own Royal Navy then under their command nor having Arms or Moneys but what he obtained by extraordinary difficulties From this day forward purposing to make some brief Remarks upon the ensuing practises of these monstrous men in carrying on that barbarous war to the great devastation and spoil of this late flourishing Kingdom And to shew how opposite all their Actions were to those plausible pretences whereby they did at first most subtilly delude and ensnare a multitude of well-meaning people viz. Religion Laws Liberty and property of the Subject as also Priviledge of Parliament CHAP. XIII TO the end therefore that their party might not be disheartened they always took care not only to suppress any bad tidings but to puff up the people with strange imaginations of Victories and Conquests by producing of forged Letters counterfeit Messengers and the like as was manifest by their commitment of sundry persons to prison which came from Kineton-Battel and reported the very truth of the King's success there viz. Captain Wilson Lieutenant Witney and Mr. Banks who were all sent to the Gate-honse to receive punishment by Martial-Law As also one Mr. Iohn Wentworth of Lincolns-Inne and Sir William Fielding Knight giving twenty pounds to one man by order of the House who came and reported that most that were kill'd in the Battel were of the King's side and that the Earl of Essex commanded him to tell his friends that he with his own hands carried away the King's Standard But to undecieve the world as to the number on both sides slain which were then confidently given out to be five thousand most certain it is that upon strict enquiry from the adjacent Inhabitants who buried the Bodies and took particular notice of the distinct numbers put into each Grave it appears that there were not one thousand complete there interred As the remaining part of the Parliament-Army after this Battel finding not themselves in a condition to encounter the King again without new Recruits and therefore made a fair retreat no less than eight miles backward as hath been observed so did some of them before the fight standing doubtful of the success forbear to adventure themselves therein amongst which the afterfamous Oliver Cromwell was one if some of the most eminent persons of his own party who were in the fight bely him not who being Captain of a Troop of Horse in the General 's Regiment came not into the Field but got up into a Steeple within view of the Battel and there discerning by a Prospective-glass the two Wings of their Horse to be utterly routed made such hast to be gone that instead of descending the Stairs by which he came up he swing'd down by a Bell-rope and ran away with his Troop The King soon after holding a soft march towards Oxford Banbury-Castle then garrisoned by the late Earl of Peterborough's Regiment of Foot and Broughton-house the cheif Seat of that great Rebel the Lord Sa yielded upon Summons as he passed But the Rebels that they might not seem to receive a foil in this first great Action the Citizens of London were summon'd to Guild-Hall where the Earls of Pembroke and Holland the Lord Say and Wharton with Mr. Strode made large Speeches to hearten them telling their great Victory at Kineton Battel But the conclusion was to crown their work as their phrase was by farther and speedy Supplies of Men Money and all other assistance To which shadow of their victory to give the better gloss a public Order was made that a gratulatory Present of five hundred pounds should be sent from the Houses to the Earl of Essex for his good service already done in the war And lest any of the deluded people should return to their obedience upon his Majesties gracious Proclamation of pardon they ordered that those Proclamations should not be published But though all these Rebellious forces were hitherto rais'd by voluntary contributions and free offers of many to engage themselves personally in this blessed Cause most of the common sort being really satisfied that they should only go and fetch up the King to his Parliament out of the hands of his Evil Counsellers and a few inconsiderable Cavaliers for by that name they call'd all the Royalists and then return triumphantly without fighting this unexpected brush at Kineton-field could not silence those who had lost their Husbands Children and Friends Seeing therefore their farther Voluntary assistances came in but slowly the Houses at Westminster made an Order
that all Horses within the City of London and the Suburbs and five miles adjacent should be speedily prest for the service of their Army as also that all Horses in the Tower should be seized on and no Coaches suffered to be kept there except one for the Lieutenant And to puff up their General with such vain apprehensions as might hearten him to persist in that his high imployment in regard he was then somewhat popular they form'd a specious Declaration which they ordered to remain upon Record in the Books of both Houses of Parliament as a mark of Honour to the name and Family of the Earl of Essex for the good service he had done to the Common-wealth in the office of General by the hazard of his life in the battel of Kineton Likewise for a firmer union of their forces they made an Order in the name of both Houses that the Counties of York Lincoln Notingham Derby Stafford Chester Lancaster Northumberland Cumberland Westmorland and Duresme with the Town and County of Newcastle should associate themselves by raising Horse and Foot to suppress and subdue the Popish and malignant Party and that the Lord Fairfax should command in chief throughout those Counties But his Majesty coming safe to Oxford after a short stay there march'd towards London the noise whereof caused the Members at Westminster to bestir themselves for preventing his Majesties coming thither whereupon all the power they could raise was sent out to give him astop the Earl of Essex with part of his Army to Kingston upon Thames and the Lord Brooke's and Mr. Hamden's Regiments to Brainford where the Royalists fell so sharply on them that they took five hundred Prisoners and sunk some of their Ordinance intending to march forward on the next day But having advertisement that Essex had drawn his Forces from Kingston and joining with the London-Auxiliaries lay in his way at Turnham Greene he chose rather to make a safe retreat than hazard his Army by a second Battel and so by Reading came back to Oxford where he took up his Winter-Quarters making it his cheif Garrison The flame of war beginning thus to spread each part strove to possess themselves of what strong Towns and Castles they could as also to fortify such other places as might enable them to have command over the parts adjacent The gaining whereof and other Acts of Hostility on each part in places remote as also the most considerable transactions of the Members at Westminster who calling themselves the Parliament sate there with strong Guards to carry on this Grand Rebellion being not possibly capable of a perfect Narrative in punctual order of time to avoid confusion therefore I have thought it most proper to place what is most remarkable on the military part at the end of each years beginning with this of 1642 in which the war did commence To proceed therefore The Rebels by this time discerning the King to get ground partly by the increase of his Forces in sundry Counties and partly by undeceiving many well-meaning people who had been seasoned by divers Lecturing-Preachers and other corrupt Clergy-men with disloyal principles and now doubting the issue without farther help sent a Declaration and Invitation to the Scots for their assistance granting Letters of Mart to all Merchants that would set forth Ships to guard the Seas and to take all Shipping bringing Arms or other aid from forreign parts to assist the King and to detain the same as their lawful prize Furthermore as London and the Counties adjacent gave example to all other parts of the Realm in the first raising of this grand Rebellion so were they the first over whom their great Masters exercised their power Nor were the deluded people elsewhere who had likewise given the Reines into these men's hands for a few fair words long spared for upon the xxixth of November there issued out an Order from both Houses that Committees should be named throughout all Counties to take care for provisions of Victual for the Army raised by the Parliament as also for seizing on Dragoon-Horses and draught-Horses and for borrowing of Money or Plate to supply the Army upon the public Faith Which Committees had thereby power to send for and take such Provisions Money Plate and Horse as the owners did then neglect to bring in And having formerly order'd that the King 's and Queen's Revenue coming into the Exchequer should be detained and employ'd for the public service they seized on thirteen hundred Quarters of Corn which then were in the King's Stores Also for explanation of their former Ordinance touching the contribution of Horse Money and Plate upon the Propositions they order'd that the Refusers should be distrain'd and in default of Distresses to be found their persons to be imprison'd and their Families no longer to remain in London Westminster or the Counties adjacent Shortly after this likewise they framed more Ordinances of Association for divers other Counties constituting Commanders in chief of new forces to be levyed within those Associations beginning with Buckingham Bedford Rutland Northampton Leicester Derby Notingham and Huntington appointing the Lord Grey of Groby son to the Earl of Stanford Serjeant Major General there planting Garrisons in every Castle and great Town throughout all those parts The like Association for the Shires of Cambridge Norfolk Suffolk Hartford Essex part of the Isle of Ely and City of Norwich William Lord Grey of Warke being made Commander in Chief throughout all those Counties And to put the people in hope that this charge and trouble should not last long they gave out that his majesties Forces were utterly broken and shatter'd and read Letters in the House from their General that he would pursue the King with all vehemency Soon after this also they made an Ordinance for taxing all Malignants and such as had not contributed upon the Propositions for Money Horse and Plate according to their abilities that they should pay the Twenty-fifth part of their Estates Under which name of Malignants they brought in all that were worth any thing if within their reach But in this Ordinance it is to be observed that the Assessors were not to tax any Member of either House Neither could their oppressions at home suffice but they countenanc'd the seizing of a Ship call'd Santa Clara out of the Port of Santo Domingo in the King of Spain's Dominions laden with Plate Cochinele and other Merchandise of great value and by order of the House of Commons set up Bills upon the Exchange for sale thereof And that no part of the Realm might be free from their oppressions they constituted Committees in the Counties of Warwick Stafford and City of Coventry for associating of those Counties and planting of Garrisons there authorizing them to suppress and disarm Enemies and persons ill affected also for raising Horse Money Plate c. And soon after that
that though the Committee which were sent to bring in the Scots went but lately thither yet the Brethren there having had former advertisements how great a necessity here was of them to the end their Friends should not faint hasted over a Declaration hither whereby they signified that whereas the Kingdom of England had a long time suffered by the Popish and malignant Counsels about his Majesty and that the miseries in England were but preparations to theirs they therefore did resolve to assist the Parliament of England And high time it was for their forces in most parts going by the worst it put them upon new contrivances every day So that Sir William Waller was fain to come again to the House and take the Covenant a second time to encourage some that had not taken it before And though the Committee which met at Merchant-Taylor's-Hall for raising the people of the land as one man did give direction to the Aldermen and their Deputies in every Ward with the Ministers Common-Council-men and others to promote the work as being the last Refuge of the people for so they express'd and no vain bait or allurement yet saw they so little fruit of this great endeavour that they were constrain'd to effect that by their power which they could not do by perswasion and therefore ordered the raising of two thousand men in Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgshire every man to have a months pay in his pocket And for a speedy supply of more they passed two Ordinances One that the Committee for the Militia of London with the Deputy-Lieutenant's and Committees of Parliament in every County throughout the Kingdom should have power to raise levy and impress such numbers of Souldiers as should be appointed by both Houses of Parliament The other for pressing no less than twenty thousand men with so many Gunners Trumpets and Chirurgeons as should be thought fit for the six associated Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Essex Cambridg Hertford and Huntington with the City of Norwich and Isle of Ely to be rais'd within the said Counties for the service of the Kingdom and Parliament And notwithstanding all this being in a declining condition by reason that their moneys were spent their men wore out and no small discontents amongst themselves in order to some recruit they made an explanation of their old Ordinance for Sequestration of Delinquents with certain enlargements wherein is set forth who were to be reputed Delinquents over and besides such as were described in the former Ordinance with power to examine upon Oath for discovery as also Rewards to Discoverers And likewise passed another Ordinance relating to a former for the speedy raising of a body of Horse for the Preservation Peace and Safety of the Kingdom to resist the Insolencies and outrages committed by the Souldiers of the King's Army those being the words thereof By which they farther ordained that Tenants should pay the Assesments out of their Landlords estates and defalk them out of their Rents But that which they then chiefly look'd on being the assistance of the Scots whereon they principally depended as their last refuge to keep up the hearts of their then drooping party they made it their business therefore to cry up loudly the aid of these their dear Brethren For which respect it will not I suppose be impertinent to make here a short digression in shewing by what means they were dealt with in order to this their second Invasion CHAP. XVI AFter the English Committee was arriv'd in Scotland and had made large promises to the Brethren of an advantagious journey viz. the lands of the Church by the extirpation of Episcopacy the Scots well resenting so beneficial an offer did set forth a Proclamation whereby pretending the King's Person their Religion and Priviledges of Parliament to be in no small danger for preservation of these they required that all persons in that Realm of what sort quality or degree soever between sixteen and sixty years of age should forthwith fit themselves with fourty days Victual Amunition Arms and all other warlike Provision under penalty of confiscation of their whole Estates and to be punished as Enemies to Religion King and Kingdoms And having set forth a plausible Declaration shewing the reasons of such their intended assistance to the Parliament of England against the Papists and Prelatical party as they therein express'd they passed an Act in their convention of Estates for putting that Kingdom into a Posture of Defence naming therein the principal Colonels and Officers for that purpose To accomplish likewise their cheif design of enjoying the Church-Lands they fram'd a new Oath called the solemn League and Covenant Which was forthwith sent over into England and read in the House of Commons at Westminster thence to be transmitted to the Assembly of Divines for their approbation and being by them approved was remitted to the House of Commons And that the grand Contrivers at Westminster might the more ingratiate themselves with those their Brethren of Scotland they passed an Ordinance for demolishing all Monuments of Superstition and Idolatry as they intituled it In which was particularized the removal of all Communion-Tables from the East end of the Chancels in every Church as also for taking away the Rails which defended them levying the Chancels where the East part was higher with removing of Tapers Candlesticks and Basins For the speedy raising of more Moneys they likewise passed another Ordinance for fourteen thousand pounds to furnish one or more Magazines of Arms and Amunition and for raising of Horse c. Which sum was to be levied within the Hamlets of the Tower City of Westminster Burrough of Southwark and other places of Middlesex and Surrey within the lines of Communication Hitherto it was only pretended that those new Regiments of Voluntiers rais'd by the Ordinance of April the xiith for the better security of the City of London should not go out of the Lines of Communication But as Mr. Pym in his Epistle to Sir Iohn Hotham concerning Excise wrote that they must be used to it by little and little so now they began to shew them what they must trust to and passed another Ordinance to enable the Committee for the Militia of London to command forth one or more Regiments of the Trained-Bands or Auxiliaries within the Liberties of London and Westminster to go forth under the command of Sir William Waller and upon occasion to be assistant to the Lord General And herein I cannot but observe an excellent expression made to the House of Commons by Mr. Oliver St. Iohn sometime his Majesties Sollicitor General but then a dear Member and special Contriver in this great work in answer to Mr. Iohn Pym who seemed to stand strict for observing the Ordinance of April the xiith alleaged that though those men by that Ordinance raised only for the defence of the City were not to
go out of the line of Communication yet now that they were rais'd they meaning the Parliament might dispose of them whether they pleased without asking their consents And whereas the first Ordinance for Excise was but only for maintenance of the Army and paiment of Debts due by the Common-wealth they passed another wherein was a consideration added for securing of Trade which occasioned the enlargement thereof upon such Commodities as had not been formerly tax'd besides an alteration of the rates Which Commodities were Strong-waters Medicinal-Drugs Haberdashers-ware Vpholsters ware Salt Sallets Sope all sorts of Woollen-cloth Paper Skins and Glasses Having also thus taught the new Auxiliaries the force of an Ordinance of Parliament they passed another for the pressing of five thousand men in the Cities of London and Westminster with the Counties adjacent to go under the command of Sir William Waller And to hasten on the march of their Brethren the Scots to their aid and assistance the Members of the House of Commons with great formality and no less seeming devotion entred into that unhappy Combination called the solemn League and Covenant so fram'd in Scotland in St. Margarets-Church at Westminster Which under the specious veil of Reformation was that fatal Engine whereby not only the Hierarchy in the Church was by them soon after destroyed and the patrimony thereof with the Lands and Revenues of the Crown swallow'd up by those pretenders to Godliness but the sacred Person of the King most inhumanly murthered and this ancient and long flourishing Monarchy so far as 't was in their power wholly subverted and destroy'd as to the whole world is most notorious In the Preamble whereunto they had the confidence to say that this their League and Covenant was according to the commendable practise of these Kingdoms and the Example of God's people in other Nations Whereas there is not only no mention of any such things by our Historiographers nor in the History of any other Realm that I have ever seen excepting that of the Holy League in France whereof I shall take farther notice ere I finish this work but Mr. Philip Nye one of their mighty Champions for the Cause and an especial assertor of this Covenant hath expresly affirmed in print that it is such an Oath as for matter persons and other circumstances the like hath not been in any age or Oath we read of in sacred or humane stories And it is also observable that whereas in the Preamble they farther affirm that they did it to preserve themselves and their Religion which must needs be intended the known Religion publickly profess'd and by Law establish'd in the Church of England from ruine and destruction they immediatly vow to reform Religion here in England according to the pattern of the Kirk of Scotland and to extirpate Episcopacy and all Ecclesiastical Offices depending thereon Notwithstanding they knew full well First that the King was by his Coronation Oath sworn to maintain and defend the Bishops and the Churches under their charge Secondly that all the Clergy of England had testified their approbation of Episcopal Government by personal Subscriptions thereto and thirdly that by a solemn Protestation made and framed by themselves in that very Parliament and recommended by them to be taken by all the people of England they had oblig'd themselves neither for hope nor fear or other respect to relinquish the true Protestant Religion express'd in the Doctrine of the Church of England But all this Pageantry in their thus taking of that solemn League and Covenant could not allay the loud clamours of the people occasion'd by the great pressures and daily exactions under which they miserably groaned the Members therefore were constrain'd to betake themselves to another way for the easing them at least in shew and this was by an Ordinance for selling the King's Queen's and Princes revenues and the arrearages thereof as also to another for felling and cutting down Woods within sixty miles of London in all Forests Chases and Parks belonging to the King or Queen or any Arch-bishop Bishop Dean and Chapter c. Papist Delinquent Malignant c. to be disposed of for supply of the City of London Which seeming favour was for no other purpose than that they might afterwards bring the greater load upon them as they did ere long For within few days upon a jugling Report made to the House of a Pope's Bull translated into English with a Declaration upon it which was pretended to be newly sent into England for the more effectual prosecuting of the Catholic war here a Committee of the House of Commons and of the Assembly of Divines came to a Common-Hall in London to consult with the Citizens for the speedy raising of an hundred thousand pounds for the advance of the Scottish Army to be lent for that service and repay'd when moneys were procured from forreign parts upon the public faith of both Kingdoms And to obtain more men as well as money there issued out another Order that the Committee for the Militia or London should have power to appoint six Regiments of their Trained-Bands and one of their Auxiliaries as also one Regiment of Horse and Dragoons to march out with their Commanders and joyn with the Earl of Essex's Forces Likewise an Ordinance for the pressing of five thousand Souldiers more to be sent to the Islands of Ieresey and Garnsey under the command of the Earl of Warwick those Trained-Bands being appointed to meet in St. Iames Fields and from thence to march unto such place as the Earl of Essex or his Officers should appoint and in default thereof their Shops to be shut up themselves depriv'd of Trade and liable to expulsion out of the lines of Communication And about the same time they passed another Ordinance for assessing the Twenty fifth part upon all Members of Parliament who then were either in the King's Army or otherwise absent their estates to be let in case of not paiment And having lately sped so well upon credit of the public faith they adventured again upon the same security recommending to the Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Essex and Lincoln with the City of Norwich the aid of the Lord Fairfax in Men Money Plate Horse and Amunition passing an Ordinance for repaiment of what should be lent for the speedy bringing in of the Scots to their assistance and securing it in the mean time by the before-mention'd public faith But the reputation of the public faith was now grown so low that moneys came not in either quick enough or in such large sums as were expected it being left arbitrary to the Creditors what they would lend another Ordinance therefore was passed for raising the full sum of sixty six thousand six hundred sixty six pounds thirteen shillings four pence within the Cities of London and Westminster with the Counties of Hertford Bedferd Middlesex Essex Suffolk
Majesties Garrisons In the same month of May Dudley castle in Staffordshire was delivered up to Sir William Brereton by Colonel Leveson and soon after Carnarvon Town and Castle to Major General Mitton and Major General Langhorn the Lord Byron being then Governour there Likewise Ludlow in Shropshire to Sir William Brereton and Borstall house near Oxford Oxford it self also soon followed Sir Thomas Glemham being then Governour As also Farringdon in Berkshire Sir George L'isle being Governour Next Lichfield close in Staffordshire Then the City of Worcester besieg'd by Colonel Whalley and Colonel Raynsborough Colonel Washington being Governour Also Wallingford castle Colonel Blague being Governour Gotherich Castle likewise in Hereford shire and Pendennis-castle in Cornwall whereof Iohn Arrundel of Trerise was Governour Conway Castle in Flintshire being storm'd by Major General Mitton In the next month after a long siege by General Fairfax Sir Trevor Williams and Colonel Langhorn Ragland castle in Monmouth shire was yielded to them And soon after the Isles and Castle of Scilly were given up As also the Castles of Denbigh and Holt Whereupon Generall Fairfax advanced triumphantly towards London And on the first of February next following the Scots having effectually received the whole Sum of two hundred thousand pounds for which they sold the King they marcht over Twede into Scotland His Majestie having thus cast himself upon the loyalty of those touching whose large professions and protestations to him I have already taken notice let us now behold the blessed Fruits of Presbytery by the subsequent Practises of these Zelots which doth amply make good what King Iames long since declared of that Sect viz. that no deserts could oblige nor Oaths or Promises bind them For notwithstanding those their solemn Oaths and Protestations they most perfidiously acted contrary to them hastning thereby that farther ruin which soon afterwards befel the Church of England and at length terminated in the wofull murther of their native Sovereign as is notoriously known to the World carrying on all this under the colour and veile of their Solemn League and Covenant In order whereunto the first thing observable is a plausible Letter directed to the Committee of Estates at that time residing with the Scotch Army wherein they tell them that their earnest desire being to keep a right understanding between the two Kigndomes did move them to acquaint them with that strange providence wherewith they were then surprised together with their carriage and desires thereupon and to endeavour to improve his Majesties being there to the best advantage for promoting the work of Vniformity for setling of Religion and Righteousness and attaining of Peace according to the League and Covenant and Treaty c. affirming that they had a Witness from Heaven and that there was nothing more in their desires than in all their resolutions and proceedings to adhere to the Covenant and Treaty ¶ What hopes this specious Letter might give his Majestie for promoting his earnest endeavours for such an happy peace as he desired is hard to say considering what relation it had to the Solemn League and Covenant but his former assurances in order to his coming to them as I have already observed being such as they were he became so confident thereupon as that shortly after he sent unto the two Houses at Westminster his xi th Message whereby because they had made so great a noyse of setling Religion That together with the Militia and the War of Ireland being the chief things insisted on in their former Propositions he recomended to them the advice therein of those Divines in both Kingdomes whom they had assembled at Westminster And for the Militia offred that he would be content to settle it as they themselves proposed in the Treaty at Uxbridge viz. that all persons who should be trusted therewith might be named by the two Houses of Parliament for the space of seven years and after that time to be regulated as should be agreed on by his Majestie and his two Houses of Parliament And touching Ireland that he would do whatsoever was possible for him to give full satisfaction to them And that if those his free offers would not serve then he desired that al such of their Propositions as were then by them agree'd on might be speedily sent to him he being resolved to comply with them in every thing that might conduce to the happiness of his subjects and removing all unhappy differences which had produced so many sad effects Farther offring that all his forces should be forthwith disbanded and Oxford with the remainder of his other Garrisons rendred into their hands upon honourable conditions and dismantled But to this gracious Message as to his former they turn'd a deaf ear there being then another Game to be play'd which was the getting of the King's person out of the Hands of the Scots suspecting as they had cause that those their dear Brethren would make no little advantage thereof Notwithstanding the Votes at Westminster that he should be disposed of as they should desire and direct Concerning which Votes at Westminster and debates of both Houses thereupon it will not be amiss here to take notice how they alledg'd that the Scottish Army in England was theirs id est under their pay Also that the King ought to be near to his Parliament whereby they might have recourse to him and obtain such things as should be most necessary for the Kingdomes Likewise that by Covenant they were sworn to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament but to detein the King from his Parliament was altogether inconsistent with the Covenant Of which Votes the Scots seem'd to take little notice but in stead thereof and for diversion amused the Members at Westminster with several Letters which they caused to be written to them one from the general assembly of the Kingdome of Scotland wherein they told them that their success against the Enemy id est the King's Forces did lay a strong obligation upon them to improve the power put into their Hands for the advancement of the Kingdome of Christ and bringing forth the head-stone of his House And therefore did earnestly intreat and beseech them in the Bowels of Christ to give unto him the glory due to his name by a timeous establishment of all his Ordinances in full integrity and power according to the Covenant c. Saying that the Searcher of Hearts knew how they desired to keep their Covenant c. concluding with their desires to the Parliament to endeavour all the ends of the Covenant The other to the Assembly of Divines sitting at Westminster wherein they expressed their Thanks for their constant endeavours and labours in the work of setting up the Ordinances of Christ desiring that they would go on in the sedulous promoting of that blessed work The third was to the Lord Mayor
cleared and those difficulties explained to him which he then conceived to be destructive to his just regal power in case he should give a full consent to those Propositions as they then stood Engaging himself to give his chearful assent to all such Bills as should be really to the good and peace of his people and to prefer the happiness of this Kingdome before his own particular And as a farther means to work a confidence in them of his own sincerity in these things he offered again to trust them with his own person conjuring them as they were Christians and Subjects and as they were men who desired to leave a good name behind them so to receive and make use of that his Answer that all issues of bloud might be stopped and those unhappy distractions peaceably setled But as his former gracious and frequent offers so this could not then find any acceptance at all with them by reason that it tended to the composure of those lamentable distractions which tended to the utter ruine of the King and Realm their aims at first and continued resolutions still being to share the spoyl which by their strength and power they had most unjustly got Nay in stead of any kindness or comfort which he might rationally expect from their many and most solemn promises and protestations they perpetually tormented his pious Soul with incessant importunities to take their hypocritical Covenant and sent for several of their most rigid Preachers to terrify him with their Kirk-censures upon his refusal thereof In which sad and disconsolate condition I shall for a while leave him and take a short view of the transactions betwixt the Members sitting at Westminster and those at Edenborough with their respective Commissioners The principal work being now done here in England by the help of the Scots the Grandees here as well as others began to be weary of their dear Brethren and for the sooner riddance of them passed a Vote that a Message should be sent to the Scottish Army that in regard they were not usefull in this Kingdome for the present and that the payment thereof would be a great burthen thereto they should with all convenient speed return into their Country But the Scots never intending to be loosers by their journey hither knowing full well how to make the best use of those advantages they then had gave their dear Brethren very good words telling them in their answer to the demands made in pursuance of that Vote that their earnest desires were the setling of Religion and Church Government which as it was the principal ground of their engagement in this Cause so would the perfecting of it be their chiefest joy and Glory of both Kingdomes it being the constant resolution of that Kingdome against all opposition to strengthen and cherish the Brotherly kindness between the Kingdomes and Peace setled with Truth and those things performed by the Honourable Houses which by Treaty they were obliged unto to recall their Army with as great alacrity as they were ready to send the same into England for the assistance of their Brethren And in another Letter speaking of the Arrears due to their Army they had these words This Kingdome lyeth under the burthen of great and vast expence in raising and entertaining of Armies and hath with the lives of many precious men set their own Houses on fire to quench the flame of yours And seeing by the seasonable assistance afforded by this Kingdome to you and by the late successes wherewith God hath blessed your Armies you are in a great measure freed of your troubles and are in a far better capacity to pay the moneys due to our Armies in England and Ireland than you were at any time since the beginning of these Wars we demand of the honourable houses to make payment of the summs of money duly owing to this Kingdome ¶ The state of things standing thus made the Game now to be play'd betwixt these great Masters not a little difficult to each the chief business of the then predominant party at Westminster being to gain the person of the King into their own hands and in case he should not upon the matter totally quit his Regal power to them by taking their Covenant and assenting to those their destructive propositions before-mentioned then to keep him close prisoner and exercise the same power without him And the design of the Scots not onely to use the like Regal-power in Scotland but to get a large sum of mony to boot considering that having the King in their hands the Grandees there were able to make their own terms on the behalf of themselves as to Riches and Honours There was therefore no means unessayed by each for accomplishing their respective ends But the Arguments and debates about this business continuing no less than six months before all things were fully agree'd I shall reserve my observations upon them till then and in the mean time take notice of what else did occur that is most remarkable in order to the carrying on their main work and divide the same into two parts the one touching their attempts upon the King in relation to the Covenant and Propositions the other towards the advancement of the Scepter of Iesus Christ for by that title they called their Presbyterean Doctrine and Discipline As to the first About the beginning of September Iames Duke Hamilton Lindsey Earl of Craford the Earl of Cassiles and some others from the Estates of Scotland came to Newcastle to the King and there earnestly solicited him to take the Covenant and sign the Propositions To second which motion there was a petition presented to His Majesty from the general Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland for Reformation of Religion according to the Covenant and uniformity of Church government denouncing God's anger upon him and the hazard to lose the Hearts of his good subjects in case he assented not thereto Soon after which Mr. Andrew Cant Mr. Robert Blayre and Mr. Iames Douglass came thither also to press him to the same purpose To torment him likewise yet more one of these violent men I mean a rigid Presbyterean-preacher besides many rude and uncivil expressions in his Sermon there before the King called for the 52. Psalm to be sung by the congregation which beginneth thus Why do'st thou Tyrant boast abroad thy wicked works to praise Whereupon His Majesty instantly stood up and called for the 56. Psalm beginning thus Have mercy Lord on me I pray for men would me devour Which the people readily sung waving the other Nay the fierceness of these Scottish-presbyters against His Sacred Majesty was such as that upon certain Proposals made to those of them who were Commissioners from the general Assembly viz. If the King shall come into Scotland and that the Kingdome of England shall exclude him of the Government there for his leaving them without granting the Propositions Whether or not
it would be lawful to that Kingdome to assist him for the recovery of the Government he not granting the Propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and not giving a satisfactory answer to the remanent Propositions Their Answer The Quaere presupposeth the King's coming into this Kingdome which case for the reasons expressed in our late warning we humbly conceive should not be put into the Question and therefore desire your Lordships to go about all means for the present preventing of it as a matter of most dangerous consequence to Religion this Kirk and Kingdome and to the King himself and his posterity But if the Question be stated simply without supposing such a case in these termes If the King be excluded from Government in England for not granting the propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and for not giving a satisfactory Answer to the remanent propositions whether in that case it be lawfull for this Kingdome to assist him for the Recovery of the Government Or if it be not lawfull being put to it we cannot but answere in regard of the Engagement of this Kingdome by Covenant and Treaty Negative 1. Resolv'd upon the Question That the Kingdome of Scotland shall be governed as it hath been these five years last past all means being used that the King may take the Covenant and pass the Propositions 2. Resolv'd that the taking of the Scottish Covenant and passing some of the Propositions doth not give warrant to assist him against England 3. Resolv'd that upon bare taking the National Covenant we may not receive him 4. Resolv'd that the Clause in the Covenant for defence of the King's Person is to be understood in defence and safety of the Kingdomes 5. Resolv'd that the King shall not execute any power in the Kingdome of Scotland untill such time as he hath granted the Propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and given satisfactory answer to both Kingdomes in the rest of the Propositions presented to him by both Kingdomes at Newcastle 6. Resolv'd that if His Majestie refuse to pass the Propositions he shall be disposed of according to the Covenant and Treaty 7. Resolv'd that the union be friendly kept between the Kingdomes according to the Covenant and Treaty By what hath last been instanc'd t is easy enough to be discern'd that bargain so long in driving on was by this time concluded in reference to the person of the King I mean the certain price for which the Scots did sell him which prompted them so eagerly and frequently to press his taking their Covenant and consent to those destructive Propositions which they well knew he could never do without apparent hazard to his Soul and that he had manifestly confuted the Arguments of Mr. Alexander Henderson whom they brought to convince him therein I shall therefore need to say no more of that matter then to set down the Quaeres which His Majestie delivered to the Commissioners of Scotland upon their last importuning him thereto when they threatned to deliver him up to the Parliament of England as they then called those Members at Westminster in case of his refusal It is a receiv'd opinion by many that Engagements Acts or Promises of a restrained person are neither valid nor obligatory How true or false this is I will not now dispute but I am sure if I be not free I am not fit to answer any of your Propositions wherefore you should first resolve me in what state I stand as in relation to freedome before I can give you any other Answer The Reason of this my Question the Governour can best resolve you But if you object the loss of time and urgency of it certainly in one respect it presses none so much as my self which makes me also think it necessary that I be not to seek what to do when this Garrison shall be surrendred up to demand of you in case I go into Scotland if I shall be there with Honour Freedome and Safety or How being ready to give you a farther and more particular Answer so soon as you shall have resolv'd these two Quaeres Whereunto they give this insignificant Answer 1. To the first in what state you stand as in relation to Freedome the Parliaments of both Kingdomes have given such orders and directions as they have thought fittest for the safety of your Majesty and the Kingdomes to the General and Governour 2. To your second Quaere of your going into Scotland we shall humbly desire that we may not be put to give an Answer but if your Majesty shall either deny or delay your assent to the Propositions we are in that case to represent to your Majesty the resolutions of the Parliament of England ¶ Having now done with their attempts upon His Majesty in reference to the Covenant and Propositions I come to their farther Progress for the establishing of Presbytery Wherein I am to look back a little About the latter end of August a Bill for Ordination of Ministers being the third time read in the House of Commons at Westminster and thence transmitted to the Lords not long after they received a Petition from the County of Lancaster subscribed by twelve thousand hands for setling of the Classes in those parts with the names of such as they had made choyse of and presented to the House for ordering thereof Nor were the Assembly of Divines sitting at Westminster less active who having fram'd a new Confession of Faith were hard at work in adding quotations of Scripture in the Margent of their Copies for justification thereof And that this blessed Presbytereal Government might be the more secure from danger the Houses at Westminster passed an Ordinance not onely for abolishing the name title and dignity of Arch-Bishops Bishops c. but nominated Trustees in whom their Lands should be setled Likewise for the fitter moulding this new Confession of Faith Copies thereof purposely printed were delivered to each Member of both Houses at Westminster to the end they might consider of the same and advise the better therein But notwithstanding all this holy Reformation there were some who had not onely the Conscience to adhere unto the Liturgy establisht by Law in the Church of England in their publick service of God but the Courage to prosecute those by Indictment which neglected the reading thereof in their Parish-Churches In so much as upon notice of this high presumption from Buckinghamshire an Ordinance was forthwith voted to be brought in for repealing the Statute which enjoyn'd it At which time the House also ordered that all Malignant Ministers for so were the Orthodox called should be disabled from Preaching and an Ordinance to be brought in for that purpose And though by an Order of the House of Commons Mr. Sydrach Sympson one of their Assembly of Divines and an eminent stickler for the Cause was for some opinions and expressions savouring of Independencie to have been
each differing from other in divers material points but all centring in opposition to Presbyterie which strange opinions no less absurd than various were so inconsistent with the zealous Disciplinarians who termed them Heretical and Blasphemous that they spared for no pains in endeavouring to suppress them As to the Tenets and practices of these Independent Libertines let this one instance serve for a Tast one Mr. Gregory of Colonel Rich his Regiment preaching at a Widows house near Northampton told his Auditors that he thought he was obliged to unfold the Scripture as it was revealed to him Likewise that he hoped to see the Shop-windows open on the Lord's day Also that the Psalms were no Scripture and that the Parson of that Parish was a Minister of Antichrist But notwithstanding this apparent danger to the Disciplinarians from this blessed brood of their own hatching some confidence they yet had of putting a stop to their farther growth to that end therefore as to their former notable pranks they frequently did by a special Ordinance they caused a day to be set a part for humbling themselves and seeking of God as they term'd it by fasting and prayer the preamble whereof I have thought fit here to insert We the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England having entred into a solemn Covenant to endeavour sincerely really and constantly the Reformation of Religion in Doctrine Discipline and Worship and the extirpation of Popery Superstition Heresie Schism Prophaneness and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of Godlyness And having found the presence of God wonderfully assisting us in this Cause especially since our Engagement in pursuance of the said Covenant have thought fit lest we partake in other mens sins and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues to set forth this our deep sense of the great dishonour of God and perillous Condition that this Kingdome is in through the abominable Blasphemies and damnable Heresies vented and spread abroad therein tending to the subversion of the Faith contempt of the Ministry and Ordinance of Iesus Christ. And as we are resolved to imploy and improve the utmost of our power that nothing be said or done against the Truth but for the Truth So we desire that both our selves and the whole Kingdome may be deeply humbled before the Lord for that great reproach and contempt which hath been cast upon his name and saving Truths and for that swift destruction which we may justly fear will fall upon the immortal Souls of such who are or may be drawn away by giving heed to seducing Spirits In the hearty and tender compassion whereof we the said Lords and Commons do order and ordain that Wednesday being the tenth day of March next be set apart for a day of publick Humiliation c. And to back this their Godly Exercise forasmuch as their solemn League and Covenant had effected such great matters otherwise the House of Peers soon after voted an Ordinance to be brought in for disabling every person whatsoever from bearing any office Civil or Military that should refuse to take the Covenant But that which they deemed above all not onely to get a hand over this many-headed-Monster Independencie but to establish to themselves a lasting dominion over the persons and Estates of all other people was to gain the King's person into their power concerning whom they had been trucking with the Scots for the space of six months at the least his Majestie being all that while at Newcastle upon Tine and their Army quartered in the Adjacent Counties not without some Heart-burnings towards those their dear Brethren for keeping him so long and continuing their Army in this Realm at so vast a charge and intollerable a burthen to those Northern parts having had no use thereof at all after the render of Newark Nor did this deteiner pass without some quick disputes betwixt them the Grandees here affirming and insisting stiffly upon it that the Kingdome of Scotland had no right of joynt exercise of interest in disposing the person of the King in the Kingdome of England urging likewise that forasmuch as he had deserted his Parliament and People entred into and continued in a bloudy and dangerous war against them had not granted those Propositions which by both Kingdomes were sent unto him as a means of a safe and well-grounded peace he was not therefore at present in a condition to exercise the duties of his place or be left to go or reside where and when himself pleased Farther objecting that the Commissioners of Scotland at a conference with theirs had declared that it would be prejudicial to both Kingdomes for the King to go into Scotland But after much dispute the Scots in brief told them that their Army by the Oath of Allegiance their Committee of Estates by their Commission and their Officers by their Military Oath ought to defend the King from harms and prejudices Often affirming that the King came to their Army for shelter and defence Adding that it was the Law and common practise of all Nations not to deliver the meanest subject fled to them though for the greatest crimes and that if the meanest were not to be delivered how would the world abroad condemn them for so base and dishonourable an act the King having cast himself into their hands They likewise said if it be considered that the Scottish Army was invited and called into this Kingdome by both Houses of Parliament in a Treaty for prosecuting the ends of a solemn League and Covenant whereof one Article is to preserve and defend his Majestie 's person there can remain no doubt concerning this exercise of that Right and Interest in this Kingdome And therefore said it seemed very strange that when upon invitation they were come into England as for other ends so to defend his Majestie 's person their being in England should be made use of as an Argument why they should deliver up the person of the King to be disposed of as both Houses should think fit Whereunto the English Commissioners replyed that the Scotch-Army came in hither as Auxiliaries under pay and therefore they ought not to capitulate herein at all And that whereas the Scots did so much urge their Obligation by the Covenant to preserve and defend the King's person and Authority they told them that they left out the principal Clause which was relative viz. in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdomes without which the other part ought never to be mention'd But the plain truth is that all this fencing with Arguments came at last to a meer Money-business For whereas the Grandees at Westminster by stipulation with the Scots for their Expedition into England had promised to pay them after the rate of thirty thousand pounds per mensem so long as they should have occasion to make use of their
Army and all being done to give them for the pains hazzard and charges which the said Army should undergo a due recompence by way of Brotherly Assistance Towards the performance of which agreement though these Grandees did manifest that besides much free Quarter the Scots-Army had monthly received nineteen thousand and seven hundred pounds and for the last year ending ultimo Octobris seventy two thousand nine hundred seventy two pounds two shillings and eleven pence for the Customes and other Impositions upon coals onely the Brethren nevertheless having then the better end of the staff in their hands as being possess'd of the King delivered in unto them an account of Arrears besides losses of no less than a Million of money their free Quarter reckoned but with a kind intimationâ— that they would accept of a less sum in gross for a full discharge of all Whereupon a Committee being appointed to treat with them thereon and times of payment they then stoop'd to the one half viz. five hundred thousand pounds whereof two hundred thousand pounds to be paid upon the departure of their Army and the rest within twelve months Much dispute indeed they had about this business yea some high words but at length four hundred thousand pounds was the sum agree'd on the one half in hand upon delivery up of the King Which sum without more ado stop'd the mouths of those Vultures and put a period to all this hot contest All their Oaths and Obligation whereon they had so much insisted meerly to heighten the price of their Sovereign being then set aside as 't is notoriously known Being therefore thus sold and delivered to the Earls of Pembroke Denbigh and Lord Mountagu of Boughton Sir Iames Harington Sir Iohn Holand Sir Walter Earl Sir Iohn Cook Iohn Crew Esq and Major General Brown Commissioners from the Members at Westminster to be carried to Holdenby-House in Northamptonshire his Majestie hoped that he might have two of his own Chaplains admitted to attend him in this sad and disconsolate condition having not one servant of his own about him but that request would not be granted though again seconded ¶ Thus did the bonny Scots part with their native King leaving those Northern countries miserably beggar'd by many grievous Taxes imposed on them by their Army and most lamentable oppressions by Free-Quarter Which burthens were so heavy that the Inhabitants of Cleveland by their petition to the Members at Westminster and Letter therewith sent complained that their oppressions were greater than those who suffered by the Turks both their persons and Estates those under the Turk being quit for a fifth part whereas they in one year did pay their whole Revenues seven times over We are say they in their Letters the absolutest slaves that ever was read of for they assess us at their pleasures leavy as they please If they bid us go and ride none dare refuse The Kill us in hot bloud beat us in cold c. In a word our stock is already wasted our little corn we had ill gotten in by reason of the great moisture we are now thrashing it for the Scots We are eating our last bread Who have been able to get away are gone c. The perfect Diurnal further adds The Country puts up many complaints Bedall a little Town in Yorkshire of 57 li. old Rent and Ayscough a lesser Village of 42 li. have put up their several complaints that they have in less than five months last past paid to the Scots Army quartering upon them almost two thousand pounds besides former Billettings and Taxes by which sad sufferings some have left their Houses others at the point of leaving theirs also Lâ—tters from Richmundshire did likewise intimate that two Constableries of that County the Rent whereof amounted to no more than ninety nine pounds per annum were assessed by the Scottish Army and paid in Free Quarter no less than nineteen hundred pounds in four months But having made such a fair Market of the King leaving those Countries thus harrassed they march'd back over Tweed upon the eleventh of February ¶ Hereupon the Grandees at Westminster having to the view of the World finish'd their great work by getting the person of the king into their power they imployed Phillip Earl of Pembroke Basill Earl of Denbigh Edward Lord Mountagu of Boughton Sir Iames Harington Sir Iohn Holand and Sir Iohn Cook Baronets Sir Walter Earl Knight Iohn Crew Esq and Major General Brown as already hath been observed to bring his Majestie from Newcastle to Holdenby in Northampton shire Who coming to Newcastle upon the 22. of Ianuary after their stay there till the last day of that month they set forwards on the Journey and on the sixteenth of February got to holdenby where they kept him under a strict restraint Colonel Richard Greaves a most confiding Presbyterean having the chief command of his Guards not suffring any of his own servants to come near him no not so much as one Chaplain for performance of such divine offices as common charity could not have denyed to the greatest criminal though often and earnestly moved by his Majestie thereto Which being done they thought of nothing more than singing a Requiem to their Souls In order whereunto in the first place they concluded on the new modelling of their Army lest the tender Independent who grew up apace might otherwise overtop his Presbyterean-parent and therefore resolv'd to cull out those who were not Covenant-proof and send them for Ireland there to encounter as well with hunger and cold as other miseries and hardships of war Then to disband others and make a new establishment consisting of such onely as were pure Covenanters and firm to the good old Cause And next to the end that with more plausibility to the people and security to themselves they might have the full sway of all their drift was to extoâ— the King's consent he being then their prisoner 〈◊〉 this their new designed Dominion For the accomplishment whereof according to their wonted praâ—â—â—ses they caused a petition to be exhibited to the two Houses at Westminster by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of London Wherein was contained a subtil insinuation of their desires that God would bring his Majestie 's Heart nearer to his chief and greatest Council the Parliament and that he would be perswaded to joyn with them in the National League and Covenant and give satisfaction in the Propositions which the Parliaments of both Nations should make unto him for the full assurance of his People for the future and firm establishment of the Peace and Vnion of the Kingdomes in Church and Commonwealth In which Petition it was also desired that for security to the Parliament and City such as had been in opposition to the Parliament id est loyal to the King might be removed out of the City and kept at a
that the eight weeks pay voted was not a considerable part thereof Next that no visible security was given for what should not then be payd Thirdly that nothing was done for their Vindication and that having been declared Enemies and sent home they might be proceeded against as Enemies unless that Declaration against the Army of March the XIIIth was recalled and therefore they petitioned the General for a publick Rendevouz whereat their Grievances might be represented Whereupon intimation was given that these things considered there would be a necessity for the officers complyance with the Souldiers lest that Rendevouz should otherwise prove tumultuous and destructive to the Kingdome In which petition considering the late Order for disbanding without redressing their Grievances or vindicating the Army or calling such persons to accompt who had been Intenders or Contrivers of their destruction they desired that he would speedily appoint a general Rendevouz and to use his utmost endeavour that they might not be disbanded before their sad and pressing greivances were heard and fully redressed Which Petition being communicated by the General to the two Houses at Westminster did so startle their High and Mightynesses there that they forthwith ordered to the common Souldiers all their Arrears deducting free Quarter according to the usual Rules of the Army Also that the subordinate officers should have the like and the Commission-officers one months pay more added to the two formerly voted Likewise that the Declaration against the Army before mentioned should be rased out of the Journals of both Houses which was done accordingly And that there should be an Ordinance drawn up for their farther satisfaction in point of Indempnity with an Ordinance oblivion to boot CHAP. XXIII BUT this Psalm of Placebo then tuned by the Members at Westminster did no whit charm the evil Spirit which was conjur'd up by the Grandees of the Army amongst the common Souldiers Who well knowing how perfidious those Ring-leaders of the Rebellion had been to their Leige-lord the King concluded that they would approve themselves as faithless to them when ever it should lye in their power And therefore not daring to trust their faire words they forthwith dispatcht away a party of a thousand Horse to Holdenby under the command of one Ioyce a Cornet but formerly a Godly Taylor who arriving there upon Thursday in the night being the third of Iune and having secured the Guards under which the King was then kept took away His Majesty the next day to Hinchinbrooke near Huntington Which News so astonisht the great men at Westminster that having had no small experience of many signal advantages by their counterfeit Humiliations and Mock-fasts they herein fell to their old practice in that kind once more appointing Wednesday the sixth of Iune for that purpose to the end as their usual canting expressions were that God would be pleased to give them one Heart and one mind in carrying on the great work of the Lord. Whereupon their famous Stephen Marshall who was Presbyterianorum ante-signanus the Bell-wether of that blessed flock with Mr. Strong and Mr. Whitakers zealous men of the same stamp were then appointed to pray and preach with the Members in their own House of Commons upon that day the Lords according to the example of the Commons appointing others as devout to do the like in theirs And to court the Souldiers yet more they passed an additional Ordinance to save them harmless by an Act of Oblivion and Pardon for all things done in the time of War Nay into such a terror were they then stricken that in order to the laying of this evil-Spirit in the Army so conjur'd up by the Independent Grandees there they did according to their old wont set on foot a Petition in the City of London which being sign'd by thousands of the Presbyterean-Heard was brought to the House of Commons by the Sheriffs accompanyed by divers Aldermen and others desiring that all honourable ways and means might be used for to prevent the farther shedding of bloud and that all just satisfaction might be given to the Army and all other Souldiers who had adventured their lives for defence of the Parliament and Kingdome Likewise that the Covenant and Agreement of both Nations might be kept and His Majestie 's royall person preserved and so disposed of that the Parliaments of both Kingdomes might have access unto him c. Whereupon the House Voted that an Ordinance should be speedily brought in according to the desires of the Petitioners And the same day they passed a Declaration for making void their former Declaration of the xiijth of March concerning the Army And farther to shew how firm they yet stood to their old Presbyterean-principles and the Covenant in order to a blessed Reformation which was for the extirpating the Religion by Law establisht in the Church of England they passed an Ordinance entituled An Ordinance for recreation of Scholars Apprentices and Servants Whereby abrogating those ancient Festivals of the Nativity of our blessed Saviour Easter Whitsontide and all other Holy-days which had been as their sayd Ordinance expressed before that time superstitiously observed they did insted thereof allow them the second Thursday in every month throughout the year for their Recreation ¶ There is nothing more certain than that at this time there was so great a terrour upon the Presbyterean-Grandees sitting at Westminster by reason that the Army had gotten the person of the King into their hands that they left no likely means unessayed to reconcile the two Interests viz. the Presbyterean then predominant in the Parliament and Independent in the Army whereof to give particular instances would be too tedious Nor is it less true that Cromwell who all this while sitting at Westminster and by his trusty confidents called Agitators actuating the Army did put them upon all those practises and the more to fool his fellow-members did with the greatest asseverations imaginable confidently profess his dislike of the Souldiers refractoriness assuring the House that if he might have leave to go down to the Army he would undertake they should submit and lay down their Arms at the Parliament door Which vain hope did then so far dote most of the Members that some of them said publickly that having done such glorious things for the Parliament as a chief Commander in the Army and now that he would qualify the Souldiers in this their desperate mutiny he deserved to have a Statue in Gold But having by this artifice obtain'd liberty to get away when he came to the Rendevouz at Triplo-Heath he did not onely approve of all that they had done but openly joyn'd with them in all their bold Engagements Declarations Remonstrances and Manifestos saying to some in private that now he had got the King into his Hands he had the Parliament in his Pocket but protested his ignorance of the design adding
authority before consideration should be had thereupon in a Treaty might afterwards hazard the security it self 3. That these Bills did not onely contain the devesting himself of all Sovereignty and that without possibility of recovering it either to Himself or his Successors except by Repeal of them but also making his Concessions guilty of the greatest Pressures that could be upon his Subjects as in other particulars so by giving an arbitrary and unlimited Power to the two Houses for ever to raise and levy Forces for land or sea service of what persons without distinction of quality and to what numbers they should please and likewise for levying money for their Pay So that these their Proposals being thus destructive to Himself and his Successors he in that his Answer declared That neither the desire of being freed from that tedious and irksome condition of life he had so long suffered nor the apprehension of what might befall him in case they would not afford him a personal Treaty should make him change his resolution of not consenting to any Act till the whole Peace were concluded still earnestly pressing for a personal Treaty with them It being now visible enough that Independency grew up every day more and more the Brethren of Scotland became so sensible thereof that the Assembly of Divines of that Kirk wrote to those sitting at Westminster passionately desiring them to adhere unto the Covenant and constantly to endeavour the extirpation of Heresie and Schism in the Church of England And to second that came another Letter to the Members of both Houses sitting at Westminster from the Scotish-Commissioners wherein was inclosed a large Declaration in which are these Expressions There be some things which properly concern the Kingdom of England their Rights Laws and Liberties But there be other matters which in their own nature as being common to both or by Covenant or Treaty concern both Kingdoms wherein unless we should forget our duty to God to the King's Majesty to our native Kingdom and to this Nation our common Concernment and Interest cannot be denyed For as Scotland was invited and engaged in this War upon grounds and reasons of common Interest so we trust it will not be offensive that in making Peace we claim from the Houses an improvement of the very same principles and a performance of the Treaties they have made with us that the same measure of conjunction of Interest be given to us which was had of us and promised unto us wherein the very Law of Nations and the Rules of common Equity doth plead for us Yet in the application of this Rule we shall not stretch our selves beyond our lines the express condition of our Solemn League and Covenant the duty of our Allegeance and the Treaties and Declarations between the Kingdoms which are so many strong Obligations as all who have Honour or Conscience must acknowledge should be inviolably observed Having laid this as a most just and solid ground of our proceedings we shall speak of the best and most probable means to procure a good agreement with the King for setling Religion and a lasting peace and next to the Propositions which are to be the foundation of the peace and safety of both Kingdoms And it is still our opinion and judgment that the most equal fairest and just way to obtain a well-grounded Peace is by a personal Treaty with the King and that his Majesty for that end be invited to come to London with Honour Freedom and Safety And as it is far from our thoughts and intentions in expressing our differences upon the Propositions to provoke or give offence so we trust that our freedom in discharge of the trust committed to us proceeding from our Zeal to Religion Loyalty to the King and Love to Peace shall receive a candid interpretation from the honourable Houses and that they will in their Wisedoms not slight the desires of a Kingdom who in the time of England's greatest danger esteemed no hazard too hard for their assistance and are now seeking nothing but the performance of the mutual Obligations Declarations and Treaties between the two Kingdomes and to prevent the danger which may ensue upon the violation and breach of so solemn Engagements The Houses of Parliament have frequently professed that the cheif end of their wars was the Reformation and Establishment of Religion according to the Covenant and they have often promised and declared to the King and to all the world not without deep attestations of the name of God that no trouble or success should ever make them wrong or diminish the power of the Crown which were the chief motives and arguments that induced Scotland to engage with them in this war Let therefore that be given to God which is God's and to Caesar that which is Caesar's whereby it may be evident that you are not unmindfull of the solemn Vows you made to God in the time of distress for Reformation of Religion and it may also really appear that the advantages and power which success hath put into your hands hath not lessened your loyalty to the King And according to our many professions and near relations let us really and cordially cherish and strengthen the union between the two Kingdomes under His Majesty by all pledges of reciprocal kindness that so Religion and Righteousness may flourish and both Kingdomes languishing under the heavy pressures and calamities of an unnatural war may live in peace and plenty As we cannot agree to this way of sending those four Bills to His Majesty for his assent before any Treaty upon the rest of the Propositions so we are extremely unsatisfied with the matter of those new Propositions lately communicated unto us for the reasons expressed in our answer unto them which we do herewith deliver unto your Lordships to be presented to both Houses of Parliament And we do desire that they would take the whole business into their farther consideration and that there be a personal Treaty with His Majesty here at London upon such Propositions as shall be agreed upon with advice and consent of both Kingdomes according to the Treaty This in general was their Declaration but the particular desires which they exhibited were these viz. that the honourable Houses would establish the solemn League and Covenant and that His Majesty be desired to give his royal assent for confirming the same by Act of Parliament That the setling of Reformation and an uniformity in Religion in the Kingdomes of England and Ireland be inserted in the new Propositions And in particular that the Confession the Directory for worship form of Church-Government and Catechisme agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines be established That effectual course be taken by Act of Parliament for the suppressing of Blasphemy Heresy and Schisme and all scandalous Doctrines and practises as are contrary to the light of Nature or to the known principles of Christianity or the power of Godliness or which may
Esq Thomas Boone Esq * Augustine Garland Esq Augustine Skinner Esq * Iohn Dixwell Esq * Colonel George Fleetwood * Simon Maine Esq * Colonel Iames Temple * Colonel Peter Temple * Daniel Blagrave Esq Sir Petter Temple Bar. * Colonel Thomas Wayte Iohn Brown Esq Iohn Lawry Esq * Iohn Bradshaw Serjeant at Law named President Councillers-Assistants to this Court and to draw up the Charge against the King * Doctor Isaac Dorislaw * Mr. Williams Steele * Mr. Aske * Mr. Cooke Sollicitor * Serjeant Dandy Serjeant at Armes * Mr. Phelps Clerks to the Court * Mr. Broughton Messengers and Door-keepers Mr. Walford Mr. Radley Mr. Paine Mr. Powell Mr. Hull Mr. King the Cryer And that these their Sanguinary proceedings might carry the more shew of Authority upon the Third day following they sent their Serjeant at Armes with his Mace accompanyed by six Trumpets on Horse-back into Westminster-Hall great Guards of Souldiers waiting in the Palace-yards Where in the midst of the Hall after the Trumpets had sounded he made solemn Proclamation on Horse-back that if any man had ought to alledge against Charles Start they should repaire the day following at Two of the Clock After-noon into the Painted Chamber where the Committees to receive the same were to Sit. The like Proclamation he made at the Exchange and other places in London The same day also they Voted that Writs should no longer run in the King's Name and the making of a new Great Seal with the Armes of England and Ireland viz. the Cross and Harpe on the one side and this Circumscription viz. The Great Seal of England On the other side the Figure of the Parliament and the Circumscription In the first year of Freedom by Gods Blessing restored 1648. According to which Proclamation so made in Westminster-Hall the next day following those High Court of Justice-men sate formally in the Painted Chamber to receive Informations from such whom they had then prepared to come in for that purpose For which time for the space of Nine days the Grandees had frequent Meetings to frame and settle the special order and form for executing of that their accursed design And having in the Interim erected a Bloody Theater at the upper end of Westminster-Hall which they call'd The High Court of Iustice they removed His Majesty from Windâ—â—â—â— to St. Iames's near Westmiâ—ster and upon Saturday Ianuary the Twentieth made their entrance in State into Westminster-Hall Bradshaw the President having a Sword and Mace carryed before him and for his Guard Twenty Souldiers with Partizans under the Command of Colonel Fox the Tinker Where after this Prodigious Monster Bradshaw with the rest of that Bloody-pack in all to the number of Seventy two the rest then declining to shew their Faces in so Horrid an Enterprize though most of them afterwards avowed the same were set and that Hellish Act read whereby they were constituted the King's Judges His Majesty was brought to the Bar by Colonel Hacker Guarded with a Company of Halberdeers In whose passage it is not unworthy of note that Hugh Peters one of their wicked Preachers did set on divers of the Souldiers to cry out Iustice Iustice against him and that one of them did then Spit in the King's Face Which being done that insolent Bradshaw stood up and most impudently told the King calling him Charles Stuart that the Commons of England Assembled in Parliament being sensible of the great Calamities brought upon this Nation and of the Innocent Blood shed which was referred to him as the Author according to that duty which they did owe to God the Nation and themselves and according to that Power and Fundamental Trust reposed in them by the People had Constituted that High Court of Iustice before which he was then brought and that he was to hear his Charge upon which the Court would proceed Then Cook their Sollicitor went on and said that he did accuse Charles Stuart there present of High Treason and Misdemeanors and did in the Name of the Commons of England desire that the Charge might be read against him Whereupon they caused their most false and Infamous Charge to be read Which importing that he being admitted King of England and trusted with a limited Power for the good and benefit of the People had Trayterously and Maliciously levyed War against that present Parliament and the People therein represented and caused and procured many Thousands of the Free People of this Nation to be slain Concluding that he did therefore impeach him as a Tyrant Traytor Murtherer and a publick and implacable Enemy to the Common-wealth of England Praying that he might be put to answer the premisses and that such Proceedings Examinations Tryals Sentence and Iudgment might be thereupon had as should be agreeable to Iustice. I shall not stay here to give instance of the particular expressions then made by His Majesty unto those Blood-thirsty men Which were with the greatest Wisdom Gravity and Christian Courage imaginable considering that they already are by some Historians and others so exactly publisht to the World He absolutely denying and renouncing that their usurped Jurisdiction and Authority thus to convent him and stoutly refusing to submit to their power In which he most undauntedly persisted every time he was brought before them with incomparable magnanimity of Spirit On the Second day of their Sitting they held a Fast at White-Hall And on the Third day the Scots Commissioners delivered in certain Papers to them with a Declaration from the Parliament of Scotland importing a dislike of those their Proceedings against His Majesty but nothing regarded After which to the end that these Barbarous Regicides might the better consult touching the manner of his Execution and to perform it with the greater Ignominy they respited his Sentence of Death for Four or Five days But then having fully determined thereon upon Saturday the Twenty Seventh of Ianuary they caused Him to be brought before them again Where after a most insolent Speech made by the same Bradshaw the President His Sentence of Death was read there being then present no less than Seventy two of those His Bloody Murtherers called Judges who stood up and avowed the same the Names of which I have noted with an Asterism in the preceding Catalogue Which being done a Publick Declaration was appointed to be drawn against the Proclaiming of Prince Charles after the removal of his Father out of this Life denouncing it to be High Treason for any one so to do Likewise that no person upon Pain of Imprisonment and such other punishments as should be thought fit might speak or divulge any thing contrary to those their proceedings And upon the Morrow being Sunday some of the Grandees came and tendred to him a Paper Book with promise of Life and some shadow of Regality in case he would Subscribe it which contained many particulars destructive to the Religion establisht to the
Vicaridges Donatives and all other Ecclesiastical livings and of all Impropriations and Gleabe-lands then under Sequestration out of which to allow an yearly maintenance for such as should be approved of for the work of the Ministry this act being called An Act for the better propagating and Preaching the Gospel in Wales For it was to extend no farther at present their Resolutions being to go on as they found their success in this Hereupon all the Church-doors in that part of the Realm being soon shut up they imploy'd three or four most Impudent Schismatical Knaves viz. Ienkin Iones Vavasor Powel and David Gam to range about in those Parts as Itinerants there to Preach to the People when where and what they pleased in order to the more firm establishment of their own Tyrannical Dominion The next work was to make sale of the Fee-farm-Rents of the Crown to which end they passed an act Also for the farther enslaving and terrifying of the People they passed another for the establishing an High Court of Iustice by which act Commissioners were named to hear and determine of all Crimes and Offences contrary to the Articles therein contained And having built Three Famous new Pinnaces the better to spread forth and perpetuate the Memorial of some of their Grandees upon the lanching of them which the States went to see they named one of them the Faithful Speaker another the succesful Fairfax and the Third the Bold President and soon after for the surer obliterating of Monarchy they Voted that the Kings Armes in all places should be pull'd down and defaced CHAP. XXXIV ABOUT this time the Scots in whose power it once was to have restored the late King to his Royal Throne had they been really sensible of that whereof in their many Declarations they so boasted seeing the Clouds thicken apace from England which threatned the like Slavery to them as their Presbyterian Brethren here did then suffer under the power of the Independant Saints resolving to adventure an after-Game for the recovery of their power dispatcht the Lord Libertoun into the Netherlands unto the young King Charles the Second by the colour of whose Title they knew full well that an Army might easily be Raised But withall making advantage of his then distressed condition instigated and animated by the Presbyterians here they required that he should take the Covenant and likewise submit to their Directory and Catechism promising that in so doing they would admit him to the Throne of that Realm endeavour the recovery of his Rights and assist him in bringing the Murtherers of his Father to condign punishment Towards the accomplishment of which work the Presbyterians here were also by compact to have acted as opportunity might best serve Unto which dishonourable terms he being over-perswaded by some greater Polititians than St. Paul who prohibited the doing Evil that Good might come thereof against his own judgment was drawn to assent and to adventure His Royal Person into Scotland for carrying on that work Whereupon the Scots having by the help of their Preachers soon Rais'd a powerful Host and for that reason called the Kirk-Army as a preamble to that Slavery which they intended to the King welcom'd him thither with that most inhumane and infamous Murther of the best of His Subjects I mean the most Loyal and truly noble Marquess of Montross whom the unhappy event of War had made their Prisoner The danger of which Army so Rais'd in Scotland being discerned here it was Voted at Westminster that General Fairfax should forthwith March into that Kingdom and quell the Brethren But he being either toucht in conscience with the solemn League and Covenant which had formerly so firmly knit these Brethren in iniquity together or rather over-awed by some of the Godly Party here declined that Service laying down his Commission Whereupon that Superlative Saint Cromwel being constituted General having taken off the Heads of Mr. Love one of the fiercest of the Presbyterian Pulpit-men and Gybons another active man for the Cause the more to strike a terror into the rest of the Presbyterians here Marcht into Scotland with no less than sixteen thousand Horse and Foot Where notwithstanding he had at first some hopeful effects of his Expedition he became at length reduced to such desperate extremities that he would gladly have retreated for the preservation of himself In this seeming lost condition therefore when those proud Presbyterians of that Realm had in conceit swallow'd him up Almighty God made him the apparent and signal scourge of that disloyal and most perfidious people by the utter overthrow of their great and powerful Army at Dunbar their word then being for Kirk and Covenant As Trophies of which wonderful Victory the colours then taken were soon after hung up in Westminster-Hall It will not I think be amiss before I proceed farther to observe fome particulars which passed by Letters betwixt General Cromwel and the Governour of Edenborough-Castle within a few days after this great Victory at Dunbar the Governour objecting First that the English had not adhered to their first Principles nor had been true to the ends of the Covenant And Secondly that men of Civil imployments had usurped the calling and imployment of the Ministry to the scandal of the Reformed Kirks To the first of these objections therefore Cromwel demands of them whether their bearing witness to themselves of their adhering to their first Principles and ingenuity in presecuting the ends of the Covenant justifies them so to have done because they themselves say so Adding that they must have patience to have the truth of their Doctrines and Sayings tryed by the Touch-stone of the word of God and that there be a Liberty and duty of Tryal there is also a Liberty of Iudgment for them that may and ought to trye Which if so then they must give others leave to say and think that they can appeal to equal Iudges who they are that have been the truest fulfillers of the most real and equitable ends of the Covenant But if those Gentlemen quoth Oliver who do assume to themselves to be the infallible Expositors of the Covenant as they do too much to their Auditories of the Scriptures account a different sense and Iudgment from their own to be a breach of the Covenant and Heresie no marvel quoth he that they judge of others so authoritatively and severely but we quoth he have not so learned Christ. And to the second answered thus Are you troubled that Christ is Preached Is Preaching so inclusive in your Function Doth it scandalize the Reformed Kirks and Scotland in particular Is it against the Covenant Away with the Covenant if it be so I thought the Covenant and these could have been willing that any should speak good of the name of Christ If not 't is no Covenant of God's approving nor the Kirk you mention so much the Spouse of Christ.
Miraculous a Preservation of His Majesties Person deserves for a perpetual Thankfulness to God Almighty to be specially recorded to Posterity So doth the Memorial of Gods most evident Judgments upon the Scottish Nation after their unhappy defection from the obedience which they did owe to His Royal Father their Native King levying divers Armies solemnly Covenanting with His English Subjects against him and the Establisht Government and lastly selling Him for Money when for his Safe-guard and Protection he became necessitated to fly from the fury of these and to put himself into their Hands For 't is not unknown that they did twice Raise their Covenanting Brethren in that Realm to invade this in an Hostile manner and after much spoil and Rapine made in this no less than Three of their Armies being utterly destroy'd the first at Preston in Lancashire the Second at Dunbar in Scotland and the last at Worcester the flower of their Youth and most Eminent for Chivalry were either slain in open Battail Famisht and wasted by most cruel and merciless usage in Prison or Barbarously sold to Forreign Plantations there to be Enslav'd with perpetual Servitude CHAP. XXXV BUT to go on with my Story Certain it is that this fatal blow at Worcester did not only much deject all true hearted and Loyal Persons but seem'd so firmly to establish this Barbarous Generation in their Tyrannous sway that nothing but a Miracle was ever like to alter the Scene Therefore the more to perpetuate their future oppressive Dominion their next business was to lessen and opress the Nobility and to Flatter the Commonalty into a Slavish subjection to their Usurped and Rigorous power To which end they shortly after passed Two Acts in their Grand Convention at Westminster called the Parliament the one relating to the Nobility which was to make void all Titles of Honour Dignities or Precedencies given by the late King The other a General Pardon in reference to the People for the first moving and at length obtaining whereof Cromwel himself was known to be the sole Instrument All being therefore now in their Power and no visible Enemy to disturb their quiet though at the beginning of their Rebellion Anno 1642. they highly complemented the Dutch desiring that the King might have no manner of Supplies from them in respect of the near Relation that was betwixt that Model into which they themselves then aimed to cast this Government and the State of their Provinces and for that reason expected not only their assistance but a Loan of Money from them upon the Publick Faith as in the Twelfth Chapter of this Work may more fully appear The case was now altered For looking upon themselves after all this wonderful success as Mighty Potentates in their New Common-wealth and Free-State they imployed Oliver St. Iohn the Chief Justice of their Court of Common Pleas commonly called Cromwel's Dark-Lanthorn as Embassador into the Netherlands not only to make a firm alliance with the Dutch from the similitude of their Governments against all Soveraign Monarchs and Princes but to weaken the Interest of the Prince of Orange with them who had Married the King's Daughter Which curteous overture being not at all relisht was taken in great disdain by our Grandees here But the Hogen Mogens on the other side being the Elder Common-wealth strong in Shipping and expecting to make themselves absolute Lords of the Worlds Commerce were resolved not to stoop by yielding them the Flag or the old duty of Herring-Fishing These differences therefore occasion'd a War at Sea with them which began in the Downes this year on the Nineteenth of Iune and was again renewed the Sixteenth of August Westwards of the Isle of Wight in both which the Dutch had the worst Sir George Ascue then commanding the English Fleet. So likewise on the Twenty eighth of October following Blake being then Vice-Admiral But upon another Fight with them in the Downes on the Twenty ninth of November ensuing Blake received a great defeat which did not end the dispute for on the Eighteenth of February not far from Portland they had another sharp fight in which both sides received no small loss As also at Legorne about the beginning of March in which the English were worsted ¶ Leaving therefore the farther Prosecution of these Sea Fights till the next year I find that at home they better to secure themselves against the Royallists the passed a Third Act in their Parliament for disabling of Delinquents by which name the Royallists were call'd to bear any Office of Trust or Power in the Common-wealth or to have any Voice or Vote in Election of any Publick Officer The King's Authority and Friends being thus absolutely supprest and Cromwel at every turn the chief Agent therein not only in those his bold adventures against the scots but in many other both here and in Ireland as though Victory had been entailed upon his Sword the time was now come that he thought fit to act his own part more nearly yet still under colour of solely minding the Publick As he had therefore made the Souldiery instrumental for the ruine of the King by the influence of his inferior Officers call'd Adjutators so now did he again set those active Engines on work for the utter confusion of that Impious Iuncto called the Parliament Which Adjutators being readily inclinable to any thing of change objected to the Iuncto that they had not approved themselves such worthy Patriots as they expected but had sought themselves and their own peculiar profit And therefore as good Common-wealths-men and Friends to the Publick required that they should suddenly prefix a Period to their Sitting to the end that the Godly Party and good People of the Nation might thereupon make choise of a more equal Representative for the rectifying and amendment of what was still out of order But notwithstanding this fair pretence the aim of the Souldiers was by outing those old Saints to reduce the whole sway of all under the power of themselves which made them so earnest and forward in the work being fed with those hopes through the insinuation of Cromwel The Iuncto therefore foreseeing this danger for preventing thereof were neither slack nor unactive endeavouring first to break the Army by Disbanding and in the next place to spoil their design by delays Nevertheless with much zeal seem'd earnest to retire affirming that they then were in contrivance for a new Representative to succeed them All which availed nothing there being no halting before an Old Cripple for Cromwel was not ignorant of what they aimed at being well assured that if he let them alone his design would be Cross'd and therefore determin'd without more ado to turn them out of Doors To which end having well seasoned the Souldiery for his purpose and for the better engratiating himself therewith taken the Officers into his Council he resolv'd as 't was usual with him
day of March instant be presented chosen or appointed to any Benefice formerly called Benefice with Cure of Souls or to Preach any publick setled Lecture in England or Wales shall before he be admitted c. be Iudged and Approved by the Persons hereafter named to be a Person for the Grace of God in him his Holy and unblameable Conversation as also for his knowledge and utterance able and fit to Preach the Gospel viz. Francis Rous Esq Dr. Thomas Goodwyn Dr. Iohn Owen Mr. Thankful Owen Dr. Arrowsmith Dr. Tuckney Dr. Horton Mr. Joseph Caryll Mr. Philip Nye Mr. William Carter Mr. Sidrak Simpson Mr. William Greenhill Mr. William Strong Mr. Thomas Manton Mr. Samuel Slater Mr. William Couper Mr. Stephen Marshall Mr. Iohn Tombes Mr. Walter Cradok Mr. Samuel Faircloath Mr. Hugh Peters Mr. Peter Sterrey Mr. Samuel Bamford Mr. Thomas Valentine of Chaford Mr. Henry Iesse Mr. Obediah Sedgwick Mr. Nicholas Lockyer Mr. Daniel Dike Mr. Iames Russel Mr. Nathaniel Campfield Robert Tichburne Alderman of London Mark Hildesley Thomas Wood. John Sadler William Goff Thomas St. Nicholas William Packer Edward Crescet Esq or any five or more of them Having now ended this year 1653. as to the Principal Transsactions at Home I must look back a little and take notice of our farther Military contests with the Dutch wherein I find that on the second of Iune upon another sharp Fight in Yarmouth rode they much worsted those Hogen-mogens so likewife on the last day of Iuly wherein Van Trump their famous Admiral was slain But both parties at length growing weary of this chargeable and destructive War before the end of this year a Peace was concluded betwixt them though not ratified till April ensuing Which Peace with the Dutch and the slavish condition whereunto this Monster Cromwell had brought the People of these Nations made him not only much Idolized here by all his Party but somewhat feared abroad For certain it is that most of the Princes of Europe made application to him amongst which the French King was the first his Embassador making this Speech to him in the Banquetting-house at White-Hall Your most serene Highness hath received already some principal assurances of the King my Master and of his desire to establish a perfect Correspondency between his Dominions and England His Majesty gives unto your Highness this day some publick Demonstration of the same and sending his Excellency for his Service in the quality of Embassador to your Highness doth plainly shew that the esteem which his Majesty makes of your Highness and the Interest of his People have more power in his Councils than many Considerations that would be of great concernment to a Prince less affected with the one and the other This proceeding grounded upon such sound principles and so different from that which is only guided by Ambition renders the Friendship of the King my Master as much considerable for its firmness as for the Utility it may produce and for that reason it is such eminent esteem and sought after by all the greatest Princes and Powers of the Earth But his Majesty doth Communicate none to any with so much Ioy and Chearfulness as unto those whose vertuous deeds and extraordinary Merits render them more eminently Famous than the greatness of their Dominions His Majesty doth acknowledge all these advantages wholly to reside in your Highness and that Divine Providence after so many Troubles and Calamities could not deal more favourably with these three Nations nor cause them to forget their past Misery with more content and satisfaction than by submitting them to so just a Government And whereas it is not enough for the compleating of their happiness to make them enjoy Peace at Home since it depends no less on a good correspondency with Neighbour-Nations abroad the King my Master doth not doubt but to find also the same disposition in your Highness which his Majesty doth express in those Letters which his Excellencie hath Order to present unto your Highness After so many Dispositions exprest by his Majesty and your Highness towards the accommodation of the two Nations there is cause to believe that their wishes will be soon Accomplisht As for me I have none greater than to be able to serve the King my Master with the good liking and satisfaction of your Highness and that the happiness I have to tender unto your Highness the first assurances of his Majesties esteem may give me occasion to deserve by my respects the honour of your Gracious Affection Being therefore thus puft up he soon after passed an Act of Grace and Pardon to all Persons of the Scottish Nation excepting Iames late Duke Hamilton William late Duke Hamilton Iohn Earl of Crawford-Lindsey Iames Earl of Calender and many more therein specially named As also another Act for making Scotland one Common-wealth with England Whereby it was likewise Ordained that thirty Persons of that Nation should serve in Parliament here for Scotland And that the People of that Nation should be discharged of their Allegiance to any Issue of the late King Also that Kingship and Parliamentary-Authority should be there abolished and the Arms of Scotland viz. St. Andrew's Cross should thenceforth be borne with the Arms of this Common-wealth All which being done he removed his Lodgings which were before at the Cockpit into those of the late King in his Royal Pallace at White-Hall About this time it was that Colonel Venables having been imploy'd by Cromwell to attempt some of the chief Plantations made by the Spanyard in the West-Indies Landing his Men in Hispaniola and expecting with little trouble to have taken S. Domingo he received a shameful defeat But the next Month he had better success in those Forreign parts For the Spaniards in Iamaco timorously flying before them when they Landed there an easie acquisition was made by the English of that large Island which hath since proved a very prosperous and beneficial Plantation But to return Cromwell by this time being grown very great to make himself the more formidable to all his late Majesties good Subjects then called Royalists by establishing his Dominion upon more Innocent blood having by the wicked practises of his Emissaries trayn'd in some Persons purpose of endeavouring their own and the Peoples freedome from his Tyrannous Power he caused another bloody Theater to be erected in Westminster-Hall calling it an high-Court of Iustice where Mr. Iohn Gerard and Mr. Wowell two Gentlemen of great Loyalty received Sentence of Death and were accordingly Sacrificed as a peace-Offering to this Moloch For the better maintenance likewise and encouragement of Preaching-Ministers and for uniting and severing of Parishes he made another Act which begins thus Whereas many Parishes in this Nation are without the constant and Powerful Preaching of the Gospel through want of competent maintenance c. Also another for Souldiers which had serv'd the Common-wealth in
Humours began to Reign in them than well Composed Tempers Before the King would again submit himself as he had the last Parliament to so many strict Enquiries of his Disloyal Subjects he meaneth to pass through all the shifts that extremity and need with greatness of mind could lay upon him c. Beginning with the Sale of Lands and then of Iewels And in the end having not means to defray the Diet of his Court was enforced to break up House and with his Queen and Children cum Abbatibus Prioribus satis humiliter Hospicia quesivit prandia This low Ebb gave great assurance to the Rebellious Lords that they should now at last have the Soveraign Power left a Prey to their Ambitious Designes And to bring it faster on they desire nothing more than to see the King's Extremity constrain a Parliament For at such times Princes are ever less than they should be Subjects more To hasten on the time and adapt the means there are sown certain Seditious Orators that the King's Necessity must repair it self upon the Fortunes and Blessings of his People that having nothing of his own left he might and meant to take of other But seeing still that Majesty and Right subsist not without means and power and himself had of neither so much as would stop the present Breach in his own wants or his Subjects Loyalties he flyeth to the Bosom of his People for Relief and Council At Oxford they met in Parliament where his Necessities found so many undutiful demands that he was forced to render up to their Rebellious Will his Royal Power Here the Commons knowing that Quum eligere inceperunt they were loco libertatis stood with the King to have the managing of the State put to the care of XXIII whereof XII by their Election whereto they look't strictly and the other by him who in all things else was left as a Cipher Dober Castle the Key of the Kingdome they had furnished as most of the Forts of Reputation in the Realm with Guardians of their own sworne respectively to the State And then taking the like assurance of all the Sheriffs Bayliffs Coroners and other publick Ministers searching the behaviour of many by strict Commission upon Oath to win Opinion in shew among the Vulgar who groaned under their late Extortions whereas their end was truly as it proved by displacing the Faithful Subjects of the King to open a way to their own Dependents Thus changing sole Power into the Rule of many and those by popular Election made the State believe that by this form of limitted Policy they had utterly suppressed the Mind of Man for ever Dreaming more upon the Imaginary Humours of Licentious Soveraignty But it fell out nothing so For now every Man begun to estimate his own Worth and to hammer his Head on every design that might enlarge his Power and Command Then began the great Men to rent from the Crown and Regal Seignories all such Royal Sutors as Neighboured any of their Seats whereto they Inforce their Service And so as the Record saith ad sectas indebitas servitutes intolerabiles subditos Regis compulerunt Thus they made themselves of so many Subjects whilst they lived in Duty totidem Tyranni as the Book of St. Albans saith when they had left their Loyalty Montfort Gloucester and Spenser the Heads of this Rebellious Design having by the late Prouisions drawn to the hands of the XXIV Tribunes of the People the intire managing of the Royal Estate and finding that Power too much dispersed to work the end of their Designs forced the King again to call a Parliament where they delivered the Authority of the XXIV to themselves and Created a Triumvirate non constituenda Reipublicae causâ as they first pretended for their own ends And so in the interest of some private contented the publick was staid but to make a speedier way to one of them as it â—fatally did to become Dictatores perpetuos These three Elect nine Councellors and appoint quod tres ad minus alternatim semper in Curiâ sint to dispose of the Custody of Castles de alijs regni negotijs the Chief-Justice Chancellor and Treasurer with all Offices Majores Minores they reserve the choice of to themselves The Lords that had imped their Wings with Eagles Feathers and liked no gain but what was raked out of the Ashes of Monarchy made head against their Soveraign and to mate him the better called in some French Forces Thus the Common-Wealth turned again the Sword into her own Bowels And though these Men were more truly sensible of their own Design than of others Miseries yet found they no better pretext for private Interest than that of the publick And therefore at the entry of the Warr they cried Liberty although when they came near to an end they never spake word of it At Lewes the Armies met Where the King endeavours a Reconciliation but in vain For Perswasions are ever unprofitable when Justice is Inferior to Force The Sword decides the difference and gave the King and Prince Prisoners The Person now as well as the Regal Power thus in the hands of Montfort and Gloucester found neither bound of Security nor expectation of Liberty but what the emulous competition of greatness which now began to break out between these mighty Rivals gave hope of For Montfort meaning by ingrossing from his Partner to himself the Person of the King and to his Followers the best Portion of the Spoil to draw more fruit from this advantage than it should in Fellowship yield dissolved the knot of all their Amity Thus equal Authority with the same Power is very fatal we see to all great Actions For to fit Minds to so even a Temper that they should not have some motions of Dissenting is impossible The King now at the Victor's Discretion suted himself with incomparable Wisdome according to the Necessity of the time Neither did Humility wrong Majesty when there was not other means to contain Spirits so Insolent but Dissembling Leicester is become a Darling of the Common Rout who easily change to every new Master but the best durst not Sail along his Fortune by the Light of his Glory Christal that fairly glistereth doth easily break And as the Ascent of Usurping Royalty is slippery so the top is shaking and the Fast fearful For by this time the Imprisoned Prince was escaped and fast assured of Gloucester by the knot of his great Mind and Discontent And both with the torn remainder of the Loyal Army United and by speedy March Arrived unlook't for neer Evesham to the Unarmed Troops of the secure Rebels whom they instantly Assailed for it was no fit season to give time when no time did assure so much as Expedition did promise Dispenser and other Lords of that Faction made towards the King
with the best speed for Mercy but could not break out being hurried along the Storm with the giddy Multitude Publick motion depends on the Conduct of Fortune private on our carriage We must beware of running down steep Hills with weighty Bodies they once in motion suo feruntur pondere Stops are not then voluntary But Leicester at that instant with the King and out of the storm might have escaped if his Courage and Hope had not made him more resolute by misfortune so that he could neither forsake his followers nor his Ambition Thus making adversity the Exercise of his Virtue he came and fell Let us now in the next place observe what ready Instruments the Londoners then were to promote that Rebellion of the Barons with their just recompence for so doing And next the Miserable Actors in that Bloudy Tragedy Mathew of Westminster a credible Historian of that time tells us that after the King encompassed with Forces of his Enemies in the Tower of London was constrain'd to yield unto those Ordinances which were made at Oxford by the Rebellious Barons The Queen being very much troubled endeavoured to pass from the Tower to Windsore-Castle where the Prince then lay with considerable Forces was Interrupted by the Londoners Reproach't with their Opprobrious Clamours and basely driven back with Stones and Dirt which they threw at her from London-Bridge And the same Year the King returning with his Army from Dover-Castle which the Barons held against him might have Surprized Montfort in Southwarke which doubtless had prevented that deluge of Bloud that afterwards was spilt but that the Londoners with all their Power came out to his aid and rescued him And having thus link'â— himself with the Rebellious Barons the same Author will inform you what were the Fruits of all their specious Pretences for putting themselves in Arms against their Soveraign Violationes Ecclesiarum depredationes macerationes personarum Ecclesiasticarum Christianorum Iudoeorum coedes incendia sine delectu conditionis aut sexus oetatis aut ordinis the Violation of Churches Robbing and Killing all manner of Persons Christians and Iews Fire and Sword without any distinction of Sex Age or Order Nay so violently Zealous were they for the Cause that in the Battel of Lewes these Londoners desired that they might undergo the first shock of the Fight and the hazard thereof And though it was the King's Unhappiness to lose the day at that time Yet got those Citizens nothing thereby For the Valiant Prince Edward charging them with extraordinary courage put them to the Rout and pursued their Rear divers Miles But the next Year following the Scene being chang'd by the happy overthrow of all those Barons in the Battail of Evesham the King by the Advise of his Parliament held at Winchester seized the Liberties of these Rebellious Citizens and Committed the chiefest of them to Prison whose Redemption afterwards raised him no small Sum of Money and to awe them the more demolished their Bulwarks and fortified the Tower of London against them En quo discordia Cives preduxit miscros Now for Montfort Earl of Leicester the principal Actor in this great Rebellion his Haughtiness was such after the Battail of Lewes that having the King and Prince his Prisoners he not only seized all their Castles into his own hands but disdaining Clare Earl of Gloucester by whose Assistance he become thus powerful he disposed of the whole Kingdom according as he listed his Sons also Committing many intolerable Outrages So that Clare whose discontents inclined him to return to his Duty consulting with the Lord Mortimer how to pull down the pride of that insolent Rebel contrived a means for the Prince's Inlargement Which succeeding accordingly by his clear escape from Dereford to Wigmore-Castle gave that Life to the rest of the Loyal Party that with incredible celerity they raised a Gallant Army wherewith after he had Surprized the Earl of Oxford and many other of the most eminent Rebels with no less than thirteen Banners at Renelworth he encountred Montfort himself and his whole Army the next day near Cvesham aud giving them Battel suddainly put a Period to their Usurped Authority In which fight that great Rebel with his Eldest Son Henry being slain his Head Hands and Feet were cut off by the fury of the Souldiers And though his Body through the Charity of others was Buryed in the Abby the Common People out of high Indignation towards him who had been the Chief Instrument of Mischief to the whole Realm dig'd it up and carried it to a more remote place esteeming it unworthy of Christian Burial by Reason it had been so much infected with the Leprosy of Rebellion Neither did the judgment for his Iniquities terminate here but pursued his two other Sons Guy and Simon who being escap't out of Prison got into France and there endeavouring to bring in Forrein Forces ended their Days in Misery As for his Complices most of them perished in that Battail at Evesham And the rest excepting one were taken Prisoners and disherited But afterwards through the King 's Special Favour restored to their Lands upon several Fines according to the Measure of their Offences CHAP. XLVII THE Holy League in France is so exact a Pattern of ours in England as we have just reason enough to conceive that the Contrivers of this Rebellion did borrow the Plott from thence All the main parts and many of the Material Circumstances being the same in both Only the Scene is changed and the Actors divers The full Story of that League would require a Volume having been written at large by several Authors of note in sundry Languages viz. By Thuanus in Latine by D'aubigny and others in French But by none better than Caterino D'avila in Italian in that unparallell'd History of the Civil-Wars of France Out of whose relation especially I shall present to the Reader a brief view of so much as concerns our present purpose without filling the Margin with Attestations from other Authors where they concur with him Aud but rarely making use of them by way of Supplement In the draught of this Parallel I shall endeavour to observe the same method as in the former First laying down the Original of that League Then the manner by which the Faction grew to that heigth of greatness as they quite overtop'd and almost trampled upon the Crown What use they made of this Usurped Power quite contrary to their Pretences And lastly how they fell from their vast hopes and failed of their Ambitious ends As also by the way take notice of some such eminent Persons and Circumstances as may seem to have the neerest Resemblance with these of our times What hath been already observ'd of the main design of our Covenanters viz. That it was long a working under ground before it appeared in its true shape of
Rebellion That the first Seeds of it were sown in Queen Elizabeth's time grew up in K. Iames and came to perfect ripeness in K. Charles his Reign is proportionably true of the Holy-League The first Platform of that was laid in the time of K. Charles the Ninth soon after the Reformation of Religion got footing in France It broke out in K. Henry the third's time and was at last suppressed by K. Henry the Fourth So that it infested the Reigns of three Kings no less than this of ours The cheif pretended occasion of it was the defence of Religion which the Ring-Leaders of that Faction did if not conceive themselves yet labour to perswade the People to be in danger of utter Ruine and Extirpation And that by reason of some Indulgence and Toleration granted by Charles the ninth and the Queen Mother and continued by Henry the third unto the Huguenots or Protestants who were as odious to them as Papists were with our Men though the truth was those Princes did as intirely detest the Religion of Protestants as the most zealous among ours can do the Papists And what they did in favour of them was meerly to preserve the Peace of the Kingdom Before the League was fully hatch't the State of that Kingdom was not much unlike this of ours before the late Troubles Some Grievances there were which waited upon it into the World For besides the Toleration of the Huguenots which distasted the Zealots the greatness of some new Men at Court bred an high discontent in divers of the Nobility And the heavy Taxes and Impositions upon the Common-People made them generally dissaffected with the present Government And this Variety of Malignant Humors rising from several Springs all met in the same Stream and bent their course to the same common end Innovation and Subversion of the Establish't Government A Parliament for so I shall take leave to call the general Assembly of the three Estates in France not according to the modern use of the Word in that Country from whence this Kingdom borrowed at first the name and thing but in compliance with our own Language was thought to be a sure Remedy at a pinch for â—etling the publick Distractions And though such Assemblies had been long intermitted in that Realm and the Kings of later time were grown out of love with them as conceiving that while they who represent the whole Nation are convened together with such Supream Power the Royal Authority in the mean time remained little better than suspended Yet upon a consultation had with a Council of Peers like that of ours at York and a motion from them to that purpose Francis the second was content to call a Parliament at Drleans which was quietly Dissolved by his Death before the States had done any thing but only shew'd their Teeth against the Protestants taking a solemn Protestation for Defence of their Religion and by that excluding all others from any Vote in that Assembly By the like exigence was Henry the third driven to have recourse to the like Remedy which proved indeed worse than the Disease For after his Intimation of a Parliament to Commence at Bloys the Duke of Guise and his Allies laid the Foundation of the League who being the most Popular and Powerful Subjects in the Kingdome sought by that means to augment their own greatness and secure the State of Religion which was so straitly twisted with their Interests This Duke besides his Ambition which prompted him sufficiently to those Turbulent Undertakings has formerly received some disgust at Court not much unlike that of Philip Earl of Pembroke for the Keys of the Pallace were taken from him and bestow'd upon the King of Navarr With which disgrace he was extreamly vexed and his Brother the Cardinal much more though they cunningly Dissembled and made a shew as if nothing troubled them but the Toleration of and connivence at Calvinisme by that means veiling their own Passions and Private Interests with an honest Cloak and colour of Religion So by little and little the Factious among the great ones were confounded with the differences in Religion and instead of Male-Contents and Guisards they put on the name of Catholicks and Huguenots Parties which under colour of Piety ministred so much the more Pernicious Fewel to all the Succeeding Combustions and Troubles The League was ushered in with Declarations Remonstrances and Protestations to the same effect and much in the same Language with this of our Covenanters We the Princes Noblemen Gentlemen and Commons Parties to that League profest that nothing but pure Zeal and Sincere Devotion which we bear to the Honour of God his Majesties Service the Publick Peace and Preservation of our Lives and Estates together with the Apprehension of our utter Ruine and Destruction hath necessitated us to this Resolution which we are constrained to put on for which we cannot any way be taxed or traduced for Suspition of Disloyalty Our Councils and Intentions having no other Design but meerly the Maintenance and Advancement of the Service of God Obedience to his Majesty and Preservation of his Estate And perceiving by what is past that our Enemies have not nor ever had any other aim but to Establish their Errors in the Kingdom to extirpate Religion and by little and little to undermine the King's Authority and totally alter the Government we can do no less in discharge of our Honours and Consciences than withstand the Sinister Designs of the Supream Enemies of God and his Majesty by a common Covenant and Association it being no more than time to divert and hinder their Plots and Conspiracies for all Faithful and Loyal Subjects to enter into a Holy Union and Conjunction which is now the true and only means left in our Hands by God for restoring of his own Service and Obedience to his Majesty The chief Heads of the League to which they swore were either altogether or in Proportion the same with those in our English Covenants viz. 1. To Establish Religion the Law and Service of God in its Pristine State according to the form and usage of the Catholick Roman-Church there as of the Protestant Reformed-Church here 2. As our Covenanters swore in the second Article to extirpate all Popery Heresy c. So did the Leaugers Renounce and abjure all Errors contrary to their Religion 3. As our Men in the third Article swore to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliament and Liberties of the Kingdom and to preserve the King's Person and Authority but with a Reservation in the Preservation and Defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdon So did they to preserve Henry the third of that Name and his Successors the Most Christian Kings in the State Splendour Authority Right Service and Obedience which are due unto him from his Subjects but with this Abatement according as is contained in
the King or the Government With which bait some Wise Men were allured into the snare among whom Villeroy the chief Secretary of State was one and Brissonius Primier President of the Parliament of Paris another the former entring himself one of the League out of a private grudge to the Duke D'Espernon desired the Duke of Guise's Faction might prevail that Espernons might be abated never imagining nor could be ever believe that the League would ever attempt any thing against the King's Person but only had an aim to cashiere his Minions and endeavour to extirpate the Huguenots The later though he had been at first a principal Instrument for the League fell off when he perceived that the ends of the Ring-leaders were not so sincere for the publick good as he at first had fancied And divers other there were as there will be in all Factions where great Men are engaged who adhered to that Party not out of any ends or Inclinations of their own but by reason of their Alliance with or dependence on the House of Lorrein and other chief Men of the League Having thus laid the grounds of their League upon these fair Pretences to gull the People their means of advancing it were such as our Men have transcribed from their Copy Not any thing of moment having been used here which was wanting there to increase their own and undermine the King's Power and Authority They had their Feares and Iealousies of dangerous Plots against their Persons at home of Designs to seize upon the City of Paris to overawe them by armed force and put an hundred of the chief to Death of Practises with Forrein Princes against them and their Religion and of suddain Invasion intended from abroad They had Reports broacht upon on grounds and Tumults raised in the City upon no other occasion than those Reports They had their Preachers h to amaze and fright the People out of their Witts by Strange and Miraculous Stories and out of their Allegiance by traducing and inveighing against the present Government They had their Scandalous Libels and Pictures first Published in the City and thence dispersed abroad to Poison the Countrey They neglected no means of courting and winning the Common-People by rubbing up their sores of new Taxes and Impositions and promising relief unto them by crying up the Fundamental Laws and Liberties of the Subject by rendring the King's Person contemptible and his Actions Odious in the Eyes of his People setting forth Declarations and Remonstrances of the State of the Kingdom of such a tenor as it will be no new thing to Translate what they at Westminster have in a manner already done to my hand They wounded the King's Honour through the sides of his Councellers they stained the sincerity of his Professions and Protestations in point of Religion they went about to supplant his just Power and Authority by their new and insolent demands such as those of ours in the Nineteen Propositions Whil'st they seem'd to maintain his Authority they rob'd him of it transferring it wholly to the head of their League And though their Parliament in that point more moderate than ours waived that antient Question and would not contend about it viz. Whether the King or the Estates concerned in Parliament be Superior a point determinable by the very form of holding Parliaments and ever carried by the King in all former times yet they thought fit to Petition the King that for the more expedition and general satisfaction of all differences he would please to make choice of a certain number of Judges such in whom the States might confide who together with XII of their Members might hear and receive the several motions from the several Estates And whatsoever those Judges and XII Commissioners should jointly agree upon to have the force and strength of a Law without any Power in the King to alter or repeal it When this would not be granted by the King upon grave reasons of State which we need not here set down the Heads of the Faction and their Adherents took a new course to restrain the King's Power by proposing that the number of the Kings Council should be limitted to XXIV the very next number which our Lords and Commons in the second of their Nineteen Propositions would limit his Privy-Council to viz. not to exceed XXV and they to be chosen not by the King at pleasure but by every County of the Kingdon They required that all Moneys to be raised upon the Subject by way of Subsidy or Impost should be imployed for the defence of the Kingdom and that by all means at Free-Parliament should be called every three years at the least with full Power to any Man to present his Grievances to the States so Assembled They charged upon the King his Oath taken at his Coronation not only to be obliged to preserve the Antient Laws and Liberties of the Subject but such better Laws and more Commodious as should be presented unto him Their first grand Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom was cast in the same Mould with that of ours Which though it were the Contrivance but of a few chief Men of the League yet was it published in the name of all the Lords and Commons of France only signed by the Cardinal of Bourbon whom they made a Stale to their Ambition By this they declared that France had been miserably tormented by a Pestiferous Sedition raised for the Subversion of the antient Religion of their Fore-Fathers That no Remedies had been applyed but such as were more proper for nourishing than curing the Disease That the Catholick Religion being in great danger it was most necessary to take some speedy prudent course for prevention of the imminent ruine thereof That Agents were sent to practise with the Protestant Princes of Germany for Suppressing the Persons of Honest Men and pulling down the Catholick-Religion and an endeavour to destroy the great Men who had the principal places of Honour That the King's Favours whose Majesty was and ever should be Sacred to them and Government of the State were engrossed by such who had drained his Coffers and placed Officers in the Exchequer for their own private advantage That though some Rays of hopes appeared by that Assembly of the States-General at Bloys the antient Remedy for all Domestick-Wounds yet after their great Labours and Expences in that meeting no Fruits were Reaped by reason of the evil-Council of those Men so dissaffected to God and the good of the Common-Weal So that the abuses which by little and little at first stole upon them did then burst in like an Impetuous Torrent ready to overwhelm the Kingdom the Church of God being prophaned the Nobility scorn'd and vilified and every day opprest with Innumerable Grievances and Illegal Exactions And that upon these just Causes and Considerations they declared
that they had all sworn and religiously promised to stand upon their Guard that the Church of God might be restored to her Honour the true Christian Catholick Religion Established the Nobility enjoy their Liberty entirely as they ought the People relieved and all new Impositions abolished And that these were the occasions of their taking up Arms for rescuing the Kingdom of France from ruine the preservation of good Men and punishment of bad and for the security of their own persons there being no other means left to preserve themselves and turn away the Knife from their own Throats which yet they would not make use of if their Estates only were in danger and the Subversion of Religion and State of the Kingdom were not inseparably joined with their own for the preservation of which they should not fear any hazard concluding that they could not choose a more Honourable Grave than to spend their Lives in so Holy a Cause so just a Quarrel in discharge of that Duty and Obligation which they owed as good Christians to the Service of God and as good and Loyal Subjects to oppose the Subuersion of which the State must naturally follow the alteration of Religion Protesting that they did not take up Arms against the King their Soveraign Lord but for the guard and just defence of his Person his Life and State for whom they had promised and sworn to hazard their own Lives and Fortunes to the last drop of their Bloud and to lay down Arms so soon as it should please his Majesty to remove the danger which threatned the ruine of the Service of God and so many good Men Intreating all that were not Confederate with them to favour their Designs and to assist them by their Power in the Execution of that good and Holy Work Exhorting all Towns and Corporations as they tendred their own preservation to judge uprightly of their Intentions and to consider what benefit and repose would accrue unto them and so doing to put their hands to that good work Declaring that they would not use any act of Violence but against such as should oppose them and by other undue means favour their Adversaries which sought to ruine the Church and Subvert the State Assuring every Man that their Holy-Armies should do no Man any wrong or oppression whether in passing or staying in any place but should live orderly and pay for all they took Protesting never to lay down Arms till they had fully Executed all the Premisses but rather die with a willing Heart desiring to be Intombed in a Monument Consecrated to the last of French-Men who died in Arms for the Service of God and their Country At which time they were so high in their own Opinions and their Conceits of the Peoples Inclinations that in this Declaration as an argument to win every Man to their Party they Invited all to put to their helping hands to their good Design which by the Grace of God as they said could not choose but prosper Sutable whereunto our Men to affright such from their Loyalty as they could not perswade told them that they had brought their work to such an height and degree of Success that nothing seemed to be left in their way able to hinder the full accomplishment of their desires unless God in his Iustice should send a grievous Curse upon them And as the Leaguers backing the words of their Remonstrance with Actions of no less efficacy began immediately upon it to impatronize themselves of many Cities and Strong-holds partly by underhand Practises and partly by open force Such were Lull and Uerdune the first Citties in France that cast out the Kings Officers and received the Leaguers so did ours possess themselves of Hull and Plymmouch and other places of Strength which tended so much to the advancement of their Design When therefore the Leaguers had by these Subtilties wrought the People out of Opinion with the King and him out of his Power over his Subjects When he could not with satisfaction to himself neither joyn with the Huguenots nor give content to the Leaguers waiting to make use of such Council as time should Minister unto him his Affairs going on but a slow pace he stood rather to justify himself than to stop the Progress of the Confederates And when he was assured from all parts at the same time of raising Forces and frequent meetings of Men in Arms he did no more than set forth an Edict wherein after the usual Preamble he protested his earnest desire of the Publick Tranquility and by all good means to provide for the ease of his People In which perceiving that some who were Enemies of their Peace did labour to oppose him He therefore straitly prohibited all Levies and gathering together of Souldiers Commanding that their Leaders should be Apprehended and Prosecuted according to Law By which he gained no more but this viz. That by the continuing of their Levies it did then sufficiently appear who were his Enemies Thus did the Leaguers get the Start of the King in their warlike Prepations and it was long before he could perswade himself to prepare for his Defence But being at last necessitated to make other Provisions than Proclamations more sutable to the exigency of the times after much doubting and deliberation he resolved to resist the force and practises of the League as well as he could without any Intelligence or Assistance from the Huguenots hoping that he should be able of himself to curb them But scarcely had he begun to put this deliberation in Execution than that he discovered the weakness of his Councils in that of his Forces The Lord of Truery had raised for him Ten Thousand Switzers But the Counties of Burgundy Champaine and Lyouns being all possess'd by them of League there was no passing for them that way The Count of Scomberg was sent to hire some German-Horse but in his passage thither through those Counties he was seized on and Committed to Prison by the Duke of Lorrain Nor did the Kings business go on much better at home than abroad The Nobility divided partly by reason of their Religion and partly by antient Feuds newly divided by these Dissentions came but slowly in to the King The People generally dissaffected did not concur to the relief of his wants The Revenues of the Crown not only stopt by noise of War but purposely Interrupted and seized upon bp the Heads of the Faction were utterly decayed so as the Sinews of War were wanting on all sides to the Kings Party Those of the League therefore perceiving with what difficulties the King wrestled began with great earnestness to gather Forces and to put in Execution the Plot they had laid long before The King having as yet nothing to oppose them but his Pen was necessitated to imploy it in vindication of himself from those Imputations which were thrown upon
received their Orders from the Sixteen as well concerning the defence of the City and Service of the League as to counterpiose the Kings Designs When there was no hopes of accommodation left with the Leaguers the King began to raise Forces too and summon'd all the Nobility to assist him Wherein he met no where with so much Opposition as from the Turbulent Citizens of Paris where the Preachers and Council of Sixteen never ceased to provoke and incense the People and raise frequent Tumults in the City so as the Magistrates was set light by and trod under foot with danger of an open revolt which those Men desired and endeavoured Nor did it stand with the present condition of the King to chastise the Authors of those Tumults for fear of ministring any occasion to the City of revolting from him Whereupon they Multiplyed their Practises with much boldness which had doubtless arrived at that end which the Leaguers designed but that the fear of the German-Army and the Kings Protestation and Oath for defence of Religion against the Huguenots which he had solemnly taken upon New-years day 1587. did contain them within some bounds of Moderation The King therefore having with great Dexterity and Moderation many times stilled those Reports which had been raised on no grounds being likewise heartily vexed at the Ringleaders of those Tumults but deeply concealing his Passion left the Lord Villaclere to be Governour and the Queen-Mother Regent in Paris and departed thence about the end of Iuly 1587. Thus was that King driven from Paris by the Tumults The House of Lorrein who were the prime Men in the League puft up with the Opinion of their own Power forgot all Moderation and spread their Sailes to vast hopes talked of nothing but utter extirpation of the Huguenots of deposing the King and thrusting him into a Cloyster as they found in Stories that King Chilperick had been served of expelling all Favourites from the Court sharing the great places of the Kingdom amongst themselves and Governing all France as they pleased And so high were they in their own Conceits that their Councils were not bounded either by Justice or Possibility For supposing all things to be now in their own hands they imagined their Merit to be such as they might lawfully undertake and their Power no less as that they might easily perform any the highest and most advantagious atchievement what soever What was this other than as our Men told his Majesty If they should make the highest Precedents of former Parliaments their Patterns it would be no Breach of Modesty To which purpose they caused or suffred those Infamous Stories of King Richard the Second's time to be Published in Print When all their Plots were now ripe and they in readiness for Execution they took the very same course and upon the very same Grounds as our Men did actuate their Designs which was forsooth by an Humble Petition For they agreed that the Duke of Guise and other Lords of the League should not immediately set upon the King with open force But to make a shew as if the nature of the Affairs themselves did carry them on to their Designed end they should present a Petition which should contain manydemands very advantagious to themselves and such as would necessitate the King to declare himself to the full For if he granted their Requests without more ado than they had their end but if he should hold off and be unwilling than he would give them occasion to make use of their Armes and to take that from him by force which he was not willing to part with of his own accord The chief Heads of their Petition presented to the King by the Duke of Guise after many Preambles and Reasons couched together with a great deal of cunning were these viz. That the King would cordially Ioyn with the League for Extirpation of the Huguenots His Majesty join wirh his Parliament for defence of Religion That he would dismiss from his Privy-Council and other places of Trust and Command and from the Court and their several places all such Persons as they should name such as were suspected by them Such as they could not confide in dissaffected to the Catholick Religion That he would grant the Confederates some places of Strength wherein they might place Garrisons for their own security and those to be maintained at the charge of the Crown That an Army should be maintained on the confines of Lorein to hinder any Forreign Invasion and that to be commanded by one of the confederates This the Militia just That he would confiscate and cause to be sold all the Goods of the Huguenots Papists and Prelates and with the price of them defray the Charges of the former War and help to maintain the Leaguers for the future To this Petition which was presented to the King in the beginning of February Anno. 1588. his Majesty was not hasty to return an Answer nor did the Duke of Guise much desire it because the ends of their Demands were only to make the King contemptible and odious to his People as also suspected as a Favourer of Hereticks And in the mean time to give occasion to the League to rise in Arms and Prosecute their Designs while Fortune smiled upon them The Citizens of Paris being led away by their new Council of Sixteen could no longer endure the Kings Government but were full of Scandalous Libels politick Discourses Satirical Verses and feigned Stories wounding the Kings Honour The Preachers likewise after their usual manner but with more freedom speaking against the present State of things filled the Peoples Eares with new strange and miraculous Stories Which poison being derived from the Citty of Paris as from the Heart spread abroad into all other parts of the Kingdom all Counties being possess'd with the like Impressions in favour of the League and disadvantage of the King The Duke of Guise purposing to devive all the Kings Authority upon himself and his Adherents applyed himself mostly to the Parisians being inform'd by the Sixteen that the City was at his Devotion with Twenty Thousand Armed Men under Sixteen Commanders of their several Companies ready for any Imployment But not confiding in those Commanders he thought fit to lessen the number and sent them five Captains to regulate and Command the Popular Arms viz. Brissac Boisdaufin Chamois Escaroles and Colonel St. Paul with whom was joined the Lord of Menevil as the prime instrument of the Plot. And though the King in his own Person was a most Rigid Opposer of the Huguenots and none more Zealous in his Religion than himself yet did they defame him to the People as a Favourer of Hereticks yea and to Forrein Princes too Traducing him saith Thuanus who was otherwise a most intestine Enemy to the Protestant cause both in France and with Forrein Princes as if what he did for
the Peace and Quiet of his Kingdom he had done it in favour of the Protestants Touching the point of Placing and Displacing Councellors as their Demands and Colour for them were alike with our Mens so was the Kings Answer not much different It was the publick discourse of the Guisards in Paris that the Kingdom could never be setled in Peace nor the Minds of true Catholicks at ease so long as they saw the Kings Person inviron'd with non-confiding Persons and of uncertain resolutions in point of Religion The King made answer he was very willing to any thing that might conduce to the settlement of Religion and that he was heartily inclin'd to the Extirpation of Huguenots there being no Prince in Christendom that more hated and desired the Suppression of Hereticks than himself And that for those about his Person they had never suggested to him any Councils to the contrary That all Kings had ever enjoyed the free Liberty of preserving and favouring whom they pleased and to choose their Companions according to their own Gust Were it not so the liberty of Kings should be chained and limitted to that which private Men enjoy free and without restraint there being no person so mean but hath Power to live and converse with whom he please according to his own Genus and liking But if it should be proved against his Ministers that they had in any thing demeaned themselves with less Sincerity than they ought he would be ready to punish them accordingly to the quality of their Offence but would not Banish them from his Court to humour other Men. When the King by reason of the Tumults in Paris had as was said for his own Security enlarged the number of his Guard the Duke of Guise and his Partisans spread a Rumour in the City that the King had a purpose to put a Hundred and Twenty of the Principal Catholicks to Death and to put Garrisons in the chief places of the City to awe the Citizens and therefore that it was necessary for them to stand upon their Guard Upon this Succeeded the Barricados at Paris when the King was in a manner wholly in the Duke of Guises Power But yet he made a shift to slip away privately from his Palace the Louere attended only with Sixteen Gentlemen The Duke not taking care to prevent the escape whether out of Honesty of which he pretended to be the Protector or that he desired to cloak all his Designs with the Mantle of Piety and Religion or that he intended nothing more but his own safety and Reformation of the Government promising to himself that all would fall into his Lap by means of his cunning Carriage and that he needed not to make use of open Force brought the King to such a low Ebb that he must of necessity yield up himself to his Disposal and condescend to such Conditions as he desired which he doubted not but would be approved by the general consent of the People The King being desirous of an accommodation imploy'd the Queen Mother to treat with the Duke of Guise and his Adherents Which had the like success as his Majesties Message from Nottingham to those at Westminster But the Duke's demands were extream high and Exorbitant more like an absolute Conquerour than a Subject viz. That the King should declare him his Lieutenant-General over all the Provinces of his Dominions That a general Assembly of the States should be called at Paris and this Authority being then confirm'd to him by them that the Taxes and Impositions upon the People should be moderated That for removing all suspition of Innovations all Forms of Government should be setled in such a way as it might not be lawful for the King to make any alteration That the Duke D'Espernon and several other Ministers of State as persons suspected to keep Intelligence with the Hereticks and to be continually hammering out new Projects should be put out of their Places and Commands and for ever Banished from the Court That to remove the Jealousies generally conceived of too remiss Proceedings against the Hereticks the sole managery of that War should be Committed to the Duke That to take away the suspition of any Tyrannical Intentions or Actions srom the King he should dismiss his Guard of forty six and interdict them all his Majesty to return to the Court and content himself with such an ordinary Guard as his Predecessors used to have That Griglion the Captain of the Guard should be displaced and another put in his room in whom the Catholicks could confide That the forts of Provence should be consign'd to the Duke D'Aumarle and others to others of the League and that the King should deposite in the hands of certain Lords of the League six other strong Holds such as they should nominate which should be Garrison'd by them and have such Governours as were to their liking That a convenient Assignment should be made to the Cittizens of Paris for reimbursing the Expenses they had been at And that the Government of the City should be confer'd upon the Count of Brissac the Duke of Mayne made high Admiral and de Chatres Ldâ— Mareschall When the Duke of Guise failed of his Intentions upon the Kings Person by reason of his escape and his Design of obtaining from him as his Prisoner what Conditions he pleased was by that means crushed he bent his thoughts to the securing himself of the Command of the City of Paris For perceiving that he must now go to War with the King he knew very well that he could have no stronger Foundation than the Power and Assistance of the Parisians Therefore to assure himself of the City he got into his Hands the Bastile dispossessing Testate who held it formerly for the King but was now forc'd to surrender it into the hands of the People who instantly made the Duke Governour of it The Duke therefore loosing no time call'd the People together in a Common-Council and caused Hector Perose provost of the Merchants a place answerable to that of Lord Mayor of London to be deposed as a dependent on the King Committed him to the Bastile and made Capello Martell to be chosen Provost in his place he being a Principal Incendiary among the People and chief Minister of the League Just a Pennington for a Gurney The Duke of Guise seeing the King was got out of the toyl and that he could not bring his first Design about endeavoured to make it appear that it was done with his consent the King's Escape though it hapned by his Inadvertence Therefore with many fair words and plausible reasons laid down in several Writings both to the King and People of France he strove to make them believe that all his Actions had no other aim but the benefit of the Kingdom Allegiance and Obedience to the King and Zeal to the publick good That the Tumults in Paris were
occasion'd by the fears of the People without any consent of his That his Intentions were ever most Inclin'd to Loyalty and all due Obedience desiring nothing but that Evil Councillers might be removed and due care taken for the securing of Religion And though says my Author his Actions were for the most part quite contrary to his Professions yet the colour of Religion was so lively and plausible he knowing so well how to demean himself that the People generally believed him still a Loyal Subject to the King and that all he did was only out of Zeal to Religion and an Ardent desire for promoting the publick good of the Kingdom When things were in this State there followed the face of an accommodation betwixt the King and the Leaguers and for the composing of all differences another Parliament was convened at Bloys 16. Oct. 1588. In the Election of Members to assist at it though both parts laboured to have such chosen as were their own dependents yet those of the League prevailed by much above the Kings Party For the Commons being vexed with their pressing Grievances their end being mainly to shake off that Burthen did willingly adhere to the Kings Enemies who promised and professed an earnest desire of easing the People of their unsupportable burthen by Taxes and Contributions In this Parliament all the States took a Solemn Oath or Protestation for defence of Religion with the Kings Person and Authority Which Oath they ordered to be taken by all the Subjects of the Kingdom Notwithstanding all which Obligations whereby the Leaguers bound themselves to abandon their former Practises and to apply themselves to a sincere obedience of the King yet did they not remit any thing of their former Machinations For not only the Duke of Guise aspired to obtain the express Title of Lieutenant General which he could not before accomplish though he had the Power but the rest ceased not to tamper with the States that the Government migt be reformed in such a manner as that the King should have no share left him in it but the bare name and shadow of a Prince the whole Power to be transferred to this Duke and his Dependents of the League Nay the very number of the States which equaliz'd ours in the House of Commons engaging themselves in the Interests of the Faction did contend and squable for the same ends with them without any regard of their so many and Solemn Oaths in evident contempt of the Person Name and Majesty of the King The Commons in this Parliament notwithstanding they had resolv'd upon a War with the Huguenots which must needs be expensive Yet demanded from the King a moderation of Taxes and diminution of new Impositions which like that of Ship-money amounted to two Millions of Crowns yearly as also the Reformation of many Offices erected about the Customes and the total abolishing of some other Grievances They declared the King of Navarr who was next Heir to the Crown incapable of Inheriting and Sollicited the King to make a new Decree upon it unto which they would have him swear as a Fundamental Law After many other Plots and Practises in this Factious Parliament when business was now fully ripe and the Duke of Guise having sufficiently canvassed and prepared the States both in general and particular Grown now secure and bold upon confidence of former Experience he began to bring his Plot upon the Stage of being made Lieutenant-general at the Request and by the Authority of the Parliament which was the last end of his present hopes But those hopes were quickly frustrate by His untimely Death After which his Brother the Duke of Maine took up Arms to Prosecute that design of the League And though the King wrote kind Letters to him yet were they of no force to make him hearken to any Concord For making himself Head of the Holy Union he was by the Parisians declared Lieutenant General of the State and Crown of France with the same authority and power wich is naturally inherent in the King abating only the name which Power was intended to continue until the States-General should think fit to alter it Upon the possession whereof he entred 22. Febr. 1589 Having taken a Solemn Oath to Protect and defend the Catholick Religion against all Persons whatsoever to preserve the Estate belonging to the Crown of France to defend the Priviledges of the three Estates of Parliament the Clergy Nobility and Commons to cause the Laws and Constitutions of the Realm to be observed and the Authority and Power of the Courts of Justice Having done this he chose and setled the Council of the Union like a close Committee consisting of fourty the chief and most eminent Persons of the League to manage all the most Important Affairs with his Assistance leaving still the Government of the City of Paris with the Sixteen And as our Men had their Committies in several Counties which received Directions from and sent Informations to their great Council So did these of the League ordain that there should be six eight twelve or more of them nominated in several places of the Kingdom to propose what was fitting to the Council and having received Directions from them to act accordingly Nor hath scarce any act of Insolence been Commited by our Men in which they might not urge these for an Example What hath been done to Justice Mallet taken off the Bench and Committed to the Tower the like was done in Paris For they in a Tumultuous manner beset the Hall of the Pallace where the Judges than sate seiz'd upon Harle and others whom they deem'd to be well affected to the King and Committed them Prisoners to the Bastile The King upon like Motives as his Majesty Adjourn'd the Term from London to Oxford adjourn'd the Courts of Justice the Parliament of Paris to Towrs that of Roan to Cane that of Dijon to Chalon And that nothing might be wanting in this Rebellion which was in that As our Men took upon them to make a new great Seal ransackt the Kings Pallace at White-hall seiz'd all his Revenues Forts and Magazine into their own hands usurped his Authority and called in a Forreign-Nation the Scots to their Assistance their Parliament Voting it and their Preachers being the Trumpeters of War against the King So our own Camden tells us the Leaguers of France did Populus ubique Magistratibus parere dedignatus Regias aedes Lutetiae diripuit Conjurati novo consilio instituto novo Sigillo ad res administrandas confecto Regiam sibi authoritatem arrogarunt munitissima quaeque loca immo integras Provincias sibi raptarunt Regni redditus interceperunt Auxiliares Hispanos è Belgio evocarunt Parliamentis suffragantibus Ecclesiasticis Bellum in Regem ubique buccinantibus The King after all this being straitned for Money and entertaining no Thoughts but of Peace and Accommodation procured the Popes Legate to Interpose
for that end promising to refer all difference to his Holiness Which when the Legate moved to the Duke of Maine he refused to hearken to it alledging it to be but a shift of the King to gain time in regard he found himself at present unprovided and unarmed All hopes of accommodation therefore fayling the King being persuaded that he had used all means possible on his part and that not without descending far below the honour of his person began to alter his Opinion And to the end he might not be surprized without assistance by the Power of his Enemies the urgency of his necessities constraining him perforce to look about for some Supplies he began to hearken to an accord with the King of Navarre a Professed Protestant Certain it is that in his own Inclination he was ever averse from such an accord his nature being incompatible with all Commerce with the Huguenots But there being an evident necessity that he could not then do otherwise all his Councillers with one voice told him he must needs resolve and side with one Party unless he would stand alone in the midst of his Potent Enemies one on one side the Loyre and the other on the other side having possess'd themselves of all What Moneys what Friends what Armies what Forces had he sufficient to grapple with such Factions at the same time T is clear which way soever he could turn himself he must have one Enemy before his Face and another behind his back His Kingdom also being divided and Forrein Princes likewise divided betwixt two Religions he a new Example should have both averse both Enemies to him would he continue in this distraction without Forces without Moneys While one side Invades one part another side another part of the Regal Authority He is now what he was always affraid of in the midst of two Violent Torrents He did as much as man could do for Peace He forgot his own Honour to be reconcil'd with the Seditious and gave the Rebels and Despisers of his Authority that satisfaction which they little deserved With unheard of Patience he endured all the Injuries of the People the Invectives of their Preachers the Villanous Insolencies of the Factious Commons and the bold Decrees of the Sorbon submitting his Royal Majesty to the inordinate desires of the Reliques of the Guises He did that which never King before him would have endured to have done What could he do more unless to please the Spaniards he would patiently wait without providing any defence till he were miserably torn in Pieces by his Enemies and the like outrages Committed upon his Person as had been already done to his Statua's both in Paris and Tholouse It is more then time therefore that he shew he hath the Heart of a Lyon and making use of the King of Navarr's Assistance de Inimicis suis vind care Inimicos suos to revenge himself of his Enemies by his Enemies this being no new nor unheard of Course His Brother K Charles many times and himself sometimes when Necessities were less pressing had made Peace with the Huguenots Why should he not therefore seek all just means to restrain the Seditious to recover his own Power and now at last to restore Peace and Rest to his Kingdom Upon this then followed several adverse Declarations of the King 's justifying his own Proceedings The like by the Duke of Mayne in behalf of the League After these Instigations of his Councillers the King beginning to incline to an accommodation with the King of Navarr and the Huguenots Though all his followers desired that he should not come to an accord with them yet such was the obstinacy of the Duke of Mayne and the Leaguers and such the State of the Realm by reason of the present Seditions that none of them could blame him though they all abhorr'd it Seeing therefore that of necessity he must take up some resolution and that his Affairs were in danger of utter ruine if he did not he concluded a Truce for one Year with the King of Navarr upon these Conditions 1. That the publick Exercise of the Catholick Religion should be restored in all places under the Command of the Huguenots without Exception 2. That the Clergy should be restored to their Means and the Prisoners which they had in their hands should be set at Liberty 3. That the King of Navarr should be obliged to serve him in Person with four Thousand Foot and twelve Hundred Horse wheresoever he should be Commanded 4. That all Cities Countries and places of his Party should observe all the Laws and Constitutions of the Kingdom obey the Courts of Justice and the Kings Magistrates and receive such Orders as the King had or should hereafter give them On the other side it was agreed that the King of Navarr should have the City of Samur and keep it as a free pass for him upon the River Loyre but be bound to yield it up again at the Kings Pleasure How fully applicable is this to the Cessation made in Ireland by his Majesty Hereupon the King set forth a Declaration against the Duke of Maine and his Adherents who had caused the Cities to revolt and were then up in Arms intimating to them that if they did not return to their Obedience within the space of XV. days and forbear to trouble the Realm by making Levies as also not lay down Arms they should incurr the Crime of Rebellion and all their Goods be Confiscate Like to this was his Majesties Proclamation against the Earl of Essex from York 9. Aug. 1642. Which Writings were attended with Actions sutable as his Majesty did set on foot his Commissions of Array the King granting out Commissions to several Governours in sundry Provinces for making of Levies and drawing the People together in Arms. Nevertheless he still continued his Inclinations to Peace and having excused the Truce which he was necessitated to make with the King of Navarr and promised to persevere constant in the Catholick Religion he intreated the Pope's Nuncio once more to trye the Mind of the Duke of Maine and by conferring with him in Person to labour him to an Accommodation in regard that neither by the Duke of Loreyne's means to whom he had Written nor the Dutchess of Nemurs who had been imploy'd to that purpose he could at all work upon him to lend the least Ear to any Treaty for Peace And to make it evident to the World how desirous he was to be free'd from the necessity of an accord with the Huguenots he delivered to the Cardinal a Paper Written with his own Hand wherein was contained what things he would be content to grant to them of the League Offring to make the Prince of Loreyne Governour of Metz Tul and Uerdun to Marry the Inheritrix of Bullion with the Cities of Games and Sedan to the Count of Vaudemont To the Duke of Mayne he was content to
yield the Government of the whole Countrey of Burgundy with the nomination of all under-Governours there and that to pass to his Son after him To the young Duke of Guise the Inheritance of Champaine St. Desir and Rocroy for Security of his Person with Thirty Thousand Crowns a Year of Ecclesiastical Revenue for one of his Brothers To the Duke of Nevers the Government of Lyons To the Duke D'Aumarle Saint-Esprit du Rae for his security To make his Brother General of the Foot with Twenty Thousand Franks a Year To the Duke of Elleboef the Government of Poictiers To these and others divers large pensions and preferments so desirous was he to purchace his Peace at any rate Which Propositions were not much unlike his Majesties Instructions to his Commissioners for the Treaty at Uxbridge and wrought as little with the Leaguers But this Paper of the King 's wrought nothing at all the Duke of Mayne meeting with the Legate refusing peremptorily to hearken to any Agreement pretending that he could not accept of any Conditions without calling all the Estates of the League and all the Princes of his Family together to have their Consent Which he said indeed because he thought himself by much Superior in force to the King and because both the King of Spain and the Duke of Savoy had promised to assist him with Men and Money The News of the Truce which the King had made with the King of Navarr no sooner arrived at Paris but 't is incredible what Malice they thereupon conceiv'd against him and all his Followers what exorbitant Demonstrations they made of it even by their publick Ordinances prohibiting any Prayers to be used for him in the Service of the Church as had been ever done for all the Kings of France which the Catholick Church many times and Piety allows particularly on Good-Friday even to Hereticks Idolaters and Infidels Nor is it possible to account the innumerable quantity of Libels Declarations and Pamphlets Printed and Published against him beyond all bounds of Reason and Modesty To conclude the noise of Arms did soon drown that of their Libels and Seditious Sermons And many Battails were Fought in which the King had the better and came Victorious before that proud City of Paris But in the Seige of it he was basely Murthered by Iaques Clement a Dominican Fryer 1. Aug. 1589. After this Untimely Death of that King Henry the 3 d. the Crown of France with its Troubles descended upon the King of Navarr Henry the 4 th Who being acknowledged by the Catholick Nobility in the Camp they swore Allegiance to him he mutually promising to maintain and defend the Catholick Roman-Religion to the utmost of his Power and not to endeavour any alteration in it And likewise to maintain the Priviledges of Parliament the three Estates of France in their wonted Power Priviledges Immunities Prerogatives c. without any prejudice or innovation whatsoever But all this had little Operation on the Leaguers they persisting in their wonted Obstinacy and Rebellion though he omitted not any means to win them to peace and reconcilement For first he sent unto them that Villeroy might come to Treat with him but was refused Then he imploy'd a private Gentleman to Paris to whom the Duke of Maine would not give Audience but appointed that he should deliver his Message to Villeroy Which was that the King had expresly commanded him to assure the Duke of his Majesties good Inclinations to peace as also to represent unto him how necessary it was for the publick good what great account he made of the Dukes person how much he desired to make him his Friend and to have him near at hand that he might afford him an honourable share in his favour sutable to his Condition Likewise that the Duke might then lay aside the vain hopes of seeing the King abandoned by his Subjects considering in what a good condition he did at that time stand Desiring therefore that he would propose some Conditions his Majesty being ready to gratify him in any thing he might This hath somewhat of his Majesties Letter to the Earl of Essex at Lestithiel Whereunto the Sum of the Answer which the Duke gave Commission to be made was in this somewhat more civil than that of the Earl of Essex that he had no private Quarrel with the King whom for his own part he did highly Honour and Reverence but his Religion and his Conscience would not suffer him to enter any Treaty with him For if quoth he my Deceased Brethren took up Armes in the Kings Life time upon a suspition of danger Now that the Necessity is more urgent and the danger present I cannot lay down those Armes which I have taken up without sinning against the Memory of my Deceased Brethren Essex might have urged his Father and my own Conscience and that Solemn Oath which I took the Covenant forsooth That I engaged my Faith and Consecrated my Life to the publick Cause when I accepted the Charge of Lieutenant General of the State and that I could not resolve upon any thing without the publick Convention of all of my Party Some there were who urged this Duke of Mayne to usurp the Title of King of France but others on better grounds dissuaded him The King therefore in these great Distresses Summon'd a general Convnention of the Estates to meet in October at Tours the chief City of his Party But his Army mouldring away and he with those left him not above six Thousand Foot and fourteen Hundred Horse retired to Diepe and there fortifyed Whereupon the Duke of Mayne pursued and put the King in danger but lost the Opportunity of a Victory and at the Battail of Arches was forc't to retreat with loss though his Forces were Superior by much to the Kings Which success in that Battail upon the addition of four Thousand English and a Thousand Scotts then sent to Diepe by Queen Elizabeth so encourag'd the King that he presently Marcht towards Paris and came before it upon the last of October 1589. Which unexpected Approach stroke no small Terror into the Multitude especially the Ladies seeing him come on such a suddain ready to assail that proud City and at a time when they were perswaded he would have had enough to do to defend himself Also that in regard of the weakness of his Forces he would either by that time have been subdued or driven out of the Realm For the Duke of Mayne when he went against the King at Diepe by way of ostentation of his Forces before the People writ to Paris that within a few Days he would either bring the King Prisoner or force him to flye into England with shame enough And now the City not well provided and out of hopes of relief their Mindes were full of Fears and Vexation But upon the Duke of Mayne's Approach the King rose from before Paris having first
taken the Suburbs and sackt them The Convention of Estates thus met at Tours put out a Declaration in behalf of the King And that at Paris Publisht another against him After which contrary Declarations the Schollars being as eager to contend for their several Parties as the Souldiers there were publish't many Ordinances of Parliament infinite Writings of particular Men Decisions of the Sorbon Letters of the Pope's Legate Answers of the Bishops that adhered to the King and such a number of Books every where dispersed that it was a clear case there was not a Witt in the Kingdom but was Imploy'd Not a Pen but writ in defence of the Reasons of one side or other but with so much Obstinacy of Mind in their Arguments that it was easy to discern that the Arms of the Spirit when they are distorted and misused in divers manner in the Heat and Incogitancy of Wars are more apt to administer new Fewel to the Flame than quench the Fire already begâ—n At this time the Affairs of the League were in a very tottering condition the diversity of Pretensions and contrary ends of the Confederates much disturbing the course of their Enterprizes holding not only their Councils but the Effects and Actions of their common Interests in suspence Which in regard of the speedy Expedition and Resolutions of the King could not admit of delays The Duke of Mayne being Prince of the Faction and head of the Design who by the Authority of his Person Prudence of his Government and experience in Marshal-matters bore the chief burthen of their Affairs conceiving that the reward and fruits of his Paines did of Justice belong to himself projected therefore either to transfer the Crown upon himself or upon some of his House But in case he could not obtain so much then at least to set it upon the Head of some such Prince as might totally and absolutely be beholding to him for it being resolv'd that the Kingdom should not be divided much less that it should fall into the Hands of a Forein Prince On the contrary the King of Spain who in the beginning secretly but now openly protected and fomented the League and had of late Years laid out two Millions in the Service of the Confederates and was now to contribute vast Sums of Money both in publick and private besides his maintaining of Foot and Horse seeing that without his Assistance which they desired might be great and strong not only the main Design was like to come to nothing but the League could not long subsist without being Dissolved thought more than reasonable and more than just that as the Expences and Losses were his so the Fruits and Benefits should be his also And therefore besides an under-hand secret Design of Uniting the Crowns and gayning that of France to his Daughter Isabella the Infanta whom he had by his Queen Elizabeth King Henry the 3 ds Eldest Sister he farther endeavoured to get himself publickly declared Protector of the Crown of France with Sovereign Power and Authority to dispose of the Offices of the Crown to choose the Governours and Captains of the Armyâ— to conferr Bishopricks and to have all the Prerogatives pertaining to an absolute Prince All which was demanded and publickly Sollicited by his Agents Mendoza Mornea c. But the Citizens of Paris who perceived well that the main strength of the Faction consisted in them not only in regard of the Multitude of their People and Power of the City but by reason of their continual Contributions from whence the Sinews of the War were derived thought it was come to their share to dispose of the Crown And being all apay'd with the Duke of Mayne's bad Success in the Wars the same fate which the Earl of Essex had with the Londoners Imputing the loss of their Suburbs to his slackness whom they called Coward and Block-head p. 741. and that the City was now in a manner Besieged and much straitned for want of Provisions by reason of his want of Care inclin'd to submit themselves to be ordered by the Spaniards hoping by the help of their Forces to destroy the King's whose very Name was odious to them and to extirpate the Religion of the Huguenots whereunto they were naturally Enemies and by means of the Spanishâ—-Gold to be eased of the insupportable burthen of Contributions For the King of Spains Ministers bore them in hand and went about cunningly with fair Promises and big Words both in publick and private in order to their Assistance On the other side the Nobility which took part with the League in whose hands were the Arms and Forces of the Kingdom were much averse from submitting to the Spanish-Yoke inclined to the Duke of Mayne conforming themselves to his Pleasure to be guided by his Authority But in this great distraction of the Kingdom divers of them were not without their own particular Designs And of such variety of Councils was the League composed that by clashing with one another they interrupted the course of their Affairs and abated the heat by which they first Conspired in that Band which seemed to have no other end but Religion The King therefore taking advantage of these their Divisions dismissed the Marquess of Belin upon his Parole whom he had taken Prisoner at the Battel of Arches with Commission in his name to proffer Peace to the Duke of Mayne and to exhort him as a Prince of an honest and moderate temper not to assent to the Pernicious Designs of Foreigners but freeing himself from the base usage of the Vulgar and cunning of the Spaniard that he would hearken to an honest and safe Peace whereupon answerable to his Merit and Honour he should have as great a share in the Kings Favour as himself could desire When the Marquess made this overture to the Duke the Opinions of the Councillers about him were much divided some favouring it others declaming against it Telling how the War was founded upon the point of Religion and therefore nothing must be done in it without the Popes Approbation Also that the Duke of Mayne being not absolute Prince of the League but only the Head of his Party ought not to adventure upon such an Important Action without the joynt consent of all those that followed that Party and all the Princes that adhered to or favoured the League who if they should not follow his deliberation might choose another Head and he be left destitute of the support of the Catholick Party to the will of his Enemies And that this was but a trick of the Kings to work a diffidence in the Dukes Party and to sow Divisions and Suspitions amongst the Confederates though the King might promise Golden-Mountains to the end he might dissolve the Union of the League yet there was no security but that so soon as he should be Established King in Peace he would not observe the least Tittle of his promises The Duke therefore on the one side