consequently have power to give order for the external part of Gods Service as was by Parliament granted to Queen Elizabeth and her Successours And the first Congregators calling themselves Protestants by Contract with Queen Elizabeth Anno 1559. received by Contract the Common Service-book of the Church of England for the better obtaining assistance from her to beat out the French then nestled in Scotland as Buchanan confesses Scoti ex servitute Gallica Anglorum auxiliis liberati eisdem Ritibus cum Anglis communibus subscripserunt lib. 19. in fine which was done by way of Indenture and thereupon Queen Elizabeth assisted them at their own charges and the English Service-book was so received by the Protestant Kirk of Scotland and practised as appears in Iohn Knox his History p. 111. of Buchanan's Edition in these words It is thought covenient advised and ordained that in all Parishes of this Realm Scotland the Common Prayer-book be publickly read weekly on Sundays and other Festival Days with the Lessons of the Old and New Testament therein contained conform to the Order of the said Book of Common Prayer and if the Curates of the Parishes be qualified to cause them reade the same and if they be not or refuse that the most qualified in every Parish shall reade it And that Preaching and Interpretation of Scriptures be used privately in the most convenient Houses where the People may quietly convene untill it shall please God to move the Princes heart to grant liberty of publick Preaching by faithfull and true Ministers And this was done Anno 1560. being so agreed upon the Year before And according to Queen Elizabeths Contract on her part she sent the Lord Grey with an Army of ten thousand Land-forces and an Navy by Sea which expulsed the French from thence but their turn served they afterwards devised another way of Discipline of their own like as those Covenanters did now refuse this Service-book not for any fault therein but because they would not have their Kirk depend upon the Jurisdiction and Order of the Church of England And whereas these Covenanters accused the Arch-bishop of Canterbury as Authour of this Book with the success thereafter as that they presumed to put their Platform of Geneva Discipline even upon the very Church of England as by their Solemn League and Covenant hereafter appeareth which though it take for a time with the prevalent party of their Faction in England yet shortly after as extravagant and they have since received their reward of slavery so just it is with God Some upright and honest Scots were in policy taken off either by subtilty or force And because the Earl of Strathern a bold man and had the Kings ear and deservedly too being faithfull and true these men set on Sir Iohn Scot Directour of the Chancery a busie Person to inform against his Descent which they call Service as Heir to David Earl of Strathern pretending to the Crown The story was thus briefly Robert the second of that Name and first of Stuarts about the Year of God 1370. entred his Reign at fifty years old having been Regent for his Uncle King David Bruce and had Issue by his Concubine Elizabeth Sir Moor's Daughter three Sons viz. John called Robert the third Robert Duke of Albany and Earl of Fife and Alexander Earl of Buchan In the second year of his Reign he married Aufeme Daughter to the Earl of Rosse and begat of her two Sons Walter Earl of Athol and David Earl of Strathern infeoffing upon them great Estates of Crown-lands intailed onely to their Heirs male legitime or to return to the Crown The King aged and infirm intrusted the power of the Militia to his eldest Son John Earl of Carrick and Lord of Kyll a valiant Person The Queen dying and leaving two young Sons the King marries his former Concubine Besse Moor and preferred her three Sons begotten out of Marriage before his legitimate Sons this being done by the Popes Dispensation and by Act of Parliament or by a Prior clandestine Marriage as was pretended yet the History bears it not But John succeeded by the name of Robert the third because two Kings Johns of England and France had been unfortunate And from this Robert lineally the Race of the subsequent Kings are descended David Earl of Strathern left onely one Daughter married to the Lord Graham's second Son who left onely one young Son Melissus Graham Earl of Strathern and King James the first returning to Scotland after eighteen years but noble Captivity in England and finding the Crown-rents much decayed caused a general search of the Dilapidation and the return made among others that the Earldom of Strathern ought to devolve to the Crown by the Intail and so it was reassumed but the young Earl so near a Kinsman he created Earl of Menteth with some small Rents at which the young mans Uncles the Earl of Athol aspiring to the Crown and Sir Robert Graham quarrel and murdered the King but were exemplarily punished and Athol forfeited since which time the Earls of Menteth lived privately untill this man was set up by the late Duke of Buckingham obtaining of the King neither of them acquainted with the Genealogy to be lineal Heir to that David Earl of Strathern his Predecessour to have the Title of Earl of Strathern who some years after vainly let fall these words that the King held the Crown of him and being tried and found guilty the Title was recalled and he had given to him the Title of Earl of Airth but discourted and put out of place or further medling in State-affairs extremely and specially aimed at by the former Contrivers of his ruine lest he might hinder their wicked intended Designs against the King and the estate of the Church and Bishops for the Man was noted to be very honest and faithfull though fâ—lly invented those words without any intention of mischief But it is dangerous to dally with the Sovereignty of Kings much more with their Crowns lest the wound become incurable nothing more dear than their Titles and Posterity And the restoring of Menteth in bloud was very disadvantagious to the King and indeed dangerous to the Earl himself comparing his case with others the like heretofore Henry the sixth of England restoring in bloud the Descent and Titlâ— of the Duke of York who openly thereafter made claim in Parliament for the Crown as in his own right laying down his Title thus The Son of Ann Mortimer who came of the Daughter and sole Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence third Son of King Edward the third is to be preferred by very good right in succession of this Kingdom before the Children of John of Gaunt the fourth Son of Edward the third but Richard Duke of York is come of Philippe the Daughter and sole Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence third Son of King Edward the third and to be preferred before the Children of the fourth Son
Barons and Bishops alwaies standing bareheaded Then every Bishop came to the King to bring their Benediction upon him and he in King Edwards Robes with the Crown upon his Head rose from his Chair and bowed to every Bishop apart Then was girt about him King Edwards Sword which himself after wards took off and offered it up at the Communion Table with two Swords more in relation to Scotland and Ireland or to some antient Principalities with his Predecessors enjoyed in France The Duke of Buckingham as Master of the Horse put on his Spurs and thus compleatly crowned his Majesty offered first Gold then Silver and afterwards Bread and Wine which was to be used at the holy Communion Then the King was conducted by the Nobility to the Throne upon the square Basis of five Descents the Quire singing Te Deum where he received the Oath of Homage from the Duke of Buckingham as Lord High Constable for that day and the Duke swore all the Nobility to be Homagers to his Majesty at the Kings knee Then the Earls and Barons laid their hands on the Crown upon the Kings head protesting to spend their bloods to maintain it to him and his lawful Heirs The Bishops kneeled down but took no oath the King kissing each of them Then the King took a Scrowl of Parchment out of his Bosom and gave it to the Lord Keeper Coventry who read it to the Commons four several times East West North and South the effect His Majesties pardon to all that would take it under his Broad-Seal From the Throne to the Communion Table where the Arch-bishop kneeling at the North side read prayers and the Quire sung the Nicene Creed the Bishops Landaff and Norwich read the Epistle and Gospels The Bishops of Durham and Saint Davids in rich copes with his Majesty received the Communion the Bread from the Archbishop the Wine from Bishop Saint Davids The King received last of all whilest Gloria Patri was sung and some prayers by the Arch-bishop conclude the solemnity After the King had disrobed himself in King Edwards Chapel he came forth in a short Robe of Red Velvet girt unto him lined with Ermins and a Crown of his own upon his head set with very pretious stones And thus the Train going to the Barges at the water-side they returned to White-hall about three a clock afternoon This being as yet the last solemnity of this King Charles I could say no less to preserve it to memory to shew what that State had been till it be so again And now the King calls a Parliament which met the sixth of February Sir Henage Finch Recorder of London chosen Speaker of the Commons House So soon are they summoned after their last Dissolution It was the Kings design then to take this short time of recess to cool the heat of some fiery Spirits and now for him to give all possible satisfaction to their former pressures of Grievances which had been lately fully cleared unto them in pursuance of their pretended devout care for settling of Religion But still the house of Commons scrutiny and by a Committee strictly examine what abuses had interferred the execution of his Majesties Grace therein And the Lords betake themselves to a Grievance of their own Order The old ones had a former complaint five years since to King Iames against such New Lords of foreign Titles of Honour that claimed thereby precedency of Inferior titles at home and were then quelled in that quarrel as being in the pleasure of the Prince to effuse the beames of Honour and to collate what he please upon whom and how he please But now another dress and much more boldly To the Kings most Excellent Majesty In all humility SHeweth unto your most Excellent Majesty your ever Loyal Subjects the Lords Spiritual and Temporal now in Parliament assembled That whereas the Peers and Nobility of this your Kingdome of England have heretofore in civility yielded as to strangers precedency according to their several degrees unto such Nobles of Scotland and Ireland as being in titles above them have resorted hither Now divers of the nâ—tâ—ral born Subjects of this Kingdom resident here with their Families and having their chief Estates among us do by reason of some late created Dignities in those Kingdomes of Scotland and Ireland claim Precedency of the Peers of this Realm which tends both to the dis-service of your Majeâ—â—â— and these Realms and to the great disparagemont of the English Nobility as by these reasons may appear 1. It is a novelty without precedent That men should inherit Honors where they possess nothing else 2. It is injurious to those Countreys from whence their Titles are derived that any should have Vote in Parliament where they have not a foot of Land 3. It is a grievance to the Countrey where they inhabit that men possessing very large Fortunes and Estates should by reason of foreign Titles be exempted from those services of Trust and Charge which through their default become greater pressures upon others who bear the burthen 4. It is a shame to Nobility that persons dignified with the Titles of Barons Viscounts c. should be obnoxious and exposed to arrest they being in the view of the Law no more then meer Plebeians We therefore humbly beseech your Majesty that you will be pleased according to the example of the best Princes and Times upon consideration of these inconveniences represented to your Majesty by the nearest Body of Honour to your Majesty that some course may be taken and an Order timely settled therein by your Princely Wisdom so as the inconvenience to your Majesty may be prevented and the prejudice and disparagement of the Peers and Nobility of this Kingdom may be redressed To which the King for the present Promised to take order therein And the next News was the commitment of the Earl of Arundel to the Tower and this the cause The King having a Design to reconcile an antient fewd of two families by contracting them into a Marriage between the Lord of Lorn son and heir to the Earl of Arguile and bred up in England a Protestant for that purpose and the Eldest Daughter of the late Duke of Lenox which though well known to the Earl of Arundel he very boldly marries his eldest Son the Lord Matravers unto her and excuses it to be the private contrivance of the two Mothers but he is committed to the Tower and being in time of Parliament the Peers Petition the King That no Peer is to be imprisoned without Order of the Upper House unless for Treason Felony or Denial of the security for the peace which retrived their old dispute Priviledge and lasted the debate of a Months time In which space Mr. Pym Chairman to the Câ—mmittee of Religion reports the Inquisition of their discovery A Letter to the Lord Maior of York for Reprieve of some Iesuits Priests and other Recusants which Letter was compared
of transcending Prerogative and Superstition this was the business of his Life to come grew up with his Youth and crowned his Age with glory We are told that Walter the Grandfather at his Death desired his Son then at ten years old to be mindfull of his six and thirtieth year of his Age beyond which neither he nor but few of his fore-fathers lived which he well remembered at the Block but it was too late to avoid At which instant this his Son being a Scholar at Eaton thesame Minutâ—e his Father suffered suddenly and distractedly awaked leaped out of his Bed and cried out thâ—t his Father was killed No sooner came King Iames to the Crown than that he restored this Son in Bloud to his Titles and Estate forfeited by his Father We are told that he was such a Spark that at Tennis with Prince Henry who called him the Son of a Traitour â—he made no more ado but cracks his Pâ—te with a Racket that the bloud ran down we may credit him to be no Coâ—rtier who tells this Tale in earnest but if so as no man can believe it was an uâ—handsom Return to his Son for King Iames his kindness to the Fathers memory and herein himself an ungratefull person to the Royal Family But to go on it is said that from his Infancy he was well affected to the Reformation of the Church which he received by Inheritance of his Father who was the less inclined to Doctor Whitgift his Tutour because he was a Bishop But his Son this Earl unfortunate in his first Wife was divorced and then he went to the Waâ—s in the Netherlands thence to the Palatinate In the beginning of the Reign of King Charls he went with Viscount Wimbleton in the Expedition to Cadiz in Spain the rather because his Father had been there before him yet the Son came home without Success In the year 1635. he married his second Wiâ—e Daughter to Sir William Paulet of Wiltshire but was soon separate from this Wife also who afterwards bore a Son that died within the year Then it is said that he abandoned all uxorious thoughts and applied himself to the improvement of those Rules which conduce to the soundness of Church and State In the first year that King Charls advanced against the Scots this Earl had a principal Command but after the Pacification the Earl was made Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold and in the Civil Wars between the King and Parliament he was chosen General of the Parliaments Forces and it is said as of his good fortune that in all the Wars he never received any hurt he was called home it is said that after his good Service for the State the Kingdom might enjoy as much benefit by the strength of his Counsels as it received safety by his Arms which with Resolution he took up and with chearfulness he laid them down joyning with the Parliament in person and affection he did much advance and facilitate the Victories to come which were happily atchieved by the Successour Sir Thomas Fairfax General of the Parliaments Forces So much for his Life set down by a special Pen which I have undertaken thus far to abreviate lest I should injure his story by any addition of mine own Not long after he fell into a Distemper for four Days aguish then fiercely assaulted with a Lethargy and died and in him ended the Name and Honour of that House having no Issue His Funeral charges and other engagements were supplied by Parliament with five thousand pounds and because there was due to his Separate the Widow four thousand five hundred pounds the Parliament seized it by her Delinquency being no Round-head the odd five hundred pounds to a Colonel and the other to the Earls poor Servants But the Funeral was deferred untill the twenty third of October and observed Because the Battel of Edg-hill was fought on the same Day 1642. Or rather says another that the Rebellion in Ireland broke out on the same Day 1641. His Funeral Herse remaining in Westminster Abbey Church a Spectacle for the people Some bold Malignant on the seven and twentieth of Nov. at Night most shamefully handled his Effigies broke off his Head disfigured the Face tore away his Sword and Spurs and rent down his Arms and Escucheons They were not poor Knaves for they left all behinde Silk and Velvet to boot And for all his good Service the Arrears of four thousand five hundred pounds of his Countesses Jointure of one thousand three hundred pounds per annum sequestred for her Delinquency notwithstanding her pitifull Petition was disposed of and she could never receive it At the Rendition of the Garison of Worcester I think was brought up Prisoner to the Parliament that gallant stout-hearted West-countrey Gentleman Sir Iohn Stowel Knight and Baroner and of great Revenues in Somersetshire and elsewhere where he first refused to kneel being capable of Composition by Articles and required to know the Charge they have against him But to that he was answered with a Commitment to Newgate and an Indictment to be drawn up against him the next Assizes for Somersetshire For levying War against the Parliament and Kingdom And was found guilty there and so is to be proceeded against at the Kings Bench. His Sufferings are summ'd up in an History by it self imprinted and published to the World to which for the particulars we recommend the Reader The four and twentieth of September had voted the Disposal of the Kings person to be in the Parliament and the Scots Papers answered that Vote the six and twentieth of October That he is not onely King of England but also King of Scotland and as the English have an interest in him he being King of England so have the Scots no less interest in him he being King of Scotland and as the Scots have not the sole Interest in him he being King of Scotland because they acknowledg withall that he is King of England so have not the Parliament of England the sole Interest in him he being King of England because the Scots desire to have it remembred that he is also King of Scoâ—land so as neither Nation having a sole but a joint interest in his Person the Scots ought jointly to dispose of it for the weal and benefit of both Kingdoms The Scots Argument lies thus Wheresoever the Kingdom of Scotland hath an interest in their King there they may dispose of him But the Kingdom of Scotland hath an interest in their King he being in England therefore in England they may dispose of him 'T is true that Mr. Challoner a Member of the House of Commons managing the Argument there in the House and of his own framing made a specious Answer but was replied unto and that suppressed Other Arguments the Scots had That the Parliament of England hath no more power to dispose of the person of the King of Scotland being in England than the parliament of Scotland
with the insolencies of some Priests which caused the Council there to put them all to the Horn for non-appearance and afterwards to Proclame them Rebels But to avoid apprehending they all fled hither for some sanctuary untill their cause were pleaded which found little favour they being returned back upon good caution and security to abide their several trials at home Some overtures were made here from the Emperour in referrence to the further quiet of Germany and the cause of the Palatinate And finding the Queen of Bohemia neerly concerned and in a narrow condition her former Pension from hence decreasing she was consulted by Message of Sr. Henry Vane sent by the King to visit her and to relate the offer of 30000 l. per annum from the Emperour with conveniency of Reception within the Palatinate Her Eldest Son to marry one of the Emperours daughters and to be brought up in that Imperial Court Whereunto it is said She made this Magnanimous reply Rather then to suffer her childe to be bred in idolatry She would cut his throat with her own hand for which the Authour so highly extolls her to have so erect a minde in her lowest estate This appears to be Strange That Sr. Henry Vane sent on purpose over Seas of an Arrand should be so mistaken in his message to make it the Kings desire which was but his bare proposal And that such a religious Person as her Majesty should be forward to commit so damnable a sin to her self as to Murther her own Son ratheâ— then to consent that he should be bred a Papist and so to prevent a hazzard his damnation it seems under the profession of the Church of Rome The Wars in Italy began two years since about the succession of the Duchies of Mantua and Monferrat which after the death of the Duke Vincent without children fell to the Duke of Nevers The Spaniards through Jealousie without right or title take Arms so did the Duke of Savoy He seized some places in Monferrat and they besieged Casal The Venetians in suspition of the Spaniards further progresse in Italy and joyn with Nevers So does France who passeth by force through Savoy to the streight of Susa and after the taking many Towns of Savoy falls upon the Spainard takes Cambrey besieges Montmelian sends before to Piemont and follows himself in person where he was victorious leaving the poor Duke of Savoy to seek preservation in desert and unaccessible places Yet the Spainard continues the siege of Casal under command of Spinola And the French defends the Citadel by force of Toras two succesful Generals the one in the Low-Countreys and the other against the English at the Isle of Rhe. The businesse came to this The Town and Castle were already yeelded to Spinola and the Citadel had capitulated to surrender by such a day if succour came not In the interim Spinola dies of Infection the Duke of Savoy in his Bed when by intercession of the Pope and Cardinal Mazerines first Negotiation and dexterity the peace was concluded with the Emperour of Vienna and all caressed in that Treaty The French restores all to the Savoy Nevers begs pardon and is invested the Spaniard renders Monferrat and all are Friends again which the fume of ambition had caused with much bloud-shed And really those two Nations having stoutly wrangled by Famine Sword and Sickness in Italy with the loss of above a Million of Mortals among them came neither of them to their secret end and reaped no other salary but vain-glory and all Neighbours about suffered by siding to their several humours When the French had broken that puissant party of the House of Austria in Italy he devises new Alliance to attach the Spaniard And first by Mediation of the Venetians they are put upon it to propose a Treaty for Peace between the two Crowns of England and France which was not difficult for us to accept King Charls being more manacled at home by his own Subjects than the French were with outward Forces And so both parties having their several Designs they soon agreed into these Articles 1. That the two Kings shall renew former Alliance inviolable with free Commerce and in this particular such things may be proposed to add or diminish as either part shall judg convenient 2. That for what is past during the late Difference in satisfaction shall be demanded on either side 3. That the Articles of Marriage of the Queen of Great Brittain shall be confirmed and concerning her Domesticks to propose Expedients to be added or diminished 4. All former Alliances between the Crowns shall stand good unless changed by this present Treaty 5. And the two Kings being thus remitted to their former affections shall respectively correspond towards the assistance of their Allies so far as the continuation of affairs and the general good shall permit for procuring of the repose of the Troubles of Christendom 6. Ambassadours on either part to be dispatcht for ratificatication and Residencies in either Court 7. And touching Ships at Sea with Letters of Marcque on either side that for 2. moneths following shall nâ—t prejudice this Agreement Provided to restore eithers Prize after that time upon demand 8. These Articles to be joyntly signed the 14 of this preseâ—t April and instantly then to be consigned into the hands of the Lords Ambassadors of Venice to be delivered to each King aâ—a day prefixt All acts of Hostility to cease and to be Proclamed in both Kingdoms the 20. of May following And in September Sr. Thomas Edmonds Controller of the Kings Houshold and the Marquesse of Chasteauneut were sent reciprocally from either King to take confirmation of these by Oath The State of Spain in no worse condition of retrograde then either of the other finding it some disadvantage upon him for two such Monarchs to piece up their Peace meant to make sure of One. Not that he was so low though Pasquin poasted him up in a Friers habit at Rome as begging friendship A common abuse among Princes being subject to the pleasure of Poets and Painters not so handsom to be chronicled for Authority seeing at that time the House of Austria was high enough the Emperour on the other side by way of equal return elevated on his Throne with a King fallen at his feet and the Eagle loaden with feathers plucking the Crown off his Head but these fancies are the common peoples food But of this arrand we are told came Peter Reuben hither the famous rich Painter of Antwerp Secretary and Gentleman of the Chamber to the Arch-Duchesse of Eugenia Which was but thus King Charles had a minde to dignifie the structure of the Banquettingâ— House at White-Hall with ornament of Painting in the in-side and Reuben sent hither for that designe He having lately finished most excellent Figures and Historical Pieces for the Queen Mothers Palace at Paris The like he did here The Paintings over head in
proofs of his manhood had a strong minde to a second Marriage and as if recovered of his former Impotency to exercise himself upon tryal with Betty Paulet as they called her daughter she was indeed of a Knight extracted from that Nobility of the Marquesse of Winchester but by what venture of descent we need not enquire She was pretty but poor Beauty hath price enough and a great portion would not have him In March he was Married but being mistaken in his own abilities of the Bed having it seems not excercised that kinde of Low Countreys manhood found himself failing and so retired out of Town as to give occasion for others to court his Countess and his advantage of a second Divorce and in truth he was easily drawn thereto by such as hung upon him in former time his Revenue now divided into Families Wife and Women-creatures shared the less to his Dependants Their Design was to watch their Countess who was wanton enough for such a Husband and by a Ladder to her Chamber-window saw so much as forcing the Door Master Udal was found sitting upon her Bed-side very late unbraced with heat as in pursuit of her Sister who in merriment after some questions he had been commanded to kiss her she being shadowed in the Ladies Chamber where he went to seek her but the conclusion was Divorce though her innocency was pleaded and sealed with all possible protestations and so generally believed untill she proved with childe and yet the Earl was so wise as to father it Marry then the Moon-calf must fall at the minute of his own account which no doubt happened just with the birth of the Baby a jolly Boy and so as best right for him to nestle who seized it from the Mother never like to see it long alive nor what became of it we need not doubt But why these his dishonours were not more resented at Court agreeable to his Extraction in a prophetick relation to all King Charls his future mishaps is more of the Authours wonder than I can make of it and concludes that he became the Head of an Army giving the King Battel in a Pitch Fâ—eld partly upon the score of those indignities before which he supposes was charged on the Kings account It was in Anno 1627. Therefore Feoffees were legally intrusted to purchase in the Impropriations with their own and other good mens money and with the profit to maintain a constant preaching Ministery where the Word was wanting They consisted of 4. Divines to perswade the conscience 4. Lawyers for the Conveyances and four Citizens for no other end but their money There was no need of Captains for Captain Michael's Sword was then sheathed There are in England 9284. Parish-churches endowed with Glebe and Tithes But 3845. were either appropriated to the Clergy or impropriated as Lay-fines to private persons which latter these Feoffees endeavoured to redeem and might have done it in fifty years by the large summs soon advanced and no wonder the subtilty was not then discerned for in time the Purchasers would become the prime Patrons for number and greatness of Benefices multiply their dependence and increase non-conformity and therefore the Attorney General Noy exhibited a Bill in the Exchequer to overthrow their Apocrypha incorporatum First Breach of Trust for erecting a Morning Lecture at St. Antholines London the Land of Goshen and not in other places far distant where Souls famished for want of Food Secondly preferred Non-conformists and so their proceedings were censured as dangerous to the Church and State pronounced illegal and dissolved and their money confiscate to the King which yet of late was accounted a pious Project Good men and bad are Examples fit for History the one to follow these to shun And the man of the first rank was Mervin Lord Audley Earl of Castlehaven married to a second Wife the Daughter of the old Countess of Derby and Widow of the Lord Chandos by whom she had a Daughter married to the Lord Audley the Earls eldest Son This Earl upon Petition of his own Son and Heir the Lord Audley was committed in December last and indicted at Salisbury the County of his abode the 25. of March the first day of this year 1631. accused for causing one Skipwith of mean extraction and his Servant advanced by him to great preferment to assist him to ly with his Countess and to cuckold his Son Audley the Earl assisting and to hold his Wife whilest Brodway did ravish her and for acting Sodomy upon Brodway and Fitz Patrick his Servants a strange kinde of hideous monstrous quality in the sin of this Earl enforcing others to that wickedness wherein himself had no temptation for his excuse or inclination to the action which is the begining of sin no fruits or sensual pleasure for the present which is the act in sin no advance or profit in the future which is a reward to a mans self of his sin The uncouth baseness of the Rape the Master to serve the Servants to cuckold himself the highest horridity of a Wittal the Husband to ravish his own Wife nay to commit a Rape upon himself being both one a sin without former President or future belief so monstrous in the manner so execrable in the end The onely man of Nobility of infamous note that suffered judicial Execution by this King for I reckon not the Earl of Strafford under that notion These Crimes are bad enough we need not devise any more that he in Prison impudently told some Lords his whole delight was to damn Souls by inticing men the surest way to effect it which hath no credit and we shall lodg no other upon him but truths for certainly had he said this before his Trial it might have been remembred as all circumstances were then to advance his guilt And it becomes an Historian in dubious relations to admit the most Christian and charitable being more unlawfull to deceive Posterity by feigned narrative than to abuse a Judg by false Witness But of the other he was found guilty by Grand Inquest and so his cause put over to the Kings Bench and his Person sent to the Tower The manner of his Trial for Life was by a Court of High Commission delegated to some principal Person as chief Iudg constituted with a Power as being next to the King In some sort matching the Ephory amongst the Lacedemonians and therefore not to be longer intrusted than for the time of Trial for the business being done he breaks his Staff the Verge of his Power and Authority And Thomas Lord Coventry Lord Keeper of the Great Seal was by Patent of the thirteenth of April 1631. commissioned Lord High Steward of England for the Day being the five and twentieth of April And because it was the first and last Commission of this nature by this King we shall not spare the particular Narrative to rectifie mis-reports of many others herein It was at the
here and my eternal happiness hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose Name and words I conclude Our Father which art in Heaven c. The Petition of the Earl of Strafford unto the Lords before he died To the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in this present Parliament assembled The humble Petition of Thomas late Earl of Strafford sheweth That seeing it is the good will and pleasure of God that your Petitioner is now shortly to pay that dutie which we all ow to our frail nature he shall in all Christian patience and charitie conform and submit himself to your justice in a comfortable assurance of the great hope laid up for us in the mercie and merits of our Saviour blessed for ever Onely he humbly craves to return your Lordships most humble thanks for your noble compassion towards those innocent children whom now with his last blessing he must commit to the protection of Almightie God beseeching your Lordships to finish your pious intentions towards them and desiring that the reward thereof may be fulfill'd in you by him that is able to give above all we are able either to ask or think Wherein I trust the Honourable House of Commons will afford their Christian assistance And so beseeching your Lordships charitably to forgive all his omissions and infirmities he doth very heartily and truly recommend your Lordships to the mercies of our heavenly Father and that for his goodness he may perfect you in every good work Amen Tho Wentworth Some design there was no doubt of delivering the Earl of Strafford by escape as appears by examination of Sir Will. Balfore Lieutenant of the Tower who says he was commanded to receive Captain Billingsley into the Tower with an hundred men for securing of the place and to be under his command but coming thither Balfore opposeth his entrance and therefore the Earl expostulates with him by way of advice of the danger to deny the Kings commands to whom the Lieutenant said that there was a certain discovery of his intended escape by examination of three Women Goodwives of Tower-street that peeping in at his Gallery-doorkey-hole where he was walking with Billingsley they heard him advise therein by ascertaining his Brothers ship to be in readiness which was fallen down on purpose below in the River that they three might be there in twelve hours that if the Fort were but secured for three or four months there would come aid enough and that there was nothing to be thought upon but an escape and much more broken speech to that purpose To which the Earl answered that he had discourse with Billingsley thereabout but meant it as by the Kings authority to be removed to some other Castle and confessed the most of the Womens relation Besides the Lieutenant's examination that the Earl of Strafford sent for him four days before his suffering perswading him to assent to his escape for twenty thousand pounds to be paid and a Mariage of his Daughtâ—r to Balfore's Son And because the memory of this brave man may live for ever read his Character from the King his Master whose distinction concluded his death to be more safe then just I looked says the King upon my Lord of Strafford as a Gentleman whose great abilities might make a Prince rather afraid than ashamed to imploy him in the greatest affairs of State For those were prone to create in him great confidence of undertakings and this was like enough to betray him to great errours and many enemies whereof he could not but contract good store while moving in so high a sphere and with so vigorous a lustre he must needs as the Sun raise many envious exhalations which condensed by a popular odium were capable to cast a cloud upon the brightest merit and integrity Though I cannot in my judgement approve all he did driven it may be by the necessities of times and the temper of that people more than led by his own disposition to any height and rigour of actions Yet I could never be convinced of any such criminousness in him as willingly to expose his life to the stroke of justice and malice of his enemies I never met with a more unhappy conjuncture of affairs than in the business of that unfortunate Earl when between mine own unsatisfiedness in conscience and a necessity as some told me of satisfying the importunities of some people I was perswaded by those that I think wished me well to chuse rather what was safe then what seemed just preferring the outward peace of my Kingdoms with men before that inward exactness of conscience with God And indeed I am so far from excusing or denying that compliance on my part for plenary consent it was not to his destruction whom in my judgement I thought not by any clear Law guilty of death That I never bare any touch of conscience with greater regret which as a sign of my repentance I have often with sorrow confessed both to God and men as an act of so sinfull frailtie that it discovered more a fear of man than of God whose name and place on earth no man is worthie to bear who will avoid inconveniences of State by acts of so high injustice as no publick convenience can expiate or compensate I see it a bad exchange to wound a mans own conscience thereby to salve State-sores to calm the storms of popular discontents by stirring up a tempest in a man 's own bosom Nor hath Gods justice failed in the event and sad consequences to shew the world the fallacie of that Maxim Better one man perish though unjustly than the people be displeased or destroyed In all likelihood I could never have suffered with my people greater calamities yet with greater comfort had I vindicated Strafford's innocencie at least by denying to sign that destructive Bill according to that justice which my conscience suggested to me than I have done since I gratified some mens unthankfull importunities with so cruel a favour And I have observed that those who counselled me to sign that Bill have been so far from receiving the rewards of such ingratiatings with the people that no men have been harassed and crushed more than they He onely hath been least vexed by them who counselled me not to consent against the Vote of mine own conscience I hope God hath forgiven me and them the sinfull rashness of that business To which being in my soul so fully conscious those judgments God hath pleased to send upon me are so much the more welcom as a means I hope which his mercie hath sanctified so to me as to make me repent of that unjust act for so it was to me and for the future to teach me that the best Rule of Policie is to prefer the doing of justice before all enjoiments and the peace of my conscience before the preservation of my Kingdoms Nor hath any thing more fortified my resolution against all those violent importunities which since
party not bound to observe the Articles but to assist the Parliament in defence of the common cause Octob. 16. And by this President they afterwards would not endure any new triall Upon this score of the common cause Mr. Iohn Fountain a Lawyer at London was desired whâ—t he would please to lend who answered That it was against the Petition of Right to answer Yea or No. Whereupon the House of Commons for that contempt in not giving his Answer at all committed him to the Gate-house declaring further the imbecillity of his judgment or positive refraction to draw on others to the like Errour And such as refuse their Contribution of money or plate are disarmed and if in the least measure active in words or perswasion against the Parliament have the brand of Malignancie their persons secured and within a little time after made Delinquents and forfeâ—t all And because the Earl of Essex gave a deep yellow for his colours every Citizens Dame to the Draggle-tail of her Kitchin had got up that colour of the cause untill the Earl of Pembroke and Mountgomerie in a fume with a Parliament Captain swore That his Turdcolour'â— Skarf should not excuse him from Commitment But some not affecting that color set up others in disdain to the Generals which increasing to a Faction some urging of a Design to be distinguished by these Ribands the Parl. declare That such persons as shall be seen to wear them for distinction shall be forthwith committed and further proceeded against as Malignants endeavouring to set Divisions among the people In the Generals Commission the fourth Article is printed and published That whosoever shall return from the King to the Parliaments Armie within ten Days after Publication shall have reception and pardon excepting persons impeached of Delinquencie or Treason or have been eminent Actors against the Parliament and except the Earls of Bristol Cumberland New-castle Rivers and Carnarvan Secretarie Nicholas Endimion Porter Mr. Edward Hide the Duke of Richmond Viscount Newark Viscount Falkland now principal Secretarie of State to the King And thus marshalled in this order The King having sent over the Queen out of the danger of these Distractions into Holland and remaining at the Hague she made application to the Prince of Orange to whose Son the Princess Maria was maried by whose interest she had the fairer means to promote the Kings affairs with the States of the United Provinces for Arms and Ammunition which had been procured by the Lord Digby there and some Officers sent over to the Kings Army The Parliament having knowledg hereof send over Mr. Walter Strickland a Member of the House of Commons their Residenciary with Credential Letters to the States thus To the High and Mighty Lords the States of the United Provinces High and Mighty Lords We are commanded by the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England to signifie unto your Lordships that they have chosen and appointed the Bearer hereof Walter Strickland Esq to repair to your Lordships and to present to you in their Names and in the Name of the whole Kingdom a Declaration and some Propositions and Desires very much importing the maintenance of the Protestant Religion which is the surest Foundation of the safetie and prosperitie of this Kingdom and your State and the ancient amitie between us to the advantage of both desiring your Lordships to give ear to what shall be delivered or propounded to you by him And to expedite your Answer thereunto in such manner as shall stand with your Wisdoms and the due respect of the common good of the State and of your selves which is the earnest desire of Your affectionate Friends and Servants Mandevil Speaker pro tempore for the Lords House William Lenthal Speaker of the House of Commons A Declaration of the Lords and Commons of the Parliament of England to the High and Mighty Lords the States of the United Provinces We the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled taking into serious consideration the meanes of composing the great distempers and combustions begun in this Kingdom which threaten the destruction and ruine of it and of all other Protestant Princes and States have thought good to make this Declaration to the High and Mightie Lords the States of the United Provinces That we under stand by a Letter of the Lord Digby a person fled out of this Kingdom for high Treason That as he often endeavoured by his wicked and malicious counsels to make division between his Majestie and the Parliament and hath been in great part the cause of that miserable and unnatural War which is made against us by his Majestie so he hath laboured by all means in the United Provinces to provide Arms Powder and Ammunition for the fomenting of that War and making it more dangerous to this Kingdom and for this purpose did address himself to the Prince of Orange by whose countenance and help as we are informed by the Lord Digby's own Letters he hath made provision of great quantities of Ordnance Powder Arms and divers other sorts of warlike provision And we are further informed by credible advertisement that the Prince of Orange in favour of the Lord Digby and those other wicked Counsellours and Incendiaries who being joyned together in these mischievous practises against the peace of this Kingdom hath not onely licensed but the better to encourage divers Commanders experienced Officers and Souldiers to resort into this Kingdom in aid of them against the Parliament hath promised to reserve their places for them in their absence and doth cause other provision of the same kinde to be made and prepared to be sent over for their supplie to the great hurt of this Kingdom and the danger of interrupting the most necessarie profitable and long continued amitie between the two States We further desire to let them know that we cannot believe that this is done by any authoritie or direction from their Lordships considering the great help that they have received from this Kingdom when heretofore they lay under the heavie oppression of their Princes and how conducible the friendship of this Nation concurring with the wisdom valour and industrie of their own people hath been to the greatness and power which they now enjoy Neither can we think that they will be forward to help to make us slaves who have been usefull and assistant in making them free-men Or that they will forget that our Troubles and Dangers issue from the same Fountain with their own and that those who are set a work to undermine Religion and Libertie in the Kingdome are the same which by open force did seek to bereave them of both It cannot be unknown to that wise State that it is the Iesuitical Faction here that hath corrupted the counsels of our King the consciences of a greaâ— part of our Clergie which hath plotted so many mischievous Designs to destroy the Parliament and still endeavoureth to divide Ireland from
greatest should not be without one And so a new one was framed engraven thereon the Picture of the House of Commons and Members sitting Reversed the Arms of England and Ireland Cross and Harp Palie And presentlâ— after Mr. Henry Martin a Member without much authority forced an entrance into the Abby Church at Westminister with spoil upon the utensils and ornaments of the Church and broke open two Doors into a private Room near the place where the Regalia Crowns Scepters and other Ensigns of State used at Coronation of their Sovereigns but finding some obstacle that barred his entrance till Mr. Wheeler shewed him the secret that opened the passage to their seizure only prevented for that time by the Earl of Holland and some of the Commons House perswading Mr. Martin to forbear till further pleasure of the Lords concurring which he did by sealing up the Doors His Assistants saying Let us take the Crown and set it upon the Duke of Glocester 's head whom we have with us Tush quoth Martin ye are Fools to talk of Crowns or Kings of which there will be so little use hereafter But after dispute at a Conference the Lords were brought to this Reason That many superstitious things amongst the Regalia were sit to be removed as no longer usefull Whereto one unhappily made a prophetick Reply He doubted the King himself will ere long be some superstitious Monument of decayed Divinity and so thought fit to be removed the King not making the Crown but the Crown the King which being now in their hands they may bestow the Kingdom on whom they please The Earl of Essex hovering about Tame gave Orders about to Buckingham Forces to allarm the Kings Forces some Skirmishes had been on Saturday night Iune 17. and the nex moâ—ning Prince Rupert provokes a Body of Horse to appear early the next morning whom he wasted many Prisoners Captain Sheiffield Son to the Earl of Moulgrave the chiefest but their chief Commander Serjeant Major Gunter shot dead in the place and Mr. Iohn Hambden a principal Member of the fire died a Week after of those wounds he had in this Fight Iune 18. He was a Gentleman of good Descent in Buckinghamshire the great Incendiary from the first of these Troubles setting the Wheel on work in the great Sute of Ship-money against the King and so forward in Junto with the five Members so troublesome to the Kings proceedings then he takes Arms and is made a Colonel for Buckinghamshire whose interest in that County together with his subtilty fairly shadowed by his civil carriage he became the ablest Actor of all though Mr. Pym spake more in the Parliament this man gave best counsel And now he dies on the Bed of Honour being a Souldier but unfortunate and before he had brought his Engines to some end he had buried his Son and Heir and two Daughters and his Grand-childe two onely Sons surviving the one a Criple the other somewhat at like a Lunatick He received his deaths wound in Chalgrave Field the place where he first appeared to draw up his Men to shew himself a Commander in this unhappy War It was before that Captain Hotham had been taken Prisoner and escaped ten Days since from Nottingham thence to Lincoln and recovered Hull so opportunely that together with his Father Sir Iohn they were both seized upon and sent Prisoners to the Parliament and the Commissioner Sir Matthew Bointon for his pains therein took possession of the Town and Command for he coming thither unsuspected being Hotham's Brother in Law and much intrusted makes himself Master of the Magazine and the affections of the Souldiers eâ—e Sir Iohn had espied the practice but then too late he got out to Beverley where he was set upon by his own Souldiers corrupted by Bointon who pursued him back to Hull and at the Town-gate called Beverley the very place where he acted against the Kings person heretofore was himself knocked off his Horse by the But end of a Musket and taken Prisoner seizing hâ—s Wife and Children rifled his House and legally plundered him of all his Treasure which he had raked together in the Ruine and Ransack of his neighbour Subjects to the value of ten thousand pounds sending him and his Son Wife and Children in a Ship Prisoners to the Parliament to the effect of their future sufferings on the Scaffold the first of Ianuary 1644. Thus were the military actions managed this way whilest Sir William Waller was in the West with his whole Body upon the hither end of Lands-down in a place of great advantage whence he sent out a good party of Horse and Foot towards the Cavaliers Sir Bevil Greenvile and Sir Nicholas Slaining two gallant Gentlemen of Cornwall lining the Hedges towards their Champain and there advanced a strong party of Horse under protection of his Musketiers so that some of Greenvile's Horse being drawn out within Musket-shot retired in some disorder towards the Rear of his Foot whereupon the Cornish Foot advanced and bravely beat them out of the Hedges and the former Horse speedily rallying again recovered their ground Then a strong party of Waller's Horse drew into a large Field upon their Adversaries left Wing which were charged by their Horse and intirely routed the Cornish Foot likewise driving theirs from Hedg to Hedg through Woods and down steepy Hills back to their main Body and at last forced them from the brow of a Hill which they had barracadoed and whereon they had planted Cannon for the ground they had was advantageous an high Hill walled behinde and on both sides with Works on the Front the passage up very narrow and dangerous one side Wood the other side Hedges and both lined with Musketiers This ground Waller had got and stood in an intire Body his Foot within the Flank of stone-laid Walls through which he had made places for his Horse to sally being drawn up in Battalia at the Rear of his Foot before the other party Horse and Foot could be drawn up in order Waller charged them with his Horse played so thick with his Cannon and Muskets that he forced them from the Hill which yet was again assaulted twice nay thrice and the fourth time with very great difficulty the Hill was regained which Greenvâ—â—e himself maintained with a Stand of his own Pikes against the power of the others Horse and Foot and Cannon to the acknowledgment of his Gallantry and Honour even by his Enemies where he was unfortunately slain in the Front of his men with his Serjeant Major and Captain Lieutenant dead at his feet and in earnest I have heard it confest with as much Honour as ever was conferred on an Enemy Then the Cavaliers rallied their Horse and drew up their Cannon it growing dark but shot on all sides till Mid-night when their Adversaries stuck light Matches on the Hedges which received Volleys from each part of the Body but in stead
rule as King I was alwaies bred to more modest and I think more pious Principles The consciousnesse to my Spiritual defects makes me more prize and desire those pious assistances which holy and good Ministers either Bishops or Presbyters may afford me especially in these extremities to which God hath been pleased to suffer some of my Subjects to reduce me so as to leave them nothing more but my Life to take from me and to leave me nothing to desire which I thought might lesse provoke their jealousie and offence to deny me then this of having some means afforded me for my Souls comfort and support To which end I made choice of men as no way that I know scandalous so every way eminent for their Learning and Piety no lesse then for their Loialty Nor can I imagine any exceptions to be made against them but only this That they may seem too able and too wel-affected toward me and my service But this is not the first service as I count it the best in which they have forced me to serve my self though I must confesse I bear with more grief and impatience the want of my Chaplains then of any other my servants and next if not beyond in some things to the being sequestred from my Wife and Children since from these indeed more of humane and temporary affections but from those more of heavenly and eternal improvements may be expected My comfort is that in the enforced not neglected want of ordinarie means God is wont to afford extraordinary supplies of his gifts and graces If his Spirit will teach me and help my infirmities in praier reading and meditation as I hope he will I shall need no other either Orator or Instructer The general inquirie was whether now we shall have Peace or a new War Most men imagine the old quarrel at an end but another between Presbyters and Independent We will have Uniformity saies the one and all to submit to the Covenant Liberty of Conscience saies the other and that in his sense is agreeable to the Covenant and Gods Word to back is But as the Quarrel grew high Pamphlets were published for either party Another to settle the brains of either of them or any besides offers the Reconciliation in his advice Intituled The Temple measured wherein are discussed the Questions about Constitution and Government of the visible Church the solution of such questions which he propounds and numbers them all the Objections against the Model of Ecclesiastical policie and particularly there is debated the unity of the Church the Members thereof the form of the Church and Church Government the power of the Church the Officers of the Church and their power The powers of Magistrates about the Church some Church Acts as admission of Members c. Tedious enough and all this set out for the final satisfaction of all differences by that Orthodox Divine the Lecturer at Newbery in New-England Mr. Noyes What a pretty pass we were come unto to fetch our Church-government from the West Indies And although Mr. Symson was silenced by Order of Parliament for dissenting from the Assembly of Divines it was now held fit to Null that Order and Symson admitted and why for his zeal it is said to the glory of God and edification of his Church and so upon this general ground he and others of any strain became admitted to the Pulpit We grow near an end of this year now the 19. of Mar. he Parliament Voting the Modeling of the Army into less Many Garisons dismantled some Forces Disbanded rather to be rid of the men than to spare the expences Much muttering there had been by the Officers and Souldiers very high in the esteem of their own power which increased as the Parliament lessened And therefore the Forces at their own dispose draw near together towards the City of London and Westminster which put the Citizens to advise at their Guid-hall and the whole number in Common Councel conclude of a Petition to either House but both alike To settle the Affairs of this long distracted Kingdom That his Majesty being come nearer in person to his Parliament they hope he will come home to their desires in the Propositions National and solemn League and Covenant That Malignants may be removed out of the City And here say they we should have ceased but that the Army which they hoped ere this should have been disbanded is now drawn so suddenly and quartered neer the Parliament and this City Besides that in this same juncture of time a most dangerous and seditious Petition is set on foot to be presented to this Parliament the Copy thereof is annexed which doth exact this addition from the Petitioners And pray That the Parliament would give command that the Army be forthwith removed and after with all speed to be disbanded the annexed Petition suppressed and that the City may make annual Election of the Members of their own Militia Soft and fair the Citizens ride post 'T is true the Petitioners had thanks of both Houses but they reckon without their Host the Army which we shall hear of to another tune The old Prince Henry of Orange died the 14. of March of a Fever sixty three years of age the most approved Commander in the Christian world and answerable in wisdom for State Government of an infirme body with the disease of the Gout the pain whereof increasing he fell into a Fever His only Son succeeded General and Admiral of the Forces of the united Provinces A faithful friend he had been in the assistance of the King contracted in the Mariage of his Son with the Kings Eldest Daughter and great sums of money and Ammunition had been sent to him in these Civil Wars of England and when he sees the King undone he dies deplored of all leaving his Son the hopefull Issue of such a Father And so we end this year 1646. The Scots Army is gone and left us the Bone to gnaw their Ecclesiastical Presbytery to which Reformation we were forward in forming of our selves This Discipline of Government in the Scotish Kirk had been long time a framing in Scotland according to the Tenets of the Church of Geneva and devised and setled there as afterwards in Scotland by treasonable practices against the power of Magistracie and Soveraignty The Prerogative of a King and the liberty of Subjects are consistent and dependent the one from the other Certainly the Kings power is primarily derived from God for the Subject He to establish good Lawes for Church and State they to obey them And it is true too that the chief of the Church Bishop or Presbyter have a power which the Supream Power hath not in Spiritualibus resting only in their persons But the King is in the External Affairs of the Church to call Synods Assemble Divines for ordering of the Church by Canons and Edicts and he hath a power also to punish the Ministers offending
afterwards recovering that inconvenience he was so constant to himself and over-weaning that his opinions became resolves In all his defects we may more reasonably fix the occasions rather upon others who had their influence from him then upon his own defect for the mis-choice of fit and able persons to be his best and dearest friends proved fatal to him to them and to us all The King left his Queen a miserable disconsolate Lady the Daughter of France and therefore while he suffered she was there supported with their three Sons Charls Prince of Wales Iames Duke of York and Henry Duke of Glocester Princes of high eminent and Heroick vertue 〈◊〉 Two daughters also the one Elizabeth the Relict Princess of Orange the other Mary an Infant all of them are banished Orphanes This Letter came to hand since the Kings death intrusted to the Bishop of London with his blessing to the Prince of Wales To the Prince of Wales Son if these Papers with some others wherein I have set down the private reflections of my conscience and my most impartial thoughts touching the chief passages which have been most remarkable or disputed in my late Troubles come to your hands to whom they are chiesly design'd they may be so far usefull to you as to state your judgment aright in what hath passed 〈◊〉 whereof a pious is the best use can be made and they may also give you some directions how to remedy the present distempers and prevent if God will the like for time to come It is some kind of deceiving and lessening the injury of my long restraint when I finde my leisure and solitude have produced something worthy of my self and usefull to you that neither you nor any other may hereafter measure my Cause by the success nor my judgment of things by my misfortunes which I count the greater by far because they have so far lighted upon you and some others whom I have most cause to love as well as my self and of whose unmerited sufferings I have a greater sense then of my own But this advantage of Wisdom you have above most Princes that you have begun and now spent some years of discretion in the experience of troubles and exercise of patience wherein Piety and all Vertues both Moral and Political are commonly better planted to a thriving as Trees set in Winter then in warmth and serenity of times or amidst those delights which usually attend Princes Courts in times of peace and plenty which are prone either to root up all Plants of true vertue and Honour or to be contented only with some leaves and withering formalities of them without any real fruits such as tend to the publick good for which Princes should alwaies remember they are born and by providence designed The evidence of which different education the holy Writ affords us in the contemplation of David and Rehoboam the one prepared by many afflictions for a flourishing Kingdom the other softned by the unparalleld prosperity of Solomons Court and so corrupted to the great diminution both for Peace Honour and Kingdom by those flatteries which are as unseparable from prosperous Princes as Flies are from fruit in Summer whom adversitie like cold weather drives away I had rather you should be Charls le Bon then le Grand good then great I hope God hath designed you to be both having so early put you into that exercise of his Graces and Giâ—â—â—estowed upon you which may best weed out all vitious inclinations and dispose you to those Princely indowments and employments which will most gain the love and intend the welfare of those over whom God shall place you With God I would have you begin and end who is King of Kings the Sovereign disposer of the Kingdoms of the World who pulleth down one and setteth up another The best Government and highest Soveraignty you can attain to is to be subject to him that the Scepter of his word and Spirit may rule in your heart The true glory of Princes consists in advancing Gods glory in the maintenance of true Religion and the Churches good also in the dispensation of civil power with Iustice and honour to the publick peace Piety will make you prosperous at least it will keep you from being miserable nor is he much a loser that loseth all yet saveth his own soul at last To which center of true happiness God I trust hath and will graciously direct all these black lines of affliction which he hath been pleased to draw on me and by which he hath I hope drawn me nearer to himself You have already tasted of that cup whereof I have liberally drunk which I look upon as Gods Physick having that in healthfulness which it wants in pleasure Above all I would have you as I hope you are already well-grounded and settled in your Religion the best profession of which I have ever esteemed that of the Church of England in which you have been educated yet I would have your own Iudgment and Reason now seal to that sacred bond which education hath written that it may be judiciously your own Religion and not other mens custom or tradition which you profess In this I charge you to persevere as coming nearest to Gods word for Doctrine and to the Primitive examples for government with some little amendment which I have otherwhere expressed and often offered though in vain Your fixation in matters of Religion will not be more necessary for your souls then your Kingdoms peace when God shall bring you to them For I have observed that the Devil of Rebellion doth commonly turn himself into an Angel of Reformation and the old Serpent can pretend new Lights when some mens Consciences accuse them for Sedition and Faction they stop its mouth with the name and noise of Religion when Piety pleads for peace and patience they cry out Zeal So that unless in this point you be well settled you shall never want temptations to destroy you and yours under pretension of Reforming matters of Religion for that seems even to the worst of men as the best and most auspicious beginning of their worst designs Where besides the novelty which is taken enough with the Vulgar every one hath an affectation by seeming forward to an outward Reformation of Religion to be thought zealous hoping to cover those irreligious deformities whereto they are conscious by a severity of censuring other mens opinions or actions Take heed of abetting any Factions or applying to any publick Discriminations in matters of Religion contrary to what is in your judgment and the Churches well settled your partial adhering as head to any one side gains you not so great advantages in some mens hearts who are prone to be of their Kings 's Religion as it loseth you in others who think themselves and their profession first despised then persecuted by you take such a course as may either with calmness and charity quite remove the seeming