Loyalties severe Summons TO THE Bar of Conscience: OR, A Seasonable & Timely Call TO THE People of England, UPON THE Present Juncture of Affairs.
The First Part.

HAVING Acted a long and tedious Part in this World; seen, and been engaged in Various, and Bloody Scenes; and being even grown Gray upon the Stage, I thought I might be Excuse­able, and that it would not be improper for me, if I undertook to Acquaint the World with the several Transactions I have had Prospects of in my time; a Map of which, I suppose will not be altogether Unseasonable in this juncture; seeing the same Methods and Measures are taken and followed, that brought upon Us the late Troubles; and in all Appearance the same or worse Tra­gedies are going to be Played over again. Wherefore I think it is the Duty of every True and Loyal English-Man, to warn, and put his Fellow-Subjects in mind of the Desolations, and Calamities the Na­tion Groaned under, in the late Civil Wars; that We may so Re­gulate all our Actions and Resolutions, as that they may only tend to Union amongst Our selves, and Obedience and Loyalty to Our PRINCE.

THE Devastations and Ruins, the Effusion of Humane Blood, and all the other sad Consequences of Domestick Broiles, are, alas! so well, and sensibly known by this Nation, that it is altogether un­necessary to descant upon them; and therefore, I shall Content my self with Tracing along the Pretexts, and Steps that engaged, and led Us to Our Ruin and Desolation. This perhaps is but too Seasonable at this time, when all seems ready for a general Combusti­on; and that the Storm is seen coming on with that Rage and Fury, [Page 6]that whosoever shall be any wayes Instrumental towards his Coun­tries avoiding [...] will have highly Obliged the whole Kingdom. And I am apt to believe the World will easily pardon a Relation of this Nature, if it may in any wise Contribute towards the Pre­venting of Future Evils: For if a Man, who has been in the most terrible Tempest that even was known, wherein the most part of his Dearest Friends, and Nearest Relations have lost both their Estates and Lives, and all have been in the extreamest Danger; nay, wherein the Captain himself Suffered, the utmost Rigours of Fate, was brought to an unparalelled Tragical End, and the rest of the Ship only Saved, as it were by a Miracle, and by the greatest Providence of GOD: I say, if such a Man, who shall have escaped all these extremities, shall come and tell me, That he sees the Storm gathering in the same Corner or Point, Blown by the same Winds, and Hurried on with the same Fury; and that I shall be inevitably Lost if I continue to Steer on my Course: I shall be so far from being displeased with him, that on the con­trary, I shall Value at that Rate the Obligations I have to him, as to think my self never capable of equalling them with Acknow­ledgements. I must Confess it would be a Vanity in me to Ima­gine, that this Essay or Compendium can have so great, and good an Effect; yet I promise my self it may be of some use, and per­haps a Means towards the Reconciling Our Differences, and the making up Our Breaches, which, who ever brings to pass, raises to himself immortal Monuments of Honour; and renders Us as Neces­sary, and Helpful to Our Friends, and as Dreadful, and Formida­ble to Our Enemies, as We have been of late Neglected, and De­spised by both the One and the Other.

I SHALL begin first with the Introduction to the late King's Mise­ries and Necessities, which was the War the Parliament had engaged His Father in, with the House of Austria, for the R [...]ry of the Palatinate; and which was left Him as a Heavy Incumbrance and Mortgage upon an Estate; and finding His Exthequer Empty, and His Revenues spent and drained, He was forced to take such Cour­ses, and Stoop to such Things, as He would not have done in ano­ther Occasion. His Necessities were still increased by the War, He was not long after Engaged in, for the Defence, and in the Be­half of the Huguenots of France; wherein having failed of those timely and seasonable Succours from His Parliament, as He might Reasonably have promised Himself, in a juncture when so great a Part, and Branch of the Protestant Communion, as was that of France, lay at Stake: He failed of that good Success, that a more ready and willing Relief might perhaps have procured. The Factions now begin, and the publick Mi­nisters Cen­sur'd. This Furnished the Male-contents, and the Promoters of Sedition, with Pretexts of Censoring, and Blaming the Conduct of those at the Helm, of De­manding the Heads of some of the Ministers in Favour, and the Removeal of Others from all Charges and Places of Trust.

THIS Bustle was Attended with loud Cryes, The Bishops for introducing Popery. and Detestations of Popery; and several were Accused of being Promoters, and A­bettors of it. The Bishops, and others of the Clergy of the Church [Page 7]of England, were not free from this Aspersion; but were said to be of the Party, and joyned their Endeavours with those, who had a mind, and designed to set up the Roman Catholick Religion in this Kingdom. This helped to nourish, and spread abroad Jealousies and Distrusts, occasioned Distractions and Consternations, and gave deep Root to Dissention and Rebellion. But these Promoters of Mischief did not content themselves with Stigmatizing the Clergy, and the Chief Ministers of State; for they endeavoured to insinuate into the People underhand, that the Crown it self was Popishly Affected; The Crown it self Popishly Affected. and that it did favour, and encourage the Growth of that Religion; That it Aimed at Arbitrary Government; Arbitrary Go­vernment, &c. and that the Subjects were to be Deprived of their Priviledges. The House of Commons Daily found out New Grievances, drew up Remonstrances, Priviledges of Parliament Cryed out for. and Cryed out against most of the Actions of the King and his Ministers, as con­trary to the priviledges of Parliament. But notwithstanding all these Artifices, and Contrivances to set the Nation on a Pare, they would never have Gained their point, had they not found the Scots Aim­ing the same way; being willing to be Instruments for the putting in Execution their Execrable Designs: Whereupon they Invited them underhand into England. The Scots Rebel. The Scots (a Hungry, and Poor Nation, ever ready to be upon the Wing on such Occasions;) Accepted the Offer, came in Swarmes, full of Hopes, and with fair prospects of Riches and Booty: The King Raises an Army to Oppose them. They Seized upon the best Towns of the more Northern Parts of England. But the King having drawn a Considerable Army together, Marched to York to Oppose them; and his Forces being much more Considerable than the Scots, would certainly have Routed them, had they not Tampered, and Insinuated into the English, that their Ruine would be certainly attended, or followed by the Oppression of them themselves; and they once Subdued, the King would be enabled to use His Eng­lish Subjects as he thought fit; by which Intelligence and Correspon­dence it was Evident, that the English had no mind to Fight, though their Army was much Stronger than the Scots; A Treaty held. whereupon by the Mediation of some Persons, a Treaty of Peace was begun, and soon Finished; Wherein it was agreed, that His Majesty should Pub­lish a Declaration; whereby all should be confirmed that His Com­missioners had promised in His Name, that a General Assembly and Parliament be Held at Edenburgh in a short time. And Lastly, that upon Disbanding their Forces, Dissolving their Counsels, and Restoring the King to His Forts and Castles, &c. The King was to Recal His Fleet and Forces, and make Restitution of their Goods, since the Breach.

NOW, that which made the Scots so ready to undertake this Expedition, was not only a prospect of Gain and Plunder; but the Fears they were in, of losing their Darling, Presbitery, made them take Arms, and Spirited them into this Rebellion: The King en­deavours to in­troduce the Li­turgy into the Kirk of Scot­land. For the King in Pursuance of His Father's Design of Establishing the Common-Prayer in Scotland, as it was in England, did Endeavour to introduce the Liturgy into practice in that Kingdom. But the Nobility and Gen­try, having since the first Reformation of Scotland from Popery, thrown [Page 8]out the Bishops, and shared their Estates among them, by the Insti­gation of John Knox the great Presbyterian, John Knox a great Pres­byterian. were afraid that if they were again Re-established, and Recovered their former Power and Reverence; they would likewise quickly find the means of procu­ring again their Antient Estates and Revenues. For the preventing of which, they thereupon spread abroad Discontents and Fears, fo­ment Jealousies and Distractions, and Engage the Clergy on their side; who were generally inclined to Knox's Discipline, and the Sove­raignty which they had for some time enjoyed under the Go­vernment of Presbitery; The Lyturgy, and Episcopal Government Termed Pope­ry. the Clergy Influence the People, and Ter­rify them with the Danger of Popery (for so they Termed the Li­turgy, and the Government by Bishops.) By these means and pre­texts, they allured the People into a Rebellion, notwithstanding all the Care that was taken by those at the Helm, to prevent it; and the Confederates entred into a Solemn League and Covenant, The Solemn League and Co­venant. and oblig'd themselves to a Mutual Defence against all persons whatsoe­ver, not excepting the King himself; and then they begun an Actu­al War; An Actual War follows. Raised Men and Money, Seized His Majesties Armes, Ma­gazines, Castles, Forts, and Walled Towns; and all this was done for Conscience Sake. But to avoid becoming Horrible, and Abomina­ble in the Eyes of all the World, by being called Traitors and Re­bels, Tho Varnished with a preten­ded Design for Petitioning, &c they Varnished, and Termed all these Preparations and Paces towards a Rebellion, a Design of Petitioning their Soveraign. But the King not able to bear His being Affronted at this Rate, does likewise Arm to Defend His Crown, The King Raises an Army to go against the Scots. and the Lives, and Estates of His Subjects here; and Recover the Rights and Prerogatives they had Usurped in that Kingdom. But notwithstanding the Justice of His Cause, and the Gallantry, and Vigour of His Army; when He came in Sight of the Enemy, He was moved out of a Compassion, and a Desire to Save so many Lives, both of His Loyal, and Rebel­lious Subjects, A Treaty is held a Second time. to Condescend to a Treaty; which He was likewise perswaded to, by some of the English Nobility, that were Secret Friends to the Scots.

DURING this Treaty, the Factious Spirits of the Two Nations, had by Feeling one anothers Pulses, found their Tempers to be so alike, and their Inclinations so sutable, that they easily, and quickly a­greed of the Measures for a future Correspondence; and of the means of putting in Execution their Designs: Which however would have been impossible for them to have Effected, had they had the least Sense of Religion, Loyalty, Honour, and Honesty. But the Scots had no sooner seen the English Army Disbanded, and the People Dissa­tisfied with the Ill Success of that Expedition, than that (having Broken almost as soon as Signed, The Pacifica­tion broken, and the Scots Raise another Army. every Article of that Pacificati­on) they Raised a New Army to Petition withal; which they were Invited to, by their Brethren or Presbyterian Party here; who En­couraged them to this Invasion, by assuring them, That the King was not in a Capacity to make Head against them, nor could be without Calling a Parliament, wherein they would be sure to find so many Friends in Both Houses, that nothing should be done there, to their Disadvantage: Which proved but too True; for the King [Page 9]having Summoned a Parliament, and proposed to them the Raising of Money, for the suppressing the Insolence of the Scots; some of the Members began to Question the Grounds, and Justice of the War, which they were Resolved to be Satisfied in, before Moneys should be Raised. In short, the Scottish Party had that Influence in this Parliament, as to put it to Question, Whether the Grievan­ces of the People, or the King's Supply should first be Considered? And tho the King told that Parliament; That if they would Supply Him so, as to Suppress the Insolence of the Scots, He would Acquit His Claim to Ship-Money, and give Satisfaction to their Just Demands: They growing still more sensible by these Proposals of the Neces­sities the King was in, instead of making such Returns as so Gra­cious an Offer merited: Voted, 1. The Clearing the property of the Subject. 2. The Establishing the True Religion. And 3. The Priviled­ges of Parliament: and then fell into such Extravagances, that the Privy-Council Advised their Dissolving; The Parlia­ment's Dissol­ved. being assured the Heats of the House of Commons were so great, that they intended that very Day to have Voted against the War with Scotland; where­by the King would have been in a worse Condition, than before their Sitting. Yet though the City of London refused to lend Mo­ney to the King; the Gentry contributed indifferently freely, so that with their Assistance He raised a Second Army; A Second Ar­my raised by the King. and having with much Difficulty, and the great Murmuring of the Presbyte­rian Party, drawn them together as far as York; He designed to have Marched in person to the Borders of Scotland: But the ill suc­cess My Lord Conoway had, broke all His Measures, for Lesley had no sooner forced His passage over the River Tine, and faced New-Castle, where the King had reposited His Magazine of Arms, and Ammunition, and His Stores of Provision for His Army; but that the Gates were opened to them, they having more Friends than Enemies in the Town. The Scots Declaration. Hereupon the Scots declare the Intention of the Army to be, Not to lay down Armes, till the Reformed Religi­on was setled in both Nations upon sure Grounds; and the Causes, and Abettors of their present Troubles (that is Arch-Bishop Laud, and the Earl of Strafford) were brought to publick Justice in Parliament. Whereupon Twelve English Peers Petitioned the King for the Sit­ting of the Parliament; Some Lords, and the City, &c. do Petition for the sitting of the Parliament. and the City of London, and several other parts of the Kingdom did the like; all centring in this, that No­thing else could relieve the pressures of the Nation. And now the King condescends to their Desires, and Summoned a Parliament, A Parlia­ment's called. which instead of redressing Grievances, defending Liberty, Property, and Laws, Trampled all things both Civil and Sacred under their Feet, and the People found at length, that instead of the Arbitrary Govern­ment, they had been so much afraid of, they had brought upon themselves the Rankest Tyranny.

THIS Parliament was no sooner met, than that they fell to Im­peaching the Earl of Strafford, Arch-Bishop Laud, The Earl of Strafford, and Arch-Bishop Laud im­peach't with se­veral others. several of the Jud­ges, and other Ministers of State. But tho the Earl had been fore­warned of their Designs against Him; yet relying upon His Great Innocence, and His Courage rendring Him uncapable of Fear, He [Page 10]could not be perswaded to with-draw till the Storm was over, least His Flight might be interpreted as Guilt, and should blast His Sovereign's, as well as His own Reputation. Upon this Impeachment He is Sequestred from the House of Lords; and likewise, His Friend Sir George Ratcliffe is sent for out of Ireland, by a Ser­jeant at Arms: In the mean time the Bishop of Lincolne, who was Prisoner in the Tower, is Released, who had been Committed there for some dishonourable Speeches that He had spoken of the King; and having endeavoured by some indirect means to Appear Innocent; He had been therefore Sentenced Ten Thousand Pounds Fine to the King, Imprisonment in the Tower during Pleasure, to be suspended Ab Officiis & Beneficiis, from His Bishoprick, and the Profits thereof, and to be referred to the High Commission Court, as to what con­cerned them. And likewise, Mr. Pryn, Mr. Burton, and Dr. Bast­nick, who had received a very just Censure for Writing against the Bishops, and their Government (they being all Three Sentenced to pay Five Thousand Pounds apiece Fine to the King, to lose their Ears in the Pillory, and to be Imprisoned; which they accordingly Suf­fered) were now brought in great Triumph to London; and De­cember the Third, they presented their Petition against their Prose­cutors.

THEN the Commons fell to Voting Ship-Money, with the Opi­nion of the Judges thereupon, to be Illegal, who with Noy (then esteemed the Oracle of the Law) had assured the King of the Le­gality of it; and a Charge of High-Treason was ordered to be drawn up against Eight of them; and they resolved to begin with the Lord-Keeper Finch. Petitions from the City against Church Disci­pline and Cere­monies, &c. About that time an Alderman, and some Hun­dreds of Citizens presented a Petition, Subscribed by Fifteen Thou­sand Hands, against Church-Discipline, and Ceremonies; and a while after the House of Commons Voted, That the Clergy in a Synod or Convocation, The Com­mons Vote thereupon have no Power to make Canons or Laws without Par­liaments; and that the Canons are against the Fundamental Laws of this Realm, the King's Prerogative, the Property of the Subject, the Right of Parliaments, and tend to Faction and Sedition.

And hereupon a Charge was ordered to be drawn up against Arch-Bishop Laud, as the Principal framer of those Canons, and o­ther Delinquencies; which Impeachment was seconded by another from the Scotch Commissioners; Arch-Bishop Land im­peach't, and sent to the Black-Rod. upon which, He was Committed to the Black-Rod; and Ten Weeks after, Voted Guilty of High-Trea­son, and sent to the Tower: The Scots likewise, prefer a Charge against the Earl of Strafford then in Custody, demanding Justice against them both, Five Articles against Sir George Rat­cliffe. as the great Incendiaries, and Disturbers, both of Church and State; and Sir George Ratcliffe (the Earl's Bosom Friend) had Articles also drawn against Him to this purpose:

THAT He had Conspired with the Earl, 1.to bring Ireland under an Arbitrary Government, and to Subvert the Fundamental Laws, and to bring an Army from Ireland to subdue the Subjects of England. That He perswaded the Earl to use Regal Power, and to deprive the Subjects of their Liberties and Properties. 2. That He countenanced Pa­pists, 3. and built Monasteries, to alienate the Affections of the Irish from [Page 11]the English. That He withdrew the Subjects of Scotland from their King: And Lastly, That to preserve Himself, and the Earl of Strafford, 4. He laboured to Subvert the Liberties, 5.and Priviledges of Parliament in Ireland.

THE Lord Keeper Finch was the next Person designed to be Censured; Lord-Keeper Finch Voted a Traitor. and notwithstanding a Speech He made in His own Vindication, He was Voted a Traitor upon several accounts; but foreseeing the Storm, to avoid the Danger, He withdrew Beyond-Sea.

THE House of Commons, having by these means removed their Enemies, were preparing a Bill for a Triennial Parliament; Petitions pro­cured for a Tri­ennial-Parlia­ment. to pro­mote which, they procured Petitions to come from several Places, One whereof was Subscribed with Eight Hundred Hands, aiming principally to destroy Episcopacy; which the King took Notice of: One with 800. Hands. and calling Both Houses together, tells them, Of their Slowness, and the Charge of Two Armies in the Kingdom; and that he would Have them avoid Two Rocks, the One about the Hierarchy of the Bishops, which He was willing to Reform, but not alter; the Other concerning Frequent Parliaments, which He liked well, but not to give His Power to Sheriffs and Constables; and upon their Remon­strances against the Toleration of Papists; the King assured them, The King pro­tests an Aver­sion to Popery. that the increase of Popery and Papists was extreamly against His Mind; and that He would use all possible means for the Restrai­ning of it.

DURING the Five Months the Scots had Quartered in England, a Cessation having been Concluded at Rippon; yet the full Paci­fication was reserved for London, and the Commissioners of both Par­ties, fat there to hear the Demands of the Scots, and to make An­swer thereunto. The Scotch Armies great Charge 514128. l 9. s Whereupon the Scots presented the great account of their Charges, which was Five Hundred Fourteen Thousand, One Hundred Twenty Eight Pounds Nine Shillings, besides the Loss of their Nation, which was Four Hundred and Forty Thousand Pounds. This Reckoning startled the English Commissioners, The Loss of Scotlands Charges 440000. till the Scots told them, they did not give in that Account as expecting a Total Re­paration of their Charges and Losses; but were content to bear a part of it, hoping for the rest from the Justice, and Kindness of England. These Demands met with some Oppositions: However, Moneys were raised at the present, from the City of London, for the supply of both the Northern Armies, as the Parliament had done once before.

MUCH about this time, Four Members of the House of Commons delivered a Message to the Lords, of a Popish Design of levying an Army of Fifteen Thousand Men in Lancashire, and Eight Thousand in Ireland; and that the main Promoters thereof, were the Earls of Strafford and Worcester.

THEN they fell to Accuse Sir Robert Berkly (One of the Jud­ges about Ship-Money) of High-Treason; Sir Robert Berkley ac­cused of High­Treason. The Act pas­sed for a Tri­ennial-Parlia­ment. and Committed him Pri­soner to the Black-Rod. About the same time the King passed that Act for a Triennial Parliament; and that they might know how much He valued this great Favour, He told the Two Houses, That [Page 12]hitherto they had gone on in those things which concerned themselves, and now He expected they should proceed upon what concerned Him.

THE King likewise signed then the Bill of Subsidies; The Bill of Subsidies like­wise passed. which so generally pleased them, that Sir Edward Littleton Lord-Keeper, was ordered to return the Humble Thanks of both Houses, to His Ma­jesty at White-Hall. Arch-Bishop Land Commit­ted to the Tower for High-Trea­son. Presently after, the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury having been Accused of High-Treason by the Commons, was Com­mitted to the Tower: and now Episcopacy it self was called in Que­stion, and notwithstanding several learned and weighty Speeches were made in the Defence of it; The Bishops outed from Par­liament-Power, Judicial or Temporal. the Commons Voted, that No Bi­shop should have any Vote in Parliament, nor any judicial Power in the Star-Chamber, nor be concerned in any Temporal Matters.

THEN began the Trial of the Earl of Strafford, which after it had lasted some Weeks; The Earl of Straffords Trial. and all the Evidence against Him not amounting to so much as to be Legally capable to take away His Life (had they gone the antient Legal way to work of Trying Peers) His Enemies be-thought themselves of a New Expedient to take off His Head, despairing of ever effecting their Designs as long as He assisted at the Helm; they had therefore procured the Par­liament of Ireland, to Prosecute Him there also, as Guilty of High­Treason. Whereupon a Bill was brought into the House of Com­mons, to attaint Him of Accumulative High-Treason; and tho it passed that House with a kind of surprize, yet it so opened the Eyes of several, who before had been His violent Enemies, that they became His Advocates, tho this made them lose that Kindness, E­steem and Favour, which that House, and the People before had had for them. And the Lords considering how much it concerned them, and their Posterity; and that it might come to be their Own Case, were not generally so Zealous and eager for a President, that might be of such dangerous Consequence: But the Factious Spirits (know­ing that as long as His Head was upon His Shoulders, it would be impossible for them to Compass their Designs) procured, and stirred up the Rabble in a most insolent and tumultuary manner, The Rabbles Tumult, and Madness a­gainst the Earl, &c. to come down to the Parliament Houses, and Cry for Justice. It was in vain for the Lords to Complain of the Force that was offered, and the violation of the Freedom of Parliament: The Commons took no Notice of it; insomuch, that the Mobile being hereby encou­raged, proceeded to that point of Insolence, as to post up such Members of the House of Commons, as had Voted against the Bill of Attainder; and Stigmatizing them with the Name of Straffordians, as they did likewise to the Lords, who had done the same, threat­ning, that these, and All other Enemies of the Common-Wealth should Perish with Him; bawling out, Justice and Execution; nay, One of the Rabble was heard to say, If we have not the Lieute­nant's Life, we will have the King's. The Lords being thus Ter­rified, absented themselves from the House, insomuch, that there was not half the Number when the Bill passed; and of those then present, but Seven more for it, than those that were against it. The King used His utmost endeavours to overcome the Difficul­ties of signing the Bill: But at length (through the importunities [Page 13]of those who were continually telling him, how requisite it was for Him to please the People, and perpetually Alarmed Him with the Apprehensions of an eminent Rebellion; but most especially by the generous Request of the Earl Himself, who thus concluded in a Letter to the King; (Sir, The Earl of Strafford's Letter to the King. To set Your Majesties Conscience at Liberty, I do most humbly beseech You, for the preventing of such Mis­chiefs, as may happen by Your Refusal to pass the Bill; by this means to remove (Praised be God, I cannot say this Accursed, but) this Unfortunate thing, forth of the way, towards that blessed Agreement which God I trust shall for ever Establish between You and Your Subjects. My Con­sent herein shall more acquit You to God, than all the World can do besides; to a willing Man there is no Injury done. I say, The Bill pas­sed by Com­mission. principal­ly by this Generous Request, His Majesty was prevailed upon to pass it by Commission; and therein to do an Action contrary to the Sen­timents of His own Conscience; and which, as Himself tells Us, Lay heavy upon Him to His last Breath.

HE gave likewise at the same time another Commission to seve­ral Lords, to pass another Bill for continuing the Parliament, A Bill passed for the Parlia­ments sitting, during their own Pleasure. during the pleasure of both Houses; which Act of His, was the main Foun­dation of our Subsequent Ruine, and the Chief Engine the Male­contents made use of, to bring upon the Kingdom, those Desola­tions and Horrous that so long Afflicted it; tho He designed it, as a Means to Re-instate Himself in the Affections of His People; and to remove the very Root of all those Fears and Jealousies, which are so uneasy both to Prince and People. But what were the Re­turns they made to all these Unparalelled Acts of Grace, and Con­descentions to please His People: they made Great Vows indeed, and Protestations of their Loyalty, Duty, and Sincerity of their Inten­tions, for the Good of the King and Kingdom; and that their main Aim was to render Him the Most Glorious Prince that ever sat up­on the English Throne; but how different their Designs were from their Words, the Sequel made but too Apparent.

THE Fall of that Great Man the Earl of Strafford, so startled se­veral other of the Principal Officers of State, Many princi­pal Officers re­sign their Pla­ces upon the Earl of Straf­ford's Death. that many of them re­signed their Places: About the same time, some Discontents arose between the Parliament, and the English Army in the North, but a while after, both Armies were Disbanded. The payment of Ton­nage and Poundage, had been much Questioned since 1628. But now the King, at the request of the Commons; was content to re­linguish His Right to it; and afterwards passed a Bill for Pole-Mo­ney, and two others for putting down the Star-Chamber, and High-Commission-Courts. And Four Dayes after, the English, and Scoth Armies were Disbanded, the King went towards Scotland, not­withstanding all the endeavours, and allegations of the Presbyterian Faction in England to hinder that Journey: But seeing the King resolute to keep His Word with the Scots, being unwilling to dis­oblige them, who seemed Zealous for His Majesties Presence among them; they used their utmost Efforts to obtain a Vice-Roy (a Crea­ture of their own) who in the King's absence, might give the Royal-Assent to such Acts as they had then in Hand: But upon His Ma­jesties [Page 14]Assurances that His stay there should be very short; this hopeful Project was strangled in the Birth.

THE King was received in Scotland with great Testimonies of Affection by that Nation, His Majesty goes for Scot­land. and Conferred several Places of Honour and Power upon divers of them; confirming likewise, the Treaty between the two Nations by Act of Parliament, assenting to what­ever they offered; and indeed, passed so many Acts of unparalelled Bounty, Grace, and Condescention, as extorted from them the Revi­val, and Confirmation of an Act of their Parliament, which they caused to be solemnly published throughout the Realm, The Scots Parliament publish a Loyal Act. That it should be damnable, and detestable Treason in the highest Degree, for any of the Scots Nation conjunctly or singly to levy Arms, or any Military For­ces, upon any Pretext whatsoever without the King's Royal Commission. But the Presbyterians, as if their Tenets, and Consciences were fuller of Abominations, than the Romanists and Jesuits, did with as little Tenderness of Conscience, not long after violate this promise, as if no such thing had ever been made; and have made it appear to all the World, that No Laws, not even of their own making, have any Obligation or Power over them, to restrain them from a tempting opportunity to Rebel.

DURING His Majesties abode in Scotland, The Rebellion in Ireland. there broke out in Ireland, a most horrible and notorious Rebellion; and which was managed with such Secresy, that it was not discovered till the Night before it was to have been put in Execution; The great Massacre of 200000. which was in divers Places carried on with such Fury, that Two Hundred Thousand English Men, Women, and Children, were in a short time bar­barously Murdered by all manner of most Cruel Torments that their Devilish Minds could invent. Many were the Conjectures about the Occasion of this Conspiracy; but tho the Parliament endea­voured all they could to asperse the Reputation, and blast the Ho­nour of His Sacred Majesty, and to that intent charged Him with that Rebellion; whereas indeed, they themselves had principally occasioned that Rebellion, by opposing, and refusing to Consent to the Transportation of those Forces, which His Majesty had Gran­ted to the King of Spain. For at the Disbanding of the Irish Army, He had engaged the Word and Honour of a King to the Three Spanish Ambassadours, here then at this Court, that they should have the Liberty to Transport such Troops of the Irish Nation, as were willing to take Service under their Master; and accordingly they Contracted not only with the Officers and Souldiers; but had advanced Money, and hired Ships for their Transportation. But this being represented to the Parliament, tho the Lords seemed in­c [...]mable to comply with it; yet the Commons, who industriously opposed whatever His Majesty pretended to do without their Ad­vice, absolutely refused to give their Consent; and framed I know not what Chimaera's of danger; and in Fine, positively prohibited The passing of any English or Irish into the Service of any Forreign Prince.

FROM hence it came to pass, that many of those People be­ing of Desperate Fortunes, fell into Desperate Designs; and being [Page 15]Animated and Spirited, both by their Religion, and the Traditional Animosity against the English, and more especially the Scots, whom they consider as Invaders, Robbers, and Incroachers of their Antient, and Native Right; they were easily perswaded, and drawn into a Conspiracy, rather than starve. Whereas had the Parliament given them leave to have spent their ill humours, and lives in Forreign Wars, they might probably have prevented whole Rivers of Blood, that was inhumanely spilt, and have saved all that Treasure that was expended in reducing that Kingdom from one Rebellion to a­nother.

BUT by this means the Male-contents here at Home got this advantage by that Rebellion, which they had been long Aiming at, as to Arm all their Factions, The Factions seize on the Guards, &c. during the King's Absence in Scotland. and in His Majesties absence to do all the Acts of Soveraign Authority. And now they took actually the Guards into their Service, which they had Voted for before, and appointed Officers to Command them; and to Exercise, and Discipline the Raw and unexpert Militia of the Countries about Lon­don, without so much as giving the least Notice of all this to His Majesty, or expecting His Royal-Assent.

THE King being in Scotland, when He first received an account of all that had happened in Ireland, Sir James Stuart sent for Ireland. dispatched Sir James Stuart with Instructions to the Lords of the Privy-Councel there; and sent them by Him all the Money His present Stores would supply. He likewise moved the Parliament of Scotland, as being the nearest for their Assistance; but they Excused it, because Ireland was a Dependant of the Crown of England: but if the State of England would use any of their Men for that Service, they would make propositions in order to it.

THE King finding His stay to be longer than He thought, left the whole business of Ireland to the Parliament, which without staying for His leave, they had took to Themselves; and had in­deed declared a speedy and vigorous Assistance, and Voted Fifty Thousand Pounds for a present supply. About which time, the King returned out of Scotland; The King Re­turns to Lon­don from Scot­land. and was Entertained and Feasted at London, and from thence Conducted to White-Hall: After which, the King Treated several of the Brincipal Citizens at Hampton-Court, where divers of the Aldermen had the Honour of Knight-Hood.

THEN the King Summons both Houses together, and tells them, A Parliament is called. ‘That He had staid in Scotland longer than He expected; yet not Fruitlesly, for He had given full Satisfaction to that Nation; but cannot choose but take notice of, and wonder at the unex­pected Distractions He finds at Home; and then recommends to them the State of Ireland:’ Next He publishes a Proclamition for Obedience to the Laws; and first, concerning Religion, and the per­formance of Divine Service, without innovation or abolishing of Rites and Ceremonies. About Two Months after which, His Majesty makes another Speech to them, and Conjures them by all that is Dear to Him or Them, to hasten the Business of Ireland. But notwithstanding this, and all the Noise and Out cry that was made of the Cruelties of the Irish Rebellion, they prepared their Succours [Page 16]but very slowly; and tho His Majesty pressed them with repeated instances to assist vigorously the Protestant Party against the Popish Rebels; The Irish Re­bellion laid up­on the King. yet they used their endeavours to place the Odium of that Conspiracy to the King's account; insomuch, that one of their Members said in a Formal Speech at a Conference with the Lords, That several who had passed into Ireland by His Majesties immediate warrant, were at the Head of the Rebellion; which Speech, the House of Commons ordered to be Printed; and tho His Majesty cleared Himself of the Scandal, yet instead of obtaining a Reparation, they publickly justified the Member (who was Pym) for what He had spoken. Besides, instead of taking into Consideration the bleeding Condition of Ireland, notwithstanding all the indefatigable Zeal and Pains His Majesty had taken to preserve the Protestant Religion, and the Peace of the Kingdom; they welcomed Him presently after His Return from Scotland with a large Remonstrance, The Parlia­ments Remon­strance. wherein they en­deavoured to make appear, that there was a Design on Foot, to introduce to this Kingdom, Popery and Arbitrary Government; and laid all the Misfortunes of the Reign, to the Crowns Account, not­withstanding they themselves had occasioned them; and His Ma­jesty having made a Gracious Answer to their Petition, that was as a Prologue to their Remonstrance, He issued out a Declaration to His Subjects by way of Answer to the Remonstrance; The King's Answer. the Sum of which was, ‘That He thought He had given sufficient Satisfaction to His Peoples Fears and Jealousies, concerning Religion, Liberty, and Civil Interests, by the Bills which He had passed this Par­liament; desiring that Misunderstandings might be removed on ei­ther side; and that the bleeding Condition of Ireland might per­swade them to Unity, for the Relief of that Unhappy Kingdom.’

BUT instead of Complying with His Majesty, who offered to raise Ten Thousand Volunteers for Ireland, if the Commons would undertake to Pay them; and issued out a Proclamation against the Irish, declaring, Those that were in Arms, with all their Adherents, and Abettors, The Apprenti­ces Rife, and go to White-Hall and Westmin­ster. to be Rebels and Traitors: They Caused the Appren­tices of London to go in an Insolent, Tumultuous, Riotous manner to White-Hall and Westminster; and the King being informed, That One of the Lords, and Five of the House of Commons had Corre­spondence with the Scots, and Countenanced the late City Tumults; He thereupon ordered, The King's Order. their Trunks, Studies, and Chambers to be Sealed up, and their Persons Seized; the former of which was done, but they kept too good Intelligence about His Majesty to be Sur­prized; and having timely Notice, they absented themselves from the House; The Com­mons Vote a­gainst the put­ting it in Exe­cution. whereupon the Commons Voted the same day, ‘That if any Persons shall attempt to Seize the Persons, or Papers of any Parliament Men, such Members shall require the Aid of the Constable to Secure such Persons, till further order of the House; and that it is Lawful for any Person to Assist the said Members; and that the said Members may stand upon their Guard, and make Resistance according to the Protestation for Defence of Priviledges of Parliament.’

HEREUPON the King charges the Lord Kimbolton, and the Five Members with several Articles; and acquaints Both Houses, The Lord Kim­bolton, and five Members Impeached of High-Treason by the King. That He did intend to prosecute them for High-Treason; and requi­red, That their Persons might be Secured. The Day after, the King went to the House of Commons; and sitting in the Speaker's-Chair, He viewed the House round, and perceived the Birds He aimed at were flown; for having Warning, they had with-drawn into Lon­don: Whereupon He tells them, That He came to look for those Five Members, whom He had Accused of High-Treason, and was re­solved to have them where-ever He found them; and expected to have them sent to Him, as soon as they should come to the House: But would not have them think, that this Act of His was any Violation of Parliament.

THOUGH the King took only the Palsgrave with Him, The King's coming in per­son to the House of Commons, is Voted a Breach of their Privi­ledge, and Scan­dals raised, &c. and the Gentlemen of His Ordinary Retinue; Yet this Act of the King's, was so highly resented by the House, that the next Day the Com­mons voted it a Breach of Priviledge; and Scandals were raised in the City, that He intended Violence against the House of Commons, and came thither with Force to Murther several Members; and used Threatning Speeches against the Parliament: With which the City was so possessed, that unusual Guards and Watches were set, as if some desperate Assault were to be made upon the City. And then the Houses publish a Declaration; that whosoever shall Arrest any Member of Parliament by Warrant from the King only, is guilty of the Breach of Priviledges of Parliament: And likewise, That all those who attended the King when He came to demand the Five Mem­bers, were guilty of a Traiterous Designe against the King and Par­liament; That the Proclamation for Apprehending and Imprisoning the said Members, was False, Scandalous, and Illegal; and not of Va­lidity enough to hinder them from Attending the House: And that the Publishing of the several Articles of High-Treason, was a Breach of Priviledge; wherefore they intreat His Majesty to discover the Names of those Informers, and Evil Counsellors; declaring all such Persons, to be Publick Enemies to the State.

AND now, what they had been so long aiming at, came to pass; for Petitions came crowding from all Parts, to put the King­dome in a Posture of Defence, (as they termed the Arming of Their Party, and Dis-arming all Those whose Loyalty obliged them to ad­here to the King.) And though His Majesty, before this unlucky Accident happened, out of a Transcendant Goodness, The Earl of Warwick made Vice-Ad­miral in the Room of Sir John Pen­nington. Sir Thomas Glemham Re­moved, & Sir John Hotham made Gover­nour of Hull. upon their Desires, dis-placed Two Lieutenants of the Tower, committed the Fleet to the Earl of Warwick, as Vice-Admiral, removing Sir John Pennington; and put out Sir Thomas Glemham from the Government of Hull, and put it into the Hands of Sir John Hotham; who both unfortunately to himself, and the whole Kingdom, made His Ma­jesty an ill Requital for His Trust: But still this was not Satisfa­ctory; and though He had granted them all they could have de­fired, they would hardly have been contented.

AND now, such Tumults and Numbers of the Rabble, dayly flocked to Westminster and Whitehal; and being Countenanced by [Page 18]the Impeached Members, and their Adherents, grew so Insolent, that the King doubting of their Intentions, The Tumults, & Illegal Pro­ceedings of the Commons, make the King retire to Ham­pton-Court. thought fit to with­draw to Hampton-Court, taking with Him the Queen, Prince, and Duke of York; where His Retinue and Guards was soon considera­bly Augmented by the Accession of the Gentry from all Parts.

THE next Day, the Five Members were Conducted in Tryumph to Westminster, The 5. Mem­bers brought to the Parlia­ment in Great Tryumph, &c. by great Numbers of the Citizens and Seamen, with Hundreds of Boats and Barges, with Guns in them; shouting, hollow­ing, and Insulting, as they passed by White-hall; and at Westminster, welcomed them with an Harangue, as if they came from perform­ing some Glorious Action, in the Service of the Nation.

AND now the Commons move the Lords to joyn with them to Petition the King to leave the Militia at their Disposal; The Com­mons petition for the Militia, and Tower, to be put into then Hands, &c. as like­wise, the Command of the Tower: But they not Complying, the House of Commons, singly of themselves, request the King, To put Them into the Hands of the Parliament; but the King not think­ing fit to part with the Main Support of His Throne, did however make them such Gracious Replyes, as would have satisfyed all reaso­nable Men.

THERE was a Rumour, that the Parliament designed to Impeach the Queen of High-Treason; The Queen goes for Hol­land upon a de­signed Impeach­ment. whereupon She provides against the Danger, and prevails with the King, That She might accompany Her Eldest Daughter, the Princess of Orange into Holland; and the King, seeing Things grow worse and worse, consented to it, and Attended them to the Sea-side, and saw them go on Board for Hol­land; and having ordered the Prince to wait His Returns at Green­wich, did thereby prevent His Surprize, which, had the King staid a Quarter of an Hour longer, had been effected; they having de­signed Him for an Hostage and Security, against all Cross Events.

THE Parliament having again Petitioned for the Militia, The King's Answer to the Common's Pe­tition. the King sends them an Answer; That He is willing to condescend to all the Proposals concerning the Militia of the Counties, and the Persons mentioned; but not of London, and other Corporations; whose Govern­ment, in that Particular, He thought it neither Justice, nor Policy, to alter; but would not consent to Divest Himself of the Power of the County-Militia, for an Indefinite Time, but for some Limited Space.

THIS Answer not being Satisfactory, and the Breach growing day­ly wider, He Removes from London to Theobalds, Royston, &c. the King thought it not safe to stay in These Parts; but Removed to Theobalds, Royston, and so to York. But on His Way, He received a Petition, demanding the Militia more resolutely than before; affirming, That in Case of Denyal, the Imminent Dangers would constrain them to dispose of it by Authority of Parliament; desiring also, That He would make His Abode near London, and the Parliament, The King's absolute Refusal to their Second Petition for the Militia. The Parlia­ment's Publick Declaration hereupon. and continue the Prince at some of His Houses near the City, for the better carrying on of Affairs, and preventing the People's Jealousies and Fears: All which not being then fit to be granted, and therefore refused, they presently order, That the Kingdome be put into a Posture of Defence, in such a Way as was agreed upon by the Parliament, and a Committee to prepare a publick Declaration [Page 19]from these Two Heads: 1. 1. The Just Causes of the Fears and Jea­lousies given to the Parliament. 2. 2. To consider of all Matters arising from His Majesty's Message, and what was fit to be done.

IN the mean time, the Bishops were so threatned and terrifyed by the Tumults and Rabble, that Twelve of Them absented themselves from the House; Protesting against all Laws, Orders, Votes, The Bishop's Protestation. Resolu­tions, and Determinations, as in Themselves, Null, and of Non-effect; which had Passed, or should Pass, during their forced Absence: desiring their Protestation might be Registred by the Clerk of the House of Lords. But immediately after, at a Conference between Both Houses, it was agreed, That this Protestation of the Twelve Bishops, did extend to the deep intrenching upon the Fundamental Privileges, and Being of Parliaments; and presently after, They are Ac­cused of High­Treason, seized, and Ten of them Committed. they were Accused of High-Treason, seized, and brought on their Knees at the Bar of the House of Peers: Ten of them were Committed to the Tower; and the Other Two, in regard of their Age, to the Black-Rod.

NOW the Parliament proceed to make Great Preparations both by Sea and Land; and ordered the Admiral of England, The Parlia­ment now makes great Preparations both by Sea and Land. Pamphlets dis­pers'd. to Rigg the King's Ships, and fit them to Sea; and likewise, all Masters, and Owners of Ships, were perswaded to do the like. The Beacons were repaired; Sea-Marks set up; and extraordinary Posting up and down with Pacquets; Pamphlets flew abroad; and all the Other sad Prognosticks of a Civil War, did appear.

THUS did Our late Execrable Troubles begin, That were atten­ded with all the Calamities of Domestick Broyls; the Parliament every Day pretending to entertain New Jealousies, and Suspicions of the King's Actions, that so they might have a Pretext to Arm their Party: which having done, and provided Moneys for the De­fraying the Expences of the War, they unmasked Themselves; and the King, and all the Good People of the Nation began to discover, That all their Assurances of making His Majesty the Most Glorious Prince, that ever swayed the English Scepter, was no otherwise to be understood, than that they designed to Crown Him with the Crown of Martyrdom; and that all the Out-cry they had made, and the Fears and Jealousies they had spread abroad of the Loss of their Priviledges, and the danger that Religion, Liberty, and Pro­perty were in, was like Pick-pockets; who bawl out, and accuse Passers by of Picking their Pockets, that so they might get a Crowd together, and really deprive Them of what they had falsly accu­sed Others of; who not discovering the Cheat till it was too late, and that all was gone, had nothing left them but Regret, for ha­ving been drawn into their Own, and their Friends Ruine and De­struction.

AND now, being come so far, as to have a full, but sad View of all those Devastations and Horrours, of those Torrents of Blood, and Mountains of Carkasses, which are the usual Effects, nay, ine­vitable Consequences of a Civil War; I must beg Leave to re­tire from so Deplorable and Dreadful a Prospect, and give you a short Account of the Crew that occasioned all these Desolations [Page 20]and Miseries, and from whence they sucked their Poysonous Prin­ciples, with which they infected the whole State.

DURING the Reign of Queen Mary, The Rise of the Presbyte­rians. several of the Reformed, flying the Persecutions of Her Government, retired to Geneva; where sucking in Doctrine and Principles that were no wayes conformable nor consistent with Monarchy, at their return Home under Queen Elizabeth, they spoke even with Adoration of the Dis­cipline of that Place; assuring and perswading People, that It, and only It was what was taught and directed by our Saviour, and His Disciples, and practised in the Primitive Times; accusing all o­thers of Impurity, Superstition, and Popery.

THE Iesuits quickly took notice of these Weeds in Prote­stanisme, Taken Notice of by the Je­suits. and took great Care to humour and cultivate them; ho­ping that They One Day might cause such a Breach in Our Church, as that they might enter through it, and compleat Our Ruin. And indeed, these People what by the Forced Modesty, and Austerity of their Lives, what by the Novelty of their Doctrine, and their be­ing opposed by Publick Authority, that was no wayes consistent with their Tenets, they came at first to be Pittyed, and then to be Loved and Admired by the Common People.

THUS growing (at length) to be very numerous, that ever-to­be-admired Princess Queen Elizabeth, Queen Eliza­beth's Care to depress them. thought fit to hinder this Contagion from spreading; and by the Advice of Her Parliament, as well as Her Council, enacted very severe Laws against them, and put several of them to Death, as Disturbers of the Peace both of Church and State. And though they expected more Favour under the Reign of King Iames; King James did the like. yet that Wise Prince thought fit to curb their Zeal, and bridle their Invading Humour: Notwithstan­ding, having once allowed them a Conference, and taking upon Himself to be the Arbitrator, it rendered them so Insolent and Con­fident, and brought their Party into such Repute, that towards the Latter End of His Reign, they began to have great Influence in the House of Commons; which they dayly augmented, and encrea­sed by their seeming Abhorrence of Popery and Superstition; But with ever­to-be-lamented Methods. till at length, by their Arts and Practices, they brought into Ruin and Destruction that Prince and Government, they all along preten­ded their whole Design was to Defend, Support, and Maintain; and under the Cloak of Religion, let in all Manger of Impiety, A­theism, and Superstition.

THE Great Influences the Doctrines of these Men have had amongst the Factious Parties of this Kingdom of late Times too, since the Happy Restauration of His Sacred Majesty, to the great Disturbance of the Publick Peace, to the Dis-uniting the Members of the Church of England, and raising Schism and Divisions in the Com­munities of Men in Matters of Religion, to the utter Subversion of Religion it self; nay, Morality too: I say, of the Truth of This, we have daily Demonstrations and Experiences of. The Iesuits of Geneva, and Those of St. Omers, I dare affirm, in their Dam­nable Tenets, with relation to Monarchy and Episcopacy, bear a­like [Page 21]Proposition; and consequently, Publick Peace must be a Thorn in their Side too. Tho I believe verily, That the Presbyterian is but an Instrument in the Roman Catholicks Hands, to work the Destruction of this Nation; because, they know, there's no Sect bears a greater Sway, nor admits of a greater Acceptance a­mongst the Credulous Vulgars, than This. How under This Cloak (Religion) they have walked for these several Years, and made it their Stalking-Horse, to perpetrate their Designes, we all know; and therefore, I shall enter upon the Second Part of This Dis­course, and trace along our present Troubles and Distractions; be­ginning with Religion.

Loyalties severe Summons TO THE Bar of Conscience: OR, A Seasonable & Timely Call TO THE People of England, UPON THE Present Juncture of Affairs.
The Second Part.

BUT before we enter upon Generals, I shall a little come to Particulars, and by this Means lay before you more plainly, how exactly Men endeavour in These Times, to follow the Cop­py which have been drawn by Men of alike Principles and Dispositions, in the Late Times.

AND Here we must observe, how like Serpents the Subtle En­gineers, and Framers of the Late Common-Wealth wrought them­selves [Page 22]in to the Accomplishing their Damned Designs, and Unpa­rallel'd Contrivances. They no sooner found the Late King redu­ced to urgent Necessities, and pressing Occasions for Supplyes to His Exchecquer and Treasury, which were Drained and Exhausted by a long involved War abroad; but it is as soon taken Notice of by the Factious Parties at Home, who promised to themselves now a fit Opportunity to broach their Villanies, and begin those Accursed Designs against the King and Government; which they afterwards perpetrated, and brought to pass. They begin then to hang Tall, and stand off from any Propositions the King made for Supplyes of Money; and therefore, without He would be brought to those Concessions, and comply with such unreasonable Demands, which they would, and did make, no Money was to be had.

THE King being of a Good, Pacifick, and Generous Nature, and knowing the Pressures and Necessities, which then incumbred Him for a Supply, was forced to condescend to such Gracious Un­parallel'd Acts, which helped to pull down that fair and splendid Structure of the Government, which His Royal Predecessors, Queen Elizabeth, and His Father King James had built: Of which I have spoken more at large before.

THESE Acts and Concessions of the King, they managed to that Degree, that at length the Scots influenc'd Here by some Lea­ding Parties in England, enter upon a strange Way of forcing His Concessions, by Raising an Army, under the Notion of Petitioning their King, &c.

NOW, let us behold, how nearly we endeavour to follow these Ieroboams, and how close the Shadow follows our Heels. In the Year 1679. The Damnable Popish Plot Discovered in England. not long after the Discovery of the Hellish Popish Plot, which had put England into a Great Combustion and Disor­der, and that now the Minds of Men were possest with Dread and Horror, and an Universal Jealousie and Fear of what would be the Event of so strange and Surprizing an Alarum, distracted almost even the most sober Brains: The Scots (who are a People ever ready to lay hold of any Opportunity to Rebel; and knowing This a fit Time to blow up that Fire into a Flame, which the Papists and Jesuits had kindled) they presently begin to enter upon their Old Theme of Protesting against the Church Government, Episco­pacy, The Scots Re­bellion. nay, Monarchy too; and Raise a Considerable Army, to further their Execrable Designs.

BUT before this, to shew their Antipathy, and inveterate Ab­horrence against Bishops, (which is a Natural Disposition they suck't from the Breasts of the Presbyterian Parents, (as is before taken Notice of) and now 'twas never to be Eradicated out of the Flesh of their Posterity) they Assassinate, and Kill that Reverend Prelate, the Arch Bishop of St. Andrews, The Reverend Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews killed. one of His Majesty's most honourable Privy-Councel, by Stabbing him in his own Coach, in the Sight of the Sun, dragging him out upon the Ground, hewing and butchering him, as the Cruel, Blood-Thirsty Dutch did the De witts in Holland, leaving his Body as one Wound. Oh crudelis Rabies Populi!

BUT this was but a small Prologue to their designed Black Cragedy; the Death of one Great Person could not satisfy their Bloody Intents; but now, Fury drives them on to destroy all that oppose them, and a Body of Men was got together on the Twen­ty-Nineth of Mar, 1679. to the Number of Eighty, The Rebels burn several Acts of Parlia­ment. well Mounted and Armed, and came as far as Rugland, proclaimed the Covenant, burnt several Acts of Parliament, viz.

• 1.
  1.
  The Act concerning the King's Supremacy.
• 2.
  2.
  The Rescissory Act.
• 3.
  3.
  The Act for Establishing Episcopacy. And,
• 4.
  4.
  The Act appointing the Anniversary of the Twenty-Nineth of May.

—And that done, affixed a certain Scandalous and Traiterous Paper, or Declaration, upon the Market-Cross and intended to have done the like at Glasgow, but were prevented by the King's Forces there.

The Effect the Declaration bad. THIS gained a great Addition to their Number, and every day Fresh Rabbles came, and Listed themselves under their Rebellious Banner; so that, within few Dayes, their Body became considera­ble, amounting to Fourteen or Fifteen Thousand Men. But, as in the thickest Brambles there are to be found some Roses; so, in this Country, the King found some Loyal Hearts, who endeavou­red to quell their Insolence: For, on the Eight of May, (Five Dayes after the Murther of the Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews) Captain Gra­ham of Claver-house, Capt. Gra­ham's Rencoun­ter with the Re­bels. upon notice he had of a great Number of Men, who were gathered together upon Lowdon-Hill, marched thither with his Troop, and a Company of Dragoons, and found there Fourteen or Fifteen Thousand Men well Armed, and in good Order: The Foot commanded by one Weir, and the Horse by Robert Hamilton, one Patton, Balfour, and Hackston, (the Two last being the Murthe­rers of the Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews.) The Revels upon Captain Graham's Approach, sent out Two Parties to skirmish with him, which he beat into their main Body. Then they advanced with their whole Force upon him, who after a considerable Slaughter of the Revels, and the Loss of his Cornet, Two Brigadiers, about Eight Horse, and Twenty Dragoons, (his own Horse being killed under him, and mounting another) being so much over-power'd in number, he made his Retreat to Glasgow, being in his way forced to Fight his Passage through the Towns-Men of Streven, who were got together to oppose it, leaving Ten or Twelve of them dead upon the Place.

THE Revels had the Confidence to attack the City of Glasgow, The City of Glasgow At­tacked. at Two several Times; but all the Streets were so Barricadoed by the Lord Rosse, and the Souldiers put into so good a Posture, that the Revels were beat off with a Considerable Loss, besides many Prisoners that were taken.

THE Council, the City of Edinborough, several Noble Men, and Persons of Quality, use their utmost endeavours to suppress these Rebels; amongst which, the Son of the Lord Rosse, The Son of the Lord Rosse his Skirmish with the Rebels. having only with him Forty Horse, and a Company of Dragoons, total­ly defeats a party of Three Hundred Horse and Foot of the Rebels, leaving Sixty Six Dead upon the Place, taking Ten Prisoners, the rest being scattered. As likewise, The Lord Murray's Stu­ward puts to the rout a 100. the Lord Murray's Deputy-Stu­ward in Downe, assembling the Vassals, and Tenants of His Lord­ships Stewardry, upon an Alarm of One Hundred Rebels on Horse­back, coming from Fisse, to joyn with their main Body, pursues them Sixteen Miles through the Mountains; and at last, coming up to them, Killed several of them, took Forty Prisoners (amongst which, was one Henderson, one of the Murtherers of the Arch-Bi­shop of Saint Andrews) and forced them to scatter, and fly into the adjacent Woods and Moors. Of which, The Lord El­phingston took 30. Prisoners. the Lord Elphingston having notice, with some Gentlemen under his Command; pur­sued them, killed some, and took above Thirty more Prisoners; and amongst these, Two of the name of Balfour, and one Hamilton of Kinkel (Three more of the Murtherers of the said Arch-Bi­shop.)

THE Gentlemen of Stratherne fell upon another Party coming from Fiffe; of which, they killed some, and took above Forty, The Gentle­men of Stra­therne's Re­encounter with them. and carried them Prisoners to Pearth.

THUS these Bebels met with great Opposition from all parts; They meet with extraordi­nary Supplies, upon extraordi­nary Opposition. but still like the Serpent Hydra, they had fresh Supplies, and their Numbers grew great. This allaruming the King and Parliament here, they presently resolve to dispatch with all Expedition ima­ginable, a considerable Force against them, consisting of a Body of Ten Thousand Men, under the Conduct of the Illustrious James Duke of Monmouth, The Duke of Monmouth goes for Scot­land. a person of whose Prudence, Courage, and Fidelity, we have had large Demonstrations and Proofs. The Duke with this Body of Men, all Loyal brave Spirits, and couragious resolute Lads, sets out for Scotland, And

His Grace arrived at Edinborough, the 18th. of June, 79. by Post; and parting the 19th. following, joyned the King's Forces at Black­burne; Major Ogle­thorpe causes a Party or Two of the Rebels to retire. and that Evening sent out Major Oglethorpe with a De­tachment of Horse, and Dragoons, who Met with a Party or Two of the Rebels, who presently retired. The next day, June 20th. His Grace decamped with His Army, and advanced within Six Miles of Hamilton, whither the Rebels were retreated; The Duke ad­vances towards Hamilton. having en­camped their Foot in the Little Park there, and Posted their Horse along the River, being 6. or 7000. strong, besides one Robert Stewart, Brother to the Earl of Galioway, and two or three more came in to them.

JUNE the 22d. the Duke drew up His Majesties Forces at Both­well-Bridge, which the Rebels lying on the other side had barrica­doed. Here a Paper is brought to the Lord General by one of the David Hume. The Message of the Rebels. Rebels representing, That they would lay down their Arms up­on no other Terms, than those exprest in their Declaration; to [Page 26]which, The Duke's Answer. His Grace gave Answer, That those were destructive to the King's Authority, and contrary to the Fundamental Laws, and Consti­tutions of this Kingdom; and that they were to expect no other Arti­cles from him, but to lay down their Armes, and render themselves to the King's Mercy. With this Answer they return, desiring some time to consider, which His Grace granted them. About half an hour after, the Rebels sent a Paper by a Drummer, representing, That they were informed, Their 2d. Mes­sage. That His Grace came from England with Terms to be offered to them, that they desired to know what He had to propose, that they might advise whether the Terms were such they could accept of. Upon which, His Grace sent them word, That their Answer did not satisfie Him; His Graces Answer. and that since they trifled, he would receive no more Messages from them. In the mean time, Our Canon, with some Horse and Foot, was brought down from the Body of the Army, and posted not far from the Bridge.