Divers historicall discourses of the late popular insurrections in Great Britain and Ireland tending all, to the asserting of the truth, in vindication of Their Majesties / by James Howell ... ; som[e] of which discourses were strangled in the presse by the power which then swayed, but now are newly retreev'd, collected, and publish'd by Richard Royston.

Divers historicall discourses of the late popular insurrections in Great Britain and Ireland tending all, to the asserting of the truth, in vindication of Their Majesties / by James Howell ... ; som[e] of which discourses were strangled in the presse by the power which then swayed, but now are newly retreev'd, collected, and publish'd by Richard Royston.

Table of contents

Title page

§

TO HIS MAJESTY

A Catalog of the severall Peeces that are here contain'd.

§

[1]

CASUALL DISCOURSES, AND Interlocutions BETWIXT Patricius and Peregrin, Touching the Distractions of the Times, VVith the Causes of them.

[2]

Title page

A DISCOURS, or PARLY, Continued betwixt Patricius and Peregrin, Upon their landing in France, touching the civil Wars of England and Ireland.

[3]

Title page

To the Right Honourable, PHILIP Earl of Pembrock, and Montgomery, Knight of the Bath; Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter; Gentleman of His Majesties Bedchamber, And one of His most Honorable privy Counsell, &c.

[4]

Title page

TO THE Unbiass'd REDER.

§

CAROLUS,

§

§

[5]

Title page

To my Honored and known friend Sir I. C. Knight.

The great CONJUNCTION, OR, Parlement of STARS.

MORALL.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. OR, The Great Councell of BIRDS.

MORALL.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The gathering together, or Parlement of FLOWERS.

MORALL.

The Assembly of Architects.

MORAL

The Insurrection of the Winds.

POST-SCRIPT.

[6]

Title page

Mercurius Hibernicus, His Advertisement to the well-temper'd READER.

To my honourable Friend Mr. E. P.

Mercurius Hibernicus.

[7]

Title page

The Author's Apology.

Touching the POLEMICAL SVVORD, And command in chief of The MILITIA, &c.

[8]

Title page

Paraenesis Angliae.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE Deplorable, and Desperat condition THAT ENGLAND stands in, Sent from LONDON, Anno 1647. To the LORD FRANCISCO BARBERINI, Cardinal of the most holy Apostolick See, and Protector of the English Nation, at his Palaces in Rome.

[9]

Title page

The progress of the Soul by an usuall DREAM.

[10]

Title page

To my worthily honor'd friend Sir W. S. Knight.

The Pre-eminence, and Duty OF PARLEMENT.

Sectio Prima.

Sectio Secunda.

[11]

Title page

A GLANCE UPON THE ILE of WIGHT, OR AN INQUISITION AFTER TRUTH.

[12]

Title page

A Letter sent from the City of Florence, Written by a Great Counsellor there, touching the present Distempers of England; wherein He, with som of the Prime Statesmen in Florence passe their Iudgements which is the onely way to compose the said Distempers.

§

[Page]

Divers Historicall DISCOURSES Of the late Popular INSURRECTIONS In Great BRITAIN, And IRELAND, Tending all, to the asserting of Truth, in Vindication of their MAJESTIES; By Iames Howell Esquire;

Som of which Discourses were strangled in the Presse by the Power which Then SWAYED, But now are newly retreev'd, collected, and Publish'd by Richard Royston.

The first TOME.

LONDON, Printed by I. Grismond. 1661.

§

[Page]

Belua multorum capit [...]m Plebs vana vocatur, Plus satis Hoc Angli [...]uper docuere Popelli. [...] ▪ I: H:

The People is a Beast which Heads hath many, England of late hath shew'd This more then any.

TO HIS MAJESTY

[Page]

[Page]

[Page]

SIR,

THese Historical Discourses (set forth in such variety of dresses) having given so much satisfaction to the world for the asserting of Truth, in Vindication of Your Royal Father of ever blessed Memory, and som of them relating also to Your Majesty, I humbly conceiv'd might be proper for Your Majesties perusal & Patronage.

Concerning the Author therof [Page] his name needed not to have bin prefix'd, He being so universally well known and distinguishd from other Writers both at home and abroad by his stile, which made one of the Highest Wits of these Times say of Him,

Author hic ex Genio notus, ut Ungue Leo.

God Almighty blesse Your Majesty with a continuance of Happiness, and daily encrease of Glory, so prayeth

Your Majesties most loyal, and humble Subject, ROYSTON.

A Catalog of the severall Peeces that are here contain'd.

[Page]

I. A Dialog twixt Patricius and Peregrin presently after Kintonfield Battaile, which was the first Book that came forth for Vindication of His Majesty.

II. The second part of that Discours.

III. A seasonable Advice sent to Philip late Earl of Pembrock, to mind him of the severall solemn Oaths wherby he was bound to adhere to the King.

IV. A Manifesto sent in His Majesties name to the Reformed Churches, and Princes beyond the Seas touching His Religion.

V. Apologs, and Emblemes, in whose Moralls the Times are represented.

VI. Of the land of Ire, or a Discours of that horrid Insurrection in Ireland, discovering the tru Causes therof.

[Page] VII. The Sway of the Sword, or a Disurs of the Common Militia or Soldiery of the Land, proving, That the Command therof in chief, belongs to the Ruling Prince.

VIII. An Italian Prospective, through which England may discern the desperat condition she stands in.

IX. A Nocturnall Progresse, or perambulation of most Countries in Christendom.

X. A Vindication of His Majesty touching a Letter He writ to Rome from Madrid, in Answer to a Letter which Pope Gregory the 15th. had sent Him upon passing the Dispensation for concluding the Match.

XI. Of the Trety of the Ile of Wight, and the Death of His Majesty.

XII. Advise from the prime Statesmen of Florence, how England shold come to Her self again, which can be by no other means under Heaven, but by calling in the King, and that, in a free confident way without Articles, but what He shall be pleas'd to offer Himself.

§

[Page]

THE TRU Informer, WHO DISCOVERS To the World the first grounds Of this ugly REBELLION And Popular TUMULTS In England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Deducing the Causes therof in an Historicall Discours from their Originall.

—Neutrum modò, Mas modò Vulgus.

Written in the Prison of the Fleet Anno 1642.

§

CASUALL DISCOURSES, AND Interlocutions BETWIXT Patricius and Peregrin, Touching the Distractions of the Times, VVith the Causes of them.

[Page]

[Page]

Patricius.

SUrely I shold know full well that face and phisnomy: O Heavens! 'tis Peregrin. Gentle Sir, you are well met, and welcom to England, I am heartily glad of your safe arrivall, hoping now to apprehend some happie opportunity whereby I may requite part of those worthy favours I received from you in divers places t'other side side of the Sea.

Peregrin.

Sir, I am as joyfull to see you, as any friend [Page] I have upon earth; but touching favours, they deserve not such an acknowledgment, I must confesse my self to be farr in the arrear, therfore you teach me what I shold speak to you in that point: But amongst other offices of Friendship you have bin pleased to do me from time to time, I give you many thanks for the faithfull correspondence you have held withme, since the time of our separation, by intercours of Letters, the best sort of fuell to warm affection, and to keep life in that noble vertue Friendship, which they say abroad, is in danger to perish under this cold Insulary clime for want of practise.

Patricius.

Truely, Sir, you shold have had an account of matters hence more amply and frequently, but that of late it hath bin usuall, and allowed by authority, to intercept and break open any Letters; but private men need not complain so much, since the dispatches of Ambassadors, whose P [...]ckets shold be held as sacred as their Persons, h [...]ve bin commonly open'd, besides some outrages offered their houses and servants; nay, since their Maj [...]sties Letters under the Cabinet Signet have bin broke up, and other counterfeit ones printed and published in their names.

[Page]Peregrin.

Indeed I must confesse the report hereof hath kept a great noise abroad, and England hath suffered much in point of national repute in this particular; for even among Barbarians, it is held a kind of sacriledge to open Letters; nay, it is held a baser kind of burglary, then to break into a House, Chamber, or Closet: for that is a plundering of outward things onely, but he who breaks open ones Letters which are the Idea's of the mind, may be said to rip up his brest, to plunder and rifle his very brain, and rob him of his most pretious and secretest thoughts.

Patricius.

Well, let us leave this distastfull subject, when these fatall commotions cease, this custom, I hope, will be abhorred in England: But now, that you are newly arrived, and so happily met, I pray be pleased t [...] make me partaker of some forraign news, and how the squares go betwixt France and Spain, those two great wheels, that draw after their motion (some more, some lesse) all the rest of the Western world: and when you have done, I will give you account of the state of things in England.

[Page]Peregrin.

I thought you had so abounded with domestick news, that you had had no list or leisure to hear any forrain; but to obey your commands, you know that I have been any time these six years a Land-loper up and down the world, and truly I could not set foot on any Chr [...]stian shore that was in a perfect condition of peace, but it was engag [...]d either in a direct, [...] or collaterall war, or standing upon it's guard in continuall apprensions and alarmes of fear: For, since that last flaming Usher of Gods vengeance, that direful Comet of the yeer 1618. appear'd in the heavens, some malevolent and ang [...]y ill-aspected star hath had the predominance ever since, and by it's maligne influxes, made strange unusuall impressions upon the humors of subjects, by inci [...]ing them to such insurrections, revolts, and tumults; which caused a Jewish Rabbi to say lately, that it seems the grand Turk thrives extraordinarily in his devotions, it being one of his prime prayers to Mahomet, that he shold prevaile with God Almighty to continue disentions still among Christian Princes. And truly, as the case stands, one may say, that the Europaean world is all in pieces; [Page] you know well with what fearfull fits of a high burning fever poor Germany hath been long shaken, which hath wrought a Lethargie in some of her members, by wasting of the vital spirits which shold diffuse themselves equally through that great body; and how she st [...]ll [...]ostereth a cold Northern Guest (the Swed) within her bosom, and is in [...] fear of a worse from the Levant: In the Netherlands one shall hear the half-starv'd souldier murmur in every corner, and railing against his King, and ready to mutiny for want of pay. In France you shall see the poor Asinin Peasan half weary of his life, his face being so [...] grownd, ever and anon with new tallies. You know ther are som Soverain Princes, who have a long time wandred up and down in exile, being outed of their own anti [...]nt Patrimoniall Territories, and little hopes yet, God wot, of restoring them. The world knows how Savoy is become of late a kind of Province to France; Nay, Spain, who hath been so dexterous to put her neighbours ogether by the eares, and to foment war a far off, to keep her own home secure, is now her self in the midst of two fearfull fires, kindled on both sides of her by quiterevolted [Page] subjects, viz. the Portugues and Cat alan, which so puzzles her, that shee cannot tell what Saint to pray unto. The Venetian also, with the pope, and all the Princes of Italy, are arming apace; the Hollander onely, Salamander like, thrives in these flames: and as I have heard of some that by a long habitu [...]l custom could feed on poyson, and turn it to nourishment, so Hans alone can turn War to a Trade and grow fat by it.

Now, Sir, being weary of eating my bread in such a distracted world abroad, and hoping to take some sweet repose in England, I find that shee is in as bad a case, if not worse, then any other. So much news I give you in a lump, I will be more particular with you som other time, if you please to spare me now.

Patricius.

I hear, not without much resentment, these pithy expressions you have been pleased to make of the torn estate of Europe abroad; and since you mention that blazing Star, I remember what a Noble Knight told me some yeers ago, That the Astronomers, who lay sentinel to watch the motion and aspect of that Comet, observ'd that the tail of it having pointed at divers Climats, at last it [Page] seem'd to look directly on these North-west I lands, in which posture it spent it selfe, and so extinguish'd; as if thereby it meant to tell the world, that these Islands should be the Stage whereupon the last act of the Tragedie should be play'd. And how many Scenes have passed already, both here and in Ireland, we know, God wot, by too too wofull and fresh experience.

Peregrin.

There is a saying When your neighbours house is on fire, by it's light you may see in what danger your own stands: And was England so blind and blockish, as not to take warning by so many fearfull combustions abroad? When I took my leave last of her, I left her in such a compleat condition of happines, both in Court, Country, City and Sea, that shee was the envie of all Europ, in so much, that that Golden Verse might be fi [...]ly applied to her then Golden times,

‘Mollia securae perage [...]ant otia Gentes.’

The Court was never so glorious, being hanselld every yeer almost with a new Roya [...] offspring; the Gentry no where more gallan [...] and sportfull; the Citizen never more gorgeous and rich, and so abounding with treasure, [Page] bullion and buildings, that no age can parallel; Commerce, inward and outward was never at that height; the customes increasing every yeer to admiration; the narrow Seas were never guarded with braver Ships, nor the navie Royall for number of vessels and magazines of all sorts of materials was ever so well replenished; the Universities had never such springing dayes: and lastly, the Church did so flourish, that amongst the rest of the reformed Churches of Christendome, I have heard her call'd the Church triumphant.

Besides, Ireland was arriv'd almost to the same degree of prosperity, for all the arrerages of the Crowne were paid, and not a peny sent hence for many yeeres to maintain the standing army there, or for any other publick charge, as formerly; Trafique came to that mighty height of encrease, that in few years the Crown customes and imposts came to be five times higher. In fine, Ireland was brought not only to subsist of her selfe, but inabled to contribut towards the filling of the English Exchequer, and to make some retribution of those vast expences the Crown of England hath been at any time these 400 yeeres to reduce her to civility; her boggs [Page] were almost all dry'd up, and made good land▪ her mudde-walls turn'd apace to Brick in divers places, so that in one Sommer that I fortun'd to be there, above 50. new Brickhouses were built in one Towne. But it hath been the fate of that Island, to be [...] neer a condition of a setled, happiness, and yet to have some odd accident still intervene to crosse it.

In conclusion, there wanted nothing to make England and her united Crowns so exactly blessed, that she might have assumed the title of one of the Fortunat Islands. Good Lord, how comes it to passe, that she is now fallen into such horrid distempers, and like a distracted body, laying han [...]s upon her self, would thrust the sword of civil war into her own bowels? I beseech you, Sir, impart unto me the true cause of this change; for I know none so capable to do it as your self.

Patriciu [...].

‘Infandum, Peregrine, jubes renovare dolorem:’

First, Sir, in the generall you know, that it is with the Regions upon Earth, as it is with those of the Ayre, sometimes we have a clear azur'd skie with soft gentle ventilations, and a sweet serenitie the whole Hemesphere over; at other times we know the face of [Page] the heavens is over-cast with frowns, with Frog vapors, and thick clouds of various shapes, which look like Monsters, hovering up and down, break at last into thunder and fulgurations, and so disquiet and raise a kind of war in the Aereall Common-wealth. Just so in the Regions that are dispers'd up and down this earthly Glo [...]e, peepled with men (which are but a composition of the Elements) you have sometimes a gentle calm of peace and quietude, with a general tranquillitie all the Countrey over; at other times you have ugly mishapen clouds of jealousies, fears, and discontentments rise up, which break out at last into acts of disobedience, rebellion, and fury. And as those Aereall Meteors and Monsters above, are ingendered of those watery fogs and mists which are drawn up out of fennie and rotten low grounds here upon earth; so in the Region of the mind, the ill vapors which ascend to the brain from rotten and impostumated hearts, from desperate and mal [...]-contented humorists are the causes of all civil commotions and distempers in State. But they have much to answer for in the world to come (though they escape it in this) who for any private interest or respect [Page] whatsoever, either of Promotion, Vainglory, Revenge, Malice, or Envie, will embroyl and plunge their own native Country in any publick ingagement or civil war, by putting a partition-wall betwixt their soverain Prince and their fellow-subjects. Truely, in my opinion, these may be called the worst kind of Betrayers of their Countreys. But I am too far transported from satisfying your request in relating the true causes of these calamities, I will now fall to work, and bring you to the very source of them.

Ther is a pack of perverse people (composed for the most part of the scummie and basest sort) multiplied in England, who by a kind of natural inclination, are opposit so point blank to Monarchy in State, and Hierarchy in Church, that I doubt if they were in Heven (whither 'tis to be fear'd they run a great hazard ever to enter, it being a rule, that he who is rotten-hearted to his King, can never be right-hearted to his Crea [...]or) I say if these men were in Heven, they w [...]uld go near to repine at the Monarchical power of God Almighty himself, as also at the degrees of Angels, and the postures of holiness in the Church triumphant. They call every Crotchet of the brain, tenderness of conscience [Page] forsooth: which being well examined, is nothing else but a meer spirit of contradiction, of malice and disobedience to all higher powers which possesseth them. Ther are no constitutions either Ecclesiastical or Civil can please them, but they wold cast both into such and such a mould, which their crack'd brains wold fain devise, yet are never able to bring to any perfection; They are ever labouring to bring Religion to the dock, and to be new trimm'd, but they wold take down her fore-Castle, and scarce allow her the Kings Armes to adorn her: They are great listners after any Court-news, and prick up their ears when any thing is spoken of King, Queen, or Privie Councellour, and are always ready, though upon loose trust, to take up any report whereby they may whisper in conventicles and corners, and so traduce the Government. These great Z [...]lots use to look upon themselves most commonly through multiplying glasses, which make them appear to be such huge Santons, that it renders them not onely uncharitable in their opinions of others, but Luciferian-like proud in their own conceit, insomuch that they seem to scorn all the world besides, beleeving that they are [Page] [...]he only Elect whose souls work according [...]o the motion of the Spirit: that they are [...]he true Children of promise, whose faces alone look towards Heven; They are more pleased with some new reach or fancy, (that may puzzle the pericranium) than a Frenchman is in some new faction in cloathing: They are nearest to the nature of the Jew of any people upon earth, and will converse with him sooner than with some sort of Christians; And as in their pharisaicall Dispositions they symbolize with the Iew, so in some of their positions they jump pat with the Iesuit: for though they are both in the extremes, and as contrary one to the other, as the points of a diameter, yet their opinions and practises are concentrique, viz. to depresse regall power; Both of them wold bind their Kings in Chaines, and the Nobles in links of Iron; They both deny all passive obedience, and as the one wold have the morter of the Temple tempred with blood, so the other wold beat Religion into the brain with the poleaxe. Their greatest master-piece of policy is to forge counter [...]eit news, and to divulge and disperse it as far as they can to amuse the world, for the advancement of their designs, and strengthing their party: [Page] But the Iesuit doth it more cunningly and modestly, for he fetcheth his news from far, so that before the falshood of it can be contrould, his work is commonly done, and the news forgotten; But these later polititians use to raise lies hard by home, so that the grosseness and palpablenesse of them is presently discovered. Besides, to avoid the extremes of the other, these later seem to fall into flat prophanness, for they may be called a kind of enemies to the very Name, Crosse, and Church of Christ. Touching the first, They repine at any reverence to be done unto the name of Jesus, though spontaneous, not coercive. For the second, which was held from the beginning to be the badg and Banner of a Christian, they cry up the Crosse to be the mark of the b [...]ast; And for the last, viz. the Church, they wold have it to be neither beautifull, holy, nor amiable, which are the three main properties that God requires in his house. To conclude, when any comes to be season'd with this sower leaven, he seems to degenerat presently from the nature and garb of a Gentleman, and fals to be of a sordid and low disposition, narrow hearted and close handed; to be timerous, cunning and jealous, [Page] and far from the common freedom, and sweetness of morall society, and from all generous and loyal thoughts towards his King and Country.

These, these have bin the chiefest machinators, and engeneers Englands unhappy divisions, who Viper-like have torn the entrailes of their own mother their dear Country: But ther were other extern concurrent causes, and to find them out, I must look Northward, for there the cloud began to condense first;

You know Sir, the Scot's nation were ever used to have their King personally resident amongst them, and though King Iames by reason of his age, bounty, and long breeding there, with other advantages, drew such extraordinary respect from them, that they continued in good conformity: yet since his death, they have been over-heard to mutter at the remotenesse and absence of their King, and that they shold become now a kind of province by reason of such a distance: some of their Nobles and Gentry found not at the English Court, nor at his Majesties Coronation in Edenburgh that Countenance, Familiarity, Benefit and Honours which haply they expected, and 'tis well known who he [Page] was, that having been denied to be lorded (David Lesley) took a pet, and went discontented to his country, hoping that some title added to the wealth he had got abroad, should have purchased him more respect. These discontented parties tamperd with the mercenary preachers up and down Scotland, to obtrude to the p [...]ple what doctrines they put into their mouthes, so that the pulpits every where rung of nothing but of invectives against certain obliquities and Solaecismes (and I cannot tell what) in government, and many glances they had upon the English Church: yet all this while there was not matter enough for an insurrection, nor to dispose the peoples hearts to a mutiny▪ until by the policy (as some affi [...]med) of the said discontented party the English Lyturgie was sent thither: this by the in [...]itement of those fiery pulpiteers, was cryed up to be the greatest I doll that possibly could be brought into their Kerke, insomuch that when it was first offer'd to be read, the woman and ba [...]er sort of mechaniks threw stooles and stones at the Bishops heads, and were ready to tear them in peeces▪ And here began the storm. [...] Majesty having notice hereof, sent a most gracious proclamation, signifying, that whereas [Page] he had recommended that Book to be practis'd amongst them, wherein he himself served God Almighty twice a day, he did it out of a pious endeavour to breed an uniformity of publick Divine service in all his dominions, specially in that his native Kingdom. But since it had produced such dangerous effects, he was contented to revoke it absolutely; for it was never his purpose to press the practise of the said book upon the consciences of any, he did onely commend, not absolutely command, the use of it; Therefore he exhorted and required that every one unto whom it had given any scandal, shold return to his pristine obedience, and serve God as formerly, offering herewith a gracious pardon, and to passe an Act of Amnestia for an abolition of all faults passed.

Peregrin.

And would not this suffice? In naturall motions we find that the cause being taken away, the effect ceaseth, and will not this hold in civil Actions?

Patricius.

No, this wold not serve the turn, but [...] was a further reach in it, and for an inch to take an ell: you know the Scots since [...] [Page] single Lion came to quarter with our three, are much elevated in their spirits, more respected, emploied and trusted abroad, they are heightned in their resolutions and aims, and will questionless be daily more and more. You have heard of a Mine that reach'd from our exchequer to Edenburgh. And I beleeve you have not forgot Boccolinies balance, that was shewed us in Italie, wherein Lorenzo de Medici weighed all the states of Christendom, and throwing in England amongst the rest, you know how much he made her to weigh less by this addition. The former Proclamation I say, and Pardon would not suffice, but they took opportunity to fish in those troubled waters, and vent their spleen further, by an utter extirpation of Episcopacy, and by trampling the mitre under their feet, hoping to have som of the birds plumes, being pluck [...], to feather their own nests; And they brought their work about; Good Lord, what a deal of dirt was presently thrown into the Bishops faces by every Rurall pettie Clerk! what infamous ballads were sung, what a thick clowd of Epidemical hatred hung suddenly over them, so far, that a dog with black and white spots was called a Bishop amongst them up and down the streets.

[Page]The chiefest contrivers of this up-roare, [...]inding their design to go on so well, and perceiving the whole Country so eagerly bent against Bishops, (and what artifices and suggestions were us'd to render them so odious is incredible) but finding withall his Majestie unwilling to alter the government his father (of so fresh and famous memory) had left him, and to which he had bin sworn at his Coronation, they put themselves in arms, and rais'd forces to beat down the mitre with the sword, if the scepter would not do it. To the frontiers they came with a great Army, (not half so great as was bruted) pretending they came as Petitioners (though they brought their Petition upon the pikes▪ point,) Some of the great ones▪ about the King grew cold in the action: And what a pacification was then shuffled up, and how a Parliament was called thereupon in Scotland, with other passages, is a fitter subject for a story then a discourse.

Peregrin.

I could have wished two things, that either His Majesty had given them battail then, having the flower of his Nobility and Gentry with him, who I understood came with all cheerfulnesse and pomptitude to attend [Page] him, or else that after the said pacification, His Majestie had shaken off all jealousies, and with a royall freedom and a commanding confidence gone amongst them to hancell their new Parliament House at Edenburgh; for it is probable, it had averted those showers and cataracts of [...]miseries which have fallen [...]pon us since; but I pray Sir, proceed.

Patricius.

As they say, there is no wind but blows some-body good, so it was thought, this Northern clowd did England some advantage, for a Parliament was summond hereupon: a Parliament do I call it? it was rather an Embryo of a Parliament, an Ephemeran of 20▪ days. In this sitting His Majesty declared unto both Houses the indignities he had received by His Scotch Subjects, and therefore propos'd a supply to be made of twelve subsidies to suppress that Rebellion; and in lieu thereof he was willing to forbear and utterly to abolish the Ship-money, which he had reason to think legall at first, being advised thereunto by Noy his Attorney Generall, who had such a mighty repute in the Law; yet he would not rest ther, but he advised further with his learned [Page] Councell, who concurred in opinion with Noy; Nor wold he rest ther also, but he had the approbation of all the Iudges singly, and afterwards of nine of the twelve jointly upon a demur. This was enough to induce his conscience to hold it legall all this while; It was clearly proved that the moneys levied this way, were employed to no other but the intended service, the garding of the narrow Seas; and not onely for that, but to preserve his right of Dominion in them, being the fairest flower of his Crown, which was not onely discoursed of abroad, but began to be questioned by the French Cardinall: And touching danger, how could England be but in apparant dangers? consideri [...]g how all her next neighbours were in actuall hostility, which made huge fleets of men of war, both French, Dunkerkers, Hamburgers and Hollanders to sail and flaunt ever and anon in her Channells, and hard before her royall Chambers: nor came ther one penny of that publick contribution to his privat coffers, but he added much of his own demeans for the maintenance of a royal fleet every sommer: yet he was ready to passe any Bill for the utter abolishing of the said Ship-money, and for redressing of a [...]y [Page] other grievances, provided they wold enable him to suppress this Scots Rebellion: some say the House was inclinable to comply with his Majesties demands, but (as the ill spirit wold have it) that Parliament was suddenly brok up, and I wold they who gave that Counsel had bin then in Arabia, or beyond the Line, in their way to Madagascar, who neverthelesse have got to be in high request with this present Parliament.

Among others, old Sir Harry Vane was one, who, when the House seem'd willing to give six subsidies, and the King inclinable to take them; The said Vane being the Secretary of State stood up, and said, His Majesty expected no less then twelve, which words did so incense and discompose the House, that they drew after them that unhappy dissolution.

His Majesty being reduced to these straits, and resenting still the insolence of the Scot, proposed the busines to His Privy Councell, who suddenly made up a considerable and most noble summe for his present supply, whereunto divers of his domestick servants and Officers did contribut. Amongst others who were active herein, the Earl of Strafford bestir'd himself notably, [Page] and having got a Parliament to be call'd in Ireland he went over, and with incredible celeritie raised 8000. men, who procured money of that Parliament to maintain them, and got over those angry Seas again in the compasse of lesse then six weeks. You may infer hence to what an exact uncontrollable obedience he had reduced that Kingdom, as to bring about so great a work with such a suddennes and facilitie.

An armie was also raised▪ here, which marched to the North, and there fed upon the Kings pay a whole Summer. The Scot was not idle all this while; but having punctuall intelligence of every thing that passed at Court, as farre as what was debated in the Cabinet Councel, and spoken in the bedchamber, (and herein amongst many others, the Scot had infinite advantage of us) He armed also, and preferring to make England the stage of the warre, rather then his own countrey, and to invade rather then to be invaded, He got over the Tweed, and found the passage open, and as it were made for him all the way till hee came to the Tine, and though there was a considerable army of horse and foot at Newcastle, yet they never [Page] offered so much as to face him all the while, At Newburgh indeed there was a small skirmish, but the English foot would not fight, so Newcastle gates flew open to the Scot without any resistance at all, where it is thought he had more friends then foes, and who were their friends besides for this invasion, I hope Time, and the Tribunall of Justice will one day discover.

His Majesty being then at York, summoned all his Nobles to appear, to advise with them in this exigence: Commissioners were appointed on both sides, who met at Rippon, and how the hearts and courage of some of the English Barons did boil within them, to be brought to so disadvantageous a Treatie with the Scot, you may well imagin. So the Treatie began, which the Scot wold not conform himself to do, unless he were first unrebell▪d and made Rectus in Curia, and the Proclamation, wherein he was declared Traitour, revoked, alledging it wold be dishonorable for His Majesty to treat with rebels. This treaty was adjourned to London, where this present Parliament was summoned (which was one of the chiefest errands of the Sco [...], as some think.) And thus far by these sad and short degrees, have [Page] I faithfully led you along to know the tru Originals of our calamities.

Peregrin.

Truly Sir, I must tell you, that to my knowledg these unhappy traverses with Scotland, have made the English suffer abroad very much in point of National honour; Therefore I wonder much that all this while ther is none set a work to make a solid Apologie for England in some communicable language, (either in French or Latin) to rectifie the world in the truth of the thing, and to vindicat her, how she was bought and sold in this expedition, considering what a party the Scot had here, and how his comming in, was rather an Invitation, then an Invasion, and I beleeve if it had bin in many parts of the world besides, some of the Commanders had gone to the pot.

Patricius.

It is the practise of some States I know, to make sacrifice of some eminent Minister, for publick mistakes: but to follow the thred of my Discourse. The Parliament being sate, His Majesty told them, that he was resolved to cast himself wholly upon the affection and fidelity of his people, whereof [Page] they were the Representative body: Therfore he wished them to go roundly on to close up the ruptures that were made by this infortunat war, and that the two armies, one domestick, the other forrain, which were gnawing the very bowels of the Kingdom, might be dismissed. Touching grievances of any kind (and what State was ther ever so pure, but some corruption might creep into it?) He was very ready to redresse them: concerning the Ship-money, he was willing to pass a B [...]ll for the utter abolition of it, and to establish the property of the subject; therefore he wished them not to spend too much time about that. And for Monopolies, he desired to have a list of them, and he wold damn them all in one Proclamation: Touching ill Counsellours, either in Westminster-Hall, or White-Hall, either in Church or State, he was resolved to protect none, Therefore he wished that all jealousies and misunderstandings might vanish: This, with sundry other strains of Princely grace he delivered unto them, but withall he told them, that they shold be very cautious how they shook the fram of an ancient Government too far, in regard it was like a Watch, which being put asunder, [Page] can never be made up again, if the least pin be left out.

So ther were great hopes of a calm, after that cold Northern storm had so blustered, and that we shold be suddenly rid of the Scot, but that was least intended, untill som designs were brought about. The Earl of Strafford, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Iudges, and divers Monopolists are clapt up, and you know who took a timely flight (Lord Finch) to the other side of the Sea. And in lieu of these, the Bishop of Lincoln is enlarged, Bastwick, Burton, and Prynn are brought into London with a kind of Hosanna. His Majesty gave way to all this, and to comply further with them, he took as it were into his bosom, I mean, he admitted to his Privy Councell those Parliament Lords, who were held the greatest Zelots amongst them, that they might be witnesses of his secret'st actions, and to one of them (the Lord Say) he gave one of the considerablest Offices of the Kingdom, by the resignation of another most deserving Lord, upon whom they could never fasten the least misdemeanour; yet this great new Officer wold come neither to the same Oratory, Chappell, or Church, to joyn in prayer [Page] with his Royall Master, nor communicat with him in any publick exercise of devotion: and may not this be called a tru Recusancie? To another he gave one of the prime and most reposefull Offices about his own Person at Court (The Earl of Essex) and thereby he might be said to have given a Staff to beat himself. Moreover, partly to give his Subjects an Evidence how firmly he was rooted in his Religion, and how much he desired the strenthning of it abroad, The treaty of marriage went on 'twixt his eldest daughter, and the young Prince of Orenge. Hereunto may be added as a speciall argument of compliance and grace, the passing of the Bill for a Trienniall Parliament, and lastly (which is the greatest Evidence that possibly can be imagined, of that reall trust and confidence he reposed in them) he passed that prodigious Act of Continuance.

Peregrin.

Touching the Trienniall Parliament, there may come some whole some fruit out of it, will keep all Officers in awe, and excite the Nobilitie, and young Gentrie of the Kingdome to studie, and understand the Government of the land, and be able to sit and serve their countrey in this great Senate: But for [Page] this Act of Continuance I understand it not; Parliaments are good Physick, but ill meat; They say abroad that England is turned hereby from a Monarchy to a Democracy, to a perpetual kind of Quingentumvirat; and whereas in former times ther was a Heptarchy of seven▪ Kings in her, they say now she hath seventy times seven. But in lieu of these unparallell'd Acts of grace and trust to the Parl. what did the Parliament for the King all this while?

Patricius.

They promised, specially upon the passing of the last Act, That they would make him the most glorious, the best beloved, and richest King that ever reigned in England: and this they did with deep protestings and asseverations. But there intervened an ill-favoured accident which did much hurt, viz. A Discourse (for truely I think it was no more) but a discourse) which some green heads held to bring up the Northern armie, to check the Puritan partie, and the rabble of the citie: This kept a mightie noyse, and you know who fled upon it, and much use was made of it to make that cloud of jealousie which was but of the breadth of a hand before, to appear as big as a mountaine. Yet his Majestie continued still in passing Acts of grace, [Page] and complying with them in every thing▪ Hee put over unto them the Earle of Strafford, who after a long costly triall (wherein he carried himself with as much acutenesse, dexteritie and eloquence, as humane braine could be capable of for his defence) hee was condemned to the Scaffold, and so made a sacrifice to the Scot, who stayed chiefly for his head, which besides those vast summes of money, was given him to boot.

Peregrin.

Touching the Earle of Strafford, 'tis tru, he was full of ability, elocution and confidence, and understood the lawes of England as well as any, yet there were two things, I heard, wherein his wisdom was questioned; first that having a charge ready against his chiefest accusers, yet he suffered them to have the priority of sute, which if he had got he had thereby made them parties, and so incapable to be produced against him: Secondly, that during the time of his tryall, he applyed not himself with that compliance to his Iury as well as to his Iudges, for he was observed to comply only with the Lords, and not with the House of Commons.

[Page]Patricius.

Howsoever, as some say, his death was [...]esolved upon, (si non per viam justitiae, saltem per viam expedientiae) which appears in regard the proceedings against him are by a clause in the Act not to be produced for a leading case or example to future ages and inferiour Courts: I blush to tell you how much the rabble of the City thirsted after his blood, how they were suffered to strut up and down the streets before the royal Court, and the Parliament it self, with impunity; They cried out, that if the Common Law fail'd, club law should knock him down, and their insolency came to that height, that the names of those Lords that would not doome him to death, should be given them to fix upon posts up and downe; And this was the first tumult that happened this Parliament, whereof so many followed after their example, being not onely conniv'd at, but backed by authoritie, for there were prohibitions sent from the Parliament, to hinder all processe against some of them.

These Myrmidons, as they termed themselves, were ready at a watchword, so that one might say there was a kind of discipline in disorder.

[Page]Peregrin.

Were ther any troubled for delivering their votes in the Houses? I thought that freedom of opinion and speech, were one of the prime priviledges of that great Nationall Senat.

Patricius.

Yes, Those that were the Minions of the House before, became now the subjects of popular malice and detraction, (as the Lord Digby now Earl of Bristol for one) because against the dictamen of their consciences they would not vote the Earl of Strafford to death, and renounce their own judgments, and captivate it to the sense of others, yet they stood firm to their first grounds, that he was a delinquent in a high nature, and incapable ever to beare office in any of His Majesties dominions.

Peregrin.

I perceive Sir by your speeches, that one of the chiefest causes of these combustions may be imputed to the Citie of London, which may be called the Metropolis of all these evils, and I little wonder at it, for it hath been alwaies incident to all great Townes, when they grow rich and populous, to fall into acts of insolence, and to spurne at government; where so many pots, [Page] (so many braines I meane) are a boyling, ther must needs be a great deal of froth, but let her look to her self, for Majesty hath long arms, and may reach her at last. But the truth is, that London bears no proportion with the size of this Island, for either the one shold be larger, or the other lesser: London may be well compared to the liver of a cramm'd Italian goose, whose fatning emacerates the rest of the whole body, and makes it grow lean and languish, and she may be well term'd a goose now more then ever, for her feathers are pluck'd apace; but now that you have done with the Earl of Strafford, what is become of all the rest who were committed?

Patricius.

They are still in durance, and have continued so these two years and upward, yet are not proceeded against, nor brought to their answer to this very day, though all the Courts of Justice have bin open ever since. Many hundreds more of the best sort of Subjects have bin suddenly clapt up, and no cause at all mentioned in many of their commitments, and new Prisons made of purpose for them, where they may be said to be buried alive, and so forgotten as if [Page] ther were no such men in the world (wherof the Author was one:) And how this can stand with Magna Charta, with the Petition of Right (to vindicat which, ther was so much pains taken the last Parliament) let any man of a sane judgment determin. Yet one of the Judges, who hath an Impeachment o [...] High Treason still lying Dormant against him, though he be not Rectus in Curia himself, is suffered to sit as Judge upon the highest tribunall of England, whereas another for a pretended misdemeanour only is barr'd from sitting ther. Others who were at first cryed up and branded to be the most infamous Projectors and Monopolizers of the land, (as Hamilton, Holland, &c.) are not only at liberty, but crept into favour, and made use of.

Peregrin▪

Hath the house of Commons power to commit any but their own Members without conference with the Lords? Or hath any Order or Ordinance of one of the Houses singly, or of both conjunctly, power to enjoin a virtual, binding, generall obedience without the Royal consent?

Patricius.

The power of Parliament, when King, [Page] Peers, and Commons, which is the whole Kingdom digested as it were into one volum, is indefinit, but what either of both Houses can do of themselves singly or joyntly without the King who is the life of the Law, especially when a visible faction reigns amongst them, I will not determin.

‘—tantas componere lites non opis est nostrae—’

But for my own opinion, I think it is as impossible for them to make a Law without the King, as it was for Paracelsus to make a human creture without coition of both sexes. The results of Parliament without the Royall consent, are as matches without fire; And it is an incontroulable principle, that the old Law must be our guide, till new be made, nor is any Act of the Subject justifiable, but what is warranted by the old. But to proceed in the tru discovery of these Domestick scissures, my Lord of Stafford being gone, we hop'd fair weather wold follow. (He who was the cause of the tempest (as they pretended) being thrown over-board) but unluckie mists of jealousie grew thicker and thicker; Yet the Scots were dismist, having [Page] had Fidlers fare, meat, drink, and money, for eleven long moneths together. So His Majesty went to Scotland, where the Parliament ther, did but ask and have any thing, though it be the unquestionable Prerogative of Majesty to grant or deny Petitions, and to satisfie his conscience before any Councell whatsoever.

But during his sojourn ther, this formidable hideous Rebellion brok out in Ireland, which though it may be said to be but an old play newly reviv'd▪ yet the Scene was never so Tragicall and bloody as now: for the Barbarismes that have bin committed ther have bin so sanguinary, and monstrously savage, that I think posterity will hold them hyperbolicall [...]when History relates them. The Irish themselves affirm ther concurr'd divers causes to kindle this fire: One, was the taking off of Straffor [...]s head, (who awd them more then any Deputy ever did) and that one of his Accusations shold be to have used the Papists ther too favourably: Secondly, the rigorous proceedings and intended courses against the Roman Catholiques here in England. Lastly, the stopping of that Regiment of Irish, who was promised by His Majesties Royall Word and [Page] Letter to the King of Spain, who relying upon that employment, rather then to beg, steal, or starve, turned Rebels: And that, which hath agravated the Rebellion all this while, and heightned much the spirit of the Irish, was the introduction of the Scot, whom they hate in perfection above all people els; And intended lastly the design spoken of in our Parliament, to make an absolute Conquest, and Nationall Eradication of them, which hath made them to make vertue of necessity, and to be valiant against their wills.

Peregrin.

Indeed I heard that Act of staying the Irish Regiment, considering how the Marquesses de Velada, and Malvezzi, and Don Alonso de Cardenas, who were all three Ambassadours here for the King of Spain at that time, having by reliance upon the sacred Word and Letter of a King, imprested money, and provided shipping for their transport, and bin at above 10000. Crowns charges, I say this Act was very much censured abroad, to the dishonour of His Majesty and our reproach.

Patricius.

I am very sorry to hear it. Well Sir. His [Page] Majesty by His presence having setled Scotland, was at his return to London received with much joy and exultation, but though he was brought in with a Hosanna at one end of the Town, he found a Crucifige at the other: For at Westminster ther was a Remonstrance fram'd, a work of many weeks, and voted in the dead of night, when most of the moderat and well-thoughted Members were retired to their rest, wherein with as much aggravation and artifice as could be, the least moat in Government was exposed to publick view, from the first day of His Majesties Inaugurat [...]on to that very hour: Which Remonstrance as it did no good to the Publick but fill peoples heads with doubts, their hearts with gall, and retard the procedure of all businesse besides, so you may well think it could expect but cold entertainment with His Majesty, who hoped his great Councel, according to their often deep protestations, had done something for his welcom home, that might have made him the best beloved King that ever [...] amongst his people.

Peregrin.

[...], ther is no Government upon [...] up of m [...]n, but is subject to [Page] corruption; there is no Court of judicature so cleane, but some cobwebs may gather in it, unlesse an Act of Parliament could be made to free and exempt men from all infirmities and errour; It cannot be denied, but Scotland might have something to complaine of (though I think least of any) and so leapt first into the pooll to be cur'd, and what she fish'd besides in those troubled waters 'tis too well known: England also no doubt might have some grievances, which his Majestie freely offered not onely to redresse for the present, but to free her of all feares for the future, from falling into relapses of that kinde; but to redresse grievances by Armes, by plunging the whole countrey into an intestine warre, this makes the remedy worse then the malady, it is as if one would go about to cure a sick body by breaking his head, or let him blood by giving him a dash on the nose, it is as mad a tricke as his was who set the whole House a fire to roast his egs. But truly Sir, in my opinion, his Majesty at his return from Scotland, might have justly expected some acts of compliance and gratitude from his Parliament, considering what unparallel'd acts of grace he had pass'd before.

[Page]Patricius.

His Majesty did not rest there, but complied further with them by condescending to an act for putting down the star-chamber Court the high Commission, the Court of honour, nay, he was contented his own Privy Councell should be regulated, and his forests bounded not according to ancient Prerogative but late custome; nay further, he pass'd a Bill for the unvoting, and utter exclusion of the Spirituall Lords from the Parliament for ever, whereby it cannot be denied, but by the casheering of 25 votes at a clap, and by excluding the Recusant Lords besides (who subsist most by his grace) he did not a little enervat his own prerogative. Adde hereunto that having placed two worthy Gentlemen Biron and Lunsford Lieutenants of the Tower, he remov'd them both one after the other, and was content to put in one of their Election: And lastly, he trusted them with his greatest strength of all, with his Navie Royall, and call'd home Pennington who had the guard of the narrow Seas so many yeares.

Peregrin.

Truly Sir, I never remember to have heard or read of such notable acts of grace [Page] and confidence from any King: but would not all this suffice?

Patricius.

No, But they demanded all the Land Souldiery and military strength of the Kingdome to be disposed of by them, and to be put into what posture, and in what Equipage, and under what Commanders they pleas'd; And this was the first thing his Majesty ever denyed them, yet he would have granted them this also for a limited time, but that would not serve the turn; Hereupon his Majesty grew a little sensible how they inch'd every day more and more upon his Royall Prerogatives; And intending to go to his Town of Hull to see his Magazin (which he had bought with his own money) with his ordinary train, he was in a hostile manner kept out, Canons mounted, Pistols cockt, and leveld at him. But whether that unlucky Knight (Hotham) did this out of his fidelity to the Parl. or out of an apprehension of feare that some about the King, being mov'd with the barbarousnesse of the action would have pistold him, I will not determine.

Peregrin.

I have read of divers affronts of this kinde [Page] that were offerd to the French Kings, Rochell shut her gates more than once against Henry the Great, and for the King now regnant, they did not only shut him out of many of his Towns, but upon the gates of some of them they writ in legible Characters, Roy san Foy, ville sans peur, a faithlesse King, a fearlesse Towne. Yet in the greatest heat of those warres, there was never any Towne refus'd to let in her King, provided he came attended onely with his own traine; and besides other people abroad, I heard the Scot's nation did abhor that Act at Hull. But I pray Sir go on.

Patricius.

His Majesty being thus shut out of one Towne, he might justly suspect that an attempt might be made to shut him in, in some other; Therefore he made a motion to the Yorke-shire Gentlemen, to have a gard for the preservation of his Person, which was done accordingly. But I am come to forward, I must go backe and tell you how the King was driven from Westminster. When His Majesty was return'd from Scotland he retir'd to Hampton Court, whence upon the Lord Majors and the Cities humble sollici [...]ation, he came back to White-hal to keep [Page] his Christmas. But when the Bill against Bishops was in agitation, which businesse [...]asted neer upon ten weekes, a crue of bold [...]turdie mechanicks, and mariners, came [...]rom the Citie and ruffled before White-hall and Westminster-hall, and would have violated the Abby of Westminster, so that for many [...]ights a Court of gard was forced to be kept [...]n the body of that Church, (the chiefest Sanctuary of the Kingdom.) Moreover, His Majesty having impeached some of the Members of both Houses, of High Treason, and being denied to have them delivered up, he went himself to the Lower House to demand them, assuring the House they should have as faire and legall a triall as ever men had. But as it pleas'd God, they were not there, but retir'd to London for refuge; The Londoners grew starke wilde thereupon, and notice being sent to all the adjacent Counties, this act of the Kings (though it wanted no precedents of former times) was aggravated in the highest degree that possibly could be. Hence you may easily inferre, what small securitie his Majesty had at White-hall, and what indignities he might have exposed himself unto, by that which had pass'd already from the Rabble, who had vilified and [Page] cried tush at his proclamations, and disgorg'd other rebellious speeches with impunity: therefore he retird to Hampton Court (as we read, our Saviour withdrew himselfe once from the multitude) thence to Windsor Castle, whence accompanying her Majesty, with his eldest daughter to the sea side for Holland, and having commanded the Prince to attend him against his return at Greenwich, the Prince had been surpriz'd, and brought to London, had not the King come a little before. Thence he removed to Yorke, where he kept his Court all the Sommer.

But to returne to London, the very next day after their Majesties departure, the Countrey about, especially Buckinghamshire being incited by the C [...]tie and Parliament, came in great swarmes, and joyning with the London mechanicks, they ruffled up and down the streets, and kept such a racket, making the fearfull'st riot that ever I beleeve was heard of in Parliament time: so those Members which formerly were fled into the Citie, were brought to the House in a kind of triumph, being garded by land and water in warlike manner by these Champions: After this, sundry troops of horse came from all the shires near adjoyning to [Page] [...]he Parliament, and Buckingham men were [...]he first, who while they express'd their [...]ve to (Hamden) their Knight, forgot their [...]worn oath to their King, and in stead of feathers they carried a printed Protestation in [...]heir hats, as the Londoners had done a lit [...]le before upon the Pikes point.

Peregrin.

This kept a foul noise beyond Sea I re [...]ember, so that upon the Rialto in Venice, [...]t was sung up and down, that a Midsummer Moon (though it was then midst of Winter) did raign amongst the English, and you must [...]hink that it hath made the Venetian to [...]hrink in his shoulders, and to look but illfavouredly upon us, since wee'l have none of his currans. But Sir, I heard much of that Protestation, I pray what was the substance of it?

Patricius.

It was penn'd, and enjoyn'd by the Par [...]iament for every one to take, and it consisted of many parts; the first was, to maintain the tru Potestant Religion against all Popish innovations, which word Popish (as som think) was scrued in of purpose for a loop hole to let in any other innovation: the second was to maintain the Prerogative an [...] [Page] Honour of the King; then the power and priviledge of Parliament; and lastly, the Propriety and Liberty of the subject; for thre [...] parts of this Protestation, the people up an [...] down seem'd to have utterly forgotte [...] them, and continue so still, as if their consciences had bin tied only to the third, viz the priviledge of Parliament, and never was ther a poor people so besotted, never wa [...] reason and common sence so baffled in an [...] part of the world.

And now will I go to attend His Majesty at York, where, as I told you before, being loth to part with his Sword, (though he had half parted with his Scepter before) by denying the Parliament an indefinite time to dispose of the Militia, (alleadging that as the Word, so the thing was new.) He sends forth his Commissions of Array, according to the old Law of England, which declares i [...] to be the undoubted Right, and Royall Signorie of the King, to arm or disarm any subject: The Parliament sends out clean countermands for executing the said Militia, so by this clashing 'twixt the Commission of Array and the Militia, the first flash of this odious unnaturall war may be said to break out. The pulse of the Parliament beats [Page] yet higher, they send an Admirall to the Sea (the Earl of Warwick) not only without, but expresly against the Kings special command. They had taken unto them a Military gard from the City for their protection, without His Majesties consent, who by the advice of the Lord Keeper and others, had offered them a very strong gard of Constables and other Officers to attend them, which the Law usually allows; yet the raising of that gard in York-shire for the safegard of His Majesties person, was interpreted to be leavying of war against the Parliament, and so made a sufficient ground for them to raise an Army, to appoint a Generall (the Earl of Essex) with whom they made publick Declarations to live and die. And they assumed power to confer a new Appellation of honour upon him, (Excellency) as if any could confer Honour but the King! And this Army was to be maintain'd out of the mixt con [...]ribution of all sorts of people; so a great masse of money and plate was brought into the Guild hall, the Semstresse brought in her silver Thimble, the Chambermaid her Bodkin, the Cook his Spoons, and the Vintner his Bowles, and every one somthing, to the advancement of so good a [Page] work, as to wage war directly against the Sacred person of their Soverain, and put the whole Countrey into a combustion.

Peregrin.

Surely it is impossible that a rationall Christian people shold grow so simple and sottish, as to be so far transported, without some colourable cause, therfore I pray tell me what that might be?

Patricius.

The cause is made specious enough, and varnished over wonderfull cunningly; The people are made to believe they are in danger, and a prevention of that danger is promised, and by these plausible ways the understanding is wrought upon, and an affection to the cause is usher'd in, by aggravation of this danger, as one wold draw a thred through a needles eye: This huge Bugbear Danger, was like a monster of many heads, the two chiefest were these▪ That ther was a plot to let in the Pope; And to [...] the civil Government into a French frame; It is incredible to think how the Pulpits up and down London did ring of this by brainsick Lecturers, of whom som were come from New-England, others were pick'd out of purpose, and sent for from their own flock in the Countrey, to possesse, or [Page] rather to poison the hearts of the Londoners, to puzzle their intellectualls, and to intoxicat their brains by their powerfull gifts; It was punishable to preach of Peace, or of Caesars Right, but the common subject of the pulpit was either blasphemy against God, disobedience against the King, or incitements to sedition; Good Lord, what windy frothy stuff came from these fanatick brains; These Phrenetici Nebulones (for King Iames gives them no better Character in his ( [...],) who may be said to be mad out of too much ignorance, not knowledg; who neverthelesse are come to that height of prophaness and pride, that they presume to father all their doctrines, all their nonsense, raptures and ravings upon the holy Spirit. Nor did the Pulpit only help to kindle this fire, but the Presse also did contribute much stubble; What base scurrilous Pamphlets were cryed up and down the streets, and dispersed in the [...]? What palpable and horrid lies were daily printed? How they multiplied in every corner in such plenty, that one might say t [...]er was a superfaetation of lies, which continue unto this day? One while the King of Denmark was comming over from the [Page] Sound: Another while the King of France had a huge Army about Calais design'd for England: Another while ther was an Army of Irish Rebels comming over with the privity of the King: Another while a plot was cryed up and down to burn London: Another while ther were subterranean invisible troups (at Ragland Castle) mustered under ground in Wales, and thousands of Papists armed in Lancashire, and divers reports of this nature were daily blown up, and though the Authors of them were worthlesse and mean futilous persons, yet the reports themselves had that credit as to be entertain'd and canvas'd in the High Court of Parliament. But these false rumors produc'd one politick effect (and it was the end indeed for which they were dispers'd) they did intimidat and fill the peoples hearts with fears, and dispose of them to up roars and so to part with money.

Peregrin.

I know ther be sundry sorts of Fears; ther are Conscientious Fears, and ther are [...]annick Fears, ther are Pusillanimous Fears, and ther are Politick Fears. The first sort of Fear proceeds from guilt of Conscience, which turns often to Phre [...]cy. The second [Page] sort of Fear may be call'd a kind of Chymera, 'tis som sudden surprizall or Consternation arising from an unknown cause. Pusillanimous Fear makes a mountain of a molehill, and proceeds from poverty of spirit, and want of courage, and is a passion of abject and degenerous minds, and may be call'd Cowardise, and this Fear is always accompanied with jealousie. Politick fear, is a created forg'd Fear wrought in another, to bring som design about; And as we find the Astronomers (the comparison is too good) do imagin such and such shapes and circles in the Heavens, as the Zodiak, Equinoctiall, Colures, Zones and Topiques with others, though ther be no such things really in nature, to make their conclusions good. So the Polititian doth often devise and invent false imaginary Fears, to make his proceedings more plausible amongst the silly vulgar, and therby to compasse his ends: And as the Sun useth to appear far bigger to us in the morning then at noon, when he is exalted to his Meridian, and the reason the Philosophers use to give, is the interposition of the vapours which are commonly in the lower Region, through which we look upon him (as we find a piece of silver [Page] look bigger in a bucket of water then elsewhere) so the Polititian uses to cast strange mists of Fear, and fogs of jealousie before the simple peoples eyes, to make the danger seem bigger: But truly Sir, this is one of the basest kinds of policy, nor can I believe ther be any such Polititians amongst the Cabalists of your Parliament, who pretend to be so busie about Gods work, a Glorious Reformation, for you know ther is a good Text for it, that God needeth not the wicked man▪ he abominats to be beholding to liers to bring about his purposes: But I pray Sir deal freely with me, do you imamagin ther was a design to bring in the Mass [...] again?

Patricius.

The Masse? You may say ther was a plot to bring in Mahomet as soon, to bring in the Alchoran, or Talmud as soon; For I dare pawn my soul, the King is as Cordiall a Protestant as any that breathes under his three Crowns, which besides his publick deep Protestations, and his constant quotidian exemplary open practise, many other convincing private reasons induce me to believe, and it is in vain to think the Pope can take footing here to any purpose without [Page] the Kings leave. You know as well as I Sir, that of all the Reformed Churches in Christendom, the Lutheran retains most of the Roman, both in his positions and practise, and comes much nearer to him then we do, yet I have observed, that from the first day of his Reformation, to this, He is as averse, and as far off from Rome, as the rigidest Calvinist that is; And shall I think, because ther are som humble and hansom postures, and decent vestures revived in our Church (for they were never abolished;) because the Communion table stands in the East end where it ever stood since Christianity came in all our Cathedralls, which shold be a rule to all inferiour Churches, though the Seperatist cries it up most falsly to be an Innovation: because the Queen hath a few simple Capuchins (fewer then was allowed by the Matrimoniall Capitulations) whither to retire sometimes: Because Schismaticks were proceeded against with more care, and the Government of the Church born up [...]ately with more countenance, shall I be [...]ieve out of all this that the Pope must pre [...]ently come in? shall I believe the weakness [...]f our Religion to be such, as to be so easily [...]aken and overturn'd? Yet I believe ther [Page] was a pernicious plot to introduce a new Religion, but what I pray? not Popery, but Presbitry, and with it to bring in the doctrine of Buchanan and Knox for civill government, and so to cast our Church and State into a Scots mould.

Peregrin.

Indeed I heard the English much derided abroad for resigning their intellectualls in point of Religion to the Scots, whom from Infidels they made Christians, and Reformed Christians first, and now for the English to run to them for a Religion, and that the Uniformity & reformation shold proceed from them, having disdain'd us formerly, what a disparagement is it thinke you to the Anglican Church? This with other odd traverses, as the eclipsing the glory of the King, and bringing him back to a kind of minoritie, the tampering with his conscience, I will not say the straining it so farre, the depriving him of all kind of propertie, the depressing of his Regall power, wherein the honour of a nation consists, and which the English were us'd to uphold more then any other, for no King hath more awful attributs from his subjects, as Sacred Sovereigne, gracious and most Excellent Majestie, nor any [Page] King so often prayed for, for in your morning Liturgie he is five times prayed for, whereas other Princes are mentioned but once or twice at most in their's: I say that this, with interception of letters, some incivilities offered Ambassadors, and the bold lavish speeches that were spoken of the greatest Queenes in Christendome, and his Majesties late withdrawing his Royall protection from some of his Merchant-Subjects in other countreys, hath made the English lose much ground in point of esteeme abroad, and to be the discourse, I will not say the scorne of other people. They stick not to say, that there is now a worse maladie fallen upon their minds, then fell upon their bodies about an age since by the Sweating sicknesse, which was peculiar onely unto them and found them out under all Climes. Others say, there is a pure [...] amongst them, that they are turn'd to Wolves (as you know it is a common thing in L [...]pland) & that the old Adage is verified in them, Homo homini lupus; Nay our next neighbours give out, that the saying was never truer then now, Rex Anglorum, Rex Diabolorum. Nor is it a small disrepute to the English, that the word Cavalier, which is an attribute [Page] that no Prince in Christendome will disdain, and is the common Appellation of the Nobilitie and Gentrie in most parts of the world, is now us'd, not onely in Libels and frivolous Pamphlets, but in publicke Parliamentarie Declarations, for a terme of reproach. But truely Sir, what you have related touching the Pulpit and the Presse, transformes me into wonder, and I should want faith to beleeve it, did you not speak it upon your knowledge; but the English when they fall to worke upon a new humour, use to overdoe all people.

Patricius.

You have not yet the tithe of what I could give you, you would little think that Coachmen, and Feltmakers, and Weavers were permitted to preach up and down without controulment, and to vent their froth and venome against Church and State, to cry downe our Hierarchy and Liturgie, by most base and reviling speeches.

Peregrin.

Touching your Lyturgie, I have heard it censur'd abroad by the regidest Calvinists of Generva and Dort, yet I never heard any other Character given of it, but that it is a most Pious, Pathetick, and perfect peece of [Page] devotion, both for the matter and forme of it, which I have been a little curious to observe. It begins with some choise passages of holy Scripture, and a previous Declaration or Monitory to excite us to the worke in hand; The first addresse wee make to God is by an humble and joynt Confession which is appliable to any conscience, and comprehends in it all kind of sins. Then followeth a pronuntiation of Gods promises and pronesse to pardon and absolve us; We goe on to the Lords Prayer, which having bin dictated by our Saviour himself we often use, and is as Amber throwne in amongst our Frankincense, to make the Sacrifice more precious and pleasing unto God; Then we proceed to som choice Psalms, and other portions of holy scripture taken out of the old and new testament; Then we fall to the Symbole of faith, whereof we make a solemn joynt confession in such a posture as shews a readinesse and resolution in us to defend it: and so to the Letany, wherein the poor penitent peccant soul may be said to breath out herself into the bosome of her Saviour by tender ejaculations, by panting groans, & eviscerated ingeminations, and there is no sin, no temptation [Page] whatsoever that humane frailty is subject unto, but you shall find a deliverance from it there, it is so full of Christian charity, that there is no condition of people, but are remembred and prayed for there. Then wee proceed by holy alternatif interlocutions (whereby wee heare our selves speak as well as the Minister) to some effectuall short prayers; because in long prayers the minde is subject to wander, as some Zelots now a dayes use to bring their Hearers into a Wildernesse by their Prayers, and into a Labyrinth by their Sermons. Then goe we on to the Decalogue, and if it be in a Cathedrall, there is time enough for the Hearer to examine himselfe, while the Musick playes, where and when he broke any of Gods holy Commandements, and ask particular forgivenesse accordingly in the intervall; Then after other choice portions of Scripture, and passages relating to our Redemption, and endearing, unto us the merits of it, with a more particular Confession of our Faith, we are dismissed with a Benediction: So that this Liturgy may be call'd an Instrument of many strings, whereon the sighing soul sends up varions notes unto heaven: It is a posie made up of divers flowers, to make [Page] it the more fragrant in the nostrills of God. Now touching your Bishops, I never knew yet any Protestant Church but could be content to have them, had they meanes to maintaine the Dignitie, which the Churches of France with others have not, in regerd the Reformation beg an first among the people, not at Court, as here it did in Engl. For unlesse ther be som Supervisers of Gods house, endowed with eminent authority to check the fond fancies, and quench the false fatuous fires of every private spirit, and unlesse it be such an authority that may draw unto it a holy kind of awe and obedience what can be expected but confusion and Atheisme? You know what became of the Israelites when the wonted reverence to the Ark, and the Ephod, and the Priest, began to languish amongst them: For the braine of man is like a garden, which unlesse it be fenced about with a wall or hedge, is subject you know to be annoyed by all kinde of beasts which will be ready to runne into it; so the braine unlesse it be restrain'd and bounded in holy things by rules of Canonicall authoritie, a thousand wild opinions, and extravagant fancies will hourely rush into it: nor was there ever any field so subject to produce [Page] Cockle and Darnell, as the human brain is rank and ready to bring forth tares of Schism and Heresie of a thousand sorts, unlesse after the first culture the sickle of Authority be applyed to grub up all such noisom weeds.

Patricius.

Yet this most antient dignity of Bishops is traduced and vilified by every shallow-pated petty Clerk, and not so much out of a tru zeal, as out of envy that they are not the like. And touching our Liturgy, wherof you have bin pleas'd to give so exact a Character, people are come to that height of impiety, that in som places it hath bin drown'd, in other places burnt, in som places torn in pieces to serve for the basest uses, nay it hath bin preached publickly in Pulpits, That it is a piece forg'd in the devils shop, and yet the impious foul mouth'd Babbler never was so much as questioned for it. Nor did the Church only eccho with these blasphemies; but the Presse was as pregnant to produce every day som Monster either against Ecclesiasticall, or Secular Government. I am asham'd to tell you how som bold Pamphleters in a discourse of a sheet or two, wold presume to question, to dispute of, and determin [Page] the extent of Monarchik jurisdiction, what sturdy doubts, what sawcy Quaeries they put, what odd frivolous distinctions they f [...]am'd, That the King though he was Gods Anointed, yet he was mans appointed: That he had the commanding, not the disposing power: That he was set to rule over, not to over-rule the people; That he was King by human choice, not by divine Charter; That he was not King by the Grace of God, so much as by the suffrage of the people; That he was a Creatur [...] and production of the Parliament: That he had no implicit trust, nor peculiar property in any thing; That populus est potior Rege; That Grex lege, lex est Rege potentior; That the King was singulis major, universis minor, (wheras a successive Monarch—Uno minor est Iove.—Sometimes they wold bring instances from the States of Holland, sometimes from the Republick of Venice, and apply them so impertinently to absolute and independant Royalty; But I find that the discourse and inferences of these grand Statists were bottom'd upon four false foundations, viz. That the King of whom they speak must be either a Minor, and Idiot, an insufferable Tyrant, or that the [Page] Kingdom they mean, is Elective; None of all which is appliable, either to our most gracious and excellently qualified King, or to his renowned Kingdom, which hath bin always reputed an ancient successive Monarchy, govern'd by one Suprem undeposeable and independent head, having the Dignity, the Royall State, and power of an Imperiall Crown, and being responsible to none [...]ut to God Almighty and his own [...] [...]or his actions, and unto whom a Body [...]olitick compacted of Prelates, [...], and all degrees of people is naturally subject; but this is a theam of that transcenden [...]y, that it requires a serious and solid Tractat, rather then such a slender Discourse as this is to handle.

But I pray excuse me Sir, that I have stept aside thus from the road of my main narration; I told you before, how the clashing 'twixt the Commission of Array, and the Militia, put all things in disarray throughout the whole Kingdom; The Parliament as they had taken the first Military gard, so they began to arm first, and was it not high time then for His Majesty to do some thing think you? yet he essayed by all ways imaginable to prevent a war, and to conquer by a [Page] passive fortitude, by cunctation, and longanimity. How many overtures for an accommodation did he make? How many Proclamations of pardon? How many elaborat Declarations breathing nothing but clemency, sweetness and truth did drop from his own imperious invincible pen, which will remain upon Record to all ages, as so many Monuments to his eternall glory? Yet som ill spirit stept still in, between his Grace, and the abused Subject, for by the peremptory Order of Parliament (O monstrous thing) the said Proclamations of Grace, and other His Majesties Declarations were prohibited to be read; fearing that the strength and truth of them wold have had a vertue to unblind, or rather unbewitcht (for Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft) the poor besotted people: What deep Protestations and holy Vowes did he reiterate that the main of his designs, was to preserve the tru Protestant Religion, the known Lawes of the Land, and the just priviledges of Parliament? How often did he dehort and woo the City of London (his imperiall Chamber) from such violent courses, so that she may be justly upbraided with the same words, as the Prince of peace upbraided Ierusalem withall: London, London, [Page] How often wold I have gathered thee, as a [...]en doth her chickens under her wings, yet thou wouldst not?

How often did he descend to acknowledg the manner of demanding the one and five Members in his publick Remonstrances? and if ther was an errour in the proceedings, how oft did he desire his Great Councell to direct him in a course how to go on in the Empeachment? which they never did, but wold reserve the priviledge to themselves to be judge and party.

Peregrin.

Can your Parliament protect high Treason? I am sure the character of an Ambassadour cannot, which the late French Ambassadour (who for his time play'd his Cards more cunning than ever Count Gondomar did) knew well; and therefore, as I heard som French men say, he got Letters of Revocation before his designed time: but it seems strange to me, that the King who is the Protectour of the Law, and Fountain of Justice, cannot have the benefit of the Law himself, which the meanest of his vassals can claim by right of inheritance: 'Tis strange, I say, that the Law shold be a dead letter to him who is the Life of the [Page] Law, but that for omission of some punctillio in the form of the Processe, the charge of high Treason shold be so slightly wav'd, specially Treason of so universall a concernment, that it may be call'd a complication of many Treasons; for if in every petty State it be High Treason to treat only with any Forrein Power without the privity of the Prince, it must needs be Treason of a higher nature actually to bring them in; And hereof I could alleadge you many pregnant instances, ancient and modern, but that I do not desire to interrupt you in your relation.

Patricius.

The Parliament, as I told you before, armed apace, it was not fitting then His Majesty shold sit idle; therfore he summons those Nobles and others, who had an immediate relation unto him by Office or Service, to attend him at York, according to their particular obligation and oath: But it seems the Parliament assumed power to dispence with those oaths, and excuse their attendance, which dispensation prevail'd with som (tender) consciences; yet the Great Seal posted to Court, and after it most of the Nobles of the Land, with the flower [Page] of the Gentry, and many of the prime Members of the Commons House; so that were it not for the locall priviledge, the Parliament for number of Members, might be said to be ever since about the King: These Nobles and Gentlemen resenting His Majesties case, and what practices ther were on foot to alter the Government both of Church and State, not only advised His Majesty to a royall war for defence of his Crown and Dignity, but contributed very chearfully, and have stood constant to the work ever since.

Peregrin.

They have good reason for it, for the security of the Nobility and Gentry depends upon the strength of the Crown, otherwise popular Government wold rush in like a torrent upon them. But surely those Nobles, and those Parliament Gentlemen and others, som of whom I understand, were reputed the wisest and best weigh'd men for experience and parts thorowout the whole Kingdom, and were cryed up in other Parliaments to be the most zealous Patriots for the propriety and freedom of the Subject, wold never have stuck so firmly to His Majesty, had they not known the [Page] bottom of his designs, that it was far from his thoughts to bring in the Pope or French Government; for therby they shold have betrayed their own posterity, and made their children slaves.

Patricius.

To my knowledge, these Nobles and Gentlemen are still the very same as they were in former Parliaments, wherin they were so cryed up for the truest lovers of their Country, and best Common-wealthsmen; yet now they are branded, and voted to be Seducers, and Traytors, because according to their oaths and consciences, they adhere to the King their Master and Liege-Lord, for maintenance of that Religion they were baptized and bred in. Those most Orthodox and painfull Divines, which till this Parliament began were accounted the precisest sort of Protestants, are now cryed down for Papists, though they continue still the very same men, both for opinions and preaching, and are no more Papists than I am a Pythagorean. In fine, a tru English Protestant is put now in the same scale with a Papist, and made Synonyma's. And truly these unhappy Schismaticks could not devise how to cast a greater infamy upon the [Page] English Protestant than they have done of late by these monstrous imputations; they wold fasten upon him such opinions which never entred into his thoughts, they wold know ones heart better than himself, and so would be greater Kardiognosticks than God Almighty.

But to draw to a conclusion; The Parliaments Army multiplyed apace in London, the Kings but slowly in the North, so that when he displayed his Royal Standard at Nottingham, his Forces were not any thing considerable, so that if the Parliaments Generall (Essex) had then advanced towards him from Northampton, he had put him to a very great strait; they encreased somthing at Derby, and Stafford, but when he was come to Shrewsbury, the Welch-men came running down the mountains in such multitudes, that their example did much animate the English; so that his army in lesse than a month that the Court continued in Shrewsbury, came to near upon twenty thousand Horse and Foot; not long before, the Nephew Princes came over, and the first encounter Prince Rupert had with the Parliaments Forces was at Worcester, where he defeated the flower of their Cavalry, and gave [Page] them a smart blow. At Shrewsbury His Majesty took a resolution to march with His whole Army towards London, but after seven days march he understood the Parliaments Forces were within six miles side-long of him, and so many miles he went out of His road to find them out, and face them: Upon Sunday morning he was himself betimes upon Edge-Hill, wher the Enemies Colours plainly appear'd in vale before Keinton; it was past two in the after-noon before all his Infantery could get to the bottom, who upon sight of the Enemies Colours ran as merrily down the Hill, as if they had gone to a Morris dance. So His Majesty himself being Generalissimo, gave command the great Ordnance shold flye for a defiance, so the battell began, which lasted above three hours, and as some French and Dutch Commanders (who were engag'd in the Fight) told me, they never remembred to have seen a more furious battail for the time in all the German wars. Prince Rupert pursued the Enemies Horse like a whirl-wind near upon three miles, and had ther bin day enough, when he came back to the Infanterie, in all probability a totall defeat had bin given them: So that the same accident [Page] may be said to fall out here, as happened in that famous battell at Lewis, in Henry the thirds time, where the Prince of Wales (afterwards Edward the first) was so eager, and went so far (by excesse of courage) from the body of the Army in pursuance of the Londoners, that it was the fatall cause of the losse of that mighty battail. His Majesty (to his deserved and never-dying glory) comported himself like another Caesar all the while, by riding about and encouraging the Souldiers, by exposing his person often to the reach of a Musket-bullet, and lying in the field all that bleak night in his Coach. Notwithstanding that many lying Pamphlets were purposely printed here, to make the world believe that he had retir'd himself all the time of the fight; what partiall reports were made in the Guild-Hall to the Londoners, and by what persons, (W. and Strode) I am ashamed to tell you: But that His Majesty was victorious that day (a day which I never thought to have seen in England) ther be many convincing arguments to prove it; for besides the great odds of men which fell on their side, and Cannons they lost, som of their Ordnance were nayl'd by the Kings Troops the next morning after [Page] in the very face of their Army. Moreover, the King advanc'd forward the next day to his former road, and took Banbury presently after; but the Parliamenteers went backwards, and so from that day to this, His Majesty continueth Master of the field. 'Tis tru, that in som places, as at Farnham, Winchester, and Chichester, they have prevail'd since, but no considerable part of the Royall Army was ther to make opposition; and I blush to tell you, how unworthily the Law of Armes was violated in all those places.

Peregrin.

Good Lord, how can the souls of those men that were in the Parliaments Army at Keinton Battell, dispense with the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegeance, besides the Protestation you speak of, they had taken to preserve the Person, Honour, and Prerogative of the King, when they thus actually bandy against his Person, and appear in battel with all the engines of hostility against him?

Patricius.

I wold be loth to exchange consciences with them, and prevaricate so palpably with God Almighty; Touching the Cavaliers, [Page] they may be said to comply with their duties both towards God and their King according to the Oaths you mention; Moreover, ther was a strong Act of Parliament (for their security) which was never as much as questioned or controverted, much lesse suspended or repeal'd: But always stood, and yet stands in as full validity and force, as it was the first day it was Enacted, and as much binding to an universall obedience, which Act runs thus:

13. Octobris Anno undecimo Henrici Septimi, Anno Dom. 1496

[Page]

IT is Ordained, Enacted, and Established by the King Our Soverain Lord, by the Advice and Assent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall, and the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled, and by Authority of the same, That from henceforth no manner of person or persons whatsoever he or they be, that attend upon the King and Soverain Lord of this Land for the time being in his person, and do him tru and faithfull service of Allegiance in the same, or be he in other places by his Commandment, [Page] in his wars within this Land or without: That for the said Deed, and tru duty of Allegiance, he or they be in no wise Convict or attaint of High Treason, nor of other offences for that cause, by Act of Parliament or otherwise by any processe of Law, whereby he or any of them, shall lose or forfeit Life, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Possessions, Hereditaments, Goods, Chattels, or any other things: But to be for that Deed and Service utterly discharged of any Vexation, Trouble or loss. And if any Act or Acts, or other processe of the Law hereafter, therupon for the same happen to be made contrary to this Ordinance, That then that Act or Acts, or other processe of the Law, whatsoever they shall be, stand and utterly void. Provided alwayes that no person or persons shall take any benefit [Page] or advantage by this Act, which shall hereafter decline their said Allegiance.

Peregrin.

This is as plain and fair as can be for securing both the Person and Conscience of the Cavalier, but was ther ever any Act or Oath, or any thing like an Oath that oblig'd Englishmen to be tru unto, or fight for the Parliament?

Patricius.

Never any, but these men by a new kind of Metaphysicks have found out a way to abstract the Person of the King from his Office, to make his Soveraigntie a kind of Platonick Idea hovering in the aire, while they visibly attempt to assaile and destroy his Person and Progeny, by small and great shot, and seek him out amongst his life-Gard with fire and sword; yet they give out, they fight not only not against him, but for him, and that their army is more loyall unto him than his owne; who, they say, fight only for the name King, though they have his person really amongst them, commanding and [Page] directing: Thus they make Him a strange kind of Amphibium, they make in one instant a King and no King of the same Individuum; a power which the Casuists affirme God Almighty never assumed to himself, to doe any thing that implies a contradiction.

Peregrin.

Noble Sir, you make my heart to pant within me, by the Pathetick relation you have been pleas'd to make mee of these [...]uthfull times; But one thing seems to me to be no lesse then a miracle, how his Majestie hath beene able to subsist all this while, considering the infinite advantages the averse partie hath had of him; for they have all the tenable places and townes of strength, both by land and sea; They have the Navie royall, they have all the Amunition and Armes of the Crown, they have all the Imposts and Customs, Poundage and Tonnage (which they levie contrary to their former Protestation before the Bill be pass'd) They have the Exchequer at their devotion, and all the Revenue of the King, Queen, and Prince, and lastly, they have the citie of London, which may be eall'd a Magazin of money and men, where there is a ready supplie and superfluitie of all things, that may seed, clothe, or [Page] make men gay to put them in heart and resolution: Truely considering all these advantages, with divers others on their side, and the disadvantages on the Kings, it turnes me into a lump of astonishment, how his Majestie could beare up all this while, and keep together so many Armies, and be still master of the Field.

Patricius.

I confesse Sir, it is a just subject for wonderment, and we must ascribe it principally to God Almightie, who is the Protectour of his Anointed, for his hand hath manifestly appear'd in the conduct of his affaires; Hee hath been the Pilot, who hath sate at the helme ever s [...]nce this storme began, and will we hope continue to steer his course till he waft him to safe harbour againe; Adde hereunto, that his Majesty for his own part, hath beene wonderfully stirring, and indefatigable both for his body and minde; And what notable things HER Majesty hath done, and what she hath suffered, is fitter for Chronicle, then such a simple Discourse.

Hereunto may be added besides, that his Majestie hath three parts of foure of the Peeres, and Prime Gentrie of the Kingdom firme unto him, and they will venture hard [Page] before they will come under a popular government and mechanicall corporations, or let in Knox or Calvin to undermine this Church, and bring in their bawdy stool of Repentance.

Peregrin.

Truely Sir, amongst other Countreys, I extreamly long'd to see England, and I am no sooner come, but I am surfeited of her already, I doubt the old Prophecie touching this Island is come now to be verified, That the Churchman was, the Lawyer is, and the Souldier shall be. I am afraid the English have seene their best dayes; for I find a generall kind of infatuation, a totall Eclipse of reason amongst most of them; and commonly a generall infatuation precedes the perdition of a people; like a fish, that putrifieth first in the head; Therefore I will trusse up my baggage and over again, after I have enjoyed you some dayes, and received your commands.

Patricius.

Dear Sir, If you seriously resolve to crosse the Seas againe so soon, I may chance beare you company, for as you have since the short time of your sojourn here judiciously observed a national defection of reason in the people [Page] of this Island, which makes her so active in drawing on her own ruine; so by longer experience, and by infallible Symptomes I find a strange kind of Vertigo to have seized upon her, which I feare will turne to the falling sicknesse, or such a frenzie that will make her to dash out her own braines: Nor are her miseries, I feare, come yet to the full; It is the method of the Almightie, when he pleases to punish a people, to begin with roddes, to goe on with scourges, and if they will not do, he hath Scorpions for them: Therefore, I will breath any where sooner then here, for what securitie or contentment can one receive in that Countrey, where Religion and Iustice, the two grand Dorique Columnes which support every State, are fallen down? which makes all conditions of men, all professions and trades to go here daylie to utter ruine. The Churchman grows every day more despicable, as if he had no propertie in any thing, nor is there any way left him to recover his Tithe, but by costly troublesome sutes. The Civilian, a brave learned profession, hath already made his last Will; And the Common Lawyers case is little better; The Courtier cannot get his Pension; The Gentleman cannot recover his [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] rents, but either they are sequestred by a high hand of unexampled power, or else the poor tenant is so heavily assess'd or plundred, that he is disabled to pay them in; All kind of Comerce both domestick and forrein visibly decayes, and falls more and more, into the hands of strangers (to the no small dishonour of the wisedome of this Nation) nor can the Tradesman recover his debts, Parliamentary Protections continue still in such numbers, so that it is a greater priviledge now to be a footman to the meanest of the Lower House, then to be of the Kings Bed chamber: Prenti [...]es run away from their masters, and against their fathers intent turn souldiers, and for money, which is the soul of trade, I beleeve since the beginning of this Parliament, above one half of the treasure of the Kingdome is either conveyed to'ther side of the Sea, or buried under ground, whence it must be new digg'd up againe. Moreover, all things are here grown Arbitrary (yet that word took off the Earle of Straffords head) Religion, Law, and Allegiance is growne Arbitrary; nor dares the Iudge upon the Tribunall (according to his oath) do justice, but he is over-awed by Ordinance; or els the [Page] least intimation of the sense of the lower House is sufficient to enjoyne him the contrary, so that now, more then ever, it may be said here,—Terras Astraea reliquit.—peace also hath rov'd up and downe this Island, and cannot get a place to lay her head on; she hoped to have had entertainment in York-shire by the agreement of the best Gentlemen in the Countrey; but an Ordinance of Parliament beat her out of doores; Then she thought to rest in Cheshire, and by a solemne Covenant she was promis'd to be preserv'd ther, the principal Agents of that Covenant having protested every one upon the word of a Gentleman, and as they did desire to prosper, both themselves, their tenants and friends,, shold strictly observe it; but the like Ordinance of Parliament battered down that Agreement.

Then she thought to take footing in the West, and first in Dorcetshire, then in Cornwall and Devonshire, and by the holy tie of the blessed Sacrament she was promised to be preserved ther; but another Ordinance of Parliament is pursuing her, to dispense with the Commissioners of the said Agreement for their Oaths. Lastly, His Majesty is mainly endeavouring to bring her in again [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] thorowout the whole Land; but the furious, phrentique Schismaticks will have none of her; for as one of them (besides a thousand instances more) preach'd in one of the most populous Congregations about the City, It were better that London streets ran with bloud, and that dead carkasses were piled up as high as the battlements of Pauls, than peace should be now brought in. And now that Peace is shut out, Learning is upon point of despair, her Colledges are become Courts of Gard, and Mars lieth in Mercuries bed. Honour also, with her Court, lieth in the dust; the Cobler may confront the Knight, the Boor the Baron, and ther is no judicial way of satisfaction; which makes Monarchy fear she hath no long time of abode here. Publick Faith also, though she had but newly set up for her self, is suddenly become Bankrupt, and how could she choose? for more of the Kingdoms treasure hath bin spent within these thirty moneths, than was spent in four-score yeares before; but she hopes to piece up her self again, by the ruines of the Church; but let her take heed of that, for those goods have bin fatall to many thousand families in this Kingdom: yet, she thinks much, that those publick summs [Page] which were given to suppresse one rebellion (in Ireland) shold be employed to maintain another rebellion (in England.) And lastly, methinks, I see Religion in torn ragged weeds, and with slubber'd eyes sitting upon Weeping-Crosse, and wringing her hands, to see her chiefest Temple (Pauls Church) where God Almighty was us'd to be serv'd constantly thrice a day, and was the Rendezvouz, and as it were the Mother Church, standing open to receive all commers and strangers, to be now shut up, and made only a thorow-fare for Porters; to see those scaffolds, the expence of so many thousand pounds, to lie rotting; to see her chiefest lights like to be extinguished; to see her famous learned Divines dragg'd to prison, and utterly depriv'd of the benefit of the Common Law, their inheritance: Methinks, I say, I see Religion packing up, and preparing to leave this Island quite, crying out, that this is Countrey fitter for Atheists than Christians to live in; for God Almighty is here made the greatest Malignant, in regard his House is plunder'd more than any: Ther is no Court left to reform heresie, no Court to punish any Church Officer, and to make him attend his Cure, not Court to punish [Page] Fornication, Adultery, or Incest: Methinks I hear Her cry out against these her Grand Reformers (or Refiners rather) that they have put division 'twixt all degrees of persons. They have put division 'twixt husband and wife, 'twixt mother and child: The son seeks his fathers bloud in open field, one brother seeks to cut the others throat; they have put division 'twixt master and servant, 'twixt Land- Lord and Tenant; nay, they have a long time put a sea of separation 'twixt King and Queen; and they labour more and more to put division 'twixt the Head and the Members, 'twixt His Majesty and his politicall Spouse, his Kingdom: And lastly, they have plung'd one of the flourishingst Kingdoms of Europe in a war without end; for though a Peace may be plaister'd over for the time, I fear it will be but like a fire cover'd with ashes, which will break out again, as long as these fiery Schismaticks have any strength in this Island; so that all the premisses considered, if Turk or Tartar, or all the infernal spirits and Cacodaemons of hel had broken in amongst us, they could not have done poor England more mischief. Sir, I pray you excuse this homely imperfect relation, I have a thousand things more to [Page] impart unto you when we may breathe freer air; for here we are come to that slavery, that one is in danger to have his very thoughts plundered; Therfore if you please to accept of my company, I will over with you by Gods help, so soon as it may stand with your conveniency, but you must not discover me to be an Englishman, abroad: for so I may be jeer'd at and kickt in the streets; I will go under another name, and am fix'd in this resolution, never to breathe English aire again, untill the King recovers his Crown, and the People the right use of their Pericraniums▪

§

§

[Page]

[Page]

THE SECOND PART OF A DISCOURSE 'TWIXT PATRICIUS AND PEREGRIN, TOUCHING The DISTEMPERS OF THE TIMES.

LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1661.

A DISCOURS, or PARLY, Continued betwixt Patricius and Peregrin, Upon their landing in France, touching the civil Wars of England and Ireland.

[Page]

[Page]

Peregrin.

GEntle Sir, you are happily arrived on this shore; we are now upon firm ground, upon the fair Continent of France; we are not circumscrib'd, or coopt up within the narrow bounds of a rhumatick Island; we have all Europe before us. Truly I am not a little glad to have shaken hands with that tumbling Element the Sea; And for England, I never intend to see her again in the mind I am in, unlesse it be in a Map; nay, In statu quo nunc, while this Faction reigns, had I [Page] left one eye behind me, I should hardly returne thither to fetch it; therefore if I be missing at any time, never look for me there. There is an old Proverb, From a blacke German, a white Italian, a red Frenchman, I may adde one member more, and, from a Roundheaded Englishman, The Lord deliver us.

I have often Crossed these Seas, and I found my self alwaies pitifully sick, I did ever and anon tell what Wood the Ship was made of; but in this passage I did not feele the least motion or distemper in my humors: for, indeed I had no time to taink on sicknesse, I was so wholly tsken up, and transported with such a pleasing conceit, to have left yonder miserable Island.

Peregrin.

Miserable Island indeed; for I thinke there was never such a tyrannie exercised in any Christian Countrey under Heaven; a tyrannie that extends not onely to the body, but to the braine also; not only to mens fortunes and estates, but it reaches to their very soules and consciences, by violented new coercive Oaths and Protestations, compos'd by Lay-men, inconsistent with the liberty of Christians. Never was there a Nation carried away by such a strong spirit [Page] of delusion; never was there a poor people so purblinded and Puppified, if I may say so, as I finde them to be; so that I am at a stand with my selfe, whether I shall pitie them more, or laugh at them. They not onely kisse the stone that hurts them, but the hands of them that hurle it; they are come to that passive stupidity, that they adore their very persecutors, who from polling fall now a shaving them, and will flay them at last if they continue this popular reigne. I cannot compare England, as the case stands with her, more properly, then to a poor beast, sicke of the staggers, who cannot be cur'd without an incision. The Astronomers, I remember, affirme that the Moone (which predominates over all humid bodies) hath a more powerfull influence o're your British Seas then any other; so that according to the observation of some Nevigators, they swell at a spring tide in some places, above threescore cubits high: I am of opinion, that that inconstant humorous Planet, hath also an extraordinany dominion over the braines of the Inhabitants; for when they attempt any Innovation (whereunto all Insulary people are more subject then other Citizens of the world which are fixed [Page] upon the Continent) they swell higher, their fancies worke stronglier, and so commit stranger extravagancies then any other: witnesse these monstrous barbarismes and violencies, which have bin, and are daily offered to Religion and just [...]ce, (the two grand supporters of all States) yea, to humane Reason it self since the beginning of these tumults.

And now, noble Sir, give me leave to render you my humble thanks for that true and solid information you pleased to give me in London of these commotions.

During my short sojourne there, I lighted on divers odde Pamphlets upon the Seamstresses stalls, whom I wondred to see selling Paper sheets in lieu of Holland: on the one side I found the most impudent untruths (vouch'd by publike authority) the basest scurrilities, and poorest jingles of wit that ever I read in my life; on the other side I met with many pieces that had good stuff in them, but gave mee not (being a stranger) a full satisfaction, they look'd no further then the beginning of this Parliament, and the particular emergences thereof: but you have, by your methodicall relation, so perfectly instructed and rectified my understanding, by bringing me to the very [Page] source of these distempers, and led me all along the side of the current by so streight a line, that I believe, whosoever will venture upon the most intricate task of penning the story of these vertiginous times, will finde himself not a little beholden to that Relation, which indeed may be term'd a short Chronicle rather then a Relation. Wee are come now under another clime, and here we may mingle words, and vent our conceptions more securely; it being, as matters stand in your Countrey, more safe to speake under the Lilly then the Rose; wee may here take in and put out freer ayre; I meane, we may discourse with more liberty: for, words are nought els but aire articulated, and coagulated as it were into letters and syllables.

Patricius.

Sir, I deserve not these high expressions of your favourable censure touching that poor piece; but this I will be bold to say, That whosoever doth read it impartially, will discover in the Author the Genius of an honest Patriot, and a Gentleman. And now methinks I look on you unfortunate Island, as if one look upon a Ship toss'd up and down in distresse of wind and weather, by a furious tempest, which the more she [Page] tugs and wrastles with the foamie waves of the angry Ocean, the more the fury of the storme encreaseth, and puts her in danger of shipwrack; and you must needs thinke, Sir, it would move compassion in any heart, to behold a poore Ship in such a desperate case, specially when all his kindred, friends and fortunes; yea his Religion, the most precious Treasure of all, are aboard of her, and upon point of sinking. Alas I can contribute nothing now to my poor countrey but my prayers and teares, that it would please God to allay this tempest, and cast over board those that are the true causers of it, and bring the people to the right use of Reason againe. It was well observed by you, Sir, That there is a Nationall kinde of indisposition, and obliquity of mind that rageth now amongst our people, and I feare it will be long ere they returne to their old English temper. to that rare loyalty and love which they were used to shew to their Soveraigne: for all the Principles of Monarchie are quite lost amongst us, those ancient and sacret flowers of the English Diadem are trampled under foot; nay, matters are come to that horrid confusion, that not onely the Prerogative of the crown, but the foundamentall [Page] Priviledge of the free-born subject is utterly overthrowne, by those whose Predecessors were used to be the main supporters of it: so that our King is necessitated to put himself in Armes for the preservation not only of his own Regall rights, but of Magna Charta it self, which was neuer so invaded and violated in any age, by such causlesse tyrannicall imprisonments, by such unexampled destructive taxes, by stopping the ordinary processes in Law, and awing all the Courts of Justice, by unheard-of forced oaths and Associations, and a thousand other acts, which neither President, Book-case or Statute can warrant, whereof, if the King had done but the twentieth part, he had been cryed up to be the greatest Tyrant that ever was.

Peregrin.

Sir, I am an Alien, and so can speak with more freedom of your Countrey. The short time that I did eate my bread there, I felt the pulse of the people with as much judgement as I could; and I find, that this very word Parliament is become a kind of Idoll amongst them, they doe, as it were, pin their salvation upon't; it is held blasphemie to speake against it. The old English [Page] Maxime was, The King can do no wrong; another Nominative case is now stept in, That the Parliament can do no wrong, nor the King receive any: And whereas ther was used to be but one Defender of the Faith, ther are now started up amongst you, I cannot tell how many hundreds of them. And as in the sacred profession of Priest-hood we hold, or at least wise shold hold, That after the Imposition of hands, the Minister is inspired with the Holy Ghost in an extraordinary manner for the enabling of him to exercise that Divine Function, so the English are grown to such a fond conceit of their Parliament Members, that as soon as any is chosen by the confus'd cry of the Common people to sit within the walls of that House, an inerring spirit, a spirit of infallibility presently entereth into him (so that he is therby become like the Pope, a Canon animatus) though som of them may haply be such flat and simple animals, that they are as fit to be Counsellours, as Caligula's Horse was to be Consull, as the Historian tells us.

Patricius.

Touching Parliament, ther breaths not a Subject under Englands Crown, who hath [Page] a higher esteem of it then I, it makes that dainty mixture in our Government of Monarchy, Optimacie and Democracy, betwixt whom, though ther be a kind of co ordination of power during the sitting of Parliament, yet the two last, which are composed of Peers and People, have no power, but what is derived from the first, which may be called the soul that animates them, and by whose authority they meet, consult and depart: They come there to propose, not to impose Lawes; they come not to make Lawes by the sword; they must not be like Draco's Lawes, written in bloud. Their King calls them thither to be his Counsellors, not Controllers; and the Office of Counsell is to advise, not to inforce; they come thither to intreat, not to treat with their Liege Lord; they come to throw their Petitions at his feet, that so they may find a way up to his hear [...].

'Tis tru, I have read of high things that our Parliament have done, but 'twas either during the nonage and minority of our Kings, when they were under protectorship, or when they were absent in a forrain war, or in time of confusion, when ther were competitors of the bloud-royall for the Crown, [Page] and when the number of both Houses was compleat and individed; but I never read of any Parliament that did arrogate to it self such a power Paramount, such a Superlative superintendence, as to check the Prerogative of their Soverain, to question his negative voice, to passe things, not only without, but expresly against his advice and royall command: I never heard of Parliament, that wold have their King, being come to the Meridian of his age, to transmit his intellectualls, and whole faculty of reason to them. I find som Parliaments have bin so modest and moderat (Now moderation is the Rudder that shold steer the course of all great Councells) that they have declined the agitation and cognizance of som state affaires, humbly transferring them to their Soverain and his privy Counsell: a Parliament man then, held it to be the adaequat object of his duty, to study the welfare, to redresse the grievances, and supply the defects of that particular place for which he served; The Members then us'd to move in their own (Inferior) sphere, and us'd not to be transported by any Eccentric motions. And so they thought to have complyed with the Obligation, and discharged the consciences of honest [Page] Patriots, without soaring above their reach, and roving at random to treat of universals, much lesse to bring Religion to their bar, or prie into the Arcana Imperti, the cognizance of the one belonging to the King, and his intern Counsell of State: the other to Divines, who, according to the Etymologie of the word, use to be still conversant in the exercise of speculation of holy and heavenly things.

Peregrin.

I am clearly of your opinion in these two particulars; for, secrecy being the soul of policy, matters of State shold be communicated but to few; and touching Religion, I cannot see how it may quadrat with the calling, and be homogeneous to the profession of Lay-men, to determine matters of Divinity; who, out of their incapacity and unaptnesse to the work, being not pares negotio, and being carryed away by a wild kind of Conscience without Science, like a Ship without a Helm, fall upon dangerous quicksands; so that whilest they labour to mend her, they marr her, whilst they think to settle her, they confound her, whilst they plot to prevent the growth of Popery, they pave the way to bring it in, by conniving at, and countenancing those monstrous Schismes [Page] which I observed to have crept into your Church since the reign of this Parliament: so that one may justly say, These your Reformers are but the executioners of the old project of the Jesuits, the main part wherof was, and is still, to hurle the ball of discord, and hatch new opinions still 'twixt the Protestants, to make factions and scissures between them, and so render their religion more despicable and ridiculous.

But methinks, matters are come to a strange pass with you in England, that the Iudges cannot be trusted with the Law, nor the Prelats with the Gospell; whereas from all times, out of their long experience and years, these two degrees of men were used to be reverenced for the chief Touch-men, and unquestionable Expositors of both, which another power seems now to arrogate to it self, as the inerring Oracle of both: but I pray God that these grand Refiners of Religion, prove not Quack-salvers at last; that these upstart Polititians prove not Impostors: for I have heard of some things they have done, that if Machiavell himself were alive, he wold be reputed a Saint in comparison of them. The Roman ten, and Athenian thirty, were Babies to these; nay, [Page] the Spanish Inquisition, and the Bloet-Rade (that Councell of bloud) which the Duke of Alva erected in Flanders, when he swore, That he wold drown the Hollanders in their Butter-tubs, was nothing to this; when I consider the prodigious power they have assumed to themselves, and do daily exercise over the bodies, the estates and souls of men.

In your former Discourse you told me, that amongst multitudes of other mischiefs, wh [...]ch this new Faction hath wrought, they have put division 'twixt all sorts and sexes, 'twixt all conditious, both of men and women; one thing more I may say, they have done in this kind: for, they have laboured to put division between the Persons of the holy Trinity, by making the first Person to be offended at that voluntary genuflection and reverence which hath bin from all times practised in the Christian Church to the name of the second Person; so that Iesu worship, as I have read in some of your profane Pamphlets, is grown now to be a word of reproach amongst you.

But to the point; ther is one thing I can never cease to wonder at: that whereas at the beginning of this Parliament, ther were [Page] as able and experienced, as stout and well spoken Gentlemen, as any in the whole Kingdom, that sate in the House, and made the far major part, I wonder I say, that they wold suffer this giddy-headed Faction to carry all before them in that violent manner, that they did not crush this Cocatrice in the shell.

Patricius.

First, Sir, you know ther is nothing so agreeable to the nature of man, as novelty; and in the conduct of humane affaires, it is always seen, that when any new design or faction is a foot, the Projectors are commonly more pragmaticall and sedulous upon the work; they lie centinell to watch all advantages, the Sand of their brains is always running: This hath caused this upstart Faction, to stick still close together, and continue marvellously constant to their ends; they have bin used to tyre and out-fast, to weary and out-watch the moderate and well-minded Gentlemen; sometimes till after midnight, by clancular and nocturnall sittings; so that as His Majesty saies in one of his Declarations, most of their Votes may be said to be nought else, but Verdicts of a starv'd Iury.

[Page]Another reason is, That they countenanced the flocking together of the promiscuous rabble from London, notwithstanding the two severall motions the Lords made unto them, that they might be suppressed by Parliamentary Order: This riotous crue awed the wonted freedom of speech in both Houses, cryed up the names, and confronted many of their Members: yet these new Polititians not only conniv'd at them, but call'd them their friends; and so they might well enough, or rather their Champions; for they had ordered the matter so, that they were sure to have them ready at their devotion, at the heaving of a finger: and from this tumultuous mongrell crue, they derived their first encouragements to do such high prodigious insolencies they have committed since. Adde hereunto, that they complyed exceedingly besides with the Common Councell of the City, they used to attend them early and late to knock heads together; and if any new thing was to passe in the House, they wold first wait on them, to know their pleasure, and afterwards it shold be propounded and put to Vote in the House: And how derogatory it is to the high Law-making-councell, to make their [Page] chiefest Members wait from time to time on the Magistrates of the City, who in former times were used to attend them upon all occasions in Westminster, I am ashamed to think on; nor am I lesse ashamed to remember those base Artifices and indirect courses that were practis'd at the election of this pretended Major; here they tack'd about to a second choice; after the first was legally made, and how the Common-Councell was pack'd up of the arrandest Schismaticks up and down the City. And to that mutinous wealth-swoln City, and the said unbridled pack of Oppidans (seconded afterwards by the Countrey clownes) who offered such outrages to Gods House, the Kings house, and the Parliament house, may be ascribed all miseries, and the miscarriage of things: for they caused His Majesty to forsake his own standing palace, to absent himself from his Parliament, and make that unpleasing p [...]ogresse up and down his Kingdom ever since, which put all Counsells at a stand, and to be involv'd in a confusion.

Peregrin.

But let me tell you that your Britannick Sun, though he be now ore-set with these unlucky clouds, engendred of the vapours [Page] of distempered brains, and the rotten hearts of many of his own meniall servants, who have proved like the Sons of Serviah unto him, ingratefull monsters, yet is he still in his own Orb, and will, when this foul weather's passed, and the aire cleared a little by thunder, shine more gloriously and powerfully then before, it being a maxime of State, That Rebellion suppressed, makes a Prince the stronger; Now Rebellion durst never yet look a Prince long in the face, for the Majesty of Gods anointed, useth to dart such fulgent piercing beams, that dazle the eyes of disloyalty, and strikes her stark blind at last. And truly, as you say, I am also clearly of opinion, that these ingratefull Londoners, as they were the comencers, so have they been the continuers and contrivers of this ugly Rebellion ever since; They seem to have utterly forgotten who hath given them the sword, and by, and from whom they hold their Charter; Their Corporations are now grown body politicks, & so as many petty Republikes amongst them, so that they begin to smell rank of a Hanstown. Poor simple Annimals, how they suffer their pockets to be pick'd, their purses to be cut; how they part with their vitall spirits every week; how desperately they [Page] post on to poverty, and their own ruine, suffering themselves in lieu of Scarlet-gownes, to be governed by a rude company of Redcoats, who 'twixt plundering, assessements, and visits, will quickly make an end of them. I fear ther is som formidable judgment of regall revenge hangs over that City; for the anger of a King is like the roaring of a Lyon; and I never read yet of any City that contested with her Soverain, but she smarted soundly for it at last. The present case of London bears a great deal of proportion with that of Monpellier here in France, in Charls the seventh's time; for when that town had refused the publishing of many of the Kings Edicts and Declarations, murthered som of his Ministers and Servants, abused the Church, and committed other high acts of insolency; the Duke of Berry was sent to reduce the Town to obedience; the Duke pressed them with so hard a siege, that at last the best Citizens came forth in procession, bare-headed, & bare-footed, with white wands in their hands, and halters about their necks to deliver the keys of all the gates to the Duke, but this wold not serve the turn, for two hundred of them were condemned to the gallies, two hundred of them were [Page] hang'd, and two hundred beheaded, the King saying, he offered those as victimes for the lives of his servants whom they had murthered with the false sword of Justice.

But, Sir, I much marvell how your Church-government, which from all times hath been cryed up to be so exact, is so suddenly tumbled into this confusion? how your Prelates are fallen under so darke a cloud, considering that divers of them were renowned through all the Reform'd Churches in Christendome for their rare learning and pietie? At the Synod at Dort, you know some of them assisted, and no exception at all taken at their degree and dignity, but took precedence accordingly, how came it to passe, that they are now fallen under this Eclypse, as so be so persecuted, to be push'd out of the House of Peers, and hurried into prison? I pray you be pleased to tell me.

Patricius.

Sir, I remember to have read in the Irish Story, That when the Earl of Kildare in Henry the eighth's time, was brought before the Lord Deputy for burning Cassiles Church, he answered, My Lord, I would never have burnt the Church, unlesse I had thought the Biship had been in it; for 'twas not the Church, but the [Page] Bishop I aim'd at. One may say so of the Anglican Church at this present, that these fiery Zelots, these vaporing Sciolists of the times are so furiously enraged against this holy Primative order; some out of Envie, some out of Malice, some out of Ignorance, that one may say, our Church had not been thus set on fire, unlesse the Bishops had been in't. I grant there was never yet any Profession made up of men, but there were some bad; we are not Angels upon earth there was a Iudas amongst the first dozen of Christians, though Apostles, and they by our Saviours owne election: Amongst our Prelates peradventure (for I know of no accusation fram'd against them yet) some might be faulty, and wanting moderation, being not contented to walk upon the battlements of the Church, but they must put themselves [...]pon stilts; but if a golden chaine hath happily a copper link two or three, will you therefore breake and throw away the whole chaine. If a few Sho [...]makers (I confesse the comparison is too homely, but I had it of a Scots man) sell Calfes skin for Neats leather, must the Gentle-Craft be utterly extinguish▪d, must we go bare foot therefore? Let the persons suffer in the Name of God, and not the holy Order of Episcopacy

[Page]But good Lord, how pittifully were those poor Prelats handled? what a Tartarian kind of tyranny it was, to drag twice into prison twelve grave reverend Bishops, causâ adhuc inaudita, and afterwards not to be able to frame as much as an accusation of misdemeanor against them, much lesse of Treason, whereof they were first impeach'd with such high clamors: But I conceive it was of purpose, to set them out of the way, that the new Faction might passe things better amongst the Peers. And it seemes they brought their work about; for whilest they were thus reclused and absent, they may be sayed to be thrust out of doores, and ejected out of their owne proper ancient inheritance, And the Tower wherein they were cast might be called Limbo patrum all the while.

Peregrin.

But would not all this, with those unparallell'd Bills of Grace you mentioned in your first Discourse, which had formerly passed, suffice to beget a good understanding, and make them confide in their King?

Patricius.

No, but the passing of these Bills of grace, were term'd Acts of Duty in his Majesty; they went so far in their demands that 'twas [Page] not sufficient for him to give up his Tower, [...] Fleet-Royall, his Magazines, his Ports, Castl [...] and Servants, but he must deliver up his swor [...] into their hands, all the Souldiery & Military forces of the Land; nay, he must give up his very Understanding unto them; he must resigne his own Reason, and with an implicit Faith or blind Obedience, he must believe all they did was to make him glorious; and if at any time he admonished them, o [...] prescribed wayes for them to proceed and expedit matters, or if he advised them in any thing, they took it in a kind of indignation, and 'twas presently cryed up to be Breach of Priviledge.

Peregrin.

Breach of Priviledge forsooth, There is no way in my conceit, to make a King more inglorious, both at home and abroad, then to disarme him; and to take from him the command and disposing of the Militia throughout his Kingdome, is directly to disarm him, & wrest the Sword out of his hand: and how then can he be termed A Defendor? how can he defend either himself, or others? 'tis the onely way to expose him to scorn and derision; truly, as I conceive, that demand of the Militia was a thing not only [Page] unfit for them to ask, but for him to grant. But, Sir, what shold be the reson which mov'd them to make that insolent proposall?

Patricius.

They cry'd out that the Kingdom was upon point of being ruin'd; that it was in the very jawes of destruction; that there were forreign and in-land plots against it: all which are prov'd long since to be nothing else but meere Chymera's; yet people for the most part continue still so grossely besotted, that they cannot perceive to this day, that these forg'd feares, these Utopian plots, those publick Idea's were fram'd of purpose, that they might take all the martiall power into their hands; that so they might without controulment cast the government of Church and state into what mold they pleased, and ingrosse the chiefest offices to themselves: And from these imaginary invisible dangers proceeded these visible calamities, and grinding palpable pressures which hath accompanied this odious Warre ever since.

Peregrin.

Herein methinks, your statists have shewne themselves politique enough, but [Page] not so prudent & honest; for Prudence & Policy, though they often agree in the end, yet they differ in election of the meanes to compasse their ends: The one serves himself of truth, strength of Reason, integrity, and gallantnesse in their proceedings; the other of fictions, fraudulence, lies, and other sinister meanes; the work of the one is lasting and permanent, the others worke moulders away, and ends in infamy at last; for fraud and frost alwaies end foule. But how did they requite that most rare and high unexampled trust his Majesty reposed in them, when he before passed that fatall Act of continuance, a greater trust then ever English King put in Parliament? How did they performe their solemn promise and deepe Protestations, to make him the most glorious (at home and abroad) the richest and best belovedst King that ever raigned in that Island.

Patricius.

Herein I must confesse, they held very ill correspondence with him, for the more he trusted them, the more diffident they grew of him; and truly, Sir, herein white differs not so much from black, as their actions have been disconsonant to their words: Touching [Page] the first promise, to make him glorious; if to suffer a neighbouring Nation (the Scot) to demand and obtain what they pleased of him; if to break capitulations of peace with a great forrein Prince (the French King) by the renvoy of the Capuchins, and divers other Acts; if to bring the dregs and riffraffe of the City to domineere before his Court-gate, notwithstanding his Proclamations of repressing them; if to confront him and seek his life by fire and sword in open field, by open desiance, and putting him upon a defensive war; if to vote his Queen a Traytresse, to shoot at her, to waylay her, to destroy her, if to hinder the reading of his Proclamations, and the sleighting of his Declarations (enclosed in Letters sign'd and seal'd with his own hand) for fear they shold bring the people to their wits again; if to call them fetters of gold, divellish devises, fraught with doctrines of division, reall mistakes, absurd suppositions, though ther never dropt from Princes pen, more full, more rationall and strong sinewy expressions; if to suffer every shallow-brain'd Scolist to preach, every Pamphletter to print, every rotten-hearted man or woman to prate what they please of him and his Queen▪ [Page] if to sleight his often acknowledgment, condissentions, retractions, pronunciations of Peace, and proffers of Pardon; if to endeavour to bring him to a kind of servile submission; if to bar him of the attendance of his Domestiques, to abuse and imprison his messengers, to hang his servants for obeying his Commission; if to prefer the safety and repute of five ordinary men, before the honour of their King, and being actually impeach'd of Treason, to bring them in a kind of triumph to his House; if for subjects to Article, Treat and Capitulate with him; if to tamper with his Conscience, and make him forget the solemn sacramentall oath he took at his Coronation; if to devest him of all regall rights, to take from him the election of his servants and officers, and bring him back to a kind of minority; if this be to make a King glorious, our King is made glorious enough.

Touching the second promise to make him the richest King that ever was; if to denude him of his native rights, to declare that he hath no property in any thing but by way of trust, not so much property as an Elective King; if to take away his customs of inheritance; if to take from him his Exchequer [Page] and Mint, if to thrust him out of his own Towns, to suffer a lowsie Citizen to lie in his beds within his Royall Castle of Windsor, when he himself would have come thither to lodg; if to enforce him to a defensive war, and cause him to engage his Jewells and Plate, and so plunge him in a bottomlesse gulph of debt for his necessary defence; if to anticipate his revenue royall, and reduce him to such exigents that he hath scarce the subsistence of an ordinary Gentleman; if this be to make a rich King, then is our King made sufficiently rich.

Concerning their third promise, to make him the best belovedst King that ever was; if to cast all the aspersions that possibly could be devised upon his Government by publique elaborat remonstrances; if to suffer and give Texts to the strongest lung'd Pulpiteers to poyson the hearts of his subjects, to intoxicat their brains with fumes of forg'd jealousies, to possesse them with an opinion, that he is a Papist in his heart, and consequently hath a design to introduce Popery; if to sleight his words, his promises, his Asseverations, Oaths and Protestations, when he calls heaven and earth to witnesse, when he desires no blessing otherwise to fall upon himself, his [Page] wife and children, with other pathetick deep-fetcht expressions, that wold have made the meanest of those millions of Christians which are his vassals, to be believed; if to protect Delinquents, and proclaim'd Traytors against him; if to suscitate, authorise, and encourage all sorts of subjects to heave up their hands against him, and levy armes to emancepate themselves from that naturall allegiance, loyalty, and subjection, wherein, they and their fore-fathers were ever tyed to his Royall Progenitors; if to make them swear and damn themselves into a rebellion; if this be to make a King beloved, then this Parliament hath made King Charles the best beloved King that ever was in England.

Peregrin.

I cannot compare this Rebellion in England, more properly then to that in this Kingdom, in King Iohn's time, which in our French Chronicle beares to this day the infamous name of Iaquerie de Beauvoisin; The Peasans then out of a surfeit of plenty, had grown up to that height of insolency, that they confronted the Noblesse and Gentry▪ they gathered in multitudes, and put themselves in armes to suppresse, or rather extinguish [Page] them; and this popular tumult never ceased, till Charles le Sage debell'd it; and it made the Kings of France more puissant ever since, for it much increased their Finances, in regard that those extraordinary taxes which the people imposed upon themselves for the support of the war, hath continued ever since a firm revenue to the Crown; which makes me think of a facecious speech of the late Henry the Great, to them of Orleans: for wheras a new imposition was laid upon the Townsmen during the league by Monsieur de la Chastre, who was a great stickler in those wars; they petitioned Henry the fourth, that he wold be pleased to take off that taxe, the King asked them, Who had laid that taxe upon them? they said Monsieur de la Chastre, during the time of the League, the King replyed, Puis que Monsieur de la Chatre vous à liguè qu'il vous destigue, since Monsieur de la Chastre hath leagu'd you, let Monsieur de la Chastre unleague you, and so the said taxe continueth to this day.

I have observed in your Chronicles that it hath bin the fate of your English Kings to be baffled often by petty companions; as Iack Straw, Wat Tyler, Cade, Warbecke and Symnel. A Waspe may somtimes do a shrewd [Page] turn to the Eagle, as you said before; your Island hath bin fruitfull for Rebellions, for I think ther hapned near upon a hundred since the last Conquest, the City of London, as I remember, in your Story hath rebelled seven times at least, and forfeited her Charter I know not how often, but she bled soundly for it at last, and commonly, the better your Princes were, the worse your people have been; As the case stands, I see no way for the King to establish a setled peace, but by making a fifth Conquest of you; and for London, ther must be a way found to prick that tympany of pride wherwith she swells so much.

Patricius.

'Tis true, ther has bin from time to time many odd Insurrections in England, but our King gathered a greater strength out of them afterwards, the inconstant people are alwayes accessary to their own miseries: Kings Prerogatives are like the Ocean, which as the Civilians tell us, if he lose in one pla [...]e, he gets ground in another. Cares and Crosses ride behind Kings, Clowds hang over them. They may be eclypsed a while, but they will shine afterwards with a stronger lustre. Our gracious Soverain hath passed a kind of [Page] Ordeal, a fiery triall; he while now hath bin matriculated and serv'd part of an Apprentiship in the School of Affliction; I hope God will please shortly to cancell the Indenture, and restore him to a sweeter liberty then ever. This Discourse was stopp'd in the Press by the tyranny of the Times, and not suffer'd to see open light till now.

§

§

[Page]

[Page]

A SOBER and SEASONABLE MEMORANDUM SENT TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PHILIP late Earl of Pembrock, and Montgomery, &c.

To mind Him of the particular Sacred Ties (besides the Common Oath of Alleageance and Supremacy) wereby he was bound to adhere to the King his Liege Lord and Master.

Presented unto Him in the hottest brunt of the late Civill Wars.

Iuramentum ligamen Conscientiae maximum.

LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1661.

To the Right Honourable, PHILIP Earl of Pembrock, and Montgomery, Knight of the Bath; Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter; Gentleman of His Majesties Bedchamber, And one of His most Honorable privy Counsell, &c.

[Page]

[Page]

My Lord,

THis Letter requires no Apology, much lesse any pardon, but may expect rather a good reception and thanks, when your Lordship hath seriously perused the contents, and ruminated well upon the matter it treats of by weighing it in your second and third thoughts which usually carry with them a greater advantage of wisdom: It concerns not your body, or temporall estate, but things reflecting upon the noblest part of you, your soul, which being a beam of Immortality, and a Type of the Almighty, is incomparably more precious, and rendereth all other earthly things to be but bables and transitory trifles. Now, the strongest tye, the solemnest engagement and stipulation that can be betwixt the soul and her Creator, is an Oath. I do not understand common tumultuary rash oaths, proceeding from an ill habit, or heat of passion upon [Page] sudden contingencies, for such oaths bind one to nought else but to repentance: No, I mean serious and legall oaths, taken with a calm prepared spirit, either for the asserting of truth, and conviction of falshood, or for fidelitie in the execution of some Office or binding to civill obedience and Loyaltie, which is one of the essentiall parts of a Christian; Such publick oaths legally made with the Royall assent of the Soveraigne from whom they receive both legalitie and life (else they are invalid and unwarrantable) as they are religious acts in their own nature, so is the taking and observance of them part of Gods honor, and there can be nothing more derogatory to the high Majesty and holinesse of his name, nothing more dangerous, destructive and damnable to humane souls then the infringment and eluding of them, or omission in the performance of them. Which makes the Turks, of whom Christians in this particular may learn a tender peece of humanity, to be so cautious, that they seldom or never administer an oath to Greek, Jew, or any other Nation, and the reason is, that if the Party sworn doth take that Oath upon hopes of some advantage, or for evading of danger and [Page] punishment, and afterwards rescinds it, they think themselves to be involved in the Perjury, and so accessary to his damnation: Our Civill Law hath a Canon consonant to this, which is, Mortale peccatum est ei praestare juramentum, quem scio verisimiliter violaturum; 'Tis a mortall sin to administer an Oath to him who I probably know will break it; To this may allude another wholesome saying, A false Oath is damnable, a true Oath dangerous, none at all the safest. How much then have they to answer for, who of late yeares have fram'd such formidable coercive generall Oaths to serve them for engins of State to lay battery to the Consciences and Soules of poor men, and those without the assent of their Soveraign, and opposit point blank to former Oaths they themselves had taken: these kind of Oaths the City of London hath swallowed lately in grosse, and the Country in detaile, which makes me confidently beleeve that if ever that saying of the holy Prophet, The Land mournes for Oaths, was appliable to any part of the habitable earth, it may be now applied to this reprobate Iland.

But now I come to the maine of my purpose, and to those Oaths your Lordship hath taken before this distracted time, which the [Page] world knowes, and your conscience can testifie, were divers; They were all of them solemn, and some of them Sacramentall Oaths (and indeed, every Solemn Oath among the Antients was held a Sacrament:) They all implyed, and imposed an indispensible fidelity, Truth and loyalty from you to your Soveraign Prince, your Liege Lord and Master the King: I will make some instances: Your Lordship took an Oath when Knight of the Bath to love your Soveraign above all earthly Creatures, and for His Right and dignity to live and die &c.

By the Oath of Supremacy you swear to beare faith and true allegeance to the Kings Highnesse, and to your power to defend all [...]urisdictions, Priviledges, Preheminences and Authorities belonging to his Highnesse &c.

Your Lordship took an Oath when Privie Counsellor, to be a true and faithfull Servant unto Him, and if you knew or understood of any manner of thing to be attempted, done, or spoken against His Majesties Person, Honour, Crown, or Dignity, you swore to let, and withstand the same to the uttermost of your power, and either cause it to be revealed to himself, or to others of His Privy Counsell; The Oaths [Page] you took when Bedchamber man, and L. Chamberlain bind you as strictly to His Person.

Your Lordship may also call to memorie when you were installed Knight of the Garter, (whereof you are now the oldest living except K▪ of Denmark) you solemnly swore to defend the Honour and Quarrels, the Rights and Lordship of your▪ Soveraigne: Now the Record tells us that the chiefest ground of instituting the said order by that heroick Prince Edward the Third was, that he might have choice gallant men, who by Oath and Honour should adhere unto him in all dangers, and difficulties, and that by way of reciprocation Hee should protect and defend them, Which made Alfonso Duke of Calabria so much importune Henry the Eight to install him one of the Knights of the Garter, that he might engage King Harry to protect him against Charles the Eighth, who threatned then the conquest of Naples.

How your Lordship hath acquitted your self of the performance of these Oaths, your conscience (that bosome record) can make the best affidavit; Some of them oblige you [...]o live and dye with King Charles, but what [Page] Oaths or any thing like an Oath binds you to live and die with the House of Commons, as your Lordship often gives out you will, I am yet to learne: Unlesse that House which hath not power as much as to administer an Oath (much lesse to make one) can absolve you from your former Oaths, or haply by their omnipotence dispence with you for the observance of them. Touching the Politicall capacitie of the King, I feare that will be a weak plea for your Lordship before the Tribunall of heaven, and they who▪ whisper such Chimeras into your ears, abuse you in grosse; but put case there were such a thing as politicall capacitie distinct from the personal, which to a true rationall man is one of the grossest Buls that can be, yet these forementioned Oaths relate most of them meerly unto the Kings Person, the individuall Person of King Charles, as you are His Domestick Counsellor, and cubicular Servant.

My Lord, I take leave to tell your Lordship (and the Spectator sees sometimes more then the Gamester) that the world extreamely marvels at you more then others, and it makes those who wish you best to be transformed to wonder, that your Lordship [Page] shold be the first of your Race who deserted the Crown, which one of your Progenitors said, he would still follow though it were thrown upon an hedg: Had your Princely Brother (William Earl of Pembrock) bin living he wold have bin sooner torn by wild horses than have banded against it, or abandoned the King his Master, and fallen to such grosse Idolatry as to worship the Beast with many heads. The world also stands astonished that you shold confederate to bring into the bowels of the Land, and make Elogiums in some of your Speeches of that hungry people which have bin from all times so crosse and fatall to the English Nation, and particularly to your own honour: Many thousands do wonder that your Lordship shold be brought to persecute with so much animosity and hatred that reverend Order in Gods Church (Episcopacy) which is contemporary with Christianity it self, and wherunto you had once designed, and devoted one of your dearest Sons so solemnly.

My Lord, if this Monster of Reformation (which is like an infernall Spirit clad in white, and hath a cloven head as well as feet) prevailes, you shall find the same destiny [Page] will attend poor England, as did Bohemia which was one of the flourishingst Kingdoms upon that part of the earth, which happen'd thus: The Common people ther repind at the Hierarchy and riches of the Church, therupon a Parliament was pack'd where Bishops were abolished, what followed? The Nobles and Gentry went down next, and afterwards the Crown it self, and so it became a popular confus'd Anarchicall State, and a Stage of bloud a long time, so that at last, when this Magot had done working in the brains of the foolish peeple, they were glad to have recourse to Monarchy again after a world of calamities; though it degenerated from a successive Kingdom to an Elective. Methinks, my Lord, under favour that those notorious visible judgements which have fallen upon these Refiners of reform'd Religion shold unbeguile your Lordship, and open your eyes: For the hand of heaven never appeared so clearly in any humane actions: Your Lordship may well remember what became of the Hothams, and Sir Alexander Cary, who were the two fatall wretches that began the War first, one in the North, the other in the South, Plymouth and Hull. Your Lordship [Page] may be also pleased to remember what became of Brooks the Lord, and Hampden, the first whereof was dispatched by a deaf and dumb man out of an ancient Church (at Litchfield) which he was battering, and that suddenly also, for he fell down stone dead in the twinkling of an eye; Now, one of the greatest cavils he had against our Liturgy was a clause of a Prayer ther against sudden death; Besides, the fag end of his Grace in that journey was, that if the design was not pleasing to God, he might perish in the action: For the other (Hampden) he besprinkled with his bloud, and received his death upon the same clod of earth in Buckingham-shire where he had first assembled the poor Country people like so many Geese to drive them gaggling in a mutiny to London with the Protestation in their Caps, which hath bin since torn in flitters, and is now grown obsolet and quite out of use. Touching Pym and Stroud, those two worthy Champions of the Utopian cause, the first being opened, his stomack and guts were found to be full of pellets of bloud, the other had little or no brain in his skull being dead, and lesse when he was living: Touching those who carryed the first scandalous [Page] Remonstrance (that work of night and the verdict of a starv'd jury) to welcome the King from Scotland, they have bin since (your Lordship knows well) the chief of the Eleven Members impeached by the House. And now they are a kind of Runnagates beyond the Seas, scorn'd by all mankind, and baffled every where, yea, even by the Boors of Holland, and not daring to peep in any populous Town but by owle-light.

Moreover, I believe your Lordship hath good cause to remember that the same kind of riotous Rascals, which rabbled the K. out of Town, did drive away the Speaker in like manner with many of their Memberships (amongst whom your Lordship was fairly on his way,) to seek shelter of their Janizaries the Redcoats: Your Lordship must needs find what deadly fewds fal daily 'twix [...] the Presbyterian and the Independent, the two fiery brands that have put this poor Isle so long in combustion. But 'tis worthy your Lordships speciall notice how your dear Brethren the Scots (whom your Lordship so highly magnified in some of your publick Speeches) who were at first brought in for Hirelings against the King for them, offer themselves now to come in against them for [Page] the King: Your Lordship cannot be ignorant of the sundry clashes that have bin 'twixt the City and their Memberships, and 'twixt their Memberships and their men of War or Military Officers, who have often wav'd and disobeyed their commands: How this tatterdimallian Army hath reduc'd this cow'd City, the cheated Country, and their once all-commanding Masters, to a perfect passe of slavery, to a tru Asinin condition; They crow over all the ancient Nobility and Gentry of the Kindom, though ther be not found amongst them all but two Knights; and 'tis well known ther be hundreds of privat Gentlemen in the Kingdom, the poorest of whom, is able to buy this whole Host with the Generall himself and all the Commanders: But 'tis not the first time, that the Kings and Nobility of England have bin baffled by petty companions: I have read of Iack Straw, Wat Tyler, and Ket the Tanner, with divers others that did so, but being suppressed it tended to the advantage of the King at last; and what a world of examples are ther in our story, that those Noblemen who banded against the Crown, the revenge of heaven ever found them out early or late at last.

These, with a black cloud of reciprocall [Page] judgments more, which have come home to these Reformers very doors, shew that the hand of divine justice is in't, and the holy Prophet tells us, When Gods judgments are upon earth, then the inhabitants shall learn justice.

Touching your Lordship in particular, you have not, under favour, escap'd without some already, and I wish more may not follow; your Lordship may remember you lost one Son at Bridgenorth, your dear Daughter at Oxford, your Son-in-Law at Newbury, your Daughter-in-Law at the Charter-house of an infamous disease, how sick your Eldest son hath bin; how part of your house was burnt in the Country, with others which I will not now mention.

I will conclude this point with an observation of the most monstrous number of Witches that have swarm'd since these Wars against the King, more (I dare say) then have bin in this Island since the Devil tempted Eve; for in two Counties only, viz. Suffolk and Essex, ther have bin near upon three hundred arraign'd, and eightscore executed (as I have it from the Clerks of the Peace of those Counties;) what a barbarous devilish office one had, under colour [Page] of examination, to torment poor silly women with watchings, pinchings and other artifices to find them for Witches: How others call'd spirits by a new invention of villany were conniv'd at for seizing upon young children, and [...] them on shipboard, where having their [...] they were so transform'd that their [...] could not know them, and so were carryed over for new schismaticall Plantations to New-England and other Seminaries of Rebellion. My Lord, ther is no villany that can enter into the imagination of man hath bin left here uncommitted; no crime from the highest Treason to the meanest Trespasse, but these Reformers are guilty of. What horrid acts of prophanes have bin perpetrated up and down! the Monuments of the dead have bin rifled! Horses have bin watered at the Church Font, and fed upon the holy Table! Widows, Orphans, and Hospitals have bin commonly robb'd, and Gods House hath bin plunder'd more then any! with what infandous blasphemies have Pulpits rung! one crying out, that this Parliament was as necessary for our Reformation, as the comming of Christ was for our Redemp [...]ion: Another belching out, that if God Almighty [Page] did not prosper this Cause, 'twere fitting he shold change places with the Devil: Another, that the worst thing our Savoour did, was the making of the Dominical prayer, and saving the Thief upon the Crosse. O immortal God, is it possible that England shold produce such Monsters, or rather such infernal fiends shap'd with humane bodies! yet your Lordship sides with these men, though they be enemies to the Cross, to the Church, and to the very name of Iesus Christ; I'le instance only in two who were esteem'd the Oracles of this holy Reformation, Petrs, and Saltmarsh; The first is known by thousands to be an infamous, jugling and scandalous villaine, among other feats, he got the Mother and Daughter with Child, as it was offered to be publickly proved; I could speak much of the other, but being dead, let it suffice that he dyed mad and desperate, yet these were accounted the two Apostles of the times.

My Lord, 'tis high time for you to recollect your self, to enter into the private closet of your thoughts, and summon them all to counsel upon your pillow; consider well the slavish condition your dear Country is in, weigh well the sad case your liege Lord and Master is in, how he is bereav'd of his Queen, [Page] His Children, His Servants, His Liberty, His Chaplains, and of every thing in which there is any comfort; observe well, how neverthelesse, God Almighty works in Him by inspiring Him with equality and calmnesse of mind, with patience, prudence and constancy, How Hee makes His very Crosses to stoop unto Him, when His Subjects will not: Consider the monstrousnesse of the Propositions that are tendred him, wherein no lesse then Crown, Scepter, and Sword, which are things in-alienable from Majesty, are in effect demanded, nay, they would have him transmit, and resign his very intellectuals unto them, not only so, but they would have him make a sacrifice of his soul, by forcing him to violate that solemne sacramentall Oath hee took at his Coronation when hee was no Minor, but come to a full maturity of reason and judgement: make it your own case, My Lord, and that's the best way to judge of His: Think upon the multiplicity of solemne astringing Oathes your Lordship hath taken, most whereof directly and solely enjoyne faith and loyalty to his Person; oh my Lord! wrong not your soule so much, in comparison of whom your body is but a rag of rottennesse.

[Page]Consider that acts of loyalty to the Crown are the fairest columns to bear up a Noblemans name to future ages, and register it in the temple of immortality. Reconcile your self therefore speedily unto your liege Lord and Master, think upon the infinit private obligations you have had both to Sire and Son: The Father kiss'd you often, kisse you now the Sun lest he be too angry; And Kings, you will find, my Lord, are like the Sun in the heavens, which may be clouded for a time, yet he is still in his sphear, and will break out againe and shine as gloriously as ever; Let me tell your Lordship that the people begin to grow extream weary of their Physitians, they find the remedy to be far worse then their former disease; nay they stick not to call some of them meer Quacksalvers rather then Physitians; Some goe further, & say they are no more a Parliament then a Pye-powder Court at Bartholmew-Fair, ther being all the essentiall parts of a true Parliament wanting in this, as fairnesse of elections, freedome of speech, fulnesse of Members, nor have they any head at all; besides, they have broken all the fundamental rules, and Priviledges of Parliament, and dishonoured that high Court more then any [Page] thing else: They have ravish'd Magna Charta which they are sworn to maintain, taken away our birth-right therby, and transgressed all the laws of heaven and earth: Lastly, they have most perjuriously betrayed the trust the King reposed in them, and no lesse the trust their Country reposed in them, so that if reason and law were now in date, by the breach of their Priviledges, and by betraying the said double trust that is put in them, they have dissolved themselves ipso facto I cannot tell how many thousand times, notwithstanding that monstrous grant of the Kings, that fatall act of continuance: And truly, my Lord, I am not to this day satisfied of the legality (though I am satisfied of the forciblenesse of that Act) whether it was in his Majesties power to passe it or no; for the law ever presupposeth these clauses in all concessions of Grace, in all Patents, Charters, and Grants whatsoever the King passeth, Salvo jure regio, salvo jure coronae.

To conclude, as I presume to give your Lordship these humble cautions and advice in particular, so I offer it to all other of your rank, office, order and Relations, who have souls to save, and who by solemn indispensable [Page] Oaths have ingaged themseves to be tru and loyall to the Person of King Charls. Touching his political capacity, it is a fancy which hath bin exploded in all other Parliaments except in that mad infamous Parliament wher it was first hatched; That which bears upon Record the name of Insanum Parliamentum to all posterity, but many Acts have passed since that, it shold be high and horrible Treason to separat or distinguish the Person of the King from His Power; I believe, as I said before, this distinction will not serve their turn at the dreadful Bar of divine justice in the other world: indeed that Rule of the Pagans makes for them, Si Iusjurandum violandum est, Tyrannis causâ violandum est, If an Oath be any way violable, 'tis to get a Kingdom: We find by woful experience that according to this maxime they have made themselves all Kings by violation of so many Oaths; They have monopoliz'd the whole power and wealth of the Kingdom in their own hands; they cut, shuffle, deal, and turn up what trump they please, being Judges and parties in every thing.

My Lord, he who presents these humble advertisments to your Lordship, is one who is inclin'd to the Parliament of Engl. in as high a [Page] degree of affection as possibly a free-born Subject can be; One besides, who wisheth your Lordships good, with the preservation of your safety and honour more really then he whom you intrust with your secretest affaires, or the White Iew of the Upper House, who hath infused such pernicious principles into you; moreover, one who hath some drops of bloud running in his veins, which may claim kindred with your Lordship: and lastly, he is one who would kiss your feet, in lieu of your hands, if your Lordship wold be so sensible of the most desperat case of your poor Country, as to employ the interests, the opinion and power you have to restore the King your Master by English waies, rather then a hungry forrein people, who are like to bring nothing but destruction in the van, confusion in the rear, and rapine in the middle, shold have the honour of so glorious a work.

So humbly hoping your Lordship will not take with the left hand, what I offer with the right, I rest,

From the Prison of the Fleet 3. Septembris 1644.

Your Lordships truly devoted Servant. I. H.

§

§

[Page]

[Page]

HIS Late MAJESTIES Royal DECLARATION, OR MANIFESTO TO ALL FORREIN PRINCES AND STATES, Touching his constancy in the Protestant Religion.

Being traduced abroad by some Malicious and lying Agents, That He was wavering therin, and upon the high road of returning to Rome.

Printed in the Year, 1661.

TO THE Unbiass'd REDER.

[Page]

[Page]

IT may be said that mischief in one particular hath somthing of Vertue in it, which is, That the Contrivers and Instruments thereof are still stirring and watchfull. They are commonly more pragmaticall and fuller of Devices then those sober-minded men, who while they go on still in the plaine road of Reason, having the King, and knowne Lawes to justifie and protect them, hold themselfs secure enough, and so think no hurt; Iudas eyes were open to betray his Master, while the rest of his fellow-servants were quietly asleep.

The Members at Westminster were men of the first gang, for their Mischievous braines were alwayes at work how to compasse their ends; And one of their prime policies in order thereunto was to cast asspersions [Page] on their King, thereby to alienat the affections and fidelity of his peeple from him [...]notwithstanding that besides their pub [...]ick Declarations they made new Oaths and protestations, whereby they swore to make Him the best belov'd King that ever was;) Nor did this Diabolicall malice terminat only within the bounds of his own Dominions, but it extended to infect other Princes and States of the Reformed Churches abroad to make Him suspected in his Religion, & that he was branling in his belief, and upon the high way to Rome; To which purpose they sent missives and clandestine Emissaries to divers places beyond the Seas, whereof forren Authors make mention in their writings.

At that time when this was in the height of action, the passage from London to Oxford, where the King kept then his Court, was so narrowly blockd up, that a fly could scarce passe; some Ladies of honor being search'd in an unseemly and barbarous manner; whereupon the penner of the following Declaration, finding his Royal master to be so grosly traduced, made his Duty to go beyond all presumptions, by causing the sayd Declaration to be printed and publish'd in [Page] Latin, French and English, whereof great numbers were sent beyond the seas to France, Holland, Germany, Suisserland, Denmark, Swethland, and to the English plantations abroad, to vindicat his Majesty in this point, which produc'd very happy and advantagious effects for Salmtisius, and other forrin writers of great esteem speake of it in their printed works. The Declaration was as followeth.

§

[Page]

[Page]

CAROLUS,

Singulari Omnipotentis Dei providentia Angliae, Scotiae, Franciae & Hiberniae Rex, Fidei Defensor, &c. Universis et singulis qui praesens hoc scriptum ceu protestationem inspexerint, potissimum Reformatae Religionis cultoribus cujuscun (que) sint gentis, gradus, aut conditionis, salutem, &c.

CUM ad aures nostras non ita pridem fama pervenerit, sinistros quosdam rumores, literasque politica vel perniciosa potiùs quorundam industriâ sparsas esse, & nonnullis protestantium ecclesiis in exteris partibus emissas, nobis esse animum & consilium ab illa Orthodoxa [Page] Religione quam ab incunabulis imbibimus, & ad hoc usque momentum per integrum vitae nostrae curriculum amplexi sumus recedendi; & Papismum in haec Regna iterum introducendi, Quae conjectura, ceu nefanda potius calumnia nullo prorsus nixa vel imaginabili fundamento horrendos hosce tumultus, & rabiem plusquàm belluinam in Anglia suscitavit sub pretextu cujusdam (chimericae) Reformationis regimini, legibusque hujus Dominii non solum incongruae, sed incompatibilis: VOLUMUS, uttoti Christiano Orbi innotescat, ne minimam quidem animum nostrum incidisse cogitatiunculam hoc aggrediendi, aut transversum unguem ab illa Religione discedendi quam cum corona, septroque hujus regni solenni, & sacramentali juramento tenemur profiteri, protegere & propugnare. Nectantum [Page] constantissima nostra praxis, & quotidiana in exercitiis praefa [...]ae Religionis praesentia, cum crebris in facie nostrorum agminum asseverationibus, publicisque procerum hujus Regni testimoniis, & sedula in regiam nostram sobolem educando circumspectione (omissis plurimis aliis argumentis) luculentissimè hoc demonstrat, sed etiam faelicissimum illud matrimonium quod inter nostram primogenitam, & illustrissimum principem [...] sponte contraximus, idem fortissimè attestatur: Quo nuptiali faedere insuper constat, nobis non esse propositum illam profiteri solummodo, sed expandere, & corroborare quantum in nobis situm est.

Hanc sacrosanctam Anglicanae Christi Ecclesiae Religionem, tot Theologorum convocationibus sancitam, tot comitiorum edictis confirmatam, [Page] tot Regiis Diplomatibus stabilitam, una cum regimine Ecclesiastico, & Liturgia ei annexa, quam liturgiam, regimenque celebriores protestantium Authores tam Germani, quam Galli, tam Dani quam Helvetici, tam Batavi, quam Bohemi multis elogiis nec sine quadam invidia in suis publicis scrip [...]is comproban [...] & applaudunt, ut in transactionibus Dordrechtanae Synodus, cui nonnulli nostrorum praesulum, quorum Dignitati debi [...]a prestita fuit reverentia, interfuerunt, apparet Istam, inquimus Religionem, quam Regius noster pater (beatissimae memoriae) in illa celeberrima fidei suae Confessione omnibus Christianis principibus (ut & haec praesens nostra protestatio exhibita) publicè asserit: Istam, istam Religionem solenniter protestamur, Nos integram, sartam-tectam, & inviolabilem conservaturos, & pro virili [Page] nostro (divino adjuvante Numine) usque ad extremam vitae nostrae periodum protecturos, & omnibus nostris Ecclesiasticis pro muneris nostri, & supradicti sacrosancti juramenti ratione doceri, & praedicari curaturos. Quapropter injungimus & in mandatis damus Omnibus ministris nostris in exteris partibus tam Legatis, quam Residentibus, Agentibusque & nunciis, reliquisque nostris subditis ubicunque Orbis Christiani terrarum aut curiositatis aut comercii gracia degentibus, hanc solennem & sinceram nostram protestationem, quandocunque sese obtulerit loci & temporis oportunitas, communicare, asserere, asseverare.

Dat. in Academia et Civitate nostra Oxoniensi pridie Idus Maii, 1644.

§

[Page]

[Page]

CHARLES by the special Providence of Almighty God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defendor of the Faith, &c. To all who profess the tru Reformed Protestant Religion, of what Nation, degree, and condition soever they be to whom this present Declaration shall come, Greeting.

WHeras We are given to understand, that many false rumors, and scandalous letters are spread up and [Page] down amongst the Reforme [...] Churches in forein parts by the Pollitick, or rather the pernitious industry of som ill-affected persons, that we have an inclination to recede from that Orthodox Religion, which we were born, baptized, and bred in, & which We have firmly professed and practised throughout the whol course of our life to this moment, and that We intend to give way to the introduction, and publick exercise of Popery again in Our Dominions: Which conjecture or rather most detestable calumny, being grounded upon no imaginable foundation, hath raised [Page] these horrid tumults, and more then barbarous wars throughout this flourishing Island, under pretext of a kind of Reformation, which wold not only prove incongruous, but incompatible with the fundamental Laws and Government of this Kingdom, We do desire that the whol Christian world shold take notice and rest assured, that We never entertained in Our imagination the least thought to attempt such a thing, or to depart a jot from that holy Religion, which when We received the Crown and Scepter of this Kingdom, VVe took a most solemn Sacramental Oath to profess [Page] and protect. Nor doth Our most constant practise and quotidian visible presence in the exercise of this sole Religion, with so many Asseverations in the head of Our Armies, and the publick attestation of Our Barons, with the circumspection used in the education of our Royall Off-spring, besides divers other undeniable Arguments, only demonstrate this; But also that happy Alliance of Marriage, VVe contracted 'twixt Our eldest Daughter, and the Illustrious Prince of Orenge, most clearly confirmes the reality of Our intentions herein; by which Nuptial [Page] ingagement it appears further, that Our endeavours are not only to make a bare profession thereof in Our own Dominions, but to inlarge and corroborate it abroad as much as lieth in Our Power: This most holy Religion of the Anglican Church, ordained by so many Convocations of learned Divines, confirmed by so many Acts of National Parliaments, and strengthned by so many Royal Proclamations, together with the Ecclesiastick discipline, and Liturgy therunto appertaining, which Liturgy and discipline, the most eminent of Protestant Authors, as [Page] well Germans as French; as well Danes as Swedes and Swittzens; as well Belgians as Bohemians, do with many Elogies (and not without a kind of Envy) approve and applaud in their publick Writings, particularly in the transactions of the Synod of Dort, wherin besides other of Our Divines (who afterwards were Prelates) one of our Bishops assisted, to whose dignity all due respects and precedency was given: This Religion We say, which Our Royal Father of blessed memory doth publickly assert in His famous Confession addres'd, as we also do this our Protestation, [Page] to all Christian Princes; This, this most holy Religion, with the Hierarchy and Liturgy therof, We solemnly protest, that by the help of Almighty God, we will endeavour to Our utmost power, and last period of our life, to keep entire and inviolable, and will be careful, according to Our duty to Heaven, and the tenor of the aforesaid most sacred Oath at Our Coronation, that all Our Ecclesiasticks in their several degrees and incumbences shall preach and practise the same. VVherfore VVe enjoyn and command all Our Ministers of State beyond the Seas, aswell Ambassadors [Page] as Residents, Agents, and Messengers, And VVe desire all the rest of Our loving subjects that sojourn either for curiosity or commerce in any forein parts, to communicate, uphold and assert this Our solemn and sincere protestation when opportunity of time and place shall be offered.

§

[Page]

CHARLES, par la Providence de Dieu Roy de la grand' Bretagne, de France, et d' Irlande, Defenseur de la Foy, &c. A tous ceux qui ceste presente Declaration verront, particulierement a Ceux de la Religion Reformee de quelque Nation, degreou condition qu'ils soient, Salut.

AYant receu advis de bonne main que plusieurs faux rapports & lettres sont esparses parmi les Eglises Reformees de là la mer, par la politique, ou plustost la pernicieuse industrie de personnes mal affectionnes a nostre government; que nous auons dessein a receder de celle Religion que Nous auons professè & pratiquè tout le temps de nostre vie iusques a present; & de vouloir introduire la papautè derechef en nos Dominions, Laquelle conjecture, ou calumnie plustost, appuyee sur nul fundement imaginable, a suscitè ces horribles tumultes [Page] & allumè le feu d' une tressanglante guerre en tous les quatre coins de ceste fleurissante Monarchie, soubs pretexte d' une (chymerique) Reformation, la quelle seroit incompatible avec le governement & les loix fondementales de ce Royaume.

Nous Desi [...]ons, quil soit notoire a tout le monde, que la moindre pensee de ce faire n [...] a pas entree en nostre imagination, de departir ancunement de cell' Orthodoxe Religion, qu' auec la Couronne & le sceptre de ce Royaume Nous sommes tenus par un serment solennel & sacramentaire a proteger & defendre. Ce qu' appert non seulement par nostre quotidienne presence es Exercies de la dite Religion, avec, tan [...] d' asseverations a la teste de nos Armees, & la publicque Attestation de nos Barons, avec le soin que nous tenons en la nourrituredes princes & princesses nos ensans, Mais le tres-heureux mariage que nous avons conclu entre la nostre plus aisnee, & le tres-illustrie prince d' Orenge en est encore un tres-evident tesmoignage, par la quell' alliance il appert aussy, que nostre desir est de n' en faire pas vne nue profession seulement dicelle, mais de la vouloir estendre & corroberer autant qu' il nous est possible: Cest' Orthodoxe Religion de [Page] leglise Anglicane Ordonnee par tant de conventione de Teologues, confirmee par tant de arrests d' Parlement, & fortifie par tant d' Edicts royaux auec la discipline & la Lyturgi [...] a elle appartenant, laquelle discipline & Lyturgie les plus celebres Autheurs Protestants, tant Francois, qu' Allemands; tant Seudois que Suisses, tant Belgiens que Bohemiens approuent entierement & non sans quelqu envie en leur escrits particulierement en la Synode de Dort, ou un de nos Euesques assistoit, & la Reverence & precedence deue a sa dignite Ecclesi [...]stique luy fut exactement rendue: Ceste tres-sainte Religion que nostre feu pere de [...]res-heureuse memoire aduoue en sa celebre Confession de la Foy addressee come nous faisons ceste Declaration a tous Princes Chrestiens; Nous Protestons que moyennant la grace de Dieu, nous tascherone de conseruer ceste Religion inviolable, & en son entier selon la mesure de puissance que Dieu amis entre nos mains; Et nous requerons & commandons a tous nos ministres d' estat tant Ambassadeurs, que Residens, Agens ou messagers, & a tous autres nos subjects qui fontleurseiour es paysestrangers de communiquer, maintenir & adouuer cestenostre solennelle Protestation toutes fois & quantes que l' ocasion se presentera.

§

§

[Page]

[Page]

APOLOGS, OR FABLES MYTHOLOGIZ'D.

Out of whose Moralls the State and History of the late unhappy Distractions in Great Britain and Ireland may be Extracted;

Some of which Apologs have prov'd PROPHETICAL.

—Nil est nisi Fabula Mundus.

LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1661.

To my Honored and known friend Sir I. C. Knight.

[Page]

[Page]

SIR,

AMongst many other Barbarismes which like an impetuous Torrent have lately rush'd in upon us, The interception and opening of Letters is none of the least, For it hath quite bereft all ingenious Spirits of that correspondency and sweet communication of fancy, which hath bin alwaies esteemed the best fuel of affection, and the very marrow of friendship. And truly, in my judgement, this custom may be termed not only a Barbarisme, but the ba [...]est kind [Page] of Burglary that can be, 'tis a plundering of the very brain, as is spoken in another place.

We are reduced here to that servile condition, or rather to such a height of slavery, that we have nothing left which may entitle us free Rationall creatures; the thought it self cannot say 'tis free, much less the tongue or pen. Which makes me impart unto You the traverses of these turbulent times, under the following fables. I know you are an exquisite Astronomer. I know the deep inspection you have in all parts of Philosophy, I know you are a good Herald, and I have found in your Library sundry books of Architecture, and Comments upon Vitruvius. The unfolding of these Apologues will put you to it in all these, and will require▪ your second, if not your third thoughts, and when you have concocted [Page] them well, I believe, (else I am much deceived in your Genius) they will afford you som entertainment, and do the errand upon which they are sent, which is, to communicate unto you the most material passages of this long'd-for Parlement, and of these sad confusions which have so unhing'd, distorted, transvers'd, tumbled and dislocated all things, that England may be termed now, in comparison of what it was, no other then an Anagram of a Kingdom. One thing I promise you, in the perusal of these Parables, that you shall find no gingles in them, or any thing sordid or scurrilous, the common dialect and disease of these times. So I leave you to the gard and guidance,

Of God and Vertu who do still advance

Their Favorits, maugre the frownes of Chance.

Your constant servant, I. H.

The great CONJUNCTION, OR, Parlement of STARS.

[Page]

[Page]

UPon a time, the Stars complained to Apollo, that he displayed his beams too much upon some malignant Planets; That the Moone had too great a share of his influence, and that he was carryed away too much by her motion: They complained also, that the constellation of Libra (which holds the ballance of Justice) had but a dim light, and that the Astrean Court was grown altogether destructive, with divers other grievances. Apollo hereupon, commanded Mercury to summon a generall Synod, where some out of every Asterisme throughout the whole Firmament were to meet; Apollo told them, I am placed here by the finger of the Almighty, to be Monarch of the skie, to be the Measurer of Time, and [Page] I goe upon his errand round about the worl [...] every foure and twenty houres: I am also the Fountaine of Heate and Light, which, though I use to dispence and diffuse in equall proportions through the whole Universe; yet there is difference 'twixt objects, a Castle hath more of my light then a Cottage, and the Cedar hath more of me then the Shrub, according to the common axiom, Quicquid recipitur, recipitur ad modum recip [...] entis. But touching the Moon, (the second great Luminary) I would have you know, that she is dearest unto mee, therefore let none repine that I cherish her with my beams, and confer more light on her then any other. Touching the malignant Planets, or any other Star, of what magnitude soever, that moves not in a regular motion, or hath run any excentrick exorbitant course, or that would have made me to move out of the Zodiak, I put them over unto you, that upon due legall examination and proof, they may be unspher'd or extinguished. But I would have this done with moderation; I would have you to keep as neer as you can between the Tropiques and temperate Zones: I would have things reduced to their true Principles, I wold have things reformed, not ruin'd; I [Page] would have the spirit of malice and lying, the spirit of partiality and injustice, the spirit of tyranny and rigour, the base spirit of feare and jealousie to be farre from this glorious Syderean Synod; I would have all private interests reflecting upon revenge or profit, to be utterly banished hence: Moreover, I would not have you to make grievances, where no grievances are, or dangers where no dangers are. I would have no creation of dangers; I would have you to husband time as parsimoniously as you can, lest by keeping too long together, and amusing the world with such tedious hopes of redress of grievances, you prove your self the greatest grievance at last, and so from Starrs become Comets: Lastly, I would have you be cautious how you tamper with my Soveraign power, and chop Logicke with mee in that point; you know what became of Him who once presumed to meddle with my Chariot. Hereupon the whole Host of Heaven being constellated thus into one great Body, fell into a serious deliberation of things, and Apollo himself continued his presence, and sate often amongst them in his full lustre, but in the meane time, whilest they were in the midst of their consultations, many [Page] odde Aspects, Oppositions and Conjunctions hapned between them: for some of the Sporades, but specially those mongrel small vulgar stars, which make up the Galaxia (the milkie way in Heaven) gather in a tumultuous disorderly manner about the body of Apollo, and commit many strange insolencies, which caused Apollo (taking young Phosphorus the Morning-Star with him) to retire himself, and in a just indignation to withdraw his Light from the Synod: so all began to be involv'd in a strange kind of confusion and obscurity; they groaped in the dark, not knowing which way to move, or what course to take, all things went Cancer-like retrograde, because the Sun detained his wonted light and irradiations from them.

MORALL.

Such as the Sun is in the Firmament, a Monarch is in his Kingdom: for, as the Wisest of men saith, In the light of the Kings Countenance ther is life; and I believe that to be the Morall of this Astrean Fable.

[...]. OR, The Great Councell of BIRDS.

[Page]

UPon a time the Birds met in Councell, for redresse of som extravagancies that had flown unto the volatill Empire; Nor was it the first time that Birds met thus; for the Phrygian Fabler tells us of divers meetings of theirs: And after him we read that Apollonius Thyaneus, undertook the interpretation of their language, and to be their Drogoman.

They thus assembled in one Great Covie by the call of the Eagle their unquestioned hereditary King, and by vertue of his Royal Authority, complaints were brought, that divers Cormorants and Harpies, with other Birds of prey, had got in amongst them, who did much annoy and invade the publick liberty: sundry other Birds were questioned, which caused some to take a timelyFinch, &c. flight into another aire.

As they were thus consulting for advancement of the common good, manyMechanicks▪ Mariners. Rooks, Horn-Owles and Sea-Gulls [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] flock'd together, and [...]luttered about the place they were assembled in, where they kept a hideous noise, and committed many outrages, and nothing cold satisfie them, but the Griffons head, which was therfore chopt off, and offered up as a sacrifice [...] Stra [...]. to make them leave their chattering, and to appease their fury for the time.

They fell foul afterwards upon the Pies, who were used to be much reverenced,Bishops. and to sit upon the highest pearch in that great Assembly: they called them I dolatrous and inauspitious Birds, they hated their mix'd colour, repined at their long train, they tore their white feathers, and were ready to peck out their very eyes: they did what they could to put them in Owles feathers (as the poor Sheep was in the Woolfs skin) to make them the more hated, and to be star'd and hooted at whersoever they passed. The Pies being thus scar'd, presented a Petition to the royall Eagle, and to this his great Counsell, that they might be secured to repaire safely thither to sit and consult, according to the ancient Lawes of the Volatill Empire continued so many ages without controllment or question: in which Petition they [Page] inserted a Protest or Caveat, that no publique act shold passe in the interim. This Supplication, both for matter and form, was excepted against, and cryed up to be high Treason, specially that indefinite Protest they had made, that no Act whatsoever shold be of any validity without them, which was alledged to derogate from the High Law-making power of that Great Counsell, and tended to retard and disturb the great Affaires which were then in agitation: so the poor Pies, as if by that Petition they had like the Black-bird voided Lime to catch themselves, (according to the Proverb, Turdus cacat sibi malum) were suddenly hurryed away into a Cage, and after ten long Moneths canvassing of the point, they were unpearch'd, and rendered for ever uncapable to be Members of that Court, they were struck dumb and voice-less, and suddenly as it were blown up away thence, though without any force of powder, as once was plotted aginst them. But this was done when a thin number of the adverse Birds had kept still together, and stuck close against them, and also after that the Bill concerning them had bin once ejected, which they humbly conceived by the ancient order [Page] of that Court could not be re-admitted in the same Session. They Petitioned from the place they were cooped in, that for heavens sake, for the honour of that noble Counsell, for Truth and Justice sake, they [...]eing as free-born Denisons of the aiery Region, as any other Volatills whatsoever, their charge might be perfected, that so they might be brought to a legall triall, and not forced to languish in such captivity. They pleaded to have done nothing but what they had precedents for: And touching the Caveat they had inserted, it was a thing unusuall in every inferiour Court of Judicature, and had they forborn to have done it, they had betrayed their own nest, and done wrong to their successors. It was affirmed they had bin Members of that Body politique, long before those lower pearch'd Birds, who now wold cast them out; and that they had bin their best friends to introduce them to have any thing do do in that generall Counsell: they prayed they might not be so cruelly used, as the Solan goose, andSco [...]. Redshanke had used them, who were not content to brail and clip their wings only, but to [...]ear them so, that they shold never grow again; to handle them so unmercifully, [Page] was not the way to make their adversaries Birds of Paradice: in fine, they advised them to remember what the sick Kite's Mother answered him, when he desired her to pray to the Gods for him, How canst thou, said she, expect any good from the Gods, whose Temples thou hast so violated? At last, upon the importunity and pitifulness of their Petitions, the accusation of Treason, which kept such a noise at first, being declined against them, they were released in the morning, but cooped up again before night: and after the revolution of four full Moons, they were restored again to a conditionall liberty, under which they remain till this day.

Ther wants not som, who affirm, that in that Great Counsell of Birds, ther were som Decoys (and 'tis well known where Decoys were first bred) who called in, not only these mongrill obstreperous Birds from abroad to commit such outrages as were spoken of before, but drew after them also many of the greatest Birds, who sate in that Assembly, to follow them whither they listed: Others, who were of a more generous extraction, disdained to be such Buzzards, as to be carryed away hood-wincked [Page] in that manner, to be Birds of their feather. Thus a visible faction was hatched in this great Counsell, as if the said Decoyes had disgorged and let fall som grains of Hemlock seeds amongst them to distemper their brains. Or, as if som Spinturnix, that fatall incendiary Bird, or som ill-boding Scritch-Owle, which as stories tell us appeared once at Rome, in a famous, though unfortunate great Counsell (when ther was a schism in the Popedom) had appeared likewise here. Ther wanted not also amongst them som Amphibious Birds, as the Barnacle, which is neither Fish nor Fowle; and the cunning Ba [...]t, who sometimes professeth himself a Bird, sometimes a Mouse. I will not say ther were any Paphlagonian Birds amongst them, who are known to have double hearts. But 'tis certain, that in this confusion ther were som malevolent Birds, and many of them so young, that they were scarce fledg'd, who like the Waspe in the Fable, conspired to fire the Eagles nest, (and a Wasp may somtimes do mischief to an Eagle as a Mouse to an Elephant.) Moreover som of these light brained Birds flew so high, that they seemed to arrogate to themselves, and exercise royall power, but foolishly; for we [Page] know what became of the Crow upon the Ram's back, when she thought to imitate the Eagle: And as it was observed that they were most eager to attempt those high insolensies against Jove's Bird, who had bin stark naked, and as bare as Cootes, unlesse he had feathered them; so that the little Ant was more grateful to Esops Bird; then those Birds were to the Eagle their liege Lord and Master. But the high-born Bird with the two golden wings, the noble Faulcons, the Martlets, the Ravens, M. Hert. E. South. E. Westm. E. Worce. E. Dover. Wales. Digbies. the Swan, the Chough, and all the ancient Birds of the Mountains remained faithful and firm to the Eagle, and scorned to be carryed away by such Decoyes; As also the generous Ostriches, who unlesse they had had an extraordinary stomach, could not have digested such iron pills as were offered them. Amongst other great Birds which banded against the Eagle, the flying Dragons, Green and White,E. Pemb. E Wa [...]w. were busie, specially the White; And for the Green, considering he was an ancient Bird of the Mountains, and that his Progenitors had bin so renowned for their rare loyaly to the Crown, every one wondered [Page] that he shold be drawn so far by the forefaid Decoyes, as to be the first of his race that shold clap his wings against his Soverain Liege Lord.

The aforesaid destractions continued still, and increased more and more in that general convolation of Birds; therfore the Turtle wold stay ther no longer, ther was so much gall amongst them: the Pelecan flew away, he saw Piety so vilified; the Dove was weary of their company, she found no simplicity and plain dealing amongst them: And the Kings▪ Fisher, the Halcyon (the Emblem of Peace) quite forsookArondelle. them, he found so mnch jarring, dissentions, and bandings on all sides; the Swallow also, who had so ancient and honourable a rank amongst them, got into another aire, he fore-saw the weather was like to so be foul: And lastly, Philomela, the QueenHer Majesty. of Volatills, who was partner of the Eagle's nest, abandoned them quite, and put a Sea 'twixt her and them; nay, the Eagle himself withdrew his royal presence from them; so the Decoyes aforesaid carryed all before them, and comported themselves by their Orders in that hight, as if like the Lapwing, every one had a Crown on his head; they so [Page] inchanted in a manner, all the common sort of Oppidan, rurall, and Sea-birds, and infused such a credulity into them, that they believed them to have an inerring spirit, and what came from them, was as tru as the Pentateuch: Moreover, it was shrewdly suspected, that ther was a pernicious plot amongst them to let in the Stork, who is never seen to stay long in any Monarchy.

MORALL.

Moderation is that Goden Rule wherby all Great Counsells shold square their deliberations, and nothing can tend more to their Honour or dishonour, in point of Wisdom: Moreover, in a Successive hereditary Monarchy, when subjects assume Regall Power, when they bar the Holy Church of her Rights, & of that Reverence which is due to her chief Professors, it is the most compendious way to bring all things to confusion, and consequently to an inevitable ruine, or som fatal Change.

And this I hold to be the chiefest Morall of this Apologue of Birds.

[...], The gathering together, or Parlement of FLOWERS.

[Page]

UPon a time, The Flowers assembled, and met in one generall Counsell, by the authority and summons of the Soveraign Rose, their undoubted naturall King, who had taken the Lilly for his royall spouse. The dew of heaven fell plentifully upon this happy conjunction, which made them to Bourgeon, to propagate and prosper exceedingly, in so much, that the sweet fragrant odor which they did cast, diffused it self over all the earth. To this meeting came the Violet, Gilliflower, the Rosemary, the Tulyp, Lavender and Thyme, the Cinquefoyle (though of a forren growth) had anM. Hamilt. honourable rank amongst them, and as some observed, got too much credit with the royal Rose. The Flowers of the field were admitted also to this great Counsell: the Couslip, the Honysukle and Daisie had their Delegates there present, to consult of a Reformation of certain abuses which had taken rooting in the Common wealth of Flowers, and being [Page] all under the Rose, they had priviledge to speak all things with freedome; Complaints were made that much Cockle and Darnell, with other noxious Herbs and tares were crept in amongst them, that the Poppie did pullulat too much, with divers other grievances: The successe of this Senat, this great Bed or Posie of living Flowers, was like to prove very prosperous, but that the herb Briony, Wormwood, Wolfbane, Rue, and Melampod (the emblems of Sedition, Malice, Feare, Ambition and Iealousie) thrust in amongst them, and much distempered their proceedings: These brought in with them the Bur, which exceedingly retarded andScot. intangled all businesses; and it was thought that the Thistle was too medling amongst them, which made matters grow to that acrimony and confusion, as if the herb Morsus diaboli had got in amongst them. Amongst many other good-morrows, they propounded to the Rose, that he should part with his prickles, and transmit his strength that way to be disposed of by them; the Royall Rose liked not this bold request of theirs, though couched in very smooth language, but answered, I have hitherto condescended to every thing you have propounded, [Page] much more then▪ any of my Predecessors ever did; but touching these prickles, which God and nature hath given mee, and are inherent in me and my stock from the beginning, though they be but excressencies, yet you know they fortifie and arm me, Armat Spina Rosam. And by them I protect you and your rights from violence, and what protection I pray can there be without strength? therefore I will by no means part with them to enfeeble my regall Power, but will retain them still, and bequeath them to my Posterity, which I would be loth to betray in this point; nor doe I much value what that silly infected Animall, the King of Bees tells me sometimes, when humming up and downe my leaves, he would buzze this fond belief into me, how it added much to his Majestie, that nature gives him no sting, as all other Bees have, because he should rely altogether upon the love and loyalty of his subjects. No; I will take warning by the Eagle, the King of Volatills, and by the Lyon, King of Quadrupedals, who (as the Prince ofPlut. Moralists reports) when by fayre insinuations the one had parted with his tallons, the other with his teeth and ongles, wherein their might, and consequently their Majesty consisted, [Page] grew afterwards contemptible to all creatures, and quite lost that natural allegeance and awe which was duc unto the one from all birds, and to the other, from all beasts of field and forrest.

MORALL.

Every naturall borne Monarch, hath an inherent inalienable strength in himself, which is the common Militia of his Kingdome; for, though the peoples love (which oftentimes is got by an Apple, and lost by a Peare) be a good Cittadell, yet there must be a concurrence of some visible setled force besides, which no earthly power may dispose of without his royall commands: and for him to transmit this strength to any other, is the only way to render him inglorious and despicable, both at home and abroad; And thus you have the spirit of these Flowers, and Morall of the Fable.

The Assembly of Architects.

THere was an ancient goodly Palace, composed of divers pieces, and partition'd into sundry Chambers, Halls and Courts, [Page] which were supported by mixt Pillars, partly Corinthian, partly Ionique, but principally by the Dorique the King of Columnes, as having the firmest Pedestall: Some tooke exceptions, and alledged, that some of the said Courts were too high, and some of the Chambers in this Structure were too wide. The Lord of this Palace call'd together the best Masons and Architects, to advise with him (not without him) for mending of those faults, the better contrivance of the roomes, and to reduce the Building to a just proportion. They solemnly met, and falling to consultation hereof, they found that the Chamber which was spangled with Stars, and where his privat Counsell of State did use to sit, were too wide; they thought that the Court erected on the North-side, and that learned Court where Ecclesiasticall matters were scanned, was too high; These, with that peculiar Court which was erected for the support of Honour, they went about in lieu of rectifying, to ruinat and raze to the very ground; and some of these Masons (for indeed they were rather Masons then true Architects) were so precise and over criticall, that they seem'd to find fault with the position of the Chappell that belong'd to [Page] this Palace, because, forsooth, it stood East and west, which situation, only in regard it was ancient, they held to be a superstitious posture; They seem'd to repine at the decencie, riches and ornament of it, with divers other frivolous exceptions. The Lord of the Palace said little to that, but touching the errors and disproportions in the foresaid Courts and Chambers of publick justice, he was very willing they should be amended, and reduced to a true dimension and symmetrie; and that all other roomes should be searched and swept cleane: but he would be loth to see those ancient pieces quite demolish'd, for that would hazard the fall of the maine Fabrique, his princely hereditary patrimony (descended upon him from so many wise Oeconomists and royall Progenitors) in regard of the [...]uncture and contignation those parts had with the whole frame. To mend a thing by demolishing it, is as curing a sick body by knocking him in the head: he told them it was easier far to pull down, then build up; one may batter to pieces in one houre, that which cannot be built in an age: That everlasting Villaine, who burnt the Ephesian Temple, destroyed, as it were in a trice, what was a rearing up ten long Olympiads: He [Page] wish'd them further to be very cautious how they medled with th the Angulars and Basis of that Royal Structure; for so they might prove as wise as those Architects, who took out som of the foundation stones, to repair the roof. Lastly, he told them, that if they intended to pull down any part of his own standing Palace, they shold be well advised before hand of the fashion wherof that new Fabrick shold be, which they purposed to rear up in the room of the old.

MORAL

Innovations are of dangerous consequence in all things, specially in a setled well temper'd ancient State; therfore ther shold be great heed taken, before any ancient Court of Judicature, erected as a Pillar to support Justice by the wisdom of our Progenitors, be quite put down; for it may shake the whole Fram of Government, and introduce a change; and changes in Government are commonly fatall, for seldom comes a better. And this I hold to be the aim of this Apologue.

The Insurrection of the Winds.

[Page]

IT fortuned, that the Winds banded against Eolus: And Boreas (the Northwind) began to bluster first, and wold blow wher he listed, he grew so boisterous, that he is call'd Scopa viarum, the high-way Beesom, he seem'd to sweep all before him Southward, insomuch, that uniting all his strength into one body, he made towards Eolus in a hostile armed manner, and so obtained of him what he desired. After his example (and an odde example it was) the West-wind, his fellow subject roseThe Scot. The Irish. up, alledging, that though he blew from the left-side of Heaven, yet he deserved to be as much favoured as Boreas, in regard he drove a far richer trade, and blew upon a more fertile Countrey, which brought in much more benefit to the rest of Eolus his Dominions; therfore he would have his liberties also assur'd him, which he alledged were altogether as ancient as the others: This made him puff with such an impetuous violence, that his blasts brought with them (God wot) divers showres of bloud, and whole Cataracts of [Page] calamities: Now, as it is observed in the course of naturall things, that one mischief seldom marcheth alone, but ushers in another, and hath alwaies its concomitants, so these North and Western gusts, as one wave useth to drive on another, made all the winds in the compasse, both collaterall and cardinall to rise up and rebell against Eolus, even under that very Clime, and in those Horizons, where he kept his principall residence and royal Court. And this popular wind (for 'twas no other, take it allEngland. joyntly in one puff) did rage with that vehemency, that it turn'd every wher into fearful flames of fire (issuing out of a kind of Ignis fatuus, which by its repercussions, and furious arietations, did a world of mischief, as if it had bin that incendiary Prester wind, or rather an Haraucana, that Indian gust, which alwaies brings the Devil along with it as those Savages believe) had blown here, For, surely God was not in this wind. Yet som were so simple, to think that this wind proceeded from divine inspirations; nay, they came to that height of prophaneness, as to father it upon the Holy Ghost, though nothing could be more different to his sweet motions, nothing so directly opposit to his [Page] soft gentle breeses and eventilatio [...]s; for no holy consecrated thing could stand before this Diabolical wind, down went all Crosses it met withall; it batter'd down Church and Chappel windowes (and I fear the walls and steeples will next to wrack.) It was so violent, that it overturn'd all stone Tables that stood East-ward; it blew away all the decent Vests and Ornaments of the Church; the Bishops Mitre (an Order contemporary with Christianity it self) did quake like an Aspen leaf before it; nay, it shrewdly shook the very Imperial Scepter, and Crown which stood on Eolus his head, so that he was like to become Ludibrium Ventorum.

But the highest Deity of Heaven, He who walketh upon the wings of the wind, and makes weight for them, and gathereth them in his fist when he pleaseth, hating such an odious rebellion, rebuked these tumultuous winds, he caused a contagious aire, to rush in and mingle with them, and infect them with new d [...]seases; besides whispers of jealousies, doubts and diffidence blew and buzz'd more and more amongst them, so that they could not trust one another; insomuch, that it made them to fall into confusion amongst themselves, which is the common fate of all Rebellions. [Page] So Eolus recovered his Monarchy, and as they say, ther is no wind but blows som body good; so this turn'd much to the advantage of Eolus, for he grew ever after more firm and better establish'd in his regall power, because he put a competent guard in those Climes whence all these boistrous winds burst forth, and so secur'd himself ever after, that they could not blow where they listed.

Popular Insurrections being debell'd, turn to the advantage, and render the Ruling Prince more secure afterwards, or a broken bone being well set, growes stronger oftentimes: And so you have the Principal Morall of this Parable in brief.

POST-SCRIPT.

SIr, I long to receive your opinion of these rambling pieces of fancy, you may, peradventure, have more, when the times are open: surely the wind will not hold stil in this unlucky hole, for it is too violent to last: It begins (thanks be to God) to sift already, and amongst those multitudes, who expect the change, I am one that lyeth [Page] at the Cape of good Hope, though a long time under hatches (in the Fleet.) Howsoever, though all the winds in the compass shold bluster upon me; nay, though a Haraucana should rage, I am arm'd and resolv'd to bear the brunt, to welcome the Will of God, and possesse my soul with patience.

‘If you desire a further intimation of things, I refer you to a Discourse of mine call'd The Tru Informer, who will give you no vulgar satisfaction.’ So I am

Yours, as at first, inalterable. I. H.

§

§

[Page]

[Page]

OF The LAND of IRE: OR, A DISCOURS OF THAT HORRID INSURRECTION AND MASSACRES Which happen'd lately In IRELAND;

By Mercurius Hibernicus: Who discovers unto the World the Tru Causers and Incendiaries therof.

In Vindication Of His Majesty, who is most maliciously Traduc'd to be Accessary therunto;

Which is as damnable a Lie as possibly could be hatched in Hell; which is the Staple of Lies.

A Lie stands upon one legg,—Truth upon two.

Mercurius Hibernicus, His Advertisement to the well-temper'd READER.

[Page]

[Page]

THere is a mongrell race of Mercuries lately sprung up, but I claim no acquaintance with them, much less any Kindred. They have commonly but one weeks time for their conception and birth; and then are they but like those Ephemeran creatures, which Pliny speaks of, that are born in the morning, grow up till noon, and perish the same night: I hope to be longer liv'd then so, because I was longer a getting, ther was more time and matter went to my Generation.

Ther is a Tale how the tru Mercury indeed, descended from Heven once in a disguise, to see how he was esteem'd on earth; and entring one day into a [Page] Painters-shop, he found ther divers Pictures of Apollo, Iupiter, Mars, with others; and spying his own hanging in a corner hard-by, he asked what the price of that Pourtrait might be? The Painter answered, that if he bought any of the rest, he wold give him that into the bargain for nothing: Mercury hereupon shaking his white Caducean, flung out in indignation, and flew up to Heven. Shold Mercury chance to descend now from his sphear, I think he wold be much more offended to find himself personated by every petty impertinent Pamphleter; yet I believe he would not think it ill that Aulicus assumes his shape, nor that the Harp, who owes her first invention to him, should be made now his crest.

To my honourable Friend Mr. E. P.

[Page]

SIR,

IF You please to cast your eyes upon the following Discours, I believe it will afford you som satisfaction, and enlighten you more in the Irish affaires. The allegeance I owe to Truth, was the Midwife that brought it forth, and I make bold to make choice of you for my Gossip, because I am

From the prison of the Fleet 3. Nonas April is 1643.

Your true servant, I. H.

Mercurius Hibernicus.

[Page]

[Page]

THere is not any thing since these ugly warrs begun, whereof there hath been more advantage made to traduce and blemish His Majesties actions, or to alienate and imbitter the affections of his people towards Him, to incite them to armes, and enharden them in the quarrell, than of the Irish affaires; whether one cast his eyes upon the beginning and proceedure of that warre (which some by a most monstrous impudence would patronize upon their Majesties) or upon the late Cessation, and the transport of Auxiliaries since from thence. There are some that in broken peeces have written of all three: but not in one entire discourse, as this is, nor hath any hitherto hit upon those reasons and inferences that shall be displayed herein.

But he who adventures to judge of affaires [Page] of State, specially of traverses of warre, as of Pacifications, of Truces, Suspensions of Armes, Parlies, and such like, must well observe the quality of the times, the successe and circumstance of matters past, the posture and pressure of things present (and upon the Place) the inducement or enforcement of causes, the gaining of time, the necessity of preventing greater mischiefes (whereunto true policy Prometheus like hath alwaies an eye) with other advantages. The late Cessation of Armes in Ireland was an affaire of this nature; a true Act of State, and of as high a consequence as could be: Which Cessation is now become the Common Subject of every mans discourse, or rather the discourse of every common Subject all the three Kingdomes over: And not onely the subject of their discourse, but of their censure also; nor of their censure onely, but of their reproach and obloquy. For the World is come now to that passe, that the Foot must judge the Head, the very Cobler must pry into the Cabinet Counsels of his King; nay the Distaffe is ready ever and anon to arraign the Scepter; Spinstresses are become Stateswomen, and every peasan turned politician; [Page] such a fond irregular humour reignes generally of late yeers amongst the English Nation.

Now the Designe of this small discourse, though the Subject require a farre greater volume, is, to vindicate His Majesties most pious intentions in condescending to this late suspension of Arms in His Kingdome of Ireland, and to make it appeare to any rationall ingenious capacity, (not pre-occupied or purblinded with passion) that there was more of honour and necessity, more of prudence and piety in the said Cessation, than there was either in the Pacification or Peace that was made with the Scot.

But to proceed herein the more methodically, I will lay downe, first,

The reall and true radicall causes of the late two-yeers Irish Insurrection.

Secondly, the course His Majesty used to suppresse it.

Lastly, those indispensable impulsive reasons and invincible necessity which enforced His Majesty to condescend to a Cessation.

Touching the grounds of the said Insurrection, we may remember when His Majesty [Page] out of a pious designe (as His late Majesty also had) to settle an Uniformitie of serving God in all his three Kingdomes, sent our Liturgie to his Subjects of Scotland; some of that Nation made such an advantage hereof, that though it was a thing only recommended, not commanded or pressed upon them, and so cald in suddenly againe by a most gracious Proclamation, accompanied with a generall pardon: Yet they would not rest there, but they would take the opportunity hereby to demolish Bishops, and the whole Hierarchy of the Church (which was no grievance at all till then) To which end, they put themselves in actuall Armes, and obtained at last what they listed; which they had not dared to have done, had they not been sure to have as good friends in England as they had in Scotland (as Lesly himself confessed to Sir William Berkley at Newcastle) for some of the chiefest Inconformists here, had not onely intelligence with them, but had been of their Cabinet-counsels in moulding the Plot: though some would cast this war upon the French Cardinall, to vindicate the invasion we made upon his Masters dominions in the Isle of Rets; as also for some advantage [Page] the English use to do the Sp [...]niard in transporting his Treasure to Dunkerk, with other offices. Others wold cast it upon the Iesuit, that he shold project it first, to [...]orce His M [...]jesty to have recourse to his Roman Catholick Subjects for aid, that so they might, by such Supererogatory service ingratiate themselves the more into his favour.

The Irish hearing how well their next Neighbou [...]s had sped by way of Arms, it filled them full of thoughts and apprehensions of fear and jealousie, that the Scot wold prove more powerful hereby, and consequently more able to do them hurt, and to attemp [...] waies to restrain them of that connivency, which they were allowed in point of Religion: Now ther is no Nation upon earth that the Irish hate in that perfection, and with a greater Antipathy, than the Scot, or from whom they conceive greater danger: For wheras they have an old prophesie amongst them, which one shall hear up and down in every mouth, That the day will come when the Irish shall weep upon English mens graves: They fear that this prophesie will be verified and fulfilled in the Scot above any other Nation.

[Page]Moreover, the Irish entred into consideration, that They also had sundry grievances and grounds of complaint, both touching their estates and consciences, which they pretended to be far greater than those of the Scots. For they fell to think, that if the Scot was suffered to introduce a new Religion, it was reason they shold not be so pinched in the exercise of their old, which they glory never to have altered. And for temporall matters (wherin the Scot had no grievance at all to speak of) the new plantations which had bin lately afoot, to be made in Conaught and other places; the concealed lands and defective titles which were daily found out; the new customs which were imposed, and the incapacity they had to any preferment or Office in Church and State (with other things) they conceived these to be grievances of a far greater nature, and that deserved redresse much more than any the Scot had. To this end, they sent over Commissioners to attend this Parliament in England, with certain Propositions, but those Commissioners were dismissed hence with a short and unsavoury answer, which bred worse bloud in the Nation than was formerly gathered; and this, [Page] with that leading case of the Scot, may be said to be the first incitements that made them rise.

In the cou [...]se of humane actions, we daily find it to be a tru rule, Exempla movent, Examples move, and make strong impressions upon the fancy; precepts are not so powerful as precedents. The said example of Scotland, wrought wonderfully upon the imagination of the Irish, and filled them (as I touched before) with thoughts of emulation, that They deserved altogether to have as good usage as the Scot, their Country being far more beneficial, and consequenly, more importing the English Nation. But these were but confused imperfect notions, which began to receive more vigour and form after the death of the Earl of Strafford, who kept them under so exact an obedience, though som censure him to have screwed up the strings of the Harp too high; insomuch that the taking off of the Earl of Straffords head, may be said to be the second incitement to the heads of that insurrection to stir.

Adde hereunto, that the Irish understanding with what acrimony the Roman Catholicks in England were proceeded against [Page] since the sitting of our Parliament, and what further designes were afoot against them, and not onely against them, but for ranversing the Protestant Religion it self, as it is now practised (which som shallow-braind [...] do throw into the same scales with P [...]pery.) They thought it was high time for them to forecast what shold become of Them, and how they shold [...]e [...] in point of conscience, when a new Deputy of the Parliaments election (approbation at least) shold come over. Therfore they fell to consult of som means of timely prevention: And this was another mo [...]ive (and it was a sh [...]ewd one) which p [...]sht on the Irish to take up Arms.

Lastly, that Army of 8000. men, which the Earl of Strafford had raised to be transported to England for suppressing the Scot, being by the advice of our Parliament here, disbanded; the Country was annoyed by som [...] those stragling Souldiers, as not one in twenty of the Irish, will from the sword to the spade, or from the Pike to the plough again. Therfore the two Marquesses that were Ambassadors here then for Spaine, having propounded to have som numbers of those disbanded forces, for the service of [Page] their Master; His Majesty by the mature advice of his privy Counsell, to occur the mischiefs that might arise to his Kingdom of Ireland by those loose casheer'd Souldiers, yielded to the Ambassadors motion, who sent notice hereof to Spain accordingly, and so provided shipping for their transport, and impressed money to advance the business; but as they were in the heat of that [...] ▪ His Majesty being then in Scotland▪ [...] w [...]s a sudden stop made of those promised troops, who had depended long upon the Spaniards service, as the Spaniard [...] do [...]e on theirs. And this was the last, though no [...] the least fatal cause of that horrid insurrection: All which particulars well considered, it had bin no hard matter to have bin a Prophet, and standing upon the top of Holy-Head, to have foreseen those black clouds engendering in the Irish aire, which bro [...]e out afterwards into such fearful tempests of bloud.

Out of these premises, it is easie for any common understanding, not transported with passion and private interest, to draw this conclusion. That They who complyed with the Scot in his insurrection; They who dismissed the Irish Commissioners with such [Page] a short unpolitick answer, They who took off the Earl of Straffords head, and delayed afterwards the dispatching of the Earl of Leicester, They who hindered those disbanded troops in Ireland to go for Spain, may be justly said to have bin the tru causes of the late insurrection of the Irish; and consequently, it is easie to know upon the account of whose souls must be laid the bloud of those hundred and odde thousands poor Christians, who perished in that war; so that had it bin possible to have brought over their bodies unputrified to England, and to have cast them at the doores, and in the presence of som men I believe they wold have gushed out afresh into bloud, for discovery of the tru murtherers.

The grounds of this insurrection being thus discovered, let us examine what means His Majesty used for the suppression of it. He made his addresses presently to his great Counsel, the English Parliament then assembled, which Queen Elizabeth and her progenitors did seldom use to do, but only to their Privy Counsel in such cases, who had the discussing and transacting of all foreign affaires; for in mannaging matters of State, specially those of war, which must be carryed [Page] with all the secrecy that may be, Trop grand nombre, est encombre, as the Frenchman saith, too great a number of Counsellours may be an incumber, and expose their results and resolutions to discovery and other disadvantages, wheras in military proceedings the work shold be afoot before the Counsels be blazed abroad. Well, His Majesty transmitted this business to the Parliament of England, who totally undertaking it, and wedding as it were the quarlel (as I remember they did that of the Palatinate a little before by solemn vote; the like was done by the Parliament of Scotland also, by a publick joynt Declaration, which in regard ther came nothing of it, tended little to the honour of either Nation abroad) His Majesty gave his royal assent to any Propositions or acts for raising of men, money and arms to perform the work. But hereby no man is so simple as to think His Majesty shold absolutely give over his own personal care and protection of that his Kingdom, it being a Rule, That a King can no more desert the protection of his own people, then they their subjection to him. In all his Declarations ther was nothing that he endear'd and inculcated more often, and with [Page] greater aggravation and earnestness unto them, then the care of his poor Subjects their fellow-Protestants in Ireland: Nay, he resented their condition so far, and took the business so to heart, that he offered to passe over in person for their relief: And who can deny but this was a magnanimous and Kinglike resolution? Which the Scots by publick act of Counsel, did highly approve of, and declared it to be an argument of care and courage in his Majesty. And questionless it had done infinite good in the opinion of them that have felt the pulse of the Irish people, who are daily ore-heard to groan, how they have bin any time these 400. years under the English Crown, and yet never saw but two of their Kings all the while upon Irish ground, though ther be but a salt [...] of a few hours sail to pass over. And much more welcom shold His Majesty, now regnant, be amongst them, who by general tradition, They confess and hold to come on the paternal side from [...] (by legal and lineal descent) who was an Irish Prince, and after King of Scotland, wheras the title of all our former Kings and Queens was stumbled at alwaies by the vulgar. His Majesty finding that this royall proffer of engaging his own person, was rejected [Page] with a kind of scorn, coucht in smooth language, though the main businesse concerned himself nearest, and indeed solely himself, that Kingdom being his own hereditary Right. Understanding also, what base sinister use ther was made of this insurrection by som trayterous malevolent persons, who, to cast aspersions upon His Majesty, and to poyson the hearts of his people, besides publick infamous reports, counterfeited certain Commissions in His Majesties name to authorize the businesse, as if he were privy to it, though I dare pawn my soul His (or Her) Majesty knew no more of it then the great Mogor did. Finding also that the Commissioners imployed hence for the managing and composing matters in that Kingdom, though nominated by the Parliament, and by their recommendation authorized by His Majesty, did not observe their instructions, and yet were conniv'd at. Understanding also, what an inhumane design ther was between them and the Scot, in lieu of suppressing an insurrection to eradicat and extinguish a whole nation to make booty of their lands (which hopes the London Adventurers did hugge, and began to divide the Bears-skin before he was taken, as His Majesty [Page] told them▪ an attempt the Spaniard nor any other Christian State ever intended against the worst of Savages; The conceit wherof in [...]used such a desperate courage, eagerness and valour into the Irish, that it made them turn necessity into a kind of vertu.

Moreover, His Majesty taking notice that those royal Subsidies, with other vast contributions wherunto he had given way, with the sums of particular Adventurers (amongst whom som Aliens (Hollanders) were taken in, besides the Scot to share the Country) were misapplyed, being visibly imployed, rather to feed an English Rebellion, then to suppress an Irish: Nay, understanding that those charitable collections which were made for the reliefe of those distressed Protestants, who being stripped of all their livelihood in Ireland, were forced to fly over to England, were converted to other uses, and the Charity not dispensed according to the Givers intention. Hearing also that those 5000. men which had been levyed and assigned to goe under the Lord Wharton, the Lord of Kerry, Sir Faithfull Fortescue and others were diverted from going to the west of Ireland, and imployed to make up the Earl of Essex Army: And having notice besides [Page] that the Earl of Warwicke had stayd certaine ships going thither with supplies, and that there was an attempt to send for over to England some of those Scottish Forces which were in Ulster, without his privity. Lastly, His Majesty finding himself unfitted, and indeed disabled to reach those his distressed Subjects, his owne royal armie all his navall strength, revenues and magazines being out of his hands; and having as hard a game to play still with the Scot, and as pernicious a fire to quench in England, as any of his Progenitors ever had: Receiving intelligence also daily from his Protestant Nobility and Gentry thence, in what a desperate case the whole Kingdome stood, together with the report of the Committee that attended His Majesty from them expresly for that service, who amongst other deplorable passages in their petition, represented, That all means by which comfort and life should be conveyed unto that gasping Kingdome, seemed to be totally obstructed, and that unlesse [...] reliefe were afforded, His loyall Subject [...] there must yeeld their fortunes for a prey, [...] for a sacrifice, and their Religion for a [...] to the mercilesse Rebels.

His Majesty (as it was high time for [...]) [Page] taking into his Princely thoughts those wofull complainrs and cryes of his poore Subjects, condescended at last to appoint some persons of honour to heare what the Irish could say for themselves, as they had often petitioned; and God forbid but the King of Ireland should receive his Subjects petitions, as well as the King of Scotland. But His Majesty being unsatisfied with what they propounded then, the Lord Marquess of Ormond marched with considerable Forces against them, and though he came off with honour, yet no reliefe at all comming thither for many moneths after from the Parliament here, who had undertaken the businesse, and had received all the summes and subsidies, with other unknown contributions to that end, matters grew daily worse and worse. To sum up all, His Majesty receiving express and positive advice from his Lord Justices and Counsell of State ther, that the whole Kingdom was upon point of utter perdition, which was cointimated the same time to the Parliament here, by a special letter to the Speaker; I say His Majesty finding that he had neither power of himself, it being transmitted to others; and that those Trustees did misapply that [Page] power and trust he had invested in them (for the time) to make good their undertaking for preservation of that his fruitfull Kingdome; being impelled by all these forcible reasons, His Majesty sent a commission to the Lord Marquesse of Ormond his Lievtenant Generall (a most known sincere Protestant) to hearken to a treaty according to their petition; and if any thing was amisse in that treaty in poynt of honour (as it shall appeare by comparing it with others, there was none) we know whom to thank. For out of these premises also, doth result this second conclusion, That they who misapplied those moneys, and mis imployed those men which were levyed with His Majesties royall assent for the reduction of Ireland: They who set afoot that most sanguinary design of extirpating, at least of enslaving a whole ancient Nation, who were planted there by the hand of Providence from the beginning: They who hindred His Majesties transfretation thither to take cognizance of his own affairs, and expose the countenance of his own royall person for composing of things: They, They may be said to be the true causes of that unavoydable necessity and as the heathen Poetsings, The Gods, themselvs cannot resist [Page] Necessity) which enforced His Majesty to capitulat with the Irish, and assent to a Cessation.

It was the saying of one of the bravest Roman Emperours, and it was often used by Henry the Great of France, Her Majesties Father, That he had rather save the life of one loyall Subject then kill a hundred Enemies: It may well be thought that one of the prevalentst inducements that moved His Majesty (besides those formerly mentioned) to condescend to this Irish Cessation, was a sense he had of the effusion of his own poor Subjects blood, the hazard of the utter extirpation of the Protestants there, and a totall irrecoverable losse of that Kingdome, as was advertised both in the petition of the Protestants themselves, the relation of the Committee imployd thither to that purpose, and the expresse letters of the Lords Justices and Counsell there.

To prove now, that this Cessation of arms in Ireland was more honourable and fuller of Piety, Prudence and Necessity, then either the Pacification or Peace with the Scot. I hope, these few ensuing arguments (above divers others which cannot be inserted here, in regard of the force intended [Page] brevity of this Discourse) will serve the turne.

1. In primis, When the Pacification was made with Scotland His Majesty was there personally present, attended on by the floure of His English Nobility, Gentry and Servants, and the enemy was hard by ready to face Him. At the concluding of the Irish Cessation, His Majesty was not there personally present, but it was agitated and agreed on by his Commissioner, and it hath been held alwaies less dishonourable for a King to capitulate in this kind with his own Subjects by his Deputy, then in his own person, for the further off he is, the lesse reflects upon him.

2. Upon the Pacification and Peace with Scotland, there was an Amnestia, a generall pardon, and an abolition of all by-passed offences published, there were honours and offices conferred upon the chiefest sticklers in the War. At the Cessation in Ireland there was no such thing.

3. When the Pacification and Peace was made with the Scots, there was mony given unto Them, as it is too well knowne. But upon the setling of this Cessation, the Irish received none but gave His Majesty a considerable [Page] summe as an argument of their submission and gratitude, besides the maintainance of some of his Garrisons in the interim; and so much partly in point of honour.

4. At the concluding of the Pacification and Peace with Scotland, there was a vigorous, fresh, unfoiled English Army a foot, and in perfect equipage; there wanted neither Ammunition, Armes, Money, Cloaths, Victuals or any thing that might put heart into the Souldier and elevat his spirits. But the Protestant Army in Ireland had not any of all these in any competent proportion, but were ready to perish, though there had been no other enemy then hunger and cold: And this implies a farre greater necessity for the said Cessation.

5. In Ireland there was imminent danger of an instant losse of the whole Kingdome, and consequently, the utter subversion of the Protestant Religion there, as was certified both to King and Parliament by sundry letters and petitions which stand upon record: There was no such danger in the affairs of Scotland, either in respect of Religion or Kingdome; therefore there was more piety shown in preserving the one, and [Page] prudence in preserving the other in Ireland, by plucking both (as it were) out of the very jawes of destruction by the said Cessation.

We know that in the Medley of mundane casualties, of two evils, the least is to be chosen, and a small inconvenience is to be born withall, to prevent a greater.

If one make research into the French Story, he will find, that many kinds of Pacifications and Suspensions of Armes were covenanted 'twixt that King and som of his Subjects, trenching far more upon regall dignity then this in Ireland. The Spaniard was forced to declare the Hollanders Freestates, before they could be brought to treat of a truce: And now the Catalans scrue him up almost to as high conditions. But what need I rove abroad so far? It is well known, nor is it out of the memory of man (in Queen Elizabeths raign) that in Ireland it self ther have bin Cessations, all circumstances well weighed, more prejudiciall to Majesty then this.

But that which I hear murmured at most as the effect of this Cessation, is the transport of som of those Souldiers to England for recruting His Majesties Armies, notwithstanding [Page] that the greatest number of them be perfect and rigid Protestants, and were those whom our Parliament it self imployed against the Irish. But put case they were all Papists, must His Majesty therfore be held a Favourer of Popery? The late King of France might have bin said as well to have bin a Favourer of Hugonotts, because in all his wars he imployed Them most of any in places of greatest trust against the House of Austria; wheras all the World knows, that he perfectly hated them in the generall, and one of the reaches of policy he had, was to spend and waste them in the wars. Was it ever known but a Soveraign Prince might use the bodies and strength of his own naturall-born Subjects, and Liege men for his own defence? When His person hath been sought and aimed at in open field by small and great shot, and all other Engines of hostility and violence: When he is in danger to be surprized or besieg'd in that place wher he keeps his Court: When all the flowers of his Crown his royal prerogatives which are descended upon him from so many successive progenitors) are like to be plucked off and trampled under foot: When ther is a visible plot to alter and overturn that Religion [Page] he was born, baptized, and bred in: When he is in dan [...]er to be forced to infringe that solemn Sacramental Oath he took at his Coronation to maintain the said Religion, with the Rights and Rites of the holy Anglican Church, which som brain-sick Schismaticks wold transform to a Kirk and her Discipline, to som chimerical form of government they know not what. Francis the first and other Christian Princes, made use of the Turk upon lesse occasions; and if one may make use of a Horse, or any other bruit animal, or any inanimat Engine or Instrument for his own defence against man, much more may man be used against man, much more may one rational Creature be used against another though for destructive ends in a good cause, specially when they are commanded by a Soveraign head, which is the main thing that goes to justifie a war. Now touching the Roman Catholicks, whether English, Welsh, Irish, or Scottish, which repaire to his Majesties Armies either for service or security. He looks not upon them [...]s Papists, but as his Subjects, not upon their Religion, but their allegiance, and in that [...]uality he entertains them: Nor can the Pa [...]ist be denyed the Character of a good Subject, [Page] all the while he conforms himself to the Lawes in generall, and to those lawes also that are particularly enacted against him, and so keeps himself within the bounds of his civil obedience: As long as he continues so, he may challenge protection from his Prince by way of right, and if his Prince by som accident be not in case to protect him, he is to give him leave to defend himself the best he can, for the law of nature allowes every one to defend himself, and ther is no positive law of man can annul the law of nature. Now if the Subject may thus claim protection from his Prince, it followeth, the Prince by way of reciprocation may require assistance, service and supplies from the Subject upon all publick occasions, as to suppress at this time a new race of Recusants, which have done more hurt then ever the old did, and are like to prove more dangerous to his Crown and regal Authority then any foreign enemy.

But whosoever will truly observe the genius, and trace the actions of this fatal Faction which now swayes with that boundless, exorbitant, arbitrary and Antinomian power, will find, that it is one of their prime pieces of policy, to traduce and falsifie any thing that [Page] is not conducible to their own ends: Yet what comes from them must be so magisterial, it must be so unquestionably and incontroulably tru & lawful, that it must be believed by an implicite faith, as proceeding from an in-erring Oracle (as if these Zealots were above the common condition of mankind, to whom errour is as hereditary as any other infirmity) though the thing it self encroach never so grosly both upon the common liberty, the states and souls of men. But if any thing bear the stamp of royal Authority, be it never so just and tending to peace and the publick good, yea, though it be indifferent to either side, it is presently countermanded, cryed down, and stifled; or it is calumniated and aspersed with obloquies, false glosses and misprisions; and this is become now the common Theam wherwith their Pulpits ring

Which makes me think, that these upstart politicians have not long to reign; for, as the common Proverb saith, Fraud and Frost end foul and are short-lived, so that policy, those Counsels which are grounded upon scandals, reproaches and lies, will quickly moulder and totter away, and bring their Authors at last to deserved infamy and shame, and make [Page] them find a Tomb in their own ruines. Adde hereunto as further badges of their nature, that black irreconcilable malice and desire of revenge which rageth in them, the aversness they have to any sweetness of Conformity and Union, the violent thirst they have of bloud, which makes me think on that dis [...]ique of Prudentius, who seemed to be a Prophet as well as Poet (a tru Vates) in displaying the humors of these fiery Dogmatists, this all-confounding faction which now hath the vogue, to the punishment, I will not say yet, the perdition of this poor Island.

Sic m [...]res produnt animum, & mihi credite, junctus

Semper cum falso est dogmate Coedis amor.

Thus in English.

Manners betray the mind, and credit me,

Ther's alwayes thirst of bloud with Heresie.

§

§

[Page]

THE SWAY OF THE SWORD; OR A DISCOURS OF THE MILITIA Train'd-Bands, OR COMMON SOLDIERY OF THE LAND;

PROVING, That the Power and Command therof in chief belongs to the Ruling Prince, and to no other.

Sine Gladio nulla Defensio.

The Author's Apology.

[Page]

[Page]

TIs confefs'd that the subject of this Discours were more proper to One of the long-Robe, which I am not, I am no Lawyer otherwise then what nature hath made me, so every man, as he is born the child of Reason, is a Lawyer, and a Logitian also who was the first kind of Lawyer: This discoursive faculty of Reason comes with us into the world accompanied with certain general notions and principles to distinguish Right from Wrong, and Falshood from Truth: But touching this following Discourse, because it relates somthing to Law, the Author wold not have adventured [Page] to have exposed it to the world, if, besides those common innate notions of Reason, and some private Notes of his own, he had not inform'd and ascertain'd his judgment by conference with som professed Lawyers, and those the Eminentest in the Land, touching the truth of what it Treats of; therfore he dares humbly aver that it contains nothing but what is consonant to the fundamentall and fixed Constitutions, to the known clear Lawes of this Kingdom.

From the prison of the Flcet 3. Nonas Mail 1645.

I. H.

Touching the POLEMICAL SVVORD, And command in chief of The MILITIA, &c.

[Page]

GOVERNMENT is an Ordinance of God for Mans good; the kinds of Government are ordinances of men for Gods Glory: Now, among all Wo [...]ldly affairs there is not any thing so difficult, and fuller of incertitudes as the Art of Ruling man, For those nimble spirits (as it is spoken elswhere) who from Apprentices have been made Freemen of the Trade, and at last thought themselves Masters, having spent their Youth, their Manhood, and a long time of old age therein, yet when they came to leave the World they professed themselves still to be but Novices in the [Page] Trade. There is a known way to break, guide, and keep in awe all other Animals, though never so savage and strong; but there is no such certaine way to govern multitudes of men, in regard of such turbulences of spirit and diversity of opinions that proceed from the Rational Faculty, which other cretures that are contented only with sense, are not subject unto; and this the Philosopher holds to be one of the inconveniences that attend humane reason, and why it is given man as a part of his punishment.

Now, why the Government over men is [...]o difficult, there may be two main reasons alledg'd, The first is the various events, and World of inexpected contingencies that attend humane negotiations, specially matters of State, which, as all other sublunary things, are subject to alterations, miscarriages, and change, this makes the mindes of men▪ and consequently the moulds of policy so often to alter, scarce one amongst twenty is the same man as he was twenty yeares ago in point of judgement, which turns and changeth according to the successe and circumstances of things, The wisedome of one day is the foolishnesse of another, [Page] Posterior Dies est prioris Magister, the Day following becomes the former dayes Teacher.

The Second Reason is, the discrepant, and wavering fancies of mens braines, specially of the common peeple, who (if not restrained) are subject to so many crotchets and chymeras, with extravagant wanton desires, and gaping after innovations. Insulary peeple are observed to be more transported with this instability then those of the Continent, and the Inhabitants of this Ile more then others, being a well-fed spriteful peeple; In so much, that it is grown a Proverb abroad, that The Englishman doth not know when he is well: Now the true Polititian doth use to fit his Government to the fancy of the peeple, the ruler must do as the rider, some peeple are to be rid with strong bitts and curbs, and martingalls, as the Napollitan, and French our next neighbour, which is the cause that a kind of slavery is entail'd upon him, for the French Peasant is born with chains; Other Nations may be rid with a gentle small bridle, as the Venetian and the Hollander, who hath not such boiling spirits as others; A bridle doth serve also the Spaniard, who is the gretest example of stability, and exact obedience [Page] to authority, of any peeple; for though Spain be the hottest Countrey in Christendom, yet it is not so subject to Feavers as others are, I mean to fits of intestin commotions: And this was never so much tryed as of late yeers; for though the present King hath such known frail [...]ies, though he hath bin so infortunat, as to have many Countreys quite revolted, and rent away from him; though the ragingst Plague that ever was in Spain under any King, happen'd of late yeers, which sweep'd away such a world of peeple; though his Taxes be higher then ever were any, though he hath call'd in and engrossed all the common coyn of the Countrey, and delivered but the one halfe back again, reserving the other half for Himself; though there's no legall Instrument, no Bond, Bill, or Specialty can be writ but upon his seal'd paper, with sundry other exactions, yet his subjects are still as obedient, and awful unto him, they are as conformable and quiet, as if he were the most vertuous, and victorious Prince that ever was; and this they do principally for their own advantage, for if ther were another Governour set up, it would inevitably hurle the whole Countrey into combustion [Page] and tumults; besides, they are taught, that as in choice of Wives, so the Rule holds in Governments, Seldome comes a better.

Touching the Originals of Government and ruling power, questionless the first among Mankind was that Naturall power of the Father over his Children, and that Despotical domestique surintendence of a Master of a house over his Family; But the World multiplying to such a Masse of peeple, they found that a confused equality, and a loose unbridled way of living like [...]rute animals to be so inconvenient, that they chose one person to protect and govern; not so much out of love to the [...]erson, as for their own conveniency and advantage, that they might live more regularly, and be secur'd from rapine, and op [...]ression; As also that justice might be administted; and every one enjoy his own without fear, and danger: such Govern [...]urs had a power invested accordingly in [...]hem, also as to appoint subservient, able Mi [...]isters under them to help to bear the [...]urden.

Concerning the kinds of Government, [...]ll Polititians agree that Monarchall is the [Page] best and noblest sort of sway, having the neerest analogy with that of Heaven, viz. A supreme power in one single person; God Almighty is the God of Unity, as well as of Entity, and all things that have an Entity do naturally propend to Unity; Unity is as necessary for a well-being, as Entity is for a Being, for nothing conduceth more to order, tranquillity, and quietude, nor is any strength so operative as the united; The fist is stronger then the hand, though it be nothing but the hand, viz. The fingers united by contraction; The Republick of Venice which is accounted the most Eagle-ey'd and lastingst State in the World, fo [...] she hath continued a pure Virgin, and shin'd within her watry Orb nere upon thirteen Ages, is the fittest to give the World advice herein, for if ever any have brought policy to be a Science which consists of certitudes, this State is Shee, who is grown a [...] dexterous in ruling men as in rowing of [...] Gally. But whereas the vulgar opinion is that the common peeple there have a shar [...] in the Government, 'tis nothing so, for he Great Counsel which is the maine hing whereon the Republick turns, is compose [...] onely of Gentlemen who are capable b [...] [Page] their birth to sit there, having passed twenty five years of age; To which purpose they must bring a publick Testimonial that they are descended of a Patrician or noble Family. But to return to the main matter, this sage Republick who may prescribe rules of Policy to all Mankind, having tryed at first to Govern by Consuls and Tribunes for som years, she found it at last a great inconvenience, or deformity rather, to have two heads upon one body; Therefore She did set up one Soveraign Prince; and in the Records of Venice the resons are yet extant which induc'd her thereunto, whereof one of the remarkablest was this; We have observed that in this vast University of the World all Bodies according to their several Natures have multiplicity of Motions, yet they receive vertue and vigour but from one, which is the Sun; All causes derive their Originals from one supreme cause; we see that in one Creture there are many differing Members, and Faculties which have various functions, yet they are all guided by one soul, &c.

The Island of Great Britain hath bin alwaies a Royal Isle from her first creation, and Infancy; She may be said to have worn a Crown in her Cradle; and though She had [Page] so many revolutions, and changes of Masters, yet She continued still Royal; nor is there any species of Government that suits better, either with the quality of the Countrey, and Genius of the Inhabitants, or relates more directly to all the ancient Lawes, Constitutions, and Customs of the Land, then Monarchal; which any one that is conversant in the Old Records can justifie; Britannia ab initio mundi semper Regia, & regimen illius simile illi caelorum.

Concerning the many sorts of Trust [...] which were put in the Supreme Governor of this Land (for ther must be an implicite and unavoidable necessary Trust reposed in every Soveraign Magistrate) the power of the Sword was the chiefest; and it was agreeable to Holy Scripture he shold have it, where we know 'tis said, The King beareth not the Sword in vain; The Lawes of England did ever allow it to be the inalienable prerogative of the Soveraign Prince, nor was it ever known (humbly under favour) that any other power whatsoever managing conjunctly or singly, did ever pretend to the power of the publick Sword, or have the Militia invested in them, but this ever remained intire and untransferrible in the person of the Ruler in [Page] chief, whose chiefest instrument to govern by is the Sword, without which Crownes, Scepters, Globes and Maces are but bables. It is that Instrument which causeth tru obedience, makes him a Dread Soveraign, and to be feared at home and abroad; Now 'tis a Maxime in policy, that ther can be no tru obedience without Fear; The Crown and Scepter draw only a loose kind of voluntary love, and opinion from the people, but 'tis the sword that draws Reverence and awe, which two are the chiefest ingredients of Allegeance, it being a principle, that the best Government is made of Fear and Love, viz. when by Fear Love is drawn as threed through the eye of a Needle; The surest Obedience, and Loyalty is caused thus, for Fear being the wakefullest of our passions works more powerfully in us and predominates over all the rest; primus in orbe Deus fecit Timor. To raise up a Soveraign Magistrate without giving him the power of the sword, is to set one up to rule a metall'd Horse without a Bridle; A chief Ruler without a Sword, may be said to be like that Logg of Wood which Iupiter threw down among the Froggs to be their King, as it is in the Fable. Moreover, One of the chiefest [Page] glories of a Nation is to have their Supreme Governor to be esteem'd, and redouted abroad as well as at Home. And what Forren Nation will do either of these to the King of England if he be Armless, and without a Sword? who will give any respect o [...] precedence to his Ambassadors, and Ministers of State? The Sword also is the prime Instrument of publick protection, therefore that King who hath not the power of the Sword, must have another Title given Him, the Protector of his peeple.

Now, in a Successive hereditary Kingdom, as England is known, and acknowledged to be by all Parties now in opposition, There are three things which are inalienable from the Person of the King: They are,

1. The Crowne.

2. The Scepter.

3. The Sword.

The one, He is to carry on His Head, the other in His Hand, and the third at His Side; and they may be termed all three the ensignes or peculiar instruments of a King: by the first, He Reignes, by the second He makes Lawes, by the third He Defends [Page] them: and the two first are but bables without the last, as was formerly spoken.

1. Touching the Crown or royal Diadem of England, ther is none, whether Presbyterian, Independent, Protestant, or others now in action, but confess that it descends by a right hereditary Line, (though through divers Races, and som of them Conquerours) upon the Head of Charles the first now Regnant: 'tis His own by inherent birth-right and nature, by Gods Law, and the Law of the Land, and these Parliament-men at their first sitting did agnize subjection unto Him accordingly, and recognize Him for their Soveraign Liege Lord: Nay, the Roman Catholick denies not this, for though there were Bulls sent to dispense with the English Subjects for their allegiance to Queen Elizabeth, yet the Pope did this against Her as he took Her for a Heretick, not an Usurpresse, though he knew well enough that She had bin declared Illegitimate by the Act of an English Parliament.

This Imperial Crown of England is adorned and deckd with many fair Flowers, which are called, royal Prerogatives; and they are of such a transcendent nature, that [Page] they are unforfeitable, individual, and untransferrable to any other: The King can only summon and dissolve Parliaments: The King can only Pardon (for when He is Crowned, He is sworn to rule in Mercy as well as in Justice:) The King can only Coyn Money, and enhance or decry the value of it: The power of electing Officers of State, of Justices of Peace and Assize is in the King; He can only grant soveraign Commissions: The King can only wage War, and make Out-landish Leagues: The King may make all the Courts of Justice ambulatory with His Person, as they were used of old▪ 'tis tru, the Court of Common Pleas must be sedentary in som certain place for such a time; but that expired, 'tis removeable at His pleasure: The King can only employ Ambassadours and Treat with forraign States, &c. These, with other royal Prerogatives which I shall touch hereafter, are those rare and wholsom flowers wherewith the Crown of England is embellished, nor can they stick any where else but in the Crown, and all confess the Crown is as much the King's, as any private man's Cap is his own.

2. The second regall Instrument is the [Page] Scepter, which may be called an inseparable companion, or a necessary appendix to the Crown; this invests the King with the sole Authority of making Lawes, for before His confirmation all results and determinations of Parliament are but Bills or [...] they are but abortive things, and meer Embryos; nay, they have no life at all in them till the King puts breath and vigour into them: and the ancient custome was for the King to touch them with His Scepter, then they are Lawes, and have a vertue in them to impose an obligation of universall obedience upon all sorts of people, It being an undeniable maxime, That nothing can be generally binding without the King's royall assent, nor doth the Law of England take notice of any thing without it: This being done they are ever after styl'd the Kings Lawes, and the Judges are said to deliver the King's judgments, which agrees with the holy text, The King by judgment shall stablish the Land: nay, the Law presumes the King to be alwaies the sole Judge Paramount, and Lord chief Justice of England, for he whom He pleaseth to depute for His chiefest Justice, is but styl'd Lord chief Iustice of the Rings [...]ench, not Lord chief Justice of England, [Page] which title is peculiar to the King Himself, and observable it is, that whereas He grants Commissions and Patents to the Lord Chancellour (who is no other then Keeper of His Conscience) and to all other Judges, He names the Chief Justice of his own Bench by a short Writ only containing two or three lines: which run thus, Regina Iohanni Popham militi salutem, Sciatis quod constitutmus vos justiciarium nostrum Capitalem ad placita coram nobis terminandum durante beneplacito nostro; Teste &c. Now, though the King be liable to the Laws, and is contented to be within their verge, because they are chiefly His own productions, yet He is still their Protector, Moderator, and Soveraigne, which attributes are incommunicable to any other conjunctly or separately.

Thus the King with His Scepter, and by the mature advice of His two Houses of Parl. which are His highest Councel and Court, hath the sole power of making Laws; other Courts of judicature doe but expound them and distribute them by His appointment, they have but Iuris dati dictionem or declarationem, and herein, I meane for the Exposition of the Lawes the twelve Iudges are to be believed before the whole Kingdom besides. [Page] They are as the Areopagites in Athens, the chief Presidents in France and Spaine in an extraordinary Iunta, as the Cape-Syndiques in the Rota's of Rome, and the Republique of Venice, whose judgments in point of interpreting Lawes are incontroulable, and preferred before the opinion of the whole Senate whence they received their being; and who hath still power to repeal them, though not to expound them. In France they have a Law maxime, Arrest donné en Rebbe rouge est irrevocable, which is, a Scarlet Sentence is irrevocable, meaning when all the Judges are met in their Robes, and the Client against whom the Cause goes, may chafe and chomp upon the bit, and say what he will for the space of twenty foure howers against his Judges, but if ever after he traduces them, he is punishable: It is no otherwise here where every ignorant peevish Client, every puny Barister, specially if he become a Member of the House will be ready to arraign and vie knowledge with all the reverend Judges in the Land, whose judgement in points of Law shold be onely tripodicall and sterling: so that he may be truly call'd a just King, and to rule according to Law, who rules according to the opinion of his [Page] Judges; therefore, under favour, I do not see how his Majesty for his part could be call'd injust when he leavied the Shipmoney, considering he had the Judges for it.

I now take the Sword in hand, which is the third Instrument of a King, (and which this short discours chiefly points at) it is as well as the two first incommunicable and inalienable from his Person; nothing concernes his honor more both at home and abroad; the Crown and the Scepter are but unweildy and impotent naked indefensible things without it. There's none so simple as to think there's meant hereby an ordinary single sword, such as ev'ry one carrieth by his side, or som imaginary thing or chymera of a sword; No, 'tis the polemicall publique sword of the whole Kingdom, 'tis an aggregative compound sword, and 'tis moulded of bell-metall; for 'tis made up of all the ammunition and armes small and great, of all the military strengths both by Land and Sea, of all the Forts, Castles and tenable places within and round about the whole Ile: The Kings of Engl. have had this sword by vertue of their royall signory from all times, the Laws have girded it to their sides, they [Page] have employed it for repeling all foren force, for revenging all forren wrongs or affronts, for quelling all intestine tumults, and for protecting the weal of the whole body politicke at home: The peeple were never capable of this sword, the fundamentall constitutions of this Kingdom deny it them; 'tis all one to put the sword in a mad mans hand, as in the peeples; or for them to have a disposing power in whose hands it shall be. Such was the case once of the French sword, in that notorious insurrection call'd to this day La Iaqueris de Beauvoisin, when the Pesants and Mechanicks had a design to wrest it out of the Kings hand, and to depresse all the Peers and Gentry of the Kingdom; and the businesse had gone so far that the peasans might have prevail'd, had not the Prelats stuck close to the Nobility; But afterwards poor hare▪brain'd things they desire the King upon bended knees to take it againe; Such popular puffs have blowen often in Poland, Naples and other places, where while they sought and fought for liberty by retrenching the regall power, they fool'd themselfs into a slavery unawares, and found the rule right, that excesse of freedom turns to thraldom, and ushers in all confusions. [Page] If one shold go back to the nonage of the world, when Governers and Rulers began first, one will find the peeple desir'd to live under Kings for their own advantage, that they might be restrain'd from wild exorbitant liberty, and kept in unity; Now unity is as requisit for the wel-being of all naturall things, as entity is for their being, and 'tis a receiv'd maxime in policy, that nothing preserves Unity more exactly then Royal Government: besides, 'tis known to be the noblest sort of sway; In so much that by the Law of Nations, if Subjects of equal degrees, and under differing Princes shold meet, the Subjects of a King shold take precedency of those under any Republique.

But to take up the Sword again. I say that the Sword of public Power and Authority is fit only to hang at the Kings side, and so indeed shold the Great Seal hang only at his girdle, because 'tis the Key of the Kingdom: which makes me think of what I read of Charlemain, how he had the imperial Seal emboss'd alwaies upon the pommell of his Sword, and his reason was, that he was ready to maintain whatsoever he signed, and sealed.

The Civilians, who are not in all points so [Page] great friends to Monarchy as the Common Law of England is, say, there are six Iura Regalia, six Regal Rights, viz. 1. Potestas Iudicatoria, 2. Potestas vitae & necis, 3. Armamenta, 4. Bona adespota, 5. Census, 6. Monetarum valor: to wit, Power of Iudicature, Power of Life and Death, all kind of arming, masterless goods, S [...]issements, and the value of money.

Among these Regalia's, we find that Arming, which in effect is nought else but the Kings Sword, is among the chiefest; and 'tis as proper and peculiar to his person, as either Crown or Scepter. By these two he drawes a loose voluntary love and opinion only from his Subjects, but by the Sword he draws reverence and awe, which are the chiefest ingredients of allegiance, it being a maxime, That the best mixture of Government is made of fear and love. With this Sword he conferrs honor, he dubbs Knights, he creates Magistrates, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, the Lord Mayor of London with all other Corporations have their Swords from him, and when he entereth any place corporate, we know the first thing that is presented him is the Sword: With this Sword he shields and preserves all his people that [Page] every one may sit quietly under his own Vine, sleep securely in his own House, and enjoy sweetly the fruits of his labours.

Nor doth the point of this Sword reach only to every corner of his own dominions, but it extends beyond the seas to gard his Subjects from oppression, and denial of justice, as well as to vindicate the publick wrongs, make good the interests of his Crown, and to assist his confederates; This is the Sword that Edward the third tied the Flower deluces unto (which stick still unto it,) when having sent to France to demand that Crown by maternal right, the Counsell ther sent him word that the Crown of France was not tied to a distaff, to which scoffing answer he replied, that then he wold tie it to his sword, and he was as good as his word. Nor is this publick sword concredited or intrusted by the peeple in a fiduciary conditionall way to the King, but it is properly and peculiarly belonging unto him, as an inseparable concomitant, perpetual Usher and attendant to his Crown. The King, we know, useth to maintain all garrisons upon his own charge, not the peeples; he fortifies upon his own charge, not the peeples: And though I will not averr, that the King may impresse any [Page] of his Subjects, unlesse it be upon an actuall vasion by Sea, or a sudden irruption into his Kingdom by Land, as the Scots have often done, yet at any time the King may raise Volunteers, and those who have received his money, the Law makes it felony, if they forsake his service.

Thus we see there's nothing that conduceth more to the glory, and indeed the very essence of a King then the Sword, which is the Armes and Military strength of his Kingdom; wherfore under favour, ther cannot be a greater point of dishonour to a King then to be disarmed, then to have his Sword taken from him, or dispos'd of and intrusted to any but those whom he shall appoint; for as à minori ad majus the Argument often holds, if a private Gentleman chance to be disarm'd upon a quarrell, 'tis held the utmost of disgraces, much greater and more public is the dishonor that falls upon a King, if after som traverses of difference 'twixt him and his Subjects, they shold offer to disarm him, or demand his Sword of him: when the Eagle parted with his talons, and the Lion with his teeth and ongles, the Apolog tells us how contemptible afterwards the one grew to be among Birds, the other among [Page] Birds, the other among Beasts. For a King to part with the Sword politic is to render himself such a ridiculous King, as that logg of wood was which Iupiter let down among the froggs for their King at the importunity of their croaking; 'tis to make him a King of clouts, or as the Spaniard hath it, Rey de Havas, a Bean King, such as we use to choose in sport at Twelfnight.

But my hopes are, that the two present Houses of Parliament (for now they may be call'd so, because they begin to parley with their King,) will be more tender of the honour of their Soveraign Liege Lord, which, together with all his Rights and Dignities, by severall solemn Oaths, aud by their own binding instruments of Protestation and Covenant, (not yet revok'd) they are sworne to maintaine, and that they will demand nothing of him which may favour of Aspertè or force, but what may hold water hereafter: But now, touching the Militia or Sword of the Kingdom, I think, under favour, the King cannot transfer it to any other; for that were to desert the protection of his people, which is point blank against his Coronation Oath and his Office: What forren [Page] Prince or State will send either Ambassador, Resident or Agent to him, when they understand his Sword is taken from him? What reformed forein Church will acknowledg Him Defendor of the Faith, when they hear of this? Nay, they who wish England no good will, will go near to paint him out, as not long since another King was, with a fair velvet Scabbard, a specious golden hilt and chape, but the blade within was of wood. I hope that they who sway now, will make better use of their successes: Many of them know 'tis as difficult a thing to use a victory well, as to get one; ther is as much prudence requir'd in the one, as prowesse in the other; they will be wiser sure then turn it to the dishonor of their King: it being a certain rule, that the glory of a Nation all the world over depends upon the glory of their King, and if he be any way obscur'd, the whole Kingdom is under an eclipse.

I have observed, that among other characters of gallantry, which forein Writers appropriat to the English Nation, one is, that they use to be most zealous to preserve the Honor of their King; I trust that they who are now up will return to the steps of their Progenitors, both in this particular and divers [Page] other; that their successes may serve to sweeten and moderat things, and suppress the popular Sword which still rages; And it had bin heartily wished that a suspension of Arms had preceded this Treaty, which useth to be the ordinary fore-runner, and a necessary antecedent to all Treaties; for while acts of hostility continue, som ill-favour'd newes may intervene which may imbitter and [...] ▪ nor can it be expected that the proceedings will go on with that candor and confidence, while the old rancor is still in action▪ 'tis impossible a sore shold heal till the inflamation be taken away; To cast water into a wound instead of oyle is not the way to cure it: or to cast oyle upon a fire instead of water is not the way to quench it; poor England hath had a consuming fire within her bowels many years, she is also mortally wounded in all her members, that she is still in a high Fever, which hath made her rave and speak idle a long time; and 'tis like to turn to a Hectic, if not timely prevented. I pray God she may have no occasion to make use of the same complaint as Alexander the Great made when he was expiring his last, Perii turba Medicorum: too many Physitians have undon me.

[Page]To conclude in a word, ther is but one only way, under favor, to put a period to all these fearful confusions; it is, to put the great Master-wheel in order, and in its due place again, and then all the inferior wheels will move regularly; let the King be restor'd, and ev'ry one will come to his own, all interests will be satisfied, all things quickly rectified; till this be done, 'tis as absurd to attempt the setling of peace, as if one shold go about to set a Watch by the gnomen of an horizontall Diall when the Sun is in a cloud.

I. H.

§

§

[Page]

[Page]

AN ITALIAN PROSPECTIVE, Through which GREAT BRITAIN (Without any MULTIPLYING ART) May cleerly See Her present DANGER, And foresee Her future DESTRUCTION, If not timely prevented.

[figure]

Perditio tua ex Te Anglia.

Paraenesis Angliae.

[Page]

[Page]

O England (specially thou besotted City of London) if Thou be'st not quite past cure, or grown careless and desperat of thy self, if the least spark of Grace, or ray of Reson be yet remaining in Thee, be warn'd, be warn'd by this stranger, who having felt thy pulse, and cast thy water very exactly, discovers in Thee symptoms of inevitable Ruine if thou holdst on this cours.

Divers of thy own children oftentimes admonish'd Thee with [Page] tears in their eyes, and terror in their hearts, to recollect thy self, and return to thy old road of obedience to thy Soverain Prince, But They have bin little regarded, Let a Foreiners advice then take place, and make som impressions in Thee to prevent thy utter destruction.

From the prison of the Fleet 2. Aug. 1647.

I. H.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE Deplorable, and Desperat condition THAT ENGLAND stands in, Sent from LONDON, Anno 1647. To the LORD FRANCISCO BARBERINI, Cardinal of the most holy Apostolick See, and Protector of the English Nation, at his Palaces in Rome.

[Page]

MY last to your Eminence was but short, in regard I had been but a short time in this Countrey, I have now made a longer sojourn here, and taken a leisurely information of all matters; therefore I shall give your Eminence [Page] an account proportionably: For by conversation with the most indifferent, and intelligenc'd men, and by communication with the Ambassadors here resident, I have taken some paines to pump out the truth of things, and penetrat the Interest of all parties.

And truly, I find, that That angry star, which hath lowr'd so long upon Europe in generall, hath been as predominant, and cast as direfull aspects upon this poor Iland, as it hath done upon any other part: Truly, my Lord, in all probability this peeple have pass'd the Meridian of their happinesse, and begin to decline extreamly, as well in Repute abroad, as also in the common notions of Religion, and indeed in the ordinary faculty of Reason: I think verily the Ill Spirit never reign'd so much in any corner of the earth by those inhumane aud horrid things that I have observ'd among them. Nor is it a petty Spirit, but one of the greatest Cacod [...] mons that thus drives them on, and makes them so active in the pursuance of their own perdition.

To deduce matters from their Originall, Your Eminency may please to understand, that this King at his accesse to the Crown had [Page] deep debts to pay, both of His Fathers, and his own, he was left ingaged in a fresh warre with Spain; and had another presently after which France, and both at one time, but he came off well enough of those: Afterwards never any Countrey flourished in that envied happinesse, and wanton kind of prosperity; This City of London was grown to be the greatest Mart, and mistress of trade, of any in the world; Insomuch, as I have been certainly inform'd, the King might have spent meerly upon His customes 4000 crowns a day: Moreover, she had a vast bank of money being made the scale of conveying the King of Spains treasure to Flanders: Insomuch that in a few yeers she had above ten millions of his moneys brought hither, which she might have remitted in specie or in marchandize, and for which this King had five in the hundred for coynage: Yet could he not get beforehand with the world, having a sister with so many Nephews and neeces, having a Queen with diverse children of His own, (at least 16 of the Blood-Royall) to maintaine, with divers profuse Courtiers besides, which made Him more parsimonious then ordinary. The Warres then growing more active 'twixt [Page] Spaine and France, as also 'twixt Holland and Spaine both by Land and Sea, and divers great Fleets of Men of War as well French (who were growne powerfull that way) as Dunkerkers, Spaniards Hollanders, and Hamburgers, appearing daily in His narrow Seas, and sayling close by His Chambers, the world wondred this King had no greater strength at Sea, in case that any of the foresaid Nations should doe him an affront, as some of them had already done, by denying to dash their Colours to his Ships: Insomuch that in Holland and other places he was pasquill'd at, and pourtrayed lying in his cradle lullaby'd and rock'd asleep by the Spaniard: Hereupon being by advertisements from his Agents abroad, and frequent advice of His Privie Councell at home, made sensible of the danger, and a kind of dishonour he was faln into, and having intelligence that the French Cardinall began to question his title to the Dominion of the narrow Seas, considering He employed no visible power to preserve it, He began to consult of meanes to set forth a royall Fleet: but in regard the Purse of the Crowne was lightly ballasted, and that he had no mind to summon the three Estates, because of some indignities [Page] he had received in former Parliaments by the Puritan party (a race of people averse to all Kingly Government, unlesse they may pare it as they please) his then Atturney Generall (Noy) a great cryed-up-Lawyer, put it in his Head to impose an old Tax called Ship-mony upon the Subject, which the said Lawyer did warrant upon his life to be Legall, for he could produce divers Records how many of his Progenitors had done the like: The King not satisfied with his single opinion, refer'd it to his learn'd Council, & they unanimously averred it to be agreeable to the Law of the Land; yet this would not fully satisfie the King, but He would have the Opinion of His twelve Judges, and they also affirmed by their single vouches the said Tax to be warrantable; Hereupon it was imposed and leavied, but some refusing to pay it, there was a suite commenc'd, during which all the Judges were to re-deliver their opinions joyntly, and the businesse being maturely debated and canvased in open Court divers months, and all arguments produc'd pro & con, nine of the said twelve Judges concluded it legal. Thereupon the King continued the imposition of the said Tax, and never was mony imployed so much for the Honour and advantage of a Countrey, for he sent [Page] out every Summer a royall fleet to scowre and secure the Seas; he caused a Galeon to be built, the greatest and gallantest that ever spread saile: Nor did he purse up, and dispose of one peny of this money to any other use, but added much of his own Revenues yeerly thereunto: So the world abroad cried up the King of England to be awake againe; Trade did wonderfully encrease, both Domestic and forrein in all the three Kingdomes; Ireland was reduced to an absolute Settlement, the Arrears of the Crown payed, and a considerable Revenue came thence cleerly to the Exchequer of England every year, the salaries of all Officers, with the pay of the standing Army [...]here, and all other Charges being defrayed by Ireland her self, which was never done before. Yet for all this height of pappinesse, and the glorious fruites of the said Ship-money, (which was but a kind of petty insensible Tax, & a thing of nothing to what hath hapened since) there were some foolish peeple in this Land which murmured at it, and cryed nothing else but a Parliament, a Parliament; and they have had a Parliament since with a vengeance.

But before this occasion, it was observed, that the seeds of disobedience, and a [Page] spirit of insurrection was a long time engendring in the hearts of som of this peacepampred People, which is conceived to proceed from their conversation and commerce with three sorts of men, viz. the Scot, the Hollander and the French Huguenot. Now an advantage happened that much conduced to necessitate the convoking of a Parliament, which was an ill-favoured traverse that fell out in Scotland; For the King intending an Uniformity of Divine worship in all His three Kingdoms, sent thither the Liturgy of this Church, but it found cold and course entertainment ther, for the whole Nation, men, women and children rise up a gainst them: Here upon the King absolutely revoked it by Proclamation, wherein He declared 'twas never His purpose to press the practise therof upon the Consciences of any; therfore commanded that all things shold be in statu quo prius, but this wold not serve the turn, the Scot took advantge hereby to destroy Hierarchy, and pull down the Bishops to get their demeans: To which purpose they came with an Army in open Field against their own Native King, who not disgesting this indignity, Mustred another English Army; which being upon the [Page] confines of both Kingdoms, a kind of Pacification was plaistred over for the present.

The King returning to London, and consulting His second thoughts, resented that insolency of the Scots more then formerly: Hereupon He summons a Parliament, and desires aid to Vindicat that Affront of the Scot. The Scot had strong Intelligence with the Puritan Faction in the English Parliament, who seemed to abet his quarrel, rather then to be sensible of any national dishonour received from him; which caused that shortlived Parliament to dissolve in discontent, and the King was forced to find other means to raise and support an Army by privat Loanes of His nobler sort of Subjects and Servants: The Scot having punctual Advertisements of every thing that passed; yea, in the Kings Cabinet Councel was not idle all this while, but rallies what was left of the former Army (which by the Articles of Pacification (a little before) should have bin absolutely dismissed) and boldly invades England, which he durst never have done, if he had not well known that this Puritan party which was now grown very powerful here, and indeed had invited him to this expedition, [Page] wold stand to him. This forein Army being by the pernicious close machinations of som mongrel Englishmen aforementioned, entred into the Bowels of the Country, the King was forced to call this present Parliament, with whom he complyed in every thing, so far as to sacrifice unto them both Iudge, Bishop, Councellor and Courtier; yea, He yielded to the tumbling down of many tribunals of Justice, which were an advantage to his Prerogative; He assented that the Prelates, who were the most Ancient and Prime Members of the upper House, and had priority of all others, since the first constitution of Parliament in the enrollment of all Acts, He assented I say that these, who were the greatest prop of His Crown shold be quite outed from among the Peers; He granted them also a Trienniall Parliament, and after that, this Perpetuall; which words, to the apprehension of any rational man, carry with them a grosse absurdity in the very sense of the thing: And touching this last Grant, I had it from a good hand, that the Queen was a friend to this Parliament, and your Eminence knows how they have requited Her since, but the main open Councellor to this fatall Act was a Scot.

[Page]Now the reason which they alledged for this everlasting Parliament was one of the baldest that ever I heard of, it was, that they might have time enough to pay the Scots Army, wheras in one morning they might have dispatched that, by passing so many Subsidies for that use, and upon the credit of those, they might have raised what money they wold.

The Parliament finding the King so plyable, and His pulse to beat so gently, like ill-natur'd men they fall from inches to ells in seeking their advantages: They grew so peremptory as to demand all the Military strength of the Kingdom, the Tower of London, with the whole Royal Navy, which they found in an excellent equipage, gramercy ship-money; so that the benefit of ship-money, which they so clamoured at, turned most to their advantage of any thing afterwards.

The Scot being Fidler-like returned to his Country with meat, drink, and money, the King went a while after to keep a Parliament ther, wherein he filled every blank, they did but ask and have, for He granted them what possibly they could propound, both for their Kirk and State, many received [Page] Honour, and they divided Bishops Lands amongst them: for all which unparallel'd Concessions of Princely grace, they caused an Act already in force to be published, viz. that it shold be damnable Treason in the highest degree that could be, for any of the Scots Nation conjunctly or singly to levy armes, or any Military Forces, upon any pretext whatsoever, without His Majesties royal Commission; and this they caused to be don by way of gratitude, but how they perform'd it afterwards the world knowes too well.

The King returning to London, in lieu of a welcom to his two Houses of Parliament (to whom also before his departure he had passed more Acts of Grace then all his Progenitors, take them all in a lump) they had patch'd up a kind of Remonstrance, which was voted in dead of the night, wherein they expos'd to the world the least moat in former government, and aggravated to the very height every grievance, notwithstanding that the King had redressed all before; and this Remonstrance, which breath'd nothing but a base kind of malice, they presented as a nosegay to their Soveraign Prince, to congratulat his safe return from a forein Countrey; [Page] which Remonstrance they caus'd to be printed and publish'd before he could give any answer thereunto. The King finding such a virulent spirit still raign in the House, and knowing who were chiefly possess'd with it (viz. Those whom he had impeach'd before, but saw he could get no justice against them) in such an extremity, he did an act like a generous Prince, for taking the Palsgrave with him, he took the first Coach he met withall at his Court-gate, and went to his House of Commons in person, to demand five Members, which he wold prove to be Traitors in the highest degree [...] to be the Authors of all these distempers, protesting upon the word of a King, that they shold have as fair & legal a tryal as ever men had; in the interim he only desir'd that their persons might be secur'd. The walls of both Houses, and the very stones in London street did seem to ring of this high cariage of the Kings, and the sound went thence to the Country, whence the silly Plebeians came presently in whole herds to this City, who strutting up and down the streets, had nothing in their mouths, but that the Priviledg of Parlement, the priviledg of Parlement was broken, though it be the [Page] known clear Law of the Land, that the Parlement cannot supersede or shelter any Treason.

The King finding how violently the pulse of the grosly seduced people did beat, and ther having bin formerly divers riotous crues of base Mechaniques and Mariners, who had affronted both his own Court, and the two Houses besides, which the Commons, to their eternal reproach, conniv'd at, notwithstanding that divers motions were made by the Lords to suppresse them, the King also having privat intelligence that ther was a mischievous plot to surprize his person, remov'd his Court to the Countrey.

The King departing, or rather being driven away thus from his two Houses, by this mutinous City, he might well at his going away have ubraided her in the same words as H. the 3. did upbraid Paris, who being by such another tumultuous rabble driven out of her in the time of the Ligue, as he was losing sight of her, he turn'd his face back, and said, Farewel ingratefull City, I will never see thee again till I make my way into thee through thy Walls: Yet though the King absented himself in person thus from the two Houses, he sent them frequent messages, that they [Page] wold draw into Acts what he had already assented unto, and if any thing was left yet undon by him, he wold do it; therfore he will'd them to leave off those groundless feares and jealousies wherwith they had amus'd both City and Country; and he was ready to return at all times to his Palace in Westminster, provided that his person might be secur'd from the former barbarisms and outrages: But in lieu of a dutiful compliance with their Prince, the thoughts of the two Houses ran upon nothing but war: The King then retiring into the North, and thinking with a few of his servants only to go visit a Town of his (Hull) he was denyed entrance by a fatal unlucky wretch (Hotham) who afterwards was shamefully executed with his Eldest Son, by command of his new Masters of the Parlement: The King being thus shut out of his own Town (which open'd the first dore to a bloudy war) put forth a Declaration, wherin he warn'd all his people that they shold look to their proprieties, for if He was thus barr'd of his own, how could any privat Subject be sure to be Master of any thing he had, and herein he was as much Prophet as Prince; For the Parlement-men afterwards made themselfs Land-Lords of [Page] the whole Kingdom, it hath bin usual for them to thrust any out of his freehold, to take his bed from under him, and his shirt from off his very back. The King being kept thus out of one of his Townes, might suspect that he might be driven out of another, therfore 'twas time for him to look to the preservation of his Person, and the Country came in voluntarily unto him by thousands to that purpose, but he made choice of a few only to be his gard, as the Parlementeers had done a good while before for themselfs: But now they went otherwise to work, for they fell a levying, listing and arming men by whole Regiments and Brigades till they had a very considerable Army afoot, before the King had one Musqueteer or Trooper on his side; yet these men are so notoriously impudent, as to make the King the first Aggressor of the war, and to lay upon Him all the bloud that was split to this day, wherein the Devil himself cannot be more shamelesse. The Parliamenteers having an army of foot and horse thus in perfect Equipage, 'twas high time for the King to look to himself, therefore he was forced to display his royal Standard, and draw his sword quite out: Thus a [Page] cruel and most cruentous civil war began which lasted near upon four years without intermission, wherein there happen'd more batta les, sieges and skirmishes, then passed in the Nether-lands in fourscore years, and herein the Englishmen may be said to get som credit abroad in the world, that they have the same bloud running in their veines (though not the same braines in their sculls) which their Ancestors had, who were observed to be the activest people in the field, impatient of delay, and most desirous of battaile then any Nation.

But it was one of the greatest miracles that ever happen'd in this Land, how the King was able to subsist so long against the Parlamenteers, considering the multiplicity of infinite advantages they had of him by water and land: for they had the Scot, the Sea and the City on their side; touching the first, he rushed in as an Auxiliary with above 20000. Horse and Foot compleatly furnish▪d both with small and great ammunition and Arms, well cloth'd and money'd: For the second, they had all the Kings ships well appointed, which are held to be the greatest security of the Island both for defence and offence, for every one of them [Page] is accounted one of the moving Castles of the Kingdom: besides, they had all the other standing stone-Castles, Forts, and tenable places to boot: Concerning the last, (viz. the City) therein they had all the wealth, bravery, and prime ammunition of England, this being the only Magazin of men and money: Now if the K. had had but one of these on his side, he had in all probability crush'd them to nothing: yet did he bear up strangely against them a long time, and might have done longer, had he kept the campane, and not spent the spirits of his men before Townes; had he not made a disadvantagious election of som Commanders in chief, and lastly, had he not had close Traitors within dores, as well as open Rebels without; for his very Cabinet Councel, and Bed-Chamber were not free of such vermin, and herein the Parlementeers spent unknown sums and were very prodigal of the Kingdoms money.

The King, after many traverses of war, being reduced to a great strait by crosse successes and Counsels, rather then to fall into the hands of the Parlementeers, withdrew himself in a Serving-mans disguise to the Scots army, as his last randevous, and this [Page] plot was manag'd by the French Agent then residing here; A man wold think that that Nation wold have deem'd it an eternal honour unto them to have their own King and Countrey-man throw himself thus into their armes, and to repose such a singular trust in them upon such an Extremity: but they corresponded not so well with him as he expected, for though at first when the Parlamenteers sollicited their dear Brethren for a delivery of the Kings person unto them, their note was then, if any forein petty Prince had so put himself upon them, they could not with honour deliver him, much less their own native King; yet they made a sacrifice of him at last for 800000. Crownes; wherupon Bellieure the French Ambassador being convoyed by a Troop of horse from the King towards London, to such a stand, in lieu of larges to the souldiers, he drew out an half Crown piece, and ask'd them how many pence that was, they answered 30. He replyed, for so much did Iudas betray his Master, and so he departed.

And now, that in the cours of this Historical Narration, I have touch'd upon France, your Eminence may please to understand, [Page] that nothing almost could tend more to the advantage of that K. then these commotions in England, considering that he was embark'd in an actuall war with the House of Austria and that this Iland did do Spain some good offices; among other, by transport of his treasure to Dunkerk in English bottomes, whereunto this King gave way, and sometimes in his own Galeons, which sav'd the Spaniard neer upon 20. in the hundred, then if he had sent it by way of Genoa; so that som think, though France made semblance to resent the sad condition of her Neighbour, and thereupon sent the Prince of Harcour, and the foresaid Monsieur Bellieure to compose matters, yet she never really intended it, as being against her present interest and engagements: yet the world thinks it much that she shold publiquely receive an Agent from these Parlamenteeres, and that the French Nobility who were us'd to be the gallantest men in the world to vindicate the quarrels of distressed Ladies, are not more sensible of the outrages that have bin offer'd a daughter of France, specially of Henry the greats.

But to resume the threed of my Narration, the King (and with him, one may say, [Page] England also) being thus bought and sold, the Parlamenteers insteed of bringing him to Westminster, which had put a Period to all distempers, toss'd him up and downe to private houses, and kept the former Army still afoot: And truly I think there was never Prince so abus'd, or poor peeple so baffled, and no peeple but a purblind besotted peeple wold have suffred themselves to be so baffled: for notwithstanding that no Enemy appeer'd in any corner of the Kingdome, yet above 20000. Tagaroones have bin kept together ever since to grind the faces of the poor, and exhaust the very vitall spirits of town and Countrey, and keep them all in a perfect slavery: Had the Parlament-men, when the Scots were gone, brought their King in a generous and frank way (as had well becom'd Englishmen) to sit among them, and trusted to him (which of necessity they must do at last) as they had gain▪d more honor far in the world abroad, so they had gain'd more upon his affections then I beleeve they will ever do hereafter.

But to proceed, the King having bin a good while prisoner to the Parlement, the Army snatch'd him away from them, and som of the chiefest Commanders having [Page] pawn'd their soules unto him to restore him speedily, in lieu thereof they tumbled him up and down to sundry places, till they juggled him at last to that small Ile where now he is surrounded with a gard of strange faces; and if happly he beginns to take delight in any of those faces, he is quickly taken out of his sight. These harsh usages hath made him become all gray and oregrown with hair so that he lookes rather like som Silvan Satyr then a Soverain Prince: And truly my Lord the meanest slave in St. Marks gallies or the abjects Captif in Algier bannier is not so miserable as he in divers kinds, for they have the comfort of their wifes, children and frends, they can convey and receive Letters, send Messengers upon their errands, and have privat discours with any; all which is denied to the King of great Britain, nay the young Princes his children are not permitted as much as to ask him blessing in a letter. In so much that if he were not a great King of his passions, and had a heart cast in on extraordinary Mould, these pressures and those base aspersions that have bin publiquely cast upon him by the Parlement it self, had bin enough to have sent him out of the world e're this, and indeed 'tis the main thing they [Page] drive at, to torture his braine, and tear his very heart strings if they could: so that whereas this foolish ignorant peeple speak such horrid things of our Inquisition, truly my Lord 'tis a most gentle way of proceeding being compar'd to this Kings persecutions.

As the King himselfe is thus in quality of a captif, so are all his Subjects becom perfect slaves, they have fool'd themselfs into a worse slavery then Iew or Greek under the Ottomans, for they know the bottom of their servitude by paying so many Sultanesses for every head; but here, people are put to endless, unknown, tyrannical Taxes, besides plundering and Accize, which two words, and the practise of them (with storming of Towns) they have learnt of their pure Brethren of Holland: and for plundrings, these Parliamenteer-Saints think they may robb any that adheres not to them as lawfully as the Iewes did the Egyptians: 'Tis an unsommable masse of money these Reformers have squandred in few years, whereof they have often promis'd and solemnly voted a publick account to satisfie the Kingdom: but as in a hundred things more, so in this precious particular they have dispens'd with [Page] their Votes: they have consumed more treasure with pretence to purge one Kingdom, then might have served to have purchas'd two; more (as I am credibly told) then all the Kings of England spent of the public stock since the Saxon Conquest: Thus have they not only begger'd the whole Island, but they have hurld it into the most fearfull▪st Chaos of confusion that ever poor Countrey was in; they have torn in pieces the reines of all Government, trampled upon all Lawes of heaven and earth, and violated the very Dictamens of nature, by making Mothers to betray their Sons, and the Sons their Fathers, but specially that Great Charter, which is the Pandect of all the Laws and Liberties of the free-born Subject, which at their admission to the House they are solemnly sworn to maintain, is torn in flitters: besides those severall Oaths they forg'd themselfs, as the Protestation and Covenant, where they voluntarily swear to maintain the Kings Honour and Rights, together with the established Laws of the Land, &c. Now I am told, that all Acts of Parlement here are Lawes, and they carry that Majesty with them, that no power can suspend or repeal them, but the same [Page] power that made them, which is the King sitting in full Parlement; these mongrell Polititians have bin so notoriously impudent as to make an inferiour Ordinance of theirs to do it, which is point-blanck against the very fundamentals of this Government, and their own Oaths, which makes me think that there was never such a perjur'd pack of wretches upon earth, never such Monsters of mankind.

Yet this simple infatuated peeple have a Saint-like opinion of these Monsters, this foolish Citie gards them daily with Horse and Foot, whereby she may be sayd to kisse the very stones that are thrown at her, and the hand whence they came, which a dogg would not do: But she falls to recollect her self now that shee begins to be pinch'd in Trade, and that her Mint is starv'd, yet the leading'st men in her Common-Councell care not much for it, in regard most of them have left traffiquing abroad, finding it a more easie and gainefull way of trading at home, by purchasing Crown or Church lands, plunder'd goods, and debts upon the Publick Faith, with Soldiers debenters; thus the Saints of this Iland turne godlinesse into gaine.

Truly my Lord, I give the English for a [Page] lost Nation, if they continue long thus, never was ther a more palpable oblaesion of the brain, and a more visible decay of Reason in any race of men: It is a sore judgment from heaven, that a people shold not be more sensible how they are become slaves to Rebells, and those, most of them the scumm of the Nation, which is the basest of miseries: how they suffer them to tyrannize by a meer arbitrary extrajudicial power o're their very souls and bodies▪ o're their very lifs and livelihoods; how their former freedom is turn'd to fetters, Molehills into Mountains of grievances, Ship-money into Accize, Justice into Tyranny: For nothing hath bin and is daily so common amongst them as imprisonment without charge, and a charge without an accuser, condemnation without apparance, and forfeitures without conviction.

To speak a little more of the King, if all the infernal fiends had ligu'd against him, they could not have design'd or disgorged more malice: They wold have laid to his charge his Fathers death, as arrand a lie as ever was forg'd in hell: they wold make him fore-know the insurrection in Ireland, wheras the Spanish Ambassador here, and his [Page] Confessor who is a very reverend Irish-man, told me, that he knew no more of it then the grand Mogor did: they charge him with all the bloud of this civil war, wheras they and their instruments were the first kindlers of it, and that first prohibited trade and shut him out of his own Town: They have intercepted and printed his privat Letters to his Queen, and Hers to him, (Oh barbarous basenesse!) but therin they did him a pleasure, though the intent was malitious, their aim in all things being to envenom the hearts of his people towards him; and this was to render him a glorious and well-belov'd Prince, as likewise for making him rich, (all which they had vow'd to do upon passing the Act of Continuance,) But now they have made him poorer then the meanest of all his vassals, they have made him to have no propriety in house, goods, or Lands, or as one may say, in his wife and children: 'Twas usual for the father to hunt in his Park while the son hunted for his life in the field, for the wife [...] lie in his bedds, while the husband layed wait to murther him abroad; they have seiz'd upon and sold his privat Hangings an [...] Plate, yea his very Cabinets, Jewels, Pictures, Statues, and Books.

[Page]Nor are they the honorablest sort of peeple, and men nobly extracted (as in Scotland) that do all this, (for then it were not so much to be wondred at) but they are the meanest sort of Subjects, many of them illiterat Mechaniques, wherof the lower House is full; specially the subordinat Committees, who domineer more o're Nobles and Gentry, then the Parliament Members themselfs their Masters use to do.

Touching those few Peers that sit now voting in the upper House, they may be said to be but meer Cyphers, they are grown so degenerat as to suffer the Commons to give them the Law, to ride upon their backs, and do most things without them: Ther be many thousand Petitions that have bin recommended by these Lords to the lower House, which are scornfully thrown into corners and never read; their Messengers have us'd to dance attendance divers hours and days before they were vouchsafed to be let in or heard, to the eternal dishonour of those Peers, and yet poor spirited things they resent it not: The Commons now command all, and though, as I am inform'd, they are summon'd thither by the Kings Original Writ but to consent to what the King and his [Page] Great Counsel of Peers (which is the tru Court of Parlement) shall resolve upon; The Commons I say are now from Consenters become the chiefest Counsellors, yea Controulers of all; nay som of this lower House fly so high as to term themselfs Conquerors, and though in all conferences with the Lords they stand bare before them, yet by a new way of mix'd Committees they carry themselfs as Collegues: These are the men that now have the vogue, and they have made their Priviledges so big swoln, that they seem to have quite swallowed up both the Kings Prerogatives, and those of the Lords: These are the Grandees, and Sages of the times, though most of them have but crack'd braines and crazy fortunes God wot; Nay som of them are such arrand Knaves and coxcombs, that 'tis questionable whether they more want common honesty, or common sense; nor know no more what belongs to tru policy then the left leg of a joynt-stool: They are grown so high a tiptoes, that they seem to scorn an Act of Amnestia, or any grace from their King, wheras som of them deserve to be hang'd as oft as they have haires upon their heads; nor have they any more care of the common good of [Page] England then they have of Lapland, so they may secure their own persons, and continue their Power now, Authority is sweet, though it be in Hell.

Thus, my Lord, is England now govern'd, so that 'tis an easie thing to take a prospect of her ruine if she goes on this pace: The Scot is now the swaying man, who is the third time struck into her bowels with a numerous Army: They say he hath vow'd never to return till he hath put the Crown on the Kings head, the Scept [...]r in his hand, and the sword by his side; if he do so, it will be the best thing that ever he did, though som think that he will never be able to do England as much good as he hath done her hurt; He hath extremely out-witted the English of late years: And they who were the causers of his first and last coming in, I hold to be the most pernicious Enemies that ever this Nation had; for tis probable that Germany (viz. Ponterland and Breme) will be sooner free of the Swed, then England of the Scot, who will stick close unto him like a bur, that he cannot shake him off; He is becom already Master of the Englishmans soul, by imposing a Religion upon him, and he may hereafter be master of his body.

[Page]Your Eminence knows there is a periodicall fate hangs over all Kingdoms after such a revolution of time, and rotation of fortunes wheele; the cours of the world hath bin for one Nation, like so many nailes, to thrust out another; But for this Nation, I observe by conference with divers of the saddest and best weighdst men among them, that the same presages foretell their ruine as did the Israelites of old, which was a murmuring against their Governors; It is a long time that both Iudges, Bishops and privy Counsellors have bin mutter'd at, whereof the first shold be the oracles of the Law, the other of the Gospell, the last of State-affaires, and that our judgments shold acquiesce upon theirs; Here as I am inform'd; 'twas common for evry ignorant client to arraign his Iudg; for evry puny Curat to censure the Bishop; for evry shallow-brain home-bred fellow to descant upon the results of the Councell Table: and this spirit of contradiction and contumacy hath bin a long time fomenting in the minds of this peeple, infus'd into them principally, by the Puritanicall Faction. Touching the second of the three aforesaid (I mean Bishops) they are grown so odious (principally for their large demeanes) among [Page] this peeple, as the Templers were of old, and one may say it is a just judgment fallen upon them, for they were most busy in demolishing Convents and Monasteries, as these are in destroying Cathedralls and Ministers; But above all, it hath bin observ'd that this peeple hath bin a long time rotten-hearted towards the splendor of the Court, the glory of their King, and the old establish'd Government of the land: 'Tis true there were a few small leakes sprung in the great vessel of the St [...]te, (and what vessel was ever so [...]ite but was subject to leakes?) but these wise-akers in stopping of one have made a hundred: Yet if this Kings raign were parallell'd to that of Queen Elizabeth's, who was the greatest Minion of a peeple that ever was, one will find that she stretch'd the Prerogative much further; In her time as I have read in the Latin Legend of her life, som had their hands cut off for only writing against her matching with the Duke of Aniou, others were hang'd at Tyburn for traducing her government; she pardon'd thrice as many Roman Priests as this King did, she pass'd divers Monopolies, she kept an Agent at Rome, she sent her Sergeant at Armes to pluck out a Member then sitting in the [Page] House of Commons by the eares, and clapt him in prison; she call'd them sawcy fellowes to meddle with her Prerogative, or with the government of her houshold, she mannag'd all forren affaires, specially the warrs with Ireland soly by her privy Counsell; yet there was no murmuring at her raign, and the reason I conceave to be, that there was neither Scot or Puritan had then any stroke in England.

Yet, for all their disobedience and grumblings against their Liege Lord the King, this peeple are exactly obedient to their new Masters of the House of Commons, though they sit there but as their Servants and entitle themselfs so; and also though in lieu of the small scratches which England might happily have receiv'd before (all which the King had cur'd) these new masters have made such deep gashes in her, and given her such deadly wounds that I believe are incurable.

My Lord, I find by my researches, that there are two great Idolls in this Kingdom, the greatest that ever were, they are the Parliament and the Pulpit; tis held High treson to speak against the one, and the whole body of Religion is nailed unto the other, for there [Page] is no devotion here at all but preaching, which God wot is little better then prating. The abuse of these two hath bin the source of all the distempers which now raign: touching the latter, it hath serv'd as a subvervient Engin to prop up the power and popularity of the first; these malicious Pulpitmen breath out nothing thence but either sedition, schisme or blasphemy: poor shallow brain'd Sciolists, they wold question many things in the old Testament, and find Apocrypha in the New: And such is the violence wherewith the minds of men and women are transported towards these Preachmen, and no other part of devotion besides, that in all probability they will in time take a surfet of them: so that give this giddy peeple line enough ther will be no need of Catholique Arms to reduce them to the Apostolick Church, they will in time pave the way to it themselves, and be glad to return to Rome to find out a Religion again.

There was here before, as I am informed, a kind of a face of a Church, there were some solemnities, venerations and decencies us'd that a man might discover som piety in this peeple; there was a publick Lyturgie that in pithy Pathetical prayers reach'd all [Page] occasions; the Sacraments were administred with som reverence, their Churches were kept neat and comly; but this nasty race of miscreants have nothing at all of sweetnesse, of piety and devotion in them; 'tis all turn'd to a fatuous kind of zeal after more learning, as if Christianity had no sobriety, consistence or end of knowledg at all: These silly things, to imitat the Apostles time, wold have the same form of discipline to govern whole Nations, as it did a chamberfull of men in the infancy of the Church, they wold make the same coat serve our Savious at 30. yeers, which fitted him at three: 'Tis incredible how many ugly sorts of heresies they daily hatch, but they are most of them old ones newly furbish'd; they all relate to Aerius, a perfect hater of Bishops, because he could not be one himself. The two Sectaries which sway most, are the Presbyterians and Independents, the Presbyterian is a spawn of a Puritan, and the Independent a spawn of the Presbyterian: there's but one hop 'twixt the first and a Iew, and but half a hop 'twixt the other and an Infidell; they are both opposit to Monarchy and Hierarchy; and the latter wold have no Government at all, but a parity and promiscuous confusion, a race of creatures fit only to inhabit Hell: [Page] and one of the fruits of this blessed Parlement, and of these two Sectaries is, that they have made more Jewes and Athiests then I think there is in all Europe besides; but truly, my Lord, I think the judgments of Heaven were never so visible in any part of the Earth, as they are now here, for there is Rebell against Rebell, House against House, Cittie against Army, Parlement against Scot, but these two Sectaries, I mean the Presbyterian and Independent who were the fire-brands that put this poor Iland first in a flame, are now in most deadly feud one against the other, though they both concur in this to destroy government: And if the King had time enough to look only upon them, they would quickly hang, draw, and destroy one another.

But indeed all Christian Princes shold observe the motions and successes of these two unlucky Incendiaries, for if they shold ligue together again, (as they have often plaid fast and loose one with another) and prevail here, this Iland wold not terminat their designs, they wold puzzle all the world besides. Their Preachmen ordinarily cry out in the Pulpit, ther is a great work to be done upon earth, for the reforming all mankind, and They are appointed by Heaven to be the [Page] chief Instruments of bringing it about▪ They have already bin so busie abroad, that (with vast sommes of money) they brought the Swed upon the Dane, and the very Savages upon the English Cavaliers in Virginia; and could they confederat with Turk, or Tartar, or Hell it self against them, they wold do it: they are monstrously puff'd up with pride, that they stick not to call themselfs Conquerors, and one of the chief ringleaders of them, an ignorant home bred kind of Brewer, was not ashamed to vant it publiquely in the Commons House, that if he had but 20000. men, he wold undertake to march to Constantinople, and pull the Ottoman Emperour out of the Seralio.

Touching the other grand Idoll the Parlement, 'tis true that the primitive constitution of Parlement in this Iland was a wholesom piece of policy, because it kept a good correspondence, and clos'd all ruptures 'twixt the King and his peeple, but this thing they call Parlement now, may rather be term'd a cantle of one, or indeed a Conventicle of Schismatiques, rather than a great Counsell; 'tis like a kind of headless Monster, or som estropiated carkas; for ther is neither King nor Prelat, nor scarce the seventh [Page] part of Peers and Commons, no not the twelfth part fairly elected; nevertheless they draw the peeple, specially this City, like so many stupid animalls, to adore them.

Yet though this institution of Parlement be a wholsom thing in it self, there is in my judgment a great incongruity in one particular; and I believe it hath bin the cause of most distempers; it is, That the Burgesses are more in number than the Knights of the Shires; for the Knights of the Shires are commonly Gentlemen well born, and bred, and vers'd in the Laws of the Land, as well as forren Governments, (divers of them) but the Burgesses of Towns are commonly Tradesmen, and being bred in Corporations they are most of them inclining to Puritanism, and consequently to popular Government; These Burgesses exceeding the Knights in number, carry all before them by plurality of Voices, and so puzzle all: And now that▪ I have mentioned Corporations, I must tell your Lordship, that the greatest soloecism in the policy of this Kingdom, is the number of them; especially this monstrous City, which is compos'd of nothing els but of Corporations; and the greatest errors that this King, [Page] specially his Father, committed, was to suffer this Town to spread her wings so wide▪ for she bears no proportion with the bignes of the Iland, but may fit a Kingdom thrice as spacious; she engrosseth and dreins all the wealth and strength of the Kingdom; so that I cannot compare England more properly than to one of our Cremona geese, where the custom is to fatten only the heart, but in doing so the whole body growes lank.

To draw to a conclusion, This Nation is in a most sad and desperat condition, that they deserve to be pittied, and preserved from sinking, and having cast the present state of things and all interests into an equal balance, I find, my Lord, ther be three ways to do it, one good, and two bad.

1. The first of the bad ones is the Sword▪ which is one of the scourges of heaven, especially the Civill sword.

2. The second bad one is the Treaty, which they now offer the King in that small Island wher he hath bin kept Captif so long, ( [...] which quality the world will account him still while he is detain'd there) and by tha [...] Treaty to bind him as fast as they can, an [...] not trust him at all.

[Page]3. The good way is, in a free confiding brave way (Englishmen-like) to send for their King to London, where City and Country shold Petition him to summon a new and free full Parlement, which he may do as justly as ever he did thing in his life, these men having infring'd as well all the essentiall Priviledges of Parlement, as every puntillio of it, for they have often risen up in a confusion without adjournment, they had two Speakers at once, they have most perjuriously and beyond all imagination betrayed the trust both King and Country repos'd in them, subverted the very sundamentals of all Law, and plung'd the whole Kingdom in this bottomless gulf of calamities: another Parlement may haply do som good to this languishing Island, and cure her convulsions, but for these men that arrogat to themselfs the name of Parlement (by a local puntillio only because they never stir'd from the place where they have bin kept together by meer force) I find them by their actions to be so pervers, so irrational and refractory, so far given over to a reprobat sense, so fraught with rancor, with an irreconcileable malice and thirst of bloud, that England may well despaire to be heal'd [Page] by such Phlebotomists, or Quack-salvers; be sides they are so full of scruples, apprehensions, and jealousies proceeding from blac [...] guilty souls, and gawl'd consciences, that they will do nothing but chop Logic with their King, and spin out time to continue their power, and evade punishment, which they think is unavoidable if ther shold be a free-Parlement.

Touching the King he comports himself with an admired temper'd equanimity, he invades and o're-masters them more and more in all his answers by strength of reson, though he have no soul breathing to consult withall, but his own Genius: he gains wonderfully upon the hearts and opinion of his peeple, and as the Sun useth to appear bigger in winter, and at his declension in regard of the interposition of certain meteors 'twixt the eye of the beholder and the object, so this King being thus o're-clouded and declined, shines far more glorious in the eyes of his people; and certainly these high morall vertues of constancy, courage and wisdom come from above; and no wonder, for Kings as they are elevated above all other peeple and stand upon higher ground, they sooner receive the inspirations of heaven; [Page] nor doth he only by strength of reason out [...] them, but he wooes them by gentlenesse and mansuetude; as the Gentleman of Paris who having an Ape in his house that had taken his only child out of the cradle, and dragged him up to the ridge of the house, the parent with ruthful he art charmed the Ape by fair words and other bland [...] ments to bring him softly down, which he did; England may be said to be now just upon such a precipice, ready to have her braines dash'd out, and I hope these men will not be worse natur'd then that brute animal, but will save her.

Thus have I given your Eminence a rough account of the state of this poor and pittifully deluded peeple, which I will perfect when I shall come to your presence, which I hope will be before this Autumnal Equinox; I thought to have sojourn'd here longer, but that I am grown weary of the clime, for I fear there's the other two scourges of heaven that menace this Island, I mean the famin and pestilence, especially this City, for their prophanness, rebellion, and sacriledge▪ It hath bin a talk a great while whether Anti-Christ be come to the world or no, I am sure Anti-Iesus, which is worse, is among [Page] this people, for they hold all veneration, though voluntary proceeding from the inward motions of a sweet devoted soul, and causing an outward genuflection, to be superstitious, insomuch that one of the Synodical Saints here printed and published a Book entitling it against Iesu Worship.

So in the profoundest posture of reverence I kisse your vest, as being,

London this 12, of August, 1647.

My Lord,

Your Eminences most humbly devoted, I. H.

§

§

[Page]

A NOCTURNAL PROGRES, OR A PERAMBULATION Of most COUNTREYS IN CHRISTENDOM,

Perform'd in one night by strength of the Imagination;

Which progresse terminats in these North-West Iles,

And declares the woful Confusions They are involv'd at present.

[figure]

The progress of the Soul by an usuall DREAM.

[Page]

[Page]

IT was in the dead of a long Winter night, when no eyes were open but Watchmens and Centinels, that I was fallen soundly asleep, the Cinq-out-Ports were shut up closer then usually, for my senses were so trebly lock'd, that the Moon, had she descended from her watry Orb, might have done much more to me then she did to Endymion when he lay snoaring upon the brow of Latmus Hill; nay, (be it spoken without prophanenesse) if a rib had bin taken out of me that night, to have made a new mo [...] of a woman, I shold hardly have felt it.

Yet, though the Cousin German of death had so strongly seiz'd thus upon the exterior parts of this poor Tabernacle of flesh, my inward parts were never more actif, and fuller [Page] of employments then they were that night.

Pictus imaginibus, formis (que) fugacib [...] adstat

Morpheus, & variis fingit nova vultibus ora.

Methought my soul made a sally abroad into the world, and fetch'd a vast compas; she seem'd to soar up and slice the air to cross seas, to clammer up huge Hills, and never rested till she had arriv'd at the Antipodes: Now som of the most judicious Geometricians and Chorographers hold that the whole Mass of the Earth being round like the rest of her fellow Elements, ther be places, and poizing parts of the Continent, ther be Peninsulas, Promontories and Ilands upon the other face of the Earth that correspond and concenter with all those Regions and Iles that are upon this superficies which we read, Countries that symbolize with them in qualities, in temperature of air and clime, as well as in nature of soil; The Inhabitants also of those places which are so perpendicularly opposit, do sympathize one with another in disposition, complexions and humors, though the Astronomers wold have their East to be our West, and so all things vice versa in point of position, which division of the [Page] Heaven is onely mans institution.

But to give an account of the strange progresse my soul made that night; the first Country she lighted on was a very low flat Country, and it was such an odde amphibious Country, being so indented up and down with Rivers and arms of the sea, that I made a question whether I shold call it Water or Land; yet though the Sea be invited and usher'd in into som places, he is churlistly pen'd out in som other, so that though he foam and swell, and appear as high Walls hard-by, yet they keep him out, maugre all his roaring and swelling.

As I wandred up and down in this Watry Region, I might behold from a streight long Dike wheron I stood, a strange kind of Forrest, for the trees mov'd up and down; they look'd afar off as if they had bin blasted by thunder; for they had no leafs at all; but making a nearer approach unto them, I found they were a nomberlesse company of Ship-Masts, and before them appear'd a great Town (Amsterdam) incorporated up and down with Water; As I mus'd with my self upon the sight of all this, I concluded, that the Inhabitants of that Country were notable industrious people, who could give Law so [Page] to the angry Ocean, and occupie those places where the great Leviathan shold tumble and take his pastime in; As my thought ran thus, I met with a man, whom I conjectur'd to be 'twixt a Marchant and a Mariner, his salutation was so homely; the air also was so foggy, that methought it stuck like cobwebs in his Mustachos; and he was so dull in point of motion, as if the bloud in his veines had bin half frozen: I began to mingle words with him, and to expostulat somthing about that Country and people; and then I found a great deal of down-right civilities in him: He told me that they were the only men who did miracles of late years; Those innumerable piles of stones you see before you in such comly neat frabriques, is a place (said he) that from a Fish-Market in effect is come to be one of the greatest Marts in this part of the world, which hath made her swel thrice bigger the [...] she was 50. years ago; and as you behold this floating Forrest of Masts before her mole, so if you could see the foundations of her houses, you shold see another great Forrest, being rear'd from under-ground upon fair piles of timber, which if they chance to sink in this Marshy soil, we have an art to scrue them up again. We [Page] have for 70. years and above without any intermission, except a short-liv'd truce that once was made, wrastled with one of the greatest Potentates upon Earth, and born up stoutly against him, gramercy our two next neighbour Kings, and their Reason of State, with the advantage of our situation. We have fought our selfs into a free-State, and now quite out of that ancient allegeance we ow'd him; and though we pay twenty times more in taxes of all sorts then we did to him, yet we are contented: We have turn'd war into a Trade, and that which useth to beggar others, hath benefited us: Besides, we have bin and are still the rendevous of most discontented Subjects, when by the motions of unquiet consciences in points of Religion, or by the fury of the sword, they are forc'd to quit their own Countreys, who bring their arts of Manufacture, and moveables, hither; Insomuch that our Lombards are full of their goods, and our banks superabound with their gold and silver which they bring hither in specie.

To secure our selfs, and cut the Enemy more work, and to engage our Confederats in a war with him, we have kindled fires in every corner, and now that they are together [Page] by the Eares, we have bin content lately, being long woo'd thereunto, to make a peace with that King to whom we once acknowledged vassalage; which King out of a height of spirit, hath spent 500. times more upon us for our reduction, then all our Country is worth; But now he hath bin well contented to renounce and abjure all claimes and rights of Soverainity over us; In so much, that being now without an enemy, we hope in a short time to be masters of all the comerce in this part of the world, and to eat our Neighbours out of trade in their own Commodities: We fear nothing but that exces of Wealth, and a surfet of ease may make us careles and breed quarrells among our selfs, and that our Generall, being married to a great Kings daughter may—.

Here he suddenly broke the threed of his discourse, and got hastily away, being haul'd by a ship that was sailing hard by▪

Hereupon my soul took wing again, and cut her way through that foggy condens'd aire, till she lighted on a fair spacious, cleare Continent, a generous and rich Soile mantled up and downe with large woods, where, as I rang'd to and fro, I might see divers [Page] faire Houses, Townes, Palaces and Castles, looking like so many Carkases, for no humane soul appear'd in them; methought I felt my he art melting within me in a soft resentment of the case of so gallant a Countrey, and as I stood at amaze, and in a kind of astonishment, a goodly personage makes towards me, whom both for his comportment, and countenance, I perceiv'd to be of a finer mould then that companion I had met withall before: by the trace of his looks I guessed he might be som Nobleman that had bin ruin'd by som disaster: having acosted him with a fitting distance, he began in a masculin strong winded language full of aspirations and tough collision of Consonants, to tell me as followeth: Sir, I find you are a stranger in this Countrey, because you stand so agast at the devastations of such a fair piece of the Continent, then know Sir, because I beleeve you are curious to carry away with you the causes thereof, that these ruthfull objects which you behold, are the effects of a long lingring war, and of the fury of the Sword, a cruentous civill War that hath rag'd here above thirty yeares: one of the grounds of it was the infortunate undertaking of a Prince, who liv'd not far [Page] off in an affluence of all earthly felicity; he had the greatest Lady to his wife, the bes [...] purse of money, the fairest Stable of horse▪ and choicest Library of books of any other of his neighbour Princes. But being by desperat and aspiring counsells put upon a Kingdom, while he was catching at the shadow of a Crown, he lost the substance of all his own ancient possessions: by the many powerfull alliances he had (which was the cause he was pitched upon) the fewd continued long; for among others a Northern King took advantage to rush in, who did a world of mischiefs, but in a few yeers that King and Hee found their graves in their own ruins neer upon the same time; but now, may heaven have due thanks for it, there is a peace concluded, a peace which hath bin 14. long yeers a moulding, and will I hope, be shortly put in execution; yet 'tis with this fatall disadvantage, that the said Northern people, besides a masse of ready money we are to give them, are to have firme footing, and a warm nest ever in this Countrey hereafter, so that I fear we shall hear from them too often: upon these words this noble personage fetch'd a deep sigh, but in such a generous manner that he [Page] seem'd to break and check it before it came halfe forth.

Thence my soul taking her flight o're divers huge and horrid cacuminous mountaines (the Alpes) at last I found my self in a great populous Town (Naples) but her buildings were miserably battered up and down, she had a world of Palaces, Castles, Convents and goodly Churches: as I stepped out of curiosity into one of them, upon the West side there was a huge Grate, where a creature all in white beckned at me, making my approach to the Grate, I found her to be a Nun, a lovely creature she was, for I could not distinguish which was whiter, her hue or her habit, which made me remember (though in a dream my self) that saying, If Dreams and wishes had been tru, there had not been found a tru maid to make a Nun of, ever since a Cloyster'd life began first among women; I asked her the reason how so many ugly devastations shold befall so beautifull a City, she in a dolorous gentle tone, and ruthfull accents, the teares trickling down her cheeks like so many pearles, (such pearly teares that wold have dissolv'd a Diamond) sobb'd out unto me this speech: Gentle Sir, 'tis far beyond any expressions of mine, [Page] and indeed beyond humane imagination to conceive the late calamities which have befallen this faire though infortunat City, a pernicious popular Rebellion broke out here upon a sudden into most horrid barbarismes, a Fate that hangs over most rich popular places that swim in luxe and plenty; but touching the grounds thereof, one may say that rebellion entred into this City, as sin first entred into the world by an apple: For our King now in his great extremities having almost halfe the world banding against him; and putting but a small tax upon a basket of fruit to last only for a time, this fruittax did put the peeples teeth so on edge, that it made them gnash against the Government, and rush into Armes; but they are sensible now of their own follies, for I think never any place suffered more in so short a time: the civill combustions abroad in other Kingdomes may be said to be but small squibs compar'd to those horrid flakes of fire which have rag'd here, and much adoe we had to keep our Vest all fire free from the fury of it: in lesse then the revolution of a yeer it consum'd above fourscore thousand soules within the walls of this City; But 'tis not the first time of forty, that this luxurious [Page] foolish peeple hath smarted for their insurrections and insolencies, and that this mad horse hath o'rethrown his Rider, and drawn a worse upon his back; who instead of a saddle, put a pack-saddle and Panniers upon him: but indeed the voluptuousnesse of this peeple was grown ripe for the judgement of heaven.

She was then beginning to expostulat with me about the state of my Country, and I had a mighty mind to satisfie her, for I could have corresponded with her in the re [...]ation of as strange things, but the Lady A [...]adesse calling her away, she departed in an [...]nstant, obedience seem'd to be ther so precise and punctual.

I steer'd my course thence through a most delicious Country to another City that lay in the very bosom of the Sea, (Venice) she was at first nothing els but a kind of posie made up of dainty green Hillocks, tied together by above 400. bridges, and so coagulated into a curious City; though she be espous'd to Neptune very solemnly once evry [...]eer, yet she still reserves her maydenhead, [...]ad bears the title of the Virgin City in that part of the world; But I found her tugging mainly with a huge Giant that wold ravish [Page] her; He hath shrewdly set on her skirts, and a great shame it is, that she is not now assisted by her Neighbours, and that they shold be together by the ears when they shold do so necessary a work, considering how that great Giant is their common Enemy; and hath lately vow'd seven yeers wars against her; specially considering, that if he comes once to ravish her, he will quickly ruin her said Neighbours, She (to her high honor be it spoken) being their only rampart against the incursion of the said Giant, and by consequence their greatest security.

From this Maiden City, mee thought, I was in a trice carried over a long gulf, and so through a Midland Sea, into another Kingdom, (Spain) where I felt the Clime hotter by some Degrees; a rough-hew'n soile, for the most part, it was full of craggy barren hills; but where there were valleys and water enough, the country was extraordinarily fruitful, whereby nature (it seems) made her a compensation for the sterility of the rest. Yet notwithstanding the hardship of the soyl, I found her full of Abbeys, Monasteries, Hermitages, Convents, Churches, and other places of devotion; as I rov'd there a while, I encountred a grave man in a long [Page] black cloak, by the fashion whereof, and by the brimms of his hat, I perceived him to be a Iesuit; I clos'd with him, and question'd him about that Country: He told me the King of that Country was the greatest Potentat of that part of the world; and, to draw power to a greater unity, they of our Order could be well contented, that he were universall Head over Temporalls, because 'tis most probable to be effected by him, as we have already one universall Head over Spiritualls: This is the Monark of the Mines, I mean of Gold and Silver, who furnishes all the world, but most of all his own enemies with mony, which mony foments all the wars in this part of the world: Never did any earthly monark thrive so much in so short a tract of time, But of late yeers he hath been ill-favouredly shaken by the revolt and utter defection of two sorts of Subjects, who are now in actual arms against him on both sides of him at his own doors. Ther hath bin also a long deadly feud 'twixt the next tramontan Kingdom (France) and him, though the Q. that rules there be his own sister, an unnaturall odious thing: But it seems God Almighty hath a quarrel of late yeers with all earthly Potentats; for in so short a time [Page] ther never happen'd such strange shocks and revolutions: The great Emperour of Ethiopia hath bin outed, he and all his children by a petty companion: The King of China, a greater Emperour than he, hath lost almost all that huge Monarchy by the incursion of the Tartar, who broke ore the wall upon him: The grand Turk hath bin strangled, with 30. of his Concubines; The Emperour of Muscovy hath bin content to beg his life of his own vassals, and to see before his face divers of his chief Officers hack'd to pieces, and their heads cut off and steep'd in strong water, to make them burn more bright in the market place. Besides the above mentioned, this King hath also divers enemies more, yet he bears up against them all indifferently well, though with infinit expence of treasure, and the Church, specially our Society, hath stuck close unto him in these his exigents: whence may be inferr'd, that let men repine as long as they will at the possessions of the Church, they are the best anchors to a State in a storm, and in time of need to preserve it from sinking; besides, acts of charity wold be quite lost among men, did not the wealth of the Church keep life in them: Hereupon drawing a huge pair [Page] of Beads from under his cloak, he began to ask me of my Religion; I told him I had a long journy to go, so that I could not stay to wait on him longer; so we parted, and me thought I was very glad to be rid of him so well.

My soul then made another flight over an Assembly of hideous high hills, (Pyreneys) and lighted under another Clime, on a rich and copious Country (France) resembling the form of a Lozenge, but me thought, I never saw so many poor peeple in my life; I encountred a Pesan, and asked him what the reason was, that ther shold be so much poverly in a Country wher ther was so much plenty: Sir, they keep the Commonalty poor in pure policy here, for being a peeple, as the world observes us to be, that are more humerous than others, and that love variety and change, if we were suffered to be pamper'd with wealth, we wold ever and anon rise up in tumults, and so this Kingdom shold never be quiet, but subject to intestine broils, and so to the hazard of any invasion: But ther was of late a devillish Cardinal, whose humour being as sanguin as his habit, and working upon the weaknes of his Master, hath made us not only poor, but stark beggars, [Page] and we are like to continue so by an eternal war, wherein he hath plung'd this poor Kingdom, which war must be maintained with our very vital spirits: but as dejected and indigent as we are, yet upon the death of that ambitious Cardinal, we had risen up against This, who hath the Vogue now, (with whom he hath left his principles) had not the fearful example of our next transmarin Western neighbours (the English) and the knowledg we have of a worse kind of slavery, of those endles arbitrary taxes, and horrid confusions they have fool'd themselfs lately into, utterly deterr'd us, though we have twenty times more reason to rise then ever they had: yet our great City (Paris) hath shew'd her teeth, and gnash'd them illfavouredly of late, but we find she hath drawn water only for her own Mill, we fare little the better, yet we hope it will conduce to peace, which hath bin so long in agitation.

I cannot remember how I parted with that Peasan, but in an instant I was landed upon a large Island, and methought, 'twas the temperat'st Region I had bin in all the while (England;) the heat of the Sun ther is as harmless as his light, the evening serene [...] [Page] are as wholsom ther as the morning dew; the Dog-daies as innocuous as any of the two Equinoxes. As I rang'd to and fro that fair Island, I spyed a huge City (London) whose length did far exceed her latitude, but ne [...] ther for length or latitude did she seem to bear any politicall proportion with that Island: she look'd, methought, like the Iesuits hat whom I had met withall before, whose brimms were bigger then the crown, or like a peticoat, whose fringe was longer then the body. As I did cast my eyes upwards, methought I discern'd a strange inscription in the aire which hung just over the midst of that City written in such huge visible characters, that any one might have read it, which was this: Woe be to the bloudy City.

Hereupon a reverend Bishop presented himself to my view, his gray haires, and grave aspect struck in me an extraordinary reverence of him: so performing those complements which were fitting, I asked him of the condition of the place, he in a submiss sad tone, with clouds of melancholy waving up and down his looks, told me; Sir this Island was reputed few years since to have bin in the completest condition of happiness [Page] of any part on earth, insomuch that she was repin'd a [...] for her prosperity and peace by all her neighbours who were plung'd in war round about her, but now she is fallen into as deep a gulf of misery, and servitude, as she was in a height of felicity & freedom before: Touching the grounds of this change, I cannot impute it to any other then to a surfet of happiness; now, there is no surfet so dangerous as that of happinesse: Ther are such horrid divisions here, that if they were a foot in hell, they were able to destroy the Kingdom of Satan: truly Sir, ther are crep'd in more opinions among us about matters or Religion, then the Pagans had of old of the Summum bonum, which Varro saith were 300. the understandings of poor men were never so puzzled and distracted; a great while there were two opposit powers (King and Parlement) who swayed here in a kind of equality that peeple knew not whom to obey, many thousands complyed with both, as the men of Calecut who adore God and the Devil, Tantum Squantum, as it is in the Indian language) They adore the one for love, the other for fear: ther is a monstrous kind of wild liberty here that ever was upon earth; That [Page] which was complained of as a stalking horse to draw on our miseries at first, is now only in practice, which is meer arbitrary rule; for now both Law, Religion and Allegiance are here arbitrary: Touching the last, 'tis quite lost, 'tis permitted that any may prate, preach or print what they will in derogation of their annointed King: which word King was once a Monosyllable of som weight in this Ile, but 'tis as little regarded now as the word Pope (among som) which was also a mighty Monosyllable once among us: the rule of the Law is, that the King can do no wrong, ther is a contrary rule now crept in, that the King can receive no wrong; and truly Sir, 'tis a great judgement both upon Prince and peeple; upon the one, that the love of so many of his vassals shold be so alienated from him; upon the other, that their hearts shold be so poyson'd, and certainly 'tis the effect of an ill spirit; both the one and the other in all probability tend to the ruine of this Kingdom.

But now Sir, (because I see you are so attentive, and seem to be much mov'd at this Discourse) as I have discover'd unto you the general cause of our calamities, which was not only a satiety but a surfet of happinesse, [Page] so I will descend now to a particular cause of them; it was a Northern Nation (Scot) that brought these cataracts of mischiefs upon us; and you know the old saying,

Out of the North

All ill comes forth.

Far be it from me to charge the whole Nation herewith; no, but onely som pernicious Instruments that had insinuated themselfs, and incorporated among us, and sway'd both in our Court and Counsels: They had a hand in every Monopoly; they had out of our Exchequer, and Customs near upon 400000. Crowns in yearly Pensions, viis & modis; yet they could not be content, but they must puzzle the peace and policy of this Church and State: and though they are a peeple of a differing Genius, differing Laws, Customs, and Manners unto us, yet for matter of conscience they wold bring our necks into their yoak, as if they had a greater talent of reason, and clearer illuminations, as if they understood Scripture better, and were better acquainted with God Almighty then we, who brought them first from Paganisme to Christianity, and also to be reformed Christians: but it seems, matters [Page] have little thriven with them; nay the visible hand of heaven hath bin heavily upon them divers waies since they did lift their hands against their native King; For notwithstanding the vast summs they had hence, yet is the generality of them as beggarly as ever they were; besides, the Civil Sword hath rag'd ther as furiously as here, and did as much execution among them. Moreover the Pestilence hath bin more violent, and sweeping in their chief Town (Edenburgh) then ever it was since they were a peeple. And now lately ther's the notablest dishonour befaln them that possibly could light upon a Nation, in that 7000. of ours shold upon even ground encounter, kill, slay, rout and utterly discomfit thrice as many of theirs, though as well appointed and arm'd as men could be: And truly Sir, the advantages that accrue to this Nation are not a few by that exploit; For of late years that Nation was cryed up abroad to be a more Martial peeple then we, and to have baffled us in open field in divers traverses: besides, I hope a small matter will pay now their Arrerages here, and elsewhere; but principally, I hope they will not be so busie hereafter in our Court and Counsel, as they have bin formerly.

[Page]Another cause of our calamity is a strange race of peeple (the Puritans) sprung up among our selfs, who were confederat with those of the North; they wold make Gods House cleane, and by putting out the candle of all ancient learning and knowledge, they would sweep it only by the light of an Ignis fatuus: but 'tis visibly found that they have brought much more rubbage into it, and wheras in reforming this house, they shold rather find out the groat that is lost, they go about to take away the mite that's left, and so put Christs Spouse to live on meer almes: True it is, there is a kind of zeal that burns in them, (and I could wish there were so much piety) but this zeal burns with too much violence and presumption, which is no good symptom of spirituall health, it being a rule, that as the naturall heat, so the spirituall shold be moderat, els it commonly turns to a frenzy, and that is the thing which causeth such a giddinesse and distraction in their braines; This (proceeding from the suggestions of an ill spirit) puffs them up with so much spirituall pride; for the Devill is so cunning a Wrastler, that he oftentimes lifts men up to give them the greater fall: they think they have an inerring spirit, and [Page] that their Diall must needs go tru, howsoever the Sun goes: they wold make the Gospell, as the Caddies make the Alchoran, to decide all civill temporall matters under the large notion of slander, whereof they forsooth to be the Judges, and so in time to hook in all things to their Classis: I believe if these men were dissected when they are dead, they would be a great deale of Quicksilver found in their braines.

Proh Superi, quantum mortalia pectora coecae

Noctis habent!—

But I could pitty the giddinesse of their braines, had they not so much gaul in their breasts, were they not so thirsting after blood, so full of poison and irreconcileable malice; in so much that it may be very well thought, these men are a kin to that race which sprung out of the Serpents teeth: these are they which have seduced our great Counsell, and led this foolish City by the nose to begin and foment this ugly War, insomuch that if those numberless bodies which have perish'd in these commotions, were cast into her streets, and before her doores, many thousand Citizens noses would bleed of pure guilt.

[Page]Not to hold you long, these are the men who have baffled common sence, blasted the beams of nature, and offered violence to reason it self; these are they who have infatuated most of the peeple of this Iland; so that whereas in times past, som call'd her the Ile of Angels, she may be term'd now the Ile of Gulls, or more properly the Ile of Doggs, or rather indeed [...]he Ile of Wolfs, there is such a true Lycanthrepy com in among us: I am loth to call her the Iland of Devills, though she hath bin branded so abroad.

To conclude Sir, the glory of this Isle is quite blasted; 'tis tru they speak of peace, but while the King speakes to them of it, they make themselves ready for battle; I much fear, that Ixion-like we imbrace a cloud for peace, out of which there will issue out Centaures, and Monsters, as sprung out of that cloud.

Touching that ancient'st holy Order whereof you see me to be; I well hoped, that in regard they pretended to reforme things only, they wold not have quite extirpated, but regulated only this Order: it had bin enough to brayle our wings, not to have [...]ear'd them: to have lopp'd and prun'd, not [Page] to have destroyed root and branch of that ancient tree which was planted by the hands of the Apostles themselfs: In fine Sir, we are a lost peeple, 'tis no other Dedalus, but the high Deity of heaven can clue us out of this labyrinth of confusions, can extricat us out of this maze of miseries: the Philosopher saith, 'tis impossible for man to quadrat a Circle; so 'tis not in the power of man, but of God alone, to make a loyall Subject of a Round head: Among other things that strangers report of this Iland, they say that Winter here hath too many teares in his eyes: Helas Sir, 'tis impossible he shold have too many now, to bewaile the lamentable base slavery, that a free-born peeple is com to: and though they are grown so tame as to kisse the rod that whips them, yet their Taskmasters will not throw it into the fire.

Truly Sir, as my tongue is too feeble to expresse our miseries, so the plummet of the best understanding is too short to fadom the depth of them.

With this, the grave Venerable Bishop giving me his benediction, fetcht such a sigh, that would have rended a rock asunder; and suddenly vanish'd (methought) out [Page] out of my sight up towards Heaven. I presently after awoke about the dawnings of the day, when one could hardly discern Dog from Wolf; and my soul, my Arimula vagula blandula, being re-entred through the Horn gate of sleep into her former mansion, half tyr'd after so long a Peregrination; and having rub'd my eyes, distended my limms, and return'd to a full expergefaction, I began to call my self to account touching those world of objects my fancy had represented unto me that night; and when by way of reminiscence I fel to examin [...] and ruminate upon them; Lord, what a masse of Ideas ran in my head! but when I call'd to mind the last Countrey my soul wandred in, methought I felt my heart like a lump of lead within me, when I considered how pat every circumstance might be applyed to the present condition of England: I was meditating with my self what kind of dream this might be; wherupon I thought upon the common division that Philosophers make of dreams, that they are either

Divine,

Diabolicall,

Naturall, or

Humane.

For the first, they are Visions more properly or Revelations, wherof ther are divers examples in the holy Oracles of God, but the puddled cranies of my brain are not rooms clean enough to entertain such: Touching the second kind, which come by the impulses of the Devil, I have heard of divers of them, as when one did rise up out of his sleep, and fetcht a poyniard to stab his bed-fellow, which he had done, had he not bin awake; Another went to the next chamber abed to his mother, and wold have ravish'd her; but I thank God this dream of mine was not of that kind.

Touching the third species of dreams; which are naturall dreams, they are according to the humor which predominats; if Melancholy sway, we dream of black darksom devious places; if Phlegm, of waters; if Choler, of frayes, fightings, and troubles; if Sanguin predominat, we dream of green fields, gardens, and other pleasant representations; [Page] and the Physitian comes often to know the quality of a disease by the nocturnal objects of the patients fancy.

Humane dreams the last sort relate to the actions of the day past, or of the day following, and som representations are clear and even; others are amphibious, mongrell, distorted and squalid objects, (according to the species of trees over troubled waters:) and the object is clear or otherwise, accorning to the tenuity or grossenesse of the vapors which ascend from the ventricle up to the brain.

Touching my Dream, I think it was of this last kind; for I was discoursing of, and condoling the sad distempers of our times the day before: I pray God som part of it prove not propheticall; for, although the Frenchman sayeth, Songes sont Mensonges, dreames are delusions, and that they turn to contraries, yet the Spaniard hath a saying,

Et ciego sonnava que via

Yera lo que querria.

The blind man dreamt he did see light,

The thing he wish'd for happen'd right.

Insomuch that some Dreams oftentimes [Page] prove tru; as S. Austin makes mention of a rich Merchant in Milan, who being dead, one of his Creditors comes to his son to demand such a sum of money which he had lent his father; the son was confident 'twas paid, but not finding the Creditors Receipt, he was impleaded and like to be cast in the Sute, had not his fathers Ghost appeared to him, and directed him to the place where the Acquittance was, which he found the next day accordingly. Galen speaks of one that dreamt he had a wooden leg, and the next day he was taken with a dead Palsie in one whole side. Such a Dream was that of William Rufus, when he thought he had felt a cold gust passing through his bowels; and the next day he was slain in the guts, by the glance of an arrow, in new Forrest, a place where he and his Father had committed so many Sacrileges. I have read in Artimedorus, of a woman that dreamt she had seen the pictures of three faces in the Moone like her self, and she was brought to bed of three daughters a little after, who all died within the compas of a moneth. Another dreamt, that Xanthus water ran red, and the next day he fell a spitting of blood.

To this I will add another fore-telling [Page] Dream, whereof I have read, which was thus: two young Gentlemen being travelling abroad in strange Countreyes, and being come to a great towne, the one lay far in the Citie, the other in an Hostry without the wall in the Suburbs: he in the City did dream in the dead of night, that his friend which he had left in the Suburbs rush'd into his chamber panting and blowing, being pursued by others; he dreamt so againe, and the third time he might see his friends Ghost appearing at his beds side with bloud trickling down his throat, and a Poyniard in his brest, telling him, Dear friend, I am come now to take my last farewell of thee, and if thou rise betimes, thou shalt meet me in the way going to be buryed; the next morning his friend going with his Host towards the Inn in the Suburbs wher he left his friend, they met with a Cart laden with dung in the way, which being staid and search'd, the dead body was found naked in the dung.

I will conclude with a notable Dream that Osman the Great Turk had not many years since, a few days before he was murthered by his Janizaries, 1623. He dreamt, that being mounted upon a huge Camel, he [Page] could not make him go, though he switch'd and spur'd him never so much; at last the Camel overthrew him, and being upon the ground, only the bridle was left in his hand, but the body of the Camel was vanished: the Mufti not being illuminated enough to interpret this Dream, a Santon who was a kind of Idiot, told him, the Camel represented the Ottoman Empire, which he not being able to govern, he shold be o'rethrown, which two dayes after proved tru.

By these, and a cloud of examples more, we may conclude, that Dreams are not altogether impertinent, but somthing may be gathered out of them; though the application and meaning of them be denyed to man, unless by special illumination.

Somnia venturi sunt praescia saepe diei.

By Dreams we oft may guesse

At the next dayes successe.

THus have you a rough account of a rambling Noctivagation up and down the world: I may boldly say, that neither Sir Iohn Mandevile, or Coryat himself travell'd more in so short a time: whence you see what nimble Postillions the Animal Spirits [Page] are; and with what incredible celerity the imagination can crosse the Line, cut the Tropiques, and pass to the other Hemisphere of the world; which shews that humane souls have somthing in them of the Almighty, that their faculties have a kind of ubiquitary freedom, though the body be never so under restraint, as the Authors is.

They erre as much who think all Dreams false,

As They who think Them alwayes tru.

In the prison of the Fleet 3. Idus Decembris 1645.

I. H.

§

§

[Page]

A VINDICATION OF HIS MAJESTY,

Touching a Letter He writ to Rome from the Court of Spain, in Answer to a Letter which Pope Gregory the 15th. had sent Him upon passing the Dispensation for concluding the Match with the I [...]fanta.

Which Letter Mr. Pryn mention's in his Book call'd the Popish Royal Favorit, wherby the World is apt to beleeve that His Majesty had Inclinations to Pope [...]y.

Ther goe's also herewith, A clearing of som Aspersions that the said Mr. Pryn cast's upon the Author hereof in the same Pamphlet, viz. That he was a Malignant, and no friend to Parlements.

WHERBY, He takes occasion to speak somthing of the first Rise, And also of the Duty as well as the Authority of Parlements.

[figure]

To my worthily honor'd friend Sir W. S. Knight.

[Page]

[Page]

SIR,

I Have many thanks to give you for the Book you pleased to send me, called the Popish Royal Favorite; and according to your advice (which I value in a high degree) I did put pen to paper, and somthing you may see I have done (though in a poor pamphleting way) to clear my self of those aspersions that seem to be cast upon His Majesty; But truly Sir, I was never so unfit for such a task; all my Papers, Manuscripts, and Notes having bin long since seized upon and kept from me: Adde hereunto, that besides this long pressure and languishment of close restraint (the sense wherof I find hath much stupified my spirits) it pleased God to visit me lately with a dangerous fit of sickness, a high burning fever, with the new disease, wherof my Body as well as my Mind is yet somwhat crazie: so that (take all [Page] afflictions together) I may truly say, I have passed the Ordeal, the fiery Tryal. But it hath pleased God to reprieve me to see better daies I hope; for out of this fatal black Cloud, which now ore-sets this poor Island, I hope ther will break a glorious Sun-shine of peace and firm happinesse: To effect which, had I a Jury, a grand-Jury of lives, I wold sacrifice them all, and triumph in the oblation.

So I most affectionately kiss your hands, and rest

Your faithfull (though afflicted) Servant, From the Prison of the Fleet. I. H.

The Pre-eminence, and Duty OF PARLEMENT.

[Page]

Sectio Prima.

I Am a Free-born Subject of the Realm of England; wherby I claim as my native Inheritance, an undoubted right, propriety, and portion in the Laws of the Land: And this distinguisheth me from a slave. I claim likewise protection from my Soverain Prince, who as He is my Liege Lord is obliged to protect me, and I being one of His Liege peeple am obliged to obey Him by way of Reciprocation; I claim also an interest and common right in the High National Court of Parlement, and in the power, the priviledges and jurisdiction therof, which [Page] I put in equal ballance with the Laws, in regard it is the fountain whence they spring; and this I hold also to be a principall part of my Birth-right; which Great Councell I honour, respect, value, and love in as high a degree as can be, as being the Bulwark of our liberties, the main boundary and bank which keeps us from slavery, from the inundations of tyrannicall Rule, and unbounded Will-government. And I hold my self obliged in a tye of indispensable obedience, to conform and submit my self to whatsoever shall be transacted, concluded, and constituted by its authority in Church or State with the Royal assent, whether it be by making, enlarging, altering, diminishing, disanulling, repealing, or reviving of any Law, Statute, Act, or Ordinance whatsoever, either touching matters Ecclesiastical, civil, common, capital, criminall, martial, maritime, municipall, or any other; of all which the transcendent and uncontrollable jurisdiction of that Court is capable to take cognizance.

Amongst the three things which the Athenian Captain thank'd the gods for, one was, That he was born a Grecian, and not a Barbarian; For such was the vanity of the Greeks, and after them of the Romans in the [Page] flourish of their Monarchy, to arrogat all civility to themselves, and to terme all the world besides Barbarians: so I may say to rejoyce, that I was born a vassall to the Crown of England; that I was born under so well-moulded and tempered a Government, which endows the subject with such Liberties and infranchisements that bear up his naturall courage, and keep him still in heart; such Liberties that fence and secure him eternally from the gripes and tallons of Tyranny: And all this may be imputed to the Authority and wisedome of this High Court of Parlement, wherein there is such a rare co-ordination of power (though the Soveraignty remain still entire, and untransferrable in the person of the Prince) there is such a wholsom mixture 'twixt Monarchy, Optimacy, and Democracy, 'twixt Prince, Peers, and Commonalty, during the time of consultation, that of so many distinct parts, by a rare co-operation and unanimity they make but one Body Politick, (like that shea [...]e of arrows in the Emblem) one entire concentricall peece, the King being still the Head, and the results of their deliberations but as so many harmonious diapasons arising from different strings. And what greater [Page] immunity and happinesse can there be to a Peeple, than to be liable to no Laws but what they make themselves? to be subject to no contribution, assessement, or any pecuniary erogations whatsoever, but what they Vote, and voluntarily yeeld unto themselves? For in this compacted Politick Body, there be all degrees of peeple represented; both the Mechanick, Tradesman, Merchant, and Yeoman have their inclusive Vote, as well as the Gentry, in the persons of their Trustees, their Knights and Burgesses, in passing of all things.

Nor is this Soveraign Surintendent Councell an Epitome of this Kingdom only, but it may be said to have a representation of the whole Universe; as I heard a fluent wellworded Knight deliver the last Parliameut, who compared the beautifull composure of that High Court to the great work of God, the World it self: The King is as the Sun, the Nobles the fixed Stars, the Itineant judges and other Officers (that go upon Messages 'twixt both Houses) to the Planets; the Clergy, to the Element of fire; the Commons, to the solid Body of Earth, and the rest of the Elements. And to pursue this comparison a little farther; as the heavenly Bodies, when three of them meet in Conjunction, [Page] do use to produce some admirable effects in the Elementary World; So when these three States convene and assemble in one solemne great Iunta, some notable and extraordinary things are brought forth, tending to the welfare of the whole Kingdom our Microcosme.

HE that is never so little versed in the Annals of this Ile, will find that it hath bin her fate to be four times conquered, I exclude the Scot for the scituation of his Country, and the Quality of the Clime hath been such an advantage and security to him, that neither the Roman Eagles would fly thither for fear of freezing their wings, nor any other Nation attempt the work.

These so many Conquests must needs bring with them many tumblings and tossings, many disturbances and changes in Government; yet I have observed, that notwithstanding these tumblings, it retained still the forme of a Monarchy, and something there was always that had an Analogy with the great Assembly of Parlement.

The first Conquest I find was made by Claudius Caesar, at which time (as some well observe) the Roman Ensignes, and the Standard of Christ came in together: It is well [Page] known what Lawes the Roman had; He had his Comitia, which bore a resemblance with our Convention in Parlement; the place of their meeting was called Praetorum, and the Laws which they enacted, Plebiscita.

The Saxon Conquest succeeded next, which were the English, there being no name in Welsh or Irish for an English man, but Saxon, to this day; They also governed by Parlement, though it were under other names, as Michel Sinoth, Michel Gemote, and Witenage Mote.

There are Records above a thousand years old of these Parlements in the Reigns of King Ina, Offa, Ethelbert, and the rest of the seven Kings during the Heptarchy: The British Kings also, who retain'd a great while some part of the Isle unconquered, governed and made Laws by a kind of Parlementary way; witnesse the famous Laws of Prince Howell, called Howell Dha, (the good Prince Howell) whereof there are yet extant some British Records: Parlements were also used after the Heptarchy by King Kenulphus, Alphred, and others; witnesse that renowned Parliament held at Grately by King Athelstan.

The third Conquest was by the Danes, [Page] and they govern'd also by such generall Assemblies, (as they do to this day) witnesse that great and so much celebrated Parlement held by that mighty Monarch Canutus, who was King of England, Denmark, Norway, and other Regions 150 years before the compiling of Magna Charta; and this the learned in the Laws do hold to be one of the specialst, and most authentick peeces of antiquity we have extant. Edward the Confessor made all his Laws thus, (and he was a great Legis-lator,) which the Norman Conquerour (who liking none of his sons, made God Almighty his heir by bequeathing unto him this Island for a legacy) did ratifie and establish, and digested them into one entire methodicall Systeme, which being violated by Rufus, (who came to such a disastrous end as to be shot to death in lieu of a Buck for his sacriledges) were restor'd by Henry the first, and so they continued in force till King Iohn; whose Reign is renowned for first confirming Magna Charta, the foundation of our Liberties ever since: which may be compar'd to divers outlandish graffes set upon one English stock; or to a posie of sundry fragrant flowers; for the choicest of the British, the Roman, Saxon, Danish, and Norman [Page] Laws, being cull'd and pick'd out and gathered as it were into one bundle, out of them the foresaid Grand Charter was extracted; And the establishment of this great Charter was the work of a Parliament.

Nor are the Lawes of this Island only, and the freedome of the Subject conserved by Parlement, but all the best policed Countries of Europe have the like. The Germanes have their Diets, the Danes and Swedes their Rijcks Dachs; the Spaniard calls his Parlement las Cortes; and the French have, (or should have at least) their Assembly of three States, though it be growne now in a manner obsolete, because the Authority thereof was (by accident) devolv'd to the King. And very remarkable it is, how this happened; for when the English had taken such large footing in most parts of France, having advanced as far as Orleans and driven their then King Charles the seventh, to Bourges in Berry the Assembly of the three States in these pressures, being not able to meet after the usuall manner in full Parlement because the Countrey was unpassable, the Enemy having made such firme invasions up and down through the very bowels [Page] of the Kingdom; That power which formerly was inhaerent in the Parlementary Assembly, of making Laws, of assessing the Subject with Taxes, subsidiary levies, and other impositions, was transmitted to the King during the war; which continueth many years, that entrusted power by length of time grew as it were habitual in him, and could never after be re-assumed and taken from him; so that ever since, his Edicts countervaile Acts of Parlement. And that which made the businesse more feasable for the King, was, that the burthen fell most upon the Communalty (the Clergy and Nobility not feeling the weight of it) who were willing to see the Peasan pull'd down a little, because not many years before, in that notable Rebellion, call'd la jaquerie de Beauvoisin, which was suppressed by Charles the wise, the Common people put themselves boldly in Arms against the Nobility and Gentry, to lessen their power. Adde hereunto as an advantage to the work, that the next succeeding King Lewis the eleventh, was a close cunning Prince, and could well tell how to play his game, and draw water to his own mill; For amongst all the rest, he was said to be the first that put the Kings [Page] of France, Hors de page, out of their minority, or from being Pages any more, though therby he brought the poor peasans to be worse than Lacquays, and they may thank themselfs for it.

Neverthelesse, as that King hath an advantage hereby one way, to Monarchize more absolutely, and never to want money, but to ballast his purse when he will; so ther is another mighty inconvenience ariseth to him and his whole Kingdom another way; for this peeling of the Peasan hath so dejected him, and cowed his native courage so much by the sense of poverty (which brings along with it a narrownesse of [...]) that he is little usefull for the war: which put's the French King to make other Nations mercenary to him, to fill up his Infantery: Insomuch, that the Kingdom of France may be not unfitly compared to a body that hath all it's bloud drawn up into the arms, breast and back, and scarce any le [...]t from the girdle downwards, to cherish and bear up the lower parts, and keep them from starving.

All this seriously considered, ther cannot be a more proper and pregnant example than this of our next Neighbours, to prove [Page] how infinitly necessary the Parlement is to assert, to prop up and preserve the publick liberty, and national rights of a peeple, with the incolumity and well-fare of a Countrey.

Nor doth the Subject only reap benefit thus by Parlement, but the Prince, (if it be well consider'd) hath equal advantage therby; It rendreth him a King of free and able men, which is far more glorious than to be a King of Cowards, Beggars, and Bankrupts; Men that by their freedom, and competency of wealth, are kept still in heart to do him service against any forrain force. And it is a tru maxime in all States, that 'tis lesse danger and dishonour for the Prince to be poor, than his people: Rich Subjects can make their King rich when they please, if he gain their hearts, he will quickly get their purses. Parlement encreaseth love and good intelligence 'twixt him and his peeple, it acquaints him with the reality of things, and with the tru state and diseases of his Kingdom, it brings him to the knowledg of his better sort of Subjects, and of their abilities, which he may employ accordingly upon all occasions; It provides for his Royal Issue, pays his debts, finds means to fill his Coffers: [Page] and it is no ill observation, That Parlementmoneys (the great Aid) have prospered best with the Kings of England; It exceedingly raiseth his repute abroad, and enableth him to keep his foes in fear, his Subjects in awe, his Neighbours and Confederates in security, the three main things which go to aggrandize a Prince, and render him glorious. In summe, it is the Parlement that supports, and bears up the honour of his Crown, and settles his Throne in safety, which is the chief end of all their consultations: For whosoever is entrusted to be a Member of this High Court, carryeth with him a double capacity; he sits ther as a Patriot, and as a Subject: as he is the one, the Country is his object, his duty being to vindicat the publick liberty, to make wholsom Lawes, to put his hand to the pump, and stop the leaks of the great vessel of the State, to pry into, and punish corruption and oppression, to improve and advance trade, to have the grievances of the place he serves for redressed, and cast about how to find somthing that may tend to the advantage of it.

But he must not forget that he sits ther also as a Subject, and according to that capacity, he must apply himself to do his Soveraignt [Page] businesse, to provide not only for his publick, but his personall wants; to bear up the lustre and glory of his Court; To consider what occasions of extraordinary expences he may have, by encrease of Royal Issue, or maintenance of any of them abroad; To enable him to vindicat any affront or indignity that might be offered to his Person, Crown, or Dignity, by any forrain State or Kingdom, or intestin Rebellion; To consult what may enlarge his honour, contentment, and pleasure. And as the French Tacitus (Comines) hath [...]t, the English Nation was used to be more [...]orward and zealous in this particular than [...]ny other; according that to ancient eloquent speech of a great Lawyer, Domus Regis vigi [...]a defendit omnium, otium illius labor omni [...]m, deliciae illius industria omnium, vacatio [...]lius occupatio omnium, salus illius periculum [...]nium, honor illius objectum omnium. Eve [...] one shold stand Centinell to defend the Kings house, his safety shold be the danger of [...], his pleasures the industry of all, his ease [...]old be the labour of all, his honour the ob [...]ct of all.

Out of these premisses this conclusion [...]ay be easily deduced, That, the principall [...]ntain whence the King derives his happiness [Page] and safety, is his Parlement; It is that great Conduit-pipe which conveighes unto him his peoples bounty and gratitude; The truest Looking-glasse wherin he discernes their loves; (now the Subjects love hath been always accounted the prime Cittadell of a Prince.) In his Parlement he appears as the Sun in the Meridian, in the altitude of his glory, in his highest State Royal, as the Law tells us.

Therfore whosoever is averse or disaffected to his Soveraign Law-making Court▪ cannot have his heart well planted within him, he can be neither good Subject, no [...] good Patriot, and therfore unworthy to breath English aire, or have any benefit, advantage, or protection from the Laws.

Sectio Secunda.

[Page]

BY that which hath bin spoken, which is the language of my heart, I hope no indifferent judicious Reader will doubt of the cordiall affection, of the high respects and due reverence I bear to Parlement, as being the wholsomest constitution, (and done by the highest and happiest reach of policy that ever was established in this Island) to perpetuate the happinesse therof. Therfore I must tell that Gentleman, who was Author of a Book entituled the Popish Royal Favorite, (lately printed and exposed to the world) that he offers me very hard measure; nay, he doth me apparent wrong, to term me therin, No friend to Parlement, and a Malignant▪ A character, which as I deserve it not, so I disdain it.

For the first part of his charge, I wold have him know, that I am as much a friend and as reall an affectionat humble servant and [Page] Votary to the Parlement as possibly he can be, and will live and die with these affections about me: And I could wish, that he were Secretary of my thoughts a while, or if I may take the boldnesse to apply that comparison his late Majesty used in a famous speech to one of his Parlements, I could wish ther were a Chrystal window in my breast, through which the world might espye the inward motions and palpitations of my heart, then would he be certified of the sincerity of this protestation.

For the second part of his Charge, to be a Malignant, I must confesse to have som Malignity that lurks within me much against my will; but it is no malignity of mind, it is amongst the humors, not in my intellectuals; And I believe, ther is no naturall man, let him have his humors never so well ballanced, but hath som of this Malignity reigning within him; For as long as we are composed of the four Elements, whence these humors are derived, and with whom they symbolize in qualities; which Elements the Philosophers hold to be in a restlesse contention amongst themselves (and the Stoick thought that the world subsisted by this innated mutual strise) as long I say, as the four humors, in [Page] imitation of their principles (the Elements) are in perpetual reluctancy and combate for praedominancy, ther must be som malignity lodg'd within us, as adusted choler, and the like; wherof I had late experience, in a dangerous fit of sicknesse it pleased God to lay upon me, which the Physitians told me proceeded from the malignant hypocondriacall effects of melancholy; having bin so long in this Saturnine black condition of close imprisonment, and buryed alive between the walls of this fatal Fleet: These kinds of malignities, I confesse are very rife in me, and they are not only incident, but connaturall to every man according to his complexion; And were it not for this incessant strugling and enmity amongst the humors for mastery, which produceth such malignant effects in us, our souls wold be loth ever to depart from our bodies, or to abandon this mansion of clay.

Now what malignity my Accuser means, I know not; if he means malignity of spirit, as som antipathy or ill impression upon the mind, arising from disaffection, hatred, or rancor, with a desire of som destructive revenge, he is mightily deceived in me; I maligne or hate no Creature that ever God [Page] made but the Devill, who is the Author of all malignity; and therfore is most commonly called in French le Malin Esprit, the malignant spirit. Every night before I go to bed, I have the grace, I thank God for it, to forgive all the world, and not to harbour, or let roost in my bosom the least malignant thought; yet none can deny, but the publick aspersions which this my Accuser casts upon me, were enough to make me a malignant towards him; yet it could never have the power to do it: For I have prevail'd with my self to forgive him this his wrong censure of me, issuing rather from his notknowledge of me, than from malice, for we never mingled speech, or saw one another in our lives to my remembrance; which makes me wonder the more, that a Professor of the Law, as he is, shold pronounce such a positive sentence against me so slightly. But methinks I over-hear him say, that my precedent discourse of Parlement is invol'd in generals, and the Topique Axiome tells us, that Dolus versatur in universalibus, ther is double dealing in universals: His meaning is, that I am no friend to this present Parlement (though he speaks in the plurall number Parlements) and consequently, [Page] he concludes me a Malignant; Therin I must tell him also, that I am traduc'd, and I am confident it will be never prov'd against me, from any actions, words, or letters (though divers of mine have bin intercepted) or any other misdemeanor, though som things are father'd upon me which never drop'd from my quill. Alas, how unworthy and uncapable am I to censure the proceedings of that great Senate, that high Synedrion, wherin the wisdom of the whole State is epitomized? It were a presumption in me, of the highest nature that could be: It is enough for me to pray for the prosperous successe of their consultations: And as I hold it my duty, so I have good reason so to do, in regard I am to have my share in the happinesse; And could the utmost of my poor endeavours, by any ministerial humble office (and somtimes the meanest Boat-swain may help to preserve the Ship from sinking) be so happy, as to contribut any thing to advance that great work (which I am in despair to do, while I am thus under hatches in this Fleet,) I wold esteem it the greatest honor that possibly could befall me, as I hold it now to be my greatest disaster, to have fallen so heavily under an affliction of this nature, and to be made a sacrifice [Page] to publick fame, than which there is no other proof, nor that yet urg'd against me, or any thing else produc'd after so long, so long captivity which hath brought me to suck a low ebbe, and put me so far behind in the course of my poor fortunes, and indeed more than halfe undone me. For although my whole life (since I was left to my self to swim, as they say, without Bladders) has bin nothing else but a continued succession of crosses, and that there are but few red letters found (God wot) in the Almanack of my Age, (for which I account not my self a whit the lesse happy) yet this crosse has carried with it a greater weight, it hath bin of a larger extent, longer continuance, and lighted heavier upon me than any other; and as I have present patience to beare it, so I hope for subsequent grace to make use of it accordingly, that my old Motto may be still confirmed, [...].

HE produceth my attestation for some passages in Spaine at his Majesties being there, and he quotes me right, which obligeth me to him; and I hope all his quotations wherein he is so extraordinarily copious and elaborate in all his workes, are so; yet I [Page] must tel him, that those interchangeable letters which pass'd between His Majesty & the Pope, which were originally couch'd in Latin, the language wherin all Nations treat with Rome, and the Empire with all the Princes thereof, those letters I say are adulterated in many places, which I impute not to him, but to the French Chronicler, from whom he took them in trust. The truth of that businesse is this; The world knows there was a tedious treaty of an Alliance 'twixt the Infanta Dona Maria (who now is Empresse) and His Majesty, which in regard of the slow affected pace of the Spaniard, lasted above ten yeares, as that in Henry the sevenths time, 'twixt Prince Arthur, and (afterwards) Queen Katherine, was spun out above seven: To quicken, or rather to consummate the work, his Majesty made that adventurous journey through the whole Continent of France into Spaine; which voyage, though there was a great deale of gallantry in it (wherof all posterity will ring untill it turne at last to a Romance) yet it prov'd the bane of the businesse, which 'tis not the errand of so poor a Pamphlet as this to unfold. His Majesty being there arriv'd, the ignorant common people cried out, the [Page] Prince of Wales came thither to make himself a Christian; The Pope writ to the Inquisitor Generall, and others, to use all industry they could to reduce him to the Romane Religion; And one of Olivares first complements to him, was, That he doubted not but that his Highnesse came thither to change His Religion: whereunto he made a short answer, That He came not thither for a Religion but for a Wife: There were extraordinary processions made, and other artifices us'd by protraction of things, to make him stay ther of purpose till the Spring following, to work upon him the better; And the Infanta her self desir'd him (which was esteem'd the greatest favour he received from her all the while) to visit the Nunne of Carton, hoping that the say'd Nunne, who was so much cried up for miracles, might have wrought one upon him; but her art failed her, nor was His Highness so weak a subject to work upon according to His late Majesties speech to Doctor Mawe and Wren, who when they came to kisse his hands before they went to Spaine to attend the Prince their Master, He wish ed them to have a care of Buckinham; as touching his Sonne Charles, he apprehended no feare at all of him; for he knew him to be so [Page] well grounded a Protestant, that nothing could shake him in his Religion.

The Arabian proverb is, That the Sun never soiles in his passage, though his beams reverberate never so strongly, and dwell never so long upon the myry lake of Maeotis, the black turf'd moores of Holland, the aguish woose of Kent and Essex, or any other place, be it never so dirty; Though Spaine be a hot Countrey, yet one may passe and repasse through the very Center of it, and never be Sun-burnt, if he carry with him a Bongrace, and such a one His Majesty had.

Well, after his Majesties arrivall to Madrid, the treaty of Marriage went on still, (though he told them at his first comming, that he came not thither like an Ambassador to treat of a Marriage, but as a Prince, to fetch home a Wife;) and in regard they were of different Religions, it could not be done without a dispensation from the Pope, and the Pope would grant none, unlesse some Capitulations were stipulated in favour of the Romish Catholikes in England, (the same in substance were agreed on with France.) Well, when the dispensation came, which was negotiated solely by the [Page] King of Spains Ministers (because His Majesty would have as little to do as might be with Rome) Pope Gregory the fifteenth, who died a little after, sent His Majesty a Letter, which was delivered by the Nuncio, whereof an answer was sent a while after: Which Letters were imprinted and exposed to the view of the world, because His Majesty would not have people whisper, that the businesse was carried in a clandestine manner. And truly besides this, I do not know of any Letter, or Message, or Complement, that ever pass'd twixt His Majesty and the Pope afore or after; some addresses peradventure might be made to the Cardinalls, to whom the drawing of those matrimoniall dispatches was referred to quicken the work, but this was only by way of civil negotiation.

Now touching that responsory Letter from His Majesty, it was no other than a Complement in the severest interpretation; and such formalities passe 'twixt the Crown of England, the great Turke, the Mogor and divers Heathen Princes. The Pope writ first, and no man can deny, but by all morall rules, and in common humane civility His Majesty was bound to answer it, specially [Page] considering how punctual they are in those Countries to correspond in this kind, how exact they are repaying visits, with the performance of such Ceremonies; And had this compliance bin omitted, it might have made very ill impressions, as the posture of things stood then; for it had prejudiced the great work in hand, I mean, the Match, which was then in the heat and height of agitation, His Majesties person was ther engaged, besides, and so it was no time to give the least offence: They that are never so little vers'd in businesse abroad, do know that ther must be addresses, compliances, and formalities of this nature us'd in the carriage of matters of State, as this great businesse was, wheron the eyes of all Christendom were so greedily fix'd; A businesse which was like to bring with it such an universal good, as the restitution of the Palatinat, the quenching of those hideous fires in Germany, and the establishing of a peace throughout all the Christian World.

I hope none will take offence, that in this particular which comes within the compasse of my knowledg (being upon the Stage when his Scene was acted) I do this right to the King my Master, in displaying the Truth, [Page] and putting her forth in her own colours, a rare thing in these days.

TOuching the Vocall Forrest, an Allegorical Discourse, that goes abroad under my name, a good while before the beginning of this Parlement, which this Gentleman cites (and that very faithfully,) I understand ther be som that mutter at certain passages therin, by putting ill glosses upon the Text, and taking with the left hand, what I offer with the right, (Nor is it a wonder for trees which ly open, and stand exposed to all weathers to be nipt.) But I desire this favour, which in common justice, I am sure in the Court of Chancery cannot be denyed me, it being the priviledge of every Author, and a received maxime through the World, Cujus est condere, ejus est interpretari; I say, I crave this favour, to have leave to expound my own Text, and I doubt not then but to rectifie any one in his opinion of me, and that in lieu of the Plums which I give him from those Trees, he will not throw the stones at me.

Moreover, I desire those that are over criticall Censu [...]ers of that peece, to know, that as in Divinity it is a rule, Scriptur a parabolica [Page] non est argumentativa, so it is in all other kind of knowledg; Parables (wherof that Discourse is composed) though pressed never so hard, prove nothing. The [...] is another Rule also, That Parables must be gently used, like a Nurses breast; which if you presse too hard, you shall have bloud in stead of milk.

But as the Author of the Vocall Forrest thinks he hath done, neither his Countrey, nor the Common wealth of Learning any prejudice therby (That maiden fancy having received so good entertainment and respect abroad, as to be translated into divers Languages, and to gain the publick approbation of som famous Universities) So he makes this humble protest unto all the World, that though the designe of that Discourse was partly Satyricall (which peradventure induc'd the Author to shrowd it of purpose under the shadowes of trees, and where should Satyres be but amongst Trees?) yet it never entred into his imagination to let fall from him the least thing that might give any offence to the High and Honourable Court of Parlement, whereof he had the honour to be once a Member, and hopes he may be thought worthy again: [Page] And were he guilty of such an offence, or piacle rather, he thinks he shold never forgive himself, though he were appointed his own Judge. If ther occur any passages therin, that may admit a hard construction, let the Reader observe, That the Author doth not positively assert, or passe a judgement on any thing in that Discourse, which consists principally of concise, cursory narrations of the choisest▪ Occurrences and Criticismes of State, according as the pulse of time did beat then: And matters of State, as all other sublunary things, are subject to alterations, contingencies and change, which makes the opinions and minds of men vary accordingly.

I will conclude with this modest request to that Gentleman of the long Robe; That having unpassionately perus'd what I have written in this small Discourse, in penning wherof, my conscience guided my quill all along as well as my hand, he wold please to be so charitable and just, as to reverse that harsh sentence upon me, To be no Friend to Parlements and a Malignant.

§

§

[Page]

A GLANCE UPON THE ILE of WIGHT, AND Upon the unparallell'd Concessions of GRACE HIS MAJESTY pass'd in that Trety, &c.

Concluding with the horrid Murther committed afterwards upon His Sacred Person.

Cui dabit partes scelus expiant Iupiter?

A GLANCE UPON THE ILE of WIGHT, OR AN INQUISITION AFTER TRUTH.

[Page]

[Page]

WHo vindicats Truth doth a good office not onely to his own Country, but to all Mankind; It is the scope of this short discourse, viz. to make som researches after Truth, and to rectifie the world accordingly in point of opinion, specially touching the first Author and Aggressor of the late ugly war in England, which brought with it such an inundation of bloud, and so [Page] did let in so huge a torrent of mischiefs to rush upon us. Ther be many, and they not only Presbyterians and Independents, but Cavaliers also, who think that the King had taken the guilt of all this bloud upon himself, in regard of that Concession he passed in the preamble of the late Treaty at the Isle of Wight; The aim of this Paper is to clear that point, but in so temperat a way, that I hope 'twill give no cause of exception, much lesse of offence to any: the bloud that's sought after here, shall not be mingled with gaule, much lesse with any venom at all.

We know ther is no Principle either in Divinity, Law or Philosophy, but may be wrested to a wrong sense; ther is no truth so demonstrative and clear, but may be subject to cavillations; no Tenet so plain, but perverse inferences may be drawn out of it; such a fate befell that preambular Concession His Majesty passed at the Transactions of the late Treaty, in that he acknowledg'd therin that the two Houses of Parlement were necessitated to undertake a war in their own just and lawful defence, &c. and that therfore all Oaths, Declarations, or other public Instruments against the Houses of Parlement, or any for adhering [Page] to them, &c. be declared null, suppressed, and forbidden.

'Tis true, His Majesty passed this grant, but with this weighty consideration as it had reference to two ends.

First, to smoothen and facilitate things thereby to open a passage, and pave the way to a happy peace, which this poor Iland did so thirst after, having bin so long glutted with civil blood.

Secondly, that it might conduce to the further security, and the indemnifying of the two Houses of Parlement, with all their instruments, assistants, and adherents, and so rid them of all jealousies, and fear of future dangers which still lodg'd within them. Now touching the expressions and words of this Grant, they were not his own, nor did he give order for the dictating or penning thereof; the King was not the Author of them, but an Assentor only unto them: nor was He or his Party accus'd, or as much as mentioned in any of them, to draw the least guilt upon themselves. Besides, He pass'd them as he doth all Lawes and Acts of Parlement, which in case of absence another may do for him in his politic capacity, therfore they cannot prejudice his person any way. I am loth [Page] to say that he condescended to this Grant,

—Cum strict a novacula supra,

When the razor was as it were at his throat, when ther was an Army of about thirty thousand effectif Horse and Foot that were in motion against him, when his Person had continued under a black long lingring restraint, and dangerous menacing Petitions and Papers daily ob [...]ruded against him. Moreover, His Majesty pass'd this Concession with these two provisos and reservations,

First, that it should be of no vertu or validity at all, till the whole Treaty were intirely consummated;

Secondly, that he might when he pleas'd inlarge and cleer the truth with the reservednesse of his meaning herein, by public Declaration: Now the Treaty being confusedly huddled up, without discussing, or as much as receiving any Proposition from himself as was capitulated, (and reciprocall proposalls are of the essence of all Treaties) it could neither bind him, or turne any way to his disadvantage: Therfore under favour, ther was too much hast us'd by the Parlement, to draw that hipothetick or provisional Concession to the form of an Act so suddenly after [Page] in the very heat of the Treaty, without His Majesties knowledg, or the least intimation of his pleasure.

Add hereunto, that this Grant was but a meer preambular Proposition, 'twas not of the essence of the Treaty it self: And as the Philosophers and Schoolemen tell us, there is no valid proof can be drawn out of Proemes, Introductions or Corollaries in any science, but out of the positive assertions and body of the Text, which is only argument-proof; so in the Constitutions and Laws of England, as also in all accusations and charges, forerunning prefaces & preambles (which commonly weak causes want most) are not pleadable: and though they use to be first in place, like gentlemen-Ushers, yet are they last in dignity, as also in framing, nor had they ever the force of Laws, but may be term'd their attendants to make way for them.

Besides, ther's not a syllable in this preface which repeals or connives at any former Law of the Land, therefore those Laws that so strictly inhibit English Subjects to raise armes against their Liege Lord the King, and those Lawes è contrario which exempt from all dangers, penalties or molestation, any Subject that adheres to the person of the King in any cause or [Page] buarrell whatsoever, are still in force.

Furthermore, this introductory Concession of the Kings, wherein he is contented to declare, That the two Houses were necessitated to take Armes for their defence, may be said to have relation to the necessity, à parte pòst, not à parte antè: self-defence is the universall Law of Nature, and it extends to all other cretures, as well as to the Rationall: As the fluent Roman Orator in that sentence of his, which is accounted among the Critiques the excellentest that ever drop'd from Cicero; Est enim haec non scripta, sed nata Lex quam non didicimus, accepimus, legimus, verum ex natura ipsa arripuimus, hausimus, expressimus, ad quam non docti, sed facti, non instituti, sed imbuti sum [...]s, ut si vita nostra in &c. For this (meaning self-defence) is not a written, but a Law born with us; A Law which we have not learnt, receiv'd or read, but that which we have suck'd, drawn forth, and wrung out of the very brests of Nature her self; A Law to which we are not taught, but made unto, wherwith we are not instructed, but indued withall, that if our lifes be in jeopardy, &c. we may repel force by force. Therfore when the House of Parliament had drawn upon them a necessity of self defence (And I could [Page] have wish'd it had bin against any other but their own Soverain Prince) His Majesty was contented to acknowledge that necessity. As for example: A man of war meets with a Marchant man at Sea, he makes towards him, and assaults him; The Marchant man having a good stout vessell under him, and resolute, generous Seamen, bears up against him, gives him a whole broadside, and shoots him 'twixt wind and water; so there happens a furious fight betwixt them, which being ended, the Marchant cannot deny but that the man of war, though the first Assailant, was necessitated to fight, and that justly in his own defence, which necessity he drew upon himself, and so was excusable, à posteriori, not à priori; As the Civilians speak of a clandestine marriage, Fieri non debuit, sed factum valet; It ought not to have been, but being done 'tis valid: wherunto relates another saying, Multa sunt quae non nisi per acta approbantur. Ther are many things which are not allowable til they are pass'd.

The Kings of France have had sundry civil wars, They have had many bloudy encounters and clashes with their Subjects, specially the last King Lewis the thirteenth, which turn'd all at last to his advantage; Among other Treaties in that of Loudun, he [Page] was by force of Article to publish an Edict, Dont lequel le Roy approuvoit tout le passé comme ayant esté fait pour son service, &c. Wherin the King approv'd of all that w [...]s pass'd, as done for his service, &c. and these concessions and extenuations are usuall at the close of most civil wars, but ther was never any further advantage made of them, then to make the adverse party more capable of grace and pardon, as also to enable them to bear up against the brunt of Laws, and secure them more firmly from all afterclaps; They were pass'd in order to an Act of Abolition, to a generall pardon, and consequently to a re-establishment of Peace; now, Peace and War (we know) are like Water and Ice, they engender one another: But I do not remember to have read either in the French History, or any other, that such Royal Concessions at the period of any intestin war were ever wrung so hard, as to draw any inference from them, to cast therby the guilt of bloud, or indeed the least stain of dishonour upon the King; For Royal Indulgences and grants of this nature are like nurses breasts, if you presse them gently ther will milk come forth, if you wring them too hard you will draw forth bloud in lieu of [Page] milk: And I have observed that the conclusion of such Treaties in France, both parties wold hugg and mutually embrace one another in a gallant way of national humanity; all rancor, all plundrings, sequestration, and imprisonment wold cease, nor wold any be prosecuted, much lesse made away afterwards in cold bloud.

Touching the Comencer of this monstrous war of ours, the world knows too well, that the first man of bloud was Blewcap, who shew'd Subjects the way, how to present their King with Petitions upon the Pikes point, and what visible judgements have fallen upon him since, by such confusions of discord and pestilence at home, and irreparable dishonour abroad, let the world judge. The Irish took his rise from him: and wheras it hath bin often suggested, that His Majesty had foreknowledge therof, among a world of convincing arguments which may clear him in this particular, the Lord Maguair upon the ladder, and another upon the Scaffold, when they were ready to breath their last, and to appear before the Tribunall of heaven, did absolutely acquit the King, and that spontaneously of their own accord, being unsought [Page] unto, but only out of a love to truth, and discharge of a good conscience: but touching those cruentous Irish wars, in regard ther was nothing wherof more advantage was made against His late Majesty, to imbitter and poyson the hearts of his Subjects against him then that Rebellion, I will take leave to wind up the main causes of them upon a small bottom as was spoken elsewhere.

1. They who kept intelligence and complyed with the Scot, in his first and second insurrection.

2. They who dismiss'd the first Irish Commissioners (who came of purpose to attend our Parlement with som grievances) with such a short unpolitic harsh answer.

3. They who took off Straffords head, (which had it stood on, that Rebellion had never been) and afterwards retarded the dispatch of the Earl of Leicester from going over to be Lord-Lievtenant.

4. Lastly, they, who hindred part of that disbanded Army of 8000 men rais'd there by the Earl of Strafford, which His Majesty, in regard they were souldiers of fortune, and loose casheer'd men, to prevent the mischiefs that might befall that Kingdome, by their insolencies, had promised the two Spanish [Page] Ambassadors, the Marquesses of Veloda and Malvezzi, then resident in this Court; which souldiers rise up first of any, and put fire to the tumult to find somthing to do.

They, I say, who did all this, may be justly said to have bin the tru causes of that horrid Insurrection in Ireland; and consequently 'tis easie to judge upon the account of whose souls must be laid the bloud of those hundred and odd thousand poor Christians who perished in that war▪ and had it bin possible to have brought o're their bodies unputrified to England, and to have cast them at the lower House door, and in the presence of som Members, which are now either secluded, or gone to give an account in another world, I believe their noses wold have gush'd out with bloud for discovery of the tru murtherers.

Touching this last fire-brand of war, which was thrown into England, who they were that kindled it first, the consciences of those indifferent and unbiassed men are sittest to be judges, who have bin curious to observe with impartial eyes, the carriage of things from the beginning.

I confesse, 'twas a fatal unfortunat thing, [Page] that the King shold put such a distance 'twixt his Person and his Parlement, but a more fatal and barbarous thing it was, that he should be driven away from it, that there should be a desperate designe to surprize His Person, that Ven with his Myrmidons, and Bourges with his Bandogs, (for so▪ they calld the riffraff of the City they brought along with them) should rabble him away, with above four parts in five of the Lords, and near upon two parts in three of the Commons: Yet 'tis fit it should be remembred, what reiterated Messages His Majesty sent from time to time afterward, That he was alwaies ready to return, provided there might be a course taken to secure his Person, with those Peers and other who were rioted away from the Houses, 'Tis fit it should be remembred, that there was not the least motion of war at all, till Hotham kept His Majesty out of His own Town Kingston upon Hull, (for the Name whereof shew'd whose Town it was) where being attended by a few of His meniall Servants, he came onely to visit her, having peaceably sent the Duke of York, and the Palsgrave thither the day before) which act of Hotham's [Page] by shutting the gates against him was voted warrantable by the House of Commons, and it may be call'd the first thunderbolt of War: 'Tis fit it should be remembred, that a while after there was a compleate Army of 16000. effectif Horse and Foot inrolled in and about London to fetch him to his Parliament by force, and remove ill Counsellours from about him, (long before he put up his Royal Standard) and the Generall then nam'd was to live and die with them: and very observable it is, how that Generalls Father was executed for a Traytor, for but attempting such a thing upon Queen Elizabeth, I mean to remove ill Counsellors from about her by force. 'Tis also to be observed, that the same Army which was rais'd to bring him to his Parliament, was continued to a clean contrary end two years afterwards to keep him from his Parliament. 'Tis fit it should be remembred, who interdicted Trade first, and brought in Forraigners to help them, and whose Commissions of War were neere upon two moneths date before the Kings. 'Tis fit it should be remembred how His Majesty in all His Declarations and publick [Page] Instruments made alwaies deep Protestations, that 'twas not against his Parliament he raised Armes, but against some seditious Members, against whom he had onely desired the common benefit of the Law, but could not obtain it; 'Tis fit to remember, that after any good successes and advantages of his, he still Courted both Parliament and City to an Accommodation; how upon the Treaty at Uxbridge, with much importunity for the generall advantage and comfort of his peeple, and to prepare matters more fitly for a peace, he desired there might be freedom of Trade from Town to Town, and a Cessation of all Acts of Hostility for the time, that the inflammation being allayed, the wound might be cur [...]d the sooner; all which was denyed him. 'Tis fit to remember how a Noble Lord (The Earl of Southampton) at that time told the Parliaments Commissioners in His Majesties Name, at the most unhappy rupture of the said Treaty, That when he was at the highest he would be ready to treat with them, and fight them when he was at the lowest: 'Tis fit the present Army should remember how often both in their Proposalls, and publick [Page] Declarations they have inform'd the world, and deeply protested that their principall aime was to restore His Majesty to honour, freedom and safety, whereunto they were formerly bound, both by their own Protestation and Covenant, that the two Commanders in chief pawn'd unto him their soules thereupon. Let them remember, that since he was first snatch'd away to the custody of the Army by Cromwells plot, who said, that if they had the Person of the King in their power, they had the Parliament in their pockets. I say being kept by the Army, He never displeas'd them in the least particular, but in all his Overtures for Peace, and in all his Propositions he had regard still that the Army should be satisfied: let it be remembred, that to settle a blessed Peace, to preserve his Subjects from rapine and ruine, and to give contentment to his Parliament, He did in effect freely part with His Sword, Scepter, and Crown, and ev'ry thing that was proprietary to him: Let it be remembred with what an admired temper, with what prudence and constancy, with what moderation and mansuetude he comported himself since his deep afflictions, insomuch [Page] that those Commissioners and others who resorted unto him, and had had their hearts so averse unto him before, return'd his Converts, crying him up to be one of the sanctifiedst persons upon earth: and will not the bloud of such a Prince cry loud for vengeance?

Bloud is a crying sin, but that of Kings

Cryes loudest for revenge, and ruine brings.

Let it be remembred, that though there be some Precedents of deposing Kings in his Kingdom, and elsewhere, when there was a competition for the right Title to the Crown by some other of the bloud Royall, yet 'tis a thing not onely unsampled, but unheard of in any age, that a King of England whose Title was without the least scruple, should be summon'd and arraign'd, tryed, condemned, and executed in His own Kingdom, by His own Subjects, and by the name of their own King, to whom they had sworn Alleagiance.

The meanest Student that hath but tasted the Laws of the Land can tell you, that it is an unquestionable fundamentall Maxime, The King can do no wrong, because he acts by the mediation of his Agents and Ministers, he heares with [Page] other mens eares, he sees with other mens eyes, he consults with other mens braines, he executes with other mens hands, and judges with other mens consciences; therefore his Officers Counsellors or favorites are punishable, not He: and I know not one yet whom he hath spar'd, but sacrificed to Justice. The Crown of England is of so coruscant and pure a mettall▪ that it cannot receive the least taint or blemish; and if there were any before in the person of the Prince, it takes them all away and makes him to be Rectus in curia. This as in many others may be exemplified in Henry the Seventh, and the late Queen Elizabeth: when she first came to the Crown 'twas mention'd in Parlement, that the attainder might be taken off him, under which he lay all the time he liv'd an Exile in France; it was then by the whole house of Parlement resolv'd upon the question, that it was unnecessary, because the Crown purg'd all. So likewise when Queen Elizabeth was brought as it were from the Scaffold to the Throne; though she was under a former attainder, yet 'twas thought superfluous to take it off, for the [Page] Crown washeth away all spots, and darteth such a brightnesse, such resplendent beams of Majesty, that quite dispell all former clouds: so that put case King Iames died a violent death, and his Son had been accessary to it, (which is as base a lie as ever the devil belch'd out) yet his accesse to the Crown had purged all. This businesse about the playster which was applyed to King Iames, was sifted and winnow'd as narrowly as possibly a thing could be in former Parlements, yet when it was exhibited as an Article against the Duke of Buckingham, 'twas term'd but a presumption or misdemeanure of a high nature: And 'tis strange that these new accusers shold make that a parricide in the King, which was found but a presumption in the Duke, who in case it had been so, must needs have been the chiefest Accessary.

And as the ancient Crown and Royall Diadem of England is made of such pure allay, and cast in so dainty a mould, that it can receive no taint, or contract the least speck of enormity and foulenesse in it self, so it doth endow the person of the Prince that weares it with such high Prerogatives; [Page] that it exempts him from all sorts of publique blemishes; from all Attainders, Empeachments, Summons, Arraignments and Tryalls; nor is there or ever was any Law or Precedent in this Land, to lay any Crime or capitall charge against him, though touching civill matters: touching propertie of meum and tuum, he may be impleaded by the meanest vassall that hath sworn fealty to him; as the Subjects of France and Spaine may against their Kings, though never so absolute Monarchs.

In the Constitutions of England, there are two incontroulable Maximes, whereof the meanest mootman that hath but saluted Littleton cannot be ignorant: the first is, Rex in suis Dominiis neque habet parem, nec superiorem. The King in his own Dominions hath neither Peer, or Superior. The other is Satis habet Rex ad poenam quod Deum expectet ultorem: 'tis punishment enough for a King that God will take revenge of him: Therefore if it be the Fundamentall Constitution of the Land, that all just Tryalls must be by Teers, and that the Law proclaimes the King to have no peer in his own Dominions, I leave the [Page] world to judg, what capacity or power those men had to arraign their late King, to be in effect his Accusers and Iudges; and that an exorbitant unsampled Tribunall should be erected, with power and purpose to condemn All to cleer none, and that sentence of death should passe without conviction or Law upon Him that was the heard and protector of all the Lawes. Lastly, that They who by their own confession represent but the Common people, should assume power to cut off Him who immediately represented God,

Cui dabit partes scelus expiandi Iupiter?—

Well, we have seen such portentous things, that former Ages never beheld, nor will future Ages ever be witnesse of the like: Nay, posterity, after a Century or two of yeers will hold what is now really acted to be but Romances.

And now with thoughts full of consternation and horror, And a heart trembling with amazement and sorrow for the crying flagrant sins of this forlorn Nation, specially for that fresh Infandous murther committed upon [Page] the sacred Person of his Majesty, I conclude with this Hepastick, wherein all cretures (though irrationall) that have sence, yea the very vegetalls seeme to abhor so damnable a fact.

So fell the Royal Oake by a wild crew

Of mongrel shrubs which underneath Him grew;

So fell the Lion by a pack of Currs;

So the Rose witherd 'twixt a knot of Burrs.

So fell the Eagle by a swarme of Gnatts,

So the Whale perish'd by a Shoale of Spratts.

In the prison of the Fleet 25. Febr. 1648.

I. H.

§

§

[Page]

[Page]

ADVICE Sent from the prime Statesmen OF FLORENCE, HOW ENGLAND may come to HERSELF again, Which is, To call in the KING, Not upon ARTICLES, But in a Free confident way:

Which Advice came immediatly upon the Readmission of the Secluded Members, And Coppies therof being delivered to the Chiefest of Them.

It produc'd happy Effects.

A Letter sent from the City of Florence, Written by a Great Counsellor there, touching the present Distempers of England; wherein He, with som of the Prime Statesmen in Florence passe their Iudgements which is the onely way to compose the said Distempers.

[Page]

[Page]

To my Honored, and most Endeared Patron.

IT is no small diminution to my former happinesse that I have not receiv'd your commands any time these two moneths, which makes me lodg within me certain [Page] apprehensions of fear that som disaste [...] might befall you in those new Distractions, therefore I pray be pleased to pull this thorn out of my thoughts as speedily as it may stand with your conveniency.

We are not here so barren of Intelligence, but we have weekly advice of your present Confusions, and truly the severest sort of speculative persons here who use to observe the method of Providence, do not stick to say, that the hand of Heaven doth visibly stirre therein, and that those Distractions in Army, State, and City are apparent judgements from above, for if one revolve the Stories of former Times, as I have done many (but you more) he will find that it hath been alwaies an inevitable Fate which useth to hang over all popular Insurrections to end in confusion and disorders among the chief actors themselfs at last; And we have had divers examples thereof here among us, which hath caus'd us to be so long in quietnesse and peace.

But truly Sir, give me leave to tell you that your Nation hath lost much of their Repute abroad all the World over [Page] in statu quo nunc; Som do laugh at you; Others do scorn, and hate you; And som do pitty and comiserat you.

They who laugh at you, think you are no better than Mand men▪ having strange Magots in your brains bred out of the fat of so long wanton plenty, and peace.

They who scorn and hate you, do it for your Sacriledge, your horrendous Sacrileges, the like whereof was never committed on Earth since Christianity had first a hole to put her head in.

They who pitty you are few, and We are of the nomber of Them, as well in the common sense of Humanity, as for the advantages, and improvement of Wealth which this State hath receiv'd by your Trading at Ligorne, for that Town doth acknowledge her prosperity, and that she is arrived to this flourishing Estate of Riches, of Buildings and bravery by the correspondence she hath had this latter Age with England in point of Commerce, which yet we find doth insensibly impair every day, and I believe you feel it more; Therefore out of the wellwishes, [Page] and true affections we bear unto England, some of the most serious, and soberest Persons of this place who are well seasoned in the World, and have studyed men under divers Climes, and conversed also much with Heavenly Bodies, had lately a private Junto, or meeting, whereunto I was admitted for one, and two of us had been in England where we received sundry free Civilities; Our main businesse was to discourse, and descant upon these sad confusions, and calamitous condition wherein England with the adjoyning Kingdomes are at present involved, and what might extricate Her out of this Labyrinth of Distractions, and reduce Her to a setled Government; Having long canvased the businesse, and banded arguments pro & con with much earnestnesse, all our opinious did concenter at last in this point, That there was no probable way under Heaven to settle a fast, and firm Government among you, then for the Men that are now upon the Stage of power to make a speedy application to their own King, their own Liege [Page] Lord and Soveraigne, whom God, and Nature hath put over them; Let [...] them beat their brains, scrue up their witts, and put all the policy they have upon the tenterhooks as farre as possibly they can, yet they will never be able to establish a durable standing Government otherwise, They do but dance in a circle all this while, for the Government will turn at last to the same point it was before▪ viz. to Monarchy, and this King will be restored to His Royall Inheritances, maugre all the Cacodaemons of Hell: Our Astrologers here, specially the famous Antonio Fiselli hath had notes to look into the horoscope of his Nativity, and what predictions he hath made hitherto of him have proved true to my knowledge, He now confidently averrs, with the concurrence of the rest, that the aspect of all the starrs, and conjunction of the Planetts much favour him the next two yeares; Nam Medium coeli in Genitura Caroli Secundi Regis Angliae juxta axiomata Astrologiae Genethliacae dirigitur ad radios Sextiles Lun [...] Anno Domini 1660. & significat [Page] acc [...]ssum ad Dominum, For the Medium coeli in the Geniture of Charles the Second according to the axiomes of Genethliacall Astrology is directed to the Sextile rayes of the Moon, and signifies an accesse to Dominion. Adde hereunto that a most lucky conjunction followes the same year, in the very Centre of the said Kings horoscope betwixt Iupiter and Sol in the moneth of September.

When I was employed by this State in Paris not many years agoe, I had occasion to make my addresse to your young King, and when I observed His Physiognomy, and the Lineaments of his face, I seemed to discern in it something extraordinary above vulgar countenances, and that he carryed a Majesty in His very looks, and noting besides the goodly procerity, and constitution of His body, he seemed to be cut out for a King.

Now, in point of extraction, and lineage, it cannot be denyed but he is one of the greatest born Princes that ever was in the world; for whereas His Grand-Father, [Page] and Father were allyed onely if you regard Forraigne Consanguinity, to the House of Denmark and the Guyses, this King bears in his veines not onely that bloud, but also the blouds of all the great Princes of Christendom, being nearly linked to the House of Bourbon and France, to the House of Austria, and consequently to the Emperour, and Spaine, as also to the Duke of Savoy, and our Grand-Duke: Moreover he is nearly allyed to all the greatest Princes of Germany, as the Saxe, Brandenburg, Bavaria, the Palsgrave, and to the Duke of Lorain who descends in the directest line from Charlemain; Adde hereunto that the young Prince of Orenge is his Nephew, and which is considerable he is a pure Englishman born, whereas your two former Kings were Forreigners. The Queen His Mother is of as Glorious an Extraction, which makes me admire the frontlesse impudence of some of your poor Pamphletors who call Her ever and anon the Little Queen, notwithstanding that the World knowes Her to be the Daughter of Henry the Great, and Queen [Page] of Great Britain, which Title and Character is indelible, and must die with Her.

Hereunto may be adjoyn'd, that this young King is now mounted to the Meridian of his Age, and maturity of judgement to govern, and doubtlesse hee is like to make a rare Governour, having this advantage of all other Soverain Princes in the world to have been bredd up in the Schoole of Affliction so long, to have Travelled so many strange Countreys and observed the humors of so many Nations.

But to come to the Cardinall point of our Communication, after divers debates, and alterations how England might be brought to a stable condition of tranquility and perfect peace, to her former lustre, and glory, the finall result of all, ended in this, that there was no other imaginable meanes to do it then for you to make a timely and fitting humble addresse unto your own King, and without question it is in his power to grant you such an absolute pardon, such an abolition of all things pass'd, such a gracious Amnestia, such Royall concessions [Page] that may extend to the security of every person for the future that was engaged in these your revolutions, both touching his life and fortunes; Unlesse their guilt of Conscience be such that like Cain or Iudas they thinke their Sinne is greater then can be forgiven them.

Now the mode of your application to Him may avail much, for if you chopp Logique with him too farr, and stand upon Puntillios, and too rigid termes, if you shew your selfs full of feares, jealousies, and distrusts, it will intangle, and quite marr the businesse, for in a Soveraign Prince ther must be an Implicit, unavoidable necessary trust repos'd by his peeple, which all the Laws that mans brain can possibly invent cannot provide against; Therefore if you proceed in a frank, and confident tru English way you may work upon his affections more powerfully, and overcome him sooner so, then by any outward Arms, This way will make such tender impressions, upon that he will grant more then you can possibly expect.

[Page]Some Forein Historians as the French Comines and our Guicciardin do cry up the English Nation for using to love their King in a more intense degree then other peeple, and to regard his honour in a higher strain, to support which they have bin alwayes so ready, and cheerful both with their persons and purses; There is now a fair opportunity offered to rake up the embers of these old affections, and to recover the Reputation of tru Englishmen; There is no peeple but may sometimes stand in their own light, go astray, and err, for Error was one of the first frailties that were entayled upon man (and his posterity) as soon as he was thrust out of Paradis; 'Tis a human thing to err, but to persevere in an error is diabolicall; You shall do well and wisely to follow the example of the Spanish Mule, who out of a kind of wantonesse being gone out of the high beaten road into a by path, which led her to a dirty narrow lane full of pitts and holes, at last she came to the top of a huge hideous Rock where she could go no farther, for before her ther was inevitable destruction, and the lane was so narrow that she could not turn [Page] her body back, therupon in this extremity she put one foot gently after an other, and Crablike went backward untill she came again to the common road; This must be your course, by a gentle retrogradation to come into the Kings high road again, and ther is no question but he will meet you more than three parts of the way: If you do not, truly in our opinions you will precipitat your selfs down a Rock of inevitable destruction; For Heaven and Earth are conspir'd to restore him, and though all the Spirits of the Air shold joyn with you, you shall not be able to oppose it. I presume you are not ignorant how [...]he two great Monarks of Spain and France (which may be said to be the main Poles wheron Europe doth move) have comprehended him within the private capitulations of peace, The Emperour hath promised to wed his quarrell, and there is no Prince or State in Christendom but would gladly reach a frendly hand to restore him, being depriv'd of his birth-right, and his Royal indubitable Inheritance (as you your felfs confesse) for observing the fifth commandement, for obeying his Father and Mother; From which Birthright [Page] he may be said to have been thrust out when he was in the state of Innocency, being but in a manner a Child, and very young then.

Now touching your selfs I will not flatter you, but plainly tell you that you have not one friend any where beyond the Seas, nay your great Confederate the Swed (as I had good intelligence) could upbraid one of your Ambassadors that are now there, that He had not washed his hands clean since they had been embrued in His Princes bloud.

The time that I sojourned in England I was curious to read your Annals, and to make some inspections into your Laws, and Method of Government; as also into the Genius of the peeple, and I find there is no species of Government that suits better with the nature of the Inhabitants, the quality of the Clime, and relates more directly to the civil Constitutions, Laws, and Customs of the Land then Monarchal; The Ile of Great Britain hath been alwaies a Royall Island from her very Creation, from her Infancy, she may be said to have worn a Crown in her Cradle, and although she [Page] had four or five Revolutions and changes of Masters, yet she still continued Royal, whereunto alludes a saying that I observed in your old Records, Britannia ab initio mundi semper fuit Regia, & Regimen Illiu [...] simile illi caelorum: Great Britain hath been from the beginning of the World Royall, and Her Government like that of the Heavens.

Therefore, all these premises being weighed in the balance of true judgement you shall do well, and wisely to recollect your selfs, and call in your hopefull young King, whose Title your consciences do acknowledge to be unquestionable, otherwise it is not onely improbable but impossible for England to be Her self again, and to be setled in any stable Government which may reach to posterity; you may wind up your wits as high as you can, you may consult with your first, second, and third thoughts, but will never be able to settle a fixed Government, you will be still at a losse, your Debates will be like a skeyn of ravell'd threed, you will be in a labyrinth of confusions, and the end of one, will be still the beginning of another.

[Page]To conclude, the current and concurrent opinion of all Ministers of State here both Forren and Florentine is, that if you do not make a timely application to your King, you will have all the Princes of Christendom about your ears, and what a sad calamitous Country, what an Aceldama will England be then? Therefore if there be a true Patriot, and publick soul amongst you, if there be ever any drops of true English bloud running in your veins, or the least spark of nationall fire and affections glowing in your bosoms toward your own dear Country, prevent these imminent dangers, and invite your King by discreet and moderate proposals; The gallant Samnit General could tell the Romans who had over powred them, that if they gave them easie and gentle capitulations they would perform them, but if they would tye them to too high and strict terms, they would observe them no longer then they cold have opportunity to break them.

Touching the affairs of Italy, we are like to have a general blessed peace this side the Alpes, and Lombardy who hath been so pittifully harass'd a long time, and hath had [Page] her face so often scratch'd, is in a fair way to recover her former beauty; Signor Giovanni Palavicino, and D. Lorenzo Minuccio convey their most affectionate respects unto you, and so doth

Your Entire, and Faithfull Servant.

Florence this 12th. of March, 1659.

Ther are divers other large Peeces tending to the same Subject, which shall be published in the second Tome.

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

Divers historicall discourses of the late popular insurrections in Great Britain and Ireland tending all, to the asserting of the truth, in vindication of Their Majesties / by James Howell ... ; som[e] of which discourses were strangled in the presse by the power which then swayed, but now are newly retreev'd, collected, and publish'd by Richard Royston.

Howell, James, 1594?-1666.

Edition statement

1661

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2004-05 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A70276

ID [STC]

Wing H3068

ID [STC]

ESTC R5379

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

13206616

ID [OCLC]

ocm 13206616

ID [VID]

98493

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A70276)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 98493)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 422:3 or 1594:6)

Source

— Divers historicall discourses of the late popular insurrections in Great Britain and Ireland tending all, to the asserting of the truth, in vindication of Their Majesties / by James Howell ... ; som[e] of which discourses were strangled in the presse by the power which then swayed, but now are newly retreev'd, collected, and publish'd by Richard Royston., Howell, James, 1594?-1666..

Extent

[8], 411 p., [1] leaf of plates : ill.

Printed by J. Grismond,. London :: 1661.. ("The first tome") (Engraved illustrated t.p.: The people is a beast which heads hath many, England of late shew'd this more then any.) ("No more published"--NUC pre-1956 imprints.) (Each essay has separate t.p.) (Imperfect: Bodleian Library copy (422:3) lacks t.p. and frontispiece.) (Reproduction of originals in the Bodleian Library and the British Library.)

Creation

Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.

Editorial practices

EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.

EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).

The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.

Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.

Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.

The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.

Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).

Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site.