Certaine Considerations touching the present Factions in the KING'S DOMINIONS.
THe Dominions belonging to the Crown of England are divided into three Kingdomes. Every Kingdome is divided into three Factions: 1. Royalists. 2. Presbyterians. 3. Independents. I rank them according to seniority, not forme: for every one knowes that Loyaltie was before Presbyterie in time, and Presbyterie before Independencie: though now, according to the good pleasure of God, the last is become first, and the first last.
Of ENGLAND.
ENgland is divided into 1. Independents. 2. Presbyterians. 3. Royalists. The Independents, make the Army, the Committee of Safety at Derbyhouse, the Committees in the Countries, have all the Garrisons and Castles in the Kingdome in their hands; and are a great part of the House of Commons: who being countenanced with power without, doe by their unity, assiduity, and resolution within, either intimidate or insidiate the judgements and affections of other men; and so carry on all their designes with the forme of Supreme Authority: Which was first wrested from the KING by the Presbyterians, and now cheated and wrested from them by the Independents; who like cunning Masters [Page 2]of their Art open not all the boxes of their Principles at once.
The Presbyterians make a great part in the House of Lords cleerly: And so they doe in the House of Commons (notwithstanding many of them have turned Renegado's, and gone over to the Independents) when they dare meet, and stick to one another: which is accidentall, they being dis-united by fear, interest, discorrespondency, indifference of affection, and instability of judgement. For I esteeme all the remnant of Royalists who remained in the House of Commons when the KING went away, to be of the Presbyterian perswasion, as it is most favourable to Monarchy: though, as I said, for the causes before, they give way to the Independents by their absence, or servility of nature; as at first they did to the Presbyterians. How the rest of the Kingdome are affected this way, appears first in the City of London: Where, without question, much the supernumerary part are Presbyters, and are awed only by the activity of the Independent Faction; who working by Authority of Parliament, with whom they correspond daily, are made to serve them, though not to love them. The rest of the Kingdom are generally Presbyterian; not so much, I suppose, because their names are upon the Covenant Roll, (which however ought to be regarded) as because they find the oppression of Warre, and a headlesse Government: And that Monarchy is more favoured by the Covenant; which they remember to have been lesse grievous, and not so perpetuall, as the Government on foot is like to prove: For Kings may die, or their humours change. As for the Townes and Corporations, many of them have nests of Sectaries, yet they are not all Independents: though they all hope for Liberty from them; and so by fighting with them against all others, they suppose they fight for themselves. But from these, there is no fear of great dangers, were one Army of them broken; for they are not a considerable part of the Inhabitants; and all that can runne to defend the common Cause (as they call it) in the Armies; leaving no propagation of their Sect, but what is between man and wife, which must have some years to grow up. For it may be confidently averred, there hath been no considerable encrease of these parties, ever since they had power to perswade and terrifie; [Page 3]both which they have done: which shewes they are no growing Faction, and being at their height, are endangered by one considerable check. For fear will then drive many off, whom interest or affection now makes to adhere; and confidence and courage restrain others, whom force at present hath enslaved to their designes.
The Royalists make a distressed company of Noble-men, Gentlemen and others, who having engaged their Estates and Credits to compound with the Parliament, are all retired to a private life, to eat the bread of carefulnesse; expecting Gods good houre for their restauration: who are beaten out of all their defences, but that of a good Conscience, which remaines impregnable. These, it did import the Parliament, whose power could not compel the judgement and reason, to have allured by soft and amicable entreaties, to a good assurance of peace and quietnesse; which after the rough and destructive variations of an unfortunate Warre, might perhaps have made impression. But the contrary being put in practice, and proceeding from those whose principles have cried up Liberty of Conscience, and Christian Charity so much, and yet in their actions are the most sanguinary and inflexible persons in the world; it begat only an indignation against the hypocrisie of proud Conquerors; and left them fitted with vindicative resolutions, to engage with the next party should appear; which hath caused the late emergent troubles, and may cause more, upon the like probable overtures, if God prevent it not.
Of SCOTLAND.
SCotland is divided into 1. Presbyterians. 2. Royalists. 3. Independents; not purely and properly so, but corruptly, and upon designe.
The Presbyterians, make up all the Parliament, the Army, the Committee of Estates at Edenburgh, and all the whole Kingdome: who are thereto engaged by the Covenant, universally taken there; and as really adhered to in terminis; except by some late discontents, who would advance their humours and passions above it, and contrary to it.
[Page 4] The Royalists are made up of those who were so before the Covenant, and such as were so by vertue of the Covenant. Of the later fort I may call all Scotland, now, but Argyles faction. For tis by obligation of the Covenant they come now to fight for the King against the Parliament, as by the same obligation they came before to fight for the Parliament against the King: The difference onely is, that then they broke it, and now they keep it: though God seemes to punish them now, for breaking of it then. But the Royall part I meane, are such, of whom the famous Marquesse of Montrosse was Head, and by whose courage he was the scourge of all Scotland, when they were assisting their false brethren in England; And such others, as now are incorporated, without doubt, into that number, who have resolved to rescue their King from base imprisonment. There wants onely the presence of that incomparable and gallant Person, the Marquesse of Montrosse, and then the undertaking is compleat: For it were a strange improvidence, to let so much honour and virtue, as is experimentally knowne to be in that Marquesse, fall to the ground: who being both a Presbyterian, and a Royalist, is the onely fit instrument to correct the turbulencie of Argyle, & infelicity of Hamilton, and perhaps not over-much integrity of Both. I write not this partially, or as a suborn'd person; for, God knowes, I am equally unknowne to them all.
The Independents, as I said, are such as are so, not because they have not taken the Covenant, but upon personall and private respects: and it may be too, from an habituall inclination, made up of pride and envy, to crosse any action may end with honour and happinesse, to the maligned undertakers. These consist of Argyle, and his partie; who being a coward, is disposed to the more mischiefe; for nothing is so much to be feared, as a coward not altogether deprived of power. Tis not the principles of Cromwell, &c. but his hatred to Hamilton, makes him correspond with the Independents in England. His Nature is more to be suspected then his Reason: and though that be not so great, but that many men are wiser; yet his qualities are so bad, that few men are worse. And without goodnesse of nature, and a gracious improvement thereof, what are riches, wit, understanding, honour, and power, but so many fignall abilities to doe evill?
Of IRELAND.
IReland is divided into 1. Papists. 2. Presbyterians. 3. Independents.
The Papists make the greater power in that Kingdome: which I suppose is granted by all. And tis almost incredible there should be any power there but theirs: considering the season they have had to doe any businesse that concern'd them. How they are now disabled, and made informidable, by their owne divisions, the catching disease at this time of the whole world, most men know.
The Presbyterians consist of the Lord Inchequin, and his Forces in Munster: to whom if you adde his confederates, they must be rather considered as Royalists then Presbyterians. To whom also must be joyned all the Scots Forces in Ʋlster; with other dispersed well-wishers, who live in a Country, where tis victory enough to defend that little is remaining from the usurpation of a common enemy.
The Independents have their head-quarter at Dublin; where Col: Iones hath the whole Military Force: Being a qualified Emissarie from the Faction in England to secure that City: though his power tend rather to preserve then augment. So that the Fate of this Kingdome in matters of Religion and Gods Worship, depends on the mastery of one of the other two.
Of the two Parliaments of England and Scotland.
THe Parliament of England taken vulgarly, is onely the House of Commons; for in that notion doe the common people generally receive it: because when they speak of a Parliament man or a Member of the House, it agrees only with that House. Though it may be taken really too; for who knowes not, how the Faction in that House hath imposed for these last years, upon the King and the Lords, with this difference only, that the King went away because He was not able to endure it, but the Lords stayed, and did. But here is the great riddle of all, (say they in their own defence;) How a Faction, a prevailing Party, a minor [Page 6]part can over-rule the greater? To this I can quickly Answer: 'Tis casie for a few knaves to cozen a great many honest men. Was not the Pope, and a few Cardinalls, by this means too hard for all the world in the Councell of Trent? The Artifice of designing, which is the study of suspicious natures, is too often known to have the better of innocency and right. But yet those ends only God will blesse, which are wrought out upon the solid principles of integrity and vertue. How the first Faction hath prospered, that said a Minor part could not over-rule the Major; let them now speak, that being become a Major of their own contriving, are now over-aw'd and terrified by a Minor. For so I esteeme the Independent party within the House to be; as all men know their Army without also, is a Minor part of the Kingdome: and yet because they Act by unity and designe, are able to give Lawes to all others, who live at large, out of the strength of confederacy and compact.
The Parliament of Scotland is wholly Presbyterian, and would be Loyall if the Clergy would suffer them. They have now the third time sent an Army into England. The first was for themselves. The second for the Parliament here. And the third for the KING. Their first expedition was with Honour and Successe; Their second with Successe and Profit; Their third, neither with Successe, Honour, nor Profit. Yet I doe not take the reason to be in the fulminations of the Clergy, nor want of sincerity in the undertakers; but of resolution, good conduct and discipline in the Generall: who ought to have had exact care that Deeds and Declarations had been Uniforme. For the Scots at this time (above any other) had need to sweeten their comming into England with actions, as well as words: being their own friends are now against them, and the rest of the people never yet were for them. The enmity of so many Ages, is not swallowed up with a few Years; nor their Ancient invasions skinned over with other words of a Declaration, Engagement for Religion or Union of the Kingdome. For so long as the depredations of the Souldier upon the Countries accompanies the undertaking, as is used in all hostile invasions, it will be esteemed no better by the sufferers; especially if the Parliament vote it so. And let what will be told them, the people will never be perswaded into the patience of being undone. [Page 7]But the great Question now on foot is, who breakes the Covenant, the Treaties, the Brother-hood of both Nations? The Independents charge the Scots with it, and the Scots them. In what particulars the Scots charge the Independents, is made publick and needs no repetition. But wherein the Independents charge the Scots is yet to doe. And yet (perhaps) in point of fact, it is not hard for either side to say something: there having been for two years last past and more, a jealousie raised between them, which must of necessity have brought forth some traverses of distemper and discontent. But not to derive from matter of fact the insincerity of either part, I shall fetch the Errours of the Independents from a higher fountaine, and lay down this position, That all the transactions of the Independents with the Scots, in their own desperate necessities and hazards, were laid in fraud, treachery, self-interest, and deep dissimulation from the beginning: and it plainly now appeares, that they never meant to uphold the Fraternity of the Scots, no longer then the Fraternity of the Scots should be necessary to uphold them. For when the King, and His Party were all subdued, and no imaginable force likely to trouble them in the Kingdome; they presently fell to expostulating with the Scots about their departure, and were drawing down all their Armies into the North, to be ready to force them out, in case they should be remisse: after they had (not long since) with Prayers and Teares brought them in. Of which action, and many others, their consciences and understandings accusing them; and how much they had disobliged their late confederate friends and brethren, it was not possible they should consent to such an imprudent act of disbanding; when they knew, if they did, Presbytery would presently be setled; or if it were not, the Scots would be ready to see it done by power. Now these people, who cordially and candidly never entred into, nor since adhered to a reall fraternall union and interest with the Scots; yet pretended nothing lesse, and at this time are become the most ungratefull Enemies both of Covenant and Covenanters, will I suppose by all the world, be esteemed the true Fomenters and Authors of this second War, which themselves, conscious of their own provocations and hypocrisie, did look for, and expect with Armes in their hands. For it is not [Page 8]the first act of force, but of injustice, fraud, or dishonesty, that legitimates the commencement of a Nationall Warre: being a Tryall wherein God himself is made the Judge: And will in the end, I doubt, though for the present through his secret appointment the face of things looke otherwise, have worser effects in this Nation then we now think of: which God divert.
Of the two Synods of England and Scotland.
THe Synod of England I take to be a company of men, set apart by the House of Commons, to make all Divinity give obedience to the resolutions of Parliament; and to consult of nothing but proponente Senatu; as in the Councell of Trent, the Pope got the reines of that Councell into his hand, by procuring all things to be treated, proponentibus Legatis. What they have been about these many yeares is kept secret: but when the businesse of the Treaty came into discourse, they quickly resolved, all of them but four, to be against it. And the House of Commons made it one of their reasons, for offering the three Bils before a Treaty; because (otherwise) such godly Divines, who are placed by the Parliament, shall be put out, and scandalous Ministers restored to their places. By this, we know what Trade they are of, and how they get their living. But in the mean while they are but viatores; having not arrived to their end of power, nor it may be to their end of profit.
The Synod of Scotland, otherwise by a more majesticall name, called the Generall Assembly, are Comprehensores: being arrived to the very [...] of Presbytery; and something too high for the Civill State. They enjoy by a strange surreptitious usurpation, a power equall to the Pope, and exercised only by more persons. They indict themselves, take cognizance of the Orders in Parliament, and Committes of Estates: admonish and censure the Magistrate: And indeed do every thing but what they should do, Preach the Gospell of Peace.
Both Synods agree to disturb the Peace of both Kingdomes, and blow the people into Rebellions and Tumults; for which they are notable Instruments. Which the Parliament well knew, when they set their Synod at Westminster, to write a Letter to the [Page 9] Generall Assembly in Scotland, that they might thereby lay an ambush at the back of the Scots Armies which were entred into England. But whether either of these Synods would ever agree, except in this one thing of troubling the Kingdomes, if they might be suffered to confer Notes, is a great question: though at this present, upon concurring principles of worldly power and profit, they care not how they engage all the world beside in the highest guilt, and extreamest miseries. Therefore, though there was not much Religion, yet these was not much impertinency in his speech, that said, There was no way to end the divisions in England; but to forbid all Preaching for one whole year.
For I may, with the sighes and groanes of a Christian heart speak it; That let us look back upon all Ages since Christianity began to enlarge it self upon the world, and we shall finde, that most of the Warres therein, have been raised by the professors of it; and are owing to those that call themselves the Clergy and Ministers of Christ, which agrees with his own prophesie in Mat. 30.34. discoursing upon the Commission he had then given his Apostles. I came not (saies he) to send Peace on earth, but a Sword. And is verified from the perversnesse and instability of our natures, not in the quality of his most holy and peaceable Gospell.
What a tragicall audit would it be, to hear summ'd up all the lives of those Christian people that perished in the zealous Wars of the Holy Land? and yet that holy Father, the Pope, had designes of his owne in the businesse; the reducing of the Grecian Church into his subjection, with the three Patriarchs of Jerusalem, Antioch, and Constantinople, and making the Easterne Church a Chappell of ease to the Westerne of Rome; and besides Spirituall jurisdiction, had an eye also on Temporall profits: for while the Emperour was doing his errand, and waging War in the Holy Land, he encroached on the Emperours Temporalties in Italy. Neither were the rest of the holy Clergie idle; for having kindled in others the fire of Zeale, they presently fell to warme themselves at it, and to buy the Estates of such Noblemen and others, as sold them to set themselves forward into the Holy Land. Godfrey sold the Dukedome of Bovillon to the Bishop of [Page 10] Leige, and the Castle of Sartonsi and Monsa to the Bishop of Vendune. And when the successe of the Christian Armes had reduced Jerusalem, and Patriarchs were set up, they fell presently to claiming of the Cities and Lands, and terrifying the Princes with Sacriledge; saying, those voyages were undertaken not onely for restoring the Churches Liberties, but her Lands. After these things, the Popes found out other arts, to divert the Crusa do's for the Holy Land upon Christians themselves: as upon Greece; and against the Albigenses in France; upon the same Indulgences and Pardons, he did those to the Holy Land. And this also he called the holy War, the war of Crucifix, the Army of the Church. What other wars, enmities, and civill discords have been stirred up in severall Nations by the instigation of the Church of Rome, to support her ambition or avarice, let Histories declare at large. How they have agreed since among themselves, that broke away from the Church of Rome, because they could not agree with her, I could wish were blotted out of the Histories of latter Ages. We see Obedience to Princes is no better taught then it was before. All Kingdomes are set on fire by the same Principles, and differ only in the delivery, by other Persons. The Doctors of Rome, Wittenberg, Geneva, Euric, can sit in their Studies, if the good Spirit of God prevent them not, and Slay more men then ever Alexander or Cesar did. And if any one should ask me, why Prayers and Teares were thought in the primitive times, the Armes of the Church, and only lawfull Weapons against unbelieving Princes, enemies to God and Christ, and now Pistols and Swords, when we live under Christian Kings and Governours? I can only say, that this is a secret wrapt up in the Cabinet of the Divine Councell, whereby God hath appointed for the disciplining of the world, that one Age should bring forth good fruit, and another evill.
But when these things will have a remedy, if any enquire, it may as soone be answered, when the Magistrate shall be invested with what properly belongs to him, the Right of Dominion; Christ would not have his Disciples as Lords, if Kings would not have them so neither; what do they but will the same things our Saviour Christ willed before? There is no Argument to be used against them, no more then there can be against Scripture; & yet [Page 11]as much labour hath been taken to expound the one, and oppose the other, as in any two things in the world.
In a word, we are come to that passe, that to lay a foundation of a durable Government, and provide for the peoples Safety, nothing is more necessary, then to take away the power of the Clergie, and their liberty of prevaricating in the Pulpits: for by this meanes we shall prevent as much as in us lies, the heavy judgements of God upon us, then which none are greater, no not plague, famine, or the sword, then when he suffers a lying spirit to fill the mouthes of the Prophets: which were the words of Sir Robert Spotswood at his death.
And since every one can reforme another better then himself, 'tis fittest for the Magistrate to reforme the Clergie, [especially now we live in an Age, when the Laity and Secular men in morall vertue, Learning, and Piety, not only equall, but exceed them;] that they being the best of men, may mend others by their example, as well as precept.
Of the whole Controversie between KING and PARLIAMENT in a brief Conclusion.
TO conclude, It hath appeared to me, in the generall discourses of the times; that the question never was amongst any men, whether obedience should be given to the supreme Magistrate? but, who that Supreme Magistrate was? or where it resided? As if we could not tell, after so many Ages, and Successions of Kings and Princes, what the forme of our Government yet was; and that all this while, we should (as it were) be Governed by chance. But where the reason of all this is, and how the matter comes to be ventilated with no other successe then the increase of animosities and heats among men, must be imputed to Gods Judgements on the Nation. For it is certaine, that all truths whatsoever, receive not their Quietus est from any Arguments of men, or power of reason alone, without a concurrent temper in the affections which God gives to imbrace them. It could not otherwise be, that what hath been received for so many Ages for an universall truth, by wiser men perhaps, then any now alive, should come now to be disputed anew, canvass'd [Page 12]and condemn'd perhaps. And severall other opinions dogmatically obtruded upon the world, as the rules of the faith, good life, and obedience of all men, never heard of before.
The two Houses, and their well well-affected Party say; The King being wanting to his duty, in them is supplementally all Supreme power: and they being only Judges when he is wanting, may when they will invest themselves with this power. For if to be wanting to them, is to be wanting to his duty, how many occasions may they take to make him wanting to his duty, when their passions shall put them upon demands not fit for his reason to grant them?
John Liburne, and his well-affected Party, [and thus there can be no Malignants, for every one is well affected to his own party] say, The Supreme power is in the Right Honourable the House of Commons; which is a position, till this year of deliration never heard of; and yet perhaps, John Lilburne, and some of his, would seal this truth with their Blood, and call it Martyrdome to suffer for it. So that, call in Divines, Politicians, Lawyers, Logicians, and all the wit and understanding of the world to help us; I cannot see what end they can give to our distractions: For Divines, Politicians, Lawyers, and Logicians are all divided: and the disease lies more in our will and affections, and about the heart, then in the braine. Men will not yield, because they will not. We have more need of Charity to prepare & soften, then of Councell to informe. For all reason being inflamed with passion, God must allay it with his good spirit of Grace and Truth, or we must still remain the spectacle of madnesse and fury to all the world, which He in mercy prevent, who is onely able to lay the stormes, and rebuke the wind of worldly commotions, and particularly this in England causing his spirit to move upon the hearts of all persons now engaged in this present Treaty. Amen.