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DUKE

UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

Treasure %oom

THE //

MYSTERIE

OF

INIQVITY;

YET WORKING

fn the I\ingdomes o/^England^, Scotland, and\rthxiA,forthedeJirttB'tonof%g'' ^ ligion truly Trotejlant,

DISCOVERED, As by other grounds apparant and probable, fo cfpecially by the late Ccffation in Ireland, no way fo likely to be ballanced, asby afirme Union of England and Scotland, in the late folcmnc Covenant, and a religious pur- fuance of iL

Zeph.j. 4. j. Her Tnnees 'Within her 4re roaring Horn ; her ludges *tre evening 'Solves y they gna^ not the bones till the morro^.

4 HerT^rophets are light and treacherous ferfons : her Friers have follHtedthefanCiuarj, they have done violence to the la^,

5 Thejuji Lord is in the midfi thereof ; he ^illnot doe iniejmty.every

morning doth he bring his judgement to light Joe faileth not, but the unjfifi ^o^eth no /hame„

LONDON'. Printed for Samvbx, Gei,librano. 1^43.

M Y S TB R IE

INIQVITY,

Yet wrf{ing in the K^ngdomes of Eng> Und^ Scotland^and freland^for the deJlruBion of ^B^tgion truly Trotejiant.

^-^^^^^Ere there not a more then ordinary ftiipidity e^ei.€^w^i^ poflefling the hearts of men, which God u- ^ ^ fually permits, as the fore-runner of heavic

'$ V V^ ^ judgements, after fo many reall and bloudy ^ ^ demonft rations of a damnable defign upon our

^^^<vg¥0(^^ "Bdigion and Liberty, it were the moft unne- ^^^^^ ceflary work imaginable to publifh written ones.But let this unhappy neceillty be obeyed, ^ honeft men be perfwadcd a little to withdraw their thoughts ■from their ,perplexed reJfled:ions upon the bufineffe of Hull, and the Militia, and the London Tumfilts^(whkh are ufually looked upon as the grounds, but ne\'er were other then occafions and advantages fought to throw us into this confiidon, which now ever- fpreads zK^hcc of England, and, unleffe God, Vifhocafi^th oiit the c&itnfels of Princes, and tak^es the ^nfe in their o'^ne craftU- «rj(/>, merciiully prevent, is like lo over'^'helmc ix.) and apply

A 2' Ch.emfeK'.es

t 43W?3

themfelves to a diligent obfervatton of the contexture Sindcom- ■prehenjion of affaires, as they have beene thefe later yeeres ma- naged by our Adverfarics. That fo comparing one part of their proceedings with another , and all with this propofed end of lubv.erting the Protefi am Religion^ together with the SHbicUs Liberty ,{zht Blme of that Vine)^t imp.artiall and diligent Rea- der may difcerne an evident conjediirc of leftiits, ^riefis,Prm- ces, Pr elates, Ta^iftsy PeliticiAns, Athcifls^prophane and ignorant' pcrfons, for the mine of that Religion , to which forne of rhem are Profejfed Enemies , others Tretended Friends , but which of them the moft pernitious is hard to judge.

But, that no body may be wrongcd,this Heterogeneous num- ber muft, in reference to this great work , receive its proportio- nable diftribution j and we muft not conceive all thefe equally engaged, ©r upon the fame grounds. Babel is to be built,the Ar- chiteiJt are the lefuites ^ taking in fome Atheijiieall Politicians to their affiftance,as Surveyors o{ the worke : Princes mull find the materials , as being made believe , that the worke is defign- ed for the Houfe of their Kingdome , and the honour of their Majefty. Papifisj with the vahhlcof fuperflitiow, and ambitiom Clergjy are tjhe daily L4bourerSyX\\% prophane and ignorant mul- titude are imployed in the moft fervik workes , as Hewers of wood, and Drawers of water, and are now made t© tread mor- ter for this building moiftned with their own blood.

And becaufe all thefe muft be prefumed reafonablc men, (though the later fort are ufed as naturall bruit beafis^made to be taken and defiroyed) who,though they are not fo wife as to know what they do, yet muft not be thought fo foolifh, as not to know why they take this paines,dif¥erent ends are held out. And thcr- fore this great building is defigned as a Church for the Papifts Devotion, as a Palace for the Prelates ambition, as a Cafile for the Princes power, and the reft have feverall baits by thefe cun- ning Anglers caft out unto them, 'according to the variety of ^beir difpofitions.

But left I fhould fecm rather to wrrte,then to rcvealea My- fterie, it will beconvenient to wfc all plainnefl'e of fpeech, that they who are concerncd,miiy difcern truth before it be beaten iiuo their heads with a Pokax. Firit

Fiift; I prefume it will be granted on all part?, that the Ro- mane Strumpet is very induftrious to corrupt the Earth with her Fornication?, Rev.19.1, and hath to that end conftituted a great Qo].mct\,'T>e^ro^aq^andafidc,2iSlht\Q2\\ it, but rather, De fro- fa^anda perfdaj whofe moft vigilant Inftrunients and Emifla- riesare ih^Iefuits, who have by their diligence obtained the^ honour to be Cupbearers of this Wine of Fornication , and are juftly accounted by us thofe Trogs , comming out of the r/ioptth of the Dragon, the Bea^, andthefalfe "Trophet, going forth un- to the Kinas of the Eiirth , and of the W'ho/e )^^or/d,l^v. 16. 12. Thefc men, as they compaflc fea and land,and have fp read them- felves well nigh in all part?, f© they have alwaies had a fpeciali eye to the Kingdomes of Brittaine^ it being doubtlefle propoun- ded to them, and ail Romifh Agents, as apiece of eminent fcr- Yice,if by any meanes that might be reduced the vaflalage of Rome.

And this is the fecond ftep which I think there will be no con- tefting for,that the Romifli Agents have bin very carneft and in- duftrious in reconciling this Hand with the adjacent to their Re- ligion J it being a fervice which the Pope himfelf difdained not to ftoop to, in that Letter (yet uncontradi(fted ) which he writ to the Prince in Spain, now extant in the Englilh tongue; where hedefiresthat the Prince of fVa/es might be brought back a- gaine into the lap of the Romifh Church, and the Prince of the Apofiles put in pofleflien of this moft noble Ille. Which de- fircsofthe Pope have beene fcconded with continuall endea- vours of fwarmcs of lefuites and Priefts refident amongft us.

Itbeiagthcngranted,thatevcr(incethc Reformation there hath beenfKch a defigne, it remaines to fliew how it hath been profecuted;^ and how farrc it hath prevailed, where the Impedi- ment now is, what labour there is to remove it, (that all true Protcftants may the better underftand their own condition and Jnterefis, Ondy let thisbcpremifed, that wee being to deale with a Myftery, a worke of darkneffe, it muft not be expe»fted that all which (hall bee produced, flaouid be cleare and convin- cing ; as if a judicixll proeeedisig were undertaken, but that the

A 3 Argument

4377'73

Argument be fo probable and oependant,as, though n6t a Icgall, yet a rationall judgement may be paflcd againft our Adverfaries in this Caufe. And it hath been a very unjuft triumph of the E- nemy over the PariUament and their friends in want of evidence, when they have ( though the nature of the bufineffe, being trea- fonablcj and therefore clandeftinely carried , and bound wp by oathes of fecrefie ) beene put to make up the grounds of their proceedings from the connexion offeverall particulars andpro- babilitie?, which are enough for a Statefman , though not a Judge. And the diUgent obferver may take notice how thefe teares and jealoufie?, pretended to be groundlefle, have be§n juftificd by after proceedings, as the ufe made oi Ne^cafilehith vindicated the fecu ring //////. The Ship from Denmarl^hiith juftifi'cd their fi4fpition,groanded (as it is faid) upon the flighted teftimony of the Skipper at Roterdam. The Lord n~)ighies endea- vours, and the refidence there of J^««^and CochrAti^ the Propo- rtions to the Scots at Newcaftle ( hereafter to be mentioned ) for the joy ning of the Scotifli and EngUfh Armies againft the Parliamcnr, have juftifiedall the fufpitions and accufations, then pretended, and protefted to be unjuft and groundlcffe. In fuch times and cafes as thefe, feares and jealoufies are pardonable,and diftruft, efpecialiy after evident breaches of truft, is the mother offecurity. Itisavcry uneqwali thing that the King with his Cavaliers fhould renoance the ParUamcnt, deftroy his good Subjects, upon the jcaloude that Parhaments and Piiritanesarc Enemies to his Prerogative and Power ( which can never bee pxoved if luftice be mad^ the Rule of Power ) and we railed on for defending our felves againft the confederacie of Papift^, Prelates, Oourt-Pafafite?, arid their Adherents, w'hofe endea- vours of introducing Popery and Tyranny, arc farre beyond jcaloufie, as is now to be demonftrated.

I will not retire fo far back ( having fo much work before me ) as to infift upon the manifeft and manifold attempts upo-n this Kingdomein the dayes of Qu'ecme SHz,f.bcth^ whom when they had difcerned to have fettled her Inter (fs for the Prote- ftants agair.ft Spdnc^vii -Rome, and eftubhilied her Counccll ac- cordmg CO thofe Innrefi -. So that though the Sijhsps brought

her

her to dif-favour Tf*nt4>tes, yec they could not peifwade her to favour the PApifis,b\it /hcftill kept a ftrid and vigilant eye over them, as being rightly informed, that they, and not the other, were the greateft Enemies to Koyall Power. When they faw this, theufuall arts of Rome againft dif-affcded Prince?, are put inpradlice, viz,. BnllSy lnterdi6is, T^oyfonings, ^j[ajji nations, which God wonderfully preferved that heroicke Ladie from j the SpaniQi Armado, the Rebellion in Ireland, may be further Teftimonies of their zealein this bulineffe. To the enumeration ofthefe, ictusoncly addc ihankfulncfle and caution, and pro- ceed to their after MachiH4tiofis, the bitter fruits of which the 'Pretffiant Churches yet fecle.

King lames, before he came to the Crowne of England, had a heart too large for his Dominion, and therefore extended his aflfedionatc thoughts to the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, which he longed for a peaceable poffcflion of.

The Fadors of'^ome having ftudied his intereft and nature, according to their wonted confidence attempt him: as for his Vnderjianding, fo well informed in the Forgeries and Valfhoods of the RomiOi R€ligion,it was not to be ventured on,and there- fore they proportion their workings to his p4//7ff«/,which were, Defire of the accelTion of power, mixt with a more then ordina- ry fearc (in which he was naturally unhappy) left he (hould be interrupted, if not difappointcd in the entrance ; And in this Conflid: obtainefrom him fome intimations, if not aflu ranee?, of favour to the Catholiquc Caufe, with which they were for the prefent fatisfied.

The King upon his entrance and fettlement in 'England^ faw caufe rather to difpence with his promifes then his principles : whereupon the PopilTi Faftion grew difcontcntcd againft him, and a fruit of that difcontent, was the Romifh Hellijh Powder- plot, never to be mentioned by any good Protcftant, but with due gratitude to Almighty God, and juft deteftation of the Romifli Religion.

This Treafon wrought not kindely with his Majcfty : for

. whereas he might have made the Pht a ground of defiance , and

the Deliverance a ground of confidence ; the horrour of the

bufinefle

burinelte tvrought fuch impreflion of dread upon his timorous fpirir,that thosgh he was not blownc up,yeE he was fliaken by ic all his lifeafter,and drawne fucccflively to a Compliance with,ac leaft a Comiv nnee ?^it\\dt proceedings. And nowithftanding the free exercifc of his Wit and Pen againft Popery,which they could well allow him,they conftrained hin^i topurchafe his own fecurity (contrary to the Interefts of Proteftant Religion,, and Paternall afFe(ftion) with the ruine of the neigbour Churches of Bohemia and the Palatinate-

We fliould not have looked upon the day of our Brethren: to that we may reduce the many impediments that have fallen in betwixt us,and the help of our friend^jand that pofture wherein God himfelfc ftands towards us,evcn 04 a man afionifhedyO. migh^ tj man that cannot fave^ Jer. 14, p. Though we have this hope lefr, that God will recompence that mifchicfe, not upon the Nation, the body whereof had a juft fellow-feeling with the diftreflfes of their neighbours, but upon that curfcd Faftion whofe pernicious Conncels yet Rule among us.

This was the moft confiaerablc Progreffe made in his time;, though the preparatory workings for a fitter opportanity were not omitted,as the cheridaing in him a dif-alfe^ion to Fnritdnet, an inclination to 'BiJhopSy procuring countenance to Prfiphane- ftejfe, both by Pradlice and Declaration to the remote Counties for licentious Sabbath- brcaking,and fettling about him perfons regardleffe of the good of Church or Common-wealth. To which may be added the untimely death of Prince Henry, when it was once obferved that he grew popular, inclined to martiall affaires, and dif-affeded to Spanifli prixcedings. As alfo the Propofitions of the Treaty of marriage with Spain offered from England, rcvifed at Rome, and then by the Negotiation ofBri- fioll agreed to (though after broken) with fo many advantages to the fpreading of Popery in EHgland,:L$ might difcover the dc- (igne to have been confiacrably advanced in King lames his time.

I (hall (hut up the difcourfe of his Rcignc with this obfer- vation of the providence of God : That thofe Princes who hare trufted God with their lives and Kingdoms^and kept Sfam and

Rome

Rami at diftance and defiance, have fped better then they, whd to their diflionoured fclves , have facrificed the welfare of the Church of God^ as, by comparing the Hiftory of Quten Eli- K^cbcth, with thofe of Henry the fourth of France , and King ^ames, may appear j who trufting to their own politike Con- fcrvations, the thing that they feared, came upon them. For fo it was, That when by the journey into Spain, fairer hopes were conceived of the Prince , as byhis inrercourfe with the Pope, and the prefumptions of thejefuite (which youfhall findeiii the Treatifeot the English Pope, not unworthy anEnglillii- mans diligent obfervation) mofl: fully appears ; King Jamef came to be looked upon as o dn^p, and mud be taken out of the way, that the Myftery might work the more effedually,an'ci fodiedhe,bothaFriendandMartyrof the Catholique Caufe. Tkough it was doubted, and feared , there were feverall ingre- dients into his death, the world talks of a drink, and a philter, the Cup might be mingled for Romts fake, and fome other hanc's acceflary to fpreading the plaifter ; if fo , Let them fkare the guilt, I leave them to him, whofe eyes are upon all the wayes of men, to render them according to their wayes, and the fruit of their doing. It is faid, the Archbifliop of Tork^ if he have not too much, or too little Grace, can tell you more of this bufinefle.

Let our trembling pen pafle on, to His now Ma jcfties reign ; and here doubtlelfe fome A pologie is expected , but I hope to fay nothing that needs it ; I fhall endeavour to avoid known fairhoods, or unfeafonable truths.

An earned afte<ftion to the Prefervation and Reformation of the Church of God, hath put me upon this difquifitionj, and the defireof prefer ving good men fromafnare, which fhall be in vain fpread in the fight of any bird, hath prevailed with me for the difcovery of my thoughts : It is in fervice to that Caufe, which I define not to over-live the welfare of And therefore, without any more complement , Let us begin ta fearch out the Pla formes. Groundworks, Materials, Inftruments of this great fervice, for recovery of Britaw to Babylon,

In the beginning of His Majtftics reign , the Popifti Fadion having in Spain, and other wife, obtained tefWmoniesof His

B dif-

difpofition, a y?r"i»/^ \^//i' i- prepared for him, which, accord- ing to Scripture truth , is a dangerous preparative for 2,flrancni god: Spire ly they \\'> ill turn a^aj jour heart after their ^oas , I Kings II. 2.

Upon this marriage, is the Court (fufficiently loofe.and luxu- rious enough at all times) didblved into Riots andMafquings, and in the midft of that noife , were our Counfells and Enter- prifes, moft perfidioufly mif-laid,and betrayed, as thofe of Ree and C<a/fr,and efpecially that of Rochell, which, as if nofleighter a Complement could be thought of for the fair Lady , received from France, muft by Engliih hands, and Popifli Councels, be betrayed in its Religion and iberty. Thus is our guilt increa- fed, and our ftrengch diminifhed 5 and left the Remainder of it fnould be imployed according to the Interefts of our Religion and Nation, a peace with i'j?^/« is concluded , the Palatinate left to that which leaves it yet miferable, and is haftening us after it, a Courfe of treating with them, who carry dcflrn^lon andmifery in their paths, but the way »f prace they have not l^ewn, Thefe things have be«^n long known, but little confidered ; ani it ftands well enough with my intent and purpofe , to repeat things mentioned by others , becaule I aym at (hewing the dt- pendance of the Jefuiticall proceeding's, one upon another, and all upon the main end of fu ^verting Religion and Liberty.

After thefe parts fo well plaid abroad , Let us confider how the dcfign w^s carried on among our fclvLS,from the fourth yeer . of His Majtfties reign. And here, as good workmen ufe to do. They forccaft the manner, and provide the Inftruments of their work. It muft be done, either by force, or fraud ; the. firft iSj • difapproved, probably upon thefe reafons ;

I. The King could not be fuppofed to yeeld to an invafion of Hiis own Kingdom , and it was pitie to betray fo hopefuU a Prince.

' 2. It was more full of hazard, as fuhjed to the Accidents of warre ; as alfo, that a violent attempt would probably joyn the Protefiant and Puritarj, againft the Papift- , whereas a frau- dulent graduall proceeding might poflibly unite the PapiFi, and indifferent Protcfiaat againft the Pnritan, which they have

^[ now

(9). ,

now accompliflied. The latter way is relolved upon, and In- ftrumcnts accordingly fitted, which are certainly the moft con- fiderable requifites in any work.

And becaufe it was of very great concernment , That the Kingfhould be brought to favour and further thcfc PopiHi pro- ceedings, and preparations , He muft be ingaged either upon re- ligious or politike confiderationSjto promote this Reconciliation with Rome.

Not to difpute how farre He was prevailed with in matters of Religion ; if not tor an abfolute alteration,yet an Accommo- dation • or whether^^ the ultimate End, and full Dcfign, were difcovered to Him, or rather He made to profecute it under an- other Notion : This is certain. That Hemanifeftly favouitd thofe Courfes that made way for Popery and Tyranny ; and it is to be conceived, rather with refped: to power and profit (which were alwayes obferved to be His Majefties well con- liftent Intercfts j then to the Popifli , or any other Religion , which is evidenced by that paflage that fell from HisMajcfty, obferved by the Venetian that wrote the Narrative , called the Popes Nnntio , fc. That His ^aji-fty coulA at that time reconcile Him^^elf to Rome with much advantage. And when it was dif- cerned that the Intercft of abfolute Rule , with its advantages, was fofirmely fetled in His Majcfly, and that He was fubjeft to be violent in the profecution of it ^ and not likely to Humble at fmall blocks, which they might wellgherte by thedilfolution of Parliaments,billeting Souldiers,the defign of the Germmc horfe, ^c. They chtrilh him in it, and fet Trance with its broken F arUa}nr<its 2ind fftll ^ovjQX^ asan Objedl of Emul tion before him, as finding the Interefts of Popery and Tyranny very well to agree.

Now therefore,' is His Majefty pcrfwaded that His Crown, and the Popes Chair have cemmon Friends, and common Enemies.

Parliaments and Puritans^ ai^e their Enemies ; Prelacy and Prophanene(ff their Friends.

Let us fee how things were carried with refpecfl to them all. Titft, Y 01 Parliaments f which the Popish Party knew

B 2 to

tobe very good id vantages in their confl;itiition,to the preferva- tion and reformarion of the Proteftant Religion, they reprefent them to his Majefty as moft difadvantat^ious to his defined pow- er and profit.Thefe were onely times of recom pence for wrong, of petitions for rightjControUers of Prerogative, Aflertors of popular Liberty ; and therefore are they diflfolved, difgrac ed . y fcandalous .Oeclarations,publil<cly afperftd both from the Proflt ani Pulpit,as by Dodtor AUbUfiery Bealr^ Manwarwg, and o- thers of that ftamp. And that there might be no occafion of drawing fupplics of money that way,which had fo many other Inconveniences attending it, feverallexquifite Engines of ini- quity and oppreflion were found out by ^fy?^;/, Noy^ ando- thers,as Loans,Parents,Ship-money;&c. And thus for twelve years, or thereabouts, were Parliaments intermitted, and the hopes, if not remembrance, of them almoft worn out.

Then for PwnMwf/jm en cordially Proteftant and zealous of their own Religion, which HO where but among us is a fault, becaufe they were tenacious of juft Liberty, 4nd true Religionj how ftudioufly and fpightfuUy are they dilgraced,as men of An- timonarchicall Prmciplcs,fad:ious fpirits, ranked with Jefnites ("who were yet better ufed jas the Incendiaries of Churches and States. For thefuppreffing thefe meUj, the authority of the High Commiflion,Star-chamberpBi(hop.s Courts^ and the ordinary Courts of Ju(lice,throiigh the corruption of Judges and other inferiour OiBcers , were made very ferviceatle ; and that they - might have no flielter neerer then New-Englmd , moft of the ftithfuU Minifters,and religious Juftices were for fome pretence or other difcountenanced,difplaGed ; and \X. w^as grown to that palTcjthati?^ that depArtedfrom evill made himplfa prey. P or the rooting out of Minifters, whofe onely fault was painfulnefle in stheir places, (everall artifices were ufed : And becaufe there were a fort of conformable Puritanes, whom the old Ceremc- ■ nies reached not (who were the leaft tolerable, becaufe the leaft liable ) feverall Innovations , and that ptftilent Declaration of the Sabbath,;werc in.'.roduced,which to oppofe or refu(e,was to fecmarked out to deftrudion. And all this done,that the FaAi- €«,asthey calkdit, thatfo much hiiMkred the good warke m

hand.

Kandjtfiis intended retoncUintiorry might be weakened , and re- moved.

But were not the Cup in the hand of the Whore very ftupi- fying,it were impoflible to make Princes fo much miftake their friends for enemies. The Principles of Popery are certainly more propenfe to Treafons and Rebellions then thcfe of the Proteftant Religion, which alwayes made good SubjeSlsythou^ not SUvcs. And befides rcafon and experience of former Prin- ceSjthis prefent Conjundure of time and affairs may give ttfti- mony therof *^uppofe a Popiili Prince that had broken the Ori- ginall Contrad: bound with Oath, fubverted the findamentall Conftitutions of government in this Kingdome (imagine by Parliaments ) and gave evident tcftimony of not being firme to the eftablifhed Religion ; can it be conceived that fuch a one could enjoy any fecurity in the mid ft of Romane Catholiques ? Yet with us,3fter manifold oppreflions, breaches of priviledge, intrenchments upon liberty,retting up of the Standard, which fome would have interpreted a renouncing of the peoples pro- tL(ftion,iipon which their allegiance depends, cafting off a Par- liamentjby fo late an Ad made indiffoluble, without their own confenr,charging them with aduall Rebellion, and difclaiming all ads done by them , or right in them to exercife his ©r their own power : The King hears no other language then Gracious Sovtraigne,Your facrcd MajMly,not onely in for mall compcl- lationSjbutfolemne Covenants. Let the world judge whether the challenged Power of the Pope, and the grounds of Popery, would not have given the Subj^ds an abfolution , and efta- blifhed proceedings upon other grounds then the Puritanes ot England and Scotland yet do. Yet fo farre, through thej'uft judgements of God, have the intoxications of Rome , backed with continuall evill Counceh, prevailed with His Majefty.as that it may be faid juftly of him as David, he loves his ene- - mies, and hates his friends , and prefers them who have plaid fome oiAbfizloms tricks with him^to his moft faithfuU fervants and people. It may be his Mafcfty is led by this Principle, That ifheprevailehegainesmuch,ifnot, he lofcth nothing, oncly is wliere he was ; Bat this may prove a deceitfuU arguing , if not

B 3 prevented

prevented in time. That of the wife man may be pceullarly ap- plyed to thefe Councels, fo full of folly and hazard , The kicked Vforl^th a deceitfull work^ But pardon this digrc^flion , it was Well meant, however it may be interpreted.

So fared it with the Friends of Popery, the Pnlates ; who but they, muft be the Kings Friends, Neal to Y^xu^James^Lnt^d to King Charhs ; and there they fuborned a fraudulent Proverb to lerve their turn, which was, NoBi/hop, no King, nay (in Sjdcnhams Rhctorick) no God, whereas the truth was. No Pre- late, no Pope, And'here again, was the King cheated by the BiHiops, which will evidently appear, if ever (which God for- bid) thefe Cockatrice Eggs be hatched. In the mean time, let realon, and former experience be Judges. The pom.p and fplen- dour of the Church, is the Topes proper InterLft ; to whichgthe greatnefle of Princes, is rather oppofite, then fublervient. In- creafe of power. was in the Negotiation. pretended i:<)r the King, intended for the Bifliops, who onely made ufeof the Kings power,fbr the advancement of their own. And though the King might eafily judge, thsit no addition of power could be in //?f»/ , without a Diminution of Ha»- j yet fo farre had this Circean Cup prevailed, that Bidiops and their Agents, becaufe thty ferved the turn for the prefenr, and proftituted their learning, power, and confciencts, to the vindication of ilkgallAdiunf, and Authority, were entrufted, not ontlyw'ith Eccljic^ica//, but a very great iliare in Civill affairs ; (ome of them being of the Privy Councell, in all the three Kingdoms, and more eipccially the ArchbilTiiop of Saint Jndmys , Chancellor of Sc-tUnd, the Archbifliop of Canterbury , Controller of the Councell in England, who, through the Kings confidence, and his own pragmatick difpofition, had an influence upon a i bufincffe of confcquence that was tranladledjAnd as th^' King prefumcd them his friends, fo the Pope knew they were his own. Their fundion was a degree nearer in kindred to him, then any other Government of the Churchy and the perfons of fome of them ( as being men addidledto SuperClition and Idolatry j were more ferviceable then their Offices.

And it is worth the obfcrvation, what care the Fadion did

, " take

033

take to keep this main out-work to Popery , inprelTing their Calling upon mens confciences, which every body,unlcfle fome of their own Favouritts,found Co offenfive in all other refpt(5ls. And therefore, from the Pulpit and Preflt', was their ^/-^ ^iV/- niim pleaded, as by others, lo by the proflitute pen of D. Ha/^, who muft aifo contribute his Mite rewards this Reconciliation, by his Printed Reconciler^ being a pennance enjoy ned him i^or writing formerly, No peace Veith Rom?. And left their Rhetorick (houldfail. They took care in their Conclave (for it was nei- ther synod, nor Convocation) held i ^40. for the binding men to this Government by an Oath , fo ablolutely neceilary to this work, was their ftanding j'uftly thought to be.

Laftly , Another fntrodudion made for the refignation of this Church and Kingdom into the bofome of iJcw^ 3 was that 7^- norance and Prophaneneffc, which were generally countenanced in the Kingdom. That there was all means ufed for the growth of thefe CardUall venues is evidently manifcft. As for Ignorance , how ftudioufly did the Pharifaicall Prelates keep from the people the Key of knowledge , by difgracing and dif- countenanang Preaching, filencing painfull Minifters, putting down Lcdturcs, and when good men ( willing to take any ad- vantage to difchargc their Confciences) in ftead of Preaching, expounded the common Catechifme, in that they were reftrain- ed by iVrens Articles, and all difcourfe of Religion forbidden upon occafionall meeting?. But I am fure, that is no Apoftolike Rule, if Saint P<«»/beconi"ulted, (Col.^. 16.) for the advance- ment of the Apoftolike Sea, as it is called.

Themoft of the Preaching that was allowed, was degene- rate into railing againft Parliaments and Puritans,crying up ab- folute authority, pallive obedience, ftrainsof wit fitter for. a Stage then a Pulpit. And th?.t men might not be relieved from the Prrjf', where the Pfi/ph failed, fomeSuperftitious,prophane Chaplains wcrefet to be Overfeers of it, to whom an EgyptUfi: command was given, as to the Mid wives there, to kill the Males in the birth ; and not fatisfied with that, as if one age were too narrow Limits for their iniquity tobeexercifedin. Order was given, for the Re-printing Books formerly licenced^

with

with their cerreSllent, or rather corrHptitNSy according to the Tridentine invention oi Index exfttrgatorita.

The like care was taken in matters oF Prophanenejfe ; which , ' as if it had not been fufficiently provided for by Ignorance, the naturall mother of it , the Prelates by the examples of their own families for the raoft part, and the procuring and preffing the Book of licentioufnefe upon the J^abbath , were diligent Nurfcs thereof.

A nd if it be further enquired, how thefe Twinnes became Serviceable to Popery, the refolution is very deer : Ignorance you knovv^, is the mother of Popifli Devotion, that is, Superfti- tion, and a Tpeciall qualification of a difciple of Rome, where hUndfoldisth&onQlyflajj a trick the Pope borrows from the Divell, Ihe god of thfs world hath blinded their mindes, 1 Cor. ^^ 4. AndfolikewifeProphanenefle is a borderer upon Popery, by theloofe Principles, of which, it is much countenanced.lt is true, Some fins are not (b good cheap, among them, as others , but all may be had at a reafonable rate. And prophane perfons, whofe remainders of Confcience tell them, they muft at leaft pretend to fome Religion, or other (unlcfle they have arrived at the height of Atheifm j readily pitch upon that next hand,which would allow moft Liberty. And our prefent experience give* teftimony of the ftrvice thcletwo fruits of the Bifhops Go- vernment have done : Prophanenefle hath made ageneralla- verfenefleto Reformationiand Ignorance, with the help of that, hath f'urnifhed the King with an Army againft the Parliament, fetcht from the barren Mountains of JValcs, Comewall, and the North, whiph were kept fure without the means of knowledge, as a fit referve for fuch a time, as this. I fpeak of the common fort of fouldiers, many of the reft have too much knowledge, and too little confcience.

Thus have wean account of the more remote preparations for lh\sgreAtfervi€r, which had wrought fo well, that it was thought fcafonable to adventure more boldly upon the bufineffe- And the Prelats,with their forward dependants,as impatient of this dilatory proceeding, begin to o(?er ^prefTePopifli innovati* cnjjto pa^ach divers doArines of grofie Popery,for the which 1

rcferre

(15)

icfcrrc you to the Cdttterhurtanj felf-etHvi^itn* TFie Schoolet, the Prcue, the Pulpit, began to fpakc Italian apace. The May. tfrsoi the Protelfant Religion difgraccd, the Cfiffjf/ratorj ia the Powdcr-Trcafon excufccf, as in a Sermon at Sainc Maries* in Cambridge by Kemp of QHtenes ColUdge, And the affront CO Rom*: in the Common Prayer Booke, viz., fVhofc Fatth u f^Stan, Religion RehelltoH , muft bc taken out, that the Pro- verb might bc verified. Mi fa no» merdet. Our Churches began to put on the attire of the Harlot ; Altars, Crucifixes, and othet idolatrous Piflures, ivere frequently fct up, and fer\'cntly main- tained. The Divine fervice, as they called it, was a Meflc fo prepared, as that ftrangers from beyond Sea could fcarce belcevc themfelvcs to be in England but rather in France or Italy, and cryed, N'on tarn ovum ovo JimtUy nee lac U^i, c^c.

And if all this will not psrfwade the incredulous Reader, that there was a ftrong endeavour of altering Religion among as, I (hall commend to his confideratioa. not fo much Rcmes Matter-piece> (which may bc Comer buries Maftec. piece for ought I know, it lookes fo like a difguife ) as that ferious and ingenious Traft, called, The EnglTjh P«pe, together with the F§pes Nnnuoes annexed, which gives a more exadl account then I thought the fecrecie of thofc Negotiations could have af- forded to a man dif-affe^ed to them : Wherein you have the propounding and drivins of the bargaine betwixt the Agents for Rome, and the Archoifliop with his Complices, who bought - and fold the Puritans for Cardinals Caps, and penfieni, among whom the then rAif^r/?tfr, now '^<«/fcf^/»7, was a Chiefe, and therefore fitteft to be the Princes Tutour. Bat I fliould wrong both that Aurhour, and my Reader, to tell that Storie after him.

And though EngUnd, was the maine Shop of this Forgerie, as being moft conndcrablc^as alfo beaufe valreUnd there need- ed not K) much diligence, and in Scotland there was not much matter to be wrought u|K)n; yet in the two other Kingdomcs this pious inclination to peace with Rome was not neglefted. In Ireland^ in the fourth yeare of his Majcfty,Scverall Immuni- ties aad Encooragemcntt were granted to the Papists. The xhtn

C Deputies

(16)

©qputie, though his Veine lay more right for tyranny and cx- a5^ion,in regard of his imperious fpirit, yet he failed not to do^ many good Offices for the papifts, by connivence and connte* »4Wf given to the free an J publike cxercifeof Idolatry. This the King helped on by making many po/)/^ ^eera, that a parli- ament in that Kingdomc might occafionaHy prove rather ad- vantageous to the defigne, then otherwile. The fruit of which liberality of honour was reaped in the Trlfh parliaments, allow- ing a Contribution to the warre againft Scotland and their fend. mg a Committee, many of which were forward papifts, now ehiefeRebeIs,to>^^/f^-^^//,the fummer before the Rebellion brake forth, who in aU probability (huflfled the Cards for the bloudy Game which was plaid Of^ober after. And that C<?«- terhHrymv^t not ftand idle, he difpatcht thither Chappell, and other luchAgents^who by their Arminianifme and Superfticion, might traine up the ordinary fort of Proteftants ther€,and bring them to that temperxhat upon a difference they fliould propend rather to the Papifts then the trUe Proteftants ; of which allay, Ormond, Canterburies Nurfling, and his followers, now prove. Thus was Ireland Taznzot^,i]x3x it might fervc the turn it now doth , of which afterwards. /•-••, i^ \ .

In .Sro?/<*«^ like wife all poTibleinduftry was ufed to facili- tate an Accommodation with Englad firft:, and fo with Romet And to that purpofethe Popiftiandprelaticall partie were very bufie there; particularly .^/>ff^/«'<J<7<^'Archbi{hop of Saint An- drews, a deepe and fubtle Diflembler, who had difcouraged and extirpated by degrees, and under divers pretexts, mbftof the faithful! Minifters there ; and had he been left to his own Polii ticksjn which he was beyond his patron C^^f^^^ry, in proba- bi'Jtyj he had made the condition of that Nation almoft defpe- rate. But Canterburji meeting with a man of his owne mcttall, Maxwell Bifhop of Rofle ffit to be Jehu's eoachmany being a furious driver to this Samantane mtxture, who apprehended and reprefented the condition of that Nation too forwardly and prefumptwoufly, in his zeale rather then difcretioa) gave heed DO him, and would needs be gathering ihe fruits of the Scottifti cndcavouts before they eould be ripened in that cold Countrcy,

more

morct backwarckhcn England, and To^ret h^^owne aod rellowet teeth on edge.

In ronfidence therefore that the Scottiih Church and Nation was fo well prepared, (as by other endeavours, lb by his Sermon preached at Edinburgh, when he was there wifh the King, about the Partition-vfall, Efh. 2.14. which he milerably handled, when he made It to be the Jeluits and Puritans hindering his Reformation, that fs, Rtconciliacion with Romej as to receive rhcEnglifli Liturgic,and that corrupted, or to give good advan- tages to theDefigne by their refufall.^ It was boldly offered them, back'd with the Kings power, proftituted to all lijch fcr- vices, by that Prelaticall Pai^der to the Whore of Rome. As al- foa booke of corrupt Canons, which though they comprehend- ed abundant iniquity, yet it was thoughr fit by one Canon,com- mended by Rojfe 10 Canter bury, that a doore fhould be left open wide enough for the. Pope himfelfe to enter at a fit opportunity, to this effect ; That (tnce no Reformation tn D.oBrtne or Dffci' vline can be made perfeB at once , tt jhou/d be /atpfu II by his Majefttes confent,Zlc. which fell in fo dire6lly with Can'terbii, Ties Defigne, that he procured it to be approved by the King at Greenwich, May. 2;?. 169,5. a"^ injoyned it to be inferred, giving thankes to hi« Agent the Bi^op of Rojfe, in a letter yet to be feene, faying, he was glad of the canon fo ufefiilly pla- ced behind the cnrtatne, and commanded it to be fully prin. ted.

But thefe Southerne plants, being flips of an Italian Stocke, could not endure this Norcherne Climate, but were forely nipt, and (hinc illdi Uchrjmajthe Scots inftead of a Conrimon-prayer Booke, joyned in a Covenant ; which when Spotfwood faw, he faid (prophetitally, I hope, as once Caiaphas) the bottome of their bufineffe was broken out , and for his part he thought it i'eafonable to repaire into England, which he forthwith did, and with griefe dyed a Martyr to this Defigne, and io was the predi- Aion of Matter fVa/jh, 2l famous Scotti(li Minifter, flilfilled upon him, who in a Letter to the Bifhop, written 1604. told him he fiiould dye an Out-caft,

The rcfolntereje^ion of this booke, togcthca: with the /'re-

C a - late^fi

(i8) liimiiktted the Seeney bat no way the f/#^ of this Tnatdj, ind gave oecafion for new Adors to enter in a military poi{Bre« ic being decernnined by this Romidi confederacy , that fore* vnuCt be added to fraud, the peoples blood to the Prelates fwcit^ rather then this bleflcdworke dif-appointcd.

When therefore it was refolvcd that the many bamble Peti- tions and Remonftrances of the Scotcifh Nation niooldbean. fwered in blood) preparations are accordingly made; and be- cauie theBifhops had rendered themfeWes fo odions by their Sa- perfHtious and Lordly carriage , thoagh the qoarrell was theirs^ the aflion muf^ be cntred in the Kings name, the warre mod be allied Bellum RegnU» and not EpifcopaU, and the Scots pcrfe^. etfted, not as men dir-affe(^cd to Efifcofacy, but to Monm-chj^ And thus, by blowing the Trumpet of Lyes and Slanders, feme defperate, fome deluded perfons were gathered together > to force the Scottilli Nation to CAnontcstt obedience ,,and a Ce», /<?rw/>pr to England, now in r«»/<r^r4C/> with Rome. HisMa- jcfties perfon for the credit of the Caufe muft be ingagcd, who commin^ downc to the Borders, and finding the Scots (landing upon their defence at Dunce hill, the King havbg left his fire- brands at home, in (lead of flghtitag treats and concludes a Pal cification at Berwick^ ; which when the Connceliours of mifl chiefe, efpecially CiWf^r^iir; 3ndSirAf»rd, faw, as they had before incenfed his Majefty againft His people,(o nowCas became the, Grace of the onc,and Lordfhip of the other) thcjr make him fell out with himfelfe, and his owne a6b, and lacrifice his faicli and honour to the Q^iarreil. This poore paper, becaufe it gave advantage toward a peace, fo onfatisfying to them, and nnfe^^ viceable to their ends, it moll receive the meafure more due to the Incendaries, bedif-avowcd, and burnt by the hands of the Hangman.

And this was done upon theie or the like cpnfiderations. If Scotland be fo left, it will not onely behopelcflc in regard of it felfe, and fo hinder the perfc5^ion of the good yvorke, bntre- ■laine as an ill prefidcDt to all good Subjeds to ftaod qp In de- Jcn(;e of their Religion and Lioerties, ( whkh Qanterhurj and 5/r^9r^ had a niind to invade) againft i|ll illegall and violent

aitempts,

(i9)\ tltempts , chough inforced with the Kings perfonall prefencc And rarthcr, the example of that Kingdomc will not oncly rc- maine as an encoaragement> but their unbroken (^rengih will (ills to feared) prove ferviceabjc to the Puritans of England, fvho are joftly thought To many and obOinace > that ivithout a blow they are not to be fubdncd. It i$ therefore concluded nc- ceffary by the Fa(^ours for Tyranny and Popery, that Armesbe refomcd by the King, of which at leaft they thought to reap this advanuge, that which fide foevcr prevailra, it would be an in- gagement of the Kingdomes in warre { which was fo earneftly prcflcd by Strafford) that fo they might be dif-unitcd, and made iHcmoic pnferviccable to each other in cafe of neceflity. There- upon they farther perfwading the King of the poffibility of pre- vailing. ( which he ufed to regard more then the nature of the Connccll ) Armeiate taken up againe. Straford, with his Aifi- ftant Sir T#^j M^gthews, an Epifcopall extraifl, are difpatcbcd for Ireland, the one dcalcs with the Parliament, the other with the Papifls, for fupplies in this Cathohque caufe^ and prevailed DOC onely in that,buc an auxiliary Orength is there raifed of about. 8opo. men, moft of them papifts , who might bc^ranfported for England or Scotland, as occafion fliould require.

And^4«r<T^«r)fnoleflcbuficac homc^ difpatchcs his Sulis^ to the Clergy for Contributions to the prcicnt dcfignc^nd Soul- dicrs arc prcflcd with the advantages ot Coat and condu5l-mo- ncy in the fcverajl Counties, But the Souldiersraifed in Ejfex- Hart far d^ire, and thereabouts , as if they had rather bcenc to fcrve under a Scottifli Covenant, then a popi^ Command, fall 10 pulling downe Images, burning the railes about the Altars, and affronting papifts, which was an untoward Omen, but yet dif-heartned not the flout prcJ^tes. and reft of thcFaRion from- rficir cnterpriCes.

While thcfe Firebrands wcrefmoakiog in Euglandand Ire. land, the ScatiTi Nation, who love not After-games, were not idle, but made good their bearing»their Lyon was rampant while tkeEnglifh were but palTant, and fo not being willing to trull another pacification at the Borders, march into England with anArnyj carrying a petition to the King, and Dccla-ation to

C a .. the

(to)

theKlngdome, In one h^nd, and Armes ('theonely afgutnents then hopefuil) in tfie other,and forced their paflage at Newburn, -with the repulfe of the Englifh, if they defervelo to he called, mod of them having changed their hearts for French and Spa- nifh ; fo were chey poiTefledof Newcaftle, and the Bifhopricke of Durham, and fought with their Adverfaries upon their ownc ground and charges.

The lijcccfle of this defigne heing III , and the experce great and infupportahle 10 the Contrivers. notwIclU^anding all their extravagant oppreffions, they are fo impudent as to try if they could it^title the Englifh Nation to the maintenance and countenance of that war, which was levied by a Faction, and per- twade the King to call a Parliament, intending, through the fpc- Cious pretences of Loyalty, and promifes of taking away grie- vanceS;to deceive them into a contribution to this wane, which through Gods great mercy and good providence, they avoyacti, though it coft them a diflblution.

Hereupon the Inrtrumentsof violence double their diligent -infuftice, which grew ib intolerable, that fome of the Lords cake the confidence to petition the King who being betwixt the Scjflla of a Northerne Army, and the C harthdis of a Southerne petition, yeelded to a fecond Parliament, yet continued, and en- ters into a Treaty with the Scots, being out of hopes of any o- ther End, unlefle it were of his men and money.

Thus have you a briefe account of the Scottidi broiles and let the Reader but confider the gronnd thereof, ( viza. the reducin that Nation to a conformity with England, now in treaty of 4rg commodxtion with Rome) the [n^ruments raifing and fomentijig- it, Canterbury and the rert of that Fa^^ion, zealous for popery and Tyranny, and thc/tfr»'4r^»<!'jf^ of the papifts, who ufenot to make blind bargaines in the furthering that Defigne, and give a free and impartiall liberty to the ufe of his owne reafon, I doubt not but he will conclude with me, and forme, that this warre was undertaken as a hopeful! meane of fubvcrting the proteftant Religion, and the native Liberty of the Brittifh" Na- tion,

"WcW : H'ac mft fficce/Titf aUa aggredtendHm vt^. The dlf-

appoyntment

(21)

appointment and foile that the enterpritc received by the Scot- ci{h Sufinefle, was Co farre from making them caft away their eonfidencey that they <foe but double their dtligenecy and cal! a Colledge o^iht'it State Phy.fitmns to recover life into this bro- ken bulinelTe. And, that the proverb might not 6e renewed, Dum confulttftr Roma, capitfrr SaguntHm, ihe fudden refult of thofe Conncels appeares to have beene, that fome way or other thisParliament(going acourfe fo contrary to theirs, &; through the lownefl'e of thetr prefent State, gaining ground apace, chough put to difpute every ftep) muft be interrupred and diu appointcd, nay, rather then faile, deflroyed.

And no wonder at this prailice againlt the parliament, which went on at that time fo rou idly againft their interefls, and cour- fes formerly mentioned propounding a fu ther diBa^tce from Romehy s. Refor;»atii}», in (icad of their reconcUiAtton by cor^ YHpttons, (hiking fore at the (thatement, threatning the abolition oi Prelacy, which they could not fparej coHntcnancing Pnri' tanSy whcm they could rot endure ; accui'ng and punifhing Delinquents, their grand Inftrumcnts j not fparing Canterhary otStraford, who were the left and right hands of the-De- figne.

So that we need nor look e any further for a around of all pof- fible mifchiefcs to be plotted and practifcd againfl the Parlia- mentthcn its dircvl oppofition to theprojei^ed Defigne of Ty- ranny aiid Popery, which had beene fo farre advanced, and was now liketobeinterrupteJandbroken. All the other differen- ces as particularly that of Hull vvasbu* the picking a Q^jarrell, and feeking occasion to raife zn-^rmy, under pretence of a Guard, for that purpofe to which it is now employed.

And it being of fo great confequence to the difcovcry of this Myfierjy that we underftand the true naturaU ground of this warre,on the Kings part as alfo that the C«?'^ ismore eafily pre- fcribed. when the Canfe is foind out : I fViall rake a little painei to demonlkate, that the ground of thele preient ralamities was rot the pretended invafion of the Kings right in thebnU-r nefle of f7«//andthe Mthtta, but a refolution to perfilt in the intended mifchiefe to Religion and Liberty.

To

(21)

To which purpofc let it bcknowne to the world, which to mc II fufficiently evident, that before the excentioB oFthc Earle of Strafford, when his MajcQy had received no other carriage from his Parliament, then what he pro fedcd himfclfc fatisficd with, and that if the Bils he had pall, were againc to be offered, hefhould cheerfully and readily afl'ent unto them,- z^tnthtn were difpatched Letters and an ^ent to the King of Denmarke from his Mafefty, complaining o? the Parliament, that mftead of his fupplicsexpciftcd from fhencc , among other Ends, tU profulfmdos h^sies, you may eafily gheffc who were meant (wc being in a deepe peace with all popiHi Princes) he fotmd it, fer. ttnacttery & inJHJiu cie caufj, i» uniHS vtrt exttium t^tentttm & defixfim ( nodovthzcdly Strafford, betwixt whofc impeach- ment and execution the Letters were fcnt)and thereupon de- clares himfelfe in thefc words, ^d alia conftlta ^mmftm c»tu ^ertendttm duxim$ts. What thofc Connfels were will hereafter more fiilly appeare.One part of them was execnted in the fame Letter, wherein an Agent was named, with credit given, and aid delired. And that it may appearc this Letter was lent, out of which thefe paflages are excerpted, not onely the Copy of the Letter, but the authentick Anfwer hath beene fcene, and that ic prevailed in foRie fort, appeares not onely by the Anfwer from Denm^ksy but the Kings declaring upon the Offer to the Scot! at Newcaflle, that he was to have money and horfe from Den- marke, to encourage them to joyne with him ; anc) all this not- wichftasdhig the deepe proteftations^at that very in(Unt,4igaio(l F«rrai»ne Forces.

And if there want further proofe, it may be added, that the intention to bring up the Army to over- awe if not deftroy the parliament, was long before his Majeflies departure from Lon- don, which intention if ii^>e not fufficiently proved by the De- claration of the Lords and Commons of the nineteemn of May 1642. with the depolitions and Letten annexed, which may poflibly prevaile with the indifferent Reader : yet the propo/it tions about the fame tkne made to the Scots atNewcaftlc, of joynin* with the Englifh Army againft the parliament , and the bonniifull Offers made thereupon , Of 300000, 1. t9 be paid

downij Of foftre Northerne Connties, andthf flftuder^ of totu don^ The cjtitttwg of his Revenues and cuBomes in that Ki}7g^ dont'itothetrfHiltkeufe^The Kingsrefdefice at Torke for the better accommodattoK of both Nattons., or fuller revenge to Lon^ do-4, (wh\ch Siv Johfi Henderfm, who imparted that gracious Meflage by vercue of Letter? of full credence given him by his Majefty figned G.R. can tefiifie or if he will not, many honcfter men may, though the paper be regained^ may fufl^ciently con- vince any man, who hath not determined with himielfe, -Ar<y« perp4adebis ettamft perfftaferis : which I have made the more bold to adde bcciufe though the Penner of the Anfwer to the Petition oiboth Houfes March 2(5.i642.deliethe Devill (whom he knew would never take paines to difcover his owne plotj to prove there was any fuch Defi^ne with his Majefties knov7- ledge , yet he denies not hoJie{^ men liberty of fpeaking the truth.

And not to let this bufineffe pafle without the juft honour and vindication oftheScoitilTi Nation, let the world take notice, that they rot onely rellired this oft'er. but acquainted thofe who were mofi entrulied with the afr'aires of the Englifh Parlianient, and offered rather f if need were) their beft afliftance to fecure the ju (land lawful I proceedings and privilcdges of Parliament, and fettle both Nations in truth and peace , the embracing whereofmight have probably prevented a great deale of bloud- fhed both in England and Ireland, and had beene the V ore-game of our prefent After- g.-ime. But they were then fo farre more tender of his Majefties honour then their owne fafety , that they made ufe neither of the Kings ofter to the Scots by declaring it, nor the Scots to them by accepting it, and one of them was fo farre more ambitious of his Majefties favour, then careful! of his Owne honour as to acquaint the King with the bufineiTe : Askc the Lord ot'Dorfet who it was.

But I haftcn from this Digreflion, and returne to that conclu- (ion, which I t'^inke I may clearely make from thefe premifes; That his M a jcliy before any of thefe apparent Quarrels about Tumults, or the like, ufed earneft endeavours for deftroying the Parliament^ fo contrary both in its conftitution and proceedings

D to

to the intended rubverfion of Religion and Liberty, either irt their perfons or priviiedges.

So that though th<?re plots ani tranfafiions did not ferve the Kings turatbr tae intended mifchiefe: yet they lerve mincvery well in thecleare proofe of the inter.tion of the milchiefe. Something might further be added out of thelrifh bu.nnelieito makethisaiTertionclearebut Ireferve thatto itsowne place, being the My^ery of this My^ery, and the Iniquity of this IniqiiUy,

By what hath beene declared, it may appeare what alpe^t the- King and the Councels in which he was ingaged had toward the Parliament of England. Let us proceed to examine the eourfes which were afterward taken in profecuttonot: thisDe- figne againft them=& thol'e that for love of Religion andLiberty adhered to them-andby conHdering the fVc^yesy Coiivfelulnfinu menti, which have beere ufed in this lervice, we fhall obraine. yet'further Evidence, that this prefent warre, undertaken by the King & his parry was intended for the fubverhon of the profef^ fed Religion and eftabliflitGovernment. When therfore the Ar-. n^ief raifedbotb in England and Ireland (^not without fome re- luctance, as not having performed their intended fervice j were, unavoidable to bedii-banded in the declining part of theyeere I f^4i . we muR, fuppofe a Counfell jnfiort folemnly to be called at White-hall about July or Auo»ll\ before the Kings going into ^cpcland (it being then very feafonable in regard that the Irifli Committee (efpeciallyfo able and ailive men as Gormonjionj Muskeyy^ Plit'fikett Browne^ and Bourke , who werc privately treated with) was then in .EngJ,and) wherein, as may appeare by theprecedentapcf future praiiires, it was laid as aground. That this Parliament ^ with the Ptirum^. their Adherents, who flood lb obiHnately in the way of this propounned, and fa farre premoted Defignc, muft be removed, ov fubdued. And ta thisEndwayes of violence (blood being the whores drinke. Rev, ly. 6. and imp^riHm qudibctfretto confians bene, an abfo- lute rule being cheap at any rate^ are refolved upon> efpecially confidering that many broken pieces of theArmies rjifed againft Scotland n[>ight cafily be made ufe ofagaine;the Occafion being

very

, < ^"5 ) . very little difterent. And in this Confpiracy was that m6nfirorti Rc(^elltcit\v\Irelarfd fto ufc the words in the Kings anfwer to the Petition of the Irifh CottimanderSj dated at Oxford De- cember!.' 1 642. for we cannot witli better ^'nerds,' though we exped better deeds) pra^f^iled by thofe mercdcffe and idolatrous Rebels^ more then probably conrrived- Let us Rand behind the curtain?, ibme poiidemay be learnt, and honefty too.by way of defiance. . • ' ," '•' .■

After the Proportion of the def^roying this Parliament in cafe it could nrt be reduced to the lervice of this Catholique De- figne, (which was.almoftpaft hope, feeing no more rcyali in- clinations in them, alter (q many A6^s of Grace, bef^des perfo- ■ rail honours, ^nd offers made to fome^ accepted by others ) which was refoA'ed doubdefie, nemir.e contradiccme* The next comultationmufi naturally and neceiTarily be of the manner, which rhufHikewile be Confufion and Blood -i: Se-(?/m^/^ norz Htfi fer fcelerittHtHf?i efi Iter, .-■■■ -

But nothing i?.to be done rafliiiy, the Caufe being as full-of hazard as importance ; let therefore the State of the Kingdome of England- and the neighbour Kingdomes and -States, in refe- rence to this Caufe, be duly confidered.'' : ,. ■

The condition of England may be this reprefented, for the .body of it ; It zon(\9c&o'tP(tftfis^ JProtpfiaKts, viz.. the King, Prelates, Cour:iers and Covaliers, the deflblute Gentry.- the fu- perftitious Clergy,the p.ofane & ignorant people, the only Pro- teftants now accounred o^, all the reft are but Anabaptifts and •Brownifts; anda third party of P^ri^^i^^j, that is. Lovers of the Proteftant Religion, with the defire of Reformiation, friends to the Parliament and native Liberty of the Subjeil. This latter -part though very frong, yet may be fuppofed well ballanced by the other two, whom they without a miftake, as now appeares, prefumed might be made one, upon the Coincidency of Popery^ ablolute power. Prelacy, indilTerency in Religion, and pro- faneneffe i elpecially with the advantages of their oppofition to puritanifme and Reformation and the nrianifojd pretences that might be conpnually made againft the Parliament. And where- as ic might be ob)eficd that the /'arliamenc now vcii^z indiflb-

D a lubls

(i6(

*ubie by a late afl, would be a very great impediment, in regard of its power afideftitnacion with the people, cfpecially now after their prelfures fuftained for want of Parliaments.

This was puc oft' with the projefls of defaming and difgracc- ing it, withdrawing lonie of the Members, corrupting others, and bringing tlie Kingdome into that condition that the Parlia- ment (liall be conftrained to diiingage the people bv requi- ring Contribui;ion,rather then mgage them by prelent freedoiae and reformation. England thus reorefented is no great difcoa- ragemenc to the worke.

Bat what (liall be done with Scotland ? a people full of fore- fight and refolution ; their late carriage towards this very bufi- neflcj hath given abundant teftimony. That they upon the ftatc- ing Oi ihe Q^urrell by the Parliament, fsr Religion and Liberty will eafily be drawne into their aflil^ance.

The courfc (ince taken, fecmes grounded upon fuch Councell as this ; The King is to goe into -■ cot land, and lb to pafle by the . Armies, the Commanders of which may occafionally be falu- ted, andtherehemay upon the place be advifcd, to what may be beft for his ends. I^ by faire offers and pretences they can be deluded, let them Ctot be fpared that they may be either ingaged by kindnefl'e, or upbraided with unkindnefle. If they be found peremptory, {ince there IS an advantage of the Kings prefepcci and fo many re folved Cavaliers to attend him ('as there did both Popifh and others) let fome of the Heads of the taction betaken off, as A' gyle for one, zw^ Hamilton like wife (who by playing booty on both fides that he might be lure to. fave his ftakc had like to have lort all) which was accordingly attemp- ted by Orawfordi Deiigne but through Gods providerce pre- vented, by making a difference betwixt the Contrivers, and ftir- ring up a more noble refolution in one of the Commanders (though fince unworthy enough j who thought and faid, it was the worke of Bntchers and not Sonldiers^ that was propounded. But let the worft be luppofed and provided for. As Scotland'^ for the moft part Puritanically fo is Ireland Popijh. And the Irifli Papifh may firH- fuppreffe the ProteRants among them- felyes; andfo not onely occafionthe ExhauRion oi England and

the

C27) the diftra6lion of the Parliament there, by a warre, but alio be fervieeable upon the perfei^ion of their worke, or an allowed Cefation from it, to ilrengthen the Kings party in England, or annoy ScotUndy to the prevention of their AfTiftance. Very good or ac leaft very true.

But what may be expelled of Holland ? from the people lit- tle hindrance, being drowned in their owne intereft of gaine : Were we all Spaniards, we could have fupplies from thence tor our money ; and from the Prince of Orange (who hath well oained, not onely by that rtate, but upon it) all poflible affiflance by reafon of the conrraft of marriage with England, and the polTibility there may be of requiting him in the fame kind,when our worke is done. Which (by the way j when the Nether lan" ders arc awake, they fiiall doe well toconfider of, and refle^fl up- on the ^elgtck}>\oo6i, and Enghjh treafure expended in the free- ing them from that bondage, to which by connivance at fup= plies againft the Parliament they are haftening againe. As for X)^«w^r;^:? thecafeiscleere, the Obligation of Confanguinity the intetcft of Royalcie will ingage that Prince, and to put it ut- terly out of doubt the incouragement given by Letters under his owne hand, is abundantly fufticient.

As for France and Spa'ne, Po} ery au i Monarchy^ ( or rather Tyranny) will bring in them, (notw)th(iandliig. rheir great and irnpottanc differences) as P;/«i?^ and ^/<?^<?^, to joyneincrucifi- ing Chnfi : The greatel^ doubt may feeme of France, Spaine ha- ving a firmer intereft in the Papifts of Ireland and England^ But confidering it is fortheCatholiqueCaure. And that it the pro- ceedings ot the true Protelhnts of England 2Lr\6. Scot land prof- pp.r, itmaybe an illprefidenttoche Prorertants of Trainee, to flrive to regain, what the other ftrive to keep : no doubt he will Cift a favourable eye upon this bufinelie- as now appcares by fending his Agent into Scotland, to hinder the Union of the two Nations.

Things being thus digefted fas in all reafon they might and were) no wonder though the King upon his returne from ^cot. land an i the Rebellion begunnc in Ireland, altered his language and carriage to the Parliament, and fought nothing more then

D 2 occa^

■ (28) . occafioKsof beglnnipg the Qiiarrell, as by the illegall sccufati- on oftheii* members. Going ro the Hou!e of Commons to de- mand them, lb attended ; upon whofe inl^igation and with what intention, appeares by the Qtieencs Carnage at his frurttate returne, as alio by the confefTions of divers of that deipejute Guard. Thefe violent afialT^nating courles attempted in Eng- . liinddX-A Sctf^/^W, prailifed in /r<?/W,thGUgh they arc not cer- ,tain Evidences.- are ufuall fignes of a PcpiOi Defigne, and Jefu- -iticaliCounccls.

After this attempt, (not through pretended feare, (for his Majefty adventured into the City the next day, with a fmall Guardj but through indignation at the diiappointed miichiefe, .and, (as the Lord jC>?>^/^ faith) to keepe tne Cavaliers from ■ trampling and reproach,) the King removes from London, cum totafcquaUy except fome whowercltittobe Agents in City and Parliament for this great fervice, whom we could as well ,havefpared.

And nov'/ the plot of raiiing an Army, long before contrived, being ready for the birth, Juno Luc wafer opm, let the Queene find a pretence to goe into Holland, (taking with her the Crowne Jewels, which were pawned or fold, not to gaine, but lofe the Pearle of price) with the more freedome to negotiate forteign fuppliejof Money, Armes, Ammunition, and Com- mandersj whitner likewife fome other officious perfon.. as Jer. mincy Dighie^ &c. were before, by his Majefties warrant, di- fpatched, and to fpeake without flattery, Cnz did fpeciall fervice, for which no doubt fhe fliall have her Indulgences and Pardorfe free, as (lie hath occahon to ufe them.

In the meane while the Kirjg i-s going on pilgrimage in Devo- tion to this Romidi Caufe, and though continually petitioned ..for returne, and obtefled by bleeding 'reUndy makes little flay till he comes to Tor^^jwhere after the Courting of that Country and his many ProteihtionsXtaking the Lords alio in for fecuri- ty, Jir,ie 15. 16^1. whofe honours were pawned tor his Maje- fties intentions whereby it was thought the people were better . prepared then indeed they were) he goes to //////, and upon Sir J«>^;ij^/c://;^wjrefufali cakes occafion to laifea Cuftrd i'othxs

perfoii

f2p)

parfon in a place, whofe Loyalty was To much magnified, which by the helpe of the Commifilon of^rraygLud forreign fuppUes, hath ingend.-ed a plentirull illue of three or foure Armies.

But what IS all this to the iuhverfion of the Proteftant Reli- gion, if there had bin any fuch incejition in raifing the Army , the P^;«/?J whofe fpeciall intcrelt it was, fiioiild have bin ta- ken in, who are by a Proclamation dated at Torke, Augu[l ic. i54^.forbidden,not onely the Courtjf'a place fo unfit fot them; the Queene being now abfent) but any OflRce or fervice in the Kings Army; and as.if His Majefty were fo farre flom expeiling thm<^.Jfifia:^ce,x}mz he feared their vef.geance.m \\\% inlkuition? to the Commififioners of Arraj, Augufl 2^,1542 dated at A^c/'- tingham, charge is given that Rccufants be diiarmed.

This cannot be denyed.but it may be contradiBed , as it was^ by His Majefty,inananfwer tot'fre Petition of the Recn'ants of La»ca(hire, dated at Chefier, September the 27. i642.where th'y are not onely allowed, but f according to the known Law ofthe Land}required to provide fufficienL.irmes,for themfelvsj- their fervams and tenants.

Andwhereas it may be faid the cafe was- different in Auguft; and September, its yeelded, His Majellies Cafs was different , though his ('mfe the fame-.to have received them before others were ingaged had been to dihngage the- Prote^raHts, and inter- rupt the worke in its tender beginnings.- And ther:rfore ic muft; bcfo timed that as many Proiertanrs as could be deluded with, pretences, might be drawne in and ingaged , beyond a retreat ,. before the alfithnce ot the Papifis was required.

Thus have vou an account ofthofe ^rounds , for which thofe Councels, Contrivarcv's ai"^ difguifes, ^jf which th e main Ar- my countenanced be the Kings favour and prefence , was rai fed . againrt the Parliament.

I have no mind to trice i: over H-iOoes though that innocent, blood which hath bin C)ilt by it , neither is it to my ptefent purpofe to doe it. The indcavours to the fame end in the North, by the Earle of Newcafile in H^ales-, and (^ornewall by the Marq. of Hertford, and Sir /?^z//^ //i?/?fo« ,.(Tliefe latter gronpded rather as I iuppofe upon the Principles of Prerogative

then

then Popery) I purpofely omit : onefy let me take notice, that this worke of darknefie hath made the darke corners of the laiid its refuge, and received moft afTiftance from places moft void of the knowledge of God;Which we are in a high degree to impute CO the more then barbarous cruelty of the Prelats.noc onely not •providing, buc prevcn:ing their fupplies, and difcouragingthc Liberaticy and Piety of thole who indeavoured the propagatioii of the Gofpel, by difappomting the intention of buying in Im- propriations, and difcountenancing Lefxures.

Thefe Armies thus raifed. and made upby Papifts^prelars, Courtiers, fupcrrtitious Clergy-men , diflblute Gentry, and a Herd of prophane ignorant people; what by treating and fight- ing, by falfe friends and bitter enemies (^th ough the jufl hand of God upon this Nation, for their idolatry^and backfliding.bloud- fhed and opprelTion, and undervaluing the precious Gofpeli of Jefiis Chrid ) have tnrned this Kingdome into a Field of bloud, and of th6 ef^eem and envie of other Nacions,have made it the pitty of ovir few friends, and the reproach of our advcr- faries.

But why Hiould all this Calamity be reduced to his Mafefties Counfcis and Courlej,hath not he oftercd Treaties of peace^as at Nottiyigham.2LT\^ entertained them, as at Oxford.

rknow there are many that afflidl themfelves with the neg- le£V of the offer from Nettingham, fent from the defolate Stan- dard, and looke upon it as the lofle of a happy opportunity.! de- ny not but hisM»jefty,in that condition.not out of love to peace fan affeilionthat could not well confift with thofe inceflant endeavours to leavie wane ) but f^are left he might lofe that power he (hived to increafc,might be for fome time reall in that motion.but his inclinations to it were not ib ftrong as to revoke his Proclamation, (which meafure not onely the Scots found, but the Irifh Rebels likewife, now by authority derived from his Majefty. called Catholique Subje(5^s) or to refili ('as the re- port is) the fug^eftions of the Earle of Briftoll, who defredhim CO remember his promife to the Queene> and therefore not like to have been fo conftant, as to have produced a fetled peace. As for ihe other Treaties offered and entertained; as they were

in

mtendedfo they proved, accommojations for war, rather then peace, as that Overture before the Brainfordbufinefle : And as for that treaty at Oxford , If the King had entertained the fame diljjofition towards his Parliament in England^ as he hath fince expreffed towards his late Rebels in Ireland y hee would not have been lb Icrupulous in all the paflages of it, and fo» indulgent to thealmoll Itarved Rebels,by the manifold advantages ofth^ Celfation, afterward to be examined.

It is true, there have been divers Overtures fince,themort of them private,but wehavelolt by every bargain; among the reft the Queen was appointed and ufed as a moft hopeftUl inrtra- ment of quenching the flames fhe had fo diligently kindled and blown, and as I am too truly informed , favour offered to her fa6lionby thole who (though all rhis was come xi^onxx^) ought not to have ftretchedoHt their hands to ajlrange Cjod]jhalnot God fearch this out ? Pfa.^/^. But what peace fo long as,&c.

There werepofliblyfome Lords and Gaulemen (in other relpe^Sls) of worth, as HartforAi Southhampton, Falkland, and fome others^ (who finding things contrary to their expedlation, and being wearied with the tediouiheffeof this unnaturall war^ that had and have rcallinclinations to peace : but what doth this availe us, when his Majelly is wholly ivvayed by thofe Counfels which areas averfe to peace, as to the Proteltant Religion, and the Liberties of the Kingdom ; fo that there is little hope that the Armes taken up by the King fliould be willingly laid down, till the ends for which they were railed, the fubduing the Par- liament and Puritans, the fubverfion of Religion and Liberty, (which God prevent) be accompliflied.

But I am not ignorant of the prejudice and unbeliefs tliat all which hath been or can be laid in this buf neffe is like to meet with, fb averfe are men from looking upon this as a Quarrell of Religion, and from laying it toiieart .pccordingly. Ifhail there- fore take the boldnefle to produce yet feme further Evidence, whereby it may appeare that the Inteielts of the King and Pa- pifls , as in all parts, fb particularly in Ireland, are deeply and defperately involved.

Firll in generall,the P2pif^s(who do not ufe to reckon wirh-

E ' out

(3»)

euc thcirHoft) in all places interpret the Ctu(c of the King a- gainft the Parliament to be their owne,afld declare it not only in words,buc in their pcrfonall aHiHance, and plentiful! Con- tTibutions,as appears by the notice given to the Papifts in Flan- def Sjofche acceptable fcrvicethey (hould doe to the Catholike Caufcjby fending money for the maintenanceof the Army a- gainft the Pari lament, witneffc-d upon Oath. And chough our felvc3 who arc molt nearly concerned arc fo hard of beliefe io this<Sa(c,yct the neighbour Pfoteftants,asof Zcland and Scot- land ,do Co ftate it, as af^eares by the Letter ofTblicitatioo for a feafbnable engagement in the behalf ofthe Englifli Proteftants, from Zcland to the GenerallAircmbly of Scotland, and by the Remonftrancc ofthe Aflcmbly of Scotland,to the Convention ofEftatesthcrc,and their anfwerthcieunco,datcd June 17. lu-

But the fulJcfl and (addeft Evidence in this bufincfle ii to be ^rawnfromthedueexamination,and confiderationof thcRc- bellion in Ireland,(for fo it was once called J wherin there have perifhed nearc two hundred thoufandfoulcs, by the hands of thoft wicked and dete(^able Rebels ( as they are called by his Majcfly in his Declaration of April the 8. 1 6^2 .) fo odious to God and all good men , with whom if his Majcrties Counsels prove confederate , I think it will be fi.fificicnt to convince our moderate men , and awake them out of that Neutrality , which is as unprofitable as it is detel^able, Hnce it neither procures friends, nor reconciles enemies.

That the ground of that Rebellion wa5 the advancement of the Catholike Caufe, is profelTcdly declared by the A^sof the General! AfTcniblyofRcbcls at Kilkenny, held 1642. which A&s were printed at London, March the fixth 1 64 3 • in theft words.

FOR the exaltation therefore ofthe Holy Romsfie Catholike

Church ,for the advancement of his (JMajefiies feriice^ and for

the prefervation of the Lives , Efiates and L iherties of his Ma-

Os du- jejlies true SubjeEts of this Kingdofue, again fl the injujiice, mur^

turn ! thert^ majfacres^ rapes ^ depredations ^ robberies ^burnings ^fie^uent

breaches of Publik^e Faith and quarter, and deJiruUioft datly

4^ed

(3?)

^eddnd perpetrattd upon hit MajgBies faidSuhjeHt^ and tii- vifed, ctntrived, and daily enecHtedbj the mdigftaat tarty ^ fome of them managtHg the (jovernment and affaires of Efiate in Dntti^y and feme other farts of this Kingd^me to his hirh- neffe great dijfervicey and comf lying vfith their Confederates^ the maligmint party in England, and elfewhere , ivho as it is knewnto all the vforld, cantplotand pra^itfe to dijhonestr and dem Jiroy his UHajeJiie, his RoyaliConfort, their Children ^and Mo- narchicall government, which is ofmofi dangerous confeattence ^ to all the {^anarchies and PrtncesafChrtfiendome, The (aid Affembly doth order and ejlabli^ a Qottncell by the name of a (w- preame Councell , of the confederate C^thoUqnes of Ire- land, &c.

Youieehownearethe Exaltation of the holy Remane Catho- li^ue Church y and the advancement of his Majejiies fervice^ ftand together, and who are accounted his MajefHes true Sub- jects, who Malignants. But all this is eafilyblafted with the Coniideration that they are the Expreflions ofRebels.pretend- ing his Majefties name and fervice for their advantage ; No, under favour, they are the expreflions of his Roman Catholi<jH€ SuhjeQs, fo lUled in the Jate C<?j^r/tf»,conduded in his Majefties name, and by his Majefties authority, September 15.164g.and ranked equally with other his Majefties good Subje6ls, and therefore noreafbn to diicountenaiKe this Evidence, nor yet thoie of the like nature hereafter 10 be produced- However it aboundantly flnewes the end for which it was mentioned, the proving that Rebellion to be a Qu_arrell of Religion.

Loi us now trie what Evidence may be brought forth to prove that the Papifts in Ireland, and the Armies in England, en^ged againft the Parliamenr,are doing the lame work, and that there is aline of Communication betwixt their Couniells. To this purpolCjlet us confider a CommiJ/ion , and a Ceffaticn, to which whatfoever elie is to be laid in this matter may be reduced.

Common fame, none of the worft witnefles,hath brought to every mans eares the noyfe of the Kings favouring the Irifla (^Mtrfaerey and that the Catholique Subje<5ls there have called themfelves the Queenes Army, 2:nd intimated thtmfeives the

E 3 Kings

(34)

Kings, by faying they had good warrant in black andwhite for their proceeclirgs, and crying outupon the Englirh Parliament ar d Puritanes, i.s the Kings Enemies and theirs. It were well worth the knowing the truth of this foimportantbuf neffe. Let us goe as neare it as the nature of a My ftery will admit .

And firft let ihe Copy of the C(?;ww/j^o«, laid to be given by the King to his Catholique Subjeds of Ireland, be read and examined.

From our (^amp at 3\(^ewie this fourth of ^^omember i6^\.

*PkiIer». One ale. To all ^atho/iqftes of the Remijh ^Partig

Rerie Mdcgnirt, both Englip) and Irijh, within the

KifigdomeoflvehndLf wevfijhati Hap- ptKeJjfey Free dome ofConfcience^and V'i- 6',ory over the EngUi}} Hereticks , who have for a long time tyranniiced over our hodtes , and usurped by Extortion •Hr Efiates.

BE it hereby made known untoyouallour Friends and Coun- trey-men,that the Kings moft excellent Majefty (for many great and urgent Caufes him thereunto moving, repofing truft and confidence in our fidelities) hath fignifiedunto us by his Ccmmiffion under the great Seals of Sea land, bearing date at ^dtngbnrgh thefirft day ofthis inftant October i64i.andaliQ by Letters under his figne manuall, bearing date with the faid CommifTicn^ of divers great and heinous ait ronts that the Eng- lifh Protei?ants,e:^ecially the Parliament there, havepubliflied againf^ his Royall Prerogative,and alio againll our Catholique Friends within the Kingdom of England ; The Copy of which Comnfliflion we have here fent unto youtobepublifbedwith all fpeedin all parts ofthis Kingdome,thatycu may be affured •four fufficient warrant and authority herein.

THE

(35)

THE COMMISSION.

CH PiKLBS l>jthe grace ofGod^ Ki»g of Eng- land y Scotland^ France^ and Ireland^ Defender of the fauh.^c. To all our C atholike SubjeHs with- in Our Kingdome of Ireland^greeting, Knowye^ that We fortkejafeguardanafrejeriatiQn of Ourperfonjjazebeen enforced to make Our abode and refidencein our Kingdom of Scotland for a Ichg [eafon^occafoned by reafon of the eb- finate and dijobtdtent carriage of Our Parliament in England againf^ Fs, T^ho have not onelyprefumed to take upon them the gciernment and difpofmg cf thofe Princely hights and Irerogatives that haie juftly defcended upon Vs from O ur Piedecejj'out s^bot h Kings and Queens of the faid Kingdowe for many hundred yeares pafl , but alfo haze pojje£ed themfehes of the nhole [Irength of the faid Kingdome^ in appointing Goiernours^ Commanders^ and Officers^ in all parts and places therein^ at their own mlsandpleafures^ without Our confent^ nhereby we are deprived of Our Soveraignty , and left naked without defence, ^nd forafmuch as fVeare {in Ourfelfe) very fenJjble,thatthefeflormes blow aloft ^ and are very likely to be carried by the vehemency of the a Protefiant Party a vmiun in into Our Kingdome of Ireland ^ and endanger 0»y another copv\ Regall power and authority there alfo : Knowyee there- fore^ that we repofing much care and trufl in your duties and obedience, which we have for many years paft found ^ Doe hereby give unto you full power and authority to af- fimble and meet together with all the fpeed and diligence that a bufinejje 0/ fo great a Confequence doth require ^ and to advife and confult together by fufficient and

E 3^ difcreei

diftreet numbers , At aU times , dAyes , And pUces , which you fhAll in your judgements hold mofl convenient and mAteriallfor the ordering^ f^^^i^i^ AndeffeBing of this Great work, (mentioned And direBed unto you in Our Letters) And to ufe aU politick n>ayes And meAnes poJfibU tofojjefeyourfelvcs {for Our uje Andftfety) of Allthe Forts ^CAJties, And fUces affirength And defence mthin the [Aid Kingdom 'except the P laces ^Perfons^And Eft Ates of Our loyA'J And loving SuhjeBs the Scots) AndAlfo to ArreftAndfeizethe GoodSyEftAtes, AndPerfom of aU the Englifh ProteftAnts within the jAid Kingdom to Our ufe: ^ndin your cAre And [peedy perform An ce of this Our mil and pleAfurefVeP^Ali perceive your r»onted duty and aIU- gfAnceuntoFSy which fVefljAll Accept And rewArd in due time, Pvitnefj'e Our felfe At Edinburgh the firfl dAy of OBober^ in thefeventeenthyeAre of Our Reigne,

This Deponent makethOathjthat about the middle of No- vember iaft. Jiving then in the Parifh ofSzintOH/chaMy nearc 2>*^//»j being accompanied with one xmiXct Staphton oiDnb - lin aforefaid,GcntIeman,they happened iiitothc company ofa PopirhPric'i.commonly called Father -S/rw, who being for* merly acquainted with thefaid xM^aStapleton^cC^xtd to drink with him at a Tavern called the ^«//, upon Merchants key ia 'Dublin^ where difcourfing of the injuries and troubles ef chc times, thcPrieft anfwered, rbat the Irifli (Tnot enduring to have them called Rebels) had fufficient warrant for what they did, ' and ftood ftronwly in defence of their a6tions; and prclcntly to juftifie his words, produced a writing, according to the tenpur ofthepremifes mentioned in this writing abovc^id j whereof the Deponent deiired a Copy, and he willingly yeelded unto it, and thereupon he wrote this Copy out of his iitereitim, in the prefcnce of the faid mafier Stapleton , who is now living in

DM

'tn.

Thig

in)

This is the true copy of that Cotnmiflion, with the annexed Warrant and Depofiiicn (for I wiJlcorceale nothing in a bufi- neife of this importance) asit csnne to my hands in a paper thus endorled : tA cofj of the forge A Commt^ion in Ireland, fub- Itjhed by thefe trattereus Rebels ^ .J/rPhikmy OnealeiT^y/g/jf, Rory Maguier £/^»<rtf, twd others ^ with their lyiagperfwajion to fedttce ttftd Jiirre up the whole Fomijh Party to Rebellion , wherein way befeene how heinouflyhis Majejly is abufed^andthe ParliaPientHnjufily taxed by the 7 afijis.

This lari daufe I takefor granted, but as for the re/i,give me leave to try whether the infide or the outfide ofmy paper be the truer. And this I OialJdce with all due reiped both to the King and Parliairent, that his MajeBy may fee that there was feme fire in themidftof all thefmoai , snd that the jealouf es of his people, ccncerning the Jrijii bufirefle, were not altogether groundlefle; as alfo that the King may have a fitoccafion to ab- jure this Commiflion, and cleare bimfelfe of the afperficns caft upon him, with refpe6l thereto , and chaftife ( as his Majelties phrafe is) thole wicked fellows (but I crave mercy ,they are nor my fellows, they are owned Sub)e<9s,but I, and the reft of the Parliaments friends proclaimed Rebels) And that the more full snd particular latisfidionmay be given ( for dilccurles sndpro- tef^ations will not be taken any longer for payment) I (hall give, all the Arguments I can to prove the reality of it.

Firft therefore let us confider the time ( a materiall circum- ftance)when this Commifli# is dated,that is the firll ofOdo- ber 1641. in one copy, and the fourth in another, (no great dif- ference) the JJ/<T/«itTtf beginning the 2 g. of the fame month, which was prefently after the Conferences at ?F/j/re./)^// with the Lord Muskerte and his fellows, who returned into Ireland the fame month his Majefty went for Scotland , leaving the Z-ord ©///»« , who was prelently after fent with the Queenes Letters, requeltirg or requiring his being made Couniellor of Ireland, to his Majefty then at Edinburgh, where it is faid this Ccmmiffion was figredwith the broad Seal of that Kingdcme,, being not then fetled in the bands of any Officer who could be anfwerable for the ufeof it,but during the vacancy of the Chan- cellors

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cellors place, intruded with Manjuefe Hammi/tofi, mdby him with one mafter /ohn HammiltoM.iht Scribe to the Crolfe Peti- tioners in ScotUnd>^r\d. fometimes under the care ofmarter 5»- dimion Porter -^zvtiy fit opportunity tbrfuchaelandellirietranr- a{5tion . And let it not be oniitted, thai prelently after the date of this ComnciiflTion , Dillon, Butler , and divers other Irifh Commanders, of which the Court was then full , were diipat- ched for IreUndhy his Majefties Licence , not without the jull fufpition of By-ftsnders.

The CommilTion it felfe, for the ground? and language of it, is very iuitable to other difpatches and writings under his Maje- fties name, exprefTing much bitterneife againltthe Parliament, and jealoufieof the diminution of his Prerogative , which was alwayes his great feare. But I fhall be unwilling to fetch the leaft proofe from the matter or ftile of the Commiflion the Argument is not lb beggarly as to neceflitate a Tethio Prin- cipii.

Let us go on to examine thegrounds,why fuch a thing fliould be fbrged^and why (iach a thing ftiould be granted, and fee which are the more probable.

I know no ground why fucha Commiflion fhould be forged. It was not to make his Majelly odious,for in all their writings they exprefleall tendernefle of his honour, and forwardneffe of their obedience, particularly in the forementioned Alfembly at Kii- i^^r^M^jVvhere, next after the Article for the injoymentofall the Priviledgesand Immunities of ttij^Romane Church, as in the ninth y^d.^^o'i Henry the third, the Oath of Allegiance to his Majerty is eftablifhed,(its likely according to the agreement of the Reconciliation with a Salvo to the Sea of Rome) and their conrtant and generallprofeflHons of loyalty (nowfo well con- firmed by his Majeliiescxprcinonstothem.and their contribu- tions to him ) do clearly evince, that they had not fo much ill will to the King, as to railefuchalcandailofhim. And more efpecially , though a Commiffion might do them Ibme advan- tage, yet the forgery of one could not but be prejudic'all, it be- ing a ncce(fary ingagcment of his Ma;ell:y in his owne julHfica- ti6n,to have ulei the utmoii of his skill and power againft them,

as

3S to^a\'e Ihid with hisParliatnentand prevented a war in i?;?^* land. But though a forged Commiflion might be unprofitable, yet areailcne I wonder iiot fhould be demanded^ though a tlrai:gertotheA/>y?eT;wouldwonder itfhould be granted.

Firft, that hereby the Kirg,whom they knew m his own dif- pofiticn apt enough tol^art from his Expreflions upon an ad- vantage, might be firmly bound to them and their proceedings, asal!b that the more backward Papifis , who were more good i3aturedtl"!entorebell againft a Kingwhcm they had found fo propitious, ^.ndmore wary , then by fuch Rebellion to fbrftix their Elites , which under him, with th^e advantage of their Religion, they doubted not to enjoy, might the more eailly be brought ita.

If it be; qb^evledjtliis might be done by a forged Commiilion, I anfwerinot ib wellj-Forgery is an unruly heJp, being often re- quited with the double hinder^nce of adiicovery . Papifts ^tl -ou^h fciT5<^Wines they delude us, they deale freely>elpecially in a com - iron CatUeJique Caufe, with one another. And what end fuch fraud could have upon the Proteftants, unleflea little toamaie tliem at firft; & then exafperate them,! camot conceive. How- ever it is, be allured that OneaU and Mac-(^Arty beare fo high upon this Com.miffon, that they have offered M.r)Oi Motue^ and the Scots in Tz/^r, an appeale to the King which have the truer Commiflion, and which are tlie better Sub|e£is, and ac- cording to that determination to quit or hold their employ- ment if the !:cots would mutually promife the lame.

But fure, iayesmy hcneft Reader, who thinks other men meaneas well as he, this cannot be. Why not? as well as that^ Commitficn for the cutting thy throat at Z/iiWow, much after this terom and pafledin the iame private manner, But how can itftand with his Majeftes Proteftationsagainft them,underthc rarre of wicked and deteflable Rebels , with his Declaration at'ainft any toleration of Religion there , or abolition of the* Lawes in force againfiRecal2nts,with his Proclamation of Re^ bellicn agaicft them, dated January ,i . \6\i' directly oppofi^e toihisCommifTjcn?. -

Jx vyeie heartily to be wifbed, that fads Mijefty had kept his . ■ '^ F word

(4o)

word as well with the Proteftants as with the Popiili Fa6lion» There pafled one Article in the Treaty of marriage with the Queen, which through the careof ^4«rtfr^«r;',andthepaines oi i^yindehank^^ hath been better kept then any Proteftant Pro- teltation. The words of which Artic'e arefaithflilJy rranflated out of the French copy, to thisefledl : The 2 -j^t^nide u^That the King of Great Brittaitie , having regard unto the prayer of the Ladji (^^idto te fit fie hit affeUion to her, /halt grant nnto his Ca'tholijf^e StibjeSisthefecurity of their lives and goods, fi thut they jhaHmt be ircubledfor staking profeffion of the QAtholiqu Religion y they rendriyguHtohim that obedience and fidelty th * ewe unto him Jo which they jhall not bethought deficient for t^ fufirg to take any Oath, ordoeanyaEi contrary to their Relijria^ But itisanfvvered. It coreemes his Majefty moil to look t * that, how his words and warrants agree : yet we will' be foboir? in a Cauieof fo great confequence as the imminent daneer of the P roteftant Religion, as to examine fome o{'hi% Aftic^s and feewhether they have been more fuitable to the Ccinmiffion or Proclamation. ; .1.: '[y.^^:■<.■_ ^>

The Proclcmation it felfe though in itsf nature oppofite vet in its time and circumflsnces was too fuitable to the Commjfncn being deferred from the latter end ofoacber to thefirft of Ta * iiuary , and then fo fparingly printed,fo warily pnblifiied as if it bad been under the controli- of fome former Aa whofe /cave wmlifirft be craved. But his Majefly hath reafon to expreffc vio lenceagaintt thelehisCatholike Subjeds^orrochartifethemat leaft,for they went beyond this Commiflion, though fuppofed leall ; that gave but. a Yard, they took an Ell : though thev

were allowedto fene the goods, efiates,andperfcnsofhis Ma- jdtiesP/oteflant Sub;eas, yet they werenotallowedtocut their throats, (udeffe the private Letters concomirant can heb outatfuehapirch ) 2«d their very tranfgreffion in this matter Blight ;u% occaficn andprovoke the title of mercileffe wick. e^Rebels.Buttoretuiiiro Adions, the beft Commentaries uponwords;itisto^ feared they will be found more agree! able to the Commiffion then the Proclamation, asmavbedif ^^n^^m^ktymxS^^^^cmnftrance ofthc rife and frogTeffc

of

(40

pfthe ^ratid ReyellioMirt Ireland, For inftance, WhatOiall in- difierentmen think of his MajeHies withdrawing himfQlffrom his Parliament, declared by the then reall, though now preten- ded Parlianient, to be a gre?t cbftru»flion to the proiperiry of the Irifli undertakings ? Ot his rai/:ngvvar againrt his SubjCvRs here,thegreateft fervice that conldbe done to thepretended re- bels there, beirg a diverfion of that ftrengrh,and a dirtra^Sionof thofeCounfelsthatfbouJdhaveibppreffedthemPOfhisgrantirg pafTes for notorious Paprfts^as ^^r/^r, the fens of the lord Net- tersfield aiidothers.to go thither, for which fee the Declar. ticii ofParliamau March.i^.i54i.and,ifyou wilUheAnfw March ip.The flopping ofproviiions going to the fupply of the Army againft them, taking away the horfes prepared by the E. ofi-«- cefter for that fervice, as appears by liis complaint in a printed letter to the Earl oi NorthumherUna? Of the free acceffe of"'* thofe that have been aclive in that Defign to his MajefHescamp and Court ? Of his putting in demurres to the Bill ofprefTmg Ibuldiers^nd denial! to the lending fliips for that fervice?

It muftnot be denied that his Majefly was earnefl in prefTng care of that bufnefl'e of Ireland upon the Houfes, andpafled fome things to ^he advantage ofit, and(ina melfage of the 8. of April 1 642.) fpared not to offer his going in perlon to chafitfe thofe wicked and deteflable Rebels, with the renouncing of all other Ends, (but if his Majefly had continued in that angry tninde, hee might with eafe have chaliifed them , when they came over to him, as they have done fince plentifully.) I wifh I hadmany more fuch adtionsto repeat. Butit mufl beeonfide- red, there was a Proclamation that required fome countenance, and could not well have lefle then it had : but I foreftall no mans judgement, but leave the irnpartiall reader to the weigh- ing vvhat hath been faid, and what hath been produced upon Oath in the Declaration of die Commons,Iuly 25.1645. And if the bailance be equall, I fhall only call in ibmefcruples^f the late CefTation, which.unlefle the beame be falfe, willnnakc the CcmmifTicn weigh down the Proclamation.

I. Firft the fcrupleof &c. in the nomination of the parties in this Treaty. Is his Majeflies Tiileof Defender of the Faith

F 2 corr:C

(40 come to an intricate &c. Ycs,and good reafon/or thcothcr par- ty .with whom his Ma jerty treats upon cquall tcrms,arc content ■with an &c. and are called His Rom^nc Catholiejtte Stthj&Bt nowinarmes^^Ci whereas it fhould have been added accord- ijie to ilie Afti o^ KUke^^n}, for the^ Exaltation of the Holy Ro^ jiKtnC^tholf<Jttc''^kureh,

a* The icruplcof their fudden transformation from mon- ftrous mcrciIeffcR^^^//J intoS«^;>f?J conjojrned with other his MajeHics goodSubjedls. What fhall theSul-jc(^sofS^o//«««</ thinlicof this, who hardly obtained thclike rctraiftation when they defended the Protcftant Religion , or the Parliament of K?}platjdy and theit Adherents, who cannotyetfindc that fa- vour. But yet, LMopfo Nifa datur.tjuid mnJferemuSi &c. His Majcfty fure had thoughts of this difhonourablc recantation, when hcc was £b Jothtopublifh the Proclamation againil

6hcm.

2, The third fcrupleisP^r/^rw^tf^, for that is the word in the Irifii coppy, not prefectfte ^ A licenfe granted toPerfecfttef Sure thcBifliopshad a finger in this Article,, and ihzx. Perfecuted Frotcftants {houldexpc<5l noproteftioa from his Majerty, noif any of hif forces, againft the Terfecution ohht Papirts, but rji- thcrhaveoccafion tofcarc thejoyning of the forces the King f!hall harveintcrcft in, in the PerfecHtioft,^s is dcfiredbythc Catholiqucs, to whom no fuch trifle muft be denied, is to me a fiid ftory. 4. The fourth fcruple, that thefe CatholiqueSubjc(SlsfhaU have liberty to fend fuch Agents to his MajcHy:,asthcy fhall ihinke fit fi-om time to time. Priefts and Icfuitcs not excepted. » 1 f the Scales be not yet turned, take the whole Cciration,and liie thirty thoufand eight hundred pounds and that will fure -weigh it downctothe ground. But I have much adoeto leave ohe contemplation of this Cejfatton, Let us take a ftcond view, f. Of the tinae when it was granted , moR fcaibnably when ihePopifti party was driven to great Extremities for want of vidualy,3nd had been in greater, had notthe Forces rai/cd and payed by the Failiament l^een feduced iilto adifalfc(flioH to their fefvicc.

* This difco-

C43>

a. Ofthe Grouncs, all A€ts of importance that are to paffe the eyeandcenliire of the world ufe to come armed agairft a!l Exceptions with a preamble, fliewing thegroundandnecelTity of them : How comes it to be here omitted, that we have nei- ther reallnor * pretendedcaufesand confiderations^but a down- right CfcfTation, or rather Accommodation, as Souldiers judge it. Was it iiich broadfsced iniquity, that no mask neither in ^,e7upo!»^thc Oxfordnor Z)»^//» would fit it ? Wss it neitherfor the prefer- fight .>t thena- vation of the Proteiknt Religion- nor affecHon to the ancient keu Ceflation; and native Kingdom o^ Scot land nor for the reconciling of the as ic came from Diflraaions ot the Kingdome oi E-^gUr,d : Since thofe dull ^^^^f^^^^l contrivers could finde no mi^tter for a foundation giveus leave ^^^^^^ of tie tofupply. Seing the Catholike caufe (wl ich the King o£ Grounds and £nglur,d is induced to ierveeicher nakediy^orcloatbed with this Wotlves , &c- pretence of upholding his Power and Prerogative,which is (ug- ^^^^i"-*^ /J^* "^^ gefied to be invaded and endangered by the Puritans tliere ) is ^° ^^"J^^^^fioa now very maich concerred in the due orderingof the affaires oC alteration Great hrittaw and Ireland, And whereas the Irifli Catholikes unUfle of the havegiven fogoodteilimony of their approved Zealand cruelty wordpracwiff^* inmaflacringnear two hi^ndred thouf nd Hereticks , and may hereafter do the like fervice in England and Scotland-^ if in this their prelcnt extremity they may be relpited and relieved. And whereas it is of very great confeq uence that the Papiils and ail- that will upon any pretence, or lor any advantage , adhere to them in this Caule, be f rmeiy united together againft the Pu- ritans and their adherents, whether in £»^/^»^or Scoilmd'. Ic is concluded and accorded betv\ixt the two L. teat era fy that a- Cefiation of Armes, the like was never heard of, fhould bee agreed en, from whence the Catholike Caule and Party may expe6t thcfe Advantages. ?

1. Free importaticnof'Armes, Ammunition, Visuals, and Provifions of all kinds, and free acceffe of any of their Confe- derates from any part of the world.

2. Ready tranlportatio» into ^»g/ii»^, or other parts, of iiich fupplies which fhallbe neceffary for his Majefties fervice againft the Puritans and Parliament there.

3. The ttrengthning the Popifli party wikth die Union of the

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indift'erent Proteftams, and consequently weaknlflg and divi- ding the Adverlary, upon whom the whole ftrength may bee now turned. J

4. Either an advantage to mine the Scottifh Army in Vlfier^ I if they refufe the Ceffation, and Hay, or if they withdraw, an 1 opportunity to fettle IreUnd, and among E*tgland or SeotUnd, as^occafion (hallbe.

5. ThatfomeufefuUPrironers ( as the Earl o^^Antrim^y\\o was then in hold) might be releafed.

6. That there (hall be a Reierve of Wood-Kemes, whom this Ceflation fhall not reach , who (hall kill and fpoil at their pleafure, thofewho may beprefumed dilatfe^led to tlie Catho- like Caufe.

And thus have I m^de bold to reprelentTo the world this horrid gaflly Monger of the Irijh ntajfacre, and ( I hope more to the worlds benefit then my own content ) raked in this fink of iniquity. The Evidence isfiirnifhed.Letthe diligent impar- tiall Reader, and the Conlcience of mankinde. make a judge- ment upon it.

But feeing the dilcbvery and forefight ofmilchief is but half avvifenians work, (which now every body pretends to, and I for company) Let usftudy in a few words to declare thcbeft Rules ofprevention to this Inundation of Tyranny and Popery, which from theRomifii Sea is like to overwhelm us ; Thepru- dfftJt man ferefees the Tlague and hides himfelfe.

Many rules both of Piety and Policy might be laid down up- on the grounds of Scripture , Reafon, and Experience. But fince the mofl of them are fo wellfummed up in that folernne League and Covenant agreed on and entred into by thefetwo Nations of £»^/<«»^ and Scotland'; I will not fcatter them, but propound the deliberate Entrance ii^ito that Covenant, and the faitnfiall purliiance thereof to be the molt Religious and realb' nable way, to unite and Itrengthen the too much dividedparty oftrue Proteftants againft thele Conipirj:cies dilcovered,which areJikely yet fiirther to enlarge their bounds.

There are Ibme^ it may be, who (tand otf for want -of the Kings confent. We want not goodauthoriry, though fiich is our

unbap-

onhappinefle, that for the prefent , hfs concurrence is rather to bewifhed then hoped. In the mean time let not the Truth ?nd Gofpel of Chrill be facrificed to the Counfelsand Confedera- cies of evill and unreafonable men. £fpccially,vvhen they who have a great fhare in enafting and conferving thofe Lavves by which our Religion isconfim:ied, have engaged themfelves and their authority with us ; Neither let us be ftartled at the noife of a Proclamation,that turns Religion into Treafon, and Union into Sedithn. Proclamations are neither the Laws of England, noryetoftheiJ/e-^tf/ ZYidTerfians which alter not.but maybe retracted either with fome difficulty, as thatagainft-Jm/^;?^, or more eafe,as that concerning /rr/<A«d^.

Others there arewhoarenot (Grangers to the prefentaffaiEes,. but there is foitiething that fits nearerthem then Religion or publike Liberty, which they are loath to adventure by fuch an engagement in thisdeclinirg State of the Parliament affaires , and therefore fludy an ungodly and unprofitable Neutrality. To theie men I wifli a found mind and a changed heart, tofee^^ firfi the Kingdo7HcoJ(jed:\.tt fuch confider, that ifhe who was- the fVay, the Truth and the L,ife^ preicribed the true way to- !iie, they are in the falle, his rule inluch cales is. He thatffives jhallloje. And let them know further, that they will ore day have more need of protedionfrom God, then his Cauie hatli now of theirs, when they fliall (without repentance) receive this repulfe, (joe to the gods whom yee haveferved.

Me thinkitfhouldnotbe in vain to fpcnda word or two up- on that more temperate paity of themAvho are now unhappily engaged againft the Parliament in this wretched Caule. Sure there are iome to whom the Counfels of the !Z)/^^«/, and the iniblent carriage of Prince Rupert ^U his Harpyes,are little lefle odious, then tnefecour.'es. which the two Houfes of Pa'liamenc are conftrained to. There is yet place for Repentance (God lend Grace:) Andifthe fenfe of their ownhonour , which they take fo much paines to bury in the ruines of their CountriesLiberty, nor yet of the honour of God, which if not their intentJons,yet certainly their Anions defperately ftrike at , in this apparent (fenger to Religion, yet let the confiderarionofiheiiTuc of that

work

vQ^V.''--.

w ork thfi)'- are about, . ftippor>n|'thciT pr6vaili«g (not fo proba- ble as' tlie'y ttiay conceive) a iktle move them. Will it not as much aoiible them to lee the Kingdomegoverned(asno\v one part of it isj by a Spanifli Poa^ih Itmo , as by an Englifh Prorelhnt Parliament ? To fee their belbved moderation fvvai- lowed up in the violence of that delperate lefuiticall party that rules at the Court, as in the fuppoled Severity of thole Courcels. CiviilorEcclefiallicall < that govern at the ^w/. Let iix:h men be allured that their Ends.unlefleliich as areconliftent with Tyrai:ny and Popery, muft give way to die predominant In tere(i which will be found ro be that of the Feminine Planet in the IlTue, when they havclerved, they fhall likeufeleiTe In- ttruments be laidafide, and dif-regarded.

Certainly the intentions of thofe who are drjwn in to this Popilli confederacy are fo different, that I am confident if rhey ■prevaile againft us, their Quarrels will be as many and bitter a- gainft each other, as now againft the Parliament. Vices are op- pofiteand dellmctive, not only to vertne, but one to another. Me thinks thefe Gentlemen who pretend to juftice, pe2ce,mo- deration, and ibmerhing of Religion, (hould think themfelves but ill aflbciated, in the midft of liich prophane plunderin^y companions to which they are not lb much companicnsas fub- je6s. Sure they cannot be well at eale to fee the firftfruits of this Irifli Ceflation prefented to their union, but how then can they endure, when his MajertiesReregardofhisRomane Ca- thoiique Subje6ls,(hallbe brought over with their handsfull of the blood of more then lOGooojOffencelefle Prorefl-ants,whom they have cruelly malfacred ? Sure the apprdienlions of this cannot but (bake their Prerogative faith, and make them ap- prehend themlelves in more danger from their confederates then their fuppofed > dver-aties. J f this labour to them be loft* Iamfbrry,b«tg!adit was no more.

let Tfie fpeak to them who are counlellab'e,that is, thofevVho mthe truth and uprightneile of their HeartshaVeentred into this Covenant and tliereby engaged themlelves to riieprcfer- vation oftrue Religion and Liberty; fuch muft lsi)our for ftcd- faftiidTe inthijt Covenant, left our medicine pirovc t?ur poyfon.

' Lex

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■ Let none of ns go about to deceive our felvcs NVith uc^rof fitable TrcatleSjOr hopes of a yet impoflible Accommodatir On, but cheerfully and faithfully accoaiplifli a fpeedie and fini Union with the Councels and ftrength of Scotland (which will encourage not onely religious but v/i(e men to Joyn with us) it being beyond a reafonabie expeftation that by our own itrength or wifdoni we fliould extricate our Iclves from this growing calamity in which we arc daily more and more involved.lt now becomes every man to wind up his thou£;hts to a Chriitian refolution befitting the pre- lent neceiTities and Condition of the Church of God , and walk wonhy of it, and let the Lord do what feemeth good unto him.

I might now make my felf a great deal of more workjand create fome trouble to my Reader, if I (hould after this fa- tisfaftion I ha ve given to my own heart and the friends of this Caufe of Religion, go about to fatisfie the world, and anfwer their feverall quarrels with this undertaking , but I v/ill be more merciful! to the Reader, and more juil to my felf then to accufe my felf by excufes. Onely I will give you a tafte of that which I am like to have plenty.

The firlt QaeiVion will be fVbo is this ? I anfwer, it matters not who, but what. The next is a portion , Snre he was a wad-man thus toprovoks M^iefij it felf, did he ever learn that verfe in Homer,

Kf€»crffov y*p Eclo-iMv^ on ycoffifimi <ti?«/\pj K«p>i/. Yes but he hath, and that in Ioi> too. In fuch a caufe as this, let me not I pray you accept any maijs perfon,neither let me give flattering titles unto man. I hope to fee the day when I (hall be accounted a better fubjcft to the King then he that accufes me. In the meane time I am fatisfied with being a

food fubjeft to the Kingdom5& no Traitor to the Church.If have incurred any danger,it is to {hew thee thine,it a good Proteltant. Bftt there need not have beenfo much bitternejfe ufed "Which often difadvantages a good Caufe? It is the language of the times, and not mine. A filthy ulcer muft have a fharpe lance; the maflacre of Ireland is a bitter cup. ,S^*^ temperet wve^ivis? Here are many things produced in this Treatife that

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• 9(re hut flender f roof sf Then take them altogether. Altogether m-e but arafftdy fcraveduf out of the Parliament Declarationf, ^.ndfuchfcan.Ul us paMphlets^asVlain Englijhyandthe Englifh Vope? Tmth is a common inheritance^and now fo fcai-fe that I was g] ad to take it where I could find it. Tujh I can tell more ofthefe affairs then this Dtfcoverer'i Then tell them, or tell me, and I will- But Mercurins Aulicus will be fure to meet with you^ This is no time to be afraid of Court Bull Beggers^ but if he meet with me he muft go out of his way: I tell truth, he tels lies.

But I have now done^and it may be done that which hath provoked almolt every body^but my own confciencej which witnelles with me that I have not written any willing or negligent falfhood, nor C to my beft underftanding)any un- leafonablc or unneceflary truth. There is no man but will ftand in need of fomc charity, I (hall find it from them that have it j from thofe that have it not, I will not exped it. There are other My^eries'iw this world o^ Iniquities carried on by them who under the pretence of Service do the great- dl: dif-fervicc and diflionour to the Caufe of Religion and Liberty, which mull either be amended or not concealed: let other men do their (hare, as I have done mine 5 and the world will certainly be either honefter or wifer.

This Difcourfe cannot be better concluded then with that which is the carneft and conftant requeft of the Author to the Lord God of Hofts} the God of lfrael,that feeing wifdom and might are his^he would vouch fafe wifdom to the Coun* cellors, courage and conllancy to the SouldiersjWillingnefle to the people, and faithfulnes to all thofe that have or (hall engage themlelves in this great Caufe fo infinitely valuable beyond the etvates and lives of all that undertake it.To him be glory, and peace uponjfrael.

FINIS.

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