The Parliaments and Londons Preparation for His Majesties Return, Text
THE PARLIAMENTS AND LONDONS PREPARATION FOR HIS MAJESTIES RETVRN.
With the Manner how many Parliament men, with the Lord Major, and Aldermen are to congratulate his Majeſty. With the manner likewiſe how many Petitions are to be delivered unto him, and the Substance of the ſame.
As alſo the true Relation, how the 12. accuſed Biſhops are devoted out of the Houſe of Peers, and being called to their Tryall, they expected the Kings either Aſcent, or Diſcent thereunto, which induced His Majeſty to return.
With the certain time prefixed when he doth return.
Compoſed and publiſhed by Iohn Bond.
LONDON. Printed for Iohn Tompſon. 1641.
THE PARLIAMENTS AND LONDONS Preparation for His Majeſties Return.
A King is Quaſi caput populi, the head of his people, and if the head be abſent, the other members muſt conſequently languiſh. Yea the joy and proſperus conſolation of a Nation, is the preſent enjoiment of their Prince. But I do not delineate this in a Tropologicall ſence, or that any ſhould conclude hereupon, that our Royall Kings Abſence ſhould cauſe, or produce any diſtaſters.
For hee had bin ſo oppoſed in his pleaſures, and Commands, that it did not onelyonly cauſe his juſt indignation, but likewiſe reſpectively induced him to leave his Palace at Weſtminſter, and progreſſed forwards to Windſor, where his Majeſty hath continued a long time.
But he taking into his Princely conſideration the longing expectation of his loyall Subjects for his preſence, the great deſolation, and condole for his abſence: together with the manifold diſtractions, and diſtempers in the kingdome, did moſt diſcreetly reſolve himſelf to honour the Parliament and City once more with his preſence.
Whereupon the Parliament and City having intelligence, did reſpectively conſult, how they ſhould congratulate his Majeſty in ſuch ſatisfactory manner, as might be correſpondent to his contentive pleaſure. Divers Parliament men were immediately ſelected both out of the Houſe of Peers and Commons, to meet him: as alſo, the Lord Major, Aldermen, and chief Citizens, are in preparation to congratulate his Majeſty. But after their ſubmiſſive, and humble ſalutation there are divers Petitions to be delivered, and, preſented to his Majeſty, concerning his gracious concurrance with the Parliament, in extirpating the Recuſant party, and devoting the Popiſh Lords and Biſhops from the Houſe of Peers, and deſiring his longer continuance with them, in the eſtabliſhing of the weighty, and impendent affairs of the Kingdome.
I cannot abſolutely and directly ſatisfie the Reader hereof, the prefixed time when his Majeſty will certainly return for that is very ambiguous: but this J can reſolve him off, he is daily expected, and without doubt he will be here preſent in a ſudden proceſſe of time: And as ſoone as the Parliament and City can have more direct and confident intelligence of his more certain return, they will perform what is aforementioned: in the mean time they are in great and deliberate preparation for the ſame.
Yet in his abſence, hee hath not bin altogether vnmindfull of his People, but hath bin rather more ſollicitous, and as tender over their welfare, as a father is over his own Son. Hee hath oftentimes ſent Letters to his Parliament to comfort, and encourage them in their unwearied ſedulity.
Hee hath likewiſe graciouſly anſwered them in all their Petitions, and hath become as indulgent as ever Prince hath bin.
None knowes the care and ſolicitation of a Prince; for they (Atlas-like) do ſupport the burthen of the whole Kingdome beſides: and withall they do judiciouſly conſider, that Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis.
For the Subjects are compoſed to follow the pattern and example of their Prince.
And God be praiſed, our King may be eſteemed, and reputed the glory, and mirror of the world: both in his own Princely life, and exhortive admonitions to his Subjects two things eſpecially entertained in his Royall breaſt ſeen to be unparallel'd. Firſt his Patience, then his conſtancie for the truth.
For which two, he ought not onelyonly to be applauded, but likewiſe meritoriouſly deſerve the diurnall prayers of his liege People, for the continuance, and corroboration of the ſame.
God of his infinite mercy grant that the King and Parliament may co-unitely concur for the ſetling of peace and tranquility amongſt us, the eſtabliſhing of Religion, and the mittigating of theſe various diſtempers, and diſtractions: that all obſtacles, and obſtructions whatſoever, that interrupts either of them may be moved, and the pure ſtreams of Juſtice run clearly againſt all Delinquents without connivance, or partiality. For the State lies ſick, and of a dangerous diſeaſe too, which (if it be not ſuddainly cured) will contaminate the whole land, break out into an ulcer, and ſo exulcerate all parts by its peſtiferous, and diffuſive contagion of ruinate deſtruction, But I hope that maladie likewiſe will be averted from us, and the Kingdome likewiſe will be ſoundly purged from all diſtempers that now corrupt it: then I ſay, all diſcords and diſtractions will be ended, at the reciprocall and mutuall conjunction of the King and Parliament. Thus ſhall pietie, and ſincere Religion diſtend its branches once more, peace and ſecuritie reflouriſh again within our walles, and all tumultuous confuſions be anihilated and aboliſhed, to the honour of Gods holy name, the glory and fame of his Majeſtie, the immortall renown and credit of the Parliament, and the eternall proſperitie of the Kingdome.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Bond, The Parliaments and Londons Preparation for His Majesties Return (1641)