Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Letter 45 – Letter 46

Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light · Letter 45 – Letter 46

p. 90The Remonstrance delivered by the House of Commons to the King Iune 11. 1628.

Most dread Soveraigne:

AS with all humble thankfulnesse we (your dutifull Commons now in Parliament assembled) doe acknowledge the great comfort which we have in the assurance p. 91of your Majesties pious disposition … so we think it a most necessary duty (being called by your Majesty to consult and advise of the great and urgent affaires of this Church and Common-wealth, finding them at this time in apparant dauger of destruction) faithfully and dutifully to informe your Majesty thereof, (and with bleeding heart and bonded knee) to crave such speedy redresse therein, as to your owne wisdome (unto which we humbly submit our selves and our desires) shall seeme most … and convenient.

What a multitude and potency of your Majesties enemies are abroad; what be their ambitious and malicious ends, and how vigilant and constantly industrous they are in pursuing the same, it is well knowne to your Majesty, together with the dangers threatned thereby to your sacred person and your Kingdomes, and the calamities which have already fallen, and hath daily increased upon your Friends and Allies; of all which we are well assured your Majesty is most sensible, and will accordingly (in your great wisdome, and with the gravest and most mature Counsels according to the exegency of the times and occasions) provide (by all good meanes) to prevent and help the same. To which end, we most humbly entreat your Majesty first especially to cast your eyes upon the miserable condition of this your owne Kingdome, of late so strangely weakned, impoverished, dishonoured and dejected, that unlesse (through your Majesties most gracious wisdome, goodnesse and justice) it be speedily raised to a better condition, it is in no little danger to become a sodaine pray to the enemies thereof; and of the most happy and flourishing,NOTE. to be the most miserable and contemptible Nation in the world.

In the discovery of which dangerous, mischiefs and inconveniences lying upon us we doe freely protest, that it is farre from out thoughts to lay the least imputation upon your Majesties sacred person, or the least scandall on your government: For we doe in all sincerity, and with joyfulnesse of our hearts (not onelyonly for our selves, but in the name of all the Commons in your Realme, whom we represent) ascribe as much honour to your Majesty and acknowledgement of duty, as a most loyall and affectionate people can give unto the best King, for so you are, and so you have been pleased abundantly to expresse your selfe this present Parliament, by your Majesties cleere and satisfactory answer to our Petition of Right; for which both our selves and our Posterities shall blesse God, and ever preserve a thankfull memory of your great goodnesse and justice therein; and we doe verily beleeve, that all, or most of all those things, which we shall now present unto your Majesty, are either altogether unknowne to you, or else by some of your Majesties Ministers offered under such specious pretences, as may hide their owne bad intentions and ill consequence of them from your Majesty: But we assure our selves that according to the good example of your noble Predecessors, nothing can make your Majesty (being a wise and Judicious Prince, and above all things desirous of the welfare of your people) more in love, with Parliaments then this (which is one of the principall ends of calling them) that therein you may be truly informed of the State of all the severall parts of your Kingdome, and how your Officers and Ministers doe behave themselves in the charge and trust reposed in them by your Majesty, which is scarce possible to be made knowne to you but in Parliament, as was declared by your blessed Father, when he was pleased to put the Commons in mind, that it would be the greatest unfaithfulnesse and breach of duty to his Majesty, and of the trust committed to them by their Country that could be; if in setting forth the grievances of the people, and the condition of all the parts of this Kingdome from whence they came, they did not dealt cleerly with him (without sparing any how deare or neere soever they were unto him) if they were hurtfull unto all the Common-wealth.

In confidence therefore of your Majesties most ready and gracious acceptation in a matter of so high importance; in faithfull discharge of our duties, we doe (first of all) most humbly beseech your Majesty to take notice, that howsoever we know your Majesty doth from your soul abhor that any such should be imagined or attempted yet there is a generall feare conceived in your people of some secret working and combination p. 92to introduce into this Kingdome Innovation and change of holy Religion (more precious to us then our lives and whatever the world can afford.) Our feares and jealousies herein are not merely conjecturall, but arising out of such certaine and visible effects, as may demonstrate a true and reall cause, for notwithstanding the many good & wholsome lawes made to prevent the encrease of Popery within this Kingdome, and notwithstanding your Majesties most gracious and satisfactory answer to the Petition of both Houses on that behalfe,NOTE. presented to your Majesty at Oxford, we find there hath followed no good execution or effect; but on the contrary (at which your Majesty out of the quick sense of your owne Religious heart, cannot but be in the highest measure displeased) those of that Religion doe find extraordinary favours and respects in Court from persons of great quality and power there, unto whom they continually tesort; and in particular to the Countesse of Buckingham's, who her selfe openly professing that Religion, is a knowne favourer and supporter of them that doe the same; which we well hoped (upon your Majesties Answer to the aforesaid Petitition of Oxford) should not have been permitted,NOTE. nor that any of your Majesties Subjects of that Religion, or justly to be suspected, should be entertained in the service of your Majesty, or of your Royall Consort the Queen: Some likewise of that Religion have had Honours, Offices, and places of command and authority lately conferred upon them.

But that which striketh the greatest terrour into the hearts of your loyall Subjects concerning this point is,NOTE. that letters for stay of legall proceedings against them have been procured from your Majesty (by what indirect meanes we know not) and Commission under the great Seale granted and executed for composition to be made with popish Reculants: inhibitions also and restraints both to the Ecclesiasticall and Temporall Courts, and Officers to intermeddle with them; which is conceived to amount to no lesse then a Toleration, odions to God, full of dishonour and extreame disprofit to your Majesty, of great scandall and griefe to your good people, and of apparant dangers of the present estate of your Majesty and this Kingdome; and in speciall about London and the Suburbs thereof, where exceeding many Families of them doe make their abode, frequent Masse at Denmark-house and other places; and by their often meetings and conferences, have unhappy opportunities of combining their councels and strengths together, to the hazard of your Majesties safety, and the State; and most especially in these doubtfull and calamitous times. As our feare concerning change or subversion of Religion is grounded upon the daily encrease of Papists, the onelyonly and professed enemies thereof, for the reasons formerly mentioned; so are th… hearts of your Subjects no lesse perplexed when with sorrow they behold a daily growth and spreading of the Faction of the Arminians; that being (as your Majesty well knowes) but a cunning way to bring in Popery, and the professors of those opinions the common disturbers of the Protestant Churches and incendiaries of those States, wherein they have gotten any head being Protestants in shew, but J…sutes in opinion and practice; which caused your royall Father (with so much pi…us wisdome and ardent zeale) to endeavour the suppressing of them, as well at … as in the neighbour Countries: and your gracious Majesty imitating his most worthy example, have openly and by your Proclamations declared your mislike of those persons and of their opinions; who (notwithstanding) are much favoured and advanced, not wanting friends even of the Clergy, neere to your Majesty; namely, Doctor Neale Bishop of Winchester, NOTE.and Doctor Land Bishop of Bath and Wels, who are justly suspected to be unsound in their opinions that way; And it being now generally the way to preferment and promotion in the Church, many Schollers doe bend their S…ndias to maintaine those Errours: their Books and opinions are suffered to be printed and published; and on the other side, the impressions of such as are written against the…, and in defence of the Orthodox Religion, are hindered and prohibited; and (which is a boldnesse most incredible) this restraint of Orthodox Books, is made under colour of your Majesties (formerly mentioned) Proclamation: The intent and meaning whereof, we know was quite contrary. And further to encrease p. 93our feares (concerning innovation in Religion) we find that there hath been no small labouring to remove that, which is the most powerfull meanes to strengthen and increase our own Religion, and to oppose the contrary, which is the diligent teaching and instructing the people in the true knowledge and worship of Almighty God; and therefore meanes hath been sought out to disparage and discountenance pious, painfull, and Orthodox Preachers, and how conformable soever, and peaceable in their dispositions and carriage they be; yet the preferment of such is opposed, and instead of being encouraged, they are molested by vexatious courses and pursuits, and hardly permitted to Lecture, even in those places where are no constant preaching Ministers: whereby many of your good people (whose soules in this case we desire your Majesty to commiserate) are kept in ignorance, and are apt to be easily seduced into errours and superstition. It doth not a little also encrease our dangers and feares this way, to understand the miserable condition of your Kingdome of Ireland, where without controle the popish Religion is openly professed and practised in every part thereof,NOTE. Popish jurisdiction being generally exercised and avowed; Monasteries, Nunneries and other superstitions houses newly erected, re-edified, replenished with men and women of severall orders, and in a plentifull manner maintained in Dublin, and most of the great Townes and divers other places of that Kingdome, which ofaaNote this. what ill consequence it may prove, if not seasonably repressed, we leave to your Majesties wisdome to judge: But most humbly beseech you (as we assure our selves you doe) to lay the serious consideration thereof to your Royall and pious heart, and that some timely course may be taken for redresse therein.

And now if to all these your Majesty will be pleased to adde, the consideration of the circumstance of time, wherein these courses tending to the destruction of true Religion, within these your Kingdomes have been taken; even at such times, when the same is with open force and violence persecuted in other Countries,NOTE. and all the reformed Churches of Christendome either depressed or miserably distressed; we doe humbly appeale to your Majesties Princely judgement, whether there be not a just ground of feare, that there is some secret and strange cooperating here with the enemies of our Religion abroad, for the utter extirpation thereof; and whither if these courses be not speedily redrest, and the profession of true Religion encouraged we can expect any other but misery and ruine speedily to fall upon us; especially, if besides the visible and apparant dangers, whereby we are encompassed round about, you would be pleased piously to remember the displeasure of Almighty God alwayes bent against the neglect of his holy Religion; the stroaks of whole divine justice we have already felt, and doe still feele (with smart and sorrow) in great measure, &c.

This memorable Petition and Remonstrance predicting (and if then cordially embruced, pursued, preventing) all those bloody warres and miseries which since have justly befallen us by the growing Popish party both in England and Ireland, being presented to his Majesty by the Commons House, was not onelyonly slighted, disregarded, and taken very ill by his Majesty and his Privy Counsellours, but likewise called in and suppressed, and Bishop Land in the Kings name (by his speciall command as he pretends) returned this p…remptory answer to it in writing (the originall whereof was found in his Study, under his owne hand) contrary both to his knowledge and conscience.

A Preface first, and then as followes.

AND although We are not bound to give an account of Our Actions but to God onelyonly, out of the honour and integrity of Our Grace, the love and care of Our people, the great and hearty desire We have to take off all feares and jealousies from Our loyall and loving Subjects; We have thought fit to declare these reasons following, why We p. 94have called in this Remonstrance, which yet We presume and constantly beleeve … framed and delivered up unto Us with good intentions, though by amisguised Zeale.

For first that Remonstrance begins at Religion, and feares innovation of it, innovation by Popery: But We would have Our Subjects of all sorts to call to mind what difficulties and dangers We endured not many yeers since for Religions sake; that We are the same still, and our holy Religion is as pretious to VsUs, as it is or can be to any of them; and we will no more admit innovation therein, then they that think they have done well in fearing it so much.

'Tis …ue that all effects expected have not followed upon the Petition delivered at Oxford; but We are in least fault for that: for supply being not afforded VsUs, di… inabled Us to execute all that was desired, and caused the stay of those legall proceedings which have helped to swell up this Remonstrance: Yet let all the Countie: of England be examined, and London and the Suburbs with them, neither is there such a noted encrease of Papists, nor such cause of feare as is made, nor hath any a…nounted to such an odious Tolerating as is charged upon it, nor neere any such.

For that Commission so much complained of, both the Matter and … of it are utterly mistaken; for it doth not dispense with any Penalty or any course to be taken with any Papist for the exercise of their Religion; no nor with the … or not conformity to Ours; It was advised for the encrease of Our profit, and the returning of that into Our purse, which abuse or connivency of in…eriour Ministers might perhaps divert another way: If that or any other shall be abused in the execution, We will be ready to punish upon any just complaint.

The next feare is the daily growth and spreading of the Arminian Faction, called a cunning way to bring in Popery: But We hold this charge as great a wrong to Our Selfe and Our Government, as the former; for Our People must not be taught by… Parliament Remonstrance or any other way,NOTE. that We are so ignorant of Truth, or so carelesse of the profession of it, that any Opinion, or Faction, or whatever it be called, should thrust it selfe so farre and so fast into Our Kingdomes without Our knowledge of it; this is a meere dreame of them that wake, and would make Our loyall and loving People think, We sleepe the while.

In this charge there is great wrong done to two eminent Prelates that attend Our, Person, for they are accused without producing any the least shew or shadow or proof against them; and should they, or any other attempt innovation of Religion, either by that open or any cunning way, We should quickly take other order with them, and not stay for your Remonstrance.

To help on this, Our people are made beleeve there is a restraint of Books Orthodoxall: But We are sure since the late Parliament began, some whom the Remonstrance cals Orthodox, have assumed to themselves an unsufferable liberty in printing. Our Proclamation commanded a restraint on both sides till the passions of men might subside and calme; and had this been obeyed as it ought, We had not now been tossed in this tempest: and for any distressing or discountenancing of good Preachers, We know there is none, if they be, as they are called, Good: But Our good people shall never want that spirituall comfort which is due unto them. And for the preferments which We bestow. We have ever made it Our great Care to give them as rewards of desert and paines; but as the preferments are Outs, so will We be Judge of the desert Our Selfe, and not be taught by a Remonstrance.

For Ireland We thinke in Case of Religion, 'tis not worse then Queen Elizabeth left it; and for other affaires 'tis as good as We found it, nay, perhaps better: and We take it for a great disparagement of Our Government that it should be voyced, that new Monasteries,NOTE. Nunneries, and other Superstitious Houses are erected and replenished in Dublin and other great Townes of that Our Kingdome: for We assure Our Selfe, Our Deputy and Counsell there will not suffer God and Our Government so to be dishonoured, but We should have had some accompt of it from them; and We may not endure to have Our good people thus missedaaThey are … into bloody … with shewes:

p. 95There is likewise somewhat considerable in the time, when these practises to undermine true Religion in Our Kingdomes are set on foot. The Remonstrance … VsUs, it is now when Religion is opposed by open force in all other parts. But We must tell Our people, there is no undermining Practises at home against it, If they practice not against it, that seeme most to labour for it; for while Religion seems to be contended for in such a factious way which cannot be Gods way, the heat of that doth often melt away that, which it labours earnestly but perhaps not wisely, to preserve; And for Gods judgements which We and Our people have felt, and have cause to feare, VVe shall prevent them best by a true and religious Remonstrance of the amendment of Our lives, &c.

This Answer to the Parliaments Remonstrance, and the publike calling of it in gave great offence to the House, & all true Protestants; but infinitely imboldned, augmented the Popish and Arminien Faction; and so much disgusted the common people, (being seconded with a sodaine prorogation of the Parliament,June 26. 1628 to prevent the Remonstrance of the House of Commons, against the illegality of taking Tonnage and Poundage without grant in Parliament; as appeares by the Kings owne Speech at the adjournment on this occasion, printed after his royall Answer to the Petition of Right) that the King to give the people some seeming satisfaction (who were then speedily to pay in the greatest Subsidy ever granted and collected in so short a time) published a Proclamation bearing date the 7. of Iuly 1628. intituled, A Proclamation, declaring his Majesties pleasure concerning the proceedings had and to be had against Popish Recusants according to the Lawes, and for directions to his Majesties Commissioners for that service both in the Southerne and Northerne parts, for making compositions with Recusants. Which Proclamation though it appeared in shew to be against the Papists, yet really, it was in favour of them, to compound at great undervalues for the Kings two parts of their Lands; which Compositions came to little or nothing in the Southerne parts, as I have manifested in myaaP. 15. to 19. Royall Popish Favourate; and not to much in the North; as appeares by this note of Compositions made with Recusants in the North, with an Estimate of their estates, sound among Windebankes papers,

Compositions made by the Viscount Wentworth with Recusants,

By the Lawes of this Realme, the King was to have two parts of Recusants Lands and Estates devided into three, and 40. l. out of 60. l. per annum 200. l. out of 360. l. per annum: But after the rate of these Compositions at undervalues (one part of the Commons grievance in their forecited Remonstrance and Petition) the King instead of his two parts of three, had not above one part of 10. or 15. in the North, where Compositions were highest, and for ought I find, not really and duly paid when made. Now because the Fees in passing these Compositions were somewhat high the Recusants prefered this Petition to the King to mittigate them, indorsed with Secretary Windebanks owne hand in this manner; Poore Recusants for moderation offices.

To the KINGS most excellent Majesty.

The humble PETITION of the poore Recusants of the Southerne and Northerne parts of this your Highnesse Realme of England

Humbly sheweth:

THat whereas your sacred Majesty hath been pleased to accept such of your Petitioners into Grace, as should submit themselves by way of Composition to your Majesty, which your Petitioners most willingly imbraced, and with all thankfulnesse have submitted themselves thereunto.

But so it is, may it please your most excellent Majesty, that the great and excessive rate and charge of passing their grants and other discharges, is such, that without your Majesty be further pleased to extend your mercy towards them, your poore Petitioners (although they have used the uttermost of their mean endeavours) can reape no benefit of your Majesties gracious favour vouchsafed unto them.

They therefore most humbly beseech your Majesty to be pleased to referre the settlement and establishing of the said Fees to the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Cottington, who calling unto them your Majesties Vice-Presidents of the North, may direct such moderate fees and meanes to passe the said grants and other discharges, as your Petitioners meane ability may be able to undergoe.

And your Petitioners (as in duty bound) shall ever pray for your Majesties long and prosperous reigne over us.

But this Proclamation rather displeasing then satisfying, it was thus seconded with the ensuing ogive more content.