Sad and Serious Political Considerations, Title page 1 – Title page 2

Sad and Serious Political Considerations · Title page 1 – Title page 2

Sad and serious Politicall CONSIDERATIONS, Touching the invasive War against our Presbyterian Protestant Brethren in Scotland, their late great Overthrow, and the probable dangerous consequences thereof to both Nations and the Prorestant Religion. Which may serve as a SATISFACTORY APOLOGY for such Ministers and People, who out of Conscience did not observe the publike Thanksgiving, against their Covenant, for the great slaughter of those their Brethren in Covenant.

Printed in the Yeer 1650.

p. 1Sad and Serious Politicall Considerations.

THE English Independents new invasive War against their Presbyterian Protestant Brethren of Scotland, and late great rout and slaughter of their Army, meeting with variety of censures and constructions, according to the dive…sity of mens inclinations and interests, some prudent Christians, ingaged to no parties, whose interest is onelyonly the preservation, propagation and safety of the reformed Protestant Religion against the common Enemies and Underminers thereof, have these sad melancholy apprehensions thereof; That it is a dolefull Prologue and tragicall Scene, not onelyonly to the approaching ruine and desolation of both Kingdoms for their manifold crying sins, but likewise to the speedy subversion of the true Protestant Religion, and extirpation of all zealous Professors thereof through our three Kingdoms, and in forraigne parts, upon these ensuing considerations.

1. That the Kingdoms of England and Scotland make up the greatest Body of the Protestant Religion in Christendom, being best able to defend themselves, and succour other Reformed Churches, when indangered and designed to ruine by Popish Enemies, as the Lords and Commons declared long since in their **Exact Collection p. 663.666. A Collection of Orders & Ordinances, p. 354.Protestation to this Kingdom and the whole world, 22. Octob. 1642. and in their Order of the seventh of October 1643. And therefore the ruine of the Protestant Party in these Kingdoms, is the readiest way to indanger, conquer, ruine all other Reformed Churches in the world, and extirpate the Protestant Religion in all other Countries; as they there likewise Declare.

2. That the Pope of Rome, Jesuites, Priests, Papists, and their Confederates, upon this ground, have for many years last past, by open force, and secret practices, endeavo…red p. 2the extirpation of the Protestant Religion and most zealous Professors thereof throughout these Kingdoms, and made it their chiefest designe to reduce them to their pristine obedience to the See of Rome, which by the Popish Negotiations with Spain, the Papisticall Match with France, the Agency of the Popes Nuncio's, the practices of Priests and Jesuites in England (countenanced and protected against the force of Lawes) and the confederacy of Popish Prelates, Clergie-men and Courtiers with them in these Designes,Exact Collection, p. 4. to 14.97.98.508. they had almost totally accomplished and brought to full perfection in all our Realms; as the whole House of Commons in their Remonstrance of the state of the Kingdom, 15. Decemb. 1641. and other subsequent Declarations; and they and the Scottish Commissioners in their Impeachments against the Archbishop of Canterbury, largely remonstrate.

3. That the most zealous Protestants, then branded with the name of Puritans and Presbyterians in England and Scotland, were the principall and only obstacles to the finishing of this their neare compleated Work. Whereupon the **Exact Collection, p. 10.199 492, 493.Jesuiticall, Popish and Prelaticall prevailing F…ction resolved to root them out of this Kingdom by force, or drive them out with fear, and rid them all out of the way. For the better effecting whereof, they thought it necessary to reduce Scotland to such Popish Superstitions and Innovations, as might make them apt to joyn with England in that great change which was intended: Whereupon new Popish Canons and a Liturgy reformed much after the modell of the Papists Mis…alls, were prest upon them; and all the Arminian and Popish Doctrines broached, maintained, and new Popish Ceremonies practised in England, were in deavoured to be planted and set up in ††M. Baylies Canterburians Self-conviction. The Scots Impeachment against …Ar…hbishop Lawd.Scotland.

4. That this their dangerous ripened Designe finding no publike, but onelyonly private opposition in England by particular persons, who were …ined, **Exact Collection, p. 10.11.12.492.pillori'd, stigmatized, deprived of their ears, close imprisoned, banished and ruined by the Star-Chamber and High-Commission, to the publike terror of all others; thereupon the Scottish Puritans and p. 3Presbyters were the first visible Instruments raised by God to give a publique check to their successefull design, beyond their or our expectations.

5. That hereupon the ††Exact. C…l… ction, p. 10.11.12… …3 97.492.508.894.595 A Coll…ion, p. 308.309.354.417.419.457.458.Jesuiticall and Prelaticall Popish Party raised two severall Armies successively to suppresse and extirpate the Puritan and Presbyterian Party in Scotland, as the only remo…a's to their design; and were most active and forwards in their leavies and contributions against them; indeavouring to ingage the Protestant Party in both Nations in a bloudy civill War…e to their mutuall ruine; to which the Puritan and Religious party in England were most averse. First privately murmuring, and afterwards publiquely protesting against this Warre, as dishonourable and dangerous to Religion and both Kingdomes in the Parliament, in April 1640. purposely summoned to raise moneys to carry on that War, which they refused to grant to so ill a purpose, and did all they could to blast their malicious designs and warre against Scotland; whereupon the Popish party caused that Parliament to be dissolved, and did all they could by violent arbitrary courses, and illegall Loanes and Taxes, to raise Forces and moneys to maintain a warre against them; imprisoning and prosecuting those, who resisted or refused to assist them in this warre, in the self-same manner as those in present power have done, divers of their Christian Brethren for manifesting their dislike and backwardnesse to assist them in this ungodly invasive warre against their Protestant Brethren in Covenant against many publique Ingag…ments, and not giving publique thanks to God for their late overthrow.

6. That the Scotti…h Puritans and Presbyterians advance with their Army into England, in the year 1640. of purpose to preserve the Religion, and protect themselves and their English Brethren from slavery and ruine; was the **Exact Collection, p. 11.12.13.199.492.493.508.pri…cicipall and only means under God, of preventing their own and our thraldome to no p…ry and Tyranny, of frustrating all the Jesuites, Papists and Prela…es designs, of securing Religion, Laws, Liberties, and conve…ing the last Parliament; p. 4which through Gods blessing on their indeavours, through the assistance of the Scottish Commissioners, and countenance of their Army, over-powered the Popish and Prelaticall Faction, brake all their former Projects in pieces, suppressed all their Popish Innovations, Doctrinall and Ceremoniall, reconciled the differences between both Nations, setled a firm unity and amity between them, by an Act of Oblivion and Pacification, abolished the High-Commission, Star-Chamber, Extravagances of the Councell-Table, the Bishops Courts, and Votes in Parliament, Ship-money, Impositions, and all other illegall Taxes; quickned the Laws against Jesuites, Priests and Popish Recusants; passed a Law for Triennuall Parliaments, and another against the untimely adjourning, proroguing and dissolving of themselves at the Kings own pleasure, and thereby put our Religion, Laws, Liberties and Properti…s in a farre better condition of security, and the Popish and Prelaticall party into a farre worse, and more hopelesse and desperate condition then ever heretofore.

7. That to prevent and frustrate these Laws and this security, the ††Exact Collection, p. 17.18.98.229.493.Jesuiticall and Prelaticall party whilest they were in agitation, indeavoured all they could by subtill practices, slanders, and private solicitations, to raise jealousies and divisions between the Scottish Commissioners and Army, and the Parliament, to ingage the Scottish and English Armies each against other, or to make the Scots stand neutrall to the Parliament, that so they might bring up the English Army from the North to London to over-awe and suppresse them, and hinder the Union between both Kingdomes; which through the fidelity of the Scots, and of some Officers in the English Army, was timely discovered, prevented, and a firme Union between both Kingdomes setled by Acts of Parliament, passed in the Parliaments of both Nations.

8. That these Acts of Pacification and Union between both Kingdomes, and the Religious party of both Nations, the extirpation of Prelacy and the Popish Hierarchy, and p. 5the establishing of a Presbyterian Government and Uniformity in Doctrine, Worship and Discipline in both Kingdoms were apprehended, prosecuted and resolved upon by the most religious Protestant party and **Exact Collection p. 594. … 605. A Coll… ction, p. 309. to 313 327.358.359.3…0.399 404.41….420. to 428.458.453.Parliaments of both Nations, as the readiest, probablest, and most effectuall means under God to preserve and secure their Religion, Lawes, Liberties, against all future invasions, and to frustrate all Popish and Prelaticall Design…s against them, and were accordingly ††Exact Collection. p. 97, 98 218.564.esteemed and looked upon by the adve…se Popish and Prelaticall party, who thereupon attempted with all their policy and power, to uphold Prelacy, and retard and prevent the establishment of …resbytery, as fatall to all their hopes and Designes; and thereupon improved all their int…rest both at home, and with forraigne …rinces, to raise what Forces they could, to break this D…signe and the …arliament too, before they should accomplish it.

9. That when the Jesuiticall, Popish and Prelaticall party in England, Ireland, Scotland, and forraigne parts, had taken up Arms, and raised great Forces to hinder the settlement of the Presbyterian Government…, suppresse the late Parliament, subvert the Protestant Religion, introduce Popery and Tyranny, ext…rpate the Puritan and Religious party in England and Ireland, and were grown very strong and p…evalent in both, the **Exact Col. p. 56.57.58.666 564 to 605. A Collection, p. 308. …o 312.354.355.363.371.372.428.441.467.677. &c. 66….711.767.798. to 810.933.Scottish Presbyterians (now invaded and defeated) out of their brotherly love, and Christian aff…ction, in this extremity of danger, for the preservation of our Religion, Liberties, Lawes, Parliament, and the godly party in England & Ireland, at both Hous…s earnest solicitatio…, did readily and chearfully assist us with their Forces in both Kingdoms, and thereby, through Gods b…essing, were a great means of weak…ning and subduing our Enemies, and prese…ving our Religion, Lawes, Liberties, Lives, from utter destruction; which brotherly assistance, with so powerfull an A…my of above twenty thousand Ho…se and Foot in our greatest dangers, was so welcome to us, that the House of Commons on the second of February 1643. ††A Collection, p. 428.Ordered, publike thanks should be given in all Churches for the aid and p. 6assi…tance come in by our Brethren of Scotland: And when the malignant party there, in their absence for our preservation, had p…ev…iled and routed only some few of their Force… (nothing considerable in comparison of those lately slain and defeated) left behind for their defence, both Houses were so sensible thereof, that they appointed a speciall D…y of Humiliation for the miseries of Scotland throughout all the Parliaments Q…arters by their **A …, p. 721.Order of 2. September 1645. which was accordingly observed; so much did they and we then condole th… least overthrow and misery of our Scottish Brethren in Covenant …being members of the self…same Body of Christ) as if it had been our own: Whereas now on the contrary, we invade, slay, d…stroy and ruine these our brotherly Assistants, rejoyce & triumph at their misery, appoint publike Da…es of Thanksgiving throughout the whole Nation for their gr…at slaughter and overthrow, and hang up the Ensignes taken from them in Westminster Hall, as publike trophies and testimonies to succeeding ages of our gratitude and brotherly kindnesse towards them, and of our religious observation of our solemne Nationall League and Covenant with them, not long since made and entred into upon their coming in to our assistance.

10. That in the extremity of our dangers, by the prevailing Popish party, the ††A Collectio…, p. 309.310 311.312.327.358.359.39….399.404.416.42… to… 428.458.459.694.751.768.769.798.802.806. &c. 878.879.889.Parliaments, Ministers, and religious people both of Scotland and England did resolve it most nec…ssary, and essentiall for Gods glory and their s…fety, to enter into a more sacred and stricter union then formerly, for defence of their Religion, King, Parliament, Lawes, Liberties, the extirpation of Popery, of Prelacy, and the bringing of all our Kingdoms to uniformity in Doctrine, Worship and Discipline, by a solemne Nationall League and Covenant, as the onelyonly means under God, to prevent all future differences and breaches between all the godly people of both Nations, to preserve and secure Religion, Lawes, Liberties, and priviledges of Parliament, against all present and future attempts whatsoever, and dash in pieces all the designes, practices, hopes of the Jesuiticall p. 7and Prelaticall Faction in all our Kingdoms: which League and Covenant was accordingly agreed upon by the Parliament, and Assemblies of Divines in both Kingdomes, and after that most chearfully and solemnly taken and subscribed, not only by the Scottish Parliament, Army, Clergy, and Generality of that Nation, but by all the Members of both Houses of our Parliament, the genera…ity of all the godly Ministers and people in England and Ireland; and by all, or most Officers and Souldiers in the Parliaments Armies; who many of them carried it in their hats, hands, and fixed to their pikes as they marched, and amongst others it was taken and subscribed by **A Collection of Ordinances, p. 426.Oliver Cromwell himself and Ireton; and every man by Ordinances of both Houses, was disabled to injoy or exercise any Civill or Military Office, or place of Trust whatsoever in the State or Army, who did not solemnly take and subscribe it… whereupon it was almost universally… taken and subscribed in a most sacred and solemn manner throughout the Kingdome, and followed with many glorious Victories and Successes, till the Popish and Prelaticall Malignant party in England were totally subdued; all Counties, and Garrisons fully reduced to the Parliaments Command; and a happy Peace and settlement of our Reliigion, Laws, Liberties upon most safe and honourable terms, indeavoured, expected… and almost accomplished by a personall Treaty…, with the KING in the Isle of Wight.

11. That to prevent this Peace and Settlement; the ††The History of Indep…nd…ncy.Officers of the Army (who love to make a Trade of War, thereby to gain and keep all Civill and Ecclesiasticall power in their own hands, and to inrich themselves with our three Kingdoms spoils and ruine) confederating with some few Members of the Commons House against their Trust, duty, Oaths, Protestations, the very Letter of this solemn League and Covenant, and all the ends thereof; forcibly seized, condemned and beheaded the late King, secured and secluded the greatest part of the Commons House addicted to the Presbyterian Government, suppressed the whole House of p. 8Lords, disinherited the Kings Posterity of the Crown, subverted the fundamentall Government of the Kingdome; usurped all Regall and Parliamentall Authority to themselves; and by colour thereof, now trample all Laws, Liberties, and Priviledges of Parliament under feet; remove all or most zealous Presbyterians (though never so eminent Actors and sufferers for Religion and the publique weal) out of all Offices and places of power and Trust throughout th… Nation; discourage and discountenance all or most Pr…sbyterian Ministers, especially the most pious; banish some, imprison others, recall the Sequestrations, and substract the A…gmentations, and Tithes of all or most of them, to starve and ruine them; withdraw themselves from their Ministery, suborn or tolerate their monethly Prognosticators, and Diurnalists to revile and rail openly against them in print, without the least controul, and to prognosticate their and their Presbyterian Gouernments downfall, to incense the people against them and it; invent and prescribe new Oaths, Ingagements, Publications, Observations of Thanksgivings, and Humiliations, and other snares and engines, thereby to insnare either their Consciences, or indanger their Estat…s, Liberties, Ministery, Persons in their plundring Committees, and new Arbitary Judicatories; declare against the solemn League and Covenant as expired, abolished, yea, and dangerous and unlawfull to be kept, set up and inforce an Anti-Covenant Engagement to frustrate, null, and abjure it, debar all from all publike Offices, Pref…rments, Augmentations, degrees of Learning, the practise of the Law, and the very benefit of the Laws of England, (for which we have so long contested with the Kings Party) who will not out of conscience or Loyalty subscribe it; oppose and traduce the Presbyterian Government, as Papall, Antichristian and Tyrannicall; exempt all S…ctaries whatsoever from all Penall Laws, in not repairing to any publike Ordinances or Churches; Authorize them freely to meet when and where they please in private Conventicles, (where running Priests and Jesuites may and wil easily seduce p. 9them) without the least danger or disturbance: and because their brethren of Scotland stick close to their Presbyterian Government and Covenant, and have closed with their King at last, according to their Covenant and Allegiance, and will not disinherit him as they have done; they thereupon have recalled Cromwell out of Ireland from prosecuting the Irish Papists and Royalists, made him their Generall instead of the Lord F…irfax, and sent him in to Scotland, without any real provocation on their part, to invade them with an Army, where he entred without the least resistance, seized some of their Towns and Garrisons, provoked them oft times to fight, when they declined fighting, and at last gave them battle in their own Countrey, routed their whole Army, and though he lost not forty men in the fight… yet he and his Forces, out of their Christian charity cut down near 4000. of them in the pursuit, maimed and wounded above 5000. more, whereof many are since dead, and more like to die; took 10000. of them prisoners, 5000. whereof are sent Captives into England; since which he hath taken Edenborough and Leith, prosecutes his Victory with all vigour, sends up all the Scots Colours to Westminster, where they are publiquely hung up in the Hall for triumph. And for this great slaughter and overthrow of our Presbyterian Brethren, a solemn publike day of Thanksgiving hath been prescribed to be strictly observed throughout the Nation, and celebrated in many places accordingly, to involve the whole Nation in a double guilt of their bloud: First by their Contributions to pay the Army sent against them, next by publike Thanksgiving to God for their destruction, and that in those very Churches and places, where we not long since lifted up our hands and subscribed our Names, when we took the forementioned Leaga… and Covenant in the presence of God himself, Angells and men, ††A Collect…on, of Ordinances, p. 424.425.426.sincerely, really. and constantly to preserve their Religion in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, Government, and with our Estates and lives mutually to preserve the Right and Priviledges of their Kingdome and Parliam…nt, and to bring all to condigne punishment, as p. 10Malignants, Incendiaries, and evill Instruments, who should indeavour the dividing of one of the Kingdomes from another, and each one of us, according to our place and Interest, to indeavour that both Kingdomes may remain conjoyned in a firm peace and Union to all posterity; and that we shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination, perswasion, or terrour, to be divided or withdrawn from this blessed Union, which so much concerns the glory of God, and good of the Kingdomes, but shall all the daies of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition, and promote the same according to our power against all lets and impediments whatsoever, &c. which how well and really we have performed, let that Almighty God, the searcher of all hearts… in whose presence and Name we made and subscribed this Covenant, judge, and our own consciences, as we shall answer the contrary at that great day, if we seriously repent not of it now, whilest we have time, and space of repentance given us.

13. That upon the due consideration of all these Premises, we shall not conclude as some rigid Presbyterians do, perchance not without good grounds; That this invasive Warre with our Brethren of Scotland is an apparent violation of every clause and branch of the solemn Brotherly League and Covenant, and a very strange Act of Ingratitude and Injustice in invading their Kingdom, because they will have a King, according to their Ancient Constitution, Government, Laws, Covenant; and in indeavouring to deprive their King of the Kingdome of Scotland, because they have injuriously and per…idiously dispossessed him of his two Kingdoms of Engl…nd and Ireland, against their National League and Covenant, and other oaths, for fear his possession of that his Hereditary Kingdom should be a means to regain the other two, (which is as unconscionable and unreasonable, as if a great Statesman or Commander should wrongfully deprive his Neighbour of all his Lands and goods in a third Parish or County, because he hath forcibly dispossessed p. 11him of all his Lands and Goods in two other Parishes or Counties, that so he might never be able to recover them by suit of Law, having no means left to maintain his suit against him) but rather infer from thence,

First, that this War with Scotland is not only exe…eding scandalous, dishonourable, and disadvantagious to all the Professors of the reformed Protestant Religion in both Kingdoms, and throughout the Christian world, to behold Protestant Brethren in Covenant thus invading, slaughtering and destroying each other upon such slender unchristian carnall grounds, but ††2 Chro. 11.4. c. 28.6, 7.8, 9, 10.11. 2 Sam. 26, 27. Acts 7.26. Gal 5.14, 15. Obad. 10. &c. 1 Cor. 6.1.6 7, 8. 1 John 3.12.2 Chr 11:4Acts 7:26Gal 5:14Gal 5:15Obad 1:101 Cor 6:11 Cor 6:61 John 3:12ungodly too.

Secondly, That this invasive war, and great slaughter of the most zealous Scottish Presbyters, is a matter of greatest joy, triumph and advantage to the Jesuiticall, Popish and Prelaticall party, and tending much to the present promotion and future accomplishment of all their former frustrated, successelesse, and almost hopelesse malicious designs against the Puritanicall and Religious party in both Kingdoms, and the intended accomplishment of the Presbyterian Government, and R…formation of Religion in them, which they so much feared, and opposed by open force of Arms and secret policies, who will now indeavour to continue and heighten our open divisions (first plotted by them) till we have weakned and destroyed each other by our civill wars, and made our selves fit to be suddainly surprised and destroyed by their party, when we have consumed and undone each other.

Thirdly, That in these respects, the Successes, great Victories, and slaughters in this unnaturall and unchristian Warre against our Protestant Brethren in Covenant, are no matter of publike joy, thanksgiving and triumph to the Conquerours, as some vainly conceive, but of greatest publike lamentation, Humiliation and mourning, (it being both unnaturall, uncharitable, and unchristian for Members of the same body of Christ, and sworn Christian Brethren, ingaged by Covenant, and God himself, to protect and **John 13.34, 35. c. 15.12. Rom. 12.9, 10. c. 13.8, 9, 10. Gal. 5.13, 14. Ephes. 1.15. Col. 2.2. 1 Thes. 3.12. c. .4.9. Heb. 13.1. James 2.8. 1 Pet. 1.12. c. 2.17. c. 3.8. 1 John 3.11.14 16, 17, 18.23. c. 4.7.11.12.16.20.21. c. 5.2. 2 John 5.John 13:34John 13:35Rom 12:9Rom 12:10Gal 5:13Gal 5:14Eph 1:15Col 2:21 Thess 3:12Heb 13:1Jas 2:81 Pet 1:121 John 3:111 John 3:142 John 1:5love each other with a pure heart fervently, to murther and destroy p. 12each other) an argument of Gods heavy wrath against us… tending to our desolations, as the sacred Tex…s and Presidents compared together, will fully resolve the conscientious perusers of them. Iudg. 21.1. to 18. 2 Sam. 1.12.17, 18, &c. 2 Sam. 2.12. to 29. to 3.30. c. 39. c. 4.8, 9, 10, 11, 12. c. 19.1, 2, 3, 4. 2 Chron. 28.5. to 16. Ezek. 19.12.2.33.14. Ezek. 35.1. to the end. Obad. 1. to the end. Amos 1.9, 10, 11, 12. Gen. 37.26, 27. 1 Sam. 14.7.7. 1 Kings 13.30. Psal. 35.14. Isay 9.19, 20, 11. c. 19.2.3. 2 Chron. 15.5, 6. Ier. 22.17, 18. Ezek. 38. 21, 22. Mich. 1.2. &c. Zech. 7.9. to the end. Mal. 2.10. Mat. 10.21. &c. 1 Iohn 3.10, 21, 12. Exod. 2.11, 12. Iudg. 9.5. to the end, a sad story, 1 Kings 12, 14.15. 2 Chron. 11.4. c. 21.4.12, 13, 14. &c. Neh. 5.1. to 10. Iob 6.14, 15. Prov. 6.16.19. Isay 66.5. Acts 7.26. Mat 12.25. Mar. 3.24, 25, 26. Gal. 5.14, 15. Iam. 3.14, 15, 16, 18, 18. c. 4.1. 9, 10, 11.

Fourthly, that the continuance of this unbrotherly Warre with Scotland, will be the utter ruine of all the Presbyterian godly Party in that Nation… if God shall frown upon them; and the utter subvertion of the Presbyterian Government there, where the Prelaticall and Malignant party will soon get head and sway all, to the strengthning and reviving of their numerous party in England: or in case God give them after some overthrows, a glorious Victory over the English Independent Forces (as he did to the defeated Israelites over the Benj…mites, Iudg. 20.) it will certainly ruine all the Independent party in England, who have so cheated and tyrannized over all sorts of men, that they will never be able to make head again, if once defeated, and find all mens hearts and hands against them, for their manifold extravagances and tyrannicall proceedings against all ranks and degrees of men, & subverting the whole frame of our civill and Ecclesiasticall Government. And if the Presbyterian party in Scotland be much weakned and impoverished by the Victory, and the Presbyteriall Ministers and Gentry of England discountenanced, and thrust out of all power and reputation in the interim, as they are through their cowardize and folly; how far this may indanger and expose them p. 13to the Popish and Prelaticall parties power and malice hereafter, is very considerable; and how far their present Contributions (though not voluntary) without distresse or forcible coaction against their King and Brethren of Scotland, and sitting still like idle neutrall Spectators, without contributing the least visible assistance to either of them, may be interpreted by their King and them, to be a b…each of …heir Nationall League and Covenant, and of their Allegiance to their Soveraign, in case they should prevail, and restore the King to the Crown of England by their own Forces only, without the English Presbyterians assistance, to the indangering of their persons and Estates, and the losse of all that favour and respect from either (which their actuall conjunction with them might procure) to the ruine of the Presbyterian, as well as Independent party in England, and setting up of the Popish and Prelaticall Malignant party in Supreme power and favour in this Realme, is very considerable.

Fifthly, that if the Scottish Presbyters, and the Kings party in Scotland shall be both conquered by the English Independent Forces, and unable to defend themselves, or their King, and to settle him in his Kingdoms, then greater dangers are like to insue to our Religion and Kingdoms, then otherwise in some wise mens judgments; because the Independents (as their present violent proceedings manifest) wil probably use their Presbyterian Brethren in England, no better then those in Scotland, and extirpate them if they can; and the King then will be necessitated to cast himself wholly upon the assistance of forraign States, and Kings, and their Forces, as his last refuge; which he hath hitherto declined as dangerous both to himself and his people. If he in this extremity throw himself upon any Forraigners, they must be either Papis…s only, or Protestants alone, or both of them joyntly.

If on Papists only, which some think most probable; First, in regard of his Queen Mothers great interest in that party, both in France and Italy, being of that Religion: Secondly, p. 14in respect of the open differences and Wars already between us, and France, and Portugall, two Popish Kingdoms, which are like, to continue and grow greater every d…y: Thirdly, in respect of that parties constancy and fidelity to the King and his Father: Fourthly, because that party is most powerfull, and most likely to close with the King for the advantage of the Catholike cause, and reducing of England to it's former obedience to the See of Rome; so that without Gods infinite mercy, it will necessi…ate him for a full compliance with them: First, to match into some great Popish Family, upon the same and harder A…ticles, then were inforced on his Fathes by Spain or France: Secondly, to alter his Religion, and professe himself a Roman Catholike, and obedient son to the Roman Pontife, as King Henry the fourth of France did: Thirdly, to Covenant and ingage with them for an utter extirpation of the Protestant Religion; and of all Independents and Presbyterians, as not only Heretikes in Religion, but Regicides, Traytors, Rebells, Covenant breakers, p…rjured persons, who make no conscience of Oaths, Vows, Protestations, Declarations, and professed enemies to Monarchy, who have murthered his Father, banished his Mother, disinherited him of three Crowns; and indeavour to imbroil and subvert all Monarchies and Kingdoms in Christendome: Fourthly, to swear and ingage to set up and tolerate none but the Roman Religion in his Kingdoms, when he shall be restored to them by their assistance and Forces: Fifthly, to promise satisfaction of the greatest part of their expences in this war, out of the Puritans and Protestants estates, who have been in Arms, or any ways acted, or contributed assistance of moneys against his Father or him, and to make full reparations of all damages to such Papists, who have left their estates and fortunes to assist his Father or him. Upon these terms he may easily gain the joynt assistance of all Popish Kings, Kingdoms, and States in Europe, through the Popes powerfull mediation. And if hereupon, through their aid, he should so far prevail as to get into actuall possession of his Thrones and Kingdoms by the meer power of the p. 15sword, without any terms or conditions by way of Treaty, of which there will be little probability; we can then expect nought else but these dismall consequences. First a totall … radication of our reformed Religion, and of all zealous professors thereof, especially such who have acted any waies against the King or his Father, a full repeal of all penal Laws, against Jesuites, Priests, Papists, and a publike profession and practise of the Romish Religion, and of that only throughout our Kingdoms. Secondly, a totall subversion of all our former Laws and Liberties, and a full exercise of all arbitrary and tyrannicall power over our lives and estates. Thirdly, an absolute confiscation of all our Lands and Estates, together with our lives, to satisfie the Kings debts, gratifie his Assistants, and repair the losses of his faithfull Catholikes, whom we have undone by adhering to his party. Fourthly, an absolute inslaving of our whole Nation to these forraign Conquerours; if not a totall banishment, and extirpation of them out of their native soil; the case of the Ancient ††Gildas. de excidio Britanniae. Fox Acts & Monuments. Vol. 1.Britains, when conquered and driven out of this their Countrey by Saxons, and the extraordinary Pestilence and Famine sent amongst them for their sins, and then a dieu both to our Religion and Nation. But in case the King should not prevail to conquer us by their power, the least we can expect is, First, a continuall long lasting Warre, and open hostility by Land and Sea with all Romish Kings and States, the very charge whereof, now we are almost quite undone and beggered already, which will utterly ruine and undo us. Secondly, losse of Trade and Commerce with all those Kingdoms and States, with whom we are in hostility; which will utterly break us in one year or two for want of venting our Native commodities, our chiefest inablement to maintain the Wars. Thirdly, intolerable uncessant Taxes of all sorts, which will every monethmonth grow heavier and greater then other, which accompanied with want of Trade, will cause a generall Insurrection at last both of poor and rich against those in power, and put all into confusion, to the enemies great advantage. Fourthly, a necessity of seizing and selling all Colledges, p. 16Corporations, Companies, Hospitalls and Gleab-Lands throughout the Realm; and of new Projects to make new Delinquents, of purpose to raise moneys to defray the extraordinary expences of the Armies and Navies: And what garboils this will produce, all prudent persons may easily conjecture. Fiftly, a generall decay of Religion, Piety, Learning, Law, and all Arts, Sciences, Trades. Sixthly, an extraordinary new effusion of Christian bloud. Seventhly, an inundation of all kind of sin, wickednesse, Atheism, Heresie, Blasphemy, Murders, Rapes, Robberies, Oppressions, Whoredome, Drunkennesse, Dissolutenesse, Barbarousnesse, and disobedience to Laws, Magistrates, Ministers, Parents, and other disorders. Eighthly, Free-quarter, insolences of Souldiers, spoiling, plundring, if not pestilence and famine, the usuall Concomitants of Warre, which will reduce us to a condition worse then nothing in conclusion.

If he cast himself upon Forraign Protestant Kings, Princes and States alone, the far better, though unlikelier of the two; yet this will certainly prove, 1. A great dishonour to God, and scandall to reformed Religion, to see them so unnaturall and unchristian as to imbrue their hands in one anothers bloud. 2. An extraordinary ground of joy and triumph to the Pope and his Confederates, to behold their enemies thus murthering, invading, and destroying each other by their mutuall dissentions; when they by all their power and policy were unable to accomplish their ruine, and do them so great mischief. 3. A great indangering of all the Protestant Churches and States in Europe, by incouraging their Popish Adversaries to invade and ruine them, whilest thus ingaged in an unbrotherly and unchristian Warre between themselves, and weakening, impoverishing and destroying each other. 5. An effusion of much precious Protestant bloud, which will ††Gen. 4.10, 11. Jer. 51.35. Ezek. 35, 5.6, 7, 8, 9.Gen 4:10Gen 4:11Jer 51:35Ezek 35:5Ezek 35:6Ezek 35:7Ezek 35:8Ezek 35:9cry for vengeance to heaven against the originall Authors and Occasioners of such a Warre. 6. If the King shall inthrone himself, and regain his Kingdomes by their assistance; though the profession of the Protestant Religion may still be continued, yet we may justly fear, 1. That p. 17the purity and power of Religion will be much abated. 2. That our Lawes and Liberties will be much indangered and Eclipsed. 3. Our estates confiscated to make them reparations, and satisfie the Kings Ingagements. 4. Their removall hence will be disputable, when once possessed of our Country; as the history of the Danes invasions of this Island heretofore, and the Saxons full possession thereof, with the Britains expulsion, will manifest. 5. If the King and they be repulsed by us, yet this will prove a seminary of lasting wars and breaches between us and most Protestant Kingdoms and States; It will hinder all commerce between them and us, to the destruction of Merchandize and Trade; destroy the Protestants strength and interest; impoverish us through Taxes, fill us with d…scontents, augment our divisions, if not conclude in our beggery and ruine.

If he throw himself upon forraign Papists and Protestants joyntly, then, First, the Wars are like to be more generall, dangerous and costly to us, and of longer continuance. Secondly, The divisions and dangers from at home are like to prove the greater, since all discontented and oppressed Protestants and Papists will then be apt upon all occasions and advantages to joyn with that forraign party they best affect, and from whom they may expect the most favour and the best conditions. Thirdly, If the King prevail, then both Parties must be satisfied, and his debts defrayed out of our estates; both gratified with a free toleration and exercise of that Religion throughout his Realms as both sides professe: and between them both all will be plundered, impoverished, ruined, and perchance inforced to quit the whole Kingdom to one or both of them, who will challenge an interest therein by conquest and the longest sword, and hardly part with it when once possessed thereof. Fourthly, If the King and they should be foiled by us, yet the wars and differences would survive, all commerce and trading lost, Armies and Navies must still be maintained, and Garrisons in all our Kingdoms to secure us; taxes, oppressions, and all publike grievances continued and p. 18mul…iplied, and thereby new intestine commotions raised; which of themselves alone will destroy us without any othe… enemy,

And suppose the King himself should miscarry in these Warres, yet the Title and Right of the Crowns of our thre… Kingdoms s…rviving to his Brothers, or if they miscarry, to his Sister, matched to the Prince of Aurenge; or if they all should fail, descending to the Queen of Bohemia, and Prince Elector Palattine; their severall new Titles and Interests will find means to infest us with new Warres, till they have either obtained their rights, or rui…ed both themselves and us. So that unlesse God put so much wi…dome, and spirit to the English Nation, as to restore the King to his just Rights upon safe and honourable terms, according to their Oaths, Covenant, Protestations, Declarations to all the world, and Principles of their Religion; we can in humane proba…ility expect nought else, but the utter ruine, both of our Religion, Nation, Kingdoms, and totall extirpation by Forraign enemies.

And certainly if we seriously consider, 1. The infinite divisions, discontents, & oppressions that are every where amongst us. 2. The Heresies, Blasphemies, Sects, and Schisms that are lately broached, and publikely countenanced by us. 3. The Generall contempt and neglect of the publike Ordinances of God, and free toleration granted to all to withdraw themselves from them, without the least censure or punishment. 4. The generall contempt, hatred, discountenancing, reviling, and persecuting of godly and faithfu…l M…nisters throughout the Nation, and the snares that are daily laid to intrap and ruine them. 5. The extraordinary Apostacy of many Professors, from the truth, purity, and power of Religion, almost to professed Atheism, contempt of the Word, Prayer, Preaching, Sacraments, and all other O…dinances, to meer licentiousnesse, lukewarmnesse, and Prophanenesse. 6. The generall inclination of the people to errours, E…thusiasmes, and seducing spirits. 7. The little cordiall reall love and affection between Professors of Religion, and the great animosities, p. 19hatreds and divisions amongst them, both in Opinion… Practise and affection. 8. The little conscience of Oaths, Protestations, Covenants, Promises; and great hypocrisie, covetousnesse, oppression, self-seeking, envy, hatred, and malice that is in the Nation, and amongst those especially, who professe themselves Saints of the highest form. 9. The universall inundation of all kind of sin and wickednesse, and open profession thereof in all places. 10. The extraordinary Injustice, Tyranny, Cruelty and Mercilesnesse that all parts of the Land complain of, and groan under. 11. The great effusion of Christian bloud, and of the bloud of our Christian Brethren in Covenant, that our whole Land is polluted with; and our rejoycing in this bloud-guiltinesse, instead of repenting and mourning for it. 12. Our present decay of Trade and Merchandize. 13. Our intolerable Taxes and Impositions o… all sorts. 14. The extreme poverty of our Kingdom, and increase of poor people in all parts, which have little work or none, and will not sta…ve. 15. The divisions of our Forces into Ireland and Scotland, where standing Armies and Garrisons must be constantly maintained for fear of revolt. 16. Our great breaches with France and Portugall, and no good quarter with any Forraign States or Kingdomes, which as yet will neither own, nor hold full and open correspondency with our new Governours or Government. 17. The revolt of most of our Forraign plantations from us, and the late Declaration against them, as Traytors, and Rebells, who count us such. 18. The Negotiations with the Pope and Popish Kingdomes, and most Protestant Princes and States to incense them all against us, as enemies to all Magistracy and publike Government, and to mankind it self, as Salmatius hath published us in print. 19. The spreading the pestlence in many places, and the feared famine throughout the Realm. 20. The manifold injuries and afronts offered to all the Nobility, and most of the Gentry of the Na…ion, and the whole Nation it self, in the change of the Government, without and against their consent, in contin…ing and increasing their burthens, Taxes, and out-lawing many of them, because they p. 20will not subscribe the Ingagement, in erecting new High Courts to take away their lives, without any legall Triall by their Peers, for offences punishable by no common Law. 21. The Ex…cution of so many Protestants, and not of one Papist whatsoever by these or other Courts of Justice, though the chief contrivers of our late unhappy Wars, and discontinuance of all Capitall proceedings against Priests and Jesuites, since the abolishing of the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, made principally against them and the Popes Usurpations and practises. 22. The injustice of our present cause and Warre, meerly against Monarchy, Presbytery, and old English Peers and Parliaments, purposely to support the present Government, set up by the meer power of the sword, yea founded on the bloud of a Protestant King, and ruine of the very best of Parliamen…s, to prevent a settlement of peace and Religion by an unbloudy Treaty. And then compare them with the Premises, and Cardinall Richelieu his Instructions and advice to the late French King, a little before his death, (published by an Italian of good note, and printed in Italy. Anno. 1645.) to foment the late differences between the late King and Parliament all he could; and if possible by the solicitation of his instruments, to draw the Commons to change our Monarchy into a meer Republike, thereby to imbroil all our Kingdomes in civill Warres against each other, as the only and best policy of all, to weaken and destroy both our power and Religion, and advance the interest of France and Catholike Religion, which we see now accomplished according to his advice; and then we have just cause to fear an inevitable approaching ruine, both of our Religion and Nation, notwithstanding our late Victories and Successes; which do but weaken, impoverish, destroy our selves, and promote the designs of our common enemies, unlesse God give us a timely sight and Reformation of this our impolitick oversight, and incline our hearts to a generall peace and unity th…oughout our Kingdome, by restoring every man to his just right and inheritance, from the highest to the low…st, and abolishing all future seeds and occasions p. 21of our intestine Warres: The serious consideration of all which Premises, are a sufficient satisfactory Apology for all Ministers or others, now questioned for the Non-observance of the late Thanksgiving day, …or the great rout and slaughter of our Protestant Presbyterian Brethren of Scotland, against all their persecutors. We shall therefore close up all with Abners Speech to Ioab, in case of the civill Wars between the House of David and Saul; wherein the Is…aelites (of the same Religion and Nation) unnaturally fought and slew each other, Ioabs souldiers pursuing and slaughtering Abners, whom they had discomfited in battell, addressing to those in present power, 2 Sam. 2.26, 27, 28. Then Abner called to Ioab, and said, shall the sword devoure for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitternesse in the latter end? how long shall it be then ere thou bid the people return from following their Brethren? And Ioab said, as God liveth, unlesse thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following their Brethren. So Ioab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, AND PURSUED AFTER ISRAEL NO MORE, NEITHER FOUGHT THEY ANY MORE: which we heartily pray may be the fruit and issue of these sad and serious Meditations of those who drive on no other design, but the preservation of Religion and their native Countrey from totall and finall desolation.

FINIS.

A brief DESCRIPTION Of the future History of Europe, from Anno 1650 to An. 1710.

Treating principally Of those grand and famous Mutations yet expected in the World, as, The ruine of the Popish Hierarchy, the final annihilation of the Turkish Empire, the Conversion of the Eastern and Western Jews, and their Restauration to their ancient Inheritances in the holy Land, and the FIFTH MONARCHIE of the universall Reign of the Gospel of Christ upon Earth.

With principal Passages upon every of these, out of that famous Manuscript of PAVL GREBNER extant in Trinity-Colledge Library in Cambridge.

Composed upon the Occasion of the young KINGS Arrival into Scotland, to shew what will in probability be the Event of the present Affairs in ENGLAND and SCOTLAND.

Ludit in humanis …

Printed in th… …