Speech 4 December 1648, Speech (3 of 3)

Speech 4 December 1648 · Speech (3 of 3)

p. 77Mr. Speaker, I have now waded through the whole Treaty, and given you the best reasons I can out of every parcell of it to prove the satisfactorinesse of the Kings Answers, and answered all Objections hitherto made against my conclusion, I shall now, by your patience and leave, proceed a step or two further, to evidence by cleer demonstrations and reasons to your consciences.

p. 78First, that our closing with the King upon these Concessions, is the only, the speediest, best, loyallest, safest and certainest way to settle a firm and lasting Peace, between the King, Parliament, and his three Kingdoms.

Secondly, that the new way to Peace and settlement proposed and prosecuted by the Generall, the Officers of the Army, and their friends in the House, is a most desperate, dishonourable, unsafe course, and certain way to speedy ruine, both of our King, Parliaments, Army, City, Country, and three Kingdomes too; yea, a …eer project of the Jesuites, to destroy the King, dissolve this present, and all future Parliaments, betray Ireland to the Popish Rebels, subvert our Religion, Reformation, Laws, Liberties, Kingdoms, introduce Popery, Tyranny, slavery, and makes us a prey to our forreign Enemies: and if I make this clearly appear to all your consciences and reasons, I beseech you lay all your hands upon your hearts, and consider what you vote in this debate, lest you become instrumentall to the Jesuits, & accomplish these their designs, in stead of setling a safe and well grounded Peace upon their newfangled foundations of liberty and safety, but indeed of slavery and ruine.

To begin with the first branch of the first of these assertions; That our closing with the King upon these Concessions, is the only way to settle a firm and lasting Peace between the King, the Parliament, and his three Kingdoms. Not to insist upon this generall; that Treaties in all Ages have been the usuall and only way to conclude and settle Peace and Unity between Kings and their People, and all dissenting Kingdomes, States, Persons, and therefore this Treaty now is the only way to our pr…sent Peace and settlement: I shall pitch only upon particulars.

First, that your selves in this House, and the Lords in their House, have severally and joyntly voted and resolved over and over heretofore, and published to all the world from time to time in sundry Declarations, Remonstrances, and other printed Papers since the Kings departure from the Houses, and the late Warres: **Exact Collect. p. 607, 911. A Collection of all Orders, p. 49. 51, 57, 58, 91. 446. 463, 879. 900.That it hath been, is, and alwayes shall be their cordiall desire, and sincere unwearied endeavour to settle a speedy, firm and well grounded Peace between His Majesty, his People, and three Kingdomes; and that this hath been the only end they have aymed at in all their Warres and Treaties with the King. **Exact Collection p. 102, 103 114, 115.That the Kings presence with, and Residence neer his Parliament, is of so p. 79great necessity and importance towards the removall of our Distractions, Feares, Iealousies, the happy beginning of contentment betweene the KING and His People, and the settlement and preservation of the Peace and Safety of the Kingdome, and KINGS Person. That they thought they had not discharged their duties untill they had declared and backed it with some Reasons. That those persons who advised His MAIESTY to absent Himselfe from His Parliament, are an Obstruction, and Enemies to the Peace of this Kingdome, and justly suspected to be favourers to the Rebellion in Ireland. **Exact Col. p. 907. &c. A Col. of all publique Orders, &c., of both Houses, p. 49, 53, 58, 71, 72. &c. 61, 118. 456, 463, 879, 900.That the sending of Propositions, and a Treaty with the KING, and a good close with Him and His Commissioners thereupon, is the only way to settle a firme, safe, and lasting Peace. And this is the only way and meanes you have hitherto pursued to obtaine such a Peace and settlement.

Secondly, the Parliament of Scotland and their Commissioners here imployed, have voted and resolved this, the onelyonly way and meanes to such a**A Coll. p. 900. Peace and Settlement, both for this kingdom, and their own too, and have joyned with us in all former Treaties, and promoted this.

Thirdly, the generality of the People, and all the wisest and most cordiall to the Publique Interest both of the Parliament and kingdome, have approved and desired a Treaty and close with the KING, as the onelyonly meanes of Peace and settlement, as is evident, by their frequent and multiplyed Petitions to both Houses.

Fourthly, the **Exact Col. p. 911. 912, 913. A Coll. p. 51, 52, 110, &c.KING himselfe and all his party, when tyred out with the miseries of War, have desired and embraced a Treaty, as the only means to close our bleeding wounds, and make a firme Vnion betweene the King, Parliament and three Kingdoms.

Fifthly, the Generall, Officers, and Councell of the Army themselves, when in their right senses, and not intoxicated with selfeconceit and Iesuiticall Principles, have Publikely declared, that compliance by a Treaty with the KING, and restitution of Him to a condition of Honour, Freedome, and Safety, was the only way to a lasting Peace and settlement; yea, the Grandees of the Army were so over forward to comply, treat, and close with Him upon termes more dishonourable,Note this. and lesse safe then these we are now a closing with him in this Treaty; that when they falsly impeached the eleven Members the last Summer in the House of Commons, for holding secret intelligence and correspondence only with Him, without consent of the House; themselves at that very instant, without and against p. 80consent of the Houses were secretly treating and complying with him upon proposals framed by themselves, and perswade the King to reject the Houses Proposition sent to his Maj.See Putnery Projects Animadve…sion… upon the Arm…es Remonstrance. The Army for a Treaty. The Kings Answer to the P…opositions sent to him, to Hampton Court. 7. Sept. 1647 to Hampton Court, to treat upon those they had tendred to him privately, without the Houses privity, as more advantagious to him, and his party, then the Parliaments, declaring to all the world; that they were as cordiall to the King, as desirous to bring him up to London, & to restore him to a condition of honor, freedom, and saftey, and more favourable to Delinquents in mitigating their fines and punishments, then the Houses. All which they are not ashamed to acknowledge in their last Remonstrance Novemb. 20. p. 43. 44. yet with this det…stable brand upon themselves, That their compliances with him were but negative: Secondly what we declared of Moderation, was but Hypotheticall: with carefull caution, and saving for the …publique interest, according to OUR THEN UNDERSTANDING OF IT, &c. Yet however, in that degree of compliance admitted in that kinde, we find matter of acknowledgment before the Lord, concerning OUR ERROR, FRAILTY, UNBELIEF, and CARNAL COUNCELS THEREIN, and we blesse him that preserved us from worse. If their compliance and Treaty with the King &c. was but Hypotheticall [as I fear this very Remonstrance and their acting since all are, or at least wise Iesuiticall,] I hope our Treaty shall be reall, and not in their power to make it Hypocritical, as they have attempted, by endeavouring to force us, by this Remostrance and their subsequent advance to London to break it off, to render us odious to our King and kingdomes, God and all good men, and translate the Odium of it from themselves to us. And because themselves may discover their owne Apostasie from their former principles, which they would falsly father upon us, and how justifiable and advantagious to the kingdom our closing with the King upon these Propositions, are before all the world, be pleased to take notice of these following passages in their own Letters, Declarations, and Remonstrances: made upon mature advice a year before this Treaty.

In the humble Remonstrance from his Excellency and the Army under his command, presented to the Commissioners at St. Albans, Iune 23. 1647 p. 12. they print. Whereas there has been scandalous informations presented to the Houses & industriously published in print, importing, as if his Majesty were kept as prisoner amongst us, barbarously and uncivilly used, We cannot but declare, that the same and all other suggestions of that sort, are most false, scandalous & absolutely contrary not only to our declared desires, but also to our principls, p. 81which are most clearly, for a generall Right and just freedom to all. And therefore, upon this occasion, we cannot but declare particularly, that we desire the same for the King and others of his party, (so far as can consist with common right and freedom, and with the security of the same for the future) And we do further clearly confesse,Note. we do not see how there can be any peace to the kingdom firm or lasting, without a due consideration of, and provision for the Rights, quiet and immunity of his Majesties royall Family, and his late partakers: And herein we think that tender and equitable dealing [as supposing their cause had been ours] & a spirit of common love and justice, diffusing it self to the good and preservation of al, will make up the most glorious conquest over their hearts [if God in mercy see it good] to make them, and the whole people of the land lasting friends. And in the Representation of the Army, June 14 1647. there are the like expressions of their judgments, in relation to the King and his party too.

In a Letter of St. T. Fairfax to both Houses of Parliament, giving an account of some transactions between his Majesty and the Army, dated from Redding July 6. 1647. there is this passage [which he there declares to be the generall sense of all or most part of the Officers in the Army.] In general, we humbly conceive, that to avoid all harsh…ness, and afford all kind usage to his Majesties person, in things consisting with the peace and safety of the kingdom, is the most Christian, honorable, and prudent way: and in all things we think, that tender, equitable and moderate dealing, both toward his Majesty and his Royal family, and late party, so far as may stand with the safety of the kingdom, and security to our common rights & liberties,Note. is the most hopefull course to take away the seeds of war, or future seeds amongst us, for posterity; and to procure a lasting peace and a government, in this distracted Nation.

Since this: the Officers and Army in their proposals 1 Aug. 1647. for the settlement of a firm peace: have this for one, That His Majesties person,Note. Queene and Royall issue, may be restored to a condition of safety, honor, and freedome in this Nation, without diminution of their personall Rights, or further limitation to the exercise of the regall power, then according to the particulars aforegoing.

These proposals of the Army, were so pleasing to His Majesty, that in his answer to the propositions presented to him at Hampton Court the 7 of Septemb. 1647. by the Commissioners of both Houses and of the kingdome of Scotland, he refused to grant the Propositions by them tendred, as being destructive to many principall interests of the p. 82Army, and of all those whose affections concurred with them. And he gave this further answer to them. That his Majesty having seen the proposals of the Army to the Commissioners from his 2 Houses residing with them, and with them to be treated in order to the clearing and securing the Rights & liberties of the kingdom, as to the settling of a just & lasting peace. To which proposals, as he conceives, his two Houses not to be strangers, so he beleeves they will think with him, that theymore conduce to the satisfaction of all interests, & may be a fitter foundation for a lasting peace then the propositions which at this time are tendred to him. He therefore propounds (as the best way in his judgement in order to peace) that his two Houses would instantly take into consideration those proposals upon which there may be a personal Treaty with his Majesty, & such other proposals as his Majesty shall make, hoping that the said proposals may be so moderated in the said Treaty, as to render them the more capable of his Majesties full concessions, wherein he resolves to give ful satisfaction to his people, for whatsoever shall concern the settling of the Protestant profession, with liberty to tender consciences & the securing of the laws, liberties, and properties of all his subjects, and the just priviledges of Parliament for the future &c. In which Treaty, his Majesty will be pleased (if it be thought sit) that Commissioners from the Army, whose the proposals are, may likewise be admitted.

…oe, here we have the General, Officers, and Army it self so zealous of a personal Treaty with the King, for settlement of this kingdoms peace, and the carrying on of their owne interests, that themselves draw up proposals for a Treaty with him, without the Houses privity: yea, prevail**See Putneyy Projects. with him to lay aside the Houses Propositions to treat upon theirs, as more advantagious to him and his, and less beneficiall to the kingdoms interest.

In which Treaty he desires, that Commissioners from the Army (whose the proposals were) might likewise be admitted: & yet these Zealots for a Treaty then, are most furious to break off our Treaty now, even by open force and violence, almost upon the very close, though they never made any opposition against it during**From July 30. till Nov: 20. all its Agitation; perchance to bring on another Treaty with the King upon their own proposals; wherein the King and they will be the only Treatours, and the Houses but idle Spectators, to rob them of the honor and benefit expected by our present Treaty and of settling of the kingdoms peace, on so good terms for the publike interest.

p. 83In fine, the Generall and Army under his command, in their Remonstrance, of the 18 of August, 1647. [approved and printed by Order of the House of Peers,] p. 14. do thus expresse their readinesse and desire for the Parliaments closing with the King, upon good grounds, and his bringing up to LONDON [though now they cry out for nothing bu… Justice and execution to be done upon him, as their capital Enemy;] For our parts, we shall rejoice as much as any, to see the King brought back to his Parliament, [and that] not so much in place, as in affection and agreement, on such found terms and grounds as may render both him, and the kingdom safe, quiet, and happy. And shall be as ready as they to bring his Majesty to LONDON, when his being there may be likely to produce (not greater disturbances or distractions, but) a peace indeed, and that such, as may not [with the Shipwrack of the publike interest] be shaped and moulded only to the private advantages of a particular party or faction, but bottom'd chiefly on grounds of common and publike welfare and security.

The General, Officers and Army therefore, being so zealous for a Treaty and close with the King, in all these severall Remonstrances, Papers, and Proposalls, as the only hopefull way of settling and securing the kingdoms peace, cannot without the highest injury, and most detestable jugling, Hypocrisie, and Apostasie from their own ingagements & principles (wherewith they do now falsly charge the House) dislike our present proceedings in the selt same way, upon his Majesties Concessions in this Treaty; which by all these particular resolutions, and the Armies own acknowledgments, is the only way of Peace and settlement.

Secondly, As it is the only, so the speediest way of all other: if we now accept of these Concessions, (the most whereof I have turned into Bils already, and shall turn all the rest into Bils by our next sitting) I see no reason but we may in one fortnight, at least by the first of Ian. next, have fully settled and concluded all things in difference between the King and us, to the general content and safety of all honest men: and so end the old and begin the new year with peace. Whereas if we now break off and let go all the King hath granted, I see no end of our Wars and miseries, nor any probable means of peace and settlement in many years at least, if ever in this or the succeeding Generation. And the speediest remedy in this case (especially considering the kingdom is so far exhausted, that we know neither how to pay our publike debts, our Fleet, or Army their present Arrears, much lesse their future) must needs bee the best, and be preferred before all p. 84others that will require more time, and expence, and be more hazardous and contingent in the event.

Thirdly, As it is the speediest: so the best, and legallest, safest and certainest way of all others.

First, there is no danger nor hazard at all in it, nor any expence of mony or effusion of bloud: 'tis but accept, and then confirm by Acts and Oaths, and the work is presently done: If we think of settlement in any other way, we must fight again, and that will be both costly & hazardous: and when all is done, we must Treat again, perchance upon worse terms, else there will be no peace nor settlement.

Secondly, This is the way we have ever formerly pitched upon, the way all parties have consented to and approved, but those alone who desire neither peace nor settlement: Therefore best, safest, and durablest.

Thirdly, It is the legallest, certainest, because a peace and settlement by Acts of Parliament the highest security to English men under heaven, to which King, Lord, Commons, & in them the whole kingdom consent, & wil all acquiesce in what is done, without question or future dispute: What peace soever is settled otherwise, either by a bare Order or Ordinance of the Houses, or by the Sword & power alone: will neither be sure, safe, nor lasting, no longer then maintained by the Sword, & every man will be sure to question and unsettle all again upon the least advantage given. The highest security that England ever had, was Magna Charta, and the Charter of the Forrest: these were gained by the Sword, but not held by it.

That which hath kept & perpetuated these since their making was those Acts of Parliament which confirmed them, These are only security for what ever we enjoy, which will survive all other we can think of, Nullum violentum est diuturnum: Whereas priviledges kept and held by publike Acts will last for ever, and be entailed to us and our posterities, with peace and happiness attending them. This was the way of settling peace between Kings and Subjects heretofore in Henry the 3. Edward the 2. Richard the 2. Henry the 6. Raigns, and an Act of Pacification and Oblivion was the only safe and usuall way the Parliaments both of England and Scotland lately fixed on, to settle a firm and lasting peace between both Nations, kingdoms. All other settlements will be but like an ul…r skinned over, which will soone break out again, with greater pain and danger then before.

2dly, For the new way proposed by the Army, for a firm peace & settlement, it is certainly the most desperate, dishonourable, dangerous p. 85and destructive that can possibly be imagined, and such as we can neither in honour, justice, conscience nor prudence imbrace. To examine it a little by parts:

The first way to peace and settlement propounded by them, is presently to break off the Treaty: and that, contrary to our publike faith to the King and kingdom, yea, to our own votes, before the Treaty was fully ended: this is the drift of their whole Remonstrance. Which as it will totally, if not finally deprive us of the fruit & benefit of all the K. Concessions in the Treaty, [all which are by mutuall agreement no wayes obligatory to either party in any particular unless all be agreed] being all that we can possibly think of for our safety and advantage, and more then any Nation under heaven yet injoied, so it wil inevitably cast us upon present wayes of new distractions, confusions and civill wars, now we are quite exhausted, and end at last in our absolute destruction, instead of a wel-grounded peace, and those blessings we may forth with enjoy for the very accepting, without further charge or trouble. But if God, beyond our hopes, should after any new embroylments give us peace, yet it must be upon a new Treaty, and that perchance upon far worse terms then now are offered. Therefore it must needs be dangerous to reject a safe way, to follow a hazardous or destructive one.

The next thing proposed by them for a speedy peace and settlement, is the bringing of the**Remonstrance p. 60. to 64. King to speedy justice for all his treasons and bloodshed in the late wars, and then to depose and execute him as the greatest capitall malefactor in the kingdom…

This certainly is a very dangerous aund unlikely way to peace and settlement, First of all,**Zech. 13. 7. 1 King. 22. 17.Zech 13:71 Kgs 22:17 The smiting of the Shepheard, is the way to scatter, not unite the sheep. The slaying of the King or Generall in the field, **Zech. 13. 7. 1 King. 22. 17.Zech 13:71 Kgs 22:17scatters and dissolves the Army, not secures them. To cut off an aking head, is the next way to destroy, not cure a diseased body: such kind of State policy may destroy, or disturb, but never settle us in perfect peace: The Prince, his next heir, the Queen, the Duke of York, all his Children, and Allies both at home and abroad, will certainly meditate revenge, and all Kings in Christendom will assist them, even for their own interest and safety, lest it should become a president for themselves. And will this then secure or be a likely way to peace or settlement?

2. The greatest part of the Members in both Houses, the Lords, Gentlemen, and all sorts of people throughout the kingdome, the whole kingdomes of Scotland and Ireland, (who p. 86have as great an interest in the Kings person being their lawfull King, as we have, and are obliged by Allegiance and Covenant to protect his person and Crown from violence) will unanimously, as one man oppose and protest against it, and by force of Arms, endeavour to bring those to execution who shall presume to advise, or attempt to depose or destroy the King in any kinde, contrary to their Allegiance and solemne Covenant: Yea all Protestant Realms, Churches, States in forraign parts will abhorre both the fact, and adjudge it contrary to their principles and Religion, and that which may irritate Popish Kings and Princes to take up arms to ruine them, lest they should fall into the like Jesuiticall practice. And can this be a safe or speedy way to peace and settlement, especially when we know not what Government shall succeed upon it, and can expect nothing but bloody consequences from such a bloody Jesuiticall advice?

Thirdly, I never read of any peace or settlement in any kingdom, where King-killing was practised or approved. When the Roman Armies began once to kill their Emperours, and cut off their heads, **See Eutropius and Grimstones Imperiall History.they were scarce ever free from civill warres. One Army set up one Emperour, another Army another, the Senate a third, who alwayes warred till they had cut off one anothers heads. Most of those Emperours had very short reigns, few of them above a year or two, and some of them scarce two months, but most of them untimely deaths. In Sclavonia and Norway, where they had a Law, that he that slew a Tyrant King, should suceed him in the Throne: They had almost every year a new King, perpetuall wars and discords, and not one of all their Kings for above one hundred years together ever came to a natural death, but was murthered as a Tyrant, and succeeded by a worse and greater tyrant: as **Danicae Histor. l. 8. p. 120.Saxo grammaticus and Nubrigensis testifie.

And in the sacred story it selfe, * Rerum Anglicarum l. 3. c. 6. 2 Chron. 5. 5, 6. 2 Kings c. 1. to cap. 25.2 Chr 5:52 Chr 5:62 Kgs 1it is very observable, that after the ten Tribes revolted from Rehoboam, though by Gods Iustice and approbation for Solomons sinnes; they had never any peace or settlement, but perpetuall Wars with one Kingdome or another, or between themselves; Their Kings, or most of them were all Tyrants and Idolaters, and by the just hand of God, for the most part tumultuously slaine and murthered one of and by another, who succeeded them: he that murthered his Predecessor, being usually slain by his Successor, or his Predecessors Sons, Servants, or by the People of the Land, in a tumltuous way: In the 2 Kings 15. We read in that one Chapter of no lesse then 4 of those Kings slain one by another: and as for the people under these Kings they had never any rest, peace, settlement, or freedome, but lived under the greatest misery and oppression that ever any Subjects under Heaven did, p. 87as the sacred History records. This King-killing certainly can be then no probable way at all to peace, safety, settlement, freedome, but the Jesuits pollicy to deprive us eternally of all these, and of God, and Religion to boot; as it did the ten Tribes heretofore.

Fourthly this way to peace and settlement, is directly contrary to all the former Engagements, Oaths, and severall Petitions, Declarations, Remonstrances, Protestations, and professions of both Houses of Parliament to the King, Kingdome… people, wherein were have alwaies protested and held forth unto them both before and since the Wars. **Exact Collection, p. 1, 21, 644, 100, 101, 102, 103, 125, 214, 281, 307, 458, 464, 466, 474, 584, 587, 588, 605, 631, 632, 637, 641, 642, 661, 16, &c.That we will preserve and protect the Kings person from danger, support his Royall estate with honour and plenty at home, with power and reputation abroad, and by our, loyall affections, actions and advice, lay a sure and lasting foundation of the greatnesse and prosperity of his Majesty, and his Royall posterity in future times. That we are still resolved, to keep our selves within we bounds of faithfulnesse and allegiance to His sacred Person and Crown. That we will with our lives, fortunes, estates, and with the last drop of our blood endeavour to support His Majesty, and his just Soveraignty and power over us… and to prevent all dangers to His Majesties Person.

That wee tooke up armes as well for Defence of His Majesty, to protect… His Person, as the Kingdome and Parliament; without any intent to burt or injure His Majesties person or power: professing in the presence of Almighty God, That we would receive Him with all honour, yeeld him all due obedience and subjection, and faithfully endeavour to secure His person and estate from all danger; and to uttermost of our power to procure and establish to Him and His People, all the blessings of a glorious and happy reign; which both Houses severall times profest and remonstrated to the world. **Ibid. pag. 657, 648, 645, 687, 617, 621.That the allegation that the Army raised by the Parliament, was TO MURDER and DEPOSE THE KING, was such a scandall, as any that professed the name of a Christian could not have so little charity as to raise it; especially when they must needs know, the Protestation taken by every Member of both Houses; whereby they promise in the presence of Almighty God, to defend His Majesties person; and all their addresses and Petitions to him expressing the contrary: That they never suffered it to enter into their thoughts to depose the KING, abhorring the very thought of it, much more the intent. That they never suffered the word DEPOSING the King, to goe out of their mouthes, nor the thing to enter into their p. 88thoughts, That they rest assured, both God and Man will abominate that monstrous and most injurious Charge layed upon the Representative Body of this whole Kingdome by the Malignant party, against the KING… as designing not onelyonly the ruine of His MAIESTIES person, but of MONARCHY it selfe: The Authors of which malicious horrid scandall, they professe to make the Instances of their Exemplary Iustice, so soon as they shall be discovered. Now for Us after all these multiplyed reiterated Protestations, Promises, Engagements, Declarations, Remonstrances to all the World, from the beginning of the differences and wars till now, to think or talk of deposing and destroying of the King, and altering the Government, as the only safe and speedy way to peace and settlement, as the Army-Remonstrants prescribe; would be such a most detestable breach of Publike Faith; such a most perfidious, treacherous, unrighteous and wicked act, as not only God, Angels, and good men; but the very worst of Turks and Devils would abhor: and therefore its a miracle to me, that these, precious Saints should thus impudently, before all the World propose to the House, and force you to pursue it, to staine your reputation, and make you exerable to God and Men.

Fifthly, the very Oath of Allegiance, which every one of us hath taken, upon our first admission to be Members, engageth us in positive terms, Not to offer any violence or hurt-to His MAIESTIES Royall Person, State, or Government, to beare faith and true Allegiance to His MAIESTY, His Heirs and Successors; and Him and Them to defend to the uttermost of our power, against all Conspiracies and attempts whatsoever, which shall be made against His: or Their PERSONS, CROWNE, or DIGNITY: And from our hearts to abhorre, detest, and abjure as impious and hereticall, this Jesuiticall and Popish Doctrine, That Princes excommunicated or deprived by the Pope, (as it seems the KINGS is now for extirpating Episcopacy, Popery, Mass, and Prelacy out of His Dominions by His present Concessions, without any possibility or hopes of replanting) may be deposed or murthered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever. Which Jesuiticall contrivance and practise as our whole State and Parliament, in the Statutes of 3… Ia… cap. 1… 4, 5, 35. Eliz. cap. 1. and other Acts resolve, is the only way to unsettle, ruine and subvert, not to settle and establish the Peace and government of our Realme. And both Houses since this Parliament, have by a Solemne Protestation first, and by a Solemne League and Covenant since, with Hands listed up to the most High God, p. 89engaged both themselves and the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by a most sacred and serious vow and protestation (purposely made and prescribed by them, For the Honour and Happinesse of the King and his Posterity, and the true publike Liberty, safety and peace of the three Kingdoms, as the Title and Preface declare) sincerely, really, and constantly to endeavour with their estates and lives, TO PRESERVE AND DEFEND THE KINGS MAJESTIES PERSON AND AUTHORITY, in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdome, (which he hath now fully and actually performed by his Concessions in this Treaty) That the World may beare witnesse with our Consciences, OF OUR LOYALTY, and that WE HAVE NO THOUGHTS OR INTENTIONS TO DIMINISH HIS MAJESTIES JUST POWER AND GREATNESSE. And shall also with all faithfullnesse endeavour the discovery of all such as shall be Incendiaries or evill instruments, by DIVIDING THE KING FROM HIS PEOPLE: That they may be brought to speedy tryall, and receive condign punishment. And shall not suffer themselves directly, or indirectly by whatsoever combination or terrour, to be withdrawne or make defection from this Covenant; but shall all the dayes of their lives really and constantly continue therein against all opposition, and promote the same against all lets and impediments whatsoever. And this Covenant we all made in the presence of Almighty God, the searcher of all Hearts; WITH A REALL INTENTION TO PERFORME THE SAME, as we shall answer at that great day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed.

Now how we, who are Members of this House, or any who are subjects of our three kingdomes, or Officers and Souldiers in the Army who have taken this Oath of Allegiance, Protestation, League or Covenant, or any of them, (as some of them have done, all or two of them at least, sundry times over) can, without the highest perjury to God, Treachery to the King, perfidiousnesse to the kingdome, Infamy to the World, Scandall to the Protestant Religion, and eternall dishonour to the Parliament and themselves, Atheistically break through or elude all those most Sacred and Religious tyes upon our souls; by a speedy publique dethroning and decolling of the KING, and dis-inheriting his Posterity; (as the Army Remostrants advise,) and …that in the open view of the World, and that p. 90Al-seeing God, to whom we have thus appealed and sworne, by that Iesuiticall equivocations or distinstions, (of which the Armies Remonstrance is full or professions of our damnable hypoc…isie in the breaking of them, transcends my understanding. And for those who stile themselves SAINTS, and charge this as one of the Highest Crimes against the King, His frequent breach of Oathes and Promises, to transcend him & Iesuites in this very sin, is such a monster of impiety as I conceive could never have entred into the hearts of Infidells, or the worst of Men or Divells, And to act this under a pretext to preserve and settle the Peace of the Kingdom,A Collection of all the publique Orders, &c… p. 422, 423. is such a solecisme, as militates point-blank against the very words and scope both of this Oath, Protestation, League and Covenant, which crosseth not the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, but more strongly engageth all men to preserve and defend the Kings Person and Authority; in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdome; as the Assembly of Divines, and both Houses affirm in their Exhortation to take the Covenant, which prescribes this as the only meanes of securing and preserving peace in all the three Kingdomes; to preserve the Person and Honor of the King, his Crown and Dignity, from any such violence and invasion as is now suggested by the Army; which all three of them engage us, and all three Kingdoms, with our lives and fortunes really and constantly to oppose, against all lets and impediments, &c. and to bring those to condigne punishment as Incendiaries and evill Instruments who suggest it. So as if the Army will proceed in this Jesuiticall destructive way, of Treason and ruine; Wee, and all three Kingdoms are solemnly engaged with our estates and lives unanimously to oppose and bring them to Justice. And is this then the way to publike peace and settlement, to raise another new War to murther one another in this new Quarrell, wherein the Army and their adherents, must be the sole Malignants and enemies we must fight with, &c? No verily, but the high-way to the Kingdoms & Armies ruine, whose Commissions wee are obliged to revoke; whose Contributions wee must in conscience withdraw; and whose power wee must with our own lives resist, unlesse we will be perjured, and guilty of breach of Covenant in the highest degree, if they persist in these anti-Covenant Demands.

7. Both Houses having held a Personall Treaty with the King so lately, and he having granted us in that Treaty whatsoever we have or can demand for the safety and preservation of our Religion, Laws, p. 91and Liberties; and both Houses engaged themselves by Vote in answer to the Kings Propositions, to restore him to a condition of Freedome, Honour, and Safety, according to the Lawes of the Realm (which was the Armies own proposals in his behalfe in August, 1647.) Wee can neither in honesty, honour, justice nor conscience (were hee ten thousand times worse then the Army would render him) depose and bring him to execution. It being against all the rules of Justice, and honour between two professed enemies, who had no relations one to another; much more between King and Subjects in a civil War, and a thing without president in any ages. To this the**P. 61, 62. Army Remonstrance answers, That this would be thought an unreasonable and unbeseeming demand in a personall Treaty, between persons standing both free, and in equall ballance of power; but not when one party is wholly subdued, captivated, imprisoned, and in the others power. But this certainly is a difference spun with a Jesuiticall thred; For to treat with any King in our power, or out of it, on articles of Peace, upon these terms; That if he consent to them, We will restore him to his Throne with Honor, Freedom, Safety; and when he hath yeelded us our Demands, then to depose and out off his head, is the highest breach of Faith, Truth, Honor, and Justice, that can be imagined: and those who dare justifie such perfidious and unchristian dealing deserve rather the stile of Turks and equivocating Iesuites, then pious Saints.

8. There is no president in Scripture, that the Generall Assembly, or Sanhed…in of the Jews or Isrealites, did ever judicially imprison, depose or execute any one of the Kings of Iudah or Israel, though many of them were the grossest Idolaters, and wickedest Princes under heaven; who shed much innocent blood, and oppressed the people sundry waies. We know that David himselfe committed adultery with Vriah his wife, a faithfull Servant and Souldier, whiles he was with his Generall Ioab in the field: and then afterward caused him to be treachero…sly slain. Yet neither the Assembly of the Elders, nor Ioab and the Army under him, did impeach or crave Justice against him for these sins, though hee lived impeniently in them. And when hee numbred the people afterwards, for which sin seventy thousand of his Subjects lost their lives; yet was hee not arraigned nor deposed for it: and God who is Soveraignly just, though David was the principall malefactor in this case, i… not the sole;2 Sam. 24. 272 Sam 24:27 and thereupon when hee saw the Angell that smote the people, cryed out; Lo, I have sinned and done wickedly; but these Sheep, what p. 92have they done? Let thy hand bee against mee and my Fathers house: Yet God spared him and his houshold, though the principalls, and punished the people only with death, for this sin of his. After him Solomon his son, a man eminent for wisdome and piety at first, apostatized to most grosse Idolatry of all sorts, to please his idolatrous Wives, and became a great oppressor of his people, making their burthens very heavy; yet his Subjects or Souldiers did neither impeach nor depose him for it;1 Ki…g. 11 & 12. and though he were the principall offendor, yet God spared him for Davids sake, in not taking the ten Tribes from him for these sins, during his life; though he rent them from his son Rhehoboam, who was at most but accessory, for his Fathers sins, not his. True it is, some of the Idolatrous Kings of Israel, by the just avenging hand of God were slain by private conspiracies, and popular tumults, in an illegall way; but not deposed nor arraigned by their Sanhedrins, or Generall Congregations; and those who slew them, were sometimes stain by others who aspired to the Crown, or by the people of the Land, or by their children who succeeded them; and came to untimely tragicall ends.

9. Though there be some Presidents of Popish States and Parliaments deposing their Popish Kings and Emperors at home, and in forraign parts, in an extraordinary way, by power of an armed party: Yet there is no president of any one Protestant Kingdom or State, that did ever yet judicially depose or bring to execution, any of their Kings and Princes, though never so bad, whether Protestants or Papists; and the Protestants in France, though some of their Kings, when they had invested them in their Thrones, became Apostates to Popery and persecuters of their people; albeit they resisted them by force of arms in the field to preserve their lives; did never once attempt to pull them from their Thrones, or bring their persons unto Justice: And I hope our Protestant Parliament will never make the first president in this kind, nor stain their Honor or Religion with the blood of a Protestant King, against so many Oathes, Protestations, Covenants, Declarations, and Remonstrances made and published by them to the contrary.

10. For the presidents of Edward the Second, and Richard the Second in times of Popery, they were rather forcible resignations by power of an Army, then judiciall deprivations, neither of them being ever legally arraigned and brought to tryall in Parliament. And Mortimer who had the chief hand in deposing King Edward the Second, in the Parliament of 1 E. 3. was in the Parliament of 4 E. 3. p. 93impeached, condemned, and executed as a Traitor, and guilty of high Treason, for murthering Edward the second after he was deposed, at Berkley-castle, and Sir Simon Bereford, (together with Thomas Gurney and William Ocle) were adjudged Traitors for assisting him therein; one of them executed, and great rewards promised to the apprehenders of the other two. And as for Richard the second though he was deposed after Henry the Fourth was crowned by pretence in Parliament; yet this deposition after his resignation only, not before it: and without any formall tryall or arraignment, or any capitall judgement of death against him; for which I find no president in any Parliament of England, Scotland, France, nor yet in Denmark it self, though an elective Kingdome; who, though they justly deposed Christiern the second, for his most abominable Tyrannies and Cruelties, yet they never adjudged, or p…t him to death, but only restrained him as a prisoner. I shall only add this, that though the elective Kingdoms of Hungary, Bohemia, Poland, Denmark, and Sweden, have in their Parliaments and Diets deposed sundry of their Kings for their wickednesses and tyranny yet they never judicially condemned any one of them to death, though Papists, And for a Protestant Parliament (to please an Army only, acted by Jesuites in this particular; to render both Parliament, Army, and our Religion too for ever execrable throughout the world; and set all mens pens and hands against them to their ruine) to begin such a bloody president as this, upon a most false pretext, of setling peace; contrary to the express command of God himself; who commands Christians To pray for Kings, and all in authority, that they may live a quiet and peaceable life under them in all godlinesse and honesty, (not to depose or cut of their heads; as the only way to peace and settlement; will not only be scandalous but monstrous.

The next thing they propose for a present peace and settlement; it the executing of the Prince if hee come not over upon summons at a short day, and give not satisfaction to the Houses: or else to declare him and the Duke of York, if they appear not upon summons, to bee uncapable of any Trust or Government in this Kingdom, or any Dominions thereunto belonging, and thence to stand exiled for ever as Enemies and Traitors, to die without mercy, if ever taken or found therein. A Jesuiticall inevitable way to civill Wars and ruine. For the King being deposed and cut off; the Prince no doubt is next heir to the Crown, both by the common Law, and the statute of 1. Iacobi cap. 1. to which I p. 94doubt a Vote or Ordinance of both Houses only, will be no such legall barre in any Lawyers or Wisemans Judgement, but that hee will claim his right; and the generallity of the Kingdome (at least ten thousand to one proclaim and embrace him for their lawfull King, and assist him with their lives and fortunes, both to regain and retain his right, being bound by their Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance, and their Solemn League and Covenant so to do. And must not this of necessity beget a present lasting War; in stead of a speedy setled peace? undoubtedly it will. But consider further, that the Prince is not only Heir apparent to the Crown of England, but of Scotland and Ireland too: and though we reject; yet undoubtedly Scotland and Ireland will readily imbrace him as their lawfull King, notwithstanding any Votes of ours; and will both unanimously assist him with their lives and fortunes to recover his right to the Crown of England: and those two Kingdoms falling off wholly from us, and proclaiming Warre against us, and joining with that potent party here, which certainly will appear in his behalfe, out of a naturall inclination to the right undoubted Heir, or hopes of favour and preferment (since Plures solem orientem quam occidentem adorantur) and with all his friends and allies Forces from abroad; whether this wil not be an unavoidable occasion, not only of a present war, but of certain destructions and desolation to this poor Kingdome, and more especially to the Army and their adherents in this desperate advice, (who must stand or fall upon their own bottome, without the least aid or contribution from any other,) I desire them, and all others who have either eyes or brains in their heads most seriously to consider. But that which makes me most of all detest this desperate advice, is this, That it is the only way that can be thought upon to accomplish the Popes and Jesuites designs, to set up Popery, and subvert the Protestant Religion, and professors of it in all our three Kingdoms, and in all forraign Realms beyond the Seas. For if this reforming Parliament, which hath pretended so much to the extirpation of Popery, shall so far play the Popes and Jesuites (the undoubted contrivers of this Armys New-model of our peace and settlement) as to depose and behead the King his father, and forever disinherit him of the Crown, & bring him as a Traitor to die without mercy, if he come hither: It wil so far provoke and exasperate him & the Duke, being both young and of generous spirits, not throughly grounded in our Religion; and under the Queens tuition, and in the power of p. 95this popish party abroad, who will aggravate these high affronts and injuries put upon them to the utmost, and on whose protection they will be in this case necessitated to cast themselves; that there is great fear and probability, they will immediately renounce such a bloody and detestable Religion, as shall ins…igate us to such horrid actions and Councels, and abominate all the professors of it, so as totally to abandon them, and turn Roman Catholicks in good earnest; and then match themselves to great potent popish Alliances: and by their purses, forces, and assistance; and of the Popes, and all his Catholick sonnes in Forraigne parts for the advancement of the Catholick cause; and of the popish, Malignants, and discontented parties in England, Scotland, and Ireland (which will questionlesse receive and assist the Prince as their Soveraign Lord and King) invade our poore, impoverished, divided and distressed kingdom with such a power, as in all humane probability would speedily over-runne and destroy this mutinous Army, and the Houses too, put them with their adherents to the Sword, without mercy or quarter, and disinherit them and their heirs for ever, to revenge their Fathers blood, and their dis-inherison of the Crown, &c. And then Popery and Prelacy will both return with greater authority, power, & approbation then ever; over-spread our whole three kingdoms, and extirpate our Religion, & the professors of it, as the most anti-Monarchical, treacherous and perfidious bloody Miscreants under heaven; & excite all other forraign States and kingdoms to do the like to prevent the springing up of a new generation of treacherous King-killing, State-subverting Agitators, and Hypocritical & perfidious Army-Saints; and engage all Protestant kingdoms, Churches, and States, for their own security and vindication to disclaim and declare against us.

This questionlesse will be the sad inevitable issue of this Jesuiticall advice if ever the Houses or Army shall put it into actuall execution, and not speedily prevent it; it being long since fore-plotted by the Jesuites, as I shall prove anon, at the beginning of the late Warre against the Scots.

But if the Prince and Duke be set aside; I would gladly learn of these Statists, who, and what King they would set up? Not any of the Kings posterity certainly, since they dis-inherit two at a blow; and the blood being corrupted by the Kings and their attainders, no other heir can inherit it by descent; it must escheat to the Houses or Armies disposal, and become no kingdom at all but an Elective p. 96one, if any: And is this the next way to peace and settlement? If so, I have certainly lost my reason and senses too. No, it will be a seminary of lasting Wars; of which few elective Kingdoms are long free, every new election producing commonly a new Warre, where there is no pretence of an hereditary succession, much more where a right heir is forcibly and unjustly dis-inherited: I shall give you but one instance, (though I could name you divers) and that is a memorable one at home in our owne kingdom.

King Henry the first, having one onelyonly daughter**Mat: Paris, Speed, Daniel in the … of King Stephen. Maud, to reserve the Crown unto her after his death, caused her to be crowned, and made all the Prelates and Nobles swear to receive her as their Queen and Princesse after his decease. But she marrying afterwards to the Emperour; and being out of the Realme when King Henry died: The Archbishop of Canterbury with the rest of the Prelates and Nobles (contrary to their Oath and agreement) elected Stephen Earle of Bloyes for their King, and put by Maud the right heir; Stephen taking an Oath to grant and confirm those Laws and Liberties for the kingdoms peace and settlement, as they propounded to him before his Coronation: A very likely means to settle Peace and prosperity as they imagined. But was the event answerable? No verily; this cursed perjury and pollicy brought all the chiefe contrivers of it to great calamity and miserable ends; and engendred a bloody civill Warre in the bowels of this kingdom, which continued no lesse then seventeene years together, with interchangeable successes; till the whole kingdom was laid waste and desolate, most Houses, Towns, and Villages burned to the ground; their Gardens and Orchards quite destroyed, their monies and estates exhausted and plundered; their Cattle and flocks consumed and eaten up, their Fields over grown with weeds in stead of Corne, most of the people devoured by the Sword, Famine and Pestilence, and eleven hundred Castles, Holds, and Garrisons erected, which were no other but dens of Theeves and Plunderers. This was the peace and settlement this policy produced. At last both Parties weary of the Wars, out of pure necessity, came to a Personall Treaty, and in conclusion made this agreement, That Stephen having no issue of his body, should enjoy the Crowne during his life; and Henry, son and heir to Maud, and next heir also to Stephen, should succeed him, after his death, and in some sort officiate with him in the kingdoms Govenment during his life. And so these long lasting Warres concluded; p. 97after which there were at least eleven hundred Castles demolished by order of Parliament crected during these wars, to the Countreys utter undoing. But if we dis-inherit the Prince and Duke, for ought I discern, if they suddainly recover not their possession of the Crown of England, after one seven years of Warre already elapsed, we may have seventeen years more, and seventeen after that again, and be reduced to a more miserable condition then our Ancestors were in King Stephens dayes: And that upon these two grounds. First, the contest then, was onelyonly between two Competitors for this one kingdom, who had no other kingdoms of their own to side with them. But the Prince and Duke being successively heirs as well to the Crowns of Scotland and Ireland, as England; will have their aid and assistance, and of their forraign Friends too, to carry on the wars, till they have got possession of the Crowne of England, upon better terms then ever they are like to enjoy it, if we accept of the K. Concessions, which we can never expect from them, if we depose and kil the King, and dis-inherit & banish them for Traitors. Secondly, Stephen the actuall King then had no issue at all, and Henry was next heir to the Crown, both to Maud and him, so as both Titles meeting in him, the controversie and wars must needs cease. But if we shall now set up a new King by Election, either of the Kings line or otherwise; as long as there is either an Elective King, or hereditary, to exclude this Prince or Duke, or either of their heirs to whom the inheritance of the Crown belongs of right, we can neither hope for, nor expect either peace or settlement in this kingdom, as the bloody and long lived wars between the two Houses of Lancaster and York will inform us, which never ended till they were both united in King Henry the seventh.

The Armies next proposall to settle the kingdoms peace, is as bad as any of the former; to wit,**Remon: Nov: 20. 1648. pag: 65, 66, 68, 69, 70 the speedy dissolving of this present Parliament: which if not presently consented to, for ought I discerne by their last Declaration, they are resolved to dissolve it by open violence on the Houses, which they threaten. A Tempest (certainly) of the Jesuites raising, to blow down this Parliament, as they would have blown up that of 3 Iacobi with Gun-powder. But is this a way to safety and settlement, to dissolve the onelyonly visible meanes of both? If the King, Prince, Duke, Parliament be all dissolved, and quite laid aside, what meanes or hopes at all of peace, of safety, of settlement, can any man in his right senses rationally see or imagine? p. 98Is the overturning of the very Foundations and Pillars of our Church and Kingdom, the best and safest way to settle and preserve them? Is it not the onelyonly certain way to subvert and ruine them? Such wayes of peace and settlement a… these are fitter for Bedlam, then a Parliament house.

Yea, but they have one infallible way more (to which all the rest are but preparatory) to settle peace and safety in our Kingdoms, which they idolize, almost; to wit,**Remonst. pa 14, 1E, 16, 66, 67. A new Representative, or mo…k-Parliament, to be immediately subscribed to and set up in post haste, constituted neither of King, nor Lords, (the brats of Tyranny and the Norman Conquest, as some of themselves pretend, as this Representative is of the Armies,) nor yet of Knights, Citizens and Burgesses duly elected, but of a selected company of politick Mechanicks, pragmaticall Levellers, and Statesmen of the General Councel of the Army, (as they stile themselves, by what Commissiom I know not) who have usurped the whole Power both of King, Parliament, Assembly, and all Courts of Iustice before their Representative be setled, as a true pattern of it, which they are to imitate. A meer Whimsicall Vtopia and Babel of confusion, invented by the Iesuites to please the vulgar rabhle, and stir them up to mutinies against King, Lords, Commons, Gentlemen, and their Superiours of all ranks, that they alone may possesse and sway the reins of Government, Magistracy and Ministry, to which they have now prepared their tumultuous spirits. Much**See Mr. Ashl…ursts reason… against it. might be said against it; but I shall contract my self, because nothing can be so much as probably pretended for it.

First, It is a new Jesuiticall, popish Gunpowder Treason with a witnesse, which blowes up and destroyes at once the King, Prince, Duke, Lords, Knights of Shires, Citizens, Burgesses, this present and all future Parliaments, and noblest, ancientest Cities and Boroughs of England. It not this a blessed invention to settle peace and safety?

Secondly, It blows up both our Magistracy, Ministry, Laws, Liberties, Judges and Courts of Justice at one crack, and breaks them all in pieces, to raise up this new Bab… out of all their ruines. And is not this a blessed new invention of Jesuites and Saints to settle peace?

Thirdly, It blows up all our Oaths of Supremacy and Allegeance; Protestations, solemn Leagues and Covenants, all former numerous Declarations, Remonstrances, Votes and Resolutions of one or both Houses of Parliament,**A Collecti. &c. p 425, 698 700, 877, 878. not to alter the present form of Government by King, Lords, Commons and other ordinary Magistrates and ministers p. 99of publick Iustice; or…e… loose the golden reins of government to Blasphemies, Heresies, Errors, Libertinisme, Pr…phanenesse, Schisme, & all sorts of Religions. It unsettles all things, to settle that which is worse then nothing. And is this the way to safety, tranquillity or settlement?

Fourthly, it enforceth a… **Remon. p. 64. 66. And Agreement of the People, formerly Printed, and of late new modelied.Subscription more unjust, unreasonable, illegall, tyrannicall and penall then ever the Bishops or Pope invented: invents and sets up the very worst of Monopolies, a Monopoly of Electors of Elections, and of Representatives elected; engrossing all mens ancient Rights, Liberties, priviledges of election without consent or title, into the hands of those who never had a right unto them, the people; who are no Free-holders, no Free-Burgesses, free-Citizens, or men capable of Votes by Law: and these people no other then the Army themselves and some of their levelling Confederates: who must possesse, judge, rule, usurp the Rights and Priviledges of the whole Kingdome, in point of electing Parliament Members, without Charter or Title: A cursed Monopoly, which will discontent all men who are thus injuriously deprived of their Rights, and produce nought else but infinite animosities, factions, fractions and tumuls throughout the Kingdome, and discontent all wise, all honest men; who will rather die, then not oppose it unto death, as carrying the death a…d funerall of al peace, settlement, Parliaments, & the Kingdome in its bowels. And is this a fit tool to peece and unite our shattred Kingdome, and settle peace amongst us?

Fifthly, It no way extends to Ireland or our Islands, but to England onelyonly; it will require many years time and triall to settle and secure its own being, priviledge & power, and gain any general obedience to its new erected Soveraignty: so that our Church and State will be sunk and drowned, and Ireland inevitably lost, before this Ark will or can be prepared for their safety.

Sixthly, This New… Representative in this new Remonstrance is (in terminis) nought else, but the very Agreement of the people, presented to the House by the Agitators, accompanied with some Iesuites, on the 9. of Novemb. 1647. (then and in that very month twice, by two expresse Votes upon solemn debate, and an Ordinance of both Houses in December following; resolved, to be destructive to the being of Parliaments, and to the fundamentall Government of the Kingdome; and a signall brand of disability and imprisonment imposed on the contrivers and presenters of it; and then condemned by the Generall and p. 100his Councell of Warre, who shot one White to death for abetting it; of which more a non.) Therefore it seems a miracle to me, that they should be now so virtiginous, rash, and audacious as to tander this to the House againe with such post-hast and violence, as the readiest, safest, and speedyest course to settle peace and safety, and set aside the onelyonly meanes of settlement, the Treaty. O the inconstancy and strange intoxications of these new Saints and Statists, who would make the Houses as unconstant as themselves!

Since then I have cleerly manifested, that all these Proposals of peace and settlement in the Army's late Remonstrance, are all and every of them most apparent precipices, Jesuiticall contrivances and labyrinthes of speedy, imminent, unavoidable ruine and confusion to our King, Prince, Kingdomes, Magistracy, Ministry, Church, Religion, Lawes, Liberties, Government, the present and all succeeding Parliaments, and the Army too, it must needs be the very extremity of madnesse to let go that speedy, safe and sure way to certain peace, security and settlement I have propounded, by accepting of the Kings Concessions, to catch at such a false deceitfull shadow of settlement as this, which will eng…l…e us in endlesse wars and miseries. It is a Rule in Policy and Divinity, Ex duobus malis minimum eligendum. But of these, one being a most certain destructive evill, and the other a certaine good and advantage of the highest nature, it can admit of no deliberation, which of them to embrace: And so much the rather, if we sadly consider of our deplorable & almost desperate condition both at home and abroad, pertinent to the point in hand.

We are all weary of a long and costly Warre (and yet God hath so infatuated many, that though in words they desire, yet in deeds they reject alwayes of Peace, and cast them out of their hands when put into them; as if they delighted to have our Warres spun out (like Amaleck's) from generation to generation. Wee are unable any longer to maintain a Warre, and yet are unwilling to give it over. But I beseech you now seriously to consider into what great straights and difficulties you are already brought, and how the true state of your Affairs stands in relation to your Forces and Friends, both at home and abroad.

There are many thousands of Reformadoes who have formerly served you in your Warres, who lie dayly clamouring at your doores for Arrears, complaining they are ready to starve, and some of them to …ot in prison, desiring but some inconsiderable Summe to satisfie their present necessities, and you returne them answer, you are unable p. 101to raise it; and after many debates upon their generall Ordinance, you cannot in diverse months pich upon any probable meanes to secure their Arreares, amounting (as is conceived) to above two hundred thousand pounds. The Arreares alledged to be due to the Army (who now take free quarter, and eat up the Countries where they lye) amount to above three hundred thousand pounds: and how to raise money to discharge this debt, or so much as to disband the supernumeraries, and reduce the Army into their Winter Quarters, hath put you to a stand for many weeks, and as yet you know not how to doe it: So as free quarter must still continue to ruine us on the one hand, and your debts and arrears be dayly multiplied to undoe us on the other hand. Your Navie is now comming in to harbors, and your Mariners expect a present considerable Sum, amounting to many thousands, to pay them off; and you have not yet one peny in your Treasury to satisfie their arrears, and can pitch upon no way to raise any present monies but onelyonly by the Earle of Arundels Composition; amounting in all but to six thousand pounds, and the moity of it not to be paid till three months end at least. What your other debts of the Navy are, and how many thousand pounds you owe to Mariners, Masters, and Tradesmen, the Committee of the Navie can best informe you. Your debts to your Artificers, Waggonars, and such who have advanced monies upon the Publick Faith, amount to two or three Millions at least: Besides, your debts to Plimmouth and other Garrisons are so great, that they are all ready to mutiny and disband for want of pay. Your Debts to the Souldiers and Officers in Ireland are vaste; and if speedy and large supplies of Men, Provision and Monies arrive not there within one month, Colonell Iones, and your other Officers there professe, the whole Kingdome will be utterly lost: and you (for ought I sinde) have no possible means to supply them with either.

If then your Debts are already so great, to Reformadoes, Tradesmen, the Army, Navie, Garisons, and those who have lent you Monies, that you know not how to satisfie any one of them: If you have not money to pay your Army or Navie at the present, nor to maintaine them for the future why doe you now refuse that Peace which is tendered you upon such great advantages, and chuse a Warre which you know not how to maintaine, and must needs break yours and the Kingdoms backs in few months more? Your credits are quite lost and broken in all places, in City, Country, and the Houses too; You cannot now borrow ten thousand pounds (for p. 102ought I know) upon any suddain occasion, were it to serve the Kingdome: Your breaches of Faith and security heretofore, and clashes with the City, have made you almost Bankrupts, if not altogether. Gold-smiths Hall, the Excise, Camb…en-House and Custom-house are already charged with more Debts then are likely to be paid in many yeares: Compositions are almost at a stand or end: Sequestrations generally disposed of to each particular County, or other uses: Bishops Lands engaged for farre more then they are really worth: You have nothing of your owne or the Publick's left to rais… either present monies, or credit whereon… to borrow them… Besides, the City, Country, and whole Kingdome are how quite exhausted, and almost as poore as naked Iob was. Many Countries of the Kingdome are so impoverished and exhausted with the last Warres, (especially the foure Northern Shires next to Scotland) that (as their Knights and Burgesses assure you) they are so farre unable to pay any Taxes, that they already starve and perish in most places for want of food, and are petitioners to you for some reparation towards their great losses, and present support to keep them from starving. The rich Associated Counties have beene harressed and undone by the last Summers Warres, that they are growne poore, unable to lend or contribute to you any more force or assistance. The excessive dearth of corn and provisions the last year, the great destruction of corn by unseasonable weather this present year, which makes that which is wholesome exceeding deer; The extraordinary rot among sheep, and murraine among cattle (which should raise monies) … Counties; the generall scarcity and decay of Trade by Land, of Merchandize by sea, and apparent probability of their decaying every day more and more, by reason of the revolted Ships and Irish Men-of-warre; and the Sequestrations of the Malignant, and plunderings and losses of the wel-affected Nobility and Gentry have so impoverished all sorts of men, (but the Souldier and Army; and some fow Treasurers and Officers) that they know not how to live or subsist almost, much lesse to lend or contribute to maintaine such a numerous Army by Land and Sea, and supply Irelands pressing necessities. If you cannot tell how to pay your present Debts, what folly is it to augment them for the future? If you cannot pay your Army or Navie now, how will you be able to do it hereafter?

If then you will have no peace with the King upon the Treaty, but break it off, and keep up a Warre and Army still without colour p. 303or reason in this your impoverished and exhausted condition, then mark the consequences: Your Forces being not duly paid, will live upon free-quarter still, and that will undoe the Country, & make them desperate: And when they have eaten out all the poor, then they will mutiny, and fall on all that are rich, put them to present Fines and Ransoms at their pleasure, eat them out of House and home, share their Estates and Offices, which many of them already professe to be thei…s by Conquest; and then the longest sword will be the only true Judge and measure of al mens properties, and divider of their Estates, as well in this as former ages; of which we already begin to feel some sad experiments. And as the Souldier on the one hand, so the penurious poor people in every place, for want of work and imployment, and bread to put into their head, encouraged by the Souldiers uncontrolled insolencies, will fall to plunder and levell all rich men on the other side. And if the Army Remonstrance and Agreement of the People (now in hot persuit) take place, Ministers shall receive no Tythes, Landlords no Rents, Creditors no Debts, and oppressed ruined persons no Law not Justice. Kings must go down, Princes and Peers quite down, Parliaments down, Judges, Justices, Magistrates, Laws, Tenures, Inclosures down, all rich and landed persons down; their very wealth and estates will be sufficient cause to make them Malignants to a starved Peasantry and al-conquering unpaid Army; and then what follows but immediate and irrecoverable ruine? I beseech you therefore consider in what a desperate, hazardous condition we and the whole Kingdom now stand at present; how neer we and Ireland are to the very brink of ruine. If we will now put into that safe and sure harbour of Peace which the present Treaty invites us into, without any further cost, or fear of shipwrack, we may yet through Gods blessing be safe and happy: But if we now wilfully put forth to Sea again, among so many rocks, shelves & quick sands which surround us on every side, and will yet chuse War instead of Peace when the golden and silver nerves that formerly maintained it are quite shrunk up, we can expect nought else but drowning, & sudden shipwrack of all our Kingdoms, Parliaments, Liberties, Estates, and of our Church and Religion too.

Yea, But (say some) though all this be truth, we must not displease the Army,Object. who are our present strength and safety; for then we are are lost indeed.

p. 104I have answered this Objection once before in one sense, in relation to the Treaties satisfactorinesse; I shall here answer it in another. I say then,

1. That we have a God to please, who wil be displeased, if we please the Army in their unjust demands: And better is it to please God, then to please any Army whatsoever: If God be with us, who can be against us? We need no Armies protections, if the Lord of Hosts be our Guardian.

2. We have a conscience to please, as well as an Army; and we must satsifie that, though the Army, (who pretend so much for liberty of conscience, yet will allow us none, or very little) be never so unsatisfied with it.

3. We have a Kingdom, nay three Kingdoms to please, and to save too: And we must rather please and save them, by rejecting the Armies Proposals, which will inevitably ruine them, then please the Army in being any way instrumentall for their destruction, by embracing their destructive counsels: If our Kingdoms be preserved, we may have another Army, though this be disbanded, dissolved, yea destroyed; but if the Kingdoms perish by our pursuing their rash Proposals, we shall neither have Kingdoms: nor yet an Army, nor this Army, who must certainly perish in and with the Kingdoms ruine.

4. We have a Navie to please as well as an Army; and which is more considerable to us then an Army: A new Army may soon be raised, though the old be disbanded; but a Navie being once lost, Ships will not grow again, nor another Navy built in many years. And will not the pleasing of the Army in this, displease and lose the Navy now, as it did the last Summer, to your great losse and danger? And can the Army guard the Kingdom against any Forreign… Invasions if the Navy be lost? No nor treble their number. Look then you please your Navy as well as Army.

5. We have many**See the Remonstrance of the Northern Associations, printed 1647. The humble Petition, serious Suggestions, &c. of the Gentlem…n, Yeomen and Free-holders of the Eastern… Association. hundred thousands of well-affected and cordiall Christians and Covenanters to please, who have adventured their estates, lives, limbs, in the present Cause, and done as gallant Services (many of them) in the Field, both this last Summer and before, as any in this Army, and are considerable for number, quality, estate, wisdom parts, and reall piety and love to the publick Interest, then the Army: all which (I am certain) we shall …ghly discontent, and grieve, nay palpably over-reach and cheat to their very faces, p. 105if we should please the Army in their present demands, to their prejudices, and scandall, and our Religions too. There was no man of publick Spirit that engaged with, contributed towards, or took up Arms in the Parliaments service or Cause at first, but meerly upon these five grounds, expressed in all the Houses Remonstraces, Declarations, Petitions, Protestations, and in the Solemn League and Covenant: 1. To defend and maintain the true Protestant Religion, against Popery, Error, and Superstition. 2. To defend the Kings Royall Person, Dignity, and legall Authority, against violence, treachery, and usurpation. 3. To maintain the Priviledges, Rights and Freedom of Parliaments, and the Fundamentall Laws and Government of the Kingdom, against State-Innovations, and Tyranny. Fourthly, to rescue the Kings person from evill Counsellors; and bring such Incendiaries and Delinquents to condign punishment, Fifthly, to settle the Kingdom in freedom, safety, and peace, against Crueltie, Dangers, and imminent Wars and tumults.

Upon these grounds, and for these ends only, did both Houses, and all who adhered to them, or took up Arms for them, by their Commissions, engage, and so did this**A Collection, pag. 599. 623. very Army. I appeal then to every mans Conscience, Whether the Houses, or any who engaged with them, did ever contribute any Moneys, Plate, Horse, Atms, or march out as an Officer or Souldier under them in these Wars, with any such intention as this, to depose and bring the King to Justice; disinherit the Princes, and Kings posterity; dissolve the present Parliament, and pull all future Parliaments, and' their Priviledges up by the roots, subvert the Fundamentall Government of the Realm, and set up a new representative to dash all these in pieces, and destroy Religion, Magistracy and Ministry? Did they not all abhor and disclaim in Publique all such thoughts and intentition as these? and when objected by the King and his party out of jealousie amd fear; did not the**Exact Collection. p. 298. 657. 658. 695, 696, A Collection, p. 117. Houses presently resent and remonstrate against it as the grossest scandall, and their adherents too? Or would ever a man have engaged with the Houses, or the Houses with them in this War, or enrolled his name even in this New Model'd Army, had he been told at first, That he must fight to depose and bring the King to execution, to dis-inherit his posterity, dissolve this Parliament, and the very Rights, Priviledges, and being of all future Parliaments, to set up a new Government and representative in our Church and State, to alter and change all things at their fancies, p. 306and to break every clauses and article of the Solemn League & Conant? If not one of these was the true end of our Wars and Engagement against the King at first, and all along till now, but the clean contrary to them; then how can they now be propounded as the only fruits of our wars, and means or conditions of our Peace and Settlement? Will they not all say, (if the Houses or Army proceed in their Proposals for Peace and Settlement, mentioned in their last Remonstrance) that they engaged and took up Arms to doe quite contrary to what they now propose to the Houses, and endeavour to enforce them to put it in punctuall execution? And will they not now say, That they are by their originall Engagement and Covenants obliged with their lives and estates to oppose and oppugn the Army in all these particulars; that having thus declared and resolved, they cannot pray for, but against the Armies late successes herein; that they cannot henceforth contribute towards their future pay and support in point of conscience or prudence, but must withdraw and withhold their contributions, and resist them to their Faces, declare their Commissions null, and not look on, or take them as an Army, but as a tumultnous rout of persons, assembled without Commission, to act over Iack Cades Treasons again, and quite pull down that frame of Government and Order which they have been building up and supporting these many years, with such vast expence of Treasure and bloud? Better then displease the ARMY, then that all these Covenanters and Engagers should suffer, to theirs, the three Kingdoms hazard, Ireland's certain losse, and this very Armies overthrow, which these Jesuiticall designs wil certainly destroy in a very short space, if they Iehu-like, drive on so furiously in prosecution and execution of them, as they have done of late.

Consider I beseech you of the desperatenesse and excessive unavoidable destructivenesse of these monstrous wayes to the speedy peace and settlement of our Church and State, and of the safety and security of the things your selves have pitched on for Peace and Settlement in and by the Treaty; and Lord guide our Hearts and Votes a right therein, that we choose not death in stead of life; the wayes of misery and destruction in stead of the way of Peace, which Armies seldom know, or prescribe to themselves or others.