Several Propositions to the House of Commons, Text
SEVERALL PROPOSITIONS PRESENTED To the Members of the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS, by Mr. PETERS, Miniſter of the Goſpell of Jesus CHRIST; Concerning the Presbyterian Miniſters of this KINGDOME.
WITH A Diſcovery of two great Plots againſt the PARLIAMENT of ENGLAND:
THE FIRST, By the QVEEN, and the Engliſh Runagadoes in FRANCE.
THE SECOND, By the Lord Hopton, Col. Cartwright, and divers others in the Iſland of JARSEY.
ALSO, A Declaration of His Highneſſe the Prince of WALES in FRANCE.
LONDON, Printed for J. G. Decemb. 1. 1646.
Mr. PETERS REPORTS TO The Honourable Committee of both Kingdomes; concerning the ſpeedy reducing of the Iriſh Rebels.
FIrſt, he deſireth, that there may be a ſpeedy courſe taken for the ſetling of the poore, diſtreſſed, and bleeding Kingdom of Ireland, in peace and unity, & that there may be ſome painfull and religious Miniſters (both Presbyterians and others) forthwith expedited for that ſervice.
Secondly, that all poſſible care may be taken for the ſending over proviſions and other neceſſaries for reliefe of the poor diſtreſſed Proteſtants.
Thirdly, that all Commanders whatſoever that are under the Command of the Parliament of England, may forthwith be ſent over, for the performance of the Great Truſt repoſed in them, that ſo the Cauſe of Ireland may be no longer detarded, but with all faithfulneſſe and expediency performed for the eaſing of our diſtreſſed Brethren from the heavie oppreſſions which they have for many yeares groaned under.
Thus having given you (in briefe) the effect and ſubſtance of the Propoſitions or Report of (the renowned Worthy of our Times) Mr. PETERS, upon Friday laſt, concerning the managing of the Affaires for the Kingdom of Ireland; I will in the next place communicate unto you, the dangerous eſtate and condition of this our native Kingdom of England; by reaſon of the manifold Plots and Conſpiracies which are dayly acting and contriving (by the Enemies of GOD) againſt the Worthies of England, the High and Honourable Court of Parliament: Yet all their Machavillian Plots, and horrid conſpiracies have been fruſtrated, and taken no effect; For when they were in the height of their pride, and (almoſt) upon the finiſhing of their wicked Conſpiracies, it pleaſed God to diſcover and bring to light all their barbarous and inhumane intentions: Yet theſe great and malicious Inſtruments, which have been for many yeares together, the chiefe Diſturbers of the Peace and Tranquility of England, whoſe hearts have bin inveterate againſt the Proceedings of our Renowned Parliament, are now ſtudying, complotting, and contriving how to bring their moſt wicked and bloudy Deſignes once again to perfection, and to ſet footing within this our Realme of England,
But becauſe I will not detract time, nor trouble the Readers patience with too much ſuperfluity of former experiencies, I will confine my ſelfe, and proceed to the enſuing ſubject, which may be tearmed, Englands vigilant Scout, giving Her an Alarum of the warlike preparations that are now beyond the Seas, not onelyonly by a forreign Enemy, but by Her Native Branches, which I will here inſert, and faithfully communicate, as followeth:
The Nobility and Gentry of this Kingdom of England, which for a long time had ſo inveterately engaged themſelves in a deſperate warre againſt the Parliament, are very active beyond the Seas in the Kingdome of France, and other Parts, and are complotting and laying their heads together, how they may contrive & raiſe a new war in England, uſing their utmoſt endeavours, (by way of entreat) for the gathering of an Army together: And to that end, the greateſt part of the Nobility and Gentry, together with all the Collonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Majors, Captains, and other inferiour Officers, which were Runagadoes from their Native Country, having formerly had the honour of great truſt and eminent places repoſed to their Charge, began to recollect their memories, and to bethink themſelves of the gallant dayes which they once enjoyed within the Realm of England; and therefore, having ever ſince their departure from this Kingdom bin much perplexed in mind, joyntly concluded, that if it were poſſible for them to raiſe a Party, and ſome certain ſums of mony, they would venter once again to ſteere their Coaſt towards the Confines of England; And for the better effecting of their Deſign now in agitation, the Queen doth endeavour to uſe her utmoſt power for the effecting of it, as formerly ſhe hath done.
But it is very probable that their Deſigne will bee ſoon fruſtrated, and all their Plots and Conſpiracies utter confounded; for one ſtorme hath already appeared againſt them, and no doubt, but many more will ſuddenly ariſe) ſo that there is ſmall hopes of their attempting any thing againſt this Kingdome, by reaſon of a Controverſie and Diſputation that hath lately aroſe between the Queen and her Confeſſour at St. Iermans, who at a late meeting, told her, that her proceedings were not well approved of, and that he thought She began to incline towards the Church of England, and to deſert the Church of Rome: At which words, her Majeſty being ſomwhat diſpleaſed, replyed and declared her ſelf in this manner: That for her Religion, which Shee was alwayes brought up in from her Infancie, She were reſolved to live and dye in; And for his Objections againſt her, in being pleaſed to ſay, that it was not allowable for Her, to permit or ſuffer any of Her ſervants & followers liberty to aſſociate themſelves with the Heretikes in any publike place or meeting whatſoever; to which her Majeſty anſwered, That Shee were reſolved to grant them free liberty of Conſcience; intimating, that when ſhe were in England, all her followers in geral… had liberty and tolleration to uſe their owne wayes and conſciences, without any diſanulment or interruption at all, and in conſideration thereof, ſhe were reſolved to grant the ſame liberty to Her Royall Soveraignes …iends, and Hers, in France, as they fo…merly have had in England. Thus having expreſſed her ſelf ſo reſolutely unto her Confeſſour, hee tooke his leave, and being much perplexed in mind retyred out of the roome, being in a great fury: what the iſſue of this Diſcord and Contention may ariſe to, I cannot as yet aſſure you. Therefore, in the next place, be pleaſed to take notice, that his Highneſſo the Prince of VVales is very much perplexed in mind, and cannot approve of the French faſhions nor wayes, but declares himſelf in oppoſition againſt them.
Thus having given you the chiefeſt Obſervations and remarkableſt Paſſages that have happened within the Kingdome of France, ſomewhat reflecting upon the Peace and Tranquility of England, I cannot but put you in mind of another buſineſſe of great concernment, worthy of your obſervation, and hath ſome reference to the former. But drawing to a period, I will only give you a hint of it and briefly intimate unto you, as followeth:
From Iarſey we are advertiſed, That the Lord Hopton, Colonell Cartwright, and divers other Commanders are very active in the ſaid Iſland, both in furniſhing of themſelves with Ammunition, and alſo in keeping their men together (which is ſuppoſed for ſome deſigne againſt the Parliament of England.
Hopton hath cauſed two or three Powder Milles to be made, and are continually in action with them.
They keepe ſeverall ſtrong Holds about the Iland, and are ſuppoſed to be about two thouſand ſtrong, all compleatly armed, being gallantly experienced in the Diſcipline.
The Holds that they keepe are of great ſtrength, moſt of them being ſcituated upon great Rockes, and incompaſſed with the Sea; ſo that it is to be feared, it will bee a long time before they are brought to the obedience of the Parliament; unleſſe upon compoſition.
But why theſe Gariſons ſhould be maintained and kept in a defenſive and warlike poſture againſt the Parliament, is not as yet known: but we may conceive (and it is too apparent) that they have ſome Deſignes in agitation againſt the Parliament of England; for who can be ſo deluded, as to thinke that they will ſtill keepe theſe Holds in defiance, and to endanger both lives and fortunes, but only they have a ſecret Conſpiracie amongſt themſelves; and no doubt, but their horrid Plots, and deſperate deſignes, will at the laſt be brought to light, and to their everlaſting ſhame, be made manifeſt to the whole world.
They are very vigilant, and will not ſuffer a Fiſherman to go to the Sea, without ſevere examination and diligent ſearch.
Hopton hath again renewed his inveterate malice againſt the Parliaments friends, and hath diſarmed all the well-affected throughout the whole Iſland.
FINIS.
End of the text · Hugh Peters, Several Propositions to the House of Commons (1646)