A DECLARATION Of the proceedings in the Kingdom of SCOTLAND, CONCERNING Their Native and Dread Soveraign, Charles Stuart, late King of England; And a Message to His Highnesse the Prince of Wales.
WITH The Declaration of the Marquis of Argyle, and General Leven, concerning the Prince, and their Resolution to oppose the bringing in of the Royall Party.
ALSO, A Letter from the Presbyterian Ministers in the Kingdome of England, to their Brethren of Scotland, touching the Parliament and Army.
And the Answer of the Ministers of Scotland thereunto.
INclosed in a Letter from the City of York, to a Gentleman resident in the City of London.
Imprimatur,
Imprinted at London for R.VV. MDCXLIX.
A Declaration from the North, containing the proceedings of the Kingdom of Scotland, in reference to the late King of England, and the Prince of Wales.
VVHereas the children of prey, and men lately under the pillar and Cloud of hope, of dividing the spoyle of this miserable kingdome, when it should be reduced from under the Iron of enslaving Tyranny and Oppression (betweene which sad condition, and it, there was even now but one step) should again rise up with passionate out-cryes, and be ready to curse the army and their proceedings, and ecchoing forth their poysonous and inveterate ladguage throughout several corners of this Northern Climate, for alienating and withdrawing the hearts of the people from their due and lawfull Obedience to the supream power, and representative Body of this Nation.
But what these meure, are quires no great matter of wonder, or much observation, their actions being apparent to the world, and appearing visible, written in Characters of innocent Bloud, and all their designs, plots and practises tending only to the erecting and upholding of a tyrannical and arbytrary Government, who have bing reat promoters of the late wars against the parl. and kingdom (being of the royal Faction) and are now againe thirsting after the bloud [Page 2]of the Righteous, their present actions being suitable to their former, importing the same justification in these their evill and wicked Designs, as appeareth by their present complottings and under-hand listings in severall parts of Westmerland and Cumberland, using all meanes possible to disturb and inflame the peace of the Kingdom, and Jack Presbyter (we hear) hath sent a Declaratory Letter to his beloved Jockie (viz. the Clergy) Humbly imploring the sad and bleeding condition of the Church of England, occasioned by the present Reformation, by taking off Tythes, and purging of their fat In comes, Requiring their present ayd and assistance, for redeeming of their liberties, &c.
In consideration whereof, we hear that their confiding Brethren do concur with them in their desires, and have returned answer,
That they will leave no means unassayed for restauration of them to their former rights and customes, and restoring of the Church of England to its former splendor and glory; and indeed, they have made a fair progresse in order thereunto; for they begin to open in pulpit, like so many Beagles after their game, stirring up the people to rise as one man, for defence of the Kingly power, Monarchical government, and the solemn League and Covenant. But I am confident, that upon their advance to the English Confines, most of the inhabitants in these parts will generally rise as one man for the parliament and army.
By an Expresse from Barwick, it is advertized, That there is a design agitating in Scotland amongst the great Ones, to invite the Prince of Wales into that Kingdom, and (it is reported) that they are determined to send a message to his Highnesse, the abstract and sum whereof, is said to be as followeth:
That whereas upon mature deliberation and consideration of the present proceedings in the Kingdom of Englaad, in relation to the tryall of their most gracious and dread Soveraigne, and conceiving there is an intent to cut off the Kingly power, and to extirpate the splendor of Monarchicall Government; in consideration whereof, and out of their loyalty to the same, they humbly beseech His Highnesse to repair into his Fathers Native Kingdom, protesting to sacrifice lives and fortunes in the [...]efence of his Royall person, and preservation of his just Rights and privlledges, &c.
But there are divers of the [...]onest party in that Kingdome, who have declared against this grerogative Design; and we hear that the Marq. of Argyle, Gen. Leven, and others, have also declared their discent thereto, which was in these words,
That we shall to the utmost of our lives and fortunes, endeavour the preservation of peace and amity betweene the two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, and that wee do utterly detest and denounce against the bringing in of the malignant and adverse party into this Kingdom, conceiving it to be very prejudiciall and destructive to the peace and tranquility of this Kirk and Kingdom, and that we shall with the hazard of lives and fortunes, endeavour a right understanding between both Nations, against all Dividers and Opposers whatsoever.
This honorable dissent of these two noble Patriots, doth much eclipse and obstruct the present proceedings in Scotland; and its believed, they will be twice ad [...]'d before they enter into an Engagement, the burnt Child dreading the fire. Our Forces goe on very succesfully against the Enemy at Pontefract, which is all at present, from
Severall precepts from the late King of England.
I Shall be very little heard of any body here. J shall therefore speak a word unto you here, indeed I could hold my peace very well, if I did not think that holding my peace, would make some men think I did submit to the guilt, as well as to the punnishment, but I think it is my duty to God first, and to my Country, for to cl [...]ar my self both as an honest man, and as a good King, and a good Christian. I shall begin first upon my innocency, introth I thinke it not very needfull for me to insist long upon this, for all the World knowes that I never did begin a War with the two Houses of Parliament, and I call God to witnesse, to whom I must shortly make an account, that I never did intend to incroach upon their Priviledges they began upon me, it is the Militia they began upon, they confest that the Militia was mine, but they thought it fit for to have it from me, and to be short, if any body will looke to the dates of Commissions, of their Commissions and mine, and likewise o the Declarations, will see clearly that they began these unhappy troubles not I, so that as the guilt of these Enormous crimes that are laid against me, I hope in God that God will clear me of it, I will not, I am in charity; God forbid that I should lay it upon the two Houses of Parliament, there is no necessity of either, I hope they are free of this guilt, for I do believe that ill instruments between them and me hath been the chief cause of all this blood shed; so that by way of speaking, as I find my self clear of this, I hope (and pray God) that they may too: yet for all this, God forbid that I should be so ill a Christian, as to say, that Gods Judgements are just upon me: Many times he doth pay Justice by u [...] just Sentence, that is ordinary; I will onely say this; that an unjust Sentence (meaning the Earl of Strafford) that I suffered to take effect is punished now, by an unjust Sentence upon me; that is, so farre I have said to shew you that I am an innocent man. Now for to shew you that I am a good Christian: I hope there is (pointing to Dr. Juxon) a good man that wil bear me witnesse, that I have forgiven all the world; and even those that in particular, have beene the chief causers of my death; who they are God knowes, I do not d [...]sire to know, I pray God for give them, But this is not all, my Charity must go farther, J wish that they may repent, for they have committed a great sin in that particular J pray God with st. Stephen that this be not laid to their charge; nay, not onely so, but that they [Page]may take the right way to the peace of the Kingdom, for my [...] ty commands me not onely to forgive particular men, but my charity commands to the last gasp, the peace of the Kingdome: So (sirs) J do wish with all my soul, and J do hope there is (turning to some that wro [...]) some here will carry it further, that they may endeavor the Kingdoms peace. Now J must shew you both how you are out of the way; and will put you in a way; first; you are out of the way, for certainly all the way you ever have had as yet as J could find by any, thing is in the way of conquest, Now sir. for to put you in the way, belive it you will never do right, nor God will never prosper you, untill you give God his due, the King his due (that is my successours) and the people their due? J am a: much for them as any of you: You must give, God his due, by regulating rightly his Church (according to his Scripture) which is now out of order. For to set you in away particularly now J cannot but onely this, a national synod freely called, freely debating among themselves, must settle this, when every opinion is truly heard. For King, indeed J wil not, (then turning to a Gentleman that touched the Ax, said, hurt not the Ax that may hurt me (meaning if he did blunt the edge) for the King: the Laws of the Land wil clearly instrvct you for that; therefore because it concerns my own particular, J onely give you a touch of it. For the people, And truly I desire Liberty and freedom as much as any body whomsoever,: but J must tell you, that their Liberty, and their freedom, consists in having of governmen [...]; those laws by which life and their goods, may be most their own. Jt is not for having share in government (sir) that is noting pertaining to them, A subject and a soveraign are clean disterent things, and therefore, untill they do that, J meane, that you do put the people in that Liberty as J say, certainly they will never enjoy themselves. sirs, it was for this that I am come here: If I would have given way to an Arbitrary way, for to have all Lawes changed according to the power of the sword, I needed not to have come here, and therefore I tell you, (and I pray to God it be not laid to your charge) That I am the Martyr of the People. Introth Sirs, I shall not hold you much longer, for I will onely say this to you, That in truth I could have desired some little time l [...]nger, because that I would have put this that J have said in a little more order, and a little better digested then J have done, and therefore J hope you will excuse me. J have delivered my Conscience, J pray God that you doe take those courses that are best for the good [Page]of the Kingdom, and your owne salvations. Doctor Juxon, Will your Maiesty (though it may be very well knowne your Maiesties affections to Religion, yet it may be expacted that you should) say somewhat for the worlds satisfaction.
King. I thank you very nery heartily (my Lord) for that had almost forgotten it. Introth Sirs, My Con [...]c ence in Religion, I think is very well knowne to all the World, and therefore. I declare before you all, that I dy a Christian according to the profession of the Church of England, as I sound it left me by my Father; and this honest man (pointing to Dr. Juxon) I think will witnesse it. Then turning to the Officers said, Sirs, excuse me for this same. I have a good cause, and I have a gracious God; I will say no more. Then the King called to Dr. Juxson for his Night, Cap, and having put it on, he said to the Executioner, Does my haire taouble you? who desired him to put it all under his Cap, which the King did accordingly, by the help of the Executioner and the Bishop, and theing turning to Dr. Juxson, I have a good Cause, and a gracious God on my side.
Dr. Juxson. There is but one stage more. This stage is turbulent and troublesome; it is a short one: But you may consider it wil soon carry you a very great way, it will carry you from Earth to Heaven, and there you shall find a great deal of cordiall, joy, and comfort. King. I got from a corruptible, to an incorruptible Crown; where no disturbance can be, no disturbance in the world.
Dr. Juxon, You are changed from a Temporall to an eternall Crown; a good exchange. The King then said to the Executioner, is my Hair well: then the King took off his Cloak and his George, giving his George to Dr. Juxson saying, Remember me to my Son Charles. Then the King put off his Dublet, and being in his Wastecoat, put his Cloak on again: then looking upon the block, said to the Executioner, you must set it fast. Executioner, It is fast Sir.
King. It might have been a little higher. Executioner. It can be no higher Sir. King. When I put out my hands this way, then — stretching them our. After that, having said two or three words (as he stood) to himself with hands and eyes lifted up immediatly stooping down, laid his Neck upon the Block: And then the Executioner again putting his Hair under his Cap, the King said (thinking he had bin going to strike) stay for the sign. Execut. Yes, I will, and it please your Majesty. And after a very little pawse, the King stretching forth his hands, the Executioner at one blow, severed his head from his Body.