THe greatest service which a Parliament can do to a King, is to let Him understand the disorders of His, State, that by wisdom they may be a­mended: For as every disease ends, either by death or curing; so do disorders (which are the diseases of a State) either end with the Subversion of that State, or else by a Universal Reformation.

Upon serious consideration whereof, and to exo­nerate the people of this Land from the sundry exorbi­tant Oppressions, daily multiplyed upon them, which threatned the ruine of many private Families, and the publike desolation of the Kingdom; We the Com­mons of England, in this present Parliament assembled, Having with much faithfulness and affection to the publike Good of this Realm, labored for these eight yeers last past, with many great fears and dangers; un­dergone many difficulties and calamities, and sup­pressed many distempers and disorders, in opposition to a Malignant Party in this Kingdom; who would have unslaved the bodies and souls of the people of this Nation, by the bringing in of Popery, and see­ing up of Tyranny: Both which we have so amply manifested to the whole world, in our former Decla­rations, as we judg it needless here again to repeat. Yet we cannot be so injurious to Truth, as not to re­member how for the Redress of which Abuses, and for bringing the contrivers thereof to condign punishment, We did often make our just complaints to the King; First, by many humble Petitions, then by Remonstran­ces and Declarations: Which not taking any effect, but justice being still denied us, the main obstructions whereof did constantly flow from the Kings immediate [Page 6]Design, Which divers ways will most evidently ap­pear, if we do but call to remembrance, how he did not only require the English Army raised by his Com­mand, in opposition of the Scots, to march up against the Parliament and the City of London, but practised with the same Scotish Army it self to do the same; of­fering to corrupt them, by the donation of the four Northern Counties, and the Plunder of the City of London. In the second place, how suddenly and unexpectedly he went into Scotland, notwithstanding our earnest Endeavors and Desires to the contary. Thirdly, how he countenanced, if not contrived and authorized that horrid Rebellion in Ireland, wherein were murthered in the Province of Ulster onely (not to speak of the rest of that Kindgdom) and that in the space of eight weeks only, above One hundred and for­ty thousand Protestants, by so many varieties of cruel deaths, as all the first ten Persecutions against the Pri­mitive Christians could never parallel. And lastly, his withdrawing from the Parliament, and setting up of his Standard against it, The like never before practised by the worst of our Kings; by which means the Regal Power (which was intended for the Weal and Defence of the people) being hereby turned against them, ren­dring thereby Ireland (the purchase of our Ancestors) in apparent hazard of being utterly lost, our Trade by Sea and Land to be decayed, our Estates to be wasted, and some hundreds of thousands of our Nation slaughtered and massacred.

We hereupon despairing of any good return of Justice from the King, did appeal unto the great God of Hea­ven and Earth for the same; who after four years Wars, did give a clear and apparent sentence on our side, by delivering into our hands all the Castles, [Page 7]Towns, and Persons of our Opposites, even of the King himself, or forcing them to fly the Land, and in Forraign parts to remain as Exiles.

And whereas it pleased God by these his mercies, to put us into such a condition of power, that if we did not make England the happiest Nation in the world; not onely this present Age, but all Posterity would judge, that either we wanted wisdom to do it, or will to effect it. Yet here again we were encountered with unexpect­ed difficulties, by the apparent defection of some of our own Members, who (not regarding the glory of God, nor good of the Common-wealth, but being carryed away by base avarice, and wicked ambition) did labor the bringing in of the King again, with all his faults, without the least repentance or acknowledgment of his former Transgressions either against God, or his People.

And having to that purpose by many subtilties of theirs, improved their Party amongst us, to a considera­ble number, they endeavored to do that by fraud, which by open force of Arms our greatest Enemies had so often failed in.

To which and, finding that nothing but the Army could obstruct their design, it whom they had observed more then a bare mercenary Spirit, as having by the extraordinary blessing of God finished the War in so short a time after their undertaking of it; Manifesting thereby, That their affections to the publique, exceed­ed that of their particular employment, doing so much service in a few moneths for the Parliament, as if they had plotted to have made themselves uncapable of serving them any longer.

Whereupon they first attempted, to send the great­est part of it into Ireland; the Scotish Army being at [Page 8]the same time possessed of the four Northern Coun­ties, the Person of the King Himself being also in their power; the two Keys of this Kingdom, Barwick and Carlile, in their hands; besides, the Town of Newcastle (being the main and most necessary support of London, and the Southern parts for firing) wholly at their de­votion. All which signified nothing else, then that we should abandon those of our own Blood and Coun­trey (who had faithfully and religiously served us) to cast our selves into the protection of a Forraign Na­tion, who had besides a Forraign Interest.

But failing in this their first attempt, in the second place (after the going home of the Scots) they labor'd to break this Army by Disbanding it, which other­wise (as they feared) would have broken their Designs.

But that not succeeding, their next work was to raise the City of London in actual arms against it: Wherein being likewise disappointed of their expectations, some of them for the same being charged by us with High Treason, and other High Crimes and Misdemeanors; most of them so charged, having left the Land, and some others for the same being imprisoned: The King in the mean time shewing no maner of contrition, or giving the least hopes of any good accommodation, after seven Addresses made unto him in vain.

We thereupon judging it not fit, that the obstinacy of any one man (how great soever) should ruine so many thousand good people of this Kingdom, did Vote, no further Addresses to be made unto Him (as being a Person uncapable of any further Trust:) But did declare, That we would settle the present Govern­ment, in such a way, as might best stand with the Peace and Happiness of this Kingdom.

And which we had long since (by Gods assist­ance) [Page 9]happily effected; had not a Malignant Party amongst the Seamen, the like in the Counties of Essex, Surrey, Sussex, and the City of London; many of which have since been in actual Arms against us, by their pressing and urgent Petitioning of the Par­liament for a Personal Treaty with the King at London, and to disband the Army; thereby divert­ed, and frustrated, our earnest and hearty desires.

Which Petitions of theirs, though most of them delivered in a tumultuous maner; and all of them, in such a way, as if they were resolved to admit of no denial; yet were so countenanced by a disaffect­ed number amongst us (who in all probability did correspond with them in their Engagements) as some of the Petitioners had thanks given them, after they had manifestly broken the Priviledges of Parlia­ment. Besides, the Matter being so repugnant to all Reason, that the granting of it, as the case then stood ( Wales being in some measure revolted, the Scots hourly expected to come in, Kent and Essex in arms, and a very considerable part of the Navy abandon­ing of their Trust) had been at one stroke to undo all that ever God had done for the Parliament, and to render all his Mercies vain and fruitless.

And that we might be the more diverted from settling the Peace of this distracted Kingdom, the said persons (taking advantage of the sundry ingage­ments the Army was then employed about, and that at once, in divers remote parts of the Realm; and of the absence of sundry well-affected Members, acting in their several respective Counties, for the quenching of that flame, which these persons in all likelihood by their artifices had kindled, did by the [Page 10]subtilty of many terrifying Arguments, and threat­ning Petitions (making the world believe, as if there was an impossibility to settle the Peace of the Kingdom without the King) not onely recal those Votes of Non Addresses to the King (made upon such and so many Reasons of great weight and high con­cernment for the good of the people, as unto the least of which they never gave any Answer) but did likewise recal such Members of this House, as stood charged (as aforesaid) with high Treason, and other high Crimes, without Answering or giving any sa­tisfaction to the least part of their Charge.

And notwithstanding that God by the setlement of Wales, the miraculous and speedy reducing of Kent, the defeat of the Earl of Holland, the containing of the major part of the City of London in their due obedience, the confusions arising in the Revolted Navy, the Rendring of Colchester; and lastly, the most incomparable Defeat of Duke Hamilton and his Army, did manifest to Earth, that Heaven was opposite and displeased with those their Councels, and that once more God from above, had given sen­tence for the Parliament against the King.

Yet these Members (as if they would resist the will of Heaven, and in despite of God himself, bring the King home with Honor, Safety and Free­dom) did notwithstanding proceed to make such Propositions to the King at the Isle of Wight, for a safe and well-grounded Peace; as if they had been granted & kept (of which there was no probability) would but have returned the people again to their former slavery; forasmuch as by these Propositions neither this Parliament, nor any succeeding one, was [Page 11]put into a capacity of ever being able to make any good Laws, the King being still suffered to con­tinue his Negative Vote, so long opposed, and so strongly Voted and Declared against by this Parlia­ment, thereby leaving still in his power a check to any just Desire of the people.

Which Personal Treaty thus carryed on, without any one previous Proposition for the honor of the Treators, or security of the things treated for (both which were once thought necessary by those very men, who now gave way to this) as it could not chuse but abundantly satisfie and delight the dis­affected party of the Kingdom; so the good and honest minded people thereof (who had ventured their lives and fortunes with us in the common cause) did apprehend it with much horror, even trembling to consider, That whereas they expected a happy Peace should have been the price of their blood, and the reward of their labors, a peace thus concluded, would have proved but the beginning of their future miseries; and did not stick to com­plain, That hereby we had left them in a far worse estate, after all their Victories, then when they un­dertook the Wars with us in our lowest condition.

Which we cannot condemn them for, when we remember withal, That this Treaty was entertained upon such Propositions, as the King himself also should make; which was formerly held to be so de­structive to any well settled peace, as neither the Houses of Parliament, nor the Commissioners for the Kingdom of Scotland, did think it fitting to ad­mit, when he was in his greatest height of power.

Neither can we believe, That any Agreement we [Page 12]could have made with the King in the Isle of Wight (in the condition he was then in) would ever have been observed, either by himself, or any of his Party. For setting aside the bare name of Honor, Safety and Freedom, which the Treaty did pretend unto, neither the King, nor any of his, did ever hold him in any other condition then that of a Prisoner.

For clearing whereof, besides that in His Message sent to both Houses, October 2. He proposeth to have liberty to come to Westminster, and to be restored to a condition of absolute Freedom and Safety; which can import no other, then that he judged himself at that present (being in the time of Treaty) to be de­prived of both. And His Letters to a prime Magi­strate of the City of London declare, That he held himself at that time as great a prisoner as ever. And the Prince in his Declaration made at Goree, sayes plainly, That the King in truth is still in prison; and invites the Earl of Warwick to joyn with him to rescue his Father from his unworthy imprisonment.

And since inforced Oaths are (in many mens judgments) not necessary to be kept, what assurance could we have, That He (who so often had failed of his promises made to us, when he was free, and at his own disposal) would make that good to us, when he came to be re-established in His Royal Power, which he had obliged himself to do, when he was in durance, and a prisoner.

And since hardly any example can be produced, either Forraign, or Domestick, of any Prince once ingaged in a War with His Subjects, that ever kept any Agreement which he made with them, longer then meer necessity did compel him thereto: The [Page 13]examples whereof to the contrary, are so many and so manifest; and the late bloody violation of the Peace betwixt the Crown of Spain, and those of Naples, is so fresh in our memories, as we cannot expect any Propositions agreed upon at the Isle of Wight, should binde the King more, then the Fun­damental Laws, and Coronation Oath; besides, his often Protestations, and Ingagements in the Name of a King, and of a Gentleman, which He hath so often violated.

And if we had disbanded our Army, is there any thing more probable upon earth, then that the King would have raised another: Which if he should have done, and we not endevored to do the like, what were that neglect, but an apparent betray­ing of our Cause and Trust? Giving up that with­out a stroke, which we had acquired and made good by so many victories. And if we should have taken up Arms, what were it, but putting of the Realm again into a new Combustion? Wherein, whether God would bless us as before, since we made no better use of his former mercies, as it is onely in his Divine Wisdom to determine, so it would be little humane providence or policy in us (if it be not a bold temptation of God) to put it any more to the tryal.

And notwithstanding, that it pleased God so to harden the Kings heart, that he would not abolish Episcopacy, but onely suspend it; and consented, that the Bishops Lands should be let for a long term onely, the old Rents being still reserved for their maintenance; whereas we had sold the said Lands out-right, and the old Rents were all that many had [Page 14]bought of the Bishops Estates; yet so willing were these men to comply with the King, as they were not onely contented that the Buyers (who adven­tured upon the Publike Faith of the Parliament) should be defrauded of their Bargains (some of them wholly, all of them in part) but that Episcopacy it self, which they had Covenanted to extirpate, should yet remain in the root; and a more then pro­bable conjecture, that it might recover it self again.

And whereas the King would not consent to the capital punishment of any one Delinquent (there be­ing onely one offered unto him, namely, David Jenkins (the rest being beyond the Seas, and out of our Power) yet contrary to their Covenant, and con­trary to the main (if not onely) end, of making this War (which was to bring Delinquents to condign punishment,) they did in this also acquiesce in the Kings Answer.

Which in plain terms was to decline the cause of the people, and to assert that of the Kings; betray­ing thereby our own Cause, and justifying His, making that good by this onely action, which our greatest adversaries have ever constantly upbraided us withal; which was, That we had no Justice on our side, because we durst never bring any of them to judgment.

Which Actions of theirs, being apparently con­trary to all that which the Parliament had from the beginning of their troubles held out to the People, and which were the onely Motives to induce them to undertake this War; So as by this means Epis­copacy remaining still in the Root, wanting onely a little warmth of fair weather, to make it bud forth [Page 15]again; and in the interim no care taken at all for the constant settlement of Religion: And on the other side, for want of justice upon the Capital Offendors, all good men discouraged, and even repenting that they had ever undertaken the Cause; which would have been by this Agreement so vilely and une­qually stated, as if the Kings party should be an hundred times beaten, they must be an hundred times indempnified: But on the other side, if the Parliaments Party should happen to be at the loss but once, all the godly people in the Land should have been destroyed for the present, and the very cause of Liberty and Religion it self indangered to be lost irrecoverably for the future.

And whereas God having so eminently owned this Cause, that the Enemy could never prevail a­gainst it, either by open force of Arms, or any se­cret machination of their own devising: Hereby, through the treachery of some, unto whose Trust the defence thereof was committed, the Cause should not onely at this time be utterly lost, but all Poste­rity for ever discouraged to take up Arms, or joyn with a Parliament again; Against whom if for the King any should get the Victory, all Honors, Profits, and worldly Felicities, would consequent­ly offer themselves to be the reward of their labors; and if they should happen to be overcome, there would be no Tribunal on Earth, whereby to punish them, or call them to account for their Actions.

Wherefore, unless we should deny the goodness of our Cause, which God hath adjudged on our side, by the gracious blessings of so many signal Victories; Unless we should betray our Friends, [Page 16]who have engaged with us upon our Votes of Non-Addresses, to the hazard of their Lives and For­tunes; Unless we should value this one Man, the King, above so many Millions of people, whom we represent; and prefer his Honor, Safety, and Free­dom, before the Honor, Safety, and Freedom of the whole Nation; Unless we should scorn and con­temn any Peace, which the great God of Heaven and Earth (our assured help in our greatest distresses) hath given us; and that we must relie onely upon such a Peace, which the King (a mortal Man, and our im­placable Enemy) shall allow us; Unless we should give our selves up to the slaughter, and suffer our own Members to undermine the Parliament and the Kingdoms Cause; Unless we should stake All which we have, to the Kings Nothing, and Treat with him, who hath not any thing to give us; and after God hath put us in Possession of All, and more then we asked, then we must Treat with the King, whe­ther we shall have it or no. Lastly, Unless we should value the blood of so many Innocents, and the Army of so many Martyrs, who have dyed in this Cause, less then the blood of a few guilty persons, by what Name or Title soever stiled, We could do no less then repeal those Votes before specified, as being highly repugnant to the glory of God, great­ly dishonorable to the proceedings of Parliament, and apparently destructive to the good of this King­dom.

Yet we are resolved (by Gods assistance) and that speedily, so to settle the Peace of the Kingdom by the authority of Parliament, in a more happy way, then can be expected from the best of Kings.