SInce Great Britain hath been elevated all along the stems of Plantagenet, Theodor or Tedor, and Stuart, to so high a Tree of Tyranny as she was afore the late wars; the Princes had designes pro­portionable to a way of making [Page 2]themselves absolute Governours; which overture hath appeared more or less, according to the humour of times, and inclination of the Guiders of the Stern: for some indued with ability and craftiness necessary to settle an usurped ambi­tion, whilst the people were wil­ling to beare the load of that bur­den, have made a progress so poli­tickly to bring their aims to the mark shot at, that they have so sub­tilly dissembled the enterprise, as no notice or scandal arrived at their doors, nor impatience to the three Countreys of England, Ireland, and (since the access of the Family of the Stuarts) to Scotland; until King James, for hatred of his Mothers death, plotted the ruine of Parlia­ments, which ratified Queen Maries execution; and left it as his Testa­ment for his successor to follow; dictating, not long afore his death, [Page 3]to Williams Arch-Bishop of York, the course he should steer to bring his counsel to conclusion. This de­villish advice thrust on this wilful Prince with an inconsiderate fury; and, inflamed with that fire, to set­tle to himself and his successors an unbridled power of dominion; which hurried him on with the whirlwinde of passion, to discover the mystery which ought to have been concealed till the designe should be accomplished. Where­fore, of this number in our days was Charles the first, who, from the beginning of his Government, blaming the moderation of his predecessors, resolved to go a way contrary to the stream of a pious Rule, and the command of God; and act, during his time, that which God would not suffer to be done in many ages past. And because the pretention is always encumbed, [Page 4]when the object cannot be attain­ed; by wicked advice perceiving he had not so well marched to ac­complish his drifts, with the just power of Parliaments, which might found a Trumpet in the behalf of a Commonwealth, by advice of his Antecedent and his wicked adhe­rents, laboured to raze out the memory, breaking up two Parlia­ments; and not satified therewith, to practise Tyranny, kept the Na­tion neer fourteen yeers without such most lawful Assemblies, where the Rights of the Nation might be discovered, and true Liberty ap­pear. This he did, that the power of Law, and property of the Sub­jects estates, might be inclosed in his sole Arbitrary brest. To that purpose, he made his Sycophants of the Council-Table, Judges of the Right of his people, the Star-Cham­ber the Executioners of his un­bridled [Page 5]will, and the High-Com­mission the destroyers of Piery and Religion: which three though he revoked by Acts, yet being angry with himself for so doing, he raised a War, to make abortive all he had done, by an armed power, although he seemed willing to affect it afore: therefore, pursuing the former series of his will for a Law, Charles quar­rels first with the Gentry and Peo­ple about Coat, Conduct, and Ship­money, and plotted with his wicked Council that a thousand Germane Horse, in the nature of Trayle Bat­toun, should take every one denied to give him money, or that would not subscribe to his endless will and easeless power, to be hurried to Prison, there to end their days; (some of them being so barbarously used.) This unjust resolution he took upon him, unless they yeelded to his unsatiable desires: by which [Page 6]means, the eyes of many of the triple Nations were sealed, as pigeons are used for traines to devouring Hawks to plume and prey on. This struck such a Pannick fear, that they ima­gined all power consisted in the Diadem, to be at his mercy, be­cause they were ignorant of their Rights, which were usually disco­vered in Parliaments, by some pra­ctised in the Records. But behold! God raised up some Heroes within the doors of the Representative, and without, to awaken the people from a dead sleep; or rather, to cure them of a disease of lethargy: who rouzing like Lions let loose out of a Den, op­posed this most wicked Oppression; by which way, they certainly fulfil­led Gods determination upon the seventh Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter (being Sabbattical) since the beginning of the world, to bring down the Mountain of Monarchy, [Page 7]which had continued more then five hundred yeers; to depress the ex­tortion practised in Europe from Charlemain's Age; a Symptome and Harbinger for France, Spaine, Ger­many, Turky, and Papacy, to change from an unbridled power, to an Aristocratical, or Plebeian way of rule, which will better advance the Kingdom of Jesus Christ thorow the Universe: whereby it appeares, that England, (by Gods assistance) may be the elder brother, to bring to pass so mighty an alteration on the the stage of Christendom.

By divers ungodly Sophisms of State, for the space of ten yeers, King Charles raised up innumerable Projectors and ungodly burdens, to enthral the Nations, by an Arbitrary way; imposing Monopolies & many unlawful Taxes, under which they remained without remedy of relief; the eyes and eares of all in high au­thority [Page 8]being blinde and deaf, not to hear nor see Petitions of just complaints, insomuch that the peo­ple generally cried out, Where are our Laws? and demanded if all Justice were banished out of their quarters; and, with eyes lift up to Heaven, desired that those caterpil­lers might not swell too big, like a Spleen, to bring a Consumption to the whole body; praying also that their empty purses might not be fil­led with blood, although their eyes with tears.

Now this miserable condition (perceived by the wrinkles sorrow made on the brow of our disorder­ed affaires, all wise counsels banish­ed, and the reputation of a pious State withered) was augmented by King Charles his imposing the Common-Book of Prayer on the Scots (wherein God seemed to be deaf a time, for the sins of this Na­tion, [Page 9]multiplied against the Divine Majesty; yet at last he heard the prayers of the Saints, that the Scotish men could not endure this imposition so Diametrically oppo­site to the Kirk, and disposition of the Nation.)

This Stratagem was by the arti­fice of Laud Arch-Bishop of Can­terbury, to bring into the Coun­try Episcopal Government, to unite both Kingdoms in one forme of Church, in something agreeable with Rome, as a bridge over which he might bring both people to Po­pery, to ingratiate himself with the Pope for a Cardinals Cap.

Lo, how Charles and Scotland dif­fered in this wide field of behavi­our: the interest of the King made Will a Law, and the other avoided such a Slavery: the issue was, (growing by this Edict obstinate) they could not endure it. But [Page 10]King Charles persisted in his wilful determination to finde out this sub­ject to work the effects of his in­dignation upon; so that this occa­sion was fitly presented to his wishes, to raise an Armed Power to subdue them to his unbridled Pleasure. But when this War exen­terated his Coffers for lack of Mo­ney, he was constrained, nolens vo­lens, to call a Parliament, by the advice of the fomer wicked Coun­seller, who perswaded him to it; making the King believe that at his pleasure he might on all accasions break the neck of such Assemblies. In the mean while, the enterprise was hatched on the basis of a con­trariety of inclination, by which he might set a bone to divide and go­verne both; because that Nation, by the immense bounty of King James, was grown exceeding rich; which sowed seeds of envy in Eng­land [Page 11]to oppose the Scot. But by this Parliament, God (who hath sole power in sublunaries) turned this cross blow to the good of both, to enlarge the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for the Liberty of England and Scotland.

But because the errand of my Discourse is not solely to shew the abuses of State, but rather by reckoning up a brief Catalogue of some, to demonstrate and delineate the just Judgement of God on the Family of these Stuarts, for Cru­elties and Murthers one of another; that we may raise up our praises to God, who out of the ashes of intended ruine, hath made the Source of so glorious a State as now is planted on our English Stage, wherein God findes this Common­wealth very consistent with his ad­equate glory in consummating the fulness of the Gentiles, and calling [Page 12]home of the Jews, foretold in the Scriptures, to be performed in the latter Ages of the World; to the intent Promises and Prophecies should be accomplished, for the Dominion of Christ to extend to the ends of the earth, that those who sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, may be brought into a more perspicuous light, to follow the steps Christ hath traced out for all to walk in; which the over-grown pride of Kings and Emperours would not submit to.

Therefore to demonstrate and observe, how the Almighty hand of God hath determined the ex­tirpation of the Royal Stock of the Stuarts, for murthering one of ano­ther, for their prophane Govern­ment, and wanton Lasciviousness of those Imps ingrafted in that Stock; I am forced to raise the fa­brick of this Relation higher by [Page 13]the fourth Story, and last staire of the great Grand-father of Charles the first; who was slaine at Muscle-borough-field by the English Ar­my, under the command of the Earl of Arundel and Surrey. This King, I say, left a sole Daughter, Mary Suart, Inheritrix of that Realm; who, when she attained of Viripotency, was sought for a consort to the Dolphin of France; which title of right belongs to the first Son of the King of that Crown. This Prince, after the Marriage, ended his days by a shiver of a Launce, at the sport of Tourney in Paris. A Match contrived by the French, for the Scots to be Goads in our sides, to hinder our in­vading of France, to which we had a just Title.

But this Mary deprived of her mate by this sad accident, living some few yeers in the French Court, [Page 14]where she was educated in the School of Venus, proved an apt Scholar in that wanton Academy; and affecting in her inclination to be more absolute in her passion of Love to chuse without controul a Paramour sutable, when, how long, and who she pleased, grew weary of the delights of Paris, desiring vari­ety, returned into Scotland, where she had more power; she being constant in nothing but in Incon­stancy: A place where the amorous way was much in esteeme, though the Church-Government somewhat hindered it; which was then not of such force as since.

This Princess cast her glances everywhere about, to finde a beauty fit for her imbrace; and at last fixt her liking on the Lord Darnel, of the House and Family of the Stuarts of Boote in Scotland; whose Ancestors were there famous, contesting long [Page 15]ago for the King with one Wallis in their home-bred broiles, who sided with the people. To say truth, this Lord was a goodly and amiable person, fit for any Com­peership, how great soever: but after some time, this Princess (soon satiated) grew weary of the conjun­ction, by reason of a servant she entertained, called David Ritsoe, an Italian Musician, who exceled in the Airs of Italy above others in that Faculty: who inchanting the Queen with his voice, made her think there was no happiness but in his approach into her Cabinet (a place wherein she continually re­sided:) but from thence the Lord Darnel was banished above nine months; divorced from her in joy, although he sought divers means in vaine.

At last, for a medicine to reme­dy his discontent, one Dowglas ad­ministred [Page 16]Physick for his cure, to amove Ritsoe from the Queen, and put the Lord her husband into her armes. So violent was the Ingre­dience, that Ritsoe was taken from this Princess by twelve arrived Lords, and their retinue, who put her into the Lords armes; killing Ritsoe, laid his dead body on the same trunk was his bed the first night he arrived to the Queens ser­vice. But there was much adoe, afore this Tragedy was acted. To understand this better, this Dowglas, an Agent for the twelve banished Lords out of Scotland to return, could not effect it, unless the Lord Darnel undertook the accomplish­ment upon the former condition, to dispatch Ritsoe from Court. But they being jealous of Darnels pro­mise, not fixt in other Puntilio's, would not believe him, till, prick­ing his fingers, he wrote an assurance [Page 17]under his hand with blood, in a paper, really to effect it: which was acted, when the Queen leaned on Ritsoes shoulder, at the game of Pri­mero with the Earl of Morton Chan­cellor of Scotland; who cherished this unlawfull familiarity: a verity justi­fied on Oath by Darnel, and one of the twelve Lords, the Lord Ruthin, at his execution on the Scaffold, a place where dying men speak true.

This Lady very sorrowful, reti­ring to Sterlin Castle, shortly after was brought abed of King James; but took no delight in her husbands company: for the Lord Bothwel be­came a new Corrival in her affecti­on; who both consented (as Germa­nicus wife with Sejanus, after she had been lascivious with him) to blow up her husbands body with Gun-powder; who was cast dead on a tree next morning: a spectacle made Scotland amazed at so fearful a [Page 18]murder. By this most wicked de­signe, she grew so contemptible to her Realm, that she was fain to flee to Queen Elizabeth for succour: but lo, some yeers afore, severall Trea­sons were here discovered, that this Mary set the Traytors awork to take away our late Queens life; who were afore condemned for Traytors, and suffered death: for this Mary was the next pretender to the Crown, from Henry the seventh: but God prevented it, by her Privy Council (counted the wisest of all Europe) who counselled Elizabeth to con­demn her, to free England from Trea­sons against her Person. But the sage Princess conjectured, if the death should be by her Edict, it might raise the hatred of forraine Princes against her; and therefore caused the sentence onely to be ratified by Act of Parliament, the Vote of the whole Realm, insomuch that a [Page 19]mock-Secretary (called Davison) was chosen to go to Fotheringham, where she was rewarded with a Hatchet: a just Judgement of God on her.

After this, King James (being about sixteen yeers old) was crown­ed, and had for Tutor one Bohan­non, called amongst us Buchanan; a learned Divine, and wise, to train up young Princes; whose Books are famous through this part of the world. This prudent Schoolmaster observing the young Prince's facili­ty to signe any Grant for his Ser­vants without reading, by which means he had pardoned many mur­thers, and passed other Instruments of damnable consequence to the Commonwealth; in which this Tutor imitated Theodosius's godly fraud, to discerne the hearts of his Courtiers soundness in Religi­on; who having taken great pains with the King from his childhood, [Page 20]desired a boon, which King Iame was willing to grant; therefore one morning the king going out early a hunting, Buchanan brought an abso­lute resignation of his kingdom, with all Immunities to it; which was signed without aspect. At night, returning from field-sports, retiring usually afore supper to read some profitable Author, which his School­master chose; all shut out of the Cmhaber, Buchanan sate down in the kings Chair, and told him that he was king, giving him the writing to peruse; which reading, he shed tears for his folly; yet Buchanan after com­forted him, and charged his Scholar not to signe any Grant but what was just; and so threw the Grant of all Scotland into the fire.

About this time, Queen Anne was brought out of Denmark for a match; a Lady of a goodly presence, beautiful eyes, and strong to be joyned with a [Page 21]Prince young, and weak in constitu­tion; an union unsutable, for a Vira­go to couple with a Spiny and thin Creature; a course made her fancy work as a Fat, for to further a fe­male content; and placed in her de­light one Master Stuart, of the house the Earle of Murry. His haunting her Chamber too sedulously, bred such a jealousie in King Iames, for to impart his thoughts to Marquess Huntly, and get dispatched this Stuart out of the way, burning his house, and himself in it. After whose death, the Queen found others to satisfie her unruly appetite, as name­ly the Earle of Gowry, a Lord of a comly visage, good stature, and of an attracting allurement; who upon King Iames suspition of often soci­ety with the Queen, converted to the Poyson of hatred the friendship and love of the Earl; causing Ramsey, after Earl of Holderness, with others, to [Page 22]murther Gowry in his own house; giving it out for a stale, that the Earl with others would have killed him; And to make his falshood appear odious in shape of truth, appoin­ted the fifth of August a solemne day of Thanksgiving for his supposed delivery; and in this mocked the God of Heaven.

After this, the Queen entertained into her service one Mr. Beely a Dane, to whom she bore an affection; this Gentleman came with her into Eng­land, and grew more entire in her thoughts; with whom I had a fa­miliarity, to be a Commissioner for him in a Grant his Mistress procured for him of King Iames, of felons goods in divers Counties; who in great secrecie discovered to me, he was naturall Father of King Charls; but waxing old, the Queen took two proper Gentlemen of the House of Bohannon to her service: these being [Page 23]partners in her affection, fell out in a Duell, and killed one another for priority in her love.

Not long after Gowries death, Prince Henry was born at Edinburgh; whereupon, Queen Elizabeth sent the Earl of Sussex Ambassadour, to con­gratulate this birth, and be Godfa­ther, with a gallant retinue: but Scot­land being poor, and the king want­ing money to discharge the glory of such a Royal entertainment, the Earl of Orkney, a Bastard of the former king's, pawned his Estate in the Islands of Scotland, to raise a great sum to discharge the Christening. Be­hold, how King James did not onely not disengage this Morgage, but suf­fered this Earle to die in Prison at Blackness neer Edinburgh-Castle: an ingratitude indelible for after-ages to detest.

I omit the Murders, Inchantments, Witcheries, committed by his Pre­decessors, [Page 24]of weight enough, without more, to pull down that House.

But Henry the fourth of France be­ing informed of this congratulation, and conceiving it to be a step to unite England and Scotland in one Government, Elizabeth waxing old, sent a Letter of incouragement to King James, to joyn with him in re­venge of his Mothers death; who replied, (as the true Copy expressed) that he would not fall at difference with Elizabeth, since he was now more secure in his Throne, then in his Mothers time; intimating he was not sorry for her amovall; for her life might have procured his ruine.

Elizabeth, after fourty yeers Reign, was moved by her privy Council to settle King Iames for successor: who said, she would not erect a Monu­ment in her life, for a follower to ex­pect her end. She was a Lady adorn­ed with Majesty, Learning, Lan­guages, [Page 25]Wisdom, and Piety; yet fear­ful of death; for she hated any word tended to it; as shall be manifest by Roger Lord North, when carving one Day at Dinner, the Queen asked what that covered dish was; he lift­ing up the cover, replied, Madam, it is a Coffin; a word moved the Queen to anger: And are you such a fool, said she, to give a Pie such a name? This gave warning to the Courtiers not to use any word mentioned her death. But this prudent Prince died after fourty four yeers compleat; and king James was proclaimed about the last of March, 1602. king of England, by his privy Council, assisted by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Robert Lee. In May after, he entered, met with many Nobles and Gentlemen; the Sheriffs attending him in every County from Berwick: so that there was a general applause, and Royal entertainment, at his entrance into [Page 26]the Charter-house in London; yet ominously attended with a great Plague of three thousand dying in a week in the City. This Union gave a grand expectation of tranquillity to both kingdoms. To effect this better, he called a Parliament lasted seven yeers, and raised many Subsi­dies, with great sums left by his Pre­decessor; which vast treasure was all bestowed on the needy Scots, who, like Horse-leeches, sucked the Ex­chequer dry; so that Honour and Offices were set to sale, to fill the Scots purses, and empty the kingdoms treasure. This caused a by-word, That the Exchequer reached from Lon­don to Edinburgh. This was not suf­ficient to gorge their insatiable re­quests, but many Monopolies like­wise were erected, my self after re­porting thirty two Patents to the Parliament in decimo octavo Iacobi.

The Queen deprived of the night­ly [Page 27]Company of a husband, turned her delight to the Prince, whom she respected above her other children: finding him too serious, diverted him from so much intensiveness, to an amorous gesture, in which the English Court took great pride. To that purpose, she initiated him in the Court of Cupid; as one night she shut him under lock and key in a chamber with a beautiful young Lady now dead; which shewed her love to the sport: indeed, morelikea Bawd; than a discreet Mother, who is bound to season her children in ver­tue, while young, that they may hold the taste in age: whose example, in vertue or vice, might draw a world to follow the pattern. But after, Prince Henry fell mortally sick of a supposed Fever, but not without suspition of poyson. A Prince, whom all Europe expected to be the promoter of some great and famous action, be­cause [Page 28]his inclination was bent to the Martial art above his yeers, and also excelled in matters of State, both in discourse, and choice of ablest com­pany; which he much delighted in, for advice and counsel. This ripe­ness in judgement, and dexterity in Souldiery to form Models of any sort of Battels, stirred up king Iames to suspect the Prince might depose him; especially knowing he was not begot of his body. This caused the Lord Saintcleare, then Ambassadour in Denmark, not to be ashamed to challenge Prince Henry to be his own son, to English and Scots there arrived: so that by some Pill or other the Prince came to his end. This was plainly shewed, when he was cut up to be imbalmed, his brain was Liver-hued and putrefied; an argument of poison, as was affirmed by a most learned Physician, Butler of Cambridge. Now king Iames, more [Page 29]addicted to love males then females, though for complement he visited Queen Anne, yet never lodged with her a night for many yeers. Where­upon, Gundamore observing how king Iames was addicted, told him that the Lady Hatton would not suffer the Lord Cook her husband to come into her fore-door, nor he himself to come into her back-door. ( Hatton and Ely houses joyning together, where they dwelt; she denying him a passage backward to take air.)

Now that the fruit of Mortality might declare humane frailty, Queen Anne, who had trod so many stately footings in masks of Court, Beauty fading, strength faling, and youth metamorphosed to yeers, health to sickness, being haunted with a lingering sickness, which contracted her end. For Doctor Upton at his death (not long afore the Queen's) declared a Skeleton being in her [Page 31]womb, proves she was with childe, and that Physick had destroyed it, and so the Skeleton remained; which was laboured to be purged away, but all in vain, rotted in her. Of this Docter there was a jealousie of re­vealing it, for which his passage was made to another world, as his tongue to me at his death uttered; who mar­ried my neer kinswoman.

The Queen departed, the King sold his affections to Sir George Villi­ers, whom he would tumble and kiss as a Mistress. This favourite had erected many Monopolies; who finding Parliaments hindered his profit, caused his Master to dissolve those Patents, and break up the Parliament of decimo octavo; raising a number of Privy Seals, which were borrowed and never paid.

And to adde to the iniquity of the times, divers Incests were then pardoned: insomuch as two Gentle­men [Page 30]who married two sisters one after another, got License at New­market not to be molested in the High-Commission. But above all, a godly Minister in Lincolnshire was barbarously murthered by one Cart­wright, whom King Iames pardoned. The reason of this murther was, for rebuking him of swearing, drunken­ness, and whoring.

At this time were many pious Di­vines silenced by the Bishops, who inhibited preaching in the after­noon; divers Exercises in several Towns commanded downe: an oc­casion bred much prophaness in England; king lames allowing dancing about May-poles, and so winked at breaking the Sabbath; a vice God curseth everywhere in Scripture.

What shall I say more? All im­piety was incouraged in such a sort, that lawful Mariages were divorced [Page 32]or nullified; as namely, the Coun­tess of Essex from the Earl of Essex, late General for the Parliament; al­ledging the Lord had a defect, and was not able to perform the act of generation; (although the contrary was after proved) to make a gap for Somerset's adultery, by a Nullity which Bishop Bilson devised; a nick­name being given for this to his son, who was rewarded with Knight­hood; and therefore stiled by the people, Sir Nullity Bilson. This Bishop maintained Christs personal descen­tion into hell: an opinion disavowed by all Orthodox Divines. And many other false opinions were maintained in that age; as, that Solomon was damned, an Amanuenses of the Scri­pture.

The second example is the Lord Riches Lady, named Penelope; who was divorced, to make way for the Lo. Montjoy's lust, Earl of Devonshire.

[Page 33] What shall I say more? Did not king Iames his minions and fa­vorites rule the kingdom in the per­son of the king, who were five in number, since his approach upon English ground? to wit, Sir George Humes Earl of Dunbar, Sir Philip Herbert after Earl of Montgomery and Pembrook, Sir Iames Hayes Earl of Car­lile, and Sir Robert Car Earl of Som­merset, who defiled his hands in Overbury's death; that wicked divorce ushering the murther. This Sommer­set being elected of the Council, fur­nished his Library onely with twenty Play-books and wanton Romances; and had no other in his Study. A Lord very like to give wise counsel! This Lord, with his Lady, were questioned for the murther; and the Lieutenant of the Tower, Sir George Elloways, was hanged, but for concea­ling of it: king Iames being willing [Page 43]with this accusation, to make pas­sage for another favorite, which was Sir George Villiers, after Duke of Buckingham, who by his greatness vitiated many gentile and noble vir­gins in birth, though vitious for yeelding to his lust; whose great­ness opened the door to allure them more.

To please this favorite, King Iames gave way for the Duke to en­tice others to his will. Two exam­ples I will recite: first, the King entertained Sir Iohn Crafts, and his Daughter, a beautiful lass, at New­market, to sit at the Table with the King. This he did then, to procure Buckingham the easier to vitiate her. Secondly, Mrs Dorothy Gamay, being a rare creature; King Iames carried Buckingham to Gulford, to have his will on that Beauty: but Sir Nicho­las Bacon's Sons conveyed her out of [Page 35]a window into a private chamber, over the leads, and so disappointed the Duke of his wicked purpose. In which cleanly conveyance, the Au­thor had a hand, with the Knights Sons. Truly, that day a sober man was hard to be seen, in King, Prince, and Nobles. Moreover, it was an art King Iames used for these favourites, to be skreens to decline the hatred of his People; when complained of in Parliament, and when questioned, they were spunges to be squeezed to to fill his Coffers.

One story I wil relate, more remark­able then the rest; the king very ti­merous of death from the contriv­ings of Pope and Spaine, wrote a Let­ter to the Pope that he would tolerate Popery when he brought affaires to his bent in Great Britaine. The Let­ter discovered by a lucky chance, to the seven yeers Parliament, and com­plained [Page 36]of in the Remonstrance to the king, he made the Scotish Se­cretary own this act, and affirm it was his, and not the kings; promi­sing him to take him off at last with advancement: but contrary, it occa­sioned the Secretaries ruine.

Here, by the way, I must play the Cook, to lard three several occur­rences not impertinent to the matter in hand. The first was, that Secre­tary Winnode took a bribe of 20000 pound, to redeliver the four Cautio­nary Townes in Holland to the Dutch; which we now may see might have curbed the States from prejudicing England. Another was, king Iames his weakness, to give way to Gunda­more to take away Sir Walter Raw­liegh's life; who might have vexed Philip the second of Spaine. A third was, to sell Iron Ordnance, & disco­ver the art of their Carriages; which [Page 37]all the world was ignorant of.

This last favourite, George Duke of Buckingham advanced to such po­wer with his Mother, rewarded the king with poyson, by a poysoning water, and a plaister made of the Oyle of Toads.

This Duke, from a private Gen­tleman with an annuity of thirty pound a yeer for life, was raised to such a mount of glory and power, to be Master of Horse, Master of the Wards & Liveries, Admiral of Eng­land, and Lord Warden of the Cinq­ports. A Lord tall of stature, amiable countenance; who, like a ravenous kyte, ingrossed all into his hands, to inrich and advance his kindred, and to place and displace whom he listed: so that this Lord was grown so potent, his Master stood in awe of him, in such sort, that when the king was sick of the Gout, [Page 38]he would remove him from place to place at pleasure, against the kings will: who, to work his ends, wrought into favour with the rifing Phebus, king Charles. The king prying into this way of his Successor, set a bold Courtier, Doctor Turner, a float, to bring the Earl of Bristol (then out) to launch into favou; but the Duke complying with Turner, perceived the plot against him, wrought by a countermine, by Charles the chief Engineer: but the Dukes drift was, after king Iames his death, to make himself king of Ireland; and there­fore he was stiled Prince of Typera­ria, an appendix to that Throne. This made the Duke swell like a Toad, to such a monstrous proportion of greatness in vast thoughts, as muiti­plying to an ocean, from the rivers of pride, power, and ambition, he sate as a Gyant on the shoulders of [Page 39]king Iames, and drowned his power; limiting no bounds to his over­flowing will: whose vertue and good nature being corrupted by so wicked a life, turned love into hatred, obe­dience into rule: for after he had dispatched the Duke of Richmond, Marquess Hamilton, the Earl of Southampton and his son, by poyson, (as by Doctor Eglestons relation plainly appeared to the Parliament; whom he caused to be killed in for­r [...]ine parts, for discovering the vil­lany;) Thus filled with venome of greatness, he made no bones to send his Master packing to another world, as appeared plainly in Par­liament, by the witness of divers Physitians, especially Doctor Ramsey, in full hearing at a Committee. Wherefore, for this & other crimes, he was impeached in the beginning of King Charles his Government: [Page 40]and though King Charles was bound to prosecute King Iames and the o­ther Lords death, committed con­trary to all the laws of God and Na­tions; yet King Charles, to save the Duke, dissolved the Parliament, and never after had the truth tryed, to clear himself from confederacy, or the Duke from so hainous a scan­dal. Now let all the world judge of Charles his carriage, whether he were not guilty of conniving at so foul a sin, though not of the death: so that covering his Lyon-like disposition with appearance of a Lamb, he proved like Nero the Tyrant, that in the Parliament of the Petition of right, shewing himself in his lively colours: for displaying the Banner of Tyranny, he put an end to the meeting, & imprisoned divers mem­bers, so that Sir Iohn Elliot dyed, and the rest remained in durance, because [Page 41]they had been faithful to their Coun­trey; and, to add to cruelty, he sent Sergeant Glanvile, Sir Peter Hayman, and Colonel Purify, into forraine parts, to consume their fortunes, and hazard their lives; calling not a Parliament long after.

By this time, Sycophants so inlar­ged the Monarchy without bounds, that there were exactions too many to be repeated in so little a volume as this: and piety being intombed so many yeers, and so many pious men silenced, caused Nobility, Gen­try, and all inferiours, more licenti­ous; who by insensible steps grew Atheistical. This was connived at by many debauched in Authority: so great a current of prophaness was generally for want of Ordinances; which caused the People to perish in Godliness. The fault proceeded in both Kings; but especially from [Page 42]the first, governing by young Coun­sellors, who had not vertue, but va­nity; this caused Gundamore (that cunning Machiavil) to scoff at the Counsellors of State, telling King Iames, he was the wisest and happi­est Prince of Christendome, to make privy Counsellers sage at the age of twenty one, which his Master (the King of Spaine) could not till sixty. A jest pocketed up by him, who loved commendation and flattery more then truth; by which he was blinded, and saw not the hidden flout. This Prince (otherwise very much knowing) mued in his English Reign favourites to the fifth Coat: these Nobles being addicted more to pleasure and delights, then the School of prudence and wisdome; looking more at their own Interest, then the common good, or piety of life, gave so vast a liberty to their [Page 43]lives, as made an abordment of loosness in many; insomuch that strictness of life (which our Saviour requires) was imputed a disgrace; and the vainest counted the wisest; the profanest, no hypocrite; and a Puritan was stiled a Devil: so that by this time it was difficult to hear profitable Sermons; the Pulpits being stuffed more with eloquence, then zeal to move the conscience; and the Preachers were fitter for a Stage then a Pulpit. Thus begun goodness to dwindle, and vice to spread far and neer; vitious being counted the gallantest men. But God opened Pembrooks heart to see the errours of youth.

But behold! the last was Sir George Villiers in number, but first in vice and villany, as by the former relation he appeared unmasked in his open colours; who mounted the [Page 44]highest steps of honour, and profi­ted most in the Academy of Nicho­laus the Florentine, accompanied with a juncto of Achitophel-advisers, who spun the web of all his inhu­mane devices; and had none to in­tercept the contriving, but Felton with a knife to take away their Ge­neral; which hindered further rally­ing his Diabolical plots. This man imbarqued us in an unnecessary war, at the Island of Rees, where ma­ny brave Commanders ended their dayes, by his unexperienced disci­pline in War; who, though advised by Burrows, guarded not a Fort: which made the French Masters of that Island, after he had taken it; and in his retreat from thence, pla­ced his Ensignes in the muskets, not the pikes.

Afore this, king Charles sought to marry with Mary of the House of [Page 45] Bourboune; and sent the Earl of Hol­land ordinary Ambassador to France; who, with the assistance of the Extra­ordinary Buckingham there, dispatch­ed that overture by the aid of Queen-Mother, with their alluring behavi­our, which drew on the conclusion more then a team of horses or oxen could: a by-word king Iames used, to obtaine ends by female creatures.

To Dover Mary was brought, and so to Canterbury; where king Charles bedded her, without the ordinary religious forme of uniting.

This Queen, some yeers after, shewed great modesty, although there lay a pad in the straw: for the Count of Soysons justified boldly and openly at the Louvre in Paris, that he was contracted before to her with divers witnesses; and so chal­lenged her for his lawful wife before God.

[Page 46] Holland of this advertised, sent Soysons a challenge to combat him; but Soysons was deaf of that eare, and never met: a reason was, the Court­faction for the marriage was too strong, for him to maintaine the truth with his sword: an occasion demonstrated more his fear of ruine, then valour; and that his enemies power abated the edge of his cou­rage.

Whilst this match was a brewing, the Duke aslayed to defile Lewis the thirteenth's bed by some accompli­ces; which then was found out by the Parliament in Paris: a discove­ry instigated him to procure his Master to the French War, inhibiting the Spanish marriage, because Count Olivares had foysted into his bed a pocky Courtesan at Madrid, in stead of his Lady often sollicited by Buck­ingham; most of his wisdom consist­ing [Page 47]in such constuprations. So that these bawdy transactions, in a pro­spective-glass, may bring nearer to our memories the fashion of Charles his Reigne, how sin was hatched from an egg to a Dragon, to devoure holiness of life; insomuch that the Masks and Playes at Whitehal were used onely for Incentives to lust: therefore the Courtiers invited the Citizens wives to those shews, on purpose to defile them in such sort. There is not a Lobby nor Chamber (if it could speak) but would verify this.

King Iames dead, King Charles as­cended the Throne, with a dismal plague of 5000 dying every week: God pointing to us, as with a Feseu, as a Scoolmaster, to warn us to re­pent of our abominable sins; if no admonition would reform us, he would scourge us with an Iron Rod. [Page 48]Yet, in shew, King Charles gave good hopes to his People of a vertuous Reigne; but finding the sweetness of his invasselling the People, king Charles paved his path by the steps of his forerunner, who reigned twenty three yeers save one day: but Charles, instead of pacing it, ran violently to destroy his subjects; following too hastily his precedents direction; which brought him afore his time to the block, the desert of Tyrants.

Certainly those times differed much from these: for where it is fals­ly objected, that these days are more heretical; I answer, By a general sale of heretical books, then they sought to vitiate truth with greediness, the sole indeavour in the Universities: now in these dayes, too curiously finding out truth, they mistake it un­willingly, and run upon some points of error; which this wise Parliament [Page 49]labours to suppress, by placing pi­ous and learned Divines, (as speedily as they can) men indued with the Spirit of God, through their Domi­nions: there being a wide difference 't wixt those do wilfully maintaine against knowledge, falshood; and the others, that mistake the truth. But in those times they studyed er­ronious opinions, being incouraged by the Bishops; so that the Students were ambitious to rake out of the ashes many heresies of Rome, to maintain their Lordships; as name­ly, kneeling at the Sacrament: they used arguments of the real presence of Christ, and so reverence Christ corporally present, with the Papists; when our Saviour used sitting, ano­ther gesture. From this root sprang the Socinian damnable opinion, to make Christs death an imitation for all to follow, to bury in oblivi­on [Page 50]the great High Priesthood of Christ, and to advance their Sacer­dotal Tyranny, and insult over the People by the power of spiritual Courts, which exalted them above others; when Christ abased himself to be a Saviour in his actions on earth; a carriage they ought to have used, according to his example: by which meanes, the Clergy were the eyes, eares, hands, legs, and above all, the braine, to support the Kings insupportable Tyranny. To this head I will reduce their Idolatrous cringing to the altar, bowing at the name of Jesus, and making Churches Idolatrous; usually kneeling and praying in them, when no service of God was used: and their [...], reverence at the Eucharist, was to no other purpose: but to support Antichristian Episcopacy; what honour was done in the Church, [Page 51]was placed on them; transferring the honour done, from the place, to the persons administring service: a cause made King Charles take them into his intimacy, to support his ab­solute Monarchy to do what he pleased with Subjects property, re­al, personal, and vital; as also find­ing the Papacy conduced more to Regality, he favoured them more then Protestants: for when the Ju­stices in all parts persecuted the Pa­pists upon the Statutes, they were disgraced, and removed, and the Protestant persecuted and punished, and the Priests delivered out of Pri­son. In which rout, amongst others, was Secretary Windebank, a princi­pal Agent to get in favour with Queen Mary; insomuch that I knew divers Papists brought out of New­gate, and their pursuers punished. This last-recited Secretary was a [Page 52]Creature to Laud, both brothers in iniquity to accomplish such mat­ters.

Did not king Charles his Letter written in Spain to the Pope, shew his Inclination to set up Popery, if the Pope would grant him a dispen­sation to marry the Infanta? yea cer­tainly it cannot be denied by any ra­tional man; if he considers fully the bent of those times, he must be con­vinced by a truth I shall utter. When the king came from Greenwich with the Queen on a Tuesday morning, a little afore the last Parliament, she landing at Sommerset-House, where she lodged, the king arriving at Whitehall a day he used to hear a Sermon, the Queen drew him from the Sermon to Sommerset-House; in­somuch as a Lord to whom I gave a visit, told me (when he came not to the preaching at twelve of the clock, [Page 53]long expected) in anger, that the king was then at Mass, and reconciled to the Pope; and so this Lord in haste went after Mass-time to Sommerset-house, and there dined. It is there­fore no marvel why the Almighty sent so much misery upon these three Kingdomes, and wrought such a fa­tal Catastrophe to turn the spoakes of the Wheel upside down, raising the humble out of the dust, and a­basing the proud and high-mind­ed.

By this, as by a prospective glass, we may behold how king Charles e­rected the Fabrick of his potency, or rather the structure of his ill go­vernment. For it will appear plain­ly, that king Charles negotiated with the Pope to reduce England to Pope­ry privately; therefore it is known to all, that king Charles entertained three Nuncio's from the Pope, Gre­gorio [Page 54]Pansano, Signeur Con, and ano­ther, under pretence to regulate the Popish Clergy under the Bishop of Calcedon, appointed by Barbareno the Popes Nephew, protector of the English Catholicks; when the pur­pose was to reduce to any union the Protestant Clergy with the Roman. And was not Arthur Bret appointed to go Embassador to Rome from king Charles? who dyed by the way: and after there was sent Sir Iames Hamble­ton, of the House of Abercorn.

To make a step further, I will in­form the Reader. After Buckingham's death, the Earl of Holland was high­est in favour with king Charles, who bestowed on him neer one hundred and fifty thousand pound in few yeers; and he was no less esteemed of the Queen, being her Agent to receive moneys forfeited, and com­positions given her by her consort; [Page 55]as namely, to free Sir Giles Alington's punishment for marrying his neece, twelve thousand pound was paid to Holland for the use of the Queen; they sharing money and delights toge­ther.

This made the Kings love of Hol­land not alwayes firm: for a suspition arose, as a Devil, to be the bane of friendship; which thus happened; such was the intirety twixt the Queen and this Lord, she having sent Letters into France to one Monsieur de Ierre then in prison, she inclosed a Letter unsealed in Hollands Letter sealed; which was intercepted by the Am­bassador the Lord Ierome Weston resi­dent in Franc, and sent to his Father the Lord Treasurer, by whom it was shewn to the king: a matter made him so passionately jealous of Holland, as he was confined to Kensington. Whereup­on, [Page 56]the Queen was so discontented, as she bedded not with the King some nights; and was so inraged for Hollands confinement, as, till the king released him, she would not entertaine him to her bed: But, as Nature is frail, so she flying imbra­ces, made the husband more earnest to persue her fruition; so that at last, Hollands enemies are chid, and he brought into favour. These are the devices of cunning Dames, when silly men, being horn-beaten, often­times, are cured without a plaister: he had better have put them into his pocket. After this, the Queen adver­tized of Charles his lubricity with divers Ladies his Mistresses; which appeared, because he was jealous of a Lord handing a Countess he dear­ly loved through the court of White­hall, at which he shewed much indig­nation for a great time. In the mean [Page 57]time, there were not people want­ing, who nourished each in suspiti­on; so that both seeing themselves peccant, one had freedome of Mistresses, and the other of Ser­vants.

Now I must crave your pardon, if I have not observed so punctually the times; this being rather a Rha­psody, then a continued History, and therefore I am constrained to patch up the post with the prior; faults being all of one batch of Tyranny; as Ben. Volington, Wist Stroud, and Eli­ot, Mr. Hambden, Sir Iohn Corbet, Sir Iohn Hevingham, were confined, for being faithfull in Parliament. More­over, for discovering the designe of a thousand German horse, the Earl of Sommerset, the Earl of Clare dead, Sir Robbert Cotton dead, my Lord Saint Iohn, Mr. Selden, and Mr. Iames, were sent to the Tower. The occa­sion [Page 58]was this, as I remember, Pic­kerni Master-Falconer, found the written project in the kings Ca­binet, it being open; who took it out, and brought it to Sommerset, and so it came to the hands of Sir Robert, and the other four usually meeting: but Sir Robert had a man would take his cups freely, and, at a Taverne, told it to a false brother, who betrayed them all: for which cause, the five were brought aurium tenus into the Star-chamber, because it was discovered afore it was act­ed.

But it is more memorable, how king Charles was angry with the Par­liament of the petitions of Right, as he was so far from punishing Sir Ri­chard Plumly for pulling a Knight Hubard out of a Coach, and beating him so that he dyed, and to shew his hatred to Hubard, who was one of [Page 59]them held the then Speaker of the Parliament, Sir Iohn Finch, in the Chair, that he advanced this Plu­mly to be Admiral of the Irish Seas, and made him a Knight for his ser­vice for killing Hubard, when justly he should have questioned him for his life.

And to sound King Charles his heart, it is probable King Charles was in his heart a Papist, by the Queens perswasion, and her mother; for af­ter going from the Parliament, he sent Pardons for divers Priests con­demned; who ingeniously finding this would make a rupture 'twixt King and Parliament, the Prisoners petitioned the Houses, sending the Pardons to the House; and desired, rather then there should be a breach between them, to suffer death: for which prudence the Parliament would not let them die.

[Page 60] In both these kings times, swearing was in such esteem principally from king Iames his example, cursing the People with all the plagues of Egypt; though king Charles granted twelve pence an Oath through the King­dome to Robin Lashly, which was ob­served more to get money, then sup­press swearing: for such a negligence was in the Magistrates, seeing the great Courtiers garnished their mouthes with God-dammees, as if they desired Damnation rather then Salvation.

Bribery the nurse of Justice was so rife in those days, that right was not distributed to the owner: a vice augmented by Knights of the Post, very frequent in City and Country. And Lawyers would take sees, and never plead for their Clients; and sometimes on both sides; insomuch as in a Suit depending 'twixt my self [Page 61]and my Son, we gave fees to one and the fame person. Wherefore on these times God hath brought on us a la­mentable war.

Now let all the world behold how king Charles violated the rights of Parliaments, coming into the House with great power, to carry a­way the five members. To prove how great a breach of priviledge of Parliament this was, the Author hereof wrote a discourse against it, affixing his hand; it being taken in his Waggon at Banbury by the kings party; for which he was condemned to die, by Sir Robert Heath; and his Estate given away.

I will not repeat how much he hath suffered for being faithful to Parliaments, both afore & since the access of this; onely I will rehearse, that being taken Prisoner by the Cavaliers, he lost four hundred [Page 62]pounds in money, apparel, waggon, and fourty horses: and likewise in Wiltshire at Broad Choak, in houshold­stuff, four hundred pounds; which was carried into Langford, after a Garrison taken by Colonel Ludlow for the Parliament; which he had never restored, although he often petitioned.

Another wrong long since he had: when Sir Robert Heath had inclosed two thousand acres of Common, as Lord of Soham, one named Anne Dobbs was kept with bread and wa­in Cambridge Castle, by a Justice of Peace, a Creature of Sir Roberts, to confess the Author of this Discourse counselled her with others to pull down the Enclosure taken from the Common; by that means to take a­way his life as a Rebel; when it was well known he had no hand in it, but then was sitting in Parliament as a member.

[Page 63] By this it appeares, the king chose good Judges and Justices, which were so corrupt. The reason was, that the Author being condemned, he might forfeit a Mannor next ad­jacent. This Justice of Peace was a mortal enemy of his, Sir Robert Heath having bought four hundred pound a yeer of the Justice, where the accu­sed was Lord, that Sir Robert might beg it of the king.

And if we examine the king of Den­mark, brother of Queen Anne; the first time he was entertained into England, what debauchedness was exercised in his welcome to king Iames, to add punishment to the fa­mily! who both were so drunk at Theobalds, as our king was carried in the armes of the Courtiers, when one cheated another of the Bed­chamber, for getting a grant from king James, for that he would give [Page 64]him the best Jewel in England for a Jewel of a hundred pound, he pro­mised him; and so put king Iames in his arms, and carryed him to his lodging, and defrauded the Bed­chamber-man, who had much ado to get the king into his Bed. And Denmark was so disguised, as he would have lain with the Countess of Nottingham, making horns in de­rision at her husband the high Ad­miral of England; which caused a deep discontent between them. And generally the Courtiers were then so debauched in that beastly sin, as at that time, in the wayters chamber at supper, a Courtier was found dead on the Table, the wine foaming out of his mouth: a horrid sight to be­hold.

And it is worthy of observation to consider the carriage of the king of Denmark and his Son usually in his [Page 65]own Country: for at my being there, I saw the old king (as his custome was) to call for the Master of his houshold; when he made a voyage or progress, wrote on a Pastboard what he should doe, and so took the waggon to go to his Boares houses, and eat Martlemas Beef, powdred pork, bacon, or such like as they had ready; and after repast, took for a collation the handsomest daughter, kinswoman, or servant in the house (al her kindred adorning her with all sorts of wearing ornaments) whom the King carried to one of his Guest­houses, where he had not above three or four Lodgings and a Kitch­en, and solaced himself with this jewel so long as he pleased; and after brought her home. A fruition made her in much esteem with her friends, after so adulterous a fact.

Likewise it was the custome of [Page 66]his Son to ride on a Sled drawn with horses, bells fastned to them, which tingled as he passed through the Townes; the noise caused the women to run out of doors: the Prince beholding one more ami­able then the rest, beckning to her with his finger, presently she came to the Sled, and accompanied him to some Hostery, till he had satisfied fully his lust.

Also their usual course is to pro­phane the Sabbath in such sort, as all the Carpenters in the Kingdom that day work gratis, to make the Kings ships; and the people go to Church in their worst cloaths, mak­ing no difference 'twixt the Lords day and other daies; who, in stead of Godly exercises, use much pro­phaness.

Give me leave to repeat, that this King ordinarily would be drunk, [Page 67]and namely one time (Sir Iohn Peoly being his Servant, after an Inhabi­ter at Wroungay in Norfolk) he com­manded Pooly to ask any gift, to the value of half his Kingdome, and he should have it. But he finding his Master so beastly out of tune, de­manded a great pair of Stags hornes; for which, after so moderate a re­quest, the king bestowed on him three thousand Dollars.

Is it not known to all Germany, that his drinking out of reason with his Commanders, lost many battels to the Emperous General Wallestine, which proved a disaster to the uni­ted Protestant Princes, so that he was faine to submit to the Empe­rour, with much loss and disgrace, to the prejudice of the cause of God? In which war his brother king Iames proved a Coward to back a religious cause; for he would not [Page 68]raise men nor money; yet the Parli­ament incited and urged him there­to: to whom he made this answer, He would not give so bad an exam­ple to support his Son-in-law against the Emperour. Whereas the Laws of the Empire were, If the Empe­rour did unjustly, the seven Electors might depose him: for certainly the joyning of Bohemia with the Count Palatine of Rhine, might have been a chief prop to support the Protestant party; which by Denmarks fault, and King Iames his wilfulness, the Emperour got the Mastery of: though after God raised Gustavus A­dolchus King of Sweden, to turn the scales to the united Princes side, yet in conclusion, the Swedes have sought more their owne interest then Gods.

Behold, if we examine Queen Mary, she cannot cleare her reputa­tion with Harry Jermine: for if king [Page 69] Charles had not been so blinded, it had been discovered long ago, and she punished or divorced; but the king being guilty of the same crime, winked at it; which made him pur­blind, and count it a venial sin, as the Papists terms them; but swallowed the mortal; yet urged by an Earl much with him, if he would not believe the unsutable behaviour be­tween the Queen and Jermine, if he would go into her Chamber, he might be satisfied, and behold Jer­mine sitting upon the bed with the Queen; so the King and the Lord went in, and found her and Jermine in that posture. The King presently, more ashamed of the act, then blam­ing her, departed, without speaking a word; yet for all this, the queen was very jealous of the King; inso­much as he loving a very great Lady now alive, whom he had for a mis­tress, [Page 70]to the intent he might have more freedome with her, sent her Lord into the Low-countries; in the mean while, daily courts her at Ox­ford in her husbands and the queens absence: but the Lord returning, the King diverted his affectionate thoughts to another marryed Lady, of whom the queen was jealous at her return from France; so that on a time this Lady being in queen Maries presence, and dressed a la mode, the queen viewing her round, told the Lady she would be a better Mistris for a king, then a wife for a knight. The Lady replyed, Madam, I had rather be Mistris to a King, then any mans wife in the world. For which answer, she was constrained to absent her self from Court a long time.

Now as all men and their affaires are subject to mutation by a heaven­ly [Page 71]providence punishing sinners for sin, the wheel turns greatness from top to bottome, of which I have given you a notable Lantskip in the fraile condition of the Imperiall family of the Stuarts, who raised to a glittering glory by the succession of many kings, are now tumbled from the mount of ambition and highest authority over three king­domes, & at last reduced not to be Lord of a visible molehill; whose heat of fiery pride hath consumed into ashes of ruine their felicity. Let us mark the shipwrack of those, who will not vaile the sailes of Tyranny and oppression; they shall not avoid a tempest of Gods anger for precipi­tation.

In this revolution, God had a special hand, who, when he deter­mined to bring this family to de­struction, accomplisheth it not only [Page 72]by poor and weak means, but by his mightiest thunderbolts of ven­geance. This truth manifesteth it self perspicuously in this Tragical History, who have made the flourish­ing condition of three kingdoms stumble, by advancing and giving ear to corrupt instruments of State placed at the helm; who wept not for our common calamity, but in the tears of inferiours; and therefore I demonstrate, that never shall justice be so well done, as by Parliamentary proceedings, to settle this Com­monwealth upon a pious basis, where they proceed in justice to banish oppression, that property may fall into the right channel, and holy men advanced and rewarded, and wicked punished, to the end that the people may be lulled asleep in the cradle of ease and tranquillity; so shall love of Governors be in [Page 73]such estimation, as body and purse may be at command; for fear poy­sons a Nation with distrust and hatred; the first makes firme and stable the foundation of any State, the last brings it by insensible steps to fal and moulder away like a crazie building. Provided alwayes, until the State have a perfect cure, there may be armed Chirurgeons to cut off the gangren'd part, which might putrifie the head, resembled to wise Counsellors, who will preserve the whole body; so they endeavour that taxes be moderated, as the tem­per of the pulse and health shall ap­pear.

And therefore I beseech you give me leave to turn my pen out of the Road, with a counsel from my heart not impertinent to my dear country­men, to profit by the storm past, reduced by Gods providence to a [Page 74]calme; to make a pious use of his great miraculous deliverance. I being a man can speak by experience, who hath been most justly worry­ed by the hand of the Almighty for sins; therefore let them consider that The chidings of a friend are better than the kiss of an enemy; a proverb of Solomon; which if we shall confide in, we may be stiled children con­verted to good; if not, may be ac­counted despisers of the rod: which maxime I illustrate the truth of, by the Grecian Alcibiades; by how much his banishment was more cruel by the Athenian Ostracisme, by so much more his qualities and worth were esteemed. The skill of the Mariner is not at all observed in a calme, but in a Tempest; the wise Ulysses had perished, if he had not been in danger of ruine: pleasures blunt and strangle piety; when ad­versity [Page 75]moulds the will and humors to a by as of fearing God, inclines us to know our selves, and understand the end of Creation and birth to the glory of God, and good of our Country: we are not born for our selves: Our eyes are closed with delights, open in chastisements; in the one, sin draws more punishment; in the other, we see clearly our aber­rations, as spots in a glass. We are here on a Theatre for every one to play his part; the tragical seems more difficult, by hatred, envy, and jealousie, the slaves of Reason; yet in truth, are banished in troubles, when God loves the afflicted better, who, as a Soveraigne, resembleth the Ocean, which receives that it gives, to the end the revenging justice of heaven turn not wrath a­gainst them; but the Divel, enemy of repose, inchants us in Luxury, [Page 76]when affliction imitates nature by degrees from a little to more, and from more proceeds to a humane perfection in piety.

I heartily desire you, take this ad­vice above a humane, the command of God: Be subject to the higher pow­ers: for they are of God. Wherefore, I beseech you, respect those set at the Helme, whom God hath made instruments of our happiness: for naturally we are hooded, and cannot see that God hath done miraculous works: look not upon them as men, but as Gods instruments, to execute his will; brought out of the shop of his Almighty work-house, to ac­complish his determination; and are not to be laid aside, till by Gods appointment they turn into the tyring-house: for certainly we have great cause to give thanks to God for the Parliaments valourous success of [Page 77]Army and Navy; both for General, Lieutenant-General, Sergeant-Ma­jor Generals, Colonels, Officers, and Souldiers; as for the Admirals and Captaines at Sea, whom God hath miraculously preserved, to pre­vaile over the enemies of the State; and so let God have the glory, and we tranquillity all our dayes.

But when I revolve in my thoughte the opinion most are possessed with, as with a Divel, that Parliament and Army are a punishment for their sins, and attribute so great Victories to chance; I may justly suspect their Atheisme; whose lives I never see more amended, by Gods immediate hand on us, to make the omnipotent Father of spirits to have no hand in it; or if acknowledged in words, re­turn not from iniquity, and are not thankful for arriving to so safe a har­bour as they are in, nor see that God [Page 78]is about to mould the world in ano­ther fashion, as he hath declared by his Prophets of old; and so, like swine, look down to the earth, and not to heaven, to see a divine cause of a mighty alteration.

Now to shew that the Parliament proceeded justly in this war, I will prove it by arguments Divine and Humane, Reason and Law.

First, if we regard the Scripture, we shall finde Rehoboam the son of Solomon justly lost the ten tribes, be­cause he laid such heavy burdens on the Jews, who declared they had no share in David, wishing Israel to depart to their tents; although God had made a Covenant with David, that his posterity should sit on the throne for ever, on condition they continued to serve the Lord as they ought; which Covenant Rehoboam broke by sins, in such sort as God [Page 79]punished sin with sin, suffering him to oppress and impose more heavy taxes on the people, then his father; a reason God disswaded the children of Israel, refused God, and would have kings to rule over them, to en­thral them to his will; but they persisted not to follow the Counsel of the Almighty, therefore it was just the kingdome should be divided for their disobedience: or if King Rehoboam did wickedly, he could not be stiled Gods vicegerent over the twelve tribes; for God, whom Go­vernors represent, never oppresseth his people but for sin. When kings cease to imitate God, they cease to Govern or be Governers, and repre­sent not God; when they are not Gods Deputies, they insult over the people without authority: for this is an infallible rule (not to be gaine said) in Scripture, that if the people [Page 80]sin against God, and the king do not oppose it, but yeeld to it, they are punished; and if the king sin, and they concur with him, they are punished: so that if the Parliament had not opposed king Charles, God would have been revenged on them. Now when a father wrongfully in­jureth his children, his love to them is at an end, and so is his paternal power; for children are bound to be obedient to Parents, not to be ruined by them: so that subjects are bound to obey the Sovereign, so long as he keeps himself in bounds of justice and doing right; but if the king would destroy his people, they are no more his subjects, nor are they bound to obey; but he is a Tyrant. God never punished a pi­ous king that used his people well; otherwise God should be unjust. If God were Author of the conquest [Page 81]over king Charles is so many battels; who is the God of Sabbaths, that is, of battels; if he were not the cause of our Victories, he were not God of battels; in which belief they should give a Deity to the Parliament forces, which is blasphemy; for they con­quered over the Cavaliers: By which it appears, God sent this as a punishment on the king, and the Victory was not a punishment on the Parliament, who defended the people in their rights. Kings are ordained for the good of their sub­jects, not for their hurt; nor were people brought into the world to have kings over them, but to ho­nour and glorifie God: God is not glorified, when inferiours are op­pressed by their superiours; a sin God highly punished in the Jewes; God were the Author of oppression, if kings had such a deputation from him.

[Page 82] This Prince committed a great fault, in adhering too much to his unbridled will; preferring his passi­on above the good of his people: there may be excuses in youth, for want of experience; in stealing, for the occasion; in killing, for injuries offered; in adultery, for perswasions of love, and heat of youth; in Re­bellion, for defence: but for offences against the Commonwealth, there is not satisfaction but a block or a gibbet. For a shepherd to sheare the fleeces off his flock, may be to­lerable; but to flea them, and cut their throates, is abominable before God and man. For kings should have the care of a Master, love of a Father, tenderness of a Protector, diligence of a Shepherd, to preserve their subjects from wrong: for without a Parliament, kings have no ears, nor eyes to see the injuries [Page 83]of the publicke, but by their favo­rites; who, for to encrease Wealth (raised from nothing) are like blood­suckers, to drain the people, & make themselves rich. If every member of the commonwealth ought to preserv the State above his own life, much more a King is chosen Gods vicege­rent on earth, to preserve his people committed to his charge in safety.

Therefore God took from Reho­boam and Belshazzar their kingdoms, by his instruments the people; and Nebuchadnezzar and Sennacherib, both for pride, and wronging the Jews; the one was reduced to grass with the beasts, and the other was over­thrown in battel with hundred thousands. The example of Attilius Regulus is commendable; who, ra­ther then the honour of the Roman Senate should suffer prejudice, per­formed his promise, and returned to [Page 84] Carthage, to undergo exquisite tor­ments. If subjects, much more a King God hath intrusted with his people, should have care of his Par­liament and People; then much more should be take care of the lives of the people.

Wherefore the Parliament seeing King Charles did raise an Army to defend ill counsellors, and ruine his people, the Parliament; rather then the king should ruine the people, first they employed the Army to take a­way from him bad Counsellors, and bring them to condigne punishment; but King Charles justified their de­structive advice by a war, to ruine the authority Parliaments; and by this made himself an enemy of Com­monwealth. Therefore it was just the Parliament should defend them­selves by a war, yea subdue the kings power, which would destroy the [Page 85]Representative, which maintained the liberty of the subject and pro­perty of their personall and reall estates.

And though it may be objected, he had most of the gentry and No­bility; yet I answer, They had the major part of the Electors sid­ed with the Parliament, in their purses.

Also some object, that the king had many Members of Parliament; but for certaine, if they would de­part from the lawfully-called Parli­ament, to ruine the people, the re­mainder in the house were the Re­presentative, to adjourn the Parlia­ment from day to day; for otherwise it had been sine die, and ipso facto dissolved the Parliament; then had the whole Nation remained slaves and vassals for ever, at the kings mercy. And therefore it was most [Page 86]to subdue and put king Charles to death, as a mortal enemy, who la­boured to destroy the Common­wealth with all his power; for if a member, who hath an inclusive right, ought to have sentence of death; much more a king, who hath an impositive care from God, ought to have sentence of death: for kings now are not the anointed of God, as David was; but by the Scripture, every Saint is annointed; which by the Popish Clergy was usurped to them, and after by their policy attributed fasely to kings, to maintaine their Hierarchy.

Whrefore we may justly argue, that the Author of spirits had a long time continued patient, in suffering three several families to be Superinten­dents over three kingdoms five hun­dred yeers; when he raised the seve­ral houses to the Throne, to make an [Page 87]essay of their behaviour, to bring up the people in the fear of God; whose time was long spent in Idola­try, and after reduced to a prophan­ness, and then to a peece, and little part of a reformed way, and not to a total; partly serving Baal, and partly God; which caused Gods arrows at last to flie abroad, and shot the last Prince with a mortal blow: for it is manifest, a king could not make a war with his Parliament, till it were ended; and the king passed an Act not to end it till all the three E­states were agreed: and when it end­ed, all he could do, should be to in­dict them by a Jury, to finde them guilty; but by making a War, he leaves them at liberty to defend themselves; so that what he did a­miss, should be complained of in the next Parliament after.

In the war, the kings purpose could [Page 88]not be to make them obedient; which is too harsh a way: for in so doing, he becomes their enemy; and then they are out of his protection. Or if the subjects war with the king, and he oppose, they are not subjects. A king is not a king, when he makes a war against his subjects, but he is a Tyrant; and they are not Rebels, no more then when a king treateth with his subiects, are they not sub­jects: by such a war, he ratifieth them to have a right and power to contest with him; as the fifteen Provinces were made by the king of Spaine, in a Negotiation, a free State: much more the reason holds in a war.

How many times did the Parlia­ment court the king, yea humbly petition him, and treated with him by Commissioners, to do divers things most necessary for the good of the then kingdom! and he remain­ed [Page 89]obdurate. If he were so obstinate when he was under the power of the Parliament (as in the Isle of Wight) how averse would he be, or rather, domineer over and ruine them, when they were in his clutches! As if a Partridge (being neer to a Faulcon) intangled with his varvels, might peck and tach her, yet would not she yeeld to smal a bird; what could the Faulcon do when he had her trussed: surely plume on her, and at last wring off her head.

How many times have the people in this Nation assumed the power to themselves, for kings over-flowing the rules of moderation! as in the times of Henry the third, Edward the second; Richard the second, Henry the sixth, and after, upon good be­haviour, they resigned the keyes of Soveraignity to the intrusted keep­ers; as namely in choosing the su­pream [Page 90]Officers, which of right be longed to the Parliament; and a long time since, by intrusion, kept in the hands of the Diadem, but in a Parliamentary orbe; wherein when the great Officers were fixed, they kept their course from Retrograda­tion, by their Aromatical influence upon the good of the people; but after they were at the devotion of the chief, by that derivation they wronged the people, and augmen­ted the power of invassalage; as who in name of the Upper, insulted over the Inferiour; that all the English world was conformed to an incom­patible subjection and submission, too unjustly imposed.

Therefore it was impossible that Charles which had his hands in the blood of hundred thousands, by his instruments, should after that car­riage be free from Cruelty, Indig­nation, [Page 91]and Injustice; no more then a Leper can be made pure, or a Blackamore white, or a Leopard clear from spots. Therefore I will justly conclude, the cup of Gods ven­geance was filled to the blim, for king Charles his family to drink the dregs.

Now if the war of France and Ger­many were just, especially the last, when the Emperour transgressed the laws of the Empire, to make the u­nited Princes to raise an Host to de­fend themselves, and rectifie what was amiss, by ingrafting another Cion in the Empire; which continu­ed too long in one house of Austria; much more just is that of the Parlia­ment, which hath Legislative power, and authority to draw Acts for the good of the Subject, to which the king is alwayes injoyned not to end the Assembly, till he had signed [Page 92]such Acts, and reformed all abuses complained of. If the king should retire from the great Counsel, and not signe Bils of Right, twelve of the Lords, and twenty four of the o­thers, were to repaire to him, to know the cause of his absence; and urge the king to signe such bils, and re­move grievances. If he did not sign nor come in the space of fourty days, they ought to chuse a Protector. And if he did persist in his absence, they might justly depose him; as appears in the book of the manner and fa­shion of holding Parliaments. And this was the reason of the former kings removal.

If a master of a Family, who hath wife, children, servants, stock, and cattel, in a madness should go away from his house, and bring a force to destroy his family, kill his chil­dren, take away his cattel off his [Page 93]own ground, and burn his house, he were a mad man, and fitter for Bride­well, then to be a master of a family; as likewise a Protector, who ought to protect his people, if he would destroy them, because they would have a pious and vertuous govern­ment, he is to be accounted a de­stroyer, no protector.

But some will say, The king had a number of his subjects, and the bet­ter part.

But they were such as supported a Power would take away the proper­ty of their real, personal, and vital estates; which the King might do, if he conquered: if there were not Parliaments, a check on the Sover­aigne, to protect inferiours, such kingly power would grow to such a height, as no moderation might be 'twixt Mercy and Tyranny.

I have often heard the Cavaliers [Page 94]say, They meant not to take away Parliaments, knowing they were for their good and benefit.

But if the King had prevailed by their means, they should never have had Parliaments after: then they would have been like Deer put in a toyle, and would have proved in the second degree after us slaves; of which slavery they were principal authors.

Open your eyes, yee Cavaliers, and see what nooze you had prepar­ed for your own necks; when it had been too late to get your heads out, after the conquest, and Parliament ruined. Look into France: when the Parliament Estates were destroyed, they were no better then slaves. How many of the Nobility suffered! as Montmorancy, Count of Soysons, Bouillon, and others; and the people generally so miserable, as they can hardly live.

[Page 95] For Bills of Grace, I see no au­thority for it; a Prerogative intend­ed only by the power of kings; for people, (when they chuse one to rule over them) would justly be dealt with, and not harshly, when o­bedient; for then the Soveraigne ought to be loving to them, and a father to them. But when the king takes his sword to fight with his subjects, they ought to defend them­selves; especially the Parliament, which is the highest appeal for any wrong offered by the king.

Therefore it was that our com­mon Law allowed every one a plea upon a Writ, justifying any against the Crown, for taking away of real and personal estate. Also if Magna Charta forbids any free man to he imprisoned, and allows him an Ha­beas Corpus; much more life may be preserved and defended by the [Page 96]sword; for upon an Indictment of man slaughter in se defendendo, it is a good plea to save his life in his defence, although he kill the o­ther.

If any one defend his estate against the king, much more life may be defended, by a Parliamentary pow­er, which is of a higher nature: if every subject, then the Parliament, which represents the whole body, may raise an army (if the people be willing to undergo it) on purpose to defend their lives. All Warrants of peace and good behaviour were made in the kings name; so then if the king raise an army to murther his subjects, he hath lost to be a defend­er of them, and hath suspended, or rather lost his Perogative of Sover­aignty; for every subject may kill one another, when there is no power to restraine them; and the king cannot [Page 97]defend, when he raiseth a power to kill them. The King had two ca­pacities; one as a King, another as proprietor of Lands, Honors, and Seigniories: when he lost his first capacity, the Parliament, which is the representative, in right of the people might justly assume the su­pream authority to themselves, to defend those the king would mur­ther; for the people first granted or suffered kings to have authority over them for their good; but when the King abuseth it, he ceases to be any longer their King, but becomes a cruel Tyrant; and then he may be justly tryed in his second capaci­ty, as a Subject, and lose his life, forfeit lands and goods by the Par­liament the supreme Judges.

And therefore it was, that Richard the third, before Henry the seventh conquered him, was held a lawful [Page 98]king, and Henry the seventh attaint as a Rebel by Parliament; but after the Conquest, Henry the seventh his Attainder was reversed, and Richard the third affirmed to be a Tyrant. This declares positively, that Parlia­ments have onely power to ratifie and annul kings, and no other. For else, by power any one may be a Soveraigne, without the Parlia­ments approbation: but never any ascended the Throne, that was not confirmed by Parliament; not on­ly in way of Ceremony, but essen­tially and really performed, by an Act to allow and ratifie the present King, or else he could not lawfully govern.

Besides, the King takes an oath at his Coronation, to maintaine all the priviledges of the people: but when he brings them to oppression and Tyranny, he is perjured, and loseth [Page 99]the title of a father and protector of his people, and is in the capacity of an enemy to the Commonwealth.

Many examples are in the world, that Kings, when they became Ty­rants have been deposed and killed; as in Muscovy, among the Turkes, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Ro­manr; and he who is an enemy to the Commonwealth, deserveth to die by all Laws Humane and Di­vine.

Kings have augmented their pre­rogatives, and so by intrusion have tyrannized over the Subject: for they have in the interim of Parliaments had prerogatives to pardon Man­slaughter, and such as are expressed in the Acts of Parliament; and by their greatness they incroached their power: for Kings could not take a­way the life of any Subject, but by Indictment and Arraignment, and [Page 100]that by a Jury of twelve men, who must finde the Delinquent guilty or not guilty; not in Parliaments, but in the interim of them: wherefore King Charles his coming with an ar­med power to take out the five mem­bers, was a high breach of privi­ledge; and for declaring he would break the neck of Parliaments, he deserved to be dethroned: this was to destroy the right of his Subjects, so that they should have no property in estate, real or personal, nor life: for while the Parliament sate, he ought not to question any: and af­terwards he could not take away the life and estate of any without a Jury, but it would be questioned the next Parliament, as many Presidents in the Rolls of Parliament shew­eth.

A Parliament is a free place, where every one ought to speak their mind [Page 101]freely, for the good of their Coun­try. Now it was the fashion of King James and King Charles, when anyspoke for the good of the people, to corrupt them with preferment, and make them Royalists who were afore for the Commonwealth; pre­ferment drawing them opposite to the Commonwealth, as Sir Henry Yelverton, Sir John Savill, Sergeant Glanvile, Sir Robert Heath, my Lord of Strafford, and Master Noye; but Ma­ster Noye shewed afore his death a great remorse for it, to some of his intimate friends. It was greatness so bewitched them, and increased the kings power, to wit, by preferment and honors, insomuch as Sir Edward Hoby, a factious Gentleman, at a Committee in the Parliament chosen to punish some boyes that abused old Master Jordans Gloves, certaine boyes being proved to be the au­thors [Page 102]of that Roguery, the Com­mittee debated what School-ma­sters should correct them, whether Westminster or Pauls; Sir Edward Hoby (I say) told the Comittee he had found out one would lash on both sides, meaning Master Yelver­ton, Sir Henry being newly chosen Sollicitor-General for the king, to signe Bils of Grace; which was on­ly in Parliament to be done, when Lotds and Commons had signed them afore, but out of Parliaments the kings had no such right. Its true, kings might in interim of Par­liament, upon an invasion, raise an Army, and impose monys upon ma­ny of the Subjects; but this was au­thorized by Parliament; and if he did amiss, it was questioned the next Parliament. This shewes plainly, that the Parliament had the power, not the Royalty.

[Page 103] It is true, kings had a power to call Parliaments; so have the Beadles in the Universities power of calling Assemblies, Stwards of Courts to send out Warrants to keep Courts; and yet both are subject, one to the Chancellors of the Universities, the other a servant upon the matter to the Lords of Mannors.

We need not fear Darlings of the multitude in this State; every one will labour to be a darling of the people; and none will make him­self great, unless he meanes to be ruined, and be an Ostracisme.

Certainly to prevent this, it were good to extinguish all the print and stamp of Monarchy, not to give a provocation to raise power.

The Pretorian Cohorts advanced Emperors at their pleasure; the Janizaries the great Turkes; but our Army is so pious, there is no fear, [Page 104]especially being not in body, but some in Irelana, some in Scotland, and dispersed in several Countries: those who pay the Souldiers, shall have o­bedience; but as the proverb is, No money, no Swiss: No money, no obe­dience.

While the Romane Senate was rich, none durst assaile the Monar­chy; but, as Tacitus reports, when the greatness of the Senate and riches decayed, then Cesar invaded, after he had conquered Pompey.

It is to be observed, that what o­verthrows Monarchy, the same o­verthrows a Senatical government. The Maiors of the Palace at Paris had power to raise and depose kings at pleasure, till it was justly taken a­way; if there be any such power in the City of London, it is to be taken away; for they may, by wealth, potency and multitude, do the like [Page 105]to the Parliament: yet they deserve much to be respected; for they have done as much for the good of the State, as any City ever did in the whole world; and therefore are to be incouraged, to have Immunities and Priviledges bestowed on them by the Parliament.

I deny not that there were privi­ledges belonging to the kings of England, but those are due to him so long he is a defender of the people, and a good king: but if he proves not Gods Vice-gerent, but becomes an enemy to the Commonwealth, his Regency is suspended, and he is but a common person: otherwise, kings might destroy the people, and become an enemy. So that his Title is annihilated, and made void; as a shepheard who ought to pre­serve his sheep when he goes about to kill and slay them, he cannot be [Page 106]called a shepherd, but a destroyer of his sheep.

The example of king Henry the eighth, who when the House of Commons would not consent to pul down the Abbeys, sent for them, and kept them in a room all night, and in the morning came to them, and perswaded them to pass the bil, who in fear next day did it; this is no argument to shew the power of Kings: it was their obstinacy to op­pose against the will of God, who determined to destroy those wicked houses, which were erected in a blind zeal, thinking by their erection to make their souls saved.

A king is compared to a father; if he would kill his own children, he ceiseth to have care of them, and is to be justly stiled a murther, and no parent, to preserve the issue of his body.

[Page 107] Parliaments were to be called e­very two or three yeers, to reforme abuses in the Nation; but king James said they were assembled to supply his wants, and raise money; and therefore he denyed them any other discourse; whereas indeed Parliaments were called for all the members to complaine of their grievances, which were alwayes re­dressed there. And there were tryers of petitions within the House to exa­mine whether their complaints were just: & certainly if there were some now appointed without the door of the Parliament to take petitions, and examine whether they were fitly to be delivered to the house or no, it would give great content to the peo­ple: for I am confident there have been many petitions delivered, which ought not to be presented to interrupt the weighter affaires there [Page 108]transacted: And upon this, the Par­liament have unjustly been charged that they would not hear them, when in reason they ought not to be pre­ferred; for many of them might have been redressed by Law, or some other way.

Now to shew how the preroga­tive was advanced: and that was done by making Lord-Lieutenants in every County, and so Deputy-Lieutenants; a device invented by the Earl of Leicester, when he return­ed from being Deputy-protector of the Low-Countryes under Elizabeth Protectress; who wished the Qeen (from a form he had observed in those parts, from whence he came, for a way that furthered the oppo­sing of Spaine) to make such; for if there should be an Invasion or Re­bellion in England, it would be too long to send up to the Councel; but [Page 109]it might easily be suppressed by them; two of the Deputy-Lieute­nants having power to suppress them, by rasing forces to oppose and subdue them,

Whereupon, I remember there was a Rising against the Inclosures of Commons (so much irksome to the people) for in some places the people rose to pull them down, and were suppressed by the power of the De­puty-Lieutenants, and divers hang­ed up; but the Deputy-Lieutenants were after faine to get pardons; it being contrary to law. Likewise a Cut-purse being taken in Whitehall in the then presence, King James commanded the Lord Garret, the Knight-Marshal, presently to hang the Cut-purse; which was done instantly: but the Knight-Marshal was faine to get a pardon under seal. This shews plainly that no King can [Page 110]takeaway the life of any without a lawful tryal by jury; ergo, he cannot murther his Subjects, nor raise a war during the sitting of the Parliament; for there he is to be in person; then the king is less, and the Parliament supreme. Now when the king takes his sword into his hand, and departs from the Parliament, he loseth his priviledge of king in Parliament, and becomes an enemy to the State; and then justly his name as king ought to be put out in any Commis­sion, and the Parliaments authority is to be used only.

I am therefore perswaded, that the adoring of kings hath wrought this misprision and mistake of the power of kings, which by laws of God and man they have not; so that idolizing them hath ruined the right of the people much; The Lawyers also for preferment and [Page 111]advancement, have given a greater prerogative to the soveraignty then was due.

If we examine our Municipall laws, and all Civil Laws, they are no way justifiable, but as they are correspondent to the Judicial Laws of the Jews, which were set down by God, to be a patern for all to be paterned by. I finde no such power given by God.

And where it may be objected, that God forewarned the Jews not to have a king over them, and ex­pressed what inconveniences would follow of having kings according to the custome of Nations, what slave­ry they should be in; this was not to shew that it was just so to do, but that their power and tyranny would force them to it.

Another thing that increased the prerogative, and diminished the [Page 112]right of the people, was, that the printed Statutes were not according to the Records of Parliament; sometime there was added to, and sometime diminished from what was in the Roll of Parliament; and somewhat put in that might be ad­vantageous to the kings; and put out was for the benefit of the Sub­ject; as I have observed, by my com­paring the printed book with the Record. And truly if there were a Committee to examine the Records, it should be necessary to see the right of the Subject.

And in decimo octavo Iacobi, king James sent and took what was done that Parliament, from Master Wright Clerke of the Parliament.

So likewise the king by his power and the great Lords of Court, made Courtiers Burgesses, and sometime knight of the Shire by letters; who [Page 113]hindred much the proceedings in Parliament by their vote, it being the policy of the Dukes of Cornwall in the Stannaries to have multitude of Burgesses, to make themselves potent in Parliament; which now the Parliament will prevent, by providing that the Representative may be equally chosen from all parts.

Likewise it was usual for king James and King Charles, if any did speak in the behalf of the Common­alty in Parliament, against the pre­rogative, to make them Sheriffs, or impose other burthensome Offices on them; as my self and Sir Guy Palmes were served, after that Parli­ament of 18 Iacobi; or to be reveng­ed on them some other way, for doing their duty in Parliament, as then was invented by projectors, as I could recite divers examples in my time.

[Page 114] The Courtiers also laboured to make good patriots Courtiers, as Sir Dudley Digs was made a Courtier, and Master of the Rolls, who was faithful to the Parliament, and dyed before a Parliament came: this was to draw their affection from the multitude to the Soveraignty; so that by those means Tyranny was in­creased, and the right of the people waved; which now will be redressed and reformed, by Gods blessing, and prudence of the State.

Now I will draw a short Lantskip, by way of Epitome, to examine what good king Iames and King Charles have done since Anno Domini 1603.

The seven yeers Parliament was a sage and wise Parliament, and la­boured to do much good for the then-kingdome: and as a new broom sweepeth clean at first, king Iames [Page 115]granted some good Laws: but the Court of Wards they endeavoured to pull down, which had ruined in­finite families, upon offer to give the king two hundred thousand pound in deposito, and annually two hundred thousand pound; but it was opposed by Robert Earl of Salisbury (otherwise a very good Commonwealths-man) as too great a thing for the king to part with. And truly that Parlia­ment took great pains to reform a­buses in Church and State; but not much was done for the good of the Subject, but great sums granted, and a good Government hoped for, ra­ther then in fruition. For king Iames spent much time in his pleasures, and much money in Embassies, to make himself great; so that there was some good for the Merchants; but Tonnage and poundage given by Parliament, was for Guarding the [Page 116]Seas, which was imployed to the Royal purse onely; so that although complained of, the Merchants were at a double charge in wafting their goods.

After, king Iames wronged the fisher-men and us much, by granting to his brother Henry the fourth, king of France, for his moneth to fish on our coast; who under that colour took away the very earth and spawn of the fish of Rotchet, Gurnet, Cun­ger, and Hadduck, to Deep; where they have abundance, and we want.

King Iames granted the Hollanders to fish on our coasts; and for a smal petty rate, the Island of Lewis in Scotland, and other Isles of Ireland, to dry their fish; by which they have inriched themselves above fourty millions Sterling.

In that Parliament of seven yeers, [Page 117]they laboured to reform abuses in Church and Commonwealth, and that the pious Ministers might not be tyed to subscribe to the unlawful Ceremonies of the Bishops; which was not granted; but in nono Iacobi at Hampton Court were divers pious men, as Reynolds, Kniwstabs, Clerk, and other reverend Divines, to dis­pute about ceremonies: but that the Divines had not freedome of speech; for all went on the Bishops sides; a cause England in all parts after were deprived of pious men, which were silenced, imprisoned, and put out of their Lectures and livings; so that want of teaching caused profaneness to get the preheminence.

The Parliament of duodecimo Iacobi was onely for undertakers to raise money for king Iames: some Bishops were questioned, as Bilson, and others; but the Parliament dissol­ved [Page 118]without doing any thing.

Then was the Parliament of 18 Iacobi, where Heath was for the Com­mons; Sir Thomas Wentworth, and Christopher Wansford, and others, were for the kings side; where also Sir Iohn Bennet, Sir Giles Mumpesson, and Sir Iohn Mitchel, were condemned; and the Parliament so dissolved; in which Parliament, Serjeant Grimston called me out of the house, to the Earl of Bedford, the Earl of Westmor­land, and Sir Francis Vane dead, to the little Room in the Lobby, where they offered me ten thousand pound, or 500. a yeer, which I would choose, not to oppose the bill of the Fens in the house. I answered, no money nor estate would make me betray the country. This Parliament was made voide, and 32 patents called in by king Iames, and so he pleased the people with a toy.

[Page 119] Many and divers were convented by the Councel-table to pay certain sums, or to be imprisoned; whereof I was one, being brought before the Councel when Sir Albert Morton waited.

Then came the Parliament of 21 Iacobi, a little afore king Iames his end; where were some good Laws enacted; the Lord Keeper Bacon and the Earl of Middlesex condemned for bribery.

A little afore this, I being Custos Rotulorum of the County of Cam­bridge, by Buckingham was put out, and Sir Iohn Cuts put in, when I had that Office under the broad seal; which could not legally be taken away from me, unless I had com­mitted some fault, thereby to have forfeited the same.

Now there remaineth no more for the Parliament to do, but faithfully [Page 120]to keep what they have justly gotten by Gods Divine providence, and his will, in a valourous Conquest; to the end that when they have set­led the building of the State upon a right and firme Basis, they may fur­ther inlarge the kingdome of the Lord Jesus, by their indeavours through Europe; which I am fully assured God hath appointed, and will certainly bring to pass, that all the world may see Gods determina­tion in every climate of this part of the world.

After this new State is put into the cradle of ease and tranquillity, to make it have a full gtowth, there will be nothing to hinder the esta­blishment thereof; no titles upon marriage, as in Monarchy, because the power is in the people, and they chuse a Representative that shall go­vern, every two or three yeers [Page 121]making an election of Members of Parliament; that every one may Govern by vicissitude: and there­fore there would be no need of a William the Conquerour to interrupt the proceedings of the State, and dissettle it by establishing of new Laws; there will be no William Ru­fus in a hunting voyage to be slaine; no king Iohn to be poysoned at Swinsted Abbey by a Monke; nor there will be no beautiful Rosamonds to hinder a pious government; no Mortimers to entice to his bed and lust the wives of princes: there will be no unnatural mothers, like that French Lady, who killed her own son Edward the second in Pomfret Castle by the power of a French pride: there will be no Pearce Ga­viston, nor Spencers, to draw a migh­ty State into their own hands, by ruine of the people: there will be [Page 122]no Alice Pearce who sat at the pil­low of King Edward the third, and kept a privy Councel out, that should advise a king for the good of his peo­ple: there will be no wanton Cour­tezan to pass by the Court-cham­bers, and loose her garter, to be a means to settle an Order: there will be no Iohn of Gant to deny the in­heritance of his first children, and settle it upon his second wives: there will be no Richard the second, to send a number of the Nobility to be murdered at Calice, to satisfie the un­satiable desires of Princes; nor striving to ruine Parliaments, though it be to his own deposing; nor no Judges to counsel the Soveraigne to ruine his people: there will be no factions betwixt the houses of Yorke and Lancaster, to imbroyle the peo­ple in War; nor no Barons wars, to make a distraction in the Nations: [Page 123]there will be no working to have Burgesses in Stannaries by Dukes of Cornwall; nor no imprisonment of a Speaker Thorpe out of Parliaments; nor factions for their private inte­rests to ruine the publike: there will be no killing of Henry the sixth in a Chamber, as Richard the third did; no alluring of Iane Shores to Princes lustful beds; no murthering of Princes, and smothering them, as was in the Tower; no Empsons and Dudleys to raise an Estate for kings, by the ruine of the people; no pre­tences to make a war to gather wealth, to peal and pole the subject, and after to compose the war, and keep the money in his own purse, as Henry the seventh did; nor pride to put down the right title of a wife, and set up his own first, that was af­ter it; no Perkin Warbeck to be an Impostor, to put by a right title; no [Page 124] Henry the eighth to make void a Ka­therines bed, to make way for ano­ther wife; no chopping off the heads of wives, to make way for other beauties for lust; nor no terrifying of Parliament, if they do not give way to pass an Act to enrich his Coffers, as Henry the eight did in the case of Abbeyes; no Cardinal Woolseys to set up their Armes afore their Masters, to make way for a Popedom, and too too late repen­tance, that he had not served God so faithfully as his Master, by which he came to a Tragical end, to poyson himself; no poysoning of Edward the sixt by great Northumberlands, to make way for the Diadem; no Lei­cesters to grow so potent, as to set up a school to vitiate Ladies: nor no drawing of Parliament men from their fidelity to their country, as hath been used in king Iames and king [Page 125] Charles his time; nor none so ambi­tious as to make themselves Dar­lings of the multitude, to make way for their own interests above the publick; nor for kings to take favo­rites to overthrow their principals: none unworthy without merit shall be imployed; none shall grow law­less by vertue of Princes humors.

Surely all kingdomes have a peri­od, as the Babylonian, Medes and Persians, Grecian and Reman: look in the history of all these, and you shall understand that Ambition, oppressi­on, Tyranny, and Injustice, have been the changers of Government to some other way or persons.

It is probable that the determina­tion of God is to destroy all Monar­chy in Christendome: for if we be­gin with France, we shall finde they have always adhered to the Romish Government, except a little handful [Page 126]of those they call Reformed Pro­testants. How much have they wronged us in our title, which be­longs truly to us! and though they seeme to be Governed by a Salique Law; yet notwithstanding they have not kept the order thereof, which they ought to have done, but have foisted in some males, which ought to have been last, afore others which ought to have been first: and the Maiors of the Palace at Paris have set up kings at their pleasure, and not respected the right of those that ought to have had it. The per­secuting of the holy men of Towers, and the Albigenses, the true Aposto­lick descendants, who ever hated the Roman Heresies: that horrible and unheard- of massacre at Paris in Hen­ry the thirds time of France, by the device of the house of Guise; and Queen Katherine, who was a Witch, [Page 127]and made Julips of young children snatched up in the night, to maintain her lust; as Comines doth testifie: and Hen. 4. turning his Religion from the Protestant side, after God Almighty had blessed him with one and twen­ty Victories over the Popish League, Lewis the thirteenths making a war against the Protestants, to murder a number of them, though it was with the loss of five thousand of the No­bility of Erance. The Duke of Bouil­lon, the Duke Tremelly, and divers o­thers, changing their Religion; and Cardinal Richeliu giving Authority and command in Armes, on purpose to destroy the Hugonots, though God blessed them to be the best Commanders in France. All these, I say, and many more I could repeat, will be a means to showre down Gods vengeance to destroy that Monarchy.

[Page 128] Let us therefore cease from won­dering at Gods works: for if a Spar­row fals not to the ground without his special providence, then much less is it wanting in turning topsy­turvy principalities and kingdomes: Certainly if this vicissitude were not, sin would have more abound­ed; piety, or at least morality, would be banished; and men would forget the end of their Creation, and think there were no God to punish sin, nor reward the righteous; but do as the great fishes, devoure one a­nother.

This makes me affirme that it is not probable, that God can bless Charles the now supposed King of Scots from his predecessors, if we ex­amine the mothers side: the Grand­mother was proved by the Parlia­ment of Paris to have made abortive her sons bed eleven times, by help [Page 128]of a Spanish Emperick; as by Will. Murreys Ambassie appeared; who returned this answer to King Charles: and therefore it was not convenient to yeild that she should return into France: and also his Grand-father turned his Religion, and was killed like a Calf by Ravilliac: his mother, for too much familiarity with Buck­ingham, Holland, and Jermine; for the Duke, for fear the French Ladies should tell tales of George, often mounted on his steed, sent them in­to France contrary to the Articles of marriage; so that the Queen was shut up in the Chamber alone, not to behold their departure; and cut her fingers with the Glass windows, as Duplex the French Historiographer writes. And Charles the first, afore his marriage, had for a Mistress a great married Lady (it is probable the Prince would follow the same [Page 130]course after marriage) by whom she had a boy; and when he was Prince of Wales, bestowed on the Christening eight thousand pound: it is to be supposed he being so good an husband, and wise, would not lay out so much cost for nothing. When he kept a book, like Henry the seventh, what bribes that he shared, he set down punctually; So much received for such an Office, Place, or Honour; and would be displeased if he had not his part a­greed for with his servants. And likewise the French Queen, Grand­mother of Charles the supposed se­cond King of Scots, was so familiar with Marquess d'Ancre, whom she advanced to so high a command, that by his actions, and the govern­ment after in her Regency, France was almost overthrown, and the prime Nobility; and by her coun­sel [Page 131]to her daughter here, there was procured matters of dangerous con­sequence to England, since her arriv­ing; who perswaded her daughter to draw King Charles to the Romish part (as by many affaires appeared) and got a Patent to transport leather into France, most prejudiciall; which was condemned by this Par­liament.

Wherefore, on all sides, Charles the second from them may justly expect not to prosper, especially by his rebellious invading of England; for if he had any right, yet his in­vasion, and the Conquest, hath just­ly extinguished his title, especially king Charles and his mother playing fast and loose so often, that no issue from thence can either be legitimate or pious, from so ungodly a deriva­tive.

So that if the quantity of battels [Page 131]fought, so great a revolution of the State, the several qualities and per­sons interested, or the long continu­ance of broyles, could render a war memorable, this the Parliament hath undergone, and the new Gene­ral finished, is in the highest degree of Gods miraculous deliverances; after more then twenty battels in three Nations, and above 300000 slaine, and the State changed of face and Masters; multitudes of Forts taken and surrendred; so that the Victorious are but losers, till the State be brought to be (as the French proverb is) en bon point, in perfect health, after a war that hath continu­ed almost nine yeers.

The Subject came from king Charles, leaving his Parliament in the suds, and violently raising a de­structive war to ruine three Nations. It had rather been wisdome in the [Page 132]king to apply to the people lenitives not corrosives: great wounds are to be fewed, not rent; which is the part of a good Chirurgeon; Resto­ratives are to be given, not Purges, to the patient: so Kings ought to amend what was amiss, and not op­pose them with violence; appease their fury, not exasperate them by a war: for this thunder-bolt, by wicked Councel was contrived, to break forth in fiery flashes at an in­stant in the three Nations, about the 23 of October 1642.

Wherefore the Parliament now assembled aimes at this end, that as in Grammar there can be no good construction nor coherence to make true Orthography, without the Sub­stantive and Adjective conjoyned, which is resembled to the Parlia­ment the supreme authority, now settled by Gods assistance, appoin­ting [Page 134]the Councel of State, who will bring mighty things to pass, & cause the annual Officers to nourish all the members in their several callings, that there may be a semblable endeavour of the well being of every good Citi­zen & inhabitant, as well as those in authority; that piety may be exalted and increased by the Lamps of the Sanctuary, indued with the Spirit of God; that the whole body may be governed Apostolically, whereof Christ is the Head, without whom nothing can be effected: for if Christ be not chiefest in our thoughts, no State can be durable, but like a san­dy foundation will moulder away: That the Electors may love the E­lected, and esteeme and obey them, who spend their spirits to advance the common good, keep and defend the weale publick in health and prosperity, that it be not hecticall, [Page 135]meager, nor leane; nor too Saturni­call, nor too Jovial, but in a golden temper. These are wise Physitians, who cure the maladies, fevers, and destempers, that blood may run in every viene of the State to nourish the whole body, in justice, equity, and right, through the cava vena, cava porta, and smaller veines; the great Cities and Townes as well as the small; that the Officers and Magistrates have not a dogs appe­tite, to turne Judicature to a bad chylos, but to an equall distribution of right, that the heart, the courage of the People, may be fostred in good actions, without respect of persons, but with regrad to the right of the cause; that vice and sin may be punished, with a parenthesis of mercy; that the Republick may have foraine and native commodi­ties; that the Land lie not fresh­forth, [Page 134]as the Lord termes it, but that there may be importation and ex­portation; that Manufacture may be maintained, to keep from the bane of idleness and debauchedness, that trade may dish out all things necessa­ry for use, seemly ornament, and lawful Pleasure; that the Merchant, the Purveyors of the Nation, export and import all commodities for the good of the State; that just Impo­sitions, Impost, Subsidie, and Excise may be paid, without corruption and defrauding the State; that Artificers may be able to maintaine their fami­lies; that laws may be kept within the chanel of Gods rule and directi­on; that potency surround not the peoples property, nor wink at the spoile of inferiours; that those in Authority regard more the publick then their private interest; that the Orphant, widdows, and fatherless, [Page 135]be relieved, the innocent freed, and the nocent escape not punishment; and that the Navy, the walls and bulworks, may be maintained in good equippage, for the honour and defence of the Nation.

By this meanes, the wise and sage Councel of State will undermine the enemies plots, so that their ma­lice hurt us not, by intelligencers in Forraine parts, imployed to prevent mischief to the Commonwealth; wherein the Earl of Salisbury (dead) was vigilant, at the annual expence of 2000 pounds. And therefore I am confident the Parliament frames the State to this fashion, if time and repose, the midwives of all affairs, would give them leave to bring forth to action their contrived principles, in which hitherto they have been impeded, by the plots of male-contents, and by procuring [Page 138]provisions for subjugating Ireland and Scotland, the enemies of God and of this State.

Consider, therefore, O England, that they do as wise Physitians are accustomed, afore the perfect reme­dy of patients consumption, advise not to action, imployment, and troubles in affaires, till restored to strength and vigor.

Wherefore now I come to ob­serve how miraculous it is that my Lord General, descended by his Mother by the male-stock of the Stuarts, should be a revenger, under God and the Parliament, of so ma­ny horrible murthers and adulteries, oppressions, fearfull and abomina­ble wickedness, as I have raveled out the peeces, to winde up this bottome, in some special points; but have omitted many this En­chiridion is to able not containe; [Page 139]which, when God shall inable me, and the State injoyne, I shall wil­lingly undergo.

I observe likewise, by his Father, that this Conquerour is a male of that great Crumwell, the sole contri­ver of the dissolution of the Abbies (under Cardinal Woolsey) those adul­terous Seminaries of lust, gluttony, and idleness, that I saw with mine owne eyes, when I went to school at Bury, fifty four yeares since, from a well brought up thousands of Chil­drens bones, which were murthered and cast in it, that the inchastity of of the Nuns and Fryers might not be found out. And although Crum­well Earl of Essex by the malice of the Popish Clergy, was contrived to die, yet he was a Lord of transcen­dent parts, and a scourge to ruine those pestilent Abbies; as if God would requite and revenge his [Page 138]death, by giving such an honour to his name and family in after-ages, to raise up a Crumwel to be Gods instru­ment to destroy such a wicked stock, which nourished such irreligious houses, whose hands were imbrued so often in blood; And that a­mongst the three Generals God rais­ed up this last, with a mind and body sutable to finish an absolute Con­quest over the Royalty: a work in which the heavens (Gods creatures) appointed him to be a principall Coadjutor, under this present Par­liamentary power; God dispensing so much sufficiency of wisdome, piety, and prowess, out of the treasu­ry of nature, for an accomplishment; pointing with the finger to every one, Oliver Crumwell as a prodigy, to perform what the great Creator resolved to bring to pass in this Stuarticall Catastrophe; for which [Page 139]he is equal with Alexander the great; leaving him to shine as a Star placed by God amongst all the military Forces of Europe, under the Parlia­ment and the supreme authority of the Commonwealth, to be a glorious Sun and a Prometheus for to bring in a heavenly light for all Europe to be­hold more clearly Gods will and de­termination, which will be more sensibly and visibly known after the next years great Eclipse, to inligh­ten not onely the Cavaliers, but also Europe, what Gods purpose is to act in future ages; in which course it is behoovefull for every Christian to observe, that he may manage his affaires accordingly, to the glory of God and his owne safety. For so infallible is the will of God to take revenge of injuries done, not observ­ing the presence of times when they were committed, but transferrring [Page 138] [...] [Page 139] [...] [Page 138] [...] [Page 139] [...] [Page 142]occasions from one season to ano­ther; he calleth the sinners into recko­ning, when they have least memory of them: therefore God hath appoint­ed this thrice honorable Parliament the instruments to punish all those Delinquents, who have raised this storme against the Commonwealth, to bring them on their knees to Peti­tion for a composition for their estates personall and reall, and others to forfeit their estates for their in­supportable malignancy; who now begin to behold that peace is better then war, quietness then rebellion, and subjection then opposition: for it is not sufficient that the supreme authority of Nation do their duty; but as in the nourishing of the body, though the head be well disposed, yet it is also necessary all the mem­bers do their office in obeying the supream authorities just Command [Page 143]with all possible diligence: so shall they be by the States indulgence uni­ted, who were divided, and injoy the same priviledges with us; and we all may sit under our vines, and glorifie the God of heaven, who will bless and prosper us.

To conclude, I humbly beseech the supreame authority of England assembled in Parliament, to pardon my age, if I have not so punctually set them down in order as I desired, being shortned by time, and wanting a faithfull, able Transcriber, to write cut this Remonstrance as I could wish: my intentions are onely to manifest Gods determination in abasing greatness which will not stoop to the Government of our Saviour Jesus Christ the second per­son in the Trinity, to whom God hath given all power in this sublu­nary world, for the good of his e­lect; [Page 142]To which I add a gentle admo­nition to all Princes of Europe, to give over tyranny, and submit to the power of the Redeemer and Savi­our, who hath sacrificed his life to save wicked sinners; and so prevent a showre of Gods vengence impend­ing, which is ready to dissolve and pour downe upon their heads.