To his Excellency the Lord Generall
FAIRFAX, and his General Councel of WARRE,
The humble Advice and earnest Desires of certain wel-affected Ministers, Lecturers of
Banbury and
Brackley.
MAy it please your Excellency, and You, Honoured Gentlemen, Whereas by the blessing of God upon your unwearied endeavours, subduing the common enemy more then once, we were in a fair way of being restored to a long desired enjoyment of our Religion in purity, our Persons and Estates in freedom; we accept at all times, and this day acknowledg it with great thankfulnesse. Neverthelesse, when we compare the sacred and solemn Oaths of Allegeance and Supremacy, by Statute Law, the Protestation and Nationall Covenant by authority of both Houses of Parliament (obliging us to the Reformation of Religion, preservation of his Majesties Person and just Power, the defence of the Priviledges of Parliament and Liberties of the Subject) tendered unto, prest upon, and all or most taken [Page 4] by us, and so considerable a part of this Kingdom: Together with some late Petitions, Declarations and Representations to your Excellency and the Generall Councel of War, and your late Remonstrance to the Commons of England assembled in Parliament, and some proceedings thereupon, both in relation to his Majestie, and severall Members of Parliament: And withall, our own Station and Commission from God to be Watchmen and Seers to his people, to stand upon our Watchtower and give warning either of approaching sin or ruine to the Nation: We cannot without wounding our own consciences, and betraying the trust reposed in us, sit down in silence; but are constrained, with all due respects to your Excellency and your Councell (and we hope, without the least offence) to represent and desire as followeth.
First, In reference to his Majestie.
That although we are not ignorant of, nor can in the least approve the profanation and abuse of our solemn Covenant by the late unlawfull Ingagement from Scotland; yet we cannot but represent to you, and manifest to the world our utter dissent from all proceedings against his Majesties Crown and Life: and that upon these ensuing grounds of Conscience and Prudence.
1. The sacred Scripture (the onely unerring rule for all undertakings) neither by precept, or precedent, or other way doth warrant or countenance such actings of Subjects against their lawfull Soveraign: But this remaineth upon divine Record, That when the ten Tribes forsook their King, they also forsook their God, and had neither a good King, nor scarce a good day afterwards. And our own Chronicles do sadly tell us of a Deluge of bloud and calamities overflowing our Ancestours upon [Page 5] the Deposition of Edward the Second, and Richard the Second, both Kings of England.
2. Our Law-books (as we are informed by Parliament Declarations, and as hath been lately acknowledged by your Remonstrance) suppose the King can do no wrong: If so, then (as wee conceive) hee cannot by any written Law forfeit his Crown and Life to his people.
3. We have solemnly bound our selves by Oaths and Covenant (from which no Authority on earth can absolve us) not to prejudice the Person, nor diminish the just Authority of the King; and therefore, without manifest perjury (as we conceive) we cannot consent either to the Deposition of his Majesty, or the deprivation of his life. And here we humbly present to your most serious consideration Gods remarkable avenge upon the House of Saul, of the breach of Covenant made by Joshuah with the Gibeonites some hundreds of yeers before; and that although the Scriptures tell us, hee did it out of his zeal to the House of Israel and Judah.
Fourthly, The way of proceeding against his Majestie will be so far from speeding a Settlement, that we beleeve, it will unvaoydably tend to the scandal and hazard of Religion, and losse of Liberty.
1. In the judgement of our enemies: This will be thought to verifie those foul aspersions so often abjured by the Parliament, us, and other their friends, that the designe in our late just Defence, was the ruine of his Majesty, and the subversion of Regal Government.
2. It will hazard Religion, by rendring the Professors of it odious to the Common Enemy without, by shaking the foundation of our Union with Scotland, and by making [Page 6] an irreparable breach amongst men of the same pious and honest interest at Home.
3. As for Liberty, (so much contended for) it cannot be denied but it must be an invitation to forraign Princes to invade us; (their interest being the same:) And the rather, considering the German-Peace so lately concluded, by means whereof they cannot but be supplyed with Armies of Mercinaries that gape after such an opportunity.
But principally (we fear) this may give Life to the present design now on foot in Ireland (which your and our Souls abhor) for the utter ruine of our Friends there, and speedy invading of this Kingdom.
And finally, that this may tend to a perpetual engagement of the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland in blood, all being so deeply interessed in the person of the King; and that inevitably, because the Prince of Wales (the Heir apparent to the Crowns of all the three Kingdoms) is now at liberty, and may probably be proclaimed and crowned in Scotland and Ireland, and so not likely to want power to seat him on his Fathers Throne here in England, yea, and that possibly without Conditions, to the utter ruine of all that have adhered to the Parliament.
Fifthly, whereas it is said, That by his Majesties departing from his Parliament, setting up his Standard, and levying War against his People; they are absolved from their allegiance to him, notwithstanding the Oaths before mentioned: We well remember that those Oaths, together with the Covenant, have been Constantly prest upon several Members of the Parliament, and other Subjects in this Kingdom, to the Time of the Late Treaty▪ if not since; and that notwithstrnding the aforesaid particulars now charged against his Majesty, and therefore must needs be [Page 7] either vain, (and so a High prophanation of the dreadfull name of God) or else obligatory. And were they not so judged, we know no convincing reason why they should be now suspended or abolished. As to the execution of Justice upon Delinquents covenanted for, we protest that the Dethroning or death of his Majesty, in prosecution of Justice, never entered into our hearts: The same Covenant making speciall provision for the preservation of his Majesties Person, Honor and Authority.
Sixthly and lastly, His Majesty was not taken in Battail, but having a Military power, and strong Garisons in England, besides forces in Scotland and Ireland, did (being invited and encouraged (as we think) by severall joint Declarations and Protestations of the Parliament of both Kingdoms, (promising security to his Royall person) surrender himself to the Army of our Brethren of Scotland, and by them was delivered to the Commissioners of the Parliament of England, upon express promise (as we are in formed) that no violence should be offered to his Person; and farther, when His Majesty went from Hampton Court, we suppose him at Liberty to have gone for Scotland or Ireland, but in the forementioned confidence in Parliamentary Declarations, and the reallity of the Armies intentions towards him, (for we are ignorant of other sufficient cause) he voluntarily betook himself to the Isle of Wight, then in your power.
Secondly, we declare in reference to the Parliament, and Priviledges thereof;
That calling to minde his Majesties attempt to seiz upon the five Members, which was declared by the Parliament, and acknowledged by the King himself a breach of Priviledg, and withall the Ordinance of Parliament of [Page 8] the 20 of August, 1647. declaring the accessitated absence of divers Members of both Houses, by reason of the horrid force upon them, to be a ground sufficient for the making nul [...] and void all votes passed in both or either House of Parliament, from the 26 of July, to their return August 6; we cannot but conceive the seizing and secluding of divers Members (many of them being well known to us to be faithfull Patriots, and (we are confident) have not apostatized to the contrary party) to be a breach of Priviledge of Parliament, which in our Covenant we are sworn in our places to defend; and do therefore crave leave to dissent.
Thirdly, We declare in reference to Religion,
That although our soules abhorr that grand designe of the Devill and his Agents, to decry all religious and zealous professors, under the name of Sectaries and Independents; and although we do willingly grant, and heartily desire that the interest of all Godly and honest men may be carefully provided for, and secured as far as is consistent with the word of God, our Covenant and publique Peace, and that men of different apprehensions in matters of less importance, may not therefore be rendred utterly uncapable of all Offices of power and trust; yet considering of what dangerous consequence an universal Toleration in matter of Religion, so much laboured after in the beginning of Reformation, by the Jesuitical party, must needs prove to Church and State; we presume timously to declare, That such a Toleration is no way consonant to the Word of God, and is repugnant to our National Covenant.
And now having herein according to our consciences so fully and freely discharged our duties to God and the Kingdom, and as much as in us lyeth, freed our selves [Page 9] from the guilt of the blood, misery and ruine that threaten us and the whole Kingdom, if not timely prevented: We most humbly desire as followeth:
First, that your Excellency will be pleased (for the more speedy settlement of the true Protestant Religion and publique peace of the Kingdom, to improve your utmost, That the imprisoned and secluded Members, that cannot justly be charged for betraying their Trust, may be forthwith restored; and such as shall be charged to be tryed by Parliament, according to their Priviledg.
Secondly, that weighing in a just balance the reasons before alledged, with many more that may be added in relation to his Majesty, we humbly desire your Excellency will be pleased by all lawfull means to endevour the suspending of all proceedings against his Majesties Crown and Life, untill advice had (in point of Conscience) with the Reverend Assembly of Divines, and the Church of Scotland, touching the severall Oaths that lye both upon us and them, and in point of prudence, with the Kingdom of Scotland, who are jointly concerned with us in his Majesty.
Thirdly, and lastly, that you will endeavour a right understanding, a good correspondence and mutuall confidence between King, Parliament, City, Army, and all the well-affected persons of the Kingdom, as also between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland, thereby to frustrate the great expectations of the Popipsh arty, who are high in their hopes, by reason of our present sad divisions and distractions promising [Page 10] to themselves (and doe not stick to declare it) a greater advantage to them and their Religion now, then if the King had prevailed by an absolute Conquest. As also to hasten relief to our poor Brethren in bleeding and gasping Ireland, for whom England hath kept the solemn monethly Fast, near seven years together.
But (to draw towards a conclusion) we do here solemnly profess, That it is not the least receding from our first sound principles upon which either with our persons, prayers, purses, or al we engaged with the Parliament in the first and second war; nor our own interest in Church patrimony or power, (God will provide) or indeed any other byass of self-ends, or respects whatsoever, did move us thus to declare our selves, but the meer Conscience of the many Oaths of God, in which the Parliament, You, We, and the generality of the wel-affected in the Kingdom indispensably stand bound before God, Angels and Men, That we desire to wash our hands, as from the blood of all men, so especially of our dread Soveraign; and to approve our selves innocent of all that blood and misery the deposing and taking away his Majesties life, will (in our apprehension) involve us, our posterity, and all men professing godliness in the three Kingdoms in. We doe therefore from our soul beseech and importune you, and every one of you, as Men, Gentlemen, and Christian Souldiers, by all that is or can be dear to good men, as you desire to render a good account of your actions at the great Day to the righteous Judg of heaven & earth, That you will forbear doing ought in the premises, which may wound the conscience, or peirce the hearts of any of Gods people (who are all alike with you, or [Page 11] any of you, precious to him as the apple of his eye) which may rend and tear the bowels of this your and our native Country, and occasion the common Enemy to blaspheme the Majesty, Truth and Cause of our God and your God: And further to contribute the utmost skil, study and endeavours of you and every of you in your proper places, (and the great Counsellour and mighty God direct you all) to remove ours and the Kingdoms fears, to remedie the present abounding distempers, and present and universall destruction; That we and the generations to come may rise up and call you blessed, and so eminent a Preservation of the Kingdom in such an extremity, may be had in everlasting remembrance.
- Zach. Breedon Minister of Croton.
- William Palmer Minister of Rowsam.
- Josias Bunn Minister of Turry-Weston.
- John Hoffman Minister of Wotton.
- Thomas Harris Minister of Brackley.
- Robert Harris Minister of Shalston.
- Edward Whirley Minister of Steeple-Aston.
- John Cave Minister of Middleton-Chynie.
- Samuel Welles Minister of Banbury.
- Edward Archer Minister of Sommerton.
- Robert Wilde Minister of Ayenho.
- Tho. Hodges Minister of Souldern.
- Richard White Minister of Wigginton.
- Stephen Sedgwick Minister of Tinswick.
- Creswell Whately Minister of Tad-Marton.
- John Eyre Minister of Laurence-Marston.
- John Bayly Minister of Frenhford.
- Timothy Perkins Minister of Evenly.
- Samson Smart Minister of Gritworth.