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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/32188-8.txt b/32188-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5f5568f --- /dev/null +++ b/32188-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7798 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Eikon Basilike, by King Charles I (Stuart) + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Eikon Basilike + The Pourtracture of His Sacred Majestie, in His Solitudes and Sufferings + +Author: King Charles I (Stuart) + +Release Date: April 30, 2010 [EBook #32188] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EIKON BASILIKE *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +[Greek: Eikôn Basilikę] + + + THE + +=POURTRACTURE= + + OF + +=HIS SACRED= + +=MAJESTIE=, + + IN + +=HIS SOLITUDES= + + AND + +=SUFFERINGS=. + + +With a perfect Copy of Prayers used by his Majesty in the time of his +sufferings. + +Delivered to Dr. JUXON Bishop of _London_, immediately before his +Death. + + +ROM. 8. + +_More then Conquerour, &c._ + +_Bona agere, & mala pati, Regium est._ + + +Printed at _London_, 1649. + + + + +The Explanation of the Embleme. + + + =PONDERIBUS= _genuus omne mali, probriq; gravatus, + Vixq; ferenda ferens_, =Palma= _ut_ =depressa=, _resurgo. + Ac, velut undarum_ =Fuctűs Ventěque=, _furorem + Irati Populi_ =Rupes immotta= _repello_. + =Clarioré tenebris=, _c[oe]lestis stella, corusco. + Victor ćternum f[oe]lici pace_ =triumpho=. + _Auro_ =fulgentem= _rutilo gemmisque micantem, + At curis_ =Gravidam= _spernendo_ =calco Coronam=. + =Spinosam=, _at_ =ferri facilem=, _quo_ =spes mea=, _Christi + Auxilio, Nobis non est_ =tractare= _molestum_. + =Ćternam=, _fixis fidei, semperque_ =beatam= + _In C[oe]los occulis_ =specto=, _Moběsque-paratam. + Quod_ =vanum= _est, sperno; quod Christi_ =Gratia= _prćbet + Amplecti studium est: Virtutis_ =Gloria= _merces._ + + THOUGH clogg'd with _weights_ of miseries, + _Palm_-like _depress'd_, I higher rise. + And as th' _unmoved Rock_ out-braves + The boyst'rous _winds_, and raging _waves_; + So _triumph I_. And _shine more bright_ + In sad Affliction's darksom night. + That _splendid_, but yet _toilsome Crown_, + Regardlesly _I trample_ down. + With joy I take this _Crown_ of _Thorn_, + Though _sharp_, yet _easie to be born_. + That _heav'nly Crown_, already mine, + I _view_ with _eyes_ of faith divine. + I slight _vain_ things; and do embrace + _Glory_, the just reward of _Grace_. + +[Greek: To Chi ouden ędikęse tęn polin, oude to Kappa.] + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Greek: Eikôn Basilikę.] + + +THE + +POURTRACTURE + +OF HIS SACRED + +MAJESTIE, + +IN + +HIS SOLITUDES + +AND + +SUFFERINGS. + +With a perfect Copy of Prayers used by his Majesty in the time of his +sufferings. + +Delivered to Dr. JUXON Bishop of _London_, immediately before his +death. + + +ROM. 8. + +_More then Conquerour, &c. + +Bona agere, & mala pati, Regium est._ + + +Printed at _London_, 1649. + + + + +THE CONTENTS. + + + 1 _Vpon His Majesties calling this last Parliament._ + + 2 _Upon the Earl of_ Strafford's _death._ + + 3 _Upon His Majesties going to the House of Commons._ + + 4 _Upon the Insolency of the Tumults._ + + 5 _Upon His Majesties passing the Bill for the Trienniall + Parliaments: and after setling this, during the pleasure of + the two Houses._ + + 6 _Upon His Majesties retirement from_ Westminster. + + 7 _Upon the Queens departure, and absence out of_ England. + + 8 _Upon His Majesties repulse at_ Hull, _and the fates of the_ + Hothams. + + 9 _Upon the listing and raising Armies against the King._ + + 10 _Upon their seizing the Kings Magazines, Forts, Navie, and + Militia._ + + 11 _Upon the 19 Propositions first sent to the King; and more + afterwards._ + + 12 _Upon the Rebellion, and troubles in_ Ireland. + + 13 _Upon the Calling in of the_ Scots, _and their Coming._ + + 14 _Upon the Covenant._ + + 15 _Upon the many Jealousies raised, and Scandals cast upon + the King, to stirre up the people against Him._ + + 16 _Upon the Ordinance against the Common prayer-Book._ + + 17 _Of the differences between the King, and the two Houses, + in point of Church-government._ + + 18 _Upon_ Uxbridge-_Treaty, and others Offers made by the + King._ + + 19 _Upon the various events of the War; Victories, and + Defeats._ + + 20 _Upon the Reformations of the Times._ + + 21 _Upon His Majesties Letters taken and divulged._ + + 22 _Upon His Majesties leaving_ Oxford, and going to the_ + Scots._ + + 23 _Upon the_ Scots _delivering the King to the_ English; _and + His Captivity at_ Holmbie. + + 24 _Upon their denying His Majestie the Attendance of His + Chaplains._ + + 25 Penitentiall Meditations and Vowes in the King's solitude + at _Holmbie_. + + 26 _Upon the Armies surprisall of the King at_ Holmbie, _and + the ensuing distractions in the two Houses, the Army, and the + Citie._ + + 27 _To the Prince of_ Wales. + + 28 _Meditations upon Death, after the Votes of Non-Addresses, + and His Majesties closer Imprisonment in_ Carisbrook-Castle. + + 29 _Divers prayers used by his Majesty in time of His + sufferings._ + + 30 _His Speeches to the Lady_ Elisabeth _and Duke of_ + Glocester: _And His_ Reasons _against the jurisdiction of the + high Court of Justice._ + +[Illustration] + +[Greek: EIKÔN BASILIKĘ] + + + + +1. _Upon His Majesties calling this last Parliament._ + + +This last Parliament I called, not more by others advice, and +necessity of My affairs, then by my own choice and inclination; who +have always thought the right way of Parliaments most safe for +My Crown, and best pleasing to my People: And although I was not +forgetfull of those sparks, which some mens distempers formerly +studied to kindle in Parliaments, (which by forbearing to convene for +some years, I hoped to have extinguished) yet resolving with My self +to give all just satisfaction to modest and sober desires, and to +redress all publick grievances in Church and State; I hoped (by My +freedom and their moderation) to prevent all mis-understandings and +miscarriages in this: In which as I feared, affairs would meet with +some passion and prejudice in other men, so I resolved they should +finde least of them in my self; not doubting, but by the weight of +Reason I should counterpoiz the over-ballancing of any Factions. + +I was, indeed, sorry to hear with what partiality and popular heat, +Elections were carried in many places; yet hoping that the gravity and +discretion of other Gentlemen would allay and fix the Commons to a +due temperament (guiding some mens well-meaning zeal by such rules of +moderation as are best both to preserve and restore the health of all +States and Kingdoms:) No man was better pleased with the convening of +this Parliament then My self; who knowing best the largenesse of my +own Heart toward my Peoples good and just contentment, pleased my +self most in that good and firm understanding, which would hence grow +between me and my people. + +All jealousies being laid aside, my own and my Childrens Interests +gave me many obligations to seek and preserve the love and welfare of +my Subjects; The only temporal blessing that is left to the ambition +of just Monarchs, as their greatest honour and safety, next Gods +protection. I cared not to lessen my self in some things of my wonted +Prerogative; since I knew I could be no loser, if I might gain but a +recompence in my Subjects affections. + +I intended not only to oblige my friends, but mine enemies also: +exceeding even the desires of those that were factiously discontented, +if they did but pretend to any modest and sober sense. + +The _odium_ and offences which some mens rigor or remissnesse in +Church and State had contracted upon my Government, I resolved to have +expiated by such Laws and regulations for the future, as might +not only rectifie what was amiss in practice, but supply what was +defective in the constitution: No man having a greater zeal to see +Religion setled, and preserved in Truth, Unitie, and Order then my +self; whom it most concerns both in pietie and policie; as knowing, +that, No flames of civil dissentions are more dangerous then those +which make Religious pretensions the grounds of Factions. + +I resolved to reform, what I should by free and full advice in +Parliament be convinced to be amiss; and to grant whatever my Reason +and Conscience told me was fit to be desired; I wish I had kept my +self within those bounds, and not suffered my own Judgement to have +been over-born in some things, more by others Importunities, then +their Arguments; my confidence had less betrayed my self, and my +Kingdoms, to those advantages, which some men sought for, who wanted +nothing but power and occasion to do mischief. + +But our sins being ripe, there was no preventing of Gods Justice, from +reaping that glory in our Calamities, which we robbed him of in our +prosperitie. + + +_For thou (O Lord) hast made us see, That Resolutions of future +Reforming, doe not alwayes satisfie thy justice, nor prevent thy +Vengeance for former miscarriages._ + +_Our sins have over-laid our hopes: Thou hast taught us to depend on +thy mercies to forgive, not on our purpose to amend._ + +_When thou hast vindicated thy glory by thy judgments, and hast shewed +us how unsafe it is to offend thee, upon presumptions afterwards to +please thee, Then I trust thy mercy will restore those blessings to +us, which we have so much abused, as to force thee to deprive us of +them._ + +_For want of timely repentance of our sins, Thou givest us cause to +Repent of those Remedies we too late apply._ + +_Yet I doe not repent of my calling the last Parliament, because O +Lord, I did it with an upright intention to thy glory, and My Peoples +good._ + +_The miseries which have ensued upon me and my Kingdoms, are the just +effects of thy displeasure upon us; and may be yet, through thy mercy, +preparatives of us to future blessings and better hearts to enjoy +them._ + +_O Lord, though thou hast deprived us of many former comforts; +yet grant me and my People the benefit of our afflictions, and thy +chastisements; that thy Rod as well as thy Staff may comfort us: +Then shall we dare to account them the strokes not of an enemy, but a +Father: when thou givest us those humble affections, that measure of +patience in repentance which becomes thy Children; I shall have no +cause to repent the miseries this Parliament hath occasioned, when by +them thou hast brought me and my people unfeignedly to repent of the +sins we have committed._ + +_Thy grace is infinitely better with our sufferings, then our Peace +could be with our sins._ + +_O thou soveraign goodness and wisdom, who over-rulest all our +Counsels; over-rule also all our hearts; That the worse things we +suffer by thy Justice, the better we may be by thy mercie._ + +_As our sins have turned our Antidotes into Poison, so let thy Grace +turn our Poison into Antidotes._ + +_As the sins of our Peace disposed us to this unhappy Warre, so let +this War prepare us for thy blessed Peace._ + +_That although I have but troublesom Kingdoms here, yet I may attain +to that Kingdom of Peace in my Heart, and in thy Heaven, which Christ +hath purchased, & thou wilt give to thy servant (though a sinner) for +my Saviours sake._ Amen. + + * * * * * + + + + +2. _Upon the Earl of Straffords death_. + + +I looked upon my Lord of _Strafford_, as a Gentleman, whose great +abilities might make a Prince rather afraid, then ashamed to employ +him in the greatest affairs of State. + +For those were prone to create in him great confidence of +undertakings, and this was like enough to betray him to great errors, +and many enemies; whereof he could not but contract good store, while +moving in so high a sphear, and with so vigorous a lustre, he must +needs (as the Sun) raise many envious exhalations, which condensed by +a popular _odium_, were capable to cast a cloud before the brightest +merit and integrity. + +Though I cannot in my judgement approve all he did, driven (it may be) +by the necessities of times, and the Temper of that people, more then +led by his own disposition to any height and rigour of actions: yet I +could never be convinced of any such criminousness in him as willingly +to expose his life to the stroke of Justice, and malice of his +enemies. I never met with a more unhappy conjuncture of affairs, +then in the businesse of that unfortunate Earl: when between my own +unsatisfiedness in Conscience, and a necessity (as some told me) of +satisfying the importunities of some people, I was perswaded by those +that I think wished Me well, to chuse rather what was safe, then what +seemed just; preferring the outward peace of My Kingdoms with men, +before that inward exactness of Conscience before God. + +And indeed I am so far from excusing or denying that compliance on My +part (for plenary consent it was not) to his destruction, whom in +My judgment I thought not, by any clear law, guilty of death: That +I never bare any touch of Conscience with greater regret: which as a +sign of my repentance, I have often with sorrow confessed both to God +and men, as an act of so sinfull frailty, that it discovered more +a fear of man, then of God, whose name and place on earth no man is +worthy to bear, who will avoid inconveniencies of State, by acts of so +high injustice, as no publick convenience can expiate or compensate. + +I see it a bad exchange to wound a mans own Conscience, thereby to +salve State-sores; to calm the storms of popular discontents, by +stirring up a tempest in a mans own bosome. + +Nor hath Gods Justice failed in the event and sad consequences, to +shew the world the fallacy of that Maxime, _Better one man perish, +(though unjustly) then the people be displeased or destroyed._ + +For, In all likelihood I could never have suffered, with My people, +greater calamities, (yet with greater comfort) had I vindicated +_Straffords_ innocency, at least by denying to Sign that destructive +_Bill_, according to that Justice, which My conscience suggested +to Me, then I have done since I gratified some mens unthankful +importunities with so cruel a favour. And I have observed, that those, +who counselled Me to sign that Bill, have been so far from receiving +the rewards of such ingratiatings with the People, that no men have +been harassed & crushed more then they: He onely hath been least vexed +by them, who counselled Me, not to consent against the vote of My own +Conscience: I hope God hath forgiven Me and them, the sinful rashness +of that business. + +To which being in My soul so fully conscious, those Judgements God +hath pleased to send upon Me, are so much the more welcom, as a means +(I hope) which his mercy hath sanctified so to Me, as to make Me +repent of that unjust Act, (for so it was to Me) and for the future +to teach Me, That the best rule of policie is, to prefer the doing of +Justice, before all enjoyments, and the peace of my Conscience before +the preservation of My Kingdoms. + +Nor hath any thing more fortified My resolutions against all those +violent importunities, which since have sought to gain a like consent +from Me, to Acts, wherein my Conscience is unsatisfied, then the sharp +touches I have had for what passed Me, in My Lord of _Straffords_ +business. + +Not that I resolved to have imployed him in My affairs, against the +advise of my Parliament, but I would not have had any hand in his +Death, of whose Guiltlesness I was better assured, then any man living +could be. + +Nor were the crimes objected against him so clear, as after a long and +fair hearing to give convincing satisfaction to the Major part of both +Houses; especially that of the Lords, of whom scarce a third part +were present, when the bill passed that House: And for the House +of Commons, many Gentlemen, disposed enough to diminish My Lord of +_Straffords_ greatness and power, yet unsatisfied of his guilt in Law, +durst not condemn him to die: who for their integrity in their Votes, +were by Posting their Names, exposed to the popular calumny, hatred +and fury; which grew then so exorbitant in their clamours _for +Justice_, (that is, to have both my self and the two Houses' Vote, +and doe as they would have us) that many ('tis thought) were rather +terrified to concur with the condemning party, then satisfied that of +right they ought so to doe. + +And that after-Act vacating the Authority of the precedent, for future +imitation sufficiently tels the world, that some remorse touched even +his most implacable enimies, as knowing he had very hard measure, and +such as they would be very loath should be repeated to themselves. + +This tendernesse and regret I find in my soul, for having any hand +(and that very unwillingly God knows) in shedding one mans bloud +unjustly, (though under the colour and formalities of Justice, and +pretences of avoiding publick mischiefs) which may (I hope) be some +evidence before God and man, to all posterity, that I am far from +bearing justly the vast load and guilt of all that blood which hath +been shed in this unhappy War; which some men will needs charge on me, +to ease their own souls, who am, and ever shall be, more affraid to +take away any mans life unjustly then to lose my own. + + +_But then, O God, of thy infinit mercies forgive me that act of +sinfull compliance, which hath greater aggravations upon me then any +man, Since I had not the least temptation of envy, or malice against +him, and by my place should, at least so farre, have been a preserver +of him, as to have denied my consent to his destruction._ + +_O Lord, I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is ever before +me._ + +_Deliver me from blood-guiltiness O God, thou God of my salvation, and +my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness._ + +_Against thee have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight, for thou +sawest the contradiction between my heart and my hand._ + +_Yet cast me not away from thy presence, purge me with the blood of my +Redeemer, and I shall be clear; wash me with that pretious effusion, +and I shall be whiter then snow._ + +_Teach me to learn Righteousnesse by thy Iudgements, and to see my +frailtie in thy Iustice: while I was perswaded by shedding one mans +bloud to prevent after-troubles, thou hast for that, among other +sins, brought upon mee, and upon my Kingdoms, great, long, and heavy +troubles._ + +_Make me to prefer Iustice, which is thy Will, before all contrary +clamours, which are but the discoveries of mans injurious will._ + +_It is too much that they have once overcome me, to please them by +displeasing thee: O never suffer me for any reason of State, to go +against my Reason of Conscience, Which is highly to sin against thee, +the God of Reason, and Iudge of our Consciences._ + +_Whatever, O Lord, thou seest fit to deprive me of, yet restore unto +me the joy of thy Salvation, and ever uphold me with thy free Spirit; +which subjects my will to non: but the light of Reason, Justice, and +Religion, which shines in my Soul; for thou desirest Truth in the +inward parts, and Integritie in the outward expressions._ + +_Lord, hear the voice of thy Sons, and my Saviours bloud, which speaks +better things; O make me, and my People, to hear the voice of Joy and +Gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken, may rejoice in thy +salvation_. + + * * * * * + + + + +3. _Vpon His Majesties going to the House of Commons._ + + +My going to the House of Commons to demand Justice upon the five +Members, was an act which my Enemies loaded with all the obloquies and +exasperations they could. + +It filled indifferent men with great jealousies and fears; yea, and +many of my Friends resented it, as a motion rising rather from Passion +then Reason, and not guided with such discretion as the touchiness of +those times required. + +But these men knew not the just motives, and pregnant grounds, with +which I thought myself so furnished, that there needed nothing to such +evidence, as I could have produced against those I charged, save onely +a free and legall Trial, which was all I desired. + +Nor had I any temptation of displeasure or revenge against those mens +persons, further then I had discovered those (as I thought) unlawfull +correspondencies they had used, and engagements they had made to +embroyl my Kingdoms: of all which I missed but little to have produced +Writings under some mens own hands, who were the chief contrivers of +the following Innovations. + +Providence would not have it so; yet I wanted not such probabilities +as were sufficient to raise jealousies in any Kings heart, who is not +wholly stupid and neglective of the publick Peace; which to preserve, +my calling in question half a dozen men, in a fair and legall way +(which God knows, was all my design) could have amounted to no worse +effect, had it succeeded, then either to do Me and my Kingdom right, +in case they had been found guilty; or else to have cleared their +innocency, and removed my suspicion: which, as they were not raised +out of any malice, so neither were they in reason to be smothered. + +What flames of discontent this spark (though I sought by all speedy +and possible means to quench it) soon kindled, all the world is +witnesse: The aspersion which some men cast upon that action, as if +I had designed by force to assault the House of Commons, and invade +their Priviledge, is so false, that, as God best knows, I had no such +intent; so none that attended Me could justly gather from any thing I +then said or did, the least intimation of any such thoughts. + +That I went attended with some Gentlemen, as it was no unwonted thing +for the Majesty and safety of a King so to be attended, especially +in discontented times; so were my Followers at that time short of +my ordinary Guard, and no way proportionable to hazard a tumultuary +conflict. Nor were they more scared at my coming, then I was unassured +of not having some affronts cast upon me, if I had none to be with +Me to preserve a reverence to Me: for many people had (at that time) +learned to think those hard thoughts, which they have since abundantly +vented against Me, both by words and deeds. + + The sum of that businesse was this, + +Those men and their adherents were then look'd upon by the affrighted +vulgar, as greater Protectors of their Laws and Liberties then my +Self, and so worthier of their protection. I leave them to God and +their own Consciences, who, if guilty of evill machinations, no +present impunity, or popular vindications of them will be subterfuge +sufficient to rescue them from those exact Tribunals. + +To which, in the obstructions of Justice among men, we must +religiously appeal, as being an argument to us Christians of that +after unavoidable Judgement, which shall re-judge what among men is +but corruptly decided, or not at all. + +I endeavoured to have prevented, if God had seen fit, those future +commotions which I foresaw, would in all likelyhood follow some mens +activity (if not restrained) and so now hath done to the undoing of +many thousands; the more is the pity. + +But to over-awe the freedom of the Houses, or to weaken their just +Authority by any violent impressions upon them, was not at all my +design: I thought I had so much Justice and Reason on my side, as +should not have needed so rough assistance: and I was resolved +rather to bear the repulse with patience, then to use such hazardous +extremities. + + +_But thou, O Lord art my witnesse in heaven, and in my Heart: If I +have purposed any violence or oppression against the Innocent: or if +there were any such wickednes in my thoughts._ + +_Then let the enemy persecute my soul, and tread my life to the +ground, and lay mine Honour in the dust._ + +_Thou that seest not as man seeth, but lookest beyond all popular +appearances, searching the heart, and trying the reins, and bringing +to light the hidden things of darknesse, shew thy self._ + +_Let not my afflictions be esteemed (as with wise and godly men they +cannot be) any argument as my sin, in that matter: more then their +Impunity among good men is any sure token of their Innocency._ + +_But forgive them wherin they have done amiss, though they are not +punished for it in this world._ + +_Save thy servant from the privy conspiracies, and open violence of +bloody and unreasonable men, according to the uprightness of my heart, +and the innocency of my hands in this matter._ + +_Plead my cause and maintain my right, O thou that sittest in the +Throne, judging rightly, that thy servant may ever rejoyce in thy +salvation._ + + * * * * * + + + + +4. _Upon the Insolency of the Tumults._ + + +I Never thought any thing (except our sins) more ominously presaging +all these mischiefs, which have followed, then those Tumults +in _London_ and _Westminster_, soon after the convening of this +Parliament; which were not like a storm at Sea, (which yet wants not +its terrour) but like an Earth-quake, shaking the very foundations of +all; then which nothing in the world hath more of horror. + +As it is one of the most convincing Arguments that there is a God, +while his power sets bounds to the raging of the Sea: so 'tis no +less, that he restrains the madness of the People. Nor doth any thing +portend more Gods displeasure against a Nation, then when he suffers +the confluence and clamours of the Vulgar to passe all boundaries of +Laws and reverence to Authority. + +Which those Tumults did to so high degrees of Insolence, that they +spared not to invade the Honour and Freedom of the two Houses, +menacing, reproaching, shaking, yea, and assaulting some Members of +both Houses, as they fancied, or disliked them: Nor did they forbear +most rude and unseemly deportments, both in contemptuous words and +actions, to my Self and my Court. + +Nor was this a short fit or two of shaking, as an ague, but a +quotidian fever, always encreasing to higher inflammations, impatient +of any mitigation, restraint, or remission. + +First, They must be a guard against those fears which some men scared +themselves and others withall; when indeed nothing was more to be +feared, and lesse to be used by wise men, then those tumultuary +confluxes of mean and rude people, who are taught first to petition, +then to protect, then to dictate, at last to command and over-aw the +Parliament. + +All obstructions in Parliament (that is, all freedom of differing in +Votes, and debating matters with reason and candor) must be taken away +with these Tumults; By these must the Houses be purged, and all +rotten Members (as they pleased to count them) cast out: By these the +obstinacie of men resolved to discharge their Consciences, must be +subdued; by these all factious, seditious, and schismaticall Proposals +against Government Ecclesiastical or Civil, must be backed and +abetted, till they prevailed. + +Generally, who-ever had most mind to bring forth confusion and ruine +upon Church and State, used the midwifery of those Tumults: whose riot +and impatience was such, that they would not stay the ripening and +season of Counsels, or fair production of Acts, in the order, gravity, +and deliberatenesse befitting a Parliament; but ripped up with +barbarous cruelty, and forcibly cut out abortive Votes, such as their +Inviters and Encouragers most fancied. + +Yea, so enormous and detestable were their outrages, that no sober man +could be without an infinite shame and sorrow to see them so tolerated +and connived at by some; countenanced, encouraged, and applauded by +others. + +What good man had not rather want any thing he most desired, for the +publick good, then obtain it by such unlawfull and irreligious means? +But mens passions and Gods directions seldom agree; violent designes +and motions must have sutable engines: such as too much attend their +own ends, seldom confine themselves to Gods means. Force must crowd in +what Reason will not lead. + +Who were the chief Demagogues and Patrons of Tumults, to send for +them, to flatter and embolden them, to direct and tune their clamorous +importunities, some men yet living are too conscious to pretend +ignorance: God in his due time will let these see, That those were no +fit means to be used for attaining his ends. + +But as it is no strange thing for the Sea to rage, when strong winds +blow upon it; so neither for Multitudes to become insolent, when they +have Men of some reputation for parts and piety to set them on. + +That which made their rudenesse most formidable, was, that many +Complaints being made, and Messages sent by my Self, and, some of both +Houses; yet no Order for redress could be obtained with any vigour +and efficacie, proportionable to the malignity of that now far-spread +disease, and predominant mischief. + +Such was some mens stupidity, that they feared no inconvenience; +Others petulancie, that they joyed to see their betters shamefully +outraged and abused, while they knew their onely security consisted +in vulgar flattery: so insensible were they of Mine, or the two Houses +common Safety and Honours. + +Nor could ever any Order be obtained, impartially to examine, censure, +and punish the known Boutefeus, and impudent Incendiaries, who boasted +of the influence they had and used, to convoke those Tumults as their +advantages served. + +Yea, some (who should have been wiser States-men) owned them as +friends, commending their Courage, Zeal, and Industry; which to sober +men could seem no better then that of the Divel, who _goes about +seeking whom he may_ deceive and _devour._ + +I confesse, when I found such a deafness, that no Declaration from the +Bishops, who were first fouly insolenced and assaulted; nor yet from +other Lords and Gentlemen of Honor; nor yet from my self could take +place for the due repression of these Tumults; and securing not only +Our freedom in Parliament, but Our very persons in the Streets; I +thought My self not bound by my presence to provoke them to higher +boldness and contempts; I hoped by my with-drawing to give time, both +for the ebbing of their tumultuous furie, and others regaining some +degrees of modesty and sober sense. + +Some may interpret it as an effect of Pusillanimitie in any man +for popular terrors to desert his publick station. But I think it a +hardiness, beyond true valor, for a wise man to set himself against +the breaking in of a Sea; which to resist, at present, threatens +imminent danger; but to withdraw, gives it space to spend its fury, +and gains a fitter time to repair the breach. Certainly a gallant man +had rather fight to great disadvantages for number and place in the +field, in an orderly way, then skuffle with an undisciplined rabble. + +Some suspected and affirmed that I meditated a war (when I went from +_Whitehal_ only to redeem my Person & Conscience from violence) God +knows I did not think of a war. Nor will any prudent man conceive that +I would by so many former and some after-acts, have so much weakned +My self, if I had purposed to engage in a war, which to decline by +all means, I denyed my self in so many particulars: 'Tis evident I had +then no Army to fly unto, for protection or vindication. + +Who can blame me, or any other for a withdrawing our selves from the +daily baitings of the Tumults, not knowing whether their fury and +discontent might not fly so high, as to worry and tear those in +pieces, whom as yet they but played with in their paws? God, who is my +sole Judg, is my Witness in Heaven, that I never had any thoughts +of going from My house at _Whitehall_, if I could have had but any +reasonable fair Quarter; I was resolved to bear much, and did so, but +I did not think my self bound to prostitute the Majesty of my place +and Person, the safety of my Wife and children, to those who are prone +to insult most, when they have objects and opportunity, most capable +of their rudeness and petulancy. + +But this business of the Tumults (whereof some have given already an +account to God, others yet living, know themselves desperatly guilty) +time and the guilt of many hath so smothered up and buried, that I +think it best to leave it as it is: Only I beleeve the just Avenger of +all disorders, will in time make those men, and that City, see their +sin in the glass of their Punishment. 'Tis more then an even lay, they +may one day see themselves punished by that way they offended. + +Had this Parliament, as it was in its first Election and Constitution, +sate full and free, the Members of both Houses being left to their +freedom of Voting, as in all reason, honor, and Religion, they should +have been; I doubt not but things would have been so carried, as +would have given no less content to all good men, then they wished or +expected. + +For, I was resolved to hear reason in all things, and to consent to +it so far as I could comprehend it: but as Swine are to Gardens and +orderly Plantations, so are Tumults to Parliaments, and Plebeian +concourses to publick Councels, turning all into disorders and sordid +confusions. + +I am prone sometimes to think, That had I called this Parliament to +any other place in _England_, (as I might opportunely enough have +done) the sad consequences, in all likelihood, with Gods blessing, +might have been prevented. A Parliament would have been welcom in +any place; no place afforded such confluence of various and vitious +humors, as that where it was unhappily convened. But we must leave all +to God, who orders our disorders, and magnifies his wisdom most, when +our follies and miseries are most discovered. + + +_But thou O Lord art My refuge and defence_: _to thee I may safely +flie, who rulest the raging of the Sea, and the madnesse of the +People._ + +_The flouds, O Lord, the flouds are come in upon Me, and are ready to +overwhelm Me._ + +_I look upon My sinnes and the sinnes of My people, (which are the +tumults of our Souls against thee O Lord) as the just cause of these +popular inundations which thou permittest to overbear all the banks of +Loyalty, Modesty, Laws, Justice, and Religion._ + +_But thou that gatheredst the Waters into one place, and madest the +dry land to appear, and after did'st asswage the floud which drowned +the world, by the word of thy power; Rebuke those beasts of the +people, and deliver Me from the rudenesse and strivings of the +multitude._ + +_Restore, We beseech thee, unto Us, the freedoms of Our Councels and +Parliaments, make Us unpassionately to see the light of Reason, and +Religion, and with all order and gravity to follow it, as becomes Men +and Christians; so shall We praise thy Name, who art the God of order +and counsel._ + +_What man cannot, or will not represse, thy Omnipotent Justice can and +will._ + +_O Lord, give them that are yet living, a timely sense and sorrow +for their great sinne, whom thou knowest guilty of raising or +not suppressing those disorders: Let shame here and not suffering +hereafter be their punishment._ + +_Set bounds to our passions by Reason, to our errors by Truth, to our +seditions by Laws duely executed, to our schismes by Charitie, that we +may be, as thy_ Jerusalem, _a Citie at unity in it self._ + +_This grant, O My God, in thy good time, for Jesus Christs sake._ +Amen. + + * * * * * + + + + +5. _Upon His Majesties passing the_ BILL _for the Trienniall +Parliaments: And after, setling this, during the pleasure of the two +Houses_. + + +That the world might be fully confirmed in my purposes at first, to +contribute what in Justice, Reason, Honour and Conscience I could, +to the happy success of this Parliament, (which had in Me no other +Designe, but the generall good of My Kingdoms) I willingly passed +the BILL for Trienniall Parliaments: which, as gentle and seasonable +Physick, might (if well applied) prevent any distempers from getting +any head, or prevailing; especially, if the remedy proved not a remedy +beyond all remedy. + +I conceived, this Parliament would finde work with convenient Recesses +for the first three years: But I did not imagine, that some men would +thereby have occasioned more work then they found to do, by undoing +so much as they found well done to their hands. Such is some mens +activity, that they will needs make work rather then want it; and +chuse to be doing amiss, rather then do nothing. + +When that first Act seemed too scanty to satisfie some mens fears, and +compass publick Affairs; I was perswaded to grant that BILL of sitting +during the pleasure of the Houses; which amounted, in some mens sense, +to as much as the perpetuating of this Parliament. By this Act of +highest confidence, I hoped for ever to shut out, and lock the door +upon all present jealousies, and future mistakes: I confess, I did +not thereby intend to shut my Self out of doors, as some men have now +requited me. + +True, it was an Act unparallell'd by any of my Predecessors; yet +cannot in reason admit of any worse interpretation then this, of an +extreme confidence I had, That my Subjects would not make ill use of +an Act, by which I declared so much to trust them, as to deny my Self +in so high a point of my Prerogative. + +For good Subjects will never think it just or fit, that my Condition +should be worse, by my bettering theirs; Nor indeed would it have been +so in the events, if some men had known as well with moderation to +use, as with earnestness to desire advantages of doing good or evill. + +A continuall Parliament (I thought) would but keep the Common-weale in +tune, by preserving Laws in their due execution and vigour: wherein My +interest lies more then any mans, since by those Laws My Rights as +a KING, would be preserved no less then My Subjects; which is all I +desired. More then the Law gives Me I would not have, and less the +meanest Subject should not. + +Some (as _I_ have heard) gave it out, that I soon repented me of that +setling Act: and many would needs perswade Me, _I_ had cause so to do: +But I could not easily nor suddenly suspect such ingratitude in men +of Honour, That the more I granted them, the less _I_ should have and +enjoy with them. _I_ still counted my self undiminished by my largest +Concessions, if by them _I_ might gain and confirm the love of My +people. + +Of which I do not yet despair, but that God will still bless Me with +increase of it, when men shall have more leisure and less prejudice; +that so with unpassionate representations they may reflect upon those +(as I think) not more Princely then friendly contributions, which I +granted toward the perpetuating of their happiness: who are now only +miserable in this, That some mens ambition will not give them leave to +enjoy what I intended for their good. + +Nor do I doubt, but that in Gods due time, the Loyal and cleared +affections of My people will strive to return such retributions of +Honour and love to Me or My Posteritie, as may fully compensate both +the Acts of my confidence, and my Sufferings for them; which (God +knows) have been neither few; nor small, nor short; occasioned chiefly +by a perswasion I had, that I could not grant too much, or distrust +too little, to men, that being professedly my Subjects, pretended +singular piety, and religious strictness. + +The injurie of all Injuries is, That which some men will needs load Me +withall; as if I were a wilfull and resolved Occasioner of my Own, +and my Subjects Miseries; while (as they confidently, but (God knows) +falsly divulge) I repining at the establishment of this Parliament, +endeavoured by force and open hostility, to undoe what by my Royall +Assent I had done. Sure, it had argued a very short sight of things, +and extreme fatuity of minde in Me, so far to binde my Own hands at +their request, if I had shortly meant to have used a sword against +them. God knows, though I had then a sense of Injuries; yet not such +as to think them worth vindicating by a War: I was not then compelled, +as since, to injure my Self by their not using favours with the same +candour wherewith they were conferred. The Tumults indeed threatned +to abuse all Acts of Grace, and turne them into wantonnesse; but I +thought at length their own fears, whose black arts first raised up +those turbulent spirits, would force them to conjure them down again. + +Nor if I had justly resented any indignities put upon me, or others, +was I then in any capacitie to have taken just revenge in an hostile +and warlike way, upon those, whom I knew so well fortified in the +love of the meaner sort of the people, that I could not have given +my Enemies greater and more desired advantages against Me, then by so +unprincely inconstancie, to have assaulted them with Armies, thereby +to scatter them, whom but lately I had solemnly setled by an Act of +Parliament. + +God knows, I longed for nothing more, then that my Self, and my +Subjects might quietly enjoy the fruits of my many Condescendings. + +It had been a Course full of sin, as well as of Hazard and Dishonor; +for Me to go about the cutting up of that by the Sword, which I had +so lately planted, so much (as I thought) to my Subjects content, and +mine Own too, in all probability, if some men had not feared where no +fear was, whose security consisted in fearing others. + +I thank God, I know so well the sincerity and uprightness of my own +Heart in passing that great BILL, which exceeded the very thoughts of +former times; That although I may seem less a Polititian to men, yet +I need no secret distinctions or evasions before God, nor had I any +reservations in my own Soul when I passed it: nor repenting after, +till I saw that my letting some men go up to the pinnacle of the +Temple, was a temptation to them to cast me down headlong. + +Concluding, That without a miracle, Monarchie it self, together with +Me, could not but be dashed in pieces by such a precipitous fall as +they intended: whom God in mercy forgive, and make them see at length, +That as many Kingdoms as the Divell shewed our Saviour, and the Glory +of them (if they could be at once enjoyed by them) are not worth the +gaining, by ways of sinfull ingratitude and dishonour, which hazards a +soul, worth more Worlds then this hath Kingdoms. + +But God hath hitherto preserved Me, and made Me to see, That it is no +strange thing for men, left to their own passions, either to do much +evill themselves, or abuse the overmuch goodness of others, whereof an +ungratefull surfet is the most desperate and incurable disease. + +I cannot say properly that I repent of that Act, since _I_ have +no reflections upon it as a sin of my Wil, though an errour of too +charitable a judgment: Only I am sorry other mens eys should be evill, +because mine were good. + + +_To Thee (O my God) do I still appeale, whose All-discerning Justice +sees through all the disguises of mens pretensions, and deceitfull +darknesse of their hearts._ + +_Thou gavest Me a heart to grant much to My Subjects; and now I need a +Heart fitter to suffer much for some of them._ + +_They will be done, though never so much to the crossing of ours, even +when we hope to doe what might be most comfortable to thine and theirs +too; who pretended they aymed at nothing else._ + +_Let thy grace teach me wisely to enjoy as well the frustratings, as +the fulfilling of My best hopes, and most specious desires._ + +_I see while I thought to allay others fears, I have raised My owne; +and by setling them, have unsetled My self._ + +_Thus have they requited Me evill for good, and hatred for My good +will towards them._ + +_O Lord be thou My Pilot in this darke and dangerous storme, which +never admits My returne to the Port whence I set out, nor My making +any other, with that safety and honour which I designed._ + +_Tis easie for Thee to keep Me safe in the love and confidence of +My people; nor is it hard for Thee to preserve Me amidst the unjust +hatred and jealousies of too many, which thou hast suffered so far +to prevaile upon Me, as to be able to pervert and abuse my acts of +greatest Indulgence to them, and assurance of them._ + +_But no favours from Me can make others more guiltie then My self may +be of misusing those many and great ones, which Thou, O Lord, hast +conferred on Me._ + +_I beseech thee, give Me and them such Repentance as thou wilt accept, +and such Grace as we may not abuse._ + +_Make me so far happy, as to make right use of others abuses; and by +their failings of Me, to reflect with a reforming displeasure upon My +offences against Thee._ + +_So, although for My sins I am by other mens sins deprived of thy +temporall blessings, yet I may be happie to enjoy the comfort of +thy Mercies, which often raise the greatest Sufferers to be the most +glorious Saints._ + + * * * * * + + + + +6. _Upon His Majesties retirement from_ Westminster. + + +With what unwillingness I withdrew from _Westminster_, let them judg, +who, unprovided of tackling and victual, are forced to Sea by a Storm; +yet better do so, then venture splitting or sinking on a Lee-shore. + +I stayed at _Whitehall_, till I was driven away by shame, more then +fear, to see the barbarous rudeness of those Tumults, who resolved +they would take the boldness to demand any thing, and not leave either +my Self, or the Members of Parliament the liberty of our Reason and +Conscience to deny them any thing. + +Nor was this intolerable oppression my case alone, (though chiefly +Mine;) For the Lords and Commons might be content to be over-voted by +the _major_ part of their Houses, when they had used each their own +freedom. + +Whose agreeing Votes were not by any Law or reason conclusive to my +Judgment; nor can they include, or carry with them my consent, whom +they represent not in any kinde; Nor am I further bound to agree with +the Votes of both Houses, then I see them agree with the will of God, +with my just Rights, as a King, and the generall good of my people. +I see that, as many men, they are seldom of one minde; and I may oft +see, that the major part of them are not in the right. + +I had formerly declared to sober and moderate minds, how desirous I +was to give all just content, when I agreed to so many Bils, which +had been enough to secure and satisfie all; if some mens Hydropick +unsatiableness had not learned to thirst the more, by how much more +they drank; whom no fountain of Royall bounty was able to overcome: so +resolved they seemed, either utterly to exhaust it, or barbarously to +obstruct it. + +Sure, it ceases to be Counsell, when not Reason is used, as to men, to +perswade; but force and terrour, as to beasts, to drive and compel men +to assent to what-ever tumultuary Patrons shall project. He deserves +to be a slave without pity or redemption, that is content to have the +rationall soveraignty of his Soul, and liberty of his Will and words +so captivated. + +Nor do I think my Kingdoms so considerable, as to preserve them with +the forfeiture of that freedom which cannot be denied me as a King, +because it belongs to me as a man, and a Christian, owning the +dictates of none, but God to be above me, as obliging me to consent. +Better for Me to die enjoying this Empire of my Soul, which Subjects +me only to God, so farr as by Reason or Religion he directs me, then +live with the Title of a King, if it should carry such a vassalage +with it, as not to suffer me to use my Reason and Conscience, in which +I declare as a King, to like or dislike. + +So farr am I from thinking the majesty of the Crown of _England_ to +be bound by any Coronation Oath in a blinde and brutish formalitie, to +consent to whatever its subjects in Parliament shall require; as some +men will needs inferr; while denying me any power of a Negative voice +as King, they are not ashamed to seek to deprive me of the libertie of +using my Reason with a good Conscience, which themselves, and all the +Commons of _England_ enjoy proportionable to their influence on the +publique; who would take it very ill to be urged, not to deny, what +ever my self, as King, or the House of Peers with me should, not so +much desire as enjoyn them to pass. I think my Oath fully discharged +in that point, by my Governing only by such Laws, as my People with +the House of Peers have Chosen, and my self have consented to. I +shall never think my self conscientiously tied to go as oft against +my conscience, as I should consent to such new Proposals, which my +Reason, in Justice, Honor and Religion bids Me deny. + +Yet so tender I see some men are of their being subject to Arbitrary +Government, (that is, the Law of anothers will, to which themselves +give no consent) that they care not with how much dishonour and +absurdity they make their King the only man, that must be subject +to the will of others, without having power left Him to use His own +Reason, either in Person, or by any other Representation. + +And if My dissentings at any time were (as som have suspected, and +uncharitably avowed) out of error, opinion, activeness, weakness, +or wilfulness, and what they call Obstinacy in Me (which not true +Judgment of things, but some vehement prejudice or passion hath fixed +on My minde;) yet can no man think it other then the Badge and +method of Slavery, by savage rudeness, and importunate obtrusions of +violence, to have the mist of his Errour and Passion dispelled, which +is a shadow of Reason, and must serve those that are destitute of +the substance. Sure that man cannot be blameable to God or man, who +seriously endeavours to see the best reason of things, and faithfully +followes what he takes for Reason: The uprightnesse of his intentions +will excuse the possible failings of his understanding; If a Pilot at +Sea cannot see the Pole-star, it can be no fault in him to steer his +course by such Stars as do best appear to him. It argues rather, +those men to be conscious of their defects of Reason, and convincing +Arguments, who call in the assistance of meer force to carry on the +weakness of their Counsels and Proposals. I may, in the truth and +uprightness of my heart, protest before God and men, That I never +wilfully opposed, or denied any thing that was in a fair way, after +full and free debates propounded to me by the two Houses, further then +I thought in good reason I might, and was bound to do. + +Nor did any thing ever please me more, then when my Judgment so +concurred with theirs, that I might with a good Conscience consent to +them: Yea, in many things, where not absolute and morall necessity +of Reason, but temporary convenience in point of Honour was to be +considered, I chose rather to deny my Self, then Them; as preferring +that which they thought necessary for my peoples good, before what I +saw but convenient for my Self. + +For I can be content to recede much from my Own Interests, and +Personall Rights, of which I conceive my Self to be master: but in +what concerns Truth, Justice, the Right of the Church, and my Crown, +together with the generall good of my Kingdoms: (all which I am bound +to preserve as much as morally lies in me;) here I am, and ever shall +be fixt and resolute, nor shall any man gain my consent to that, +wherein my heart gives my hand or tongue the Lie; nor will I be +brought to affirm that to men, which in my Conscience I denied before +God. I will rather chuse to wear a Crown of Thorns with my Saviour, +then to exchange that of Gold (which is due to Me) for one of Lead, +whose embased flexibleness shall be forced to bend, and comply to the +various, and oft contrary dictates of any Factions: when in stead of +Reason, and Publick concernments, they obtrude nothing but what makes +for the interest of parties, and flows from the particularities of +private wils and passions. + +I know no resolutions more worthy a Christian King, then to prefer His +Conscience before His Kingdoms. + + +_O my God preserve thy servant in this Native, Rationall and Religious +freedome; For this I beleeve is thy will, that we should maintain: +who, though thou dost justly require us to submit our understandings +and wils to thine; whose wisdom and goodnesse can neither erre, nor +misguide us, and so far to deny our carnall reason, in order to thy +sacred Mysteries and Commands, that we should beleeve and obey, +rather then dispute them; yet dost thou expect from us, only such a +reasonable service of thee, as not to do any thing for thee, against +our consciences: and as to the desires of men, enjoinest us to try all +things by the touch-ston of reason and Lawes, which are the rules of +Civill Justice; and to declare our consents to that only which our +Judgments approve._ + +_Thou knowest, ô Lord, how unwilling I was to desert that place, in +which thou hast set Me, and whereto the affairs of My Kingdoms at +present did call me._ + +_My People can witness how far I have been content for their good, to +deny My self, in what thou hast subjected to My disposall._ + +_O let not the unthankfull importunities, and tumultuary violence of +some mens Immoderat demands, ever betray Me to that degenerous and +unmanly slavery, which should make Me strengthen them by My consent in +those things which I think in My conscience to be against thy glory, +the good of My subjects, and the discharge of My own duty to Reason +and Justice._ + +_Make me willing to suffer the greatest indignities and injuries +they press upon Me, rather then commit the least sin against My +Conscience._ + +_Let the just Liberties of My people be (as well they may) preserved +in fair and equall waies, without the slavery of My soul._ + +_Thou that hast invested Me by thy favours, in the power of a +Christian King, suffer Me not to subject My Reason to other mens +passions, and designes, which to Me seem unreasonable, unjust and +irreligious: So shall I serve thee in the truth and uprightness of My +heart, though I cannot satisfie these men._ + +_Though I be driven from among them, yet give Me grace to walk, +alwaies uprightly before thee._ + +_Lead Me in the way of Truth and Justice, for these, I know, will +bring Me at last to peace and happiness with thee; though for these I +have much trouble among men._ + +_This I beg of thee for my Saviours sake._ + + * * * * * + + + + +7. _Upon the Queenes departure and absence out of_ England. + + +Although I have much cause to be troubled at My Wifes departure from +Me, and out of My Dominions; yet not Her absence, so much, as the +scandall of that necessity which drives her away, doth afflict Me. +That She should be compelled by my own Subjects, and those pretending +to be Protestants, to withdraw for Her safety: This being the first +example of any Protestant Subjects, that have taken up Arms against +their King, a Protestant: For I look upon this now done in England, as +another Act of the same Tragedie which was lately begun in Scotland; +the brands of that fire being ill quenched, have kindled the like +flames here. I fear such motions (so little to the adorning of the +Protestant profession) may occasion a further alienation of mind, and +divorce of affections in Her from that Religion, which is the onely +thing wherein we differ. + +Which yet God can (and I pray he would) in time take away; and not +suffer these practices to be any obstruction to Her judgment, since it +is the motion of those men (for the most part) who are yet to seek and +settle their Religion for Doctrine, Government and good manners, and +so not to be imputed to the true English Protestants, who continue +firm to their former setled Principles and Laws. + +I am sorry my relation to so deserving a Ladie, should be any occasion +of her danger and affliction; whose merits would have served her for +a protection among the savage Indians: while their rudeness and +barbaritie knows not so perfectly to hate all Vertues, as some mens +subtiltie doth: among whom I yet think few are so malicious as to hate +Her for her Self: The fault it, that She is my Wife. + +All Justice then, as well as Affection, commands me to studie her +Securitie, who is only in danger for my sake; I am content to be +tossed, weather-beaten, and shipwrack'd, so as she may be in safe +Harbour. + +This comfort I shall injoy by her safety in the midst of my Personall +dangers, that I can perish but half, if she be preserved: in whose +memory and hopefull Posterity, I may yet survive the malice of my +Enemies, although they should be satiated with my bloud. + +I must leave her and them to the Love and Loyaltie of my good +Subjects; and to his protection, who is able to punish the faults of +Princes, and no less able to revenge the injuries done to them, by +those who in all dutie and Allegiance ought to have made good that +safetie, which the Laws chiefly provide for Princes. + +But common civilitie is in vain expected from those that dispute their +Loyaltie: Nor can it be safe (for any relation) to a King, to tarry +among them that are shaking hands with their Allegiance, under +pretence of laying faster hold on their Religion. + +'Tis pitie so noble and peaceful a Soul should see, much more suffer +the rudeness of those, who must make up their want of Justice, with +inhumanity and impudence. + +Her sympathie with Me in my afflictions, will make her vertue shine +with greater lustre, as starrs in the darkest nights; and assure the +envious world, that she loves me, not my fortunes. + +Neither of us but can easily forgive, since We do not much blame the +unkindness of the Generality and Vulgar: for we see God is pleased to +try both our patience, by the most self-punishing sin, the Ingratitude +of those, who having eaten of Our bread, and being enriched with Our +bounty, have Scornfully lift up themselves against Us; and those of +Our own Houshold are become Our enemies. I pray God lay not their +sinne to their charge: who think to satisfie all obligations to duty, +by their Corban of Religion: and can less endure to see, then to sin +against their benefactors as well as their Soveraign. + +But even that policy of my enemies is so farr veniall, as it was +necessary to their designs, by scandalous articles, and all irreverent +demeanour, to seek to drive her out of my Kingdoms; left by the +influence of her example, eminent for love as a Wife, and loyaltie as +a Subject, she should have converted to, or retained in their love and +loyaltie, all those whom they had a purpose to pervert. + +The less I may be blest with her company, the more I will retire to +God and my own Heart, whence no malice can banish Her. My enemies may +envie, but they can never deprive me of the enjoyment of her vertues, +while I enjoy my self. + + +_Thou, O Lord, whose Justice at present sees fit to scatter us, let +thy mercie, in thy due time, reunite us on earth, if it be thy will; +however bring us both at last to thy heavenly Kingdom._ + +_Preserve us from the hands of our despitefull and deadly enemies; and +prepare us by our sufferings for thy presence._ + +_Though we differ in some things, as to Religion, (which is my +greatest temporall infelicitie) yet Lord give and accept the +sinceritie of our affections, which desire to seek, to finde, to +embrace every Truth of thine._ + +_Let both our hearts agree in the love of thy self, and Christ +crucified for us._ + +_Teach us both what thou wouldst have us to know, in order to thy +glory, our publique relations, and our souls eternal good, and make us +carefull to do what good we know._ + +_Let neither Ignorance of what is necessary to be known, nor unbelief, +or disobedience to what we know, be our miserie, or our wilfull +default._ + +_Let not this great Scandall of those my Subjects, which profess the +same Religion with me, be any hindrance to her love of any Truth thou +wouldst have her to learn, nor any hardning of her in any error thou +wouldst have cleared to her._ + +_Let Mine and other mens constancie be an Antidote against the poyson +of their example._ + +_Let the truth of that Religion I professe be represented to her +judgment, with all the beauties of humilitie, loyaltie, charitie, and +peaceablenesse; which are the proper fruits and ornaments of it: Not +in the odious disguise of Levitie, Schism, Heresie, Noveltie, Crueltie +and Disloyaltie, which some mens practices have put upon it._ + +_Let her see thy sacred and saving Truths as Thine; that she may +believe, love and obey them as Thine, cleared from all rust and drosse +of humane mixtures._ + +_That in the glasse of thy Truth Shee may see thee in those Mercies +which thou hast offered to us in thy Son Jesus Christ, our onely +Saviour, and serve thee in all those holy Duties, which most agree +with his holy Doctrine, and most imitable example._ + +_The experience we have of the vanitie and uncertaintie of all humane +Glorie and Greatnesse in our scatterings and eclypses, let it make +us both so much the more ambitious to be invested in those durable +Honours and perfections which are onely to be found in thy self, and +obtained throuqh Jesus Christ._ + + * * * * * + + + + +8. _Upon His Majesties repulse at_ Hull, _and the fates of the_ +Hothams. + + +My repulse at _Hull_ seemed at the first view an act of so rude +disloyalty, that my greatest Enemies had scarce confidence enough +to abett or own it: It was the first overt Essay to be made, how +patiently I could bear the losse of my Kingdoms. + +God knows, it affected me more with shame and sorrow for others, then +with anger for my Self; nor did the affront done to me, trouble me so +much as their sin, which admitted no colour or excuse. + +I was resolved how to bear this, and much more with patience: But I +foresaw they could hardly contain themselves within the compass +of this one unworthy act, who had effrontery enough to commit or +countenance it. This was but the hand of that cloud, which was soon +after to overspread the whole Kingdom, and cast all into disorder and +darkness. + +For 'tis among the wicked Maximes of bold and disloyall undertakers: +That bad actions must always be seconded with worse, and rather not +begun, then not carried on; for they think the retreat more dangerous +then the assault, and hate repentance more then perseverance in a +fault. + +This gave me to see clearly thorow all the pious disguises, and soft +palliations of some men; whose words were sometime smoother then oil, +but now I saw they would prove very swords. + +Against which I having (as yet) no defence, but that of a good +Conscience, thought it My best policie (with patience) to bear what +I could not remedie: And in this (I thank God) I had the better of +_Hotham_, that no disdain, or emotion of passion transported Me, by +the indignitie of his carriage, to do or say any thing unbeseeming +My self, or unsuitable to that temper, which, in greatest injuries, +I think, best becomes a Christian, as coming nearest to the great +example of Christ. + +And indeed, I desire alwaies more to remember I am a Christian, then +a King; for what the Majesty of one might justly abhor, the Charity +of the other is willing to bear; what the height of a King tempteth to +revenge, the humilitie of a Christian teacheth to forgive, keeping in +compass all those impotent passions, whose excess injures a man more +then his greatest enemies can; for these give their malice a full +impression on our souls, which otherwise cannot reach very far, nor do +us much hurt. + +I cannot but observe how God not long after so pleaded and avenged my +cause, in the eye of the world, that the most wilfully blind cannot +avoid the displeasure to see it, and with some remorse and fears to +own it as a notable stroke, and prediction of divine vengeance. + +First, Sir _John Hotham_ unreproched, unthreatned, uncursed by +any language or secret imprecation of mine, onely blasted with the +conscience of his own wickednesse, and falling from one inconstancy +to another, not long after paies his own and his eldest Sons heads, +as forfeiture of their disloyalty, to those men, from whom surely he +might have expected an other reward, then thus to divide their heads +from their bodies, whose hearts with them were divided from their +KING. + +Nor is it strange that they who employed them at first in so high a +service, and so successfull to them, should not finde mercy enough to +forgive Him, who had so much premerited of them: For, Apostacy unto +Loyalty some men account the most unpardonable sin. + +Nor did a solitary vengeance serve the turn, the cutting off one head +in a Family is not enough to expiate the affront done to the head of +the Common-weal. The eldest Son must be involved in the punishment, as +he was infected with the sin of the Father, against the Father of his +Country: Root and branch God cuts off in one day. + +These Observations are obvious to every fancie: God knows, I was so +far from rejoycing in the _Hothams_ ruine, (though it were such as +was able to give the greatest thirst for revenge a full draught, being +executed by them who first employed him against Me) that I so far +pitied him, as I thought he at first acted more against the light of +his Conscience, then I hope many other men do in the same Cause. + +For, he was never thought to be of that superstitious sowrenesse which +some men pretend to in matters of Religion, which so darkens their +judgment, that they cannot see any thing of Sin and Rebellion in those +means they use, with intents to reform to their Models, of what they +call Religion, who think all is gold of Piety, which doth but glister +with a shew of Zeal and Fervencie. + +Sir _John Hotham_ was (I think) a man of another temper, and so most +liable to those downright temptations of Ambition, which have no cloak +or cheat of Religion to impose upon themselves or others. + +That which makes me more pitie him, is, that after he began to have +some inclinations towards a repentance for his sin, and reparation of +his duty to Me, he should be so unhappie as to fall into the hands of +their Justice, and not my mercie, who could as willingly have forgiven +him, as he could have asked that favor of Me. + +For I think clemency a debt which we ought to pay to those that crave +it, when we have cause to believe they would not after abuse it, since +God himself suffers us not to pray any thing for his mercie, but only +praiers and praises. + +Poor Gentleman, he is now become a noteable monument of unprosperous +disloialtie, teaching the world by so bad and unfortunate a spectacle, +that the rude carriage of a Subject towards his Soveraign carries +alwaies its own vengeance, & an unseparable shadow with it, and those +oft prove the most fatall, and implacable Executioners of it, who were +the first Imployers in the service. + +After-times will dispute it, whether _Hotham_ were more infamous at +_Hull_, or at _Tower-hill_; though 'tis certain that no punishment +so stains a mans Honour, as wilfull expectations of unworthy actions; +which besides the conscience of the sin, brands with most indeliable +characters of infamy, the name and memory to posterity, who not +engaged in the Faction of the times, have the most impartiall +reflections on their actions. + + +_But thou, O Lord, who hast in so remarkable a way avenged thy +Servant, suffer me not to take any secret pleasure in it, for as his +death hath satisfied the injury he did to me, so let me not by it +gratifie any passion in me, lest I make thy vengeance to be mine, and +consider the affront against me, more than the sin against thee._ + +_Thou indeed, without any desire or endevor of mine, hast made his +mischief to return on his own head, and his violent dealing to come +down on his own pate._ + +_Thou hast pleaded my cause, even before the sons of men, and taken +the matter into thine own hands; that men may know it was thy work and +see that thou, Lord, hast done it._ + +_I do not, I dare not say, so let mine enemies perish._ + +_O Lord! yea Lord, rather give them repentance pardon and impunity, if +it be thy blessed will._ + +_Let not thy justice prevent the objects and opportunities of my +mercy; yea, let them live and amend who have most offended me in +so high a nature; that I may have those to forgive; who bear most +proportion in their offences to those trespasses against thy majesty, +which I hope thy mercy hath forgiven me._ + +_Lord lay not their sinns (who yet live) to their charge for +condemnation, but to their consciences for amendment: Let the +Lightning of this thunderbolt, which hath been so severe a punishment +to one, be a terrour to all._ + +_Discover to them their sinn, who know not they have done amiss, and +scare them from their sin, that sin of malicious wickednss._ + +_That preventing thy judgments by their true repentance, they may +escape the stroaks of thine eternal vengeance._ + +_And do Thou, O Lord, establish the Throne of thy Servant in +mercie and truth meeting together; let my Crown ever flourish in +righteousness and peace kissing each other._ + +_Hear my prayer, O Lord, who hast taught us to pray for, to doe good +to, and to love our Enemies for thy sake; who hast prevented us with +offertures of thy love, even when we were thine enemies, and hast sent +thy Son Jesus Christ to die for us, when we were disposed to crucifie +Him._ + + * * * * * + + + + +9. _Upon the lifting, and raising Armies against the_ KING. + + +I find that I am at the same point and posture I was, when they forced +me to leave _White-hall_: what tumults could not do, an Army must; +which is but Tumults lifted, and enrolled to a better order, but +as bad an end: My recesse have given them confidence that I may be +conquered. + +And so I easily may as to any outward strength, which, God knows, +is little or none at all: But I have a Soul invinciable through Gods +Grace enabling Me; here I am sure to be Conquerour, if God will give +me such a measure of Constancy, as to fear him more then man: and +to love the inward peace of my Conscience, before any outward +tranquillity. + +And must I be opposed with force, because they have not reason whereby +to convince me? O my Soule! be of good courage, they confesse their +known weaknesse, as to truth, and Justice, who chose rather to contend +by Armies, then by Arguments. + +Is this the reward and thanks that I am to receive for those many acts +of Grace I have lately passed, and for those many Indignities I have +endured? Is there no way left to make Me a glorious KING, but by my +sufferings? + +It is a hard and disputable choice for a King that loves his People, +and desires their love, either to kill his own Subjects, or to be +killed by them. + +Are the hazards and miseries of Civil War in the bowels of my most +flourishing Kingdom, the fruits I must now reap after 17 yeers living +and reigning among them with such a measure of Justice, Peace, +Plenty, and Religion, as all Nations about either admired, or envied? +notwithstanding some miscarriages in Government, which might escape, +rather through ill counsell of some men driving on their private ends, +or the peevishness of others envying the Publick should be managed +without them, or the hidden and insuperable necessities of State, +then any propensity, I hope, of my Self either to injuriousnesse or +oppression. + +Whose innocent bloud, during my Reign, have I shed, to satisfie +my lust, anger, or covetousness? what Widows or Orphans tears can +witnesse against me; the just cry of which must now be avenged with my +Own bloud? For the hazards of War are equall, nor doth the Canon know +any respect of persons. + +In vain is my Person excepted by a Parenthesis of words, when so many +hands are armed against me with Swords. + +God knowes how much I have studied to see what Ground of Justice is +alledged for this Warr against Me; that so I might (by giving just +satisfaction) either prevent, or soon end so unnaturall a motion; +which (to many men) seems rather the productions of a surfeit of peace +and wantonness of mindes, or of private discontents, Ambition and +Faction (which easily finde, or make causes of quarrell) then any +reall obstructions of publique Justice, or Parliamentary Priviledg. + +But this is pretended, and this I must be able to avoid and answer +before God in My owne Conscience, however some men are not willing to +beleeve Me, lest they should condemn themselves. + +When I first with-drew from _White-hall_, to see if I could allay the +insolency of the Tumults (for the not suppressing of which, no account +in Reason can be given, (where an orderly Guard was granted) but only +to oppress both Mine and the Two Houses freedome of declaring and +voting according to every mans Conscience) what obstructions of +Justice were there further then this, that what seemed just to one +man, might not seem so to another? + +Whom did I by power protect against the Justice of Parliament? + +That some men with-drew, who feared the partiality of their tryall, +(warned by my Lord of _Straffords_ death) while the vulgar threatned +to be their Oppressors, and Judgers of their Judges, was from that +instinct which is in all creatures to preserve themselves. If any +others refused to appear, where they evidently saw the current of +Justice and Freedom so stopped and troubled by the Rabble, that their +lawfull Judges either durst not come to the House, or not declare +their sense with liberty and safety; it cannot seem strange to any +reasonable man, when the sole exposing them to publick _odium_ was +enough to ruine them before their Cause could be heard or tryed. + +Had not factious Tumults over-born the Freedom and Honour of the two +Houses, had they asserted their Justice against them, and made the +way open for all the Members quietly to come and declare their +Consciences: I know no man so deer to Me, whom I had the least +inclination to advise, either to withdraw himself, or deny appearing +upon their Summons, to whose Sentence according to Law, I think every +Subject bound to stand. + +Distempers (indeed) were risen to so great a height for want of timely +suppressing the vulgar insolencies, that the greatest guilt of those +which were Voted and demanded as Delinquents, was this, That they +would not suffer themselves to be over-awed by the Tumults, and their +Patrons; nor compelled to abet by their suffrages, or presence; the +designes of those men who agitated innovations and ruine both in +Church and State. + +In this point I could not but approve their generous constancie +and cautiousness; further then this I did never allow any mans +refractoriness against the Priviledges and Orders of the Houses; to +whom I wished nothing more then Safetie, Fulness and Freedom. + +But the truth is, some men and those not many, despairing in fair +and Parliamentary waies by free Deliberations and Votes to gain the +concurrence of the major part of Lords and Commons, betook themselves +(by the desperate activitie of factious Tumults) to sift and terrifie +away all those Members whom they saw to be of contrary minds to their +purposes. + +How oft was the businesse of the Bishops enjoying their ancient +places, and undoubted Priviledges in the House of Peers, carried for +them by far the Major part of Lords? Yet after five repulses, contrary +to all Order and Custome, it was by Tumultuary instigations obtruded +again, and by a few carried, when most of the Peers were forced to +absent themselves. + +In like manner as the Bill against Root and Branch, brought on by +tumultuary Clamours, and schismaticall Terrours, which could never +passe til both Houses were sufficiently thinned and over-awed. + +To which partialitie, while in all Reason, Justice, and Religion, my +Conscience forbids me, by consenting, to make up their Votes to Acts +of Parliament, I must now be urged with an Armie, and constrained +either to hazard my Own, and my Kingdoms ruine, by my Defence, or +prostrate my Conscience to the blinde obedience of those men, whose +zealous superstition thinks, or pretends, they cannot do God and the +Church a greater service, then utterly to destroy that Primitive, +Apostolicall, and anciently Universall Government of the Church by +Bishops. + +Which, if other mens judgments bind them to maintain, or forbids them +to consent to the abolishing of it, mine much more; who, besides +the grounds I have in my judgement, have also a most strict and +indispensable Oath upon my Conscience, to preserve that Order, and +the Rights of the Church; to which most Sacrilegious and abhorred +Perjurie, most un-beseeming a Christian King, should I ever, by +giving my consent, be betrayed, I should account it infinitely greater +miserie, then any hath, or can befall me; in as much as the least sin +hath more evill in it then the greatest affliction. Had I gratified +their Anti-Episcopall Faction at first in this point with my Consent, +and sacrificed the Ecclesiasticall Government and Revenues to the fury +of their covetousness, ambition, and revenge, I beleeve they would +then have found no colourable necessity of raising an Army to fetch in +and punish Delinquents. + +That I consented to the Bil of putting the Bishops out of the House +of Peers, was done with a firm perswasion of their contentedness to +suffer a present diminution in their Rights and Honour for my sake, +and the Commonweals, which I was confident they would readily yeeld +unto, rather then occasion (by the least obstruction on their part) +any dangers to Me, or to my Kingdom. That I cannot add my consent for +the totall extirpation of that Government (which I have often offered +to all fit regulations) hath so much further tie upon My Conscience, +as what I think Religious and Apostolicall, and so very sacred and +Divine, is not to be dispensed with, or destroyed, when what is onely +of civill Favour, and priviledge of Honour granted to men of that +Order, may with their consent who are concerned in it, be annulled. + +This is the true state of those obstructions pretended to be in point +of Justice and Authority of Parliament; when I call God to witness, +I know none of such consequence as was worth speaking of a War, being +onely such as Justice, Reason and Religion had made in my own and +other mens Consciences. + +Afterwards indeed a great shew of Delinquents was made, which were but +consequences necessarily following upon Mine, or others withdrawing +from, or defence against violence: but those could not be the first +occasion of raising an Army against Me. Wherein I was so far from +preventing them, (as they have declared often, that they might seem to +have the advantage and Justice of the defensive part, and load Me with +all the envie and injuries of first assaulting them) that (God knows) +I had not so much as any hopes of an Army in My thoughts. Had the +Tumults been honourably and effectually repressed by exemplary +justice, and the Liberty of the Houses so vindicated, that all Members +of either House might with Honour and Freedom, becoming such a Senate, +have come and discharged their Consciences, I had obtained all that I +designed by My withdrawing, and had much more willingly and speedily +returned, then I retired; this being My necessity driving, the other +my choice desiring. + +But some men knew, I was like to bring the same Judgment and Constancy +which I carryed with Me, which would never fit their designes; and +so while they invited Me to come, and grievously complained of My +absence, yet they could not but be pleased with it: especially, when +they had found out that plausible and popular pretexts of raising an +Army to fetch in Delinquents: when all that while they never punished +the greatest and most intolerable delinquencie of the Tumults, and +their Exciters, which drave my Self, and so many of both Houses from +their places, by most barbarous indignities; which yet in all Reason +and Honour, they were as loath to have deserted, as those others were +willing they should, that so they might have occasion to persecute +them with the injuries of an Army, for not suffering more tamely the +injuries of Tumults. + +That this is the true state, and first drift and designe in raising an +Army against me, is by the sequel so evident, that all other pretences +vanish. For when they declared by Propositions, or Treaties, what they +would have to appease them; there was nothing of consequence offered +to Mee, or demanded of Mee, as any originall difference in any point +of Law, or order of Justice. But among other lesser Innovations, this +chiefly was urged, The Abolition of Episcopall, and the Establishment +of Presbyterian Government. + +All other things at any time propounded were either impertinent as to +any ground of a War, or easily granted by me, and onely to make up a +number; or else they were meerly consequentiall, and accessarie, after +the War was by them unjustly began. + +I cannot hinder other mens thoughts, whom the noise and shew of +piety, and heat of Reformation and Religion, might easily so fill +with prejudice, that all equality and clearness of judgement might be +obstructed. But this was, and is, as to my best observation, the true +state of affairs between Us, when they first raised an Armie, with +this designe, either to stop my mouth, or to force my consent: and +in this truth, as to my conscience, (who was God knowes, as far from +meditating a War, as I was in the eye of the world, from having any +preparation for one) I finde that comfort, that in the midst of all +the unfortunate Successes of this War, on my side, I do not think +my Innocency any whit prejudiced or darkned; Nor am I without that +Integrity and Peace before God, as with humble confidence to address +my Prayer to Him. + + +_For thou, O Lord, seest cleerly thorow all the cloudings of humane +affairs: Thou judgest without prejudice: Thy Omniscience eternally +guides thy unerrable Judgment._ + +_O my God, the proud are risen against Me, and the Assemblies of +violent men have sought after my Soul, and have not set Thee before +their eyes._ + +_Consider mine Enemies, O Lord, for they are many, and they hate me +with a deadly hatred, without a cause._ + +_For thou knowest, I had no passion, design, or preparation to embroil +My Kingdoms in a Civil War; whereto I had least temptation; as knowing +I must adventure more then any, and could gain least of any by it._ + +_Thou, O Lord, art my witness, how oft I have deplored and studied +to divert the necessity thereof, wherin I cannot well be thought so +prodigally thirstie of my Subjects blood, as to venture my own life, +which I have bin oft compelled to do in this unhappie War; and which +were better spent to save then to destroy my people._ + +_O Lord, I need much of thy grace, with patience to bear the many +afflictions thou hast suffered some men to bring upon me; but much +more to bear the unjust reproaches of those, who not content that +I suffer most by the War, will needs perswade the world that I have +raised first, or given just cause to raise it._ + +_The confidence of some mens false tongues is such, that they would +almost make me suspect my own innocencie: Yea, I could be content (at +least by my silence) to take upon me so great a guilt before men, If +by that I might allay the malice of mine enemies, and redeem my people +from this miserable War; since thou, O Lord, knowest my innocencie in +this thing._ + +_Thou wilt find out bloodie and deceitful men; many of whom have +not lived out half their daies, in which they promised themselvs the +enjoyment of the fruits of their violent and wicked Counsels._ + +_Save, O Lord, thy servant, as hitherto thou hast, and in thy due time +scatter the people that delight in War._ + +_Arise, O Lord, lift up thy Self, because of the rage of mine enemies, +which increaseth more and more. Behold them that have conceived +mischief, travelled with iniquitie, and brought forth falshood._ + +_Thou knowest the chief designe of this War is, either to destroy my +Person, or force my Judgement, and to make me renege my Conscience, +and thy Truth._ + +_I am driven to crosse_ DAVIDS _choice, and desire rather to fall into +the hands of men by denying them (though their mercie be cruell) then +into thy hands by sinning against My Conscience, and in that against +thee, who art a consuming fire: Better they destroy Me, then thou +shouldest damn Me._ + +_Be thou the defence of My soul, who wilt save the upright in heart._ + +_If nothing but My blood will satisfie My Enemies, or quench the +flames of My Kingdoms, or thy temporall Justice, I am content, if it +be thy will, that it be shed by mine own Subjects hands._ + +_But O let the bloud of Me, though their King, yet a sinner, be washed +with the blood of my Innocent cent and peace-making Redeemer, for in +that thy Justice will finde not only a temporary expiation, but an +eternall plenary satisfaction, both for my sins, and the sins of my +People; whom I beseech thee still own for thine, and when thy wrath is +appeased by my Death, O Remember thy great mercies towards them, and +forgive them! O my Father, for they know not what they doe._ + + * * * * * + + + + +10. _Upon their seizing the Kings Magazines, Forts, Navy, and +Militia._ + + +How untruly I am charged with the first raising of an Army, and +beginning this Civill Warre, the eyes that onely pitty Me, and the +Loyall hearts that durst only pray for me, at first, might witnesse, +which yet appear not so many on my side, as there were men in Armes +lifted against me; my unpreparednesse for a War may well dis-hearten +those that would help Me; while it argues (truly) my willingnes to +fight; yet it testifies for me, that I am set on the defensive part; +having so little hopes or power to defend others, that I have none to +defend my self, or to preserve what is mine own from their proreption. + +No man can doubt but they prevented me in their purposes, as well +as their injuries, who are so much before-hand in their preparations +against me, and surprisals of my Strength. Such as are not for Them, +yet dare not be for Me; so over-aw'd is their Loyalty by the others +numbers and terrours. I believe my innocency and unpreparedness +to assert my Rights and Honour, makes me the more guilty in their +esteems; who would not so easily have declared a War against me, if I +had first assaulted them. + +They knew, my chiefest Arms left me, were those only which the Ancient +Christians were wont to use against their Persecutors, Prayers and +Tears. These may serve a good mans turn, if not to conquer as a +Souldier, yet to suffer as a Martyr. + +Their preventing of me, and surprising my Castles, Forts, Arms and +Navy, with the Militia, is so far best for me, That it may drive me +from putting any trust in the arm of flesh, and wholly to cast my self +into the protection of the living God, who can save by few or none, as +well as by many. + +He that made the greedy Ravens to be Elias Caterers, and bring him +food, may also make their surprisall of outward force and defence, +an opportunity to shew me the special support of his power and +protection. + +I thank God, I reckon not now the want of the _Militia_ so much in +reference to my own protection, as my Peoples. + +Their many and sore oppressions grieve me, I am above mine own: What I +want in the hands of Force and Power, I have in the wings of Faith and +Prayer. + +But this is the strange method these men will needs take to resolve +their riddle of Making Me a glorious King, by taking away my Kingly +power: Thus I shall become a Support to my Friends, and a Terrour to +my Enemies, by being unable to succour the one, or suppress the other. + +For thus have they designed and proposed to me the new modeling of +Soveraignty and Kingship, as without any reality of power, so without +any necessity of subjection and obedience: That the Majesty of the +Kings of England might hereafter hang like Mahomet's Tomb, by a +magnetique Charm, between the Power and Priviledges of the two Houses, +in an airy imagination of Regality. + +But I beleeve the surfet of too much power, which some men have +greedily seized on, and now seek wholly to devour, will ere long make +the Common-wealth sick both of it and them, since they cannot well +digest it; Soveraign Power in Subjects seldom agreeing with the +stomacks of fellow-subjects. + +Yet I have even in this point of the constant Militia, sought, by +satisfying their fears and importunities, both to secure my Friends, +and overcome mine Enemies, to gain the peace of all, by depriving +my self of a sole power to help, or hurt any: yeelding the Militia, +(which is my undoubted Right no less then the Crown) to be disposed of +as the two Houses shall think fit, during my time. + +So willing am I to bury all jealousies in them of me, and to live +above all jealousies of them, as to my self; I desire not to be safer +then I wish them and my People: If I had the sole actuall disposing +of the Militia, I could not protect my People, further then they +protected Me and Themselves: so that the use of the Militia is +mutuall. I would but defend my self so far, as to be able to defend +my good Subjects from those mens violence and fraud, who conscious to +their own evill merits and designes, will needs perswade the world, +that none but Wolves are fit to be trusted with the custody of the +Shepherd and his Flock. Miserable experience hath taught my Subjects, +since power hath been wrested from Me, and imployed against Me and +Them, that neither can be safe, if both be not in such a way as the +Law hath intrusted the publike safety and welfare. + +Yet even this Concession of mine, as to the exercise of the Militia, +so vast and large, is not satisfactory to some men; which seem to +be Enemies not to me only, but to all Monarchy; and are resolved to +transmit to posterity such Jealousies of the Crown, as they should +never permit it to enjoy its just and necessary Rights in point of +power; to which (at last) all Law is resolved, while thereby it is +best protected. + +But here Honour and Justice due to my Successors, forbid me to yeeld +to such total alienation of that power from them, which civility and +duty, no less then Justice and Honour should have forbad them to have +asked of me. + +For, although I can be content to Eclypse my own beams, to satisfie +their fears; who think they must needs be scorched or blinded, if I +should shine in the full lustre of Kingly power wherewith God and the +Laws have invested me: Yet I will never consent to put out the Sun +of Soveraignty to all posterity, and succeeding Kings; whose just +recovery of their Rights from unjust Usurpations and Extortions, shall +never be prejudiced or obstructed by any Act of mine; which indeed, +would not be more injurious to succeeding Kings, then to my Subjects; +whom I desire to leave in a condition not wholly desperate for the +future; so as by a Law to be ever subjected to those many factious +distractions, which must needs follow the many-headed _Hydra_ of +Government: which as it makes a shew to the people to have more eyes +to foresee; so they will find it hath more mouths too, which must be +satisfied: and (at best) it hath rather a monstrosity, then any thing +of perfection, beyond that of right Monarchy; where counsell may be +in many as the senses, but the Supreme Power can be but in One as the +Head. + +Happily where men have tried the horrours and malignant influence +which will certainly follow my enforced darkness and Eclypse, +(occasioned by the interposition and shadow of that body, which as the +Moon receiveth its chiefest lights from me) which will at length more +esteem and welcome the restored glory and blessing of the Suns light. + +And if at present I may seem by My receding so much from the use of my +Right in the Power of the _Militia_, to come short of the discharge of +that trust to which I am sworn for my peoples protection; I conceive +those men are guilty of the inforced perjury; (if so it may seem) who +compell me to take this new and strange way of discharging my trust, +by seeming to desert it; of protecting my Subjects, by exposing my +self to danger or dishonour, for their safety and quiet. + +Which in the conflicts of Civill War and advantages of power, cannot +be effected but by some side yeilding; to which the greatest love +of the publique peace, and the firmest assurance of Gods protection +(arising from a good Conscience) doth more invite me, then can be +expected from other mens fears; which arising from the injustice of +their actions (though never so successfull) yet dare not adventure +their Authours upon any other way of safety then that of the Sword and +Militia; which yet are but weak defences against the stroaks of divine +Vengeance, which will overtake; or of mens own Consciences, which +alwayes attend injurious perpetrations. + +For my self, I do not think that I can want any thing which +providential necessity is pleased to take from me, in order to my +Peoples tranquillity and Gods glory, whose protection is sufficient +for me; and he is able by his being with me, abundantly to compensate +to me, as he did to Job, what-ever Honour, Power, or Liberty the +Chaldeans, the Sabeans, or the Divel himself can deprive me of. + +Although they take from me all defence of Arms and Militia, all refuge +by Land of Forts and Castles, all flight by Sea in my Ships and Navie; +yea, though they study to rob me of the Hearts of my Subjects, the +greatest Treasure and best Ammunition of a King; yet cannot they +deprive me of my own innocencie, or Gods mercie, nor obstruct my way +to heaven. + + +_Therefore, O my God, to thee I fly for help; if thou wilt be on my +side, I shall have more with me then can be against me._ + +_There is none in Heaven, or in Earth that I desire in comparison of +thee: In the losse of all, be thou more then all to me: Make haste +to succour me, thou that never failest them that put their trust in +thee._ + +_Thou seest I have no power to oppose them that come against me, who +are encouraged to fight under pretence of fighting for me: But my eies +are towards thee._ + +_Thou needest no help, nor shall I, if I may have thine; if not to +conquer, yet at least to suffer._ + +_If thou delightest not in my safety, and prosperity, behold here I am +willing to be reduced to what thou wilt have me; whose Judgements oft +begin with thy own Children._ + +_I am content to be nothing that thou maiest be all._ + +_Thou hast taught me, that no King can be saved by the multitude of an +host; but yet Thou canst save me by the multitude of Thy mercies, who +art the Lord of Hosts, and the Father of mercies._ + +_Help me, O Lord, who am sore distressed on every side, yet be thou on +my side, and I shall not fear what man can do unto me._ + +_I will give thy Justice the glorie of my distress._ + +_I let thy mercie have the glorie of my deliverance from them that +persecute my soul:_ + +_By my sins have I fought against Thee, and robbed thee of thy glory, +who am thy subject; and justly maist thou by my own Subjects, strip me +of my strength, and eclipse my glory._ + +_But shew thy self, O my hope and only refuge! Let not mine enemies +say, There is no help for him in his God._ + +_Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not._ + +_Keep me as the apple of thine eye, hide me under the shadow of thy +wings._ + +_Shew thy marvelous loving kindness, O thou that savest by thy right +hand them that put their trust in thee, from those that rise up +against them;_ + +_From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies that compass +me about._ + +_Shew me the path of life. In thy presence is fulness of joy, at thy +right hand there are pleasures for evermore._ + + * * * * * + + + + +11. _Upon the 19 Propositions first sent to the_ KING; _and more +afterwards._ + + +Although there be many things, they demand, yet if these be all, I +am glad to see at what price they set my own safety, and my peoples +peace; which I cannot think I buy at too dear a rate, save only the +parting with my Conscience and Honor. If nothing else will satisfie, I +must chuse rather to be as miserable and inglorious, as My enemies can +make or wish me. + +Some things here propounded to me have been offered by me; others are +easily granted; The rest (I think) ought not to be obtruded upon me, +with the point of the sword; nor urged with the injuries of a Warr; +when I have already declared that I cannot yeeld to them, without +violating my Conscience: 'tis strange, there can be no method of +peace, but by making war upon my soul. + +Here are many things required of me, but I see nothing offer'd to me, +by the way of gratefull Exchange of Honour; or any requitall or those +favours, I have, or can yet grant them. + +This Honour they do me, to put Me on the giving part, which is more +princely and divine. They cannot ask more then I can give, may I but +reserve to my Self the incommunicable Jewell of my Conscience; and not +be forced to part with that, whose loss nothing can repair or requite. + +Some things (which they are pleased to propound) seem unreasonable to +Me; and while I have any mastery of my Reason, how can they think I +can consent to them; who know they are such as are inconsistent with +being either a King, or a good Christian? My yeilding so much (as I +have already) makes some men confident I will deny nothing. + +The love I have of my peoples peace, hath (indeed) great influence +upon Me; but the love of truth and inward peace hath more. + +Should I grant some things they require, I should not so much +weaken my outward state of a King, as wound that inward quiet of my +Conscience; which ought to be, is, and ever shall be (by Gods Grace) +dearer to Me then my Kingdoms. + +Some things which a King might approve, yet in Honour and Policy are +at some time to be denied, to some men, lest he should seem not +to dare to deny any thing; and give too much incouragement to +unreasonable demands or importunities. + +But to bind my Self to a generall and implicite consent to what-ever +they shall desire or propound, (for such is one of their Propositions) +were such a latitude of blind obedience, as never was expected from +any Free-men, nor fit to be required of any man, much less of a King +by his own Subjects; any of whom he may possibly exceed as much in +wisdom, as he doth in place and power. + +This were, as if _Samson_ should have consented, not only to bind his +own hands, and cut off his hair, but to put out his own eys, that the +Philistins might with the more safety mock and abuse him; which they +chose rather to do, then quite destroy him, when he was become so tame +an object, and fit occasion for their sport and scorn. + +Certainly, to exclude all power of denyall, seems an arrogancy least +of all becoming those who pretend to make their Addresses in an humble +and loyall way of petitioning; who by that, sufficiently confess their +own inferiority, which obligeth them to rest, if not satisfied, yet +quieted, with such an Answer as the Will and Reason of their Superiour +thinks fit to give; who is acknowledged to have a freedom and power of +Reason, to Consent or Dissent, else it were very foolish and absurd +to ask, what another having not liberty to deny, neither hath power to +grant. + +But if this be my Right belonging to Me, in Reason as a Man, and in +Honour as a Soveraign King (as undoubtedly it doth) how can it be +other then extreme injury to confine my Reason to a necessity of +granting all they have a mind to ask, whose minds may be as differing +from mine, both in reason and honour, as their aims may be, and +their qualities are? which last God and the Laws have sufficiently +distinguisht, making me their Soveraign, and them my Subjects: whose +Propositions may soon prove violent oppositions, if once they gain to +be necessary impositions upon the Regall Authority; Since no man seeks +to limit and confine his King in Reason, who hath not a secret aim to +share with him, or usurp upon him in Power and Dominion. + +But they would have me trust to their moderation, and abandon mine +own discretion; that so I might verifie what representations some have +made of me to the world, that I am fitter to be their Pupil then their +Prince. Truly, I am not so confident of my own sufficiency, as +not willingly to admit the Counsel of others: But yet I am not so +diffident of my self, as brutishly to submit to any mans dictates, +and at once to betray the Soveraignty of Reason in my soul, and the +Majesty of my own Crown to any of my Subjects. + +Least of all have I any ground of credulity, to induce me fully to +submit to all the desires of those men, who will not admit, or do +refuse, and neglect to vindicate the freedom of their own and others +Sitting and Voting in Parliament. + +Besides, all men that knew them, knew this, how young States-men the +most part of these propounders are; so that till experience of one +seven years have shewed me how well they can govern themselves, and so +much power as is wrested from me, I should be very foolish indeed, and +unfaithful in my Trust, to put the reins of both Reason and Government +wholly out of my Own, into their hands, whose driving is already too +much like _Jehues_; and whose forwardnesse to ascend the throne of +Supremacie pretends more of _Phaeton_ then of _Phebus_; God divert the +Omen of his will. + +They may remember that at best they sit in Parliament, as my Subjects, +not my Superiours: called to be My Counsellours, not Dictatours: Their +Summons extends to recommend their Advice, not to command my Dutie. + +When I first heard of Propositions to be sent me, I expected either +some good Laws which had been antiquated by the course of time, +or overlaid by the corruption of manners, had been desired to a +restauration of their vigour and due execution; or some evil Customs +preterlegall, and abuses personall had been to be removed: or some +injuries done by my Self, and others, to the Common-weal, were to be +repaired: or some equable offertures were to be tendred to Me, wherein +the advantages of my Crown being considered by them, might fairly +induce me to condescend to what tended to my Subjects good, without +any great diminution of my Self, whom Nature, Law, Reason and +Religion binde Me (in the first place) to preserve; without which 'tis +impossible to preserve my people according to my place. + +Or (at least) I looked for such moderate desires of due Reformation of +what was (indeed) amisse in Church and State, as might still preserve +the foundation and essentials of Government in both; not shake and +quite overthrow either of them, without any regard to the Laws in +force, the wisdom and piety of former Parliaments, the ancient, and +universall practice of Christian Churches; the Rights and Priviledges +of particular men: Nor yet any thing offered in lieu, or in the room +of what must be destroyed, which might at once reach the good end of +the others Institution, and also supply its pretended defects, +reform its abuses, and satisfie sober and wise men, not with soft and +specious words, pretending zeal, and special piety, but with pregnant +and solid Reasons, both divine and humane, which might justifie the +abruptnesse and necessity of such vast Alterations. + +But in all their Propositions I can observe little of these kindes, +or to these ends: Nothing of any Laws dis-jointed, which are to be +restored; of any right invaded; of any justice to be unobstructed; +of any compensations to be made; of any impartiall Reformation to be +granted: to all or any of which Reason, Religion, true Policy, or any +other humane motives might induce Me. + +But as to the main matters propounded by them at any time, in which +is either great novelty or difficulty, I perceive, that what were +formerly look'd upon as Factions in the State, and Schisms in the +Church, and so punishable by the Laws, have now the confidence, +by vulgar clamours, and assistance (chiefly) to demand not onely +Tolerations of themselves, in their vanity, novelty, and confusion; +but also Abolition of the Laws against them, and a totall extirpation +of that Government, whose Rights they have a mind to invade. + +This as to the main: Other Propositions are (for the most part) but +as waste paper in which those are wrapped up, to present them somewhat +more handsomly. + +Nor do I so much wonder at the variety, and horrible noveltie of some +Propositions, (there being nothing so monstrous, which some fancies +are not prone to long for). + +This casts me into, not an admiration, but an extasie, how such things +should have the fortune to be propounded in the name of the two Houses +of the Parliament of England, among whom, I am very confident, there +was not a fourth part of the Members of either House, whose Judgements +free, single and apart did approve or desire such destructive changes +in the Government of the Church. + +I am perswaded there remains in far the Major part of both Houses +(if free and full) so much Learning, Reason, Religion, and just +Moderation, as to know how to sever between the use and the abuse of +things, the institution and the corruption, the Government and +the mis-government, the Primitive Patterns and the aberrations or +blottings of after-Copies. + +Sure they could not at all, upon so little, or no Reason (as yet +produced to the contrary) so soon renounce all regard to the Laws in +force, to antiquity, to the piety of their Reforming progenitors, to +the prosperity of former times in this Church and State, under the +present Government of the Church. + +Yet, by a strange fatality, these men suffer, either by their absence, +or silence, or negligence, or supine credulity (beleeving that all +is good, which is guilded with shewes of Zeal and Reformation) their +private dissenting in Judgement to be drawn into the common sewer or +streame of the present vogue and humour; which hath its chief rise and +abetment from those popular clamors and tumults: which served to give +life and strength to the infinite activity of those men, who studied +with all diligence, and policy, to improve to their innovating +designes, the present distractions. + +Such Armies of Propositions having so little, in my judgment, of +Reason, Justice, and Religion on their side, as they had Tumult and +Faction for their rise, must not go alone, but ever be backt and +seconded, with Armies of Souldiers; Though the second should prevaile +against my Person, yet that first shall never overcome me further then +I see cause; for, I look not at their number and power, so much as I +weigh their Reason and Justice. + +Had the two Houses first sued out their Livery, and once effectually +redeemed themselves from the Wardship of the Tumults, (which can be no +other then the Hounds that attend the cry and hollow of those men, who +hunt after factions and private Designes, to the ruine of Church and +State.) + +Did my Judgement tell Me, that the propositions sent to Me were the +Results of the major part of their Votes, who exercise their freedom, +as well as they have a right to sit in Parliament: I should then +suspect my Own judgment, for not speedily and fully concurring with +every one of them. + +For, I have charity enough to think there are wise men among them: and +humility to think, that, as in some things I may want, so 'tis fit I +should use their advice, which is the end for which I called them to +a Parliament. But yet I cannot allow their wisdom such a compleatness +and inerrability as to exclude my Self; since none of them hath that +part to act, that Trust to discharge, nor that Estate and Honour to +preserve, as my Self; without whose Reason concurrent with theirs +(as the Suns influence is necessary in all Natures, productions) they +cannot beget, or bring forth any one compleat and authoritative Act of +publick wisdom, which makes the Laws. + +But the unreasonableness of some Propositions is not more evident to +me then this is, That they are not the joynt and free desires of those +in their Major number, who are of right to Sit and Vote in Parliament. + +For, many of them favour very strong of that old leaven of +Innovations, masked under the name of Reformation; (which in my Two +last famous Predecessours days heaved, at, and sometime threatned +both Prince and Parliaments:) But, I am sure, was never wont so far +to infect the whole masse of the Nobility and Gentry of this Kingdom; +how-ever it dispersed among the Vulgar: Nor was it likely so +suddenly to taint the Major part of both Houses, as that they should +unanimously desire, and effect so enormous and dangerous innovations +in Church and State, contrary to their former education, practice, and +judgment. + +Not that I am ignorant, how the choice of many Members was carried by +much Faction in the Countries; some thirsting after nothing more +then a passionate revenge of what-ever displeasure they had conceived +against Me, my Court, or the Clergy. + +But all Reason bids me impute these sudden and vast desires of +change to those few, who armed themselves with the many-headed, and +many-handed Tumults. + +No less doth Reason, Honour, and Safety both of Church and State +command me to chew such morsels before I let them down; If the +straitness of my Conscience will not give me leave to swallow down +such Camels, as others do, of Sacriledge, and injustice both to God +and man, they have no more cause to quarrell with me, then for this, +that my throat is not so wide as theirs. Yet, by Gods help, I +am resolved, That nothing of passion or peevishnesse, or list to +contradict, or vanity to shew my negative power, shall have any byas +upon my judgment, to make me gratifie my will, by denying any thing +which my Reason and Conscience commands me not. + +Nor on the other side, will I consent to more then Reason, Justice, +Honor and Religion perswade me to be, for Gods glory, the Churches +good, my Peoples welfare, and my own peace. + +I will study to satisfie my Parliament, and my People; but I will +never for fear, or flatterie gratifie any Faction, how potent soever; +for this were to nourish the disease, and oppresse the body. + +Although many mens loyalty and prudence are terrified from giving me, +that free and faithfull counsel, which they are able and willing to +impart, and I may want; yet none can hinder me from craving of the +councell of that mighty Counsellor who can both suggest what is best, +and incline my heart stedfastly to follow it. + + +_O thou first and eternal Reason; whose wisdom is fortified with +omnipotencie, furnish thy servant, first with clear discoveries of +Truth, Reason and Justice in My understanding; then so confirm my +will and resolution to adhere to them, that no terrors, injuries or +oppressions of mine enemies may ever inforce me against those rules, +which thou by them hast planted in My Conscience._ + +_Thou never madest me a King, that I should be less then a Man; and +not dare to say, Yea, or Nay, as I see cause; which freedom is not +denied to the meanest creature that hath the use of Reason, and +liberty of speech._ + +_Shall that be blameable in me, which is commendable veracity and +constancy in others?_ + +_Thou seest, O Lord, with what partiallity, and injustice, they deny +that freedom to me their_ KING, _which Thou hast given to all men; and +which Themselves pertinaciously challenge to themselves, while they +are so tender of the least breach of their priviledges._ + +_To thee I make my supplication, who canst guide us by an unerring +rule, through the perplexed Labyrinths of our own thoughts, and other +mens Proposals; which I have some cause to suspect, are purposely +cast as snares, that by My granting or denying them, I might be more +entangled in those difficulties, wherewith they lie in wait to afflict +me._ + +_O Lord, make thy way plain before Me._ + +_Let not my own sinful passions cloud, or divert thy sacred +suggestions._ + +_Let thy Glory be my end, thy Word my rule, and then thy will be +done._ + +_I cannot please all, I care not to please some men; if I may be +happie to please thee, I need not fear whom I displease._ + +_Thou that makest the wisdome of the world foolishnesse, and takest +in their own devices, such as are wise in their own conceits, make Me +wise by thy Truth, for thy honor, my Kingdoms generall good, and my +own souls salvation, and I shall not much regard the worlds opinion or +diminution of Me._ + +_The lesse of wisdome they are willing to impute to Me, the more they +shall be convinced of thy Wisdom directing Me, while I deny nothing +fit to be granted, out of crosnesse or humour; nor grant any thing +which is to be denied, out of any fear or flatterie of men._ + +_Suffer me not to be guiltie or unhappie, by willing or inconsiderate +advancing any mens designes, which are injurious to the publique good, +while I confirm them by My consent._ + +_Nor let Me be any occasion to hinder or defraud the Publick of what +is best, by any morose or perverse dissentings._ + +_Make Me so humbly charitable, as to follow their advice, when it +appears to be for the publick good; of whose affections to me, I have +yet but few evidencies to assure Me._ + +_Thou canst as well blesse honest errours, as blast fraudulent +counsels._ + +_Since we must give an account of every evill and idle word in +private, at thy Tribunall; Lord make me carefull of those solemne +Declarations of mine which are like to have the greatest influence +upon the Publique, either for woe, or weale._ + +_The lesse others consider what they aske, make me the more solicitous +what I answer._ + +_Though Mine own, and My Peoples pressures are grievous, and peace +would be very pleasing; yet Lord, never suffer Me to avoid the one, or +purchase the other, with the least expense or wast of my Conscience; +whereof thou, O Lord, onely art deservedly more Master then my self._ + + * * * * * + + + + +12. _Upon the Rebellion, and troubles in_ Ireland. + + +The Commotions in _Ireland_ were so sudden, and so violent, that it +was hard at first either to discern the rise, or apply a remedie to +that precipitant Rebellion. + +Indeed that Sea of blood, which hath there bin cruelly & barbarously +shed, is enough to drown any man in eternall both infamy and misery, +whom God shall find the malicious Author or Instigator of its +effusion. + +It fell out, as a most unhappy advantage to some mens malice against +me; that when they had impudence enough to lay any thing to my charge, +this bloody oppertunity should be offered them, with which I must be +aspersed. Although there was nothing which could be more abhorred +to me, being so ful of sin against God, disloyalty to myself, and +destructive to my Subjects. + +Some men took it very ill not to be beleeved, when they affirmed, that +what the Irish Rebels did, was done with my privitie (at least) if not +by my Commission: But these knew too well, that it is no news for som +of my Subjects to fight not only without my Commission, but against my +Command, and Person too, yet all the while to pretend, they fight by +my Authoritie, and for my safety. + +I would to God the _Irish_ had nothing to alledge for their imitation +against those whose blame must needs be the greater, by how much +Protestant Principles are more against all Rebellion against Princes, +then those of Papists. Nor wil the goodnes of mens intentions excuse +the scandall, and contagion of their examples. + +But who ever fail of their Dutie toward me, I must bear the blame; +this honour my enemies have alwayes done me, to think moderate +injuries not proportionate to me, nor competent trials, either of my +patience under them, or my pardon of them. + +Therefore with exquisite malice they have mixed the gall and vinegar +of falsity and contempt, with the cup of my Affliction; charging Me +not only with untruths, but such, as wherin I have the greatest share +of loss & dishonor by what is comitted; wherby, (in all policy, reason +and Religion, having least cause to give the least consent, and most +grounds of utter detestation) I might be represented by them to the +world, the more inhumane and barbarous: Like some Cyclopick monster, +whom nothing will serve to eat and drink, but the flesh and bloud of +my own Subjects; in whose common welfare my interest lies, as much as +some mens doth in their perturbations: who think they cannot do wel +but in evil times; nor so cunningly, as in laying the _odium_ of +those sad events on others, wherewith themselves are most pleased, and +whereof they have been not the least occasion. + +And certainly, 'tis thought by many wise men, that the preposterous +rigour and unreasonable severity, which some men carried before them +in _England_, was not the least incentive, that kindled, and blew up +into those horrid flames, the sparks of discontent, which wanted not +pre-disposed fewel for Rebellion in _Ireland_; where dispair being +added to their former discontents, and the fear of utter extirpation +to their wonted oppressions, it was easie to provoke to an open +Rebellion a people prone enough to break out into all exorbitant +violence, both by some principles of their Religion, and the naturall +desires of liberty; both to exempt themselves from their present +restraints, and to prevent those after rigours, wherewith they saw +themselves apparantly threatned by the covetous zeal and uncharitable +fury of some men, who think it a great Argument of the truth of their +Religion, to endure no other but their own. + +God knows, as I can with truth wash my hands in innocency, as to any +guilt in that Rebellion; so I might wash them in my tears, as to the +sad apprehensions I had to see it spread so far, and make such waste: +and this in a time when distractions and jealousies here in _England_ +made most men rather intent to their own safety, or designes they were +driving, then to the relief of those who were every day inhumanely +butchered in Ireland: Whose tears and bloud might, if nothing else, +have quenched, or at least for a time, repressed and smothered those +sparks of Civill Dissentions and Jealousies which in England some men +most industriously scattered. + +I would to God no man had been less affected with Irelands' sad estate +then my self; I offered to go my Self in person upon that Expedition: +But some men were either affraid I should have any one Kingdom +quieted; or loth they were to shoot at any mark here less then +my Self; or that any should have the glory of my destruction but +themselves. Had my many offers been accepted, I am confident, neither +the ruin had been so great, nor the calamity so long, nor the remedy +so desperate. + +So that, next to the sin of those who began that Rebellion, theirs +must needs be, who either hindred the speedy suppressing of it by +Domestick Dissentions, or diverted the Aids, or exasperated the Rebels +to the most desperate resolutions and actions, by threatning all +extremities, not onely to the known Heads and chiefe incendiaries, but +even to the whole Community of that Nation; resolving to destroy Root +and Branch, men, women, and children; without any regard to those +usuall pleas for mercy which Conquerours, not wholly barbarous, +are wont to bear from their own brests, in behalf of those, whose +oppressive faces, rather then their malice, engaged them; or whose +imbecility for Sex and Age was such, as they could neither lift up a +hand against them, nor distinguish between their right hand and their +left: Which preposterous (and I think) un-Evangelicall zeal is too +like that of the rebuked Disciples, who would go no lower in their +revenge, then to call for fire from Heaven upon whole Cities, for the +repulse and neglect of a few; or like that of _Jacob_'s sons, +which the Father both blamed and cursed: chusing rather to use all +extreamities, which might drive men to desperate obstinacy, then to +apply moderate remedies; such as might punish some with exemplary +Justice, yet disarm others, with tenders of mercy upon their +submission, & our protection of them, from the fury of those, who +would soon drown them, if they refused to swim down the popular stream +with them. + +But som kind of Zeal counts all merciful moderation, luke-warmness; +and had rather be cruel then counted cold, and is not seldom more +greedy to kill the Bear for his skin, then for any harm he hath done. +The confiscation of mens estates being more beneficiall, then the +charity of saving their lives, or reforming their Errors. + +When all proportionable succors of the poor Protestants in _Ireland_ +(who were daily massacred and over-born with numbers of now desperate +Enemies) was diverted and obstructed here; I was earnestly entreated, +& generally advised by the chief of the Protestant party there, to get +them some respite and breathing by a cessation, without which they saw +no probability (unless by miracle) to preserve the remnant that had +yet escaped: God knows with how much commiseration and solicitous +caution I carried on that business, by persons of Honor and Integrity, +that so I might neither incourage the Rebels Insolence, nor discourage +the Protestants Loyaltie and Patience. + +Yet when this was effected in the best sort, that the necessity and +difficulty of affairs would then permit, I was then to suffer again in +my Reputation and Honor; because I suffered not the Rebels utterly to +devour the remaining handfuls of the Protestants there. + +I thought that in all reason, the gaining of that respite could not be +so much to the Rebels advantages (which some have highly calumniated +against me) as it might have been for the Protestants future, as well +as present safety: If during the time of that Cessation, some men had +the grace to have laid _Ireland_'s sad condition more to heart; & laid +aside those violent motions, which were here carried on by those, that +had better skill to let blood then to stanch it. + +But in all the misconstructions of my actions, (which are prone to +find more credulity in men to what is false, and evil, then love or +charity to what is true and good) as I have no Judge but God above +me, so I can have comfort to appeal to his omniscience, who doth not +therefore deny my Innocence, because he is pleased so far to try my +patience, as he did his servant _Job_'s. + +I have enough to do to look to my own Conscience, and the faithfull +discharge of my Trust as a King: I have scarce leisure to consider +those swarms of reproches, which issue out of some mens mouths & +hearts, as easily as smoke, or sparks do out of a furnace: Much lesse +to make such prolix Apologies, as might give those men satisfaction: +who conscious to their own depth of wickednesse are loth to beleeve +any man not to be as bad as themselves. + +'Tis Kingly to do well, and hear ill: If I can but act the one, I +shall not much regard to bear the other. + +I thank God, I can hear with patience as bad as my worst enemies can +safly say. And I hope I shall still do better then they desire, or +deserve I should. + +I beleeve it will at last appear, that they who first began to embroil +my other Kingdoms, are in great part guilty, if not of the first +letting out, yet of the not timely stopping those horrid effusions of +bloud in _Ireland_. + +Which (whatever my Enemies please to say, or think) I look upon, as +that of my other kingdoms, exhausted out of my own veins: no man being +so much weakened by it as my Self: And I hope, though mens unsatiable +cruelties never wil, yet the Mercy of God will at length say to his +Justice, _It is enough_; and command the sword of Civil Wars to sheath +it self: his mercifull Justice intending, I trust, not our utter +confusion, but our cure: the abatement of our sins, not the desolation +of these Nations. + + +_O my God, let those infinite mercies prevent us once again, which I +and my Kingdoms have formerly abused, and can never deserve, should be +restored._ + +_Thou seest how much cruelty among Christians is acted under the +colour of Religion; as if we could not be Christians, unless we +crucifie one another._ + +_Because we have no more loved thy truth, and practised in charitie, +thou hast suffered a Spirit of Errour and bitterness, of mutuall and +mortall hatred to rise among us._ + +_O Lord, forgive wherein we have sinned, and sanctifie what we have +suffered._ + +_Let our repentance be our recovery, as our great sins have been our +ruine._ + +_Let not the miseries I and my Kingdoms have hitherto suffered seem +small to thee: but make our sins appear to our consciences, as +they are represented in the glass of thy Judgements; for thou never +punishest small failings, with so severe afflictions._ + +_O therefore, according to the multitude of thy great mercies, pardon +our sinnes, and remove thy judgments, which are very many, and very +heavy._ + +_Yet let our sins be ever more grievous to us, then thy judgments; and +make us more willing to repent, then to be relieved; first give us the +grace of penitent consciences, and then the tranquillitie of united +Kingdomes._ + +_In the Sea of our Saviours Blood drown our sins, and through this red +sea of our own Blood bring us at last to a state of Piety, Peace and +Plenty._ + +_As my publick relations to all, make me share in all my Subjects +suffering; so give me such a pious sense of them, as becoms a +Christian King, and a loving father of my people._ + +_Let the scandalous and unjust reproaches cast upon me, be as a +breath, more to kindle my compassion; Give me grace to heap charitable +coales of fire upon their heads to melt them, whose malice or cruel +zeal hath kindled, or hindred the quenching of those flames, which +hath so much wasted my three Kingdoms._ + +_O rescue and assist those poor Protestants in IRELAND, whom thou hast +hitherto preserved._ + +_And lead those in the ways of thy saving Truths, whose Ignorance or +Errors have filled them with rebellious and destructive Principles, +which they act under an opinion, That they do thee good service._ + +_Let the hand of thy justice be against those, who malitiously and +despightfully have raised or fomented these cruel and desperate Wars._ + +_Thou that art far from destroying the innocent with the guilty, & the +erroneous with the malicious; thou that hadst pitty on_ Niniveh _for +the many children that were therein, give not over the whole stock +of that populous and seduced Nation, to the wrath of those, whose +covetousness makes them cruel; nor to their anger, which is too +fierce, and therefore justly cursed._ + +_Preserve, if it be thy will, in the midst of the furnace of thy +severe justice, a Posterity which may praise thee for thy mercie._ + +_And deal with me, not according to mans unjust reproaches, but +according to the innocency of my Hands in thy sight._ + +_If I have desired or delighted in the wofull day of my Kingdoms +calamities, If I have not earnestly studied, and faithfully +endeavoured the preventing and composing of these bloody Distractions; +then let thy hand be against me and my Fathers House. O Lord thou +seest I have enemies enough of men; as I need not, so should I not +dare thus to imprecate thy curse on me and mine, if my Conscience did +not witnesse my integrity, which thou, O Lord, knowest right well. But +I trust not to my own merit, but thy mercies; spare us, O Lord, and be +not angry with us for ever._ + + * * * * * + + + + +_13. Upon the calling in of the_ SCOTS, _and their Comming._ + + +The _Scots_ are a Nation, upon whom I have not onely common ties of +Nature, Soveraignty, and Bounty, with My Father of blessed memory; but +also speciall and late obligations of favours, having gratified the +active Spirits among them so far, that I seemed to many to prefer the +desires of that party, before My own interest and honor. But, I see, +Royall bountie emboldens some men to ask, and act beyond all bounds of +modesty and gratitude. + +My charity, and Act of Pacification, forbids Me to reflect on former +passages, wherin I shal ever be far from letting any mans ingratitude, +or inconstancy, make me repent of what I granted them for the publique +good: I pray God it may so prove. + +The coming again of that Party into _England_, with an Army only +to conforme this Church to their late New model, cannot but seem as +unreasonable, as they would have thought the same measure offered from +hence to themselves. + +Other errand I could never understand, they had, (besides those common +and vulgar flourishes for Religion and Liberty) save only to confirme +the Presbyterian Copy they had set, by making this Church to write +after them, though it were in bloudy Characters. + +Which design and end, whether it will justifie the use of such violent +means, before the divine Justice, I leave to their Consciences to +judge, who have already felt the misery of the means, but not reaped +the benefit of the end, either in this Kingdom, or that. + +Such knots and crosseness of grain being objected here, as will hardly +suffer that form which they cry up, as the only just reformation, and +settling of Government and Discipline in Churches to go on so smoothly +here, as it might do in _Scotland_; and was by them imagined would +have done in _England_, when so many of the _English_ Clergy, through +levity, or discontent, if no worse passion, suddenly quitted their +former engagements to Episcopacy, and faced about to their Presbytery. + +It cannot but seem either passion, or some self-seeking, more then +true Zeal, and pious discretion, for any forraign State or Church to +prescribe such medicins only for others, which themselves have used, +rather successefully then commendably; not considering that the same +Physick on different constitutions, will have different operations: +That may kill one, which doth but cure another. + +Nor do I know any such tough and malignant humours in the constitution +of the _English_ Church, which gentler applications then those of an +Army, might not easily have removed: Nor is it so proper to hew out +Religious Reformations by the sword, as to polish them by fair & equal +disputations among those that are most concerned in the differences, +whom not force, but reason ought to convince. + +But their design now seemed rather to cut off all disputation here, +then to procure a fair and equal one: For it was concluded there, That +the _English_ Clergy must conform to the _Scots_ pattern before ever +they could be heard, what they could say for themselves, or against +the others way. + +I could have wished fairer proceedings both for their credits, who +urge things with such violence; and for other mens Consciences +too; who can receive litle satisfaction in these points which are +maintained rather by Souldiers fighting in the Field, then Scholars +disputing in free and learned Synods. + +Sure in matters of Religion those truths gain most on mens Judgments +and Consciences, which are least urged with secular violence, which +weakens truth with prejudices; and is unreasonable to be used, till +such means of rational conviction hath been applied, as leaving no +excuse for ignorance, condemns mens obstinacy to deserved penalties. + +Which no charity will easily suspect of so many learned and pious +Church-men in _England_; who being alwaies bred up, and conformable +to the Government of Episcopacy, cannot so soon renounce both their +former opinion & practice, only because that Party of the _Scots_ +will needs, by force assist a like Party here, either to drive all +Ministers as sheep, into the common fold of Presbyterie, or destroy +them; at least fleece them, by depriving them of the benefit of their +Flocks. If the _Scotch_ sole Presbyterie were approved to be the +only Institution of Jesus Christ, for all Churches Government; yet I +beleeve it would be hard to prove that Christ had given those _Scots_, +or any other of my Subjects, Comission by the Sword, to set it up in +any of my Kingdomes, without my consent. + +What respect and obedience Christ and his Apostles payd to the chief +governors of States, where they lived, is very cleer in the Gospel: +but that he, or they ever commanded to set up such a parity of +Presbyters, and in such a way as those _Scots_ endeavour, I think is +not very disputable. + +If Presbyterie in such a Supremacy be an institution of Christ, +sure it differs from all others: and is the first and only point +of Christianity, that was to be planted and watered with so much +Christian bloud; whose effusions run in a stream so contrary to that +of the Primitive planters, both of Christianity and Episcopacy, which +was with patient shedding of their own bloud, not violently drawing +other mens: sure there is too much of Man in it, to have much of +Christ; none of whose institutions were carried on, or begun with +the temptations of Covetousness or Ambition, of both which this is +vehemently suspected. + +Yet was there never any thing upon the point which those _Scots_ had +by an Army or Commissioners to move Me with, by their many Solemn +obtestations, and pious threatnings, but only this, to represent to me +the wonderful necessity of setting up their Presbytery in _England_, +to avoid the further miseries of a War, which some men chiefly on +this design at first had begun, & now further engaged themselves to +continue. + +What hinders that any Sects, Schisms, or Heresies, if they can get but +numbers, strength and opportunity, may not, according to this opinion +and pattern, set up their wayes by the like methods of violence? +all which Presbitery seeks to suppresse, & render odious under those +names: when wise & learned men think, that nothing hath more marks +of Schism, and Sectarism, then this Presbyterian way, both as to the +Ancient, and still most Universal way of the Church-government, +and especially as to the particular Laws and Constitutions of this +_English_ Church, which are not yet repealed, nor are like to be for +me, till I see more Rational and Religious motives, then Souldiers use +to carry in their Knapsacks. + +But we must leave the successe of all to God, who hath many wayes +(having first taken us off from the folly of our opinions, and fury +of our passion) to teach us those rules of true Reason, and peaceable +Wisdom, which is from above, tending most to Gods glory, and his +Churches good: which I think my self so much the more bound in +Conscience to attend, with the most judicious zeal and care, by how +much I esteem the Church above the State, the glory of Christ above +mine Own: and the Salvation of mens Souls above the preservation of +their Bodies and Estates. + +Nor may any men, I think, without sin and presumption, forcibly +endeavour to cast the Churches under my care and tuition, into the +moulds they have fancied, & fashioned to their designs, till they have +first gained my consent, and resolved, both mine own and other mens +Consciences by the strength of their Reasons. + +Other violent motions, w^{ch} are neither Manly, Christian, nor Loyal, +shall never either shake or settle my Religion, nor any mans else who +knows what Religion means: And how far it is removed from all Faction, +whose proper engine is force, the arbitrator of beasts, not of +reasonable men, much lesse of humble Christians, and loyal Subjects, +in matters of Religion. + +But men are prone to have such high conceits of themselves, that they +care not what cost they lay out upon their opinions: especially those +that have some temptation of gain, to recompence their losses and +hazards. + +Yet I was not more scandalized at the _Scots_ Armies coming in against +my will, and their forfeiture of so many obligations of duty, and +gratitude to me: then I wondred how those here, could so much distrust +Gods assistance, who so much pretended Gods cause to the people, as +if they had the certainty of some divine Revelation; considering +they were more then competently furnished with my Subjects Arms and +Ammunition, my Navie by Sea, my Forts, Castles and Cities by Land. + +But I finde that men jealous of the Justificableness of their doings, +and designs before God, never thinke they have humane strength enough +to carry their work on, seem it never so plausible to the people; what +cannot be justified in Law and Religion, had need to be fortified with +power. + +And yet such is the inconstancy that attends all minds engaged in +violent motion, that whom some of them one while earnestly invite to +come in to their assistance; others of them soon after are weary of, +and with nauseating cast them out: what one party thought to rivet +to a setlednes by the strength and influence of the _Scots_, that the +other rejects and contemns; at once, despising the Kirk-government, +& discipline of the _Scots_, and frustrating the successe of so +chargeable, more then charitable assistance: For, sure the Church +of _England_ might have purchased at a far cheaper rate, the Truth +& happines of Reformed Government and Discipline (if it had been +wanting) though it had entertained the best Divines of Christendom for +their advice in a ful & free Synod; which, I was ever willing to, +and desirous of, that matters being impartially setled, might be more +satisfactory to all, and more durable. + +But much of Gods justice, & mans folly will at length be discovered, +through all the filmes and pretentions of Religion, in which +Polititians wrap up their designes: in vaine do men hope to build +their Piety on the Ruines of loyalty. Nor can those considerations or +designes be durable, when Subjects make bankrupt of their Allegiance, +under pretence of setting up a quicker trade for Religion. + +But, as my best Subjects of _Scotland_ never deserted me, so I cannot +think that the most are gone so far from me, in a prodigality of +their love and respects towards me, as to make me to despair of their +return; when besides the bonds of Nature and Conscience which they +have to me, all Reason and true Policy will teach them, That their +chiefest interest consists in their fidelity to the Crown, not in +their serviceableness to any Party of the People, to a neglect and +betraying of my Safety and Honor for their own advantages: However the +lesse cause I have to trust to men, the more I shall apply my Self to +God. + + +_The Troubles of my Soul are enlarged, O Lord, bring thou me out of my +distresse._ + +_Lord direct thy Servant in the ways of that pious simplicity, which +is the best policie._ + +_Deliver me from the combined strength of those, who have so much of +the Serpents subtilty, that they forget the Doves Innocency._ + +_Though hand joyn in hand, yet let them not prevail against my Soul, +to the betraying of my Conscience and Honour._ + +_Thou, O Lord, canst turn the hearts of those Parties in both Nations, +as thou didst the men of_ Judah _and ISRAEL, to restore_ David _with +as much loyal zeal, as they did with inconstancy and eagernesse pursue +him._ + +_Preserve the love of thy truth and uprightness in me, and I shall not +despair of My Subjects affections returning towards me._ + +_Thou canst soon cause the overflowing Seas to ebbe, and retire back +again to the bounds which thou hast appointed for them._ + +_O My God, I trust in thee; let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies +triumph over me._ + +_Let them be ashamed who transgress without a cause; let them be +turned back that persecute my soul._ + +_Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait on thee O +Lord._ + +_Redeem thy Church, O God, out of all its Troubles._ + + * * * * * + + + + +_14. Upon the Covenant._ + + +The _Presbyterian Scots_ are not to be hired at the ordinary rate of +Auxiliaries; nothing will induce them to engage, till those that +call them in, have pawned their Souls to them, by a Solemn League and +Covenant. + +Where many engines of religious and fair pretensions are brought +chiefly to batter or rase Episcopacy: This they make the grand evil +Spirit, which with other Imps purposely added, to make it more odious, +& terrible to the Vulgar, must by so solemn a charm & exorcism be cast +out of this Church, after more then a thousand years possession here, +from the first plantation of Christianity in this Island, and an +universal prescription of time and practice in all other Churches +since the Apostles times till this last Century. + +But no Antiquity must plead for it; Presbytery like a young Heir, +thinks the Father hath lived long enough, & impatient not to be in the +Bishops chair and authority (though Lay-men go away with the Revenus) +all art is used to sink Episcopacy, and lanch Presbytery in _England_; +which was lately boyed up in _Scotland_ by the late artifice of a +Covenant. + +Although I am unsatisfied with many passages in that Covenant some +referring to my self with very dubious and dangerous limitations (yet +I chiefly wonder at the design and drift touching the Discipline and +Government of the Church); and such a manner of carrying them on to new +ways, by Oaths and Covenants, where it is hard for men to be engaged +by no less, then swearing for, or against those things, which are of +no clear morall necessity, but very disputable, and controverted among +learned and godly men: whereto the application of Oaths can hardly be +made and enjoyned with that judgment and certainty in ones self, or +that charity or candour to others of different opinion, as I think +religion requires, which never refuses fair and equable deliberations; +yea, and dissentings too, in matters only probable. + +The enjoyning of Oaths upon People must needs in things doubtfull be +dangerous, as in things unlawfull, damnable; and no lesse superfluous, +where former Religious and Legal Engagements, bound men sufficiently, +to all necessary duties. Nor can I see how they will reconcile such an +Innovating Oath and Covenant, with their former Protestation which was +so lately taken, to maintain the Religion established in the Church of +_England_; since they count Discipline so great a part of Religion. + +But ambitious minds never think they have laid snares and ginnes +enough to catch and hold the vulgar credulity: for by such politicke +and seemingly pious stratagems, they think to keep the popularity fast +to their Parties under the terrour of perjury: Whereas certainly all +honest and wise men ever thought themselves sufficiently bound by +former ties of Religion, Allegiance, and lawes, to God and man. + +Nor can such after-contracts, devised and imposed by a few men in +a declared Party, without my consent, and without any like power or +president from Gods or mans laws, be ever thought by judicious men +sufficient either to obsolve or slacked those moral and eternall bonds +of duty which lie upon all My Subjects consciences both to God and me. + +Yet as things now stand, good men shall least offend God or Me, by +keeping their Covenant in honest and lawfull wayes; since I have the +charity to think, that the chief end of the Covenant in such mens +intentions, was, to preserve Religion in purity, and the Kingdoms in +peace: To other then such ends and meanes they cannot think themselves +engaged; nor will those, that have any true touches of Conscience +endeavour to carry on the best designes, (much lesse such as are, and +will be daily more apparently factious and ambitious) by any unlawfull +means, under that title of the Covenant: unlesse they dare preferre +ambiguous, dangerous and un-authorized novelties, before their known +and sworn duties, which are indespensable, both to God and my self. + +I am prone to beleeve and hope, That many who took the Covenant, are +yet firme to this judgment, That such latter Vowes, Oaths, or Leagues, +can never blot out those former gravings, and characters, which by +just and lawfull Oaths were made upon their Souls. + +That which makes such Confederations by way of Solemn Leagues and +Covenants more to be suspected, is, That they are the common road, +used in all factious and powerfull perturbations of State or Church: +when formalities of extraordinary zeal and piety are never more +studied and elaborate, then, when Polititians most agitate desperate +designes against all that is setled, or sacred in Religion, and Laws, +which by such scrues are cunningly, yet forcibly wrested by secret +steps, and lesse sencible degrees, from their known rule and wonted +practise, and comply with the humours of those men, who ayme to +subdue all to their own will and power, under the disguises of Holy +Combinations. + +Which cords and wythes will hold mens Consciences no longer, then +force attends and twists them: for every man soon grows his own Pope, +and easily absolves himself of those ties, which, not the commands of +Gods Word, or the Laws of the Land, but only the subtilty and terrour +of a Party casts upon him; either superfluous and vain, when they +were sufficiently tied before; or fraudulent and injurious, if by such +afterligaments they find the Imposers really ayming to dissolve, or +suspend their former just and necessary obligations. + +Indeed such illegall ways seldom or never intend the engaging men more +to duties, but only to Parties; therefore it is not regarded how they +keep their Covenants in point of piety pretended, provided they adhere +firmly to the Party and Design intended. + +I see the Imposers of it are content to make their Covenant like Manna +(not that it came from Heaven, as this did) agreeable to every mans +palate and rellish, who will but swallow it: They admit any mens +senses of it, the divers or contrary; with any salvoes, cautions and +reservations, so as they cross not their chief Design, which is laid +against the Church and me. + +It is enough if they get but the reputation of a seeming encrease to +their Party; so little do men remember that God is not mocked. + +In such latitudes of sense, _I_ beleive many that love Me, and the +Church well, may have taken the Covenant, who yet are not so fondly +and superstitiously taken by it, as now to act cleerly against both +all piety & loyalty: who first yeelded to it, more to prevent that +imminent violence and ruine, which hung over their heads in case they +wholly refused it, then for any value of it, or devotion to it. + +Wherein, the latitude of some generall Clauses may (perhaps) serve +somewhat to relieve them, as of _Doing and endeavouring what lawfully +they may, in their Places and Callings_, and _according to the Word +of God_: for these (indeed) carry no man beyond those bounds of good +Conscience, which are certain & fixed either in Gods Laws, as to the +Generall; or the Laws of the State and Kingdom, as to the particular +regulation and exercise of mens duties. + +I would to God such as glory most in the name of _Covenanters_, would +keep themselves within those lawfull bounds, to which God hath called +them: surely it were the best way to expiate the rashnesse of taking +it; which must needs then appear, when besides the want of a full and +lawfull Authority at first to enjoyn it, it shall actually be carried +on beyond and against those ends which were in it specified and +pretended. I willingly forgive such mens taking the Covenant, who keep +it within such bounds of Piety, Law, and Loyaltie, as can never hurt +either the Church, My self, or the Publick Peace: Against which, no +mans lawfull Calling can engage him. + +As for that Reformation of the Church which the Covenant pretends, I +cannot think it just or comely, that by the partiall advice of a +few Divines, (of so soft and servile tempers, as disposed them to so +sudden acting and compliance, contrary to their former judgements, +profession, and practise) such foule scandalls and suspitions should +be cast upon the Doctrine and Government of the Church of _England_, +as was never done (that I have heard) by any that deserved the name of +_Reformed Churches_ abroad, nor by any men of learning and candour at +home: all whose judgments _I_ cannot but prefer before any mens now +factiously engaged. + +No man can be more forward then My self to carry on all due +Reformations, which mature judgment, and a good Conscience, in what +things I shall (after impartiall advise) be, by Gods Word, and right +reason, convinced to be amiss, I have offered more than ever the +fullest, freest, and wisest Parliaments did desire. + +But the sequele of some mens actions makes it evident, that the maine +information intended, is the abasing of Episcopacy into Presbytery, +and the robbing of the Church of its Lands and Revenues: For, no men +have been more injuriously used, as to their legall Rights then +the Bishops, and Church-men. These, as the fattest Dear, must be +destroyed; the other Rascal herd of Schismes, Heresies, &c. being +leane, may enjoy the benefit of a Toleration: Thus _Naboth_'s +Vine-yard made him the onely Blasphemer of his City, and fit to die. +Still I see: while the breath of Religion fills the Sailes, Profit +is the compasse, by which Factious men steer their course in all +seditious Commotions. + +I thank God, as no man lay more open to the sacrilegious temptation of +usurping the Churches Lands, and Revenues, (which issuing chiefly from +the Crown, are held of it, and legally can revert onely to the Crowne +with my Consent) so I have alwayes had such a perfect abhorrence of +it in my Soule, that I never found the least inclination to such +sacrilegious Reformings: yet no man hath a greater desire to have +Bishops and all Church-men, so reformed, that they may best deserve +and use, not onely what the pious munificence of My Predecessours +hath given to God and the Church, but all other additions of Christian +bounty. + +But no necessity shall ever, I hope, drive me or Mine to invade +or sell the Priests Lands, which both _Pharaoh's_ divinity, and +_Joseph's_ true piety abhorred to do: So unjust I think it both in the +eye of Reason and Religion, to deprive the most sacred employment of +all due incouragements; and like that other hard-hearted _Pharaoh_, to +withdraw the Straw, and encrease the Task; so pursuing the oppressed +Church as some have done, to the red Sea of a Civill War, where +nothing but a miracle can save either it, or him, who esteems it +his greatest Title to be called, and his chiefest glory to be +_The defender of the Church, both in its true faith, and its just +fruitions; equally abhoring Sacriledge and Apostacy_. + +I had rather live as my Predecessour _Henry_ the 3. sometime did, on +the Churches alms, then violently to take the bread out of Bishops and +Ministers mouths. + +The next work will be _Jeroboam's_ reformation, consecrating the +meanest of the people to be Priests in _Israel_, to serve those Golden +_Calves_ who have enrich'd themselves with the Churches Patrimony and +Dowry; which how it thrived both with Prince, Priests and people, is +well enough known: And so it will be here, when from the tuition of +Kings and Queens, which have been nursing fathers and mothers of this +Church, it will be at their allowance, who have already discovered, +what hard fathers and step-mothers they will be. + +If the poverty of _Scotland_ might, yet the plenty of _England_ cannot +excuse the envy and rapine of the Churches Rights and Revenues. + +I cannot so much as pray God to prevent those sad consequences, which +will inevitably follow the parity and poverty of Ministers, both +in Church and State; since I think it no lesse then a mocking and +tempting of God, to desire him to hinder those mischiefs whose +occasions and remedies are in our own power; it being every mans sin +not to avoid the one, and not to use the other. + +There are ways enough to repair the breaches of the State without the +ruins of the Church; as I would be a restorer of the one, so I would +not be an oppressor of the other under the pretence of publick Debts: +The occasions contracting them were bad enough, but such a discharging +of them would be much worse; I pray God neither I, nor mine, may be +accessary to either. + + +_To thee, O Lord, do I addresse my Prayer, beseeching thee to pardon +the rashness of my Subjects Swearings, and to quicken their sense and +observation of those just, morall and indispensable bonds, which thy +word and the Laws of this Kingdom have laid upon their Consciences; +From which no pretensions of Piety & reformation are sufficient to +absolve them; or to engage them to any contrary practises._ + +_Make them at length seriously to consider that nothing violent and +injurious can be religious._ + +_Thou allowest no mans committing Sacriledge under the zeal of +abhorring Idols._ + +_Suffer not sacrilegious designs to have the countenance of religious +ties._ + +_Thou hast taught us by the wisest of Kings, that it is a snare to +take things that are holy, and Vows to mak enquiry._ + +_Ever keep thy Servant from consenting to perjurious and sacraligeous +rapinei, that I may not have the brand and curse to all posterity of +robing Thee and thy Church, of what thy bounty hath given us, and thy +clemencie hath accepted from us, wherewith to encourage Learning and +Religion._ + +_Though My Treasures are Exhausted, My Revenues Diminished, and My +Debts Encreased, yet never suffer Me to be tempted to use such profane +Reparation; lest a coal from thine Altar set such a fire on My Throne +and Conscience as will hardly be quenched._ + +_Let not the Debts and Engagements of the Publique, which some mens +folly and prodigalitie hath contracted, be an occasion to impoverish +thy Church._ + +_The State may soon recover, by thy blessing of peace upon us; The +Church is never likely, in times, where the Charity of most men is +grown so cold, and their Religion so illiberall._ + +_Continue to those that serve Thee and thy Church all those +encouragements, which by the will of the pious Donours, and the +justice of the Laws are due unto them; and give them grace to deserve +and use them aright to thy glory, & the relief of the poor: That +shy Priests may be cloathed with righteousnesse, and the poor may be +satisfed with bread._ + +_Let not holy things be given to Swine; nor the Churches bread to +Dogs; rather let them go about the City, grin like a Dog, and grudge +that they are not satisfied._ + +_Let those sacred morsels, which some men have already by violence +devoured, never digest with them, nor theirs; Let them be as_ Naboth's +_Vineyard to_ Ahab, _gall in their mouths, rottennesse to their names, +a moth to their families, and a sting to their Consciences._ + +_Break in sunder O Lord, all violent and sacrilegious Confederations +to do wickedly and injuriously._ + +_Divide their hearts and tongues who have bandyed together against the +Church and State, that the folly of such may be manifest to all men, +and proceed no further._ + +_But so savour My righteous dealing, O Lord, that in the mercies of +thee, the most High, I may never miscarry._ + + * * * * * + + + + +15. _Vpon the many Jealousies raised, and Scandals cast upon the_ +KING, _to stirre up the People against him._ + + +If _I_ had not My own Innocency, and Gods protection, it were hard +for Me to stand out against those stratagems and conflicts of malice, +which by falsities seek to oppresse the Truth; and by Jealousies to +supply the defect of reall causes, which might seem to justifie so +unjust ingagements against Me. + +And indeed, the worst effects of open hostility come short of these +designes: For, _I_ can more willingly lose My Crownes, then My credit; +nor are My Kingdomes so dear to Me, as My Reputation and Honor. + +Those must have a period with my life; but these may survive to a +glorious kind of Immortality, when I am dead and gone: A good name +being the imbalming of Princes, and a sweet consecrating of them to an +Eternity of love and gratitude among Posterity. + +Those foul and false aspersions were secret engines at first employed +against My peoples love to Me: that undermining their opinion and +value of Me, My enemies, and theirs too might at one blow up their +affections, and batter down their loyalty. + +Wherein yet, I thank God, the detriment of My Honor is not so +afflictive to Me, as the sin and danger of My peoples souls, whose +eyes once blinded with such mists of suspicions, they are soon misled +into the most desperate precipices of actions: wherein they do not +only, not consider their sin and danger, but glory in their zealous +adventures; while I am rendred to them so fit to be destroyed, that +many are ambitious to merit the name of My Destroyers; Imagining they +then fear God most, when they least honor their King. + +I thank God, I never found but My pity was above My anger; nor have +My passions ever so prevailed against me, as to exclude My most +compassionate prayers for them, whom devout errours more then their +own malice have betrayed to a most religious Rebellion. + +I had the Charity to interpret, that most part of My Subjects fought +against My supposed Errours, not My person; and intended to mend Me, +not to end Me: And _I_ hope that God pardoning their Errours, hath +so farre accepted and answered their good intentions, as he hath yet +preserved Me, so he hath by these afflictions prepared me, both to do +him better service, and My people more good then hitherto I have done. + +I do not more willingly forgive their seductions, which occasioned +their loyall injuries, then I am ambitious by all Princely merits to +redeem them from their unjust suspicions, and reward them for their +good intentions. + +I am too conscious to My own affections toward the generality of my +people to suspect theirs to Me; nor shall the malice of My Enemies +ever be able to deprive Me of the comfort which that confidence +gives Me; I shall never gratifie the spightfulnesse of a few with +any sinister thoughts of all their Allegiance, whom pious frauds have +seduced. + +The worst some mens ambition can do, shall never perswade Me, to make +so bad interpretations of most of My Subjects actions; who possibly +may be erroneous, but not Hereticall in point of Loyalty. + +The sence of the injuries done to My Subjects is as sharp, as those +done to My Self; our welfares being inseparable; in this only they +suffer more then My self, that they are animated by some seducers to +injure at once both themselves and Me. + +For this it is not enough to the malice of My Enemies, that I +be afflicted; but it must be done by such instruments, that My +afflictions grieve Me not more, then this doth, that I am afflicted +by those, whose prosperity I earnestly desire, and whose seduction I +heartily deplore. + +If they had been my open and forraign Enemies, I could have born it; +but they must be My own Subjects, who are next to My Children dear to +me: And for the restoring of some tranquillity, I could willingly +be the _Jonah_, if I did not evidently fore-see, that by the divided +interests of their and Mine Enemies, as by contrary winds, the storm +of their miseries would be rather increased then allayed. + +I had rather prevent my peoples ruin then rule over them; nor am I +so ambitious of that Dominion which is but My Right, as of their +happiness; If it could expiate or countervail such a way of obtaining +it, by the highest injuries of subjects committed against their +Soveraign. + +Yet I had rather suffer all the miseries of life, and die many deaths, +then shamefully to desert, or dishonourable to betray My own just +Rights and Soveraignty; thereby to gratifie the ambition, or justifie +the malice of my enemies; between whose malice, and other mens +mistakes, I put as great a difference, as between an ordinary Ague and +the Plague; or the Itch of Novelty, and the Leprosie of Disloyalty. + +As Liars need have good memories, so malicious persons need good +inventions; that their calumnies may fit every mans fancy; and what +their reproaches want of truth, they may make up with numbers and +shew. + +My patience (I thank God) wil better serve Me to bear, and My charity +to forgive, then My leisure to answer the many false Aspersions which +some men have cast upon Me. + +Did I not more consider My Subjects Satisfaction, then my owne +Vindication, I should never have given the malice of some men that +pleasure, as to see me take notice of, or remember what they say, or +object. + +I would leave the Authors to be punished by their own evill manners, +and seared Consciences, which will, I believe, in a shorter time then +they be aware of, both confute and revenge all those black and false +Scandals which they have cast on me; And make the world see, there is +as little truth in them, as there was little worth in the broaching of +them, or Civility, (I need not say Loyalty) in the not suppressing +of them; whose credit and reputation, even with the people, shall ere +long be quite blasted by the breath of that same fornace of popular +obloquy, and detraction, which they have studied to heat and inflame +to the highest degree of infamy, and wherein they have sought to cast +and consume My Name and Honor. + +First, nothing gave me more cause to suspect, and search mine own +innocencie, then when I observed so many forward to engage against +me, who had made great professions of singular piety; For this gave +to Vulgar minds so bad a reflection upon me and my Cause, as if it +had been impossible to adhere to me, and not withall part from God; +to think or speak well of me, and not to blaspheme him; so many were +perswaded that these two were utterly inconsistent, to be at once +Loyall to Me, and truly Religious toward God. + +Not but that I had (I thank God) many with me, which were both +learned and Religious, (much above that ordinary size, and that Vulgar +proportion wherein some men glory so much) who were so well satisfied +in the cause of my sufferings, that they chose rather to suffer with +me, then forsake me. + +Nor is it strange, that so religious Pretensions as were used against +me, should be to many well-minded men a great temptation to oppose me; +especially, being urged by such popular Preachers as think it no sin +to lie for God, and what they please to call Gods Cause, cursing all +that will not curse with them; looking so much at, and crying up the +goodnesse of the end propounded, that they consider not the lawfulness +of the means used nor the depth of the mischief, chiefly plotted and +intended. + +The weakness of these mens judgments must be made up by their clamours +and activity. + +It was a great part of some mens Religion to scandalize me and mine; +they thought theirs could not be true, if they cried not down Mine as +false. + +I thank God, I have had more triall of his grace, as to the constancy +of my Religion in the Protestant profession of the Church of +_England_, both abroad, and at home, then ever they are like to have. + +Nor do _I_ know any exception I am so liable to, in their opinion, +as too great a fixedness in that Religion, whose judicious and +solid grounds, both from Scripture, and Antiquity, will not give my +conscience leave to approve or consent to those many dangerous and +divided innovations, which the bold ignorance of some men would needs +obtrude upon me, and my people. + +Contrary to those well tried foundations both of Truth, and Order, +which men of far greater Learning, and clearer Zeal, have settled in +the Confession and Constitution of this Church in _England_, which +many former Parliaments in the most calm, and unpassionate times, +have oft confirmed; In which I shall ever, by Gods help, persevere, as +beleeving it hath most of primitive Truth and Order. + +Nor did my using the assistance of some Papists, which were my +Subjects, any way fight against my Religion, some men would needs +interpret it: especially those who least of all men cared whom they +imployed, or what they said and did, so they might prevail. + +'Tis strange that so wise men, as they would be esteemed, should not +conceive, That differences of perswasion in matters of Religion may +easily fall out, where there is the samenesse of duty, Allegeance +and subjection: The first they owe as men and Christians to God; the +second they owe to me in common, as their KING: different professions +in point of Religion cannot (any more then in civill Trades) take away +the community of relations either to Parents, or to Princes. And where +is there such an _Oglio_ or medly of various Religions in the world +again, as those men entertain in their service (who finde most fault +with me) without any scruple, as to the diversity of their Sects and +Opinions! + +It was, indeed, a foul and indeleable shame, for such as would be +counted Protestants, to inforce Me, a declared Protestant, their Lord +and King, to a necessary use of Papists, or any other, who did but +their duty to help Me to defend my self. + +Nor did I more then is lawful for any King, in such exigents to use +the aid of any his Subjects. + +I am sorry the Papists should have a greater sense of their Allegeance +then many Protestant Professors; who seem to have learned, and to +practise the worst Principles of the worst Papists. + +Indeed, it had been a very impertinent and unseasonable scruple in +me, (and very pleading, no doubt to my Enemies) to have been then +disputing the points of different beliefs in my Subjects, when I +was disputed with by Swords points: and when I needed the help of my +Subjects as men, no lesse then their prayers as Christians. + +The noise of my evill Counsellours was another usefull device for +those, who were impatient any mens counsels but their own should be +followed in Church or State; who were so eager in giving me better +counsel, that they would not give me leave to take it with freedom, as +a Man; or honour, as a King; making their Counsels more like a drench, +that must be powred down, then a draught, which might be fairly and +leisurely drank, if I liked it. + +I will not justifie beyond humane errour and frailties my Self, or my +Counsellours: They might be subject to some miscarriages, yet such +as were far more reparable by second and better thoughts, then those +enormous extravagances wherewith some men have now even wildred, and +almost quite lost both Church and State. + +The event of things at last will make it evident to my Subjects, that +had I followed the worst Counsels that my worst Counsellours ever had +the boldnesse to offer to me, or my Self any inclination to use; +I could not so soon have brought both Church and State in three +flourishing Kingdoms, to such a _Chaos_ of confusion, and hell of +miseries as some have done; out of which they cannot, or will not, +in the midst of their many great advantages, redeem either Me, or my +Subjects. + +No men were more willing to complain, then I was to redresse what I +saw in reason was either done or advised amisse: and this I thought I +had done, even beyond the expectation of moderate men: who were sorry +to see me prone even to injure my Self, out of a zeal to relieve my +Subjects. + +But other mens insatiable desire of revenge upon Me, my Court, and my +Clergie, hath wholly beguiled both Church and State of the benefit of +all my either Retractations or Concessions; and withall, hath deprived +all those (now so zealous Persecutors) both of the comfort and reward +of their former pretended Persecutions, wherein they so much gloryed +among the Vulgar; and which, indeed a truly humbly Christian will so +highly prize, as rather not be relieved, then be revenged, so as to be +bereaved of that Crown of Christian patience, which attends humble and +injured sufferers. + +Another artifice used to withdraw my peoples affections from me to +their designes, was, the noise and ostentation of Liberty, which men +are not more prone to desire, then unapt to bear in the popular sense; +which is to doe what every man liketh best. + +If the divinest Liberty be to will what men should, and to do what +they so will, according to Reason, Laws and Religion; I envie not my +Subjects that liberty, which is all I desire to enjoy my self; So far +am I from the desire of oppressing theirs. Now were those Lords and +Gentlemen which assisted me, so prodigal of their Liberties, as with +their Lives and Fortunes to help on the enslaving of themselves and +their Posterities? + +As to Civil Immunities, none but such as desire to drive on their +ambitious and covetous Designes over the ruines of Church and State, +Prince, Peers, and People, will ever desire greater Freedoms than the +Laws allow; whose bounds good men count their Ornament and Protection; +others their Manacles and Oppression. + +Nor is it just any man should expect the reward and benefit of the +Law, who despiseth his rule and direction, losing justly his Safety, +while he seeks an unreasonable Libertie. + +Time will best inform my Subjects, that those are the best +preservers of their true Liberties, who allow themselves the least +licentiousnesse against or beyond the Laws. + +They will feel it at last to their cost, that it is impossible those +men should be really tender of their fellow-subjects liberties, who +have the hardinesse to use their King with so severe restraints, +against all Laws, both Divine and Humane; under which yet I wil rather +perish, then complain to those, who want nothing to compleat their +mirth and triumph, but such musick. + +In point of true conscientious tendernesse (attended with humility and +meeknesse, not with proud and arrogant activity, which seeks to hatch +every egg of different opinion to a Faction or Schism) I have oft +declared, how little I desire my Laws and Scepter should intrench on +Gods Soveraignty, which is the onely King of mens Consciences; and yet +he hath laid such restraints upon men, as commands them to be +subject for conscience sake, giving no men liberty to break the Law +established, further then with meeknesse and patience they are content +to suffer the penalty annexed, rather then perturb the publick Peace. + +The truth is, some mens thirst after Novelties, others despair to +relieve the necessities of their Fortunes, or satisfie their Ambition +in peaceable times, (distrusting Gods providence, as well as their own +merits) were the secret (but principal) impulsives to these popular +Commotions, by which Subjects have been perswaded to expend much of +those plentifull Estates they got, and enjoyed under my Government +in peaceable times; which yet must now be blasted with all the odious +reproaches which impotent malice can invent; and my Self exposed to +all those contempts, which may most diminish the Majesty of a King, +and increase the ingratefull insolencies of my People. + +For mine Honour, I am well assured, that as mine Innocency is clear +before God, in point of any calumnies they object; so my Reputation +shall like the Sun (after Owls and Bats have had their freedom in the +night and darker times) rise and recover it self to such a degree +of splendour, as those ferall Birds shall be grieved to behold, and +unable to bear. For never were any Princes more glorious, then those +whom God hath suffered to be tried in the fournace of afflictions, by +their injurious Subjects. + +And who knows but the just and mercifull God will do me good, for some +mens hard, false, and evill speeches against Me; wherein they speak +rather what they wish, then what they beleeve, or know. + +Nor can I suffer so much in point of Honour, by those rude and +scandalous Pamphlets (which like fire in great conflagrations, fly +up and down to set all places on like flames) as those men do, who +pretending to so much piety, are so forgetfull of their duty to God +and Me: By no way ever vindicating the Majesty of their KING against +any of those, who contrary to the precept of God, and precedent +of Angels, _speak evil of dignities, and bring railing accusations +against those_ who are honoured with the name of _Gods_. + +But 'tis no wonder if men not fearing God, should not honour their +KING. + +They will easily contemn such shadows of God, who reverence not that +Supreme and adorable Majestie, in comparison of whom all the glory of +Men and Angels is but obscurity; yet hath he graven such Characters of +divine Authority, and sacred Power upon Kings, as none may without sin +seek to blot them out. Nor shall their black veils be able to hide the +shining of my face, while God gives me an heart frequently and humbly +to converse with him, from whom alone are all the traditions of true +glory and majestie. + + +_Thou, O Lord, knowest my reproach, and my dishonour; my adversaries +are all before thee._ + +_My soul is among Lions, among them that are set on fire, even the +sons of men; whose teeth are spears and arrows, their tongue a sharp +sword._ + +_Mine enemies reproach me all the day long, and those that are mad +against me, are sworn together._ + +_O my God, how long shall the sons of men turn my glory into shame? +how long shall they love vanity, and seek after lies?_ + +_Thou hast heard the reproaches of wicked men on every side. Hold not +thy peace, lest my Enemies prevail against me, and lay mine honour in +the dust._ + +_Thou, O Lord, shalt destroy them that speak lies; the Lord will abhor +both the blood-thirsty and deceitfull men._ + +_Make my righteousnesse to appear as the light, and mine innocencie to +shine forth as the Sun at noon-day._ + +_Suffer not my silence to betray mine innocence, nor my displeasure, +my patience; That after my Saviours example, being reviled, I may not +revile again; and being cursed by them, I may bless them._ + +_Thou that wouldst not suffer_ Shimei's _tongue to go unpunished; when +by thy judgements on_ David _he might seem to justifie his disdainfull +reproaches, give me grace to intercede with thy mercy for these my +enemies, that the reward of false and lying tongues, even hot burning +coales of eternall fire, may not be brought upon them._ + +_Let my prayers, and patience, be as water to coole and quench their +tongues, who are already set on fire with the fire of Hell, and +tormented with those malitious flames._ + +_Let me be happy to refute, and put to silence their evill speaking by +well-doing; and let them enjoy not the fruit of their lips, but of my +prayer for their repentance, and thy pardon._ + +_Teach me_ Davids _patience and_ Hezekiah's _devotion, that I may look +to thy mercy through mans malice and see thy justice in their sin._ + +_Let_ Sheba's _seditious speeches_, Rabshekah's _railing, and_ +Shimei's _cursing, provoke, as my humble prayer to thee, so thy renued +blessing towards me._ + +_Though they curse, do thou bless, and I shall be blessed; and made a +blessing to my people._ + +_That the stone, which some builders refuse, may become the head-stone +of the corner._ + +_Look down from heaven, and save me, from the reproach of them that +would swallow me up._ + +_Hide me in the secret of thy presence, from the pride of man, and +keep me from the strife of tongues._ + + * * * * * + + + + +16. _Upon the Ordinance against the Common-Prayer Book._ + + +It is no newes to have all Innovations ushered in with the name +of Reformations in Church and State, by those, who seeking to gain +reputation with the Vulgar for their extraordinary parts, and piety, +must needs undoe what ever was formerly setled never so well and +wisely. + +So hardly can the pride of those that study Novelties, allow former +times any share or degree of wisedom or godliness. + +And because matter of prayer and devotion to God justly bears a great +part in Religion, (being the soules more immediate converse with the +divine Majesty) nothing could be more plausible to the people then to +tell them, they served God amiss in that point. + +Hence our publike Liturgy, or Forms of constant Prayers must be (not +amended, in what upon free and publick advice might seem to sober men +inconvenient for matter or manner, to which I should easily consent, +but) wholly cashiered, and abolished, and after many popular contempts +offered to the Booke, and those that used it according to their +consciences, and the Lawes in force, it must be crucified by an +Ordinance the better to please either those men, who gloried in their +extemporary veine and fluency: or others, who conscious to their own +formality in the use of it, thought they fully expiated their sin of +not using it aright, by laying all the blame upon it, and a totall +rejection of it as a dead letter, thereby to excuse the deadness of +their hearts. + +As for the matter contained in the Book, sober and learned men have +sufficiently vindicated it against the cavils and exceptions of those +who thought it a part of piety to make what profane objections they +could against it; especially for Popery and Superstition; whereas no +doubt the Liturgy was exactly conformed to the doctrine of the Church +of _England_; & this by all Reformed Churches is confessed to be most +sound and Orthodox. + +For the manner of using set and prescribed Forms, there is no doubt +but that wholsome words being known and fitted to mens understandings, +are soonest received into their hearts, and aptest to excite and carry +along with them judicious and fervent affections. + +Nor doe I see any reason why Christians should be weary of a +well-composed Liturgie (as I hold this to be) more then of all other +things, wherein the constancy abates nothing of the excellency and +usefulness. + +I could never see any Reason, why any Christian should abhor, or be +forbidden to use the same Forms of prayer, since he prayes to the same +God, believes in the same Saviour, professeth the same Truths, reads +the same Scriptures, hath the same duties upon him, and feels the +same daily wants for the most part, both inward and outward, which are +common to the whole Church. + +Sure we may as well beforehand know what we pray, as to whom we pray; +and in what word, as to what sense; when we desire the same things, +what hinders we may not use the same words? our appetite and digestion +too may be good, when we use, as we pray for, _our daily bread_. + +Some men, I hear, are so impatient not to use in all their devotions +their own invention and gifts, that they not only disuse (as too many) +but wholly cast away and contemn the _Lords Prayer_: whose great guilt +is, that it is the warrant and originall patern of all set Liturgies +in the Christian Church. + +I ever thought that the proud ostentation of mens abilities for +invention, and the vain affectation of variety for expressions, in +publike prayer, or any sacred administrations, merits a greater brand +of sin, then that which they call coldness and Barrenness: Nor are men +in those novelties less subject to formall and superficiall tempers, +(as to their hearts) then in the use of constant Forms, where not the +words, but mens hearts are to blame. + +I make no doubt but a man may be very formall in the most extemporary +variety; & very fervently devout in the most wonted expressions: Nor +is God more a God of variety, than of constancy: Nor are constant +Forms of prayers more likely to flat, and hinder the Spirit of Prayer +and Devotion, than an unpremeditated and confused variety, to distract +and lose it. + +Though I am not against a grave, modest, discreet, and humble use of +Ministers gifts, even in publique, the better to fit, and excite their +owne, and the peoples affections to the present occasions: yet I know +no necessity why private and single abilities should quite justle out, +& deprive the Church of the joynt abilities and concurrent gifts of +many learned and godly men; such as the Composers of the Service-Book +were; who may in all reason be thought to have more of gifts & graces +enabling them to compose with serious deliberation & concurrent +advice, such Forms of prayers, as may best fit the Churches common +wants, inform the Hearers understanding, and stir up that fiduciary +and fervent application of their spirits (wherein consists the very +life and soul of prayer, and that so much pretended Spirit of prayer) +then any private man by his solitary abilities, can be presumed to +have; which, what they are many times (even there, where they make +a great noise and shew) the affectations, emptinesse, impertinency, +rudenesse, confusions, flatnesse, levity, obscurity, vain and +ridiculous repetitions, the senslesse, and oft-times blasphemous +expressions; all these burthened with a most tedious and intolerable +length, do sufficiently convince all men, but those who glory in that +Pharisaick way. + +Wherein men must be strangely impudent, and flatterers of themselves, +not to have an infinite shame of what they do and say, in things of so +sacred a nature, before God and the Church, after so ridiculous, and +indeed, profane a manner. + +Nor can it be expected, but that in duties of frequent performance, as +Sacramentall administrations, and the like, which are still the same; +Ministers must either come to use their own Forms constantly, which +are not like to be so sound, or comprehensive of the nature of the +duty, as forms of publike composure; or else they must every time +affect new expressions when the subject is the same; which can hardly +be presumed in any mans greatest sufficiencies not to want (many +times) much of that compleatnesse, order, and gravity, becoming those +duties; which by this meanes are exposed at every celebration to every +Ministers private infirmities, indispositions, errours, disorders, and +defects, both for judgement and expression. + +A serious sense of which inconvenience in the Church unavoidably +following every mans severall manner of officiating, no doubt, first +occasioned the wisdome and piety of the Ancient Churches, to +remedy those mischiefs, by the use of constant Liturgies of publike +composure. + +The want of which I believe this Church will sufficiently feel, when +the unhappy fruits of many mens ungoverned ignorance, and confident +defects, shall be discovered in more errours, schismes, disorders, and +uncharitable distractions in Religion, which are already but too many, +and the more is the pitie. + +However, if violence must needs bring in and abet those innovations, +(that men may not seem to have nothing to do) which Law, Reason, and +Religion forbids, at least to be so obtruded, as wholly to justle out +the publike Liturgy; + +Yet nothing can excuse that most unjust and partiall severity of those +men, who either lately had subscribed to, used and maintained the +Service-book; or refused to use it, cried out of the rigour of Laws +and Bishops, which suffered them not to use the Liberty of their +Consciences in not using it. + +That these men, (I say) should so suddenly change the Liturgy into a +Directory, as if the Spirit needed help for invention, though not +for expressions; or as if matter prescribed did not as much stint and +obstruct the Spirit, as if it were cloathed in, and confined to fit +words (so slight & easie is that Legerdemain which will serve to +delude the vulgar.) + +That further, they should use such severity as not to suffer without +penalty, any to use the Common-Prayer-Book publikely, although their +consciences bind them to it, as a duty of Piety to God, and Obedience +to the Laws. + +Thus I see, no men are prone to be greater Tyrants, and more rigorous +exactors upon others to conform to their illegall novelties, then +such, whose pride was formerly least disposed to the obedience of +lawfull Constitutions; and whose licentious humours most pretended +consciencious liberties, which freedome, with much regret, they now +allow to Me, and My Chaplains, when they may have leave to serve Me, +whose abilities, even in their extemporary way comes not short of the +others, but their modesty and learning far exceeds the most of them. + +But this matter is of so popular a nature, as some men knew it would +not bear learned and sober debates, lest being convinced by the +evidence of Reason, as well as Laws, they should have been driven +either to sin more against their knowledge, by taking away the +Liturgie; or to displease some faction of the people, by continuing +the use of it. + +Though, I beleeve, they have offended more considerable men, not onely +for their numbers and estates, but for their weighty and judicious +piety, then those are, whose weaknesse or giddinesse they sought to +gratifie by taking it away. + +One of the greatest faults some men found with the Common-Prayer-Book, +I beleeve, was this, That it taught them to pray so oft for Me; to +which Petitions they had not Loyaltie enough to say _Amen_, nor yet +Charitie enough to forbear Reproaches, and even Cursings of Me in +their own Forms, in stead of praying for Me. + +I wish their repentance may be their onely punishment; that seeing +the mischiefs, which the disuse of publick Liturgies hath already +produced, they may restore that credit, use and reverence to them, +which by the ancient Churches were given to set Forms of sound and +wholsom words. + + +_And thou, O Lord, which art the same God, blessed for ever, whose +Mercies are full of varietie, and yet of constancie; Thou deniest us +not a new and fresh sense of our old and daily wants nor despisest +renewed affections joyned to constant expressions._ + +_Let us not want the benefit of thy Churches united and well advised +Devotions._ + +_Let the matters of our praiers be agreeable to thy will which is +always the same, and the fervency of our spirits to the motions of thy +holy Spirit in us._ + +_And then we doubt not, but thy spirituall perfections are such as +thou art neither to be pleased with affected Novelties for matter or +manner, nor offended with the pious constancy of our petitions in them +both._ + +_Whose varietie or constancie thou hast no where either forbidden or +commanded but left them to the piety and prudence of thy Church, that +both may be used, neither despised._ + +_Keep men in that pious moderation of their judgements in matters +of Religion; that their ignorance may not offend others, nor their +opinion of their own abilities tempt them to deprive others of what +they may lawfully and devoutly use, to help their infirmities._ + +_And since the advantage of Error consists in novelty & variety, as +truths in unity and constancy: Suffer not thy Church to be pestered +with errours, and deformed with undecencies in thy service, under the +pretence of variety and noveltie. Nor to be deprived of truth, +unitie, and order under this fallacy, That constancie is the cause of +formality._ + +_Lord, keepe us from formall Hypocrisie in our own Hearts, and then +we know that praying to thee, or praising of thee (with_ David, _and +other Holy men) in the same formes cannot hurt us._ + +_Give us wisdom to amend what is amiss within us, and there will be +less to mend without us._ + +_Evermore defend and deliver thy Church from the effects of blind +zeale and over-bold devotion._ + + * * * * * + + + + +17. _Of the differences between the_ KING _and the two Houses, in +Point of Church-Government._ + + +Touching the Government of the Church by Bishops, the common Jealousie +hath been, that I am earnest and resolute to maintain it, not so much +out of pietie, as policie, and reason of State. + +Wherein so far indeed reason of State doth induce me to approve that +Government above any other, as I find it impossible for a Prince to +preserve the State in quiet, unlesse he hath such an influence upon +Church-men, and they such a dependance on Him, as may best restraine +the seditious exorbitancies of Ministers tongues; who with the Keyes +of Heaven have so far the Keyes of the Peoples hearts, as they prevail +much by their Oratory to let in, or shut out, both Peace and Loyalty. + +So that I being (as King) intrusted by God, and the Lawes, with the +good both of Church and State; I see no Reason I should give up, or +weaken by any change, that power and influence which in right and +reason I ought to have over both. + +The moving Bishops out of the House of Peers (of which I have elswhere +given an account) was sufficient to take off any suspicion, that +I inclined to them for any use to be made of their Votes in State +affaires: Though indeed I never thought any Bishop worthy to sit in +that House, who would not Vote according to his Conscience. + +I must now in Charity be thought desirous to preserve that Government +in its Right constitution, as a matter of Religion; wherein both my +judgement is fully satisfied, that it hath of all other the fullest +Scripture grounds, and also the constant practise of all Christian +Churches; till of late years, the tumultuarinesse of People, or the +factiousnesse and pride of Presbyters, or the covetousnesse of some +States and Princes, gave occasion to some mens wits to invent +new models, and propose them under suspicious titles of _Christs +government, Scepter, and Kingdom_; the better to serve their turns, to +whom the change was beneficiall. + +They must give me leave, having none of their temptations to invite +me to alter the Government of Bishops, (that I may have a title to +their Estates) not to beleeve their pretended grounds to any new +waies: contrary to the full, and constant testimony of all Histories +sufficiently convincing unbiased men; that as the Primitive Churches +were undoubtedly governed by the Apostles and their immediate +Successours the first & best Bishops: so it cannot in reason or +charity be supposed, that all Churches in the world should either be +ignorant of the rule by them prescribed, or so soon deviate from their +divine & holy pattern: That since the first Age, for 1500 years not +one Example can be produced of any setled Church, wherein were many +Ministers and Congregations, which had not some Bishop above them, +under whose jurisdiction and government they were. + +Whose constant and universall practise agreeing with so large and +evident Scripture-directions, and examples, are set down in the +Epistles to _Timothy_ and _Titus_, for the setling of that Government +not in the persons onely _Timothy_ and _Titus_, but in the succession; +(the want of Government being that, which the Church can no more +dispence with, in point of wel-being, then the want of the word and +Sacrament in point of being.) + +I wonder how men came to looke with so envious an eye upon Bishops +power and authority, as to over-see both the Ecclesiasticall use +of them, and Apostolicall constitution: which to me seems no lesse +evidently set forth, as to the maine scope and designe of those +Epistles, for the setling of a peculiar Office, Power, and Authority +in them as President-Bishops above others, in point of Ordination, +Censures, and other acts of Ecclesiasticall discipline; then those +shorter characters of the qualities and duties of Presbyter-Bishops, +and Deacons are described in some parts of the same Epistles; who +in the latitude & community of the name were then, and may now not +improperly be called Bishops; as to the oversight and care of +single Congregations, committed to them by the Apostles, or those +Apostolicall Bishops, who (as _Timothy_ and _Titus_) succeeded them, +in that ordinary power, there assigned over larger divisions in which +were many presbyters. + +The humility of those first Bishops avoiding the eminent title of +Apostles as a name in the Churches stile appropriated from its common +notion (_of a Messenger, or one sent_) to that speciall dignity, which +had extraordinary call, mission, gifts and power immediately from +Christ: they contented themselves with the ordinary titles of Bishops +and Presbyters, until Use (the great Arbitrator of words, and Master +of language) finding reason to distinguish by a peculiar name those +persons, whose Power and Office were indeed distinct from, and above +all other in the Church, as succeeding the Apostles in the ordinary +and constant power of governing the Churches, (the honour of whose +name they moderately, yet commendably declined) all Christian Churches +(submitting to that special Authority) appropriated also the name of +Bishop, without any suspicion or reproach of arrogancie, to those who +were by Apostolicall propagation rightly descended and invested into +that highest and largest power of governing even the most pure and +Primitive Churches: which, without all doubt, had many such holy +Bishops, after the pattern of _Timothy_ and _Titus_; whose special +power is not more clearly set down in those Epistles (the chief +grounds and limits of all Episcopall claim, as from divine Right) then +are the characters of these perilous times and those men that make +them such; who not enduring sound Doctrine, and clear testimonies +of all Churches practice, are most perverse Disputers, and proud +Usurpers, against true Episcopacy: who if they be not Traytours and +Boasters, yet they seem to be very covetous, heady, high-minded; +inordinate and fierce, lovers of themselves, having much of the form, +little of the power of godlinesse. + +Who, by popular heaps of weak, light, and unlearned Teachers, seek +to over-lay and smother the pregnancy & authority of that power of +Episcopall Government, which, beyond all equivocation and vulgar +fallacy of names, is most convincingly set forth, both by Scripture, +and all after Histories of the Church. + +This I write rather like a Divine, then a Prince, that Posterity may +see (if ever these papers be publique) that I had faire grounds +both from Scripture-Canons, and Ecclesiasticall examples whereon my +judgement was stated for Episcopall Government. + +Nor was it any pollicy of State or obstinacy of will, or partiallity +of affection, either to the men, or their Function which fixed me; +who cannot in point of worldly respects be so considerable to me as to +recompence the injuries and losses I and my dearest relations with +my Kingdomes have sustained, and hazarded, chiefly at first upon this +quarrell. + +And not only in Religion, of which, Scripture is the best rule, and +the Churches Universall practise the best commentary, but also in +right reason, and the true nature of Government, it cannot be thought, +that an orderly Subordination among Presbyters, or Ministers, should +be any more against Christianity, then it is in all secular and civill +Governments, where Parity breeds confusion and faction. + +I can no more beleeve, that such Order is inconsistent with true +Religion, then good features are with beautie, or numbers with +harmonie. + +Nor is it likely that God, who appointed several Orders, and a +Prelacy, in the Government of his Church among the Jewish Priests, +should abhor or forbid them amongst Christian Ministers; who have +as much of the principles of Schism and division as other men; for +preventing and suppressing of which, the Apostolical wisdom (which was +Divine) after that Christians were multiplied to many Congregations, +and Presbyters with them appointed this way of Government, which might +best preserve Order and Union with Authority. + +So that, I conceive, it was not the favour of Princes, or ambition +of Presbyters; but the wisdom and piety of the Apostles, that first +settled Bishops in the Church; which Authority they constantly used +and enjoyned in those times, which were purest for Religion, though +sharpest for Persecution. + +Not that I am against the managing of this Presidency and Authority in +one man, by the joynt Councell and consent of many Presbyters: I +have offered to restore that, as a fit meanes to avoid those Errours, +Corruptions, and Partialities, which are incident to any one man: Also +to avoid Tyranny, which becoms no Christians, least of all Church-men; +besides, it will be a means to take away that burden, and _odium_ of +affairs, which may lie too heavy on one mans shoulders, as indeed I +think it formerly did on the Bishops here. + +Nor can I see what can be more agreeable both to Reason and Religion, +then such a frame or Government which is paternall, not Magistericall; +and wherein not onely the necessity of avoiding Faction and Confusion, +Emulations and Contempts, which are prone to arise among equals in +power and function; but also the differences of some Ministers gifts, +and aptitudes for Government above others, doth invite to imploy them, +in reference to those Abilities wherin they are Eminent. + +Nor is this judgement of mine touching Episcopacy, any re-occupation +of opinion, which will not admit any oppositions against it: It is +well known I have endeavoured to satisfie my self in what the chief +Patrons for other wayes can say against this, or for theirs: And I +find they have, as far lesse of Scripture grounds, and of Reason; so +for examples, and practice of the Church, or testimonies of Histories, +they are wholly destitute; wherein the whole stream runs so for +Episcopacy, that there is not the least rivulet for any others. + +As for those obtruded examples of some late reformed Churches (for +many retain Bishops still) whom necessity of Times and Affairs rather +excuseth, then commendeth for their inconformity to all Antiquity; I +could never see any reason why Churches orderly reformed, and governed +by Bishops, should be forced to conform to those few, rather then +to the catholick Example of all ancient Churches, which needed no +Reformation: And to those Churches at this day, who governed by +Bishops in all the Christian world, are many more then Presbyterians +or Independents can pretend to be; All whom the Churches in my three +Kingdoms, lately Governed by Bishops, would equalize (I think) if not +exceed. + +Nor is it any point of wisdom or charitie, where Christians differ (as +many do in some points) there to widen the differences, and at once to +give all the Christian world (except an handfull of some Protestants) +so great a scandall in point of Church-Government; whom, though you +may convince of their Errours in some points of Doctrine; yet you +shall never perswade them, that to compleat their Reformation, they +must necessarily desert, and wholly cast off that Government, which +they, and all before them have ever owned as Catholick, Primitive, +and Apostolical, so far, that never Schismaticks nor Hereticks (except +those Arrians) have strayed from the Unitie and Conformitie of the +Church in that point; ever having Bishops above Presbyters. + +Besides, the late generall approbation and submission to this +Government of Bishops, by the Clergy, as well as the Laitie of +these Kingdomes, is a great confirmation of my Judgment; and their +inconstancie is a great prejudice against their noveltie: I cannot +in charity so far doubt of their Learning or Integrity, as if they +understood not what heretofore they did; or that they did conform +contrary to their Consciences: So that their facility and levity is +never to be excused, who, before ever the point of Church-government +had any free & impartiall Debate, contrary to their former Oathes and +Practice, against their obedience to the Lawes in force, and against +my Consent, have not onely quite cryed down the Government by Bishops; +but have approved and incouraged the violent and most illegall +stripping all the Bishops, and many other Church-men, of all their due +Authority and Revenues, even to the selling away, and utter alienation +of those Church-lands from any Ecclesiastical uses: So great a power +hath the stream of times, and the prevalency of parties over some mens +judgments; of whose so sudden and so total change, little reason can +be given, besides the _Scots_ Armie coming into _England_. + +But the folly of these men will at last punish it self, and the +Desertors of Episcopacy will appear the greatest Enemies to, +and Betrayers of their own Interest: For Presbytery is never so +considerable or effectuall, as when it is joyned to, and crowned with +Episcopacy. All Ministers wil find as great a difference in point of +thriving, between the favour of the people, and of Princes, as plants +do between being watered by hand, or by the sweet and liberall dews of +Heaven. + +The tenuity and contempt of Clergy-men will soon let them see, what a +poor carcasse they are, when parted from the influence of that Head, +to whose Supremacy they have been sworn. + +A little moderation might have prevented great mischiefs. I am firm to +primitive Episcopacie, not to have it extirpated (if I can hinder it.) +Discretion without passion might easily reform what-ever the rust of +Times, or indulgence of Laws, or corruption of Manners have brought +upon it. It being a grosse vulgar errour, to impute to, or revenge +upon the Function, the faults of Times or Persons; which seditious and +popular principle and practice all wise men abhor. + +For these secular Additaments and Ornaments of Authority, Civil +Honour and Estate, which my Predecessours and Christian Princes in all +Countries have annexed to Bishops and Church-men; I look upon them but +as just rewards of their learning and piety, who are fit to be in any +degree of Church-Government: also enablements to works of Charitie +and Hospitality, meet strengthnings of their Authoritie in point of +respect and observance; which in peacefull Times is hardly paid to +any Governours by the measure of their Vertues, so much, as by that of +their Estates; Povertie and meanness exposing them and their Authority +to the contempt of licentious mindes and manners, which persecuting +Times much restrained. + +I would have such men Bishops, as are most worthy of those +encouragements, and best able to use them: if at any time my judgment +of men failed, my good intention made my errour veniall: And some +Bishops, I am sure, I had, whose learning, gravitie, and pietie, no +men of any worth or forehead can deny: But, of all men, I would have +Church-men, especially the Governours, to be redeemed from that vulgar +neglect; (which besides an innate principle of vitious opposition, +which is in all men against those that seem to reprove, or restrain +them) will necessarily follow both the Presbyterian parity, which +makes all Ministers equall; and the Independent inferiority, which +sets their Pastor below the People. + +This for My judgment touching Episcopacy, wherein (Gods knows) I doe +not gratifie any design or passion with the least perverting of Truth. + +And now I appeal to God above, and all the Christian world, whether +it be just for Subjects, or pious for Christians, by violence, and +infinite indignities, with servile restraints to seek to force Me +their KING and Soveraign, as some men have endevoured to doe, against +all these grounds of my Judgment, to consent to their weak and divided +novelties. + +The greatest Pretender of them desires not more than I doe, That the +Church should be governed, as Christ hath appointed, in true Reason, +and in Scripture; of which, I could never see any probable shew for +any other waies: who either content themselves with the examples of +some Churches in their infancy and solitude; when one Presbyter might +serve one Congregation, in a City or Countrey; or else they deny +these most evident Truths, That the Apostles were Bishops over Those +Presbyters they ordained, as well as over the Churches they planted; +and that Government being necessary for the Churches wel-being when +multiplied and sociated, must also necessarily descend from the +Apostles to others, after the example of that power and Superiority +they had above others: which could not end with their Persons, since +the use and ends of such Government still continue. + +It is most sure, that the purest Primitive and best Churches +flourished under Episcopacy; and may so still, if ignorance, +superstition, avarice, revenge, and other disorderly and disloyal +passions had not so blown up some mens minds against it, that what +they want of Reasons or primitive Patterns, they supply with violence +and oppressions; wherein some mens zeal for Bishops Lands, Houses and +Revenues hath set them on work to eat up Episcopacy: which (however +other men esteem) to Me is no lesse sin then Sacriledge, or a robbery +of God (the giver of all we have) of that portion which devout minds +have thankfully given again to him, in giving it to his Church and +Prophets; through whose hands he graciously accepts even a cup of cold +water, as a libation offered to himself. + +Furthermore, as to my particular Engagement above other men, by an +Oath agreeable to my judgement, I am solemnly obliged to preserve that +Government, and the rights of the Church. + +Were I convinced of the unlawfullnesse of the Function, as +Antichristian, (which some men boldly, but weakly calumniate) I could +soone, with Judgement, breake that Oath, which erroneously was taken +by me. + +But being daily by the best disquisition of truth, more confirmed in +the reason and Religion of that, to which I am sworn; How can any man +that wisheth not my damnation, perswade me at once to so notorious +and combined sins, of Sacriledge & Perjury? besides the many personall +Injustices I must doe to many worthy men, who are as legally invested +in their Estates, as any, who seeke to deprive them; and they have +by no Law, been convicted of those crimes, which might forfeit their +Estates and Lively-hoods. + +I have often wondred how men pretending to tendernesse of Conscience +and Reformation, can at once tell me, that my Coronation Oath binds +me to Consent to whatsoever they shall propound to Me (which they +urge with such violence) though contrary to all that Rationall and +Religious freedom which every man ought to preserve, & of which they +seem so tender in their own Votes: yet at the same time these men +will needs perswade Me. That I must, and ought to dispense with, and +roundly break that part of my Oath, which binds Me (agreeable to the +best light of Reason and Religion I have) to maintain the Government, +and legall Rights of the Church. 'Tis strange, my lot should be valid +in that part, which both my Self, and all men in their own case, +esteem injurious and unreasonable, as being against the very naturall +and essentiall libertie of our Souls; yet it should be invalid, and +to be broken in another clause, wherein I think my Self justly obliged +both to God and Man. + +Yet upon this Rack chiefly have I been held so long, by some mens +ambitious Covetousnesse, and sacrilegious Cruelty; torturing (with Me) +both Church and State in Civill Dissentions, til I shall be forced +to consent, and declare that I do approve, what (God knows) I utterly +dislike, and in my Soul abhor, as many wayes highly against Reason, +Justice, and Religion: and whereto, if I should shamefully and +dishonorably give my consent; yet should I not by so doing, satisfie +the divided Interests and Opinions of those Parties, which contend +with each other, as well as both against Me and Episcopacy. + +Nor can my late condescending to the _Scots_ in point of +Church-Government, be rightly objected against me, as an inducement +for me, to consent to the like in my other Kingdoms; For it should be +considered, That Episcopacie was not so rooted and setled there, as +'tis here; nor I (in that respect) so strictly bound to continue it in +that Kingdom, as in this; for what I think in my judgment best, I may +not think so absolutely necessary for all places, and at all times. + +If any shall impute my yeelding to them as my failing and sin, I can +easily acknowledge it; but that is no argument to do so again, or much +worse; I being now more convinced in that point: nor indeed, hath my +yeelding to them been so happy and successfull, as to encourage me to +grant the like to others. + +Did I see any thing more of Christ, as to Meeknesse, Justice, Order, +Charity, and Loyaltie in those that pretended to other modes of +Government, I might suspect my Judgment to be biassed, or fore-stalled +with some prejudice and wontednesse of opinion: but I have hitherto +so much cause to suspect the contrary in the manners of many of those +men, that I cannot from them gain the least reputation for their new +ways of Government. + +Nor can I find, that in any Reformed Churches (whose patterns are +so cried up, and obtruded upon the Churches under my Dominion) that +either Learning, or Religion, works of Piety or Charity, have +so flourished beyond what they have done in my Kingdoms (by +Gods blessing) which might make me believe either Presbytery or +Independency have a more benigne influence upon the Church and mens +hearts and lives, then Episcopacy in its right constitution. + +The abuses of which, deserve to be extirpated, as much as the use +retained; for I think it farre better to hold to primitive and +uniforme Antiquity, then to comply with divided novelty. + +A right Episcopacy would at once satisfie all just desires and +interests of good Bishops, humble presbyters, and sober People; so as +Church affaires should be managed neither with tyrannie, paritie nor +popularitie; neither Bishops ejected, nor presbyters dispised, nor +People oppressed, + +And in this integrity both of my Judgement and Conscience, I hope God +will preserve me. + + +_For thou, O Lord, knowest my uprightnesse, and tendernesse, as thou +hast set me to be a Defender of the Faith, and a Protectour of thy +Church, so suffer me not by any violence, to be overborne against my +Conscience._ + +_Arise O Lord, maintain thine own Cause, let not thy Church be +deformed, as to that Government, which derived from thy Apostles, hath +been retained in purest and primitive times, till the Revenues of the +Church became the object of secular envie; Which seeks to rob it of +all the incouragements of Learning and Religion._ + +_Make me as the good Samaritan, compassionate and helpfull to thy +afflicted Church; which some men have wounded and robb'd; others pass +by without regard, either to pitie or relieve._ + +_As my power was from thee, so give me grace to use it for thee._ + +_And though I am not suffered to be Master of my other Rights as a_ +KING; _yet preserve me in that libertie of Reason, love of Religion, +and thy Churches welfare which are fixed in my Conscience as a +Christian._ + +_Preserve from sacrilegious Invasions, those temporall blessings, +which thy Providence hath bestowed on thy Church for thy glorie._ + +_Forgive their sins and errours, who have deserved thy just +permission, thus to let in the wilde Boar and subtil Foxes, to waste +and deform thy Vineyard, which thy right hand hath planted, and the +dew of heaven so long watered to a happy and flourishing estate._ + +_O let me not bear the infamous brand to all Posteritie, of being the +first Christian_ KING, _in this Kingdom, who should consent to the +oppression of thy Church, and the Fathers of it; whose errours I +would rather, with_ Constantine, _cover with silence, and reform with +meeknesse, then expose their persons, and sacred Functions to vulgar +contempt._ + +_Thou, O Lord, seest how much I have suffered with, and for thy +Church; make no long tarrying O my God to deliver both me and it, from +unreasonable men whose counsels have brought forth, and continue such +violent confusions, by a precipitant destroying the ancient boundaries +of the Churches peace; thereby letting in all manner of errours, +scismes and disorders._ + +_O thou God of order, and of truth, in thy good time abate the malice, +asswage the rage, and confound all the mischievous devises of thine, +mine, and thy Churches enemies._ + +_That I, and all that love thy Church, may sing prayses to thee, and +ever magnifie thy salvation, even before the sons of men._ + + * * * * * + + + + +18. _Upon_ Uxbridge _Treaty, and other Offers made by the_ KING. + + +I looke upon the way of Treaties, as a retiring from fighting like +beasts, to arguing like men; whose strength should be more in their +understandings, then in their limbs. + +And though I could seldom get opportunities to Treat, yet I never +wanted either desire or disposition to it; having greater confidence +of my Reason, then my Sword. I was so wholy resolved to yeild to the +first, that I thought neither my self, not others, should need to use +the second, if once we rightly understood each other. + +Nor did I ever think it a diminution of me, to prevent them with +expresses of my desires, and even importunities to Treat: It being an +office not only of humanity, rather to use Reason then Force; but also +of Christianitie to _seek peace and ensue it_. + +As I am very unwillingly compelled to defend my self with Armes, so I +very willingly embraced any thing tending to Peace. + +The events of all War by the Sword being very dubious, and of a Civill +war uncomfortable; the end hardly recompencing, and late repairing the +mischiefe of the means. + +Nor did any successe I had ever enhaunce with me the price of Peace, +as earnestly desired by me as any man; though I was like to pay dearer +for it then any man: All that I sought to reserve, was, mine Honour +and my Conscience; the one I could not part with as a King, the other +as a Christian. + +The Treaty at _Uxbridg_ gave the fairest hopes of an happy composure; +had others applied themselves to it with the same moderation, as I +did, I am confident the war had then ended. + +I was willing to condescend, as far as Reason, Honour, and Conscience, +would give me leave: nor were the remaining differences so essentiall +to my peoples happinesse, or of such consequence, as in the least kind +to have hindred my Subjects either security or prosperity; for they +better enjoyed both many yeers, before ever those demands were made; +some of which to deny, I think the greatest Justice to my Self, and +favour to my Subjects. + +I see Jealousies are not so easily allayed, as they are raised: Some +men are more afraid to retreat from violent Engagements, then to +Engage: what is wanting in Equity, must be made up in Pertinacie. Such +as had little to enjoy in Peace, or to lose in War, studied to render +the very name of _Peace_ odious and suspected. + +In Church-affairs, where I had least libertie of prudence, having +so many strict ties of Conscience upon me, yet I was willing to +condescend so farr to the setling of them, as might have given fair +satisfaction to all men, whom Faction, Covetousness, or Superstition +had not engaged, more then any true zeal, charity, or love of +Reformation. + +I was content to yeeld to all that might seem to advance true piety; +I onely sought to continue what was necessary in point of Order, +Maintenance, and Authority to the Churches Government; and what I am +perswaded (as I have else-where set down my thoughts more fully) is +most agreeable to the true principles of all Government, raised to +its full stature and perfection, as also to the primitive Apostolicall +patterne, and the practice of the Universall Church conform therunto. + +From which wholly to recede, without any probable reason urged or +answered, only to satisfie some mens wills and fantasies (which yet +agree not among themselves in any point, but that of extirpating +Episcopacy, and fighting against Me) must needs argue such a +softnesse, and infirmity of mind in Me, as will rather part with Gods +Truth, then mans Peace, and rather lose the Churches honour, then +crosse some mens factious humours. + +God knows, and time will discover, who were most to blame for the +un-successfulnesse of that Treaty, and who must bear the guilt of +after-calamities. I beleeve, I am very excusable both before God, and +all unpassionate men, who have seriously weighed those transactions, +wherein I endeavoured no lesse the restauration of peace to my people, +then the preservation of my own Crowns to my posterity. + +Some men have that height, as to interpret all faire condescendings as +arguments of feeblenesse, and glory most in an unflexible stifnesse, +when they see others most supple and inclinable to them. + +A grand Maxime with them was alwayes to ask something, which in Reason +and Honour must be denied, that they might have some colour to refuse +all that was in other things granted; setting Peace at as high a rate, +as the worst effects of Warr; endevouring first to make Me destroy My +self by dishonourable Concessions, that so they might have the less to +do. + +This was all which that Treaty, or any other produced, to let the +world see how little I would deny, or they grant, in order to the +publick Peace. + +That it gave occasion to some mens further restivenesse, is imputable +to their own depraved tempers, not to any Concessions or negations +of Mine: I have alwayes the content of what I offered, and they the +regret and blame, for what they refused. + +The highest tide of success set me not above a Treaty, nor the lowest +ebbe below a Fight: Though I never thought it any sign of true valour, +to be prodigal of mens lives, rather then be drawne to produce our own +Reasons, or subscribe to other mens. + +That which made me for the most part presage the unsuccesfulnesse of +any Treaty, was, some mens unwillingnesse to Treat: which implied some +things were to be gained by the Sword, whose unseasonableness they +were loth to have fairly scanned, being more proper to be acted by +Souldiers, then by Counsellours. + +I pray God forgive them that were guilty of that Treaties breaking: +and give them grace to make their advantages gotten by the Sword a +better opportunity to use such moderation as was then wanting; that so +though Peace were for our sins justly deferred, yet at last it might +be happily obtained; what we could not get by our Treaties, we may +gaine by our prayers. + + +_O thou, that art the God of Reason, and of Peace, who disdainest not +to treat with Sinners, preventing them with offers of attonement, +and beseeching them to be reconciled with thy selfe: who wantest not +Power, or Iustice, to destroy them; yet aboundest in mercy to save: +soften our hearts by the bloud of our Redeemer, and perswade us to +accept of Peace with thy self, and both to procure and preserve Peace +among our selves, as Men and Christians. How oft have I entreated for +Peace? but when I speak thereof, they make them ready to War._ + +_Condemn us not to our passions, which are destructive both of our +selves, and of others._ + +_Cleer up our understandings to see thy Truth, both in reason, as Men; +and in Religion, as Christians: and incline all our hearts to hold +the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Take from us that enmity +which is now in our hearts against thee: and give us that charity +which should be among our selves._ + +_Remove the evils of war we have deserved, & bestow upon us that peace +which only Christ our great Peace-maker can merit._ + + * * * * * + + + + +19. _Upon the various events of the warre, victories, and defeats._ + + +The various successes of this unhappy war, have at least, afforded me +variety of good meditations: sometimes God was pleased to try me with +victory, by worsting my enemies, that I might know how with moderation +and thanks to own, and use his power, who is the onely true Lord of +Hosts, able when he pleases to represse the confidence of those who +fought against mee with so great advantage for power and number. + +From small beginnings on my part, hee let me see, that I was not +wholly for saken by my peoples love, or his protection. + +Other times God was pleased to exercise my patience, and teach me not +to trust in the arm of Flesh, but in the living God. + +My sins sometimes prevailed against the justice of my cause, and +those that were with me wanted not matter and occasion for his just +chastisement both of them and Mee: Nor were My Enemies lesse punished +by that prosperity which hardened them to continue that injustice by +open hostilitie, which was begun by most riotous and un-Parliamentary +Tumults. + +There is no doubt but personall and private sins may oft-times +over-balance the Justice of publick Engagements; nor doth God account +every gallant man (in the worlds esteem) a fit instrument to assert in +the way of War a righteous Cause: The more men are prone to arrogate +to their own skill, valour, and strength, the lesse doth God +ordinarily work by them for his own glory. + +I am sure the event or successe can never state the Justice of any +Cause, nor the peace of mens Consciences, nor the eternall fate of +their Souls. + +Those with Me had (I think) clearly and undoubtedly, for their +justification, the Word of God, and the Lawes of the Land, together +with their own Oathes; all requiring obedience to my just Commands; +but to none other under Heaven without me, or against me in the point +of raising Arms. + +Those on the other side are forced to flie to the shifts of some +pretended Fears, and wilde Fundamentals of State (as they call them) +which actually overthrow the present fabrick both of Church and State; +being such imaginary Reasons for self-defence as are most impertinent +for those men to alledge, who being my Subjects, were manifestly +the first assaulters of Me and the Laws: first, by unsuppressing the +Tumults, after by listed Forces: The same Allegations they use, will +fit any Faction that hath but power and confidence enough to second +with the Sword all their Demands against the present Laws and +Governours; which can never be such as some side or other will not +find fault with, so as to urge what they call a Reformation of them to +a Rebellion against them: some parasitick Preachers have dared to call +those Martyrs, who died fighting against Me, the Laws, their Oaths, +and the Religion established. + +But sober Christians know, That glorious Title can with truth be +applied onely to those, who sincerely preferred Gods Truth and their +duty in all these particulars before their lives, and all that was +dear to them in this world; who having no advantageous Designes by +any Innovasion, were Religiously sensible of those ties to God, the +Church, and my Self, which lay upon their souls, both for obedience, +and just assistance. + +God could, and I doubt not but hee did through his mercy, crown many +of them with eternall life, whose lives were lost in so just a Cause; +the destruction of their bodies being sanctified as a means to save +their souls. + +Their Wounds and temporal Ruine serving as a gracious opportunity for +their eternall Health and Happinesse; while the evident approach of +death, through Gods grace, effectually dispose their hearts to such +Humilitie, Faith, and Repentance, which together with the Rectitude of +their present Engagement, would fully prepare them for a better life +then that which their enemies brutish and disloyall fiercenesse could +deprive them of; or without repentance hope to enjoy. + +They have often, indeed, had the better against my side in the +Field, but never, I beleeve at the Bar of Gods Tribunal, or their +own Consciences; where they are more afraid to encounter those many +pregnant Reasons, both for Law, Allegiance, and all true Christian +grounds, which conflicts _with_, and accuse them _in_ their own +thoughts, then they oft were in a desperate bravery to fight against +those Forces which sometimes God gave me. + +Whose condition conquered, and dying, I make no question, but is +infinitely more to be chosen by a sober man (that duly values his +duty, his soul and eternity, beyond the enjoyment of this present +life) then the most triumphant glory, wherein their and mine Enemies +supervive; who can hardly avoid to be daily tormented by that horrid +guilt, wherewith their suspicious, or now convicted Consciences do +pursue them, especially since they and all the world have seen, how +false and unintended those pretensions were, which they first set +forth, as the onely plausible (though not justifiable) grounds of +raising a War, and continuing it thus long against Me, and the Laws +established; in whose safety and preservation all honest men think the +welfare of their Country doth consist. + +For, and with all which, it is far more honourable and comfortable to +suffer, then to prosper in their ruine and subversion. + +I have often prayed, that all on my side might join true pietie with +the sense of their Loyalty; and be as faithfull to God and their own +souls, as they were to Me; That the defects of the one might not blast +the endeavours of the other. + +Yet I cannot think, that any shews of truth of piety on the other +side were sufficient to dispence with, or expiate the defects of their +dutie and Loyaltie to Me, which have so pregnant convictions on mens +consciences, that even profaner men are moved by the sense of them to +venture their lives for Me. + +I never had any Victory which was without My sorrow, because it was +on Mine own Subjects, who, like _Absolom_, died many of them in their +sin: And yet I never suffered any Defeat which made Me despair of Gods +mercy and defence. + +I never desired such victories, as might serve to conquer, but only +restore the Laws and Liberties of My people; which I saw were extremly +oppressed, together with my rights, by those men, who were impatient +of any just restraint. + +When Providence gave Me, or denied Me Victory, my desire was never to +boast of my power nor to charge God foolishly; who I believed at last +would make all things to work together for my good. + +I wished no greater advantages by the War, then to bring my Enemies to +moderation, and my Friends to peace. + +I was afraid of the temptation of an absolute conquest, and never +prayed more for Victory over others, then over my self. When the first +was denied, the second was granted me, which God saw best for me. + +The different events were but the methods of divine justice, by +contrary winds to winow us: That, by punishing our sins, he might +purge them from us; and by deferring peace, he might prepare us more +to prize, and better to use so great a blessing. + +My often Messages for Peace shewed, that I delighted not in Warre; as +my former Concessions sufficiently testified, how willingly I would +have prevented it; and My totall unpreparedness for it, how little _I_ +intended it. + +The Conscience of my Innocence forbad Me to fear a Warr; but the love +of my Kingdoms commanded me (if possible) to avoid it. + +I am guilty in this War of nothing but this, That I gave such +advantages to some men, by confirming their power, which they knew not +to use with that modesty and gratitude, which became their loyalty and +My confidence. + +Had I yeelded lesse, I had been opposed lesse; had I denied more, I +had been more obeyed. + +'Tis now too late to review the occasions of the War; I wish only a +happy conclusion of so unhappy beginnings: The inevitable fate of our +sins was (no doubt) such, as would no longer suffer the divine Justice +to be quiet: we having conquered this patience, are condemned by +mutuall conquerings, to destroy one another: for, the most prosperous +successes on either side, impair the welfare of the whole. + +Those Victories are still miserable, that leave our sins unsubdued; +flushing our pride, and animating to continue injuries. + +Peace is not it self desirable, till repentance hath prepared us for +it. + +When we fight more against our selves, and lesse against God, we shall +cease fighting against one another; I pray God these may all meet +in our hearts, and so dispose us to an happy conclusion of these +Civil-Wars; that I may know better to obey God, and govern my people, +and they may learn better to obey both God and me. + +Nor do _I_ desire any man should be further subject to me, then all of +us may be subject to God. + + +_O my God, make me content to be overcome, when thou wilt have it so._ + +_Teach me the noblest victory over my self and my enemies by patience, +which was Christs conquest, and may well become a Christian King._ + +_Between both thy hands, the right sometimes supporting, and the left +afflicting, fashion us to that frame of Piety thou likest best._ + +_Forgive the pride that attends our prosperous, and the repinings +which follow our disastrous events; when going forth in our own +strength thou withdrawest thine, and goest not forth with our Armies._ + +_Be thou all, when we are something, and when we are nothing; that +thou mayest have the glory, when we are in a Victorious, or inglorious +condition._ + +_Thou O Lord knowest, how hard it is for me to suffer so much evill +from my Subjects, to whom I intend nothing but good; and I cannot +but suffer in those evils which they compel me to inflect upon them; +punishing my self in their punishments._ + +_Since therefore both in conquering, and being conquered, I am still +a Sufferer: I beseech thee to give me a double portion of thy Spirit, +and that measure of grace, which only can be sufficient for me._ + +_As I am most afflicted, so make me most reformed: that I may not be +only happy to see an end of those civill distractions, but a chief +Instrument to restore and establish a firm, and blessed Peace to my +Kingdoms._ + +_Scirre up all Parties pious ambitions to overcome each other with +reason, moderation, and such self-deniall, as becomes those, who +consider that our mutuall divisions are our common distractions, and +the Union of all is every good mans chiefest interest._ + +_If O Lord, as for the sins of our peace, thou hast brought upon us +the miseries of War: so for the sins of War thou shouldst see fit +still to deny us the blessing of peace, and so to keep us in a +circulation of miseries: yet give me thy Servant, and all Loyall, +though afflicted Subjects, to enjoy that peace which, the world can +nether give to us, nor take from us._ + +_Impute not to me the blood of my Subjects, which with infinite +unwillingness and griefe, hath been shed by me, in my just & necessary +defence: but wash me with that precious blood, which hath been shed +for me, by my great Peacemaker, Jesus Christ; Who will, I trust, +redeem me shortly out of all my troubles: for, I know the triumphing +of the Wicked is but short, and the joy of Hypocrites is but for a +moment._ + + * * * * * + + + + +20. _Upon the Reformation of the Times._ + + +No Glory is more to be envied then that of due reforming either +Church or State, when deformities are such, that the perturbation and +noveltie are not like to exceed the benefit of Reforming. + +Although God should not honour me so far, as to make me an Instrument +of so good a work, yet _I_ should be glad to see it done. + +As I was well pleased with this Parliaments first intentions to reform +what the indulgence of Times, and corruption of manners might have +depraved; so I am sorry to see after the freedom of Parliament was by +factious Tumults oppressed, how little regard was had to the good Laws +established, and the Religion setled; which ought to be the first +rule and standard of Reforming: with how much partiality and popular +compliance the passions and opinions of men have been gratified, +to the detriment of the Publick, and the infinite scandall of the +reformed Religion? + +What dissolutions of all Order and Government in the Church? what +novelties of Schism, and corrupt opinions? what undecencies and +confusions in sacred Administrations? what sacrilegious Invasions upon +the Rights and Revenues of the Church? what contempt and oppressions +of the Clergie? what injurious diminutions and persecutings of Me +have followed (as showers do warm gleams) the talk of Reformation, all +sober men are Witnesses, and with my self, sad Spectators hitherto. + +The great miscarriage (I think) is, that popular clamours and fury +have been allowed the reputation of zeal, and the Publick sense; so +that the studies to please some Parties, hath indeed injured all. + +Freedom, Moderation and Impartiality are sure the best tempers of +reforming Counsels and endeavours; what is acted by Factions, cannot +but offend more then it pleaseth. + +I have offered to put all differences in Church affairs and Religion +to the free consultation of a Synod or Convocation rightly chosen; the +results of whose Councels, as they would have included the Votes of +all, so its like they would have given most satisfaction to all. + +The Assembly of Divines, whom the two Houses have applied (in an +unwonted way) to advise of Church affairs, I dislike not farther, then +that they are not legally convened and chosen; nor act in the name of +all the Clergy of _England_; nor with freedom and impartiality can +do any thing, being limited and confined, if not overawed, to do and +declare what they do. + +For I cannot think so many men cried up for learning and piety, +who formerly allowed the Liturgy and Government of the Church of +_England_, as to the main, would have so suddenly agreed quite +to abolish both of them, (the last of which, they know to be of +Apostolicall institution, at least; as of Primitive and Universall +practice) if they had been left to the liberty of their own +suffrages, and if the influence of contrary factions had not by secret +encroachments of hopes and fears, prevailed upon them, to comply with +so great and dangerous Innovations in the Church; without any regard +to their own former judgment and practice, or to the common interest +and honour of all the Clergy, and in them of Order, learning, and +Religion against examples of all Ancient Churches; the Lawes in force +and my consent; which is never to be gained, against so pregnant +light, as in that point shines on my understanding. + +For I conceive, that where the Scripture is not so clear and punctuall +in precepts, there the constant and Universall practice of the Church, +in things not contrary to Reason, Faith, good Manners, or any positive +Command, is the best rule that Christians can follow. + +I was willing to grant, or restore to Presbytery, what with Reason or +Discretion it can pretend to, in a conjuncture with Episcopacy; but +for that wholy to invade the Power, and by the Sword to arrogate, and +quite abrogate the Authority of that Ancient Order, I thinke neither +just, as to episcopacy, nor safe for Presbytery; nor yet any way +convenient for this Church or State. + +A due reformation had easily followed moderate Counsels: and such (I +beleeve) as would have given more content, even to the most of those +Divines, who have been led on with much Gravity and formality, to +carry on other mens designes which no doubt many of them by this time +discover, though they dare not but smother their frustrations and +discontents. + +The specious and popular Titles of Christs Government, Throne, +Scepter, and Kingdom, (which certainly is not divided, nor hath +two faces, as their parties now have at least) also the noise of a +thorow-Reformation, these may as easily be fined on new models, as +fair colours may be put to ill-favoured Figures. + +The breaking of Church-windows, which time had sufficiently defaced; +pulling down of Crosses, which were but Civill, not Religious marks; +defacing of Monuments, and Inscriptions of the dead, which served but +to put Posterity in minde, to thank God for that clearer light wherein +they live: The leaving of Ministers to their liberties, and private +abilities in the publick service of God, where no Christian can tell +to what hee may say _Amen_; nor what adventure he may make of seeming, +at least, to consent to the Errours, Blasphemies, and ridiculous +Undecencies which bold and ignorant men list to vent in their +Prayers, Preaching, and other Offices; Their setting forth also of old +Catechisms, and Confessions of Faith new drest, importing as much, as +if there had been no sound or cleer Doctrine of Faith in this Church, +before some four or five yeers consultation had matured their thoughts +touching their first principles of Religion. + +All these and the like are the effects of popular, specious, and +deceitfull Reformations, (that they might not seem to have nothing to +do) and may give some short flashes of content to the Vulgar, (who are +taken with novelties, as children with babies, very much, but not very +long) but all this amounts not to, nor can in justice merit the glory +of the Churches thorow-Reformation; since they leave all things more +deformed, disorderly, and discontented then when they began, in point +of Piety, Morality, Charity, and good Order. + +Nor can they easily recompence or remedie the inconveniences and +mischiefs which they have purchased so dearly, and which have, and +will ever necessarily ensue, till due remedies be applied. + +I wish they would at last make it their unanimous work to do Gods +work, and not their own: Had Religion been first considered (as it +merited) much trouble might have been prevented. + +But some men thought, that the Government of this Church and State, +fixed by so many Lawes, and long Customes, would not run into their +new moulds, till they had first melted it in the fire of a Civil Warr; +by the advantages of which they resolved, if they prevailed, to make +my Self and all my Subjects fall down and worship the Images they +should form and set up. If there had been as much of Christs Spirit, +for meeknesse, wisdom and charitie in mens hearts, as there was of his +name used in the pretensions to reform all to Christs Rule, it would +certainly have obtained more of Gods blessing, and produced more of +Christs Glory, the Churches good, the honour of Religion, and the +unity of Christians. + +Publick Reformers had need first act in private, and practice that on +their own hearts, which they purpose to try on others; for Deformities +within will soon betray the pretenders of publick Reformations to such +private designs, as must needs hinder the publick good. + +I am sure, the right Methods of Reforming the Church, cannot subsist +with that of perturbing the Civil State; nor can Religion be justly +advanced by depressing Loyaltie, which is one of the chiefest +Ingredients, and Ornaments of true Religion: for next to _Fear God_, +is, _Honour the King_. + +I doubt not but Christs Kingdom may be set up without pulling down +mine; nor will any men in impartiall times appear good Christians, +that approve not them selves good Subjects. + +Christs Government will confirm Mine, not overthrow it, since as I +own Mine from Him, so I desire to rule for his Glory, and his Churches +good. + +Had some men truly intended Christs Government, or knew what it meant +in their hearts, they could never have been so ill governed in their +words and actions, both against Me, and one another. + +As good ends cannot justifie evill means; so nor will evill beginnings +ever bring forth good conclusions: unless God by a miracle of Mercie +create Light out of Darknesse, Order out of our Confusions, and peace +out of our passions. + + +_Thou, O Lord, who onely canst give us beauty for ashes, and Truth for +Hypocrisie; suffer us not to be miserably deluded with Pharisaicall +washings, in stead of Christian reformings._ + +_Our greatest diformities are within; make us the severest Censurers, +and first Reformers of our own souls._ + +_That we may in clearnesse of judgment, and uprightnesse of heart be +means to reform what is indeed amisse in Church and State._ + +_Create in us clean hearts, O Lord, and renew right spirits within +us; that we may do all by thy directions, to thy glory, and with thy +blessing. Pity the deformities, which some rash & cruel Reformers have +brought upon this Church and State: Quench the fires which factions +have kindled, under the pretence of Reforming._ + +_As thou hast shewed the world by their divisions, and confusions, +what is the pravity of some mens intentions, and weaknesse of their +judgements; so bring us at last more refined out of these fires, by +the methods of Christian and charitable reformations; wherein nothing +of ambition, revenge, coveteousnes, or sacriledge, may have any +influence upon their counsels, whom thy providence in just and lawfull +wayes shall entrust with so great, good, and now most necessary a +work: That I and my people may be so blest with inward piety, as may +best teach us how to use the blessings of outward peace._ + + * * * * * + + + + +21. _Upon his Majesties Letters taken and divulged._ + + +The taking of My Letters was an opportunity, which, as the malice of +Mine ENEMIES could hardly have expected; so they know not how with +honour and civility to use it: Nor do I thinke with sober and worthy +minds any thing in them, could tend so much to my reproach, as the +odious divulging of them did to the infamy of the Divulgers: The +greatest experiments of Vertue and Noblenesse being discovered in the +greatest advantages against an enemy, and the greatest obligations +being those, which are put upon us by them, from whom we could least +have expected them. + +And such I should have esteemed the concealing of my Papers; the +freedom and secresie of which, commands a civility from all men, not +wholly barbarous; nor is there any thing more inhumane then to expose +them to publick view. + +Yet since Providence will have it so, I am content so much of My heart +(which I study to approve to Gods omniscience) should be discovered +to the world without any of those dresses or popular captations which +some men use in their Speeches and Expresses; I wish My Subjects had a +cleerer sight into My most retired Thoughts. + +Where they might discover, how they are divided between the love and +care I have, not more to preserve My own Rights, then to procure their +Peace and Happinesse, and that extreme grief to see them both deceiv'd +and destroyed. + +Nor can any mens malice be gratified further by My Letters, than to +see my constancy to my Wife, the Laws, and Religion. Bees will gather +honey where the Spider sucks Poyson. + +That I endeavour to avoid the pressures of my Enemies, by all fair +and just correspondences; no man can blame, who loves Me, or +the Common-wealth, since my Subjects can hardly be happy if I be +miserable, or enjoy their Peace and Liberties while I am oppressed. + +The world may see how soon mens designe, like _Absoloms_, is by +enormous actions to widen differences, and exasperate all sides to +such distances, as may make all Reconciliation desperate. + +Yet I thank God, I can not only with patience bear this, as other +indignities, but with charity forgive them. + +The integrity of my intentions is not jealous of any injury my +expressions can do them, for although the confidence of privacy may +admit of greater freedome in writing such letters, which may be liable +to envious exceptions; yet the innocency of my chief purposes cannot +be so obtained, or mis-interpreted by them, as not to let all men see, +that I wish nothing more then a happy composure of differences with +Justice & Honor, nor more to My own, then My peoples content, who have +any sparks of Love or Loyalty left in them: who, by those my Letters +may be convinced that I can both mind and act My own, and My Kingdomes +Affaires, so as becomes a Prince; which Mine Enemies have alwayes been +very loth should be beleeved of me, as if I were wholly confined to +the Dictates and Directions of others; whom they please to brand with +the names of Evil Counsellours. + +Its probable some men will now look upon me as my own Counsellour, +and having none else to quarrell with under that notion, they will +hereafter confine their anger to my self: Although I know they are +very unwilling I should enjoy the liberty of my own thoughts, or +follow the light of my own Conscience, which they labour to bring into +an absolute captivitie to themselves; not allowing me to think their +Counsels to be other then good for me, which have so long maintained a +War against Me. + +The Victory they obtained that day, when my Letters became their +prize, had been enough to have satiated the most ambitious thirst +of popular glory among the Vulgar; with whom prosperity gaines the +greatest esteem and applause as adversity exposeth to their greatest +sleighting and dis-respect: As if good fortune were alwayes the shadow +of Vertue and Justice, and did not oftner attend vitious and injurious +actions, as to this world. + +But I see no secular advantages seem sufficient to that cause, which +began with Tumults, and depends chiefly upon the reputation with the +vulgar. + +They think no Victories so effectual to their designs, as those that +most rout and waste My Credit with My People; in whose hearts they +seek by all means to smother and extinguish all sparks of Love, +Respect and Loyaltie to Me, that they may never kindle again, so as to +recover Mine, the Laws & the Kingdoms Liberties, which some men +seek to overthrow: The taking away of my Credit, is but a necessary +preparation to the taking away of my Life and my Kingdoms; first +I must seem neither fit to Live, nor worthy to Reign: By exquisite +methods of cunning & crueltie, I must be compelled, first to follow +the Funerals of my Honor, and then be destroyed: But I know Gods +un-erring and impartial justice can & will over rule the most perverse +wils and designs of men; he is able, and (I hope) will turn even the +worst of mine Enemies thoughts and actions to my good. + +Nor do I think, that by the surprize of my Letters, I have lost any +more then so many papers: how much they have lost of that reputation, +for Civility and Humanity (which ought to be paid to all men, and +most becomes such as pretend to Religion) besides that of Respect and +Honor, which they owe to their KING, present, and after-times will +judge. And I cannot think that their own consciences are so stupid, +as not to inflict upon them some secret impressions of that shame & +dishonor which attends all unworthy actions have they never so much of +publick flattery and popular countenance. + +I am sure they can never expect the divine approbation of such +indecent actions, if they do but remember how God blest the modest +respect & filial tenderness which _Noah's_ Sons bare to their Father; +nor did his open infirmity justifie _Cham's_ impudency, or exempt him +from that curse of being _Servant of Servants_; which curse must needs +be on them who seek by dishonorable actions to please the Vulgar, and +confirm by ignoble acts, their dependance upon the People. + +Nor can their malitious intentions be ever either excusable or +prosperous, who thought to expose me to the highest reproach & +contempt of my People, forgetting that duty of modest concealment +which they owed to the Father of their Country, in case they had +discovered any real uncomliness, which, I thank God they did not; who +can, and I believe hath made Me more respected in the hearts of many +(as he did _David_) to whom they thought, by publishing my private +Letters, to have rendred me as a vile Person, not fit to be trusted or +considered, under any Notion of Majesty. + + +_But thou, O Lord, whose wise and all disposing Providence ordereth +the greatest contingences of humane affairs, make me to see the +constancie of thy mercies to me, in the greatest advantages thou +seemest to give the malice of my Enemies against me._ + +_As thou didst blast the council of_ Achitophel _turning it to_ Davids +_good and his own ruine: so canst thou defeat their Designe, who +intended by publishing my private Letters, nothing else but to render +me more odious and contemptible to my People._ + +_I must first appeal to thy Omniscience, who canst witnesse my +integritie, how unjust and false those scandalous misconstructions +are, which my Enemies endevour by those papers of mine to represent +unto the world._ + +_Make the evil they imagined, and displeasure they intended thereby +against me, so to return on their own heads, that they may be ashamed, +and covered with their own confusion as with a cloak._ + +_Thou seest how mine Enemies use all means to cloud mine Honour, to +pervert my purposes, and to slander the footsteps of thine Annointed._ + +_But give me an heart content to be dishonoured for thy sake, and thy +Churches good._ + +_Fix in me a purpose to honour thee, and then I know thou wilt honour +me, either by restoring to me the enjoyment of that Power and Majesty, +which thou hast suffered some men to seek to deprive me of; or by +bestowing on me that Crown of Christian patience, which knows how to +serve thee in honour or dishonour, in good report or evil._ + +_Thou, O Lord, art the fountain of goodness and honour; thou art +cloathed with excellent Majesty; make me to partake of thy excellency +for wisdom, justice and mercy, and I shall not want that degree of +Honour and Majestie which becomes the Place in which thou hast set me; +who art the lifter up of my head, and my Salvation._ + +_Lord, by thy Grace, lead me to thy Glory, which is both true and +eternall._ + + * * * * * + + + + +22. _Upon His Majesties Leaving_ Oxford, _and going to the_ Scots. + + +Although God hath given me three Kingdoms, yet in these He hath not +now left me any place where I may with safety & Honor rest my head: +shewing me that himself is the safest Refuge, and the strongest Tower +of defence, in which I may put my trust. + +In these extremities, I look not to man so much as to God: He will +have it thus, that I may cast my self, and my now distressed Affairs +upon his mercy, who hath both hearts and hands of all men in his +dispose. + +What Providence denies to Force, it may grant to Prudence; Necessity +is now my Counsellor, and commands Me to study My safety by a +disguised withdrawing from my chiefest strength, and adventuring upon +their Loyalty, who first began my troubles. Happily, God may make them +a means honorable to compose them. + +This my confidence of them, may dis-arm & overcom them; my rendring +my person to them, may engage their affection to me, who have oft +professed, _They fought not against me, but for me_. + +I must now resolve the riddle of their Loyalty: and give them +opportunity to let the world see, they mean not what they do, but what +they say. + +Yet must God be my chiefest Guard; and my Conscience both my +Counsellor and my Comforter: Though I put my body into their hands, +yet I shall reserve my soul to God and my self; nor shall any +necessities compell me, to desert mine honour, or swerve from my +Judgement. + +What they fought to take by force, shall now be given them in such a +way of unusuall confidence of them, as may make them ashamed not to be +really such as they ought, and professed to be. + +God sees it not enough to desert me of all Military power to defend my +Self, but to put me upon using their power, who seem to fight against +me, yet ought in duty to defend me. + +So various are all humane affairs, & so necessitous may the state +of Princes be, that their greatest danger may be in their supposed +safety, and their safety in their supposed danger. + +I must now leave those that have Adhered to me, and apply to those +that have Opposed me; this method of Peace may be more prosperous +then that of War, both to stop the effusion of bloud, & to close those +wounds already made: and in it I am no less solicitous for my Friends +safety, then mine own; chusing to venture my Self upon further +hazards, rather then expose their resolute Loyaltie to all +extremities. + +It is some skil in play to know when a game is lost; better fairly to +give over, then to contest in vain. + +I must now study to re-inforce my Judgment, and fortifie my mind +with Reason and Religion, that I may not seem to offer up my Souls +libertie, or make my Conscience their Captive; who ought at first to +have used Arguments, not Arms, to have perswaded my consent to their +demands. + +I thank God, no success darkens or disguises Truth to me; and I shall +no less conform my words to my inward dictates now, then if they had +been as the words of a KING ought to be among loyal Subjects, _full of +power_. + +Reason is the divinest power. I shall never think my Self weakned, +while I may make full and free use of that. No ecclipse of outward +Fortune shall rob me of that light: what God hath denied of outward +strength, his grace, I hope, will supply with inward resolutions; not +morositie to deny, what is fit to be granted; but not to grant any +thing which Reason and Religion bids me denie. + +I shall never think my Self less then my Self, while I am able thus to +preserve the integrity of my Conscience, the only Jewel now left me, +which is worth keeping. + + +_O thou Soveraign of our Souls, the onely Commander of our +Consciences; though I know not what to do, yet mine eyes are toward +thee: To the protection of thy mercy I still commend my self._ + +_As thou hast preserved me in the day of Battell, so thou canst still +shew me thy strength in my weaknesse._ + +_Be thou unto me in my darkest night a pillar of fire, to enlighten +and direct me; in the day of my hottest affliction, be also a pillar +of cloud to over-shadow and protect me; be to me both a Sun and a +Shield._ + +_Thou knowest, that it is not any perverseness of will, but just +perswasions of Honour, Reason, and Religion, which have made me thus +far to hazard my Person, Peace, and Safetie, against those that by +force have sought to wrest them from me._ + +_Suffer not my just resolutions to abate with my outward Forces; let a +good Conscience alwaies accompany me in my solitude and desertions._ + +_Suffer me not to betray the powers of Reason, and that fortresse of +my Soul which I am entrusted to keep for thee._ + +_Lead me in the paths of thy righteousnesse, and shew me thy +salvation._ + +_Make my waies to please thee, and then thou wilt make mine enemies to +be at peace with me._ + + * * * * * + + + + +23. _Upon the_ Scots _delivering the_ KING _to the_ English, _and His +Captivity at_ Holmeby. + + +Yet may I justifie those _Scots_ to all the world in this. That they +have not deceived me; for I never trusted to them further then to men: +if I am sold by them, I am only sorry they should do it: and that My +price should be so much above My Saviors. + +These are but further Essays which God will have Me make of mans +uncertainty, the more to fix Me on himself, who never faileth them +that trust in him; though the Reeds of _Ćgypt_ break under the hand +of him that leans on them, yet the Rock of _Israel_ will be an +everlasting stay and defence. + +Gods Providence commands Me to retire from all to himself, that in him +I may enjoy My Self, which I lose, while I let out My hopes to others. + +The solitude & captivity to which I am now reduced, gives Me leisure +enough to study the worlds vanity and inconstancie. + +God sees 'tis fit to deprive Me of Wife, Children, Armie, Friends, and +Freedom, that I may be wholly his, who alone is all. + +I care not much to be reckoned among the Unfortunate, if I be not in +the black List of irreligious and sacrilegious Princes. + +No Restraint shall ensnare my Soul in sin; nor gain that of me which +may make my Enemies more insolent, my Friends ashamed, or my Name +accursed. + +They have no great cause to triumph, that they have got my Person into +their power; since my Soul is still my own: nor shall they ever gain +my Consent against my Conscience. + +What they call obstinacie, I know God accounts honest constancie, from +which Reason and Religion, as well as Honor, forbid Me to recede. + +'Tis evident now, that it was not Evil Counsellors with Me, but a good +Conscience in Me, which hath been fought against; nor did they ever +intend to bring Me to my Parliament, till they had brought My mind to +their obedience. + +Should I grant what some men desire, I should be such as they with Me, +not more a King, and far less both Man and Christian. + +What Tumults and Armies could not obtain, neither shall Restraint; +which though it have a little of safety to a Prince, yet it hath not +more of danger. + +The fear of men shall never be my snare; nor shal the love of any +liberty entangle my soul: Better others betray me, then my self: and +that the price of my liberty should be my conscience; the greatest +injuries my Enemies seek to inflict upon me, cannot be without my own +consent. + +While I can deny with Reason, I shall defeat the greatest impressions +of their malice, who neither know how to use worthily what I have +already granted; nor what to require more of me but this, That I would +seem willing to help them to destroy my self and mine. + +Although they should destroy me, yet they shall have no cause to +despise me. + +Neither liberty nor life are so dear to me, as the peace of my +Conscience, the Honor of my Crowns, and the welfare of my People; +which my word may injure more then any War can do; while I gratifie a +few to oppresse all. + +The Laws wil by Gods blessing, revive, with the love and Loyaltie of +my Subjects; if I bury them not by my Consent, and cover them in that +grave of dishonor and injustice, which some mens violence hath digged +for them. + +If my Captivity or Death must be the price of their redemption, I +grudge not to pay it. + +No condition can make a King miserable, which carries not with it, his +Souls, his Peoples, and Posterities thraldom. + +After-times may see, what the blindnesse of this Age will not; and +God may at length shew my Subjects, that I chuse rather to suffer for +them, then with them; happily I might redeem my self to some shew of +liberty, if I would consent to enslave them: I had rather hazard the +ruine of one King, then to confirm many Tyrants over them, from whom +I pray God deliver them, what ever becomes of me, whose solitude hath +not left me alone. + + +_For thou, O God, infinitely Good, and Great, art with me, whose +presence is better then life, and whose service is perfect freedom._ + +_Own me for thy Servant, and I shall never have cause to complain for +want of that liberty which becomes a Man, a Christian, and a King._ + +_Blesse me still with Reason, as a Man; with Religion, as a Christian; +and with constancie in Justice, as a King._ + +_Though thou sufferest me to be stript of all outward ornaments, yet +preserve me ever in those enjoyments wherein I may enjoy thy self; and +which cannot be taken from me against my will._ + +_Let no fire of affliction boile over my passion to any impatience or +sordid fears._ + +_There be many that say of me, There is no help for me: do thou lift +up the light of thy Countenance upon me, and I shall want neither +Safetie, Libertie, nor Majestie._ + +_Give me that measure of patience and constancie which my condition +now requires._ + +_My strength is scattered, my expectation from Men defeated, my Person +restrained: O be not thou far from me, lest my enemies prevail too +much against me._ + +_I am become a wonder, and a scorn to many: O be thou my helper and +defender._ + +_Shew some token upon me for good, that they that hate me may +be ashamed, because thou Lord, hast holpen and comforted me; for +establish me with thy free Spirit, that I may do and suffer thy will, +as thou wouldst have me._ + +_Be mercifull to me, O Lord, for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, and in +the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, untill these calamities +be over-past._ + +_Arise to deliver me, make no long tarrying, O my God. Though thou +killest me, yet will I trust in thy mercy, and my Saviours merit._ + +_I know that my Redeemer liveth; though thou leadest me through the +vail and shadow of death, yet shall I fear none ill._ + + * * * * * + + + + +24. _Upon their denying His Majestie the Attendance of His Chaplains._ + + +When providence was pleased to deprive Me of all other civil comforts +and secular attendants, I thought the absence of them all might best +be supplied by the attendance of some of my Chaplains, whom for their +Function I reverence, and for their Fidelitie I have cause to love. +By their Learning, Pietie, and Praiers, I hoped to be either better +enabled to sustain the want of all other enjoyments, or better fitted +for the recovery and use of them in Gods good time; so reaping by +their pious help a spiritual harvest of grace amidst the thorns, and +after the plowings of temporal crosses. + +The truth is, I never needed or desired more the service and +assistance of men judiciously pious, and soberly devout. + +The solitude they have confined me unto, adds the wildernesse to my +temptations: For the company they obtrude upon me, is more sad then +any solitude can be. + +If I had asked my Revenues, my power of the _Militia_, or any one of +my Kingdoms, it had bin no wonder to have been denied in those things, +where the evil policy of men forbids all just restitution, lest they +should confess an injurious usurpation: But to deny me the ghostly +comfort of my Chaplains seems a greater rigor & barbarity, then +is ever used by christians to the meanest prisoners, & greatest +malefactors, whom though the justice of the law deprive of worldly +comforts, yet the mercy of religion allows them the benefit of their +Clergy, as not aiming at once to destroy their Bodies, and to damn +their Souls. + +But my agony must not be relieved with the presence of any one good +Angel; for such I account a learned, godly, and discreet Divine: and +such I would have all mine to be. + +They that envie my being a King, are loth I should be a Christian: +while they seek to deprive me of all things else, they are afraid I +should save my Soul. + +Other sense, Charity it self can hardly pick out of those many +harsh repulses I received, as to that request so often made for the +attendance of some of my Chaplains. + +I have sometime thought the Unchristiannes of those denials might +arise from a displeasure some men had to see me prefer my own Divines +before their Ministers: whom, though I respect for that worth and +piety w^{ch} may be in them, yet I cannot think them so proper for any +present comforters or Physitians, Who have (some of them at least) had +so great an influence in occasioning these calamities, and inflicting +these wounds upon Me. + +Nor are the soberest of them so apt for that devotional compliance, +and juncture of hearts, which I desire to bear in those holy Offices +to be performed with me, and for me; since their judgments standing +at a distance from me, or in jealousie of me, or in opposition against +me, their Spirits cannot so harmoniously accord with mine, or mine +with theirs, either in Prayer or other holy duties, as is meet, and +most comfortable; whose golden rule, and bond of Perfection consists +in that of mutual Love and Charitie. + +Some remedies are worse then the disease, and some comforters more +miserable then misery it self; when like _Job's_ friends, they seek +not to fortifie ones minde with patience; but perswade a man by +betraying his own Innocency, to despair of Gods mercy; and by +justifying their injuries, to strengthen the hands, and harden the +heart of insolent Enemies. + +I am so much a friend to all Church-men, that have any thing in them +beseeming that sacred Function, that I have hazarded my own interests, +chiefly upon Conscience and Constancie, to maintain their Rights; whom +the more I looked upon as Orphans, and under the sacrilegious eyes of +many cruell and rapacious Reformers; so I thought it my dutie the more +to appear as a Father, and a Patron for them and the Church. Although +I am very unhandsomly requited by some of them; who may live to repent +no lesse for My sufferings, then their own ungrateful errours, and +that injurious contempt and meannesse, which they have brought upon +their Calling and Persons. + +I pity al of them, I despise none: only I thought I might have leave +to make choice of some for My special Attendance, who were best +approved in My Judgment & most sutable to My affection: For, I held +it better to seem undevout, and to hear no mans Praiers, then to be +forced, or seem to comply with those Petitions to which the heart +cannot consent, nor the tongue say _Amen_, without contradicting a +mans own understanding, or belying his own Soul. + +In Devotions, I love neither profane boldnesse, nor pious non-sence; +but such an humble and judicious gravitie as shews the Speaker to be +at once considerate both of Gods Majestie, the Churches Honour, and +his own vilenesse; both knowing what things God allows him to ask, and +in what manner it becomes a sinner to supplicate the divine mercie for +himself, and others. + +I am equally scandalised with all Praiers, that sound either +imperiously, or rudely, and passionately; as either wanting humilitie +to God, or charitie to men, or respect to the dutie. + +I confess I am better pleased as with studied and premeditated +Sermons, so with such publick Forms of Praier, as are fitted to the +Churches and every Christians daily and common necessities; because I +am by them better assured, what I may join my heart unto, then I can +be of any mans extemporary sufficiencie: which as I do not wholly +exclude from publick occasions; so I allow its just libertie and use +in private and devout retirements; where neither the solemnities +of the dutie, nor the modest regards to others, do require so great +exactness as to the outward manner of performance; Though the light +of understanding, and the fervencie of affections I hold the main +and most necessarie requisites both in constant, and occasionall, +solitairie, and sociall Devotions. + +So that I must needs seem to all equal minds with as much reason to +prefer the service of my own Chaplains before that of their Ministers, +as I do the Liturgie before their Directorie. + +In the one I have been alwaies educated and exercised; In the other, I +am not yet Catechized, nor acquainted: And if I were, yet should I +not by that, as by any certain rule and Canon of Devotion, be able to +follow or find out the indirect extravagancies of most of those men, +who highly cry up that as a piece of rare composure and use, which +is already as much despised and disused by many of them, as the +Common-Prayer sometimes was by those men; a great part of whose Pietie +hung upon that popular pin of railing against, and contemning +the Government, and Liturgie of this Church. But, I had rather +be condemned to the wo of _Vć soli_, then to that of _Vć vobis +Hypocritć_, by seeming to pray what I do not approve. + +It may be, I am esteemed by my Denyers sufficient of my Self to +discharge my dutie to GOD as a Priest, though not to Men as a Prince. + +Indeed, I think both Offices, Regal & Sacerdotal, might well become +the same Person; as anciently they were under one name, and the united +rights of primogeniture: nor could I follow better presidents, if I +were able, then those two eminent Kings, _David_ and _Solomon_; not +more famous for their Scepters and Crowns, then one was for devout +Psalms and Praiers; the other for his divine Parables and Preaching: +whence the one merited and assumed the name of a Prophet, the other +of a Preacher. Titles indeed of greater honour, where rightly placed, +then any of those the Roman Emperors affected from the Nations they +subdued: it being infinitely more glorious to convert Souls to Gods +Church by the Word, then to conquer men to a subjection by the Sword. + +Yet since the order of Gods wisdom and providence hath, for the +most part, alwaies distinguished the gifts and offices of Kings, of +Priests, of Princes and Preachers; both in the Jewish and Christian +Churches: I am sorry to find My self reduced to the necessity of being +both, or enjoying neither. + +For such as seek to deprive Me of Kingly Power and Soveraigntie; +would no lesse enforce Me to live many Moneths without all Praiers, +Sacraments, and Sermons, unlesse I become My own Chaplain. + +As I owe the Clergy the protection of a Christian KING, so I desire to +enjoy from them the benefit of their gifts and prayers; which I look +upon as more prevalent then My own, or other mens; by how much they +flow from minds more enlightned, and affections lesse distracted, then +those which are encombered with secular affairs: besides, I think a +greater blessing and acceptablenes attends those duties, which +are rightly performed, as proper to, and within the limits of that +calling, to which God and the Church have specially designed and +consecrated some men: And however, as to that Spirituall government, +by which the devout Soul is subject to Christ, and through his merits +daily offers it self and its services to God, every private believer +is a King and a Priest, invested with the honour of a Royall Priest +hood; yet as to Ecclesiastical order, and the outward policy of the +Church, I think confusion in Religion will as certainly follow every +mans turning Priest or Preacher, as it will in the State, where every +one affects to rule as King. + +I was always bred to more modest, and I think to more pious +Principles: the consciousness to my spirituall defects makes Me +more prize and desire those pious assistances, which holy and good +Ministers, either Bishops or Presbyters, may afford Me; especially in +these extremities, to which God hath been pleased to suffer some of my +Subjects to reduce me; so as to leave them nothing more, but my life +to take from Me: and to leave me nothing to desire, which I thought +might less provoke their jealousie and offence to deny Me, then this +of having some means afforded Me for my Souls comfort and support. + +To which end I made choice of men, as no way (that I know) scandalous, +so every way eminent for their learning and piety, no less then for +their Loyalty: nor can I imagine any exceptions to be made against +them, but onely this, that they may seem too able, and too well +affected toward Me and My Service. + +But this is not the first service (as I count it the best) in which +they have forced Me to serve my self; though I must confess I bear +with more grief and impatience the want of My Chaplains, then of My +other Servants; and next (if not beyond in some things) to the being +sequestred from My Wife and Children; since from these indeed more of +humane and temporary affections, but from those more of heavenly and +eternall improvements may be expected. + +My comfort is, that in the enforced (not neglected) want of ordinary +means, God is wont to afford extraordinary supplies of his Gifts and +Graces. + +If his Spirit will teach me, and help my infirmities in prayer, +reading and meditation (as I hope he will) I shall need no other, +either Orator, or Instructer. + + +_To thee therefore, O my God, do I direct my now solitary Prayers; +what I want of others help, supply with the more immediate assistance +of thy Spirit, which alone can both enlighten my darknesse, and +quicken my dulnesse._ + +_O thou Sun of righteousness, thou sacred Fountain of heavenly light +and heat, at once cleer and warm my heart, both by instructing of +me, and interceding for me; In thee is all fulness, From thee all +sufficiency, By thee is all acceptance. Thou art companie enough, and +comfort enough; Thou art my King, be also my Prophet and my Priest. +Rule me, teach me, pray in me, for me; and be thou ever with me._ + +_The single wrestlings of_ Jacob _prevailed with thee in that sacred +Duel, when he had none to second him but thy selfe; who didst assist +him with power to overcome thee, and by a welcome violence to wrest a +blessing from thee._ + +_O look on me thy servant, in infinite mercy, whom thou didst once +blesse with the joynt and sociated Devotion of others, whose servency +might inflame the coldnesse of my affections towards thee: when +wee went to meet in thy House with the voice of joy and gladnesse, +worshipping thee in the unity of spirits, and with the bond of peace._ + +_O forgive the neglect, and not improving of those happy +opportunities._ + +_It is now thy pleasure that I should be as a Pelican in the +wildernesse, as a Sparrow on the house top, and as a coale scattered +from all those pious glowings and devout reflections, which might +best kindle, preserve, and increase the holy fire of thy Graces on +the Altar of my heart, whence the sacrifices of prayers and incense of +praises might be duly offered up to thee._ + +_Yet, O thou that breakest not the bruised reed nor quenchest the +smoaking flax, do not despise the weakness of my prayers, nor the +smotherings of my soul in this uncomfortable loannesse to which I am +constrained by some mens uncharitable denials of those helps, which I +much want, and no lesse desire._ + +_O let the hardness of their hearts occasion the softnings of mine +to thee, and for them. Let their hatred kindle my love, let their +unreasonable denials of my religious desires the more excite my +prayers to thee: Let their inexorable deafnesse incline thine ear to +me, who art a God easie to be intreated; thine ear is not heavie, that +it cannot, nor thy heart hard, that it will not hear, nor thy hand +shortned, that it cannot help me thy desolate Suppliant._ + +_Thou permittest men to deprive me of those outward means which thou +hast appointed in thy Church; but they cannot debarre me from the +communion of that inward grace, which thou alone breathest into humble +hearts._ + +_O make me such, and thou wilt teach me, thou wilt hear me, thou wilt +help me: The broken and contrite heart I know thou wilt not despise: +Thou, O Lord canst at once make me thy temple thy Priest, thy +Sacrifice, and thine Altar; while from an humble heart I (alone) daily +offer up in Holy Meditations, fervent Prayers, and unfeigned Tears, my +Self to thee; who preparest me for thee, dwellest in me and acceptest +of me._ + +_Thou, O Lord, didst cause by secret supplies and miraculous +infusions, that the handful of meal in the vessel should not spend, +nor the little oyl in the cruise fail the widow, during the time of +drought and dearth._ + +_O look on my soul, which as a widow, is now desolate and forsaken: +Let not those saving truths I have formerly learned now fail my +memory; nor the sweet effusions of thy Spirit, which I have sometime +felt, now be wanting to my heart in this famine of ordinary and +wholsom food for the refreshing of my soul._ + +_Which yet I had rather chuse then to feed from those hands who mingle +my bread with ashes, and my wine with gall, rather tormenting, then +teaching me; whose mouths are proner to bitter reproaches of me, then +to hearty prayers for me._ + +_Thou knowest, O Lord of truth, how oft they wrest thy holy Scriptures +to my destruction, (which are clear for their subjection, and my +preservation) O let it not be to their damnation._ + +_Thou knowest how some men (under colour of long prayers) have sought +to devour the houses of their Brethren, their King, and their God. O +let not those mens balms break my head, nor their Cordials oppress my +heart, I will evermore pray against their wickedness._ + +_From the poyson under their tongues, from the snares of their lips, +from the fire, and the swords of their words ever deliver me, O Lord, +and all those loyal and religious hearts, who desire and delight in +the prosperity of my soul, and who seek by their prayers to relieve +this sadness and solitude of thy servant, O my King and my God._ + + * * * * * + + + + +25. Penitential Meditations and Vows in the Kings solitude at +_Holmby_. + + +_Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my Meditation, and hearken to +the voyce of my cry, my King and my God, for unto thee will I pray._ + +_I said in my haste, I am cast out of the sight of thine eyes; +nevertheless, thou hearest the voyce of my supplication, when I cry +unto thee._ + +_If thou, Lord, shouldst be extream to mark what is done amiss, +who can abide it? But there is mercy with thee, that thou mayest be +feared; therefore shall sinners flie unto thee._ + +_I acknowledg my sins before thee, which have the aggravation of my +condition; the eminencie of my place, adding weight to my offences._ + +_Forgive, I beseech thee, my personal, and my peoples sins; which are +so far mine, as I have not improved the power thou gavest me, to thy +glorie, and my Subjects good: Thou hast now brought me from the glorie +and freedom of a King, to be a Prisoner to my own Subjects. Justlie, +O Lord, as to thy over-ruling hand, because in many things I have +rebelled against thee._ + +_Though thou hast restrained my person, yet enlarg my heart to thee, & +thy grace towards me._ + +_I come far short of_ Davids __pietie; yet since I may equal Davids +_afflictions, give me also the comforts, and the sure mercies of_ +David. + +_Let the penitent sense I have of my sins, be an evidence to me, that +thou hast pardoned them._ + +_Let not the evils, which I and my Kingdoms have suffered seem little +unto thee, though thou hast not punished us according to our sins._ + +_Turn thee (O Lord) unto me; have mercy upon me, for I am desolate and +afflicted._ + +_The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my +troubles._ + +_Hast thou forgotten to be gracious, and shut up thy loving kindness +in displeasure?_ + +_O remember thy compassions of old, and thy loving kindesses, which +have been for many generations._ + +_I had utterly fainted, if I had not believed to see thy goodnesse in +the land of the living._ + +_Let not the sins of our prosperitie deprive us of the benefit of thy +afflictions._ + +_Let this fiery triall consume the drosse which in long peace and +plentie we had contracted._ + +_Though thou continuest miseries, yet withdraw not thy grace; what is +wanting of prosperitie, make up in patience and repentance._ + +_And if thy anger be not to be yet turned away, but thy hand of +Justice must be stretched out still: Let it, I beseech thee, be +against me, and my Fathers house; as for these sheep, what have they +done?_ + +_Let my sufferings satiate the malice of mine, and thy Churches +enemies._ + +_But let their crueltie never exceed the measure of my charitie._ + +_Banish from me all thoughts of Revenge, that I may not lose the +reward, nor thou the glorie of my patience._ + +_As thou givest me an heart to forgive them, so I beseech thee, do +thou forgive what they have done against thee and me._ + +_And now, O Lord, as thou hast given me an heart to pray unto thee; so +hear and accept this Vow which I make before thee._ + +_If thou wilt in mercie remember Me, and my Kingdoms; In continuing +the light of thy Gospel, and settling thy true Religion among us:_ + +_In restoring to us the benefits of the Laws, and the due execution of +Justice:_ + +_In suppressing the many schismes in Church, and Factions in State:_ + +_If thou wilt restore me and mine to the Ancient rights and glory of +my Predecessors:_ + +_If thou wilt turn the hearts of my people to thy self in Pietie, to +me in Loyaltie, and to one another in Charitie:_ + +_If thou wilt quench the flames, and withdraw the fewell of these +Civill Wars:_ + +_If thou wilt bless us with the freedom of Publike Counsels, and +deliver the Honour of Parliaments from the insolency of the vulgar:_ + +_If thou wilt keep me from the great offence of enacting any thing +against my Conscience: and especially for consenting to sacrilegious +rapines, and spoilings of thy Church:_ + +_If thou wilt restore me to a capacity to glorifie thee in doing good, +both to the Church and State:_ + +_Then shall my soul praise thee, and Magnifie thy name before my +people._ + +_Then shall thy glorie be dearer to me then my Crown; and the +advancement of true Religion both in puritie and power be my chiefest +care._ + +_Then will I rule my People with justice, and my Kingdoms with +equity:_ + +_To thy more immediate hand shal I ever own as the rightfull +succession, so the mercifull restauration of my Kingdoms, and the +glorie of them._ + +_If thou wilt bring me again with Peace safetie and honour, to my +chiefest City and my Parliament:_ + +_If thou wilt again put the Sword of Justice into my hand to punish +and protect:_ + +_Then will I make all the world to see, and my very Enemies to enjoy +the benefit of this Vow and resolution of Christian charitie, which I +now make unto thee O Lord._ + +_As I do freely pardon for Christ's sake those that have offended me +in any kind; so my hand shall never be against any man to revenge what +is past, in regard of any particular injurie done to me._ + +_We have been mutually punished in our unnaturall divisions, for thy +sake O Lord, and for the love of my Redeemer have I purposed this +in my heart, That I will use all means in the waies of amnesty, and +indempnitie; which may most fullie remove all feares, and burie all +jealousies in forgetfulnesse._ + +_Let thy mercies be towards me and mine, as my resolutions of Truth +and Peace are towards my people._ + +_Hear my praier O Lord, which goeth not out of feigned lips._ + +_Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my prayer, or taken his +mercy from me._ + +_O my soul commit thy way to the Lord, trust in him and he shall bring +it to pass_. + +_But if thou wilt not restore me and mine, what am I that I should +charge thee foolishly?_ + +_Thou, ô Lord hast given, and thou hast taken, Blessed be thy name._ + +_May my people and thy Church be happie if not by me, yet without me._ + + * * * * * + + + + +26. _Upon the Armies surprisall of the King at_ Holmby, _and the +ensuing distractions in the two Houses, the Army, and the City._ + + +What part God will have me now to act or suffer in this new and +strange scene of affaires, I am not much solicitous; some little +practise will serve that man, who only seeks to represent a part of +honesty and honour. + +This surprize of me tels the world, that a KING cannot be so low, but +he is considerable, adding weight to that party where he appears. + +This motion, like others of the Times, seems excentrique and +irregular, yet not well to be resisted or quieted: Better swim down +such a stream, then in vain to strive against it. + +These are but the struglings of those twins, which lately one womb +enclosed, the younger striving to prevail against the elder; what the +Presbyterians have hunted after, the Independents now seek to catch +for themselves. + +So impossible it is for lines to be drawn from the center, and not to +divide from each other, so much the wider, by how much they go farther +from the point of union. + +That the Builders of Babel should from division fall to confusion, is +no wonder; but for those that pretend to build Jerusalem, to divide +their tongues and hands, is but an ill Omen; and sounds too like the +fury of those Zealots, whose intestine bitterness and divisions were +the greatest occasion of the last fatall destruction of that Citie. + +Well may I change my Keepers and Prison, but not my captive condition, +onely with this hope of bettering, that those who are so much +professed Patrons for the Peoples Liberties, cannot be utterly against +the Liberty of their KING; what they demand for their own Consciences, +they cannot in Reason deny to mine. + +In this they seem more ingenuous, then the Presbyterian rigour, who +sometimes complaining of exacting their conformity to laws, are +become the greatest Exactours of other mens submission to their novel +injunctions, before they are stamped with the Authority of Laws, which +they cannot well have without my Consent. + +'Tis a great argument, that the Independents think themselves +manumitted from their Rivals service, in that they carry on a +businesse of such consequence, as the assuming my Person into the +Armies custody, without any commission, but that of their own will +and power. Such as will thus adventure on a KING, must not be thought +over-modest, or timerous to carry on any designe they have a mind to. + +Their next motion menaces, and scares both the two Houses and +the City: which soon after acting over again that former part of +Tumultuary motions, (never questioned, punished or repented) must now +suffer for both; and see their former sin in the glasse of the present +terrours and distractions. + +No man is so blinde as not to see herein the hand of divine Justice; +They that by Tumults first occasioned the raising of Armies, must now +be chastned by their own Army for new Tumults. + +So hardly can men be content with one sin, but add sin to sin, till +the later punish the former; such as were content to see Me and many +Members of both Houses driven away by the first unsuppressed Tumults, +are now forced to flie to an Armie or defend themselves against them. + +But who can unfold the riddle of some mens justice? The Members of +both Houses who at first withdrew (as my Self was forced to do) from +the rudeness of the Tumults, were counted Deserters, and outed of +their places in Parliament. + +Such as stayed then, and enjoyed the benefit of the Tumults, were +asserted for the onely Parliament-men: now the Fliers from, and +Forsakers of their Places, carry the Parliamentary power along with +them; complain highly against the Tumults, and vindicate themselves by +an Armie: such as remained and kept their stations, are looked upon as +Abettors of Tumultuary Insolencies, and Betrayers of the Freedom and +Honour of Parliament. + +Thus is Power above all Rule, Order, and Law; where men look more to +present Advantages then their Consciences, and the unchangeable +rules of Justice; while they are Judges of others, they are forced to +condemn themselves. + +Now the plea against Tumults holds good, the Authours and Abettors of +them are guiltie of prodigious insolencies; when as before they were +counted as Friends, and necessary Assistants. + +I see Vengeance pursues and overtakes (as the Mice and Rats are said +to have done the Bishop in _Germanie_) them that thought to have +escaped, and fortified themselves most impregnably against it, both by +their multitude and compliance. + +Whom the Laws cannot, God will punish by their own crimes and hands. + +I cannot but observe this divine Justice, yet with sorrow and pity; +for, I always wished so well to Parliament and Citie, that I was +sorry to see them do or suffer any thing unworthy such great and +considerable Bodies in this Kingdom. + +I was glad to see them onely scared and humbled, not broken by that +shaking: I never had so ill a thought of those Cities, as to despair +of their Loyaltie to Me; which mistakes might eclipse, but I never +beleeved malice had quite put out. + +I pray God the storm be yet wholly passed over them, upon whom I look +as Christ did sometime over _Jerusalem_, as objects of my prayers and +tears, with compassionate grief, foreseeing those severer scatterings +which will certainly befall such as wantonly refuse to be gathered +to their duty: fatall blindnesse frequently attending and punishing +wilfulnesse, so that men shall not be able at last to prevent their +sorrows, who would not timely repent of their sins; nor shall they +be suffered to enjoy the comforts, who securely neglect the counsels +belonging to their peace. They will finde that brethren in iniquitie +are not far from becoming insolent Enemies, there being nothing harder +then to keep ill men long in one minde. + +Nor is it possible to gain a fair period for those notions which go +rather in a round and circle of fansie, then in a right line of reason +tending to the Law, the onely center of publike consistency; whither I +pray God at last bring all sides. + +Which will easily be done, when we shall fully see how much more +happie we are, to be subject to the known Laws, then to the various +wils of any men, seem they never so plausible at first. + +Vulgar compliance with any illegal and extravagant wayes, like +violent motions in nature, soon grows weary of itself, and ends in a +refractory sullennesse: Peoples rebounds are oft in their faces, who +first put them upon those violent strokes. + +For the Army (which is so far excusable, as they act according to +Souldiers principles, and interests, demanding pay and indemnity) I +think it necessary, in order to the publike peace, that they should be +satisfied, as far as is just; no man being more prone to consider them +then my Self: though they have fought against Me, yet I cannot but so +far esteem that valour and gallantry they have sometime shewed, as to +wish I may never want such men to maintain my Self, my Laws, and my +Kingdoms, in such a peace, as wherein they may enjoy their share and +proportion, as much as any men. + + +_But thou, O Lord, who art perfect Unity in a sacred Trinity, in mercy +behold those whom thy Justice hath divided._ + +_Deliver me from the strivings of my People, and make Me to see how +much they need my prayers and pity, who agreed to fight against me, +and yet are now ready to fight against one another, to the continuance +of my Kingdoms distractions._ + +_Discover to all sides the ways of peace from which they have swerved: +which consists not in the divided wils of Parties, but in the point +and due observation of the Laws._ + +_Make me willing to go whither thou wilt lead me by thy providence; +and be thou ever with me, that I may see thy constancy in the worlds +varieti and changes._ + +_Make me even such as thou wouldst have Me, that I may at last enjoy +that safetie and tranquillity which thou alone canst give Me._ + +_Divert, I pray thee, O Lord, thy heavie wrath justly hanging over +those populous Cities, whose plenty is prone to add fewel to their +luxurie, their wealth to make them wanton, their multitudes tempting +them to securitie, and their securitie exposing them to unexpected +miseries._ + +_Give them eys to see, hearts to consider, wils to embrace, and +courage to act those things which belong to thy glorie, and the +publique Peace, lest their calamitie come upon them as an armed man._ + +_Teach them that they cannot want Enemies who abound in sin; nor +shall they be long un-disarmed and un-destroyed, who with an high hand +persisting to fight against Thee, and the cleer convictions of their +own Consciences, fight more against themselves, then ever they did +against Me._ + +_Their sins exposing them to thy Justice, their riches to others +injuries, their number to Tumults, and Tumults to confusion._ + +_Though they have with much forwardnesse helped to destroy Me; yet let +not my fall be their ruine._ + +_Let Me not so much consider, hither what they have done, or I have +suffered [chiefly at first, by them] as to forget to imitate my +crucified Redeemer, to plead their ignorance for their pardon; and in +my dying extremities to pray to Thee, O Father, to forgive them, for +they know not what they did._ + +_The tears they have denied me in my saddest condition, give them +grace to bestow upon themselves; who the lesse they were for me, the +more cause they have to weep for themselves._ + +_O let not my blood be upon them and their Children, whom the fraud +and faction of some, not the malice of all, have excited to crucifie +me._ + +_But thou, O Lord, canst and wilt (as thou didst my Redeemer) both +exalt and perfect me by my sufferings, which have more in them of thy +Mercie, then of mans Crueltie, or thy own Justice._ + + * * * * * + + + + +27. _To the Prince of_ Wales. + + +Son, If these Papers with some others, wherein I have set down the +private reflections of my Conscience, and my most impartiall thoughts +touching the chief passages, which have been most remarkable or +disputed in my late troubles, come to your hands, to whom they are +chiefly designed; they may be so far usefull to you, as to state your +judgement aright in what hath passed; whereof a pious is the best use +can be made; and they may also give you some directions, how to remedy +the present distempers, and prevent (if God will) the like for time to +come. + +It is some kind of deceiving and lessening the injury of my long +restraint, when I find my leisure and solitude have produced something +worthy of my self, and usefull to you; That neither You nor any other +may hereafter measure my Cause by the Successe, nor my judgment of +things by my Misfortunes, which I count the greater by far, because +they have so far lighted upon you and some others whom I have most +cause to love as well as my self, and of whose unmerited sufferings I +have a greater sense then of Mine own. + +[Illustration: Natus May 29 An^o 1630 Ćtatis suć] + +But this advantage of wisdom You have above most Princes, that You +have begun, and now spent some years of discretion, in the experience +of troubles, and exercise of patience, wherein Piety, and all Vertues, +both Morall and Politicall, are commonly better planted to a thriving +(as trees set in winter) then in the warmth, and serenity of times, +or amidst those delights, which usually attend Princes Courts in times +of peace and plenty, which are prone, either to root up all plants of +true Vertue and Honour, or to be contented only with some leaves, and +withering formalities of them, without any reall fruits, such as tend +to the publique good, for which Princes should alwaies remember they +are born, and by providence designed. + +The evidence of which different education the holy Writ affords us in +the contemplation of _David_ and _Rehoboam_: The one prepared by +many afflictions for a flourishing Kingdom, the other softned by the +unparaleld prosperity of Solomons Court, and so corrupted to the great +diminution, both for Peace, Honor, and Kingdom, by those flatteries, +which are as unseparable from prosperous Princes, as Flies are from +fruit in summer; whom adversitie, like cold weather, drives away. + +I had rather you should be _Charles le Bon_, then _le Grand_, good +then great. I hope God hath designed you to be both, having so early +put you into that exercise of his Graces, and gifts bestowed upon you, +which may best weed out all vitious inclinations, and dispose you to +those Princely endowments, and employments, which will most gain the +love, and intend the welfare of those, over whom God shall place you. + +With God I would have you begin and end, who is King of Kings; the +Soveraign disposer of the Kingdomes of the world, who pulleth down +one, and setteth up another. + +The best Government, and highest Soveraignty you can attain to, is, to +be subject to him, that the Scepter of his Word and Spirit, may rule +in your heart. + +The true glory of Princes consists in advancing Gods Glory in the +maintenance of true Religion, and the Churches good; Also in the +dispensation of civil Power, with Justice and Honour to the publique +peace. + +Pietie will make you prosperous; at least it will keep you from being +miserable; nor is he much a loser, that loseth all, yet saveth his own +soul at last. + +To which Center of true happiness, God, I trust, hath and will +graciously direct all these black lines of affliction, which he hath +been pleased to draw on me, and by which he hath [I hope] drawn me +nearer to himself. You have already tasted of that Cup whereof I have +liberally drank, which I look upon as Gods Physick, having that in +healthfulness which it wants in pleasure. + +Above all, I would have you, as I hope you are already, wel-grounded +and setled in your Religion: The best profession of which, I have +ever esteemed that of the church of England, in which you have been +educated; yet I would have your own Judgment and Reason now seal +to that sacred bond which education hath written, that it may +be judiciously your owne Religion, and not other mens custome or +tradition, which you profess. + +In this I charge you to persevere, as comming nearest to Gods Word +for Doctrine, and to the primitive examples for Government, with some +little amendment, which I have otherwhere expressed and often offered, +though in vain. Your fixation in matters of Religion will not be more +necessary for your soul's then your Kingdoms peace, when God shall +bring you to them. + +For I have observed, that the Devill of Rebellion, doth commonly turn +himself into an Angel of Reformation; and the old Serpent can pretend +new Lights; when some mens Consciences accuse them for Sedition and +Faction, they stop its mouth with the name and noise of Religion; when +Pietie pleads for peace and patience, they cry out Zeal. + +So that, unless in this point You be well setled, you shall never want +temptations to destroy you and yours, under pretensions of reforming +matters of Religion; for that seems even to worst men, as the best and +most auspicious beginning of their worst designs. + +Where, besides the Noveltie which is taking enough with the Vulgar, +every one hath an affectation, by seeming forward to an outward +Reformation of Religion, to be thought zealous, hoping to cover those +irreligious deformities, wherto they are conscious, by a severity of +censuring other mens opinions or actions. + +Take heed of abetting any Factions, or applying to any publick +Discriminations in matters of Religion, contrary to what is in your +Judgement and the Church well setled: your partiall adhering, as head, +to any one side gaines you not so great advantages in some mens hearts +(who are prone to be of their kings Religion) as it loseth you in +others, who think themselves, and their profession first despised, +then persecuted by you. Take such a course as may either with calmness +& charity quite remove the seeming differences and offences, by +impartiality, or so order affairs in point of power that you shal not +need to fear or flatter any faction; for if ever you stand in need of +them, or must stand to their curtesie, you are undon: The Serpent will +devour the Dove: you may never expect less of Loyaltie, Justice or +humanity, then from those who engage into religious Rebellion: Their +interest is always made Gods; under the colours of piety, ambitious +policies march, not onely with greatest security, but applause, as to +the Populacy; you may hear from them _Jacob's_ voice, but you shall +feel they have _Esau_'s hands. + +Nothing seemed less considerable then the Presbyterian Faction in +_England_, for many yeers; so complyant they were to publique order: +nor indeed was their Party great, either in Church or State, as to +mens judgements: But as soon as discontents drave men into Sidings (as +ill humors fall to the disaffected part, which causes inflammations) +so did all, at first, who affected any novelties, adhere to that side, +as the most remarkable and specious note of difference (then) in point +of Religion. + +All the lesser Factions at first were officious servants to Presbytery +their great Master: till time and military success discovering to each +their peculiar advantages, invited them to part stakes, and leaving +the joynt stock of uniform Religion, pretended each to drive for +their Party, the trade of profits and preferments, to the breaking and +undoing not onely of the Church and State, but even of Presbytery it +self, which seemed and hoped at first to have engrossed all. + +Let nothing seem little or despicable to you, in matters which concern +Religion, and the Churches peace, so as to neglect a speedy reforming +and effectual suppressing Errors, and Schisms, which seem at first but +as a hand-bredth, but by seditious Spirits as by strong winds are soon +made to cover and darken the whole Heaven. + +When you have done justice to God, your own soul and his Church, in +the profession and preservation both of truth and unitie in Religion. +The next main hinge on which your prosperitie will depend, and move, +is, That of civil Justice, wherein the setled Laws of these Kingdoms, +to which you are rightly heir, are the most excellent rules you +can govern by; which by an admirable temperament give very much to +Subjects industry, libertie, and happiness; and yet reserve enough +to the Majestie and Prerogative of any King, who owns his people +as Subjects, not as slaves; whose subjection, as it preserves their +propertie, peace, and safetie; so it will never diminish your Rights, +nor their ingenuous Liberties; which consists in the enjoyment of +the fruits of their industry, and the benefit of those Laws to which +themselves have consented. + +Never charge your Head with such a Crown, as shall by its heaviness +oppress the whole body, the weakness of whose parts cannot return +any thing of strength, honor, or safety, to the Head, but a necessary +debilitation and ruine. + +Your Prerogative is best shewed, and exercised in remitting, rather +then exacting the rigor of the Laws, there being nothing worse, then +legal tyrannie. + +In these two points, the preservation of established Religion and +Laws, I may (without vanity) turn the reproach of my sufferings, as to +the worlds censure, into the honor of a kinde of Martyrdom, as to the +testimony of my own Conscience. The troublers of my Kingdoms having +nothing else to object against me but this, That I prefer Religion, +and Laws established, before those alterations they propounded. + +And so indeed I do, and ever shall, till I am convinced by better +Arguments, then what hitherto have been chiefly used towards me, +Tumults, Armies, and Prisons. + +I cannot yet learn that lesson, nor I hope ever will you, That it is +safe for a King to gratifie any Faction with the perturbation of the +Laws, in which is wrapt up the publike Interest, and the good of the +communitie. + +How God will deal with me, as to the removal of these pressures, and +indignities, which his justice by the very unjust hands of some of my +Subjects, hath been pleased to lay upon me, I cannot tell: nor am I +much solicitous what wrong I suffer from men, while I retain in my +soul, what I believe is right before God. + +I have offered all for Reformation and Safety, that in Reason, Honor +and Conscience, I can; reserving onely what I cannot consent unto, +without an irreparable injury to my own soul, the Church, and +my people, and to you also; as the next and undoubted Heir of my +Kingdoms. + +To which, if the divine Providence, to whom no difficulties are +insuperable, shall in his due time after my decease bring you, as I +hope he will: My Counsel and Charge to you, is, That you seriously +consider the former real or objected miscarriages, which might +occasion my troubles, that you may avoyd them. + +Never repose so much upon any mans single counsel, fidelity, and +discretion, in managing affairs of the first magnitude, (that is, +matters of Religion and Justice) as to create in your self, or others, +a diffidence of your own judgment, which is likely to be always more +constant and impartial to the interest of your Crown and Kingdom then +any mans. + +Next, beware of exasperating any Factions by the crossness, and +asperity of some mens passions, humors, or private opinions, imployed +by you, grounded onely upon the differences in lesser matters, which +are but the skirts and suburbs of Religion. + +Wherein a charitable connivence and Christian toleration often +dissipates their strength, whom rougher opposition fortifies; and puts +the despised and oppressed party, into such Combinations, as may +most enable them to get a full revenge on those they count their +Persecutors, who are commonly assisted by that vulgar commiseration, +which attends all, that are said to suffer under the notion of +Religion. + +Provided the differences amount not to an insolent opposition of Laws, +and Government, or Religion established, as to the essentials of them, +such motions and minings are intolerable. + +Alwaies keep up solid piety, and those fundamental Truths (which mend +both hearts and lives of men) with impartial Favour and Justice. + +Take heed that outward circumstances and formalities of Religion +devoure not all, or the best incouragements of learning, industry, and +piety; but with an equal eye and impartial hand, distribute Favours +and Rewards to all men, as you find them for their real goodnesse both +in abilities and fidilitie worthy and capable of them. + +This will be sure to gain you the hearts of the best and the most +too: who though they be not good themselves, yet are glad to see the +severer ways of vertue at any time sweetned by temporall rewards. + +I have, You see, conflicted with different and opposite Factions +(for so I must needs call and count all those that act not in any +conformity to the Laws established in Church and State;) no sooner +have they by force subdued what they counted their common Enemy (that +is, all those that adhered to the Laws, and to Me) and are secured +from that fear, but they are divided to so high a rivalry, as sets +them more at defiance against each other, then against their first +Antagonists. + +Time will dissipate all Factions, when once the rough horns of private +mens covetous and ambitious designes shall discover themselves; +which were at first wrapt up and hidden under the soft and smooth +pretensions of Religion, Reformation and Liberty. As the Wolf is not +less cruell, so he wil be more justly hated, when he shall appear no +better then a Wolf under Sheeps cloathing. + +But as for the seduced Train of the Vulgar, who in their simplicity +follow those disguises; My Charge and Counsell to You, is, That as you +need no palliations for any Designes, (as other men) so that you study +really to exceed [in true and constant demonstrations of goodness, +piety, and vertue towards the people] even all those men that make the +greatest noise and ostentations of Religion; so you shall neither fear +any detection (as they do who have but the face and mask of goodness) +nor shall you frustrate the just expectations of your people; who +cannot in Reason promise themselves so much good from any Subjects +novelties, as from the vertuous constancy of their King. + +When these mountains of congealed Factions shall by the Sun-shine +of Gods Mercy, and the splendor of your Vertues, be thawed and +dissipated; and the abused Vulgar shall have learned, that none are +greater Oppressours of their Estates, Liberties, and Consciences, then +those men that intitle themselves The Patrons and Vindicators of them, +only to usurp power over them: Let then no passion betray You to any +study of revenge upon those, whose own sin and folly will sufficiently +punish them in due time. + +But as soon as the forked arrow of factious emulations is drawn out, +use all Princely arts and clemency to heal the wounds; that the smart +of the cure may not equall the anguish of the hurt. + +I have offered Acts of Indemnity and Oblivion to so great a latitude, +as may include all, that can but suspect themselves to be any way +obnoxious to the Laws; and which might serve to exclude al future +jealousies and insecurities. + +I would have You alwaies propense to the same way, when ever it shall +be desired and accepted, let it be granted, not only as an Act of +State-policie and necessitie, but of Christian charitie and choice. + +It is all I have now left Me, a power to forgive those that have +deprived Me of all; and I thank God, I have a heart to do it, and joy +as much in this grace, which God hath given Me, as in all My former +enjoyments; for this is a greater argument of Gods love to Me, then +any prosperitie can be. + +Be confident (as I am) that the most of all sides, who have done +amiss, have done so, not out of malice, but mis-information, or +mis-apprehension of things. + +None will be more loyal and faithful to Me and You, then those +Subjects, who sensible of their Errors, and our Injuries, will feel +in their own Souls most vehement motives to repentance, and earnest +desires to make some reparations for their former defects. + +As Your qualitie sets You beyond any Duel with any Subject, so +the Nobleness of Your mind must raise You above the meditating any +revenge, or executing Your anger upon the many. + +The more conscious You shall be to Your Own Merits upon Your people, +the more prone You will be to expect all love and loyalty from them, +and to inflict no punishment upon them for former miscarriages: You +will have more inward complacency in pardoning one, then in punishing +a thousand. + +This I write to You, not despairing of Gods Mercy, and My Subjects +Affections towards You, both which, I hope You will study to deserve, +yet We cannot merit of God, but by his own mercy. + +If God shall see fit to restore Me, and You after Me, to those +enjoyments, which the Laws have assigned to Us, and no Subjects +without an high degree of guilt and sin can devest Us of, then may I +have better opportunity, when I shall be so happy to see You in peace, +to let You more fully understand the things that belong to Gods glory, +Your own honor, and the Kingdoms peace. + +But if You never see My face again, and God will have me buried in +such a barbarous Imprisonment & obscurity, [which the perfecting some +mens designs requires] wherin few hearts that love Me are permitted +to exchange a word, or a look with Me; I do require and entreat You as +Your Father, and Your KING that you never suffer your heart to +receive the least check against or disaffection from the true Religion +established in the Church of _England_. + +I tell you I have tried it, and after much search, and many disputes, +have concluded it to be the best in the world, not only in the +Community, as Christian, but also in the speciall notion, as Reformed, +keeping the middle way between the pomp of superstitious Tyranny, and +the meanness of fantastique Anarchy. + +Not but that (the draught being excellent as to the main, both for +Doctrine and Government, in the Church of _England_) some lines, as +in very good figures, may happily need some sweetning, or polishing, +which might here have easily been done by a safe and gentle hand: +if some mens precipitancy had not violently demanded such rude +alterations, as would have quite destroyed all the beauty and +proportions of the whole. + +The scandall of the late Troubles, which some may object, and urge +to you against the Protestant Religion established in _England_, is +easily answered to them, or your own thoughts in this; That scarce +any one who hath been a Beginner, or an active Prosecutor of this late +Warr against the Church, the Laws, and me, either was, or is a true +Lover, Embracer or practiser of the Protestant Religion established +in _England_ which neither gives such rules, nor ever before set such +examples. + +'Tis true, some heretofore had the boldness to present threatning +Petitions to their Princes and Parliaments, which others of the same +Faction (but of worse Spirits) have now put in execution: but let not +counterfeit and disorderly Zeal abate your value and esteem of true +piety; both of them are to be known by their fruits; the sweetness +of the Vine and Fig-tree is not be despised, though the brambles and +thorns should pretend to bear figs and grapes, thereby to rule over +the trees. + +Nor would I have you to entertain any aversation or dislike of +Parliaments, which in their right constitution with freedom and honour +will never injure or diminish your greatnesse; but will rather be as +interchangings of love, loyaltie and confidence betwen a Prince and +his People. + +Nor would the events of this black Parliament have been other then +such (however much biassed by Factions in the Elections) if it +had been preserved from the insolencies of popular dictates, and +tumultuary impressions: The sad effects of which will no doubt make +all Parliaments after this, more cautious to preserve that Freedom +and Honour which belong to such Assemblies (when once they have +fully shaken off this yoak of Vulgar encroachment) since the publick +interest consists in the mutual and common good both of Prince and +People. + +Nothing can be more happie for all, then in fair, grave, and +honourable waies to contribute their Councels in Common, enacting all +things by publick consent, without Tyrannie or Tumults. We must not +starve our selves, because some men have surfeited of wholesome food. + +And if neither I, nor you, be ever restored to our Rights, but God +in his severest justice, will punish My Subjects with continuance in +their sin, and suffer them to be deluded with the prosperity of their +wickednesse; I hope God will give Me and You, that grace, which will +teach and enable Us, to want, as well as to wear a Crown, which is +not worth taking up, or enjoying upon sordid, dishonourable, and +irreligious terms. + +Keep you to true Principles of Piety, vertue, and honour, You shall +never want a Kingdom. + +A principal Point of Your honour will consist in Your referring all +respect, love, and protection to Your Mother, My Wife; who hath many +waies deserved well of Me, and chiefly in this, That having been +a means to bless me with so many hopeful Children; (all which, with +their Mother, _I_ recommend to Your love and care) Shee hath been +content with incomparable magnanimity and patience to suffer both for, +and with Me, and You. + +My Prayer to God almightie is, (whatever becomes of me, who am _I_ +thank God, wrapt up and fortified in my own innocency, and his Grace) +that he would be pleased to make You an Anchor, or Harbour rather, to +these tossed and weather-beaten Kingdoms; a Repairer by Your wisdom, +justice, piety, and valour, of what the folly and wickednesse of some +men have so far ruined, as to leave nothing intire in Church or State, +to the Crown, the Nobility, the Clergie, or the Commons, either as to +Laws, Liberties, Estates, Order, Honour, Conscience or lives. + +When they have destroyed me, (for I know not how far God may +permit the malice and crueltie of my Enemies to proceed, and such +apprehensions some mens words and actions have already given me) as +_I_ doubt not but my bloud will cry aloud for vengeance to Heaven: +so I beseech God not to pour out his wrath upon the generality of the +people, who have either deserted me, or engaged against me, through +the artifice and hypocrisie of their Leaders, whose inward horrour +will be their first Tormentor, nor will they escape exemplary +judgements. + +For those that loved me, I pray God, they may have no miss of me, +when I am gone; so much I wish and hope, that all good Subjects may be +satisfied with the blessings of your presence and vertues. + +For those that repent of any defects in their duty toward me, as I +freely forgive them in the word of a Christian KING, so I beleeve you +will find them truly Zealous, to repay with interest that loyalty and +love to you, which was due to me. + +In summe, what good I intended, do you perform, when God shall give +you power; much good I have offered, more I purposed to Church and +State, if times had been capable of it. + +The deception will soon vanish, and the Vizards will fall off apace; +This mask of Religion on the face of Rebellion (for so it now plainly +appears, since my Restraint and cruell usage, that they fought not +for me, as was pretended) wil not long serve to hide some mens +deformities. + +Happy times I hope, attend you, wherein your Subjects [by their +miseries] will have learned, That Religion to their God, and Loyalty +to their King, cannot be parted without both their sin and their +infelicity. I pray God bless you and establish your Kingdoms in +righteousness, your Soul in true Religion, and your honour in the love +of God and your people. + +And if God will have disloyalty perfected by my destruction; let my +Memory ever, with my Name, live in you; as of your Father, that loves +you, and once a KING of three flourishing Kingdoms; whom God thought +fit to honour, not only with the Scepter and Government of them, but +also with the suffering many indignities and an untimely death for +them; while I studied to preserve the Rights of the Church, the Power +of the Laws, the Honour of my Crown, the Priviledge of Parliaments, +the Liberties of my People, and my own Conscience, which, I thank God, +is dearer to me then a thousand Kingdoms. + +I know God can, I hope he yet will restore me to my Rights. I cannot +despair either of his mercy, or of my peoples love and pitie. + +At worst, I trust I shall but go before you to a better Kingdom, which +God hath prepared for me, and me for it, through my Saviour Jesus +Christ, to whose mercies I commend You and all mine. + +Farewell, till we meet, if not on Earth, yet in Heaven. + + * * * * * + + + + +28. _Meditations upon Death, after the Votes of Non-Addresses, and +His_ Majesties _closer Imprisonment in_ Carisbrook-Castle. + + +As I have leisure enough, so I have cause more then enough, to +meditate upon, and prepare for My Death: for I know, there are but, +few steps between the Prisons and Graves of Princes. + +It is Gods indulgence which gives me the space, but Mans cruelty that +gives Me the sad occasions for these thoughts. + +For, besides the common burthen of mortalitie, which lies upon Me, +as a Man; I now bear the heavy load of other mens ambitions, fears, +jealousies, and cruel passions, whose envie or enmity against Me, +makes their own lives seem deadly to them, while I enjoy any part of +Mine. + +I thank God, My prosperitie made Me not wholly a stranger to the +contemplations of mortalitie. + +Those are never unseasonable, since this is alwaies uncertain: Death +being an eclipse, which oft happeneth as well in cleer as cloudy +dayes. + +But My now long and sharp adversity hath so reconciled in Me those +natural Antipathies between Life and Death, which are in all men, that +I thank God, the common terrors of it are dispelled; and the special +horrour of it, as to My particular, much allayed: for although My +Death at present may justly be represented to Me with all those +terrible aggravations, which the policy of cruel and implacable +enemies can put upon it (affaires being drawn to the very dregs +of malice) yet I bless God, I can look upon all those stings, as +unpoysonous, though sharp; since My Redeemer hath either pulled them +out, or given Me the Antidote of his Death against them, which as to +the immaturity, injustice, shame, scorn, and cruelty of it, exceeded +what ever I can fear. + +Indeed, I never did find so much, the life of Religion, the feast of +a good Conscience, and the brazen wall of a judicious integrity and +constancy, as since I came to these closer conflicts with the thoughts +of Death. + +I am not so old, as to be wearie of life; nor (I hope) so bad, as to +be either afraid to die, or ashamed to live: true, I am so afflicted, +as might make Me sometime even desire to die, if I did not consider, +That it is the greatest glory of a Christians life to _die daily_, +in conquering by a lively faith, and patient hopes of a better life, +those partiall and quotidian deaths, which kill us (as it were) +by piece-meales, and make us overlive our own fates: while we are +deprived of health, honour, liberty, power, credit, safety, or estate; +and those other comforts of dearest relations, which are as the life +of our lives. + +Though, as a KING, I think My self to live in nothing temporall so +much, as in the love and good-will of my People; for which, as I have +suffered many deaths, so I hope I am not in that point as yet wholly +dead: notwithstanding; My Enemies have used all the poyson of falsity +and violence of hostility to destroy, first the love and Loyalty, +which is in my Subjects; and then all that content of life in me, +which from these I chiefly enjoyed. + + +Indeed, they have left me but little of life, and only the husk +and shell (as it were) which their further malice and cruelty can take +from me; having bereaved me of all those worldly comforts, for which +life it self seems desirable to men. + +But, O my Soul! think not that life too long, or tedious, wherein God +gives thee any opportunities, if not to do, yet to suffer with such +Christian patience and magnanimity, in a good Cause, as are the +greatest honour of our lives, and the best improvement of our deaths. + +_I_ know that in point of true Christian valor, it argues +pusillanimity to desire to dye out of weariness of life, and a want +of that heroick greatness of Spirit which becoms a Christian in the +patient and generous sustaining those afflictions, which as shadows +necessarily attend us, while we are in this body: and which are +lessned or enlarged as the Sun of our prosperity moves higher, or +lower: whose totall absence is best recompensed with the Dew of +Heaven. + +The assaults of affliction may be terrible, like _Sampsons_ Lyon, but +they yeild much sweetness to those that dare to encounter and overcome +them; who know how to overlive the witherings of their Gourds without +discontent or peevishness, while they may yet converse with God. + +That _I_ must die as a man, is certain; that _I_ may die a King, by +the hands of my own Subjects, a violent, sodain, barbarous death; in +the strength of my years, in the midst of my Kingdoms; my Friends +and loving Subjects being helpless Spectators; my Enemies insolent +Revilers and Triumphers over me, living, dying, and dead, is so +probable in humane reason, that God hath taught me not to hope +otherwise as to mans crueltie; however, I despair not of Gods infinite +mercy. + +I know my life is the Object of the devils & wicked mens malice, but +yet under Gods sole custodie and disposal: whom I do not think to +flatter for longer life by seeming prepared to die; but I humbly +desire to depend upon him, and to submit to his will both in life and +death, in what order soever he is pleased to lay them out to me. I +confess it is not easie for me to contend with those many horrours +of Death, wherewith God suffers me to be tempted; which are equally +horrid, either in the suddennesse of a barbarous Assasination or in +those greater formalities, whereby my Enemies [being more solemnly +cruel] will, it may be, seek to adde [as those did who Crucified +Christ] the mockery of Justice, to the cruelty of malice: That I may +be destroyed, as with greater pomp and artifice, so with less pity, +will be but a necessary policie to make my Death appear as an Act of +Justice, done by subjects upon their Soveraign, who know that no Law +of God or Man invests them with any power of Judicature without me, +much lesse against me: and who, being sworn, and bound by all that is +sacred before God and man, to endeavour my preservation, must pretend +Justice to cover their perjury. + +It is, indeed, a sad fate for any man to have his Enemies to be +Accusers, Parties, and Judges; but most desperate, when this is acted +by the insolence of Subjects against their Soveraign; wherein those, +who have had the cheifest hand, and are most guilty of contriving the +publick Troubles, must by shedding my bloud, seem to wash their own +hands of that innocent bloud whereof they are now most evidently +guilty before God and Man; and I beleeve in their own Consciences too, +while they carried on unreasonable Demands, First by Tumults, after +by Armies. Nothing makes mean spirits more cowardly-cruel in managing +their usurped power against their lawful Superiours then this, the +_guilt of their unjust Usurpation_: notwithstanding those specious +& popular pretentions of Justice against Delinquents applied only to +disguise at first the monstrousnesse of their designs, who despaired, +indeed, of possessing the power and profits of the Vineyard, till the +heir whose right it is, be cast out and slain. + +With them My greatest fault must be, that I would not either destroy +My Self with the Church and State by My word, or not suffer them to do +it un-resisted by the Sword; whose covetous ambition no Concessions of +Mine could ever yet either satisfie, or abate. + +Nor is it likely they will ever think, that Kingdom of brambles which +some men seek to erect (at once weak, sharp, and fruitlesse, either +to God or man) is like to thrive till watered with the Royal bloud of +those, whose right the Kingdom is. + +Well, Gods will be done, I doubt not but my Innocencie will finde him +both my Protector and my Advocate, who is my only Judg; whom I own as +King of Kings, not onely for the eminency of his Power and Majestie +above them; but also for that singular care and protection which he +hath over them; who knows them to be exposed to as many dangers (being +the greatest patrons of Law, Justice, Order, and Religion on earth) as +there be either Men or Devils, which love confusion. + +Nor will he suffer those men long to prosper in their _Babel_, who +build it with the bones, and cement it with the bloud of their Kings. + +I am confident they will find Avengers of my death among themselves: +the injuries I have sustained from them shall be first punished by +them, who agreed in nothing so much as in opposing me. + +Their impatience to bear the loud cry of my bloud, shall make them +think no way better to expiate it, then by shedding theirs, who with +them most thirsted after mine. + +The sad confusions following my destruction, are already presaged and +confirmed to me by those I have lived to see since my troubles; in +which God alone (who only could) hath many ways pleaded my cause; not +suffering them to go unpunished, whose confederacy in sin was their +only security; who have cause to fear that God will both further +divide and by mutuall vengeance, afterward destroy them. + +My greatest conquest of death is from the power and love of Christ, +who hath swallow'd up death in the Victory of his Resurection, and the +Glory of his Ascention. + +My next comfort is, that he gives me not only the honour to imitate +his example in suffering for righteousness sake (though obscur'd by +the foulest charges of Tyranny and Injustice,) but also, that charity, +which is the noblest revenge upon, and victory over my Destroyers: By +which, I thank God, I can both forgive them and pray for them, that +God would not impute my blood to them, further then to convince them, +what need they have of Christs bloud to wash their souls from the +guilt of shedding mine. + +At present, the will of mine Enemies seems to be their only rule, +their power the measure, and their Successe the Exactor, of what they +please to call Justice, while they flatter themselves with the fancy +of their own safety by my danger, and the security of their lives +designs by My Death: forgetting, That as the greatest temptations to +sin are wrapped up in seeming prosperities, so the severest vengeances +of God are then most accomplished, when men are suffered to compleat +their wicked purposes. + +I bless God, I Pray not so much, that this bitter Cup of violent Death +may pass from Me, as that of his wrath may pass from al those, whose +hands by deserting Me, are sprinkled, or by Acting and Consenting to +My Death are embrued with My Bloud. + +The will of God hath confined, and concluded Mine; I shall have the +pleasure of Dying, without any pleasure of desired vengeance. + +This I think becomes a Christian toward his Enemies, and a King toward +His Subjects. + +They cannot deprive Me of more then I am content to lose, when God +sees fit by their hands to take it from Me; whose mercy I beleive, +will more then infinitely recompence what ever by mans injustice, he +is pleased to deprive Me of. + +The glory attending My Death, will far surpass all I could enjoy, or +conceive in life. + +I shall not want the heavy and envyed Crowns of this world, when My +God hath mercifully Crowned and Consummated his graces with Glory, +and exchanged the shadows of My earthly Kingdoms among men, for the +substance of that Heavenlie Kingdom with himself. + +For the censures of the world; I know the sharp and necessarie +tyrannie of My Destroyers will sufficiently confute the calumnies of +tyrannie against Me; I am perswaded I am happie in the judicious love +of the ablest and best of My Subjects, who do not only Pitie and Pray +for Me, but would be content even to die with Me, or for Me. + +These know how to excuse My failings, as a man, and yet to retain +and pay their dutie to Me, as their King; there being no religious +necessitie binding any Subjects by pretending to punish, infinitely to +exceed the faults and errors of their Princes, especially there, where +more then sufficient satisfaction hath been made to the Publick; the +enjoyment of which, private ambitions have hitherto frustrated. + +Others, I beleeve, of softer tempers, and less advantaged by My +ruine, do alreadie feel sharp convictions, and some remorse in their +Consciences: where they cannot but see the proportions of their evil +dealings against Me in the measure of Gods retaliations upon them, +who cannot hope long to enjoy their own thumbs and toes, having under +pretence of paring others nails bin so cruel as to cut off their +cheifest strength. + +The punishment of the more insolent and obstinate, may be like that +of _Korah_ and his complices (at once mutining against both Prince and +Priest) in such a method of divine justice, as is not ordinary, +the earth of the lowest and meanest people opening upon them, and +swallowing them up in a just disdain of their ill-gotten, and worse +used Authority: upon whose support and strength they chiefly depended +for their building and establishing their designes against Me, the +Church and State. + +My chiefest comfort in death consists in my peace, which I trust, +is made with GOD; before whose exact Tribunall I shall not fear to +appear, as to the Cause so long disputed by the Sword, between me and +my causelese Enemies, where I doubt not but his righteous Judgment +will confute their fallacy, who from worldly success (rather like +Sophisters, then sound Christians) draw those popular conclusions for +Gods approbation of their actions; whose wise providence (we know) oft +permits many events which his revealed word (the only clear, safe, and +fixed rule of good actions and good consciences) in no sort approves. + +I am confident, the justice of my Cause, and clearness of my +Conscience before God, and toward my people, wil carry me as much +above them in Gods decision, as their Successes have lifted them above +me in the Vulgar opinion: who consider not, that many times those +undertakings of men are lifted up to heaven in the prosperity +and applause of the world, whose rise is from hell, as to the +injuriousness and oppression of the design. The prosperous winds +which oft fil the sails of Pirats, doth not justifie their piracy and +rapine. + +I look upon it with infinite more content and quiet of Soul, to have +been worsted in my enforced contestation for, and vindication of the +Laws of the Land, the Freedom and Honour of Parliaments, the Rights +of my Crown, the just Liberty of my Subjects, and the true Christian +Religion in its Doctrine, Government, and due Encouragements, then if +I had, with the greatest advantages of success over-born them all; +as some men have now evidently done, whatever designes they at first +pretended. + +The prayers and patience of my Friends and loving Subjects will +contribute much to the sweetning of this bitter cup, which I doubt not +but I shall more cheerfully take and drink, as from Gods hand (if it +must be so) then they can give it to me, whose hands are unjustly and +barbarously lifted up against Me. + +And as to the last event, I may seem to owe more to my Enemies then +my Friends; while those will put a period to the sins and sorrows +attending this miserable life, wherewith these desire, I might still +contend. + +I shall be more then Conquerour through, Christ enabling me: for whom +_I_ have hitherto suffered, as he is the Author of Truth, Order, and +Peace; for all which _I_ have been forced to contend against Errour, +Faction, and confusion. + +If _I_ must suffer a violent death with my Saviour; it is but +mortality crowned with martyrdom: where the debt of death, which I +owe for sin to nature, shall be raised as a gift of faith and patience +offered to God. + +Which _I_ humbly beseech him mercifully to accept; and although death +be the wages of my own sinne, as from God, and the effect of others +sinnes, as men, both against God and me; yet as _I_ hope my own sinnes +are so remitted, that they shall be no ingredients to imbitter the +cup of my death, so _I_ desire God to pardon their sins, who are most +guilty of my destruction. + +The Trophees of my charitie will be more glorious and durable over +them, then their ill managed victories over me. + +Though their sin be prosperous, yet they had need to be penitent, that +they may be pardoned: Both which, _I_ pray God they may obtain: that +my temporal Death unjustly inflicted by them, may not be revenged by +Gods just inflicting eternal death upon them: for _I_ look upon the +temporall destruction of the greatest King, as far lesse deprecable +then the eternall damnation of the meanest Subject. + +Nor do I wish other then the safe bringing of the ship to shore, when +they have cast me overboard; though it be very strange, that Mariners +can finde no other means to appease the storms themselves have raised, +but by drowning their Pilot. + +I thank God, my Enemies cruelty cannot prevent my preparation; +whose malice in this I shall defeat, that they shall not have +the satisfaction to have destroyed my Soul with my Body; of whose +salvation, while some of them have themselves seemed, and taught +others to despair, they have onely discovered this, that they do not +much desire it. + +Whose uncharitable and cruell Restraints, denying me even the +assistance of any of my Chaplains, hath rather enlarged, then any way +obstructed my accesse to the Throne of Heaven, + + +_Where thou dwellest, O King of Kings, who fillest Heaven and Earth, +who art the fountain of eternal life, in whom is no shadow of death._ + +_Thou, O God, art both the just Afflicter of death upon us, and the +mercifull Saviour of us in it, and from it._ + +_Yea, it is better for us to be dead to our selves, and live in thee; +then by living in our selves, to be deprived of thee._ + +_O make the many bitter aggravations of my death as a Man, and a King, +the opportunities and advantages of thy speciall Graces and Comforts +in my Soul as a Christian._ + +_If thou Lord wilt be with me, I shall neither fear nor feel any +evill, though I walk thorow the valley of the shadow of death._ + +_To contend with death is the work of a weak and mortall man; to +overcome it, is the grace of thee alone, who art the Almighty and +immortall God._ + +_O my Saviour, who knowest what it is to die with me as a Man; make me +know what it is to passe through death to life with thee my God._ + +_Though I die, yet I know that thou my Redeemer livest for ever: +though thou slayest Me, yet thou hast encouraged me to trust in thee +for eternal life._ + +_O withdraw not thy favour from me, which is better then life._ + +_O be not far from me, for I know not now neer a violent and cruel +death is to me._ + +_As thy Omniscience, O God, discovers, so thy Omnipotence can defeat +the designes of those who have, or shall conspire my destruction._ + +_O shew me the goodnesse of thy will, through the wickednesse of +theirs._ + +_Thou givest me leave as a man to pray, that this cup may pass from +me; but thou hast taught Me as a Christian by the example of Christ to +add not my will, but thine be done._ + +_Yea Lord, let our wils be one, by wholly resolving mine into thine: +let not the desire of life in me be so great, as that of doing or +suffering thy wil in either life or death._ + +_As I believe thou hast forgiven all the errours of my life, so I hope +thou wilt save me from the terrors of my death._ + +_Make me content to leave the worlds nothing, that I may come really +to enjoy all in thee, who hast made Christ unto me in life, gain; and +in death advantage._ + +_Though my destroyers forget their dutie to thee and me, yet do not +thou, O Lord, forget to be mercifull to them._ + +_For, what profit is there in my bloud, or in their gaining my +Kingdoms, if they lose their own Souls?_ + +_Such as have not onely resisted my just Power, but wholly usurped and +turned it against my self, though they may deserve, yet let them not +receive to themselves damnation._ + +_Thou madest thy Son a Saviour to many that crucified him, while at +once he suffered violently by them, and yet willingly for them._ + +_O let the voice of his bloud be heard for my Murtherers, louder then +the cry of mine against them._ + +_Prepare them for thy mercy by due convictions of their sin, and +let them not at once deceive and damne their own souls by fallacious +pretensions of Justice in destroying me, while the conscience of their +unjust usurpation of power against me, chiefly tempts them to use all +extremities against me._ + +_O Lord, thou knowest I have found their mercies to me as very false, +so very cruell, who pretending to preserve me, have meditated nothing +but my ruine._ + +_O deal not with them as bloud thirsty and deceitfull men; but +overcome their cruelty with thy compassion and my charitie._ + +_And when thou makest inquisition for my blood, O sprinkle their +polluted, yet penitent Souls with the bloud of thy Son, that thy +destroying Angel may passe over them._ + +_Though they think my Kingdoms on earth too little to entertain at +once both them and me; yet let the capacious Kingdom of thy infinite +mercy at last receive both me and my enemies._ + +_When being reconciled to thee in the bloud of the same Redeemer, wee +shall live far above these ambitious desires, which beget such mortall +enmities._ + +_When their hands shall be heaviest and cruellest upon me, O let me +fall into the arms of thy tender and eternall mercies._ + +_That what is cut off of my life in this miserable moment, may be +repaied in thy ever blessed Eternity._ + +_Lord, let thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy +salvation._ + +Vota dabunt, quć Bella negârunt. + + + + +_FINIS._ + + * * * * * + + + + + A + PERFECT COPY OF + PRAYERS, + Used by His + MAJESTIE + in the time of His + _SUFFERINGS_. + + + _Delivered to Dr._ Juxon _Bishop of_ + London _immediately before his Death_. + + And his Speeches to the Lady _Elizabeth_ and + the Duke of _Glocester_. + + With + + His _Reasons_ against the pretended Jurisdiction + of the High Court of Justice; intended to + be delivered, Munday 22 of _Janu_. + 1648. + + Also + + A Copy of a LETTER from the + _PRINCE_. + +[Illustration] + + Printed _Anno Domini_ 1649. + + * * * * * + + +[Illustration] + + +_A PRAYER in time of Captivitie._ + + +O Powerfull and Eternall God! to whom nothing is so great, that it may +resist; or so small, that it is contemned; look upon my miserie with +thine eye of mercy, and let Thine infinite power vouchsafe to limit +out some proportion of deliverance unto me, as to Thee shall seem +most convenient; let not Injurie, O Lord, triumph over me; and let my +faults by thy hand be corrected; and make not my unjust Enemies the +ministers of thy Justice: But yet my God, if in thy Wisdom this be +the aptest chastisement for my unexcusable transgressions; if this +ingratefull bondage be fittest for my over-high deserts; if the pride +of my (not enough humble) heart be thus to be broken, O Lord, I yeeld +unto thy will, and cheerfully embrace what sorrow thou wilt have me +suffer: Onely thus much let me crave of thee, (let my craving, O +Lord, be accepted of, since it even proceeds from thee) That by +thy Goodnesse, which is thy Self, thou wilt suffer some beam of +thy Majestie so to shine in my minde, that I, who in my greatest +Afflictions acknowledge it my noblest Title to be thy Creature, may +still depend confidently on Thee. Let Calamity be the exercise, but +not the overthrow of my Vertue. O let not their prevailing power be to +my destruction. And if it be thy will that they more and more vex me +with punishment; yet O Lord, never let their wickednesse have such a +hand, but that I may still carry a pure mind, and stedfast resolution +ever to serve thee without fear or presumption; yet with that humble +Confidence which may best please thee; so that at the last I may +come to thy eternall Kingdom through the merits of thy Son our alone +Saviour, Jesus Christ. _Amen_. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Another PRAYER._ + + +Almightie and most merciful Father, look down upon me thy unworthy +servant, who here prostrate my self at the Foot-stool of thy Throne of +Grace; but look upon me, O Father, through the Mediation, and in the +Merits of Jesus Christ, in whom thou art only wel pleased: for of my +Self I am not worthy to stand before thee, or to speak with my +unclean lips to thee, most holy and eternall God; for as in sin I was +conceived and born, so likewise I have broken all thy Commandments by +my sinful motions, unclean thoughts, evill words, and wicked works; +omitting many duties I ought to do, and committing many vices thou +hast forbidden under pain of thy heavie Displeasure: as for my sins, +O Lord, they are innumerable: wherefore I stand here liable to all the +miseries in this life, and everlasting Torments in that to come, if +thou shouldst deal with me according to my deserts. I confesse, +O Lord, that it is thy Mercie (which endureth for ever) and thy +compassion (which never fails) which is the cause that I have not +been long ago consumed: but with thee there is Mercie and plenteous +Redemption; in the multitude therefore of thy mercies, and by the +Merits of Jesus Christ, I intreat thy Divine Majestie, that thou +wouldst not enter into judgment with thy servant, nor be extreme to +mark what is done amisse, but be thou mercifull unto Me, and wash away +all my sins with that precious bloud that my Saviour shed for me. And +I beseech thee, O Lord, not onely to wash away all my sins; but also +to purge my heart by thy holy Spirit, from the dross of my natural +corruption: And as thou dost add days to my life, so good Lord, I +beseech thee to add repentance to my dayes, that when I have past this +mortall life, I may be partaker of thy everlasting Kingdom, through +the Merits of Jesus Christ our Lord, _Amen_. + + * * * * * + + + + +_A_ PRAYER _and_ CONFESSION _made in and for the times of Affliction._ + + +Almighty and most mercifull Father, as it is onely thy Goodnesse that +admits of our imperfect Prayers, and the knowledge that thy mercies +are infinite, which can give Us any hope of thy accepting or granting +them: so it is our bounden and necessary duty to confesse our sins +freely unto thee; And of all men living, I have most need, most reason +so to do; no man having been so much obliged by thee, no man more +grievously offending thee: that degree of knowledge which thou hast +given me adding likewise to the guilt of my transgressions. For, was +it through ignorance, that I suffered innocent bloud to be shed by a +false pretended way of Justice? or that I permitted a wrong way of +thy Worship to be set up in _Scotland?_ and injured the Bishops in +_England?_ O no; but with shame and grief I confesse, that I therein +followed the perswasions of worldly Wisdome, forsaking the Dictates +of a right-informed Conscience: Wherefore, O Lord, I have no excuse to +make, no hope left, but in the multitude of thy mercies; for I know +my repentance weak, and my prayers faulty: Grant therefore, mercifull +Father, so to strengthen my repentance, and amend my prayers, that +thou maist clear the way for thine own mercies; to which, O let +thy Justice at last give place, putting a speedy end to my deserved +afflictions. In the mean time, give me patience to endure, Constancy +against Temptations, and a discerning spirit, to chuse what is best +for thy Church, and People which thou hast committed to my charge. +Grant this, O most mercifull Father, for thy Son Jesus Christs sake, +our onely Saviour, _Amen._ + + * * * * * + + + + +_A_ PRAYER _in time of imminent Danger._ + + +O Most merciful Father, though my sins are so many and grievous, +that I may rather expect the effects of thy anger, then so great a +deliverance, as to free me from my present great danger; yet, O Lord, +since thy mercies are over all thy works, and thou never failest to +relieve all those who with humble and unfeigned repentance come to +thee for succour, it were to multiply, not diminish my transgressions, +to despair of thy heavenly favour: Wherefore I humbly desire thy +divine Majestie, That thou wilt not onely pardon all my sins; but also +free me out of the hands, and protect me from the malice of my +cruel Enemies. But if Thy wrath against my hainous Offences will not +otherwayes be satisfied, then by suffering Me to fall under my present +afflictions, Thy will be done; yet with humble Importunity, I do and +shall never leave to implore the assistance of thy heavenly Spirit, +that my cause, as I am thy Vicegerent may not suffer through My +weakness, or want of courage, O Lord, so strengthen and enlighten all +the faculties of My mind, that with clearnesse I may shew forth Thy +Truth, and manfully endure this bloody Tryal, that so my sufferings +here may not onely glorifie Thee, but likewise be a furtherance to my +salvation hereafter. Grant this, O mercifull Father, for his sake who +suffered for me, even Jesus Christ the Righteous. _Amen._ + +[Illustration: Emblem] + + * * * * * + + + + +A Copie of a Letter which was sent from the PRINCE to the KING; Dated +from the HAGUE _Jan_. 23. 1648. + + +SIR, _Having no means to come to the knowledge of your Majesties +present condition, but such as I receive from the Prints, or (which is +as uncertain) Report, I have sent this Bearer_ Seamour _to wait upon +your Majestie; and to bring me an account of it: that I may withall +assure your Majestie, I doe not onely pray for your Majestie according +to my Dutie, but shall alwayes be ready to doe all which shall be +in my power, to deserve that blessing which I now humbly beg of your +Majestie upon_ + + (SIR) + +HAGUE _Jan_. 23. 1648. + + _Your_ MAJESTIES + _most humble and most + obedient Son & servant + CHARLS._ + +The Superscription was thus, + +For the King. + + * * * * * + + +[Illustraton] + + +Munday 29th January, 1648. + + +_A true Relation of the_ KINGS _Speech to the Lady_ ELISABETH, _and the +Duke of_ GLOCESTER, _the day before His Death._ + + +His children being come to meet him, he first gave his blessing to the +Lady _Elisabeth_; and bad her remember to tell her Brother _James_, +when ever she should see him, That it was his Fathers last desire, +that he should no more look upon _Charles_ as his eldest Brother only, +but be obedient unto him, as his Soveraign; and that they should love +one another, and forgive their Fathers Enemies. Then said the King +to her, Sweet-heart you'l forget this: No (said she) _I_ shall never +forget it while I live: And pouring forth abundance of Tears, promised +him to write down the Paticulars. + +Then the King taking the Duke of _Glocester_ upon his knee, said, +Sweet-heart, now they will cut off thy Fathers head; (upon which words +the child looked very stedfastly on him.) Mark child, what I say, they +will cut of my head, and perhaps make thee a King: But mark what I +say, you must not be a King so long as your Brother _Charles_ and +_James_ do live; For they will cut off your Brothers heads, (when they +can catch them) and cut off thy head too at the last: and therefore, +_I_ charge you, do not be made a King by them. At which the child, +sighing, said, I will be torn in pieces first. Which falling so +unexpectedly from one so young, it made the King rejoyce exceedingly. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Another Relation from the Lady_ ELISABETHS _own Hand._ + + +What the king said to me the nine and twentieth of _January_ 1648. +being the last time I had the happiness to see him; he told me, he +was glad I was come, and although he had not time to say much, yet +somewhat he had to say to me, which he had not to another, or leave in +writing, because he feared their cruelty was such, as that they would +not have permitted him to write to me, he wished me not to grieve and +torment my self for him; for that would be a glorious death that he +should dye; it being for the Laws and Liberties of this Land, and +for maintaining the true Protestant Religion. He bad me read Bishop +_Andrews_ Sermons, _Hookers Ecclesiasticall Politie_, and Bishop +_Lauds_ Book against _Fisher_, which would ground me against Popery. +He told me, he had forgiven all his Enemies, and hoped God would +forgive them also; and commanded us, and all the rest of my Brothers +and Sisters to forgive them: he bid me tell my Mother, That his +thoughts never had strayed from her, and that his love should be +the same to the last. Withall he commanded me and my Brother to +be obedient to her. And bid me send his blessing to the rest of my +Brothers and Sisters, with Commendation to all His Friends: So after +he had given me his blessing, I took my leave. + +Further, he commanded us all to forgive those people, but never to +trust them; for they had been most false to him, and to those that +gave them power, and he feared also to their own souls; And desired me +not to grieve for him, for he should die a Martyr, and that he doubted +not but the Lord would settle his Throne upon his Son, and that we +should be all happier, then we could have expected to have been, if he +had lived: With many other things, which at present I cannot remember. + +ELISABETH. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Another Relation from the Lady_ Elisabeth. + + +The King said to the Duke of _Glocester_, that he would say nothing to +him but what was for the good of his soul: he told him, that he heard +that the Army intended to make him King; but it was a thing not for +him to take upon him, if he regarded the welfare of his soul; for +he had two Brothers before him: and therefore commanded him upon His +blessing, never to accept of it, unless it redowned lawfully upon him: +And commanded him to fear the Lord, and he would provide for him. + +_Copia vera._ + + * * * * * + + + + +_An_ Epitaph _upon King_ CHARLS. + + + So falls that stately Cedar: while it stood + That was the onely glory of the Wood: + Great _Charles_, thou earthly God, celestial _M_an, + Whose life, like others, though it were a span: + Yet in that span, was comprehended more + Then Earth hath waters or the Ocean shore; + Thy heavenly vertues, Angels shou'd rehearse, + It is a theam too high for humane Verse: + He that would know thee right, then let him look + Upon Thy rare incomparable Book, + And read it or'e and o're; which if he do, + Hee'l find thee _king_, _and Priest_, _and Prophet too_: + And sadly see our losse, and though in vain, + With fruitlesse wishes, call thee back again. + Nor shall oblivion sit upon thy Herse, + Though there were neither Monument, nor Verse. + Thy Suff'rings & thy Death let no man name; + It was thy Glorie, but the Kingdoms Shame. + + _J. H._ + + * * * * * + + +[Illustration] + + + _His Majesties Reasons against the pretended Jurisdiction of + the High Court of Justice, which he intended to deliver in + writing on Munday_ January 22, 1648. + + +Faithfully transcribed out of the originall Copie under the Kings own +hand. + + +Having already made my protestations not only against the illegality +of this pretended Court, but also that no earthly power can justly +call me (who am your King) in question as a Delinquent, _I_ would not +any more open my mouth upon this occasion, more then to refer my selfe +to what I have spoken, were I alone in this case concerned. But +the duty I owe to God in the preservation of the true Liberty of my +People, will not suffer me at this time to be silent: For, how can any +free-born Subject of England call life or any thing he possesseth +his own, if power without right daily make new, and abrogate the old +fundamentall Law of the Land, which I now take to be the present +case. Wherefore when I came hither, I expected that you would have +indeavoured to have satisfied me concerning these grounds, which +hinder me to Answer to your pretended Impeachment, but since I see +that nothing I can say will move you to it (though Negatives are not +so naturally proved as Affirmatives) yet I will shew you the Reason +why I am confident you cannot judge me, nor indeed the meanest man in +England; for I will not (like you) without shewing a reason, seek to +impose a belief upon My Subjects. + +[Sidenote: _Hereabout I was stopt, and not suffered to speake any more +concerning Reasons._] + +There is no proceeding just against any man, but what is warranted +either by Gods Laws, or the municipall Lawes of the Country where he +lives. Now I am most confident, that this daies proceeding cannot be +warranted by Gods Law, for on the contrary the authority of obedience +unto Kings is cleerly warranted and strictly commanded both in the Old +and New Testament; which if denied, I am ready to prove: and for the +question now in hand, there it is said, That _where the word of a +King is, there is Power, and who may say unto him, what doest thou_? +_Eccles._ 8. 4. Then for the Lawes of this land, I am no lesse +confident, that no learned Lawyer will affirme that an impeachment +can lie against the King, they all going in his name; and one of their +Maximes is, _that the King can do no wrong_. Besides, the law upon +which you ground your proceedings, must either be old or new; if old +shew it; if new, tell what authority warranted by the fundamentall +Laws of the land hath made it, and when. But how the House of Commons +can erect a Court of Judicature, which was never one it self (as is +well known to all Lawyers) I leave to God and the World to judge; And +it were full as strange that they should pretend to make Laws without +King or Lords-House, to any that have heard speak of the Lawes of +England. + +And admitting, but not granting, that the people of Englands +Commission could grant your pretended Power, I see nothing you can +shew for that; for certainly you never asked the question of the tenth +man of the Kingdom, and in this way you manifestly wrong even the +poorest Plough-man, if you demand not his free consent; nor can you +pretend any colour for this your pretended Commission without the +consent at least of the major part of every man in England, of +whatsoever quality or condition, which I am sure, you never went about +to seek; so far are you from having it. Thus you see that I speak +not for my own right alone, as I am your King, but also for the true +Liberty of all my Subjects, which consists not in sharing the power +of Government, but in living under such Laws, such a Government as +may give themselves the best assurance of their lives and propriety of +their goods. Nor in this must or do I forget the priviledges of both +Houses of Parliament, which this dayes proceedings doth not only +violate, but likewise occasion the greatest breach of their Publike +Faith that (I beleeve) ever was heard of, with which I am far from +charging the two houses: for all the pretended crimes laid against me, +bear date long before this late Treaty at Newport, in which I having +concluded as much as in me lay, and hopefully expecting the two Houses +agreement thereunto, I was suddenly surprized, and hurried from thence +as a Prisoner, upon which accompt I am against my will brought hither, +where since I am come, I cannot but to my power defend the ancient +Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom, together with my own just Right; +then for any thing I can see the higher house is totally excluded. + +And for the House of Commons, it is too well known that the major +part of them are detained or deterr'd from sitting, so as if I had no +other, this were sufficient for me to protest against the lawfulnesse +of your pretended Court. Besides all this, the peace of the Kingdom is +not the least in my thoughts; and what hopes of settlement is there so +long as power raignes without rule of Law, changing the whole frame +of that government under which this Kingdom hath flourished for +many hundred years, (nor will I say what will fall out in case this +lawlesse unjust proceeding against me do go on) & beleeve it the +Commons of England will not thanke you for this change, for they will +remember how happy they have been of late years under the raign of Q. +_Elizabeth_, the King my Father and my self, untill the beginning of +these unhappy troubles, and wil have cause to doubt that they shall +never be so happy under any new. And by this time it will be too +sensibly evident, that the Armes I took up were only to defend the +fundamentall Laws of this Kingdom, against those who have supposed my +power hath totally changed the ancient Government. + +Thus having shewed you briefly the Reasons, why I cannot submit to +your pretended authority without violating the trust which I have +from God, for the welfare and liberty of my people; I expect from you +either clear Reasons to convince my Judgment, shewing me that I am +in an error (and then truly I will readily answer) or that you will +withdraw your proceedings. + + +_This I intended to speake in Westminster-Hall on Monday 22. January, +but against reason was hindered to shew my Reasons._ + + * * * * * + + +FINIS. + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note. + +Inconsistencies in spelling, grammar, capitalisation and punctuation +have generally been retained, unless the inconsistency is obviously an +error. + +e.g. Iustice and Justice (etc.) are both used; wickednss (page 53) +may be a printer's error, or the author's contraction. There are a few +instances of 'wickednesse', and only one of 'wickedness'; there are +a few instances of 'yeild', and 'yeeld', but none of 'yield'; 'then' +is used throughout the book as modern writers would use 'than'; and +apostrophes are notable by their absence. + +The prefix 'un' is used where a modern writer would use 'in'. Many +other words have more than one spelling. Phonetic spellings have been +retained. + +'proreption' (p. 66) means 'slow advance' (Google Books). + +The long 's', prevalent at the time, has been updated to +the modern 's', which even in 1649 was used at the ends of words. + +There are some instances of what seem to be genuine errata:-- + +Sundry missing, damaged or extraneous punctuation has been repaired. + +Explanation of the Emblem: 'deprrss'd' corrected to 'depress'd': +"_Palm_-like _depress'd_, I higher rise" + +p. 15: 'agaist' corrected to 'against': "have purposed any violence +or oppression against the Innocent" + +p. 24: 'assawge' corrected to 'asswage': "and after did'st asswage the +floud which drowned the world," + +p. 42: 'kinkled' corrected to 'kindled': "the brands of that fire +being ill quenched, have kindled the like flames here." + +p. 51: 'noreable' corrected to 'noteable'*: "he is now become a +noteable monument of unprosperous disloialtie," + +p. 59: 'and' corrected to 'an': "I must now be urged with an Armie," + +p. 63: 'one' corrected to 'on': "unfortunate Successes of this War, on +my side, I do not think my" + +p. 73: 'no' corrected to 'to': "if not to conquer, yet at least to +suffer." + +p. 74: 'eclisp' corrected to 'eclipse': "strip me of my strength, and +eclipse my glory." + +p. 77: 'Popositions' corrected to 'Propositions': "propound, (for such +is one of their Propositions)" + +p. 82: removed extraneous 'in': "to the Laws in force," + +p. 87: 'suppplication' corrected to 'supplication': "To thee I make my +supplication," + +p. 98: 'with' corrected to 'which': "destroying the innocent with the +guilty, & the erroneous with the malicious;" + +p. 106: 'ont' corrected to 'out': "they lay out upon their opinions" + +p. 107: 'contemus' corrected to 'contemns': "that the other rejects +and contemns;" + +p. 120: 'clomencie' corrected to 'clemencie': "and thy clemencie hath +accepted from us," + +p. 121: 'theia' corrected to 'their': "the Charity of most men is +grown so cold, and their Religion so illiberall." + +p. 121: 'net' corrected to 'not': "Let not holy things be given to +Swine" + +p. 137: 'migh' corrected to 'might': "he might seem to justifie his +disdainfull reproaches," + +p. 141: 'too' corrected to 'to': "where not the words, but mens hearts +are to blame." + +p. 144: 'nse' corrected to 'use': "That further, they should use such +severity as" + +p. 154: 'Goverment' corrected to 'Government': "such a frame or +Government which is paternall," + +p. 158: 'Hospitaliy' corrected to 'Hospitality': "also enablements to +works of Charitie and Hospitality," + +p. 161: 'judement' corrected to 'judgement': "to my judgement, I am +solemnly obliged to" + +p. 172: 'bnt' corrected to 'but': "not to trust in the arm of Flesh, +but in the living God." + +p. 179: 'afficting' corrected to 'afflicting': "Between both thy +hands, the right sometimes supporting, and the left afflicting, +fashion us" + +p. 180: 'punishmenes' corrected to 'punishments': "punishing my self +in their punishments." + +p. 184: 'abrogae' corrected to 'abrogate': "by the Sword to arrogate, +and quite abrogate the Authority of" + +p. 186: 'moudls' corrected to 'moulds': "would not run into their new +moulds, till they had first melted" + +p. 187: 'Christans' corrected to 'Christians': "appear good +Christians, that approve not them selves good Subjects." + +p. 192: 'thrist' corrected to 'thirst': "the most ambitious thirst of +popular glory among the Vulgar" + +p. 196: 'pnrpose' corrected to 'purpose': "Fix in me a purpose to +honour thee, and then" + +p. 201: 'wordls' corrected to 'worlds': "the worlds vanity and +inconstancie." + +p. 205: 'estabish' corrected to 'establish': "because thou Lord, hast +holpen and comforted me; establish me with thy free Spirit," + +p. 207: 'christias' corrected to 'christians': "then is ever used by +christians to the meanest prisoners," + +p. 215: 'Honse' corrected to 'House': "when wee went to meet in thy +House with the voice of joy and gladnesse," + +p. 221: 'Sate' corrected to 'State': "In suppressing the many schismes +in Church, and Factions in State." + +p. 223: removed extraneous 'if': "May my people and thy Church be +happie if not by me, yet without me." + +p. 230: 'abonnd' corrected to 'abound': "they cannot want Enemies who +abound in sin; nor shall they be" + +p. 251: 'you' corrected to 'your': "Soul in true Religion, and your +honour in the love of God and" + +p. 251: 'you' corrected to 'your': "let my Memory ever, with my Name, +live in you; as of your Father," + +p. 254: 'lttle' corrected to 'little': "Indeed, they have left me but +little of life," + +p. 254: 'magnaminity' corrected to 'magnanimity': "yet to suffer with +such Christian patience and magnanimity, in" + +p. 255: 'afflicton' corrected to 'affliction': "The assaults of +affliction may be terrible," + +p. 255: 'Freinds' corrected to 'Friends': "my Friends and loving +Subjects being helpless Spectators" + +p. 257: 'guitly' corrected to 'guilty': "the cheifest hand, and are +most guilty of contriving" + +p. 265: 'acceesse' corrected to 'accesse': "any way obstructed my +accesse to the Throne of Heaven," + +p. 273: 'acknowlede' corrected to 'acknowledge': "who in my greatest +Afflictions acknowledge it" + + * The spelling, 'noteable', is also used in the title of a book + published 1635: + + "A direction for the English traviller by which he shal be inabled + to coast about all England and Wales. And also to know how farre + any market or noteable towne in any shire lyeth one from an other + ... As also the distance betweene London and any other shire or + great towne." + ... J. van Langeren sculp. + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Eikon Basilike, by King Charles I (Stuart) + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EIKON BASILIKE *** + +***** This file should be named 32188-8.txt or 32188-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/1/8/32188/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Eikon Basilike + The Pourtracture of His Sacred Majestie, in His Solitudes and Sufferings + +Author: King Charles I (Stuart) + +Release Date: April 30, 2010 [EBook #32188] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EIKON BASILIKE *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<p> </p> + +<h1><ins title="Eikôn Basilikę">Εἰκὼν Βασιλική</ins></h1> + +<hr /> + +<h4>THE</h4> + +<h2>POURTRACTURE</h2> + +<h4>OF</h4> + +<h3>HIS SACRED</h3> + +<h1>MAJESTIE,</h1> + +<h4>IN</h4> + +<h2>HIS SOLITUDES</h2> + +<h4>AND</h4> + +<h3>SUFFERINGS.</h3> + +<br /><br /> +<p class="center">With a perfect Copy of Prayers used +by his Majesty in the time of his sufferings.</p> + +<p class="center">Delivered to Dr. <span class="sc">Juxon</span> Bishop of <i>London</i>, +immediately before his Death.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="center"><span class="sc">Rom. 8.</span></p> + +<p class="center"><i>More then Conquerour, &c.</i></p> + +<p class="center"><i>Bona agere, & mala pati, Regium est.</i></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="center">Printed at <i>London</i>, 1649.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">The Explanation of the Embleme.</h2> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza" style="font-weight: bold;"> +<div class="figleft3"> +P</div> <br style="line-height: 30%" /> +<p class="i4a"><b>O</b>nderibus <i>genuus omne mali, probriq; gravatus</i>,</p> +<p class="i4a"><i>Vixq; ferenda ferens</i>, Palma <i>ut</i> depressa, <i>resurgo</i>.</p> +<p><i>Ac, velut undarum</i> Fuctűs Ventìque, <i>furorem</i></p> +<p><i>Irati Populi</i> Rupes immotta <i>repello</i>.</p> +<p>Clarioré tenebris, <i>cœlestis stella, corusco</i>.</p> +<p><i>Victor æternum fœlici pace</i> triumpho.</p> +<p><i>Auro</i> fulgentem <i>rutilo gemmisque micantem</i>,</p> +<p><i>At curis</i> Gravidam <i>spernendo</i> calco Coronam.</p> +<p>Spinosam, <i>at</i> ferri facilem, <i>quo</i> spes mea, <i>Christi</i></p> +<p><i>Auxilio, Nobis non est</i> tractare <i>molestum</i>.</p> +<p>Æternam, <i>fixis fidei, semperque</i> beatam</p> +<p><i>In Cœlos occulis</i> specto, <i>Mobìsque-paratam</i>.</p> +<p><i>Quod</i> vanum <i>est, sperno; quod Christi</i> Gratia <i>præbet</i></p> +<p><i>Amplecti studium est: Virtutis</i> Gloria <i>merces.</i></p> + </div><div class="stanza" style="font-weight: bold;"> + <div class="figleft3"> +T</div> <br style="line-height: 30%" /> +<p class="i4a"><b>H</b>ough clogg'd with <i>weights</i> of miseries,</p> +<p class="i4a"><i>Palm</i>-like <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'deprrss'd'"><i>depress'd</i></ins>, I higher rise.</p> +<p>And as th' <i>unmoved Rock</i> out-braves</p> +<p>The boyst'rous <i>winds</i>, and raging <i>waves</i>;</p> +<p>So <i>triumph I</i>. And <i>shine more bright</i></p> +<p>In sad Affliction's darksom night.</p> +<p>That <i>splendid</i>, but yet <i>toilsome Crown</i>,</p> +<p>Regardlesly <i>I trample</i> down.</p> +<p>With joy I take this <i>Crown</i> of <i>Thorn</i>,</p> +<p>Though <i>sharp</i>, yet <i>easie to be born</i>.</p> +<p>That <i>heav'nly Crown</i>, already mine,</p> +<p>I <i>view</i> with <i>eyes</i> of faith divine.</p> +<p>I slight <i>vain</i> things; and do embrace</p> +<p><i>Glory</i>, the just reward of <i>Grace</i>.</p> + </div> </div> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;"><ins title="To Chi ouden ędikęse tęn polin, oude to Kappa."> + +Τ<span style="font-size: 0.9em;">ὸ</span> Χ<span style="font-size: 0.9em;">ῖ</span> +ο<span style="font-size: 0.9em;">ὐ</span>δ<span style="font-size: 0.9em;">ὲ</span>ν +<span style="font-size: 0.9em;">ἠ</span>δ<span style="font-size: 0.9em;">ί</span>κησε +τ<span style="font-size: 0.9em;">ὴ</span>ν π<span style="font-size: 0.9em;">ό</span>λιν, +ο<span style="font-size: 0.9em;">ὐ</span>δ<span style="font-size: 0.9em;">ὲ</span> +τ<span style="font-size: 0.9em;">ὸ</span> Κ<span style="font-size: 0.9em;">ά</span>ππα. +</ins></h2> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/Eikon-600.png" width="600" height="541" alt="Frontispiece" /></div> +<hr /> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/007-title_page-300.png" width="300" height="523" alt="Title Page" /></div> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/009-fleurs-600.png" width="600" height="45" alt="Frieze" /></div> + +<h2>THE CONTENTS.</h2> +<br /> + +<table width="80%" align="center" summary="ToC" border="0"> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c1">1</a></td> + <td> +<p class="dropcap1"><span class="dcap"> +V</span> +<b><i>Pon</i></b> <i>His Majesties calling this last Parliament.</i></p></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c2">2</a></td> + <td><i>Upon the Earl of</i> Strafford's <i>death.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c3">3</a></td> + <td><i>Upon His Majesties going to the House of Commons.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c4">4</a></td> + <td><i>Upon the Insolency of the Tumults.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c5">5</a></td> + <td><i>Upon His Majesties passing the Bill for the +Trienniall Parliaments: and after setling +this, during the pleasure of the two Houses.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c6">6</a></td> + <td><i>Upon His Majesties retirement from</i> Westminster.</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c7">7</a></td> + <td><i>Upon the Queens departure, and absence out of</i> England.</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c8">8</a></td> + <td><i>Upon His Majesties repulse at</i> Hull, <i>and the +fates of the</i> Hothams.</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c9">9</a></td> + <td><i>Upon the listing and raising Armies against the King.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c10">10</a></td> + <td><i>Upon their seizing the Kings Magazines, +Forts, Navie, and Militia.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c11">11</a></td> + <td><i>Upon the 19 Propositions first sent to the +King; and more afterwards.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c12">12</a></td> + <td><i>Upon the Rebellion, and troubles in</i> Ireland.</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c13">13</a></td> + <td><i>Upon the Calling in of the</i> Scots, <i>and their +Coming.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c14">14</a></td> + <td><i>Upon the Covenant.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c15">15</a></td> + <td><i>Upon the many Jealousies raised, and Scandals +cast upon the King, to stirre up the people +against Him.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c16">16</a></td> + <td><i>Upon the Ordinance against the Common +prayer-Book.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c17">17</a></td> + <td><i>Of the differences between the King, and the +two Houses, in point of Church-government.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c18">18</a></td> + <td><i>Upon</i> Uxbridge-<i>Treaty, and others Offers +made by the King.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c19">19</a></td> + <td><i>Upon the various events of the War; Victories, +and Defeats.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c20">20</a></td> + <td><i>Upon the Reformations of the Times.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c21">21</a></td> + <td><i>Upon His Majesties Letters taken and divulged.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c22">22</a></td> + <td><i>Upon His Majesties leaving</i> Oxford, <i>and +going to the</i> Scots.</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c23">23</a></td> + <td><i>Upon the</i> Scots <i>delivering the King to the</i> +English; <i>and His Captivity at</i> Holmbie.</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c24">24</a></td> + <td><i>Upon their denying His Majestie the Attendance +of His Chaplains.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c25">25</a></td> + <td>Penitentiall Meditations and Vowes in +the King's solitude at <i>Holmbie</i>.</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c26">26</a></td> + <td><i>Upon the Armies surprisall of the King at</i> +Holmbie, <i>and the ensuing distractions in the +two Houses, the Army, and the Citie.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c27">27</a></td> + <td><i>To the Prince of</i> Wales.</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c28">28</a></td> + <td><i>Meditations upon Death, after the Votes of +Non-Addresses, and His Majesties closer +Imprisonment in</i> Carisbrook-Castle.</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c29">29</a></td> + <td><i>Divers prayers used by his Majesty in time +of His sufferings.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right"><a href="#c30">30</a></td> + <td><i>His Speeches to the Lady</i> Elisabeth <i>and +Duke of</i> Glocester: <i>And His</i> Reasons <i>against +the jurisdiction of the high Court of Justice.</i></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page1" id="page1"></a>[page 1]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/011-600.png" width="600" height="210" alt="EIKÔN BASILIKĘ" /></div> + +<a name="c1" id="c1"></a> +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">1. <i>Upon His Majesties calling this last Parliament.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap" ><span class="dcap">T</span> +<b>His</b> last Parliament I called, not more +by others advice, and necessity of My +affairs, then by my own choice and inclination; +who have always thought +the right way of Parliaments most safe for My +Crown, and best pleasing to my People: And +although I was not forgetfull of those sparks, +which some mens distempers formerly studied +to kindle in Parliaments, (which by forbearing +to convene for some years, I hoped to have +extinguished) yet resolving with My self to +give all just satisfaction to modest and sober +desires, and to redress all publick grievances in +Church and State; I hoped (by My freedom +and their moderation) to prevent all mis-understandings +and miscarriages in this: In which +as I feared, affairs would meet with some passion +and prejudice in other men, so I resolved +they should finde least of them in my self; not +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page2" id="page2"></a>[page 2]</span> +doubting, but by the weight of Reason I +should counterpoiz the over-ballancing of any +Factions.</p> + +<p>I was, indeed, sorry to hear with what partiality +and popular heat, Elections were carried +in many places; yet hoping that the gravity +and discretion of other Gentlemen would allay +and fix the Commons to a due temperament +(guiding some mens well-meaning zeal +by such rules of moderation as are best both +to preserve and restore the health of all States +and Kingdoms:) No man was better pleased +with the convening of this Parliament then +My self; who knowing best the largenesse of +my own Heart toward my Peoples good and +just contentment, pleased my self most in that +good and firm understanding, which would +hence grow between me and my people.</p> + +<p>All jealousies being laid aside, my own and +my Childrens Interests gave me many obligations +to seek and preserve the love and welfare +of my Subjects; The only temporal blessing +that is left to the ambition of just Monarchs, +as their greatest honour and safety, +next Gods protection. I cared not to lessen +my self in some things of my wonted Prerogative; +since I knew I could be no loser, if I +might gain but a recompence in my Subjects +affections.</p> + +<p>I intended not only to oblige my friends, but +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page3" id="page3"></a>[page 3]</span> +mine enemies also: exceeding even the desires +of those that were factiously discontented, if +they did but pretend to any modest and sober +sense.</p> + +<p>The <i><b>odium</b></i> and offences which some mens +rigor or remissnesse in Church and State had +contracted upon my Government, I resolved +to have expiated by such Laws and regulations +for the future, as might not only rectifie +what was amiss in practice, but supply what +was defective in the constitution: No man +having a greater zeal to see Religion setled, +and preserved in Truth, Unitie, and Order +then my self; whom it most concerns both in +pietie and policie; as knowing, that, No +flames of civil dissentions are more dangerous +then those which make Religious pretensions +the grounds of Factions.</p> + +<p>I resolved to reform, what I should by free +and full advice in Parliament be convinced to +be amiss; and to grant whatever my Reason +and Conscience told me was fit to be +desired; I wish I had kept my self within +those bounds, and not suffered my own +Judgement to have been over-born in some +things, more by others Importunities, then +their Arguments; my confidence had less betrayed +my self, and my Kingdoms, to those advantages, +which some men sought for, who +wanted nothing but power and occasion to do +mischief.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page4" id="page4"></a>[page 4]</span> + +<p>But our sins being ripe, there was no +preventing of Gods Justice, from reaping that +glory in our Calamities, which we robbed +him of in our prosperitie.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>For thou (O Lord) hast made us see, That +Resolutions of future Reforming, doe not alwayes +satisfie thy justice, nor prevent thy Vengeance +for former miscarriages.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Our sins have over-laid our hopes: Thou +hast taught us to depend on thy mercies to forgive, +not on our purpose to amend.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>When thou hast vindicated thy glory by +thy judgments, and hast shewed us how unsafe +it is to offend thee, upon presumptions afterwards +to please thee, Then I trust thy mercy +will restore those blessings to us, which we have +so much abused, as to force thee to deprive us +of them.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>For want of timely repentance of our sins, +Thou givest us cause to Repent of those Remedies +we too late apply.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Yet I doe not repent of my calling the last +Parliament, because O Lord, I did it with an +upright intention to thy glory, and My Peoples +good.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>The miseries which have ensued upon me and +my Kingdoms, are the just effects of thy displeasure +upon us; and may be yet, through thy mercy, +preparatives of us to future blessings and better +hearts to enjoy them.</i></b></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page5" id="page5"></a>[page 5]</span> + +<p><b><i>O Lord, though thou hast deprived us of +many former comforts; yet grant me and my +People the benefit of our afflictions, and thy +chastisements; that thy Rod as well as thy Staff +may comfort us: Then shall we dare to account +them the strokes not of an enemy, but a Father: +when thou givest us those humble affections, +that measure of patience in repentance which +becomes thy Children; I shall have no cause to +repent the miseries this Parliament hath occasioned, +when by them thou hast brought me and +my people unfeignedly to repent of the sins we +have committed.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thy grace is infinitely better with our sufferings, +then our Peace could be with our sins.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O thou soveraign goodness and wisdom, who +over-rulest all our Counsels; over-rule also all +our hearts; That the worse things we suffer by +thy Justice, the better we may be by thy mercie.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>As our sins have turned our Antidotes into +Poison, so let thy Grace turn our Poison into +Antidotes.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>As the sins of our Peace disposed us to this +unhappy Warre, so let this War prepare us for +thy blessed Peace.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>That although I have but troublesom Kingdoms +here, yet I may attain to that Kingdom +of Peace in my Heart, and in thy Heaven, +which Christ hath purchased, & thou wilt give +to thy servant (though a sinner) for my Saviours +sake.</i> Amen.</b></p> + +<a name="c2" id="c2"></a> +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page6" id="page6"></a>[page 6]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">2. <i>Upon the Earl of Straffords death</i>.</h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">I</span> +<b>Looked</b> upon my Lord of <i><b>Strafford</b></i>, as a +Gentleman, whose great abilities might +make a Prince rather afraid, then ashamed to +employ him in the greatest affairs of State.</p> + +<p>For those were prone to create in him great +confidence of undertakings, and this was +like enough to betray him to great errors, +and many enemies; whereof he could not but +contract good store, while moving in so high +a sphear, and with so vigorous a lustre, he must +needs (as the Sun) raise many envious exhalations, +which condensed by a popular <i><b>odium</b></i>, +were capable to cast a cloud before the brightest +merit and integrity.</p> + +<p>Though I cannot in my judgement approve +all he did, driven (it may be) by the necessities +of times, and the Temper of that people, +more then led by his own disposition to any +height and rigour of actions: yet I could never +be convinced of any such criminousness in him +as willingly to expose his life to the stroke of +Justice, and malice of his enemies. I never +met with a more unhappy conjuncture of affairs, +then in the businesse of that unfortunate +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page7" id="page7"></a>[page 7]</span> +Earl: when between my own unsatisfiedness +in Conscience, and a necessity (as some told +me) of satisfying the importunities of some +people, I was perswaded by those that I +think wished Me well, to chuse rather what +was safe, then what seemed just; preferring +the outward peace of My Kingdoms with +men, before that inward exactness of Conscience +before God.</p> + +<p>And indeed I am so far from excusing or denying +that compliance on My part (for plenary +consent it was not) to his destruction, whom in +My judgment I thought not, by any clear law, +guilty of death: That I never bare any touch +of Conscience with greater regret: which as a +sign of my repentance, I have often with sorrow +confessed both to God and men, as an act +of so sinfull frailty, that it discovered more a +fear of man, then of God, whose name and +place on earth no man is worthy to bear, who +will avoid inconveniencies of State, by acts of +so high injustice, as no publick convenience can +expiate or compensate.</p> + +<p>I see it a bad exchange to wound a mans own +Conscience, thereby to salve State-sores; to +calm the storms of popular discontents, by stirring +up a tempest in a mans own bosome.</p> + +<p>Nor hath Gods Justice failed in the event +and sad consequences, to shew the world the +fallacy of that Maxime, <b><i>Better one man perish, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page8" id="page8"></a>[page 8]</span> +(though unjustly) then the people be displeased +or destroyed.</i></b></p> + +<p> For, In all likelihood I could never have suffered, +with My people, greater calamities, (yet with +greater comfort) had I vindicated <b><i><b>Straffords</b></i></b> +innocency, at least by denying to Sign that destructive +<b><i>Bill</i></b>, according to that Justice, which +My conscience suggested to Me, then I have +done since I gratified some mens unthankful +importunities with so cruel a favour. And I +have observed, that those, who counselled Me +to sign that Bill, have been so far from receiving +the rewards of such ingratiatings with +the People, that no men have been harassed & +crushed more then they: He onely hath been +least vexed by them, who counselled Me, not +to consent against the vote of My own Conscience: +I hope God hath forgiven Me and them, +the sinful rashness of that business.</p> + +<p>To which being in My soul so fully conscious, +those Judgements God hath pleased to +send upon Me, are so much the more welcom, +as a means (I hope) which his mercy hath sanctified +so to Me, as to make Me repent of that +unjust Act, (for so it was to Me) and for the +future to teach Me, That the best rule of policie +is, to prefer the doing of Justice, before +all enjoyments, and the peace of my Conscience +before the preservation of My Kingdoms.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page9" id="page9"></a>[page 9]</span> + +<p>Nor hath any thing more fortified My resolutions +against all those violent importunities, +which since have sought to gain a like consent +from Me, to Acts, wherein my Conscience is +unsatisfied, then the sharp touches I have had +for what passed Me, in My Lord of <i><b>Straffords</b></i> +business.</p> + +<p>Not that I resolved to have imployed him in +My affairs, against the advise of my Parliament, +but I would not have had any hand in his +Death, of whose Guiltlesness I was better assured, +then any man living could be.</p> + +<p>Nor were the crimes objected against him +so clear, as after a long and fair hearing to +give convincing satisfaction to the Major part +of both Houses; especially that of the Lords, +of whom scarce a third part were present, +when the bill passed that House: And for the +House of Commons, many Gentlemen, disposed +enough to diminish My Lord of <i><b>Straffords</b></i> +greatness and power, yet unsatisfied of +his guilt in Law, durst not condemn him to +die: who for their integrity in their Votes, +were by Posting their Names, exposed to the +popular calumny, hatred and fury; which grew +then so exorbitant in their clamours <i><b>for Justice</b></i>, +(that is, to have both my self and the two +Houses' Vote, and doe as they would have us) +that many ('tis thought) were rather terrified +to concur with the condemning party, then satisfied +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page10" id="page10"></a>[page 10]</span> +that of right they ought so to doe.</p> + +<p>And that after-Act vacating the Authority +of the precedent, for future imitation sufficiently +tels the world, that some remorse touched +even his most implacable enimies, as knowing +he had very hard measure, and such as they +would be very loath should be repeated to +themselves.</p> + +<p>This tendernesse and regret I find in my +soul, for having any hand (and that very unwillingly +God knows) in shedding one mans +bloud unjustly, (though under the colour and +formalities of Justice, and pretences of avoiding +publick mischiefs) which may (I hope) be +some evidence before God and man, to all +posterity, that I am far from bearing justly +the vast load and guilt of all that blood which +hath been shed in this unhappy War; which +some men will needs charge on me, to ease +their own souls, who am, and ever shall be, +more affraid to take away any mans life unjustly +then to lose my own.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>But then, O God, of thy infinit mercies forgive +me that act of sinfull compliance, which +hath greater aggravations upon me then any +man, Since I had not the least temptation of +envy, or malice against him, and by my place +should, at least so farre, have been a preserver</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page11" id="page11"></a>[page 11]</span> +<i>of him, as to have denied my consent to his destruction.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O Lord, I acknowledge my transgression, and +my sin is ever before me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Deliver me from blood-guiltiness O God, thou +God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing +of thy righteousness.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Against thee have I sinned, and done this +evil in thy sight, for thou sawest the contradiction +between my heart and my hand.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Yet cast me not away from thy presence, purge +me with the blood of my Redeemer, and I shall +be clear; wash me with that pretious effusion, +and I shall be whiter then snow.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Teach me to learn Righteousnesse by thy +Iudgements, and to see my frailtie in thy Iustice: +while I was perswaded by shedding one +mans bloud to prevent after-troubles, thou hast +for that, among other sins, brought upon mee, +and upon my Kingdoms, great, long, and heavy +troubles.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Make me to prefer Iustice, which is thy Will, +before all contrary clamours, which are but the +discoveries of mans injurious will.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>It is too much that they have once overcome +me, to please them by displeasing thee: O never +suffer me for any reason of State, to go against +my Reason of Conscience, Which is highly to sin +against thee, the God of Reason, and Iudge of +our Consciences.</i></b></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page12" id="page12"></a>[page 12]</span> + +<p><b><i>Whatever, O Lord, thou seest fit to deprive +me of, yet restore unto me the joy of thy Salvation, +and ever uphold me with thy free Spirit; +which subjects my will to non: but the light of +Reason, Justice, and Religion, which shines in +my Soul; for thou desirest Truth in the inward +parts, and Integritie in the outward expressions.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Lord, hear the voice of thy Sons, and my Saviours +bloud, which speaks better things; O +make me, and my People, to hear the voice of +Joy and Gladness, that the bones which thou +hast broken, may rejoice in thy salvation.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c3" id="c3"></a> +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">3. <i>Vpon His Majesties going to the House of Commons.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">M</span> +<b>Y</b> going to the House of Commons to +demand Justice upon the five Members, +was an act which my Enemies loaded with all +the obloquies and exasperations they could.</p> + +<p>It filled indifferent men with great jealousies +and fears; yea, and many of my Friends +resented it, as a motion rising rather from Passion +then Reason, and not guided with such +discretion as the touchiness of those times required.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page13" id="page13"></a>[page 13]</span> + +<p>But these men knew not the just motives, +and pregnant grounds, with which I thought +myself so furnished, that there needed nothing +to such evidence, as I could have produced +against those I charged, save onely a free +and legall Trial, which was all I desired.</p> + +<p>Nor had I any temptation of displeasure or +revenge against those mens persons, further +then I had discovered those (as I thought) unlawfull +correspondencies they had used, and +engagements they had made to embroyl my +Kingdoms: of all which I missed but little to +have produced Writings under some mens +own hands, who were the chief contrivers of +the following Innovations.</p> + +<p>Providence would not have it so; yet I wanted +not such probabilities as were sufficient to +raise jealousies in any Kings heart, who is not +wholly stupid and neglective of the publick +Peace; which to preserve, my calling in question +half a dozen men, in a fair and legall way +(which God knows, was all my design) could +have amounted to no worse effect, had it succeeded, +then either to do Me and my Kingdom +right, in case they had been found guilty; or +else to have cleared their innocency, and removed +my suspicion: which, as they were not +raised out of any malice, so neither were they +in reason to be smothered.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page14" id="page14"></a>[page 14]</span> + +<p>What flames of discontent this spark (though +I sought by all speedy and possible means to +quench it) soon kindled, all the world is witnesse: +The aspersion which some men cast upon +that action, as if I had designed by force to +assault the House of Commons, and invade +their Priviledge, is so false, that, as God best +knows, I had no such intent; so none that attended +Me could justly gather from any thing +I then said or did, the least intimation of any +such thoughts.</p> + +<p>That I went attended with some Gentlemen, +as it was no unwonted thing for the Majesty +and safety of a King so to be attended, especially +in discontented times; so were my +Followers at that time short of my ordinary +Guard, and no way proportionable to hazard +a tumultuary conflict. Nor were they more scared +at my coming, then I was unassured of not +having some affronts cast upon me, if I had +none to be with Me to preserve a reverence to +Me: for many people had (at that time) learned +to think those hard thoughts, which they +have since abundantly vented against Me, both +by words and deeds.</p> + +<p class="ind">The sum of that businesse was this,</p> + +<p>Those men and their adherents were then +look'd upon by the affrighted vulgar, as greater +Protectors of their Laws and Liberties then my +Self, and so worthier of their protection. I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page15" id="page15"></a>[page 15]</span> +leave them to God and their own Consciences, +who, if guilty of evill machinations, no present +impunity, or popular vindications of +them will be subterfuge sufficient to rescue +them from those exact Tribunals.</p> + +<p>To which, in the obstructions of Justice among +men, we must religiously appeal, as being +an argument to us Christians of that after +unavoidable Judgement, which shall re-judge +what among men is but corruptly decided, or +not at all.</p> + +<p>I endeavoured to have prevented, if God had +seen fit, those future commotions which I foresaw, +would in all likelyhood follow some +mens activity (if not restrained) and so now +hath done to the undoing of many thousands; +the more is the pity.</p> + +<p>But to over-awe the freedom of the Houses, +or to weaken their just Authority by any violent +impressions upon them, was not at all my +design: I thought I had so much Justice and +Reason on my side, as should not have needed +so rough assistance: and I was resolved rather +to bear the repulse with patience, then to use +such hazardous extremities.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>But thou, O Lord art my witnesse in heaven, +and in my Heart: If I have purposed any violence +or oppression against the Innocent: or if +there were any such wickednes in my thoughts.</i></b></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page16" id="page16"></a>[page 16]</span> + +<p><b><i>Then let the enemy persecute my soul, and +tread my life to the ground, and lay mine Honour +in the dust.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou that seest not as man seeth, but lookest +beyond all popular appearances, searching the +heart, and trying the reins, and bringing to +light the hidden things of darknesse, shew thy +self.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let not my afflictions be esteemed (as with +wise and godly men they cannot be) any argument +as my sin, in that matter: more then their +Impunity among good men is any sure token of +their Innocency.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>But forgive them wherin they have done amiss, +though they are not punished for it in this +world.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Save thy servant from the privy conspiracies, +and open violence of bloody and unreasonable +men, according to the uprightness of my heart, +and the innocency of my hands in this matter.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Plead my cause and maintain my right, O +thou that sittest in the Throne, judging rightly, +that thy servant may ever rejoyce in thy salvation.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c4" id="c4"></a> +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page17" id="page17"></a>[page 17]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">4. <i>Upon the Insolency of the Tumults.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">I</span> +<b>Never</b> thought any thing (except our sins) +more ominously presaging all these mischiefs, +which have followed, then those Tumults +in <i><b>London</b></i> and <i><b>Westminster</b></i>, soon after +the convening of this Parliament; which +were not like a storm at Sea, (which yet wants +not its terrour) but like an Earth-quake, shaking +the very foundations of all; then which +nothing in the world hath more of horror.</p> + +<p>As it is one of the most convincing Arguments +that there is a God, while his power sets +bounds to the raging of the Sea: so 'tis no less, +that he restrains the madness of the People. +Nor doth any thing portend more Gods displeasure +against a Nation, then when he suffers +the confluence and clamours of the Vulgar to +passe all boundaries of Laws and reverence to +Authority.</p> + +<p>Which those Tumults did to so high degrees +of Insolence, that they spared not to invade the +Honour and Freedom of the two Houses, menacing, +reproaching, shaking, yea, and assaulting some +Members of both Houses, as they +fancied, or disliked them: Nor did they forbear +most rude and unseemly deportments, +both in contemptuous words and actions, to +my Self and my Court.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page18" id="page18"></a>[page 18]</span> + +<p>Nor was this a short fit or two of shaking, +as an ague, but a quotidian fever, always encreasing +to higher inflammations, impatient of +any mitigation, restraint, or remission.</p> + +<p>First, They must be a guard against those +fears which some men scared themselves and +others withall; when indeed nothing was +more to be feared, and lesse to be used by wise +men, then those tumultuary confluxes of mean +and rude people, who are taught first to petition, +then to protect, then to dictate, at last to +command and over-aw the Parliament.</p> + +<p>All obstructions in Parliament (that is, all +freedom of differing in Votes, and debating +matters with reason and candor) must be taken +away with these Tumults; By these must the +Houses be purged, and all rotten Members (as +they pleased to count them) cast out: By +these the obstinacie of men resolved to discharge +their Consciences, must be subdued; +by these all factious, seditious, and schismaticall +Proposals against Government Ecclesiastical +or Civil, must be backed and abetted, till +they prevailed.</p> + +<p>Generally, who-ever had most mind to bring +forth confusion and ruine upon Church and +State, used the midwifery of those Tumults: +whose riot and impatience was such, that they +would not stay the ripening and season of +Counsels, or fair production of Acts, in the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page19" id="page19"></a>[page 19]</span> +order, gravity, and deliberatenesse befitting a +Parliament; but ripped up with barbarous +cruelty, and forcibly cut out abortive Votes, +such as their Inviters and Encouragers most +fancied.</p> + +<p>Yea, so enormous and detestable were their +outrages, that no sober man could be without +an infinite shame and sorrow to see them so tolerated +and connived at by some; countenanced, +encouraged, and applauded by others.</p> + +<p>What good man had not rather want any +thing he most desired, for the publick good, +then obtain it by such unlawfull and irreligious +means? But mens passions and Gods directions +seldom agree; violent designes and +motions must have sutable engines: such as too +much attend their own ends, seldom confine +themselves to Gods means. Force must crowd +in what Reason will not lead.</p> + +<p>Who were the chief Demagogues and Patrons +of Tumults, to send for them, to flatter +and embolden them, to direct and tune +their clamorous importunities, some men yet +living are too conscious to pretend ignorance: +God in his due time will let these see, That +those were no fit means to be used for attaining +his ends.</p> + +<p>But as it is no strange thing for the Sea to +rage, when strong winds blow upon it; so neither +for Multitudes to become insolent, when +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page20" id="page20"></a>[page 20]</span> +they have Men of some reputation for parts +and piety to set them on.</p> + +<p>That which made their rudenesse most formidable, +was, that many Complaints being +made, and Messages sent by my Self, and, +some of both Houses; yet no Order for redress +could be obtained with any vigour and +efficacie, proportionable to the malignity of +that now far-spread disease, and predominant +mischief.</p> + +<p>Such was some mens stupidity, that they feared +no inconvenience; Others petulancie, that +they joyed to see their betters shamefully outraged +and abused, while they knew their onely +security consisted in vulgar flattery: so insensible +were they of Mine, or the two Houses +common Safety and Honours.</p> + +<p>Nor could ever any Order be obtained, impartially +to examine, censure, and punish the +known Boutefeus, and impudent Incendiaries, +who boasted of the influence they had and +used, to convoke those Tumults as their advantages +served.</p> + +<p>Yea, some (who should have been wiser +States-men) owned them as friends, commending +their Courage, Zeal, and Industry; which +to sober men could seem no better then that +of the Divel, who <i><b>goes about seeking whom he +may</b></i> deceive and <i><b>devour.</b></i></p> + +<p>I confesse, when I found such a deafness, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page21" id="page21"></a>[page 21]</span> +that no Declaration from the Bishops, who +were first fouly insolenced and assaulted; nor +yet from other Lords and Gentlemen of Honor; +nor yet from my self could take place +for the due repression of these Tumults; and +securing not only Our freedom in Parliament, +but Our very persons in the Streets; I thought +My self not bound by my presence to provoke +them to higher boldness and contempts; I +hoped by my with-drawing to give time, both +for the ebbing of their tumultuous furie, and +others regaining some degrees of modesty and +sober sense.</p> + +<p>Some may interpret it as an effect of Pusillanimitie +in any man for popular terrors to desert +his publick station. But I think it a hardiness, +beyond true valor, for a wise man to set himself +against the breaking in of a Sea; which to resist, +at present, threatens imminent danger; +but to withdraw, gives it space to spend its fury, +and gains a fitter time to repair the breach. +Certainly a gallant man had rather fight to +great disadvantages for number and place in +the field, in an orderly way, then skuffle with +an undisciplined rabble.</p> + +<p>Some suspected and affirmed that I meditated +a war (when I went from <i><b>Whitehal</b></i> only to redeem +my Person & Conscience from violence) +God knows I did not think of a war. Nor will +any prudent man conceive that I would by so +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page22" id="page22"></a>[page 22]</span> +many former and some after-acts, have so +much weakned My self, if I had purposed to +engage in a war, which to decline by all means, +I denyed my self in so many particulars: 'Tis +evident I had then no Army to fly unto, for +protection or vindication.</p> + +<p>Who can blame me, or any other for a withdrawing +our selves from the daily baitings of +the Tumults, not knowing whether their fury +and discontent might not fly so high, as to +worry and tear those in pieces, whom as yet +they but played with in their paws? God, who +is my sole Judg, is my Witness in Heaven, that +I never had any thoughts of going from My +house at <i><b>Whitehall</b></i>, if I could have had but any +reasonable fair Quarter; I was resolved to bear +much, and did so, but I did not think my self +bound to prostitute the Majesty of my place +and Person, the safety of my Wife and children, +to those who are prone to insult most, when +they have objects and opportunity, most capable +of their rudeness and petulancy.</p> + +<p>But this business of the Tumults (whereof +some have given already an account to God, +others yet living, know themselves desperatly +guilty) time and the guilt of many hath so smothered +up and buried, that I think it best to +leave it as it is: Only I beleeve the just Avenger +of all disorders, will in time make those men, +and that City, see their sin in the glass of their +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page23" id="page23"></a>[page 23]</span> +Punishment. 'Tis more then an even lay, they +may one day see themselves punished by that +way they offended.</p> + +<p>Had this Parliament, as it was in its first Election +and Constitution, sate full and free, the +Members of both Houses being left to their +freedom of Voting, as in all reason, honor, and +Religion, they should have been; I doubt +not but things would have been so carried, +as would have given no less content to all +good men, then they wished or expected.</p> + +<p>For, I was resolved to hear reason in all +things, and to consent to it so far as I could +comprehend it: but as Swine are to Gardens +and orderly Plantations, so are Tumults to +Parliaments, and Plebeian concourses to publick +Councels, turning all into disorders and +sordid confusions.</p> + +<p>I am prone sometimes to think, That had I +called this Parliament to any other place in +<i><b>England</b></i>, (as I might opportunely enough have +done) the sad consequences, in all likelihood, +with Gods blessing, might have been prevented. +A Parliament would have been welcom +in any place; no place afforded such confluence +of various and vitious humors, as that where +it was unhappily convened. But we must +leave all to God, who orders our disorders, +and magnifies his wisdom most, when our +follies and miseries are most discovered.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page24" id="page24"></a>[page 24]</span> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>But thou O Lord art My refuge and defence</i>: +<i>to thee I may safely flie, who rulest the raging of +the Sea, and the madnesse of the People.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>The flouds, O Lord, the flouds are come in upon +Me, and are ready to overwhelm Me.</i></b></p> + + +<p><b><i>I look upon My sinnes and the sinnes of My +people, (which are the tumults of our Souls against +thee O Lord) as the just cause of these popular +inundations which thou permittest to overbear +all the banks of Loyalty, Modesty, Laws, +Justice, and Religion.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>But thou that gatheredst the Waters into +one place, and madest the dry land to appear, +and after did'st asswage the floud which drowned +the world, by the word of thy power; +Rebuke those beasts of the people, and deliver +Me from the rudenesse and strivings of the +multitude.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Restore, We beseech thee, unto Us, the freedoms +of Our Councels and Parliaments, make Us unpassionately +to see the light of Reason, and Religion, +and with all order and gravity to follow +it, as becomes Men and Christians; so shall We +praise thy Name, who art the God of order and +counsel.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>What man cannot, or will not represse, thy Omnipotent +Justice can and will.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O Lord, give them that are yet living, a timely +sense and sorrow for their great sinne, whom +thou knowest guilty of raising or not suppressing</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page25" id="page25"></a>[page 25]</span> +<i>those disorders: Let shame here and not suffering +hereafter be their punishment.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Set bounds to our passions by Reason, to our +errors by Truth, to our seditions by Laws duely +executed, to our schismes by Charitie, that +we may be, as thy</i> Jerusalem, <i>a Citie at unity +in it self.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>This grant, O My God, in thy good time, for +Jesus Christs sake.</i> Amen.</b></p> + +<a name="c5" id="c5"></a> +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page26" id="page26"></a>[page 26]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">5. <i>Upon His Majesties passing the</i> <span class="sc">Bill</span> <i>for the Trienniall Parliaments: +And after, setling this, during the pleasure of the two Houses</i>.</h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">T</span> +<b>Hat</b> the world might be fully confirmed +in my purposes at first, to contribute +what in Justice, Reason, Honour +and Conscience I could, to the happy success +of this Parliament, (which had in Me no +other Designe, but the generall good of My +Kingdoms) I willingly passed the <span class="sc">Bill</span> for +Trienniall Parliaments: which, as gentle and +seasonable Physick, might (if well applied) +prevent any distempers from getting any head, +or prevailing; especially, if the remedy proved +not a remedy beyond all remedy.</p> + +<p>I conceived, this Parliament would finde +work with convenient Recesses for the first +three years: But I did not imagine, that some +men would thereby have occasioned more +work then they found to do, by undoing so +much as they found well done to their hands. +Such is some mens activity, that they will needs +make work rather then want it; and chuse to +be doing amiss, rather then do nothing.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page27" id="page27"></a>[page 27]</span> + +<p>When that first Act seemed too scanty to +satisfie some mens fears, and compass publick +Affairs; I was perswaded to grant that +<span class="sc">Bill</span> of sitting during the pleasure of the +Houses; which amounted, in some mens sense, +to as much as the perpetuating of this Parliament. +By this Act of highest confidence, I hoped +for ever to shut out, and lock the door upon +all present jealousies, and future mistakes: +I confess, I did not thereby intend to shut my +Self out of doors, as some men have now requited +me.</p> + +<p>True, it was an Act unparallell'd by any of +my Predecessors; yet cannot in reason admit +of any worse interpretation then this, of an +extreme confidence I had, That my Subjects +would not make ill use of an Act, by which I +declared so much to trust them, as to deny my +Self in so high a point of my Prerogative.</p> + +<p>For good Subjects will never think it just or +fit, that my Condition should be worse, by my +bettering theirs; Nor indeed would it have +been so in the events, if some men had known +as well with moderation to use, as with earnestness +to desire advantages of doing good +or evill.</p> + +<p>A continuall Parliament (I thought) would +but keep the Common-weale in tune, by preserving +Laws in their due execution and vigour: +wherein My interest lies more then any +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page28" id="page28"></a>[page 28]</span> +mans, since by those Laws My Rights as a +<span class="sc">King</span>, would be preserved no less then My +Subjects; which is all I desired. More then +the Law gives Me I would not have, and less +the meanest Subject should not.</p> + +<p>Some (as <i>I</i> have heard) gave it out, that I +soon repented me of that setling Act: and +many would needs perswade Me, <i>I</i> had cause +so to do: But I could not easily nor suddenly +suspect such ingratitude in men of Honour, +That the more I granted them, the less <i>I</i> +should have and enjoy with them. <i>I</i> still counted +my self undiminished by my largest Concessions, +if by them <i>I</i> might gain and confirm +the love of My people.</p> + +<p>Of which I do not yet despair, but that +God will still bless Me with increase of it, +when men shall have more leisure and less +prejudice; that so with unpassionate representations +they may reflect upon those (as I +think) not more Princely then friendly contributions, +which I granted toward the perpetuating +of their happiness: who are now only +miserable in this, That some mens ambition +will not give them leave to enjoy what I intended +for their good.</p> + +<p>Nor do I doubt, but that in Gods due time, +the Loyal and cleared affections of My people +will strive to return such retributions of Honour +and love to Me or My Posteritie, as may +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page29" id="page29"></a>[page 29]</span> +fully compensate both the Acts of my confidence, +and my Sufferings for them; which +(God knows) have been neither few; nor +small, nor short; occasioned chiefly by a perswasion +I had, that I could not grant too much, +or distrust too little, to men, that being professedly +my Subjects, pretended singular piety, +and religious strictness.</p> + +<p>The injurie of all Injuries is, That which +some men will needs load Me withall; as if I +were a wilfull and resolved Occasioner of my +Own, and my Subjects Miseries; while (as +they confidently, but (God knows) falsly divulge) +I repining at the establishment of this +Parliament, endeavoured by force and open +hostility, to undoe what by my Royall Assent I +had done. Sure, it had argued a very short +sight of things, and extreme fatuity of minde +in Me, so far to binde my Own hands at their +request, if I had shortly meant to have used a +sword against them. God knows, though I had +then a sense of Injuries; yet not such as to think +them worth vindicating by a War: I was not +then compelled, as since, to injure my Self by +their not using favours with the same candour +wherewith they were conferred. The Tumults +indeed threatned to abuse all Acts of Grace, +and turne them into wantonnesse; but I +thought at length their own fears, whose +black arts first raised up those turbulent spirits, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page30" id="page30"></a>[page 30]</span> +would force them to conjure them down again.</p> + +<p>Nor if I had justly resented any indignities +put upon me, or others, was I then in any capacitie +to have taken just revenge in an hostile +and warlike way, upon those, whom I knew so +well fortified in the love of the meaner sort of +the people, that I could not have given my Enemies +greater and more desired advantages +against Me, then by so unprincely inconstancie, +to have assaulted them with Armies, thereby +to scatter them, whom but lately I had solemnly +setled by an Act of Parliament.</p> + +<p>God knows, I longed for nothing more, +then that my Self, and my Subjects might quietly +enjoy the fruits of my many Condescendings.</p> + +<p>It had been a Course full of sin, as well as +of Hazard and Dishonor; for Me to go about +the cutting up of that by the Sword, which +I had so lately planted, so much (as I thought) +to my Subjects content, and mine Own too, +in all probability, if some men had not feared +where no fear was, whose security consisted in +fearing others.</p> + +<p>I thank God, I know so well the sincerity +and uprightness of my own Heart in passing +that great <span class="sc">Bill</span>, which exceeded the very +thoughts of former times; That although I +may seem less a Polititian to men, yet I need +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page31" id="page31"></a>[page 31]</span> +no secret distinctions or evasions before God, +nor had I any reservations in my own Soul +when I passed it: nor repenting after, till I saw +that my letting some men go up to the pinnacle +of the Temple, was a temptation to them to +cast me down headlong.</p> + +<p>Concluding, That without a miracle, Monarchie +it self, together with Me, could not +but be dashed in pieces by such a precipitous +fall as they intended: whom God in mercy +forgive, and make them see at length, That as +many Kingdoms as the Divell shewed our +Saviour, and the Glory of them (if they could +be at once enjoyed by them) are not worth the +gaining, by ways of sinfull ingratitude and +dishonour, which hazards a soul, worth more +Worlds then this hath Kingdoms.</p> + +<p>But God hath hitherto preserved Me, and +made Me to see, That it is no strange thing +for men, left to their own passions, either to +do much evill themselves, or abuse the overmuch +goodness of others, whereof an ungratefull +surfet is the most desperate and incurable +disease.</p> + +<p>I cannot say properly that I repent of that +Act, since <i>I</i> have no reflections upon it as a sin +of my Wil, though an errour of too charitable +a judgment: Only I am sorry other mens eys +should be evill, because mine were good.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page32" id="page32"></a>[page 32]</span> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>To Thee (O my God) do I still appeale, whose +All-discerning Justice sees through all the disguises +of mens pretensions, and deceitfull darknesse +of their hearts.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou gavest Me a heart to grant much to +My Subjects; and now I need a Heart fitter to +suffer much for some of them.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>They will be done, though never so much to +the crossing of ours, even when we hope to doe +what might be most comfortable to thine and +theirs too; who pretended they aymed at nothing +else.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let thy grace teach me wisely to enjoy as +well the frustratings, as the fulfilling of My +best hopes, and most specious desires.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>I see while I thought to allay others fears, I +have raised My owne; and by setling them, +have unsetled My self.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thus have they requited Me evill for good, +and hatred for My good will towards them.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O Lord be thou My Pilot in this darke and +dangerous storme, which never admits My returne +to the Port whence I set out, nor My making +any other, with that safety and honour +which I designed.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Tis easie for Thee to keep Me safe in the +love and confidence of My people; nor is it hard +for Thee to preserve Me amidst the unjust hatred +and jealousies of too many, which thou hast +suffered so far to prevaile upon Me, as to be able</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page33" id="page33"></a>[page 33]</span> +<i>to pervert and abuse my acts of greatest +Indulgence to them, and assurance of them.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>But no favours from Me can make others +more guiltie then My self may be of misusing +those many and great ones, which Thou, O Lord, +hast conferred on Me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>I beseech thee, give Me and them such Repentance +as thou wilt accept, and such Grace as we +may not abuse.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Make me so far happy, as to make right use of +others abuses; and by their failings of Me, to reflect +with a reforming displeasure upon My offences +against Thee.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>So, although for My sins I am by other mens +sins deprived of thy temporall blessings, yet I may +be happie to enjoy the comfort of thy Mercies, +which often raise the greatest Sufferers to be the +most glorious Saints.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c6" id="c6"></a> +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page34" id="page34"></a>[page 34]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">6. <i>Upon His Majesties retirement from</i> Westminster.</h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">W</span> +<b>Ith</b> what unwillingness I withdrew +from <i><b>Westminster</b></i>, let them +judg, who, unprovided of tackling +and victual, are forced to Sea by a Storm; +yet better do so, then venture splitting or sinking +on a Lee-shore.</p> + +<p>I stayed at <i><b>Whitehall</b></i>, till I was driven away +by shame, more then fear, to see the barbarous +rudeness of those Tumults, who resolved +they would take the boldness to demand any +thing, and not leave either my Self, or the +Members of Parliament the liberty of our +Reason and Conscience to deny them any +thing.</p> + +<p>Nor was this intolerable oppression my case +alone, (though chiefly Mine;) For the Lords +and Commons might be content to be over-voted +by the <i>major</i> part of their Houses, when +they had used each their own freedom.</p> + +<p>Whose agreeing Votes were not by any Law +or reason conclusive to my Judgment; nor +can they include, or carry with them my consent, +whom they represent not in any kinde; +Nor am I further bound to agree with the +Votes of both Houses, then I see them agree +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page35" id="page35"></a>[page 35]</span> +with the will of God, with my just Rights, as +a King, and the generall good of my people. I +see that, as many men, they are seldom of one +minde; and I may oft see, that the major part +of them are not in the right.</p> + +<p>I had formerly declared to sober and moderate +minds, how desirous I was to give all +just content, when I agreed to so many Bils, +which had been enough to secure and satisfie +all; if some mens Hydropick unsatiableness +had not learned to thirst the more, by how +much more they drank; whom no fountain of +Royall bounty was able to overcome: so resolved +they seemed, either utterly to exhaust it, +or barbarously to obstruct it.</p> + +<p>Sure, it ceases to be Counsell, when not +Reason is used, as to men, to perswade; but +force and terrour, as to beasts, to drive and +compel men to assent to what-ever tumultuary +Patrons shall project. He deserves to be a +slave without pity or redemption, that is content +to have the rationall soveraignty of his +Soul, and liberty of his Will and words so captivated.</p> + +<p>Nor do I think my Kingdoms so considerable, +as to preserve them with the forfeiture +of that freedom which cannot be denied me as +a King, because it belongs to me as a man, and +a Christian, owning the dictates of none, but +God to be above me, as obliging me to consent. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page36" id="page36"></a>[page 36]</span> +Better for Me to die enjoying this Empire +of my Soul, which Subjects me only to +God, so farr as by Reason or Religion he directs +me, then live with the Title of a King, if +it should carry such a vassalage with it, as not +to suffer me to use my Reason and Conscience, +in which I declare as a King, to like or +dislike.</p> + +<p>So farr am I from thinking the majesty of +the Crown of <i><b>England</b></i> to be bound by any +Coronation Oath in a blinde and brutish +formalitie, to consent to whatever its subjects +in Parliament shall require; as some men will +needs inferr; while denying me any power +of a Negative voice as King, they are not ashamed +to seek to deprive me of the libertie of +using my Reason with a good Conscience, +which themselves, and all the Commons of +<i><b>England</b></i> enjoy proportionable to their influence +on the publique; who would take it very +ill to be urged, not to deny, what ever my +self, as King, or the House of Peers with me +should, not so much desire as enjoyn them to +pass. I think my Oath fully discharged in +that point, by my Governing only by such +Laws, as my People with the House of +Peers have Chosen, and my self have consented +to. I shall never think my self conscientiously +tied to go as oft against my conscience, +as I should consent to such new Proposals, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page37" id="page37"></a>[page 37]</span> +which my Reason, in Justice, Honor and +Religion bids Me deny.</p> + +<p>Yet so tender I see some men are of their being +subject to Arbitrary Government, (that is, +the Law of anothers will, to which themselves +give no consent) that they care not with how +much dishonour and absurdity they make their +King the only man, that must be subject to the +will of others, without having power left Him +to use His own Reason, either in Person, or by +any other Representation.</p> + +<p>And if My dissentings at any time were (as +som have suspected, and uncharitably avowed) +out of error, opinion, activeness, weakness, +or wilfulness, and what they call Obstinacy +in Me (which not true Judgment of things, +but some vehement prejudice or passion hath +fixed on My minde;) yet can no man think it +other then the Badge and method of Slavery, +by savage rudeness, and importunate obtrusions +of violence, to have the mist of his Errour +and Passion dispelled, which is a shadow of +Reason, and must serve those that are destitute +of the substance. Sure that man cannot be +blameable to God or man, who seriously endeavours +to see the best reason of things, and +faithfully followes what he takes for Reason: +The uprightnesse of his intentions will excuse +the possible failings of his understanding; If a +Pilot at Sea cannot see the Pole-star, it can +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page38" id="page38"></a>[page 38]</span> +be no fault in him to steer his course by such +Stars as do best appear to him. It argues rather, +those men to be conscious of their defects +of Reason, and convincing Arguments, who +call in the assistance of meer force to carry on +the weakness of their Counsels and Proposals. +I may, in the truth and uprightness of +my heart, protest before God and men, That +I never wilfully opposed, or denied any thing +that was in a fair way, after full and free debates +propounded to me by the two Houses, +further then I thought in good reason I might, +and was bound to do.</p> + +<p>Nor did any thing ever please me more, +then when my Judgment so concurred with +theirs, that I might with a good Conscience +consent to them: Yea, in many things, where +not absolute and morall necessity of Reason, +but temporary convenience in point of Honour +was to be considered, I chose rather to +deny my Self, then Them; as preferring that +which they thought necessary for my peoples +good, before what I saw but convenient for +my Self.</p> + +<p>For I can be content to recede much from +my Own Interests, and Personall Rights, of +which I conceive my Self to be master: but in +what concerns Truth, Justice, the Right of +the Church, and my Crown, together with +the generall good of my Kingdoms: (all +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page39" id="page39"></a>[page 39]</span> +which I am bound to preserve as much as +morally lies in me;) here I am, and ever shall +be fixt and resolute, nor shall any man gain my +consent to that, wherein my heart gives my +hand or tongue the Lie; nor will I be brought +to affirm that to men, which in my Conscience +I denied before God. I will rather chuse +to wear a Crown of Thorns with my Saviour, +then to exchange that of Gold (which +is due to Me) for one of Lead, whose embased +flexibleness shall be forced to bend, and comply +to the various, and oft contrary dictates of +any Factions: when in stead of Reason, and +Publick concernments, they obtrude nothing +but what makes for the interest of parties, and +flows from the particularities of private wils +and passions.</p> + +<p>I know no resolutions more worthy a Christian +King, then to prefer His Conscience before +His Kingdoms.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>O my God preserve thy servant in this Native, +Rationall and Religious freedome; For this I beleeve +is thy will, that we should maintain: who, +though thou dost justly require us to submit our +understandings and wils to thine; whose wisdom +and goodnesse can neither erre, nor misguide us, +and so far to deny our carnall reason, in order +to thy sacred Mysteries and Commands, that we +should beleeve and obey, rather then dispute them;</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page40" id="page40"></a>[page 40]</span> +<i>yet dost thou expect from us, only such a reasonable +service of thee, as not to do any thing for +thee, against our consciences: and as to the desires +of men, enjoinest us to try all things by the +touch-ston of reason and Lawes, which are the +rules of Civill Justice; and to declare our consents +to that only which our Judgments approve.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou knowest, ô Lord, how unwilling I was +to desert that place, in which thou hast set Me, +and whereto the affairs of My Kingdoms at +present did call me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>My People can witness how far I have been +content for their good, to deny My self, in what +thou hast subjected to My disposall.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O let not the unthankfull importunities, and +tumultuary violence of some mens Immoderat +demands, ever betray Me to that degenerous +and unmanly slavery, which should make Me +strengthen them by My consent in those things +which I think in My conscience to be against +thy glory, the good of My subjects, and the discharge +of My own duty to Reason and Justice.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Make me willing to suffer the greatest indignities +and injuries they press upon Me, rather +then commit the least sin against My Conscience.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let the just Liberties of My people be (as +well they may) preserved in fair and equall +waies, without the slavery of My soul.</i></b></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page41" id="page41"></a>[page 41]</span> + +<p><b><i>Thou that hast invested Me by thy favours, +in the power of a Christian King, suffer Me not +to subject My Reason to other mens passions, +and designes, which to Me seem unreasonable, +unjust and irreligious: So shall I serve thee in +the truth and uprightness of My heart, though +I cannot satisfie these men.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Though I be driven from among them, yet +give Me grace to walk, alwaies uprightly before +thee.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Lead Me in the way of Truth and Justice, +for these, I know, will bring Me at last to peace +and happiness with thee; though for these I +have much trouble among men.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>This I beg of thee for my Saviours sake.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c7" id="c7"></a> +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">7. <i>Upon the Queenes departure and absence out of</i> England.</h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">A</span> +<b>Lthough</b> I have much cause to be +troubled at My Wifes departure from +Me, and out of My Dominions; yet +not Her absence, so much, as the scandall of +that necessity which drives her away, doth +afflict Me. That She should be compelled by +my own Subjects, and those pretending to be +Protestants, to withdraw for Her safety: +This being the first example of any Protestant +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page42" id="page42"></a>[page 42]</span> +Subjects, that have taken up Arms against their +King, a Protestant: For I look upon this now +done in England, as another Act of the same +Tragedie which was lately begun in Scotland; +the brands of that fire being ill quenched, have +kindled the like flames here. I fear such motions +(so little to the adorning of the Protestant +profession) may occasion a further alienation +of mind, and divorce of affections in Her +from that Religion, which is the onely thing +wherein we differ.</p> + +<p>Which yet God can (and I pray he would) in +time take away; and not suffer these practices +to be any obstruction to Her judgment, since it +is the motion of those men (for the most part) +who are yet to seek and settle their Religion +for Doctrine, Government and good manners, +and so not to be imputed to the true English +Protestants, who continue firm to their former +setled Principles and Laws.</p> + +<p>I am sorry my relation to so deserving a +Ladie, should be any occasion of her danger +and affliction; whose merits would have served +her for a protection among the savage Indians: +while their rudeness and barbaritie +knows not so perfectly to hate all Vertues, as +some mens subtiltie doth: among whom I yet +think few are so malicious as to hate Her for +her Self: The fault it, that She is my Wife.</p> + +<p>All Justice then, as well as Affection, commands +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page43" id="page43"></a>[page 43]</span> +me to studie her Securitie, who is only +in danger for my sake; I am content to be tossed, +weather-beaten, and shipwrack'd, so as she +may be in safe Harbour.</p> + +<p>This comfort I shall injoy by her safety in +the midst of my Personall dangers, that I can +perish but half, if she be preserved: in whose +memory and hopefull Posterity, I may yet survive +the malice of my Enemies, although they +should be satiated with my bloud.</p> + +<p>I must leave her and them to the Love and +Loyaltie of my good Subjects; and to his protection, +who is able to punish the faults of +Princes, and no less able to revenge the injuries +done to them, by those who in all dutie and +Allegiance ought to have made good that +safetie, which the Laws chiefly provide for +Princes.</p> + +<p>But common civilitie is in vain expected +from those that dispute their Loyaltie: Nor +can it be safe (for any relation) to a King, to +tarry among them that are shaking hands with +their Allegiance, under pretence of laying faster +hold on their Religion.</p> + +<p>'Tis pitie so noble and peaceful a Soul should +see, much more suffer the rudeness of those, +who must make up their want of Justice, with +inhumanity and impudence.</p> + +<p>Her sympathie with Me in my afflictions, +will make her vertue shine with greater lustre, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page44" id="page44"></a>[page 44]</span> +as starrs in the darkest nights; and assure the +envious world, that she loves me, not my fortunes.</p> + +<p>Neither of us but can easily forgive, since We +do not much blame the unkindness of the Generality +and Vulgar: for we see God is pleased +to try both our patience, by the most self-punishing +sin, the Ingratitude of those, who having +eaten of Our bread, and being enriched with +Our bounty, have Scornfully lift up themselves +against Us; and those of Our own +Houshold are become Our enemies. I pray +God lay not their sinne to their charge: who +think to satisfie all obligations to duty, by their +Corban of Religion: and can less endure to see, +then to sin against their benefactors as well as +their Soveraign.</p> + +<p>But even that policy of my enemies is so farr +veniall, as it was necessary to their designs, by +scandalous articles, and all irreverent demeanour, +to seek to drive her out of my Kingdoms; +left by the influence of her example, eminent +for love as a Wife, and loyaltie as a Subject, she +should have converted to, or retained in their +love and loyaltie, all those whom they had a +purpose to pervert.</p> + +<p>The less I may be blest with her company, +the more I will retire to God and my own +Heart, whence no malice can banish Her. My +enemies may envie, but they can never deprive +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page45" id="page45"></a>[page 45]</span> +me of the enjoyment of her vertues, while I +enjoy my self.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>Thou, O Lord, whose Justice at present sees fit +to scatter us, let thy mercie, in thy due time, reunite +us on earth, if it be thy will; however bring +us both at last to thy heavenly Kingdom.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Preserve us from the hands of our despitefull +and deadly enemies; and prepare us by our sufferings +for thy presence.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Though we differ in some things, as to Religion, +(which is my greatest temporall infelicitie) yet +Lord give and accept the sinceritie of our affections, +which desire to seek, to finde, to embrace every +Truth of thine.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let both our hearts agree in the love of thy self, +and Christ crucified for us.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Teach us both what thou wouldst have us to +know, in order to thy glory, our publique relations, +and our souls eternal good, and make us carefull to +do what good we know.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let neither Ignorance of what is necessary to +be known, nor unbelief, or disobedience to +what we know, be our miserie, or our wilfull +default.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let not this great Scandall of those my Subjects, +which profess the same Religion with me, +be any hindrance to her love of any Truth thou +wouldst have her to learn, nor any hardning of her +in any error thou wouldst have cleared to her.</i></b></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page46" id="page46"></a>[page 46]</span> + +<p><b><i>Let Mine and other mens constancie be an Antidote +against the poyson of their example.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let the truth of that Religion I professe be +represented to her judgment, with all the beauties +of humilitie, loyaltie, charitie, and peaceablenesse; +which are the proper fruits and ornaments of it: +Not in the odious disguise of Levitie, Schism, Heresie, +Noveltie, Crueltie and Disloyaltie, which +some mens practices have put upon it.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let her see thy sacred and saving Truths as +Thine; that she may believe, love and obey them +as Thine, cleared from all rust and drosse of humane +mixtures.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>That in the glasse of thy Truth Shee may see +thee in those Mercies which thou hast offered to us +in thy Son Jesus Christ, our onely Saviour, and +serve thee in all those holy Duties, which most agree +with his holy Doctrine, and most imitable +example.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>The experience we have of the vanitie and uncertaintie +of all humane Glorie and Greatnesse in +our scatterings and eclypses, let it make us both +so much the more ambitious to be invested in those +durable Honours and perfections which are onely +to be found in thy self, and obtained throuqh Jesus +Christ.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c8" id="c8"></a> +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page47" id="page47"></a>[page 47]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">8. <i>Upon His Majesties repulse at</i> Hull, <i>and the fates of the</i> Hothams.</h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">M</span> +<b>Y</b> repulse at <i>Hull</i> seemed at the first +view an act of so rude disloyalty, that +my greatest Enemies had scarce confidence +enough to abett or own it: It was the +first overt Essay to be made, how patiently I +could bear the losse of my Kingdoms.</p> + +<p>God knows, it affected me more with shame +and sorrow for others, then with anger for my +Self; nor did the affront done to me, trouble +me so much as their sin, which admitted no +colour or excuse.</p> + +<p>I was resolved how to bear this, and much +more with patience: But I foresaw they could +hardly contain themselves within the compass +of this one unworthy act, who had effrontery +enough to commit or countenance it. +This was but the hand of that cloud, which +was soon after to overspread the whole Kingdom, +and cast all into disorder and darkness.</p> + +<p>For 'tis among the wicked Maximes of bold +and disloyall undertakers: That bad actions +must always be seconded with worse, and rather +not begun, then not carried on; for they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page48" id="page48"></a>[page 48]</span> +think the retreat more dangerous then the +assault, and hate repentance more then perseverance +in a fault.</p> + +<p>This gave me to see clearly thorow all the +pious disguises, and soft palliations of some +men; whose words were sometime smoother +then oil, but now I saw they would prove very +swords.</p> + +<p>Against which I having (as yet) no defence, +but that of a good Conscience, thought it My +best policie (with patience) to bear what I +could not remedie: And in this (I thank God) +I had the better of <i><b>Hotham</b></i>, that no disdain, or +emotion of passion transported Me, by the indignitie +of his carriage, to do or say any thing +unbeseeming My self, or unsuitable to that +temper, which, in greatest injuries, I think, +best becomes a Christian, as coming nearest to +the great example of Christ.</p> + +<p>And indeed, I desire alwaies more to remember +I am a Christian, then a King; for what the +Majesty of one might justly abhor, the Charity +of the other is willing to bear; what the height +of a King tempteth to revenge, the humilitie of +a Christian teacheth to forgive, keeping in +compass all those impotent passions, whose +excess injures a man more then his greatest enemies +can; for these give their malice a full +impression on our souls, which otherwise cannot +reach very far, nor do us much hurt.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page49" id="page49"></a>[page 49]</span> + +<p>I cannot but observe how God not long after +so pleaded and avenged my cause, in the eye +of the world, that the most wilfully blind cannot +avoid the displeasure to see it, and with +some remorse and fears to own it as a notable +stroke, and prediction of divine vengeance.</p> + +<p>First, Sir <i><b>John Hotham</b></i> unreproched, unthreatned, +uncursed by any language or secret +imprecation of mine, onely blasted with the +conscience of his own wickednesse, and falling +from one inconstancy to another, not long +after paies his own and his eldest Sons heads, +as forfeiture of their disloyalty, to those men, +from whom surely he might have expected an +other reward, then thus to divide their heads +from their bodies, whose hearts with them +were divided from their <span class="sc">King</span>.</p> + +<p>Nor is it strange that they who employed +them at first in so high a service, and so successfull +to them, should not finde mercy enough +to forgive Him, who had so much premerited +of them: For, Apostacy unto Loyalty some +men account the most unpardonable sin.</p> + +<p>Nor did a solitary vengeance serve the turn, +the cutting off one head in a Family is not enough +to expiate the affront done to the head +of the Common-weal. The eldest Son must be +involved in the punishment, as he was infected +with the sin of the Father, against the Father +of his Country: Root and branch God cuts off +in one day.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page50" id="page50"></a>[page 50]</span> + +<p>These Observations are obvious to every +fancie: God knows, I was so far from rejoycing +in the <i>Hothams</i> ruine, (though it +were such as was able to give the greatest +thirst for revenge a full draught, being executed +by them who first employed him against +Me) that I so far pitied him, as I thought he at +first acted more against the light of his Conscience, +then I hope many other men do in the +same Cause.</p> + +<p>For, he was never thought to be of that +superstitious sowrenesse which some men pretend +to in matters of Religion, which so darkens +their judgment, that they cannot see any +thing of Sin and Rebellion in those means they +use, with intents to reform to their Models, of +what they call Religion, who think all is gold +of Piety, which doth but glister with a shew of +Zeal and Fervencie.</p> + +<p>Sir <i><b>John Hotham</b></i> was (I think) a man of another +temper, and so most liable to those downright +temptations of Ambition, which have no +cloak or cheat of Religion to impose upon +themselves or others.</p> + +<p>That which makes me more pitie him, is, +that after he began to have some inclinations +towards a repentance for his sin, and reparation +of his duty to Me, he should be so unhappie +as to fall into the hands of their Justice, +and not my mercie, who could as willingly +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page51" id="page51"></a>[page 51]</span> +have forgiven him, as he could have asked that +favor of Me.</p> + +<p>For I think clemency a debt which we +ought to pay to those that crave it, when we +have cause to believe they would not after abuse +it, since God himself suffers us not to pray +any thing for his mercie, but only praiers and +praises.</p> + +<p>Poor Gentleman, he is now become a noteable +monument of unprosperous disloialtie, +teaching the world by so bad and unfortunate +a spectacle, that the rude carriage of a Subject +towards his Soveraign carries alwaies its own +vengeance, & an unseparable shadow with it, +and those oft prove the most fatall, and implacable +Executioners of it, who were the first +Imployers in the service.</p> + +<p>After-times will dispute it, whether <i><b>Hotham</b></i> +were more infamous at <i>Hull</i>, or at <i>Tower-hill</i>; +though 'tis certain that no punishment so +stains a mans Honour, as wilfull expectations +of unworthy actions; which besides the conscience +of the sin, brands with most indeliable +characters of infamy, the name and memory +to posterity, who not engaged in the Faction +of the times, have the most impartiall reflections +on their actions.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>But thou, O Lord, who hast in so remarkable a +way avenged thy Servant, suffer me not to take</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page52" id="page52"></a>[page 52]</span> +<i>any secret pleasure in it, for as his death hath +satisfied the injury he did to me, so let me not by +it gratifie any passion in me, lest I make thy +vengeance to be mine, and consider the affront +against me, more than the sin against thee.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou indeed, without any desire or endevor +of mine, hast made his mischief to return on his +own head, and his violent dealing to come down +on his own pate.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou hast pleaded my cause, even before the +sons of men, and taken the matter into thine +own hands; that men may know it was thy work +and see that thou, Lord, hast done it.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>I do not, I dare not say, so let mine enemies perish.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O Lord! yea Lord, rather give them repentance +pardon and impunity, if it be thy blessed will.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let not thy justice prevent the objects and opportunities +of my mercy; yea, let them live and +amend who have most offended me in so high a +nature; that I may have those to forgive; who +bear most proportion in their offences to those +trespasses against thy majesty, which I hope thy +mercy hath forgiven me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Lord lay not their sinns (who yet live) to +their charge for condemnation, but to their consciences +for amendment: Let the Lightning of +this thunderbolt, which hath been so severe a +punishment to one, be a terrour to all.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Discover to them their sinn, who know not</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page53" id="page53"></a>[page 53]</span> +<i>they have done amiss, and scare them from their +sin, that sin of malicious wickednss.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>That preventing thy judgments by their true +repentance, they may escape the stroaks of thine +eternal vengeance.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>And do Thou, O Lord, establish the Throne of +thy Servant in mercie and truth meeting together; +let my Crown ever flourish in righteousness +and peace kissing each other.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Hear my prayer, O Lord, who hast taught us +to pray for, to doe good to, and to love our Enemies +for thy sake; who hast prevented us with +offertures of thy love, even when we were thine +enemies, and hast sent thy Son Jesus Christ +to die for us, when we were disposed to crucifie +Him.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c9" id="c9"></a> +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page54" id="page54"></a>[page 54]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">9. <i>Upon the lifting, and raising Armies against the</i> <span class="sc">King</span>.</h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">I</span> +<b>Find</b> that I am at the same point and posture +I was, when they forced me to leave +<i><b>White-hall</b></i>: what tumults could not do, +an Army must; which is but Tumults lifted, +and enrolled to a better order, but as bad an +end: My recesse have given them confidence +that I may be conquered.</p> + +<p>And so I easily may as to any outward +strength, which, God knows, is little or none +at all: But I have a Soul invinciable through +Gods Grace enabling Me; here I am sure to +be Conquerour, if God will give me such a +measure of Constancy, as to fear him more +then man: and to love the inward peace of +my Conscience, before any outward tranquillity.</p> + +<p>And must I be opposed with force, because +they have not reason whereby to convince +me? O my Soule! be of good courage, they +confesse their known weaknesse, as to truth, +and Justice, who chose rather to contend by +Armies, then by Arguments.</p> + +<p>Is this the reward and thanks that I am to +receive for those many acts of Grace I have +lately passed, and for those many Indignities I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page55" id="page55"></a>[page 55]</span> +have endured? Is there no way left to make +Me a glorious <span class="sc">King</span>, but by my sufferings?</p> + +<p>It is a hard and disputable choice for a King +that loves his People, and desires their love, +either to kill his own Subjects, or to be killed +by them.</p> + +<p>Are the hazards and miseries of Civil War +in the bowels of my most flourishing Kingdom, +the fruits I must now reap after 17 yeers +living and reigning among them with such a +measure of Justice, Peace, Plenty, and Religion, +as all Nations about either admired, or +envied? notwithstanding some miscarriages +in Government, which might escape, rather +through ill counsell of some men driving on +their private ends, or the peevishness of others +envying the Publick should be managed without +them, or the hidden and insuperable necessities +of State, then any propensity, I hope, of +my Self either to injuriousnesse or oppression.</p> + +<p>Whose innocent bloud, during my Reign, +have I shed, to satisfie my lust, anger, or covetousness? +what Widows or Orphans tears can +witnesse against me; the just cry of which must +now be avenged with my Own bloud? For +the hazards of War are equall, nor doth the +Canon know any respect of persons.</p> + +<p>In vain is my Person excepted by a Parenthesis +of words, when so many hands are armed +against me with Swords.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page56" id="page56"></a>[page 56]</span> + +<p>God knowes how much I have studied to +see what Ground of Justice is alledged for this +Warr against Me; that so I might (by giving +just satisfaction) either prevent, or soon end +so unnaturall a motion; which (to many men) +seems rather the productions of a surfeit of +peace and wantonness of mindes, or of private +discontents, Ambition and Faction (which +easily finde, or make causes of quarrell) then +any reall obstructions of publique Justice, or +Parliamentary Priviledg.</p> + +<p>But this is pretended, and this I must be able +to avoid and answer before God in My owne +Conscience, however some men are not willing +to beleeve Me, lest they should condemn +themselves.</p> + +<p>When I first with-drew from <i><b>White-hall</b></i>, to +see if I could allay the insolency of the Tumults +(for the not suppressing of which, no account +in Reason can be given, (where an orderly +Guard was granted) but only to oppress +both Mine and the Two Houses freedome of +declaring and voting according to every mans +Conscience) what obstructions of Justice were +there further then this, that what seemed just +to one man, might not seem so to another?</p> + +<p>Whom did I by power protect against the +Justice of Parliament?</p> + +<p>That some men with-drew, who feared the +partiality of their tryall, (warned by my Lord +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page57" id="page57"></a>[page 57]</span> +of <i><b>Straffords</b></i> death) while the vulgar threatned +to be their Oppressors, and Judgers of their +Judges, was from that instinct which is in all +creatures to preserve themselves. If any others +refused to appear, where they evidently saw +the current of Justice and Freedom so stopped +and troubled by the Rabble, that their lawfull +Judges either durst not come to the House, or +not declare their sense with liberty and safety; +it cannot seem strange to any reasonable man, +when the sole exposing them to publick <i><b>odium</b></i> +was enough to ruine them before their Cause +could be heard or tryed.</p> + +<p>Had not factious Tumults over-born the +Freedom and Honour of the two Houses, had +they asserted their Justice against them, and +made the way open for all the Members quietly +to come and declare their Consciences: I +know no man so deer to Me, whom I had +the least inclination to advise, either to withdraw +himself, or deny appearing upon their +Summons, to whose Sentence according to +Law, I think every Subject bound to stand.</p> + +<p>Distempers (indeed) were risen to so great a +height for want of timely suppressing the vulgar +insolencies, that the greatest guilt of those +which were Voted and demanded as Delinquents, +was this, That they would not suffer +themselves to be over-awed by the Tumults, +and their Patrons; nor compelled to abet +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page58" id="page58"></a>[page 58]</span> +by their suffrages, or presence; the designes of +those men who agitated innovations and ruine +both in Church and State.</p> + +<p>In this point I could not but approve their +generous constancie and cautiousness; further +then this I did never allow any mans refractoriness +against the Priviledges and Orders of the +Houses; to whom I wished nothing more then +Safetie, Fulness and Freedom.</p> + +<p>But the truth is, some men and those not many, +despairing in fair and Parliamentary waies +by free Deliberations and Votes to gain the +concurrence of the major part of Lords and +Commons, betook themselves (by the desperate +activitie of factious Tumults) to sift and terrifie +away all those Members whom they saw to be +of contrary minds to their purposes.</p> + +<p>How oft was the businesse of the Bishops +enjoying their ancient places, and undoubted +Priviledges in the House of Peers, carried for +them by far the Major part of Lords? Yet +after five repulses, contrary to all Order and +Custome, it was by Tumultuary instigations +obtruded again, and by a few carried, when +most of the Peers were forced to absent themselves.</p> + +<p>In like manner as the Bill against Root and +Branch, brought on by tumultuary Clamours, +and schismaticall Terrours, which could never +passe til both Houses were sufficiently thinned +and over-awed.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page59" id="page59"></a>[page 59]</span> + +<p>To which partialitie, while in all Reason, +Justice, and Religion, my Conscience forbids +me, by consenting, to make up their Votes to +Acts of Parliament, I must now be urged with + +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'and'">an</ins> Armie, and constrained either to hazard +my Own, and my Kingdoms ruine, by my +Defence, or prostrate my Conscience to the +blinde obedience of those men, whose zealous +superstition thinks, or pretends, they cannot +do God and the Church a greater service, then +utterly to destroy that Primitive, Apostolicall, +and anciently Universall Government of the +Church by Bishops.</p> + +<p>Which, if other mens judgments bind them +to maintain, or forbids them to consent to the +abolishing of it, mine much more; who, besides +the grounds I have in my judgement, +have also a most strict and indispensable +Oath upon my Conscience, to preserve that +Order, and the Rights of the Church; to +which most Sacrilegious and abhorred Perjurie, +most un-beseeming a Christian King, +should I ever, by giving my consent, be betrayed, +I should account it infinitely greater miserie, +then any hath, or can befall me; in as +much as the least sin hath more evill in it +then the greatest affliction. Had I gratified +their Anti-Episcopall Faction at first in this +point with my Consent, and sacrificed the +Ecclesiasticall Government and Revenues to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page60" id="page60"></a>[page 60]</span> +the fury of their covetousness, ambition, and +revenge, I beleeve they would then have found +no colourable necessity of raising an Army to +fetch in and punish Delinquents.</p> + +<p>That I consented to the Bil of putting the Bishops +out of the House of Peers, was done +with a firm perswasion of their contentedness +to suffer a present diminution in their Rights +and Honour for my sake, and the Commonweals, +which I was confident they would readily +yeeld unto, rather then occasion (by the least +obstruction on their part) any dangers to Me, +or to my Kingdom. That I cannot add my +consent for the totall extirpation of that Government +(which I have often offered to all fit +regulations) hath so much further tie upon My +Conscience, as what I think Religious and Apostolicall, +and so very sacred and Divine, is +not to be dispensed with, or destroyed, when +what is onely of civill Favour, and priviledge of +Honour granted to men of that Order, may +with their consent who are concerned in it, +be annulled.</p> + +<p>This is the true state of those obstructions +pretended to be in point of Justice and Authority +of Parliament; when I call God to witness, +I know none of such consequence as was +worth speaking of a War, being onely such as +Justice, Reason and Religion had made in my +own and other mens Consciences.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page61" id="page61"></a>[page 61]</span> + +<p>Afterwards indeed a great shew of Delinquents +was made, which were but consequences +necessarily following upon Mine, or others +withdrawing from, or defence against violence: +but those could not be the first occasion +of raising an Army against Me. Wherein I +was so far from preventing them, (as they +have declared often, that they might seem to +have the advantage and Justice of the defensive +part, and load Me with all the envie and +injuries of first assaulting them) that (God +knows) I had not so much as any hopes of an +Army in My thoughts. Had the Tumults +been honourably and effectually repressed by +exemplary justice, and the Liberty of the Houses +so vindicated, that all Members of either +House might with Honour and Freedom, becoming +such a Senate, have come and discharged +their Consciences, I had obtained all that +I designed by My withdrawing, and had much +more willingly and speedily returned, then I +retired; this being My necessity driving, the +other my choice desiring.</p> + +<p>But some men knew, I was like to bring the +same Judgment and Constancy which I carryed +with Me, which would never fit their designes; +and so while they invited Me to come, +and grievously complained of My absence, yet +they could not but be pleased with it: especially, +when they had found out that plausible +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page62" id="page62"></a>[page 62]</span> +and popular pretexts of raising an Army to +fetch in Delinquents: when all that while they +never punished the greatest and most intolerable +delinquencie of the Tumults, and their Exciters, +which drave my Self, and so many of +both Houses from their places, by most barbarous +indignities; which yet in all Reason and +Honour, they were as loath to have deserted, +as those others were willing they should, that +so they might have occasion to persecute them +with the injuries of an Army, for not suffering +more tamely the injuries of Tumults.</p> + +<p>That this is the true state, and first drift and +designe in raising an Army against me, is by the +sequel so evident, that all other pretences +vanish. For when they declared by Propositions, +or Treaties, what they would have to appease +them; there was nothing of consequence +offered to Mee, or demanded of Mee, as any +originall difference in any point of Law, or +order of Justice. But among other lesser Innovations, +this chiefly was urged, The Abolition +of Episcopall, and the Establishment of +Presbyterian Government.</p> + +<p>All other things at any time propounded +were either impertinent as to any ground of a +War, or easily granted by me, and onely to +make up a number; or else they were meerly +consequentiall, and accessarie, after the War +was by them unjustly began.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page63" id="page63"></a>[page 63]</span> + +<p>I cannot hinder other mens thoughts, whom +the noise and shew of piety, and heat of Reformation +and Religion, might easily so fill +with prejudice, that all equality and clearness +of judgement might be obstructed. But this +was, and is, as to my best observation, the true +state of affairs between Us, when they first +raised an Armie, with this designe, either to +stop my mouth, or to force my consent: and +in this truth, as to my conscience, (who was +God knowes, as far from meditating a War, +as I was in the eye of the world, from having +any preparation for one) I finde that comfort, +that in the midst of all the unfortunate Successes +of this War, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'one'">on</ins> my side, I do not think +my Innocency any whit prejudiced or darkned; +Nor am I without that Integrity and +Peace before God, as with humble confidence +to address my Prayer to Him.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>For thou, O Lord, seest cleerly thorow all the +cloudings of humane affairs: Thou judgest +without prejudice: Thy Omniscience eternally +guides thy unerrable Judgment.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O my God, the proud are risen against Me, +and the Assemblies of violent men have sought +after my Soul, and have not set Thee before +their eyes.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Consider mine Enemies, O Lord, for they are +many, and they hate me with a deadly hatred, +without a cause.</i></b></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page64" id="page64"></a>[page 64]</span> + +<p><b><i>For thou knowest, I had no passion, design, or +preparation to embroil My Kingdoms in a Civil +War; whereto I had least temptation; as +knowing I must adventure more then any, and +could gain least of any by it.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou, O Lord, art my witness, how oft I have +deplored and studied to divert the necessity +thereof, wherin I cannot well be thought so prodigally +thirstie of my Subjects blood, as to venture +my own life, which I have bin oft compelled +to do in this unhappie War; and which were +better spent to save then to destroy my people.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O Lord, I need much of thy grace, with patience +to bear the many afflictions thou hast suffered +some men to bring upon me; but much +more to bear the unjust reproaches of those, who +not content that I suffer most by the War, will +needs perswade the world that I have raised +first, or given just cause to raise it.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>The confidence of some mens false tongues is +such, that they would almost make me suspect +my own innocencie: Yea, I could be content (at +least by my silence) to take upon me so great a +guilt before men, If by that I might allay the +malice of mine enemies, and redeem my people +from this miserable War; since thou, O Lord, +knowest my innocencie in this thing.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou wilt find out bloodie and deceitful men; +many of whom have not lived out half their +daies, in which they promised themselvs the enjoyment</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page65" id="page65"></a>[page 65]</span> +<i>of the fruits of their violent and wicked +Counsels.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Save, O Lord, thy servant, as hitherto thou +hast, and in thy due time scatter the people that delight +in War.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Arise, O Lord, lift up thy Self, because of the +rage of mine enemies, which increaseth more and +more. Behold them that have conceived mischief, +travelled with iniquitie, and brought forth +falshood.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou knowest the chief designe of this War is, +either to destroy my Person, or force my Judgement, +and to make me renege my Conscience, and +thy Truth.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>I am driven to crosse</i> <span class="sc"><b>Davids</b></span> <i>choice, and desire +rather to fall into the hands of men by denying +them (though their mercie be cruell) then +into thy hands by sinning against My Conscience, +and in that against thee, who art a consuming +fire: Better they destroy Me, then thou shouldest +damn Me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Be thou the defence of My soul, who wilt save +the upright in heart.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>If nothing but My blood will satisfie My Enemies, +or quench the flames of My Kingdoms, or +thy temporall Justice, I am content, if it be +thy will, that it be shed by mine own Subjects +hands.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>But O let the bloud of Me, though their King, +yet a sinner, be washed with the blood of my Innocent</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page66" id="page66"></a>[page 66]</span> +<i>cent and peace-making Redeemer, for in that +thy Justice will finde not only a temporary expiation, +but an eternall plenary satisfaction, +both for my sins, and the sins of my People; +whom I beseech thee still own for thine, and +when thy wrath is appeased by my Death, O +Remember thy great mercies towards them, +and forgive them! O my Father, for they +know not what they doe.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c10" id="c10"></a> +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">10. <i>Upon their seizing the Kings Magazines, Forts, Navy, and Militia.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">H</span> +<b>Ow</b> untruly I am charged with the +first raising of an Army, and beginning +this Civill Warre, the eyes that +onely pitty Me, and the Loyall hearts that +durst only pray for me, at first, might witnesse, +which yet appear not so many on my side, as +there were men in Armes lifted against me; my +unpreparednesse for a War may well dis-hearten +those that would help Me; while it argues +(truly) my willingnes to fight; yet it testifies +for me, that I am set on the defensive part; +having so little hopes or power to defend others, +that I have none to defend my self, or to +preserve what is mine own from their proreption.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page67" id="page67"></a>[page 67]</span> + +<p>No man can doubt but they prevented me +in their purposes, as well as their injuries, who +are so much before-hand in their preparations +against me, and surprisals of my Strength. +Such as are not for Them, yet dare not be for +Me; so over-aw'd is their Loyalty by the others +numbers and terrours. I believe my innocency +and unpreparedness to assert my +Rights and Honour, makes me the more guilty +in their esteems; who would not so easily +have declared a War against me, if I had first +assaulted them.</p> + +<p>They knew, my chiefest Arms left me, +were those only which the Ancient Christians +were wont to use against their Persecutors, +Prayers and Tears. These may serve a good +mans turn, if not to conquer as a Souldier, yet +to suffer as a Martyr.</p> + +<p>Their preventing of me, and surprising my +Castles, Forts, Arms and Navy, with the +Militia, is so far best for me, That it may +drive me from putting any trust in the arm of +flesh, and wholly to cast my self into the protection +of the living God, who can save by +few or none, as well as by many.</p> + +<p>He that made the greedy Ravens to be Elias +Caterers, and bring him food, may also make +their surprisall of outward force and defence, +an opportunity to shew me the special support +of his power and protection.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page68" id="page68"></a>[page 68]</span> + +<p>I thank God, I reckon not now the want of +the <i><b>Militia</b></i> so much in reference to my own +protection, as my Peoples.</p> + +<p>Their many and sore oppressions grieve me, +I am above mine own: What I want in the +hands of Force and Power, I have in the wings +of Faith and Prayer.</p> + +<p>But this is the strange method these men will +needs take to resolve their riddle of Making +Me a glorious King, by taking away my Kingly +power: Thus I shall become a Support to +my Friends, and a Terrour to my Enemies, by +being unable to succour the one, or suppress +the other.</p> + +<p>For thus have they designed and proposed +to me the new modeling of Soveraignty and +Kingship, as without any reality of power, so +without any necessity of subjection and obedience: +That the Majesty of the Kings of England +might hereafter hang like Mahomet's +Tomb, by a magnetique Charm, between the +Power and Priviledges of the two Houses, in +an airy imagination of Regality.</p> + +<p>But I beleeve the surfet of too much power, +which some men have greedily seized on, and +now seek wholly to devour, will ere long make +the Common-wealth sick both of it and them, +since they cannot well digest it; Soveraign +Power in Subjects seldom agreeing with the +stomacks of fellow-subjects.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page69" id="page69"></a>[page 69]</span> + +<p>Yet I have even in this point of the constant +Militia, sought, by satisfying their fears and +importunities, both to secure my Friends, and +overcome mine Enemies, to gain the peace of +all, by depriving my self of a sole power to help, +or hurt any: yeelding the Militia, (which is +my undoubted Right no less then the Crown) +to be disposed of as the two Houses shall +think fit, during my time.</p> + +<p>So willing am I to bury all jealousies in +them of me, and to live above all jealousies of +them, as to my self; I desire not to be safer +then I wish them and my People: If I had +the sole actuall disposing of the Militia, I +could not protect my People, further then +they protected Me and Themselves: so that +the use of the Militia is mutuall. I would but +defend my self so far, as to be able to defend +my good Subjects from those mens violence +and fraud, who conscious to their own evill +merits and designes, will needs perswade the +world, that none but Wolves are fit to be +trusted with the custody of the Shepherd and +his Flock. Miserable experience hath taught +my Subjects, since power hath been wrested +from Me, and imployed against Me and Them, +that neither can be safe, if both be not in such +a way as the Law hath intrusted the publike +safety and welfare.</p> + +<p>Yet even this Concession of mine, as to the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page70" id="page70"></a>[page 70]</span> +exercise of the Militia, so vast and large, is not +satisfactory to some men; which seem to be +Enemies not to me only, but to all Monarchy; +and are resolved to transmit to posterity +such Jealousies of the Crown, as they should +never permit it to enjoy its just and necessary +Rights in point of power; to which (at last) +all Law is resolved, while thereby it is best +protected.</p> + +<p>But here Honour and Justice due to my Successors, +forbid me to yeeld to such total alienation +of that power from them, which civility +and duty, no less then Justice and Honour +should have forbad them to have asked of me.</p> + +<p>For, although I can be content to Eclypse +my own beams, to satisfie their fears; who +think they must needs be scorched or blinded, +if I should shine in the full lustre of Kingly +power wherewith God and the Laws have +invested me: Yet I will never consent to put +out the Sun of Soveraignty to all posterity, +and succeeding Kings; whose just recovery +of their Rights from unjust Usurpations and +Extortions, shall never be prejudiced or obstructed +by any Act of mine; which indeed, +would not be more injurious to succeeding +Kings, then to my Subjects; whom I desire +to leave in a condition not wholly desperate +for the future; so as by a Law to be ever subjected +to those many factious distractions, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page71" id="page71"></a>[page 71]</span> +which must needs follow the many-headed +<i><b>Hydra</b></i> of Government: which as it makes a +shew to the people to have more eyes to foresee; +so they will find it hath more mouths +too, which must be satisfied: and (at best) it +hath rather a monstrosity, then any thing of +perfection, beyond that of right Monarchy; +where counsell may be in many as the senses, +but the Supreme Power can be but in One as +the Head.</p> + +<p>Happily where men have tried the horrours +and malignant influence which will certainly +follow my enforced darkness and Eclypse, +(occasioned by the interposition and shadow +of that body, which as the Moon receiveth its +chiefest lights from me) which will at length +more esteem and welcome the restored glory +and blessing of the Suns light.</p> + +<p>And if at present I may seem by My receding +so much from the use of my Right in the +Power of the <i><b>Militia</b></i>, to come short of the +discharge of that trust to which I am sworn +for my peoples protection; I conceive those +men are guilty of the inforced perjury; (if so +it may seem) who compell me to take this new +and strange way of discharging my trust, by +seeming to desert it; of protecting my Subjects, +by exposing my self to danger or dishonour, +for their safety and quiet.</p> + +<p>Which in the conflicts of Civill War and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page72" id="page72"></a>[page 72]</span> +advantages of power, cannot be effected but +by some side yeilding; to which the greatest +love of the publique peace, and the firmest +assurance of Gods protection (arising from a +good Conscience) doth more invite me, then +can be expected from other mens fears; which +arising from the injustice of their actions +(though never so successfull) yet dare not adventure +their Authours upon any other way +of safety then that of the Sword and Militia; +which yet are but weak defences against the +stroaks of divine Vengeance, which will overtake; +or of mens own Consciences, which alwayes +attend injurious perpetrations.</p> + +<p>For my self, I do not think that I can want +any thing which providential necessity is pleased +to take from me, in order to my Peoples +tranquillity and Gods glory, whose protection +is sufficient for me; and he is able by his being +with me, abundantly to compensate to me, +as he did to Job, what-ever Honour, Power, +or Liberty the Chaldeans, the Sabeans, or the +Divel himself can deprive me of.</p> + +<p>Although they take from me all defence of +Arms and Militia, all refuge by Land of +Forts and Castles, all flight by Sea in my +Ships and Navie; yea, though they study to +rob me of the Hearts of my Subjects, the +greatest Treasure and best Ammunition of a +King; yet cannot they deprive me of my own +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page73" id="page73"></a>[page 73]</span> +innocencie, or Gods mercie, nor obstruct my +way to heaven.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>Therefore, O my God, to thee I fly for help; if +thou wilt be on my side, I shall have more with +me then can be against me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>There is none in Heaven, or in Earth that I +desire in comparison of thee: In the losse of all, +be thou more then all to me: Make haste to succour +me, thou that never failest them that +put their trust in thee.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou seest I have no power to oppose them +that come against me, who are encouraged to +fight under pretence of fighting for me: But +my eies are towards thee.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou needest no help, nor shall I, if I may have +thine; if not</i></b> <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'no'"><b><i>to</i></b></ins> <b><i>conquer, yet at least to suffer.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>If thou delightest not in my safety, and prosperity, +behold here I am willing to be reduced to +what thou wilt have me; whose Judgements +oft begin with thy own Children.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>I am content to be nothing that thou maiest +be all.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou hast taught me, that no King can be +saved by the multitude of an host; but yet Thou +canst save me by the multitude of Thy mercies, +who art the Lord of Hosts, and the Father of +mercies.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Help me, O Lord, who am sore distressed on +every side, yet be thou on my side, and I shall</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page74" id="page74"></a>[page 74]</span> +<i>not fear what man can do unto me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>I will give thy Justice the glorie of my distress.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>I let thy mercie have the glorie of my deliverance +from them that persecute my soul:</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>By my sins have I fought against Thee, and +robbed thee of thy glory, who am thy subject; +and justly maist thou by my own Subjects, strip +me of my strength, and</i></b> <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'eclisp'"><b><i>eclipse</i></b></ins> <b><i>my glory.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>But shew thy self, O my hope and only refuge! +Let not mine enemies say, There is no help for +him in his God.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps +slip not.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Keep me as the apple of thine eye, hide me under +the shadow of thy wings.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Shew thy marvelous loving kindness, O thou +that savest by thy right hand them that +put their trust in thee, from those that rise up +against them;</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>From the wicked that oppress me, from my +deadly enemies that compass me about.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Shew me the path of life. In thy presence is +fulness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures +for evermore.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c11" id="c11"></a> +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page75" id="page75"></a>[page 75]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">11. <i>Upon the 19 Propositions first sent to the</i> <span class="sc">King;</span> <i>and more afterwards.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">A</span> +<b>Lthough</b> there be many things, they +demand, yet if these be all, I am glad +to see at what price they set my own +safety, and my peoples peace; which I cannot +think I buy at too dear a rate, save only +the parting with my Conscience and Honor. +If nothing else will satisfie, I must chuse rather +to be as miserable and inglorious, as My +enemies can make or wish me.</p> + +<p>Some things here propounded to me have +been offered by me; others are easily granted; +The rest (I think) ought not to be obtruded +upon me, with the point of the sword; nor +urged with the injuries of a Warr; when I +have already declared that I cannot yeeld to +them, without violating my Conscience: 'tis +strange, there can be no method of peace, but +by making war upon my soul.</p> + +<p>Here are many things required of me, but I +see nothing offer'd to me, by the way of gratefull +Exchange of Honour; or any requitall +or those favours, I have, or can yet grant +them.</p> + +<p>This Honour they do me, to put Me +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page76" id="page76"></a>[page 76]</span> +on the giving part, which is more princely and +divine. They cannot ask more then I can +give, may I but reserve to my Self the incommunicable +Jewell of my Conscience; and not +be forced to part with that, whose loss nothing +can repair or requite.</p> + +<p>Some things (which they are pleased to propound) +seem unreasonable to Me; and while +I have any mastery of my Reason, how can +they think I can consent to them; who know +they are such as are inconsistent with being +either a King, or a good Christian? My yeilding +so much (as I have already) makes some +men confident I will deny nothing.</p> + +<p>The love I have of my peoples peace, hath +(indeed) great influence upon Me; but the love +of truth and inward peace hath more.</p> + +<p>Should I grant some things they require, I +should not so much weaken my outward state +of a King, as wound that inward quiet of my +Conscience; which ought to be, is, and ever +shall be (by Gods Grace) dearer to Me then +my Kingdoms.</p> + +<p>Some things which a King might approve, +yet in Honour and Policy are at some time to +be denied, to some men, lest he should seem +not to dare to deny any thing; and give too +much incouragement to unreasonable demands +or importunities.</p> + +<p>But to bind my Self to a generall and implicite +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page77" id="page77"></a>[page 77]</span> +consent to what-ever they shall desire or +propound, (for such is one of their <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Popositions'">Propositions</ins>) +were such a latitude of blind obedience, +as never was expected from any Free-men, nor +fit to be required of any man, much less of a +King by his own Subjects; any of whom he +may possibly exceed as much in wisdom, as he +doth in place and power.</p> + +<p>This were, as if <i><b>Samson</b></i> should have consented, +not only to bind his own hands, and cut +off his hair, but to put out his own eys, that +the Philistins might with the more safety mock +and abuse him; which they chose rather to do, +then quite destroy him, when he was become +so tame an object, and fit occasion for their +sport and scorn.</p> + +<p>Certainly, to exclude all power of denyall, +seems an arrogancy least of all becoming +those who pretend to make their Addresses in +an humble and loyall way of petitioning; who +by that, sufficiently confess their own inferiority, +which obligeth them to rest, if not +satisfied, yet quieted, with such an Answer as +the Will and Reason of their Superiour thinks +fit to give; who is acknowledged to have a +freedom and power of Reason, to Consent or +Dissent, else it were very foolish and absurd to +ask, what another having not liberty to deny, +neither hath power to grant.</p> + +<p>But if this be my Right belonging to Me, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page78" id="page78"></a>[page 78]</span> +in Reason as a Man, and in Honour as a Soveraign +King (as undoubtedly it doth) how can +it be other then extreme injury to confine my +Reason to a necessity of granting all they have +a mind to ask, whose minds may be as differing +from mine, both in reason and honour, as their +aims may be, and their qualities are? which last +God and the Laws have sufficiently distinguisht, +making me their Soveraign, and them +my Subjects: whose Propositions may soon +prove violent oppositions, if once they gain to +be necessary impositions upon the Regall Authority; +Since no man seeks to limit and confine +his King in Reason, who hath not a secret +aim to share with him, or usurp upon him in +Power and Dominion.</p> + +<p>But they would have me trust to their moderation, +and abandon mine own discretion; that +so I might verifie what representations some +have made of me to the world, that I am fitter +to be their Pupil then their Prince. Truly, I am +not so confident of my own sufficiency, as not +willingly to admit the Counsel of others: But +yet I am not so diffident of my self, as brutishly +to submit to any mans dictates, and at +once to betray the Soveraignty of Reason in +my soul, and the Majesty of my own Crown +to any of my Subjects.</p> + +<p>Least of all have I any ground of credulity, +to induce me fully to submit to all the desires +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page79" id="page79"></a>[page 79]</span> +of those men, who will not admit, or do refuse, +and neglect to vindicate the freedom of +their own and others Sitting and Voting in +Parliament.</p> + +<p>Besides, all men that knew them, knew +this, how young States-men the most part +of these propounders are; so that till experience +of one seven years have shewed me how +well they can govern themselves, and so much +power as is wrested from me, I should be +very foolish indeed, and unfaithful in my +Trust, to put the reins of both Reason and +Government wholly out of my Own, into +their hands, whose driving is already too much +like <i><b>Jehues</b></i>; and whose forwardnesse to ascend +the throne of Supremacie pretends more of +<i><b>Phaeton</b></i> then of <i><b>Phebus</b></i>; God divert the Omen +of his will.</p> + +<p>They may remember that at best they sit in +Parliament, as my Subjects, not my Superiours: +called to be My Counsellours, not +Dictatours: Their Summons extends to recommend +their Advice, not to command my +Dutie.</p> + +<p>When I first heard of Propositions to be sent +me, I expected either some good Laws which +had been antiquated by the course of time, or +overlaid by the corruption of manners, had +been desired to a restauration of their vigour +and due execution; or some evil Customs +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page80" id="page80"></a>[page 80]</span> +preterlegall, and abuses personall had been to +be removed: or some injuries done by my +Self, and others, to the Common-weal, were +to be repaired: or some equable offertures +were to be tendred to Me, wherein the advantages +of my Crown being considered by +them, might fairly induce me to condescend +to what tended to my Subjects good, without +any great diminution of my Self, whom +Nature, Law, Reason and Religion binde Me +(in the first place) to preserve; without which +'tis impossible to preserve my people according +to my place.</p> + +<p>Or (at least) I looked for such moderate +desires of due Reformation of what was (indeed) +amisse in Church and State, as might +still preserve the foundation and essentials of +Government in both; not shake and quite overthrow +either of them, without any regard +to the Laws in force, the wisdom and piety +of former Parliaments, the ancient, and universall +practice of Christian Churches; the +Rights and Priviledges of particular men: +Nor yet any thing offered in lieu, or in the +room of what must be destroyed, which +might at once reach the good end of the others +Institution, and also supply its pretended +defects, reform its abuses, and satisfie sober +and wise men, not with soft and specious +words, pretending zeal, and special piety, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page81" id="page81"></a>[page 81]</span> +but with pregnant and solid Reasons, both divine +and humane, which might justifie the +abruptnesse and necessity of such vast Alterations.</p> + +<p>But in all their Propositions I can observe +little of these kindes, or to these ends: Nothing +of any Laws dis-jointed, which are to be restored; +of any right invaded; of any justice to +be unobstructed; of any compensations to be +made; of any impartiall Reformation to be +granted: to all or any of which Reason, Religion, +true Policy, or any other humane motives +might induce Me.</p> + +<p>But as to the main matters propounded by +them at any time, in which is either great novelty +or difficulty, I perceive, that what were +formerly look'd upon as Factions in the State, +and Schisms in the Church, and so punishable +by the Laws, have now the confidence, +by vulgar clamours, and assistance (chiefly) to +demand not onely Tolerations of themselves, +in their vanity, novelty, and confusion; but +also Abolition of the Laws against them, and a +totall extirpation of that Government, whose +Rights they have a mind to invade.</p> + +<p>This as to the main: Other Propositions +are (for the most part) but as waste paper in +which those are wrapped up, to present them +somewhat more handsomly.</p> + +<p>Nor do I so much wonder at the variety, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page82" id="page82"></a>[page 82]</span> +and horrible noveltie of some Propositions, +(there being nothing so monstrous, which +some fancies are not prone to long for).</p> + +<p>This casts me into, not an admiration, but +an extasie, how such things should have the +fortune to be propounded in the name of the +two Houses of the Parliament of England, +among whom, I am very confident, there was +not a fourth part of the Members of either +House, whose Judgements free, single and apart +did approve or desire such destructive +changes in the Government of the Church.</p> + +<p>I am perswaded there remains in far the +Major part of both Houses (if free and full) +so much Learning, Reason, Religion, and just +Moderation, as to know how to sever between +the use and the abuse of things, the institution +and the corruption, the Government and +the mis-government, the Primitive Patterns +and the aberrations or blottings of after-Copies.</p> + +<p>Sure they could not at all, upon so little, or +no Reason (as yet produced to the contrary) +so soon renounce all regard to the Laws in +force, to antiquity, to the piety of their Reforming +progenitors, to the prosperity of former +times in this Church and State, under the +present Government of the Church.</p> + +<p>Yet, by a strange fatality, these men suffer, +either by their absence, or silence, or negligence, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page83" id="page83"></a>[page 83]</span> +or supine credulity (beleeving that all is +good, which is guilded with shewes of Zeal +and Reformation) their private dissenting in +Judgement to be drawn into the common +sewer or streame of the present vogue and +humour; which hath its chief rise and abetment +from those popular clamors and tumults: +which served to give life and strength to the +infinite activity of those men, who studied with +all diligence, and policy, to improve to their +innovating designes, the present distractions.</p> + +<p>Such Armies of Propositions having so +little, in my judgment, of Reason, Justice, and +Religion on their side, as they had Tumult +and Faction for their rise, must not go alone, +but ever be backt and seconded, with Armies +of Souldiers; Though the second should prevaile +against my Person, yet that first shall never +overcome me further then I see cause; for, +I look not at their number and power, so +much as I weigh their Reason and Justice.</p> + +<p>Had the two Houses first sued out their Livery, +and once effectually redeemed themselves +from the Wardship of the Tumults, +(which can be no other then the Hounds that +attend the cry and hollow of those men, who +hunt after factions and private Designes, to +the ruine of Church and State.)</p> + +<p>Did my Judgement tell Me, that the propositions +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page84" id="page84"></a>[page 84]</span> +sent to Me were the Results of the major +part of their Votes, who exercise their freedom, +as well as they have a right to sit in Parliament: +I should then suspect my Own judgment, +for not speedily and fully concurring +with every one of them.</p> + +<p>For, I have charity enough to think there +are wise men among them: and humility to +think, that, as in some things I may want, so +'tis fit I should use their advice, which is the +end for which I called them to a Parliament. +But yet I cannot allow their wisdom such a +compleatness and inerrability as to exclude +my Self; since none of them hath that part to +act, that Trust to discharge, nor that Estate +and Honour to preserve, as my Self; without +whose Reason concurrent with theirs (as the +Suns influence is necessary in all Natures, productions) +they cannot beget, or bring forth any +one compleat and authoritative Act of publick +wisdom, which makes the Laws.</p> + +<p>But the unreasonableness of some Propositions +is not more evident to me then this is, +That they are not the joynt and free desires +of those in their Major number, who are of +right to Sit and Vote in Parliament.</p> + +<p>For, many of them favour very strong of +that old leaven of Innovations, masked under +the name of Reformation; (which in my Two +last famous Predecessours days heaved, at, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page85" id="page85"></a>[page 85]</span> +and sometime threatned both Prince and Parliaments:) +But, I am sure, was never wont so +far to infect the whole masse of the Nobility +and Gentry of this Kingdom; how-ever it +dispersed among the Vulgar: Nor was it +likely so suddenly to taint the Major part of +both Houses, as that they should unanimously +desire, and effect so enormous and dangerous +innovations in Church and State, contrary to +their former education, practice, and judgment.</p> + +<p>Not that I am ignorant, how the choice of +many Members was carried by much Faction +in the Countries; some thirsting after nothing +more then a passionate revenge of what-ever +displeasure they had conceived against Me, my +Court, or the Clergy.</p> + +<p>But all Reason bids me impute these sudden +and vast desires of change to those few, who +armed themselves with the many-headed, and +many-handed Tumults.</p> + +<p>No less doth Reason, Honour, and Safety +both of Church and State command me to +chew such morsels before I let them down; +If the straitness of my Conscience will not +give me leave to swallow down such Camels, +as others do, of Sacriledge, and injustice both +to God and man, they have no more cause to +quarrell with me, then for this, that my throat +is not so wide as theirs. Yet, by Gods help, I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page86" id="page86"></a>[page 86]</span> +am resolved, That nothing of passion or peevishnesse, +or list to contradict, or vanity to +shew my negative power, shall have any byas +upon my judgment, to make me gratifie my +will, by denying any thing which my Reason +and Conscience commands me not.</p> + +<p>Nor on the other side, will I consent to more +then Reason, Justice, Honor and Religion perswade +me to be, for Gods glory, the Churches +good, my Peoples welfare, and my own +peace.</p> + +<p>I will study to satisfie my Parliament, and +my People; but I will never for fear, or flatterie +gratifie any Faction, how potent soever; +for this were to nourish the disease, and oppresse +the body.</p> + +<p>Although many mens loyalty and prudence +are terrified from giving me, that free and faithfull +counsel, which they are able and willing to +impart, and I may want; yet none can hinder +me from craving of the councell of that mighty +Counsellor who can both suggest what is best, +and incline my heart stedfastly to follow +it.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>O thou first and eternal Reason; whose wisdom +is fortified with omnipotencie, furnish thy servant, +first with clear discoveries of Truth, +Reason and Justice in My understanding; +then so confirm my will and resolution to adhere</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page87" id="page87"></a>[page 87]</span> +<i>to them, that no terrors, injuries or oppressions +of mine enemies may ever inforce me against +those rules, which thou by them hast planted in +My Conscience.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou never madest me a King, that I should +be less then a Man; and not dare to say, Yea, or +Nay, as I see cause; which freedom is not denied +to the meanest creature that hath the use +of Reason, and liberty of speech.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Shall that be blameable in me, which is commendable +veracity and constancy in others?</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou seest, O Lord, with what partiallity, and +injustice, they deny that freedom to me their</i> +<span class="sc">King</span>, <i>which Thou hast given to all men; and +which Themselves pertinaciously challenge to +themselves, while they are so tender of the least +breach of their priviledges.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>To thee I make my</i></b> <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'suppplication'"><b><i>supplication</i></b></ins>, <b><i>who canst +guide us by an unerring rule, through the perplexed +Labyrinths of our own thoughts, and other +mens Proposals; which I have some cause +to suspect, are purposely cast as snares, that by +My granting or denying them, I might be more +entangled in those difficulties, wherewith they +lie in wait to afflict me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O Lord, make thy way plain before Me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let not my own sinful passions cloud, or divert +thy sacred suggestions.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let thy Glory be my end, thy Word my rule, +and then thy will be done.</i></b></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page88" id="page88"></a>[page 88]</span> + +<p><b><i>I cannot please all, I care not to please some +men; if I may be happie to please thee, I need not +fear whom I displease.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou that makest the wisdome of the world +foolishnesse, and takest in their own devices, such +as are wise in their own conceits, make Me wise +by thy Truth, for thy honor, my Kingdoms generall +good, and my own souls salvation, and I shall +not much regard the worlds opinion or diminution +of Me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>The lesse of wisdome they are willing to impute +to Me, the more they shall be convinced of thy +Wisdom directing Me, while I deny nothing fit to +be granted, out of crosnesse or humour; nor grant +any thing which is to be denied, out of any fear or +flatterie of men.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Suffer me not to be guiltie or unhappie, by willing +or inconsiderate advancing any mens designes, +which are injurious to the publique good, while I +confirm them by My consent.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Nor let Me be any occasion to hinder or defraud +the Publick of what is best, by any morose or perverse +dissentings.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Make Me so humbly charitable, as to follow +their advice, when it appears to be for the publick +good; of whose affections to me, I have yet but few +evidencies to assure Me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou canst as well blesse honest errours, as blast +fraudulent counsels.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Since we must give an account of every evill</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page89" id="page89"></a>[page 89]</span> +<i>and idle word in private, at thy Tribunall; Lord +make me carefull of those solemne Declarations +of mine which are like to have the greatest +influence upon the Publique, either for woe, or +weale.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>The lesse others consider what they aske, make +me the more solicitous what I answer.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Though Mine own, and My Peoples pressures +are grievous, and peace would be very pleasing; +yet Lord, never suffer Me to avoid the one, or purchase +the other, with the least expense or wast +of my Conscience; whereof thou, O Lord, onely +art deservedly more Master then my self.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c12" id="c12"></a> +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">12. <i>Upon the Rebellion, and troubles in</i> Ireland.</h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">T</span> +<b>He</b> Commotions in <i><b>Ireland</b></i> were so sudden, +and so violent, that it was hard at first +either to discern the rise, or apply a remedie to +that precipitant Rebellion.</p> + +<p>Indeed that Sea of blood, which hath there bin +cruelly & barbarously shed, is enough to drown +any man in eternall both infamy and misery, +whom God shall find the malicious Author or +Instigator of its effusion.</p> + +<p>It fell out, as a most unhappy advantage to +some mens malice against me; that when they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page90" id="page90"></a>[page 90]</span> +had impudence enough to lay any thing to my +charge, this bloody oppertunity should be offered +them, with which I must be aspersed. Although +there was nothing which could be more +abhorred to me, being so ful of sin against God, +disloyalty to myself, and destructive to my +Subjects.</p> + +<p>Some men took it very ill not to be beleeved, +when they affirmed, that what the Irish +Rebels did, was done with my privitie (at least) +if not by my Commission: But these knew too +well, that it is no news for som of my Subjects +to fight not only without my Commission, but +against my Command, and Person too, yet all +the while to pretend, they fight by my Authoritie, +and for my safety.</p> + +<p>I would to God the <i>Irish</i> had nothing to alledge +for their imitation against those whose +blame must needs be the greater, by how much +Protestant Principles are more against all Rebellion +against Princes, then those of Papists. +Nor wil the goodnes of mens intentions excuse +the scandall, and contagion of their examples.</p> + +<p>But who ever fail of their Dutie toward me, +I must bear the blame; this honour my enemies +have alwayes done me, to think moderate injuries +not proportionate to me, nor competent +trials, either of my patience under them, or my +pardon of them.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page91" id="page91"></a>[page 91]</span> + +<p>Therefore with exquisite malice they have +mixed the gall and vinegar of falsity and contempt, +with the cup of my Affliction; charging +Me not only with untruths, but such, as wherin +I have the greatest share of loss & dishonor by +what is comitted; wherby, (in all policy, reason +and Religion, having least cause to give the least +consent, and most grounds of utter detestation) +I might be represented by them to the world, +the more inhumane and barbarous: Like some +Cyclopick monster, whom nothing will serve +to eat and drink, but the flesh and bloud of +my own Subjects; in whose common welfare +my interest lies, as much as some mens doth in +their perturbations: who think they cannot do +wel but in evil times; nor so cunningly, as in +laying the <i><b>odium</b></i> of those sad events on others, +wherewith themselves are most pleased, and +whereof they have been not the least occasion.</p> + +<p>And certainly, 'tis thought by many wise +men, that the preposterous rigour and unreasonable +severity, which some men carried before +them in <i><b>England</b></i>, was not the least incentive, +that kindled, and blew up into those +horrid flames, the sparks of discontent, which +wanted not pre-disposed fewel for Rebellion +in <i><b>Ireland</b></i>; where dispair being added to their +former discontents, and the fear of utter extirpation +to their wonted oppressions, it was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page92" id="page92"></a>[page 92]</span> +easie to provoke to an open Rebellion a people +prone enough to break out into all exorbitant +violence, both by some principles of their +Religion, and the naturall desires of liberty; +both to exempt themselves from their present +restraints, and to prevent those after rigours, +wherewith they saw themselves apparantly +threatned by the covetous zeal and uncharitable +fury of some men, who think it a great +Argument of the truth of their Religion, to +endure no other but their own.</p> + +<p>God knows, as I can with truth wash my +hands in innocency, as to any guilt in that Rebellion; +so I might wash them in my tears, as +to the sad apprehensions I had to see it spread +so far, and make such waste: and this in a +time when distractions and jealousies here in +<i><b>England</b></i> made most men rather intent to their +own safety, or designes they were driving, +then to the relief of those who were every day +inhumanely butchered in Ireland: Whose +tears and bloud might, if nothing else, have +quenched, or at least for a time, repressed and +smothered those sparks of Civill Dissentions +and Jealousies which in England some men +most industriously scattered.</p> + +<p>I would to God no man had been less affected +with Irelands' sad estate then my self; +I offered to go my Self in person upon that +Expedition: But some men were either affraid +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page93" id="page93"></a>[page 93]</span> +I should have any one Kingdom quieted; +or loth they were to shoot at any mark +here less then my Self; or that any should have +the glory of my destruction but themselves. +Had my many offers been accepted, I am confident, +neither the ruin had been so great, nor the +calamity so long, nor the remedy so desperate.</p> + +<p>So that, next to the sin of those who began +that Rebellion, theirs must needs be, who either +hindred the speedy suppressing of it by Domestick +Dissentions, or diverted the Aids, or exasperated +the Rebels to the most desperate resolutions +and actions, by threatning all extremities, +not onely to the known Heads and chiefe +incendiaries, but even to the whole Community +of that Nation; resolving to destroy Root +and Branch, men, women, and children; without +any regard to those usuall pleas for mercy +which Conquerours, not wholly barbarous, are +wont to bear from their own brests, in behalf +of those, whose oppressive faces, rather then +their malice, engaged them; or whose imbecility +for Sex and Age was such, as they could neither +lift up a hand against them, nor distinguish +between their right hand and their left: +Which preposterous (and I think) un-Evangelicall +zeal is too like that of the rebuked Disciples, +who would go no lower in their revenge, +then to call for fire from Heaven upon whole +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page94" id="page94"></a>[page 94]</span> +Cities, for the repulse and neglect of a few; or +like that of <i><b>Jacob</b></i>'s sons, which the Father both +blamed and cursed: chusing rather to use all +extreamities, which might drive men to desperate +obstinacy, then to apply moderate remedies; +such as might punish some with exemplary +Justice, yet disarm others, with tenders of +mercy upon their submission, & our protection +of them, from the fury of those, who would +soon drown them, if they refused to swim +down the popular stream with them.</p> + +<p>But som kind of Zeal counts all merciful moderation, +luke-warmness; and had rather be +cruel then counted cold, and is not seldom more +greedy to kill the Bear for his skin, then for any +harm he hath done. The confiscation of mens +estates being more beneficiall, then the charity +of saving their lives, or reforming their Errors.</p> + +<p>When all proportionable succors of the poor +Protestants in <i><b>Ireland</b></i> (who were daily massacred +and over-born with numbers of now desperate +Enemies) was diverted and obstructed +here; I was earnestly entreated, & generally advised +by the chief of the Protestant party there, +to get them some respite and breathing by a cessation, +without which they saw no probability +(unless by miracle) to preserve the remnant that +had yet escaped: God knows with how much +commiseration and solicitous caution I carried +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page95" id="page95"></a>[page 95]</span> +on that business, by persons of Honor and Integrity, +that so I might neither incourage the Rebels +Insolence, nor discourage the Protestants +Loyaltie and Patience.</p> + +<p>Yet when this was effected in the best sort, +that the necessity and difficulty of affairs would +then permit, I was then to suffer again in my +Reputation and Honor; because I suffered not +the Rebels utterly to devour the remaining +handfuls of the Protestants there.</p> + +<p>I thought that in all reason, the gaining of +that respite could not be so much to the Rebels +advantages (which some have highly calumniated +against me) as it might have been for the +Protestants future, as well as present safety: If +during the time of that Cessation, some men +had the grace to have laid <i><b>Ireland</b></i>'s sad condition +more to heart; & laid aside those violent motions, +which were here carried on by those, that +had better skill to let blood then to stanch it.</p> + +<p>But in all the misconstructions of my actions, +(which are prone to find more credulity in men +to what is false, and evil, then love or charity to +what is true and good) as I have no Judge but +God above me, so I can have comfort to appeal +to his omniscience, who doth not therefore deny +my Innocence, because he is pleased so far +to try my patience, as he did his servant <i><b>Job</b></i>'s.</p> + +<p>I have enough to do to look to my own Conscience, +and the faithfull discharge of my Trust +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page96" id="page96"></a>[page 96]</span> +as a King: I have scarce leisure to consider +those swarms of reproches, which issue out of +some mens mouths & hearts, as easily as smoke, +or sparks do out of a furnace: Much lesse to +make such prolix Apologies, as might give those +men satisfaction: who conscious to their own +depth of wickednesse are loth to beleeve any +man not to be as bad as themselves.</p> + +<p>'Tis Kingly to do well, and hear ill: If I can +but act the one, I shall not much regard to +bear the other.</p> + +<p>I thank God, I can hear with patience as bad +as my worst enemies can safly say. And I hope +I shall still do better then they desire, or deserve +I should.</p> + +<p>I beleeve it will at last appear, that they who +first began to embroil my other Kingdoms, are +in great part guilty, if not of the first letting +out, yet of the not timely stopping those horrid +effusions of bloud in <i><b>Ireland</b></i>.</p> + +<p>Which (whatever my Enemies please to say, +or think) I look upon, as that of my other kingdoms, +exhausted out of my own veins: no man +being so much weakened by it as my Self: And +I hope, though mens unsatiable cruelties never +wil, yet the Mercy of God will at length say to +his Justice, <i><b>It is enough</b></i>; and command the sword +of Civil Wars to sheath it self: his mercifull +Justice intending, I trust, not our utter confusion, +but our cure: the abatement of our sins, +not the desolation of these Nations.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page97" id="page97"></a>[page 97]</span> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>O my God, let those infinite mercies prevent +us once again, which I and my Kingdoms have +formerly abused, and can never deserve, should +be restored.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou seest how much cruelty among Christians +is acted under the colour of Religion; as if +we could not be Christians, unless we crucifie +one another.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Because we have no more loved thy truth, +and practised in charitie, thou hast suffered a +Spirit of Errour and bitterness, of mutuall +and mortall hatred to rise among us.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O Lord, forgive wherein we have sinned, +and sanctifie what we have suffered.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let our repentance be our recovery, as our +great sins have been our ruine.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let not the miseries I and my Kingdoms have +hitherto suffered seem small to thee: but make +our sins appear to our consciences, as they are +represented in the glass of thy Judgements; for +thou never punishest small failings, with so severe +afflictions.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O therefore, according to the multitude of thy +great mercies, pardon our sinnes, and remove +thy judgments, which are very many, and very +heavy.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Yet let our sins be ever more grievous to us, +then thy judgments; and make us more willing +to repent, then to be relieved; first give us the +grace of penitent consciences, and then the</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page98" id="page98"></a>[page 98]</span> +<i>tranquillitie of united Kingdomes.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>In the Sea of our Saviours Blood drown our +sins, and through this red sea of our own Blood +bring us at last to a state of Piety, Peace and +Plenty.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>As my publick relations to all, make me share +in all my Subjects suffering; so give me such a +pious sense of them, as becoms a Christian +King, and a loving father of my people.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let the scandalous and unjust reproaches cast +upon me, be as a breath, more to kindle my compassion; +Give me grace to heap charitable coales +of fire upon their heads to melt them, whose malice +or cruel zeal hath kindled, or hindred the +quenching of those flames, which hath so much +wasted my three Kingdoms.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O rescue and assist those poor Protestants in +<span class="sc">Ireland</span>, whom thou hast hitherto preserved.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>And lead those in the ways of thy saving +Truths, whose Ignorance or Errors have filled +them with rebellious and destructive Principles, +which they act under an opinion, That they +do thee good service.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let the hand of thy justice be against those, +who malitiously and despightfully have raised +or fomented these cruel and desperate Wars.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou that art far from destroying the innocent</i></b> +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'which'"><b><i>with</i></b></ins> <b><i>the guilty, & the erroneous with the +malicious; thou that hadst pitty on</i> Niniveh <i>for +the many children that were therein, give not</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page99" id="page99"></a>[page 99]</span> +<i>over the whole stock of that populous and seduced +Nation, to the wrath of those, whose covetousness +makes them cruel; nor to their anger, +which is too fierce, and therefore justly cursed.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Preserve, if it be thy will, in the midst of the +furnace of thy severe justice, a Posterity which +may praise thee for thy mercie.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>And deal with me, not according to mans unjust +reproaches, but according to the innocency +of my Hands in thy sight.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>If I have desired or delighted in the wofull +day of my Kingdoms calamities, If I have not +earnestly studied, and faithfully endeavoured +the preventing and composing of these bloody +Distractions; then let thy hand be against me +and my Fathers House. O Lord thou seest I +have enemies enough of men; as I need not, so +should I not dare thus to imprecate thy curse on +me and mine, if my Conscience did not witnesse +my integrity, which thou, O Lord, knowest +right well. But I trust not to my own merit, +but thy mercies; spare us, O Lord, and be not +angry with us for ever.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c13" id="c13"></a> +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page100" id="page100"></a>[page 100]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">13. <i>Upon the calling in of the</i> <span class="sc">Scots</span>, <i>and their Comming.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">T</span> +<b>He</b> <i><b>Scots</b></i> are a Nation, upon whom I have +not onely common ties of Nature, Soveraignty, +and Bounty, with My Father of blessed +memory; but also speciall and late obligations +of favours, having gratified the active Spirits +among them so far, that I seemed to many +to prefer the desires of that party, before +My own interest and honor. But, I see, Royall +bountie emboldens some men to ask, and act +beyond all bounds of modesty and gratitude.</p> + +<p>My charity, and Act of Pacification, forbids +Me to reflect on former passages, wherin I shal +ever be far from letting any mans ingratitude, +or inconstancy, make me repent of what I +granted them for the publique good: I pray +God it may so prove.</p> + +<p>The coming again of that Party into <i><b>England</b></i>, +with an Army only to conforme this +Church to their late New model, cannot but +seem as unreasonable, as they would have +thought the same measure offered from hence +to themselves.</p> + +<p>Other errand I could never understand, they +had, (besides those common and vulgar flourishes +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page101" id="page101"></a>[page 101]</span> +for Religion and Liberty) save only to +confirme the Presbyterian Copy they had set, +by making this Church to write after them, +though it were in bloudy Characters.</p> + +<p>Which design and end, whether it will justifie +the use of such violent means, before the divine +Justice, I leave to their Consciences to +judge, who have already felt the misery of the +means, but not reaped the benefit of the end, +either in this Kingdom, or that.</p> + +<p>Such knots and crosseness of grain being +objected here, as will hardly suffer that form +which they cry up, as the only just reformation, +and settling of Government and Discipline in +Churches to go on so smoothly here, as it +might do in <i><b>Scotland</b></i>; and was by them imagined +would have done in <i><b>England</b></i>, when so many +of the <i><b>English</b></i> Clergy, through levity, or +discontent, if no worse passion, suddenly quitted +their former engagements to Episcopacy, +and faced about to their Presbytery.</p> + +<p>It cannot but seem either passion, or some +self-seeking, more then true Zeal, and pious +discretion, for any forraign State or Church to +prescribe such medicins only for others, which +themselves have used, rather successefully then +commendably; not considering that the same +Physick on different constitutions, will have +different operations: That may kill one, which +doth but cure another.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page102" id="page102"></a>[page 102]</span> + +<p>Nor do I know any such tough and malignant +humours in the constitution of the <i><b>English</b></i> +Church, which gentler applications then +those of an Army, might not easily have removed: +Nor is it so proper to hew out Religious +Reformations by the sword, as to polish +them by fair & equal disputations among those +that are most concerned in the differences, +whom not force, but reason ought to convince.</p> + +<p>But their design now seemed rather to cut +off all disputation here, then to procure a fair +and equal one: For it was concluded there, +That the <i><b>English</b></i> Clergy must conform to the +<i><b>Scots</b></i> pattern before ever they could be heard, +what they could say for themselves, or against +the others way.</p> + +<p>I could have wished fairer proceedings both +for their credits, who urge things with such +violence; and for other mens Consciences too; +who can receive litle satisfaction in these points +which are maintained rather by Souldiers +fighting in the Field, then Scholars disputing +in free and learned Synods.</p> + +<p>Sure in matters of Religion those truths gain +most on mens Judgments and Consciences, +which are least urged with secular violence, +which weakens truth with prejudices; and is +unreasonable to be used, till such means of rational +conviction hath been applied, as leaving +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page103" id="page103"></a>[page 103]</span> +no excuse for ignorance, condemns mens obstinacy +to deserved penalties.</p> + +<p>Which no charity will easily suspect of so +many learned and pious Church-men in <i><b>England</b></i>; +who being alwaies bred up, and conformable +to the Government of Episcopacy, cannot +so soon renounce both their former opinion & +practice, only because that Party of the <i><b>Scots</b></i> +will needs, by force assist a like Party here, either +to drive all Ministers as sheep, into the +common fold of Presbyterie, or destroy them; +at least fleece them, by depriving them of the benefit +of their Flocks. If the <i>Scotch</i> sole Presbyterie +were approved to be the only Institution +of Jesus Christ, for all Churches Government; +yet I beleeve it would be hard to prove that +Christ had given those <i><b>Scots</b></i>, or any other of my +Subjects, Comission by the Sword, to set it up +in any of my Kingdomes, without my consent.</p> + +<p>What respect and obedience Christ and his +Apostles payd to the chief governors of States, +where they lived, is very cleer in the Gospel: +but that he, or they ever commanded to set up +such a parity of Presbyters, and in such a way +as those <i><b>Scots</b></i> endeavour, I think is not very +disputable.</p> + +<p>If Presbyterie in such a Supremacy be an institution +of Christ, sure it differs from all others: +and is the first and only point of Christianity, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page104" id="page104"></a>[page 104]</span> +that was to be planted and watered +with so much Christian bloud; whose effusions +run in a stream so contrary to that of the Primitive +planters, both of Christianity and Episcopacy, +which was with patient shedding of +their own bloud, not violently drawing other +mens: sure there is too much of Man in it, to +have much of Christ; none of whose institutions +were carried on, or begun with the temptations +of Covetousness or Ambition, of both +which this is vehemently suspected.</p> + +<p>Yet was there never any thing upon the point +which those <i><b>Scots</b></i> had by an Army or Commissioners +to move Me with, by their many +Solemn obtestations, and pious threatnings, but +only this, to represent to me the wonderful necessity +of setting up their Presbytery in <i><b>England</b></i>, +to avoid the further miseries of a War, +which some men chiefly on this design at first +had begun, & now further engaged themselves +to continue.</p> + +<p>What hinders that any Sects, Schisms, or Heresies, +if they can get but numbers, strength and +opportunity, may not, according to this opinion +and pattern, set up their wayes by the like +methods of violence? all which Presbitery +seeks to suppresse, & render odious under those +names: when wise & learned men think, that +nothing hath more marks of Schism, and Sectarism, +then this Presbyterian way, both as to the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page105" id="page105"></a>[page 105]</span> +Ancient, and still most Universal way of the +Church-government, and especially as to the +particular Laws and Constitutions of this <i><b>English</b></i> +Church, which are not yet repealed, nor +are like to be for me, till I see more Rational +and Religious motives, then Souldiers use to +carry in their Knapsacks.</p> + +<p>But we must leave the successe of all to God, +who hath many wayes (having first taken us off +from the folly of our opinions, and fury of our +passion) to teach us those rules of true Reason, +and peaceable Wisdom, which is from above, +tending most to Gods glory, and his Churches +good: which I think my self so much the more +bound in Conscience to attend, with the most +judicious zeal and care, by how much I esteem +the Church above the State, the glory of Christ +above mine Own: and the Salvation of mens +Souls above the preservation of their Bodies +and Estates.</p> + +<p>Nor may any men, I think, without sin and +presumption, forcibly endeavour to cast the +Churches under my care and tuition, into the +moulds they have fancied, & fashioned to their +designs, till they have first gained my consent, +and resolved, both mine own and other mens +Consciences by the strength of their Reasons.</p> + +<p>Other violent motions, w<sup>ch</sup> are neither Manly, +Christian, nor Loyal, shall never either shake +or settle my Religion, nor any mans else who +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page106" id="page106"></a>[page 106]</span> +knows what Religion means: And how far it +is removed from all Faction, whose proper engine +is force, the arbitrator of beasts, not of reasonable +men, much lesse of humble Christians, +and loyal Subjects, in matters of Religion.</p> + +<p>But men are prone to have such high conceits +of themselves, that they care not what cost +they lay <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'ont'">out</ins> upon their opinions: especially +those that have some temptation of gain, to recompence +their losses and hazards.</p> + +<p>Yet I was not more scandalized at the <i><b>Scots</b></i> +Armies coming in against my will, and their +forfeiture of so many obligations of duty, and +gratitude to me: then I wondred how those +here, could so much distrust Gods assistance, +who so much pretended Gods cause to the people, +as if they had the certainty of some divine +Revelation; considering they were more then +competently furnished with my Subjects Arms +and Ammunition, my Navie by Sea, my Forts, +Castles and Cities by Land.</p> + +<p>But I finde that men jealous of the Justificableness +of their doings, and designs before +God, never thinke they have humane strength +enough to carry their work on, seem it never +so plausible to the people; what cannot be +justified in Law and Religion, had need to be +fortified with power.</p> + +<p>And yet such is the inconstancy that attends +all minds engaged in violent motion, that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page107" id="page107"></a>[page 107]</span> +whom some of them one while earnestly invite +to come in to their assistance; others of them +soon after are weary of, and with nauseating +cast them out: what one party thought to rivet +to a setlednes by the strength and influence +of the <i><b>Scots</b></i>, that the other rejects and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'contemus'">contemns</ins>; +at once, despising the Kirk-government, +& discipline of the <i><b>Scots</b></i>, and frustrating the +successe of so chargeable, more then charitable +assistance: For, sure the Church of <i><b>England</b></i> +might have purchased at a far cheaper rate, the +Truth & happines of Reformed Government +and Discipline (if it had been wanting) though +it had entertained the best Divines of Christendom +for their advice in a ful & free Synod; +which, I was ever willing to, and desirous of, +that matters being impartially setled, might be +more satisfactory to all, and more durable.</p> + +<p>But much of Gods justice, & mans folly will +at length be discovered, through all the filmes +and pretentions of Religion, in which Polititians +wrap up their designes: in vaine do men +hope to build their Piety on the Ruines of loyalty. +Nor can those considerations or designes +be durable, when Subjects make bankrupt of +their Allegiance, under pretence of setting up a +quicker trade for Religion.</p> + +<p>But, as my best Subjects of <i><b>Scotland</b></i> never deserted +me, so I cannot think that the most are +gone so far from me, in a prodigality of their +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page108" id="page108"></a>[page 108]</span> +love and respects towards me, as to make me +to despair of their return; when besides the +bonds of Nature and Conscience which they +have to me, all Reason and true Policy will +teach them, That their chiefest interest consists +in their fidelity to the Crown, not in their serviceableness +to any Party of the People, to a +neglect and betraying of my Safety and Honor +for their own advantages: However the lesse +cause I have to trust to men, the more I shall +apply my Self to God.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>The Troubles of my Soul are enlarged, O +Lord, bring thou me out of my distresse.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Lord direct thy Servant in the ways of that +pious simplicity, which is the best policie.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Deliver me from the combined strength of +those, who have so much of the Serpents subtilty, +that they forget the Doves Innocency.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Though hand joyn in hand, yet let them not +prevail against my Soul, to the betraying of +my Conscience and Honour.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou, O Lord, canst turn the hearts of those +Parties in both Nations, as thou didst the men +of</i> Judah <i>and <span class="sc">Israel</span>, to restore</i>David<i>with as +much loyal zeal, as they did with inconstancy +and eagernesse pursue him.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Preserve the love of thy truth and uprightness +in me, and I shall not despair of My Subjects +affections returning towards me.</i></b></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page109" id="page109"></a>[page 109]</span> + +<p><b><i>Thou canst soon cause the overflowing Seas +to ebbe, and retire back again to the bounds +which thou hast appointed for them.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O My God, I trust in thee; let me not be ashamed; +let not my enemies triumph over me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let them be ashamed who transgress without +a cause; let them be turned back that persecute +my soul.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, +for I wait on thee O Lord.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Redeem thy Church, O God, out of all its +Troubles.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c14" id="c14"></a> +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page110" id="page110"></a>[page 110]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">14. <i>Upon the Covenant.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">T</span> +<b>He</b> <i><b>Presbyterian Scots</b></i> are not to be hired +at the ordinary rate of Auxiliaries; nothing +will induce them to engage, till those that call +them in, have pawned their Souls to them, by a +Solemn League and Covenant.</p> + +<p>Where many engines of religious and fair +pretensions are brought chiefly to batter or rase +Episcopacy: This they make the grand evil Spirit, +which with other Imps purposely added, to +make it more odious, & terrible to the Vulgar, +must by so solemn a charm & exorcism be cast +out of this Church, after more then a thousand +years possession here, from the first plantation +of Christianity in this Island, and an universal +prescription of time and practice in all other +Churches since the Apostles times till this last +Century.</p> + +<p>But no Antiquity must plead for it; Presbytery +like a young Heir, thinks the Father hath +lived long enough, & impatient not to be in the +Bishops chair and authority (though Lay-men +go away with the Revenus) all art is used to +sink Episcopacy, and lanch Presbytery in <i><b>England</b></i>; +which was lately boyed up in <i><b>Scotland</b></i> +by the late artifice of a Covenant.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page111" id="page111"></a>[page 111]</span> + +<p>Although I am unsatisfied with many passages +in that Covenant some referring to my +self with very dubious and dangerous limitations +(yet I chiefly wonder at the design and +drift touching the Discipline and Government +of the Church); and such a manner of carrying +them on to new ways, by Oaths and Covenants, +where it is hard for men to be engaged +by no less, then swearing for, or against +those things, which are of no clear morall +necessity, but very disputable, and controverted +among learned and godly men: whereto +the application of Oaths can hardly be made +and enjoyned with that judgment and certainty +in ones self, or that charity or candour +to others of different opinion, as I think religion +requires, which never refuses fair and +equable deliberations; yea, and dissentings +too, in matters only probable.</p> + +<p>The enjoyning of Oaths upon People must +needs in things doubtfull be dangerous, as in +things unlawfull, damnable; and no lesse superfluous, +where former Religious and Legal +Engagements, bound men sufficiently, to all +necessary duties. Nor can I see how they will +reconcile such an Innovating Oath and Covenant, +with their former Protestation which +was so lately taken, to maintain the Religion +established in the Church of <i><b>England</b></i>; since +they count Discipline so great a part of Religion.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page112" id="page112"></a>[page 112]</span> + +<p>But ambitious minds never think they have +laid snares and ginnes enough to catch and +hold the vulgar credulity: for by such politicke +and seemingly pious stratagems, they +think to keep the popularity fast to their Parties +under the terrour of perjury: Whereas certainly +all honest and wise men ever thought +themselves sufficiently bound by former ties +of Religion, Allegiance, and lawes, to God +and man.</p> + +<p>Nor can such after-contracts, devised and +imposed by a few men in a declared Party, +without my consent, and without any like +power or president from Gods or mans laws, +be ever thought by judicious men sufficient either +to obsolve or slacked those moral and eternall +bonds of duty which lie upon all My +Subjects consciences both to God and me.</p> + +<p>Yet as things now stand, good men shall +least offend God or Me, by keeping their +Covenant in honest and lawfull wayes; since I +have the charity to think, that the chief end of +the Covenant in such mens intentions, was, to +preserve Religion in purity, and the Kingdoms +in peace: To other then such ends and +meanes they cannot think themselves engaged; +nor will those, that have any true touches +of Conscience endeavour to carry on the best +designes, (much lesse such as are, and will be +daily more apparently factious and ambitious) +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page113" id="page113"></a>[page 113]</span> +by any unlawfull means, under that title of +the Covenant: unlesse they dare preferre ambiguous, +dangerous and un-authorized novelties, +before their known and sworn duties, +which are indespensable, both to God and my +self.</p> + +<p>I am prone to beleeve and hope, That many +who took the Covenant, are yet firme to this +judgment, That such latter Vowes, Oaths, or +Leagues, can never blot out those former gravings, +and characters, which by just and lawfull +Oaths were made upon their Souls.</p> + +<p>That which makes such Confederations by +way of Solemn Leagues and Covenants more +to be suspected, is, That they are the common +road, used in all factious and powerfull perturbations +of State or Church: when formalities +of extraordinary zeal and piety are never more +studied and elaborate, then, when Polititians +most agitate desperate designes against all that +is setled, or sacred in Religion, and Laws, which +by such scrues are cunningly, yet forcibly +wrested by secret steps, and lesse sencible degrees, +from their known rule and wonted practise, +and comply with the humours of those +men, who ayme to subdue all to their own +will and power, under the disguises of Holy +Combinations.</p> + +<p>Which cords and wythes will hold mens +Consciences no longer, then force attends +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page114" id="page114"></a>[page 114]</span> +and twists them: for every man soon grows +his own Pope, and easily absolves himself of +those ties, which, not the commands of Gods +Word, or the Laws of the Land, but only +the subtilty and terrour of a Party casts upon +him; either superfluous and vain, when +they were sufficiently tied before; or fraudulent +and injurious, if by such afterligaments +they find the Imposers really ayming to dissolve, +or suspend their former just and necessary +obligations.</p> + +<p>Indeed such illegall ways seldom or never +intend the engaging men more to duties, but +only to Parties; therefore it is not regarded +how they keep their Covenants in point of +piety pretended, provided they adhere firmly +to the Party and Design intended.</p> + +<p>I see the Imposers of it are content to +make their Covenant like Manna (not that +it came from Heaven, as this did) agreeable +to every mans palate and rellish, who will +but swallow it: They admit any mens senses +of it, the divers or contrary; with any +salvoes, cautions and reservations, so as they +cross not their chief Design, which is laid +against the Church and me.</p> + +<p>It is enough if they get but the reputation +of a seeming encrease to their Party; so little +do men remember that God is not mocked.</p> + +<p>In such latitudes of sense, <i>I</i> beleive many +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page115" id="page115"></a>[page 115]</span> +that love Me, and the Church well, may have +taken the Covenant, who yet are not so fondly +and superstitiously taken by it, as now to +act cleerly against both all piety & loyalty: who +first yeelded to it, more to prevent that imminent +violence and ruine, which hung over their +heads in case they wholly refused it, then for any +value of it, or devotion to it.</p> + +<p>Wherein, the latitude of some generall +Clauses may (perhaps) serve somewhat to +relieve them, as of <i><b>Doing and endeavouring +what lawfully they may, in their Places and +Callings</b></i>, and <i><b>according to the Word of God</b></i>: for +these (indeed) carry no man beyond those +bounds of good Conscience, which are certain & +fixed either in Gods Laws, as to the Generall; +or the Laws of the State and Kingdom, as to +the particular regulation and exercise of mens +duties.</p> + +<p>I would to God such as glory most in the +name of <i><b>Covenanters</b></i>, would keep themselves +within those lawfull bounds, to which God +hath called them: surely it were the best way +to expiate the rashnesse of taking it; which +must needs then appear, when besides the +want of a full and lawfull Authority at first +to enjoyn it, it shall actually be carried on +beyond and against those ends which were in +it specified and pretended. I willingly forgive +such mens taking the Covenant, who keep +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page116" id="page116"></a>[page 116]</span> +it within such bounds of Piety, Law, and Loyaltie, +as can never hurt either the Church, My +self, or the Publick Peace: Against which, no +mans lawfull Calling can engage him.</p> + +<p>As for that Reformation of the Church +which the Covenant pretends, I cannot think +it just or comely, that by the partiall advice of +a few Divines, (of so soft and servile tempers, +as disposed them to so sudden acting and compliance, +contrary to their former judgements, +profession, and practise) such foule scandalls +and suspitions should be cast upon the Doctrine +and Government of the Church of +<i><b>England</b></i>, as was never done (that I have heard) +by any that deserved the name of <i><b>Reformed +Churches</b></i> abroad, nor by any men of learning +and candour at home: all whose judgments <i>I</i> +cannot but prefer before any mens now factiously +engaged.</p> + +<p>No man can be more forward then My self +to carry on all due Reformations, which mature +judgment, and a good Conscience, in +what things I shall (after impartiall advise) be, +by Gods Word, and right reason, convinced +to be amiss, I have offered more than ever the +fullest, freest, and wisest Parliaments did +desire.</p> + +<p>But the sequele of some mens actions makes +it evident, that the maine information intended, +is the abasing of Episcopacy into Presbytery, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page117" id="page117"></a>[page 117]</span> +and the robbing of the Church of its +Lands and Revenues: For, no men have been +more injuriously used, as to their legall Rights +then the Bishops, and Church-men. These, +as the fattest Dear, must be destroyed; the +other Rascal herd of Schismes, Heresies, &c. +being leane, may enjoy the benefit of a Toleration: +Thus <i><b>Naboth</b></i>'s Vine-yard made him +the onely Blasphemer of his City, and fit to +die. Still I see: while the breath of Religion +fills the Sailes, Profit is the compasse, by which +Factious men steer their course in all seditious +Commotions.</p> + +<p>I thank God, as no man lay more open to +the sacrilegious temptation of usurping the +Churches Lands, and Revenues, (which issuing +chiefly from the Crown, are held of it, +and legally can revert onely to the Crowne +with my Consent) so I have alwayes had such +a perfect abhorrence of it in my Soule, that I +never found the least inclination to such sacrilegious +Reformings: yet no man hath a greater +desire to have Bishops and all Church-men, +so reformed, that they may best deserve and +use, not onely what the pious munificence of +My Predecessours hath given to God and the +Church, but all other additions of Christian +bounty.</p> + +<p>But no necessity shall ever, I hope, drive me +or Mine to invade or sell the Priests Lands, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page118" id="page118"></a>[page 118]</span> +which both <i><b>Pharaoh's</b></i> divinity, and <i><b>Joseph's</b></i> +true piety abhorred to do: So unjust I think +it both in the eye of Reason and Religion, to +deprive the most sacred employment of all +due incouragements; and like that other hard-hearted +<i><b>Pharaoh</b></i>, to withdraw the Straw, and +encrease the Task; so pursuing the oppressed +Church as some have done, to the red Sea of +a Civill War, where nothing but a miracle can +save either it, or him, who esteems it his greatest +Title to be called, and his chiefest glory to +be <i><b>The defender of the Church, both in its +true faith, and its just fruitions; equally abhoring +Sacriledge and Apostacy</b></i>.</p> + +<p>I had rather live as my Predecessour <i><b>Henry</b></i> +the 3. sometime did, on the Churches alms, +then violently to take the bread out of Bishops +and Ministers mouths.</p> + +<p>The next work will be <i><b>Jeroboam's</b></i> reformation, +consecrating the meanest of the people +to be Priests in <i><b>Israel</b></i>, to serve those Golden +<i><b>Calves</b></i> who have enrich'd themselves with the +Churches Patrimony and Dowry; which how +it thrived both with Prince, Priests and people, +is well enough known: And so it will be +here, when from the tuition of Kings and +Queens, which have been nursing fathers and +mothers of this Church, it will be at their allowance, +who have already discovered, what +hard fathers and step-mothers they will be.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page119" id="page119"></a>[page 119]</span> + +<p>If the poverty of <i><b>Scotland</b></i> might, yet the +plenty of <i><b>England</b></i> cannot excuse the envy +and rapine of the Churches Rights and Revenues.</p> + +<p>I cannot so much as pray God to prevent +those sad consequences, which will inevitably +follow the parity and poverty of Ministers, +both in Church and State; since I think +it no lesse then a mocking and tempting of +God, to desire him to hinder those mischiefs +whose occasions and remedies are in our own +power; it being every mans sin not to avoid the +one, and not to use the other.</p> + +<p>There are ways enough to repair the breaches +of the State without the ruins of the +Church; as I would be a restorer of the one, so +I would not be an oppressor of the other under +the pretence of publick Debts: The occasions +contracting them were bad enough, but +such a discharging of them would be much +worse; I pray God neither I, nor mine, may +be accessary to either.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>To thee, O Lord, do I addresse my Prayer, beseeching +thee to pardon the rashness of my Subjects +Swearings, and to quicken their sense and +observation of those just, morall and indispensable +bonds, which thy word and the Laws of +this Kingdom have laid upon their Consciences; +From which no pretensions of Piety & reformation</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page120" id="page120"></a>[page 120]</span> +<i>are sufficient to absolve them; or to +engage them to any contrary practises.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Make them at length seriously to consider that +nothing violent and injurious can be religious.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou allowest no mans committing Sacriledge +under the zeal of abhorring Idols.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Suffer not sacrilegious designs to have the +countenance of religious ties.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou hast taught us by the wisest of Kings, +that it is a snare to take things that are holy, +and Vows to mak enquiry,</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Ever keep thy Servant from consenting to +perjurious and sacraligeous rapinei, that I may +not have the brand and curse to all posterity of +robing Thee and thy Church, of what thy +bounty hath given us, and thy clemencie hath +accepted from us, wherewith to encourage +Learning and Religion.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Though My Treasures are Exhausted, My +Revenues Diminished, and My Debts Encreased, +yet never suffer Me to be tempted to +use such profane Reparation; lest a coal from +thine Altar set such a fire on My Throne and +Conscience as will hardly be quenched.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let not the Debts and Engagements of the +Publique, which some mens folly and prodigalitie +hath contracted, be an occasion to impoverish +thy Church.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>The State may soon recover, by thy blessing +of peace upon us; The Church is never likely, in</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page121" id="page121"></a>[page 121]</span> +<i>times, where the Charity of most men is grown +so cold, and</i></b> <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'theia'"><b><i>their</i></b></ins> <b><i>Religion so illiberall.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Continue to those that serve Thee and thy +Church all those encouragements, which by the +will of the pious Donours, and the justice of the +Laws are due unto them; and give them grace +to deserve and use them aright to thy glory, & +the relief of the poor: That shy Priests may be +cloathed with righteousnesse, and the poor may +be satisfed with bread.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let</i></b> <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'net'"><b><i>not</i></b></ins> <b><i>holy things be given to Swine; nor +the Churches bread to Dogs; rather let them +go about the City, grin like a Dog, and grudge +that they are not satisfied.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let those sacred morsels, which some men +have already by violence devoured, never digest +with them, nor theirs; Let them be as</i> +Naboth's <i>Vineyard to</i> Ahab, <i>gall in their +mouths, rottennesse to their names, a moth to +their families, and a sting to their Consciences.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Break in sunder O Lord, all violent and sacrilegious +Confederations to do wickedly and +injuriously.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Divide their hearts and tongues who have +bandyed together against the Church and +State, that the folly of such may be manifest to +all men, and proceed no further.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>But so savour My righteous dealing, O Lord, +that in the mercies of thee, the most High, I +may never miscarry.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c15" id="c15"></a> +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page122" id="page122"></a>[page 122]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">15. <i>Vpon the many Jealousies raised, and Scandals cast upon the</i> <span class="sc">King</span>, <i>to stirre up the People against him.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">I</span> +<b>F</b> <i>I</i> had not My own Innocency, and Gods +protection, it were hard for Me to stand +out against those stratagems and conflicts of +malice, which by falsities seek to oppresse the +Truth; and by Jealousies to supply the defect +of reall causes, which might seem to justifie so +unjust ingagements against Me.</p> + +<p>And indeed, the worst effects of open hostility +come short of these designes: For, <i>I</i> can +more willingly lose My Crownes, then My +credit; nor are My Kingdomes so dear to Me, +as My Reputation and Honor.</p> + +<p>Those must have a period with my life; but +these may survive to a glorious kind of Immortality, +when I am dead and gone: A good +name being the imbalming of Princes, and a +sweet consecrating of them to an Eternity of +love and gratitude among Posterity.</p> + +<p>Those foul and false aspersions were secret +engines at first employed against My peoples +love to Me: that undermining their opinion +and value of Me, My enemies, and theirs too +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page123" id="page123"></a>[page 123]</span> +might at one blow up their affections, and +batter down their loyalty.</p> + +<p>Wherein yet, I thank God, the detriment +of My Honor is not so afflictive to Me, as the +sin and danger of My peoples souls, whose +eyes once blinded with such mists of suspicions, +they are soon misled into the most desperate +precipices of actions: wherein they do +not only, not consider their sin and danger, +but glory in their zealous adventures; while I +am rendred to them so fit to be destroyed, that +many are ambitious to merit the name of My +Destroyers; Imagining they then fear God +most, when they least honor their King.</p> + +<p>I thank God, I never found but My pity +was above My anger; nor have My passions +ever so prevailed against me, as to exclude My +most compassionate prayers for them, whom +devout errours more then their own malice +have betrayed to a most religious Rebellion.</p> + +<p>I had the Charity to interpret, that most +part of My Subjects fought against My supposed +Errours, not My person; and intended +to mend Me, not to end Me: And <i>I</i> hope that +God pardoning their Errours, hath so farre +accepted and answered their good intentions, +as he hath yet preserved Me, so he +hath by these afflictions prepared me, both to +do him better service, and My people more +good then hitherto I have done.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page124" id="page124"></a>[page 124]</span> + +<p>I do not more willingly forgive their seductions, +which occasioned their loyall injuries, +then I am ambitious by all Princely merits +to redeem them from their unjust suspicions, +and reward them for their good intentions.</p> + +<p>I am too conscious to My own affections +toward the generality of my people to suspect +theirs to Me; nor shall the malice of My Enemies +ever be able to deprive Me of the comfort +which that confidence gives Me; I shall +never gratifie the spightfulnesse of a few with +any sinister thoughts of all their Allegiance, +whom pious frauds have seduced.</p> + +<p>The worst some mens ambition can do, shall +never perswade Me, to make so bad interpretations +of most of My Subjects actions; who +possibly may be erroneous, but not Hereticall +in point of Loyalty.</p> + +<p>The sence of the injuries done to My Subjects +is as sharp, as those done to My Self; +our welfares being inseparable; in this only +they suffer more then My self, that they are +animated by some seducers to injure at once +both themselves and Me.</p> + +<p>For this it is not enough to the malice of My +Enemies, that I be afflicted; but it must be +done by such instruments, that My afflictions +grieve Me not more, then this doth, that I am +afflicted by those, whose prosperity I earnestly +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page125" id="page125"></a>[page 125]</span> +desire, and whose seduction I heartily +deplore.</p> + +<p>If they had been my open and forraign +Enemies, I could have born it; but they must +be My own Subjects, who are next to My +Children dear to me: And for the restoring +of some tranquillity, I could willingly be the +<i>Jonah</i>, if I did not evidently fore-see, that +by the divided interests of their and Mine Enemies, +as by contrary winds, the storm of +their miseries would be rather increased then +allayed.</p> + +<p>I had rather prevent my peoples ruin then +rule over them; nor am I so ambitious of +that Dominion which is but My Right, as of +their happiness; If it could expiate or countervail +such a way of obtaining it, by the highest +injuries of subjects committed against their +Soveraign.</p> + +<p>Yet I had rather suffer all the miseries of +life, and die many deaths, then shamefully to +desert, or dishonourable to betray My own +just Rights and Soveraignty; thereby to gratifie +the ambition, or justifie the malice of my +enemies; between whose malice, and other +mens mistakes, I put as great a difference, as +between an ordinary Ague and the Plague; +or the Itch of Novelty, and the Leprosie of +Disloyalty.</p> + +<p>As Liars need have good memories, so malicious +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page126" id="page126"></a>[page 126]</span> +persons need good inventions; that +their calumnies may fit every mans fancy; and +what their reproaches want of truth, they may +make up with numbers and shew.</p> + +<p>My patience (I thank God) wil better serve +Me to bear, and My charity to forgive, then +My leisure to answer the many false Aspersions +which some men have cast upon Me.</p> + +<p>Did I not more consider My Subjects Satisfaction, +then my owne Vindication, I should +never have given the malice of some men that +pleasure, as to see me take notice of, or remember +what they say, or object.</p> + +<p>I would leave the Authors to be punished +by their own evill manners, and seared Consciences, +which will, I believe, in a shorter +time then they be aware of, both confute and +revenge all those black and false Scandals +which they have cast on me; And make the +world see, there is as little truth in them, as +there was little worth in the broaching of +them, or Civility, (I need not say Loyalty) in +the not suppressing of them; whose credit and +reputation, even with the people, shall ere long +be quite blasted by the breath of that same +fornace of popular obloquy, and detraction, +which they have studied to heat and inflame to +the highest degree of infamy, and wherein +they have sought to cast and consume My +Name and Honor.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page127" id="page127"></a>[page 127]</span> + +<p>First, nothing gave me more cause to suspect, +and search mine own innocencie, then +when I observed so many forward to engage +against me, who had made great professions +of singular piety; For this gave to Vulgar +minds so bad a reflection upon me and my +Cause, as if it had been impossible to adhere +to me, and not withall part from God; to +think or speak well of me, and not to blaspheme +him; so many were perswaded that +these two were utterly inconsistent, to be at +once Loyall to Me, and truly Religious toward +God.</p> + +<p>Not but that I had (I thank God) many +with me, which were both learned and Religious, +(much above that ordinary size, and +that Vulgar proportion wherein some men +glory so much) who were so well satisfied in +the cause of my sufferings, that they chose rather +to suffer with me, then forsake me.</p> + +<p>Nor is it strange, that so religious Pretensions +as were used against me, should be to +many well-minded men a great temptation to +oppose me; especially, being urged by such +popular Preachers as think it no sin to lie for +God, and what they please to call Gods +Cause, cursing all that will not curse with +them; looking so much at, and crying up the +goodnesse of the end propounded, that they +consider not the lawfulness of the means used +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page128" id="page128"></a>[page 128]</span> +nor the depth of the mischief, chiefly plotted +and intended.</p> + +<p>The weakness of these mens judgments must +be made up by their clamours and activity.</p> + +<p>It was a great part of some mens Religion to +scandalize me and mine; they thought theirs +could not be true, if they cried not down +Mine as false.</p> + +<p>I thank God, I have had more triall of his +grace, as to the constancy of my Religion in +the Protestant profession of the Church of +<i><b>England</b></i>, both abroad, and at home, then ever +they are like to have.</p> + +<p>Nor do <i>I</i> know any exception I am so liable +to, in their opinion, as too great a fixedness +in that Religion, whose judicious and +solid grounds, both from Scripture, and Antiquity, +will not give my conscience leave to +approve or consent to those many dangerous +and divided innovations, which the bold ignorance +of some men would needs obtrude +upon me, and my people.</p> + +<p>Contrary to those well tried foundations +both of Truth, and Order, which men of far +greater Learning, and clearer Zeal, have settled +in the Confession and Constitution of this +Church in <i><b>England</b></i>, which many former +Parliaments in the most calm, and unpassionate +times, have oft confirmed; In which +I shall ever, by Gods help, persevere, as beleeving +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page129" id="page129"></a>[page 129]</span> +it hath most of primitive Truth and +Order.</p> + +<p>Nor did my using the assistance of some Papists, +which were my Subjects, any way fight +against my Religion, some men would needs +interpret it: especially those who least of all +men cared whom they imployed, or what they +said and did, so they might prevail.</p> + +<p>'Tis strange that so wise men, as they would +be esteemed, should not conceive, That differences +of perswasion in matters of Religion +may easily fall out, where there is the samenesse +of duty, Allegeance and subjection: The first +they owe as men and Christians to God; the +second they owe to me in common, as their +<span class="sc">King</span>: different professions in point of Religion +cannot (any more then in civill Trades) +take away the community of relations either +to Parents, or to Princes. And where is there +such an <i>Oglio</i> or medly of various Religions +in the world again, as those men entertain in +their service (who finde most fault with me) +without any scruple, as to the diversity of their +Sects and Opinions!</p> + +<p>It was, indeed, a foul and indeleable shame, +for such as would be counted Protestants, to +inforce Me, a declared Protestant, their Lord +and King, to a necessary use of Papists, or any +other, who did but their duty to help Me to +defend my self.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page130" id="page130"></a>[page 130]</span> + +<p>Nor did I more then is lawful for any King, +in such exigents to use the aid of any his Subjects.</p> + +<p>I am sorry the Papists should have a greater +sense of their Allegeance then many Protestant +Professors; who seem to have learned, +and to practise the worst Principles of the +worst Papists.</p> + +<p>Indeed, it had been a very impertinent and +unseasonable scruple in me, (and very pleading, +no doubt to my Enemies) to have been +then disputing the points of different beliefs +in my Subjects, when I was disputed with by +Swords points: and when I needed the help +of my Subjects as men, no lesse then their prayers +as Christians.</p> + +<p>The noise of my evill Counsellours was another +usefull device for those, who were impatient +any mens counsels but their own +should be followed in Church or State; who +were so eager in giving me better counsel, that +they would not give me leave to take it with +freedom, as a Man; or honour, as a King; +making their Counsels more like a drench, that +must be powred down, then a draught, which +might be fairly and leisurely drank, if I liked +it.</p> + +<p>I will not justifie beyond humane errour +and frailties my Self, or my Counsellours: +They might be subject to some miscarriages, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page131" id="page131"></a>[page 131]</span> +yet such as were far more reparable by second +and better thoughts, then those enormous +extravagances wherewith some men have +now even wildred, and almost quite lost both +Church and State.</p> + +<p>The event of things at last will make it evident +to my Subjects, that had I followed the +worst Counsels that my worst Counsellours +ever had the boldnesse to offer to me, or my +Self any inclination to use; I could not so +soon have brought both Church and State +in three flourishing Kingdoms, to such a +<i>Chaos</i> of confusion, and hell of miseries as +some have done; out of which they cannot, +or will not, in the midst of their many great +advantages, redeem either Me, or my Subjects.</p> + +<p>No men were more willing to complain, +then I was to redresse what I saw in reason +was either done or advised amisse: and this I +thought I had done, even beyond the expectation +of moderate men: who were sorry to see +me prone even to injure my Self, out of a zeal +to relieve my Subjects.</p> + +<p>But other mens insatiable desire of revenge +upon Me, my Court, and my Clergie, hath +wholly beguiled both Church and State of +the benefit of all my either Retractations or +Concessions; and withall, hath deprived all +those (now so zealous Persecutors) both of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page132" id="page132"></a>[page 132]</span> +comfort and reward of their former pretended +Persecutions, wherein they so much gloryed +among the Vulgar; and which, indeed a truly +humbly Christian will so highly prize, as rather +not be relieved, then be revenged, so as +to be bereaved of that Crown of Christian +patience, which attends humble and injured +sufferers.</p> + +<p>Another artifice used to withdraw my peoples +affections from me to their designes, was, +the noise and ostentation of Liberty, which +men are not more prone to desire, then unapt +to bear in the popular sense; which is to doe +what every man liketh best.</p> + +<p>If the divinest Liberty be to will what men +should, and to do what they so will, according +to Reason, Laws and Religion; I envie not +my Subjects that liberty, which is all I desire +to enjoy my self; So far am I from the desire +of oppressing theirs. Now were those Lords +and Gentlemen which assisted me, so prodigal +of their Liberties, as with their Lives and Fortunes +to help on the enslaving of themselves +and their Posterities?</p> + +<p>As to Civil Immunities, none but such as +desire to drive on their ambitious and covetous +Designes over the ruines of Church and +State, Prince, Peers, and People, will ever +desire greater Freedoms than the Laws allow; +whose bounds good men count their +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page133" id="page133"></a>[page 133]</span> +Ornament and Protection; others their Manacles +and Oppression.</p> + +<p>Nor is it just any man should expect the +reward and benefit of the Law, who despiseth +his rule and direction, losing justly his +Safety, while he seeks an unreasonable Libertie.</p> + +<p>Time will best inform my Subjects, that +those are the best preservers of their true Liberties, +who allow themselves the least licentiousnesse +against or beyond the Laws.</p> + +<p>They will feel it at last to their cost, that it +is impossible those men should be really tender +of their fellow-subjects liberties, who have +the hardinesse to use their King with so severe +restraints, against all Laws, both Divine and +Humane; under which yet I wil rather perish, +then complain to those, who want nothing +to compleat their mirth and triumph, but such +musick.</p> + +<p>In point of true conscientious tendernesse +(attended with humility and meeknesse, not +with proud and arrogant activity, which seeks +to hatch every egg of different opinion to a +Faction or Schism) I have oft declared, how +little I desire my Laws and Scepter should +intrench on Gods Soveraignty, which is the +onely King of mens Consciences; and yet he +hath laid such restraints upon men, as commands +them to be subject for conscience sake, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page134" id="page134"></a>[page 134]</span> +giving no men liberty to break the Law established, +further then with meeknesse and patience +they are content to suffer the penalty +annexed, rather then perturb the publick +Peace.</p> + +<p>The truth is, some mens thirst after Novelties, +others despair to relieve the necessities of +their Fortunes, or satisfie their Ambition in +peaceable times, (distrusting Gods providence, +as well as their own merits) were the +secret (but principal) impulsives to these popular +Commotions, by which Subjects have +been perswaded to expend much of those +plentifull Estates they got, and enjoyed under +my Government in peaceable times; which +yet must now be blasted with all the odious +reproaches which impotent malice can invent; +and my Self exposed to all those contempts, +which may most diminish the Majesty +of a King, and increase the ingratefull insolencies +of my People.</p> + +<p>For mine Honour, I am well assured, that +as mine Innocency is clear before God, in +point of any calumnies they object; so my Reputation +shall like the Sun (after Owls and +Bats have had their freedom in the night and +darker times) rise and recover it self to such a +degree of splendour, as those ferall Birds +shall be grieved to behold, and unable to bear. +For never were any Princes more glorious, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page135" id="page135"></a>[page 135]</span> +then those whom God hath suffered to be tried +in the fournace of afflictions, by their injurious +Subjects.</p> + +<p>And who knows but the just and mercifull +God will do me good, for some mens hard, +false, and evill speeches against Me; wherein +they speak rather what they wish, then what +they beleeve, or know.</p> + +<p>Nor can I suffer so much in point of Honour, +by those rude and scandalous Pamphlets +(which like fire in great conflagrations, fly up +and down to set all places on like flames) +as those men do, who pretending to so +much piety, are so forgetfull of their duty to +God and Me: By no way ever vindicating +the Majesty of their <span class="sc">King</span> against any of +those, who contrary to the precept of God, +and precedent of Angels, <i><b>speak evil of dignities, +and bring railing accusations against those</b></i> +who are honoured with the name of <i><b>Gods.</b></i></p> + +<p>But 'tis no wonder if men not fearing God, +should not honour their <span class="sc">King</span>.</p> + +<p>They will easily contemn such shadows of +God, who reverence not that Supreme and +adorable Majestie, in comparison of whom all +the glory of Men and Angels is but obscurity; +yet hath he graven such Characters of divine +Authority, and sacred Power upon Kings, as +none may without sin seek to blot them out. +Nor shall their black veils be able to hide the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page136" id="page136"></a>[page 136]</span> +shining of my face, while God gives me an +heart frequently and humbly to converse with +him, from whom alone are all the traditions +of true glory and majestie.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>Thou ,O Lord, knowest my reproach, and my +dishonour; my adversaries are all before thee.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>My soul is among Lions, among them that are +set on fire, even the sons of men; whose teeth are +spears and arrows, their tongue a sharp sword.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Mine enemies reproach me all the day long, +and those that are mad against me, are sworn together.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O my God, how long shall the sons of men turn +my glory into shame? how long shall they love +vanity, and seek after lies?</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou hast heard the reproaches of wicked men +on every side. Hold not thy peace, lest my Enemies +prevail against me, and lay mine honour in +the dust.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou, O Lord, shalt destroy them that speak +lies; the Lord will abhor both the blood-thirsty +and deceitfull men.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Make my righteousnesse to appear as the light, +and mine innocencie to shine forth as the Sun at +noon-day.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Suffer not my silence to betray mine innocence, +nor my displeasure, my patience; That after my +Saviours example, being reviled, I may not revile +again; and being cursed by them, I may bless them.</i></b></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page137" id="page137"></a>[page 137]</span> + +<p><b><i>Thou that wouldst not suffer</i> Shimei's <i>tongue +to go unpunished; when by thy judgements on</i> David <i>he</i></b> <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'migh'"><b><i>might</i></b></ins> <b><i>seem to justifie his disdainfull +reproaches, give me grace to intercede with thy +mercy for these my enemies, that the reward of +false and lying tongues, even hot burning coales +of eternall fire, may not be brought upon them.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let my prayers, and patience, be as water to +coole and quench their tongues, who are already +set on fire with the fire of Hell, and tormented +with those malitious flames.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let me be happy to refute, and put to silence +their evill speaking by well-doing; and let them +enjoy not the fruit of their lips, but of my prayer +for their repentance, and thy pardon.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Teach me</i> Davids <i>patience and</i> Hezekiah's <i>devotion, +that I may look to thy mercy through +mans malice and see thy justice in their sin.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let</i> Sheba's <i>seditious speeches</i>, Rabshekah's +<i>railing, and</i> Shimei's <i>cursing, provoke, as my +humble prayer to thee, so thy renued blessing +towards me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Though they curse, do thou bless, and I shall +be blessed; and made a blessing to my people.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>That the stone, which some builders refuse, +may become the head-stone of the corner.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Look down from heaven, and save me, from +the reproach of them that would swallow me up.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Hide me in the secret of thy presence, from +the pride of man, and keep me from the strife of +tongues.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c16" id="c16"></a> +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page138" id="page138"></a>[page 138]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">16. <i>Upon the Ordinance against the Common-Prayer Book.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">I</span> +<b>T</b> is no newes to have all Innovations ushered +in with the name of Reformations in +Church and State, by those, who seeking to +gain reputation with the Vulgar for their extraordinary +parts, and piety, must needs undoe +what ever was formerly setled never so +well and wisely.</p> + +<p>So hardly can the pride of those that study +Novelties, allow former times any share or +degree of wisedom or godliness.</p> + +<p>And because matter of prayer and devotion +to God justly bears a great part in Religion, +(being the soules more immediate converse +with the divine Majesty) nothing could be +more plausible to the people then to tell them, +they served God amiss in that point.</p> + +<p>Hence our publike Liturgy, or Forms of +constant Prayers must be (not amended, in +what upon free and publick advice might +seem to sober men inconvenient for matter or +manner, to which I should easily consent, but) +wholly cashiered, and abolished, and after many +popular contempts offered to the Booke, +and those that used it according to their consciences, +and the Lawes in force, it must be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page139" id="page139"></a>[page 139]</span> +crucified by an Ordinance the better to please +either those men, who gloried in their extemporary +veine and fluency: or others, who +conscious to their own formality in the use +of it, thought they fully expiated their sin of +not using it aright, by laying all the blame upon +it, and a totall rejection of it as a dead letter, +thereby to excuse the deadness of their hearts.</p> + +<p>As for the matter contained in the Book, +sober and learned men have sufficiently vindicated +it against the cavils and exceptions of +those who thought it a part of piety to make +what profane objections they could against it; +especially for Popery and Superstition; whereas +no doubt the Liturgy was exactly conformed +to the doctrine of the Church of <i><b>England</b></i>; & +this by all Reformed Churches is confessed to +be most sound and Orthodox.</p> + +<p>For the manner of using set and prescribed +Forms, there is no doubt but that wholsome +words being known and fitted to mens understandings, +are soonest received into their +hearts, and aptest to excite and carry along +with them judicious and fervent affections.</p> + +<p>Nor doe I see any reason why Christians +should be weary of a well-composed Liturgie +(as I hold this to be) more then of all other +things, wherein the constancy abates nothing +of the excellency and usefulness.</p> + +<p>I could never see any Reason, why any Christian +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page140" id="page140"></a>[page 140]</span> +should abhor, or be forbidden to use the +same Forms of prayer, since he prayes to the +same God, believes in the same Saviour, professeth +the same Truths, reads the same Scriptures, +hath the same duties upon him, and +feels the same daily wants for the most part, +both inward and outward, which are common +to the whole Church.</p> + +<p>Sure we may as well beforehand know what +we pray, as to whom we pray; and in what +word, as to what sense; when we desire the +same things, what hinders we may not use the +same words? our appetite and digestion too +may be good, when we use, as we pray for, <i><b>our +daily bread</b></i>.</p> + +<p>Some men, I hear, are so impatient not to +use in all their devotions their own invention +and gifts, that they not only disuse (as too +many) but wholly cast away and contemn the +<i><b>Lords Prayer</b></i>: whose great guilt is, that it is +the warrant and originall patern of all set Liturgies +in the Christian Church.</p> + +<p>I ever thought that the proud ostentation +of mens abilities for invention, and the vain +affectation of variety for expressions, in publike +prayer, or any sacred administrations, +merits a greater brand of sin, then that which +they call coldness and Barrenness: Nor are +men in those novelties less subject to formall +and superficiall tempers, (as to their hearts) +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page141" id="page141"></a>[page 141]</span> +then in the use of constant Forms, where not +the words, but mens hearts are <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'too'">to</ins> blame.</p> + +<p>I make no doubt but a man may be very formall +in the most extemporary variety; & very +fervently devout in the most wonted expressions: +Nor is God more a God of variety, +than of constancy: Nor are constant Forms +of prayers more likely to flat, and hinder the +Spirit of Prayer and Devotion, than an unpremeditated +and confused variety, to distract +and lose it.</p> + +<p>Though I am not against a grave, modest, +discreet, and humble use of Ministers gifts, +even in publique, the better to fit, and excite +their owne, and the peoples affections to the +present occasions: yet I know no necessity +why private and single abilities should quite +justle out, & deprive the Church of the joynt +abilities and concurrent gifts of many learned +and godly men; such as the Composers of +the Service-Book were; who may in all reason +be thought to have more of gifts & graces +enabling them to compose with serious +deliberation & concurrent advice, such Forms +of prayers, as may best fit the Churches common +wants, inform the Hearers understanding, +and stir up that fiduciary and fervent +application of their spirits (wherein consists +the very life and soul of prayer, and that so +much pretended Spirit of prayer) then any +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page142" id="page142"></a>[page 142]</span> +private man by his solitary abilities, can be +presumed to have; which, what they are many +times (even there, where they make a great +noise and shew) the affectations, emptinesse, +impertinency, rudenesse, confusions, flatnesse, +levity, obscurity, vain and ridiculous repetitions, +the senslesse, and oft-times blasphemous +expressions; all these burthened with a most +tedious and intolerable length, do sufficiently +convince all men, but those who glory in that +Pharisaick way.</p> + +<p>Wherein men must be strangely impudent, +and flatterers of themselves, not to have an +infinite shame of what they do and say, in +things of so sacred a nature, before God and +the Church, after so ridiculous, and indeed, +profane a manner.</p> + +<p>Nor can it be expected, but that in duties of +frequent performance, as Sacramentall administrations, +and the like, which are still the +same; Ministers must either come to use their +own Forms constantly, which are not like to +be so sound, or comprehensive of the nature +of the duty, as forms of publike composure; +or else they must every time affect new expressions +when the subject is the same; which can +hardly be presumed in any mans greatest sufficiencies +not to want (many times) much of +that compleatnesse, order, and gravity, becoming +those duties; which by this meanes +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page143" id="page143"></a>[page 143]</span> +are exposed at every celebration to every Ministers +private infirmities, indispositions, errours, +disorders, and defects, both for judgement +and expression.</p> + +<p>A serious sense of which inconvenience in +the Church unavoidably following every +mans severall manner of officiating, no doubt, +first occasioned the wisdome and piety of the +Ancient Churches, to remedy those mischiefs, +by the use of constant Liturgies of publike +composure.</p> + +<p>The want of which I believe this Church +will sufficiently feel, when the unhappy fruits +of many mens ungoverned ignorance, and +confident defects, shall be discovered in more +errours, schismes, disorders, and uncharitable +distractions in Religion, which are already but +too many, and the more is the pitie.</p> + +<p>However, if violence must needs bring in +and abet those innovations, (that men may +not seem to have nothing to do) which Law, +Reason, and Religion forbids, at least to be so +obtruded, as wholly to justle out the publike +Liturgy;</p> + +<p>Yet nothing can excuse that most unjust +and partiall severity of those men, who either +lately had subscribed to, used and maintained +the Service-book; or refused to use it, +cried out of the rigour of Laws and Bishops, +which suffered them not to use the Liberty of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page144" id="page144"></a>[page 144]</span> +their Consciences in not using it.</p> + +<p>That these men, (I say) should so suddenly +change the Liturgy into a Directory, as if the +Spirit needed help for invention, though not +for expressions; or as if matter prescribed did +not as much stint and obstruct the Spirit, as if +it were cloathed in, and confined to fit words +(so slight & easie is that Legerdemain which +will serve to delude the vulgar.)</p> + +<p>That further, they should <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'nse'">use</ins> such severity as +not to suffer without penalty, any to use the +Common-Prayer-Book publikely, although +their consciences bind them to it, as a duty of +Piety to God, and Obedience to the Laws.</p> + +<p>Thus I see, no men are prone to be greater +Tyrants, and more rigorous exactors upon +others to conform to their illegall novelties, +then such, whose pride was formerly least disposed +to the obedience of lawfull Constitutions; +and whose licentious humours most +pretended consciencious liberties, which freedome, +with much regret, they now allow to +Me, and My Chaplains, when they may have +leave to serve Me, whose abilities, even in their +extemporary way comes not short of the others, +but their modesty and learning far exceeds +the most of them.</p> + +<p>But this matter is of so popular a nature, as +some men knew it would not bear learned and +sober debates, lest being convinced by the evidence +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page145" id="page145"></a>[page 145]</span> +of Reason, as well as Laws, they should +have been driven either to sin more against +their knowledge, by taking away the Liturgie; +or to displease some faction of the people, by +continuing the use of it.</p> + +<p>Though, I beleeve, they have offended more +considerable men, not onely for their numbers +and estates, but for their weighty and judicious +piety, then those are, whose weaknesse +or giddinesse they sought to gratifie by taking +it away.</p> + +<p>One of the greatest faults some men found +with the Common-Prayer-Book, I beleeve, +was this, That it taught them to pray so oft +for Me; to which Petitions they had not +Loyaltie enough to say <i><b>Amen</b></i>, nor yet Charitie +enough to forbear Reproaches, and even Cursings +of Me in their own Forms, in stead of +praying for Me.</p> + +<p>I wish their repentance may be their onely +punishment; that seeing the mischiefs, which +the disuse of publick Liturgies hath already +produced, they may restore that credit, use and +reverence to them, which by the ancient Churches +were given to set Forms of sound and +wholsom words.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>And thou, O Lord, which art the same God, +blessed for ever, whose Mercies are full of varietie, +and yet of constancie; Thou deniest us not a</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page146" id="page146"></a>[page 146]</span> +<i>new and fresh sense of our old and daily wants +nor despisest renewed affections joyned to constant +expressions.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let us not want the benefit of thy Churches +united and well advised Devotions.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let the matters of our praiers be agreeable +to thy will which is always the same, and the +fervency of our spirits to the motions of thy holy +Spirit in us.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>And then we doubt not, but thy spirituall perfections +are such as thou art neither to be pleased +with affected Novelties for matter or manner, +nor offended with the pious constancy of +our petitions in them both.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Whose varietie or constancie thou hast no where +either forbidden or commanded but left them +to the piety and prudence of thy Church, that +both may be used, neither despised.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Keep men in that pious moderation of their +judgements in matters of Religion; that their +ignorance may not offend others, nor their opinion +of their own abilities tempt them to deprive +others of what they may lawfully and devoutly +use, to help their infirmities.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>And since the advantage of Error consists in +novelty & variety, as truths in unity and constancy: +Suffer not thy Church to be pestered with +errours, and deformed with undecencies in thy +service, under the pretence of variety and noveltie. +Nor to be deprived of truth, unitie, and</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page147" id="page147"></a>[page 147]</span> +<i>order under this fallacy, That constancie is the +cause of formality.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Lord, keepe us from formall Hypocrisie in our +own Hearts, and then we know that praying to +thee, or praising of thee (with</i> David, <i>and +other Holy men) in the same formes cannot +hurt us.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Give us wisdom to amend what is amiss within +us, and there will be less to mend without us.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Evermore defend and deliver thy Church +from the effects of blind zeale and over-bold +devotion.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c17" id="c17"></a> +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">17. <i>Of the differences between the</i> KING <i>and the two Houses, in Point of Church-Government.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">T</span> +<b>Ouching</b> the Government of the Church +by Bishops, the common Jealousie hath +been, that I am earnest and resolute to maintain +it, not so much out of pietie, as policie, +and reason of State.</p> + +<p>Wherein so far indeed reason of State doth +induce me to approve that Government above +any other, as I find it impossible for a +Prince to preserve the State in quiet, unlesse +he hath such an influence upon Church-men, +and they such a dependance on Him, as may +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page148" id="page148"></a>[page 148]</span> +best restraine the seditious exorbitancies of +Ministers tongues; who with the Keyes of +Heaven have so far the Keyes of the Peoples +hearts, as they prevail much by their Oratory +to let in, or shut out, both Peace and Loyalty.</p> + +<p>So that I being (as King) intrusted by God, +and the Lawes, with the good both of Church +and State; I see no Reason I should give up, +or weaken by any change, that power and influence +which in right and reason I ought to +have over both.</p> + +<p>The moving Bishops out of the House of +Peers (of which I have elswhere given an account) +was sufficient to take off any suspicion, +that I inclined to them for any use to be made +of their Votes in State affaires: Though indeed +I never thought any Bishop worthy to +sit in that House, who would not Vote according +to his Conscience.</p> + +<p>I must now in Charity be thought desirous +to preserve that Government in its Right +constitution, as a matter of Religion; wherein +both my judgement is fully satisfied, that it +hath of all other the fullest Scripture grounds, +and also the constant practise of all Christian +Churches; till of late years, the tumultuarinesse +of People, or the factiousnesse and pride +of Presbyters, or the covetousnesse of some +States and Princes, gave occasion to some +mens wits to invent new models, and propose +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page149" id="page149"></a>[page 149]</span> +them under suspicious titles of <i><b>Christs government, +Scepter, and Kingdom</b></i>; the better to +serve their turns, to whom the change was beneficiall.</p> + +<p>They must give me leave, (having none of +their temptations to invite me to alter the +Government of Bishops, (that I may have a +title to their Estates) not to beleeve their pretended +grounds to any new waies: contrary +to the full, and constant testimony of all Histories +sufficiently convincing unbiased men; +that as the Primitive Churches were undoubtedly +governed by the Apostles and their immediate +Successours the first & best Bishops: +so it cannot in reason or charity be supposed, +that all Churches in the world should either +be ignorant of the rule by them prescribed, or +so soon deviate from their divine & holy pattern: +That since the first Age, for 1500 years +not one Example can be produced of any setled +Church, wherein were many Ministers and +Congregations, which had not some Bishop +above them, under whose jurisdiction and government +they were.</p> + +<p>Whose constant and universall practise agreeing +with so large and evident Scripture-directions, +and examples, are set down in the +Epistles to <i><b>Timothy</b></i> and <i><b>Titus</b></i>, for the setling +of that Government not in the persons onely +<i><b>Timothy</b></i> and <i><b>Titus</b></i>, but in the succession; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page150" id="page150"></a>[page 150]</span> +(the want of Government being that, which +the Church can no more dispence with, in +point of wel-being, then the want of the word +and Sacrament in point of being.)</p> + +<p>I wonder how men came to looke with so +envious an eye upon Bishops power and authority, +as to over-see both the Ecclesiasticall +use of them, and Apostolicall constitution: +which to me seems no lesse evidently set forth, +as to the maine scope and designe of those Epistles, +for the setling of a peculiar Office, +Power, and Authority in them as President-Bishops +above others, in point of Ordination, +Censures, and other acts of Ecclesiasticall discipline; +then those shorter characters of the +qualities and duties of Presbyter-Bishops, and +Deacons are described in some parts of the +same Epistles; who in the latitude & community +of the name were then, and may now not +improperly be called Bishops; as to the oversight +and care of single Congregations, committed +to them by the Apostles, or those Apostolicall +Bishops, who (as <i><b>Timothy</b></i> and <i><b>Titus</b></i>) +succeeded them, in that ordinary power, +there assigned over larger divisions in which +were many presbyters.</p> + +<p>The humility of those first Bishops avoiding +the eminent title of Apostles as a name in the +Churches stile appropriated from its common +notion (<i><b>of a Messenger, or one sent</b></i>) to that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page151" id="page151"></a>[page 151]</span> +speciall dignity, which had extraordinary call, +mission, gifts and power immediately from +Christ: they contented themselves with the +ordinary titles of Bishops and Presbyters, until +Use (the great Arbitrator of words, and +Master of language) finding reason to distinguish +by a peculiar name those persons, whose +Power and Office were indeed distinct from, +and above all other in the Church, as succeeding +the Apostles in the ordinary and constant +power of governing the Churches, (the +honour of whose name they moderately, yet +commendably declined) all Christian Churches +(submitting to that special Authority) appropriated +also the name of Bishop, without +any suspicion or reproach of arrogancie, to +those who were by Apostolicall propagation +rightly descended and invested into that highest +and largest power of governing even the most +pure and Primitive Churches: which, without +all doubt, had many such holy Bishops, +after the pattern of <i><b>Timothy</b></i> and <i><b>Titus</b></i>; whose +special power is not more clearly set down in +those Epistles (the chief grounds and limits +of all Episcopall claim, as from divine Right) +then are the characters of these perilous times +and those men that make them such; who not +enduring sound Doctrine, and clear testimonies +of all Churches practice, are most perverse +Disputers, and proud Usurpers, against +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page152" id="page152"></a>[page 152]</span> +true Episcopacy: who if they be not Traytours +and Boasters, yet they seem to be very +covetous, heady, high-minded; inordinate +and fierce, lovers of themselves, having much +of the form, little of the power of godlinesse.</p> + +<p>Who, by popular heaps of weak, light, and +unlearned Teachers, seek to over-lay and smother +the pregnancy & authority of that power +of Episcopall Government, which, beyond +all equivocation and vulgar fallacy of names, +is most convincingly set forth, both by Scripture, and +all after Histories of the Church.</p> + +<p>This I write rather like a Divine, then a +Prince, that Posterity may see (if ever these +papers be publique) that I had faire grounds +both from Scripture-Canons, and Ecclesiasticall +examples whereon my judgement was +stated for Episcopall Government.</p> + +<p>Nor was it any pollicy of State or obstinacy +of will, or partiallity of affection, either to the +men, or their Function which fixed me; who +cannot in point of worldly respects be so considerable +to me as to recompence the injuries +and losses I and my dearest relations with my +Kingdomes have sustained, and hazarded, +chiefly at first upon this quarrell.</p> + +<p>And not only in Religion, of which, Scripture +is the best rule, and the Churches Universall +practise the best commentary, but also +in right reason, and the true nature of Government, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page153" id="page153"></a>[page 153]</span> +it cannot be thought, that an orderly +Subordination among Presbyters, or +Ministers, should be any more against Christianity, +then it is in all secular and civill Governments, +where Parity breeds confusion and faction.</p> + +<p>I can no more beleeve, that such Order is +inconsistent with true Religion, then good +features are with beautie, or numbers with +harmonie.</p> + +<p>Nor is it likely that God, who appointed several +Orders, and a Prelacy, in the Government +of his Church among the Jewish Priests, +should abhor or forbid them amongst Christian +Ministers; who have as much of the principles +of Schism and division as other men; for preventing +and suppressing of which, the Apostolical +wisdom (which was Divine) after that +Christians were multiplied to many Congregations, +and Presbyters with them appointed +this way of Government, which might best +preserve Order and Union with Authority.</p> + +<p>So that, I conceive, it was not the favour of +Princes, or ambition of Presbyters; but the +wisdom and piety of the Apostles, that first settled +Bishops in the Church; which Authority +they constantly used and enjoyned in those +times, which were purest for Religion, though +sharpest for Persecution.</p> + +<p>Not that I am against the managing of this +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page154" id="page154"></a>[page 154]</span> +Presidency and Authority in one man, by the +joynt Councell and consent of many Presbyters: +I have offered to restore that, as a fit +meanes to avoid those Errours, Corruptions, +and Partialities, which are incident to any one +man: Also to avoid Tyranny, which becoms +no Christians, least of all Church-men; besides, +it will be a means to take away that burden, +and <i><b>odium</b></i> of affairs, which may lie too +heavy on one mans shoulders, as indeed I think +it formerly did on the Bishops here.</p> + +<p>Nor can I see what can be more agreeable +both to Reason and Religion, then such a +frame or Government which is paternall, not +Magistericall; and wherein not onely the necessity +of avoiding Faction and Confusion, +Emulations and Contempts, which are prone +to arise among equals in power and function; +but also the differences of some Ministers gifts, +and aptitudes for Government above others, +doth invite to imploy them, in reference to +those Abilities wherin they are Eminent.</p> + +<p>Nor is this judgement of mine touching +Episcopacy, any re-occupation of opinion, +which will not admit any oppositions against +it: It is well known I have endeavoured to +satisfie my self in what the chief Patrons for +other wayes can say against this, or for +theirs: And I find they have, as far lesse of +Scripture grounds, and of Reason; so for examples, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page155" id="page155"></a>[page 155]</span> +and practice of the Church, or testimonies +of Histories, they are wholly destitute; +wherein the whole stream runs so for +Episcopacy, that there is not the least rivulet +for any others.</p> + +<p>As for those obtruded examples of some +late reformed Churches (for many retain Bishops +still) whom necessity of Times and Affairs +rather excuseth, then commendeth for +their inconformity to all Antiquity; I could +never see any reason why Churches orderly +reformed, and governed by Bishops, should +be forced to conform to those few, rather +then to the catholick Example of all ancient +Churches, which needed no Reformation: +And to those Churches at this day, who governed +by Bishops in all the Christian world, +are many more then Presbyterians or Independents +can pretend to be; All whom the +Churches in my three Kingdoms, lately Governed +by Bishops, would equalize (I think) +if not exceed.</p> + +<p>Nor is it any point of wisdom or charitie, +where Christians differ (as many do in some +points) there to widen the differences, and at +once to give all the Christian world (except +an handfull of some Protestants) so great a +scandall in point of Church-Government; +whom, though you may convince of their +Errours in some points of Doctrine; yet you +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page156" id="page156"></a>[page 156]</span> +shall never perswade them, that to compleat +their Reformation, they must necessarily desert, +and wholly cast off that Government, +which they, and all before them have ever +owned as Catholick, Primitive, and Apostolical, +so far, that never Schismaticks nor Hereticks +(except those Arrians) have strayed from +the Unitie and Conformitie of the Church in +that point; ever having Bishops above Presbyters.</p> + +<p>Besides, the late generall approbation and +submission to this Government of Bishops, by +the Clergy, as well as the Laitie of these Kingdomes, +is a great confirmation of my Judgment; +and their inconstancie is a great prejudice +against their noveltie: I cannot in charity +so far doubt of their Learning or Integrity, as +if they understood not what heretofore they +did; or that they did conform contrary to their +Consciences: So that their facility and levity is +never to be excused, who, before ever the point +of Church-government had any free & impartiall +Debate, contrary to their former Oathes +and Practice, against their obedience to the +Lawes in force, and against my Consent, have +not onely quite cryed down the Government +by Bishops; but have approved and incouraged +the violent and most illegall stripping all the +Bishops, and many other Church-men, of all +their due Authority and Revenues, even to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page157" id="page157"></a>[page 157]</span> +the selling away, and utter alienation of those +Church-lands from any Ecclesiastical uses: So +great a power hath the stream of times, and the +prevalency of parties over some mens judgments; +of whose so sudden and so total change, +little reason can be given, besides the <i><b>Scots</b></i> Armie +coming into <i><b>England</b></i>.</p> + +<p>But the folly of these men will at last punish +it self, and the Desertors of Episcopacy will +appear the greatest Enemies to, and Betrayers +of their own Interest: For Presbytery is never +so considerable or effectuall, as when it is +joyned to, and crowned with Episcopacy. All +Ministers wil find as great a difference in point +of thriving, between the favour of the people, +and of Princes, as plants do between being +watered by hand, or by the sweet and liberall +dews of Heaven.</p> + +<p>The tenuity and contempt of Clergy-men +will soon let them see, what a poor carcasse +they are, when parted from the influence of +that Head, to whose Supremacy they have been +sworn.</p> + +<p>A little moderation might have prevented +great mischiefs. I am firm to primitive Episcopacie, +not to have it extirpated (if I can +hinder it.) Discretion without passion might +easily reform what-ever the rust of Times, or +indulgence of Laws, or corruption of Manners +have brought upon it. It being a grosse +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page158" id="page158"></a>[page 158]</span> +vulgar errour, to impute to, or revenge upon +the Function, the faults of Times or Persons; +which seditious and popular principle and +practice all wise men abhor.</p> + +<p>For these secular Additaments and Ornaments +of Authority, Civil Honour and Estate, +which my Predecessours and Christian Princes +in all Countries have annexed to Bishops and +Church-men; I look upon them but as just +rewards of their learning and piety, who are fit +to be in any degree of Church-Government: +also enablements to works of Charitie and +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Hospitaliy'">Hospitality</ins>, meet strengthnings of their Authoritie +in point of respect and observance; which +in peacefull Times is hardly paid to any Governours +by the measure of their Vertues, so +much, as by that of their Estates; Povertie +and meanness exposing them and their Authority +to the contempt of licentious mindes and +manners, which persecuting Times much restrained.</p> + +<p>I would have such men Bishops, as are most +worthy of those encouragements, and best able +to use them: if at any time my judgment of +men failed, my good intention made my errour +veniall: And some Bishops, I am sure, I +had, whose learning, gravitie, and pietie, no +men of any worth or forehead can deny: But, +of all men, I would have Church-men, especially +the Governours, to be redeemed from +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page159" id="page159"></a>[page 159]</span> +that vulgar neglect; (which besides an innate +principle of vitious opposition, which is in all +men against those that seem to reprove, or restrain +them) will necessarily follow both the +Presbyterian parity, which makes all Ministers +equall; and the Independent inferiority, +which sets their Pastor below the People.</p> + +<p>This for My judgment touching Episcopacy, +wherein (Gods knows) I doe not gratifie +any design or passion with the least perverting +of Truth.</p> + +<p>And now I appeal to God above, and all +the Christian world, whether it be just for +Subjects, or pious for Christians, by violence, +and infinite indignities, with servile restraints +to seek to force Me their <span class="sc">King</span> and Soveraign, +as some men have endevoured to doe, +against all these grounds of my Judgment, to +consent to their weak and divided novelties.</p> + +<p>The greatest Pretender of them desires not +more than I doe, That the Church should be +governed, as Christ hath appointed, in true +Reason, and in Scripture; of which, I could +never see any probable shew for any other +waies: who either content themselves with +the examples of some Churches in their infancy +and solitude; when one Presbyter might +serve one Congregation, in a City or Countrey; +or else they deny these most evident +Truths, That the Apostles were Bishops over +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page160" id="page160"></a>[page 160]</span> +Those Presbyters they ordained, as well as over +the Churches they planted; and that Government +being necessary for the Churches +wel-being when multiplied and sociated, must +also necessarily descend from the Apostles to +others, after the example of that power and +Superiority they had above others: which +could not end with their Persons, since the +use and ends of such Government still continue.</p> + +<p>It is most sure, that the purest Primitive and +best Churches flourished under Episcopacy; +and may so still, if ignorance, superstition, avarice, +revenge, and other disorderly and disloyal +passions had not so blown up some mens +minds against it, that what they want of Reasons +or primitive Patterns, they supply with +violence and oppressions; wherein some mens +zeal for Bishops Lands, Houses and Revenues +hath set them on work to eat up Episcopacy: +which (however other men esteem) to Me +is no lesse sin then Sacriledge, or a robbery of +God (the giver of all we have) of that portion +which devout minds have thankfully given +again to him, in giving it to his Church and +Prophets; through whose hands he graciously +accepts even a cup of cold water, as a libation +offered to himself.</p> + +<p>Furthermore, as to my particular Engagement +above other men, by an Oath agreeable +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page161" id="page161"></a>[page 161]</span> +to my <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'judement'">judgement</ins>, I am solemnly obliged to +preserve that Government, and the rights +of the Church.</p> + +<p>Were I convinced of the unlawfullnesse of +the Function, as Antichristian, (which some +men boldly, but weakly calumniate) I could +soone, with Judgement, breake that Oath, +which erroneously was taken by me.</p> + +<p>But being daily by the best disquisition of +truth, more confirmed in the reason and +Religion of that, to which I am sworn; How +can any man that wisheth not my damnation, +perswade me at once to so notorious +and combined sins, of Sacriledge & Perjury? +besides the many personall Injustices I must +doe to many worthy men, who are as legally +invested in their Estates, as any, who seeke to +deprive them; and they have by no Law, been +convicted of those crimes, which might forfeit +their Estates and Lively-hoods.</p> + +<p>I have often wondred how men pretending +to tendernesse of Conscience and Reformation, +can at once tell me, that my Coronation +Oath binds me to Consent to whatsoever +they shall propound to Me (which they urge +with such violence) though contrary to all +that Rationall and Religious freedom which +every man ought to preserve, & of which they +seem so tender in their own Votes: yet at the +same time these men will needs perswade Me. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page162" id="page162"></a>[page 162]</span> +That I must, and ought to dispense with, and +roundly break that part of my Oath, which +binds Me (agreeable to the best light of Reason +and Religion I have) to maintain the Government, +and legall Rights of the Church. +'Tis strange, my lot should be valid in that +part, which both my Self, and all men in their +own case, esteem injurious and unreasonable, +as being against the very naturall and essentiall +libertie of our Souls; yet it should be invalid, +and to be broken in another clause, wherein +I think my Self justly obliged both to God and +Man.</p> + +<p>Yet upon this Rack chiefly have I been held +so long, by some mens ambitious Covetousnesse, +and sacrilegious Cruelty; torturing +(with Me) both Church and State in Civill +Dissentions, til I shall be forced to consent, and +declare that I do approve, what (God knows) +I utterly dislike, and in my Soul abhor, as many +wayes highly against Reason, Justice, and Religion: +and whereto, if I should shamefully +and dishonorably give my consent; yet should +I not by so doing, satisfie the divided Interests +and Opinions of those Parties, which contend +with each other, as well as both against Me +and Episcopacy.</p> + +<p>Nor can my late condescending to the <i><b>Scots</b></i> +in point of Church-Government, be rightly +objected against me, as an inducement for me, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page163" id="page163"></a>[page 163]</span> +to consent to the like in my other Kingdoms; +For it should be considered, That Episcopacie +was not so rooted and setled there, as 'tis here; +nor I (in that respect) so strictly bound to continue +it in that Kingdom, as in this; for what +I think in my judgment best, I may not think +so absolutely necessary for all places, and at all +times.</p> + +<p>If any shall impute my yeelding to them as +my failing and sin, I can easily acknowledge it; +but that is no argument to do so again, or much +worse; I being now more convinced in that +point: nor indeed, hath my yeelding to them +been so happy and successfull, as to encourage +me to grant the like to others.</p> + +<p>Did I see any thing more of Christ, as to +Meeknesse, Justice, Order, Charity, and Loyaltie +in those that pretended to other modes of +Government, I might suspect my Judgment +to be biassed, or fore-stalled with some prejudice +and wontednesse of opinion: but I have +hitherto so much cause to suspect the contrary +in the manners of many of those men, that I +cannot from them gain the least reputation for +their new ways of Government.</p> + +<p>Nor can I find, that in any Reformed Churches +(whose patterns are so cried up, and obtruded +upon the Churches under my Dominion) +that either Learning, or Religion, +works of Piety or Charity, have so flourished +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page164" id="page164"></a>[page 164]</span> +beyond what they have done in my Kingdoms +(by Gods blessing) which might make +me believe either Presbytery or Independency +have a more benigne influence upon +the Church and mens hearts and lives, then +Episcopacy in its right constitution.</p> + +<p>The abuses of which, deserve to be extirpated, +as much as the use retained; for I think +it farre better to hold to primitive and uniforme +Antiquity, then to comply with divided +novelty.</p> + +<p>A right Episcopacy would at once satisfie +all just desires and interests of good Bishops, +humble presbyters, and sober People; so as +Church affaires should be managed neither +with tyrannie, paritie nor popularitie; neither +Bishops ejected, nor presbyters dispised, nor +People oppressed,</p> + +<p>And in this integrity both of my Judgement +and Conscience, I hope God will preserve +me.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>For thou, O Lord, knowest my uprightnesse, +and tendernesse, as thou hast set me to be a Defender +of the Faith, and a Protectour of thy +Church, so suffer me not by any violence, to be +overborne against my Conscience.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Arise O Lord, maintain thine own Cause, let +not thy Church be deformed, as to that Government, +which derived from thy Apostles, hath</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page165" id="page165"></a>[page 165]</span> +<i>been retained in purest and primitive times, till +the Revenues of the Church became the object of +secular envie; Which seeks to rob it of all the +incouragements of Learning and Religion.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Make me as the good Samaritan, compassionate +and helpfull to thy afflicted Church; which some +men have wounded and robb'd; others pass by without +regard, either to pitie or relieve.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>As my power was from thee, so give me grace +to use it for thee.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>And though I am not suffered to be Master +of my other Rights as a</i> KING; <i>yet preserve +me in that libertie of Reason, love of Religion, +and thy Churches welfare which are fixed in my +Conscience as a Christian.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Preserve from sacrilegious Invasions, those +temporall blessings, which thy Providence hath +bestowed on thy Church for thy glorie.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Forgive their sins and errours, who have deserved +thy just permission, thus to let in the wilde +Boar and subtil Foxes, to waste and deform thy +Vineyard, which thy right hand hath planted, and +the dew of heaven so long watered to a happy and +flourishing estate.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O let me not bear the infamous brand to all +Posteritie, of being the first Christian</i> KING, +<i>in this Kingdom, who should consent to the oppression +of thy Church, and the Fathers of it; +whose errours I would rather, with</i> Constantine, +<i>cover with silence, and reform with meeknesse,</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page166" id="page166"></a>[page 166]</span> +<i>then expose their persons, and sacred Functions +to vulgar contempt.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou, O Lord, seest how much I have suffered +with, and for thy Church; make no long tarrying +O my God to deliver both me and it, from +unreasonable men whose counsels have brought +forth, and continue such violent confusions, by a +precipitant destroying the ancient boundaries of +the Churches peace; thereby letting in all manner +of errours, scismes and disorders.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O thou God of order, and of truth, in thy good +time abate the malice, asswage the rage, and confound +all the mischievous devises of thine, mine, +and thy Churches enemies.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>That I, and all that love thy Church, may +sing prayses to thee, and ever magnifie thy salvation, +even before the sons of men.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c18" id="c18"></a> +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">18. <i>Upon</i> Uxbridge <i>Treaty, and other Offers made by the</i> <span class="sc">King</span>.</h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">I</span> +<b>Looke</b> upon the way of Treaties, as a retiring +from fighting like beasts, to arguing +like men; whose strength should be more in +their understandings, then in their limbs.</p> + +<p>And though I could seldom get opportunities +to Treat, yet I never wanted either desire +or disposition to it; having greater confidence +of my Reason, then my Sword. I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page167" id="page167"></a>[page 167]</span> +was so wholy resolved to yeild to the first, that +I thought neither my self, not others, should +need to use the second, if once we rightly understood +each other.</p> + +<p>Nor did I ever think it a diminution of me, +to prevent them with expresses of my desires, +and even importunities to Treat: It being an +office not only of humanity, rather to use Reason +then Force; but also of Christianitie to +<i><b>seek peace and ensue it</b></i>.</p> + +<p>As I am very unwillingly compelled to defend +my self with Armes, so I very willingly +embraced any thing tending to Peace.</p> + +<p>The events of all War by the Sword being +very dubious, and of a Civill war uncomfortable; +the end hardly recompencing, and late +repairing the mischiefe of the means.</p> + +<p>Nor did any successe I had ever enhaunce +with me the price of Peace, as earnestly desired +by me as any man; though I was like to pay +dearer for it then any man: All that I sought +to reserve, was, mine Honour and my Conscience; +the one I could not part with as a King, +the other as a Christian.</p> + +<p>The Treaty at <i><b>Vxbridg</b></i> gave the fairest hopes +of an happy composure; had others applied +themselves to it with the same moderation, as +I did, I am confident the war had then ended.</p> + +<p>I was willing to condescend, as far as Reason, +Honour, and Conscience, would give me +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page168" id="page168"></a>[page 168]</span> +leave: nor were the remaining differences so +essentiall to my peoples happinesse, or of such +consequence, as in the least kind to have hindred +my Subjects either security or prosperity; +for they better enjoyed both many yeers, before +ever those demands were made; some of which +to deny, I think the greatest Justice to my Self, +and favour to my Subjects.</p> + +<p>I see Jealousies are not so easily allayed, as +they are raised: Some men are more afraid +to retreat from violent Engagements, then to +Engage: what is wanting in Equity, must be +made up in Pertinacie. Such as had little to +enjoy in Peace, or to lose in War, studied to +render the very name of <i><b>Peace</b></i> odious and +suspected.</p> + +<p>In Church-affairs, where I had least libertie +of prudence, having so many strict ties of Conscience +upon me, yet I was willing to condescend +so farr to the setling of them, as might +have given fair satisfaction to all men, whom +Faction, Covetousness, or Superstition had not +engaged, more then any true zeal, charity, or +love of Reformation.</p> + +<p>I was content to yeeld to all that might seem +to advance true piety; I onely sought to continue +what was necessary in point of Order, +Maintenance, and Authority to the Churches +Government; and what I am perswaded (as I +have else-where set down my thoughts more +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page169" id="page169"></a>[page 169]</span> +fully) is most agreeable to the true principles +of all Government, raised to its full stature +and perfection, as also to the primitive Apostolicall +patterne, and the practice of the Universall +Church conform therunto.</p> + +<p>From which wholly to recede, without any +probable reason urged or answered, only to +satisfie some mens wills and fantasies (which +yet agree not among themselves in any point, +but that of extirpating Episcopacy, and fighting +against Me) must needs argue such a softnesse, +and infirmity of mind in Me, as will rather +part with Gods Truth, then mans Peace, +and rather lose the Churches honour, then +crosse some mens factious humours.</p> + +<p>God knows, and time will discover, who +were most to blame for the un-successfulnesse +of that Treaty, and who must bear the guilt of +after-calamities. I beleeve, I am very excusable +both before God, and all unpassionate +men, who have seriously weighed those transactions, +wherein I endeavoured no lesse the restauration +of peace to my people, then the preservation +of my own Crowns to my posterity.</p> + +<p>Some men have that height, as to interpret +all faire condescendings as arguments of feeblenesse, +and glory most in an unflexible stifnesse, +when they see others most supple and +inclinable to them.</p> + +<p>A grand Maxime with them was alwayes +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page170" id="page170"></a>[page 170]</span> +to ask something, which in Reason and Honour +must be denied, that they might have +some colour to refuse all that was in other +things granted; setting Peace at as high a +rate, as the worst effects of Warr; endevouring +first to make Me destroy My self by dishonourable +Concessions, that so they might +have the less to do.</p> + +<p>This was all which that Treaty, or any +other produced, to let the world see how little +I would deny, or they grant, in order to the +publick Peace.</p> + +<p>That it gave occasion to some mens further +restivenesse, is imputable to their own depraved +tempers, not to any Concessions or negations +of Mine: I have alwayes the content of +what I offered, and they the regret and blame, +for what they refused.</p> + +<p>The highest tide of success set me not above +a Treaty, nor the lowest ebbe below a Fight: +Though I never thought it any sign of true +valour, to be prodigal of mens lives, rather then +be drawne to produce our own Reasons, or +subscribe to other mens.</p> + +<p>That which made me for the most part presage +the unsuccesfulnesse of any Treaty, was, +some mens unwillingnesse to Treat: which +implied some things were to be gained by +the Sword, whose unseasonableness they were +loth to have fairly scanned, being more proper +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page171" id="page171"></a>[page 171]</span> +to be acted by Souldiers, then by Counsellours.</p> + +<p>I pray God forgive them that were guilty +of that Treaties breaking: and give them +grace to make their advantages gotten by the +Sword a better opportunity to use such moderation +as was then wanting; that so though +Peace were for our sins justly deferred, yet at +last it might be happily obtained; what we +could not get by our Treaties, we may gaine +by our prayers.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>O thou, that art the God of Reason, and of +Peace, who disdainest not to treat with Sinners, +preventing them with offers of attonement, and +beseeching them to be reconciled with thy selfe: +who wantest not Power, or Iustice, to destroy +them; yet aboundest in mercy to save: soften +our hearts by the bloud of our Redeemer, and +perswade us to accept of Peace with thy self, +and both to procure and preserve Peace among +our selves, as Men and Christians. How oft +have I entreated for Peace? but when I speak +thereof, they make them ready to War.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Condemn us not to our passions, which are destructive +both of our selves, and of others.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Cleer up our understandings to see thy Truth, +both in reason, as Men; and in Religion, as +Christians: and incline all our hearts to hold +the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page172" id="page172"></a>[page 172]</span> +<i>Take from us that enmity which is now in our +hearts against thee: and give us that charity +which should be among our selves.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Remove the evils of war we have deserved, +& bestow upon us that peace which only Christ +our great Peace-maker can merit.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c19" id="c19"></a> +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">19. <i>Upon the various events of the warre, victories, and defeats.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">T</span> +<b>He</b> various successes of this unhappy war, +have at least, afforded me variety of good +meditations: sometimes God was pleased to +try me with victory, by worsting my enemies, +that I might know how with moderation +and thanks to own, and use his power, +who is the onely true Lord of Hosts, able +when he pleases to represse the confidence of +those who fought against mee with so great +advantage for power and number.</p> + +<p>From small beginnings on my part, hee let +me see, that I was not wholly for saken by my +peoples love, or his protection.</p> + +<p>Other times God was pleased to exercise +my patience, and teach me not to trust in the +arm of Flesh, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'bnt'">but</ins> in the living God.</p> + +<p>My sins sometimes prevailed against the justice +of my cause, and those that were with me +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page173" id="page173"></a>[page 173]</span> +wanted not matter and occasion for his just +chastisement both of them and Mee: Nor +were My Enemies lesse punished by that prosperity +which hardened them to continue +that injustice by open hostilitie, which was begun +by most riotous and un-Parliamentary Tumults.</p> + +<p>There is no doubt but personall and private +sins may oft-times over-balance the Justice +of publick Engagements; nor doth God +account every gallant man (in the worlds esteem) +a fit instrument to assert in the way of +War a righteous Cause: The more men are +prone to arrogate to their own skill, valour, +and strength, the lesse doth God ordinarily +work by them for his own glory.</p> + +<p>I am sure the event or successe can never +state the Justice of any Cause, nor the peace of +mens Consciences, nor the eternall fate of their +Souls.</p> + +<p>Those with Me had (I think) clearly and +undoubtedly, for their justification, the Word +of God, and the Lawes of the Land, together +with their own Oathes; all requiring obedience +to my just Commands; but to none other +under Heaven without me, or against me +in the point of raising Arms.</p> + +<p>Those on the other side are forced to flie to +the shifts of some pretended Fears, and wilde +Fundamentals of State (as they call them) +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page174" id="page174"></a>[page 174]</span> +which actually overthrow the present fabrick +both of Church and State; being such imaginary +Reasons for self-defence as are most impertinent +for those men to alledge, who being +my Subjects, were manifestly the first assaulters +of Me and the Laws: first, by unsuppressing +the Tumults, after by listed Forces: The same +Allegations they use, will fit any Faction that +hath but power and confidence enough to second +with the Sword all their Demands against +the present Laws and Governours; which +can never be such as some side or other will +not find fault with, so as to urge what they +call a Reformation of them to a Rebellion against +them: some parasitick Preachers have +dared to call those Martyrs, who died fighting +against Me, the Laws, their Oaths, and the Religion +established.</p> + +<p>But sober Christians know, That glorious +Title can with truth be applied onely to those, +who sincerely preferred Gods Truth and their +duty in all these particulars before their lives, +and all that was dear to them in this world; +who having no advantageous Designes by any +Innovasion, were Religiously sensible of those +ties to God, the Church, and my Self, which +lay upon their souls, both for obedience, and +just assistance.</p> + +<p>God could, and I doubt not but hee did +through his mercy, crown many of them with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page175" id="page175"></a>[page 175]</span> +eternall life, whose lives were lost in so just a +Cause; the destruction of their bodies being +sanctified as a means to save their souls.</p> + +<p>Their Wounds and temporal Ruine serving +as a gracious opportunity for their eternall +Health and Happinesse; while the evident approach +of death, through Gods grace, effectually +dispose their hearts to such Humilitie, +Faith, and Repentance, which together with +the Rectitude of their present Engagement, +would fully prepare them for a better life then +that which their enemies brutish and disloyall +fiercenesse could deprive them of; or without +repentance hope to enjoy.</p> + +<p>They have often, indeed, had the better +against my side in the Field, but never, I beleeve +at the Bar of Gods Tribunal, or their +own Consciences; where they are more +afraid to encounter those many pregnant +Reasons, both for Law, Allegiance, and all +true Christian grounds, which conflicts <i><b>with</b></i>, +and accuse them <i><b>in</b></i> their own thoughts, then +they oft were in a desperate bravery to fight +against those Forces which sometimes God +gave me.</p> + +<p>Whose condition conquered, and dying, I +make no question, but is infinitely more to be +chosen by a sober man (that duly values his +duty, his soul and eternity, beyond the enjoyment +of this present life) then the most +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page176" id="page176"></a>[page 176]</span> +triumphant glory, wherein their and mine +Enemies supervive; who can hardly avoid to +be daily tormented by that horrid guilt, wherewith +their suspicious, or now convicted Consciences +do pursue them, especially since they +and all the world have seen, how false and unintended +those pretensions were, which they +first set forth, as the onely plausible (though +not justifiable) grounds of raising a War, and +continuing it thus long against Me, and the +Laws established; in whose safety and preservation +all honest men think the welfare of their +Country doth consist.</p> + +<p>For, and with all which, it is far more honourable +and comfortable to suffer, then to +prosper in their ruine and subversion.</p> + +<p>I have often prayed, that all on my side +might join true pietie with the sense of their +Loyalty; and be as faithfull to God and their +own souls, as they were to Me; That the defects +of the one might not blast the endeavours +of the other.</p> + +<p>Yet I cannot think, that any shews of truth +of piety on the other side were sufficient to dispence +with, or expiate the defects of their dutie +and Loyaltie to Me, which have so pregnant +convictions on mens consciences, that even +profaner men are moved by the sense of them +to venture their lives for Me.</p> + +<p>I never had any Victory which was without +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page177" id="page177"></a>[page 177]</span> +My sorrow, because it was on Mine own +Subjects, who, like <i><b>Absolom</b></i>, died many of +them in their sin: And yet I never suffered any +Defeat which made Me despair of Gods mercy +and defence.</p> + +<p>I never desired such victories, as might serve +to conquer, but only restore the Laws and +Liberties of My people; which I saw were +extremly oppressed, together with my rights, +by those men, who were impatient of any just +restraint.</p> + +<p>When Providence gave Me, or denied Me +Victory, my desire was never to boast of my +power nor to charge God foolishly; who I +believed at last would make all things to work +together for my good.</p> + +<p>I wished no greater advantages by the War, +then to bring my Enemies to moderation, and +my Friends to peace.</p> + +<p>I was afraid of the temptation of an absolute +conquest, and never prayed more for +Victory over others, then over my self. When +the first was denied, the second was granted +me, which God saw best for me.</p> + +<p>The different events were but the methods +of divine justice, by contrary winds to winow +us: That, by punishing our sins, he might +purge them from us; and by deferring peace, +he might prepare us more to prize, and better +to use so great a blessing.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page178" id="page178"></a>[page 178]</span> + +<p>My often Messages for Peace shewed, that +I delighted not in Warre; as my former +Concessions sufficiently testified, how willingly +I would have prevented it; and My totall +unpreparedness for it, how little <i>I</i> intended +it.</p> + +<p>The Conscience of my Innocence forbad +Me to fear a Warr; but the love of my Kingdoms +commanded me (if possible) to avoid +it.</p> + +<p>I am guilty in this War of nothing but +this, That I gave such advantages to some +men, by confirming their power, which they +knew not to use with that modesty and gratitude, +which became their loyalty and My +confidence.</p> + +<p>Had I yeelded lesse, I had been opposed +lesse; had I denied more, I had been more +obeyed.</p> + +<p>'Tis now too late to review the occasions +of the War; I wish only a happy conclusion +of so unhappy beginnings: The inevitable +fate of our sins was (no doubt) such, as +would no longer suffer the divine Justice to +be quiet: we having conquered this patience, +are condemned by mutuall conquerings, to +destroy one another: for, the most prosperous +successes on either side, impair the welfare of +the whole.</p> + +<p>Those Victories are still miserable, that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page179" id="page179"></a>[page 179]</span> +leave our sins unsubdued; flushing our pride, +and animating to continue injuries.</p> + +<p>Peace is not it self desirable, till repentance +hath prepared us for it.</p> + +<p>When we fight more against our selves, +and lesse against God, we shall cease fighting +against one another; I pray God these +may all meet in our hearts, and so dispose +us to an happy conclusion of these Civil-Wars; +that I may know better to obey God, and +govern my people, and they may learn better +to obey both God and me.</p> + +<p>Nor do <i>I</i> desire any man should be further +subject to me, then all of us may be subject +to God.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>O my God, make me content to be overcome, +when thou wilt have it so.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Teach me the noblest victory over my self and +my enemies by patience, which was Christs conquest, +and may well become a Christian King.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Between both thy hands, the right sometimes +supporting, and the left</i></b> <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'afficting'"><b><i>afflicting</i></b></ins>, <b><i>fashion us to +that frame of Piety thou likest best.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Forgive the pride that attends our prosperous, +and the repinings which follow our disastrous +events; when going forth in our own +strength thou withdrawest thine, and goest not +forth with our Armies.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Be thou all, when we are something, and when</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page180" id="page180"></a>[page 180]</span> +<i>we are nothing; that thou mayest have the +glory, when we are in a Victorious, or inglorious +condition.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou O Lord knowest, how hard it is for +me to suffer so much evill from my Subjects, to +whom I intend nothing but good; and I cannot +but suffer in those evils which they compel me +to inflect upon them; punishing my self in their</i></b> +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'punishmenes'"><b><i>punishments</i></b></ins><b><i>.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Since therefore both in conquering, and being +conquered, I am still a Sufferer: I beseech thee +to give me a double portion of thy Spirit, and +that measure of grace, which only can be sufficient +for me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>As I am most afflicted, so make me most reformed: +that I may not be only happy to see +an end of those civill distractions, but a chief +Instrument to restore and establish a firm, and +blessed Peace to my Kingdoms.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Scirre up all Parties pious ambitions to overcome +each other with reason, moderation, +and such self-deniall, as becomes those, who +consider that our mutuall divisions are our common +distractions, and the Union of all is every +good mans chiefest interest.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>If O Lord, as for the sins of our peace, thou +hast brought upon us the miseries of War: so +for the sins of War thou shouldst see fit still to +deny us the blessing of peace, and so to keep us in +a circulation of miseries: yet give me thy Servant,</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page181" id="page181"></a>[page 181]</span> +<i>and all Loyall, though afflicted Subjects, +to enjoy that peace which, the world can nether +give to us, nor take from us.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Impute not to me the blood of my Subjects, +which with infinite unwillingness and griefe, +hath been shed by me, in my just & necessary defence: +but wash me with that precious blood, +which hath been shed for me, by my great Peacemaker, +Jesus Christ; Who will, I trust, redeem +me shortly out of all my troubles: for, I know +the triumphing of the Wicked is but short, and +the joy of Hypocrites is but for a moment.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c20" id="c20"></a> +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">20. <i>Upon the Reformation of the Times.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">N</span> +<b>O</b> Glory is more to be envied then that +of due reforming either Church or State, +when deformities are such, that the perturbation +and noveltie are not like to exceed the benefit +of Reforming.</p> + +<p>Although God should not honour me so far, +as to make me an Instrument of so good a +work, yet <i>I</i> should be glad to see it done.</p> + +<p>As I was well pleased with this Parliaments +first intentions to reform what the indulgence +of Times, and corruption of manners might +have depraved; so I am sorry to see after the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page182" id="page182"></a>[page 182]</span> +freedom of Parliament was by factious Tumults +oppressed, how little regard was had to +the good Laws established, and the Religion +setled; which ought to be the first rule and +standard of Reforming: with how much partiality +and popular compliance the passions +and opinions of men have been gratified, to the +detriment of the Publick, and the infinite scandall +of the reformed Religion?</p> + +<p>What dissolutions of all Order and Government +in the Church? what novelties +of Schism, and corrupt opinions? what undecencies +and confusions in sacred Administrations? +what sacrilegious Invasions upon +the Rights and Revenues of the Church? what +contempt and oppressions of the Clergie? +what injurious diminutions and persecutings +of Me have followed (as showers do warm +gleams) the talk of Reformation, all sober men +are Witnesses, and with my self, sad Spectators +hitherto.</p> + +<p>The great miscarriage (I think) is, that popular +clamours and fury have been allowed the +reputation of zeal, and the Publick sense; so +that the studies to please some Parties, hath indeed +injured all.</p> + +<p>Freedom, Moderation and Impartiality are +sure the best tempers of reforming Counsels +and endeavours; what is acted by Factions, +cannot but offend more then it pleaseth.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page183" id="page183"></a>[page 183]</span> + +<p>I have offered to put all differences in +Church affairs and Religion to the free consultation +of a Synod or Convocation rightly +chosen; the results of whose Councels, as +they would have included the Votes of all, +so its like they would have given most satisfaction +to all.</p> + +<p>The Assembly of Divines, whom the two +Houses have applied (in an unwonted way) +to advise of Church affairs, I dislike not farther, +then that they are not legally convened +and chosen; nor act in the name of all +the Clergy of <i><b>England</b></i>; nor with freedom +and impartiality can do any thing, being limited +and confined, if not overawed, to do and +declare what they do.</p> + +<p>For I cannot think so many men cried up +for learning and piety, who formerly allowed +the Liturgy and Government of the Church +of <i><b>England</b></i>, as to the main, would have so suddenly +agreed quite to abolish both of them, +(the last of which, they know to be of Apostolicall +institution, at least; as of Primitive +and Universall practice) if they had been left +to the liberty of their own suffrages, and if the +influence of contrary factions had not by secret +encroachments of hopes and fears, prevailed +upon them, to comply with so great +and dangerous Innovations in the Church; +without any regard to their own former +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page184" id="page184"></a>[page 184]</span> +judgment and practice, or to the common interest +and honour of all the Clergy, and in them of +Order, learning, and Religion against examples +of all Ancient Churches; the Lawes in +force and my consent; which is never to be +gained, against so pregnant light, as in that +point shines on my understanding.</p> + +<p>For I conceive, that where the Scripture is +not so clear and punctuall in precepts, there +the constant and Universall practice of the +Church, in things not contrary to Reason, +Faith, good Manners, or any positive Command, +is the best rule that Christians can follow.</p> + +<p>I was willing to grant, or restore to Presbytery, +what with Reason or Discretion it can +pretend to, in a conjuncture with Episcopacy; +but for that wholy to invade the Power, and +by the Sword to arrogate, and quite <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'abrogae'">abrogate</ins> +the Authority of that Ancient Order, I thinke +neither just, as to episcopacy, nor safe for Presbytery; +nor yet any way convenient for this +Church or State.</p> + +<p>A due reformation had easily followed moderate +Counsels: and such (I beleeve) as would +have given more content, even to the most of +those Divines, who have been led on with +much Gravity and formality, to carry on other +mens designes which no doubt many of +them by this time discover, though they dare +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page185" id="page185"></a>[page 185]</span> +not but smother their frustrations and discontents.</p> + +<p>The specious and popular Titles of Christs +Government, Throne, Scepter, and Kingdom, +(which certainly is not divided, nor +hath two faces, as their parties now have at +least) also the noise of a thorow-Reformation, +these may as easily be fined on new models, as +fair colours may be put to ill-favoured Figures.</p> + +<p>The breaking of Church-windows, which +time had sufficiently defaced; pulling down +of Crosses, which were but Civill, not Religious +marks; defacing of Monuments, and +Inscriptions of the dead, which served but to +put Posterity in minde, to thank God for that +clearer light wherein they live: The leaving +of Ministers to their liberties, and private +abilities in the publick service of God, where +no Christian can tell to what hee may say +<i><b>Amen</b></i>; nor what adventure he may make of +seeming, at least, to consent to the Errours, +Blasphemies, and ridiculous Undecencies +which bold and ignorant men list to vent in +their Prayers, Preaching, and other Offices; +Their setting forth also of old Catechisms, and +Confessions of Faith new drest, importing as +much, as if there had been no sound or cleer +Doctrine of Faith in this Church, before some +four or five yeers consultation had matured +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page186" id="page186"></a>[page 186]</span> +their thoughts touching their first principles +of Religion.</p> + +<p>All these and the like are the effects of +popular, specious, and deceitfull Reformations, +(that they might not seem to have nothing +to do) and may give some short flashes +of content to the Vulgar, (who are taken +with novelties, as children with babies, very +much, but not very long) but all this amounts +not to, nor can in justice merit the +glory of the Churches thorow-Reformation; +since they leave all things more deformed, disorderly, +and discontented then when they began, +in point of Piety, Morality, Charity, and +good Order.</p> + +<p>Nor can they easily recompence or remedie +the inconveniences and mischiefs which they +have purchased so dearly, and which have, +and will ever necessarily ensue, till due remedies +be applied.</p> + +<p>I wish they would at last make it their unanimous +work to do Gods work, and not their +own: Had Religion been first considered (as +it merited) much trouble might have been +prevented.</p> + +<p>But some men thought, that the Government +of this Church and State, fixed by so many +Lawes, and long Customes, would not run +into their new <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'moudls'">moulds</ins>, till they had first melted +it in the fire of a Civil Warr; by the advantages +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page187" id="page187"></a>[page 187]</span> +of which they resolved, if they prevailed, +to make my Self and all my Subjects +fall down and worship the Images they +should form and set up. If there had been as +much of Christs Spirit, for meeknesse, wisdom +and charitie in mens hearts, as there was +of his name used in the pretensions to reform +all to Christs Rule, it would certainly have +obtained more of Gods blessing, and produced +more of Christs Glory, the Churches good, +the honour of Religion, and the unity of +Christians.</p> + +<p>Publick Reformers had need first act in private, +and practice that on their own hearts, +which they purpose to try on others; for Deformities +within will soon betray the pretenders +of publick Reformations to such private designs, +as must needs hinder the publick good.</p> + +<p>I am sure, the right Methods of Reforming +the Church, cannot subsist with that of perturbing +the Civil State; nor can Religion be +justly advanced by depressing Loyaltie, which +is one of the chiefest Ingredients, and Ornaments +of true Religion: for next to <i><b>Fear God</b></i>, +is, <i><b>Honour the King</b></i>.</p> + +<p>I doubt not but Christs Kingdom may be +set up without pulling down mine; nor will +any men in impartiall times appear good +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Christans'">Christians</ins>, that approve not them selves good +Subjects.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page188" id="page188"></a>[page 188]</span> + +<p>Christs Government will confirm Mine, +not overthrow it, since as I own Mine from +Him, so I desire to rule for his Glory, and his +Churches good.</p> + +<p>Had some men truly intended Christs Government, +or knew what it meant in their +hearts, they could never have been so ill governed +in their words and actions, both against +Me, and one another.</p> + +<p>As good ends cannot justifie evill means; so +nor will evill beginnings ever bring forth +good conclusions: unless God by a miracle of +Mercie create Light out of Darknesse, Order +out of our Confusions, and peace out of our +passions.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>Thou, O Lord, who onely canst give us beauty +for ashes, and Truth for Hypocrisie; suffer us +not to be miserably deluded with Pharisaicall +washings, in stead of Christian reformings.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Our greatest diformities are within; make us +the severest Censurers, and first Reformers of our +own souls.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>That we may in clearnesse of judgment, and +uprightnesse of heart be means to reform what is +indeed amisse in Church and State.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Create in us clean hearts, O Lord, and renew +right spirits within us; that we may do all by +thy directions, to thy glory, and with thy blessing.</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page189" id="page189"></a>[page 189]</span> +<i>Pity the deformities, which some rash & cruel +Reformers have brought upon this Church and +State: Quench the fires which factions have +kindled, under the pretence of Reforming.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>As thou hast shewed the world by their divisions, +and confusions, what is the pravity of some +mens intentions, and weaknesse of their judgements; +so bring us at last more refined out of +these fires, by the methods of Christian and charitable +reformations; wherein nothing of ambition, +revenge, coveteousnes, or sacriledge, may +have any influence upon their counsels, whom +thy providence in just and lawfull wayes shall +entrust with so great, good, and now most necessary +a work: That I and my people may be so +blest with inward piety, as may best teach us +how to use the blessings of outward peace.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c21" id="c21"></a> +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">21. <i>Upon his Majesties Letters taken and divulged.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">T</span> +<b>HE</b> taking of My Letters was an opportunity, +which, as the malice of +Mine <span class="sc">Enemies</span> could hardly have expected; +so they know not how with honour +and civility to use it: Nor do I thinke with +sober and worthy minds any thing in them, +could tend so much to my reproach, as the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page190" id="page190"></a>[page 190]</span> +odious divulging of them did to the infamy +of the Divulgers: The greatest experiments +of Vertue and Noblenesse being discovered +in the greatest advantages against an enemy, +and the greatest obligations being those, +which are put upon us by them, from whom +we could least have expected them.</p> + +<p>And such I should have esteemed the concealing +of my Papers; the freedom and secresie +of which, commands a civility from +all men, not wholly barbarous; nor is there +any thing more inhumane then to expose them +to publick view.</p> + +<p>Yet since Providence will have it so, I am +content so much of My heart (which I study +to approve to Gods omniscience) should be +discovered to the world without any of those +dresses or popular captations which some +men use in their Speeches and Expresses; I +wish My Subjects had a cleerer sight into My +most retired Thoughts.</p> + +<p>Where they might discover, how they are +divided between the love and care I have, +not more to preserve My own Rights, then to +procure their Peace and Happinesse, and that +extreme grief to see them both deceiv'd and +destroyed.</p> + +<p>Nor can any mens malice be gratified +further by My Letters, than to see my constancy +to my Wife, the Laws, and Religion. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page191" id="page191"></a>[page 191]</span> +Bees will gather honey where the Spider sucks +Poyson.</p> + +<p>That I endeavour to avoid the pressures +of my Enemies, by all fair and just correspondences; +no man can blame, who loves +Me, or the Common-wealth, since my Subjects +can hardly be happy if I be miserable, or enjoy +their Peace and Liberties while I am oppressed.</p> + +<p>The world may see how soon mens designe, +like <i><b>Absoloms</b></i>, is by enormous actions +to widen differences, and exasperate all sides +to such distances, as may make all Reconciliation +desperate.</p> + +<p>Yet I thank God, I can not only with patience +bear this, as other indignities, but with +charity forgive them.</p> + +<p>The integrity of my intentions is not jealous +of any injury my expressions can do them, +for although the confidence of privacy may +admit of greater freedome in writing such +letters, which may be liable to envious exceptions; +yet the innocency of my chief purposes +cannot be so obtained, or mis-interpreted by +them, as not to let all men see, that I wish +nothing more then a happy composure of +differences with Justice & Honor, nor more to +My own, then My peoples content, who have +any sparks of Love or Loyalty left in them: +who, by those my Letters may be convinced +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page192" id="page192"></a>[page 192]</span> +that I can both mind and act My own, and +My Kingdomes Affaires, so as becomes a +Prince; which Mine Enemies have alwayes +been very loth should be beleeved of me, as if +I were wholly confined to the Dictates and +Directions of others; whom they please to +brand with the names of Evil Counsellours.</p> + +<p>Its probable some men will now look upon +me as my own Counsellour, and having none +else to quarrell with under that notion, they +will hereafter confine their anger to my self: +Although I know they are very unwilling I +should enjoy the liberty of my own thoughts, +or follow the light of my own Conscience, +which they labour to bring into an absolute +captivitie to themselves; not allowing me to +think their Counsels to be other then good +for me, which have so long maintained a War +against Me.</p> + +<p>The Victory they obtained that day, when +my Letters became their prize, had been enough +to have satiated the most ambitious +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'thrist'">thirst</ins> of popular glory among the Vulgar; +with whom prosperity gaines the greatest +esteem and applause as adversity exposeth +to their greatest sleighting and dis-respect: +As if good fortune were alwayes the shadow +of Vertue and Justice, and did not oftner +attend vitious and injurious actions, as to +this world.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page193" id="page193"></a>[page 193]</span> + +<p>But I see no secular advantages seem sufficient +to that cause, which began with Tumults, +and depends chiefly upon the reputation with +the vulgar.</p> + +<p>They think no Victories so effectual to their +designs, as those that most rout and waste My +Credit with My People; in whose hearts they +seek by all means to smother and extinguish +all sparks of Love, Respect and Loyaltie to Me, +that they may never kindle again, so as to recover +Mine, the Laws & the Kingdoms Liberties, +which some men seek to overthrow: The taking +away of my Credit, is but a necessary preparation +to the taking away of my Life and my +Kingdoms; first I must seem neither fit to Live, +nor worthy to Reign: By exquisite methods of +cunning & crueltie, I must be compelled, first +to follow the Funerals of my Honor, and then +be destroyed: But I know Gods un-erring and +impartial justice can & will over rule the most +perverse wils and designs of men; he is able, and +(I hope) will turn even the worst of mine Enemies +thoughts and actions to my good.</p> + +<p>Nor do I think, that by the surprize of my +Letters, I have lost any more then so many papers: +how much they have lost of that reputation, +for Civility and Humanity (which ought +to be paid to all men, and most becomes such as +pretend to Religion) besides that of Respect and +Honor, which they owe to their <span class="sc">King</span>, present, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page194" id="page194"></a>[page 194]</span> +and after-times will judge. And I cannot +think that their own consciences are so stupid, +as not to inflict upon them some secret impressions +of that shame & dishonor which attends +all unworthy actions have they never so +much of publick flattery and popular countenance.</p> + +<p>I am sure they can never expect the divine approbation +of such indecent actions, if they +do but remember how God blest the modest +respect & filial tenderness which <i><b>Noah's</b></i> Sons +bare to their Father; nor did his open infirmity +justifie <i><b>Cham's</b></i> impudency, or exempt him from +that curse of being <i><b>Servant of Servants</b></i>; which +curse must needs be on them who seek by dishonorable +actions to please the Vulgar, and confirm +by ignoble acts, their dependance upon the +People.</p> + +<p>Nor can their malitious intentions be ever +either excusable or prosperous, who thought to +expose me to the highest reproach & contempt +of my People, forgetting that duty of modest +concealment which they owed to the Father +of their Country, in case they had discovered any +real uncomliness, which, I thank God they +did not; who can, and I believe hath made Me +more respected in the hearts of many (as he did +<i><b>David</b></i>) to whom they thought, by publishing +my private Letters, to have rendred me as a vile +Person, not fit to be trusted or considered, under +any Notion of Majesty.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page195" id="page195"></a>[page 195]</span> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>But thou, O Lord, whose wise and all disposing +Providence ordereth the greatest contingences +of humane affairs, make me to see the +constancie of thy mercies to me, in the greatest +advantages thou seemest to give the malice of +my Enemies against me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>As thou didst blast the council of</i> Achitophel +<i>turning it to</i> Davids <i>good and his own ruine: +so canst thou defeat their Designe, who intended +by publishing my private Letters, nothing +else but to render me more odious and contemptible +to my People.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>I must first appeal to thy Omniscience, who +canst witnesse my integritie, how unjust and +false those scandalous misconstructions are, +which my Enemies endevour by those papers of +mine to represent unto the world.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Make the evil they imagined, and displeasure +they intended thereby against me, so to return +on their own heads, that they may be ashamed, +and covered with their own confusion as +with a cloak.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou seest how mine Enemies use all means +to cloud mine Honour, to pervert my purposes, +and to slander the footsteps of thine Annointed.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>But give me an heart content to be dishonoured +for thy sake, and thy Churches +good.</i></b></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page196" id="page196"></a>[page 196]</span> + +<p><b><i>Fix in me a</i></b> <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'pnrpose'"><b><i>purpose</i></b></ins> <b><i>to honour thee, and then +I know thou wilt honour me, either by restoring +to me the enjoyment of that Power and Majesty, +which thou hast suffered some men to seek to +deprive me of; or by bestowing on me that +Crown of Christian patience, which knows how +to serve thee in honour or dishonour, in good report +or evil.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou, O Lord, art the fountain of goodness +and honour; thou art cloathed with excellent +Majesty; make me to partake of thy excellency +for wisdom, justice and mercy, and I shall not +want that degree of Honour and Majestie +which becomes the Place in which thou hast set +me; who art the lifter up of my head, and my +Salvation.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Lord, by thy Grace, lead me to thy Glory, +which is both true and eternall.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c22" id="c22"></a> +<hr /> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page197" id="page197"></a>[page 197]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">22. <i>Upon His Majesties Leaving</i> Oxford, <i>and going to the</i> Scots.</h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">A</span> +<b>Lthough</b> God hath given me three Kingdoms, +yet in these He hath not now left +me any place where I may with safety & Honor +rest my head: shewing me that himself is the +safest Refuge, and the strongest Tower of defence, +in which I may put my trust.</p> + +<p>In these extremities, I look not to man so +much as to God: He will have it thus, that I +may cast my self, and my now distressed Affairs +upon his mercy, who hath both hearts +and hands of all men in his dispose.</p> + +<p>What Providence denies to Force, it may +grant to Prudence; Necessity is now my +Counsellor, and commands Me to study My +safety by a disguised withdrawing from my +chiefest strength, and adventuring upon their +Loyalty, who first began my troubles. Happily, +God may make them a means honorable to +compose them.</p> + +<p>This my confidence of them, may dis-arm & overcom +them; my rendring my person to them, +may engage their affection to me, who have oft +professed, <i><b>They fought not against me, but for +me</b></i>.</p> + +<p>I must now resolve the riddle of their Loyalty: +and give them opportunity to let the world +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page198" id="page198"></a>[page 198]</span> +see, they mean not what they do, but what +they say.</p> + +<p>Yet must God be my chiefest Guard; and my +Conscience both my Counsellor and my Comforter: +Though I put my body into their hands, +yet I shall reserve my soul to God and my self; +nor shall any necessities compell me, to desert +mine honour, or swerve from my Judgement.</p> + +<p>What they fought to take by force, shall +now be given them in such a way of unusuall +confidence of them, as may make them ashamed +not to be really such as they ought, and professed +to be.</p> + +<p>God sees it not enough to desert me of all Military +power to defend my Self, but to put me +upon using their power, who seem to fight against +me, yet ought in duty to defend me.</p> + +<p>So various are all humane affairs, & so necessitous +may the state of Princes be, that their +greatest danger may be in their supposed safety, +and their safety in their supposed danger.</p> + +<p>I must now leave those that have Adhered to +me, and apply to those that have Opposed me; +this method of Peace may be more prosperous +then that of War, both to stop the effusion of +bloud, & to close those wounds already made: +and in it I am no less solicitous for my Friends +safety, then mine own; chusing to venture my +Self upon further hazards, rather then expose +their resolute Loyaltie to all extremities.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page199" id="page199"></a>[page 199]</span> + +<p>It is some skil in play to know when a game +is lost; better fairly to give over, then to contest +in vain.</p> + +<p>I must now study to re-inforce my Judgment, +and fortifie my mind with Reason and Religion, +that I may not seem to offer up my Souls +libertie, or make my Conscience their Captive; +who ought at first to have used Arguments, +not Arms, to have perswaded my consent to +their demands.</p> + +<p>I thank God, no success darkens or disguises +Truth to me; and I shall no less conform my +words to my inward dictates now, then if they +had been as the words of a <span class="sc">King</span> ought to be +among loyal Subjects, <i><b>full of power</b></i>.</p> + +<p>Reason is the divinest power. I shall never +think my Self weakned, while I may make full +and free use of that. No ecclipse of outward +Fortune shall rob me of that light: what God +hath denied of outward strength, his grace, I +hope, will supply with inward resolutions; not +morositie to deny, what is fit to be granted; but +not to grant any thing which Reason and Religion +bids me denie.</p> + +<p>I shall never think my Self less then my Self, +while I am able thus to preserve the integrity +of my Conscience, the only Jewel now left me, +which is worth keeping.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>O thou Soveraign of our Souls, the onely</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page200" id="page200"></a>[page 200]</span> +<i>Commander of our Consciences; though I know +not what to do, yet mine eyes are toward thee: To +the protection of thy mercy I still commend my +self.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>As thou hast preserved me in the day of Battell, +so thou canst still shew me thy strength in my +weaknesse.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Be thou unto me in my darkest night a pillar of +fire, to enlighten and direct me; in the day of my +hottest affliction, be also a pillar of cloud to over-shadow +and protect me; be to me both a Sun and +a Shield.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou knowest, that it is not any perverseness of +will, but just perswasions of Honour, Reason, and +Religion, which have made me thus far to hazard +my Person, Peace, and Safetie, against those that +by force have sought to wrest them from me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Suffer not my just resolutions to abate with my +outward Forces; let a good Conscience alwaies +accompany me in my solitude and desertions.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Suffer me not to betray the powers of Reason, +and that fortresse of my Soul which I am entrusted +to keep for thee.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Lead me in the paths of thy righteousnesse, and +shew me thy salvation.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Make my waies to please thee, and then thou +wilt make mine enemies to be at peace with me.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c23" id="c23"></a> +<hr /> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page201" id="page201"></a>[page 201]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">23. <i>Upon the</i> Scots <i>delivering the</i> <span class="sc">KING</span> <i>to the</i> English, <i>and His Captivity at</i> Holmeby.</h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">Y</span> +<b>Et</b> may I justifie those <i><b>Scots</b></i> to all the +world in this. That they have not deceived +me; for I never trusted to them further then +to men: if I am sold by them, I am only sorry +they should do it: and that My price should be +so much above My Saviors.</p> + +<p>These are but further Essays which God will +have Me make of mans uncertainty, the more +to fix Me on himself, who never faileth them +that trust in him; though the Reeds of <i><b>Ægypt</b></i> +break under the hand of him that leans on +them, yet the Rock of <i><b>Israel</b></i> will be an everlasting +stay and defence.</p> + +<p>Gods Providence commands Me to retire +from all to himself, that in him I may enjoy +My Self, which I lose, while I let out My hopes +to others.</p> + +<p>The solitude & captivity to which I am now +reduced, gives Me leisure enough to study +the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'wordls'">worlds</ins> vanity and inconstancie.</p> + +<p>God sees 'tis fit to deprive Me of Wife, Children, +Armie, Friends, and Freedom, that I +may be wholly his, who alone is all.</p> + +<p>I care not much to be reckoned among the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page202" id="page202"></a>[page 202]</span> +Unfortunate, if I be not in the black List of irreligious +and sacrilegious Princes.</p> + +<p>No Restraint shall ensnare my Soul in sin; +nor gain that of me which may make my Enemies +more insolent, my Friends ashamed, or +my Name accursed.</p> + +<p>They have no great cause to triumph, that they +have got my Person into their power; since +my Soul is still my own: nor shall they ever +gain my Consent against my Conscience.</p> + +<p>What they call obstinacie, I know God accounts +honest constancie, from which Reason +and Religion, as well as Honor, forbid Me to +recede.</p> + +<p>'Tis evident now, that it was not Evil Counsellors +with Me, but a good Conscience in Me, +which hath been fought against; nor did they +ever intend to bring Me to my Parliament, till +they had brought My mind to their obedience.</p> + +<p>Should I grant what some men desire, I +should be such as they with Me, not more a +King, and far less both Man and Christian.</p> + +<p>What Tumults and Armies could not obtain, +neither shall Restraint; which though it +have a little of safety to a Prince, yet it hath +not more of danger.</p> + +<p>The fear of men shall never be my snare; nor +shal the love of any liberty entangle my soul: +Better others betray me, then my self: and that +the price of my liberty should be my conscience; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page203" id="page203"></a>[page 203]</span> +the greatest injuries my Enemies seek to inflict +upon me, cannot be without my own consent.</p> + +<p>While I can deny with Reason, I shall defeat +the greatest impressions of their malice, who +neither know how to use worthily what I +have already granted; nor what to require more +of me but this, That I would seem willing to +help them to destroy my self and mine.</p> + +<p>Although they should destroy me, yet they +shall have no cause to despise me.</p> + +<p>Neither liberty nor life are so dear to me, as +the peace of my Conscience, the Honor of my +Crowns, and the welfare of my People; which +my word may injure more then any War can +do; while I gratifie a few to oppresse all.</p> + +<p>The Laws wil by Gods blessing, revive, with +the love and Loyaltie of my Subjects; if I bury +them not by my Consent, and cover them in +that grave of dishonor and injustice, which +some mens violence hath digged for them.</p> + +<p>If my Captivity or Death must be the price +of their redemption, I grudge not to pay it.</p> + +<p>No condition can make a King miserable, +which carries not with it, his Souls, his Peoples, +and Posterities thraldom.</p> + +<p>After-times may see, what the blindnesse of +this Age will not; and God may at length shew +my Subjects, that I chuse rather to suffer for +them, then with them; happily I might redeem +my self to some shew of liberty, if I would +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page204" id="page204"></a>[page 204]</span> +consent to enslave them: I had rather hazard +the ruine of one King, then to confirm many +Tyrants over them, from whom I pray God +deliver them, what ever becomes of me, whose +solitude hath not left me alone.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>For thou, O God, infinitely Good, and Great, +art with me, whose presence is better then life, and +whose service is perfect freedom.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Own me for thy Servant, and I shall never +have cause to complain for want of that liberty +which becomes a Man, a Christian, and a King.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Blesse me still with Reason, as a Man; with +Religion, as a Christian; and with constancie in +Justice, as a King.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Though thou sufferest me to be stript of all +outward ornaments, yet preserve me ever in those +enjoyments wherein I may enjoy thy self; and which +cannot be taken from me against my will.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let no fire of affliction boile over my passion to +any impatience or sordid fears.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>There be many that say of me, There is no help +for me: do thou lift up the light of thy Countenance +upon me, and I shall want neither Safetie, +Libertie, nor Majestie.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Give me that measure of patience and constancie +which my condition now requires.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>My strength is scattered, my expectation from +Men defeated, my Person restrained: O be not +thou far from me, lest my enemies prevail too much +against me.</i></b></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page205" id="page205"></a>[page 205]</span> + +<p><b><i>I am become a wonder, and a scorn to many: +O be thou my helper and defender.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Shew some token upon me for good, that they +that hate me may be ashamed, because thou +Lord, hast holpen and comforted me; for</i></b> <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'estabish'"><b><i>establish</i></b></ins> +<b><i>me with thy free Spirit, that I may do and suffer +thy will, as thou wouldst have me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Be mercifull to me, O Lord, for my soul trusteth +in thee: yea, and in the shadow of thy wings +will I make my refuge, untill these calamities +be over-past.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Arise to deliver me, make no long tarrying, +O my God. Though thou killest me, yet +will I trust in thy mercy, and my Saviours +merit.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>I know that my Redeemer liveth; though +thou leadest me through the vail and shadow of +death, yet shall I fear none ill.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c24" id="c24"></a> +<hr /> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page206" id="page206"></a>[page 206]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">24. <i>Upon their denying His Majestie the Attendance of His Chaplains.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">W</span> +<b>Hen</b> providence was pleased to deprive +Me of all other civil comforts and secular +attendants, I thought the absence of them +all might best be supplied by the attendance of +some of my Chaplains, whom for their Function +I reverence, and for their Fidelitie I have +cause to love. By their Learning, Pietie, and +Praiers, I hoped to be either better enabled to +sustain the want of all other enjoyments, or +better fitted for the recovery and use of them in +Gods good time; so reaping by their pious +help a spiritual harvest of grace amidst the +thorns, and after the plowings of temporal +crosses.</p> + +<p>The truth is, I never needed or desired more +the service and assistance of men judiciously +pious, and soberly devout.</p> + +<p>The solitude they have confined me unto, adds +the wildernesse to my temptations: For the +company they obtrude upon me, is more sad +then any solitude can be.</p> + +<p>If I had asked my Revenues, my power of the +<i><b>Militia</b></i>, or any one of my Kingdoms, it had bin +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page207" id="page207"></a>[page 207]</span> +no wonder to have been denied in those things, +where the evil policy of men forbids all just restitution, +lest they should confess an injurious +usurpation: But to deny me the ghostly comfort +of my Chaplains seems a greater rigor & barbarity, +then is ever used by <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'christias'">christians</ins> to the meanest +prisoners, & greatest malefactors, whom though +the justice of the law deprive of worldly comforts, +yet the mercy of religion allows them the +benefit of their Clergy, as not aiming at once +to destroy their Bodies, and to damn their +Souls.</p> + +<p>But my agony must not be relieved with the +presence of any one good Angel; for such I account +a learned, godly, and discreet Divine: +and such I would have all mine to be.</p> + +<p>They that envie my being a King, are loth I +should be a Christian: while they seek to deprive +me of all things else, they are afraid I +should save my Soul.</p> + +<p>Other sense, Charity it self can hardly pick +out of those many harsh repulses I received, as +to that request so often made for the attendance +of some of my Chaplains.</p> + +<p>I have sometime thought the Unchristiannes +of those denials might arise from a displeasure +some men had to see me prefer my own +Divines before their Ministers: whom, though +I respect for that worth and piety w<sup>ch</sup> may be +in them, yet I cannot think them so proper for +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page208" id="page208"></a>[page 208]</span> +any present comforters or Physitians, Who +have (some of them at least) had so great an +influence in occasioning these calamities, and +inflicting these wounds upon Me.</p> + +<p>Nor are the soberest of them so apt for that +devotional compliance, and juncture of hearts, +which I desire to bear in those holy Offices to +be performed with me, and for me; since their +judgments standing at a distance from me, or +in jealousie of me, or in opposition against me, +their Spirits cannot so harmoniously accord +with mine, or mine with theirs, either in Prayer +or other holy duties, as is meet, and most +comfortable; whose golden rule, and bond of +Perfection consists in that of mutual Love and +Charitie.</p> + +<p>Some remedies are worse then the disease, +and some comforters more miserable then misery +it self; when like <i>Job's</i> friends, they seek +not to fortifie ones minde with patience; but +perswade a man by betraying his own Innocency, +to despair of Gods mercy; and by +justifying their injuries, to strengthen the +hands, and harden the heart of insolent Enemies.</p> + +<p>I am so much a friend to all Church-men, +that have any thing in them beseeming that +sacred Function, that I have hazarded my +own interests, chiefly upon Conscience and +Constancie, to maintain their Rights; whom +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page209" id="page209"></a>[page 209]</span> +the more I looked upon as Orphans, and under +the sacrilegious eyes of many cruell and +rapacious Reformers; so I thought it my dutie +the more to appear as a Father, and a Patron +for them and the Church. Although I am +very unhandsomly requited by some of them; +who may live to repent no lesse for My sufferings, +then their own ungrateful errours, and +that injurious contempt and meannesse, which +they have brought upon their Calling and Persons.</p> + +<p>I pity al of them, I despise none: only I thought +I might have leave to make choice of some for +My special Attendance, who were best approved +in My Judgment & most sutable to My affection: +For, I held it better to seem undevout, +and to hear no mans Praiers, then to be forced, +or seem to comply with those Petitions to +which the heart cannot consent, nor the +tongue say <i><b>Amen</b></i>, without contradicting a +mans own understanding, or belying his own +Soul.</p> + +<p>In Devotions, I love neither profane boldnesse, +nor pious non-sence; but such an humble +and judicious gravitie as shews the Speaker to +be at once considerate both of Gods Majestie, +the Churches Honour, and his own vilenesse; +both knowing what things God allows him to +ask, and in what manner it becomes a sinner +to supplicate the divine mercie for himself, and +others.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page210" id="page210"></a>[page 210]</span> + +<p>I am equally scandalised with all Praiers, +that sound either imperiously, or rudely, and +passionately; as either wanting humilitie to +God, or charitie to men, or respect to the +dutie.</p> + +<p>I confess I am better pleased as with studied +and premeditated Sermons, so with such publick +Forms of Praier, as are fitted to the Churches +and every Christians daily and common +necessities; because I am by them better assured, +what I may join my heart unto, then I can +be of any mans extemporary sufficiencie: +which as I do not wholly exclude from publick +occasions; so I allow its just libertie +and use in private and devout retirements; +where neither the solemnities of the dutie, nor +the modest regards to others, do require so +great exactness as to the outward manner of +performance; Though the light of understanding, +and the fervencie of affections I hold the +main and most necessarie requisites both in +constant, and occasionall, solitairie, and sociall +Devotions.</p> + +<p>So that I must needs seem to all equal minds +with as much reason to prefer the service of +my own Chaplains before that of their Ministers, +as I do the Liturgie before their Directorie.</p> + +<p>In the one I have been alwaies educated and +exercised; In the other, I am not yet Catechized, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page211" id="page211"></a>[page 211]</span> +nor acquainted: And if I were, yet +should I not by that, as by any certain rule and +Canon of Devotion, be able to follow or find +out the indirect extravagancies of most of +those men, who highly cry up that as a piece +of rare composure and use, which is already +as much despised and disused by many of them, +as the Common-Prayer sometimes was by +those men; a great part of whose Pietie hung +upon that popular pin of railing against, and +contemning the Government, and Liturgie of +this Church. But, I had rather be condemned +to the wo of <i><b>Væ soli</b></i>, then to that of <i><b>Væ vobis +Hypocritæ</b></i>, by seeming to pray what I do not +approve.</p> + +<p>It may be, I am esteemed by my Denyers +sufficient of my Self to discharge my dutie to +<span class="sc">God</span> as a Priest, though not to Men as a +Prince.</p> + +<p>Indeed, I think both Offices, Regal & Sacerdotal, +might well become the same Person; as +anciently they were under one name, and the united +rights of primogeniture: nor could I follow +better presidents, if I were able, then those +two eminent Kings, <i><b>David</b></i> and <i><b>Solomon</b></i>; not +more famous for their Scepters and Crowns, +then one was for devout Psalms and Praiers; +the other for his divine Parables and Preaching: +whence the one merited and assumed +the name of a Prophet, the other of a Preacher. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page212" id="page212"></a>[page 212]</span> +Titles indeed of greater honour, where +rightly placed, then any of those the Roman +Emperors affected from the Nations they +subdued: it being infinitely more glorious to +convert Souls to Gods Church by the Word, +then to conquer men to a subjection by the +Sword.</p> + +<p>Yet since the order of Gods wisdom and +providence hath, for the most part, alwaies +distinguished the gifts and offices of Kings, of +Priests, of Princes and Preachers; both in the +Jewish and Christian Churches: I am sorry to +find My self reduced to the necessity of being +both, or enjoying neither.</p> + +<p>For such as seek to deprive Me of Kingly +Power and Soveraigntie; would no lesse +enforce Me to live many Moneths without all +Praiers, Sacraments, and Sermons, unlesse I become +My own Chaplain.</p> + +<p>As I owe the Clergy the protection of a Christian +<span class="sc">King</span>, so I desire to enjoy from them the +benefit of their gifts and prayers; which I look +upon as more prevalent then My own, or other +mens; by how much they flow from +minds more enlightned, and affections lesse distracted, +then those which are encombered +with secular affairs: besides, I think a greater +blessing and acceptablenes attends those duties, +which are rightly performed, as proper to, and +within the limits of that calling, to which God +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page213" id="page213"></a>[page 213]</span> +and the Church have specially designed and +consecrated some men: And however, as to +that Spirituall government, by which the +devout Soul is subject to Christ, and through +his merits daily offers it self and its services to +God, every private believer is a King and a +Priest, invested with the honour of a Royall +Priest hood; yet as to Ecclesiastical order, and +the outward policy of the Church, I think confusion +in Religion will as certainly follow every +mans turning Priest or Preacher, as it will +in the State, where every one affects to rule as +King.</p> + +<p>I was always bred to more modest, and I +think to more pious Principles: the consciousness +to my spirituall defects makes Me more +prize and desire those pious assistances, which +holy and good Ministers, either Bishops or +Presbyters, may afford Me; especially in these +extremities, to which God hath been pleased to +suffer some of my Subjects to reduce me; so as +to leave them nothing more, but my life to take +from Me: and to leave me nothing to desire, +which I thought might less provoke their jealousie +and offence to deny Me, then this of having +some means afforded Me for my Souls +comfort and support.</p> + +<p>To which end I made choice of men, as no +way (that I know) scandalous, so every way +eminent for their learning and piety, no less +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page214" id="page214"></a>[page 214]</span> +then for their Loyalty: nor can I imagine any +exceptions to be made against them, but onely +this, that they may seem too able, and too well +affected toward Me and My Service.</p> + +<p>But this is not the first service (as I count it +the best) in which they have forced Me to serve +my self; though I must confess I bear with more +grief and impatience the want of My Chaplains, +then of My other Servants; and next (if +not beyond in some things) to the being sequestred +from My Wife and Children; since +from these indeed more of humane and temporary +affections, but from those more of +heavenly and eternall improvements may be +expected.</p> + +<p>My comfort is, that in the enforced (not +neglected) want of ordinary means, God is +wont to afford extraordinary supplies of his +Gifts and Graces.</p> + +<p>If his Spirit will teach me, and help my infirmities +in prayer, reading and meditation (as +I hope he will) I shall need no other, either Orator, +or Instructer.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>To thee therefore, O my God, do I direct +my now solitary Prayers; what I want of others +help, supply with the more immediate assistance +of thy Spirit, which alone can both +enlighten my darknesse, and quicken my dulnesse.</i></b></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page215" id="page215"></a>[page 215]</span> + +<p><b><i>O thou Sun of righteousness, thou sacred +Fountain of heavenly light and heat, at once +cleer and warm my heart, both by instructing of +me, and interceding for me; In thee is all fulness, +From thee all sufficiency, By thee is all acceptance. +Thou art companie enough, and comfort +enough; Thou art my King, be also my +Prophet and my Priest. Rule me, teach me, pray +in me, for me; and be thou ever with me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>The single wrestlings of</i> Jacob <i>prevailed +with thee in that sacred Duel, when he had +none to second him but thy selfe; who didst +assist him with power to overcome thee, and +by a welcome violence to wrest a blessing from +thee.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O look on me thy servant, in infinite mercy, +whom thou didst once blesse with the joynt and +sociated Devotion of others, whose servency +might inflame the coldnesse of my affections towards +thee: when wee went to meet in thy</i></b> +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Honse'"><b><i>House</i></b></ins> <b><i>with the voice of joy and gladnesse, worshipping +thee in the unity of spirits, and with +the bond of peace.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O forgive the neglect, and not improving of +those happy opportunities.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>It is now thy pleasure that I should be as a +Pelican in the wildernesse, as a Sparrow on +the house top, and as a coale scattered from all +those pious glowings and devout reflections, +which might best kindle, preserve, and increase</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page216" id="page216"></a>[page 216]</span> +<i>the holy fire of thy Graces on the Altar +of my heart, whence the sacrifices of prayers +and incense of praises might be duly offered up +to thee.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Yet, O thou that breakest not the bruised reed +nor quenchest the smoaking flax, do not despise +the weakness of my prayers, nor the smotherings +of my soul in this uncomfortable loannesse +to which I am constrained by some mens uncharitable +denials of those helps, which I much +want, and no lesse desire.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O let the hardness of their hearts occasion the +softnings of mine to thee, and for them. Let +their hatred kindle my love, let their unreasonable +denials of my religious desires the more +excite my prayers to thee: Let their inexorable +deafnesse incline thine ear to me, who art +a God easie to be intreated; thine ear is not +heavie, that it cannot, nor thy heart hard, that +it will not hear, nor thy hand shortned, that it +cannot help me thy desolate Suppliant.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou permittest men to deprive me of those +outward means which thou hast appointed in +thy Church; but they cannot debarre me from +the communion of that inward grace, which +thou alone breathest into humble hearts.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O make me such, and thou wilt teach me, thou +wilt hear me, thou wilt help me: The broken +and contrite heart I know thou wilt not despise: +Thou, O Lord canst at once make me thy temple</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page217" id="page217"></a>[page 217]</span> +<i>thy Priest, thy Sacrifice, and thine Altar; while +from an humble heart I (alone) daily offer up in +Holy Meditations, fervent Prayers, and unfeigned +Tears, my Self to thee; who preparest me for thee, +dwellest in me and acceptest of me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou, O Lord, didst cause by secret supplies +and miraculous infusions, that the handful of +meal in the vessel should not spend, nor the little +oyl in the cruise fail the widow, during the time of +drought and dearth.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O look on my soul, which as a widow, is now +desolate and forsaken: Let not those saving truths +I have formerly learned now fail my memory; +nor the sweet effusions of thy Spirit, which I +have sometime felt, now be wanting to my heart in +this famine of ordinary and wholsom food for the +refreshing of my soul.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Which yet I had rather chuse then to feed from +those hands who mingle my bread with ashes, and +my wine with gall, rather tormenting, then teaching +me; whose mouths are proner to bitter reproaches +of me, then to hearty prayers for me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou knowest, O Lord of truth, how oft they +wrest thy holy Scriptures to my destruction, (which +are clear for their subjection, and my preservation) +O let it not be to their damnation.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou knowest how some men (under colour of +long prayers) have sought to devour the houses of +their Brethren, their King, and their God. O +let not those mens balms break my head, nor</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page218" id="page218"></a>[page 218]</span> +<i>their Cordials oppress my heart, I will evermore +pray against their wickedness.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>From the poyson under their tongues, from the +snares of their lips, from the fire, and the swords +of their words ever deliver me, O Lord, and all +those loyal and religious hearts, who desire and +delight in the prosperity of my soul, and who seek +by their prayers to relieve this sadness and +solitude of thy servant, O my King and my +God.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c25" id="c25"></a> +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">25. Penitential Meditations and Vows in the Kings solitude at <i>Holmby</i>.</h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">G</span> +<b><i>Ive</i> <i>ear to my words, O Lord, consider my +Meditation, and hearken to the voyce of my +cry, my King and my God, for unto thee will I +pray.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>I said in my haste, I am cast out of the sight of +thine eyes; nevertheless, thou hearest the voyce of +my supplication, when I cry unto thee.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>If thou, Lord, shouldst be extream to mark +what is done amiss, who can abide it? But there +is mercy with thee, that thou mayest be feared; +therefore shall sinners flie unto thee.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>I acknowledg my sins before thee, which have +the aggravation of my condition; the eminencie</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page219" id="page219"></a>[page 219]</span> +<i>of my place, adding weight to my offences.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Forgive, I beseech thee, my personal, and +my peoples sins; which are so far mine, as I +have not improved the power thou gavest me, to +thy glorie, and my Subjects good: Thou hast +now brought me from the glorie and freedom of +a King, to be a Prisoner to my own Subjects. +Justlie, O Lord, as to thy over-ruling hand, because +in many things I have rebelled against +thee.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Though thou hast restrained my person, yet enlarg +my heart to thee, & thy grace towards me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>I come far short of </i>Davids<i> pietie; yet since I +may equal </i>Davids<i> afflictions, give me also the +comforts, and the sure mercies of</i> David.</b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let the penitent sense I have of my sins, be an +evidence to me, that thou hast pardoned them.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let not the evils, which I and my Kingdoms +have suffered seem little unto thee, though thou +hast not punished us according to our sins.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Turn thee (O Lord) unto me; have mercy +upon me, for I am desolate and afflicted.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: O +bring thou me out of my troubles.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Hast thou forgotten to be gracious, and shut +up thy loving kindness in displeasure?</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O remember thy compassions of old, and thy +loving kindesses, which have been for many +generations.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>I had utterly fainted, if I had not believed to</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page220" id="page220"></a>[page 220]</span> +<i>see thy goodnesse in the land of the living.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let not the sins of our prosperitie deprive us of +the benefit of thy afflictions.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let this fiery triall consume the drosse which in +long peace and plentie we had contracted.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Though thou continuest miseries, yet withdraw +not thy grace; what is wanting of prosperitie, +make up in patience and repentance.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>And if thy anger be not to be yet turned away, +but thy hand of Justice must be stretched out still: +Let it, I beseech thee, be against me, and my Fathers +house; as for these sheep, what have they +done?</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let my sufferings satiate the malice of mine, +and thy Churches enemies.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>But let their crueltie never exceed the measure +of my charitie.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Banish from me all thoughts of Revenge, that +I may not lose the reward, nor thou the glorie of +my patience.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>As thou givest me an heart to forgive them, so +I beseech thee, do thou forgive what they have done +against thee and me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>And now, O Lord, as thou hast given me an +heart to pray unto thee; so hear and accept this +Vow which I make before thee.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>If thou wilt in mercie remember Me, and +my Kingdoms; In continuing the light of thy +Gospel, and settling thy true Religion among +us:</i></b></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page221" id="page221"></a>[page 221]</span> + +<p><b><i>In restoring to us the benefits of the Laws, +and the due execution of Justice:</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>In suppressing the many schismes in Church, +<b><i>and Factions in</i></b> <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Sate'"><b><i>State</i></b></ins>:</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>If thou wilt restore me and mine to the Ancient +rights and glory of my Predecessors:</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>If thou wilt turn the hearts of my people to +thy self in Pietie, to me in Loyaltie, and to +one another in Charitie:</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>If thou wilt quench the flames, and withdraw +the fewell of these Civill Wars:</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>If thou wilt bless us with the freedom of +Publike Counsels, and deliver the Honour of +Parliaments from the insolency of the vulgar:</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>If thou wilt keep me from the great offence +of enacting any thing against my Conscience: +and especially for consenting to sacrilegious +rapines, and spoilings of thy Church:</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>If thou wilt restore me to a capacity to glorifie +thee in doing good, both to the Church and +State:</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Then shall my soul praise thee, and Magnifie +thy name before >my people.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Then shall thy glorie be dearer to me then my +Crown; and the advancement of true Religion +both in puritie and power be my chiefest +care.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Then will I rule my People with justice, and +my Kingdoms with equity:</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>To thy more immediate hand shal I ever own</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page222" id="page222"></a>[page 222]</span> +<i>as the rightfull succession, so the mercifull restauration +of my Kingdoms, and the glorie of them.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>If thou wilt bring me again with Peace +safetie and honour, to my chiefest City and my +Parliament:</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>If thou wilt again put the Sword of Justice +into my hand to punish and protect:</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Then will I make all the world to see, and +my very Enemies to enjoy the benefit of this +Vow and resolution of Christian charitie, which +I now make unto thee O Lord.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>As I do freely pardon for Christ's sake +those that have offended me in any kind; so my +hand shall never be against any man to revenge +what is past, in regard of any particular injurie +done to me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>We have been mutually punished in our unnaturall +divisions, for thy sake O Lord, and for +the love of my Redeemer have I purposed this +in my heart, That I will use all means in the +waies of amnesty, and indempnitie; which may +most fullie remove all feares, and burie all jealousies +in forgetfulnesse.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let thy mercies be towards me and mine, as my +resolutions of Truth and Peace are towards my +people.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Hear my praier O Lord, which goeth not out +of feigned lips.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page223" id="page223"></a>[page 223]</span> +<i>prayer, or taken his mercy from me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O my soul commit thy way to the Lord, trust +in him and he shall bring it to pass.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>But if thou wilt not restore me and mine, +what am I that I should charge thee foolishly?</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou, ô Lord hast given, and thou hast taken, +Blessed be thy name.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>May my people and thy Church be happie if +not by me, yet without me.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c26" id="c26"></a> +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">26. <i>Upon the Armies surprisall of the King at</i> Holmby, <i>and the ensuing distractions in the two Houses, the Army, and the City.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">W</span> +<b>Hat</b> part God will have me now to +act or suffer in this new and strange +scene of affaires, I am not much solicitous; +some little practise will serve that man, who +only seeks to represent a part of honesty and +honour.</p> + +<p>This surprize of me tels the world, that a +<span class="sc">King</span> cannot be so low, but he is considerable, +adding weight to that party where he +appears.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page224" id="page224"></a>[page 224]</span> + +<p>This motion, like others of the Times, seems +excentrique and irregular, yet not well to be +resisted or quieted: Better swim down such a +stream, then in vain to strive against it.</p> + +<p>These are but the struglings of those twins, +which lately one womb enclosed, the younger +striving to prevail against the elder; what the +Presbyterians have hunted after, the Independents +now seek to catch for themselves.</p> + +<p>So impossible it is for lines to be drawn from +the center, and not to divide from each other, +so much the wider, by how much they go farther +from the point of union.</p> + +<p>That the Builders of Babel should from division +fall to confusion, is no wonder; but for +those that pretend to build Jerusalem, to divide +their tongues and hands, is but an ill Omen; +and sounds too like the fury of those +Zealots, whose intestine bitterness and divisions +were the greatest occasion of the last fatall +destruction of that Citie.</p> + +<p>Well may I change my Keepers and Prison, +but not my captive condition, onely with this +hope of bettering, that those who are so much +professed Patrons for the Peoples Liberties, +cannot be utterly against the Liberty of their +<span class="sc">King</span>; what they demand for their own +Consciences, they cannot in Reason deny to +mine.</p> + +<p>In this they seem more ingenuous, then the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page225" id="page225"></a>[page 225]</span> +Presbyterian rigour, who sometimes complaining +of exacting their conformity to laws, +are become the greatest Exactours of other +mens submission to their novel injunctions, +before they are stamped with the Authority +of Laws, which they cannot well have without +my Consent.</p> + +<p>'Tis a great argument, that the Independents +think themselves manumitted from their Rivals +service, in that they carry on a businesse of +such consequence, as the assuming my Person +into the Armies custody, without any commission, +but that of their own will and power. +Such as will thus adventure on a KING, +must not be thought over-modest, or timerous +to carry on any designe they have a +mind to.</p> + +<p>Their next motion menaces, and scares both +the two Houses and the City: which soon after +acting over again that former part of Tumultuary +motions, (never questioned, punished +or repented) must now suffer for both; and +see their former sin in the glasse of the present +terrours and distractions.</p> + +<p>No man is so blinde as not to see herein the +hand of divine Justice; They that by Tumults +first occasioned the raising of Armies, must +now be chastned by their own Army for new +Tumults.</p> + +<p>So hardly can men be content with one sin, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page226" id="page226"></a>[page 226]</span> +but add sin to sin, till the later punish the former; +such as were content to see Me and many +Members of both Houses driven away by +the first unsuppressed Tumults, are now forced +to flie to an Armie or defend themselves against +them.</p> + +<p>But who can unfold the riddle of some mens +justice? The Members of both Houses who at +first withdrew (as my Self was forced to do) +from the rudeness of the Tumults, were counted +Deserters, and outed of their places in Parliament.</p> + +<p>Such as stayed then, and enjoyed the benefit +of the Tumults, were asserted for the onely +Parliament-men: now the Fliers from, and +Forsakers of their Places, carry the Parliamentary +power along with them; complain +highly against the Tumults, and vindicate +themselves by an Armie: such as remained and +kept their stations, are looked upon as Abettors +of Tumultuary Insolencies, and Betrayers +of the Freedom and Honour of Parliament.</p> + +<p>Thus is Power above all Rule, Order, and +Law; where men look more to present Advantages +then their Consciences, and the unchangeable +rules of Justice; while they are +Judges of others, they are forced to condemn +themselves.</p> + +<p>Now the plea against Tumults holds good, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page227" id="page227"></a>[page 227]</span> +the Authours and Abettors of them are guiltie +of prodigious insolencies; when as before +they were counted as Friends, and necessary +Assistants.</p> + +<p>I see Vengeance pursues and overtakes (as +the Mice and Rats are said to have done the Bishop +in <i><b>Germanie</b></i>) them that thought to have +escaped, and fortified themselves most impregnably +against it, both by their multitude and +compliance.</p> + +<p>Whom the Laws cannot, God will punish +by their own crimes and hands.</p> + +<p>I cannot but observe this divine Justice, yet +with sorrow and pity; for, I always wished so +well to Parliament and Citie, that I was sorry +to see them do or suffer any thing unworthy +such great and considerable Bodies in this +Kingdom.</p> + +<p>I was glad to see them onely scared and +humbled, not broken by that shaking: I never +had so ill a thought of those Cities, as to despair +of their Loyaltie to Me; which mistakes +might eclipse, but I never beleeved malice had +quite put out.</p> + +<p>I pray God the storm be yet wholly passed +over them, upon whom I look as Christ did +sometime over <i><b>Jerusalem</b></i>, as objects of my +prayers and tears, with compassionate grief, +foreseeing those severer scatterings which will +certainly befall such as wantonly refuse to be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page228" id="page228"></a>[page 228]</span> +gathered to their duty: fatall blindnesse frequently +attending and punishing wilfulnesse, +so that men shall not be able at last to prevent +their sorrows, who would not timely repent of +their sins; nor shall they be suffered to enjoy +the comforts, who securely neglect the counsels +belonging to their peace. They will finde +that brethren in iniquitie are not far from becoming +insolent Enemies, there being nothing +harder then to keep ill men long in one +minde.</p> + +<p>Nor is it possible to gain a fair period for +those notions which go rather in a round and +circle of fansie, then in a right line of reason +tending to the Law, the onely center of publike +consistency; whither I pray God at last +bring all sides.</p> + +<p>Which will easily be done, when we shall +fully see how much more happie we are, to be +subject to the known Laws, then to the various +wils of any men, seem they never so plausible +at first.</p> + +<p>Vulgar compliance with any illegal and extravagant +wayes, like violent motions in nature, +soon grows weary of itself, and ends in +a refractory sullennesse: Peoples rebounds are +oft in their faces, who first put them upon +those violent strokes.</p> + +<p>For the Army (which is so far excusable, as +they act according to Souldiers principles, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page229" id="page229"></a>[page 229]</span> +interests, demanding pay and indemnity) I +think it necessary, in order to the publike peace, +that they should be satisfied, as far as is just; +no man being more prone to consider them +then my Self: though they have fought against +Me, yet I cannot but so far esteem that valour +and gallantry they have sometime shewed, +as to wish I may never want such men to +maintain my Self, my Laws, and my Kingdoms, +in such a peace, as wherein they may +enjoy their share and proportion, as much as +any men.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>But thou, O Lord, who art perfect Unity in a +sacred Trinity, in mercy behold those whom thy +Justice hath divided.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Deliver me from the strivings of my People, +and make Me to see how much they need my prayers +and pity, who agreed to fight against me, and +yet are now ready to fight against one another, +to the continuance of my Kingdoms distractions.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Discover to all sides the ways of peace from +which they have swerved: which consists not in +the divided wils of Parties, but in the point and +due observation of the Laws.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Make me willing to go whither thou wilt lead +me by thy providence; and be thou ever with me, +that I may see thy constancy in the worlds varieti +and changes.</i></b></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page230" id="page230"></a>[page 230]</span> + +<p><b><i>Make me even such as thou wouldst have Me, +that I may at last enjoy that safetie and tranquillity +which thou alone canst give Me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Divert, I pray thee, O Lord, thy heavie wrath +justly hanging over those populous Cities, whose +plenty is prone to add fewel to their luxurie, their +wealth to make them wanton, their multitudes +tempting them to securitie, and their securitie exposing +them to unexpected miseries.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Give them eys to see, hearts to consider, wils +to embrace, and courage to act those things +which belong to thy glorie, and the publique +Peace, lest their calamitie come upon them as an +armed man.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Teach them that they cannot want Enemies +who</i></b> <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'abonnd'"><b><i>abound</i></b></ins> <b><i>in sin; nor shall they be long un-disarmed +and un-destroyed, who with an high +hand persisting to fight against Thee, and the cleer +convictions of their own Consciences, fight more +against themselves, then ever they did against +Me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Their sins exposing them to thy Justice, their +riches to others injuries, their number to Tumults, +and Tumults to confusion.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Though they have with much forwardnesse +helped to destroy Me; yet let not my fall be their +ruine.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Let Me not so much consider, hither what they +have done, or I have suffered [chiefly at first, +by them] as to forget to imitate my crucified Redeemer,</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page231" id="page231"></a>[page 231]</span> +<i>to plead their ignorance for their pardon; +and in my dying extremities to pray to +Thee, O Father, to forgive them, for they know +not what they did.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>The tears they have denied me in my saddest +condition, give them grace to bestow upon themselves; +who the lesse they were for me, the more +cause they have to weep for themselves.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O let not my blood be upon them and their +Children, whom the fraud and faction of some, +not the malice of all, have excited to crucifie +me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>But thou, O Lord, canst and wilt (as thou didst +my Redeemer) both exalt and perfect me by my +sufferings, which have more in them of thy +Mercie, then of mans Crueltie, or thy own +Justice.</i></b></p> + +<a name="c27" id="c27"></a> +<hr /> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page232" id="page232"></a>[page 232]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">27. <i>To the Prince of</i> Wales.</h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">S</span> +<b>On</b>, If these Papers with some others, +wherein I have set down the private reflections +of my Conscience, and my most impartiall +thoughts touching the chief passages, +which have been most remarkable or disputed +in my late troubles, come to your hands, to +whom they are chiefly designed; they may be +so far usefull to you, as to state your judgement +aright in what hath passed; whereof a +pious is the best use can be made; and they may +also give you some directions, how to remedy +the present distempers, and prevent (if God +will) the like for time to come.</p> + +<p>It is some kind of deceiving and lessening the +injury of my long restraint, when I find my leisure +and solitude have produced something +worthy of my self, and usefull to you; That neither +You nor any other may hereafter measure +my Cause by the Successe, nor my judgment +of things by my Misfortunes, which I +count the greater by far, because they have so +far lighted upon you and some others whom I +have most cause to love as well as my self, and +of whose unmerited sufferings I have a greater +sense then of Mine own.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"><a href="images/246-1000.png"><img src="images/246-350.png" width="350" height="471" alt="Natus May 29 An^o 1630 Ćtatis suć" /></a> +<p class="center"><b>Natus May 29 An<sup>o</sup> 1630 Ætatis suć</b></p></div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page233" id="page233"></a>[page 233]</span> +<p>But this advantage of wisdom You have +above most Princes, that You have begun, +and now spent some years of discretion, in the +experience of troubles, and exercise of patience, +wherein Piety, and all Vertues, both +Morall and Politicall, are commonly better +planted to a thriving (as trees set in winter) +then in the warmth, and serenity of times, or +amidst those delights, which usually attend +Princes Courts in times of peace and plenty, +which are prone, either to root up all plants of +true Vertue and Honour, or to be contented +only with some leaves, and withering formalities +of them, without any reall fruits, such as +tend to the publique good, for which Princes +should alwaies remember they are born, and +by providence designed.</p> + +<p>The evidence of which different education +the holy Writ affords us in the contemplation +of <i><b>David</b></i> and <i><b>Rehoboam</b></i>: The one prepared +by many afflictions for a flourishing Kingdom, +the other softned by the unparaleld prosperity +of Solomons Court, and so corrupted to the +great diminution, both for Peace, Honor, and +Kingdom, by those flatteries, which are as +unseparable from prosperous Princes, as Flies +are from fruit in summer; whom adversitie, like +cold weather, drives away.</p> + +<p>I had rather you should be <i><b>Charles le Bon</b></i>, +then <i><b>le Grand</b></i>, good then great. I hope God +hath designed you to be both, having so early +put you into that exercise of his Graces, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page234" id="page234"></a>[page 234]</span> +gifts bestowed upon you, which may best +weed out all vitious inclinations, and dispose +you to those Princely endowments, and employments, +which will most gain the love, and +intend the welfare of those, over whom God +shall place you.</p> + +<p>With God I would have you begin and +end, who is King of Kings; the Soveraign +disposer of the Kingdomes of the world, +who pulleth down one, and setteth up another.</p> + +<p>The best Government, and highest Soveraignty +you can attain to, is, to be subject to +him, that the Scepter of his Word and Spirit, +may rule in your heart.</p> + +<p>The true glory of Princes consists in advancing +Gods Glory in the maintenance of true +Religion, and the Churches good; Also in the +dispensation of civil Power, with Justice and +Honour to the publique peace.</p> + +<p>Pietie will make you prosperous; at least it +will keep you from being miserable; nor is he +much a loser, that loseth all, yet saveth his own +soul at last.</p> + +<p>To which Center of true happiness, God, I +trust, hath and will graciously direct all these +black lines of affliction, which he hath been +pleased to draw on me, and by which he hath +[I hope] drawn me nearer to himself. You +have already tasted of that Cup whereof I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page235" id="page235"></a>[page 235]</span> +have liberally drank, which I look upon as +Gods Physick, having that in healthfulness +which it wants in pleasure.</p> + +<p>Above all, I would have you, as I hope you +are already, wel-grounded and setled in your +Religion: The best profession of which, I have +ever esteemed that of the church of England, +in which you have been educated; yet I would +have your own Judgment and Reason now +seal to that sacred bond which education hath +written, that it may be judiciously your owne +Religion, and not other mens custome or tradition, +which you profess.</p> + +<p>In this I charge you to persevere, as comming +nearest to Gods Word for Doctrine, and +to the primitive examples for Government, +with some little amendment, which I have otherwhere +expressed and often offered, though +in vain. Your fixation in matters of Religion +will not be more necessary for your soul's then +your Kingdoms peace, when God shall bring +you to them.</p> + +<p>For I have observed, that the Devill of Rebellion, +doth commonly turn himself into an +Angel of Reformation; and the old Serpent +can pretend new Lights; when some mens +Consciences accuse them for Sedition and Faction, +they stop its mouth with the name and +noise of Religion; when Pietie pleads for +peace and patience, they cry out Zeal.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page236" id="page236"></a>[page 236]</span> + +<p>So that, unless in this point You be well +setled, you shall never want temptations to destroy +you and yours, under pretensions of reforming +matters of Religion; for that seems +even to worst men, as the best and most auspicious +beginning of their worst designs.</p> + +<p>Where, besides the Noveltie which is taking +enough with the Vulgar, every one hath an +affectation, by seeming forward to an outward +Reformation of Religion, to be thought zealous, +hoping to cover those irreligious deformities, +wherto they are conscious, by a severity +of censuring other mens opinions or actions.</p> + +<p>Take heed of abetting any Factions, or applying +to any publick Discriminations in matters +of Religion, contrary to what is in your +Judgement and the Church well setled: your +partiall adhering, as head, to any one side +gaines you not so great advantages in some +mens hearts (who are prone to be of their kings +Religion) as it loseth you in others, who think +themselves, and their profession first despised, +then persecuted by you. Take such a course as +may either with calmness & charity quite remove +the seeming differences and offences, by +impartiality, or so order affairs in point of power +that you shal not need to fear or flatter any +faction; for if ever you stand in need of them, +or must stand to their curtesie, you are undon: +The Serpent will devour the Dove: you may +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page237" id="page237"></a>[page 237]</span> +never expect less of Loyaltie, Justice or humanity, +then from those who engage into religious +Rebellion: Their interest is always made +Gods; under the colours of piety, ambitious +policies march, not onely with greatest security, +but applause, as to the Populacy; you may +hear from them <i>Jacob's</i> voice, but you shall feel +they have <i>Esau</i>'s hands.</p> + +<p>Nothing seemed less considerable then the +Presbyterian Faction in <i><b>England</b></i>, for many +yeers; so complyant they were to publique +order: nor indeed was their Party great, either +in Church or State, as to mens judgements: +But as soon as discontents drave men into Sidings +(as ill humors fall to the disaffected part, +which causes inflammations) so did all, at first, +who affected any novelties, adhere to that side, +as the most remarkable and specious note of +difference (then) in point of Religion.</p> + +<p>All the lesser Factions at first were officious +servants to Presbytery their great Master: till +time and military success discovering to each +their peculiar advantages, invited them to part +stakes, and leaving the joynt stock of uniform +Religion, pretended each to drive for their +Party, the trade of profits and preferments, to +the breaking and undoing not onely of the +Church and State, but even of Presbytery it +self, which seemed and hoped at first to have +engrossed all.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page238" id="page238"></a>[page 238]</span> + +<p>Let nothing seem little or despicable to you, +in matters which concern Religion, and the +Churches peace, so as to neglect a speedy reforming +and effectual suppressing Errors, and +Schisms, which seem at first but as a hand-bredth, +but by seditious Spirits as by strong +winds are soon made to cover and darken the +whole Heaven.</p> + +<p>When you have done justice to God, your +own soul and his Church, in the profession and +preservation both of truth and unitie in Religion. +The next main hinge on which your +prosperitie will depend, and move, is, That of +civil Justice, wherein the setled Laws of these +Kingdoms, to which you are rightly heir, are +the most excellent rules you can govern by; +which by an admirable temperament give very +much to Subjects industry, libertie, and happiness; +and yet reserve enough to the Majestie +and Prerogative of any King, who owns his +people as Subjects, not as slaves; whose subjection, +as it preserves their propertie, peace, +and safetie; so it will never diminish your +Rights, nor their ingenuous Liberties; which +consists in the enjoyment of the fruits of their +industry, and the benefit of those Laws to +which themselves have consented.</p> + +<p>Never charge your Head with such a +Crown, as shall by its heaviness oppress the +whole body, the weakness of whose parts cannot +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page239" id="page239"></a>[page 239]</span> +return any thing of strength, honor, or +safety, to the Head, but a necessary debilitation +and ruine.</p> + +<p>Your Prerogative is best shewed, and exercised +in remitting, rather then exacting the rigor +of the Laws, there being nothing worse, then +legal tyrannie.</p> + +<p>In these two points, the preservation of established +Religion and Laws, I may (without +vanity) turn the reproach of my sufferings, as +to the worlds censure, into the honor of a +kinde of Martyrdom, as to the testimony of +my own Conscience. The troublers of my +Kingdoms having nothing else to object against +me but this, That I prefer Religion, and Laws +established, before those alterations they propounded.</p> + +<p>And so indeed I do, and ever shall, till I am +convinced by better Arguments, then what +hitherto have been chiefly used towards me, +Tumults, Armies, and Prisons.</p> + +<p>I cannot yet learn that lesson, nor I hope +ever will you, That it is safe for a King to gratifie +any Faction with the perturbation of the +Laws, in which is wrapt up the publike Interest, +and the good of the communitie.</p> + +<p>How God will deal with me, as to the removal +of these pressures, and indignities, which +his justice by the very unjust hands of some +of my Subjects, hath been pleased to lay upon +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page240" id="page240"></a>[page 240]</span> +me, I cannot tell: nor am I much solicitous +what wrong I suffer from men, while I retain +in my soul, what I believe is right before +God.</p> + +<p>I have offered all for Reformation and Safety, +that in Reason, Honor and Conscience, +I can; reserving onely what I cannot consent +unto, without an irreparable injury to my own +soul, the Church, and my people, and to you +also; as the next and undoubted Heir of my +Kingdoms.</p> + +<p>To which, if the divine Providence, to whom +no difficulties are insuperable, shall in his due +time after my decease bring you, as I hope he +will: My Counsel and Charge to you, is, +That you seriously consider the former real or +objected miscarriages, which might occasion +my troubles, that you may avoyd them.</p> + +<p>Never repose so much upon any mans single +counsel, fidelity, and discretion, in managing +affairs of the first magnitude, (that is, matters +of Religion and Justice) as to create in your +self, or others, a diffidence of your own judgment, +which is likely to be always more constant +and impartial to the interest of your +Crown and Kingdom then any mans.</p> + +<p>Next, beware of exasperating any Factions +by the crossness, and asperity of some mens +passions, humors, or private opinions, imployed +by you, grounded onely upon the differences +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page241" id="page241"></a>[page 241]</span> +in lesser matters, which are but the +skirts and suburbs of Religion.</p> + +<p>Wherein a charitable connivence and Christian +toleration often dissipates their strength, +whom rougher opposition fortifies; and puts +the despised and oppressed party, into such +Combinations, as may most enable them to +get a full revenge on those they count their +Persecutors, who are commonly assisted by +that vulgar commiseration, which attends all, +that are said to suffer under the notion of Religion.</p> + +<p>Provided the differences amount not to an +insolent opposition of Laws, and Government, +or Religion established, as to the essentials +of them, such motions and minings are intolerable.</p> + +<p>Alwaies keep up solid piety, and those fundamental +Truths (which mend both hearts +and lives of men) with impartial Favour and +Justice.</p> + +<p>Take heed that outward circumstances and +formalities of Religion devoure not all, or +the best incouragements of learning, industry, +and piety; but with an equal eye and impartial +hand, distribute Favours and Rewards to all +men, as you find them for their real goodnesse +both in abilities and fidilitie worthy and capable +of them.</p> + +<p>This will be sure to gain you the hearts of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page242" id="page242"></a>[page 242]</span> +the best and the most too: who though they be +not good themselves, yet are glad to see the +severer ways of vertue at any time sweetned +by temporall rewards.</p> + +<p>I have, You see, conflicted with different and +opposite Factions (for so I must needs call and +count all those that act not in any conformity +to the Laws established in Church and State;) +no sooner have they by force subdued what +they counted their common Enemy (that is, +all those that adhered to the Laws, and to Me) +and are secured from that fear, but they are +divided to so high a rivalry, as sets them more +at defiance against each other, then against +their first Antagonists.</p> + +<p>Time will dissipate all Factions, when once +the rough horns of private mens covetous and +ambitious designes shall discover themselves; +which were at first wrapt up and hidden under +the soft and smooth pretensions of Religion, +Reformation and Liberty. As the Wolf is not +less cruell, so he wil be more justly hated, when +he shall appear no better then a Wolf under +Sheeps cloathing.</p> + +<p>But as for the seduced Train of the Vulgar, +who in their simplicity follow those disguises; +My Charge and Counsell to You, is, +That as you need no palliations for any Designes, +(as other men) so that you study really +to exceed [in true and constant demonstrations +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page243" id="page243"></a>[page 243]</span> +of goodness, piety, and vertue towards +the people] even all those men that make the +greatest noise and ostentations of Religion; so +you shall neither fear any detection (as they +do who have but the face and mask of goodness) +nor shall you frustrate the just expectations +of your people; who cannot in Reason +promise themselves so much good from any +Subjects novelties, as from the vertuous constancy +of their King.</p> + +<p>When these mountains of congealed Factions +shall by the Sun-shine of Gods Mercy, +and the splendor of your Vertues, be thawed +and dissipated; and the abused Vulgar shall +have learned, that none are greater Oppressours +of their Estates, Liberties, and +Consciences, then those men that intitle +themselves The Patrons and Vindicators of +them, only to usurp power over them: Let +then no passion betray You to any study +of revenge upon those, whose own sin and +folly will sufficiently punish them in due +time.</p> + +<p>But as soon as the forked arrow of factious +emulations is drawn out, use all Princely arts +and clemency to heal the wounds; that the +smart of the cure may not equall the anguish +of the hurt.</p> + +<p>I have offered Acts of Indemnity and +Oblivion to so great a latitude, as may include +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page244" id="page244"></a>[page 244]</span> +all, that can but suspect themselves to be +any way obnoxious to the Laws; and which +might serve to exclude al future jealousies and +insecurities.</p> + +<p>I would have You alwaies propense to the +same way, when ever it shall be desired and accepted, +let it be granted, not only as an Act of +State-policie and necessitie, but of Christian +charitie and choice.</p> + +<p>It is all I have now left Me, a power to forgive +those that have deprived Me of all; and I +thank God, I have a heart to do it, and joy as +much in this grace, which God hath given Me, +as in all My former enjoyments; for this is a +greater argument of Gods love to Me, then +any prosperitie can be.</p> + +<p>Be confident (as I am) that the most of all +sides, who have done amiss, have done so, not +out of malice, but mis-information, or mis-apprehension +of things.</p> + +<p>None will be more loyal and faithful to Me +and You, then those Subjects, who sensible of +their Errors, and our Injuries, will feel +in their own Souls most vehement motives +to repentance, and earnest desires to +make some reparations for their former defects.</p> + +<p>As Your qualitie sets You beyond any Duel +with any Subject, so the Nobleness of Your +mind must raise You above the meditating +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page245" id="page245"></a>[page 245]</span> +any revenge, or executing Your anger upon +the many.</p> + +<p>The more conscious You shall be to Your +Own Merits upon Your people, the more +prone You will be to expect all love and loyalty +from them, and to inflict no punishment +upon them for former miscarriages: You will +have more inward complacency in pardoning +one, then in punishing a thousand.</p> + +<p>This I write to You, not despairing of Gods +Mercy, and My Subjects Affections towards +You, both which, I hope You will study to deserve, +yet We cannot merit of God, but by his +own mercy.</p> + +<p>If God shall see fit to restore Me, and You +after Me, to those enjoyments, which the Laws +have assigned to Us, and no Subjects without +an high degree of guilt and sin can devest Us +of, then may I have better opportunity, when +I shall be so happy to see You in peace, to let +You more fully understand the things that belong +to Gods glory, Your own honor, and the +Kingdoms peace.</p> + +<p>But if You never see My face again, and +God will have me buried in such a barbarous +Imprisonment & obscurity, [which the perfecting +some mens designs requires] wherin few +hearts that love Me are permitted to exchange +a word, or a look with Me; I do require and +entreat You as Your Father, and Your <span class="sc">King</span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page246" id="page246"></a>[page 246]</span> +that you never suffer your heart to receive the +least check against or disaffection from the +true Religion established in the Church of +<i><b>England</b></i>.</p> + +<p>I tell you I have tried it, and after much +search, and many disputes, have concluded it +to be the best in the world, not only in the +Community, as Christian, but also in the speciall +notion, as Reformed, keeping the middle +way between the pomp of superstitious Tyranny, +and the meanness of fantastique Anarchy.</p> + +<p>Not but that (the draught being excellent as +to the main, both for Doctrine and Government, +in the Church of <i><b>England</b></i>) some lines, +as in very good figures, may happily need some +sweetning, or polishing, which might here have +easily been done by a safe and gentle hand: if +some mens precipitancy had not violently demanded +such rude alterations, as would have +quite destroyed all the beauty and proportions +of the whole.</p> + +<p>The scandall of the late Troubles, which +some may object, and urge to you against the +Protestant Religion established in <i><b>England</b></i>, +is easily answered to them, or your own +thoughts in this; That scarce any one who +hath been a Beginner, or an active Prosecutor +of this late Warr against the Church, the +Laws, and me, either was, or is a true Lover, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page247" id="page247"></a>[page 247]</span> +Embracer or practiser of the Protestant Religion +established in <i><b>England</b></i> which neither +gives such rules, nor ever before set such examples.</p> + +<p>'Tis true, some heretofore had the boldness +to present threatning Petitions to their Princes +and Parliaments, which others of the same +Faction (but of worse Spirits) have now put in +execution: but let not counterfeit and disorderly +Zeal abate your value and esteem of true +piety; both of them are to be known by their +fruits; the sweetness of the Vine and Fig-tree +is not be despised, though the brambles and +thorns should pretend to bear figs and grapes, +thereby to rule over the trees.</p> + +<p>Nor would I have you to entertain any aversation +or dislike of Parliaments, which in +their right constitution with freedom and honour +will never injure or diminish your greatnesse; +but will rather be as interchangings of +love, loyaltie and confidence betwen a Prince +and his People.</p> + +<p>Nor would the events of this black Parliament +have been other then such (however +much biassed by Factions in the Elections) if +it had been preserved from the insolencies of +popular dictates, and tumultuary impressions: +The sad effects of which will no doubt +make all Parliaments after this, more cautious +to preserve that Freedom and Honour +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page248" id="page248"></a>[page 248]</span> +which belong to such Assemblies (when once +they have fully shaken off this yoak of Vulgar +encroachment) since the publick interest consists +in the mutual and common good both of +Prince and People.</p> + +<p>Nothing can be more happie for all, then in +fair, grave, and honourable waies to contribute +their Councels in Common, enacting all +things by publick consent, without Tyrannie +or Tumults. We must not starve our selves, because +some men have surfeited of wholesome +food.</p> + +<p>And if neither I, nor you, be ever restored +to our Rights, but God in his severest justice, +will punish My Subjects with continuance in +their sin, and suffer them to be deluded with +the prosperity of their wickednesse; I hope +God will give Me and You, that grace, which +will teach and enable Us, to want, as well as to +wear a Crown, which is not worth taking up, +or enjoying upon sordid, dishonourable, and +irreligious terms.</p> + +<p>Keep you to true Principles of Piety, vertue, +and honour, You shall never want a Kingdom.</p> + +<p>A principal Point of Your honour will consist +in Your referring all respect, love, and +protection to Your Mother, My Wife; who +hath many waies deserved well of Me, and +chiefly in this, That having been a means to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page249" id="page249"></a>[page 249]</span> +bless me with so many hopeful Children; +(all which, with their Mother, <i>I</i> recommend +to Your love and care) Shee hath been content +with incomparable magnanimity and patience +to suffer both for, and with Me, and +You.</p> + +<p>My Prayer to God almightie is, (whatever +becomes of me, who am <i>I</i> thank God, wrapt +up and fortified in my own innocency, and +his Grace) that he would be pleased to make +You an Anchor, or Harbour rather, to these +tossed and weather-beaten Kingdoms; a Repairer +by Your wisdom, justice, piety, and valour, +of what the folly and wickednesse of +some men have so far ruined, as to leave nothing +intire in Church or State, to the Crown, +the Nobility, the Clergie, or the Commons, either +as to Laws, Liberties, Estates, Order, Honour, +Conscience or lives.</p> + +<p>When they have destroyed me, (for I know +not how far God may permit the malice and +crueltie of my Enemies to proceed, and such +apprehensions some mens words and actions +have already given me) as <i>I</i> doubt not but my +bloud will cry aloud for vengeance to Heaven: +so I beseech God not to pour out his wrath +upon the generality of the people, who have +either deserted me, or engaged against me, +through the artifice and hypocrisie of their +Leaders, whose inward horrour will be their +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page250" id="page250"></a>[page 250]</span> +first Tormentor, nor will they escape exemplary +judgements.</p> + +<p>For those that loved me, I pray God, they +may have no miss of me, when I am gone; so +much I wish and hope, that all good Subjects +may be satisfied with the blessings of your +presence and vertues.</p> + +<p>For those that repent of any defects in their +duty toward me, as I freely forgive them in +the word of a Christian <span class="sc">King</span>, so I beleeve +you will find them truly Zealous, to repay +with interest that loyalty and love to you, +which was due to me.</p> + +<p>In summe, what good I intended, do you +perform, when God shall give you power; +much good I have offered, more I purposed +to Church and State, if times had been capable +of it.</p> + +<p>The deception will soon vanish, and the +Vizards will fall off apace; This mask of Religion +on the face of Rebellion (for so it now +plainly appears, since my Restraint and cruell +usage, that they fought not for me, as was pretended) +wil not long serve to hide some mens +deformities.</p> + +<p>Happy times I hope, attend you, wherein +your Subjects [by their miseries] will have +learned, That Religion to their God, and Loyalty +to their King, cannot be parted without +both their sin and their infelicity. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page251" id="page251"></a>[page 251]</span> +I pray God bless you and establish your Kingdoms +in righteousness, your Soul in true Religion, and +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'you'">your</ins> honour in the love of God and +your people.</p> + +<p>And if God will have disloyalty perfected +by my destruction; let my Memory ever, with +my Name, live in you; as of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'you'">your</ins> Father, that +loves you, and once a <span class="sc">King</span> of three flourishing +Kingdoms; whom God thought fit to +honour, not only with the Scepter and Government +of them, but also with the suffering many +indignities and an untimely death for them; +while I studied to preserve the Rights of the +Church, the Power of the Laws, the Honour +of my Crown, the Priviledge of Parliaments, +the Liberties of my People, and my own Conscience, +which, I thank God, is dearer to me +then a thousand Kingdoms.</p> + +<p>I know God can, I hope he yet will restore +me to my Rights. I cannot despair either of +his mercy, or of my peoples love and pitie.</p> + +<p>At worst, I trust I shall but go before you to +a better Kingdom, which God hath prepared +for me, and me for it, through my Saviour Jesus +Christ, to whose mercies I commend You +and all mine.</p> + +<p>Farewell, till we meet, if not on Earth, yet +in Heaven.</p> + +<a name="c28" id="c28"></a> +<hr /> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page252" id="page252"></a>[page 252]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">28. <i>Meditations upon Death, after the Votes of Non-Addresses, and His</i> Majesties <i>closer Imprisonment in</i> Carisbrook-Castle.</h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">A</span> +<b>S</b> I have leisure enough, so I have cause +more then enough, to meditate upon, +and prepare for My Death: for I know, there +are but, few steps between the Prisons and +Graves of Princes.</p> + +<p>It is Gods indulgence which gives me the +space, but Mans cruelty that gives Me the sad +occasions for these thoughts.</p> + +<p>For, besides the common burthen of mortalitie, +which lies upon Me, as a Man; I now bear +the heavy load of other mens ambitions, fears, +jealousies, and cruel passions, whose envie or +enmity against Me, makes their own lives +seem deadly to them, while I enjoy any part of +Mine.</p> + +<p>I thank God, My prosperitie made Me not +wholly a stranger to the contemplations of +mortalitie.</p> + +<p>Those are never unseasonable, since this is +alwaies uncertain: Death being an eclipse, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page253" id="page253"></a>[page 253]</span> +which oft happeneth as well in cleer as cloudy +dayes.</p> + +<p>But My now long and sharp adversity hath +so reconciled in Me those natural Antipathies +between Life and Death, which are in all men, +that I thank God, the common terrors of it +are dispelled; and the special horrour of it, +as to My particular, much allayed: for although +My Death at present may justly be represented +to Me with all those terrible aggravations, +which the policy of cruel and implacable +enemies can put upon it (affaires being +drawn to the very dregs of malice) yet I bless +God, I can look upon all those stings, as unpoysonous, +though sharp; since My Redeemer +hath either pulled them out, or given +Me the Antidote of his Death against them, +which as to the immaturity, injustice, shame, +scorn, and cruelty of it, exceeded what ever I +can fear.</p> + +<p>Indeed, I never did find so much, the life of +Religion, the feast of a good Conscience, and +the brazen wall of a judicious integrity and +constancy, as since I came to these closer conflicts +with the thoughts of Death.</p> + +<p>I am not so old, as to be wearie of life; nor +(I hope) so bad, as to be either afraid to die, +or ashamed to live: true, I am so afflicted, as +might make Me sometime even desire to die, +if I did not consider, That it is the greatest +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page254" id="page254"></a>[page 254]</span> +glory of a Christians life to <i>die daily</i>, in conquering +by a lively faith, and patient hopes of +a better life, those partiall and quotidian +deaths, which kill us (as it were) by piece-meales, +and make us overlive our own fates: +while we are deprived of health, honour, liberty, +power, credit, safety, or estate; and +those other comforts of dearest relations, +which are as the life of our lives.</p> + +<p>Though, as a <span class="sc">King</span>, I think My self to live +in nothing temporall so much, as in the love +and good-will of my People; for which, as I +have suffered many deaths, so I hope I am not +in that point as yet wholly dead: notwithstanding; +My Enemies have used all the poyson +of falsity and violence of hostility to destroy, +first the love and Loyalty, which is in +my Subjects; and then all that content of life +in me, which from these I chiefly enjoyed.</p> + +<p>Indeed, they have left me but <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'lttle'">little</ins> of life, +and only the husk and shell (as it were) which +their further malice and cruelty can take from +me; having bereaved me of all those worldly +comforts, for which life it self seems desirable +to men.</p> + +<p>But, O my Soul! think not that life too +long, or tedious, wherein God gives thee any +opportunities, if not to do, yet to suffer with +such Christian patience and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'magnaminity'">magnanimity</ins>, in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page255" id="page255"></a>[page 255]</span> +a good Cause, as are the greatest honour of +our lives, and the best improvement of our +deaths.</p> + +<p><i>I</i> know that in point of true Christian valor, +it argues pusillanimity to desire to dye out +of weariness of life, and a want of that heroick +greatness of Spirit which becoms a Christian +in the patient and generous sustaining +those afflictions, which as shadows necessarily +attend us, while we are in this body: and +which are lessned or enlarged as the Sun of our +prosperity moves higher, or lower: whose totall +absence is best recompensed with the +Dew of Heaven.</p> + +<p>The assaults of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'afflicton'">affliction</ins> may be terrible, +like <i><b>Sampsons</b></i> Lyon, but they yeild much sweetness +to those that dare to encounter and overcome +them; who know how to overlive the +witherings of their Gourds without discontent +or peevishness, while they may yet converse +with God.</p> + +<p>That <i>I</i> must die as a man, is certain; that <i>I</i> +may die a King, by the hands of my own Subjects, +a violent, sodain, barbarous death; in +the strength of my years, in the midst of my +Kingdoms; my <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Freinds'">Friends</ins> and loving Subjects +being helpless Spectators; my Enemies insolent +Revilers and Triumphers over me, living, +dying, and dead, is so probable in humane reason, +that God hath taught me not to hope +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page256" id="page256"></a>[page 256]</span> +otherwise as to mans crueltie; however, I despair +not of Gods infinite mercy.</p> + +<p>I know my life is the Object of the devils & +wicked mens malice, but yet under Gods sole +custodie and disposal: whom I do not think to +flatter for longer life by seeming prepared to +die; but I humbly desire to depend upon him, +and to submit to his will both in life and death, +in what order soever he is pleased to lay them +out to me. I confess it is not easie for me to +contend with those many horrours of Death, +wherewith God suffers me to be tempted; +which are equally horrid, either in the suddennesse +of a barbarous Assasination or in those +greater formalities, whereby my Enemies [being +more solemnly cruel] will, it may be, +seek to adde [as those did who Crucified +Christ] the mockery of Justice, to the cruelty +of malice: That I may be destroyed, as with +greater pomp and artifice, so with less pity, +will be but a necessary policie to make my +Death appear as an Act of Justice, done by subjects +upon their Soveraign, who know that no +Law of God or Man invests them with any +power of Judicature without me, much lesse against +me: and who, being sworn, and bound +by all that is sacred before God and man, to +endeavour my preservation, must pretend Justice +to cover their perjury.</p> + +<p>It is, indeed, a sad fate for any man to have +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page257" id="page257"></a>[page 257]</span> +his Enemies to be Accusers, Parties, and +Judges; but most desperate, when this is +acted by the insolence of Subjects against their +Soveraign; wherein those, who have had +the cheifest hand, and are most <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'guitly'">guilty</ins> of contriving +the publick Troubles, must by shedding +my bloud, seem to wash their own hands +of that innocent bloud whereof they are now +most evidently guilty before God and Man; +and I beleeve in their own Consciences too, +while they carried on unreasonable Demands, +First by Tumults, after by Armies. Nothing +makes mean spirits more cowardly-cruel in +managing their usurped power against their +lawful Superiours then this, the <i><b>guilt of their +unjust Usurpation</b></i>: notwithstanding those specious +& popular pretentions of Justice against +Delinquents applied only to disguise at first +the monstrousnesse of their designs, who despaired, +indeed, of possessing the power and +profits of the Vineyard, till the heir whose right +it is, be cast out and slain.</p> + +<p>With them My greatest fault must be, that +I would not either destroy My Self with the +Church and State by My word, or not suffer +them to do it un-resisted by the Sword; whose +covetous ambition no Concessions of Mine +could ever yet either satisfie, or abate.</p> + +<p>Nor is it likely they will ever think, that +Kingdom of brambles which some men seek +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page258" id="page258"></a>[page 258]</span> +to erect (at once weak, sharp, and fruitlesse, +either to God or man) is like to thrive till watered +with the Royal bloud of those, whose +right the Kingdom is.</p> + +<p>Well, Gods will be done, I doubt not but +my Innocencie will finde him both my Protector +and my Advocate, who is my only Judg; +whom I own as King of Kings, not onely for +the eminency of his Power and Majestie above +them; but also for that singular care and protection +which he hath over them; who knows +them to be exposed to as many dangers (being +the greatest patrons of Law, Justice, Order, and +Religion on earth) as there be either Men or +Devils, which love confusion.</p> + +<p>Nor will he suffer those men long to +prosper in their <i><b>Babel</b></i>, who build it with +the bones, and cement it with the bloud of +their Kings.</p> + +<p>I am confident they will find Avengers of my +death among themselves: the injuries I have +sustained from them shall be first punished by +them, who agreed in nothing so much as in +opposing me.</p> + +<p>Their impatience to bear the loud cry of my +bloud, shall make them think no way better to +expiate it, then by shedding theirs, who with +them most thirsted after mine.</p> + +<p>The sad confusions following my destruction, +are already presaged and confirmed to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page259" id="page259"></a>[page 259]</span> +me by those I have lived to see since my troubles; +in which God alone (who only could) +hath many ways pleaded my cause; not suffering +them to go unpunished, whose confederacy +in sin was their only security; who have +cause to fear that God will both further divide +and by mutuall vengeance, afterward destroy +them.</p> + +<p>My greatest conquest of death is from the +power and love of Christ, who hath swallow'd +up death in the Victory of his Resurection, +and the Glory of his Ascention.</p> + +<p>My next comfort is, that he gives me not only +the honour to imitate his example in suffering +for righteousness sake (though obscur'd by +the foulest charges of Tyranny and Injustice,) +but also, that charity, which is the noblest revenge +upon, and victory over my Destroyers: +By which, I thank God, I can both forgive +them and pray for them, that God would not +impute my blood to them, further then to +convince them, what need they have of Christs +bloud to wash their souls from the guilt of +shedding mine.</p> + +<p>At present, the will of mine Enemies seems +to be their only rule, their power the measure, +and their Successe the Exactor, of what they +please to call Justice, while they flatter themselves +with the fancy of their own safety by +my danger, and the security of their lives designs +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page260" id="page260"></a>[page 260]</span> +by My Death: forgetting, That as the +greatest temptations to sin are wrapped up in +seeming prosperities, so the severest vengeances +of God are then most accomplished, when +men are suffered to compleat their wicked purposes.</p> + +<p>I bless God, I Pray not so much, that this +bitter Cup of violent Death may pass from +Me, as that of his wrath may pass from al those, +whose hands by deserting Me, are sprinkled, or +by Acting and Consenting to My Death are +embrued with My Bloud.</p> + +<p>The will of God hath confined, and concluded +Mine; I shall have the pleasure of Dying, +without any pleasure of desired vengeance.</p> + +<p>This I think becomes a Christian toward his +Enemies, and a King toward His Subjects.</p> + +<p>They cannot deprive Me of more then I am +content to lose, when God sees fit by their +hands to take it from Me; whose mercy I beleive, +will more then infinitely recompence +what ever by mans injustice, he is pleased to +deprive Me of.</p> + +<p>The glory attending My Death, will far surpass +all I could enjoy, or conceive in life.</p> + +<p>I shall not want the heavy and envyed +Crowns of this world, when My God hath +mercifully Crowned and Consummated his +graces with Glory, and exchanged the shadows +of My earthly Kingdoms among men, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page261" id="page261"></a>[page 261]</span> +for the substance of that Heavenlie Kingdom +with himself.</p> + +<p>For the censures of the world; I know the +sharp and necessarie tyrannie of My Destroyers +will sufficiently confute the calumnies of +tyrannie against Me; I am perswaded I am +happie in the judicious love of the ablest and +best of My Subjects, who do not only Pitie and +Pray for Me, but would be content even to die +with Me, or for Me.</p> + +<p>These know how to excuse My failings, as a +man, and yet to retain and pay their dutie to +Me, as their King; there being no religious necessitie +binding any Subjects by pretending to +punish, infinitely to exceed the faults and errors +of their Princes, especially there, where +more then sufficient satisfaction hath been +made to the Publick; the enjoyment of which, +private ambitions have hitherto frustrated.</p> + +<p>Others, I beleeve, of softer tempers, and +less advantaged by My ruine, do alreadie feel +sharp convictions, and some remorse in their +Consciences: where they cannot but see the +proportions of their evil dealings against Me +in the measure of Gods retaliations upon +them, who cannot hope long to enjoy their +own thumbs and toes, having under pretence +of paring others nails bin so cruel as to cut off +their cheifest strength.</p> + +<p>The punishment of the more insolent and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page262" id="page262"></a>[page 262]</span> +obstinate, may be like that of <i><b>Korah</b></i> and his +complices (at once mutining against both Prince +and Priest) in such a method of divine justice, as +is not ordinary, the earth of the lowest and +meanest people opening upon them, and swallowing +them up in a just disdain of their ill-gotten, +and worse used Authority: upon whose +support and strength they chiefly depended for +their building and establishing their designes +against Me, the Church and State.</p> + +<p>My chiefest comfort in death consists in my +peace, which I trust, is made with <span class="sc">God</span>; before +whose exact Tribunall I shall not fear to +appear, as to the Cause so long disputed by +the Sword, between me and my causelese Enemies, +where I doubt not but his righteous +Judgment will confute their fallacy, who from +worldly success (rather like Sophisters, then +sound Christians) draw those popular conclusions +for Gods approbation of their actions; +whose wise providence (we know) oft +permits many events which his revealed word +(the only clear, safe, and fixed rule of good +actions and good consciences) in no sort approves.</p> + +<p>I am confident, the justice of my Cause, and +clearness of my Conscience before God, and +toward my people, wil carry me as much above +them in Gods decision, as their Successes have +lifted them above me in the Vulgar opinion: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page263" id="page263"></a>[page 263]</span> +who consider not, that many times those undertakings +of men are lifted up to heaven in the +prosperity and applause of the world, whose +rise is from hell, as to the injuriousness and +oppression of the design. The prosperous winds +which oft fil the sails of Pirats, doth not justifie +their piracy and rapine.</p> + +<p>I look upon it with infinite more content +and quiet of Soul, to have been worsted in my +enforced contestation for, and vindication +of the Laws of the Land, the Freedom and +Honour of Parliaments, the Rights of my +Crown, the just Liberty of my Subjects, and +the true Christian Religion in its Doctrine, +Government, and due Encouragements, then +if I had, with the greatest advantages of success +over-born them all; as some men have +now evidently done, whatever designes they +at first pretended.</p> + +<p>The prayers and patience of my Friends and +loving Subjects will contribute much to the +sweetning of this bitter cup, which I doubt not +but I shall more cheerfully take and drink, as +from Gods hand (if it must be so) then they +can give it to me, whose hands are unjustly and +barbarously lifted up against Me.</p> + +<p>And as to the last event, I may seem to +owe more to my Enemies then my Friends; +while those will put a period to the sins and +sorrows attending this miserable life, wherewith +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page264" id="page264"></a>[page 264]</span> +these desire, I might still contend.</p> + +<p>I shall be more then Conquerour through, +Christ enabling me: for whom <i>I</i> have hitherto +suffered, as he is the Author of Truth, +Order, and Peace; for all which <i>I</i> have been +forced to contend against Errour, Faction, and +confusion.</p> + +<p>If <i>I</i> must suffer a violent death with my Saviour; +it is but mortality crowned with martyrdom: +where the debt of death, which I owe +for sin to nature, shall be raised as a gift of faith +and patience offered to God.</p> + +<p>Which <i>I</i> humbly beseech him mercifully to +accept; and although death be the wages of +my own sinne, as from God, and the effect +of others sinnes, as men, both against God and +me; yet as <i>I</i> hope my own sinnes are so remitted, +that they shall be no ingredients to imbitter +the cup of my death, so <i>I</i> desire God to +pardon their sins, who are most guilty of my +destruction.</p> + +<p>The Trophees of my charitie will be more +glorious and durable over them, then their ill +managed victories over me.</p> + +<p>Though their sin be prosperous, yet they had +need to be penitent, that they may be pardoned: +Both which, <i>I</i> pray God they may obtain: +that my temporal Death unjustly inflicted +by them, may not be revenged by Gods just +inflicting eternal death upon them: for <i>I</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page265" id="page265"></a>[page 265]</span> +look upon the temporall destruction of the +greatest King, as far lesse deprecable then the +eternall damnation of the meanest Subject.</p> + +<p>Nor do I wish other then the safe bringing +of the ship to shore, when they have cast me +overboard; though it be very strange, that Mariners +can finde no other means to appease the +storms themselves have raised, but by drowning +their Pilot.</p> + +<p>I thank God, my Enemies cruelty cannot +prevent my preparation; whose malice in this +I shall defeat, that they shall not have the satisfaction +to have destroyed my Soul with my +Body; of whose salvation, while some of them +have themselves seemed, and taught others to +despair, they have onely discovered this, that +they do not much desire it.</p> + +<p>Whose uncharitable and cruell Restraints, +denying me even the assistance of any of my +Chaplains, hath rather enlarged, then any +way obstructed my accesse to the Throne of +Heaven,</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 3em;"><b><i>Where thou dwellest, O King of Kings, who fillest +Heaven and Earth, who art the fountain of +eternal life, in whom is no shadow of death.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou, O God, art both the just Afflicter of +death upon us, and the mercifull Saviour of us +in it, and from it.</i></b></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page266" id="page266"></a>[page 266]</span> + +<p><b><i>Yea, it is better for us to be dead to our selves, +and live in thee; then by living in our selves, to +be deprived of thee.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O make the many bitter aggravations of my +death as a Man, and a King, the opportunities and +advantages of thy speciall Graces and Comforts +in my Soul as a Christian.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>If thou Lord wilt be with me, I shall neither +fear nor feel any evill, though I walk thorow the +valley of the shadow of death.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>To contend with death is the work of a weak and +mortall man; to overcome it, is the grace of thee +alone, who art the Almighty and immortall God.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O my Saviour, who knowest what it is to die +with me as a Man; make me know what it is to +passe through death to life with thee my God.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Though I die, yet I know that thou my Redeemer +livest for ever: though thou slayest Me, +yet thou hast encouraged me to trust in thee for +eternal life.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O withdraw not thy favour from me, which is +better then life.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O be not far from me, for I know not now neer +a violent and cruel death is to me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>As thy Omniscience, O God, discovers, so thy +Omnipotence can defeat the designes of those who +have, or shall conspire my destruction.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O shew me the goodnesse of thy will, through the +wickednesse of theirs.</i></b></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page267" id="page267"></a>[page 267]</span> + +<p><b><i>Thou givest me leave as a man to pray, that +this cup may pass from me; but thou hast taught +Me as a Christian by the example of Christ to add +not my will, but thine be done.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Yea Lord, let our wils be one, by wholly resolving +mine into thine: let not the desire of life in +me be so great, as that of doing or suffering thy wil +in either life or death.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>As I believe thou hast forgiven all the errours +of my life, so I hope thou wilt save me from the +terrors of my death.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Make me content to leave the worlds nothing, +that I may come really to enjoy all in thee, who hast +made Christ unto me in life, gain; and in death +advantage.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Though my destroyers forget their dutie to thee +and me, yet do not thou, O Lord, forget to be +mercifull to them.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>For, what profit is there in my bloud, or in +their gaining my Kingdoms, if they lose their own +Souls?</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Such as have not onely resisted my just Power, +but wholly usurped and turned it against my self, +though they may deserve, yet let them not receive +to themselves damnation.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Thou madest thy Son a Saviour to many that +crucified him, while at once he suffered violently +by them, and yet willingly for them.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O let the voice of his bloud be heard for my</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page268" id="page268"></a>[page 268]</span> +<i>Murtherers, louder then the cry of mine against +them.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Prepare them for thy mercy by due convictions +of their sin, and let them not at once deceive +and damne their own souls by fallacious pretensions +of Justice in destroying me, while the conscience +of their unjust usurpation of power against +me, chiefly tempts them to use all extremities against +me.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O Lord, thou knowest I have found their +mercies to me as very false, so very cruell, who +pretending to preserve me, have meditated nothing +but my ruine.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>O deal not with them as bloud thirsty and deceitfull +men; but overcome their cruelty with thy +compassion and my charitie.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>And when thou makest inquisition for my blood, +O sprinkle their polluted, yet penitent Souls with +the bloud of thy Son, that thy destroying Angel +may passe over them.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Though they think my Kingdoms on earth too +little to entertain at once both them and me; yet +let the capacious Kingdom of thy infinite mercy at +last receive both me and my enemies.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>When being reconciled to thee in the bloud +of the same Redeemer, wee shall live far above +these ambitious desires, which beget such mortall +enmities.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>When their hands shall be heaviest and cruellest</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page269" id="page269"></a>[page 269]</span> +<i>upon me, O let me fall into the arms of thy +tender and eternall mercies.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>That what is cut off of my life in this miserable +moment, may be repaied in thy ever blessed +Eternity.</i></b></p> + +<p><b><i>Lord, let thy servant depart in peace, for mine +eyes have seen thy salvation.</i></b></p> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">Vota dabunt, quæ Bella negârunt.</h2> + +<hr /> + +<h2><i>FINIS.</i></h2> + +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page270" id="page270"></a>[page 270]</span> + +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page271" id="page271"></a>[page 271]</span> + + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/288a-350.png" width="350" height="230" alt="A PEFECT COPY OF PRAYERS, Used by His MAJESTIE in the time of His SUFFERINGS." border="0" /></div> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/288b-350.png" width="350" height="115" alt="Delivered to Dr. Juxon Bishop of London immediately before his Death. And his Speeches to the Lady Elizabeth and the Duke of Glocester." border="0" /></div> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/288c-350.png" width="350" height="285" alt="With His Reasons against the pretended Jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice; intended to be delivered, Munday 22 of Janu. 1648. Also A Copy of a LETTER from the PRINCE. Printed Anno Domini 1649." border="0" /></div> + +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page272" id="page272"></a>[page 272]</span> + +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page273" id="page273"></a>[page 273]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/290-freize-600.png" width="600" height="50" alt="Freize" /></div> + +<a name="c29" id="c29"></a> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;"><i>A PRAYER in time of Captivitie.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">O</span> +<b> Powerfull and Eternall God!</b> to whom +nothing is so great, that it may resist; or +so small, that it is contemned; look upon my +miserie with thine eye of mercy, and let Thine +infinite power vouchsafe to limit out some +proportion of deliverance unto me, as to Thee +shall seem most convenient; let not Injurie, O +Lord, triumph over me; and let my faults by +thy hand be corrected; and make not my unjust +Enemies the ministers of thy Justice: But +yet my God, if in thy Wisdom this be the aptest +chastisement for my unexcusable transgressions; +if this ingratefull bondage be fittest for +my over-high deserts; if the pride of my (not +enough humble) heart be thus to be broken, O +Lord, I yeeld unto thy will, and cheerfully embrace +what sorrow thou wilt have me suffer: +Onely thus much let me crave of thee, (let my +craving, O Lord, be accepted of, since it even +proceeds from thee) That by thy Goodnesse, +which is thy Self, thou wilt suffer some beam +of thy Majestie so to shine in my minde, that I, +who in my greatest Afflictions <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'acknowlede'">acknowledge</ins> it +my noblest Title to be thy Creature, may still +depend confidently on Thee. Let Calamity be +the exercise, but not the overthrow of my Vertue. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page274" id="page274"></a>[page 274]</span> +O let not their prevailing power be to my +destruction. And if it be thy will that they +more and more vex me with punishment; yet +O Lord, never let their wickednesse have such +a hand, but that I may still carry a pure mind, +and stedfast resolution ever to serve thee without +fear or presumption; yet with that humble +Confidence which may best please thee; +so that at the last I may come to thy eternall +Kingdom through the merits of thy Son our +alone Saviour, Jesus Christ. <i><b>Amen</b></i>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;"><i>Another PRAYER.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">A</span> +<b>Lmightie and most merciful Father</b>, look +down upon me thy unworthy servant, +who here prostrate my self at the Foot-stool of +thy Throne of Grace; but look upon me, O +Father, through the Mediation, and in the Merits +of Jesus Christ, in whom thou art only wel +pleased: for of my Self I am not worthy to +stand before thee, or to speak with my unclean +lips to thee, most holy and eternall God; +for as in sin I was conceived and born, so +likewise I have broken all thy Commandments +by my sinful motions, unclean thoughts, evill +words, and wicked works; omitting many duties +I ought to do, and committing many vices +thou hast forbidden under pain of thy +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page275" id="page275"></a>[page 275]</span> +heavie Displeasure: as for my sins, O Lord, they +are innumerable: wherefore I stand here liable +to all the miseries in this life, and everlasting +Torments in that to come, if thou shouldst +deal with me according to my deserts. I confesse, +O Lord, that it is thy Mercie (which endureth +for ever) and thy compassion (which +never fails) which is the cause that I have not +been long ago consumed: but with thee there +is Mercie and plenteous Redemption; in the +multitude therefore of thy mercies, and by the +Merits of Jesus Christ, I intreat thy Divine +Majestie, that thou wouldst not enter into judgment +with thy servant, nor be extreme to mark +what is done amisse, but be thou mercifull +unto Me, and wash away all my sins with that +precious bloud that my Saviour shed for me. +And I beseech thee, O Lord, not onely to wash +away all my sins; but also to purge my heart +by thy holy Spirit, from the dross of my natural +corruption: And as thou dost add days to my +life, so good Lord, I beseech thee to add repentance +to my dayes, that when I have past this +mortall life, I may be partaker of thy everlasting +Kingdom, through the Merits of Jesus +Christ our Lord, <i><b>Amen</b></i>.</p> + +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page276" id="page276"></a>[page 276]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;"><i>A</i> <span class="sc">Prayer</span> <i>and</i> <span class="sc">Confession</span> <i>made in and for the times of Affliction.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">A</span> +<b>Lmighty and most mercifull Father</b>, as it +is onely thy Goodnesse that admits of our +imperfect Prayers, and the knowledge that +thy mercies are infinite, which can give Us any +hope of thy accepting or granting them: +so it is our bounden and necessary duty to confesse +our sins freely unto thee; And of all men +living, I have most need, most reason so to do; +no man having been so much obliged by thee, +no man more grievously offending thee: that +degree of knowledge which thou hast given +me adding likewise to the guilt of my transgressions. +For, was it through ignorance, that +I suffered innocent bloud to be shed by a false +pretended way of Justice? or that I permitted +a wrong way of thy Worship to be set up +in <i><b>Scotland?</b></i> and injured the Bishops in <i><b>England?</b></i> +O no; but with shame and grief I confesse, +that I therein followed the perswasions +of worldly Wisdome, forsaking the Dictates +of a right-informed Conscience: Wherefore, +O Lord, I have no excuse to make, no hope +left, but in the multitude of thy mercies; for +I know my repentance weak, and my prayers +faulty: Grant therefore, mercifull Father, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page277" id="page277"></a>[page 277]</span> +so to strengthen my repentance, and amend +my prayers, that thou maist clear the way +for thine own mercies; to which, O let thy +Justice at last give place, putting a speedy +end to my deserved afflictions. In the mean +time, give me patience to endure, Constancy +against Temptations, and a discerning spirit, +to chuse what is best for thy Church, and People +which thou hast committed to my charge. +Grant this, O most mercifull Father, for +thy Son Jesus Christs sake, our onely Saviour, +<i><b>Amen.</b></i></p> + +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;"><i>A</i> <span class="sc">PRAYER</span> <i>in time of imminent Danger.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">O</span> +<b> Most merciful Father</b>, though my sins are +so many and grievous, that I may rather +expect the effects of thy anger, then so great a +deliverance, as to free me from my present +great danger; yet, O Lord, since thy mercies +are over all thy works, and thou never failest +to relieve all those who with humble and unfeigned +repentance come to thee for succour, +it were to multiply, not diminish my transgressions, +to despair of thy heavenly favour: +Wherefore I humbly desire thy divine Majestie, +That thou wilt not onely pardon all my sins; +but also free me out of the hands, and protect +me from the malice of my cruel Enemies. But +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page278" id="page278"></a>[page 278]</span> +if Thy wrath against my hainous Offences will +not otherwayes be satisfied, then by suffering +Me to fall under my present afflictions, Thy +will be done; yet with humble Importunity, +I do and shall never leave to implore the assistance +of thy heavenly Spirit, that my cause, +as I am thy Vicegerent may not suffer through +My weakness, or want of courage, O Lord, so +strengthen and enlighten all the faculties of +My mind, that with clearnesse I may shew +forth Thy Truth, and manfully endure this +bloody Tryal, that so my sufferings here may +not onely glorifie Thee, but likewise be a furtherance +to my salvation hereafter. Grant +this, O mercifull Father, for his sake who suffered +for me, even Jesus Christ the Righteous. +<i><b>Amen.</b></i></p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/295-finis_emblem-300.png" width="300" height="315" alt="Finis--Emblem" /></div> + +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page279" id="page279"></a>[page 279]</span> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;">A Copie of a Letter which was sent from the <span class="sc">Prince</span> to the KING; Dated from the <span class="sc">Hague</span> <i>Jan</i>. 23. 1648.</h2> + +<p class="ind"><b>SIR,</b></p> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">H</span> +<b><i>Aving</i> <i>no means to come to the knowledge +of your Majesties present condition, but +such as I receive from the Prints, or (which is as +uncertain) Report, I have sent this Bearer</i> Seamour +<i>to wait upon your Majestie; and to bring +me an account of it: that I may withall assure +your Majestie, I doe not onely pray for your +Majestie according to my Dutie, but shall alwayes +be ready to doe all which shall be in my +power, to deserve that blessing which I now +humbly beg of your Majestie upon</i></b></p> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p><b>(SIR)</b></p> + </div> </div> + +<p><span class="sc">Hague</span> <i>Jan.</i> 23.<br /> +1648.</p> + +<div class="poem" style="margin-top: -2.2em;"> <div class="stanza"> +<p><i><b>Your</b></i> <span class="sc"><b>Majesties</b></span></p> +<p><i><b>most humble and most</b></i></p> +<p><i><b>obedient Son & servant</b></i></p> +<p><i><span class="sc"><b>CHARLS.</b></span></i></p> + </div> </div> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 2em;"><b>The Superscription was thus,</b></p> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 1em;">For the King.</h2> + +<a name="c30" id="c30"></a> +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page280" id="page280"></a>[page 280]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/297-munday-600.png" width="600" height="45" alt="freize" border="0" /></div> + +<h2>Munday 29th January, 1648.</h2> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;"><i>A true Relation of the</i> KINGS <i>Speech to the Lady</i> <span class="sc">Elisabeth</span>, <i>and the Duke of</i> <span class="sc">Glocester</span>, <i>the day before His Death.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">H</span> +<b>Is</b> children being come to meet him, he +first gave his blessing to the Lady <i>Elisabeth</i>; +and bad her remember to tell her Brother +<i><b>James</b></i>, when ever she should see him, That +it was his Fathers last desire, that he should no +more look upon <i><b>Charles</b></i> as his eldest Brother +only, but be obedient unto him, as his Soveraign; +and that they should love one another, +and forgive their Fathers Enemies. Then said +the King to her, Sweet-heart you'l forget this: +No (said she) <i>I</i> shall never forget it while I +live: And pouring forth abundance of Tears, +promised him to write down the Paticulars.</p> + +<p>Then the King taking the Duke of <i><b>Glocester</b></i> +upon his knee, said, Sweet-heart, now they will +cut off thy Fathers head; (upon which words +the child looked very stedfastly on him.) Mark +child, what I say, they will cut of my head, and +perhaps make thee a King: But mark what I +say, you must not be a King so long as your +Brother <i><b>Charles</b></i> and <i><b>James</b></i> do live; For they +will cut off your Brothers heads, (when they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page281" id="page281"></a>[page 281]</span> +can catch them) and cut off thy head too at the +last: and therefore, <i>I</i> charge you, do not be +made a King by them. At which the child, sighing, +said, I will be torn in pieces first. Which +falling so unexpectedly from one so young, it +made the King rejoyce exceedingly.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;"><i>Another Relation from the Lady</i> <span class="sc">Elisabeths</span> <i>own Hand.</i></h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">W</span> +<b>Hat</b> the king said to me the nine and +twentieth of <i><b>January</b></i> 1648. being the +last time I had the happiness to see him; he +told me, he was glad I was come, and although +he had not time to say much, yet somewhat +he had to say to me, which he had not to another, +or leave in writing, because he feared +their cruelty was such, as that they would not +have permitted him to write to me, he wished +me not to grieve and torment my self for him; +for that would be a glorious death that he +should dye; it being for the Laws and Liberties +of this Land, and for maintaining the true +Protestant Religion. He bad me read Bishop +<i><b>Andrews</b></i> Sermons, <i><b>Hookers Ecclesiasticall +Politie</b></i>, and Bishop <i><b>Lauds</b></i> Book against <i><b>Fisher</b></i>, +which would ground me against Popery. +He told me, he had forgiven all his Enemies, +and hoped God would forgive them also; and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page282" id="page282"></a>[page 282]</span> +commanded us, and all the rest of my Brothers +and Sisters to forgive them: he bid me tell my +Mother, That his thoughts never had strayed +from her, and that his love should be the same +to the last. Withall he commanded me and my +Brother to be obedient to her. And bid me +send his blessing to the rest of my Brothers +and Sisters, with Commendation to all His +Friends: So after he had given me his blessing, +I took my leave.</p> + +<p>Further, he commanded us all to forgive +those people, but never to trust them; for they +had been most false to him, and to those that +gave them power, and he feared also to their +own souls; And desired me not to grieve for +him, for he should die a Martyr, and that he +doubted not but the Lord would settle his +Throne upon his Son, and that we should be +all happier, then we could have expected to +have been, if he had lived: With many other +things, which at present I cannot remember.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Elisabeth</span>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;"><i>Another Relation from the Lady</i> Elisabeth.</h2> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">T</span> +<b>He</b> King said to the Duke of <i><b>Glocester</b></i>, +that he would say nothing to him but +what was for the good of his soul: he told +him, that he heard that the Army intended to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page283" id="page283"></a>[page 283]</span> +make him King; but it was a thing not for +him to take upon him, if he regarded the welfare +of his soul; for he had two Brothers before +him: and therefore commanded him upon +His blessing, never to accept of it, unless it +redowned lawfully upon him: And commanded +him to fear the Lord, and he would provide +for him.</p> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: -1em; font-size: 1.1em;"><i><b>Copia vera.</b></i></p> + +<hr /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;"><i>An</i> Epitaph <i>upon King</i> <span class="sc">Charls.</span></h2> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<div class="figleft3"> +S</div> <br style="line-height: 40%" /> +<p class="i4a"><b>O</b> falls that stately Cedar: while it stood</p> +<p class="i4a">That was the onely glory of the Wood:</p> +<p>Great <i>Charles</i>, thou earthly God, celestial <i>M</i>an,</p> +<p>Whose life, like others, though it were a span:</p> +<p>Yet in that span, was comprehended more</p> +<p>Then Earth hath waters or the Ocean shore;</p> +<p>Thy heavenly vertues, Angels shou'd rehearse,</p> +<p>It is a theam too high for humane Verse:</p> +<p>He that would know thee right, then let him look</p> +<p>Upon Thy rare incomparable Book,</p> +<p>And read it or'e and o're; which if he do,</p> +<p>Hee'l find thee <i><b>king</b></i>, <i><b>and Priest</b></i>, <i><b>and Prophet too</b></i>:</p> +<p>And sadly see our losse, and though in vain,</p> +<p>With fruitlesse wishes, call thee back again.</p> +<p>Nor shall oblivion sit upon thy Herse,</p> +<p>Though there were neither Monument, nor Verse.</p> +<p class="i2">Thy Suff'rings & thy Death let no man name;</p> +<p class="i2">It was thy Glorie, but the Kingdoms Shame.</p> + </div> </div> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p class="i30"><i>J. H.</i></p> + </div> </div> + +<hr /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page284" id="page284"></a>[page 284]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/297-munday-600.png" width="600" height="45" alt="freize" border="0" /></div> + +<p class="indboth"> +<i>His Majesties Reasons against the pretended +Jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice, +which he intended to deliver in writing on +Munday</i> January 22, 1648. +</p> + +<p class="ind"><b>Faithfully transcribed out of the originall Copie under +the Kings own hand.</b></p> + +<p style="line-height: 1%; margin-top: -0.5em;"> </p> +<p class="dropcap"><span class="dcap">H</span> +<b>Aving</b> already made my protestations not +only against the illegality of this pretended +Court, but also that no earthly power +can justly call me (who am your King) in question +as a Delinquent, <i>I</i> would not any more +open my mouth upon this occasion, more then +to refer my selfe to what I have spoken, were +I alone in this case concerned. But the duty I +owe to God in the preservation of the true Liberty +of my People, will not suffer me at this +time to be silent: For, how can any free-born +Subject of England call life or any thing he +possesseth his own, if power without right daily +make new, and abrogate the old fundamentall +Law of the Land, which I now take to +be the present case. Wherefore when I came +hither, I expected that you would have indeavoured +to have satisfied me concerning these +grounds, which hinder me to Answer to your +pretended Impeachment, but since I see that +nothing I can say will move you to it (though +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page285" id="page285"></a>[page 285]</span> +Negatives are not so naturally proved as Affirmatives) +yet I will shew you the Reason why +I am confident you cannot judge me, nor indeed +the meanest man in England; for I will +not (like you) without shewing a reason, seek +to impose a belief upon My Subjects.</p> + +<p class="side">Hereabout I was +stopt, and not suffered +to speake any +more concerning +Reasons.</p> + +<p>There is no proceeding just against any man, +but what is warranted either +by Gods Laws, or the municipall +Lawes of the Country +where he lives. Now I am most +confident, that this daies proceeding +cannot be warranted by Gods Law, +for on the contrary the authority of obedience +unto Kings is cleerly warranted and +strictly commanded both in the Old and New +Testament; which if denied, I am ready to +prove: and for the question now in hand, +there it is said, That <i><b>where the word of a King +is, there is Power, and who may say unto him, +what doest thou</b></i>? <i><b>Eccles.</b></i> 8. 4. Then for the +Lawes of this land, I am no lesse confident, that +no learned Lawyer will affirme that an impeachment +can lie against the King, they all +going in his name; and one of their Maximes +is, <i><b>that the King can do no wrong</b></i>. Besides, the +law upon which you ground your proceedings, +must either be old or new; if old shew +it; if new, tell what authority warranted by +the fundamentall Laws of the land hath made +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page286" id="page286"></a>[page 286]</span> +it, and when. But how the House of Commons +can erect a Court of Judicature, which +was never one it self (as is well known to all +Lawyers) I leave to God and the World to +judge; And it were full as strange that they +should pretend to make Laws without King +or Lords-House, to any that have heard speak +of the Lawes of England.</p> + +<p>And admitting, but not granting, that the +people of Englands Commission could grant +your pretended Power, I see nothing you can +shew for that; for certainly you never asked +the question of the tenth man of the Kingdom, +and in this way you manifestly wrong even the +poorest Plough-man, if you demand not his +free consent; nor can you pretend any colour +for this your pretended Commission without +the consent at least of the major part of every +man in England, of whatsoever quality or condition, +which I am sure, you never went about +to seek; so far are you from having +it. Thus you see that I speak not for my own +right alone, as I am your King, but also for the +true Liberty of all my Subjects, which consists +not in sharing the power of Government, but +in living under such Laws, such a Government +as may give themselves the best assurance of +their lives and propriety of their goods. Nor +in this must or do I forget the priviledges of +both Houses of Parliament, which this dayes +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page287" id="page287"></a>[page 287]</span> +proceedings doth not only violate, but likewise +occasion the greatest breach of their Publike +Faith that (I beleeve) ever was heard of, with +which I am far from charging the two houses: +for all the pretended crimes laid against me, +bear date long before this late Treaty at Newport, +in which I having concluded as much as +in me lay, and hopefully expecting the two +Houses agreement thereunto, I was suddenly +surprized, and hurried from thence as a Prisoner, +upon which accompt I am against my will +brought hither, where since I am come, I cannot +but to my power defend the ancient Laws +and Liberties of this Kingdom, together with +my own just Right; then for any thing I can +see the higher house is totally excluded.</p> + +<p>And for the House of Commons, it is too +well known that the major part of them are +detained or deterr'd from sitting, so as if I had +no other, this were sufficient for me to protest +against the lawfulnesse of your pretended +Court. Besides all this, the peace of the Kingdom +is not the least in my thoughts; and what +hopes of settlement is there so long as power +raignes without rule of Law, changing the +whole frame of that government under which +this Kingdom hath flourished for many hundred +years, (nor will I say what will fall out in +case this lawlesse unjust proceeding against me +do go on) & beleeve it the Commons of England +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page288" id="page288"></a>[page 288]</span> +will not thanke you for this change, for +they will remember how happy they have been +of late years under the raign of Q. <i><b>Elizabeth</b></i>, +the King my Father and my self, untill the beginning +of these unhappy troubles, and wil have +cause to doubt that they shall never be so happy +under any new. And by this time it will be too +sensibly evident, that the Armes I took up were +only to defend the fundamentall Laws of this +Kingdom, against those who have supposed my +power hath totally changed the ancient Government.</p> + +<p>Thus having shewed you briefly the Reasons, +why I cannot submit to your pretended authority +without violating the trust which I have +from God, for the welfare and liberty of my +people; I expect from you either clear Reasons +to convince my Judgment, shewing me +that I am in an error (and then truly I will readily +answer) or that you will withdraw your +proceedings.</p> + +<p class="indrl"><b><i>This I intended to speake in Westminster-Hall +on Monday 22. January, but against +reason was hindered to shew my Reasons.</i></b></p> + +<hr /> + +<h4>FINIS.</h4> + +<hr /> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + +<table align="center" width="80%" summary="transcriber's note"> +<tr><td class="note"> +<h4>Transcriber's note.</h4> + +<p>Inconsistencies in spelling, grammar, capitalisation and punctuation have +generally been retained, unless the inconsistency is obviously an error.</p> + +<p>e.g. Iustice and Justice (etc.) are both used; wickednss (page 53) may be +a printer's error, or the author's contraction. There are a few instances of +'wickednesse', and only one of 'wickedness'; there are a few instances of +'yeild', and 'yeeld', but none of 'yield'; 'then' is used throughout the book where modern writers would +use 'than'; and apostrophes are notable by their absence.</p> + +<p>The prefix 'un' is used where modern writers would use 'in'. Many other words have more than +one spelling. Phonetic spellings have been retained.</p> + +<p>'proreption' (p. 66) means 'slow advance' (Google Books).</p> + +<p>The long 's' ∫ or f, prevalent at the time, has been updated to the modern 's', +which even in 1649 was used at the ends of words.</p> + +<p>There are some instances of what seem to be genuine errata:—</p> + +<p>Sundry missing, damaged or extraneous punctuation has been repaired.</p> + +<p>(Corrections are also indicated, in the text, by a dotted line underneath the correction.</p> +<p style="margin-top:-1em;">Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.)</p> + +<p>Explanation of the Emblem: 'deprrss'd' corrected to 'depress'd': "<i>Palm</i>-like <i>depress'd</i>, I higher rise"</p> + +<p>p. 15: 'agaist' corrected to 'against': "have purposed any violence +or oppression against the Innocent"</p> + +<p>p. 24: 'assawge' corrected to 'asswage': "and after did'st asswage the floud which drowned +the world,"</p> + +<p>p. 42: 'kinkled' corrected to 'kindled': "the brands of that fire being ill quenched, have kindled the like flames here.</p> +<a name="noteable" id="noteable"></a> +<p>p. 51: 'noreable' corrected to 'noteable'<a href="#note">*</a>: "he is now become a noteable +monument of unprosperous disloialtie,"</p> + +<p>p. 59: 'and' corrected to 'an': "I must now be urged with an Armie,"</p> + +<p>p. 63: 'one' corrected to 'on': "unfortunate Successes of this War, on my side, +I do not think my"</p> + +<p>p. 73: 'no' corrected to 'to': "if not to conquer, yet at least to suffer."</p> + +<p>p. 74: 'eclisp' corrected to 'eclipse': "strip me of my strength, and eclipse my +glory."</p> + +<p>p. 77: 'Popositions' corrected to 'Propositions': "propound, (for such is one of +their Propositions)"</p> + +<p>p. 82: removed extraneous 'in': "to the Laws in force,"</p> + +<p>p. 87: 'suppplication' corrected to 'supplication': "To thee I make my +supplication,"</p> + +<p>p. 98: 'with' corrected to 'which': "destroying the innocent with the guilty, & +the erroneous with the malicious;"</p> + +<p>p. 106: 'ont' corrected to 'out': "they lay out upon their opinions"</p> + +<p>p. 107: 'contemus' corrected to 'contemns': "that the other rejects and +contemns;"</p> + +<p>p. 120: 'clomencie' corrected to 'clemencie': "and thy clemencie hath accepted from us,"</p> + +<p>p. 121: 'theia' corrected to 'their': "the Charity of most men is grown so cold, +and their Religion so illiberall."</p> + +<p>p. 121: 'net' corrected to 'not': "Let not holy things be given to Swine"</p> + +<p>p. 137: 'migh' corrected to 'might': "he might seem to justifie his disdainfull +reproaches,"</p> + +<p>p. 141: 'too' corrected to 'to': "where not the words, but mens hearts are to +blame."</p> + +<p>p. 144: 'nse' corrected to 'use': "That further, they should use such severity +as"</p> + +<p>p. 154: 'Goverment' corrected to 'Government': "such a frame or Government which is paternall,"</p> + +<p>p. 158: 'Hospitaliy' corrected to 'Hospitality': "also enablements to works of +Charitie and Hospitality,"</p> + +<p>p. 161: 'judement' corrected to 'judgement': "to my judgement, I am solemnly +obliged to"</p> + +<p>p. 172: 'bnt' corrected to 'but': "not to trust in the arm of Flesh, but in the +living God."</p> + +<p>p. 179: 'afficting' corrected to 'afflicting': "Between both thy hands, the +right sometimes supporting, +and the left afflicting, fashion us"</p> + +<p>p. 180: 'punishmenes' corrected to 'punishments': "punishing my self in their +punishments."</p> + +<p>p. 184: 'abrogae' corrected to 'abrogate': "by the Sword to arrogate, and quite +abrogate the Authority of"</p> + +<p>p. 186: 'moudls' corrected to 'moulds': "would not run into their new moulds, +till they had first melted"</p> + +<p>p. 187: 'Christans' corrected to 'Christians': "appear good Christians, that +approve not them selves good Subjects."</p> + +<p>p. 192: 'thrist' corrected to 'thirst': "the most ambitious thirst of popular +glory among the Vulgar"</p> + +<p>p. 196: 'pnrpose' corrected to 'purpose': "Fix in me a purpose to honour thee, +and then"</p> + +<p>p. 201: 'wordls' corrected to 'worlds': "the worlds vanity and inconstancie."</p> + +<p>p. 205: 'estabish' corrected to 'establish': "because thou Lord, hast holpen and +comforted me; establish me with thy free Spirit,"</p> + +<p>p. 207: 'christias' corrected to 'christians': "then is ever used by christians +to the meanest prisoners,"</p> + +<p>p. 215: 'Honse' corrected to 'House': "when wee went to meet in thy House with +the voice of joy and gladnesse,"</p> + +<p>p. 221: 'Sate' corrected to 'State': "In suppressing the many schismes in +Church, and Factions in State."</p> + +<p>p. 223: removed extraneous 'if': "May my people and thy Church be happie if not +by me, yet without me."</p> + +<p>p. 230: 'abonnd' corrected to 'abound': "they cannot want Enemies who abound in +sin; nor shall they be"</p> + +<p>p. 251: 'you' corrected to 'your': "Soul in true Religion, and your honour in +the love of God and"</p> + +<p>p. 251: 'you' corrected to 'your': "let my Memory ever, with my Name, live in +you; as of your Father,"</p> + +<p>p. 254: 'lttle' corrected to 'little': "Indeed, they have left me but little of +life,"</p> + +<p>p. 254: 'magnaminity' corrected to 'magnanimity': "yet to suffer with such +Christian patience and magnanimity, in"</p> + +<p>p. 255: 'afflicton' corrected to 'affliction': "The assaults of affliction may +be terrible,"</p> + +<p>p. 255: 'Freinds' corrected to 'Friends': "my Friends and loving Subjects being +helpless Spectators"</p> + +<p>p. 257: 'guitly' corrected to 'guilty': "the cheifest hand, and are most guilty +of contriving"</p> + +<p>p. 265: 'acceesse' corrected to 'accesse': "any way obstructed my accesse to the +Throne of Heaven,"</p> + +<p>p. 273: 'acknowlede' corrected to 'acknowledge': "who in my greatest Afflictions +acknowledge it"</p> +<a name="note" id="note"></a> +<p class="note"><a href="#noteable">*</a> The spelling, 'noteable', is also used in the title of a book published 1635:</p> + + <p class="note" style="margin-top: -1em;">"A direction for the English traviller by which he shal be inabled + to coast about all England and Wales. And also to know how farre + any market or noteable towne in any shire lyeth one from an other + ... As also the distance betweene London and any other shire or + great towne."</p> + <p class="note1" style="margin-top: -1em;">... J. van Langeren sculp. (Google Books)</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Eikon Basilike, by King Charles I (Stuart) + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EIKON BASILIKE *** + +***** This file should be named 32188-h.htm or 32188-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/1/8/32188/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Eikon Basilike + The Pourtracture of His Sacred Majestie, in His Solitudes and Sufferings + +Author: King Charles I (Stuart) + +Release Date: April 30, 2010 [EBook #32188] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EIKON BASILIKE *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +[Greek: Eikon Basilike] + + + THE + +=POURTRACTURE= + + OF + +=HIS SACRED= + +=MAJESTIE=, + + IN + +=HIS SOLITUDES= + + AND + +=SUFFERINGS=. + + +With a perfect Copy of Prayers used by his Majesty in the time of his +sufferings. + +Delivered to Dr. JUXON Bishop of _London_, immediately before his +Death. + + +ROM. 8. + +_More then Conquerour, &c._ + +_Bona agere, & mala pati, Regium est._ + + +Printed at _London_, 1649. + + + + +The Explanation of the Embleme. + + + =PONDERIBUS= _genuus omne mali, probriq; gravatus, + Vixq; ferenda ferens_, =Palma= _ut_ =depressa=, _resurgo. + Ac, velut undarum_ =Fuctus Ventique=, _furorem + Irati Populi_ =Rupes immotta= _repello_. + =Clariore tenebris=, _c[oe]lestis stella, corusco. + Victor aeternum f[oe]lici pace_ =triumpho=. + _Auro_ =fulgentem= _rutilo gemmisque micantem, + At curis_ =Gravidam= _spernendo_ =calco Coronam=. + =Spinosam=, _at_ =ferri facilem=, _quo_ =spes mea=, _Christi + Auxilio, Nobis non est_ =tractare= _molestum_. + =AEternam=, _fixis fidei, semperque_ =beatam= + _In C[oe]los occulis_ =specto=, _Mobisque-paratam. + Quod_ =vanum= _est, sperno; quod Christi_ =Gratia= _praebet + Amplecti studium est: Virtutis_ =Gloria= _merces._ + + THOUGH clogg'd with _weights_ of miseries, + _Palm_-like _depress'd_, I higher rise. + And as th' _unmoved Rock_ out-braves + The boyst'rous _winds_, and raging _waves_; + So _triumph I_. And _shine more bright_ + In sad Affliction's darksom night. + That _splendid_, but yet _toilsome Crown_, + Regardlesly _I trample_ down. + With joy I take this _Crown_ of _Thorn_, + Though _sharp_, yet _easie to be born_. + That _heav'nly Crown_, already mine, + I _view_ with _eyes_ of faith divine. + I slight _vain_ things; and do embrace + _Glory_, the just reward of _Grace_. + +[Greek: To Chi ouden edikese ten polin, oude to Kappa.] + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Greek: Eikon Basilike.] + + +THE + +POURTRACTURE + +OF HIS SACRED + +MAJESTIE, + +IN + +HIS SOLITUDES + +AND + +SUFFERINGS. + +With a perfect Copy of Prayers used by his Majesty in the time of his +sufferings. + +Delivered to Dr. JUXON Bishop of _London_, immediately before his +death. + + +ROM. 8. + +_More then Conquerour, &c. + +Bona agere, & mala pati, Regium est._ + + +Printed at _London_, 1649. + + + + +THE CONTENTS. + + + 1 _Vpon His Majesties calling this last Parliament._ + + 2 _Upon the Earl of_ Strafford's _death._ + + 3 _Upon His Majesties going to the House of Commons._ + + 4 _Upon the Insolency of the Tumults._ + + 5 _Upon His Majesties passing the Bill for the Trienniall + Parliaments: and after setling this, during the pleasure of + the two Houses._ + + 6 _Upon His Majesties retirement from_ Westminster. + + 7 _Upon the Queens departure, and absence out of_ England. + + 8 _Upon His Majesties repulse at_ Hull, _and the fates of the_ + Hothams. + + 9 _Upon the listing and raising Armies against the King._ + + 10 _Upon their seizing the Kings Magazines, Forts, Navie, and + Militia._ + + 11 _Upon the 19 Propositions first sent to the King; and more + afterwards._ + + 12 _Upon the Rebellion, and troubles in_ Ireland. + + 13 _Upon the Calling in of the_ Scots, _and their Coming._ + + 14 _Upon the Covenant._ + + 15 _Upon the many Jealousies raised, and Scandals cast upon + the King, to stirre up the people against Him._ + + 16 _Upon the Ordinance against the Common prayer-Book._ + + 17 _Of the differences between the King, and the two Houses, + in point of Church-government._ + + 18 _Upon_ Uxbridge-_Treaty, and others Offers made by the + King._ + + 19 _Upon the various events of the War; Victories, and + Defeats._ + + 20 _Upon the Reformations of the Times._ + + 21 _Upon His Majesties Letters taken and divulged._ + + 22 _Upon His Majesties leaving_ Oxford, and going to the_ + Scots._ + + 23 _Upon the_ Scots _delivering the King to the_ English; _and + His Captivity at_ Holmbie. + + 24 _Upon their denying His Majestie the Attendance of His + Chaplains._ + + 25 Penitentiall Meditations and Vowes in the King's solitude + at _Holmbie_. + + 26 _Upon the Armies surprisall of the King at_ Holmbie, _and + the ensuing distractions in the two Houses, the Army, and the + Citie._ + + 27 _To the Prince of_ Wales. + + 28 _Meditations upon Death, after the Votes of Non-Addresses, + and His Majesties closer Imprisonment in_ Carisbrook-Castle. + + 29 _Divers prayers used by his Majesty in time of His + sufferings._ + + 30 _His Speeches to the Lady_ Elisabeth _and Duke of_ + Glocester: _And His_ Reasons _against the jurisdiction of the + high Court of Justice._ + +[Illustration] + +[Greek: EIKON BASILIKE] + + + + +1. _Upon His Majesties calling this last Parliament._ + + +This last Parliament I called, not more by others advice, and +necessity of My affairs, then by my own choice and inclination; who +have always thought the right way of Parliaments most safe for +My Crown, and best pleasing to my People: And although I was not +forgetfull of those sparks, which some mens distempers formerly +studied to kindle in Parliaments, (which by forbearing to convene for +some years, I hoped to have extinguished) yet resolving with My self +to give all just satisfaction to modest and sober desires, and to +redress all publick grievances in Church and State; I hoped (by My +freedom and their moderation) to prevent all mis-understandings and +miscarriages in this: In which as I feared, affairs would meet with +some passion and prejudice in other men, so I resolved they should +finde least of them in my self; not doubting, but by the weight of +Reason I should counterpoiz the over-ballancing of any Factions. + +I was, indeed, sorry to hear with what partiality and popular heat, +Elections were carried in many places; yet hoping that the gravity and +discretion of other Gentlemen would allay and fix the Commons to a +due temperament (guiding some mens well-meaning zeal by such rules of +moderation as are best both to preserve and restore the health of all +States and Kingdoms:) No man was better pleased with the convening of +this Parliament then My self; who knowing best the largenesse of my +own Heart toward my Peoples good and just contentment, pleased my +self most in that good and firm understanding, which would hence grow +between me and my people. + +All jealousies being laid aside, my own and my Childrens Interests +gave me many obligations to seek and preserve the love and welfare of +my Subjects; The only temporal blessing that is left to the ambition +of just Monarchs, as their greatest honour and safety, next Gods +protection. I cared not to lessen my self in some things of my wonted +Prerogative; since I knew I could be no loser, if I might gain but a +recompence in my Subjects affections. + +I intended not only to oblige my friends, but mine enemies also: +exceeding even the desires of those that were factiously discontented, +if they did but pretend to any modest and sober sense. + +The _odium_ and offences which some mens rigor or remissnesse in +Church and State had contracted upon my Government, I resolved to have +expiated by such Laws and regulations for the future, as might +not only rectifie what was amiss in practice, but supply what was +defective in the constitution: No man having a greater zeal to see +Religion setled, and preserved in Truth, Unitie, and Order then my +self; whom it most concerns both in pietie and policie; as knowing, +that, No flames of civil dissentions are more dangerous then those +which make Religious pretensions the grounds of Factions. + +I resolved to reform, what I should by free and full advice in +Parliament be convinced to be amiss; and to grant whatever my Reason +and Conscience told me was fit to be desired; I wish I had kept my +self within those bounds, and not suffered my own Judgement to have +been over-born in some things, more by others Importunities, then +their Arguments; my confidence had less betrayed my self, and my +Kingdoms, to those advantages, which some men sought for, who wanted +nothing but power and occasion to do mischief. + +But our sins being ripe, there was no preventing of Gods Justice, from +reaping that glory in our Calamities, which we robbed him of in our +prosperitie. + + +_For thou (O Lord) hast made us see, That Resolutions of future +Reforming, doe not alwayes satisfie thy justice, nor prevent thy +Vengeance for former miscarriages._ + +_Our sins have over-laid our hopes: Thou hast taught us to depend on +thy mercies to forgive, not on our purpose to amend._ + +_When thou hast vindicated thy glory by thy judgments, and hast shewed +us how unsafe it is to offend thee, upon presumptions afterwards to +please thee, Then I trust thy mercy will restore those blessings to +us, which we have so much abused, as to force thee to deprive us of +them._ + +_For want of timely repentance of our sins, Thou givest us cause to +Repent of those Remedies we too late apply._ + +_Yet I doe not repent of my calling the last Parliament, because O +Lord, I did it with an upright intention to thy glory, and My Peoples +good._ + +_The miseries which have ensued upon me and my Kingdoms, are the just +effects of thy displeasure upon us; and may be yet, through thy mercy, +preparatives of us to future blessings and better hearts to enjoy +them._ + +_O Lord, though thou hast deprived us of many former comforts; +yet grant me and my People the benefit of our afflictions, and thy +chastisements; that thy Rod as well as thy Staff may comfort us: +Then shall we dare to account them the strokes not of an enemy, but a +Father: when thou givest us those humble affections, that measure of +patience in repentance which becomes thy Children; I shall have no +cause to repent the miseries this Parliament hath occasioned, when by +them thou hast brought me and my people unfeignedly to repent of the +sins we have committed._ + +_Thy grace is infinitely better with our sufferings, then our Peace +could be with our sins._ + +_O thou soveraign goodness and wisdom, who over-rulest all our +Counsels; over-rule also all our hearts; That the worse things we +suffer by thy Justice, the better we may be by thy mercie._ + +_As our sins have turned our Antidotes into Poison, so let thy Grace +turn our Poison into Antidotes._ + +_As the sins of our Peace disposed us to this unhappy Warre, so let +this War prepare us for thy blessed Peace._ + +_That although I have but troublesom Kingdoms here, yet I may attain +to that Kingdom of Peace in my Heart, and in thy Heaven, which Christ +hath purchased, & thou wilt give to thy servant (though a sinner) for +my Saviours sake._ Amen. + + * * * * * + + + + +2. _Upon the Earl of Straffords death_. + + +I looked upon my Lord of _Strafford_, as a Gentleman, whose great +abilities might make a Prince rather afraid, then ashamed to employ +him in the greatest affairs of State. + +For those were prone to create in him great confidence of +undertakings, and this was like enough to betray him to great errors, +and many enemies; whereof he could not but contract good store, while +moving in so high a sphear, and with so vigorous a lustre, he must +needs (as the Sun) raise many envious exhalations, which condensed by +a popular _odium_, were capable to cast a cloud before the brightest +merit and integrity. + +Though I cannot in my judgement approve all he did, driven (it may be) +by the necessities of times, and the Temper of that people, more then +led by his own disposition to any height and rigour of actions: yet I +could never be convinced of any such criminousness in him as willingly +to expose his life to the stroke of Justice, and malice of his +enemies. I never met with a more unhappy conjuncture of affairs, +then in the businesse of that unfortunate Earl: when between my own +unsatisfiedness in Conscience, and a necessity (as some told me) of +satisfying the importunities of some people, I was perswaded by those +that I think wished Me well, to chuse rather what was safe, then what +seemed just; preferring the outward peace of My Kingdoms with men, +before that inward exactness of Conscience before God. + +And indeed I am so far from excusing or denying that compliance on My +part (for plenary consent it was not) to his destruction, whom in +My judgment I thought not, by any clear law, guilty of death: That +I never bare any touch of Conscience with greater regret: which as a +sign of my repentance, I have often with sorrow confessed both to God +and men, as an act of so sinfull frailty, that it discovered more +a fear of man, then of God, whose name and place on earth no man is +worthy to bear, who will avoid inconveniencies of State, by acts of so +high injustice, as no publick convenience can expiate or compensate. + +I see it a bad exchange to wound a mans own Conscience, thereby to +salve State-sores; to calm the storms of popular discontents, by +stirring up a tempest in a mans own bosome. + +Nor hath Gods Justice failed in the event and sad consequences, to +shew the world the fallacy of that Maxime, _Better one man perish, +(though unjustly) then the people be displeased or destroyed._ + +For, In all likelihood I could never have suffered, with My people, +greater calamities, (yet with greater comfort) had I vindicated +_Straffords_ innocency, at least by denying to Sign that destructive +_Bill_, according to that Justice, which My conscience suggested +to Me, then I have done since I gratified some mens unthankful +importunities with so cruel a favour. And I have observed, that those, +who counselled Me to sign that Bill, have been so far from receiving +the rewards of such ingratiatings with the People, that no men have +been harassed & crushed more then they: He onely hath been least vexed +by them, who counselled Me, not to consent against the vote of My own +Conscience: I hope God hath forgiven Me and them, the sinful rashness +of that business. + +To which being in My soul so fully conscious, those Judgements God +hath pleased to send upon Me, are so much the more welcom, as a means +(I hope) which his mercy hath sanctified so to Me, as to make Me +repent of that unjust Act, (for so it was to Me) and for the future +to teach Me, That the best rule of policie is, to prefer the doing of +Justice, before all enjoyments, and the peace of my Conscience before +the preservation of My Kingdoms. + +Nor hath any thing more fortified My resolutions against all those +violent importunities, which since have sought to gain a like consent +from Me, to Acts, wherein my Conscience is unsatisfied, then the sharp +touches I have had for what passed Me, in My Lord of _Straffords_ +business. + +Not that I resolved to have imployed him in My affairs, against the +advise of my Parliament, but I would not have had any hand in his +Death, of whose Guiltlesness I was better assured, then any man living +could be. + +Nor were the crimes objected against him so clear, as after a long and +fair hearing to give convincing satisfaction to the Major part of both +Houses; especially that of the Lords, of whom scarce a third part +were present, when the bill passed that House: And for the House +of Commons, many Gentlemen, disposed enough to diminish My Lord of +_Straffords_ greatness and power, yet unsatisfied of his guilt in Law, +durst not condemn him to die: who for their integrity in their Votes, +were by Posting their Names, exposed to the popular calumny, hatred +and fury; which grew then so exorbitant in their clamours _for +Justice_, (that is, to have both my self and the two Houses' Vote, +and doe as they would have us) that many ('tis thought) were rather +terrified to concur with the condemning party, then satisfied that of +right they ought so to doe. + +And that after-Act vacating the Authority of the precedent, for future +imitation sufficiently tels the world, that some remorse touched even +his most implacable enimies, as knowing he had very hard measure, and +such as they would be very loath should be repeated to themselves. + +This tendernesse and regret I find in my soul, for having any hand +(and that very unwillingly God knows) in shedding one mans bloud +unjustly, (though under the colour and formalities of Justice, and +pretences of avoiding publick mischiefs) which may (I hope) be some +evidence before God and man, to all posterity, that I am far from +bearing justly the vast load and guilt of all that blood which hath +been shed in this unhappy War; which some men will needs charge on me, +to ease their own souls, who am, and ever shall be, more affraid to +take away any mans life unjustly then to lose my own. + + +_But then, O God, of thy infinit mercies forgive me that act of +sinfull compliance, which hath greater aggravations upon me then any +man, Since I had not the least temptation of envy, or malice against +him, and by my place should, at least so farre, have been a preserver +of him, as to have denied my consent to his destruction._ + +_O Lord, I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is ever before +me._ + +_Deliver me from blood-guiltiness O God, thou God of my salvation, and +my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness._ + +_Against thee have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight, for thou +sawest the contradiction between my heart and my hand._ + +_Yet cast me not away from thy presence, purge me with the blood of my +Redeemer, and I shall be clear; wash me with that pretious effusion, +and I shall be whiter then snow._ + +_Teach me to learn Righteousnesse by thy Iudgements, and to see my +frailtie in thy Iustice: while I was perswaded by shedding one mans +bloud to prevent after-troubles, thou hast for that, among other +sins, brought upon mee, and upon my Kingdoms, great, long, and heavy +troubles._ + +_Make me to prefer Iustice, which is thy Will, before all contrary +clamours, which are but the discoveries of mans injurious will._ + +_It is too much that they have once overcome me, to please them by +displeasing thee: O never suffer me for any reason of State, to go +against my Reason of Conscience, Which is highly to sin against thee, +the God of Reason, and Iudge of our Consciences._ + +_Whatever, O Lord, thou seest fit to deprive me of, yet restore unto +me the joy of thy Salvation, and ever uphold me with thy free Spirit; +which subjects my will to non: but the light of Reason, Justice, and +Religion, which shines in my Soul; for thou desirest Truth in the +inward parts, and Integritie in the outward expressions._ + +_Lord, hear the voice of thy Sons, and my Saviours bloud, which speaks +better things; O make me, and my People, to hear the voice of Joy and +Gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken, may rejoice in thy +salvation_. + + * * * * * + + + + +3. _Vpon His Majesties going to the House of Commons._ + + +My going to the House of Commons to demand Justice upon the five +Members, was an act which my Enemies loaded with all the obloquies and +exasperations they could. + +It filled indifferent men with great jealousies and fears; yea, and +many of my Friends resented it, as a motion rising rather from Passion +then Reason, and not guided with such discretion as the touchiness of +those times required. + +But these men knew not the just motives, and pregnant grounds, with +which I thought myself so furnished, that there needed nothing to such +evidence, as I could have produced against those I charged, save onely +a free and legall Trial, which was all I desired. + +Nor had I any temptation of displeasure or revenge against those mens +persons, further then I had discovered those (as I thought) unlawfull +correspondencies they had used, and engagements they had made to +embroyl my Kingdoms: of all which I missed but little to have produced +Writings under some mens own hands, who were the chief contrivers of +the following Innovations. + +Providence would not have it so; yet I wanted not such probabilities +as were sufficient to raise jealousies in any Kings heart, who is not +wholly stupid and neglective of the publick Peace; which to preserve, +my calling in question half a dozen men, in a fair and legall way +(which God knows, was all my design) could have amounted to no worse +effect, had it succeeded, then either to do Me and my Kingdom right, +in case they had been found guilty; or else to have cleared their +innocency, and removed my suspicion: which, as they were not raised +out of any malice, so neither were they in reason to be smothered. + +What flames of discontent this spark (though I sought by all speedy +and possible means to quench it) soon kindled, all the world is +witnesse: The aspersion which some men cast upon that action, as if +I had designed by force to assault the House of Commons, and invade +their Priviledge, is so false, that, as God best knows, I had no such +intent; so none that attended Me could justly gather from any thing I +then said or did, the least intimation of any such thoughts. + +That I went attended with some Gentlemen, as it was no unwonted thing +for the Majesty and safety of a King so to be attended, especially +in discontented times; so were my Followers at that time short of +my ordinary Guard, and no way proportionable to hazard a tumultuary +conflict. Nor were they more scared at my coming, then I was unassured +of not having some affronts cast upon me, if I had none to be with +Me to preserve a reverence to Me: for many people had (at that time) +learned to think those hard thoughts, which they have since abundantly +vented against Me, both by words and deeds. + + The sum of that businesse was this, + +Those men and their adherents were then look'd upon by the affrighted +vulgar, as greater Protectors of their Laws and Liberties then my +Self, and so worthier of their protection. I leave them to God and +their own Consciences, who, if guilty of evill machinations, no +present impunity, or popular vindications of them will be subterfuge +sufficient to rescue them from those exact Tribunals. + +To which, in the obstructions of Justice among men, we must +religiously appeal, as being an argument to us Christians of that +after unavoidable Judgement, which shall re-judge what among men is +but corruptly decided, or not at all. + +I endeavoured to have prevented, if God had seen fit, those future +commotions which I foresaw, would in all likelyhood follow some mens +activity (if not restrained) and so now hath done to the undoing of +many thousands; the more is the pity. + +But to over-awe the freedom of the Houses, or to weaken their just +Authority by any violent impressions upon them, was not at all my +design: I thought I had so much Justice and Reason on my side, as +should not have needed so rough assistance: and I was resolved +rather to bear the repulse with patience, then to use such hazardous +extremities. + + +_But thou, O Lord art my witnesse in heaven, and in my Heart: If I +have purposed any violence or oppression against the Innocent: or if +there were any such wickednes in my thoughts._ + +_Then let the enemy persecute my soul, and tread my life to the +ground, and lay mine Honour in the dust._ + +_Thou that seest not as man seeth, but lookest beyond all popular +appearances, searching the heart, and trying the reins, and bringing +to light the hidden things of darknesse, shew thy self._ + +_Let not my afflictions be esteemed (as with wise and godly men they +cannot be) any argument as my sin, in that matter: more then their +Impunity among good men is any sure token of their Innocency._ + +_But forgive them wherin they have done amiss, though they are not +punished for it in this world._ + +_Save thy servant from the privy conspiracies, and open violence of +bloody and unreasonable men, according to the uprightness of my heart, +and the innocency of my hands in this matter._ + +_Plead my cause and maintain my right, O thou that sittest in the +Throne, judging rightly, that thy servant may ever rejoyce in thy +salvation._ + + * * * * * + + + + +4. _Upon the Insolency of the Tumults._ + + +I Never thought any thing (except our sins) more ominously presaging +all these mischiefs, which have followed, then those Tumults +in _London_ and _Westminster_, soon after the convening of this +Parliament; which were not like a storm at Sea, (which yet wants not +its terrour) but like an Earth-quake, shaking the very foundations of +all; then which nothing in the world hath more of horror. + +As it is one of the most convincing Arguments that there is a God, +while his power sets bounds to the raging of the Sea: so 'tis no +less, that he restrains the madness of the People. Nor doth any thing +portend more Gods displeasure against a Nation, then when he suffers +the confluence and clamours of the Vulgar to passe all boundaries of +Laws and reverence to Authority. + +Which those Tumults did to so high degrees of Insolence, that they +spared not to invade the Honour and Freedom of the two Houses, +menacing, reproaching, shaking, yea, and assaulting some Members of +both Houses, as they fancied, or disliked them: Nor did they forbear +most rude and unseemly deportments, both in contemptuous words and +actions, to my Self and my Court. + +Nor was this a short fit or two of shaking, as an ague, but a +quotidian fever, always encreasing to higher inflammations, impatient +of any mitigation, restraint, or remission. + +First, They must be a guard against those fears which some men scared +themselves and others withall; when indeed nothing was more to be +feared, and lesse to be used by wise men, then those tumultuary +confluxes of mean and rude people, who are taught first to petition, +then to protect, then to dictate, at last to command and over-aw the +Parliament. + +All obstructions in Parliament (that is, all freedom of differing in +Votes, and debating matters with reason and candor) must be taken away +with these Tumults; By these must the Houses be purged, and all +rotten Members (as they pleased to count them) cast out: By these the +obstinacie of men resolved to discharge their Consciences, must be +subdued; by these all factious, seditious, and schismaticall Proposals +against Government Ecclesiastical or Civil, must be backed and +abetted, till they prevailed. + +Generally, who-ever had most mind to bring forth confusion and ruine +upon Church and State, used the midwifery of those Tumults: whose riot +and impatience was such, that they would not stay the ripening and +season of Counsels, or fair production of Acts, in the order, gravity, +and deliberatenesse befitting a Parliament; but ripped up with +barbarous cruelty, and forcibly cut out abortive Votes, such as their +Inviters and Encouragers most fancied. + +Yea, so enormous and detestable were their outrages, that no sober man +could be without an infinite shame and sorrow to see them so tolerated +and connived at by some; countenanced, encouraged, and applauded by +others. + +What good man had not rather want any thing he most desired, for the +publick good, then obtain it by such unlawfull and irreligious means? +But mens passions and Gods directions seldom agree; violent designes +and motions must have sutable engines: such as too much attend their +own ends, seldom confine themselves to Gods means. Force must crowd in +what Reason will not lead. + +Who were the chief Demagogues and Patrons of Tumults, to send for +them, to flatter and embolden them, to direct and tune their clamorous +importunities, some men yet living are too conscious to pretend +ignorance: God in his due time will let these see, That those were no +fit means to be used for attaining his ends. + +But as it is no strange thing for the Sea to rage, when strong winds +blow upon it; so neither for Multitudes to become insolent, when they +have Men of some reputation for parts and piety to set them on. + +That which made their rudenesse most formidable, was, that many +Complaints being made, and Messages sent by my Self, and, some of both +Houses; yet no Order for redress could be obtained with any vigour +and efficacie, proportionable to the malignity of that now far-spread +disease, and predominant mischief. + +Such was some mens stupidity, that they feared no inconvenience; +Others petulancie, that they joyed to see their betters shamefully +outraged and abused, while they knew their onely security consisted +in vulgar flattery: so insensible were they of Mine, or the two Houses +common Safety and Honours. + +Nor could ever any Order be obtained, impartially to examine, censure, +and punish the known Boutefeus, and impudent Incendiaries, who boasted +of the influence they had and used, to convoke those Tumults as their +advantages served. + +Yea, some (who should have been wiser States-men) owned them as +friends, commending their Courage, Zeal, and Industry; which to sober +men could seem no better then that of the Divel, who _goes about +seeking whom he may_ deceive and _devour._ + +I confesse, when I found such a deafness, that no Declaration from the +Bishops, who were first fouly insolenced and assaulted; nor yet from +other Lords and Gentlemen of Honor; nor yet from my self could take +place for the due repression of these Tumults; and securing not only +Our freedom in Parliament, but Our very persons in the Streets; I +thought My self not bound by my presence to provoke them to higher +boldness and contempts; I hoped by my with-drawing to give time, both +for the ebbing of their tumultuous furie, and others regaining some +degrees of modesty and sober sense. + +Some may interpret it as an effect of Pusillanimitie in any man +for popular terrors to desert his publick station. But I think it a +hardiness, beyond true valor, for a wise man to set himself against +the breaking in of a Sea; which to resist, at present, threatens +imminent danger; but to withdraw, gives it space to spend its fury, +and gains a fitter time to repair the breach. Certainly a gallant man +had rather fight to great disadvantages for number and place in the +field, in an orderly way, then skuffle with an undisciplined rabble. + +Some suspected and affirmed that I meditated a war (when I went from +_Whitehal_ only to redeem my Person & Conscience from violence) God +knows I did not think of a war. Nor will any prudent man conceive that +I would by so many former and some after-acts, have so much weakned +My self, if I had purposed to engage in a war, which to decline by +all means, I denyed my self in so many particulars: 'Tis evident I had +then no Army to fly unto, for protection or vindication. + +Who can blame me, or any other for a withdrawing our selves from the +daily baitings of the Tumults, not knowing whether their fury and +discontent might not fly so high, as to worry and tear those in +pieces, whom as yet they but played with in their paws? God, who is my +sole Judg, is my Witness in Heaven, that I never had any thoughts +of going from My house at _Whitehall_, if I could have had but any +reasonable fair Quarter; I was resolved to bear much, and did so, but +I did not think my self bound to prostitute the Majesty of my place +and Person, the safety of my Wife and children, to those who are prone +to insult most, when they have objects and opportunity, most capable +of their rudeness and petulancy. + +But this business of the Tumults (whereof some have given already an +account to God, others yet living, know themselves desperatly guilty) +time and the guilt of many hath so smothered up and buried, that I +think it best to leave it as it is: Only I beleeve the just Avenger of +all disorders, will in time make those men, and that City, see their +sin in the glass of their Punishment. 'Tis more then an even lay, they +may one day see themselves punished by that way they offended. + +Had this Parliament, as it was in its first Election and Constitution, +sate full and free, the Members of both Houses being left to their +freedom of Voting, as in all reason, honor, and Religion, they should +have been; I doubt not but things would have been so carried, as +would have given no less content to all good men, then they wished or +expected. + +For, I was resolved to hear reason in all things, and to consent to +it so far as I could comprehend it: but as Swine are to Gardens and +orderly Plantations, so are Tumults to Parliaments, and Plebeian +concourses to publick Councels, turning all into disorders and sordid +confusions. + +I am prone sometimes to think, That had I called this Parliament to +any other place in _England_, (as I might opportunely enough have +done) the sad consequences, in all likelihood, with Gods blessing, +might have been prevented. A Parliament would have been welcom in +any place; no place afforded such confluence of various and vitious +humors, as that where it was unhappily convened. But we must leave all +to God, who orders our disorders, and magnifies his wisdom most, when +our follies and miseries are most discovered. + + +_But thou O Lord art My refuge and defence_: _to thee I may safely +flie, who rulest the raging of the Sea, and the madnesse of the +People._ + +_The flouds, O Lord, the flouds are come in upon Me, and are ready to +overwhelm Me._ + +_I look upon My sinnes and the sinnes of My people, (which are the +tumults of our Souls against thee O Lord) as the just cause of these +popular inundations which thou permittest to overbear all the banks of +Loyalty, Modesty, Laws, Justice, and Religion._ + +_But thou that gatheredst the Waters into one place, and madest the +dry land to appear, and after did'st asswage the floud which drowned +the world, by the word of thy power; Rebuke those beasts of the +people, and deliver Me from the rudenesse and strivings of the +multitude._ + +_Restore, We beseech thee, unto Us, the freedoms of Our Councels and +Parliaments, make Us unpassionately to see the light of Reason, and +Religion, and with all order and gravity to follow it, as becomes Men +and Christians; so shall We praise thy Name, who art the God of order +and counsel._ + +_What man cannot, or will not represse, thy Omnipotent Justice can and +will._ + +_O Lord, give them that are yet living, a timely sense and sorrow +for their great sinne, whom thou knowest guilty of raising or +not suppressing those disorders: Let shame here and not suffering +hereafter be their punishment._ + +_Set bounds to our passions by Reason, to our errors by Truth, to our +seditions by Laws duely executed, to our schismes by Charitie, that we +may be, as thy_ Jerusalem, _a Citie at unity in it self._ + +_This grant, O My God, in thy good time, for Jesus Christs sake._ +Amen. + + * * * * * + + + + +5. _Upon His Majesties passing the_ BILL _for the Trienniall +Parliaments: And after, setling this, during the pleasure of the two +Houses_. + + +That the world might be fully confirmed in my purposes at first, to +contribute what in Justice, Reason, Honour and Conscience I could, +to the happy success of this Parliament, (which had in Me no other +Designe, but the generall good of My Kingdoms) I willingly passed +the BILL for Trienniall Parliaments: which, as gentle and seasonable +Physick, might (if well applied) prevent any distempers from getting +any head, or prevailing; especially, if the remedy proved not a remedy +beyond all remedy. + +I conceived, this Parliament would finde work with convenient Recesses +for the first three years: But I did not imagine, that some men would +thereby have occasioned more work then they found to do, by undoing +so much as they found well done to their hands. Such is some mens +activity, that they will needs make work rather then want it; and +chuse to be doing amiss, rather then do nothing. + +When that first Act seemed too scanty to satisfie some mens fears, and +compass publick Affairs; I was perswaded to grant that BILL of sitting +during the pleasure of the Houses; which amounted, in some mens sense, +to as much as the perpetuating of this Parliament. By this Act of +highest confidence, I hoped for ever to shut out, and lock the door +upon all present jealousies, and future mistakes: I confess, I did +not thereby intend to shut my Self out of doors, as some men have now +requited me. + +True, it was an Act unparallell'd by any of my Predecessors; yet +cannot in reason admit of any worse interpretation then this, of an +extreme confidence I had, That my Subjects would not make ill use of +an Act, by which I declared so much to trust them, as to deny my Self +in so high a point of my Prerogative. + +For good Subjects will never think it just or fit, that my Condition +should be worse, by my bettering theirs; Nor indeed would it have been +so in the events, if some men had known as well with moderation to +use, as with earnestness to desire advantages of doing good or evill. + +A continuall Parliament (I thought) would but keep the Common-weale in +tune, by preserving Laws in their due execution and vigour: wherein My +interest lies more then any mans, since by those Laws My Rights as +a KING, would be preserved no less then My Subjects; which is all I +desired. More then the Law gives Me I would not have, and less the +meanest Subject should not. + +Some (as _I_ have heard) gave it out, that I soon repented me of that +setling Act: and many would needs perswade Me, _I_ had cause so to do: +But I could not easily nor suddenly suspect such ingratitude in men +of Honour, That the more I granted them, the less _I_ should have and +enjoy with them. _I_ still counted my self undiminished by my largest +Concessions, if by them _I_ might gain and confirm the love of My +people. + +Of which I do not yet despair, but that God will still bless Me with +increase of it, when men shall have more leisure and less prejudice; +that so with unpassionate representations they may reflect upon those +(as I think) not more Princely then friendly contributions, which I +granted toward the perpetuating of their happiness: who are now only +miserable in this, That some mens ambition will not give them leave to +enjoy what I intended for their good. + +Nor do I doubt, but that in Gods due time, the Loyal and cleared +affections of My people will strive to return such retributions of +Honour and love to Me or My Posteritie, as may fully compensate both +the Acts of my confidence, and my Sufferings for them; which (God +knows) have been neither few; nor small, nor short; occasioned chiefly +by a perswasion I had, that I could not grant too much, or distrust +too little, to men, that being professedly my Subjects, pretended +singular piety, and religious strictness. + +The injurie of all Injuries is, That which some men will needs load Me +withall; as if I were a wilfull and resolved Occasioner of my Own, +and my Subjects Miseries; while (as they confidently, but (God knows) +falsly divulge) I repining at the establishment of this Parliament, +endeavoured by force and open hostility, to undoe what by my Royall +Assent I had done. Sure, it had argued a very short sight of things, +and extreme fatuity of minde in Me, so far to binde my Own hands at +their request, if I had shortly meant to have used a sword against +them. God knows, though I had then a sense of Injuries; yet not such +as to think them worth vindicating by a War: I was not then compelled, +as since, to injure my Self by their not using favours with the same +candour wherewith they were conferred. The Tumults indeed threatned +to abuse all Acts of Grace, and turne them into wantonnesse; but I +thought at length their own fears, whose black arts first raised up +those turbulent spirits, would force them to conjure them down again. + +Nor if I had justly resented any indignities put upon me, or others, +was I then in any capacitie to have taken just revenge in an hostile +and warlike way, upon those, whom I knew so well fortified in the +love of the meaner sort of the people, that I could not have given +my Enemies greater and more desired advantages against Me, then by so +unprincely inconstancie, to have assaulted them with Armies, thereby +to scatter them, whom but lately I had solemnly setled by an Act of +Parliament. + +God knows, I longed for nothing more, then that my Self, and my +Subjects might quietly enjoy the fruits of my many Condescendings. + +It had been a Course full of sin, as well as of Hazard and Dishonor; +for Me to go about the cutting up of that by the Sword, which I had +so lately planted, so much (as I thought) to my Subjects content, and +mine Own too, in all probability, if some men had not feared where no +fear was, whose security consisted in fearing others. + +I thank God, I know so well the sincerity and uprightness of my own +Heart in passing that great BILL, which exceeded the very thoughts of +former times; That although I may seem less a Polititian to men, yet +I need no secret distinctions or evasions before God, nor had I any +reservations in my own Soul when I passed it: nor repenting after, +till I saw that my letting some men go up to the pinnacle of the +Temple, was a temptation to them to cast me down headlong. + +Concluding, That without a miracle, Monarchie it self, together with +Me, could not but be dashed in pieces by such a precipitous fall as +they intended: whom God in mercy forgive, and make them see at length, +That as many Kingdoms as the Divell shewed our Saviour, and the Glory +of them (if they could be at once enjoyed by them) are not worth the +gaining, by ways of sinfull ingratitude and dishonour, which hazards a +soul, worth more Worlds then this hath Kingdoms. + +But God hath hitherto preserved Me, and made Me to see, That it is no +strange thing for men, left to their own passions, either to do much +evill themselves, or abuse the overmuch goodness of others, whereof an +ungratefull surfet is the most desperate and incurable disease. + +I cannot say properly that I repent of that Act, since _I_ have +no reflections upon it as a sin of my Wil, though an errour of too +charitable a judgment: Only I am sorry other mens eys should be evill, +because mine were good. + + +_To Thee (O my God) do I still appeale, whose All-discerning Justice +sees through all the disguises of mens pretensions, and deceitfull +darknesse of their hearts._ + +_Thou gavest Me a heart to grant much to My Subjects; and now I need a +Heart fitter to suffer much for some of them._ + +_They will be done, though never so much to the crossing of ours, even +when we hope to doe what might be most comfortable to thine and theirs +too; who pretended they aymed at nothing else._ + +_Let thy grace teach me wisely to enjoy as well the frustratings, as +the fulfilling of My best hopes, and most specious desires._ + +_I see while I thought to allay others fears, I have raised My owne; +and by setling them, have unsetled My self._ + +_Thus have they requited Me evill for good, and hatred for My good +will towards them._ + +_O Lord be thou My Pilot in this darke and dangerous storme, which +never admits My returne to the Port whence I set out, nor My making +any other, with that safety and honour which I designed._ + +_Tis easie for Thee to keep Me safe in the love and confidence of +My people; nor is it hard for Thee to preserve Me amidst the unjust +hatred and jealousies of too many, which thou hast suffered so far +to prevaile upon Me, as to be able to pervert and abuse my acts of +greatest Indulgence to them, and assurance of them._ + +_But no favours from Me can make others more guiltie then My self may +be of misusing those many and great ones, which Thou, O Lord, hast +conferred on Me._ + +_I beseech thee, give Me and them such Repentance as thou wilt accept, +and such Grace as we may not abuse._ + +_Make me so far happy, as to make right use of others abuses; and by +their failings of Me, to reflect with a reforming displeasure upon My +offences against Thee._ + +_So, although for My sins I am by other mens sins deprived of thy +temporall blessings, yet I may be happie to enjoy the comfort of +thy Mercies, which often raise the greatest Sufferers to be the most +glorious Saints._ + + * * * * * + + + + +6. _Upon His Majesties retirement from_ Westminster. + + +With what unwillingness I withdrew from _Westminster_, let them judg, +who, unprovided of tackling and victual, are forced to Sea by a Storm; +yet better do so, then venture splitting or sinking on a Lee-shore. + +I stayed at _Whitehall_, till I was driven away by shame, more then +fear, to see the barbarous rudeness of those Tumults, who resolved +they would take the boldness to demand any thing, and not leave either +my Self, or the Members of Parliament the liberty of our Reason and +Conscience to deny them any thing. + +Nor was this intolerable oppression my case alone, (though chiefly +Mine;) For the Lords and Commons might be content to be over-voted by +the _major_ part of their Houses, when they had used each their own +freedom. + +Whose agreeing Votes were not by any Law or reason conclusive to my +Judgment; nor can they include, or carry with them my consent, whom +they represent not in any kinde; Nor am I further bound to agree with +the Votes of both Houses, then I see them agree with the will of God, +with my just Rights, as a King, and the generall good of my people. +I see that, as many men, they are seldom of one minde; and I may oft +see, that the major part of them are not in the right. + +I had formerly declared to sober and moderate minds, how desirous I +was to give all just content, when I agreed to so many Bils, which +had been enough to secure and satisfie all; if some mens Hydropick +unsatiableness had not learned to thirst the more, by how much more +they drank; whom no fountain of Royall bounty was able to overcome: so +resolved they seemed, either utterly to exhaust it, or barbarously to +obstruct it. + +Sure, it ceases to be Counsell, when not Reason is used, as to men, to +perswade; but force and terrour, as to beasts, to drive and compel men +to assent to what-ever tumultuary Patrons shall project. He deserves +to be a slave without pity or redemption, that is content to have the +rationall soveraignty of his Soul, and liberty of his Will and words +so captivated. + +Nor do I think my Kingdoms so considerable, as to preserve them with +the forfeiture of that freedom which cannot be denied me as a King, +because it belongs to me as a man, and a Christian, owning the +dictates of none, but God to be above me, as obliging me to consent. +Better for Me to die enjoying this Empire of my Soul, which Subjects +me only to God, so farr as by Reason or Religion he directs me, then +live with the Title of a King, if it should carry such a vassalage +with it, as not to suffer me to use my Reason and Conscience, in which +I declare as a King, to like or dislike. + +So farr am I from thinking the majesty of the Crown of _England_ to +be bound by any Coronation Oath in a blinde and brutish formalitie, to +consent to whatever its subjects in Parliament shall require; as some +men will needs inferr; while denying me any power of a Negative voice +as King, they are not ashamed to seek to deprive me of the libertie of +using my Reason with a good Conscience, which themselves, and all the +Commons of _England_ enjoy proportionable to their influence on the +publique; who would take it very ill to be urged, not to deny, what +ever my self, as King, or the House of Peers with me should, not so +much desire as enjoyn them to pass. I think my Oath fully discharged +in that point, by my Governing only by such Laws, as my People with +the House of Peers have Chosen, and my self have consented to. I +shall never think my self conscientiously tied to go as oft against +my conscience, as I should consent to such new Proposals, which my +Reason, in Justice, Honor and Religion bids Me deny. + +Yet so tender I see some men are of their being subject to Arbitrary +Government, (that is, the Law of anothers will, to which themselves +give no consent) that they care not with how much dishonour and +absurdity they make their King the only man, that must be subject +to the will of others, without having power left Him to use His own +Reason, either in Person, or by any other Representation. + +And if My dissentings at any time were (as som have suspected, and +uncharitably avowed) out of error, opinion, activeness, weakness, +or wilfulness, and what they call Obstinacy in Me (which not true +Judgment of things, but some vehement prejudice or passion hath fixed +on My minde;) yet can no man think it other then the Badge and +method of Slavery, by savage rudeness, and importunate obtrusions of +violence, to have the mist of his Errour and Passion dispelled, which +is a shadow of Reason, and must serve those that are destitute of +the substance. Sure that man cannot be blameable to God or man, who +seriously endeavours to see the best reason of things, and faithfully +followes what he takes for Reason: The uprightnesse of his intentions +will excuse the possible failings of his understanding; If a Pilot at +Sea cannot see the Pole-star, it can be no fault in him to steer his +course by such Stars as do best appear to him. It argues rather, +those men to be conscious of their defects of Reason, and convincing +Arguments, who call in the assistance of meer force to carry on the +weakness of their Counsels and Proposals. I may, in the truth and +uprightness of my heart, protest before God and men, That I never +wilfully opposed, or denied any thing that was in a fair way, after +full and free debates propounded to me by the two Houses, further then +I thought in good reason I might, and was bound to do. + +Nor did any thing ever please me more, then when my Judgment so +concurred with theirs, that I might with a good Conscience consent to +them: Yea, in many things, where not absolute and morall necessity +of Reason, but temporary convenience in point of Honour was to be +considered, I chose rather to deny my Self, then Them; as preferring +that which they thought necessary for my peoples good, before what I +saw but convenient for my Self. + +For I can be content to recede much from my Own Interests, and +Personall Rights, of which I conceive my Self to be master: but in +what concerns Truth, Justice, the Right of the Church, and my Crown, +together with the generall good of my Kingdoms: (all which I am bound +to preserve as much as morally lies in me;) here I am, and ever shall +be fixt and resolute, nor shall any man gain my consent to that, +wherein my heart gives my hand or tongue the Lie; nor will I be +brought to affirm that to men, which in my Conscience I denied before +God. I will rather chuse to wear a Crown of Thorns with my Saviour, +then to exchange that of Gold (which is due to Me) for one of Lead, +whose embased flexibleness shall be forced to bend, and comply to the +various, and oft contrary dictates of any Factions: when in stead of +Reason, and Publick concernments, they obtrude nothing but what makes +for the interest of parties, and flows from the particularities of +private wils and passions. + +I know no resolutions more worthy a Christian King, then to prefer His +Conscience before His Kingdoms. + + +_O my God preserve thy servant in this Native, Rationall and Religious +freedome; For this I beleeve is thy will, that we should maintain: +who, though thou dost justly require us to submit our understandings +and wils to thine; whose wisdom and goodnesse can neither erre, nor +misguide us, and so far to deny our carnall reason, in order to thy +sacred Mysteries and Commands, that we should beleeve and obey, +rather then dispute them; yet dost thou expect from us, only such a +reasonable service of thee, as not to do any thing for thee, against +our consciences: and as to the desires of men, enjoinest us to try all +things by the touch-ston of reason and Lawes, which are the rules of +Civill Justice; and to declare our consents to that only which our +Judgments approve._ + +_Thou knowest, o Lord, how unwilling I was to desert that place, in +which thou hast set Me, and whereto the affairs of My Kingdoms at +present did call me._ + +_My People can witness how far I have been content for their good, to +deny My self, in what thou hast subjected to My disposall._ + +_O let not the unthankfull importunities, and tumultuary violence of +some mens Immoderat demands, ever betray Me to that degenerous and +unmanly slavery, which should make Me strengthen them by My consent in +those things which I think in My conscience to be against thy glory, +the good of My subjects, and the discharge of My own duty to Reason +and Justice._ + +_Make me willing to suffer the greatest indignities and injuries +they press upon Me, rather then commit the least sin against My +Conscience._ + +_Let the just Liberties of My people be (as well they may) preserved +in fair and equall waies, without the slavery of My soul._ + +_Thou that hast invested Me by thy favours, in the power of a +Christian King, suffer Me not to subject My Reason to other mens +passions, and designes, which to Me seem unreasonable, unjust and +irreligious: So shall I serve thee in the truth and uprightness of My +heart, though I cannot satisfie these men._ + +_Though I be driven from among them, yet give Me grace to walk, +alwaies uprightly before thee._ + +_Lead Me in the way of Truth and Justice, for these, I know, will +bring Me at last to peace and happiness with thee; though for these I +have much trouble among men._ + +_This I beg of thee for my Saviours sake._ + + * * * * * + + + + +7. _Upon the Queenes departure and absence out of_ England. + + +Although I have much cause to be troubled at My Wifes departure from +Me, and out of My Dominions; yet not Her absence, so much, as the +scandall of that necessity which drives her away, doth afflict Me. +That She should be compelled by my own Subjects, and those pretending +to be Protestants, to withdraw for Her safety: This being the first +example of any Protestant Subjects, that have taken up Arms against +their King, a Protestant: For I look upon this now done in England, as +another Act of the same Tragedie which was lately begun in Scotland; +the brands of that fire being ill quenched, have kindled the like +flames here. I fear such motions (so little to the adorning of the +Protestant profession) may occasion a further alienation of mind, and +divorce of affections in Her from that Religion, which is the onely +thing wherein we differ. + +Which yet God can (and I pray he would) in time take away; and not +suffer these practices to be any obstruction to Her judgment, since it +is the motion of those men (for the most part) who are yet to seek and +settle their Religion for Doctrine, Government and good manners, and +so not to be imputed to the true English Protestants, who continue +firm to their former setled Principles and Laws. + +I am sorry my relation to so deserving a Ladie, should be any occasion +of her danger and affliction; whose merits would have served her for +a protection among the savage Indians: while their rudeness and +barbaritie knows not so perfectly to hate all Vertues, as some mens +subtiltie doth: among whom I yet think few are so malicious as to hate +Her for her Self: The fault it, that She is my Wife. + +All Justice then, as well as Affection, commands me to studie her +Securitie, who is only in danger for my sake; I am content to be +tossed, weather-beaten, and shipwrack'd, so as she may be in safe +Harbour. + +This comfort I shall injoy by her safety in the midst of my Personall +dangers, that I can perish but half, if she be preserved: in whose +memory and hopefull Posterity, I may yet survive the malice of my +Enemies, although they should be satiated with my bloud. + +I must leave her and them to the Love and Loyaltie of my good +Subjects; and to his protection, who is able to punish the faults of +Princes, and no less able to revenge the injuries done to them, by +those who in all dutie and Allegiance ought to have made good that +safetie, which the Laws chiefly provide for Princes. + +But common civilitie is in vain expected from those that dispute their +Loyaltie: Nor can it be safe (for any relation) to a King, to tarry +among them that are shaking hands with their Allegiance, under +pretence of laying faster hold on their Religion. + +'Tis pitie so noble and peaceful a Soul should see, much more suffer +the rudeness of those, who must make up their want of Justice, with +inhumanity and impudence. + +Her sympathie with Me in my afflictions, will make her vertue shine +with greater lustre, as starrs in the darkest nights; and assure the +envious world, that she loves me, not my fortunes. + +Neither of us but can easily forgive, since We do not much blame the +unkindness of the Generality and Vulgar: for we see God is pleased to +try both our patience, by the most self-punishing sin, the Ingratitude +of those, who having eaten of Our bread, and being enriched with Our +bounty, have Scornfully lift up themselves against Us; and those of +Our own Houshold are become Our enemies. I pray God lay not their +sinne to their charge: who think to satisfie all obligations to duty, +by their Corban of Religion: and can less endure to see, then to sin +against their benefactors as well as their Soveraign. + +But even that policy of my enemies is so farr veniall, as it was +necessary to their designs, by scandalous articles, and all irreverent +demeanour, to seek to drive her out of my Kingdoms; left by the +influence of her example, eminent for love as a Wife, and loyaltie as +a Subject, she should have converted to, or retained in their love and +loyaltie, all those whom they had a purpose to pervert. + +The less I may be blest with her company, the more I will retire to +God and my own Heart, whence no malice can banish Her. My enemies may +envie, but they can never deprive me of the enjoyment of her vertues, +while I enjoy my self. + + +_Thou, O Lord, whose Justice at present sees fit to scatter us, let +thy mercie, in thy due time, reunite us on earth, if it be thy will; +however bring us both at last to thy heavenly Kingdom._ + +_Preserve us from the hands of our despitefull and deadly enemies; and +prepare us by our sufferings for thy presence._ + +_Though we differ in some things, as to Religion, (which is my +greatest temporall infelicitie) yet Lord give and accept the +sinceritie of our affections, which desire to seek, to finde, to +embrace every Truth of thine._ + +_Let both our hearts agree in the love of thy self, and Christ +crucified for us._ + +_Teach us both what thou wouldst have us to know, in order to thy +glory, our publique relations, and our souls eternal good, and make us +carefull to do what good we know._ + +_Let neither Ignorance of what is necessary to be known, nor unbelief, +or disobedience to what we know, be our miserie, or our wilfull +default._ + +_Let not this great Scandall of those my Subjects, which profess the +same Religion with me, be any hindrance to her love of any Truth thou +wouldst have her to learn, nor any hardning of her in any error thou +wouldst have cleared to her._ + +_Let Mine and other mens constancie be an Antidote against the poyson +of their example._ + +_Let the truth of that Religion I professe be represented to her +judgment, with all the beauties of humilitie, loyaltie, charitie, and +peaceablenesse; which are the proper fruits and ornaments of it: Not +in the odious disguise of Levitie, Schism, Heresie, Noveltie, Crueltie +and Disloyaltie, which some mens practices have put upon it._ + +_Let her see thy sacred and saving Truths as Thine; that she may +believe, love and obey them as Thine, cleared from all rust and drosse +of humane mixtures._ + +_That in the glasse of thy Truth Shee may see thee in those Mercies +which thou hast offered to us in thy Son Jesus Christ, our onely +Saviour, and serve thee in all those holy Duties, which most agree +with his holy Doctrine, and most imitable example._ + +_The experience we have of the vanitie and uncertaintie of all humane +Glorie and Greatnesse in our scatterings and eclypses, let it make +us both so much the more ambitious to be invested in those durable +Honours and perfections which are onely to be found in thy self, and +obtained throuqh Jesus Christ._ + + * * * * * + + + + +8. _Upon His Majesties repulse at_ Hull, _and the fates of the_ +Hothams. + + +My repulse at _Hull_ seemed at the first view an act of so rude +disloyalty, that my greatest Enemies had scarce confidence enough +to abett or own it: It was the first overt Essay to be made, how +patiently I could bear the losse of my Kingdoms. + +God knows, it affected me more with shame and sorrow for others, then +with anger for my Self; nor did the affront done to me, trouble me so +much as their sin, which admitted no colour or excuse. + +I was resolved how to bear this, and much more with patience: But I +foresaw they could hardly contain themselves within the compass +of this one unworthy act, who had effrontery enough to commit or +countenance it. This was but the hand of that cloud, which was soon +after to overspread the whole Kingdom, and cast all into disorder and +darkness. + +For 'tis among the wicked Maximes of bold and disloyall undertakers: +That bad actions must always be seconded with worse, and rather not +begun, then not carried on; for they think the retreat more dangerous +then the assault, and hate repentance more then perseverance in a +fault. + +This gave me to see clearly thorow all the pious disguises, and soft +palliations of some men; whose words were sometime smoother then oil, +but now I saw they would prove very swords. + +Against which I having (as yet) no defence, but that of a good +Conscience, thought it My best policie (with patience) to bear what +I could not remedie: And in this (I thank God) I had the better of +_Hotham_, that no disdain, or emotion of passion transported Me, by +the indignitie of his carriage, to do or say any thing unbeseeming +My self, or unsuitable to that temper, which, in greatest injuries, +I think, best becomes a Christian, as coming nearest to the great +example of Christ. + +And indeed, I desire alwaies more to remember I am a Christian, then +a King; for what the Majesty of one might justly abhor, the Charity +of the other is willing to bear; what the height of a King tempteth to +revenge, the humilitie of a Christian teacheth to forgive, keeping in +compass all those impotent passions, whose excess injures a man more +then his greatest enemies can; for these give their malice a full +impression on our souls, which otherwise cannot reach very far, nor do +us much hurt. + +I cannot but observe how God not long after so pleaded and avenged my +cause, in the eye of the world, that the most wilfully blind cannot +avoid the displeasure to see it, and with some remorse and fears to +own it as a notable stroke, and prediction of divine vengeance. + +First, Sir _John Hotham_ unreproched, unthreatned, uncursed by +any language or secret imprecation of mine, onely blasted with the +conscience of his own wickednesse, and falling from one inconstancy +to another, not long after paies his own and his eldest Sons heads, +as forfeiture of their disloyalty, to those men, from whom surely he +might have expected an other reward, then thus to divide their heads +from their bodies, whose hearts with them were divided from their +KING. + +Nor is it strange that they who employed them at first in so high a +service, and so successfull to them, should not finde mercy enough to +forgive Him, who had so much premerited of them: For, Apostacy unto +Loyalty some men account the most unpardonable sin. + +Nor did a solitary vengeance serve the turn, the cutting off one head +in a Family is not enough to expiate the affront done to the head of +the Common-weal. The eldest Son must be involved in the punishment, as +he was infected with the sin of the Father, against the Father of his +Country: Root and branch God cuts off in one day. + +These Observations are obvious to every fancie: God knows, I was so +far from rejoycing in the _Hothams_ ruine, (though it were such as +was able to give the greatest thirst for revenge a full draught, being +executed by them who first employed him against Me) that I so far +pitied him, as I thought he at first acted more against the light of +his Conscience, then I hope many other men do in the same Cause. + +For, he was never thought to be of that superstitious sowrenesse which +some men pretend to in matters of Religion, which so darkens their +judgment, that they cannot see any thing of Sin and Rebellion in those +means they use, with intents to reform to their Models, of what they +call Religion, who think all is gold of Piety, which doth but glister +with a shew of Zeal and Fervencie. + +Sir _John Hotham_ was (I think) a man of another temper, and so most +liable to those downright temptations of Ambition, which have no cloak +or cheat of Religion to impose upon themselves or others. + +That which makes me more pitie him, is, that after he began to have +some inclinations towards a repentance for his sin, and reparation of +his duty to Me, he should be so unhappie as to fall into the hands of +their Justice, and not my mercie, who could as willingly have forgiven +him, as he could have asked that favor of Me. + +For I think clemency a debt which we ought to pay to those that crave +it, when we have cause to believe they would not after abuse it, since +God himself suffers us not to pray any thing for his mercie, but only +praiers and praises. + +Poor Gentleman, he is now become a noteable monument of unprosperous +disloialtie, teaching the world by so bad and unfortunate a spectacle, +that the rude carriage of a Subject towards his Soveraign carries +alwaies its own vengeance, & an unseparable shadow with it, and those +oft prove the most fatall, and implacable Executioners of it, who were +the first Imployers in the service. + +After-times will dispute it, whether _Hotham_ were more infamous at +_Hull_, or at _Tower-hill_; though 'tis certain that no punishment +so stains a mans Honour, as wilfull expectations of unworthy actions; +which besides the conscience of the sin, brands with most indeliable +characters of infamy, the name and memory to posterity, who not +engaged in the Faction of the times, have the most impartiall +reflections on their actions. + + +_But thou, O Lord, who hast in so remarkable a way avenged thy +Servant, suffer me not to take any secret pleasure in it, for as his +death hath satisfied the injury he did to me, so let me not by it +gratifie any passion in me, lest I make thy vengeance to be mine, and +consider the affront against me, more than the sin against thee._ + +_Thou indeed, without any desire or endevor of mine, hast made his +mischief to return on his own head, and his violent dealing to come +down on his own pate._ + +_Thou hast pleaded my cause, even before the sons of men, and taken +the matter into thine own hands; that men may know it was thy work and +see that thou, Lord, hast done it._ + +_I do not, I dare not say, so let mine enemies perish._ + +_O Lord! yea Lord, rather give them repentance pardon and impunity, if +it be thy blessed will._ + +_Let not thy justice prevent the objects and opportunities of my +mercy; yea, let them live and amend who have most offended me in +so high a nature; that I may have those to forgive; who bear most +proportion in their offences to those trespasses against thy majesty, +which I hope thy mercy hath forgiven me._ + +_Lord lay not their sinns (who yet live) to their charge for +condemnation, but to their consciences for amendment: Let the +Lightning of this thunderbolt, which hath been so severe a punishment +to one, be a terrour to all._ + +_Discover to them their sinn, who know not they have done amiss, and +scare them from their sin, that sin of malicious wickednss._ + +_That preventing thy judgments by their true repentance, they may +escape the stroaks of thine eternal vengeance._ + +_And do Thou, O Lord, establish the Throne of thy Servant in +mercie and truth meeting together; let my Crown ever flourish in +righteousness and peace kissing each other._ + +_Hear my prayer, O Lord, who hast taught us to pray for, to doe good +to, and to love our Enemies for thy sake; who hast prevented us with +offertures of thy love, even when we were thine enemies, and hast sent +thy Son Jesus Christ to die for us, when we were disposed to crucifie +Him._ + + * * * * * + + + + +9. _Upon the lifting, and raising Armies against the_ KING. + + +I find that I am at the same point and posture I was, when they forced +me to leave _White-hall_: what tumults could not do, an Army must; +which is but Tumults lifted, and enrolled to a better order, but +as bad an end: My recesse have given them confidence that I may be +conquered. + +And so I easily may as to any outward strength, which, God knows, +is little or none at all: But I have a Soul invinciable through Gods +Grace enabling Me; here I am sure to be Conquerour, if God will give +me such a measure of Constancy, as to fear him more then man: and +to love the inward peace of my Conscience, before any outward +tranquillity. + +And must I be opposed with force, because they have not reason whereby +to convince me? O my Soule! be of good courage, they confesse their +known weaknesse, as to truth, and Justice, who chose rather to contend +by Armies, then by Arguments. + +Is this the reward and thanks that I am to receive for those many acts +of Grace I have lately passed, and for those many Indignities I have +endured? Is there no way left to make Me a glorious KING, but by my +sufferings? + +It is a hard and disputable choice for a King that loves his People, +and desires their love, either to kill his own Subjects, or to be +killed by them. + +Are the hazards and miseries of Civil War in the bowels of my most +flourishing Kingdom, the fruits I must now reap after 17 yeers living +and reigning among them with such a measure of Justice, Peace, +Plenty, and Religion, as all Nations about either admired, or envied? +notwithstanding some miscarriages in Government, which might escape, +rather through ill counsell of some men driving on their private ends, +or the peevishness of others envying the Publick should be managed +without them, or the hidden and insuperable necessities of State, +then any propensity, I hope, of my Self either to injuriousnesse or +oppression. + +Whose innocent bloud, during my Reign, have I shed, to satisfie +my lust, anger, or covetousness? what Widows or Orphans tears can +witnesse against me; the just cry of which must now be avenged with my +Own bloud? For the hazards of War are equall, nor doth the Canon know +any respect of persons. + +In vain is my Person excepted by a Parenthesis of words, when so many +hands are armed against me with Swords. + +God knowes how much I have studied to see what Ground of Justice is +alledged for this Warr against Me; that so I might (by giving just +satisfaction) either prevent, or soon end so unnaturall a motion; +which (to many men) seems rather the productions of a surfeit of peace +and wantonness of mindes, or of private discontents, Ambition and +Faction (which easily finde, or make causes of quarrell) then any +reall obstructions of publique Justice, or Parliamentary Priviledg. + +But this is pretended, and this I must be able to avoid and answer +before God in My owne Conscience, however some men are not willing to +beleeve Me, lest they should condemn themselves. + +When I first with-drew from _White-hall_, to see if I could allay the +insolency of the Tumults (for the not suppressing of which, no account +in Reason can be given, (where an orderly Guard was granted) but only +to oppress both Mine and the Two Houses freedome of declaring and +voting according to every mans Conscience) what obstructions of +Justice were there further then this, that what seemed just to one +man, might not seem so to another? + +Whom did I by power protect against the Justice of Parliament? + +That some men with-drew, who feared the partiality of their tryall, +(warned by my Lord of _Straffords_ death) while the vulgar threatned +to be their Oppressors, and Judgers of their Judges, was from that +instinct which is in all creatures to preserve themselves. If any +others refused to appear, where they evidently saw the current of +Justice and Freedom so stopped and troubled by the Rabble, that their +lawfull Judges either durst not come to the House, or not declare +their sense with liberty and safety; it cannot seem strange to any +reasonable man, when the sole exposing them to publick _odium_ was +enough to ruine them before their Cause could be heard or tryed. + +Had not factious Tumults over-born the Freedom and Honour of the two +Houses, had they asserted their Justice against them, and made the +way open for all the Members quietly to come and declare their +Consciences: I know no man so deer to Me, whom I had the least +inclination to advise, either to withdraw himself, or deny appearing +upon their Summons, to whose Sentence according to Law, I think every +Subject bound to stand. + +Distempers (indeed) were risen to so great a height for want of timely +suppressing the vulgar insolencies, that the greatest guilt of those +which were Voted and demanded as Delinquents, was this, That they +would not suffer themselves to be over-awed by the Tumults, and their +Patrons; nor compelled to abet by their suffrages, or presence; the +designes of those men who agitated innovations and ruine both in +Church and State. + +In this point I could not but approve their generous constancie +and cautiousness; further then this I did never allow any mans +refractoriness against the Priviledges and Orders of the Houses; to +whom I wished nothing more then Safetie, Fulness and Freedom. + +But the truth is, some men and those not many, despairing in fair +and Parliamentary waies by free Deliberations and Votes to gain the +concurrence of the major part of Lords and Commons, betook themselves +(by the desperate activitie of factious Tumults) to sift and terrifie +away all those Members whom they saw to be of contrary minds to their +purposes. + +How oft was the businesse of the Bishops enjoying their ancient +places, and undoubted Priviledges in the House of Peers, carried for +them by far the Major part of Lords? Yet after five repulses, contrary +to all Order and Custome, it was by Tumultuary instigations obtruded +again, and by a few carried, when most of the Peers were forced to +absent themselves. + +In like manner as the Bill against Root and Branch, brought on by +tumultuary Clamours, and schismaticall Terrours, which could never +passe til both Houses were sufficiently thinned and over-awed. + +To which partialitie, while in all Reason, Justice, and Religion, my +Conscience forbids me, by consenting, to make up their Votes to Acts +of Parliament, I must now be urged with an Armie, and constrained +either to hazard my Own, and my Kingdoms ruine, by my Defence, or +prostrate my Conscience to the blinde obedience of those men, whose +zealous superstition thinks, or pretends, they cannot do God and the +Church a greater service, then utterly to destroy that Primitive, +Apostolicall, and anciently Universall Government of the Church by +Bishops. + +Which, if other mens judgments bind them to maintain, or forbids them +to consent to the abolishing of it, mine much more; who, besides +the grounds I have in my judgement, have also a most strict and +indispensable Oath upon my Conscience, to preserve that Order, and +the Rights of the Church; to which most Sacrilegious and abhorred +Perjurie, most un-beseeming a Christian King, should I ever, by +giving my consent, be betrayed, I should account it infinitely greater +miserie, then any hath, or can befall me; in as much as the least sin +hath more evill in it then the greatest affliction. Had I gratified +their Anti-Episcopall Faction at first in this point with my Consent, +and sacrificed the Ecclesiasticall Government and Revenues to the fury +of their covetousness, ambition, and revenge, I beleeve they would +then have found no colourable necessity of raising an Army to fetch in +and punish Delinquents. + +That I consented to the Bil of putting the Bishops out of the House +of Peers, was done with a firm perswasion of their contentedness to +suffer a present diminution in their Rights and Honour for my sake, +and the Commonweals, which I was confident they would readily yeeld +unto, rather then occasion (by the least obstruction on their part) +any dangers to Me, or to my Kingdom. That I cannot add my consent for +the totall extirpation of that Government (which I have often offered +to all fit regulations) hath so much further tie upon My Conscience, +as what I think Religious and Apostolicall, and so very sacred and +Divine, is not to be dispensed with, or destroyed, when what is onely +of civill Favour, and priviledge of Honour granted to men of that +Order, may with their consent who are concerned in it, be annulled. + +This is the true state of those obstructions pretended to be in point +of Justice and Authority of Parliament; when I call God to witness, +I know none of such consequence as was worth speaking of a War, being +onely such as Justice, Reason and Religion had made in my own and +other mens Consciences. + +Afterwards indeed a great shew of Delinquents was made, which were but +consequences necessarily following upon Mine, or others withdrawing +from, or defence against violence: but those could not be the first +occasion of raising an Army against Me. Wherein I was so far from +preventing them, (as they have declared often, that they might seem to +have the advantage and Justice of the defensive part, and load Me with +all the envie and injuries of first assaulting them) that (God knows) +I had not so much as any hopes of an Army in My thoughts. Had the +Tumults been honourably and effectually repressed by exemplary +justice, and the Liberty of the Houses so vindicated, that all Members +of either House might with Honour and Freedom, becoming such a Senate, +have come and discharged their Consciences, I had obtained all that I +designed by My withdrawing, and had much more willingly and speedily +returned, then I retired; this being My necessity driving, the other +my choice desiring. + +But some men knew, I was like to bring the same Judgment and Constancy +which I carryed with Me, which would never fit their designes; and +so while they invited Me to come, and grievously complained of My +absence, yet they could not but be pleased with it: especially, when +they had found out that plausible and popular pretexts of raising an +Army to fetch in Delinquents: when all that while they never punished +the greatest and most intolerable delinquencie of the Tumults, and +their Exciters, which drave my Self, and so many of both Houses from +their places, by most barbarous indignities; which yet in all Reason +and Honour, they were as loath to have deserted, as those others were +willing they should, that so they might have occasion to persecute +them with the injuries of an Army, for not suffering more tamely the +injuries of Tumults. + +That this is the true state, and first drift and designe in raising an +Army against me, is by the sequel so evident, that all other pretences +vanish. For when they declared by Propositions, or Treaties, what they +would have to appease them; there was nothing of consequence offered +to Mee, or demanded of Mee, as any originall difference in any point +of Law, or order of Justice. But among other lesser Innovations, this +chiefly was urged, The Abolition of Episcopall, and the Establishment +of Presbyterian Government. + +All other things at any time propounded were either impertinent as to +any ground of a War, or easily granted by me, and onely to make up a +number; or else they were meerly consequentiall, and accessarie, after +the War was by them unjustly began. + +I cannot hinder other mens thoughts, whom the noise and shew of +piety, and heat of Reformation and Religion, might easily so fill +with prejudice, that all equality and clearness of judgement might be +obstructed. But this was, and is, as to my best observation, the true +state of affairs between Us, when they first raised an Armie, with +this designe, either to stop my mouth, or to force my consent: and +in this truth, as to my conscience, (who was God knowes, as far from +meditating a War, as I was in the eye of the world, from having any +preparation for one) I finde that comfort, that in the midst of all +the unfortunate Successes of this War, on my side, I do not think +my Innocency any whit prejudiced or darkned; Nor am I without that +Integrity and Peace before God, as with humble confidence to address +my Prayer to Him. + + +_For thou, O Lord, seest cleerly thorow all the cloudings of humane +affairs: Thou judgest without prejudice: Thy Omniscience eternally +guides thy unerrable Judgment._ + +_O my God, the proud are risen against Me, and the Assemblies of +violent men have sought after my Soul, and have not set Thee before +their eyes._ + +_Consider mine Enemies, O Lord, for they are many, and they hate me +with a deadly hatred, without a cause._ + +_For thou knowest, I had no passion, design, or preparation to embroil +My Kingdoms in a Civil War; whereto I had least temptation; as knowing +I must adventure more then any, and could gain least of any by it._ + +_Thou, O Lord, art my witness, how oft I have deplored and studied +to divert the necessity thereof, wherin I cannot well be thought so +prodigally thirstie of my Subjects blood, as to venture my own life, +which I have bin oft compelled to do in this unhappie War; and which +were better spent to save then to destroy my people._ + +_O Lord, I need much of thy grace, with patience to bear the many +afflictions thou hast suffered some men to bring upon me; but much +more to bear the unjust reproaches of those, who not content that +I suffer most by the War, will needs perswade the world that I have +raised first, or given just cause to raise it._ + +_The confidence of some mens false tongues is such, that they would +almost make me suspect my own innocencie: Yea, I could be content (at +least by my silence) to take upon me so great a guilt before men, If +by that I might allay the malice of mine enemies, and redeem my people +from this miserable War; since thou, O Lord, knowest my innocencie in +this thing._ + +_Thou wilt find out bloodie and deceitful men; many of whom have +not lived out half their daies, in which they promised themselvs the +enjoyment of the fruits of their violent and wicked Counsels._ + +_Save, O Lord, thy servant, as hitherto thou hast, and in thy due time +scatter the people that delight in War._ + +_Arise, O Lord, lift up thy Self, because of the rage of mine enemies, +which increaseth more and more. Behold them that have conceived +mischief, travelled with iniquitie, and brought forth falshood._ + +_Thou knowest the chief designe of this War is, either to destroy my +Person, or force my Judgement, and to make me renege my Conscience, +and thy Truth._ + +_I am driven to crosse_ DAVIDS _choice, and desire rather to fall into +the hands of men by denying them (though their mercie be cruell) then +into thy hands by sinning against My Conscience, and in that against +thee, who art a consuming fire: Better they destroy Me, then thou +shouldest damn Me._ + +_Be thou the defence of My soul, who wilt save the upright in heart._ + +_If nothing but My blood will satisfie My Enemies, or quench the +flames of My Kingdoms, or thy temporall Justice, I am content, if it +be thy will, that it be shed by mine own Subjects hands._ + +_But O let the bloud of Me, though their King, yet a sinner, be washed +with the blood of my Innocent cent and peace-making Redeemer, for in +that thy Justice will finde not only a temporary expiation, but an +eternall plenary satisfaction, both for my sins, and the sins of my +People; whom I beseech thee still own for thine, and when thy wrath is +appeased by my Death, O Remember thy great mercies towards them, and +forgive them! O my Father, for they know not what they doe._ + + * * * * * + + + + +10. _Upon their seizing the Kings Magazines, Forts, Navy, and +Militia._ + + +How untruly I am charged with the first raising of an Army, and +beginning this Civill Warre, the eyes that onely pitty Me, and the +Loyall hearts that durst only pray for me, at first, might witnesse, +which yet appear not so many on my side, as there were men in Armes +lifted against me; my unpreparednesse for a War may well dis-hearten +those that would help Me; while it argues (truly) my willingnes to +fight; yet it testifies for me, that I am set on the defensive part; +having so little hopes or power to defend others, that I have none to +defend my self, or to preserve what is mine own from their proreption. + +No man can doubt but they prevented me in their purposes, as well +as their injuries, who are so much before-hand in their preparations +against me, and surprisals of my Strength. Such as are not for Them, +yet dare not be for Me; so over-aw'd is their Loyalty by the others +numbers and terrours. I believe my innocency and unpreparedness +to assert my Rights and Honour, makes me the more guilty in their +esteems; who would not so easily have declared a War against me, if I +had first assaulted them. + +They knew, my chiefest Arms left me, were those only which the Ancient +Christians were wont to use against their Persecutors, Prayers and +Tears. These may serve a good mans turn, if not to conquer as a +Souldier, yet to suffer as a Martyr. + +Their preventing of me, and surprising my Castles, Forts, Arms and +Navy, with the Militia, is so far best for me, That it may drive me +from putting any trust in the arm of flesh, and wholly to cast my self +into the protection of the living God, who can save by few or none, as +well as by many. + +He that made the greedy Ravens to be Elias Caterers, and bring him +food, may also make their surprisall of outward force and defence, +an opportunity to shew me the special support of his power and +protection. + +I thank God, I reckon not now the want of the _Militia_ so much in +reference to my own protection, as my Peoples. + +Their many and sore oppressions grieve me, I am above mine own: What I +want in the hands of Force and Power, I have in the wings of Faith and +Prayer. + +But this is the strange method these men will needs take to resolve +their riddle of Making Me a glorious King, by taking away my Kingly +power: Thus I shall become a Support to my Friends, and a Terrour to +my Enemies, by being unable to succour the one, or suppress the other. + +For thus have they designed and proposed to me the new modeling of +Soveraignty and Kingship, as without any reality of power, so without +any necessity of subjection and obedience: That the Majesty of the +Kings of England might hereafter hang like Mahomet's Tomb, by a +magnetique Charm, between the Power and Priviledges of the two Houses, +in an airy imagination of Regality. + +But I beleeve the surfet of too much power, which some men have +greedily seized on, and now seek wholly to devour, will ere long make +the Common-wealth sick both of it and them, since they cannot well +digest it; Soveraign Power in Subjects seldom agreeing with the +stomacks of fellow-subjects. + +Yet I have even in this point of the constant Militia, sought, by +satisfying their fears and importunities, both to secure my Friends, +and overcome mine Enemies, to gain the peace of all, by depriving +my self of a sole power to help, or hurt any: yeelding the Militia, +(which is my undoubted Right no less then the Crown) to be disposed of +as the two Houses shall think fit, during my time. + +So willing am I to bury all jealousies in them of me, and to live +above all jealousies of them, as to my self; I desire not to be safer +then I wish them and my People: If I had the sole actuall disposing +of the Militia, I could not protect my People, further then they +protected Me and Themselves: so that the use of the Militia is +mutuall. I would but defend my self so far, as to be able to defend +my good Subjects from those mens violence and fraud, who conscious to +their own evill merits and designes, will needs perswade the world, +that none but Wolves are fit to be trusted with the custody of the +Shepherd and his Flock. Miserable experience hath taught my Subjects, +since power hath been wrested from Me, and imployed against Me and +Them, that neither can be safe, if both be not in such a way as the +Law hath intrusted the publike safety and welfare. + +Yet even this Concession of mine, as to the exercise of the Militia, +so vast and large, is not satisfactory to some men; which seem to +be Enemies not to me only, but to all Monarchy; and are resolved to +transmit to posterity such Jealousies of the Crown, as they should +never permit it to enjoy its just and necessary Rights in point of +power; to which (at last) all Law is resolved, while thereby it is +best protected. + +But here Honour and Justice due to my Successors, forbid me to yeeld +to such total alienation of that power from them, which civility and +duty, no less then Justice and Honour should have forbad them to have +asked of me. + +For, although I can be content to Eclypse my own beams, to satisfie +their fears; who think they must needs be scorched or blinded, if I +should shine in the full lustre of Kingly power wherewith God and the +Laws have invested me: Yet I will never consent to put out the Sun +of Soveraignty to all posterity, and succeeding Kings; whose just +recovery of their Rights from unjust Usurpations and Extortions, shall +never be prejudiced or obstructed by any Act of mine; which indeed, +would not be more injurious to succeeding Kings, then to my Subjects; +whom I desire to leave in a condition not wholly desperate for the +future; so as by a Law to be ever subjected to those many factious +distractions, which must needs follow the many-headed _Hydra_ of +Government: which as it makes a shew to the people to have more eyes +to foresee; so they will find it hath more mouths too, which must be +satisfied: and (at best) it hath rather a monstrosity, then any thing +of perfection, beyond that of right Monarchy; where counsell may be +in many as the senses, but the Supreme Power can be but in One as the +Head. + +Happily where men have tried the horrours and malignant influence +which will certainly follow my enforced darkness and Eclypse, +(occasioned by the interposition and shadow of that body, which as the +Moon receiveth its chiefest lights from me) which will at length more +esteem and welcome the restored glory and blessing of the Suns light. + +And if at present I may seem by My receding so much from the use of my +Right in the Power of the _Militia_, to come short of the discharge of +that trust to which I am sworn for my peoples protection; I conceive +those men are guilty of the inforced perjury; (if so it may seem) who +compell me to take this new and strange way of discharging my trust, +by seeming to desert it; of protecting my Subjects, by exposing my +self to danger or dishonour, for their safety and quiet. + +Which in the conflicts of Civill War and advantages of power, cannot +be effected but by some side yeilding; to which the greatest love +of the publique peace, and the firmest assurance of Gods protection +(arising from a good Conscience) doth more invite me, then can be +expected from other mens fears; which arising from the injustice of +their actions (though never so successfull) yet dare not adventure +their Authours upon any other way of safety then that of the Sword and +Militia; which yet are but weak defences against the stroaks of divine +Vengeance, which will overtake; or of mens own Consciences, which +alwayes attend injurious perpetrations. + +For my self, I do not think that I can want any thing which +providential necessity is pleased to take from me, in order to my +Peoples tranquillity and Gods glory, whose protection is sufficient +for me; and he is able by his being with me, abundantly to compensate +to me, as he did to Job, what-ever Honour, Power, or Liberty the +Chaldeans, the Sabeans, or the Divel himself can deprive me of. + +Although they take from me all defence of Arms and Militia, all refuge +by Land of Forts and Castles, all flight by Sea in my Ships and Navie; +yea, though they study to rob me of the Hearts of my Subjects, the +greatest Treasure and best Ammunition of a King; yet cannot they +deprive me of my own innocencie, or Gods mercie, nor obstruct my way +to heaven. + + +_Therefore, O my God, to thee I fly for help; if thou wilt be on my +side, I shall have more with me then can be against me._ + +_There is none in Heaven, or in Earth that I desire in comparison of +thee: In the losse of all, be thou more then all to me: Make haste +to succour me, thou that never failest them that put their trust in +thee._ + +_Thou seest I have no power to oppose them that come against me, who +are encouraged to fight under pretence of fighting for me: But my eies +are towards thee._ + +_Thou needest no help, nor shall I, if I may have thine; if not to +conquer, yet at least to suffer._ + +_If thou delightest not in my safety, and prosperity, behold here I am +willing to be reduced to what thou wilt have me; whose Judgements oft +begin with thy own Children._ + +_I am content to be nothing that thou maiest be all._ + +_Thou hast taught me, that no King can be saved by the multitude of an +host; but yet Thou canst save me by the multitude of Thy mercies, who +art the Lord of Hosts, and the Father of mercies._ + +_Help me, O Lord, who am sore distressed on every side, yet be thou on +my side, and I shall not fear what man can do unto me._ + +_I will give thy Justice the glorie of my distress._ + +_I let thy mercie have the glorie of my deliverance from them that +persecute my soul:_ + +_By my sins have I fought against Thee, and robbed thee of thy glory, +who am thy subject; and justly maist thou by my own Subjects, strip me +of my strength, and eclipse my glory._ + +_But shew thy self, O my hope and only refuge! Let not mine enemies +say, There is no help for him in his God._ + +_Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not._ + +_Keep me as the apple of thine eye, hide me under the shadow of thy +wings._ + +_Shew thy marvelous loving kindness, O thou that savest by thy right +hand them that put their trust in thee, from those that rise up +against them;_ + +_From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies that compass +me about._ + +_Shew me the path of life. In thy presence is fulness of joy, at thy +right hand there are pleasures for evermore._ + + * * * * * + + + + +11. _Upon the 19 Propositions first sent to the_ KING; _and more +afterwards._ + + +Although there be many things, they demand, yet if these be all, I +am glad to see at what price they set my own safety, and my peoples +peace; which I cannot think I buy at too dear a rate, save only the +parting with my Conscience and Honor. If nothing else will satisfie, I +must chuse rather to be as miserable and inglorious, as My enemies can +make or wish me. + +Some things here propounded to me have been offered by me; others are +easily granted; The rest (I think) ought not to be obtruded upon me, +with the point of the sword; nor urged with the injuries of a Warr; +when I have already declared that I cannot yeeld to them, without +violating my Conscience: 'tis strange, there can be no method of +peace, but by making war upon my soul. + +Here are many things required of me, but I see nothing offer'd to me, +by the way of gratefull Exchange of Honour; or any requitall or those +favours, I have, or can yet grant them. + +This Honour they do me, to put Me on the giving part, which is more +princely and divine. They cannot ask more then I can give, may I but +reserve to my Self the incommunicable Jewell of my Conscience; and not +be forced to part with that, whose loss nothing can repair or requite. + +Some things (which they are pleased to propound) seem unreasonable to +Me; and while I have any mastery of my Reason, how can they think I +can consent to them; who know they are such as are inconsistent with +being either a King, or a good Christian? My yeilding so much (as I +have already) makes some men confident I will deny nothing. + +The love I have of my peoples peace, hath (indeed) great influence +upon Me; but the love of truth and inward peace hath more. + +Should I grant some things they require, I should not so much +weaken my outward state of a King, as wound that inward quiet of my +Conscience; which ought to be, is, and ever shall be (by Gods Grace) +dearer to Me then my Kingdoms. + +Some things which a King might approve, yet in Honour and Policy are +at some time to be denied, to some men, lest he should seem not +to dare to deny any thing; and give too much incouragement to +unreasonable demands or importunities. + +But to bind my Self to a generall and implicite consent to what-ever +they shall desire or propound, (for such is one of their Propositions) +were such a latitude of blind obedience, as never was expected from +any Free-men, nor fit to be required of any man, much less of a King +by his own Subjects; any of whom he may possibly exceed as much in +wisdom, as he doth in place and power. + +This were, as if _Samson_ should have consented, not only to bind his +own hands, and cut off his hair, but to put out his own eys, that the +Philistins might with the more safety mock and abuse him; which they +chose rather to do, then quite destroy him, when he was become so tame +an object, and fit occasion for their sport and scorn. + +Certainly, to exclude all power of denyall, seems an arrogancy least +of all becoming those who pretend to make their Addresses in an humble +and loyall way of petitioning; who by that, sufficiently confess their +own inferiority, which obligeth them to rest, if not satisfied, yet +quieted, with such an Answer as the Will and Reason of their Superiour +thinks fit to give; who is acknowledged to have a freedom and power of +Reason, to Consent or Dissent, else it were very foolish and absurd +to ask, what another having not liberty to deny, neither hath power to +grant. + +But if this be my Right belonging to Me, in Reason as a Man, and in +Honour as a Soveraign King (as undoubtedly it doth) how can it be +other then extreme injury to confine my Reason to a necessity of +granting all they have a mind to ask, whose minds may be as differing +from mine, both in reason and honour, as their aims may be, and +their qualities are? which last God and the Laws have sufficiently +distinguisht, making me their Soveraign, and them my Subjects: whose +Propositions may soon prove violent oppositions, if once they gain to +be necessary impositions upon the Regall Authority; Since no man seeks +to limit and confine his King in Reason, who hath not a secret aim to +share with him, or usurp upon him in Power and Dominion. + +But they would have me trust to their moderation, and abandon mine +own discretion; that so I might verifie what representations some have +made of me to the world, that I am fitter to be their Pupil then their +Prince. Truly, I am not so confident of my own sufficiency, as +not willingly to admit the Counsel of others: But yet I am not so +diffident of my self, as brutishly to submit to any mans dictates, +and at once to betray the Soveraignty of Reason in my soul, and the +Majesty of my own Crown to any of my Subjects. + +Least of all have I any ground of credulity, to induce me fully to +submit to all the desires of those men, who will not admit, or do +refuse, and neglect to vindicate the freedom of their own and others +Sitting and Voting in Parliament. + +Besides, all men that knew them, knew this, how young States-men the +most part of these propounders are; so that till experience of one +seven years have shewed me how well they can govern themselves, and so +much power as is wrested from me, I should be very foolish indeed, and +unfaithful in my Trust, to put the reins of both Reason and Government +wholly out of my Own, into their hands, whose driving is already too +much like _Jehues_; and whose forwardnesse to ascend the throne of +Supremacie pretends more of _Phaeton_ then of _Phebus_; God divert the +Omen of his will. + +They may remember that at best they sit in Parliament, as my Subjects, +not my Superiours: called to be My Counsellours, not Dictatours: Their +Summons extends to recommend their Advice, not to command my Dutie. + +When I first heard of Propositions to be sent me, I expected either +some good Laws which had been antiquated by the course of time, +or overlaid by the corruption of manners, had been desired to a +restauration of their vigour and due execution; or some evil Customs +preterlegall, and abuses personall had been to be removed: or some +injuries done by my Self, and others, to the Common-weal, were to be +repaired: or some equable offertures were to be tendred to Me, wherein +the advantages of my Crown being considered by them, might fairly +induce me to condescend to what tended to my Subjects good, without +any great diminution of my Self, whom Nature, Law, Reason and +Religion binde Me (in the first place) to preserve; without which 'tis +impossible to preserve my people according to my place. + +Or (at least) I looked for such moderate desires of due Reformation of +what was (indeed) amisse in Church and State, as might still preserve +the foundation and essentials of Government in both; not shake and +quite overthrow either of them, without any regard to the Laws in +force, the wisdom and piety of former Parliaments, the ancient, and +universall practice of Christian Churches; the Rights and Priviledges +of particular men: Nor yet any thing offered in lieu, or in the room +of what must be destroyed, which might at once reach the good end of +the others Institution, and also supply its pretended defects, +reform its abuses, and satisfie sober and wise men, not with soft and +specious words, pretending zeal, and special piety, but with pregnant +and solid Reasons, both divine and humane, which might justifie the +abruptnesse and necessity of such vast Alterations. + +But in all their Propositions I can observe little of these kindes, +or to these ends: Nothing of any Laws dis-jointed, which are to be +restored; of any right invaded; of any justice to be unobstructed; +of any compensations to be made; of any impartiall Reformation to be +granted: to all or any of which Reason, Religion, true Policy, or any +other humane motives might induce Me. + +But as to the main matters propounded by them at any time, in which +is either great novelty or difficulty, I perceive, that what were +formerly look'd upon as Factions in the State, and Schisms in the +Church, and so punishable by the Laws, have now the confidence, +by vulgar clamours, and assistance (chiefly) to demand not onely +Tolerations of themselves, in their vanity, novelty, and confusion; +but also Abolition of the Laws against them, and a totall extirpation +of that Government, whose Rights they have a mind to invade. + +This as to the main: Other Propositions are (for the most part) but +as waste paper in which those are wrapped up, to present them somewhat +more handsomly. + +Nor do I so much wonder at the variety, and horrible noveltie of some +Propositions, (there being nothing so monstrous, which some fancies +are not prone to long for). + +This casts me into, not an admiration, but an extasie, how such things +should have the fortune to be propounded in the name of the two Houses +of the Parliament of England, among whom, I am very confident, there +was not a fourth part of the Members of either House, whose Judgements +free, single and apart did approve or desire such destructive changes +in the Government of the Church. + +I am perswaded there remains in far the Major part of both Houses +(if free and full) so much Learning, Reason, Religion, and just +Moderation, as to know how to sever between the use and the abuse of +things, the institution and the corruption, the Government and +the mis-government, the Primitive Patterns and the aberrations or +blottings of after-Copies. + +Sure they could not at all, upon so little, or no Reason (as yet +produced to the contrary) so soon renounce all regard to the Laws in +force, to antiquity, to the piety of their Reforming progenitors, to +the prosperity of former times in this Church and State, under the +present Government of the Church. + +Yet, by a strange fatality, these men suffer, either by their absence, +or silence, or negligence, or supine credulity (beleeving that all +is good, which is guilded with shewes of Zeal and Reformation) their +private dissenting in Judgement to be drawn into the common sewer or +streame of the present vogue and humour; which hath its chief rise and +abetment from those popular clamors and tumults: which served to give +life and strength to the infinite activity of those men, who studied +with all diligence, and policy, to improve to their innovating +designes, the present distractions. + +Such Armies of Propositions having so little, in my judgment, of +Reason, Justice, and Religion on their side, as they had Tumult and +Faction for their rise, must not go alone, but ever be backt and +seconded, with Armies of Souldiers; Though the second should prevaile +against my Person, yet that first shall never overcome me further then +I see cause; for, I look not at their number and power, so much as I +weigh their Reason and Justice. + +Had the two Houses first sued out their Livery, and once effectually +redeemed themselves from the Wardship of the Tumults, (which can be no +other then the Hounds that attend the cry and hollow of those men, who +hunt after factions and private Designes, to the ruine of Church and +State.) + +Did my Judgement tell Me, that the propositions sent to Me were the +Results of the major part of their Votes, who exercise their freedom, +as well as they have a right to sit in Parliament: I should then +suspect my Own judgment, for not speedily and fully concurring with +every one of them. + +For, I have charity enough to think there are wise men among them: and +humility to think, that, as in some things I may want, so 'tis fit I +should use their advice, which is the end for which I called them to +a Parliament. But yet I cannot allow their wisdom such a compleatness +and inerrability as to exclude my Self; since none of them hath that +part to act, that Trust to discharge, nor that Estate and Honour to +preserve, as my Self; without whose Reason concurrent with theirs +(as the Suns influence is necessary in all Natures, productions) they +cannot beget, or bring forth any one compleat and authoritative Act of +publick wisdom, which makes the Laws. + +But the unreasonableness of some Propositions is not more evident to +me then this is, That they are not the joynt and free desires of those +in their Major number, who are of right to Sit and Vote in Parliament. + +For, many of them favour very strong of that old leaven of +Innovations, masked under the name of Reformation; (which in my Two +last famous Predecessours days heaved, at, and sometime threatned +both Prince and Parliaments:) But, I am sure, was never wont so far +to infect the whole masse of the Nobility and Gentry of this Kingdom; +how-ever it dispersed among the Vulgar: Nor was it likely so +suddenly to taint the Major part of both Houses, as that they should +unanimously desire, and effect so enormous and dangerous innovations +in Church and State, contrary to their former education, practice, and +judgment. + +Not that I am ignorant, how the choice of many Members was carried by +much Faction in the Countries; some thirsting after nothing more +then a passionate revenge of what-ever displeasure they had conceived +against Me, my Court, or the Clergy. + +But all Reason bids me impute these sudden and vast desires of +change to those few, who armed themselves with the many-headed, and +many-handed Tumults. + +No less doth Reason, Honour, and Safety both of Church and State +command me to chew such morsels before I let them down; If the +straitness of my Conscience will not give me leave to swallow down +such Camels, as others do, of Sacriledge, and injustice both to God +and man, they have no more cause to quarrell with me, then for this, +that my throat is not so wide as theirs. Yet, by Gods help, I +am resolved, That nothing of passion or peevishnesse, or list to +contradict, or vanity to shew my negative power, shall have any byas +upon my judgment, to make me gratifie my will, by denying any thing +which my Reason and Conscience commands me not. + +Nor on the other side, will I consent to more then Reason, Justice, +Honor and Religion perswade me to be, for Gods glory, the Churches +good, my Peoples welfare, and my own peace. + +I will study to satisfie my Parliament, and my People; but I will +never for fear, or flatterie gratifie any Faction, how potent soever; +for this were to nourish the disease, and oppresse the body. + +Although many mens loyalty and prudence are terrified from giving me, +that free and faithfull counsel, which they are able and willing to +impart, and I may want; yet none can hinder me from craving of the +councell of that mighty Counsellor who can both suggest what is best, +and incline my heart stedfastly to follow it. + + +_O thou first and eternal Reason; whose wisdom is fortified with +omnipotencie, furnish thy servant, first with clear discoveries of +Truth, Reason and Justice in My understanding; then so confirm my +will and resolution to adhere to them, that no terrors, injuries or +oppressions of mine enemies may ever inforce me against those rules, +which thou by them hast planted in My Conscience._ + +_Thou never madest me a King, that I should be less then a Man; and +not dare to say, Yea, or Nay, as I see cause; which freedom is not +denied to the meanest creature that hath the use of Reason, and +liberty of speech._ + +_Shall that be blameable in me, which is commendable veracity and +constancy in others?_ + +_Thou seest, O Lord, with what partiallity, and injustice, they deny +that freedom to me their_ KING, _which Thou hast given to all men; and +which Themselves pertinaciously challenge to themselves, while they +are so tender of the least breach of their priviledges._ + +_To thee I make my supplication, who canst guide us by an unerring +rule, through the perplexed Labyrinths of our own thoughts, and other +mens Proposals; which I have some cause to suspect, are purposely +cast as snares, that by My granting or denying them, I might be more +entangled in those difficulties, wherewith they lie in wait to afflict +me._ + +_O Lord, make thy way plain before Me._ + +_Let not my own sinful passions cloud, or divert thy sacred +suggestions._ + +_Let thy Glory be my end, thy Word my rule, and then thy will be +done._ + +_I cannot please all, I care not to please some men; if I may be +happie to please thee, I need not fear whom I displease._ + +_Thou that makest the wisdome of the world foolishnesse, and takest +in their own devices, such as are wise in their own conceits, make Me +wise by thy Truth, for thy honor, my Kingdoms generall good, and my +own souls salvation, and I shall not much regard the worlds opinion or +diminution of Me._ + +_The lesse of wisdome they are willing to impute to Me, the more they +shall be convinced of thy Wisdom directing Me, while I deny nothing +fit to be granted, out of crosnesse or humour; nor grant any thing +which is to be denied, out of any fear or flatterie of men._ + +_Suffer me not to be guiltie or unhappie, by willing or inconsiderate +advancing any mens designes, which are injurious to the publique good, +while I confirm them by My consent._ + +_Nor let Me be any occasion to hinder or defraud the Publick of what +is best, by any morose or perverse dissentings._ + +_Make Me so humbly charitable, as to follow their advice, when it +appears to be for the publick good; of whose affections to me, I have +yet but few evidencies to assure Me._ + +_Thou canst as well blesse honest errours, as blast fraudulent +counsels._ + +_Since we must give an account of every evill and idle word in +private, at thy Tribunall; Lord make me carefull of those solemne +Declarations of mine which are like to have the greatest influence +upon the Publique, either for woe, or weale._ + +_The lesse others consider what they aske, make me the more solicitous +what I answer._ + +_Though Mine own, and My Peoples pressures are grievous, and peace +would be very pleasing; yet Lord, never suffer Me to avoid the one, or +purchase the other, with the least expense or wast of my Conscience; +whereof thou, O Lord, onely art deservedly more Master then my self._ + + * * * * * + + + + +12. _Upon the Rebellion, and troubles in_ Ireland. + + +The Commotions in _Ireland_ were so sudden, and so violent, that it +was hard at first either to discern the rise, or apply a remedie to +that precipitant Rebellion. + +Indeed that Sea of blood, which hath there bin cruelly & barbarously +shed, is enough to drown any man in eternall both infamy and misery, +whom God shall find the malicious Author or Instigator of its +effusion. + +It fell out, as a most unhappy advantage to some mens malice against +me; that when they had impudence enough to lay any thing to my charge, +this bloody oppertunity should be offered them, with which I must be +aspersed. Although there was nothing which could be more abhorred +to me, being so ful of sin against God, disloyalty to myself, and +destructive to my Subjects. + +Some men took it very ill not to be beleeved, when they affirmed, that +what the Irish Rebels did, was done with my privitie (at least) if not +by my Commission: But these knew too well, that it is no news for som +of my Subjects to fight not only without my Commission, but against my +Command, and Person too, yet all the while to pretend, they fight by +my Authoritie, and for my safety. + +I would to God the _Irish_ had nothing to alledge for their imitation +against those whose blame must needs be the greater, by how much +Protestant Principles are more against all Rebellion against Princes, +then those of Papists. Nor wil the goodnes of mens intentions excuse +the scandall, and contagion of their examples. + +But who ever fail of their Dutie toward me, I must bear the blame; +this honour my enemies have alwayes done me, to think moderate +injuries not proportionate to me, nor competent trials, either of my +patience under them, or my pardon of them. + +Therefore with exquisite malice they have mixed the gall and vinegar +of falsity and contempt, with the cup of my Affliction; charging Me +not only with untruths, but such, as wherin I have the greatest share +of loss & dishonor by what is comitted; wherby, (in all policy, reason +and Religion, having least cause to give the least consent, and most +grounds of utter detestation) I might be represented by them to the +world, the more inhumane and barbarous: Like some Cyclopick monster, +whom nothing will serve to eat and drink, but the flesh and bloud of +my own Subjects; in whose common welfare my interest lies, as much as +some mens doth in their perturbations: who think they cannot do wel +but in evil times; nor so cunningly, as in laying the _odium_ of +those sad events on others, wherewith themselves are most pleased, and +whereof they have been not the least occasion. + +And certainly, 'tis thought by many wise men, that the preposterous +rigour and unreasonable severity, which some men carried before them +in _England_, was not the least incentive, that kindled, and blew up +into those horrid flames, the sparks of discontent, which wanted not +pre-disposed fewel for Rebellion in _Ireland_; where dispair being +added to their former discontents, and the fear of utter extirpation +to their wonted oppressions, it was easie to provoke to an open +Rebellion a people prone enough to break out into all exorbitant +violence, both by some principles of their Religion, and the naturall +desires of liberty; both to exempt themselves from their present +restraints, and to prevent those after rigours, wherewith they saw +themselves apparantly threatned by the covetous zeal and uncharitable +fury of some men, who think it a great Argument of the truth of their +Religion, to endure no other but their own. + +God knows, as I can with truth wash my hands in innocency, as to any +guilt in that Rebellion; so I might wash them in my tears, as to the +sad apprehensions I had to see it spread so far, and make such waste: +and this in a time when distractions and jealousies here in _England_ +made most men rather intent to their own safety, or designes they were +driving, then to the relief of those who were every day inhumanely +butchered in Ireland: Whose tears and bloud might, if nothing else, +have quenched, or at least for a time, repressed and smothered those +sparks of Civill Dissentions and Jealousies which in England some men +most industriously scattered. + +I would to God no man had been less affected with Irelands' sad estate +then my self; I offered to go my Self in person upon that Expedition: +But some men were either affraid I should have any one Kingdom +quieted; or loth they were to shoot at any mark here less then +my Self; or that any should have the glory of my destruction but +themselves. Had my many offers been accepted, I am confident, neither +the ruin had been so great, nor the calamity so long, nor the remedy +so desperate. + +So that, next to the sin of those who began that Rebellion, theirs +must needs be, who either hindred the speedy suppressing of it by +Domestick Dissentions, or diverted the Aids, or exasperated the Rebels +to the most desperate resolutions and actions, by threatning all +extremities, not onely to the known Heads and chiefe incendiaries, but +even to the whole Community of that Nation; resolving to destroy Root +and Branch, men, women, and children; without any regard to those +usuall pleas for mercy which Conquerours, not wholly barbarous, +are wont to bear from their own brests, in behalf of those, whose +oppressive faces, rather then their malice, engaged them; or whose +imbecility for Sex and Age was such, as they could neither lift up a +hand against them, nor distinguish between their right hand and their +left: Which preposterous (and I think) un-Evangelicall zeal is too +like that of the rebuked Disciples, who would go no lower in their +revenge, then to call for fire from Heaven upon whole Cities, for the +repulse and neglect of a few; or like that of _Jacob_'s sons, +which the Father both blamed and cursed: chusing rather to use all +extreamities, which might drive men to desperate obstinacy, then to +apply moderate remedies; such as might punish some with exemplary +Justice, yet disarm others, with tenders of mercy upon their +submission, & our protection of them, from the fury of those, who +would soon drown them, if they refused to swim down the popular stream +with them. + +But som kind of Zeal counts all merciful moderation, luke-warmness; +and had rather be cruel then counted cold, and is not seldom more +greedy to kill the Bear for his skin, then for any harm he hath done. +The confiscation of mens estates being more beneficiall, then the +charity of saving their lives, or reforming their Errors. + +When all proportionable succors of the poor Protestants in _Ireland_ +(who were daily massacred and over-born with numbers of now desperate +Enemies) was diverted and obstructed here; I was earnestly entreated, +& generally advised by the chief of the Protestant party there, to get +them some respite and breathing by a cessation, without which they saw +no probability (unless by miracle) to preserve the remnant that had +yet escaped: God knows with how much commiseration and solicitous +caution I carried on that business, by persons of Honor and Integrity, +that so I might neither incourage the Rebels Insolence, nor discourage +the Protestants Loyaltie and Patience. + +Yet when this was effected in the best sort, that the necessity and +difficulty of affairs would then permit, I was then to suffer again in +my Reputation and Honor; because I suffered not the Rebels utterly to +devour the remaining handfuls of the Protestants there. + +I thought that in all reason, the gaining of that respite could not be +so much to the Rebels advantages (which some have highly calumniated +against me) as it might have been for the Protestants future, as well +as present safety: If during the time of that Cessation, some men had +the grace to have laid _Ireland_'s sad condition more to heart; & laid +aside those violent motions, which were here carried on by those, that +had better skill to let blood then to stanch it. + +But in all the misconstructions of my actions, (which are prone to +find more credulity in men to what is false, and evil, then love or +charity to what is true and good) as I have no Judge but God above +me, so I can have comfort to appeal to his omniscience, who doth not +therefore deny my Innocence, because he is pleased so far to try my +patience, as he did his servant _Job_'s. + +I have enough to do to look to my own Conscience, and the faithfull +discharge of my Trust as a King: I have scarce leisure to consider +those swarms of reproches, which issue out of some mens mouths & +hearts, as easily as smoke, or sparks do out of a furnace: Much lesse +to make such prolix Apologies, as might give those men satisfaction: +who conscious to their own depth of wickednesse are loth to beleeve +any man not to be as bad as themselves. + +'Tis Kingly to do well, and hear ill: If I can but act the one, I +shall not much regard to bear the other. + +I thank God, I can hear with patience as bad as my worst enemies can +safly say. And I hope I shall still do better then they desire, or +deserve I should. + +I beleeve it will at last appear, that they who first began to embroil +my other Kingdoms, are in great part guilty, if not of the first +letting out, yet of the not timely stopping those horrid effusions of +bloud in _Ireland_. + +Which (whatever my Enemies please to say, or think) I look upon, as +that of my other kingdoms, exhausted out of my own veins: no man being +so much weakened by it as my Self: And I hope, though mens unsatiable +cruelties never wil, yet the Mercy of God will at length say to his +Justice, _It is enough_; and command the sword of Civil Wars to sheath +it self: his mercifull Justice intending, I trust, not our utter +confusion, but our cure: the abatement of our sins, not the desolation +of these Nations. + + +_O my God, let those infinite mercies prevent us once again, which I +and my Kingdoms have formerly abused, and can never deserve, should be +restored._ + +_Thou seest how much cruelty among Christians is acted under the +colour of Religion; as if we could not be Christians, unless we +crucifie one another._ + +_Because we have no more loved thy truth, and practised in charitie, +thou hast suffered a Spirit of Errour and bitterness, of mutuall and +mortall hatred to rise among us._ + +_O Lord, forgive wherein we have sinned, and sanctifie what we have +suffered._ + +_Let our repentance be our recovery, as our great sins have been our +ruine._ + +_Let not the miseries I and my Kingdoms have hitherto suffered seem +small to thee: but make our sins appear to our consciences, as +they are represented in the glass of thy Judgements; for thou never +punishest small failings, with so severe afflictions._ + +_O therefore, according to the multitude of thy great mercies, pardon +our sinnes, and remove thy judgments, which are very many, and very +heavy._ + +_Yet let our sins be ever more grievous to us, then thy judgments; and +make us more willing to repent, then to be relieved; first give us the +grace of penitent consciences, and then the tranquillitie of united +Kingdomes._ + +_In the Sea of our Saviours Blood drown our sins, and through this red +sea of our own Blood bring us at last to a state of Piety, Peace and +Plenty._ + +_As my publick relations to all, make me share in all my Subjects +suffering; so give me such a pious sense of them, as becoms a +Christian King, and a loving father of my people._ + +_Let the scandalous and unjust reproaches cast upon me, be as a +breath, more to kindle my compassion; Give me grace to heap charitable +coales of fire upon their heads to melt them, whose malice or cruel +zeal hath kindled, or hindred the quenching of those flames, which +hath so much wasted my three Kingdoms._ + +_O rescue and assist those poor Protestants in IRELAND, whom thou hast +hitherto preserved._ + +_And lead those in the ways of thy saving Truths, whose Ignorance or +Errors have filled them with rebellious and destructive Principles, +which they act under an opinion, That they do thee good service._ + +_Let the hand of thy justice be against those, who malitiously and +despightfully have raised or fomented these cruel and desperate Wars._ + +_Thou that art far from destroying the innocent with the guilty, & the +erroneous with the malicious; thou that hadst pitty on_ Niniveh _for +the many children that were therein, give not over the whole stock +of that populous and seduced Nation, to the wrath of those, whose +covetousness makes them cruel; nor to their anger, which is too +fierce, and therefore justly cursed._ + +_Preserve, if it be thy will, in the midst of the furnace of thy +severe justice, a Posterity which may praise thee for thy mercie._ + +_And deal with me, not according to mans unjust reproaches, but +according to the innocency of my Hands in thy sight._ + +_If I have desired or delighted in the wofull day of my Kingdoms +calamities, If I have not earnestly studied, and faithfully +endeavoured the preventing and composing of these bloody Distractions; +then let thy hand be against me and my Fathers House. O Lord thou +seest I have enemies enough of men; as I need not, so should I not +dare thus to imprecate thy curse on me and mine, if my Conscience did +not witnesse my integrity, which thou, O Lord, knowest right well. But +I trust not to my own merit, but thy mercies; spare us, O Lord, and be +not angry with us for ever._ + + * * * * * + + + + +_13. Upon the calling in of the_ SCOTS, _and their Comming._ + + +The _Scots_ are a Nation, upon whom I have not onely common ties of +Nature, Soveraignty, and Bounty, with My Father of blessed memory; but +also speciall and late obligations of favours, having gratified the +active Spirits among them so far, that I seemed to many to prefer the +desires of that party, before My own interest and honor. But, I see, +Royall bountie emboldens some men to ask, and act beyond all bounds of +modesty and gratitude. + +My charity, and Act of Pacification, forbids Me to reflect on former +passages, wherin I shal ever be far from letting any mans ingratitude, +or inconstancy, make me repent of what I granted them for the publique +good: I pray God it may so prove. + +The coming again of that Party into _England_, with an Army only +to conforme this Church to their late New model, cannot but seem as +unreasonable, as they would have thought the same measure offered from +hence to themselves. + +Other errand I could never understand, they had, (besides those common +and vulgar flourishes for Religion and Liberty) save only to confirme +the Presbyterian Copy they had set, by making this Church to write +after them, though it were in bloudy Characters. + +Which design and end, whether it will justifie the use of such violent +means, before the divine Justice, I leave to their Consciences to +judge, who have already felt the misery of the means, but not reaped +the benefit of the end, either in this Kingdom, or that. + +Such knots and crosseness of grain being objected here, as will hardly +suffer that form which they cry up, as the only just reformation, and +settling of Government and Discipline in Churches to go on so smoothly +here, as it might do in _Scotland_; and was by them imagined would +have done in _England_, when so many of the _English_ Clergy, through +levity, or discontent, if no worse passion, suddenly quitted their +former engagements to Episcopacy, and faced about to their Presbytery. + +It cannot but seem either passion, or some self-seeking, more then +true Zeal, and pious discretion, for any forraign State or Church to +prescribe such medicins only for others, which themselves have used, +rather successefully then commendably; not considering that the same +Physick on different constitutions, will have different operations: +That may kill one, which doth but cure another. + +Nor do I know any such tough and malignant humours in the constitution +of the _English_ Church, which gentler applications then those of an +Army, might not easily have removed: Nor is it so proper to hew out +Religious Reformations by the sword, as to polish them by fair & equal +disputations among those that are most concerned in the differences, +whom not force, but reason ought to convince. + +But their design now seemed rather to cut off all disputation here, +then to procure a fair and equal one: For it was concluded there, That +the _English_ Clergy must conform to the _Scots_ pattern before ever +they could be heard, what they could say for themselves, or against +the others way. + +I could have wished fairer proceedings both for their credits, who +urge things with such violence; and for other mens Consciences +too; who can receive litle satisfaction in these points which are +maintained rather by Souldiers fighting in the Field, then Scholars +disputing in free and learned Synods. + +Sure in matters of Religion those truths gain most on mens Judgments +and Consciences, which are least urged with secular violence, which +weakens truth with prejudices; and is unreasonable to be used, till +such means of rational conviction hath been applied, as leaving no +excuse for ignorance, condemns mens obstinacy to deserved penalties. + +Which no charity will easily suspect of so many learned and pious +Church-men in _England_; who being alwaies bred up, and conformable +to the Government of Episcopacy, cannot so soon renounce both their +former opinion & practice, only because that Party of the _Scots_ +will needs, by force assist a like Party here, either to drive all +Ministers as sheep, into the common fold of Presbyterie, or destroy +them; at least fleece them, by depriving them of the benefit of their +Flocks. If the _Scotch_ sole Presbyterie were approved to be the +only Institution of Jesus Christ, for all Churches Government; yet I +beleeve it would be hard to prove that Christ had given those _Scots_, +or any other of my Subjects, Comission by the Sword, to set it up in +any of my Kingdomes, without my consent. + +What respect and obedience Christ and his Apostles payd to the chief +governors of States, where they lived, is very cleer in the Gospel: +but that he, or they ever commanded to set up such a parity of +Presbyters, and in such a way as those _Scots_ endeavour, I think is +not very disputable. + +If Presbyterie in such a Supremacy be an institution of Christ, +sure it differs from all others: and is the first and only point +of Christianity, that was to be planted and watered with so much +Christian bloud; whose effusions run in a stream so contrary to that +of the Primitive planters, both of Christianity and Episcopacy, which +was with patient shedding of their own bloud, not violently drawing +other mens: sure there is too much of Man in it, to have much of +Christ; none of whose institutions were carried on, or begun with +the temptations of Covetousness or Ambition, of both which this is +vehemently suspected. + +Yet was there never any thing upon the point which those _Scots_ had +by an Army or Commissioners to move Me with, by their many Solemn +obtestations, and pious threatnings, but only this, to represent to me +the wonderful necessity of setting up their Presbytery in _England_, +to avoid the further miseries of a War, which some men chiefly on +this design at first had begun, & now further engaged themselves to +continue. + +What hinders that any Sects, Schisms, or Heresies, if they can get but +numbers, strength and opportunity, may not, according to this opinion +and pattern, set up their wayes by the like methods of violence? +all which Presbitery seeks to suppresse, & render odious under those +names: when wise & learned men think, that nothing hath more marks +of Schism, and Sectarism, then this Presbyterian way, both as to the +Ancient, and still most Universal way of the Church-government, +and especially as to the particular Laws and Constitutions of this +_English_ Church, which are not yet repealed, nor are like to be for +me, till I see more Rational and Religious motives, then Souldiers use +to carry in their Knapsacks. + +But we must leave the successe of all to God, who hath many wayes +(having first taken us off from the folly of our opinions, and fury +of our passion) to teach us those rules of true Reason, and peaceable +Wisdom, which is from above, tending most to Gods glory, and his +Churches good: which I think my self so much the more bound in +Conscience to attend, with the most judicious zeal and care, by how +much I esteem the Church above the State, the glory of Christ above +mine Own: and the Salvation of mens Souls above the preservation of +their Bodies and Estates. + +Nor may any men, I think, without sin and presumption, forcibly +endeavour to cast the Churches under my care and tuition, into the +moulds they have fancied, & fashioned to their designs, till they have +first gained my consent, and resolved, both mine own and other mens +Consciences by the strength of their Reasons. + +Other violent motions, w^{ch} are neither Manly, Christian, nor Loyal, +shall never either shake or settle my Religion, nor any mans else who +knows what Religion means: And how far it is removed from all Faction, +whose proper engine is force, the arbitrator of beasts, not of +reasonable men, much lesse of humble Christians, and loyal Subjects, +in matters of Religion. + +But men are prone to have such high conceits of themselves, that they +care not what cost they lay out upon their opinions: especially those +that have some temptation of gain, to recompence their losses and +hazards. + +Yet I was not more scandalized at the _Scots_ Armies coming in against +my will, and their forfeiture of so many obligations of duty, and +gratitude to me: then I wondred how those here, could so much distrust +Gods assistance, who so much pretended Gods cause to the people, as +if they had the certainty of some divine Revelation; considering +they were more then competently furnished with my Subjects Arms and +Ammunition, my Navie by Sea, my Forts, Castles and Cities by Land. + +But I finde that men jealous of the Justificableness of their doings, +and designs before God, never thinke they have humane strength enough +to carry their work on, seem it never so plausible to the people; what +cannot be justified in Law and Religion, had need to be fortified with +power. + +And yet such is the inconstancy that attends all minds engaged in +violent motion, that whom some of them one while earnestly invite to +come in to their assistance; others of them soon after are weary of, +and with nauseating cast them out: what one party thought to rivet +to a setlednes by the strength and influence of the _Scots_, that the +other rejects and contemns; at once, despising the Kirk-government, +& discipline of the _Scots_, and frustrating the successe of so +chargeable, more then charitable assistance: For, sure the Church +of _England_ might have purchased at a far cheaper rate, the Truth +& happines of Reformed Government and Discipline (if it had been +wanting) though it had entertained the best Divines of Christendom for +their advice in a ful & free Synod; which, I was ever willing to, +and desirous of, that matters being impartially setled, might be more +satisfactory to all, and more durable. + +But much of Gods justice, & mans folly will at length be discovered, +through all the filmes and pretentions of Religion, in which +Polititians wrap up their designes: in vaine do men hope to build +their Piety on the Ruines of loyalty. Nor can those considerations or +designes be durable, when Subjects make bankrupt of their Allegiance, +under pretence of setting up a quicker trade for Religion. + +But, as my best Subjects of _Scotland_ never deserted me, so I cannot +think that the most are gone so far from me, in a prodigality of +their love and respects towards me, as to make me to despair of their +return; when besides the bonds of Nature and Conscience which they +have to me, all Reason and true Policy will teach them, That their +chiefest interest consists in their fidelity to the Crown, not in +their serviceableness to any Party of the People, to a neglect and +betraying of my Safety and Honor for their own advantages: However the +lesse cause I have to trust to men, the more I shall apply my Self to +God. + + +_The Troubles of my Soul are enlarged, O Lord, bring thou me out of my +distresse._ + +_Lord direct thy Servant in the ways of that pious simplicity, which +is the best policie._ + +_Deliver me from the combined strength of those, who have so much of +the Serpents subtilty, that they forget the Doves Innocency._ + +_Though hand joyn in hand, yet let them not prevail against my Soul, +to the betraying of my Conscience and Honour._ + +_Thou, O Lord, canst turn the hearts of those Parties in both Nations, +as thou didst the men of_ Judah _and ISRAEL, to restore_ David _with +as much loyal zeal, as they did with inconstancy and eagernesse pursue +him._ + +_Preserve the love of thy truth and uprightness in me, and I shall not +despair of My Subjects affections returning towards me._ + +_Thou canst soon cause the overflowing Seas to ebbe, and retire back +again to the bounds which thou hast appointed for them._ + +_O My God, I trust in thee; let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies +triumph over me._ + +_Let them be ashamed who transgress without a cause; let them be +turned back that persecute my soul._ + +_Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait on thee O +Lord._ + +_Redeem thy Church, O God, out of all its Troubles._ + + * * * * * + + + + +_14. Upon the Covenant._ + + +The _Presbyterian Scots_ are not to be hired at the ordinary rate of +Auxiliaries; nothing will induce them to engage, till those that +call them in, have pawned their Souls to them, by a Solemn League and +Covenant. + +Where many engines of religious and fair pretensions are brought +chiefly to batter or rase Episcopacy: This they make the grand evil +Spirit, which with other Imps purposely added, to make it more odious, +& terrible to the Vulgar, must by so solemn a charm & exorcism be cast +out of this Church, after more then a thousand years possession here, +from the first plantation of Christianity in this Island, and an +universal prescription of time and practice in all other Churches +since the Apostles times till this last Century. + +But no Antiquity must plead for it; Presbytery like a young Heir, +thinks the Father hath lived long enough, & impatient not to be in the +Bishops chair and authority (though Lay-men go away with the Revenus) +all art is used to sink Episcopacy, and lanch Presbytery in _England_; +which was lately boyed up in _Scotland_ by the late artifice of a +Covenant. + +Although I am unsatisfied with many passages in that Covenant some +referring to my self with very dubious and dangerous limitations (yet +I chiefly wonder at the design and drift touching the Discipline and +Government of the Church); and such a manner of carrying them on to new +ways, by Oaths and Covenants, where it is hard for men to be engaged +by no less, then swearing for, or against those things, which are of +no clear morall necessity, but very disputable, and controverted among +learned and godly men: whereto the application of Oaths can hardly be +made and enjoyned with that judgment and certainty in ones self, or +that charity or candour to others of different opinion, as I think +religion requires, which never refuses fair and equable deliberations; +yea, and dissentings too, in matters only probable. + +The enjoyning of Oaths upon People must needs in things doubtfull be +dangerous, as in things unlawfull, damnable; and no lesse superfluous, +where former Religious and Legal Engagements, bound men sufficiently, +to all necessary duties. Nor can I see how they will reconcile such an +Innovating Oath and Covenant, with their former Protestation which was +so lately taken, to maintain the Religion established in the Church of +_England_; since they count Discipline so great a part of Religion. + +But ambitious minds never think they have laid snares and ginnes +enough to catch and hold the vulgar credulity: for by such politicke +and seemingly pious stratagems, they think to keep the popularity fast +to their Parties under the terrour of perjury: Whereas certainly all +honest and wise men ever thought themselves sufficiently bound by +former ties of Religion, Allegiance, and lawes, to God and man. + +Nor can such after-contracts, devised and imposed by a few men in +a declared Party, without my consent, and without any like power or +president from Gods or mans laws, be ever thought by judicious men +sufficient either to obsolve or slacked those moral and eternall bonds +of duty which lie upon all My Subjects consciences both to God and me. + +Yet as things now stand, good men shall least offend God or Me, by +keeping their Covenant in honest and lawfull wayes; since I have the +charity to think, that the chief end of the Covenant in such mens +intentions, was, to preserve Religion in purity, and the Kingdoms in +peace: To other then such ends and meanes they cannot think themselves +engaged; nor will those, that have any true touches of Conscience +endeavour to carry on the best designes, (much lesse such as are, and +will be daily more apparently factious and ambitious) by any unlawfull +means, under that title of the Covenant: unlesse they dare preferre +ambiguous, dangerous and un-authorized novelties, before their known +and sworn duties, which are indespensable, both to God and my self. + +I am prone to beleeve and hope, That many who took the Covenant, are +yet firme to this judgment, That such latter Vowes, Oaths, or Leagues, +can never blot out those former gravings, and characters, which by +just and lawfull Oaths were made upon their Souls. + +That which makes such Confederations by way of Solemn Leagues and +Covenants more to be suspected, is, That they are the common road, +used in all factious and powerfull perturbations of State or Church: +when formalities of extraordinary zeal and piety are never more +studied and elaborate, then, when Polititians most agitate desperate +designes against all that is setled, or sacred in Religion, and Laws, +which by such scrues are cunningly, yet forcibly wrested by secret +steps, and lesse sencible degrees, from their known rule and wonted +practise, and comply with the humours of those men, who ayme to +subdue all to their own will and power, under the disguises of Holy +Combinations. + +Which cords and wythes will hold mens Consciences no longer, then +force attends and twists them: for every man soon grows his own Pope, +and easily absolves himself of those ties, which, not the commands of +Gods Word, or the Laws of the Land, but only the subtilty and terrour +of a Party casts upon him; either superfluous and vain, when they +were sufficiently tied before; or fraudulent and injurious, if by such +afterligaments they find the Imposers really ayming to dissolve, or +suspend their former just and necessary obligations. + +Indeed such illegall ways seldom or never intend the engaging men more +to duties, but only to Parties; therefore it is not regarded how they +keep their Covenants in point of piety pretended, provided they adhere +firmly to the Party and Design intended. + +I see the Imposers of it are content to make their Covenant like Manna +(not that it came from Heaven, as this did) agreeable to every mans +palate and rellish, who will but swallow it: They admit any mens +senses of it, the divers or contrary; with any salvoes, cautions and +reservations, so as they cross not their chief Design, which is laid +against the Church and me. + +It is enough if they get but the reputation of a seeming encrease to +their Party; so little do men remember that God is not mocked. + +In such latitudes of sense, _I_ beleive many that love Me, and the +Church well, may have taken the Covenant, who yet are not so fondly +and superstitiously taken by it, as now to act cleerly against both +all piety & loyalty: who first yeelded to it, more to prevent that +imminent violence and ruine, which hung over their heads in case they +wholly refused it, then for any value of it, or devotion to it. + +Wherein, the latitude of some generall Clauses may (perhaps) serve +somewhat to relieve them, as of _Doing and endeavouring what lawfully +they may, in their Places and Callings_, and _according to the Word +of God_: for these (indeed) carry no man beyond those bounds of good +Conscience, which are certain & fixed either in Gods Laws, as to the +Generall; or the Laws of the State and Kingdom, as to the particular +regulation and exercise of mens duties. + +I would to God such as glory most in the name of _Covenanters_, would +keep themselves within those lawfull bounds, to which God hath called +them: surely it were the best way to expiate the rashnesse of taking +it; which must needs then appear, when besides the want of a full and +lawfull Authority at first to enjoyn it, it shall actually be carried +on beyond and against those ends which were in it specified and +pretended. I willingly forgive such mens taking the Covenant, who keep +it within such bounds of Piety, Law, and Loyaltie, as can never hurt +either the Church, My self, or the Publick Peace: Against which, no +mans lawfull Calling can engage him. + +As for that Reformation of the Church which the Covenant pretends, I +cannot think it just or comely, that by the partiall advice of a +few Divines, (of so soft and servile tempers, as disposed them to so +sudden acting and compliance, contrary to their former judgements, +profession, and practise) such foule scandalls and suspitions should +be cast upon the Doctrine and Government of the Church of _England_, +as was never done (that I have heard) by any that deserved the name of +_Reformed Churches_ abroad, nor by any men of learning and candour at +home: all whose judgments _I_ cannot but prefer before any mens now +factiously engaged. + +No man can be more forward then My self to carry on all due +Reformations, which mature judgment, and a good Conscience, in what +things I shall (after impartiall advise) be, by Gods Word, and right +reason, convinced to be amiss, I have offered more than ever the +fullest, freest, and wisest Parliaments did desire. + +But the sequele of some mens actions makes it evident, that the maine +information intended, is the abasing of Episcopacy into Presbytery, +and the robbing of the Church of its Lands and Revenues: For, no men +have been more injuriously used, as to their legall Rights then +the Bishops, and Church-men. These, as the fattest Dear, must be +destroyed; the other Rascal herd of Schismes, Heresies, &c. being +leane, may enjoy the benefit of a Toleration: Thus _Naboth_'s +Vine-yard made him the onely Blasphemer of his City, and fit to die. +Still I see: while the breath of Religion fills the Sailes, Profit +is the compasse, by which Factious men steer their course in all +seditious Commotions. + +I thank God, as no man lay more open to the sacrilegious temptation of +usurping the Churches Lands, and Revenues, (which issuing chiefly from +the Crown, are held of it, and legally can revert onely to the Crowne +with my Consent) so I have alwayes had such a perfect abhorrence of +it in my Soule, that I never found the least inclination to such +sacrilegious Reformings: yet no man hath a greater desire to have +Bishops and all Church-men, so reformed, that they may best deserve +and use, not onely what the pious munificence of My Predecessours +hath given to God and the Church, but all other additions of Christian +bounty. + +But no necessity shall ever, I hope, drive me or Mine to invade +or sell the Priests Lands, which both _Pharaoh's_ divinity, and +_Joseph's_ true piety abhorred to do: So unjust I think it both in the +eye of Reason and Religion, to deprive the most sacred employment of +all due incouragements; and like that other hard-hearted _Pharaoh_, to +withdraw the Straw, and encrease the Task; so pursuing the oppressed +Church as some have done, to the red Sea of a Civill War, where +nothing but a miracle can save either it, or him, who esteems it +his greatest Title to be called, and his chiefest glory to be +_The defender of the Church, both in its true faith, and its just +fruitions; equally abhoring Sacriledge and Apostacy_. + +I had rather live as my Predecessour _Henry_ the 3. sometime did, on +the Churches alms, then violently to take the bread out of Bishops and +Ministers mouths. + +The next work will be _Jeroboam's_ reformation, consecrating the +meanest of the people to be Priests in _Israel_, to serve those Golden +_Calves_ who have enrich'd themselves with the Churches Patrimony and +Dowry; which how it thrived both with Prince, Priests and people, is +well enough known: And so it will be here, when from the tuition of +Kings and Queens, which have been nursing fathers and mothers of this +Church, it will be at their allowance, who have already discovered, +what hard fathers and step-mothers they will be. + +If the poverty of _Scotland_ might, yet the plenty of _England_ cannot +excuse the envy and rapine of the Churches Rights and Revenues. + +I cannot so much as pray God to prevent those sad consequences, which +will inevitably follow the parity and poverty of Ministers, both +in Church and State; since I think it no lesse then a mocking and +tempting of God, to desire him to hinder those mischiefs whose +occasions and remedies are in our own power; it being every mans sin +not to avoid the one, and not to use the other. + +There are ways enough to repair the breaches of the State without the +ruins of the Church; as I would be a restorer of the one, so I would +not be an oppressor of the other under the pretence of publick Debts: +The occasions contracting them were bad enough, but such a discharging +of them would be much worse; I pray God neither I, nor mine, may be +accessary to either. + + +_To thee, O Lord, do I addresse my Prayer, beseeching thee to pardon +the rashness of my Subjects Swearings, and to quicken their sense and +observation of those just, morall and indispensable bonds, which thy +word and the Laws of this Kingdom have laid upon their Consciences; +From which no pretensions of Piety & reformation are sufficient to +absolve them; or to engage them to any contrary practises._ + +_Make them at length seriously to consider that nothing violent and +injurious can be religious._ + +_Thou allowest no mans committing Sacriledge under the zeal of +abhorring Idols._ + +_Suffer not sacrilegious designs to have the countenance of religious +ties._ + +_Thou hast taught us by the wisest of Kings, that it is a snare to +take things that are holy, and Vows to mak enquiry._ + +_Ever keep thy Servant from consenting to perjurious and sacraligeous +rapinei, that I may not have the brand and curse to all posterity of +robing Thee and thy Church, of what thy bounty hath given us, and thy +clemencie hath accepted from us, wherewith to encourage Learning and +Religion._ + +_Though My Treasures are Exhausted, My Revenues Diminished, and My +Debts Encreased, yet never suffer Me to be tempted to use such profane +Reparation; lest a coal from thine Altar set such a fire on My Throne +and Conscience as will hardly be quenched._ + +_Let not the Debts and Engagements of the Publique, which some mens +folly and prodigalitie hath contracted, be an occasion to impoverish +thy Church._ + +_The State may soon recover, by thy blessing of peace upon us; The +Church is never likely, in times, where the Charity of most men is +grown so cold, and their Religion so illiberall._ + +_Continue to those that serve Thee and thy Church all those +encouragements, which by the will of the pious Donours, and the +justice of the Laws are due unto them; and give them grace to deserve +and use them aright to thy glory, & the relief of the poor: That +shy Priests may be cloathed with righteousnesse, and the poor may be +satisfed with bread._ + +_Let not holy things be given to Swine; nor the Churches bread to +Dogs; rather let them go about the City, grin like a Dog, and grudge +that they are not satisfied._ + +_Let those sacred morsels, which some men have already by violence +devoured, never digest with them, nor theirs; Let them be as_ Naboth's +_Vineyard to_ Ahab, _gall in their mouths, rottennesse to their names, +a moth to their families, and a sting to their Consciences._ + +_Break in sunder O Lord, all violent and sacrilegious Confederations +to do wickedly and injuriously._ + +_Divide their hearts and tongues who have bandyed together against the +Church and State, that the folly of such may be manifest to all men, +and proceed no further._ + +_But so savour My righteous dealing, O Lord, that in the mercies of +thee, the most High, I may never miscarry._ + + * * * * * + + + + +15. _Vpon the many Jealousies raised, and Scandals cast upon the_ +KING, _to stirre up the People against him._ + + +If _I_ had not My own Innocency, and Gods protection, it were hard +for Me to stand out against those stratagems and conflicts of malice, +which by falsities seek to oppresse the Truth; and by Jealousies to +supply the defect of reall causes, which might seem to justifie so +unjust ingagements against Me. + +And indeed, the worst effects of open hostility come short of these +designes: For, _I_ can more willingly lose My Crownes, then My credit; +nor are My Kingdomes so dear to Me, as My Reputation and Honor. + +Those must have a period with my life; but these may survive to a +glorious kind of Immortality, when I am dead and gone: A good name +being the imbalming of Princes, and a sweet consecrating of them to an +Eternity of love and gratitude among Posterity. + +Those foul and false aspersions were secret engines at first employed +against My peoples love to Me: that undermining their opinion and +value of Me, My enemies, and theirs too might at one blow up their +affections, and batter down their loyalty. + +Wherein yet, I thank God, the detriment of My Honor is not so +afflictive to Me, as the sin and danger of My peoples souls, whose +eyes once blinded with such mists of suspicions, they are soon misled +into the most desperate precipices of actions: wherein they do not +only, not consider their sin and danger, but glory in their zealous +adventures; while I am rendred to them so fit to be destroyed, that +many are ambitious to merit the name of My Destroyers; Imagining they +then fear God most, when they least honor their King. + +I thank God, I never found but My pity was above My anger; nor have +My passions ever so prevailed against me, as to exclude My most +compassionate prayers for them, whom devout errours more then their +own malice have betrayed to a most religious Rebellion. + +I had the Charity to interpret, that most part of My Subjects fought +against My supposed Errours, not My person; and intended to mend Me, +not to end Me: And _I_ hope that God pardoning their Errours, hath +so farre accepted and answered their good intentions, as he hath yet +preserved Me, so he hath by these afflictions prepared me, both to do +him better service, and My people more good then hitherto I have done. + +I do not more willingly forgive their seductions, which occasioned +their loyall injuries, then I am ambitious by all Princely merits to +redeem them from their unjust suspicions, and reward them for their +good intentions. + +I am too conscious to My own affections toward the generality of my +people to suspect theirs to Me; nor shall the malice of My Enemies +ever be able to deprive Me of the comfort which that confidence +gives Me; I shall never gratifie the spightfulnesse of a few with +any sinister thoughts of all their Allegiance, whom pious frauds have +seduced. + +The worst some mens ambition can do, shall never perswade Me, to make +so bad interpretations of most of My Subjects actions; who possibly +may be erroneous, but not Hereticall in point of Loyalty. + +The sence of the injuries done to My Subjects is as sharp, as those +done to My Self; our welfares being inseparable; in this only they +suffer more then My self, that they are animated by some seducers to +injure at once both themselves and Me. + +For this it is not enough to the malice of My Enemies, that I +be afflicted; but it must be done by such instruments, that My +afflictions grieve Me not more, then this doth, that I am afflicted +by those, whose prosperity I earnestly desire, and whose seduction I +heartily deplore. + +If they had been my open and forraign Enemies, I could have born it; +but they must be My own Subjects, who are next to My Children dear to +me: And for the restoring of some tranquillity, I could willingly +be the _Jonah_, if I did not evidently fore-see, that by the divided +interests of their and Mine Enemies, as by contrary winds, the storm +of their miseries would be rather increased then allayed. + +I had rather prevent my peoples ruin then rule over them; nor am I +so ambitious of that Dominion which is but My Right, as of their +happiness; If it could expiate or countervail such a way of obtaining +it, by the highest injuries of subjects committed against their +Soveraign. + +Yet I had rather suffer all the miseries of life, and die many deaths, +then shamefully to desert, or dishonourable to betray My own just +Rights and Soveraignty; thereby to gratifie the ambition, or justifie +the malice of my enemies; between whose malice, and other mens +mistakes, I put as great a difference, as between an ordinary Ague and +the Plague; or the Itch of Novelty, and the Leprosie of Disloyalty. + +As Liars need have good memories, so malicious persons need good +inventions; that their calumnies may fit every mans fancy; and what +their reproaches want of truth, they may make up with numbers and +shew. + +My patience (I thank God) wil better serve Me to bear, and My charity +to forgive, then My leisure to answer the many false Aspersions which +some men have cast upon Me. + +Did I not more consider My Subjects Satisfaction, then my owne +Vindication, I should never have given the malice of some men that +pleasure, as to see me take notice of, or remember what they say, or +object. + +I would leave the Authors to be punished by their own evill manners, +and seared Consciences, which will, I believe, in a shorter time then +they be aware of, both confute and revenge all those black and false +Scandals which they have cast on me; And make the world see, there is +as little truth in them, as there was little worth in the broaching of +them, or Civility, (I need not say Loyalty) in the not suppressing +of them; whose credit and reputation, even with the people, shall ere +long be quite blasted by the breath of that same fornace of popular +obloquy, and detraction, which they have studied to heat and inflame +to the highest degree of infamy, and wherein they have sought to cast +and consume My Name and Honor. + +First, nothing gave me more cause to suspect, and search mine own +innocencie, then when I observed so many forward to engage against +me, who had made great professions of singular piety; For this gave +to Vulgar minds so bad a reflection upon me and my Cause, as if it +had been impossible to adhere to me, and not withall part from God; +to think or speak well of me, and not to blaspheme him; so many were +perswaded that these two were utterly inconsistent, to be at once +Loyall to Me, and truly Religious toward God. + +Not but that I had (I thank God) many with me, which were both +learned and Religious, (much above that ordinary size, and that Vulgar +proportion wherein some men glory so much) who were so well satisfied +in the cause of my sufferings, that they chose rather to suffer with +me, then forsake me. + +Nor is it strange, that so religious Pretensions as were used against +me, should be to many well-minded men a great temptation to oppose me; +especially, being urged by such popular Preachers as think it no sin +to lie for God, and what they please to call Gods Cause, cursing all +that will not curse with them; looking so much at, and crying up the +goodnesse of the end propounded, that they consider not the lawfulness +of the means used nor the depth of the mischief, chiefly plotted and +intended. + +The weakness of these mens judgments must be made up by their clamours +and activity. + +It was a great part of some mens Religion to scandalize me and mine; +they thought theirs could not be true, if they cried not down Mine as +false. + +I thank God, I have had more triall of his grace, as to the constancy +of my Religion in the Protestant profession of the Church of +_England_, both abroad, and at home, then ever they are like to have. + +Nor do _I_ know any exception I am so liable to, in their opinion, +as too great a fixedness in that Religion, whose judicious and +solid grounds, both from Scripture, and Antiquity, will not give my +conscience leave to approve or consent to those many dangerous and +divided innovations, which the bold ignorance of some men would needs +obtrude upon me, and my people. + +Contrary to those well tried foundations both of Truth, and Order, +which men of far greater Learning, and clearer Zeal, have settled in +the Confession and Constitution of this Church in _England_, which +many former Parliaments in the most calm, and unpassionate times, +have oft confirmed; In which I shall ever, by Gods help, persevere, as +beleeving it hath most of primitive Truth and Order. + +Nor did my using the assistance of some Papists, which were my +Subjects, any way fight against my Religion, some men would needs +interpret it: especially those who least of all men cared whom they +imployed, or what they said and did, so they might prevail. + +'Tis strange that so wise men, as they would be esteemed, should not +conceive, That differences of perswasion in matters of Religion may +easily fall out, where there is the samenesse of duty, Allegeance +and subjection: The first they owe as men and Christians to God; the +second they owe to me in common, as their KING: different professions +in point of Religion cannot (any more then in civill Trades) take away +the community of relations either to Parents, or to Princes. And where +is there such an _Oglio_ or medly of various Religions in the world +again, as those men entertain in their service (who finde most fault +with me) without any scruple, as to the diversity of their Sects and +Opinions! + +It was, indeed, a foul and indeleable shame, for such as would be +counted Protestants, to inforce Me, a declared Protestant, their Lord +and King, to a necessary use of Papists, or any other, who did but +their duty to help Me to defend my self. + +Nor did I more then is lawful for any King, in such exigents to use +the aid of any his Subjects. + +I am sorry the Papists should have a greater sense of their Allegeance +then many Protestant Professors; who seem to have learned, and to +practise the worst Principles of the worst Papists. + +Indeed, it had been a very impertinent and unseasonable scruple in +me, (and very pleading, no doubt to my Enemies) to have been then +disputing the points of different beliefs in my Subjects, when I +was disputed with by Swords points: and when I needed the help of my +Subjects as men, no lesse then their prayers as Christians. + +The noise of my evill Counsellours was another usefull device for +those, who were impatient any mens counsels but their own should be +followed in Church or State; who were so eager in giving me better +counsel, that they would not give me leave to take it with freedom, as +a Man; or honour, as a King; making their Counsels more like a drench, +that must be powred down, then a draught, which might be fairly and +leisurely drank, if I liked it. + +I will not justifie beyond humane errour and frailties my Self, or my +Counsellours: They might be subject to some miscarriages, yet such +as were far more reparable by second and better thoughts, then those +enormous extravagances wherewith some men have now even wildred, and +almost quite lost both Church and State. + +The event of things at last will make it evident to my Subjects, that +had I followed the worst Counsels that my worst Counsellours ever had +the boldnesse to offer to me, or my Self any inclination to use; +I could not so soon have brought both Church and State in three +flourishing Kingdoms, to such a _Chaos_ of confusion, and hell of +miseries as some have done; out of which they cannot, or will not, +in the midst of their many great advantages, redeem either Me, or my +Subjects. + +No men were more willing to complain, then I was to redresse what I +saw in reason was either done or advised amisse: and this I thought I +had done, even beyond the expectation of moderate men: who were sorry +to see me prone even to injure my Self, out of a zeal to relieve my +Subjects. + +But other mens insatiable desire of revenge upon Me, my Court, and my +Clergie, hath wholly beguiled both Church and State of the benefit of +all my either Retractations or Concessions; and withall, hath deprived +all those (now so zealous Persecutors) both of the comfort and reward +of their former pretended Persecutions, wherein they so much gloryed +among the Vulgar; and which, indeed a truly humbly Christian will so +highly prize, as rather not be relieved, then be revenged, so as to be +bereaved of that Crown of Christian patience, which attends humble and +injured sufferers. + +Another artifice used to withdraw my peoples affections from me to +their designes, was, the noise and ostentation of Liberty, which men +are not more prone to desire, then unapt to bear in the popular sense; +which is to doe what every man liketh best. + +If the divinest Liberty be to will what men should, and to do what +they so will, according to Reason, Laws and Religion; I envie not my +Subjects that liberty, which is all I desire to enjoy my self; So far +am I from the desire of oppressing theirs. Now were those Lords and +Gentlemen which assisted me, so prodigal of their Liberties, as with +their Lives and Fortunes to help on the enslaving of themselves and +their Posterities? + +As to Civil Immunities, none but such as desire to drive on their +ambitious and covetous Designes over the ruines of Church and State, +Prince, Peers, and People, will ever desire greater Freedoms than the +Laws allow; whose bounds good men count their Ornament and Protection; +others their Manacles and Oppression. + +Nor is it just any man should expect the reward and benefit of the +Law, who despiseth his rule and direction, losing justly his Safety, +while he seeks an unreasonable Libertie. + +Time will best inform my Subjects, that those are the best +preservers of their true Liberties, who allow themselves the least +licentiousnesse against or beyond the Laws. + +They will feel it at last to their cost, that it is impossible those +men should be really tender of their fellow-subjects liberties, who +have the hardinesse to use their King with so severe restraints, +against all Laws, both Divine and Humane; under which yet I wil rather +perish, then complain to those, who want nothing to compleat their +mirth and triumph, but such musick. + +In point of true conscientious tendernesse (attended with humility and +meeknesse, not with proud and arrogant activity, which seeks to hatch +every egg of different opinion to a Faction or Schism) I have oft +declared, how little I desire my Laws and Scepter should intrench on +Gods Soveraignty, which is the onely King of mens Consciences; and yet +he hath laid such restraints upon men, as commands them to be +subject for conscience sake, giving no men liberty to break the Law +established, further then with meeknesse and patience they are content +to suffer the penalty annexed, rather then perturb the publick Peace. + +The truth is, some mens thirst after Novelties, others despair to +relieve the necessities of their Fortunes, or satisfie their Ambition +in peaceable times, (distrusting Gods providence, as well as their own +merits) were the secret (but principal) impulsives to these popular +Commotions, by which Subjects have been perswaded to expend much of +those plentifull Estates they got, and enjoyed under my Government +in peaceable times; which yet must now be blasted with all the odious +reproaches which impotent malice can invent; and my Self exposed to +all those contempts, which may most diminish the Majesty of a King, +and increase the ingratefull insolencies of my People. + +For mine Honour, I am well assured, that as mine Innocency is clear +before God, in point of any calumnies they object; so my Reputation +shall like the Sun (after Owls and Bats have had their freedom in the +night and darker times) rise and recover it self to such a degree +of splendour, as those ferall Birds shall be grieved to behold, and +unable to bear. For never were any Princes more glorious, then those +whom God hath suffered to be tried in the fournace of afflictions, by +their injurious Subjects. + +And who knows but the just and mercifull God will do me good, for some +mens hard, false, and evill speeches against Me; wherein they speak +rather what they wish, then what they beleeve, or know. + +Nor can I suffer so much in point of Honour, by those rude and +scandalous Pamphlets (which like fire in great conflagrations, fly +up and down to set all places on like flames) as those men do, who +pretending to so much piety, are so forgetfull of their duty to God +and Me: By no way ever vindicating the Majesty of their KING against +any of those, who contrary to the precept of God, and precedent +of Angels, _speak evil of dignities, and bring railing accusations +against those_ who are honoured with the name of _Gods_. + +But 'tis no wonder if men not fearing God, should not honour their +KING. + +They will easily contemn such shadows of God, who reverence not that +Supreme and adorable Majestie, in comparison of whom all the glory of +Men and Angels is but obscurity; yet hath he graven such Characters of +divine Authority, and sacred Power upon Kings, as none may without sin +seek to blot them out. Nor shall their black veils be able to hide the +shining of my face, while God gives me an heart frequently and humbly +to converse with him, from whom alone are all the traditions of true +glory and majestie. + + +_Thou, O Lord, knowest my reproach, and my dishonour; my adversaries +are all before thee._ + +_My soul is among Lions, among them that are set on fire, even the +sons of men; whose teeth are spears and arrows, their tongue a sharp +sword._ + +_Mine enemies reproach me all the day long, and those that are mad +against me, are sworn together._ + +_O my God, how long shall the sons of men turn my glory into shame? +how long shall they love vanity, and seek after lies?_ + +_Thou hast heard the reproaches of wicked men on every side. Hold not +thy peace, lest my Enemies prevail against me, and lay mine honour in +the dust._ + +_Thou, O Lord, shalt destroy them that speak lies; the Lord will abhor +both the blood-thirsty and deceitfull men._ + +_Make my righteousnesse to appear as the light, and mine innocencie to +shine forth as the Sun at noon-day._ + +_Suffer not my silence to betray mine innocence, nor my displeasure, +my patience; That after my Saviours example, being reviled, I may not +revile again; and being cursed by them, I may bless them._ + +_Thou that wouldst not suffer_ Shimei's _tongue to go unpunished; when +by thy judgements on_ David _he might seem to justifie his disdainfull +reproaches, give me grace to intercede with thy mercy for these my +enemies, that the reward of false and lying tongues, even hot burning +coales of eternall fire, may not be brought upon them._ + +_Let my prayers, and patience, be as water to coole and quench their +tongues, who are already set on fire with the fire of Hell, and +tormented with those malitious flames._ + +_Let me be happy to refute, and put to silence their evill speaking by +well-doing; and let them enjoy not the fruit of their lips, but of my +prayer for their repentance, and thy pardon._ + +_Teach me_ Davids _patience and_ Hezekiah's _devotion, that I may look +to thy mercy through mans malice and see thy justice in their sin._ + +_Let_ Sheba's _seditious speeches_, Rabshekah's _railing, and_ +Shimei's _cursing, provoke, as my humble prayer to thee, so thy renued +blessing towards me._ + +_Though they curse, do thou bless, and I shall be blessed; and made a +blessing to my people._ + +_That the stone, which some builders refuse, may become the head-stone +of the corner._ + +_Look down from heaven, and save me, from the reproach of them that +would swallow me up._ + +_Hide me in the secret of thy presence, from the pride of man, and +keep me from the strife of tongues._ + + * * * * * + + + + +16. _Upon the Ordinance against the Common-Prayer Book._ + + +It is no newes to have all Innovations ushered in with the name +of Reformations in Church and State, by those, who seeking to gain +reputation with the Vulgar for their extraordinary parts, and piety, +must needs undoe what ever was formerly setled never so well and +wisely. + +So hardly can the pride of those that study Novelties, allow former +times any share or degree of wisedom or godliness. + +And because matter of prayer and devotion to God justly bears a great +part in Religion, (being the soules more immediate converse with the +divine Majesty) nothing could be more plausible to the people then to +tell them, they served God amiss in that point. + +Hence our publike Liturgy, or Forms of constant Prayers must be (not +amended, in what upon free and publick advice might seem to sober men +inconvenient for matter or manner, to which I should easily consent, +but) wholly cashiered, and abolished, and after many popular contempts +offered to the Booke, and those that used it according to their +consciences, and the Lawes in force, it must be crucified by an +Ordinance the better to please either those men, who gloried in their +extemporary veine and fluency: or others, who conscious to their own +formality in the use of it, thought they fully expiated their sin of +not using it aright, by laying all the blame upon it, and a totall +rejection of it as a dead letter, thereby to excuse the deadness of +their hearts. + +As for the matter contained in the Book, sober and learned men have +sufficiently vindicated it against the cavils and exceptions of those +who thought it a part of piety to make what profane objections they +could against it; especially for Popery and Superstition; whereas no +doubt the Liturgy was exactly conformed to the doctrine of the Church +of _England_; & this by all Reformed Churches is confessed to be most +sound and Orthodox. + +For the manner of using set and prescribed Forms, there is no doubt +but that wholsome words being known and fitted to mens understandings, +are soonest received into their hearts, and aptest to excite and carry +along with them judicious and fervent affections. + +Nor doe I see any reason why Christians should be weary of a +well-composed Liturgie (as I hold this to be) more then of all other +things, wherein the constancy abates nothing of the excellency and +usefulness. + +I could never see any Reason, why any Christian should abhor, or be +forbidden to use the same Forms of prayer, since he prayes to the same +God, believes in the same Saviour, professeth the same Truths, reads +the same Scriptures, hath the same duties upon him, and feels the +same daily wants for the most part, both inward and outward, which are +common to the whole Church. + +Sure we may as well beforehand know what we pray, as to whom we pray; +and in what word, as to what sense; when we desire the same things, +what hinders we may not use the same words? our appetite and digestion +too may be good, when we use, as we pray for, _our daily bread_. + +Some men, I hear, are so impatient not to use in all their devotions +their own invention and gifts, that they not only disuse (as too many) +but wholly cast away and contemn the _Lords Prayer_: whose great guilt +is, that it is the warrant and originall patern of all set Liturgies +in the Christian Church. + +I ever thought that the proud ostentation of mens abilities for +invention, and the vain affectation of variety for expressions, in +publike prayer, or any sacred administrations, merits a greater brand +of sin, then that which they call coldness and Barrenness: Nor are men +in those novelties less subject to formall and superficiall tempers, +(as to their hearts) then in the use of constant Forms, where not the +words, but mens hearts are to blame. + +I make no doubt but a man may be very formall in the most extemporary +variety; & very fervently devout in the most wonted expressions: Nor +is God more a God of variety, than of constancy: Nor are constant +Forms of prayers more likely to flat, and hinder the Spirit of Prayer +and Devotion, than an unpremeditated and confused variety, to distract +and lose it. + +Though I am not against a grave, modest, discreet, and humble use of +Ministers gifts, even in publique, the better to fit, and excite their +owne, and the peoples affections to the present occasions: yet I know +no necessity why private and single abilities should quite justle out, +& deprive the Church of the joynt abilities and concurrent gifts of +many learned and godly men; such as the Composers of the Service-Book +were; who may in all reason be thought to have more of gifts & graces +enabling them to compose with serious deliberation & concurrent +advice, such Forms of prayers, as may best fit the Churches common +wants, inform the Hearers understanding, and stir up that fiduciary +and fervent application of their spirits (wherein consists the very +life and soul of prayer, and that so much pretended Spirit of prayer) +then any private man by his solitary abilities, can be presumed to +have; which, what they are many times (even there, where they make +a great noise and shew) the affectations, emptinesse, impertinency, +rudenesse, confusions, flatnesse, levity, obscurity, vain and +ridiculous repetitions, the senslesse, and oft-times blasphemous +expressions; all these burthened with a most tedious and intolerable +length, do sufficiently convince all men, but those who glory in that +Pharisaick way. + +Wherein men must be strangely impudent, and flatterers of themselves, +not to have an infinite shame of what they do and say, in things of so +sacred a nature, before God and the Church, after so ridiculous, and +indeed, profane a manner. + +Nor can it be expected, but that in duties of frequent performance, as +Sacramentall administrations, and the like, which are still the same; +Ministers must either come to use their own Forms constantly, which +are not like to be so sound, or comprehensive of the nature of the +duty, as forms of publike composure; or else they must every time +affect new expressions when the subject is the same; which can hardly +be presumed in any mans greatest sufficiencies not to want (many +times) much of that compleatnesse, order, and gravity, becoming those +duties; which by this meanes are exposed at every celebration to every +Ministers private infirmities, indispositions, errours, disorders, and +defects, both for judgement and expression. + +A serious sense of which inconvenience in the Church unavoidably +following every mans severall manner of officiating, no doubt, first +occasioned the wisdome and piety of the Ancient Churches, to +remedy those mischiefs, by the use of constant Liturgies of publike +composure. + +The want of which I believe this Church will sufficiently feel, when +the unhappy fruits of many mens ungoverned ignorance, and confident +defects, shall be discovered in more errours, schismes, disorders, and +uncharitable distractions in Religion, which are already but too many, +and the more is the pitie. + +However, if violence must needs bring in and abet those innovations, +(that men may not seem to have nothing to do) which Law, Reason, and +Religion forbids, at least to be so obtruded, as wholly to justle out +the publike Liturgy; + +Yet nothing can excuse that most unjust and partiall severity of those +men, who either lately had subscribed to, used and maintained the +Service-book; or refused to use it, cried out of the rigour of Laws +and Bishops, which suffered them not to use the Liberty of their +Consciences in not using it. + +That these men, (I say) should so suddenly change the Liturgy into a +Directory, as if the Spirit needed help for invention, though not +for expressions; or as if matter prescribed did not as much stint and +obstruct the Spirit, as if it were cloathed in, and confined to fit +words (so slight & easie is that Legerdemain which will serve to +delude the vulgar.) + +That further, they should use such severity as not to suffer without +penalty, any to use the Common-Prayer-Book publikely, although their +consciences bind them to it, as a duty of Piety to God, and Obedience +to the Laws. + +Thus I see, no men are prone to be greater Tyrants, and more rigorous +exactors upon others to conform to their illegall novelties, then +such, whose pride was formerly least disposed to the obedience of +lawfull Constitutions; and whose licentious humours most pretended +consciencious liberties, which freedome, with much regret, they now +allow to Me, and My Chaplains, when they may have leave to serve Me, +whose abilities, even in their extemporary way comes not short of the +others, but their modesty and learning far exceeds the most of them. + +But this matter is of so popular a nature, as some men knew it would +not bear learned and sober debates, lest being convinced by the +evidence of Reason, as well as Laws, they should have been driven +either to sin more against their knowledge, by taking away the +Liturgie; or to displease some faction of the people, by continuing +the use of it. + +Though, I beleeve, they have offended more considerable men, not onely +for their numbers and estates, but for their weighty and judicious +piety, then those are, whose weaknesse or giddinesse they sought to +gratifie by taking it away. + +One of the greatest faults some men found with the Common-Prayer-Book, +I beleeve, was this, That it taught them to pray so oft for Me; to +which Petitions they had not Loyaltie enough to say _Amen_, nor yet +Charitie enough to forbear Reproaches, and even Cursings of Me in +their own Forms, in stead of praying for Me. + +I wish their repentance may be their onely punishment; that seeing +the mischiefs, which the disuse of publick Liturgies hath already +produced, they may restore that credit, use and reverence to them, +which by the ancient Churches were given to set Forms of sound and +wholsom words. + + +_And thou, O Lord, which art the same God, blessed for ever, whose +Mercies are full of varietie, and yet of constancie; Thou deniest us +not a new and fresh sense of our old and daily wants nor despisest +renewed affections joyned to constant expressions._ + +_Let us not want the benefit of thy Churches united and well advised +Devotions._ + +_Let the matters of our praiers be agreeable to thy will which is +always the same, and the fervency of our spirits to the motions of thy +holy Spirit in us._ + +_And then we doubt not, but thy spirituall perfections are such as +thou art neither to be pleased with affected Novelties for matter or +manner, nor offended with the pious constancy of our petitions in them +both._ + +_Whose varietie or constancie thou hast no where either forbidden or +commanded but left them to the piety and prudence of thy Church, that +both may be used, neither despised._ + +_Keep men in that pious moderation of their judgements in matters +of Religion; that their ignorance may not offend others, nor their +opinion of their own abilities tempt them to deprive others of what +they may lawfully and devoutly use, to help their infirmities._ + +_And since the advantage of Error consists in novelty & variety, as +truths in unity and constancy: Suffer not thy Church to be pestered +with errours, and deformed with undecencies in thy service, under the +pretence of variety and noveltie. Nor to be deprived of truth, +unitie, and order under this fallacy, That constancie is the cause of +formality._ + +_Lord, keepe us from formall Hypocrisie in our own Hearts, and then +we know that praying to thee, or praising of thee (with_ David, _and +other Holy men) in the same formes cannot hurt us._ + +_Give us wisdom to amend what is amiss within us, and there will be +less to mend without us._ + +_Evermore defend and deliver thy Church from the effects of blind +zeale and over-bold devotion._ + + * * * * * + + + + +17. _Of the differences between the_ KING _and the two Houses, in +Point of Church-Government._ + + +Touching the Government of the Church by Bishops, the common Jealousie +hath been, that I am earnest and resolute to maintain it, not so much +out of pietie, as policie, and reason of State. + +Wherein so far indeed reason of State doth induce me to approve that +Government above any other, as I find it impossible for a Prince to +preserve the State in quiet, unlesse he hath such an influence upon +Church-men, and they such a dependance on Him, as may best restraine +the seditious exorbitancies of Ministers tongues; who with the Keyes +of Heaven have so far the Keyes of the Peoples hearts, as they prevail +much by their Oratory to let in, or shut out, both Peace and Loyalty. + +So that I being (as King) intrusted by God, and the Lawes, with the +good both of Church and State; I see no Reason I should give up, or +weaken by any change, that power and influence which in right and +reason I ought to have over both. + +The moving Bishops out of the House of Peers (of which I have elswhere +given an account) was sufficient to take off any suspicion, that +I inclined to them for any use to be made of their Votes in State +affaires: Though indeed I never thought any Bishop worthy to sit in +that House, who would not Vote according to his Conscience. + +I must now in Charity be thought desirous to preserve that Government +in its Right constitution, as a matter of Religion; wherein both my +judgement is fully satisfied, that it hath of all other the fullest +Scripture grounds, and also the constant practise of all Christian +Churches; till of late years, the tumultuarinesse of People, or the +factiousnesse and pride of Presbyters, or the covetousnesse of some +States and Princes, gave occasion to some mens wits to invent +new models, and propose them under suspicious titles of _Christs +government, Scepter, and Kingdom_; the better to serve their turns, to +whom the change was beneficiall. + +They must give me leave, having none of their temptations to invite +me to alter the Government of Bishops, (that I may have a title to +their Estates) not to beleeve their pretended grounds to any new +waies: contrary to the full, and constant testimony of all Histories +sufficiently convincing unbiased men; that as the Primitive Churches +were undoubtedly governed by the Apostles and their immediate +Successours the first & best Bishops: so it cannot in reason or +charity be supposed, that all Churches in the world should either be +ignorant of the rule by them prescribed, or so soon deviate from their +divine & holy pattern: That since the first Age, for 1500 years not +one Example can be produced of any setled Church, wherein were many +Ministers and Congregations, which had not some Bishop above them, +under whose jurisdiction and government they were. + +Whose constant and universall practise agreeing with so large and +evident Scripture-directions, and examples, are set down in the +Epistles to _Timothy_ and _Titus_, for the setling of that Government +not in the persons onely _Timothy_ and _Titus_, but in the succession; +(the want of Government being that, which the Church can no more +dispence with, in point of wel-being, then the want of the word and +Sacrament in point of being.) + +I wonder how men came to looke with so envious an eye upon Bishops +power and authority, as to over-see both the Ecclesiasticall use +of them, and Apostolicall constitution: which to me seems no lesse +evidently set forth, as to the maine scope and designe of those +Epistles, for the setling of a peculiar Office, Power, and Authority +in them as President-Bishops above others, in point of Ordination, +Censures, and other acts of Ecclesiasticall discipline; then those +shorter characters of the qualities and duties of Presbyter-Bishops, +and Deacons are described in some parts of the same Epistles; who +in the latitude & community of the name were then, and may now not +improperly be called Bishops; as to the oversight and care of +single Congregations, committed to them by the Apostles, or those +Apostolicall Bishops, who (as _Timothy_ and _Titus_) succeeded them, +in that ordinary power, there assigned over larger divisions in which +were many presbyters. + +The humility of those first Bishops avoiding the eminent title of +Apostles as a name in the Churches stile appropriated from its common +notion (_of a Messenger, or one sent_) to that speciall dignity, which +had extraordinary call, mission, gifts and power immediately from +Christ: they contented themselves with the ordinary titles of Bishops +and Presbyters, until Use (the great Arbitrator of words, and Master +of language) finding reason to distinguish by a peculiar name those +persons, whose Power and Office were indeed distinct from, and above +all other in the Church, as succeeding the Apostles in the ordinary +and constant power of governing the Churches, (the honour of whose +name they moderately, yet commendably declined) all Christian Churches +(submitting to that special Authority) appropriated also the name of +Bishop, without any suspicion or reproach of arrogancie, to those who +were by Apostolicall propagation rightly descended and invested into +that highest and largest power of governing even the most pure and +Primitive Churches: which, without all doubt, had many such holy +Bishops, after the pattern of _Timothy_ and _Titus_; whose special +power is not more clearly set down in those Epistles (the chief +grounds and limits of all Episcopall claim, as from divine Right) then +are the characters of these perilous times and those men that make +them such; who not enduring sound Doctrine, and clear testimonies +of all Churches practice, are most perverse Disputers, and proud +Usurpers, against true Episcopacy: who if they be not Traytours and +Boasters, yet they seem to be very covetous, heady, high-minded; +inordinate and fierce, lovers of themselves, having much of the form, +little of the power of godlinesse. + +Who, by popular heaps of weak, light, and unlearned Teachers, seek +to over-lay and smother the pregnancy & authority of that power of +Episcopall Government, which, beyond all equivocation and vulgar +fallacy of names, is most convincingly set forth, both by Scripture, +and all after Histories of the Church. + +This I write rather like a Divine, then a Prince, that Posterity may +see (if ever these papers be publique) that I had faire grounds +both from Scripture-Canons, and Ecclesiasticall examples whereon my +judgement was stated for Episcopall Government. + +Nor was it any pollicy of State or obstinacy of will, or partiallity +of affection, either to the men, or their Function which fixed me; +who cannot in point of worldly respects be so considerable to me as to +recompence the injuries and losses I and my dearest relations with +my Kingdomes have sustained, and hazarded, chiefly at first upon this +quarrell. + +And not only in Religion, of which, Scripture is the best rule, and +the Churches Universall practise the best commentary, but also in +right reason, and the true nature of Government, it cannot be thought, +that an orderly Subordination among Presbyters, or Ministers, should +be any more against Christianity, then it is in all secular and civill +Governments, where Parity breeds confusion and faction. + +I can no more beleeve, that such Order is inconsistent with true +Religion, then good features are with beautie, or numbers with +harmonie. + +Nor is it likely that God, who appointed several Orders, and a +Prelacy, in the Government of his Church among the Jewish Priests, +should abhor or forbid them amongst Christian Ministers; who have +as much of the principles of Schism and division as other men; for +preventing and suppressing of which, the Apostolical wisdom (which was +Divine) after that Christians were multiplied to many Congregations, +and Presbyters with them appointed this way of Government, which might +best preserve Order and Union with Authority. + +So that, I conceive, it was not the favour of Princes, or ambition +of Presbyters; but the wisdom and piety of the Apostles, that first +settled Bishops in the Church; which Authority they constantly used +and enjoyned in those times, which were purest for Religion, though +sharpest for Persecution. + +Not that I am against the managing of this Presidency and Authority in +one man, by the joynt Councell and consent of many Presbyters: I +have offered to restore that, as a fit meanes to avoid those Errours, +Corruptions, and Partialities, which are incident to any one man: Also +to avoid Tyranny, which becoms no Christians, least of all Church-men; +besides, it will be a means to take away that burden, and _odium_ of +affairs, which may lie too heavy on one mans shoulders, as indeed I +think it formerly did on the Bishops here. + +Nor can I see what can be more agreeable both to Reason and Religion, +then such a frame or Government which is paternall, not Magistericall; +and wherein not onely the necessity of avoiding Faction and Confusion, +Emulations and Contempts, which are prone to arise among equals in +power and function; but also the differences of some Ministers gifts, +and aptitudes for Government above others, doth invite to imploy them, +in reference to those Abilities wherin they are Eminent. + +Nor is this judgement of mine touching Episcopacy, any re-occupation +of opinion, which will not admit any oppositions against it: It is +well known I have endeavoured to satisfie my self in what the chief +Patrons for other wayes can say against this, or for theirs: And I +find they have, as far lesse of Scripture grounds, and of Reason; so +for examples, and practice of the Church, or testimonies of Histories, +they are wholly destitute; wherein the whole stream runs so for +Episcopacy, that there is not the least rivulet for any others. + +As for those obtruded examples of some late reformed Churches (for +many retain Bishops still) whom necessity of Times and Affairs rather +excuseth, then commendeth for their inconformity to all Antiquity; I +could never see any reason why Churches orderly reformed, and governed +by Bishops, should be forced to conform to those few, rather then +to the catholick Example of all ancient Churches, which needed no +Reformation: And to those Churches at this day, who governed by +Bishops in all the Christian world, are many more then Presbyterians +or Independents can pretend to be; All whom the Churches in my three +Kingdoms, lately Governed by Bishops, would equalize (I think) if not +exceed. + +Nor is it any point of wisdom or charitie, where Christians differ (as +many do in some points) there to widen the differences, and at once to +give all the Christian world (except an handfull of some Protestants) +so great a scandall in point of Church-Government; whom, though you +may convince of their Errours in some points of Doctrine; yet you +shall never perswade them, that to compleat their Reformation, they +must necessarily desert, and wholly cast off that Government, which +they, and all before them have ever owned as Catholick, Primitive, +and Apostolical, so far, that never Schismaticks nor Hereticks (except +those Arrians) have strayed from the Unitie and Conformitie of the +Church in that point; ever having Bishops above Presbyters. + +Besides, the late generall approbation and submission to this +Government of Bishops, by the Clergy, as well as the Laitie of +these Kingdomes, is a great confirmation of my Judgment; and their +inconstancie is a great prejudice against their noveltie: I cannot +in charity so far doubt of their Learning or Integrity, as if they +understood not what heretofore they did; or that they did conform +contrary to their Consciences: So that their facility and levity is +never to be excused, who, before ever the point of Church-government +had any free & impartiall Debate, contrary to their former Oathes and +Practice, against their obedience to the Lawes in force, and against +my Consent, have not onely quite cryed down the Government by Bishops; +but have approved and incouraged the violent and most illegall +stripping all the Bishops, and many other Church-men, of all their due +Authority and Revenues, even to the selling away, and utter alienation +of those Church-lands from any Ecclesiastical uses: So great a power +hath the stream of times, and the prevalency of parties over some mens +judgments; of whose so sudden and so total change, little reason can +be given, besides the _Scots_ Armie coming into _England_. + +But the folly of these men will at last punish it self, and the +Desertors of Episcopacy will appear the greatest Enemies to, +and Betrayers of their own Interest: For Presbytery is never so +considerable or effectuall, as when it is joyned to, and crowned with +Episcopacy. All Ministers wil find as great a difference in point of +thriving, between the favour of the people, and of Princes, as plants +do between being watered by hand, or by the sweet and liberall dews of +Heaven. + +The tenuity and contempt of Clergy-men will soon let them see, what a +poor carcasse they are, when parted from the influence of that Head, +to whose Supremacy they have been sworn. + +A little moderation might have prevented great mischiefs. I am firm to +primitive Episcopacie, not to have it extirpated (if I can hinder it.) +Discretion without passion might easily reform what-ever the rust of +Times, or indulgence of Laws, or corruption of Manners have brought +upon it. It being a grosse vulgar errour, to impute to, or revenge +upon the Function, the faults of Times or Persons; which seditious and +popular principle and practice all wise men abhor. + +For these secular Additaments and Ornaments of Authority, Civil +Honour and Estate, which my Predecessours and Christian Princes in all +Countries have annexed to Bishops and Church-men; I look upon them but +as just rewards of their learning and piety, who are fit to be in any +degree of Church-Government: also enablements to works of Charitie +and Hospitality, meet strengthnings of their Authoritie in point of +respect and observance; which in peacefull Times is hardly paid to +any Governours by the measure of their Vertues, so much, as by that of +their Estates; Povertie and meanness exposing them and their Authority +to the contempt of licentious mindes and manners, which persecuting +Times much restrained. + +I would have such men Bishops, as are most worthy of those +encouragements, and best able to use them: if at any time my judgment +of men failed, my good intention made my errour veniall: And some +Bishops, I am sure, I had, whose learning, gravitie, and pietie, no +men of any worth or forehead can deny: But, of all men, I would have +Church-men, especially the Governours, to be redeemed from that vulgar +neglect; (which besides an innate principle of vitious opposition, +which is in all men against those that seem to reprove, or restrain +them) will necessarily follow both the Presbyterian parity, which +makes all Ministers equall; and the Independent inferiority, which +sets their Pastor below the People. + +This for My judgment touching Episcopacy, wherein (Gods knows) I doe +not gratifie any design or passion with the least perverting of Truth. + +And now I appeal to God above, and all the Christian world, whether +it be just for Subjects, or pious for Christians, by violence, and +infinite indignities, with servile restraints to seek to force Me +their KING and Soveraign, as some men have endevoured to doe, against +all these grounds of my Judgment, to consent to their weak and divided +novelties. + +The greatest Pretender of them desires not more than I doe, That the +Church should be governed, as Christ hath appointed, in true Reason, +and in Scripture; of which, I could never see any probable shew for +any other waies: who either content themselves with the examples of +some Churches in their infancy and solitude; when one Presbyter might +serve one Congregation, in a City or Countrey; or else they deny +these most evident Truths, That the Apostles were Bishops over Those +Presbyters they ordained, as well as over the Churches they planted; +and that Government being necessary for the Churches wel-being when +multiplied and sociated, must also necessarily descend from the +Apostles to others, after the example of that power and Superiority +they had above others: which could not end with their Persons, since +the use and ends of such Government still continue. + +It is most sure, that the purest Primitive and best Churches +flourished under Episcopacy; and may so still, if ignorance, +superstition, avarice, revenge, and other disorderly and disloyal +passions had not so blown up some mens minds against it, that what +they want of Reasons or primitive Patterns, they supply with violence +and oppressions; wherein some mens zeal for Bishops Lands, Houses and +Revenues hath set them on work to eat up Episcopacy: which (however +other men esteem) to Me is no lesse sin then Sacriledge, or a robbery +of God (the giver of all we have) of that portion which devout minds +have thankfully given again to him, in giving it to his Church and +Prophets; through whose hands he graciously accepts even a cup of cold +water, as a libation offered to himself. + +Furthermore, as to my particular Engagement above other men, by an +Oath agreeable to my judgement, I am solemnly obliged to preserve that +Government, and the rights of the Church. + +Were I convinced of the unlawfullnesse of the Function, as +Antichristian, (which some men boldly, but weakly calumniate) I could +soone, with Judgement, breake that Oath, which erroneously was taken +by me. + +But being daily by the best disquisition of truth, more confirmed in +the reason and Religion of that, to which I am sworn; How can any man +that wisheth not my damnation, perswade me at once to so notorious +and combined sins, of Sacriledge & Perjury? besides the many personall +Injustices I must doe to many worthy men, who are as legally invested +in their Estates, as any, who seeke to deprive them; and they have +by no Law, been convicted of those crimes, which might forfeit their +Estates and Lively-hoods. + +I have often wondred how men pretending to tendernesse of Conscience +and Reformation, can at once tell me, that my Coronation Oath binds +me to Consent to whatsoever they shall propound to Me (which they +urge with such violence) though contrary to all that Rationall and +Religious freedom which every man ought to preserve, & of which they +seem so tender in their own Votes: yet at the same time these men +will needs perswade Me. That I must, and ought to dispense with, and +roundly break that part of my Oath, which binds Me (agreeable to the +best light of Reason and Religion I have) to maintain the Government, +and legall Rights of the Church. 'Tis strange, my lot should be valid +in that part, which both my Self, and all men in their own case, +esteem injurious and unreasonable, as being against the very naturall +and essentiall libertie of our Souls; yet it should be invalid, and +to be broken in another clause, wherein I think my Self justly obliged +both to God and Man. + +Yet upon this Rack chiefly have I been held so long, by some mens +ambitious Covetousnesse, and sacrilegious Cruelty; torturing (with Me) +both Church and State in Civill Dissentions, til I shall be forced +to consent, and declare that I do approve, what (God knows) I utterly +dislike, and in my Soul abhor, as many wayes highly against Reason, +Justice, and Religion: and whereto, if I should shamefully and +dishonorably give my consent; yet should I not by so doing, satisfie +the divided Interests and Opinions of those Parties, which contend +with each other, as well as both against Me and Episcopacy. + +Nor can my late condescending to the _Scots_ in point of +Church-Government, be rightly objected against me, as an inducement +for me, to consent to the like in my other Kingdoms; For it should be +considered, That Episcopacie was not so rooted and setled there, as +'tis here; nor I (in that respect) so strictly bound to continue it in +that Kingdom, as in this; for what I think in my judgment best, I may +not think so absolutely necessary for all places, and at all times. + +If any shall impute my yeelding to them as my failing and sin, I can +easily acknowledge it; but that is no argument to do so again, or much +worse; I being now more convinced in that point: nor indeed, hath my +yeelding to them been so happy and successfull, as to encourage me to +grant the like to others. + +Did I see any thing more of Christ, as to Meeknesse, Justice, Order, +Charity, and Loyaltie in those that pretended to other modes of +Government, I might suspect my Judgment to be biassed, or fore-stalled +with some prejudice and wontednesse of opinion: but I have hitherto +so much cause to suspect the contrary in the manners of many of those +men, that I cannot from them gain the least reputation for their new +ways of Government. + +Nor can I find, that in any Reformed Churches (whose patterns are +so cried up, and obtruded upon the Churches under my Dominion) that +either Learning, or Religion, works of Piety or Charity, have +so flourished beyond what they have done in my Kingdoms (by +Gods blessing) which might make me believe either Presbytery or +Independency have a more benigne influence upon the Church and mens +hearts and lives, then Episcopacy in its right constitution. + +The abuses of which, deserve to be extirpated, as much as the use +retained; for I think it farre better to hold to primitive and +uniforme Antiquity, then to comply with divided novelty. + +A right Episcopacy would at once satisfie all just desires and +interests of good Bishops, humble presbyters, and sober People; so as +Church affaires should be managed neither with tyrannie, paritie nor +popularitie; neither Bishops ejected, nor presbyters dispised, nor +People oppressed, + +And in this integrity both of my Judgement and Conscience, I hope God +will preserve me. + + +_For thou, O Lord, knowest my uprightnesse, and tendernesse, as thou +hast set me to be a Defender of the Faith, and a Protectour of thy +Church, so suffer me not by any violence, to be overborne against my +Conscience._ + +_Arise O Lord, maintain thine own Cause, let not thy Church be +deformed, as to that Government, which derived from thy Apostles, hath +been retained in purest and primitive times, till the Revenues of the +Church became the object of secular envie; Which seeks to rob it of +all the incouragements of Learning and Religion._ + +_Make me as the good Samaritan, compassionate and helpfull to thy +afflicted Church; which some men have wounded and robb'd; others pass +by without regard, either to pitie or relieve._ + +_As my power was from thee, so give me grace to use it for thee._ + +_And though I am not suffered to be Master of my other Rights as a_ +KING; _yet preserve me in that libertie of Reason, love of Religion, +and thy Churches welfare which are fixed in my Conscience as a +Christian._ + +_Preserve from sacrilegious Invasions, those temporall blessings, +which thy Providence hath bestowed on thy Church for thy glorie._ + +_Forgive their sins and errours, who have deserved thy just +permission, thus to let in the wilde Boar and subtil Foxes, to waste +and deform thy Vineyard, which thy right hand hath planted, and the +dew of heaven so long watered to a happy and flourishing estate._ + +_O let me not bear the infamous brand to all Posteritie, of being the +first Christian_ KING, _in this Kingdom, who should consent to the +oppression of thy Church, and the Fathers of it; whose errours I +would rather, with_ Constantine, _cover with silence, and reform with +meeknesse, then expose their persons, and sacred Functions to vulgar +contempt._ + +_Thou, O Lord, seest how much I have suffered with, and for thy +Church; make no long tarrying O my God to deliver both me and it, from +unreasonable men whose counsels have brought forth, and continue such +violent confusions, by a precipitant destroying the ancient boundaries +of the Churches peace; thereby letting in all manner of errours, +scismes and disorders._ + +_O thou God of order, and of truth, in thy good time abate the malice, +asswage the rage, and confound all the mischievous devises of thine, +mine, and thy Churches enemies._ + +_That I, and all that love thy Church, may sing prayses to thee, and +ever magnifie thy salvation, even before the sons of men._ + + * * * * * + + + + +18. _Upon_ Uxbridge _Treaty, and other Offers made by the_ KING. + + +I looke upon the way of Treaties, as a retiring from fighting like +beasts, to arguing like men; whose strength should be more in their +understandings, then in their limbs. + +And though I could seldom get opportunities to Treat, yet I never +wanted either desire or disposition to it; having greater confidence +of my Reason, then my Sword. I was so wholy resolved to yeild to the +first, that I thought neither my self, not others, should need to use +the second, if once we rightly understood each other. + +Nor did I ever think it a diminution of me, to prevent them with +expresses of my desires, and even importunities to Treat: It being an +office not only of humanity, rather to use Reason then Force; but also +of Christianitie to _seek peace and ensue it_. + +As I am very unwillingly compelled to defend my self with Armes, so I +very willingly embraced any thing tending to Peace. + +The events of all War by the Sword being very dubious, and of a Civill +war uncomfortable; the end hardly recompencing, and late repairing the +mischiefe of the means. + +Nor did any successe I had ever enhaunce with me the price of Peace, +as earnestly desired by me as any man; though I was like to pay dearer +for it then any man: All that I sought to reserve, was, mine Honour +and my Conscience; the one I could not part with as a King, the other +as a Christian. + +The Treaty at _Uxbridg_ gave the fairest hopes of an happy composure; +had others applied themselves to it with the same moderation, as I +did, I am confident the war had then ended. + +I was willing to condescend, as far as Reason, Honour, and Conscience, +would give me leave: nor were the remaining differences so essentiall +to my peoples happinesse, or of such consequence, as in the least kind +to have hindred my Subjects either security or prosperity; for they +better enjoyed both many yeers, before ever those demands were made; +some of which to deny, I think the greatest Justice to my Self, and +favour to my Subjects. + +I see Jealousies are not so easily allayed, as they are raised: Some +men are more afraid to retreat from violent Engagements, then to +Engage: what is wanting in Equity, must be made up in Pertinacie. Such +as had little to enjoy in Peace, or to lose in War, studied to render +the very name of _Peace_ odious and suspected. + +In Church-affairs, where I had least libertie of prudence, having +so many strict ties of Conscience upon me, yet I was willing to +condescend so farr to the setling of them, as might have given fair +satisfaction to all men, whom Faction, Covetousness, or Superstition +had not engaged, more then any true zeal, charity, or love of +Reformation. + +I was content to yeeld to all that might seem to advance true piety; +I onely sought to continue what was necessary in point of Order, +Maintenance, and Authority to the Churches Government; and what I am +perswaded (as I have else-where set down my thoughts more fully) is +most agreeable to the true principles of all Government, raised to +its full stature and perfection, as also to the primitive Apostolicall +patterne, and the practice of the Universall Church conform therunto. + +From which wholly to recede, without any probable reason urged or +answered, only to satisfie some mens wills and fantasies (which yet +agree not among themselves in any point, but that of extirpating +Episcopacy, and fighting against Me) must needs argue such a +softnesse, and infirmity of mind in Me, as will rather part with Gods +Truth, then mans Peace, and rather lose the Churches honour, then +crosse some mens factious humours. + +God knows, and time will discover, who were most to blame for the +un-successfulnesse of that Treaty, and who must bear the guilt of +after-calamities. I beleeve, I am very excusable both before God, and +all unpassionate men, who have seriously weighed those transactions, +wherein I endeavoured no lesse the restauration of peace to my people, +then the preservation of my own Crowns to my posterity. + +Some men have that height, as to interpret all faire condescendings as +arguments of feeblenesse, and glory most in an unflexible stifnesse, +when they see others most supple and inclinable to them. + +A grand Maxime with them was alwayes to ask something, which in Reason +and Honour must be denied, that they might have some colour to refuse +all that was in other things granted; setting Peace at as high a rate, +as the worst effects of Warr; endevouring first to make Me destroy My +self by dishonourable Concessions, that so they might have the less to +do. + +This was all which that Treaty, or any other produced, to let the +world see how little I would deny, or they grant, in order to the +publick Peace. + +That it gave occasion to some mens further restivenesse, is imputable +to their own depraved tempers, not to any Concessions or negations +of Mine: I have alwayes the content of what I offered, and they the +regret and blame, for what they refused. + +The highest tide of success set me not above a Treaty, nor the lowest +ebbe below a Fight: Though I never thought it any sign of true valour, +to be prodigal of mens lives, rather then be drawne to produce our own +Reasons, or subscribe to other mens. + +That which made me for the most part presage the unsuccesfulnesse of +any Treaty, was, some mens unwillingnesse to Treat: which implied some +things were to be gained by the Sword, whose unseasonableness they +were loth to have fairly scanned, being more proper to be acted by +Souldiers, then by Counsellours. + +I pray God forgive them that were guilty of that Treaties breaking: +and give them grace to make their advantages gotten by the Sword a +better opportunity to use such moderation as was then wanting; that so +though Peace were for our sins justly deferred, yet at last it might +be happily obtained; what we could not get by our Treaties, we may +gaine by our prayers. + + +_O thou, that art the God of Reason, and of Peace, who disdainest not +to treat with Sinners, preventing them with offers of attonement, +and beseeching them to be reconciled with thy selfe: who wantest not +Power, or Iustice, to destroy them; yet aboundest in mercy to save: +soften our hearts by the bloud of our Redeemer, and perswade us to +accept of Peace with thy self, and both to procure and preserve Peace +among our selves, as Men and Christians. How oft have I entreated for +Peace? but when I speak thereof, they make them ready to War._ + +_Condemn us not to our passions, which are destructive both of our +selves, and of others._ + +_Cleer up our understandings to see thy Truth, both in reason, as Men; +and in Religion, as Christians: and incline all our hearts to hold +the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Take from us that enmity +which is now in our hearts against thee: and give us that charity +which should be among our selves._ + +_Remove the evils of war we have deserved, & bestow upon us that peace +which only Christ our great Peace-maker can merit._ + + * * * * * + + + + +19. _Upon the various events of the warre, victories, and defeats._ + + +The various successes of this unhappy war, have at least, afforded me +variety of good meditations: sometimes God was pleased to try me with +victory, by worsting my enemies, that I might know how with moderation +and thanks to own, and use his power, who is the onely true Lord of +Hosts, able when he pleases to represse the confidence of those who +fought against mee with so great advantage for power and number. + +From small beginnings on my part, hee let me see, that I was not +wholly for saken by my peoples love, or his protection. + +Other times God was pleased to exercise my patience, and teach me not +to trust in the arm of Flesh, but in the living God. + +My sins sometimes prevailed against the justice of my cause, and +those that were with me wanted not matter and occasion for his just +chastisement both of them and Mee: Nor were My Enemies lesse punished +by that prosperity which hardened them to continue that injustice by +open hostilitie, which was begun by most riotous and un-Parliamentary +Tumults. + +There is no doubt but personall and private sins may oft-times +over-balance the Justice of publick Engagements; nor doth God account +every gallant man (in the worlds esteem) a fit instrument to assert in +the way of War a righteous Cause: The more men are prone to arrogate +to their own skill, valour, and strength, the lesse doth God +ordinarily work by them for his own glory. + +I am sure the event or successe can never state the Justice of any +Cause, nor the peace of mens Consciences, nor the eternall fate of +their Souls. + +Those with Me had (I think) clearly and undoubtedly, for their +justification, the Word of God, and the Lawes of the Land, together +with their own Oathes; all requiring obedience to my just Commands; +but to none other under Heaven without me, or against me in the point +of raising Arms. + +Those on the other side are forced to flie to the shifts of some +pretended Fears, and wilde Fundamentals of State (as they call them) +which actually overthrow the present fabrick both of Church and State; +being such imaginary Reasons for self-defence as are most impertinent +for those men to alledge, who being my Subjects, were manifestly +the first assaulters of Me and the Laws: first, by unsuppressing the +Tumults, after by listed Forces: The same Allegations they use, will +fit any Faction that hath but power and confidence enough to second +with the Sword all their Demands against the present Laws and +Governours; which can never be such as some side or other will not +find fault with, so as to urge what they call a Reformation of them to +a Rebellion against them: some parasitick Preachers have dared to call +those Martyrs, who died fighting against Me, the Laws, their Oaths, +and the Religion established. + +But sober Christians know, That glorious Title can with truth be +applied onely to those, who sincerely preferred Gods Truth and their +duty in all these particulars before their lives, and all that was +dear to them in this world; who having no advantageous Designes by +any Innovasion, were Religiously sensible of those ties to God, the +Church, and my Self, which lay upon their souls, both for obedience, +and just assistance. + +God could, and I doubt not but hee did through his mercy, crown many +of them with eternall life, whose lives were lost in so just a Cause; +the destruction of their bodies being sanctified as a means to save +their souls. + +Their Wounds and temporal Ruine serving as a gracious opportunity for +their eternall Health and Happinesse; while the evident approach of +death, through Gods grace, effectually dispose their hearts to such +Humilitie, Faith, and Repentance, which together with the Rectitude of +their present Engagement, would fully prepare them for a better life +then that which their enemies brutish and disloyall fiercenesse could +deprive them of; or without repentance hope to enjoy. + +They have often, indeed, had the better against my side in the +Field, but never, I beleeve at the Bar of Gods Tribunal, or their +own Consciences; where they are more afraid to encounter those many +pregnant Reasons, both for Law, Allegiance, and all true Christian +grounds, which conflicts _with_, and accuse them _in_ their own +thoughts, then they oft were in a desperate bravery to fight against +those Forces which sometimes God gave me. + +Whose condition conquered, and dying, I make no question, but is +infinitely more to be chosen by a sober man (that duly values his +duty, his soul and eternity, beyond the enjoyment of this present +life) then the most triumphant glory, wherein their and mine Enemies +supervive; who can hardly avoid to be daily tormented by that horrid +guilt, wherewith their suspicious, or now convicted Consciences do +pursue them, especially since they and all the world have seen, how +false and unintended those pretensions were, which they first set +forth, as the onely plausible (though not justifiable) grounds of +raising a War, and continuing it thus long against Me, and the Laws +established; in whose safety and preservation all honest men think the +welfare of their Country doth consist. + +For, and with all which, it is far more honourable and comfortable to +suffer, then to prosper in their ruine and subversion. + +I have often prayed, that all on my side might join true pietie with +the sense of their Loyalty; and be as faithfull to God and their own +souls, as they were to Me; That the defects of the one might not blast +the endeavours of the other. + +Yet I cannot think, that any shews of truth of piety on the other +side were sufficient to dispence with, or expiate the defects of their +dutie and Loyaltie to Me, which have so pregnant convictions on mens +consciences, that even profaner men are moved by the sense of them to +venture their lives for Me. + +I never had any Victory which was without My sorrow, because it was +on Mine own Subjects, who, like _Absolom_, died many of them in their +sin: And yet I never suffered any Defeat which made Me despair of Gods +mercy and defence. + +I never desired such victories, as might serve to conquer, but only +restore the Laws and Liberties of My people; which I saw were extremly +oppressed, together with my rights, by those men, who were impatient +of any just restraint. + +When Providence gave Me, or denied Me Victory, my desire was never to +boast of my power nor to charge God foolishly; who I believed at last +would make all things to work together for my good. + +I wished no greater advantages by the War, then to bring my Enemies to +moderation, and my Friends to peace. + +I was afraid of the temptation of an absolute conquest, and never +prayed more for Victory over others, then over my self. When the first +was denied, the second was granted me, which God saw best for me. + +The different events were but the methods of divine justice, by +contrary winds to winow us: That, by punishing our sins, he might +purge them from us; and by deferring peace, he might prepare us more +to prize, and better to use so great a blessing. + +My often Messages for Peace shewed, that I delighted not in Warre; as +my former Concessions sufficiently testified, how willingly I would +have prevented it; and My totall unpreparedness for it, how little _I_ +intended it. + +The Conscience of my Innocence forbad Me to fear a Warr; but the love +of my Kingdoms commanded me (if possible) to avoid it. + +I am guilty in this War of nothing but this, That I gave such +advantages to some men, by confirming their power, which they knew not +to use with that modesty and gratitude, which became their loyalty and +My confidence. + +Had I yeelded lesse, I had been opposed lesse; had I denied more, I +had been more obeyed. + +'Tis now too late to review the occasions of the War; I wish only a +happy conclusion of so unhappy beginnings: The inevitable fate of our +sins was (no doubt) such, as would no longer suffer the divine Justice +to be quiet: we having conquered this patience, are condemned by +mutuall conquerings, to destroy one another: for, the most prosperous +successes on either side, impair the welfare of the whole. + +Those Victories are still miserable, that leave our sins unsubdued; +flushing our pride, and animating to continue injuries. + +Peace is not it self desirable, till repentance hath prepared us for +it. + +When we fight more against our selves, and lesse against God, we shall +cease fighting against one another; I pray God these may all meet +in our hearts, and so dispose us to an happy conclusion of these +Civil-Wars; that I may know better to obey God, and govern my people, +and they may learn better to obey both God and me. + +Nor do _I_ desire any man should be further subject to me, then all of +us may be subject to God. + + +_O my God, make me content to be overcome, when thou wilt have it so._ + +_Teach me the noblest victory over my self and my enemies by patience, +which was Christs conquest, and may well become a Christian King._ + +_Between both thy hands, the right sometimes supporting, and the left +afflicting, fashion us to that frame of Piety thou likest best._ + +_Forgive the pride that attends our prosperous, and the repinings +which follow our disastrous events; when going forth in our own +strength thou withdrawest thine, and goest not forth with our Armies._ + +_Be thou all, when we are something, and when we are nothing; that +thou mayest have the glory, when we are in a Victorious, or inglorious +condition._ + +_Thou O Lord knowest, how hard it is for me to suffer so much evill +from my Subjects, to whom I intend nothing but good; and I cannot +but suffer in those evils which they compel me to inflect upon them; +punishing my self in their punishments._ + +_Since therefore both in conquering, and being conquered, I am still +a Sufferer: I beseech thee to give me a double portion of thy Spirit, +and that measure of grace, which only can be sufficient for me._ + +_As I am most afflicted, so make me most reformed: that I may not be +only happy to see an end of those civill distractions, but a chief +Instrument to restore and establish a firm, and blessed Peace to my +Kingdoms._ + +_Scirre up all Parties pious ambitions to overcome each other with +reason, moderation, and such self-deniall, as becomes those, who +consider that our mutuall divisions are our common distractions, and +the Union of all is every good mans chiefest interest._ + +_If O Lord, as for the sins of our peace, thou hast brought upon us +the miseries of War: so for the sins of War thou shouldst see fit +still to deny us the blessing of peace, and so to keep us in a +circulation of miseries: yet give me thy Servant, and all Loyall, +though afflicted Subjects, to enjoy that peace which, the world can +nether give to us, nor take from us._ + +_Impute not to me the blood of my Subjects, which with infinite +unwillingness and griefe, hath been shed by me, in my just & necessary +defence: but wash me with that precious blood, which hath been shed +for me, by my great Peacemaker, Jesus Christ; Who will, I trust, +redeem me shortly out of all my troubles: for, I know the triumphing +of the Wicked is but short, and the joy of Hypocrites is but for a +moment._ + + * * * * * + + + + +20. _Upon the Reformation of the Times._ + + +No Glory is more to be envied then that of due reforming either +Church or State, when deformities are such, that the perturbation and +noveltie are not like to exceed the benefit of Reforming. + +Although God should not honour me so far, as to make me an Instrument +of so good a work, yet _I_ should be glad to see it done. + +As I was well pleased with this Parliaments first intentions to reform +what the indulgence of Times, and corruption of manners might have +depraved; so I am sorry to see after the freedom of Parliament was by +factious Tumults oppressed, how little regard was had to the good Laws +established, and the Religion setled; which ought to be the first +rule and standard of Reforming: with how much partiality and popular +compliance the passions and opinions of men have been gratified, +to the detriment of the Publick, and the infinite scandall of the +reformed Religion? + +What dissolutions of all Order and Government in the Church? what +novelties of Schism, and corrupt opinions? what undecencies and +confusions in sacred Administrations? what sacrilegious Invasions upon +the Rights and Revenues of the Church? what contempt and oppressions +of the Clergie? what injurious diminutions and persecutings of Me +have followed (as showers do warm gleams) the talk of Reformation, all +sober men are Witnesses, and with my self, sad Spectators hitherto. + +The great miscarriage (I think) is, that popular clamours and fury +have been allowed the reputation of zeal, and the Publick sense; so +that the studies to please some Parties, hath indeed injured all. + +Freedom, Moderation and Impartiality are sure the best tempers of +reforming Counsels and endeavours; what is acted by Factions, cannot +but offend more then it pleaseth. + +I have offered to put all differences in Church affairs and Religion +to the free consultation of a Synod or Convocation rightly chosen; the +results of whose Councels, as they would have included the Votes of +all, so its like they would have given most satisfaction to all. + +The Assembly of Divines, whom the two Houses have applied (in an +unwonted way) to advise of Church affairs, I dislike not farther, then +that they are not legally convened and chosen; nor act in the name of +all the Clergy of _England_; nor with freedom and impartiality can +do any thing, being limited and confined, if not overawed, to do and +declare what they do. + +For I cannot think so many men cried up for learning and piety, +who formerly allowed the Liturgy and Government of the Church of +_England_, as to the main, would have so suddenly agreed quite +to abolish both of them, (the last of which, they know to be of +Apostolicall institution, at least; as of Primitive and Universall +practice) if they had been left to the liberty of their own +suffrages, and if the influence of contrary factions had not by secret +encroachments of hopes and fears, prevailed upon them, to comply with +so great and dangerous Innovations in the Church; without any regard +to their own former judgment and practice, or to the common interest +and honour of all the Clergy, and in them of Order, learning, and +Religion against examples of all Ancient Churches; the Lawes in force +and my consent; which is never to be gained, against so pregnant +light, as in that point shines on my understanding. + +For I conceive, that where the Scripture is not so clear and punctuall +in precepts, there the constant and Universall practice of the Church, +in things not contrary to Reason, Faith, good Manners, or any positive +Command, is the best rule that Christians can follow. + +I was willing to grant, or restore to Presbytery, what with Reason or +Discretion it can pretend to, in a conjuncture with Episcopacy; but +for that wholy to invade the Power, and by the Sword to arrogate, and +quite abrogate the Authority of that Ancient Order, I thinke neither +just, as to episcopacy, nor safe for Presbytery; nor yet any way +convenient for this Church or State. + +A due reformation had easily followed moderate Counsels: and such (I +beleeve) as would have given more content, even to the most of those +Divines, who have been led on with much Gravity and formality, to +carry on other mens designes which no doubt many of them by this time +discover, though they dare not but smother their frustrations and +discontents. + +The specious and popular Titles of Christs Government, Throne, +Scepter, and Kingdom, (which certainly is not divided, nor hath +two faces, as their parties now have at least) also the noise of a +thorow-Reformation, these may as easily be fined on new models, as +fair colours may be put to ill-favoured Figures. + +The breaking of Church-windows, which time had sufficiently defaced; +pulling down of Crosses, which were but Civill, not Religious marks; +defacing of Monuments, and Inscriptions of the dead, which served but +to put Posterity in minde, to thank God for that clearer light wherein +they live: The leaving of Ministers to their liberties, and private +abilities in the publick service of God, where no Christian can tell +to what hee may say _Amen_; nor what adventure he may make of seeming, +at least, to consent to the Errours, Blasphemies, and ridiculous +Undecencies which bold and ignorant men list to vent in their +Prayers, Preaching, and other Offices; Their setting forth also of old +Catechisms, and Confessions of Faith new drest, importing as much, as +if there had been no sound or cleer Doctrine of Faith in this Church, +before some four or five yeers consultation had matured their thoughts +touching their first principles of Religion. + +All these and the like are the effects of popular, specious, and +deceitfull Reformations, (that they might not seem to have nothing to +do) and may give some short flashes of content to the Vulgar, (who are +taken with novelties, as children with babies, very much, but not very +long) but all this amounts not to, nor can in justice merit the glory +of the Churches thorow-Reformation; since they leave all things more +deformed, disorderly, and discontented then when they began, in point +of Piety, Morality, Charity, and good Order. + +Nor can they easily recompence or remedie the inconveniences and +mischiefs which they have purchased so dearly, and which have, and +will ever necessarily ensue, till due remedies be applied. + +I wish they would at last make it their unanimous work to do Gods +work, and not their own: Had Religion been first considered (as it +merited) much trouble might have been prevented. + +But some men thought, that the Government of this Church and State, +fixed by so many Lawes, and long Customes, would not run into their +new moulds, till they had first melted it in the fire of a Civil Warr; +by the advantages of which they resolved, if they prevailed, to make +my Self and all my Subjects fall down and worship the Images they +should form and set up. If there had been as much of Christs Spirit, +for meeknesse, wisdom and charitie in mens hearts, as there was of his +name used in the pretensions to reform all to Christs Rule, it would +certainly have obtained more of Gods blessing, and produced more of +Christs Glory, the Churches good, the honour of Religion, and the +unity of Christians. + +Publick Reformers had need first act in private, and practice that on +their own hearts, which they purpose to try on others; for Deformities +within will soon betray the pretenders of publick Reformations to such +private designs, as must needs hinder the publick good. + +I am sure, the right Methods of Reforming the Church, cannot subsist +with that of perturbing the Civil State; nor can Religion be justly +advanced by depressing Loyaltie, which is one of the chiefest +Ingredients, and Ornaments of true Religion: for next to _Fear God_, +is, _Honour the King_. + +I doubt not but Christs Kingdom may be set up without pulling down +mine; nor will any men in impartiall times appear good Christians, +that approve not them selves good Subjects. + +Christs Government will confirm Mine, not overthrow it, since as I +own Mine from Him, so I desire to rule for his Glory, and his Churches +good. + +Had some men truly intended Christs Government, or knew what it meant +in their hearts, they could never have been so ill governed in their +words and actions, both against Me, and one another. + +As good ends cannot justifie evill means; so nor will evill beginnings +ever bring forth good conclusions: unless God by a miracle of Mercie +create Light out of Darknesse, Order out of our Confusions, and peace +out of our passions. + + +_Thou, O Lord, who onely canst give us beauty for ashes, and Truth for +Hypocrisie; suffer us not to be miserably deluded with Pharisaicall +washings, in stead of Christian reformings._ + +_Our greatest diformities are within; make us the severest Censurers, +and first Reformers of our own souls._ + +_That we may in clearnesse of judgment, and uprightnesse of heart be +means to reform what is indeed amisse in Church and State._ + +_Create in us clean hearts, O Lord, and renew right spirits within +us; that we may do all by thy directions, to thy glory, and with thy +blessing. Pity the deformities, which some rash & cruel Reformers have +brought upon this Church and State: Quench the fires which factions +have kindled, under the pretence of Reforming._ + +_As thou hast shewed the world by their divisions, and confusions, +what is the pravity of some mens intentions, and weaknesse of their +judgements; so bring us at last more refined out of these fires, by +the methods of Christian and charitable reformations; wherein nothing +of ambition, revenge, coveteousnes, or sacriledge, may have any +influence upon their counsels, whom thy providence in just and lawfull +wayes shall entrust with so great, good, and now most necessary a +work: That I and my people may be so blest with inward piety, as may +best teach us how to use the blessings of outward peace._ + + * * * * * + + + + +21. _Upon his Majesties Letters taken and divulged._ + + +The taking of My Letters was an opportunity, which, as the malice of +Mine ENEMIES could hardly have expected; so they know not how with +honour and civility to use it: Nor do I thinke with sober and worthy +minds any thing in them, could tend so much to my reproach, as the +odious divulging of them did to the infamy of the Divulgers: The +greatest experiments of Vertue and Noblenesse being discovered in the +greatest advantages against an enemy, and the greatest obligations +being those, which are put upon us by them, from whom we could least +have expected them. + +And such I should have esteemed the concealing of my Papers; the +freedom and secresie of which, commands a civility from all men, not +wholly barbarous; nor is there any thing more inhumane then to expose +them to publick view. + +Yet since Providence will have it so, I am content so much of My heart +(which I study to approve to Gods omniscience) should be discovered +to the world without any of those dresses or popular captations which +some men use in their Speeches and Expresses; I wish My Subjects had a +cleerer sight into My most retired Thoughts. + +Where they might discover, how they are divided between the love and +care I have, not more to preserve My own Rights, then to procure their +Peace and Happinesse, and that extreme grief to see them both deceiv'd +and destroyed. + +Nor can any mens malice be gratified further by My Letters, than to +see my constancy to my Wife, the Laws, and Religion. Bees will gather +honey where the Spider sucks Poyson. + +That I endeavour to avoid the pressures of my Enemies, by all fair +and just correspondences; no man can blame, who loves Me, or +the Common-wealth, since my Subjects can hardly be happy if I be +miserable, or enjoy their Peace and Liberties while I am oppressed. + +The world may see how soon mens designe, like _Absoloms_, is by +enormous actions to widen differences, and exasperate all sides to +such distances, as may make all Reconciliation desperate. + +Yet I thank God, I can not only with patience bear this, as other +indignities, but with charity forgive them. + +The integrity of my intentions is not jealous of any injury my +expressions can do them, for although the confidence of privacy may +admit of greater freedome in writing such letters, which may be liable +to envious exceptions; yet the innocency of my chief purposes cannot +be so obtained, or mis-interpreted by them, as not to let all men see, +that I wish nothing more then a happy composure of differences with +Justice & Honor, nor more to My own, then My peoples content, who have +any sparks of Love or Loyalty left in them: who, by those my Letters +may be convinced that I can both mind and act My own, and My Kingdomes +Affaires, so as becomes a Prince; which Mine Enemies have alwayes been +very loth should be beleeved of me, as if I were wholly confined to +the Dictates and Directions of others; whom they please to brand with +the names of Evil Counsellours. + +Its probable some men will now look upon me as my own Counsellour, +and having none else to quarrell with under that notion, they will +hereafter confine their anger to my self: Although I know they are +very unwilling I should enjoy the liberty of my own thoughts, or +follow the light of my own Conscience, which they labour to bring into +an absolute captivitie to themselves; not allowing me to think their +Counsels to be other then good for me, which have so long maintained a +War against Me. + +The Victory they obtained that day, when my Letters became their +prize, had been enough to have satiated the most ambitious thirst +of popular glory among the Vulgar; with whom prosperity gaines the +greatest esteem and applause as adversity exposeth to their greatest +sleighting and dis-respect: As if good fortune were alwayes the shadow +of Vertue and Justice, and did not oftner attend vitious and injurious +actions, as to this world. + +But I see no secular advantages seem sufficient to that cause, which +began with Tumults, and depends chiefly upon the reputation with the +vulgar. + +They think no Victories so effectual to their designs, as those that +most rout and waste My Credit with My People; in whose hearts they +seek by all means to smother and extinguish all sparks of Love, +Respect and Loyaltie to Me, that they may never kindle again, so as to +recover Mine, the Laws & the Kingdoms Liberties, which some men +seek to overthrow: The taking away of my Credit, is but a necessary +preparation to the taking away of my Life and my Kingdoms; first +I must seem neither fit to Live, nor worthy to Reign: By exquisite +methods of cunning & crueltie, I must be compelled, first to follow +the Funerals of my Honor, and then be destroyed: But I know Gods +un-erring and impartial justice can & will over rule the most perverse +wils and designs of men; he is able, and (I hope) will turn even the +worst of mine Enemies thoughts and actions to my good. + +Nor do I think, that by the surprize of my Letters, I have lost any +more then so many papers: how much they have lost of that reputation, +for Civility and Humanity (which ought to be paid to all men, and +most becomes such as pretend to Religion) besides that of Respect and +Honor, which they owe to their KING, present, and after-times will +judge. And I cannot think that their own consciences are so stupid, +as not to inflict upon them some secret impressions of that shame & +dishonor which attends all unworthy actions have they never so much of +publick flattery and popular countenance. + +I am sure they can never expect the divine approbation of such +indecent actions, if they do but remember how God blest the modest +respect & filial tenderness which _Noah's_ Sons bare to their Father; +nor did his open infirmity justifie _Cham's_ impudency, or exempt him +from that curse of being _Servant of Servants_; which curse must needs +be on them who seek by dishonorable actions to please the Vulgar, and +confirm by ignoble acts, their dependance upon the People. + +Nor can their malitious intentions be ever either excusable or +prosperous, who thought to expose me to the highest reproach & +contempt of my People, forgetting that duty of modest concealment +which they owed to the Father of their Country, in case they had +discovered any real uncomliness, which, I thank God they did not; who +can, and I believe hath made Me more respected in the hearts of many +(as he did _David_) to whom they thought, by publishing my private +Letters, to have rendred me as a vile Person, not fit to be trusted or +considered, under any Notion of Majesty. + + +_But thou, O Lord, whose wise and all disposing Providence ordereth +the greatest contingences of humane affairs, make me to see the +constancie of thy mercies to me, in the greatest advantages thou +seemest to give the malice of my Enemies against me._ + +_As thou didst blast the council of_ Achitophel _turning it to_ Davids +_good and his own ruine: so canst thou defeat their Designe, who +intended by publishing my private Letters, nothing else but to render +me more odious and contemptible to my People._ + +_I must first appeal to thy Omniscience, who canst witnesse my +integritie, how unjust and false those scandalous misconstructions +are, which my Enemies endevour by those papers of mine to represent +unto the world._ + +_Make the evil they imagined, and displeasure they intended thereby +against me, so to return on their own heads, that they may be ashamed, +and covered with their own confusion as with a cloak._ + +_Thou seest how mine Enemies use all means to cloud mine Honour, to +pervert my purposes, and to slander the footsteps of thine Annointed._ + +_But give me an heart content to be dishonoured for thy sake, and thy +Churches good._ + +_Fix in me a purpose to honour thee, and then I know thou wilt honour +me, either by restoring to me the enjoyment of that Power and Majesty, +which thou hast suffered some men to seek to deprive me of; or by +bestowing on me that Crown of Christian patience, which knows how to +serve thee in honour or dishonour, in good report or evil._ + +_Thou, O Lord, art the fountain of goodness and honour; thou art +cloathed with excellent Majesty; make me to partake of thy excellency +for wisdom, justice and mercy, and I shall not want that degree of +Honour and Majestie which becomes the Place in which thou hast set me; +who art the lifter up of my head, and my Salvation._ + +_Lord, by thy Grace, lead me to thy Glory, which is both true and +eternall._ + + * * * * * + + + + +22. _Upon His Majesties Leaving_ Oxford, _and going to the_ Scots. + + +Although God hath given me three Kingdoms, yet in these He hath not +now left me any place where I may with safety & Honor rest my head: +shewing me that himself is the safest Refuge, and the strongest Tower +of defence, in which I may put my trust. + +In these extremities, I look not to man so much as to God: He will +have it thus, that I may cast my self, and my now distressed Affairs +upon his mercy, who hath both hearts and hands of all men in his +dispose. + +What Providence denies to Force, it may grant to Prudence; Necessity +is now my Counsellor, and commands Me to study My safety by a +disguised withdrawing from my chiefest strength, and adventuring upon +their Loyalty, who first began my troubles. Happily, God may make them +a means honorable to compose them. + +This my confidence of them, may dis-arm & overcom them; my rendring +my person to them, may engage their affection to me, who have oft +professed, _They fought not against me, but for me_. + +I must now resolve the riddle of their Loyalty: and give them +opportunity to let the world see, they mean not what they do, but what +they say. + +Yet must God be my chiefest Guard; and my Conscience both my +Counsellor and my Comforter: Though I put my body into their hands, +yet I shall reserve my soul to God and my self; nor shall any +necessities compell me, to desert mine honour, or swerve from my +Judgement. + +What they fought to take by force, shall now be given them in such a +way of unusuall confidence of them, as may make them ashamed not to be +really such as they ought, and professed to be. + +God sees it not enough to desert me of all Military power to defend my +Self, but to put me upon using their power, who seem to fight against +me, yet ought in duty to defend me. + +So various are all humane affairs, & so necessitous may the state +of Princes be, that their greatest danger may be in their supposed +safety, and their safety in their supposed danger. + +I must now leave those that have Adhered to me, and apply to those +that have Opposed me; this method of Peace may be more prosperous +then that of War, both to stop the effusion of bloud, & to close those +wounds already made: and in it I am no less solicitous for my Friends +safety, then mine own; chusing to venture my Self upon further +hazards, rather then expose their resolute Loyaltie to all +extremities. + +It is some skil in play to know when a game is lost; better fairly to +give over, then to contest in vain. + +I must now study to re-inforce my Judgment, and fortifie my mind +with Reason and Religion, that I may not seem to offer up my Souls +libertie, or make my Conscience their Captive; who ought at first to +have used Arguments, not Arms, to have perswaded my consent to their +demands. + +I thank God, no success darkens or disguises Truth to me; and I shall +no less conform my words to my inward dictates now, then if they had +been as the words of a KING ought to be among loyal Subjects, _full of +power_. + +Reason is the divinest power. I shall never think my Self weakned, +while I may make full and free use of that. No ecclipse of outward +Fortune shall rob me of that light: what God hath denied of outward +strength, his grace, I hope, will supply with inward resolutions; not +morositie to deny, what is fit to be granted; but not to grant any +thing which Reason and Religion bids me denie. + +I shall never think my Self less then my Self, while I am able thus to +preserve the integrity of my Conscience, the only Jewel now left me, +which is worth keeping. + + +_O thou Soveraign of our Souls, the onely Commander of our +Consciences; though I know not what to do, yet mine eyes are toward +thee: To the protection of thy mercy I still commend my self._ + +_As thou hast preserved me in the day of Battell, so thou canst still +shew me thy strength in my weaknesse._ + +_Be thou unto me in my darkest night a pillar of fire, to enlighten +and direct me; in the day of my hottest affliction, be also a pillar +of cloud to over-shadow and protect me; be to me both a Sun and a +Shield._ + +_Thou knowest, that it is not any perverseness of will, but just +perswasions of Honour, Reason, and Religion, which have made me thus +far to hazard my Person, Peace, and Safetie, against those that by +force have sought to wrest them from me._ + +_Suffer not my just resolutions to abate with my outward Forces; let a +good Conscience alwaies accompany me in my solitude and desertions._ + +_Suffer me not to betray the powers of Reason, and that fortresse of +my Soul which I am entrusted to keep for thee._ + +_Lead me in the paths of thy righteousnesse, and shew me thy +salvation._ + +_Make my waies to please thee, and then thou wilt make mine enemies to +be at peace with me._ + + * * * * * + + + + +23. _Upon the_ Scots _delivering the_ KING _to the_ English, _and His +Captivity at_ Holmeby. + + +Yet may I justifie those _Scots_ to all the world in this. That they +have not deceived me; for I never trusted to them further then to men: +if I am sold by them, I am only sorry they should do it: and that My +price should be so much above My Saviors. + +These are but further Essays which God will have Me make of mans +uncertainty, the more to fix Me on himself, who never faileth them +that trust in him; though the Reeds of _AEgypt_ break under the hand +of him that leans on them, yet the Rock of _Israel_ will be an +everlasting stay and defence. + +Gods Providence commands Me to retire from all to himself, that in him +I may enjoy My Self, which I lose, while I let out My hopes to others. + +The solitude & captivity to which I am now reduced, gives Me leisure +enough to study the worlds vanity and inconstancie. + +God sees 'tis fit to deprive Me of Wife, Children, Armie, Friends, and +Freedom, that I may be wholly his, who alone is all. + +I care not much to be reckoned among the Unfortunate, if I be not in +the black List of irreligious and sacrilegious Princes. + +No Restraint shall ensnare my Soul in sin; nor gain that of me which +may make my Enemies more insolent, my Friends ashamed, or my Name +accursed. + +They have no great cause to triumph, that they have got my Person into +their power; since my Soul is still my own: nor shall they ever gain +my Consent against my Conscience. + +What they call obstinacie, I know God accounts honest constancie, from +which Reason and Religion, as well as Honor, forbid Me to recede. + +'Tis evident now, that it was not Evil Counsellors with Me, but a good +Conscience in Me, which hath been fought against; nor did they ever +intend to bring Me to my Parliament, till they had brought My mind to +their obedience. + +Should I grant what some men desire, I should be such as they with Me, +not more a King, and far less both Man and Christian. + +What Tumults and Armies could not obtain, neither shall Restraint; +which though it have a little of safety to a Prince, yet it hath not +more of danger. + +The fear of men shall never be my snare; nor shal the love of any +liberty entangle my soul: Better others betray me, then my self: and +that the price of my liberty should be my conscience; the greatest +injuries my Enemies seek to inflict upon me, cannot be without my own +consent. + +While I can deny with Reason, I shall defeat the greatest impressions +of their malice, who neither know how to use worthily what I have +already granted; nor what to require more of me but this, That I would +seem willing to help them to destroy my self and mine. + +Although they should destroy me, yet they shall have no cause to +despise me. + +Neither liberty nor life are so dear to me, as the peace of my +Conscience, the Honor of my Crowns, and the welfare of my People; +which my word may injure more then any War can do; while I gratifie a +few to oppresse all. + +The Laws wil by Gods blessing, revive, with the love and Loyaltie of +my Subjects; if I bury them not by my Consent, and cover them in that +grave of dishonor and injustice, which some mens violence hath digged +for them. + +If my Captivity or Death must be the price of their redemption, I +grudge not to pay it. + +No condition can make a King miserable, which carries not with it, his +Souls, his Peoples, and Posterities thraldom. + +After-times may see, what the blindnesse of this Age will not; and +God may at length shew my Subjects, that I chuse rather to suffer for +them, then with them; happily I might redeem my self to some shew of +liberty, if I would consent to enslave them: I had rather hazard the +ruine of one King, then to confirm many Tyrants over them, from whom +I pray God deliver them, what ever becomes of me, whose solitude hath +not left me alone. + + +_For thou, O God, infinitely Good, and Great, art with me, whose +presence is better then life, and whose service is perfect freedom._ + +_Own me for thy Servant, and I shall never have cause to complain for +want of that liberty which becomes a Man, a Christian, and a King._ + +_Blesse me still with Reason, as a Man; with Religion, as a Christian; +and with constancie in Justice, as a King._ + +_Though thou sufferest me to be stript of all outward ornaments, yet +preserve me ever in those enjoyments wherein I may enjoy thy self; and +which cannot be taken from me against my will._ + +_Let no fire of affliction boile over my passion to any impatience or +sordid fears._ + +_There be many that say of me, There is no help for me: do thou lift +up the light of thy Countenance upon me, and I shall want neither +Safetie, Libertie, nor Majestie._ + +_Give me that measure of patience and constancie which my condition +now requires._ + +_My strength is scattered, my expectation from Men defeated, my Person +restrained: O be not thou far from me, lest my enemies prevail too +much against me._ + +_I am become a wonder, and a scorn to many: O be thou my helper and +defender._ + +_Shew some token upon me for good, that they that hate me may +be ashamed, because thou Lord, hast holpen and comforted me; for +establish me with thy free Spirit, that I may do and suffer thy will, +as thou wouldst have me._ + +_Be mercifull to me, O Lord, for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, and in +the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, untill these calamities +be over-past._ + +_Arise to deliver me, make no long tarrying, O my God. Though thou +killest me, yet will I trust in thy mercy, and my Saviours merit._ + +_I know that my Redeemer liveth; though thou leadest me through the +vail and shadow of death, yet shall I fear none ill._ + + * * * * * + + + + +24. _Upon their denying His Majestie the Attendance of His Chaplains._ + + +When providence was pleased to deprive Me of all other civil comforts +and secular attendants, I thought the absence of them all might best +be supplied by the attendance of some of my Chaplains, whom for their +Function I reverence, and for their Fidelitie I have cause to love. +By their Learning, Pietie, and Praiers, I hoped to be either better +enabled to sustain the want of all other enjoyments, or better fitted +for the recovery and use of them in Gods good time; so reaping by +their pious help a spiritual harvest of grace amidst the thorns, and +after the plowings of temporal crosses. + +The truth is, I never needed or desired more the service and +assistance of men judiciously pious, and soberly devout. + +The solitude they have confined me unto, adds the wildernesse to my +temptations: For the company they obtrude upon me, is more sad then +any solitude can be. + +If I had asked my Revenues, my power of the _Militia_, or any one of +my Kingdoms, it had bin no wonder to have been denied in those things, +where the evil policy of men forbids all just restitution, lest they +should confess an injurious usurpation: But to deny me the ghostly +comfort of my Chaplains seems a greater rigor & barbarity, then +is ever used by christians to the meanest prisoners, & greatest +malefactors, whom though the justice of the law deprive of worldly +comforts, yet the mercy of religion allows them the benefit of their +Clergy, as not aiming at once to destroy their Bodies, and to damn +their Souls. + +But my agony must not be relieved with the presence of any one good +Angel; for such I account a learned, godly, and discreet Divine: and +such I would have all mine to be. + +They that envie my being a King, are loth I should be a Christian: +while they seek to deprive me of all things else, they are afraid I +should save my Soul. + +Other sense, Charity it self can hardly pick out of those many +harsh repulses I received, as to that request so often made for the +attendance of some of my Chaplains. + +I have sometime thought the Unchristiannes of those denials might +arise from a displeasure some men had to see me prefer my own Divines +before their Ministers: whom, though I respect for that worth and +piety w^{ch} may be in them, yet I cannot think them so proper for any +present comforters or Physitians, Who have (some of them at least) had +so great an influence in occasioning these calamities, and inflicting +these wounds upon Me. + +Nor are the soberest of them so apt for that devotional compliance, +and juncture of hearts, which I desire to bear in those holy Offices +to be performed with me, and for me; since their judgments standing +at a distance from me, or in jealousie of me, or in opposition against +me, their Spirits cannot so harmoniously accord with mine, or mine +with theirs, either in Prayer or other holy duties, as is meet, and +most comfortable; whose golden rule, and bond of Perfection consists +in that of mutual Love and Charitie. + +Some remedies are worse then the disease, and some comforters more +miserable then misery it self; when like _Job's_ friends, they seek +not to fortifie ones minde with patience; but perswade a man by +betraying his own Innocency, to despair of Gods mercy; and by +justifying their injuries, to strengthen the hands, and harden the +heart of insolent Enemies. + +I am so much a friend to all Church-men, that have any thing in them +beseeming that sacred Function, that I have hazarded my own interests, +chiefly upon Conscience and Constancie, to maintain their Rights; whom +the more I looked upon as Orphans, and under the sacrilegious eyes of +many cruell and rapacious Reformers; so I thought it my dutie the more +to appear as a Father, and a Patron for them and the Church. Although +I am very unhandsomly requited by some of them; who may live to repent +no lesse for My sufferings, then their own ungrateful errours, and +that injurious contempt and meannesse, which they have brought upon +their Calling and Persons. + +I pity al of them, I despise none: only I thought I might have leave +to make choice of some for My special Attendance, who were best +approved in My Judgment & most sutable to My affection: For, I held +it better to seem undevout, and to hear no mans Praiers, then to be +forced, or seem to comply with those Petitions to which the heart +cannot consent, nor the tongue say _Amen_, without contradicting a +mans own understanding, or belying his own Soul. + +In Devotions, I love neither profane boldnesse, nor pious non-sence; +but such an humble and judicious gravitie as shews the Speaker to be +at once considerate both of Gods Majestie, the Churches Honour, and +his own vilenesse; both knowing what things God allows him to ask, and +in what manner it becomes a sinner to supplicate the divine mercie for +himself, and others. + +I am equally scandalised with all Praiers, that sound either +imperiously, or rudely, and passionately; as either wanting humilitie +to God, or charitie to men, or respect to the dutie. + +I confess I am better pleased as with studied and premeditated +Sermons, so with such publick Forms of Praier, as are fitted to the +Churches and every Christians daily and common necessities; because I +am by them better assured, what I may join my heart unto, then I can +be of any mans extemporary sufficiencie: which as I do not wholly +exclude from publick occasions; so I allow its just libertie and use +in private and devout retirements; where neither the solemnities +of the dutie, nor the modest regards to others, do require so great +exactness as to the outward manner of performance; Though the light +of understanding, and the fervencie of affections I hold the main +and most necessarie requisites both in constant, and occasionall, +solitairie, and sociall Devotions. + +So that I must needs seem to all equal minds with as much reason to +prefer the service of my own Chaplains before that of their Ministers, +as I do the Liturgie before their Directorie. + +In the one I have been alwaies educated and exercised; In the other, I +am not yet Catechized, nor acquainted: And if I were, yet should I +not by that, as by any certain rule and Canon of Devotion, be able to +follow or find out the indirect extravagancies of most of those men, +who highly cry up that as a piece of rare composure and use, which +is already as much despised and disused by many of them, as the +Common-Prayer sometimes was by those men; a great part of whose Pietie +hung upon that popular pin of railing against, and contemning +the Government, and Liturgie of this Church. But, I had rather +be condemned to the wo of _Vae soli_, then to that of _Vae vobis +Hypocritae_, by seeming to pray what I do not approve. + +It may be, I am esteemed by my Denyers sufficient of my Self to +discharge my dutie to GOD as a Priest, though not to Men as a Prince. + +Indeed, I think both Offices, Regal & Sacerdotal, might well become +the same Person; as anciently they were under one name, and the united +rights of primogeniture: nor could I follow better presidents, if I +were able, then those two eminent Kings, _David_ and _Solomon_; not +more famous for their Scepters and Crowns, then one was for devout +Psalms and Praiers; the other for his divine Parables and Preaching: +whence the one merited and assumed the name of a Prophet, the other +of a Preacher. Titles indeed of greater honour, where rightly placed, +then any of those the Roman Emperors affected from the Nations they +subdued: it being infinitely more glorious to convert Souls to Gods +Church by the Word, then to conquer men to a subjection by the Sword. + +Yet since the order of Gods wisdom and providence hath, for the +most part, alwaies distinguished the gifts and offices of Kings, of +Priests, of Princes and Preachers; both in the Jewish and Christian +Churches: I am sorry to find My self reduced to the necessity of being +both, or enjoying neither. + +For such as seek to deprive Me of Kingly Power and Soveraigntie; +would no lesse enforce Me to live many Moneths without all Praiers, +Sacraments, and Sermons, unlesse I become My own Chaplain. + +As I owe the Clergy the protection of a Christian KING, so I desire to +enjoy from them the benefit of their gifts and prayers; which I look +upon as more prevalent then My own, or other mens; by how much they +flow from minds more enlightned, and affections lesse distracted, then +those which are encombered with secular affairs: besides, I think a +greater blessing and acceptablenes attends those duties, which +are rightly performed, as proper to, and within the limits of that +calling, to which God and the Church have specially designed and +consecrated some men: And however, as to that Spirituall government, +by which the devout Soul is subject to Christ, and through his merits +daily offers it self and its services to God, every private believer +is a King and a Priest, invested with the honour of a Royall Priest +hood; yet as to Ecclesiastical order, and the outward policy of the +Church, I think confusion in Religion will as certainly follow every +mans turning Priest or Preacher, as it will in the State, where every +one affects to rule as King. + +I was always bred to more modest, and I think to more pious +Principles: the consciousness to my spirituall defects makes Me +more prize and desire those pious assistances, which holy and good +Ministers, either Bishops or Presbyters, may afford Me; especially in +these extremities, to which God hath been pleased to suffer some of my +Subjects to reduce me; so as to leave them nothing more, but my life +to take from Me: and to leave me nothing to desire, which I thought +might less provoke their jealousie and offence to deny Me, then this +of having some means afforded Me for my Souls comfort and support. + +To which end I made choice of men, as no way (that I know) scandalous, +so every way eminent for their learning and piety, no less then for +their Loyalty: nor can I imagine any exceptions to be made against +them, but onely this, that they may seem too able, and too well +affected toward Me and My Service. + +But this is not the first service (as I count it the best) in which +they have forced Me to serve my self; though I must confess I bear +with more grief and impatience the want of My Chaplains, then of My +other Servants; and next (if not beyond in some things) to the being +sequestred from My Wife and Children; since from these indeed more of +humane and temporary affections, but from those more of heavenly and +eternall improvements may be expected. + +My comfort is, that in the enforced (not neglected) want of ordinary +means, God is wont to afford extraordinary supplies of his Gifts and +Graces. + +If his Spirit will teach me, and help my infirmities in prayer, +reading and meditation (as I hope he will) I shall need no other, +either Orator, or Instructer. + + +_To thee therefore, O my God, do I direct my now solitary Prayers; +what I want of others help, supply with the more immediate assistance +of thy Spirit, which alone can both enlighten my darknesse, and +quicken my dulnesse._ + +_O thou Sun of righteousness, thou sacred Fountain of heavenly light +and heat, at once cleer and warm my heart, both by instructing of +me, and interceding for me; In thee is all fulness, From thee all +sufficiency, By thee is all acceptance. Thou art companie enough, and +comfort enough; Thou art my King, be also my Prophet and my Priest. +Rule me, teach me, pray in me, for me; and be thou ever with me._ + +_The single wrestlings of_ Jacob _prevailed with thee in that sacred +Duel, when he had none to second him but thy selfe; who didst assist +him with power to overcome thee, and by a welcome violence to wrest a +blessing from thee._ + +_O look on me thy servant, in infinite mercy, whom thou didst once +blesse with the joynt and sociated Devotion of others, whose servency +might inflame the coldnesse of my affections towards thee: when +wee went to meet in thy House with the voice of joy and gladnesse, +worshipping thee in the unity of spirits, and with the bond of peace._ + +_O forgive the neglect, and not improving of those happy +opportunities._ + +_It is now thy pleasure that I should be as a Pelican in the +wildernesse, as a Sparrow on the house top, and as a coale scattered +from all those pious glowings and devout reflections, which might +best kindle, preserve, and increase the holy fire of thy Graces on +the Altar of my heart, whence the sacrifices of prayers and incense of +praises might be duly offered up to thee._ + +_Yet, O thou that breakest not the bruised reed nor quenchest the +smoaking flax, do not despise the weakness of my prayers, nor the +smotherings of my soul in this uncomfortable loannesse to which I am +constrained by some mens uncharitable denials of those helps, which I +much want, and no lesse desire._ + +_O let the hardness of their hearts occasion the softnings of mine +to thee, and for them. Let their hatred kindle my love, let their +unreasonable denials of my religious desires the more excite my +prayers to thee: Let their inexorable deafnesse incline thine ear to +me, who art a God easie to be intreated; thine ear is not heavie, that +it cannot, nor thy heart hard, that it will not hear, nor thy hand +shortned, that it cannot help me thy desolate Suppliant._ + +_Thou permittest men to deprive me of those outward means which thou +hast appointed in thy Church; but they cannot debarre me from the +communion of that inward grace, which thou alone breathest into humble +hearts._ + +_O make me such, and thou wilt teach me, thou wilt hear me, thou wilt +help me: The broken and contrite heart I know thou wilt not despise: +Thou, O Lord canst at once make me thy temple thy Priest, thy +Sacrifice, and thine Altar; while from an humble heart I (alone) daily +offer up in Holy Meditations, fervent Prayers, and unfeigned Tears, my +Self to thee; who preparest me for thee, dwellest in me and acceptest +of me._ + +_Thou, O Lord, didst cause by secret supplies and miraculous +infusions, that the handful of meal in the vessel should not spend, +nor the little oyl in the cruise fail the widow, during the time of +drought and dearth._ + +_O look on my soul, which as a widow, is now desolate and forsaken: +Let not those saving truths I have formerly learned now fail my +memory; nor the sweet effusions of thy Spirit, which I have sometime +felt, now be wanting to my heart in this famine of ordinary and +wholsom food for the refreshing of my soul._ + +_Which yet I had rather chuse then to feed from those hands who mingle +my bread with ashes, and my wine with gall, rather tormenting, then +teaching me; whose mouths are proner to bitter reproaches of me, then +to hearty prayers for me._ + +_Thou knowest, O Lord of truth, how oft they wrest thy holy Scriptures +to my destruction, (which are clear for their subjection, and my +preservation) O let it not be to their damnation._ + +_Thou knowest how some men (under colour of long prayers) have sought +to devour the houses of their Brethren, their King, and their God. O +let not those mens balms break my head, nor their Cordials oppress my +heart, I will evermore pray against their wickedness._ + +_From the poyson under their tongues, from the snares of their lips, +from the fire, and the swords of their words ever deliver me, O Lord, +and all those loyal and religious hearts, who desire and delight in +the prosperity of my soul, and who seek by their prayers to relieve +this sadness and solitude of thy servant, O my King and my God._ + + * * * * * + + + + +25. Penitential Meditations and Vows in the Kings solitude at +_Holmby_. + + +_Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my Meditation, and hearken to +the voyce of my cry, my King and my God, for unto thee will I pray._ + +_I said in my haste, I am cast out of the sight of thine eyes; +nevertheless, thou hearest the voyce of my supplication, when I cry +unto thee._ + +_If thou, Lord, shouldst be extream to mark what is done amiss, +who can abide it? But there is mercy with thee, that thou mayest be +feared; therefore shall sinners flie unto thee._ + +_I acknowledg my sins before thee, which have the aggravation of my +condition; the eminencie of my place, adding weight to my offences._ + +_Forgive, I beseech thee, my personal, and my peoples sins; which are +so far mine, as I have not improved the power thou gavest me, to thy +glorie, and my Subjects good: Thou hast now brought me from the glorie +and freedom of a King, to be a Prisoner to my own Subjects. Justlie, +O Lord, as to thy over-ruling hand, because in many things I have +rebelled against thee._ + +_Though thou hast restrained my person, yet enlarg my heart to thee, & +thy grace towards me._ + +_I come far short of_ Davids __pietie; yet since I may equal Davids +_afflictions, give me also the comforts, and the sure mercies of_ +David. + +_Let the penitent sense I have of my sins, be an evidence to me, that +thou hast pardoned them._ + +_Let not the evils, which I and my Kingdoms have suffered seem little +unto thee, though thou hast not punished us according to our sins._ + +_Turn thee (O Lord) unto me; have mercy upon me, for I am desolate and +afflicted._ + +_The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my +troubles._ + +_Hast thou forgotten to be gracious, and shut up thy loving kindness +in displeasure?_ + +_O remember thy compassions of old, and thy loving kindesses, which +have been for many generations._ + +_I had utterly fainted, if I had not believed to see thy goodnesse in +the land of the living._ + +_Let not the sins of our prosperitie deprive us of the benefit of thy +afflictions._ + +_Let this fiery triall consume the drosse which in long peace and +plentie we had contracted._ + +_Though thou continuest miseries, yet withdraw not thy grace; what is +wanting of prosperitie, make up in patience and repentance._ + +_And if thy anger be not to be yet turned away, but thy hand of +Justice must be stretched out still: Let it, I beseech thee, be +against me, and my Fathers house; as for these sheep, what have they +done?_ + +_Let my sufferings satiate the malice of mine, and thy Churches +enemies._ + +_But let their crueltie never exceed the measure of my charitie._ + +_Banish from me all thoughts of Revenge, that I may not lose the +reward, nor thou the glorie of my patience._ + +_As thou givest me an heart to forgive them, so I beseech thee, do +thou forgive what they have done against thee and me._ + +_And now, O Lord, as thou hast given me an heart to pray unto thee; so +hear and accept this Vow which I make before thee._ + +_If thou wilt in mercie remember Me, and my Kingdoms; In continuing +the light of thy Gospel, and settling thy true Religion among us:_ + +_In restoring to us the benefits of the Laws, and the due execution of +Justice:_ + +_In suppressing the many schismes in Church, and Factions in State:_ + +_If thou wilt restore me and mine to the Ancient rights and glory of +my Predecessors:_ + +_If thou wilt turn the hearts of my people to thy self in Pietie, to +me in Loyaltie, and to one another in Charitie:_ + +_If thou wilt quench the flames, and withdraw the fewell of these +Civill Wars:_ + +_If thou wilt bless us with the freedom of Publike Counsels, and +deliver the Honour of Parliaments from the insolency of the vulgar:_ + +_If thou wilt keep me from the great offence of enacting any thing +against my Conscience: and especially for consenting to sacrilegious +rapines, and spoilings of thy Church:_ + +_If thou wilt restore me to a capacity to glorifie thee in doing good, +both to the Church and State:_ + +_Then shall my soul praise thee, and Magnifie thy name before my +people._ + +_Then shall thy glorie be dearer to me then my Crown; and the +advancement of true Religion both in puritie and power be my chiefest +care._ + +_Then will I rule my People with justice, and my Kingdoms with +equity:_ + +_To thy more immediate hand shal I ever own as the rightfull +succession, so the mercifull restauration of my Kingdoms, and the +glorie of them._ + +_If thou wilt bring me again with Peace safetie and honour, to my +chiefest City and my Parliament:_ + +_If thou wilt again put the Sword of Justice into my hand to punish +and protect:_ + +_Then will I make all the world to see, and my very Enemies to enjoy +the benefit of this Vow and resolution of Christian charitie, which I +now make unto thee O Lord._ + +_As I do freely pardon for Christ's sake those that have offended me +in any kind; so my hand shall never be against any man to revenge what +is past, in regard of any particular injurie done to me._ + +_We have been mutually punished in our unnaturall divisions, for thy +sake O Lord, and for the love of my Redeemer have I purposed this +in my heart, That I will use all means in the waies of amnesty, and +indempnitie; which may most fullie remove all feares, and burie all +jealousies in forgetfulnesse._ + +_Let thy mercies be towards me and mine, as my resolutions of Truth +and Peace are towards my people._ + +_Hear my praier O Lord, which goeth not out of feigned lips._ + +_Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my prayer, or taken his +mercy from me._ + +_O my soul commit thy way to the Lord, trust in him and he shall bring +it to pass_. + +_But if thou wilt not restore me and mine, what am I that I should +charge thee foolishly?_ + +_Thou, o Lord hast given, and thou hast taken, Blessed be thy name._ + +_May my people and thy Church be happie if not by me, yet without me._ + + * * * * * + + + + +26. _Upon the Armies surprisall of the King at_ Holmby, _and the +ensuing distractions in the two Houses, the Army, and the City._ + + +What part God will have me now to act or suffer in this new and +strange scene of affaires, I am not much solicitous; some little +practise will serve that man, who only seeks to represent a part of +honesty and honour. + +This surprize of me tels the world, that a KING cannot be so low, but +he is considerable, adding weight to that party where he appears. + +This motion, like others of the Times, seems excentrique and +irregular, yet not well to be resisted or quieted: Better swim down +such a stream, then in vain to strive against it. + +These are but the struglings of those twins, which lately one womb +enclosed, the younger striving to prevail against the elder; what the +Presbyterians have hunted after, the Independents now seek to catch +for themselves. + +So impossible it is for lines to be drawn from the center, and not to +divide from each other, so much the wider, by how much they go farther +from the point of union. + +That the Builders of Babel should from division fall to confusion, is +no wonder; but for those that pretend to build Jerusalem, to divide +their tongues and hands, is but an ill Omen; and sounds too like the +fury of those Zealots, whose intestine bitterness and divisions were +the greatest occasion of the last fatall destruction of that Citie. + +Well may I change my Keepers and Prison, but not my captive condition, +onely with this hope of bettering, that those who are so much +professed Patrons for the Peoples Liberties, cannot be utterly against +the Liberty of their KING; what they demand for their own Consciences, +they cannot in Reason deny to mine. + +In this they seem more ingenuous, then the Presbyterian rigour, who +sometimes complaining of exacting their conformity to laws, are +become the greatest Exactours of other mens submission to their novel +injunctions, before they are stamped with the Authority of Laws, which +they cannot well have without my Consent. + +'Tis a great argument, that the Independents think themselves +manumitted from their Rivals service, in that they carry on a +businesse of such consequence, as the assuming my Person into the +Armies custody, without any commission, but that of their own will +and power. Such as will thus adventure on a KING, must not be thought +over-modest, or timerous to carry on any designe they have a mind to. + +Their next motion menaces, and scares both the two Houses and +the City: which soon after acting over again that former part of +Tumultuary motions, (never questioned, punished or repented) must now +suffer for both; and see their former sin in the glasse of the present +terrours and distractions. + +No man is so blinde as not to see herein the hand of divine Justice; +They that by Tumults first occasioned the raising of Armies, must now +be chastned by their own Army for new Tumults. + +So hardly can men be content with one sin, but add sin to sin, till +the later punish the former; such as were content to see Me and many +Members of both Houses driven away by the first unsuppressed Tumults, +are now forced to flie to an Armie or defend themselves against them. + +But who can unfold the riddle of some mens justice? The Members of +both Houses who at first withdrew (as my Self was forced to do) from +the rudeness of the Tumults, were counted Deserters, and outed of +their places in Parliament. + +Such as stayed then, and enjoyed the benefit of the Tumults, were +asserted for the onely Parliament-men: now the Fliers from, and +Forsakers of their Places, carry the Parliamentary power along with +them; complain highly against the Tumults, and vindicate themselves by +an Armie: such as remained and kept their stations, are looked upon as +Abettors of Tumultuary Insolencies, and Betrayers of the Freedom and +Honour of Parliament. + +Thus is Power above all Rule, Order, and Law; where men look more to +present Advantages then their Consciences, and the unchangeable +rules of Justice; while they are Judges of others, they are forced to +condemn themselves. + +Now the plea against Tumults holds good, the Authours and Abettors of +them are guiltie of prodigious insolencies; when as before they were +counted as Friends, and necessary Assistants. + +I see Vengeance pursues and overtakes (as the Mice and Rats are said +to have done the Bishop in _Germanie_) them that thought to have +escaped, and fortified themselves most impregnably against it, both by +their multitude and compliance. + +Whom the Laws cannot, God will punish by their own crimes and hands. + +I cannot but observe this divine Justice, yet with sorrow and pity; +for, I always wished so well to Parliament and Citie, that I was +sorry to see them do or suffer any thing unworthy such great and +considerable Bodies in this Kingdom. + +I was glad to see them onely scared and humbled, not broken by that +shaking: I never had so ill a thought of those Cities, as to despair +of their Loyaltie to Me; which mistakes might eclipse, but I never +beleeved malice had quite put out. + +I pray God the storm be yet wholly passed over them, upon whom I look +as Christ did sometime over _Jerusalem_, as objects of my prayers and +tears, with compassionate grief, foreseeing those severer scatterings +which will certainly befall such as wantonly refuse to be gathered +to their duty: fatall blindnesse frequently attending and punishing +wilfulnesse, so that men shall not be able at last to prevent their +sorrows, who would not timely repent of their sins; nor shall they +be suffered to enjoy the comforts, who securely neglect the counsels +belonging to their peace. They will finde that brethren in iniquitie +are not far from becoming insolent Enemies, there being nothing harder +then to keep ill men long in one minde. + +Nor is it possible to gain a fair period for those notions which go +rather in a round and circle of fansie, then in a right line of reason +tending to the Law, the onely center of publike consistency; whither I +pray God at last bring all sides. + +Which will easily be done, when we shall fully see how much more +happie we are, to be subject to the known Laws, then to the various +wils of any men, seem they never so plausible at first. + +Vulgar compliance with any illegal and extravagant wayes, like +violent motions in nature, soon grows weary of itself, and ends in a +refractory sullennesse: Peoples rebounds are oft in their faces, who +first put them upon those violent strokes. + +For the Army (which is so far excusable, as they act according to +Souldiers principles, and interests, demanding pay and indemnity) I +think it necessary, in order to the publike peace, that they should be +satisfied, as far as is just; no man being more prone to consider them +then my Self: though they have fought against Me, yet I cannot but so +far esteem that valour and gallantry they have sometime shewed, as to +wish I may never want such men to maintain my Self, my Laws, and my +Kingdoms, in such a peace, as wherein they may enjoy their share and +proportion, as much as any men. + + +_But thou, O Lord, who art perfect Unity in a sacred Trinity, in mercy +behold those whom thy Justice hath divided._ + +_Deliver me from the strivings of my People, and make Me to see how +much they need my prayers and pity, who agreed to fight against me, +and yet are now ready to fight against one another, to the continuance +of my Kingdoms distractions._ + +_Discover to all sides the ways of peace from which they have swerved: +which consists not in the divided wils of Parties, but in the point +and due observation of the Laws._ + +_Make me willing to go whither thou wilt lead me by thy providence; +and be thou ever with me, that I may see thy constancy in the worlds +varieti and changes._ + +_Make me even such as thou wouldst have Me, that I may at last enjoy +that safetie and tranquillity which thou alone canst give Me._ + +_Divert, I pray thee, O Lord, thy heavie wrath justly hanging over +those populous Cities, whose plenty is prone to add fewel to their +luxurie, their wealth to make them wanton, their multitudes tempting +them to securitie, and their securitie exposing them to unexpected +miseries._ + +_Give them eys to see, hearts to consider, wils to embrace, and +courage to act those things which belong to thy glorie, and the +publique Peace, lest their calamitie come upon them as an armed man._ + +_Teach them that they cannot want Enemies who abound in sin; nor +shall they be long un-disarmed and un-destroyed, who with an high hand +persisting to fight against Thee, and the cleer convictions of their +own Consciences, fight more against themselves, then ever they did +against Me._ + +_Their sins exposing them to thy Justice, their riches to others +injuries, their number to Tumults, and Tumults to confusion._ + +_Though they have with much forwardnesse helped to destroy Me; yet let +not my fall be their ruine._ + +_Let Me not so much consider, hither what they have done, or I have +suffered [chiefly at first, by them] as to forget to imitate my +crucified Redeemer, to plead their ignorance for their pardon; and in +my dying extremities to pray to Thee, O Father, to forgive them, for +they know not what they did._ + +_The tears they have denied me in my saddest condition, give them +grace to bestow upon themselves; who the lesse they were for me, the +more cause they have to weep for themselves._ + +_O let not my blood be upon them and their Children, whom the fraud +and faction of some, not the malice of all, have excited to crucifie +me._ + +_But thou, O Lord, canst and wilt (as thou didst my Redeemer) both +exalt and perfect me by my sufferings, which have more in them of thy +Mercie, then of mans Crueltie, or thy own Justice._ + + * * * * * + + + + +27. _To the Prince of_ Wales. + + +Son, If these Papers with some others, wherein I have set down the +private reflections of my Conscience, and my most impartiall thoughts +touching the chief passages, which have been most remarkable or +disputed in my late troubles, come to your hands, to whom they are +chiefly designed; they may be so far usefull to you, as to state your +judgement aright in what hath passed; whereof a pious is the best use +can be made; and they may also give you some directions, how to remedy +the present distempers, and prevent (if God will) the like for time to +come. + +It is some kind of deceiving and lessening the injury of my long +restraint, when I find my leisure and solitude have produced something +worthy of my self, and usefull to you; That neither You nor any other +may hereafter measure my Cause by the Successe, nor my judgment of +things by my Misfortunes, which I count the greater by far, because +they have so far lighted upon you and some others whom I have most +cause to love as well as my self, and of whose unmerited sufferings I +have a greater sense then of Mine own. + +[Illustration: Natus May 29 An^o 1630 AEtatis suae] + +But this advantage of wisdom You have above most Princes, that You +have begun, and now spent some years of discretion, in the experience +of troubles, and exercise of patience, wherein Piety, and all Vertues, +both Morall and Politicall, are commonly better planted to a thriving +(as trees set in winter) then in the warmth, and serenity of times, +or amidst those delights, which usually attend Princes Courts in times +of peace and plenty, which are prone, either to root up all plants of +true Vertue and Honour, or to be contented only with some leaves, and +withering formalities of them, without any reall fruits, such as tend +to the publique good, for which Princes should alwaies remember they +are born, and by providence designed. + +The evidence of which different education the holy Writ affords us in +the contemplation of _David_ and _Rehoboam_: The one prepared by +many afflictions for a flourishing Kingdom, the other softned by the +unparaleld prosperity of Solomons Court, and so corrupted to the great +diminution, both for Peace, Honor, and Kingdom, by those flatteries, +which are as unseparable from prosperous Princes, as Flies are from +fruit in summer; whom adversitie, like cold weather, drives away. + +I had rather you should be _Charles le Bon_, then _le Grand_, good +then great. I hope God hath designed you to be both, having so early +put you into that exercise of his Graces, and gifts bestowed upon you, +which may best weed out all vitious inclinations, and dispose you to +those Princely endowments, and employments, which will most gain the +love, and intend the welfare of those, over whom God shall place you. + +With God I would have you begin and end, who is King of Kings; the +Soveraign disposer of the Kingdomes of the world, who pulleth down +one, and setteth up another. + +The best Government, and highest Soveraignty you can attain to, is, to +be subject to him, that the Scepter of his Word and Spirit, may rule +in your heart. + +The true glory of Princes consists in advancing Gods Glory in the +maintenance of true Religion, and the Churches good; Also in the +dispensation of civil Power, with Justice and Honour to the publique +peace. + +Pietie will make you prosperous; at least it will keep you from being +miserable; nor is he much a loser, that loseth all, yet saveth his own +soul at last. + +To which Center of true happiness, God, I trust, hath and will +graciously direct all these black lines of affliction, which he hath +been pleased to draw on me, and by which he hath [I hope] drawn me +nearer to himself. You have already tasted of that Cup whereof I have +liberally drank, which I look upon as Gods Physick, having that in +healthfulness which it wants in pleasure. + +Above all, I would have you, as I hope you are already, wel-grounded +and setled in your Religion: The best profession of which, I have +ever esteemed that of the church of England, in which you have been +educated; yet I would have your own Judgment and Reason now seal +to that sacred bond which education hath written, that it may +be judiciously your owne Religion, and not other mens custome or +tradition, which you profess. + +In this I charge you to persevere, as comming nearest to Gods Word +for Doctrine, and to the primitive examples for Government, with some +little amendment, which I have otherwhere expressed and often offered, +though in vain. Your fixation in matters of Religion will not be more +necessary for your soul's then your Kingdoms peace, when God shall +bring you to them. + +For I have observed, that the Devill of Rebellion, doth commonly turn +himself into an Angel of Reformation; and the old Serpent can pretend +new Lights; when some mens Consciences accuse them for Sedition and +Faction, they stop its mouth with the name and noise of Religion; when +Pietie pleads for peace and patience, they cry out Zeal. + +So that, unless in this point You be well setled, you shall never want +temptations to destroy you and yours, under pretensions of reforming +matters of Religion; for that seems even to worst men, as the best and +most auspicious beginning of their worst designs. + +Where, besides the Noveltie which is taking enough with the Vulgar, +every one hath an affectation, by seeming forward to an outward +Reformation of Religion, to be thought zealous, hoping to cover those +irreligious deformities, wherto they are conscious, by a severity of +censuring other mens opinions or actions. + +Take heed of abetting any Factions, or applying to any publick +Discriminations in matters of Religion, contrary to what is in your +Judgement and the Church well setled: your partiall adhering, as head, +to any one side gaines you not so great advantages in some mens hearts +(who are prone to be of their kings Religion) as it loseth you in +others, who think themselves, and their profession first despised, +then persecuted by you. Take such a course as may either with calmness +& charity quite remove the seeming differences and offences, by +impartiality, or so order affairs in point of power that you shal not +need to fear or flatter any faction; for if ever you stand in need of +them, or must stand to their curtesie, you are undon: The Serpent will +devour the Dove: you may never expect less of Loyaltie, Justice or +humanity, then from those who engage into religious Rebellion: Their +interest is always made Gods; under the colours of piety, ambitious +policies march, not onely with greatest security, but applause, as to +the Populacy; you may hear from them _Jacob's_ voice, but you shall +feel they have _Esau_'s hands. + +Nothing seemed less considerable then the Presbyterian Faction in +_England_, for many yeers; so complyant they were to publique order: +nor indeed was their Party great, either in Church or State, as to +mens judgements: But as soon as discontents drave men into Sidings (as +ill humors fall to the disaffected part, which causes inflammations) +so did all, at first, who affected any novelties, adhere to that side, +as the most remarkable and specious note of difference (then) in point +of Religion. + +All the lesser Factions at first were officious servants to Presbytery +their great Master: till time and military success discovering to each +their peculiar advantages, invited them to part stakes, and leaving +the joynt stock of uniform Religion, pretended each to drive for +their Party, the trade of profits and preferments, to the breaking and +undoing not onely of the Church and State, but even of Presbytery it +self, which seemed and hoped at first to have engrossed all. + +Let nothing seem little or despicable to you, in matters which concern +Religion, and the Churches peace, so as to neglect a speedy reforming +and effectual suppressing Errors, and Schisms, which seem at first but +as a hand-bredth, but by seditious Spirits as by strong winds are soon +made to cover and darken the whole Heaven. + +When you have done justice to God, your own soul and his Church, in +the profession and preservation both of truth and unitie in Religion. +The next main hinge on which your prosperitie will depend, and move, +is, That of civil Justice, wherein the setled Laws of these Kingdoms, +to which you are rightly heir, are the most excellent rules you +can govern by; which by an admirable temperament give very much to +Subjects industry, libertie, and happiness; and yet reserve enough +to the Majestie and Prerogative of any King, who owns his people +as Subjects, not as slaves; whose subjection, as it preserves their +propertie, peace, and safetie; so it will never diminish your Rights, +nor their ingenuous Liberties; which consists in the enjoyment of +the fruits of their industry, and the benefit of those Laws to which +themselves have consented. + +Never charge your Head with such a Crown, as shall by its heaviness +oppress the whole body, the weakness of whose parts cannot return +any thing of strength, honor, or safety, to the Head, but a necessary +debilitation and ruine. + +Your Prerogative is best shewed, and exercised in remitting, rather +then exacting the rigor of the Laws, there being nothing worse, then +legal tyrannie. + +In these two points, the preservation of established Religion and +Laws, I may (without vanity) turn the reproach of my sufferings, as to +the worlds censure, into the honor of a kinde of Martyrdom, as to the +testimony of my own Conscience. The troublers of my Kingdoms having +nothing else to object against me but this, That I prefer Religion, +and Laws established, before those alterations they propounded. + +And so indeed I do, and ever shall, till I am convinced by better +Arguments, then what hitherto have been chiefly used towards me, +Tumults, Armies, and Prisons. + +I cannot yet learn that lesson, nor I hope ever will you, That it is +safe for a King to gratifie any Faction with the perturbation of the +Laws, in which is wrapt up the publike Interest, and the good of the +communitie. + +How God will deal with me, as to the removal of these pressures, and +indignities, which his justice by the very unjust hands of some of my +Subjects, hath been pleased to lay upon me, I cannot tell: nor am I +much solicitous what wrong I suffer from men, while I retain in my +soul, what I believe is right before God. + +I have offered all for Reformation and Safety, that in Reason, Honor +and Conscience, I can; reserving onely what I cannot consent unto, +without an irreparable injury to my own soul, the Church, and +my people, and to you also; as the next and undoubted Heir of my +Kingdoms. + +To which, if the divine Providence, to whom no difficulties are +insuperable, shall in his due time after my decease bring you, as I +hope he will: My Counsel and Charge to you, is, That you seriously +consider the former real or objected miscarriages, which might +occasion my troubles, that you may avoyd them. + +Never repose so much upon any mans single counsel, fidelity, and +discretion, in managing affairs of the first magnitude, (that is, +matters of Religion and Justice) as to create in your self, or others, +a diffidence of your own judgment, which is likely to be always more +constant and impartial to the interest of your Crown and Kingdom then +any mans. + +Next, beware of exasperating any Factions by the crossness, and +asperity of some mens passions, humors, or private opinions, imployed +by you, grounded onely upon the differences in lesser matters, which +are but the skirts and suburbs of Religion. + +Wherein a charitable connivence and Christian toleration often +dissipates their strength, whom rougher opposition fortifies; and puts +the despised and oppressed party, into such Combinations, as may +most enable them to get a full revenge on those they count their +Persecutors, who are commonly assisted by that vulgar commiseration, +which attends all, that are said to suffer under the notion of +Religion. + +Provided the differences amount not to an insolent opposition of Laws, +and Government, or Religion established, as to the essentials of them, +such motions and minings are intolerable. + +Alwaies keep up solid piety, and those fundamental Truths (which mend +both hearts and lives of men) with impartial Favour and Justice. + +Take heed that outward circumstances and formalities of Religion +devoure not all, or the best incouragements of learning, industry, and +piety; but with an equal eye and impartial hand, distribute Favours +and Rewards to all men, as you find them for their real goodnesse both +in abilities and fidilitie worthy and capable of them. + +This will be sure to gain you the hearts of the best and the most +too: who though they be not good themselves, yet are glad to see the +severer ways of vertue at any time sweetned by temporall rewards. + +I have, You see, conflicted with different and opposite Factions +(for so I must needs call and count all those that act not in any +conformity to the Laws established in Church and State;) no sooner +have they by force subdued what they counted their common Enemy (that +is, all those that adhered to the Laws, and to Me) and are secured +from that fear, but they are divided to so high a rivalry, as sets +them more at defiance against each other, then against their first +Antagonists. + +Time will dissipate all Factions, when once the rough horns of private +mens covetous and ambitious designes shall discover themselves; +which were at first wrapt up and hidden under the soft and smooth +pretensions of Religion, Reformation and Liberty. As the Wolf is not +less cruell, so he wil be more justly hated, when he shall appear no +better then a Wolf under Sheeps cloathing. + +But as for the seduced Train of the Vulgar, who in their simplicity +follow those disguises; My Charge and Counsell to You, is, That as you +need no palliations for any Designes, (as other men) so that you study +really to exceed [in true and constant demonstrations of goodness, +piety, and vertue towards the people] even all those men that make the +greatest noise and ostentations of Religion; so you shall neither fear +any detection (as they do who have but the face and mask of goodness) +nor shall you frustrate the just expectations of your people; who +cannot in Reason promise themselves so much good from any Subjects +novelties, as from the vertuous constancy of their King. + +When these mountains of congealed Factions shall by the Sun-shine +of Gods Mercy, and the splendor of your Vertues, be thawed and +dissipated; and the abused Vulgar shall have learned, that none are +greater Oppressours of their Estates, Liberties, and Consciences, then +those men that intitle themselves The Patrons and Vindicators of them, +only to usurp power over them: Let then no passion betray You to any +study of revenge upon those, whose own sin and folly will sufficiently +punish them in due time. + +But as soon as the forked arrow of factious emulations is drawn out, +use all Princely arts and clemency to heal the wounds; that the smart +of the cure may not equall the anguish of the hurt. + +I have offered Acts of Indemnity and Oblivion to so great a latitude, +as may include all, that can but suspect themselves to be any way +obnoxious to the Laws; and which might serve to exclude al future +jealousies and insecurities. + +I would have You alwaies propense to the same way, when ever it shall +be desired and accepted, let it be granted, not only as an Act of +State-policie and necessitie, but of Christian charitie and choice. + +It is all I have now left Me, a power to forgive those that have +deprived Me of all; and I thank God, I have a heart to do it, and joy +as much in this grace, which God hath given Me, as in all My former +enjoyments; for this is a greater argument of Gods love to Me, then +any prosperitie can be. + +Be confident (as I am) that the most of all sides, who have done +amiss, have done so, not out of malice, but mis-information, or +mis-apprehension of things. + +None will be more loyal and faithful to Me and You, then those +Subjects, who sensible of their Errors, and our Injuries, will feel +in their own Souls most vehement motives to repentance, and earnest +desires to make some reparations for their former defects. + +As Your qualitie sets You beyond any Duel with any Subject, so +the Nobleness of Your mind must raise You above the meditating any +revenge, or executing Your anger upon the many. + +The more conscious You shall be to Your Own Merits upon Your people, +the more prone You will be to expect all love and loyalty from them, +and to inflict no punishment upon them for former miscarriages: You +will have more inward complacency in pardoning one, then in punishing +a thousand. + +This I write to You, not despairing of Gods Mercy, and My Subjects +Affections towards You, both which, I hope You will study to deserve, +yet We cannot merit of God, but by his own mercy. + +If God shall see fit to restore Me, and You after Me, to those +enjoyments, which the Laws have assigned to Us, and no Subjects +without an high degree of guilt and sin can devest Us of, then may I +have better opportunity, when I shall be so happy to see You in peace, +to let You more fully understand the things that belong to Gods glory, +Your own honor, and the Kingdoms peace. + +But if You never see My face again, and God will have me buried in +such a barbarous Imprisonment & obscurity, [which the perfecting some +mens designs requires] wherin few hearts that love Me are permitted +to exchange a word, or a look with Me; I do require and entreat You as +Your Father, and Your KING that you never suffer your heart to +receive the least check against or disaffection from the true Religion +established in the Church of _England_. + +I tell you I have tried it, and after much search, and many disputes, +have concluded it to be the best in the world, not only in the +Community, as Christian, but also in the speciall notion, as Reformed, +keeping the middle way between the pomp of superstitious Tyranny, and +the meanness of fantastique Anarchy. + +Not but that (the draught being excellent as to the main, both for +Doctrine and Government, in the Church of _England_) some lines, as +in very good figures, may happily need some sweetning, or polishing, +which might here have easily been done by a safe and gentle hand: +if some mens precipitancy had not violently demanded such rude +alterations, as would have quite destroyed all the beauty and +proportions of the whole. + +The scandall of the late Troubles, which some may object, and urge +to you against the Protestant Religion established in _England_, is +easily answered to them, or your own thoughts in this; That scarce +any one who hath been a Beginner, or an active Prosecutor of this late +Warr against the Church, the Laws, and me, either was, or is a true +Lover, Embracer or practiser of the Protestant Religion established +in _England_ which neither gives such rules, nor ever before set such +examples. + +'Tis true, some heretofore had the boldness to present threatning +Petitions to their Princes and Parliaments, which others of the same +Faction (but of worse Spirits) have now put in execution: but let not +counterfeit and disorderly Zeal abate your value and esteem of true +piety; both of them are to be known by their fruits; the sweetness +of the Vine and Fig-tree is not be despised, though the brambles and +thorns should pretend to bear figs and grapes, thereby to rule over +the trees. + +Nor would I have you to entertain any aversation or dislike of +Parliaments, which in their right constitution with freedom and honour +will never injure or diminish your greatnesse; but will rather be as +interchangings of love, loyaltie and confidence betwen a Prince and +his People. + +Nor would the events of this black Parliament have been other then +such (however much biassed by Factions in the Elections) if it +had been preserved from the insolencies of popular dictates, and +tumultuary impressions: The sad effects of which will no doubt make +all Parliaments after this, more cautious to preserve that Freedom +and Honour which belong to such Assemblies (when once they have +fully shaken off this yoak of Vulgar encroachment) since the publick +interest consists in the mutual and common good both of Prince and +People. + +Nothing can be more happie for all, then in fair, grave, and +honourable waies to contribute their Councels in Common, enacting all +things by publick consent, without Tyrannie or Tumults. We must not +starve our selves, because some men have surfeited of wholesome food. + +And if neither I, nor you, be ever restored to our Rights, but God +in his severest justice, will punish My Subjects with continuance in +their sin, and suffer them to be deluded with the prosperity of their +wickednesse; I hope God will give Me and You, that grace, which will +teach and enable Us, to want, as well as to wear a Crown, which is +not worth taking up, or enjoying upon sordid, dishonourable, and +irreligious terms. + +Keep you to true Principles of Piety, vertue, and honour, You shall +never want a Kingdom. + +A principal Point of Your honour will consist in Your referring all +respect, love, and protection to Your Mother, My Wife; who hath many +waies deserved well of Me, and chiefly in this, That having been +a means to bless me with so many hopeful Children; (all which, with +their Mother, _I_ recommend to Your love and care) Shee hath been +content with incomparable magnanimity and patience to suffer both for, +and with Me, and You. + +My Prayer to God almightie is, (whatever becomes of me, who am _I_ +thank God, wrapt up and fortified in my own innocency, and his Grace) +that he would be pleased to make You an Anchor, or Harbour rather, to +these tossed and weather-beaten Kingdoms; a Repairer by Your wisdom, +justice, piety, and valour, of what the folly and wickednesse of some +men have so far ruined, as to leave nothing intire in Church or State, +to the Crown, the Nobility, the Clergie, or the Commons, either as to +Laws, Liberties, Estates, Order, Honour, Conscience or lives. + +When they have destroyed me, (for I know not how far God may +permit the malice and crueltie of my Enemies to proceed, and such +apprehensions some mens words and actions have already given me) as +_I_ doubt not but my bloud will cry aloud for vengeance to Heaven: +so I beseech God not to pour out his wrath upon the generality of the +people, who have either deserted me, or engaged against me, through +the artifice and hypocrisie of their Leaders, whose inward horrour +will be their first Tormentor, nor will they escape exemplary +judgements. + +For those that loved me, I pray God, they may have no miss of me, +when I am gone; so much I wish and hope, that all good Subjects may be +satisfied with the blessings of your presence and vertues. + +For those that repent of any defects in their duty toward me, as I +freely forgive them in the word of a Christian KING, so I beleeve you +will find them truly Zealous, to repay with interest that loyalty and +love to you, which was due to me. + +In summe, what good I intended, do you perform, when God shall give +you power; much good I have offered, more I purposed to Church and +State, if times had been capable of it. + +The deception will soon vanish, and the Vizards will fall off apace; +This mask of Religion on the face of Rebellion (for so it now plainly +appears, since my Restraint and cruell usage, that they fought not +for me, as was pretended) wil not long serve to hide some mens +deformities. + +Happy times I hope, attend you, wherein your Subjects [by their +miseries] will have learned, That Religion to their God, and Loyalty +to their King, cannot be parted without both their sin and their +infelicity. I pray God bless you and establish your Kingdoms in +righteousness, your Soul in true Religion, and your honour in the love +of God and your people. + +And if God will have disloyalty perfected by my destruction; let my +Memory ever, with my Name, live in you; as of your Father, that loves +you, and once a KING of three flourishing Kingdoms; whom God thought +fit to honour, not only with the Scepter and Government of them, but +also with the suffering many indignities and an untimely death for +them; while I studied to preserve the Rights of the Church, the Power +of the Laws, the Honour of my Crown, the Priviledge of Parliaments, +the Liberties of my People, and my own Conscience, which, I thank God, +is dearer to me then a thousand Kingdoms. + +I know God can, I hope he yet will restore me to my Rights. I cannot +despair either of his mercy, or of my peoples love and pitie. + +At worst, I trust I shall but go before you to a better Kingdom, which +God hath prepared for me, and me for it, through my Saviour Jesus +Christ, to whose mercies I commend You and all mine. + +Farewell, till we meet, if not on Earth, yet in Heaven. + + * * * * * + + + + +28. _Meditations upon Death, after the Votes of Non-Addresses, and +His_ Majesties _closer Imprisonment in_ Carisbrook-Castle. + + +As I have leisure enough, so I have cause more then enough, to +meditate upon, and prepare for My Death: for I know, there are but, +few steps between the Prisons and Graves of Princes. + +It is Gods indulgence which gives me the space, but Mans cruelty that +gives Me the sad occasions for these thoughts. + +For, besides the common burthen of mortalitie, which lies upon Me, +as a Man; I now bear the heavy load of other mens ambitions, fears, +jealousies, and cruel passions, whose envie or enmity against Me, +makes their own lives seem deadly to them, while I enjoy any part of +Mine. + +I thank God, My prosperitie made Me not wholly a stranger to the +contemplations of mortalitie. + +Those are never unseasonable, since this is alwaies uncertain: Death +being an eclipse, which oft happeneth as well in cleer as cloudy +dayes. + +But My now long and sharp adversity hath so reconciled in Me those +natural Antipathies between Life and Death, which are in all men, that +I thank God, the common terrors of it are dispelled; and the special +horrour of it, as to My particular, much allayed: for although My +Death at present may justly be represented to Me with all those +terrible aggravations, which the policy of cruel and implacable +enemies can put upon it (affaires being drawn to the very dregs +of malice) yet I bless God, I can look upon all those stings, as +unpoysonous, though sharp; since My Redeemer hath either pulled them +out, or given Me the Antidote of his Death against them, which as to +the immaturity, injustice, shame, scorn, and cruelty of it, exceeded +what ever I can fear. + +Indeed, I never did find so much, the life of Religion, the feast of +a good Conscience, and the brazen wall of a judicious integrity and +constancy, as since I came to these closer conflicts with the thoughts +of Death. + +I am not so old, as to be wearie of life; nor (I hope) so bad, as to +be either afraid to die, or ashamed to live: true, I am so afflicted, +as might make Me sometime even desire to die, if I did not consider, +That it is the greatest glory of a Christians life to _die daily_, +in conquering by a lively faith, and patient hopes of a better life, +those partiall and quotidian deaths, which kill us (as it were) +by piece-meales, and make us overlive our own fates: while we are +deprived of health, honour, liberty, power, credit, safety, or estate; +and those other comforts of dearest relations, which are as the life +of our lives. + +Though, as a KING, I think My self to live in nothing temporall so +much, as in the love and good-will of my People; for which, as I have +suffered many deaths, so I hope I am not in that point as yet wholly +dead: notwithstanding; My Enemies have used all the poyson of falsity +and violence of hostility to destroy, first the love and Loyalty, +which is in my Subjects; and then all that content of life in me, +which from these I chiefly enjoyed. + + +Indeed, they have left me but little of life, and only the husk +and shell (as it were) which their further malice and cruelty can take +from me; having bereaved me of all those worldly comforts, for which +life it self seems desirable to men. + +But, O my Soul! think not that life too long, or tedious, wherein God +gives thee any opportunities, if not to do, yet to suffer with such +Christian patience and magnanimity, in a good Cause, as are the +greatest honour of our lives, and the best improvement of our deaths. + +_I_ know that in point of true Christian valor, it argues +pusillanimity to desire to dye out of weariness of life, and a want +of that heroick greatness of Spirit which becoms a Christian in the +patient and generous sustaining those afflictions, which as shadows +necessarily attend us, while we are in this body: and which are +lessned or enlarged as the Sun of our prosperity moves higher, or +lower: whose totall absence is best recompensed with the Dew of +Heaven. + +The assaults of affliction may be terrible, like _Sampsons_ Lyon, but +they yeild much sweetness to those that dare to encounter and overcome +them; who know how to overlive the witherings of their Gourds without +discontent or peevishness, while they may yet converse with God. + +That _I_ must die as a man, is certain; that _I_ may die a King, by +the hands of my own Subjects, a violent, sodain, barbarous death; in +the strength of my years, in the midst of my Kingdoms; my Friends +and loving Subjects being helpless Spectators; my Enemies insolent +Revilers and Triumphers over me, living, dying, and dead, is so +probable in humane reason, that God hath taught me not to hope +otherwise as to mans crueltie; however, I despair not of Gods infinite +mercy. + +I know my life is the Object of the devils & wicked mens malice, but +yet under Gods sole custodie and disposal: whom I do not think to +flatter for longer life by seeming prepared to die; but I humbly +desire to depend upon him, and to submit to his will both in life and +death, in what order soever he is pleased to lay them out to me. I +confess it is not easie for me to contend with those many horrours +of Death, wherewith God suffers me to be tempted; which are equally +horrid, either in the suddennesse of a barbarous Assasination or in +those greater formalities, whereby my Enemies [being more solemnly +cruel] will, it may be, seek to adde [as those did who Crucified +Christ] the mockery of Justice, to the cruelty of malice: That I may +be destroyed, as with greater pomp and artifice, so with less pity, +will be but a necessary policie to make my Death appear as an Act of +Justice, done by subjects upon their Soveraign, who know that no Law +of God or Man invests them with any power of Judicature without me, +much lesse against me: and who, being sworn, and bound by all that is +sacred before God and man, to endeavour my preservation, must pretend +Justice to cover their perjury. + +It is, indeed, a sad fate for any man to have his Enemies to be +Accusers, Parties, and Judges; but most desperate, when this is acted +by the insolence of Subjects against their Soveraign; wherein those, +who have had the cheifest hand, and are most guilty of contriving the +publick Troubles, must by shedding my bloud, seem to wash their own +hands of that innocent bloud whereof they are now most evidently +guilty before God and Man; and I beleeve in their own Consciences too, +while they carried on unreasonable Demands, First by Tumults, after +by Armies. Nothing makes mean spirits more cowardly-cruel in managing +their usurped power against their lawful Superiours then this, the +_guilt of their unjust Usurpation_: notwithstanding those specious +& popular pretentions of Justice against Delinquents applied only to +disguise at first the monstrousnesse of their designs, who despaired, +indeed, of possessing the power and profits of the Vineyard, till the +heir whose right it is, be cast out and slain. + +With them My greatest fault must be, that I would not either destroy +My Self with the Church and State by My word, or not suffer them to do +it un-resisted by the Sword; whose covetous ambition no Concessions of +Mine could ever yet either satisfie, or abate. + +Nor is it likely they will ever think, that Kingdom of brambles which +some men seek to erect (at once weak, sharp, and fruitlesse, either +to God or man) is like to thrive till watered with the Royal bloud of +those, whose right the Kingdom is. + +Well, Gods will be done, I doubt not but my Innocencie will finde him +both my Protector and my Advocate, who is my only Judg; whom I own as +King of Kings, not onely for the eminency of his Power and Majestie +above them; but also for that singular care and protection which he +hath over them; who knows them to be exposed to as many dangers (being +the greatest patrons of Law, Justice, Order, and Religion on earth) as +there be either Men or Devils, which love confusion. + +Nor will he suffer those men long to prosper in their _Babel_, who +build it with the bones, and cement it with the bloud of their Kings. + +I am confident they will find Avengers of my death among themselves: +the injuries I have sustained from them shall be first punished by +them, who agreed in nothing so much as in opposing me. + +Their impatience to bear the loud cry of my bloud, shall make them +think no way better to expiate it, then by shedding theirs, who with +them most thirsted after mine. + +The sad confusions following my destruction, are already presaged and +confirmed to me by those I have lived to see since my troubles; in +which God alone (who only could) hath many ways pleaded my cause; not +suffering them to go unpunished, whose confederacy in sin was their +only security; who have cause to fear that God will both further +divide and by mutuall vengeance, afterward destroy them. + +My greatest conquest of death is from the power and love of Christ, +who hath swallow'd up death in the Victory of his Resurection, and the +Glory of his Ascention. + +My next comfort is, that he gives me not only the honour to imitate +his example in suffering for righteousness sake (though obscur'd by +the foulest charges of Tyranny and Injustice,) but also, that charity, +which is the noblest revenge upon, and victory over my Destroyers: By +which, I thank God, I can both forgive them and pray for them, that +God would not impute my blood to them, further then to convince them, +what need they have of Christs bloud to wash their souls from the +guilt of shedding mine. + +At present, the will of mine Enemies seems to be their only rule, +their power the measure, and their Successe the Exactor, of what they +please to call Justice, while they flatter themselves with the fancy +of their own safety by my danger, and the security of their lives +designs by My Death: forgetting, That as the greatest temptations to +sin are wrapped up in seeming prosperities, so the severest vengeances +of God are then most accomplished, when men are suffered to compleat +their wicked purposes. + +I bless God, I Pray not so much, that this bitter Cup of violent Death +may pass from Me, as that of his wrath may pass from al those, whose +hands by deserting Me, are sprinkled, or by Acting and Consenting to +My Death are embrued with My Bloud. + +The will of God hath confined, and concluded Mine; I shall have the +pleasure of Dying, without any pleasure of desired vengeance. + +This I think becomes a Christian toward his Enemies, and a King toward +His Subjects. + +They cannot deprive Me of more then I am content to lose, when God +sees fit by their hands to take it from Me; whose mercy I beleive, +will more then infinitely recompence what ever by mans injustice, he +is pleased to deprive Me of. + +The glory attending My Death, will far surpass all I could enjoy, or +conceive in life. + +I shall not want the heavy and envyed Crowns of this world, when My +God hath mercifully Crowned and Consummated his graces with Glory, +and exchanged the shadows of My earthly Kingdoms among men, for the +substance of that Heavenlie Kingdom with himself. + +For the censures of the world; I know the sharp and necessarie +tyrannie of My Destroyers will sufficiently confute the calumnies of +tyrannie against Me; I am perswaded I am happie in the judicious love +of the ablest and best of My Subjects, who do not only Pitie and Pray +for Me, but would be content even to die with Me, or for Me. + +These know how to excuse My failings, as a man, and yet to retain +and pay their dutie to Me, as their King; there being no religious +necessitie binding any Subjects by pretending to punish, infinitely to +exceed the faults and errors of their Princes, especially there, where +more then sufficient satisfaction hath been made to the Publick; the +enjoyment of which, private ambitions have hitherto frustrated. + +Others, I beleeve, of softer tempers, and less advantaged by My +ruine, do alreadie feel sharp convictions, and some remorse in their +Consciences: where they cannot but see the proportions of their evil +dealings against Me in the measure of Gods retaliations upon them, +who cannot hope long to enjoy their own thumbs and toes, having under +pretence of paring others nails bin so cruel as to cut off their +cheifest strength. + +The punishment of the more insolent and obstinate, may be like that +of _Korah_ and his complices (at once mutining against both Prince and +Priest) in such a method of divine justice, as is not ordinary, +the earth of the lowest and meanest people opening upon them, and +swallowing them up in a just disdain of their ill-gotten, and worse +used Authority: upon whose support and strength they chiefly depended +for their building and establishing their designes against Me, the +Church and State. + +My chiefest comfort in death consists in my peace, which I trust, +is made with GOD; before whose exact Tribunall I shall not fear to +appear, as to the Cause so long disputed by the Sword, between me and +my causelese Enemies, where I doubt not but his righteous Judgment +will confute their fallacy, who from worldly success (rather like +Sophisters, then sound Christians) draw those popular conclusions for +Gods approbation of their actions; whose wise providence (we know) oft +permits many events which his revealed word (the only clear, safe, and +fixed rule of good actions and good consciences) in no sort approves. + +I am confident, the justice of my Cause, and clearness of my +Conscience before God, and toward my people, wil carry me as much +above them in Gods decision, as their Successes have lifted them above +me in the Vulgar opinion: who consider not, that many times those +undertakings of men are lifted up to heaven in the prosperity +and applause of the world, whose rise is from hell, as to the +injuriousness and oppression of the design. The prosperous winds +which oft fil the sails of Pirats, doth not justifie their piracy and +rapine. + +I look upon it with infinite more content and quiet of Soul, to have +been worsted in my enforced contestation for, and vindication of the +Laws of the Land, the Freedom and Honour of Parliaments, the Rights +of my Crown, the just Liberty of my Subjects, and the true Christian +Religion in its Doctrine, Government, and due Encouragements, then if +I had, with the greatest advantages of success over-born them all; +as some men have now evidently done, whatever designes they at first +pretended. + +The prayers and patience of my Friends and loving Subjects will +contribute much to the sweetning of this bitter cup, which I doubt not +but I shall more cheerfully take and drink, as from Gods hand (if it +must be so) then they can give it to me, whose hands are unjustly and +barbarously lifted up against Me. + +And as to the last event, I may seem to owe more to my Enemies then +my Friends; while those will put a period to the sins and sorrows +attending this miserable life, wherewith these desire, I might still +contend. + +I shall be more then Conquerour through, Christ enabling me: for whom +_I_ have hitherto suffered, as he is the Author of Truth, Order, and +Peace; for all which _I_ have been forced to contend against Errour, +Faction, and confusion. + +If _I_ must suffer a violent death with my Saviour; it is but +mortality crowned with martyrdom: where the debt of death, which I +owe for sin to nature, shall be raised as a gift of faith and patience +offered to God. + +Which _I_ humbly beseech him mercifully to accept; and although death +be the wages of my own sinne, as from God, and the effect of others +sinnes, as men, both against God and me; yet as _I_ hope my own sinnes +are so remitted, that they shall be no ingredients to imbitter the +cup of my death, so _I_ desire God to pardon their sins, who are most +guilty of my destruction. + +The Trophees of my charitie will be more glorious and durable over +them, then their ill managed victories over me. + +Though their sin be prosperous, yet they had need to be penitent, that +they may be pardoned: Both which, _I_ pray God they may obtain: that +my temporal Death unjustly inflicted by them, may not be revenged by +Gods just inflicting eternal death upon them: for _I_ look upon the +temporall destruction of the greatest King, as far lesse deprecable +then the eternall damnation of the meanest Subject. + +Nor do I wish other then the safe bringing of the ship to shore, when +they have cast me overboard; though it be very strange, that Mariners +can finde no other means to appease the storms themselves have raised, +but by drowning their Pilot. + +I thank God, my Enemies cruelty cannot prevent my preparation; +whose malice in this I shall defeat, that they shall not have +the satisfaction to have destroyed my Soul with my Body; of whose +salvation, while some of them have themselves seemed, and taught +others to despair, they have onely discovered this, that they do not +much desire it. + +Whose uncharitable and cruell Restraints, denying me even the +assistance of any of my Chaplains, hath rather enlarged, then any way +obstructed my accesse to the Throne of Heaven, + + +_Where thou dwellest, O King of Kings, who fillest Heaven and Earth, +who art the fountain of eternal life, in whom is no shadow of death._ + +_Thou, O God, art both the just Afflicter of death upon us, and the +mercifull Saviour of us in it, and from it._ + +_Yea, it is better for us to be dead to our selves, and live in thee; +then by living in our selves, to be deprived of thee._ + +_O make the many bitter aggravations of my death as a Man, and a King, +the opportunities and advantages of thy speciall Graces and Comforts +in my Soul as a Christian._ + +_If thou Lord wilt be with me, I shall neither fear nor feel any +evill, though I walk thorow the valley of the shadow of death._ + +_To contend with death is the work of a weak and mortall man; to +overcome it, is the grace of thee alone, who art the Almighty and +immortall God._ + +_O my Saviour, who knowest what it is to die with me as a Man; make me +know what it is to passe through death to life with thee my God._ + +_Though I die, yet I know that thou my Redeemer livest for ever: +though thou slayest Me, yet thou hast encouraged me to trust in thee +for eternal life._ + +_O withdraw not thy favour from me, which is better then life._ + +_O be not far from me, for I know not now neer a violent and cruel +death is to me._ + +_As thy Omniscience, O God, discovers, so thy Omnipotence can defeat +the designes of those who have, or shall conspire my destruction._ + +_O shew me the goodnesse of thy will, through the wickednesse of +theirs._ + +_Thou givest me leave as a man to pray, that this cup may pass from +me; but thou hast taught Me as a Christian by the example of Christ to +add not my will, but thine be done._ + +_Yea Lord, let our wils be one, by wholly resolving mine into thine: +let not the desire of life in me be so great, as that of doing or +suffering thy wil in either life or death._ + +_As I believe thou hast forgiven all the errours of my life, so I hope +thou wilt save me from the terrors of my death._ + +_Make me content to leave the worlds nothing, that I may come really +to enjoy all in thee, who hast made Christ unto me in life, gain; and +in death advantage._ + +_Though my destroyers forget their dutie to thee and me, yet do not +thou, O Lord, forget to be mercifull to them._ + +_For, what profit is there in my bloud, or in their gaining my +Kingdoms, if they lose their own Souls?_ + +_Such as have not onely resisted my just Power, but wholly usurped and +turned it against my self, though they may deserve, yet let them not +receive to themselves damnation._ + +_Thou madest thy Son a Saviour to many that crucified him, while at +once he suffered violently by them, and yet willingly for them._ + +_O let the voice of his bloud be heard for my Murtherers, louder then +the cry of mine against them._ + +_Prepare them for thy mercy by due convictions of their sin, and +let them not at once deceive and damne their own souls by fallacious +pretensions of Justice in destroying me, while the conscience of their +unjust usurpation of power against me, chiefly tempts them to use all +extremities against me._ + +_O Lord, thou knowest I have found their mercies to me as very false, +so very cruell, who pretending to preserve me, have meditated nothing +but my ruine._ + +_O deal not with them as bloud thirsty and deceitfull men; but +overcome their cruelty with thy compassion and my charitie._ + +_And when thou makest inquisition for my blood, O sprinkle their +polluted, yet penitent Souls with the bloud of thy Son, that thy +destroying Angel may passe over them._ + +_Though they think my Kingdoms on earth too little to entertain at +once both them and me; yet let the capacious Kingdom of thy infinite +mercy at last receive both me and my enemies._ + +_When being reconciled to thee in the bloud of the same Redeemer, wee +shall live far above these ambitious desires, which beget such mortall +enmities._ + +_When their hands shall be heaviest and cruellest upon me, O let me +fall into the arms of thy tender and eternall mercies._ + +_That what is cut off of my life in this miserable moment, may be +repaied in thy ever blessed Eternity._ + +_Lord, let thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy +salvation._ + +Vota dabunt, quae Bella negarunt. + + + + +_FINIS._ + + * * * * * + + + + + A + PERFECT COPY OF + PRAYERS, + Used by His + MAJESTIE + in the time of His + _SUFFERINGS_. + + + _Delivered to Dr._ Juxon _Bishop of_ + London _immediately before his Death_. + + And his Speeches to the Lady _Elizabeth_ and + the Duke of _Glocester_. + + With + + His _Reasons_ against the pretended Jurisdiction + of the High Court of Justice; intended to + be delivered, Munday 22 of _Janu_. + 1648. + + Also + + A Copy of a LETTER from the + _PRINCE_. + +[Illustration] + + Printed _Anno Domini_ 1649. + + * * * * * + + +[Illustration] + + +_A PRAYER in time of Captivitie._ + + +O Powerfull and Eternall God! to whom nothing is so great, that it may +resist; or so small, that it is contemned; look upon my miserie with +thine eye of mercy, and let Thine infinite power vouchsafe to limit +out some proportion of deliverance unto me, as to Thee shall seem +most convenient; let not Injurie, O Lord, triumph over me; and let my +faults by thy hand be corrected; and make not my unjust Enemies the +ministers of thy Justice: But yet my God, if in thy Wisdom this be +the aptest chastisement for my unexcusable transgressions; if this +ingratefull bondage be fittest for my over-high deserts; if the pride +of my (not enough humble) heart be thus to be broken, O Lord, I yeeld +unto thy will, and cheerfully embrace what sorrow thou wilt have me +suffer: Onely thus much let me crave of thee, (let my craving, O +Lord, be accepted of, since it even proceeds from thee) That by +thy Goodnesse, which is thy Self, thou wilt suffer some beam of +thy Majestie so to shine in my minde, that I, who in my greatest +Afflictions acknowledge it my noblest Title to be thy Creature, may +still depend confidently on Thee. Let Calamity be the exercise, but +not the overthrow of my Vertue. O let not their prevailing power be to +my destruction. And if it be thy will that they more and more vex me +with punishment; yet O Lord, never let their wickednesse have such a +hand, but that I may still carry a pure mind, and stedfast resolution +ever to serve thee without fear or presumption; yet with that humble +Confidence which may best please thee; so that at the last I may +come to thy eternall Kingdom through the merits of thy Son our alone +Saviour, Jesus Christ. _Amen_. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Another PRAYER._ + + +Almightie and most merciful Father, look down upon me thy unworthy +servant, who here prostrate my self at the Foot-stool of thy Throne of +Grace; but look upon me, O Father, through the Mediation, and in the +Merits of Jesus Christ, in whom thou art only wel pleased: for of my +Self I am not worthy to stand before thee, or to speak with my +unclean lips to thee, most holy and eternall God; for as in sin I was +conceived and born, so likewise I have broken all thy Commandments by +my sinful motions, unclean thoughts, evill words, and wicked works; +omitting many duties I ought to do, and committing many vices thou +hast forbidden under pain of thy heavie Displeasure: as for my sins, +O Lord, they are innumerable: wherefore I stand here liable to all the +miseries in this life, and everlasting Torments in that to come, if +thou shouldst deal with me according to my deserts. I confesse, +O Lord, that it is thy Mercie (which endureth for ever) and thy +compassion (which never fails) which is the cause that I have not +been long ago consumed: but with thee there is Mercie and plenteous +Redemption; in the multitude therefore of thy mercies, and by the +Merits of Jesus Christ, I intreat thy Divine Majestie, that thou +wouldst not enter into judgment with thy servant, nor be extreme to +mark what is done amisse, but be thou mercifull unto Me, and wash away +all my sins with that precious bloud that my Saviour shed for me. And +I beseech thee, O Lord, not onely to wash away all my sins; but also +to purge my heart by thy holy Spirit, from the dross of my natural +corruption: And as thou dost add days to my life, so good Lord, I +beseech thee to add repentance to my dayes, that when I have past this +mortall life, I may be partaker of thy everlasting Kingdom, through +the Merits of Jesus Christ our Lord, _Amen_. + + * * * * * + + + + +_A_ PRAYER _and_ CONFESSION _made in and for the times of Affliction._ + + +Almighty and most mercifull Father, as it is onely thy Goodnesse that +admits of our imperfect Prayers, and the knowledge that thy mercies +are infinite, which can give Us any hope of thy accepting or granting +them: so it is our bounden and necessary duty to confesse our sins +freely unto thee; And of all men living, I have most need, most reason +so to do; no man having been so much obliged by thee, no man more +grievously offending thee: that degree of knowledge which thou hast +given me adding likewise to the guilt of my transgressions. For, was +it through ignorance, that I suffered innocent bloud to be shed by a +false pretended way of Justice? or that I permitted a wrong way of +thy Worship to be set up in _Scotland?_ and injured the Bishops in +_England?_ O no; but with shame and grief I confesse, that I therein +followed the perswasions of worldly Wisdome, forsaking the Dictates +of a right-informed Conscience: Wherefore, O Lord, I have no excuse to +make, no hope left, but in the multitude of thy mercies; for I know +my repentance weak, and my prayers faulty: Grant therefore, mercifull +Father, so to strengthen my repentance, and amend my prayers, that +thou maist clear the way for thine own mercies; to which, O let +thy Justice at last give place, putting a speedy end to my deserved +afflictions. In the mean time, give me patience to endure, Constancy +against Temptations, and a discerning spirit, to chuse what is best +for thy Church, and People which thou hast committed to my charge. +Grant this, O most mercifull Father, for thy Son Jesus Christs sake, +our onely Saviour, _Amen._ + + * * * * * + + + + +_A_ PRAYER _in time of imminent Danger._ + + +O Most merciful Father, though my sins are so many and grievous, +that I may rather expect the effects of thy anger, then so great a +deliverance, as to free me from my present great danger; yet, O Lord, +since thy mercies are over all thy works, and thou never failest to +relieve all those who with humble and unfeigned repentance come to +thee for succour, it were to multiply, not diminish my transgressions, +to despair of thy heavenly favour: Wherefore I humbly desire thy +divine Majestie, That thou wilt not onely pardon all my sins; but also +free me out of the hands, and protect me from the malice of my +cruel Enemies. But if Thy wrath against my hainous Offences will not +otherwayes be satisfied, then by suffering Me to fall under my present +afflictions, Thy will be done; yet with humble Importunity, I do and +shall never leave to implore the assistance of thy heavenly Spirit, +that my cause, as I am thy Vicegerent may not suffer through My +weakness, or want of courage, O Lord, so strengthen and enlighten all +the faculties of My mind, that with clearnesse I may shew forth Thy +Truth, and manfully endure this bloody Tryal, that so my sufferings +here may not onely glorifie Thee, but likewise be a furtherance to my +salvation hereafter. Grant this, O mercifull Father, for his sake who +suffered for me, even Jesus Christ the Righteous. _Amen._ + +[Illustration: Emblem] + + * * * * * + + + + +A Copie of a Letter which was sent from the PRINCE to the KING; Dated +from the HAGUE _Jan_. 23. 1648. + + +SIR, _Having no means to come to the knowledge of your Majesties +present condition, but such as I receive from the Prints, or (which is +as uncertain) Report, I have sent this Bearer_ Seamour _to wait upon +your Majestie; and to bring me an account of it: that I may withall +assure your Majestie, I doe not onely pray for your Majestie according +to my Dutie, but shall alwayes be ready to doe all which shall be +in my power, to deserve that blessing which I now humbly beg of your +Majestie upon_ + + (SIR) + +HAGUE _Jan_. 23. 1648. + + _Your_ MAJESTIES + _most humble and most + obedient Son & servant + CHARLS._ + +The Superscription was thus, + +For the King. + + * * * * * + + +[Illustraton] + + +Munday 29th January, 1648. + + +_A true Relation of the_ KINGS _Speech to the Lady_ ELISABETH, _and the +Duke of_ GLOCESTER, _the day before His Death._ + + +His children being come to meet him, he first gave his blessing to the +Lady _Elisabeth_; and bad her remember to tell her Brother _James_, +when ever she should see him, That it was his Fathers last desire, +that he should no more look upon _Charles_ as his eldest Brother only, +but be obedient unto him, as his Soveraign; and that they should love +one another, and forgive their Fathers Enemies. Then said the King +to her, Sweet-heart you'l forget this: No (said she) _I_ shall never +forget it while I live: And pouring forth abundance of Tears, promised +him to write down the Paticulars. + +Then the King taking the Duke of _Glocester_ upon his knee, said, +Sweet-heart, now they will cut off thy Fathers head; (upon which words +the child looked very stedfastly on him.) Mark child, what I say, they +will cut of my head, and perhaps make thee a King: But mark what I +say, you must not be a King so long as your Brother _Charles_ and +_James_ do live; For they will cut off your Brothers heads, (when they +can catch them) and cut off thy head too at the last: and therefore, +_I_ charge you, do not be made a King by them. At which the child, +sighing, said, I will be torn in pieces first. Which falling so +unexpectedly from one so young, it made the King rejoyce exceedingly. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Another Relation from the Lady_ ELISABETHS _own Hand._ + + +What the king said to me the nine and twentieth of _January_ 1648. +being the last time I had the happiness to see him; he told me, he +was glad I was come, and although he had not time to say much, yet +somewhat he had to say to me, which he had not to another, or leave in +writing, because he feared their cruelty was such, as that they would +not have permitted him to write to me, he wished me not to grieve and +torment my self for him; for that would be a glorious death that he +should dye; it being for the Laws and Liberties of this Land, and +for maintaining the true Protestant Religion. He bad me read Bishop +_Andrews_ Sermons, _Hookers Ecclesiasticall Politie_, and Bishop +_Lauds_ Book against _Fisher_, which would ground me against Popery. +He told me, he had forgiven all his Enemies, and hoped God would +forgive them also; and commanded us, and all the rest of my Brothers +and Sisters to forgive them: he bid me tell my Mother, That his +thoughts never had strayed from her, and that his love should be +the same to the last. Withall he commanded me and my Brother to +be obedient to her. And bid me send his blessing to the rest of my +Brothers and Sisters, with Commendation to all His Friends: So after +he had given me his blessing, I took my leave. + +Further, he commanded us all to forgive those people, but never to +trust them; for they had been most false to him, and to those that +gave them power, and he feared also to their own souls; And desired me +not to grieve for him, for he should die a Martyr, and that he doubted +not but the Lord would settle his Throne upon his Son, and that we +should be all happier, then we could have expected to have been, if he +had lived: With many other things, which at present I cannot remember. + +ELISABETH. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Another Relation from the Lady_ Elisabeth. + + +The King said to the Duke of _Glocester_, that he would say nothing to +him but what was for the good of his soul: he told him, that he heard +that the Army intended to make him King; but it was a thing not for +him to take upon him, if he regarded the welfare of his soul; for +he had two Brothers before him: and therefore commanded him upon His +blessing, never to accept of it, unless it redowned lawfully upon him: +And commanded him to fear the Lord, and he would provide for him. + +_Copia vera._ + + * * * * * + + + + +_An_ Epitaph _upon King_ CHARLS. + + + So falls that stately Cedar: while it stood + That was the onely glory of the Wood: + Great _Charles_, thou earthly God, celestial _M_an, + Whose life, like others, though it were a span: + Yet in that span, was comprehended more + Then Earth hath waters or the Ocean shore; + Thy heavenly vertues, Angels shou'd rehearse, + It is a theam too high for humane Verse: + He that would know thee right, then let him look + Upon Thy rare incomparable Book, + And read it or'e and o're; which if he do, + Hee'l find thee _king_, _and Priest_, _and Prophet too_: + And sadly see our losse, and though in vain, + With fruitlesse wishes, call thee back again. + Nor shall oblivion sit upon thy Herse, + Though there were neither Monument, nor Verse. + Thy Suff'rings & thy Death let no man name; + It was thy Glorie, but the Kingdoms Shame. + + _J. H._ + + * * * * * + + +[Illustration] + + + _His Majesties Reasons against the pretended Jurisdiction of + the High Court of Justice, which he intended to deliver in + writing on Munday_ January 22, 1648. + + +Faithfully transcribed out of the originall Copie under the Kings own +hand. + + +Having already made my protestations not only against the illegality +of this pretended Court, but also that no earthly power can justly +call me (who am your King) in question as a Delinquent, _I_ would not +any more open my mouth upon this occasion, more then to refer my selfe +to what I have spoken, were I alone in this case concerned. But +the duty I owe to God in the preservation of the true Liberty of my +People, will not suffer me at this time to be silent: For, how can any +free-born Subject of England call life or any thing he possesseth +his own, if power without right daily make new, and abrogate the old +fundamentall Law of the Land, which I now take to be the present +case. Wherefore when I came hither, I expected that you would have +indeavoured to have satisfied me concerning these grounds, which +hinder me to Answer to your pretended Impeachment, but since I see +that nothing I can say will move you to it (though Negatives are not +so naturally proved as Affirmatives) yet I will shew you the Reason +why I am confident you cannot judge me, nor indeed the meanest man in +England; for I will not (like you) without shewing a reason, seek to +impose a belief upon My Subjects. + +[Sidenote: _Hereabout I was stopt, and not suffered to speake any more +concerning Reasons._] + +There is no proceeding just against any man, but what is warranted +either by Gods Laws, or the municipall Lawes of the Country where he +lives. Now I am most confident, that this daies proceeding cannot be +warranted by Gods Law, for on the contrary the authority of obedience +unto Kings is cleerly warranted and strictly commanded both in the Old +and New Testament; which if denied, I am ready to prove: and for the +question now in hand, there it is said, That _where the word of a +King is, there is Power, and who may say unto him, what doest thou_? +_Eccles._ 8. 4. Then for the Lawes of this land, I am no lesse +confident, that no learned Lawyer will affirme that an impeachment +can lie against the King, they all going in his name; and one of their +Maximes is, _that the King can do no wrong_. Besides, the law upon +which you ground your proceedings, must either be old or new; if old +shew it; if new, tell what authority warranted by the fundamentall +Laws of the land hath made it, and when. But how the House of Commons +can erect a Court of Judicature, which was never one it self (as is +well known to all Lawyers) I leave to God and the World to judge; And +it were full as strange that they should pretend to make Laws without +King or Lords-House, to any that have heard speak of the Lawes of +England. + +And admitting, but not granting, that the people of Englands +Commission could grant your pretended Power, I see nothing you can +shew for that; for certainly you never asked the question of the tenth +man of the Kingdom, and in this way you manifestly wrong even the +poorest Plough-man, if you demand not his free consent; nor can you +pretend any colour for this your pretended Commission without the +consent at least of the major part of every man in England, of +whatsoever quality or condition, which I am sure, you never went about +to seek; so far are you from having it. Thus you see that I speak +not for my own right alone, as I am your King, but also for the true +Liberty of all my Subjects, which consists not in sharing the power +of Government, but in living under such Laws, such a Government as +may give themselves the best assurance of their lives and propriety of +their goods. Nor in this must or do I forget the priviledges of both +Houses of Parliament, which this dayes proceedings doth not only +violate, but likewise occasion the greatest breach of their Publike +Faith that (I beleeve) ever was heard of, with which I am far from +charging the two houses: for all the pretended crimes laid against me, +bear date long before this late Treaty at Newport, in which I having +concluded as much as in me lay, and hopefully expecting the two Houses +agreement thereunto, I was suddenly surprized, and hurried from thence +as a Prisoner, upon which accompt I am against my will brought hither, +where since I am come, I cannot but to my power defend the ancient +Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom, together with my own just Right; +then for any thing I can see the higher house is totally excluded. + +And for the House of Commons, it is too well known that the major +part of them are detained or deterr'd from sitting, so as if I had no +other, this were sufficient for me to protest against the lawfulnesse +of your pretended Court. Besides all this, the peace of the Kingdom is +not the least in my thoughts; and what hopes of settlement is there so +long as power raignes without rule of Law, changing the whole frame +of that government under which this Kingdom hath flourished for +many hundred years, (nor will I say what will fall out in case this +lawlesse unjust proceeding against me do go on) & beleeve it the +Commons of England will not thanke you for this change, for they will +remember how happy they have been of late years under the raign of Q. +_Elizabeth_, the King my Father and my self, untill the beginning of +these unhappy troubles, and wil have cause to doubt that they shall +never be so happy under any new. And by this time it will be too +sensibly evident, that the Armes I took up were only to defend the +fundamentall Laws of this Kingdom, against those who have supposed my +power hath totally changed the ancient Government. + +Thus having shewed you briefly the Reasons, why I cannot submit to +your pretended authority without violating the trust which I have +from God, for the welfare and liberty of my people; I expect from you +either clear Reasons to convince my Judgment, shewing me that I am +in an error (and then truly I will readily answer) or that you will +withdraw your proceedings. + + +_This I intended to speake in Westminster-Hall on Monday 22. January, +but against reason was hindered to shew my Reasons._ + + * * * * * + + +FINIS. + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note. + +Inconsistencies in spelling, grammar, capitalisation and punctuation +have generally been retained, unless the inconsistency is obviously an +error. + +e.g. Iustice and Justice (etc.) are both used; wickednss (page 53) +may be a printer's error, or the author's contraction. There are a few +instances of 'wickednesse', and only one of 'wickedness'; there are +a few instances of 'yeild', and 'yeeld', but none of 'yield'; 'then' +is used throughout the book as modern writers would use 'than'; and +apostrophes are notable by their absence. + +The prefix 'un' is used where a modern writer would use 'in'. Many +other words have more than one spelling. Phonetic spellings have been +retained. + +'proreption' (p. 66) means 'slow advance' (Google Books). + +The long 's', prevalent at the time, has been updated to +the modern 's', which even in 1649 was used at the ends of words. + +There are some instances of what seem to be genuine errata:-- + +Sundry missing, damaged or extraneous punctuation has been repaired. + +Explanation of the Emblem: 'deprrss'd' corrected to 'depress'd': +"_Palm_-like _depress'd_, I higher rise" + +p. 15: 'agaist' corrected to 'against': "have purposed any violence +or oppression against the Innocent" + +p. 24: 'assawge' corrected to 'asswage': "and after did'st asswage the +floud which drowned the world," + +p. 42: 'kinkled' corrected to 'kindled': "the brands of that fire +being ill quenched, have kindled the like flames here." + +p. 51: 'noreable' corrected to 'noteable'*: "he is now become a +noteable monument of unprosperous disloialtie," + +p. 59: 'and' corrected to 'an': "I must now be urged with an Armie," + +p. 63: 'one' corrected to 'on': "unfortunate Successes of this War, on +my side, I do not think my" + +p. 73: 'no' corrected to 'to': "if not to conquer, yet at least to +suffer." + +p. 74: 'eclisp' corrected to 'eclipse': "strip me of my strength, and +eclipse my glory." + +p. 77: 'Popositions' corrected to 'Propositions': "propound, (for such +is one of their Propositions)" + +p. 82: removed extraneous 'in': "to the Laws in force," + +p. 87: 'suppplication' corrected to 'supplication': "To thee I make my +supplication," + +p. 98: 'with' corrected to 'which': "destroying the innocent with the +guilty, & the erroneous with the malicious;" + +p. 106: 'ont' corrected to 'out': "they lay out upon their opinions" + +p. 107: 'contemus' corrected to 'contemns': "that the other rejects +and contemns;" + +p. 120: 'clomencie' corrected to 'clemencie': "and thy clemencie hath +accepted from us," + +p. 121: 'theia' corrected to 'their': "the Charity of most men is +grown so cold, and their Religion so illiberall." + +p. 121: 'net' corrected to 'not': "Let not holy things be given to +Swine" + +p. 137: 'migh' corrected to 'might': "he might seem to justifie his +disdainfull reproaches," + +p. 141: 'too' corrected to 'to': "where not the words, but mens hearts +are to blame." + +p. 144: 'nse' corrected to 'use': "That further, they should use such +severity as" + +p. 154: 'Goverment' corrected to 'Government': "such a frame or +Government which is paternall," + +p. 158: 'Hospitaliy' corrected to 'Hospitality': "also enablements to +works of Charitie and Hospitality," + +p. 161: 'judement' corrected to 'judgement': "to my judgement, I am +solemnly obliged to" + +p. 172: 'bnt' corrected to 'but': "not to trust in the arm of Flesh, +but in the living God." + +p. 179: 'afficting' corrected to 'afflicting': "Between both thy +hands, the right sometimes supporting, and the left afflicting, +fashion us" + +p. 180: 'punishmenes' corrected to 'punishments': "punishing my self +in their punishments." + +p. 184: 'abrogae' corrected to 'abrogate': "by the Sword to arrogate, +and quite abrogate the Authority of" + +p. 186: 'moudls' corrected to 'moulds': "would not run into their new +moulds, till they had first melted" + +p. 187: 'Christans' corrected to 'Christians': "appear good +Christians, that approve not them selves good Subjects." + +p. 192: 'thrist' corrected to 'thirst': "the most ambitious thirst of +popular glory among the Vulgar" + +p. 196: 'pnrpose' corrected to 'purpose': "Fix in me a purpose to +honour thee, and then" + +p. 201: 'wordls' corrected to 'worlds': "the worlds vanity and +inconstancie." + +p. 205: 'estabish' corrected to 'establish': "because thou Lord, hast +holpen and comforted me; establish me with thy free Spirit," + +p. 207: 'christias' corrected to 'christians': "then is ever used by +christians to the meanest prisoners," + +p. 215: 'Honse' corrected to 'House': "when wee went to meet in thy +House with the voice of joy and gladnesse," + +p. 221: 'Sate' corrected to 'State': "In suppressing the many schismes +in Church, and Factions in State." + +p. 223: removed extraneous 'if': "May my people and thy Church be +happie if not by me, yet without me." + +p. 230: 'abonnd' corrected to 'abound': "they cannot want Enemies who +abound in sin; nor shall they be" + +p. 251: 'you' corrected to 'your': "Soul in true Religion, and your +honour in the love of God and" + +p. 251: 'you' corrected to 'your': "let my Memory ever, with my Name, +live in you; as of your Father," + +p. 254: 'lttle' corrected to 'little': "Indeed, they have left me but +little of life," + +p. 254: 'magnaminity' corrected to 'magnanimity': "yet to suffer with +such Christian patience and magnanimity, in" + +p. 255: 'afflicton' corrected to 'affliction': "The assaults of +affliction may be terrible," + +p. 255: 'Freinds' corrected to 'Friends': "my Friends and loving +Subjects being helpless Spectators" + +p. 257: 'guitly' corrected to 'guilty': "the cheifest hand, and are +most guilty of contriving" + +p. 265: 'acceesse' corrected to 'accesse': "any way obstructed my +accesse to the Throne of Heaven," + +p. 273: 'acknowlede' corrected to 'acknowledge': "who in my greatest +Afflictions acknowledge it" + + * The spelling, 'noteable', is also used in the title of a book + published 1635: + + "A direction for the English traviller by which he shal be inabled + to coast about all England and Wales. And also to know how farre + any market or noteable towne in any shire lyeth one from an other + ... As also the distance betweene London and any other shire or + great towne." + ... J. van Langeren sculp. + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Eikon Basilike, by King Charles I (Stuart) + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EIKON BASILIKE *** + +***** This file should be named 32188.txt or 32188.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/1/8/32188/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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