,greek3 ,eikn ,basilik ,,the ,,pourtracture ,,of ,,his ,,sacred ,,majestie1 ,,in ,,his ,,solitudes ,,and ,,sufferings4 ,with a perfect ,copy of ,prayers used by his ,majesty in the time of his sufferings4 ,delivered to ,dr4 ,,juxon ,bishop of ,london1 immediately before his ,death4 ,,rom4 #h4 ,more then ,conquerour1 c4 ,bona agere1 mala pati1 ,regium est4 ,printed at ,london1 #afdi4 ,the ,explanation of the ,embleme4 ,,ponderibus genuus omne mali1 probriq2 gravatus1 ,vixq2 ferenda ferens1 ,palma ut depressa1 resurgo4 ,ac1 velut undarum ,fucts ,ventque1 furorem ,irati ,populi ,rupes immotta repello4 ,clarior tenebris1 coelestis stella1 corusco4 ,victor ternum foelici pace triumpho4 ,auro fulgentem rutilo gemmisque micantem1 ,at curis ,gravidam spernendo calco ,coronam4 ,spinosam1 at ferri facilem1 quo spes mea1 ,christi ,auxilio1 ,nobis non est tractare molestum4 ternam1 fixis fidei1 semperque beatam ,in ,coelos occulis specto1 ,mobsque-paratam4 ,quod vanum est1 sperno2 quod ,christi ,gratia prbet ,amplecti studium est3 ,virtutis ,gloria merces4 ,,though clogg'd with weights of miseries1 ,palm-like depress'd1 ,i higher rise4 ,and as th' unmoved ,rock out-braves ,the boyst'rous winds1 and raging waves2 ,so triumph ,i4 ,and shine more bright ,in sad ,affliction's darksom night4 ,that splendid1 but yet toilsome ,crown1 ,regardlesly ,i trample down4 ,with joy ,i take this ,crown of ,thorn1 ,though sharp1 yet easie to be born4 ,that heav'nly ,crown1 already mine1 ,i view with eyes of faith divine4 ,i slight vain things2 and do embrace ,glory1 the just reward of ,grace4 ,greek3 ,to ,chi ouden dikse tn polin1 oude to ,kappa4 ,illustration ,greek3 ,eikn ,basilik4 ,,the ,,pourtracture ,,of ,,his ,,sacred ,,majestie1 ,,in ,,his ,,solitudes ,,and ,,sufferings4 ,with a perfect ,copy of ,prayers used by his ,majesty in the time of his sufferings4 ,delivered to ,dr4 ,,juxon ,bishop of ,london1 immediately before his death4 ,,rom4 #h4 ,more then ,conquerour1 c4 ,bona agere1 mala pati1 ,regium est4 ,printed at ,london1 #afdi4 ,,the ,,contents4 #a ,vpon ,his ,majesties calling this last ,parliament4 #b ,upon the ,earl of ,strafford's death4 #c ,upon ,his ,majesties going to the ,house of ,commons4 #d ,upon the ,insolency of the ,tumults4 #e ,upon ,his ,majesties passing the ,bill for the ,trienniall ,parliaments3 and after setling this1 during the pleasure of the two ,houses4 #f ,upon ,his ,majesties retirement from ,westminster4 #g ,upon the ,queens departure1 and absence out of ,england4 #h ,upon ,his ,majesties repulse at ,hull1 and the fates of the ,hothams4 #i ,upon the listing and raising ,armies against the ,king4 #aj ,upon their seizing the ,kings ,magazines1 ,forts1 ,navie1 and ,militia4 #aa ,upon the #ai ,propositions first sent to the ,king2 and more afterwards4 #ab ,upon the ,rebellion1 and troubles in ,ireland4 #ac ,upon the ,calling in of the ,scots1 and their ,coming4 #ad ,upon the ,covenant4 #ae ,upon the many ,jealousies raised1 and ,scandals cast upon the ,king1 to stirre up the people against ,him4 #af ,upon the ,ordinance against the ,common prayer-,book4 #ag ,of the differences between the ,king1 and the two ,houses1 in point of ,church-government4 #ah ,upon ,uxbridge-,treaty1 and others ,offers made by the ,king4 #ai ,upon the various events of the ,war2 ,victories1 and ,defeats4 #bj ,upon the ,reformations of the ,times4 #ba ,upon ,his ,majesties ,letters taken and divulged4 #bb ,upon ,his ,majesties leaving ,oxford1 and going to the ,scots4 #bc ,upon the ,scots delivering the ,king to the ,english2 and ,his ,captivity at ,holmbie4 #bd ,upon their denying ,his ,majestie the ,attendance of ,his ,chaplains4 #be ,penitentiall ,meditations and ,vowes in the ,king's solitude at ,holmbie4 #bf ,upon the ,armies surprisall of the ,king at ,holmbie1 and the ensuing distractions in the two ,houses1 the ,army1 and the ,citie4 #bg ,to the ,prince of ,wales4 #bh ,meditations upon ,death1 after the ,votes of ,non-,addresses1 and ,his ,majesties closer ,imprisonment in ,carisbrook-,castle4 #bi ,divers prayers used by his ,majesty in time of ,his sufferings4 #cj ,his ,speeches to the ,lady ,elisabeth and ,duke of ,glocester3 ,and ,his ,reasons against the jurisdiction of the high ,court of ,justice4 ,illustration ,greek3 ,,eik,n ,,basilik #a4 ,upon ,his ,majesties calling this last ,parliament4 ,this last ,parliament ,i called1 not more by others advice1 and necessity of ,my affairs1 then by my own choice and inclination2 who have always thought the right way of ,parliaments most safe for ,my ,crown1 and best pleasing to my ,people3 ,and although ,i was not forgetfull of those sparks1 which some mens distempers formerly studied to kindle in ,parliaments1 7which by forbearing to convene for some years1 ,i hoped to have extinguished7 yet resolving with ,my self to give all just satisfaction to modest and sober desires1 and to redress all publick grievances in ,church and ,state2 ,i hoped 7by ,my freedom and their moderation7 to prevent all mis-understandings and miscarriages in this3 ,in which as ,i feared1 affairs would meet with some passion and prejudice in other men1 so ,i resolved they should finde least of them in my self2 not doubting1 but by the weight of ,reason ,i should counterpoiz the over-ballancing of any ,factions4 ,i was1 indeed1 sorry to hear with what partiality and popular heat1 ,elections were carried in many places2 yet hoping that the gravity and discretion of other ,gentlemen would allay and fix the ,commons to a due temperament 7guiding some mens well-meaning zeal by such rules of moderation as are best both to preserve and restore the health of all ,states and ,kingdoms37 ,no man was better pleased with the convening of this ,parliament then ,my self2 who knowing best the largenesse of my own ,heart toward my ,peoples good and just contentment1 pleased my self most in that good and firm understanding1 which would hence grow between me and my people4 ,all jealousies being laid aside1 my own and my ,childrens ,interests gave me many obligations to seek and preserve the love and welfare of my ,subjects2 ,the only temporal blessing that is left to the ambition of just ,monarchs1 as their greatest honour and safety1 next ,gods protection4 ,i cared not to lessen my self in some things of my wonted ,prerogative2 since ,i knew ,i could be no loser1 if ,i might gain but a recompence in my ,subjects affections4 ,i intended not only to oblige my friends1 but mine enemies also3 exceeding even the desires of those that were factiously discontented1 if they did but pretend to any modest and sober sense4 ,the odium and offences which some mens rigor or remissnesse in ,church and ,state had contracted upon my ,government1 ,i resolved to have expiated by such ,laws and regulations for the future1 as might not only rectifie what was amiss in practice1 but supply what was defective in the constitution3 ,no man having a greater zeal to see ,religion setled1 and preserved in ,truth1 ,unitie1 and ,order then my self2 whom it most concerns both in pietie and policie2 as knowing1 that1 ,no flames of civil dissentions are more dangerous then those which make ,religious pretensions the grounds of ,factions4 ,i resolved to reform1 what ,i should by free and full advice in ,parliament be convinced to be amiss2 and to grant whatever my ,reason and ,conscience told me was fit to be desired2 ,i wish ,i had kept my self within those bounds1 and not suffered my own ,judgement to have been over-born in some things1 more by others ,importunities1 then their ,arguments2 my confidence had less betrayed my self1 and my ,kingdoms1 to those advantages1 which some men sought for1 who wanted nothing but power and occasion to do mischief4 ,but our sins being ripe1 there was no preventing of ,gods ,justice1 from reaping that glory in our ,calamities1 which we robbed him of in our prosperitie4 ,for thou 7,o ,lord7 hast made us see1 ,that ,resolutions of future ,reforming1 doe not alwayes satisfie thy justice1 nor prevent thy ,vengeance for former miscarriages4 ,our sins have over-laid our hopes3 ,thou hast taught us to depend on thy mercies to forgive1 not on our purpose to amend4 ,when thou hast vindicated thy glory by thy judgments1 and hast shewed us how unsafe it is to offend thee1 upon presumptions afterwards to please thee1 ,then ,i trust thy mercy will restore those blessings to us1 which we have so much abused1 as to force thee to deprive us of them4 ,for want of timely repentance of our sins1 ,thou givest us cause to ,repent of those ,remedies we too late apply4 ,yet ,i doe not repent of my calling the last ,parliament1 because ,o ,lord1 ,i did it with an upright intention to thy glory1 and ,my ,peoples good4 ,the miseries which have ensued upon me and my ,kingdoms1 are the just effects of thy displeasure upon us2 and may be yet1 through thy mercy1 preparatives of us to future blessings and better hearts to enjoy them4 ,o ,lord1 though thou hast deprived us of many former comforts2 yet grant me and my ,people the benefit of our afflictions1 and thy chastisements2 that thy ,rod as well as thy ,staff may comfort us3 ,then shall we dare to account them the strokes not of an enemy1 but a ,father3 when thou givest us those humble affections1 that measure of patience in repentance which becomes thy ,children2 ,i shall have no cause to repent the miseries this ,parliament hath occasioned1 when by them thou hast brought me and my people unfeignedly to repent of the sins we have committed4 ,thy grace is infinitely better with our sufferings1 then our ,peace could be with our sins4 ,o thou soveraign goodness and wisdom1 who over-rulest all our ,counsels2 over-rule also all our hearts2 ,that the worse things we suffer by thy ,justice1 the better we may be by thy mercie4 ,as our sins have turned our ,antidotes into ,poison1 so let thy ,grace turn our ,poison into ,antidotes4 ,as the sins of our ,peace disposed us to this unhappy ,warre1 so let this ,war prepare us for thy blessed ,peace4 ,that although ,i have but troublesom ,kingdoms here1 yet ,i may attain to that ,kingdom of ,peace in my ,heart1 and in thy ,heaven1 which ,christ hath purchased1 thou wilt give to thy servant 7though a sinner7 for my ,saviours sake4 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 #b4 ,upon the ,earl of ,straffords death4 ,i looked upon my ,lord of ,strafford1 as a ,gentleman1 whose great abilities might make a ,prince rather afraid1 then ashamed to employ him in the greatest affairs of ,state4 ,for those were prone to create in him great confidence of undertakings1 and this was like enough to betray him to great errors1 and many enemies2 whereof he could not but contract good store1 while moving in so high a sphear1 and with so vigorous a lustre1 he must needs 7as the ,sun7 raise many envious exhalations1 which condensed by a popular odium1 were capable to cast a cloud before the brightest merit and integrity4 ,though ,i cannot in my judgement approve all he did1 driven 7it may be7 by the necessities of times1 and the ,temper of that people1 more then led by his own disposition to any height and rigour of actions3 yet ,i could never be convinced of any such criminousness in him as willingly to expose his life to the stroke of ,justice1 and malice of his enemies4 ,i never met with a more unhappy conjuncture of affairs1 then in the businesse of that unfortunate ,earl3 when between my own unsatisfiedness in ,conscience1 and a necessity 7as some told me7 of satisfying the importunities of some people1 ,i was perswaded by those that ,i think wished ,me well1 to chuse rather what was safe1 then what seemed just2 preferring the outward peace of ,my ,kingdoms with men1 before that inward exactness of ,conscience before ,god4 ,and indeed ,i am so far from excusing or denying that compliance on ,my part 7for plenary consent it was not7 to his destruction1 whom in ,my judgment ,i thought not1 by any clear law1 guilty of death3 ,that ,i never bare any touch of ,conscience with greater regret3 which as a sign of my repentance1 ,i have often with sorrow confessed both to ,god and men1 as an act of so sinfull frailty1 that it discovered more a fear of man1 then of ,god1 whose name and place on earth no man is worthy to bear1 who will avoid inconveniencies of ,state1 by acts of so high injustice1 as no publick convenience can expiate or compensate4 ,i see it a bad exchange to wound a mans own ,conscience1 thereby to salve ,state-sores2 to calm the storms of popular discontents1 by stirring up a tempest in a mans own bosome4 ,nor hath ,gods ,justice failed in the event and sad consequences1 to shew the world the fallacy of that ,maxime1 ,better one man perish1 7though unjustly7 then the people be displeased or destroyed4 ,for1 ,in all likelihood ,i could never have suffered1 with ,my people1 greater calamities1 7yet with greater comfort7 had ,i vindicated ,straffords innocency1 at least by denying to ,sign that destructive ,bill1 according to that ,justice1 which ,my conscience suggested to ,me1 then ,i have done since ,i gratified some mens unthankful importunities with so cruel a favour4 ,and ,i have observed1 that those1 who counselled ,me to sign that ,bill1 have been so far from receiving the rewards of such ingratiatings with the ,people1 that no men have been harassed crushed more then they3 ,he onely hath been least vexed by them1 who counselled ,me1 not to consent against the vote of ,my own ,conscience3 ,i hope ,god hath forgiven ,me and them1 the sinful rashness of that business4 ,to which being in ,my soul so fully conscious1 those ,judgements ,god hath pleased to send upon ,me1 are so much the more welcom1 as a means 7,i hope7 which his mercy hath sanctified so to ,me1 as to make ,me repent of that unjust ,act1 7for so it was to ,me7 and for the future to teach ,me1 ,that the best rule of policie is1 to prefer the doing of ,justice1 before all enjoyments1 and the peace of my ,conscience before the preservation of ,my ,kingdoms4 ,nor hath any thing more fortified ,my resolutions against all those violent importunities1 which since have sought to gain a like consent from ,me1 to ,acts1 wherein my ,conscience is unsatisfied1 then the sharp touches ,i have had for what passed ,me1 in ,my ,lord of ,straffords business4 ,not that ,i resolved to have imployed him in ,my affairs1 against the advise of my ,parliament1 but ,i would not have had any hand in his ,death1 of whose ,guiltlesness ,i was better assured1 then any man living could be4 ,nor were the crimes objected against him so clear1 as after a long and fair hearing to give convincing satisfaction to the ,major part of both ,houses2 especially that of the ,lords1 of whom scarce a third part were present1 when the bill passed that ,house3 ,and for the ,house of ,commons1 many ,gentlemen1 disposed enough to diminish ,my ,lord of ,straffords greatness and power1 yet unsatisfied of his guilt in ,law1 durst not condemn him to die3 who for their integrity in their ,votes1 were by ,posting their ,names1 exposed to the popular calumny1 hatred and fury2 which grew then so exorbitant in their clamours for ,justice1 7that is1 to have both my self and the two ,houses' ,vote1 and doe as they would have us7 that many 7'tis thought7 were rather terrified to concur with the condemning party1 then satisfied that of right they ought so to doe4 ,and that after-,act vacating the ,authority of the precedent1 for future imitation sufficiently tels the world1 that some remorse touched even his most implacable enimies1 as knowing he had very hard measure1 and such as they would be very loath should be repeated to themselves4 ,this tendernesse and regret ,i find in my soul1 for having any hand 7and that very unwillingly ,god knows7 in shedding one mans bloud unjustly1 7though under the colour and formalities of ,justice1 and pretences of avoiding publick mischiefs7 which may 7,i hope7 be some evidence before ,god and man1 to all posterity1 that ,i am far from bearing justly the vast load and guilt of all that blood which hath been shed in this unhappy ,war2 which some men will needs charge on me1 to ease their own souls1 who am1 and ever shall be1 more affraid to take away any mans life unjustly then to lose my own4 ,but then1 ,o ,god1 of thy infinit mercies forgive me that act of sinfull compliance1 which hath greater aggravations upon me then any man1 ,since ,i had not the least temptation of envy1 or malice against him1 and by my place should1 at least so farre1 have been a preserver of him1 as to have denied my consent to his destruction4 ,o ,lord1 ,i acknowledge my transgression1 and my sin is ever before me4 ,deliver me from blood-guiltiness ,o ,god1 thou ,god of my salvation1 and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness4 ,against thee have ,i sinned1 and done this evil in thy sight1 for thou sawest the contradiction between my heart and my hand4 ,yet cast me not away from thy presence1 purge me with the blood of my ,redeemer1 and ,i shall be clear2 wash me with that pretious effusion1 and ,i shall be whiter then snow4 ,teach me to learn ,righteousnesse by thy ,iudgements1 and to see my frailtie in thy ,iustice3 while ,i was perswaded by shedding one mans bloud to prevent after-troubles1 thou hast for that1 among other sins1 brought upon mee1 and upon my ,kingdoms1 great1 long1 and heavy troubles4 ,make me to prefer ,iustice1 which is thy ,will1 before all contrary clamours1 which are but the discoveries of mans injurious will4 ,it is too much that they have once overcome me1 to please them by displeasing thee3 ,o never suffer me for any reason of ,state1 to go against my ,reason of ,conscience1 ,which is highly to sin against thee1 the ,god of ,reason1 and ,iudge of our ,consciences4 ,whatever1 ,o ,lord1 thou seest fit to deprive me of1 yet restore unto me the joy of thy ,salvation1 and ever uphold me with thy free ,spirit2 which subjects my will to non3 but the light of ,reason1 ,justice1 and ,religion1 which shines in my ,soul2 for thou desirest ,truth in the inward parts1 and ,integritie in the outward expressions4 ,lord1 hear the voice of thy ,sons1 and my ,saviours bloud1 which speaks better things2 ,o make me1 and my ,people1 to hear the voice of ,joy and ,gladness1 that the bones which thou hast broken1 may rejoice in thy salvation4 99 99 99 99 99 #c4 ,vpon ,his ,majesties going to the ,house of ,commons4 ,my going to the ,house of ,commons to demand ,justice upon the five ,members1 was an act which my ,enemies loaded with all the obloquies and exasperations they could4 ,it filled indifferent men with great jealousies and fears2 yea1 and many of my ,friends resented it1 as a motion rising rather from ,passion then ,reason1 and not guided with such discretion as the touchiness of those times required4 ,but these men knew not the just motives1 and pregnant grounds1 with which ,i thought myself so furnished1 that there needed nothing to such evidence1 as ,i could have produced against those ,i charged1 save onely a free and legall ,trial1 which was all ,i desired4 ,nor had ,i any temptation of displeasure or revenge against those mens persons1 further then ,i had discovered those 7as ,i thought7 unlawfull correspondencies they had used1 and engagements they had made to embroyl my ,kingdoms3 of all which ,i missed but little to have produced ,writings under some mens own hands1 who were the chief contrivers of the following ,innovations4 ,providence would not have it so2 yet ,i wanted not such probabilities as were sufficient to raise jealousies in any ,kings heart1 who is not wholly stupid and neglective of the publick ,peace2 which to preserve1 my calling in question half a dozen men1 in a fair and legall way 7which ,god knows1 was all my design7 could have amounted to no worse effect1 had it succeeded1 then either to do ,me and my ,kingdom right1 in case they had been found guilty2 or else to have cleared their innocency1 and removed my suspicion3 which1 as they were not raised out of any malice1 so neither were they in reason to be smothered4 ,what flames of discontent this spark 7though ,i sought by all speedy and possible means to quench it7 soon kindled1 all the world is witnesse3 ,the aspersion which some men cast upon that action1 as if ,i had designed by force to assault the ,house of ,commons1 and invade their ,priviledge1 is so false1 that1 as ,god best knows1 ,i had no such intent2 so none that attended ,me could justly gather from any thing ,i then said or did1 the least intimation of any such thoughts4 ,that ,i went attended with some ,gentlemen1 as it was no unwonted thing for the ,majesty and safety of a ,king so to be attended1 especially in discontented times2 so were my ,followers at that time short of my ordinary ,guard1 and no way proportionable to hazard a tumultuary conflict4 ,nor were they more scared at my coming1 then ,i was unassured of not having some affronts cast upon me1 if ,i had none to be with ,me to preserve a reverence to ,me3 for many people had 7at that time7 learned to think those hard thoughts1 which they have since abundantly vented against ,me1 both by words and deeds4 ,the sum of that businesse was this1 ,those men and their adherents were then look'd upon by the affrighted vulgar1 as greater ,protectors of their ,laws and ,liberties then my ,self1 and so worthier of their protection4 ,i leave them to ,god and their own ,consciences1 who1 if guilty of evill machinations1 no present impunity1 or popular vindications of them will be subterfuge sufficient to rescue them from those exact ,tribunals4 ,to which1 in the obstructions of ,justice among men1 we must religiously appeal1 as being an argument to us ,christians of that after unavoidable ,judgement1 which shall re-judge what among men is but corruptly decided1 or not at all4 ,i endeavoured to have prevented1 if ,god had seen fit1 those future commotions which ,i foresaw1 would in all likelyhood follow some mens activity 7if not restrained7 and so now hath done to the undoing of many thousands2 the more is the pity4 ,but to over-awe the freedom of the ,houses1 or to weaken their just ,authority by any violent impressions upon them1 was not at all my design3 ,i thought ,i had so much ,justice and ,reason on my side1 as should not have needed so rough assistance3 and ,i was resolved rather to bear the repulse with patience1 then to use such hazardous extremities4 ,but thou1 ,o ,lord art my witnesse in heaven1 and in my ,heart3 ,if ,i have purposed any violence or oppression against the ,innocent3 or if there were any such wickednes in my thoughts4 ,then let the enemy persecute my soul1 and tread my life to the ground1 and lay mine ,honour in the dust4 ,thou that seest not as man seeth1 but lookest beyond all popular appearances1 searching the heart1 and trying the reins1 and bringing to light the hidden things of darknesse1 shew thy self4 ,let not my afflictions be esteemed 7as with wise and godly men they cannot be7 any argument as my sin1 in that matter3 more then their ,impunity among good men is any sure token of their ,innocency4 ,but forgive them wherin they have done amiss1 though they are not punished for it in this world4 ,save thy servant from the privy conspiracies1 and open violence of bloody and unreasonable men1 according to the uprightness of my heart1 and the innocency of my hands in this matter4 ,plead my cause and maintain my right1 ,o thou that sittest in the ,throne1 judging rightly1 that thy servant may ever rejoyce in thy salvation4 99 99 99 99 99 #d4 ,upon the ,insolency of the ,tumults4 ,i ,never thought any thing 7except our sins7 more ominously presaging all these mischiefs1 which have followed1 then those ,tumults in ,london and ,westminster1 soon after the convening of this ,parliament2 which were not like a storm at ,sea1 7which yet wants not its terrour7 but like an ,earth-quake1 shaking the very foundations of all2 then which nothing in the world hath more of horror4 ,as it is one of the most convincing ,arguments that there is a ,god1 while his power sets bounds to the raging of the ,sea3 so 'tis no less1 that he restrains the madness of the ,people4 ,nor doth any thing portend more ,gods displeasure against a ,nation1 then when he suffers the confluence and clamours of the ,vulgar to passe all boundaries of ,laws and reverence to ,authority4 ,which those ,tumults did to so high degrees of ,insolence1 that they spared not to invade the ,honour and ,freedom of the two ,houses1 menacing1 reproaching1 shaking1 yea1 and assaulting some ,members of both ,houses1 as they fancied1 or disliked them3 ,nor did they forbear most rude and unseemly deportments1 both in contemptuous words and actions1 to my ,self and my ,court4 ,nor was this a short fit or two of shaking1 as an ague1 but a quotidian fever1 always encreasing to higher inflammations1 impatient of any mitigation1 restraint1 or remission4 ,first1 ,they must be a guard against those fears which some men scared themselves and others withall2 when indeed nothing was more to be feared1 and lesse to be used by wise men1 then those tumultuary confluxes of mean and rude people1 who are taught first to petition1 then to protect1 then to dictate1 at last to command and over-aw the ,parliament4 ,all obstructions in ,parliament 7that is1 all freedom of differing in ,votes1 and debating matters with reason and candor7 must be taken away with these ,tumults2 ,by these must the ,houses be purged1 and all rotten ,members 7as they pleased to count them7 cast out3 ,by these the obstinacie of men resolved to discharge their ,consciences1 must be subdued2 by these all factious1 seditious1 and schismaticall ,proposals against ,government ,ecclesiastical or ,civil1 must be backed and abetted1 till they prevailed4 ,generally1 who-ever had most mind to bring forth confusion and ruine upon ,church and ,state1 used the midwifery of those ,tumults3 whose riot and impatience was such1 that they would not stay the ripening and season of ,counsels1 or fair production of ,acts1 in the order1 gravity1 and deliberatenesse befitting a ,parliament2 but ripped up with barbarous cruelty1 and forcibly cut out abortive ,votes1 such as their ,inviters and ,encouragers most fancied4 ,yea1 so enormous and detestable were their outrages1 that no sober man could be without an infinite shame and sorrow to see them so tolerated and connived at by some2 countenanced1 encouraged1 and applauded by others4 ,what good man had not rather want any thing he most desired1 for the publick good1 then obtain it by such unlawfull and irreligious means8 ,but mens passions and ,gods directions seldom agree2 violent designes and motions must have sutable engines3 such as too much attend their own ends1 seldom confine themselves to ,gods means4 ,force must crowd in what ,reason will not lead4 ,who were the chief ,demagogues and ,patrons of ,tumults1 to send for them1 to flatter and embolden them1 to direct and tune their clamorous importunities1 some men yet living are too conscious to pretend ignorance3 ,god in his due time will let these see1 ,that those were no fit means to be used for attaining his ends4 ,but as it is no strange thing for the ,sea to rage1 when strong winds blow upon it2 so neither for ,multitudes to become insolent1 when they have ,men of some reputation for parts and piety to set them on4 ,that which made their rudenesse most formidable1 was1 that many ,complaints being made1 and ,messages sent by my ,self1 and1 some of both ,houses2 yet no ,order for redress could be obtained with any vigour and efficacie1 proportionable to the malignity of that now far-spread disease1 and predominant mischief4 ,such was some mens stupidity1 that they feared no inconvenience2 ,others petulancie1 that they joyed to see their betters shamefully outraged and abused1 while they knew their onely security consisted in vulgar flattery3 so insensible were they of ,mine1 or the two ,houses common ,safety and ,honours4 ,nor could ever any ,order be obtained1 impartially to examine1 censure1 and punish the known ,boutefeus1 and impudent ,incendiaries1 who boasted of the influence they had and used1 to convoke those ,tumults as their advantages served4 ,yea1 some 7who should have been wiser ,states-men7 owned them as friends1 commending their ,courage1 ,zeal1 and ,industry2 which to sober men could seem no better then that of the ,divel1 who goes about seeking whom he may deceive and devour4 ,i confesse1 when ,i found such a deafness1 that no ,declaration from the ,bishops1 who were first fouly insolenced and assaulted2 nor yet from other ,lords and ,gentlemen of ,honor2 nor yet from my self could take place for the due repression of these ,tumults2 and securing not only ,our freedom in ,parliament1 but ,our very persons in the ,streets2 ,i thought ,my self not bound by my presence to provoke them to higher boldness and contempts2 ,i hoped by my with-drawing to give time1 both for the ebbing of their tumultuous furie1 and others regaining some degrees of modesty and sober sense4 ,some may interpret it as an effect of ,pusillanimitie in any man for popular terrors to desert his publick station4 ,but ,i think it a hardiness1 beyond true valor1 for a wise man to set himself against the breaking in of a ,sea2 which to resist1 at present1 threatens imminent danger2 but to withdraw1 gives it space to spend its fury1 and gains a fitter time to repair the breach4 ,certainly a gallant man had rather fight to great disadvantages for number and place in the field1 in an orderly way1 then skuffle with an undisciplined rabble4 ,some suspected and affirmed that ,i meditated a war 7when ,i went from ,whitehal only to redeem my ,person ,conscience from violence7 ,god knows ,i did not think of a war4 ,nor will any prudent man conceive that ,i would by so many former and some after-acts1 have so much weakned ,my self1 if ,i had purposed to engage in a war1 which to decline by all means1 ,i denyed my self in so many particulars3 ',tis evident ,i had then no ,army to fly unto1 for protection or vindication4 ,who can blame me1 or any other for a withdrawing our selves from the daily baitings of the ,tumults1 not knowing whether their fury and discontent might not fly so high1 as to worry and tear those in pieces1 whom as yet they but played with in their paws8 ,god1 who is my sole ,judg1 is my ,witness in ,heaven1 that ,i never had any thoughts of going from ,my house at ,whitehall1 if ,i could have had but any reasonable fair ,quarter2 ,i was resolved to bear much1 and did so1 but ,i did not think my self bound to prostitute the ,majesty of my place and ,person1 the safety of my ,wife and children1 to those who are prone to insult most1 when they have objects and opportunity1 most capable of their rudeness and petulancy4 ,but this business of the ,tumults 7whereof some have given already an account to ,god1 others yet living1 know themselves desperatly guilty7 time and the guilt of many hath so smothered up and buried1 that ,i think it best to leave it as it is3 ,only ,i beleeve the just ,avenger of all disorders1 will in time make those men1 and that ,city1 see their sin in the glass of their ,punishment4 ',tis more then an even lay1 they may one day see themselves punished by that way they offended4 ,had this ,parliament1 as it was in its first ,election and ,constitution1 sate full and free1 the ,members of both ,houses being left to their freedom of ,voting1 as in all reason1 honor1 and ,religion1 they should have been2 ,i doubt not but things would have been so carried1 as would have given no less content to all good men1 then they wished or expected4 ,for1 ,i was resolved to hear reason in all things1 and to consent to it so far as ,i could comprehend it3 but as ,swine are to ,gardens and orderly ,plantations1 so are ,tumults to ,parliaments1 and ,plebeian concourses to publick ,councels1 turning all into disorders and sordid confusions4 ,i am prone sometimes to think1 ,that had ,i called this ,parliament to any other place in ,england1 7as ,i might opportunely enough have done7 the sad consequences1 in all likelihood1 with ,gods blessing1 might have been prevented4 ,a ,parliament would have been welcom in any place2 no place afforded such confluence of various and vitious humors1 as that where it was unhappily convened4 ,but we must leave all to ,god1 who orders our disorders1 and magnifies his wisdom most1 when our follies and miseries are most discovered4 ,but thou ,o ,lord art ,my refuge and defence3 to thee ,i may safely flie1 who rulest the raging of the ,sea1 and the madnesse of the ,people4 ,the flouds1 ,o ,lord1 the flouds are come in upon ,me1 and are ready to overwhelm ,me4 ,i look upon ,my sinnes and the sinnes of ,my people1 7which are the tumults of our ,souls against thee ,o ,lord7 as the just cause of these popular inundations which thou permittest to overbear all the banks of ,loyalty1 ,modesty1 ,laws1 ,justice1 and ,religion4 ,but thou that gatheredst the ,waters into one place1 and madest the dry land to appear1 and after did'st asswage the floud which drowned the world1 by the word of thy power2 ,rebuke those beasts of the people1 and deliver ,me from the rudenesse and strivings of the multitude4 ,restore1 ,we beseech thee1 unto ,us1 the freedoms of ,our ,councels and ,parliaments1 make ,us unpassionately to see the light of ,reason1 and ,religion1 and with all order and gravity to follow it1 as becomes ,men and ,christians2 so shall ,we praise thy ,name1 who art the ,god of order and counsel4 ,what man cannot1 or will not represse1 thy ,omnipotent ,justice can and will4 ,o ,lord1 give them that are yet living1 a timely sense and sorrow for their great sinne1 whom thou knowest guilty of raising or not suppressing those disorders3 ,let shame here and not suffering hereafter be their punishment4 ,set bounds to our passions by ,reason1 to our errors by ,truth1 to our seditions by ,laws duely executed1 to our schismes by ,charitie1 that we may be1 as thy ,jerusalem1 a ,citie at unity in it self4 ,this grant1 ,o ,my ,god1 in thy good time1 for ,jesus ,christs sake4 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 #e4 ,upon ,his ,majesties passing the ,,bill for the ,trienniall ,parliaments3 ,and after1 setling this1 during the pleasure of the two ,houses4 ,that the world might be fully confirmed in my purposes at first1 to contribute what in ,justice1 ,reason1 ,honour and ,conscience ,i could1 to the happy success of this ,parliament1 7which had in ,me no other ,designe1 but the generall good of ,my ,kingdoms7 ,i willingly passed the ,,bill for ,trienniall ,parliaments3 which1 as gentle and seasonable ,physick1 might 7if well applied7 prevent any distempers from getting any head1 or prevailing2 especially1 if the remedy proved not a remedy beyond all remedy4 ,i conceived1 this ,parliament would finde work with convenient ,recesses for the first three years3 ,but ,i did not imagine1 that some men would thereby have occasioned more work then they found to do1 by undoing so much as they found well done to their hands4 ,such is some mens activity1 that they will needs make work rather then want it2 and chuse to be doing amiss1 rather then do nothing4 ,when that first ,act seemed too scanty to satisfie some mens fears1 and compass publick ,affairs2 ,i was perswaded to grant that ,,bill of sitting during the pleasure of the ,houses2 which amounted1 in some mens sense1 to as much as the perpetuating of this ,parliament4 ,by this ,act of highest confidence1 ,i hoped for ever to shut out1 and lock the door upon all present jealousies1 and future mistakes3 ,i confess1 ,i did not thereby intend to shut my ,self out of doors1 as some men have now requited me4 ,true1 it was an ,act unparallell'd by any of my ,predecessors2 yet cannot in reason admit of any worse interpretation then this1 of an extreme confidence ,i had1 ,that my ,subjects would not make ill use of an ,act1 by which ,i declared so much to trust them1 as to deny my ,self in so high a point of my ,prerogative4 ,for good ,subjects will never think it just or fit1 that my ,condition should be worse1 by my bettering theirs2 ,nor indeed would it have been so in the events1 if some men had known as well with moderation to use1 as with earnestness to desire advantages of doing good or evill4 ,a continuall ,parliament 7,i thought7 would but keep the ,common-weale in tune1 by preserving ,laws in their due execution and vigour3 wherein ,my interest lies more then any mans1 since by those ,laws ,my ,rights as a ,,king1 would be preserved no less then ,my ,subjects2 which is all ,i desired4 ,more then the ,law gives ,me ,i would not have1 and less the meanest ,subject should not4 ,some 7as ,i have heard7 gave it out1 that ,i soon repented me of that setling ,act3 and many would needs perswade ,me1 ,i had cause so to do3 ,but ,i could not easily nor suddenly suspect such ingratitude in men of ,honour1 ,that the more ,i granted them1 the less ,i should have and enjoy with them4 ,i still counted my self undiminished by my largest ,concessions1 if by them ,i might gain and confirm the love of ,my people4 ,of which ,i do not yet despair1 but that ,god will still bless ,me with increase of it1 when men shall have more leisure and less prejudice2 that so with unpassionate representations they may reflect upon those 7as ,i think7 not more ,princely then friendly contributions1 which ,i granted toward the perpetuating of their happiness3 who are now only miserable in this1 ,that some mens ambition will not give them leave to enjoy what ,i intended for their good4 ,nor do ,i doubt1 but that in ,gods due time1 the ,loyal and cleared affections of ,my people will strive to return such retributions of ,honour and love to ,me or ,my ,posteritie1 as may fully compensate both the ,acts of my confidence1 and my ,sufferings for them2 which 7,god knows7 have been neither few2 nor small1 nor short2 occasioned chiefly by a perswasion ,i had1 that ,i could not grant too much1 or distrust too little1 to men1 that being professedly my ,subjects1 pretended singular piety1 and religious strictness4 ,the injurie of all ,injuries is1 ,that which some men will needs load ,me withall2 as if ,i were a wilfull and resolved ,occasioner of my ,own1 and my ,subjects ,miseries2 while 7as they confidently1 but 7,god knows7 falsly divulge7 ,i repining at the establishment of this ,parliament1 endeavoured by force and open hostility1 to undoe what by my ,royall ,assent ,i had done4 ,sure1 it had argued a very short sight of things1 and extreme fatuity of minde in ,me1 so far to binde my ,own hands at their request1 if ,i had shortly meant to have used a sword against them4 ,god knows1 though ,i had then a sense of ,injuries2 yet not such as to think them worth vindicating by a ,war3 ,i was not then compelled1 as since1 to injure my ,self by their not using favours with the same candour wherewith they were conferred4 ,the ,tumults indeed threatned to abuse all ,acts of ,grace1 and turne them into wantonnesse2 but ,i thought at length their own fears1 whose black arts first raised up those turbulent spirits1 would force them to conjure them down again4 ,nor if ,i had justly resented any indignities put upon me1 or others1 was ,i then in any capacitie to have taken just revenge in an hostile and warlike way1 upon those1 whom ,i knew so well fortified in the love of the meaner sort of the people1 that ,i could not have given my ,enemies greater and more desired advantages against ,me1 then by so unprincely inconstancie1 to have assaulted them with ,armies1 thereby to scatter them1 whom but lately ,i had solemnly setled by an ,act of ,parliament4 ,god knows1 ,i longed for nothing more1 then that my ,self1 and my ,subjects might quietly enjoy the fruits of my many ,condescendings4 ,it had been a ,course full of sin1 as well as of ,hazard and ,dishonor2 for ,me to go about the cutting up of that by the ,sword1 which ,i had so lately planted1 so much 7as ,i thought7 to my ,subjects content1 and mine ,own too1 in all probability1 if some men had not feared where no fear was1 whose security consisted in fearing others4 ,i thank ,god1 ,i know so well the sincerity and uprightness of my own ,heart in passing that great ,,bill1 which exceeded the very thoughts of former times2 ,that although ,i may seem less a ,polititian to men1 yet ,i need no secret distinctions or evasions before ,god1 nor had ,i any reservations in my own ,soul when ,i passed it3 nor repenting after1 till ,i saw that my letting some men go up to the pinnacle of the ,temple1 was a temptation to them to cast me down headlong4 ,concluding1 ,that without a miracle1 ,monarchie it self1 together with ,me1 could not but be dashed in pieces by such a precipitous fall as they intended3 whom ,god in mercy forgive1 and make them see at length1 ,that as many ,kingdoms as the ,divell shewed our ,saviour1 and the ,glory of them 7if they could be at once enjoyed by them7 are not worth the gaining1 by ways of sinfull ingratitude and dishonour1 which hazards a soul1 worth more ,worlds then this hath ,kingdoms4 ,but ,god hath hitherto preserved ,me1 and made ,me to see1 ,that it is no strange thing for men1 left to their own passions1 either to do much evill themselves1 or abuse the overmuch goodness of others1 whereof an ungratefull surfet is the most desperate and incurable disease4 ,i cannot say properly that ,i repent of that ,act1 since ,i have no reflections upon it as a sin of my ,wil1 though an errour of too charitable a judgment3 ,only ,i am sorry other mens eys should be evill1 because mine were good4 ,to ,thee 7,o my ,god7 do ,i still appeale1 whose ,all-discerning ,justice sees through all the disguises of mens pretensions1 and deceitfull darknesse of their hearts4 ,thou gavest ,me a heart to grant much to ,my ,subjects2 and now ,i need a ,heart fitter to suffer much for some of them4 ,they will be done1 though never so much to the crossing of ours1 even when we hope to doe what might be most comfortable to thine and theirs too2 who pretended they aymed at nothing else4 ,let thy grace teach me wisely to enjoy as well the frustratings1 as the fulfilling of ,my best hopes1 and most specious desires4 ,i see while ,i thought to allay others fears1 ,i have raised ,my owne2 and by setling them1 have unsetled ,my self4 ,thus have they requited ,me evill for good1 and hatred for ,my good will towards them4 ,o ,lord be thou ,my ,pilot in this darke and dangerous storme1 which never admits ,my returne to the ,port whence ,i set out1 nor ,my making any other1 with that safety and honour which ,i designed4 ,tis easie for ,thee to keep ,me safe in the love and confidence of ,my people2 nor is it hard for ,thee to preserve ,me amidst the unjust hatred and jealousies of too many1 which thou hast suffered so far to prevaile upon ,me1 as to be able to pervert and abuse my acts of greatest ,indulgence to them1 and assurance of them4 ,but no favours from ,me can make others more guiltie then ,my self may be of misusing those many and great ones1 which ,thou1 ,o ,lord1 hast conferred on ,me4 ,i beseech thee1 give ,me and them such ,repentance as thou wilt accept1 and such ,grace as we may not abuse4 ,make me so far happy1 as to make right use of others abuses2 and by their failings of ,me1 to reflect with a reforming displeasure upon ,my offences against ,thee4 ,so1 although for ,my sins ,i am by other mens sins deprived of thy temporall blessings1 yet ,i may be happie to enjoy the comfort of thy ,mercies1 which often raise the greatest ,sufferers to be the most glorious ,saints4 99 99 99 99 99 #f4 ,upon ,his ,majesties retirement from ,westminster4 ,with what unwillingness ,i withdrew from ,westminster1 let them judg1 who1 unprovided of tackling and victual1 are forced to ,sea by a ,storm2 yet better do so1 then venture splitting or sinking on a ,lee-shore4 ,i stayed at ,whitehall1 till ,i was driven away by shame1 more then fear1 to see the barbarous rudeness of those ,tumults1 who resolved they would take the boldness to demand any thing1 and not leave either my ,self1 or the ,members of ,parliament the liberty of our ,reason and ,conscience to deny them any thing4 ,nor was this intolerable oppression my case alone1 7though chiefly ,mine27 ,for the ,lords and ,commons might be content to be over-voted by the major part of their ,houses1 when they had used each their own freedom4 ,whose agreeing ,votes were not by any ,law or reason conclusive to my ,judgment2 nor can they include1 or carry with them my consent1 whom they represent not in any kinde2 ,nor am ,i further bound to agree with the ,votes of both ,houses1 then ,i see them agree with the will of ,god1 with my just ,rights1 as a ,king1 and the generall good of my people4 ,i see that1 as many men1 they are seldom of one minde2 and ,i may oft see1 that the major part of them are not in the right4 ,i had formerly declared to sober and moderate minds1 how desirous ,i was to give all just content1 when ,i agreed to so many ,bils1 which had been enough to secure and satisfie all2 if some mens ,hydropick unsatiableness had not learned to thirst the more1 by how much more they drank2 whom no fountain of ,royall bounty was able to overcome3 so resolved they seemed1 either utterly to exhaust it1 or barbarously to obstruct it4 ,sure1 it ceases to be ,counsell1 when not ,reason is used1 as to men1 to perswade2 but force and terrour1 as to beasts1 to drive and compel men to assent to what-ever tumultuary ,patrons shall project4 ,he deserves to be a slave without pity or redemption1 that is content to have the rationall soveraignty of his ,soul1 and liberty of his ,will and words so captivated4 ,nor do ,i think my ,kingdoms so considerable1 as to preserve them with the forfeiture of that freedom which cannot be denied me as a ,king1 because it belongs to me as a man1 and a ,christian1 owning the dictates of none1 but ,god to be above me1 as obliging me to consent4 ,better for ,me to die enjoying this ,empire of my ,soul1 which ,subjects me only to ,god1 so farr as by ,reason or ,religion he directs me1 then live with the ,title of a ,king1 if it should carry such a vassalage with it1 as not to suffer me to use my ,reason and ,conscience1 in which ,i declare as a ,king1 to like or dislike4 ,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 formalitie1 to consent to whatever its subjects in ,parliament shall require2 as some men will needs inferr2 while denying me any power of a ,negative voice as ,king1 they are not ashamed to seek to deprive me of the libertie of using my ,reason with a good ,conscience1 which themselves1 and all the ,commons of ,england enjoy proportionable to their influence on the publique2 who would take it very ill to be urged1 not to deny1 what ever my self1 as ,king1 or the ,house of ,peers with me should1 not so much desire as enjoyn them to pass4 ,i think my ,oath fully discharged in that point1 by my ,governing only by such ,laws1 as my ,people with the ,house of ,peers have ,chosen1 and my self have consented to4 ,i shall never think my self conscientiously tied to go as oft against my conscience1 as ,i should consent to such new ,proposals1 which my ,reason1 in ,justice1 ,honor and ,religion bids ,me deny4 ,yet so tender ,i see some men are of their being subject to ,arbitrary ,government1 7that is1 the ,law of anothers will1 to which themselves give no consent7 that they care not with how much dishonour and absurdity they make their ,king the only man1 that must be subject to the will of others1 without having power left ,him to use ,his own ,reason1 either in ,person1 or by any other ,representation4 ,and if ,my dissentings at any time were 7as som have suspected1 and uncharitably avowed7 out of error1 opinion1 activeness1 weakness1 or wilfulness1 and what they call ,obstinacy in ,me 7which not true ,judgment of things1 but some vehement prejudice or passion hath fixed on ,my minde27 yet can no man think it other then the ,badge and method of ,slavery1 by savage rudeness1 and importunate obtrusions of violence1 to have the mist of his ,errour and ,passion dispelled1 which is a shadow of ,reason1 and must serve those that are destitute of the substance4 ,sure that man cannot be blameable to ,god or man1 who seriously endeavours to see the best reason of things1 and faithfully followes what he takes for ,reason3 ,the uprightnesse of his intentions will excuse the possible failings of his understanding2 ,if a ,pilot at ,sea cannot see the ,pole-star1 it can be no fault in him to steer his course by such ,stars as do best appear to him4 ,it argues rather1 those men to be conscious of their defects of ,reason1 and convincing ,arguments1 who call in the assistance of meer force to carry on the weakness of their ,counsels and ,proposals4 ,i may1 in the truth and uprightness of my heart1 protest before ,god and men1 ,that ,i never wilfully opposed1 or denied any thing that was in a fair way1 after full and free debates propounded to me by the two ,houses1 further then ,i thought in good reason ,i might1 and was bound to do4 ,nor did any thing ever please me more1 then when my ,judgment so concurred with theirs1 that ,i might with a good ,conscience consent to them3 ,yea1 in many things1 where not absolute and morall necessity of ,reason1 but temporary convenience in point of ,honour was to be considered1 ,i chose rather to deny my ,self1 then ,them2 as preferring that which they thought necessary for my peoples good1 before what ,i saw but convenient for my ,self4 ,for ,i can be content to recede much from my ,own ,interests1 and ,personall ,rights1 of which ,i conceive my ,self to be master3 but in what concerns ,truth1 ,justice1 the ,right of the ,church1 and my ,crown1 together with the generall good of my ,kingdoms3 7all which ,i am bound to preserve as much as morally lies in me27 here ,i am1 and ever shall be fixt and resolute1 nor shall any man gain my consent to that1 wherein my heart gives my hand or tongue the ,lie2 nor will ,i be brought to affirm that to men1 which in my ,conscience ,i denied before ,god4 ,i will rather chuse to wear a ,crown of ,thorns with my ,saviour1 then to exchange that of ,gold 7which is due to ,me7 for one of ,lead1 whose embased flexibleness shall be forced to bend1 and comply to the various1 and oft contrary dictates of any ,factions3 when in stead of ,reason1 and ,publick concernments1 they obtrude nothing but what makes for the interest of parties1 and flows from the particularities of private wils and passions4 ,i know no resolutions more worthy a ,christian ,king1 then to prefer ,his ,conscience before ,his ,kingdoms4 ,o my ,god preserve thy servant in this ,native1 ,rationall and ,religious freedome2 ,for this ,i beleeve is thy will1 that we should maintain3 who1 though thou dost justly require us to submit our understandings and wils to thine2 whose wisdom and goodnesse can neither erre1 nor misguide us1 and so far to deny our carnall reason1 in order to thy sacred ,mysteries and ,commands1 that we should beleeve and obey1 rather then dispute them2 yet dost thou expect from us1 only such a reasonable service of thee1 as not to do any thing for thee1 against our consciences3 and as to the desires of men1 enjoinest us to try all things by the touch-ston of reason and ,lawes1 which are the rules of ,civill ,justice2 and to declare our consents to that only which our ,judgments approve4 ,thou knowest1 ,lord1 how unwilling ,i was to desert that place1 in which thou hast set ,me1 and whereto the affairs of ,my ,kingdoms at present did call me4 ,my ,people can witness how far ,i have been content for their good1 to deny ,my self1 in what thou hast subjected to ,my disposall4 ,o let not the unthankfull importunities1 and tumultuary violence of some mens ,immoderat demands1 ever betray ,me to that degenerous and unmanly slavery1 which should make ,me strengthen them by ,my consent in those things which ,i think in ,my conscience to be against thy glory1 the good of ,my subjects1 and the discharge of ,my own duty to ,reason and ,justice4 ,make me willing to suffer the greatest indignities and injuries they press upon ,me1 rather then commit the least sin against ,my ,conscience4 ,let the just ,liberties of ,my people be 7as well they may7 preserved in fair and equall waies1 without the slavery of ,my soul4 ,thou that hast invested ,me by thy favours1 in the power of a ,christian ,king1 suffer ,me not to subject ,my ,reason to other mens passions1 and designes1 which to ,me seem unreasonable1 unjust and irreligious3 ,so shall ,i serve thee in the truth and uprightness of ,my heart1 though ,i cannot satisfie these men4 ,though ,i be driven from among them1 yet give ,me grace to walk1 alwaies uprightly before thee4 ,lead ,me in the way of ,truth and ,justice1 for these1 ,i know1 will bring ,me at last to peace and happiness with thee2 though for these ,i have much trouble among men4 ,this ,i beg of thee for my ,saviours sake4 99 99 99 99 99 #g4 ,upon the ,queenes departure and absence out of ,england4 ,although ,i have much cause to be troubled at ,my ,wifes departure from ,me1 and out of ,my ,dominions2 yet not ,her absence1 so much1 as the scandall of that necessity which drives her away1 doth afflict ,me4 ,that ,she should be compelled by my own ,subjects1 and those pretending to be ,protestants1 to withdraw for ,her safety3 ,this being the first example of any ,protestant ,subjects1 that have taken up ,arms against their ,king1 a ,protestant3 ,for ,i look upon this now done in ,england1 as another ,act of the same ,tragedie which was lately begun in ,scotland2 the brands of that fire being ill quenched1 have kindled the like flames here4 ,i fear such motions 7so little to the adorning of the ,protestant profession7 may occasion a further alienation of mind1 and divorce of affections in ,her from that ,religion1 which is the onely thing wherein we differ4 ,which yet ,god can 7and ,i pray he would7 in time take away2 and not suffer these practices to be any obstruction to ,her judgment1 since it is the motion of those men 7for the most part7 who are yet to seek and settle their ,religion for ,doctrine1 ,government and good manners1 and so not to be imputed to the true ,english ,protestants1 who continue firm to their former setled ,principles and ,laws4 ,i am sorry my relation to so deserving a ,ladie1 should be any occasion of her danger and affliction2 whose merits would have served her for a protection among the savage ,indians3 while their rudeness and barbaritie knows not so perfectly to hate all ,vertues1 as some mens subtiltie doth3 among whom ,i yet think few are so malicious as to hate ,her for her ,self3 ,the fault it1 that ,she is my ,wife4 ,all ,justice then1 as well as ,affection1 commands me to studie her ,securitie1 who is only in danger for my sake2 ,i am content to be tossed1 weather-beaten1 and shipwrack'd1 so as she may be in safe ,harbour4 ,this comfort ,i shall injoy by her safety in the midst of my ,personall dangers1 that ,i can perish but half1 if she be preserved3 in whose memory and hopefull ,posterity1 ,i may yet survive the malice of my ,enemies1 although they should be satiated with my bloud4 ,i must leave her and them to the ,love and ,loyaltie of my good ,subjects2 and to his protection1 who is able to punish the faults of ,princes1 and no less able to revenge the injuries done to them1 by those who in all dutie and ,allegiance ought to have made good that safetie1 which the ,laws chiefly provide for ,princes4 ,but common civilitie is in vain expected from those that dispute their ,loyaltie3 ,nor can it be safe 7for any relation7 to a ,king1 to tarry among them that are shaking hands with their ,allegiance1 under pretence of laying faster hold on their ,religion4 ',tis pitie so noble and peaceful a ,soul should see1 much more suffer the rudeness of those1 who must make up their want of ,justice1 with inhumanity and impudence4 ,her sympathie with ,me in my afflictions1 will make her vertue shine with greater lustre1 as starrs in the darkest nights2 and assure the envious world1 that she loves me1 not my fortunes4 ,neither of us but can easily forgive1 since ,we do not much blame the unkindness of the ,generality and ,vulgar3 for we see ,god is pleased to try both our patience1 by the most self-punishing sin1 the ,ingratitude of those1 who having eaten of ,our bread1 and being enriched with ,our bounty1 have ,scornfully lift up themselves against ,us2 and those of ,our own ,houshold are become ,our enemies4 ,i pray ,god lay not their sinne to their charge3 who think to satisfie all obligations to duty1 by their ,corban of ,religion3 and can less endure to see1 then to sin against their benefactors as well as their ,soveraign4 ,but even that policy of my enemies is so farr veniall1 as it was necessary to their designs1 by scandalous articles1 and all irreverent demeanour1 to seek to drive her out of my ,kingdoms2 left by the influence of her example1 eminent for love as a ,wife1 and loyaltie as a ,subject1 she should have converted to1 or retained in their love and loyaltie1 all those whom they had a purpose to pervert4 ,the less ,i may be blest with her company1 the more ,i will retire to ,god and my own ,heart1 whence no malice can banish ,her4 ,my enemies may envie1 but they can never deprive me of the enjoyment of her vertues1 while ,i enjoy my self4 ,thou1 ,o ,lord1 whose ,justice at present sees fit to scatter us1 let thy mercie1 in thy due time1 reunite us on earth1 if it be thy will2 however bring us both at last to thy heavenly ,kingdom4 ,preserve us from the hands of our despitefull and deadly enemies2 and prepare us by our sufferings for thy presence4 ,though we differ in some things1 as to ,religion1 7which is my greatest temporall infelicitie7 yet ,lord give and accept the sinceritie of our affections1 which desire to seek1 to finde1 to embrace every ,truth of thine4 ,let both our hearts agree in the love of thy self1 and ,christ crucified for us4 ,teach us both what thou wouldst have us to know1 in order to thy glory1 our publique relations1 and our souls eternal good1 and make us carefull to do what good we know4 ,let neither ,ignorance of what is necessary to be known1 nor unbelief1 or disobedience to what we know1 be our miserie1 or our wilfull default4 ,let not this great ,scandall of those my ,subjects1 which profess the same ,religion with me1 be any hindrance to her love of any ,truth thou wouldst have her to learn1 nor any hardning of her in any error thou wouldst have cleared to her4 ,let ,mine and other mens constancie be an ,antidote against the poyson of their example4 ,let the truth of that ,religion ,i professe be represented to her judgment1 with all the beauties of humilitie1 loyaltie1 charitie1 and peaceablenesse2 which are the proper fruits and ornaments of it3 ,not in the odious disguise of ,levitie1 ,schism1 ,heresie1 ,noveltie1 ,crueltie and ,disloyaltie1 which some mens practices have put upon it4 ,let her see thy sacred and saving ,truths as ,thine2 that she may believe1 love and obey them as ,thine1 cleared from all rust and drosse of humane mixtures4 ,that in the glasse of thy ,truth ,shee may see thee in those ,mercies which thou hast offered to us in thy ,son ,jesus ,christ1 our onely ,saviour1 and serve thee in all those holy ,duties1 which most agree with his holy ,doctrine1 and most imitable example4 ,the experience we have of the vanitie and uncertaintie of all humane ,glorie and ,greatnesse in our scatterings and eclypses1 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 self1 and obtained throuqh ,jesus ,christ4 99 99 99 99 99 #h4 ,upon ,his ,majesties repulse at ,hull1 and the fates of the ,hothams4 ,my repulse at ,hull seemed at the first view an act of so rude disloyalty1 that my greatest ,enemies had scarce confidence enough to abett or own it3 ,it was the first overt ,essay to be made1 how patiently ,i could bear the losse of my ,kingdoms4 ,god knows1 it affected me more with shame and sorrow for others1 then with anger for my ,self2 nor did the affront done to me1 trouble me so much as their sin1 which admitted no colour or excuse4 ,i was resolved how to bear this1 and much more with patience3 ,but ,i foresaw they could hardly contain themselves within the compass of this one unworthy act1 who had effrontery enough to commit or countenance it4 ,this was but the hand of that cloud1 which was soon after to overspread the whole ,kingdom1 and cast all into disorder and darkness4 ,for 'tis among the wicked ,maximes of bold and disloyall undertakers3 ,that bad actions must always be seconded with worse1 and rather not begun1 then not carried on2 for they think the retreat more dangerous then the assault1 and hate repentance more then perseverance in a fault4 ,this gave me to see clearly thorow all the pious disguises1 and soft palliations of some men2 whose words were sometime smoother then oil1 but now ,i saw they would prove very swords4 ,against which ,i having 7as yet7 no defence1 but that of a good ,conscience1 thought it ,my best policie 7with patience7 to bear what ,i could not remedie3 ,and in this 7,i thank ,god7 ,i had the better of ,hotham1 that no disdain1 or emotion of passion transported ,me1 by the indignitie of his carriage1 to do or say any thing unbeseeming ,my self1 or unsuitable to that temper1 which1 in greatest injuries1 ,i think1 best becomes a ,christian1 as coming nearest to the great example of ,christ4 ,and indeed1 ,i desire alwaies more to remember ,i am a ,christian1 then a ,king2 for what the ,majesty of one might justly abhor1 the ,charity of the other is willing to bear2 what the height of a ,king tempteth to revenge1 the humilitie of a ,christian teacheth to forgive1 keeping in compass all those impotent passions1 whose excess injures a man more then his greatest enemies can2 for these give their malice a full impression on our souls1 which otherwise cannot reach very far1 nor do us much hurt4 ,i cannot but observe how ,god not long after so pleaded and avenged my cause1 in the eye of the world1 that the most wilfully blind cannot avoid the displeasure to see it1 and with some remorse and fears to own it as a notable stroke1 and prediction of divine vengeance4 ,first1 ,sir ,john ,hotham unreproched1 unthreatned1 uncursed by any language or secret imprecation of mine1 onely blasted with the conscience of his own wickednesse1 and falling from one inconstancy to another1 not long after paies his own and his eldest ,sons heads1 as forfeiture of their disloyalty1 to those men1 from whom surely he might have expected an other reward1 then thus to divide their heads from their bodies1 whose hearts with them were divided from their ,,king4 ,nor is it strange that they who employed them at first in so high a service1 and so successfull to them1 should not finde mercy enough to forgive ,him1 who had so much premerited of them3 ,for1 ,apostacy unto ,loyalty some men account the most unpardonable sin4 ,nor did a solitary vengeance serve the turn1 the cutting off one head in a ,family is not enough to expiate the affront done to the head of the ,common-weal4 ,the eldest ,son must be involved in the punishment1 as he was infected with the sin of the ,father1 against the ,father of his ,country3 ,root and branch ,god cuts off in one day4 ,these ,observations are obvious to every fancie3 ,god knows1 ,i was so far from rejoycing in the ,hothams ruine1 7though it were such as was able to give the greatest thirst for revenge a full draught1 being executed by them who first employed him against ,me7 that ,i so far pitied him1 as ,i thought he at first acted more against the light of his ,conscience1 then ,i hope many other men do in the same ,cause4 ,for1 he was never thought to be of that superstitious sowrenesse which some men pretend to in matters of ,religion1 which so darkens their judgment1 that they cannot see any thing of ,sin and ,rebellion in those means they use1 with intents to reform to their ,models1 of what they call ,religion1 who think all is gold of ,piety1 which doth but glister with a shew of ,zeal and ,fervencie4 ,sir ,john ,hotham was 7,i think7 a man of another temper1 and so most liable to those downright temptations of ,ambition1 which have no cloak or cheat of ,religion to impose upon themselves or others4 ,that which makes me more pitie him1 is1 that after he began to have some inclinations towards a repentance for his sin1 and reparation of his duty to ,me1 he should be so unhappie as to fall into the hands of their ,justice1 and not my mercie1 who could as willingly have forgiven him1 as he could have asked that favor of ,me4 ,for ,i think clemency a debt which we ought to pay to those that crave it1 when we have cause to believe they would not after abuse it1 since ,god himself suffers us not to pray any thing for his mercie1 but only praiers and praises4 ,poor ,gentleman1 he is now become a noteable monument of unprosperous disloialtie1 teaching the world by so bad and unfortunate a spectacle1 that the rude carriage of a ,subject towards his ,soveraign carries alwaies its own vengeance1 an unseparable shadow with it1 and those oft prove the most fatall1 and implacable ,executioners of it1 who were the first ,imployers in the service4 ,after-times will dispute it1 whether ,hotham were more infamous at ,hull1 or at ,tower-hill2 though 'tis certain that no punishment so stains a mans ,honour1 as wilfull expectations of unworthy actions2 which besides the conscience of the sin1 brands with most indeliable characters of infamy1 the name and memory to posterity1 who not engaged in the ,faction of the times1 have the most impartiall reflections on their actions4 ,but thou1 ,o ,lord1 who hast in so remarkable a way avenged thy ,servant1 suffer me not to take any secret pleasure in it1 for as his death hath satisfied the injury he did to me1 so let me not by it gratifie any passion in me1 lest ,i make thy vengeance to be mine1 and consider the affront against me1 more than the sin against thee4 ,thou indeed1 without any desire or endevor of mine1 hast made his mischief to return on his own head1 and his violent dealing to come down on his own pate4 ,thou hast pleaded my cause1 even before the sons of men1 and taken the matter into thine own hands2 that men may know it was thy work and see that thou1 ,lord1 hast done it4 ,i do not1 ,i dare not say1 so let mine enemies perish4 ,o ,lord6 yea ,lord1 rather give them repentance pardon and impunity1 if it be thy blessed will4 ,let not thy justice prevent the objects and opportunities of my mercy2 yea1 let them live and amend who have most offended me in so high a nature2 that ,i may have those to forgive2 who bear most proportion in their offences to those trespasses against thy majesty1 which ,i hope thy mercy hath forgiven me4 ,lord lay not their sinns 7who yet live7 to their charge for condemnation1 but to their consciences for amendment3 ,let the ,lightning of this thunderbolt1 which hath been so severe a punishment to one1 be a terrour to all4 ,discover to them their sinn1 who know not they have done amiss1 and scare them from their sin1 that sin of malicious wickednss4 ,that preventing thy judgments by their true repentance1 they may escape the stroaks of thine eternal vengeance4 ,and do ,thou1 ,o ,lord1 establish the ,throne of thy ,servant in mercie and truth meeting together2 let my ,crown ever flourish in righteousness and peace kissing each other4 ,hear my prayer1 ,o ,lord1 who hast taught us to pray for1 to doe good to1 and to love our ,enemies for thy sake2 who hast prevented us with offertures of thy love1 even when we were thine enemies1 and hast sent thy ,son ,jesus ,christ to die for us1 when we were disposed to crucifie ,him4 99 99 99 99 99 #i4 ,upon the lifting1 and raising ,armies against the ,,king4 ,i find that ,i am at the same point and posture ,i was1 when they forced me to leave ,white-hall3 what tumults could not do1 an ,army must2 which is but ,tumults lifted1 and enrolled to a better order1 but as bad an end3 ,my recesse have given them confidence that ,i may be conquered4 ,and so ,i easily may as to any outward strength1 which1 ,god knows1 is little or none at all3 ,but ,i have a ,soul invinciable through ,gods ,grace enabling ,me2 here ,i am sure to be ,conquerour1 if ,god will give me such a measure of ,constancy1 as to fear him more then man3 and to love the inward peace of my ,conscience1 before any outward tranquillity4 ,and must ,i be opposed with force1 because they have not reason whereby to convince me8 ,o my ,soule6 be of good courage1 they confesse their known weaknesse1 as to truth1 and ,justice1 who chose rather to contend by ,armies1 then by ,arguments4 ,is this the reward and thanks that ,i am to receive for those many acts of ,grace ,i have lately passed1 and for those many ,indignities ,i have endured8 ,is there no way left to make ,me a glorious ,,king1 but by my sufferings8 ,it is a hard and disputable choice for a ,king that loves his ,people1 and desires their love1 either to kill his own ,subjects1 or to be killed by them4 ,are the hazards and miseries of ,civil ,war in the bowels of my most flourishing ,kingdom1 the fruits ,i must now reap after #ag yeers living and reigning among them with such a measure of ,justice1 ,peace1 ,plenty1 and ,religion1 as all ,nations about either admired1 or envied8 notwithstanding some miscarriages in ,government1 which might escape1 rather through ill counsell of some men driving on their private ends1 or the peevishness of others envying the ,publick should be managed without them1 or the hidden and insuperable necessities of ,state1 then any propensity1 ,i hope1 of my ,self either to injuriousnesse or oppression4 ,whose innocent bloud1 during my ,reign1 have ,i shed1 to satisfie my lust1 anger1 or covetousness8 what ,widows or ,orphans tears can witnesse against me2 the just cry of which must now be avenged with my ,own bloud8 ,for the hazards of ,war are equall1 nor doth the ,canon know any respect of persons4 ,in vain is my ,person excepted by a ,parenthesis of words1 when so many hands are armed against me with ,swords4 ,god knowes how much ,i have studied to see what ,ground of ,justice is alledged for this ,warr against ,me2 that so ,i might 7by giving just satisfaction7 either prevent1 or soon end so unnaturall a motion2 which 7to many men7 seems rather the productions of a surfeit of peace and wantonness of mindes1 or of private discontents1 ,ambition and ,faction 7which easily finde1 or make causes of quarrell7 then any reall obstructions of publique ,justice1 or ,parliamentary ,priviledg4 ,but this is pretended1 and this ,i must be able to avoid and answer before ,god in ,my owne ,conscience1 however some men are not willing to beleeve ,me1 lest they should condemn themselves4 ,when ,i first with-drew from ,white-hall1 to see if ,i could allay the insolency of the ,tumults 7for the not suppressing of which1 no account in ,reason can be given1 7where an orderly ,guard was granted7 but only to oppress both ,mine and the ,two ,houses freedome of declaring and voting according to every mans ,conscience7 what obstructions of ,justice were there further then this1 that what seemed just to one man1 might not seem so to another8 ,whom did ,i by power protect against the ,justice of ,parliament8 ,that some men with-drew1 who feared the partiality of their tryall1 7warned by my ,lord of ,straffords death7 while the vulgar threatned to be their ,oppressors1 and ,judgers of their ,judges1 was from that instinct which is in all creatures to preserve themselves4 ,if any others refused to appear1 where they evidently saw the current of ,justice and ,freedom so stopped and troubled by the ,rabble1 that their lawfull ,judges either durst not come to the ,house1 or not declare their sense with liberty and safety2 it cannot seem strange to any reasonable man1 when the sole exposing them to publick odium was enough to ruine them before their ,cause could be heard or tryed4 ,had not factious ,tumults over-born the ,freedom and ,honour of the two ,houses1 had they asserted their ,justice against them1 and made the way open for all the ,members quietly to come and declare their ,consciences3 ,i know no man so deer to ,me1 whom ,i had the least inclination to advise1 either to withdraw himself1 or deny appearing upon their ,summons1 to whose ,sentence according to ,law1 ,i think every ,subject bound to stand4 ,distempers 7indeed7 were risen to so great a height for want of timely suppressing the vulgar insolencies1 that the greatest guilt of those which were ,voted and demanded as ,delinquents1 was this1 ,that they would not suffer themselves to be over-awed by the ,tumults1 and their ,patrons2 nor compelled to abet by their suffrages1 or presence2 the designes of those men who agitated innovations and ruine both in ,church and ,state4 ,in this point ,i could not but approve their generous constancie and cautiousness2 further then this ,i did never allow any mans refractoriness against the ,priviledges and ,orders of the ,houses2 to whom ,i wished nothing more then ,safetie1 ,fulness and ,freedom4 ,but the truth is1 some men and those not many1 despairing in fair and ,parliamentary waies by free ,deliberations and ,votes to gain the concurrence of the major part of ,lords and ,commons1 betook themselves 7by the desperate activitie of factious ,tumults7 to sift and terrifie away all those ,members whom they saw to be of contrary minds to their purposes4 ,how oft was the businesse of the ,bishops enjoying their ancient places1 and undoubted ,priviledges in the ,house of ,peers1 carried for them by far the ,major part of ,lords8 ,yet after five repulses1 contrary to all ,order and ,custome1 it was by ,tumultuary instigations obtruded again1 and by a few carried1 when most of the ,peers were forced to absent themselves4 ,in like manner as the ,bill against ,root and ,branch1 brought on by tumultuary ,clamours1 and schismaticall ,terrours1 which could never passe til both ,houses were sufficiently thinned and over-awed4 ,to which partialitie1 while in all ,reason1 ,justice1 and ,religion1 my ,conscience forbids me1 by consenting1 to make up their ,votes to ,acts of ,parliament1 ,i must now be urged with an ,armie1 and constrained either to hazard my ,own1 and my ,kingdoms ruine1 by my ,defence1 or prostrate my ,conscience to the blinde obedience of those men1 whose zealous superstition thinks1 or pretends1 they cannot do ,god and the ,church a greater service1 then utterly to destroy that ,primitive1 ,apostolicall1 and anciently ,universall ,government of the ,church by ,bishops4 ,which1 if other mens judgments bind them to maintain1 or forbids them to consent to the abolishing of it1 mine much more2 who1 besides the grounds ,i have in my judgement1 have also a most strict and indispensable ,oath upon my ,conscience1 to preserve that ,order1 and the ,rights of the ,church2 to which most ,sacrilegious and abhorred ,perjurie1 most un-beseeming a ,christian ,king1 should ,i ever1 by giving my consent1 be betrayed1 ,i should account it infinitely greater miserie1 then any hath1 or can befall me2 in as much as the least sin hath more evill in it then the greatest affliction4 ,had ,i gratified their ,anti-,episcopall ,faction at first in this point with my ,consent1 and sacrificed the ,ecclesiasticall ,government and ,revenues to the fury of their covetousness1 ambition1 and revenge1 ,i beleeve they would then have found no colourable necessity of raising an ,army to fetch in and punish ,delinquents4 ,that ,i consented to the ,bil of putting the ,bishops out of the ,house of ,peers1 was done with a firm perswasion of their contentedness to suffer a present diminution in their ,rights and ,honour for my sake1 and the ,commonweals1 which ,i was confident they would readily yeeld unto1 rather then occasion 7by the least obstruction on their part7 any dangers to ,me1 or to my ,kingdom4 ,that ,i cannot add my consent for the totall extirpation of that ,government 7which ,i have often offered to all fit regulations7 hath so much further tie upon ,my ,conscience1 as what ,i think ,religious and ,apostolicall1 and so very sacred and ,divine1 is not to be dispensed with1 or destroyed1 when what is onely of civill ,favour1 and priviledge of ,honour granted to men of that ,order1 may with their consent who are concerned in it1 be annulled4 ,this is the true state of those obstructions pretended to be in point of ,justice and ,authority of ,parliament2 when ,i call ,god to witness1 ,i know none of such consequence as was worth speaking of a ,war1 being onely such as ,justice1 ,reason and ,religion had made in my own and other mens ,consciences4 ,afterwards indeed a great shew of ,delinquents was made1 which were but consequences necessarily following upon ,mine1 or others withdrawing from1 or defence against violence3 but those could not be the first occasion of raising an ,army against ,me4 ,wherein ,i was so far from preventing them1 7as they have declared often1 that they might seem to have the advantage and ,justice of the defensive part1 and load ,me with all the envie and injuries of first assaulting them7 that 7,god knows7 ,i had not so much as any hopes of an ,army in ,my thoughts4 ,had the ,tumults been honourably and effectually repressed by exemplary justice1 and the ,liberty of the ,houses so vindicated1 that all ,members of either ,house might with ,honour and ,freedom1 becoming such a ,senate1 have come and discharged their ,consciences1 ,i had obtained all that ,i designed by ,my withdrawing1 and had much more willingly and speedily returned1 then ,i retired2 this being ,my necessity driving1 the other my choice desiring4 ,but some men knew1 ,i was like to bring the same ,judgment and ,constancy which ,i carryed with ,me1 which would never fit their designes2 and so while they invited ,me to come1 and grievously complained of ,my absence1 yet they could not but be pleased with it3 especially1 when they had found out that plausible and popular pretexts of raising an ,army to fetch in ,delinquents3 when all that while they never punished the greatest and most intolerable delinquencie of the ,tumults1 and their ,exciters1 which drave my ,self1 and so many of both ,houses from their places1 by most barbarous indignities2 which yet in all ,reason and ,honour1 they were as loath to have deserted1 as those others were willing they should1 that so they might have occasion to persecute them with the injuries of an ,army1 for not suffering more tamely the injuries of ,tumults4 ,that this is the true state1 and first drift and designe in raising an ,army against me1 is by the sequel so evident1 that all other pretences vanish4 ,for when they declared by ,propositions1 or ,treaties1 what they would have to appease them2 there was nothing of consequence offered to ,mee1 or demanded of ,mee1 as any originall difference in any point of ,law1 or order of ,justice4 ,but among other lesser ,innovations1 this chiefly was urged1 ,the ,abolition of ,episcopall1 and the ,establishment of ,presbyterian ,government4 ,all other things at any time propounded were either impertinent as to any ground of a ,war1 or easily granted by me1 and onely to make up a number2 or else they were meerly consequentiall1 and accessarie1 after the ,war was by them unjustly began4 ,i cannot hinder other mens thoughts1 whom the noise and shew of piety1 and heat of ,reformation and ,religion1 might easily so fill with prejudice1 that all equality and clearness of judgement might be obstructed4 ,but this was1 and is1 as to my best observation1 the true state of affairs between ,us1 when they first raised an ,armie1 with this designe1 either to stop my mouth1 or to force my consent3 and in this truth1 as to my conscience1 7who was ,god knowes1 as far from meditating a ,war1 as ,i was in the eye of the world1 from having any preparation for one7 ,i finde that comfort1 that in the midst of all the unfortunate ,successes of this ,war1 on my side1 ,i do not think my ,innocency any whit prejudiced or darkned2 ,nor am ,i without that ,integrity and ,peace before ,god1 as with humble confidence to address my ,prayer to ,him4 ,for thou1 ,o ,lord1 seest cleerly thorow all the cloudings of humane affairs3 ,thou judgest without prejudice3 ,thy ,omniscience eternally guides thy unerrable ,judgment4 ,o my ,god1 the proud are risen against ,me1 and the ,assemblies of violent men have sought after my ,soul1 and have not set ,thee before their eyes4 ,consider mine ,enemies1 ,o ,lord1 for they are many1 and they hate me with a deadly hatred1 without a cause4 ,for thou knowest1 ,i had no passion1 design1 or preparation to embroil ,my ,kingdoms in a ,civil ,war2 whereto ,i had least temptation2 as knowing ,i must adventure more then any1 and could gain least of any by it4 ,thou1 ,o ,lord1 art my witness1 how oft ,i have deplored and studied to divert the necessity thereof1 wherin ,i cannot well be thought so prodigally thirstie of my ,subjects blood1 as to venture my own life1 which ,i have bin oft compelled to do in this unhappie ,war2 and which were better spent to save then to destroy my people4 ,o ,lord1 ,i need much of thy grace1 with patience to bear the many afflictions thou hast suffered some men to bring upon me2 but much more to bear the unjust reproaches of those1 who not content that ,i suffer most by the ,war1 will needs perswade the world that ,i have raised first1 or given just cause to raise it4 ,the confidence of some mens false tongues is such1 that they would almost make me suspect my own innocencie3 ,yea1 ,i could be content 7at least by my silence7 to take upon me so great a guilt before men1 ,if by that ,i might allay the malice of mine enemies1 and redeem my people from this miserable ,war2 since thou1 ,o ,lord1 knowest my innocencie in this thing4 ,thou wilt find out bloodie and deceitful men2 many of whom have not lived out half their daies1 in which they promised themselvs the enjoyment of the fruits of their violent and wicked ,counsels4 ,save1 ,o ,lord1 thy servant1 as hitherto thou hast1 and in thy due time scatter the people that delight in ,war4 ,arise1 ,o ,lord1 lift up thy ,self1 because of the rage of mine enemies1 which increaseth more and more4 ,behold them that have conceived mischief1 travelled with iniquitie1 and brought forth falshood4 ,thou knowest the chief designe of this ,war is1 either to destroy my ,person1 or force my ,judgement1 and to make me renege my ,conscience1 and thy ,truth4 ,i am driven to crosse ,,davids choice1 and desire rather to fall into the hands of men by denying them 7though their mercie be cruell7 then into thy hands by sinning against ,my ,conscience1 and in that against thee1 who art a consuming fire3 ,better they destroy ,me1 then thou shouldest damn ,me4 ,be thou the defence of ,my soul1 who wilt save the upright in heart4 ,if nothing but ,my blood will satisfie ,my ,enemies1 or quench the flames of ,my ,kingdoms1 or thy temporall ,justice1 ,i am content1 if it be thy will1 that it be shed by mine own ,subjects hands4 ,but ,o let the bloud of ,me1 though their ,king1 yet a sinner1 be washed with the blood of my ,innocent cent and peace-making ,redeemer1 for in that thy ,justice will finde not only a temporary expiation1 but an eternall plenary satisfaction1 both for my sins1 and the sins of my ,people2 whom ,i beseech thee still own for thine1 and when thy wrath is appeased by my ,death1 ,o ,remember thy great mercies towards them1 and forgive them6 ,o my ,father1 for they know not what they doe4 99 99 99 99 99 #aj4 ,upon their seizing the ,kings ,magazines1 ,forts1 ,navy1 and ,militia4 ,how untruly ,i am charged with the first raising of an ,army1 and beginning this ,civill ,warre1 the eyes that onely pitty ,me1 and the ,loyall hearts that durst only pray for me1 at first1 might witnesse1 which yet appear not so many on my side1 as there were men in ,armes lifted against me2 my unpreparednesse for a ,war may well dis-hearten those that would help ,me2 while it argues 7truly7 my willingnes to fight2 yet it testifies for me1 that ,i am set on the defensive part2 having so little hopes or power to defend others1 that ,i have none to defend my self1 or to preserve what is mine own from their proreption4 ,no man can doubt but they prevented me in their purposes1 as well as their injuries1 who are so much before-hand in their preparations against me1 and surprisals of my ,strength4 ,such as are not for ,them1 yet dare not be for ,me2 so over-aw'd is their ,loyalty by the others numbers and terrours4 ,i believe my innocency and unpreparedness to assert my ,rights and ,honour1 makes me the more guilty in their esteems2 who would not so easily have declared a ,war against me1 if ,i had first assaulted them4 ,they knew1 my chiefest ,arms left me1 were those only which the ,ancient ,christians were wont to use against their ,persecutors1 ,prayers and ,tears4 ,these may serve a good mans turn1 if not to conquer as a ,souldier1 yet to suffer as a ,martyr4 ,their preventing of me1 and surprising my ,castles1 ,forts1 ,arms and ,navy1 with the ,militia1 is so far best for me1 ,that it may drive me from putting any trust in the arm of flesh1 and wholly to cast my self into the protection of the living ,god1 who can save by few or none1 as well as by many4 ,he that made the greedy ,ravens to be ,elias ,caterers1 and bring him food1 may also make their surprisall of outward force and defence1 an opportunity to shew me the special support of his power and protection4 ,i thank ,god1 ,i reckon not now the want of the ,militia so much in reference to my own protection1 as my ,peoples4 ,their many and sore oppressions grieve me1 ,i am above mine own3 ,what ,i want in the hands of ,force and ,power1 ,i have in the wings of ,faith and ,prayer4 ,but this is the strange method these men will needs take to resolve their riddle of ,making ,me a glorious ,king1 by taking away my ,kingly power3 ,thus ,i shall become a ,support to my ,friends1 and a ,terrour to my ,enemies1 by being unable to succour the one1 or suppress the other4 ,for thus have they designed and proposed to me the new modeling of ,soveraignty and ,kingship1 as without any reality of power1 so without any necessity of subjection and obedience3 ,that the ,majesty of the ,kings of ,england might hereafter hang like ,mahomet's ,tomb1 by a magnetique ,charm1 between the ,power and ,priviledges of the two ,houses1 in an airy imagination of ,regality4 ,but ,i beleeve the surfet of too much power1 which some men have greedily seized on1 and now seek wholly to devour1 will ere long make the ,common-wealth sick both of it and them1 since they cannot well digest it2 ,soveraign ,power in ,subjects seldom agreeing with the stomacks of fellow-subjects4 ,yet ,i have even in this point of the constant ,militia1 sought1 by satisfying their fears and importunities1 both to secure my ,friends1 and overcome mine ,enemies1 to gain the peace of all1 by depriving my self of a sole power to help1 or hurt any3 yeelding the ,militia1 7which is my undoubted ,right no less then the ,crown7 to be disposed of as the two ,houses shall think fit1 during my time4 ,so willing am ,i to bury all jealousies in them of me1 and to live above all jealousies of them1 as to my self2 ,i desire not to be safer then ,i wish them and my ,people3 ,if ,i had the sole actuall disposing of the ,militia1 ,i could not protect my ,people1 further then they protected ,me and ,themselves3 so that the use of the ,militia is mutuall4 ,i would but defend my self so far1 as to be able to defend my good ,subjects from those mens violence and fraud1 who conscious to their own evill merits and designes1 will needs perswade the world1 that none but ,wolves are fit to be trusted with the custody of the ,shepherd and his ,flock4 ,miserable experience hath taught my ,subjects1 since power hath been wrested from ,me1 and imployed against ,me and ,them1 that neither can be safe1 if both be not in such a way as the ,law hath intrusted the publike safety and welfare4 ,yet even this ,concession of mine1 as to the exercise of the ,militia1 so vast and large1 is not satisfactory to some men2 which seem to be ,enemies not to me only1 but to all ,monarchy2 and are resolved to transmit to posterity such ,jealousies of the ,crown1 as they should never permit it to enjoy its just and necessary ,rights in point of power2 to which 7at last7 all ,law is resolved1 while thereby it is best protected4 ,but here ,honour and ,justice due to my ,successors1 forbid me to yeeld to such total alienation of that power from them1 which civility and duty1 no less then ,justice and ,honour should have forbad them to have asked of me4 ,for1 although ,i can be content to ,eclypse my own beams1 to satisfie their fears2 who think they must needs be scorched or blinded1 if ,i should shine in the full lustre of ,kingly power wherewith ,god and the ,laws have invested me3 ,yet ,i will never consent to put out the ,sun of ,soveraignty to all posterity1 and succeeding ,kings2 whose just recovery of their ,rights from unjust ,usurpations and ,extortions1 shall never be prejudiced or obstructed by any ,act of mine2 which indeed1 would not be more injurious to succeeding ,kings1 then to my ,subjects2 whom ,i desire to leave in a condition not wholly desperate for the future2 so as by a ,law to be ever subjected to those many factious distractions1 which must needs follow the many-headed ,hydra of ,government3 which as it makes a shew to the people to have more eyes to foresee2 so they will find it hath more mouths too1 which must be satisfied3 and 7at best7 it hath rather a monstrosity1 then any thing of perfection1 beyond that of right ,monarchy2 where counsell may be in many as the senses1 but the ,supreme ,power can be but in ,one as the ,head4 ,happily where men have tried the horrours and malignant influence which will certainly follow my enforced darkness and ,eclypse1 7occasioned by the interposition and shadow of that body1 which as the ,moon receiveth its chiefest lights from me7 which will at length more esteem and welcome the restored glory and blessing of the ,suns light4 ,and if at present ,i may seem by ,my receding so much from the use of my ,right in the ,power of the ,militia1 to come short of the discharge of that trust to which ,i am sworn for my peoples protection2 ,i conceive those men are guilty of the inforced perjury2 7if so it may seem7 who compell me to take this new and strange way of discharging my trust1 by seeming to desert it2 of protecting my ,subjects1 by exposing my self to danger or dishonour1 for their safety and quiet4 ,which in the conflicts of ,civill ,war and advantages of power1 cannot be effected but by some side yeilding2 to which the greatest love of the publique peace1 and the firmest assurance of ,gods protection 7arising from a good ,conscience7 doth more invite me1 then can be expected from other mens fears2 which arising from the injustice of their actions 7though never so successfull7 yet dare not adventure their ,authours upon any other way of safety then that of the ,sword and ,militia2 which yet are but weak defences against the stroaks of divine ,vengeance1 which will overtake2 or of mens own ,consciences1 which alwayes attend injurious perpetrations4 ,for my self1 ,i do not think that ,i can want any thing which providential necessity is pleased to take from me1 in order to my ,peoples tranquillity and ,gods glory1 whose protection is sufficient for me2 and he is able by his being with me1 abundantly to compensate to me1 as he did to ,job1 what-ever ,honour1 ,power1 or ,liberty the ,chaldeans1 the ,sabeans1 or the ,divel himself can deprive me of4 ,although they take from me all defence of ,arms and ,militia1 all refuge by ,land of ,forts and ,castles1 all flight by ,sea in my ,ships and ,navie2 yea1 though they study to rob me of the ,hearts of my ,subjects1 the greatest ,treasure and best ,ammunition of a ,king2 yet cannot they deprive me of my own innocencie1 or ,gods mercie1 nor obstruct my way to heaven4 ,therefore1 ,o my ,god1 to thee ,i fly for help2 if thou wilt be on my side1 ,i shall have more with me then can be against me4 ,there is none in ,heaven1 or in ,earth that ,i desire in comparison of thee3 ,in the losse of all1 be thou more then all to me3 ,make haste to succour me1 thou that never failest them that put their trust in thee4 ,thou seest ,i have no power to oppose them that come against me1 who are encouraged to fight under pretence of fighting for me3 ,but my eies are towards thee4 ,thou needest no help1 nor shall ,i1 if ,i may have thine2 if not to conquer1 yet at least to suffer4 ,if thou delightest not in my safety1 and prosperity1 behold here ,i am willing to be reduced to what thou wilt have me2 whose ,judgements oft begin with thy own ,children4 ,i am content to be nothing that thou maiest be all4 ,thou hast taught me1 that no ,king can be saved by the multitude of an host2 but yet ,thou canst save me by the multitude of ,thy mercies1 who art the ,lord of ,hosts1 and the ,father of mercies4 ,help me1 ,o ,lord1 who am sore distressed on every side1 yet be thou on my side1 and ,i shall not fear what man can do unto me4 ,i will give thy ,justice the glorie of my distress4 ,i let thy mercie have the glorie of my deliverance from them that persecute my soul3 ,by my sins have ,i fought against ,thee1 and robbed thee of thy glory1 who am thy subject2 and justly maist thou by my own ,subjects1 strip me of my strength1 and eclipse my glory4 ,but shew thy self1 ,o my hope and only refuge6 ,let not mine enemies say1 ,there is no help for him in his ,god4 ,hold up my goings in thy paths1 that my footsteps slip not4 ,keep me as the apple of thine eye1 hide me under the shadow of thy wings4 ,shew thy marvelous loving kindness1 ,o thou that savest by thy right hand them that put their trust in thee1 from those that rise up against them2 ,from the wicked that oppress me1 from my deadly enemies that compass me about4 ,shew me the path of life4 ,in thy presence is fulness of joy1 at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore4 99 99 99 99 99 #aa4 ,upon the #ai ,propositions first sent to the ,,king2 and more afterwards4 ,although there be many things1 they demand1 yet if these be all1 ,i am glad to see at what price they set my own safety1 and my peoples peace2 which ,i cannot think ,i buy at too dear a rate1 save only the parting with my ,conscience and ,honor4 ,if nothing else will satisfie1 ,i must chuse rather to be as miserable and inglorious1 as ,my enemies can make or wish me4 ,some things here propounded to me have been offered by me2 others are easily granted2 ,the rest 7,i think7 ought not to be obtruded upon me1 with the point of the sword2 nor urged with the injuries of a ,warr2 when ,i have already declared that ,i cannot yeeld to them1 without violating my ,conscience3 'tis strange1 there can be no method of peace1 but by making war upon my soul4 ,here are many things required of me1 but ,i see nothing offer'd to me1 by the way of gratefull ,exchange of ,honour2 or any requitall or those favours1 ,i have1 or can yet grant them4 ,this ,honour they do me1 to put ,me on the giving part1 which is more princely and divine4 ,they cannot ask more then ,i can give1 may ,i but reserve to my ,self the incommunicable ,jewell of my ,conscience2 and not be forced to part with that1 whose loss nothing can repair or requite4 ,some things 7which they are pleased to propound7 seem unreasonable to ,me2 and while ,i have any mastery of my ,reason1 how can they think ,i can consent to them2 who know they are such as are inconsistent with being either a ,king1 or a good ,christian8 ,my yeilding so much 7as ,i have already7 makes some men confident ,i will deny nothing4 ,the love ,i have of my peoples peace1 hath 7indeed7 great influence upon ,me2 but the love of truth and inward peace hath more4 ,should ,i grant some things they require1 ,i should not so much weaken my outward state of a ,king1 as wound that inward quiet of my ,conscience2 which ought to be1 is1 and ever shall be 7by ,gods ,grace7 dearer to ,me then my ,kingdoms4 ,some things which a ,king might approve1 yet in ,honour and ,policy are at some time to be denied1 to some men1 lest he should seem not to dare to deny any thing2 and give too much incouragement to unreasonable demands or importunities4 ,but to bind my ,self to a generall and implicite consent to what-ever they shall desire or propound1 7for such is one of their ,propositions7 were such a latitude of blind obedience1 as never was expected from any ,free-men1 nor fit to be required of any man1 much less of a ,king by his own ,subjects2 any of whom he may possibly exceed as much in wisdom1 as he doth in place and power4 ,this were1 as if ,samson should have consented1 not only to bind his own hands1 and cut off his hair1 but to put out his own eys1 that the ,philistins might with the more safety mock and abuse him2 which they chose rather to do1 then quite destroy him1 when he was become so tame an object1 and fit occasion for their sport and scorn4 ,certainly1 to exclude all power of denyall1 seems an arrogancy least of all becoming those who pretend to make their ,addresses in an humble and loyall way of petitioning2 who by that1 sufficiently confess their own inferiority1 which obligeth them to rest1 if not satisfied1 yet quieted1 with such an ,answer as the ,will and ,reason of their ,superiour thinks fit to give2 who is acknowledged to have a freedom and power of ,reason1 to ,consent or ,dissent1 else it were very foolish and absurd to ask1 what another having not liberty to deny1 neither hath power to grant4 ,but if this be my ,right belonging to ,me1 in ,reason as a ,man1 and in ,honour as a ,soveraign ,king 7as undoubtedly it doth7 how can it be other then extreme injury to confine my ,reason to a necessity of granting all they have a mind to ask1 whose minds may be as differing from mine1 both in reason and honour1 as their aims may be1 and their qualities are8 which last ,god and the ,laws have sufficiently distinguisht1 making me their ,soveraign1 and them my ,subjects3 whose ,propositions may soon prove violent oppositions1 if once they gain to be necessary impositions upon the ,regall ,authority2 ,since no man seeks to limit and confine his ,king in ,reason1 who hath not a secret aim to share with him1 or usurp upon him in ,power and ,dominion4 ,but they would have me trust to their moderation1 and abandon mine own discretion2 that so ,i might verifie what representations some have made of me to the world1 that ,i am fitter to be their ,pupil then their ,prince4 ,truly1 ,i am not so confident of my own sufficiency1 as not willingly to admit the ,counsel of others3 ,but yet ,i am not so diffident of my self1 as brutishly to submit to any mans dictates1 and at once to betray the ,soveraignty of ,reason in my soul1 and the ,majesty of my own ,crown to any of my ,subjects4 ,least of all have ,i any ground of credulity1 to induce me fully to submit to all the desires of those men1 who will not admit1 or do refuse1 and neglect to vindicate the freedom of their own and others ,sitting and ,voting in ,parliament4 ,besides1 all men that knew them1 knew this1 how young ,states-men the most part of these propounders are2 so that till experience of one seven years have shewed me how well they can govern themselves1 and so much power as is wrested from me1 ,i should be very foolish indeed1 and unfaithful in my ,trust1 to put the reins of both ,reason and ,government wholly out of my ,own1 into their hands1 whose driving is already too much like ,jehues2 and whose forwardnesse to ascend the throne of ,supremacie pretends more of ,phaeton then of ,phebus2 ,god divert the ,omen of his will4 ,they may remember that at best they sit in ,parliament1 as my ,subjects1 not my ,superiours3 called to be ,my ,counsellours1 not ,dictatours3 ,their ,summons extends to recommend their ,advice1 not to command my ,dutie4 ,when ,i first heard of ,propositions to be sent me1 ,i expected either some good ,laws which had been antiquated by the course of time1 or overlaid by the corruption of manners1 had been desired to a restauration of their vigour and due execution2 or some evil ,customs preterlegall1 and abuses personall had been to be removed3 or some injuries done by my ,self1 and others1 to the ,common-weal1 were to be repaired3 or some equable offertures were to be tendred to ,me1 wherein the advantages of my ,crown being considered by them1 might fairly induce me to condescend to what tended to my ,subjects good1 without any great diminution of my ,self1 whom ,nature1 ,law1 ,reason and ,religion binde ,me 7in the first place7 to preserve2 without which 'tis impossible to preserve my people according to my place4 ,or 7at least7 ,i looked for such moderate desires of due ,reformation of what was 7indeed7 amisse in ,church and ,state1 as might still preserve the foundation and essentials of ,government in both2 not shake and quite overthrow either of them1 without any regard to the ,laws in force1 the wisdom and piety of former ,parliaments1 the ancient1 and universall practice of ,christian ,churches2 the ,rights and ,priviledges of particular men3 ,nor yet any thing offered in lieu1 or in the room of what must be destroyed1 which might at once reach the good end of the others ,institution1 and also supply its pretended defects1 reform its abuses1 and satisfie sober and wise men1 not with soft and specious words1 pretending zeal1 and special piety1 but with pregnant and solid ,reasons1 both divine and humane1 which might justifie the abruptnesse and necessity of such vast ,alterations4 ,but in all their ,propositions ,i can observe little of these kindes1 or to these ends3 ,nothing of any ,laws dis-jointed1 which are to be restored2 of any right invaded2 of any justice to be unobstructed2 of any compensations to be made2 of any impartiall ,reformation to be granted3 to all or any of which ,reason1 ,religion1 true ,policy1 or any other humane motives might induce ,me4 ,but as to the main matters propounded by them at any time1 in which is either great novelty or difficulty1 ,i perceive1 that what were formerly look'd upon as ,factions in the ,state1 and ,schisms in the ,church1 and so punishable by the ,laws1 have now the confidence1 by vulgar clamours1 and assistance 7chiefly7 to demand not onely ,tolerations of themselves1 in their vanity1 novelty1 and confusion2 but also ,abolition of the ,laws against them1 and a totall extirpation of that ,government1 whose ,rights they have a mind to invade4 ,this as to the main3 ,other ,propositions are 7for the most part7 but as waste paper in which those are wrapped up1 to present them somewhat more handsomly4 ,nor do ,i so much wonder at the variety1 and horrible noveltie of some ,propositions1 7there being nothing so monstrous1 which some fancies are not prone to long for74 ,this casts me into1 not an admiration1 but an extasie1 how such things should have the fortune to be propounded in the name of the two ,houses of the ,parliament of ,england1 among whom1 ,i am very confident1 there was not a fourth part of the ,members of either ,house1 whose ,judgements free1 single and apart did approve or desire such destructive changes in the ,government of the ,church4 ,i am perswaded there remains in far the ,major part of both ,houses 7if free and full7 so much ,learning1 ,reason1 ,religion1 and just ,moderation1 as to know how to sever between the use and the abuse of things1 the institution and the corruption1 the ,government and the mis-government1 the ,primitive ,patterns and the aberrations or blottings of after-,copies4 ,sure they could not at all1 upon so little1 or no ,reason 7as yet produced to the contrary7 so soon renounce all regard to the ,laws in force1 to antiquity1 to the piety of their ,reforming progenitors1 to the prosperity of former times in this ,church and ,state1 under the present ,government of the ,church4 ,yet1 by a strange fatality1 these men suffer1 either by their absence1 or silence1 or negligence1 or supine credulity 7beleeving that all is good1 which is guilded with shewes of ,zeal and ,reformation7 their private dissenting in ,judgement to be drawn into the common sewer or streame of the present vogue and humour2 which hath its chief rise and abetment from those popular clamors and tumults3 which served to give life and strength to the infinite activity of those men1 who studied with all diligence1 and policy1 to improve to their innovating designes1 the present distractions4 ,such ,armies of ,propositions having so little1 in my judgment1 of ,reason1 ,justice1 and ,religion on their side1 as they had ,tumult and ,faction for their rise1 must not go alone1 but ever be backt and seconded1 with ,armies of ,souldiers2 ,though the second should prevaile against my ,person1 yet that first shall never overcome me further then ,i see cause2 for1 ,i look not at their number and power1 so much as ,i weigh their ,reason and ,justice4 ,had the two ,houses first sued out their ,livery1 and once effectually redeemed themselves from the ,wardship of the ,tumults1 7which can be no other then the ,hounds that attend the cry and hollow of those men1 who hunt after factions and private ,designes1 to the ruine of ,church and ,state47 ,did my ,judgement tell ,me1 that the propositions sent to ,me were the ,results of the major part of their ,votes1 who exercise their freedom1 as well as they have a right to sit in ,parliament3 ,i should then suspect my ,own judgment1 for not speedily and fully concurring with every one of them4 ,for1 ,i have charity enough to think there are wise men among them3 and humility to think1 that1 as in some things ,i may want1 so 'tis fit ,i should use their advice1 which is the end for which ,i called them to a ,parliament4 ,but yet ,i cannot allow their wisdom such a compleatness and inerrability as to exclude my ,self2 since none of them hath that part to act1 that ,trust to discharge1 nor that ,estate and ,honour to preserve1 as my ,self2 without whose ,reason concurrent with theirs 7as the ,suns influence is necessary in all ,natures1 productions7 they cannot beget1 or bring forth any one compleat and authoritative ,act of publick wisdom1 which makes the ,laws4 ,but the unreasonableness of some ,propositions is not more evident to me then this is1 ,that they are not the joynt and free desires of those in their ,major number1 who are of right to ,sit and ,vote in ,parliament4 ,for1 many of them favour very strong of that old leaven of ,innovations1 masked under the name of ,reformation2 7which in my ,two last famous ,predecessours days heaved1 at1 and sometime threatned both ,prince and ,parliaments37 ,but1 ,i am sure1 was never wont so far to infect the whole masse of the ,nobility and ,gentry of this ,kingdom2 how-ever it dispersed among the ,vulgar3 ,nor was it likely so suddenly to taint the ,major part of both ,houses1 as that they should unanimously desire1 and effect so enormous and dangerous innovations in ,church and ,state1 contrary to their former education1 practice1 and judgment4 ,not that ,i am ignorant1 how the choice of many ,members was carried by much ,faction in the ,countries2 some thirsting after nothing more then a passionate revenge of what-ever displeasure they had conceived against ,me1 my ,court1 or the ,clergy4 ,but all ,reason bids me impute these sudden and vast desires of change to those few1 who armed themselves with the many-headed1 and many-handed ,tumults4 ,no less doth ,reason1 ,honour1 and ,safety both of ,church and ,state command me to chew such morsels before ,i let them down2 ,if the straitness of my ,conscience will not give me leave to swallow down such ,camels1 as others do1 of ,sacriledge1 and injustice both to ,god and man1 they have no more cause to quarrell with me1 then for this1 that my throat is not so wide as theirs4 ,yet1 by ,gods help1 ,i am resolved1 ,that nothing of passion or peevishnesse1 or list to contradict1 or vanity to shew my negative power1 shall have any byas upon my judgment1 to make me gratifie my will1 by denying any thing which my ,reason and ,conscience commands me not4 ,nor on the other side1 will ,i consent to more then ,reason1 ,justice1 ,honor and ,religion perswade me to be1 for ,gods glory1 the ,churches good1 my ,peoples welfare1 and my own peace4 ,i will study to satisfie my ,parliament1 and my ,people2 but ,i will never for fear1 or flatterie gratifie any ,faction1 how potent soever2 for this were to nourish the disease1 and oppresse the body4 ,although many mens loyalty and prudence are terrified from giving me1 that free and faithfull counsel1 which they are able and willing to impart1 and ,i may want2 yet none can hinder me from craving of the councell of that mighty ,counsellor who can both suggest what is best1 and incline my heart stedfastly to follow it4 ,o thou first and eternal ,reason2 whose wisdom is fortified with omnipotencie1 furnish thy servant1 first with clear discoveries of ,truth1 ,reason and ,justice in ,my understanding2 then so confirm my will and resolution to adhere to them1 that no terrors1 injuries or oppressions of mine enemies may ever inforce me against those rules1 which thou by them hast planted in ,my ,conscience4 ,thou never madest me a ,king1 that ,i should be less then a ,man2 and not dare to say1 ,yea1 or ,nay1 as ,i see cause2 which freedom is not denied to the meanest creature that hath the use of ,reason1 and liberty of speech4 ,shall that be blameable in me1 which is commendable veracity and constancy in others8 ,thou seest1 ,o ,lord1 with what partiallity1 and injustice1 they deny that freedom to me their ,,king1 which ,thou hast given to all men2 and which ,themselves pertinaciously challenge to themselves1 while they are so tender of the least breach of their priviledges4 ,to thee ,i make my supplication1 who canst guide us by an unerring rule1 through the perplexed ,labyrinths of our own thoughts1 and other mens ,proposals2 which ,i have some cause to suspect1 are purposely cast as snares1 that by ,my granting or denying them1 ,i might be more entangled in those difficulties1 wherewith they lie in wait to afflict me4 ,o ,lord1 make thy way plain before ,me4 ,let not my own sinful passions cloud1 or divert thy sacred suggestions4 ,let thy ,glory be my end1 thy ,word my rule1 and then thy will be done4 ,i cannot please all1 ,i care not to please some men2 if ,i may be happie to please thee1 ,i need not fear whom ,i displease4 ,thou that makest the wisdome of the world foolishnesse1 and takest in their own devices1 such as are wise in their own conceits1 make ,me wise by thy ,truth1 for thy honor1 my ,kingdoms generall good1 and my own souls salvation1 and ,i shall not much regard the worlds opinion or diminution of ,me4 ,the lesse of wisdome they are willing to impute to ,me1 the more they shall be convinced of thy ,wisdom directing ,me1 while ,i deny nothing fit to be granted1 out of crosnesse or humour2 nor grant any thing which is to be denied1 out of any fear or flatterie of men4 ,suffer me not to be guiltie or unhappie1 by willing or inconsiderate advancing any mens designes1 which are injurious to the publique good1 while ,i confirm them by ,my consent4 ,nor let ,me be any occasion to hinder or defraud the ,publick of what is best1 by any morose or perverse dissentings4 ,make ,me so humbly charitable1 as to follow their advice1 when it appears to be for the publick good2 of whose affections to me1 ,i have yet but few evidencies to assure ,me4 ,thou canst as well blesse honest errours1 as blast fraudulent counsels4 ,since we must give an account of every evill and idle word in private1 at thy ,tribunall2 ,lord make me carefull of those solemne ,declarations of mine which are like to have the greatest influence upon the ,publique1 either for woe1 or weale4 ,the lesse others consider what they aske1 make me the more solicitous what ,i answer4 ,though ,mine own1 and ,my ,peoples pressures are grievous1 and peace would be very pleasing2 yet ,lord1 never suffer ,me to avoid the one1 or purchase the other1 with the least expense or wast of my ,conscience2 whereof thou1 ,o ,lord1 onely art deservedly more ,master then my self4 99 99 99 99 99 #ab4 ,upon the ,rebellion1 and troubles in ,ireland4 ,the ,commotions in ,ireland were so sudden1 and so violent1 that it was hard at first either to discern the rise1 or apply a remedie to that precipitant ,rebellion4 ,indeed that ,sea of blood1 which hath there bin cruelly barbarously shed1 is enough to drown any man in eternall both infamy and misery1 whom ,god shall find the malicious ,author or ,instigator of its effusion4 ,it fell out1 as a most unhappy advantage to some mens malice against me2 that when they had impudence enough to lay any thing to my charge1 this bloody oppertunity should be offered them1 with which ,i must be aspersed4 ,although there was nothing which could be more abhorred to me1 being so ful of sin against ,god1 disloyalty to myself1 and destructive to my ,subjects4 ,some men took it very ill not to be beleeved1 when they affirmed1 that what the ,irish ,rebels did1 was done with my privitie 7at least7 if not by my ,commission3 ,but these knew too well1 that it is no news for som of my ,subjects to fight not only without my ,commission1 but against my ,command1 and ,person too1 yet all the while to pretend1 they fight by my ,authoritie1 and for my safety4 ,i would to ,god the ,irish had nothing to alledge for their imitation against those whose blame must needs be the greater1 by how much ,protestant ,principles are more against all ,rebellion against ,princes1 then those of ,papists4 ,nor wil the goodnes of mens intentions excuse the scandall1 and contagion of their examples4 ,but who ever fail of their ,dutie toward me1 ,i must bear the blame2 this honour my enemies have alwayes done me1 to think moderate injuries not proportionate to me1 nor competent trials1 either of my patience under them1 or my pardon of them4 ,therefore with exquisite malice they have mixed the gall and vinegar of falsity and contempt1 with the cup of my ,affliction2 charging ,me not only with untruths1 but such1 as wherin ,i have the greatest share of loss dishonor by what is comitted2 wherby1 7in all policy1 reason and ,religion1 having least cause to give the least consent1 and most grounds of utter detestation7 ,i might be represented by them to the world1 the more inhumane and barbarous3 ,like some ,cyclopick monster1 whom nothing will serve to eat and drink1 but the flesh and bloud of my own ,subjects2 in whose common welfare my interest lies1 as much as some mens doth in their perturbations3 who think they cannot do wel but in evil times2 nor so cunningly1 as in laying the odium of those sad events on others1 wherewith themselves are most pleased1 and whereof they have been not the least occasion4 ,and certainly1 'tis thought by many wise men1 that the preposterous rigour and unreasonable severity1 which some men carried before them in ,england1 was not the least incentive1 that kindled1 and blew up into those horrid flames1 the sparks of discontent1 which wanted not pre-disposed fewel for ,rebellion in ,ireland2 where dispair being added to their former discontents1 and the fear of utter extirpation to their wonted oppressions1 it was easie to provoke to an open ,rebellion a people prone enough to break out into all exorbitant violence1 both by some principles of their ,religion1 and the naturall desires of liberty2 both to exempt themselves from their present restraints1 and to prevent those after rigours1 wherewith they saw themselves apparantly threatned by the covetous zeal and uncharitable fury of some men1 who think it a great ,argument of the truth of their ,religion1 to endure no other but their own4 ,god knows1 as ,i can with truth wash my hands in innocency1 as to any guilt in that ,rebellion2 so ,i might wash them in my tears1 as to the sad apprehensions ,i had to see it spread so far1 and make such waste3 and this in a time when distractions and jealousies here in ,england made most men rather intent to their own safety1 or designes they were driving1 then to the relief of those who were every day inhumanely butchered in ,ireland3 ,whose tears and bloud might1 if nothing else1 have quenched1 or at least for a time1 repressed and smothered those sparks of ,civill ,dissentions and ,jealousies which in ,england some men most industriously scattered4 ,i would to ,god no man had been less affected with ,irelands' sad estate then my self2 ,i offered to go my ,self in person upon that ,expedition3 ,but some men were either affraid ,i should have any one ,kingdom quieted2 or loth they were to shoot at any mark here less then my ,self2 or that any should have the glory of my destruction but themselves4 ,had my many offers been accepted1 ,i am confident1 neither the ruin had been so great1 nor the calamity so long1 nor the remedy so desperate4 ,so that1 next to the sin of those who began that ,rebellion1 theirs must needs be1 who either hindred the speedy suppressing of it by ,domestick ,dissentions1 or diverted the ,aids1 or exasperated the ,rebels to the most desperate resolutions and actions1 by threatning all extremities1 not onely to the known ,heads and chiefe incendiaries1 but even to the whole ,community of that ,nation2 resolving to destroy ,root and ,branch1 men1 women1 and children2 without any regard to those usuall pleas for mercy which ,conquerours1 not wholly barbarous1 are wont to bear from their own brests1 in behalf of those1 whose oppressive faces1 rather then their malice1 engaged them2 or whose imbecility for ,sex and ,age was such1 as they could neither lift up a hand against them1 nor distinguish between their right hand and their left3 ,which preposterous 7and ,i think7 un-,evangelicall zeal is too like that of the rebuked ,disciples1 who would go no lower in their revenge1 then to call for fire from ,heaven upon whole ,cities1 for the repulse and neglect of a few2 or like that of ,jacob's sons1 which the ,father both blamed and cursed3 chusing rather to use all extreamities1 which might drive men to desperate obstinacy1 then to apply moderate remedies2 such as might punish some with exemplary ,justice1 yet disarm others1 with tenders of mercy upon their submission1 our protection of them1 from the fury of those1 who would soon drown them1 if they refused to swim down the popular stream with them4 ,but som kind of ,zeal counts all merciful moderation1 luke-warmness2 and had rather be cruel then counted cold1 and is not seldom more greedy to kill the ,bear for his skin1 then for any harm he hath done4 ,the confiscation of mens estates being more beneficiall1 then the charity of saving their lives1 or reforming their ,errors4 ,when all proportionable succors of the poor ,protestants in ,ireland 7who were daily massacred and over-born with numbers of now desperate ,enemies7 was diverted and obstructed here2 ,i was earnestly entreated1 generally advised by the chief of the ,protestant party there1 to get them some respite and breathing by a cessation1 without which they saw no probability 7unless by miracle7 to preserve the remnant that had yet escaped3 ,god knows with how much commiseration and solicitous caution ,i carried on that business1 by persons of ,honor and ,integrity1 that so ,i might neither incourage the ,rebels ,insolence1 nor discourage the ,protestants ,loyaltie and ,patience4 ,yet when this was effected in the best sort1 that the necessity and difficulty of affairs would then permit1 ,i was then to suffer again in my ,reputation and ,honor2 because ,i suffered not the ,rebels utterly to devour the remaining handfuls of the ,protestants there4 ,i thought that in all reason1 the gaining of that respite could not be so much to the ,rebels advantages 7which some have highly calumniated against me7 as it might have been for the ,protestants future1 as well as present safety3 ,if during the time of that ,cessation1 some men had the grace to have laid ,ireland's sad condition more to heart2 laid aside those violent motions1 which were here carried on by those1 that had better skill to let blood then to stanch it4 ,but in all the misconstructions of my actions1 7which are prone to find more credulity in men to what is false1 and evil1 then love or charity to what is true and good7 as ,i have no ,judge but ,god above me1 so ,i can have comfort to appeal to his omniscience1 who doth not therefore deny my ,innocence1 because he is pleased so far to try my patience1 as he did his servant ,job's4 ,i have enough to do to look to my own ,conscience1 and the faithfull discharge of my ,trust as a ,king3 ,i have scarce leisure to consider those swarms of reproches1 which issue out of some mens mouths hearts1 as easily as smoke1 or sparks do out of a furnace3 ,much lesse to make such prolix ,apologies1 as might give those men satisfaction3 who conscious to their own depth of wickednesse are loth to beleeve any man not to be as bad as themselves4 ',tis ,kingly to do well1 and hear ill3 ,if ,i can but act the one1 ,i shall not much regard to bear the other4 ,i thank ,god1 ,i can hear with patience as bad as my worst enemies can safly say4 ,and ,i hope ,i shall still do better then they desire1 or deserve ,i should4 ,i beleeve it will at last appear1 that they who first began to embroil my other ,kingdoms1 are in great part guilty1 if not of the first letting out1 yet of the not timely stopping those horrid effusions of bloud in ,ireland4 ,which 7whatever my ,enemies please to say1 or think7 ,i look upon1 as that of my other kingdoms1 exhausted out of my own veins3 no man being so much weakened by it as my ,self3 ,and ,i hope1 though mens unsatiable cruelties never wil1 yet the ,mercy of ,god will at length say to his ,justice1 ,it is enough2 and command the sword of ,civil ,wars to sheath it self3 his mercifull ,justice intending1 ,i trust1 not our utter confusion1 but our cure3 the abatement of our sins1 not the desolation of these ,nations4 ,o my ,god1 let those infinite mercies prevent us once again1 which ,i and my ,kingdoms have formerly abused1 and can never deserve1 should be restored4 ,thou seest how much cruelty among ,christians is acted under the colour of ,religion2 as if we could not be ,christians1 unless we crucifie one another4 ,because we have no more loved thy truth1 and practised in charitie1 thou hast suffered a ,spirit of ,errour and bitterness1 of mutuall and mortall hatred to rise among us4 ,o ,lord1 forgive wherein we have sinned1 and sanctifie what we have suffered4 ,let our repentance be our recovery1 as our great sins have been our ruine4 ,let not the miseries ,i and my ,kingdoms have hitherto suffered seem small to thee3 but make our sins appear to our consciences1 as they are represented in the glass of thy ,judgements2 for thou never punishest small failings1 with so severe afflictions4 ,o therefore1 according to the multitude of thy great mercies1 pardon our sinnes1 and remove thy judgments1 which are very many1 and very heavy4 ,yet let our sins be ever more grievous to us1 then thy judgments2 and make us more willing to repent1 then to be relieved2 first give us the grace of penitent consciences1 and then the tranquillitie of united ,kingdomes4 ,in the ,sea of our ,saviours ,blood drown our sins1 and through this red sea of our own ,blood bring us at last to a state of ,piety1 ,peace and ,plenty4 ,as my publick relations to all1 make me share in all my ,subjects suffering2 so give me such a pious sense of them1 as becoms a ,christian ,king1 and a loving father of my people4 ,let the scandalous and unjust reproaches cast upon me1 be as a breath1 more to kindle my compassion2 ,give me grace to heap charitable coales of fire upon their heads to melt them1 whose malice or cruel zeal hath kindled1 or hindred the quenching of those flames1 which hath so much wasted my three ,kingdoms4 ,o rescue and assist those poor ,protestants in ,,ireland1 whom thou hast hitherto preserved4 ,and lead those in the ways of thy saving ,truths1 whose ,ignorance or ,errors have filled them with rebellious and destructive ,principles1 which they act under an opinion1 ,that they do thee good service4 ,let the hand of thy justice be against those1 who malitiously and despightfully have raised or fomented these cruel and desperate ,wars4 ,thou that art far from destroying the innocent with the guilty1 the erroneous with the malicious2 thou that hadst pitty on ,niniveh for the many children that were therein1 give not over the whole stock of that populous and seduced ,nation1 to the wrath of those1 whose covetousness makes them cruel2 nor to their anger1 which is too fierce1 and therefore justly cursed4 ,preserve1 if it be thy will1 in the midst of the furnace of thy severe justice1 a ,posterity which may praise thee for thy mercie4 ,and deal with me1 not according to mans unjust reproaches1 but according to the innocency of my ,hands in thy sight4 ,if ,i have desired or delighted in the wofull day of my ,kingdoms calamities1 ,if ,i have not earnestly studied1 and faithfully endeavoured the preventing and composing of these bloody ,distractions2 then let thy hand be against me and my ,fathers ,house4 ,o ,lord thou seest ,i have enemies enough of men2 as ,i need not1 so should ,i not dare thus to imprecate thy curse on me and mine1 if my ,conscience did not witnesse my integrity1 which thou1 ,o ,lord1 knowest right well4 ,but ,i trust not to my own merit1 but thy mercies2 spare us1 ,o ,lord1 and be not angry with us for ever4 99 99 99 99 99 #ac4 ,upon the calling in of the ,,scots1 and their ,comming4 ,the ,scots are a ,nation1 upon whom ,i have not onely common ties of ,nature1 ,soveraignty1 and ,bounty1 with ,my ,father of blessed memory2 but also speciall and late obligations of favours1 having gratified the active ,spirits among them so far1 that ,i seemed to many to prefer the desires of that party1 before ,my own interest and honor4 ,but1 ,i see1 ,royall bountie emboldens some men to ask1 and act beyond all bounds of modesty and gratitude4 ,my charity1 and ,act of ,pacification1 forbids ,me to reflect on former passages1 wherin ,i shal ever be far from letting any mans ingratitude1 or inconstancy1 make me repent of what ,i granted them for the publique good3 ,i pray ,god it may so prove4 ,the coming again of that ,party into ,england1 with an ,army only to conforme this ,church to their late ,new model1 cannot but seem as unreasonable1 as they would have thought the same measure offered from hence to themselves4 ,other errand ,i could never understand1 they had1 7besides those common and vulgar flourishes for ,religion and ,liberty7 save only to confirme the ,presbyterian ,copy they had set1 by making this ,church to write after them1 though it were in bloudy ,characters4 ,which design and end1 whether it will justifie the use of such violent means1 before the divine ,justice1 ,i leave to their ,consciences to judge1 who have already felt the misery of the means1 but not reaped the benefit of the end1 either in this ,kingdom1 or that4 ,such knots and crosseness of grain being objected here1 as will hardly suffer that form which they cry up1 as the only just reformation1 and settling of ,government and ,discipline in ,churches to go on so smoothly here1 as it might do in ,scotland2 and was by them imagined would have done in ,england1 when so many of the ,english ,clergy1 through levity1 or discontent1 if no worse passion1 suddenly quitted their former engagements to ,episcopacy1 and faced about to their ,presbytery4 ,it cannot but seem either passion1 or some self-seeking1 more then true ,zeal1 and pious discretion1 for any forraign ,state or ,church to prescribe such medicins only for others1 which themselves have used1 rather successefully then commendably2 not considering that the same ,physick on different constitutions1 will have different operations3 ,that may kill one1 which doth but cure another4 ,nor do ,i know any such tough and malignant humours in the constitution of the ,english ,church1 which gentler applications then those of an ,army1 might not easily have removed3 ,nor is it so proper to hew out ,religious ,reformations by the sword1 as to polish them by fair equal disputations among those that are most concerned in the differences1 whom not force1 but reason ought to convince4 ,but their design now seemed rather to cut off all disputation here1 then to procure a fair and equal one3 ,for it was concluded there1 ,that the ,english ,clergy must conform to the ,scots pattern before ever they could be heard1 what they could say for themselves1 or against the others way4 ,i could have wished fairer proceedings both for their credits1 who urge things with such violence2 and for other mens ,consciences too2 who can receive litle satisfaction in these points which are maintained rather by ,souldiers fighting in the ,field1 then ,scholars disputing in free and learned ,synods4 ,sure in matters of ,religion those truths gain most on mens ,judgments and ,consciences1 which are least urged with secular violence1 which weakens truth with prejudices2 and is unreasonable to be used1 till such means of rational conviction hath been applied1 as leaving no excuse for ignorance1 condemns mens obstinacy to deserved penalties4 ,which no charity will easily suspect of so many learned and pious ,church-men in ,england2 who being alwaies bred up1 and conformable to the ,government of ,episcopacy1 cannot so soon renounce both their former opinion practice1 only because that ,party of the ,scots will needs1 by force assist a like ,party here1 either to drive all ,ministers as sheep1 into the common fold of ,presbyterie1 or destroy them2 at least fleece them1 by depriving them of the benefit of their ,flocks4 ,if the ,scotch sole ,presbyterie were approved to be the only ,institution of ,jesus ,christ1 for all ,churches ,government2 yet ,i beleeve it would be hard to prove that ,christ had given those ,scots1 or any other of my ,subjects1 ,comission by the ,sword1 to set it up in any of my ,kingdomes1 without my consent4 ,what respect and obedience ,christ and his ,apostles payd to the chief governors of ,states1 where they lived1 is very cleer in the ,gospel3 but that he1 or they ever commanded to set up such a parity of ,presbyters1 and in such a way as those ,scots endeavour1 ,i think is not very disputable4 ,if ,presbyterie in such a ,supremacy be an institution of ,christ1 sure it differs from all others3 and is the first and only point of ,christianity1 that was to be planted and watered with so much ,christian bloud2 whose effusions run in a stream so contrary to that of the ,primitive planters1 both of ,christianity and ,episcopacy1 which was with patient shedding of their own bloud1 not violently drawing other mens3 sure there is too much of ,man in it1 to have much of ,christ2 none of whose institutions were carried on1 or begun with the temptations of ,covetousness or ,ambition1 of both which this is vehemently suspected4 ,yet was there never any thing upon the point which those ,scots had by an ,army or ,commissioners to move ,me with1 by their many ,solemn obtestations1 and pious threatnings1 but only this1 to represent to me the wonderful necessity of setting up their ,presbytery in ,england1 to avoid the further miseries of a ,war1 which some men chiefly on this design at first had begun1 now further engaged themselves to continue4 ,what hinders that any ,sects1 ,schisms1 or ,heresies1 if they can get but numbers1 strength and opportunity1 may not1 according to this opinion and pattern1 set up their wayes by the like methods of violence8 all which ,presbitery seeks to suppresse1 render odious under those names3 when wise learned men think1 that nothing hath more marks of ,schism1 and ,sectarism1 then this ,presbyterian way1 both as to the ,ancient1 and still most ,universal way of the ,church-government1 and especially as to the particular ,laws and ,constitutions of this ,english ,church1 which are not yet repealed1 nor are like to be for me1 till ,i see more ,rational and ,religious motives1 then ,souldiers use to carry in their ,knapsacks4 ,but we must leave the successe of all to ,god1 who hath many wayes 7having first taken us off from the folly of our opinions1 and fury of our passion7 to teach us those rules of true ,reason1 and peaceable ,wisdom1 which is from above1 tending most to ,gods glory1 and his ,churches good3 which ,i think my self so much the more bound in ,conscience to attend1 with the most judicious zeal and care1 by how much ,i esteem the ,church above the ,state1 the glory of ,christ above mine ,own3 and the ,salvation of mens ,souls above the preservation of their ,bodies and ,estates4 ,nor may any men1 ,i think1 without sin and presumption1 forcibly endeavour to cast the ,churches under my care and tuition1 into the moulds they have fancied1 fashioned to their designs1 till they have first gained my consent1 and resolved1 both mine own and other mens ,consciences by the strength of their ,reasons4 ,other violent motions1 wch are neither ,manly1 ,christian1 nor ,loyal1 shall never either shake or settle my ,religion1 nor any mans else who knows what ,religion means3 ,and how far it is removed from all ,faction1 whose proper engine is force1 the arbitrator of beasts1 not of reasonable men1 much lesse of humble ,christians1 and loyal ,subjects1 in matters of ,religion4 ,but men are prone to have such high conceits of themselves1 that they care not what cost they lay out upon their opinions3 especially those that have some temptation of gain1 to recompence their losses and hazards4 ,yet ,i was not more scandalized at the ,scots ,armies coming in against my will1 and their forfeiture of so many obligations of duty1 and gratitude to me3 then ,i wondred how those here1 could so much distrust ,gods assistance1 who so much pretended ,gods cause to the people1 as if they had the certainty of some divine ,revelation2 considering they were more then competently furnished with my ,subjects ,arms and ,ammunition1 my ,navie by ,sea1 my ,forts1 ,castles and ,cities by ,land4 ,but ,i finde that men jealous of the ,justificableness of their doings1 and designs before ,god1 never thinke they have humane strength enough to carry their work on1 seem it never so plausible to the people2 what cannot be justified in ,law and ,religion1 had need to be fortified with power4 ,and yet such is the inconstancy that attends all minds engaged in violent motion1 that whom some of them one while earnestly invite to come in to their assistance2 others of them soon after are weary of1 and with nauseating cast them out3 what one party thought to rivet to a setlednes by the strength and influence of the ,scots1 that the other rejects and contemns2 at once1 despising the ,kirk-government1 discipline of the ,scots1 and frustrating the successe of so chargeable1 more then charitable assistance3 ,for1 sure the ,church of ,england might have purchased at a far cheaper rate1 the ,truth happines of ,reformed ,government and ,discipline 7if it had been wanting7 though it had entertained the best ,divines of ,christendom for their advice in a ful free ,synod2 which1 ,i was ever willing to1 and desirous of1 that matters being impartially setled1 might be more satisfactory to all1 and more durable4 ,but much of ,gods justice1 mans folly will at length be discovered1 through all the filmes and pretentions of ,religion1 in which ,polititians wrap up their designes3 in vaine do men hope to build their ,piety on the ,ruines of loyalty4 ,nor can those considerations or designes be durable1 when ,subjects make bankrupt of their ,allegiance1 under pretence of setting up a quicker trade for ,religion4 ,but1 as my best ,subjects of ,scotland never deserted me1 so ,i cannot think that the most are gone so far from me1 in a prodigality of their love and respects towards me1 as to make me to despair of their return2 when besides the bonds of ,nature and ,conscience which they have to me1 all ,reason and true ,policy will teach them1 ,that their chiefest interest consists in their fidelity to the ,crown1 not in their serviceableness to any ,party of the ,people1 to a neglect and betraying of my ,safety and ,honor for their own advantages3 ,however the lesse cause ,i have to trust to men1 the more ,i shall apply my ,self to ,god4 ,the ,troubles of my ,soul are enlarged1 ,o ,lord1 bring thou me out of my distresse4 ,lord direct thy ,servant in the ways of that pious simplicity1 which is the best policie4 ,deliver me from the combined strength of those1 who have so much of the ,serpents subtilty1 that they forget the ,doves ,innocency4 ,though hand joyn in hand1 yet let them not prevail against my ,soul1 to the betraying of my ,conscience and ,honour4 ,thou1 ,o ,lord1 canst turn the hearts of those ,parties in both ,nations1 as thou didst the men of ,judah and ,,israel1 to restore ,david with as much loyal zeal1 as they did with inconstancy and eagernesse pursue him4 ,preserve the love of thy truth and uprightness in me1 and ,i shall not despair of ,my ,subjects affections returning towards me4 ,thou canst soon cause the overflowing ,seas to ebbe1 and retire back again to the bounds which thou hast appointed for them4 ,o ,my ,god1 ,i trust in thee2 let me not be ashamed2 let not my enemies triumph over me4 ,let them be ashamed who transgress without a cause2 let them be turned back that persecute my soul4 ,let integrity and uprightness preserve me1 for ,i wait on thee ,o ,lord4 ,redeem thy ,church1 ,o ,god1 out of all its ,troubles4 99 99 99 99 99 #ad4 ,upon the ,covenant4 ,the ,presbyterian ,scots are not to be hired at the ordinary rate of ,auxiliaries2 nothing will induce them to engage1 till those that call them in1 have pawned their ,souls to them1 by a ,solemn ,league and ,covenant4 ,where many engines of religious and fair pretensions are brought chiefly to batter or rase ,episcopacy3 ,this they make the grand evil ,spirit1 which with other ,imps purposely added1 to make it more odious1 terrible to the ,vulgar1 must by so solemn a charm exorcism be cast out of this ,church1 after more then a thousand years possession here1 from the first plantation of ,christianity in this ,island1 and an universal prescription of time and practice in all other ,churches since the ,apostles times till this last ,century4 ,but no ,antiquity must plead for it2 ,presbytery like a young ,heir1 thinks the ,father hath lived long enough1 impatient not to be in the ,bishops chair and authority 7though ,lay-men go away with the ,revenus7 all art is used to sink ,episcopacy1 and lanch ,presbytery in ,england2 which was lately boyed up in ,scotland by the late artifice of a ,covenant4 ,although ,i am unsatisfied with many passages in that ,covenant some referring to my self with very dubious and dangerous limitations 7yet ,i chiefly wonder at the design and drift touching the ,discipline and ,government of the ,church72 and such a manner of carrying them on to new ways1 by ,oaths and ,covenants1 where it is hard for men to be engaged by no less1 then swearing for1 or against those things1 which are of no clear morall necessity1 but very disputable1 and controverted among learned and godly men3 whereto the application of ,oaths can hardly be made and enjoyned with that judgment and certainty in ones self1 or that charity or candour to others of different opinion1 as ,i think religion requires1 which never refuses fair and equable deliberations2 yea1 and dissentings too1 in matters only probable4 ,the enjoyning of ,oaths upon ,people must needs in things doubtfull be dangerous1 as in things unlawfull1 damnable2 and no lesse superfluous1 where former ,religious and ,legal ,engagements1 bound men sufficiently1 to all necessary duties4 ,nor can ,i see how they will reconcile such an ,innovating ,oath and ,covenant1 with their former ,protestation which was so lately taken1 to maintain the ,religion established in the ,church of ,england2 since they count ,discipline so great a part of ,religion4 ,but ambitious minds never think they have laid snares and ginnes enough to catch and hold the vulgar credulity3 for by such politicke and seemingly pious stratagems1 they think to keep the popularity fast to their ,parties under the terrour of perjury3 ,whereas certainly all honest and wise men ever thought themselves sufficiently bound by former ties of ,religion1 ,allegiance1 and lawes1 to ,god and man4 ,nor can such after-contracts1 devised and imposed by a few men in a declared ,party1 without my consent1 and without any like power or president from ,gods or mans laws1 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 me4 ,yet as things now stand1 good men shall least offend ,god or ,me1 by keeping their ,covenant in honest and lawfull wayes2 since ,i have the charity to think1 that the chief end of the ,covenant in such mens intentions1 was1 to preserve ,religion in purity1 and the ,kingdoms in peace3 ,to other then such ends and meanes they cannot think themselves engaged2 nor will those1 that have any true touches of ,conscience endeavour to carry on the best designes1 7much lesse such as are1 and will be daily more apparently factious and ambitious7 by any unlawfull means1 under that title of the ,covenant3 unlesse they dare preferre ambiguous1 dangerous and un-authorized novelties1 before their known and sworn duties1 which are indespensable1 both to ,god and my self4 ,i am prone to beleeve and hope1 ,that many who took the ,covenant1 are yet firme to this judgment1 ,that such latter ,vowes1 ,oaths1 or ,leagues1 can never blot out those former gravings1 and characters1 which by just and lawfull ,oaths were made upon their ,souls4 ,that which makes such ,confederations by way of ,solemn ,leagues and ,covenants more to be suspected1 is1 ,that they are the common road1 used in all factious and powerfull perturbations of ,state or ,church3 when formalities of extraordinary zeal and piety are never more studied and elaborate1 then1 when ,polititians most agitate desperate designes against all that is setled1 or sacred in ,religion1 and ,laws1 which by such scrues are cunningly1 yet forcibly wrested by secret steps1 and lesse sencible degrees1 from their known rule and wonted practise1 and comply with the humours of those men1 who ayme to subdue all to their own will and power1 under the disguises of ,holy ,combinations4 ,which cords and wythes will hold mens ,consciences no longer1 then force attends and twists them3 for every man soon grows his own ,pope1 and easily absolves himself of those ties1 which1 not the commands of ,gods ,word1 or the ,laws of the ,land1 but only the subtilty and terrour of a ,party casts upon him2 either superfluous and vain1 when they were sufficiently tied before2 or fraudulent and injurious1 if by such afterligaments they find the ,imposers really ayming to dissolve1 or suspend their former just and necessary obligations4 ,indeed such illegall ways seldom or never intend the engaging men more to duties1 but only to ,parties2 therefore it is not regarded how they keep their ,covenants in point of piety pretended1 provided they adhere firmly to the ,party and ,design intended4 ,i see the ,imposers of it are content to make their ,covenant like ,manna 7not that it came from ,heaven1 as this did7 agreeable to every mans palate and rellish1 who will but swallow it3 ,they admit any mens senses of it1 the divers or contrary2 with any salvoes1 cautions and reservations1 so as they cross not their chief ,design1 which is laid against the ,church and me4 ,it is enough if they get but the reputation of a seeming encrease to their ,party2 so little do men remember that ,god is not mocked4 ,in such latitudes of sense1 ,i beleive many that love ,me1 and the ,church well1 may have taken the ,covenant1 who yet are not so fondly and superstitiously taken by it1 as now to act cleerly against both all piety loyalty3 who first yeelded to it1 more to prevent that imminent violence and ruine1 which hung over their heads in case they wholly refused it1 then for any value of it1 or devotion to it4 ,wherein1 the latitude of some generall ,clauses may 7perhaps7 serve somewhat to relieve them1 as of ,doing and endeavouring what lawfully they may1 in their ,places and ,callings1 and according to the ,word of ,god3 for these 7indeed7 carry no man beyond those bounds of good ,conscience1 which are certain fixed either in ,gods ,laws1 as to the ,generall2 or the ,laws of the ,state and ,kingdom1 as to the particular regulation and exercise of mens duties4 ,i would to ,god such as glory most in the name of ,covenanters1 would keep themselves within those lawfull bounds1 to which ,god hath called them3 surely it were the best way to expiate the rashnesse of taking it2 which must needs then appear1 when besides the want of a full and lawfull ,authority at first to enjoyn it1 it shall actually be carried on beyond and against those ends which were in it specified and pretended4 ,i willingly forgive such mens taking the ,covenant1 who keep it within such bounds of ,piety1 ,law1 and ,loyaltie1 as can never hurt either the ,church1 ,my self1 or the ,publick ,peace3 ,against which1 no mans lawfull ,calling can engage him4 ,as for that ,reformation of the ,church which the ,covenant pretends1 ,i cannot think it just or comely1 that by the partiall advice of a few ,divines1 7of so soft and servile tempers1 as disposed them to so sudden acting and compliance1 contrary to their former judgements1 profession1 and practise7 such foule scandalls and suspitions should be cast upon the ,doctrine and ,government of the ,church of ,england1 as was never done 7that ,i have heard7 by any that deserved the name of ,reformed ,churches abroad1 nor by any men of learning and candour at home3 all whose judgments ,i cannot but prefer before any mens now factiously engaged4 ,no man can be more forward then ,my self to carry on all due ,reformations1 which mature judgment1 and a good ,conscience1 in what things ,i shall 7after impartiall advise7 be1 by ,gods ,word1 and right reason1 convinced to be amiss1 ,i have offered more than ever the fullest1 freest1 and wisest ,parliaments did desire4 ,but the sequele of some mens actions makes it evident1 that the maine information intended1 is the abasing of ,episcopacy into ,presbytery1 and the robbing of the ,church of its ,lands and ,revenues3 ,for1 no men have been more injuriously used1 as to their legall ,rights then the ,bishops1 and ,church-men4 ,these1 as the fattest ,dear1 must be destroyed2 the other ,rascal herd of ,schismes1 ,heresies1 c4 being leane1 may enjoy the benefit of a ,toleration3 ,thus ,naboth's ,vine-yard made him the onely ,blasphemer of his ,city1 and fit to die4 ,still ,i see3 while the breath of ,religion fills the ,sailes1 ,profit is the compasse1 by which ,factious men steer their course in all seditious ,commotions4 ,i thank ,god1 as no man lay more open to the sacrilegious temptation of usurping the ,churches ,lands1 and ,revenues1 7which issuing chiefly from the ,crown1 are held of it1 and legally can revert onely to the ,crowne with my ,consent7 so ,i have alwayes had such a perfect abhorrence of it in my ,soule1 that ,i never found the least inclination to such sacrilegious ,reformings3 yet no man hath a greater desire to have ,bishops and all ,church-men1 so reformed1 that they may best deserve and use1 not onely what the pious munificence of ,my ,predecessours hath given to ,god and the ,church1 but all other additions of ,christian bounty4 ,but no necessity shall ever1 ,i hope1 drive me or ,mine to invade or sell the ,priests ,lands1 which both ,pharaoh's divinity1 and ,joseph's true piety abhorred to do3 ,so unjust ,i think it both in the eye of ,reason and ,religion1 to deprive the most sacred employment of all due incouragements2 and like that other hard-hearted ,pharaoh1 to withdraw the ,straw1 and encrease the ,task2 so pursuing the oppressed ,church as some have done1 to the red ,sea of a ,civill ,war1 where nothing but a miracle can save either it1 or him1 who esteems it his greatest ,title to be called1 and his chiefest glory to be ,the defender of the ,church1 both in its true faith1 and its just fruitions2 equally abhoring ,sacriledge and ,apostacy4 ,i had rather live as my ,predecessour ,henry the #c4 sometime did1 on the ,churches alms1 then violently to take the bread out of ,bishops and ,ministers mouths4 ,the next work will be ,jeroboam's reformation1 consecrating the meanest of the people to be ,priests in ,israel1 to serve those ,golden ,calves who have enrich'd themselves with the ,churches ,patrimony and ,dowry2 which how it thrived both with ,prince1 ,priests and people1 is well enough known3 ,and so it will be here1 when from the tuition of ,kings and ,queens1 which have been nursing fathers and mothers of this ,church1 it will be at their allowance1 who have already discovered1 what hard fathers and step-mothers they will be4 ,if the poverty of ,scotland might1 yet the plenty of ,england cannot excuse the envy and rapine of the ,churches ,rights and ,revenues4 ,i cannot so much as pray ,god to prevent those sad consequences1 which will inevitably follow the parity and poverty of ,ministers1 both in ,church and ,state2 since ,i think it no lesse then a mocking and tempting of ,god1 to desire him to hinder those mischiefs whose occasions and remedies are in our own power2 it being every mans sin not to avoid the one1 and not to use the other4 ,there are ways enough to repair the breaches of the ,state without the ruins of the ,church2 as ,i would be a restorer of the one1 so ,i would not be an oppressor of the other under the pretence of publick ,debts3 ,the occasions contracting them were bad enough1 but such a discharging of them would be much worse2 ,i pray ,god neither ,i1 nor mine1 may be accessary to either4 ,to thee1 ,o ,lord1 do ,i addresse my ,prayer1 beseeching thee to pardon the rashness of my ,subjects ,swearings1 and to quicken their sense and observation of those just1 morall and indispensable bonds1 which thy word and the ,laws of this ,kingdom have laid upon their ,consciences2 ,from which no pretensions of ,piety reformation are sufficient to absolve them2 or to engage them to any contrary practises4 ,make them at length seriously to consider that nothing violent and injurious can be religious4 ,thou allowest no mans committing ,sacriledge under the zeal of abhorring ,idols4 ,suffer not sacrilegious designs to have the countenance of religious ties4 ,thou hast taught us by the wisest of ,kings1 that it is a snare to take things that are holy1 and ,vows to mak enquiry4 ,ever keep thy ,servant from consenting to perjurious and sacraligeous rapinei1 that ,i may not have the brand and curse to all posterity of robing ,thee and thy ,church1 of what thy bounty hath given us1 and thy clemencie hath accepted from us1 wherewith to encourage ,learning and ,religion4 ,though ,my ,treasures are ,exhausted1 ,my ,revenues ,diminished1 and ,my ,debts ,encreased1 yet never suffer ,me to be tempted to use such profane ,reparation2 lest a coal from thine ,altar set such a fire on ,my ,throne and ,conscience as will hardly be quenched4 ,let not the ,debts and ,engagements of the ,publique1 which some mens folly and prodigalitie hath contracted1 be an occasion to impoverish thy ,church4 ,the ,state may soon recover1 by thy blessing of peace upon us2 ,the ,church is never likely1 in times1 where the ,charity of most men is grown so cold1 and their ,religion so illiberall4 ,continue to those that serve ,thee and thy ,church all those encouragements1 which by the will of the pious ,donours1 and the justice of the ,laws are due unto them2 and give them grace to deserve and use them aright to thy glory1 the relief of the poor3 ,that shy ,priests may be cloathed with righteousnesse1 and the poor may be satisfed with bread4 ,let not holy things be given to ,swine2 nor the ,churches bread to ,dogs2 rather let them go about the ,city1 grin like a ,dog1 and grudge that they are not satisfied4 ,let those sacred morsels1 which some men have already by violence devoured1 never digest with them1 nor theirs2 ,let them be as ,naboth's ,vineyard to ,ahab1 gall in their mouths1 rottennesse to their names1 a moth to their families1 and a sting to their ,consciences4 ,break in sunder ,o ,lord1 all violent and sacrilegious ,confederations to do wickedly and injuriously4 ,divide their hearts and tongues who have bandyed together against the ,church and ,state1 that the folly of such may be manifest to all men1 and proceed no further4 ,but so savour ,my righteous dealing1 ,o ,lord1 that in the mercies of thee1 the most ,high1 ,i may never miscarry4 99 99 99 99 99 #ae4 ,vpon the many ,jealousies raised1 and ,scandals cast upon the ,,king1 to stirre up the ,people against him4 ,if ,i had not ,my own ,innocency1 and ,gods protection1 it were hard for ,me to stand out against those stratagems and conflicts of malice1 which by falsities seek to oppresse the ,truth2 and by ,jealousies to supply the defect of reall causes1 which might seem to justifie so unjust ingagements against ,me4 ,and indeed1 the worst effects of open hostility come short of these designes3 ,for1 ,i can more willingly lose ,my ,crownes1 then ,my credit2 nor are ,my ,kingdomes so dear to ,me1 as ,my ,reputation and ,honor4 ,those must have a period with my life2 but these may survive to a glorious kind of ,immortality1 when ,i am dead and gone3 ,a good name being the imbalming of ,princes1 and a sweet consecrating of them to an ,eternity of love and gratitude among ,posterity4 ,those foul and false aspersions were secret engines at first employed against ,my peoples love to ,me3 that undermining their opinion and value of ,me1 ,my enemies1 and theirs too might at one blow up their affections1 and batter down their loyalty4 ,wherein yet1 ,i thank ,god1 the detriment of ,my ,honor is not so afflictive to ,me1 as the sin and danger of ,my peoples souls1 whose eyes once blinded with such mists of suspicions1 they are soon misled into the most desperate precipices of actions3 wherein they do not only1 not consider their sin and danger1 but glory in their zealous adventures2 while ,i am rendred to them so fit to be destroyed1 that many are ambitious to merit the name of ,my ,destroyers2 ,imagining they then fear ,god most1 when they least honor their ,king4 ,i thank ,god1 ,i never found but ,my pity was above ,my anger2 nor have ,my passions ever so prevailed against me1 as to exclude ,my most compassionate prayers for them1 whom devout errours more then their own malice have betrayed to a most religious ,rebellion4 ,i had the ,charity to interpret1 that most part of ,my ,subjects fought against ,my supposed ,errours1 not ,my person2 and intended to mend ,me1 not to end ,me3 ,and ,i hope that ,god pardoning their ,errours1 hath so farre accepted and answered their good intentions1 as he hath yet preserved ,me1 so he hath by these afflictions prepared me1 both to do him better service1 and ,my people more good then hitherto ,i have done4 ,i do not more willingly forgive their seductions1 which occasioned their loyall injuries1 then ,i am ambitious by all ,princely merits to redeem them from their unjust suspicions1 and reward them for their good intentions4 ,i am too conscious to ,my own affections toward the generality of my people to suspect theirs to ,me2 nor shall the malice of ,my ,enemies ever be able to deprive ,me of the comfort which that confidence gives ,me2 ,i shall never gratifie the spightfulnesse of a few with any sinister thoughts of all their ,allegiance1 whom pious frauds have seduced4 ,the worst some mens ambition can do1 shall never perswade ,me1 to make so bad interpretations of most of ,my ,subjects actions2 who possibly may be erroneous1 but not ,hereticall in point of ,loyalty4 ,the sence of the injuries done to ,my ,subjects is as sharp1 as those done to ,my ,self2 our welfares being inseparable2 in this only they suffer more then ,my self1 that they are animated by some seducers to injure at once both themselves and ,me4 ,for this it is not enough to the malice of ,my ,enemies1 that ,i be afflicted2 but it must be done by such instruments1 that ,my afflictions grieve ,me not more1 then this doth1 that ,i am afflicted by those1 whose prosperity ,i earnestly desire1 and whose seduction ,i heartily deplore4 ,if they had been my open and forraign ,enemies1 ,i could have born it2 but they must be ,my own ,subjects1 who are next to ,my ,children dear to me3 ,and for the restoring of some tranquillity1 ,i could willingly be the ,jonah1 if ,i did not evidently fore-see1 that by the divided interests of their and ,mine ,enemies1 as by contrary winds1 the storm of their miseries would be rather increased then allayed4 ,i had rather prevent my peoples ruin then rule over them2 nor am ,i so ambitious of that ,dominion which is but ,my ,right1 as of their happiness2 ,if it could expiate or countervail such a way of obtaining it1 by the highest injuries of subjects committed against their ,soveraign4 ,yet ,i had rather suffer all the miseries of life1 and die many deaths1 then shamefully to desert1 or dishonourable to betray ,my own just ,rights and ,soveraignty2 thereby to gratifie the ambition1 or justifie the malice of my enemies2 between whose malice1 and other mens mistakes1 ,i put as great a difference1 as between an ordinary ,ague and the ,plague2 or the ,itch of ,novelty1 and the ,leprosie of ,disloyalty4 ,as ,liars need have good memories1 so malicious persons need good inventions2 that their calumnies may fit every mans fancy2 and what their reproaches want of truth1 they may make up with numbers and shew4 ,my patience 7,i thank ,god7 wil better serve ,me to bear1 and ,my charity to forgive1 then ,my leisure to answer the many false ,aspersions which some men have cast upon ,me4 ,did ,i not more consider ,my ,subjects ,satisfaction1 then my owne ,vindication1 ,i should never have given the malice of some men that pleasure1 as to see me take notice of1 or remember what they say1 or object4 ,i would leave the ,authors to be punished by their own evill manners1 and seared ,consciences1 which will1 ,i believe1 in a shorter time then they be aware of1 both confute and revenge all those black and false ,scandals which they have cast on me2 ,and make the world see1 there is as little truth in them1 as there was little worth in the broaching of them1 or ,civility1 7,i need not say ,loyalty7 in the not suppressing of them2 whose credit and reputation1 even with the people1 shall ere long be quite blasted by the breath of that same fornace of popular obloquy1 and detraction1 which they have studied to heat and inflame to the highest degree of infamy1 and wherein they have sought to cast and consume ,my ,name and ,honor4 ,first1 nothing gave me more cause to suspect1 and search mine own innocencie1 then when ,i observed so many forward to engage against me1 who had made great professions of singular piety2 ,for this gave to ,vulgar minds so bad a reflection upon me and my ,cause1 as if it had been impossible to adhere to me1 and not withall part from ,god2 to think or speak well of me1 and not to blaspheme him2 so many were perswaded that these two were utterly inconsistent1 to be at once ,loyall to ,me1 and truly ,religious toward ,god4 ,not but that ,i had 7,i thank ,god7 many with me1 which were both learned and ,religious1 7much above that ordinary size1 and that ,vulgar proportion wherein some men glory so much7 who were so well satisfied in the cause of my sufferings1 that they chose rather to suffer with me1 then forsake me4 ,nor is it strange1 that so religious ,pretensions as were used against me1 should be to many well-minded men a great temptation to oppose me2 especially1 being urged by such popular ,preachers as think it no sin to lie for ,god1 and what they please to call ,gods ,cause1 cursing all that will not curse with them2 looking so much at1 and crying up the goodnesse of the end propounded1 that they consider not the lawfulness of the means used nor the depth of the mischief1 chiefly plotted and intended4 ,the weakness of these mens judgments must be made up by their clamours and activity4 ,it was a great part of some mens ,religion to scandalize me and mine2 they thought theirs could not be true1 if they cried not down ,mine as false4 ,i thank ,god1 ,i have had more triall of his grace1 as to the constancy of my ,religion in the ,protestant profession of the ,church of ,england1 both abroad1 and at home1 then ever they are like to have4 ,nor do ,i know any exception ,i am so liable to1 in their opinion1 as too great a fixedness in that ,religion1 whose judicious and solid grounds1 both from ,scripture1 and ,antiquity1 will not give my conscience leave to approve or consent to those many dangerous and divided innovations1 which the bold ignorance of some men would needs obtrude upon me1 and my people4 ,contrary to those well tried foundations both of ,truth1 and ,order1 which men of far greater ,learning1 and clearer ,zeal1 have settled in the ,confession and ,constitution of this ,church in ,england1 which many former ,parliaments in the most calm1 and unpassionate times1 have oft confirmed2 ,in which ,i shall ever1 by ,gods help1 persevere1 as beleeving it hath most of primitive ,truth and ,order4 ,nor did my using the assistance of some ,papists1 which were my ,subjects1 any way fight against my ,religion1 some men would needs interpret it3 especially those who least of all men cared whom they imployed1 or what they said and did1 so they might prevail4 ',tis strange that so wise men1 as they would be esteemed1 should not conceive1 ,that differences of perswasion in matters of ,religion may easily fall out1 where there is the samenesse of duty1 ,allegeance and subjection3 ,the first they owe as men and ,christians to ,god2 the second they owe to me in common1 as their ,,king3 different professions in point of ,religion cannot 7any more then in civill ,trades7 take away the community of relations either to ,parents1 or to ,princes4 ,and where is there such an ,oglio or medly of various ,religions in the world again1 as those men entertain in their service 7who finde most fault with me7 without any scruple1 as to the diversity of their ,sects and ,opinions6 ,it was1 indeed1 a foul and indeleable shame1 for such as would be counted ,protestants1 to inforce ,me1 a declared ,protestant1 their ,lord and ,king1 to a necessary use of ,papists1 or any other1 who did but their duty to help ,me to defend my self4 ,nor did ,i more then is lawful for any ,king1 in such exigents to use the aid of any his ,subjects4 ,i am sorry the ,papists should have a greater sense of their ,allegeance then many ,protestant ,professors2 who seem to have learned1 and to practise the worst ,principles of the worst ,papists4 ,indeed1 it had been a very impertinent and unseasonable scruple in me1 7and very pleading1 no doubt to my ,enemies7 to have been then disputing the points of different beliefs in my ,subjects1 when ,i was disputed with by ,swords points3 and when ,i needed the help of my ,subjects as men1 no lesse then their prayers as ,christians4 ,the noise of my evill ,counsellours was another usefull device for those1 who were impatient any mens counsels but their own should be followed in ,church or ,state2 who were so eager in giving me better counsel1 that they would not give me leave to take it with freedom1 as a ,man2 or honour1 as a ,king2 making their ,counsels more like a drench1 that must be powred down1 then a draught1 which might be fairly and leisurely drank1 if ,i liked it4 ,i will not justifie beyond humane errour and frailties my ,self1 or my ,counsellours3 ,they might be subject to some miscarriages1 yet such as were far more reparable by second and better thoughts1 then those enormous extravagances wherewith some men have now even wildred1 and almost quite lost both ,church and ,state4 ,the event of things at last will make it evident to my ,subjects1 that had ,i followed the worst ,counsels that my worst ,counsellours ever had the boldnesse to offer to me1 or my ,self any inclination to use2 ,i could not so soon have brought both ,church and ,state in three flourishing ,kingdoms1 to such a ,chaos of confusion1 and hell of miseries as some have done2 out of which they cannot1 or will not1 in the midst of their many great advantages1 redeem either ,me1 or my ,subjects4 ,no men were more willing to complain1 then ,i was to redresse what ,i saw in reason was either done or advised amisse3 and this ,i thought ,i had done1 even beyond the expectation of moderate men3 who were sorry to see me prone even to injure my ,self1 out of a zeal to relieve my ,subjects4 ,but other mens insatiable desire of revenge upon ,me1 my ,court1 and my ,clergie1 hath wholly beguiled both ,church and ,state of the benefit of all my either ,retractations or ,concessions2 and withall1 hath deprived all those 7now so zealous ,persecutors7 both of the comfort and reward of their former pretended ,persecutions1 wherein they so much gloryed among the ,vulgar2 and which1 indeed a truly humbly ,christian will so highly prize1 as rather not be relieved1 then be revenged1 so as to be bereaved of that ,crown of ,christian patience1 which attends humble and injured sufferers4 ,another artifice used to withdraw my peoples affections from me to their designes1 was1 the noise and ostentation of ,liberty1 which men are not more prone to desire1 then unapt to bear in the popular sense2 which is to doe what every man liketh best4 ,if the divinest ,liberty be to will what men should1 and to do what they so will1 according to ,reason1 ,laws and ,religion2 ,i envie not my ,subjects that liberty1 which is all ,i desire to enjoy my self2 ,so far am ,i from the desire of oppressing theirs4 ,now were those ,lords and ,gentlemen which assisted me1 so prodigal of their ,liberties1 as with their ,lives and ,fortunes to help on the enslaving of themselves and their ,posterities8 ,as to ,civil ,immunities1 none but such as desire to drive on their ambitious and covetous ,designes over the ruines of ,church and ,state1 ,prince1 ,peers1 and ,people1 will ever desire greater ,freedoms than the ,laws allow2 whose bounds good men count their ,ornament and ,protection2 others their ,manacles and ,oppression4 ,nor is it just any man should expect the reward and benefit of the ,law1 who despiseth his rule and direction1 losing justly his ,safety1 while he seeks an unreasonable ,libertie4 ,time will best inform my ,subjects1 that those are the best preservers of their true ,liberties1 who allow themselves the least licentiousnesse against or beyond the ,laws4 ,they will feel it at last to their cost1 that it is impossible those men should be really tender of their fellow-subjects liberties1 who have the hardinesse to use their ,king with so severe restraints1 against all ,laws1 both ,divine and ,humane2 under which yet ,i wil rather perish1 then complain to those1 who want nothing to compleat their mirth and triumph1 but such musick4 ,in point of true conscientious tendernesse 7attended with humility and meeknesse1 not with proud and arrogant activity1 which seeks to hatch every egg of different opinion to a ,faction or ,schism7 ,i have oft declared1 how little ,i desire my ,laws and ,scepter should intrench on ,gods ,soveraignty1 which is the onely ,king of mens ,consciences2 and yet he hath laid such restraints upon men1 as commands them to be subject for conscience sake1 giving no men liberty to break the ,law established1 further then with meeknesse and patience they are content to suffer the penalty annexed1 rather then perturb the publick ,peace4 ,the truth is1 some mens thirst after ,novelties1 others despair to relieve the necessities of their ,fortunes1 or satisfie their ,ambition in peaceable times1 7distrusting ,gods providence1 as well as their own merits7 were the secret 7but principal7 impulsives to these popular ,commotions1 by which ,subjects have been perswaded to expend much of those plentifull ,estates they got1 and enjoyed under my ,government in peaceable times2 which yet must now be blasted with all the odious reproaches which impotent malice can invent2 and my ,self exposed to all those contempts1 which may most diminish the ,majesty of a ,king1 and increase the ingratefull insolencies of my ,people4 ,for mine ,honour1 ,i am well assured1 that as mine ,innocency is clear before ,god1 in point of any calumnies they object2 so my ,reputation shall like the ,sun 7after ,owls and ,bats have had their freedom in the night and darker times7 rise and recover it self to such a degree of splendour1 as those ferall ,birds shall be grieved to behold1 and unable to bear4 ,for never were any ,princes more glorious1 then those whom ,god hath suffered to be tried in the fournace of afflictions1 by their injurious ,subjects4 ,and who knows but the just and mercifull ,god will do me good1 for some mens hard1 false1 and evill speeches against ,me2 wherein they speak rather what they wish1 then what they beleeve1 or know4 ,nor can ,i suffer so much in point of ,honour1 by those rude and scandalous ,pamphlets 7which like fire in great conflagrations1 fly up and down to set all places on like flames7 as those men do1 who pretending to so much piety1 are so forgetfull of their duty to ,god and ,me3 ,by no way ever vindicating the ,majesty of their ,,king against any of those1 who contrary to the precept of ,god1 and precedent of ,angels1 speak evil of dignities1 and bring railing accusations against those who are honoured with the name of ,gods4 ,but 'tis no wonder if men not fearing ,god1 should not honour their ,,king4 ,they will easily contemn such shadows of ,god1 who reverence not that ,supreme and adorable ,majestie1 in comparison of whom all the glory of ,men and ,angels is but obscurity2 yet hath he graven such ,characters of divine ,authority1 and sacred ,power upon ,kings1 as none may without sin seek to blot them out4 ,nor shall their black veils be able to hide the shining of my face1 while ,god gives me an heart frequently and humbly to converse with him1 from whom alone are all the traditions of true glory and majestie4 ,thou1 ,o ,lord1 knowest my reproach1 and my dishonour2 my adversaries are all before thee4 ,my soul is among ,lions1 among them that are set on fire1 even the sons of men2 whose teeth are spears and arrows1 their tongue a sharp sword4 ,mine enemies reproach me all the day long1 and those that are mad against me1 are sworn together4 ,o my ,god1 how long shall the sons of men turn my glory into shame8 how long shall they love vanity1 and seek after lies8 ,thou hast heard the reproaches of wicked men on every side4 ,hold not thy peace1 lest my ,enemies prevail against me1 and lay mine honour in the dust4 ,thou1 ,o ,lord1 shalt destroy them that speak lies2 the ,lord will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitfull men4 ,make my righteousnesse to appear as the light1 and mine innocencie to shine forth as the ,sun at noon-day4 ,suffer not my silence to betray mine innocence1 nor my displeasure1 my patience2 ,that after my ,saviours example1 being reviled1 ,i may not revile again2 and being cursed by them1 ,i may bless them4 ,thou that wouldst not suffer ,shimei's tongue to go unpunished2 when by thy judgements on ,david he might seem to justifie his disdainfull reproaches1 give me grace to intercede with thy mercy for these my enemies1 that the reward of false and lying tongues1 even hot burning coales of eternall fire1 may not be brought upon them4 ,let my prayers1 and patience1 be as water to coole and quench their tongues1 who are already set on fire with the fire of ,hell1 and tormented with those malitious flames4 ,let me be happy to refute1 and put to silence their evill speaking by well-doing2 and let them enjoy not the fruit of their lips1 but of my prayer for their repentance1 and thy pardon4 ,teach me ,davids patience and ,hezekiah's devotion1 that ,i may look to thy mercy through mans malice and see thy justice in their sin4 ,let ,sheba's seditious speeches1 ,rabshekah's railing1 and ,shimei's cursing1 provoke1 as my humble prayer to thee1 so thy renued blessing towards me4 ,though they curse1 do thou bless1 and ,i shall be blessed2 and made a blessing to my people4 ,that the stone1 which some builders refuse1 may become the head-stone of the corner4 ,look down from heaven1 and save me1 from the reproach of them that would swallow me up4 ,hide me in the secret of thy presence1 from the pride of man1 and keep me from the strife of tongues4 99 99 99 99 99 #af4 ,upon the ,ordinance against the ,common-,prayer ,book4 ,it is no newes to have all ,innovations ushered in with the name of ,reformations in ,church and ,state1 by those1 who seeking to gain reputation with the ,vulgar for their extraordinary parts1 and piety1 must needs undoe what ever was formerly setled never so well and wisely4 ,so hardly can the pride of those that study ,novelties1 allow former times any share or degree of wisedom or godliness4 ,and because matter of prayer and devotion to ,god justly bears a great part in ,religion1 7being the soules more immediate converse with the divine ,majesty7 nothing could be more plausible to the people then to tell them1 they served ,god amiss in that point4 ,hence our publike ,liturgy1 or ,forms of constant ,prayers must be 7not amended1 in what upon free and publick advice might seem to sober men inconvenient for matter or manner1 to which ,i should easily consent1 but7 wholly cashiered1 and abolished1 and after many popular contempts offered to the ,booke1 and those that used it according to their consciences1 and the ,lawes in force1 it must be crucified by an ,ordinance the better to please either those men1 who gloried in their extemporary veine and fluency3 or others1 who conscious to their own formality in the use of it1 thought they fully expiated their sin of not using it aright1 by laying all the blame upon it1 and a totall rejection of it as a dead letter1 thereby to excuse the deadness of their hearts4 ,as for the matter contained in the ,book1 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 it2 especially for ,popery and ,superstition2 whereas no doubt the ,liturgy was exactly conformed to the doctrine of the ,church of ,england2 this by all ,reformed ,churches is confessed to be most sound and ,orthodox4 ,for the manner of using set and prescribed ,forms1 there is no doubt but that wholsome words being known and fitted to mens understandings1 are soonest received into their hearts1 and aptest to excite and carry along with them judicious and fervent affections4 ,nor doe ,i see any reason why ,christians should be weary of a well-composed ,liturgie 7as ,i hold this to be7 more then of all other things1 wherein the constancy abates nothing of the excellency and usefulness4 ,i could never see any ,reason1 why any ,christian should abhor1 or be forbidden to use the same ,forms of prayer1 since he prayes to the same ,god1 believes in the same ,saviour1 professeth the same ,truths1 reads the same ,scriptures1 hath the same duties upon him1 and feels the same daily wants for the most part1 both inward and outward1 which are common to the whole ,church4 ,sure we may as well beforehand know what we pray1 as to whom we pray2 and in what word1 as to what sense2 when we desire the same things1 what hinders we may not use the same words8 our appetite and digestion too may be good1 when we use1 as we pray for1 our daily bread4 ,some men1 ,i hear1 are so impatient not to use in all their devotions their own invention and gifts1 that they not only disuse 7as too many7 but wholly cast away and contemn the ,lords ,prayer3 whose great guilt is1 that it is the warrant and originall patern of all set ,liturgies in the ,christian ,church4 ,i ever thought that the proud ostentation of mens abilities for invention1 and the vain affectation of variety for expressions1 in publike prayer1 or any sacred administrations1 merits a greater brand of sin1 then that which they call coldness and ,barrenness3 ,nor are men in those novelties less subject to formall and superficiall tempers1 7as to their hearts7 then in the use of constant ,forms1 where not the words1 but mens hearts are to blame4 ,i make no doubt but a man may be very formall in the most extemporary variety2 very fervently devout in the most wonted expressions3 ,nor is ,god more a ,god of variety1 than of constancy3 ,nor are constant ,forms of prayers more likely to flat1 and hinder the ,spirit of ,prayer and ,devotion1 than an unpremeditated and confused variety1 to distract and lose it4 ,though ,i am not against a grave1 modest1 discreet1 and humble use of ,ministers gifts1 even in publique1 the better to fit1 and excite their owne1 and the peoples affections to the present occasions3 yet ,i know no necessity why private and single abilities should quite justle out1 deprive the ,church of the joynt abilities and concurrent gifts of many learned and godly men2 such as the ,composers of the ,service-,book were2 who may in all reason be thought to have more of gifts graces enabling them to compose with serious deliberation concurrent advice1 such ,forms of prayers1 as may best fit the ,churches common wants1 inform the ,hearers understanding1 and stir up that fiduciary and fervent application of their spirits 7wherein consists the very life and soul of prayer1 and that so much pretended ,spirit of prayer7 then any private man by his solitary abilities1 can be presumed to have2 which1 what they are many times 7even there1 where they make a great noise and shew7 the affectations1 emptinesse1 impertinency1 rudenesse1 confusions1 flatnesse1 levity1 obscurity1 vain and ridiculous repetitions1 the senslesse1 and oft-times blasphemous expressions2 all these burthened with a most tedious and intolerable length1 do sufficiently convince all men1 but those who glory in that ,pharisaick way4 ,wherein men must be strangely impudent1 and flatterers of themselves1 not to have an infinite shame of what they do and say1 in things of so sacred a nature1 before ,god and the ,church1 after so ridiculous1 and indeed1 profane a manner4 ,nor can it be expected1 but that in duties of frequent performance1 as ,sacramentall administrations1 and the like1 which are still the same2 ,ministers must either come to use their own ,forms constantly1 which are not like to be so sound1 or comprehensive of the nature of the duty1 as forms of publike composure2 or else they must every time affect new expressions when the subject is the same2 which can hardly be presumed in any mans greatest sufficiencies not to want 7many times7 much of that compleatnesse1 order1 and gravity1 becoming those duties2 which by this meanes are exposed at every celebration to every ,ministers private infirmities1 indispositions1 errours1 disorders1 and defects1 both for judgement and expression4 ,a serious sense of which inconvenience in the ,church unavoidably following every mans severall manner of officiating1 no doubt1 first occasioned the wisdome and piety of the ,ancient ,churches1 to remedy those mischiefs1 by the use of constant ,liturgies of publike composure4 ,the want of which ,i believe this ,church will sufficiently feel1 when the unhappy fruits of many mens ungoverned ignorance1 and confident defects1 shall be discovered in more errours1 schismes1 disorders1 and uncharitable distractions in ,religion1 which are already but too many1 and the more is the pitie4 ,however1 if violence must needs bring in and abet those innovations1 7that men may not seem to have nothing to do7 which ,law1 ,reason1 and ,religion forbids1 at least to be so obtruded1 as wholly to justle out the publike ,liturgy2 ,yet nothing can excuse that most unjust and partiall severity of those men1 who either lately had subscribed to1 used and maintained the ,service-book2 or refused to use it1 cried out of the rigour of ,laws and ,bishops1 which suffered them not to use the ,liberty of their ,consciences in not using it4 ,that these men1 7,i say7 should so suddenly change the ,liturgy into a ,directory1 as if the ,spirit needed help for invention1 though not for expressions2 or as if matter prescribed did not as much stint and obstruct the ,spirit1 as if it were cloathed in1 and confined to fit words 7so slight easie is that ,legerdemain which will serve to delude the vulgar47 ,that further1 they should use such severity as not to suffer without penalty1 any to use the ,common-,prayer-,book publikely1 although their consciences bind them to it1 as a duty of ,piety to ,god1 and ,obedience to the ,laws4 ,thus ,i see1 no men are prone to be greater ,tyrants1 and more rigorous exactors upon others to conform to their illegall novelties1 then such1 whose pride was formerly least disposed to the obedience of lawfull ,constitutions2 and whose licentious humours most pretended consciencious liberties1 which freedome1 with much regret1 they now allow to ,me1 and ,my ,chaplains1 when they may have leave to serve ,me1 whose abilities1 even in their extemporary way comes not short of the others1 but their modesty and learning far exceeds the most of them4 ,but this matter is of so popular a nature1 as some men knew it would not bear learned and sober debates1 lest being convinced by the evidence of ,reason1 as well as ,laws1 they should have been driven either to sin more against their knowledge1 by taking away the ,liturgie2 or to displease some faction of the people1 by continuing the use of it4 ,though1 ,i beleeve1 they have offended more considerable men1 not onely for their numbers and estates1 but for their weighty and judicious piety1 then those are1 whose weaknesse or giddinesse they sought to gratifie by taking it away4 ,one of the greatest faults some men found with the ,common-,prayer-,book1 ,i beleeve1 was this1 ,that it taught them to pray so oft for ,me2 to which ,petitions they had not ,loyaltie enough to say ,amen1 nor yet ,charitie enough to forbear ,reproaches1 and even ,cursings of ,me in their own ,forms1 in stead of praying for ,me4 ,i wish their repentance may be their onely punishment2 that seeing the mischiefs1 which the disuse of publick ,liturgies hath already produced1 they may restore that credit1 use and reverence to them1 which by the ancient ,churches were given to set ,forms of sound and wholsom words4 ,and thou1 ,o ,lord1 which art the same ,god1 blessed for ever1 whose ,mercies are full of varietie1 and yet of constancie2 ,thou deniest us not a new and fresh sense of our old and daily wants nor despisest renewed affections joyned to constant expressions4 ,let us not want the benefit of thy ,churches united and well advised ,devotions4 ,let the matters of our praiers be agreeable to thy will which is always the same1 and the fervency of our spirits to the motions of thy holy ,spirit in us4 ,and then we doubt not1 but thy spirituall perfections are such as thou art neither to be pleased with affected ,novelties for matter or manner1 nor offended with the pious constancy of our petitions in them both4 ,whose varietie or constancie thou hast no where either forbidden or commanded but left them to the piety and prudence of thy ,church1 that both may be used1 neither despised4 ,keep men in that pious moderation of their judgements in matters of ,religion2 that their ignorance may not offend others1 nor their opinion of their own abilities tempt them to deprive others of what they may lawfully and devoutly use1 to help their infirmities4 ,and since the advantage of ,error consists in novelty variety1 as truths in unity and constancy3 ,suffer not thy ,church to be pestered with errours1 and deformed with undecencies in thy service1 under the pretence of variety and noveltie4 ,nor to be deprived of truth1 unitie1 and order under this fallacy1 ,that constancie is the cause of formality4 ,lord1 keepe us from formall ,hypocrisie in our own ,hearts1 and then we know that praying to thee1 or praising of thee 7with ,david1 and other ,holy men7 in the same formes cannot hurt us4 ,give us wisdom to amend what is amiss within us1 and there will be less to mend without us4 ,evermore defend and deliver thy ,church from the effects of blind zeale and over-bold devotion4 99 99 99 99 99 #ag4 ,of the differences between the ,,king and the two ,houses1 in ,point of ,church-,government4 ,touching the ,government of the ,church by ,bishops1 the common ,jealousie hath been1 that ,i am earnest and resolute to maintain it1 not so much out of pietie1 as policie1 and reason of ,state4 ,wherein so far indeed reason of ,state doth induce me to approve that ,government above any other1 as ,i find it impossible for a ,prince to preserve the ,state in quiet1 unlesse he hath such an influence upon ,church-men1 and they such a dependance on ,him1 as may best restraine the seditious exorbitancies of ,ministers tongues2 who with the ,keyes of ,heaven have so far the ,keyes of the ,peoples hearts1 as they prevail much by their ,oratory to let in1 or shut out1 both ,peace and ,loyalty4 ,so that ,i being 7as ,king7 intrusted by ,god1 and the ,lawes1 with the good both of ,church and ,state2 ,i see no ,reason ,i should give up1 or weaken by any change1 that power and influence which in right and reason ,i ought to have over both4 ,the moving ,bishops out of the ,house of ,peers 7of which ,i have elswhere given an account7 was sufficient to take off any suspicion1 that ,i inclined to them for any use to be made of their ,votes in ,state affaires3 ,though indeed ,i never thought any ,bishop worthy to sit in that ,house1 who would not ,vote according to his ,conscience4 ,i must now in ,charity be thought desirous to preserve that ,government in its ,right constitution1 as a matter of ,religion2 wherein both my judgement is fully satisfied1 that it hath of all other the fullest ,scripture grounds1 and also the constant practise of all ,christian ,churches2 till of late years1 the tumultuarinesse of ,people1 or the factiousnesse and pride of ,presbyters1 or the covetousnesse of some ,states and ,princes1 gave occasion to some mens wits to invent new models1 and propose them under suspicious titles of ,christs government1 ,scepter1 and ,kingdom2 the better to serve their turns1 to whom the change was beneficiall4 ,they must give me leave1 having none of their temptations to invite me to alter the ,government of ,bishops1 7that ,i may have a title to their ,estates7 not to beleeve their pretended grounds to any new waies3 contrary to the full1 and constant testimony of all ,histories sufficiently convincing unbiased men2 that as the ,primitive ,churches were undoubtedly governed by the ,apostles and their immediate ,successours the first best ,bishops3 so it cannot in reason or charity be supposed1 that all ,churches in the world should either be ignorant of the rule by them prescribed1 or so soon deviate from their divine holy pattern3 ,that since the first ,age1 for #aejj years not one ,example can be produced of any setled ,church1 wherein were many ,ministers and ,congregations1 which had not some ,bishop above them1 under whose jurisdiction and government they were4 ,whose constant and universall practise agreeing with so large and evident ,scripture-directions1 and examples1 are set down in the ,epistles to ,timothy and ,titus1 for the setling of that ,government not in the persons onely ,timothy and ,titus1 but in the succession2 7the want of ,government being that1 which the ,church can no more dispence with1 in point of wel-being1 then the want of the word and ,sacrament in point of being47 ,i wonder how men came to looke with so envious an eye upon ,bishops power and authority1 as to over-see both the ,ecclesiasticall use of them1 and ,apostolicall constitution3 which to me seems no lesse evidently set forth1 as to the maine scope and designe of those ,epistles1 for the setling of a peculiar ,office1 ,power1 and ,authority in them as ,president-,bishops above others1 in point of ,ordination1 ,censures1 and other acts of ,ecclesiasticall discipline2 then those shorter characters of the qualities and duties of ,presbyter-,bishops1 and ,deacons are described in some parts of the same ,epistles2 who in the latitude community of the name were then1 and may now not improperly be called ,bishops2 as to the oversight and care of single ,congregations1 committed to them by the ,apostles1 or those ,apostolicall ,bishops1 who 7as ,timothy and ,titus7 succeeded them1 in that ordinary power1 there assigned over larger divisions in which were many presbyters4 ,the humility of those first ,bishops avoiding the eminent title of ,apostles as a name in the ,churches stile appropriated from its common notion 7of a ,messenger1 or one sent7 to that speciall dignity1 which had extraordinary call1 mission1 gifts and power immediately from ,christ3 they contented themselves with the ordinary titles of ,bishops and ,presbyters1 until ,use 7the great ,arbitrator of words1 and ,master of language7 finding reason to distinguish by a peculiar name those persons1 whose ,power and ,office were indeed distinct from1 and above all other in the ,church1 as succeeding the ,apostles in the ordinary and constant power of governing the ,churches1 7the honour of whose name they moderately1 yet commendably declined7 all ,christian ,churches 7submitting to that special ,authority7 appropriated also the name of ,bishop1 without any suspicion or reproach of arrogancie1 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 ,churches3 which1 without all doubt1 had many such holy ,bishops1 after the pattern of ,timothy and ,titus2 whose special power is not more clearly set down in those ,epistles 7the chief grounds and limits of all ,episcopall claim1 as from divine ,right7 then are the characters of these perilous times and those men that make them such2 who not enduring sound ,doctrine1 and clear testimonies of all ,churches practice1 are most perverse ,disputers1 and proud ,usurpers1 against true ,episcopacy3 who if they be not ,traytours and ,boasters1 yet they seem to be very covetous1 heady1 high-minded2 inordinate and fierce1 lovers of themselves1 having much of the form1 little of the power of godlinesse4 ,who1 by popular heaps of weak1 light1 and unlearned ,teachers1 seek to over-lay and smother the pregnancy authority of that power of ,episcopall ,government1 which1 beyond all equivocation and vulgar fallacy of names1 is most convincingly set forth1 both by ,scripture1 and all after ,histories of the ,church4 ,this ,i write rather like a ,divine1 then a ,prince1 that ,posterity may see 7if ever these papers be publique7 that ,i had faire grounds both from ,scripture-,canons1 and ,ecclesiasticall examples whereon my judgement was stated for ,episcopall ,government4 ,nor was it any pollicy of ,state or obstinacy of will1 or partiallity of affection1 either to the men1 or their ,function which fixed me2 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 sustained1 and hazarded1 chiefly at first upon this quarrell4 ,and not only in ,religion1 of which1 ,scripture is the best rule1 and the ,churches ,universall practise the best commentary1 but also in right reason1 and the true nature of ,government1 it cannot be thought1 that an orderly ,subordination among ,presbyters1 or ,ministers1 should be any more against ,christianity1 then it is in all secular and civill ,governments1 where ,parity breeds confusion and faction4 ,i can no more beleeve1 that such ,order is inconsistent with true ,religion1 then good features are with beautie1 or numbers with harmonie4 ,nor is it likely that ,god1 who appointed several ,orders1 and a ,prelacy1 in the ,government of his ,church among the ,jewish ,priests1 should abhor or forbid them amongst ,christian ,ministers2 who have as much of the principles of ,schism and division as other men2 for preventing and suppressing of which1 the ,apostolical wisdom 7which was ,divine7 after that ,christians were multiplied to many ,congregations1 and ,presbyters with them appointed this way of ,government1 which might best preserve ,order and ,union with ,authority4 ,so that1 ,i conceive1 it was not the favour of ,princes1 or ambition of ,presbyters2 but the wisdom and piety of the ,apostles1 that first settled ,bishops in the ,church2 which ,authority they constantly used and enjoyned in those times1 which were purest for ,religion1 though sharpest for ,persecution4 ,not that ,i am against the managing of this ,presidency and ,authority in one man1 by the joynt ,councell and consent of many ,presbyters3 ,i have offered to restore that1 as a fit meanes to avoid those ,errours1 ,corruptions1 and ,partialities1 which are incident to any one man3 ,also to avoid ,tyranny1 which becoms no ,christians1 least of all ,church-men2 besides1 it will be a means to take away that burden1 and odium of affairs1 which may lie too heavy on one mans shoulders1 as indeed ,i think it formerly did on the ,bishops here4 ,nor can ,i see what can be more agreeable both to ,reason and ,religion1 then such a frame or ,government which is paternall1 not ,magistericall2 and wherein not onely the necessity of avoiding ,faction and ,confusion1 ,emulations and ,contempts1 which are prone to arise among equals in power and function2 but also the differences of some ,ministers gifts1 and aptitudes for ,government above others1 doth invite to imploy them1 in reference to those ,abilities wherin they are ,eminent4 ,nor is this judgement of mine touching ,episcopacy1 any re-occupation of opinion1 which will not admit any oppositions against it3 ,it is well known ,i have endeavoured to satisfie my self in what the chief ,patrons for other wayes can say against this1 or for theirs3 ,and ,i find they have1 as far lesse of ,scripture grounds1 and of ,reason2 so for examples1 and practice of the ,church1 or testimonies of ,histories1 they are wholly destitute2 wherein the whole stream runs so for ,episcopacy1 that there is not the least rivulet for any others4 ,as for those obtruded examples of some late reformed ,churches 7for many retain ,bishops still7 whom necessity of ,times and ,affairs rather excuseth1 then commendeth for their inconformity to all ,antiquity2 ,i could never see any reason why ,churches orderly reformed1 and governed by ,bishops1 should be forced to conform to those few1 rather then to the catholick ,example of all ancient ,churches1 which needed no ,reformation3 ,and to those ,churches at this day1 who governed by ,bishops in all the ,christian world1 are many more then ,presbyterians or ,independents can pretend to be2 ,all whom the ,churches in my three ,kingdoms1 lately ,governed by ,bishops1 would equalize 7,i think7 if not exceed4 ,nor is it any point of wisdom or charitie1 where ,christians differ 7as many do in some points7 there to widen the differences1 and at once to give all the ,christian world 7except an handfull of some ,protestants7 so great a scandall in point of ,church-,government2 whom1 though you may convince of their ,errours in some points of ,doctrine2 yet you shall never perswade them1 that to compleat their ,reformation1 they must necessarily desert1 and wholly cast off that ,government1 which they1 and all before them have ever owned as ,catholick1 ,primitive1 and ,apostolical1 so far1 that never ,schismaticks nor ,hereticks 7except those ,arrians7 have strayed from the ,unitie and ,conformitie of the ,church in that point2 ever having ,bishops above ,presbyters4 ,besides1 the late generall approbation and submission to this ,government of ,bishops1 by the ,clergy1 as well as the ,laitie of these ,kingdomes1 is a great confirmation of my ,judgment2 and their inconstancie is a great prejudice against their noveltie3 ,i cannot in charity so far doubt of their ,learning or ,integrity1 as if they understood not what heretofore they did2 or that they did conform contrary to their ,consciences3 ,so that their facility and levity is never to be excused1 who1 before ever the point of ,church-government had any free impartiall ,debate1 contrary to their former ,oathes and ,practice1 against their obedience to the ,lawes in force1 and against my ,consent1 have not onely quite cryed down the ,government by ,bishops2 but have approved and incouraged the violent and most illegall stripping all the ,bishops1 and many other ,church-men1 of all their due ,authority and ,revenues1 even to the selling away1 and utter alienation of those ,church-lands from any ,ecclesiastical uses3 ,so great a power hath the stream of times1 and the prevalency of parties over some mens judgments2 of whose so sudden and so total change1 little reason can be given1 besides the ,scots ,armie coming into ,england4 ,but the folly of these men will at last punish it self1 and the ,desertors of ,episcopacy will appear the greatest ,enemies to1 and ,betrayers of their own ,interest3 ,for ,presbytery is never so considerable or effectuall1 as when it is joyned to1 and crowned with ,episcopacy4 ,all ,ministers wil find as great a difference in point of thriving1 between the favour of the people1 and of ,princes1 as plants do between being watered by hand1 or by the sweet and liberall dews of ,heaven4 ,the tenuity and contempt of ,clergy-men will soon let them see1 what a poor carcasse they are1 when parted from the influence of that ,head1 to whose ,supremacy they have been sworn4 ,a little moderation might have prevented great mischiefs4 ,i am firm to primitive ,episcopacie1 not to have it extirpated 7if ,i can hinder it47 ,discretion without passion might easily reform what-ever the rust of ,times1 or indulgence of ,laws1 or corruption of ,manners have brought upon it4 ,it being a grosse vulgar errour1 to impute to1 or revenge upon the ,function1 the faults of ,times or ,persons2 which seditious and popular principle and practice all wise men abhor4 ,for these secular ,additaments and ,ornaments of ,authority1 ,civil ,honour and ,estate1 which my ,predecessours and ,christian ,princes in all ,countries have annexed to ,bishops and ,church-men2 ,i look upon them but as just rewards of their learning and piety1 who are fit to be in any degree of ,church-,government3 also enablements to works of ,charitie and ,hospitality1 meet strengthnings of their ,authoritie in point of respect and observance2 which in peacefull ,times is hardly paid to any ,governours by the measure of their ,vertues1 so much1 as by that of their ,estates2 ,povertie and meanness exposing them and their ,authority to the contempt of licentious mindes and manners1 which persecuting ,times much restrained4 ,i would have such men ,bishops1 as are most worthy of those encouragements1 and best able to use them3 if at any time my judgment of men failed1 my good intention made my errour veniall3 ,and some ,bishops1 ,i am sure1 ,i had1 whose learning1 gravitie1 and pietie1 no men of any worth or forehead can deny3 ,but1 of all men1 ,i would have ,church-men1 especially the ,governours1 to be redeemed from that vulgar neglect2 7which besides an innate principle of vitious opposition1 which is in all men against those that seem to reprove1 or restrain them7 will necessarily follow both the ,presbyterian parity1 which makes all ,ministers equall2 and the ,independent inferiority1 which sets their ,pastor below the ,people4 ,this for ,my judgment touching ,episcopacy1 wherein 7,gods knows7 ,i doe not gratifie any design or passion with the least perverting of ,truth4 ,and now ,i appeal to ,god above1 and all the ,christian world1 whether it be just for ,subjects1 or pious for ,christians1 by violence1 and infinite indignities1 with servile restraints to seek to force ,me their ,,king and ,soveraign1 as some men have endevoured to doe1 against all these grounds of my ,judgment1 to consent to their weak and divided novelties4 ,the greatest ,pretender of them desires not more than ,i doe1 ,that the ,church should be governed1 as ,christ hath appointed1 in true ,reason1 and in ,scripture2 of which1 ,i could never see any probable shew for any other waies3 who either content themselves with the examples of some ,churches in their infancy and solitude2 when one ,presbyter might serve one ,congregation1 in a ,city or ,countrey2 or else they deny these most evident ,truths1 ,that the ,apostles were ,bishops over ,those ,presbyters they ordained1 as well as over the ,churches they planted2 and that ,government being necessary for the ,churches wel-being when multiplied and sociated1 must also necessarily descend from the ,apostles to others1 after the example of that power and ,superiority they had above others3 which could not end with their ,persons1 since the use and ends of such ,government still continue4 ,it is most sure1 that the purest ,primitive and best ,churches flourished under ,episcopacy2 and may so still1 if ignorance1 superstition1 avarice1 revenge1 and other disorderly and disloyal passions had not so blown up some mens minds against it1 that what they want of ,reasons or primitive ,patterns1 they supply with violence and oppressions2 wherein some mens zeal for ,bishops ,lands1 ,houses and ,revenues hath set them on work to eat up ,episcopacy3 which 7however other men esteem7 to ,me is no lesse sin then ,sacriledge1 or a robbery of ,god 7the giver of all we have7 of that portion which devout minds have thankfully given again to him1 in giving it to his ,church and ,prophets2 through whose hands he graciously accepts even a cup of cold water1 as a libation offered to himself4 ,furthermore1 as to my particular ,engagement above other men1 by an ,oath agreeable to my judgement1 ,i am solemnly obliged to preserve that ,government1 and the rights of the ,church4 ,were ,i convinced of the unlawfullnesse of the ,function1 as ,antichristian1 7which some men boldly1 but weakly calumniate7 ,i could soone1 with ,judgement1 breake that ,oath1 which erroneously was taken by me4 ,but being daily by the best disquisition of truth1 more confirmed in the reason and ,religion of that1 to which ,i am sworn2 ,how can any man that wisheth not my damnation1 perswade me at once to so notorious and combined sins1 of ,sacriledge ,perjury8 besides the many personall ,injustices ,i must doe to many worthy men1 who are as legally invested in their ,estates1 as any1 who seeke to deprive them2 and they have by no ,law1 been convicted of those crimes1 which might forfeit their ,estates and ,lively-hoods4 ,i have often wondred how men pretending to tendernesse of ,conscience and ,reformation1 can at once tell me1 that my ,coronation ,oath binds me to ,consent to whatsoever they shall propound to ,me 7which they urge with such violence7 though contrary to all that ,rationall and ,religious freedom which every man ought to preserve1 of which they seem so tender in their own ,votes3 yet at the same time these men will needs perswade ,me4 ,that ,i must1 and ought to dispense with1 and roundly break that part of my ,oath1 which binds ,me 7agreeable to the best light of ,reason and ,religion ,i have7 to maintain the ,government1 and legall ,rights of the ,church4 ',tis strange1 my lot should be valid in that part1 which both my ,self1 and all men in their own case1 esteem injurious and unreasonable1 as being against the very naturall and essentiall libertie of our ,souls2 yet it should be invalid1 and to be broken in another clause1 wherein ,i think my ,self justly obliged both to ,god and ,man4 ,yet upon this ,rack chiefly have ,i been held so long1 by some mens ambitious ,covetousnesse1 and sacrilegious ,cruelty2 torturing 7with ,me7 both ,church and ,state in ,civill ,dissentions1 til ,i shall be forced to consent1 and declare that ,i do approve1 what 7,god knows7 ,i utterly dislike1 and in my ,soul abhor1 as many wayes highly against ,reason1 ,justice1 and ,religion3 and whereto1 if ,i should shamefully and dishonorably give my consent2 yet should ,i not by so doing1 satisfie the divided ,interests and ,opinions of those ,parties1 which contend with each other1 as well as both against ,me and ,episcopacy4 ,nor can my late condescending to the ,scots in point of ,church-,government1 be rightly objected against me1 as an inducement for me1 to consent to the like in my other ,kingdoms2 ,for it should be considered1 ,that ,episcopacie was not so rooted and setled there1 as 'tis here2 nor ,i 7in that respect7 so strictly bound to continue it in that ,kingdom1 as in this2 for what ,i think in my judgment best1 ,i may not think so absolutely necessary for all places1 and at all times4 ,if any shall impute my yeelding to them as my failing and sin1 ,i can easily acknowledge it2 but that is no argument to do so again1 or much worse2 ,i being now more convinced in that point3 nor indeed1 hath my yeelding to them been so happy and successfull1 as to encourage me to grant the like to others4 ,did ,i see any thing more of ,christ1 as to ,meeknesse1 ,justice1 ,order1 ,charity1 and ,loyaltie in those that pretended to other modes of ,government1 ,i might suspect my ,judgment to be biassed1 or fore-stalled with some prejudice and wontednesse of opinion3 but ,i have hitherto so much cause to suspect the contrary in the manners of many of those men1 that ,i cannot from them gain the least reputation for their new ways of ,government4 ,nor can ,i find1 that in any ,reformed ,churches 7whose patterns are so cried up1 and obtruded upon the ,churches under my ,dominion7 that either ,learning1 or ,religion1 works of ,piety or ,charity1 have so flourished beyond what they have done in my ,kingdoms 7by ,gods blessing7 which might make me believe either ,presbytery or ,independency have a more benigne influence upon the ,church and mens hearts and lives1 then ,episcopacy in its right constitution4 ,the abuses of which1 deserve to be extirpated1 as much as the use retained2 for ,i think it farre better to hold to primitive and uniforme ,antiquity1 then to comply with divided novelty4 ,a right ,episcopacy would at once satisfie all just desires and interests of good ,bishops1 humble presbyters1 and sober ,people2 so as ,church affaires should be managed neither with tyrannie1 paritie nor popularitie2 neither ,bishops ejected1 nor presbyters dispised1 nor ,people oppressed1 ,and in this integrity both of my ,judgement and ,conscience1 ,i hope ,god will preserve me4 ,for thou1 ,o ,lord1 knowest my uprightnesse1 and tendernesse1 as thou hast set me to be a ,defender of the ,faith1 and a ,protectour of thy ,church1 so suffer me not by any violence1 to be overborne against my ,conscience4 ,arise ,o ,lord1 maintain thine own ,cause1 let not thy ,church be deformed1 as to that ,government1 which derived from thy ,apostles1 hath been retained in purest and primitive times1 till the ,revenues of the ,church became the object of secular envie2 ,which seeks to rob it of all the incouragements of ,learning and ,religion4 ,make me as the good ,samaritan1 compassionate and helpfull to thy afflicted ,church2 which some men have wounded and robb'd2 others pass by without regard1 either to pitie or relieve4 ,as my power was from thee1 so give me grace to use it for thee4 ,and though ,i am not suffered to be ,master of my other ,rights as a ,,king2 yet preserve me in that libertie of ,reason1 love of ,religion1 and thy ,churches welfare which are fixed in my ,conscience as a ,christian4 ,preserve from sacrilegious ,invasions1 those temporall blessings1 which thy ,providence hath bestowed on thy ,church for thy glorie4 ,forgive their sins and errours1 who have deserved thy just permission1 thus to let in the wilde ,boar and subtil ,foxes1 to waste and deform thy ,vineyard1 which thy right hand hath planted1 and the dew of heaven so long watered to a happy and flourishing estate4 ,o let me not bear the infamous brand to all ,posteritie1 of being the first ,christian ,,king1 in this ,kingdom1 who should consent to the oppression of thy ,church1 and the ,fathers of it2 whose errours ,i would rather1 with ,constantine1 cover with silence1 and reform with meeknesse1 then expose their persons1 and sacred ,functions to vulgar contempt4 ,thou1 ,o ,lord1 seest how much ,i have suffered with1 and for thy ,church2 make no long tarrying ,o my ,god to deliver both me and it1 from unreasonable men whose counsels have brought forth1 and continue such violent confusions1 by a precipitant destroying the ancient boundaries of the ,churches peace2 thereby letting in all manner of errours1 scismes and disorders4 ,o thou ,god of order1 and of truth1 in thy good time abate the malice1 asswage the rage1 and confound all the mischievous devises of thine1 mine1 and thy ,churches enemies4 ,that ,i1 and all that love thy ,church1 may sing prayses to thee1 and ever magnifie thy salvation1 even before the sons of men4 99 99 99 99 99 #ah4 ,upon ,uxbridge ,treaty1 and other ,offers made by the ,,king4 ,i looke upon the way of ,treaties1 as a retiring from fighting like beasts1 to arguing like men2 whose strength should be more in their understandings1 then in their limbs4 ,and though ,i could seldom get opportunities to ,treat1 yet ,i never wanted either desire or disposition to it2 having greater confidence of my ,reason1 then my ,sword4 ,i was so wholy resolved to yeild to the first1 that ,i thought neither my self1 not others1 should need to use the second1 if once we rightly understood each other4 ,nor did ,i ever think it a diminution of me1 to prevent them with expresses of my desires1 and even importunities to ,treat3 ,it being an office not only of humanity1 rather to use ,reason then ,force2 but also of ,christianitie to seek peace and ensue it4 ,as ,i am very unwillingly compelled to defend my self with ,armes1 so ,i very willingly embraced any thing tending to ,peace4 ,the events of all ,war by the ,sword being very dubious1 and of a ,civill war uncomfortable2 the end hardly recompencing1 and late repairing the mischiefe of the means4 ,nor did any successe ,i had ever enhaunce with me the price of ,peace1 as earnestly desired by me as any man2 though ,i was like to pay dearer for it then any man3 ,all that ,i sought to reserve1 was1 mine ,honour and my ,conscience2 the one ,i could not part with as a ,king1 the other as a ,christian4 ,the ,treaty at ,uxbridg gave the fairest hopes of an happy composure2 had others applied themselves to it with the same moderation1 as ,i did1 ,i am confident the war had then ended4 ,i was willing to condescend1 as far as ,reason1 ,honour1 and ,conscience1 would give me leave3 nor were the remaining differences so essentiall to my peoples happinesse1 or of such consequence1 as in the least kind to have hindred my ,subjects either security or prosperity2 for they better enjoyed both many yeers1 before ever those demands were made2 some of which to deny1 ,i think the greatest ,justice to my ,self1 and favour to my ,subjects4 ,i see ,jealousies are not so easily allayed1 as they are raised3 ,some men are more afraid to retreat from violent ,engagements1 then to ,engage3 what is wanting in ,equity1 must be made up in ,pertinacie4 ,such as had little to enjoy in ,peace1 or to lose in ,war1 studied to render the very name of ,peace odious and suspected4 ,in ,church-affairs1 where ,i had least libertie of prudence1 having so many strict ties of ,conscience upon me1 yet ,i was willing to condescend so farr to the setling of them1 as might have given fair satisfaction to all men1 whom ,faction1 ,covetousness1 or ,superstition had not engaged1 more then any true zeal1 charity1 or love of ,reformation4 ,i was content to yeeld to all that might seem to advance true piety2 ,i onely sought to continue what was necessary in point of ,order1 ,maintenance1 and ,authority to the ,churches ,government2 and what ,i am perswaded 7as ,i have else-where set down my thoughts more fully7 is most agreeable to the true principles of all ,government1 raised to its full stature and perfection1 as also to the primitive ,apostolicall patterne1 and the practice of the ,universall ,church conform therunto4 ,from which wholly to recede1 without any probable reason urged or answered1 only to satisfie some mens wills and fantasies 7which yet agree not among themselves in any point1 but that of extirpating ,episcopacy1 and fighting against ,me7 must needs argue such a softnesse1 and infirmity of mind in ,me1 as will rather part with ,gods ,truth1 then mans ,peace1 and rather lose the ,churches honour1 then crosse some mens factious humours4 ,god knows1 and time will discover1 who were most to blame for the un-successfulnesse of that ,treaty1 and who must bear the guilt of after-calamities4 ,i beleeve1 ,i am very excusable both before ,god1 and all unpassionate men1 who have seriously weighed those transactions1 wherein ,i endeavoured no lesse the restauration of peace to my people1 then the preservation of my own ,crowns to my posterity4 ,some men have that height1 as to interpret all faire condescendings as arguments of feeblenesse1 and glory most in an unflexible stifnesse1 when they see others most supple and inclinable to them4 ,a grand ,maxime with them was alwayes to ask something1 which in ,reason and ,honour must be denied1 that they might have some colour to refuse all that was in other things granted2 setting ,peace at as high a rate1 as the worst effects of ,warr2 endevouring first to make ,me destroy ,my self by dishonourable ,concessions1 that so they might have the less to do4 ,this was all which that ,treaty1 or any other produced1 to let the world see how little ,i would deny1 or they grant1 in order to the publick ,peace4 ,that it gave occasion to some mens further restivenesse1 is imputable to their own depraved tempers1 not to any ,concessions or negations of ,mine3 ,i have alwayes the content of what ,i offered1 and they the regret and blame1 for what they refused4 ,the highest tide of success set me not above a ,treaty1 nor the lowest ebbe below a ,fight3 ,though ,i never thought it any sign of true valour1 to be prodigal of mens lives1 rather then be drawne to produce our own ,reasons1 or subscribe to other mens4 ,that which made me for the most part presage the unsuccesfulnesse of any ,treaty1 was1 some mens unwillingnesse to ,treat3 which implied some things were to be gained by the ,sword1 whose unseasonableness they were loth to have fairly scanned1 being more proper to be acted by ,souldiers1 then by ,counsellours4 ,i pray ,god forgive them that were guilty of that ,treaties breaking3 and give them grace to make their advantages gotten by the ,sword a better opportunity to use such moderation as was then wanting2 that so though ,peace were for our sins justly deferred1 yet at last it might be happily obtained2 what we could not get by our ,treaties1 we may gaine by our prayers4 ,o thou1 that art the ,god of ,reason1 and of ,peace1 who disdainest not to treat with ,sinners1 preventing them with offers of attonement1 and beseeching them to be reconciled with thy selfe3 who wantest not ,power1 or ,iustice1 to destroy them2 yet aboundest in mercy to save3 soften our hearts by the bloud of our ,redeemer1 and perswade us to accept of ,peace with thy self1 and both to procure and preserve ,peace among our selves1 as ,men and ,christians4 ,how oft have ,i entreated for ,peace8 but when ,i speak thereof1 they make them ready to ,war4 ,condemn us not to our passions1 which are destructive both of our selves1 and of others4 ,cleer up our understandings to see thy ,truth1 both in reason1 as ,men2 and in ,religion1 as ,christians3 and incline all our hearts to hold the unity of the ,spirit in the bond of peace4 ,take from us that enmity which is now in our hearts against thee3 and give us that charity which should be among our selves4 ,remove the evils of war we have deserved1 bestow upon us that peace which only ,christ our great ,peace-maker can merit4 99 99 99 99 99 #ai4 ,upon the various events of the warre1 victories1 and defeats4 ,the various successes of this unhappy war1 have at least1 afforded me variety of good meditations3 sometimes ,god was pleased to try me with victory1 by worsting my enemies1 that ,i might know how with moderation and thanks to own1 and use his power1 who is the onely true ,lord of ,hosts1 able when he pleases to represse the confidence of those who fought against mee with so great advantage for power and number4 ,from small beginnings on my part1 hee let me see1 that ,i was not wholly for saken by my peoples love1 or his protection4 ,other times ,god was pleased to exercise my patience1 and teach me not to trust in the arm of ,flesh1 but in the living ,god4 ,my sins sometimes prevailed against the justice of my cause1 and those that were with me wanted not matter and occasion for his just chastisement both of them and ,mee3 ,nor were ,my ,enemies lesse punished by that prosperity which hardened them to continue that injustice by open hostilitie1 which was begun by most riotous and un-,parliamentary ,tumults4 ,there is no doubt but personall and private sins may oft-times over-balance the ,justice of publick ,engagements2 nor doth ,god account every gallant man 7in the worlds esteem7 a fit instrument to assert in the way of ,war a righteous ,cause3 ,the more men are prone to arrogate to their own skill1 valour1 and strength1 the lesse doth ,god ordinarily work by them for his own glory4 ,i am sure the event or successe can never state the ,justice of any ,cause1 nor the peace of mens ,consciences1 nor the eternall fate of their ,souls4 ,those with ,me had 7,i think7 clearly and undoubtedly1 for their justification1 the ,word of ,god1 and the ,lawes of the ,land1 together with their own ,oathes2 all requiring obedience to my just ,commands2 but to none other under ,heaven without me1 or against me in the point of raising ,arms4 ,those on the other side are forced to flie to the shifts of some pretended ,fears1 and wilde ,fundamentals of ,state 7as they call them7 which actually overthrow the present fabrick both of ,church and ,state2 being such imaginary ,reasons for self-defence as are most impertinent for those men to alledge1 who being my ,subjects1 were manifestly the first assaulters of ,me and the ,laws3 first1 by unsuppressing the ,tumults1 after by listed ,forces3 ,the same ,allegations they use1 will fit any ,faction that hath but power and confidence enough to second with the ,sword all their ,demands against the present ,laws and ,governours2 which can never be such as some side or other will not find fault with1 so as to urge what they call a ,reformation of them to a ,rebellion against them3 some parasitick ,preachers have dared to call those ,martyrs1 who died fighting against ,me1 the ,laws1 their ,oaths1 and the ,religion established4 ,but sober ,christians know1 ,that glorious ,title can with truth be applied onely to those1 who sincerely preferred ,gods ,truth and their duty in all these particulars before their lives1 and all that was dear to them in this world2 who having no advantageous ,designes by any ,innovasion1 were ,religiously sensible of those ties to ,god1 the ,church1 and my ,self1 which lay upon their souls1 both for obedience1 and just assistance4 ,god could1 and ,i doubt not but hee did through his mercy1 crown many of them with eternall life1 whose lives were lost in so just a ,cause2 the destruction of their bodies being sanctified as a means to save their souls4 ,their ,wounds and temporal ,ruine serving as a gracious opportunity for their eternall ,health and ,happinesse2 while the evident approach of death1 through ,gods grace1 effectually dispose their hearts to such ,humilitie1 ,faith1 and ,repentance1 which together with the ,rectitude of their present ,engagement1 would fully prepare them for a better life then that which their enemies brutish and disloyall fiercenesse could deprive them of2 or without repentance hope to enjoy4 ,they have often1 indeed1 had the better against my side in the ,field1 but never1 ,i beleeve at the ,bar of ,gods ,tribunal1 or their own ,consciences2 where they are more afraid to encounter those many pregnant ,reasons1 both for ,law1 ,allegiance1 and all true ,christian grounds1 which conflicts with1 and accuse them in their own thoughts1 then they oft were in a desperate bravery to fight against those ,forces which sometimes ,god gave me4 ,whose condition conquered1 and dying1 ,i make no question1 but is infinitely more to be chosen by a sober man 7that duly values his duty1 his soul and eternity1 beyond the enjoyment of this present life7 then the most triumphant glory1 wherein their and mine ,enemies supervive2 who can hardly avoid to be daily tormented by that horrid guilt1 wherewith their suspicious1 or now convicted ,consciences do pursue them1 especially since they and all the world have seen1 how false and unintended those pretensions were1 which they first set forth1 as the onely plausible 7though not justifiable7 grounds of raising a ,war1 and continuing it thus long against ,me1 and the ,laws established2 in whose safety and preservation all honest men think the welfare of their ,country doth consist4 ,for1 and with all which1 it is far more honourable and comfortable to suffer1 then to prosper in their ruine and subversion4 ,i have often prayed1 that all on my side might join true pietie with the sense of their ,loyalty2 and be as faithfull to ,god and their own souls1 as they were to ,me2 ,that the defects of the one might not blast the endeavours of the other4 ,yet ,i cannot think1 that any shews of truth of piety on the other side were sufficient to dispence with1 or expiate the defects of their dutie and ,loyaltie to ,me1 which have so pregnant convictions on mens consciences1 that even profaner men are moved by the sense of them to venture their lives for ,me4 ,i never had any ,victory which was without ,my sorrow1 because it was on ,mine own ,subjects1 who1 like ,absolom1 died many of them in their sin3 ,and yet ,i never suffered any ,defeat which made ,me despair of ,gods mercy and defence4 ,i never desired such victories1 as might serve to conquer1 but only restore the ,laws and ,liberties of ,my people2 which ,i saw were extremly oppressed1 together with my rights1 by those men1 who were impatient of any just restraint4 ,when ,providence gave ,me1 or denied ,me ,victory1 my desire was never to boast of my power nor to charge ,god foolishly2 who ,i believed at last would make all things to work together for my good4 ,i wished no greater advantages by the ,war1 then to bring my ,enemies to moderation1 and my ,friends to peace4 ,i was afraid of the temptation of an absolute conquest1 and never prayed more for ,victory over others1 then over my self4 ,when the first was denied1 the second was granted me1 which ,god saw best for me4 ,the different events were but the methods of divine justice1 by contrary winds to winow us3 ,that1 by punishing our sins1 he might purge them from us2 and by deferring peace1 he might prepare us more to prize1 and better to use so great a blessing4 ,my often ,messages for ,peace shewed1 that ,i delighted not in ,warre2 as my former ,concessions sufficiently testified1 how willingly ,i would have prevented it2 and ,my totall unpreparedness for it1 how little ,i intended it4 ,the ,conscience of my ,innocence forbad ,me to fear a ,warr2 but the love of my ,kingdoms commanded me 7if possible7 to avoid it4 ,i am guilty in this ,war of nothing but this1 ,that ,i gave such advantages to some men1 by confirming their power1 which they knew not to use with that modesty and gratitude1 which became their loyalty and ,my confidence4 ,had ,i yeelded lesse1 ,i had been opposed lesse2 had ,i denied more1 ,i had been more obeyed4 ',tis now too late to review the occasions of the ,war2 ,i wish only a happy conclusion of so unhappy beginnings3 ,the inevitable fate of our sins was 7no doubt7 such1 as would no longer suffer the divine ,justice to be quiet3 we having conquered this patience1 are condemned by mutuall conquerings1 to destroy one another3 for1 the most prosperous successes on either side1 impair the welfare of the whole4 ,those ,victories are still miserable1 that leave our sins unsubdued2 flushing our pride1 and animating to continue injuries4 ,peace is not it self desirable1 till repentance hath prepared us for it4 ,when we fight more against our selves1 and lesse against ,god1 we shall cease fighting against one another2 ,i pray ,god these may all meet in our hearts1 and so dispose us to an happy conclusion of these ,civil-,wars2 that ,i may know better to obey ,god1 and govern my people1 and they may learn better to obey both ,god and me4 ,nor do ,i desire any man should be further subject to me1 then all of us may be subject to ,god4 ,o my ,god1 make me content to be overcome1 when thou wilt have it so4 ,teach me the noblest victory over my self and my enemies by patience1 which was ,christs conquest1 and may well become a ,christian ,king4 ,between both thy hands1 the right sometimes supporting1 and the left afflicting1 fashion us to that frame of ,piety thou likest best4 ,forgive the pride that attends our prosperous1 and the repinings which follow our disastrous events2 when going forth in our own strength thou withdrawest thine1 and goest not forth with our ,armies4 ,be thou all1 when we are something1 and when we are nothing2 that thou mayest have the glory1 when we are in a ,victorious1 or inglorious condition4 ,thou ,o ,lord knowest1 how hard it is for me to suffer so much evill from my ,subjects1 to whom ,i intend nothing but good2 and ,i cannot but suffer in those evils which they compel me to inflect upon them2 punishing my self in their punishments4 ,since therefore both in conquering1 and being conquered1 ,i am still a ,sufferer3 ,i beseech thee to give me a double portion of thy ,spirit1 and that measure of grace1 which only can be sufficient for me4 ,as ,i am most afflicted1 so make me most reformed3 that ,i may not be only happy to see an end of those civill distractions1 but a chief ,instrument to restore and establish a firm1 and blessed ,peace to my ,kingdoms4 ,scirre up all ,parties pious ambitions to overcome each other with reason1 moderation1 and such self-deniall1 as becomes those1 who consider that our mutuall divisions are our common distractions1 and the ,union of all is every good mans chiefest interest4 ,if ,o ,lord1 as for the sins of our peace1 thou hast brought upon us the miseries of ,war3 so for the sins of ,war thou shouldst see fit still to deny us the blessing of peace1 and so to keep us in a circulation of miseries3 yet give me thy ,servant1 and all ,loyall1 though afflicted ,subjects1 to enjoy that peace which1 the world can nether give to us1 nor take from us4 ,impute not to me the blood of my ,subjects1 which with infinite unwillingness and griefe1 hath been shed by me1 in my just necessary defence3 but wash me with that precious blood1 which hath been shed for me1 by my great ,peacemaker1 ,jesus ,christ2 ,who will1 ,i trust1 redeem me shortly out of all my troubles3 for1 ,i know the triumphing of the ,wicked is but short1 and the joy of ,hypocrites is but for a moment4 99 99 99 99 99 #bj4 ,upon the ,reformation of the ,times4 ,no ,glory is more to be envied then that of due reforming either ,church or ,state1 when deformities are such1 that the perturbation and noveltie are not like to exceed the benefit of ,reforming4 ,although ,god should not honour me so far1 as to make me an ,instrument of so good a work1 yet ,i should be glad to see it done4 ,as ,i was well pleased with this ,parliaments first intentions to reform what the indulgence of ,times1 and corruption of manners might have depraved2 so ,i am sorry to see after the freedom of ,parliament was by factious ,tumults oppressed1 how little regard was had to the good ,laws established1 and the ,religion setled2 which ought to be the first rule and standard of ,reforming3 with how much partiality and popular compliance the passions and opinions of men have been gratified1 to the detriment of the ,publick1 and the infinite scandall of the reformed ,religion8 ,what dissolutions of all ,order and ,government in the ,church8 what novelties of ,schism1 and corrupt opinions8 what undecencies and confusions in sacred ,administrations8 what sacrilegious ,invasions upon the ,rights and ,revenues of the ,church8 what contempt and oppressions of the ,clergie8 what injurious diminutions and persecutings of ,me have followed 7as showers do warm gleams7 the talk of ,reformation1 all sober men are ,witnesses1 and with my self1 sad ,spectators hitherto4 ,the great miscarriage 7,i think7 is1 that popular clamours and fury have been allowed the reputation of zeal1 and the ,publick sense2 so that the studies to please some ,parties1 hath indeed injured all4 ,freedom1 ,moderation and ,impartiality are sure the best tempers of reforming ,counsels and endeavours2 what is acted by ,factions1 cannot but offend more then it pleaseth4 ,i have offered to put all differences in ,church affairs and ,religion to the free consultation of a ,synod or ,convocation rightly chosen2 the results of whose ,councels1 as they would have included the ,votes of all1 so its like they would have given most satisfaction to all4 ,the ,assembly of ,divines1 whom the two ,houses have applied 7in an unwonted way7 to advise of ,church affairs1 ,i dislike not farther1 then that they are not legally convened and chosen2 nor act in the name of all the ,clergy of ,england2 nor with freedom and impartiality can do any thing1 being limited and confined1 if not overawed1 to do and declare what they do4 ,for ,i cannot think so many men cried up for learning and piety1 who formerly allowed the ,liturgy and ,government of the ,church of ,england1 as to the main1 would have so suddenly agreed quite to abolish both of them1 7the last of which1 they know to be of ,apostolicall institution1 at least2 as of ,primitive and ,universall practice7 if they had been left to the liberty of their own suffrages1 and if the influence of contrary factions had not by secret encroachments of hopes and fears1 prevailed upon them1 to comply with so great and dangerous ,innovations in the ,church2 without any regard to their own former judgment and practice1 or to the common interest and honour of all the ,clergy1 and in them of ,order1 learning1 and ,religion against examples of all ,ancient ,churches2 the ,lawes in force and my consent2 which is never to be gained1 against so pregnant light1 as in that point shines on my understanding4 ,for ,i conceive1 that where the ,scripture is not so clear and punctuall in precepts1 there the constant and ,universall practice of the ,church1 in things not contrary to ,reason1 ,faith1 good ,manners1 or any positive ,command1 is the best rule that ,christians can follow4 ,i was willing to grant1 or restore to ,presbytery1 what with ,reason or ,discretion it can pretend to1 in a conjuncture with ,episcopacy2 but for that wholy to invade the ,power1 and by the ,sword to arrogate1 and quite abrogate the ,authority of that ,ancient ,order1 ,i thinke neither just1 as to episcopacy1 nor safe for ,presbytery2 nor yet any way convenient for this ,church or ,state4 ,a due reformation had easily followed moderate ,counsels3 and such 7,i beleeve7 as would have given more content1 even to the most of those ,divines1 who have been led on with much ,gravity and formality1 to carry on other mens designes which no doubt many of them by this time discover1 though they dare not but smother their frustrations and discontents4 ,the specious and popular ,titles of ,christs ,government1 ,throne1 ,scepter1 and ,kingdom1 7which certainly is not divided1 nor hath two faces1 as their parties now have at least7 also the noise of a thorow-,reformation1 these may as easily be fined on new models1 as fair colours may be put to ill-favoured ,figures4 ,the breaking of ,church-windows1 which time had sufficiently defaced2 pulling down of ,crosses1 which were but ,civill1 not ,religious marks2 defacing of ,monuments1 and ,inscriptions of the dead1 which served but to put ,posterity in minde1 to thank ,god for that clearer light wherein they live3 ,the leaving of ,ministers to their liberties1 and private abilities in the publick service of ,god1 where no ,christian can tell to what hee may say ,amen2 nor what adventure he may make of seeming1 at least1 to consent to the ,errours1 ,blasphemies1 and ridiculous ,undecencies which bold and ignorant men list to vent in their ,prayers1 ,preaching1 and other ,offices2 ,their setting forth also of old ,catechisms1 and ,confessions of ,faith new drest1 importing as much1 as if there had been no sound or cleer ,doctrine of ,faith in this ,church1 before some four or five yeers consultation had matured their thoughts touching their first principles of ,religion4 ,all these and the like are the effects of popular1 specious1 and deceitfull ,reformations1 7that they might not seem to have nothing to do7 and may give some short flashes of content to the ,vulgar1 7who are taken with novelties1 as children with babies1 very much1 but not very long7 but all this amounts not to1 nor can in justice merit the glory of the ,churches thorow-,reformation2 since they leave all things more deformed1 disorderly1 and discontented then when they began1 in point of ,piety1 ,morality1 ,charity1 and good ,order4 ,nor can they easily recompence or remedie the inconveniences and mischiefs which they have purchased so dearly1 and which have1 and will ever necessarily ensue1 till due remedies be applied4 ,i wish they would at last make it their unanimous work to do ,gods work1 and not their own3 ,had ,religion been first considered 7as it merited7 much trouble might have been prevented4 ,but some men thought1 that the ,government of this ,church and ,state1 fixed by so many ,lawes1 and long ,customes1 would not run into their new moulds1 till they had first melted it in the fire of a ,civil ,warr2 by the advantages of which they resolved1 if they prevailed1 to make my ,self and all my ,subjects fall down and worship the ,images they should form and set up4 ,if there had been as much of ,christs ,spirit1 for meeknesse1 wisdom and charitie in mens hearts1 as there was of his name used in the pretensions to reform all to ,christs ,rule1 it would certainly have obtained more of ,gods blessing1 and produced more of ,christs ,glory1 the ,churches good1 the honour of ,religion1 and the unity of ,christians4 ,publick ,reformers had need first act in private1 and practice that on their own hearts1 which they purpose to try on others2 for ,deformities within will soon betray the pretenders of publick ,reformations to such private designs1 as must needs hinder the publick good4 ,i am sure1 the right ,methods of ,reforming the ,church1 cannot subsist with that of perturbing the ,civil ,state2 nor can ,religion be justly advanced by depressing ,loyaltie1 which is one of the chiefest ,ingredients1 and ,ornaments of true ,religion3 for next to ,fear ,god1 is1 ,honour the ,king4 ,i doubt not but ,christs ,kingdom may be set up without pulling down mine2 nor will any men in impartiall times appear good ,christians1 that approve not them selves good ,subjects4 ,christs ,government will confirm ,mine1 not overthrow it1 since as ,i own ,mine from ,him1 so ,i desire to rule for his ,glory1 and his ,churches good4 ,had some men truly intended ,christs ,government1 or knew what it meant in their hearts1 they could never have been so ill governed in their words and actions1 both against ,me1 and one another4 ,as good ends cannot justifie evill means2 so nor will evill beginnings ever bring forth good conclusions3 unless ,god by a miracle of ,mercie create ,light out of ,darknesse1 ,order out of our ,confusions1 and peace out of our passions4 ,thou1 ,o ,lord1 who onely canst give us beauty for ashes1 and ,truth for ,hypocrisie2 suffer us not to be miserably deluded with ,pharisaicall washings1 in stead of ,christian reformings4 ,our greatest diformities are within2 make us the severest ,censurers1 and first ,reformers of our own souls4 ,that we may in clearnesse of judgment1 and uprightnesse of heart be means to reform what is indeed amisse in ,church and ,state4 ,create in us clean hearts1 ,o ,lord1 and renew right spirits within us2 that we may do all by thy directions1 to thy glory1 and with thy blessing4 ,pity the deformities1 which some rash cruel ,reformers have brought upon this ,church and ,state3 ,quench the fires which factions have kindled1 under the pretence of ,reforming4 ,as thou hast shewed the world by their divisions1 and confusions1 what is the pravity of some mens intentions1 and weaknesse of their judgements2 so bring us at last more refined out of these fires1 by the methods of ,christian and charitable reformations2 wherein nothing of ambition1 revenge1 coveteousnes1 or sacriledge1 may have any influence upon their counsels1 whom thy providence in just and lawfull wayes shall entrust with so great1 good1 and now most necessary a work3 ,that ,i and my people may be so blest with inward piety1 as may best teach us how to use the blessings of outward peace4 99 99 99 99 99 #ba4 ,upon his ,majesties ,letters taken and divulged4 ,the taking of ,my ,letters was an opportunity1 which1 as the malice of ,mine ,,enemies could hardly have expected2 so they know not how with honour and civility to use it3 ,nor do ,i thinke with sober and worthy minds any thing in them1 could tend so much to my reproach1 as the odious divulging of them did to the infamy of the ,divulgers3 ,the greatest experiments of ,vertue and ,noblenesse being discovered in the greatest advantages against an enemy1 and the greatest obligations being those1 which are put upon us by them1 from whom we could least have expected them4 ,and such ,i should have esteemed the concealing of my ,papers2 the freedom and secresie of which1 commands a civility from all men1 not wholly barbarous2 nor is there any thing more inhumane then to expose them to publick view4 ,yet since ,providence will have it so1 ,i am content so much of ,my heart 7which ,i study to approve to ,gods omniscience7 should be discovered to the world without any of those dresses or popular captations which some men use in their ,speeches and ,expresses2 ,i wish ,my ,subjects had a cleerer sight into ,my most retired ,thoughts4 ,where they might discover1 how they are divided between the love and care ,i have1 not more to preserve ,my own ,rights1 then to procure their ,peace and ,happinesse1 and that extreme grief to see them both deceiv'd and destroyed4 ,nor can any mens malice be gratified further by ,my ,letters1 than to see my constancy to my ,wife1 the ,laws1 and ,religion4 ,bees will gather honey where the ,spider sucks ,poyson4 ,that ,i endeavour to avoid the pressures of my ,enemies1 by all fair and just correspondences2 no man can blame1 who loves ,me1 or the ,common-wealth1 since my ,subjects can hardly be happy if ,i be miserable1 or enjoy their ,peace and ,liberties while ,i am oppressed4 ,the world may see how soon mens designe1 like ,absoloms1 is by enormous actions to widen differences1 and exasperate all sides to such distances1 as may make all ,reconciliation desperate4 ,yet ,i thank ,god1 ,i can not only with patience bear this1 as other indignities1 but with charity forgive them4 ,the integrity of my intentions is not jealous of any injury my expressions can do them1 for although the confidence of privacy may admit of greater freedome in writing such letters1 which may be liable to envious exceptions2 yet the innocency of my chief purposes cannot be so obtained1 or mis-interpreted by them1 as not to let all men see1 that ,i wish nothing more then a happy composure of differences with ,justice ,honor1 nor more to ,my own1 then ,my peoples content1 who have any sparks of ,love or ,loyalty left in them3 who1 by those my ,letters may be convinced that ,i can both mind and act ,my own1 and ,my ,kingdomes ,affaires1 so as becomes a ,prince2 which ,mine ,enemies have alwayes been very loth should be beleeved of me1 as if ,i were wholly confined to the ,dictates and ,directions of others2 whom they please to brand with the names of ,evil ,counsellours4 ,its probable some men will now look upon me as my own ,counsellour1 and having none else to quarrell with under that notion1 they will hereafter confine their anger to my self3 ,although ,i know they are very unwilling ,i should enjoy the liberty of my own thoughts1 or follow the light of my own ,conscience1 which they labour to bring into an absolute captivitie to themselves2 not allowing me to think their ,counsels to be other then good for me1 which have so long maintained a ,war against ,me4 ,the ,victory they obtained that day1 when my ,letters became their prize1 had been enough to have satiated the most ambitious thirst of popular glory among the ,vulgar2 with whom prosperity gaines the greatest esteem and applause as adversity exposeth to their greatest sleighting and dis-respect3 ,as if good fortune were alwayes the shadow of ,vertue and ,justice1 and did not oftner attend vitious and injurious actions1 as to this world4 ,but ,i see no secular advantages seem sufficient to that cause1 which began with ,tumults1 and depends chiefly upon the reputation with the vulgar4 ,they think no ,victories so effectual to their designs1 as those that most rout and waste ,my ,credit with ,my ,people2 in whose hearts they seek by all means to smother and extinguish all sparks of ,love1 ,respect and ,loyaltie to ,me1 that they may never kindle again1 so as to recover ,mine1 the ,laws the ,kingdoms ,liberties1 which some men seek to overthrow3 ,the taking away of my ,credit1 is but a necessary preparation to the taking away of my ,life and my ,kingdoms2 first ,i must seem neither fit to ,live1 nor worthy to ,reign3 ,by exquisite methods of cunning crueltie1 ,i must be compelled1 first to follow the ,funerals of my ,honor1 and then be destroyed3 ,but ,i know ,gods un-erring and impartial justice can will over rule the most perverse wils and designs of men2 he is able1 and 7,i hope7 will turn even the worst of mine ,enemies thoughts and actions to my good4 ,nor do ,i think1 that by the surprize of my ,letters1 ,i have lost any more then so many papers3 how much they have lost of that reputation1 for ,civility and ,humanity 7which ought to be paid to all men1 and most becomes such as pretend to ,religion7 besides that of ,respect and ,honor1 which they owe to their ,,king1 present1 and after-times will judge4 ,and ,i cannot think that their own consciences are so stupid1 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 countenance4 ,i am sure they can never expect the divine approbation of such indecent actions1 if they do but remember how ,god blest the modest respect filial tenderness which ,noah's ,sons bare to their ,father2 nor did his open infirmity justifie ,cham's impudency1 or exempt him from that curse of being ,servant of ,servants2 which curse must needs be on them who seek by dishonorable actions to please the ,vulgar1 and confirm by ignoble acts1 their dependance upon the ,people4 ,nor can their malitious intentions be ever either excusable or prosperous1 who thought to expose me to the highest reproach contempt of my ,people1 forgetting that duty of modest concealment which they owed to the ,father of their ,country1 in case they had discovered any real uncomliness1 which1 ,i thank ,god they did not2 who can1 and ,i believe hath made ,me more respected in the hearts of many 7as he did ,david7 to whom they thought1 by publishing my private ,letters1 to have rendred me as a vile ,person1 not fit to be trusted or considered1 under any ,notion of ,majesty4 ,but thou1 ,o ,lord1 whose wise and all disposing ,providence ordereth the greatest contingences of humane affairs1 make me to see the constancie of thy mercies to me1 in the greatest advantages thou seemest to give the malice of my ,enemies against me4 ,as thou didst blast the council of ,achitophel turning it to ,davids good and his own ruine3 so canst thou defeat their ,designe1 who intended by publishing my private ,letters1 nothing else but to render me more odious and contemptible to my ,people4 ,i must first appeal to thy ,omniscience1 who canst witnesse my integritie1 how unjust and false those scandalous misconstructions are1 which my ,enemies endevour by those papers of mine to represent unto the world4 ,make the evil they imagined1 and displeasure they intended thereby against me1 so to return on their own heads1 that they may be ashamed1 and covered with their own confusion as with a cloak4 ,thou seest how mine ,enemies use all means to cloud mine ,honour1 to pervert my purposes1 and to slander the footsteps of thine ,annointed4 ,but give me an heart content to be dishonoured for thy sake1 and thy ,churches good4 ,fix in me a purpose to honour thee1 and then ,i know thou wilt honour me1 either by restoring to me the enjoyment of that ,power and ,majesty1 which thou hast suffered some men to seek to deprive me of2 or by bestowing on me that ,crown of ,christian patience1 which knows how to serve thee in honour or dishonour1 in good report or evil4 ,thou1 ,o ,lord1 art the fountain of goodness and honour2 thou art cloathed with excellent ,majesty2 make me to partake of thy excellency for wisdom1 justice and mercy1 and ,i shall not want that degree of ,honour and ,majestie which becomes the ,place in which thou hast set me2 who art the lifter up of my head1 and my ,salvation4 ,lord1 by thy ,grace1 lead me to thy ,glory1 which is both true and eternall4 99 99 99 99 99 #bb4 ,upon ,his ,majesties ,leaving ,oxford1 and going to the ,scots4 ,although ,god hath given me three ,kingdoms1 yet in these ,he hath not now left me any place where ,i may with safety ,honor rest my head3 shewing me that himself is the safest ,refuge1 and the strongest ,tower of defence1 in which ,i may put my trust4 ,in these extremities1 ,i look not to man so much as to ,god3 ,he will have it thus1 that ,i may cast my self1 and my now distressed ,affairs upon his mercy1 who hath both hearts and hands of all men in his dispose4 ,what ,providence denies to ,force1 it may grant to ,prudence2 ,necessity is now my ,counsellor1 and commands ,me to study ,my safety by a disguised withdrawing from my chiefest strength1 and adventuring upon their ,loyalty1 who first began my troubles4 ,happily1 ,god may make them a means honorable to compose them4 ,this my confidence of them1 may dis-arm overcom them2 my rendring my person to them1 may engage their affection to me1 who have oft professed1 ,they fought not against me1 but for me4 ,i must now resolve the riddle of their ,loyalty3 and give them opportunity to let the world see1 they mean not what they do1 but what they say4 ,yet must ,god be my chiefest ,guard2 and my ,conscience both my ,counsellor and my ,comforter3 ,though ,i put my body into their hands1 yet ,i shall reserve my soul to ,god and my self2 nor shall any necessities compell me1 to desert mine honour1 or swerve from my ,judgement4 ,what they fought to take by force1 shall now be given them in such a way of unusuall confidence of them1 as may make them ashamed not to be really such as they ought1 and professed to be4 ,god sees it not enough to desert me of all ,military power to defend my ,self1 but to put me upon using their power1 who seem to fight against me1 yet ought in duty to defend me4 ,so various are all humane affairs1 so necessitous may the state of ,princes be1 that their greatest danger may be in their supposed safety1 and their safety in their supposed danger4 ,i must now leave those that have ,adhered to me1 and apply to those that have ,opposed me2 this method of ,peace may be more prosperous then that of ,war1 both to stop the effusion of bloud1 to close those wounds already made3 and in it ,i am no less solicitous for my ,friends safety1 then mine own2 chusing to venture my ,self upon further hazards1 rather then expose their resolute ,loyaltie to all extremities4 ,it is some skil in play to know when a game is lost2 better fairly to give over1 then to contest in vain4 ,i must now study to re-inforce my ,judgment1 and fortifie my mind with ,reason and ,religion1 that ,i may not seem to offer up my ,souls libertie1 or make my ,conscience their ,captive2 who ought at first to have used ,arguments1 not ,arms1 to have perswaded my consent to their demands4 ,i thank ,god1 no success darkens or disguises ,truth to me2 and ,i shall no less conform my words to my inward dictates now1 then if they had been as the words of a ,,king ought to be among loyal ,subjects1 full of power4 ,reason is the divinest power4 ,i shall never think my ,self weakned1 while ,i may make full and free use of that4 ,no ecclipse of outward ,fortune shall rob me of that light3 what ,god hath denied of outward strength1 his grace1 ,i hope1 will supply with inward resolutions2 not morositie to deny1 what is fit to be granted2 but not to grant any thing which ,reason and ,religion bids me denie4 ,i shall never think my ,self less then my ,self1 while ,i am able thus to preserve the integrity of my ,conscience1 the only ,jewel now left me1 which is worth keeping4 ,o thou ,soveraign of our ,souls1 the onely ,commander of our ,consciences2 though ,i know not what to do1 yet mine eyes are toward thee3 ,to the protection of thy mercy ,i still commend my self4 ,as thou hast preserved me in the day of ,battell1 so thou canst still shew me thy strength in my weaknesse4 ,be thou unto me in my darkest night a pillar of fire1 to enlighten and direct me2 in the day of my hottest affliction1 be also a pillar of cloud to over-shadow and protect me2 be to me both a ,sun and a ,shield4 ,thou knowest1 that it is not any perverseness of will1 but just perswasions of ,honour1 ,reason1 and ,religion1 which have made me thus far to hazard my ,person1 ,peace1 and ,safetie1 against those that by force have sought to wrest them from me4 ,suffer not my just resolutions to abate with my outward ,forces2 let a good ,conscience alwaies accompany me in my solitude and desertions4 ,suffer me not to betray the powers of ,reason1 and that fortresse of my ,soul which ,i am entrusted to keep for thee4 ,lead me in the paths of thy righteousnesse1 and shew me thy salvation4 ,make my waies to please thee1 and then thou wilt make mine enemies to be at peace with me4 99 99 99 99 99 #bc4 ,upon the ,scots delivering the ,,king to the ,english1 and ,his ,captivity at ,holmeby4 ,yet may ,i justifie those ,scots to all the world in this4 ,that they have not deceived me2 for ,i never trusted to them further then to men3 if ,i am sold by them1 ,i am only sorry they should do it3 and that ,my price should be so much above ,my ,saviors4 ,these are but further ,essays which ,god will have ,me make of mans uncertainty1 the more to fix ,me on himself1 who never faileth them that trust in him2 though the ,reeds of gypt break under the hand of him that leans on them1 yet the ,rock of ,israel will be an everlasting stay and defence4 ,gods ,providence commands ,me to retire from all to himself1 that in him ,i may enjoy ,my ,self1 which ,i lose1 while ,i let out ,my hopes to others4 ,the solitude captivity to which ,i am now reduced1 gives ,me leisure enough to study the worlds vanity and inconstancie4 ,god sees 'tis fit to deprive ,me of ,wife1 ,children1 ,armie1 ,friends1 and ,freedom1 that ,i may be wholly his1 who alone is all4 ,i care not much to be reckoned among the ,unfortunate1 if ,i be not in the black ,list of irreligious and sacrilegious ,princes4 ,no ,restraint shall ensnare my ,soul in sin2 nor gain that of me which may make my ,enemies more insolent1 my ,friends ashamed1 or my ,name accursed4 ,they have no great cause to triumph1 that they have got my ,person into their power2 since my ,soul is still my own3 nor shall they ever gain my ,consent against my ,conscience4 ,what they call obstinacie1 ,i know ,god accounts honest constancie1 from which ,reason and ,religion1 as well as ,honor1 forbid ,me to recede4 ',tis evident now1 that it was not ,evil ,counsellors with ,me1 but a good ,conscience in ,me1 which hath been fought against2 nor did they ever intend to bring ,me to my ,parliament1 till they had brought ,my mind to their obedience4 ,should ,i grant what some men desire1 ,i should be such as they with ,me1 not more a ,king1 and far less both ,man and ,christian4 ,what ,tumults and ,armies could not obtain1 neither shall ,restraint2 which though it have a little of safety to a ,prince1 yet it hath not more of danger4 ,the fear of men shall never be my snare2 nor shal the love of any liberty entangle my soul3 ,better others betray me1 then my self3 and that the price of my liberty should be my conscience2 the greatest injuries my ,enemies seek to inflict upon me1 cannot be without my own consent4 ,while ,i can deny with ,reason1 ,i shall defeat the greatest impressions of their malice1 who neither know how to use worthily what ,i have already granted2 nor what to require more of me but this1 ,that ,i would seem willing to help them to destroy my self and mine4 ,although they should destroy me1 yet they shall have no cause to despise me4 ,neither liberty nor life are so dear to me1 as the peace of my ,conscience1 the ,honor of my ,crowns1 and the welfare of my ,people2 which my word may injure more then any ,war can do2 while ,i gratifie a few to oppresse all4 ,the ,laws wil by ,gods blessing1 revive1 with the love and ,loyaltie of my ,subjects2 if ,i bury them not by my ,consent1 and cover them in that grave of dishonor and injustice1 which some mens violence hath digged for them4 ,if my ,captivity or ,death must be the price of their redemption1 ,i grudge not to pay it4 ,no condition can make a ,king miserable1 which carries not with it1 his ,souls1 his ,peoples1 and ,posterities thraldom4 ,after-times may see1 what the blindnesse of this ,age will not2 and ,god may at length shew my ,subjects1 that ,i chuse rather to suffer for them1 then with them2 happily ,i might redeem my self to some shew of liberty1 if ,i would consent to enslave them3 ,i had rather hazard the ruine of one ,king1 then to confirm many ,tyrants over them1 from whom ,i pray ,god deliver them1 what ever becomes of me1 whose solitude hath not left me alone4 ,for thou1 ,o ,god1 infinitely ,good1 and ,great1 art with me1 whose presence is better then life1 and whose service is perfect freedom4 ,own me for thy ,servant1 and ,i shall never have cause to complain for want of that liberty which becomes a ,man1 a ,christian1 and a ,king4 ,blesse me still with ,reason1 as a ,man2 with ,religion1 as a ,christian2 and with constancie in ,justice1 as a ,king4 ,though thou sufferest me to be stript of all outward ornaments1 yet preserve me ever in those enjoyments wherein ,i may enjoy thy self2 and which cannot be taken from me against my will4 ,let no fire of affliction boile over my passion to any impatience or sordid fears4 ,there be many that say of me1 ,there is no help for me3 do thou lift up the light of thy ,countenance upon me1 and ,i shall want neither ,safetie1 ,libertie1 nor ,majestie4 ,give me that measure of patience and constancie which my condition now requires4 ,my strength is scattered1 my expectation from ,men defeated1 my ,person restrained3 ,o be not thou far from me1 lest my enemies prevail too much against me4 ,i am become a wonder1 and a scorn to many3 ,o be thou my helper and defender4 ,shew some token upon me for good1 that they that hate me may be ashamed1 because thou ,lord1 hast holpen and comforted me2 for establish me with thy free ,spirit1 that ,i may do and suffer thy will1 as thou wouldst have me4 ,be mercifull to me1 ,o ,lord1 for my soul trusteth in thee3 yea1 and in the shadow of thy wings will ,i make my refuge1 untill these calamities be over-past4 ,arise to deliver me1 make no long tarrying1 ,o my ,god4 ,though thou killest me1 yet will ,i trust in thy mercy1 and my ,saviours merit4 ,i know that my ,redeemer liveth2 though thou leadest me through the vail and shadow of death1 yet shall ,i fear none ill4 99 99 99 99 99 #bd4 ,upon their denying ,his ,majestie the ,attendance of ,his ,chaplains4 ,when providence was pleased to deprive ,me of all other civil comforts and secular attendants1 ,i thought the absence of them all might best be supplied by the attendance of some of my ,chaplains1 whom for their ,function ,i reverence1 and for their ,fidelitie ,i have cause to love4 ,by their ,learning1 ,pietie1 and ,praiers1 ,i hoped to be either better enabled to sustain the want of all other enjoyments1 or better fitted for the recovery and use of them in ,gods good time2 so reaping by their pious help a spiritual harvest of grace amidst the thorns1 and after the plowings of temporal crosses4 ,the truth is1 ,i never needed or desired more the service and assistance of men judiciously pious1 and soberly devout4 ,the solitude they have confined me unto1 adds the wildernesse to my temptations3 ,for the company they obtrude upon me1 is more sad then any solitude can be4 ,if ,i had asked my ,revenues1 my power of the ,militia1 or any one of my ,kingdoms1 it had bin no wonder to have been denied in those things1 where the evil policy of men forbids all just restitution1 lest they should confess an injurious usurpation3 ,but to deny me the ghostly comfort of my ,chaplains seems a greater rigor barbarity1 then is ever used by christians to the meanest prisoners1 greatest malefactors1 whom though the justice of the law deprive of worldly comforts1 yet the mercy of religion allows them the benefit of their ,clergy1 as not aiming at once to destroy their ,bodies1 and to damn their ,souls4 ,but my agony must not be relieved with the presence of any one good ,angel2 for such ,i account a learned1 godly1 and discreet ,divine3 and such ,i would have all mine to be4 ,they that envie my being a ,king1 are loth ,i should be a ,christian3 while they seek to deprive me of all things else1 they are afraid ,i should save my ,soul4 ,other sense1 ,charity it self can hardly pick out of those many harsh repulses ,i received1 as to that request so often made for the attendance of some of my ,chaplains4 ,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 ,ministers3 whom1 though ,i respect for that worth and piety wch may be in them1 yet ,i cannot think them so proper for any present comforters or ,physitians1 ,who have 7some of them at least7 had so great an influence in occasioning these calamities1 and inflicting these wounds upon ,me4 ,nor are the soberest of them so apt for that devotional compliance1 and juncture of hearts1 which ,i desire to bear in those holy ,offices to be performed with me1 and for me2 since their judgments standing at a distance from me1 or in jealousie of me1 or in opposition against me1 their ,spirits cannot so harmoniously accord with mine1 or mine with theirs1 either in ,prayer or other holy duties1 as is meet1 and most comfortable2 whose golden rule1 and bond of ,perfection consists in that of mutual ,love and ,charitie4 ,some remedies are worse then the disease1 and some comforters more miserable then misery it self2 when like ,job's friends1 they seek not to fortifie ones minde with patience2 but perswade a man by betraying his own ,innocency1 to despair of ,gods mercy2 and by justifying their injuries1 to strengthen the hands1 and harden the heart of insolent ,enemies4 ,i am so much a friend to all ,church-men1 that have any thing in them beseeming that sacred ,function1 that ,i have hazarded my own interests1 chiefly upon ,conscience and ,constancie1 to maintain their ,rights2 whom the more ,i looked upon as ,orphans1 and under the sacrilegious eyes of many cruell and rapacious ,reformers2 so ,i thought it my dutie the more to appear as a ,father1 and a ,patron for them and the ,church4 ,although ,i am very unhandsomly requited by some of them2 who may live to repent no lesse for ,my sufferings1 then their own ungrateful errours1 and that injurious contempt and meannesse1 which they have brought upon their ,calling and ,persons4 ,i pity al of them1 ,i despise none3 only ,i thought ,i might have leave to make choice of some for ,my special ,attendance1 who were best approved in ,my ,judgment most sutable to ,my affection3 ,for1 ,i held it better to seem undevout1 and to hear no mans ,praiers1 then to be forced1 or seem to comply with those ,petitions to which the heart cannot consent1 nor the tongue say ,amen1 without contradicting a mans own understanding1 or belying his own ,soul4 ,in ,devotions1 ,i love neither profane boldnesse1 nor pious non-sence2 but such an humble and judicious gravitie as shews the ,speaker to be at once considerate both of ,gods ,majestie1 the ,churches ,honour1 and his own vilenesse2 both knowing what things ,god allows him to ask1 and in what manner it becomes a sinner to supplicate the divine mercie for himself1 and others4 ,i am equally scandalised with all ,praiers1 that sound either imperiously1 or rudely1 and passionately2 as either wanting humilitie to ,god1 or charitie to men1 or respect to the dutie4 ,i confess ,i am better pleased as with studied and premeditated ,sermons1 so with such publick ,forms of ,praier1 as are fitted to the ,churches and every ,christians daily and common necessities2 because ,i am by them better assured1 what ,i may join my heart unto1 then ,i can be of any mans extemporary sufficiencie3 which as ,i do not wholly exclude from publick occasions2 so ,i allow its just libertie and use in private and devout retirements2 where neither the solemnities of the dutie1 nor the modest regards to others1 do require so great exactness as to the outward manner of performance2 ,though the light of understanding1 and the fervencie of affections ,i hold the main and most necessarie requisites both in constant1 and occasionall1 solitairie1 and sociall ,devotions4 ,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 ,ministers1 as ,i do the ,liturgie before their ,directorie4 ,in the one ,i have been alwaies educated and exercised2 ,in the other1 ,i am not yet ,catechized1 nor acquainted3 ,and if ,i were1 yet should ,i not by that1 as by any certain rule and ,canon of ,devotion1 be able to follow or find out the indirect extravagancies of most of those men1 who highly cry up that as a piece of rare composure and use1 which is already as much despised and disused by many of them1 as the ,common-,prayer sometimes was by those men2 a great part of whose ,pietie hung upon that popular pin of railing against1 and contemning the ,government1 and ,liturgie of this ,church4 ,but1 ,i had rather be condemned to the wo of ,v soli1 then to that of ,v vobis ,hypocrit1 by seeming to pray what ,i do not approve4 ,it may be1 ,i am esteemed by my ,denyers sufficient of my ,self to discharge my dutie to ,,god as a ,priest1 though not to ,men as a ,prince4 ,indeed1 ,i think both ,offices1 ,regal ,sacerdotal1 might well become the same ,person2 as anciently they were under one name1 and the united rights of primogeniture3 nor could ,i follow better presidents1 if ,i were able1 then those two eminent ,kings1 ,david and ,solomon2 not more famous for their ,scepters and ,crowns1 then one was for devout ,psalms and ,praiers2 the other for his divine ,parables and ,preaching3 whence the one merited and assumed the name of a ,prophet1 the other of a ,preacher4 ,titles indeed of greater honour1 where rightly placed1 then any of those the ,roman ,emperors affected from the ,nations they subdued3 it being infinitely more glorious to convert ,souls to ,gods ,church by the ,word1 then to conquer men to a subjection by the ,sword4 ,yet since the order of ,gods wisdom and providence hath1 for the most part1 alwaies distinguished the gifts and offices of ,kings1 of ,priests1 of ,princes and ,preachers2 both in the ,jewish and ,christian ,churches3 ,i am sorry to find ,my self reduced to the necessity of being both1 or enjoying neither4 ,for such as seek to deprive ,me of ,kingly ,power and ,soveraigntie2 would no lesse enforce ,me to live many ,moneths without all ,praiers1 ,sacraments1 and ,sermons1 unlesse ,i become ,my own ,chaplain4 ,as ,i owe the ,clergy the protection of a ,christian ,,king1 so ,i desire to enjoy from them the benefit of their gifts and prayers2 which ,i look upon as more prevalent then ,my own1 or other mens2 by how much they flow from minds more enlightned1 and affections lesse distracted1 then those which are encombered with secular affairs3 besides1 ,i think a greater blessing and acceptablenes attends those duties1 which are rightly performed1 as proper to1 and within the limits of that calling1 to which ,god and the ,church have specially designed and consecrated some men3 ,and however1 as to that ,spirituall government1 by which the devout ,soul is subject to ,christ1 and through his merits daily offers it self and its services to ,god1 every private believer is a ,king and a ,priest1 invested with the honour of a ,royall ,priest hood2 yet as to ,ecclesiastical order1 and the outward policy of the ,church1 ,i think confusion in ,religion will as certainly follow every mans turning ,priest or ,preacher1 as it will in the ,state1 where every one affects to rule as ,king4 ,i was always bred to more modest1 and ,i think to more pious ,principles3 the consciousness to my spirituall defects makes ,me more prize and desire those pious assistances1 which holy and good ,ministers1 either ,bishops or ,presbyters1 may afford ,me2 especially in these extremities1 to which ,god hath been pleased to suffer some of my ,subjects to reduce me2 so as to leave them nothing more1 but my life to take from ,me3 and to leave me nothing to desire1 which ,i thought might less provoke their jealousie and offence to deny ,me1 then this of having some means afforded ,me for my ,souls comfort and support4 ,to which end ,i made choice of men1 as no way 7that ,i know7 scandalous1 so every way eminent for their learning and piety1 no less then for their ,loyalty3 nor can ,i imagine any exceptions to be made against them1 but onely this1 that they may seem too able1 and too well affected toward ,me and ,my ,service4 ,but this is not the first service 7as ,i count it the best7 in which they have forced ,me to serve my self2 though ,i must confess ,i bear with more grief and impatience the want of ,my ,chaplains1 then of ,my other ,servants2 and next 7if not beyond in some things7 to the being sequestred from ,my ,wife and ,children2 since from these indeed more of humane and temporary affections1 but from those more of heavenly and eternall improvements may be expected4 ,my comfort is1 that in the enforced 7not neglected7 want of ordinary means1 ,god is wont to afford extraordinary supplies of his ,gifts and ,graces4 ,if his ,spirit will teach me1 and help my infirmities in prayer1 reading and meditation 7as ,i hope he will7 ,i shall need no other1 either ,orator1 or ,instructer4 ,to thee therefore1 ,o my ,god1 do ,i direct my now solitary ,prayers2 what ,i want of others help1 supply with the more immediate assistance of thy ,spirit1 which alone can both enlighten my darknesse1 and quicken my dulnesse4 ,o thou ,sun of righteousness1 thou sacred ,fountain of heavenly light and heat1 at once cleer and warm my heart1 both by instructing of me1 and interceding for me2 ,in thee is all fulness1 ,from thee all sufficiency1 ,by thee is all acceptance4 ,thou art companie enough1 and comfort enough2 ,thou art my ,king1 be also my ,prophet and my ,priest4 ,rule me1 teach me1 pray in me1 for me2 and be thou ever with me4 ,the single wrestlings of ,jacob prevailed with thee in that sacred ,duel1 when he had none to second him but thy selfe2 who didst assist him with power to overcome thee1 and by a welcome violence to wrest a blessing from thee4 ,o look on me thy servant1 in infinite mercy1 whom thou didst once blesse with the joynt and sociated ,devotion of others1 whose servency might inflame the coldnesse of my affections towards thee3 when wee went to meet in thy ,house with the voice of joy and gladnesse1 worshipping thee in the unity of spirits1 and with the bond of peace4 ,o forgive the neglect1 and not improving of those happy opportunities4 ,it is now thy pleasure that ,i should be as a ,pelican in the wildernesse1 as a ,sparrow on the house top1 and as a coale scattered from all those pious glowings and devout reflections1 which might best kindle1 preserve1 and increase the holy fire of thy ,graces on the ,altar of my heart1 whence the sacrifices of prayers and incense of praises might be duly offered up to thee4 ,yet1 ,o thou that breakest not the bruised reed nor quenchest the smoaking flax1 do not despise the weakness of my prayers1 nor the smotherings of my soul in this uncomfortable loannesse to which ,i am constrained by some mens uncharitable denials of those helps1 which ,i much want1 and no lesse desire4 ,o let the hardness of their hearts occasion the softnings of mine to thee1 and for them4 ,let their hatred kindle my love1 let their unreasonable denials of my religious desires the more excite my prayers to thee3 ,let their inexorable deafnesse incline thine ear to me1 who art a ,god easie to be intreated2 thine ear is not heavie1 that it cannot1 nor thy heart hard1 that it will not hear1 nor thy hand shortned1 that it cannot help me thy desolate ,suppliant4 ,thou permittest men to deprive me of those outward means which thou hast appointed in thy ,church2 but they cannot debarre me from the communion of that inward grace1 which thou alone breathest into humble hearts4 ,o make me such1 and thou wilt teach me1 thou wilt hear me1 thou wilt help me3 ,the broken and contrite heart ,i know thou wilt not despise3 ,thou1 ,o ,lord canst at once make me thy temple thy ,priest1 thy ,sacrifice1 and thine ,altar2 while from an humble heart ,i 7alone7 daily offer up in ,holy ,meditations1 fervent ,prayers1 and unfeigned ,tears1 my ,self to thee2 who preparest me for thee1 dwellest in me and acceptest of me4 ,thou1 ,o ,lord1 didst cause by secret supplies and miraculous infusions1 that the handful of meal in the vessel should not spend1 nor the little oyl in the cruise fail the widow1 during the time of drought and dearth4 ,o look on my soul1 which as a widow1 is now desolate and forsaken3 ,let not those saving truths ,i have formerly learned now fail my memory2 nor the sweet effusions of thy ,spirit1 which ,i have sometime felt1 now be wanting to my heart in this famine of ordinary and wholsom food for the refreshing of my soul4 ,which yet ,i had rather chuse then to feed from those hands who mingle my bread with ashes1 and my wine with gall1 rather tormenting1 then teaching me2 whose mouths are proner to bitter reproaches of me1 then to hearty prayers for me4 ,thou knowest1 ,o ,lord of truth1 how oft they wrest thy holy ,scriptures to my destruction1 7which are clear for their subjection1 and my preservation7 ,o let it not be to their damnation4 ,thou knowest how some men 7under colour of long prayers7 have sought to devour the houses of their ,brethren1 their ,king1 and their ,god4 ,o let not those mens balms break my head1 nor their ,cordials oppress my heart1 ,i will evermore pray against their wickedness4 ,from the poyson under their tongues1 from the snares of their lips1 from the fire1 and the swords of their words ever deliver me1 ,o ,lord1 and all those loyal and religious hearts1 who desire and delight in the prosperity of my soul1 and who seek by their prayers to relieve this sadness and solitude of thy servant1 ,o my ,king and my ,god4 99 99 99 99 99 #be4 ,penitential ,meditations and ,vows in the ,kings solitude at ,holmby4 ,give ear to my words1 ,o ,lord1 consider my ,meditation1 and hearken to the voyce of my cry1 my ,king and my ,god1 for unto thee will ,i pray4 ,i said in my haste1 ,i am cast out of the sight of thine eyes2 nevertheless1 thou hearest the voyce of my supplication1 when ,i cry unto thee4 ,if thou1 ,lord1 shouldst be extream to mark what is done amiss1 who can abide it8 ,but there is mercy with thee1 that thou mayest be feared2 therefore shall sinners flie unto thee4 ,i acknowledg my sins before thee1 which have the aggravation of my condition2 the eminencie of my place1 adding weight to my offences4 ,forgive1 ,i beseech thee1 my personal1 and my peoples sins2 which are so far mine1 as ,i have not improved the power thou gavest me1 to thy glorie1 and my ,subjects good3 ,thou hast now brought me from the glorie and freedom of a ,king1 to be a ,prisoner to my own ,subjects4 ,justlie1 ,o ,lord1 as to thy over-ruling hand1 because in many things ,i have rebelled against thee4 ,though thou hast restrained my person1 yet enlarg my heart to thee1 thy grace towards me4 ,i come far short of ,davids pietie2 yet since ,i may equal ,davids afflictions1 give me also the comforts1 and the sure mercies of ,david4 ,let the penitent sense ,i have of my sins1 be an evidence to me1 that thou hast pardoned them4 ,let not the evils1 which ,i and my ,kingdoms have suffered seem little unto thee1 though thou hast not punished us according to our sins4 ,turn thee 7,o ,lord7 unto me2 have mercy upon me1 for ,i am desolate and afflicted4 ,the sorrows of my heart are enlarged3 ,o bring thou me out of my troubles4 ,hast thou forgotten to be gracious1 and shut up thy loving kindness in displeasure8 ,o remember thy compassions of old1 and thy loving kindesses1 which have been for many generations4 ,i had utterly fainted1 if ,i had not believed to see thy goodnesse in the land of the living4 ,let not the sins of our prosperitie deprive us of the benefit of thy afflictions4 ,let this fiery triall consume the drosse which in long peace and plentie we had contracted4 ,though thou continuest miseries1 yet withdraw not thy grace2 what is wanting of prosperitie1 make up in patience and repentance4 ,and if thy anger be not to be yet turned away1 but thy hand of ,justice must be stretched out still3 ,let it1 ,i beseech thee1 be against me1 and my ,fathers house2 as for these sheep1 what have they done8 ,let my sufferings satiate the malice of mine1 and thy ,churches enemies4 ,but let their crueltie never exceed the measure of my charitie4 ,banish from me all thoughts of ,revenge1 that ,i may not lose the reward1 nor thou the glorie of my patience4 ,as thou givest me an heart to forgive them1 so ,i beseech thee1 do thou forgive what they have done against thee and me4 ,and now1 ,o ,lord1 as thou hast given me an heart to pray unto thee2 so hear and accept this ,vow which ,i make before thee4 ,if thou wilt in mercie remember ,me1 and my ,kingdoms2 ,in continuing the light of thy ,gospel1 and settling thy true ,religion among us3 ,in restoring to us the benefits of the ,laws1 and the due execution of ,justice3 ,in suppressing the many schismes in ,church1 and ,factions in ,state3 ,if thou wilt restore me and mine to the ,ancient rights and glory of my ,predecessors3 ,if thou wilt turn the hearts of my people to thy self in ,pietie1 to me in ,loyaltie1 and to one another in ,charitie3 ,if thou wilt quench the flames1 and withdraw the fewell of these ,civill ,wars3 ,if thou wilt bless us with the freedom of ,publike ,counsels1 and deliver the ,honour of ,parliaments from the insolency of the vulgar3 ,if thou wilt keep me from the great offence of enacting any thing against my ,conscience3 and especially for consenting to sacrilegious rapines1 and spoilings of thy ,church3 ,if thou wilt restore me to a capacity to glorifie thee in doing good1 both to the ,church and ,state3 ,then shall my soul praise thee1 and ,magnifie thy name before my people4 ,then shall thy glorie be dearer to me then my ,crown2 and the advancement of true ,religion both in puritie and power be my chiefest care4 ,then will ,i rule my ,people with justice1 and my ,kingdoms with equity3 ,to thy more immediate hand shal ,i ever own as the rightfull succession1 so the mercifull restauration of my ,kingdoms1 and the glorie of them4 ,if thou wilt bring me again with ,peace safetie and honour1 to my chiefest ,city and my ,parliament3 ,if thou wilt again put the ,sword of ,justice into my hand to punish and protect3 ,then will ,i make all the world to see1 and my very ,enemies to enjoy the benefit of this ,vow and resolution of ,christian charitie1 which ,i now make unto thee ,o ,lord4 ,as ,i do freely pardon for ,christ's sake those that have offended me in any kind2 so my hand shall never be against any man to revenge what is past1 in regard of any particular injurie done to me4 ,we have been mutually punished in our unnaturall divisions1 for thy sake ,o ,lord1 and for the love of my ,redeemer have ,i purposed this in my heart1 ,that ,i will use all means in the waies of amnesty1 and indempnitie2 which may most fullie remove all feares1 and burie all jealousies in forgetfulnesse4 ,let thy mercies be towards me and mine1 as my resolutions of ,truth and ,peace are towards my people4 ,hear my praier ,o ,lord1 which goeth not out of feigned lips4 ,blessed be ,god1 who hath not turned away my prayer1 or taken his mercy from me4 ,o my soul commit thy way to the ,lord1 trust in him and he shall bring it to pass4 ,but if thou wilt not restore me and mine1 what am ,i that ,i should charge thee foolishly8 ,thou1 ,lord hast given1 and thou hast taken1 ,blessed be thy name4 ,may my people and thy ,church be happie if not by me1 yet without me4 99 99 99 99 99 #bf4 ,upon the ,armies surprisall of the ,king at ,holmby1 and the ensuing distractions in the two ,houses1 the ,army1 and the ,city4 ,what part ,god will have me now to act or suffer in this new and strange scene of affaires1 ,i am not much solicitous2 some little practise will serve that man1 who only seeks to represent a part of honesty and honour4 ,this surprize of me tels the world1 that a ,,king cannot be so low1 but he is considerable1 adding weight to that party where he appears4 ,this motion1 like others of the ,times1 seems excentrique and irregular1 yet not well to be resisted or quieted3 ,better swim down such a stream1 then in vain to strive against it4 ,these are but the struglings of those twins1 which lately one womb enclosed1 the younger striving to prevail against the elder2 what the ,presbyterians have hunted after1 the ,independents now seek to catch for themselves4 ,so impossible it is for lines to be drawn from the center1 and not to divide from each other1 so much the wider1 by how much they go farther from the point of union4 ,that the ,builders of ,babel should from division fall to confusion1 is no wonder2 but for those that pretend to build ,jerusalem1 to divide their tongues and hands1 is but an ill ,omen2 and sounds too like the fury of those ,zealots1 whose intestine bitterness and divisions were the greatest occasion of the last fatall destruction of that ,citie4 ,well may ,i change my ,keepers and ,prison1 but not my captive condition1 onely with this hope of bettering1 that those who are so much professed ,patrons for the ,peoples ,liberties1 cannot be utterly against the ,liberty of their ,,king2 what they demand for their own ,consciences1 they cannot in ,reason deny to mine4 ,in this they seem more ingenuous1 then the ,presbyterian rigour1 who sometimes complaining of exacting their conformity to laws1 are become the greatest ,exactours of other mens submission to their novel injunctions1 before they are stamped with the ,authority of ,laws1 which they cannot well have without my ,consent4 ',tis a great argument1 that the ,independents think themselves manumitted from their ,rivals service1 in that they carry on a businesse of such consequence1 as the assuming my ,person into the ,armies custody1 without any commission1 but that of their own will and power4 ,such as will thus adventure on a ,,king1 must not be thought over-modest1 or timerous to carry on any designe they have a mind to4 ,their next motion menaces1 and scares both the two ,houses and the ,city3 which soon after acting over again that former part of ,tumultuary motions1 7never questioned1 punished or repented7 must now suffer for both2 and see their former sin in the glasse of the present terrours and distractions4 ,no man is so blinde as not to see herein the hand of divine ,justice2 ,they that by ,tumults first occasioned the raising of ,armies1 must now be chastned by their own ,army for new ,tumults4 ,so hardly can men be content with one sin1 but add sin to sin1 till the later punish the former2 such as were content to see ,me and many ,members of both ,houses driven away by the first unsuppressed ,tumults1 are now forced to flie to an ,armie or defend themselves against them4 ,but who can unfold the riddle of some mens justice8 ,the ,members of both ,houses who at first withdrew 7as my ,self was forced to do7 from the rudeness of the ,tumults1 were counted ,deserters1 and outed of their places in ,parliament4 ,such as stayed then1 and enjoyed the benefit of the ,tumults1 were asserted for the onely ,parliament-men3 now the ,fliers from1 and ,forsakers of their ,places1 carry the ,parliamentary power along with them2 complain highly against the ,tumults1 and vindicate themselves by an ,armie3 such as remained and kept their stations1 are looked upon as ,abettors of ,tumultuary ,insolencies1 and ,betrayers of the ,freedom and ,honour of ,parliament4 ,thus is ,power above all ,rule1 ,order1 and ,law2 where men look more to present ,advantages then their ,consciences1 and the unchangeable rules of ,justice2 while they are ,judges of others1 they are forced to condemn themselves4 ,now the plea against ,tumults holds good1 the ,authours and ,abettors of them are guiltie of prodigious insolencies2 when as before they were counted as ,friends1 and necessary ,assistants4 ,i see ,vengeance pursues and overtakes 7as the ,mice and ,rats are said to have done the ,bishop in ,germanie7 them that thought to have escaped1 and fortified themselves most impregnably against it1 both by their multitude and compliance4 ,whom the ,laws cannot1 ,god will punish by their own crimes and hands4 ,i cannot but observe this divine ,justice1 yet with sorrow and pity2 for1 ,i always wished so well to ,parliament and ,citie1 that ,i was sorry to see them do or suffer any thing unworthy such great and considerable ,bodies in this ,kingdom4 ,i was glad to see them onely scared and humbled1 not broken by that shaking3 ,i never had so ill a thought of those ,cities1 as to despair of their ,loyaltie to ,me2 which mistakes might eclipse1 but ,i never beleeved malice had quite put out4 ,i pray ,god the storm be yet wholly passed over them1 upon whom ,i look as ,christ did sometime over ,jerusalem1 as objects of my prayers and tears1 with compassionate grief1 foreseeing those severer scatterings which will certainly befall such as wantonly refuse to be gathered to their duty3 fatall blindnesse frequently attending and punishing wilfulnesse1 so that men shall not be able at last to prevent their sorrows1 who would not timely repent of their sins2 nor shall they be suffered to enjoy the comforts1 who securely neglect the counsels belonging to their peace4 ,they will finde that brethren in iniquitie are not far from becoming insolent ,enemies1 there being nothing harder then to keep ill men long in one minde4 ,nor is it possible to gain a fair period for those notions which go rather in a round and circle of fansie1 then in a right line of reason tending to the ,law1 the onely center of publike consistency2 whither ,i pray ,god at last bring all sides4 ,which will easily be done1 when we shall fully see how much more happie we are1 to be subject to the known ,laws1 then to the various wils of any men1 seem they never so plausible at first4 ,vulgar compliance with any illegal and extravagant wayes1 like violent motions in nature1 soon grows weary of itself1 and ends in a refractory sullennesse3 ,peoples rebounds are oft in their faces1 who first put them upon those violent strokes4 ,for the ,army 7which is so far excusable1 as they act according to ,souldiers principles1 and interests1 demanding pay and indemnity7 ,i think it necessary1 in order to the publike peace1 that they should be satisfied1 as far as is just2 no man being more prone to consider them then my ,self3 though they have fought against ,me1 yet ,i cannot but so far esteem that valour and gallantry they have sometime shewed1 as to wish ,i may never want such men to maintain my ,self1 my ,laws1 and my ,kingdoms1 in such a peace1 as wherein they may enjoy their share and proportion1 as much as any men4 ,but thou1 ,o ,lord1 who art perfect ,unity in a sacred ,trinity1 in mercy behold those whom thy ,justice hath divided4 ,deliver me from the strivings of my ,people1 and make ,me to see how much they need my prayers and pity1 who agreed to fight against me1 and yet are now ready to fight against one another1 to the continuance of my ,kingdoms distractions4 ,discover to all sides the ways of peace from which they have swerved3 which consists not in the divided wils of ,parties1 but in the point and due observation of the ,laws4 ,make me willing to go whither thou wilt lead me by thy providence2 and be thou ever with me1 that ,i may see thy constancy in the worlds varieti and changes4 ,make me even such as thou wouldst have ,me1 that ,i may at last enjoy that safetie and tranquillity which thou alone canst give ,me4 ,divert1 ,i pray thee1 ,o ,lord1 thy heavie wrath justly hanging over those populous ,cities1 whose plenty is prone to add fewel to their luxurie1 their wealth to make them wanton1 their multitudes tempting them to securitie1 and their securitie exposing them to unexpected miseries4 ,give them eys to see1 hearts to consider1 wils to embrace1 and courage to act those things which belong to thy glorie1 and the publique ,peace1 lest their calamitie come upon them as an armed man4 ,teach them that they cannot want ,enemies who abound in sin2 nor shall they be long un-disarmed and un-destroyed1 who with an high hand persisting to fight against ,thee1 and the cleer convictions of their own ,consciences1 fight more against themselves1 then ever they did against ,me4 ,their sins exposing them to thy ,justice1 their riches to others injuries1 their number to ,tumults1 and ,tumults to confusion4 ,though they have with much forwardnesse helped to destroy ,me2 yet let not my fall be their ruine4 ,let ,me not so much consider1 hither what they have done1 or ,i have suffered chiefly at first1 by them as to forget to imitate my crucified ,redeemer1 to plead their ignorance for their pardon2 and in my dying extremities to pray to ,thee1 ,o ,father1 to forgive them1 for they know not what they did4 ,the tears they have denied me in my saddest condition1 give them grace to bestow upon themselves2 who the lesse they were for me1 the more cause they have to weep for themselves4 ,o let not my blood be upon them and their ,children1 whom the fraud and faction of some1 not the malice of all1 have excited to crucifie me4 ,but thou1 ,o ,lord1 canst and wilt 7as thou didst my ,redeemer7 both exalt and perfect me by my sufferings1 which have more in them of thy ,mercie1 then of mans ,crueltie1 or thy own ,justice4 99 99 99 99 99 #bg4 ,to the ,prince of ,wales4 ,son1 ,if these ,papers with some others1 wherein ,i have set down the private reflections of my ,conscience1 and my most impartiall thoughts touching the chief passages1 which have been most remarkable or disputed in my late troubles1 come to your hands1 to whom they are chiefly designed2 they may be so far usefull to you1 as to state your judgement aright in what hath passed2 whereof a pious is the best use can be made2 and they may also give you some directions1 how to remedy the present distempers1 and prevent 7if ,god will7 the like for time to come4 ,it is some kind of deceiving and lessening the injury of my long restraint1 when ,i find my leisure and solitude have produced something worthy of my self1 and usefull to you2 ,that neither ,you nor any other may hereafter measure my ,cause by the ,successe1 nor my judgment of things by my ,misfortunes1 which ,i count the greater by far1 because they have so far lighted upon you and some others whom ,i have most cause to love as well as my self1 and of whose unmerited sufferings ,i have a greater sense then of ,mine own4 ,illustration3 ,natus ,may #bi ,ano #afcj tatis su ,but this advantage of wisdom ,you have above most ,princes1 that ,you have begun1 and now spent some years of discretion1 in the experience of troubles1 and exercise of patience1 wherein ,piety1 and all ,vertues1 both ,morall and ,politicall1 are commonly better planted to a thriving 7as trees set in winter7 then in the warmth1 and serenity of times1 or amidst those delights1 which usually attend ,princes ,courts in times of peace and plenty1 which are prone1 either to root up all plants of true ,vertue and ,honour1 or to be contented only with some leaves1 and withering formalities of them1 without any reall fruits1 such as tend to the publique good1 for which ,princes should alwaies remember they are born1 and by providence designed4 ,the evidence of which different education the holy ,writ affords us in the contemplation of ,david and ,rehoboam3 ,the one prepared by many afflictions for a flourishing ,kingdom1 the other softned by the unparaleld prosperity of ,solomons ,court1 and so corrupted to the great diminution1 both for ,peace1 ,honor1 and ,kingdom1 by those flatteries1 which are as unseparable from prosperous ,princes1 as ,flies are from fruit in summer2 whom adversitie1 like cold weather1 drives away4 ,i had rather you should be ,charles le ,bon1 then le ,grand1 good then great4 ,i hope ,god hath designed you to be both1 having so early put you into that exercise of his ,graces1 and gifts bestowed upon you1 which may best weed out all vitious inclinations1 and dispose you to those ,princely endowments1 and employments1 which will most gain the love1 and intend the welfare of those1 over whom ,god shall place you4 ,with ,god ,i would have you begin and end1 who is ,king of ,kings2 the ,soveraign disposer of the ,kingdomes of the world1 who pulleth down one1 and setteth up another4 ,the best ,government1 and highest ,soveraignty you can attain to1 is1 to be subject to him1 that the ,scepter of his ,word and ,spirit1 may rule in your heart4 ,the true glory of ,princes consists in advancing ,gods ,glory in the maintenance of true ,religion1 and the ,churches good2 ,also in the dispensation of civil ,power1 with ,justice and ,honour to the publique peace4 ,pietie will make you prosperous2 at least it will keep you from being miserable2 nor is he much a loser1 that loseth all1 yet saveth his own soul at last4 ,to which ,center of true happiness1 ,god1 ,i trust1 hath and will graciously direct all these black lines of affliction1 which he hath been pleased to draw on me1 and by which he hath ,i hope drawn me nearer to himself4 ,you have already tasted of that ,cup whereof ,i have liberally drank1 which ,i look upon as ,gods ,physick1 having that in healthfulness which it wants in pleasure4 ,above all1 ,i would have you1 as ,i hope you are already1 wel-grounded and setled in your ,religion3 ,the best profession of which1 ,i have ever esteemed that of the church of ,england1 in which you have been educated2 yet ,i would have your own ,judgment and ,reason now seal to that sacred bond which education hath written1 that it may be judiciously your owne ,religion1 and not other mens custome or tradition1 which you profess4 ,in this ,i charge you to persevere1 as comming nearest to ,gods ,word for ,doctrine1 and to the primitive examples for ,government1 with some little amendment1 which ,i have otherwhere expressed and often offered1 though in vain4 ,your fixation in matters of ,religion will not be more necessary for your soul's then your ,kingdoms peace1 when ,god shall bring you to them4 ,for ,i have observed1 that the ,devill of ,rebellion1 doth commonly turn himself into an ,angel of ,reformation2 and the old ,serpent can pretend new ,lights2 when some mens ,consciences accuse them for ,sedition and ,faction1 they stop its mouth with the name and noise of ,religion2 when ,pietie pleads for peace and patience1 they cry out ,zeal4 ,so that1 unless in this point ,you be well setled1 you shall never want temptations to destroy you and yours1 under pretensions of reforming matters of ,religion2 for that seems even to worst men1 as the best and most auspicious beginning of their worst designs4 ,where1 besides the ,noveltie which is taking enough with the ,vulgar1 every one hath an affectation1 by seeming forward to an outward ,reformation of ,religion1 to be thought zealous1 hoping to cover those irreligious deformities1 wherto they are conscious1 by a severity of censuring other mens opinions or actions4 ,take heed of abetting any ,factions1 or applying to any publick ,discriminations in matters of ,religion1 contrary to what is in your ,judgement and the ,church well setled3 your partiall adhering1 as head1 to any one side gaines you not so great advantages in some mens hearts 7who are prone to be of their kings ,religion7 as it loseth you in others1 who think themselves1 and their profession first despised1 then persecuted by you4 ,take such a course as may either with calmness charity quite remove the seeming differences and offences1 by impartiality1 or so order affairs in point of power that you shal not need to fear or flatter any faction2 for if ever you stand in need of them1 or must stand to their curtesie1 you are undon3 ,the ,serpent will devour the ,dove3 you may never expect less of ,loyaltie1 ,justice or humanity1 then from those who engage into religious ,rebellion3 ,their interest is always made ,gods2 under the colours of piety1 ambitious policies march1 not onely with greatest security1 but applause1 as to the ,populacy2 you may hear from them ,jacob's voice1 but you shall feel they have ,esau's hands4 ,nothing seemed less considerable then the ,presbyterian ,faction in ,england1 for many yeers2 so complyant they were to publique order3 nor indeed was their ,party great1 either in ,church or ,state1 as to mens judgements3 ,but as soon as discontents drave men into ,sidings 7as ill humors fall to the disaffected part1 which causes inflammations7 so did all1 at first1 who affected any novelties1 adhere to that side1 as the most remarkable and specious note of difference 7then7 in point of ,religion4 ,all the lesser ,factions at first were officious servants to ,presbytery their great ,master3 till time and military success discovering to each their peculiar advantages1 invited them to part stakes1 and leaving the joynt stock of uniform ,religion1 pretended each to drive for their ,party1 the trade of profits and preferments1 to the breaking and undoing not onely of the ,church and ,state1 but even of ,presbytery it self1 which seemed and hoped at first to have engrossed all4 ,let nothing seem little or despicable to you1 in matters which concern ,religion1 and the ,churches peace1 so as to neglect a speedy reforming and effectual suppressing ,errors1 and ,schisms1 which seem at first but as a hand-bredth1 but by seditious ,spirits as by strong winds are soon made to cover and darken the whole ,heaven4 ,when you have done justice to ,god1 your own soul and his ,church1 in the profession and preservation both of truth and unitie in ,religion4 ,the next main hinge on which your prosperitie will depend1 and move1 is1 ,that of civil ,justice1 wherein the setled ,laws of these ,kingdoms1 to which you are rightly heir1 are the most excellent rules you can govern by2 which by an admirable temperament give very much to ,subjects industry1 libertie1 and happiness2 and yet reserve enough to the ,majestie and ,prerogative of any ,king1 who owns his people as ,subjects1 not as slaves2 whose subjection1 as it preserves their propertie1 peace1 and safetie2 so it will never diminish your ,rights1 nor their ingenuous ,liberties2 which consists in the enjoyment of the fruits of their industry1 and the benefit of those ,laws to which themselves have consented4 ,never charge your ,head with such a ,crown1 as shall by its heaviness oppress the whole body1 the weakness of whose parts cannot return any thing of strength1 honor1 or safety1 to the ,head1 but a necessary debilitation and ruine4 ,your ,prerogative is best shewed1 and exercised in remitting1 rather then exacting the rigor of the ,laws1 there being nothing worse1 then legal tyrannie4 ,in these two points1 the preservation of established ,religion and ,laws1 ,i may 7without vanity7 turn the reproach of my sufferings1 as to the worlds censure1 into the honor of a kinde of ,martyrdom1 as to the testimony of my own ,conscience4 ,the troublers of my ,kingdoms having nothing else to object against me but this1 ,that ,i prefer ,religion1 and ,laws established1 before those alterations they propounded4 ,and so indeed ,i do1 and ever shall1 till ,i am convinced by better ,arguments1 then what hitherto have been chiefly used towards me1 ,tumults1 ,armies1 and ,prisons4 ,i cannot yet learn that lesson1 nor ,i hope ever will you1 ,that it is safe for a ,king to gratifie any ,faction with the perturbation of the ,laws1 in which is wrapt up the publike ,interest1 and the good of the communitie4 ,how ,god will deal with me1 as to the removal of these pressures1 and indignities1 which his justice by the very unjust hands of some of my ,subjects1 hath been pleased to lay upon me1 ,i cannot tell3 nor am ,i much solicitous what wrong ,i suffer from men1 while ,i retain in my soul1 what ,i believe is right before ,god4 ,i have offered all for ,reformation and ,safety1 that in ,reason1 ,honor and ,conscience1 ,i can2 reserving onely what ,i cannot consent unto1 without an irreparable injury to my own soul1 the ,church1 and my people1 and to you also2 as the next and undoubted ,heir of my ,kingdoms4 ,to which1 if the divine ,providence1 to whom no difficulties are insuperable1 shall in his due time after my decease bring you1 as ,i hope he will3 ,my ,counsel and ,charge to you1 is1 ,that you seriously consider the former real or objected miscarriages1 which might occasion my troubles1 that you may avoyd them4 ,never repose so much upon any mans single counsel1 fidelity1 and discretion1 in managing affairs of the first magnitude1 7that is1 matters of ,religion and ,justice7 as to create in your self1 or others1 a diffidence of your own judgment1 which is likely to be always more constant and impartial to the interest of your ,crown and ,kingdom then any mans4 ,next1 beware of exasperating any ,factions by the crossness1 and asperity of some mens passions1 humors1 or private opinions1 imployed by you1 grounded onely upon the differences in lesser matters1 which are but the skirts and suburbs of ,religion4 ,wherein a charitable connivence and ,christian toleration often dissipates their strength1 whom rougher opposition fortifies2 and puts the despised and oppressed party1 into such ,combinations1 as may most enable them to get a full revenge on those they count their ,persecutors1 who are commonly assisted by that vulgar commiseration1 which attends all1 that are said to suffer under the notion of ,religion4 ,provided the differences amount not to an insolent opposition of ,laws1 and ,government1 or ,religion established1 as to the essentials of them1 such motions and minings are intolerable4 ,alwaies keep up solid piety1 and those fundamental ,truths 7which mend both hearts and lives of men7 with impartial ,favour and ,justice4 ,take heed that outward circumstances and formalities of ,religion devoure not all1 or the best incouragements of learning1 industry1 and piety2 but with an equal eye and impartial hand1 distribute ,favours and ,rewards to all men1 as you find them for their real goodnesse both in abilities and fidilitie worthy and capable of them4 ,this will be sure to gain you the hearts of the best and the most too3 who though they be not good themselves1 yet are glad to see the severer ways of vertue at any time sweetned by temporall rewards4 ,i have1 ,you see1 conflicted with different and opposite ,factions 7for so ,i must needs call and count all those that act not in any conformity to the ,laws established in ,church and ,state27 no sooner have they by force subdued what they counted their common ,enemy 7that is1 all those that adhered to the ,laws1 and to ,me7 and are secured from that fear1 but they are divided to so high a rivalry1 as sets them more at defiance against each other1 then against their first ,antagonists4 ,time will dissipate all ,factions1 when once the rough horns of private mens covetous and ambitious designes shall discover themselves2 which were at first wrapt up and hidden under the soft and smooth pretensions of ,religion1 ,reformation and ,liberty4 ,as the ,wolf is not less cruell1 so he wil be more justly hated1 when he shall appear no better then a ,wolf under ,sheeps cloathing4 ,but as for the seduced ,train of the ,vulgar1 who in their simplicity follow those disguises2 ,my ,charge and ,counsell to ,you1 is1 ,that as you need no palliations for any ,designes1 7as other men7 so that you study really to exceed in true and constant demonstrations of goodness1 piety1 and vertue towards the people even all those men that make the greatest noise and ostentations of ,religion2 so you shall neither fear any detection 7as they do who have but the face and mask of goodness7 nor shall you frustrate the just expectations of your people2 who cannot in ,reason promise themselves so much good from any ,subjects novelties1 as from the vertuous constancy of their ,king4 ,when these mountains of congealed ,factions shall by the ,sun-shine of ,gods ,mercy1 and the splendor of your ,vertues1 be thawed and dissipated2 and the abused ,vulgar shall have learned1 that none are greater ,oppressours of their ,estates1 ,liberties1 and ,consciences1 then those men that intitle themselves ,the ,patrons and ,vindicators of them1 only to usurp power over them3 ,let then no passion betray ,you to any study of revenge upon those1 whose own sin and folly will sufficiently punish them in due time4 ,but as soon as the forked arrow of factious emulations is drawn out1 use all ,princely arts and clemency to heal the wounds2 that the smart of the cure may not equall the anguish of the hurt4 ,i have offered ,acts of ,indemnity and ,oblivion to so great a latitude1 as may include all1 that can but suspect themselves to be any way obnoxious to the ,laws2 and which might serve to exclude al future jealousies and insecurities4 ,i would have ,you alwaies propense to the same way1 when ever it shall be desired and accepted1 let it be granted1 not only as an ,act of ,state-policie and necessitie1 but of ,christian charitie and choice4 ,it is all ,i have now left ,me1 a power to forgive those that have deprived ,me of all2 and ,i thank ,god1 ,i have a heart to do it1 and joy as much in this grace1 which ,god hath given ,me1 as in all ,my former enjoyments2 for this is a greater argument of ,gods love to ,me1 then any prosperitie can be4 ,be confident 7as ,i am7 that the most of all sides1 who have done amiss1 have done so1 not out of malice1 but mis-information1 or mis-apprehension of things4 ,none will be more loyal and faithful to ,me and ,you1 then those ,subjects1 who sensible of their ,errors1 and our ,injuries1 will feel in their own ,souls most vehement motives to repentance1 and earnest desires to make some reparations for their former defects4 ,as ,your qualitie sets ,you beyond any ,duel with any ,subject1 so the ,nobleness of ,your mind must raise ,you above the meditating any revenge1 or executing ,your anger upon the many4 ,the more conscious ,you shall be to ,your ,own ,merits upon ,your people1 the more prone ,you will be to expect all love and loyalty from them1 and to inflict no punishment upon them for former miscarriages3 ,you will have more inward complacency in pardoning one1 then in punishing a thousand4 ,this ,i write to ,you1 not despairing of ,gods ,mercy1 and ,my ,subjects ,affections towards ,you1 both which1 ,i hope ,you will study to deserve1 yet ,we cannot merit of ,god1 but by his own mercy4 ,if ,god shall see fit to restore ,me1 and ,you after ,me1 to those enjoyments1 which the ,laws have assigned to ,us1 and no ,subjects without an high degree of guilt and sin can devest ,us of1 then may ,i have better opportunity1 when ,i shall be so happy to see ,you in peace1 to let ,you more fully understand the things that belong to ,gods glory1 ,your own honor1 and the ,kingdoms peace4 ,but if ,you never see ,my face again1 and ,god will have me buried in such a barbarous ,imprisonment obscurity1 which the perfecting some mens designs requires wherin few hearts that love ,me are permitted to exchange a word1 or a look with ,me2 ,i do require and entreat ,you as ,your ,father1 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 ,england4 ,i tell you ,i have tried it1 and after much search1 and many disputes1 have concluded it to be the best in the world1 not only in the ,community1 as ,christian1 but also in the speciall notion1 as ,reformed1 keeping the middle way between the pomp of superstitious ,tyranny1 and the meanness of fantastique ,anarchy4 ,not but that 7the draught being excellent as to the main1 both for ,doctrine and ,government1 in the ,church of ,england7 some lines1 as in very good figures1 may happily need some sweetning1 or polishing1 which might here have easily been done by a safe and gentle hand3 if some mens precipitancy had not violently demanded such rude alterations1 as would have quite destroyed all the beauty and proportions of the whole4 ,the scandall of the late ,troubles1 which some may object1 and urge to you against the ,protestant ,religion established in ,england1 is easily answered to them1 or your own thoughts in this2 ,that scarce any one who hath been a ,beginner1 or an active ,prosecutor of this late ,warr against the ,church1 the ,laws1 and me1 either was1 or is a true ,lover1 ,embracer or practiser of the ,protestant ,religion established in ,england which neither gives such rules1 nor ever before set such examples4 ',tis true1 some heretofore had the boldness to present threatning ,petitions to their ,princes and ,parliaments1 which others of the same ,faction 7but of worse ,spirits7 have now put in execution3 but let not counterfeit and disorderly ,zeal abate your value and esteem of true piety2 both of them are to be known by their fruits2 the sweetness of the ,vine and ,fig-tree is not be despised1 though the brambles and thorns should pretend to bear figs and grapes1 thereby to rule over the trees4 ,nor would ,i have you to entertain any aversation or dislike of ,parliaments1 which in their right constitution with freedom and honour will never injure or diminish your greatnesse2 but will rather be as interchangings of love1 loyaltie and confidence betwen a ,prince and his ,people4 ,nor would the events of this black ,parliament have been other then such 7however much biassed by ,factions in the ,elections7 if it had been preserved from the insolencies of popular dictates1 and tumultuary impressions3 ,the sad effects of which will no doubt make all ,parliaments after this1 more cautious to preserve that ,freedom and ,honour which belong to such ,assemblies 7when once they have fully shaken off this yoak of ,vulgar encroachment7 since the publick interest consists in the mutual and common good both of ,prince and ,people4 ,nothing can be more happie for all1 then in fair1 grave1 and honourable waies to contribute their ,councels in ,common1 enacting all things by publick consent1 without ,tyrannie or ,tumults4 ,we must not starve our selves1 because some men have surfeited of wholesome food4 ,and if neither ,i1 nor you1 be ever restored to our ,rights1 but ,god in his severest justice1 will punish ,my ,subjects with continuance in their sin1 and suffer them to be deluded with the prosperity of their wickednesse2 ,i hope ,god will give ,me and ,you1 that grace1 which will teach and enable ,us1 to want1 as well as to wear a ,crown1 which is not worth taking up1 or enjoying upon sordid1 dishonourable1 and irreligious terms4 ,keep you to true ,principles of ,piety1 vertue1 and honour1 ,you shall never want a ,kingdom4 ,a principal ,point of ,your honour will consist in ,your referring all respect1 love1 and protection to ,your ,mother1 ,my ,wife2 who hath many waies deserved well of ,me1 and chiefly in this1 ,that having been a means to bless me with so many hopeful ,children2 7all which1 with their ,mother1 ,i recommend to ,your love and care7 ,shee hath been content with incomparable magnanimity and patience to suffer both for1 and with ,me1 and ,you4 ,my ,prayer to ,god almightie is1 7whatever becomes of me1 who am ,i thank ,god1 wrapt up and fortified in my own innocency1 and his ,grace7 that he would be pleased to make ,you an ,anchor1 or ,harbour rather1 to these tossed and weather-beaten ,kingdoms2 a ,repairer by ,your wisdom1 justice1 piety1 and valour1 of what the folly and wickednesse of some men have so far ruined1 as to leave nothing intire in ,church or ,state1 to the ,crown1 the ,nobility1 the ,clergie1 or the ,commons1 either as to ,laws1 ,liberties1 ,estates1 ,order1 ,honour1 ,conscience or lives4 ,when they have destroyed me1 7for ,i know not how far ,god may permit the malice and crueltie of my ,enemies to proceed1 and such apprehensions some mens words and actions have already given me7 as ,i doubt not but my bloud will cry aloud for vengeance to ,heaven3 so ,i beseech ,god not to pour out his wrath upon the generality of the people1 who have either deserted me1 or engaged against me1 through the artifice and hypocrisie of their ,leaders1 whose inward horrour will be their first ,tormentor1 nor will they escape exemplary judgements4 ,for those that loved me1 ,i pray ,god1 they may have no miss of me1 when ,i am gone2 so much ,i wish and hope1 that all good ,subjects may be satisfied with the blessings of your presence and vertues4 ,for those that repent of any defects in their duty toward me1 as ,i freely forgive them in the word of a ,christian ,,king1 so ,i beleeve you will find them truly ,zealous1 to repay with interest that loyalty and love to you1 which was due to me4 ,in summe1 what good ,i intended1 do you perform1 when ,god shall give you power2 much good ,i have offered1 more ,i purposed to ,church and ,state1 if times had been capable of it4 ,the deception will soon vanish1 and the ,vizards will fall off apace2 ,this mask of ,religion on the face of ,rebellion 7for so it now plainly appears1 since my ,restraint and cruell usage1 that they fought not for me1 as was pretended7 wil not long serve to hide some mens deformities4 ,happy times ,i hope1 attend you1 wherein your ,subjects by their miseries will have learned1 ,that ,religion to their ,god1 and ,loyalty to their ,king1 cannot be parted without both their sin and their infelicity4 ,i pray ,god bless you and establish your ,kingdoms in righteousness1 your ,soul in true ,religion1 and your honour in the love of ,god and your people4 ,and if ,god will have disloyalty perfected by my destruction2 let my ,memory ever1 with my ,name1 live in you2 as of your ,father1 that loves you1 and once a ,,king of three flourishing ,kingdoms2 whom ,god thought fit to honour1 not only with the ,scepter and ,government of them1 but also with the suffering many indignities and an untimely death for them2 while ,i studied to preserve the ,rights of the ,church1 the ,power of the ,laws1 the ,honour of my ,crown1 the ,priviledge of ,parliaments1 the ,liberties of my ,people1 and my own ,conscience1 which1 ,i thank ,god1 is dearer to me then a thousand ,kingdoms4 ,i know ,god can1 ,i hope he yet will restore me to my ,rights4 ,i cannot despair either of his mercy1 or of my peoples love and pitie4 ,at worst1 ,i trust ,i shall but go before you to a better ,kingdom1 which ,god hath prepared for me1 and me for it1 through my ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 to whose mercies ,i commend ,you and all mine4 ,farewell1 till we meet1 if not on ,earth1 yet in ,heaven4 99 99 99 99 99 #bh4 ,meditations upon ,death1 after the ,votes of ,non-,addresses1 and ,his ,majesties closer ,imprisonment in ,carisbrook-,castle4 ,as ,i have leisure enough1 so ,i have cause more then enough1 to meditate upon1 and prepare for ,my ,death3 for ,i know1 there are but1 few steps between the ,prisons and ,graves of ,princes4 ,it is ,gods indulgence which gives me the space1 but ,mans cruelty that gives ,me the sad occasions for these thoughts4 ,for1 besides the common burthen of mortalitie1 which lies upon ,me1 as a ,man2 ,i now bear the heavy load of other mens ambitions1 fears1 jealousies1 and cruel passions1 whose envie or enmity against ,me1 makes their own lives seem deadly to them1 while ,i enjoy any part of ,mine4 ,i thank ,god1 ,my prosperitie made ,me not wholly a stranger to the contemplations of mortalitie4 ,those are never unseasonable1 since this is alwaies uncertain3 ,death being an eclipse1 which oft happeneth as well in cleer as cloudy dayes4 ,but ,my now long and sharp adversity hath so reconciled in ,me those natural ,antipathies between ,life and ,death1 which are in all men1 that ,i thank ,god1 the common terrors of it are dispelled2 and the special horrour of it1 as to ,my particular1 much allayed3 for although ,my ,death at present may justly be represented to ,me with all those terrible aggravations1 which the policy of cruel and implacable enemies can put upon it 7affaires being drawn to the very dregs of malice7 yet ,i bless ,god1 ,i can look upon all those stings1 as unpoysonous1 though sharp2 since ,my ,redeemer hath either pulled them out1 or given ,me the ,antidote of his ,death against them1 which as to the immaturity1 injustice1 shame1 scorn1 and cruelty of it1 exceeded what ever ,i can fear4 ,indeed1 ,i never did find so much1 the life of ,religion1 the feast of a good ,conscience1 and the brazen wall of a judicious integrity and constancy1 as since ,i came to these closer conflicts with the thoughts of ,death4 ,i am not so old1 as to be wearie of life2 nor 7,i hope7 so bad1 as to be either afraid to die1 or ashamed to live3 true1 ,i am so afflicted1 as might make ,me sometime even desire to die1 if ,i did not consider1 ,that it is the greatest glory of a ,christians life to die daily1 in conquering by a lively faith1 and patient hopes of a better life1 those partiall and quotidian deaths1 which kill us 7as it were7 by piece-meales1 and make us overlive our own fates3 while we are deprived of health1 honour1 liberty1 power1 credit1 safety1 or estate2 and those other comforts of dearest relations1 which are as the life of our lives4 ,though1 as a ,,king1 ,i think ,my self to live in nothing temporall so much1 as in the love and good-will of my ,people2 for which1 as ,i have suffered many deaths1 so ,i hope ,i am not in that point as yet wholly dead3 notwithstanding2 ,my ,enemies have used all the poyson of falsity and violence of hostility to destroy1 first the love and ,loyalty1 which is in my ,subjects2 and then all that content of life in me1 which from these ,i chiefly enjoyed4 ,indeed1 they have left me but little of life1 and only the husk and shell 7as it were7 which their further malice and cruelty can take from me2 having bereaved me of all those worldly comforts1 for which life it self seems desirable to men4 ,but1 ,o my ,soul6 think not that life too long1 or tedious1 wherein ,god gives thee any opportunities1 if not to do1 yet to suffer with such ,christian patience and magnanimity1 in a good ,cause1 as are the greatest honour of our lives1 and the best improvement of our deaths4 ,i know that in point of true ,christian valor1 it argues pusillanimity to desire to dye out of weariness of life1 and a want of that heroick greatness of ,spirit which becoms a ,christian in the patient and generous sustaining those afflictions1 which as shadows necessarily attend us1 while we are in this body3 and which are lessned or enlarged as the ,sun of our prosperity moves higher1 or lower3 whose totall absence is best recompensed with the ,dew of ,heaven4 ,the assaults of affliction may be terrible1 like ,sampsons ,lyon1 but they yeild much sweetness to those that dare to encounter and overcome them2 who know how to overlive the witherings of their ,gourds without discontent or peevishness1 while they may yet converse with ,god4 ,that ,i must die as a man1 is certain2 that ,i may die a ,king1 by the hands of my own ,subjects1 a violent1 sodain1 barbarous death2 in the strength of my years1 in the midst of my ,kingdoms2 my ,friends and loving ,subjects being helpless ,spectators2 my ,enemies insolent ,revilers and ,triumphers over me1 living1 dying1 and dead1 is so probable in humane reason1 that ,god hath taught me not to hope otherwise as to mans crueltie2 however1 ,i despair not of ,gods infinite mercy4 ,i know my life is the ,object of the devils wicked mens malice1 but yet under ,gods sole custodie and disposal3 whom ,i do not think to flatter for longer life by seeming prepared to die2 but ,i humbly desire to depend upon him1 and to submit to his will both in life and death1 in what order soever he is pleased to lay them out to me4 ,i confess it is not easie for me to contend with those many horrours of ,death1 wherewith ,god suffers me to be tempted2 which are equally horrid1 either in the suddennesse of a barbarous ,assasination or in those greater formalities1 whereby my ,enemies being more solemnly cruel will1 it may be1 seek to adde as those did who ,crucified ,christ the mockery of ,justice1 to the cruelty of malice3 ,that ,i may be destroyed1 as with greater pomp and artifice1 so with less pity1 will be but a necessary policie to make my ,death appear as an ,act of ,justice1 done by subjects upon their ,soveraign1 who know that no ,law of ,god or ,man invests them with any power of ,judicature without me1 much lesse against me3 and who1 being sworn1 and bound by all that is sacred before ,god and man1 to endeavour my preservation1 must pretend ,justice to cover their perjury4 ,it is1 indeed1 a sad fate for any man to have his ,enemies to be ,accusers1 ,parties1 and ,judges2 but most desperate1 when this is acted by the insolence of ,subjects against their ,soveraign2 wherein those1 who have had the cheifest hand1 and are most guilty of contriving the publick ,troubles1 must by shedding my bloud1 seem to wash their own hands of that innocent bloud whereof they are now most evidently guilty before ,god and ,man2 and ,i beleeve in their own ,consciences too1 while they carried on unreasonable ,demands1 ,first by ,tumults1 after by ,armies4 ,nothing makes mean spirits more cowardly-cruel in managing their usurped power against their lawful ,superiours then this1 the guilt of their unjust ,usurpation3 notwithstanding those specious popular pretentions of ,justice against ,delinquents applied only to disguise at first the monstrousnesse of their designs1 who despaired1 indeed1 of possessing the power and profits of the ,vineyard1 till the heir whose right it is1 be cast out and slain4 ,with them ,my greatest fault must be1 that ,i would not either destroy ,my ,self with the ,church and ,state by ,my word1 or not suffer them to do it un-resisted by the ,sword2 whose covetous ambition no ,concessions of ,mine could ever yet either satisfie1 or abate4 ,nor is it likely they will ever think1 that ,kingdom of brambles which some men seek to erect 7at once weak1 sharp1 and fruitlesse1 either to ,god or man7 is like to thrive till watered with the ,royal bloud of those1 whose right the ,kingdom is4 ,well1 ,gods will be done1 ,i doubt not but my ,innocencie will finde him both my ,protector and my ,advocate1 who is my only ,judg2 whom ,i own as ,king of ,kings1 not onely for the eminency of his ,power and ,majestie above them2 but also for that singular care and protection which he hath over them2 who knows them to be exposed to as many dangers 7being the greatest patrons of ,law1 ,justice1 ,order1 and ,religion on earth7 as there be either ,men or ,devils1 which love confusion4 ,nor will he suffer those men long to prosper in their ,babel1 who build it with the bones1 and cement it with the bloud of their ,kings4 ,i am confident they will find ,avengers of my death among themselves3 the injuries ,i have sustained from them shall be first punished by them1 who agreed in nothing so much as in opposing me4 ,their impatience to bear the loud cry of my bloud1 shall make them think no way better to expiate it1 then by shedding theirs1 who with them most thirsted after mine4 ,the sad confusions following my destruction1 are already presaged and confirmed to me by those ,i have lived to see since my troubles2 in which ,god alone 7who only could7 hath many ways pleaded my cause2 not suffering them to go unpunished1 whose confederacy in sin was their only security2 who have cause to fear that ,god will both further divide and by mutuall vengeance1 afterward destroy them4 ,my greatest conquest of death is from the power and love of ,christ1 who hath swallow'd up death in the ,victory of his ,resurection1 and the ,glory of his ,ascention4 ,my next comfort is1 that he gives me not only the honour to imitate his example in suffering for righteousness sake 7though obscur'd by the foulest charges of ,tyranny and ,injustice17 but also1 that charity1 which is the noblest revenge upon1 and victory over my ,destroyers3 ,by which1 ,i thank ,god1 ,i can both forgive them and pray for them1 that ,god would not impute my blood to them1 further then to convince them1 what need they have of ,christs bloud to wash their souls from the guilt of shedding mine4 ,at present1 the will of mine ,enemies seems to be their only rule1 their power the measure1 and their ,successe the ,exactor1 of what they please to call ,justice1 while they flatter themselves with the fancy of their own safety by my danger1 and the security of their lives designs by ,my ,death3 forgetting1 ,that as the greatest temptations to sin are wrapped up in seeming prosperities1 so the severest vengeances of ,god are then most accomplished1 when men are suffered to compleat their wicked purposes4 ,i bless ,god1 ,i ,pray not so much1 that this bitter ,cup of violent ,death may pass from ,me1 as that of his wrath may pass from al those1 whose hands by deserting ,me1 are sprinkled1 or by ,acting and ,consenting to ,my ,death are embrued with ,my ,bloud4 ,the will of ,god hath confined1 and concluded ,mine2 ,i shall have the pleasure of ,dying1 without any pleasure of desired vengeance4 ,this ,i think becomes a ,christian toward his ,enemies1 and a ,king toward ,his ,subjects4 ,they cannot deprive ,me of more then ,i am content to lose1 when ,god sees fit by their hands to take it from ,me2 whose mercy ,i beleive1 will more then infinitely recompence what ever by mans injustice1 he is pleased to deprive ,me of4 ,the glory attending ,my ,death1 will far surpass all ,i could enjoy1 or conceive in life4 ,i shall not want the heavy and envyed ,crowns of this world1 when ,my ,god hath mercifully ,crowned and ,consummated his graces with ,glory1 and exchanged the shadows of ,my earthly ,kingdoms among men1 for the substance of that ,heavenlie ,kingdom with himself4 ,for the censures of the world2 ,i know the sharp and necessarie tyrannie of ,my ,destroyers will sufficiently confute the calumnies of tyrannie against ,me2 ,i am perswaded ,i am happie in the judicious love of the ablest and best of ,my ,subjects1 who do not only ,pitie and ,pray for ,me1 but would be content even to die with ,me1 or for ,me4 ,these know how to excuse ,my failings1 as a man1 and yet to retain and pay their dutie to ,me1 as their ,king2 there being no religious necessitie binding any ,subjects by pretending to punish1 infinitely to exceed the faults and errors of their ,princes1 especially there1 where more then sufficient satisfaction hath been made to the ,publick2 the enjoyment of which1 private ambitions have hitherto frustrated4 ,others1 ,i beleeve1 of softer tempers1 and less advantaged by ,my ruine1 do alreadie feel sharp convictions1 and some remorse in their ,consciences3 where they cannot but see the proportions of their evil dealings against ,me in the measure of ,gods retaliations upon them1 who cannot hope long to enjoy their own thumbs and toes1 having under pretence of paring others nails bin so cruel as to cut off their cheifest strength4 ,the punishment of the more insolent and obstinate1 may be like that of ,korah and his complices 7at once mutining against both ,prince and ,priest7 in such a method of divine justice1 as is not ordinary1 the earth of the lowest and meanest people opening upon them1 and swallowing them up in a just disdain of their ill-gotten1 and worse used ,authority3 upon whose support and strength they chiefly depended for their building and establishing their designes against ,me1 the ,church and ,state4 ,my chiefest comfort in death consists in my peace1 which ,i trust1 is made with ,,god2 before whose exact ,tribunall ,i shall not fear to appear1 as to the ,cause so long disputed by the ,sword1 between me and my causelese ,enemies1 where ,i doubt not but his righteous ,judgment will confute their fallacy1 who from worldly success 7rather like ,sophisters1 then sound ,christians7 draw those popular conclusions for ,gods approbation of their actions2 whose wise providence 7we know7 oft permits many events which his revealed word 7the only clear1 safe1 and fixed rule of good actions and good consciences7 in no sort approves4 ,i am confident1 the justice of my ,cause1 and clearness of my ,conscience before ,god1 and toward my people1 wil carry me as much above them in ,gods decision1 as their ,successes have lifted them above me in the ,vulgar opinion3 who consider not1 that many times those undertakings of men are lifted up to heaven in the prosperity and applause of the world1 whose rise is from hell1 as to the injuriousness and oppression of the design4 ,the prosperous winds which oft fil the sails of ,pirats1 doth not justifie their piracy and rapine4 ,i look upon it with infinite more content and quiet of ,soul1 to have been worsted in my enforced contestation for1 and vindication of the ,laws of the ,land1 the ,freedom and ,honour of ,parliaments1 the ,rights of my ,crown1 the just ,liberty of my ,subjects1 and the true ,christian ,religion in its ,doctrine1 ,government1 and due ,encouragements1 then if ,i had1 with the greatest advantages of success over-born them all2 as some men have now evidently done1 whatever designes they at first pretended4 ,the prayers and patience of my ,friends and loving ,subjects will contribute much to the sweetning of this bitter cup1 which ,i doubt not but ,i shall more cheerfully take and drink1 as from ,gods hand 7if it must be so7 then they can give it to me1 whose hands are unjustly and barbarously lifted up against ,me4 ,and as to the last event1 ,i may seem to owe more to my ,enemies then my ,friends2 while those will put a period to the sins and sorrows attending this miserable life1 wherewith these desire1 ,i might still contend4 ,i shall be more then ,conquerour through1 ,christ enabling me3 for whom ,i have hitherto suffered1 as he is the ,author of ,truth1 ,order1 and ,peace2 for all which ,i have been forced to contend against ,errour1 ,faction1 and confusion4 ,if ,i must suffer a violent death with my ,saviour2 it is but mortality crowned with martyrdom3 where the debt of death1 which ,i owe for sin to nature1 shall be raised as a gift of faith and patience offered to ,god4 ,which ,i humbly beseech him mercifully to accept2 and although death be the wages of my own sinne1 as from ,god1 and the effect of others sinnes1 as men1 both against ,god and me2 yet as ,i hope my own sinnes are so remitted1 that they shall be no ingredients to imbitter the cup of my death1 so ,i desire ,god to pardon their sins1 who are most guilty of my destruction4 ,the ,trophees of my charitie will be more glorious and durable over them1 then their ill managed victories over me4 ,though their sin be prosperous1 yet they had need to be penitent1 that they may be pardoned3 ,both which1 ,i pray ,god they may obtain3 that my temporal ,death unjustly inflicted by them1 may not be revenged by ,gods just inflicting eternal death upon them3 for ,i look upon the temporall destruction of the greatest ,king1 as far lesse deprecable then the eternall damnation of the meanest ,subject4 ,nor do ,i wish other then the safe bringing of the ship to shore1 when they have cast me overboard2 though it be very strange1 that ,mariners can finde no other means to appease the storms themselves have raised1 but by drowning their ,pilot4 ,i thank ,god1 my ,enemies cruelty cannot prevent my preparation2 whose malice in this ,i shall defeat1 that they shall not have the satisfaction to have destroyed my ,soul with my ,body2 of whose salvation1 while some of them have themselves seemed1 and taught others to despair1 they have onely discovered this1 that they do not much desire it4 ,whose uncharitable and cruell ,restraints1 denying me even the assistance of any of my ,chaplains1 hath rather enlarged1 then any way obstructed my accesse to the ,throne of ,heaven1 ,where thou dwellest1 ,o ,king of ,kings1 who fillest ,heaven and ,earth1 who art the fountain of eternal life1 in whom is no shadow of death4 ,thou1 ,o ,god1 art both the just ,afflicter of death upon us1 and the mercifull ,saviour of us in it1 and from it4 ,yea1 it is better for us to be dead to our selves1 and live in thee2 then by living in our selves1 to be deprived of thee4 ,o make the many bitter aggravations of my death as a ,man1 and a ,king1 the opportunities and advantages of thy speciall ,graces and ,comforts in my ,soul as a ,christian4 ,if thou ,lord wilt be with me1 ,i shall neither fear nor feel any evill1 though ,i walk thorow the valley of the shadow of death4 ,to contend with death is the work of a weak and mortall man2 to overcome it1 is the grace of thee alone1 who art the ,almighty and immortall ,god4 ,o my ,saviour1 who knowest what it is to die with me as a ,man2 make me know what it is to passe through death to life with thee my ,god4 ,though ,i die1 yet ,i know that thou my ,redeemer livest for ever3 though thou slayest ,me1 yet thou hast encouraged me to trust in thee for eternal life4 ,o withdraw not thy favour from me1 which is better then life4 ,o be not far from me1 for ,i know not now neer a violent and cruel death is to me4 ,as thy ,omniscience1 ,o ,god1 discovers1 so thy ,omnipotence can defeat the designes of those who have1 or shall conspire my destruction4 ,o shew me the goodnesse of thy will1 through the wickednesse of theirs4 ,thou givest me leave as a man to pray1 that this cup may pass from me2 but thou hast taught ,me as a ,christian by the example of ,christ to add not my will1 but thine be done4 ,yea ,lord1 let our wils be one1 by wholly resolving mine into thine3 let not the desire of life in me be so great1 as that of doing or suffering thy wil in either life or death4 ,as ,i believe thou hast forgiven all the errours of my life1 so ,i hope thou wilt save me from the terrors of my death4 ,make me content to leave the worlds nothing1 that ,i may come really to enjoy all in thee1 who hast made ,christ unto me in life1 gain2 and in death advantage4 ,though my destroyers forget their dutie to thee and me1 yet do not thou1 ,o ,lord1 forget to be mercifull to them4 ,for1 what profit is there in my bloud1 or in their gaining my ,kingdoms1 if they lose their own ,souls8 ,such as have not onely resisted my just ,power1 but wholly usurped and turned it against my self1 though they may deserve1 yet let them not receive to themselves damnation4 ,thou madest thy ,son a ,saviour to many that crucified him1 while at once he suffered violently by them1 and yet willingly for them4 ,o let the voice of his bloud be heard for my ,murtherers1 louder then the cry of mine against them4 ,prepare them for thy mercy by due convictions of their sin1 and let them not at once deceive and damne their own souls by fallacious pretensions of ,justice in destroying me1 while the conscience of their unjust usurpation of power against me1 chiefly tempts them to use all extremities against me4 ,o ,lord1 thou knowest ,i have found their mercies to me as very false1 so very cruell1 who pretending to preserve me1 have meditated nothing but my ruine4 ,o deal not with them as bloud thirsty and deceitfull men2 but overcome their cruelty with thy compassion and my charitie4 ,and when thou makest inquisition for my blood1 ,o sprinkle their polluted1 yet penitent ,souls with the bloud of thy ,son1 that thy destroying ,angel may passe over them4 ,though they think my ,kingdoms on earth too little to entertain at once both them and me2 yet let the capacious ,kingdom of thy infinite mercy at last receive both me and my enemies4 ,when being reconciled to thee in the bloud of the same ,redeemer1 wee shall live far above these ambitious desires1 which beget such mortall enmities4 ,when their hands shall be heaviest and cruellest upon me1 ,o let me fall into the arms of thy tender and eternall mercies4 ,that what is cut off of my life in this miserable moment1 may be repaied in thy ever blessed ,eternity4 ,lord1 let thy servant depart in peace1 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation4 ,vota dabunt1 qu ,bella negrunt4 ,,finis4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,,perfect ,,copy ,,of ,,prayers1 ,used by ,his ,,majestie in the time of ,his ,,sufferings4 ,delivered to ,dr4 ,juxon ,bishop of ,london immediately before his ,death4 ,and his ,speeches to the ,lady ,elizabeth and the ,duke of ,glocester4 ,with ,his ,reasons against the pretended ,jurisdiction of the ,high ,court of ,justice2 intended to be delivered1 ,munday #bb of ,janu4 #afdh4 ,also ,a ,copy of a ,,letter from the ,,prince4 ,illustration ,printed ,anno ,domini #afdi4 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustration ,a ,,prayer in time of ,captivitie4 ,o ,powerfull and ,eternall ,god6 to whom nothing is so great1 that it may resist2 or so small1 that it is contemned2 look upon my miserie with thine eye of mercy1 and let ,thine infinite power vouchsafe to limit out some proportion of deliverance unto me1 as to ,thee shall seem most convenient2 let not ,injurie1 ,o ,lord1 triumph over me2 and let my faults by thy hand be corrected2 and make not my unjust ,enemies the ministers of thy ,justice3 ,but yet my ,god1 if in thy ,wisdom this be the aptest chastisement for my unexcusable transgressions2 if this ingratefull bondage be fittest for my over-high deserts2 if the pride of my 7not enough humble7 heart be thus to be broken1 ,o ,lord1 ,i yeeld unto thy will1 and cheerfully embrace what sorrow thou wilt have me suffer3 ,onely thus much let me crave of thee1 7let my craving1 ,o ,lord1 be accepted of1 since it even proceeds from thee7 ,that by thy ,goodnesse1 which is thy ,self1 thou wilt suffer some beam of thy ,majestie so to shine in my minde1 that ,i1 who in my greatest ,afflictions acknowledge it my noblest ,title to be thy ,creature1 may still depend confidently on ,thee4 ,let ,calamity be the exercise1 but not the overthrow of my ,vertue4 ,o let not their prevailing power be to my destruction4 ,and if it be thy will that they more and more vex me with punishment2 yet ,o ,lord1 never let their wickednesse have such a hand1 but that ,i may still carry a pure mind1 and stedfast resolution ever to serve thee without fear or presumption2 yet with that humble ,confidence which may best please thee2 so that at the last ,i may come to thy eternall ,kingdom through the merits of thy ,son our alone ,saviour1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,another ,,prayer4 ,almightie and most merciful ,father1 look down upon me thy unworthy servant1 who here prostrate my self at the ,foot-stool of thy ,throne of ,grace2 but look upon me1 ,o ,father1 through the ,mediation1 and in the ,merits of ,jesus ,christ1 in whom thou art only wel pleased3 for of my ,self ,i am not worthy to stand before thee1 or to speak with my unclean lips to thee1 most holy and eternall ,god2 for as in sin ,i was conceived and born1 so likewise ,i have broken all thy ,commandments by my sinful motions1 unclean thoughts1 evill words1 and wicked works2 omitting many duties ,i ought to do1 and committing many vices thou hast forbidden under pain of thy heavie ,displeasure3 as for my sins1 ,o ,lord1 they are innumerable3 wherefore ,i stand here liable to all the miseries in this life1 and everlasting ,torments in that to come1 if thou shouldst deal with me according to my deserts4 ,i confesse1 ,o ,lord1 that it is thy ,mercie 7which endureth for ever7 and thy compassion 7which never fails7 which is the cause that ,i have not been long ago consumed3 but with thee there is ,mercie and plenteous ,redemption2 in the multitude therefore of thy mercies1 and by the ,merits of ,jesus ,christ1 ,i intreat thy ,divine ,majestie1 that thou wouldst not enter into judgment with thy servant1 nor be extreme to mark what is done amisse1 but be thou mercifull unto ,me1 and wash away all my sins with that precious bloud that my ,saviour shed for me4 ,and ,i beseech thee1 ,o ,lord1 not onely to wash away all my sins2 but also to purge my heart by thy holy ,spirit1 from the dross of my natural corruption3 ,and as thou dost add days to my life1 so good ,lord1 ,i beseech thee to add repentance to my dayes1 that when ,i have past this mortall life1 ,i may be partaker of thy everlasting ,kingdom1 through the ,merits of ,jesus ,christ our ,lord1 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,,prayer and ,,confession made in and for the times of ,affliction4 ,almighty and most mercifull ,father1 as it is onely thy ,goodnesse that admits of our imperfect ,prayers1 and the knowledge that thy mercies are infinite1 which can give ,us any hope of thy accepting or granting them3 so it is our bounden and necessary duty to confesse our sins freely unto thee2 ,and of all men living1 ,i have most need1 most reason so to do2 no man having been so much obliged by thee1 no man more grievously offending thee3 that degree of knowledge which thou hast given me adding likewise to the guilt of my transgressions4 ,for1 was it through ignorance1 that ,i suffered innocent bloud to be shed by a false pretended way of ,justice8 or that ,i permitted a wrong way of thy ,worship to be set up in ,scotland8 and injured the ,bishops in ,england8 ,o no2 but with shame and grief ,i confesse1 that ,i therein followed the perswasions of worldly ,wisdome1 forsaking the ,dictates of a right-informed ,conscience3 ,wherefore1 ,o ,lord1 ,i have no excuse to make1 no hope left1 but in the multitude of thy mercies2 for ,i know my repentance weak1 and my prayers faulty3 ,grant therefore1 mercifull ,father1 so to strengthen my repentance1 and amend my prayers1 that thou maist clear the way for thine own mercies2 to which1 ,o let thy ,justice at last give place1 putting a speedy end to my deserved afflictions4 ,in the mean time1 give me patience to endure1 ,constancy against ,temptations1 and a discerning spirit1 to chuse what is best for thy ,church1 and ,people which thou hast committed to my charge4 ,grant this1 ,o most mercifull ,father1 for thy ,son ,jesus ,christs sake1 our onely ,saviour1 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,,prayer in time of imminent ,danger4 ,o ,most merciful ,father1 though my sins are so many and grievous1 that ,i may rather expect the effects of thy anger1 then so great a deliverance1 as to free me from my present great danger2 yet1 ,o ,lord1 since thy mercies are over all thy works1 and thou never failest to relieve all those who with humble and unfeigned repentance come to thee for succour1 it were to multiply1 not diminish my transgressions1 to despair of thy heavenly favour3 ,wherefore ,i humbly desire thy divine ,majestie1 ,that thou wilt not onely pardon all my sins2 but also free me out of the hands1 and protect me from the malice of my cruel ,enemies4 ,but if ,thy wrath against my hainous ,offences will not otherwayes be satisfied1 then by suffering ,me to fall under my present afflictions1 ,thy will be done2 yet with humble ,importunity1 ,i do and shall never leave to implore the assistance of thy heavenly ,spirit1 that my cause1 as ,i am thy ,vicegerent may not suffer through ,my weakness1 or want of courage1 ,o ,lord1 so strengthen and enlighten all the faculties of ,my mind1 that with clearnesse ,i may shew forth ,thy ,truth1 and manfully endure this bloody ,tryal1 that so my sufferings here may not onely glorifie ,thee1 but likewise be a furtherance to my salvation hereafter4 ,grant this1 ,o mercifull ,father1 for his sake who suffered for me1 even ,jesus ,christ the ,righteous4 ,amen4 ,illustration3 ,emblem 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,copie of a ,letter which was sent from the ,,prince to the ,,king2 ,dated from the ,,hague ,jan4 #bc4 #afdh4 ,,sir1 ,having no means to come to the knowledge of your ,majesties present condition1 but such as ,i receive from the ,prints1 or 7which is as uncertain7 ,report1 ,i have sent this ,bearer ,seamour to wait upon your ,majestie2 and to bring me an account of it3 that ,i may withall assure your ,majestie1 ,i doe not onely pray for your ,majestie according to my ,dutie1 but shall alwayes be ready to doe all which shall be in my power1 to deserve that blessing which ,i now humbly beg of your ,majestie upon 7,,sir7 ,,hague ,jan4 #bc4 #afdh4 ,your ,,majesties most humble and most obedient ,son servant ,,charls4 ,the ,superscription was thus1 ,for the ,king4 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustraton ,munday #bith ,january1 #afdh4 ,a true ,relation of the ,,kings ,speech to the ,lady ,,elisabeth1 and the ,duke of ,,glocester1 the day before ,his ,death4 ,his children being come to meet him1 he first gave his blessing to the ,lady ,elisabeth2 and bad her remember to tell her ,brother ,james1 when ever she should see him1 ,that it was his ,fathers last desire1 that he should no more look upon ,charles as his eldest ,brother only1 but be obedient unto him1 as his ,soveraign2 and that they should love one another1 and forgive their ,fathers ,enemies4 ,then said the ,king to her1 ,sweet-heart you'l forget this3 ,no 7said she7 ,i shall never forget it while ,i live3 ,and pouring forth abundance of ,tears1 promised him to write down the ,paticulars4 ,then the ,king taking the ,duke of ,glocester upon his knee1 said1 ,sweet-heart1 now they will cut off thy ,fathers head2 7upon which words the child looked very stedfastly on him47 ,mark child1 what ,i say1 they will cut of my head1 and perhaps make thee a ,king3 ,but mark what ,i say1 you must not be a ,king so long as your ,brother ,charles and ,james do live2 ,for they will cut off your ,brothers heads1 7when they can catch them7 and cut off thy head too at the last3 and therefore1 ,i charge you1 do not be made a ,king by them4 ,at which the child1 sighing1 said1 ,i will be torn in pieces first4 ,which falling so unexpectedly from one so young1 it made the ,king rejoyce exceedingly4 99 99 99 99 99 ,another ,relation from the ,lady ,,elisabeths own ,hand4 ,what the king said to me the nine and twentieth of ,january #afdh4 being the last time ,i had the happiness to see him2 he told me1 he was glad ,i was come1 and although he had not time to say much1 yet somewhat he had to say to me1 which he had not to another1 or leave in writing1 because he feared their cruelty was such1 as that they would not have permitted him to write to me1 he wished me not to grieve and torment my self for him2 for that would be a glorious death that he should dye2 it being for the ,laws and ,liberties of this ,land1 and for maintaining the true ,protestant ,religion4 ,he bad me read ,bishop ,andrews ,sermons1 ,hookers ,ecclesiasticall ,politie1 and ,bishop ,lauds ,book against ,fisher1 which would ground me against ,popery4 ,he told me1 he had forgiven all his ,enemies1 and hoped ,god would forgive them also2 and commanded us1 and all the rest of my ,brothers and ,sisters to forgive them3 he bid me tell my ,mother1 ,that his thoughts never had strayed from her1 and that his love should be the same to the last4 ,withall he commanded me and my ,brother to be obedient to her4 ,and bid me send his blessing to the rest of my ,brothers and ,sisters1 with ,commendation to all ,his ,friends3 ,so after he had given me his blessing1 ,i took my leave4 ,further1 he commanded us all to forgive those people1 but never to trust them2 for they had been most false to him1 and to those that gave them power1 and he feared also to their own souls2 ,and desired me not to grieve for him1 for he should die a ,martyr1 and that he doubted not but the ,lord would settle his ,throne upon his ,son1 and that we should be all happier1 then we could have expected to have been1 if he had lived3 ,with many other things1 which at present ,i cannot remember4 ,,elisabeth4 99 99 99 99 99 ,another ,relation from the ,lady ,elisabeth4 ,the ,king said to the ,duke of ,glocester1 that he would say nothing to him but what was for the good of his soul3 he told him1 that he heard that the ,army intended to make him ,king2 but it was a thing not for him to take upon him1 if he regarded the welfare of his soul2 for he had two ,brothers before him3 and therefore commanded him upon ,his blessing1 never to accept of it1 unless it redowned lawfully upon him3 ,and commanded him to fear the ,lord1 and he would provide for him4 ,copia vera4 99 99 99 99 99 ,an ,epitaph upon ,king ,,charls4 ,so falls that stately ,cedar3 while it stood ,that was the onely glory of the ,wood3 ,great ,charles1 thou earthly ,god1 celestial ,man1 ,whose life1 like others1 though it were a span3 ,yet in that span1 was comprehended more ,then ,earth hath waters or the ,ocean shore2 ,thy heavenly vertues1 ,angels shou'd rehearse1 ,it is a theam too high for humane ,verse3 ,he that would know thee right1 then let him look ,upon ,thy rare incomparable ,book1 ,and read it or'e and o're2 which if he do1 ,hee'l find thee king1 and ,priest1 and ,prophet too3 ,and sadly see our losse1 and though in vain1 ,with fruitlesse wishes1 call thee back again4 ,nor shall oblivion sit upon thy ,herse1 ,though there were neither ,monument1 nor ,verse4 ,thy ,suff'rings thy ,death let no man name2 ,it was thy ,glorie1 but the ,kingdoms ,shame4 ,j4 ,h4 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustration ,his ,majesties ,reasons against the pretended ,jurisdiction of the ,high ,court of ,justice1 which he intended to deliver in writing on ,munday ,january #bb1 #afdh4 ,faithfully transcribed out of the originall ,copie under the ,kings own hand4 ,having already made my protestations not only against the illegality of this pretended ,court1 but also that no earthly power can justly call me 7who am your ,king7 in question as a ,delinquent1 ,i would not any more open my mouth upon this occasion1 more then to refer my selfe to what ,i have spoken1 were ,i alone in this case concerned4 ,but the duty ,i owe to ,god in the preservation of the true ,liberty of my ,people1 will not suffer me at this time to be silent3 ,for1 how can any free-born ,subject of ,england call life or any thing he possesseth his own1 if power without right daily make new1 and abrogate the old fundamentall ,law of the ,land1 which ,i now take to be the present case4 ,wherefore when ,i came hither1 ,i expected that you would have indeavoured to have satisfied me concerning these grounds1 which hinder me to ,answer to your pretended ,impeachment1 but since ,i see that nothing ,i can say will move you to it 7though ,negatives are not so naturally proved as ,affirmatives7 yet ,i will shew you the ,reason why ,i am confident you cannot judge me1 nor indeed the meanest man in ,england2 for ,i will not 7like you7 without shewing a reason1 seek to impose a belief upon ,my ,subjects4 ,sidenote3 ,hereabout ,i was stopt1 and not suffered to speake any more concerning ,reasons4 ,there is no proceeding just against any man1 but what is warranted either by ,gods ,laws1 or the municipall ,lawes of the ,country where he lives4 ,now ,i am most confident1 that this daies proceeding cannot be warranted by ,gods ,law1 for on the contrary the authority of obedience unto ,kings is cleerly warranted and strictly commanded both in the ,old and ,new ,testament2 which if denied1 ,i am ready to prove3 and for the question now in hand1 there it is said1 ,that where the word of a ,king is1 there is ,power1 and who may say unto him1 what doest thou8 ,eccles4 #h4 #d4 ,then for the ,lawes of this land1 ,i am no lesse confident1 that no learned ,lawyer will affirme that an impeachment can lie against the ,king1 they all going in his name2 and one of their ,maximes is1 that the ,king can do no wrong4 ,besides1 the law upon which you ground your proceedings1 must either be old or new2 if old shew it2 if new1 tell what authority warranted by the fundamentall ,laws of the land hath made it1 and when4 ,but how the ,house of ,commons can erect a ,court of ,judicature1 which was never one it self 7as is well known to all ,lawyers7 ,i leave to ,god and the ,world to judge2 ,and it were full as strange that they should pretend to make ,laws without ,king or ,lords-,house1 to any that have heard speak of the ,lawes of ,england4 ,and admitting1 but not granting1 that the people of ,englands ,commission could grant your pretended ,power1 ,i see nothing you can shew for that2 for certainly you never asked the question of the tenth man of the ,kingdom1 and in this way you manifestly wrong even the poorest ,plough-man1 if you demand not his free consent2 nor can you pretend any colour for this your pretended ,commission without the consent at least of the major part of every man in ,england1 of whatsoever quality or condition1 which ,i am sure1 you never went about to seek2 so far are you from having it4 ,thus you see that ,i speak not for my own right alone1 as ,i am your ,king1 but also for the true ,liberty of all my ,subjects1 which consists not in sharing the power of ,government1 but in living under such ,laws1 such a ,government as may give themselves the best assurance of their lives and propriety of their goods4 ,nor in this must or do ,i forget the priviledges of both ,houses of ,parliament1 which this dayes proceedings doth not only violate1 but likewise occasion the greatest breach of their ,publike ,faith that 7,i beleeve7 ever was heard of1 with which ,i am far from charging the two houses3 for all the pretended crimes laid against me1 bear date long before this late ,treaty at ,newport1 in which ,i having concluded as much as in me lay1 and hopefully expecting the two ,houses agreement thereunto1 ,i was suddenly surprized1 and hurried from thence as a ,prisoner1 upon which accompt ,i am against my will brought hither1 where since ,i am come1 ,i cannot but to my power defend the ancient ,laws and ,liberties of this ,kingdom1 together with my own just ,right2 then for any thing ,i can see the higher house is totally excluded4 ,and for the ,house of ,commons1 it is too well known that the major part of them are detained or deterr'd from sitting1 so as if ,i had no other1 this were sufficient for me to protest against the lawfulnesse of your pretended ,court4 ,besides all this1 the peace of the ,kingdom is not the least in my thoughts2 and what hopes of settlement is there so long as power raignes without rule of ,law1 changing the whole frame of that government under which this ,kingdom hath flourished for many hundred years1 7nor will ,i say what will fall out in case this lawlesse unjust proceeding against me do go on7 beleeve it the ,commons of ,england will not thanke you for this change1 for they will remember how happy they have been of late years under the raign of ,q4 ,elizabeth1 the ,king my ,father and my self1 untill the beginning of these unhappy troubles1 and wil have cause to doubt that they shall never be so happy under any new4 ,and by this time it will be too sensibly evident1 that the ,armes ,i took up were only to defend the fundamentall ,laws of this ,kingdom1 against those who have supposed my power hath totally changed the ancient ,government4 ,thus having shewed you briefly the ,reasons1 why ,i cannot submit to your pretended authority without violating the trust which ,i have from ,god1 for the welfare and liberty of my people2 ,i expect from you either clear ,reasons to convince my ,judgment1 shewing me that ,i am in an error 7and then truly ,i will readily answer7 or that you will withdraw your proceedings4 ,this ,i intended to speake in ,westminster-,hall on ,monday #bb4 ,january1 but against reason was hindered to shew my ,reasons4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,finis4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's note4 ,inconsistencies in spelling1 grammar1 capitalisation and punctuation have generally been retained1 unless the inconsistency is obviously an error4 e4g4 ,iustice and ,justice 7etc47 are both used2 wickednss 7page #ec7 may be a printer's error1 or the author's contraction4 ,there are a few instances of 'wickednesse'1 and only one of 'wickedness'2 there are a few instances of 'yeild'1 and 'yeeld'1 but none of 'yield'2 'then' is used throughout the book as modern writers would use 'than'2 and apostrophes are notable by their absence4 ,the prefix 'un' is used where a modern writer would use 'in'4 ,many other words have more than one spelling4 ,phonetic spellings have been retained4 'proreption' 7p4 #ff7 means 'slow advance' 7,google ,books74 ,the long 's'1 prevalent at the time1 has been updated to the modern 's'1 which even in #afdi was used at the ends of words4 ,there are some instances of what seem to be genuine errata3-- ,sundry missing1 damaged or extraneous punctuation has been repaired4 ,explanation of the ,emblem3 'deprrss'd' corrected to 'depress'd'3 ,palm-like depress'd1 ,i higher rise p4 #ae3 'agaist' corrected to 'against'3 have purposed any violence or oppression against the ,innocent p4 #bd3 'assawge' corrected to 'asswage'3 and after did'st asswage the floud which drowned the world1 p4 #db3 'kinkled' corrected to 'kindled'3 the brands of that fire being ill quenched1 have kindled the like flames here4 p4 #ea3 'noreable' corrected to 'noteable'993 he is now become a noteable monument of unprosperous disloialtie1 p4 #ei3 'and' corrected to 'an'3 ,i must now be urged with an ,armie1 p4 #fc3 'one' corrected to 'on'3 unfortunate ,successes of this ,war1 on my side1 ,i do not think my p4 #gc3 'no' corrected to 'to'3 if not to conquer1 yet at least to suffer4 p4 #gd3 'eclisp' corrected to 'eclipse'3 strip me of my strength1 and eclipse my glory4 p4 #gg3 ',popositions' corrected to ',propositions'3 propound1 7for such is one of their ,propositions7 p4 #hb3 removed extraneous 'in'3 to the ,laws in force1 p4 #hg3 'suppplication' corrected to 'supplication'3 ,to thee ,i make my supplication1 p4 #ih3 'with' corrected to 'which'3 destroying the innocent with the guilty1 the erroneous with the malicious2 p4 #ajf3 'ont' corrected to 'out'3 they lay out upon their opinions p4 #ajg3 'contemus' corrected to 'contemns'3 that the other rejects and contemns2 p4 #abj3 'clomencie' corrected to 'clemencie'3 and thy clemencie hath accepted from us1 p4 #aba3 'theia' corrected to 'their'3 the ,charity of most men is grown so cold1 and their ,religion so illiberall4 p4 #aba3 'net' corrected to 'not'3 ,let not holy things be given to ,swine p4 #acg3 'migh' corrected to 'might'3 he might seem to justifie his disdainfull reproaches1 p4 #ada3 'too' corrected to 'to'3 where not the words1 but mens hearts are to blame4 p4 #add3 'nse' corrected to 'use'3 ,that further1 they should use such severity as p4 #aed3 ',goverment' corrected to ',government'3 such a frame or ,government which is paternall1 p4 #aeh3 ',hospitaliy' corrected to ',hospitality'3 also enablements to works of ,charitie and ,hospitality1 p4 #afa3 'judement' corrected to 'judgement'3 to my judgement1 ,i am solemnly obliged to p4 #agb3 'bnt' corrected to 'but'3 not to trust in the arm of ,flesh1 but in the living ,god4 p4 #agi3 'afficting' corrected to 'afflicting'3 ,between both thy hands1 the right sometimes supporting1 and the left afflicting1 fashion us p4 #ahj3 'punishmenes' corrected to 'punishments'3 punishing my self in their punishments4 p4 #ahd3 'abrogae' corrected to 'abrogate'3 by the ,sword to arrogate1 and quite abrogate the ,authority of p4 #ahf3 'moudls' corrected to 'moulds'3 would not run into their new moulds1 till they had first melted p4 #ahg3 ',christans' corrected to ',christians'3 appear good ,christians1 that approve not them selves good ,subjects4 p4 #aib3 'thrist' corrected to 'thirst'3 the most ambitious thirst of popular glory among the ,vulgar p4 #aif3 'pnrpose' corrected to 'purpose'3 ,fix in me a purpose to honour thee1 and then p4 #bja3 'wordls' corrected to 'worlds'3 the worlds vanity and inconstancie4 p4 #bje3 'estabish' corrected to 'establish'3 because thou ,lord1 hast holpen and comforted me2 establish me with thy free ,spirit1 p4 #bjg3 'christias' corrected to 'christians'3 then is ever used by christians to the meanest prisoners1 p4 #bae3 ',honse' corrected to ',house'3 when wee went to meet in thy ,house with the voice of joy and gladnesse1 p4 #bba3 ',sate' corrected to ',state'3 ,in suppressing the many schismes in ,church1 and ,factions in ,state4 p4 #bbc3 removed extraneous 'if'3 ,may my people and thy ,church be happie if not by me1 yet without me4 p4 #bcj3 'abonnd' corrected to 'abound'3 they cannot want ,enemies who abound in sin2 nor shall they be p4 #bea3 'you' corrected to 'your'3 ,soul in true ,religion1 and your honour in the love of ,god and p4 #bea3 'you' corrected to 'your'3 let my ,memory ever1 with my ,name1 live in you2 as of your ,father1 p4 #bed3 'lttle' corrected to 'little'3 ,indeed1 they have left me but little of life1 p4 #bed3 'magnaminity' corrected to 'magnanimity'3 yet to suffer with such ,christian patience and magnanimity1 in p4 #bee3 'afflicton' corrected to 'affliction'3 ,the assaults of affliction may be terrible1 p4 #bee3 ',freinds' corrected to ',friends'3 my ,friends and loving ,subjects being helpless ,spectators p4 #beg3 'guitly' corrected to 'guilty'3 the cheifest hand1 and are most guilty of contriving p4 #bfe3 'acceesse' corrected to 'accesse'3 any way obstructed my accesse to the ,throne of ,heaven1 p4 #bgc3 'acknowlede' corrected to 'acknowledge'3 who in my greatest ,afflictions acknowledge it 99 ,the spelling1 'noteable'1 is also used in the title of a book published #afce3 ,a direction for the ,english traviller by which he shal be inabled to coast about all ,england and ,wales4 ,and also to know how farre any market or noteable towne in any shire lyeth one from an other 444 ,as also the distance betweene ,london and any other shire or great towne4 444 ,j4 van ,langeren sculp4