An apologie of John, Earl of Bristol consisting of two tracts : in the first, he setteth down those motives and tyes of religion, oaths, laws, loyalty, and gratitude, which obliged him to adhere unto the King in the late unhappy wars in England : in the second, he vindicateth his honour and innocency from having in any kind deserved that injurious and merciless censure, of being excepted from pardon or mercy, either in life or fortunes.

A Speech made by the Right Honorable, IOHN Earl of BRISTOL, in the High Court of Par∣liament, MAY 20 1642. Concerning an Accommodation.

MY LORDS,

I Have spoken so often upon the subject of Accommodation, with so little acceptance, and with so ill successe, that it was in my Intention not to have made any further estay in this kind; but my zeal to the peace and happiness of this Kingdom, and my apprehensions of the near approaching of our unspeakable miseries and calamities, suffer me not to be Master of mine own Resolutions.

Certainly this Kingdom hath at all times many advantages over the other Monarchies of Europe. As, of Situation, of plenty of rich commodities, of Power both by Sea and Land: But more particularly at this time, when all our neighbouring States are by their sevetal interests, so involved in War, and with such equality of Power, That there is not much likeli∣hood of their Mastering one another, nor of having their dif∣ferences easily compounded. And thereby, we being only ad∣mitted to all Trades, and to all places: Wealth and Plenty (which follow, where Trade flourisheth) are in a manner cast upon us.

I shall not trouble your Lordships by putting you in mind of the great and noble undertakings of our Ancestors: Nor shall

I pass higher than the times within mine own remembrance.

Queen Elizabeth was a Princess disadvantaged by her sex▪ by her age, and chiefly, by her want of Issue: yet if we shall consider the great effects which were wrought upon most of the States of Christendom by this Nation under her prudent government; (the growth of the Monarchy of Spain chiefly by her impeached; The United Provinces by her protected; The French in their greatest miseries relieved; Most of the Princes of Germany kept in high respect & reverence towards her and this Kingdom, and the peace and tranquillity wherein this Kingdom flourished; and which hath been continued down unto us by the peaceable government of King Iames of blessed memory, and of his now Majesty, untill these late un∣happy interruptions) We cannot but judge this Nation equal∣ly capable with any other, of Honor, Happiness, and Plenty.

Now, if instead of this happy condition, in which we have been, and might be, upon a sober and impartial inquiry we shall find our selves to have been for some few years last past involved in so many troubles and distractions, and at the pre∣sent to be reduced to the very brink of miseries and calamities; It is high time for us to consider by what means we have been brought into them, and by what means it is most probable we may be brought out of them.

This Kingdom never enjoyed so universal a peace, neither hath it any visible enemy in the whole World either Infidel or Christian: Our Enemies are only of our own house, such as our own dissentions, jealousies, and distractions, have raised up: and certainly, where they are found (especially betwixt a King and his People) no other cause of the unhappiness and misery of a State need to be sought after: For civill discord is a plentifull Sourse, from whence all miseries and mischiefs flow into a Kingdom.

The Scripture telleth us of the strength of a little City uni∣ted, and of the instability of a Kingdom divided within it self; So that upon a prudent inquiry, we may assign our own jea∣lousies, and discords, for the chief cause of our past and pre∣sent troubles, and of our future fears.

It must be confessed, that by the counsel and conduct of evill

Ministers, the Subject had cause to think their just liberties in∣vaded; And from thence have our former distempers grown: For it is in the body politick of a Monarchy, as in another Na∣tural body, the health whereof is defined to be, Partium cor∣poris aequa temperies, an equal temper of the parts. So likewise, a State is well in health and well disposed, when Soveraign Power and common right are equally ballanced, and kept in an even temper by just and equitable rules.

And truely (My LORDS) by the goodness of His Majesty, and by the prudent endeavour of the Parliament, this State is almost reduced to that equal, and even temper, and our sick∣ness is rather continued out of fancy and conceipt (I mean fears and jealousies) than out of any real distemper or defect.

I well remember, that before the beginning of this Parlia∣ment, some Noble Lords presented a Petition unto the King, and in that Pettion did set down all or most of the Grievan∣ces and distempers of the Kingdom, which then occurred to them. To these (as I conceive) the Parliament have procured from his Majesty such redresses as are to their good satisfacti∣on.

Many other things for the ease, security, and comfort of the subject, have been by their great industry, found and pro∣pounded, and by his Majesties goodness condescended unto. And now we are come so near the happiness of being the most free and most setled Nation in the Christian world; Our dangers and miseries will grow greater and neerer unto us e∣very day than other, if they be not prevented.

The king on his part offereth to concurre with us in the set∣ling of all the liberties and immunities either of the propriety of our Goods, or liberty of our persons, which we have recei∣ved from our Ancestors, or which himself hath granted un∣to us; and what shall yet remain for the good and comfort of his Subjects, He is willing to hearken to all our just and reaso∣nable propositions: and for the establishing of the true Pro∣testant Religion, he wooes us to it: And the wisdome and in∣dustry of the Parliament hath now put it in a hopefull way.

The rule of his government, he professeth shall be, the Laws of the Kingdom, And for the comforting and securing of us,

he offereth a more large and more general Pardon, than hath been granted by any of his Predecessors.

And truly (My LORDS) This is all that ever was or can be pretended unto by us.

We, on the other side make Profession, That we intend to make his Majesty a glorious King, to endeavour to support his Dignity, and to pay unto him that Duty and Obedience, which by our Allegiance, several Oaths, and late Protestations we owe unto him, and to maintain all his just Regalities and Prerogatives, which I conceive to be as much as his Majesty will expect from us.

So that My Lords) we (being both thus reciprocally a∣greed of that which in the general would make both the King and People happy) shall be most unfortunate, if we shall not bring both Inclinations and Indeavours so to propound and settle particulars, as both King and People may know what will give them mutual Satisfaction, which certainly must be the first Step to the setling a right understanding be∣twixt them, And in this I should not conceave any great diffi∣culty, if it were once put into a way of preparation. But the greatest difficulty may seem to be, how that which may be settled and agreed upon, may be secured. This is commonly the last point in Treaties betwixt Princes, & of the greatest nicenesse, But much more betwixt a King and his Subjects, where that Confidence & Belief which should be betwixt them, is once lost: And to speak clearly, I fear that this may be our Case, and herein may consist the chiefest difficulty of Accomodation; For it is much easier to compose differences arising from Reason (yea even from Wrongs) than it is to satisfy Jealousies, which arising out of Diffidence & Distrust, grow and are varyed upon every Occasion.

But (My Lords) if there be no endeavours to allay and re∣move them, they will every day increase and gather strength; Nay they are already grown to that height, and the mutual replyes to those direct tearms of Opposition, that if we make not a present stop, it is to be feared, it will speedily passe fur∣ther than verbal Contestations.

I observe in some of his Majesties Answers, a Civil War

spoken of: I confesse it is a word of Horrour to me, who have been an eyewitness of those unexpressible Calamities, that (in a short time) the most plentiful and flourishing Countries of Europe have been brought unto by an intestine War.

I furrher observe, that his Majesty protesteth against the miseries that may ensue by a war, and that he is clear of them. It is true, That a Protestation of that kind is no actual de∣nouncing of War, but it is the very next degree to it, Vltima admonitio, as the Civilians term it, The last admonition; So that we are upon the very brink of our miseries; It is better keeping our of them, than getting out of them: And in a State, the Wisdome of Prevention, is infinitely beyond the Wisdome of Remedies. If for the sins of this Narion, these misunderstandings should produce the least Act of Hostility, It is not almost to be believed, how impossible it were to put any stay to our miseries; For a Civil War admits of none of those Conditions, or Quarter, by which Cruelty and Blood are amongst other Enemies kept from Extremities; Nay if it should but so happen (which God of his goodness avert) That mutually Forces, and Armies should be raised, Jealousies and Fears would be so much increased thereby, that an Accommo∣dation would be rendred full of difficulty and length; and the very charge of maintaining them, (whilst first a Cessation of Arms, and then a general Accommodation were in treat∣ing) the Wealth of the Kingdom would be consumed.

And of this we had lately a costly Example; for in those un∣happy Troubles betwixt us and Scotland, after there was a stop made to any further Acts of Hostility, and a desire of Peace expressed on both sides, Commissioners nominated, and all the Articles propounded; yet the keeping of the Armies to∣gether for our several Securities (whilst the Cessation at Rip∣pon, and the Peace at London where in treating) cost this King∣dome not much lesse than a million of pounds. And if two Armies be once on foot here in England, either a suddain En∣counter must destroy one of them, or the keeping of them on foot, must destroy the Kingdom.

I hope therefore we shall make it our endeavour, by Mode∣ration and Calmnesse, yet to put a stay to our so near ap∣proaching

miseries, and that we shall hearken to the wise ad∣vice of our Bretbren of Scotland in their late Answer to the King and Parliament, wherein they earnestly entreat us, That all means may be forborn, which may make the Breach wider, and the Wound deeper, and that no place be given to the evill Spirit of Division, which at such times worketh uncessantly, and resteth not: But that the fairest, the most Christian, and com∣pendious way may be taken by so wise a King and Parliament, as may (against all Malice and Oppositions) make his Majesty and Posterity more glorious, and his Kingdom more happy than ever. And in another place they say, That since the Parlia∣ment hath thought meet, to draw the Practice of the Parliament of Scotland into Example, in point of Declaration: They are confident that the Affection of the Parliaments will lead them also to the Practice of that Kingdom, in composing the unhappy Differences betwixt his Majesty and them, and (so far as may consist with their Religion, Liberties, and Laws) in giving his Majesty all satisfaction, especially in their tender Care of his Roy∣al Person, and of his Princely Greatness and Authority.

Certainly (MY LORDS) this is wise and brotherly Advice, and I doubt not but we are all desirous to follow it. We must not then still dwell upon generals (for generals produce no∣thing) But we must put this Business into a certain way, wher∣by particulars may be descended unto; And the way that I shall offer with all humility is, That there may be a select Committee of choise Persons of both Houses, who may, in the first place truely state, and set down all things in difference betwixt the King and the Subject, with the most probable way of reconciling them: Secondly, to descend unto the particu∣lars, which may be expected by each from other, either in point of our supporting of him, or his relieving of us. And last∣ly, how all these Conditions, being agreed upon, may be so secured, as may stand with the Honor of his Majesty, and the satisfaction of the Subject.

When such a Committee shall have drawn up the heads of the Propositions, and the way of securing them, they may be presented unto the Houses, and so offered unto his Majesty by such a Way, as the Parliament shall Iudge most probable to produce an Accommodation.

MY LORDS, What I have said unto you, hath been chiefly grounded upon the Apprehensions, and Fears of our future Dangers. I shall say something of the unhappiness of our pre∣sent Estate, which certainly standeth in as much need of Relief and Remedy, as our Fears do of Prevention; For although the King and People were fully united, and that all men that now draw several waies, should unanimously set their hand to the work, yet they would find it no easie task, to restore this Kingdom to a prosperous and comfortable Condition: If we take into our Consideration the deplorable Estate of Ireland, likely to drain this Kingdom of Men and Treasure: if we con∣sider the Debts and Necessity of the Crown, the Ingagements of the Kingdom, the great and unusual Contributions of the People, the which although they may not be so much to their Discontent, (for that they have been legally raised) yet the burthen hath not been much eased: let us likewise consider the Distractions (I may almost call them Confusions) in point of Religion, which of all other Distempers are most dangerous and destructive to the Peace of a State.

Besides these publique Calamities, let every particular man consider the distracted discomfortable estate of his own Con∣dition: for mine own part, I must ingenuously profess unto your Lordships, That I cannot find out (under the different Commands of the King and the Parliament) any such Course of Caution and Wariness, by which I can promise to my self Security or Safety. I could give your Lordships many instan∣ces of the Inconsistency and impossibility of obeying these Commands: But I shall trouble you with only one or two.

The Ordinance of Parliament (now in so great agitation) commandeth all Persons in Authority, to put it in execution, & all others to obey it according to the Fundamental Laws of the Land: The King declareth it to be contrary to the Fundamen∣tal Laws, against the Subject, and Rights of Parliament; And commandeth all his Subjects of what sort soever, upon their Allegeance not to obey the said Ordinance, as they will answer the contrary at their perils.

So likewise in point of the King, commanding the Atten∣dance of divers of us upon his Person, whereunto we are obli∣ged

by several relations of our Services and Oaths; in case we comply not with his Commands, we are liable to his displea∣sure, and the loss of those places of Honor and Trust, which we hold under him: if we obey his Commands, without the leave of the Parliament (which hath not been alwaies gran∣ted) we are liable to the Censure of Parliament, And of both these we want not fresh Examples. So that certainly this can∣not but be acknowledged to be an unhappy and uncomfortable Condition.

I am sure I bring with me a ready and obedient Heart, to pay unto the King all those Duties of Loyalty, Allegeance, and Obedience which I owe unto him; And I shall never be wanting towards the Parliament, to pay unto it all those due Rights, and that Obedience which we all owe unto it. But in contrary Commands a Conformity or Obedience to both, is hardly to be lighted on. The Reconciliation must be in the Commanders, and the Commands; and not in the Obedience, or the Person that is to obey. And therfore untill it shall please God to bless us with a right understanding betwixt the King and Parliament, and a Conformity in their Commands, neither the Kingdom in publick, nor particular men in private, can be reduced to a safe or comfortable Condition.

I have said thus much to give Occasion to others to offer likewise their Opinions; For if we shall sit still, and nothing (tending to the stay of the unhappy misunderstandings, name∣ly betwixt the King and his People) be propounded: It is to be feared, that our miseries will hasten so fast upon us, that the season and opportunities of applying Remedies may be past.

I have herein discharged my Conscience, suitable to that duty, which I owe to the King my Soveraign and Master, and suitable to that zeal and affection, which I shall ever pay to the happiness and prosperity of the Kingdom, towards which I shall ever faithfully contribute my humble Prayers and ho∣nest endeavours. And I shall no waies doubt (whatsoever suc∣cess this my Proposition may have) it will be accompanyed with the good wishes of your Lordships and of all peaceable and well-minded men.