Basiliká the works of King Charles the martyr : with a collection of declarations, treaties, and other papers concerning the differences betwixt His said Majesty and his two houses of Parliament : with the history of his life : as also of his tryal and martyrdome.

X. Vpon their seizing the KING's Magazines, Forts, Navy, and Militia.

HOW untruly I am charged with the first raising of an Army, and beginning the Civil War, the eyes that only pity Me, and the Loyal hearts that durst only pray for Me at first, might witness, which yet appear not so many on My side, as there were men in Arms lifted against Me. My unpreparedness for a War may well dishearten those that would help Me; while it argues (truly) my unwillingness to fight, yet it testifies for Me, that I am set on the defensive part; having so little hopes or power to offend others, that I have none to defend My self, or to preserve what is Mine own from their prereption.

No man can doubt but they prevented Me in their purposes as well as their injuries, who are so much before-hand in their Preparations against Me, and surprizals of My strength. Such as are not for Them, yet dare not be for Me; so over-aw'd is their Loyalty by the others Numbers and Terrors. I believe My Innocency and unprepa∣redness to assert My Rights and Honour, makes Me the more guilty in their esteem; who would not so easily have declared a War against Me, if I had first assaulted them.

They knew My chiefest Arms left Me, were those only which the ancient Chri∣stians were wont to use against their Persecutors, Prayers and Tears. These may serve a good mans turn, if not to Conquer as a Soldier, yet to Suffer as a Martyr.

Their preventing of Me, and surprizing My Castles, Forts, Arms and Navy, with the Militia, is so far best for Me, that it may drive Me from putting any trust in the arm of flesh, and wholly to cast My self into the protection of the living God, who can save by few or none, as well as by many.

He that made the greedy Ravens to be Elias's Caterers, and bring him food, may also make their surprisal of outward Force and Defence, an opportunity to shew Me the special support of his Power and Protection.

I thank God I reckon not now the want of the Militia so much in reference to My own protection, as My Peoples.

Their many and sore Oppressions grieve Me; I am above My own: what I want in the hands of Force and Power, I have in the wings of Faith and Prayer.

But this is the strange method these men will needs take, to resolve their Riddle of making Me a Glorious King, by taking away My Kingly Power: Thus I shall become a Support to My Friends, and a Terror to my Enemies, by being unable to succour the one, or suppress the other.

For thus have they designed and proposed to Me the new modelling of Soveraignty and Kingship, as without any reality of Power, so without any necessity of Subjection and Obedience: That the Majesty of the Kings of England might hereafter hang, like Mahomet's Tomb, by a magnetick Charm, between the Power and Priviledges of the Two Houses, in an aiery imagination of Regality.

But I believe the surfeit of too much Power which some men have greedily seized on, and now seek wholly to devour, will ere long make the Common-wealth sick both of it and them, since they cannot well digest it; Soveraign Power in Subjects seldom agreeing with the stomacks of fellow-Subjects.

Yet I have even in this point of the constant Militia sought, by satisfying their Fears and importunities, both to secure My Friends, and overcome Mine Enemies, to gain the peace of all, by depriving My self of a sole power to help or hurt any; yielding the Militia (which is My undoubted Right no less than the Crown) to be disposed of as the Two Houses shall think fit during My time.

So willing am I to bury all Jealousies in them of Me, and to live above all Jealousies of them as to My self: I desire not to be safer than I wish them and My People. If I had the sole actual disposing of the Militia, I could not protect My People further than they protected Me and themselves: so that the use of the Militia is mutual. I would but defend My self so far, as to be able to de∣fend My good Subjects from those mens violence and fraud, who, conscious to their own evil merits and designs, will needs perswade the World, That none but Wolves are fit to be trusted with the custody of the Shepherd and his Flock. Miserable ex∣perience

hath taught My Subjects, since Power hath been wrested from Me, and employed against Me and them, That neither can be safe, if both be not in such a way as the Law hath entrusted the publick safety and welfare.

Yet even this Concession of Mine as to the exercise of the Militia, so vast and large, is not satisfactory to some men; which seem to be Enemies not to Me only, but to all Monarchy; and are resolved to transmit to Posterity such Jealousies of the Crown, as they should never permit it to enjoy its just and necessary Rights in point of Power, to which (at last) all Law is resolved, while thereby it is best protected.

But here Honour and Justice due to My Successors forbid Me to yield to such a total alienation of that Power from them, which Civility and Duty (no less than Justice and Honour) should have forbad them to have asked of Me.

For although I can be content to eclipse My own beams, to satisfie their fears, who think they must needs be scorched or blinded, if I should shine in the full lustre of Kingly Power wherewith God and the Laws have invested Me: yet I will never consent to put out the Sun of Soveraignty to all Posterity and succeeding Kings, whose just recovery of their Rights from unjust Usurpations and Extortions, shall ne∣ver be prejudiced or obstructed by any Act of Mine; which indeed would not be more injurious to succeeding Kings than to my Subjects, whom I desire to leave in a condition not wholly desperate for the future, so as by a Law to be ever subjected to those many factious Distractions which must needs follow the many-headed Hydra of Government: which, as it makes a shew to the People to have more eyes to foresee, so they will find it hath more mouths too which must be satisfied; and (at best) it hath rather a monstrosity, than any thing of perfection beyond that of right Mo∣narchy, where Counsel may be in many as the Senses, but the Supreme Power can be but in One as the Head.

Haply, when men have tried the horrors and malignant influence which will cer∣tainly follow my enforced Darkness and Eclipse (occasioned by the interposition and shadow of that Body, which, as the Moon, receiveth its chiefest light from Me) they will at length more esteem and welcome the restored glory and blessing of the Sun's light.

And if at present I may seem by my receding so much from the use of my Right in the Power of the Militia, to come short of the discharge of that Trust to which I am sworn for my Peoples protection; I conceive those men are guilty of the enforced Perjury, (if so it may seem) who compel Me to take this new and strange way of discharging My Trust, by seeming to desert it; of protect∣ing My Subjects, by exposing My self to Danger or Dishonour for their safety and quiet.

Which in the conflicts of Civil War, and advantages of Power, cannot be effected but by some side yielding: to which the greatest love of the Publick-Peace, and the firmest assurance of God's protection (arising from a good Conscience) doth more invite Me, than can be expected from other mens Fears, which arising from the Injustice of their actions (tho never so successful) yet dare not adventure their Authors upon any other way of safety than that of the Sword and Militia; which yet are but weak defences against the stroaks of Divine Vengeance, which will overtake, or of mens own Consciences, which always attend injurious perpetra∣tions.

For My self, I do not think that I can want any thing which providential necessity is pleased to take from Me, in order to My Peoples tranquility and God's Glory, whose protection is sufficient for Me; and he is able, by his being with Me, abundantly to compensate to Me, as he did to Job, whatever Honour, Power, or Liberty the Chaldoeans, the Saboeans, or the Devil himself can deprive Me of.

Although they take from Me all defence of Arms and Militia, all refuge by Land of Forts and Castles, all flight by Sea in My Ships and Navy, yea tho they study to rob Me of the Hearts of my Subjects, the greatest treasure and best ammunition of a King; yet cannot they deprive Me of My own Innocency or God's Mercy, nor ob∣struct My way to Heaven.

Therefore, O My God, to Thee I flie for help: if Thou wilt be on my side, I shall have more with Me than can be against Me.

There is none in Heaven or in Earth that I desire in comparison of Thee. In the loss of all, be Thou more than all to Me. Make hast to succor Me, Thou that never failest them that put their trust in Thee.

Thou seest I have no power to oppose them that come against Me, who are encouraged to fight under the pretence of fighting for Me: But my eyes are toward Thee.

Thou needest no help, nor shall I, if I may have thine; if not to conquer, yet at least to suffer.

If Thou delightest not in my safety and prosperity, behold here I am willing to be redu∣ced to what Thou wilt have Me, whose Judgments oft begin with thy own Children.

I am content to be nothing, that Thou mayest be all.

Thou hast taught Me, That no King can be saved by the multitude of an Host; but yet Thou canst save me by the multitude of thy Mercies, who art the Lord of Hosts, and the Fa∣ther of Mercies.

Help Me, O Lord, who am sore distressed on every side: yet be Thou on my side, and I shall not fear what man can do unto Me.

I will give thy Justice the glory of my distress.

O let thy Mercy have the glory of my deliverance from them that persecute my Soul.

By my sins have I fought against Thee, and robbed Thee of thy Glory, who am thy Sub∣ject; and justly mayest Thou by my own Subjects strip Me of my strength, and eclipse my glory.

But shew thy self, O my hope and only refuge. Let not mine Enemies say, There is no help for him in his God.

Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

Keep Me as the apple of thine eye, hide Me under the shadow of thy wings.

Shew thy marvellous loving-kindness, O Thou that savest by thy right hand them that put their trust in Thee, from those that rise up against them;

From the wicked that oppress Me, from my deadly enemies that compass Me about.

Shew Me the path of life. In thy presence is fulness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.