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.

XV. Vpon the many Jealousies raised, and Scandals cast upon the KING, to stir up the People against Him.

IF I had not My own Innocency and Gods Protection, it were hard for Me to stand out against those stratagems and conflicts of Malice which by Falsities seek to op∣press the Truth, and by Jealousies to supply the defect of real causes, which might seem to justifie so unjust Engagements against Me.

And indeed, the worst effects of open hostility come short of these Designs: For I can more willingly lose my Crowns than my Credit; nor are my Kingdoms so dear to Me as my Reputation and Honour.

Those must have a period with my Life; but these may survive to a glorious kind of Immortality, when I am dead and gone: A good name being the embalming of Princes, and a sweet consecration of them to an Eternity of Love and Gratitude among Posterity.

Those foul and false Aspersions were secret engines at first employed against my Peoples love of Me; that undermining their opinion and value of Me, My Enemies, and theirs too, might at once blow up their Affections, and batter down their Loy∣alty.

Wherein yet (I thank God) the detriment of my Honour is not so afflictive to Me, as the sin and danger of my Peoples Souls, whose eyes once blinded with such mists of Suspicions, they are soon misled into the most desperate precipices of actions: wherein they do not only not consider their Sin and Danger, but glory in their zea∣lous adventures; while I am rendred to them so fit to be destroyed, that many are am∣bitious to merit the name of my Destroyers, imagining they then fear God most, when they least honour their King.

I thank God, I never found but my Pity was above my Anger; nor have my Passi∣ons ever so prevailed against Me, as to exclude my most compassionate Prayers for them whom devout Errors, more than their own Malice, have betrayed to a most Religious Rebellion.

I had the Charity to interpret, that most part of my Subjects fought against my sup∣posed Errors, not my Person; and intended to mend Me, not to end Me. And I hope that God pardoning their Errors, hath so far accepted and answered their good Inten∣tions, that as he hath yet preserved Me, so he hath by these Afflictions prepared Me both to do Him better service, and My people more good than hitherto I have done.

I do not more willingly forgive their seductions, which occasioned their loyal Injuries, than I am ambitious by all Princely merits to redeem them from their unjust Suspi∣cions, and reward them for their good Intentions.

I am too conscious to My own Affections towards the generality of my People, to suspect theirs to Me; nor shall the Malice of my Enemies ever be able to deprive

Me of the comfort which that confidence gives Me. I shall never gratifie the spight∣fulness of a few, with any sinister thoughts of all their Allegiance whom Pious frauds have seduced.

The worst some mens Ambition can do shall never perswade Me to make so bad in∣terpretations of most of my Subjects actions; who possibly may be Erroneous, but not Heretical in point of Loyalty.

The sense of the Injuries done to my Subjects is as sharp as those done to My self; our welfares being inseperable; in this only they suffer more than My self, that they are animated by some Seducers to injure at once both themselves and Me.

For this is not enough to the Malice of my Enemies, that I be afflicted; but it must be done by such instruments, that my Afflictions grieve Me not more than this doth, that I am afflicted by those whose Prosperity I earnestly desire, and whose Seduction I heartily deplore.

If they had been my open and forein Enemies, I could have born it; bur they must be my own Subjects, who are, next to my Children, dear to Me; and for the restoring of whose Tranquility I could willingly be the Jonah, if I did not evidently foresee, that by the divided Interests of their and Mine Enemies, as by contrary winds, the storm of their Miseries would be rather encreased than allayed.

I had rather prevent my Peoples Ruine than rule over them; nor am I so ambitious of that Dominion which is but my Right, as of their Happiness, if it could expiate or countervail such a way of obtaining it, by the highest Injuries of Subjects committed against their Soveraign.

Yet I had rather suffer all the miseries of Life, and die many Deaths, than shame∣fully to desert or dishonourably to betray my own just Rights and Soveraignty, thereby to gratify the Ambition, or justifie the Malice of my Enemies; between whose Malice and other mens Mistakes I put as great a difference, as between an ordinary Ague and the Plague, or the Itch of Novelty and the Leprosie of Dis∣loyalty.

As Liars need have good memories, so Malicious persons need good inventions, that their Calumnies may fit every mans fancy; and what their Reproaches want of truth, they may make up with number and shew.

My Patience (I thank God) will better serve Me to bear, and my Charity to forgive, than my Leisure to answer the many false aspersions which some men have cast upon Me.

Did I not more consider my Subjects Satisfaction than My own Vindication, I should never have given the Malice of some men that pleasure, as to see Me take notice of, or remember what they say or object.

I would leave the Authors to be punished by their own evil Manners and seared Con∣sciences, which will, I believe, in a shorter time than they be aware of, both confute and revenge all those black and false Scandals which they have cast on Me; and make the world see, there is as little truth in them, as there was little worth in the broaching of them, or Civility (I need not say Loyalty) in the not-suppressing of them: whose credit and reputation, even with the People, shall ere long be quite blasted by the breath of that same fornace of Popular obloquy and detraction, which they have studied to heat and inflame to the highest degree of infamy, and wherein they have sought to cast and consume my Name and Honour.

First, nothing gave Me more cause to suspect and search My own Innocency, than when I observed so many forward to engage against Me who had made great professions of singular Piety: For this gave to vulgar minds so bad a reflection upon Me and My Cause, as if it had been impossible to adhere to Me, and not withal depart from God; to think or speak well of Me, and not to blaspheme him; so many were perswaded that these two were utterly inconsistent, to be at once Loyal to Me, and truly Religious toward God.

Not but that I had (I thank God) many with Me which were both Learned and Re∣ligious, (much above that ordinary size and that vulgar proportion wherein some men glory so much) who were so well satisfied in the cause of my Sufferings, that they chose rather to suffer with Me than forsake Me.

Nor is it strange, that so religious Pretensions as were used against Me should be to many well-minded men a great temptation to oppose Me; especially being urged by such popular Preachers as think it no sin to lye for God, and what they please to call Gods Cause, cursing all that will not curse with them; looking so much at, and cry∣ing up the goodness of the End propounded, that they consider not the lawfulness of

the Means used, nor the depth of the Mischief chiefly plotted and intended.

The weakness of these mens Judgments must be made up by their Clamors and ac∣tivity.

It was a great part of some mens Religion to scandalize Me and Mine, they thought theirs could not be true, if they cryed not down Mine as false.

I thank God, I have had more tryal of his Grace as to the constancy of My Religi∣on in the Protestant profession of the Church of England, both abroad and at home, than ever they are like to have.

Nor do I know any Exception I am so lyable to in their opinion, as too great a Fixed∣ness in that Religion; whose judicious and solid grounds, both from Scripture and An∣tiquity, will not give My Conscience leave to approve or consent to those many dan∣gerous and divided Innovations, which the bold ignorance of some men would needs obtrude upon Me and My People.

Contrary to those well-tryed foundations both of Truth and Order, which men of far greater Learning and clearer Zeal have setled in the Confession and Constitution of this Church in England, which many former Parliaments, in the most calm and unpas∣sionate times, have oft confirmed; in which I should ever, by Gods help, persevere, as believing it hath most of Primitive Truth and Order.

Nor did My using the assistance of some Papists which were my Subjects any way fight against My Religion, as some men would needs interpret it; especially those who least of all men cared whom they imployed, or what they said or did, so they might prevail.

'Tis strange that so wise men as they would be esteemed, should not conceive, that differences of perswasion in matters of Religion may easily fall out, where there is the sameness of Duty, Allegiance and Subjection. The first they owe as Men and Christi∣ans, to God; the second they owe to Me in common, as their KING. Different professions in point of Religion cannot (any more than in civil Trades) take away the community of Relations either to Parents or to Princes: And where is there such an Oglio or medly of various Religions in the World again, as those men entertain in their service (who find most fault with Me) without any scruple, as to the diversity of their Sects and Opinions?

It was, indeed, a foul and indeleble shame for such as would be counted Protestants, to enforce Me, a declared Protestant, their Lord and King, to a necessary use of Papists or any other, who did but their duty to help Me to defend My self.

Nor did I more than is lawful for any King in such exigents, to use the aid of any his Subjects.

I am sorry the Papists should have a greater sense of their Allegiance than many Protestant Professors, who seem to have learned and to practise the worst Principles of the worst Papists.

Indeed, it had been a very impertinent and unseasonable scruple in Me (and very plea∣sing no doubt to My Enemies) to have been then disputing the points of different Be∣liefs in My Subjects, when I was disputed with by Swords points; and when I needed the help of My Subjects as Men, no less than their Prayers as Christians.

The noise of my Evil Counsellors was another useful device for those who were impatient any mens counsels but their own should be followed in Church or State; who were so eager in giving Me better counsel, that they would not give Me leave to take it with Freedom, as a Man, or Honour, as a King; making their counsels more like a Drench, that must be poured down, than a Draught, which might be fairly and leisure∣ly drank, if I liked it.

I will not justifie beyond humane errors and frailties My self or my Counsellors: They might be subject to some Miscarriages, yet such as were far more reparable by se∣cond and better thoughts, than those enormous Extravagances wherewith some men have now even wildred and almost quite lost both Church and State.

The event of things at last will make it evident to my Subjects, that had I followed the worst counsels that My worst Counsellors ever had the boldness to offer to Me, or My self any inclination to use, I could not so soon have brought both Church and State in Three flourishing Kingdoms to such a Chaos of Confusions and Hell of Miseries as some have done; out of which they cannot, or will not, in the midst of their many great advantages, redeem either Me or my Subjects.

No men were more willing to complain, than I was to redress what I saw in Reason was either done or advised amiss: and this I thought I had done even beyond

the expectation of moderate men, who were sorry to see Me prone even to injure My self out of a Zeal to relieve my Subjects.

But other mens insatiable desire of Revenge upon Me, My Court and My Clergy, hath wholly beguiled both Church and State of the benefit of all my either Retractati∣ons or Concessions; and withal, hath deprived all those (now so zealous Persecu∣tors) both of the comfort and reward of their former pretended Persecutions, where∣in they so much gloried among the Vulgar; and which indeed a truly-humble Christian will so highly prize, as rather not to be relieved than be revenged, so as to be bereaved of that Crown of Christian Patience which attends humble and injured Sufferers.

Another artifice used to withdraw My Peoples Affections from Me to their designs was, The noise and ostentation of Liberty, which men are not more prone to desire, than unapt to bear in the Popular sense; which is to do what every man liketh best.

If the divinest Liberty be to will what men should, and to do what they so will, according to Reason, Laws and Religion, I envy not my Subjects that Liberty, which is all I desire to enjoy My self; so far am I from the desire of oppressing theirs: Nor were those Lords and Gentlemen which assisted Me so prodigal of their Liberties, as with their Lives and Fortunes to help on the enslaving of Themselves and their Po∣sterities.

As to Civil Immunities, none but such as desire to drive on their Ambitious and Covetous Designs over the Ruines of Church and State, Prince, Peers and People, will ever desire greater Freedoms than the Laws allow; whose bounds good men count their Ornament and Protection, others their Manacles and Oppression.

Nor is it just any man should expect the Reward and Benefit of the Law, who de∣spiseth its Rule and Direction; losing justly his Safety, while he seeks an unreasonable Liberty.

Time will best inform my Subjects, that those are the best preservers of their true Liberties, who allow themselves the least licentiousness against or beyond the Laws.

They will feel it at last to their cost, that it is impossible those men should be really tender of their fellow-Subjects Liberties, who have the hardiness to use their King with so severe restraints, against all Laws, both Divine and Humane; under which yet I will rather perish, than complain to those who want nothing to compleat their mirth and Triumph but such Musick.

In point of true Conscientious Tenderness (attended with Humility and Meekness, not with proud and arrogant activity, which seeks to hatch every egg of different opinion to a Faction or Schism) I have oft declared, how little I desire my Laws and Scepter should intrench on Gods Soveraignty, which is the only King of mens Consci∣ences; and yet He hath laid such restraints upon men, as commands them to be subject for Conscience sake, giving no men liberty to break the Law established, further than with Meekness and Patience they are content to suffer the Penalties annexed, rather than perturb the publick Peace.

The truth is, some mens thirst after Novelties, others despair to relieve the necessities of their Fortunes, or satisfie their Ambition in Peaceable times, (distrusting Gods Pro∣vidence as well as their own Merits) were the secret (but principal) impulsives to these Popular Commotions, by which Subjects have been perswaded to expend much of those plentiful Estates they got and enjoyed under My Government in peaceable times; which yet must now be blasted with all the odious Reproaches which impotent Malice can invent, and My self exposed to all those Contempts which may most dimi∣nish the Majesty of a King, and encrease the ungrateful insolences of my People.

For mine Honour, I am well assured that as mine Innocency is clear before God in point of any Calumnies they object; so My Reputation shall, like the Sun, (after Owls and Bats have had their freedom in the night and darker times) rise and recover it self to such a degree of splendor as those feral Birds shall be grieved to behold and unable to bear. For never were any Princes more glorious than those whom God hath suffer'd to be tried in the furnace of Afflictions by their injurious Subjects.

And who knows but the just and merciful God will do Me good for some mens hard, false and evil speeches against Me? Wherein they speak rather what they wish, than what they believe or know.

Nor can I suffer so much in point of Honour by those rude and scandalous Pam∣phlets (which, like fire in great Conflagrations, flie up and down to set all places on like flames) as those men do, who pretending to so much Piety, are so forgetful of their du∣ty to God and Me: by no way ever vindicating the Majesty of their KING against any of those who, contrary to the precept of God and precedent of Angels, speak evil of dignities, and bring railing accusations against those who are honoured with the name of Gods.

But 'tis no wonder if men not fearing GOD, should not Honour their KING.

They will easily contemn such shadows of God, who reverence not that Supreme and adorable Majesty, in comparison of whom all the Glory of Men and Angels is but obscurity; yet hath he graven such Characters of Divine Authority and Sacred power upon Kings, as none may without sin seek to blot them out. Nor shall their black veils be able to hide the shining of My face, while God gives Me a heart frequently and humbly to converse with him, from whom alone are all the irradiations of true Glory and Majesty.

Thou, O Lord, knowest my reproach and my dishonour, my Adversaries are all before Thee.

My Soul is among Lions, among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men; whose teeth are spears and arrows, their tongue a sharp sword.

Mine Enemies reproach Me all the day long, and those that are mad against Me are sworn together.

O my God, how long shall the sons of men turn my glory into shame? how long shall they love vanity, and seek after lies?

Thou hast heard the reproaches of wicked men on every side, Hold not thy peace, lest my Enemies prevail against Me, and lay mine honour in the dust.

Thou, O Lord, shalt destroy them that speak lies; the Lord will abhor both the Blood-thirsty and Deceitful men.

Make my Righteousness to appear as the light, and mine Innocency to shine forth as the Sun at noon-day.

Suffer not my silence to betray mine Innocency, nor my displeasure my Patience: That after my Saviours example, being reviled, I may not revile again; and being cursed by them, I may bless them.

Thou that wouldst not suffer Shimei's tongue to go unpunished, when by thy Judgments on David he might seem to justifie his disdainful reproaches; give Me grace to intercede with thy Mercy for these my Enemies, that the reward of false and lying tongues, even hot burning coals of eternal fire, may not be brought upon them.

Let my Prayers and Patience be as water to cool and quench their tongues, who are alrea∣dy set on fire with the fire of Hell, and tormented with those malicious flames.

Let Me be happy to refute and put to silence their evil-speaking by well-doing; and let them enjoy not the fruit of their lips, but of my Prayer for their Repentance and thy Pardon.

Teach Me David's Patience and Hezekiah's Devotion; that I may look to thy Mercy through mans Malice, and see thy Justice in their Sin.

Let Sheba's Seditious speeches, Rabshekah's Railing, and Shimei's Cursing, provoke, as my humble Prayer to Thee, so thy renewed Blessing toward Me.

Though they curse, do Thou bless; and I shall be blessed, and made a Blessing to my People:

That the stone which some builders refuse, may become the head-stone of the corner.

Look down from Heaven, and save Me from the reproach of them that would swallow Me up.

Hide Me in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man, and keep Me from the strife of tongues.