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.

IV. Vpon the Insolency of the Tumults.

I Never thought any thing (except our Sins) more ominously presaging all these Mischiefs which have followed, than those Tumults in London and Westminster soon after the Convening of this Parliament; which were not like a Storm at Sea, (which yet wants not its Terror) but like an Earthquake, shaking the very foundations of all; than which nothing in the world hath more of horror.

As it is one of the most convincing Arguments that there is a God, while his power sets bounds to the raging of the Sea: so 'tis no less, that he restrains the Mad∣ness

of the people. Nor doth any thing portend more Gods displeasure against a Na∣tion, than when he suffers the confluence and clamors of the Vulgar to pass all boun∣daries of Laws and reverence to Authority.

Which those Tumults did to so high degrees of Insolence, that they spared not to invade the Honour and Freedom of the two Houses, menacing, re∣proaching, shaking, yea and assaulting some Members of both Houses, as they fancied or disliked them: Nor did they forbear most rude and unseemly de∣portments, both in contemptuous words and actions, to My self and My Court.

Nor was this a short fit or two of shaking, as an Ague, but a Quotidian Fever, al∣ways encreasing to higher inflammations, impatient of any mitigation, restraint, or remission.

First, they must be a Guard against those Fears which some men scared themselves and others withall; when indeed nothing was more to be feared, and less to be used by wise men, than those Tumultuary confluxes of mean and rude people, who are taught first to petition, then to protect, then to dictate, at last to command and over∣awe the Parliament.

All obstructions in Parliament (that is, all freedom of differing in Votes, and de∣bating matters with Reason and Candor) must be taken away with these Tumults: By these must the Houses be purged, and all Rotten Members (as they pleased to count them) cast out; by these the obstinacy of men resolved to discharge their Consciences must be subdued; by these all factious, seditious and schismatical Proposals against Government Ecclesiastical or Civil must be backed and abetted, till they prevail∣ed.

Generally, whoever had most mind to bring forth Confusion and Ruin upon Church and State, used the midwifery of those Tumults: whose riot and impatience was such, that they would not stay the ripening and season of Counsels, or fair production of Acts in the order, gravity, and deliberateness befitting a Parliament; but ripped up with barbarous cruelty, and forcibly cut out abortive Votes, such as their Inviters and Encouragers most fancied.

Yea, so enormous and detestable were their Outrages, that no sober man could be without an infinite shame and sorrow to see them so tolerated and connived at by some; countenanced, incouraged, and applauded by others.

What good man had not rather want any thing he most desired for the publick good, than obtain it by such unlawful and irreligious means? But mens Passions and Gods directions seldom agree: violent designs and motions must have suitable engines; such as too much attend their own Ends, seldom confine themselves to Gods Means. Force must crowd in what Reason will not lead.

Who were the chief Demagogues and Patrons of Tumults, to send for them, to flat∣ter and embolden them, to direct and tune their clamorous importunities, some men yet living are too conscious to pretend ignorance: God in his due time will let these see, that those were no fit Means to be used for attaining his Ends.

But, as it is no strange thing for the Sea to rage when strong Winds blow upon it; so neither for Multitudes to become insolent, when they have men of some Reputati∣on for Parts and Piety to set them on.

That which made their Rudeness most formidable, was, that many complaints being made, and Messages sent by My self and some of both Houses, yet no order for redress could be obtained with any vigor and efficacy, proportionable to the malignity of that now far spread disease and predominant Mischief.

Such was some mens Stupidity, that they feared no inconvenience; others Petulancy, that they joyed to see their Betters shamefully outraged and abused, while they knew their only security consisted in vulgar flattery: So insensible were they of Mine or the two Houses common Safety and Honours.

Nor could ever any order be obtained, impartially to examine, censure and punish the known Boutefeus and impudent Incendiaries, who boasted of the influence they had, and used to convoke those Tumults as their advantages served.

Yea, some (who should have been wiser Statesmen) owned them as friends, com∣mending their Courage, Zeal and Industry; which to sober men could seem no better than that of the Devil, who goes about seeking whom he may deceive and devour.

I confess, when I found such a deafness, that no Declaration from the Bishops, who were first foully insolenced and assaulted, nor yet from other Lords and Gentlemen of Honour, nor yet from My self, could take place for the due repression of these Tu∣mults,

and securing not only Our freedom in Parliament, but Our very Persons in the streets; I thought My self not bound by My presence to provoke them to higher boldness and contempts; I hoped by My withdrawing, to give time both for the ebbing of their tumultuous Fury, and others regaining some degrees of Modesty and sober sense.

Some may interpret it as an effect of Pusillanimity in any man for Popular terrors, to desert his publick station: But I think it a hardiness beyond true Valour, for a wise man to set himself against the breaking in of a Sea; which to resist at present, threat∣ens imminent danger; but to withdraw, gives it space to spend its fury, and gains a fit∣ter time to repair the breach. Certainly, a Gallant man had rather fight to great disad∣vantages for number and place in the field, in an orderly way, than scuffle with an un∣disciplined rabble.

Some suspected and affirmed that I meditated a War, when I went from Whitehall only to redeem My Person and Conscience from violence: God knows I did not then think of a War. Nor will any prudent man conceive that I would by so many former, and some after Acts, have so much weakned My self, if I had purposed to engage in a War, which to decline by all means, I denied My self in so many particulars: 'tis evi∣dent I had then no Army to flie unto for Protection or Vindication.

Who can blame Me, or any other, for withdrawing our selves from the daily bait∣ings of the Tumults, not knowing whether their Fury and Discontent might not flie so high, as to worry and tear those in pieces, whom as yet they but played with in their paws? God, who is my sole Judge, is my Witness in Heaven, that I never had any thoughts of going from my house at White-hall, if I could have had but any reason∣able fair quarter: I was resolved to bear much, and did so; but I did not think My self bound to prostitute the Majesty of My Place and Person, the safety of My Wife and Children, to those who are prone to insult most, when they have objects and oppor∣tunity most capable of their rudeness and petulancy.

But this business of the Tumults (whereof some have given already an account to God, others yet living know themselves desperately guilty) Time and the guilt of many hath so smothered up and buried, that I think it best to leave it as it is; Only I believe the just Avenger of all disorders will in time make those men and that City see their Sin in the glass of their Punishment. 'Tis more than an even lay, that they may one day see themselves punished by that way they offended.

Had this Parliament, as it was in its first Election and Constitution, sate full and free, the Members of both Houses being left to their freedom of Voting, as in all Reason, Honour and Religion they should have been, I doubt not but things would have been so carried, as would have given no less content to all good men than they wished or expected.

For I was resolved to hear Reason in all things, and to consent to it so far as I could comprehend it: But as Swine are to Gardens and orderly Plantations, so are Tumults to Parliaments, and Plebeian Concourses to publick Counsels, turning all into Disor∣ders and sordid Confusions.

I am prone sometimes to think, that had I called this Parliament to any other place in England (as I might opportunely enough have done) the sad Consequences in all likelihood, with Gods Blessing, might have been prevented. A Parliament would have been welcom in any place; no place afforded such confluence of various and vicious humours as that where it was unhappily convened. But we must leave all to God, who orders our Disorders, and magnifies his Wisdom most when our Follies and miseries are most discovered.

But thou, O Lord, art my refuge and defence; to Thee I may safely fly, who rulest the raging of the Sea, and the Madness of the People.

The floods, O Lord, the floods are come in upon Me, and are ready to overwhelm Me.

I look upon My Sins and the Sins of My People (which are the tumults of our Souls against Thee, O Lord) as the just cause of these Popular inundations which Thou permittest to over-bear all the banks of Loyalty, Modesty, Laws, Justice and Religion.

But Thou that gatheredst the waters into one place, and madest the dry land to appear, and after didst asswage the Flood which drowned the World by the word of thy power, rebuke those Beasts of the People, and deliver Me from the Rudeness and strivings of the Multitude.

Restore, we beseech Thee, unto us the freedoms of our Councels and Parliaments, make us unpassionately to see the light of Reason and Religion, and with all order and gravity to

follow it, as it becomes Men and Christians; so shall we praise thy Name, who art the God of Order and Counsel.

What man cannot or will not repress, thy Omnipotent Justice can and will.

O Lord, give them that are yet living a timely sense and sorrow for their great sin, whom Thou knowest guilty of raising or not suppressing those Disorders: Let Shame here, and not Suffering hereafter, be their Punishment.

Set bounds to our Passions by Reason, to our Errors by Truth, to our Seditions by Laws duly executed, and to our Schisms by Charity; that we may be, as thy Jerusalem, a City at unity in it self.

This grant, O my God, in thy good time, for Jesus Christ's sake, Amen.