The declaration of Mr. Alexander Henderson, principall minister of the word of God at Edenbrough, and chiefe commissioner from the Kirk of Scotland to the Parliament and Synod of England: made upon his death-bed.

The Declaration of Master ALEXANDER HENDERSON.

VVHEREAS the greatest part of the distempered People of these miserable distracted Kingdoms, have beene and are, wofully abused and misled with malicious misinformations against his sacred Majesty, espe∣cially in point of Religion and morall-Wisdome; whereof, I confes with great griefe of heart, my selfe to have been (a∣mongst many moe of my coate) none of the least; who out of Imaginary feares and Jealousies, were made reall Instru∣ments to advance this un-naturall Warre, wherein so much Innocent Protestant blood hath beene shed, and so much downright Robbery committed, without f••ate, or shame of sinne; to the scandall of the true Reformed Religion, as cannot but draw downe heavy Judgements from Heaven npon these infatuated Nations, and more particularly upon us who should have instructed them in the way of Truth, Peace, and Obedience.

I conceived it the duty of a good Christian, especially one of my profession, and in the condition that I lie, ex∣pecting God Almighty 's-call, not only to acknowledge to the All-mercifull God, with a humble sincere remorse of Conscience, the greatnesse of this offence; which being done in simplicity of Spirit, I hope with the Apostle Paul to obteine Mercy, because I did it through Ignorance: But also, for the better satisfaction of all others, to publish this Declaration to the view of the World; to the intent, that

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all those (especially of the Ministery) who have beene de∣luded with mee, may by God's Grace, and my example (though a weake and meane Instrument) not only bee un∣deceived themselves, but also stirred up to undeceive others, with more alacritie and facilitie; that the scandall may bee removed from our Religion and Profession, and the good King restored to his just Rights, and truly honoured and obeyed as God's-Annoynted and Vice-gerent upon earth; and the poore distressed Subjects freed from those intollerable Burdens and Oppressions which they lye groa∣ning under, piercing Heaven with their teares and cries; and a solid Peace setled both in Kirke and Commonwealth, throughout all his Majesties Dominions, to the glory of God, and of our blessed Mediator and Saviour the Lord Christ.

I doe therefore Declare before God and the World, that since I had the honour and happinesse to converse and con∣ferre with his Majesty, with all sort of freedome; especially in matters of Religion, whither in relation to the Kirke or State (which like Hypocrates Twins are lynked together) that I found him the most intelligent man that ever I spoke with; as fair beyond my expression, as expectation, grounded upon the Information that was given mee (before I knew him) by such as I thought should have known him. I professe that I was oft-times astonish'd with the solidity and quicknesse of his Reasons and Replies; wondred how hee, spending his time so much in sports and recreations, could have attained to so great knowledge, and must con∣fesse ingenuously, that I was convinced in Conscience, and knew not how to give him any reasonable satisfaction; yet the sweetnesse of his disposition is such, that whatsoever I said was well taken; I must say that I never met with any Disputant (let be a King, and in matters of so high con∣cernment) of that milde and calme temper, which convin∣ced mee the more, and made mee thinke that such Wisdom and Moderation could not bee without an extraordinary

measure of divine grace. I had heard much of his carriage towards the Priests in Spaine, and that King James told the Duke of Buckingham upon his going thither, that he durst venture his Sonne Charles with all the Jesuites in the World, hee knew him to bee so well grounded in the Protestant Religion, but could never beleeve it before.

I observed all his actions, more particularly those of devotion, which I must truly say, are more then ordinary; I informed my selfe of others who had served him from his Infancy, and they all assured me that there was nothing new or much inlarged in regard of his troubles, either in his private, or publique way of exercise; twice a day con∣stantly, morning and evening for an houres space in pri∣vate; twice a day before dinner and supper in publique, besides preachings upon Sundayes, Tuesdayes, and other extraordinary times; and no businesse though never so weighty and urgent can make him forget, or neglect this his tribute and duty to Almighty God. O that those who sit now at the helm of these weather beaten Kingdomes had but one halfe of his true piety and wisdome! I dare say that the poore oppressed Subject should not bee plun∣ged into so deepe Gulfes of impiety, and miserie without compassion or pittie; I dare say, if his advice h••d beene followed, all the bloud that is shed, and all the repain that is committed, should have beene prevented.

If I should speake of his Justice, magnanimity, charity, sobriety, chastity, patience, humility, and of all his both Christian and Morall vertues, I should runne my selfe into a panegyricke, and seeme to flatter him to such as doe not know him, if the present condition that I lye in did not exeem me from any such suspition of worldly ends, when I expect every houre to bee called from all transitory va∣nities to eternall felicitie; and the discharging of my con∣science before God and men, did not oblige me to declare the truth simply and nakedly, in satisfaction of that which I have done ignorantly, though not altogether innocently.

If I should relate what I have received from good hands, and partly can witnesse of my owne knowledge since these unhappy troubles began, I should inlarge my selfe into a History: Let these briefe Characters suffice. No man can say that there is conspicuously any predominant vice in him, a rare thing in a man, but farre rarer in a King; Never man saw him passionately angrie, or ex∣traordinarily moved, either with prosperity, or adversity, having had as great tryalls as ever any King had; Never man heard him curse, or given to swearing; Never man heard him complaine, or bemoane his condiction, in the greatest durance of Warre and confynement; When hee was separated from his dearest consort, and deprived of the comfort of his Innocent Children, the hopefullest Princes that ever were in these ingrate Kingdomes: when hee was denuded of his Councellors and domestique Ser∣vants; No man can complaine of the violation of his Wife or Daughters, though hee hath had too many temptations in the prime of his age, by the inforced absence of his Wife which would bee hardly taken by the meanest of his Sub∣jects: and (which is beyond all admiration) being stript of all councell and helpe of man, and used so harshly as would have stupified any other man, then did his undaun∣ted courage, and transcendent wisdome shew it selfe more clearly, and vindicate him from the obloquy of former times, to the astonishment of his greatest enemies: I con∣fesse this did so take me that I could not but see the hand of God in it, and which will render His name glorious, and (I greatly feare) ours ignominious to all posterity, hee stands fast to his grounds, and doth not rise and fall with successe, the brittle square of humane actions, and is ever ready to forgive all by past injuries to settle a present solid Peace, and future tranquility, for the good of his Subjects; nay, for their cause hee is content to forgoe so many of his own known, undoubted just rights; as may stand with their safety, as

Salus populi est Spurema Lex,

so, & si parendum est patri in eo tamen non parendum quo efficitur ut non sit Pater. [Seneca.]

I confesse that I could have wished an establishment of our Presbyteriall Government, in the Kirke of England, for the better Ʋnion betweene them and us, but I finde the constitution of that Kingdome, and disposition of that Na∣tion so generally opposite, that it is not to bee expected: They are a People naturally inclined to freedome, and so bred in Riches and Plenty, that they can hardly bee induced to embrace any Discipline that may any waies abridge their Liberty and Pleasures. That which wee esteeme a Godly Kirk policy, instituted by the Lord Christ, and his Apostles, is no better to them then a kinde of slavery, and some doe not stick to call it worse then the Spanish Inquisition: Nay, even the greatest part of those who invited us to assist them in it, and sent hither their Commissioners to induce us to enter into a solemn nationall covenant for that effect, having served their turne of us, to throw downe the King and the Prelaticall partie, and to possesse themselves with the su∣preame Government both of Kirke and State; are now In∣venting evasions to bee rid of us, and to delude it, some of them publishing openly, in Pulpits and Print: That the sacred Covenant was never intended for the godly, but on∣ly as a trap to ensnare the Malignants, which cannot but bring heavy Judgements from Heaven, and, I am afraid, make a greater dis-union betweene these Nations, then ever was before: Like unto that

bellum Gallicum, quod sexcentis foederibus compositum, semper renovabatur [Canon. lib. 3. Chron in here. 5. an. dom. 1118.]

with a deluge of Christi∣an blood, and almost ruine of both Parties; or like unto that

bellum Rusticanum in Germania, in quo supra centena millia Rusticorum occubuerunt. [idem an. dom. 1524.]

Or most of all, both in manner and Subject, resembling that of John of Leydon, Munser and Knoperduling, [idem an, 1534.] which tooke it's rise from the former; so many different Sects spring up daily more and more amongst them, which

all like Ephraim and Manasses, Herod and Pylate, conspire against the Lord's-Anoynted, and the true Protestant Re∣ligion.

The City of London, that was so forward in the begin∣ing of this glorious Reformation, surpasses now Amster∣dam in number of Sects, and may bee compared to old Rome,

quae cum omnibus penè gentibus dommaretur omnium gentium erroribus serviebat, & magnam sibi vidèbatur as∣sumpsisse Religionem quia nullam respuebat falsitatem. [Leo in Serm. de Petro & Paulo. app.]

their trausgressions are like to bring them to that confusion of the Israelites when they had no King, [Judg. 21.] every one did what seemed good in his owne eyes, because they feared not the Lord; [Ihos. 10.] they said, What should a King doe to us? The young men presumed to bee wiser then the elder, [Isai 3.] the viler sort despised the honourable, [Lament. ult.] and the very serving-men ruled over them.

I professe, when I saw these things so cleerly, I could not blame the King to bee so backward in giving his assent to the setling of our Presbyteriall discipline in that Kirke, for the great inconveniences that might follow thereupon, to Him and his Posteritie, there being so many strong Cor∣porations in that Kingdome to leade on a popular govern∣ment, such a number of people that have eyther no, or broken estates, who are ready to drive on any alteration, and so weake and powerlesse a Nobility to hinder it.

Multos dulcedo praedarum, plures Res angustae vel ambiguae domi alios scelerum Conscientia stimulabat. [C. Tacit.]

Let mee therefore exhort and conjure you, in the words of a dying man, and bowels of our Lord Christ, to stand fast to your Covenant, and not to suffer your selves to bee abused with fain'd pretences, and made wicked instruments to wrong the Kirke and the King, of their just Rights and Patrimony.

Remember the last Propheticall words of our first blessed

Reformer, that after the subduing of the Papists, fore∣told us the great battell remain'd against manifold Tempta∣tions of the devill, the World and the Flesh, and especi∣ally against the sacrilegious devourers of the Kirke rents, which will not bee wanting now with baites cunningly lay'd upon golden hookes to ensnare the greatest amongst you both in Kirke and State, but I beseech you in the words of our blessed Saviour to be wise as Serpents and milde as Doves, let no worldly consideration induce you to slide backe from the true meaning of our holy covenant with the all-seeing God; who punished Saul in his Sonnes for the breach even of an unlawfull Covenant with the Gibeonites. [2. Sam. 21.]

Remember the supplication of the Generall Assembly at Edenburgh, given in to the Earle of Trawhaire [sess. 23 Act. 2] his Majesties high Commissioner 12 Aug. 1639 recorded both in the publique Regester of our Kirke and Parliament, whereby to obviate malignant aspersions [2 Ca∣roli Act. 5. sess. 7 Junij 1640] that branded us maliciously with an intention to shake off civill and dutifull obedience due to Soveraignty, [verbatim ex Registro] and to dimi∣nish the Kings greatnesse and authority, and for clearing of our loyalty; Wee in our names and in the name of all the rest of the Subjects and congregations whom wee re∣present, did in all humility represent to his grace and the Lords, of his Majesties most honourable privie Councell, and declared before God and the World that wee never had, nor have any thought of withdrawing our selves from that humble and dutifull obedience to his Majestie and his government which by the descent, and under the Raigne of 107 Kings is most cheerfully acknowledged by us and our predecessors, and we never had, nor have any intention or desire to attempt any thing that may tend to the disho∣nour of God, or diminution of the Kings greatnesse and authority, but on the contrary acknowledging with all humble thankfullnesse the many recent favours bestowed

upon us by his Majesty, and that our quietnesse, stability and happinesse, depends upon the safety of the Kings Ma∣jesties Person, and maintenance of his greatnesse and Royall authority who is Gods Vicegerent set over vs for the maintenance of Religion and administration of Justice, wee did solemnly sweare, not only our mutuall concur∣rence and assistance for the cause of Religion, and to the uttermost of our power with our meanes and lives to stand to the defence of our dread Soveraigne, his person and authority, in the preservation and defence of the true Re∣ligion, Lawes, and Liberties of this Kirke and Kingdom; but also in every cause, which may concerne his Majesties honour, to concurre with our friends and followers in quiet manner or in armes, as wee should bee required of his Ma∣jestie, his Councell, or any having his authority, according to the Lawes of this Kingdome, and the duty of good Subjects.

And though some malignant Spirits wrest maliciously Some words of our Covenant, Act. 3. contrary to the true meaning thereof, as if wee intended thereby to restrayne our allegiance contrary to the Apostles precept and nature of our duty, and make Religion a back-dore for Rebellion to enter in at; if there bee any of the simpler zealous sort that conceive the Sense to be such, or if there bee any others that would make use of it for their politique ends, wee disclaime them: and I declare before God and the world that it was farre from the intention of those that contri∣ved it, to wrong the King and his posteritie, as the plaine words of that Article in the close doe clearly beare; and the foresaid supplication doth manifestly declare, their intent being only to have setled a conformity in Kirke government throughout all his Majesties dominions, which they conceived would have strengthened his Majesties au∣thority and made him and his posterity more glorious: but since wee sinde many invincible difficulties and intollerable inconveniences arise, chiefely from those who invited us to enter therein for their assistance in the accomplish∣ment

thereof in that Kirke, and so clearly that they intend to delude us with vaine glosses and distinctions to the de∣struction of true Protestant Religion, and Monarchicall government, and perceive, to our great griefe, that wee have beene abused with most false aspersions against his Majestie; the most Religious, Prudent, and best of Kings: I doe further declare before God and the World that they are guilty of the breach of the Sacred Covenant, and that wee have discharged our duty thereof (which is only pro∣missory & conditionall as all oathes de futuro are) by endea∣vouring to effectuate it quantum in nobis erat, and that wee are absolved in foro Poli & Soli of any oath or vow contei∣ned therein, in so farre as concernes the setling of Religion in the Kirke of England and Ireland, and that wee are only bound thereby to preserve the Reformation of Religion in our own Kirke and Kingdome confirmed by his sacred Majesty in Parliament, and to restore our native King to his Just Rights, Royall Throne and Dignity, in as full and ample a manner as ever any of his Royall predecessors injoyed them, and that the mouthes of all Malignants may bee stopped, that it may not bee said Presbytery fetters Mo∣narchy as Independency destroyes it, who cast up to us the holy league and covenant of France as a pattern on the mont of ours.

Therefore I exhort and conjure you, again and again, in the bowells of our Lord Christ, and words of a dying man, especially my brethren of the Ministry; as you expect a blessing from God upon this distressed, distracted Kirke and Kingdome, upon you and your posterity; as you de∣sire to remove Gods heavie Judgements from this mise∣rable Land, the Sword and Pestilence, and what else may follow, which I tremble to thinke of; to stand fast and firme to this poynt of your Covenant, which you were bound to before by the Law of God and of this Land, and never suffer your selves by all the gilded allurement of this world, which will prove bitter and deceitfull at last, to re∣linquish

it: Stand fast to your Native King most gracious to this Land farre beyond all his predecessors; none owes greater obligation to him then the Ministry and Gentry, let not an indelible charracter of Ingratitude lye upon us that may turne to our ruine. The Protestants of France when they were happy in the free profession of their Re∣ligion suffred themselves to bee abused and misled by some great ones unto a Rebellion against Lewis 13, their Naturall King, which cost many of them their Lives and Estates and the losse of all their hostage Townes, and might have en∣dangred their libertie of conscience, if the King had not beene very gracious to them, the Templers pride and am∣bition rendred them formidable to all Christian Kings and made them to bee cut off in the twinkling of an eye. The Jesuites are running hedlong to that same height; and our Bishops, not contenting themselves with moderation, were made instruments of their own destruction; as some of our brethren before by their Indiscretion inforced King James to set them up; wherefore I beseech you my brethren of the Ministrie to carry your selves mildly toward all men, [Tit. 3.] and obediently towards the King and his subor∣dinate Officers, [Rom. 13.] Preach salvation to your stocks, [1. Pet. 2.] and meddle not with them that are seditious; keepe your selves within the bounds of our bless∣ed Saviours [Prov. 24.] Commission and doe not, as the Bishops did, intrench upon the civill Magistrates authority, that yee may live in Peace and Godlinesse together as be∣cometh the messengers of the Lord Christ, non eripit terre∣stria qui Regna dat coelistia.

God of his mercy grant you all, the Spirit of Love and Union that you may Joyne as one man to Redeeme the honour of this ancient Nation, which lyes a bleeding in Forraigne parts where it was once so famous for its valour and fidelitie even to forraign Kings; to redeeme it I say even with your Lives and Fortunes according to your So∣lemne Covenant and the duty of your allegiance to your

Native King; consider I beseech you your own interests, besides honour and conscience, and never rest untill you have restored him fully to his Royall Throne and Dignity; let us his Native Subjects, bee his best shield and buckler under God, to defend him from all enemies, and to trans∣mit his Scepter to his posterity so long as the Sunne and Moone endureth, and let our forces bee imployed for the Restitution of the most Religious and Vertuous Queene of Bohemiae and her distressed Children, to their just In∣heritance and for the pulling down of the Antichrist and enlarging of our Lord Christs Kingdome throughout all the World.

C. Tacitus. In tanta Republicae necessitudine, suspecto Senatus, populi{que} Imperio ob certamina potentium & ava∣ritiam Magistratuum invalido legum auxilio, quae vi, ambitu, postremo pecunia turbabantur; omnem potestatem ad unum reddire Pac is interfuit, non aliud discordanis Patriae remedium quam ut ab uno regeretur.

FINIS.