Veritas inconcussa or, a most certain truth asserted, that King Charles the First, was no man of blood, but a martyr for his people. Together with a sad, and impartial enquiry, whether the King or Parliament began the war, which hath so much ruined, and undone the kingdom of England? and who was in the defensive part of it? By Fabian Philipps Esq;

CHAP. II. The Proceedings betwixt the King and the Parliament from the Tumultu∣ous and Seditious coming of the Peo∣ple to the Parliament, and White-Hall, till the 13. of September, 1642. being 18 dayes after the King had set up His Standard at Not∣tingham.

WHen all the King could do to bring the Parliament to a better understanding of Him, did, as they were pleased to make their advantage of it, but make them seem to be the more unsatis∣fied, that they might the better mis-represent Him to the People, and petition out of his hands as much power as they could tell how to perswade him to grant

them, and that he had proofs e∣now of what hath been since written in the blood and hearts of His People, That the five Mem∣bers and Kimbolton intended to root out Him and His Posterity; sub∣vert the Laws, and alter the Reli∣gion, and Government of the Kingdom, and had therefore sent His Serjeant at Arms to demand their persons, and Justice to be done upon them. In stead of obe∣dience to it, an order was made; a 1.1 That every man might rescue them, and apprehend the Serjeant at Arms for doing it; which Par∣liament Records would blush at. And Queen Elizabeth (who was wont to answer her better com∣posed Parliaments upon▪ lesser oc∣casions with a b 1.2 Cavete ne patienti∣am Principis laedatis, & caused Parry a Doctor of the Civil Laws, and a

Member of the House of Com∣mons, by the judgement and ad∣vice of as sage and learned a privy Council and Judges as any Prince in Christendom ever had, to be hanged, drawn, and quartered for Treason, in the c 1.3 old Palace of Westminster, when the Parliament was sitting) would have won∣dred at. And 4 January 1641. de∣siring only to bring them to a le∣gal tryal and examination, went in Person to demand them, and found that his own peaceable be∣haviour, and fewer attendants (then the two Speakers of the Par∣liament had afterwards when they brought a whole Army at their heels, to charge and fright away eleven of their fellow Members) had all maner of evil constructi∣ons put upon it, and that the Hou∣ses of Parliament had adjourned

into London, and occasioned such a sedition amongst the People, as all the Trained bands of London must guard them by Land, when there was no need of it, and ma∣ny Boats and Lighters armed with Sea-men and murdering pie∣ces by water, and that unlesse He should have adventured the mis∣chief and murder hath been since committed upon him, by those which at that time intended as much as they have done since; it was high time to think of his own safety, and of so many others were concerned in it; having left Lon∣don but the day before, (upon a greater cause of fear then the Speak∣ers of both Houses of Parliament in July 1647. to go to the Army) retires with the Prince His Son (whom the Parliament laboured to seise and take into their custody) in

His company towards York. 8. Ja∣nuary 1641. A Committee of the House of Commons sitting in London, resolved upon the questi∣on d 1.4 That the actions of the City of London, for the de∣fence of the Parliament, were according to Law; and if any man should arrest or trouble any of them for it, he is de∣clared to be an enemy to the Common-wealth. And when the King, to quiet the Parliament, 12 Jan. 1641. was pleased to signi∣fie, that for the present he would waive his proceedings against the five Members and Kimbolton, and assures the Parliament that upon all occasions He will be as careful of their Priviledges, as of His Life or His Crown: Yet the next day after, they De∣clared the Lord Digby's coming to

Kingston upon Thames but with a Coach and six horses in it, e 1.5 to be in a Warlike maner, and disturbance of the Common∣wealth; and take occasion there∣upon to order the Sheriffes of all Counties in England and Wales, with the assistance of the Justices of Peace, and trayned bands of the several Counties, f 1.6 to suppresse any unlawful assemblies, and to secure the said Counties and all the Magazines in them.

14 January, 1641. g 1.7 The King, by a second Message, professeth to them he never had the least inten∣tion of violating the least privi∣ledge of Parliament, and in case any doubt of breach of Priviled∣ges remain, will be willing to clear that, and assert those, by any rea∣sonable way His Parliament shall

advise him to. But the Design must have been laid by, or miscarried, if that should have been taken for a satisfaction; and therefore to make a quarrel which needed not, they Order the morrow after a Charge and Impeachment to be made ready h 1.8 against Sir Edward Herbert the Kings Attorney Gene∣ral, for bringing into the House of Peers the third of that instant January, by the Kings direction, a Charge or Accusation against Kimbolton and five Members, &c.

i 1.9 In February 1641. Seize upon the Tower of London (the great Magazine and Store-house of the Kingdom) and set some of the trained bands of London, com∣manded by Major General Skip∣pon, to guard it.

1. March 1641. Petition for the

Militia, and tell him; If he would not grant it, they would settle and dispose it without him: And the mor∣row after Resolve upon the Que∣stion, That the Kingdom be forthwith put in a posture of Defence; in such a way as was already agreed upon by both Houses of Parliament; and Order the Earl of Northumber∣land, Lord High-Admiral, to Rig, and send to Sea His Majesties Navy; and notwithstanding that the King 4 March 1641. by His Letter directed to the Lord Keeper Lit∣tleton, had signified that He would wholly desist from any proceed∣ings against the five Members and Kimbolton: Sir John Hotham, a Member of the House of Com∣mons, (who before the King had accused the five Members and

Kimbolton, k 1.10 had by Order of Par∣liament seized upon the Town of Hull, the onely fortified place of strength in the Kingdom, and made a Garison of it) summoned and forced in many of the trained Soldiers of the County of York to help him to guard it.

Eighth of March 1641. Before the King could get to York, it was Voted, That whatsoever the two Houses of Parliament should Vote or Declare to be Law, the People were bound to obey: And when, not long after, the King offered to go in person to suppresse the Irish Re∣bellion; That was Voted to be against the Law, and an en∣couragement to the Rebels; and they Declared that who∣soever should assist him in his Voyage thither, should be

taken for an enemy to the Common-weale. And 15 of March, 1641. Resolved upon the Question, That the several Com∣missions granted under the great Seal to the Lieutenants of the se∣veral Counties, were illegal and void, and that whosoever should execute any power over the Mili∣tia, by colour of any such Com∣mission, without consent of both Houses of Parliament, should be accounted a disturber of the peace of the Kingdom.

l 1.11 April 1642. Sir John Hotham seizeth the Kings Magazine at Hull, and when the King went but with a small attendance to demand an entrance into the Town, denies him; though he had then no Order to do it: Not∣withstanding all which, the 28 of April, 1642. they Vote, That

what he had done was in obedience to the commands of both Houses of Parlia∣ment, and that the Kings proclaiming him to be a Traytor, was a high breath of Priviledge of Parliament; And Ordered, All Sheriffs and Difficers to assist their Committees sent down with those their Votes to Sir John Hotham. In the mean time the Pulpits flame with sedi∣tious invectives against the King, and incitements to Rebellion, and the People running headlong into it, had all maner of countenance and encouragement unto it; but those Ministers that preached O∣bedience and sought to prevent it; were sure to be imprisoned, and put out of their places for it.

Sir Henry Ludlow could be heard

to say in the House of Commons, m 1.12 That the King was not worthy to Reign in England; And Henry▪s Marten, That the Kingly Office wa•• forfeitable, and the happiness of the Kingdom did not depend upon him and his Progeny: And though the King demanded justice of them, were neither punished, nor put out of the House, nor so much as que∣stioned or blamed for it.

The Militia, the principal part of the Kings regality, without which it was impossible either to be a King or to govern, and the sword which God had given him, (and his Ancestors for more then a thousand years together had en∣joyed) and none in the Barons wars, nor any Rebellion of the Kingdom since the very being or essence of it, durst ever heretofore presume to ask for; must now be

wrestled for, and taken away from him.

The Commissions of Array, being the old legal way by which the Kings of England had a power to raise and levy men for the de∣fence of themselves and the King∣dom, Voted to be illegal. The passage at Sea defended against him, and his Navy kept from him by the Earl of Warwick, whilest the King all this while contenting himself to be meerly passive, and only busying him∣self in giving answers to some Parliament Messages & Declara∣tions, & to wooe and intreat them out of this distemper, cannot be proved to have done any one acti∣on like a war, or to have so much as an intention to do it, unless they can make his demanding an entrance into Hull, with about

twenty of His followers, unarm∣ed, in His company, and under∣taking to return and leave the Governor in possession of it, to be otherwise then it ought to be.

5. of May, 1642. The King being informed, n 1.13 That Sir John Hotham sent out Warrants to Con∣stables to raise the Trained bands of York-shire, writes His Letter to the Sheriff of that Country to for∣bid the Trained bands, and com∣mands them to repair to their dwelling houses.

12. of May, 1642. Perceiving himself every where endangered, and a most horrid Rebellion framing against Him, and Sir John Hotham so near Him at Hull as within a dayes journey of Him, moves the o 1.14 Country of York for a Troop of horse, consisting of the prime Gentry of that Country, and a Re∣giment

of the Trained bands of foot, to be for a guard unto Him, & caused the oath of Allegiance to be administred unto them. But the Parliament thereupon Vote; p 1.15 That it appeared, the King sedu∣ced by wicked Councel, in∣tended to make a war a∣gainst them (and till then, if their own Votes should be true, must acquite Him from any thing more then an intention, as they call it, to do it) And that whosoever should assist him, are Lraytors by the funda∣mental Laws of the King∣dom. The Earl of Essex Lord-Chamberlain of the Kings hous∣hold, and all other of the Kings houshold servants, forbid to go to him, and the Kings putting some of them out, and others in their pla∣ces, Voted to be an injury to the Par∣liament.

Messengers were sent for the apprehending some Earls and Barons about Him, and some of His Bed-Chamber, as if they had been Felons. The Lord Keepers going to Him with the Great-Seal when He sent for him, Vo∣ted, To be a breach of Privi∣ledge, and pursued with a Warrant directed to all Mayors and Bayliffs to ap∣prehend him. Caused the Kings Rents and Revenues to be brought in to them; and forbid any to be paid Him; Many of His Officers and Servants put out of their places for being Loyal unto Him, and those that were ill affected to Him, put in their rooms; and many of His own Servants tempted and procured by rewards and

maintenance to tarry with them, and be false and active against Him.

The twenty sixth day of May, 1642. A Declaration is sent to the King, but printed and published before he could receive it: That,q 1.16 Whatsoever they should Vote, is not by Law to be questioned, either by the King or Subjects; No pre∣cedent can limit or bound their proceedings. A Parlia∣ment may dispose of any thing wherein the King or People have any right. The Soveraign power resides in both Houses of Parliament. The King hath no Negative voice. The levying of War against the Personal com∣mands of the King, though accompanied with His pre∣sence▪

is not a levying of War against the King, but a levy∣ing War against His Laws and Authority (which they have power to declare) is le∣vying of War against the King. Treason cannot be committed against His Per∣son, otherwise then as He was intrusted. They have power to judge whether He discharge His trust or not: that if they should follow the highest precedents of other Parliaments paterns, there would be no cause to com∣plain of want of modesty, or duty in them, and that it belonged onely to them to Judge of the Law.

r 1.17 27 of May, The King, by His Proclamation, forbids all His Subjects and Trained

bands of the Kingdom to Rise, March, or Muster. But the Parliament, on the same day Commanded all Sheriffs, Justices of Peace & Consta∣bles within one hundred and fifty miles of York, to seize and make stay of all Arms and Ammunition going thi∣ther: And Declaring the said Proclamation to be void in Law; s 1.18 command all men to Rise, Muster and March, and not to Muster or March by any other Authority or Commis∣sion; and the Sheriffs of all Coun∣ties the morrow after, command∣ed with the posse Comitatus to sup∣presse any of the Kings Subjects that should be drawn thither by His command, secure and seize upon the Magazines of the Coun∣ties, protected all that were Delin∣quents

against Him, make all to be Delinquents that attended him; and put out of the House of Peers, nine Lords at once, for obeying the Kings summons, and going to Him.

t 1.19 3. June, 1642. The King sum∣moning the Ministery, Gentry, and Free-holders of the County of York, declared to them the reasons of providing himself a guard, and u 1.20 that he had no intention to make a War, and the mor∣row after forbad the Lord Willough by of Parham to Mu∣ster and Trayn the County of Lincoln, who under colour of an Ordinance of Parliament▪ for the Militia, had begun to do it.

x 1.21 10▪ June, 1642. The Parlia∣ment by a Declaration signify∣ing, That the King intended to

make a War against His Parlia∣ment; invited the Citizens of London, and all others, well affe∣cted (as they pleased to miscall them) within 80▪ miles of the Ci∣ty, to bring money or plate into the Guild Hall London, and to sub∣scribe for Men, Horses, and Arms, to maintain the Protestant Religion; the Kings Person and Authority, free course of Justice, Laws of the Land, and priviledges of Parliament; and the morrow after send 19. propositions to the King; That the great affairs of the Kingdom and Mili∣tia, may be managed by con∣sent and approbation of Par∣liament, all the great officers of Estate, Privy Councel, Ambassadors and Ministers of State, and Judges be

chosen by them; that the Government, Education and Marriage of the Kings Children be by their consent and approbation, and all the Forts and Castles of the Kingdom put under the Command and Custody of such as they should approve of; and that no Peers to be made hereafter, should sit or vote in Parliament without the consent of Parliament; y 1.22 with several other demands (which if the King should have granted, would at once in effect, not only have un∣done, and put His Subjects out of His protection, but have depo∣sed both himself and his posteri∣ty) and then they would pro∣ceed to regulate His Reve∣nue, and deliver up the Town of Hull into such hands as the

King, by consent and appro∣bation of Parliament, should appoint.

But the King having the same day before those goodly demands came to his hands (being a greater breach of His Royal Priviledges then His demanding of the five Members and Kimbolton, if it had not been Lawful for him so to do, could be of theirs) z 1.23 granted a Commission of array for the County of Lecester to the Earl of Huntington, and by a letter sent along with it, directed it for the present onely to Muster, and Array the Trained bands.

a 1.24 And 13. June 1642. Decla∣red to the Lords attending Him at York, That He would not engage them in any War against the Parliament, un∣less it were for His necessary

defence: whereupon the Lord keeper Littleton, who a little before had either been affrighted or se∣duced by the Parliament to vote their new Militia, The Duke of Richmond, Marquis Hartford, Earl of Salisbury, Lord Gray of Ruthen, (now Earl of Kent) and divers Earls and Barons engaged not to obey any Order or Ordinance concerning the Militia which had not the Royal assent to it.

14 June, 1642. Being informed, b 1.25 That the Parliament en∣deavoured to borrow great sums of money of the City of London, and that there was great labour used to per∣swade His Subjects to fur∣nish horse and money, upon pretence of providing a guard for the Parliament: By His Letter to the Lord Mayor,

Aldermen, and Sheriffs of London, disavowing any purpose of ma∣king a War, declared, That He had not the least thought of raising or using of forces, un∣less He should be compelled to do it for His own defence; & forbiddeth therefore, the lending of money or raising of horses.

Within two days after, the Lord Keeper, Duke of Richmond, Marquis Hartford, Earl of Salis∣bury, Lord Gray of Ruthen, with 17 Earls and 14. Barons, the Lord Chief-Justice Bancks, and sundry others of eminent quality and re∣putation; attest His Majesties Declaration and profession that He had no intention to make a War; but abhorred it; and, c 1.26 That they perceived no Councels or preparations tending to any such de∣sign; and send it with His Maje∣sties

Declaration to the Parlia∣ment: In the mean time the Com∣mittee of Parliament (appointed to make the propositions to the City of London, for the raising of horse) viz.

15 June, 1642. Made report to the House of Commons, That the Citizens did very cheerfully ac∣cept the same, there being (for in∣deed there had been some design and resolution a year before con∣cerning the melting of plate to raise monies) already great store of plate, and monies brought in∣to Guild-Hall for that purpose; and an Ordinance of Parliament was made for the Earl of Warwick to be Lord Admiral, and keep the Navy, though the King had commanded him upon pain of Treason to deliver up the Ships to Him: And the Lord Brook sent

down into Warwich-shire to settle the Militia▪

17 June 1642. A Committee of both Houses was appointed to go to the City of London, to inquire what store of Horse, Monies and Plate were already raised upon the Propositions.

18 June 1642. The King by His Proclamation, Disclaiming any intention to make War against His Parliament, for∣biddeth all levies of Forces without His Majesties ex∣presse pleasure signified under His Great Seal.

And 20 June, 1642. Informing all His Subjects by His Procla∣mation, of the Lawfulness of His Commissions of Array, d 1.27 That besides many other War∣rants and Authorities of the Law; Judge Hutton and

Judge Crooke in their argu∣ments against the Ship-mo∣ney, agreed them to be Law∣ful; and the Earl of Essex him∣self had in the beginning of this Parliament accepted of one for the County of York: Gave his People to understand, That He had awarded the like Commissions into all the Counties of England, and Dominion of Wales, to pro∣vide for, and secure them in a legal way; lest under a pre∣tence of danger, and want of Authority from His Majesty to put them into a Military posture, they should be drawn and engaged in any oppositi∣on against Him, or His just Authority.

But 21 June, 1642. e 1.28 The Lords and Commons in Parlia∣ment

Declaring The design of their Propositions of rai∣sing horse and moneys was to maintain the Protestant Religion and the Kings Au∣thority and Person, and that the Forces already attend∣ing His Majesty, and His preparations. at first colour∣ed under the pretence of a guard (being not so great a guard as they themselves had constant∣ly for 6. moneths before) did evi∣dently appear to be intend∣ed for some great and extra∣ordinary disign (so as at this time also they do not charge the King with any maner of action of War, or any thing done in a way or course of War against them:) and gave just cause of fear and jealousie to the Parlia∣ment (being never yet by any

Law of God or man accounted to be a sufficient cause or ground for Subjects to make a War against their Soveraign) did forbid all Mayors, Sheriffs, Bayliffs, and other Officers, to pu∣blish His Majesties said Let∣ter to the City of London; And declare, that if He should use any force for the recovery of Hull, or suppressing of their Ordinance for the Militia, it should be held a levying War against the Parliament▪ and all this done before His Majesty had granted any Commission for the levying or raising of a man; and lest the King should have any maner or provision of War to de∣fend himself, when their Army, or Sir John Hotham, should come to assault Him; Powder and Armes were every where feized

on, and Cutlers, Gun-smiths, Sadlers, and all Warlike Trades, ordered not to send any to York; but to give a weekly account what was made or sold by them: And an Order made the 24. day of June, 1642. That the Horses which should be sent in for the Service of the Parlia∣ment, when they came to the number of 60. should be trained, and so still as the number increased.

4. July, 1642. The King by His Letter under His signe Ma∣nual, commanded all the Judges of England in their circuits, f 1.29 to use all means to suppresse Popery, Riots, and unlaw∣ful assemblies, and to give the People to understand His Resolution to maintain the Protestant Religion, and the

Laws of the Kingdom, and not to govern by any Arbi∣trary way; and that if any should give the King or them to understand of any thing wherein they held them∣selves grieved, and desired a just reformation; He would speedily give them such an answer as they should have cause to thank Him for His Justice and favour. But the same day a Declaration was pu∣blished by both Houses of Par∣liament, commanding, g 1.30 That no Sheriff, Mayor, Bayliff, Parson, Vicar, Curate, or other (Sir Richard Gurney the Lord Mayor of London, not ma∣ny dayes before having been im∣prisoned for proclaiming the Kings Proclamation against the bringing in of Plate, &c.) should

publish or Proclaim any Pro∣clamation, Declaration, or other Paper in the Kings Name, which should be con∣trary to any Order, Ordi∣nance or Declaration of both Houses of Parliament, or the proceedings thereof; and Order, h 1.31 That in case any forces should be brought out of one County into another to disturb the Peace thereof, they should be suppressed by the Trained bands, and Vo∣luntiers of the adjacent Counties. Shortly after Sir John Hotham fortifieth the Town of Hull, whilest the King is at York, i 1.32 seizeth on a Ship coming to Him with provisions for His houshold▪ takes Mr. Ashburnham, one of the Kings Servants, priso∣ner, intercepts Letters sent from

the Queen to the King, and drowneth part of the Countrey round about the Town; k 1.33 which the Parliament allows of, and promise satisfaction to the own∣ers.

5 July, 1642. They Order a subscription of Plate and Horse to be made in every Countey, and list the Horse under Commanders; and the morrow after, Order 2000. men should be sent to relieve Sir John Hotham in case the King should besiege him; to which purpose Drums were beat up in London, and the adjacent parts to Hull. The Earl of Warwick Ordered to send Ships to Humber to his assi∣stance; instructions drawn up to be sent to the Deputy-Lieute∣nants of the several Counties, to tender the Propositions for the

raising of Horses, Plate and Mo∣ney. Mr. Hastings and divers of the Kings Commissioners of Ar∣ray impeached for supposed high Crimes and misdemeanours; and a Committee of five Lords and ten of the House of Commons ordered to meet every morning, for the laying out of ten thousand pounds of the Guild-hall moneys, for the buying of 700. Horse, and that 10000. Foot to be raised in London and the Countrey, be imployed by direction of the Par∣liament; and the Lord Brook is furnished with 6. pieces of Ordi∣nance out of the Tower of Lon∣don, to fortifie the Castle of War∣wick.

And 9. July, 1642. Order, That in case the Earl of Northampton should come into that County with a Com∣mission

of Array, they should raise the Militia to suppresse him; And that the Common Councel of London should consider of a way for the speedy raising of the 10000. Foot, and that they should be listed, and put in pay within four dayes after.

11. July, 1642. l 1.34 The King sends to the Parliament to cause the Town of Hull to be delivered unto Him, and desires to have their answer by the 15. of that moneth, and as then had used no force against it: But m 1.35 the morrow after before that message could come unto them, they re∣solve upon the Question: That an Army shall be forthwith raised for the defence of the Kings Person, and both Houses of Parliament; and

n 1.36 those who have obeyed their Orders & Commands; in preserving the true Re∣ligion, the Laws, Liberties; and the Peace of the King∣dom; and that they would live and dye with the Earl of Essex, whom they nomi∣nate General in that Cause.

12. July, 1642. Declare, That, they will protect all that shall be imployed in their assistance and Militia.

And 16. July, 1642. Petition the King o 1.37 to forbear any preparations or actions of War; and to dismisse His ex∣traordinary guards, to come nearer to them, and hearken to their advice; but before that Petition could be answered, (wherein the King offered, when the Town of Hull should be deli∣vered

to Him, He would no lon∣ger have an Army before it, and should be assured that the same pretence which took Hull from him, may not put a Garrison into Newcastle (into which after the Parliaments sur∣prise of Hull, He was inforced to place a Governour and a small Garrison) He would also re∣move that Garrison, and so (as His Magizine and Navy might be delivered unto Him; all Armies and Le∣vies made by the Parlia∣ment laid down, the pretend∣ed Ordinance for the Militia disavowed, and the Parlia∣ment adjourned to a secure place) He would lay down Armes and repair to them, and desired all differences might be freely debated in a

Parliamentary way, where∣by the Law might recover its due reverence, the Sub∣ject his just Liberty, Parlia∣ments their full vigour and estimation, and the whole Kingdom a blessed Peace and prosperity, and requiring their answer by the 27. of that July promised, till then, not to make any attempt of force upon Hull;) they had Armed their General with power against Him, given him a Com∣mission to kill and slay all that should oppose him in the execu∣tion of it, and chosen their Ge∣neral of the Horse.

8. August, 1642. Upon infor∣mation, That some of the Town of Portsmouth had revolted to Col∣lonel Goring, (being but sent thi∣ther with a message from the

King) and Declared for His Ma∣jesty; Order Forces to be sent thither speedily to beleaguer it by Land, and the Earl of Warwick to send thither 5. Ships of the Navy to prevent any Forraign forces coming to their assistance: and upon Intelligence that the Earl of Northampton appeared with great strength at Banbury, to hinder the Lord Brooks carrying the pieces of Ordinance to Warwick; Order∣ed 5000. Horse and Foot to be sent to assist Him.

9. August, 1642. Upon infor∣mation, That the Marquis of Hartford, and divers others, were in Somerset-shire, demanding obe∣dience to the Kings Commission of Array, and to have the Maga∣zine of the County to be deliver∣ed unto them; Gave power to the Earl of Essex their Lord-General,

the Lord Brook and others, to apprehend the Marquis of Hart∣ford, and Earl of Northampton, and their complices, and to kill and slay all that should oppose them. And the day following gave the Earl of Stamford a Commission to raise forces for the suppressing of any that should attempt for the King in Leicester-shire or the ad∣jacent Counties.

And on the eleventh of August, 1642. Upon the Kings Procla∣mation two dayes before, Decla∣ring the Earl of Essex, and all that should adhere unto him in the le∣vying of Forces, and not come in and yield to His Majesty within 6. dayes, to be Traytors: p 1.38 vote the said Proclamation to be against the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom; Declare their resolu∣tions to maintain and assist the

Earl of Essex; and resolve to spend no more time in Decla∣rations and Petitions, but to endeavour by raising of Forces to suppress the Kings Party, (Though all that the Kings Loyal Subjects did at that time for Him, was but to exe∣cute the Commission of Array in the old legal way of the Militia) and within a day or two after, Or∣dered the Earl of Essex, their Lord General, to set forth with his Ar∣my of Horse upon the Monday fol∣lowing; but not so much as an answer would be afforded to the Kings message sent from Hull, where, whilest He with patience and hope forbore any action▪ or attempt of force, according to His promise: Sir John Hotham sal∣lied out in the night, and murder∣ed many of His fellow Subjects.

12. August, 1642. The King, though he might well understand the great leavies of Men and Armes ready to march against Him, by a Declaration published to all His Subjects, assures them, as in the presence of God, That all the Acts passed by him in this Parliament, should be as equally obser∣ved, as those which most of all concerned His own inte∣rest and rights, and that His quarrel was not against the Parliament, but particular men; and therefore desired, That the Lord Kimbolton, Mr. Hollis, Sir Henry Lud∣low, Sir Arthur Haslerig, Mr. Strode, Mr. Martin, Mr. Ham∣pden, Alderman Pennington, and Capt. Venne, might be delivered into the hands of

Iustice, to be tried by their Peeres, according to the known Laws of the Land, and against the Earles of Essex, Warwick, Stamford; Lord Brook, Sir John Hotham, Ma∣jor General Skippon, and those who should exercise the Militia by vertue of the Ordi∣nance, He would cause In∣dictments to be drawn of High Treason upon the Statute of 25. Edw. 3. and if they submit to trial, and plead the Ordinance, would rest satisfied if they should be acquited. But when this pro∣duced as little effect as all other endeavours He had used for peace; He that saw the Hydra in the mud and slime of Sedition, in its Em∣bryo, birth and growth▪ and finds him now erected ready to devour

him, must now (though very unwilling to cast off His beloved Robe of Peace, forsake an abused patience, and believe no more in the hopes of other remedies which had so often deceived Him: but if He will give any account to the Watch-man of Israel of the People committed to his Charge, or to the People of his protection of them, or any maner of satisfacti∣on to his own judgement and discretion) betake himselfe to the sword which God had intrusted Him with▪ and therefore makes the best use He could of those few friends were about Him, and with the money which the Queen had not long before bor∣rowed, and the small supplies He had obtained of His servants and friends about Him (who pawned and engaged their Plate, Jewels

and Lands for Him) with those Lords and Gentlemen that wil∣lingly offered to bear him compa∣ny in His troubles; provides what men & arms He could in his way towards Nottingham, where He intended to set up His Standard.

But the Parliament about the 23. of August, 1642. having re∣ceived some information that He intended to set up His Standard at Nottingham, Declare, q 1.39 That now it appears to all the world, that there is good ground of their fears and jealousies (which if ever there had been any, as there was no cause at all of any, more then that, some of them meaning to murder or ruine Him, they were often afraid He should take notice of it, and seek to defend himself; there was by

their own confession, till this time, no manifest or certain ground appearing that He intend∣ed to defend himself against the Parliament) and therefore Order, That all that shall suffer in their Estates by any forces raised by the King, without consent of Parliament, shall have full reparation of their damages out of the Estates of the Actors, and out of the Estates of all such Per∣sons in any part of the King∣dom who should persist to serve the King in this War against the Parliament; and That it should be Lawful for any number of persons to ioyn and defend themselves; and that the Earl of Essex, their General, should grant out Commissions for levy∣ing

and conducting forces in∣to the Northern parts; And Sir John Hotham the Gover∣nor of Hull assist them; and Command also the Sheriffs of the County of York, and the adjacent Counties, with the power of the Counties, and Trained bands to aide them, and to seize upon all that shall execute the Com∣mission of Array for His Ma∣jesty: who thus sufficiently beset by those that intended, what since they have brought to pass against Him;

25 August; 1642. (being some dayes after the Earl of Bedford had marched with great forces into the West) that His Subjects might be informed of His danger and repair to His succour; set∣teth up His Standard at Nottingham;

r 1.40 being a thing of a meer legal necessity, if He would have any at all to come to help Him, and not forfeit and surprise those that by tenure of their Lands, or by reason of offices, fees, or annui∣ties enjoyed under Him, were more immediately bound to assist Him.

And yet here He must weep over Jerusalem; and once again in∣treat the Parliament, and His Re∣bellious subjects to prevent their own miseries; and therefore sends the Earls of Southampton and Dor∣set to the Parliament to desire a Treaty, offering to do all on His own part which might advance the Protestant Religion, op∣pose Popery and Superstiti∣on, and secure the Laws and Liberties of his Subjects, and just priviledges of Par∣liament:

Which after several scornes put upon those Noble Messengers, as denying the Earl of Southampton to come and sit in the House of Peers (a right by birth and inheritance due unto him) and causing the Serjeant at Arms of the House of Com∣mons to go before him with the Mace, as they use to do before De∣linquents: They refuse to accept of, unless the King would first take down His Standard, and recal His Declarations and Proclamations against them. To which the King the 5. Septemb. 1642. (notwithstanding the Earl of Bedford had with great forces in the mean time besieged the Marquis of Hartford in the Castle of Sherborn in Dorset-shire) reply∣ing, That He never did De∣clare nor ever intended to

Declare both His Houses of Parliament to be Traytors, or set up His Standard against them; much less to put them and the Kingdom out of His protection. And utterly s 1.41 pro∣testing against it before God and the World, offered to re∣cal His Declarations and Proclamations with all cheerfulness the same day that they should revoke their Declarations against those that had assisted Him: and desiring a Treaty, and conjuring them to consider the bleeding condition of Ireland, and the danger of England, under∣takes to be ready to grant any thing shall be really good for His Subjects; which be∣ing brought by the Lord Falkland, one of His Majesties Secretaries

of State, and a Member of the House of Commons, and not long before in a very great esteem with them (all the respect could be afforded him being to stand at the Bar of the House of Com∣mons, and deliver his Message unto them) had onely an answer in a printed Declaration of the Lords and Commons returned unto him, That it was Ordered and Declared by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That the Arms which they have been forced to take up, or shall be forced to take up, for the preservation of the Par∣liament, Religion, and the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom, shall not be laid down until His Majesty shall withdraw His protection from such persons as have

been voted by both Houses of Parliament to be Delin∣quents, or that shall by t 1.42 both Houses of Parliament be voted to be Delinquents, (which after their mad way of voting mig•••• have been himself, his Queen or His Heir apparent) and leave them to the Iu∣stice of Parliament, accord∣ing to their demerites, to the end that those great Char∣ges and damages where∣withal the Common wealth hath been burdened since His Majesty departed from the Parliament, might be born by the Delinquents and o∣ther Malignant and dis-af∣fected persons, and that those who by Loans of money, or otherwise at their charges, have assisted the Common∣wealth,

or shall in like maner hereafter assist the Common∣wealth in times of extream danger, (and here they would al∣so provide for future friends and quarrels) may be re-paid all sums of money le•••• for those purposes, and satisfied their charges susteined out of the Estates of the said Delin∣quents, and of the Malig∣nant and dis-affected party in this Kingdom.

And to make good their words 8. of September, 1642. Before their answer could come unto the Kings hands, Ordered certain numbers of horse and foot to be sent to Garrison, and secure Ox∣ford; and the morrow after (be∣fore the King could possibly re∣ply unto it) their Lord General the Earl of Essex, marched out of Lon∣don

against him, with an Army of 20000. men, horse and foot, gal∣lantly Armed, and a great train of Artillery to attend him.

Notwithstanding all which, and those huge impossibilities which every day more and more appeared of obtaining a Peace with those who were so much a∣fraid to be loosers by it, as they never at all intended it;

The King must needs send one message more unto them, to try if that might not give them some occasion to send Him gentler con∣ditions; and therefore 13. Septem∣ber, 1642. (Being the same day they had impeached the Lord Strange of High-Treason for exe∣cuting the Kings Commission of Array, and Ordered the proposi∣tions for furnishing of horse, plate, and money, to be tendred

from house to house, in the Ci∣ties of London, & Westminster, & to be sent into all the Shires & Coun∣ties of England to be tendred for the same purpose, and the names of the refusers to be certified) Mr. May, one of the Pages to the King, comes to the Lords House in Parliament, with a message from Him, bearing date but two dayes before; u 1.43 That al∣though He had used all ways and means to prevent the present distractions and dan∣gers of the Kingdom, all His labours have been fruitless, that not so much as a Trea∣ty, earnestly desired by Him, can be obtained, (though He disclaimed all His Proclama∣tions and Declarations, and the erecting of His Standard as against His Parliament)

unless He should denude him∣self of all force to defend Him from a visible strength marching against Him; That now He had nothing left in His power, but to express the deep sense He had of the publique misery of the King∣dom, and to apply himself to a necessary defence, wherein He whoily relied upon the providence of God; and the affection of His good people, and was so far from putting them out of His protection, as when the Parliament should desire a treaty He would piously remember whose blood is to be spilt in this quarrel, and cheerfully embrace it.

But this must also leave them as it found them, in their ungodly

purposes, for the morrow after be∣ing the 14. day of Septemb. 1642. Mr. Hampden one of the 5. Mem∣bers (by this time a Collonel of the Army) brings letters to the House of Commons from the Parliaments General, that he was at Northampton in a very good posture, and that great num∣bers of the Countreys thereabouts came in dayly unto him, and of∣fered to march under him, and that so soon as all his forces that are about London shall come unto him, which he desires may be hastened, he intended to advance towards His Majesty: and it was the same day voted, That all things sealed by the Kings Seal, since it was carried away by the Lord Keeper Littleton, should be Null, and of no force in the Law, and that a new Seal should be provided.

The King therefore seeing what He must trust to, 19. Septem∣ber, 1642. being at Wellington in Shrop-shire in the head of such small forces and friends as He could get together, (for the Par∣liament that very day had recei∣ved letters, That the King, but the week before, having a muster at Nottingham, there appeared but about 3000. foot, and 2000. horse, and 1500. dragoons; and that a great part of His men were not provided with Arms) made His protestation and promise as in the presence of x 1.44 Almighty God, and as He hoped for His bles∣sing and protection, to main∣tain to the utmost of His power the true Reformed Protestant Religion, establi∣shed in the Church of Eng∣land, and that He desired to

govern by the known Laws of the Land, and that the Liberty and property of the Subject should be preserved with the same care as His own just rights; and to ob∣serve inviolably the Laws consented to by Him in this Parliament, and promised as in the sight of Almighty God, if He would please by His blessing upon that Army raised for His necessary de∣fence, to preserve Him from that Rebellion, to maintain the just priviledges and free∣dom of Parliament, and go∣vern by the known Laws of the Land. In the mean while, if this time of War, and the great necessity and straights He was driven to, should be get any violation of

them, He hoped it would be imputed by God and man to the Authors of the War, and not to Him who had so ear∣nestly desired and laboured for the Peace of the King∣dom, and preservation there∣of; and that when He should fail in any of those particu∣lars, He would expect no aid or relief from any man, nor protection from Heaven.

And now that the stage of War seems to be made ready, and the Parliament party being the bet∣ter furnished, had not seldom shewed themselves, and made several traverses over it (for in∣deed the King having so many necessities upon him, and so out of power and provision for it, might in that regard onely if He had not been so unwilling to have

any hurt come to his people by his own defending of himself, be backward and unwillingly drawn unto it,) we may do well to stand by and observe who cometh first to act upon it.

22. of September, 1642. The Earl of Essex writeth from War∣wick that he was upon his march after the King, and before the 6. of October following had written to the County of Warwick with all speed to raise their Trained bands and Voluntiers to resist his forces if they should come that way, and to the three Counties of Northamp∣ton, Leicester and Darby, to gather head and resist him if he should retire into those parts; and by all that can be judged of a matter of fact, so truely and faithfully re∣presented, must needs be acknow∣ledged to have great advantages

of the King, by the City and Tower of London, Navy, Ship∣ping, Armes, Ammunition, the Kings Magazines, all the strong Towns of the Kingdom, most of the Kingdoms plate and money, the Parliaments credit and high esteem, which at that time the people Idolized; the fiery Zeal of a Seditious Clergy to preach the people into a Rebellion, and the people head-long running into the witchcraft of it: When the King on the other side, had little more to help him, then the Laws and Religion of the Land, which at that time every man be∣gan to mis-construe and pull in pieces, had neither ammunition, ships, places of strength, nor mo∣ney, nor any of his party or fol∣lowers after the Parliament had as it were proclaimed a War a∣gainst

Him, could come single or in small numbers through any Town or Village, but were either openly assaulted, or secretly be∣trayed, no man could adventure to serve or own him, but must expose himself, and his Estate to be ruined, either by the Parlia∣ment or people, or such as for malice or profit would inform a∣gainst him. All the gains and places of preferment, were on the Parliaments part, and nothing but losses and mis-fortunes on the Kings: No man was afraid to go openly to the Parliaments side, and no man durst openly so much as take acquaintance of his Soveraign, but if he had done a quarter of that which Ziba did to David when he brought him the 200. loaves of bread, or old Bar∣zillai, or Ittai the Gittise when he

went along with him when his son Absalom rebelled against him; They should never have escaped so well as they did, but have been sure to be undone and sequestred for it. So much of the affections of the people had the Parliament cousened, and stoln from them, so much profit and preferment had they to perswade it, and so much power to enforce those, that other∣wise had not a minde to it, to fight against him; Who thus every way encompassed about with dangers, and like a Partridge hunt∣ed upon the Mountains; march∣eth from Shrewsbury towards Ban∣bury, perswading and picking up what help and assistance His bet∣ter sort of Subjects durst adven∣ture to afford Him: in the way to which

On Sunday the 23. of October,

1642. (for they thought it bet∣ter to rob God of his Sabbath, then lose an opportunity of murder∣ing their Soveraign) The Earl of Essex and Parliament army powr∣ing in from all quarters of the kingdom upon him, had at Edge∣hill compassed Him in on all sides; and before the King could put His men in battel Array (many of whom being young country fel∣lows had no better Arms then Clubs and Staves in their hands cut out of the hedges) and put His two young Sons the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York in the guard of a troop of horse at the further end of the field, and had finished a short prayer, a bul∣let of the Earl of Essex's Canon grazed at His heels, as He was kneeling at His prayers on the side of a bank (for Blague a vil∣lain

in the Kings Army having a great Pension allowed Him for it, had given notice in what part of the field the King stood, that they might the better know how to shoot at him.) But God having a greater care of his Anointed then of their Rebellious pretences; so ordered the hands of those that fought for the King; as the Earl of Essex was so loaden with Victo∣ries, as he left five of His men for one of the Kings dead behinde him; lost his babbage and Artil∣lery, retired back to Warwick, and left the King to bless God in the field; where He supped with such Victuals as the more Loyal and better natured neighbours sent him, when the worser sort refused to do it, and lying there all night sent warrants out the next day to the neighbour Parishes to bury

the dead; drew off His Ordinance and marched to Banbury, and yet he could not forget to pity those which were at such pains, and ha∣zard the day before to murther him; but before he went out of the field sent Sir William Le-neve Cla∣rencieux King at Arms to Warwick, whither the Earl of Essex was fled, with a Proclamation of Pardon to all that would lay down arms, which though they scornfully re∣ceived, and the Herald threatned to be hanged if he did not depart the sooner, cannot perswade him from sending a Declaration or Message to the Parliament to of∣fer them all that could be request∣ed by Subjects; but all the use they made of it; was to make the City of London believe they were in greater danger then ever, if they lent them not more moneys,

and recruited the Earl of Essex his broken Army; and to cousen and put the people on the more to seek their own misery, a day of thanks∣giving was publiquely kept for the great Victory obtained against the King. And Stephen Marshal a Factious bloody minister, though he confessed he was so carried on in the crowd of those that fled from the battel, as he knew not where he was, till he came to a Market Town, which was some miles from Edge-hill where the Battel was fought, preaches to the people (too little believing the Word of God, and too much believing him:) That to his knowledge there was not above 200. men lost on the Parliaments side; that he picked up bullets in his black Velvet cap, and that a very small supply would now

serve to reduce the King, and bring Him to His Parliament.

And here ye may see Janus Temple wide open, though the doors of it were not lift off the hinges, or broken open at once, but pickt open by those either knew not the misery of War, or knowing it will prove to be the more guilty promoters of it. That we may the better therefore find out (though the matter of Fact already represented may be evidence enough of it self) who it was that let out the fury and rage of War upon us, we shall consider.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Order 3. Jan. 1641.
• b 1.2

  Camden Annals Eliz. 99. 103.
• c 1.3

  Ibidem p. 391. 394, & 395.
• d 1.4

  Vide the vote in Mr. Viccars book entitu∣led God in the Mount. p. 78.
• e 1.5

  Collect. of Parl. and Decl. and Kings Mess. and Decl. p. 50.
• f 1.6

  Ibid. 51.
• g 1.7

  Ibid. 52.
• h 1.8

  Ibid. 53.
• i 1.9

  Ibid. 77. & 78.
• k 1.10

  Vide the Petition of some Hol∣derness men to the King; 6 July 1642.
• l 1.11

  Ibid. 153.
• m 1.12

  Ibid. 550.
• n 1.13

  Ibid. 169. 170.
• o 1.14

  Collect. Par. Decl. 183.
• p 1.15

  Ibid. 259.
• q 1.16

  Ibid. p. 297. & 298.
• r 1.17

  Ibid. 301.
• s 1.18

  Ibid. 305.
• t 1.19

  Ibid. 328.
• u 1.20

  Ibid. 333.
• x 1.21

  Ibid. 339. 340. 342.
• y 1.22

  Collect. of Parl. Mess. and Declar. 307, 308, 309.
• z 1.23

  Ibid. 346, & 348.
• a 1.24

  Ibid. 349. 350.
• b 1.25

  Ibid. 350.
• c 1.26

  Ibid. 356, 357.
• d 1.27

  Collect. Par. Decl. 373, & 374.
• e 1.28

  Ibid. 376.
• f 1.29

  Ibid. 442.
• g 1.30

  Ibid. 449.
• h 1.31

  Ibid. 450.
• i 1.32

  Ibid. 453
• k 1.33

  Ibid. 459.
• l 1.34

  Ibid. 452.
• m 1.35

  Ibid. 457.
• n 1.36

  Ibid. 457.
• o 1.37

  Ibid. 465. & 483.
• p 1.38

  Ibid. 509.
• q 1.39

  Ibid. 573, 574, 575, & 576.
• r 1.40

  Vide the Kings De∣claration printed at Oxford, and ordered to be read in Churches and Chap∣pels. Cokes 1. part Insti∣tutes 65. 11. H. 7. 18, & 19. H 7. 1. Collect. Kings Mes∣sages. 579.
• s 1.41

  Ibid. 583.
• t 1.42

  Ibid. 585.
• u 1.43

  Ibid. 586.
• x 1.44

  Ibid. 614.