Angliæ ruina: or, Englands ruine represented in the barbarous, and sacrilegious outrages of the sectaries of this kingdome, committed upon the lives, consciences and estates of all His Maj: loyal subjects in generall; but more particularly upon the churches, colledges, clergie, and scholars of the same. Containing two briefe catalogues of such heads and fellowes of colledges in the University of Cambridge, and other learned and pious divines, within the city of London, as have been ejected, plundered, imprisoned, or banished, for their constancie in the Protestant religion, and loyalty to their soveraigne. Whereunto is added, a chronologie of the time and place of all the battails, sieges, conflicts, and other remarkable passages which have happened betwixt His Majesty and the Parliament; with a catalogue of such persons of quality, as have been slain on either party, from Novemb. 3. 1640 till the 25. of March, 1647.

The Preface.

WHen the sinnes of this Kingdome were ripe for punishment, the Di∣vine Justice permitted a great part of it to be besotted with Discontents, ei∣ther wholly causelesse, or such as His Maj. was pleased to remeay with Grants so unmea∣surably gracious, as could not otherwise be justified, then by thier importunity that de∣manded them, and His Majesties Royall ten∣dernesse of his Subjects peace and safety.

These grants were so far from satisfying those whose broken fortunes and boundlesse desires would not permit them to live with∣out a Civill War, that they made of them no other use, then thereby to strenthen them∣selves to demand more: till at last they broke out into most unnaturall Rebellion.

The people alwayes apt to cherish murmures and invectives against thier Princes, and now grown wanton with the fruits of a long peace, incline to Abners mind, and thinke the Warre (which yet they knew not) but a

sport. Therefore with a great facility they embrace the designe: and the baits to cover the Hooks with, are the preservation of Religion, and the vindication of liber∣ty. And howsoever they cannot reconcile their practise with Gods command, which under paine of damnation forbids all Subjects to resist their King: yet they are so wedded to that interest which they Chal∣lenge in Religion, and Liberty, that for Gods command, if they cannot untie the knot, they resolve to cut it. Doe but assure them that the forbidden fruit will make them as Gods, and they will eate it though it be forbidden: doe but perswade them that to take up armes against their Soveraigne is the way to secure their Religion and Li∣berty, and they make bold with God for once to choose their owne way for so good an end.

From so desperate Resolution, had they had but Morall justice, they might have beene kept back by the improbability of those calumnies whereby His Majestie was tradu∣ced, as intending to alter Religion and infringe their Liberties.

Or had Religion (to which they doe so

Zealously pretend) had that potent influence upon them, it might have taught them, that Religion cannot be defended by trans∣gressing Gods commands, which are the Rule of it.

But if nothing else, yet even regard to their owne pretensions, the defence of Reli∣gion and Liberty, should have wrought in them a detestation of Rebellion, which is so contrary to both.

For as an eye had to Gods dominion over us should exact obedience to his commands, though never so much to our prejudice: So the meditation of his infinite goodnesse ought to win it from us, because his commands en∣joyne us onely what is for our good, if we could see it.

He would not have forbidden Subjects to defend Religion against their King by force of Armes, but that he knew as Rebells can be no friends to Religion, so it gaines love & admiration by the innocent patience of those that professe it; where as Blood-shed, Force, and Rapine, the fruits of Rebellion) pro∣cure Hatred or Hypocrisie.

And for Liberty, it is for he good of

Mankind, to forbid the assertion of it by Sub∣jects Armes taken up against their Prince: both because that pretence would otherwise be used by those that have a designe to make the abused people their owne slaves, and be∣cause Rebellion doth more violate the Sub∣jects liberty, then is morally possible for the worst Prince in times of peace to doe.

This truth was knowne before by specula∣tion to a few, whose endeavours to infuse it into the distempered peoples minds, had the fate of Caffandraes predictions, to hit the truth and want belief, till these sad times have at last verified it by acostly experience.

That this may be more universally benefi∣ciall; you have too plentifull a harvest of Instances collected in the ensuing Relations: wherein may evidently be seene, that this War which the multitude was so fond of, as the onely meanes to preserve Religion and Liberty, hath beene the utter ruine of them both.

Here you shall find these great pretenders to Religion, Suppressing that which them∣selves confesse to be Divine Truth, Debar∣ring poore prisoners the comfort of joyning

their prayers together, enforcing men to take Oaths of blind obedience to whatsoever they should afterwards command them; turning out Clergiemen above all exception, and placing most scandalous and insufficient wretches in their roomes, darting from their invenomed mouthes most horrid Blasphe∣mies against our Lord and Saviour, abusing the service of God, and profaning not only the Forme of it, the Booke of Common Prayer, which now they have utterly extir∣pated, but even Gods owne Word, the holy Bible, which they pretend to reverence.

Here shall you behold them not onely (like those Canes Sepulchrales) violating the bones & ashes of the dead, to make the world know that they beleeve what some of their fellowes openly professe, that of those some∣time living Temples of the holy Chost, there shall be no Resurrection, but exercising their sury on the Churches of God; which they have defaced with barbarous rudenesse, defiled with more then beastly nastinesse, & (as if contrary to their wont they had study∣ed the Booke of Maccabes to find out and

out-doe the most Heathenish wickednesses therein related) they have polluted the very Altar with their whoredomes.

Nor can these Reformers (at whose doore the profanations of the Houses of God must lye) make the world beleeve they are in ear∣nest when they plead for Religion, whilst they deface and demolish the places where it should be taught and practiced, and put out the Eyes of the most flourishing Universities of Christendome.

Then for the other point, the Subjects Li∣berty, the following Narrations will plainly shew that it hath not been spared by those that would be accounted the Champions of it, when the violation of it might satisfie either their Lust, their Covetousnesse, or their Cruelty.

Their Lust hath prompted them not only to threaten Rape, but with violence to at∣tempt it, and to wound and murther those upon whom they could not effect their beastly purpose.

To satisfie their Covetousnesse, they have unmercifully robbed of their fortunes, and exposed to the extremest want, not only

those that were their opposites and able to hurt them, but those whose sexe, age and condition might have melted stones into pit∣ty, women, children, the sicke, the aged, wo∣men in labour, and even those of their owne party.

Their Cruelty hath not contented it selfe with the murther of those they hated, but, as if they had beene the professed Schol∣lers of that inhumane monster, whose Max∣ime was, Perimat Tyrannus lenis, in regno meo mors impetratur, they have insulted over the persons and lives of their fellows Subjects with most exquisite Tortures, whipt some to Death, and starved others: they have made it a Crime in some that they were neighbours to those whom they persecu∣ted for Loyalty, & punished others for shewing them mercy: As if they would tell you, that they are not inferior to the worst of all the Primitive persecutors Dioclesian, by whose command (as Eusebius lib. 10. Chap. 8. reporteth) all charity was forbidden to those in Prison, yea even to those whom they were bound to pittie by the Law of Nature, their kindred, &c.

Nay more, so farre hath their malice transcended all bounds: that they have done mischief where they were not invited by any benefit to themselves or any other, only for the delight they tooke in doing it, burning hou∣ses, spoyling goods, destroying Books, Evi∣dences, and Publique Records, to the preju∣dice of Posterity, the disturbance of Pessessi∣ons, the obstruction of Justice, and the im∣pairing of Learning, only to make them∣selves Sport : They have by breaking Arti∣cles of surrender, by offering savage force to the persons of messengers for Treaty, and to the goods & houses of forraine Ambassa∣dors, broken the Sacred Lawes and distur∣bed the Commerce of N••tions.

In a word, these new Physitians of State, have proved such Saltimbancoes to the Common wealth, & by their recipes prescribed such drugs, as have purged the Body Politique of all its Treasure, and left nothing, but Melancholly behind. This truth clearly appears in the late London Accompt, from which single Citie, they have draind 17. Millions, and it can be no small. Proportion, therest of the Kingdome

beares to it: Consider next, how they dispose of the Kingdomes Treasure, in voting every Active Member a Benja. part (no lesse then 89000l.in three dayes) whilst some of those that hazarded their lives, in their Service, are forced to starve in the streets, and lye three dayes unburied, ere their Masters would vote them a Winding sheete: But these heavy burthens, must dwell upon our shoulders, for we cannot but imagine their swelling greatnesse must be maintained: If so, then which way the supplies must be raised Tacitus will truly tell us, AErarium am∣bitione exhaustum, per scelera supplen∣dum erit, Treasure spent Ambitiously, must be supplyed by wickednesse: To the Intelli∣gible Common wealths man, Verbum sat, nay halfe a word is sufficient.

'T was a sad Omen to this Kingdome, to have the Sunne Eclipsed, that very houre this Parlia. began; And though it was not visible here, yet the effects have not beene clouded from our Eyes. But let the afflicted comfort themselves, Post nubila Phaebus, Eclipses are never perpetuall. No age was ever blest with a more pious Prince, or

brought forth more crooked natures to per∣plex a righteous soule. His easie Inclinations gave their dark practices confidence to ap∣peare in the light, and through whose yeeld∣ing clemencie (thinking like the Sunne by attracting vapours to disperse them) they (with the help of a Northern Fag) condenst into a cloud, that first darkned, then rain'd blood over all the Land, and what number, or power, was not able to overthrow, Trea∣chery, or Bribery did on a suddaine ruine.

And now, in the close of all miseries; behold an action detestable beyond Expres∣sion, a misfortune, which (heightned with accumulated Injuries) deserves to be looked upon with a compassionate Eye, and a bleeding heart. Is it not a most sorrow∣full object to see a king set forth to Sale? to behold Majesty to become Merchandize, and Soveraignty sold for Silver? To see a Prince weighed in a Treacherous, and persidious Ballance, & made to turne which way Coyne shall move the Beame? to deliver him up for the same cause Aristides was banished, Justus quia justus, and at length to Cruci∣fie him betweene two Theeves? O high In∣gratitude,

to ruine so great a Benefactor, when they found his hands bound up from usuall ten∣ders! Doubtlesse they are worse enemies, that surprize by Ambush, then those that fight in open field.

We read, that Wealth may choak as well as a Halter; and Judas his Bribe was the cause he became his owne Executioner. Time may ma∣nifest to the world some noted issue; for sure both parties cannot but become Bankrupts, as well those which buy deare, as those that sell cheape.

But this being an action beyond presi∣dent, (the rehearsall whereof, is enough to make the most innocent and patient pen crimi∣nall) Ile forbeare to trace it any further, but leave it to a vindictive Iustice, stigmatiz'd with that brand Cicero stamps upon such another, Perditissimi est hominis, fallere cum qui laesus non effet, nifi credidisset: None but the most villanous of Mankind will deceive him, that had beene safe, but for trusting.

But though I decline them, yet may I not leave my injured Soveraigne in His Suffe∣rings, without letting the world know, how sad and weighty they are, his Infelicities sinking a deeper Impression, because throwne from so high a Spire, heretofore enjoying what Majesty could present, and now doom'd to imbrace what the worst of miseries will im∣pose: And surely the Consideration hereof can∣not

but presse them the closer together. This conditions strips him of those ordinary Consola∣tions, every Peasant may enjoy, & robs him of all those Comforts that are deare unto his Soule; His Royall Consort, Children, and Friends; The last of which the Devills charity extended to allow Job, and which if they shall deny him (from whom their former Comforts flow'd) they deserve to be branded with the Character of unpresidented Impiety.

And that nothing might be wanting to fill up the measure of their Iniquity, be∣hold another of their unparallel'd impieties, whereat Posterity will stand agast; such an one as will justifie all the barbarous acts that the most savage Persecutors of the Church were ever guilty of: Yea such a one as the Lords of the Inquisition, yea the Turk himselfe would not have denied an ordinary Christian, nor our Lawes the worst of Malefactors: That a King of his Greatnesse, and piety, should be de∣nyed a Spirituall Minister to assist him, in his Devotions; and to direct him in point of Con∣science. If ever there was such a thing as Impli∣cite Faith, they are the greatest Assertors of it, that would enforce not only their owne fellow Subjects, but even their Soveraigne King, to be∣leeve, as they beleeve, or else to forfeit all, both spirituals and temporals. Yet let the sufferings of the Loyall Party receive this Consolation;

That these present Misfortunes cannot startle him, so as to make him warp from his first Prin∣ciples, his cleare Conscience and well grounded Resolutions rendring him like a Marble Wall, that shivereth all the shafts that are shot against it.

But we feare we have trespassed upon the Rules of prepertion , in framing too large a Portall, for so little a Fabricks : We shall therefore draw the Curtaines, and withhold you no longer from viewing the Scenes, pro∣mising in the sight of God, and remembring that Lyers are in the number of those against whom the gates of the new Jerusalem shall be shut , to deals in the ensuing stories with all candour and ingenuity , not out of a desire to render the actors of these impieties odious, or abuse the Reader either with falsehoods or un∣certainties, but to report nothing but what hath beene examined and attested by men of knowne truth and integrity; And that the world may see what violent affect one these Sectaries brought to these ho••tile acts, we shall begin with the times of peace when the King had no formidable Ar∣my toi s••me their Iealousies, nor these men provoked to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by any foregoing injuries; The Sce••e is Essex and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man that shall be tendred to your view in Sir John Luca••.

Viget, Vigebit, victa vincet veritas.