The ghost of K. Charls and Serieant [sic] Bradshaw. Being a discourse betwixt Charles late king of England, the arch-bishop of Canterburie and Serjeant John Bradshaw. Wherein the unjust proceedings at the triall of the late king in the High-court of justice are justly discovered: the full manner of it debated and the whole course of affaires from the beginning of the wars to these present times, fully and most lively represented. Together, with the means to preserve both church and state from the great and gaping ruines which do threaten to devour them.

The Discourse between the Ghost of King Chahles; the Arch Bishop of Canterbury, and President John Bradshaw.

Charles.

IS there such a Confusion then in England?

Arch-Bishope.

Yes, and it please your Majesty.

King.

But are you sure of it.

Arch-bish.

As sure as God is the God of Order.

King.

God indeed is the God of order, he made the world in order number and measure, and if people could be but so kind unto themselves as to apprehend it, so he will be worshipped, he will be worshipped according unto order, for, God is the God of order, and not of Confusion: How happily was England gover∣ned in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth? and of King James my father? How gently did she fee the Reines of my command? untill at last being full of high feeding she got the Bit into her teeth and madly running away with Governour Government and all, she desprately plunged her selfe into a Sea of all manner of Calamities.

Arch.

And where now she may sooner find the leisure to repent then the meanes to return to that happy condition which she first enjoyed.

King.

How were her hands then filled with the blessings of peace, and her heart with gladnesse? How were her chests filled with treasures, which feared not so much to be then broken o∣pen by the hands of the spoylers as by a neerer violence from their own abundance.

Arch.

And yet how little could she contribute to your Maje∣sties growing necessities out of them? the very demands of tun∣age and poundage, and ship-mony were evry where cryed down

every where as a burden insupportable.

King.

My Subjects longed after those Parliaments of which my father and I had reason to be jealous and which the people afterwards (who before idolized them) did find so tedious unto them: But that was not all, there was another thing which e∣stranged their aff••ctions from me and for that in tr••th my lord in••o a great measure (may complain of you.

Arch.

Complain of me!

King.

I of you my Lord: for when Arch-bishop A••bot li∣ved he kept the Church in such an order according to the true Protestant Principles, that having my countenance in al things I did pe••rake in the same praise with him. Indeed he managed the affairs of the Church with Circumspection, and judgement, and did all thing in Rule, and as I may say was a man in print.

Arch.

But of the Geneva Print.

King.

Now my Lord, after that by Buckinghams perswasi∣ons, I first countenanced you you were looked upon by all men to be Abbots successor, and to be inclined unto those who pro∣fessed the Religion of the Church of Rome, and many strange presages were made what would become of the English Church under such a prelate, and under such a King who was condemn∣ed by many to have as well espous••d the Religion as the daugh∣ter of the King of France.

Arch.

But in that I can vindicate your Majesty who have re∣ceived from yo many Orders for putting the Laws in practice that were made to take hold of the Rescusants, and for the banish∣ing of all Iesuits out of the Land, such only accepted that were precisely to wait on the Quéen, and to exercise their Religion in her own Chappell.

King.

My life and death can sufficiently witnesse my Religi∣on to all the World for though I affected the Queen most in∣tirely, and made good in effect the fi••st vvords that ever J spake unto her, which were that I would no longer be Master of my selfe then I wa•• servant unto her, though J might be an example of con∣jugall affection unto all the Land, yet J should be loath to be found so uxorious as to offend my God, to please a Woman, and turn Religion into Jdolatry▪ for whatsoever a man loveth moe then God be it Honour or Wealth, or Wife, he makes it his

Mahomet and his Jdoll: But to deale plainly with you my Lord you were too indulgent to the superstition of the church of Rome, for although J am confident you were no Papist, yet you gave too great a toleration & countenance to many things which by degrees did threaten to Usher in all the rest Do you remember the book which Pembroke brought me, and said it was licensed by your Chaplaine.

Arch.

The Introduction to a devout life.

King.

Yes, that methinks I hear him still swearing against it, the book was indeed too blame, you transferred the faults thereof to your Chaplain, your Chaplain to the Author who inserted those errours into it after that it was licensed, but cer∣tain it is the book gave a just occasion of offence to m••n of more sound and setled Judgments then ever Pembrokes was.

Arch.

It was therefore by your Majesties Command ca••••ed in.

King.

And if it had been burned, it had been no matter but that is not all, not lon•• afterwards you brought in some alte∣rations into the English Church, the rayling in of the Alter, the bowing to it, or to the Cushion on it, with some other Novel∣ties, were the powerful arguments wh••ch did set the peoples tongues against you, and their tongues and hearts against me, beleeving that I did not onely privately allow of it but under hand did prompt, and incourage you unto it.

Arch.

I did no more then what was practised in the times of the fathers of the Church as I am able to justify by their own writings, both in Gréek, and Latine, before ever that the Name of Pope was heard of a Name which I never stood affected to.

King.

But to the Name of Patr••arch you have; The ••imes (indeed) we lived in, were so toasty and touchy, that they would not indure to hear of any thing which savoured of the least in∣troduction of Novelty, but he alterations in the English Church did not so much afflict me, as the innovations which you would have brought into the Church of Scotland who being a people intracttable in their Judgements, had their recourse presently unto armes and how dismall the event hath been, there are none can give a greater testimony of it then Stafford, and you, and I.

Arch.

Without all Contradiction the English Church as i••

was governed by Bishops was the purest Church in Europe, many separatists from beyond the Seas comming over to carps at their Pompe, and greatness departed from them admiring at their order; The Keyes were then kept in safe hands, which were no sooner taken from them but Sacriledge, and prophan∣ness unlocked the doors, and an Army of H••••esies invaded the Temples, and the Chancells of God; I had well shoped that England and Scotland being so happy, under one Governour, would agrée under one Church Government and that the more ••obs••ure would have yeileed to the purer, and the more ••ough to the more beautifull.

King.

Too late I find, that it is a safer po••icy to l••t a little imperfection or disparity alone in a Church or State, th••n to go about to alter it, especially when ambition, rapine and mur∣der may be layd upon the account of Relligion, then let the people look unto their libertyes, and the King unto his Crown and Soveraighnty, or to his life more deer unto him then both; but see who comes here.

Arch.

I know him not.

King.

But I doe, it is Bradshaw, who at his high Court of Justice, condemned me to lose my head.

Arch.

How the shaddows flock about him as if the sight of such a Ghost was strange in this place. It looks as if it would be spoken to

King.

Friend! were not you my Judge.

Bradshaw.

I will n••ver ••drny under ground what I have done above it; King Charles, I was.

King.

And you would not give me leave to speak for my self, but now I hope I may be heard both for my self, and my friends too.

Brad.

Your Majesty may speak your pleasure, I shall answer as far as the letter of the law shall direct me, Currat Lex is the Proverb that I looked after.

Arch.

You should then have looked to the beginning of the Proverb Serjeent.

Brad.

Whats that?

Arch.

V. vat Rex; Let the King live, and let the Law take its course; Then you had done well, and neither the King nor

you might peradventure have so soon discended into these sub∣terranean Countryes. But what Law made you a Iudge to judge your King.

King.

Answer to that Sir?

Brad.

I was indeed drawn unto it with much Relactancy of Spi∣rit, but having once satisfie a my self I was resolved to go through with it.

Arch.

Did not the sale of the Bishops lands present you with a hierarchy of Angells to satisfy you, and confirme you in your pious Religion.

Brad.

Knew of no other Angell but the good Angel within me, my Conscience which by such an Act did promise much Peace unto me

King.

Peace, O horrible, had Zimri peace who slew his Ma∣ster? it was your ambition that did tempt you to it, the Lord∣ly title of a President and the estate of the Lord G••ttington to be conferred upon you to maintain that title besides many other Donations and improvements.

Brad.

It was the high Court of justice and not I that sentenced your Majesty I am glad to see your Majesty.

King.

You use the very same Distinction on your self as you di•• on me when you sentenced me to death, you distinguished between the Office of a King, and the Errors of a King, and now to excuse your self for what you have done, you distinguish be∣tween John Bradshaw Serjeant at Law, and John Bradshaw Pre∣sident of the High-Court of Justice

Brad.

Yes, Presiden of the High Court of justice.

King.

J will tell you one thing, shew me but such another Court in all the Subterranean Kingdomes as your High Court of Justice, even in the most Dismal and the most hideous plates of them, and J am not so much your Enemy but J wil doe the best J can to make you President of it, because you are so glad (you say) to see me.

Brad.

After you were dead you were cailed the White King all England over, hus now J see you are white indeed.

King.

You would have me to thank you would you not for making me so.

Bradsh.

There are a great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of tho Nobility and Gentry of

the Land that stil do honour both you and yours.

King.

Could they send none but you unto you to acquaint me with it.

Brad.

And if your Majesty please J will declare their severall Names unto you.

King.

O by no means, the craft and courtesie of Hell, this is a new P••ot indeed, for you even after death to cajo••e me, and to trappan my friends, who being thus discovered and laid open by you will be exposed to the mallice and the Avarice of all their armed Advarsari••s ••b••y may thus be charged and charged again.

B••rad

Charged.

King.

I sir charged, do you remember the unjust charge that you procu∣red to be read against me, for beginning a war traiterously and malliciou∣sly against the Parliament, and for the same you adjudged me as a Tyrant traytor, and a murderer to be put to death by severing my head from my body, when let any man (as I pleaded) look upon the Dates of the Com∣missions, the Commissions which the Parliament gave, and the Commisi∣ons which I g••ve a•• also upon the Declarations which they published, and which I published and they w••ll cleerly see that it was they who began these troubles, and not I my self. Is a King to be questiond who when his Subjects are in the field and determing his death doth put on arms to pre∣serve his now life If that a crime in a King which is a Virtue in a Subject. Is that unpardonable in me, which by the Lawes of God and man is commendable in all the world? Trust me sir, allthough I am dead, yet the law will l••ve. It was no false expression which your Protector ma••e when after some words of slovenly ind••gnation he told his Cou••sailers that he had more to do to conquer two or thee musty lawes then three Nations I sha••l repeat my dying words, I am as much or m••re for the liberty of my people then any who soe••er that have preten••ed for them I am sor••y at t••e ••eart to hear of their d••struction, and burdens, and I b••seech God to ease, and reconcile them, J beseech God to sened his Spir••t, amongst them w••ich is the Spirit of Trut•• and V••ity, J besech God to vouchsafe them such a peace that b••ing all of one mind, and one affection they becom•• as ••uch the envy of other Nati••ns as they are now their scorn; These last words he exp••essed with so much candour, and piety, and with such a ferventy of a d••vout desire that the Spirits of just and righteous men, who did round in compasse him, and who in Death do enjoy that peace which on earth they did pursu•• did see•• to al them to pertake w••th him in the same integrity of affections and the Elysian fields d••d ring with the Acclamations which they made.

The End.