GOD In the Mount.  
Or, England's Remembrancer.  
Being a Panegyric Pyramids, erected to the everlasting high honour of England's God, In the most grateful commemoration of all the miraculous Parliamentary. Mercies wherein God hath been admirably seen in the Mount of Deliverance, in the extreme depth of England's designed Destruction, in her years of jubilee, 1641. and 1642.  
By the unworthy admirer of them, JOHN VICARS.  
Jehova-jireh.  Genes. 22. 14. 
I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, and will show forth all thy marvellous works.  Psal. 9 1. 
Commit thy cause to God which doth great things and unsearchable, marvellous things without number.  Job 5. 8, 9 Deut. 33. 29. 
Happy art thou, O Israel, who is like unto thee, O People, saved by the Lord! the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thine excellency; And thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee, and thou shalt tread on their high places.  Psal. 111. 2, 3, 4. 
The works of the Lord are great, soughtout of all them that have pleasure therein. His works are honourable and glorious, and his righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.  
LONDON: Printed by T. Paine, and M. Simmons for John Rothwell and Thomas Vnderhill. 1642.   

TO THE ETERNAL, ALMIGHTY, AND MOST GLORIOUS, WONDERWORKING, INCOMPREHENSIBLE, AND INDIVISIBLETRINITIEIN UNITY; JEHOVAH-JIREH. GODIN THE MOUNT: J. V. HIS MOSTUNWORTHIE AND SINFUL SERVANT DOTH DEDICATE AND CONSECRATE (BY CHRIST JESUS HIS ONLY MERITS AND MEDIATION) himself AND THESE HIS POOR LABOURS, TO HIS EVERLASTING PRAISE AND GLORY.   

TO THE RIGHT Honourable, thrice Noble and illustrious Senators of the House of Peers in Parliament.  
TO OUR Truly Honourable and most renowned Patriots; the House of Commons, in Parliament.  
RIght Noble Lords and England's Commons rare, (For, whom the Lord hath joined, disjoin who dare?)  
Your humble Servant, Vowed— Votary, Hath to Heav'ns-Honour And your— Memory ☞  
* Most humbly, this Pyramids— erected, Hopeful, by your just power to be protected  
From sturdiest Storms which Mischiefs mightiest blast May dare on It or your blessed actions cast,  
By foul— aspersions, Causeless— Calumnies, To rob-both us and you Of our fair— prize, ☞  
* Even, happy Halcyor days, Which, God,— by you, Begins— to— bring To blessed Britain's view.  
Whose eyes and heart (late) full of frights and tears Your untyred Prudence, Providence re-chears  
Courage— great Patriots God is on your— side Whiles you do to— his Gospel— close abide. ☞  
* Go— on, like David's Worthies,— valiantly, To curb— and crush Truths-foes-malignity.  
Go on, I say, like Nehemiah's brave, Like Ezra's and Zorobabels most grave  
To work— a pure, A perfect— Reformation, As men most— famous In your— generation. ☞  
* Yea,— most renowned To— Posterity, As Faiths fast— friends And— props of Verity.  
As wise Repairers of those Breaches great, Which did both Church and State so sorely threat.  
Go on, though you great obstacles endure; Sol shines most clear, though clouds It (oft) obscure: Heaven crown your Counsels (still) with good success, And you and yours for all your labours bless.  
So— ever— prayeth 
 Your most humbly— devoted, John Vicars.   

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL HIS MOST WORTHY and ever most highly honoured good friends, Sir RICHARD SPRINGAL, Sir JOHN WOLLASTONE, Alderman PENNINGTON, and Alderman WARNER, Together with each of their most truly virtuous and pious Consorts, my singular good friends; All of them eminent Patrons and Patterns of Piety, Virtue, Religion and Learning: J. V. unfeignedly prayeth the most happy, fair and full fruition of the glorious effects of the plenarie-Reformation intended by this pious Parliament, here; And of the Saints celestial beatificallvision, in Heaven, hereafter.  
HAving by Gods good hand of providence and direction (Right Worshipful and my most highly honoured good friends) undertaken a subject of Gratitude to our holy God in this succeeding historical narration of all his wonder-striking Parliamentarie-mercies to us of this English-Nation, in general; I could not but reflect my serious thoughts on your Worships as most worthy objects also of my thankful heart, for many singular favours and courtesies toward me, in particular. And somuch the rather because of that which chrysostom, in his 51 Homily on Genesis, hath as sweetly as succinctly touched. Nihil tam gratum Deo & homini quam anima grata & gratias agens. Nothing in the world is so acceptable to God or man as a gratefull-heart and a thankefultongue. The due and deep consideration whereof (I say) hath made me most desirous (as most bounden) to tender this ●umbl● and plain-sti●'d history of England's God in the Mount of Mercies, ●r, England's Remembrancer of gratitude to God for all the Parliamentary precious blessings most fully and freely conferred; or rather poured-down upon her within these 2 years last passed, as a testimony of my most thankfull-heart to your good Worships for many both public and private favours to me and mine. Which history though I ingenuously acknowledge it might well have befitted a far more fluent and high-soaring rhetori●all-Penman than my poor and plain unworthie-self; yet since it hath pleased the Lord that my poor zeal for God's glory hath thus prevented them, I most humbly hope and heartily desire candid and courteous acceptance of it and of my sincere desire and endeavour, mainly, to manifest my infinitely obliged gratefull-heart, first, to our everliving and everloving wonderworking Lord God; next, to our most Pious Patriots, his precious Agents and instruments in these great and glorious works; and then to your worthy selves my much honoured friends: Which my endeavour herein, though short (I say) of your judicious expectation, and of the histories due desert, yet hoping it may remain as a pledge of my plighted humble services and bounden gratitude, and as the best Barthol'mew-faring, which my poor ability was able to present to your good Worships, with the humble tender also of m● heartiest poor prayers to the throne of grace for all sanctified sublunary blessings and celestial soul-cheering graces on you and a●l yours, I ever rest,  
Your good Worships in the Lord, 
 to be always commanded, 
 JOHN VICARS.   

GOD IN THE MOUNT, OR, ENGLAND'S REMEMBRANCER.  

God's 2. royal Prerogatives or attributes, Mercy and justice.  THE omnipotent and omniprudent great God of heaven and earth, having by his unsearchable wisdom, unresistible power, and most pure and inculpable righteousness, from all eternity both fore-seen and preordained the ways and means of manifesting and declaring to the world his two especial and most glorious attributes of Mercy and Justice; Mercy on his elect and choice vessels of honour, and justice on the forsaken vessels of wrath, those devoted vassals of the devil, and both these in that admirable Masterpiece of his workmanship of the world, Man. Who, as the Prophet David says of himself, was fearfully and wonderfully made: And, for this and and purpose having put this excellent creature, 
Man's happiness.  Man, into a most pure and perfectly holy condition, placing him in Eden or Paradise, a place of most wonderful delight, and admirable variety of sense-affecting contentments; and having also given him an absolute power to have persisted and continued in that holy and blessed estate. Satan, that subtle and accursed Serpent, and that arch-enemy of 
Satan's fall, fo● pride.  man's holiness and happiness, being by self-pride and arrogancy thrust out of heaven, and thrown headlong into hell, and so to abide to all eternity, in an unrecoverable cursed estate of damnation; Hereupon being become God's enemy, extremely envied that holy and happy condition of Gods 
Satan tempts man.  (then) darling, Mankind, and therefore, to bring his malignant spite to the issue he aimed at, falls a belying of God to man▪ tempts and at last deludes man, makes him fall into his sin, pride and disobedience, thus, prevails in his project, and thereby made man, unhappy man as miserable as himself, by 
Man's fall.  being, for sin, deprived and divested of his former fair rooes of beauty and holiness, and depraved and poisoned in his whole soul and body with sin and uncleanness, and thus in himself a forlorn creature, perpetually liable to God's wrath, and so consequently to eternal damnation. But, now, God 
job 33. 24. ●uk▪ 1. 69.  out of his infinite wisdom and mercy found out a ransom and mighty Redeemer for man (even so many as he had predestinated to salvation) the Lord Jesus Christ, the second person in 
Man's restauration, by the promised-Seed.  Trinity. In whom, and by whom, even this promised seed of the deceived woman, the Lord resolved to repay and revenge Satan's malice and mischief to man; promising, that though Satan by man's fall had bruised the woman's heel; yet her seed the Lord Jesus Christ should (by a strange way) break his head, even by his death be Satan's death and destruction. And hereupon 
A combat denounced 'twixt the woman's seed and the Serpents-seed.  the Lord God denounced an everlasting combat and irreconcilible enmity between these two and their offspring to the end of the world, namely, Christ, and the rest of the holyseed of the woman even all the succeeding Saints & chosen-childrens of God in Christ: And, the Devil and his angels, even all the desperate profane-ones and crafty hypocrites of the world, who should from time to time, in all ages, most maliciously harbour in their hearts a natural antipathy against the godly to hate and despise them, and therewith also take pleasure and delight in plotting and practising all mischief and villainy toward them, though (God in his wisdom and mercy having so graciously ordered it) always, for the most part, with ill-successe to themselves in the issue: God, who is most faithful and able to perform, having promised to be with his Church, 
Matt. 28. 20.  in a way of protection and preservation, even to the end of the world. Now thus you have briefly seen the combat decreed, and the combatants also to maintain the warfare: whereby 
The cause of the Combat.  the Church of God is put into a truly militant condition, and daily constrained to exercise its spiritual Militia (as the wicked do their Malitia against them) and to be always armed, not only with the whole armour of God, spoken of by the Apostle Ephes. 6. but also with worldly weapons and humane power and prudence to defend themselves and offend their enemies as God shall enable them. But if you ask me, now, the cause of their quarrel, the reason and ground of the grudge and clandestine hatred which the wicked of the world bear to the holy and humble Saints and servants of the Lord? Truly, the answer is easy and at hand, yea the Apostle hath made it 
1 joh. 3. 1●.  for me, who by way of argumentation asks himself the very same question, touching Cain and Abel, Wherefore did Cain, who was of that wicked-one (the devil) kill his godly brother Abel? Because (says he) his own works were evil, and his brothers righteous. Religion, innocent-religion and true Holiness 
True religion.  is the great eyesore to the ungodly, and therefore (as the said Apostle in the same place, ver. 13.) marvel not that the world hates them.  
This, then, I say, is the main-ground of the quarrel betwixt these two combatants; which hot combustion and contention, 
The prosecution of the Combat.  as it hath been fiercely followed in all ages past, from the beginning of the world, and will be so till the end thereof: So, it was never more mischievously manifested to be so, than in these our days, I mean, for, at least, these two or three hundred years last passed, to this present time; and that, in all the parts of Europe, especially by the Papists or Romish Catholics, as they 
In France, Germany, England, Scotland, etc.  call themselves against the Huguenots, in France, Lutherans and Calvenists in Germany, and Protestants in England, Scotland, and Ireland; and in brief, by the Romish Antichrist, against the Reformed-Christian in all parts. And the implacable rage of this arch-adversarie of the Lord Jesus Christ hath far transcended all the malice and mischief of all former ages cruelties, both of the old Assyrians and Philistines to the ancient Israelites, or the last ten persecuting heathen-Emperours to the Primitive-Christians. 
The ill-successe of the malignant Combatants.  But, as in all those former ages, the more Satan, by his impious agents and wicked instruments, hath with inveterate vexations and extremest persecutions mangled and maligned the people of God: So, the more propitiously God hath preserved and increased them, like innumerable Phenixes rising and reviving out of their dead ashes, fully confirming that old 
The blood of the Saints is the seed of the Church.  adagy, The blood of the Saints is the seed of the Church. This truth, in both its branches hath been also most copiously confirmed in these our more modern times, and chiefly (I may well say) in this our Kingdom of England, among all the Nations of Europe (Germany only and Ireland excepted at this time fo● cruelties but not for preservations) which hath tasted the bitterdrafts of Rome's wrath in a deep measure; and yet the more this Antichristian enemy hath raged against Christ and his faithful servants against the Gospel and its true professors, the less he hath prevailed; and the more they have increased to the glory of God, and the terror and amazement of the wicked of the world; Their devilish and desperate aims having been deceived in the issue (as was touched before) and God having faithfully performed his good word and promise to his 
Matth. 28. 20.  Church and children to be with them, and for them, to the end of 
Psal. 34. 19 Man's necessity is God's opportunity.  the world; And though he suffers them (ofttimes) to be closely and strictly hemmed in on all sides with great straits and distresses, yet their greatest necessities have ever proved God's fairest and fittest opportunities to be seen in the Mount for their deliverance; even then (I say) when the enemy thought to have swallowed them up quick, without all humane hope of redemption and redress, then, yea even then, hath our good God always (for the most part) plucked the prey out of their devouring jaws, broke the 
Psal. 35. 17.  cheeks and teeth of the ungodly▪ and rescued and recovered his darling (the Church) from the Lyons-den, their destinied destruction. Which is the main scope and drift of our intentions, at this time, and in this Treatise▪ even to make clear to the eyes and understanding of all the world that will not wilfully blind them, and obstinately shut them up from beholding the evident sunshine of the truth, in the subsequent and most luculent demonstrations 
England the Landmark of God's mercies.  thereof, in this Kingdom of England after a special manner, which, God hath graciously made the very Landmark of all his rich mercies, to the everlasting glory of his great Name, and free grace unto us, a most sinful and undeserving Nation, as we have been, and that in the midst of such means and miracles of mercies which he hath conferred on us, and wrought for us, above all our neighbour Nations round about us.  
Now, herein, my purpose is (omitting many former mercies to our Land of high concernment, and most worthy of everlasting 
The Pope began to be pusht-down by, King Hen. 8. King Edw. 6. Queen Elizabeth.  and indelible thankful remembrance, as the shaking off of the Antichristian shackles and yoke of Popery, begun in the days of King Henry the eighth and his most blessed Son, King Edward the sixth, but especially in the happy halcyon-days of Queen Elizabeth's reign, of ever most blessed memory; Since whose most blessed days and times we have enjoyed the Gospel of peace, and peace of the Gospel, almost these hundred years (and now are not only Protestants but most blessedly begin to be reform Protestants) notwithstanding the many most nefarious and treacherous plots, against her sacred person, happily 
Spanish-Armado. 1588. Powder-plot by Papists, 1605.  defeated; the falsely so termed, Invincible Spanish Armado, in 1588.▪ and the most exorbitant and hell-hatched Powder-plot, by those Romish traitors, Garnet a grand-Jesuite and his twelve impious apostles, in the year, 1605, by heavens vigilant eye of providence timely prevented, together with many private and pernicious conjurations or conspiracies, not so much by force as by fraud clandestinely machinated, and by God's mercy fruitlessly 
The main occasion of this Treatise.  attempted; enough to fill up voluminous Treatises, and infinitely to magnify Gods endless praises) all which, I say, here, to omit, my purpose and main intention is, as I fore promised (by the blessed assistance of God's gracious Spirit) to manifest and declare to all (who vouchsafe the patient and impartial perusal hereof) all the memorable and wonder-striking Parliamentary 
Parliamentarie-Mercies.  mercies effected for and afforded unto this our English Nation, (maugre the malice of Hell and Rome, Papists and profane Atheists, Satan's active and able agents) with inthe space of less than two years last passed, 1641, and 1642.  
And for the better and more exact setting forth of the most illustrious lustre and glorious beauty of these incomparable parliamentarie-pledges of Gods undoubted love and free favour toward us, my intention is, first, to show my Reader, the cloudy-Mountain 
The Mount of Straits.  of Straits, into which, the Lord had in his wisdom and justice brought us, or rather suffered us to be drawn and driven into for our sins and transgressions; and then the sweet 
The Mount of Mercies.  and serene-Mountain of Mercies, wherein God was most gloriously seen (of his mere mercy) for our most timely and happy deliverance. I mean, I say, to let the godly Reader see the deep distress and danger whereinto we were plunged by the nefarious 
jesuiticall-priests and pontifick Prelates like Simeon and Levi.  and multifarious plots and projects of Jesuiticall-Priests and perfidious Prelates (for I may most justly couple and link them together, like Simeon and Levi, brothers in iniquity) of these our late and worst times, and other most disloyal atheisticallagents in these desperate designs, all of them faithless factors for the See of Rome, all of them complotting and contriving to reduce us to the accursed Romish religion, yea all of them combining and confederating to work and wove our three famous and flourishing Kingdoms, England, Scotland and Ireland's fatal and final ruise and downfall. This being done▪ I shall endeavour, by God's assistance, most punctually to promulgate and most exactly to record, to posterity, those even myriades of remarkable mercies conferred on us to strange amazement and deep admiration of all truly pious and faithful 

Contrary juxta se posita, magis illucescunt.  
Dangers and Deliverances opposed show the more gloriously.   Christians. That thus, contraries being set together in an exact Antithesis or opposition, they may both appear the more apparently to the eyes and understanding of ingenuous and judicious beholders; that thus, I say, the dangers being seriously considered and worthily weighed, the mercies may the more gloriously break forth, like the Sun's glorious rays and heart-cheering bright beams, after a thick and black cloudy storm and heart-damping tempest, and that thus, I say, the god y Reader ruminating and recollecting Both in his sad and serious re-cogitations, may justly and ingenuously acknowledge, that, God was in the Mount, for our Deliverance.  
Now, herein, for my better and more methodical proceeding in this renowned Story, I have resolved to make our most 
The first Parliamentarie-Remonstrance.  famous and renowned Parliamentarie-Worthies first Remonstrance, (wherein all our Kingdoms heavy pressures and oppressions are summarily and succinctly even to the life delineated) my most worthily imitable copy and pattern to write by: but in these I intent to be as concise and brief, as conveniently may be, because my chief aim and resolution is ●o hasten to the copious and comfortable narration and description of our Parliamentarie-Mercies and Deliverances, to the everlasting glory and precious praise of our great and good God, and that, at the rare and fair sight and cordial contemplation of them, the godly Reader may break out, in an ecstasy of holy and heavenly joy and say, with holy David, Truly, 
Psal. 73. 1.  God is good to his English Israel, and to all therein, of an upright heart.  
Wherefore, now, to pretermit all further ambages and circumlocutions, and to address myself seriously to the matter intended, I shall first (with my most worthie-Masters) briefly 
The root and growth of this their plot.  declare the root and growth of their mischievous designs, and the rice of our dangerous estate thereby. Secondly, the maturity and ripeness to which the malignant party had hatched and cherished it, before the beginning of this Parliament. Thirdly, 
The ripeness of it.  the efficacious means used for the eradicating and rooting up of this evil weed so rank-grown in the garden of the Kingdom; 
The means of curing it.  both by the King's royal assistance and Heaven's blessing on the Parliaments great wisdom, industry and providence. Fourthly, the bold affronts and audacious obstructions and oppositions 
The boiling obstructions against the cure.  to interrupt and check the Parliaments fair and faithful progress and proceedings therein all along. Fifthly and lastly, the counter-checking means used to annihilate and make void those obstacles and impediments which so retarded 
The counter-checking of thoseobstacles.  the fair fabric and comely structure of a happy reformation of those superfluous and rank-grown evils, and of redintegrating and re-establishing the ancient honour and security of this Crown and Nation, even by a Parliamentarie-power, the only remedy left (under God▪ to prop-up the tottering State, to force away our overflowing fears, and to heal the mortal wounds and sores of our distressed Land.  

The root and r●ce of the plot was, The Complotters.  Now the root and rice of all the plot was found to be a pernicious woven knot of malignant active spirits combining and confederating together for the supplanting and utter subverting of the fundamental Laws and principles of government▪ on which the religion and government of the Kingdom were firmly established: And those actors and promoters were fi●st and principally, Jesuited-Papists 
Jesuited-Papists.  whose teeth had long watered for▪ and whose eager appetites had long hungered after the subversion of our Religion. Secondly, perfidious and rotten-hearted Prelates and Arminian-pontificians, who mightily (and maliciously) cherishing 
Prelates and Pontificians.  formality, or conformity and superstition, greedily also gaped after a change in Religion, or at the least, the outrageous supporting of their Eeclesiasticall-tyrannie and usurpation. Thirdly, 
Profane and irreligious Courtiers.  profane, irreligious, and even atheistical Courtiers, and Counsellors of State, who for their own private and beggarly ends had engaged themselves (as being, doubtless, mercenary pensioners) to foreign Princes, to the prejudice of their own natural 
Their Principles to work by.  King and the State at home. And, as you have seen the agents were potent and politic: So, the common principles by which they moulded and managed their crafty counsels and impious actions were as pragmatical as prejudicial. As, fi●st, to 
To set the King & people at jars about Prerogatives and Liberties.  work and win the King to stand stiffly to his Royall-prerogative, and the people for the maintenance of their Privileges and Liberties, that thus they might have the advantage by siding with the King against the Subject, and so to be counted his fastest friends and trusty servants, and thereby engross to themselves and their factious confederates all places of greatest trus● and power in the Kingdom; that so they might the more safely fish in troubled waters. Secondly, to suppress and stifle the sacred 
To suppress the power and purity of Religion.  purity and power of religion, and to curb and keep-under all of all degrees that were best affected to it, in profession and practice, these being sore pearls in their eyes, and the greatest impediments to that change which their voracicus and eager appetites extremely longed and laboured to introduce among us. Thirdly, 
To countenance all their own, and to disgrace all the opposite party.  to countenance and encourage their own fast faction, and on all colourable occasions, to disgrace, vilify, and dishearten all the opposite party. Fourthly and lastly, by slanders and false imputations to work the King to an utter-dislike of Parliaments, and putting him on unjust and forcible ways of supply, yet masking 
To cause the King to disaffect Parliaments.  them with fair pretences of great and just advantage to his Majesty, though indeed they brought more loss than gain to him, and great distress and distractions to the whole Kingdom.  
And thus have you summarily seen the Basis or foundation of their building; now be pleased with as much brevity as may be, to behold what a fair fabric and stately structure they raised 
Note this well.  and erected on it. And here by the way, take notice of this diffusive sememting-materiall, or bracing-piece conglutinating or holding fast the body of the whole ensuing frame; namely, that in all the compacted and conjoined ligaments of this omi●ousarchitecture, the Jesuits crafty counsel, and as wicked as witty wiliness was instead of a prime architector or Master Builder of the whole edifice; and had they not all been (by God's overpowering providence) timely prevented, these Jesuiticall-Artificers would undoubtedly have over-builded the Prelaticall-Labourers, and instead of a new, have pulled down an old-house on the heads of all the rest of those as credulous, as accursed cooperating carpenters or workmen with them, in this their Babel of confusion.  


Primo regis Caroli, o●us serves●ere caepit.  
This plot wa● first machinated in King james his days.  
The first Parliament at Oxford dissolved.  
Sad effects of the dissolution of that first Parliament.  
Rochel lost.  
West Indie voyage diverted.  
C●●es attempted.  
Peace with Spain without Parliaments consent.  
The Palsgraves' cause deserted.  
Billetted▪ Soldier over the Kingdom▪ German. horse A second Parliament dissolved.   And, now, in the first year of the King's reign, their work began to be revived, and hotly to be set upon again. For, it is here to be considered that in the last year of King James his reign it had been somewhat dampt and quashed▪ both by the breach with Spain, that year, as also by his Majesty's marriage with France, whose people were not so contrary unto, nor so hotly active against the good of Religion, and prosperity of this Kingdom as those of Spain; and besides the Papists in England being more zealously addicted and affected (for matter of Religion) to Spain, than France; yet still they retained a resolution to weaken the Protestant-partie in all parts and places of Europe, yea, even in France▪ thereby to make way for an intended change at home.  
The first effect and evidence of which their recovery of strength was the dissolution of the first Parliament at Oxford, after two Subsidies granted, but no grievances removed. After which, many other bitter effects of this bad begi●●ing followed, or rather flowed and gushed-out apace; as namely, the loss of Rochel Fleet, yea of Rochel itself (a lamentable evil to the French-Protestants) by the unhappy help of our ships. The diversion of a most facile and hopeful war from the West-indies to a most expensive and successelesse attempt on Cal●s; ra●her to make us weary of war than prosperous in it. The precipitate breach of peace with France. A peace concluded with Spain, without consent of a Parliament, contrary to promise made by King James to both Houses, whereby the Palatine c●u●e was shamefully deserted by us. The Kingdom soon charged with billetted Soldiers, together with the concomitant project of Germane-horses to enforce men by ●ear to all arbitrary taxations. The dissolution of a second Parliament▪ in the second year of his Majesty's reign, after a declarative intention of granting 
Sad events on the breach of this Parliament also.  five Subsidies. Violent exacting the said sum, or a sum equivalent to it, by a Commission of Loan▪ Divers worthy gentlemen imprisoned for refusing to pay it. Great sums of money extorted from subjects by Privie-Seals and Excise. The most 
A third Parliamentdissolved.  hopeful Petition of Right blasted in the blossom of it. A third Parliament called, and as quickly broken, and therein Parliamentary 
By which cruel usage Sir john Ell●ot a most worthy Member of the House and pious patriot, died then in prison.  privileges violated, by after ill-usage of some of the best and worthiest Members thereof, who were clapped▪ up in close-imprisonment, denied all ordinary and extraordinary comforts of this life, and preservation of health, no not so much as their wives permitted to come unto them, yea deprived of spiritual consolation for their souls, not suffering them to go to God's House for enjoyment of public Ordinances, or godly Ministers to come to them, but kept them still in this oppressive condition, not admitting them to be bailed according to Law. 
More bad issues on the breach of the third Parliament.  And this cruelty might have been perpetual to them and others, had not another Parliament been necessitated to relieve and release them. Upon the dissolution of those Parliaments, O what scandalous and opprobrious Declarations were published to asperse and besmear their proceedings, and some of their worthiest 

Parliaments & Parliament Members mightily vilified and disgraced.  
Quarto Caroli   Members, unjustly to make them odious; and the better to colour their exorbitant violence exercised on them, Proclamations set out to those effects, thereby also extremely disheartening the Subjects, yea and forbidding them once so much as to speak of any more Parliaments, this being in the fourth year of the King's reign. Then, injustice, violence and heavy oppressions, without all limits o● moderation, brake-out upon the people, like unresistible floods gushing out of a broken-down Dam or stoppage with huge inundations, checking, yea even choking all our freedoms, and fast fettering our freeborn hearts with manacles and chains of most intolerable 

Knighthood money.  
Tonnage and Poundage.  
Book of Rates.   taxations. Witness, the mighty sums of money gotten by that plot of Knighthood, under a fair colour of Law, but, indeed, a mere violation of justice. Tonnage also and poundage received without any pretext or colour of Law The book of Rat●s inhansed to an high proportion. A new and unheard of (yet 
Ship-money.  most heavy) taxation over the whole Kingdom, by Ship-money; Both these under a colour of guarding the Seas, by which there was charged on the Subject near upon 700000▪ li. some years, and yet, Merchants constantly left naked to the violent robberies of Turkish-pirates, to the great los●e of many fair Ships and much goods, and imprisonment of their bodies in 

Forests enlarged.  
Coat & Conduct-money.  
Traindbands Arms taken away.  
Gunpowder engrossed.  
The Forest of Dean.  
Many Moth-eating Monopolies.  
Restraint of habitations & trading.   most miserable bonds of Turkish-slaverie. The enlargement of Forests, contrary to Magna Charta. The exaction of Coat and Conduct-money. The forcible taking away of the Train'd-band Arms. The desperate design of Gunpowder engrossed into their hands, and kept from the Subject in the Tower of London, and not to be had thence, but at excessive rates and prices. The destruction of the Forest of Dean, that famous timber-Magazine or Storehouse of the whole Kingdom, sold to Papists. The canker-eating Monopolies of Soap, Salt, Wine, Leather, Sea-coal, and almost all things in the Kingdom of most necessary and common use. Restraint of Subject's liberties in their habitations and trades, and other just interests; together with many other intolerable burdens which poor Isachars' shoulders were not able to bear, but grievously to groan under (and which for brevity's sake I desire to pass over, as not being my main intention to insist on, but to hasten to our most happy deliverance from them) for refusal of which foresaid heavy pressures, O what great numbers of his Majesty's loyal Subjects 
Corporal ●●xations and punishments inflicted on many good Subjects.  have been vexed with long and languishing suits, some fined and confined to prisons, to the loss of health in many, of life in some; some having their houses broke-open, and their goods seized on, some interrupted in their Sea voyages, and their ships taken in an hostile manner by Projectors, as by a common enemy. The Court of Star-Chamber having chiefly fomented and 
Star-Chamber Court a main fomenter of Suits and Censures.  increased these & such like most extravagant censures & most unjust suits, both for the improvement of devouring Monopolies, and of divers other causes wherein hath been none or very small offences, yea sometimes for mere pretences and surmises without any proofs, yet punished as severely as foulest malefactors, yea and that, in matters of Religion and spiritual cases of conscience, for which the good Subject hath been grievously 
Oppressions for Religion and Cases of Conscience.  oppressed by Fines, Imprisonments, stigmatizings▪ mutilations, whip, pillories, gaggs, confinements, banishments, yea and that into perpetual close-imprisonments in the most desolate remote (and as they hoped and intended remorseless) parts of the Kingdom, and that also, in such rough and rigid manner, as 

No l●sse than transcendent barbarous cruelty.  
judges displaced and discountenanced for their honesty.  
The Privie-Councill Table, a great favourer of these illegalities.   hath not only deprived them of the society of near and dear friends, exercise of their professions, comfort of books, use of poper or ink, but even violating that neerest-union which God hath established 'twixt men and their wives by forced and constrained separation. Judge's also put out of their places for refusing to do aught against their oaths and consciences, others so overawed, that they durst not do their duties. Lawyers checked for faithfulness to their Clients, and threatened, yea punished for honestly following lawful suits. The Privy Council also a mighty maintainer and prosecutor of illegall-suits against the Subject The Court of Honour, Chancery, Exchequer-Chamber, Court of Wards, and almost all other English-Courts have been exceeding grievous in their excessive jurisdictions. Titles of Honour, 
Selling of justice, and places of judicature.  places of Judicature, Serieant-ships at Law, and other offices of trust have been sold for great sums of money; and they that buy must needs sell. And thereby also occasion hath been given too frequently, of bribery, extortion, and partiality, it being, indeed, seldom seen that places illgotten should be well-used. These and such like Land-devouring enormities, have been countenanced and practised in our long-languishing Commonwealth.  

Prelatespranks in the Church.  And if we look into the course and carriage of things in the Church also, O how many impieties and irregularities have we, there, long beheld abounding and surrounding us, to the high dishonour of God, and disgrace of true Religion! The Bishops and the rest of the Pontifician or rotten-hearted Clergy and Arminian-faction, under a pretence (forsooth) of peace, uniformity 
Suspensions & excommunications.  and conformity have like so many si●ly Caesar's triumphed in the chariots of their Spiritual Courts, by their suspensions, Excommunications, Deprivations, and Degradations of divers painful, learned and pious Pastors of our Church, and in the vexatious and grievous grinding oppressions of great numbers of 
The high-Commission-Court, little inferior to the Spanish-Inquisition.  his Majesty's good Subjects. In which cases, the high Commission-Courts pragmatical pranks have been unsufferable; the sharpness and severity whereof grew to such an unlimited monstrous growth, height, and strength, as was not much unlike, and very little inferior to the Romish or Spanish-Inquisition, yea and in many cases, by the Archbishop's super-superlative power it was made much heavier, it being (as often as they pleased) assisted and strengthened both by the furious power and authority of the Star-Chamber and Councill-Table, when the wrath and rage of their own-Courts could not reach as high as their hatred extended to the utter wracking and worrying of the innocent and holy lambs of Christ, whom indeed the world was not 
In City and Country men and women forced to fly into foreign parts.  worthy of. This they did both in Cities and countries, extremely vexing and perplexing those of the meaner sort, Tradesmen and Artificers even to the deep impoverishing of many thousands of them, and so afflicting and troubling others with threats and expensive suits, that great numbers, to avoid these miseries and mischievous molestations departed out of the Kingdom, 
Into Holland and New-England.  some into Holland, some into New-England and other desert and uninhabited parts of America, thereby exposing themselves, their wives, children and estates to the great danger of winds and waves by Sea, and many other inevitable hazards by Land. Those 
Who they were which got most preferments.  only were held fittest for preferments, at home, and obtained them soon who were most officious and sedulous to promote and propagate idolatry, superstition, innovations and profaneness, and were most violent and virulent sons of Belial in railing against and reviling godliness and honesty.  

Court sermons what, and to what end.  Now, all this while, also, the most public and solemn sermons at Court before the King, were nothing else, for the most part, but either to advance the King's prerogative above Laws, and to beat-down the Subjects just propriety in their estate and goods, or full of such like frothy kind of invectives, the only way (in those days) to get fat morsels, rich benefices, and Ecclesiastical preferments (the onely-prey they sought after) And thus also labouring (as the second main part of their play) to make those men odious to the King and State, who conscientiously sought to maintain Religion, Laws and liberties of the Kingdom; and such men were sure (still) to be wrung and wrested out of their livings, 
Godly Ministers thrust from their livings.  if Ministers; And out of the Commission of peace, if of the gentry, and all other places of employment and power in the government of the Commonwealth. Yea and those few godly and religious Noble personages, which were of the privy-council, though Councillors in name, yet not in power or authority, only used at the Council▪ board to execute and countenance, not to debate and deliberate-on their State resolutions; nay, so far from being employed in any place of trust and 
The faction now grown to its height.  power that they were utterly neglected, discountenanced, and on all occasions injured and oppressed by the rest of the contrary faction; which now was grown to that height and entireness of power, that now they began to think-on the complete catastrophe and consummating of the whole work, to their hearts desire, which stood on these three parts or pillars of confusion.  

Three parts of now perfecting thewhole plot.  First, that the Government must be arbitrary, set free from all limits of Law, both concerning persons and estates. Secondly, that there must be an union and conformity between Papists and Protestants, both in doctrine, discipline and ceremonies, only it must not (yet) be called or counted Popery. Thirdly, Puritan (under which name all that were zealous for the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom, and for the maintenance of Religion, in the power of it, were included) must be either rooted out of the Realm, by force, or driven away by fear: And thus now at last we have the full dimensions, every way, of this pestilent and most pernicious plot.  
And could they possibly have digged deeper? or in humane apprehension and contrivement have founded it firmlier? Whatsoever worldly wit and wealth could do, whatsoever carnal craft, power and policy could effect was wholly for them with full and copious concurrence, they now seemed to carry all irresistibly before them. And now nothing was wanting fully to finish the work, no stone unturned, no Remora to be removed, 
Psal. 62▪ 9  save only one; In which, God gave them the lie to their teeth, according to that of the Psalmist: Surely, men of low degree are vanity, and m●n of high degree are a lie, and both to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity itself. Such vanity, yea such lying-vanity these great-ones in their supercilious high-built hopes and bigg-swoln tympany of ambition, pride and perfidy, began to be now rendered by the wisdom and mercy of our good God. This one rub, I say, now to be removed, proved the main break-neck of their whole design, and makes way 
Malum cons●lium consultori pessimum.  for mine also, which is, to let you and all the world see moss clearly how heaven made these impious plotters fall by their own folly and madness, by their own creft crest all their secret counsels and confederacies, and made their own invented mischief 
Psal. 7. 14, 15, 16.  workout their own miseries. According to that of the sween Singer of Israel, most pertinent to this purpose. Behold he traveled with iniquity, hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. He made a pit, and delved it, and is fallen into the ditch, which he made for others, his mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall fall upon his own pate; Whiles Gods dear Saints of England and Scotland escaped as birds out of the snare of those Fowlers, and by God's free grace and rich mercy found full and fair deliverance. Which, I say, is the main scope and 

How they began to put their threefold plot, aforesaid, into full execution.  
Scotland attempted.   principal aim of this our present history. For now, as they verily believed, they had made England their absolute-asse to bear all their back, yea, soul-breaking burdens: So that they thought it most fit, now, in the last place, to reduce Scotland to such Romish-harmonie and conformity to embrace those Popish superstitions and innovations as might make them apt to join with England in that great change which they intended; for, as for Ireland, they were sure enough to prevail there at their pleasure, as 'tis too well known to us all, and to themselves also by their late bloody experience, which had been much more, had not God crossed their plot (there) also, and enabled us to help them.  

A new Liturgy and Canons put upon them.  Whereupon our Church-Canons and a new-minted Liturgy (not the very same which is used with us in England, which, with our vestures, gestures, and superstitious service-ceremonies, had been abundantly enough to have vexed them; but with most pestilent Popish-additionals and unsufferable new inventions of the Arch-prelate of Canterbury, or some of his Romish-factors framing, put in, over and above ours▪ to make them stark mad, (as it were) must be sent unto them, and most violently obtruded on them; Both which, they instantly and stiffly opposed, especially when they considered and called to mind those 
But rejected.  three rare gentlemen (as some imminent Scots have acknowledged) who▪ had been so lately and barbarously abused on pillories in England (but the 30th. of June before; and this attempt on them, was in August immediately following) for opposing and writing against those and such like Romish fopperies; their women in Scotland being the first and forwardest stoutly to 
Dux faemina facti. Virg. in his Aen.  resist such an uncouth and strange imposition on them. Where, by the way, let me desire the godly Reader not to pass over this remarkable passage slightly, as a trivial thing. For, though this child of hope was, now, but in the embryo and unpolisht conception, and as yet had no strength at all to bring forth a perfect birth of deliverance to them or us in the eye of the world▪ yet 
Zach. 4. 10.  let us remember what a notable caution the Prophet gives us. Despise not the day of small things. For, they shall rejoice, and shall see the plumet in the hand of Zerubbabel, with those 
* Cap 3. 9  seven eyes of the Lord which run to and fro through the whole earth. Now the women having thus begun to oppose this new English-Romish Pope an Archbishop of Scotland appointed (as they called it) to 
A great disturbance in the Church.  read and publish it in his fine linen Ephod, and other Popish-Pontificalibus, were seconded by the men, between whom was a huge hubbub made in the Church at the bringing in of the new Liturgy or Service-book, which they, I say, thus utterly rejected and cast out from amongst them; and upon this first 
1 Kin. 18. 44.  and small rising, like the cloud (at first) no broader than a hand, 
All Scotland opposeth it.  it quickly grew so big that the whole Land was overspread with it, the Kingdom in general being highly incensed also 

They are proclaimed Rebels in all Churches in England.  
An army raised against them.   against it did utterly refuse to admit it among them. Whereupon, foul calumnies and scoffs were cast upon them in England, yea a Proclamation read in all Churches, calling and counting them Rebels and Traitors for thus resisting our Prelates most injurious impositions on them; and an Army was speedily raised at the Prelate's instigation to enforce them by fierce compulsi●● to obedience, and to take that yoke on their necks; for the advancing of which said army, our Prelates with the rotten-hearted Clergy and Papists were most free and forward with liberal contributions.  

The Scots do the like.  The noble and valiant Scots were thereupon constraine● to do the like, in their own just defence. But, when both Armies were met▪ and ready for a bloody encounter, God who hath the hearts of Kings in his hands, by the honest and wholesome counsel of his Nobility, so wrought on the heart of our King, that 
The first Pacification.  (maugre all the pr●gging malice of the malignant-partie, then, about him) a fair and friendly Pacification was speedily agreed on, and the King returned to London with much honour to 
God in the Mount.  himself and sweet content to all, but those that wished to have ruinated all. And now, tell me, did not God (here) begin to be seen in the Mount for our deliverance, in thus at the very f●rst onset of their devilish design stopping the intended current of 
Psal. 33. 10▪ 11, 12.  Christan-bloodshed. And as the holy Prophet David sweetly, The Lord bringeth the counsel of the wicked to noug●●, and ma●es their devises of none effect. But the counsels of the Lord stand fast for ever, and the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed therefore is the Nation whose God is the Lord, and the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance.  

The malignant party displeased with the Pacification.  This unexpected reconciliation was, I say, most welcome and acceptable to all the Kingdom except the malignant party, who like envious elves gnashed their teeth, and with malice gnawed rancorously on their own hearts, and therefore began again to spit yet more envy and spite out of their mischievous mouths against the Scots and this happy peace; especially William Laud 
Chiefly the Arch-Prelate Laud, and the Earl of Straford.  the Arch-Prelate of Canterbury, and the Earl of Straford, the two monstrous heads of their faithless faction, who I say, began again mightily to malign and bitterly to inveigh against the peace, and to aggravate matters and exasperate the King's wrath against the proceedings of those Peers that promoved it, making his Majesty believe that it was a very dishonourable peace, and disgraceful to the Kingdom, insomuch that the King forthwith 
Preparation for war, again.  prepared again for war with them. And such was their confidence or rather immarbled impudence, that having (by all means forementioned) corrupted and distempered (at least as they thought) the whole frame and government of the Kingdom, they now also hoped to corrupt that f●●●●tain which was the only means (under God) to restore all to a right frame and temper again, a Parliament; to which end, they persuaded his Majesty to call one, but not to seek counsel's of them, but to 
A Parliament motioned to an ill intent.  draw countenance and supply from them, and to engage the whole Kingdom in their wicked quarrel, and so to make the mischief and misery too, national. In which mean time they continued all their unjust levies of money▪ resolving either to make the Parliament pliant to their will, and (as the Prophet said of the 
Psal. 94. 20▪  wicked in his days) to establish mischief by a law; or else to break it up again at their pleasure, and to shift otherwise▪ as well as they could by colourable violence (as formerly) to go-on to take what might not be had with consent. Now the ground alleged for the justification of this war was this, namely, the undutiful demands of the Scots in their Parliament, which they conceived was cause enough for his Majesty to war against them without once hearing their justification of those their demands: and so thereupon a new Army was mustered and prepared against 
The Scots prosecuted again.  them, their ships were seized on in all Ports and parts of our Kingdom, and of Ireland also, their Petitions rejected, and their Commissioners refused audience: In sum, the whole Kingdom was thus miserably distracted and distempered with levies of 
The Earl of Straford in Ireland calls a Parliament, whereby they deeply engage themselves for this war.  money, and imprisonment of those who denied to submit and crouch to those Levies. In which interim, the Earl of Strafford posted into Ireland, called a Parliament there, out of hand quickly caused them to declare against the Scots, and to grant four Subsidies toward the war, yea and to engage themselves, their lives and fortunes for the prosecution of it to the utmost of their power, and to give direction for an Army of 8000. foot, and 1000 horse, to be immediately mustered up, which were all 
A Prosopopoeia to Ireland, as touching this act, and her present state.  for the most part, Papists. O Ireland, Ireland, even this very deed of thine (above all thy other high provocations of general profaneness, and especially of complacency with base idolatrous Papists all over thy Kingdom) in thus obliging thyself in such a most unjust war against thine honest and harmless Brethren of Scotland, hath, I am confidently persuaded, most unhappily plunged thee into that most lamentable plight of blood and misery which now of late thou hast grievously found and felt to thy unspeakable and unparalleled sorrow and smart, and hath made thee such a deplorable prey to their most barbarous maws and bloody teeth of those Popish-rebels, or rather, inhuman Cannibals and unnatural Vipers, whom thou so lately so lovingly (yet most irrelegiously) didst nourish and cherish, as 
A short, yet sharp check to England also.  so many venomous Snakes in thy bosom (And I pray God this be not too frequent a fault among us in England, namely, to embrace in the arms of our foolish love, a Papist as equally as a Protestant) to this thy utter and inevitable destruction, had not the Lord in wonderful free mercy and favour prevented it in preserving Dublin.  
The Earl of Straford having thus acted Sinon's part in Ireland, 
The Earl of Straf. returned home.  to his most wicked hearts content, triumphing in his treachery; with more haste than good speed, returned to England, where this most subtle Sinon, or rather scelerous Simeon, and 
Simeon and Levi.  
A fourth Parliament called, April, 13. 1640.  Laud, his lewd brother, Levi, right brothers in iniquity, together with the rest of that pernicious party (at our Parliament in England, which began, April, 13th, 1640.) had so prevailed with his Majesty, that the said Parliament was most urgently incited and stimulated to yield supply toward the maintenance of this war with Scotland, and that, before there was any provision for the relief of those great pressures and groaning grievances of the people, as have been forementioned. But, by God's overswaying power and good providence (before any such thing could be to the purpose debated or resolved on) base fears and jealousies 
The said 4th: Parliament dissolved.  preocupating the hearts of the malignant party, they suddenly and scelerously advised the King by all means to breakoff thus Parliament also, and to return to their former ways of waste and confusion, in which they hoped their own evil intentions 
Mark this, O England for thy comfort.  were most like to proceed and prosper. But here, by the way, take along with thee, good Reader, this note or observation on these premises, namely, that, had our Parliament afforded the least supply to that wicked war, yea though but one 6. d▪ with 
Reverend Mr. Case in his 12. Arguments of comfort to England.  their consent, they had made the quarrel national, and thereby the plague and punishment of such a great sin, most justly Epidemical. Take this, then, O England, as no small mercy from thy gracious God, who thus mercifully freed thee from such a Land-devouring sin and heinous provocation as Ireland does woefully witness it.  


May 5. 1640. Violent courses again exercised to get money.  
Very ill usage to some eminent Parliament Members.  
A scandalous Declaration published.  
A forced loan of money urged in the city of London.  
Aldermen imprisoned for refusing it.  
The Apprentices rising in Southwark side and at Lambeth.   Now that Parliament thus fruitlessly ended, they again fell to their former tyrannical practices and squeezing course of enforcing supplies out of the people's estates, by the Kings own power and prerogative, at his own will, and without their consent; yea the very next day after the dissolution of that Parliament, some eminent Members of both Houses had their Chambers and Studies, yea their Cabinets and very pockets of their wearing clothes searched for Letters and writings, another of them, not long after close-imprisoned for not delivering to them some Petitions, which he received by authority of that House in time of Parliament. A false and scandalous Declaration was then published against the House of Commons in the King's name, which yet (by God's mercy) took no effect in the hearts of the people, but chose made the impudency of the suspected authors of it more odious to them. A forced loan of money was then attempted in the City of London, to be made a precedent (if it prevailed) for the whole Kingdom; but some Aldermen refusing it, were sorely threatened and committed to prison. About which time there fell out a mighty and tumultuous rising of Apprentices and youngmen in Southwark and Lambeth side, with clubs and other such weapons, especially at the Archprelates house in Lambeth, which put him into such a fright and perplexity, as made him hide his head and fly from place to place, from Lambeth to Croyden, and from Croyden to convey himself to some more private and remote hiding place for fear of their fu●y; So that we might have said of him as the Prophet Jeremy did of Pashur that false prophet, (Jer. 20. 3.) The Lord hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magor-missabib; even fear, and terror and trembling round about thee. Which (as 'twas probably believed) was the cause that the farther and more furious execution of their violent courses to get money from the Subject 
Exod. 8. 19  was not prosecuted. Now, though Pharaoh's Magicians were so wise and honest, that at the sight of the dust of the earth turned into 〈◊〉 they cried out it was the finger of God: yet this lofty Levite of Canterbury's heart was as hard as Pharaoh's himself, and would not, with any remorse or penitency of spirit, acknowledge the hand of God against him, but, (just like Pharaoh, (I say) grew more and more out-rageous hereby. For, in 
The Clergy continue their Convocation.  all this interim, he and the rest of the Bishops and Clergy continued their Convocation (though the Parliament was dissolved) and by a new-Commission, turned it into a Provinciall-Synod, in which they audaciously contrived new Canons containing many 
New Canons made.  matters contrary to the King's prerogative (which they so deceitfully pretend to uphold) the fundamental Laws of the Realm, Parliament privileges, and Subject's liberties, and mainly tending to dangerous sedition, upholding their unjust usurpations, and as impudently as impiously justifying their Popish innovations, idolatries, and superstitious worship of God. Among 
A new-forged Oath, with a monstrous etc. in it.  which their accursed Canons they had forged a new and strange Oath for the establishing of their Antichristian tyranny, with a most prodigious and monstrous Et caetera, in it, thereby to have deeply ensnared and grossly abused both ecclesiastics and Laymen, as they distinguish them. Which Oath for its craft and labyrinthick intricacy, and no less hellish cruelty so to captivate men's consciences, I have thought fit here to insert.  

The Oath.  
ay, A. B. do swear, that I approve the doctrine and discipline, or government established in the Church of England, as containing all things necessary to salvation; and that I will not endeavour, by myself or any other, directly or indirectly to bring in any Popish doctrine, contrary to that which is so established: nor will I ever give my consent to alter the government of this Church by Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, Arch-deacons, etc. as it stands now established, and as by right it ought to stand, nor yet ever to subject it to the usurpations and superstition of the See of Rome. And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear, according to the plain and common sense and understanding of the same words, without any equivocation or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever. And this I do heartily, willingly and truly upon the faith of a Christian. So help me God in Jesus Christ.   

Punishments on those that refused to take it.  Which Oath, whosoever refused to take must be most severely punished with suspensions, deprivations, and excommunications, or forced by other vexations to fly out of the Land, that so the Kingdom being cleared of these squeamish and nice-conscienced fellows, (as they call and count tender conscienc'd men) a fairer and wider way might be made for the advancing of that grand●signe, namely, the Reconciliation of our English Church to the Church of Rome.  
Now, here (me thinks) I cannot pretermit to let the Reader see and take notice, how properly this plot of theirs may be paralleled with that of Pharaoh against the Israelites in Egypt, who 
Exod. 1. 9, 10.  though keptunder with great and grievous thraldom and most heavy burdens; yet grew to such a numerous multitude, that Pharaoh, being afraid of their number and still-increasing strength, 
Pharaohs speech to his Nobles.  spoke thus to his Lords and Counselors. Comeon, my Lords, let us deal wisely, and endeavour timely to cure this growing Gangrene, let's keep the children of Israel under with vehement vexations, and destroy all their male children in their birth, lest they grow too strong for us, and either forcibly get from us, or join in battle with our enemies against us: But God crossed this his craft and 
Pharaohs policy proved mere folly.  cruelty, and made this very plot of theirs the groundwork of the greatest harm even to their whole land, by Moses preservation, whom God used as the main instrument of the Egyptians destruction. Thus, even thus, I say, it fared with our Prelates and Pontificians, who, by reason of our Scottish brother's expulsion of their pernicious Prelates out of Scotland, not unjustly fearing that the English Puritan would endeavour the like supplantation of their English hierarchy, by the Scots example; Come, 
The Arch-Prelate of Canterbury his speech to his Pontificians in the Synod.  therefore (says the Archbishop of Canterbury to his Pontifician crew) let us now deal wisely, lest too late we repent it, let us cur● the courage of that increasing Puritanicall-sect which so hates our apostolicall-Prelacie, let us vex and perplex them with the heavy and hard loads of ceremonies, superstitious innovations and new-east Canons with an etc. Oath (right muddy▪ bricks, straw and stable of Romish Egypt) which, I hope shall prove the very Quintessence of all our former plots and projects, and the only way to fix ourselves fast, and rivet ourselves so firmly into the apostolical chair of this Kingdom (by swearing the Puritans, both Clergy and Laics to our Ecclesiastical jurisdiction) as that no power either of Prince or Parliament shall ever be able to set us, hereafter, beside the saddle. But, see, I pray, how the Lords overpowering wisdom and goodness defeated their so high-built hopes, crossed this their deep craft, and made this Oath and book of Canons the ground of their greatest overthrow. So that all that see with the right-eye of a true understanding, may justly say with Jethro, 
Exod. 18. 11.  Moses father in law. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all (Rome's idol-) gods, for, in the (very) thing wherein they deal● proudly, the Lord was above them. For, after this, their courage began to quail (for this present Parliament was resolved on, shortly after those Canons and Oath were made) their projects prospered not, all their devices were on the declining hand, God's vindicative indignation continually prosecuting them to their shame and (I hope) to the utter ruin of their most insolent and unsufferable Antichristian tyranny, as the sequill shall manifestly make clear, in the description of our deliverances, whereunto I mainly address my thoughts and intention. Now 
Large taxations laid on the Clergy tow●●d the war.  for the yet more absolute furthering of their most pestiferous projects, they (in that Synod) laid great taxations on the whole Clergy, as namely, 6. Subsidies, besides a bountiful contribution to forward the intended war against Scotland, to which, they all (of the pontifician and scandalous rout especially) showed themselves, generally, very free and affectionate, and which war, some of them, in their mad and hair-braind zeal, were not ashamed 

Bellum Episcopale.  
Prayers against the Scots as against rebels.   to style and entitle, the Bishop's War; yea, a solemn prayer was composed and enjoined by the Bishops, to be used in all Churches, calling the Scots Rebels in it, thus, as much as in them lay, to imbrue both Nations in blood, and to make the wrath and fury between them irreconcilible. And here, now, the Reader 
The Soldiers marching forward to York.  must be pleased to take notice, that the Army was now going forward for York; and therefore we may (here) not unfitly observe (as a first demonstration of God's beginning to cross & countercheck their malevolent machinations) how the soldiers, which were pressed and now passing forward to York, did most 
Turn rude-Reformers.  strangely and uncontrollably turn rude-reformers, as they marched through the Country's, forcibly intruding and getting into Churches, and there, irresistibly, pulling-down altar-rails, turning altars into Communion-Table postures, making enquiry, in the Towns where they came, how the Ministers carried themselves in their pastoral charges: if godly and diligent Preachers, they reverendly and respectively used them; but, if Rome's Minions (I mean Arminians) superstitious lazy drones, rotten-hearted Baal's priests, or covetous pluralists, where-ere they came and found such, they vexed, derided, and most contemptuously used them, utterly disdaining also and refusing to 
Non omnin● laudo, admirer tamen.  be ordered or commanded by popish-Leaders. Now although I do not, I may not justify these their mis-carriages, yet, who can deny a special hand of divine providence taking most high displeasure and just offence against our Prelates and Pontificians former violent and furious practices, and beginning thus at the very first onset in this their great design, to blast their bloody intentions. And, certainly, if prudent Deborah did curse Meros', 
judg. 5. 23. 31.  justly, and the inhabitants thereof, with bitter curses, because they went not out to help the Lord against the mighty: What bitter curses, think we, then shall fall upon those who most affectionately afforded strong aid to mighty and most malicious Popish enemies, against the Lord and his dear saints and servants? Even so, O Lord, (as she goes on) let all thine enemies perish, but let those that love thee, be as the bright and glorious sun when he goeth forth in his resplendent might. But, to go forward. At this time also 

The Papists did enjoy almost a full toleration.  
Sir Francis Windibank their great friend.  
A Pope's Nuncio.   the Popish faction enjoyed such exemptions and exceptions against the penal Laws of the Land, as amounted very near to a full toleration of their religion; Besides many other favours and Court-encouragements. They had a Secretary of State, Sir Francis Windibank a powerful agent for the expediting of all the Papists desires; a Pope's Nuncio. residing here to act and govern them according to Rome's influences, and to mediate for them, 
Great liberty to the Papists.  with the concurrence of foreign Popish Princes. By this Nuncio's authority, the Papists of all sorts, Nobility, Gentry and Clergy 
A Popish private Parliament in England.  were convocated after the manner of a private Parliament, new Popish jurisdiction erected of Romish Archbishops, taxes levied, a new government of State contrived independent to ours; yea contrary to ours both in interest and affection, secretly corrupting the ignorant or negligent professors of our religion, and closely combining and uniting themselves against such as were sound professors, and in this posture only watching and waiting for an 
Divers notable private contrivements of the Popish party for the full perfecting of the plot.  opportunity by force to destroy those whom by fear or fraud they were hopeless to seduce. For the full effecting whereof, they were strongly strengthened with all kind of warlike ammunition, encouraged by Popish prayers weekly enjoined by their Nuncio; and such power had they then procured at Court, that secretly a Commission was issued out, intended for some great Ones of the Popish profession both for levying and martial command 
See here, by all these particulars if England was not bought and sold to destruction.  of Soldiers according to those private instructions. His Majesty's treasure also was extremely exhausted and consumed, his revenues anticipated, his Servants and Officers compelled to lend him great sums of money, multitudes tired with attendance on the Councill-Table for refusal of illegal payments, prisons were filled with their commitments, and many Sheriffs summoned into the Star-chamber, and some imprisoned for not being quick enough in levying the Ship-money, and generally all the people, over the whole Kingdom, languished 'twixt grief and fear of the issue of these strong and strange snares and entanglements, no visible sign, nor hope of humane help being left us, but in dolour and desperation.  

England brought into a Mount of Straits.  And was not England, now, brought into a Mount of straits indeed? Could hell itself or the fiercest fiends and furies the rain have hatched a more horrid and hideous contrivement, and that under a colourable pretence of law and right, forsooth, and royallprerogative? Were not these like to prove rare Commonwealths-men and Statesmen, who, as the Prophet David complains, (and as touched before) would establish and set up wickedness by 
Psal. 94. 20. Jer. 16. 16. Gen. 10. 8, 9 Nimrod a mighty hunter.  a Law? Yea, these were truly, Those many fishers, which the Lord threatens to send against his sinning people to fish them, and many hunters to hunt them. Yea, I say, those most nefarious Nimrods', those mighty hunters, even most audaciously before the Lord, who, to raiseup and erect this their Babel of confusion, hunted not beasts, but the best of men, not for recreation, but for rapine and the utter ruin of true Religion. Wherefore, now at last, the Lord our great Jehovah, whose eyes run to and fro, throughout the 
2 Chron. 16. 9  whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him; hearing the groans and crying prayers of his poor afflicted people, to whose throne of grace and mercy they now made their only earnest addresses and pressing approaches; who, I say, being a God hearing prayers, pardoning sins and a present 
Psal. 65. 2. Nehem 9 17. Psal. 46. 1. Luk 8. 48. Exod. 14. 13. Deut. 3●. 35, 36.  help in greatest straits and distresses, gives them a gracious return, bids them be of good comfort, and fearless, yea bids them stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show them. For, to me (saith the Lord) belongeth vengeance and recompense; your enemy's foot shall slip, in due time▪ for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the the things that shall come upon them do make haste. For the Lord will judge his own people, and repent himself for his servants 

Admirable comfort in deepest distress.  
Mr▪ Cala. Fast-Ser.   injuries, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none else to help. I am therefore graciously resolved (says our God) to make England a School of mercies, and to set it in the highest form thereof, yea and to make it the captain of the School, and thereby intent to set him one-lesson to get by heart, even a lesson of true gratitude 
The introduction to the now subsequent Parliamentarie-mercies.  and holy obedience, for the mercies which now I intent to show and bestow upon it. Such mercies indeed (good Reader) as thou shalt now see, and (to thy souls admiration and comfortable contemplation) behold, that had I as many tongues, hands and p●ns, as I have hairs on my head, and exquisite dexterity fitly to manage and make use of them all, they would not suffice to set out the praises of our good God for them, being indeed such 
A mighty and strange overture of things for the better.  mercies, as none but God himself could (miraculously) conser upon us, by such a mighty and admirably strange overture and turn of things, which God now began to work by this Parliament, and all for the better, yea more and more admirable mercies to us within these two years than hath been bestowed on others in many ages. Which now by God's gracious assistance, I shall abundantly make most clear and conspicuous, to the high honour and glory of God, and the unspeakable consolation and joy of his saints and holy ones. 
The Nobility begins to be sensible of our sorrows.   
For, now, behold, the Lord began to open the eyes and to touch the hearts of our Nobles, now at York, with the King, and to make them weary of their toolong silence and patience (if I may so call it and to lay to heart the Kingdoms great distractions and deep distempers, to be thereupon impatient of any longer delays, and very sensible of the duty and trust which belongs to them; some, therefore, of the most eminent of them adventured to petition the King (who being, now, at York, had there advanced 

The King's royal Standard set up at York.  
The Peers do petition the King.  
The Scots also were vexed as well as we▪   his royal Standard, and gathered thither the cream of the whole Kingdom) yea and at such a time too, when as ill Counselors were so powerful and prevalent with his Majesty, that they had reason to expect more hazard to themselves, than fair and facile redresses of those palpable and public evils for which they then interceded. At which time, also, of this Kingdoms deadly burning-fever or violently shaking-ague of intestine miseries and oppr ssions, the Scots having been long time restrained in their trades, impoverished by loss of many of their ships and goods, bereft of all possibility of satisfying his Majesty by any naked Supplication, wherein they had been long time tired, and even quite wearied-out, being as frequently as fruitlessly denied their desires, and now at last (to shut-up quite all doors of hope from them an army marching to the gates of their Kingdom to force 
They enter our Kingdom with a strong Army.  them to slavish subjection and obedience. They, hereupon, resolving to stand on their most just defence, and with their swords (since words would not prevail) to make their own passage, for audience, to the King; with a strong army (as their last remedy) of Saints rather than Soldiers entered the Kingdom, and without 
The Scots at Newcastle.  any hostile act or spoil in the country, as they passed save only (being affronted by some of the King's army) to force their passage over the Tyne at Newburn, near Newcastle, and had a fair opportunity to press on further upon the King's army, out that duty and reverence to his Majesty, and brotherly love and true Christian affection to our English Nation (according to the 
The intention of the Scots Army● printed and published in private.  tenor of a most excellent Declaration, printed and dispersed over the Kingdom, immediately upon their entering the Realm, entitled, The Scots mind and intention with their Army; which gave great satisfaction therein) made them stay there, piously and patiently, as loving friends, not foes, voluntarily to wait and supplicate again to his Majesty at York, for justice in their innocent cause against their wicked enemies: Whereby the King had the better leisure to entertain better Counsel, according to those Noble Peers Petition also, forementioned, wherein the 

The King entertains good counsel, at York.  
Sept. 24▪ 1640.   Lord our God so blessed him, that he summoned a great Council of Peers▪ then at York, to meet together with him, on Sept. 24, 1640. The Scots hereupon, the first day of the great Council presented another most humble petition to his Majesty, whereupon a treaty was appointed at Rippon, in which, things 
A treaty at Rippon.  were so wisely and worthily agitated by the Commissioners on both sides, and in all that interim, a sweet cessation of Arms 
A cessation of Arms agreed.  agreed upon, that at last, it was resolved that the full conclusion of all differences between is and the Scots should be referred to the wisdom and care of a Parliament declared to begin, 
A fifth Parliament called, & to begin, Novem▪ 3. 1640.  Novemb. 3d, than next ensuing, as the sole means (under heaven) to cure all these foresaid maladies, and to recover the Kingdom of its heart▪ sick diseases and (otherwise incurable) mortal wounds, and to settle the State of things (which (otherwise) seemed insuperable) into a right frame and posture. For, as hath been abundantly manifested, all things were so out of joint, the King and whole Kingdom brought to such exigents and precipitating sad and bad issues, that had not God thus timously struck in, and thus necessitated this Parliament, England (undoubtedly) 
R●dis indigestaque moles.  had been made, long ere this, a confused Chaos of confusion, a ghastly Golgotha, and a most foul field of Blood, and posterity might have sighingly sobbed▪ out (not sung) of it. Ah, England, England, once called Albion, for thy white rocks, now too justly mayest be called Olbion, for thy black deformity of destruction and desolation! O London, famous London, England's (once) glorious 
Sedges ubi Tr●j● fuit.  Troynovant, now become a desolate wilderness, the ploughman's fallow-plains or vast fields of corn; or, as the Prophet Jeremy, by his Jerusalem▪ might most properly have painted thee out also, as in the 1▪ of his Lamentations. But, now, behold, thy God is come unto thee, is now seen, yea, now, I say, if 
God in the Mount.  ever in the Mount of Mercies for thy admirable deliverance from this most profound abyss of deepest danger, in this mighty mercy of th● Lord to thee but new-now poor gasping-England, in that the English and Scottish-armies should lie so near each other in a martial manner, and yet seem Both to shake hands together, should only look one another in the face, and not imbrue their hands in the blood of each other, but sit still, rest together in peace, and at length part (as they did) like good friends. O who can forbear, but in a transcendent rapture of joy and gratitude, breakout, with holy David, and say, or rather cheerfully 
Psal. 68 34. 32. Psal. 46. 9  sing; Ascribe unto the Lord worship and honour, ascribe unto the Lord the glory of his name. Sing unto God ye Kingdoms of the earth, O sing praises unto our God. Who maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth, who breaks the bow, and cuts the spear in sunder, and 
Psal. 68 19  burns the chariots in the fire. Who daily loadeth us with his benefits, 
job 5. 13. Psal. 94. 11. Isa. 29. 14.  and is the only God of our salvation. Who infatuates the wisdom of the wise and prudent, and makes the counsels of Princes to come to nought. But, now, to proceed where I left; A Parliament was (I say) appointed to begin, Novem. the third, a Parliament said I? (strange word) what? a Parliament? why, who durst (once) 
A Parliament.  be so bold, as only to whisper his desires of a Parliament? who (once) durst mutter, much less utter-out such a word, A Parliament in England, again? Yet, thus it was, yea and thus timely too yea and such a Parliament too, as this Kingdom never saw ●he like, for length and strength of goodness, for Church and State; to God's due glory and everlasting praise be it spoken. Certainly (then) if ever, now was our God gloriously seen in the Mount of Merci s for England's greatest good and hoped happiness.  
But now see again▪ (as I premised at the beginning) the serpentine-seed, Satan's agents, must be still working and plotting against all the springing hopes and budding comforts of God's people, if it were possible to blast them in the blossoms. For, 
A plot to spoil the Parliament  now, since they saw to their secret sorrow, a Parliament must needs be, & this omen also unavoidable, all their crafty pates were contriving and casting about how to stifle this conception of comfort in the very womb. For, the malignant party spying well that they could not (as I said) put off the Parliament, they therefore cunningly and closely endeavour by their Courtly agents to have such Members of it chosen in every Corporation, City, and Shire as might only advance their mischievous Machinations 
The Kings & Queensletters.  and base designs in Parliament. They, therefore, procure the Kings and Queens Letters to Counties and Shires, get 
Earls, Lords, Knights and Gentlemen ride up and down to help them.  both Earls, Lords, Knights and Gentlemen to ride in person and rove up and down to all parts and places of the Kingdom to make parties for them in choice of such as they should nominate. Yet, see again, on the other side how the Lord counter-plotted and infatuated all their craft, care, and industry therein; for, notwithstanding all their cost and coil, all their running and riding, God, 
God counterplots and crosses them.  I say, frustrated their impious expectation, in most places. The Lord, who holds the hearts of all men in his hands, caused the willing people from all parts, spontaneously to flock and assemble together like such unheard of numerous swarms of bees of all requisite sorts and qualities, with most unbended courage and 
Parliamentary Worthies chosen.  irrefragable resolutions to chuse-out and select, such pious, prudent and every way accomplished Worthies for this high and honourable work, as are most hopeful, by God's gracious support and assistance to strike the stroke of a most blessed and long looked for, yea longed-for happy Reformation; yea, I say, making up such a blessed 
A blessed College of Physicians.  College of Physicians, as are likely (by God's benediction on them and protection over them) to cure the (else) almost cureless maladies and infirmities of Church and State, which were ready to sink into the inevitable gulf of woe and wretchedness, and to drink the last draft of deadly destruction.  
O, who can passe-by such a remarkable passage of God's admirable providence, surpassing admiration in this special piece of comfort to us! yea, I may justly say, this masterpiece of the whole ensuing frame of all our succeeding parliamentarie-rejoycings? and not cry-out with most emphatical cheerfulness, with holy Moses, Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is 
Exod. 15. 11.  like unto thee? glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders. 
Psal 89. 5, 6, 7, 8.  And with the sweet Psalmograph, holy David, The heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord, thy faithfulness, also, in the assembly of Saints. For, who in heaven can be compared to the Lord? Who, among the sons of the mighty can be likened to our God? Now, at the first sitting and meeting of this blessed Parliament, though all oppositions seemed to vanish, the forementioned mischiefs of the 
Divers difficulties at the first beginning of this Parliament.  malignant party being so evident (which their accursed counsels and co-operations produced) that no man durst standup to defend them: yet, the whole work itself afforded difficulty enough, if you cast your eyes on these particulars. First, the multiplied evils and long-rooted corruptions of 16. year's growth, at least, by custom and authority of the concurrent interest of many powerful delinquents who were, now, to be brought to judgement and reformation. Secondly, the King's household was to be provided for; for, they had brought him to that want that he could not supply his mere ordinary and necessary expenses without the assistance of his people. Thirdly, two armies were then to be paid, which amounted very near to 80 thousand pounds a month, and yet the people over the Kingdom must be tenderly charged, having been formerly miserably exhausted with many burdensome projects. Fourthly, the contrarieties they met with, in all these, were very incompatible, which yet in a great measure they calmly reconciled; these difficulties therefore, seemed to be invincible, yet by God's good providence, and these most renowned Worthies indefatigable care and diligence, 

Six Subsidies granted.  
Pole-money.   they comfortably over▪ came them At the beginning of the Parliament, six Subsidies were freely granted, together with the passing of a Bill of Pole-money, for speedy supply of present occasions, which could not amount to less than 600000. l. besides 
The mountainous dispatch of great affairs, of the Parliament at the first.  the said six Subsidies. Yea, these prudent patriots contracted that great arrere-of charges due to our faithful brethren of Scotland, to 220 thousand pounds. And notwithstanding all these most urgent and inevitable charges and pressing occasions▪ the Lord so blessed the proceedings of this precious Parliament, that the kingdom is for the present, and will be much more for the future, by God's mercy, a great gainer by all those charges, as will evidently appear by the subsequent cloud of witnesses, the many remarkable parliamentary mercies, which our great Jehovah hath graciously strewed into our happy laps and bosoms by them. And 
To stop the mouths of slanderers.  this is here the rather touched and mentioned to stop the mouths of those repining envious elves of ingratitude, who notwithstanding these so conspicuous, and egregious testimonies of these ever to be honoured Worthies most impregnable pains and industry, yet would fain fasten their fangs of calumny and detraction on their most honourable actions and proceedings, which even their inf●rnall black-mouthed mother Envy herself, cannot but (though contrary to her nature) most justly commend. As, first, that uncouth and (till of late) unheard of heavy taxation of 

Ship-money abolished.  
Coat and Conduct taken away.   Ship-money, by this Parliament abolished, which drained from the Kingdom above 200 thousand pounds a year. Coat and Conduct-money taken away from unjustly troubling the Subject, which in many country's amounted to little less than Ship-money. 
Sope.  That scouring project of New-sope also overthrown which brought an hundreth thousand pounds a year into private 
Wine.  projectors purses. That soaking plot also on Wine, which amounted to above three hundred thousand pound. And that of Leather, which rightly computed could not choose but exceed 
Leather.  both those former, put together, this is also annihilated. Yea, that unseasonable (and indeed unreasonable) patent for Salt pulled out of their enhansing hands, which could not but 

Salt▪  
Many other Monopolies suppressed,   countervail in value, that of Leather Besides many other Statestarving Monopolies, whereof some (as hath been seen in those forementioned) prejudiced the Kingdom above a Million of money yearly; all quite suppressed by this renowned Parliament, which formerly, like so many greedily gaping graves or unsatiable horseleeches were continually crying-out, Give, Give, and restlessly sucking-out the vital spirits of the State, and pitifully debilitating, thereby, the nerves and ligaments of the whole Commonwealth.  

The root of all the former evils plucked up, viz. Arbitrary government.  But, that which was far more worth than all those foresaid great benefits, which, indeed was the very root and rice of all those and such like taxations and vexations, is also, by power of this Parliament, quite taken away, viz. the arbitrary power pretended to be in his Majesty to tax his subjects, and charge their estates at his pleasure, without consent of his Parliament, which great and grievous yoke which extremely wrung our wronged necks, for the present, and would have done much more for the future, to our posterity) is now by this happy Parliament declared by Both-Hous s to be against Law, and is also ratified by an Act of Parliament. And was not Elohim our God 
God in the Mount.  all-sufficient, most gloriously seen here in the Mount for our large deliverance, from such and so many pinching straits and deep distresses as we were all brought▪ yea plunged into, as have been formerly most evidently and undeniably shown? And, therefore, have we great cause, with that sweet singer of Israel to elevate his praises, herein, and to say, I will magnify thee, O my 
Psal. 145. 1, 2, 3.  God and my King, and will bless thy Name for ever and ever. Yea every day will I bless thee, and praise thy Name for ever and ever. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is altogether unsearchable.  
Yea, and that which is very remarkable, and no less extraordinary comfortable to God's children; How did the Lord (before this Parliament began, and hitherto ever since) stir-up and inflame the fire of supplicating faith or faithful supplication and 

A spirit of prayer and humiliation stirred up in the hearts of God's people in private.  
Rich returns of our prayers.  
Our enemy's plots proved their owngreatest plagues.  
judg. 13. 23.   fervent zeal in private humiliation to seek the Lord in the face of Christ for mercy and reconcilement to our poor Land and Nation, so as the like was never seen in this Kingdom before. And, O, what faith-confirming and heart-cheering rich returns of prayers hath the Lord our good God cast into our blessed bosoms, in both granting us the very things (yea and much more than) our hearts desired; and crossing ours and the Church's enemies both Papists and Prelates in their plots which we feared, yea and still making their own desperate devises to light heaviest on their own heads, and their own impious inventions occasions to make them still sitdown by weeping-crosse, and bear the greatest damage and condign detriment in themselves. Whence we may very well 
Against the false fears and faithless faintings in God's people.  conclude with Manoahs' wife, Sampsons' mother, against all false and faithless fears and jealousies (whereunto I perceive, even Gods own dear people are toomuch addicted) That if the Lord were pleased or had a purpose to kill (or destroy) us, he would not have received an oblation or sacrifice from us, neither would have showed us all these things, nor would (as at this time) have done all these great things and much more yet following for us; But if God had had no delight in us, but purposed to destroy us, and to deliverup our Land and lives into Papists hands, and to make a prey of us and ours to them, he would not (surely) have suffered us or given us hearts to seek him in prayer and importunate petitions, and yet at last, have frustrated all our hopes and expectations: But chose when God intended to destroy the children of Israel for their high provocations of the Lords irreconcilable wrath, he 
jer. 7. 16.  flatly forbade the Prophet to pray for them: whereas on the other side, I say, our gracious God hath freely poured on us the spirit of grace and supplication; hath not only received sacrifices from our (though sinful) hands, but in Christ Jesus (his ever prevailing 
Acts 12. 20.  Blastus, nay rather ever most meritorious blessed Son) hath smelled a sweet savour in our sacrifices, as hath been already in part imparted to us, and made clearly obvious to our eyes and understanding, and comes now most copiously to be farther most fully demonstrated to us.  
And, here, me thinks, 'tis not improper or impertinent to put 
A Fleet of Spanish-ships at Sea.  the Reader in mind of one remarkable mercy of the Lord unto us, which though it be not (I confess) on all parts absolutely concluded on; yet for my part, I confidently believe (these plotting times and weighty circumstances considered and put together) I may justly enrol it in one of the chief places and number of our most famous parliamentary deliverances, though I say it was and hath been covered and couched under fair machiavellian vizards of other intentions▪ when they saw God had miraculously crossed and defeated their former strong expectation. For (unquestionably) the Popish and malignant party had deeply persuaded (if not assured) themselves that long ere this (especially about the time of this plot now to be mentioned) their desperate projects should have been brought to a high pitch, and that ere this time we and Scotland should have been deeply engaged in bloody broils, and been pellmell together by the ears in the Northern parts of the Kingdom. The sly Fox of Spain therefore, must 
The Spaniard is apt to watch and catch advantage●.  needs watch advantages on our homebred and imbred distractions and uncivill-civill wars, thus to purchase to himself the long lookt-for spoils and most precious prey of three fair Crowns, at once; To which purpose, upon traitorous instigation and intelligence too, no doubt, from some of his pensioners in the Court of England▪ he had made ready and set forth to Sea, a mighty Fleet of ships, a second great armada, well fraught and furnished with men and ammunition, and other instruments of wrath and fury for our certain perdition and designed destruction. Thus unsuspected and unexpected, they had smoothly and silently made their way into our narrow Seas, and lay hover within sight 
The Spanish fleet on our Narrow-Seas, in sight of Dover.  of Dover, fearless (it seemed) of least resistance from us, if not hopeful of ample assistance to land their forces, and make our Land feel the fury of Spain's conquering arm. But, behold, as thus they lay about our coasts, and we (as it were) lay fast a sleep in this great danger, the God of our English-Israel, who never slumbers nor sleeps in the protection of his people, had his ever most vigilant and wakeful eye over us, even then, I say, when we were most supine and careless or fearless of any imminent disaster so near us, the Lord our God fought for us, yet without us, stopped this (otherwise) overflowing inundation of misery and destruction, crossed and crushed their rotten-egge of windy hopes, by 
The Hollanders meet with them.  sending our honest old neighbours of Holland to confront them, though with but a very small Fleet (at the first) which afterward quickly increased, under the conduct and command of their heroical and most magnanimous Admiral Martin 
Martin Tromp Admiral of the Fleet.  Tromp, whose honour and high renown, the trump of Fame shall most worthily sound out to posterity, and crown his temples with never withering-wreathes of laurell-branches, who had no sooner espied them, but most fiercely and furiously he set upon their whole formidable Spanish Fleet, gave them such battering broad sides, and such Canon-thundring and powder-roaring salutations as quickly pulled down their so late so lofty Spanish pride, and maugre all their espani●lized bravadoes, the utmost strength of their strongest vessels was so battered and bruised, their falsely 
The Spanish fleet beaten and destroyed.  supposed impenetrable ribs and big-swollen bellies so pierced and pestered, that they quickly quelled their courage, fired, sunk and took many of their greatest ships, and dissipated and scattered the rest from our coasts, few of them escaping the heroic Hollanders martial violence, to our great (though unsensible yet unspeakable) comfort and security, we ourselves not having struck one streak in our own defence, nay 'tis well if we did not yield the Spaniards supply of powder and other necessaries (that time) to our own destruction, had not God thus strangely and strongly withstood it. Say, than (O England) did not Jehovah, our great Lord and God most apparently appear, now, in the Mount for thy mighty deliverance? did he not make good his word and promise 
Isa. 54. 17.  by his holy Prophet. That no weapon forged against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that riseth against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. Certainly, if ever, at this time was this prophecy most exactly made good to England, and to our faithful 
No weapon can be forged nor tongue raised against England and Scotland.  brethren of Scotland. For, what sharp and death-wounding weapons have been forged against us, both abroad and at home? what slanderous tongues, have risen up in judgement, yea in most false judgement against both us and them, call and counting Gods beloved ones among us factious and seditious, and among our honest brethren of Scotland, traitors and rebels, as hath been formerly touched; but now we have seen, to the high honour of God and joy of our hearts, that none of their weapons have prospered against us; yea their slanderous tongues, which so falsely judged us and our beloved brethren, we have condemned to the clear eyes of all men, that wilfully look not a squint on all just things.  
For, hath not this our most noble and renowned Parliament, together with the King's full content and consent therein, proclaimed our brethren of Scotland, the Kings most faithful and 
A Pacification and blessed union between the three kingdoms, by Act of Parliament.  loyal Subjects? Confirmed a fair and full Pacification and union of firm love and mutual defence, 'twixt us and them and the Kingdom of Ireland with an Act of oblivion of all mistakes and misconceits on either side: all these, I say, ratified by a blessed Act of Parliament? Yea, and that which adds no small lustre to it, that it hath hereby freed us from civill-wars, which of all wars are most uncivil, from intestine wars, wars that would have eaten-out our own bowels; from wars, I say, of Christians with Christians, yea of Protestants with Protestants, which of all wars could not but have been most fell and fatal. O who, then, can see these things, these miracles of mercies, without deep admiration and holy adoration of our great God? Who can forbear to breakout into cordial praises, to raiseup trophies of everlasting fame and honour to our great and glorious Lord and King? Who can choose but ingenuously acknowledge with holy David, That we got not these good things into our possession by 
Psal. 44 34.  our own sword, neither did our own arm save us: But thy right hand, O Lord, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a love unto us. Thou art our King, O command deliverance, still, to thy poor worm Jacob. For, through thee alone shall we pull-down our enemies, through thy Name only shall we tread them under that rise up against us. T●● thou O God that risest up in judgement 
Psal. 76. 9, 10.  to save all thy weak-ones on earth, turning the rage and fury of man into thy praise, and making the remainder of their wrath to obey thee.  


Good men made Officers of State.  
The Scaligers of our rusty times.   A most remarkable mercy was it also, that the Lord put into the hearts of the renowned Scaligers of our corrupted times, for the better purifying not only of the conduit-pipes of Justice, to begin (as about this time) to put pious and noble Peers into places of honour, trust and power, that thus the stern of government may be the more happily steered with uprightness and impartiality. To which purpose (as a main help thereto) they have most happily taken away that State-staggering Star-Chamber-Court; 
The Star-Chamber-Court, Precedent, & Council of the North, etc. dissolved.  dissolved and dissipated into smoke▪ the crushing-Courts of the Precedent and Council of the North▪ and limited and co fined the unlimited bounds of businesses at the Council-table; but also to scour the muddy and even stinking channels of wrong and oppression, by easing the Commonwealth of those living-grievances thereof (a great advantage to the peace and tranquillity of the State) I mean those evil Counsellors and Officers of State, who had been principal actors of all our foresaid miscries and mischiefs; making thereby (as it were) a plaster to heal the deadly wounds of Church and State, and most hopefully to recover the almost incurable diseases of the Kingdom, by a plaster, I say, of 
The Earl of Straford beheaded.  the blood of that insulting arch-traitor, the Earl of Straford, who as he had well-nigh stabbed the State to the heart by his deep and most dangerous plots both abroad and at home: So the stroke of Justice retaliated with blood his most bold and bloody designs maugre all his slyest shufflings and crafty swagger of the Law to have eluded it, and thereby hoping to have prevented the said just vengeance on him.  
And here by the way, I desire the Reader to take notice of 
●ex ●alionis.  Gods most equal and upright ways and dealings, with wicked, ungodly, and bloodthirsty men, how exactly he repays the bloody 
a English- Haman.  plots and purposes of all proud and ambitious haman's in their own coin; as, here, is most perspicuously seen in this our English-Haman, who in his heart had vowed the wrack▪ and ruin of all Gods faithful ones in England, Scotland and Ireland, at the least. But we have happily seen this proud Haman, the first that felt the due stroke of justice, to the honour of God, and the terror of all such daring traitors. And as for the rest of that rabble, I may 
Psal. 62. 3.  here takeup that of the holy Prophet David, How long will ye imagine mischief against men, ye shall be slain all the pack of you; for, as a bowing or tottering-wall shall ye be, and as a rotten fence. 
2 Sam. 20. 12.  Tremble, therefore, at this, all ye perfidious conspiring Sh●ba's, and fear in time such just retaliation. Certainly, There is none like unto thee, O Lord, thou art great, and thy Name is great in 
jer. 10. 6, 7.  might. Who would not fear thee, O King of Nations, for, to thee it doth, indeed, appertain (to do justice, and take revenge) for as much as among all the wise men of the world, and in all their Kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.  


judge Bartlet & other judges and Bishops impeached of high treason and imprisoned Much content among men, upon the Earls beheading.  
The Arch-prelate of Canterbury impeached of high treason, and imprisoned.   Now, this Remora thus happily (though very hardly) removed, this clinging-clyver (I mean the foresaid Earl of Straford) which was ready to over-top and choke the good corn of the Kingdom, thus blessedly eradicated; together with the impeachment and imprisonment of Judge Bartlet and divers other Judges and Bishops, 'twas most strange to say and see what a sudden and general serenity and calmness from late former fears and affrights shone upon the hearts and minds of most men a long time after, even all over the Kingdom. Especially, also, when that Lamb-skinned Wolf the Arch-prelate of Canterbury, who had so long and so craftily and cruelly woorry●d Christ's innocent lambs, was also impeached of high treason, and thereupon forthwith, put into safe custody under the Black-rod, and afterward lockt-up fast in the Tower of London, for his future safe forthcoming, and thus all his former huge and hyperbolical puff of airy honour and false windy reputation among his clawing Pontificians, now at last tumbled into the dust, yea besmeared with the 
Q Elizabeth's saying, touching Popish Bishops, in her days of deliverance.  dirt of due disgrace, contempt, and ignominy. O then 'twas m●rry with harmless lambs when ravening wolves were shut up f●st, and lambs at liberty. As it is recorded to be the speech of that blessed Queen Elizabeth of ever-rarest memory, upon the Lords delivering her from all her unjust, great troubles, by the happy decease of her fierie-Sister, Queen Marie, when the Romish bloody Bishops of her time were clapt-up into prison, in her stead, and she delivered from their divill●sh thraldom.  
Yea, then, I say, the former thick-clouds and foggi●-mists of manifold fears began to be cleared, and the fair sunshine of 
The malignant party, now began to fear.  cheerful hopes to arise in the hearts of God's people: and chose, a stonishment and fear began to surprise the spirits of traitorous projectors, especially at Court. For, much about these times, or not long before and after also, Sir John Finch, Secretary 
Sir joh. Finch, Secretary Windibank, etc. fly away for fear.  Windibank, Mr. Jermin, and since of late also, the bold and waspish young Lord Digbie, in the depth of the guilt of their consciences, being impeached also of high treason, trusting more to their heels celerity, than their heart's sincerity, which, it seems, was none at all, posted away in private like most unworthy fugitives, being thus spued-out (as I may say) of their own native country like nauseous clods on the stomach of the State, which could not be at any ease or content till it had by some means disgorged them. Or rather, as it is reported of that hateful vermin Rats and Mice, who by instinct of nature, observing an old barn or rotten-house ready to fall or be puld-down, 
A fit simile of Rats and Mice in an old house or barn.  they skip and scud and creep away, apace, to some more remote and secure place, thus to save themselves from that (otherwise) inevitable destruction: So, I say, did this traitorous vermin of our Kingdom, those devouring rats of rapine and mice of mischief, who would have gnawn and eaten into the bowels of Religion to the ruin of Church and State, finding the rotten-house of their long-plotted mischiefs ready to fall on their own heads, to their unavoidable destruction, thought it now h●gh time to skip and scud and run away for their lives, and to get themselves far enough beyond Sea, out of the reach of Justice strong and long-reaching 
A double benefit came to the Kingdom hereby.  arm at home. By which means, namely, justice, thus cone on some of them, and the said stroke of justice, thus terrifying and affrighting others away out of the Kingdom; the Church and State are like, by God's mercy, to reap this double benefit, to wit, ease and freedom from fears for the present time, and also most hopeful long preservation for the time to come.  
And was not here a rare parliamentary mercy indeed, to the 
Catiline a● traitor to old Rome.  Kingdom? to be rid (any way) of such Catelines of their Country? And ought we not to be as thankful to our God for his privative, as positive favours toward us, as well for the absence of 
We ought to be as thankful for privative, as positive mercies.  evil things, as the present possession of good things, as well to see God's enemies fly before us, as to see his faithful servants and dear saints returning-home unto us? Yes doubtless; and to triumph in their terror, and to laugh and rejoice when their fear comes upon them, yea, when it comes upon them like a fierce armed-man. 
Prov. 6. 11. Psal. 92. 7.  For, so says Solomon and the kingly Prophet David▪ When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish, it is that they may be destroyed for ever. Yea, says he also, 
Psal. 73. 18, 19  Certainly thou, O Lord, didst set them in slippery places, and thou castedst them down into destruction. O, how suddenly do they fall into desolation, and are utterly consumed with fear and terror! And 
Psal. 58. 10, 11.  then, he sweetly concludes fully to our purpose. The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance, he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, verily there is a reward for the righteous, verily it is God that judgeth the earth.  
Now, whereas for these many years, heretofore, the discontinuance and unhappy dissolution of Parliaments hath (most like the want of sovereign healing-salv●s to dangerous sores) occasioned extreme prejudice by long f●stering and pestering enormities in Church and State, and mightily encouraged the audacious and 
A Triennial Parliament▪  most ungracious workers of iniquity through strong hopes (thereby) of impunity: Our good God hath by this blessed Parliament provided a cordial preservative and sovereign antidote against such future pestilential diseases and mortiferous growing gangrenes, namely, in that our renowned Worthies have by a firm Act of Parliament, settled a Trienniall-Parliament, to be for the time to come duly called among us. And yet farther; since the frequent and abrupt dissolution of Parliaments hath also been no small supportation to the wicked intentions of traitorous active spirits among us: It hath pleased the Lord to put into the hearts of the King and Parliament with an unanimous consent 
The most blessed continuation of this present Parliament.  to pass a Bill for the most happy and blessed continuation of this present Parliament, so as that it shall neither be dissolved nor adjourned without the consent of both Houses. Which two Laws well and seriously considered, (especially the last of the 
The excellent benefit of these 2. last Laws▪  two, the incomparable happiness whereof I am not able to relate for the present, but time to come may) may justly be thought more advantageous to the Kingdom than all the former, because they secure a full operation of present remedy, like a constant course of wholesome physic to a very crazy body full of increasing and growing infirmities, affording, I say, a perpetual spring of remedies to Church and Commonwealths future growing griefs and maladies. And, because (according to that old adagy) a 
A threefold cord is not easily broken.  threefold knot is not easily untied, or a threefold cord, not easily broken; the more strongly to corroborate all our hopes and ensuing comforts, and to make them as constant as cordial; see, how, yet farther it pleased the Lord our good God to enlarge his hand of bounty and benignity toward us, to leave no means unassayed that might conduce to a perfect cure; and therefore, I say, how he put into the hearts of our ever to be honoured Worthies in Parliament, 

Both Church and State sick at the very heart.  
The Church sick of a quotidian-ague of Popery.  
The State of a Consumption by oppressive taxations.   both Peers and Commons, seriously to consider how sick at the very heart the Commonwealth was, both Church and State; Religion panting by many fearful fainting-fits of a strong and violent Quotidian-Ague of Popery, Arminianism, and many Popish, apish innovations, mightily tending to idolatry, and superstition; and the State brought into a deep consumption, almost hopeless of remedy, by reason of those many and mischievous taxations and impositions most unjustly pressing and oppressing its strength and abilities, as hath been most abundantly set forth and shown in our preceding descriptions of them. Therefore, I say, on judicious advice and premeditation of the condition of Both, our most noble College of expert Physicians, (by God's good providence) timely thought on an Aurum-potabile, a precious potion, 
A Protestation  a select electuari to recover its almost irrecoverable health and strength, a most pious and prudent Protestation, to be taken (next to the heart) all over the Kingdom to revi● their formerly fainting spirits, like pure Aquavitae, or most sovereign stomack-water to help us all against the future chilling and killing qualms of Popery and Oppression.  

The Protestation.  

Wednesday, May, 5. 1641.  ay, A. B. do in the presence of almighty God, vow and protest to maintain and defend, as far as lawfully I may, with my life, power, and estate▪ the true reformed Protestant Religion, expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England, against all Popery and Popish innovations within this Realm, contrary to the same doctrine; and according to the duty of my allegiance, his Majesty's royal person, honour and estate; As also the power and privileges of Parliament; the lawful rights and liberties of the Subject, and every person that maketh this Protestation▪ in whatsoever he shall do in the lawful pursuance of the same. And to my power, and as far as lawfully I may, I will oppose, and by all good ways and means endeavour to bring to condign punishment, all such as shall either by force, practice, counsels, plots, conspiracies, or otherwise, do any thing to the contrary of any thing in this present Protestation contained. And further, that I shall in all just and honourable ways endeavour to preserve the union and peace between the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland; and neither for hope, fear, or other respect, shall relirquish this promise, vow and Protestation.   
A Protestation, I say, most worthy to be taken by all honest-hearted English Protestants, over the whole Kingdom; a Protestation, 
Who they be that refuse to take the Protestation.  which I dare be bold to say and justify, none but hardened impious Papists, profane atheistical Libertines, or grossly ignorant asses, and carnal earthworms only▪ can dare to be so graceless or else shameless, either directly to refuse or so much as dissemblingly to defer or neglect on any colour of pretence whatsoever. And that ye may see the substance of what I say, herein, ratified by the Worthies of our Parliament, I thought fit to give you here their own Vote thereon.  


Friday, July, 30. 1641.  Resolved on the Question.  
That this House doth conceive that the Protestation made by them is fit to be taken by every person that is well affected in Religion, and to the good of the Commonwealth; and therefore doth declare, that what person soever shall not take the Protestation is unfit to bear office in the Church or Commonwealth.   
Now then (good Reader) put all these last recited admirable mercies together, and tell me whether thou dost not most evidently see, and mayest not most freely and faithfully say that our 
God in the Mount of Mercies.  great Jehovah hath most blessedly brought us out of the Mount of many mighty straits and been seen for our most happy deliverance from them all in the Mount of mercies? And seeing these so great and gracious mercies to so sinful and so undeserving a Nation and provoking people as we are, so ungrateful, so unfruitful; O who can forbear to breakforth in holy exultation to the high exaltation, by praises▪ of our good God, and with the pious Prophet David, that sugared singer of Israel, say and sing with 
Psal. 18. 1, 2, 3. and 31, 19, 23.  the 〈◊〉 llifluous melody of a most grateful heart, I will love thee, O Lord, my strength, the Lord is my stonie-rock▪ my fortress and my deli● rer, my God, my strength in whom I will trust; my buckler, the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. O how great is thy goodness, O Lord, which thou baste laidup for them that fear thee, and which thou hast laid-out and wrought for them that trust in thee, even before the sons of men. O, therefore, love the Lord all ye his Saints, for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plenteously rewardeth the proud doer, Yea, I say▪ wait on the Lord (therefore) and be of a good 
Psal. 27. 14.  courage and he shall strengthen thy heart, wait, I say, on the Lord.  
Thus have we seen what wonders God hath wrought for us, in the Commonwealth; he pleased now therefore to lengthenout and lend me thy Christian patience, and I shall now also show thee how the Lord hath been as gloriously seen (if not much more) in the Mount of parliamentarie-mercies to his poor afflicted 
Parliamentary mercies to the Church of God.  and affrighted Church among us; which yet, the Reader must be pleased to take notice, were intermixedly performed together with the most and first of those forementioned in the Commonwealth, only I have ranked them together for mine own better and more methodical handling of them.  
About the beginning of this blessed Parliament, the Lord put into the hearts of our grave and godly parliamentary Senators to act their first pious parts about reformation of Religion by a most diligent inquisition and search after oppressions and oppressors of the Church of God, and by their parliamentary power to break and knock off the pushing horns of those fat bulls of 
* Prelates and Pontificians.  Bashan, wherewith they had fiercely and furiously, yea and as it were even frantically pushed at and almost gored to death the people of God: and first, upon the petitions of Mrs. Bastwick and Mrs. Burton, the pious, but (then) most disconsolate and too untimely widowed-wives of their thrice noble and heroic husbands, as also a petition exhibited in the behalf of most precious Mr. Prinne, that incomparable and rare pair-royall of most worthy witnesses 

jer. 38. 7. Dr. Bastwick, Mr. Burton, Mr. Prinne, freed from prison.  
Dr. Laighton also, M. Smart, Mr Walker, Mr. Foxely, Mr. Lilborn, & many others set a▪ liberty.   of God's truth; the pious Parliament, like noble Ebedmelech, redeemed those just Jeremies of the Lord out of their (otherwise) perpetually captivating most remote and desolate dungeons▪ to the great joy and comfort of God's dear Saints; together with religious Dr. Laighton, a long and lamentable Sufferer for the great cause of Religion; as also, reverend and religious Mr. Smart, Mr. Walker, Mr. Foxley, and that undaunted picus young gentleman Mr. John Lilborn, and many others, all of them, immediately set at liberty on the exhibiting of their petitions to the Parliament, who had most of them been most unjustly and most injuriously clapped up in close imprisonment, some of them fast fettered in irons, all of them most grievously abused (by our fathers (forsooth) of the Church, as they will be most falsely termed) especially those three former most renowned suffering-worthies, whom these persecuting Prelates had even most barbarously, as it were, buried alive in most remote and remorseless (as they intended it) imprisonment from sight, much less society of any friends, yea utterly debarring their wives from coming to them, clean contrary to the Laws of God and Man; This, I say (to their everlasting shame and infamy) being 
Isa. 29. 20, 21.  perpetrated by those right terrible-Ones (indeed) mentioned by the Prophet Yea, those proud scorners, who watched for iniquity, to make a man an offender for a word, and laid snares for any that durst reprove in the gate, and turned aside the just for a thing of nought. But, whom now the Lord our God hath consumed and brought to nought, and by their own pernicious and crafty counsels, hath justly cut-off, and left in their own snare, which they had prepared for others, just according to that of wise 
Prov. 11. 8.  King Solomon, The righteous is delivered out of troubles, and the wicked cometh in his stead. The Lord having most resplendently cleared the honour and integrity of all those his honourable suffering heroes, restoring them to comfort, credit, and high reputation, ever since their (as it were, princely and triumphant) return to London, and most sumptuous entertainment to all God's people, being brought home like three conquering Caesar's on horseback. Even so as that we may say, and most justly declare before them, as king Ahasueros caused to be proclaimed before good Mordecai, when he so highly honoured him in the very 
Hesth. 6. 11.  sight and presence of wicked Haman; Thus shall it be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour. As it is most worthily and punctually related, at large, in their own most famous history of all their magnanimous sufferings and even Princelike restauration and return from their captivity to former freedom, penned 
Mr. Prinnes most excellent History of all those three famous-sufferers.  by pious Mr Prinne himself, my ever much honoured and most precious friend. And did not the Lord, here most strongly and strangely show himself in the Mount for the redemption of all these his beloved Isaac's from their unparalleled thraldom, and threatened utter ruin, and cause his wrath to lay hold on those 
Gen. 22. 13.  Romish-Rams who were entangled in the bushes of their Bishoplyabuses to God's children, and so (by his admirable wise providence) to make them a prey to his just indignation instead of his innocent and tenderly affected Isaac's his beloved lambs? As hereafter in its proper place we shall have more full and fit occasion yet farther to make manifest to the eyes and understanding of all wise and impartial Judges. We may therefore sing and say with holy David: Be glad in the Lord, therefore, O ye righteous, who thus 
Psal. 32. 11. & 3. 1, 3▪ 4.  taste and try his great love and truth unto you, and shout for joy all ye ●hat are upright in heart. Rejoice, I say, in the Lord, O ye righteous, for, praises are comely, for the godly. Sing a new song to the Lord, yea sing cheerfully and skilfully with a loud noise; for the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are done in truth.  

Paarliamenta●●●rdiners▪  Then also did our wise parliamentary Gardiner's stub and grub up those noisome trees and shameful shrubs, whose spreading spite and unprofitable power did mightily overtop, and furiously infest the happy harvest and fair and full crop and increase of Gods blessedly fruitful Orchard-trees, fruitful I say, in holiness of life, and painful and profitable administration of the Word and Ordinances in their power and purity. For, about this time, also, 
State-Engineers.  our expert State-Engineers, our Worthies in Parliament did most prudently countermine, and by their parliamentary power blow-up 
The Prelates ill-legall Synod nullified.  the outworks and Babel-batteries and mischievous-mounts of our Prelatical Cannoneers, making their spureous Synod to be utterly illegal; turning the mouths of their accursed Canons, on themselves, making them (indeed) truly paper-Canons which could neither rend us, nor roar against us, but flash in their own 
Their accursed Canons damned.  faces, and spoil themselves; damning them up, or rather damning them, as most Antichristian and illegal, by an unanimous Vote in Parliament. And as for that monstrous Et-Caetera-Oath, that 
Their monstrous Et caetera-Oath also condemned.  hideous and prodigious Hydra, that bottomless abyss, I say, and deep-devouring whirl-pool of Romish craft and subtlety which should have supped and swallowed-up into its wide-yawning jaws both Church and Commonwealth, this they also happily stifled in the Embryo of it, ere it could come to its birth, much less any of its intended Romish destroying growth and maturity. Then those most prudent Senators for the better purifying of the Church's channels and Conduit-pipes of the Gospel of grace, and, (by God's blessing) to cause them to issue forth more wholesome and pure streams for God's people to drink of; discovered and discountenanced too, a stinking heap of atheistical and Romane-rubbish, 
Scandalous priests discovered and discountenanced.  a rotten-rabble of scandalous priests and spurious bastard-sons of belial, who by their affected ignorance and lazieness●, their false▪ doctrines and idolatrous and superstitious practices in God's worship, as also by their most abominable evil lives and conversation 
1 Sam▪ 2. 17.  had, like Hophni and Phincas made the Lords Ordinances to be even abborred by the people, who to their hearts unexpressible grief having continually complained of their gross misdemeanours to those who would be counted the grave pillars (forsooth) of the Church, but were, indeed, but Rom●s rotten-posts in thus fostering such fostering henbane of the Church, their functions infamy and the foulest stains of that holy calling; yet could find no redress of those evils; but chose, scoffs and jeers and more hard increased pressures heaped on them (just like the children of Israel in their slavish brick▪ kills) yea and sometimes punished for complaining; Till, now, those our most pious and prudent Reformers voted against them as most unfit to abide in the Ministry. Yea, than those our parliamentary Worthies, the better to help forward the most blessed work of Church-reformation, unanimously voted against and discountenanced 
non-resident and Pluralists voted against.  all our too-rich and lazy non-resident and soul-pining, if not soul-plaguing Pluralists, those spiritual Polygamists, who (were the law of man as firmly exact and strict for spiritual as it is for carnal Polygamy, or having two wives) we all know what their danger and just demerit should be. With these also have they most worthily voted down, a sweatlesse swarm of droanish 
Deans & prebend's voted down.  Deans and unprofitable prebend's, and such like Clergie-trash, who lay lurking in the Bec-hives of the Church, and lurching-away the sweet honey from the laborious Bees, painful Preachers, yea infesting and molesting them with their waspish-stings of Antichristian tyranny (just like the musty Munches and lazie-Abbeylubbers of Rome, in times past, and which base and blockish condition, they (certainly) longed and laboured (secretly) to set up again, but I trust their eyes and heart too, shall fail them ere they effect it) until they had quite driven them out of their honeycombs, and killed or starv'd-up them and theirs by prisons or exile; all these, I say, were by those our blessed Master-builders in Parliament by their unanimous suffrages not only voted against as a superfluous and unprofitable burden on God's Church, but 
Godly Pastort and Lecturers set up again with the people's consent.  thereby also a way was made plain, and wide-doores were set open for a blessed restauration and replantation of most faithful and painful Pastors, and laborious Lecturers, chosen and set up with the people's consent and good liking, and not to have dumb-dogs or soul-robbers and thiefs which came not in at the door, but through the windows of the Church, violently obtruded on them, whereby the Gospel begins to thrive and flourish again, 
Isa. 1. 27.  and Zions young-converts to be graciously growing up among us, in the true judgement and knowledge of Christ Jesus; whereas, formerly the Prelates and Pontificians durst scoff, fleer, and jeer familiarly at those faithful and painful Lecturers, and most atheistically ask in derision, What kind of creatures those Lecturers were, and most impiously and audaciously (even in the presence of the great God of heaven) vow to 
* Which very words the Arch-prelate of Ganterbury spoke most proudly to a godly Pastor my worthy friend.  worm them out ●re they had done with them. But our good God gave these cursed cows (or rather wild bulls of Bashan) short horns, and though they had gone-on in a great measure, and done much mischief therein, yet they could not do the hurt which their hearts aimed at, ever blessed and praised be our good God for it. And now good Reader reflect thine eyes and review these rare mercies, and tell me then, was not England's God, herein, also seen in the Mount of Mercies, by this so strange an overture and alteration of 
Our Candlesticks almost lost, and stinking-snuffs setting-up.  things interposed between such eminent and imminent danger of utter loss of our bright and burning Candlesticks of the Gospel, and fear of stinking snuffs of ignorance, error and atheistical profaneness to be set up in their places, and little or no hope (at least it● humane apprehension) of help by less than such miracles of mercies as God himself hath in these our happy days wrought and poured-down upon us, and such indeed as none but a God could procure for us. O how sweetly and suddenly hath God 
Psal. 126. 1.  turned our Captivity into admirable freedom and liberty. And who can consider these things without serious and deep admiration? and who can call them to remembrance without heart-ravishing joy and delight? yea who can choose but acknowledge in his most grateful heart the great praises of the Lord? and with holy David, that harmonious chanter and musical enchanter of Israel, confess Gods infinite free favour and love to England in 
Psal. 32. 7.  thus encompassing and begirting us about with sweet songs of such deliverances.  
But yet here's not all, for our blessed parliamentary Worthies have also given us great hope (by God's goodness) of timely 
Oxford and Cambridge hopeful to be purged.  purging also the two famous Fountains of our Kingdom, Oxford and Cambridge from the much mire and mud of Romish innovations, which, settling there also hath made their streams stink of Popery; yea, I say, great hopes of happily healing the (once most clearsighted, but now and of long time) blear-eyes of our Nation, grown mighty sore with Romish-rednesse, by drinking in too much of the wine-lees of poisoning Popish fopperies; in so much that Truths clear sighted Servants eyes began to be mightily offended by but looking on them; and not without cause, for, 
Matth. 6. 23.  as our Saviour himself says; If the eyes be evil, the whole body will be full of darkness; and, if the light that is in a kingdom (and especially which is to give light to a whole kingdom) be darkness, O how great is that darkness! and such truly began to be our Kingdom's condition; but now we have, I say, great hopes, by God's gracious assistance, that our Parliament will seasonably provide a sovereign Collyrium or eyesalve, some well-distilled eye-bright of Reformation to purify the sight of these two, once most glorious lights in the whole Christian world.  
Yea, these our noble Nehemiahs, and grave and gracious Ezras have taken most pious pains to see God's Sabbaths more sincerely sanctified than of late they have been, and the profane soil 
sabbath-days better sanctified.  of travelling Carriers, Taverns, Alehouses, and Tobacco-shops, and other loose and irreligious Shopkeepers (who heretofore mightily polluted that day) most sweetly swept away any cleansed. A work of great concernment and high esteem for the glory 
The due praise of the true sanctification of the Sabbath.  of the Lord, than which, I am certain, a greater, a better cannot be undertaken, as being the very prop and promoter of all true Religion, and without the entire and sincere sanctification whereof all true religion would quickly decay, and be utterly lost; yea, I say, a Nation-upholding Christian duty of richest valuation, as having more precious promises annexed to it than any other I know of in the whole book of God, and which hath more ennobled our Realm and made our Kingdom more illustrious (God alone who hath so graciously upheld it among us, have all the praise and glory of it, and we only the comfort) than all our reformed Neighbours about us; yea such a blessed and holy duty as hath caused more mercies to fall, yea flow, upon our English-Nation than ever did on any people of the Christian world. Yet our most injurious Prelates, together with their profane Pontificks have most shamelessly striven to vitiate and defile this our Sabbaths precious honour (the main ready and roadway to have brought the curse of God upon us▪ and utterly to have ruinated our whole Kingdom) by whose means it began in King James his days to 
A profane book for sports on the Lord's day.  receive a deep died stain by that most wicked and accursed book of tolerating vain sports and profane recreations, forsooth, on the Lord's day, which, since hath been avowed and advanced more highly by them, than, at the first; but now, since, in our present Sovereign's time more pertinaciously pressed and perniciously enforced on God's dear Saints and servants in the ministry than formerly it had been, whose tender-consciences could not 
Most violently pressed by the Prelates on God's people.  endure it, and who (being in their most just zeal for the Lords high honour therein, and sincere love to true Religion transported above all fears and frowns) were most egregiously abused, vexed and punished for refusing to admit and read the said wicked-book in their Churches: until it most graciously pleased our good God by the blessed Parliament to prevent the most mischievous growth of this unexpressible abomination of our so holy Fathers of the Church together with the rotten rabble of Pontifick-Arminians, Rome's Minions indeed, by a particular Order from the House of Commons in Parliament for the more strict sanctification of that day, which I have hereunto annexed.  

The Order of the House of Commons for the due sanctication of the Sabbath or Lords day, April, 10th. 1641.  
IT is this day ordered by the House of Commons that the Aldermen and Citizens that serve for the City of London, shall intimate to the Lord Maior, from this How e that the Statutes for the due observing of the Sabbath be put in execution. And it is further ordered, that the like intimation from this House be made to the Justices of Peace in all the Counties of England and Wales. And the Knights of the Shire of the several Counties are to take care that copies of this order be accordingly sent to the Justices of Peace in the several Counties.   


Printing-Presses set open again.  
The Sabbaths honour thereby vindicated▪ God in the Mount.   And also by setting our Printing-Presses open whereby a happy way was laid open again for God's learned and loyal Servants by their pious pens and elaborate labours to vindicate the Sabbaths most glorious lustre to the honour of godliness and purity of Religi n. And was not the Lord, herein, also, seen in the Mount of Mercies for England's preservation from the guilt of such a wrath provoking sin, of such a Land-scourging r●● as this might have proved to out Kingdom▪ had it so continued, as by the 
Psal. 47, 6, 7, 8.  hellish zeal of out Prelates it was intended▪ Sing praises, therefore, O England, sing praises unto God, O sing praises, sing praises to our glorious King. For, God is the King of all the earth, sing praises, therefore, O England, to thy God with understanding. Thy God, O England, reigns over the whole world, and sits gloriously triumphing on the throne of his holiness.  

God's worship in the Church, better ordered.  Yet, here's not all, for, our ever to be honoured heroic Parliamentary▪ Worthies have added to that former pious pains o● theirs, this their godly care also, namely, to 〈◊〉 and purify the holy worship of our God from the filthy l●●s and dregs of Popish 
From Romish Ceremonies.  Ceremonies, whereby the tender consciences or godly Ministers are not so tied to Romish trumpery of vestures▪ and gestures, crouchings and cringings, and Jesu-worshippings, and a multitude of such like mimical actions in God's worship and service, as formerly they had been most tyrannically pressed and enforced to. 
Crucifixes and Popish▪ pictures in Churches dimolished.  Yea, all Images, Crucifixes, and any pictures or representations of any of the persons of the Trinity, or of the Virgin Mary, quite dimolished and extirpated out of God's house; All corporal Jesu-worship, I say, and altar-adoration (sure and infallible signs of Popish ignorance, and of the Romish-Strumpets outward-paintings, but inward rottenness, what ever fair (yet false) pretences foolish men and women would, like Jeroboam for his golden calvesworship, 
All Jesu-worship prohibited, and all altar-rails dimolished.  impiously put upon them) most piously prohibited, and Altar-rails pull'd-down, and Communion-Tables set in their proper postures; yea all high-steps and ascents to their Altars (clean 
* Exod. 20▪ 26.  contrary to God's prescript word) by degrees commanded to be leveled; burdens and conscience-grievances, which neither we nor our forefathers that truly loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and were tenderly-affected to his pure worship, could possibly bear: But now they are most happily taken from our tired necks, and almost broken-backs, as by an Order of Parliament may and doth most comfortably appear, which for the precious excellency and rare memory thereof, I have thought good here to insert, exactly and verbatim as it came from the Parliament, to the everlasting glory of our great and good God, the honour of our Worthies in Parliament, and the unexpressibly joy and consolation of all God's people that peruse it.  

An Order from the Parliament against divers Popish Innovations. Dated, Sept. 8. 1641. being Wednesday.  
Whereas divers Innovations in or about the worship of God have been lately practised in this Kingdom, by enjoining some things and prohibiting others without warrant of Law, to the great grievance and discontent of his Majesty's Subjects; for the suppressing of such Innovations, and for preservation of the public peace, it is this day ordered by the Commons in Parliament assembled, that the Churchwardens of every Parish and Chapel respectively, do forthwith remove the Communion-Table from the East end of the Church, chapel, or Chancel, into some other convenient place; and that they take away the Rails, and level the Chancels, as heretofore they were, before the late innovations. That all crucifixes, scandalous pictures of any one or more persons of the Trinity, and all Images of the Virgin Mary shall be taken away and abolished, and that all tapers, candlesticks and basons be removed from the Communion-Table. That all corporal bowing at the Name (Jesus) or toward the East end of the Church, chapel, or Chancel, or toward the Communion-Table be henceforth forborn: That the Orders aforesaid be observed in all the several Cathedral Churches of this Kingdom, and all the Collegiate Churches or Chapels in the two Universities, or any other part of the Kingdom, and in the Temple-Church, and the Chapels of the other Inns of Court by the Deans of the said Cathedrals, by the Vice-chancellours of the said Universities, and by the Heads and Governors of the several Colleges and Halls aforesaid, and by the Benchers and Readers in the said Inns of Court respectively. That the Lords day be duly observed and sanctified all dancing and other sports, either before or after Divine Service be forborn and restrained, and that the preaching of God's Word be permitted in the afternoon in the several Churches and Chapels of this Kingdom, and that Preachers and Ministers be encouraged thereunto. That the Vicechancellors of the Universities, Heads and Governors of Colleges, all Parsons, Vicars, and Churchwarden▪ do make certificates of the performance of these Orders: and if the same shall not be observed in any the places aforementioned, upon complaint thereof made to the two next Justices of Peace, Major, or Head-officers of Cities or Towns Corporate. It is ordered that the said Justices, Major, or other Head-officers respectively, shall examine the truth of all such complaints, and certify by whose default the same are committed. All which Certificates are to be delivered in Parliament before the thirtieth of Octob. next. Resolved upon the Question▪ That this Order now read shall be an Order of itself, without any addition for the present and that it shall be printed and published.   
Nay, here's not all yet, for, our God whose hands are still open to replenish and satisfy our souls with joy and gladness▪ yea 
Liberty to hear the Word without controlment.  (now) to nourish and cherish our formerly sad hearts with the failings of his overflowing favours, hath taken from us our accustomed terrors and restraints of free liberty to hear the sweet sound of Aaron's bulls especially on the Lords▪ days. As is more fully seen and assisted by a blessed Order from the Parliament to our unexpressible comfort, which Order I have thought fit to be here inserted.  
Die Mercurii, Sept. 8. 1641.  
IT is this day ordered by the House of Commons, now assembled in Parliament; That it shall be lawful for the Parishioners of any Parish within the Kingdom of England and Wales, to set up a Lecture, and to maintain an orthodox Minister, at their own charge, to preach every Lordsday, where there is no preaching, and to preach one day in the week, where there is no weekly Lecture.  
Herald Elsyn. Cler. Dom. Com.  
Whereby no man (now) is enforced to stay at his own Church where there is no preaching to promote the honour of the day, and to feed hungry souls with that heavenly manna, whereof (the Lord knows) many thousand souls in city and country stood in 
The misery of men's souls by Prelate's soulcrueltie.  need, and (had our Prelates stood in the height of their quondam pride and cruelty) they must not have stirred out of their own Parishes to seek it elsewhere, but their souls must have starved and died for lack of it, or else have been poisoned▪ with base Arminian stuff and dregs of Popery, thereby to suffocate and choke 
A notable piece of Prelatical tyrannies now, blessedly abolished.  their poor souls and spiritual understanding, and to make them (like themselves) fit fuel for the increase of the flames of hell; Such▪ I say, was their soulkilling cruelty and tyranny. For why, in those days of the ruff of their pride, they had familiarly and most easily (yet with Romish craft and subtlety) under a pretence (forsooth) of too-abstruse and profound and dangerous points not 
The King's Declaration before the book of Articles.  fit to be handled in pulpits by ordinary Preachers, but by their grave Bishops, Doctors▪ Deans▪ and suchlike rare seraphical rhetoritians, Schoolmen, and masters of (high-Commission) Sentences, nor in all Churches, but in Cathedrals (forsooth) and that not at all times, but at Easter, and Whitsuntide; and such like solemn Festivals, under these pretences. I say, they had by their exorbitant Ecclesiastical power and jurisdiction, easily, but impiously prohibited 
The High-Commission Court most blessedly put down.  all pure and powerful preaching on deep points of o●l-saving-grace, as free justification by faith▪ predestination, certainty of salvation, final perseverance▪ and such like; discountenancing▪ yea punishing all those that thus preached or opposed their Popish-Arminian Doctrines, and advancing and preferring none but their own Arminian faction, rotten-hearted Pretences▪ apt to be 
A fit description of the Arminian rabble.  turned with every wind of false-doctrine, mere temporizers, altar ●ringers▪ fellows only fit to make Romish-jades to carry Popish-packs to Lambeth Fair, and soul-crushing burdens on their basebacks, and mercenary shoulders. But, now, see (I say) (O, to heavens eternal praise and glory be it spoken, and to our unspeakable 
Rome's caterpillars blown away.  comfort) how our good God, by his blessed Parliament hath freed our Pulpits, Churches, and our consciences too from the soul-devouring corruptions of these Clergie-caterpillars, no better than Romish-locusts who are most blessedly blown away with the Eastern-wind of God's vindicative indignation against them. And instead of these that did so besmear, deface and defile Truths most amiable countenance and sacred beauty, the Lords 
Persecuted Pastors return home.  gracious outcasts (who had formerly been checked and chid, and churlishly forced out of the Kingdom (by our Prelate's pride and insolency (more worth than thousands of their Pontifick train) and constrained to expose their lives, their wives, children, and estates, to all the miseries which Sea and Land could threaten or bring upon them, are now most happily called home again. O injurious holy Fathers, thus unworthily to use, thus irreligiously to abuse Gods so precious jewels, and to prise their beggarly Popish ceremonies before such holy Saints of God, who shined so illustriously both in their lives and learning. By which so blessed change and overture for the best, Truth durst now show her fair face in every pulpit, and speak plainly and home, and needed not (as formerly) to be shrouded under secret shelters, or creep into corners for fear of pernicious persecutors: yet thus it was, ●ea thus it familiarly was practised by our Prelates (to their indelible shame and infamy be it spoken) witness their hideous High-Commission-Court, a Court of everlasting ill-savour, which, indeed I may fitlier call a Spightfull rather than a Spiritual Court: which at the first (as a reverend and eminent divine well notes) was ordained▪ like the dogs in Rome's capitol, 
The High-Commission-Court most blessedly put down.  to fright and scare away Romish Jesuitical thiefs and enemies of the Church; but hath all along, for the most pa●t sorely bitten and barked against honest men only (especially in these our later days) and driven them from the Church. A Court, I say, which made no scruple familiarly to slay both the souls and bodies of Gods most dear and precious servants, not only in those hot Marian-flam●ng days, but even in these our more modern times, wherein our Prelates and their pragmatical Pontifician Sycophants did so crack & brag of their soft & smooth fatherly- government of the Church, O how many souls and bodies hath that accursed Court shut up in dark dungeons▪ or else made poor waveringmindes 
A brief description of the High-Commission-Court  turn Apostates for fear of their Harpeian-pawes to crush and squeeze them out of their means and livelyhoods, to the utter undoing of them and theirs. The wickedness of which Court may more fully, yea more foully appear by our taking notice of the limbs and members of it, who from the very head to the foot of them, are a pack of irreligious, profane, and most loose-lived 
The members of the High-Commission-Court duly delineated.  nominal Protestants at large, yea, generally, atheistical scoffers at sincerity in Religion and the power of godliness, which indeed was a paradox & mere mystery to them, & which they never were nor would be acquainted with. Certainly, all that rightly know them & know, how, piously to discern and to judge between light and darkness, can truly testify with me this truth, that it is exceeding difficult (if not impossible) to find one among them all that is truly and cordially pious, even the best of them ascending only to the happiness of a mere civill-honest man, (in my best observation of them for these forty or fifty years) and what their happiness therein is, (if it ascend no higher) our blessed Saviour Christ himself will to their little comfort tell them namely, that 
Mat. 5. 20.  if their righteousness exceed not the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, they shall never enter into the Kingdom of heaven. But, now, blessed, for ever blessed and praised be our just and glorious God, this wicked Court, together with that other illegitimate 
The Ex Officio Oath damned.  and spurious offspring of our Lordly Prelates, I mean, their Oath Ex Officio▪ an elder brat of the other Babylonish-brood, and no less replete with accursed Conscience-torturing Snares than the other, to break the backs of men's and women's estates, consciences, and earthly comforts, by racking the very Souls and wracking the bodies, by imprisonments, of both Sexes that were conscientious, and would not obey their wicked injunctions. And in no small measure also was this Court and Oath, together with their perjurious and vile Visitation-Articles, a most miserable vexation to poor Churchwardens all over the Kingdom, who 
Churchwardens freed from their visitation vexations.  by these nets were entangled, and by their most unjust 〈◊〉 and unlawful injunctions were made a prey to their p rnicious practices, and thereby also made forges and a●vills for the Prelates to hammer all their torturing taxations on Gods people's Consciences. But, now, I say, both this wicked Court and those their bastard-bratts are (by God's good providence and great mercy) condemned to return to their Stygian-Patrons, from whom they had their first rice and Original. And, O, I could wish, with all my heart, that (in ●ternam rei infamiam) That-Sentence were set on this Court, or that room of Lambeth-House where it was constantly kept, which is mentioned in the prophecy of 
Dan. 2. 5. & 3 2●.  Daniel, namely, that it might be made a jakes or dunghill, with this inscription engraven in Marble with fair capital letters. 
* 
The High-Commission-Courts deserved destinee, being the vote of a reverend holy Minister of this Kingdom.  
See beer the extreme malice and rage of the Prelates.  
The Starr-Chamber Court voted down▪ and the Councill-Table limited & restrained.   This jakes was, once, the High-Commission-Court. So hateful and hurtful, I say, was that Court and its accursed effects to God's people in this Kingdom, especially being back● and ●oulsterd-up with the irresistible wrongs and unavoidable oppressive censures of the Star-Chamber, whether godly men and women of all ranks and conditions that disobeyed the High-Commissions unlawful Commands, were turned over when their own Ecclesiastical Power was not prevalent enough to punish and plague them so deeply as their malice and mischief aimed at: Yea and the all-overtopping power of the Councill-Table was no small assailant of the subjects and assistant to the Prelates wicked Designs; but, that tyrannising Starr-Chamber Court is by our prudent Parliamentary Worthies voted down (as hath been formerly touched) to the unspeakable comfort and freedom of the King's best and most loyal Subjects; and the immoderate and excessive power of the Council-table is by the wisdom of our most Worthy Senators so ordered and restrained, that we may well hope (by God's mercy) such things as were heretofore frequently done to the intolerable prejudice of the Subjects liberty, will appear amongst us in future times but only in Stories, to give us and our posterity more just occasion to bless our God for his Majesty's goodn ss, and for the faithful and indefatigable endeavours of this present Parliament.  
Now, then, put all these last forementioned Parliamentary-Mercies together into one account, and then tell me whether 
Those last great mercies summed up together.  they do not arise to a mighty 〈◊〉 and deep debt of ●●erlastingly obliging gratitude to our so bountiful and ●p●n-handed & enlargedhearted a God to us so und serving, and rather wrath-provoking a people, in thus conferring such 〈…〉 such incomparable free kindnesses on England such a sinful naughty Nation? Yea, tell me (good Reader) on serious reco●●ction and recogitation of these most bounteous blessings, whether the Lord Jehovah hath not been seen most conspicuously to England above all Nations round about it, On the Mount of matchless Mercies (to the ineffable 
God in the Mount.  joy and rejoicing of our Souls) in the deepest gulfs of our stinging-Staites. Whether our God hath not with admirable patience, 
Isa. 30. 18, 19, 20.  goodness, and favour, waited on us that he might be gracious unto us, and exalted himself that he might have mercy upon us: for the Lord is a God of judgement, O blessed are all they that wisely wait for him. For, his people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem and shall weep no more. For, he will be very gracious unto them at the voice of their cry, and when he shall hear it, he will answer them. And though the Lord give them the bread of adversary (for a season) and the water of affliction, yet shall not their Teachers be removed into a corner any more, but their eyes shall see their Teachers again. Thus, O even thus hath our gracious God directly dealt with us, thus hath our English-israels' Sh●aph●rd of his late poor despised stock kept a careful watch over us, who had been else made the Prelate's perpetuall-Asses 
England like to have been Rome's perpetual Ass. Psal 7●. 19, 20 23, 24.  to bear all their Romish and slavish burdens. Wherefore with holy David, we may justly and ingenuously acknowledge; Thy righteousness, O God, is very high, who hast done great things for us, O God who is like unto thee? Thou who hast shown us great and sore troubles, yet hast quickened us again and brought us up from the depth of the grave. Our lips shall greatly rejoice when we sing unto thee, and our hearts and souls which ●hou hast redeemed. Our tongues shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long; for they are confounded and brought unto shame which most seditiously and scelerously ought our destruction. And thus have we all most perspicuously ●een and observed how gracious and propitious the Lord hath been to his late most tottering Church▪ crossing her 〈…〉 ●n all their deepest designs & most sublime imaginations, leaving them still in the lurch and loss when they seemed to swell with highest conceits of cruel and accursed conquests over their harmless brethren, letting them see (if they wilfully blind not their eyes) their big-swollen tympany of unsufferable pride and arrogancy to be turned 
A tympany of pride An 〈…〉 fatuus o● self-deceit.  into a flashie ignis fatuus of self-deceiving subtlety; and changing all their vaporous▪ puffs of gross impiety into folly and madness  
But, now let us proceed to enlarge our most serious observations on what remains still in a most admirable measure heerin, and let us yet farther see and consider, how the Lord who is neverweary of well-doing▪ nay who takes delight and great pleasure to pleasure his freely beloved Ones with his plenteous benefits; Of 
Gen. 27▪ 38.  whom we cannot say as Esau to his Father Isaac; Hast thou but 
God is an unexhausted Spring of mercies  one blessing, my Father? but a God who the more he gives the more he hath to give, being indeed, an unexhaustible spring and never to be dried but ever-overflowing fountain of all goodness whatsoever. But, withal, take this note by the way with thee, good Reader, that as before, so now especially in these ensuing remarkable mercies thou shalt see the rage and malice of the malignant party, marveilously interposing their wicked plots to cross and utterly to frustrate, as much as in them lay, all the ways and means of Gods intended, yea and miraculously performed mercies to us, but yet all their plots and desperate designs by Gods good providence, were still strangely thwarted and timely discovered and disappointed, to our comfort and their shame and helpless vexation. Let us now then, I say, goeon to see how our glorious Lord and King persists to make us (of ourselves, I confess, and in respect of our Capernaum-like means of grace so unimproved, the most▪ infull and undeserving Nation under heaven) the most beloved and 

Compelling of the Subject to take the Order of Knighthood, abolished.  
Stannary-Courts and Clerks of Markets rectified.  
Parks and Forests also rightly ordered.  
Priests and Jesuits banished.  
Sommersett-House, that cage of unclean birds cleansed.   happiest Nation in the world. See therefore how our renowned Parliamentary-Worthies freed the Kingdom from that former illegal compelling of the Subject to receive the order of Knighthood against their will; from the encroachments and oppression of the Stannary-Courts and Extortions by Clerks of Markets, from vile vexations also by Parks and Forests, which were now by a Law reduced into their right bounds and limits. Yea how they moved and prevailed with the King to set forth his Proclamation for banishing all the Romish Priests and Jesuits out of the Kingdom on pain of death upon their after-apprehension in the Land: Together with an Act of Parliament for disarming of all Popish-Recusants over the whole Kingdom, to the great comfort and security of God's people, who before were in continual fear of their mischievous insurrections, as being well acquainted with their rebellious Spirits on all advantages▪ it also being a Principle of their Religion, for the advancement of the Catholick-Cause, not to keep any plighted faith with Heretics; for such they account all that are not of their Romish (not faith, but) faction. Yea that cage of most unclean birds, Sommerset-House, I mean, in the Strand, cleansed in good measure of those Egyptian croaking Frogs, the Filthy Capuchin-Fryers and Priests, who lay lurking there too long, like so many muzzled Wolves and Tigers: all these or the most of them banished and transported over-Sea from us: And the Queen-Mother of France, (the more to free our hearts 
The Queen-Mother of France also sent away.  from fears and discontents) happily also transported beyond Sea from us. About which time also to settle our hearts with yet more solid comfort, and the more firmly to consolidate our future hoped happiness, it pleased the Lord to put into the hearts of our most noble Parliamentary Patriots, to unite and knit all the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, in-a most firm 

A most happy union between all the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.  
An act also of oblivion thereunto annexed. Both Armies in the North disbanded.   League and Conjunction of perpetual love and amity, and of mutual defence against all malignant Adversaries either domestic or foreign: and to confirm all this by a particular act of Parliament, ratified by a full consent of the King and both Houses, together with an act of absolute oblivion of all exceptions and differences whatsoever formerly intervening 'twixt Prince and people. Upon which both Armies of English and Scottish Soldiers were shortly after most happily & peaceably dismissed and disbanded, to the high hononr of our wonderworking God, and the unexpressible joy and comfort of both Nations, thus most lovingly and sweetly shaking hands of true friendship at their peaceable departure.  
And for the farther confirmation of this our happiness and due retribution of praise and glory to the Lord our God the author of it, there was an Ordinance of Parliament for a day of public and solemn thanksgiving for this peace so happily concluded between England and Scotland, which for the glory of God and honour of our King and Worthies in Parliament, I have thought fit here to insert verbatîm as it was published.  

An Ordinance of Parliament for a day of public thanksgiving for the peace concluded between England and Scotland.  

August the 27. 1641.  Whereas it hath pleased almighty God to give a happy close to the treaty of peace, between the two Nations of England and Scotland, by his wise providence defeating the evil hopes of the subtle adversaries of both Kingdoms; for which great mercy, it was by the Kings most excellent Majesty, the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament enacted, that there should be a public thanksgiving in all the Parish-Churches of his Majesty's Dominions: It is now ordered and declared by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, that the time for the celebration of that public thanks to almighty God for so great and public a blessing, shall be on tuesday the 7th of Sept. by prayers, reading and preaching of the Word in all Churches and Chapels of this Kingdom, whereof we require a careful and due observance; that we may join in giving thanks, as we partake of the blessing with our brethren of Scotland, who have designed the same day for that duty.   
According to the act of this present Parliament, for confirmation of the Treaty of Pacification between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland, whereas it was desired by the Commissioners of Scotland, 
Our brethren of Scotland attested to be loyal & faithful Subjects.  that the loyalty and faithfulness of his Majesty's Subjects might be made known at the time of the public thanksgiving in all places, and particularly in all Parish-Churches of his Majesty's Dominions: Which request was graciously condescended unto by his Majesty, and confirmed by the said Act. It is now ordered and commanded by both Houses of Parliament, that the same be effectually done in all Parish-Churches throughout this Kingdom upon tuesday the 7th day of Sept. 
What said our Arminian foul-mouthed Priests to this.  next coming, at the time of the public thanksgiving by the several and respective Ministers of each Parish-Church, or by their Curates, who are hereby required to read this present Order in the Church.  

God in the Mount.  And was not the Lord most gloriously here seen in the Mount of admirable mercy and deliverance to England and Scotland after such a marvellous manner as never any Nation could produce the like parallel of gracious providence? And may we not therefore with holy David▪ Israel's sweet singer confess we have found the 
Psal. 9 9, 10.  Lord (according to his word) a sure defence for the oppressed, even a refuge in time of trouble. And therefore they that know thy name will put their trust in thee, for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that 
Psal. 68 20.  have seriously sought thee. Yea, he that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto this God and mighty Lord belong the issues from death▪ Heer also ere I have done with this mercy, let me desire the Reader to take notice of the admirable wisdom and justice of God in thus clearing the innocence and integrity of his children▪ O, what bitter aspersions did the Prelates, Arminians, and malignant party cast on our brethren of Scotland at the first, nothing but traitors and rebels could be heard out of their slanderous mouths: But, now see, I say, how God's wisdom and justice ordered 

Those slanderous tongues of wicked Priests forced to give themselves the lie in their Pulpits.  
I●●. 5. 16. Psal. 63. 11.   it, that even those tongues that had so taunted them▪ yea and in their pulpits too, should now be forced even in the face of their Congregations to give themselves the lie. That of Job being heerin most clearly ratified▪ that The poor hath hope and iniquity stoppeth her mouth: and that also of the holy Prophet David, which is full to our purpose, That the King and all good men shall exceedingly rejoice and glory in God; but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. And now also, let me tell thee, courteous Reader, (to make these mercies yet more glorious to the praise of our God) that in the interim that those two Armies lay so together in the North, the pestilent Spirits of the Malignant party lay not still, but were most maliciously working by their agents and instruments (the Popish Lords and pernicious Prelates being also main sticklers in all these mischievous designs) to disaffect 
A notable design of the Popish Lords and Prelates with the English Army in the North.  and discontent his Majesty's Army by scandalous and most false accusations and imputations on the Parliament, thus to engage it for the maintenance of their most wicked designs of keeping-up the Bishops in their votes & Lordly honours and functions, and by force to compel the Parliament to order limit and dispose their parliamentary proceedings in such a manner as might best concur with the intentions of their dangerous and potent faction. Now this plot of bringing the English- Army from the North Southward to London against the Parliament for the causes aforesaid, having been particularly enquired into and examined both by that noble and virtuous Gentleman Mr Fynes and Sir Philip Stapleton, with others, they made report thereof to the House of Commons about June 17. 1641. That they found, that for the advancing of the said plot, the Earl of Strafford had attempted 
The Earl of Straford attempted his escape out of the Tower.  his escape out of the Tower, and to effect it the better, had promised that worthy Gentleman Sir William Belfore, than Lieutenant of the Tower 20000 li. and to marry his Son to his Daughter, and to make it one of the greatest Matches in the Kingdom; but Sir William's loyalty was such as not to be corrupted by such base bribes. That Captain Billingsl●y was invited by Sir John Suckling, (a suckling, indeed, in honesty, but not 
Sir john Suckling a party in this plot.  in treachery,) to have employment in this pernicious project; and that one Captain Chidley brought down many instructions to the Army. That Colonel Goring should have been Leivetenant-generall 

The Prince also and the Earl of Newcastle were to advance the work.  
The French also were to assist in it.  
The hot zeal of our holy Bishops to work our destruction   of the said Army, and that the Prince and the Lord of Newcastle were to meet them in Nottinghamshire with a thousand Horse; all which Propositions came from Mr Jermine and were dispersed and made known by Sergeant Major Wallis and Captain Chidley. The said Wallis having confessed also that the French would assist them in this their Design; and that our holy (or rather hollow-hearted) Clergy of England, whereof the reverend (forsooth) Bishops were the ringleaders, would at their own charge set forth and maintain a thousand horse; far more than ever they yet proffered (by a thousand) to assist against the barbarous and bloody Popish Rebels of Ireland: To the addition of their everlasting shame and ignominy be it spoken. 
Master jermines Letter intercepted.  Finally, that an intercepted Letter of Mr Jermines to Mr Montague imported, that they expected the Earl of Straford with them in the North (but blessed be the Lord, their wicked hope was frustrated as aforesaid) and that for the better completing 
Portsmouth also attempted to be got into their hands.  of these their most accursed designs, Jermine much endeavoured to get Portsmouth into their hands (as one Mr Bland confessed) but could not compass it. These and such like plotted designs, for the ends aforementioned, being farther discovered and witnessed by several depositions of divers examinates, as the Reader may more fully see in the late Remonstrance of Ireland, published by authority of the Parliament. But when this mischievous assign and attempt of theirs, thus to bring on that Army against the Parliament and City of London (which they well knew was all along a main and strong fast friend to the Parliament) had been by God's great mercy timely discovered, and thereby utterly frustrated and prevented, they presently undertook and attempted 
Another design with the Scottish Army also against the Parliament & City of London.  another design of the same damnable nature, with this addition to it, namely, to make the Scottish Army neutral, and so to sit still and let them alone whilst the English Army (which they had laboured to corrupt and invenome against the Parliament and City of London by false and slanderous suggestions) should execute their malice to the subversion of our Religion, and the dissolution of our long happy government. Thus, I say, did they plot and continually practise to disturb our peace and to destroy all the King's Dominions: And for that cause had employed most industriously their Emissares and agents in them all for the promoting of these their devilish designs. But by God's infinite mercy, and the vigilancy of such as were honest and well-affected to religion, 
Both designs timely discovered and disappointed.  to peace, and the prosperity of the Parliament, they were all, I say, still (timely) discovered and defeated, before they could be ripe enough for execution among us in England and Scotland. Only in Ireland which was farther-off, and full of Papists, Jesuits and Priests, they had time to mould and prepare their wicked work, and had brought it to much pernicious perfection. For, not long after, the most bold and bloody rebellion in Ireland 

The most bloody and barbarous rebellion in Ireland discovered.  
The great danger of the utter loss of Ireland.   brake-out there, which had it not been timely revealed and prevented by God's great mercy and good providence in the preservation of the Castle of Dublin, but the very Eve before it should have been taken by the rebels; the whole Kingdom had been fully possessed by them, the government of it totally subverted, the true Religion had been quite extirpated and rooted out, and all the Protestants whom the conscience of their duty to God, their King and country would not have permitted to join with them, had been utterly destroyed, as in a most lamentable manner very many thousands of them (poor souls) have already been, as is most fully and fearfully to be seen (to the terror and amazement of all Christian hearts that read the same) both in 
The Irish-Remonstrance & Ireland's Tears.  that Treatise, entitled, Irelands-Tears, and the Irish-Remonstrance. And, indeed, they have, thereby, kindled such a fire, there, and blown it into such an overspreading flame, as nothing but Gods extraordinary blessing upon the wisdom and endeavours of this State will be able to quench it. And certainly had not God in his great mercy to our Land and Nation discovered and confounded their first design, for the grand-plot of all on England and Scotland, we all in England had certainly been the 
England mainly intended to have been the prologue of Ireland's miseries.  prologue to this woeful tragedy in Ireland, and had by this time (and before them) been the most deplorable spectacle of lamentation and woe, ruin and confusion to all Europe that ever the Sun beheld. And therefore here, me thinks, we may most fitly take up that of holy David, with a little inversion of the words to ourselves. If the Lord had not been on our side, now may England 
Psal. 124. 1, 2, 3, 4. etc.  say (and that most justly) if the Lord had not been on our side, when men rose up against us; Then had they swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us. Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the proud waves and raging billows had gone over our souls. But blessed, O, for ever blessed be God, that hath not given us over as a prey to their devouring teeth.  
Now about this time, it pleased the Lord to permit the malignant 
Sir Wil Belfore put out of his Lieutenantship of the Tower.  party so far to prevail with the King, (and among them the Lord Cottington, a Popish Lord, and strongly suspected to be one of the prime projecting heads of that faction) that Sir William Belfore, a worthy and noble gentleman than Lieutenant of the Tower of London was displaced from that office of so great trust, 
The Lord Cottington made Constable of the Tower.  and the said Lord Cottington made Constable of the Tower, who presently kept a great pother in the Tower, placing and displacing things therein, planting Ordinance on the walls thereof, with their mouths toward the City, entertaining Soldiers to guard and keep it of very ill-condition, and suspected for Popery; all these to the great terror and amazement of the vigilant Citizens of London, who had still extraordinary jealous eyes on him and all his actions and carriages, and thereupon complained and petitioned the Parliament against him, and his demeanour in the Tower, and the Parliament moved the King most instantly about it; who on their long and urgent importunity at last so far prevailed with 
Cottington displaced.  his Majesty, that he put the Lord Cottington from being Constable of the Tower, and chose-in one Colonel Lunsford to be 
Col. Lunsford made Lieutenant of the Tower.  Lieutenant thereof; a man of an ill name and condition of life, and whom I myself knew a prisoner in Newgate, not very long before, for a great abuse offered by him to Sir Thomas Pelham, now a worthy Knight of Sussex, and at which time of his imprisonment, there, it was generally and credibly reported, that upon an abuse done by him also to one of the Officers of Newgate (who had been his very good friend in the time of his imprisonment) he broke prison, or stole away, and left the poor Clerk of Newgate in great distress and danger thereby; and a man, indeed, most justly excepted against by our grave parliamentary Senators, as most unfit to have such a trust and power entrusted to him, especially in times of such great and constant fears and distractions of the State and City of London. Whereupon, this man also was much and long petitioned against, both by the Citizens of London, to the Parliament, and by the Parliament to the King, to have him removed, and a man of known 
Lunsford also displaced.  and approved integrity, on whom they might safely confide, to be chosen into the place, and to have the safe custody thereof committed to him. Whose removeall was also, at length with much ado condescended unto, by his Maisstio, and the said Colonel Lunsford put out, the King putting in one Sir John Byron, 
Sir john Byron made Lieutenant of the Tower.  a gentleman though of no such ill-savour of life as the former, yet not answerable to the desires of our prudent Worthies in Parliament, whose wisdom and circumspection foresaw that to be amiss in the choice, likewise, which much discontented them; and 
Petitioned against.  enforced them to petition his Majesty for his removeall also, as it was the joint desire likewise of City and Country. Here therefore we may now see the great goodness of our God, in thus wisely disposing and ordering things; that though the malignant party seemed so far to prevail, and get advantages against God's people, yet even in these also the Lord still crossed them and their devilish▪ designs, and regarded the desires, and cleared the fears of his servants for his own Names sake. Much about which time, a most impious and malicious-hearted fellow audaciously sent a letter to the Parliament, directed and endorsed to that ever most 
A Plaguesore plasture sent in a letter unto Mr. Pim.  highly honoured Member of the House of Commons, Mr. Pim, a most pious patriot of his country, and in it a filthy fresh plaster taken from a plague-sore, expressing in the letter what it was, and why 'twas sent, namely, in hope, that the very sudden sight and thought on it (he being, then▪ in the Parliament House) might and would damp and dead his heart with fear, and so have infected the worthy gentleman to death, with it. A copy of which letter I have thought fit here to insert, that the Reader may see the odiousness of it and this action more fully.  
The copy of the Letter sent to Mr. Pim, in the Parliament House, with a filthy plague-sore plasture in it.  
MAster Pim, do not think that a guard of men can protect you, if you persist in your traitorous courses, and wicked designs. I have sent a paper-messenger to you, and if this do not touch your heart, a Dagger shall, so soon as I am recovered of my plague-sore. In the mean time, you may be forborn, because no better man may be endangered for you.  
Repent Traitor.  
Which letter was delivered, I say, as Mr. Pim went into the Parliament. But contrary to the wicked intention of the master and message, God (whose will all his creatures obey, to 
Dan 3.  save or slay, as he pleaseth, as was remarkably evident, in that fiery furnace seven times hotter than ordinarily, yet not able so much as to sing the hair or clothes of that pair royal of God-adoring Hebrews cast thereinto) preserved this Noble Gentleman from the intended evil thereof. For, this undaunted and conscience-unspotted courageous Worthy (like that magnanimous Roman 
Camillus a renowned Roman Captain, Plutarch in his Lives.  Camillus of whom Plutarch in his Lives, makes mention, who whiles he was delivering his Embassage to the heathen Prince to whom he was sent by the Senators of Rome, and with whom the Romans, that time, waged war, this Prince's Nobles had suddenly and unknown to Camillus, set a mighty Elephant close behind his back, and made it suddenly and extremely to roar, thereby thinking to have startled and frighted this famous Roman, but he was nothing moved therewith, but wenton smoothly and undauntedly with his Embassage, to the wonder and amazement of this Prince and his Nobles, who were mightily taken with the 
Mr. Pims most undaunted spirit against the plasture.  unbended resolution of this courageous Roman) so, I say, this piously valourous-hearted gentleman, Mr Pim, was nothing at all disheartened or distempered at the sight of the plaisture, nor with the wicked threats which that atheistical wretch sent besides in the letter to stab him with his Dagger if that plasture failed, God 
Mr. Pims due praise.  having hitherto preserved him (and I trust so will) a most loyal subject to his Sovereign, and a most prudent and painful promoter 
An objection answered.  of the best good in Church and Commonwealth. And although it may, peradventure, be objected, that this was but a private or particular passage, and therefore not so pertinent to our purpose: yet considering the eminency of the person, and his employments and use in Parliament for the public good, and the transcendent malice and envy of that malignant person whoever he was, aiming at a public mischief therein, I could not conceive it impertinent to the present occasion, but very worthy our 
The Citizens of London petition both Houses of Parliament.  observation and gratification to God for it. Much about this time also it pleased the Lord to put into the hearts of the worthy Citizens of London, to take into their serious consideration the great retarding and delaying of the weighty affairs of the Kingdom, and the unhappy protraction of punishing Delinquents, together with the uncomfortable reluctancies and disunion between both the Houses, and all this by reason of an illaffected potent and pernicious destructive party, especially in the House of Lords, by Prelates and Popish-Lords, striving and contriving to hinder or quite make void all good Votes among them, and to advance all evil. Therefore, I say, the most and best-affected and pious-hearted Citizens of London unanimously petitioned Both Houses of Parliament touching those and such like serious and important matters, being, I say, most of them, men of the 
The Citizens most grave & substantial delivery of their Petition.  best note and quality of the whole City both for piety and ability. Who went with their Petition to the Parliament, in a most grave and substantial equipage, in fifty or sixty Coaches at the least, and were there most graciously and gratefully entertained both by the Lords and Commons, and received a most cordial 
The gracious answer to their Petition.  and comfortable answer to their Petitions; which act of theirs (they being the sampler and pattern even of the whole Kingdom, and upon whom the eyes of the whole Land were cast, to be by them encouraged and directed) begat such an honest and happy emulation in all the Counties of the Kingdom, as by God's great mercy produced most blessed effects to us all, as shall be more particularly and punctually declared in its proper place.  
Not long after also, the honest Apprentices of the said City of London being very sensible of their Master's sufferings by 
The Apprentices of London do likewise petition.  those distractions in the Commonwealth, and the general decay of trading, and thereby also of their own present and future great discouragements in their hope of comfortable subsistence and livelihood when they were to be freemen of the City, if these inconveniences continued: They also hereupon took the courage and resolution to exhibit their Petition to the Parliament for speedy and timely redress of these encroaching and growing evils. Which act of theirs was so modestly and orderly managed by them, that the Parliament received their petition most courteously, and returned them a very fair and favourable answer, in brief, for the present, with promise of a more full and satisfactory answer in convenient time. After whom also, the Porters of London, 
The Porters of London also do petition the Parliament  pinched with extreme poverty by reason of the decay of trading, were thereby necessitated, and by God's providence thousands of them stirred up and stimulated to petition the Parliament for speedy redress of their present pressures, whose Petition also was very lovingly received by the Parliament, and they received a wellpleasing reply for the present. Now what an admirable and rare effect these Petitions produced, to add most justly to this catalogue of our parliamentary mercies, this subsequent passage shall clearly demonstrate to the godly Reader, 
The Apprentices of London go again to the Parliament for an answer to their▪ Petition.  viz. Not long after a certain convenient number of Apprentices being very modest in carriage, and well-spoken young men, went very civilly and peaceably to Westminster to the Parliament for a further satisfactory answer to their Petition, as was promised to them. But it pleased the Lord it so fell out, that that desperate and furious, Colonel Lunsford, and very many ruffianlike fellows with him, being at that time in Westminster-hall, and there walking up and down, at last took occasion by uncivil and provoking 
Are greatly affronted.  words to the said Apprentices and Citizens at that time also walking there, to make a great disturbance and hubbub among them, and from mocking and jeering of them, and quarrelling 
The Bishops the cause of the quarrel.  about Bishops (whom the Apprentices and Citizens had, indeed, petitioned against in all their Petitions) threatening those that durst once speak against their reverend Bishops, at last they drew▪ out their swords▪ and the said Colonel Lunsford and his quarrelling comrades flew in the faces of the Citizens, and furiously beat them out of Westminster-hall before them, being 
Citizens abused at Whitehall by Courtiers there.  all unweaponed, and coming only in a fair and unoffensive manner (as aforesaid) to receive an answer to their petition; and as they departed home from Westminster by Whitehall, they were there again most grossly abused and beaten by the Courtiers, and such like, so that divers of them were sorely wounded, and some 
1641.  thereby killed by them. Whereupon, the next day (these things falling-out about Newyeers-tyde, or in Christmas-holy-dayes) very many Citizens and apprentices went again to Westminster armed, and better prepared than the day before, for such affronts, if any were offered to them. But now see how it pleased the Lord it should come to pass, some of the Apprentices 
A great disturbance and hubbub at Westm. Abbey the next day.  and Citizens were again affronted about Westminster-Abbey, and a great noise and hubbub fell out thereabouts, othersome of them watched (as it seems by the sequel) the Bishops coming to the Parliament, who considering the great noise and disquiet which was by land all about Westminster, durst not come to the Parliament that way for fear of the Apprentices, and therefore intended to have come to the Parliament by water in barges; but the apprentices watched them that way also, and as they thought to have come to land were so pelted with stones, and 
The Bishops are frighted from the Parliament by apprentices by land & water.  frighted at the sight of such a company of them, that they durst not land, but were rowed back and went away to their places. Now, see herein, good Reader, a most notable overpowering impression of divine providence on this business, and learn hence so much wisdom as not to despise seeming contemptible things and small beginnings, as I have formerly touched on a like occasion. These lordly and lofty Prelates, (among whom, and a 
The most remarkableevent of that affront to the Bishops.  prime one too, it seemed, was that supercilious Arch-prelate of York, Bishop Williams) took foul scorn and high indignation at this affront by Boys and prentices, thus to be debarred from the Parliament, especially fearing lest any thing might pass in the House against them, touching their lordly dignities by their absence, on which they had great cause to keep continual jealouseyes and vigilant watch, they now standing on very ticklish terms 
The Bishop's just fears and jealousies of theirdownfall.  with the State, and being so perpetually and universally petitioned against from all parts of the Kingdom, as a prime branch of the malignant party, and special perturbers of all good for Church or Commonwealth; therefore, I say, being ve xt to the heart, and deeply stung with discontent, they vowed revenge: and thereupon gathered together into their secret Conclave full fraught with Stygian-rancour and rage, and assisted, no doubt, with some Jesuitical influence of Romish spirits, they contrived and contracted 
The Bishops do petition the King & Peers touching their grievances.  a piece of mischief or mischievous petition to the King and House of Peers, which they wholly intended against the happy and successful proceedings of the Parliament, but our good God diverted it to their own further ruin and destruction. Now that you may see their own act and deed attested and avouched under their own hands, I have thought fit here to insert it, verbatim, as they themselves penned and exhibited it to the King.  

To the Kings most excellent Majesty, and the Lords and Peers now assembled in Parliament.  
The humble Petition and Protestation of all the Bishops and Prelates now called by His Majesty's Writs to attend the Parliament and present about London and Westminster for that Service.  
THat whereas the Petitioners are called-up by several and respective Writs, and under great penalties to attend the Parliament, and have a clear and indubitable right to vote in Bills, and other matters whatsoever debateable in Parliament, by the ancient customs, Laws and Statutes of this Realm, and aught to be protected by your Majesty, quietly to attend and prosecute that great Service. They 
The Bishop's Petition and Protestation to the King and Peers.  humbly remonstrate and protest before God, your Majesty, and the noble Lords and Peers now assembled in Parliament, that as they have an indubitate right to sit and vote in the House of the Lords; so are they, if they may be protected from force and violence, most ready and willing to perform their duties accordingly. And that they do abominate all actions or opinions tending to Popery, and the maintenance thereof; as also all propension and inclination to any malignant party, or any other side or party whatsoever to the which their own reasons and conscience shall not move them to adhere. But, whereas they have been at several times violently menaced, affronted and assaulted by multitudes of people in their coming to perform their services in that Honourable House, and lately chased away and put in danger of their lives, and can find no redress or protection, upon sundry complaints made to both Houses in these particulars. They likewise humbly protest before your Majesty, and the noble House of Peers, that saving unto themselves all their rights and interests of sitting and voting in that House at other times, they dare not sit or vote in the House of Peers until your Majesty shall further secure them from all affronts, indignities and dangers in the premises. Lastly, whereas their fears are not built upon fantasies and conceits, but upon such grounds and objects as may well terrify men of good resolutions, and much constancy. They do in all duty and humility protest before your Majesty and the Peers of that most honourable House of Parliament, against all Laws, Orders, Votes, resolutions, and determinations, as in themselves null, and of none effect, which in their absence, since the 27th.. of this instant month of December, 1641. have already passed; as likewise against all such as shall hereafter pass in that most honourable House, during the time of this their forced and violent absence from the said most honourable House; not denying, but if their absenting of themselves were wilful and voluntary, that most honourable House might proceed in all their premises, their absence or this protestation notwithstanding. And humbly beseeching your most excellent Majesty to command the Clerk of that House of Peers to enter this their petition and protestation among his Records.  
They will ever pray to God to bless, etc. 
 Jo. Eborac. Tho. Duresme. Rob. Co. Lich. Jos. Norw. Jo. Asa. Guli. Ba. & Wells. Geo. Heref. Rob. Oxon. Ma. Ely. Godfr. Glouc. Jo. Peterburg. Morris Landaff.   
This petition and protestation being thus exhibited to his Majesty, the King was pleased to send it immediately to the House of Peers, who having seen and perused it, were forthwith highly offended with it, and so sent it immediately to the House of Commons; whereupon both Houses met in the painted Chamber, at a 
Twelve Bishops impeached of high treason, and imprisoned in the Tower.  Conference there, and after it, accused those 12. Bishops of high treason, for endeavouring to subvert the fundamental Laws of the Realm, and the very being of Parliaments; whereupon they were by the Lords sequestered from the Parliament, and imprisoned, ten of them in the Tower, and (for their age sake) two of them committed to custody to the Black-Rod. Thus was the Parliament most happily freed of 12. of them at one clap: And thus, I say (ever blessed be the Lord our God for it) that which the Parliament long desired, and the well-affected people over the whole Kingdom so long and so unanimously petitioned for 
Quod nequit ingenium D●us fecit.  (even the extirpation of the Bishops out of the Parliament) but could not well tell how to accomplish it, God hath made themselves agents and actors of to their own just shame and sorrow, but to the high content and rejoicing of all Gods faithful children and servants. And, certainly, if ever, here was a most visible print of God's overpowering providence crossing these Prelate's craft, paying them in their own coin, and most clearly manifesting 
Job 41. 34.  himself to behold all the high things of the earth, and that he only is King over all the children of pride.  
And yet (give me leave, good Reader, to give thee this one note by the way, of no small consequence and concernment, touching these our present Prelates of England) notwithstanding all 
Mark this note well.  the most evident and undeniable manifestations of God's arrows of wrath and high displeasure shot against them all, partly for 
Craft and cruelty.  their craft and cruelty exercised against God's faithfull-ones, and partly for the Laodicean-temporizing coldness and security even of the very best and most moderate of them all, without exception 

Laodicean security.  
judges 5.   of any one, who have rather chosen (like the accursed, yea bitterly accursed rulers of Meros') to lie still, to sleep in a whole skin, enjoy quietly their fat Bishoprics, and lordly dignities and ease 
O how far short came all our best Bishops of noble Q. Hester in her zeal and courage for God and his Saints!  therein, than with noble and renowned Queen Hester, who, in the cause of her afflicted people the Jews, resolved (in a far more certain danger, every way, than they could have been liable to) to hazard her life and honours, with an, If I perish, I perish, (ah shame, unexpressible shame to them all, that a weak-woman should outstrip them all in a masculine heroic spirit for her religion and people) than like her, I say, to expose their rich revenues, much less their very lives as she did hers (tell me, I say, of one among them all, that did thus) to danger or loss, to adventure the safeguard and welfare of the Church and children of God, which they saw daily so overtoped by rank over-growing popery and atheism. Which laziness and coldness of theirs, though they slightly pass it over as a small sin or no sin at all; yet Christ himself our blessed Saviour tells them, they are no less than down▪ right Antichrists, even flat and false enemies of the Lord Christ, as is clear, (Matth. 12. 30.) by our Saviour's own words. He that is not with me, is against me. Which being so, let them all (even the best and most moderate among them) take heed of 
1 Cor. 16▪ 22.  that fearful sentence of the Apostle. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha. Even, accursed with a most bitter curse. And how can these Prelates say, truly, that they love the Lord Christ, when they either so palpably persecute him in his beloved members, or at least, egregiously slight and disrespect him, in suffering his holy cause and faithful servants to be so discountenanced and trampled upon, as they have been these many years, especially of late. And yet, I say, in all this so dangerous 
Here is the pith of the note, which In desire thee to mark.  and double-guilt and deep-die of gross impiety in them (which indeed is the note I aim at, and is the wonder and admiration, mixed with grief of my soul, to see and consider) that even the very best of them hath not to this very day given us the least print or expression of true repentance and godly remorse of 
The great impenitency of our Prelates.  soul and spirit, for these so great and grievous sins of theirs of cruelty and security, or carelessness of God's people and their religion; but even the best of them still, I say, suffering the Gospel of grace and truth to sink or swim, what cared they, so they may be quiet, and be thought great Clerks, rare disputants against Popery in words and writings only (yet oft juggling with us therein too) and the wise and moderate men (forsooth) of the world. Yea, I say, so far are some of them from cordial remorse and penitency for those accursed abominations aforesaid, that 
* 
Bp. Hall (a most fierce, but fruitless stickler for Diocesan Episcopacy) in a book of his lately printed and published in his own defence.  
2 Kin. 9 22. Bp Hall's Peace of Rome.   one of their most moderate, wise men of peace, since his being in prison in the Tower, hath not been ashamed with his accustomed rhetorically-glorious and smoothly painted phrases to daub over his great-guilt of conscience, especially in point of security and carelessness of God's truth forementioned by me. O these men of peace (forsooth) how have they forgotten even hypocritical Jehu's asseveration, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of that Romish Jezebel are so many and so mischievous amongst us? Yea I say again to him in particular, he should have had no peace with Rome, as well as he wrote of, the no peace of Rome. But thus, I say, these our holy Fathers of our Church▪ forsooth, these our lordly Prelates, who with Bishop White, must be counted Princes too, have carried themselves in 
Two Scottish Bishops renounced their Bishoprics, as an Antichristian function.  those their great evils; The Lord in mercy timely take from them their such a heart of stone, and give them a heart of flesh, and clear the eyes of their understanding so wilfully blinded, that they may with those two honest selfdenying and humble-hearted Bishops in Scotland, (
* In his defence of Episcopacy.  whom Bishop Hall scoffed and jeered at for it) with selfdenying shame and sorrow repent their horrible impiety to God and his Church, and abhor such a princely pompous function (never of Christ's institution) as (even inevitably, for aught I can yet see to the contrary) occasions such faction and defection 
Ezra 6. 11, 12.  from sincerity and truth. Which, if they labour not timely and truly to express, they must pardon me if I believe it were most just with our God, if he should raise up against them in their impenitency, such a just judge as godly Ezra records, even that heathen yet (surely) honest-hearted King Darius to have been, in that noble and renowned sentence of his, whose words are these. I have made a Decree, that whosoever shall alter this word (namely of re-erecting and building-up again the old 
* O how much more precious are the living temples of the holy-Ghost, which, our Prelates have been so far from building up, that the worst of them have laboured to pull down and destroy, the very best of them have lazily and carelessly suffered to be destroyed.  materiall-Temple at Jerusalem) let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up as a jibbet) let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill (or jakes) for this. See here▪ for This, only for This. What This? Why only for daring so much as to alter the King's honest resolution, as aforesaid. But he goes on in the 12. verse. And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there, destroy all Kings and people (note this emphatical expression of this honest King) that shall put to their hand to alter or destroy this House of God (ah shame to our guilty Prelates herein) which is at Jerusalem; of the House of Commons, wherein you shall find the true and genuine description of it to the full, which is this.  

Januarie, 17th, being Monday, 1641.  
A Declaration of the House of Commons, touching a late breach of their Privileges, set forth by themselves.  
Whereas the Chambers, Studies, and Trunks of Mr Denzill Hollis, Sir Arthur Haslerig, Mr John Pim, Mr John 
The great design of jan. 4. 1641. exactly described.  Hampden, and Mr William Strode, Esquires, Members of the House of Commons, upon Monday, the third of Januarie, 1641. by colour of his Majesty's Warrant, have been sealed-up by Sir William Killigrew, and Sir William Flemen, and others, which is not only against the privilege of Parliament, but the common liberty of every 
A Sergeant at Arms sent from the King to apprehend the five Gentlemen accused of high treason.  Subject. Which said Members, afterward, the same day, were, under the like colour, by Sergeant Francis, one of his Majesty's Sergeants at Arms, contrary to all former precedents, demanded of the Speaker, sitting in the House of Commons, to be delivered to him that he might arrest them of high Treason. And whereas, afterward, the next day (being the 4th of Januar. 1641.) his Majesty in his royal person came to the said House, attended with a great multitude of armed 
The King himself went to the Parliament with 500 attendants Papists & others.  men in warlike manner, to the number of about five hundred, both Soldiers, Papists and others, all of them armed, with swords, and Pistols, and other weapons, who all came up to the very door of the House, and placed themselves there, and in other parts and passages near to the said House, and divers of them pressing to the door of the said House, thrust away the doorkeepers, and placed themselves between the said door and the ordinary attendants of his Majesty, 
The Soldier's demeanour about the Parliament-door.  holding up their swords, and some holding up their pistols ready cocked, near the said door, and saying, I am a good marksman, I can hit right I warrant you, and they not suffering the said door (according to the custom of Parliament) to be shut, but said they would have the door open; and if any opposition were against them, they made no question, but they should make their party good, and that they would maintain their party; And, whensoever any Members of the House of Commons were coming into the House, their attendants desiring that room might be made for them, some of the said Soldiers answered, A Pox of God confound them: and others said, A Pox take the 
The Soldiers most audacious and accursed speeches.  House of Commons, let them come and be hanged, What ado is here with the House of Commons. And some of the said Soldiers did likewise violently assault, and by force disarm, some of the attendants and servants of the Members of the House of Commons, waiting in 
The Parliament attendants and Servants about the door disarmed by force.  the room, next the said door, and upon the Kings return out of the said House, many of them by wicked oaths, and otherwise, expressed much discontent that those Members of the House (for whom they came) were not there; And others of them said, When comes the word? but no word was yet given. As they thus stood without, at the door, to the great terror and disturbance of all the Members then sitting, and according to their duty in a peaceable and orderly manner treating of the great affairs of England and Ireland, and his Majesty having 
The King placed himself in the Speaker of the Parliaments chair.  placed himself in the Speakers chair, he demanded of them the persons of the said Members to be delivered unto him, which is a high breach of the rights and privileges of Parliament, and inconsistent with the liberties and freedom thereof. But the King not finding those foresaid Members, whom he came for, in the House (for they 
The plot blessedly crossed by the absence of the gentlemen.  were purposely absent, with the consent of the House on strong suspicion of the said intended event) as he expected; thereupon, he rose out of the Speakers chair, and departed from them without any farther 
The King departed out of the Parliament  molestation; whereupon, the Soldiers and Cavaliers at the door, seeing the King coming forth, cried out, a lane, a lane, and so went all away. After which, some of them being demanded what they thought the said company intended to have done; answered, That, questionless, 
The main intention of this great & grievous design.  in the posture they were set, if the word had been given, they should have fallen upon the House of Commons and have cut all their throats (horresco referens; Quis enim talia fando, temperet à lachrimis.) All this being fully proved to be most true, upon several examinations taken the same Januarie the 7th, before a Committee, then appointed by the House of Commons to sit in London. In which 
A Proclamation published at Westm. against those Parliament-Worthies.  interim, a printed paper, in the form of a Proclamation, bearing date, the 6th of Jan. 1641. issued out, at Westminster, or Whitehall; for the apprehending and imprisoning of them, therein suggesting that through the conscience of their own guilt, they were absent and fled; not willing to submit themselves to justice. The Parliament did therefore declare, that the said printed paper is false, scandalous and 
Voted to be a scandalous & illegal paper.  illegal, and that notwithstanding the said printed paper, or any Warrant issued out, or any other matter yet appearing against them, or any of them, they may and aught to attend the service of the said 
Those worthy gentlemen justified by the Parliament.  House of Commons, and the several Committees now on foot. And we do further declare, that the publishing of several Articles purpourting a form of a charge of high treason against the Lord Kimbolton, one of the Members of the Lords House, and against the said Mr Hollis, Sir Ar. Haslerig, Mr Pym, Mr Hampden, and Mr Strode, by Sir Will. Killigrew, Sir Will. Flemen, and others in the Inns of Court and elsewhere, in the King's name, was a high breach of the privilege of Parliament, a great scandal to his Majesty and his government, a seditious act manifestly tending to the subversion of the peace of the Kingdom, and an injury and dishonour to the said Members, there being no legal charge or accusation against them.   

A brief congratulatory for God's mercy in this their so great a deliverance.  Recollect now then (good Christian Reader) thy sad and serious thoughts, and muster-up thy most exquisite meditations on this so ponderous and weighty a passage of God's admirable providence, and protection of his own parliamentarie-Worthies (for so, me thinks, I may fitly call and count them) and tell me whether God was not wonderfully seen here in the Mount of straits, to turn it (in a moment) to a Mount of deliverance to his faithful Servants; yea, and in them, to the whole Kingdom? whose weal or woe (as we all are or aught to be most sensible) was wrapt-up in them, being the representative Body thereof; And when thou hast fully and feelingly recogitated and ruminated on this exuberant parliamentarie-mercie, tell me, I pray thee, whether thou and I and all true English-hearts have not most redundant reason and copious occasion with blessed Moses, a little before his death (and dying men's words ought to make deep impression of credence 
Deut. 33. 26, 27.  in our hearts) to confess and acknowledge, That there is none like unto the God of Jesurum, who rideth upon the heavens in the help of his belovedones, and in his excellency on the sky. The eternal God is their refuge, and underneath them are his everlasting arms, 
Psal. 109. 27, 28.  and he shall thrust their enemies before them. And they shall know that it was thy hand (O Lord) and that thou only hast done it; and that though they have cursed, yet thou hast blessed, and that when they arose thou mad'st them ashamed, but hast caused thy servants to rejoice. 
Exod. 19 4.  Yea and hast carried them on Eagles wings (far and free from danger) and hast brought and placed them near to thyself. Yea, I say, again, now, if ever, those noble and renowned parliamentarie-Worthies found that of Solomon most true. That the Name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run into it, and are safe. To conclude this, therefore, let the grateful and gracious consideration of this so great a deliverance cause me and thee, and them all whom it so nearly and peculiarly concerns, to breakout, with holy David, that sacred and sugared Singer of Israel, and to say, O give thanks unto the Lord, and call continually upon his Name. Sing 
Psal. 105. 1, 2, ●.  unto him, O sing Psalms to his great Name, and talk of all the wondrous works which he hath done, and all the glorious judgements of his mouth.  

The Parliament adjourned and turned into a Grand-Committee at London in the Grocers▪ Hall.  Now after this so terrible affront and disturbant affright to the Parliament, it pleased those pious and prudent Worthies of both Houses for a space to adjourn their sitting at Westminster, and to turn Both-Houses into a grand Committee, and for their greater safety and assurance from Popish-plots and combinations, to sit in the City of London, in the Grocers-Hall. Where, by God's mercy and most safe protection they were most cheerfully guarded every day by the train'dbands of the City, and extraordinary lovingly entertained, and most respectively used according to the high merit of their worth and work, and unto theirs and our high content and singular comfort.  

The Ministers of London petition the Parliament for an Assembly and a monthly Fast.  In which interim of their sitting in London, very many of the well-affected and faithful Ministers of London unanimously petitioned the Parliament, both for choice of an Assembly for settling Church-discipline, and for the ordering of a Monthly fast throughout the whole Kingdom, until the distresses of Ireland and the distractions of England were by God's mercy graciously quieted and composed. Which petition of theirs in both those material branches thereof, was most favourably entertained by the Parliament, and received a desired answer; the Assembly of Divines being now by vote in Parliament fully resolved on, and all 
An assembly of Ministers resolved on in Parliament.  of them nominated for all the Counties throughout the Kingdom for their advice to the Parliament for settling and ordering the pure worship of our God, and true Apostolical discipline; Wherein, the Lord grant they may all be as meek-hearted▪ gracious, and faithful as holy Moses was, to do nothing therein (no not in the least particular thereof, especially in God's worship) but most punctually according to the pattern of the Apostles practise and precepts, no question fully and sufficiently to be 
A monthly Fast proclaimed all over the Kingdom.  found in God's Word. The Monthly fast also was speedily put in practice all over the Kingdom, which being as it were a spiritual Militia (as a reverend and learned Divine of our City calls it, most properly) puts the Kingdom into a spiritual posture of a God-pleasing holy warfare (if religiously kept both for sin and from sin) that we may, as it were, even fight and contend with God by prayers and tears, by sighs and groans, as good Jacob was said thus to wrestle with God, yea and may be prevailers with God for a blessing on our Land, our King and Parliament, Church and State, and thus also at length, may prevail with men, even against all the enemies of our peace and prosperity both domestic and foreign. Domestic, I mean our imbred sins, base lusts, and corruptions; Foreign, that is, treacherous projectors, and clandestine malignant emulatours of our happiness both at home and abroad. And are not here two parliamentarie-mercies more of most high concernment; and such as give us strong and irrefragable 
Rom. 8. 31.  assurance that God is with us, and will be with us (if they be rightly and religiously managed) and then we need not fear who is 
2 King. 6. 16, 17.  against us. Yea, then (as the Prophet said) They are more that are with us than those that be for our enemies. Yea, even the Lords legions of chariots and horsemen of fire round about us, to defend us, and to consume them. Whereby we may even already triumph and exult with pious Paul, and truly say, Thanks be unto God who 
1 Cor. 15. 57  hath given us victory; yea and made us more than conquerors through Christ, in whom he hath freely loved us. But to proceed.  
In this time also of the Parliaments sitting in London by a grand-Committee of both Houses, the stouthearted and well-minded Ship-masters and Mariners to show their love and loyalty to the King and Parliament, exhibited their Petition to the grand 
Ship-masters and Seamen petition the Parliament, and proffer their service to it on all occasions.  Committee, and therewith also their votes and desires full of courage and candour to serve his Majesty and the Parliament to the utmost of their power; which their readiness and cheerfulness, therein, was most lovingly regarded, both by the Lords and Commons, and shortly after a fair and fit occasion was offered to make use of their love and service therein, which they most really manifested to the full, as now you shall hear.  
The time being now expired, and the last day of the Parliaments 
Tuesday, jan▪ 11. 1641.  adjourning from Westminster being now come, Jan. the 11. 1641. being Teusday, and their just jealousies and fears being many and great, especially by that so late high breach of privileges of Parliament, mentioned, Jan. the 4 rh, and our Worthies, now, of necessity to return to Westminster, the noble and renowned City of London most cheerfully and voluntarily proffered their best service and abilities to attend and guard them by land to the Parliament at Westminster, and by God's assistance to secure them from danger all the way by land, to which purpose the City Captains had commanded their train'dbands and Officers 
Our Parliament-Worthies most bravely attended to Westm. by land.  at arms to prepare themselves thereunto, and their Musketteirs with powder and bullets, and pikemen with glistering arms, which was performed in a most gallant and martial manner; and thus our parliamentary noble, grave Senators both Lords and Commons were in their coaches safely (by God's mercy) conducted and attended to the Parliament by land. By water also the 
And by water.  same day, the stout and courageous Ship-masters and Mariners had suddenly and most bravely made ready a great number of long-boats and such like vessels furnished with pieces of Ordnance, Muskets, and other Sea warlike instruments, their vessels also 
A brief description of the brave carriage of the Soldiers and Sea men by land and water.  gallantly adorned with flags and streamers, together with Martiall-musick, Drums and Trumpets; so as it was a most admirable rare sight to see and hear their carriage all along, and when they came to Whitehall and the Parliament Houses, and understood that the parliament-Worthies were safely there arrived. O how bravely did the train'dbands by land, make their thick and quick volleys of shot echo in the air, and the valiant Seamen let fly their thundering shot both great and small by water, their trumpets sounding, and their Drums beating in such a triumphant and congratulating manner, as could not possibly, but strike-dead with terror, amazement, and vexation the hearts of the Popish, prelatical 
Terror to the malignant party; But joy and comfort to the godly.  and malignant party, that either saw or heard it, or heard of it, but chose, as must needs extraordinarily exhilarate and rejoice all the loyal and honest hearts of God's people that beheld it, or heard of it. And as this was a singular testimony of the cordial affections of the City and Seamen, and highly advancing the glory of God, who thus put into their hearts to express their faithfulness and thankfulness to God, our King, and the Parliament, 
The legality of the acts aforesaid by land & water.  under whom, and by whom, we enjoy the Gospel of peace and peace of the Gospel, in such rare and fair tranquillity and serenity above all Nations in the world. And for the ratification of all this to be warrantable and legal to be done; I have thought fit here to insert the Vote of the Parliament published by their authority.  

jan. 8th, 1641.  
At the Committee of the House of Commons appointed to sit in London to consider of the safety of the Kingdom and City of London, and of vindicating the privileges of Parliament.  
Resolved upon the Question.  
THat the actions of the Citizens of London, or of any other person whatsoever, for the defence of the Parliament, or of the privileges thereof, or the preservation of the Members thereof, are according to their duty, and to their late Protestation and the Laws of this Kingdom. And if any person shall arrest or trouble any of them for so doing, he is declared to be a public enemy of the Commonwealth.  
Resolved upon the Question.  
That this Vote shall be made known to the common-council of the City of London.   
Nay, yet to make the beauty and brightness of that foresaid Tewsdayes' sunshine of comfort, yet more glorious to our eyes and 
Buckinghamshire men came riding into the City, to petition the Parliament.  hearts; That very same 11th of Jan. I say, being Tuesday, came a numerous multitude of Buckinghamshire men, both Gentleman, Ministers, and others of that County, on horseback, in very fair and orderly manner with the Protestation in their hats and hands, partly in the behalf of the most worthy Knight of their Shire in Parliament, Mr Hampden, but especially to petition the Parliament for the reformation of evils in Church and State, the just punishment of Delinquents, the timely relief of Ireland, the sweet and harmonious concurrence of both Houses against 
Essex, Hartford and other Counties come to London in great multitudes to petition the Parliament.  all sinister obstructions, and the expulsion of Prelates and Popish▪ Lords out of the Parliament, and to assure their best services and assistance to the King and Parliament, on all just occasions. And since which time, even immediately after, mighty multitudes out of Essex, divers thousands out of Hartford-shire, Berkshire, Surrey, and other Counties of the Kingdom; in brief, from all Shires and Counties of the whole Realm, came still one after another to London, to exhibit their petitions to the Parliament in the causes aforesaid, from all parts swimming in one stream of affections and petitions, all having one desire, all, I say, as one man unanimously consenting in this one thing, namely, a serious and settled resolution to petition and pray a speedy refining and reforming of persons and things amiss among us.  

God on the Mount.  And was not the Lord Jehovah seen in this rare Mount of Meries' also? Thus to knit the hearts of the people together so far distant in habitations from one another, according to that faithful promise of his mentioned by the Prophet. I will give 
jer. 32. 39  them one heart, and one way, saith the Lord, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them and of their children after them. And now, good Reader, take thankful notice and cognizance, to the everlasting praise and glory of the Lord, the only God that hears prayers, and grants gracious returns unto them in his due 
The Bishops are quite voted out of the Parliament for voice and place.  time, that upon these confluences of unanimous desires of the Kingdom from all parts thereof the Bishops were voted against from having any intermeddling with temporal affairs and dignities, and so uncapable of votes in Parliament, it having pleased the Lord our most wise God, first to catch them in their own nooz, to entangle them in their own snare whereby their persons were (even by themselves) first sequestered from the Parliament by Law, they being fast locked up in prison in the Tower▪ For, on Febr. 5. 1641. the noble House of Commons past a Bill (nemine contradicenti) against their having any vote in Parliament, which being sent to the renowned House of Lords▪ those prudent Peers mended the said Bill and added, that they should 
The House of Lords make the Bill against the Bishops most full of comfort to us all.  have no seat or place neither, as well as no voice or suffrage among thm, which was most gratefully entertained by the Commons with particular thanks to the Lords for their wisdom and love therein to the Commonwealth; and so it passed again most currently with them, and being now returned to the Lords, it passed clearly among them also immediately. And thus on that happy fifth of February, was the Church of God most mercifully freed of that pestilential disease wherewith it had long been infected and infested, namely, the Antichristian tyranny of our English Prelates by reason of their princely pomp and lordly dignities, and familiar intermeddling and tampering in temporal affairs to the continual provocation of the wrath of 
Matth. 20. 26.  God, and the derogatory dishonour of Christ's will and prescript pleasure in their ministerial function. It shall not be so with you. 
Note this.  And now let the godly Reader, here see and consider the admirable equity and justice of our wise and most holy God, meeting 
Bishops, who had no heart nor voice for Christ, have, now, no voice nor place for themselves in Parliament. 2 Chron 21. 20 Note this also.  them full in their own ways and works. They, who being Lords and Barons (forsooth) in that high Court of Parliament, yet could seldom or never find a heart or voice for Christ and religion, but freqently against Christ in his holy members, and against the power and purity of religion; have, now (most justly) no voice or place in Parliament to help themselves, but are thrust out, as men not desired, like that wicked King Jehoram, who departed this life, without being desired. And take this note also, by the way, before we leave them; That, they, who in themselves and predecessors (ever since the time of glimmering reformation 

Non-subscription silenced many godly Ministers: now their subscription hath imprisoned and almost unbishoped our proud Prelates.  
Prov. 5. 22.   even in Queen Elizabeth's days of ever blessed memory, to this very time, all along, without intermission) had silenced, suspended, imprisoned, and impoverished many hundreds, if not thousands, of holy, painful and profitable Preachers for Non-subscription; have now, by an act of subscription, imprisoned themselves in the Tower of London, and almost quite devested themselves of their Prelatical arrogated superiority over their fellow-Ministers. Thus God hath taken them by their own iniquities, and hath held them with the cords of their own sin. Thus Goliath is slain with his own sword, and Haman is hanged upon his own gallows. And thus was their former furious and most injurious carriage and course a just presage and omen of their total ruin and downfall, which, in substance, is now blessedly come to pass, in this their denudation, stripping and whipping from their lordly dignities, haughty honours, and busy intermeddling in secular affairs, the rest I hope and pray will perfectly be effected in Gods due time.  
Now, then, see here and observe (good Reader) with a wise and most grateful heart (both in regard of the thing itself, and also of those two material circumstances, so observable, therein) 
God in the Mount.  whether the Lord was not admirably seen in the Mount of Mercy▪ to his poor Church, in this so rare and singular freedom of it from future fear of Prelatical tyranny. And give me 
Isa. 51, 7, 8, 9, 11.  leave to use the Prophets own words, by way of exulting gratitude to the Lord our God. Harken unto me (dear Christians) ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is the law of the Lord. Fear ye not the reproach of men▪ neither be ye afraid of their revile; for, the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall gnaw them like wool; But my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation. Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord, awake as in ancient days, and as in the generation of old. Art not thou it that hath cut Rahab (the Prelates of England) and wounded the Dragon (the whore of Rome)? Therefore do the redeemed of the Lord return and come with singing to Zion, and everlasting joy shall be on their head. They shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and mourning shall fly away.  

The Kingdom put into a posture of defence.  About this time also it pleased the good hand of God to direct the hearts of our prudent and provident parliamentarie-Worthies to take notice of the most dangerous distractions of the kingdom, and as just as great fears of intestine turmoils which might arise among us by the Papists and malignant-partie, if not timely prevented; and therefore to resolve, according to the joint desires of the Subject in all their petitions exhibited in Parliament to settle a Militia by Act of Parliament, for a certain time, namely, until it might please the Lord happily to compose our differences, and to put a blessed end to our domestic and foreign fears, that thus by putting the Kingdom into a posture of defence, we might by God's mercy be the better secured both from 
Sir john Byron, Lieutenant of the Tower, displaced.  homebred treacheries and transmarine invasions. For, which purpose, they resolved, in the first place, to displace Sir John Byron from his Lieutenantship of the Tower of London, and to put in Sir John connyer's, a man, in whom they had good assurance, they might confide, both for his fidelity and martial abilities; 
Sir john Conniers made Lieutenant by the Parliament  which, though with much struggling, at last they obtained of his Majesty, to theirs and the Cities full content in that particular.  
And for the better putting of life into the sad and bad affairs of Ireland, and the more speedy and certain subduing (by God's 
A fair and famous project of subscription for relieving of Ireland moved and promoved in Parliament.  assistance) of those most barbarous and inhuman Rebels and accursed idolaters of Rome; It pleased our most wise God to infuse a fair and famous project into the hearts of divers heroic and worthy Citizens of London, first to proffer, themselves, by way of subscription of certain sums of money, to be paid in at several payments, by them and other well-affected Subjects both in City and Country: Whereunto (the thing being moved by petition, and singularly approved in Parliament) the Lords and Commons in both Houses gave admirable encouragement, by their free and forward subscription of great sums, and all their moneys so laid out to be repaid and satisfied out of the Rebels lands, when by God's aid and assistance they should 
A general collection ordered also to be over the Kingdom for the distressed English inhabitants in Ireland.  be totally suppressed and destroyed, and not before, nor by any other ways or means. And, since that (by reason of the most atrocious and unparalleled cruelties of those Romish-rebels in Ireland) very many of the distressed and bespoiled English-Protestant inhabitants, especially women and children, who were necessitated to fly thence, carrying their lives in their hands, and glad (poor souls) they so escaped to Dublin, and so over-Sea into divers parts of this Kingdom, being thereby plunged into deplorable poverty and misery) It was, I say, further ordered by our truly charitable and pious Parliament, that there should be a general collection or contribution over the whole Kingdom, for and toward the present relief and supply of such distressed men, women and children, as could hardly subsist without present help and relief. Which said collection was so fully and freely advanced 
The most liberal collection for Ireland at Aldermanburic in London.  in this our noble and renowned City of London, that at one Church therein, viz▪ Aldermanburie, under reverend and religious Mr Calamies fruitful Ministry, upon his pious and pathetical motion and instigation to his willing people, a Collection was made and gathered, at the Church-doores and parishioners houses, which amounted unto between 600 and 700 ●. at the least.  
Toward the latter end of February also, 1641. It pleased the Lord to blow-off all clouds of displeasure from the King's royal 
A gracious answer from the King's Majesty touching the Liturgy and Church-government.  heart, and to cause his countenance to shine so serenely on the Parliaments proceedings, that he sent the House of Lords a most gracious and comfortable answer, intimating his royal concurrence and desire of correspondency with both Houses, both in passing those Bills then exhibited to his Majesty, and also referring all matters touching the Liturgy and Church-Government to the wisdom and piety of the Parliament to settle and resolve on.  
And, here, again (good Reader) let us reflect our eyes and serious thoughts, and see whether the Lord does not still carrion his works of mercy to us, by his own strong-arm, and almighty power and providence; that thus we should now have such strong and heart-chearing hope of a happy and long desired rectifying and reformation of our Liturgy and Discipline, two ticklish pieces to be tampered with, on pain of highest indignation and displeasure in bypast times, but now you see and hear of talk yea resolution of reforming them. Hereby ratifying and confirming his most righteous word and promise, by the Prophet, in showing himself unto our Kingdom a most resplendent 
Za●h. 2. 5.  glory in the midst of us. Making good also that old promise of his to his ancient people of Israel, namely, I will turn my hand upon thee, and will purely purge away all thy dross, and take away all thy tin. O that we therefore in the way of thankfulness would sincerely perform his holy and just desire of us, namely, in deed and in truth to obey his voice, and cheerfully to do all that he hath commanded us!  
Yet, see, the (still) invincible and inveterate malice of the malignant party, who notwithstanding that they cannot but evidently see the hand of God against them crossing all their counsels, turning their perniciously boiling obstrisctions to their 
The malignant party, still, plotting, first, in London.  own destruction in the issue: yet still, I say, they manifest (right Pharaoh-like) more flintiness and hardness of heart, presumptuously spurning at (as it were) and despising all Gods most wise and over powering proceedings against them; thereby most clearly treasuring-up wrath and confusion unto themselves against the day of God's vengeance and heaping up coals of calamity on their own heads against the day of the Lords burning jealousy. 
A seditious Petition framed and presented to the Parliament against the Militia of the City, & other things of dangerous consequence.  For, much about this time a most pernicious and seditious Petition was forged and framed by some of the grey-headed but not grave-hearted Citizens of London, which was boldly presented to the Parliament by them. A Petition, I say, much tending to sedition, and the overthrow of the Parliaments proceedings, especially concerning the Militia of the City, aiming therein at the overthrow of the said Militia, and the sure defence of the whole Realm (under God) which they had formerly most firmly settled over the whole Kingdom. In which seditious plot and devilish design of theirs, though many of no small or mean rank and quality in the City, yea and some of the highest degree thereof had deep hands and spotted hearts to further it, and therefore had subscribed to it: yet, one or two most pragmatical spirits among them, were chief agents and active instruments openly and audaciously appearing and persisting 
One Mr. Binion a mainstickler in the foresaid seditious Petition.  in it, namely, one Mr Binion, a Silkman in Cheapside, who carried himself most proudly and insolently therein from first to the last. But the truly godly, grave and loyally-affected Citizens of London understanding thereof, disavowed it, immediately, joined together against it, in another most honest, fit and fair 
A counter-petition exhibited by the honest Citizens against it.  Petition clean contrary to that other, exhibited the same in Parliament, desired the justice of the Parliament against ●he other, which was received with singular approbation of both Houses. Whereupon, the other was not long after cast out of 
The malignant Petition censured.  the House, condemned to be burnt by the hangman, as a most scandalous and seditious paper; and the foresaid Mr Binion himself (persisting in his obstinate and malevolent misbehaviour, was made an example of terror to the rest (who more wisely shrunkin their heads, and recanted their former oversight) being 
Mr. Binions censure:  for his foresaid insolences and misdemeanours fined 3000. l. disfranchised from the immunities of the City, made uncapable of ever bearing any office in the Commonwealth, and imprisoned for two years in the Castle of Colchester. And yet, again, notwithstanding all this, I say, yea this so fresh and modern admonition (as a man might have thought) to those malignant spirits; 
The Kentish malignant Petition.  They, not long after broke out again into a like misdemeanour in the County of Kent, by the main instigation (as it is conceived) of Sir Edward Deering▪ late a Member of the House of Commons, 

Sir Edw. Deering.  
Sir Edw. deering's book of his Speeches printed.   who at the beginning and for some continuance of this Parliament was well reputed and reported of, but at last brake-out into a most violent and virulent opposition of the honourable and pious proceedings of the Parliament, which he further most undiscreetly prosecuted by printing and publishing a book of all his former and later Speeches in Parliament, and one, especially not spoken, 
Himself and his book censured.  but only intended to have been spoken in Parliament. Whereupon the said Sir E. Deering was called to the Bar, sent prisoner to the Tower, cast out of the House from being any longer a Member among them, & his said book condemned to be burnt▪ 
The Author's opinion of him and his book.  Which book, though it cannot be denied, but must be ingenuously confessed, did render him a Scholar, and witty acute rhetorician, yet was full fraught with palpable expressions of an illaffected heart not only to the most wise, worthy and untainted negotiations of the Honourable Parliament, but even to religion and the power of godliness. A gentleman he was, whom I must acknowledge, I myself much honoured for the good things I conceived to be in him at first; but when I had read this his book (which I did, allover, as advisedly and impartially as God enabled me) I found therein, even almost in its very portal or introduction to the matter of it and so along, such an unjust and immeritorious eulogy or elegy and hyperbolical praise of the Arch-prelate 
The Archprelates conference with Fisher a jesuit.  of Canterbury in general, and of his book (if his) of his conference with Fisher the Jesuit, in special: A book most full of pregnant expressions (yet cloudily couched) of the said Prelates Popish rotten-heartednesse, as a most sound and learned Reply to it, 

A Reply to the said Conference.  
Witty, but irreligious scoffing at piety and godliness in Sir Eds. book.   hath copiously and clearly discovered to all judicious and impartial Scholars that have read it) together with his affected witty jeering and scoffing at true piety in some places, and irreligious sublime justification of gross Popish superstition in other some; I could not, hereupon, I say, (God knows my heart) but greatly grieve for his sake, thereby so dishonoured, and blush at mine own so clear mistake, who had willingly harboured so good opinions of him before. But to leave him to his great Lord and Master to whom he must either stand or fall, with my hearty prayers for his true and timely retractation, I return to my purposed matter, from which I have a little digressed, but I hope not much transgressed therein.  

The seditious petition of Kent was much countenanced by the Earl of Bristol and judge Mallet.  Another seditious Petition (I say) was hatched and contrived in Kent, wherein (I say) 'tis more than conceived that Sir Edward Deering had a deep hand, which contained matter much to the same effect with the former of London; Which also it seems was much countenanced and encouraged by the Earl of Bristol and judge Mallet, and for which they were both sent prisoners to the Tower of London; which Petition being on the 29th of April, 1642. brought to the Parliament by some of the prime 
The Petition brought to the Parliament.  malignant-ones (the rest of that rout being some certain thousands remained at Blackheath for an answer, but were fain to depart with a flea in their cares) they received most foul (but most just) disgraces at their entrance into the City, the gate at 
Their usage in the delivery of their petition.  the Bridge-foot was shut against them, they themselves were disarmed, their weapons being there taken from them, two of their prime leaders, having exhibited their Petition in Parliament, were committed to safe custody till fit opportunity of further examination of this their high contempt and arrogancy. 
The Honest party of Kent petition against the malignant party.  But immediately after, the truly religious, honest, and well-affected party of the said County of Kent unanimously also united themselves in an honest and loyal Petition, therein utterly disavowing and protesting against that other seditious and scandalous one, who were all, together with their Petition most courteously and lovingly entertained, and dismissed with great thanks from the Parliament, for that their so honest and peaceable demeanour.  
And was not the Lord Jehovah seen here in the Mount of 
God in the Mount.  Mercy, in thus both timely discovering and discountenancing these very dangerous designs of theirs (as much as in them ●ay for the present) extremely to blend and disgrace the just, fair and faithful proceedings of the Parliament; and though they most secretly and subtly carried and contrived their designs therein, yet the Lord graciously caused them to be stifled in their birth. 
● Tim. 3. 8, 9  So that we may most fitly take up that of the Apostle Paul, who speaking of the perilous times that should come in the last days, after a recital of a ragged-regiment of malignant and illaffected persons, brings in Jannes and Jambres (two audacious and arrogant companions) who obstinately and proudly withstood Moses, reviling and speaking evil of the truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall not proceed (says the Apostle) for, their folly shall be manifested to all men. As 'tis now with ours, blessed be the Lord our most wise God for it, and all their malice and mischief is fallen still upon their own hoads. 
Psal. 115. 1, 2. 3.  Wherefore, we may, nay we must, with holy David, most gratefully acknowledge, Not unto us, Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name be all the glory given, for thy mercy and for thy truth's sake▪ Who hast not suffered the heathen (or wicked) to say, where is now their God? But our God is in heaven, and hath done whatsoever he pleased.  

The King having unhappily left his Parliament, sends Messages to them.  Now after these things, the King having pressed the Parliament, with divers Messages in his unhappy departure and distance from it (as by and by shall be more fully and particularly set forth) and thereby constrained our prudent Worthies in Parliament to clear their integrity to his Majesty, and the whole Kingdom, yea and to the whole world also, if occasion were offered; they sent to his Majesty, and afterward set forth in print divers Declarations, Remonstrances, and Messages from both 
The Parliaments wisdom and moderation in their answers to them.  Houses of Parliament, all of them written and penned with such prudence, pi●ti●, and humility toward his Majesty, as most apparently evidenced their great and godly care for the preservation of his Honour and the Kingdom's welfare, to the great and unexpressible comfort and content of all God's people, especially in the most sweet continued symphony and harmonious concurrence of Both Houses which now began to be more and more strongly increased, notwithstanding the great and even mountan●●● obstructions and terrible distractions of the times mightily molesting and retarding their most important and weighty affairs, ou● most prudent and pious Peers still showing themselves (as was 
The sweet unanimity of both Houses notwithstanding their great discouragements.  touched before) more forward, if possibly it might be, in all good motions than the House of Commons. A mercy, which (things and times considered) we are not able sufficiently to prize and praise the Lord for, it being that blessing of the Kingdom which was so long and so earnestly desired by the universal confluence of the Petitions of the whole Kingdom; yea that great blessing, I say, which the Apostle Paul so heartily and vehemently desires 
1 Cor. 1. 10.  among his beloved Corinthians, That they might all speak the same 
Concordiâ re● parvae cres●unt, Discerdiâ magnae dila●untu●.  thing, and that there might be no division among them, but that they may be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgement. Yea that rare blessing which the Prophet David cannot set out sufficiently without a note of admiration, in the excellencies of it, when he said▪ Behold how good and joyful a thing 
Psal. 133. 1, ●.  it is brethren to dwell together in unity. Yea (says he) 'tis like the precious ointment upon Aaron's head, distilling thence to his beard and running down to the skirts of his garment. Such a pr●●io●● ointment, may I truly say, is this unity and concord in these two 
Concord ● sweet ointment to a Kingdom.  honourable Houses of Parliament, poured on the head of our Sovereign, distilling thence on the comely beard of his Kingdom, this renowned Parliament, and sweetly streaming thence down to the skirts or garments of the Land the people and inhabitants thereof. And now see, I pray, the blessed effects of this happy union and precious complacency between the King and Both Houses of Parliament, at this time. For about the 9th of April, the Lords and Commons in Parliament resolved to set upon the 
The Liturgy and Church government voted to be reform.  reformation of the Liturgy and government of the Church, whereby God's worship and service should be more purely performed than formerly it had been, and discipline more piously administered. And for this purpose they passed Votes in Both Houses, and most prudently pitched upon certain eminent godly, grave and learned Divines out of every Shire and Corporation of the Kingdom, who should meet together at a time appointed to discuss and consult among themselves what should be most apostolical, orthodox and nearest to the truth of God's word, and so to advise the Parliament for the settling of the same, as by their order printed and published by their authority may and doth more fully appear, which here I have thought fit to insert and mention to thee.  

The Order of the Lords and Commons touching the Liturgy and Church Discipline. Apr. 9 1642.  
THe Lords and Commons do declare that they intent a due and necessary reformation of the government and Liturgy of the Church, and to take away nothing in the one or other but what shall be evil and justly off nsive, or at the least unnecessary and burdensome. And for the better effecting thereof, speedily to have consultation with g●●ly and learned Divines. And because this will never of itself obtain the end sought therein; they will therefore use their utmost endeavour to establish learned and preaching Ministers with a good and sufficient maintenance throughout the whole Kingdom, wherein many dark corners are miserably destitute of the means of salvation, and many poor Ministers want necessary provision.   
Now then tell me (good Reader) whether the Lord appeared 
God on the Mount.  not in a Mount of Mercy, in this so unexpectible an act of long desired reformation in this kind? In these two so extremely deified 
Acts 19 28.  Diana's of our English Ephesus, so long settled upon their ol● lees, and so generally applauded by the Pontifician and other ignorant and malignant party of our land, so as it was thought a thing almost impossible to be effected. Yet see, I say, what ou● God can do, what mountains of difficulties and disturbances he is 
Isa. 46. 11, 12, 13.  able to remove, when he, once, resolves it according to that of the Prophet: I have spoken it, (saith the Lord) I will also bring it to pass, I have purposed it, I will also do it. Harken unto this ye stouthearted that are far from righteousness. I will bring near my righteousness, it shall not be so far off, and my salvation shall not carry, and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel, my glory. Yet, see, still, the malignancy of the serpentine-brood, breeding and breathing more and more threats and vexations to the sacredseed of the woman. For, not long after, that aforesaid hopeful 
The King, by his illaffected Counsellors grows into discontent with his Parliament  amiable symphonic of sweet accord between the King and his Parliament began to be besmeared with the black-coal of evil counsel, and his Majesty's affections to be so alienated and estranged from his grand and grave Council of Parliament, that in discontent he most unhappily sequestered his person from it, almost as far as his affection, even from the Southern toward the Northern parts 
The King departs from London.  of his Kingdom, to the universal and great grief of his loyal Subjects who made their earnest desires post as fast after him by their humble Petitions to return to his Parliament, but alas, all in vain, for in deep discontent his Majesty goes on in his journey, 
The King takes the Prince along with him.  takes the Prince along with him, was accompanied or attended on by a company of furious Cavaliers, who showed themselves in an hostile manner about Hampton Court and Kingston upon Thames, passed on thence to New-market, and so into the 

The King comes into the North.  
Hull attempte● to be taken for the King.  
But prevente● by Sir John Hotham.  
The K: came to Hull and required it to be delivered up to him.  
On refusal thereof was declared to be a traitor.  
Propositions made to the Gentry of York.  
Sword's draw●.   North, where an attempt was made by the Earl of Newcastle to have taken in Hull, and the full fraught Magazine thereof, variety of martial ammunition, for the King's use, but he was prevented, and Sir John Hotham a worthy Member of the House of Commons was put in possession thereof, for the use of his Majesty, and the good of the whole Kingdom. Not long after the King went himself in person to Hull, requiring the rendition of the Town and Magazine into his Majesty's hands, but Sir John Hotham having order to the contrary from the Parliament, refused so to do, and was therefore by his Majesties command declared a traitor. Propositions were made to the Gentry of York to assist his Majesty's proceedings against Sir John Hotham for the taking in of Hull into his Majesty's possession by compulsion, since he could not obtain it of him by persuasion. About which time▪ Sir Francis worthy and divers others siding together, and pretending themselves to be for the King, with their swords drawn in an unaccustomed and unexpected manner, demanded who was and would be on the King's side? By this evil act act of theirs in an especial manner manifesting themselves ●o be truly of the serpentine-seed, and therein imitating their father the devil, that grand seedsman of all sedition, whose main plot 
Divide & impera.  is and ever was to divide and separate what God hath united. Making a false and foolish discrepancy and difference, first between 
A false and foolish distinction made between the King and Parliament.  the King and the Parliament, which ought not to be; and secondly between the Parliament and the people, which cannot be. For what is the Parliament but a representative-Bodie of all the people in the whole Kingdom; and therefore to make men believe that the Parliament intends to wrong the people, by bringing in an arbitrary government (the thing which they mainly hate and 
Insanire cum ratione.  labour against) is to make men mad with discretion, to make us think the Parliament labours to undo themselves with us, and to 
Who is for the King, and who for the Parliament? interpreted.  provoke us madly to rush on them to our own certain ruin. To ask a man therefore whether he be for the King or the Parliament▪ is to ask him whether he be for the King or for himself▪ See then (discreet Reader) the drift of this devilish design and false distinction, which is merely to make men fall together by 
The gentry at York assembled again.  the ears, and to sheathe their swords in one another's bowels. But now the King receiving no content in this their fruitless meeting, the Gentry (but not Freeholders', which was taken ill) were again summoned to assemble together before the King, May the 23th being Friday, to resolve upon a guard of horse and foot to safeguard his person; this also was a long time fruitlessly 

The King resolved for Ireland, but contradicted therein by the Parliament.  
Freeholders of Yorkshire discourteously used.  
The Militia interdicted (to be exercised) by the King.   agitated. About which time or not long before, his Majesty published his resolution to go in person to Ireland to subdue the Rebels, which was utterly disliked by the Parliament as a business of very dangerous consequence. The Gentry, Yeomen and Freeholders' of York again are summoned together to York, but the honest yeomen were discourteously and uncivilly used by many of the Cavaliers or attendants about his Majesty; complaints were made thereof to the King, but not answered to their desire. His Majesty much about this time also forbade the exercise of the Militia, contrary to the Parliaments constitution over the Kingdom, and about the 15. or 16. of May, 1642. directed his Letter to Captain Philip Skippon, Sergeant Major 
Captain Philip Skippon summoned to York to the King.  general for the Militia of the City of London, a brave and expert old Soldier and Commander in Arms, and a most pious and virtuous Gentleman, requiring his personal attendance at York, all excuses set apart, and that there he should know his Majesty's pleasure: But this command was inhibited and contradicted to the said Captain Skippon by the authority of Both Houses of Parliament, as is afterward more fully declared. After this, about May the 26th, the King sending a letter to the Lord 

The K: sends to the Lord Keeper to remove Midsummer Term.  
The L. Keeper and divers other Lords leave the Parliament.   Keeper to remove Midsummer Term from London to York: this also was opposed by the Parliament, as shall also be farther declared in its proper place. Much about this time also or not long after this, the said Lord Keeper and seven or eight other Lords left the Parliament on a sudden, and without the consent thereof, and departed from London to York, to the King. In all which time, the Parliament sending many submiss Messages and humble Petitions to his Majesty at York, all of them full of wisdom, piety and patience, yet receive austere and unpleasing replies, even as his Majesty found unsatisfactory returns to his expectation and desires in all or most of his negotiations in those Northern parts ever since his unhappy abode there. But 
An objection.  what is all this (it may be objected) to the present intention of parliamentary mercies to be manifested to us? I answer, this 
The Answer.  forepast brief discourse serves greatly to show us, in the first place▪ a mighty fume and smoke now ready to break out into a most combustuous and furious flame, by the perverse and most 

God's overpowering wisdom and mercy still preventing our hastening mischiefs.  
Instrumentally by the pious & prudent demeanour of the Parliament.   pernicious counsel of the malignant party about the King (as the Parliament had often informed his Majesty in several Messages) if the Lords overpowering providence had not cast on the water of oportune qualification and timely quenching of the same, by the admirable wisdom and singular moderation of this pious and prudent Parliament, hindering the boisterous breaking-out thereof, both by their modest, grave and gracious Declarations, their most humble Petitions, their prudent and provident Votes and Orders, and their patient and most submiss Messages to his Majesty at York; especially by those two Declarations or Remonstrances of Both Houses, March, 12. and March, 23. their most humble, wise and moderate Petition March, 26. About which time also it pleased the Lord to stir up the hearts of the 

The Lords & gentry of Ireland petition his Majesty's return to London.  
So do others.   Nobles and gentry estated in Ireland, but then residing in London▪ to petition his Majesty's return to London, and gracious agreement with his great and highest▪ Court of Parliament. Together with the Gentry and Commons of the County of Lincoln, Staffordshire, and Munmouth in Wales; as also a most excellent and pathetical Petition from those of Cheshire, and another cut of Lancashire; all of them with an unanimous concurrence of Votes and suffrages, beseeching and imploring his Majesty's 
Our dear Brethren of Scotland also mediate with his Majesty to return.  speedy and propitious affection and return to his Parliament. Yea our ever to be honoured, and intimately to be loved Brethren of Scotland also were not wanting in their love and loyalty to send their faithful Commissioners, and among them the noble and renowned pious and prudent Lord Louthen to advise and beseech his Majesty to return and listen to his loyal and faithful 
The gentry & Commons of Yorkshire petitioned his Majesty's return to London.  Subjects in Parliament. The Gentry also and Commons of the County of York most humbly and earnestly besought and petitioned his Majesty, April the 30th, to reflect his favourable and princely affections on his great Council at London, and to cohere and adhere to their wholesome and honourable advice for his Majesty's honour and welfare: Together with the Knights, Gentlemen and others of the County of Yorks wise and modest answer to his Majesty's demands of them, not long after, in these words.  
May it please your most excellent Majesty.  

The Knights, Gentlemen & others of York-shires Answer to his Majesty's demands.  WE shall all be ready to defend your royal Person from violence, by all such ways and means as the Law and our duty bind us. And as for the means to vindicate your Majesty's honour, and to put you into possession of your own; we conceive that the best advice that we can offer to your Majesty is, humbly to desire you to hearken to the counsel of your Parliament, who we assure ourselves will be careful of your Majesty's person and honour, and to whom your Majesty hath already been pleased to direct a Message to that purpose.  

The Declaration or Remonstrance, May 19 1642.  Again, a full and fair Declaration or Remonstrance was sent to his Majesty from Both Houses of Parliament, and to the whole Kingdom, bearing date, May, the 19th, wherein were expressed the several Depositions of divers, about the bringing in of the Army (formerly in the North, and then intended against ou● Brethren of Scotland) to London against this Parliament. And since that, another Declaration or Remonstrance, bearing date 
Another Declaration or Remonstrance, May 26. 1642.  May 26th, 1642, in answer to one under his Majesty's name, concerning the business of Hull, sent in a message to Both Houses of Parliament, May 21. In which Remonstrance was fully set forth the Kings of England's deep tye of regal stipulation to rule the Kingdom according to the fundamental Laws made by the Commons thereof or people of the Kingdom, and ratifying and maintaining the Subject's immunities and freedoms, to the reciprocal and harmonious happiness of King and Subject. Therein 

Sir Io Hotham cleared from the imputation of treason laid on him.  
The Magazine brought to the Tower of London.  
The Popish & pernicious plot against Hull timely discovered.   also fully and fairly clearing Sir John Hotham from the imputation of treason in his holding the town of Hull to his Majesties and the Kingdoms just use and welfare. The safe transportation and removal of that great Magazine of warlike ammunition from Hull to London, notwithstanding the King's interdiction of the same. The timely and happy discovery of that dangerous plot against Hull by one Thomas Beckwith, gentleman, a Popish-recusant, and an inhabitant of Beverly in Yorkshire and others his confederates, signified most fully and exactly by Sir John hotham's own letter to a worthy Member of the House of Commons, and published in print, June 3, 1642. Both Houses of Parliament ratifying and confirming by their Orders unto 

The exercise of the Militia ratified by the Parliament in York, Lancas. etc.  
Sergeant Major Skippon cleared by the Parliament.   York, Lancas. and all the whole Kingdom, the exercise of the Militia, for the better security and safeguard thereof both against homebred conspiring Popish recusants, and foreign confederating Romish invaders of the land. The Parliaments clearing of that most worthy and pious gentleman Captain Philip Skippon from any legal disobedience to his Majesty's command, in not tendering his personal attendance on him at York; which was confirmed by 3. several Votes in Parliament, which for the Readers more full satisfaction I have here inserted.  

May 17th, 1642.  

Parliamentary Votes clearing Sergeant Major Skippon.  1. THat this command of his Majesty to call Captain Philip Skippon, Serjeant Major general of the Forces of London, to attend his Majesty's person at York, is against the Law of the Land, and the liberties of the Subject.  
2. That this command of his Majesty to call Captain Philip Skippon, Serjeant Major general of the Forces of London, to attend his Majesty's person, being employed by Both Houses to attend their service, without their consent, is against the privilege of Parliament.  
3. That Captain Philip Skippon, Serjeant Major general of the Forces of London, shall continue to attend the service of Both Houses according to their former commands.   
The same day also, which was, May, 17, 1642. It having been rumoured that Midsommer-Term should be adjourned to York, and the Parliament understanding thereof, the Lord Keeper was required to declare whether he had 〈…〉 any command from his Majesty to that purpose, which being answered 
See here one notable advantage of the legal continuation of this Parliament.  and satisfied by him to the Lords, that he had such a command, and the Lords conceiving how inconsistent the same was to a Parliament sitting at Westminster (not to be dissolved or adjourned without their consent) the Records being carried to York, whereof Both Houses were to have daily use; and that the Judges (whose advice and assistance the House of Peers daily required) should be so remote from them. They therefore voted.  

Midsummer Term not to be adjourned from Westm. to York.  That the King's removeall of the Term from Westminster to York▪ the Parliament sitting at Westminster, is illegal: And therefore further ordered, That the said Lord Keeper should not issue-out any Writs, or seal any Proclamation for adjourning the said Term from Westminster to York, as aforesaid.  

Delinquents to be proceeded against.  About the 20. or 21. of May, 1642. a Committee of Both Houses was nominated to consider how they should bring to condign punishment, those parties who are Delinquents and yet ●protected against proceedings in Parliament. At which tim also the House took into consideration his Majesty's summons of the 14. of May, commanding the gentry to appear before him in their equipage▪ And thereupon voted;  

Votes of Parliament against the King's proceedings in York.  1. That it appeared that his Majesty seduced by wicked Counse●● intends to make war against the Parliament, who in all their consultations and actions have proposed no other end unto themselves, but the care of his Kingdom, and the performance of all duty and loyalty to his person.  
3. That whensoever the King maketh war upon the Parliament▪ it is a breach of the trust reposed in him contrary to his Oath, and tending to the dissolution of this government.  

Two Acts of Parliament in Ric. 2. & Hen. 4. proving such proceedings to be flat treason.  3. That whosoever shall serve or assist him in such wars are traitors to the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom, and have been so adjudged in two Acts of Parliament, namely, 11 of Ric. 2. and 1 of Hen. 4. and aught to suffer as traitors. Which said two Acts, taken out o● the Records in the Tower of London, containing divers Articles 〈◊〉 treason then exhibited in the Parliament, against the Archbishop of York. Michael de la Pool and others, in the time of Ric. 2. most tightly and punctually depainting the present state of things with us now, were by Both Houses of Parliament voted to be printed and published in French, English and Latin on May, 26, 1642. Since this, about May, the 25▪ a dispatch was made from the Parliament, to their Committee at York, with an 
An Ordinance of Parliament sent to York touching their train'dbands.  Ordinance of Parliament, to be published in all Market-towns over that whole County, declaring that the Train'dbands ought not to be raised by his Majesty's personal command, as the affairs of the Kingdom now stand. And on May, 27. and 28. 
Two Orders of both Houses sent into Lancas. and to all Counties in England and Wales.  1642. two Orders from both Houses were printed and published. The one to all high Sheriffs and all other Officers within the County of Lancaster, and in general to all the Counties of England and dominion of Wales; Both of them, to this effect, that, In regard of their just jealousies and grounded-fears, that his Majesty seduced by wicked Counsel intended to make war against the Parliament, therefore, no Arms and Ammunition should be conveyed toward York. And for 
To oppose the illegal proceedings at York.  keeping a strict watch within their several limits and jurisdictions, and to search for and seize on all such arms and ammunition, and to apprehend all such persons going to York with any such; and to suppress and hinder the raising and coming together of any Soldiers, horse or foot, by any Warrant or Commission from his Majesty alone, without the advice and consent of his Parliament. By this and all other forementioned means to stop and hinder the breaking out of civil broils and dissensions in the Kingdom, and to maintain and propagate the blessed and happy peace thereof; yea the care and 
The Parliaments care to see to the arms and ammunition of the Kingdom.  providence of this Parliament continually contriving and casting about for the welfare of the King and Kingdom, gave order that the several Societies of Sadlers, Armourers and Gun-smiths should forthwith certify to the Houses of Parliament▪ what numbers of Arms and Saddles they were to provide weekly, and for whom. And have been most vigilant and circumspect to cause their Ordinance for the Militia of the Kingdom (for the better strengthening of it) to be put into execution in Lincolnshire, which his Majesty had opposed by a Proclamation, which Ordinance 
The Militia exercised in divers Counties.  of Parliament was, notwithstanding, obediently observed and exercised, in Buckinghamshire▪ Middlesex, Essex, Leicestershire, and other Counties. And about the 29. or 30. of 
An Ancient of Sir joh. Hothams' imprisoned at York.  May, 1642. It having been informed to the Parliament that an Ancient of Sir John hotham's was apprehended and imprisoned at York; the Parliament presently sent to the Committee there to know the ground of his detenor, and if for being in the service of both Houses than they hold it an act of hostility against the Parliament, and are likewise to return the names of all such Members of the House as are at York, their presence there, tending to countenance the war intended against the Parliament. And 
The 19 Propositions sent to his Majesty from the Parliament for an accommodation.  about June the second, this most pious and prudent Parliament sent a most submissive Petition, with 19 Propositions from Both Houses of Parliament, all of them containing matters of high concernment for the singular good (as they providently conceived) both of Church and Commonwealth, which in their most religious and prudent aims might extraordinarily tend to a most blessed, happy and deeply desired accommodation and reconciliation of differences and misunderstandings betwixt his Majesty and them, protesting and seriously assuring his Majesty that if he would vouchsafe to grant those their most humble and behooveful requests, they would with all alacrity of mind and celerity of endeavour apply themselves so to regulate his Majesty's revenues, and to settle such an extraordinary and constant increase of it, as should be abundantly sufficient to support his royal dignity in majestical honour and princely plenty, beyond 
A harsh message returned to the Parliament in reply to their 19 Propositions.  the proportion of any of his Subjects grants to any of his Majesty's predecessors. But this so humble submission, these fair propositions, and this so loyal a protestation of fidelity and integrity toward his Majesty conceived and brought forth shortly after, a very harsh and unpleasing reply unto them, to theirs and our no small sorrow and continued, yea and aggravated grief and discontent.  

The sum of all these former passages considered together.  Now the sum of all these premised particulars so summarily mentioned together comes to thus much; that all these many weighty and various premises seriously considered, and impartially preponderated, cannot but most copiously discover and lay open to the eyes of all that are not wilfully and obstinately blind and too extremely incredulous (even against clearest sight, sense, and most resplendent demonstrations) on the one side, the most sturdy and untyred (though, hitherto, blessed be the Lord, most fruitless) projects, plots and crafty contrivements of the malignant party, under a specious colour and pernicious pretence of advancing 
A clear dese●ption of the aims of the malignant party.  regal authority, prerogative, and the King's prosperity, and yet all of these (by them) most egregiously injured and abused to the sly subversion of both King and Kingdom. First (as a most eminent, worthy and pious Member of the House of Commons lately related it most pithily and pertinently) by weakening 
Mr Denzell Holles, in his most excellent Speech to the Lords. June 15. 1642.  and invalidating the proceedings and power of the Parliament, and making way for the utter subversion of it. Secondly, for this end, by gathering forces together at York▪ under a pretence of a guard for his Majesty's person, but purposely to make opposition against the Parliament▪ and thereby also to support Delinquents, to slight and scorn the power and orders of the Parliament, and to make them of no esteem or reputation. Thirdly, to send out bitter invectives, and unjust aspersions, in his Majesty's name as Declarations and messages from him, only to perplex the Parliament with ●edious expense of their precious time to answer them, and thereby also by false colours and glosses to make the people disaffect the Parliament, yea (and if possibly) to stir them up to destroy it (and all Parliaments for ever) and with it, themselves, their wives and children. Fourthly and lastly, to draw the Members of both Houses away from their duty and attendance on them, and to go down to York▪ thereby to make the Parliament, as it were, bleed to death, and moulder to nothing, and thus to blemish the actions of Both Houses of Parliament, as done by a few and inconsiderable number, and rather a party than a Parliament, and perhaps to setup an Anti-parliament at York. A desperate and most dangerous practice, utterly to ruinate all. But all in vain, I trust in the Lord, as hitherto, we have happily seen, in all their designs, for ever blessed be the Lord our God for it.  

The loyal & laudable aims and ends of 〈◊〉 the Parliament in all the forecited particulars.  But, on the other side, we may most apparently perceive, and clearly behold by all those forementioned particulars on the Parliaments part, the most admirable and even onely-heaven-inspired wisdom, moderation, prudence, piety, patience and indefatigable vigilancy of our ever to be honoured, and everlasting renowned Peers and Commons in Parliament, most humbly demeaning themselves always toward his Majesty, most wisely and courageously against the malignant party, most religiously and faithfully to Church and State in general, and most graciously, tenderly and affectionately, as so many fathers of their Country to all singular petitions and petitioners desiring their aid and assistance, in a fair and fitting way for the good of Church and State; which was most undeniably evident by the most sweet 
An irrefragable testimony of the Parliaments integrity.  reciprocal resultance and concurrent confluence of hearts and affections of all in City and Country, over all the whole three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, that had any spark or glimpse of true grace, yea of but mere commongrace and goodness, to the infinite praise and glory of the Lord our God, be it 
A most blessed marriage 'twixt Peace & Truth. 2 Kin. 20 19  spoken, and to the unexpressible joy of our souls, even of the souls of all those that cordially love and desire to live to see the glorious and most happy espousals and never-again-to be-sequ●stred-union and marriage 'twixt Peace and Truth, the grand and gracious desire of that good King Hez●kiah, the main, if not only aim and ●nd of this prudent Parliament; and which ought to be also of every true godly Christian with them.  
Now, therefore, friendly Reader, I say all those forementioned particulars conglomerated into one body of serious animadversion, those clouds of witnesses attesting this truth, say, was 
God in the Mount.  not thy wonderworking God, the Lord Jehovah most admirably, most gloriously, even far beyond all humane apprehension or expression, seen in the Mount of mercies for England's mighty Deliverance? Tell me, good Reader, speak thy conscience freely, hath not England found, yea hath not this blessed Parliament 
2 King. 6. 11, 12.  found our God raising up one Elisha or other to reveal, and timely to discover all the wicked plots and devises of the malignant party, (even now and of late, and indeed all-along) against the happy hope-breathing condition of our greatly envied Church and State? So that we may say of England, (now adays, especially within this year and a half) as Balaam, once, said of the children of 
Num. 23. 23.  Israel. Surely, there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: for, according to this time, it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought? So, certainly, we have all seen it, and the very adverse and malignant party 
No enchantment against England; no divination against the Parliament.  must needs confess it. Surely, there is no enchantment against England and Scotland, nor is there any divination of the wicked that can prosper against the Houses of Parliament for, according to these times of our wonderful deliverances, It shall be said to succeeding posterity of England and of Scotland; O what hath our most gracious God freely wrought for us? Nay, let me speak in particular to those of the malignant faction, or let me rather sing it out with most emphatical joy, as Moses did in his sweet song of God's high praises, and let them deny it if they can. Their Rock is not as our Rock, even they our enemies themselves being 
Deut. 32. 31.  judges. For, had their rock, or rather Egyptian-reed been able 
We have a Rock to rest on, our adversaries have but an Egyptian Reed to rely on.  to have overpowered our celestiall-Rock, we had (undoubtedly) long ere this, been made most woeful spectacles, to them and theirs, of ineffable ruin and implacable wrath; whereas we are, now, most hopefully happy spectators of their most black shame, sorrow and precipitating confusion. Even so, Amen, Lord Jesus hasten it for thine elects sake.  
Now than these things being thus, how can we but with holy David, break out into overflowing cordiall-gratitude, and say with his heart and tongue. What shall we render to the Lord for all his blessed benefits toward us? We will take the cup of salvation and call on the Name of the Lord. We will pay our vows (of universal true obedience) unto the Lord, in the presence of all the people. Yea, I say, how can we forbear to breakforth into pious King David's excitation and stimulation of our hearts to infinitely obliged thankfulness, but with sincere rouzed-up souls to sing. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy 
Psal. 103. 1, 2, 3, 4.  Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all (or any of) his precious benefits. Who hath forgiven all thine iniquities, and healed all thy great and grievous diseases: Who hath redeemed thy life from destruction, and hath crowned thee with loving kindness and tender mercies.  


The sum of all.  
A fourfold Use or Observation.   In sum, therefore, to wind-up all briefly, let me beseech thee, good Christian Reader, to make this fourfold holy use and observation of all these premises, these remarkable and unparallelled parliamentarie-mercies to England, to unworthy, sinful England. First, to admire and adore the infinite and free mercy of our good God, who hath done all these great things for thee, 

Observation. To admire & adore Gods free grace and mercy.  
Ezek. 36. 22, 23.   even for his own Name sake, because this so glorious a wonderworking attribute of freegrace and merci? pleaseth him best of all. Know O England, that it was not for thine own sake, that God hath done all these things for thee, but for his holy Names sake, which (alas) thou hadst most extremely profaned. But thy God was willing to sanctify his own great Name, which thou, I say, hadst profaned, and because he would make the wi●ked and ungodly among thee to know that God is the Lord, and that he will be sanctified in you, before 
Isa. 16. 11, 1●.  their eyes, and that they may see that the Lords hand is listed u● against them though they will not see, yet they shall see and be ashamed of their envy at God's people, when the fire of God's wrath devours his enemies, and when they shall perceive that the Lord only hath ordained peace for his people, and hath wrought all his works in us and for 
How to look on our sins.  us. Let us not therefore (my dear Christian English brethren and friends) so much look on our sins as to dead our hearts, or to damp our faith, by saying one to another; O, but our sins are greater than other Nations, and therefore, surely, the Lord will not (yet) save and deliver us, till we are fitted for mercy. Alas, alas, if God should not be merciful to us till we are fit for mercy, 
Mark this well. Deut. 7, 6, 7, 8.  certainly, he must never be merciful to us. But, here we see, and Moses confirms it farther to us, that oftentimes) God shows not mercy to a people because they are greater in number, or better in condition▪ or fitter for his mercy than another people, but because the Lord freely loved us above or before all others ou● neighbour Nations round about us, and that he might keep his 
Psal. 50, 15.  word and promise made of old, to save his people when they called on him in the day of their trouble, that so they might glorify him. And most undoubtedly for this very end the Lord hath 
God's way of saving a people by free mercy.  poured on his people of England (within these two or three years) an extraordinary spirit of grace and prayer or supplication, in these days of their distress and great calamity; yea and notably manifested by all these forementioned returns of prayer, even far beyond their hopes and desires, that he is a God hearing prayers▪ and so hath encouraged his people (notwithstanding their sins) to come unto him, and hath clearly let them see that 'tis not in vain to call on our God, and to wait till he have mercy. Hence, therefore, I say, let us learn to admire and adore the bounteous and open-hand and enlarged bowels of love and compassion of our good God and indulgent Father, who hath done all these so great and so good things for us, even of his own mere mercy 
Psal. 147. 20.  and free favour, and because mercy pleaseth him. Since, then, it is most true and unquestionable, that God hath not so dealt 
Observation.  with every Nation, nay I may justly say, not with any Nation, as he hath with us of England: O let us all seriously endeavour to outstrip every Nation round about 〈◊〉 Thankfulness and 
Thankfulness and obedience.  Obedience, which is the second Observation I desire to make of these remarkable parliamentary mercies to us. Thankfulness, I say, first to our good and gracious God, who hath been the only author and fountain of all these full and fairly overflowing mercies to us. Who hath thus blessed where the enemy hath cursed. 
To God.  Who hath, thus, made the plots and devises of our adversaries, the main means of their own shame and smart, of their own certain ruin and destruction. Yea who hath thus firmly and faithfully performed all his good word and will unto us hitherto, and 
Psal. 115▪ 1.  therefore with holy David to cry out and say, Not unto us, Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give all the glory, for thy mercy and for thy truth's sake. Yea to raise and rouze-up our souls to the highest peg and pitch of holy ecstasies of praise and thanksgiving to our God, and to breakout as the same holy David did. My 
Psal. 108. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.  heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed, I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Awake psaltery and harp (yea, awake soul and heart) I myself will awake right early, yea and right earnestly. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people, and I will sing praises unto thee among the Nations. For, thy mercies are great above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth. Set up thyself (therefore) O our God, more and more, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth. And let not this our thankfulness be merely 
Thankfulness must produce universal obedience.  a work of lip-labour; but let it also (yea especially) produce an effectual work of life-labour▪ of true obedience, which, indeed, is better than sacrifice. Obedience, I say, to all God's commandments, universall-submission to the whole will of God. Which is mainly seen in breaking-off from our sins (those great blocks) that stand in the way, and hinder Gods good things from us; accursed sin, I say, which locks up all the gates of God's goodness and 
True repentance is the golden-key to open the door● of God's treasury.  sweetness from us) by true and cordial repentance, by hating and forsaking our closest and s●yliest insinuating darling sins our bosome-Dal●lahs, which is the onely-golden-key to open the doors, to▪ lift-up the floodgates of all Gods rich treasury of grace and overflowing favours and mercies to us.  
Objection. But, here, I may demand (and not impertinently I hope) May we not also give thanks and due commendations to our noble and renowned Worthies in Parliament, who have so cheerfully and so indefatigably spent themselves and their precious time for us and the Kingdoms good?  
Answer. Yes undoubtedly, and that most duly; but in the first and most, and best place, to the Lord our God, who is the author and fountain of all our mercies, and unto them in the next place, as the 

To our renowned Parliament-Worthies.  
Mr Calamie in his Fast Sermon, p. 1●. A suitable simile.   channels or conduit-pipes by and through whom God is pleased to convey these comforts to us. And, as a grave, godly and learned Divine of our City fitly observed; It is not only decent and comely to give them thanks, even as we would, if a Lord or great friend should send us some extraordinary gift by his servant; we would first give condign thanks to the Lord or friend that sends it, and also gratify the servant or messenger by whom 'twas sent, with some real expression both of our high esteem of the donor, and also of our grateful hearts to the messenger for his pains in bringing it to us: So, without all question it is not only decent (as I said before) but due and equal that we should 
Why we ought to be most obligedly thankful to this blessed Parliament.  (at least) return most hearty thanks to these honourable and happy Messengers of our great Lord and gracious God, who hath, by them, conferred upon us such and so many indelible monuments of mercies and admirable Deliverances; especially when we consider, I say, with what invincible patience and pains, what admired wisdom and untyred sweetness of spirit, both Lords and Commons, have for us and our good neglected their own lives and livelihood, their own private and personal affairs and just delights, (otherwise) befitting such persons and personages even beyond the slender and lank expression of my poor pen, yea of the most eminent parallel of any bypast times▪ And therefore worthy, yea most worthy that we should praise and prise them, and pray for them too, that our God would repay into the bosoms of them and their posterity all the sweetness of their love and loyalty to God their King and Country, which we all have found and felt to our unspeakable joy and comfort.  

The Parliaments most just Panegyric, or due praise.  Which being so, as most certain so it is. Ah foul shame for such as most injuriously endeavour to traduce and blemish (as much as in their foul mouths and false hearts is) the most honourable name and unspotted reputation of so renowned prudent Peers and pious Patriots, whose equals (for piety, prudence, patience and indefatigable pains for Church and State) this Kingdom 
Envy and ingratitude against this present Parliaments proceedings.  and Nation, never, since it had a being beheld. Yet some, I say, have not blushed nor been ashamed to manifest such foul effects of black and ignominious ingratitude (and therein most palpable impiety) as cannot choose but be most exceeding irksome and odious both to God and man. Some, saying they see little or nothing done (as yet) others convinced in their consciences of what is already done, yet extremely extenuate and undervalue the same, saying, what have they done in so long time, what is yet reform by them that was amiss before? Nay are not things (say some spurious imps of Envy) worse than they were 
The true cause of Parliament calumniations and slanders.  before (for so they count the works of reformation already wrought, and farther endeavours of pure ordinances in Religion, right rules of justice which indeed is the main thing that vexeth them, and which, they extremely fear lest it cut them short of the former liberty of their base lusts) This, I say, and much more dares black-mouthed malignity belch out against these our never-sufficiently to be praised and prized Heroes, notwithstanding all those most admirable and amiable white-clouds of witnesses of their mighty and blessed pains and piety, as have been by me abundantly made known in all those forementioned parliamentarie-mercies, wherein, as, I have fully and fairly (I think) told my Readers what they have done: So, I could yet farther tell them what more they would have done, had not the most notorious envy and malice of impious and irreligious opposers the 
Act. 13. 10.  malignant Elymasses of our times, and enemies of all righteousness and true goodness mightily molested and perniciously 
What the Parliament intends yet farther to do.  opposed their pious purposes and religious resolutions therein. As namely, a full removeall of the inordinate power, vexation and usurpation of Bishops, the reformation of the pride and idleness of many others of the Clergy, the casing of the people's consciences from unnecessary ceremonies in God's worship, the censuring and removing of unworthy and unprofitable Ministers, and chose, the maintaining and setting-up of godly and diligent Preachers through the whole Kingdom; together with many other things of great importance for the singular good of the Kingdom, which long have been in proposition and agitation in Parliament (which the Reader may see most particularly set forth by our 
* The first and famous Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom; set forth, Decemb▪ 15. 1641.  Parliamentarie-Worthies themselves) but, which have been extremely and necessitously retarded and hindered by plots and projects of the malignant party; but, which God (I trust) will in his own good time ripen and bring to maturity of a through reformation, to the praise of his grace and wonderworking glory.  
The third serious consideration and observation of all these rich and rare Parliamentarie-mercies, incomparable mercies and 
Observation.  gracious deliverances of ou● land and Nation, so deeply designed 

To make ' us more faithful and less fearful.  
King David's encouragement.  
Psal. 44. 1.   to destruction, but so admirably plucked (as a brand) out of the fire of confusion, should, most justly, make us more faithful and less fearful. The Prophet David made it a ground of comfort and encouragement to him, to consider what God had done for his Church and children in former times. We have heard (says he) with our ears, O God, and our fathers have told us what works thou didst in their days, and in the times of old. But what a ground of comfort and heart-stablishing encouragement may it be to us, who 
Ver. 2. 3, 4.  have not only heard our fathers tell us of God's former wonders, but have visibly seen with our own eyes, and found by our own present experience, how our God hath with his mighty hand and stretched-out arm supplanted our enemies, and blessedly begun to plant us. How the Lords right hand and mighty arm, and the light of his countenance (because he had a favour to us) hath put us into much present possession of our hearts desires, and gloriously commanded great deliverances for us. It was also (and that most justly) a strong strengthening sup rtation to loyall-hearted and royally-affectionated 
David's experimental faith.  King David, to assure himself of an undoubted conquest over that seeming unconquerable uncircumcised Philistine, great 
1 Sam. 17. 37.  Goliath, namely, the sweet heart-fortifying experience he had had of Gods assisting power and preservation against the paw of the Lion, and the paw of the Bear. And shall not these our so many and so marvellous great deliverances and so sweetly and so freshly▪ tasting-merci s cause us to be confident, that our God will deliver us also from the great Goliah-like and Philistine fears of future most dangerous designs by our most private and pernicious plotting enemies? O foul shame if they should not! Certainly (Christian Reader) experimental faith must needs be an unmoveable, an impregnable rock, not to be dashed out of countenance, or driven from its so fast hold by base and slavish fears, 
Nehem. 6. 11.  but to be the more settled and confirmed in faith. O (says courageous and noble Nehemiah) shall such a man as I am fly for fear 
Sweet encouragements to rely on God.  of any enemies? So may I say to thee (good Reader) and to all my Christian brethren of England, shall men of so many mercies, so many rare pledges of farther purposed deliverances, all ready put into our hands, faint and be afraid? Shall we damp and dead our hearts with base servile fear, and slavish doubts of infidelity, and, thereby, extremely discountenance our glorious cause, and mightily encourage our insulting enemies, who would gladly triumph in our pusillanimous terrors and effeminate faintings? Ou● God forbid. Let us call to remembrance, and lay it sadly and seriously to our hearts (for 'tis a most certain and undeniable truth) that nothing did so cut short the children of Israel from entering 
Infidelity a mostdangerous means to deprive us of our happy hopes.  into Canaan, fruitful Canaan, the desire of their souls (because the promised land of peace and plenty) as godless infidelity still questioning and as it were catechising God's power and faithfulness. O, so, let us take great heed that infidelity and false-fears cut us not short of our hopes of a pure reformation (the desire of our souls) and of a perfect deliverance from ensuing dangers, the promised heart-chearing happiness of us and our posterity. But here I desire I may not be mistaken; I have not so pressed this duty of 
Advise not to be secure or careless also.  faithful repose in God, out of former happy experiments as to cast any of God's children into a lethargi of supine security, or improvident carelessness. No, God forbid this also. For, I hereby forbid not all fear, but do desire we may still and over retain that godly fear which may graciously keep our hearts in such an humble posture and disposition as may preserve us from carnal security, as may make us fear the Lord, tremble at his judgements, 
What fear is requisite in times of danger.  and not dare to sin against him; fear thus (still) on God's name, and spare not, for, doubtless, blessed is the man that (thus) fears always. But, ay, hereby, desire only to beat down and keep-under that slavish f are and cowardly fainting of spirit, which I observe 
A great failing in God's people.  to be too frequent in God's dearest children, to the dishonour of our gracious and bountiful God, and the wonderful weakening and wounding of so glorious a cause as we are interessed in, (and blessed be our God that ever we had a part in it) especially having God on our side, and his sure word of promise to support us to back and bear us up in our strictest straits. Wherefore, my Brethren, let us seriously and sincerely often check and control such unsound and unwarrantable fears, with that fair and favourable reproof from the Lord himself of such false and faithless 
Isa. 51. ●.  fears in his children▪ Harken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my Law. Fear ye not the reproaches of men, neither be ye afraid of their revile▪ For, the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool▪ but my righteousness 
A precious preservative against false fears in God's children.  shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation. And that especially in the 12 and 13 verses of the same chapter. ay, even I am he that comforteth you, who art thou that thou shouldst be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass▪ and forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundation of the earth▪ and hast feared continually every day, because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy, and where is the fury of the oppressor? Certainly, good Reader, here's a most exact description of the condition of very many of God's children, even at this very day; O what fear of the force or fraud is there of men, yea of wicked men, who shall undoubtedly perish together with their most desperate designs and profoundest policy? What startling is there at a base weak project of theirs, though our eyes have seen them vanish like a vapour and come to nought? What frights and fears are in the hearts of God's people, even every day (as the Lord says) because of their seeming fury, but certain frenzy and madness; which yet, our God hath crushed and confounded in its highest ruff and deepest danger-threatning bluster▪ For shame, therefore, for shame, let us labour against such groundless, such causeless fears▪ and put on godly resolution and invincible courage, since the Lord is our God, and is good, and does good, and who hath done all this great good for us; Which brings us to my fourth and last Observation on these forementioned paliamentarie mercies, namely, That the Lord only is our 
Observation. God only is our salvation, therefore to wait on him for deliverance Psal. 3. 8. Isa. 36. 6.  salvation, and hath engaged himself and his own great Name to deliver us, by his faithful word and promise, and that therefore we should patiently, wisely, and zealously depend on him for deliverance. Since, I say, the Lord only is our strength, and not the failing arm of flesh which we know is an accursed prop, and will deceive like the broken reeds of Egypt; let us therefore often remember that of good King Jehosaphat, which indeed, I desire may be a constant and cordial memento to us all to establish and strengthen our hearts piously and patiently to wait on the 
2 Chron. 22. 20.  Lord, namely, Hear me (says that good King) O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, believe the Lord your God, so shall ye be established, believe his Prophets (and promises) so shall ye prosper. Even so I say to thee, O England, and ye noble and renowned inhabitants of London, famous over the whole Christian world for the glory of God among you, believe the many and most sweet and preciouspromises which God in Christ hath made unto you, so shall ye certainly prevail and prosper; lay hold on the promises, yea, rest and roll yourselves, and even live upon the promises, so shall it undoubtedly go well with thee. Now, we have a sure word of promise, that Babylon shall fall, yea says the 
Isa. 21. 9▪  Lord, by the Prophet (in respect of the certainty of it) Babylon is fallen, is fallen, (with an ingemination, which implies, matter of 
jer. 51. 8.  moment) and all the graven images of her gods, the Lord hath broken to the ground. Yea says the Prophet Jeremy, Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed. Now then, I say, good Reader, having such a sure word of promise (even from the fountain of Truth, yea Truth itself) let us with Christian courage, by faith lay fast hold on it and infallibly believe it, for Truth hath spoken it; and certainly heaven and earth shall sooner perish than one jot or tittle of his precious word and promise shall not be performed. Hast thou, I say, (as a reverend and learned Divine, once sweetly 
Mr Carall Pastor of Lincolns-inn.  delivered) a sure word of promise, abide close by it, for, certainly, whatsoever the work of God's providence may be (which ofttimes, I confess, seems, even point-blank to cross and contradict our hopes, mainly for trial of our faith and patience) yet, stick-fast to the word of promise, rest and rely on it, wait with the patience of the Saints for the performing of it: For, as the Lord said to the Prophet, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables that he may 
Haba. 2▪ 2, 3▪  run that readeth it. For, the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie, though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, and it will not tarry. See here, good Reader, what sound and solid grounds of Christian courage, comfort and confidence is here? Who then would be afraid? Who would not strongly and immovably rely on the Lord his so mighty, so sure foundation? See, I say, what an abundant Cornucopia of sweet refection is here for the most drooping heart that may be, who then would Tantalise in the midst of such & so fair heart-upholding store? Alas, alas, good Reader, if, under such props and supportations our hearts should flag, and faint, and sink, by 
Infidelity is the root of slavish fear.  fear and infidelity (which indeed is the bitter root of slavish fear) might not the Lord too justly upbraid us, as, once, he did the murmuring children of Israel, the sinful and rebellious Israelites? Since the Lord only is our fast and firmly-rooted Rock, and his 
Deut. 32. 4, 5, 6  works are perfect, and all his ways judgement, a God of truth, and without iniquity, most just and right. If we thus corrupt ourselves (with sinful infidelity) our spot is not then the spot of his children, but we being thus a perverse and crooked generation, may not the Lord, then, I say, most justly upbraid us, and say, Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? Is not God your Father that hath bought you and established you? O remember the days of old (of thy old slavery and bondage of Romish-Egypt, the black and palpable fogs of Popish idolatry and superstition) consider the years of many past generations, ask your fathers and they can show you, your elders and they can tell you. And certainly, as good Ezra said in such a like case: If after these great mercies and deliverances which God hath wrought for us, and wherewith he hath so graciously crowned 
Ezra 9 13, 14.  us, we should yet again break our covenant with God, we should violate his righteous commandments, turn his so sweet and precious grace into wantonness, and make this his patience and goodness to us a ground of our licentiousness, and lose living, would not the Lord (and that most justly) be angry with us, until he had utterly consumed us? Yes certainly he would. For, though 'tis most true that the Lord hath proclaimed himself to the whole world, and all generations have found him to be, The 
Exod. 34. 5, 6, 7  Lord, the Lord, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin: yet it is as true, that he will by no means clear the guilty, but will visit the iniquity of fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children unto the third and fourth generation. Wherefore, I say, let our only fear be to offend this God, as loving and obedient children; to disobey so loving▪ so gracious and indulgent a Father of mercies, and God of so many comforts and consolations; yea to provoke so patient a God, so loath to strike when stirred, yea constrained thereunto by our unsufferable sins; so ready to help and heal what sin hath wounded. Let us, then, be seriously advised, since such free favour is shown unto us, to behold 
Isa. 26. 10.  the majesty of the Lord, and to learn righteousness, and not to do unjustly in the land of uprightness; lest whiles we will not learn righteousness by the historical miseries of others (I mean Germany and Ireland) God make us a history of woe and wretchednesse ●o 
Mr Calamie in his Sermon on the Fast.  others round about us. Yea, I say, let us chose be constrained cordially to love such a God of love who so delights to load ●s with his love in such unparalleled & unpatterned measure as never any Nation could produce the like precedents. But let this our love be free and filial▪ not mercenary, and so (as reverend M▪ Calamie before mentioned in his said Fast-Sermon) meretricious love, only, or else mainly for love of reward or fear of punishment, but let it be pure and sincere, and out of an honest heart and good conscience, as unto the Lord, the only searcher of the heart and reins, and who is only pleased with sincerity and integrity of heart, truth in the inner-parts. And, now, to wind-up all and to conclude▪ le● holy love▪ I say, and perfect obedience be the precious retribution of all these rare and singular mercies of our bountiful God unto us; unto us, I say, a Nation so ill-deserving such an 〈◊〉 of overflowing favours, a Nation so well-deserving an ●npattern'd-deluge of direst destruction; a Nation so freely, so extraordinarily beloved, a Nation so meretoriously deserving to be extremely hated; a Nation, I say, so filled and fraught and beautified with blessings, and yet a Nation and people so defiled and stained with si●s and transgressions of deepest dies. In sad and most serious consideration whereof, 
2 Sam. 12, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.  I desire that what that good Prophet Samuel pressed on the people of Israel might take deep impression on mine own and all my conscionable and Christian Readers hearts, Though (O England) thou be a sinful Nation, yet fear not, turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve him (now) with all your heart. And turn not aside 
O England take heed of Romish idolatry and superstitious innovations.  (with disloyal apostasy to base and bloody and blasphemous Rome, or any of her Romish innovations and Nation-confounding high provocations) for then should ye go after vain things which cannot profit or deliver you in the day of your distress, for they are vain. But cleave and adhere fast to the Lord (and to his pure and holy worship) for the Lord will not forsake his people, for his own great Names sake, because it hath pleased the Lord to make us his people above all Nations round about. And as for me your poor and unworthy brother (that I may use the said holy Prophets own words) God forbid, that I should sin against the Lord, in ceasing to pray continually for my land and nation. But I desire (by this Prophet's blessed direction) to admonish and show you the good and right way, to conserve and increase all these many and most rich mercies and deliverances to you and your springing posterity. Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth, with all your heart; for, consider how great things he hath done for you. And now for a full and final close and conclusion of all, give me leave (good Reader) to use my most dear and even blessed Saviour's holy and wholesome exhortation to that dispossessed man in the Gospel, on whom he 
Mark 5. 19  had wrought that great miracle. Go home to thy friends (saith our Saviour) and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. So, I to myself and all my godly Readers, Let us go home to our own hearts, to our own houses, yea and to God's house too, and tell our own souls, our wives, children 
Go tell wha● great things God hath do●● for thee.  and friends, yea and teach our children to tell their posterity after us, how great and how good things the Lord our God hath done for us, for England, Scotland and Ireland, three most sinful Nations; and how he hath had compassion on us, merely for his own free mercy's sake, and because mercy best pleased him. And, then, and therewithal, let us again and again ruminate and recogitate, yea practice and perform that pregnant precept of our great Lord and Master Christ Jesus to that poor and infirm man, who had for many years together been a poor lame cripple (just our case in the spiritual sense) and whom our Saviour had wonderfully 
joh. 5▪ 14.  cured. Behold thou art made whole, sin no more (says our Saviour) lest a worse thing come unto thee: So let us all say to our own souls 
Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.  in particular, and to our land and Nation in general, behold we are all (hitherto) strangely saved and delivered out of the hands of our malicious and malignant enemies; O let us take heed and labour (by the help of God's Spirit) that we sin no more (especially 
The sin of Romish idolatry a most dangerous sin. A ●it simile.  that realm ruinating sin of back-sliding to Romish idolatry and Popish superstition) lest a worse thing come unto us. For, certainly, as a wise husband will discreetly bear with many failings, yea and main faults and infirmities too in his wife whom he loves; but i● she once defile his marriagebed by adultery, O he can by no means endure that indignity and disgrace: So undoubtedly it is with the Lord our God, who hath married his Church and children to himself, who will (as we all have deep & daily experience, and as was most remarkably evident in King David) bear with many gross and foul faults, and failings in them, but if once they 
Luk. 22. 32.  defile his marriagebed (as I may so call it) violate their faith (not that I think or believe 'tis * possible for his truly elected-ones and effectually-called-ones to fall away totally or finally from true faith, or soulsaving grace) and pure profession or religion, by committing idolatry (spiritual adultery) and foolish and faithless superstition, he will by no means put-up or endure this heinous, yea this hideous and most hateful sin, this infallibly punishment-provoking sin, especially, I say, if it be stubbornly and stiffly persisted in, but (as was notably manifested in King Solomon) will undoubtedly be avenged on us for this insufferable disloyalty, and the fire of his conjugal jealousy will most infallibly breakout upon us to our utter destruction without remedy. From which so high and dangerous an indignity to our good God, the Lord for Christ's sake, by the irresistible power of his good Spirit, preserve and uphold England, Scotland and Ireland, and all tha● have by God's gracious power and good providence, shaken-off and broken in pieces that heavy, yea that hellish yoke of Rome's Antichristian tyranny.  
Amen and Amen.  
All glory be to God alone.  
FINIS.