THE KEY TO THE Kings Cabinet-Counsell.  
knowing, The secret Instructions of His Majesties Evill-Councellors to their Agents, for first raising of arms against his Honourable House of Parliament.  
TOGETHER, With their devices for drawing the peoples hearts to adhere to them; And the councils by them used, to uphold that new-sprung and unwarrantable Act.  
ALSO, What means they did formerly, and still make use of, for the maintaining their Armies; and linking that Desperate Faction in an undividable knot, tending to the destruction of His Majesty and His kingdoms.  

Published by Authority, and entred according to Order.   
LONDON, Printed by Bernard Alsop.  
1644.   

THE KEY TO THE King's Cabinet council.  
WEre there in man no fear of God, no honour to his King, nor respect of Religion, or Country; yet curiosity( the itching disease of active Spirits) enforceth a desire in him to know, as near as his Intellect giveth leave, such matters of importance, as occur in his own or other states. Tis true, we are forbidden to dive into Arcana Dei, & Arcana Imperij: but who liveth that faileth not in duty. If in this small Piece, which nice curiosity and desire of friends hath drawn from me, I err in duty, relating these destructive passages; let my love to my Country, and obligation to my friends excuse me. I shall fly no higher, nor begin my observations no further, then His majesty▪ first putting the Commission of Array in action, and setting up His standard at Nottingham. The devices for drawing the people to him, and the Counsels then used, to uphold that new-sprung and unwarrantable Act.  
First, for the Commission of Array, it must be made clear by learned Arguments on the Kings part, to some of the wiser sort of the Gentry in those parts, where this Weed should be planted. And by subtle insinuation on the Weaker sort, that there was Ius Regis in the Commission of Array, Presidents of former Kings in like case produced, and a large book in defence thereof, compiled by a man of much more Learning then honesty,( Mr. R. H.) and for the greater lustre printed and divulged: So that by this Artifice a great part of the Gentry presently sided with his majesty, the common sort of people, some through fear compelled, others by affection blindly lead on, until at Edge-hill many of them found the fruits of their vanities.  
And not to digress from our story, give me leave to tell you that it was thought no small piece of policy, in their best( of worst) councellors, to cover the Kings Hostile act against the the five Memmbers, and to have it distilled into the ears of the people by some Agents for that purpose appointe●, that his Majesties intentions towards them was no ways ill, but of a royal inclination, to sist out truth in a parliamentary wa●e( as he supposed) And that before the House of Commons, without the least thought of violence to their persons,( although they contrarily conceived,) or to seek satisfaction for his( supposed wrong) And whether those speeches had been used concerning the government of the kingdom as his majesty had been informed; with a desire to know the reasons of them, not so much to inflict a punishment, as if in any thing he had failed, to receive lovingly their information and Councells, and by the advice of the Parliament to give a happy todresse to the growing evils of the kingdom.  
This by many of those instruments was deeply protested to, as also that his Majesties person, notwithstanding his innocency, was in dandanger by a swarming multitude of un●uly and giddy headed factious Brownists, Anabaptists, &c which in a rude, robustuous, and a most unparalleled way, sought the destruction of himself, his royal Consort the Queen, and his posterity,  
Amongst the many pieces of deceit they used this likewise was held none of the worst inventions; And as themselves say, was a main pl●t in upholding the Parliament, and drawing in store of money from the City of London, their onely prop,( as they termed it) therefore, they say, it was bus●ed into the ears of the most and abler sort of Citizens, that if they should freely and plentifully disburse their moneys in this work of Reformation▪ they should receive a double satisfaction, for the work finished, the Parliament intended by seyfing and sessing all mens men● estates, especially the Malignants, to make them all become dependents upon the City of London, according to the now custom of Geneva, which( say they) at the first made show of Reformation onely in Church Government, as now doth the Parliament, and the suppressing of the power of the clergy; But after they had taken away the Bishops and the spiritual jurisdiction, they soon after fell from the duty of loyal subjects, and took from the Duke of Savoy, to whose Sign●ory the City of Geneva and parts adjacent did belong, both his yearly revenue, his Title, and ●nterest.  
This they thought certainly worked much in the Nobility, Gentry, and the better sort of people, as a matter much inducing to the alteration of monarchical government, and the laying of a far heavier burden upon the people, by this dependency, then any of the pressures formerly obtruded upon them by the King, or any of his Predecessors: much more of this business was divulged and blazed( if possible it might have done it) to draw the hearts and affections of the people; from that they are so deeply obliged to honour and obey, as the greatest part under God of their welfare and protection, the High and Honourable Court of Parliament.  
These fictions linck'd His Majesties then termed Guard of his person, not much inferior to an Army, to the disposal of his too much unadvised council.  
Neither was this all, for the ambitieus Clergy, by the instigation of the then falling and decaying Bishops, and their strong hopes of their again rising glory, they very largely contributed( out of their particular revenues) to the maintenance of this unhappily begun distraction.  
After the Fight at Edge Hill, His Majesties party though they had then much the worst of it, yet it was a great encouragement to them( considering their tie they had upon the people, which was but a slender one) that they were not utterly defeated, but were able to bring a part of their Army off. Therefore for a more glorious show of a feigned Victory. And to draw the affections of the people towards them, Messengers must be forthwith sent to those parts, that were known to stand affencted to their party. As also, to others whom they thought this supposed Victory might terrify, or some private ends might work upon for a general thanksgiving and rejoicing, which was punctually performed.  
Then were there selected out of His Majesties party men of the best rank and quality, and those also that were most beloved, and had the greatest power in their Countries, these were sent with private Instructions, drawn by the advice of His Majesties strongest council, and with a Declaration and Protestation of His Majesties sincere and clear intentions concerning matters of Religion, His maintenance of the Rights and privileges of Parliament, the fundamental laws of the realm, the birth-right of his Subjects, their liberty and propriety.  
Neither were many of the Nobility then with him, backward in joining with His Majesty in the said Protestation, with the offer of their lives and fortunes under their hands, for confirmation of the same: Which how much it took with the common people, may by the ensuing actions be easily perceived.  
These Gentlemen thus sent, were likewise to intimate to their friends and acquaintance, that the Parliament at Westminster were absolutely over-awed by the Citizens of London, and most especially by the several Sectaries there, who although few of them were of one opinion,( and as they reported of above threescore) yet like brethren in iniquity, they joined together, not onely to take away His Majesties Prerogatives, but also Gods wordship, as of the Common Prayer Book, and the Ceremonies of the Church, which then strook deep in the mindes of the common sort of people, not having a capacity of so large an extent, as to know the true ends of Reformation▪  
And that all those Petitions presented to the Parliament by several Counties, and with so many of the people to attend, and with so many thousand hands at them, were all or most of them drawn and penned by the Parliament Members of those Counties from whence they came, or by their instigation and solicitations, the several petitioners were invited to these( as they termed them) unparalleled Parliamentary proceedings. Nor wanted their preaching Clergy encouragement by the● sent, and other great ones, and much provoked by their declined Lords the Bishops, with a sad remembrance of the fat ambitious Clergies fall, in the Reformation of the Church in the time of Henry the 8. Having more fear of the like then of God, they highly inveigh in their Pulpits, and much mo●e in private, against the Sects and schism of the time, and not against them alone, but of the Honourable Parliament, as Abettors and maintainers of them; that all Learning was now despised, and not in our Age to be esteemed, but trampled under foot, and nothing but ignorance and impudence cherished; and the meanest of tradesman preaching and teaching in Holes an Tubs, were upheld and followed. ( Which if true, why in holes and Tubs?) And the orthodox Divines whom formerly stood as bulwarks against Popery and all other Heresies and schism, discountenanced and imprisoned. Great pity it is to see how these false and scandalous imputations, works amongst the giddy headed multitude, who are turned with every blast.  
Other Instructions also were sent to the Papists in several Counties for large Contributions, which by the queens Agents were strongly prosecuted, and with so much Art and cunning, that in a manner it took from them all their sences, yea the sense of their own confusion; which from their now deep engagements, from which they cannot start, appears to be little less. For from Contribution of money, they fell to a vowed assistance with life and estates, which many of them have already paid to the uttermost farthing, as a due recompense of their follies.  
This was done by a fair show and promise of toleration of Religion, and all preferment at Court: As indeed it was too true in part, for His Majesty, besides what favours he had formerly shown( for her Majesties sake, as we suppose) did prefer divers to great places of trust and command under him, whom before were of no repute, or altogether unknown in Court.  
Neither was this all, for it was very confidently intimated unto them by these Agents, that the Parliament did not onely intend to abridge them of their Religion, and to sequester their estates, but( to use their own words) to use them as their friends the Bishops( in cutting off root and branch at once) either to banish them and theirs into other Countries, or by active power of their Parliament( if they abjured not their Religion, which( they said) they knew were more dearer to them then their lives, they should suffer death by a far more just Law, then Queen Mary did cause divers of the Reformed Religion to die. And that they thought it but Gods just judgement and revenge, for the blood of his faithful servants.  
And I am sure you will not conceive that the two famous Factions of Spain and France in our Court, were all this time idle; then it would have been suspected they receive their pensions for nought. I must give you a taste of their actions, I confess, those of our English of the Spanish Faction moves not so swiftly as those of the French, yet more solid in dangerous designs.  
Therefore at such time as His Majesty was much necessitated for want of money( as it is usually with him) his Army then ready to mutiny, and his Garrison Souldiers to plunder their Garrison towns and so to quit them. The Spanish Faction propounded to His Majesties council, for a speedy supply of His Majesties urgent occasions, that it could be no prejudice to His Majesty, if the kingdom of Ireland should be engaged to the King of Spain, and that in the interim of the Treaty, the catholics of England should advance their proportion of money to a great height; And in truth this Proposition fell( if I may call it so) happily for the Kings designs, though it were not intended for the good of him or his kingdom, for this vain hope so besotted the Romish catholics, that they did lash forth their money plentifully. On the other side, the French Faction to cross this, and knowing of what dangerous consequence it would be to France, if that kingdom should fall into the hands of the Spaniard, did also propound; That if His majesty should part with that kingdom, which( they said) would much perplex the Subjects of England and Scotland, and leave a heavy aspersion on His majesty and council. That they would treat for a present supply of money, and ten thousand old Souldiers, for His Majesties service, and further supply as occosion should require; So that the French might upon all events, have for their retreat, some of our small Islands or Forts in this kingdom: And knowing that the Spanish Faction had already been afore-hand with them in Contribution,( fearing they should be accounted negligent servants) suddenly raised a proportionable sum of money for His Majesties use, to balance with their Antagonists the Spanish Faction. Which bread delays in the debate; of which did not the Paper take me off, I could give you a more full Relation both of these proceedings, and of matters of a deeper reach; Which I shall hereafter, for the good of my Country, willingly impart.  
How destructive these courses and Counsels have been to His majesty and kingdoms, I leave to the censure of all judicious men, and the punishment of these Pests and Vipers, to the Honourable Court of Parliament. Whom God of his infinite goodness, I pray may guide and bless in all their proceedings.  
FINIS.   

Printed according to Order.