THE CONVERTS LETTER To his old friends. Or the Apology of a Commander of the King's Party, for di●●●ting of that party, and bearing Arms for the PARLIAMENT. Wherein is showed, that those pretences, of Defending the Protestant Religion, the fundamental Laws, the Liberties of the Subjects etc. on that party, are but specious. What Irish, and Papists, have been ●o●oured & ●●●ifly entrusted. How if that Army doth conquer, as it is now moulded, Popery and Tyranny, of necessity must be introduced. With the lawfulness of bearing defensive Arms by the PARLIAMENT. Veritas non querit Angulos. Romans the 16.17.18. Now I beseech you brethren, mark them which cause Divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them. For they that are such serve not the Lord jesus Christ but their own Belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the Hearts of the simple. Printed and Published according to Order. LONDON Printed for H. Twyford at the three Daggers in Fleetstreet MAY 30. 1645. The Apology of a Commander of the Kings, for diserting that party, and bearing Arms for the Parliament, with the reasons that induced him thereto. To all my old fellow Protestant Soldiers, in the King's Army these. Fellows in Arms, NEver had any man greater confidence of the Kings own integrity, and power of himself, in the managing of his own business than I had. But now, my fears too truly tell me otherwise in point of power; And I very much pity many honest, and sound Protestants amongst you, great enemies to Popery, which are engaged on that party, out of the same confidence that I was; Whom I wish (though never that occasion, to pry into the secrets of the times, which I have had) to consider well with themselves, and they shall find Prince Rup●●t and his Accomplices fight, even so much for the Privileges, and Liberties of the Subjects, as the Papists do, for the Protestant Religion. I lay nothing of this on the King, God forbidden (in an injurious way) I should touch so much as the skirt of his garment. But it is apparent, there are those who buzz into his Majesty's ears extreme (pretended) injury in point of Prerogative, etc. which in effect is but to engage him, in opinionated necessity, to make use of their help, to right himself. And under colour thereof to draw his Majesty (as pretended principle) by accident to countenance the Malignant designs of Papists, and public disturbers of the Peace, to accomplish their own ends. And lest I should be thought a general Satirist rather than to tell particular truths, I shall descend to some particulars. I know, that most of you which have Commissions in that Army have in them this specious clause inserted; For defence of the King's Royal Person and Authority, the Protestant Religion, the Laws of the Land, the Liberty of the Subjects, and privileges of the Parliament. But how fare these Commissions in these particulars are pursued, I shall offer by the occurrences, since time is the best teller of truth, in things of this nature. I shall draw my first observation from Ireland, which will show how far this is pursued in matter of Religion; And herein (I must confess) I did think the Rebellion in that Kingdom to be an act of their own, without any allowance from England, although it was always alleged by the Irish, that they had the King's Commission for it; That they were the Queen's Soldiers: that they fought for their religion, etc. He that doth but consider how, and on what terms, the Cessation there was made (pretended to be an act of necessity) how many of the Irish Rebels were drawn over into England under the name of the Protestant Army there? Such as Welch his Regiment of horse; The recruit of St. Legers Regiment of foot, now the Duke of Yorks regiment. Osullivan (the Lord of Muskeries Cook) his Troop, with many others which have butchered the Protestants in that Kingdom. He that doth but consider with himself, what Irish have been always Leigers about the King, viz. The Lord Taffe, the Lord of Costeloe, Sir John Dungan, Garret Talbot, George Evelin, Mr. Robinson, Mr. William Brent, Philip Roch, Doctor Meara (Physician to Prince Rupert) Rob. Welsh, Rich-Power, Captain O Bryan, Major o Neil, Edmond Keogh Butler, etc. besides English Papists (the bellows and fomenters of war) cannot but remember: that the statutes enacted in this Kingdom against popish Recusants, have been well put in execution according to the King's Proclamation about this time three years to that purpose. 10. Aug. 1642. Or shall we not think this Proclamation was set forth merely to delude the people. He that doth but remember how many thousands of the King's loyal Protestant Subjects of Ireland, were bereft of their lives and estates, without any provocation or injury offered. And how the King by act of Parliament, granted the power and care of Reducement of that Kingdom to the Parliament of England, cannot but think very strangely of the pacification in that Kingdom, made or to be made, on such dishonourable terms, when as no satisfaction shall be made for the effusion of so much innocent blood, or for the poor Protestant Inhabitants losses, be they never so great. He that doth but consider, how the Irish papists & Rebels, have been honoured, and trusted both in England and Ireland, and what immunities have been granted them, viz. Muskery must be made Precedent of Monster and Thomond; The Parliament of Ireland must be allowed to be held at Kilkenny, the Metropolis of Rebellion; Poynings act must be reversed, which is, that no Act of Parliament shall pass until it be first certified into England, and allowed of by the King and his Council, so as the Irish shall by this have liberty to make what acts they please. The Protestant party (if they dare adventure their throats) must come to Kilkenny to the Parliament. Edmond Fitzgerrald (otherwise called Edmond o Clenlas) must be made a Barroner, for the good service he did in Ireland, in raising & maintaining a Troop of horse, and a foot Company in rebellion all the wars against the Protestants. Robert Welsh, and Rich. Power must be Knighted, as part of their Irish Court agents, and have great commands conferred on them, one to command a Brigade of horse in England and the other to be made a Colonel, and then Governor of Bartley in the place of Colonel Veale, a Protestant, that must be suspected and put forth. Bryan o Neale, Edmund Butler, Garret Talbot (another part of their Irish Court agents) must be Knighted at least, if not Baronet's, and great commands must be conferred on them. He that doth but remember, how at the beginning of this Parliament, the four main Jesuitical spirits of this Kingdom were banished by act of Parliament with the Kings own consent, viz. Sir, John Winter Walt. Montague, Sir Toby Mathews, and Sir Kenelm Digby; And yet of these, how much Winter is honoured and trusted now, is publicly known, insomuch that Protestants in Bristol must be shot to death for refusing to go under his command. And Walt. Montague (though a known Jesuit, and taken in London as a spy) must be thought in exchange worthy of a Captain and Lieutenant of horse, more than the Earl of Cleaveland, that is a Peer of the Realm, and commanded a Brigade of horse, if what was offered may be believed. He that doth but consider what Garrisons on the King's party are, and have been entrusted in the hands of Papists viz. In Oxford, the King's head quarter, Sir Arthur Aston must be Governor, and Colonel Gage (since shine) his assistant. In Bristol the next grand Garrison, the Lord Herbert, the Lord Rivers, the Lord Sturton &c must have the superintendent, or directive power, monsieur Garnier (a French Papists of the Queens placing) is Major of the Town, and a Jesuit (as I am informed) is the Governors' Capt Lieutenant. In Basin are the marquis of Winchester and his retinue; In the Forest of Deane, are Sir Jo. Winter and his. In Barkley Castle. Colonel Power (as I named before) and Slowley his Major. In Nunny Castle, Captain Pratar, etc. These all in these places have the command. And by these in one corner of the Kingdom, you may judge of other Parts, as Expede Herculem, by the dimension of the foot the whole body. He that doth but consider (besides these) in the Armies who are most entrusted or respected, shall find them to be most Papists. Such as Colonel William Arundel of Warder and his horse Regiment, all Papists. Robert Bret Lieutenant-collonel to Courtney made a Baronet. Peter Treviltan, Major of foot to Prince Maurice. Major Webb▪ sometimes to be Major General for Dorsetshire. Richard Hunt, Lieutenant-collonel to the Queen's Regiment of foot. Cum multis alis● quos nunc per scribere longum est. These, you know, I presume, which are all within my knowledge; besides Captains and others of meaner command, And besides Irish, Scottish, Dutch, and French papists amongst the Cavalry, which for number are like the Locusts in Egypt. These are only in my memory, and I believe I here mention in particular an inconsiderable number of them in comparison with the whole. If I might believe some of the Irish Rebel Commissionets who told it me themselves, & I declared is much to several persons. It is intended 〈◊〉 ●and 10000 of the Irish Rebels in England suddenly. And if this be 〈◊〉 way or these the persons b● whom the Protestant Religion is 〈…〉. O●●●f these are any Symptoms or tokens 〈…〉 of the times. I take the word defence to be correlative to the word offence. And as in the word, so in the matter; there can be no defence without offence, or injury first offered. Yet this was that pretence of defence, under colour whereof the Rebels of Ireland massacred, plundered, and expelled the Protestants for no other offence, then for teaching them civility, and how to live like Christians. So as here is the first offence offered by Papi●ts cloaked in the name of defence, and under colour of maintaining their Religion, Laws, and Liberties. I profess I thought really the King intended (according to his several Protestations, Vows and Declarations, with seeming innovations made by Parliament and their party) to perform all these things pretended, which engaged me to serve amongst you. 1. Because it was said to maintain the Protestant Religion established by law, which was sound in all fundamental points of doctrine. Howsoever it was in discipline, I did not then so well consider. 2. That it was to maintain the fundamental Laws established, legally, under seeming precedents of authority and antiquity. To which I saw no answer, although there were one published. 3. Because they were engaged amongst you persons of great honour and fortunes, reputed good Protestants, whom I thought in this monarchical government, settled by law would not longer assist the King in this war, then whiles he maintained the Protestant Religion, and governed by the Laws. 4. That so long as there was no other proper strength but Protestants and subjects. And that army trusted in the hands of such; There was no danger of popery, or tyranny, if the King should prevail by the sword, although some few Papists were made use of, as a ministerial hand only. And for my part I assure you charity binds me to the same opinion of the reality of the Kings own intentions in the same still, though I am otherwise satisfied of his power in performance thereof, for when I consider. 1. What power and influence a beloved Queen may have on the King's actions; Which was Solomon's case and our sad experience can witness. 2. What Counsellors and advisers are again most in favour, beloved, honoured and trusted which projected the greivances that begot, these Wars and which were the primitive cause of our miseries. 3. That by the occurrences, it doth plainly appear the Irish Wars, were set on foot by the same Counsels. 4. That the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom, are made a stalking horse to creep under covert, rather than a path to walk by. And that it strained at to make an unlimited prerogative in the King for their own ends. 5. That al● Commanders in the King's army are by degrees new moulded, for the most part. And that army put into the hands of the two Princes, Papists, foreigners, or such as have betrayed their trusts to ambition or avarice. 6. That oppression and injury by plundering and otherwise, is rather palliated then punished. And all Laws (but what the will of every man by the sword doth administer) become dead letters. 7. That such numbers of Auxiliary Forces, as Papists, French, Irish. Dutch, etc. are brought in and entrusted when as Protestants are suspected, put forth, and discountenanced. 8. That of necessity that army, (as now it is) in all humane probability must produce popery and Tyranny by constraint of their power, if the sword thereof prevail, these things being considered and the fair carriage on the Parliament side, I presume it will satisfy all indifferent persons on your party, aswell as me, that the Parliament aimeth at nothing but those ends which are religious, honourable just, legal, and according to their Covenant. For defence of the King's Royal person and authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion, and liberties of the Kingdom with their own just rights and privileges, etc. The Parliament is that great Court of justice and Council of State which was freely convened and consented unto to continue by the Kings own express authority and confirmation; That by the ancient and known privileges of the same hath power to raise the Posse Regni as a Sheriff by the Common Law, hath to raise the Posse Comitatus, to obvene and suppress all insurrections and disorders, and to execute justice. In whose Ordinances the Kings employed (though not express) assent, is declared by law: Which are to be obeyed more than the orders or rules of any other Court of Justice. It hath jurisdiction & cognizance over all persons, and in all causes, in these his Majesty's Dominions. The Members whereof, in duty (if not by oath) more than the Judges in other Courts, ought not to defer, or delay to do justice, Neque propter magnum sigilum neque propter parvum, although the Kings express Commands were against it. So long as their is on there party no quarrel but defence, and nothing else aimed at, but to pursue the Covenant, which is the same, the King himself took in Scotland. So long as there is, no other end, but to defend the ancient Laws, and Liberties established. And to reform the Church of England, in discipline according to the pattern of other Protestant Churches, which are allowed by those Protestants under the Hierarchy to be found in doctrine in all parts of the essence of Religion, and in discipline not so subject to tyrannical oppression and exorbitancy. So long as Episcopacy, the Church government so much stood for by you (though alleged to be ancient) is not jure divino, but political, confessed by the author of the New distemper, allowed to be printed at Oxford, and the same, which the best reason, and authority authentic do speak. So long as the Litturgie or book of Common prayer established by Law in Edward the sixths' time, (if all in it were good and without exception,) were but a thing indifferent and then put to the question, whether it were better to expunge the old Litturgy or Mass Book, or to compose a new. When although it was carried at present (wanting our experience) that it was better to expunge the old. Yet D. Ridley B. of London, since a Martyr in the Church (for the same reasons now thought fit) and many others were then for erecting a new one. So long as any prayers according to found doctrine, and the word of God coming from the sincerity of the heart and true devotion, may be as good and effectual to salvation, as the Book of Common Prayer (if all in it were good and without offence.) It is more safe in this quarrel to join with the Parliament, and their party, be they for the Presbiteriall or Independent discipline, being both Protestants sound in doctrine, then to join with the Papists, that are neither sound in doctrine nor discipline. The Scots they first bear defensive Arms, for defence of their Religion, Laws, and Liberties; where no effusion of blood was; And this is approved of in the ●ct of pacification in that Kingdom by the King himself to be a laudable undertaking. The Irish they bear Arms on the same pretence, and shed the blood of many thousands of innocent persons without any provocation; A hundred thousand computed at least yet this must be hushed up, approved of under a Pacification, and many of them are honoured and specially entrusted for it. And must the English tamely lie still, and suffer Religion, Laws, Liberties, and themselves to be trampled on by persons disaffected; only out of a Conscientious scruple, that they ought not to bear Arms against the Anointed of the Lord (as is said) when the King is made but the cloak to their designs, although it be to defend the Religion, Laws, and Liberties (which truly lie at stake) from innovation. David (that was a man after Gods own heart) in a private quarrel as to himself, made not this scruple, when he offered the King of Gath to go up to battle against Saul; And at most he was engaged but in his own private defence, from tyranny and oppression. Much more may be done when the Public Cause of Religion, Laws, and Liberties are endangered. King's commands in a Monarchichall government, are like the Laws of God in the two Tables, which declare their full will, and their subjects duty. Their wills are so settled in the Laws established, that they are to be obeyed in their commands, but so far, as they are agreeable to the Laws and no further. The very heathen (by the light of nature only) did confess, and allow it to be the most just, and honourable quarrel in the world to fight pro aris, & f●●ls, for their Gods and Country. And Propatria mori pulchrum. that it was a gallant thing to die for their Country. The most strict Divines under the Gospel (though in a private quarrel hold it fit to turn the other care to the smiter rather than smite again) yet no ways allow us to tolerate injuries offered unto God. Nehemiah ●. ●3. Maccah 13. 1●. We must not 〈◊〉 we see Religion, Laws, and Liberty trampled on, lie still in the ditch and cry God help only, (when God hath given us power) without using the means to establish them; And to expect deliverance by the immediate hand of God, in a miraculous way as of old time. Math. 4.5.6. When the devil tempted our Saviour to throw himself from the Pinnacle of the Temple, The Devine observeth, That Christ would not cast himself down (though he might have saved himself, D●. Sustain his D●●●●e●●●re 14 without the ministry of Angles) to show us not to seek supernatural means, when God doth lend us natural. We tempt him when we seek health without a medicine, or victory without a combat, we tempt him, when by reason or counsel we may avoid some evil, and yet explore his power; And last of all we tempt him when we inquire to far into his wisdom, or require that unlawfully, which he is wo●t to offer by means. And therefore when the cause is just the authority lawful, the intent good that God may be glorified a right continued, I●●. 235. and imminent dangers avoided at is and may be lawful for Christians to take Arms, And so to do is nothing contrary (as some have dreamt) to Christian Peace etc. with this ca●tion, That, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 desire of superiority be not the cause of our taking Arms. jam. 136. It was the course in the primitive Church to stand up at the reahearsall of the Creed with their hands on their swords as ready to defend that faith. It is according to the law of nature, Vim vi repellere, for every creature to defend themselves from injury, much more the public state or Church and Common weal. It is a trespass justifiable by the Common Law to kill another, se defendendo, in defence of himself, or his goods. By the Matriall Law Kings in the dark are not distinguished from enemies but by the word▪ which is the Law. Neither are they to be known, but by the Laws (which distinguish Kings from other men) in these times of darkness. The King is the ●●●untain of justice, from whence by the Commom Law and Christian charity, is presumed can 〈…〉 stream. He is a 〈…〉 of the Church, ●●x under Christ in these his Majesty's Do●●●nions But if the fountain branch into two streams by suffocation on pollution o● the old channel I will leave the polluted or muddy stream, and swimm ●o s●ake in the clear o●e if the bead be disaffecte by any the members is (with all d●● reverence to the h●ad) I will join with those member least disaffected to cu●eth● rest and endeavour to take of that distemper from the head. And if by experimental practice, it appear that any member be incurable. To save the head, and the r●st of the body. I say Enserceidendum est ne pars sincera tra●●tur. Let it b● cut off, lest it pu●r fi● the ●est. If the King therefore by evil Council and adulce personally comma●d●●● on thing, Acts. 4.19. the Laws e●ta●●l shed and the Gospel's bi● the contrary, I will honour the King but obey the Law, Acts. 5.29. and the Gospel in which is the Kings employed assent And the Parliament also, which ●s the King's highest Court of justice and Council of state, can best expound interpret and give vigour to the Laws: And do desire the flourishing of the true light of the Gospel. Therefore I say, with Moses unto such ●s are of the Parliament, and their party who I now bele●ve, and perceive to manage their business with sincerity, Dread not nor be afraid for your God fighteth for you, Deut. 29.30. but go on, and prosper. And I desire to ●oyne with you in the work. For salvation belongeth unto the Lord, and his blessing is with his people. Farewell and I am in charity still. Psalm. 3.8. W.R. April. the 4. 1645. FINIS