The ghost of K. Charles and Sergeant Bradsha. BEING A DISCOURSE Betwixt Charles late King OF ENGLAND The Archbishop of Canterbury and Serjeant John Bradshaw. Wherein the unjust Proceed at the trial of the late King in the High-Court of justice are justly discovered: the full manner of it debated and the whole course of affairs from the beginning of the wars to these present times, fully and most lively Represented. Together, with the means to preserve both Church and State from the great and gaping ruins which do threaten to Devour t●em.  
London Printed in the Year 1649.   

The Discourse between the Ghost of King Chahles; the Arch Bishop of Canterbury, and Precedent John Bradshaw.  Charles. 
IS there such a Confusion then in England?  Archbishope. 
Yes, and it please your Majesty.  King. 
But are you sure of it.  Archbish. 
As sure as God is the God of Order.  King. 
God indeed is the God of order, he made the world in order number and measure, and if people could be but so kind unto themselves as to apprehend it, so he will be worshipped, he will be worshipped according unto order, for, God is the God of order, and not of Confusion: How happily was England governed in the days of Queen Elizabeth? and of King James my father? How gently did she fee the Reins of my command? until at last being full of high feeding she got the Bit into her teeth and madly running away with Governor Government and all, she desprately plunged herself into a Sea of all manner of Calamities.  Arch. 
And where now she may sooner find the leisure to repent then the means to return to that happy condition which she first enjoyed.  King. 
How were her hands then filled with the blessings of peace, and her heart with gladness? How were her chests filled with treasures, which feared not so much to be then broken open by the hands of the spoilers as by a nearer violence from their own abundance.  Arch. 
And yet how little could she contribute to your Majesty's growing necessities out of them? the very demands of tunage and poundage, and ship-money were evry where cried down every where as a burden insupportable.  King. 
My Subjects longed after those Parliaments of which my father and I had reason to be jealous and which the people afterwards (who before idolised them) did find so tedious unto them: But that was not all, there was another thing which estranged their aff●ctions from me and for that in tr●th my lord in●o a great measure (may complain of you.  Arch. 
Complain of me!  King. 
I of you my Lord: for when Archbishop A●bot lived he kept the Church in such an order according to the true Protestant Principles, that having my countenance in all things I did pe●rake in the same praise with him. Indeed he managed the affairs of the Church with Circumspection, and judgement, and did all thing in Rule, and as I may say was a man in print.  Arch. 
But of the Geneva Print.  King. 
Now my Lord, after that by Buckingham's persuasions, I first countenanced you you were looked upon by all men to be Abbot's successor, and to be inclined unto those who professed the Religion of the Church of Rome, and many strange presages were made what would become of the English Church under such a prelate, and under such a King who was condemned by many to have as well espoused the Religion as the daughter of the King of France.  Arch. 
But in that I can vindicate your Majesty who have received from you many Orders for putting the Laws in practice that were made to take hold of the Rescusants, and for the banishing of all jesuits out of the Land, such only accepted that were precisely to wait on the Queen, and to exercise their Religion in her own Chapel.  King. 
My life and death can sufficiently witness my Religion to all the World for though I affected the Queen most entirely, and made good in effect the fi●st words that ever I spoke unto her, which were that I would no longer be Master of myself than I wa● servant unto her, though I might be an example of conjugal affection unto all the Land, yet I should be loath to be found so uxorious as to offend my God, to please a Woman, and turn Religion into Jdolatry▪ for whatsoever a man loveth more than God be it Honour or Wealth, or Wife, he makes it his Mahomet and his jdol: But to deal plainly with you my Lord you were too indulgent to the superstition of the church of Rome, for although I am confident you were no Papist, yet you gave too great a toleration & countenance to many things which by degrees did threaten to Usher in all the rest Do you remember the book which Pembroke brought me, and said it was licenced by your Chaplain.  Arch. 
The Introduction to a devout life.  King. 
Yes, that methinks I hear him still swearing against it, the book was indeed too blame, you transferred the faults thereof to your Chaplain, your Chaplain to the Author who inserted those errors into it after that it was licenced, but certain it is the book gave a just occasion of offence to m●n of more sound and settled Judgements then ever Pembrokes was.  Arch. 
It was therefore by your Majesties Command ca●●ed in.  King. 
And if it had been burned, it had been no matter but that is not all, not lon● afterwards you brought in some alterations into the English Church, the railing in of the Altar, the bowing to it, or to the Cushion on it, with some other Novelties, were the powerful arguments wh●ch did set the people's tongues against you, and their tongues and hearts against me, believing that I did not only privately allow of it but under hand did prompt, and encourage you unto it.  Arch. 
I did no more than what was practised in the times of the fathers of the Church as I am able to justify by their own writings, both in Greek, and Latin, before ever that the Name of Pope was heard of a Name which I never stood affected to.  King. 
But to the Name of Patr●arch you have; The ●imes (indeed) we lived in, were so toasty and touchy, that they would not endure to hear of any thing which savoured of the least introduction of Novelty, but he alterations in the English Church did not so much afflict me, as the innovations which you would have brought into the Church of Scotland who being a people intracttable in their Judgements, had their recourse presently unto arms and how dismal the event hath been, there are none can give a greater testimony of it then Stafford, and you, and I.  Arch. 
Without all Contradiction the English Church as i● was governed by Bishops was the purest Church in Europe, many separatists from beyond the Seas coming over to carp at their Pomp, and greatness departed from them admiring at their order; The Keys were then kept in safe hands, which were no sooner taken from them but Sacrilege, and profaneness unlocked the doors, and an Army of Heresies invaded the Temples, and the chancels of God; I had well shoped that England and Scotland being so happy, under one Governor, would agree under one Church Government and that the more ●obs●ure would have yeileed to the purer, and the more ●ough to the more beautiful.  King. 
Too late I find, that it is a safer policy to l●t a little imperfection or disparity alone in a Church or State, th●n to go about to alter it, especially when ambition, rapine and murder may be laid upon the account of Religion, then let the people look unto their libertyes, and the King unto his Crown and Soveraighnty, or to his life more dear unto him then both; but see who comes here.  Arch. 
I know him not.  King. 
But I do, it is Bradshaw, who at his high Court of Justice, condemned me to lose my head.  Arch. 
How the shadows flock about him as if the sight of such a Ghost was strange in this place. It looks as if it would be spoken to  King. 
Friend! were not you my Judge.  Bradshaw. 
I will n●ver ●drny under ground what I have done above it; King Charles, I was.  King. 
And you would not give me leave to speak for myself, but now I hope I may be heard both for myself, and my friends too.  Brad. 
Your Majesty may speak your pleasure, I shall answer as far as the letter of the law shall direct me, Currat Lex is the Proverb that I looked after.  Arch. 
You should then have looked to the beginning of the Proverb Serjeent.  Brad. 
What's that?  Arch. 
V vat Rex; Let the King live, and let the Law take its course; Then you had done well, and neither the King nor you might peradventure have so soon descended into these subterranean Countries. But what Law made you a judge to judge your King.  King. 
Answer to that Sir?  Brad. 
I was indeed drawn unto it with much Relactancy of Spirit, but having once satisfy a myself I was resolved to go through with it.  Arch. 
Did not the sale of the Bishop's lands present you with a hierarchy of Angels to satisfy you, and confirm you in your pious Religion.  Brad. 
Knew of no other Angel but the good Angel within me, my Conscience which by such an Act did promise much Peace unto me  King. 
Peace, O horrible, had Zimri peace who slew his Master? it was your ambition that did tempt you to it, the Lordly title of a Precedent and the estate of the Lord G●ttington to be conferred upon you to maintain that title besides many other Donations and improvements.  Brad. 
It was the high Court of justice and not I that sentenced your Majesty I am glad to see your Majesty.  King. 
You use the very same Distinction on yourself as you di● on me when you sentenced me to death, you distinguished between the Office of a King, and the Errors of a King, and now to excuse yourself for what you have done, you distinguish between John Bradshaw Sergeant at Law, and John Bradshaw Precedent of the High-Court of Justice  Brad. 
Yes, Presiden of the High Court of justice.  King. 
I will tell you one thing, show me but such another Court in all the Subterranean Kingdoms as your High Court of Justice, even in the most Dismal and the most hideous plates of them, and I am not so much your Enemy but I will do the best I can to make you Precedent of it, because you are so glad (you say) to see me.  Brad. 
After you were dead you were cailed the White King all England over, hus now I see you are white indeed.  King. 
You would have me to thank you would you not for making me so.  Bradsh. 
There are a great 〈◊〉 of tho Nobility and Gentry of the Land that still do honour both you and yours.  King. 
Can they send none but you unto you to acquaint me with it.  Brad. 
And if your Majesty please I will declare their several Names unto you.  King. 
O by no means, the craft and courtesy of Hell, this is a new P●ot indeed, for you even after death to cajole me, and to trappan my friends, who being thus discovered and laid open by you will be exposed to the malice and the Avarice of all their armed Advarsari●s ●b●y may thus be charged and charged again.  B●rad 
Charged.  King. 
I sir charged, do you remember the unjust charge that you procured to be read against me, for beginning a war traitorously and maliciously against the Parliament, and for the same you adjudged me as a Tyrant traitor, and a murderer to be put to death by severing my head from my body, when let any man (as I pleaded) look upon the Dates of the Commissions, the Commissions which the Parliament gave, and the Commisions which I g●ve a● also upon the Declarations which they published, and which I published and they w●ll clearly see that it was they who began these troubles, and not I myself. Is a King to be questioned who when his Subjects are in the field and determing his death doth put on arms to preserve his now life If that a crime in a King which is a Virtue in a Subject. Is that unpardonable in me, which by the Laws of God and man is commendable in all the world? Trust me sir, although I am dead, yet the law will l●ve. It was no false expression which your Protector ma●e when after some words of slovenly indignation he told his Counsellors that he had more to do to conquer two or thee musty laws then three Nations I sha●l repeat my dying words, I am as much or more for the liberty of my people then any who soe●er that have preten●ed for them I am sor●y at t●e ●eart to hear of their destruction, and burdens, and I beseech God to ease, and reconcile them, I beseech God to sened his Spirit, amongst them w●ich is the Spirit of Trut● and V●ity, I beseech God to vouchsafe them such a peace that b●ing all of one mind, and one affection they become as ●uch the envy of other Nati●ns as they are now their scorn; These last words he expressed with so much candour, and piety, and with such a ferventy of a devout desire that the Spirits of just and righteous men, who did round in compass him, and who in Death do enjoy that peace which on earth they did pursue did see● to all them to partake w●th him in the same integrity of affections and the Elysian fields d●d ring with the Acclamations which they made.  
The End.