An orderly and plain NARRATION Of the Beginnings and Causes of this war. Also A conscientious Resolution against the war on the PARLIAMENTS side.  PROV. 24.21, 22. 
My son, fear thou the Lord, and the King: and meddle not with them that are given to change.  
For their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruin of them both?  
Printed, Anno 1644.   

An orderly and plain Narration of the Beginnings and Causes of this war.  
THe Religion by Law established in the Church of England, ever since the first Reformation, hath been opposed doubly; by the Papists, and by the Disciplinarians: and from these have proceeded our late, and present Warres in Ireland and England.  
In King Edward's dayes, Master Calvin in his Epistle to the Lord protector, writeth thus, Sir, I hear that there are two sorts of seditious men amongst you, who lift up the head against the King and the State of the kingdom. The one are a sort of brainsick men, who promote their Sedition under the name of the gospel; the others are so hardened in the Superstitions of Antichrist, that they cannot endure a revulsion of them. And both these sorts of men must be restrained by the revenging sword, which the Lord hath put into thine hand: since they rise up not onely against the King, but against God himself, who hath placed the King in his royal Throne, and made thee protector of his Person, and his royal Majesty.  
In Queen Elizabeths dayes, the Disciplinarians became more violent, and declared openly, that for the great Cause, the holy Cause( so they called the Presbytery) they would never leave suing, though there should be a thousand Parliaments, until they obtain it, or bring the Lord in vengeance and blood upon the State for refusing it.  
Gibson threatened King James, that as jeroboam He should be rooted out, and conclude his Race, if He maintained Bishops.  
And all the world sees, how the rage and fury of these men hath broken out into open force, and actual war, in King Charles his time.  
Now I conceive this Faction hath increased from time to time 

1. By reason the laws against them have not been put in execution; that especially of the 35. Eliz. 1. whereby it is enacted, that all those who would not be present at Divine Service, and should hold Conventicles, and deny the queens Supremacy in ecclesiastical matters should abjure the Land, otherwise to suffer as Felons; and having abjured the Land, and returning without licence, then likewise to suffer as Felons.  
2. By means of the City of London,( the Nest and Seminary of the seditious Faction) and by reason of its universal Trade throughout the kingdom, with its Commodities conveying and deriving this civill contagion to all our Cities and Corporations, and thereby poisoning whole Counties.    
And the Power of this Faction is advanced at this day by reason of the populousnesse and wealth of the City of London,( ambitious forsooth to be a free State) and by the compliance of divers Members of both Houses with them, which in former Parliaments they could never obtain: and under the venerable name of Parliament, and by the force and prevalency of this Faction have things been carried on, and this present war both begun and continued; whilst the Parliament serves their turn to root out Episcopacy, and they serve the Parliaments turn to overthrow Monarchy.  
When the Lords at york petitioned his Majesty to call a Parliament, the Scene was laid at London, doubtless in reference to the design: and in pursuance thereof( when the Parliament was called) they used the greatest industry that may be to bring in persons of their Faction into the House of Commons; and they admitted, and received such( of their Faction) who were neither lawfully chosen, nor returned by their country; and they put, and kept out others, whose opinions they liked not. And not long after they were settled in Parliament, out of a sense of the grievances of the kingdom, and of the late oppressions of the Subject( as was pretended) and out of a zeal against the authors thereof and the Actors therein, they pass several Votes against all such Lords as had concurred in such an Order at the council-table, or such a Censure in the Stat Chamber; and against all Lords-Lieutenants, and their Deputies, who had raised Coat and Conduct-money: and all Sheriffes who had levied shipmoney; and all Lords, and others, who had been concerned in any Monopoly, or illegal Patent. But what is the aim of their terrible Votes? Not Justice: for they proceed not against those Offenders; but compilance, to awe not a small number of the Members of both Houses, and to captivated them and their Votes, and to govern them in the managing of their design for the altering of the Government in the Church and State.  
Which alterations they first attempted in a Parliamentary way; and so( in May 1641) a Bill was tendered in the House of Commons for the utter abolition of Bishops out of the Church of England, and for Extirpation of deans and Chapters, and this was in debate ten weekes, but it passed not. Likewise Sir Arthur Hasterigge brought a Bill into the House of Commons( Octob. 1641. which was before the King's coming to the House, or the Rebellion in Ireland) to place a general at Land, and an admiral at Sea, by Act of Parliament, with uncontrollable power and authority over the lives and fortunes of all his Majesties Subjects( the matter of which Bill, to show their design, is since digested into their Generals Commission, and their Ordinance to the earl of warwick.) And this Bill was cast out of the House with indignation; and it was moved, that it should be burnt by the hand of the common Hangman.  
Lastly,( in Novemb. 1641.) there was a long debate in the House of Commons concerning the Book of Common Prayer, and much more the mayor part voted for it.  
After they saw that they could not compass their design upon free debating and voting in a Parliamentary way, they resolve to drive it on otherwise: and under pretence of advancing the ordinance of Preaching, and of promoting the salvation of the simplo and ignorant people, they setup Lecturers in every Parish, such as might be furious promoters of their dangerous Innovations; and they cherish such men as boldly and seditiously preach against the Government of the Church, the Book of Common Prayer, and his Majesties Kingly and lawful Power, and against his very Person; and many of them are recommended to Parishes by Letters, and by Orders. Likewise licence is given to lewd and seditious Pamphlets, which despised the Government both of Church and State, and laid imputations and scorns on his Majesties Person Office, and Government,( and this also was the chief argument of their Remonstrance, Dec. 15. 1641.) yea and books against the Book of Common Prayer and the established laws of the Land are suffered without reprehension to be dedicated to both Houses of Parliament.  
And when by these seditious practices, and Pamphlets, and by that Remonstrance, they had brought the people into dislike of the present Government of the kingdom, and had gained them to themselves; upon pretence of a Thorough-Reformation intended to be wrought by them, they apply themselves to their design again; and now they go in a mixed way, by the Parliament, and the People; and they betake themselves to Tumults, about the latter end of December, so that when any thing in agitation was likely to be carried against them, they sand for multitudes, especially of those seditious and factious People, in and about London, who misuse the several Members of both Houses whom they were informed favoured not their ends, proclaiming the names of several of the peers as evil and rotten-hearted Lords, and assaulting, and evil entreating some of the Members of the House of Commons, even at the door of that House; whereupon the House of peers twice very earnestly desired the House of Commons, that they would for the Dignity of Parliament join with them in a Declaration for suppressing such Tumults; but instead thereof, Speeches were made in justification of them: and afterwards when the Lords by the direction of the Judges had given Order to the Justices of Peace, and other Officers about Westminster, to endeavour the suppressing of those Tumults, one of the Iustices for doing his duty therein was sent to the Tower.  
At last, his Majesty being sensible of his own and the Parliaments great disturbance by those Tumults, sent a Message to the Lord Maior( Decemb. 31.) requiring him for the time to come to take special care for the preventing the like Tumults, as far as in him lay.  
And when none of these courses could prevail, but the People grew more and more outrageous and insolent, his Majesty( well knowing who they were that first raised and invited the tumultuous people to Westminster, and what was their design thereby) exhibiteth Articles of High Treason against the Lord Kymbolton( now earl of Manchester) and against the Five Members, Master Pym, M. Hampden, M. Hollis, Sir Arthur Haslerigge, and M. Strood.  

1. That they have traitorously endeavoured to subvert the fundamental laws and Government of this kingdom, and to deprive the King of his regal Power, and to place in Subjects an Arbitrary and Tyrannicall Power.  
2. That they have endeavoured by many false aspersions upon his Majesty, and upon his Government, to alienate the affections of his People, and to make his Majesty odious to them.  
3. That they have endeavoured to draw his Majesties late Army to disobedience to his Commands, and to side with them in their traitorous designs.  
4. That they have traitorously invited and encouraged a foreign Power to invade his Majesties kingdom of England.  
5. That they have traitorously endeavoured to subvert the Rights and very Beings of Parliaments.  
6. That for completing their traitorous designs, they have endeavour as far as in them lay, by force and terror to compel the Parliament to join with them in their traitorous designs, and to that end have actually raised and countenanced Tumults against the King and Parliament.  
7. That they have traitorously conspired to levy, and actually have levied war against the King.   
And in this case of Treason, his Majesty might have apprehended those persons by an Ordinary Minister of Iustice( according to that maxim in the Law, that in case of Treason, Felony, and Breach of Peace, privilege of Parliament doth not extend, is of no signification.)  
But to show his correspondence with the two Houses of Parliament, his Majesty choose rather to command the attorney general to acquaint the House of peers with his Charge against the Lord Kymbolton, and his intention to proceed accordingly. And to sand a Sergeant at arms to the House of Commons to acquaint them, that his Majesty did accuse and intend to prosecute the Five Members for High Treason, and did require that their persons might be secured in custody.  
That same day( viz. Ian. 4.) the House of Commons made an Order, and published it, that if any person shall arrest those Members, or any other,( without Order from that House) the parties arrested might stand upon their Guard and make resistance, and others might, and ought to assist them, according to the Protestation taken to defend the privileges of Parliament, 5. May 1641.  
Vpon this Order, the King is forced to go in Person to the House of Commons to demand those Members; and He is no sooner gone thence, but the House adjourned itself; and instead of any application to inform his Majesties judgement wherein He had erred, and how He was to proceed, both the Houses adjourned themselves to Guild hall, and afterwards to Grocers-hall; and the Persons accused remove themselves into the City, as to a Sanctuary: and the Common council of London( altered by undue practices about Christmas last) place unusual Watches and Guards in the City under the Command of Sergeant mayor general Skippon,( as is pretended) for the safety of the City, and the protection of the Members; not so onely, but Ian. 11. the Trained Bands of London and Westminster guard those accused Members from their residence in the City to Westminster, in an hostile and warlike manner; and near one hundred Lighters and Long-boates were set out by water, laden with Sacres, and murdering Pieces, and other Ammunition, dressed up with mast-clothes, and streamers, as ready to fight; and in this Array the Mariners by water, and the Souldiers by Land, as they passed by Whitehall, asked, what was become of the King? where was He?  
To compose these Distempers, his Majesty makes this proposition to both Houses of Parliament Ian. 20. that they will with all speed fall into a serious consideration of all those particulars which they held necessary, as well for the upholding and maintaining of his Majesties just and regal Authority, and for settling of his Revenue; as for the present and future establishment of their privileges, the free and quiet enjoying of their estates and fortunes, the liberty of their persons, the security of the true Religion now professed in the Church of England, and the settling of Ceremonies in such a manner as may take away all just offence: all which when they shall present unto his Majesty, digested into one Body, he promiseth( to show how far he hath been from intending or designing any of those things which the too great fears and jealousies of some persons seem to apprehended) not onely to equal, but also to exceed the greatest Examples of the most indulgent Princes in their Acts of Grace and Favour to their people.  
But before they take into consideration this Message( having now found out a means to shelter themselves, how traitorous soever, under the pretended privilege of Parliament, and to promote their design by the people under colour of maintaining the power of the privilege of Parliament, the Cities of London and Westminster having already engaged themselves on their behalf, and the adjacent Counties by their several Petitions having declared their good affections toward them) maugre his Majesties Accusation of High Treason, they take courage and revive the matter of the Bill exhibited by Sir Arthur Haslerigge in October last, for transferring all his Majesties power into other hands. And they put a Garrison into the Town of Hull, and appoint Sir John Hotham the governor of it, and they possess themselves of his Majesties Magazine there, and manage and dispose it as they please. And Ian. 27. the House of Commons, as is pretended, to enable them with security to discharge their duty about that Message, petitioned his Majesty, that the Tower of London, and the principal Forts and the Militia of the kingdom might be put into the hands of such persons as should be recommended by them: and the Lords having refused to join with the Commons in that Petition, multitudes of poor people in and about London, did therefore petition the House of Commons, Ian. 31. complaining of a malignant party in the Lords House( those who would not join with them in the Militia-businesse) and desiring that they be made manifest unto them, declaring that they, would lay hold on the next opportunity, to remove those Disturbera of their peace. Also that day Master Hollis made a Speech to the Lords, enforcing the petition at a Conference with the House of Commons; whereupon divers Lords being discontented went away; and so the Militia was carried in the Lords House( or rather they shuffled themselves into the Militia) being at least twice before rejected by double their number who consented to it, when there was no popish Lord present, and twelve Bishops in the Tower: and since that time they have been able to carry any thing, and upon the matter, the resolution of the House of Commons hath been wholly guided by those persons who had given so plain evidence that they had the multitude at their command, and hath wholly guided that of the House of peers, who with little debate, or dispute, have, for the most part, submitted to whatsoever hath been brought to them.  
Two dayes after viz. Febr. 2. the Lords and Commons petition the King that he would be pleased forthwith to put the Tower of London, and all other Forts, and the whole Militia of the kingdom, into the hands of such persons as should be recommended to his Majesty by both Houses of Parliament; that, as is pretended, they may securely prosecute his Majesties gracious Message, as before, but indeed that they may more securely prosecute their design. And Febr. 12. they offer to his Majesty a List of the names of those men which were thought fit to be entrusted with the Militia of the kingdom.  
And Febr. 16. they renew their Petition concerning the Militia.  
Also Febr. 25. they offer unto him the Ordinance of the Militia.  
And March 1. they petition him again concerning the Militia.  
And lastly, they mention the business of the Militia in their Petition to his Majesty, March 26.  
Now to these several Petitions, and to their Ordinance, his Majesty returns several Answers, the sum whereof is this.  
First, concerning their fears and jealousies, which seem to be the ground of their Petitions and Ordinance;  

1. He says, that if they will acquaint Him with the particular grounds of their Doubts and fears, He will apply Remedies proportionable to those fears. Ian. 27  
2. He con●ures them, that they would not be transported by jealousies and Apprehensions of possible Dangers, to put themselves or his majesty into real and present inconveniences. Ian. 27.  
3. He promiseth in this case to deny them nothing but what would alter the fundamental laws of the Land, and nourish a greater and more destructive iealousy between the Crown and the subject, than any of those which would seem to be taken away by such a satisfaction. Ian. 27.  
4. He hopes, that their fears and jealousies will hereafter be continued onely with reference to his Majesties Rights and Honour. Febr. 24.   
Secondly, concerning the preamble to the Ordinance, which mentions a most dangerous and desperate design of late upon the House of Commons, voted to be an effect of the bloody Counsels of Papists, and others ill affencted, whereby doubtless is meant his Majesties coming in Person to the House of Commons. Jan. 4.  

1. His Majesty declares, and calls Almighty God to witness, that He had no other design upon that House, or any Member of it, than to require, as He did, the persons of those five Gentlemen He had the day before accused of High Treason, and to declare that He meant to proceed against them legally, and speedily. Feb. 28.   
And if Marques Hamilton had any hand in the Kings going to the House, it is not improbable but that the motion might come originally from themselves, thereby to entrap his Majesty, and to pick a quarrel with Him, and wrest the Militia from Him.  

2. Concerning Papists, his Majesty signified by a Message to both Houses of Parliament. Febr. 14.   
First, that He will by Proclamation require that all Statutes made concerning Recusants, be with all care, diligence and severity put in execution.  
Secondly, that He will give present order, if it shall be held fit by both Houses, that a Proclamation issue, to require all Romish Priests within twenty dayes to depart the kingdom. And if any shall be apprehended after that time, that He will grant no pardon to any such without consent of his Parliament.  
Also his Majesty did set forth a Proclamation for putting the laws against Papists in execution. March 16.  

3. For the persons nominated to be Lieutenants of the several Counties, his Majesty is contented to allow that recommendation, onely concerning the City of London, and such other Corporations as by ancient Charters have granted unto them the power of the Militia, his majesty doth not conceive that it can stand with justice or policy to alter their Government in that particular.   
And his Majesty offers to grant to every of those Lieutenants such Commissions as he hath done this Parliament to some Lords-Lieutenants by their advice; but if that power be not thought enough, but that more shall be thought fit, to be granted to them, than by the Law is in the crown itself, his Majesty holds it reasonable, that the same be by some Law first vested in him with power to transfer it to those persons; which he will willingly do. And whatever that power shall be, his Majesty desires it may be digested into an Act of Parliament, rather then an Ordinance; so that all his loving Subjects may thereby particularly know, both what they are to do, and what they are to suffer for their neglect, that there may be the least latitude for his Majesties good Subjects to suffer under any Arbitrary power whatsoever.  

4. Concerning the Tower of London, his Majesty accepted of Sir John Coniers to be lieutenant in the place of Sir John Byron. February, 11.   
Lastly, touching the Ordinance itself he refused to pass it; in regard of the preface which he could not consent to in Iustice to his Honour, and Innocency; as also because it excluded his majesty from any power in the disposition, or execution of the Militia, together with them, and for a time utterly unlimited.  
nevertheless, to compose this difference about the Militia( if it might be) and to comply with their desires so far as he might without violation of his just Rights, afterward when he sent them that Message of his purpose to go into Ireland for suppressing the Rebellion there( which was April. 8.) he sent also a bill for settling the Militia for a year; and by that Bill he consented to the names they had proposed, and in the limitation of the power; and provided, that himself should not be able to execute any thing but by their advice; and when his majesty should be out of the kingdom, the sole execution to be in them,  
But none of all his majesties Answers or offers did satisfy them; being resolved from the beginning to be absolute masters of the Militia, and to dispose and execute it as they please, at all times, and upon all occasions, otherwise it could not have been sufficient and effectual from time to time, to make good their pretended privileges, and power, and to back their irregular proceedings; and to compass& effect their designs. And seeing they can not obtain it thus by Petition, they begin now to claim it of Right. For( March, 2. and 15.) both Houses of Parliament Resolve and Vote, That in case of extreme danger, evident, and Imminent( as at this time) and upon his Majesties refusal, they have power to order the Militia of the Kingdom; and the People are obliged to obey them by the Fundament all Laws of the Land.  
And they are confident that all these who at first stickled for them in the motion to the Lords about the Militia, will be now ready to defend them, and to maintain these their Resolutions and Votes( if need be) even against the King himself.  
However for my part I doubt much of the Reality of this whole business.  

1o. Whether these be Votes and Resolutions of both Houses of Parliament, or not rather of that factious and Seditious party there; who by the insolency of Tumults have driven away divers Members of both Houses, and have Captivated the votes of others, and yet would carry on their design under the name, and by the pretended Authority of both Houses of Parliament.  
2o. Whether there be any such Imminent danger or no: either from Enemies abroad; all the neighbouring Princes being in Amity with us.   
Or from the popish party at home; the papists now being weak and poor, disarmed according to Law, and to pay their forfeitures according to the Law; and being so prosecuted, that many of them left the kingdom.  
Or whether there is not only a pretence of dangers, that so they may the more Colourably entrust themselves in the Militia, and the people may the more readily apply themselves to them, and serve them for their safety.  

3o. Whether settling of the Militia( as they did) absolutely in their own power, was, as is pretended, for the safeguard of His Majesties Person, and of His people( seeing it hath been employed against both) or not rather for the safety of their own party onely, and for the security of their design, and that the King might have no possibility of raising the power of the kingdom against them, and so of hindering them in the prosecution of their design.  
4o. Whether they possessed themselves of the Militia by way of prevention, and that they might be able to defend the King and kingdom against the designs and attempts of Papists, and foreign Forces; or not rather by way of preparation, to arm themselves against all opposers of them, and of their design; whether papists, or protestants; whether other Princes or their own sovereign.   
And having now estated themselves in the Militia, and in the whole power of the kingdom, see how they begin with the King himself, and how audaciously, and earnestly they pursue their designs against him, bereaved now of all means of offending them, or defending himself. Sir John Hotham keeps him out of Hull, by Authority of both Houses of Parliament. April. 23. and 28. And when upon this traitorous Action he moved the Gentry of York for a Guard of Horse to secure his person, they voted, That his Majesty intended War against his Parliament, May 12. and 20. And they declare against the Kings Negative Vote( even in the Militia) May 26; And that they should not want duty or Modesty, if they made the highest presidents of other Parliaments their patterns ( i.) if they should depose, and murder him, as other unparralleld Parliaments had done, Edward, and Richard both the second. Yea the Members of the House of Commons trample upon him singly: and Martin says publicly, and unreproved, That his Office is forfeited, and that the happiness of this kingdom doth not depend upon him or any of the regal Branches of that Stock; and Ludlow, That he was not worthy to be King of England.  
Nor doth the design Terminate in the person of the King, but strikes at the regal power itself: And( weak 2o) they offer to his Majesty nineteen propositions, as the most effectual means through Gods blessing of removeing the lealousies and differences betwixt them( see now the end of these politic fears and jealousies) and they humbly advice and petition his majesty( capable now as they think of any thing,)  
That the Lords, and others of his majesties privy council, and such great Officers and Ministers of State, either at home, or beyond the Seas, may be put from his Privy council, and from those Offices and employments; excepting such as shall be approved of by both Houses of Parliament; and that the persons to be put into their places may be approved of by both Houses of Parliament.  
That the Lord High Steward of England, Lord High Constable, Lord Chancellor, or Lord Keeper of the Great seal, Lord Treasurer, Lord Privy seal, earl Marshall, Lord admiral, Warden of the Cinque-portes, chief governor of Ireland, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Master of the wards, Secretaries of State, two chief Justices, and chief Baron, may always be chosen with the approbation of both Houses of Parliament.  

That the Governours of the Kings Children shall be approved of by both Houses of Parliament. And that no marriage shal be concluded, or Treated for any those Children, without the Consent of Parliament.  
That His Majesty would be pleased to consent, that such a Reformation be made of the Church Government and Liturgy, as both Houses of Parliament shall advice, after Consultation had with Divines.  
That His Majesty would rest satisfied with the course that the Lords and Commons have appointed for the Militia, until the same shall be farther ordered by a Bill.  
That the Forts, and Castles of the kingdom, may be put under the Command and Custody of such Persons as His Majesty shall appoint with the Approbation of his Parliament.   
And being impatient that His Majesty should refuse these their modest Propositions, according to the Latitude of their desires, they resolve forthwith to put themselves into arms, and as if the ordinary power of the kingdom were not sufficient for them( to show what they are able to do) they will raise an Army also; both to establish whatsoever before they had Voted, and Declared, and Ordered, and Acted, and to wring and wrest from His Majesty whatsoever they had proposed: and being no better Patriots, then Subjects, they will by an Intestine Division, and Civill war destroy the present being of this kingdom, rather then not to overthrow the first Constitution of it. And so( June 10.) they publish Propositions, and Orders for bringing in of money or Plate, to maintain Horse, Horsemen, or arms( as is pretended) for the preservation of the public Peace, and for the Defence of the King, and both Houses of Parliament: And they Declare, that whatsoever is brought in shall not be at all employed upon any other occasion then to maintain the protestant Religion, the Kings Authority and his Person in his royal Dignity, the free course of Iustice, the laws of the Laud, the peace of the kingdom, and the privileges of Parliament, against any Force that shall oppose them.  
And now the Citizens of London enter again upon the Stage, and act their parts in raising this Army, as they had done before in promoting the Militia. And to this purpose they bring in money and plate in abundance; and so doth the Disciplinarian party generally in other Cities, and Corporations, and throughout the whole kingdom, that they may at length by force of arms complete and finish their design; and that under the pretended Authority of both Houses of Parliament, and under the pretence of maintaining the particulars aforesaid. But the nineteen propositions sufficiently declare to the world their Intentions, and Resolutions, specially since they insisted also upon the same Propositions at the Treaty of peace. 3. February, 1642.  
Hence( june, 16.) his Majesty sets forth a Declaration, disavowing any intention of raising or Levying war against his Parliament, showing what a special number are present in Parliament; how with their skill and violence they have driven away divers Members from them; and how out of the horror of their proceedings others have withdrawn themselves from them, and that there remaines onely a malignant party who have despised his Person, and usurped his Office, and would ruin and destroy him. And by reason of the alarms lately given him, he thinks it necessary to put himself into a posture of defence, and he invites all his loving Subjects to bring in plate and money, either of gift, or upon Loans, that he may be able to raise an Army.  

1o. For the defence, and maintenance of the Protestant Religion( especially in Worship, and Church government) established by law, and by vote in a full and free Convention this Parliament, against a Factious and Seditious party, in the City of London, and throughout the whole kingdom; who first overthrew the freedom of Parliament by Tumults, and now endeavour to over throw our Religion by force of arms, and who are countenanced by a Factious and Seditious party in the Houses, assuming to themselves the name of Parliament.  
2o. For the vindication and maintenance of the Liberty and freedom of Parliaments against that Seditious and Tumultuous party aforesaid.  
3o. For the vindication and maintenance of the Liberty of the Subject in his person and estate, against their illegal Ordinances, and Arbitrary and Tyrannicall proceedings.   
And( saith the Confession of the Church of Scotland) whosoever deny unto Kings and Princes their aid, counsel and comfort, whilst they travel vigilantly in the execution of their Office( as his majesty doth in defending and maintaining the premises, even with the hazard of his life,) we affirm that the same men deny their help, support, and counsel to God, who by the presence of his Lieutenant doth crave it of them.  
Besides his Majesty raised his Army for the vindication and recovery of his Rights taken from Him, in the Forts, and Castles, and the Militia, and his Navy,( without which He cannot discharge his Kingly Office, and protect his people) and for his negative Vote, declared against. As also for the Defence of his Crown and Life in danger, after it had been declared, That they should not want duty or modesty if they followed the highest precedents of other Parliaments.  
And in this respect we have a farther obligation upon us by our oaths enjoined by Law, which is, To defend the King to the utmost of our power, against all Conspiracies and Attempts whatsoever, which shall be made against his Majesties person, his Crown, and Dignity; and to our power to assist all jurisdictions, privileges, pre-eminences, and authorities, belonging to Him, or united to the imperial Crown of this realm.  
Thus have I shewed thee, Reader, the beginnings of this war; and therein mayst thou see the justness of the Kings Cause, and the necessity of his arms; and from thence must thy Conscience be directed, and not from the carriage or success of it. I have shewed thee how from the very first Reformation amongst us, there hath been a factious and seditious party,( I mean the Disciplinarians) enemies to the Church and State, how they have multiplied from time to time, and how at this time their power is increased by reason of the populousnesse and wealth of the City of London, and a compliance of some Members of both Houses of Parliament with them. Thou hast seen how at first in a Parliamentary way they attempted their Design of overthrowing the present Government of the Church and State; and how failing in that way, they appeared in Tumults, and overbore the Parliament; driving away divers of the Members who favoured not their ends; and captivating the Votes of others by force and violence; and how by these means under the name and authority of the Parliament( upon pretence of fears and jealousies) they possessed themselves of the power of the kingdom, and then affronted the King in the business of Hull, and declared against Him, and offered Him( as a means of Reconciliation) propositions destructive of Royalty; and lastly, how they took up arms, to complete and finish their design; whereupon his Majesty was necessitated to arm Himself also, for defence of himself and of the Parliament, and of his Subjects, and of our Religion.  
And be thou assured, that they who could not carry their business in a full and free Convention of Parliament, will never be able to prevail upon a free Debate and Treaty, and so they will never debate it in a Treaty; but what they begun by Tumults, they will determine and establish by the Sword; so the differences are irreconcilable, and the course of war unalterable, and the destruction of thy poor country inevitable. rouse up therefore thyself for redeeming the peace of thy country; and have public thoughts in thee of supporting the frame of this tottering Church and State, rather than of saving thyself, and thine,( knowing also that thy private cannot be safe so long as the public is in danger:) and apply thyself forthwith to his Majesties service, and be zealous and industrious in it; and resolve under his Majesty to live and die a loyal Subject to thy sovereign, a faithful Servant of the Parliament, a true English Protestant, and a freeborn English-man.  And the glorious majesty of the our Lord God be upon us, prosper thou the work of our hands upon us, O prosper thou our handy works. 
And, Reader, for thy better information, and through satisfaction concerning this present war, I shall now lay down before thee the Grounds of my own resolution against the war on the Parliaments side, in point of Conscience.  Whatsoever is not of faith, is sin. Rom. 14.23.( i.) saith Master Perkins, Whatsoever a man doth, his Conscience reluctating, or doubting, or erring, is sin in the party so doing it. 
In this case  
1. My Conscience doubteth whether this be a free Parliament; or no; ( i.) whether the Members of both Houses had their freedom of Vote in Parliament, or whether it was not taken away by the Sectaries, Separatists, and others, in and about the City of London, disaffected to the present Government of the Church and State; resorting in great multitudes to Westminster with swords and clubs,( and sent for to) when any thing was likely to be carried in the Houses against their party, and contrary to their design.  
I doubt also whether his Majesty had his freedom, or his safety; those tumultuous people, as they passed through the streets, using many desperate& seditious speeches, That the King was the Traitor, That the young Prince would govern better, That it is not fit the King should live. Yea in the height of their rage, as they returned from Westminster, they made a stand at Whitehall Gate,( as they were bid to do) saying, That they will have no more Porters Lodge, but would speak with the King when they pleased.  
2. The King and Members not having freedom and safety. I doubt whether this be a Parliament or no. For what is a Parliament but a Carcase, when the freedom thereof is suppressed? saith Master Pym, in his Speech of The Discovery of the great Plot. And say the Lords and Commons at Oxford, in their late Declaration, for want of freedom of Vote, the power of Parliament is suspended; and there can be no Parliamentary Action or Authority until it be restored and secured. And in the interim, the Members at Westminster sit, not in a politic, but a natural capacity onely, and so have no power or authority to act or command any thing.  
3. If this were a full and free Convention of Parliament, I doubt whether the two Houses of Parliament have Authority to take up arms against the King, be it for preservation of Religion and Liberty; for,  

1. The Members of both Houses are Subjects,( and so aclowledge themselves in their petitions to his Majesty) and I doubt, whether even in these cases Subjects may take up arms against their sovereign. The Doctrine of the Church of England, delivered in the books of Homilies, is clearly against it.   
Again, the Subjects of the kingdom of England diffusively considered cannot take up arms against the King, and how then can their Representatives assembled in Parliament, seeing they have no power but what the people at large have given them.  

2. I have not red or heard of any known Law warranting them thus to take up arms; and I doubt whether they may do it( as is pretended) by the fundamental laws of the Land. For if the thus preserving of Religion and Liberty( against the King, endeavouring to alter the one, or destroy the other) were committed to the Houses of Parliament by the Constitution of the kingdom, doubtless it would never have given power to the King of calling and dissolving Parliaments at pleasure; for so that means of preservation is made uncertain, yea it becomes certainly none at all; seeing it cannot be conceived, but the King in that case would either not call, or presently dissolve the Parliament, if He saw they would arm themselves against Him. Yea, rather I believe, that the King hath power to call and dissolve Parliaments by the Constitution of the kingdom, that so He may prevent all such proceedings, which would otherwise from time to time embroil the kingdom in Civill war.   
So these arms being not warranted by any Law, all their Ordinances and Commands, in order to this war, are one onely personal and of their own private wills, not legal and judicial; and so may be resisted by their own exposition of the place, Rom. 13.2.  
Yea, this pretended legal power of Subjects taking up arms against their sovereign, is against the very Fundamentals of policy, and tends to the destruction of policies: for in every constituted kingdom and Common-wealth there is but one Sword, and that committed to the Supreme Magistrate; and if the people also were armed with another Sword, how upon all occasions( real and pretended, as at this day) would there be continual clashing between them, and intestine Divisions, and Civill Warres, than which nothing is more pernicious and destructive to a Common-wealth, no not Tyranny itself.  
nevertheless in this case we are not left remediless, even by the constitution of the kingdom. For whereas it is said, The King can do no wrong; and what is so done, is said ever to be done by evil counsellors and Instruments; by the Fundamentals of the kingdom the House of Commons have power to indite and prosecute, and the House of Lords to judge and censure, such counsellors and Instruments, though fled beyond the Seas; and so to vindicate and secure our Liberties: and how this might have been done effectually at this time in a Parliamentary way, against all remaining in the kingdom, you shall see in the resolution of the following Doubt.  
4. war being the last Remedy, and not to be undertaken but in case of extreme necessity, I doubt of the necessity of this present war.  

1. In respect of the preservation of the Protestant Religion against Popery; his Majesty by his Message Jan. 20. pressing them speedily, and seriously to consider of all things necessary for the security of the true Religion now professed in the Church of England( with due consideration of weak consciences, in point of Ceremony.) And by that other Message Febr. 14. declaring his resolution to proceed strictly against Papists, and to banish out of the kingdom all Romish Priests; and setting forth a Proclamation for putting all laws in execution against Papists without favour or connivance, March 16 Also in his Answer to the Propositions June 2, offering to join with the Houses in a special Act against Priests and resuits disturbing the State, and against Papists cluding the laws by Trust; and for the Education of the Children of Papists by Protestants in the Protestant Religion( which offer his Majesty renewed in his Message to the Lords and Commons for a Treaty of Peace, April 12. 1643.) And by these means Popery would have been suppressed for the present, and in time to come might have been rooted out; in a legal and Parliamentary way.  
2. In respect of the preservation of the Liberty of the Subject; which after it had been asserted by several Acts this Parliament, his Majesty by the said Message Ian. 20. advised them farther to secure u● to themselves, if it were needful. And had there been any Invasion of our Liberties,( as who durst invade them? the Parliament sitting as long as they please, by the Act of Continuation, which secures unto them a full operation of all Remedies in this kind, according to their own confession in the Remonstrance, Decemb. 15) I say, had any one presumed to invade out Liberties, the Militia being also settled( as it might have been) by Act of Parliament, in the hands of such Lieutenants as they did confided in, which his Majesty offered to do, not excluding himself altogether from the Execution of it, there would have been a sure means of bringing to condign punishment the offenders in that kind; because the Houses might in such a case have caused that Act to be put in Execution, in order to the preservation of our Liberty, and of Religion too, if needful; and of their power and privilege of calling in, and proceeding against Delinquents also, as they have power upon occasion to put any Law in Execution. But they would not be satisfied with that offer of the Kings for settling the Militia in the ordinary way, because it could not agree with their ends, which were extraordinary: nor could they afterward so well have put the Militia( as they did) in Execution against Him, unless at first they had ordered it to be executed without Him.   
5. These arms taken up at first onely Defensively( as was pretended) are used also offensively.  
1. To overthrow our Religion by Law established, in Doctrine, Worship, Government, and Discipline; which is also contrary to the profession they made in their Orders and Propositions for bringing in Money and Place, june 10. For therein they declare, that whatsoever is brought in shall not at all be employed upon any other occasion than to maintain the Protestant Religion, the laws of the Land, &c. And that must doubtless be the Protestant Religion established by the laws of the Land.  
2. To overthrow the Kings legal Prerogative, and Supremacy.  
1. In ecclesiastical matters, by abolishing of Episcopacy, and setting up the Presbytery; for whereas the Bishops( the chief Governours of the Church under his Majesty) have their nomination from the King, and there is a final appeal from them to the King, the Presbyterian Discipline doth admit of neither, but will be in both respects independent to Him.  
2. In Civill matters, by taking from Him the nomination of the great Officers of State, and of the Lord admiral, and of the Warden of the Cinque Ports, and the Disposition of the Forts and Castles, and of the Militia, &c. and by settling the chief power in all these things for ever in the Parliament: and this is also contrary to the profession they made in their Propositions and Orders, june 10. for therein they declare, That whatsoever is brought in shal not at all be employed upon any other occasion than to maintain the Kings Authority, and his Person in his royal Dignity.  
Yea, these arms are used to overthrow the very first Constitution of the kingdom; by endeavouring to bring in the Presbytery in the Church, and Aristocracy and Democracy in the Common-wealth, and of a sovereign to make this a mere Titular Monarchy. And this doubtless was the design from the Beginning; for what is last in execution is ever first in intention, as è contra; and in the Act for the Continuation of this Parliament, they laid their foundation for attempting it; and afterward they prosecuted it from time to time: first by the Protestation, then by Sir Arthur Hasterigges Bill, and by their Remonstrance, Decemb. 15. and by employing seditious Preachers, and by licensing seditious Pamphlets, and by raising and countenancing Tumults, by protecting the Lord Kymbolton and the Five Members, by putting the Bishops out of the House of Lords, by wresting the Militia from the King, by serving and detaining from Him his Magazine at Hull, by their Declarations, that especially May 26. by the tender of the nineteen Propositions; and lastly, by their taking up arms; yea, by their malicious and perverse constructions and applications, they made all occurrents past and present, in Church and State, subservient to this their design.  
Lastly, these arms are used to overthrow the very Constitution of Parliament, and to compel the Kings Vote and consent to those things, against himself, against the Church, and therein against his Oath which He took at his Coronation to defend the Bishops and their Churches.  
And in this fifth and last respect, there is in me a reluctancy of Conscience against this war on the Parliaments side.  
And you, who out of an erroneous Conscience have engaged yourselves in this war, on the Parliaments part against the King, be admonished from henceforth to desist, and to repent; for as much as you may plainly see, that since the Tumults begun this was not a free Parliament, and so for the time no Parliament at all, in respect of action, or authority; and if it were a full and free Convention of Parliament, yet they have no power to take up arms against the King, be it for preservation of Religion and Liberty; and at this time there was no necessity of taking up arms in these respects; yea, and the arms taken up are used offensively, and employed unjustly against the King, the Law, and Religion; to overthrow the Religion by Law established, and to divest the King of his just legal Prerogative, and so to overthrow the fundamental Constitution of the kingdom.  
Now whosoever go about to overthrow Policies long since established, are enemies to mankind, and fight against God's expressed will, saith the Confession of the Church of Scotland.  O my soul, come not thou into their secret, Gen. 49.6. 
FINIS.