firullions to

Into France, with Proteftation "That if they were found again "in England, they fhould be proceeded against as Traytors: and this in the face of the French Embaffador,who notwithstanding withdrew not from them his Courtship, and Application. THEN, that the King might know how little they dreaded his Forces, they fent down their Inftructions to the Earl of Effex their General, who had long expected them; whereby among other things of form for the better difcipline of the Army, "They requir'd him to march with fuch Forces as The two "he thought fit, towards the Army raised, in his Majefty's Houses In"Name against the Parliament and the Kingdom; and with their Ge "them, or any part of them, to Fight, at fuch time and place neral. "as he fhould judge moft to conduce to the Peace and Safety "of the Kingdom: and that he should use his utmost en"deavour by battle, or otherwife, to refcue his Majefty's Per"fon, and the Perfons of the Prince, and Duke of York, out "of the hands of those defperate Perfons, who were then "about them. They directed him to take an opportunity, in "fome fafe and honourable way, to cause the Petition of "both Houfes of Parliament, then fent to him, to be pre"fented to his Majefty; and if his Majefty fhould thereupon "please to withdraw himself from the Forces then about him, "and to refort to the Parliament, his Lordship fhould caufe "his Majesty's Forces to disband, and should serve and defend, "his Majefty with a fufficient ftrength in his return. They "requir'd his Lordship to publish and declare, that if any "who had been fo feduced, by the falfe afperfions caft upon "the proceedings of the Parliament, as to affift the King in acting of thofe dangerous Counfels, fhould willingly, with"in ten days after fuch publication in the Army, return to "their Duty, not doing any Hoftile Act within the time li"mited, and joyn themselves with the Parliament in defence "of Religion, his Majesty's Person, the Liberties, and Law "of the Kingdom, and Privileges of Parliament, with their Perfons, and Estates, as the Members of both Houses, and "the reft of the Kingdom have done, that the Lords and "Commons would be ready upon their fubmiffion, to receive "fuch Perfons in fuch a manner, as they should have cause to "acknowledge they had been used with Clemency and Favour; "provided that That favour should not extend to admit any "Man into either House of Parliament, who stood fufpen"ded, without giving fatisfaction to the Houfe whereof he "fhould be a Member; and except all Perfons who stood "impeach'd, or particularly Voted against in either Houfe "of Parliament for any Delinquency whatfoever; excepting "likewife fuch adherents of those, who stood impeach'd in Parliament of Treafon, as had been eminent Perfons, and

C 3

chief

The Petition of both

Houses, to

General to

but never

delivered.

"chief Actors in thofe Treafons. And left those clauses of exception (which no doubt comprehended all the King's Party, and if not, They were ftill to be judges of their own Clemency and Favour, which was all was promised to the humbleft penitent) might invite thofe, whom they had no mind to receive on any terms, they vouchfafed a "Particular ex"ception of the Earl of Bristol, the Earl of Cumberland, the "Earl of New-Caftle, the Earl of Rivers, the Duke of Richmond, "the Earl of Carnarvan, the Lord Newark, and the Lord "Viscount Falkland Principal Secretary of State to his Ma"jefty, Mr Secretary Nicholas, Mr Endymion Porter, Mr Ed"ward Hyde; against not one of whom was there a Charge depending of any crime, and againft very few of them fo much as a Vote, which was no great matter of Delinquency. IT will be here neceffary to infert the Petition, directed to be prefented in fome fafe and honourable way to his Majefty; the rather for that the fame was, upon the reafons hereafter mention'd, never prefented; which was afterwards objected to his Majefty as a rejection of Peace on His part, when They defir'd it. The Petition was in these words.

cr

"WE your Majefty's Loyal Subjects, the Lords and Commons in Parliament, cannot, without great grief, and tenthe King, "dernefs of compaffion, behold the preffing Miferies, the imSent to the "minent Dangers, and the devouring calamities, which exbe prefented, "tremely threaten, and have partly feifed upon both your Kingdoms of England, and Ireland, by the practices of a "Party prevailing with your Majefty; who, by many wicked "Plots and Confpiracies have attempted the alteration of the "true Religion, and the ancient Government of this King"dom, and the introducing of Popish Idolatry and Superfti"tion in the Church, and Tyranny and Confufion in the State; "and, for the compaffing thercof, have long corrupted your Majefty's Counfels, abuted your Power, and by fuddain and "untimely diffolving of former Parliaments, have often hin"der'd the Reformation, and Prevention of those Mischiefs: "and being now disabled to avoid the endeavours of this Par"liament, by any fuch means, have Trayteroufly attempted to "overawe the fame by Force; and, in profecution of their "wicked defigns, have excited, encouraged, and fofter'd an "unnatural Rebellion in Ireland; by which, in a most cruel "and outrageous manner, many thousands of your Majefty's "Subjects there, have been deftroy'd; and, by falfe flanders "upon your Parliament, and malicious and unjuft Accufa "tions, have endeavour'd to begin the like Maffacre Here; "and being, through God's bleffing, therein difappointed, have, as the most mifchievous and bloody defign of all, drawn

"your

'your Majefty to make War against your Parliament, and good Subjects of this Kingdom, Leading in your Perfon an "Army against them, as if you intended, by Conqueft, to "eltablish an abfolute and unlimited Power over them; and "by your Power, and the countenance of your prefence, have "ranfack'd, fpoil'd, imprison'd, and murder'd divers of your "People; and, for their better affiftance in their wicked de"figns, do feek to bring over the Rebels of Ireland, and other "Forces, beyond the Seas, to joyn with them.

AND We, finding our felves utterly depriv'd of your "Majefty's Protection, and the Authors, Coufellors, and "Abettors of thefe mifchiefs in greatestPower andFavour with "your Majefty, and defended by You against the Justice, and "Authority of your High Court of Parliament; whereby "they are grown to that height and infolence, as to manifelt "their rage and malice against thofe of the Nobility,and others, "who are any whit inclinable to Peace, not without great "appearance of danger to your own Royal Perfon, if you "hall not in all things concur with their wicked and Tray"terous courfes; have, for the juft and neceffary defence of "the Proteftant Religion, of your Majefty's Perfon, Crown, "and Dignity, of the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom, "and the Privileges and Power of Parliament, taken up "Arms, and appointed and authoriz'd Robert Earl of Effex "to be Captain General of all the Forces by us raised, and to "lead and conduct the fame against thefe Rebels and Traytors, "and them to fubdue, and bring to condign punishment; "and do moft humbly befeech your Majefty to withdraw your "Royal Prefence and Countenance from thofe wicked Perfons; and, if they fhall stand out in defence of their Re"bellious and unlawful attempts, that your Majefty will leave them to be fuppreft by that Power, which We have fent againft them; and that your Majefty will not mix your own "dangers with theirs, but in Peace and Safety, without your Forces, forthwith return to your Parliament; and by their "faithful Counfel and Advice, compofe the prefent diftem"pers and confufions abounding in both your Kingdoms; and provide for the Security and Honour of your felf, and your "Royal Pofterity, and the profperous Eftate of all your Sub"jects; wherein if your Majefty please to yield to our moft "humble, and earneft defires, We do, in the prefence of Almighty God, profefs, that We will receive your Majesty "with all honour, yield you all due obedience, and fubjection, "and faithfully endeavour to fecure your Perfon and Estate "from all dangers; and, to the uttermost of our Power, to procure and establifh to your felf, and to your People, all "the bleffings of a Glorious and Happy Reign.

C4

BE

BESIDES this, that it might appear, they were nothing jealous or apprehenfive of the People's defection and revolt from them, whereas before they had made the general defire of the Kingdom the ground, and argument for whatsoever they had done, and had only invited Men to contribute freely what they thought fit, to the charge in hand, without compelling any who were unwilling; they now took notice not only of those who oppofed their proceedings, or privately diffwaded other Men from concurring with them, but of those, who either out of fear, or covetousness, or both, had neglected really to contribute; and therefore they boldly publish'd their Votes (which were Laws to the People, or of much Votes of both more Authority) "That all fuch Perfons, as fhould not conHouses for "tribute to the Charge of the Common-wealth, in that time raising and "of eminent neceffity, fhould be difarm'd and fecur'd; and that this Vote might be the more terrible, they order'd, the fame day, the Mayor and Sheriffs of London "To search the "Houses, and feife the Arms belonging to fome Aldermen, "and other principal fubftantial Citizens of London, whom they named in their Order; "For that it appear'd by the report from their Committee, that they had not contributed, as they ought, to the Charge of the Common-wealth.

procuring Money.

By this means the pooreft, and loweft of the People became Informers against the richest, and most substantial; and the refult of searching the Houses and seifing the Arms was the taking away Plate, and things of the greatest Value, and very frequently plundering whatsoever was worth the keeping. They further appointed, "That the Fines, Rents, and Profits, "of Arch-Bifhops, Bishops, Deans, Deans and Chapters, and "of all Delinquents, who had taken up Arms against the "Parliament; or had been active in the Commiffion of Array, "fhould be Sequester'd for the use and benefit of the Com"mon-wealth. And that the King might not fare better than his Adherents, they directed "All his Revenue, arifing out "of Rents, Fines in Courts of Juftice, Compofition for Wards, "and the like, and all other his Revenue should be brought "into the feveral Courts, and other places, where they ought "to be paid in, and not iffued forth, or paid forth, until far"ther Order fhould be taken by both Houfes of Parliament, without fo much as affigning him any part of his Own, towards the fupport of his own Perfon.

THIS tout invafion of the People's property, and compelling them to part with what was molt precious to them, any part of their Eftates, was thought by many an unpopular Act, in the morning of their Soveraignty, and that it would wonderfully have irreconciled their new Subjects to them. But the Conducters well understood, that their Empire al

ready

ready depended more on the Fear, than Love of the People; and that as they could carry on the War only by having Money enough to pay the Soldiers, fo, that whilft they had That, probably they fhould not want Men to recruit their Armies upon any mifadventure.

IT cannot be imagin'd, how great advantages the King receiv'd by the Parliament's rejecting the King's Meffages for Peace, and their manner in doing it. All Men's mouths were open'd against them, the Meffages and Anfwers being read in all Churches; they who could not ferve him in their Perfons, contriv'd ways to fupply him with Money. Some eminent Governours in the Universities gave him notice that all the Colleges were very plentifully fupplied with Plate, which would amount to a good Value, and lay useless in their Treafuries, there being enough befides for their Common Use; and there was not the leaft doubt, but that whenfoever his Majefty fhould think fit to require that Treasure, it would all be fent to him. Of this the King had long thought, and, when he was at Nottingham, in that Melancholick feafon, two Gentlemen were dispatch'd away to Oxford, and to Cambridge (Two to each) with Letters to the feveral Vice-Chancellors, that they should move the Heads, and Principles of the feveral Colleges and Halls, that they would fend their Plate to the King; private advertisements being firft fent to some Trufty Perfons to prepare, and difpofe thofe, without whose confent the Service could not be perform'd.

contributed

the King.

THIS whole Affair was tranfacted with fo great fecrecy, and difcretion, that the Meffengers return'd from the two Univerfities, in as short a time as fuch a Journey could well be the two Umade, and brought with them all, or very near all their Plate, niversities and a confiderable Sum of Money, which was fent as a Prefent their Money to his Majefty from several of the Heads of Colleges, out of and Plate to their own particular Stores; fome Scholars coming with it,and helping to procure Horfes and Carts for the Service; all which came fafe to Nottingham, at the time when there appear'd no more expectation of a Treaty, and contributed much to raifing the dejected Spirits of the place. The Plate was prefently weighed out, and deliver'd to the feveral Officers, who were entrufted to make Levies of Horse and Foot, and who receiv'd it as Money, the reft was carefully preferv'd to be carried with the King, when he should remove from thence; fecret Orders being fent to the Officers of the Mint, to be ready to come to his Majefty affoon as he should require them, which he meant to do, affoon as he should find himself in a place convenient. There was now no more complaining or murmuring. Some Gentlemen undertook to make Levies upon their Credit, and Intereft, and others fent Money to the King upon their own Inclinations.

THERE