fervation of, &c. or otherwife the whole Proceedings of Both Kingdoms in makeing and maintaining War against Him in Defence of Religion and Liberties are questionable for breach of Covenant z fince that way of preferving did probably tend to the deftruction and was without any Safe provifion, either for his Perfon, or that Authority which can properly be called His, or understood in Conjunction with His Perfon; but that therein His Perfon might probably have been destroyed under the Sword or by a Bullet, yea was ordinarily endeavoured to be fo, as well as the Perfons of others in Arms with Him; and that Authori ty of His was certainly oppofed and endeavoured to be deftroyed thereby, inftead of being defended. Remonftrance from St. Albans, p. 55.

Indeed, about the time of the King's Murther, many of the Covenanters did declare themselves a little diffatisfied with that way of Proceeding against Him; and did (how reasonably upon their own Grounds, I know not) urge the Covenant for His Prefervation : But of E 2 their

their Behaviour in this Cafe, I shall give only the Account of an Author, who lived in those times when they had opportunities enough to have taken what account of Him themfelves pleased. His Words are these, in a Book entituled, A fort View of the Life and Reign of King Charles the First, Monarch of Great Britain, pag. 94. The Presbyterians carried on this Tragedy to the very laft Act, from the first bringing in of the Scots to the beginning of the War, and from the beginning of the War till they had brought Him Prifoner to Holmby-Houfe, and then quarrelled with the Independents for taking of the Work out of their hands, and robbing them of the long expected fruit of their Plots and Practices. They cried out against them in their Pulpits and clamoured against them in their Pamphlets for that, of which themfelves were at least parcel-guilty, Et fi non re at voto faltem Regicida, &c. On the other fide, the Independents,who washed their hands in the blood of the King, feemed as defirous as the Presbyterians to wash theirhands of it: By them

it was alleadged more calmly, that they had put Charles Stuart to death, against whom they proceeded as the Canfe of So much bloodshed; but that the King had been muthered a long time before by the Presbyterians, when they deprived Him of His Crown, His Sword, His Scepter ; of His Crown; by forcing from Him thofe Prerogatives which placed Him in a Throne of Eminency above His People; of His Sword, by wrefting the Militia out of His Hands, by which He was made unable to protect them; and of His Scepter, in divesting Him of His Power of calling Parliaments, and of His Negative Voyce in making thole Laws by which He was to govern all Eftates of Men under His Dominion : And more than fo, they had deprived Him of His Natural Liberty as a Man; of the Society of His Wife, as he was a Husband; of the Converfation of His Children, as He was a Father; of the Attendance of His Servants, as He was a Mafter; and in a word, of all those Comforts which might make Life valued for a Bleffing: So that there was nothing left for the Independents to do, E 3

but

but to put an end to thofe Calamities into which this miferable man, this Vir dolorum, as He might very well be called, had been fo accurfedly plunged by the Presbyterians.

To which I fhall only add this farther, that notwithstanding all that Loyalty which the Covenanters have fo often boasted of, from the Obligation of the Covenant; yet it is well known, that the Covenant was placed by themselves as a bar between him and his Throne, that without fubmitting to this, they could not endure to think of His Restauration to that; and this to fo high a degree, that even in January, 1648. Notwithstanding the apparent danger which the King's Life was known to be in, yet even then, the General Affembly of Scotland did violently oppofe all courfes thought upon for His Relief, and pref fed earnestly, That His Majeftie's Conceffions and Offers concerning Religion may directly and pofitively be declared unfatisfactory to the Parliament,and that there fhall be no engagement for restore, ing His Majesty to one of His Houses

with Honour, Freedom and Safety, before Security and Affurance be had from His Majefty by His Solemn Oath under Hand and Seal; that He hall for Himfelf and His Succeffors confent and agree to Acts of Parliament enjoyning the League and Covenant, and fully establishing Presbyterian Government, Directory of Worship, and Confession of Faith in all his Majefties Dominions z and that his Majesty shall never make oppofition to any of thefe, or endeavour any change thereof. Vid.Declar. of Jan. 10. 1648.

Now therefore, seeing it is fo plain a Cafe, that in the Opinion of the Compilers and Enjoyners of the Covenant; all the fore-mentioned Violences both might and ought to have been used against the King, by vertue and in pursuance of the Covenant : It thence follows unavoidably, that His Majesty is not a little concerned to be very watchful over all thofe Perfons who are fo tender of the honour of the Covenant, that they demand it as the Condition of their Admiffion into the Church, that they may by