REBELLION, &c. "could never be engaged on any other ground, than the Re"formation of Religion. And therefore, about the beginning of Auguft, the Affembly of the Kirk of Scotland publish'd 2 Declaration; "how exceedingly griev'd they were, and "made heavy, that in fo long a time, against the profeffions "both of King and Parliament, and contrary to the joynt de"fires and prayers of the Godly in both Kingdoms, to whom "it was more dear and precious, than what was dearest to "them in the world, the Reformation of Religion had moved "fo flowly, and fuffer'd fo great interruption.

THE ground of which reproach was this ; in the late Treaty of Peace, the Commiffioners for Scotland had exprefs'd a defire or wifh warily couched in words, rather than a Propofition, "that there were fuch an Unity of Religion, and Uni"formity of Church Government agreed on, as might be a "[pecial means for conferving of Peace betwixt the two King"doms: To which there had been a general inclination to return a rough Answer, and reproof for their intermedling in any thing that related to the Laws of England. But, by the extraordinary industry, and fubtlety of thofe, who faw that bufinefs was not yet ripe, and who alledged, that it was only wish'd, not propofed, and therefore that a fharp reply was not merited, this gentle Anfwer, against the minds of very many, was return'd,

"THAT his Majefty, with the advice of both Houses of "Parliament, did approve of the Affection of his Subjects of "Scotland, in their defire of having Conformity of Church "Government between the two Nations; and as the Parlia"ment had already taken into confideration the Reformation " of Church Government, fo they would proceed therein. "in due time, as should beft conduce to the glory of God, the "Peace of the Church, and of both Kingdoms.

WHICH was confented to by moft, as a civil Answer, fignifying, or concluding nothing; by others, because it admitted an interpretation of reducing the Government of the Church in Scotland to this of England, as much as the contrary. But it might have been well difcern'd, that those Men asked nothing without a farther defign than the words naturally imported, nor ever refted fatisfied with a general formal Anfwer, except they found, that they should hereafter make use, and receive benefit by fuck Anfwer. So they now urged the matter of this Answer, as a fufficient Title to demand the extirpation of Prelacy in England, and demolishing the whole Fabrick of that glorious Church; urging his Majefty's late practice, while he was in Perfon in Scotland, in reforting frequently to their exercises of publick Worship; and his Royal Actions, in establishing the Worship and Govern

ment

ment of that Kirk in Parliament. And therefore they defired the Parliament "to begin their work of Reformation at the "Uniformity of Kirk Government; for that there could be "no hope of Unity in Religion, of one Confeffion of Faith, "one Form of Worthip, and one Catechifm, till there were "first one Form of Church Governmeut; and that the King"dom, and Kirk of Scotland, could have no hope of a firm

and durable Peace, till Prelacy, which had been the main "cause of their miferies and troubles, first and laft, were "pluck'd up root and branch, as a plant which God had not "planted, and from which no better fruits could be expected, "than fuch four Grapes, as at that day fet on edge the King"dom of England.

WHICH Declaration the Lords of the fecret Council, finding, as they faid, "the reafons therein exprefs'd to be very “ pregnant, and the particulars defired, much to conduce to "the glory of God, the advancement of the true Chriftian "Faith, his Majefty's Honour, and the Peace, and Union of "his Dominions, well approv'd of; and concurred in their earnest defires to the two Houses of Parliament, "to take to "their ferious confiderations thofe particulars, and to give fa"vourable hearing to fuch defires and overtures, as fhall be "found moft conducible to the promoting fo great, and fo "good a work.

THIS being fent to the Parliament at the time they were forming their Army, and when the King was preparing for his defence, they who, from the beginning, had principally intended this confufion of the Church, infinuated "how ne"ceffary it was, fpeedily to return a very affectionate, and "fatisfactory reply to the Kingdom of Scotland; not only to preferve the reputation of unity, and confent between them, which, at that time, was very ufeful to them, but to hinder "the operations of the difaffected in that Kingdom; who, cr upon infufions that the Parliament only aim'd at taking his "Majefty's Regal rights from him, to the prejudice of Mo"narchique Government, without any thought of reforming "Religion, endeavour'd to pervert the Affections of that Peo"ple towards the Parliament. Whereas if they were once "affured there was a purpose to reform Religion, they should "be fure to have their Hearts; and, if occafion required, "their Hands too; which poffibly might be feduced for the "King, if that purpose were not manifefted. Therefore, for "the prefent, they fhould do well to return their hearty "thanks for, and their Brotherly acceptance and approbation "of the defires, and advice of that Chriftian Affembly, and "of the Lords of the Council; and that though, for the pre"fent, by reafon of the King's diftance from the Parliament

"the,

"they could not fettle any conclufion in that matter, yet for "Their parts they were refolv'd to endeavour it.

By this Artifice and Invention, they procured a Declaration from the two Houfes of Parliament, of wonderful kindness, and confeffion of many inconveniences, and mischiefs the Kingdom had fuftain'd by Bishops; and therefore they de clared, "that That Hierarchical Government was evil, and justly offenfive, and burthenfome to the Kingdom; a great "impediment to Reformation, and growth of Religion; ve "ry prejudicial to the State and Government of the Kingdom; "and that they were refolv'd, that the fame fhould be taken away; and that their purpose was to confult with Godly, and Learned Divines, that they might not only remove "That, but fetle fuch a Government, as might be moft agree

able to God's holy word; moft apt to procure, and coníerve "the Peace of the Church at home, and a happy Union with "the Church of Scotland, and other Reform'd Churches "abroad; and to eftablifh the fame by a Law, which they in"tended to frame for that purpofe, to be prefented to his Ma"jefty for his Royal Affent, and in the mean time to beseech "him, that a Bill for the Affembly might be pafled in time "convenient for their meeting; the two Houfes having extrajudicially and extravagantly nominated their own Divines to that purpose, as is before remember'd.

Ir was then believ'd by many, and the King was perfwaded to believe the fame, that all thofe Importunities from Scotland concerning the Government of the Church, were ufed only to preferve themselves from being preffed by the Parliament, to joyn with them against the King; imagining that this Kingdom would never have confented to fuch an ai teration; and they again pretending, that no other obligation could unite that People in their Service. But it is moft cer tain, this laft Declaration was procured by perfwading Men, "that it was for the prefent neceffary, and that it was only an Engagement to do their best to perfwade his Majesty, "who they concluded would be inexorable in the point (which they feem'd not to be forry for) "and that a reced"ing from fuch a conclufion would be a means to gratify his "Majefty in a Treaty. At worst, they all knew, that there would be room enough, when any Bill fhould be brought in, to oppose what they had, for this reafon of State, feem'd generally to confent to. And fo by these Stratagems, thinking to be too hard for each other, they grew all fo entangled, that they ftill wound themfelves deeper into thofe Labyrinths, in which the Major part meant not to be involv'd. And what effect that Declaration of the two Houfes, after the Battle of Edge-bill, which is mention'd before, wrought, will very fhortly appear.

THE

The King at THE King found himself in good cafe at Oxford, where Oxford re- care was taken for providing for the fick, and wounded Solcraits his diers, and for the Accommodation of the Army, which was,

Army.

in a fhort time, recruited there in a good measure; and the feveral Colleges prefented his Majefty with all the Money they had in their Treafuries, which amounted to a good Sum, and was a very feasonable supply, as they had formerly fent him all their Plate. It had been very happy, if the King had continued his refolution of fitting ftill during the Winter' without making farther attempts; for his Reputation was now great, and his Army believ'd to be much greater than it was, by the Victory they had obtain'd, and the Parliament grew more divided into Factions, and diflike of what they had done, and the City appear'd fuller of difcontent, and lefs inclined to be impofed upon than they had been: fo that on all hands nothing was prefs'd, but that fome addrefs might be made to the King for an accommodation; which temper and difpofition might have been cultivated, as many Men thought, to great effects, if no farther approaches had been made to London, to fhew them how little caufe they had for their great fear. But the Weather growing fair again, as it often is about Allhollantide, and a good party of Horfe having been sent out from Abingdon, where the head Quarter of the Horfe was, they advanced farther than they had order to do, and upon their The Garrison approach to Reading, where Harry Martin was Governour for the Parliament, there was a great terror feifed upon them, infomuch as Governour and Garrifon fled to London, and left the place to the party of Horfe; which gave advertisement to the King, "that all fed before them; that the Earl of Effex "remain'd ftill at Warwick, having no Army to March; and "that there was fo great divifions in the Parliament, that, "upon his Majefty's approach, they would all fly; and that

liament at

Reading quitting it, the King

marches thither.

nothing could interrupt him from going to White-Hall. How"ever, Reading it felf was fo good a Poft, that if the King "fhould find it neceffary to make his own Refidence in Ox"ford, it would be much the better by having a Garrison at "Reading.

UPON thefe and other motives, befides the natural credulity in Men, in believing all they wifh'd to be true, the King was prevailed with to march with his Army to Reading. This Alarm quickly came to London, and was receiv'd with the deepest horror: they now unbeliev'd all which had been told them from their own Army; that Army which, they were told, was well beaten, and fcatter'd, was now advanced within thirty Miles of London; and the Earl of Effex, who pretended to the Victory, and who they fuppofed was watching the King, that he might not efcape from him, could not be 5 heard

heard of, and continued ftill at Warwick. Whilst the King was at Nottingham, and Shrewsbury, they gave orders Magifterially for the War, but now it was come to their own doors, they took not that delight in it.

BEFORE they were refolv'd what to fay, they dispatch'd a Meffenger, who found the King at Reading, only to defire "a fafe conduct from his Majefty for a Committee of Lords "and Commons, to attend his Majefty with an humble Peti"tion from his Parliament. The King prefently return'd his Anfwer, "that he had always been, and was ftill ready to "receive any Petition from them; that their Committee fhould "be Welcome, provided it confifted of Perfons, who had not "been by name declared Traytors by his Majefty, and ex"cepted as fuch in his Declarations, or Proclamations. The caufe of this limitation was as well the former Rule his Majefty had fet down at Shrewsbury (from whence he thought not fit now to recede, after a Battle) as that he might prevent the Lord Say's being fent to him, from whom he could expect no entire, and upright dealing.

THE next day another Letter came from the Speaker of the House of Peers to the Lord Falkland, one of his Majefty's Principal Secretaries, to defire "a fafe conduct for the Earls "of Northumberland, and Pembroke, and four Members of "the House of Commons, to attend his Majefty with their "Petition; which safe conduct was immediately fign'd by his Majefty, excepting only for Sr John Evelyn, who was by name excepted in his Majefty's Proclamation of Pardon to the County of Wilts; which Proclamation was then fent to them with a fignification, "that if they would fend any other Per"fon in his place, not fubject to the fame exception, he fhould "be receiv'd as if his name were in the fafe conduct. Though this was no more than they had caufe to look for, yet it gave them opportunity for a time to lay afide the thought of Peritioning, as if his Majefty had rejected all overtures of Peace: "For he might every day proclaim as many of their Members "Traytors, and except them from Pardon, as he pleased, and "therefore it was to no purpose to prepare Petitions, and ap"point Meffengers to prefent them, when it was poffible "thofe Meffengers might, the hour before, be proclaim'd "Traytors that to fubmit to fuch a limitation of the King's "was, upon the matter, to confent to, and approve the high"eft breach of Privilege, that had been yet offer'd to them. So that, for fome days, all difcourfe of Peace was waved, and all poffible preparations for defence and refiftance made; for which they had a ftronger Argument than either of the other, the advancing of their General, the Earl of Effex, who was now on his march towards London; and a great fame Vol. II. Part 1.

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