The Marquis publishes another ProKing; in September, clamation of the 1638. the King's Proclamation, of which the chiefe heads were: First, The King did abrogate all Decrees of Council for the Booke of Canons and Common-Prayer, and abrogate the High Commisson. Secondly, That none should be pressed to the five Articles of Perth. Thirdly, That Bishops should be subject to the censure of a Synod. Fourthly, That no Oath should be given at Ordination of Pastors, but by Law of Parliament. Fifthly, that the lesser Confession of 1580. should be subscribed-to by all the Kingdome. Sixtly, That the King called a National Synod, to begin at Glasco the 21st of November, 1638, and a Parliament at Edenburgh the 15th of May, 1639. Lastly, for peace sake, he would forget ali their offences past. The Covenanters, at the first hearing of this peaceful Message, were much joyed; but, looking neerely into the words, they found (as they affirme) That their precedent actions were tacitly condemned, and the just freedome of a National Synod taken away. The Covenanters in answer to it. Therefore, loath to be deceived, they frame a Protestation, not (as they alledged) make a Protestation mis-doubting the candor of the King, but not trusting those in favour with him; by whose destructive Counsel they supposed it was, that the King had not shewed this clemency at first. The chiefe heads of their Protestation were these: First, after humble thanks to God and the King, they conceived this grant no sufficient remedy for their sores. For His Majesty calls that a panick feare in them, which was upon no imaginary, but just, grounds, as a real mutation both of Religion and Lawes, by obtrusion of those Bookes directly popish. Secondly, whereas the King in his former Mandates so highly extolled those Bookes, as most religious, and fit for the Church; they could not be satisfied with a bare remission of the exercise of them, unlesse he would utterly abrogate and condemne them; or else itching Innovators would not be wanting hereafter to raise new troubles to the Church about them. Thirdly, the just liberty of National Synods is diminished, and Episcopacy setup, they being allowed, as Bishops, though not deputed by the Churches, to give their voices in a Syned. Fourthly, the subscribing againe of that old Covenant, could not be admitted, for many reasons there at large expressed; of which some are, That it would frustrate their late Covenant, and make it narrower than before, and not able to suit to the redresse of present grievances, and be a needlesse multiplying of Oathes, and taking the Name of God in vaine; with many other objections, which cannot be fu ly here inserted. That Covenant, notwithstanding, was solemnly taken at Edenburgh by the Marquesse of HAMILTON, the King's Commissioner, and all the Privy Coun cil. The Marquesse then gave Order for the Syncd, fearing least the Covenanters, if he delayed to call it, would do it themselves, and on the 16th of November Where, after many meetings for preparation to the businesse, on the 21st of the A National Synod of same Moneth, according to the King's Edict, the National Synod began: But the Church of Scotland is holden at Glas within seven daies that Synod was dissolved by the Marquesse HAMILTON, in the gow, on the 21st of King's Name, and they commanded to sit no more. 'November, 1638. But it is dissolved The Marquesse alleadging, for reason of it, that they had broken the Lawes within seven days. of a free Synod in many proceedings, not onely in those few daies of their sitting, but before it began, in their manner of Elections, with other such-like matters. notwithstanding the But they protested against that dissolution, and continued the Synod when the But the Synod conMarquesse was gone. What were the Acts of that Synod, what proceedings it tinues it's sittings had, and what impediments it met withal, you may reade in two large descrip- Dissolution. tions, the one published by the King, the other by the Synod; how the Bishops protested against the Synod; how the Synod answered their Protestation; how the Synod wrote to the King; how they proceeded against the Bishops, deposing them all from their Dignities; how of all the fourteene Bishops, eight were excommunicated, foure excluded from all Ministerial Function, and two onely allowed to officiate as Pastours; how the five Articles of Perth, the Booke of Liturgy, the Booke of Canons and Ordination, were all condemned, the High Commission taken-away, and whatsoever else had crept into the Church since the yeare 1580, when that National Covenant was first established. 胃 The Scots Covenanters, when themselves broke-up the Synod, wrote a Letter The Covenanter of thanks to the King, and immediately after published a Declaration, dated the publish an Address to the People of fourth of February, 1658, from Edenburgh, and directed To all the sincere and England; in Felu8 good Christians in England, to vindicate their actions and intentions, from those ary, 1038-9. aspersions which enemies might throw upon them. That Declaration was welcome to the people of England in general, and especially to those who stood best-affected to Religion, and the Lawes and Liberties of their Country: But by the King's Authority it was suppressed, as all other papers that might be sent from the Scots; and a Proclamation soone after, bear- The King publishes ing date the 27th of February, 1638, was published by the King, and commanded a Proclamation in to be read in all Churches of England; the Title of it was, A Proclamation and Bagland against the Declaration to informe our loving Subjects of England, concerning the seditious ers, on the 27th of Actions of some in Scotland, who, under false pretence of Religion, endeavour February, 1638-9. the utter subversion of our Koyal Authority. Scottish Covenant The Declaration was filled with sharpe invectives and execrations against the Scottish Covenanters; but the truth is, it wrought little upon the hearts X of the English People; who conceived a good opinion of the Scots; and were more confirmed in it, because the King had carried the whole businesse so closely from the English Nation, as not onely not to declare unto them in a Parliament, (which former Princes used to call upon lesse occasions) but not revealing revealing the proceedings of it to the Body of his Privy Council, acquainting onely some of them, whom he thought fittest for his purpose, as the King himselfe expresseth in two places of his owne Booke, intituled, A large DeThe King declares claration concerning the late tumults in Scotland, page 76, and page 126. In fine, the Scots to be rebels, the Scots are declared Rebels; and the King in Person, with an English Army and resolves to raise an English army to richly furnished, is going to chastise them. subdue them. CHAP. V. The aversenesse of the English people from this Warre NEVER were the people of England so averse from any Warre, as neither The averseness of the hating the Eneny against whom, nor approving the cause for which, they were English people from engaged. this war with Scotland. Their owne great sufferings made them easily believe that the Scots were innocent, and wronged by the same hand by which themselves had beene oppressed. And for the cause, it was such wherein they could not desire a Victory; as they naturally supposed that the same Sword which subdued the Scots, must destroy their owne Li berties; and that the contrivers of this Warre were equal Enemies to both Nations. Nor was this onely the thought of wisest Gentlemen, but the common people in general were sensible of the mutual interest of both Kingdomes. Those Courtiers, who were in all things wholly complyant to the King's will, did also dislike this Warre with Scotland, though not for the same reason which the forenamed did; as not considering the cause, or quarrel, but the disadvantages of the Warre itselfe. These disadvantages they used to vent in contemptuous expressions of the poverty of Scotland; "That nothing could be gotten from such wretched Enemies; That "the King were happy (if with his Honour he might suffer it) to be rid of that "Kingdome, and would be a great gainer by the losse of it." The younger Courtiers were usually heard to wish Scotland under water, or that the old Wall of SEVERUS, the Emperour, were now re-edified. Those Those Courtiers that were of a graver discourse, did likewise sccme to feare the consequence of this businesse, and, I remember, would daily mention the Story of CHARLES Duke of Burgundy, his pressing of a Warre upon the Swissers; and what PHILLIP DE COMMINES relates about the Battel of Granson, that the Duke lost to the value of three millions of Crownes; all which he fondly ventured against so wretched a people, that it is there expressed, if all the Swissers had been taken Prisoners, they would not be able to pay a Ransom to the value of the Spurres and Bridle-bits in his Campe: And very frequent in their mouthes was that Verse: The King raises an army in England, against the Scots' Covenanters. But the people of England, though they abhorred the very thought of that unnatural Warre; yet glad they seemed to be, that such an occasion happened, which might in reason necessitate the King to call an English Parliament, and so, by accident, redresse the many grievances of England: Which might also prevent the feare of such Warres for the future, and bring a just punishment upon those who were found to be the Authors, or assistors, of this present disturbance. But the King, though resolved to pursue his designe of Warre, yet, rather than take the advice of a Parliament, was content to want the aid of it; and to seeke supplies of a lower condition. Great sums of money he borrowed from the chiefe Nobility; and required proportionable Loanes from all the Judges and Officers; but specially the Clergy, of all ranks, were liberal in contribution to this War; which was then called by many men, Bellum Episcopale. All Courtiers, as well entraordinary as ordinary, were summoned to attend the King in Person with Horse and Armes, in a proportion suitable to their rankes. By whom, and such voluntiers of the Gentry as came-in to gaine His Majesties favour, with old Souldiers, that imbraced it as their profession, a gallant Army was The Army is assem- made-up, Yorke was appointed for the Rendezvouze, and the Earle of ARUNDELL bled at under the command of the Commander in chiefe. Earl of Arundel. The King, as it was well knowne, had beene advertised by many, and especially by the prosecuted Bishops, who were fled out of Scotland, that the Scottish Covenanters were in no sort able to resist him; That scarce any English Army at all would be needful to fight, but onely to appeare, and His Majesty would finde a party great enough in Scotland to do the worke. And, indeed, much might have been done in that kinde, if the Lords of the Covenant had not used a most dexterous and timely prevention, which is as necessary in a defensive, as in an offensive, Warre. For besides the feared incursion of the English upon their Borders, and what invasion the Deputy of Ireland, on the Westerne Coast, might make, together |