to stand neuter, and not be concerned on either side; but the parliament condemned and disannulled all such agree ments. As the two houses depended upon the assistance of the Scots, his majesty had expectations of foreign aids from the queen, who had endeavored, by the influence of her sonin-law the prince of Orange, to engage the states of Holland in the king's interest, but they wisely declared for a neutrality; however, they connived at her private negociations, and gave her a general passport, by virtue whereof she transported a very large quantity of arms and ammunition to Burlington-Bay, and conveyed them to the king at York. His majesty also, in order to bring over the Irish forces under the command of the duke of Ormond, consented to a truce with the Irish rebels, [signed Sept, 15, 1643,] in which he allowed the catholics to remain in possession of what they had conquered since the rebellion, to the great grief of the protestants, who by this means were legally dispossessed of their estates: A most unpopular action, in favor of a people who, by their late massacre, were become the very reproach and infamy of human nature !* Thus the whole kingdom was marshalled into parties, with their drawn swords eager to plunge them into each other's breasts.§ The parliament's cause having a dark and threatening aspect, the lords and commons were not forgetful to im * To wipe off the reflections which this transaction brings on the character of Charles I. Dr. Grey is large in producing authorities to shew, that the situation of the protestants and of the army, in Ireland, through the length of the war, and the failure of supplies from England, required a cessation of arms. But, if the reader would see a full investigation of this business, he should consult Mrs. Macaulay's History, vol. iv. 8vo, p. 63—90. Two eircumstances will afford a clue into the policy and design of this truce. To prevent opposition to it in the Irish council, the members who were suspected of an attachment to the parliament of England, were committed close prisoners to the Castle. And the king derived from it, as the price of granting it, 88,0001. to assist him to carry on the war against his protestant subjects in England. I will only add. that the main point aimed at by the rebels, and which the king encouraged them to expect. was a new parliament; which, as the kingdom was circumstanced, would have put the whole power of government into their hands. Mrs. Macaulay, p. 845. Ed. § Rushworth, vol. v. p. 537, 538, 539, 548. plore the divine blessing upon their counsels and arms; for which purpose they published an ordinance, Feb. 15, 16423, exhorting to the duty of repentance, as the only remedy to prevent public calamities. It was drawn up by some of the puritan divines; and because bishop Kennet has branded it with the reproachful characters of cant, broad hypocrisy, and a libel against the church, I will transcribe the substance of it in their own words. "That flourishing kingdoms have been ruined, by im'penitent going on in a course of sin, the sacred story 'plainly tells us; and how near to ruin our sinful nation 'now is, the present lamentable face of it does too plainly 'shew. And though we should feel the heavy strokes of "God's judgments yet seven times more, it is our duty to accept the punishment of our iniquities, and to say, Righteous art thou, O Lord, and just are thy judgments. Yet, 'because the Lord, who is just, is also merciful, and in his 'infinite mercy has left the excellent and successful reme'dy of repentance to nations brought near to the gates of 'destruction and despair, O! let not England be negligent in the application of it. Humble addresses of a 'penitent people to a merciful God have prevailed with 'him: They have prevailed for Nineveh when sentence 'seemed to be gone out against her; and may also pre'vail for England. "It is therefore thought necessary, by the lords and 'commons in parliament assembled, that all his majesty's 'subjects be stirred up to lay hold of this only and unfail'ing remedy of repentance, freely acknowledging, and heartily bewailing with deepest humiliation, both their ' own personal sins, and those of the nation; a confession 'of national sins being most agreeable to the national judg'ments under which the land groans, and most likely to 'be effectual for the removing of them. "Among the national sins are to be reckoned, the con'tempt of God's ordinances, and of holiness itself; gross 'ignorance, and unfruitfulness under the means of grace; 'multitudes of oaths, blasphemies, profanation of the sab'bath by sports and games; luxury, pride, prodigality in 'apparel, oppression, fraud, violence, &c. a connivance, and almost a toleration of the idolatry of popery, the mas "sacre of Ireland, and the bloodshed of the martyrs in queen Mary's time, which, having been a national sin, still calls for a national confession. "Now, that all the sin and misery of this polluted and afflicted nation may be bitterly sorrowed for, with such 6 grief of heart, and preparedness for a thorough reformation, as God may be pleased graciously to accept, it is ' ordained that all preachers of God's word do earnestly inculcate these duties on their bearers, that at length we 'may obtain a firm and happy peace, both with God and 6 man; that glory may dwell in our land; and the prospe'rity of the gospel, with all the privileges accompanying it, may crown this nation unto all succeeding ages."* The reverend prelate abovementioned makes the following remark upon this ordinance. "When once the two 'houses could descend to have such fulsome penitential forms put upon them, to adopt, and to obtrude in their 'name upon the nation, it was a sure sign, that all that - was sound and decent in faith and worship was now to be commanded into enthusiasm and endless schisms." I leave the reader to examine, whether he can find any ground for so severe a censure. Though the king had rejected the Scots mediation, and set up his rest upon the justice of his cause, he was pleased before the beginning of the campaign to admit of a treaty with his two houses, for which purpose he sent a safe conduct to six lords, and as many commoners, with their attendants, to repair to him at Oxford, who, being admitted to an audience in one of the colleges, produced the following proposals, which were read by the earl of Northumberland: 1. That the armies may be disbanded on both sides, and the king return to his parliament. 2. "That delinquents may submit to a legal trial, and 'judgment of parliament. 3. That all papists be disbanded and disarmed. 4. "That his majesty will please to give his consent to the five bills hereafter mentioned. * Rushworth, vol. v. p. 141. 5. "That an oath may be established by act of parliament, wherein the papists shall abjure and renounce the 'pope's supremacy, transubstantiation, purgatory, worship'ping the consecrated host, crucifixes and images; and the 'refusing such oath lawfully tendered shall be a sufficient 'conviction of recusancy.That your majesty will gra'ciously please to consent to a bill for the education of the 'children of papists in the protestant religion.-And to another bill for the better putting the laws in execution a'gainst them. 6. "That the earl of Bristol, and lord Herbert, may be ' removed from your majesty's counsels, and from the court. 7. That the militia may be settled in such manner as shall be agreed upon by both houses. 8. "That the chief justices and judges of the several ' courts of law may hold their places quam diu se bene 'gesserint. 9. "That such persons as have been put out of the commissions of the peace since April, 1, 1643, may be restor ed, and that those whom the parliament shall except a'gainst be removed. 10. "That your majesty will please to pass the bill now presented, to secure the privileges of parliament from the ill consequences of the late proceedings against the lord Kimbolton and the five members. 11. "That an act may be passed for satisfying such 'public debts as the parliament has engaged the public 'faith for. 12. "That your majesty will please to enter into alli'ances with foreign protestant powers, for the defence of the protestant religion, and recovering the Palatinate. 13. "That in the general pardon, all offences commit'ted before the 10th of Jan. 1641, which have been, or 'shall be questioned in the house of commons before the 10th of Jan. 1643, be excepted.- -That all persons con'cerned in the Irish rebellion be excepted; as likewise • William earl of Newcastle, and George lord Digby. 14. "That such members of parliament as have been turned out of their places since the beginning of this parliament may be restored, and may have some reparation, upon the petition of both houses."* These things being granted and performed, we shall be enabled (say they) to make it our hopeful endeavor, that your majesty and your people may enjoy the blessings of peace, truth, and justice.. The bills mentioned in the fourth proposition were these: The first is entitled, an act for the suppression of divers innovations in churches and chapels in and about the worship of God; and for the due observation of the Lord's day, and the better advancement of preaching God's holy word in all parts of this kingdom. It enacts, "That all altars and rails be taken away out 'of churches and chapels before April 18, 1643, and that "the communion table be fixed in some convenient place in the body of the church. That all tapers, candlesticks, basons, crucifixes, crosses, images, pictures of saints, and 'superstitious inscriptions in churches, or church-yards, 'be taken away or defaced. "That all damages done to the churches, or windows of churches, by the removal of any of the aforesaid innovations, be repaired by the proper officers of the parish or 'chapel. "This act is not to extend to any image, picture, or * monument for the dead. It enacts further, "That all bowing towards the altar, or at the name of Jesus, shall be forborne; and for the better observation of the sabbath, that all dancing, gaming, sports and pastimes, shall be laid aside. That ev'ery minister that has cure of souls shall preach, or ex'pound the scriptures, or procure some other able divine 'to preach to his congregation every Lord's day in the 'forenoon; and it shall be lawful for the parishoners to 'provide for a sermon in the afternoon, and a lecture on the week-day, where there is no other lecture, or preach'ing at the same time; and if any person oppose or hinder them, he shall forfeit forty shillings to the poor."+ The second, entitled an act for the utter abolishing, and taking away of all archbishops, bishops, their chancellors, and commissaries, &c. has been already inserted in the former part of this history.‡ ↑ Husband's Collections, fol. 119. Vol. ii. p. 545, 6. |