Читать книгу A Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom - Henry Elsynge - Страница 3

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THE Commons in this present Parliament assembled, having with much earnestnesse, and faithfulnesse of affection, and zeal to the publike good of this Kingdom, and His Majesties honour and service for the space of twelve moneths, wrastled with the great dangers and fears, the pressing miseries and calamities, the various distempers and disorders, which had not only assaulted, but even overwhelmed and extinguisht the liberty, peace, and prosperity of this Kingdom, the comfort and hopes of all His Majesties good Subjects, and exceedingly weakned and undermined the foundation and strength of his own royall Throne; do yet finde an abounding malignity, and opposition in those parties and factions, who have been the cause of those evills, and do still labour to cast aspersions, upon that which hath been done, and to raise many difficulties for the hinderance of that which remaines yet undone, and to foment Jealousies betwixt the King and the Parliament; that so they may deprive him and his people of the fruit of his own gracious intentions, and their humble desires of procuring the publike peace, safety, and happinesse of this Realm. For the preventing of those miserable effects which such malicious endeavors may produce, We have thought good to declare,

1. The root, and the growth of these mischievous designes.

2. The Maturity and ripenesse, to which they have attained before the beginning of the Parliament.

3. The effectuall means which have been used for the exterpations of those dangerous evils, and the Progresse which hath therein been made by His Majesties goodnesse, and the wisedome of the Parliament.

4. The wayes of obstruction and opposition, by which that Progresse hath been interrupted.

5. The courses to be taken for the removing those obstacles, and for the accomplishing of our most dutifull and faithfull intentions, and endeavors, of restoring and establishing the ancient Honour, Greatnesse, and Security of this Crown and Nation. The root of all this mischief We finde to be a malignant and pernitious designe of subverting the Fundamentall Lawes, and principles of Government; upon which the Religion, and Justice of this Kingdom are firmly establisht. The Actors and Promoters hereof have been,

1. The Jesuited Papists who hate the Laws, as the Obstacles of that change and Subversion of Religion, which they so much long for.

2. The Bishops, and the corrupt part of the Clergie, who cherish formality and superstition, as the naturall effects, and more probable supports of their own Ecclesiasticall Tyranny, and Usurpation.

3. Such Councellors and Courtiers, as for private ends have engaged themselves to further the intrests of some forraign Princes or States, to the prejudice of His Majesty, and the state at home.

The common Principles by which they moulded and governed all their particular Councells and actions were these.

First, To maintain continuall differences and discontents betwixt the King and the People, upon questions and Prerogative, and liberty, that so they might have the advantage of sideing with him, and under the Notions of Men addicted to his service, gain to themselves and their parties, the places of greatest trust and power in the Kingdom.

A Second, To suppresse the purity and power of Religion, and such persons as were best affected to it; as being contrary to their own ends, and the greatest impediment to that change, which they thought to introduce.

A Third, To conjoyn those parties of the Kingdom, which were most propitious to their own ends, and to divide those who were most opposite, which consisted in many particular observations to cherish the Arminian part in those points, wherein they agree with the Papists, to multiply and enlarge the differences betwixt the common Protestants, and those whom they call Puritans, to introduce and countenance such opinions and Ceremonies as are fittest for accommodation with Popery, to encrease and maintain ignorance, loosenesse, and prophanenesse in the people: That of those three parties, Papists, Arminians and Libertines, they might compose a body fit to act such Counsells and resolutions, as were most conducible to their own ends.

A Fourth, To disaffect the King to Parliaments by slanders and false imputations, and by putting him upon other wayes of supply, which in shew and appearance were fuller of advantage, then the ordinary course of Subsidies, though in truth they brought more losse then gain, both to the King and people, and have caused the great distractions, under which we both suffer.