to the slavery and oppression which were con world, but it will be in some danger. And men that care neither for the hive nor the bees, have yet a great mind to the honey. And having once tasted the sweets of the churches maintenance, swallow that for honey, which one day will be more bitter than gall in their bowels. Now the king and the priest, more than any other, are bound to look to the integrity of the church in doctrine and manners, and that in the first place. For that's by far the best honey in the hive. But in the second place, they must be careful of the churches maintenance too, else the bees shall make honey for others, and have none left for their own necessary sustenance, and then all's lost. For we see it in daily and common use, that the honey is not taken from the bees, but they are destroyed first. Now in this great and busy work the king and the priest must not fear to put their hands to the hive, though they be sure to be stung. And stung by the bees, whose hive and house they preserve. David's case, (God grant it be never yours). about me (saith the Psalm 118) like bees. This was hard usage enough, yet some profit, some honey might thus be gotten in the end: and that's the king's case. But when it comes to the priest, the case is alter'd; They come about him like wasps, or like hornets rather; all sting, and no honey there. And all this many times for no offence, nay sometimes for service done them, would they see it. It was king Now one thing more let me be bold to observe to your majesty, in particular, concerning your great charge, the church of England. 'Tis in an hard condition. She professes the antient catholick faith; and yet the Romanist condemns her of novelty in her doctrine. She practises church government, as it hath been in use in all ages, and in all places, where the church of Christ hath taken any rooting, both in, and ever since the Apostles times; and yet the separatist condemns her for antichristianism, in her discipline. The plain truth is, she is between these two factions, as between two milstones; and unless your majesty tinually increasing at home. But his intentions look to it, to whose trust she is committed, she'll be ground to powder, to an irreparable both dishonour, and loss to this. kingdom. And 'tis very remarkable, that while both these press hard upon the church of England, both of them cry out upon persecution, like froward children, which scratch, and kick, and bite, and yet cry out all the while, as if themselves were killed"." These passages, long as they are, will be deemed curious by many. They discover the man, and his measures, and shew what his adversaries had to expect. Lord Strafforde, though of a much more elevated understanding, came not a whit behind the prelate in rigour. His own account of part of a speech at the council board, in England, written to his intimate friend, Sir Christopher Wandesford, master of the rolls in Ireland, will fully shew this. I will give his justification of himself, on the accusation of rigour, at large." I craved admission to justify myself in some particulars, wherein I had been very undeservedly and bloodily traduc'd. So I related unto them all that had passed betwixt myself, earl of St. Albans, Wilmot, Mountnorris, Piers, Crosby, and the jury of Gallway, that hereupon touching and rubbing in the course of my service upon their particulars, themselves and friends have endeavoured to possess the world, I was a severe and an austere hard-conditioned man, rather indeed a basha of Buda, than the minister of a pious and Christian king. Howbeit, if I were not much mistaken in myself, it was quite the contrary, no man could shew wherein I had expressed it in my nature, no friend I had would charge me with it in my private conversation, no creature had found it in the managing of my own private affairs, so as if I stood clear in all these respects, it was to be confessed by any equal mind that it was not any thing within, but the necessity of his majesties service, which enforced me into a seeming strictness outwardly. And that was the reason indeed, for where Dedication to his Conference with Fisher, p, 10-14. fol. Lond. 1673. were frustrated, and, with the rest of the nation, I found a crown, a church, and a people spoil'd, I could not imagine to redeem them from under the pressure with gracious smiles and gentle looks, it would cost warmer water than so. True it was, that where a dominion was once gotten and settled, it might be stayed and kept where it was by soft and moderate counsels, but where a sovereignty (be it spoken with reverence) was going down the hill, the nature of men did so easily slide into the paths of uncontroul'd liberty, as it would not be brought back without strength, not to be forced up the hill again but by vigour and force. And true it was indeed, I knew no other rule to govern by, but by reward and punishment, and I must profess that where I found a person well and intirely set for the service of my master, I should lay my hand under his foot, and add to his respect and power all I might, and that where I found the contrary, I should not handle him in my arms, or sooth him in his untoward humour, but if he came in my reach, so far as honour and justice would warrant me, I must knock him soundly over the knuckles, but no sooner he become a new man, apply himself as he ought to the government, but I also change my temper, and express myself to him, as unto that other, by all the good offices I could do him. If this be sharpness, if this be severity, I desire to be better instructed by his majesty and their lordships, for in truth it did not seem so to me; however, if I were once told, that his majesty liked not to be thus served, I would readily conform myself, follow the bent and current of my own disposition, which is to be quiet, not to have debates and disputes with any. Here his majesty interrupted me and said, that was no severity, wished me to go on in that way: for, if I served him otherwise, I should not serve him as he expected from me." Thus it was the welfare of the church, and the necessity of his majesty's service, required persecution and oppression, and forced these men, if you * Strafforde's Letters and Dispatches, vol. II. p. 20.. he was made to feel and fear the yoke of tyranny. will believe them, to act contrary to their own inclinations. Noble Authors, vol. I. p. 206. 12mo. 1759. Neale's History of the We know little more of Cromwell's actions, (his opposition to the draining" of the fens, projected by a powerful nobleman, excepted) this, was base, barbarous and inhuman. But persecutors of all ages and nations are near the same: they are without the feelings and without the understandings of men. Cromwell or Hampden could have given little opposition to the measures of Charles in the wilds of North America. In England they engaged with spirit against him, and he had reason to repent his hindering their voyage. May such at all times be the reward of those who attempt to rule over their fellow-men with rigour: may they find that they will not be slaves to kings or priests! But that they know the rights, by nature conferred on them, and will assert them! This will make princes cautious how they give themselves up to arbitrary counsels, and dread the consequences of them. And may every minister, who forgets or tramples on the laws of humanity, have his character at least as much branded as are Strafforde's and Laud's. 13 He opposed the draining of the fens, &c.] The fenny country reaches sixty-eight miles from the borders of Suffolk, to Wainfleet in Lincolnshire, and contains some millions of acres in the four counties of Cambridge, Huntington, Northampton, and Lincoln. The draining of it had frequently been considered and debated in parliament in former times; but, though deemed useful, was laid aside, through fear that it would soon return to its old state, like the Pontine marshes in Italy, after their draining. "The earl of Bedford, and divers of the principal gentlemen, whose habitations confined upon the fens, and who, in the heat of summer, saw vast quantities of lands which the fresh waters overflowed in the winter, lie dry and green, or drainable: whether it was publick spirit, or private advantage, which led them thereunto, a stranger cannot determine; they make propositions unto the king to issue out commis * Cambden's Britannia, by Gibson, vol. I. c. 489, 490. fol. Lond. 1722. |