75 their possessions: and, had not the providence of God miraculously pre\·ented the surprize of Dublin castle, the night it should have bene seiz'd, there had not bene any remnant of the protestant name left in that country. Assoone as this sad newes came to the parliament, they vigorously set themselves to the worke of relieving them, but then the king return'd from Scotland, and being sumptuously welcomed home by the citie, tooke courage thereby against the parliament, and obstrl}ctcd all their proceedings for the effectual! reliefe of lrelande. Long was he before he could be drawne to proclaime these murtherers rebells, and when h~ did, by special! command, there were but 40 proclamations printed, and care taken that they should not be much dispers'd; which courses aflicted all the good protestants in England, and confirm'd that the rebellion in Ireland receiv'd countenance from the king and queene of England." The parliament, besctt with so many difficulties, were forc'd for their owne vindication to present the king with a petition and a remonstrance of the state of the kingdome, wherein they spared him as much as truth would bea.re, and complained only of his ill counsellors and ministers; but this, instead of admonishing, exasperated him, and was a.nswer'd with another declaration of his, and upon several! occasions the parliament being. cnforc'd to iustifie their proceedings publickly, and the king setting forth replies, these open debates were but the prologue to the ensuing tragedie. The citie 0 It would be difficu1t to draw a distinction so nice as would discriminate between the countenance shewn to the rebels both before and after the rebellion breaking out, and the encouragi ng the rebelli on itself: now that passion and prejudice have subs ided there are probabl y many more that condemn than acquit the king and queen; but whilst the blood of the massacred protestants yet reeked, and indignation glowed, it was neither to be wondered at nor blamed that persons the most tolerant, a.s the independents professed to be, and Mrs. Hutchmson especially, should speak with enmity of the queen and the catholies, and att1·ibute to them those principles of intol era nce and antipathy to protestants which, whether they professed or not, they prac ti sed. It will hereafter be seen that, when they ceased to be dnngerou!:l, 1vlr. Hutchinson did not persecute, but protect them.
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