Z4Z 'I'he HI 8T 0 RY of the PuRITANS. Vot. II~ K, Charles 1. and of his own party, to give the pre!byterians fatisfaCl:ion about the ~ church. Bellievre not being able to prevail, difpatched an exprefs to F~ance, with a defire, tha.t fom~ per~o~ of more weight with the king m1ght be fent. Upon wh1ch S1r Wtfltam Davenmzt came over, with a letter of credit from the queen, befeeching him to part with the church for his peace and fecurity. When Sir Wi!liam had delivered the letter, he ventured to fupport it with fome arguments of his own, and told his ma– jefiy in a moll: humble manner, that it was the advice of lord Cu!peper ]ermyn, and of all his friends; upon which the king was fo tranfported with indignation, that he forbid him his prefence. When thecefore the ten days for confidering the propofitions were expired, infl:ead of confent– ing, his majefiy gave the commiflioners his anfwer in a paper, directed to the fpeaker of the houfe of peers, to this efteCl:, " that the propofi– " tions contained fo great alterations both in church and fiate, that his " majefl:y could not give a particular and pofitive anfwer to them," but after fome few conceffions hereafter to be mentioned, " he propofes to '' come to London, or any of his houfes thereabouts, and enter upon a " perfonal treaty with both houfes; and he conjures them, as chriflians " and !wbjeCl:s, and as men that defire to J·eave a good name behind them, " to accept of this propofal, that the unhappy difl:ratl.ions of the nation " may be peaceably fettled." His corifeWhen this anfw~r was reported to the ho~fe, Aug. ~ 2 •. it was r~folved, rmce with to fettle accounts With the Jcots, and to receiVe the kmg mto thetr own the !cots cuftody ; but in the mean time his majefiy attempted to bring that natio11 commijfiomrs. h' . /l. b J . h . d J • 11. h d ]]' Ham. mem. over to ts mtereH, y p aymg t e tn epe~wents agatnlL t em, an te mg p. :2.86. them, 'the only way to defiroy the feCl:.arians was to join with the epifcopaliaos, and admit of the efl:abli{hment of both religions. " I do by no " means perfuade you (fays the king) to do any thing contrary to your " covenant, but I defire you to confider whether it be not a great fiep to– ,, wards your reformation (which I take to be the chief end of your eo-– ,, venant), that the prefuytc:-ial government be legally fettled. 'Tis true, " I defire that the liberty of my own confcience, and thofe who are of "the fame opinion with myfelfmay be preferved, which I confefs, does '' not as yet totally take away epifcopal govemment. But then confider " withal, that this will take a~vay all the fuperjliliow je!Js and herefes Of " the papijls and independents, to which you are no !ifs obliged by your co~e." nant, than to the taking away of epijcopacy. And this that I demand ts " likely to be but temporary ; for if it be fo dear as you believe, that " epifcopacy is unlawful, I doubt not but God will fo enlighten my eyes " that I tball foon perceive it, and then 1 promife to concur with you " fully in matters of religion; but I am fure you cannot imagine, t~at . '' there is any hapes of converH11g or jilencing the independent party, whtc~ ! c undoubtedty
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