37+ The fiiSTOR Y of the PuRITANS. VoL. II. K: Charles I. Dr. Lewis du Moulin hiftory profelror in Qyjord, who lived through 16 4 8 '· thefe times, fays, " that no party of men, as a religious body, were the ~~"actors of this tragedy, but that it was the contrivance of an army, Dr. Dll " which like that of king David's in the wildernefs, was a medly or ~o~l"p · " collection of all parties that were difcontented; fome courtiers, fome R~~ig: /~~'" presbyterians, [ome epiji:opalians; few of any feet, but moft of none, or ""Si• " elfe of the religion of 'Iho. Hobbes and Dr. Scarborough; not to mention · " thepapijls,who had the greatefl hand in it ofall." The fame learned pro– fe!ror, in his book intitled The Conformity of the Independent difcipllne 'With that of the primitive Chrifl:ians, publiihed 168o. had a chapter in– titled, An Ar:fwer to tho(e who accufe the Independents fir ha'Villg an immediate ha11d in the death of king CHARLEs I. but the times were fuch, that the author was advifed not to publifh it. Of Mr. Mr. Baxter fays, " Many that minded no tide in religion, thought it Baxter; << was no policy to truft a conquered king, and therefore were wholly for llaxter s 1. · h k' f 1 ~ r h Life, P· 6 3 ." a par tamentary government wtt ou~ a mg; o t 1e1e (1ays e) feme " were for an arijlocracy, and others for a democracy, and fome thought << they ought to judge the king for all the blood that had been lhed ; the " va11ijls, the independents, and other fec.ts, with the democratical party, '' being left by Cromwell to do the bufinefs u·nder the name of the parlia– " ment of England." Bp. Burnet. Bilhop Burnet fay~, that "Ireton was the perfon that drove it on, for ~S·-i;~~~s. " Cromwell was all the while in fufpenfe about it; Ireton had the principles V I I " and temper of a Ca/l;iJS, he ftuck at nothing that might turn Enrr/and 0 •• p. 'if' 0 46, 47· " into a commonwealth; Fairfax was much diftracted in his mind, cc and changed purpofes every day ; the prefbyterians, and the body of th~ " city were much againjl it, and were every day fafling and praying for " the king's prefervation. There were not above eight thoufand of the " army about the town, but thofe were the moft engaged in enthufiafm, '' and were kept at prayer in their way almofl: day and night, except when " they were upon duty, fo that they were wrought up to a pitch of fury " which ftruck terror into all people." . Of tbe paMr. Eachard and fome others, are of opinion, that great numbers of pifis. papifls, under hopes of liberty of confcience, or of deftroy,ing epifcopacy, joined with foreign p'riells and jefuits againft the king. The celebrated au– Part Ill. P· thor of Foxes and Firebra11ds has this remarkable paffage; " Let all true !68. " proteftants, who de lire fincerely to have an happy union, recollect what " a blemifh the emiffaries of Romehave caft upon thofe protell:ants tu rned <J presbyterian and independent, Rome faying the presb)•terians brought " Charles the firft's bead to the block, and independents cut it off; whereas " it is certain, that the members and clergy qf Rome, under diflentingjhapes, con:
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