66 The HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRitANS~ VoL. Ili K. CharlesI. approbation of the proceedings of the parliament and aifembl y ~ touching the covenant, but defired to join wid1 the two kingdoms' therein. . The king apprehending himfelf mifreprefented to the foreign churches; in that part of the aifembly's letter which infinuates a defign to introduce popery, and being advifed to vindicate his character from that imputation, caufed a manifefio to be drawn up in Iatin and englijh, to all foreign protefl:ants; which though not publilhed till the beginning of next year, may be properly inferted in this place. CHARLES, by the ejpecial providence if almighty God, king if England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, d~fender of the faith, &c. to all thofe who prqfejs the true reformed proteflant religion, if 7vhat nation, degree, or condition ftever they be, to whom this prefent declaration }hall come, greeting. King's reply. " WHEREAS ~ve are given to underfi:and, that many falfe rumours Ru!hw. " and fcandalous letters, are fpread up and down among the reVol. ~· '' fo rme9 churches in foreign parts, by the politic, or rather the pernicious P· 75 • " indufi:ry of fome ill affected perfons that we have an inclination to '' recede from that orthodox religion which we were born, baptized, and " bred in, and which we have firmly profeffed and praCl:ifed through– " out the whole courfe of our life to this moment; and that we intend " to give way to the introduCl:ion, and public exercife of popery again, " in our dominions; which moft detefl:able calumny being grounded up– " on no imaginable foundation , bath raifed thefe horrid tumults, and '' more than barbarous wars, throughout this flourilhing ifland, under « pretence of a kind of reformation which is incompatible with the fun– " damental laws and government of this kingdom; we defire that the " whole chrifl:ian world {hould refl: affured, that we never entertained " the. leafi: thought to attempt fuch a thing, or to depart a jot from that " holy religion, which when we received the crown and fcepter of this '' kingdom, we took a moll folemn facr amental oath to profefs and pro– " teCl:. Nor does our con fl:ant practice, and daily prefence in the ex– " ercife of this religion, with fo many affeverations at the head of our " armies, and the public attefi:ation of our barons, with the circumJPec– " tion ifed i11 tbe education of our royal oflsprin.g, be fides divers other un– " deniable arguments only demon!lrate this, but alfo that happy.alliance " of marriage we contraCted between our eldefl: daughter and the illufl:ri– " ous prince of Orange, moll: clofely confirms the reality of our inten– " tions herein ; by which it appears, that our endeavours are not only to 2 " make
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