Chap. IT. The HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRIT ANS. 73 in the fixtieth year of his age. The news of no man's death was more K. Charles l. welcome to the royalifis than his, who fpread a report, that he died of~· the morbus pedict?lifus, to confute which afperfion, his body was expofed to public view for many days, and at Jail interred in the moil: honourabl e 1nanner in Weflminjler-Abby. A little before his death, he publilbed his own vindication to the world, againfi the many f1anders that went abroad concerning him, wherein " he declares himfelf a faithful fon of the Ruiliw. p. " protdl:ant religion, and of the orthodox doctrine of the church of 3i6· " England. He confdfes he had been for reforming abufes in the govern- " ment of the church, when the bilbops, infiead of taking care of men's « fouls, were banilbing their bodies into the mofl de folate places; bring- " ing in new canons, arminian and pelagian errors, and fuch a number of " rites and ceremonies, as the people were not able to bear.--When " fince that time they had as much as in them lay, fomented the civil " differences between the king and his parliament, abetting and encour- " aging malignants with large fupplies of meu and money, and fiirring·up " the people to tumults by their feditious fermons. For thefe reafons (fays " he) 1 gave my opinion for aboli!bing their functions, which, I con- " ceive, may as well be done as the di!Tolution of monafleries monks '' and friars was, in king Henry the eighth's time. He concludes with de- " claring, that he was not the author of rhe prefent difiraetions; with ac- " knowledging the king for his lawful fovereign, but thinks when " he was, profcribed for a traitor, meerly for the fervice of his country, " no man can blame hin1 for taking care of his own fafety, by flying for "refuge to the protection of parliament, who were pleafed to make his " cafe their own." C H A P. Ill. The Oxford parliament. Progrifs of the war. of the univerjity of Cambridge, by the ·earl of ter. Committees for plundered, Jequeflered, dalous mini)lers. 17ijitation Manche[– andfcanT HE campaign being ended without any profpeet of peace, both par1643-4ties endeavoured to fl: rengthen themfdves by new and fovereigr.l aets of power. The parl iament experiencing the want of a great fia l for 'Ibe Oxford man y pu rpofes, gave orders that one lbould be made. T hey conti nued parliament. to li fl foldiers, to levy taxes, and to ufe every method to fupport their Run1w. V<>!. caufe, wh ich their policy fu ggelled, and their necdflty urged. On the V. P· s6o. Vor. . If. L othet·
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