Eikon Basilike The Pourtracture of His Sacred Majestie, in His Solitudes and Sufferings
Part 1
Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
[Greek: Eikôn Basilikê]
THE
=POURTRACTURE=
OF
=HIS SACRED=
=MAJESTIE=,
IN
=HIS SOLITUDES=
AND
=SUFFERINGS=.
With a perfect Copy of Prayers used by his Majesty in the time of his sufferings.
Delivered to Dr. JUXON Bishop of _London_, immediately before his Death.
ROM. 8.
_More then Conquerour, &c._
_Bona agere, & mala pati, Regium est._
Printed at _London_, 1649.
The Explanation of the Embleme.
=PONDERIBUS= _genuus omne mali, probriq; gravatus, Vixq; ferenda ferens_, =Palma= _ut_ =depressa=, _resurgo. Ac, velut undarum_ =Fuctûs Ventìque=, _furorem Irati Populi_ =Rupes immotta= _repello_. =Clarioré tenebris=, _c[oe]lestis stella, corusco. Victor æternum f[oe]lici pace_ =triumpho=. _Auro_ =fulgentem= _rutilo gemmisque micantem, At curis_ =Gravidam= _spernendo_ =calco Coronam=. =Spinosam=, _at_ =ferri facilem=, _quo_ =spes mea=, _Christi Auxilio, Nobis non est_ =tractare= _molestum_. =Æternam=, _fixis fidei, semperque_ =beatam= _In C[oe]los occulis_ =specto=, _Mobìsque-paratam. Quod_ =vanum= _est, sperno; quod Christi_ =Gratia= _præbet Amplecti studium est: Virtutis_ =Gloria= _merces._
THOUGH clogg'd with _weights_ of miseries, _Palm_-like _depress'd_, I higher rise. And as th' _unmoved Rock_ out-braves The boyst'rous _winds_, and raging _waves_; So _triumph I_. And _shine more bright_ In sad Affliction's darksom night. That _splendid_, but yet _toilsome Crown_, Regardlesly _I trample_ down. With joy I take this _Crown_ of _Thorn_, Though _sharp_, yet _easie to be born_. That _heav'nly Crown_, already mine, I _view_ with _eyes_ of faith divine. I slight _vain_ things; and do embrace _Glory_, the just reward of _Grace_.
[Greek: To Chi ouden êdikêse tên polin, oude to Kappa.]
[Greek: Eikôn Basilikê.]
THE
POURTRACTURE
OF HIS SACRED
MAJESTIE,
IN
HIS SOLITUDES
AND
SUFFERINGS.
With a perfect Copy of Prayers used by his Majesty in the time of his sufferings.
Delivered to Dr. JUXON Bishop of _London_, immediately before his death.
ROM. 8.
_More then Conquerour, &c.
Bona agere, & mala pati, Regium est._
Printed at _London_, 1649.
THE CONTENTS.
1 _Vpon His Majesties calling this last Parliament._
2 _Upon the Earl of_ Strafford's _death._
3 _Upon His Majesties going to the House of Commons._
4 _Upon the Insolency of the Tumults._
5 _Upon His Majesties passing the Bill for the Trienniall Parliaments: and after setling this, during the pleasure of the two Houses._
6 _Upon His Majesties retirement from_ Westminster.
7 _Upon the Queens departure, and absence out of_ England.
8 _Upon His Majesties repulse at_ Hull, _and the fates of the_ Hothams.
9 _Upon the listing and raising Armies against the King._
10 _Upon their seizing the Kings Magazines, Forts, Navie, and Militia._
11 _Upon the 19 Propositions first sent to the King; and more afterwards._
12 _Upon the Rebellion, and troubles in_ Ireland.
13 _Upon the Calling in of the_ Scots, _and their Coming._
14 _Upon the Covenant._
15 _Upon the many Jealousies raised, and Scandals cast upon the King, to stirre up the people against Him._
16 _Upon the Ordinance against the Common prayer-Book._
17 _Of the differences between the King, and the two Houses, in point of Church-government._
18 _Upon_ Uxbridge-_Treaty, and others Offers made by the King._
19 _Upon the various events of the War; Victories, and Defeats._
20 _Upon the Reformations of the Times._
21 _Upon His Majesties Letters taken and divulged._
22 _Upon His Majesties leaving_ Oxford, and going to the_ Scots._
23 _Upon the_ Scots _delivering the King to the_ English; _and His Captivity at_ Holmbie.
24 _Upon their denying His Majestie the Attendance of His Chaplains._
25 Penitentiall Meditations and Vowes in the King's solitude at _Holmbie_.
26 _Upon the Armies surprisall of the King at_ Holmbie, _and the ensuing distractions in the two Houses, the Army, and the Citie._
27 _To the Prince of_ Wales.
28 _Meditations upon Death, after the Votes of Non-Addresses, and His Majesties closer Imprisonment in_ Carisbrook-Castle.
29 _Divers prayers used by his Majesty in time of His sufferings._
30 _His Speeches to the Lady_ Elisabeth _and Duke of_ Glocester: _And His_ Reasons _against the jurisdiction of the high Court of Justice._
[Greek: EIKÔN BASILIKÊ]
1. _Upon His Majesties calling this last Parliament._
This last Parliament I called, not more by others advice, and necessity of My affairs, then by my own choice and inclination; who have always thought the right way of Parliaments most safe for My Crown, and best pleasing to my People: And although I was not forgetfull of those sparks, which some mens distempers formerly studied to kindle in Parliaments, (which by forbearing to convene for some years, I hoped to have extinguished) yet resolving with My self to give all just satisfaction to modest and sober desires, and to redress all publick grievances in Church and State; I hoped (by My freedom and their moderation) to prevent all mis-understandings and miscarriages in this: In which as I feared, affairs would meet with some passion and prejudice in other men, so I resolved they should finde least of them in my self; not doubting, but by the weight of Reason I should counterpoiz the over-ballancing of any Factions.
I was, indeed, sorry to hear with what partiality and popular heat, Elections were carried in many places; yet hoping that the gravity and discretion of other Gentlemen would allay and fix the Commons to a due temperament (guiding some mens well-meaning zeal by such rules of moderation as are best both to preserve and restore the health of all States and Kingdoms:) No man was better pleased with the convening of this Parliament then My self; who knowing best the largenesse of my own Heart toward my Peoples good and just contentment, pleased my self most in that good and firm understanding, which would hence grow between me and my people.
All jealousies being laid aside, my own and my Childrens Interests gave me many obligations to seek and preserve the love and welfare of my Subjects; The only temporal blessing that is left to the ambition of just Monarchs, as their greatest honour and safety, next Gods protection. I cared not to lessen my self in some things of my wonted Prerogative; since I knew I could be no loser, if I might gain but a recompence in my Subjects affections.
I intended not only to oblige my friends, but mine enemies also: exceeding even the desires of those that were factiously discontented, if they did but pretend to any modest and sober sense.
The _odium_ and offences which some mens rigor or remissnesse in Church and State had contracted upon my Government, I resolved to have expiated by such Laws and regulations for the future, as might not only rectifie what was amiss in practice, but supply what was defective in the constitution: No man having a greater zeal to see Religion setled, and preserved in Truth, Unitie, and Order then my self; whom it most concerns both in pietie and policie; as knowing, that, No flames of civil dissentions are more dangerous then those which make Religious pretensions the grounds of Factions.
I resolved to reform, what I should by free and full advice in Parliament be convinced to be amiss; and to grant whatever my Reason and Conscience told me was fit to be desired; I wish I had kept my self within those bounds, and not suffered my own Judgement to have been over-born in some things, more by others Importunities, then their Arguments; my confidence had less betrayed my self, and my Kingdoms, to those advantages, which some men sought for, who wanted nothing but power and occasion to do mischief.
But our sins being ripe, there was no preventing of Gods Justice, from reaping that glory in our Calamities, which we robbed him of in our prosperitie.
_For thou (O Lord) hast made us see, That Resolutions of future Reforming, doe not alwayes satisfie thy justice, nor prevent thy Vengeance for former miscarriages._
_Our sins have over-laid our hopes: Thou hast taught us to depend on thy mercies to forgive, not on our purpose to amend._
_When thou hast vindicated thy glory by thy judgments, and hast shewed us how unsafe it is to offend thee, upon presumptions afterwards to please thee, Then I trust thy mercy will restore those blessings to us, which we have so much abused, as to force thee to deprive us of them._
_For want of timely repentance of our sins, Thou givest us cause to Repent of those Remedies we too late apply._
_Yet I doe not repent of my calling the last Parliament, because O Lord, I did it with an upright intention to thy glory, and My Peoples good._
_The miseries which have ensued upon me and my Kingdoms, are the just effects of thy displeasure upon us; and may be yet, through thy mercy, preparatives of us to future blessings and better hearts to enjoy them._
_O Lord, though thou hast deprived us of many former comforts; yet grant me and my People the benefit of our afflictions, and thy chastisements; that thy Rod as well as thy Staff may comfort us: Then shall we dare to account them the strokes not of an enemy, but a Father: when thou givest us those humble affections, that measure of patience in repentance which becomes thy Children; I shall have no cause to repent the miseries this Parliament hath occasioned, when by them thou hast brought me and my people unfeignedly to repent of the sins we have committed._
_Thy grace is infinitely better with our sufferings, then our Peace could be with our sins._
_O thou soveraign goodness and wisdom, who over-rulest all our Counsels; over-rule also all our hearts; That the worse things we suffer by thy Justice, the better we may be by thy mercie._
_As our sins have turned our Antidotes into Poison, so let thy Grace turn our Poison into Antidotes._
_As the sins of our Peace disposed us to this unhappy Warre, so let this War prepare us for thy blessed Peace._
_That although I have but troublesom Kingdoms here, yet I may attain to that Kingdom of Peace in my Heart, and in thy Heaven, which Christ hath purchased, & thou wilt give to thy servant (though a sinner) for my Saviours sake._ Amen.
* * * * *
2. _Upon the Earl of Straffords death_.
I looked upon my Lord of _Strafford_, as a Gentleman, whose great abilities might make a Prince rather afraid, then ashamed to employ him in the greatest affairs of State.
For those were prone to create in him great confidence of undertakings, and this was like enough to betray him to great errors, and many enemies; whereof he could not but contract good store, while moving in so high a sphear, and with so vigorous a lustre, he must needs (as the Sun) raise many envious exhalations, which condensed by a popular _odium_, were capable to cast a cloud before the brightest merit and integrity.
Though I cannot in my judgement approve all he did, driven (it may be) by the necessities of times, and the Temper of that people, more then led by his own disposition to any height and rigour of actions: yet I could never be convinced of any such criminousness in him as willingly to expose his life to the stroke of Justice, and malice of his enemies. I never met with a more unhappy conjuncture of affairs, then in the businesse of that unfortunate Earl: when between my own unsatisfiedness in Conscience, and a necessity (as some told me) of satisfying the importunities of some people, I was perswaded by those that I think wished Me well, to chuse rather what was safe, then what seemed just; preferring the outward peace of My Kingdoms with men, before that inward exactness of Conscience before God.
And indeed I am so far from excusing or denying that compliance on My part (for plenary consent it was not) to his destruction, whom in My judgment I thought not, by any clear law, guilty of death: That I never bare any touch of Conscience with greater regret: which as a sign of my repentance, I have often with sorrow confessed both to God and men, as an act of so sinfull frailty, that it discovered more a fear of man, then of God, whose name and place on earth no man is worthy to bear, who will avoid inconveniencies of State, by acts of so high injustice, as no publick convenience can expiate or compensate.
I see it a bad exchange to wound a mans own Conscience, thereby to salve State-sores; to calm the storms of popular discontents, by stirring up a tempest in a mans own bosome.
Nor hath Gods Justice failed in the event and sad consequences, to shew the world the fallacy of that Maxime, _Better one man perish, (though unjustly) then the people be displeased or destroyed._
For, In all likelihood I could never have suffered, with My people, greater calamities, (yet with greater comfort) had I vindicated _Straffords_ innocency, at least by denying to Sign that destructive _Bill_, according to that Justice, which My conscience suggested to Me, then I have done since I gratified some mens unthankful importunities with so cruel a favour. And I have observed, that those, who counselled Me to sign that Bill, have been so far from receiving the rewards of such ingratiatings with the People, that no men have been harassed & crushed more then they: He onely hath been least vexed by them, who counselled Me, not to consent against the vote of My own Conscience: I hope God hath forgiven Me and them, the sinful rashness of that business.
To which being in My soul so fully conscious, those Judgements God hath pleased to send upon Me, are so much the more welcom, as a means (I hope) which his mercy hath sanctified so to Me, as to make Me repent of that unjust Act, (for so it was to Me) and for the future to teach Me, That the best rule of policie is, to prefer the doing of Justice, before all enjoyments, and the peace of my Conscience before the preservation of My Kingdoms.
Nor hath any thing more fortified My resolutions against all those violent importunities, which since have sought to gain a like consent from Me, to Acts, wherein my Conscience is unsatisfied, then the sharp touches I have had for what passed Me, in My Lord of _Straffords_ business.
Not that I resolved to have imployed him in My affairs, against the advise of my Parliament, but I would not have had any hand in his Death, of whose Guiltlesness I was better assured, then any man living could be.
Nor were the crimes objected against him so clear, as after a long and fair hearing to give convincing satisfaction to the Major part of both Houses; especially that of the Lords, of whom scarce a third part were present, when the bill passed that House: And for the House of Commons, many Gentlemen, disposed enough to diminish My Lord of _Straffords_ greatness and power, yet unsatisfied of his guilt in Law, durst not condemn him to die: who for their integrity in their Votes, were by Posting their Names, exposed to the popular calumny, hatred and fury; which grew then so exorbitant in their clamours _for Justice_, (that is, to have both my self and the two Houses' Vote, and doe as they would have us) that many ('tis thought) were rather terrified to concur with the condemning party, then satisfied that of right they ought so to doe.
And that after-Act vacating the Authority of the precedent, for future imitation sufficiently tels the world, that some remorse touched even his most implacable enimies, as knowing he had very hard measure, and such as they would be very loath should be repeated to themselves.
This tendernesse and regret I find in my soul, for having any hand (and that very unwillingly God knows) in shedding one mans bloud unjustly, (though under the colour and formalities of Justice, and pretences of avoiding publick mischiefs) which may (I hope) be some evidence before God and man, to all posterity, that I am far from bearing justly the vast load and guilt of all that blood which hath been shed in this unhappy War; which some men will needs charge on me, to ease their own souls, who am, and ever shall be, more affraid to take away any mans life unjustly then to lose my own.
_But then, O God, of thy infinit mercies forgive me that act of sinfull compliance, which hath greater aggravations upon me then any man, Since I had not the least temptation of envy, or malice against him, and by my place should, at least so farre, have been a preserver of him, as to have denied my consent to his destruction._
_O Lord, I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is ever before me._
_Deliver me from blood-guiltiness O God, thou God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness._
_Against thee have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight, for thou sawest the contradiction between my heart and my hand._
_Yet cast me not away from thy presence, purge me with the blood of my Redeemer, and I shall be clear; wash me with that pretious effusion, and I shall be whiter then snow._
_Teach me to learn Righteousnesse by thy Iudgements, and to see my frailtie in thy Iustice: while I was perswaded by shedding one mans bloud to prevent after-troubles, thou hast for that, among other sins, brought upon mee, and upon my Kingdoms, great, long, and heavy troubles._
_Make me to prefer Iustice, which is thy Will, before all contrary clamours, which are but the discoveries of mans injurious will._
_It is too much that they have once overcome me, to please them by displeasing thee: O never suffer me for any reason of State, to go against my Reason of Conscience, Which is highly to sin against thee, the God of Reason, and Iudge of our Consciences._
_Whatever, O Lord, thou seest fit to deprive me of, yet restore unto me the joy of thy Salvation, and ever uphold me with thy free Spirit; which subjects my will to non: but the light of Reason, Justice, and Religion, which shines in my Soul; for thou desirest Truth in the inward parts, and Integritie in the outward expressions._
_Lord, hear the voice of thy Sons, and my Saviours bloud, which speaks better things; O make me, and my People, to hear the voice of Joy and Gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken, may rejoice in thy salvation_.
* * * * *
3. _Vpon His Majesties going to the House of Commons._
My going to the House of Commons to demand Justice upon the five Members, was an act which my Enemies loaded with all the obloquies and exasperations they could.
It filled indifferent men with great jealousies and fears; yea, and many of my Friends resented it, as a motion rising rather from Passion then Reason, and not guided with such discretion as the touchiness of those times required.
But these men knew not the just motives, and pregnant grounds, with which I thought myself so furnished, that there needed nothing to such evidence, as I could have produced against those I charged, save onely a free and legall Trial, which was all I desired.
Nor had I any temptation of displeasure or revenge against those mens persons, further then I had discovered those (as I thought) unlawfull correspondencies they had used, and engagements they had made to embroyl my Kingdoms: of all which I missed but little to have produced Writings under some mens own hands, who were the chief contrivers of the following Innovations.
Providence would not have it so; yet I wanted not such probabilities as were sufficient to raise jealousies in any Kings heart, who is not wholly stupid and neglective of the publick Peace; which to preserve, my calling in question half a dozen men, in a fair and legall way (which God knows, was all my design) could have amounted to no worse effect, had it succeeded, then either to do Me and my Kingdom right, in case they had been found guilty; or else to have cleared their innocency, and removed my suspicion: which, as they were not raised out of any malice, so neither were they in reason to be smothered.
What flames of discontent this spark (though I sought by all speedy and possible means to quench it) soon kindled, all the world is witnesse: The aspersion which some men cast upon that action, as if I had designed by force to assault the House of Commons, and invade their Priviledge, is so false, that, as God best knows, I had no such intent; so none that attended Me could justly gather from any thing I then said or did, the least intimation of any such thoughts.
That I went attended with some Gentlemen, as it was no unwonted thing for the Majesty and safety of a King so to be attended, especially in discontented times; so were my Followers at that time short of my ordinary Guard, and no way proportionable to hazard a tumultuary conflict. Nor were they more scared at my coming, then I was unassured of not having some affronts cast upon me, if I had none to be with Me to preserve a reverence to Me: for many people had (at that time) learned to think those hard thoughts, which they have since abundantly vented against Me, both by words and deeds.
The sum of that businesse was this,
Those men and their adherents were then look'd upon by the affrighted vulgar, as greater Protectors of their Laws and Liberties then my Self, and so worthier of their protection. I leave them to God and their own Consciences, who, if guilty of evill machinations, no present impunity, or popular vindications of them will be subterfuge sufficient to rescue them from those exact Tribunals.
To which, in the obstructions of Justice among men, we must religiously appeal, as being an argument to us Christians of that after unavoidable Judgement, which shall re-judge what among men is but corruptly decided, or not at all.
I endeavoured to have prevented, if God had seen fit, those future commotions which I foresaw, would in all likelyhood follow some mens activity (if not restrained) and so now hath done to the undoing of many thousands; the more is the pity.
But to over-awe the freedom of the Houses, or to weaken their just Authority by any violent impressions upon them, was not at all my design: I thought I had so much Justice and Reason on my side, as should not have needed so rough assistance: and I was resolved rather to bear the repulse with patience, then to use such hazardous extremities.
_But thou, O Lord art my witnesse in heaven, and in my Heart: If I have purposed any violence or oppression against the Innocent: or if there were any such wickednes in my thoughts._
_Then let the enemy persecute my soul, and tread my life to the ground, and lay mine Honour in the dust._
_Thou that seest not as man seeth, but lookest beyond all popular appearances, searching the heart, and trying the reins, and bringing to light the hidden things of darknesse, shew thy self._
_Let not my afflictions be esteemed (as with wise and godly men they cannot be) any argument as my sin, in that matter: more then their Impunity among good men is any sure token of their Innocency._
_But forgive them wherin they have done amiss, though they are not punished for it in this world._
_Save thy servant from the privy conspiracies, and open violence of bloody and unreasonable men, according to the uprightness of my heart, and the innocency of my hands in this matter._
_Plead my cause and maintain my right, O thou that sittest in the Throne, judging rightly, that thy servant may ever rejoyce in thy salvation._
* * * * *
4. _Upon the Insolency of the Tumults._