consent to the like in My other kingdomes; for it should be considered that episcopacy was not so rooted and setled there, as 'tis here; nor I (in that respect) so strictly bound to continue it in that kingdome as in this; for what I think in My judgement best, I may not think so absolutely necessary for all places, and at all times,

If any shall impute My yeelding to them, as My failing and sinne, I can easily acknowledge it; but that is no argument to doe so again, or much worse; I being now more convinced in that point: nor indeed hath My yeelding to them been so happy and successefull as to incourage Me to grant the like to others.

Did I see any thing more of Christ, as to meeknesse, justice, order, charity, and loyalty in those that pretend to other modes of government, I might suspect My judgement to be biassed, or fore-stalled with some prejudice and wontednesse of opinion; but I have hitherto so much cause to suspect the contrary in the manners of many of those men, that I cannot from them gaine the least reputation for their new waies of govern

ment.

Nor can I find that in any reformed Churches. (whose paternes are so cryed up, and obtruded

upon the Churches under My dominion) that either learning, or religion, workes of pietie or charity, have so flourished beyond what they have done in My kingdomes (by Gods blessing) which might make Me believe either presbytery or independency have a more benigne influence upon the Church and mens hearts and lives, then episcopacy in its right constitution.

The abuses of which, deserve to be extirpated, as much as the use retained; for I thinke it farre better to hold to primitive and uniforme antiquity, then to comply with divided novelty.

A right episcopacy would at once satisfie all just desires and interest of good bishops, humble presbyterers, and sober people; so as Church affaires should be mannaged neither with tyranny, parity, nor popularity; neither bishops ejected, nor presbyters despised, nor people oppressed.

And in this integrity both of My judgement and conscience, I hope God will preserve Me.

For thou, O Lord, knowest My uprightnesse, and tendernesse, as thou hast set Me to be a defender of the faith, and a protector of thy Church, so suffer Me not by any violence, to be overborn against My conscience.

Arise, O Lord, maintaine thine owne cause, let not thy Church be deformed, as to that government, which derived from thy Apostles, hath been retained in purest and primitive times, till the revenues of the Church became the object of secular envy; which seeks to rob it of all the incouragements of learning and religion.

Make Me, as the good Samaritan, compassionate, and helpfull to thy afflicted Church; which some men have wounded and robbed; others passe by without regard, either to pitty, or relieve.

As My power is from thee, so give Me grace to use it for thee.

And tho I am not suffered to be master of My other rights as a KING, yet preserve Me in that liberty of reason, love of religion, and thy Churches welfare, which are fixed in My conscience as a Christian.

Preserve, from sacrilegious invasions, those temporall blessings, which thy providence hath bestowed on thy Church for thy glory.

Forgive their sinnes and errours, who have deserved thy just permission, thus to let in the wilde boare, and subtill foxes, to wast and deforme thy vineyard, which thy right hand hath planted, and the dew of Heaven so long watered to a happy and flourishing

estate.

O let Me not beare the infamous brand to all posterity of being the first Christian KING in this kingdome, who should consent to the oppression of thy Church, and the fathers of it; whose errours. I would rather, with Constantine, cover with silence, and reforme with meeknesse, then expose their persons, and sacred functions, to vulgar contempt.

Thou, O Lord, seest how much I have suffered with, and for thy Church; make no long tarrying, O My God, to deliver both Me, and it, from unreasonable men; whose counsels have brought forth, and continue such violent confusions, by a precipitant destroying the ancient boundaries of thy Churches peace; thereby letting in all manner of errours, schismes, and disorders.

O thou God, of order, and of truth, in thy good time, abate the malice, aswage the rage, and confound all the mischievous devices of thine, Mine, and thy Churches enemies.

That I, and all that love thy Church, may sing praises to thee, and ever magnifie thy salvation, even before the sonnes of men.

XVIII. UPON UXBRIDGE-TREATY AND OTHER OFFERS
MADE BY THE KING.

I LOOK upon the way of treaties, as a retiring from fighting like beasts, to arguing like men; whose strength should be. more in their understandings, then in their limbs.

And tho I could seldome get opportunities to treat, yet I never wanted either desire or dispo sition to it; having greater confidence of My reason, then My sword: I was so wholly resolved to yeeld to the first, that I thought neither My selfe, nor others, should need to use the second, if once we rightly understood each other.

Nor did I ever think it a diminution of Me, to prevent them with expresses of My desires, and even importunities to treat it being an office, not onely of humanity, rather to use reason, then force; but also of Christianity to seek peace and ensue it.

As I was very unwillingly compelled to defend My selfe with armes, so I very willingly embraced any thing tending to peace.

The events of all warre by the sword being very dubious, and of a civil warre uncomfort