within their

folemn league and covenant is agreed be-
tween them, first taken and fubfcribed to
by the Scots themselves, and afterwards by
all the members in both houfes of parlia-
ment, as alfo by the principal officers of the
army, all the divines of the affembly, almost
all thofe, which lived within the lines of
communication, and in the end by all the
fubjects, which either were
power, or made fubject to it.
covenant the party was to
amongst other things, firft, That he would
endeavour in his place and calling to preferve
the reformed religion in Scotland, in doctrine,
difcipline, and government; that he would en-
deavour, in like manner, the reformation of reli-
gion in the kingdoms of England and Ireland,
according to the word of God, and the example
of the best reformed churches; but more parti-
cularly to bring the churches of God in all the
three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and
uniformity in religion, confeffion of faith, form
of church government, and directory for wor-
fhip, and catechifing. Secondly, That without
refpect of perfons, they would endeavour to ex-
tirpate popery and prelacy; that is to fay, church
government by arch-bishops, bishops, their chan-
cellors and commiffairs, deans, deans and chap-
ters, arch-deacons, and all other ecclefiaftical
Q93
officers

Now by this The league and
bind himself,

covenant.

ficers depending on it. And thirdly, That be would endeavour the difcovery of fuch as have been, or shall be incendiaries, malignants, and evil inftruments, either in hindering the reformation of religion, or in dividing between the king and bis people, &c. whom they should bring to condign punishment before the fupream judicatories of either kingdom, as their offences fhould deServe."

It would be impoffible to make a juft reprefentation of the rebellious tyranny practifed by this reforming herd of zealots over the king, clergy, and people, without entering more largely into the hiftory of that disgraceful ufurpation, than the intent and bounds of this publication will admit of. By whatever nominal religious diftinction or appellation the rebels were then known, whether as prefbyterians, puritans, or independents, their actions reprefent them as raging with that favage luft for levelling, that knew no political medium between the fierceft tyranny, and the most unbridled anarchy. A leveller of the last century teveller of the was well defcribed by one, who probably was perfonally acquainted with many of the

Defcription of

Jaft century.

actors in that bloody fcene of our national difgrace.." He has more ambition in his

Secret Hift, of the Calves Head Club, p. 24.

breaft,

breast, than the most extravagant tyrant in the univerfe. He is very fearful of being made a flave, but is very defirous of being a flave-maker; for whenever he crys out for liberty, he is endeavouring to destroy it; and never thinks himself a compleat free-man, till the nation he lives in; has no religion to guide him, no law to punish him; for his chief aim is to pull down all, when the madnefs of the common people gives him a fair opportunity. In all conditions, he is as reftlefs as a froward infant, whilft breeding of his teeth; will please no government, and with no government be pleafed. He is as tempeftuous as the ocean, that fwells into rage with every gale, that happens, and feldom reconciles himself to a calm, till like that he has been the occafion of fome remarkable mifchief."

I shall not attempt to wound the feelings of those of my countrymen, whofe minds want no conviction, by a painful rehearsal of the tragical catastrophe of our late fovereign king Charles the Firft: "who was given up to the violent outrages of wicked men, to be defpitefully used, and at last murdered by

Vid. Book of Common Prayer: Form of Prayer for the 30th of January..

Dr. Priestley's exultation in

king Charles.

them. And, though we cannot reflect upon fo foul an act but with horror and aftonishment," yet too true is it, that even in this enlightened age is the commemoration of this day kept up by many in a spirit widely different from that, which the church and parliament

t

of England countenance and recommend. On the bringing of king Charles a the murder of prisoner to London, in my opinion, there was fufficient caufe for triumph. The 30th of January was (to ufe a phrase of admiral Keppel's) a proud day for England, as well as the 14th of July for France; and it will be remembered as fuch by the latest pof

The act of parliament, which, as already observed, binds every individual unexceptionably in this community, is of the fame tenure and spirit as the service of the church. I mention this to prove how little any set of individuals are authorized, upon the univerfal principles of all governments, to vilify, refift, and counteract the most folemn religious and legislative acts of the majority. "The horrid and execrable murder of your majesty's royal father, our late moft gracious fovereign Charles the First, of ever bleffed and glorious memory, hath been committed by a party of wretched men, defperately wicked, and hardened in their impiety, who having first plotted and contrived the ruin and destruction of this excellent monarchy, and with it of the true reformed proteftant religion, which had been fo long protected by it and flourished under it." 12 Car. II. c. xxx.

+ Dr. Priestley's Fifth Letter to Mr. Burke, pub. lifhed last year.

terity of freemen." Little furely does it become a loyal fubject of Great Britain triumphantly to revel in the remembrance of - fuch scenes; let him rather put on the awful feelings of the noble hiftorian of this rebellious and bloody tragedy.

*«The feveral unheard of infolencies, which this excellent prince was forced to fubmit to, at the other times he was brought before that odious judicatory; his majestic behaviour, and refolute infifting upon his own dignity, and defending it by manifest authorities in the law, as well as by the clearest deductions from reafon; the pronouncing that horrible fentence upon the most innocent perfon in the world; the execution of that fentence by the moft execrable murther, that was ever committed fince that of our bleffed Saviour, and the circumstances thereof; the application and interpofition, that was used by fome noble perfons to prevent that woful murther, and the hypocricy, with which that interpofition was eluded; the faint-like behaviour of that bleffed martyr, and his chriftian courage and patience at his death, are all particulars fo well known, and have been

+ Clarendon's Hift. of the Civil War, vol. iii. lib. xi. P. 197.

fo

The true and ments upon the Charles.

proper fenti

death of king