=Source.=--Rushworth. Vol. iv., p. 452.
We having received from you, soon after our return out of Scotland,
a long petition consisting of many desires of great moment, together
with a declaration of a very unusual nature annexed thereunto, we
had taken some time to consider of it, as befitted us in a matter of
that consequence, being confident that your own reason and regard
to us, as well as our express intimation by our comptroller, to
that purpose, would have restrained you from the publishing of it
till such time as you should have received our answer to it; but,
much against our expectation, finding the contrary, that the said
declaration is already abroad in print, by directions from your
House as appears by the printed copy, we must let you know that
we are very sensible of the disrespect. Notwithstanding, it is our
intention that no failing on your part shall make us fail in ours,
of giving all due satisfaction to the desires of our people in a
parliamentary way; and therefore we send you this answer to your
petition, reserving ourself in point of the declaration which we
think unparliamentary, and shall take a course to do that which we
shall think fit in prudence and honour.
To the petition, we say that although there are divers things in the
preamble of it which we are so far from admitting that we profess we
cannot at all understand them, as of "a wicked and malignant party
prevalent in the government"; of "some of that party admitted to
our Privy Council and to other employments of trust, and nearest to
us and our children"; of "endeavours to sow among the people false
scandals and imputations, to blemish and disgrace the proceedings of
the Parliament"; all, or any of them, did we know of, we should be as
ready to remedy and punish as you to complain of, so that the prayers
of your petition are grounded upon such premises as we must in no
wise admit; yet, notwithstanding, we are pleased to give this answer
to you.
To the first, concerning religion, consisting of several branches, we
say that, for preserving the peace and safety of this kingdom from
the design of the Popish party, we have, and will still, concur with
all the just desires of our people in a parliamentary way: that, for
the depriving of the Bishops of their votes in Parliament, we should
have you consider that their right is grounded upon the fundamental
law of the kingdom and constitution of Parliament. This we would
have you consider; but since you desire our concurrence herein in a
parliamentary way, we will give no further answer at this time.
As for the abridging of the inordinate power of the clergy, we
conceive that the taking away of the High Commission Court hath well
moderated that; but if there continue any usurpations or excesses in
their jurisdictions, we therein neither have nor will protect them.
Unto that clause which concerneth corruptions (as you style them)
in religion, in Church government, and in discipline, and the
removing of such unnecessary ceremonies as weak consciences might
check at: that for any illegal innovations which may have crept
in, we shall willingly concur in the removal of them: that, if our
Parliament shall advise us to call a national synod, which may duly
examine such ceremonies as give just cause of offence to any, we
shall take it into consideration, and apply ourself to give due
satisfaction therein; but we are very sorry to hear, in such general
terms, corruption in religion objected, since we are persuaded in
our consciences that no Church can be found upon the earth that
professeth the true religion with more purity of doctrine than the
Church of England doth, nor where the government and discipline are
jointly more beautified and free from superstition, than as they are
here established by law, which, by the grace of God, we will with
constancy maintain (while we live) in their purity and glory, not
only against all invasions of Popery, but also from the irreverence
of those many schismatics and separatists, wherewith of late this
kingdom and this city abounds, to the great dishonour and hazard both
of Church and State, for the suppression of whom we require your
timely aid and active assistance.
To the second prayer of the petition, the removal and choice of
councillors, we know not any of our Council to whom the character set
forth in the petition can belong: that by those whom we had exposed
to trial, we have already given you sufficient testimony that there
is no man so near unto us in place or affection, whom we will not
leave to the justice of the law, if you shall bring a particular
charge and sufficient proofs against him; and of this we do again
assure you, but in the meantime we wish you to forbear such general
aspersions as may reflect upon all our Council, since you name none
in particular.
That for the choice of our councillors and ministers of state, it
were to debar us that natural liberty all freemen have; and as it is
the undoubted right of the Crown of England to call such persons to
our secret counsels, to public employment and our particular service
as we shall think fit, so we are, and ever shall be, very careful to
make election of such persons in those places of trust as shall have
given good testimonies of their abilities and integrity, and against
whom there can be no just cause of exception whereon reasonably to
ground a diffidence; and to choices of this nature, we assure you
that the mediation of the nearest unto us hath always concurred.
To the third prayer of your petition concerning Ireland, we
understand your desire of not alienating the forfeited lands thereof,
to proceed from much care and love, and likewise that it may be a
resolution very fit for us to take; but whether it be seasonable to
declare resolutions of that nature before the events of a war be
seen, that we much doubt of. Howsoever, we cannot but thank you for
this care, and your cheerful engagement for the suppression of that
rebellion; upon the speedy effecting whereof, the glory of God in the
protestant profession, the safety of the British there, our honour,
and that of the nation, so much depends; all the interests of this
kingdom being so involved in that business, we cannot but quicken
your affections therein, and shall desire you to frame your counsels,
to give such expedition to the work as the nature thereof and the
pressures in point of time require; and whereof you are put in mind
by the daily insolence and increase of those rebels.
For conclusion, your promise to apply yourselves to such courses as
may support our royal estate with honour and plenty at home, and with
power and reputation abroad, is that which we have ever promised
ourself, both from your loyalties and affections, and also for what
we have already done, and shall daily go adding unto, for the comfort
and happiness of our people.
"ROUNDHEADS."
=Source.=--_Memoirs of Colonel Hutchinson._ Ed. Bohn. G. Bell and
Son. P. 120.
When puritanism grew into a faction, the zealots distinguished
themselves, both men and women, by several affectations of habit,
looks, and words, which, had it been a real forsaking of vanity, and
an embracing of sobriety in all those things, would have been most
commendable; but their quick forsaking of those things, when they
had arrived at their object, showed that they either never took them
up for conscience, or were corrupted by their prosperity to take up
those vain things they durst not practise under persecution. Among
other affected habits, few of the puritans, what degree soever they
were of, wore their hair long enough to cover their ears, and the
ministers and many others cut it close round their heads, with so
many little peaks, as was something ridiculous to behold; whereupon
Cleaveland, in his Hue and Cry after them, begins,
"With hayre in Characters and Luggs in Text," etc.
From this custom of wearing their hair, that name of roundhead became
the scornful term given to the whole parliament party, whose army
indeed marched out as if they had been only sent out till their hair
was grown. Two or three years after, any stranger that had seen them,
would have inquired the reason of that name. It was very ill applied
to Mr. Hutchinson, who, having naturally a very fine thickset head of
hair, kept it clean and handsome, so that it was a great ornament to
him; although the godly of those days, when he embraced their party,
would not allow him to be religious because his hair was not in their
cut, nor his words in their phrase, nor such little formalities
altogether fitted to their humour; who were, many of them, so weak as
to esteem such insignificant circumstances, rather than solid wisdom,
piety, and courage, which brought real aid and honour to their party.
But as Mr. Hutchinson chose not them, but the God they served,
and the truth and righteousness they defended, so did not their
weaknesses, censures, ingratitude, or discouraging behaviour, with
which he was abundantly exercised all his life, make him forsake them
in any thing wherein they adhered to just and honourable principles
or practices; but when they apostatized from these, none cast them
off with greater indignation, how shining soever the profession was
that gilt, not a temple of living grace, but a tomb, which only held
the carcase of religion.