On the 8th of November, the citizens again assembled. Charles was moving up to London, Rupert was scouring the suburbs, and within the walls there was general alarm. Lord Brooke, who attended the meeting, after giving a confused report of what had been done at Edgehill, urged his audience to stand up for liberty and religion. "When you shall hear the drums beat," he exclaimed, "say not, I beseech you, I am not of the train band, nor this, nor that, nor the other—but doubt not to go out to the work, and fight courageously, and this shall be the day of your deliverance."
Church Politics in London.
A few days later the Royalist forces were at Brentford. The City volunteers now rallied round old General Skippon, whose homely words went to their hearts: "Come, my boys, my brave boys, let us pray heartily and fight heartily. I will run the same fortunes and hazards with you. Remember the cause is for God, and for the defence of yourselves, your wives, and children." The train bands marched out on Sunday, the citizens, after sermon, carrying them provisions.[316] At the time when the cavaliers were spurring their horses toward the metropolis, a declaration of the two Houses appeared in answer to one by his Majesty. In the course of a general argument which the document contained, there occurred a disavowal of any intention to reject the Book of Common Prayer. It was intended, they said, only to take out of it what was evil and justly offensive, and what was considered unnecessary and burdensome. They also protested against Brownists and Anabaptists, entirely disavowing any sympathy with such persons; though they said they agreed with many who were falsely designated by such opprobrious appellations. These references were made to the Separatists because the King and the Anglicans were always reviling them, sometimes in strong terms; for example, the Earl of Newcastle declared that they were worse than Papists, and deserted a heavier punishment.[317] Such abuse really was pointed at the Commons themselves, who were not only suspected but often broadly accused of schismatical predilections. His Majesty's wrath also boiled over, and in one of his many declarations he told his "loving subjects" of seditious members, who being joined with the Anabaptists and Brownists of London, first changed the government of the city, and then by their pride and power would fain undo the whole kingdom. Pennington, who now occupied the mayoralty, was described as guilty of treason, and also as reviling the Prayer Book; and as robbing and imprisoning whomsoever he thought fit, and with the rabble who composed his faction giving law to Parliament.
1642, November.
The quarrel between the King and the City now became still darker and deeper. A letter from the Hague, directed to Secretary Nicholas, and brought to London in a Gravesend boat—which was stopped at the moment of shooting London Bridge—contained evidence of the King's negotiations for bringing over foreign troops: this letter consequently was soon printed and circulated through the city. The two Houses ordered the clergy to read it in their churches; and the devoted Lord Mayor requested them to make it a ground of appeal to the parishioners respecting a sum of £30,000 which was about to be raised for Parliament. Churchwardens were to hold meetings after service in the afternoon on the 27th of November, to raise "a proportionable fund,"[318] which we may well imagine that we see accomplished by dim candle-light in churches, vestries, and other places, on that wintry Sunday night.
Church Politics in London.
The City and the Parliament were thoroughly united this midwinter; and therefore the City and the Sovereign continued in violent opposition. At a Common Hall, held on the 13th of January—when all the companies came in their city habits, and there were present the Committee of both Houses, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, and such a confluence of liverymen as had not been seen in the memory of the oldest man—a petition to the King was read, and then the royal answer, in which his Majesty asked his petitioners whether they believed that the indignities done to the Prayer Book, the violent treatment of Episcopal clergymen, and the cherishing and countenancing of all manner of sectaries, were likely to defend and maintain the Protestant religion. Mr. Pym, being present at the meeting, delivered a speech, in which he denied his Majesty's allegations, maintaining that the magistrates did not give countenance to the sectaries; adding this home-thrust, which Charles so often had to meet, that if they did, his Majesty could not consistently object, inasmuch as, having sworn to support the Protestant religion, he, in the meantime, raised an army of Papists.[319]
1643, January.
Another City meeting followed on the 17th, when Alderman Garroway appeared as an advocate of the Episcopal Church; and it will be instructive to notice his speech, as shewing the line of remark which at the time was adopted on that side of the controversy. "Mr. Pym told us," said the Alderman, "there was no proof that my Lord Mayor and the other persons named were countenancers of Brownists, Anabaptists, and other sectaries. Where should this proof be made? Do we not all know this to be true? Are they not all so much countenanced, as there is no countenance left for anybody else? Did not my Lord Mayor first enter upon his office with a speech against the Book of Common Prayer? Hath the Common Prayer ever been read before him? Hath not Captain Venn said that his wife could make prayers worth three of any in that book? Oh, masters, there have been times that he that should speak against the Book of Common Prayer in this city, should not have been put to the patience of a legal trial. We were wont to look upon it as the greatest treasure and jewel of our religion; and he that should have told us he wished well to our religion, and yet would take away the Book of Common Prayer, would never have gotten credit. I have been in all the parts of Christendom, and have conversed with Christians in Turkey. Why, in all the reformed churches there is not anything of more reverence than the English liturgy; not our Royal Exchange, or the name of Queen Elizabeth, so famous. In Geneva itself I have heard it extolled to the skies. I have been three months together by sea, not a day without hearing it read twice. The honest mariners then despised all the world but the King and the Common Prayer Book. He that should have been suspected to wish ill to either of them would have made an ill voyage. And let me tell you, they are shrewd youths, those seamen. If they once discern that the person of the King is in danger, or the true Protestant professed religion, they will shew themselves mad bodies before you are aware of it."[320]