Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…

§ 54. The Sum of those Reasons which satisfied many that adhered to the Parliament, were these, which I will but briefly name.

1. As to the Danger of the State, the Matters of Fact did make it seem undeniable to them: Ship-money they judged not of according to the Sum; but they thought• Propriety was thereby destroyed, and Parliaments cast aside and made unnecessary: And they saw that this Parliament was called upon the Scots, and then called Discontented Lords importunity, after many Parliaments had been dissolved in displeasure, and after they had been long forborne: And the calling up of the Northern Army, and the demanding of the Members, made Multitudes think that the ruin of the Parliament was the great Design; and their ungrateful beginning and proceedings made this seem credible, so that I met with few of that sort that doubted of it. But above all, the Two hundred thousand killed in Ireland, affrighted the Parliament and all the Land. And whereas it is said, that the King hated that, as well as they: They answered, that though he did, his hating it would neither make all those alive again, nor preserve England from their threatened Assault, as long as Men of the like malignity were protected, and could not be kept out of Arms, nor brought to Justice.

1. As to the Danger of the State, the Matters of Fact did make it seem undeniable to them: Ship-money they judged not of according to the Sum; but they thought• Propriety was thereby destroyed, and Parliaments cast aside and made unnecessary: And they saw that this Parliament was called upon the Scots, and then called Discontented Lords importunity, after many Parliaments had been dissolved in displeasure, and after they had been long forborn: And the calling up of the Northern Army, and the demanding of the Members, made Multitudes think that the ruine of the Parliament was the great Design; and their ungrateful beginning and proceedings made this seem credible, so that I met with few of that sort that doubted of it. But above all, the Two hundred thousand kill'd in Ireland, affrighted the Parliament and all the Land. And whereas it is said, that the King hated that, as well as they: They answered, that though he did, his hating it would neither make all those alive again, nor preserve England from their threatned Assault, as long as Men of the like malignity were protected, and could not be kept out of Arms, nor brought to Justice.