1. Some there are who attribute all to a great designe , which hath been a long time acting amongst us for the introducing of Popery . In the prosecution of which , they conceive all these troubles to be raised : But this others dis-relish as groundlesse , because his Majesty is sufficiently known to be a resolved Protestant , being naturally of such a disposition as will strongly adhere unto those principles which he hath once embraced .

As for the Bishops ( to whose former violences we owe much of our present miseries ) though they might perhaps affectionatly incline to popery , in those poynts which seem to promote their owne greatnesse ; yet for other things , 't is likely they did only connive at it in opposition to Puritanes , whom they esteemed their greatest eenmies ; so that though that religion might consequently by this means have increased and stoln in amongst us ; yet 't is not probable that it was by them directly intended and upon designe .

2 Others there are , who ( according as they are severally ingaged ) do ascribe the fault of this division to the severall parties of it . The relations of both sides concerning the occasions & passages of this difference being so faire and plausible , that either of them alone were enough to insinuate into the beliefe of any indifferent man .

His Majesty tells us , that at the beginning of this Parliament he did in every thing comply with their advice for the promoting of the publike good , granting unto them so many acts of grace ( beyond any example of his Progenitors ) as might abundantly repaire those oppressions and grievances , under which they have formerly suffered . But when he had such strong reasons to suspect that there was a prevalent Faction amongst them , combin'd together for the utter subversion of government , and that they would make Lawes without his assent , when as first by threats and tumults they had frighted away the major part of both Houses , who were otherwise affected , not without some danger to his owne person ; then he was forced to withdraw himselfe , and to provide for his owne person in remoter places .

On the other side , the Parliament acknowledge those many good Lawes which they have propounded , and his Majesty hath passed ; But withal they say , that there is great reason to suspect , that all these acts were but unwillingly assented unto , onely in satisfaction to the exigencie of those times , His Majesties bad Counsellors being still as prevalent with him as before , who might afterwards as easily perswade him to the breach of these new act , as they had formerly done to the breach of others : so that all they had done was nothing worth , unlesse there might be some further course taken for the removal of these evill Counsellors , and the setling of the power of the Kingdome in such hands as might preserve the Lawes , and not destroy them : It being very probable , that those Counsellors , who have now perswaded his Majesty to this opposition of his Parliament , if the Militia had been at their disposall , would themselves have used the power of it , for the suppressing of the Parliament .

Such plausible pretences are there on both sides , that an honest man may very excusably mistake , especially if he understand these thing onely by Relation from others , and be not himselfe an inquisitive looker on upon the severall passages of them .

3. To me it seems the most probable conjecture , that mutuall jealousie did first make this wound , and mutuall bitternesse hath since festered and inlarged it .

Where the truest ground of this jealousie lyes , must be found by examining the severall parties , whether that change which hath produced our present troubles hath been in the people , or in the Governours . This may seem hard to determine in this particular case , though if a man speake abstractly and in the generall : the truth is , it is not so common nor so likely for people to rise up without cause , as for Governors to oppress without cause . And on the other side , when the people have been much intrenched upon in their properties or liberties , it may probably be expected , that when they doe shew themselves , they should appeare exasperated unto a high degree of , feare and impatience .

The bitternesse on both sides hath been occasioned by 1. Violence in opinion . 2. Vnusuall practises .

There are too many on both sides who are so eager and violent in their opinions , as scarce to allow him for an honest man , who is of a different judgement from them , as if it were possible , that there should be so great a difference betwixt men of the same Religion , where persons of Learning and Piety should not bee ingaged on both sides .

Though a man had as good Iudgement and Affections as he is capable of , yet still they would be liable to the frailties of humane nature . Injuries and hard dealing might exasperate him , hopes and preferment might seduce him ; conversation , Dependencies , friends , calling , have a great influence upon the mind , and may unawares insinuate strong prejudices . As for the lawfulnesse of being ingaged on either side , I suppose this case hath been so throughly discussed pro and con , that that it is now grown as endlesse as other controversies , & that men of honest affections may be on both sides , on both parties . So that for matter of opinion , there should be a liberty granted for every one to goe according to his owne evidence .

But for matter of outward practise , as levying taxes upon the estates of others , and the like ; it cannot be reasonably expected , but that every one should be forced unto a conformity to that side , under whose power he is . If a man will not willingly contribute , he must look to have it taken from him ; if he will be active in speaking or preaching against them , he must think to be silenced and imprisoned , though in other respects he may be of never so much known honesty and credit , yet he cannot reasonably imagine , that others should prefer his private wayes or opinions before that which to them seems most conducible to the publike welfare . So that such proceedings by either partie ( supposing the case undecided , and that these proceedings be not made odious by circumstances ) are in themselves excusable upon the grounds of common reason and policy : Which if men would equally consider , it would abate much of that bitternesse and violence on either side .