reward for my labors, than the satisfaction of doing some service to truth, and to the religious and, civil liberties of mankind; and yet, after all, I must bespeak the indulgence and candor of my readers, which those, who are sensible of the labor and toil of collecting so many materials, and ranging them in their proper order, will readily allow to one, who sincerely wishes the prosperity and welfare of all good meu, and that the violence and outrage of these unhappy times, which brought such confusion and misery both on king and people, may never be imitated by the present, or any future age.

London, Nov. 4, 1735.

DANIEL NEAL.

EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT.

FROM the two volumes of this edition of Mr. Neal's History of the Puritans, which are already before the public, it sufficiently appears in what manner it hath been conducted, so as to preclude any further explanation of the Editor's design and method. This volume will

shew, that he has continued to examine the strictures of Bishop Warburton and Dr. Grey. He is not conscious of having been backward to meet the severest animadversions of those writers. The reader will judge with what care he has investigated, and with what success he has attempted to obviate, their objections.

The chief thing which the Editor has now to observe is, that in this volume he has pursued the History of some Sectaries, who sprang up among the Puritans, more fully than in the preceding ones; particularly that of the English Baptists; whose history has been written by Mr. Crosby, in four volumes octavo; a performance which is scarce; and, though not judiciously composed, it contains materials which, it is hoped, will form an acceptable addition to Mr. Neal's work, and render this edition of it more complete and valuable; as it will contain an abstract and the substance of the former to the period of time with which the latter concludes.

THE

HISTORY

OF THE

PURITAN S.

CHAP. I.

From the Battle of Edge-Hill to the Calling the Assembly of Divines at Westminster.

THE king having recruited his army at Oxford, after the battle of Edge-Hill, by the assistance of the university, who now gave his majesty all their money, as they had before done their plate, resolved to pursue his march to London, in order to break up the parliament, and surprise the city; while the earl of Essex, imagining the campaign was ended, lay quiet about Warwick, till being informed of the king's designs, he posted to London, and ordered his forces to follow with all expedition. The earl arrived Nov. 7, 1642, and was honorably received by both houses of parliament, who presented him with a gratuity of five thousand pounds, and to strengthen his army passed an ordinance, that such apprentices as would list in their service should be entitled to a freedom of the city at the expiration of their apprenticeship, equally with those who continued with their masters. In the beginning of November, the king took possession of Reading without the least resistance, the parliament garrison having abandoned it, which alarmed both houses, and made them send an express to desire a safe conduct for a committee of lords and commons,

to attend his majesty with a petition for peace; the committee waited on his majesty at Colnbrook, fifteen miles from London, and having received a favorable answer,§ reported it to the two houses, who immediately gave orders to forbear all acts of hostility, and sent a messenger to the king, to desire the like forbearance on his part; but the committee had no sooner left Colnbrook, than his majesty, taking the advantage of a thick mist, advanced to Brentford about seven miles from London, which he attacked with his whole army, Nov. 13, and after a fierce and bloody rencounter with the parliament garrison, wherein considerable numbers were driven into the Thames and slain, he got possession of the town, and took a great many prisoners. The consternation of the citizens on this occasion was inexpressible, imagining the king would be the next * Rushworth, vol. v. p. 58.

"He seemed to receive the petition with great willingness; and called God to witness, in many protestations, that he was tenderly 'compassionate of his bleeding people, and more disirous of nothing than a speedy peace." May's Parliamentary History, b. iii. p. 33The immediate subsequent conduct of the king was, certainly, not consistent with such professions: yet Dr. Grey is displeased with Mr. Neal, for insinuating that it was a breach of promise, and accuses him of not giving the fairest account of this action, which he says, the king sufficiently justified. But, when the doctor passed this censure, it seems that he had not looked forward to the next paragraph, where the motives of the king's behavior are stated. The committee, deput ed by the parliament to Colnbrook, consisted of the earls of Northumberland and Pembroke, lord Wainman, Mr. Pierpont, sir John Ipsley, and sir John Evelyn: when the king refused to admit the last gentleman, because he had named him a traitor the day before, the parliament, though extremely displeased with the exception, so as to vote it a breach of privilege, yet, from their ardent desire of accommodation, permitted the petition to be presented without sir John Evelyn. May, b. iii. p. 32. This yielding conduct leaves the king more inexcusable, as it serves to shew the sincerity of the parliament in their overtures; and lord Clarendon says, that it was believed by many, that had the king retired to Reading, and waited there for the answer of the par liament, they would have immediately withdrawn their garrison from Windsor, and delivered that castle to his majesty for his accommodation to have carried on the treaty he had proposed. History, vol. ii. p. 73. -The motives, on which the king acted, in the action at Brentford, which Mr.Neal has compressed into one paragraph, Dr.Grey, by large quotations on different authorities, has extended through four pages, which affords a parade of confuting Mr. Neal. Ed.

+ Whitlocke, p. 62.