,
scismes and disorders._

_O thou God of order, and of truth, in thy good time abate the malice,
asswage the rage, and confound all the mischievous devises of thine,
mine, and thy Churches enemies._

_That I, and all that love thy Church, may sing prayses to thee, and
ever magnifie thy salvation, even before the sons of men._

* * * * *

18. _Upon_ Uxbridge _Treaty, and other Offers made by the_ KING.

I looke upon the way of Treaties, as a retiring from fighting like
beasts, to arguing like men; whose strength should be more in their
understandings, then in their limbs.

And though I could seldom get opportunities to Treat, yet I never
wanted either desire or disposition to it; having greater confidence
of my Reason, then my Sword. I was so wholy resolved to yeild to the
first, that I thought neither my self, not others, should need to use
the second, if once we rightly understood each other.

Nor did I ever think it a diminution of me, to prevent them with
expresses of my desires, and even importunities to Treat: It being an
office not only of humanity, rather to use Reason then Force; but also
of Christianitie to _seek peace and ensue it_.

As I am very unwillingly compelled to defend my self with Armes, so I
very willingly embraced any thing tending to Peace.

The events of all War by the Sword being very dubious, and of a Civill
war uncomfortable; the end hardly recompencing, and late repairing the
mischiefe of the means.

Nor did any successe I had ever enhaunce with me the price of Peace,
as earnestly desired by me as any man; though I was like to pay dearer
for it then any man: All that I sought to reserve, was, mine Honour
and my Conscience; the one I could not part with as a King, the other
as a Christian.

The Treaty at _Uxbridg_ gave the fairest hopes of an happy composure;
had others applied themselves to it with the same moderation, as I
did, I am confident the war had then ended.

I was willing to condescend, as far as Reason, Honour, and Conscience,
would give me leave: nor were the remaining differences so essentiall
to my peoples happinesse, or of such consequence, as in the least kind
to have hindred my Subjects either security or prosperity; for they
better enjoyed both many yeers, before ever those demands were made;
some of which to deny, I think the greatest Justice to my Self, and
favour to my Subjects.

I see Jealousies are not so easily a