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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91303	The treachery and disloyalty of papists to their soveraignes, in doctrine and practise. Together with an exact parallel of the jurisdiction, power, and priviledges claimed and exercised by our popish Parliaments, prelates, Lords and Commons in former times, with those now claimed and practised by the present Parliament, Lords and Commons, which are here manifested to be farre more loyall, dutifull, moderate; more consistent with, lesse invasive on, and destructive to the Kings pretended soveraigne power and prerogative, then those of popish parliaments, and subjects. Wherein likewise the traiterous, antimonarchicall doctrines, practises and attempts of papists upon their soveraignes prerogatives, crownes, persons, with the dangerous consequences, effects, and designes, of their present illegall arming, and accesse to the Kings Army, and person by meanes of evill counsellours, are briefely discovered; ... It is ordered by the Committee for Printing that this treatise be forthwith printed and published, by Michael Sparke, senior. Januar. 13. 1642. John White.; Soveraigne power of parliaments and kingdomes. Part 1	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.; England and Wales. Parliament.	1643 (1643)	Wing P4108; Thomason E248_1; ESTC R203188	101,087	43

2 3 4 5. Plato de Republica Bodius Common wealth The Repub of ●undry Nations Aristotle and al other Polititions who hold all formes of Government changeable and revocable without any injustice if necess●ry or convenient So likewise ●o the very end for which kings haveregall power as well as other Governours and Governments were ordained to wit their kingdomes peoples m Rom. 14. 1 to 6. 1 Pet. 2. 13. 14. 2 Sam. 5. 12. Aristotle Pol. l. 3. 4. 5. Caelius Rhodig l 8. c. 1. Bracton l. 3. c. 9. f. 107. welfare safety peace protection c. Salus p●puli being not onely that Suprema Lex but principall end for which all royall power was institute● by God and man and to which they must submit in case it become in compatible or cannot consist together without dammage or danger to the publike safety what therefore that learned Father Augustine Bishop of Hippo long since resolved touching the now much contested for Lordly State of Episcopacie which he and neere 300. African Bishops more were then ready to lay downe for the Churches peace I may fitly apply to the now over much contended for supposed royall Prerogatives of kings to effect Peace in the State in these times of uncivill military that I say not bloody dissentions raised about them betweene king and Parliament An vero c. n Augustinus de Geftis cune Emerita Donatist Epis Tom. 7. pars 1. p. 782. 783. What verily did ou● Redeemer descend from heaven into humane members that we might he his members and shall we le●t his very members be rent in pieces with cruell division feare to descend out of our thrones we are ordained BP ● fo● Christian peoples ●ake what therfore may profit them for Christian peace that let us do with our Bishoprickes Quod autem sum propter te sim si tibi prodest non sim si tibi obest What I-am I may be for thee if it profit thee I may not be if it be hurtfull to thee If we be profitable servants why do we envie the● eternall gaines of our Lord for our tempot all sublimities or Prerogatives Our Episcopall dignity will o See all Acts of Repeale and others which alter the common Law See Smiths Common-wealth l. 2. c. 2. 3. be more fruitfull to us if it shall more unite the flock of Christ then disperse it if retained If when I will retain my Bishoprick I disperse the ●lock of Christ how is the dammage of the flock the honour o● the sheapheard c. Old statute Lawes yea and the common Law of England may be and oft are repealed and altered by Parliaments though above the king and his Prerogative when they become mischieuous ●● inconvenient therefore any branches of the kings Prerogative inferiour to these Lawes when they prove grievous or dangerous to the subjects It is the kings own professed Maxime in full Parliamen p At the end of the Petition of Right 3. Caroli Printed and inrolled by his speciall command in all his Courts That the Kings Prerogative is but to defend the Peoples Liberties when therefore it either invades or subver● them it may justly it must necessarily be restrained diminished or resumed by the Parliament from whose assent or grant it first proceeded The Emperour q See Eutropius Sabellicus Grimston Speed others of his life Otho the first and our king Richard the second as r Speeds History p. 757. some imagine voluntary resigned relinquished their Crownes to their immortall honour to prevent the effusion of their Subiects blood by civill warres and settle peace within thei● Realmes and shall not other kings then most joyfully part with some Punctilioes of their reall o● branches of their supposed Prerogatives for the selfesame ends if their Parliaments see good cause to resume them and of right may doe it Fifthly The king though he be the chiefe and principall yet he is onely one member of the Parliament and kingdome the least because but one person though the highest branch the Lords and Commons not elected by but assigned Counsellors to the king by the kingdome and people being the greatest and most considerable part as representing the intire body of the kingdome Now common reason Law and experience manifests t See Br. Tit. Corporations that the whole or greatest part in all politique or naturall Bodies is of greater power Jurisdiction then any one particular member Thus in all our t Corporations the Court of Aldermen and Common Councell is of greater power then the Major though the chiefe Officer the Chapter of greater authority then the Deane the Deane and Chapter then the s Keckerman Systema Logic. l. 1. c. 22. BPP the whole Bench then the Lord chiefe Justice the whole Counsell then the President the whole Parliament then either of the Houses and by like reason then the king especially since one of the three Estates is lesser then the three Estates together who in Parliament by the fundamentall Constitions of the Realme are not v See the fuller answer to Dr. Ferne. p. 2. 3. Subordinate but Coordinate parts of the same great Common-Councell of the kingdome It is Aristotles expresse determination x Quod eorum qui rempublicam gerunt majori parti placue●it id est ratum ac ●●mum Arist Polit. l. 4. c. 8. l. 3. that in an Oligarchie Aristocrasie and Democrasie whatsoever seemes good to the Major part of the Governours of the Common-wealth that is ratified and that it is unfit the part should be above the whole And in all Courts of Iustice Corporations and Elections y Br. Corporations 34. 8. H. 6. c. 7. the major part have alwayes had the greatest sway and constantly over-ruled the lesse though it be but by one casting voyce as is evident to all in the Elections of Knights and Burgesses of and votes in the Parliament in which the z 14. H. 8. f. 3. b. King Lords and Commons by the Common Law make up but one intire Corporation since then even in Parliament it selfe the Major part over swayes the rest yea the king himselfe who hath no absolute negative voyce but onely in refusing to passe some kinde of Bills not all of which more hereafter doubtlesse the whole or Major part of the Parliament which in Law is the whole is above the king the chiefe member of it Which consideration together with the Statutes of 5. R. 2. Stat. 2. c 4. 6. H. 8. c. 16. Enacting That none elected to be in any Parliament shall depart or absent himself from the same Parliament till it be fully ended or proroged without speciall license of the Speaker of the Commons to be entred of record in the jornall Booke under paine of amercement losse of wages and other punishment nor * See the manner of holding Parliaments in England newly Printed London 1641 and Dyer f. 60. 2. any member of the upper House without that

houses license under paine a Major Pars est totum Brookes Corporations 34. Smiths Common-wealth of England l. 2. c. 3. ●f inditement imprisonment or fine as appeares by the Bishop of Winchesters case 3. E. 3. 19. Fitz. ●orone 161. and Stamford l. 3 c. 1. f. 153 compleatly answers that fond cavill of the Malignants ●nd Royalists against this Parliament that the king and many of the other members have wilfully ●bsented themselves from the House of purpose to dissolve it if they could notwithstanding the late ●peciall Act made by their joyntconsents for its continuance Ergo this unlawfull Action of theirs to effect this pernicious designe must nullifie or at least invalid in their new non-sence Law and ●ogicke the lawfull proceedings of those worthy faithfull members who continue in it to preserve ●oth Parliament Kingdome Religion Lawes Liberties from ruine and dissolution If these ab●ent members be the greater number why doe they not come and over-vote the rest in the House in peaceable legall usuall Parliamentary way rather then challenge them into the field in a military ●legall unusuall bloody manner unheard of in former ages If the lesser party then present or ab●ent the Major part must over-rule them volensnolens as it hath ever used unlesse they will be wil●●ller I cannot say wiser then all their predecessors put together As for his Majesties absence from Parliament by the pernicious advise of Evill Counsellors so Object ●uch insisted on by Malignants I answer 1. That it was without any just cause given by the Parliament Secondly It was much Answ ●gainst their wills who have a See their Messages and petitions to the king to this purpose oft importuned petitioned and used all possible meanes to procure ●is returne 3. His absence was procured and is yet continued by those alone who most unjustly ●axe the Parliament for it and would take advantage of this their owne wrong Fourthly though ●e be personally absent as a man yet he is still Legally present in Parliament called the kings pre●ence as he is a king as he is in al other his Courts of Iustice where all proceedings are entred b See Camdens Brit. p. 163. which stiles the Parliament the kings presence The Register of Writs Old New Natura Brevium old and new book of Entries Cookes Institures on Littleton f. 71. 6 Co●am Rege though the king never yet sate personally in either of them as he hath oft times done in his Parliament for the continuance whereof he hath passed such an Act as will inseperably tye his ●oyall presence to it though his Cavaliers about him should by force withdraw his person from it ●ot onely as farre as Yorke but the remotest Indies yea he must first cease to be king of England ere ●e can be legally absent from his Parliament of England This his wilfull personall absence from ●is greatest Counsell which desires and needes it is as many conceive an Act of the highest in justice ●hat ever any Prince could offer to his Parliament worse then a ● King 12. 2 Chron. 18. Reh●boams forsaking the counsell ●f his ancient Sages to follow the hare braind advise of his young Cavaleers for though he follow●d not their ancient prudent counsell yet he withdrew not himselfe from them as his Majestie ●oth now sever himselfe from his Parliament not onely without but against all prefidents of his ●oyall predecessors except king b Richard the second who once absented himselfe from his Parlia●ent above 40. dayes yet then returned to it upon better advise and the very common custome and ●aw of the Land which he is obliged by his Coronation oath and many late protestations added ●o it constantly to maintaine This appeares most clearely by the ancient Treatise of the man●er of holding of Parliaments in England both before and since the conquest * See Minshes Dictionary Title Parliament f. 526. tende●ed to and ap●roved by the Conquerone himselfe newly printed 1641 which in the Section touching the kings ●bsence from Parliament resolves thus The king is BOVND by all meanes possible TO BE PRESENT AT THE PARLIAMENT unlesse he be detained or let therefrom by bodily ●icknesse and then he may keepe his chamber yet so as he lye not without the Manour or Towne ●t the least where the Parliament is held and then he ought to send for 12. persons of the grea●est t Grafton p. 348. 349. 350. and best of them that are sommoned to the Parliament that is 2. Bishops 2. Earles 2 Ba●ons 2. Knights of the shire 2 Burgesses and 2. Citizens to looke upon his person to testifie and ●itnesse his estate and give A uthority to the Arch-bishop of the place the Steward of England ●nd chiefe justice that they joyntly and severally should begin the Parliament and continue the same ●● his name expresse mention being made in that commission of the * Note this cause of his absence there ●hich ought to suffice The reason is because there was wont to be a cry and murmure in the Par●iament for the kings absence because his absence is hurtfull and dangerous to the whole commo●alty of the Parliament neither indeede OVGHT OR MAY HE BE ABSENT BUT ONE●Y IN THE CASE AFORESAYD And whereas Malignants clamour that most of the ●ords are absent as well as the king and therefore this can be no lawfull Parliament The same ●uthor will in forme them that if the Lords be once sommoned to Parliament and then appeare ●ot or absent themselves the king may hold the Parliament with the commonalty and commons ●f the kingdome every of which hath a greater voyce in Parliament then the greatest Earle in Eng●●nd because he represents a whole county towne or city the other himselfe alone without Bishops ●arles or Barons because in times past before there was either Bishop Earle or Baron yet even ●hen kings kept their Parliaments but on the contrary no Parliament can be kept by the king and ●eeres if all the Commons for the kings misgovernment or such like cause should absent them●●lves This is the judgement of r In Holinsheads Chronicle of Ireland f. 127. 128. Master John Vowel too who writes in this manner Yet ne●●rthelesse if the king in due order have sommones all his Lords and Barons and they will not come or if they come they will not yet appeare or if they come and appeare yet will not doe or yeeld ●● any thing then the king with the consent of his Commons may ordain establish any acts or Lawe● which are as good sufficient and effectuall as if the Lords had given their consents But on th● contrary if the Commons be sommoned and will not come or comming will not appeare or appe●ring will not consent to doe any thing alleaging some just weighty and great cause the King in thes● cases d Cromptons Iurisdiction of Courts f. 8. 4. H. 7. 18. 7. H. 7. 14. 11. H. 7. 27. Parliament

a Seneca de Cleme●●●a l. 1. as may winne their hearts and affections and not to straine their pretended Prerogatives beyond the bounds of Law this being a most certaine experimented rule which b Polit. l. 5. c. 10 11. p 367 368 See Polybius Hist l. 6. Aristotle the Prince of Politicians gives That there are two intestine causes most perilous and frequent of all others by which a kingdome is usually lost and subverted The first is if the Nobles and people dissent from the King himselfe The second if Kings will Reigne tyrannically and usurpe a greater domination or prerogative then the Lawes of their kingdomes give them Then he addes Verily a kingdome is preserved by contrary remedies specially by a moderate kinde and temperate forme of Government For by how much the c Deut. 17. 19 20. See Prov. 16. 12. c. 20. 28 c. 29. 4. 14. c. 25. 5. more moderate the King shall be and contented with smaller and fewer prerogatives by so much the more constant and longer-lasting shall his kingdome necessarily be For by this meanes it recedes farther from the domination of Tyrants and it comes nearer to the equability of manners and humanity of life and is lesse envyed by their Subjects which he proves by the notable speech and example of King Theopompus And indeed this is the principall policy which God himselfe hath prescribed a King to prolong his dayes in his kingdome he and his children after him to keepe all the words of this Law and those Statutes to doe them that ●s to governe himselfe and his Subjects onely by Law not power to doe justice and judgement avoid oppression and not to liftup his heart above his brethren as if they were his vassals and no● men or Christians of the same kinde and quality as himselfe is Wherefore I shall close up this with old Bractons resolution d Lib. 3. c. 9. f. 107. Fleta lib. 1. c. 17. Potestas itaque Regis juris est non injuriae Exercere igitur debet Rex potestatem Juris ●icut Dei vicarius Minister in terra quia illa potestas SOLIUS Dei est potestas autem injuriae Diaboli non Dei cujus horum operum fecerit Rex ejus Minister erit cujus opera fecerit Igitur dum facit justitiam vicarius est Regis aeterni minister autem Diaboli dum declinat ad injuriam * See Leges Edwardi Confessoris cap. 17. in Lambards Archaion f. 130. accordingly Dicitur enim Rex a bene regendo non a regnando quia Rex est dum bene regit Tyrannus dum populum sibi creditum violenta opprimit dominatione Temperet igitur potentiam suam per legem quae fraenum est potentiae quod secundum leges viva● quia hoc sanxit Lex humana quod leges suum ligent latore● alibi in eadem digna ●ox Majestate regnan●●s est legibus alligatum se Principem profiteri Item nihil t●m proprium est imperii quam legibus vivere Et majus imperio est legibus submittere Principatum merito debet retribuere legi quia Lex tribuit ei facit enim Lex quod ipse sit Rex Item cum non semper oporteat Regem esse arma●um armis sed legibus addiscat Rex sapientiam conservet justitiam All which is notably seconded by Judge Fortescue De Laudibus Legum Angliae c. 9. to 15. worthy any Princes serious perusall And thus doing neither he nor his Posterity need ●eare this Supreame Prerogative Power of Parliaments which hath ●aine dead and buryed for many ages Et pereat positum rubigine telum 11. All Papists e See p 2 3. the Authours there quoted Bishop Jewels View of a seditious Bull and of the Popes Supremacy Cassanaeus Catagloria mundi part 4. attribute farre more divine authority and Soveraigne Jurisdiction over Emperours Kings Princes Kingdomes Subjects to the Pope their Lord and God whom they make the Supreame Monarch of the World and all kingdomes in it and give him greater Authority to summon ratify and dissolve generall Councels then ever any Christian King or Emperour challenged or usurped yet those who maintaine these Paradoxes of the Popes Supremacy confesse f See John Whites Way sect 36. n. 30. 34 35. p. 102. 104 105. Surius Tom. 3. 4. that a generall Councell is above the Pope and may upon just cause not onely convent and censure him for his misdemeanours but likewise actually depose him and set up another in his stead as the Councels of Pisa Constans Basil which deposed foure Popes namely Gregory the 12. Benedict the 13. John the 23. and Eugenius the fourth the Councell of Chalcedon against Pope Leo the Councell of Sinuessa against Pope Marcellinus the sixth seventh and eighth generall Councels against Honorius the Councels of q Wormes and Brixia against Hildebrand the Councell of Pisa summond 1511. of purpose to depose Pope Julius for his perjury h See John Whites Way sect 36. n. 30 p. 102 and n. 34 35. p. 104 105. sundry Popish Writers acknowledge Now the Councell of Basil as I shewed * See p. 4. before defined That the whole Kingdome and Parliament hath as great a power over their Kings as a Councell hath over the Pope therefore by Papists verdicts it is above the King in point of Soveraigne power as a Councell is above the Pope which John Mariana De Rege Regis Instit lib. 1. c 3. to 10. professedly proves at large 12. That Court which may lawfully coniure question depose banish execute the Kings greatest Favorites Officers Judges yea Lord Protectors themselves the highest Peeres of the Realme notwithstanding such are said to be i Psal 82. 1 2. Exod. 22. 2● John 10. 34. Gods k Rom. 13. 1 2 3 4. Ordained of God Gods Ministers To l Prov. 8. 15. decree Judgement g Fox Acts Monuments vol. 1. p 231. 235. 879 to 890. 962. by God to be the higher powers c. in Scripture as well as Kings and that not onely with but against the Kings Good will must questionlesse be the highest power and Jurisdiction in the Realme else the King and their Authority might protect them against its Justice But the Parliament may lawfully censure question depose banish execute all or any of these not onely without but against the Kings consent witnesse the proceedings in Parliament against m Hoveden p. 702 703. 705 706. with Speed Holinshed Grafton Stow Matthew Paris Polychronicon Fabian William Longchamp Bishop of Ely Chiefe Justicia● Lord Chancellor and Vice-roy of England in Richard the first his Reigne during his absence in the Holy Land from which Offices he was by the Peeres and Commons deposed for his misd●meanours and oppressions n Walsingh Speed Holinsh Fabian in Edw. 2. Froyssards Chron. part 1. c. 12 13. Piers Gaveston and the two Hugh Spensers in Edward the seconds Reig●e oft banished

the Crowne of England ● the next and onely heire of the blood Royall to whom of right it descended which Dolman the Priest and so● Jesuites opposed in Printed seditious Bookes So the z ● Mariae Parl. 2. c. 2. Articles of Queene Maries marriage with K● Philip were limited appointed and ratified by Parliament And the Imperiall Ecclesiasticall Ju●diction usurped by the Pope and Prelates hath likewise by a 25 H. 8. c. 19. 21. 26 H. 8 c. 1. 3. 27 H. 8. c. 10. 28 H. 8. c. p. 16. 32 H. 8. c. 22. 24. 29. 31 H. 8. c. 10. 14. 3● H. 8. c. 29. 34 35 H. 8. c. 17. 19. 35 H. 8. c. 1. 3. 1 Eli. c. 1. 1 E. 6. c. 2. 1 Mariae c. 1. Parl. 2. c. 1. 8 El. c. 1. sund●y Statutes beene restored and united to ●● Crowne and the Title of Supreame head and Supreame Governour in all causes and over all persons Spiri● all Ecclesiasticall and Temporall seiled upon our Kings and Queenes Who during their minori●ies have ●● Guardians and Protectors appointed to them by b Walsingham Hist Angl. H. 5. p. 458. Speed p. 1 108. 28 H. 8. c. 7. 17. 1 E. 6. c. 11. Hals Chronicle 1 H. 6 Parliament to summen Parliaments assent to ●ils and ex●cute all royall Jurisdiction in their names and steads And a● the Title and Right to the Crowne of Englan● and the Jurisdiction thereof hath thus from time to time beene decided and setled in and by our Parli●ments so hath the Title and Jurisdiction of the Crowne of Scotland beene c Hist Angl. p 16. to 26. 31. to 33 42. 46. to 56. See Holin Grafton Stow Speed in the life of Edward the first ●podigma Neust p. 72. to 96. frequently discussed a● setled in our Parliaments upon appeales made to them by the Kings of Scotland and their Corrivals to that Crow●● Witnesse the famous case and competition for that Crown long agitated and resolved in Parliament betweene ●● King of Norway Bailliol and Bruce to omit others in the Reigne of King Edward the first And ●●● King Edwards title to the Crowne of Scotland declared and resolved by our Parliament here All which ●● Recorded at large by Thomas Walsing●am in the life of King Edward the first and in the Parliame●● Rols and Pleas of his Raigne with d 1 Jac. 1. sundry other instances of this nature frequent in our Historian ● wh●ch for brevity I pretermit It is a e 35 H. 8 c 1 cleare case without dispute that if the King should dye without any Heire the Crowne wou● ofcheate to the whole Kingdome and Parliament who might dispose of it in such a case to what pers●● they pleased or quite change that forme of government if they saw good cause no particular kin● of rule being so simply necessary by any divine right or Law to any state or Kingdome but that as it was ● first instituted so it may in such a case be changed by the whole Kingdomes generall consent upon suff●cient grounds This appeares by the case of * Elondus Decad 2. l. 2. Regin l. 2. An. 800 Bi●●op Bilson of Christ an Su●jection c. part 3. p. 423. Charles the grosse who being deposed from the Empire a●● his Kingdomes for a mad man and dying without any Heire the Kingdomes which before were subject ●● him Destitute of a right Heire began to fall in sunder on every side and to choose Kings of themselves of an●ther Family France elected Charles a childe sirnamed Simple for their King and after his simplic●ty displeased them they Crowned Otho Sonne of Robert Duke of Saxony in his place At the same tim● the people of Italy meaning to have a King of their owne could not agree on the matter but some cho● Beringarius others Guido and so had two Kings in Italy both calling and bearing themselves as Emp●rours And the Germanes elected Arnolph Duke of Bavaria for their Emperour Thus * Zonas Annal. Tom. 3. f. 1 26. Grimstons Imperiall History p. 303. Zeno the Emperour dying without any Heire that might succeed him Anastasiu● a man of great reputation yet of no No●● Family was chosen his Successor by the Senate and Legions The like we read of divers other Emperou● de●easing without Heire of some of our Saxon and British Kings before the Conquest and of othe● in other Kingdomes where the Crowne hath beene translated from one family to another by the Kingdomes consent for want of Heires Yea Bishop Bilson 1 The true difference betweene Christian Subjectio● and unchristian Rebellion part 3. p. 418. to 422. himselfe though a great Royalist po●●tively affirmes That if a King or right H●ire to any Crowne be borne or becomes a naturall Foole or star●mad or run besides himselfe so that he is not able to governe himselfe much lesse his Realme in these ●● cases ANY REALME BY PUBLICKE CONSENT and ADVICE MA● CHUSE ANOTHER KING for what should he doe with a royall Office or by what d●vine or humane right can he enjoy a Crowne who is utterly unable to manage it Upon this groun● 2 See the generall History of France in his life Sabellicus Ennead 8. l. 8. ● 245 N●ucl●rus vol. 3. gen 20. Blondus Decad. 1. l. ●● Aventinus l. 3. p. 293. to 300. Gaguinus l. 3. in Carolo. M●rt Herman Sche●● Chron. Aetas 6 f. 185. King Childericke was deposed by his French and German Subjects generall consents because he was ● ●e a Sot a Beast unable to governe his Kingdome and Pepin of another race elected and crowned King in ●stead which act by Pope Zacharies resolution was adjudged both just and lawfull even in point of ●science before it was put in execution So 3 Go●fredus Viterbiensis Chro. pars ●● col 468 Regino l. 3. An. 887. H. Mutius Germ. Chr. l. 12 Grimstons Imperial History p. 404. Charles the third the last Emperour of Pipins race ●● deposed from the Empire by the Princes Dukes and Governours of the Provinces of Germany and ●●ce for that he became foolish and unfit to governe being bereaved of his senses and by common consent ●●olph was elected Emperour in his stead Thus 4 Euagrius Eccl. hist l. 5. c. 11. 13 Zonaras Annal. Tom. 3. f. 150 151. Eutropius l 16. p. 211. Justinus the second falling into a frensie and madnesse ●hat he had no sense nor understanding of any thing that was done was removed and Tiberius placed ●he Empire at his Coronation Justinus used this notable speech Let not the glory of these Imperiall ●●es leade thee into errour neither be thou de ceived with the glorious shew of such things as are subject unto the ●●s wherewith I my selfe now al●s being snared have brought my selfe foolishly into grievous torments ●refore in governing the Empire with great moderation and mildnesse of spirit redresse what is amisse and cor● what I have leudly committed And pointing at his ill Counsellours with

The Treachery and Disloyalty of Papists to their Soveraignes both in Doctrine and Practise WHen I seriously consider the memorable Preamble of 3 Jac. ch 4. That it is found by daily experience that many of his Majesties Subjects who adhere in their hearts to the Popish Religion by the infection drawne from thence and by the wicked and divellish counsell of Jesuites Seminaries and other persons dangerous to the Church and State are so farre perverted in the point of their loyalties and due obedience unto the Kings Majesty and the Crowne of England as they are ready to entertaine and execute any Treasonable Conspiracies and Practises as evidently appeares by that more then barbarous and horrible attempt to have blowne up with Gunpowder the King Queene Prince ●ords and Commons in the House of Parliament assembled tending to the utter subversion of the whole State lately ●dertaken by the instigation of Jesuites and Seminaries and in advancement of their Religion by their Schollars ●ught and instructed by them for that purpose With the Statutes of 35. Eliz. ch 2. and 3 Jacobi ch 5. which ●●act That all Popish Recusants shall be restrained to some certaine places of abode and confined to their private ●uses in the Country and not at any time after to passe or remove above five miles from thence under paine of forfeiting ●● their Lands Goods and Chattels during life That none of them shall remaine within ten miles of the City of ●ondon nor come into the Court or house where his Majesty or Heire apparent to th● Crowne of England shall be nor ●ave in their owne houses or in the hands or possession of any other at their disposition any Armour Gunpowder or Mu●tion of what kind soever And all this for the better discovering and avoiding of such Trayterous and most dan●rous Conspiracies Treaso●● Practises and attempts as are daily devised and practised against our most gracious ●overaignes Person and ●●● Commonweale by rebellious and trayterous Papists And when I read in * Dated January 10. 1606. and Februa 22. 1603. two of King ●●mes his Proclamations That those adhering to the profession of the Church of Rome are blindly led together ●ith the superstition of their Religion both unto some points of Doctrine which * Note this cannot consist with the loyalty of Sub●cts towards their Prince and oft times unto direct actions of conspiracies and conjurations against the State wherin ●●ey live as hath most notoriously appeared by the late most horrible and almost incredible conjuration grounded up● points of Doctrine in that Church held and maintained and contrived and practised with the privity and warrant of ●any of the principall Priests of that profession to blow up our children and all the three Estates in Parliament assem●ed And when we consider the course and claime of the Sea of Rome we have no reason to imagine that Princes of ●r Religion and profession can expect any assurance long to continue unlesse it might be assented by the meditation of other ●rinces Christian that some good course might be taken by a generall Councell free and lawfully called to plucke up ●ose rootes of dangers and jealousies which arise for cause of Religion as well betweene Princes and Princes as be●eene them and their Subjects and to make it manifest that no State or Potentate either doth or can challenge pow● to dispose of earthly Kingdomes or Monarchies or to dispense with Subjects obedience to their naturall Soveraignes Which was never yet attempted much lesse effected And in the Booke of Thankesgiving appointed for the ●●h of November set forth by King James and the Parliaments speciall direction this observable Prayer ●omewhat altered by the now a Who confesseth Justifieth it in his Speech in Star-chamber June 14. 1637. Arch-prelate of Canterbury in the latter Editions to pleasure his Friends the ●pists To that end strengthen the hand of our gracious King the Nobles and Magistrates of the Land with Judge●ent and Justice to cut off these workers of iniquity the Papists whose R●ligion is rebellion whose faith is facti● whose practise is murthering of Soules and Bodies and to roote them out of he confines of this Kingdome I can●ot but star damazed yea utterly confounded in my selfe at the Impudency and Treachery ofthose pernicious ●ounsellors who in affront of all these Lawes and premises have issued out sundry b See the Parliaments late Declaration Commissions under ●s Majesties hand and seale to divers notorious Papists not onely to furnish themselves with all sorts of ●mes and Munition but likewise to meet together armed and raise Forces in the Field to fight against the ●rliament Kingdome and Protestant Religion even contrary to divers his Majesties late Printed Declara●ns and Protestations to all his loving Subjects advanced them to places of great trust and command in his ●ajesties severall Armies and procured them free accesse unto if not places of trust about his sacred person ● if they were his loyallest Subjects his surest guard as many now boldly stile them and more to be confi●ed in then his best and greatest Councell the Parliament whom they most execrably revile as Rebels ●●d Traytors the more colourably to raise an Army of Papists to cut their throats and the throat of our Pro●stant Religion first as they have already done in Ireland and then last of all his Majesties in case he refuse to become the Popes sworne vassall or alter his Religion which he hath ost protested and we beleeve he will never doe But I desire these ill Counsellours of the worst Edition to informe his Majesty or any rationall creature how it is either probable or possible that an Army of Papists should secure his Majesties person Crowne Dignity or protect the Protestant Religion the Parliament or its priviledges to all which they have shewed themselves most prosessed enemies We all know that Popish Recusants c See King James his Apology against Bellarmin Laurentius Byerlincke Opus Chronogr p. 319. Deus et Rex The Lord William Howards Sonnes late Booke in Defence of Papists taking the Oath of Allegiance obstinately refuse to take the Oath of Supremacy or Allegiance some of them that tooke it having beene excommunicated by their Priests for a reward The● summe of which Oath is * 3 Jac. c. 4. That they doe truely and sincerely acknowledge and professe That the Pope hath ●● authority to depose the King or to dispose of any his Kingdomes or to authorize any foraine Prince to invade his Countries or to discharge any his Subjects from their Allegiance to his Majesty or to license any of them to beare armes o● raise tumults against him or to offer any violence or hurt to his royall Person Government Subjects That notwithstanding any Declaration Excommunication or deprivation made or granted by the Pope or any Authority derived from him against the King his Heires and Successors or any absolution from their obedience they will beare● faith

and true allegiance to them and them protect to the uttermost of their power against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoever against their Persons Crowne and Dignity by reason of any such sentence or Declaration or otherwise And that they doe from their hearts abhorre detest and abjure as impi●us and hereticall this damnable● Doctrine and position prosessedly maintained by English Papists else why should the Parliament prescribe and they absolutely refuse to take this Oath that Princes excommunicated or deprived by the Pope may be deposed or murdered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever Willthose then who refuse to take this Oath or abjure this King deposing King-killing Doctrine harbouring a Seminary Priest in their Tents and a Pope in their hearts prove a faithfull guard to his Majesties Person Crowne or Kingdomes Will those who so o●● conspired the death and attempted the murthers of Queene Elizabeth and King James onely because they were Protestants and Defenders of the Protestant Faith now cordially protect and assist King Charles without attempting any thing against his Crowne or Person who hath lately made and published so many Protestations and Declarations that he will never embrace nor countenance Popery but most resolutely Defend and Advance the Protestant Religion and makes this one principall motive how truely he taketh Heaven and Earth to witnesse of his present taking up of Armes Will they thinke you spend their lives for King and Parliament who but few yeares since lost their lives for attempting by a traine of Gunpowder to blow up both King and Parliament Will those secure his Majesty in his Throne now he is actually King of England who would have murthered him in his Cradle ere he was Prince to forestall him of the Crowne of England ca●● those prove really loyall to his Majesty and his Royall Posterity who would have blowne up him and all royall House at once even long before he had posterity In a word if ancient presidents will not convince us are those who for d See Dr. Jones his Booke of Examinations two yeares last past or more have beene labouring with might and maine to uncrowne his Majesty and utterly extirpate the Protestant Religion by horrid conspiracies and force of Armes in Ireland and are now there acting the last Scene of this most barbarous bloudy Tragedy now likely to spend their dearest blood in fighting for the preservation of his Majesties Crowne and the Protestant cause in England if thi● onely be the reall quarrell as is specioully pretended Or will any of that Religion who within these thre● yeares have by force of Armes both in Catalonia Portugall and elsewhere revolted from and cast off thei● allegiance to their owne most Catholicke King to setup others of the same Religion in his Tribunall put t●● their helping hands to establish his Majesty the most Protestant King in his regall Throne admit it were really not fictitiously indangered to be shaken Certainely if the ground of this unnaturall warre be such a● these ill Consellors pretend they would never be so farre besotted as to make choyce of such unfitting Champions as Papists for such a designe who are very well knowne to be the greatest enemies and malignants o● all others both to King Kingdome Religion and Parliament whose joynt destructions what ever thes● ill Counsellors pretend is questionlesse the onely thing really intended by the Popish party in this warre a● the proceedings in Ireland the introducing of soraine the raising of domesticke popish Forces the disarmin● of Protestants and Arming Papists with their Harnesse clearely demonstrate to all whom prejudice hath no● blinded Now that I may evidence to these pernicious Counsellours and all the world how dangerous and unsa●● it is for his Majesty and the Kingdome to put Armes into Papists hands and make use of them to protect th● Kings Person or Crown I shall desire them to take notice both of the Papists traiterous Doctrine and Practise in these three particulars they maintaine First That the Pope by a meere divine right is the sole and supreme Monarch of the whole world and all ●●● Kingdomes in it to dispose of them at his pleasure to whom and when he will without giving any account of his actions That all Emperours and Kings are but his vassals deriving and holding their Crownes from him by base u●worthy services worse then villenage that they call and repute them their Popes vassals curs packe asses wi● Bels about their neckes and use them like such if they offend the Pope For full proofe whereof out of their ow● Authors and practise I shall referre them to Doctor e Dedicated to King Iames printed at London 1621. Richard Crakenthorps Booke Of the Popes Tempore● Monarchy chap. 1. p. 1. to 27. worthy any mans reading to John Bodins Commonwealth Lib. 1. cap. 9. a●● Doctor John Whites Defence of the way to the true Church chap. 10. p. 43. Secondly That the Pope alone without a Councell may lawfully excommunicate censure depose both Emperours Kings and Princes and dispose of their Crownes and Kingdomes unto others That it is meet and necessary hee should ●xcommunicate and deprive all Kings who are either Heretickes or Apostates as they repute all Protestant Princes ●●r oppressers of the Common wealth That as soone as such Princes are actually excommunicated or notoriously knowne to ●●e Heretickes or Apostates their Subjects are ipso fact● absolved from their government and Oathes of Allegiance whereby they were bound unto them and may yea ought to take up armes against them to deprive them of their kingdomes Thirdly That such tyranicall and oppressing Kings may be killed poysoned or slaine by open force of Armes not onely lawfully but with glory and commendations That this is to be executed by Catholikes and that it is not onely an heroi●all but meritorious act worthy the highest Encomiums These two last pro positions you may read abundantly proved by the words of Popish writers and 40. examples of several Emperours Kings and Princes which Popes Papists have excommunicated deprived violent●y assaulted and murthered in e Dedicated to King Iames and printed at London 1624. Doctor John Whites defence of the way to the true Church chap. 6. pag. 14. to 22. and chap. 10. pag. 43. 44. in his Sermon at Pauls Crosse March 24. 1615. pag. 11. 12. in Bishop Bilsons true difference of Christian Subjection and unchristian rebellion part 3 throughout Aphorismi doctrinae Jesuitarum King James his Apologie against Bellarmine with his Answer to Cardinall Perron and sundry printed Sermons preached on the fist of November to which I shall referre the Reader What security or protection then of his Majesties royall Person Crowne or Kingdomes can now be expected from our Popish Recusants infected with these traytorous Principles and branded with so many ancient moderne nay present treasons and Rebellions against their Soveraignes let the world and all wise men seriously judge What faire quarter and brotherly assistance the

which these Acts disable the King who is so farre inferior to the Law that he cannot so much as delay the smallest proceedings of it in any Court or Session by his supreame power by any meanes whatsoever to effect in his meanest Courts much lesse then in the greatest from whence the subvertion of Lawes Libertie Iustice and the whole Realme would ensue If any therefore cavill at the All for the continuance of this Parliament till both houses shall agree to adjourne or dissolve it or at the Bill for Trienniall Parliaments which when they meete shall not be dissolved without their consents for 40. dayes space next after their first meeting Let them now learne that this is no Innovation nor encroachment on the Crowne but an ancient Priviledge of Parliament both claimed practised and resolved in times of Popery in an higher degree then now it is And thus you see how in these particulars the Popish Parliaments Prelates Lords and Commons in former times have claimed and exercised far greater Priviledges and Iurisdictions then this or any other P●orestant Parliament hath hitherto claimed or practised which I hope will for ever silence the clamourous tongues of all ill Counsellors Courtiers Royalists Malignants Papists and Cavaliers against the present Parliament of whose highest ye● moderate proceed●ngs themselves alone have beene the occasions and therefore of all others have least cause to complaine against them But to returne againe to the first grand Objection Thirdly I answer that the High Court of Parliament and whole kingdome which it represents may in divers respects be truely and properly 3. The Parliament and kingdome proved to be above the king sayd to be the Highest Soveraigne power of all others and above the King himselfe which because it may ●eeme a dangerous paradox and tends much to the vindication both of the Priviledges Honour and ●urisdictions of our High Court of Parliament now so much undervalued because not really knowne to most and to the justification of the proceedings in this present Parliament which many out of ignorance and malice so much declaime against both by Word and writing in a most licentious manner I shall take a little liberty to demonstrate the truth of it by such convincing reasons of Authorities as no rationall man I hope shall be able to contradict but must necessarily submit to First it is undeniable that See Cromptons jurisdiction of Courts Title Parliament Brooke Title Parliament Holinsh Description of England c. 8. p. 173. Chron. of Ireland p. 120 to 130. Sir Th. Smiths Cōmon-wealth of England l. 2. c. 1. 2. 3. Cowel and Minshew Tit. Parliament Camdens Brit. p. 177. the Court of Parliament hath a lawfull power to question all the Kings Pa●ents Charters Commissions Proclamations Grants Warrants Writs and Commitments whatsoever whether they be Legall yea to cancell or repeale them in case they be illegall mischeivous or onerous to the Subject not onely without but against the Kings consent and mandate to the contrary as appeares by infinite presidents in this and all former Parliaments the scourges of Monopolists Patentees and Projectors the Pests of the Commonwealth The like power have all other Courts of Iustice within the Kingdome in some degree when such Charters and Writs of the King are brought judicially before them because they are Courts of the Law to which the King and all his Actions are and must be subject Now that which can thus question cancell disanull revoke the Kings owne royall Charters Writs Commissions Patents c. though ratified with the great seale and regall power even against his will must certainely be a Soveraigne power and Authority which in point of Law and Iustice is fu●eriour to the King This is Bractons resolution l. 2. c. 16. f 34 a and Fletaes l. 1. c. 17. Where ●hey affirme the Law and Parliament to be above the King because they may censure judge and rescinde the Kings Acts and Charters legally and judicially even against his personall though not legall Will which ●s the Law Secondly It is unquestionably true that in all cases of difference betweene the King and all or any of his Subjects though they concerne the Kings Prerogative and the highest branches thereof the Parliament is the supremest and most proper judge and its resolution from which there is no appeale ●o any higher tribunall shall finally binde not onely all the subjects but the King himselfe notwithstanding his owne personall disassent This is manifest by the many late resolutions given in Parliament against sundry Patents Commissions Writs Charters Impositions Loanes Shipmoney i See 21. Iacob c. 3. Co. l. 8. f. 125. to 130. l. 10. f. 113. l. 11. f. 84. to 89. Fitz Brooke and Ash Tit. Charters Grant le Roy Comissions Habeas Corpus Bayle and the Iudges arguments against Ship-money Forrest-Bounds Marshall Law Pressing and ●illetting souldiers Imprisonment by speciall Command of the King or his Privie Counsell Tonnage and Poundage Knighthood and Taxes The Commission of Array and ●he like which obliege both King and Subject the King in receiving justice in such cases being subject ●o the Law as well as the meanest of his subjects as k Rex in justitia re● pienda minimo de ●egno suo comparatur minimus esse debet vel qua●i in judicio suscipiendo Bracton l. 1. c. 8. f. 5. b. l. 3 c 9. f. 107. Bracton truely avers against all Royalists mistakes Now that which can thus finally conclude and binde the King himselfe even volens nolens ●n cases of highest concernment entrenching farthest upon his Prerogative Royall must doubtlesse ●e the most Soveraigne power Superiour to the Kings And in this sence every Court of Justice whose just resolutions and every petty Jury whose upright verdicts obliege the King because war●anted by the Law which is paramont the King as Bracton m Lib. 1. c. 5. 17. Fleta n Cap. 9. to 15. Fortescus o Speech in Parliament 1609 King Iames p In his ●awes in Fox Acts Mon. Edit vol 1. p. 214. Edward the Conf●ssor yea and q Aristotle resolve may be truely sayd to be above the Kings ●erson which they binde but not above the Parliament which by its suparlative power may examine ●ll ſ 1 H. 7. 1. Br. parliament 92. Ash tab 65. 67. judgements and verdicts in other Courts by way of error or appeale and reverse them if there be ●●use when as the King in person cannot by law examine or reverse them but onely in his Courts ●f Iustice by his Iudges Thirdly Parliaments oft times doe and may as they see cause enlarge the Kings Prerogative and Royall ●ower in sundry particulars in which the King had no such jurisdiction before these Acts witnesse the ●tatute de Praerogativa Regis 25. H. 8. c. 19. 20 21. 26. H. 8. c. 1. 3. 31. H. 8. c. 8. 9. 34. 35. H. ● c. 23. 27 H. 8. c. 15. 28. H. 8. c.

2. c. 16. f. 24. That a King is created and elected by whom but by his kingdome to this purpose to doe justice unto all That a king cannot doe any thing else in earth seeing be is Gods Minister and Vicar ni●●id solum quod de jure a Luk. 2. 22. 23. 24. ●otest but that onely which he can doe by Law That God the Law and his Court to wit the Earles ●nd Barons in Parliament are above the King and ought to bridle him and are thence called c Comites vi● quia a Comitatu ●ive a societate nomen sumpserunt qui etiam dic● possunt Consules a consulendo Reges enim tales si●● associant ad consulendum regendum populum Dei. ordina●tes eos in magna potestate honore nomine c. Idem l. ● c. 8. f. 5. 6. Co●ites because they are the Kings Companions Fleta an Ancient Law-booke written in King Edward ●he third his raigne lib. 3. c. 3. and 17. useth the selfe same words that Bracton doth and concludes ●hat the King hath a Superior to wit God and the Law by which be is made a Ki●g and his Court of Earles ●nd Barons to wit the Parliament d De Laudibus Legum Argliae c. 9. to 15. Fortescue a great Lawyer Chauncellor to King Henry the 6. ●roves at large That the King is not above but under the Law that be cannot alter the Law of Ergland ●or ●ay any Taxes at all on his Subiects but by Parliament That all lawfull Kings and Kingdomes were at ●●rst created and erected onely by the unanimous free assent of the people that the kingdome of England is a Po●cie or Aristocraticall mixt Government not an absolute royall Soveraignety That the e Hanc potestatem â pop●lo effluxam ipse habet c. p. 25. King hath his ●●yall power DERIVED TO HIM FROM THE PEOPLE whereby it is unlawfull for him to ●le his people by any other power which he prosecutes in sundry chapters too tedious to transcribe ●nd in one word f Chap. 8. vol. ● pag. 173. Raphael Holinshed Iohn Vowell and others in their Description of England ●rinted Cum Privilegio resolve thus of the Parliaments power This House hath the most high and ●bsolute power of the Realme for thereby kings and mighty Princes have from time to time beene ●eposed from their thrones and Lawes are enacted and abrogated Offenders of all sorts punished and cor●pted Religion either disanulled or reformed It is THE HEAD AND BODY OF ALL THE ●EALME and the place where every particular man is intended to be present if not by himselfe yet by ●s Advocate and Attorney For this cause any thing that is there enacted is not to be withstood but obeyed ●● all men without contradiction or grudge and to be short all that ever the people of Rome might doe ei●●er Centuriatis Comitiis or Tribunitiis the same is and may be done by the Authority of Parliament Now the Romans in their assemblies had power to enact binding Lawes to create and elect ●●eir Kings and Emperours and likewise to judge censure and depose them to create and elect all kindes ●● Officers and to * See Bodine l. 2. c 5. l. ● c. 10 Eutropius and Grimston in the life of Nero Maximinius Heliogabalits and others Livy Rom. Hist l. 1. ●● change the very forme of their State and Government as I shall hereafter manifest Therefore by these Authors resolution the Parliament hath an absolute power to doe the like when ●hey see just cause Sir Thomas Smith one of the Principall Secretaries of State to King Edward the 6. ●nd Queene Elizabeth and a Doctor of Law in his Common-wealth of England l. 2. c. 1. in the old but ●● in the last Edition hath the same words in effect with Holinshead and addes that the Parliament gi●eth forme of Succession to the Crowne c. Our kings royall power being then originally derived to ●hem conferred on them by the peoples and kingdomes common consents in Parliament and all their ●ew additionall Prerogatives too as the premises evidence it cannot be denied but that the whole ●ingdome and Parliament are really in this sence above him and the most Soveraigne prime power ●●om whence all other powers were and are derived See Fortescue c. 9. to 15. Fourthly This is undeniable because the whole kingdome in Parliament may not onely aug●ent but likewise * abridge allay abolish and resume some branches of the Kings royall power and ●●erogative if there be just cause as when it becomes onorous mischievous and dangerous to the Sub●ects inconvenient to or inconsistent with the kingdomes peoples welfare peace safety Liberty or ●he Lawes this is most apparant by Magna Charta Charta de Forresta Statutum de Prerogativa Regis De Tall●gio non-concedendo 1. E. 3. c. 6 7. 2. E. 3. c. 2. 8. 3. E. 1. c. 35. 9. E. 3. c. 12. 5. E 3. c. ● 10. E. 3. c. 2. 3 14. E 3. c. 1. 14. 18. E. 3. c. 8. 25 E. 3. c. 4. Stat. 3. c. 1 2. Stat. 5. c. 8. 11. 36. E. 3 c. 10. ● 7. E. 3. c. 18. 42. E. 3. c. 3. 10. R. 2. c. ● 11. R. 2. c. 1. to 7. 1. R. 3. c. 2. 4. H. 4. c 13. 21. Jac. c. 2. 3. 24. 7. H. 8 c. 3 ●he Petition of Right 3. Caroli most Statuts against Purveyens Pardons Protections the Acts made this Parliament against Ship-money Knight-hood Forrest-bounds Pressing of Souldiers the Star-Chamber High-Commission the Trienniall Parliament the Continuance of this Parliament whiles they please with g See the Arguments against Ship-money and Impositions and the Declarations against the Commission of Aray sun●ry other Acts which restraine abridge repeale and resume divers reall and pretended branches of the ●ings royall Prerogative because they proved grievous and mischievous to the people and dangeous and pernicious to the kingdome This then answers that irrationall groundlesse position of Doctor Ferne That h Resolving of Conscience Sect 4. 5. the Subjects neither lawfully may nor ought in any case to resume al or any part of that Regall power wherewith they have once invested their Kings by common consent Which as it is contrary ●o that received principle of nature and reason Eodem modo quo quid constituitur dissolvitur That ●ll Governments created by mens consents may be altered diminished or repealed by their consents ●● i See Ioshua Iudges Samuel Kings Chron. Daniel throughout ●saiah Ieremy Ezickiel in sundry chap. sundry Presidents and Prophesies in Scripture concerning the alterations the Subversions and Dimi●utions of kings and kingdomes to the constant practise of k See Sleidan de 4. or Imperiis Mat. West Livy Iustin Opmerus Purchas Chronicon ●hronicorum and all generall Histories all Realmes and States whatsoever from ●dam till this instant who have undergone many strange alteratians eclipses diminutions yea Pe●●ods of Government to the Resolution of l Polit. l.

basenesse for so many and great Peeres to be subject to a woman and that they were free● of their oath by her marying out of the Realme without their consents and Stephen Earle of Mortain● who had no good Title assembling the Bishops and Peeres at London promising to them an amendment of the Lawes according to all their pleasures and liking was by them all proclamed king● whereupon they all to●ke their oathes of Allegiance to him conditionally to obey him as their king so long as he should p●es●rve the Churches Liberties and keepe all Covenants and confirme them with his Charter according to the old proverbe Quamdi● habebis me pro Senatore ●go te pro Imperatore All this the king at his Coronation swore and promised to God the people and Church to performe● And presently after going to Oxford he in pursuance of his oath there sealed his fore promised Charter of many indulg●u● favou●s the summe whereof was this That all Liberties Customes and Possessions granted to the Church should be firme and in force that all bad usages in the lan● touching Forrests exactions and annuall Taxes which his Ancestors usually received should be● e●●rnally abolished the ancient Lawes restored prefacing therein d Assensa Cleri Populi in Reg ●e Angliaeelectus M●lm p. 179. That he obtained the Crown● by election onely Haec ●●tem special●ter ali●●ulta generaliter se servatur●m juravit sed nihil ●onum quae Deo promiser●t observavit writes Mathew Paris Hovenden and Huntingdon Pene omni● perperam mutavit quisi ad hoc tan●um jur●ss●● ●t praevaricatorem Sacramenti se regno toti ostenderet saith Ma●mes●ury * See Speed p. 483. 484. granting those in●●●●●ties rather to blind their eyes than with any purpose to man●cle his o●ne hands with such pa●chment chaines Such faith is to be given to the so●emnest Oathes of kings But this his perj●ry was like to cost him his Crowne his Prelates and Peeres thereupon revolting unto Maude The forme of King Henry the second his Oath I finde not onely I read e Hoveden p. 491. Graft p. 50. that upon his ●oronarion he caused the Lawes t● be reformed by advise of disc●eet men learned in the Law and by his Proclamation commanded that the good Lawes of his grand father Henry should be observed and firmely kept throughout the Realme Whe ●●ore it is probable he tooke the same oath that he did f Mat. Par. p 147. Hoved. p. 657 Wa●si● ●podigma Neustr An. 1189. p. 45. 46. Speed ● ●●● Richard the first succeeding at his Coronation in Westminster Church comming to the High Altar before the Clergie and people tooke this solemne oath upon the Holy Evangelists and many Saints reliques 1. That all the day●s of his li●e he would beare peace honour and reverence to God and h●ly Church and the ordinances thereof Secondly that to the people committed to his charge he would exercise Right Justice and E●uiti● Thirdly that he would abolish naughty Lawes and Customes if any were brought upon his kingdome and would enact good Lawes and the same in good sort keepe and without Mal-engy● Which oath most solemnely taken Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury standing at the Altar forbad him in the name of Almighty God to assume that ●●n●●r VNLESSE HE HAD ● FVLL PVRPOSE TO KEEPE WHAT HE HAD SWORNE Whereunto Richard ASSENTING and promisi●g by Gods helpe to performe all the premises WITH●VT FRAVD With his owne hand humbly taking ●he Imperiall Crowne from the Altar delivered it to the Archbishop who set it on his head g Hoveden p. 793. Mat. Par. p. 189. 190. Speed p. 548. 549 550. See Polydore Virgil Holins King Richard deceasing John his younger Brother to put by Arthur the next heire to the Crowne came ●eedily out of Normandy into England where the great assembly at Northamp●on to preserve their ●ights and Liberties were content to accept of him for their king and yeeld fealty to him to keepe ●ith and Peace to King John upon condition onely if he would restore to every of them their Rights which ●fterwards was the occasion of great dissentions And-comming to London to be crowned Hubert ●rchbishop of Canterbury the Pillar of the Common-wealths stabilitie ●nd incomparable for deepe ●aching wisedome steps forth in the midst of all the Bishops Lords Barons and others there as●mbled at his Coronation and spake thus unto them Heare you all you are in discretion to know ●at no man hath right or any other fore-title to succeede another in a kingdome * A strange Archiepiscopall Doctrin unlesse first with invo●tion for grace and guidance of Gods Spirit he b● BY THE BODY OF THE KINGDOME THEREVNTO CHOSEN and ●e indeede some choyce man and picked out for some ●menencie of ●is vertues according to the example and similitude of Saul the first annointed Ki●g whom God set over ●is people though neither the Sonne of a King nor of any royall discent So after him likewise David ●e son of I●sse the one for bei●g valorous and a person fitting Royall dignity the other for being holy and ●●ble minded To shew that whosoever in a kingdome excelleth all in valour and vertue ought to sur●ount all in Rule and Authority yet so as that if any of the Of spring of a deceased King surp●sseth o●ers it is fit joyntly to consent in election of such a one This therefore we have spoken in favour of eminent ●arle John who is present the brother of our most illustrious King Richard ●ow dece●sed wanting ●● heire of his body who being provident valiant and truely noble we havi●g invocated the grace of the ●oly Spirit have all unanimo●sly ELECTED as well in regard of his Merits as of his royal Blood Neither durst any doubt or demurre on these things knowing that the Archbishop had not thus de●ned without cause Wherefore Earle John and all men approving this speech they ELECTED ●nd ASSVMFD the Earle for their king and cryed out saying Let the King live But the Arch●ishop being afterwards demaunded why he had spoken these things answered that he was assured ●● some divining foresight that king John would worke the ruine of the kingdome corrupt the Crowne ●nd precipitate it into great confusion And that he might not have the reines free to doe this he OVGHT TO BE CHOSEN BY ELECTION NO● BY SUCCESSION King John at this ●is Coronation was involved in a threefold Oath namely That he should love holy Church and its Mi●isters and preserve it harmelesse from the in●ursion of Malignants That abolishing perverse Lawes be ●ould substitute good ones and exercise Right Iudgement in the Kingdome of England After which he ●as adjured by the Archbishop in the behalfe of God and strictly prohibited not to presume to accept this ●onour unlesse he fully purposed in his minde actually to fulfill what he had sworne To which he answe●ng promised that by Gods assistance he would bona ●ide keepe those things which he

belongeth to a King for hasty rashnesse bringeth all things to ruine according to the saying of th● Gospell Every Kingdome divided in it selfe shall be brought to desolation Master o Vol. 1. p. 214. Fox informes us that William the Conquerour through the peoples clamour promised to confirme this King Edwards Lawes but the most part of them he omitted contrary to his Oath at his Coronation Indeede I finde not that the Conqueror tooke this Oath when he was crowned but I reade in * History p. 440. 441. Speed and others that William the Conquerour abrogating for the most part the ancient Lawes of the Land and introducing ne● hard Lawes of his owne written in the Norman tongue which the people understood not and th● Iudges wrested at their pleasures to the forfeiture of Goods Lands Life hereupon the Nobility and Natives seeking to cast off these snares and fetters of his Lawes set up Edgar Athelin for the● Generall once againe and ●ell into a new conspiracie raising great forces and resolving to make th● sword their Iudge The King hereupon by Lanfrankes advise who as Re●oboams sages gave him counsell somewhat to beare with their abuses rather then to hazard the ruine of all in fight appointed a meeting at Berkham●teed Anno 1172. where the King entring parly with the English Nobility did so farre winde himselfe into their good opinions that they all forthwith layd downe their weapons And he for his part fearing to lose the Crowne with shame which he had gotten with effusion ●f so much blood gave his Oath upon the holy Evangelists and the reliques of Saint Albane the Martyr the same being ministred to him by Abbot Fredericke swearing to observe and inviolably to ●●epe the ancient Lawes of this Land and most especially those compiled by King Edward the Confessor ●hough as the event soone shewed he little meant to doe as he promised Peace thus established ●is conference ended and the Kings oath received the English Armies disband themselves as drea●ing Note this they had now good fortune by the foote and hoping the greatest stormes of their dangers were ●a●t which presently proved but a vaine surmise For king William having compounded with the ●anes began extreamely to hate the English Nobles and with full resolution of their destruction ●●ddenly set upon them apart which he durst not attempt when they were united so that * See H●ntindon Hist l. 7. p. 369. Mat. Paris Hist p. 6. s●aying ●ny imprisoning others and persecuting all of them with fire and sword well was he that could ●e first ●●ne Such little faith or assurance is there in the solemne Oathes and Protestations of Kings to ●●eir Subjects which are seldome really performed and intended onely as snares to intrap them if ●●ey confide and rely upon them without any better security The forme of the kings Coronation ●er since Edward the a hath beene this and is thus administred p Magna Charta Printed Cum Privilegio London 1558. part 2. f. 16●● Iudamentum Regis quando corona●u● Remonstrance Nov 2. p. 25. to 38. The Metropolitan or Bishop ●●at is to Crowne the King with a meane and distinct voyce shall interrogate him if he will confirme with an ●ath the Lawes and customes granted to the people of England by ancient just and devout kings towards ●od to the samepeople and especially the Lawes and Customes and Liberties granted by glorious King Edward to the Clergie and People And IF HE SHALL PROMISE that he will assent to all these ●et the Metropolitan or Bishop expound to him what things he shall sweare saying thus Thou shalt ●epe to the Church of God to the Clergie and people Peace intirely and concord in God according to thy ●●wer The king shall answer I will keepe it Thou shalt cause to be done in all thy judgements equall ●dright justice and discretion in mercy and verity according to thy power He shall answer I will doe it ●●ou grantest just Lawes and Customes to be kept and thou dost promise that those Lawes shall be protected ●d confirmed by thee to the honour of God QUAS VULGUS ELEGERIT which the people shall ●se according to thy power He shall answer I doe gra●t and promise And there may be added to ●e foresayd Interrogations what other things shall be just All things being pronounced he shall confirme that he will observe all things with an oath upon the Altar presently taken before all There ●ath beene a late unhappie difference raised betweene the q See the Parliaments Remonstrance of the 26. of May. p. 9. His Majesties Answer thereto p. 16. 17. and the Parliaments Reply Nou. 2. p. 2● to 38. king and Parliament about the word ELEGERIT the Parliament affirming the word to signifie shall chuse according to sundry written ●oles and Printed Coppies in Latin and French the King on the contrary affirming it should be ●●th chosen But he that observes the words of the ancient Oathes Populo tibi commisso rectam ●●liciam exercebis malas leges iniquas consuetudines si aliquae fuererint in Regno tuo delebis bonas servabis all in the future tence and the verbes servabis Facies fier● protegendas cor●oborandas in ●e former and same clauses of the Oath now used all of them in the future with the whole Scope ●tent and purport of this part of the Oath must necessarily grant shall chuse to be the true rea●ng and that it referres to the confirmation of * Iudge Huttons Argument against Ship-money p. 32. determines so future Lawes to be afterwards made in Parliament not those onely in being when the Oath was administred else kings should not be obliged by their ●athes to keepe any Lawes made after their Coronations by their owne assents but onely those ●●eir Predecessors assented to not themselves which were most absurd to affirme From these severall Oathes and Passages the usuall forme of the Nobles proclaiming such and ●●ch Kings of England with other r Page 4. ●● forecited Histories it is apparant First that Popish Parliaments Peeres and Subjects have deemed the Crowne of England not meerely successive and he●dita●y though it hath usually gone by descent but arbitray and elective when they saw cause ma● of our kings comming to the Crowne without just hereditarie Title by the Kingdomes Peeres ●d peoples free election onely confirmed by a subsequent Act of Parliament which was then re●●ted a sufficient Right by vertue whereof they then reigned and were obeyed as lawfull kings ●d were then and yet so acknowledged to be their Right by Election of their Subjects being seldome or never adjudged an illegall usurpation in any Parliaments whence the statute of 1 E. 4. c. 1. ● d ● E. 4. ● 2. declare king Henry the 4. 5. and 6. to be successively kings of England indeed and not right yet not usurpers because they came in by Parliament Onely Richard the third who treacherously murthered Edward the 5. his