The Good Old Cause rightly stated and the False un-cased By William Prynne Esq a Bencher of Lincolns-Inne WHen the a wilely Gibeonites attempted to circumvent Iosuah and the Israelites and draw them into a League with them against b Gods express inhibition they accomplished their design with this Stratageme c by carrying along with them old Sacks old rent Wine-bottles old Shoes and Garments and old dry mouldy bread and provisions to the Israelites Camp at Gilgal which they alleged were all new on the day they came forth from their Country but were all becom old by reason of their very far journy which they believing without examination were insnared by them This policy hath for many years past been pursued by Iesuites and other Gibeonites of Rome to circumvent over credulous Protestants to enter into a holy League with them to the shipwrack of their Faith and Souls by crying up their d new Superstitions Relique Errors for the only old Religion and decrying the antient Protestant Religion as a late Novelty first broached by Luther and Calvin Whether this be not the present stratageme of some of their Instruments or Fraternity to engage the Souldiers to joyn in a new confederacy with them to bring our old Religion Government Parliaments Laws Liberties to speedy desolation irrecoverable destruction under the disguise of maintaining the good * old Cause is not unworthy their strictest inquisition most serious consideration which will be evidently demonstrated to them by discovering the only true original Good Old Cause Grounds Ends drawing the Houses of Parliament to raise and continue the Armies under their successive Generals most clearly fully and truly expressed in their own Votes Orders Ordinances Declarations year after year printed at large in two distinct Volums for Edward Husbands 1643. and 1646. by order of the Commons assembled in Parliament which being almost quite forgotten it will be both seasonable and necessary to refresh the memories and awaken the stupid if not seared Consciences of the Nation with a recital of the chiefest of them to countermine the new plots of all seducing Gibeonites The first Original of the unhappy breach between the late King and our long Parliament was (e) his comming personally into the Commons House to demand the five Members 4 Ianuary 1641. whom the day before he had impeached of High Treason and sent a Sergeant at Arms to apprehend This breach of Privilege induced the Houses to require the power of the Militia to be at their disposal for the safeguard of their Persons and Privileges which being denyed by the King who condescended to it very far but not in that latitude as demanded soon after the King departing from the Parliament and setting on foot the Commission of Array for his defence against the Parliament and the Parliament raising the Militia for their safeguard against the King this first engaged them by degrees into a civil bloody war against each other ending in their mutual destruction by the very new Militia they contested for as their only security against each other The sole Cause Grounds Ends of the Parliaments raysing the Militia and after that an Army are thus fully declared by the Lords and Commons in their Prepositions for bringing in Plate and Mony Horse Horse-men and Arms for the defence of the King and both Houses of Parliament printed and published by order of the Lords and Commons 10 Junii 1642. Whereas it appears the King seduced by wicked Counsel intends to make war against his Parl. and in pursuance thereof (f) under pretence of raysing a Guard for his person hath actually begun to levy forces both horse and foot c. so as the orders of Parliament which is the highest Court of Iustice in this Realm are not obeyed and the authority thereof is altogether scorned and vilified and such persons as stand well-affected to it and declare themselves sensible of these publike calamities and of the violations of the privileges of Parliament and common liberty of the Subjects are baffled and injured by several sorts of malignant men who are about the King some whereof under the name of * Cavaliers without having respect to the Laws of the Land or any fear either of God or man are ready to commit all manner of outrage and violence which must needs tend to the dissolution of this Government the destroying of our Religion Laws Liberty and property all which must be exposed to the malice and violence of such desperate persons as must be employed in so horrid and unnatural an act as the overthrowing of a Parliament by force which is the support and preservation of them All which being duly considered by the Lords and Commons how great an obligation lies upon them in honor conscience and duty according to the high trust reposed in them to use all possible means in such case for the timely prevention of so great and irrecoverable evils they have thought fit to publish their sense and apprehension of this imminent danger thereby to excite all well-affected persons to distribute their best assistance according to their Solemn Vow and Protestation to the preparations necessary for the opposing and suppressing of the trayterous Attempts of those wicked and malignant Counsellors who seek to engage the King in so wicked and destructive an Enterprise and to destroy the Privileges and Being of Parliaments 1. They the said Lords and Commons do declare That whosoever shall bring in any proportion of Money or Plate or shall underwrite to furnish or maintain any number of Horse Horsemen or Arms for the preservation of the publick peace and for the defence of the King and both Houses of Parliament from force and Uiolence and to uphold the Power and Privileges of Parliament according to his Protestation it shall be held a good and acceptable Service to the Common-wealth and Testimony of his good affection to the Protestant Religion the Laws Liberties and Peace of this kingdom and to the Parliament and privileges thereof And lastly it is declared That whatsoever is brought in shall not at all be imployed upon any other occasion than to the purposes aforesaid which are To maintain the Protestanâ— Religion the Kings authority and his person in his Royal Dignity the free course of Justice the Laws of the Land the Peace of the Kingdom and the Privileges of Parliament against any force that shall oppose them And this by direction of Both Houses of Parliament Here you have the Good Old Cause truly clearly and fully stated by both Houses of Parliament in every particular branch thereof when they first ingaged themselves all the well-affected people of the Kingdom and Army in it as they published to all the world in these their Propositions Which how diametrically contrary it is in every branch to the misstaken Good Old Cause now cried up and prosecuted with an high hand to the late practises proceedings counsels papers designs
of those who were first raised commissioned by the Parliament for its just defence yet are at last degenerated into the greatest Apostates from and violentest enemies against it their own consciences can best resolve and the blindest eyes most clearly discern These Propositions were seconded with a g Declarâ—tion of the Lords and Commons to the same effect printed and published by their Order 5 Iulii 164â— in pursuance whereof Iuly 12. the Commons House passâ—d and published these Votes * Resolved upon the Question That an Army shall be forthwith raised for the safety of the Kings Person the Defence of Both Houses of Parliament and of those who have obeyed their Orders and commands and preserving of the true Religion the Laws Liberty and Peace of the Kingdom That the Earl of Essex shall be the General That in this Cause for the Safety of the Kings person defence of both Houses of Parliament and of those who have obeyed their Orders and commands and preserving of true Religion the Laws Liberty and Peace of the Kingdom they will live and die with the Earl of Essex whom they have nominated General in this Cause That a Petition should be framed to move his Majesty to a good accord with his Parliament to prevent a civil War Which Petition and Votes were presented to the Lords who returned Answer They did concur with the House of Commons in omnibus After this the Lords and Commons in their h Ordinances of 14 Martii 1642. and 3 August 1643. for the speedy raising and levying money for the maintenance of the Army raised by the Parliament and sundry other Ordinances whiles the Earl of Essex was General did declare That the only Causes for which they have raised and do continue an Army and forces are the necessary defence of the true Protestant Religion of themselves and the Parliament from violence and destruction of this Kingdom from forein Invasion and bringing notorious offendors to condign punishment the preservation of the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom and the Kings person And the i Earl of Essex himself in his Proclamation to prevent plundering the 24. of April 1643. as he stiles himself Captain General of the Army raised and imployed for the defence of the Protestant Religion King Parliament and Kingdom So he declares That this Army is raised for the defence of the King Parliament and Kingdom the preservation of Gods true Religion and the just rights and liberties of the Subjects from violence and oppression The year next following when the Scotish forces were called and brought in for our assistance to joyn with the English Army and Forces the self same Good Old Cause in every branch thereof was avowed and espoused by them and no other as both Houses of Parliament and the Scots themselves declared to all the world in (k) several printed Ordinances Declarations Remonstrances and in the Solemn league and Covenant which the Officers and Souldiers of both Armies as well as Members of the Parliaments of both Kingdoms and all well-affected persons in England Scotland and Ireland generally subcribed in a most chearfull publick and sacred manner yea * Oliver Cromwell himself both as a Member and Lieutenant General being the 40th Member who subscribed it The command of the Parliaments forces and Army being afterwards translated from the Earl of Essâ—x to Sir Thomas Fairfax by an (l) Ordinance of the Lords and â—ommons in Parliament 15 Febr. 1644. for raysing and maintaining the sorces under his command both Houses ordained That there be forthwith raysed and armed for the dâ—fence of the King and Parliament the true Protestant Religion and the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom an Army consisting of 6600 Horse 4000 Dragooners and 14400 Foot under the immediate command of Sir Thomas Fairfax Knight who is hereby constituted Commander in chief of all the forces raysed by this Ordinance and shall from time to time be subject to such Orders and Directions as be shall receive from time to time from both Houses of Parliament or from the Committee of both Kingdoms And it is fuâ—ther provided by this Ordinance that all Commanders and Officers that shall be imployed in this Army and to be approved by both Houses of Parliament and all the common Souldiers of this Aâ—my shall â—ake the National League and Covenant of both Kingdoms within 20 dayes after they be listed in the said Army and that all such who shall refuse the said Solemn League and Covenant shall upon such their refusal be displaced and shall not be admitted into any Office or command in the said Army untill they shall have taken the said Solemn League and Covenant in such form as is there prescribed and such their conformity approved of by both Houses of Parliament In the (m) Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the speedy raysing and impressing of men for the recruiting the forces under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax 27 Febr. 1644. They declared Forasmuch as the true Protestant Religion the Laws and Liberties of the Subject were in danger to be subverted Idolatry and tyranny like to be introduâ—ed by the force power of several armies raysed by pretence of the Kings authority c. Be it therefore ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament That the Committees of the Militia for the City of London the Deputy Lieutenants and Committees of Parliament in every County City or place within the Realm shall from time to time raise leavy and imprest such number of Soldiers Gunners and Chyrurgions for the defence of the King Parliament and Kingdom as shall be appointed by both Houses of Parliament the Committee of both Kingdoms or by Sir Thomas Fairfax The like recitals of this Good Old Cause and ends for which this Army under him and others was raised are used in n other Ordinances If this be not sufficient evidence that Sir Thomas Faiâ—fax and the General Counsel of the Officers and Army under him took up Arms and engaged only for this Good Old Cause and ends and none else thus declared by both Houses of Parliament the very title of their several Remonstrances and Declarations penned by themselves printed by their own order in one Collection London 1647. will resolve the world themselves and all other Souldiers since incorporated into the Aâ—my past all contradiction being thus intituled A Declaraâ—ion of the Engagements Remonstrances Representations Proposals Desires and Resolutions from his Excellency Sir Tho. Faiâ—fax and the General Councel of the Army for setling his Majesty in his â—ust Rights the Parliament in their just Privileges the Subjects in their liberties and freedoms Also Representations of the Grievances of the Kingdom and remedies propounded for removing the present pressures by Taxes and Excises And the resolution of the Army for the establishing of a firm and lasting peace in Church and Kingdom This being the Title sum of all their Engagements
Remonstrances Representations Proposals Râ—solutions it is superfluous to recite all the particular passages in them tending to these ends only it will not be unseasonable to remind them of this one passage in their Declaration of September 9. 1647. concerning the fundamental authority and government of the Kingdom p. 250. Whereas a Member of the General Councel of this Army hath publickly declared and expressed himself That there is no visible authority in the Kingdom but the power force of the Sword the only Good Old Cause now cryed up by some in deeds if not in words we therefore the said General Counsel to testifie how far our hearts and minds are from any design of setting up the power of the sword above or against the authority government of the Kingdom and our readiness to maintain uphold the said Authority have by a free Vote in the said Counsel 〈◊〉 man contradicting judged the said Member to be expelled the said Councel which we hereby thought fit to publish as a clear manifestation of our dislike and disavowing such Principles or practises yet now revived practised This being the right State of the true Good Old Cause only ends for which all the Forces Armies under the forenamed or any other Generals since were first raised Commissioned and hitherto maintained continued at the peoples vast expence as both Houses of Parliament the Kingdoms Parliaments of England Scotland the Generals Officers and General Councils of the Army themselves have thus from time to time remonstrated in print to all the world yea ratified by the Protestation o the sacred Vow and covenant the National League and Covenant with other sacred Oaths and Obligations obliging them faithfully constantly sincerely to defend maintain persevere therein all the dayes of their lives and to promote the same to their power against all Oppositions Lets Impediments whatsoever according to their power without suffering themselves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination perswasion or terror to be divided withdrawn or make defectiâ—n from the same Which Covenants Vows Protestations they professed they all made in the presence of Almighty God the Searcher of all hearts with a true intention to perform the same If there be any other Cause now or lately espoused by any Members of Parliament Officers Soldiers English Scots Irish of what ever condition sect or party inconsistent with or repugnant destructive to this good old Cause or any branch thereof it cannot without an apparent contraction absurdity falshood be stiled either A Good or Old much lesse The Good Old Cause for which the Parliament Army Soldiers kingdom or any others adhering to them first took up arms and so long engaged in but rather a Bad a New unrighteous Cause or Gunpowder-plot originally contrived secretly fomented by Popish Emissaries Iâ—suits their seduced Disciples or a good cause only as War is styled good p Bellum quasi Belluinum or minime Ponum And Old only in these respects if conscientiously examined by any who shall either promote or engage in it Because it proceeds origâ—nally from the q Old Serpent and Dragon the Devil a seducer lyar murderer from the beginning the spirit who r now rules in the Children of Disobedience to engage them in this cause Because it suits with and proceeds issues from the s Old man which is corrupt according to the deceitfull lusts which they have not yet crucified nor put off with his deeds after all their Fastings Humiliations Prayers Because it strongly relisheth of the t Old seven of malice and wickedness which they have not yet purged out that they might be anew sump and is carried on with a despitefull and revengefull heart to destroy whatever they formerly engaged to preserve as the true good old cause because of the u Old Hatred Because they perceive that this new pretended good Cause they had set up and pursued now decayeth and waxeth x Old and is ready to vanish away unless they put all their might and the strength of the whole Army to support it Because it is the y old Way which wicked men the old Gunpowder Traitors have formerly trudden which were cut down out of time whose foundation was overflown with a floud Or finally because it was first set on foot and promoted z by certain men crept in unawares into the Army and Nation from Jesuitical Seminaries I. Leydons who were before of Old ordained to this condemnatioÌ„ ungodly men turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Iesus Christ at lestwise in their works as Iude and Paul inform us by an unerring divine Spirit a being abominable Disobedient to all their lawfull Superiors and Parliaments themselves and to every good work reprobate Yea b lovers of their own selves covetous proud boasters blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankfull unholy without natural affection Truce-breakers faâ—se accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good Traytors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof who have made these last dayes of ours perillous times as St. Paul of old predicted If then the false good OLD CAUSE lately and now cried up and prosecuted upon serious Inquisition of any already engaged or sollicited to ingage therein shall upon c St. Bernards threefold inquiry An liceat an deceat an expediat which every Christian ought to make into every Action before he undertake it clearly appear to be the old and The good Old Cause only in these respects which render it most desperately Wicked Ill and New â—otally inconsistent with pâ—ofessedly repugnant to subversive of that real good Old Cause wherein they first ingagâ—d here truly stated Let all Officers Soldiers of the Army and others who have any remainders of Conscience Ingenuity Honesty or indeared affections lest in them to the Peace Welfaâ—e Safety Settlement fundamental Laws Government Parliaments Liberties Weal Prosperity of our endangered shaken subverted Church State Parliaments eternally renounce this Spurious Imposture and Gibeonìtish stratagem inevitably to destroy them all And remember the genuine true Good Old Cause here â—ightly stated d from whence they have fallen and repent and do their first works lest Christ come upon them quickly and remove both them their and our Candlestick out of its place except they and we repent And let all such Commanders Officers of the Arâ—y and their Confederates who against their Commissions Trusts Duties Covenants Declarations and Solemn Engagements first mutinied the Army against the Houses Members of Parliament for the defence of whose Persons Privileges Session they were principally raised and secluded secured the Members dissolved both Houses and the Parliament it self one after another and have since bin kept and thrust out of the Parliament House secured dissolved themselves by their Fellow Officers and Soldiers directly or indirectly several times now seriously consider How God hath scourged them with their own black rod and president of Disobedience and taken them in their own snare That e Adonibezeck like as they have done to others so God hath required them f recompenced unto them the deed they did to us That g with the same measure they meeted to others it hath been and shall be measured to them again If any of them or their Confederates have an ear to hear let them hear this further irreversible Decree of the immutable God and Soveraign Judge of all the Earth Rev. 13 10. He that leadeth into Captivity shall go into Captivity He that killeth with the sword shall be killed with the sword Heâ—e is the patience and faith of the Saints And if any engaged in the new fictitious against the real true good old Cause believe tremble not at the consideration thereof he hath neither the faith nor patience of the Saints though he usurp and engross the name of a Saint to himself shall find it experimentally verified in conclusion as many others have already done who now like Fools repent too late of what is past their skill and power to redress FINIS a Iosh. 9.3 c. b Exod. 23.31 32. c. 34.12 Deut. 7.2 3. c Peter Mouhis Nouveaute du Papisme oppose à antiquitè de Uray Christianisme Sedâ—n 1627. Bishop Ushers answer to the Iesuites challenge d The Author of the Protestant Religion London 1621. Kellisons survey of the New Religion Doway 1603. * If they mean by this Good Old Cause their New-Commonwealth it was begotten but in March 1648. had presently unknown Guardians and Governors set over it till 1653 then a new Protector under whose wardship it still continues as an Infant but of ten years birth and if he be removed it must be in ward to the Army Officers till its full age How then can they call it Old or the Good Old Man or Cause without a contradiction and absurdity (e) Exact Collect p. 34 35 36 c. 59 60 61 66 67 c. (f) Exact Collection p. 339 340 342. * The true description of a Cavalier which some who most condemned them have now actually drawn upon themselves in overthrowing the parliament by force g Exact Collection p. 456 457. * And by an Ordinance of both Houses 14 Martii 1642. A Collection of Ordinances p. 8. h Exact Col. p. 932. An Appendix p. 4. i A Collect. p. 43 44. (k) A Collect of Ordinances p. 305 308 313 327 363 371 416 418 420 c. 424 425 c. * A Collection p. 426. (l) Collection p. 598.606 (m) A Collection p. 623. n A Collection p. 666 667 668 669. Nota. o A Collection p 203 204 205 425 426 427. p Cicero Calepine Holioke Tit. Bellum q Rev. 12.9 c. 20. 2. Iohn 8.44 r Eph 2 1 2 3. s Ephes. 4.22.22 Rom. 6.6 Col. 3.9 t 1 Cor. 5.7 8. u Ezek. 25.15 x Heb. 8 13. y Iob 22.15 16. z Iude 4. a Titus 1.16 b 2 Tim. 4.1 2 3 4 5 6. c De Consideratione lib. 1. d Rev. 2.5 e Judges 1.6.7 f Ps. 137.8 g Luke 6.38