Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	king_n	parliament_n	petition_n	2,565	5	9.5981	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A48473	Plaine truth without feare or flattery, or, A true discovery of the unlawfulnesse of the Presbyterian government it being inconsistent with monarchy, and the peoples liberties, and contrary both to the protestation and covenant : the end of establishing the militia of London in such hands as it is now put into by the new ordinance, the betraying votes and destructive practices of a traiterous party in the House of Commons concerning certain petions for liberty and justice : also, a vindication of His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, concerning certaine scurrulous words uttered by some of the said faction : with the meanes and wayes that must be used to obtaine reliefe against the said cyrannous usurpers, and for reducing the parliament to its due rights, power and priviledges, in the preservation of the kingdomes laws and liberties / written by I.L.	Lilburne, John, 1614?-1657.	1647 (1647)	Wing L2156; ESTC R12537	30,822	22

fruits and effects are nothing but impiety and hypocrisie a Reli on which consists more in outward formes and rites after the manner of Moses then in power and piety according to the Gospel which conduceth as appears more to tyranny then Christianity And so I will pretermit their Vowes and Oaths and come to some of their speeches and sayings and here I will shew you another truth by the discovery of another falshood and treacherous vanting act of the same traiterous party or faction which serves as a patterne representation or image of the forme of the yoake of bondage which it may be suspected they study and intond to put upon all the Counties and Corporations in the Kingdome and by which with the helpe of their determined new Army of Horse it is probable they purpose if they can to subjugate the whole Land and to consorme the People to their arbitrary wills even to pay and bease doe and suffer whatsoever they shall thinke sit to enjoyne them or exact upon them as well in respect of things spirituall as civill In the Parliaments Remonstrance of the 2 of November 1642. Book Decl. pag. 700. they tell us That all Rights or Interest of publicke trust are only for the publicke good and not for private advantages nor to the prejudice of any mans particular interest much lefle of the publique And in May 1642. Book Decla 172. They call God to witnesse that the safetie of the Kingdome and peace of the people is their onely aime and because the King would not believe them therein and well had it been for us if we bad never so done nor trust them wholly therewith great grew the contestation as yee may well remember betweene the King and the Parliament about the setling of the Militia of the Kingdome and indeed it was one unhappy cause of the quarrell between them The Parliament then pretending that the King ought not to lettle it without them that it behoved them to have the nomination of such persons as were to be intrusted therewith in whom they might conside the King affirmes and they afterwards grant That the whole power thereof was intrusted by Law in him for the preservation and defence of the Kingdom yet because the King would not passe the Ordinance in Febu 1641. for the setling it in such forme as they desired though the persons they nominated were not refused they presently protest I with they were as quick to doe justice as they are to take exceptions to dispose of it without him and accordingly resolve Rebus sit stantibus nolenti Regi that is they expresse in extream distraction when sorreigne forces are probably invited and a malignant Pepish paritie offended c. the ordering it to be in them for the observe preservation of the Republicke and to prevent the turning the Armes of the Kingdome upon it selfe see the Parliaments answer to their owne question pag. 150. of the Booke of Decla But I hope the case is now altered for although our distractions be still continued by the destructive Councell of a pernicious sactions partie in both Houses the heads of which were and are the cause both of those distractions and these who like katchers of Eeles love to fish in the troubled waters here is now no seare of invited forreign forces and as for that malignant Popish partie then so much condemned it is utterly subdued and suppressed and therefore in all reason Rebus nunc sic stantibus that is the so much feared publicke adversary being long since conquered all visible danger removed and the King recovered out of the hands of evill Counsellors and at present with themselves and not legally divested of his Regall power and right of trust in a word all just pretext and colour of extremity being taken away they take too much upon them and abuse both King and People who in this opportunitie 〈…〉 Royall Assent may be had doe dispose of the Militia without him neither requiting his consent therein nor admitting the People according to the Law to the Election of a thing the King allowed them the persons who are to be intrusted with the dispose and command of their strength and armes and so by consequence of 〈◊〉 estates liberties and lives I am certaine in case as God ●o●bid the Royall Throne should by ●xige●t be●ome vold the Parliaments are not their owne Mesters nor can by the fundamentall Law and constitution of this Kingdome dispose of us the Commons of England and out power armes or interest without our consents how much lesse at this instans All the Commons of England have more just ground of jealous●e from them in now so doing and of complaint and accusation against that malevolent ill-affected party among them by whose power and influence it hath beene effected considering the persons unto whom the Militia and strength of the Kingdome is in divers places of late 〈…〉 then the Parliament ever had from and against the King for refusing onely to 〈◊〉 in their way and manner for they chose the persons and he approved them but the Parliament are herein both choosers and approvers as in many things many of them are both Judge and Witnesse though we neither approve nor assent and thus wee as 〈…〉 the King are in this particular debarred from them of our right and priviledge but this is not the greatest detriment we sustaine and are likely without prevention to suffer and which this predominant malicious partie intends hereby for doe but cast your eye and see and consider what persons are put out of the Militia and what persons are continued admitted and intrusted and yee will presently judge by a little what the whole meanes For example first for for an introduction the pretended Lord Maior Aldermen and Comon-Councell must petition in the name of the Citie though the Citie never propounded it to them to have the Militia setled in their owne hands as they had formerly and why not then to have it by their Charter but by Ordinance for a certaine time and this by the power and prevalency of the malevolent partie is forthwith obtained because it tends to their predominant tyrannous ends approved Alderman Pennington who stood in the breach when they all were afraid whose sidelitie and abilitie was throughly experimented at such time when as the winds blew highest and the stormes grew strongest a man adjudged by the Citie worthy to be their Parliament-man and by the Parliament worthy to be Lieutenant of the Tower of London is now no longer worthy to be intrusted with the Militia but turned out as a man suspected so are the Aldermen K. Foulk Weaver and 〈◊〉 Col. Wilson though a Member of the House also Col. Player Tichburn and others And why they are not absolute for the Faction they were opposite to Bunce and Bellamy the Court of Aldermen and Common-Councell in the prosecution of the last indirect illegall and factious Remonstrance of Presbytery and therefore they are

where * S. Philip Stapleton was there also and beheld afar off 't was he that would not suffer the queens Regiment to be charged at Salisbury or Blandford noble Hambden it is conceived and who knoweth but it may in time be proved was delivered to death Lincolne Boston Crowland Cornwall Denington-Castle where Manchester acted Treason Newarke againe and Oxford Durham Cumberland Westmerland even in every place and all along untill the Lord raised up Sir Thomas Fairfax to be a Saviour to the People and that he is so these wicked men are offended But me thinkes I already see this serpentine brood like the old Serpent casting a stood out after me to destroy me and their defiled consciences being like the Sea troubled they send forth mire and dirt wrath and revenge reproaches curses beagles and blood hounds Votes Orders and Messengers like the Popes execrations with bell book and candle Alas bene latet qui bene vivit I wish these miscreants for their soules sakes had no more cause to be afraid then I. The righteous is as bold as a Lyon but the wicked slees when none pursues The theese thinks every bush and every bulk a Constable and a gaulled horse hath no patience when his sore is rubbed this Sir Philip Stapleton knowes for he hath good skill in horse-flesh But seeing these vile men will dare to sinne openly and to deale falsly before the World why should we be afraid to reprove them openly and to declare it to the World They declare their sins as Sodome they hide them not Isai 3.9 they have as the Scripture speaks a brazen face and a Whores fore-head and why should wee be silent and connive at that which all Christendome sees or turne our backes and be pymps and panders to our owne ruines Why should wee be more afraid whom it concernes to publish their robbery oppression injustice and Treason then they are to act and execute it contrary to their Oathes and duties Our Law condemnes no man for saying the Cole is blacke or calling a Spade a Spade although of late many have been * Marke imprisoned and punished for no more nor other thing in effect yet the looser will speake and the oppressed will cry out nor by the power of heaven shall my tongue be silent or my Penne be slack for the cause of God and this miserable Land untill they doe set themselves in a way that is right and execute justice and judgement Is it not more then high time to speak and stirre when our just and lawfull Petitions are not onely rejected but infamously burned as seditious our inveterate Enemies armed our persons for presenting our grievances illegally imprisoned when we are voted out of our Rights and Priviledges contrary to all Law and custome of Parliament All men may now see and plainly understand that it is altogether vaine any longer to use Petitioning for that due right and liberty is denied and debarred Wee must I say wee must if wee will recover our selves and our Priviledges use action Necessity hath no law and extream danger driveth to extream meanes And now know for certaine yee Trayterous party yee false deceiptfull men whose hearts are set upon wickednesse and whose heads devise mischiefe and violence that it is not you * Such works such waies and meanes breaking open of houses taking away mens goods by force spoyling of Printing Presses and imprisoning of the Printers without proofe or cause and punishing poore soules who carry Bookes to sell will or can hide your shame the day of your judgement is coming your wickednesse is manifest as the Sunne and your actions both publique and private are so abominable that they stink in every reasonable mans nostrills yee are become odious and have made your selves a reproach and a hissing and the very abjects of disdain and scorne yea insomuch that the name of a Parliament man is as contemptible in the thoughts of most as the name is generally of a Committee-man And thus doe the good and virtuous of the House suffer in their repute and esteeme by your vitiousnesse yea your beloved friends and favourites cannot justifie you nor open their mouthes clearly for yee and what will yee doe what can yee do when God shall stirre up the People to revenge Remember Strafford and Canterbury Finch and Windebanke Yee have deceived the People and falsified your trust to them yee have broken oathes promises and all manner of assurances with them under a pretence of redeeming their liberties and making them free yee involved them in an unnaturall and blood Warre against each other and now yee your selves exercise more abundant tyrannie and keep them in most strict and intolerable slavery under the pretence of paying the Souldiers yee have by your Committees and instruments oppressed and robbed the Countries and notwithstanding there is no Army paid no reparations made no debts satisfied and thousands of Widowes and fatherlesse and maimed souldiers unprovided for under pretence of preserving the people yee have destroyed them and under the colour of establishing Law and justice yee have taken away both and although yee raised Armes to redeem the King from his wicked Councell and have solemnly sworn to maintaine his Crowne and dignity and declared Book Dec. pag. 94. that what you did was for his honour and greatnesse and the weale of his Kingdomes Yet though hee be redeemed hee is not restored not is his Crowne and dignity maintained Nay yee your selves exercise the Kingly office yee I say it againe yee your selves exercise the Kingly office For ye make Lord Keepers * Without the King meer treason and without his assent worse then nothing Judges and Barons grant Pardons and give Commissions of Oyer and Terminer I have known a mean man dye as a traytor for doing lesse nor are the Acts or Process passed under the broad Seale of any value In all which yee are but usurpers I should not mistake if I said Traytors I say usurpers and take too much upon you for by Law there is no such power or right belonging to you or invested in yee You keep the King under restraint and with-hold him from the execution of it and doe not satisfie the World wherefore ye doe it you are like the Dog in the manger which will neither let the horse eat the hay nor eat it himself yee will neither admit the King to do justice and redresse our grievances nor will yee your selves yee have made no other use of the Kings power and name then to deceive oppresse and abuse the People Is this to doe for his honour and greatnesse and the good of his Kingdomes contrarium verò est verum the contrary is true by true I speak not in favour of his Majestie further then conscience and * Doe unto all men as yee would be done unto equity the Lord my Maker knows I am sincerely for truth and justice without partiality and against the contrary

wheresoever or in whomsoever I find it but a traytor or felon by the Law looseth not any of his franchizes possessions and estate before he be convict let Cesar have his due and us the free Commons ours if not I doubt not but you will in due time have yours If the King be King let him raigne if he have otherwise deserved why proceed ye not legally against him that the World may see and judge and ye be cleared of all calumny and aspersion But as you d ee and deale with us so ye deale with him Us ye doe unjustly imprison and oppresse rob and spoyle destroy our Liberties take away our estates and undoe our Families and shew us no Law Cause or Reason but a tyrannicall unjust illegall or treasonable Vote Order or Ordinance Sic vultis sic jubet's stat pro ratione voluntas Your Arbitrary wills are become Englands Lawes And would yee know yee Commons of England why the King is not in all this time b ought home nor any thing resolved nor determined of him I will tell you deare friends what I conceive I see The Earle of Manchester M. Hollis Stapleton and others who are absolutely the chiefe instrumentall causes of all the evils wee have lately suffered and doe still sustaine and some of which have received vast summes of monies whereof they know themselves unable to give any good account are in danger to be punished as traytors and deceivers and be sacrificed to justice and therefore through their power prevalency and policy a settlement between King and Parliament is deferred because by reason of the Army whose integrity and zeale for justice they feare and therefore onely would disband them they cannot impose such particular peculiar conditions upon the King as will fully secure them and conduce to their Presbyterian designe this I doe beleeve is the summe of all But must the King and his People be st●ll divided the breach lye open and the difference uncomposed the Kingdome unsetled the peoples p●ace and happ●nesse still delayed and our miseries still prolonged and continued to satisfie the unjust desires of a company of matchlesse Machiavilian traytors who to save themselves have endeavoured by all meanes to destroy us Must wee languish in our sufferings and sorrowes to waite their opportunities It is neither meet nor right it should be so nor prudence nor wisedome to permit it so let us therefore have an end of our troubles and distractions or else apply our selves to put an end to their tyranny treason and Lordlinesse that they may no● wholly and utterly lay us waste and ruine us And if in case of the Kings failing of his trust and denyall to settle the Militia or strength of the Kingdome in such hands and in such a way as the people may be thereby safe and secured the Parliament the representative body may for the safety of his Majesty and Kingdomes take the dispose and ordering of it into their hands then by the same rule forsomuch as the Parliament have failed of their trust and put the Militia and strength of the Kingdome into such hands and in such a way as wee cannot confide or be safe in Wee the free Commons of England the reall and essentiall body politicke or any part of us may order and dispose of our owne Armes and strength for our owne preservation and safety and the Army in particular without question may lawfully retaine order and dispose of their armes and strength to and for the preservation and safety of the King and Kingdome the principall end for which they were raised This is the Parliaments owne doctrine as you may read in Booke Declarations page 93. and 150. and therefore I hope neither heresie nor schisme blasphemy nor treason I have done and a rush for him that is angry and as much for him who is fearefull in a just cause Let such weigh well that saying of the holy Spirit Prov. 29.25 and then happily they may looke up and take courage The feare of man bringeth a snare but whosoever trusteth in the Lord shall be safe Timida probl●as nunquam Reipublicae est utilis Cowardly honesty is never profitable to the Common-wealth FINIS