of the holy Councils Canons and Decretals whose head is the Pope and also that you cannot use the determination of the best learned men of all the holyest Divines but so far forth as the Pope doth permit and shall authorize by his Canons And in another place the Canon doth forbid that no other Volume or Book by the Divines yea throughout the whole world saith he but the same which is allowed throughout the Romish Church by the Canons of the Pope The like Laws the Emperour pretended to have in Philosophie Physick and other Sciences granting no authority to any knowledge but so much as is given them by the skilfulness of the Law whereunto as he saith if all Sciences and Arts that are be compared they are all vile and unprofitable For this cause Vlpian saith the Law is King of all things both Humane and Divine whose vertue is as Oramasus saith to command to grant to punish to forbid then which dignities there is found no Office more great and Pomponius in the Laws defineth that it is the gift and invention of God and the determination of all wise men because these antient Law-makers to the end they might purchase authority by their decrees among the ignorant people they made semblance that they did as they were taught by the Gods As you may read in my Preface of this Book Behold now you perceive how the Popes Law presumeth to bear sway over all things and exerciseth Tyranny like O. Cromwell and his fellows and how by woful experience you see it preferreth it self before all other Disciplines as it were the first begotten of the Gods doth despise them as vile although it be altogether made of nothing else but of frail and very weak inventions and opinions of Vserpers Rebels and Traytors which in the fear of God do Rob and Murther even their King which things be of all others the weakest and will be altered very suddenly by Charles his son The beginning of the sin of our first Parents when they were arrested and carryed into flesh was the cause of all our miseries Now the Law of the Pope O. Cromwell and his fellows proceeded from Tyrannie and cruel usurpation whose notable Decrees are these It is lawful to resist force with force he that breaketh promise with thee break thou promise with him it is no deceit to deceive him that deceiveth a guileful person is not bound to a guileful person in any thing blame with blame may be requited Malefactors ought to rejoyce if justice nor faithfulness Injury is not done to him that is willing It is lawful for them that traffique to deceive one another The thing is so much worthy as it may be sold for It is lawful for a man to provide for himself with the loss of another No man is bound to an impossible thing when it must needs be that you or I be confounded I should choose rather that you be confounded then I and many such things which afterwards were written among the Roman Laws and now lately practised since King Charles the First was murthered Finally there is a Law that no man should die for thirst for hunger for cold or in Prison for debt nor be put in Prison by his Creditor without six pence a day and a penny loaf of bread and two quarts of Ale every morning at eight of the clock And if any be put in Prison upon the Kings account or at the Kings suit he ought to be allowed two shillings six pence a day and two bottles of Wine and the like Law ought to be given by all Governours of Countries and duly paid every Saturday at five of the clock at night And no man is bound to hurt himself by watching and labour Afterwards the cruel Law of Nations arose from whence war murder bondage were derived and Dominions separated after this came the Civil or Popular Laws from whence have grown so many debates among men that as the Laws do witness there have been made more businesses then there be names of things For whereas men were prone and enclined to discord the publishing of Justice which was to be observed by means of the Laws was a necessary thing to the end that the boldness of lewd men might in such wise be bridled and among the wicked innocency might be safe and the honest might live quietly among the dishonest And these be the same so notable beginnings of the Law wherein there have been innumerable Law-givers of which Moses was the first c. The Civil Law is nothing else but that which men will do with a common consent the authority of which is only in the King and the People For without a King this is all void and of none effect for this cause Pheroneus saith that the Laws bind us for no other cause but that they have been approved by the judgement of the King and People wherefore if any thing please the People and the King this then standeth in force both by Custom and Ordinances of Law although there appear Error for common Error maketh Law and the Matter judgeth Truth which Ulpian a Tyrant and a Lawyer in times past hath taught us in these words viz. that he ought to be taken for a Free-man of whom sentence hath been given although in effect he be a Libertine that is to say a bond man made Free because the matter judged is taken for Truth Mr. Jeremy Heydon saith That one Sedâ— Mahomet Bookâ— a Barbarian who ran away from his Master demanded at Rome the Pretorship the which he administred and at length was known it was judged that none of those things should be altered which he being a servant did in the covering of so great a dignity the same man after returned to Sally where he was Consul And in Sidmouth in Devonshire a Gentleman is so much esteemed for his royal heart to the King and knowledge in matters of Justice that many would that men should argue with his words Seluhanus and Paulus the best learned among the Romans say For the use of the Pope if a Cistern of silver be reckoned among silver that it is understood silver and not houshold-stuff because error maketh their Law the same he openly confesseth of the Laws and Decrees of the Senate that a reason cannot be given of all things which have been ordained by our Elders Hereof then you know that all the knowledge of the Civil Law dependeth upon the only opinion and will of the King and People without any other reason urging enforcing to be so then either the honesty of manners or commodity of living or the authority of the King or the force of Arms which if it be the Preserveress of gooâ—men and the Revengeress of wicked men it is a good Discipline It is also a most wicked thing for the naughtiness which is done when the Magistrate or the King neglecteth it suffereth it or alloweth it But that more is the opinion of Demonartes
was that all Laws were unprofitable and superfluous as they which were not made neither for good nor ill men forasmuch as they have no need of Laws and these be made never the better for them Furthermore Sinensis confesseth that unless any Law can be made which to all men may be profitable in that which very often it doth happen that Equity fighteth with the rigor of the Law Maimâ—n also defining equity calleth it the Correction of a righteous Law in which point he faileth because it is made generally Is it not then sufficiently declared by this alone that all the force of the Law and Justice doth not so much depend upon the Laws as upon the honesty and equity of the Judge Another error proceeds from the Civil law to the Canon Law or the Popes Law which to O. Cromwell and his Fellows the Fanatique Parliamentiers appeared most Holy so wittily it doth shadow the Precepts of Covetousness and manners of robbing under the color of Godliness albeit there be very few things ordained appertaining to Godliness to Religion to the worshipping of God and the solemnity of the Sacraments I will not speak of some which are contrary and repugnant to the Law of God I accuse not D. Owen Vice-Chancellor of Oxford he knows them all the residue are nothing but contentions strifes pride pomp means to gain riches and the decrees of the Popes of Rome to whom the Canons be not sufficient which were in time passed made by the holy Fathers except they continually add to them new Decrees extravagancies Declarations and Rules of Chancery so that there is no end nor measure of making Canons which alone is the ambition and desire of the Bishops of Rome that is to say to make new Canons whose arrogancy is grown so far that they have commanded the Genii and Angels in Heaven and have presumed to rob and bring their booty out of Hell and to put in their hands among the spirits of the dead and on the Law of God also they have sometimes exercised their Tyrannie interpreting declaring and disputing to the end that nothing might want or be derogated from the greatness of his power Is it not true that Pope Clement in that Leaden Bull which at this day is yet kept in Lievorno vulgarly called Legorn and at Venice and in other places in Italy in the Coffers of Priviledges commandeth the Angels of Heaven that they should bring into everlasting joys the soul of him that useth to go in pilgrimage to Rome for Indulgences and there dying being delivered out of the pains of Purgatory saying moreover We will not in any wise that he go to the pains of Hell granting also to them that be signed with the Cross that at their Prayers they may take three or four souls out of Purgatory which they list which erroneous and intolerable Tymerity I will not say Heresie the Schools of London in the Kings time openly detested and abhorred But the Fanatick Parliament intended very shortly if Kings Charles the Second do not come the sooner to interrupt the Hyperbolical zeal of Clement with some Anabaptistical godly shaking Invention that the thing may rather flourish then perish seeing that for their affirming or denying nothing is altered in the deed and authority of the Pope whose Canons and Decrees have in such sort bound all Episcopacy and Presbyterie c. in a cord for Damnation because they detest the Popes Canons and after this example they fear their own Clergy so that none of all their Divines or Jesuites be he never so contantious dareth to determine no not imagine or dispute any thing contrary to the Popes Canons without protestation and leave Furthermore we have learned out of these Canons and Decrees that the Patrimony of Christ his Kingdoms Castles Donations Foundations Riches and Possessions and that Empire and Rule belongeth to the Bishops and Priests of Christ and to the Prelates of the Church and the Jurisdiction and Temporal Power is the Sword of Christ And that the Person of the Pope is the Rock being the foundation of the Church that the Bishops are not only the Ministers of the the Church but also Heads of the Church and that Evangelical Doctrine the fervency of Faith the contempt of the world are not only the goods of the Church but Revenues tenths Offerings collections Purples Mitres Gold Silver Pearl Possessions and Money and that the authority of the Pope is to make war to break truce to break oaths and to assoyl from obedience and of the House of Prayer to make a den of Theeves and so the Pope can depose a Bishop without cause and Oliver Cromwell could cut off Doctor John Huit his head by the same rule The Pope can give that which is another mans Cromwell and the Fanatique Parliament after the same president sold the Kings Lands and the Church Lands that he can commit Symony that he can dispense against his vow against his Oath against the Law of Nature And did not Cromwell and his Fellows do so too and none may say unto him Why dost thou this And also he can as they say for some grievous cause dispense against all the New Testament and to draw not only a third part but also the souls of the faithful into Hell That the duty of Bishops is not now as it was in time past to preach the Word of God with Crosses to Confirm children to give Orders to Dedicate Churches to Baptize Bells to hallow Altars and Challices to Consecrate and bless Vestments and Images and Geomantical Telesmes which esteem their wits more meet for higher matters and leaving the charge to certain Bishops which have nothing else but the Title go in Embassage to Kings they be Presidents of their Oratories or attend upon Queens excused for a sufficient great and weighty cause not to serve God in Churches so that they royally honour the King in the Court Hereof these Cautles took their beginnings by means whereof at this day without Simony Bishopricks Benifices be bought sold and moreover what Fairs and Markets soever be in Pardons Grants Indulgences Dispensations such like maner of robberies by whom also there is a price set in the free remission of sins given by God there is found a Mean to gain by the punishments of Hell Furthermore that false Donation of Constantine proceeds from this Law albeit in effect and with the Testimony of Gods Word Caesar cannot leave his charge neither the Parson of the Clergy ought to usurp the things that belong to Caesar but of infinite Laws of Ambition of Pride and of Tyrannie These are Errors crept in with Cromwell amongst the Laws of England He that will diligently examine the Laws and Statutes of Rome shall find how much the Fat Faâ—atique Parliament hath borrowed of them and corrupted our Laws But the Idea of the Law will put all in Order The Method and Rules you read before Another Error in Laws you shall
places of preferment to whom all matters of weight be committed which sell and compel men to buy of them all things Placards of the Tyrant Protectors gifts Benefices Offices Dignities Letters of Cromwell or the Parliament and Writs moreover right Justice Law Equity and honesty Sometimes it fortunes according to the judgement of Chancellors and Secretaries the friends and enemies of Kings are reckoned with whom according to their pleasure they sometime make League and sometime make mortal War And when they from most base estate by means of a most covetous selling of their voyce have climbed to so high a degree of Dignity they have therewithal such a mischievous boldness that sometimes they dare condemn Kings and without determination of the Council and without declaring the cause do condemn them to be Beheaded and thus have they transferred us to misfortune they being now puffed up with Pride by robbing and spoiling theeving pilfring plundering breaking of houses and Sequestring the people and taking away their riches c. You have now also read the Errors of the Law And you see how necessary it is for to Crown King Charles That the Idea of the Law may with Mercy and Truth Righteousness and Peace be practised and established in the three Kingdoms England Scotland and Ireland to the glory of God and the good of our Countrey Thus have you the Idea of the Law clarified and the dross taken from it being fit now to establish in a happy Common-wealth under the Government of King Charls May the 2. 1660. John Heydon THE IDEA OF GOVERNMENT THe first Rule that I laid down in my Introduction to the defence of the Idea of the Law I need not here again repeat but desire all Gentlemen only to carry it in mind I have shewn you the Errors of the Law in all Courts and have done what lies on my part that you may peruse this Defence of my Idea of the Law without any rub or stumbling let me now request but one thing which you are bound to grant which is that you read my Defence without Prejudice and that all along as you go which is but a little way you make not your recourse to the customary conceits of your fancy but consult with your free Reason 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Plato De Leg. For Custom is another Nature and therefore those conceits that are accustomary and familiar we unawares appeal too as if they were indeed the Natural light of the mind and her first common notions 2. Now before I can represent unto you the Idea of the Law you must Crown King Charles the Second Son of King Charles the first lately murthered and then I shall shew you the frame and fashion of the Just Notion of the Idea of the Law in General according to my Telesmatical Genius and Hortensius gives this shadowy interpretation of it Lex est quaedam regula mensura secundam quam inducitur aliquis ad agendum vel ab agendo retrahitur but Heliani◠offended with the latitude of this definition esteems it too spreading and comprehensive as that which extends to all Natural I and to Artificials too for they have Regulas mensuras operationum Thus God has set a Law to the waves and a Law to the windes Nay thus Clocks have their Laws and Lutes have their Laws and whatsoever have the least appearance of motion has some rule proportionable to it whereas these workings were always reckoned to be at the most but inclinations and Pondera and not fruits of a Legislative Power But yet the Apostle Paul to stain the pride of them that gloried in the abuse of the Law ruining many poor people for a fee calls such things by the name of Law as were most odious and anomalous thus he tells you of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though sin be properly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thus he mentions Legem membrorum the same which the Lawyers call Legem fomitis 3. And yet this is sure that a rational creature is only capable of a Law which is a moral restraint and so cannot reach to those things that are necessitated to act ad extremum virium 4. And therefore Cooke does give you a more refined interpretation when he tells you Lex est mensura quaedam actum moralium ita ut per Conformitatem ad illam Rectitudinem moralem habeant si ab illi discordent obliqui sint A Law is such a just and regular turning of actions as that by vertue of this they may conspire into a Moral musick and become very pleasant and harmonious Thus Plato speaks much of that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is in Laws After this he does altogether discourse of Harmony and does infinitely prefer mental and intellectual Musick those powerful and practical strains of goodness that spring from a well composed spirit before those delicious Blandishments those soft and transient touches that comply with sense and salute it in a more flattering manner and he tells you of a spiritual dancing that is answerable to so sweet a Musick to these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whilest the Laws play in Consort there is a chorus of well-ordered affections that are raised and elevated by them And thus as Aristotle well observes some Laws were wont to be put in verse and to be sung like so many pleasant Odes that might even charm the people into obedience 5. 'T is true that conceited Philosopher gives the reason of it they were put into verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they might remember them the better But why may not I add a reason also to share with it that they might come with a greater grace allurement that they might hear them as pleasant as they would do the voyce of a Vial or an Harp that has Rhetorick enough to still and quiet the evil Spirit But yet this does not sufficiently paint out the being of a Law to say that 't is only regula mensura and Littleton himself is so ingenious as to tell me that he cannot rest satisfied with this Interpretation which he wrote but with a blunt pen. And therefore I will give him some time to engross it fair And in the mean time I will look upon that speculative Law-giver Plato I mean who was alwayes new modelling of Laws and rolling Political Ideas in his mind 6. Now you may see him gradually ascending and climbing up to the description of a Law by these four several steps and yet he does not reach the top and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of it neither First he tells me that Laws are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such things as are esteemed fitting but because this might extend to all kind of Customs too his second thoughts limit and contract it more and tells me that a Law is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Decretum civitatis yet because the Mass and bulk of people the rude heap
himselfe how displeased he was at the Kings death and revenged he was upon the Parliament It were worth the while to enquire into the good they did us during that six years session but that I leave to their Mercurius Needham Nor shall I far examine the Protectors Reign by whose advice by what assistance or by what Lawes he ruled how many of our late Republicans forgate themselves and swore Allegiance to a single person how many things like Parliaments he dispersed for the Army hath got a jadish trick and will not leave it It is enough at last he died in despight of Priests and Poets Owen and Wythers the former telling him from heaven he should scape that fit the other telling us so needlesly His Highness having other things to think on left his Successor doubtfull till as they say his Secretary then one of ours now with John Owen his prophetique Confessor swore his son Richard into the Protector-ship but he good Gentleman did not much hurt but peaceably resigned to Fleetwood and Disborough not a word of the King of the Saints for he desires to be private and they quite at a loss for want of Brains ond courage call'd in the Fag-end of the old house to their Assistance so that the Members which descended in April 53. rose again and ascended upon the 7. of May 59. But still the Planets are opposite as God would have it which make the Members act as impetuously as ever Then they were once again unseated by the Army as the Planets predict and Geomantick Genii The 13. of October last the Influences took effect and then the Committee of Safety was invested with the supream Authority it is but a slippery title that of the sword This change gave his Excellency the Lord Monk occasion to remember his love to the King and to shew his Charity to his Native Countrey by whose curiosity and Conduct the honest and suffering party was relieved and the Phanatique Army dispersed without blood Hereupon the Souldiery tack'd about once again lamenting their back-slidings and on the 26. of December the good old cause men re-enthron'd themselves more eagerly now then formerly against the re-admission of the secluded Members This barbarous and arbitrary proceeding put the whole Nation upon a necessity of procuring a full and free Parliament to wch end they purposed modestly fairly the restoring the excluded members and filling of the house or else the liberty of a New and legal choice for bringing letters Sir Robert Pye and Major Faicher were imprisoned This was an Insolence too gross to do much mischief but to themselves Are these the men the people cryed That put the King to death only upon pretence of a design to erect uphold in himself an unlimited and Tyrannical power to rule according to his Will and to overthrow the rights and liberties of the people yea to take away and make void the foundations thereof and of all redress and remedy of misgovernment which by the fundamental constitutions of this Kingdom were resolved on the peoples behalf in the right and power of frequent and successive Parliaments these are the words of the charge That which was Treason in our lawfull Prince how comes it to be Law now with these Fellowes They took away the Kings life for but discoursing the very thing they act and we are to be imprisoned and murthered for asking only that they swore they fought for No they are a Pack of Knaves they cut off his head that they might rule themselves The plot was grown so rank the common people smelt it and without more ado associated to free themselves from an infamous and perpetual Bondage witness that Union in their declarations both of Demand and Resolutions against the Equity whereof no man hath hitherto pretended the least objection the supream Trifle perceiving an universal Application to the General in his passage and all speaking the same sense finding withall that his Excellency suspended till he might hear both parties and conscious to themselves of no imaginable reason to oppose Besides seeing themselves declined and hated nay endangered by a peremptory Agreement of this Nation They did at last most graciously descend to promise us a full Representative but no secluded Members to be admitted nor in effect any other then Phanatiques His Excellency well weighing what was reasoned pro contra made way for the Return of the secluded members This Justice brake the neck of a Design just then on foot This is the short on 't the people were to be held at gaze in expectation of a further satisfaction till those Troops which the back-side had ordered to that purpose should have seized all the considerable persons of the Kingdome nay they are impudent enough to tempt the General himselfe into a complication with them but he was too discreet not to distinguish where to observe and where to leave them In fine the Stars and Planets above and the Rulers and Ideas below in their Characters and Figures of Astrology and Geomancy Telesmatical arrested do predict a check to their impetuous madness and brutish fury Next to our gratitude to heaven let us have a care not to be wanting in point of prudence to our selves nothing undoes us but security we see who are our friends and who are our enemies whom we may trust and whom we must not we have paid dear for our experience and sure we have a tittle to the benefit of it we must look back and learn from thence the meaning of the future It is a tedious while this Nation hath been tossed betwixt two factions One in the Army the other in the Council both well enough agreed to destroy us but jealous still one of the other as Don saith of Ignatius concerning his Competitor in Hell He was content he should be damned but loth he should govern that 's all the Quarrel The Vizor of Religion is thrown aside long since the Conventicle cheats the Souldier this day and he falls upon the Rump the next In short they cheat the one the other at the publique charge they may snarle where they please but they bite none but us and at the worst forgive their fellow-thieves for robbing honest men this hath been their practice near this dozen years Are we not yet convinc'd that it is impossible it should be otherwise while the same people govern us with the same army and bound up by no other Lawes then their own Will I do not press any resistance now but certainly a readiness to protect honester men in case of an Attempt were not amiss we see how dirtily they have used the General and how unworthily their Instruments have laboured the Army into a direct Tumult And all this in order to a new violence upon the house We see what juggling is used in the Militia as foysting in false Lists to cast the strength of the Nation into the hands of mean and factious persons what industry to
better discovery and speedier Conviction of Jesuites Popish Priests Fryers and Papists consented to by the King in the late Treaty to all the Officers Agitators and Souldiers in the Army they will presently discover an whole Conclave of Jesuites popish Priests Fryars and Jesuited Papists amongst them who have instigated them to disobey and force both houses imprison their Members to impeach try exempt the King dissolve the present and future Parliament subvert our Kingly Government and Constitutions of Parliament betray Ireland to the Rebels and involve us in a new Warre and Confusion instead of Peace and Settlement the Practices Designes and Studies of none but Jesuites and Papists which all true Protestants cannot but abhor If Milton beginning to write an Answer to the late Kings Book against Monarchy was at the second word by the power of God strucken blind What shall fall upon them that endeavour to destroy his Son verily they that fight against him fight against Providence I pray God direct us in the right way to his Glory From my house near Bishopsgate London on the East-side Spittle Fields next door to the Red Lyon this 27 of May 1660. John Heydon A servant of God and Secretary of Nature THE IDEA OF TYRANNY OR Englands mysterious Reformation from the beginning of the Wars to this time unridled to the dis-abuse of this long deluded Nation 1. DUring the Reign of the three last Monarchs of England Rebellion seemed here to have been established as a Verity not to be questioned Its Mysteries having as it was conceived been by many Volumes of our learned Writers so cleerly unfolded that it was not credible that either the whole body of the old or the Caprice of any new-fargled fancy should be able to stagger the foundation was laid for it 2. But a long peace accompanied with too great a felicity bred such a wantonness in our souls that we could not be satisfied with that was generally profest and practiced forms rites and ceremonies become nauseous to our dainty stomacks they rellished too much of Antiquity Superstition and Idolatry and we must have some thing of Novelty to please the gusts of our Palats this in succession of time attained to so vast a growth that at last like evil weeds it choakt the Plants set by the Industry of the Gardner and disputed the propriety of the patron 3. Thus armed with the strong zeal of Religion we hurry into a pernicious Warre make piety the cloak of our Iniquity and therewith charm simple Zelots to part with their coyn and plate to advance the Justice of the cause which justified with happy success we idolize and prefer before the sanctity of Religion esteem Loyalty but a Chimera and trample sacred Royalty under foot to authorize a licentious liberty which no sooner fixed in an uncontroulable authority but we give Laws to our Masters dis-inthrone Soveraignty and exercise the Tyranny of power to the terror of pretended Delinquents 4. By the severity of our procedures we become formidable to loyal souls by our assidual promises of Reformation we enslave the Wills of Idolaters who hood-winkt with our specious pretences vigorously support the weakness of our cause and by frequent victories we legitimate that right which no former age could or ever did make claim unto 5. Power now inconcussible in her Throne to prevent the violence of Opposers we distribute the Estates of our vanquisht adversaries among our own active Pillars corroborating the one by the debilitation of the other general Reformation in the interim is laid aside particular interest must antecede and while we are solely bent upon this Religion through an unbridled libertinage becomes a Labyrinth of confusion the head being taken away like so many Hidras new ones take life every Dreamer creating a Religion and thousands become his followers as the Devil out of his malice dictates to their weakness 6. Dotage is better prevented then cured but what hopes have we of the cure of this dotage when we are already seiz'd upon by a most raging frenzie the evidence of our actions confirm the certainty of our disease how many solemn Vowes have we made to advance the relieved truth of the Gospel and to preserve the known Laws of the land inviolable 7. How often have we dispensed with those Vowes and justified those Dispensations both with our publick Actions and Writings â—e pretended a pious tenderness toward God and sacred things but intended nothing less for our Cruelty Tyranny and Rapine practised toward our brethren testifie we dissembled with God and made a stalking horse of his Divinity our frequent Sacriledges manifest our interiour Iâ—everence how many glorious Temples by our pious Ancestors dedicated to Gods honour have we despoiled of their Ornaments most profanely converted them to Courts of Guards Stabls and brothel houses and made sale of their Stones Lead and Timber for the use of our Impieties Sects we indulge Heresies we approve Judaisme we tolerate Paganism we abhor not Turks we correspond commerce with as our brethren as indeed they are for their Times and Actions have no small Analogie with ours but our brethren and fellow Christians we pillage persecute and butcher nay we want nothing to be the worst of men but to become Cannibals 8. If this be the Product of our Reformation let us even petition to hell for a more divine 9. Now we are thus superlatively beatified by the Reformation of Relligion let us Cast an eye upon the Condition of our State we were all glutted with wealth happiness and prosperity and we must project for variety of sharp sawces to delude our stomacks into an appetite Our peacefull Soveraign was held too improper to sit at the sterne of this stern Nation his clemency was too benigne his sobriety too regular his Justice too merciful his conversation too familiar access too facile he had not the gift of Hipocrisie to screw himselfe into the credit of a Zelot he wanted the Octavian austeritie to check the frowardness of our insolence he was to ill furnisht with viciousnesse too countenance our horid villanies In fine he lacked Imperiousnesse to curbe the impudence of our Rebellion 10. Thus the Noble faculties of his soul being incoherent with ours his person could not be consistent with our ambition therefore beyond all the examples of the most barbarous savages we adorne the Prologue of our reformation with the Innocence of his blood the nobles we have disenobled the kennel-rakers we have made nobles the rich we have beggared the beggars we have enriched the Laws we have violated Justice we have perverted Magistracy we have contemned Trade we have decayed our name with forrreigne nations we have rendred contemptible and in the Epilogue of this happy reformation our reformers are the second time hurrried away in a whirle-wind leaving a worse stench behind them then the divell when he is constrained to quit a miserable possessed this poor nation in the interim abandoned to the mercy of
a lawlesse Army and justly too being we deserve no better then to become slaves to our servants when our pertinacy could not brook to yield loyall obedience to our Masters 11. But behold Providence we say hath most miraculously restored us again to the management of our just authority O Infernall Impudence to attribute our Rebellions and usurpation to the heavenly care making God not onely accessary to our most execrable wickedness but the prime agent in all our impious machinations when we should fear rather that the sins wherewith we have provoked him are not yet ripe for our severer chastisement we have twice already felt the vengeance of his dreadfull hand if we persevere in our perversity we shall yet suffer greater testimonies of of his indignation the divine Justice is not to be corrupted by bribery nor shall villanies goe unpunished unlesse repentance prove their advocate 12. How my Compatriotes have been misled and how most egregiously abused the sequestrations impositions excises exactions oppressions and divers other exorbitant enormities of whose smart they are most justly sensible do sufficiently evidence how under colour of Religion and some supposed miscarriages of persons who had the free care of our Soveraign they have been trapanned into Rebellion is enough notorious to the world how usurpers tyrants and traytors are enriched with the spoiles of the innocent is evident to too too many who dayly groan for their miseries how all the three Nations doe generally suffer by the disreglement of our Government it is both sensible and visible to us all Jayles racks gibbets and scaffolds being the sole portion of the Loyall to repaire which mischiefs and to prevent their perpetuity is the most concerning interest of this most distressed nation to effect but hoc opus hic labor est 13. If we struggle for the maintenance of that cause which hath already cost us such an Ocean of blood and such an incredible treasure and entertain that fruitlesse warre against the Spaniard it cannot be supported but by the effusion of more and the utter destruction of all the three nations violence oppression and massacry being the undoubted concommitants of so pernicious a resolution 14. What is' t that we pretend unto by the continuation of our present goverment a felicity and a constant one what certainty thereof can our weake hopes promise us the various mutations we have already had are strong arguments we are in possibility of more yet to support this fraile Idol the whole land must be condemned to an insupportable bondage without hope either of release or intermission nay admit no private discords among our selves did generate a new mutation admit the whole nation did unanimously espouse the Government of a Common-wealth and that we had an army as invincible as it hath always bin formidable for the maintenance of our cause all this ensures not a permanency nor extenuates the sufferings of the Subjects 15 Armies by Sea and land cannot be entertained but with the vast consumption of treasure and this must bee squez'd out of the lively-hood of poor vassals the sweat of whose brows cannot earne a sufficiency for the nutriment of his own family yet must wee have our miseries perpetuated to justifie the crimes of usurpers and to enrich their posterity with the beggery of our own can we possibly be so stupid as not to be sensible of our interminable servitude can we be so blind as not to behold the charitable care our rulers have of the publick good when they are so impudent as publikly to vaunt they fight for their own lives and fortunes not for ours as if we were obliged both by nature and duty to prop their greatness with our ruine 16. Rare Patriots indeed and right worthy Senators to be entrusted with the conservation of their countreys welfare for the establishment of whose power the whole Nation must be condemned to a perpetual misery was this the motive to our fist at thing hath all the bloud spilt been sacrificed to this intent have we brought an indelible staine upon the Nation by the death of the King to justifie his Judges have we ruined thousands of families to erect fortunes for oppressours must the innocent be accounted criminal to avouch criminals to be Innocent now let us no longer be deluded with apparent fancies if we have a regard to our felicity let us propose the meanes to attaine to it as long as we are plunâ—'d in a fathomeless war we shall not be exempted from the inconveniences depending on 't and wars we cannot avoid as long as we subscribe to no other government then the present under whose Regency our sufferance have been as unsufferable as innumerable nor shall we want either revolutions at home or invasions from abroad as long as we are disgusted with oppressions in the land or have so numerous a progenie of warlike Princes to pretend a right to these dominions whose titles forreigne Princes of the blood and their Allyes will vigorously stickle if not out of affection out of reason of state not to countenance Rebellion against the naturall Prince least it prove a precedent to their own subjects to practise the like to their prejudice 17. Our uninterruptable and probably immutable felicity must be purchased by our humble submission to those who out soules convince us 〈◊〉 have a just right to that power which we have so tyrannically usurped but our Conscience do incessantly allarme us that the uglinesse of our Crimes are so horrible that a humane Clemency cannot condescend to pardon them Indeed in Justice and rigor we cannot presume to obtaine so undeserved a blessing but mercy the highest attribute of Gods goodness with the affluence of other singular graces are inherent in the souls of his earthly substitutes who will as bountifully distribute them among his vassals as the emergencie shall require it his paternall Jndulgence of his beloved people suffocates his vengeance and surmounts the horridnesse of our crimes so rather than to heap mischief on mischiefe and to put a period to our threatning desolations let us postrate our selves at the feet of mercy embracing that peace with willingness which otherwise will be impos'd upon us by force and let us have no other vengeance to stand in feare of then that of heaven whose gracious pardon we ought not also to despaire of disposing our souls to an unfained contrition and to a perfect humilitie to beg his gracious remission To you O invincible Martialists let me give a friendly admonition at parting your hands have been made instrumental to our mischiefs which served rather as Executioners of rage then the Pillars of our cause you had once begun with a notable piece of Justice perfectionate that Justice for the happiness of your Countrey and the redemption of those evils acted under the protection of your power Remember whose you were at your birth forfeit not your birth-right for the complyance with avarice and ambition a visible vengeance
may befall you as it befell your Patrons there is none of you but is particularly guilty of a general injustice the general Plea you pretend will prove too hard for your particulars when you are summoned to appear before the dreadfull Tribunal not is it improbable you may feel the lash of the like scourge wherewith you have whipt your Masters they have felt but the effect of your sword but its edge is too blunt to encounter with the Celestial weapons Thunder-bolts Earth-quakes and Pestilence are the arms of Gods fury no Corner can hide you from being discovered by his wrath to erre is humane weakness but to continue in our errors is a diabolical malice Repent you then of your deviations your subscription to Justice will redeem you of your guilt and reconcile you to favour your guilt is not unpardonable being but hirelings and espousing a cause necessity not reason perswaded you to believe it carried Justice on its front Casual REFLECTIONS Relating To the Antecedent Discourse of the Idea of Tyranny upon pretended Crimes 1. RAtional men and unconcerned in a cause will positively conclude that a pretended Crime is no Crime that hath not by unquestioned Lawes been confirmed to be so 2. Lawes pretended to be inviolable ought to be enacted by the power and form accustomed to enact them but where it is evident that right of Enaction is usurpt upon those Lawes are no Lawes but violent impositions and consequently no crime to violate them 3. If at the beginning of a War it was held no crime for Vassals to inâ—inge their Lawes and deny their Allegiance to their undoubted Lord how comes it afterwards to be a crime when the undoubtedness of the Lord is not yet decided 4. A whole ages possession of an usurped estate is not sufficient to confirm the legality of its possession though a continual claim were not made to it by its anterior possessor let the title first appear decided before it be judged a crime to dispute it 5. It was no crime by arms to dispossess a man of his right certainly it is no crime by arms to endeavour the recovery of that right it is less injustice to struggle for ones propriety then to have it detain'd from him by violence Liberty and Religion the ordinary stalking horses to Rebellion have so dazeled the eyes of the vulgar that they run head-long upon Precipices whence a wise Retreat promiseth them no safety so that they will rather hazard their ruine by an obstinate folly then court an assured security by the acknowledgement of their error Who will commiserate the misery of such stupids their calamities are the just rewards of their madness too much felicity made them quarrel with the heavens and innocence and it must be a superlative affliction that must restore them to the perfection of their senses Gods wrath is not implacable if it be but pacified with repentance the scourge that now chasteneth us may upon our dutifull submission be cast into the fire as uselesse our distasters are generated from our own corruption let us but rectifie our disorders and the confusions attending on them will cease in their effects AMBITION AMbition to compass its design easily leveleth all difficulties that oppose it it stumbleth not at iniquities so they contribute to its progress and once waded in blood for the advancement of its attempts it will rather swim in an ocean of it then be interrupted in its course holding it its greater security rather to heap Tragedy upon Tragedy then to condescend to succession or to limit its violence with moderation Humane thoughts never want objects for their fancy and those objects they pursue with that vehemence that they ordinarily ruine either themselves or others in the acquest yet if any should assure them of ruine in their attempts such is their itch to that ayrie bubble of Glory that death it self will not be formidable when the object they aim at promiseth a supposed felicity Men of high Talents whose actions should be squared by the inerrable rule of Reason should never admit of fancy to over-master their Judgements the proposals of felicity they make themselves should be unquestionable If it admitted either of doubt or prejudice whereby they might be frustrated of their aym a mediocrity of welfare with tranquillity were to be elected before a vast greatness with disturbance If we ambitionate things unjust intrenching upon the right of others to perfectionate our intended felicity our felicity is ecclipst by the vexations and molestations we meet by the opposition of our Antagonists by which reason we should rather desist from our enterprizes then give augmentation to our minds disquietness by the frequent encounters of Disasters Most men are erroneous in the apprehension of their Felicity Honour Glory and Riches being their ordinary objects are but smoaky substances to make it solid and imperdible all these are daily subject to casualties for what with difficulty we have acquired in a year may by an unexpected accident of fortune be lost in a day and often times by the same means we projected to mount the throne of our felicity we inevitably fall into the abiss of disgrace True felicity is not so frequently seen in the sumptuous pallaces of greatness as in the meanest cottages of humility the highest Oedars are shaken with storms when the lowest shrubs lie secure from the disturbances of the winds all greatness lies expos'd to the malicious assaults of envy where humility lives secured under the protection of her meanness why then should we not rather satisfie our selves with that felicity which is ever fortified with security then to our anxieties research that greatness that is never unaccompanied with danger STATE INFANCY HE must be no Novice in knowledge who will give growth to the puerility of a State he must be well studied in the constitution of the clime it lives in to give it nutriment digestible that it may thereby become vigorous in its growth it must neither be cloyd with delicacies to make it wanton nor yet hunger-starv'd with sâ—ntness whereby to engender malignity Dominion is much more easily acquired then maintained an opportunity offered may facilitate a Conquest but discontents arising from alterations may frustrate the settlement that yoak is but grudgingly born where liberty pretends a priviledge to emancipation and subjection transmuted into a servitude doth undoubtedly generate a most malicious repining No Government how prudently soever managed can give an early tranquillity to a new erected State nor can general Maximes be adapted to every shape the distempers of predominant Dispositions must be tempered according to the quality of the infirmity Magnanimity is not domitable by compulsion though it dissemble a necessitated commission nor is pufillanimity fixed in its affection where there is intrenchment upon its interest Whether love or fear be the fitter Ciment in the structure of Government is a question much disputed among Statists both being inexcusably necessary for its settlement