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A56162 The first and second part of A seasonable, legal, and historicall vindication and chronological collection of the good old fundamentall liberties, franchises, rights, laws of all English freemen ... wherein is irrefragably evinced by Parliamentary records, proofs, presidents, that we have such fundamentall liberties, franchises, rights, laws ... : collected, recommended to the whole English nation, as the best legacy he can leave them / by William Prynne of Swainswick, Esquire.; Seasonable, legal, and historical vindication of the good old fundamental liberties, franchises, rights, properties, laws, government of all English freemen. Part 1-2 Prynne, William, 1600-1669. 1655 (1655) Wing P3954; ESTC R19429 161,045 206

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illis annis afficerint Praeterea suspicionem cis incu●iat fore ut Jacobus CAEDEM MATERNAM VINDICATURUS SIT c. Exasperandi sunt etiam animi Episcoporū Presbyterorū Anglicorum proponendo illis REGEM SCOTIAE Calvinismum amplexum esse SPE CUPIDITATE REGNI ADACTUMQVE VI A BARONIBUS HAERETICIS quod si vero Regnu● Angliae etiam ●btineat TVM ILLVM CITO PRIOREM RELIGIONEM REVOCATURUM ESSE qùandoquidem non solum MARIA EJVS MATER moriens virum etiā REX IPSE GALLIARVM SVMMOPORE EI RELIGIONEM CATHOLICAM COMMENDARINT c. yet now transcribed almost verbatim out of Thomas Campanella who suggested it against King James to alienate the English from him keep him from the Crown very freshly by the Authors of The True state of the Case of the Commonwealth c. p. 48 49. objected against the present King of Scots and royal Issue to deprive him and them from the Crowne of England and engage the whole English Nation against their Title to vest it in some other Family in greatest power Or if these projects should fail then by dividing us into many Kingdoms or Republicks dislinct one from another and by sowing the seeds of Schisms and making alterations and innovations in all Arts Sciences and our Religion The old Plots of Campanella Parsons and late designs of Cardinal Richelieu of the Pope Spaniard Jesuites to undo subvert our Protestant Churches Kings Kingdoms and Religion as the marginal Authors irrefragably evidence yet all visibly set on foot yea openly pursued and in a great measure accomplished by some late nay present Grandees and Army-Officers who cry up themselves for our greatest Patrons Preservers Deliverers and Anti-Jesuits when they have rather been but the Jesuites Popes Spaniards and other Forraign enemies instruments and factors in all the late changes new-models of our Government Parliaments pretended reformations of our laws and Religion through inadvertency circumvention or self-ended respects as many wise and godly men justly fear For prevention whereof I shall recommend to the whole Kingdoms serious consideration the memorable Preamble of the Statute of 25 H. 8. c. 22. discovering the like Plots of the Pope and our Forraign Enemies to 〈…〉 to prevent them for the future in these ensuing words In their most humble wise shewen unto your Majesty Your most humble and obedient Subjects the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled that since it is the natural inclination of every man gladly and willingly to provide for the surety both of his Title and Succession although it touch his only private cause We therefore most rightful and dreadful Soveraign Lord reck●n our selves much more bounden to beseech and instant your Highness although we doubt not of your Princely heart and wisdom mixed with a natural affection to the same to foresee and provide for the perfect surety of both you and of your most lawful Succession and heirs upon which dependeth all our joy wealth in whom also is united and knit the only meer true inheritance and title of this Realm without any contradiction Wherefore We your said most humble and obedient Subjects in this present Parliament assembled calling to our mind the great divisions which in times past have been in this Realm by reason of several Titles pretended to the Imperial Crown of the same which sometimes and for the most p●rt ensued by occasion of ambiguity and doubts then not so perfectly declared but that men might upon froward intents expound them to every mans sinister appetite and affection after their sence contrary to the right Legality of the Succession and Posterity of the lawfull Kings Emperors of this Realm whereof hath ensued great effusion destruction of Mans blood as well of a great number of the Nobles as of other Subjects and specially Inheritors in the same And the greatest occasion hath been because no perfect substantial provision by law hath binmade within this realm it self when doubts and questions have been moved proponed of the certainty legality of the Succession posterity of the Crown By reason whereof The Bishop of Rome See Apostolick contrary to the great and inviolable grants of Jurisdictions By God immediatly to Emperours Kings Princes in succession to their heirs hath presumed in time past to invest who should please them to inherit in other mens Kingdoms Dominions which thing we your most humble Subjects both Spiritual and Temporal do most abhor detest And sometimes other forraign Princes and Potentates of sundry degrees minding rather dissention discord to continue in the realm to th'utter desolatiō therof then charity equity or unity have many times supported wrong titles wher by they might easily facilly aspire to the Superiority of the same the continuance sufferance whereof deeply considered pondered were too dangerous and perillous to be suffered any longer within this Realm too much contrary to the unity peace and tranquility of the same being greatly reproachful and dishonourable to the whole Realm In consideration wherof your said most humble and obedient Subjects the Nobles and Commons of this Realm calling further to their remembrance that the good unity peace and wealth of this Realm and the succession of the Subjects of the same Most specially principally above all wordly things consisteth and resteth in the certainty and surety of the procreation posterity of your Highness in whose most royal person at this present time is no manner of doubt or question Do therefore most humbly beseech your Highnes c. to declare the establishment of the successiō of your royal posterity in the Imperial Crowns of this realm as he and they did by this other succeeding acts of Parl. in 1 Eliz c. 3. 1 Jac. c. 1. to prevent the like civil wars and mischiefs for succeeding ages now revived promoted by the Pope Jesuits Foraign Popish Princes to work our ruine Certainly whosoever shall seriously ponder the premises with these passages in William Watsons Quodlibets concerning the Jesuits 1. That some of the Jesuits society have insinuated themselves into all the Princes Courts of Christendom where some of their Intelligencers reside and set up a secret counsel of purpose to receive and give intelligence to their General at Rome of the secrets of their Soveraigns and of all occurrents in those parts of the world which they dispatch to and fro by such cyphers which are to themselves best but comm̄only only to themselves known so that nothing is done in England but it is known at Rome within a month after at least reply made back as occasion is offered to the consequent overthrow of their own natural Country of England and their native Princes and Realms by their unnatural Treasons against them that so the Jesuits might be those long gowns which should reign and govern the Island of Great
Parliament set on Impositions either within the Land or upon commodities exported or imported by the merchants they have in open Parliament complained of it in that it was done without their consents and thereupon never failed to obtain a speedy and full redresse without any claim made by the Kings of any Power or Prerogative in that point And though the Law of property be original and carefully preserved by the Common Laws of this Real WHiCH ARE AS ANCIENT AS THE KINGDOME IT SELF yet those famous Kings for the better contentment and assurance of their loving Subjects agreed THAT THIS OLD FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT observe the words should be further declared and established by Acts of Parliament wherein it is provided That no such Charge shall ever be laid upon the People without their common Consents as may appear by sundry Records of former times We therefore your Majesties most humble Commons assembled in Parliament following the example of this worthy care of our Ancestors and out of our Duty to those for whom we serve finding that your Majesty without advice of your Lords and Commons hath lately in times of Peace Set both greater Impositions and farre more in number than any your Noble Ancestors did ever in time of Warre do with all humility present this most just and necessary Petition unto your Majesty THAT ALL IMPOSITIONS SET WITHOVT ASSENT IN PARLIAMENT MAY BE QVITE ABOLISHED AND TAKEN AWAY And that your Majesty likewise in imitation of your Royal Progenitors will be pleased that a Law in your time and during this Session of Parliament may be also made to declare That all Imposition of any kinde set or to be set upon your people their Goods or Merchandises save onely by common Consent in Parliament are and shall b● Void wherein your Majesty shall not onely Give your Subjects great Satisfaction in point of their Right but also bring exceeding joy and comfort to them who now suffer partly through the abating of the price of Native Commodities and partly through the raising of all Forraign to the overthrow of Merchants and shipping the causing of general dearth and decay of all wealth among your people who will be thereby no lesse discouraged than disabled to supply your Majesty when occasion shall require In which memorable Petition the whole House of Commons resolve in direct terms 1. That the Subjects of England have old original Fundamental Rights and more particularly in the Property of their Goods exempted from all Impositions whatsoever in times of peace or war without their common consent in Parliament declared and established both by the ancient and common law of England and sundry Acts of Parliament and records of former times 2. They declare the constant vigilant care zeal of our ancestors and former Parliaments in all ages inviolably to maintain defend preserve the same against all enchroachments together with their own care duty and vigilancy in this kind in that very Parliament 3. They relate the readinesse of our Kings to ratifie these their Fundamental Rights by new Acts of Parliament when they have been violated in any kinde 4. They declare the benefit accruing both to Prince and People by the inviolable preservation and establishment of this old Fundamental right and the mischiefs accruing to both by the infringment thereof by arbitrary illegall impositions without full consent in Parliament 5. They earnestly in point of Conscience prudence and duty to those for whom they served Petition his Majesty for a new Law and Declaration against all new Impositions and Taxes on inland Goods or Merchandises imported or exported without the peoples free consent in Parliament as null void utterly to be abolished and taken away Whether it will not be absolutely necessary for the whole English Nation and the next ensuing National or reall Parliament to prosecute enact establish such a Declaration and Law against all such former and future arbitrary illegal oppressive Taxes Impositions Excises that have been imposed and continued for many years together on the whole kingdome by new extravagant self-created usurping ARMY-OFFICERS and other Powers without free and full consent of the people in Lawfull English Parliaments against all former Laws Declarations and Resolutions in Parliaments to their great oppression enslaving undoing in far greater proportions multiplicity and variety than ever in former Ages without the least intermission and likewise against their late declared designe to perpetuate them on our exhausted Nation without alteration or diminution beyond and against all presidents of former Ages both in times of Peace and War for the future by the 27 28 29 30 39. Articles of the Instrument entituled The Government of the Common-wealth of England c. I remit to their most serious considerations to determine if ever they resolve to be English Freemen again or to imitate the wisdome prudence zeal courage and laudable examples of their worthy Ancestors from which they cannot now degenerate without the greatest Infamy and enslaving of themselves with their Posterities for ever to the arbitrary wils of present or future Vsurpers on their Fundamental Rights and Liberties in an higher degree then ever in any precedent Ages under the greatest Conquerours or Kings after all their late costly bloody Wars for their Defence against the beheaded King 5 The fifth is A learned and necessary Argument made in the Commons House of Parliament Anno 7. Jacobi to prove That each Subject hath a Property in his Goods shewing also the extent of the Kings Prerogative in Impositions upon the Goods of Merchants exported or imported c. by a late learned Judge of this Kingdome printed at London by Richard Bishop 1641. and Ordered to be Published in Print at a Committee appointed by the Honorable House of Commons for examination and Licensing of Books 20. Maii 1641. In which Parliamentary Argument p. 8. 11. 16. I finde these direct Passages That the New Impositions contained in the Book of Rates imposed on Merchandizes imported and exported by the Kings Prerogative and Letters Patents without consent in Parliament is against the natural Frame and Constitution of the Policy of this Kingdome which is JVS PVBLICVM REGNI AND SO SVBVERTETH THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF THE REALM and introduceth a new Form of State and Government Can any man give me a reason why the King can only in Parliament make Laws No man ever read any Law whereby it was so ordained and yet no man ever read that any King practised the contrary therefore IT IS THE ORIGINAL RIGHT OF THE KINGDOME AND THE VERY NATURAL CONSTITUTION OF OUR STATE AND POLICY being one of the highest Rights of Soveraign Power If the King alone out of Parliament may impose HE ALTERETH THE LAW OF ENGLAND IN ONE OF THESE TWO MAIN FUNDAMENTAL POiNTS he must either take the Subjects Goods from them without assent of the Party which is against the law or else he must give his own Letters Patents the force of
Bull the Jesuites after her decease disswaded the Romish-minded Subjects from yielding in any wise obedience to King James as their Soveraign and entr●d into a Treasonable Conspiracy with the Lord Cobham Lord Gray and others against him to imprison him for the ends aforesaid or destroy him pretending that King Iames was no King at all before his Coronation and that therefore they might by force of Arms lawfully surprise his person and Prince Henry his Son and imprison them in the Tower of London or Dover-Castle till they inforced them by duress to grant a free toleration of their Catholick Religion to remove some evil Counsellors from about them and to grant them a free Pardon for this violence or else they would put some further project in execution against them to their destruction But this Conspiricy being discovered The Traytors were apprehended arraighned condemned and Watson and Clerk two Jesuited Priests who had drawn them into this Conspiracy upon the aforesaid Pretext with some others executed as Traytors all the Iudges of England resolving that King Iames being right Heir to the Crown by descent was immediately upon the death of Queen Elizabeth actually possessed of the Crown and lawful King of England before any Proclamat●on or Coronation of him which are but Ceremonies as was formerly adjudged in the case of Queen Mary and Queed Iane 1 Mariae there being no Interregnum by the Law of ENGLAND as is adjudged declared by Act of Parliament 1 Iac. c. 1. worthy serious perusal 8. their horrid Gun-powder Treason Plot contrived fomented by Garnet Superiour of the English Jesuites Gerard Tensmod and other Jesuites who by their Apostolical power did not onely commend but absolve from all sin the other Jesuited Popish Conspirators and Faux The Sculdier who were their instruments to effect it Yea the Jesuitical Priests were so Atheistical as that they usually concluded their Masses with Prayers for the good success of this hellish Plot which was suddenly with no less then 36 Barrels of Gunpowder placed in a secret Vault under the House of Lords to have blown up and destroyed at once King James himself the Queen Prince Lords Spirituall and Temporal with the Commons assembled together in the Upper-House of Parliament upon the 5 of November Anno Dom. 1605. and then forcibly to have seised with armed men prepared for that purpose the persons of our late beheaded King then Dake of York and of the Lady Elizabeth his Sister if absent from the Parliament and not there destroyed with the rest that so there might be none of the Royal Line left to inherit the Crown of England Scotland and Ireland to the utter overthrow and subversion of the whole Royal Family Parliament State and Government of this Realm Which unparallel'd inhumane bloody Plot being miraculously discovered prevented the very day before its execution in perpetual detestation of it and of the Jesuites and their traiterous Romish Religion which both contrived and approved it the 5 day of November by the Statute of 3 Jacobi ch 1. was enacted to be had in perpetual Remembrance that all Ages to come might thereon meet together publickly throughout the whole Nation to render publick praises unto God for preventing this infernal Jesuitical Design and keep in memory this joyful Day of Deliverance for which end special forms of publick Prayers and Thankesgivings were then appointed and that Day ever since more or less annually observed till this present And it is worthy special observation that had this Plot taken effect It was agreed by the Jesuites and Popish Conspirators before-hand That the Imputation of this Treason should be cast upon the Puritans to make them more Odious as now they father all the Powder-Plots of this kinde which they have not onely laid but fully accomplished of late yeers against the King Prince Royal Posterity the Lords and Commons House our old English Parliaments and Government upon those Independents and Anabaptistical Sword-men whom they now repute and stile the most reformed PURITANS who were in truth but their meer under Instruments to effect them When as they originally laid the Plots as is clear by Campanella's Book De Monarchia Hisp ch 25. and Cardinal Richelieu his Instructions at his death to the King of France And it is very observable that as Courtney the Jesuite Rector of the English Jesuites Colledge at Rome did in the year 1641. when the name of Independents was scarce heard of in England openly affirm to some English Gentlemen and a Reverend Minister of late in Cornwal from whom I had this Relation then and there feasted by the English Jesuites in their Colledge That now at last after all their former Plots had miscarried they had found out a sure way to subvert and ruine the Church of England which was most formidable to them of all others by the Independents who immediately after by the Jesuites clandestine assistance infinitely encreased supplanted the Presbyterians by degrees got the whole power of the Army and by it of the Kingdom into their hands then subverted both the Presbyterian Government and Church of England in a great measure with the Parliament King and his Posterity as Monsieur Militiere a Jesuited French-Papist observes So some Independent Ministers Sectaries and Anabaptists ever since 1648. have neglected the observation of the fifth of November as I am credibly informed and refused to render publick thanks to God for the deliverance thereon contrary to the Act for this very reason which some of them have rendered That they would not mock God in publick by praising him for delivering the late King Royal Posterity and House of Lords from destruction then by Jesuites and Papists when as themselves have since destroyed and subverted them through Gods providence and repute it a special mercy and deliverance to the Nation from Tyranny and Bondage for which they have cause to bless the Lord Performing that for the Jesuites and Powder-Traytors which themselves could not effect The Lord give them grace and hearts to consider how much they acted the Jesuites and promoted their very worst Designes against us therein what infamy and scandal they have thereby drawn upon all zealous Professors of our Protestant Religion and what will they do in the end thereof 9. To omit all other Forraign instances cited in Speculum Jesuiticum p. 124 to 130. where you may peruse them at leisure By their poysoning King Iames himself in conclusion as some of them have boasted 10. By the Popes Nuntio's and a Conclave of Jesuites Conspiracy at London Anno 1640. to poyson our late King Charles himself as they had poysoned his Father with a poysoned Indian Nut kept by the Jesuites and shewed often by Conne the Popes Nuntio to the Discoverer of that Plot or else to destroy him by the Scotish wars and troubles raised for that very end by the Jesuites in case he refused to grant them a
Church Religion then to follow the Advice Votes Councels Directions Commands of our Parliaments Kingdomes and the best affected Protestants of all ranks who first raised and have so long maintained them for quite other ends hereafter touched then what they of late times have most pursued to the Popes and Jesuits great content 5. That the Jesuits have endeavoured attempted the convulsion concussion subversion not onely of the Empires Realms and ancient setled Governments and States of Germany Russia Bohemia Hungaria France Poland but likewise of England Scotland and Ireland and to new model them into other Forms of Government What mould of Government they intended to cast England into is thus long since described by William Watson a secular Priest in his Quodlibets Anno 1602. page 309 310 330 331. England is the main chance of Christendome at this present by seditions factions tampering and aspiring Heads the onely But Mark White the Jesuits aym at as well in intention as execution of their pretended expedition exploit and action I am of opinion that no man on earth can tell what Government it is they intend to establish ratifie and confirm when they come to their preconceited Monarchy no not any of their Plot casters No question it is but their Government shall be as uncertain as their New conceited Monarchy their Monarchy as mutable as their Reign and their Reign as variable as the Winde or Proteus in his Complements But no question is to be made of it but that the Government they do directly intend at this present is A MOST ABSOLUTE SOVERAIGNTY DOMINION AND STATE CLEARLY EXEMPTED from any subordination TO ANY LAW or Legifer divine or humane and therefore it is rightly called DESPOTICON in the highest degree of exemplary immuni●le IMPERIALITY AND ABSOLUTE REIGN RULE AND AUTHORITY as containing in it three sorts of Government S●il Monarchical Aristocraticall Democraticall in matters of Counsell and mannaging of Common wealths causes not in point OF REGALITY HONOUR AND INHERITANCE For there shall be neither Title nor Name nor Honour given taken or done to any Prince Duke Marquesse Earl Viscount Lord Baron or the like all the Jesuitical Governours being Puritan like Seniours Elders Provincials c. neither shall there be any successions by Birth or blood TO ANY HONOUR OFFICE OR MAGISTRACY from the Monarch Pater General to the Minor P●ter Minister but ALL SHALL GO BY ELECTION OR CHOICE Whether our late and present variable floating New moulded Governments have not been cast by this long since predicted Jesuiticall Mould let wise men with all our late yea present Governours now sadly consider and determine 6. That the Jesuits in a publique Disputation held at Madrid published by them under this Title Conclusiones Politicae sub Regis Domini nostri praesidio instructed the King of Spain their Chief Protector whom they most extoll above all other Kings to promote both his universall Monarchy and their own thereby That in relation to his Empire Power was necessary which power they defined to be A faculty not onely of retaining the Kingdomes he already possessed but likewise of acquiring other mens Perswading him by this Doctrine to believe That he was therefore consecrated a Catholike King by God that he might enjoy a faculty not onely of keeping his own but also OF INVADING AND SEISING UPON OTHER MENS DOMINIONS For to retain ones own was the praise onely of a private family DE ALIENIS CERTARE REGIA LAUS EST but it was a Royall praise to fight for that which is other mens NEC REGNANDI CAUSA JUS VIOLARE CRIMEN EST DUM CAETERIS REBUS PIETAS COLATUR Neither is it a Crime to violate Law or Right to reign or gain a Crown whiles that Piety in other things shall be observed Which Jesuitical Machivilian unrighteous Doctrine though as Alphonsus Vargas a Spanish Popish Priest resolves it be diametrically contrary to the doctrine of our Lord Jesus himself instructing men that aliena obtinere non Potentis Principis SED IMPOTENTIS AC VIOLENTI PRAEDONIS EST Yet the Jesuites and their Instruments of late years have sufficiently propagated it amongst our English Grandees and Army-Saints for a most sacred Oracle as their violent invasions of other mens Realms Powers Offices Pallaces Lands Estates and Possessions of all kindes by meer armed power and might demonstrate beyond contradiction 7. That the Jesuites in their Book De Zelo S. Ignatii in Religione sua instituenda printed at Madrid p. 13 do glory Hoc Societatis proprium esse ut quotidie nov●● promat inventiones quibus homines ad Deum perducantur That this is the property of their Society that it DAILY BRINGS FORTH NEW INVENTIONS whereby men may be brought home to God that is to their Religion and Society the principle whereof they and Vargas record to be these Their perswading of men to embrace the Gospel by AN ARMY the use of ARMES Power Terrour Fire Their Exercise of Merchandize which many of them in most places in England too now use they being very great Merchants Factors and Returners of Moneys by Bils of Exchange and of all other Secular Imployments Callings in Lay-mens habits the more easily to insinuate themselves into all Countries Places Companies and Societies of men to infect seduce and discover their secrets according to this their received Maxime JESUITA EST OMNIS HOMO a Jesuit is every man that is a man of all Professions Callings Sects Religions to effect his ends Their questioning traducing oppugning censuring of all the Articles of the Apostles Creed and received Principles Doctrines of Christian Religion corrupting slighting falsifying the Scriptures themselves together with Councils Fathers Schoolmen and all other Divines but those onely of their own Order which they incomparably extoll above and prefer before all other Their venting of new Opinions Notions Revelations Expos●●ions Crochets Herefies Problems both in Divinity itself and all other Arts and Sciences in the Presse Pulpit Universities Schools And if these as Vargas assures us be their properties and new inventions to propagate the Gospel and draw men unto God which our Lord Jesus himself and his true Disciples were wholy ignorant of may we not certainly conclude that they have of late years been extraordinary busie at this their harvest work amongst us and more especially in spreading their Gospel by AN ARMY and taking upon them the use of Arms in 〈◊〉 of their Military Father Ignatius with all other secular Imployments and New Sects to draw Proselites and new separate Congregations to them throughout our Realms to destroy both our Church Discipline and Religion as well as our Civill Government and Laws 8. That as the whole House of Commons in their Remonstrance of 15. December 1641. charge the Jesuites and late Jesuited Court-Counsellors with a Malignant and pernicious designe of SUBVERTING THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS and Principles of Government upon which the Religion and Justice of the
Kingdome are firmly established So William Watson a Secular Priest chargeth Father Parsons the English Jesuite and his Jesuited companions in their Memorial for Reformation of England when it should be reduced under the power of the Jesuites as Parsons was confident it would be though he should not live to see it written at Sevil in Spain Anno Dom. 1590. that they intended to have Magna Charta with our Common Fundamental Laws and Liberties abrogated and suppressed thus expressed by William Watson in his Quodlibets pag. 92 94 95. Father Parsons and the Jesuites in their deep Jesuitical Court of Parliament begun at Styx in Phlegeton have compiled their Acts in a compleat Volume intituled THE HIGH COVRT OF REFORMATION FOR ENGLAND And to give you a taste of their intent by that base Court of A TRIBE of TRAITORS sawcily like to Gade Jack Straw and Tom Tiler VSVRPING the AVTHORITY of both STATES ECCLESIASTICAL and TEMPORALL in all their REBELLIOVS ENTERPRICES these were principall points discussed set down and so decreed by them c. He first mentions three of them relating to Church-men Scholars and Church and Colledge-Lands which were to be put in Fee off●●s hands and they all to be reduced unto Arbitrary Pensions c. And then proceeds thus to the Fourth The fourth Statute was there made concerning the COMMON LAWS of this LAND and that consisted of this one principal point That ALL THE GREAT CHARTERS of ENGLAND MUST BE BURNT the manner of holding Lands in Fee simple Fee tail Kings service Soccage or Villanage brought into villany scogg●●y and popularity and in few the Common Law must be wholy annihillated abolished and troden down under foot and Caesars civill Imperials brought amongst us and sway for a time in their places All whatsoever England yeelds being but base barbarous and void of all sence knowledge or discretion shewed in the first Founders and Legifers and on the other side all whatsoever is or shal be brought in by these out-casts of Moses stain of Solon and refuse of Lycurgus must be reputed for metaphysical seme-divine and of more excellency than the other were Which he thus seconds Quodlibet 9. Article 2. p. 286. First it is plain that Father Parsons and his Company divide it amongst them how they list have laid a plot as being most consonant and fitting for their other Designments That the Common Laws of the Realm of England must be forsooth either abolished utterly or else bear no greater sway in the Realm than the Civil Law doth And the chief reason is for that the State of the Crown and Kingdome by the Common Laws is so strongly settled as whilest they continue the Jesuites see not how they can work their wills And on the other side in the Civil laws they think they have some shreds whereby they may patch a cloak together to cover a bloody shew of their Treasons for the present from the eys of the Vulgar people Secondly the said good Father hath set down a course how every man may shake off all authority at their pleasures as if he would become a new Anabaptist or King John of Leydon to draw all the world into Mutiny ●ebellion and Combustion And the Stratagem is how the Common people may be inveigled seduced to conceit to themselves such a liberty or prerogative as that it may be lawfull for them when they think meet to place and displace Kings and Princes as men do their Tenants at will hirelings or ordinary Servants Which Anabaptistical and abominable Doctrine proceeding from a turbul●nt tribe of Traiterous Puritan●s and other Hereticks this treacherous Jesuite would now foist into the Catholick Church as a ground of his corrupt Divinity And p. 330 332. He intends to alter and change all Laws Customs and Orders of this Noble Isle He hath prejudiced the law of Property in instituting Government Governours and Hereditary Princes to be BENEPLACITVM POPVLI and all other private possessions ad bene-placitum sui c Whether any such new deep Jesuitical Court of Parliament and high Court of Reformation for England to carry on this old Design of the Jesuites against our Laws hath been of late years sitting amongst us in or neer Westminster or elswhere in secret Counsel every week as divers intelligent Protestants have informed me and Hugh Peters reported to divers on his own knowledge being well acquainted with their Persons and practises of late years it concerns others neerer to them and more able then I to examine Sure I am a greater man by far then Hugh Peters in an Assembly of Divines and others for reconciling all dissenting parties not long since averred to them on his own knowledge That during our late innovations distractions subversions in Church State and overturning of Laws and Government the common adversary hath taken many advantages to effect his designes thereby in civill and spiritual respects That he knew very well that Emissaries of the Jesuites never came over in those swarms as they have done since these things were on foot That DIVERS GENTLEMNE CAN BEAR WITNES WITH HIM that they had a CONSISTORY AND COUNCEL ABROAD THAT RULES ALL THE AFFAIRS OF THE THINGS IN ENGLAND That they had fixed in England in the limits of most Cathedrals of which he was able to produce the PARTICULAR INSTRUMENT an Episcopal power with Archdeacons and other persons to pervert seduce and deceive the people And all this whiles we were in this sad and deplorable distracted condition Yea most certain it is that many hundreds if not some thousands of them within these few years have been sent over from Forraign Seminaries into England under the disguises of converted Jews Physitians Chyrurgions Mechanicks of all sorts Merchants Factors Travellers Souldiers and some of them particularly into the Army as appears by the late printed Examination of Ramsey the Anabaptized New-dipped Jesuite under the mask of a Jewish Convert taken at New Castle in June 1653. and by sundry severall late instances I could name To pretermit all instances of diverse particular Jesuites come over into England not only within these few years but moneths discovered by persons of credit with Sir Kenelm Digby who though the son of one of the executed old popish Gunpowder Traitors a dangerous active seducing Jesuited papist if not a professed Jesuit who in the years 1638 and 1639. conspired with the Popes Nuncio and a Conclave of Jesuites sitting in Council at London to subvert our Religion introduce a universall tolleration of the popish Religion in our kingomes new modle and shake our former established government and to poyson destroy the late King himself in case he consented not to them therein and for this very purpose both plotted raised promoted the first Wars between the Protestants of England and Scotland which he abetted all he could by his letters and secret Collections of moneys from all the Papists throughout England and elswhere who
largly contributed to this war and designe for which he Sir John Winter Master Mountague and others who had a hand in this conspiracy were convented and brought upon their knees at the Commons House-bar Jan. 28. 1640. upon which he retyring into France was about May 1645. sent as a speciall Embassadour from the Queen to the Pope of Rome himself to solicit him for ayds of monies men arms against the Parliament is first audience he had the best reception and fairest Promises of Aid in general that could be wished writing hopefully of supplies of Moneys from Rome to the Queen and others as both Houses of Parliament in their Declaration and Letters published 26 March 1646. proclaim to all the world and likewise good Hopes of a Cardinals Cap for himself or the Lord Aubeny or Mr. Mountagne for which he and the Queen sollicited After that upon his return from Rome he was sent over into England about Decemb. 1648. as a fit instrument to New-moddle us into a Commonwealth and promote the violent Proceedings of the Army Officers and their Confederates set on work by the Jesuits and their Agents against the late King Parliament Members where upon his arrival he was instead of being apprehended and brought to justice for the premises hugged by some Grandees whom he courted permitted to ride and walk about at large while the Members were under strict guards and restraints frequently repaired to Whitehall where he was well received his Sequestration totally taken off without any Fees or gratification by special order and himself now at last permitted to lodge not only in Wildemans House where the Queens Capuchins formerly resided but sometimes in Whitehall it self to the admiration of many understanding Protestants who justly suspect he hath there more disguised Iesuits to consult with and promote both their old and new designs against our Church State Religion Laws Liberties till they have brought them and us to utter ruine I shall for brevity sake acquaint you with one memorable general instance discovering what swarms of Jesuites are now amongst us under other visors An English Protestant Nobleman a person of honor whose Ancestors were Papists being courteously entertained within these two years at Rome by some eminent Iesuits in their chief Colledge there was brought by them into a Gallery having Chambers round about it with Titles over every door for several Kingdoms and amongst the rest one for ENGLAND Upon which he enquiring of the Iesuits what these titles signified was answered by them That they were the Chambers of the Provincial Iesuits of each Kingdom and Province written ever the respective doors wherein they had any members of their society now residing who received all Letters of intelligence from their Agents in those places every week and gave account of the to the General of their Order That the Provincial for England lodged in the Chamber over which the title ENGLAND was written who could shew him the last news from England which he desiring to see they thereupon knocked at the door which was presently opened the Provincial being informed who what the Lord was read the last news from England to them Hereupon the Nobleman demanded of them Whether any of their society were now in England how they could stay with safety or support themselves there seeing most of the English Nobility Gentry and Families that were Papists were ruined in their estates or sequestred by the late wars troubles so as they could neither harbour conceal nor maintain them as they had done heretofore They answered It was true but the greater the dangers and difficulties of those of their society now in England were the greater was their merit And that they had then above fiftéen hundred of their Society in England able to work in several Professions Trades which they had there taken upon them the better to support secure themselves from being discovered who together with some Popish Priests and Friers no doubt upon diligent inquiry will appear to be the chiefest Speakers Quakers Disputers Seducers Rulers in most separate Congregations and the principle brochers of all New Opinions Blasphemies now abounding amongst us This Relation I have heard from the mouth of a Reverend Divine more than once to whom this Noble Lord upo his return into England not many Months since seriously related the Premises averring the truth of them upon his Honour Yet for all this since the stupendious pretended repeals and annihilations of the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance that of Abjuration of Popery consented to by the late King in the Isle of Wight purposely made for the better detection and prevention of Iesuites and their treasonable forementioned practises against our Church Kingdoms Princes Religion Parliaments and Government by the wisdom and zeal of our best affected vigilant * Protestant Parliaments I can neither hear nor read of any effectual means endeavoured or prescribed by any in power for the discovery of these Romish Ianizaries or banishing feretting and keeping them out of England where they have wrought so much mischief of late years and whose utter ruine they attempt nor any incouragement at all given to the Discoverers of their Plots and Persons but many affronts and discouragements put upon them and particularly on my self lately mewed up close Prisoner under strictest Guards in remotest Castles near three years space without any Accusation hearing or particular cause yet assigned or disclosed to me though oft then and since demanded by me from my Imprisoners whiles they all walked abroad at large of purpose to hinder me from any discoveries of their practises by my Pen where as they printed vended publickly here in England above 30000 Popish Books of several kinds during my imprisonment without the least restraint to oppugne our Protestant established Religion as many of them do in terminis as most damnable Heresie propagate the Jesuites Plots and antichristian Romish Church and Religion amongst us as you may read at large in the Stationers Beacon fired which seasonable book and Discovery of these Romish Emissaries books and plots some Officers of the Army in their Beacon quenched publickly traduced in print as a New-Powder-Treason of the Presbyterian Party to blow up the Army and that pretended Parliament of their own erection which themselves soon after blew up and dissolved in good earnest pleading for a free Toleration of such Popish Books and all Religions as agreeable to the Armies Engagements and Principles to carry on their designs against our Religion and Laws But most certain it is there hath been of late years not only a General Councel of Officers of the Army sitting many moneths together in Councel to alter and new model all our ancient Laws and Statutes in pursuance of Father Parson's design but likewise two Conventicles of their own selection and election sitting of late in the Parliament House at Westminster assuming to themselves the Name and far
more than the Power of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England together with the transcendent ambitious Title of The Supream Authority of the Nation in derogation of the Army Officers Supremacy who sufficiently chastised them for this strange Usurpation who have made it their chief businesse not only to New-model our ancient Fundamental Government Parliaments Ministry Ministers maintenance by Glebes Tithes and our Universities much according to Parsons and his Fellow Jesuites forementioned Plat-formes and Thomas Campanella his Instructions to the King of Spain De Monarchia Hisp. c. 25. but likewise to New-mould subvert eradicate the whole Body of our municipal Laws and with them the great Charter of our Liberties it self And in their last cas●iered unelected Convention as some of their Companions now in greatest Power assure us in their True State of the Case of the Commonwealth of England c. London 1654. p. 5 16 17 18. there was a strong prevailing party whom nothing would satisfie but A Total Eradication of the whole body of the good old Laws of England the Guardians of our Lives and Fortunes to the utter subversion of civil Right and Propriety who likewise took upon them by vertue of a supposed right of Saintship in themselves to lay the foundation of a new Platform which was to go under the Name of A Fift Monarchy never to have an end but To war withall other powers and break them to pieces baptizing all their proselites into this Principle and perswasion that the Powers formerly in being were branches of the Fourth Monarchy of England Scotland and Ireland which must be rooted up and destroyed And what other Fifth Monarchy this could be but that projected universal Monarchy of the Iesuites which would bring the whole Monarchy of Great Britain and Ireland together with France Spain and all other Princes States in Christendome under the ●esuites subjection and break all other powers in pieces mentioned by Watson in his Quodlibets p. 306 to 333. and Alphonsus de Vargas Relatio de Stratagematis Sophismatis Politicis societatis Iesu Ad Monarchiam orbis terrarum sibi conficiendam c. 8. c. or else that Elective New Monarchy of Great Britain and Ireland projected by Campanella and Cardinal Richelieu which some Grandees now endeavour by their Instrument to erect and perpetuate for ever without alteration in themselves and their Successors though they thus expresly brand it in others let themselves and wise men resolve it being apparent by the practises and proceedings of all the Propugners of this new Project that this Fifth Monarchy they intend to erect is neither the spiritual Kingdom of Iesus Christ in their own hearts mortifying their ambitiō covetousness pride self-seeking unrighteousness violence rapines other worldly lusts nor the personal reign of Christ himself alone in and over our 3 Kingdoms and all other Nations for ever depriving all Temporal Kings and Princes of their Crowns Rights and Government over their Subjects which they falsly endeavour to evince from Dan. 2. 44 45 c. 7. 14 27. Micah 4. 1 2 7. Luke 1. 32 33. Rev. 20. 1. to 8. 1 Cor. 15. 24 25. Heb. 12. 26 27 28. but a meer supream arbitrary temporal Authority without Bounds or Limits encroached by and erected in themselves and their confederates without any colour of Right or Title by the Laws of God or the Realm and no ways intended but refuted by all these sacred Scriptures others which explain them This design of the Jesuites to alter and subvert the whole body of our Laws was so far promoted by the Iesuitical and Anabaptistical party in this last Assembly elected only by the Army-Officers that on Aug. 20. 1653. as our News-books print they Ordered there should be a Committee selected to consider of a A new Body of the Law for the Government of this Commonwealth who were to new-mould The whole Body of the Law according to Parsons his mould And hereupon our cheating Astrologers especially Lilly Culpeper the Iesuites grand Factors to cry down our Laws Tithes Ministers from the meer visible earthly Conjunctions Votes Motions Influences of these New wandring excentrick Planets at Westminster only not of any Coelestial Stars as they would make Country-Clowns believe alwayes moving and acting themselves by an unalterable Law from the very Creation until now Gen. 1. 14. to 19. c. 8. 22. Psal 104. 19. Psal 136. 8. 9. Ier. 31. 35 36. c. 33. 20 21. Iob 38. 32 33. therefore no ways exciting men to alter Fundamental Laws and Governments here on earth took upon them in their Monthly Prognostications for this year 1654. versity College Lands by Monthly endless Taxes Excises a perpetual Law Tith-oppugning Parliament-dissolving Army in whose Councels we have cause to fear the Iesuites have been most predominant of late years and will still make use of them to our final ruine if not effectually purged out and the Army new moulded new principled if any longer continued under pretext of publick safety and not wholy disbanded for the peoples ease and Liberty It is worthy observation that Tho. Campanella prescribed the sowing and continual nourishing of Divisions Dissentions Discords Sects and Schisms among us both in State and Church by the Machivilian Plots and Policies he suggests punctually prosecuted among us of late years as the principal means to weaken ruine both our Nation and Religion and bring us under the Spanish and Popish yokes at last witness his IAMVERO AD ENERVANDOS ANGLOS NIHIL TAM CONDUCIT QUAM DISSENTIO ET DISCORDIA INTER ILLOS EXCIT AT A PERPETUOQUE NUTRITA Quod cit● meli●res occasiones suppeditabi● and that principally by instigating the Nobles and chief Men of the Parliament of England UT ANGLIAMIN FORMAM REIPUBLICAE REDUCANT AD IMITATIONEM HOLLANDORVM which our Republicans lately did by the power of the Army Officers or by sowing the seeds of an inexplicable war between England and Scotland By making it an Elective Kingdom as some now endeavour under another Notion or by setting up Other Kings of another Race without Legal Right or just Title against that ancient unquestioned undoubted Right and Title setled established in King Iames and his Royal Posterity by Inherent Birthright and lawfull right of Descent by God himself and his Laws confirmned strengthned by all possible Titles and Rights of compact Laws Statutes Oaths perpetual uncontradicted custome Protestations Covenants the solemn Publick Faith and Engagement of our English Parliaments Nation for themselves Their Heirs Posterities for ever as the Statutes of 1 Iacobi c. 1. 2 3 Iac. c. 1. 4 7. Iac. c. 6. which both houses of Parliament in their Declaration of Nov. 2. 1642. Exact Collect. p. 705 resolve And that upon this suggestion to the People Crudelem fore SCOTUM ubi semel Imperium in illos obtinuerit 〈…〉 mente repostum quanta injuria Angli Scotos superioribus
Britain To which I shall add that of Rob Turner an English Jesuit in his Epistles printed at Ingolstad An. 1584. Ep. 19. Volui irrepere volui irrumpere in intimas Aulas Principum volui videre omnia ut ad Justitiae norman praeclare exigerem Vix coeperam obi●e Principū Aulas cum viderim Hoereticorū illum Mundum ADMINISTRARI A STULTIS c. with that of Hospinian Historia Jesuitica l. 3. p. 148. That the Jesuits are so subtil vigilant bold laborious and indued with such a faci●lty of flattery insinuation acting and hurting in Princes Courts that they exactly discover know and fish out all their secrets which they eve●l to their Superiors the Pope and Spaniard and alone rule all things in them so that the Courts of Europe are more grievously infested afflicted by the Iesuites than the Court of Pharoah was of old by the Aegyptian ●rogs And may we not then justly fear our new Court hath been as much pestered and infested by them of late years as our old Court heretofore 〈◊〉 That the Jesuites hope and endeavour to have England Scotland and Ireland under them to make these Northern Islands a Iaponian Island of Iesuites and one Iesuitical Monarchy and to infeoffe themselves by hook or by crook In the whole imperial Dominions of great Britain with the remainder over To their Corporation or puni-Fathers succeeding them as heirs specially in their society by a state of perpetuity Putting all the whole Blood Royal of England to the Formidon As but Heirs general in one Predicament together as now they have done 3. That the Jesuites have Magistracy Kings Magistrates Ministers Priesthood and Priests in high contempt publishing many slanderous seditious trayterous and infamous speeches libels and books against them to render them odious and contemptible to the People full of Plots exasperations against the Church and Commonwealth like rebellious Traytors to bring all into an uproar that they may have all Countries Kingdoms Governments Successions States Inhabitants and all at their pleasure 4. That the Jesuites have taught the people in order to get England under their power and in order to God or Religion as they stile it That Subjects are bound no longer to obey wicked or heretical Princes and Kings deflecting from the Catholick Religion and drawing others with them but till they be able by force of arms to resist and depose them That the popular multitude may upon these grounds when they think meet place and displace their Princes and chief Officers at their pleasure as men may do their Tenants at will hirelings or ordinary Servants putting no difference in their choice Vpon any Right or Title to Crowns or Kingdome by Birth or Blood or otherwise then as these Fathers forsooth shall approve it By this all things must be wrought and framed conformable to opportunities of times and occasions as for example The people must have a right and interest in them and to doe what they list in choice of their Kings and Supream Governours til they have set such a person or Usurper in the Crown as they for their ends have designed and then the times and occasions changing when such a one is setled in the Throne the former doctrine and practises must be holden FOR A MISTAKING yet such as seeing it cannot be holpen the people must beware herafter of attempting the like again By this a check must be given to the publishers of such paradoxes when they have accomplished their designed ends after that a dispensation procured for the Offenders and then all shall be well ever after till a new opportunity for their further advantage 5. That the Jesuits by abs●rd equivocations counterfeited perjuries Sacriledges and cousenage become all things to all men that they may gain all as to be Seminary Priests amongst Seminaries Secular Priests among Seculars Religious men among Religious Seditious men among Seditious Factions Spaniards amongst Spaniards ENGLISH TRAYTORS AMONG TRAYTORS SCOTISH VILAINS AMONG SCOTS c. and amongst all these to deny and affirm to object and answer to swear and forswear whatsoever may be a gain to them for their pragmatical Commonwealth and society No wonder then if they transform themselves into all shapes and take upon them all professions now amongst us 6. That the Jesuits by their devices and practises have brought all to Machiavels rule DIVIDE ET IMPERA in sowing division breeding of jealousies and making of hoslile strife by opposition of King against King State against State Priest against Priest Peer against Peer Parents against children children against parents sisters against brothers servants against masters wives against husbands husbands against wives and one friend against another raising up rebellions MVRDRING OF PRINCES making uproars every where until they make those they cannot otherwise winne unto them either yield to be their vassals to live quiet by them or force them to flight or drive them out of their wits or otherwise plague them to death 7. That the Jesuits by their cursed positions and machiavillian practises have made religion it self a meer political and atheal device a pragmatical science of Figboys and but an art of such as live by their wits and the principles of Machiavel taught by their Rabb●es yea a very hotch potch of omnium gatherum religious secular clergical laical ecclesiastical spiritual temporal MARTIAL civil Aecomenical political liberal mechannical municipal irregular and ALL WITHOVT ORDER so that they are not worthy to be called religious ecclesiasticks catholicks nor temporal mechannical Christians but rather Machiavillians Atheists Apostates their course of life shewing what their study is and that howsoever they boast of their perfections holiness meditations and exercises as if they were all Superlatives all Metaphysicians all entia transcendentia yet their platform is heathenish tyrannical sathannical able to set Aretine Lucian Machiavel yea and Don Lucifer in a sort to school Those I say who shall sadly ponder all these premises and compare them with the late practises policies and proceedings of some swaying politicians of our age infected likewise with this Atheistical State-Maxime amongst others derived from the Jesuits and Machiavillian Spanish State-Counsellers In Reipublicae administratione quaedam LICITA ESSE RATIONE STATVS alia respectu Conscientiae which Thomas Campanella as bad as he is not only severely censures but thus declaims against with highest detestation Qua opinione profecto NIHIL MAGIS ABSVRDVM AV● IMPIVM ne excogitari quidem potest Nam qui conscientiae universalem suam jurisdictionem in omnes res humanas TAM PVBLICAS QVAM PRIVATAS subtrahit ostendit SE NEC CONSCIENTIAM NEC DEVM HABERE c. Siquidem omnia scandala Ecclesiae Dei PERTVRBATIONES ORBIS TERRARVM INDE ORTA SVNT that men may do against all Laws of God and Man their own Consciences Trusts Oaths out of a pretext of the benefit safety of the State publick good as most now do Or compare
to settle Religion in the purity thereof TO MAINTAIN THE ANCIENT and FUNDAMENTALL GOVERNMENT OF THIS KINGDOME TO PRESERVE THE RIGHTS and LIBERTIES OF THE SUBJECT to lay hold on the first opportunity of procuring a safe and well grounded peace in the three Kingdoms and to keep a good understanding between the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland according to the grounds expressed in the Solemn League and Covenant And lest these generals should not give a sufficient satisfaction we have thought fit to the end men might no longer be abused in a misbelief of our intentions or a misunderstanding of our actions to make a further enlargement upon the particulars And first Concerning Church-Government c. because we cannot consent to the granting of an Arbitrary and unlicensed Power and Jurisdiction to neer ten thousand Judicatories to be erected within this Kingdome and this demanded in such a way as is not consistent with the FVNDAMENTAL LAWS and GOVERNMENT OF THE SAME c. Our full resolutions still are sincerely really and constantly to endeavour the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdome of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship and Government according to the word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and according to the Covenant WE ARE SO FARRE FROM ALTERING THE FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENT OF THIS KINGDOME BY KING LORDS and COMMONS that we have onely desired that with the consent of the King such Power may be settled in the TWO HOVSES without which we can have no assurance but that the like or greater mischiefs than those which God hath hither to dilivered us from may break out again and engage us in a second and more destructive war whereby it plainly appears Our intentions are not to change the Antient Frame of Government within this Kingdome but to obtain the end of the Primitive Institution of all Government The safety and weal of the People not judging it wise or safe after so bitter experience of the bloody consequence of a pretended Power of the Militia in the King to leave any colourable authority in the same for the future attempts of introducing AN ARBITRARY GOVERNMENT OVER THIS NATION We do declare That we will not nor any by colour of any Authority derived from us shall interrupt the ordinary course of Justice in the severall Courts of Judicatories of this Kingdome nor intermeddle in the cases of private interest other where determinable unlesse it be in case of male-Administration of Justice wherein we shall see and provide that Right be done and punishment inflicted as there shall be occasion ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF THE KINGDOME Lastly Whereas both Nations have entred into a Solemn League and Covenant we have and EVER SHALL BE VERY CAREFULL DULY TO OBSERVE THE SAME that as nothing hath been done SO NOTHING SHALL BE DONE BY US REPUGNANT TO THE TRUE MEANING AND INTENTION THEREOF c. WHO WILL NOT DEPART FROM THOSE GROUNDS AND PRINCIPLES upon which it was framed and founded Though the generality of the afterwards secured and secluded Majority of the House of Commons endeavoured constantly to make good this Declaration in all particulars yet how desperatly the garbled Minority thereof continuing in power after their Seclusion prevaricated apostatized and falsified their Faith herein in every particle in the highest degree we cannot but with greatest grief of heart and detestation remember to the subversion ruine of our King Lords Commons Kingdome Parliaments Fundamentall Laws Government and the peoples Liberties c. almost beyond all hopes of restitution or reparation in humane probability without a miracle from heaven The Lord give them grace most seriously to consider repent of and really sincerely reform it now at last and to make it the principle subject of their prescribed publike Humiliations Fasts and Lamentations as God himself prescribes Isa 58. 5 6 7 8. Jer. 34. 8. to 22. Ezech. 19. 1. 14. Hos 10. 3 4. and not still to adde drunkennesse to thirst lest they bring them to temporall and eternal condemnation for it in Gods own due time and engender endlesse Wars Troubles Taxes Changes Confusions in our Kingdomes as they have hitherto done and will do till all be restored to their just Rights Powers Places Possessions and Liberties By this full Jury of Parliamentary Authorities to omit many others of like or inferiour nature and lesse moment it is undeniable That the people of England have both ancient Fundamentall Rights Liberties Franchises Laws and a Fundamental Government which like the Laws of the Medes and Persians neither may nor ought to be altered or innovated upon any pretence but perpetually maintained defended with greatest care vigilancy resolution and he who shall deny or oppugn it deser●●s no refulation by further arguments since it is a received Maxime in all Arts Contra Principia negantem non est disputandum but rather demerits a sentence of Condemnation and publike execution at Tyburn as a Common Enemy Traitor to our Laws Liberties Nation it being no lesse than a transcendent crime and High Treason by our Laws for any person or persons secretly or openly to attempt the undermining or subversion of our fundamental laws rights Liberties Government especially by fraud treachery force or armed power and violence the later part of my first proposal which I shall now confirm by these twelve following Presidents and Evidences corroborating likewise the former part That we have such Fundamental laws liberties rights franchises and a fundamental Government too In the fifth year of King Richard the second the vulgar rabble of people and villains in Kent Essex Sussex Norfolk Cambridge-shire and other Counties under the Conduct of Wat Tyler Jack Straw and other Rebels assembling together in great multitudes occasioned at first by the new invented Tax of Poll-money granted by Parliament and the over-rigorous levying thereof on the people by the Kings Officers though nothing so grievous as our Excises Contributions new Imposts now so long exacted without any legal Grant in true free and full English Parliaments resolved by force and violence to abrogate the law of Villenage with all other laws they disliked formerly setled to burn all the Records kill and behead all the Judges Justices and men of law of all sorts which they could get into their hands to burn and destroy the Inns of Court as they did then the new Temple where the Apprentices of the law lodged burning their Monuments and Records of Law there found to alter the tenures of lands to devise new laws of their own by which the Subjects should be governed to change the ancient Hereditary Monarchicall Government of the Realm and to erect petty elective Tyrannies and Kingdomes to themselves in every shire A project eagerly prosecuted by some Anarchicall Anabaptists Jesuits Levellers very lately and though withall they intended to destroy the King at last and all the Nobles too when they had gotten sufficient power yet at first to
no sooner projected by some evil Malignant Jesuited Counsellers about the late King but it was presently condemned and crushed in the very shell when first intended to be set on foot in England by King Charls with the advise and consent of his privie Council at White-Hall by a Commission under the Great Seal of England dated the last of February 3 Caroli issued to thirty three Lords of his Majesties Privie Council and others which authorized commanded them to raise monies BY IMPOSITIONS OR OTHERWISE as they in their wisdoms should finde most convenient and that only for these publike uses THE DEFENCE OF THE KING KINGDOM PEOPLE and of the Kings Friends and Allies beyond the Seas then in such imminent danger that WITHOUT EXTREAMEST HAZARD OF THE KING KINGDOM PEOPLE KINGS Friends and Allies it could admit of no longer delay In which INEVITABLE NECESSITY form and circumstance must rather be dispenced with than the substance lost The Commissioners being thereupon specially injoyned to be diligent in the Service and not fail therein as they tender his Majesties Honour and THE SAFETY OF THE KING and PEOPLE This Commission was no sooner discovered but it was presently complained of by the whole Commons House in the Parliament of 3 Caroli and upon Conference with the Lords it was immediately Voted adjudged by both Houses without one dissenting voyce TO BEE EX DIAMETHRO AGAINST LAW and CONTRARY TO THE PETITION OF RIGHT after which it was cancelled as such in the Kings own presence by his consent order and then sent cancelled to both Houses for their satisfaction before ever it was put in execution and all Warrants for and memorials of it cancelled damned destroyed the Commons further urging That the Projector thereof might be found out by strict inquiry and EXEMPLARILY PVNISHED as the Parliament Journal attests notwithstanding all the specious pretences of inevitable necessity imminent danger and the defence safety of the whole Kingdom People King and his forreign Protestant Friends and Allies then in greater real danger than any now appearing This Original Parliamentary Doom Judgement against that New Monster of Excise was ratified approved pressed by both Houses of Parliament in the Cases of Ship-money and the Commission of Array as you may read at large in Mr. Oliver St. Johns Speech and Declaration delivered at a Conference of both Houses concerning Ship-money 14 January 1640. printed by the Commons Order p. 13. to 20. and The Lords and Commons second Declaration against the Commission of Array Exact collection p. 884 885. from which they then drew this positive conclusion fit to be now considered by our New Governours and the whole Nation THAT TO DEFEND THE KINGDOM IN TIME OF IMMINENT DANGER IS NO SUFFICIENT CAVSE for the King and his Council much less then for those who condemned suppressed them for Tyrants and Oppressors of the People TO LAY ANY TAX OR CHARGE UPON THE SUBJECTS WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT IN PARLIAMENT Yea the whole House of Commons was so zealous against this Dutch Devil of Excise that in their Remonstrance of the state of the Kingdom 15 Decemb 1641. Exact Collection p. 3 4 6. they expresly brand censure the first Attempts to introduce it for A MALIGNANT and PERNI●IOUS DESIGN TO SUBVERT THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS and PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT upon which the JUSTICE OF THIS KINGDOM WAS FORMERLY ESTABLISHED as proceeding from JESUITED COVNSELS BEING MOST ACTIVE and PREVAILING yea for AN UNJUST and PERNICIOVS ATTEMPT TO EXTORT GREAT PAYMENTS FROM THE SUBJECTS Which was to be accompanied as now it is with Billited Souldiers in all parts of the Kingdom and the concomitant of German as now of English HORSE That the LAND MIGHT EITHER SUBJECT WITH FEAR or BE ENFORCED WITH RIGOVR TO SUCH ARBITRARY CONTRIBUTIONS AS SHOVLD BE REQVIRED OF THEM And when some rumours were first spread abroad that the COMMONS HOVSE INTENDED TO LAY EXCISE UPON PEW●ER AND OTHER COMMODITIES they were so sensible of the injustice and odiousness thereof that they thereupon published a special Declaration printed 8 Octob. 1642. Exact Collection p. 638. wherein they not only disclaim renounce any such intention but branded those Reports and Rumours for FALSE and SCANDALOVS ASPERSIONS raised and cast upon the House BY MALIGNANT and ILL-AFFECTED PERSONS TENDING MUCH TO THE DISSERVICE OF THE PARLIAMENT and Ordered That the AVTHORS OF THEM should be inquired aftèr apprehended and brought to the House TO RECEIVE CONDIGNE PUNISHMENT After which this Excise being notwithstanding this Disclaimer and much publick private opposition against it set on foot by some swaying Members upon a pretence of necessity for support of the Army to the great Oppression and Discontent of the People The Generall and general Council of Officers and Souldiers of THE ARMY themselves were so sensible of this illegal oft-condemned New grievance that in the Heads of their Proposals and particulars of their Desires in order to the clearing and securing of the Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom tendred to the Commissioners of Parliament residing with the Army the first of August 1647. printed in their Book of Declarations p. 118 published by their own and the Lords House special Order they ●ade this one principall Desire to the Parliament That the EXCISE may be taken off from such Commodities whereof the poor of the Land do ordinarily live and A CERTAIN TIME TO BE LIMITED FOR TAKING OFF THE WHOLE Yet notwithstanding all these Judgements and Out-cryes against it some of those very persons who thus publickly branded it both in the Parliament House and Army by irregular paper Ordinances as they intitle them dated 24 December 1653. March 17. 1653. and May 4. 1654. have by their own Self-derived supertranscendent Authority without yea against the Peoples consents or any Authority from Parliament imposed continued Excise upon our own Inland and Forreign Commodities in very high proportions from the twenty fourth of March 1654. till the twenty fourth of March 1655. And which is most observable prescribed it to bee levied by putting the Parties to an EX OFFICIO OATH against themselves by Fines Forfeitures SEQVESTRATIONS and SALES OF THE REFUSERS OPPOSERS PERSONAL and REAL ESTATES DISSTRESSES BREAKING UP OF THE PARTIES HOVSES SEISVRES OF THEIR GOODS IMPRISONMENT OF THE PERSONS OF ALL SUCH WHO SHALL HINDER OR OPPOSE THE MINISTERS OR OFFICERS IMPLOYED IN LEVYING or distraining for the same BY LOCKING UP THE DOORS or OTHERWISE And by these their unparalleld Edicts they further order That the Officers of Excise BOTH DAY AND NIGHT shall be permitted free entrance into ALL ROOMES and PLACES WHATSOEVER THEY SHALL DEMAND in Brewers Sope-boylers and others Houses under pain of forfeiture of fifty pounds for every refusal by colour whereof all mens Houses may be robbed plundered and their throats cut by Theeves and Robbers pretending themselves Excise-men Souldiers authorised to make such Searches as many of late have been And they with all their assistants shall bee kept indenspnified in