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A91263 A seasonable, legall, and historicall vindication and chronologicall collection of the good, old, fundamentall, liberties, franchises, rights, laws of all English freemen (their best inheritance, birthright, security, against arbitrary, tyrannicall, and Egyptian burdens) and of their strenuous defence in all former ages; of late years most dangerously undermined, and almost totally subverted, under the specious disguise of their defence and future establishment, upon a sure basis, their pretended, greatest propugners. Wherein is irrefragably evinced by Parliamentary records, proofs, presidents, that we have such fundamentall liberties, ... that to attempt or effect the subversion of all or any of them, ... is high treason: ... / By William Prynne of Swainswick, Esquire.; Seasonable, legall, and historicall vindication and chronologicall collection of the good, old, fundamentall, liberties, franchises, rights, laws of all English freemen. Part 1 Prynne, William, 1600-1669. 1654 (1654) Wing P4062; Thomason E812_10; ESTC R207634 45,225 63

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the death of the Dukes of Glocester Lancaster and other Peers who maintained the Commission confirmed by act of Parliament X. R. 2. and assembling people in a warlike manner in the County of Chester for the effecting of it in destruction of the Estates of the Realm and OF THE LAWES OF THE KINGDOME 4. In the 29. year of King Henry the sixth Jack Cade under a pretence to REFORM alter and abrogate some Laws Purveyances and extortions importable to the Commons wherupon he was called JOHN AMEND ALL drew a great multitude of Kentish people to Black Heath in a warlike manner to effect it in the Parliament of 29. H. 6. c. 1. this was adjudged High Treason in him and his Complices by act of Parliament and the Parliament of 31. H. 6. c. 1. made this memorable Act against him and his Imitators insucceeding ages worth serious perusall and consideration by all who tread in his footsteps and over-act him in his Treasons Whereas the most abominable Tyrant horrible odious and errant FALSE TRAITOR John Cade calling himself sometimes Mortimer sometime Captain of Kent which Name Fame Acts and Feats to be removed out of the speech and mind of every faithfull Christian man perpetually falsly and trayterously purposing and imagining the perpetual destruction of the KINGS PERSON and FINALL SVBVERSION OF THIS REALM taking upon him * And have not others of late assumed to themselves more Royal power than he resolved to be Treason by 21. E. 3. Rot. Parl. n. 15. ROYALL POWER and gathering to him the Kings people in great number BY FALSE SUBTIL IMAGINED LANGUAGE and seditiously made a stirring Rebellion and insurrection VNDER COLOVR OF JVSTICE FOR REFORMATION OF THE LAWS OF THE SAID KING robbing slaying spoiling a great part of his faithfull people Our said Soveraign Lord the King considering the premises with many other which were more odious to remember by advice and assent of the Lords spirituall and Temporall and at THE REQUEST OF THE COMMONS and by authority aforesaid hath ordained and established that the said John Cade shall be had named and declared A FALSE TRAYTOR to our said Soveraign Lord the King Nota. and that all His Tyranny Acts Facts false Opinions shall be voyded abated adnulled destroyed and put out of remembrance for ever And that all indictments in time coming in like case under power of Tyranny Rebellion and stirring had shall be of no regard nor effect but void in Law and all the Petitions * To wit by Cade and his confederates for the alteration of the Laws c. delivered to the said King in his last Parliament holden at Westminster the sixth day of November the 29. of his Reign against his mind by him not agreed shall be taken and put in oblivion out of remembrance undone voided adnulled and destroyed for ever as a thing purposed against God and his Conscience and against his Royall estate and preheminence and also DISHONOVRABLE andVNREASONABLE 5. In the a See Mr. St. Iohns Argument against Strafford p. 178. Halls Chronicle and Hollinshed 8 year of King Henry the 8. William Bell and Thomas Lacy in the County of Kent conspired with Thomas Cheyney the Hermite of the Queen of Fairies TO OVERTHROW THE LAWS AND CVSTOMES OF THE REALM for effecting whereof they with 200. more met together and concluded upon a cause or raising greater forces in Kent and the adjacent Shires this was adjudged high Treason and some of them executed as Traytors Moreover it b Cooks 3. institutes p. 9. 10. was resolved by all the Judges of in the reign of Henry 8. that an Insurrection against the Statute of Labourers or for the inhansing of Salaries and wages was TREASON a levying war against the King BECAUSE IT WAS GENERALLY AGAINST THE KINGS LAW and the offendors took upon them THe REFORMATION THEREOF which Subjects by gathering of power ought not to do a Cooks 4. Institutes ch 8. p. 89. to 96. 6. On December 1. in the 21. year of King Henry the 8. Sir Thomas Moore Lord Chancellour of England with 14. more Lords of the Privy Councel John Fitz-James Chief Justice of England and Sir Anthony Fitzherhert one of the Judges of the Common Pleas exhibited sundry Articles of impeachment to King Henry the 8. against Cardinall Wolsy That he had by divers and many sundry wayes and fashions committed High treason and NOTABLE GRIEVOUS OFFENCES misusing Altering and subverting the order of his Graces Lawes and otherwise contrary to his high Honour Prerogative Crown Estate and Dignity Royall to the inestimable great hinderance diminution and decay of the uniuersall Wealth of this his Graces Realm The Articles are 43. in number The 20 21 26 30 35 37 42 43. contain his illegall arbitrary practices and proceedings to the subversion of the due course and order of his Graces Lawes to the undoing of a great number of his loving people Whereupon they pray Please therefore your most excellent Majesty of your excellent goodnesse towards the Weal of this your Realm and Subjects of the same to see such order and direction upon the said Lord Cardinall As may be to terrible example of other to beware to offend your Grace and your Lawes hereafter And that he be so provided for that he never have any Power Jurisdiction or Authority hereafter to trouble vex or impoverish the Common wealth of this your Realm as he hoth done heretofore to the great hurt and dammage of every man almost High and low * See Speed Holished Grafton Stow Antiquitates Ecclesiae Brit. p. 378. 379. and Goodwin in his life time His poysoning himself prevented his judgement for these his Practises b M. St. Iohns Argument against Strafford 7. The Statute of 1. Marie c. 12. Enacts that if 12. or more shall endeavour By force to alter any of the Laws or Statutes of the Kingdome the offender shall from the time therein limited be adjudged ONELY AS A FELON whereas it was Treason before but this Act continuing but till the next Parliament and then expiring the offence remains Treason as before a Cook 3 Inst c. 1. 9 10. and M. St. Iohns Argument at Law against Strafford p. 15 16. 8. In the 39. of Queen Elisabeth divers in the County of Oxford consulted together to go from House to House in that County and from thence to London and other parts to excite them to take arms for the throwing down of inclosures throughout the Realm nothing more was prosecuted nor Assemblies made yet in Easter Term 39. Elisabeth it was resolved by all the judges of England who met about the case That this was High Treason and a levying Warre against the Queen because it was to throw down all inclosures throughout the Kingdome to which they could pretend no right and that the end of it was to OVERTHROW THE LAWS AND STATUTES for Inclosures Whereupon BRADSHAW and BURTON two of the principall offenders were condemned and executed
* Aave not other Pioners and Jasses done the like Pioners have not onely undermined these Banks but they have levelled them even with the ground It one that was known to be Hostis Patriae had done this though the Dammage be the same yet the Guilt is lesse but the Con●ervatores Riparum the overseers intrusted with the Defence of these Banks for them to destroy them the breach of Trust aggravates nay alters the nature of the offence Breach of Trust though in a private Person and in the least things is odious amongst all men much more in a publick Person in things of great and publick concernment because * This is now grown a meere Paradox GREAT TRUST BINDS THE PARTY TRUSTED TO GREATEST CARE AND FIDELITY It is TREASON in the Constable of Dover Castle to deliver the Keys to the known enemies of the Kingdom because the Castle is the Key of the Kingdome wheras if the housekeeper of a private person deliver possession to his Adversary it is a crime scarce punishab●e by Law The * What are they now of late times of publick Changes Judges under his Majesty are the Persons trusted with the Laws and in them with the Lives Liberties and Estates of the whole Kingdom This Trust of all we have is primarily from his Majesty * See 27 H. 8. c. 24. 26. Magna Charta c. 12. 29 32 H. 3. c. 1. 3 5. 9 20 3 E. 1 c. 44. 45 46. 13 E. 1. 10 12 30 31. 35 39. 44. 45. 25 E 1. c. 1 2. 27 E. 1. c. 2 3. 34 E. 1. c. 6. 12 E. 2. c. 6. 2 E. 3. c. 3. 14 E. 3. c. 10. 16. Rastal Justices in him delegated to the Judges His Majesty at his Coronation is bound by his Oath TO EXECUTE JUSTICE TO HIS PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THE LAWS thereby to assure the people of the faithfull performance of his Great Trust His Majesty again as he trusts the Judges with the performance of this part of his Oath so doth he likewise exact another Oath of them for their due execution of Justice to the people according to the Laws hereby the Judges stand intrusted with this part of his Majesties Oath If therefore the Judges shall do wittingly against the Law they do not onely break their own Oaths and therein the Common Faith and Trust of the whole Kingdome but do as much as in them lies sp●rce and blemish the sacred Person of his Majesty with the odious and hatefull sin of * Was it ever so freque ●t a sia as now in all sorts of late Judges Officers Subjects Perjury My Lords the hainousnesse of this offence is most legible in the * Do none deserve as severe now severe punishment which former ages have inflicted upon those Judges who have broken any part of their Oaths wittingly though in things not so dangerous to the Subject as in the case in question * See Cooks 3. Instil p. 146 147 and f. 133 Hollirshed p. 284 285. Speeds History p. 651. S●ow Walsingham Daniel in 18 Ed. 1. Sir Thomas Wayland Chief Justice of the common-Common-Pleas 17 E. 1. was attainted of Felony for taking bribes and his Lands and Goods forfeited as appears in the Pleas of Parliament 18 E. 1. and he was banished the Kingdome as unworthy to live in the State against which he had so much offended * See Cgoks 3. Instit. p. 145. Sir William Thorp Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in Edward the thirds time having of five persons received five severall Bribes which in all amounted to one hundred pounds was for this alone adjudged to be hanged and all his Goods and Lands forfeited The reason of the Judgement is entered in the Roll in these words Quia praedictus Wilielmus * Have none of this Name or of his Function since done the like in an higher degree Thorp qui Sa cramentum Domini Regis erga populum suum habuit ad custodiendum fugit malitiosè falsò rebelliter quantum in ipso fuit There is a notable Declaration in that Judgement that this Judgement was not to be drawn into example against any other officers who should break their Oaths but onely against those qui praedictum Sacramentum fecerunt fregerunt * Let Custodes Legum Lib●rtatum Angliae remember it habent Leges Angliae ad custodiendum That is onely to the Judges Oaths who have the Laws intrusted unto them This Judgement was given 24 E. 3. The next year in Parliament 25 E. 3. Num. 10. it was debated in Parliament whether this Judgement was legall Et nullo contradicente it was declared TO BE JUST AND ACCORDING TO THE LAW and that the * Let the Repater and others consider it same Judgement may be given in time to come upon the like occasion This case is in point That it is death for any Judge wittingly to break his ●ath in any part of it This oath of Thorp is entred in the Roll and is the same verbatim with the Judges Oath in 18 E. 3. and is the same which the Judges now take And let those who have taken the same Oath remember and apply this President left others do it for them Your Lordships will give me leave to observe the differences between that and the case in question 1. That of Thorp was onely a selling of the Law by Retail to those five persons for he had five severall bribes of these five persons the Passage of the Law to the rest of the Subjects for ought appears was free and open But these Opinions are a conveyance of the Law by wholesale and that not to but from the Subject 2. In that of Thorp as to those five persons it was not an absolute deniall of Justice it was not a damming up but a straitning onely of the Chanel For whereas the Judges ought Judicium reddere that is the Laws being THE BIRTHRIGHT and INHERITANCE OF THE SVBJECT the Judge when the parties in suit demand Judgement should re dare freely restore the Right unto them now he doth not dare but vendere with hazard onely of perverting Justice for the party that buyes the Judgement may have a good and honest cause But these Opinions besides that they have cost the Subjects very dear dearer than any nay I think I may truly say than all the unjust Judgements that ever have been given in this Realm witnesse the many hundred thousand pounds which under colour of them have been levyed upon the Subjects amounting to * This is nothing in comparison to the late Taxes or Excises imposed on the Subjects without a Parliament amounting to above 20 times as much as the Kings Shipmony and more frequent uncessant and endlesse than it seven hundred thousand pounds and upwards that have been paid unto the Treasurer of the Nav● in sundry years besides what the Subjects have been forced to pay Sheriffes Sheriffes-Bayliffes and now an hundred
at Aiciston Hill in Oxfordshire where they intended their first meeting b See the Journals of both Houses and Act for his Attainder Mr. Pyms Declaration upon the whole matter of the Charge of High Treason against him April the 12. 1641. M. St. Iohns Argument at Law at his Attainder and Diurnal Occurrences 9. To come nearer to our present times and case In the last Parliament of King Charls Anno 1640. 1641. The whole house of Commons impeached Thomas Earl of Strafford Lord Deputy of Ireland of High Treason amongst other Articles for this crime especially wherein all the other centred That he hath TREASONABLY ENDEVOURED by his Words Actions and Counsels to SUBVERT THE FUNDAMENTALL LAWS OF ENGLAND and IRELAND and introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannicall Government This the whole Parliament declared and adjudged to be High Treason in and by their votes and a speciall Act of Parliament for his Attainder for which he was condemned and soon after executed on Tower Hill as a Traytour to the King and Kingdome May 22. 1641. c See the Commons and Lords Iournals his printed impeachment Mr. Pyms Speech thereat Canbuties Doom p. 25 26 2● 38 40 10. The whole House of Commons the same Parliament impeached William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury of HIGH TREASON in these very terms February 6. 1640. First That he hath trayterously endeavoured to subvert Fundamentall Lawes and Government of this Kingdome of England and instead thereof to introduce An Arbitrary and Tyrannicall Government against Law See chap. 2. Proposition 1. and he to that end hath wickedly and TRAYTEROUSLY advised his Majesty that he might at his own will and pleasure L●vy and take money of his Subjects without their consent in Parliament and and this he affirmed was warrantable by the Law of God Secondly He hath for the better accomplishment of that his Trayterous design advised and procured Sermons and other Discourses to be preached printed and published in which the Authority of Parliaments and the force of the Lawes of this Kingdome have been denyed and absolute and unlimited Power over the persons and estates of his Majesties Subjects maintained and defended not onely in the King but in himself and other Bishops against the Law Thirdly He hath by Letters Messages Threats and promises and by divers other wayes to Judges and other Ministers of Justice interrupted perverted and at other times by means aforesaid hath endevoured to interrupt and pervert the course of Justice in his Majesties Courts at Westminster and other Courts TO THE SUBVERSION OF THE LAWS OF THIS KINGDOME whereby sundry of his Majesties Subjects have been stopt in their just suits deprived of their lawfull Rights and subjected to his Tyrannical will to their ruine and destruction Fourthly That he hath trayterously endevoured to corrupt the other Courts of Justice by a vising and procuring his Majesty to sell places of Judicature and other offices CONTRARY TO THE LAWS and CUSTOMES in that behalf Fifthly He hath TRAYTEROUSLY caused a Book of Canons to be compiled and published without any lawfull warrant and Authority in that behalf in which pretended Canons many matters are contained contrary to the Kings Prerogative to the fundamentall Laws and Statutes of this Realm to the Rights of Parliament to the Property and Liberty of the Subject and matters tending to sedition and of dangerous consequence and to the establishing of a vast unlawfull presumptuous power in himself and his Successors c. Seventhly That he hath trayterously endevored to alter and subvert Gods true Religion BY LAW ESTABLISHED and instead thereof to set up Popish Religion and Idolatry And to that end hath declared and maintained in Speeches and Printed Books divers Popish Doctrines and opinions contrary to to the Articles of Religion ESTABLISHED BY LAW He hath urged and enjoyned divers Popish and Superstitious Ceremonies WITHOVT ANY WARRANT OF LAW and hath cruelly persecuted those who have opposed the same by corporall punishments and imprisonments and most unjustly vexed others who refused to conform thereunto by Eccclesiasticall Censures Excommunication Suspension Deprivation and Degradation CONTRARY TO THE LAWS OF THIS KINGDOME 13. He did by his own authority and power contrary to Law procure sundry of his Majesties Subjects and enforced the Clergy of this Kingdome to contribute towards the maintenance of the war against the Scots That to preserve himself from being questioned for these and other his Trayterous Courses he hath laboured to Subvert the Rights of Parliament and the ancient Course of Parliamentary Proceedings and by false and malicious slanders to incense his Majesty against Parliaments All which being proved against him at his Triall were after solemn Argum●nt by Mr. Samuel Brown in behalf of the Commons House proved and soon after adjudged to be High Treason at the Common Law by both Houses of Parliament and so declared in the Ordinance for his Attainder for which he was condemned and beheaded as a Traitor against the King Law and Kingdome on Tower hill January 10. 1644. 11. In the a See the Commons and Lords Journals Durnal Occurrences p. 15 16 19. 37. 191. to 264. and Mr. St. Iohns Speech at a conscience of both Houses of Parliament concerning shi●mony and these Judges Together with the Speeches of Mr. Hide Mr. Walker Mr. P●erpoint Mr. Denzill Hollis at their impeachments ●uly 16. 1641. aggravating their offences in Diurnall Occurrences and Speeches same Parliament December 21. Jan. 14. February 11. 1640. and July 6. 1641. Sir John Finch then Lord Keeper chief Justice Bramston Judge Berkly Judge Crawly Chief Baron Davenport Baron Weston and Baron Turnour were accused and impeached by the House of Commons by several Articles transmitted to the Lords OF HIGH TREASON for that they had Traitorously and wickedly endeavoured to subvert the Fundamentall Laws and est●blished Government of the Realm of ENGLAND and instead thereof to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannicall Government against Law which they had declared by Traiterous and wicked words opinions judgement and more especially in this their extrajudiciall opinion subscribed by them in the case of Ship-money viz. We are of opinion that when the good and safety of the Kingdome in generall is concerned and the whole kingdome in danger Your Majesty may by Writ under the Great Seal of England without consent in Parliament command all your Subjects of this your Kingdome See ch 2. Proposition 1. at their charge to provide and furnish such a number of Ships with Men Victuall and Ammunition and for such time as your Majesty shall think fit for the Defence and safeguard of the Kingdome from such danger and perill And we are of opinion that in such case your Majesty is the sole Judge both of the danger and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided And likewise for arguing and giving iudgment accordingly in Master John Hempdens case in the Exchequer Chamber in the point of Ship money in Aprill 1638. which said Opinions
and in new illegall Military or other Arbitrary Judicatories Committees or Courts of High Justice unknown to our Ancestors 3. That no Freeman of England unlesse it be by Speciall Grant and Act of Parliament may or ought to be compelled enforced pressed or arrayed to go forth of his own Countrey much lesse out of the Realm into forreign parts against his will in times of Warre or Peace or except he be specially obliged thereto by ancient Tenures and Charters save onely upon the sudden coming of strange enemies into the Realm and then he is to array himself onely in such sort as he is bound to do by the ancient Laws and Customes of the Kingdome still in force 4. That no Freeman of England may or ought to be disinherited disseised dispossessed or deprived of any inheritance Freehold Liberty Custome Franchise Chattle Goods whatsoever without his own Gift Grant or free Consent unlesse it be by lawfull Processe Triall and Judgement of his Peers or special Grant by act of Parliament 5. That the old received Government Lawes Statutes Customes Priviledges Courts of Justice legal Processe of the Kingdome and Crown ought not to be altered repealed suppressed nor any new form of Government Law Statute Ordinance Court of Judicature Writs or legal Proceedings instituted or imposed on all or any of the Free-men of England by any Person or Persons but onely in and by the Kingdomes free and full consent in a lawfull Parliament wherein the Legislative Power solely resides 6. That Parliaments ought to be duly summoned and held for the good and safety of the Kingdome every year or every three years at least or so often as there is just occasion That the Election of all Knights Citizens and Burgesses to sit and serve in Parliament and so of all oother Elective Officers ought to be free That all Members of Parliament hereditary or Elective ought to be present and there freely to speak and vote according to their judgements and Consciences without any over-awing Guards to terrifie them and none to be forced or secluded thence And that all Parliaments not thus duly summoned elected whilst held but unduly packed and all Acts of Parliament fraudulently and forcibly procured by indirect means ought to be nulled repealed as void and of dangerous president 7. That neither the Kings nor any Subjects of the Kingdome of England may or ought to be summoned before any Forreign Powers or Jurisdictions whatsoever out of the Realm or within the same for any manner of Right Inheritance Thing belonging to them or Offence done by them within the Realm 8. That all Subjects of the Realm are obliged by Allegiance and duty to defend their Lawfull Kings Persons Crowns the Laws Rights and Priviledges of the Realm and of Parliament against all Usurpers Traytors violence and Conspiracies And that no Subject of this Realm who according to his duty and Allegiance shall serve his King in his Warres for the just defence of him and the Land against Forreign enemies or Rebels shall lose or forfeit any thing for doing his true duty service and Allegiance to him therein but utterly discharged of all vexation trouble or losse 9. That no publick Warre by Land or Sea ought to be made or levied with or against any Forreign Nation or Publick Truce or League entred into with Forreign Realms or States to bind the Nation without their Common advice and consent in Parliament 10. That the ancient Honours Manors Lands Rents Revenues Inheritances Right and perquisites of the Crown of England originally settled thereon for the Ease Exemption of the people from all kind of Taxes payments whatsoever unlesse in cases of extraordinary necessity and for defraying all the constant ordinary expences of the Kingdome as the expences of the Kings houshold Court Officers Judges Embassadors Garisons Navy and the like ought not to be sold alienated given away or granted from it to the prejudice of the Crown and burdening of the people And that all Sales Alienations Gifts or Grants thereof to the empairing of the publick Revenue or prejudice of the Crown and people are void in Law and ought to be resumed and repealed by our Parliaments and Kings as they have frequently been in all former ages For the Readers fuller satisfaction in each of these propositions some of which I must shew here but briefly touch for brevity sake having elsewhere fully debated them in print I shall specially recommend unto him the perusall of such Tractates and Arguments formerly published wherein each of them hath been fully discussed which he may peruse at his best leasure The first of these Fundamentalls which I ●ntend principally to infist on is fully asserted debated confirmed by 13. H. 4. f. 14. By Fortescue Lord Chief Justice and Chancellour of England de laudibus Legum Angliae dedicated by him to King Henry the 6. f. 25. c. 36. f. 84. By a learned and necessary Argument against impositions in Parliament of 7. Jacobi by a late Reverend Judge printed at London 1641. By Mr. William Hakewell in his Liberty of the Subject against Impositions maintained in an Argument in the Parliament of 7. Jacobi printed at London 1641. By Judge Crooks and Judge Huttons Arguments concerning Shipmony both printed at London 1641. By the Case of Shipmony briefly discussed London 1640. by Mr. St. Johns Argument and Speech against Shipmony printed at London 1641. By Sir Edward Cook in his 1. Institutes p. 46. and 57. to 64. and 528. to 537. By the 1. and 2. Remonstrance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament against the Commission of Array Exact Collection p. 386. to 398. and 850. to 890. and by my own Humble Remonstrance against Shipmony London 1643. The fourth part of the Soveraign power of Parliaments and Kingdomes p. 14. to 26. and my Legall Vindications of the Liberties of England against Illegall Taxes c. London 1649. and by the Records and Statutes cited in the ensuing Chapter referring for the most part to the first Proposition The second third and fourth of them are largely debated and confirmed by a Conference desired by the Lords and had by a Committee of both Houses concerning the Rights and Priviledges of the Subject 3. Aprilis 4. Caroli printed at London 1642. By Sir Edward Cook in his Institutes on Magna Charta c. 29. p. 45. to 57. By the 1. and 2. Remonstrance of the Lords and Commons against the Commission of Array Exact Collection p. 386. c. 850. to 890. By Judge Crooks and Judge Huttons Arguments against Shipmony By Sir Robert Cotton his Posthuma p. 222. to 269. By my Breviate of the Prelates encroachments on the Kings Prerogative and Subjects Liberties p. 138. c. My new discovery of the Prelates tyranny p. 137. to 183. and some of the ensuing Statutes and Records The fifth and sixth of them are fully cleared and vindicated in and by the Prologues of all our Councils Statutes Laws before and since the Conquest By Sir Edward Cooks 4. Institutes ch 1. Mr. Cromptons Jurisdiction of Courts Title High Court of Parliament My Soveraign power of Parliaments and Kingdomes p. 1 2 3 4. My Legal Vindication against illegal Taxes and pretended Acts of Parliament London 1649 Prynne the Member reconciled to Prynne the Barrester printed the same year My Historicall Collection of the ancient great Councils of the Parliaments of England London 1649. My Truth triumphing over Falshood Antiquity over Novelty London 1645. and some of the Records hereafter transcribed In this I shall be more sparing because so fully confirmed in these and other Treatises The seventh is ratified by Sir Edward Cooks 1. Institutes p. 97 98. 4. Institutes p. 89. and 5. Report Cawdries Case of the Kings Ecclesiasticall Lawes and Rastals Abridgement of Statutes Tit. Provisors Praemunire and Rome 11. H. 7. c. 1. and other Records and Statutes in the ensuing Chapter The eighth and ninth are fully debated in my Soveraign Power of Parliaments and Kingdomes Part. 2. p. 3. to 34. Part fourth p. 162. to 170. and touched in Sir Robert Cottons Posthuma p. 174. 179. How all and every of these Fundamentall Liberties Rights Franchises Lawes have been unparalelledly violated subverted in all and every particular of late years beyond all Presidents in the worst of former ages even by their greatest pretended Propugners their own printed Edicts Instruments Ordinances Papers together with their illegall oppressions Taxes Excises Imposts Rapines violences Proceedings of all kinds whereof I shall give a brief accompt in its due place will sufficiently evidence if compared with the premised propositions Which abundantly confirm the truth of our Saviours words John 10. 1. 10. and this rule of Johannis Angelius Wenderhagen Politicae Synopticae lib. 3. c. 9. sect 11. p. 310. Hinc Regulae loco notandum Quod omne Regnum Vi Armata acquisitum in Effectu Subditis Semper in durioris Servitutis conditiones arripiat licet à principio Ducedinem prurientibus spirare videatur Ideo cunctis hoc cavendum Nè temerè se duci patiantur FINIS
punishm●nt again and again and i●stifie it still in 〈◊〉 at his pleasure dissolve this Parliament the Kingdom is not only deprived of the present but made uncapable of enjoying the benefit of any future Parliament or Laws any longer then shall stand with the will and pleasure of the King and consequently THE FUNDAMENTALS OF ALL OUR LAWS GOVERNMENT ARE SUBVERTED Let the Parliament-dissolving Officers Army and their Confederates seriously ponder this with all who shall hereafter sit in Parliamen● consider it in the first place The eleventh is ●1 the a A Collection c. p. 504. Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament 13. Junii 1644. for the Forces raised in the County of Salop which begins thus The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament taking into their serious considerations the great oppressions under which the Inhabitants of the County of Salop by reason of insupportable Taxes c. and the present condition of the County by reason of the great number of Irish Rebels that have invaded it and joyned with Papists and other ill-affected Persons now in those parts doth threaten the extirpation of the Protestant Religion and the s●b●e●sion of THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM For prevention whereof c. The twelfth is b A Collection c. p. 877 878 879. A Declaration of the Commons of England assembled in Parliament 17. 12. Aprilis 1646. Of their true intentions concerning the AN●●IENT FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM securing the people against ALL ARBITRARY GOVERNMENT c. wherein they complain That the Enemy being in despair to accomplish his designs by War do misrepresent our intentions in the use we intended to make of the great Successes God hath given us and the happy opportunity to settle peace and truth in the three Kingdoms to beget a belief that we now desire to exceed or swerve from our first Aims and Principles in the Undertaking of this War and to recede from the Solemn League and Covenant and Treaties between the two Kingdoms and that we would prolong these uncomfortable Troubles ●nd b●eeding Distractions IN * And is not this now proved a real exper●●mental 〈◊〉 in some of 〈◊〉 Remonst●●s to their shame ORDER TO ALTER THE FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTION FRAME OF THIS KINGDOM to leave all Government in the Church loose and unsetled and our selves to exercise THE SAME ARBITRARY POWER OVER THE PERSONS ESTATES OF THE SUBJECTS which this present Parliament hath thought fit to abolish by taking away the Star-Chamber High Commission and other Arbitrary Courts and the exorbitant Power of the Councel Table all which we have seen since experimentally verified in every particular in the highest d●gree notwithstanding this Declaration by some in late and present Power notwithstanding this Publication All which being seriously considered by us c. We do declare THAT OUR TRUE REAL INTENTIONS ARE OUR ENDEAVOR SHALL BE to settle Religion in the purity thereof * And can most of the 〈◊〉 monst●●ns 〈…〉 or present power 〈…〉 joy this 〈◊〉 truth or really And must not they be utterly asham●ed confounded before God and men when they consider how they have dissembled prev●ri●ated with God and men herein in each particular TO MAINTAIN THE ANCIENT FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENT OF THIS KINGDOM TO PRESERVE THE RIGHTS LIBERTIES In the b Walsingha● Stow Hollinshed Speed Grafton Baker An. 5. R. 2. John Stows Survay of London p. 89. 10 103. Mr. St. Iohns Argument at Law at Straffords Attainder p. 14 fifth year of King Richard the second the vulgar Rabble of people and Villains in Kent Essex Sussex Norfolk Cambridgeshire and other Countries under the Conduct of Wat Tyler Jack Straw and other Rebels assembling together in great multitudes resolved by force and violence to abrogate the Law of villenage with all other Lawes they disliked formerly settled 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 Innes 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 elect pettie elective Tyrannies and Kingdoms to themselves in every Shire a project eagerly prosecuted by some Anarchicall Anabaptists and Jesuites 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 cloak their intentions for the present they took an Oath of all they met Quod Regi communibus fidelitatem servarent that they should keep Allegeance and faith to the King and Commons this their resolution and attempt thus to alter and subvert the Laws and Government upon full debate in the Parliament of 5 R. 2. n. 30 31. was declared to be HIGH TREASON against the King and against the Law for which divers of the chief actours in this Treasonable Design were condemned and executed as Traitors in severall places and the rest enforced to a publick submission and then pardoned 2. In the a Stow Holinshed Sp●ed Graften Baker in XI 21. R. 2. and 1. H. 4. Satutes at large 11. and 21 R. 2. 1. H. 4 M. St. ●ohns Speech concerning the shipmony Judges p. 28. to 37. And Argument at Law at Straffords Attainder Parliament XL. R. 2. as appears by the Parliament Rolls and printed Statutes at large three Prive Councellours the Archbishop of York the Duke of Ireland and Earl of Suffolk the Bishop of Exeter the Kings Confessour five Knights six Judges whereof Sir Robert Tresilian Chief Justice was one Blake of the Kings Councel at Law Vsk and others were impeached and condemned of High Treason some of them executed as Traytors the rest banished their Lands and goods forfeited and none to endevour to procure their pardon under pain of Felony for endeavouring to overthrow a Commission for the good of the Kingdome and contrary to an Act of Parliament of force of arms and Opinions in Law delivered to the King tending to subvert the Laws and Statutes of the Realm overthrow the Power Priviledges and proceedings of Parliament and betray not all the house of Lords but only some of the Lords of Parliament which Judgement being afterwards reversed in the forced and packed Parliament of 21. R. 2. was reconfirmed in the Parliament of 1 H. 4. c. 3. 4 5. and the Parliament of 21. R. 2. totally repealed and adnulled for ever and hath so continued 3. In the a Mr. St. John at Law against Straffords Attainder p. 13. 14 17. Parliament of 17 R. 2. n. 20. and Pas 17. R. 2. B. RS. Ror 16. Sir Thomas Talbot was accused and found guilty of High Treason for conspiring
alledged by him against the Shipmony Judges Page 12. It is a Warre against the King Let our Military Officers and souldiers consider it when intended The alteration of the laws or Government in any part of them This is a levying Warre against the King and so Treason within the Statute of 25 E 3. 1. Because the King doth maintain and protect the laws in every part of them 2. Because they are the Kings laws He is the Fountain from whence in their severall Channells they are derived to the Subject Whence all our indictments run thus Trespasses laid to be done Contra pacem Domini Regis c. against the Kings Peace for exorbitant offences though not intended against the Kings Person against the King his Crown and dignity ' Page 64. In this I shall not labour at all to prove That the endevouring by words Counsels and actions To subvert the Fundamentall Laws and Government of the Kingdome is Treason at the Common Law If there be any Common Law Treasons at all left NOTHING TREASON IF THIS NOT TO MAKE A KINGDGME NO KINGDOME Take the Polity and Government away England's but a piece of earth wherein so many men have their commerce and abode without rank or distinction of men without property in any thing further than in possession no Law to punish the murdering or robbing one another ' ' Page 70 71 72. The horridnesse of the offence in endeavouring to overthrow the Lawes and present Government hath been fully opened before The Parliament is the representation of the whole Kingdome wherein The King as Head your Lordships as the more Noble and the Commons the other Members are knit together in one body Politick This dissolved the Arteries and Ligaments that hold the body together THE LAWES He that takes away the Laws takes not away the Allegiance of one Subject onely but of the whole Kingdome It was made Treason by the Statute of 13 Eliz. for her time to affirm That the Lawes of the Realme doe not bind the descent of the Crown No Law no descent at all NO LAWES NO PEERAGE no ranks nor degrees of men the same condition to all It s Treason to kill a Judge upon the Bench this kills not Judicem sed JVDICIVM There be twelve men but no Law never a Judge amongst them It s felony to embezel any one of the Judiciall Records of the Kingdome THIS AT ONCE SWEEPS THEM ALL AWAY and FROM ALL. It s Treason to countefeit a twenty shilling piece here 's a counter feiting of the Law we can call neither the counterfeit nor the true coin our own It s Treason to counterfeit the Great Seal for an Acre of Land No property is left hereby to any Land at all Nothing Treason now against King or Kingdome No Law to punish it My Lords if the Question were asked in Westminster Hall whether this were a Crime punishable in Star chamber or in THE KINGS BENCH by Fine or imprisonment They would say It were higher If whether Felony They would say That is an offence onely against the life or goods of some one or few persons It would I believe be answered by the Judges as it was by the Chief Justice Thirning in 21 R 2. That though he could not judge the Case TREASON there before him yet if he were a Peer in Parliament HE WOVLD SO ADJVDGE IT And so the Peeres did here in Straffords and not long after in Canterburies Case who both lost their Heads on Tower Hill ' I have transcribed these Passages of Mr. Oliver St. John at large for five Reasons 1. Because they were the voice and sense of the whole House of Commons by his mouth who afterwards owned and ratified them by their speciall Order for their publication in print for information and satisfaction of the whole Nation and terrour of all others who should after that either secretly or openly by fraud or force directly or indirectly attempt the subversion of all or any of our Fundamentall Laws or Liberties or the alteration of our Fandamentall Government or setting up any arbitrary or Tyrannicall power Taxes Impositions or new kinds of arbitrary Judicato●ies and imprisonments against these our Laws and Liberties 2. To mind an inform all such who have not only equalled but transcended Strafford and Canterbury in these their High Treasons even since these Publications Speeches and their exemplary executions of the hainousnesse in excusablenesse wilfulnesse maliciousnesse Capitalnesse of their crimes which not onely the whole Parliament in generality but many of themselves in particular so severely prosecuted condemned and inexorably punished of late years in them that so they may bewail repent of and reform them with all speed and diligence as much as in them lies And withall I shall exhort them seriously to consider that Gospel terrifying Passage Rom. 2. 1 2 3. Therefore thou art inexcusable O man whosoever thou art that judgest for wherein thou judgest another tbou CONDEMNEST THY SELF FOR THOU THAT JUDGEST DOEST THE SAME THINGS But we are sure that the judgement of God is according to truth against them which commit such things And thinkest thou this O man that judgest them which do such things and doest the same that thou shalt escape the Judgement of God 3. To excite all Lawyers especially such who of late times have taken upon them the stile and power of Judges to examine their consciences actions how far all or any of them have been guilty of these crimes and Treasons so highly aggravated and exemplarily punish●d of former and later times in corrupt cowardly time-serving degenerate Lawyers and Judasses rather than Judges to the disgrace of their Profession and prejudice of the Fundamentall Lawes Liberties Rights Priviledges of our Nation Peers Parliaments subversion of the Fundamentall Government of this famous Kingdome whereof they are Members 4. To instruct those Jesuited Anabaptists Levellers and their Factors especially John Canne and the rest of the Compilers Publishers Abetters of the Pamphlet intituled Lieutenant Colonel Lilburn tried and cast and other forementioned publications who professedly set themselves by words writing Counsels and overt Acts to subvert both our old Fundamentall and all other Laws Liberties Customes Parliaments and Government what transcendent Malefactor● traytors and Enemies they are to the publick and what Capitall punishments they may thereby incurre as well as demerit should they be legally prosecuted for the same and thereupon to advise them timely to repent of and desist from such high Treasonable Attempts 5. To clear both my self and this my seasonable Defence of our Fundamentall Lawes Liberties Government from the least suspition or sh●dow of Faction Sedition Treason and Enmi●y to the publick peace weal settlement of the Nation which those and those onely who are most Factious and seditious and the greatest Enemies Traytors to the publick tranquility weal and establishment of our Kingdome as the premises evidence will be ready maliciously to asperse both me and it with as they