Summary Reasons against the New OATH ENGAGEMENT AND An Admonition to all such as have already Subscribed it WITH A Cautionarie Exhortation to all Honest English Spirits to avoid the danger of Perjurie by taking of it PROVERBS 24. 21. 22. My Sonne feare thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change For their calamity shall rise suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both PRINTED in the yeere 1649. Summary Reasons against the New Oath and Engagement YOV shall Sweare or I Declare and Promise That I will bee True and Faithfull to the Common-wealth of England as the same is now Established WITHOUT KING OR HOUSE OF LORDS FIRST This Oath and Engagement is imposed by those who by the Lawes of God and the Realme had never any Power admit them a full and free House of Commons under no Force as they are not to Administer much lesse to Make or Impose any Oath in any Case Cookes 3. Institut p. 165. and lesse Authority then the Bishops and Clergy in Convocation who made the c Oath not so bad as this adjudged high-Treason in Canterburies Case for which hee lost his head Canterburies Doome p. 26. 40. though not so bad as this Secondly It is contrary to all the antient Oathes of our Judges Justices of Peace Mayors Sheriffs Recorders Clearkes of Chancery and other courts of Justice To the Oathes of Fealty and Homage made by all the Kings Tenants The antient and late Oathes of Supremacy and Allegiance the Vow and Protestation the solemne League and Covenant and Engagement of the whole Kingdome to the King his Heires Successours and Posteritie for ever to defend their undoubted Right to the Crowne with the last drop of their Bloods conteined in the Statutes of 1. Jacobi cap. 1. 2. and involves the Makers and Takers thereof in manifold execrable perjuries to the scandall of our Religion Levit. 19. 12. Nation a Dishonour and high Displeasure of God and just damnation of their Soules Deut. 5. 11. Thirdly Jer. 5. 2. c 7 9. It is a new Gunpowder-Treason blowing up the King and his Posteritie Ezech. 17. 12. to 20. Zech. 5. 3. 4. Mal. 3. 5. Monarchy the House of Lords the Constitution and Priviledges of our English Parliaments our ancient fundamentall Government Math. 5. 34. Lawes Liberties and our three Kingdomes at one crack Rom. 1. 31 32. 2. Tim. 3. 3. 4. the very same and farre worse then that of the Jesuites and Papists condemned by the Statutes of 3. Jacobi cap. 1. 2. 4. executing farre more then what they intended and quite deleting the Infamy and memory of that and all future celebration of that joyfull day of November 5. never to bee forgotten Fourthly It disseiseth disinheriteth fore-judgeth the King of his b 1. Jac c 1. 2 4. 3. Jacobi 1. 2. Rightfull Crowne and Revenues the House of Lords of their Peerage Priviledges and c A Plea for the Lords the undoubted Rights our English Parliament and Kingdom of their very Liberties and beings un-Kinging un-Lording un-Parliamenting un-Kingdoming them all at once without once summoning and bringing them to Answer by any legall Processe to heare what they can say for themselves and without any lawfull Judgement of their Peers according to the Lawe of the Land contrary to the expresse Letter of Magna Charta â— E. 3. c. 9. 25. E 3. c. 4. 28. E. 3. c. 3. 37 E. 3. c. 18. 42. E. 3. c. 3. and the Petition of Right yea d Votes of Octob. 11. 22. 1649. debarres these Ministers Officers Lawyers Students from their Augmentations Callings Offices Preferments and Degrees who Refuse or Neglect to Subscribe it contrary to all these Statutes and the Lawe of the Land without any hearing or Tryall the extremitie of Tyranny and Injustice transcending that of King Prelates Starre-Chamber or High-Commission Fiftly It inevitably involves the Makers Takers and Subscribers thereof in manifold High Treasons against King Kingdome Parliament for some of which only in a farre lower Degree Strafford Canterbury and many others have lost their Heads as you may read in Master St. John's Argument against Strafford and Sir Edward Cookes 3. Institutes cap. 1. 2. to the forfeiture of their Lives Estates Soules yea Infamy and Ruine of their Families Sixtly It enjoynes us to bee True and Faithfull to the new Common-wealth of England the Generall Councell of Officers of the Army the new created Councell of State and their Westminster Conclave of Journey-men as it is now Established WITHOUT KING OR LORDS without consent of Kingdome People or Parliament by force of Armes Treachery Perjury that is to assist and defend them with our Lives Councells Estates and to submit to all their illegall Acts and Taxes to the losse of Lives Liberties Properties against the Kings or Lords just Titles and our owne Lawes Liberties Byrth-Rights which to doe is not only contrary to Lawe since no Homage or Fealty is due from any Subject whatsoever to other Subject but to the King alone and with a saving of that Faith which hee owes to our Soveraigne Lord the King and that only where there is a legall Tenure betweene them as Sir Edward Cooke Resolves 1. Institutes f. 64. 65. 67. 68. but no lesse then High-Treason within the Statute of 25. E. 3. c. 2. as he Resolves in his 3. Institut c. 1 and therefore unreasonable and Treasonable for such as are True and Faithfull neither to King Lords Parliament Kingdome or People to exact or expect from any others Seventhly It most ingratefully and unworthily obliterates the memoriall of all the good Lawes Liberties Franchises Protection Benefits Deliverances wee have received and the Peace Prosperity Freedome and Happinesse Wee and our Ancestors have enjoyed under the Reignes of most Generous Valorous Bountifull Pious Religious Kings and Queenes especially our late renowned King Edward the sixt Queene Elizabeth King James and a great part of King Charles his Reigne which the Parliaments in their Reigns in e 15 H 8 c. 12. all Acts of the Subsiâ—ies granted by the Laity or Clergy in their reignes sundry Acts our own forreigne Historians and Writers have so highly magnified and blessed God for and our very last Parliament remembred and thankfully acknowledged in some of their f Exact Collectionâ— p. 14. 15. 16. â—96 Remonstrances of which we need no other testimony but our g Exact Collection p 712 713. 714. Kings Coronation Oath in extirpating Kings and Monarchy for ever after for some confessed extravagancies and Errors of the beheaded King not halfe so grievous oppressive unjust or impious as those themselves are guilty of especially in Repealing as much as in them lies the Oathes of Supremacy and Allegiance and the solemne League and Covenant the principall Bullwarks against the Pope and Papists encroachments and imposing this new Oath and Engagement against the very Letter Scope of these and sundry other just
to become a Kingdom Ezech. 16. 13. and a great judgement misery and dishonour to bee un-Kingdomed or made a base or no Kingdom Jer. 16. 7 9. c. 22. 4 5 6. c. Ezech. 29. 14. 15. Dan. 11 9. Hosea 1 4 Dan. 2. 44. That the Church of Christ the Gospell and Heaven it selfe are alwaies and t Psal 145. 11. 13 Isay 9 7 Dan. 4 35. c. 6. 27. Math. 3. 2. c. 5 7. 19 c. 12. 18 c 21. 43. c. 25. 34. c. 26. 25. u. 3. 33. c. 10 11 1. Cor. 6. 9. Col. 1. 13. 1. Tim. 4 1. 18 〈◊〉 2. 5. 2. Pe. 1 11. Rav. 12. 10. very frequently stiled a Kingdom never a Statâ— or Republique in contradiction to a Kingdome throughout the Old and New-Testament That the highest honour Christ hath purchased for us with his most precious blood is to make us Kings to God his Father to admit us into his Kingdome of Grace here and of Glory hereafter where we shall reigne as Kings for ever Rev. 1. 5. 6. c. 5. 10 Lu. 1. 13. 1. Thess 2. 12. 2. Tim. 4. 18. And that the Kingdomes only not States and Republâ—qâ—â—â— of the Earth are Prophecied and Promised to become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ. Ps 8. 31. 32 Rev. 1. 15. Obad. 21. upon all which considerations we can never subscribe to the extirpation of our Kingly Government or translating our ancientest Kingdome into the puniest Republiquâ— in the World for feare wee lose Gods protect on of and interest reigne presence by his Ordinances in our Kingdome and be for ever excluded ouâ— of his Kingdomes of Grace Glory and from reigning as Kings in either of them which the prescribers and subscribers of this Oath and Engagement who usurpe upon Gods speciall prerogative to dispose of the Kingdomes of the Earth at his own pleasure Da. 4 32. 17. Je. 18 6. 7. 9. against so many Oaths Covenants Reasons Scriptures have cause to feare and expect Eleventhly Wee are perswaded in our consciences that the change of our rightfull King into many new selfe created States our Kingdome into a Common-Wealth and ancienâ— Parliaments of King Lords and Commons into a new Representative of Commons alone without King or Lords the principall Designe of this new Oath and Engagement against so many Oaths Lawes and Engagements of former later times inviolably to preserve them with our lives estates last drop of our bloods and that by the far lesser part of the Kingdome and House of Commons against the wills and Protestations of the Major part who are most concerned therein and without hearing their reasons and objections to the contrary or convincing them of the necessitie or conveniency thereof by a free hearing and debate thereof in a full and free Parliament specially convened for that purpose is not only a most unjust illegall and tyrannicall act contrary to the Lawes of God Nature and the Realme a great scandall to our Religion and injury and dishonour to our whol English Nation not to be presidented in any age especially by so great pretenders to publique Liberty but likewise an undertaking of such dangerous consequence as none endowed with right Reason the feare of God or any reall love to their Country durst once for to attempt as is clear to us by these particulars 1. It will involve us in perpetuall Warres and troubles so long as there are any of the blood Royall who have title to the Crowne or any of the Nobility endowed with any sparkes of honour left alive who will never desist from attempting the recovery of their lost Rights and Priviledges 2. It will sever the united Kingdoms of Scotland and Ireland from and engage them and all the Kings forraigne friends and Allyes against us and necessitate us to maintaâ—n a perpetuall Army and Garrisons by Land and Navy by Sea which will undoe us with Contribution Excise Free-Quarter expose us to perpetuall Murthers Robberie Outrages Tumults Oppâ—ssions Discontents Decrease and Decay all Trading and end in our absolute Slaverie Miserie Ruine 3. It will necessiate our new Governours after the sale of the Kings and Deanes and Chapters Lands to help ease the People for a time only and support their Army and Navy to seize and sell the Lands of all Corporations Companies Colledges Hospitalls Schooles and Rectories of Churches in the Kingdome a thing already projected by some and to find out some device or other to make new Delinquenâ—s of purpose to Sequester and Confiscate their Estates till the whole Kingdome be Sequestred made Malignants to help pay the Soldiers one feared Designe of this new Oath and Engagement against those who out of grounds of conscience Law and solid prudence refuse to subscribe it 4. It will dissolve all our ancient Leagues with forraigne Kingdomes and States made only with our King and Kingdome and by the Law of Nations give them advantage and occasion to seize our Ships Merchants Merchandize without breach of League in the behalfe of the King and those who stand for the Kingdomes continuance with whom only the Leagues were made and stand firme against others who oppose them 5. It will lose our Interest honour and reputation in and withall other Kingdomes or States who will refuse to owne or treat with us a State thus forcibly and treasonably erected on else treat with us as the puniest and meanest State in the World whose Agents and publique Ministers must give place to those of all Kings Princes and other States whatsoever which are ancientes then it ever by the u Law of Nations and resolution of all Heranlds v Cassanaeâ—â— Catalogue gloriae Mundi Hist of the Câ—wâ—ll of Trent which the generosity of the English Nation the anciâ—ntst and first Christian Kingdome in the Christian World x Seldâ—ns Titles of Hen. part 2. ch 11. claiming proceedency of all other Kingdomes in Generall Councells add Assemblies heretofore will hardly brooke 6. It will null dissolve and extinguish all the Corporations Tenures ancient Customes Rents Services Courts of Justice ancient Seales Processe Writs Legall Proceedings Charters Liberties Customes Forfeitures unpon penall Lawes Titles of Honouâ— that are either hereditary or during life and currant Coynes of the Kingdome which being derived only the Kings and ancient Parliaments of England for them their Heires and Successors or reserved to them their Heires and Successors and none others and bearing their stamp and image on them must all fall expire and vanish together with them as the House falls all to pieces when the foundation is subverted the Rivers quite faile when the springs from whence they flow the effects cease when the cause is destroyed and the derivaâ—ives expire and vanish quite away when the primitives are abolished And what confusions and mischiefes will ensue let the World judge 7. If wee shall once give way that our Kings Kingdome Peers and Parliaments setled established secured and fenced with so long Prescriptions Lawes Oathes Covenants Engagements
particular as most Just Necessary and Honourable for the publique Liberty and Safety but likewise canonize as it were him with all his slaine and suffering Party as Martyrs for the Kingdomes and Peoples Safety and the Publique Liberty for which they lost their lives and estates as all Prescribers and Subscribers of this Oath and Engagement must now necessarily acknowledge and all the World will conclude against them and brand our selves our Bretheren of Scotland and all those who have lost their lives limbs and estates in opposition or warres against them with both the late Houses for notorious Rebells Traytors Conspirators Murtherers on whose Heads and Soules the guilt of all the precious blood shed in our late and present Warres both in England Ireland and Scotland must now bee translated from the King and his Party on whom wee have formerly charged it and justly rest for the future to their eternall infamy condemnation ruine Which unavoydable consequence of our submission and subscription to this Oath and Engagement with the horrers of Conscience and divine Judgements that must necessarily seize upon us when under the guilt of so much Treachery and Blood shed is sufficient of it selfe alone to deterre us from the least assent thereto and to engage our utmost power against them without any other arguments ' specially if compared with the Loyall and Heroicall resolutions and engagements of our Ancestors in the Parliament at Lincolne An. 28. E. 1. Recorded in Walsingham Hist. Angliae p. 49. to 56. Cookes 2. Instit p. 97. 98. 20. H. 3. ch 9. 40. E. 3. rot Parl. n. 8. Cookes 4. Instit p. 13. 14. The notable Statute of 16. R. 3. c. 5. of Praemunire 11. H. 7. c. 18. 19. H. 7. c. 1. 25. H. 8. c. 22. 35. H. 8. c. 1. 1. Mariae Parl. 2. ch 1. 1. Eliz. c. 1. 3. 5. Eliz c. 1. 23. Eliz. c. 1. 2. 1. Jacobi ch 1. 2. 3. Jac. ch 1. 2. 4. 5. 7. Jac. ch 6. which all perjured Judges Sergeants and Lawyers â—ho have dishonoured their professions by their late subscriptions and exceeded Judge Thorpe Tresilian and his companions and the Ship-Money Judges in their Perjuries and Treasons against King Kingdome Lords People Lawes Liberties which they have basely and wickedly betrayed against their Science and Conscience may doe well to chew the cudde upon and on Mr. St. Johns Speech at the Impeachment of the Judges concerning Ship-Money and Argument at Law at Straffords Attainder enough to hang and damne them all twenty times over with all other Imposers and Subscribers of this Treasonable Engagement doe well to-head other Straffords whose crimes were not halfe so treasonable and abhominable as the enforcing or subscribing of this Oath and Engagement by the meete pretended Authority of those who never had the least legall power to administer any old lawfull Oath in any case when a full free and lawfull Commons House much lesse to make and impose a new treasonable and illegall Oath of Allegiance to themselves who are oblieged by no such reciprocall Oath to preserve our Lawes Liberties and free Customes as our Kings alwaies were upon all the Nation against the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme and above thirty legall Oathes yet in force which sundry Officers are oblieged to take before they may or ought to execute their respective Offices Tenthly The Scripture is expresse that Monarchicall Government is Gods owne speciall Ordinance Deut. 17. 14 15. and Prov. 8. 15. 16. Rom. 13. 1. 2. That the enjoyment of Kings and Kingly Government is a great honour happinesse and benefit to a Nation and a speciall blessing promised and given to them by God himselfe Gen. 17 6. 16. Jer. 17. 25 c. 22. 4 2. Chron. 9. 8. Ezâ—ch 16. 13. And can it then bee a miserie and Judgment to us that is a most severe Judgement of God and the cause of many miseries oppressions disorders and destruction to a Nation or Kingdome to bee without a King by the Scriptures and Gods owne Resolution Judg. 17. 6. c. 18. 1. c. 19. 1. c. 21. 25. Hosea 1. 4 c. 3. 4 5. c. 10 3. Jer 22. 3. to 13. Hosea 13. 11. 12. Mich. 4. 9. 10. Amâ—s 1. 13. 14 15. Zech. 9. 5. And can it bee then any â—appinest and no judgement unto us to bee without a King That Kings have beene the greatest Reformers and Promoters of Gods Worship and Religion and suppressors of Idolatry under the Law is the Bookes of Kings Chronicles Ezra Ester Nehemiah Daniel the Psalmes Proverbs testify and are specially prophecied and promised to bee the chiefe Patriots Fathers Promoters Propagators and Reformers of Religion Gods Church and Worship under the Gospell in sundry texts as Psal 62. 29. Ps 72. 10. 11. Ps 112. 15. Ps 138. 4. 5. Ps 148. 11. Isay 41. 2. c. 45. 1. 2. 5. c. 49. 7. 23. c. 52. 15. c. 60. 3. 10. 11. c. 62 2. Rev. 11. 15. c. 21. 24. which Histories witnesse to bee experimentally verified and more especialy in our Island according to that Prophecio Psal 72. 10. relating unto Islands which had the fift Christian King s Math. West An 185. 307. Speed Godwin Spelman Usher De Eccles Brit. Primordiâ—s Lucius and first most renouned Christian Emperor Constantine the Great borne and Crowned in it and many pious devout and religious Princes since of ancient and later times by whose bonnty care zeale religion and learning were advanced continued and propagated amongst us and are now likely to expire with our Monarchy for want of protection maintenance encouragement and punishment of Atheisme Heresy Blasphemy and Prophanenessâ— and defrauding Ministers both of their Tythes and promised augmentations eating them out with taxes turning them out of their Livings and livelihood by arbitrary Committees against Law and Justice upon the bare suggestions of every malicious Sectary or Tythe-declaiming prosecutor Upon which grounds Christians under the Gospâ—ll are in thâ— first place enjoyned to make prayers intercessions and thanks-givings for Kings that under them they may live a peaceable life in all Godlinesse and Honesty FOR THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABL IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR therefore to abolish Kings is sinfull and displeasing in his fight and contrary to his reavealed will 1. Tim. 2. 1. 2. To submis to Kings as unto the Supreme and honour them for the Lords sake for so it is the will of God 1. Pet. 13. 14 15. 17. To bee subject to Principalities and Powers Tit. 3. 1. Rom. 13. 1. which Scriptures must bee raised out of the Bible as Apocriphall if wee will extirpate Kings and Monarchy out of the Realme and Christian World as some now endeavour the attempting whereof must needes bee an high affront to Christ himselfe which robs him of one of his most glorious Gospell Titles King of Kings and Lord of Lords 1 Tim. 6 15. Rev. 17. 14. c. 19 16. Ad to this that the Scripture relates it a great honour and prosperity to a Nation