us to stand upon our defence which nature teacheth every man to provide for and this Kingdom unlesse it be very unnatural and very unmindfull of it self cannot but afford to them whom it hath intrusted and by whom it is represented and if the Major part of both Houses may sit free from force we doubt not but that they will not only make it good that they have done themselves and the whole Kingdom right in their Deâ—larations and offered no wrong nor done any prejudice at all to his Majestie but also be very sensible of the great indignity offered to the representative body of this whole Kingdom by the contrivers of the Kings answer and will make such persons that delight to foul their own nests and to cast dirt in the face of the Kingdom instances of their exemplary justice so soon as they shall be discovered and brand both them and their doctrin with the marks of their perpetual scorn and indignation And for a tast of their horrid doctrine these Particulars are mentioned from the Declaration that Remonstrance answers viz. s That his Majestie or any other Person may upon suggestions and pretences of Treason Felony or breach of the peace take the Members of Parliament out of either House of Parliament without giving satisfaction to the House whereof they are Members of the ground of such suggestion or accusation and without and against their consent so they may dismember a Parliament when they please and make it what they will when they will That the Representative body of the whole Kingdom is a faction of Malignant Scismatical and Ambitious Persons whose design is and alwaies hath been to alter the whole frame of Government both of Church and State and to subject both King and people to their own lawlesse arbitrary power and Government and that they design the ruine of his Majesties person and of Monarchy it self and consequently that they are Traytors and all the Kingdom with them for their Act is the Act of the whole Kingdom and whether their punishment and ruine may not also involve the whole Kingdom in conclusion and reduce it into the condition of a Conquered Nation no man can tell but experience sheweth us that successe often draws men not only beyond their professions but also many times beyond their intentions Likewise in the t Declaration of both Houses dated Novemb. 7. 1642. for the encouragement of the Apprentices to list themselves under the Earl of Warwick the cause is declared to be for the defence of Religion and liberty of the Kingdom his Majesties royal Person the Parliament and the City of London In the u Declaration of the Lords and Commons of the 17th of December 1642. The Parliaments Army is said to be raised for the necessary defence of the true Protestant Religion the King Parliament and Kingdom And in the x Declaration of both Houses concerning a Treaty of peace made by Cheshire alone it is held forth That they ought not to withdraw themselves from the common cause but to joyn with the Parliament in the defence of the Religion and liberty of the whole Kingdom and with them to labour by all good means to procure a general peace and protection from the King for all his Subjects according to their general Protestation In like manner in the y Declaration of the 7th of January 1642. for a subscription of mony and plate for supply of the Army the cause of the war is expressed to be for the preservation of Religion as well as the just and undoubted power and privilege of Parliament our Laws and Liberties from most apparent destruction And in the z preamble to the Propositions of both Houses tendred to his Majesty Feâ—r 1. 1642. they say That they took up Arms for the defence of our Religion laws liberties privileges of Parliament and for the sitting of the Parliament in safety Likewise in the first a Ordinances for a general weekly Assesment wherein the whole Kingdom was to be satisfied That they might freely pay their mony the same cause is held forth The b Associations also of the several Counties of the Kingdom were setled for the same cause In the year 1643. c The Solemn League and Covenant was taken by all Members of Parliament and throughout the Kingdom in maintenance of the same cause as appears by the Covenant and the Exhortation to the taking of the same The Kingdom of Scotland engaged with us in the same cause And all d Commissions to the Generals and Army-Officers were in the name of King and Parliament And when a new Army was raised of 20000. men under the command of Sir Tho. Fairfax by e Ordinance of both Houses dated the 13th of Febr. 1644. it is held forth to be for the defence of the King and Parliament the true Protestant Religion the laws and liberties of the Kingdom An Ordinance dated 3. Aug. 1647. for raising of forces to be commanded by Sir William Waller is for defence of the King Kingdom Parliament and City Lastly to mention no more towards the end of the war the House of Commons alone published a memorable f Declaration dated the 17th of April 1646. called A Declaration of their true Intentions concerning the antient Government of the Kingdom and securing the people against all arbitrary Government c. Wherein remembring the aspersions cast upon them in the beginning of the war and that the same Spirits were still working and mis-representing their intentions and not ceasing aswell in print as otherwise to beget a Belief that they then desired to exceed or swerve from their first ayms 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 they would prolong the troubles and distractions in order to alter the fundamental constitution and frame of this Kingdom to leave all Government in the Church loose and unâ—etled and our selves to exercise the same Arbitrary power over the Persons and 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 Council-Table All which being seriously considered by them and fore-seeing that if credit were given to such dangerous inâ—inuations and false surmise the same would not only continue the then calamity and involve us into new and unexpected imbroylments but likewise inevitably endanger the happy issue and success of their endeavours which by Gods blessing they might otherwise hope for they did declare in these words We do declare That our true and real intentions are and our endeavours shall be to settle Religion in the purity thereof according to the Covenant to maintain the antient and fundamental Government of this Kingdom to preserve the right and liberty of the Subject to lay hold of the first opportunity of procuring a safe and
design the alteration of our Religion And we do here require all those who have any sence of piety honor or compassion to help a distressed State especially such as have taken the Protestation and are bound in the same duty with us unto their God their King and Country to come in unto our aid and assistance this being the true cause for which we raise an Army under the command of the Earl of Essex with whom in this Quarrel we resolve to live and dye And in the Declaration and Resolution of both Houses in answer to the Kings Proclamation against the h Earl of Essex they have these words viz. And whereas the Lords and Commons in Parliament did formerly choose the Earl of Essex to be Captain General of such forces as are or shall be raised for the maintenance of the true Protestant Religion the Kings person the law of the Land the peace of the Kingdom the liberty and propriety of the Subject and rights and privileges of Parliament the said Lords and Commons do declare That they will maintain and assist him and adhere unto him the said Earl with their lives and estates in the same Cause as in conscience and duty to God the King and their Country they are bound to do And the i Petition of both Houses sent to the King by the Earl of Essex when he marched in the head of the Parliaments army saith That they have for the just and necessary defence of the Protestant Religion of his Majesties Person Crown and Dignity of the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom and the Privilege and power of Parliament taken up arms The two Houses of Parliament having thus taken up arms and declared the cause thereof no successe made them in the least to vary from it but in the very heat of the war and whole prosecution thereof to the end they asserted and adhered to the same cause as appears in all their Remonstrances Declarations Orders and Ordinances during the war which being over-tedious to transcribe at large some material passages to that effect shall only be inserted viz. In the k Directions from both Houses given to the Earl of Essex General of the Army the cause is asserted to be in defence of Religion his Majesties Person the Liberties and Laws of the Kingdom and Privilege of Parliament And in the l Declaration and Protestation of the Lords and Commons in Parliament to this Kingdom and to the whole world Dat. Octob. 22. 1642. a day before the battel of Edghil ordered to be read in all Churches and Chapels wherein they expresse their resolution to enter into a solemn Oath and Covenant with God they conclude with these words viz. We doubt not but the God of truth and the great Protector of his people will assist and enable us in this our just defence to restrain the Malice and fury of those that seek our ruine and to secure the Persons estates and Liberties of all that joyn with us and to procure and establish the safety of Religion and fruition of our Laws and Liberties in this and all other his Majesties dominions which we do here again professe before the ever-living God to be the chief end of all our Councils and resolutions without any intention or desire to hurt or injure his Majestie either in his Person or just power And whereas in the m Kings Proclamation of the 24. of Octob. 1642. It is alledged that the war raised against him was to take away his life to destroy his posterity to change the Protestant Religion to suppresse the Law of the Kingdom and to take away the Liberty of the Subject and to subject both to an arbitrary power And in one of his Majesties Declarations there was this allegation That the Army raised by the Parliament was to depose the King Thereupon both Houses of Parliament in a Declaration after the bloody battel of Edghill in answer to this Charge and Declaration have these words n We hoped the contrivers of that Declaration or any that professed but the name of a Christian could not have so little charity as to raise such a scandal especially when they must needs know the Protestation taken by every Member of both Houses whereby they promise in the presence of almighty God to defend his Majesties Person the promiss and Protestation made by the Members of both Houses upon the nomination of the Earl of Essex to be General and to live and dy with him wherein is expressed that this Army was raised for the defence of the Kings Person And in the same Declaration they rejoyce that his Majestie and his Children escaped danger in that Battel In the o Remonstrance of the Lords and Commons of the 2d of Nov. 1642. there is this passage As God is witnesse of our thoughts so shall our actions witnesse to all the world that to the honour of our Religion and of those that are most zealous in it we shall suffer more from and for our Soveraign than we hope God will ever permit the malice of wicked Counsellors to put us to and though the happiness of this and all Kingdoms dependeth chiefly upon God yet we acknowledge that it doth so mainly depend upon his Majestie and the royal branches of that root that as we have heretofore so we shall hereafter esteem no hazard too great no reproach too vile but that we shall willingly go through the one and undergo the other that we and the whole Kingdom may enjoy that happiness which we cannot in an ordinary way of providence expect from any other fountain or streams than those from whence were the poyson of evil Councils once removed from about them we doubt not but we and the whole Kingdom should be satisfied abundantly The same Remonstrance also hath these words p We do not say the Royal assent is not requisite in the passing of Laws nor do or ever did we say That because his Majestie is bound to give his consent to good Laws presented to him by his people in Parliament that therefore they shall be Laws without his consent or at all obligatory saving only for the necessary preservation of the Kingdom whilst that necessity lasted and such consent cannot be obtained And again (q) We did and do say that the Soveraign power doth reside in the King and both Houses of Parliament It follows in the same Remonstrance r Having the honour of God and of his Majestie and the peace freedom and prosperity of this Kingdom chiefly before our eyes in our Propositions and in all our actions we rest assured that both God and man will abhor and abominate that monstrous and most injurious charge laid upon the Representative body of this whole Kingdom Of desiring the ruins not only of his Majesties person but of Monarchy it self and we appeal to all the world whether worse words than these can be given us And whether it be not high time for
well-grounded peace in the three Kingdoms and to keep a good understanding between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland according to the grounds expressed in the Solemn League and Covenant and Treaties which we desire may be inviolably observed on both parts And lest these Generals should not give a sufficient satisfaction they thought fit to the end men might be no longer abused in a misbelief in their intentions or a mis-understanding of their Actions to make further inlargement upon the particulars most worthy a diligent peruâ—al and consideration Amongst which they have this observable passage viz. And whereas a safe and good peace is the right end of a just war there is nothing we have more earnestly desired nor more constantly laboured after and to that purpose both Houses of Parliament have framed several Propositions to be sent to the King wherein We are so far from altering the fundamental Constitution and Government of this Kingdom by King Lords and Commons that we have only desired that with the consent of the King such Powers may be settled in the two Houses without which we can have no assurance but that the like or greater mischiefs than these which God hath hitherto delivered us from may break out again and ingage 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 Kingdom but to obtain the end of the primitive institution of all Government the safety and weal of the people And then that Declaration concludes thus And for the Covenant we have been and ever shall be very carefull to obâ—erve the same that as nothing hath been done so nothing shall be done by us repugnant to the true meaning and intention thereof nor will we depart from those grounds and principles upon which it was framed and founded This Decl. was then indeed of that moment to quiet the Jealousies and settle the Distempers of the Kingdom g that 4000 of them were ordered to be printed for the use of the Parliament And the Knights and Burgesses ordered to take care for the speedy sending down and publishing them in the respective Counties and places for which they â—erved And by special order of the House Sir Arthur Hasâ—erig Sir John Eveling and two others were to take care that the printed Declarations were published set up and â—â—xed in every Parish-Church by the Church-wardens or other Officers of the said Parish which they were by the said Order required and enjoyned to â—ee published set up and fixed in the said Parish-Church accordingly Way being thus made to the Narrative and Treaty we proceed The two Houses of Parliament having thus for the space of six years or thereabouts been ingaged in a war for the defence and maintenance of the Protestant Religion the Kings person honour and Estate and his Royal Posterity the power and Privileges of Parliament and the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom as appears by all their said Declarations Orders Ordinances and publick writings in the prosecution wherof they did also declare * That there was a design carried on by the forces levied against the Parliament to alter our religion and the antient frame and constitution of the Government both in Church and State and the laws and liberties of the Kingdom and to introduce Popery and Idolatry together with an Arbitrary form of Government And having in the heat of the war sent Propositions several times and entred into divers Treaties with his late Majesty for a safe and well-grounded peace which had not the desired effect at the cloze of the war finding the distempers of the Kingdom continued though all adverse Armies and Garrisons were reduced and well remembring that in the begining of the war they had called God to witnesse that the safety of the Kingdom and peace of the people was their only aime They did in July 1648. resolve upon a personal Treaty with the King the general desires of the City of London and the rest of the people concurring therewith And in pursuance thereof the Commons assembled in Parliament that they might have a full House published the following Declaration Die Martis 5. Septembris 1648. A Declaration of the Commons assembled in Parliament Concerning the Summoning of the Members to attend the House on Tuesday the 26. of Septemb. 1648. WHereas both Houses of Parliament have agreed upon A Personal Treaty with his Majestie which is speedily to commence for the management whereof the * attendance of all the Members of Parliament wil be very necessary because in the Multitude of Counsellors there is safety and in the successe thereof the Alaying of the present distempers and future happinesse of this Kingdom is so highly concerned It is therefore ordered and declared by the Commons assembled in Parliament that the respective Sheriffs of each County within the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales do forthwith upon receipt hereof give particular notice to all the Members of the House of Commons residing and being within their respective Counties to attend the House on Tuesday the 26th Septemb under the penalty of twenty pounds fixed upon the defaultors that day being appointed for calling of the House The Members attended from all parts accordingly and there were appointed the Earls of Northumberland Pembrook Salisbury Middlesex and the Lord Say for the Lords House And Mr. William Pierpoint Sir Henry Vane Junior and eight more of the House of Commons Commissioners to carry on the Treaty with his Majestie at the Isle of Wight who took great pains therein and finished the Treaty by the end of November And on December the first the Commissioners of the House of Commons made their report of the Treaty in the House who presently entred into debate thereof and continued the debate Dec. 2d 3d. 4th 5th when after a long and serious debate in a full House notwithstanding the Menaces of the Army who had marched up to London and Westminster contrary to the Orders of the House removed their own guards and put new ones upon them and their insolent and Rebellious Declaration of the 20th of Novemb. 1648. they came to this resolution without any division of the House viz. Die Martis 5. Decembris 1648. REsolved upon the Question That the Answers of the King to the Propositions of both Houses are a ground for the House to proceed upon for the settlement of the peace of the Kingdom The just grounds and reasons of which vote do partly appear in all the forecited Declarations and proceedings of both Houses during the War the Oaths Protestation League and Covenant they took as Members the Writs by which they were elected and the Indentures by which we were returned impowered intrusted but more particularly in the Vindication of the imprisoned and secluded Members of the Commons House from the aspersisions â—ast upon them and the majority of the House in a printed Paper of the Gen-Council of
of the Members following is entred viz. Col. Boswell Lord Gray Mr. Peregriâ—â— Pelâ—am Col. Jones Mr. Richard Darley Col. Temple Sir Thomas Malevery Sir John Bouchier Col. Peter Temple Mr. Humph. Edwards Mr. James Challenor Sir Gregory Norton Mr. Oldsworth Mr. Garland Mr. Nich. Lâ—ve Mr. Lisle Col. Rigby Mr. Holland Col. Ludlow Mr. Clement Col. Purefoy Col. Stapley Mr. Dunch Mr. Cawly Col. Downes Mr. Cary Mr. Blaxtone Mr. Scot Sir John Danvâ—rs Mr. Henry Smith Mr. John Pry Mr. George Serle Mr. Dove In all 33. So that it appears there was not yet the number of a House which must be forty at the least that dissented to that Vote though above 200. were kept away by force concurring with it Decemb. 21. Col. Hutchinson Sir Hen. Mildmay Sir James Harrinton Declare their dissents to the Vote of Decemb. 5. Monday Dec. 25. 1648. Col. Harvey alderman Pennington Mr. Main Alderman Atkins Mr. Blagrave Col. Mâ—or Mr. Millington Declare their dissents to the said Vote of Decemb. 5. There being now almost after three weeks time and such strange tranâ—actions as before only 43. Dissenters to the Vote of Decemb. 5. 1648. and that in obedience to the Armies Proposals of the 6th of December Upon Thursday the 11th of January 1648. the House was conceived sufficiently garbled and fitted for the Humble Answer of the general Council of Officers of the Army Jan. 3. to the demand of the House Dec. 14. touching the late securing or secluding the Members thereof which was this day read And though the same was notoriously false and highly scandalous to the secured and secluded Members as appears by their Vindication published the 20th of January which never received reply yet the House without so much as summoâ—ing or hearing of the said Members Resolved the said 11th of January That they approve of the substance of the said Answer of the General Council of Officers of the Army to the demand of the House touching the securing or secluding some Members thereof And appointed a Committee of the Dissenters to consider what was further to be done upon the said answer of the General Council and to present the same to the House And because it seems the said Committee was slack in meeting and making their return On Monday the 29th of January the House consisting of the said 43. Dissenters ordered That the said Committee be enjoyned to meet and bring in their Report on Monday next But to give them a sure rule to walk by and to prevent the sitting of any but Dissenters it was resolved at the same time That no Member of this House that gave his consent to the Vote of the fifth of December â—â—â—t do presume to sit in this House untill this House take further order though it was evident the Dissenters were yet but 43. and the number present at the Votes were 244. So that by this Vote made but by the 43. who had entred their dissents all others must be presumed to be yet Conâ—â—nters to the Vote This last Vote brought in afterwards by degrees some more Dissenters For Thursday February 1. 1648. Mr. Whitaker The Lord Monson Mr. Weaver Mr. Lassells Mr. Boon Mr. T. Chaloner Mr. Waite Mr. Harbert Mr. Mackworth Mr. Poynes Mr. Miles Corbet Mr. Say Sir Thomas Jervice Mr. Trenchard Alderman Wilson Mr. Wogan Mr. Baker Sir Tho. Witherington Mr. Pury Mr. Heveningham Mr. Gratwick Sir Edward Bainton Mr. James Nelthrop Mr. Brewster Sir * Gregory Norton Mr. Prideaux Mr. Thorp Mr. Whitlock Sir H. Vane Junior The Lord Lisle Entred their Dissents The Dissenters being now in almost two Months time come to the number only of 72. they did on the same first of February make the Order following viz. Whereas on the 18th of December last this House did order and declare that liberty be given to the Members of this House to declare their dis-assents to the late Vote of the fifth of Decemb. 1648. That the Kings Answer to the Propositions of both Houses was a ground for the House to proceed upon for the settlement of the peace of this Kingdom And afterward viz. on the 20th of Decemb. did order That the Clerk should enter the names with the dissents of such Members as declared their dissents in manner then directed Whereupon divers Members that day present and others at several times since did cause their names and dissents to be entred accordingly And whereas it hath been further admitted in behalf of Members absent from the said Vote That any such Member might have liberty to express his dis-approving the said Vote of the 5th of Decemb. It is now resolved and declared by the Commons assembled in Parliament that such Members who being present at the House on the 5th of Decemb. did dissent from the said Vote and from the putting that Vote to the Question or being not then present do dis-approve of the same and have not already declared in and to the House such their dissent or dis-approval of the said Vote may declare their Respective dissent or dis-approve of the said Vote to the Committee herereafter nominated viz. Mr. Scot Mr. Martin Sir John Danvers Mr. Millington Mr. Hutchinson Sir Will. Constable Col. Moor Mr. Challoner Mr. List Mr. Hayes Mr. Whittaker Sir Tho. Jervis Mr. Trenchard Sir T. Widderington Mr. Cawley Col. Downes Col. Temple Mr. Cary Mr. Serj. Thorp Mr. Blackiston Lord Lisle Col. Purifoy Sir Mich. Livesay Col. Stapely Lord Gray Lord Monson Alderman Wilson Col. Bosvile Mr. Boon Mr. Heveningham Sir Gregory Norton Or any three or more of them Who are hereby constituted and appointed a Committee to receive and take notice of the Declarations of any such Member his dissent or disapproval respectively that shall desire to declare and enter the same and the said Committee are hereby required to make present report of the same to the House and shall from time to time be heard therein before any other business or next after the business then in debate to the end such dissents or disapprovals may be entred in the Books of the House and such Members thereupon admitted And to that purpose the said Committee or any three of them are to sit when and where they think fit and convenient And it is further resolved and ordered That no Member of the House whose dissent or disapproval of the said Vote hath not been already entred do henceforth presume to sit in the said House untill his dissent from the said Vote of the 5th of December if he were then present or disapproval thereof if then absent from the House shall be by himself personally declared to the said Committee and from thence reported to the House and entred as aforesaid And that such Members of this House and every of them whose dissent from or disapproval of the said Vote respectively being not already declared and entred in the House shall not be declared to the said Committee as aforesaid before the first day of March next shall from
exclude the said Members though double the Major part of the House leaving them without any cause therein expressed under a reflexion of the highest nature as persons duely expeld the House during this Parliament and ordering Writs to issue forth for Electing new Members in their places a proceeding never used towards a Single Member but upon breach of trust or some high misdemeanor much less to many least of all to the Majority of the House hath in justice to our selves and the Counties and places for which we are intrusted necessitated us by this Declaration fully to state the whole matter of Fact and upon the whole to â—aise such Observations and Conclâ—â—sions as we hope may evince that we are not duely discharged and that the Judgement if there be any given is void in Law against the said Members whereof we have in the end of this Declaration inserted a perfect list First it is manifest by the state of the Fact that on the 6th and 7th of Decemb. 1648. and since the said Members being then and now the Major part of the House of Commons have been by force of arms and still are â—estrained from coming or entring into the House though they have several times renewed their claim only upon the Army-Officers Proposals and desires Dec. 6. 1648. 2ly That from that time to this day there hath been no legal accusation or impeaâ—hment exhibited against them or any of them in Parliament as a ground for a Judgement of their supension or exclusion 3ly That they were never summoned nor called to hear or answer any charge nor ever heard in the House nor particularly convicted nor yet named in any Order or Vote for their suspension or exclusion 4ly That all the pretence appearing for their exclusion in all the recited Votes and Orders is only their Ay to the Vote of the fifth of Dec. 1648. That the Answers of the King to the Propositions of both Houses are a ground for the House to proceed upon for the settlement of the peace of the Kingdom they being then and still the major part of the House and for refusing upon the demands of the Army and Orders of the minor part of the House made after they were forced away to enter their Protests against and Dissents from that Vote which was passed by them in Judgement and Conscience upon unanswerable grounds of Reason justice honour and faithfulness or for not disapproving the said Vote 5ly That the Members permitted to sit after and under the force Dec. 6. did several times positively order the secured and seluded Members to be forthwith discharged and that after the Demands and Proposals of the Army which shews that they did not then judge them guilty of breach of Trust by this their Vote 6ly That many of the Members that were suffered to sit when they saw no hopes of preserving their Privileges and the freedom of Parliaments against this force did voluntarily withdraw themselves and have ever since remained in the condition of secluded Members and are now comprised within the Vote of Ian. 5. and former Orders 7ly That the Members formerly secured and secluded by the Army-Officers in Dec. 1648. against the Votes of the House for their discharge for their Vote Dec. 5. are now for the self-same Vote alone even by order and command of those now sitting Members after their own double dissipation by armed violence forcibly excluded both the House and Lobby by armed Gards and Army-Officers and likewise discharged from sitting as Members of the House during this Parliament 8. That the forcible suspension and secluding of the Majority of the House till they retract and enter their particular dissents against and disapproval of their own Votes was first introduced and imposed by the General Council of Army-Officers Proposals to subvert the Privileges and Freedom of Parliaments And in obedience to their desires it is afterwards several times Voted Ordered and ratified by the sitting Members to bar us from all future sitting or Voting in the House as Members during the Parliaments continuance and made the secundary ground of our exclusion and discharge though never in use before from the begining of Parliaments till this day and that in relation to this Vote alone An Anti-Parliamentary President fit only for everlasting oblivion 9ly That for the miâ—or part thus to sway in Councel by help of an external force when reason within Doors could not carry it is a course of proceeding altogether illegal irrational and unparliamentary the determining of Questions and Controversies by the major Vote being essential to Parliaments and Great Councils authorized by the usage and experience of all Ages and Nations without which it is impossible to settle any Government in Church or State or make any final judgement in Courts or Councils without resolving all into the mere will of a few single Persons Upon all which grounds we are so far from râ—tracting the said Vote of Decemb. 5. that as both by the Vindication of the secluded Members published in January 1648. and by this Declaration it stands unanswerably justiâ—ied to all the World so we foretold the sad effects that would follow the varying from it and are now confirmed in the necessity and prudence of that Resolution by eleven years further consideration and the many sufferings calamities strange unsettlement and Revolutions of Government which the not hearkning to the advice of that Vote then the judgement of the whole Kingdom being past by the major part of their Representatives hath brought upon us ever since whereof we can yet see no end Having thus truly and fully stated the matter of Fact relating to our former and late seclusions and the premised Vote of Jan. 5. for our discharge exclusion out of the House during this Parliâ—ment only for our Vote Dec. 5. 1648. upon the Armies Proposals without any particular accusation hearing trial or judgement pronounced against Us or any one of Us by name at the bar we shall in the next place briefly demonstrate the Illegallity Injustice and Nullity of this general uncertain Vote by which we are thus by wholesale discharged behind our backs 1. By Orders Customs Presidents and Judgements in Parliament 2ly By the Laws and Statuteâ— of this Realm 3ly By the Law of Nations 4ly By the Law and Proceedings of God himself By the Orders Customs and Proceedings of Parliament it is most apparent 1. That in all * Parliaments Treaties and Assemblies within the Realm of England for ever every man ought to come without force armour or multitudes of armed men well and peaceably to the honour and peace of the King and of his Realm and all wearing of Armour or other force against the Peace ought to be defended and prohibited in all places Cities and Suburbs where Parliaments convene lest the Members should be terrified or driven away or the proceedings of (a) Parliament interrupted thereby as is evident by the Statute of 7 E. 1. Rastal
who as he doth not pervert judgement nor do wickedly Job 8. 3â—c 34. 12. but judgeth uprightly without respect of persons 1 Pet. 1. 17. Justice and Judgement being the habitation of his Throne from whence he administreth Judgement in Righteousness Ps. 89. 14. Ps. 9. 8. So he alwaies pleads with Malefactors and judgeth them face to face Ezech. 20. 35. Thus he proceeded against and judged the very first Offenders Eve Adam and the Serpent for the first offence in the world after the Creation summoning all three of them before him and impeaching and hearing their Answers to his Charge and last of all giving a particular judgement against each of them according to their Offences Gen. 3. 8 to 20. as a President for all other Judges to imitate And thus God and Jesus Christ will proceed in the last general judgement of the whole world when all Mankind and every Person good or bad from the Creation till the worlds expiration shall be summoned and personally stand and appear before the judgement Seat of God and Christ where every one of them shall give a particular account of himself to God of whatever he hath done in the Body whether it be good or evil and we and our Secluders too amongst the rest and be judged according to their works and receive a particular sentence of Condemnation or Absolution as Eccles. 12. 14. Mat. 25. 33 to 46. Rom. 14. 10 11 12. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Rev. 20. 12 13. Mat. 12. 36. Rom. 2. 1 2 3 to 13. resolve Upon all which premises we conclude the Votes Proceedings against us by our Fellow-Members to be erroneous injurious unrighteous nul and void to all intents And if they and the Army-Officers for want of Law Reason Presidents shall still endeavour as hitherto to make them valid and obligatory to us and those we represent only by Club-Law and violence We shall then conclude as the Lords and Commons and most of themselves heretofore did in their Declaration of August 4. 1642. against the King and his forces who were never guilty of so high a violation of our Privileges as those now sitting * If the King may force this Parliament by demanding only 6. Members of it and our Secluders now by excluding above 200. at once by force and Arms we may bid farewell to all Parliaments from ever receiving good by them And if Parliaments be lost the People are lost their Laws are lost as well those lately made for Triennial Parliaments and the continuance of this against the Council-Tables Extravagances c. as in former times which will be cut in sunder by the same Sword now drawn for the destruction of this by ours and others forcible seclusions Then if they will not come and help the Parliament and save themselves though both they and we must perish yet have we discharged our Consciences and delivered our Souls and will look for a Reward in Heaven should we be so ill requited upon Earth by thâ—se of whom we have so well deserved which we cannot fear having found upon all occasions such real Demonstrations of their Love and Affection and of their râ—ght understanding and apprehension of our and their common Danger especially now that the Question is so clearly stated We shall only subjoyn 3. Considerations more in point of Law and prudence arising from our forcible seclusion and exclusion by the minority of our fellow Members 1. That both Houses and most of themselves have declared in their s Declaration of 23. Octob. 1642. that the raising of forces only to force some particular Members of this Parliament as the 6. impeached by the King to be delivered up and secluded the House is a levying war against the Parliament For to raise an Army to compell the Parliament to expose these Members to the fury of these wicked Counsellors that thirst after nothing more than the ruine of them and the Commonwealth What can be more evident than that the same is levied against the Parliament For did they prevail in this then by the same reason they might dâ—mand twenty more and consequently never rest satisfied untill their Malice and Tyranny did devour all those Members they found crosse and opposice to their Lewd and Wicked designs And so by depriving the Parliament of their Members destroy the whole Body That both Houses in their Votes of 20 Maii 1642 t resolved That the levying war against the Parl. is Treason and whoever shall assist the King though the chief Member and u head of the Parliament much more then any inferior Members of it in such a Warr are Traytors by the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom and have been so adjudged by two Parliaments 1â—R 2. 1 H. â— and ought to suffer as Traytors Which Votes were seconded by many x Ordinances for sequestring and confiscating the real and personal estates of all Members of Parliament and others who sided with the King and his Forces against the Houses of Parliament by the condemnation of Mr: Waller and execution of Mr. Tomkins and others as TRAYTORS y for conspiring to seise several Members of both Houses by force of arms under a pretence of bringing them to justice by a Commission from the King dated 16 March 1643. though they actually attempted not to seâ—fe any Member By the proceedings against the * Members of both Houses deserting the Parliament under pretext that they were forcibly driven away from Westminster by seditious Tumults and imposed trayterous Oaths summoned to meet at Oxford by the Kings Proclamation of Jan. 29. 1643. where 49. Members of the Lords House and 175. of the Commons House assembled and sate in Council with the King and yet for levying war against the majority of the Parliament and both Houses sitting at Westm. they were are all of them sequestred and after several summons discharged to sit in either House by a special Ordinance (z) some of the said Lords together with the King himself condemned and executed as Traytors for levying war against the Parliament and majority of the Mâ—mbers at a great distance not personally in or at the House doors without seâ—uring or secluding any Members or interrupting their sitting in the House by armed forces If then it were high Treason in the King and his party to raise forces to demand and secure but 6. Members of both Houses by force and for the minority of the Lords and Commons house to levy war against the majority of the Parliament only at a distance for which they were thus sequestred condeâ—â—ed executed as Traytors even by those now sitting as well before as after our seclusion we refer it to their own Consciences Judgements and the whole Kingdom to determine whether it be not a higher and worser Treason levying war against the Parliament for them being but the Minority of the House and Members to engage and order the very * forces raised against the King and his party