Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
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A50896
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A Discourse shewing in what state the three kingdomes are in at this present
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Milton, John, 1608-1674.
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1641
(1641)
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Wing M2107; ESTC R22236
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2,896
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9
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A DISCOURSE Shewing In what state THE THREE KINGDOMES Are in At this present Printed in the yeare 1641. In what State the three Kingdomes are at this present SIR AS the faces of all Britane shew their hearts and inclinations so if their hearts were glazed with a Christall they would appeare fearefull of the future were not the representative body of the State carefull to cure the present malady purge the distempered humours and save the much gangrend body by cutting some rotten and putrifide members off which infect infest and invade the republique this makes me cheerefull to discover the conceptions of the wise and not as an Orator but relate their opinion as their auditor I hope it will take away from me ostentation and trouble from the reader even to give ease of discourse Their profound sighes and earnest prayers might quicken my ingenie better then the sound of excellent instruments can revive the spirit to present this with all obedience to my Soveraigne and faith to the Country and declare what is convenient to be done at this time submitting my self modestly to head and body Now if those streame of teares and sweet perfumes make not my penne fruitfull and odoriferous pardon my rudenesse and consider the state we are now in When our miserable condition perceived before the accesse of the universall body by the wrinckles put on the brow of ruined affaires councell weakned and reputation of State blasted that the people crie out against such instruments what miserable condition are wee brought to Oh God! suffer not ill Councellors to be as a bad spleene to swell so big as to make leane the Common-wealth that our empty purses bee not filled with bloud though with teares wherefore I humbly beseech the head to produce such effect as the Sunne on moist and cold grounds to reduce the generall capacity to such an influence of Justice Peace Religion and liberty and that in lieu thereof the people may make him a rich and potent King As all Rivers returne to the Ocean so shall the Laborinth we are in be by the helpe of wise Ariadnes escaped and the golden fleece continuance of Gospell Justice Peace and downy tranquility with helpe of those godly Medeas be preserved and procured Therefore not as a Lawyer give mee leave as a welwisher to the State to put the case by way of supposition If the fundamentall Lawes bee quite overthrowne Religion altered the Nobility taken away by counsells of warre as the Lord Mount Noris should have beene the meaner sort used as Pryn Burton Bastwick the propriety of goods taken away from the subject an Army force an Arbitrary way of government and justice bought sold what misery will follow when the Judges shall affirm it legall the Clergie wrongfully in their Pulpits teach it and the Cabinet Councell authorize the conveniency for matter of State therefore to have our Lawes established Religion maintained the pride of Prelates abased Justice administred Liberty settled and Peace continued for after times It is necessary the King Lords and Commons joyne in a most severe punishment that none in the Postea dare to enterprise the surprise and ruine of the common good for it is an infallible maxime the King is richer in the hearts then in the treasures of his Subjects Surely there was never a fitter time nor a more convenient occasion then now when three Kingdomes unite for their owne safety when the Scot hath an army on foote for this purpose and the King hath promised they shall not be interrupted in their Counsells and God requires it for his glory Especially when Ministers of State have begun to act this fatall Tragedy the guiltinesse by so many lively testimonies proved and the treason by presidents weighty authority assured by Law maintained and by all the Commons house adjudged who have power by 25. Ed. 3. and when it is brought to so good a passe by the Lords who both have Legislative power why should not Lords and Commons bring it to perfection that the King signe that who shall dare to alter Religion innovate Law or take away liberty of the Subject be condignly punished and for the future cause an expresse Law to be made on purpose to attaint bloud forfeit life lands and goods if any shall assay such crying exorbitances If by the Law it bee high treason to kill a Commissioner of Oyer and Terminer in feare of justice à majore to confound the whole body when a Commissioner is but one poore member of the body politique 2. To make a Law none be capable of any place of government that hath or shall give such counsell and leave the rest to the trienniall Parliament and not graspe too much lest all the harpies flie away Likewise it is necessary to make a remonstrance of the necessity of giving 300000. to the Scots to give satisfaction to future ages that it was no pusilanimity but upon mature deliberation because the evident necessity and inevitable dangers cast upon us by ill counsell justly caused it To the purpose the house of Commons hath done wisely to endeavour to clip the wings of the Clergy that they may fly into no temporall place whose pens and tongues have uttered such poison against the common good and in their pride would willingly adhere to Rome as by many superstitions it plainly appeares they have introduced some Babilonian ceremonies and made a bridge unto the Church by the Arminian opinion to passe over to Popery The State of Venice jealous of any their members confederating with enemies cause them to bestrangled and hanged up betweene Columnes confiscate their goods and estates bannish their children and make them incapable of government if for jealousie much more for so foule acts committed ought they dye by the Law of God and man Among the Athenians Lacedemonians and Romans whosoever should goe about to alter the forme of government or Lawes without publique consent hath been ever accounted the highest Traitor witnesse their Ostracisme and many such exemplary punishments used to such wretches If destroying the head bee high treason then ruining the state of the body must be for if it be suffocated with grosse spirits the head will not onely ake but bee Apoplecticall or Lethargicall such a sympathy or rather relation is betwixt head and members that no Rhetorique or eloquence can take it away In this case it is no pitty but convenient to destroy the brood of such vipers and by our Law the intention makes it treason But how many waies the Lord of Strafford hath perpetrated this intention hath been often proved In 18. and 21. Iacobi The whole house adjudged it treason to alien the hearts of the Subjects from the Soveraigne which hath beene done by his Counsellors His imprisoning without Law was high Treason in Sir Haukin Hanby 25. E. 3. Art 61. who was drawne hanged and quartered Judge Thorpe for giving such an oath contrary to Law was high Treason and is not his The reason Rich. 2. was deposed plainly manifested was because he suffered divers malefactors to escape condemned by Parliament which caused the oppression of the Subject and ruine of the Kingdome In all ages a Lethargy in Kings hath caused their ruine witnesse Ed. 2. Rich. 2. and H. 6. I humbly desire God to blesse his Majesty But consider wee that the three Kingdomes will not be satisfied unlesse the wrong received be expiated with the oblation of some have caused a heretick condition The Lord of Strafford hath had counsell in case of treason when none hath had the like since the Conquest So the whole world may see with what temper gravity and patience they proceed Ed. Earle of Northumberland in the 8. of Rich. 2. because his Deputy let the Scots take Barwicke Castle was condemned of high Treason and yet he never consented thereunto for it was done without his privity but the Lord of Strafford writ to the Major of Newcastle to let in the Scots and caused the Arms to be taken away from the foure adjacent Counties making them incapable of defence Wherefore it is visible as the sunne he is guilty besides his other crimes now his delay of punishment hath kindled such a fire as all the Subjects of the three Kingdomes are on a flame and wil not be satisfied Ex parvis magna Crescunt I pray God divert the evill and give us true repentance FINIS