kingdom be not a sufficient proof thereof the very Objectors and John Bradshawes beheading the late King and putting him to such a shamefull publike death as no Pagan nor Christian lawfull King of England ever formerly suffered by perfidious perjurious treacherous Subjects since it was an Island against our Laws and Votes of Parliament in the Highest Court of Injustice created by them for that end is a sufficient evidence that the King of England dieth as well as other men as they all must likewise doe in Gods due time unless they will make the World believe to expiate their Treason that they did not kill the King in cutting off his head but that he is still alive because some others as is reported did reunite and sow it to his bodie when severed from it by them But of this enough since M. P. presumes they will henceforth rather renounce their Parliaments being than bottom its present existence upon this bloudy foundation and their exploded Kingship The 2d Objection is from the words of the Statute of 17 Caroli c. 7. which declareth enacteth That this present Parliament now assembled shall not be dissolved unless it be by Act of Parliament In the Negative Ergo It shall not be dissolved by the Kings death being no Act of Parliament nor any Act of Parliament yet made for its dissolution Whereunto Mr. Prynne answers 1. That the sole end scope of this Act was not to provide against the dissolution of the Parliament by the Kings natural or violent untimely death not then thought of he being in perfect health likely to live many years by the course of nature and to survive all the ends for which this Act was made but to raise credit for the Parliament to provide monies by this Act to prevent the untimely dissolution proroguing adjourning of this Parliament by the Kings own regal power He having prorogued dissolved all former Parliaments during his Reign in discontent by his Regal power not death against the Lords and Commons wills 2ly This is intituled An Act to prevent Inconveniences which may happen by the untimely adjourning proroguing or dissolving of this present Parliament and the Prologue Body of the Act provide joyntly and severally against all three to wit the untimely proroguing or adjourning as well as dissolving of this Parliament But no Parliament ever was is or possibly can be untimely prorogued or adjourned by the Kings death but only by his actual Regal will and power Therfore the dissolving of it intended by this Act must be only an untimely dissolution by his actual will Commission writ and regal power alone by which his former Parliaments were prorogued dissolved against the Lords and Commons assents not by his death whether natural or violent being against his will and no part of his Regal Supremacy but only of his human frailty 3ly The Inconveniences the Commons feared would ensue by the untimely dissolution of this Parliament and endeavoured to prevent by this Act are thus expressed in the Prologue Where as great sums of mony must of necessity be suddainly advanced and provided for relief of his Majesties Army people of the Nothern parts of this Realm and to prevent the imminent danger this Kingdome is in and for supplying of other his Majesties present and urgent occasions which cannot be so timely effected as is requisite without credit for raysing the said mony which credit cannot be obtained untiil such Obstacles he first removed as are occasioned by Fears Jealousies Apprehensions of divers of his Majesties Subjects that this present Parliament may be adjourned prorogued or dissolved 1. before Justice shall be executed upon Delinquents 2ly publike grievances redressed 3ly a firm peace between the two Nations of England and Scotland concluded 4ly and before sufficient provision be made for the repayment of the said monies so to be raysed all which the Commons in this present Parliament assembled having duly considered do therefore humbly beseech your most excellent Majesty that it may be declared and enacted And be it therefore declared and enacted by the King our Soveraign Lord with the assent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by authority of the same That this present Parliament now assembled shall not be dissolved unless it be by Act of Parliament to be passed for that purpose c. By which it is undenyable 1. That the Commons when they petitioned for the King when he declared enacted the Lords and Commons when they assented to this Act did never think of or intend to provide against a dissolution of this Parliament by the Kings untimely death nor of a future dissolving it by an Act of Parliament by his Successors or others after his decease but on the contrary presupposed the continuance of his life and of this Parliament thereby till all the inconveniences they recite were prevented and a new Act passed by him and them jointly to dissolve this Parliament when these Inconveniences were prevented and things effected Which is irrefragable 1. Because they declare in Terminis The speedy advancing and providing of monies for the relief of his Majesties Armies and people of the Nothern parts not their subsequent Armies and the supply of his Maiesties present and urgent occasions not their own and the Fears Jealousies and Appâ—ehensions of divers his Maiesties Loyal Subiects c. â—o be the only ground of their humbly beseeching his Maiesty for this Act. All which presuppose his life being preservation and the Commons great care of complying with him as their Soveraign Lord without the least thought of his untimely death since happening or secluding the King or his Poûeritie out of this and all future Parliaments by colour of this Act as those now sitting have done point-blanck against it 2ly The Fears Jealousies and Apprehensions they had occasioning this Act were only these That this Parliament might be adjourned pâ—orogued dissolved 1. Before Justice shall be duly executed upon Delinquents then in being and complained of as Strafford Canterbâ—ry the Ship-mony Judges and others not new Delinquents since not then dreamed of 2ly Before publick Grievances redressed hose then complained of not others arising afterwards 3ly Before a firm peace between the two Nations of England and Scotland concluded by reason of the former not subsequent breaches between them and the King 4ly Before sufficient provision to be made for the repayment of the said monies to be raised not for the Parliaments subsequent Armyes and occasions but for his Maiesties Army and people in the North the preventing the then imminent danger of this Kingdom not of our new Common-wealth or dangers since arising and for supply of other his Maiesties present not future and urgent occasions But none of these four particulars could be accomplished by the Lords or Commons alone afâ—er his Majesties death but by the King alone or by his concurrence with them whiles living Yea they were all actually accomplished
Frauds and indirect practises in others 3ly That old House of Commons had a special care of providing for the Kings Armie his urgent and present occasions professed themselves his loyal Subjects and him to be their King and Soveraign Lord humblie besought his most Excellent Majesty that it might be declared and enacted by him that this Parliament might not be dissolved prorogued or adjourned but by Act of Parliament acknowledging they could make no such Act without his Majesties Royal assent and that both the King and Lords House were essential Members of the Parliament within this Act. But those sitting since 1648. till 1653. and now again thus entring the House by pretext of this Act have renounced abjured and professedlie engaged against all this to which they are direct Antipodes Therefore no Commons House within this Act. 4ly The Commons House within this Act was that House which was then in being when this Act passed dulie elected by the people by the Kings Writs not the Armie-Officers and pursued the self-same ends recited in the preamble for which this Act was made and assented to by the King and Lords But this New House was created constituted not by the Kings writs or peoples election but the Armies swords and conspiracie 7 years after this Act first passed then disowned and turned out of Doors above 6 years by the Army and now re-inducted into it by their armed Votes and force to serve their ends not to pursue those mentioned in the Act accomplished many years since and now becoming impossible Therefore they are not so much as an House of Commons within this Act and the Armie-Officers and Souldiers who formerly thrust them out now recall them may do well to consider that Gospel-Text Gal. 2.18 If I build again the thing I destroyed I make my self a Transgressor even against this very Law as well as the law of God and other laws of the Land XI If they are not so much as a Commons House of Parliament much less then are they the lawfull Parliament of England in anie sense within the letter or meaning of this Act no more than so manie of the old Gunpowder Popish-Traitors had their Treason taken so good effect in blowing up King Iames the Lords whole House and majoritie of the Commons House there assembled as their late new Powder-plot hath done had been the onlie lawfull Parliament of 3 Iac. they destroyed in case they had entred then into the Commons House with the Mace before them and created stiled themselves alone the Parliament of England as a right devolved unto them by Conquest or Succession which had they presumed to do no doubt the whole English Nation would have risen up against them as one man and never have so far dishonored themselves their Religion or Countrie as to own and submit to those Jesuitical Romish-Traitors only for destroying of their lawfull King Lords House and English Parliament it self as the onlie true old English Parliament then re-assembled The Reasons are unanswerable 1. Because the whole House of Commons then sitting in its primitive splendor fullnesse freedome was by its own quadruple acknowledgement in it no more but the Commons House and one Member of this Parliament not the Parliament it self never owning owning but professedlie disclaiming it self to be the Parliament or present Parliament within this Act. 2 ly Because this Act was made not by the Commons alone without the King or Lords concurrence but by the King as their Soveraign Lord declaring and enacting and the Lords and Commons as jointlie assenting thereunto 3 ly Because it is most absurd to conceive that the King and Lords by passing this Act to continue this Parliament as then constituted till dissolved by Act of Parliament did ever intend to seclude themselves quite out of it or to make the Commons House alone an absolute independent Parliament without both or either of them though five times speciallie providing by name for their Parliamentarie interests Or that they or the Commons intended to make each of themselves a distinct Parliament without the other and so to erect three New Parliaments at once by providing against the untimelie proroguing adjourning or dissolving of one The King and Lords both jointlie and severallie having the self-same Arguments from this Act to prove each of them a several or joint Parliament without the Commons by the Commons own intention in passing this law as the Commons have to justifie themselves to be a Parliament now they have secluded and engaged against them both and will admit of neither as Members of their Parliament when as this verie Act preciselie prohibits the King to dissolve prorogue or adjourn the Parliament or either House therof or the Lords to prorogue or adjourn much less dissolve the Commons House or the Commons to prorogue or adjourn much lesse dissolve the Lords House declaring and enacting That at any time or times during the continuance of this Parliament the Lords House shall not be adjourned nor yet the Commons House but onlie by their own respective Orders and by themselves alone declaring enacting everie thing and things whatsoever done or to be done to the contrarie to be utterly void and of none effect 4 ly Because this Act both in the Title prologue and body prevents onlie the untimely proroguing adjourning and dissolving of this present Parliament at any time or times during the continuance of it but by Act of Parliament or themselves stiling it 8. several times this present Parliament and giving it no other Title yea it preciselie describes it to be a Parliament onlie of King Lords and Commons as it was when this Act was made and so to continue till its dissolution But the Parliament now sitting was not this present Parliament being not then known heard of nor imagined ever to start up in After-ages by any who made or consented to this Law it being created onlie by the Armie 7 years after this Act and now revived full 18 years after it without anie King or House of Lords and protesting engaging against them both as no Members of it Neither can they pursue any one of those ends for which this Parliament was continued Therefore they are doubtlesse beyond dispute no Parliament at all within the words or intention thereof their own Consciences Reason being Judges whatever they pretend nor yet by their own Republican principles a free and equal Representative of the people 6 ly By the Law and Custom of all Nations Nature Reason Justice Equitie the laws of England and of all publick or private Ecclesiastical Civil or Militarie Councils or Corporations the Majority of persons Members Voyces Votes are alwayes reputed the Parliament Council Synod Corporation and do yea ought of right to bind the lesser part as well in making Laws Ordinances as Elections and all else that concerns the publick Yea the General and General Counsel of the Army-Officers in their Petition to those and others now
A true and perfect NARRATIVE OF What was done spoken by and between Mr. Prynne the old and newly Forcibly late secluded Members the Army Officers and those now sitting both in the Commons Lobby House and elswhere on Saturday and Monday last the 7. and 9. of this instant May with the true Reasons Ends inducing Mr. PRYNNE a Member of the old Parliament thus earnestly to press for entry to go and keep in the House as he did And what proposals he intended there to make for publike peace settlement and preservation of the Parliaments privileges Put in writing and published by the said William Prynne of Lincolns Inne Esq to rectifie the various Reports Censures of this Action and give publike satisfaction to all Members of the old Parliament the whole English Nation especially those Vianders and free Burgesses of the Borough of Newpart in Cornwal who without his Privitie Sollicitation or good liking unanimously elected him for their Burgess An. 1648. though soon after forcibly secluded secured now twice re-secluded in like manner by the Army-Officers Of his sincere Endevors to the uttermost of his power to preserve OUR RELIGION LAWS LIBERTIES the Essential Rights Privileges Freâ—dom of Parliament and all we yet enjoy according to his Oaths Covenant Trust as a Parliament Member against the utter Subverters of them by meer armed force arbitrary will and tyrannical power through the apparent Plots Seductions of our professed foreign Popish Adversaries and their Instruments Psal 3.6 I will not be afraid often Thousands of men who have set themselves against me round about Psal 27.3 Though an Host should encamp against me my heart shall not fear though war should rise against me in this will I be confident Printed in 〈…〉 1659. A true and full Narrative of what was done and spoken by and between Mr. Prynne other secluded Members Army Officers c. ON the 7th day of this instant May Mr. Prynne walking to Westminster-Hall where he had not been six daies before meeting with some old secured and secluded Members of Parliament summoned by King Charles his Writ and Authority for these only ends expressed in all writs of Summons to the Lords and of Elections issued to Sheriffs of Counties for electing Knights Citizens and Burgesses of Parliament and in the Indentures themselves by which they were retorned Members To confer and treat of certain great and arduous affairs concerning the defence of the King Kingdom and Church of England and to do and consent to those things which shall happen to be therein ordained by Common counsel of the King Lords and Commons touching the aforesaid businesses which Parliament began at Westminster the third day of November 1640. They shewed him a Declaration of the Officers and Counsel of the Army made in such hast and confusion that they mistook the Month wherein they made it dating it April 6. instead of May 6. published by them that morning which Declaration the day before was presented to the Speaker of the said Parliament at the Rolls by divers Officers of the Army in the name of Col Fleetwood and the Counsel of officers of the Army in presence of many Members of the said Parliament containing their earnest desire That those Members who continued to sit since the year 1648. untill the 20 th of April 1653. would return to the exercise and discharge of their trust expressed in the foresaid Writs and Indentures alone by those who impowred elected and entrusted them as their Representatives without any other new trust whatsoever inconsistent with or repugnant to it Promising their readiness in their places as became them to yield their utmost Assistance to them to sit in safety for improving the present opportunity for setling and securing the peace and freedom of this Common-wealth praying for the presence and blessing of God upon their endeavours who after they had sate many years in performance of the trust reposed in them by the people and being in the prosecution of that Duty assembled in Parliament at Westminster upon the 20 th day of April 1653. were then interrupted and forced out of the House from that time untill this very day Of which force they seeme in their Declaration unfeinedly to repent by an actual restitution of the Members formerly forced thence much more then of that greater and more apparent force of whole Regiments of Horse and Foot drawn up to the house it self in a violent manner where they seised secured Mr. Prynne with above forty and secluded forced away above 2 hundred Members more of the Commons House only for the faithfull discharge of their Trusts and Duties therein according to their Oaths Protestations Vows Covenants Consciences wherin most think they first turned out of the way by wandring into other wayes from righteous equal paths which Members though they do not particularly invite to sit again yet they having proved no breach of trust against them do not in the least measure intimate that they would forcibly seclude them from sitting if that Parliament should be publickly voted still in being by vertue of the Statute of 17 Caroli c. 7. as they in their Counsel of the Army have actually resolved by their invitation of the Members thereof to sit again as Mr. P. those Members who shewed it to him conceived upon their perusal thereof Mr. P. being after informed that the Old Speaker and sundry Members of the long Parliament were then met in the painted Chamber to consult together in order to their meeting again in the House was moved to go thither to them which he refused because it was no place where the House of Commons ever used to meet or sit as an House but only as a Committe upon conferences with the Lords Soon after Mr. P. heard by some Members and others that the old Speaker and about forty Members more with the Mace carried before them were gon from the Lords House into the House of Commons there sate as an House by vertue of the Statute and their old Elections by the Kings Writs Vpon which there being then above 30 of the old secluded Members in Decemb. 1648. in the Hall they did think fit and agree that to avoid Tumult about 12. or 14. of them in the name of the rest if freely admitted without any seclusion or engagement in a friendly manner should desire to know of them Upon what account they did now sit there thus sodainly and unexpectedly without giving any convenient notice or summons to all the rest of the Members to sit with them If only by vertue of the Act of 17 Caroli ch 7. thus penned Be it enacted and declared by the King our Soveraign Lord with the Assent of the Lords Commons That this present Parl. now assembled shall not be dissolved unless it be by Act of Parliament to be passed for that purpose Nor shall any time or times during the continuance thereof be prorogued or adjourned unless it be by
substance of what passed between Mr. P. the Army Officers and those now fitting on the 7th and 9th of this instant May both in the Lobby House and elsewhere Mr. Prynne being since necessitated to publish it to prevent and rectifie the various misreports thereof He shall now relate as a Corollary thereunto the true and only reasons then inducing him after earnest Prayer to God for direction and protection in this Grand Affair to press the admission of himself and other Members into the House to correct the manifold contradictory censures of what he then did and spoke Some have been staggared and amazed at it as if he were now turned an Apostate from his former principles acting both against his Judgement and Conscience to cry up and make himself a Member of that old Parliament which he publickly printed to be dissolved above ten years since by the Kings death Others have censured it for a rash foolish and desperate attempt A third sort condemn it as a seditious tumultuous if not treasonable Action prejudicial to the publick peace and settlement deserving severe exemplary punishments A fourth Classis doome it as a scandalous Act dishonorable destructive to our Religion A fifth sort cry it up as a most necessary heroick rational zealous Action deserving everlasting honor prayse thanks from the whole English Nation and a necessary incumbent duty as a Member of the old Parliament though legally dissolved being pretentionally now revived against Law Truth by those very Army Officers who six years past ipso facto dissolved and declared it to be dissolved yea have held many new Mock-Parliaments of their own modelling since all proving abortive by forcible ruptures as the long Parliament did It is not in Mr. Prynnes power to reconcile or controll these contradictory censures neither was he ever yet so foolish or vain-glorious as to be any wayes moved with the censures opinions or applauses of other men nor so ambitious covetous as to pursue any private interest of honor profit revenge c. under the notion of publick Liberty Law Reformation as many have done nor so Sycophantical as to connive at others destructive exorbitances guilded over with specious Titles this being his constant rule to keep a good Conscience in all things both towards God and man Acts 24.16 to discharge his publick trust duty towards God and his Native Country though with the probable hazard of his life liberty estate friends what else may be precious to other men to trust God alone with the success reward of his endeavors to let others censure him as they please to fear no Mortal or power whatsoever in the discharge of his duty who can but kill the Body Mat. 10.23 nor yet do that but by Gods permission being utterly unable to touch the Soul but to fear him alone who can cast both Soul and Body into Hell The only ground end motive inducing Mr. Prynne thus earnestly and timely to get into the House was no wayes to countenance any unparliamentary Conventicle or proceedings whatsoever nor to own those then sitting to be the old true Commons House of Parliament whereof he was formerly a Member as now constituted much less to be the Parliament it self then sitting but to discharge the trust to which he was once unvoluntarily called without his privity or solicitation by an unanimous election a little before the last Treaty with the King having refused many Burgesships freely tendred to him with importunity both before his election at Newport and since being never ambitious of any publick preserments which he might have easily obtained had he but modestly demanded or signified his willingness to accept them After his election against his will and inclination he came not into the House till the Treaty was almost concluded and that at the request of divers eminent Members only with a sincere desire to do that cordial service for preservation of the King Kingdom Church Parliament Laws Liberties of England and prevention of those manifold Plots of forein-Popish Adversaries Priests Jesuites Sectaries seduced Members Army-Officers and Agitators utterly to subvert them which other Members overmuch or totally neglected coldly opposed or were totally ignorant of What good service he did in the House during that little space he continued in it is fitter for others then himself to relate How fully he then discovered to them the true original Plotters fomenters of that Goad Old Cause now so much cryed up and revived how strenuously he oppugned how truly he predicted the dangerous consequences of it since experimentally verified beyond contradiction his printed Speech Decemb. 4. 1648. can attest and his Memento whiles he was a prisoner For this Speech good service of his in discovering oppugning the New Gunpower-Treason then plotted and ripened to perfection to blow up the King Parliament Lords Laws Liberties Religion at once violently prosecuted by the force Remonstrance and disobedient practises of the rebellious Army Officers and Souldiers he was on the 6th of December 1648. forcibly seised on at the Lobby-Door as he was going to discharge his trust and caried away thence by Col. Pride and others How unhumanly unchristianly Mr. Prynne seised with other Members at the House door Decemb. 6. was used by the Army-Officers who lodged him them in bell on the bare boards all that cold night almost starved him and them with hunger and cold at Whitehall the next day imprisoned him many weeks in the Strand and after seised kept him by a new Free-state warrant a strict close Prisoner in three remote Castles nigh three years for his Speech in the House against their most detestable Treasons and Jesuitical proceedings against the King Parliament Privileges and Members of it is elsewhere at large related This being all he gained by being a Member and for asserting that true Good Old Cause against the new Imposture now cryed up afresh to turn our antient Kingdom into a New Republick and our Parliament of King Lords and Commons into a select unparliamentary juncto or forty or fifty Members of the old dissipated House of Commons elected impowred only by the Army not People to act what they prescribe to extirpate King Lords Monarchy Magistracy Ministry Laws Liberties Properties and reduce them all under Jesuit â—â—oe at first and our forein Enemies Vassallage in conclusion Mr. Pryâ—â—e then being most clearly convinced thereof by what he formerly published as a Member in his Speech and Memento and since in his Epistle to a New Discovery of Free-State tyranny his Jus Patronatus his historical and legal Vindication of the fundamental Laws Liberties Rights Properties of all English Freemen A new Discovery of Romish Emissaries his Quakers unmasked and in his Republicans Good Old Cause truly and fully anatomised wherin he infallibly demonstrates their converting of our late English Monarchy into a new Common-wealth or elective Protectorship to be the antient projected moddles of Father Parsons and other Jesuites and Tho. Campanella the
were engaged therein by any Votes or Actions if he could but gain audience or patience to hear them pressed on their Consciences Viva Voce But their unparliamentary adjourning on purpose to prevent it when he was in and forcibly resecluding him by armed Gards when once out he held himself bound in Conscience to publish that to them and the the world in print which he was not permitted libertie to speak as he formerlie did when forcibly imprisoned and kept from the House by the Armie as now upon the like account in his Brief Mememto to the present unparliamentary Juncto from his Pison-Chamber at the Kings Head which they soon after took of Jan. 1. 1648. 2ly He intended to propose That all armed Gards of Souldiers in or near the Cities of London or Westminster might by publick Proclamation be removed to a convenient distance thence according to the antient Custome Presidents and Privileges of Parliament prohibiting not only all armed forces but the very bearing of any Arms or weapons in or near the place where the Parliament did sit under severest penalties lest they should over-awe the Members or any way interrupt their proceedings which the undutifull mutinous Officers Souldiers now in and near the City though raysed purposely to protect the Parliament and its Members from all force whatsoever have frequently done nay forcibly secluded imprisoned ejected the Members themselves sundry times yea turned the now sitting Members out of Doors and now again on Saturday last and this very Morning secluded him and sundry Members when they came to enter in 3ly That all the Lords all secured secluded Members of the old Parliament not sitting after Decemb. 8. 1648. now about the City being double in number to those now sitting might presently be called and freely admitted into the House And all living Members of the old Commons House elected or sitting at or before that time might by the Speakers Letter be desired in all their names to meet together in the Commons House forty daies after the ordinary time limited in most writs of Summons or Resummons of Parliament and nothing acted or voted in the interval as a House of Commons till they were all assembled after their ten years seclusion dissipation by the Armies force and war upon them This suddain unexpected Clandestine stealing into the Commons House of about 41 or 42. Members alone without any general notice given thereof to all the other surviving absent Members or places which elected them sitting presently as an House of Parliament accompanied with a present forcible seclusion of all but their own Confederates being a most unparliamentary practice conspiracy surprise unworthy Saints or persons of Honour destructive to the very being Privileges of Parliament injurious to the whole Nation as well as absent and secluded Members yea contrary to their own Republican Votes Principles That the Supream Authority of the Nation resides only in the Generality of the people That it cannot be transferred from them to any others in or out of Parliament but by their free consents and elections That their Representatives in Parliament ought to be equally distributed throughout the Nation No Member to be secluded when duly elected and all things to be carryed only by majority of Voyces Contrary to the principles of Law Equity common Justice Reason which resolve that publick Acts of Parliament bind all men because they all are Parties and Assenters to them by their election of Knights Citizens and Burgesses impowred intrusted by them and present when they passed by their common assent Which they cannot be when the farre greater number are absent secluded and have no notice of their present sitting Contrary to common Right and that just Maxime inserted into some antient Parliament Writs of Summons and elections to Sheriffs quod omnes tangit ab omnibus approbetur that which concerns all ought to be approved by all And not only so but this their surreptitious fraudulent suddain sitting and acting by themselves as a Parliament if they proceeded would make them far more criminal and guilty of highest Treason than King Richard the 2d of old impeached and dethroned in the Parliament of 1 H. 4. amongst other Articles for this That the said King in his last Parliament at Salop purposing to oppress his people subtlely procured and caused to be granted That the Power of the Parliament by the consent of all the States of his Realm should remain with certain Persons to determine after the Parliament dissolved certain Petitions delivered in the same Parliament at that time not dispatched By colour of which Concession the persons so deputed proceeded to other things generally touching that Parliament and that by the Kings will In derogationem status Parliamenti in magnum incommodum totius Regni pernitiosum exemplum In derogation of the State of the Parliament and to the great disprofit prejudice of the whole Realm and permitious example And that they might seem to have some kind of colour Authority for this kind of their proceedings the King caused the Rolls of the Parliament according to his Vote to be changed and deleted contrary to the effect of the foresaid Concession which is likewise mentioned in the printed Act of 1 H. 4. c. 3 and thus amplyfied That a certain power was committed by authority of Parliament to certain persons to proceed upon certain Articles comprised in the Rolls of the Parliament thereof made and by authority aforesaid divers Statutes Judgements Ordinances and Stablishments were made ordained and given erroneously and dolefully in great disherison and final destruction and undoing of many honourable Lords and Liege-people of the Realm and their Heirs forever wherupon that whole Pariament of 21 R. 2. with all the circumstances and dependents thereupon were wholy reversed revoked voyded undone repealed and annulled for ever If this then were so high a crime and breach of royal Trust in King R. 2. even by consent and authority of the whole Parliament and three Estates subtilly to procure the power of the whole Parliment to remain in the hands of certain Persons which themselves approved of who exceeded their Commission and acted generally as a Parliment And if this was a grand derogation of the state of the Parliament a great damage to the whole Realm and permitious example for posterity for which in the very next Parliament they impeached deposed him and nulled all these proceedings for ever Then questionless their former sitting acting in the Commons House from December 7 1648. till Apr. 20. 1653. and now again without yea against the consents Votes of the Parliament 3 Estates secluded Members their repealing altering the very Acts Ordinances of the Lords and Commons concerning the Treaty with the King and sundry others their nulling the Act for Trienial Parliments the continuance sitting of the Lords in this Parlament their â—eclaring themselves alone to be the Parliament of England beheading the King himself their
kingdom so soon as he lost his life 5ly The end of summoning this Parliament was only this for the King himself to have a conference and Treaty with the Prelates and Nobles and for them to be personally present with Vs not our heirs or successors to give Vs their Counsel c. not our heirs and successors All frustrate made impossible and absolutely ceasing by his death because when once dead they can neither parlie conferr nor treat with the King himself nor the King with them nor be personally present with Him for that purpose unlesse they will averr that a meer dead headlesse King can really confer treat parly consult advise with his living Prelats Lords Parliament and they with him be Parliamentally present with each other in the Lords House neither of which they dare admit into it for fear the King if living and Lords too should afright them out of it as the Kings ghost yea the memorial of it though dead might justly do 6ly The mandatory part being in the Kings name alone to summon them to treat with and give their Counsel unto Vs concerning the foresaid businesses relating to Vs and the defence of Our Realm Our Businesses aforesaid not our heirs and successors He and his businesses all ending when he expires the Parliament must of necessity determine 7ly The Parliament ceasing to be the Common counsel of the King and his kingdom and nothing possible to be ordained BY US the King not his heirs and successors Prelates Nobles in Parliament without his concurrent Vote or when he is dead unless a dead King can give counsel make Ordinances give his royal assent to Bills when deceased It must inevitably follow that all the Authority causes grounds ends for which the Members of this Parliament were all summoned to treat consult and give their advice to the King himself determining and becoming impossible to be performed by his death the Parliament must of necessity expire and be dissolved even as the natural body ceaseth to be and remain a living man when the Head is quite cut off If then those now sitting who cut off the Kings Head the Head of the Parliament and thereby destroyed that temporary body politick will have their Conventicle revived by this Act they must set on his head again raise him alive out of his Grave and bring him back into the House to impeach condemn decapitate them in this true High Court of Justice for this their beheading him in their Court of Highest Injustice Which Mr. Prynne presumes they dare not doe least his revived Ghost should scare them thence or justly retaliate their transcendent Treachery 4ly If any man by his will deed the King by his Commissions the Parliament by a special Act or Order shall authorize impower any 3. persons joyntly to sell lands give livery and seisin execute any Commission as Judges Justices Commissioners Auditors or Committees of Parliament if any one of them die both the survivors joyntly or severally can doe nothing because their authority trust was joynt not several and joyntly nor seperately to be exercised If there be not 40 Commoners in the House they cannot sit or act as an House nor dispatch the least affair no more can any Committee of either House unless their Number be sufficient to make up a Committee as the orders and custom of Parliament appoint Therfore the Parliament of England being a Corporation compacted joyntly of the King Lords and Commons House and three estates The death of the King necessarily dissolves the Parliament notwithstanding this Act which did not alter the Parliaments Old constitution but establish it The Kings personal absence from his Parliament heretofore and of late was reputed very prejudicial to it and his calling away some Lords Great Officers and other Members from it a high way to its present dissolution in his life Therefore it must much more be dissolved by his death and the Lords and Commons forcible seclusion both before and since it by the Army and sitting Members they having Vocem locum in quolibet Parliamento Angliae as our Law-books Statutes and their Patents resolve 5ly The principal end of calling Parliaments is to enact new and necessary Laws and alter repeal such as are ill or inconvenient as the Prologues of our printed Statutes our writs of Summons Law-books attest and all accord But no new Act of Parliament can be made nor no former Acts altered repealed but by the Kings royal assent who hath a Negative voice to deny as well as Affirmative to assent to them as well as the Lords and Commons as all our Parliaments Judges Law-books Parliament Records Treatises of Parliaments the printed Statutes in each Kings reign more particularly the Statutes of 33 H. 8. c. 21. 1 Jac. c. 1. in the close resolve Yea both Houses acknowledged it in all contests with the late King our Kings Coronation Oaths and all our antient Saxon Kings Lawes attest it Therefore his death must needs dissolve the Parliament notwithstanding this Act because it could make no Act for its dissolution nor declare alter repeal any other Law without his royal assent There are but 2. Objections made by any sitting or secluded Members against these Reasons that his death should not dissolve the Parliament The 1. is this which the Republicans themselves formerly and now insist on That the King doth never die in judgement of Law and that there is no Interregnum because the Crown immediately descends to his right heir who by Law is forthwith King de jure and de facto before his actual Proclamation or Coronation as the Statute of 1 Jacobi ch 1. Cooks 7 Rep. f. 10 11. Calvins case and other Books resolve To which Mr. Prynne Answers 1. That this argument is but an Axe to chop off their own heads and supremacy as they did the Kings and the Objectors now sitting must either renounce their sitting acting Knacks Declarations against the late King Kingship and the House of Lords or quite disclaim the Objection For if the King never dies Then by their own confession and our Lawes we are still a Kingdom not a Republike yea Charles Steward as heir to his beheaded Father was and is still de Jure de facto the lawfull King of England and supreme Lord and Governour of our Church Kingdom there being no Interregnum ever since his Fathers death and then what becomes of all their absurd illegal Knacks against his Regality and Kingship it self of which they are forced now to pray in ayd to make themselvs a Parliament of their Mock-Parliament without King and House of Lords of their perfidious treacherous Engagements against both and Supreme Authority of the Nation which they have tyrannically usurped 2ly Though the King in genere or rather Kingship it self never dies yet the King in Individuo may and doth oft times die and if the successive deaths of all our Kings since we were a
in his life time long before his death The first by the Executions of Strafford and Canterbury the impeachments censures of the Shipmony-Judges and other Delinquents both in Scotland Iâ—eland The 2d by the Acts abolishing Shipmony the taking of tonnage poundage and other Taxes without Act of Parliament the Acts for the preventing of Inconveniences happening by the long intermissions of Parliament For regulating of the Privy-Counsel taking away the Court of Star-Chamber and High-Commission against divers Incroachments and oppressions in the Stannary court For the certainty of Forests and their meets and bounds for the better ordering and regulating the Office of the Clerk of the Market for reformation of false Weights and Measures for preventing vexatious proceedings touching the order of Knightship for the abbreviation of Michaeâ—mas Term and for the free importation of Gunpowder and Salt-peter from forein parts and making of them in England By all these good Acts passed fâ—eely by the King soon after or before this Act he fully redressed all Grievances then complained of or intended within this Law The 3d. by the Act of Confirmation of the Treaty of pacification between the two kingdomes of England and Scotland The 4th by the several Acts passed for the Relief of his Majesties army And the Northern parts of this kingdom For the better raising and levying of Mariners and others for the present guarding of the Sea and necessary defence of the Realm not Republike For the Subsidies of Tonnage and poundage granted to the King for the speedy provision of money for disbanding the Armies and setling the peace of the two kingdoms of England and Scotland For securing such monies as are due to the Inhabitants of the Northern Counties where his Majesties Army have been billetted And for securing by publike faith the remainder of the friendly assistance and relief promised to our Brethren of Scotland all passed and published by the King himself Anno 16 17 Caroli 1640. 1641. at least 7. years before his beheading It is most certain that all these ends of making this Law as the Prologue thereof and the word THEREFORE in the Commons prayer infallibly declare were fully accomplished by the King in his life so long before his untimely death Therfore none of theÌ„ now remaining to be performed all acted since their accomplishment by those now sitting being diametrically contrary to this Act these ends and occasions of it this Parliament must of necessity be beheaded expired with the King and cannot survive his death 4ly The words That this present Parliament assembled shall not be dissolved unlesse it be by Act of Parliament to be passed for that purpose nor shall at any time or times during the continuance thereof twice recited in the subsequent clauses be prorogued or adjourned unlesse it be by Act of Parliament to be passed for that purpose can be intended of no other but that present Parliament which passed this Act which consisted of The Kings Maiesty our Soveraign Lord by whom this and all other Acts passed or to be passed was declared and enacted and this intended Act likewise not of his heir or successor after his death and of the Lords and Commons House then in being not any new House of Lords or Commons succeeding after their deaths then sitting Therefore when the King was cut off by an untimely death and thereby an impossibility accruing to dissolve it by an Act of Parliament within the words or intent of this Act it must of necessity be dissolved by his beheading Impossibilities making Acts of Parliament to perform them meerly void as our Lawe makes Impossible conditions 5ly This Act and those who made it must have and had a retrospect to the Writs whereby it and they were summoned and the ends things therein expressed But they all determined and became Impossible after the Kings beheading Therefore the Parliament must be destroyed with him since cessante causa cessat effectus cessante primativo cessat derivativum as all our Lawyers Law-books and natural reason resolve 6ly The last Clause of this Act That every thing and things whatsoever done or to be done to wit by the King or any other for the Adjournment proroguing or dissolving of this present Parliament contrary to this Act shall be utterly void and of none effect do clearly exâ—lain the meaning of this Act to be this That it extends only to things done or to be done by the Kings will and power as to his Commissions Proclamations Writs Warrants Precepts to adjourn prorogue or dissolve this Parliament as he had done others heretofore here declared to be utterly null and void not to his death wherein he was only passive being forcible against his will and the Parliaments too which death no Parliament can make null and void in respect of the Act it self so as to restore him to life though the whole Parliament and our three Kingdomes may and ought to null it in respect of the illegal manner of his Execution not to be paralel'd in any Age. 7ly The Commons themselves in their Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom 15 Decemb. 1641. Declared That the abrupt dissolution of this Parliament is prevented by another this Bill by which it is provided it shall not be dissolved adjourned without the consent of both Houses Yea the Lords Commons in their Declaration of May 19. 1642. declare That excellent Bill for the continuance of this Parliament was so necessary that without it we could not have raised so great sums of monies for his Majesties service and Common wealth as we have done and without which the ruine and destruction of the Kingdome must needs have followed as since of the Kingdom and Parliaments too by pretext thereof And we are resolved the Gracious favour of his Majesty expressed in that Bill and the advantage and security which thereby we have from being dissolved by him shall not encourage us to do any thing which otherwise had not been fit to have done Which whether these formerly now sitting have performed let their own Consciences resolve After which the Lords and Commons in their humble Petition to his Majesty Jun. 17. 1642. desire That your Majesty having passed an Act That this Parliament shall not be dissolved but by Act of Parliament your Majestie would not do any thing tending thereunto by commanding away the Lords and great Officers whose attendance is necessary thereunto Therefore the sitting Members abolishing the whole House of Lords and their secluding most of the Commons Members by this Petitions concession must dissolve it Both Lords and Commons in their Declaration 26th Maii 1642. adde We hope the people will never be carryed away with a noyse of words against the Parliament to make any such equitable construction of the Act for the continuance of this Parliament as may tend to the dissolution thereof by the Declaration of the King which they Answer in this
and their own destruction therein By all which passages it is apparent That this act provided against every thing or things done or to be done by the Kings Will or Prerogative without the Houses consent for the dissolution of this Parl. not against its dissolution by his death 8ly The King and his party too did thus interpret it more than once in these passages In his Majesties own Answer to the Declaration of the Lords and Commons of 19 May 1642. We expressed a great trust in our Houses of Parliament when We devested our Self of the power of dissolving this Parliament which was a Iust Necessary and proper Prerogative to wit when done by vertue of his Prerogative which this Act devests him of not by a Natural much less a Violent death No part at all of this Prerogative but highest Act against it to its and his dissolution In his Answer to the Petition and Propositions of both Houses 2. June 1642. We were willingly contented to oblige our Self for the present exigent to raise monies and avoid the pressure no less grievous to us than them the people must have suffered by a long continuance of so vast a charge as two great Armies and for the greater certainty of having sufficient time to remedy the Inconveniences when during so long an absence of Parliaments as for the punishment of the Causers and Ministers of them We yielded up our Right of dissolving our Parliament expecting an extraordinary moderation from it in gratitude for so unexpected a Grace and little looking that any Malignant party should have been encouraged or enabled to have perswaded them First to countenance the Injustices and Indignities we have endured and that by a new way of satisfaction for what was taken from us to demand of us at once to confirm what was so taken and to give up almost all and now more than all the rest And in his Answer to their Petition of 10 June 1642. For that part of the Petition which seemed to accuse his Majesty of a purpose to dissolve this Parliament contrary to the Act for the continuance by commanding away the Lords and Great Officers whose attendance is necessary which his Majesty knows to be a new Calumny by which the grand Contrivers of ruine for the State hope to seduce the minds of the people from their affection to and jealousies of his Majesty as if he meant this way to bring his Parliament which may be the case of all Parliaments to nothing It is not possible for his Majesty more to express himself thereunto and his resolution for the Freedom Liberties and frequency frequency of Parliaments than he hath done And who now considers how visible it must be to his Majesty that it is impossible for him to subsist without the affections of his people and that these affections cannot possibly be preserved or made use of but by Parliaments cannot give the least credit or have the least suspition that his Majesty would choose any other way to the happiness he desires to himself and his posterity but by Parliament From all which premises it is apparent That the King himself and both Houses of Parliament did never intend by this Act to prevent the dissolution of this Parliament by the Kings natural death the Act of God they could not prevent nor yet by his violent beheading which then they neither intended nor foresaw but by his own voluntarie Act and Royal prerogative by which he formerly adjourned prorogued dissolved Parliaments at it his pleasure 9 ly It is resolved in our Law-books That if an Act of Parliament refer to or confirm a thing which is not or a thing which is utterly against Common law Reason Justice as for a man to be a Judge or Witnesse in his own case or a thing that is mis-recited or repugnant or impossible to be performed there the Common-law shall controll and adjudge such an Act to be meerly void Plowdon f. 398 399 400. Cook 8 Reports f. 118. a. b. Ash Parliament 13. Hobards Reports p. 85.86 87. But it is repugnant to Reason Justice Nature the intention of the Writs of Summons yea a thing impossible that the King should treat and confer with his Parliament after his death or the Parliament not determine by it Therefore were it particularlie provided for by this Act it had been void in Law as if this Act of Parliament had declared That a mariage between man and wife shall not be dissolved by the death of either of them but continue indissolvable by death against Nature experience Scripture Rom 7.1 2 3. much more then when not expressed nor intended by this Act as the premises evidence Xly. Admit the Parliament still continuing by this Act yet those now sitting neither are nor can be so much as an House of Commons much less the Parliament within that Act for these unanswerable Reasons 1. The House of Commons within this Act were a full and compleat House consisting of above 500 Members those now fitting in May 7 9. but 42. viz. Mr Will. Lenthal Quondam Speaker Henry Martin Lord Monson Mr. Chaloner Mr. Heningham Alderman Atkins Alderman Penington Th. Scot Corn. Holland Sir Arthur Haslerigge Sir Henry Vane Sir James Harrington Mr. Whitlock Mr. Prydeaux Mr. Lisle Col. Ludlow Mich. Oldsworth John Jones Wil. Purefoye Col. White Henry Nevil Mr. Say Mr. Meston Mr. Brewster Col. Bennet Serjeant Wilde Mr. Goodwin Mr. Lechmore Col. Ingoldesby Mr. Blagrave Mr. Gold Col. Sydenbam Col. Byngham Col. Ayre Mr. Smith Augustine Skinner Mr. Down Mr. Dove Iohn Lenthal Rich. Salaway Iohn Corbet Col. Walton there being 300. Members more of the old Parliament yet living besides those who are dead 2ly Those then sitting went in openlie like a House upon 40 daies general Summons by Writs setting without Gards secluding none of their Fellow-Members by force Those now sitting stole sodenlie into the House in a surreptitious manner without any notice given to the people of the Nation or to those for whom they formerly served or to the absent Members or those then in London or Westminster-Hall who were not of their combination setting Gards of Army-Officers at the Door who conducted them thither and presently secluded Mr. Prynne and the other Members who upon the first notice of their sitting came to know upon what account they sate taking forcible possession with Souldiers and strong hand of the Commons House and keeping themselves in possession thereof by force against the secluded Members majority of the House contrary to the Statutes of 5 R. 2. c. 7.15 R. 2. c. 2. 8 H. 6. c. 9. 31 Eliz c. 11. against forcible entries and deteiners the Statute of 7 E. 1. the Libertie Privilege Rights and Usage of Parliaments A practice utterlie unseeming such transcendent Saints Patriots of publick Liberty as they boast themselves that Honor Justice Honestie Synceritie Gravity Wisedom which becomes all Members of a Parliament and Reformers of all publick Grievances
sitting in Parliament and draught of an Agreement of the people for a secure and present peace framed prepared and presented to them to be established and subscribed by the people January 20. 1649. not onlie subscribed thereto but proposed That 150 Members at least be alwayes present in each sitting of the Representative at the passing of any Law or doing of any Act whereby the People are to be bound saving that the Number of sixty may make the House for Debate or Resolutions that are preparatory thereunto Therefore the 42 Members secretlie skipping into the House secluding the rest May 7 9 being not the 10th part of the Members of the old Parl. now surviving by all Nations Laws Consents can be no Parliament nor House of Commons within this Act nor pass anie thing to bind the Majoritie of the Members or people in anie kind whatsoever what ever anie imprudent illiterate shameless namelesse Scriblers or themselves against their own Reasons Consciences Iudgements principles resolutions pretend to the contrarie but dare not once affirm in good earnest It being a received Maxime in all Ages Populi minor pars Populum non obligit 6 ly It is a rule in our Lawbooks That all Statutes ought to be interpreted according to Reason and the true mind meaning intention of those that made them but it is most certain That it is against all reason and the true intents minds meaning of the Makers of this law to make a Parliament without a King or House of Lords or Majoritie of the Commons-House Or that all or anie of them when they made this Act did ever dream of such a Juncto as this now sitting Or to seclude themselves and resign up their own interests freedoms privileges right of sitting in Parliament with them to constitute them the onlie Parliament of England as everie line syllable throughout the Act demonstrates Therefore they neither are nor can be a Parliament within it neither can the Bedlam Turkish Bruitish unreasonable Argument of the longest Sword or Armie-logick nor the petitions addresses of any Crack-brain'd Sectaries and vulgar Rabble of inconsiderable illiterate people nor the presence of anie Lawyers sitting with or acting under them as a Parliament to their own and their Professions dishonour make them so in their own or any Wisemens or Judicious honest Lawyers Judgement whatsoever And therefore out of Conscience shame justice prudence and real Christianitie have they anie left they must needs disclaim themselves to be a Parliament and no longer abuse the Nation or others under their disguise All with Mr. Prynne if admitted would viva Voce have pressed home upon them but being forcibly secluded by their Gards because unable to answer or contradict his Law or Reason he now tenders to their view and the Judgement Resolution of the whole English Nation to whom he appeals with this publick Protestation That if they will freely call in all the surviving Members of the Lords and Commons House sitting till December 1648. without secluding anie by force or new unparliamentarie Impositions or seclusive Engagements which they have no power to impose If they upon a free and full debate shall resolve the old parliament to be still in being and not actually dissolved by the Kings beheading notwithstanding his premised Reasons to the contrarie He will then submit his private Iudgement to their Majority of Voyces in this as well as in all other Parliamentary debates and contribute his best assistance and advice as a Fellow-Member to heal the manifold breaches prevent the approaching ruines of our indangered Church Realms Parliaments Laws Liberties Peace and establish them upon better foundations than those now sitting to promote their own and the Armies interests rather than the peoples or Nations are ever likely to lay Who if they can prove themselves a true and lawfull English Parliament within this Act without either King or House of Lords or this their clandestine forcible entry into and seclusion of their Fellow-Members out of the House and Actings in it to be lawfull equitable righteous honorable parliamentarie Christian and such as well becomes either Saints Members or true good Englishmen by anie Records Parliament Rolls Acts Presidents of like kind in former Ages Law-books Customes Common or Civil-law Scripture Divinitie Reason Ethicks Policks except Machiavils and the sole Argument of the longest Sword the most bruitish unjust unchristian Turkish of all others Mr. Prynne will then publicklie declare them to be that in truth which as yet he neither can nor dares to acknowledge them to be so much as in appellation either as a Member of the Old Parliament a Covenanter a Protester a Lawyer a Scholar a Man an Englishman or a Christian And hopes that upon the perusal hereof they will as much disown themselves to be the Parliament within this Act or anie lawfull Parliament of England even in their Judgments consciences much more in actings for the premised Reasons as he or anie other secluded Members do not out of anie spirit of contradiction but Conscience and common dutie to themselves and their native Country That which principallie elevated yea inflamed Mr. Prynnes zeal both now and heretofore with all his might to oppose all late publick Innovations changes of our antient Government Parliaments Laws was this sad and serious consideration which he shall with all earnest importunitie intreat advise all Army-Officers Souldiers sitting or secluded Members of the Lords or Commons House with all well-affected persons to the safetie settlement of our Religion Church State throughout our three Nations most seriouslie to lay to heart and engrave upon their Spirits not to read it as they do News-broks only to talk of them for a day or two but as they read the evidences of their Inheritances whereby they hold all their earthlie yea heavenly possessions that they may remember act according to it all their lives That William Watson a secular Priest of Rome in his Dialogue between a Secular Priest and a Lay Gentleman printed at Rhemes 1601. in his Quodlibets printed 1602. and William Clerk a Secular Priest in his Answer to Father Parsons Libel 1604. p. 75. c. then best acquainted with the Iesuites designs against England of all others did in precise terms publish to the English Nation in these their printed Books a That Father Parsons the English Jesuite the most active professed enemie to our English Kingship Kings Realm Church Religion his Consederate Iesuitical Society did so long since give out and prophesied That they have it by Revelation and special command from God that their order and Society was miraculously instituted for this end to work a dismal change amongst us wherein all Laws Customes and Orders must be altered and all things turned upside down and that they being the only men who have the name Title and authority of Jesus by them it is that this marvelous change and alteration shall be wrought in such sort as
Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance as unlawfull Oaths which themselves took and ought to take before they sate or could sit as Members in the Commons House by the Statutes of 5 El. c. 2. 7 Iac. c. 6. which Oaths were specially made by the great wisedom care and piety of our Protestant Parliaments purposely to detect the persons and prevent the plots conspiracies Assasinations Treasons Vsurpations and new Gun-powder plots of the Romish Jesuites popish Priests Papists and their Instruments against the Lives Crowns Prerogatives of our Protestant Kings Princes their Royal posterity Realms Parliaments our protestant Church and Religion as the Statutes of 1 Eliz. c. 1. 5 Eliz. c. 1. 3 Jac. c. 4. 7 Iac. c. 6. and other Acts with King Iames his Apology for the Oath of Allegiance and sundry learned Treatises in defence of these Oaths declare at large Which Oaths were refused opposed only by the most Iesuited and desperate Papists at home and abroad but approved by the moderatest and loyallest Priests and Lay-Papists who writ in justification of them and repealed to their greatest joy and advantage by our Jesuitized zealous Republicans 3ly They discharged absolved themselves and all other Members Subjects Officers who had taken these Oaths as most had frequently done from the future Observation of them and of their Solemn Protestation Vow League National Covenant made in pursuance of them contrary to this expresse Clause in the Oath of Allegiance I do believe and in Conscience am resolved That neither the Pope nor any Person whatsoever hath Power to absolve me of this Oath or any part thereof which I acknowledge by good and full Authority to be lawfully administred to me and do renounce all Pardons and Dispensations to the contrary And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to the expresse words by me spoken and plain and common sense of the said words without any equivocation or mental reservation And I do make this recognition and acknowledgement Heartily Willingly and Truly upon the Faith of a Christian Yet these faithlesse Republicans who took this Oath as Members and several times else upon other occasions thus atheistically like so many absolute Popes against all Laws of Nations Nature absolved themselves and all others from it and set it with the Oath of Supremacy Covenant Protestation quite aside like old Almanacks out of date 4ly Not content herewith they imposed a new Engagement diametrically contrary to these Oaths the Protestation Vow Solemn League and Covenant which every one must subscribe with his hand To be true and faithfull to their New Common-wealth as established by them without a King or House of Lords putting all English Freemen whatsoever into a New-praemunire upon a bare suggestion only before proof or conviction and disabling them to sue in any Court of their Republick or to receive or enjoy any degree office augmentation or preferment whatsoever Spiritual Ecclesiastical Civil or Military or sit as Members then and now again unless they would publickly subscribe it Which Engagement thousands of our Godly protestant Ministers Gentry Freemen refusing to subscribe were thereupon barred of their Actions Executions Iudgements to recover their just Debts Rights Inheritances Goods Offices denyed their degrees of Learning ejected out of their Benefices Headships Fellowships Vice-Chancelorships Augmentations Offices Freeholds Callings against all rules of Law Conscience Iustice Equity Religion the Fundamental Laws and Liberties of the Land their Native Birth-Rights after all their Contests Wats Contributions Prayers Fasts endeavours for their defence And all by these Free-State-Men A Tyranny Treachery Perjury Apostacy transcending any since the Creation yet most eagerly pursued by them all their Reign to the utter ruine of many consciencious honest Protestants and great rejoycing of all Iesuites and Popish Enemies both at home and abroad 5ly The very first Act of Iustice they did by the first Commission of the peace they passed under their New Republican Great Seal for Middlesex at the first Sessions held under them at Hix-hall Febr. 1628. was the enlarging of a dangerous Jesuits and another old seducing Papist formerly imprisoned in the New prison the only Acts done in this first Session as thâ—se present then informed Mr. Prynne with much regret Which was seconded with the subsequent enlargement of other Jesuites Priests Papists elsewhere imprisoned whereas on the contrary they shut up Sir William Waller Sir Will. Lewes Sir John Clotworthy Major General Brown Comissary Coply Mr. Prynne Mr. Clement Walker close prisoners in sundry remote Castles divers years together without any cause expressed and Mr. Gewen with other Members several Monthes and sundry Godly Ministers Protestants of all sorts throughout the Land as well Paliamenteers as former Cavaliers yea beheaded Mr. Love an eminent Protestant Minister and other Protestants but not one Papist in their illegal High-Courts of Justice erected by them against all our Laws whiles these Romish Locusts were thus enlarged unprosecuted and had free liberty to wander up and down our three Nations and act what they pleased to work our Kingdoms Churches and Religions ruine 6ly The first who publikely owned them for a Common-wealth congratulated this their glorious change atchievement and entred into a League with them was the most Catholick K. of Spain the Popes Jesuites chief Patron and Propagator of their Catholick Faith and designs whose interests they prosecuted during all their Republican domination 7ly They entted into a bloodie invasive war against their Brethren of Scotland onlie for owning their rightfull Soveraign King CHARLES after his Fathers beheading according to their Laws Oathes Duties and Solemn League and Covenant invaded their Country without any provocaion slew many thousands of them with furie and cruelty in the Field starved destroyed hundreds of them taken prisoners by them and sold others of them into forein plantations for Slaves imprisoned sequestred banished most of their zealous Godly Protestant Ministers Nobles Gentry took all their Cities Castles Forts Amunition Arms conquered inthralled their whole Kingdom put them under intollerable Taxes Tributes and Iron-yokes of armed Governors Garrisons still continued amongst them to our cost destroyed their presbyterial and civil Government and for an everlasting Monument of this their barbarous unbrotherly kindnesse and gratitude towards them for their former assistances not only kept Solemn publick Thanksgiving-Dayes throughout their Republicke for their Slaughters of and Victories over them but hanged up all their Ensigns in Westminster Hall and transported all their Records close prisoners to the Tower of London where they yet continue 8ly They instigated the Dutch to set aside the Prince of Orange his Family and put them out of the superiour Commands places of Trust they formerly merited and enjoyed out of malice to the beheaded Kings Progeny mutined the States against each other and then entted into a most costly bloody dangerous unchristian War with those our old Protestant Friends and Allyes continuing all
whole Parliament of 1 Jacobi ch 2. expresly declared long since in the Prologue of that Act the late long Parliament in sundry Declarations Yea King Charls himself in his Declaration by advice of his Council to all his Subjects Dec. 15. 1641. Exact Collect p. 28 29. his Answer to the Lords and Commons Petition April 9. 1642. Ibid. p. 140. to their Declaration May 4. 1642. p. 163 164. and elswhere the Defence whereof against invasion subversion he made the ground of raising Forces against an Anabaptistical party faction in the Parliament intending to subvert and extirpate them root and branch as you may read at large Ib. p. 326 443 451 514 515 555 556 561 562 579 619. A Collection of Ordinances p. 28 38 39 116 117. Yet notwithstanding all these Parliament Declarations and Commissions in pursuance of them the Army-Officers Souldiers by the Jesuits suggestions have been so farr intoxicated as to attempt the utter subversion and extirpation both of our Laws and Lawyers too for whose defence they were principally raised in pursute of Father Parsons forementioned design under pretext of reforming them though the bare indirect attempt to subvert them in a farr inferiour degree was adjudged HIGH TREASON in Straffords and Canterburies cases for which they both lost their Heads AS TRAYTORS and in the Case of the Ship-mony Judges in the long Parliament That they have prosecuted this design in England to subvert our Fundamental Common Lawes and Great Charter of our Liberties is most apparent by their proceedings in their Mock Parliament and printed Vote 20 August 1653. Ordered there should be a Committee selected To consider of a New Body of the Law and the Government of this Commonwealth Compared with A True state of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland c. printed 1654. p. 15 16 17 18. which assures us That there was a strong prevailing party in that Assembly whom nothing would satisfie But a total eradication of the whole Body of the Good Old Laws of England the Gardians of our Lives and Fortunes to the utter subversion of Civil Right and Propriety c. And our two Jesuitical Prognosticators were so confident of it as if the Stars in heaven had concurred herein with the Jesuites and Anabaptistical Conventicle then on earth that in their scurrillous Prognostications they predicted the downfall not only of all our Ministers and their Tithes but of our Laws and Lawyers Prognosticating in the moneths of January February September October and December 1654. That the Lawes Lawyers of the Nation should be pulled down to the ground That the Great Charter it self should be called into question with other Liberties as not suting with English mens brains at this time That the Crabtree of the Law should be plucked up by the roots to hinder the future growth thereof There being no reason are should now be governed by the Norman Law since the Norman Race is taken away by the same instrument the sword of Conquest which brought it in They are the very words of these false Prognosticators who have many such like passages in them both before and since Which compared with the late speeches of many Common Souldiers That there should be no more Terms in Westminster Hall That they hoped very speedily to see not only the Lawyers gowns but the Lawyers themselves hanged vp over the Courts in Westminster Hall where the decayed Scots coulours hung to supply their vacant places That it would be a goodly sight to see all the Trees in St. James's Park hung with Lawyers and their gownes with sundry such like speeches since May 6. 1659. All these compared together with what Mr. Prynne hath frequently heard the Soldiers say during his neer 3. years close Imprisonment under them and their New Republike in Dunster Taunton and Pendennys Castles That they hoped ere long to see and leave neither one Lawyer nor Parish Priest throughout England Nor yet steeple steeple-house or Bells which they would sell or cast into Ordinance to fight against the Dutch c. with some Petitions and Pamphlets now on foot to the like tune and the Army-Officers fresh Proposal to those now sitting and their Votes thereon for the reformation of our Laws c. Are an infallible evidence to him that all our former late and present changes of this Nature for which this formerly eiected Repvblican Conventicle is now reassembled are the meer proiections of the All-swaying Jesuits to work our Laws speedy ruine It being their professed practice even in other forein Popish kingdoms to subvert their fundamental Lawes especially those which concern the inheritance succession of the Crown and Liberties of the Subjects for which take these two Testimonies even from forein Papists themselves The 1. in that memorable Peece Consilium de recuperanda et in posterum stuâ—ilienda Pace Regni Pâ—loniae per Iesuitarum ejectionem presented to the Parl. of Poland An. 1607. out of which they were soon after banished Hic autem vos notare velim ejusdem pestis Iesuitici non minorem efficatiam esse in oppugnanda et expugnanda Republica eâ—terendis Legibus quoties nempe sentiunt se ab his in instituta sua venatione impediri Et quod ad Leges attinet hae politicae tineae Illas praecipue arrodere consue verunt et exedere quibus jus successionis in regno continetur Libertasque et Pax publica firmatur Which he proves by several prefidents of their shaking abolishing the very fundamental Laws of this Nature in France Hungary Styria Austria Carinthia and elsewhere and that with such success ut obtritis Legibus quibus praedictarum Nationum libertas nitebatur partem earum penitus appresserint partem ad extremam desperationem adigererint In praedictis Provinciis alicubi Illustribus et Antiquissimas Nobilitatis Familiis publice diem dictum esse intra quem se aut coram Iesuitarum Tribunali sistant aut relictis patriis sedibus alio migrent And is not this the sad desperate condition of many antient Noble Protestant Families Knights Gentlemen and others both in England Ireland Scotland and of the Royal Protestant Family since our late Warrs Changes of Government Parliaments and extirpation of all our Fundamental Laws Liberties Properties by the Jesuits and their Instruments O let our whole Nation and Republican Members too once shamefully ejected by those now calling them in consider consider consider this over and over and lay it close to heart least closing with the Jesuites now again in this New Convention as they assuredly did in the Old since December 1648. till April 1653. they incurr that sad fate of King Henry the 4th of France who after the execution of some and banishment of all Jesuites out of France upon John Castles one of their disciples stabbing him in the cheek with an intent to murder him and afterwards recalling favouring flattering them by building a stately College for them entertaining
one of them for his Confessor and bequeathing his very heart unto them to be interred with them after his death together with a very large Legacy of Plate and Lands yet they soon after procured their desperat Assassinate and Disciple Ravilliac to stabb him to the heart in the open street in Paris An. 1610. A Just reward for his neglect contempt of his Parliaments timely admonitions in sundry Remonstrances presented to him never to trust or recall them more and the notable Epigram against the Jesuits tendred to him by a true Philopater Anno 1603. wherein there is this memorable passage in relation to their subversion of all antient Fundamental Laws Cuinam Hominum ignotum est Iesuitas nocte dieque Nil meditari aliud quam qua ratione modove Prisca Statuta queant Patriasque evertere Leges Inque locum Antiquis totum in contraria Nobis Iura dare sanctos privata ad commoda Ritus Plâ—ctere nulli unquam quod post mutare licebit c. M. Prynne considering all these particulars and knowing that this sodain re-assembly of the old eiected Republican Mâ—mbers now fitting originally proceeded from the Jesuits projection sollicitation and Anabaptistical Sectarian party formerly combining with them in all their proceedings against the late King at whose execution the Queens own Confâ—ssor was present in a Soldiers habit flourishing his sword when his head was off as well as other Jesuits Popish Priests overjoyed with that spectacle the secluded Members the House of Lords and transformation of our Kingdom into a Commonwealth to accomplish their remaining designs left unfinished proâ—ected in terminis by Father Parsons and the Jesuites and violently pursued in the short Mock-Parliament nominated at Whitehall by the Army-Officers themselves 1653. viz To eradicate the National Church Ministers Ministry of England Advowsons Tithes Glebes with Parochial Churches Chapels as Antichristian and leave not one stone of them upon another Which John Canne the new-voted Diurnall-man in his Voice from the Temple then dedicated to them particularly excited them to with all speed and earnestness as their Generation-work expected required of them by God and all the Saints of the Land To sell all the Crown Colleges Vniversities and Corporations lands yet remaining to support and pay the Jesuited Army kept up so long on purpose to ruine eat us out M. Prynne thereupon held it his bounden duty both as a Member Lawyer Englishman and former Patriot of his Countries Liberties against all Jesuitical Vnderminers of them and our Protestant Religion truly fully to discover the same to the whole English Nation Army and those now sitting and to press it home upon their Consciences by this his Narrative whether they will hearken to believe obey it or not since he was forcibly secluded from doing it by Speech having sufficient warrant encouragement and protection for it as he apprehends from God himself Ezech. 2.4 5 6. and Jer. 1.18 19. For they are hard of face and stiff hearted Therefore Son of man I do send thee unto them and thou shalt say unto them thus saith the Lord. And they whether they will hear or whether they will forbear for they are a rebellious House yet shall know that there hath been a Prophet among them And thou Son of man be not afraid of them neither be afraid of their words though briers and thorns be with thee and thou doest dwell among Scorpions Be not afraid of their Faces nor be dismayed at their Looks though they be a Rebellious House And thou shalt speak my words unto them whether they will hear or whether thâ—y will forbear But thou Son of man hear what I say unto thee and O that all the seduced Army Republican Members and their confederates would now hear and obey it too Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious House For behold I have made thee this day a defenced City and an iron pillar and brazen walls against the whole Land against the Princes thereof and the Priests thereof and against all the people of the Land engaged against thee and thy true Good Old Cause And they shall fight against thee by sundry scurrillous Pasquils Petitions Slanders Reproaches and armed secluding Guards but they shall not prevail against thée For I am with thee saith the Lord as well now as in all former Engagements Trials for this Good cause to deliver thée The assurance whereof hath made him so resolute as singly by himself to encounter an whole armed Host and House at once and throuh Gods blessing to rout them in a manner by his bare presence and their Good Old Cause in a great measure by his single Opposition The sole praise whereof he desires to render wholly and solely to the Lord of Hosts and God of the Spirits of all Flesh and not in any kind or part to himself a meer worm and not a man an earthen Vâ—ssel yea one of the weak base despised things of the world and a thing that can not whom yet God can and may make use of to confound the things that are mighty and to bring to nought things that are that no Flesh shall gloâ—y in his presence and that the excellency of the power might be of God and not of him who hath promised that One of his faithfull people shall chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight in a true Good Old Cause and Quarrel for the Lord their God be it is that fighteth for them as he hath promised What then might all the secluded Members and old Lords House do and all the well affected Orthodox Protestants in our three Nations had they but hearts wisedoms courage to joyn their Counsels and endeavours together according to their Solemn League and Covenant to vindicate their true Old Cause and Parliamentary privileges against all inconsiderable Oppugners and Subverters of them Mr. Prynne having neither Wife nor Child to provide for not much to care for and never yet desiring any New Office Advancement or Employment in this present world nor receiving the least reward for all his faithfull publick services nor recompence for his manifold losses sufferings expences for the Publick to whom he hath ever been a faithfull unmercinarie Servant is in good hopes that the serious perusal of the premises will convince the Good Old Cause now cryed up to be a cheat of the Iesuites put upon the Army as Hugh Peters apprehends stiles it in his Letter the 10th of this May to a chief Officer of the Army and also wipe off all the Mis-reports Scandals Reproaches Censures yea acquit him from the heavy charge of Sedition Mutiny Treason against the Infant House and Republick cast upon him for his actions or discourses here related by those who are reallie guiltie of these Crimes in the highest degree by subverting our antient Kings Kingdomes Kingship Parliaments Peers Privileges Laws Liberties Properties Oaths by their Iesuitical plots and innovations and making a prey of
all the publick wealth Lands Revenues of the Crown to enrich themselves and maintain a seditious Army utterly to devour the small Remainder of our publick and private wealth almost drained to the dregs and bettay us into the hands of our forein Enemies when they have left us neither hearts hands wills mony nor means manfully to resist their invading power and reduced us to that slavery as rather to live under any forein Tyrannie than an oppressing Sword of their own domineering Hirelings As for the thing they stile Sedition it is but scorsum itio when a sew confederated Innovators shall seperate themselves from the General body or Assembly of the Kingdom Church Parliament House whereof they are Members and act a part by themselves as a divided Republick Church Parliament House without and against the Generalitie and true lawfull Members and seperate them from their company And if this be truth as our Statutes Lawbooks Casuists Canonists and Historians accord we shall know in whose Hearts House Sedition truly dwells And if Aristotle Aquiuas Angelus de Clavasio and p sundry others who write of Sedition may be credited He who disturbs the Rule or Government of any unlawfull Vsurper is no seditious Person because such a usurped Government or Power is not ordained for the common good whatever pretended but for the private advantage of the Vsurper Therefore the disturbance of such a Vsurper hath noâ— the reason of Sedition yea it is to be commended because it freeth the Generality of the People from a Tyrannical Power usurped over or forcibly imposed on them against their wills and it is the usurping Tyrant only who truely is seditious as they all define in direct words And whether Mr. Prynne and other secluded Members and Lords being five times their number or those who seclude them be seditious let the whole Kingdome resolve Mr. Prynne not knowing whether he shall have the like opportunity again shall for a Conclusion of this Narrative addresse himself and direct some things he intended to have spoken 1. To the Army-Officers and Souldiers Remember I beseech you in the bowels of Jesus Christ what your own Army-Chaplain John Sedgewick in his Justice upon the Armies Remonstrance from St. Albons Nov. 16. 1648. and Rebukes of that evil Spirit that leads them in their Counsels and Actions hath written to them therein and to the Lord Fairfax then General and the General Counsel of war in his Epistle Dedicatorie to them when they first espoused their present Good Old Cause His words are home and piercing Destruction you practise it is your work it is your end you cannot see beyond it and you are hastning to it it is the center to which you tend and therefore I cannot but shew it to you that you may stay your course bâ—fore the pit shut her mouth upon you You are full of glorie in the great things you have done wonderfull things a mighty presence of God But in sum what is it You have torn a poor sinfull Kingdom in pieces you have executed wrath upon your Brethren Friends and Countrymen you have laid desolate your Father the King the Parliament your Mother your own Country This is your glorie to be Executioners Assyria the Rod of mine Anger what a Crown is this Have you restored blessed healed comforted saved any No You have but plunged the Kindome and your selves into a Pit of Darknesse and Confusion You drive furiously over the King Parliament Laws Conscience Loyalty Privileges so as no human nor sacred thing can stand before you It is high time to withstand you for it is not men onlie that suffer from you but the Lord Your Sword goeth so deep that it pierceth through his Soul also You are gone so farre in dissolving the Foundations of Government that you are come to him who upholds the Pillars of the earth you reach to the head of Principalities and Powers to the Lord who is the Author and Upholder of all these things He is in these despised broken Ordinances of his and sensible of everie blow that is given to them You have digged through the wall of Flesh and men and through the partition wall that divided them from God and now you are in the bowels of the Lord these miserable broken Powers are now the Lord. Go on tear and rend you will at last look upon him whom you have pierced and mourn O that you would now do so in good earnest as you pretend only in your Declaration of May 6. 1659. and yet go on still in your former Trespasses for which God will wound your hairy Scalps O consider that Jesus Christ whose Servants ye pretend to be is both a King of Glory a King of Saints That the Gospel you professe is the Gospel of the Kingdom not Republick yea the Kingdom of God and of Heaven in Gospel-language That his Church whereof you pretend your self Members is frequently styled a Kingdom never a Common-wealth or at least but once and that not in opposition or contradistinction to a Kingdom which is the first excellentest of all Common-wealths as Heathen Philosophers Polititians and Devines accord but as the verie same with it That the Saints themselves are styled the Children of the Kingdom not Republick Companions in the Kingdom of Christ even in this world yea a Kingdom of Priests a Royal Priesthood Nay Kings and Priests to God the Father and that by Christs own constitution Consider yet further that Heaven it self into which you expect at last to enter is ever stiled the Kingdom of Heaven an heavenlie and everlasting Kingdom a Kingdom which cannot be moved a Kingdom which shall have no end never a Common-wealth That in this Kingdom we read of nothing but Crowns Scepters Thrones Robes of Glory and Majesty and of reigning in it for ever and ever That Christ himself hath promised appointed and his Father given to all his Saints the Kingdome of Heaven Upon which account they are now stiled Heirs of the Kingdom and shall hereafter inherit possesse this Kingdom receive the Crowns wear the Royal Robes sit upon the Thrones provided for them in it How then have the Enchanters of Rome Spain France so far insatuated your understandings blinded your Judgements intoxecated your Brains perverted your Wills corrupted your Affections seared your Consciences engaged your unralie Passions as notwithstanding all this to make you Bedlam madde against all Kings Kingship Kingdoms Crowns Scepters Thrones Principalites and Kingly power as to a abhor and engage against both the things themselves and their verie names yea to extirpate them root and branch against his expresse Evangelical procepts word and practise of all his Saints in either Testament to dote upon such a strange Vtopian Common-wealth and new Freestate the verie names whereof much lesse the things you find not once in
Scripture in your sense and never yet read of in the militant or triumphant Church of Christ Let Mr. Prynne a little expostulate the case with you not as a Lawyer but as a Christian Do you indeed believe the Scripture to be the very will and word of the Great King the Soveraign Lord and Iudge of all the Earth and of Jesus Christ the King of Kings the Lord of Lords and King of Saints which you are bound in Conscience under pain of eternal damnation to believe and obey If not proclaim it as loud to the world with your Voyces as you do by your Swords Actions and then all will know you in your Native colours to be no Saints but real Atheists and all reasonings with you will be in vain But having better perswasions of you That you believe the Scripure to be the only rule of your Consciences Iudgements Lives both as Souldiers and Christians Then answer clearlie to these interrogations The Lord of Hosts himself most peremptorilie and preciselie commands you To fear God honour the King 1 Pet. 2.17 Rom. 13.7 Yea to fear the Lord and the King coupling both these together as unseperable and not to meddle with those who are given to change Prov. 24.21 How can how dare you then dishonour vilitie reproach destroy both your natural Kings and Kingship too without the least fear at all of God or the King and change them into a New Republican Conventicle He commands you to subject your selves to the King as Supream both by the Ordinance of God and man and that for the Lords sake and avoiding scandal to Religion 1 Pet. 2.12 13. To be subject to the Higher Powers and amongst them more especiallie to Kings and Principalities and that not only for fear of wrath but for Conscience sake for these Reasons clearlie expressed Because they are of God and ordained by God Because they are the Ministers of God for your good Because they are Gods Avengers to punish you if you disobey resist or do evil Because they who resist them resist the Ordinance of God and shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13.1 to 8. Tit. 3.1 2. VVith what face heart confidence conscience then can or dare you not onlie not submit subject your selves to but exalt your selves above against your lawfull Soveraign Kings and Higher powers so far as not onlie to resist but destroy their Persons Powers Kingships Principalities themselves though Gods own Ordinance and that out of pretended Zeal and Conscience too and hope to receive a Crown on Earth or in Heaven for it when as God himself denounceth Damnation to you for your verie unwarrantable resistance of them alone and much more for their destruction God requires you to make Prayers Supplications Intercessions and giving of thanks first of all FOR KINGS that YOU may live a peaceable and quiet life under them in all Godliness and honestie for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour To make prayers to the God of Heaven FOR THE LIFE OF THE KING AND OF THE KINGS SONS Ezra 6.12 13. To pray with all the primitive Church and Saints of Cod Psal 72.1 Give the King thy Judgement O God and thy Righteousness unto the Kings Sun How can how dare you then not onlie neglect these Duties but prohibit condemn punish them as no lesse than High Treason in others and not onlie fight but curse revile pray against the King and the Kings Sons too and take away their lives livelihoods instead of praying for them reputing it both your godlynesse honesty yea a Duty acceptable and well pleasing unto God Hear O Heavens and tremble O Earth at this great impietie God commands you Eccles 8.2 To keep the Kings Commandement and that in regard of the Oath of God And dare you against all your Oaths of Fealty Homage Supremacy Allegiance Protestation League Covenant printed Declarations and your own Propositions 1 August 1647. That the Kings Person and Royal issue may be restored to a condition of safety honor and freedom in this Nation without diminution of their personal Rights doth abjure eradicate King Kingship and the Royal Posterity that you may no more keep nor obey anie of their Superior Commands and prefer the Commands of anie undutifull Army-Officers raised onlie to defend the King and Parliament from all force and violences before both their Ordinances Proclamations Commissions Votes to both their ruines God injoyns you not to Curse the King no not in your thoughts not to revile or speak evil of the Ruler of your People Eccles 10.20 Exod. 22.28 Acts 23.5 Tit. 32. And can you like those wicked Idolators Isay 8.21 Curse your King and your God and look upward and like those unjust carnal bruitish Beasts made to be destroyed and reserved to the day of Judgement to be punished despise Dominion speak evil of Dignities Kings Kingship 2 Pet. 9. to 14. Jude 8.9 10. for which the Cospel it self denounceth Woe unto you perishing in the gain-saying of Core Jude 11 that you shall utterly perish in your own Corruption and receive the reward of unrighteousnesse 2 Pet. 2.12 13. Christ himself more tha◠once enjoyns you in the Cospel To render to Caesar the things that are Caesars to wit all his Dues Tributes Custom Fear Honor Mat. 22.17 21. Mar. 12.16 17. Lu. 20.22 24 25. Rom. 13.7 how can or dare you then wrongfully forciblie take away and detain from your rightfull King Caesar not onlie all these his Dues and Crown-lands too but his verie Crown life to boot instead of making restitution of them to his Son when he came to demand the fruits of his Fathers Vineyard do and say with those wicked Husbandmen in the Gospel Mat. 21.38 39. Lu. 20.14 this is the Heir come let us kill him and the Inheritance shall be ours and cast him out of the Vineyard O remember the sad doom which Christ himself and all his Auditors have denounced against you for it in these Texts Luke 19. 27. then tremble at it If all these Precepts will not affect nor reform you Consider That it hath been the general constant importunate desire of all Nations and Gods own People too wherin God himself hath gratified them to set up Kings to judge rule them and fight their battels Deut. 17.14 15. 1 Sam. 8.5.19 20 22. Jer. 25.18 to 27. For all the people unanimouslie to rejoyce and expresse their gladnesse contentment satisfaction delight triumph at their Kings solemn inaugurations with Trumpets Feasts Shouts Acclamations to eccho out this unanimous publick Ovation again and again God save the King Let the King live O King live for ever and to use the self-same expressions in all their private and publick Addresses 1 Sam. 11.24 2 Sam. 16.16 1 Kings 1.25.34 39. 2 Kings 11.12 2 Chron. 23 11. Ezra 6.10 Psal 72.10 15. Dan. 2.4 c. 3.9 c. 6.6.21 Mat. 21·5 9 And
will you be Antipodes to all other Nations yea to Gods own people in all Ages and cry out still with united shouts O do not save but destroy crucifie behead extirpate King and Kingship too away with them away with them from the earth let them never live but die die and that for evermore What madnesse what frenzie is this When the wicked Jews cryed out to Pilate against our Saviour Jesus Christ who was born King of the Iews Mat. 2.2 away with him away with him crucifie him crucifie him Pilate himself used this Argument to represse their furie Behold your King shall I crucifie your King At which they were so non-plussed that their Chief Priests had no other Answer but this to evade it We have no King but Caesar If thou let this Man go thou art not Caesars Friend whosoever maketh himself a King speaketh against Caesar upon which he deliâ—â—â—ed him over to them to be crucified And when Pilate put this Title on his Crosse Jesus of Nazareth King of the IEWS the Chief Priests were angry at it and said to Pilate write not King of the IEWS but that he said I am King of the Jews being all convinced that it was a most barbarous shamefull inhuman worse than Jewish act for any Subjects or people to crucifie their lawfull King though in a way of Publick Justice whence the Apostle thus reasons 1 Cor. 2.8 That had the Princes of this world and Iews themselves known or believed Christ to be their King they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory And shall you not prove then far more transcendently impious treacherous than the worst of Jew of Mortals not only in your former crucifying beheading your undoubted known lawfull hereditary King which they abhorred to do but his Kingly Office and Posterity too if you cry still away with them away with them wittingly wilfully uncessantly their blood be on us and our Children after us And will not the wrath of God come upon you and yours to the uttermost for this your high provocation as it did upon these Jews if you do not speedily repent of it 1 Thes 2.15 16. It was the loyalty piety of David a Man after Gods own heart a gallanter Commander Souldier Conqueror than the best greatest of you when he was persecuted in the Field by his Soveraign King Saul and his Army hunted as a Partridge from place to place to take away his life and had several opportunities to destroy him without danger put into his hands and was twice importuned by his rude Souldiers to slay him or permit them to do it that he rebuked this evil spirit and counsell in them and gave them this Answer The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my Master that I should stretch forth my Hand against the Lords Anointed seeing he is the anointed of the Lord destroy him not FOR WHO CAN stretch forth his hand against the Lords anointed AND BE INNOGENT And when the Amalekite brought tydings to him of Sauls death telling him that he had slain him by Sauls own command and presented him with his Crown and bracelets expecting a great reward from him for those good tydings being formerly anointed by God to succeed him He gave him no other answer nor reward but this How wa st thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy the Lords anointed Thy bloud be upon thy head for thy mouth hath testifyed against thee saying I HAVE SLAIN THE LORDS ANOINTED And he called one of the young men and said Go near and fall upon him And he smote him that he died And David and all the men that were with him â—ent their clothes and lamented with a most pathetical lamentation over Saul recorded for ever in sacred writ 2 Sam. 1.12 to the end The like reward he gave to the murderers of Ishbosheth his competitor 2 Sam. 4.10 11 12. And can you then conceit you were guided by the holy Spirit of God which dwelt in David Or that you deserve the Title of men after Gods own heart of Saints of honorable pious Commanders Soldiers for speaking declaring acting against your K. diametrically contrary to him in all these particulars and glorying in it as your highest praise valour Saintship His tender heart smote him to the quick for cutting off only the skirt of King Sauls garment privily when he refused to offer the least violence to his person as his Soldiers counselled him because he had cut off Saul skirt and will not your Adamantine hearts harder than the nether Milstone yet smite you with the least compunction for cutting off KING CHARLES HIS HEAD publickly and parting not only his Garments amongst you as the Souldiers did our Saviours when they crucified him but his Crown and Kingdoms too After David succeded Saul in his Throne his Captains Souldiers People were so carefull to preserve his life from the least appearance of danger That when he would have gone out to Battel against his rebellious Son Absolom who usurped the Crown They answered him Thou shalt not go forth for if we flye away or half of us dye they will not set their hearts on us but now thou art as ten thousand of us yea they swore to him at another time Thou shalt no more go out with us to Battel least thou quench the light of Israel 2 Sam. 21.17 And when Absolom was slain All the People were at strife through all the Tribes of Israel saying Absolom whom we anointed over us is dead in Battel Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the King back Whereupon they earnestly contended who should be the fiâ—st that should bring back the King 2 Sam. 19.9 10 14 15 41 42 43. And can you then not only professedly go out to Battel against the King himself and Parliament too against all Parliament-Votes Oâ—dinances Declarations Commissions by which you weâ—e raised â—or their mutual defence but destroy and slay them both in cold blood after the Battel ended by a Friendly Treaty to prevent all accord between them and instead of bringing the King again to his Royal City Parliament Throne in peace and safety from the Isle of Wight not speak one word theâ—eof but bring him only back again to a most disloyal illegal bloody execution not repent of but persevere in this unparallel'd treachery against his son even after your anoynted Absolom who engaged you in these unsaintly unsoldierly Un-English Treasons by the stroke of God himself is dead and his Son set aside by your selves through divine retaliation In few words can it ever be your honor glory a Saintâ— to be the Instrumentâ— Executioners of Gods wrath and vengeance upon your own Native Kings Kingdoms Churches Countrie to oppresse consume and eat out all their publick private Wealth Revenues and burthen them with endlesse Taxes Excises to maintain your needlesse uselesse forces only to over-awe overturn them all
yea our Parliaments Laws Liberties with your own new-modelled Governments and Governors too one after another till they all be brought to total and final desolation To do the works of Assyrians Babilonians Turks Gothes Vandals the Roddes of Gods anger his Battel-axes the staff of his indignation to shake destroy Churches Kingdoms Nations Persons and make them desolate yea worse than the worst of these who never shoke destroyed their own Kings Kingdoms Countries but their forein Enemies or Neighbours against whom God sent them in his wrath for their crying provocations to break them in pieces and tread them down like mire in the Strees If you repute this your glory and resolve to persist therein without speedy and sincere repentance of the mischiefs you have done consider and read over over and over again at your leasure the taunting proverb severe judgements divine and final reward menaced to inflicted by God himself by an irreversible decree and irresistable power upon the King of Babilon himself his royal Posterity the City of Babilon the whole Assyrian Host Nation Kingdom for shaking destroying breaking in pieces other Kings Kingdoms Nations and Gods own people too for their sinnes as you have served your own Kings Kingdoms Churches Parliaments Nations Laws Liberties against all Oaths and Obligations to the contrary recorded at large in sacred writ Isay 14.4 to 30· c. 31.8 9. Jer 50.17 18. ch 51. throughout And then sleep quietly in your Beds and blesse your selves in these your successefull Wickednesses if you can in respect of your present earthly prosperity or your Posterityes after you As for your eternal Estate in another World consider that dismal Text Psal 92.6 7. A brutish man knoweth not neither doth a Fool understand this when as the wicked spring as the Grassâ— and when all the workers of Iniquity do flourish it is that they shall be destroyed for ever Ps 9.16 17. It hath been your businesse of late years and now again after your seeming repentance for it in your new Declaration May 6. to shut our Kings Lords honestest faithfullest Members of the Commons House out of Parliament and forcibly to seclude them when they knocked for entrance yea to cast some of them into Hell and other Prisons for discharging their Trusts and Mr. Prynne beyond all others O take heed that when you shall come tâ— knock at Heaven Gates for entrance and cry Lord Lord open unto us you receive not that Answer recorded in the Gospel from Christ himself I tell you I know you not whence you are Depart from me all ye workers of Iniquity into the lowermost Hell and everlasting chains of Darknâ—sse where there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth when you shall see Abraham Isaac yea the secluded Memâ—ers in the Kingdom of God which no Murderers Rebelliâ—us Sâ—ditioâ—s Vnrighteous Covetous Persons Plunderers Traytors nâ— Pâ—rnitious Dâ—stroyers Sâ—bverters of Kings Kingdoms Parliaments shall inherit and your selves shut out for ever You all pretend you are setting up Christs Kingdom and propagating his Gospel amongst us by your Arms Swords Pistols and Army Predicants But we read in the Gospel â— That the Souldiers armed with Swords Staves Spears were the only Officers and persons imployed to apprehend King Iesus himself and bring him to justice beforâ— Pilat The only men who stripped him of his own Garments put upon him a scarlet Robe then plotted and set a Crown of Thorns on his Head instead of a Crown of Gold put a Reed into his hand instead of a Scepter then mocked spit in his face reviled buffetted and bowed their Knees unto him in scorn saying Hayl King of the Iews and led him away to crucifie him After which they gave him Vinegar to drink migled with gall instead of a Cordial crucified him then parted his Garments casting lots After this they set a watch upon his Sepulchre lest his Disciples should take him thence And when he was risen from the dead to smother the truth of his Resurrection ' The Chief Priests taking Counsel together gave large monie to the Souldiers saying say ye his Disciples came by night and stole him away whiles we slept So they took the monie and did as they were taught and this their lye is commonly reported among the Jews till this day These things truly the Souldiers did as the Evangelists record to their perpetual honor After which Herods men of war and Souldiers who likewise set Christ at nought mocked him then arrayed him in a gorgeous Robe and sent him to Pilate to condemn Lu. 23.11 stretched forth their hands to vex certain of the Church killed Iames the Apostle with the Sword apprehended Peter and put him in Prison where he was guarded day and night with four Quaternions of Souldiers to prevent an escape Acts 12.1 to 8. But that ever they did set up Christs Kingdom and propagate the Gospel by their Swords and Arms otherwise than this the Gospel it self is silent Yea God himself in precise terms resolves That men of war who have fought great Battels and spilt much Blood upon the Earth though against his enemies shall not be at all honoured employed in building of his Temple Yea this as the expresse word of the Lord to Zerubbabel when Gods House was to be rebuilt and his Kingdom propagagated not by ARMY so the Hebrew and Margin render it nor by Power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts is this work to be done Zech. 4.6 Our Saviour Christ is both the King and Prince of peace his Gospel the Gospel of peace his Apostles and Ministers Ambassadors of peace and his Kingdom consists in Righteousness and peace Now nothing is more directlie opposite destructive to inconsistent with this Peace to the King Prince Gospel Ambassadors and Kingdom of peace as Armies Souldiers War Arms And therefore it is observable That when our Saviour sent forth his Disciples to preach the Gospel and set up his kingdom he did not make choyce of Captains of thousands or hundreds nor yet of Souldiers or Armed men but of mean Fisher-men and others altogether averse from war commanding them in expresse terms to take neither Gold Silver nor Brasse in their purses nor scrip nor two coats nor yet Staves much lesse Swords Pikes Horses Pistols nor any thing else belonging to a Souldier no offensive or defensive Arms at the most but a single walking staffe like Travellers to help support them Yea Christ expresly resolves That his Ministers are and must be no Fighters no Strikers nor Strivers much lesse then professed Warriers John 18.36 1 Tim. 3.3 2 Tim. 2 24. They have no Sword but that of the Spirit and their Mouth the word of God and fight with it only against mens Sins Lusts not Persons Eph. 6.17 Heb. 4.12 Rev. 19.15 21. Yea when Peter once did but draw his Sword to defend King Jesus against the Souldiers who came with Swords and
empty clouds carried about with a tempest raging waves of the sea which cannot rest foaming out their own shame casting out mire and dirt wandring stars to whom are reserved the Hackness of darknâ—ss â—or ever as three Prophets and 3 Apostles resolve in express terms Isay 57.20 21. Jer. 9.2 3 4 5 6. Mich. 7.5 6. Jam. 1.6 7.2 Pet. 2.17 Jude 12 13. O therefore now at last repent repent with greatest grief shame horror of this you Treachery Inconstancy and harden not your hearts as in the day of temptation and provocation Decemb. 6. 1648. May 7. 1659. when you erred in your hearts wandred out of the way of Gâ—d peace truth justice righteousnâ—ss honâ—sty piety duty into such Jâ—sâ—itical paths wherein there is nothing but wasting and destruction as God resolves all men find by 11 years sad experiment else he will swear in his wrath you shall never enter into his rest If these Evangelical Scriptural Expostâ—lations will not perswade you to sound a present retreat sue out a Bill of divorce from your false Good Old Cause for our future publike safety peace settlement M. P. shall then intreat you to believe your own Declarations In your last May 6. 1659. you truly declare to the world That the only wise God in the course of his providence hath disappointed all your endeavours and rendered all your means to obviate the dangers and settle these Nations in peace and prosperity VTTERLY INEFFECTVAL Will you know the true reason of it It is because ever since you have interrupted and forcibly dissoved the Treaty of Peace between the late King and his Parliament Decemb. 6. 1648. you have walked in such crooked counsels pathes of iniquity bloud violence Treason destruction as whosoever goeth therein shall NOT KNOW PEACE and have neither known nor pursued the true way of Peace as God himself resolves you if you dare credit him Isay 59.2 to 16. which you may do well to study If you will not believe God nor Mr. Prynne herein pray then believe your own selves whiles in your right senses before the good spirit of God departed from you and now pursue that only way to our peace and settlement you then at least 4. times successively prescribed In your humble Remonstrance from his Excellency and THE ARMY under his command presented to the Commissioners at St. Albans 25 June 1647. p. 12. these are your own printed words We doe fâ—rther clearly confess We do not see how there can be any peace to the Kingdom from or lasting without a due consideration of and provision for the Righâ—s Quiet and Immunity of His Majesties Royal Family and late partakers And herein we thinke that tender and equitable dealing as supposing their case had been â—â—rs and a Spirit of Common love and Iustice diffâ—sing it self to the good and preservation of all will make up the most Glorious Conquest over their hearâ—s iâ— God in mercy see it good to make them and the whole people of the Land lasting friends The like words expressions to the same effect you use in your Representation of the Army 14 June 1647. in your Generals Letter to both Houses of Parliament 6 July 1647. Declaring it the General sense of all or most of the Officers of the Army to avoid all Harshness and afford all kind usage to his Majesties person Family and late Party as the most honourable prudent and Christian way and the most hopefull course to take away the present and future seeds of Warr amongst us to posterity and to procure a lasting Peace and a Government in this distracted Nation And in your Proposals 1 Aâ—g 1647. for The settlement of a firm peace you have the like expressions again as Mr. Prynne in his Speech in Parliament Dec. 4. 1648. p. 79 80 81 82. evidenced to the House of Commons perswading them to pursue this only way of Peace and not your quite contradictory Remonstr 20 Nov. 1648. when debauched by the Jesuits the only way to unsetlement tumults warres desolation as experience hath now sufficiently demonstrated O therefore now at last embrace pursue this true and only way to safety peace settlement by your own quadruple Resolutions and then we shall soon have peace quietness safety and assurance for ever Mr. Prynne having thus discharged his Conscience towards the Army-Officers and Swordmen the Primum mobile of all our late present motions and commotions wheeling about all the rest he shall in the second place addresse himself to their subordinate selected Westminster Conventicle now fitting under their force and lure to act vote what they prescribe them forcibly separating their old fellow Members from their company and himself above all others who hath lost suffred spoken written acted more from time to time for God Religion Laws Liberties Properties Parliaments and their privileges against all Jesuitical underminers than all of theÌ„ put together notwithstanding all discouragements ingrate requitals from them and others He shall only desire them in relation to the old and newly secluded Members to answer than one expostâ—larie Text Mal. 2.9 Have we not all one Father Hath not one God created us yea one Mother Church Countrey engendred nourished entrusted us all alike Why then doe ye deal treacheroâ—sly every man against his brother by prophaning the Covenant of our Fathers As for your New erected revived Republike you so much dote on Wherin ye have reigned as Kings without yea against us and we would to God ye did reign that we also might reign with you He shall desire you for your own our Churches Religions sake safetie honour to consider its Papal Jesuitical Antichristian Spanish French originals and its sad effects to their advantage and the ruine of our Religion alreadie discovered which you cannot gain say To weigh his former expostulations with the Army-Officers Soldiers and these few Scriptural to omit manie other Political Historical considerations beyond all refutation and more to be valued than all Politicks of carnal heads or hearts to enamor you again with hereditarie Kings and Kingship which you have so rashly brutishly persidiously abjured out of meer self-ends and interests having not the least syllable in Scripture to justifie either the forcible bloudie manner of erecting new modelling your Illegitimate Commonwealth or your adopting it in the place of our old Kingdom and Kingship First of all consider that as Jesus Christ himself is a King by birth and inheritance Mat. 2.2 Lu. 1.32 33. So it is also his supremest royallest Title Attribute in the very Gospel that hee is King Lord of Kings Lord of Lords the Prince of the Kings of the Earth and the head of all Principalities and Powers Now the abolishing of Kings kingship Princes Lords divests Jesus Christ himself of these his most royal Titles and Soveraigntie Because he is thus stiled only in relation to earthly Kings Princes Lords who rule and reign over Kingdoms Nations by for through under him
as his Ministers Officers Viceroyes Deputies and are appointed commissioned accountable to judged removed by him alone as subordinate Kings were by the Emperors Kings of Babylon Assyria Parthia and our Edgar who were stiled King of Kings because Kings were Subjects to them held their Crowns by from and under them and did homage to them as their Subjects as you may read at large in Mr. Seldens Titles of Honour part 1. ch 3. sect 2. and Dan 2.21.37 38.47 c. 4.17.25 many of these Kings losing this Title of King of Kings when their subordinate Kings and kingdoms revolted ceased or escheated into their own hands In relation to these Titles of Christ it is expresly prophecied Ps 72.10.11 The KINGS of Tarshish and OF THE ISLES shall bring presents principally intended veâ—ified of this our Island of Great Britain which had the fiâ—st Christian King we read of in all the world Lucius the first Christian Queen Helena the first and most glorious Christian Emperor Constantine the Great the first Christian King who opposed abolished the Popes Supremacie Henrie the 8. the first Protestant King who by publike Acts of Parliament abolished both the Pope and Poperie and established the reformed Protestant Religion the first Protestant Queen who did the like to wit King Edward the 6. and Queen Elizabeth and more devout pious Kings Queens martyred for religion canonized for SAINTS and reputed such in the Churches of Christ and Kalendars of Saints than anie other Kingdom or Countrie in the world how great or populous soever as our own and forein Histories record to our immortal Honor. It then follows the Kings of Sheba Seba shall offer gifts yea ALL KINGS shall fall down before him in way of adoration by their president and leading example all Nations under them shall serve him How can how dare you then abolish Kings Kingship Lords especially in our Island without committing the highest Treason not only against our Kings and Lords but the Lord Jesus Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Since REGNUM ANGLIAE EST REGNUM DEI IPSE SIBI REGES PROVIDEBIT as our Historians inform us And can you resist his power with all your armed forces are you stronger than he when he shall enter into judgment with you for depriving him of these Title 2ly Consider It is Gods special promise covenant made to Abraham the Fatâ—er of the Faithfull Gen 17.6 I will make thee exceeding fruitful I will make Nations of thee Kings shall come out of thee And his extraordinarie blessing on Sara v 16. I will bless her she shall be a Mother of Nations Kings of People shall be of her 3ly It was Judah his blessing Prerogative Gen. 49.8.10 Thy Fathers children shall bow down before thâ—e The Scepter shall not depart from Iudah nor a Law-giver from between his feet until Shiloh come 4ly When Balaam prophecied of the happiness prosperity of Israel he useth these as the highest expressions thereof Nâ—m 23.21 c. 24.7 The shoâ—t of a KING is among them and his KING shall be higher than Agag and his Kingdoms shall be exalted 5ly It is recorded by the Spirit of God 2 Sam. 5.12 David perceived that the Lord had established him King over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israels sake And when God after he made him King over them had promised by the mouth of the Prophet Nathan 2 Sam 7.10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them as before time under their Judges How did God effect this promise but by establishing an hereditarie kingdom amongst them in David during his life whom he caused to rest from all his Enemies round about And when thy dayes be fulfilled and thou shalt sleep with thy Fathers I will set up thy seed after thee which shall proceed out of thy bowels and will establish his Kingdom And thine House and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee and thy Throne shall be established forever Ver 11 12 16. How much holy David was transported yea ravished with this News from heaven and with what enlargement of Spirit he blâ—ssâ—d God for and prayed for the accomplishment of it as the greatest blessing and confirmation of his people Israel by God himself v 23 24 and the highest honor blessing to his own house you may read to the end of the Chapter Thus again amplified by him in his Speech to his Princes to his Captains of thousands of hundreds Officers and other mighty men 1 Chron 28.4 to 10. The Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my Father to be King over Israel for ever and he hath chosen Iudah to be Ruler of the house of Jâ—dah the house of my Father and among the sons of my Father he liked me to make me King over all Israel and of all my sons he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the Throne of the Kingdom of the Lord over Israel And he said unto me I will be his Father Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever if he be constant to doe my commandements and my judgements as at this day Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord and in the audience of our God keep and seek for all the commandements of the Lord your God that you may possess this good Land and leave it for an Inheritance for your children after you for ever An hereditarie Kingdom being the chiefest means and blessing under God to preserve the inheritances not only of the Princes Nobles and mightie men but even of Colonels Captaines and Souldiers themselves in Gods and Davids computation who lost all they had by â—orsaking their lawful Hereditarie Kings and were carried into captivitie 6ly The accomplishment of this Promise to David his seed was reputed an extraordinarie blessing to the Israelites not only by King David Solomon God himself the people oâ— Jerusalem and the whole Land as you may read in the 1 of Kings 1.36 37 38 39 40 45 46 47 48. c. 2.4.12 c. 3.6 to 15. c. 8.20 25 26 27. worthy perusal but even by foreign Kings and Queens Witness that memorable Letter of Hiram King of Tyre to Solomon 2 Chron. 2.11 12. Because the Lord hath loved his people he hath made thee King over them Blâ—ssâ—d be the Lord God of Israel that hath made heaven and earth who hath given to David the King a wise son endued with prudence and understanding that might build an House for the Lord and an house for his kingdom And that speech of the Queen of Sheba to him 1 Kingâ— 10.9 2 Chron 9.8 Blessed be the Lord thy God which delighteth in thee to set thee on his Throne to be King for the Lord thy God Because
the Lord thy God loved Israel to establish them for ever therefore made he thee King over them to do Iustice and Iudgement And the Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel and bestowed suâ—h royal Majestie Honor and such riches on him and his people too as had not been bestowed on anie King or people before him 1 Chron 29.25 28 30. 2 Chron 1.9 to the end Chap. 9.9 to 30. Neh. 13.26 7ly God himself records by King Solomon Prov. 20.8.26 A King that sateth in the Throne of Judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes and bringeth the wheel over the wicked Prov 29.4.14 The King by Judgement stablisheh the Land Yea the King that faithfully judgeth the Land his throne shall be established for ever And he resolve definitively against all Opponents Eccles 10.17 Blessed art thou o Land when thy King is the son of Nobles 8ly God himself doth specially promise the Succession and Continuance of Hereditarie Kings and Princes as a blessing reward to his people for their obedience to his Commandements and chief means of their perpetual continuance in honour peace and prosperity Jer. 17.24 25 26. c. 22.4 And it shall come to passe if ye diligently hearken unto me saith the Lord to hallow the Sabbath day and do no work thereon then shall there enter into the Gates of this City mark it Kings and Princes sitting upon the Throne of David riding in Chariots on Horses they and their Princes the men of Iudah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem and this City shall remain and flourish for ever 9ly It is very remarkable that though divers of the hereditarie Kings of Davids posterity were verie wicked and idolatrous yet God himself though King of Kings who setteth up Kings and pulleth them down and disposeth of the Kingdoms of the earth to whom soever he pleaseth by reason of his Oath and Covenant made to David would neither remove nor disinherit them though he did very sorely afflict and punish them for their iniquities Ps 89 3 4 20. to 38 2 Sam. 7.11 to 18. 1 King 11 12 13 39. Of this we have a memorable Scripture-Presidents 1 King 15. 3 4 5. Abijam King of Iudah walked in all the sins of his Father which he had done before him and his heart was not perfect before the Lord his God as the heart of David his Father Neverthelesse for Davids sake did the Lord give him a lamp in Jerusalem to set up his Son after him and to establish Ierusalem Because David did that which was right in the sight of the Lord So 2 Chron. 21.5 6 7. Jehoram reigned 8 years in Jerusalem and he walked in the way of the Kings of Israel like as did the House of Ahab for he had taken the Daughter of Ahab to wife and he wrought that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. Howbeit the Lord would not destroy the House of David because of the Covenant he had made with David and as he promised to give a light to him and to his Sons for ever Which Texts compared with Psal 132.1 12 13 14. infablibly ratifie these thtee conclusions 1. That as Gods Covenant and Oath made to David and his Royal Posteritie did not determine by Davids death but extended to all his Posterity after him so our Oaths of Fealty Supremacy Allegiance and Solemn League and Covenant made to the late King his Heirs Successors in precise terms determined not by his death but remain to his Royal Posterity and are perpetually to be performed to them under pain of highest perjury guilt punishment as is most apparent if compared with Gen. 50.25 Exod. 13.19 Josh 24.32 Josh 9.15 18 19 20 21. 1 Sam. 20.16 17 23 42. c. 24.21 22 2 Sam. 9.1 3 c. c. 21.1 to 10. 2ly That the Sinnes and wickednesses of Davids posteritie did not cause God himself to break his Oath and Covenant with them or judicially to deprive or disinherit them of their Crowns and Kingdom contrary to his Oath and Covenant which he held inviolable and immutable Ps 89.3 4.34 Psal 132 11 12. Heb. 6.17 18. Much lesse then may we or any other Subjects who are but men infringe our Oaths Covenants to our sacred hereditarie Kings and their posteritie for their sinnes or wickednesse nor disinherit theÌ„ of their Crowns Scepters Lives Realm Ps 15.4 Ec. 8 2. 3ly That a hereditarie succession of Kings in the Royal Line though many of them be wicked is yet a special means ordained by God for the establishment peace perpetuity of their kingdoms and people which else would be unsetled distracted consumed destroyed by civil wars distractions and Usurpers of the Crown destroying murdering one another as the kindom of Israel was after the revolt of the ten Tribes from the house of David whose hereditarie kingdom continued at least 134 years after the total destruction captivity of the Kingdom of Israel whose revolt from the House of David produced nought else but a Succession of very wicked idolatrous Kings and Usurpers endlesse wars miseries publick Idolatry Apostacie from God all sorts of Sins rapines and perpetual Captivity as the books of Kings and Chronicles resolve especially 2 Kings ch 17. In which revolt and rebellion it is observable that all the Priests and Levites and all the Godly men throughout the revolting Tribes of Israel who set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel left their possessions and went to Ierusalem and strengthened the kingdom of Rheboboam the Son of Solomon against the Vsurper Jeroboam as the Scripture records for their honour 2 Chron. 11.13 14 15 16. 10ly Upon this verie reason God himself records that when Athaliah had slain all the seed Royal but Ioash and usurped the Royal Throne for six years space Ioash being but an Infant Iehojadah the High Priest hid him from this Usurper till he was seven years old and then entring into a Covenant with the Captains of Hundreds Rulers and Levites they all assembled at Ierusalem entred into an Oath and Covenant That the Kings Son should reign as the Lord hath said of the House of David Upon which they presently brought out the Kings Son Crowned and anointed him their King and said God save the King Which Athaliah the Vsurper hearing run out to the people and cryed Treason treason upon which Iehojadah the Priest commanded the Captains of the Host presently to seize upon her and cary her out of the Temple and slay all that should follow her whereupon they laid hands on her and carried her forth and slew her After which Iehojadah made a Covenant between the King and the people that they should be the Lords people and all the Captains Governors Nobles and people of the Land brought down the Kings Son from the House of the Lord to the Kings House and set the King upon the Throne of the kingdom And all the people of the Land rejoyced and the City was quiet
after that they had slain Athaliah with the Sword 2 Kings 11.4 c. 2 Chron. 23. This Ioash being afterwards slain by the conspiracy of his Servants against him Amaziah his Son reigned in his stead by hereditarie Succession who when he was established in the kingdoÌ„ slew his Servants that had slain the King his Father but not their Children according to the Law of Moses After this Ammon the Son of Manasses succeeding his father worshipping his Idols following his Sinnes and trespassing more and more without humbling himself his Servants conspired against him and slew him in his own House But the People of the Land slew all that had conspired against King Ammon and made Josiah his Son King in his stead not disinherited him for his Fathers and Grand-Fathers crying Sinner as the only means ordained by God for their safety peace and settlement Which sacred Presidents of Gods own registring and his peculiar peoples making in obedience to his Commands for our imitation in like cases are a more real sacred means to our present peace safety establishment than any the Army-Saints Sectaries Iesuites and Westminster Conclave can prescribe and the Parliament Statute of 27 Eliz. c. 1. have declared enactâ—diit to be legal as well as scriptural 11ly When God himself promised restitution from Captivity and resettlement re-establishment to his people he doth it by promising the restitution of their lawfull hereditary King and kingdom to them and the re-uniting of their kingdoms formerly divided by rebellion against and revolt from the House of David and hereditary Royal line into one Mich. 213. c. 4.8 Their King shall pass before them and the Lord on the head of them even the first Dominion the Kingdom shall come to the Daughter of Jerusalem Zech. 9.9 c. Rejoyce greatly Oh Daughter of Zion behold thy King cometh unto thee be is just and having Salvation c. and his Dominion shall be from Sea to Sea and to the end of the Earth Isaiah 32.1 2. Behoâ—d a King shall reign in Righteousnesse and Princes shall rule in Judgement And he shall be as a hiding place from the wind and a Covert from the Tempest as Rivers of Water in a dry place as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land Ezech. 37.22 24. And I will make them one Nation in the Land upon the Mountain of Israel and one King shall be King to them all and they shall be no more two Nations neither thall they be divided into two Kingdoms any more And David my Servant shall be KING over them they shall all have one Shepheard over them they shall also walk in my Judgements and keep my Statutes and do them And they shall dwell in the Land that I have given to Iacob my Servant even they and their Children and their Childrens Children FOR EVER and my Servant David shall be their Prince for ever Which is likewise repeated and amplyfied Ezech. 39.23 24 Zeph. 3.13 14. Jer. 23.4 5 c. 33.14 15 16. Which Texts though mistically meant of our King and Saviour Jesus Christ hereditary Son of David according to the flesh sitting upon his Fathers Throne and ruling for ever over his mystical Kingdom and Church as is evident by comparing them with Isay 9.6 7 18. Dan. 7.27 Lu. 1.32 33. yet since King David Solomon and other pious Kings of Israel and their hereditary kingdom were types of our Spiritual King Iesus and of his everlasting spiritual kingdom And Christ Jesus under the very Title Name Notion of an hereditary King alone not of an Optimacy Oligarchy Popularity Democracy or elective King is thus prophesied to be a Saviour Redeemer Restorer Establisher Preserver Defender of his captivated oppressed inthralled dissipated divided unreformed Subjects Kingdom Church People and his perpetual presence with and reign over them is made the only ground of the restauration unity felicity prosperity safety perpetuity of his kingdom and people as David Solomon and other good Kings of Israel were to their Subjects during their successiive Reigns and seeing Christs mistical Church and Saints are alwaies thus stiled his Kingdom a Kingdom but never a Free-State or Common wealth at least but once Eph. 2.12 the only Text throughout the whole Bible where this word is mentioned in any kind and that not in opposition or contradistinction to a Kingdom but as the very same thing with it as our Kingdom in some Statutes is stiled a Common wealth as being the excellentest honourablest durablest freest happiest of all other forms of Republick under which general name it is comprised It thence infallibly follows that an hereditary Kingship kingdome is the best happiest durablest securest honourablest desireablest of all other Governments whatsoever being the verie Government of Jesus Christ himself who according to the flesh was born King of the Iews and sits upon the Throne of David his Father Mat. 2.2 Lu. 1.32 33. and was not chosen King by his Saints like an Elective King but elected them to be his Subjects as he expreslie resolves Iohn 15.16 1 Pet. 1 2.9 Rev. 17.14 And that the restitution of this our antient Kingly Government not of a new Jesuitical Spanish Outlandish Republick is the true and only way to our restauration redemption peace settlement safetie and future prosperity as the Parliament and most excellent preamble of the Statute of 25 H. 8. c. 22 worthy perusal resolves Wherin after many long intestine civil wars for the Title succession of the Crown and Soveraigntie of our Realm The Nobles and Commons assembled in Parliament calling to mind That the unity peace and wealth of this Realm and the Succession and Inheritance of the Subjects in the same most specially and principally above all worldly things let our Republicans and Westminster Juncto observe it well consisteth and resteth in the certainty and surety of the procreation and posterity of the Kings Highness in whose most Royal person at this present time is no manner of doubt nor question as the Statutes of 1 Jac. c. 1 2. resolve there was none at all in King Iames or King Charles did thereupon by this special Act and a strict Oath declare aad establish the surety title or succession of the Crown of England in him and his Heirs for ever upon which dependeth all our joy and wealth as they more at large expresse 13ly God himself in direct terms declares that it is a matter and badge of honour and prosperity for any Nation to be advanced from a Commonwealth or Principality into a Kingdom Ezech. 15.13 14. Thou didst prosper into a Kingdom And thy renown went forth among the Heathen for thy beauty for it was perfect through my comelynesse which I put upon thee saith the Lord which compared with Rom. 13.1 Let every Soul be subject to the Higher Powers for there is no Power but of God the Powers that are ordained of God Col. 1.16 For by him are all things created that are in Heaven and
that are in Earth visible or invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities all were created by him and for him Tit. 3.1 Put them in mind to be subject to Principalityes and Powers to obey Magistrates 1 Pet. 2.13 17. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lords sake whether to the King as Supream Fear God Honour the King are infallible demonstrations That as kingdomes and Kings are of Divine institution and planting so they are reputed instituted by God and Jesus Christ as the most prosperous happyest divinest honourablest supreamest of all other forms of Government and Governors whatsoever created by and for Iesus Christ and have been the very Governments and Governors alone in and by which he hath precisely promised declared that he will most advance his own Spiritual Kingdom Church and Glory as is undenyable by Psal 68.32 Psal 102· 22. 2 Kings 19.19 Isay 37.20 Rev. 11.15 Psal 2.10 11. Psal 68.29 Psal 72.10 11. Psal 102.15 Psal 138.4 Ps 144 10. Ps 148.11 Ps 149.8 Isay 49.7 13. c. 52.15 c. 60 3 10 11 16. c. 62.2 Rev. 21.24 the expresse lively Images of Christs own Spi-Spiritual Kingdom Kingship on whose Throne alone they sit as his Vicegerents 2 Chron. 9.8 Col. 1.16 and therefore are stiled Kings Kingdoms not Optimacies or Republicks yea not only Kings but Gods and Gods Anointed as well as Christ himself Exod. 22.8 Iosh 22 22. Ps 82.1 6. Iohn 10.34 1 Cor. 8.5 2 Sam. 12.3 5. c. 22 52. Psal 20.6 Isay 45.1 Lam. 4.20 1 Sam. 16.6 c. 24.6 10. c. 26.9 11 16 23 2 Sam. 19.21 14ly God himself in sundry Scriptures positively declares and denounceth the plucking up or rooting out of a Kingdom and making it no Kingdom or a base or viler Kingdom than it was before and the leaving of an antient Kingdom without a King or hereditary Successor or Heir to sway the Scepter to be a most severe sad grievous Iudgement and Punishment on them for their crying hainous offences and Sinnes against him yea an immediate concomitant or Forerunner of their utter desoiation a matter of present and future lamentation not of mercy blessing or cause of rejoycing as our seduced Bedlam-Republicans Army-Saints and Pseudo-Politicians repute it as all these Texts infallibly resolve Judg. 17.6 c. c. 18.1 c. c. 17.1 c. c. 21. 25. Hos 3.4 c. 10.3.7.15 a notable Scripture Is 9.2 11 12. c. 7.16 Amos 1.8.10.13 14 15. c. 2.2.5 c. Mich. 4.9.10 Jer. 17.25.27 c. 22.5 to 30. c. 25.8 to 38. Ezech. 19.14 15. a signal Text c. 17.12 13 14. c. 29.14 15. Lam. 1.6 c. 2.6.9 c. 4.20 c. 5.16 Hab. 1.10.14 15. Nah. 3.17 18 19. Hag. 2.22 Ezech. 21.26 27. Against which Scriptures worthie your particular perusal no one Text can be produced to prove it a blessing benefit honor to any kingdom or Nation whatsoever 15ly As for your new magnified Common-wealth and Aristocracie preferred by you before our Kings and Monarchie 1. Consider that of Prov. 28.2 For the Transgression of a Land many are the Princes or Governors thereof but by a man of understanding and knowledge the State thereof shall be prolonged And compare it with Hosea 10.3 For now they shall say We have no King because we feared not the Lord what then should a King do to us Lam 5.16.8 The Crown of our head to wit our King c. 4.20 is fallen wo unto us that we have sinned Servants have ruled over us there is none that delivereth us out of their hand And then you must needs confess that your subversion of our Kingly Government by one single person to set up a Polarchie and New Republike under many Servants Governors is in Gods own his Churches peoples account an heavie judgement vassallage bondage on them for their transgressions sinnes and a matter of great lamentation woe Ezech. 19.12 13 14. not a blessing ease libertie means of their happiness or establishment 2. Consider that you cannot derive the Pattern of your New Commonwealth from the Scripture Gospel Church or presidents of God and Jesus Christ but only from the Old Heathen bloudie Romans after their Regifugium who were alwaies altering their Government from one new form to another continuing not long in anie one condition till setled in an Emperor and Empire and at last in a Regal Roman Pontiff in which state it hath continued almost 1700. years and the new Jesuitical models of Parsons Campanella Richeliev Mazarine Spain France recommended to you from Antichristian Rome to work our ruine Or at leastwise from the old seditious Graecians and Athenians who are thus branded in Historians Omnino ad commutandos Reipublicae Status erant versatiles et omnium propensissimi ad vicissitudines as you and the Army-Officers now are which proved their utter ruine and caused endless wars and tumults between themselves till they were subdued enslaved by the Macedonians Persians Romans and other foreign Kings as you may read at leisure in Thucidides Diodorus Siculus Xenophon Plutarch Arrianus Justin Bp. Vshers Annales-Veteris Testamenti whence Heniochus an antient Greek Comaedian compares Aristocracie and Popularitie unto two scolding Women who coming amongst the Grecians put all things into tumult and disorder making them bedlam mad against each other to their utter desolation Tum geminae ad illas accesserunt Mulieres Quae cuncta conturbarunt Optimatitas Est nomen alteri alteri Popularitas Quarum incitatu pridem externatae furunt And have they not produced the self-same Madness Furie and sad effects among the Armie yea and our 3. kingdoms How then can you or anie wise men but only TOM OF BEDLAMS be anie longer in love with either of them and preferr them before Kings and Kingship when as your selves as well as other Members declared resolved in two Declaratoins of 12 April 1646. of 17 Decemb. and in the Votes of Novemb 9. 23. 1647. That the Agreement of the People for a Representative and Republike without a King and House of Lords are not only Seditious but destructive to the very Being of Parliaments and the Fundamental Government of the Kingdom by King Lords and Commons And is this then the way to peace or settlement If the Foundations be destroyed what can the righteous doe to save or settle us O therefore let not that brand of the Holy Ghosts owne imposing restâ—anie longer on you Ps 82.5 They know not neither will they understand all the Foundations of the earth are out of course And although you say think you are Gods and are all the children of the most high in this pursute yet you shal die like men and fall like one of the Princes yea be buried in your own and your Republikes ruines again with greater infamie shame loss than you were on April 20. 1653. when you were shamefully turned out of House and power together by those who now recall you and yet will not take warning Mr. Prynne is
in good hopes that all these undenyable unanswerable Scriptural considerations will fully convince and convert our Republican Conventicle and Army-Officers too from their Jesuitical destructive modle of A Common-wealth unto the love and restitution of our antient hereditary Kings Kingship as the only Divine Saint-like Gospel safe probable way to our future lasting peace and settlement which he intended to have propounded to them Finally if you are resolved notwithstanding the premises to Act as a Parliament without your secluded fellow Members King or House of Lords then follow the Presidents of all your Protestant Predecessors in these particulars 1. Take into your saddest considerations the great increase disguises of dangerous Jesuits and other Romish vipers now amongst us which A. B. a Jesuite in his Mutatus Polemo Or The Horrible Stratagems of the JESUITS lately practised in England during the Civil Wars and now discovered by him a RECLAIMED ROMANIST imployed before as a Workman of the Mission from his Holiness dedicated by him to your own President Bradshaw published by SPECIAL COMMAND of your New Republike London Printed for Rob. White 1650. thus relates to your selves and the world p. 3 4. That he could bring in to your COUNSEL-TABLE a horrible long Catalogue of more perniciously damnable Actors of JESUITICAL Devils in mens shapes yea in MINISTERS too crept in from forein Seminaries to undermine our Church and State then was in the yeer 1605. in that infernal Powder-plot That there was one Regiment or more of them under Sir John Kempsfield a Commander of the Horse in the late Kings Armie who discerning the Kings inclination to close with the Scots and Presbytâ—rians and expecting no advantage to their Cause by siding with him held their private Conventicles and Councels at Oxford wherein they resolved to desert and draw off all their own and all his other Forces from him and close with the prevailing Parliament partie which they accordingly effected That upon the Kings departing to the Scots Armie and surrender of Oxford the Jesuits Priests and Popish partie under him not only changed the habits of their minds but bodies also turning from upside Cavaliers and High Royalists and God-dammees holie Converts and Parliamenteers nothing but the Holy Covenant being heard in their mouthes For our bodies Proteus is lesse than a fiction to us He that ere while was a Commander in a ranting equipage is now slinking into a Coblers stall or Weavers loom or Tapsters Apron or Coachmans box or Beggars weed or Horsemans frock or Serving-mans liverie or Tailors shop or Pulpit-thumping Presbyters Gippo into what not It is not unknown what trade we drive beyond Sea when no Trade comes amisse to us To make this good our Governors the States of this Commonwealth if they will deign to hear me now their true Servant shall bee eâ—tsoon able to call out manie a sheep-clothed-wolf from their stations stalls looms aprons weeds liveries shops yea and Bust coats what say you to Pulpiâ—s too Let not Engl. now like a bird ah me pursued by several fierce flying Falcons and too too near the intended hard gripes of their cruely sharp tallons either out of a dull or drowsie sottishness or a phantastical humour of contradiction suppose I â—peak what I know not if I should tell them I can and now being about to do it will but privately before Authoritie produce a Catalogue of Catholicks Fathers so we will be called of several Orders and others that are Natives gone into remote Counties who duly go to Church too and of an incredible number now living in this Commonwealth under several Notions whcih I my self can point at with a drie singer I tell thee in general there is scarce a Town or Citie but in few miles of it I can furnish the Reader to thy Amazement be it spoken with some who have lived in England 1 2 3 4 5 6 10 20 40 50 years I. B. of Ne. in Es unknown unsuspected but taken for clean contrarie let them avoid me if they can They are his own words Page 26. to 37. he shews how Mons Mintril the French agent trepand the poor Cavaliers of the Kings partie in transporting them out of Scotland into France how they were there butchered by the French Such is their love to the Royal party of England what endeavours were used by Card Mazarine Father D. and le M. to seduce and corrupt Prince Charls in his Religion both before and after his Fathers death and what promises were made both by the French and Spaniard that all Catholick Princes should be invited and consulted with for an unanimous invasion of England if he would turn Catholick Page 32 33. hee hath this memorable passage During these Sollicitations news comes aloft upon the wings of the wind That the People and State of England had summoned his Father to an High Court of Judicature to bring him to a trial for all the innocent bloud he had spilt and the hideous devastations he had caused This was no little good News to the Cardinalitical party I mean the Iesuitical this Jesuit himself being then at the French and Princes Court in Paris For in my next I shall satisfie thee concerning their cunning workings how even those who pretend so much charitie to the Son did seek by all Machinations to expedite and accelerate this high piece of Iustice upon the Father And now say his Tutors to him If they proceed to death with your Father it will prove the better for you for it shall utterly alien the hearts affections of the people from them and you shall finde them to be more eagerlie violent for your reinvestment not considering the change of your Religion which by anie means shall not be known but to your good Catholick Subjects of England till such time as you have vested power enough into your own hands to protect it and your self in it But indeed the Lad had somewhat of his Fathers astutiousnesse in him and presently asked the CARDINAL the same question as his Father once did the King of Spaine when he was almost easilie intreated to have turned to the Faith Catholick How shall I said he ever expect to be King of England if once the English should understand I have turned Catholick To which they easilie gave a satiâ—factorie resolution telling him That as the case now stood he must never look to be admitted but by fire and sword the main force of Armes must make way for him neither could he in the least atchieve that or put it in execution without the ayde of Catholike Princes which they will never be brought to act in without a firm assurance of your real and faithfull conuersion What impressions the News of his Fathers decollatioÌ„ made upon him what use the Cardinal and Jesuits made of it to induce him and others to Poperie and what endeavors were used by the Jesuits to make up a peace between the Spanish and French to invade England
and make it their prey if he would turn Papist under pretext of restoring him to his Crown you may read in this Jesuit p. 33 34 35 36. and in Militiere his Victorie of Truth dedicated to King Charles after his Fathers death to pervert him in his Religion as the only means of his restitution These Passages of this Jesuit who stiles himself p. 39. The faithful Servant of the Common-wealth of England â— dedicated to President Bradshaw himself and printed by his SPECIAL COMMAND and our Republican Governours now sitting Ann. 1650. when Mr. Prynne was committed close Prisoner by them without hearing or accusation will justifie the truth of all his former Discoveries That your beheading the King and degrading our Kingdom into a New Free-State was the verie French Cardinals Spaniards Popes and Jesuits plot to ruin both our Protestant Kings Kingdom Church Religion even by your own confessions and that it gave unto them strong arguments to perswade the Kings posteritie and partie for ever to abominate our Religion as manie of them have done upon this very account though the King himself and his Brothers yet continue constant through Gods mercie against all provocations to their eternal honour but your perpetual infamie who have put them upon such direfull Temptations 2. Before you engage in any other Business peruse all former Acts and Petitions of our Protestant Parliaments since 1 Eliz. to this present against Jesuits Seminarie Priests Papists Poperie the manifold mischiefs dangers accrewing by their increase toleration and sâ—speâ—sion of our Lawes against them the causes of their growth amongst us and remedies to prevent the same Then put them all with the Oath of Abjuration and 5. Bills against them assented to by the late King in the last Treatie into immediate impartial vigorous execution 3. Imploy faithfull knowing stout active persons with sufficient power and encouragements to discover detect apprehend them under what ever disguise and shelter they now secure themselves Especially take diligent care to ferret these Romish Vermin and Troublers of our Israel out of all your Armies Garrisons Camps and all Sectarian separate Congregations the Boroughs wherein now they lurk securely by putting them all to the Test of the Oaths of Abjuration Supremacie and Allegiance 4. Permit no Seminarie Priests Friers Romish Emissaries of any Nation but especially no Jesuits of any their 4. ranks to remain in our Realms or Dominions it being impossible to enjoy any peace settlement in Church or State or to expect anie dutifull obedience quiet in or from the Armie whiles these firebrands of Sedition Treason remain within our coasts upon which account they have been by sundrie Proclamations of Queen Elizabeth King James and King Charles not only banished out of England Scotland Ireland and all their Dominions but likewise out of France Germanie Poland Bohemia Austria Mâ—ravia Transilvania Hungarie Venice and other Popish Kingdomes States as well as out of the Netherlands Denmark Sweden and Protestants Territories as the Authors of all their Wars Troubles Tumults Insurrections Rebellions Treasons Regicides and the publike Pâ—sts of Church and State 5. Put no arms into Anabaptists or Quakers hands formerly decrying them as unlawful lest London become another Munster and England another Germanie in few moneths space 6. Since Christ Jesus who is truth it self hath laid down these 3. Gospel-maxims of infallible veritie Mat 7.15 to 21. Lu. 6.43 c. That Ravencus wolves in sheeeps clothing as well as trees are and shall be known by their fruits John 8.44 You are of your Father the Devil for his works ye doe Rom. 6.16 That to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey If all the premises infallibly convince your Consciences Judgements as they will and must do That all the forementioned fruits you have produced since December 4. 1648. are the proper fruits of Jesuits and Romish wolves in sheeps clothing yea the very worst sowrest of all their Fruits and Powder Treasons That the workes you have done in murdring our Protestant King destroying our Parliaments Kingdoms Government Laws secluding your fellow-Mâ—mbers and Lords House by force erecting your New Republike and Parliamentarie Conventicle c. are the Works of the Jesuites and Devil That you have yielded up your selves as obedient servants unto them in everie of these against your own former Oaths Protestations Vows Covenants Declarations Commissions Principles Professions Judgments rightly informed consciences the Votes Obsecrations Disswasions of your Fellow Members and most indeared Protestant Friends Ministers Relations the Indentures Desires of those Counties Burroughs you represent And that the very Principles by which you have acted since Dec. 1648 and now again aâ—e the very Jesuits principles as you may read at leisure in Johannis Mariana De Rege Regum Institutione l. 1. c. 6. Creswels Philopater Franciscus Verona Constantini Apologia pro Johanne Castellio et Jesuitis Jesuitae Reinaldi liber De Iusta Reipublicae Christianae in Reges Impios et Haereticos authoritate c. published under the name of William Rosse in Ludovicus Lucius Historia Jesuitica l. 2. c. 3. Hospinian Hist Jesuitica l. 3. 4. Speculum Jesuiticum printed 1644. wherein you may truly view your Jesuitical Physiognomies heads perrewigs instead of your old genuine Protestant complexions brains notions hair And if the present fresh Addressâ—s Petitions of Anabaptists Quakers Sectaries from Southwark Warminster Hertfordshire Kent and other places to the Army-Officers and your selves with their late listings in the Army affronts to Ministers in their Churches ejection of some of them to intrude themselves alreadie budding forth sufficiently discover whose Servants you are and whose drudgerie you must execute O then immediately abjure rescinde and null them all with highest indignation and persist no longer in any such destructive waies counsels projects under any pretext consideration interest or perswasions whatsoever But rather remember Mr. Oliver Saint-Johns words now sitting amongst you in his Argument at Law against the Earl of Strafford printed by the Commons house special Order p. 64. In this I shall not labour to prove That the endeavouring By Words Counsels and Actions to subvert the fundamental Lawes and Government of the Kingdom is Treason by the Common Law If there be any Common Law Treasons left nothing Treason if this he not to make a Kingdom no Kingdom And then consider Sir Edward Cooks memorable Observation published by the Commons Order 3 Instit c. 2. p. 35 36. It appeareth in the holy Scripture That TRAYTORS never prospered what good soever they pretended but were most severely and exemplarily punished in conclusion which he proves by the examples of Corah Dathan and Abiram Num. 16.31 32. c. 27.3 Athaliah 2 Kings 1.1.16 Bigthan and Teresh Esth 2.21.23 c. 6.2 Absolom 2 Sam. 18.9.14 Abiathar 1 King 2.26 27. Shimei 2 Sam. 6.5 6. 1 Kings 2.8.46 Zimri 1 Kings 16 9.18 Theudas Acts 5.36 37. and Judas Iscariot
the Traytor of Traytors Acts 1.18 Mat. 27.5 Peruse over all our Books Records Histories and you shall finde a principle in Law a rule in Reason and a trial in experience That Treason doth ever produce fatal and final destruction to the Offender and never attaineth to the desired end two incidents inseparable thereunto And therefore let all men abandon it as the most poisonous Bait of the Devil of Hell and follow the precept in holy scripture Fear God honor the King and have no company with the Seditious Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum So he Now because M.P. finds some Grandees of his own Profession sitting in the House to countenance and make up this Vnparliamentary Juncto he shall desire them in the first place seriously to consider how much they have formerly and now again dishonoured themselves and the whole profession of the Law in sitting in complying with acting under such illegal Anti-Parliamentary Conventicles Powers Changes Changers yea crying them up for legal English Parliaments Powers obeying executing all their illegal new Knacks Orders Ordinances as Acts of Parliament in civil criminal real or personal Causes against all Records Law-books presidents of former Ages their own Judgments Oaths Science Consciences to the intollerable scandal of their Robe the injurie abuse of the whole Nation the prejudice of all their lawfull Superiours and the Publick the encouragement of usurping Traytors Tyrants Oppressors in their waies of wickedness the ill example of most others and their own just reproach 2ly To observe How God in his retaliating Justice hath recompensed this their wilfull prevarication upon their own heads by turning many of them out of their respective places of Judicature honor profit the ground of this their sinfull complyance with infamy dishonour reproach even by the very Persons with whom they unworthily complyed and those especially in present power who had neither been an House of Commons much lesse a mock Parliament without their presence and complyance 3ly That the base unworthy unchristian complyance of the Lawyers and Clergy of England with our late trayterous Innovators Usurpers out of base fear sordid covetousnesse ambition self-saving or self-seeking to the prejudice ruine of King Kingdom Parliament Lords Law hath brought an universal odium upon them with those with whom they most complyed as well as others the Army Officers and present Juncto under a pretext of Reformaâ—ion designing both their ruines through the Jesuites Politicks who now bear greatest sway having turned many of them with scorn and contempt out of their former places of Judicature beyond their expectations and reviled both their persons and professions to their faces as a Generation of sordid Temporizers and useless faithless persons not fit to be entrusted any more but discarded out of their new lawlesse Republick which hates both Law and Gospel as warranted by neither and repugnant unto both 4ly That the only way now to regain their lost Honour and preserve both our Laws Liberties Religion establish future peace settlement and prevent impendent ruine is to endeavour to restore our antient hereditary just legal Kingship Kings Governors Government with all their necessary invaded Prerogatives Lands Revenues Rights Jurisdictions and inviolably to preserve them with their lives and estates against all conspiracies of Popes Jesuits and foreign enemies to subvert and undermine them in any kind as the several memorable Parliaments and Statutes of 29 H. 6. c. 1. 31 H. 6. c. 1. 39 H. 6. c. 1. 25 H. 8. c. 22. 2 E. 6. c. 26. 7 E. 6. c. 12. 1 Eliz. c. 3.4.20 5 Eliz. c. 1.29.30 13 Eliz. c. 1.2 23 24 18 Eliz. c. 21.22 23 Eliz. c. 1.13.14 27 Eliz. c. 1 2.28.21 29 Eliz. c. 7 8. 31 Eliz. c. 14 15. 35 Eliz. c. 2.12 13. 39 Eliz. c. 26 27. 43 Eliz c. 17 18. 1 Jac. c. 1. 3 Jac. c. 1 2 4 5 25 26. 7 Jac. 6 22 23. 21 Jac. c. 32 33. 3 Car. c. 5 6. in their respective preambles and bodies worthy our most serious review in the Statutes at large resolve being more to be credited pursued than all the rash Jesuitical suggestions votes and inconsiderable resolutions of any unparliamentarie Conventicle or upstart Pseudo-Polititians advancing themselves to the helm of our new Republick by colour of the Statute of 17 Car. 7. Which Bill by the Commons House resolution in their Remonstrances of 15 Dec. 1641. seems to be some restraint of the Regal power in dissolving of Parliaments not to take it out of the Crown but to suspend the execution of it for the time and occasion only which was so necessary for the Kings own security and the Publick peace that without it they could not have undertaken any of those great things but must have left both the Armies to disorder and confusion and the whole Kingdome to blood and rapine Therefore the Parliament must needs determine by the Kings death as he hath infalliby evidenced beyond contradiction In the last place Mr. Prynne shall most importunately beseech all the antient Nobility secluded Members well-affected Gentry Clergy Commonalty of the English Nation which had never so many effeminate false heads and hearts as now many Jesuite Priest Monk lurking under the disguise of womanish Perewigges brought into fashion by them as they now tender their own private or the publick safety weal settlement and preservation of our endangered Church Religion Kingdom Parliament Laws Privileges Properties and prevention of their impendent ruine First of all seriously to consider lament cast off reform their own late present monstrous sottish stupidity sleepinesse self saving self-seeking Spirits and most unworthy un-manly un English unchristian pusillanimity cowardize fear of a few contemptible Mercinary mortal men who shall shortly dye and become as dung upon the earth and their grosse breach of all publick Oaths Protestations Leagues Covenants in not opposing resisting them manfully in their several places and callings Which hath been the principal cause of all the publick Changes Innovatons Oppressions Grievances Exorbitances Insolencies they have hitherto suffered by their own armed hirelings and are the saddest symptomes of our approaching imminent desolation if not speedily repented redressed redressed ere it be over late 2ly To pursue these Gospel advises 1 Cor. 16.13 Watch ye stand fast in the Faith quit ye like men be strong Gal. 5.1 Phil. 1.27 28. Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free and be not intangled again with the yoke of Bondage in one Spirit striving together with one mind for the Faith of the Gospel the fundamental Laws Liberties Government Privileges of the Nation And in nothing terrified by your Adversaries which will be to them an evident token of perdition but to you of salvation and that of God 3ly Do you all now publickly resolutely constantly unanimously according to the tenor of the Solemn League and Covenant claim assert vindicate and endeavour to preserve with your Lives and
dis-inheriting the whole House of Lords and their Heirs for ever of their Parliamentary Session Judicature Privileges as much as in them lyeth and thousands more of their real and personal Estates their forcible secluding securing the greatest part of their Feâ—low-Members then and now again by the Armies power and sitting under their foâ—ce which by their own Declaration of August 6 and the Armies in pursuit theâ—eof August 8. the Speakers Letter July 29. 1648. yea Sir Arthur Hasterigges own Speech and others of them the very two last dayes they sate in the last Convention nulls all they voted or ordered must needs be a more execrable transcendent crime by thousands of degreees a greater derogation to the state of the Parliament and its Privileges of more fatal consequence to the whole Kingdom and of far more pernicious example than this Act of his eternally to be expleded declared null void to all intents in it self and demeriting the Highest censures that the Justice of Parliament can inflict being a more superlative Treason and High Misdemeanour than this Kings or Canterburies impeached by the whole House of Commons and many of them thus actâ—ng sitting That to preserve himself from being questioned for his Trayterous courses he hath laboured to subvert the rights of Parliaments and the antient course of Parliamentary proceedings this being the last Article of his impeachment for which amongst others he lost his head Which Presidents Mr. Prynne would have pressed them viva voce seriously to consider at which they must needs stand mute and astonished not having one syllable to reply 4ly He would have propounded That when all the Members met together They should in the first place debate this point whether the old Parliament were not actually dissolved in point of Law by their beheading the King notwithstanding the Statute of 17 Caroli c. 7 which though themselves by their former and present sitting by pretext thereof the Army-Officers heretofore and now again deny and many secluded Members hold still to be in being yet for his own opinion he held and had published it to be dissolved notwithstanding this Act and to be Casus omissus out of it which he was ready to maintain against all Opponents by these reasons 1. Because it hath been fâ—equently resolved by Parliaments themselves the Reverend Judges and our Law-books as 1 H 4 rot Parl. n. 1 2 3. 1 H. 5. Rot. Parl. n. 16. 4 E. 4. f. 44. Cooks 4. Instit p. 44. by King Charles own Declaration 13 Junii 3 Caroli and his Judges and Counsel then that the deposition and death of the King doth actually dissolve the Parliament and that the new King cannot hold and continue the old Parliament sitting or prorogued at his Ancestors death the Parliament of 22 R. 2. being dissolved by his resignation of his Crown and the Parliaments of 14 H. 4. 24 Jacobi by the deaths of these two Kings and by like reason the last Parliament of 16 Caroli by his violent death 2ly Because the Parliament is no standing Court sitting at certain seasons by positive Laws but summoned constituted by the Kings writs of summons and royal Prerogative when and where he pleaseth and adjourned prorogued dissolved by his writ alone in point of Law and practise in all ages at his pleasure sitting sometimes longer sometimes shorter and sometimes prorogued to another day place or countermanded after summons upon just occasions as the Parliament Clause Rolls the Act of 16 Caroli c. 1. and other Statutes resolve Now all writs of summons being actually abated by the Kings death which made them as well as all Commissions Patents of all Judges Justices Sheriffs whatsoever and other writs informations in the Kings name and behalf as the Statute of 1 E. 6. c. 7. Cooks 7 Report f. 29 30. Crookes 1 Part. p. 1 2.10.11.97 98. and other Lawbooks collected by Asb Discontinuance de Proces 16. and Reattachment 7. determine The writs of summons and likewise of Parliament must needs abate likewise And the Lords being made Judges and the Commons Members of that particular Parliament only by the Kings writ his death must determine their Parliamentary Judicature or Authority sitting during the Kings pleasure as well as the Judges Justices Sheriffs Patents and all other Commissions whatsoever 3ly Because every Parliament heretofore in the reign of K. Charls by the very recitals of the Writs is called 1. In the name and by the authority only of the King regnant in his natural capacity accompanied with his politick by his Christian name Carolus Dei gratia Rex c. expressed in it not generally by the Office King but Carolus Rex 2ly It recites it to be called De avisamento Consilii nostri 3ly It stiles it nostrum· 4ly That the occasion of calling it was about certain arduous businesses Nos et defensionem Regni nostri Jura coronae nostrae c. in many antient writs contingentibus 5ly That his intention in calling it is Quia cum Pralatis Magnatibus et Proceribus dicti regni nostri or nostris Colloquium habere volumus et Tractatum 6ly It summons them thus Vobis mandamus c. quod personaliter intersitis Nobiscum or ad Nos such a day and place Nobiscum et cum caeteris Praelatis Magnatibus et proceribus praedictis tractaturi vestrumque consilium impensuri super negotiis antedictis 7ly The Knights Citizens Burgesses and Barons of ports in the Commons House are summoned to doe and consent to those things which shall happen by Gods favour to be then ordained De Communi Consilio super Negotiis antedictis in sundry Writs stiled by the King Negotia Nostra Negotiorum nostrorum c. which clause is thus explained in Claus 36 E. 3. d. 16. cl 37 â— 3. d. 22. cl 38 E. 3. d. 3. cl 39 E 3. d. 2. cl 42 E. 3. d. 22. cl 47 E. 3. d. 29. ad consentiendum biis quae per Nos ac dictos Magnates et Proceres ordinari contigerit favente Domino From all which particular clauses in the very writs of summons it is undeniable that the Parliament of 16 Caroli was ipso facts dissolved by the Kings death 1. Because this Parliament was summoned particularly by King Charles in his natural as well as politick capacity not in his politick alone nor yet by or for him his heirs successors who ceased to be both Charles and a King of this Realm by his death 2ly The Counsel by whose advice it was summoned was his not his heirs and successors Counsel 3ly The Parliament convened his Parliament alone not his heirs or successors both of them ceasing to be his Counsel or Parliament by his decease 4ly The subject matter for which it was summoned Divers urgent and arduous businesses concerning Vs not our heirs or successors and the defence of Our not their Realm of England who was no more Us and the kingdom no more his