and ancient Oathes and forcing it against mens Consciences to make them willfully perjured h Psal 15. 1. â— Rom 1 31 32 and damne their Soules Eightly The maine end of this Oath is to extinguish irradicate our English Monarchy and Kingship though the i Psal 22. 11 Psal 47 2. 7. Psal 29 10. Government of God himselfe over the whole World and of our k Psal 1 6 Isay 9. 7 Luke 1 33. Saviour Jesus Christ over his Church who have the Titles of l Psal 10. 16 Psal 47 2. Psal 89 18. Ps 48 2 Ps 95 3. Ps 149. 2. Ps 33 17 20 1. Tim. 1 17. King of Kings c. so frequently given them in Scripture though the m Seldius titles of honor part 1. c. 1. 2. 3. first antientest universallest honourablest freeest n Acknowledged by Mr. Pym. himselfe and the house of Commons Canterburie's doome p. 29 Exact Collections p. 696. best happiest safest peaceablest durablest Government of all others in the World as the Scripture Histories Polititians and Divines accord That Government under which all the Inhabitants of this Isle since it was first Peopled have ever lived flourished continuing unalterable in all Changes and Successions of those Nations which have invaded peopled or Conquered it as best and most agreeable and pleasing to the People That of which we have so long experience and enjoyed the happiest freest peaceablest and most Religious we are ever like to see that which is established ratified with so many sacred Oathes Lawes Vowes Acts Records and Fences of all sorts that Piety or Policy could invent that Impiety Impudence and Treachery it selfe might justly feare to invade it and honoured with such signall preservations and deliverances in the Persons of Querne Elizabeth and King James specified in our Annals and o 1 Jac. c. 1. 2 3. Jacobi c. 1. 2. 4. some Acts of Parliament as might daunt all Traytors from attempting its subversion and all to introduce a Lowe-Country Government under as many Kings and Tyrants as there are new Lords Officers Souldiers supported by a numerous standing Army and constant Garrisons in all Counties which must bee maintained at the Kingdomes and Peoples charge by a Perpetuall Excise so p Exact Collection p. 6. much declamed against in the King who did only once secretly attempt but not impose it great arbitrary Monthly Contributions renued and augmented at our new Governours meere pleasures who both impose receive and dispose thereof as they please and levy it by meere force of Armes reputed Treason in q Mr. St. Jonns Argument at Law Strafford's Case and a levying Warre against the King and Kingdome and that accompanied with the undoing pest of r Condemned in the Petion of Right 3. Caroli Free Quarter upon every March or pretence of Arreares or Pay And what happy free new State and Government this will prove the very best all rationall men must expect being supportable only by a perpetuall Army Garrisons Excise Contributions c. as the Low-Countries are to justle out our ancientest Monarchy in the World under which wee were freed from all Armies Garrisons Excise Contributions Free-Quarter and feares of Forraigne Invasions which now affright us granting only a Subsidy or two in devers yeares only by Acts of Parliament to which all consented wherein the Commons never presumed to Tax the Lords and Clergy at their pleasure as they now unjustly doe without their own free consents amounting not to one Moneths Excise and Contribution in many yeares let all men judge be-before they take or subscribe this new Oath and Engagement to abolish the one which was so easy and erect the other which must of necessity prove so grievous Ninthly It will really verifiy and make good all the late King's * Exact Collection p. 262. 282 284 to 289. 297. 298. 500. 514. 517. 521. 522. 526. 528. 530 531. 534 550 551. 554 558. 561. 562. A Collection c. p. 177 worthy our serious consideration Declarations and Remonstrances against the proceedings of the late Houses of Parliament wherein Hee prophetically and frequently charged them or rather a few Factious and ambitious discontented spirits that over-swayed and seduced them under the specious pretences OF RELIGION and LIBERTY with a Trayterous RESOLUTION and DESIGNE to alter destroy dissolve shake and rent in pieces the whole frame and constitution of this Kingdome so admirably framed and continued by the blessing of God and the wisedome of our Ancestors to the wonder and envy of all the Neigbouring Kingdomes To turne the well founded Monarchy into a Democarcy To ruine Monarchy it selfe and Regall Power never before strucken at To Depose Murther and Destory both Himselfe and His Royall Posterity and Dissolve His Government and Authority To alter and subvert the ancient Frame Constitution and Government of Church State Parliament and Fundamentall Lawes Liberties of the Kingdome and People To destroy the house of Lords and the Priviledges Rights and Freedome of our Parliaments To subject both King and People Lawes and Liberties together with His and his good Subjects Lives and Fortunes and bring them into perpetuall slavery and bondage to their Vast Vnlimited Lawlesse Arbitrary Seditious Jurisdiction Tyranny Power Government which would revive that Tragedy Mr. Hooker relates of the Anabaptists in Germany and to destroy both Religion and Liberty King and People over which they designed to make themselves perpetuall Dictators And that their Armies were raised purposely to effect all these Designes all which wee now finde effected and fully accomplished by the treachery of the Army and those now acting The timely prevention whereof the King and his Party professed was the only end and Designe of taking up Armes against them for the preservation of Religion Lawes Liberties Monarchy and prevention of this fore-seene Anarchy Tyranny and Confusion now brought upon us by our new pretended Governours through perjury treachery and violence against the Votes and Remonstrances of both houses who particularly * Exact Collection p. 695. 696 657 658 A Collection c. p. 420. to 428 698 699. 700. 877 878. Renounced and Protested against them And whereof the Westminster Conclave in the 16. and 17. pages of their late Declaration of September last ordered to bee read in Churches doe sufficiently acquit both Houses and those who adhered to them only out of honest and publique Intention as Designes of their owne not revealed till of late the timely discovery whereof would have deterred all from attempting or adhering to the chiefe Contrivers of them Now our subscription to this new Oath and Engagement will post factum make both our selves the late Houses and all their adherents apparently guilty of all these trayterous horrid Designes to which they were no wales privie nor assenting but ever abjured in their Protestation Vow Solemne League and Covenant and abhominated from their soules and thereby not only verifie but justifie the Declarations and Proceedings of the King in every
Summary Reasons against the New OATH ENGAGEMENT AND An Admonition to all such as have already Subscribed it WITH A Cautionarie Exhortation to all Honest English Spirits to avoid the danger of Perjurie by taking of it PROVERBS 24. 21. 22. My Sonne feare thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change For their calamity shall rise suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both PRINTED in the yeere 1649. Summary Reasons against the New Oath and Engagement YOV shall Sweare or I Declare and Promise That I will bee True and Faithfull to the Common-wealth of England as the same is now Established WITHOUT KING OR HOUSE OF LORDS FIRST This Oath and Engagement is imposed by those who by the Lawes of God and the Realme had never any Power admit them a full and free House of Commons under no Force as they are not to Administer much lesse to Make or Impose any Oath in any Case Cookes 3. Institut p. 165. and lesse Authority then the Bishops and Clergy in Convocation who made the c Oath not so bad as this adjudged high-Treason in Canterburies Case for which hee lost his head Canterburies Doome p. 26. 40. though not so bad as this Secondly It is contrary to all the antient Oathes of our Judges Justices of Peace Mayors Sheriffs Recorders Clearkes of Chancery and other courts of Justice To the Oathes of Fealty and Homage made by all the Kings Tenants The antient and late Oathes of Supremacy and Allegiance the Vow and Protestation the solemne League and Covenant and Engagement of the whole Kingdome to the King his Heires Successours and Posteritie for ever to defend their undoubted Right to the Crowne with the last drop of their Bloods conteined in the Statutes of 1. Jacobi cap. 1. 2. and involves the Makers and Takers thereof in manifold execrable perjuries to the scandall of our Religion Levit. 19. 12. Nation a Dishonour and high Displeasure of God and just damnation of their Soules Deut. 5. 11. Thirdly Jer. 5. 2. c 7 9. It is a new Gunpowder-Treason blowing up the King and his Posteritie Ezech. 17. 12. to 20. Zech. 5. 3. 4. Mal. 3. 5. Monarchy the House of Lords the Constitution and Priviledges of our English Parliaments our ancient fundamentall Government Math. 5. 34. Lawes Liberties and our three Kingdomes at one crack Rom. 1. 31 32. 2. Tim. 3. 3. 4. the very same and farre worse then that of the Jesuites and Papists condemned by the Statutes of 3. Jacobi cap. 1. 2. 4. executing farre more then what they intended and quite deleting the Infamy and memory of that and all future celebration of that joyfull day of November 5. never to bee forgotten Fourthly It disseiseth disinheriteth fore-judgeth the King of his b 1. Jac c 1. 2 4. 3. Jacobi 1. 2. Rightfull Crowne and Revenues the House of Lords of their Peerage Priviledges and c A Plea for the Lords the undoubted Rights our English Parliament and Kingdom of their very Liberties and beings un-Kinging un-Lording un-Parliamenting un-Kingdoming them all at once without once summoning and bringing them to Answer by any legall Processe to heare what they can say for themselves and without any lawfull Judgement of their Peers according to the Lawe of the Land contrary to the expresse Letter of Magna Charta â— E. 3. c. 9. 25. E 3. c. 4. 28. E. 3. c. 3. 37 E. 3. c. 18. 42. E. 3. c. 3. and the Petition of Right yea d Votes of Octob. 11. 22. 1649. debarres these Ministers Officers Lawyers Students from their Augmentations Callings Offices Preferments and Degrees who Refuse or Neglect to Subscribe it contrary to all these Statutes and the Lawe of the Land without any hearing or Tryall the extremitie of Tyranny and Injustice transcending that of King Prelates Starre-Chamber or High-Commission Fiftly It inevitably involves the Makers Takers and Subscribers thereof in manifold High Treasons against King Kingdome Parliament for some of which only in a farre lower Degree Strafford Canterbury and many others have lost their Heads as you may read in Master St. John's Argument against Strafford and Sir Edward Cookes 3. Institutes cap. 1. 2. to the forfeiture of their Lives Estates Soules yea Infamy and Ruine of their Families Sixtly It enjoynes us to bee True and Faithfull to the new Common-wealth of England the Generall Councell of Officers of the Army the new created Councell of State and their Westminster Conclave of Journey-men as it is now Established WITHOUT KING OR LORDS without consent of Kingdome People or Parliament by force of Armes Treachery Perjury that is to assist and defend them with our Lives Councells Estates and to submit to all their illegall Acts and Taxes to the losse of Lives Liberties Properties against the Kings or Lords just Titles and our owne Lawes Liberties Byrth-Rights which to doe is not only contrary to Lawe since no Homage or Fealty is due from any Subject whatsoever to other Subject but to the King alone and with a saving of that Faith which hee owes to our Soveraigne Lord the King and that only where there is a legall Tenure betweene them as Sir Edward Cooke Resolves 1. Institutes f. 64. 65. 67. 68. but no lesse then High-Treason within the Statute of 25. E. 3. c. 2. as he Resolves in his 3. Institut c. 1 and therefore unreasonable and Treasonable for such as are True and Faithfull neither to King Lords Parliament Kingdome or People to exact or expect from any others Seventhly It most ingratefully and unworthily obliterates the memoriall of all the good Lawes Liberties Franchises Protection Benefits Deliverances wee have received and the Peace Prosperity Freedome and Happinesse Wee and our Ancestors have enjoyed under the Reignes of most Generous Valorous Bountifull Pious Religious Kings and Queenes especially our late renowned King Edward the sixt Queene Elizabeth King James and a great part of King Charles his Reigne which the Parliaments in their Reigns in e 15 H 8 c. 12. all Acts of the Subsiâ—ies granted by the Laity or Clergy in their reignes sundry Acts our own forreigne Historians and Writers have so highly magnified and blessed God for and our very last Parliament remembred and thankfully acknowledged in some of their f Exact Collectionâ— p. 14. 15. 16. â—96 Remonstrances of which we need no other testimony but our g Exact Collection p 712 713. 714. Kings Coronation Oath in extirpating Kings and Monarchy for ever after for some confessed extravagancies and Errors of the beheaded King not halfe so grievous oppressive unjust or impious as those themselves are guilty of especially in Repealing as much as in them lies the Oathes of Supremacy and Allegiance and the solemne League and Covenant the principall Bullwarks against the Pope and Papists encroachments and imposing this new Oath and Engagement against the very Letter Scope of these and sundry other just
particular as most Just Necessary and Honourable for the publique Liberty and Safety but likewise canonize as it were him with all his slaine and suffering Party as Martyrs for the Kingdomes and Peoples Safety and the Publique Liberty for which they lost their lives and estates as all Prescribers and Subscribers of this Oath and Engagement must now necessarily acknowledge and all the World will conclude against them and brand our selves our Bretheren of Scotland and all those who have lost their lives limbs and estates in opposition or warres against them with both the late Houses for notorious Rebells Traytors Conspirators Murtherers on whose Heads and Soules the guilt of all the precious blood shed in our late and present Warres both in England Ireland and Scotland must now bee translated from the King and his Party on whom wee have formerly charged it and justly rest for the future to their eternall infamy condemnation ruine Which unavoydable consequence of our submission and subscription to this Oath and Engagement with the horrers of Conscience and divine Judgements that must necessarily seize upon us when under the guilt of so much Treachery and Blood shed is sufficient of it selfe alone to deterre us from the least assent thereto and to engage our utmost power against them without any other arguments ' specially if compared with the Loyall and Heroicall resolutions and engagements of our Ancestors in the Parliament at Lincolne An. 28. E. 1. Recorded in Walsingham Hist. Angliae p. 49. to 56. Cookes 2. Instit p. 97. 98. 20. H. 3. ch 9. 40. E. 3. rot Parl. n. 8. Cookes 4. Instit p. 13. 14. The notable Statute of 16. R. 3. c. 5. of Praemunire 11. H. 7. c. 18. 19. H. 7. c. 1. 25. H. 8. c. 22. 35. H. 8. c. 1. 1. Mariae Parl. 2. ch 1. 1. Eliz. c. 1. 3. 5. Eliz c. 1. 23. Eliz. c. 1. 2. 1. Jacobi ch 1. 2. 3. Jac. ch 1. 2. 4. 5. 7. Jac. ch 6. which all perjured Judges Sergeants and Lawyers â—ho have dishonoured their professions by their late subscriptions and exceeded Judge Thorpe Tresilian and his companions and the Ship-Money Judges in their Perjuries and Treasons against King Kingdome Lords People Lawes Liberties which they have basely and wickedly betrayed against their Science and Conscience may doe well to chew the cudde upon and on Mr. St. Johns Speech at the Impeachment of the Judges concerning Ship-Money and Argument at Law at Straffords Attainder enough to hang and damne them all twenty times over with all other Imposers and Subscribers of this Treasonable Engagement doe well to-head other Straffords whose crimes were not halfe so treasonable and abhominable as the enforcing or subscribing of this Oath and Engagement by the meete pretended Authority of those who never had the least legall power to administer any old lawfull Oath in any case when a full free and lawfull Commons House much lesse to make and impose a new treasonable and illegall Oath of Allegiance to themselves who are oblieged by no such reciprocall Oath to preserve our Lawes Liberties and free Customes as our Kings alwaies were upon all the Nation against the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme and above thirty legall Oathes yet in force which sundry Officers are oblieged to take before they may or ought to execute their respective Offices Tenthly The Scripture is expresse that Monarchicall Government is Gods owne speciall Ordinance Deut. 17. 14 15. and Prov. 8. 15. 16. Rom. 13. 1. 2. That the enjoyment of Kings and Kingly Government is a great honour happinesse and benefit to a Nation and a speciall blessing promised and given to them by God himselfe Gen. 17 6. 16. Jer. 17. 25 c. 22. 4 2. Chron. 9. 8. Ezâ—ch 16. 13. And can it then bee a miserie and Judgment to us that is a most severe Judgement of God and the cause of many miseries oppressions disorders and destruction to a Nation or Kingdome to bee without a King by the Scriptures and Gods owne Resolution Judg. 17. 6. c. 18. 1. c. 19. 1. c. 21. 25. Hosea 1. 4 c. 3. 4 5. c. 10 3. Jer 22. 3. to 13. Hosea 13. 11. 12. Mich. 4. 9. 10. Amâ—s 1. 13. 14 15. Zech. 9. 5. And can it bee then any â—appinest and no judgement unto us to bee without a King That Kings have beene the greatest Reformers and Promoters of Gods Worship and Religion and suppressors of Idolatry under the Law is the Bookes of Kings Chronicles Ezra Ester Nehemiah Daniel the Psalmes Proverbs testify and are specially prophecied and promised to bee the chiefe Patriots Fathers Promoters Propagators and Reformers of Religion Gods Church and Worship under the Gospell in sundry texts as Psal 62. 29. Ps 72. 10. 11. Ps 112. 15. Ps 138. 4. 5. Ps 148. 11. Isay 41. 2. c. 45. 1. 2. 5. c. 49. 7. 23. c. 52. 15. c. 60. 3. 10. 11. c. 62 2. Rev. 11. 15. c. 21. 24. which Histories witnesse to bee experimentally verified and more especialy in our Island according to that Prophecio Psal 72. 10. relating unto Islands which had the fift Christian King s Math. West An 185. 307. Speed Godwin Spelman Usher De Eccles Brit. Primordiâ—s Lucius and first most renouned Christian Emperor Constantine the Great borne and Crowned in it and many pious devout and religious Princes since of ancient and later times by whose bonnty care zeale religion and learning were advanced continued and propagated amongst us and are now likely to expire with our Monarchy for want of protection maintenance encouragement and punishment of Atheisme Heresy Blasphemy and Prophanenessâ— and defrauding Ministers both of their Tythes and promised augmentations eating them out with taxes turning them out of their Livings and livelihood by arbitrary Committees against Law and Justice upon the bare suggestions of every malicious Sectary or Tythe-declaiming prosecutor Upon which grounds Christians under the Gospâ—ll are in thâ— first place enjoyned to make prayers intercessions and thanks-givings for Kings that under them they may live a peaceable life in all Godlinesse and Honesty FOR THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABL IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR therefore to abolish Kings is sinfull and displeasing in his fight and contrary to his reavealed will 1. Tim. 2. 1. 2. To submis to Kings as unto the Supreme and honour them for the Lords sake for so it is the will of God 1. Pet. 13. 14 15. 17. To bee subject to Principalities and Powers Tit. 3. 1. Rom. 13. 1. which Scriptures must bee raised out of the Bible as Apocriphall if wee will extirpate Kings and Monarchy out of the Realme and Christian World as some now endeavour the attempting whereof must needes bee an high affront to Christ himselfe which robs him of one of his most glorious Gospell Titles King of Kings and Lord of Lords 1 Tim. 6 15. Rev. 17. 14. c. 19 16. Ad to this that the Scripture relates it a great honour and prosperity to a Nation