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A56211	The soveraigne povver of parliaments and kingdomes divided into foure parts· Together with an appendix: wherein the superiority of our owne, and most other foraine parliaments, states, kingdomes, magistrates, (collectively considered,) over and above their lawfull emperours, kings, princes, is abundantly evidenced, confirmed by pregnant reasons, resolutions, precedents, histories, authorities of all sorts; the contrary objections re-felled: the treachery and disloyalty of papists to their soveraignes, with their present plots to extirpate the Protestant religion demonstrated; and all materiall objections, calumnies, of the King, his counsell, royallists, malignants, delinquents, papists, against the present Parliaments proceedings, (pretended to be exceeding derogatory to the Kings supremacy, and subjects liberty) satisfactorily answered, refuted, dissipated in all particulars. By William Prynne, utter-barrester, of Lincolnes Inne. It is on this second day of August, 1643. ordered ... that this booke ... be printed by Michael Sparke ...; Soveraigne power of parliaments and kingdomes	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1643 (1643)	Wing P4087A; ESTC R203193	824,021	610

THE SOVERAIGNE POWER OF PARLIAMENTS and KINGDOMES Divided into FOVRE PARTS Together with AN APPENDIX Wherein the Superiority of our owne and most other Foraine Parliaments States Kingdomes Magistrates collectively considered over and above their lawfull Emperours Kings Princes is abundantly evidenced confirmed by pregnant Reasons Resolutions Precedents Histories Authorities of all sorts the contrary Objections re-felled The Treachery and Disloyalty of Papists to their Soveraignes with their present plots to extirpate the Protestant Religion demonstrated And all materiall Objections Calumnies of the King his Counsell Royallists Malignants Delinquents Papists against the present Parliaments proceedings pretended to be excceding Derogatory to the Kings Supremacy and Subjects Liberty satisfactorily answered refuted dissipated in all par●iculars By WILLIAM PRYNNE Utter-Barrester of Lincolnes Inne Gal. 5. 1. Stand fast therefore in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free and be not intangled againe with the yoke of bondage Psalm 2. 10 11. Be wise now therefore Oye Kings be instructed ye Iudges of the earth serve the Lord in feare and rojoyce with trembling It is this second day of August 1643. Ordered by the Committee of the House of Commons in Parliament concerning Printing that this Booke Intituled The Soveraigne power of Parliaments and Kingdoms c. be Printed by Michael Sparke senior Iohn White Printed at London for Michael Sparke Senior 1643. TO THE Right Honourable Lords Commons Assembled in and continuing Constantly with this present PARLIAMENT both in Person and Affection ETernally Renowned Senators and most cordiall Philopaters to Your bleeding dying dearest Country from which no menacing Terrors of armed Adversaries nor flattering Promises of hypocriticall Court-friends could hitherto divorce your sincerest Affections and withdraw your undefatigablest Industries in the least degree to its betraying or enslaving I here humbly prostrate to your most mature Iudgements and recommend to your Highest Noblest Patronage this Quadruple Discourse OF THE SOVERAIGNE POWER OF PARLIAMENTS AND KINGDOMES now at last compacted into one intire Body though formerly scattered abroad in dismembred Parts rather out of necessity to gratifie others then conveniency to content my selfe in which as Your Honours have the greatest Interest so it is just and equall You should enjoy the absolutest Propriety being compiled by Your Encouragement Printed by Your Authority published for Your Iustification to vindicate your indubitable ancient Soveraign Priviledges from the unjust Detractions Your legall necessary late Proceedings from the malicious false unjust Aspersions of those Royallists Malignants intemperate Pens Tongues Who like naturall bruite beasts made to be taken and destroyed speake evill of the things they understand not and shall perish in their owne corruption Cursed children who have forsaken the right way and are gone astray following the way of Balaam the sonne of Bosor who loved the wages of unrighteousnesse but was rebuked for his iniquity I must ingenuously confesse that the Subject matter and grand publicke Differences betweene King Parliament yea betweene most Kings and Kingdomes in the world herein debated are of such an extraordinary rare transcendent nature of such infinite universall consequence weight concernment yea so full of dangerous Precipes Rockes if not inextricable difficulties on either hand as might justly require not onely one person of the exquisitest judgement Heroicallest Spirit greatest experience deepest Policy absolutest abilities vastest knowledge in all kindes of Learnings States Governments and most exempt from all other imployments that might interrupt him in these kindes of Studies but even an whole Parliament or Oecumenicall Councell of the most experienced ablest learnedest wisest Statists in the Universe and many yeares most advised consideration exactly to ventilate and determine them Which consideration might have justly daunted yea quite deterred me the meanest of ten thousand furnished with no competent abilities and having scarce one vacant houre but what I have borrowed from my naturall rest to accomplish so vast an undertaking from this most difficult weighty publicke service sufficient to sinke the strongest Hercules if not Atlas himselfe the worlds supporter But yet the Goodnesse the Commonnesse of the Cause which concernes our whole three Kingdomes Parliaments Religion and every one of our well-beings in this present world the deare affection I beare to my native Country Religion Posterity Parliaments and your Honours the defect of other Advocates to plead this publicke Cause seconded with the private earnest intreaties which were as so many Commands to me of some Members of Your Honourable Assembly to undertake this weighty taske their authorizing my rude Collections for the Presse were such strong exciting ingagements to me to undertake this difficult imployment that I chose of two extreames rather to discover mine owne insufficiency in an impotent speedy discharge of this great service so farre transcending my weake indowments than to shew any want of sincerity or industry in deserting this grand Cause in a time of need It beeing one chiefe Article of my beliefe ever since I first read the Scriptures and Tullies Offices That I was principally born for my Countries good next to Gods glory involved in it Upon which ground I have ever bent all my Studies to promote it what I might though to my particular losse and disadvantage The sole end I aime at in these Treatises is the re-establishment of my bleeding expiring Countries endangered Liberties Priviledges Rights Lawes Religion the curing of her mortall wounds the restauration of her much desired Peace in truth and righteousnesse the supportation of Parliaments the onely Pillars Bulwarkes of our Church State Lawes Liberties Religion in their perfect lustre and full Soveraigne Authority the removall of those present grievances differences Warres arising principally from ignorant or wilfull mistakes of the Parliaments just Priviledges and the Kings due Prerogatives which threaten present ruine to them all for whose future prosperity security I could with Moses and Paul heartily wish my selfe to be blotted out of the Booke of life and to be accursed from Christ neither count I may life limbes liberties or any earthly comforts deare unto me so I may any wayes promote Gods glory and the publike welfare And certainely had the most of men in publike places but Heroicke publike Spirits as I make no doubt all Your Honours have byassed with no private Interests or base selfe-respects studying nothing but the common-good our present unnaturall warres would soone be determined our greatest differences easily reconciled our foraine Irish French Walloon Popish Forces brought in to cut our English Protestants and their Religions throats before our faces at which horrid spectacle I wonder all English spirits rise not up with unanimous indignation in stead of joyning with them easily expulsed our remaining Grievances speedily redressed our disordered Church Reformed our Pristine Peace and Prosperity restored yea entayled to us and our Posterities for ever whereas the private selfe-ends selfe-interests of some ambitious covetous malicious treacherous timerous publicke persons who serve no other Deity Majesty or

thou hast thus done let nought but naked Truth resolve thy Conscience and regulate all thy future Actions services both towards thy God King Country in such sort That glory may dwell in our land that mercy and truth may meet together righteousnesse and peace may kisse each other once more in our Nation and God may now at last speake peace unto his people and to his Saints So Truth shall spring out of the Earth and Righteousnesse shall looke downe from Heaven Yea the Lord shall give that which is good and our Land shal yeeld her increase Righteousnesse shall goe before him and sha●● set us in the way of his steps And the worke of Righteousnesse shall be Peace and the effect of righteousnesse quietnesse and assurance for ever And we being Gods people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places Yea we shall beate our swords into Plow-shares and our Speares into Pruning-hookes Nation shall not lift up sword against Nation neither shall they learne warre any more But wee shall sit every man under his Vine and under his Figge-tree and none shall make us afraid The effecting the restoring of which sweete blessed Harmony of Peace and quietnesse throughout our kingdome hath beene one principall end of this my Labour which takes away the pretended causes the nourishing fewell of our present unnaturall contentions and destructive bloody warres Entertaine it therefore with that Candidnesse and Ingenuity as becomes the cordiallest Endevours of a reall unmercenary Philo-pater who hath freely done and suffered many things and is still prest to doe and suffer all things for his dearest Countries service in an honourable lawfull Christian way though he receive no other Guerdon than the losse of all his earthly comforts and a new addition to his former sufferings That saying of Symmachus hath been encouragement enough to me Saluti publicae dicata industria crescit Merito cum caret Praemio which I wish were more considered and better practised by some degenerous Mercenary spirits in these sad times who receive great wages and doe little worke refusing to stirre either hand or foote upon any advantage or necessary occasion to preserve their Native Country from desolation before they have pursed up their undemerited pay and yet even then perchance sit still It is a basenesse not onely farre below Christianity but Humanity it selfe for men especially those of publicke place and abilities to preferre their owne private ends before the publicke safety their particular gain before the commonweale when the whole kingdome lyeth at stake But I hope Heroicke English Spirits will learne more generous resolutions and Activity in times of such extremity and that those whom it most concernes will take timely notice That sordid Mercenaries are the greatest falsest Cowards Christ himselfe resolving what poore what ill service they will do in dayes of tryall Joh. 10. 12 13. He that is an Hireling seeth the Wolfe comming and leaveth the Sheepe and FLEETH and the Wolfe catcheth them and scattereth the Sheepe The hireling fleeth because he is an hireling and careth not for the Sheepe He loves onely his Wages not his Charge his Duty God discover and amend all such or else speedily discard them That so all ayming onely at the publique good and Tranquility we may eft-soone procure enjoy the same to our greatest consolation The Treachery and Disloyalty of Papists to their Soveraignes both in Doctrine and Practise WHen I seriously consider the memorable Preamble of 3. Iac. ch 4. That it is found by daily experience that many of his Majesties Subjects who adhere in their hearts to the Popish Religion by the infection drawne from thence and by the wicked and divellish counsell of Iesuites Seminaries and other persons dangerous to the Church and State are so farre perverted in the point of their loyalties and due obedience unto the Kings Majesty and the Crowne of England as they are ready to entertaine and execute any Treasonable Conspiracies and Practices as evidently appeares by that more then barbarous and horrible attempt to have blowne up with Gunpowder the King Queene Prince Lords and Commons in the House of Parliament assembled tending to the utter subversion of the whole State lately undertaken by the instigation of Iesuites and Seminaries and in advancement of their Religion by their Schollars taught and instructed by them for that purpose With the Statutes of 35. Eliz. ch 2. and 3. Iacob ch 5. which Enact That all Popish Reeusants shall be restrained to some certaine places of abode and confined to their private houses in the Country and not at any time after to passe or remove above five miles from thence under paine of forfeiting all their Lands Goods and Chattels during life That none of them shall remaine within ten miles of the City of London nor come into the Court or house where his Majesty or Heire apparent to the Crowne of England shall be nor have in their owne houses or in the hands or possession of any other at their disposition any Armour Gunpowder or Munition of what kinde soever And all this for the better discovering and avoyding of such Trayterous and most dangerous Conspiracies Treasons Practises and attempts as are daily devised and practised against our most gracious Soveraignes Person and the Commonweale by rebellious and trayterous Papists And when I read in two of King Iames his Proclamations That those adhering to the profession of the Church of Rome are blindly led together with the superstition of their Religion both unto some points of Doctrine which cannot consist with the loyalty of Subjects towards their Prince and oft times unto direct actions of conspiracies and conjurations against the State wherein they live as hath most notoriously appeared by the late most horrible and almost incredible conjuration grounded upon points of Doctrine in that Church held and mantained and contrived and practised with the privity and warrant of many of the principall Priests of that profession to blow up our children and all the three States in Parliament assembled And when we consider the course and claime of the Sea of Rome we have no reason to imagine that Princes of our Religion and profession can expect any assurance long to continue unlesse it might be assented by the mediation of other Princes Christian that some good course might be taken by a generall Councell free and lawfully called to plucke up those rootes of dangers and jealousies which arise for cause of Religion as well betweene Princes and Princes as betweene them and their Subjects and to make it manifest that no State or Potentate either doth or can challenge power to dispose of earthly Kingdomes or Monarchies or to dispence with Subjects obedience to their naturall Soveraignes Which was never yet attempted much lesse effected And in the Booke of Thanksgiving appointed for the fifth of November set forth by King Iames and the Parliaments speciall

Republicke but themselves alone have most shamefully imbroyled betrayed and endangered both our Kingdoms Parliaments Liberties Religion Properties yea all the blessings we formerly enjoyed whose names and memories shall be ever execrable to all Posteritie upon Earth their Soules Bodies eternally tortured in hel without repentance for this their inhumane unchristian Treachery and Realme-destroying Church-subverting selfe-seeking detestable both to God and Men. To conjure downe such base degenerous private spirits to the infernall pit or else to elevate and inflame them with great heroicke publike thoughts there is nothing more effectuall in my weake apprehension than the well-grounded knowledge serious study and full vindication of such publike Truthes concerning Publike Governement and the Soveraigne Iurisdiction of Parliaments Kingdomes Magistrates People as are here debated ratified freed from those blacke aspersions of sedition faction rebellion treason conspiracy mutiny singularity disloyalty and the like which sordid Sycophants selfe-seeking Monopolists Courtiers Royallists or malignant Delinquents have most injuriously cast upon them to delude the world which long obscured Truthes though they may seeme dangerous Paradoxes and upstart Enthusiasmes at the first proposall to many ignorant seduced Soules kept over long in Cymmerian darkenesse by those Aegyptian taske-masters who have studyed to increase and perpetuate their bondage Yet upon serious examination will prove to be most ancient indubitable Verities universally received beleeved practised by most Realmes and Nations in the Universe from the beginning of Monarchy till this present and the contrary received opinions to be but the vaine empty Braine-sicke lying fancies of a few illiterate impolitick Court-Chaplaines Lawyers Sycophants who never dived into the Principles Constitutions Lawes Histories of States and Realmes or into the true originall grounds of Regall Regnall Popular or Parliamentary Iurisdictions and writ onely to flatter Princes to purchase honour gaine or favour to themselves without any respect at all to Verity or the Common good which never entred into their narrow private thoughts What entertainement these New-published common Truthes are like to find in Court and elsewhere among many men I may easily conjecture by that ingrate requitall Your Honours have received from them for all your faithfulnesse paines cost diligence service for the Publike safety Never did any Parliament in England deserve halfe so well as this for their indefatigable labours night and day almost three whole yeares space together for the Common good Yet never was any halfe so ill requited Never did any demerit greater publike applause never any underwent halfe so many vile Libellous reproaches slanders of all sorts even for well-doing and that not onely in vulgar Discourses but in Presse and Pulpit too Never did Parliament in any age sit halfe so long or doe halfe that worke or get any such publike establishment as this and yet all our Parliaments put together were never so much opposed traduced secretly conspired against or openly assaulted with armed violence to dissolve and ruine them as this one alone against whom not onely the Pope with all his Antichristian Members at home and abroad but which is almost a Miracle not formerly heard of in any age both King Queene Prince Privy Counsellors Courtiers yea divers Nobles and Members of both Houses contrary to their owne Protestations have utterly deserted it yea bent all their policies wits Forces together to dissolve and null it and in it all future Parliaments as no Parliament at all but as an Assembly of obstinate refractory Traytors and Rebels when as all your Actions Proceedings Declarations Protestations proclaime you nothing lesse yea the best-deserving Parliamentary Assembly that ever this Nation was blessed with and those Heroicke Champions who have lately regained resetled as farre as humane Lawes and Ordinances can secure them our lost at least decayed Liberties Lawes Priviledges Religion in despite of all oppositions and utterly suppressed that confederated Triumvirate of the Counsel-chamber Starchamber and High-Commission which had almost enthralled us in more than Aegyptian bondage and resolved to detaine both us and our Posterity under it without the least hopes of any enfranchisement Never were there halfe so many publike regall Protestations Declarations Proclamations Oathes Remonstrances solemnely made and published to the world for the inviolable preservation of all just Rights and Priviledges of Parliament as there have beene in this and yet never were there so many apparent violations of the undoubted Rights and Priviledges of Parliament in all former ages whatsoever as in this one Parliament onely now at last so far affronted by open Proclamation even against an Act of Parliament passed by the King and both Houses when fullest to be Proclaimed to the world No Parliament at all but a meere factious seditious Conventicle Which how inconsistent it is with other former Oathes Protestations let all wise men judge However this may be some good incouragement to your Honours and My selfe too that if all his Majesties solemne Printed Protestations Oathes Proclamations Remonstrances to his people and all the world with deepest imprecations on himselfe and his Posterity to maintaine the Lawes and Liberties of the Subject the just Priviledges and power of Parliaments and Protestant Religion to the utterrmost be as cordially as really intended as they are pretended your Honourable proceedings and these my polemicall Discourses really defending vindicating the indubitable Priviledges of Parliaments the Subjects Liberties Lawes and our Religion against all Opposites whatsoever cannot but finde most gracious acceptation with his Majesties owne person yea with all his Counsellors Courtiers Cavalliers who beare any sincere affection either to the Parliaments Priviledges their Countries Liberties or Religion which all doubt an Army of English Irish Outlanding Papists will hardly fight for or maintaine but really subvert if possible However Your Honours kinde favourable entertainment and Noble Patronage of these my unworthy publicke Labours of which I cannot doubt accompanyed with the consciousnesse of my owne sincerity and loyalty in the whole contexture of them though some out of malice envy or flattery may and will misconster them as they have done other of my Writings to my great dammage and danger shall be a sufficient Sanctuary to secure both Me and them against all adverse Powers and Detractions whatsoever and if I chance to suffer any future hard measure of what kinde soever for doing my Country or Your Honours the best and faithfullest service I am able I shall repute it my greatest honour my chiefest felicity and chearefully undergoe it through Gods assistance not as a Crosse of infamy but a Crowne of Glory And so much the rather because your Honours have formerly taken up this Magnanimous resolution yea sealed it with solemne publike Cove●ants and Protestations to live and dye in the just defence of your Priviledges Country and Religion never so much indangered banded against by foraigne and domesticke Papists Atheists as now and never to desert them whiles you have one drop of blood in your veines or any breath

I answer First That this Text speakes onely of the promotion or Reigne of Kings not of the erection and power of Monarchies and so doe Daniel 2. 21. c. 4. 17. 25. c. 5. 2● 28. with the other objected Scriptures Secondly If it be meant of the rule of Kings then true it is that good Kings Reigne by Gods direction according to his word executing justice and judgement 〈◊〉 he enjoynes them But then it is not true of wicked Kings and Tyrants who though they Reigne by Gods Providence or permission yet they rule not by his word and will as he prescribesthem Thirdly If it be meant of the meanes and manner of Kings comming to their Kingdomes as I conceive it is and the Texts of Daniel perswade True it is first That some Kings Reigned and came to the Crowne by Gods immediate nomination and designation as Saul David Solomon Ieroboam Iehu and Hazael did But that all or most did heretofore or now doe so especially in Pagan Kingdomes is a notorious falshood Secondly it is true That most lawfull Kings in hereditary or elective Kingdomes come to their Crownes and Reigne though not by Gods immediate nomination yet by his ordinary or speciall providence though it be untrue of Vsurpers and Tyrants who come to Reigne by Treason Murther or other unlawfull meanes and so by Gods permission onely rather than his providence and then the sense of the place is but this That Kings receive their Crownes and Reigne by Gods generall or more speciall providence Which I thinke is the full and proper sense of the place In this sense C. Plinius Seeundus a heathen in his admirable Panegyric to the Emperour Trajan a Pagan Rhetorizeth thus of him Quid enim praestabilius est aut pulchrius munus Deorum quam castus sanctus Diis simillimus Princeps Ac si adhuc dubium fuisset sorte casuque Rectores terris an aliquo numine darentur Principem tamen nostrum liqueret DIVINITUS CONSTITUTUM Non enim occulta potestate fatorum sed ab Iove ipso coram ac palam repertus electus est c. Which Tertullian thus seconds speaking even of the Roman Pagan Emperours Inde est Imperator under homo antequam Imperator inde Potestas ei unde spiritus Per Deum tantus est So Irenaeus Cujus jussu homines nascuntur hujus jussu Reges constituuntur And Diodorus Siculus of the Aegyptians Existimant non SINE DIVINA QUADAM PROVIDENTIA pervenisse ad summam de omnibus Potestatem So the Esses hold this opinion Non obtingit cuiquam Imperium sine Dei cura speciali So Vitigis Omnis Provectus maxime Regius ad Divinitatis munera referendus est and Clemens Romanus too Regem timeto sciens Domini esse electionem Which Grotius de Iure Belli l. 1. c. 3. Sect. 8. confirmes with other Authorities all concurring in this That Kings and Emperours are such onely by the selfe-same PROVIDENCE OF GOD by which they were men before they were Emperours which gives them no greater Prerogative in respect of irresistibility in unjust exorbitant actions then their being men by the selfe-same providence of God gave them before they were Emperours as Tertullians words most clearely prove But what priviledge this alone should yeeld to Kings more than to any other Magistrates Men or Beasts for my part I cannot yet discerne For doth not the same Text say of Nobles Princes Judges as well as of Kings Prov. 8. 15 16. By me Princes put as contradistinct to Kings decree justice By me Princes Rule AND NOBLES YEA ALL JUDGES OF THE EARTH Doth not David say of all kinde of Promotions whatsoever Psal. 113. 7 8. The Lord raiseth the poore out of the dust and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill that he may set him with Princes even with the Princes of his people And Psal. 75. 5 6. Promotion commeth neither from the East nor from the South but God is the Iudge he putteth downe one and setteth up another Nay doth not Christ informe us That the very haires of our head are all numbred That two sparrowes are sold for a farthing and yet one of them shall not fall on the ground without our Fathers providence Yea doth not every man yea every Bird Beast Fish Raven and living creature whatsoever as the Scripture expressely resolves receive enjoy their Lives Honours Offices Estates food rayment being preservation by Gods generall and speciall providence as well as Kings their Crownes Honours Lives Estates And is not the providence yea are not the very Angels of God who are all ministring spirits sent forth to minister to them who shal be heirs of salvation as vigtiant ●ver every pious Christian though never so mean despicable as over the greatest Monarch in the world If so as all men must necessarily acknowledge there being no r●spect at all of persons with God who accepts not the persons of Princes regards the rich no more th●n the poor for they are all the work of his hands then kings reigning by the Providence of God can of itself no more ●xemp● them from resistance censures deprivations for their dete●table publike crimes then it exempts any other Nobles Princes Iudges Mag●strates Christians or the mean●st subiects whatsoever which I shall make good by one more unanswerable demonstration There is not one of our Antagonists but will acknowledge that Prie sunder the Law and all Ministers under the Gospell if rightly qualified are made such not only by Gods speciall P●ovidence but likewise by Divine institution from God himself Nay Tollet Willet and many others on this very Text of the Romanes make a difference between the civill and Ecclesiasticall Regiment and Power for the first say they is so from God that yet the institution thereof may be devised and altered by man and therefore Peter calls it the Ordinance of man but the spirituall Power is immediatelly instituted by God and no wayes alterable or determinable by man And therefore the Apostle saith Ephes. 4. 11. He gave some to be Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists c. So that by their determination Ministers are more Gods Ordinance and more jure Divino then Kings yea but few years since they all professed themselves to be as much if not more Gods anointed then Kings and some of our Archest Prelates made publike challenges in ●he open Court That if they could not prove their Lordly Episcopacy to be Iure Divino they would presently burn their Rochets and lay down their Bishopricks though they never made good their promises to doubt whether the Pope and his supreme Authoritie be iure Divino by Christs own immediate institution deserves a fagot in the Roman Church Yet not withstanding all this Divine Right and institution our Opposites will grant That if Popes Archbishops Bishops Priests Ministers preach false Hereticall doctrines oppresse wound slay rob

father was the cause of his r●j●ection being then also very young whereby it appears that the right of succession was not in those dayes practised in Spain Sillo his brother-in-Law succeeded him after whose death by generall consent the kingdom was given to Alphons● Ramir the tenth king of Oviedo did that which all other Princes abhor for he received his son to be companion with him in his kingdom and caused his brother Garcia to reig● with him so as there were now two kings and Courts in Oviedo both agreeing well together Anno 894. Froila dying without issue because his children were too young to reign the Nobles conferred the kingdom on Alphonso the fourth who after five years turned Monke Ramir the third twentieth king of Leon abandoning himself to a voluptuous life contemned all good counsell so as the Earls and Noblemen of Gallicia seeing his folly and discontented with his vices scorned him and would no more acknowledge him to be their king electing Bermund for their Soveraigne and intituled him king of Gallicia which title he enjoyed ten years About which time the Moors in Spain which had one king reigning at Cordova after the death of king Mahomet made so many petty kings as there was scarce any good town in Spain but had a particular King which made strict alliances among themselves for the preservation of their estates Anno 1071 Garcia king in Gallicia growing a tyrant spoiled and ill intreated his Subjects governing himself after the appetite or a base woman who put the Nobilitie and Gentry in favour or disgrace with the king as she pleased so as in the end growing insupportable certain Knights slew her in the kings presence His brother Sancho taking advantage of the peoples harted entred his Realm with a great Army who thereupon being deserted generally by his people sled to the Moors for ayd and fell to spoil his own Countrey after which he was defeated taken prisoner and so kept in the Castle of Lune with a good Guard till his death I read in Iohn Mariana that in the Councill of Florence under Pope Victor the second Anno 1055. Hildebrand a Cardinall Deacon Embassadour to Henry the second Emperour of Germany complained in the Councill against Ferdina●d king of Spain in the Emperors Name That against the Custom of his Ancestors and prescript of Laws he did with incredible a●rogancy and levity hold himself exempt from the power of the Roman Empire which iniury himselfe could gladly suffer if there were no other losse but of his own honour But since the estate of Chr●stendom could not well subsist and the Pop●s Authority would likewise be impaired unlesse all Christian kingdoms were united and knit to gether under one temporall head the Emperour whom they should obey they ought to suppresse the springing temerity in the Wombe lest by their neglect spreading it self into other Provinces animated with the sweet and oft-times deceitfull name of libertie the sacred Majestie of the Empire and Popedom should be reduced to an empty title wherefore he desired them to interdict all Spain and excommuniate the King which if they did he would be assistant to the Churches honour and Republik●s safety then indangered B●t if they refused it out of fear he would not be wanting to the honour of the Empire would certainly look to himself in private The Pope after some deliberation approved this motion as just thereupon sends Lega●s to Ferdinand in his own and the Councils name to satisfie the Emperors demands fourthwirth under pain of present excommunica●ion The King doubtfull and fearfull whether to obey or not summons a generall Assembly of the Estates of the Realme The Clergy and religious sort of men perswaded submission for fear of the Popes excommunication the fearfuller sort concurring with them by reason of the Emperours power and their own we●knesse and destraction and the Kings desires of peace inclined most to their opinion But ●ome heroick spirits thought that a most grievous yoke should thereby be laid on the liberty of Spain Which being once admitted on their ●ecks they should hardly shake off again that it was better to die fighting then that the Republike should be involved in so great a mischief and indignitie Rodoricus Diacius a noble Spanyards opinion then absent from the assembly being required by the king and it answered That this was no matter of Counsell that what was gotten with Arms was to be defended with Arms that it seemed most unjust that the fruit of others valour should return to those who in their lost condition had not communicated in the labour and danger which recovered it a that it was better to die valiantly than to lose the liberty gained by their Ancestors to become a mocking-stock to a barbarous and cruell nation who contemned all men bus themselves whose ears were proud whose speeches contumelious whose accesse difficult riotings new cruelty inhumane Shall we who have yet hardly escaped the servitude of Moors undergo anew bondage prepared from the Christians They will deride both us and ours Doth the whole world as farre as Christianity extends it selfe obey the German Emperours Shall all the grace power honour riches gained by ours and our Ancessors blood give place to the Germans Shall they leave dangers repulses iudgemen want to us Shall Germany again lay on us the yoke of the Roman Empire which our Ancestors have shaken off Shall we be a vulgar people without grace without Empire without authority obnoxious to those to whom if we had vigorous mindes if we were men we might be a terrour But it is difficult to resist the Emperous endeavours not to obey the Roman Pontifs commands verily it a basnesse of spirits for an uncertain fear of war to involve the Commonwealth in most certain dangers many things are effected by triall which seemed difficult to slothfull men I know not what stupidity hath seized on many whom neither glory moves nor the infamey of the wretchednesse thinking it great liberty enough if they be freed from scourges I suppose the Popes ears will not be so averse to our affairs that he will not be moved with our most just prayers and the equity of the cause Let some now be sent who may boldly defend the cause of our liberty before him and teach him that the Germans demand unjust things Mine opinion is that the liberty gained by our Ancestors it to be defended with arms against the attempts of all men and with this my sword I will maintain THAT THEY ARE MOST WICKED TRAITORS TO THEIR COVNTREY who out of a simulation of a fond Religion or shew of preposterous caution shall give contrary advice neither shall resolve that servitude is to be repudiated with greater care by us then domination is affected by them So farre forth as every one shall addict himself to the liberty of his Coun●rey so far shall I be a friend unto him or a deadly enemy This opinion of Roderic prevailed in