Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	world_n	write_v	year_n	344	4	4.5475	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96342	The copies of severall letters contrary to the opinion of the present powers, presented to the Lord Gen. Fairfax, and Lieut. Gen. Cromwell. By Francis White, Maior of his Excellencies regiment of foot.	White, Francis, d. 1657.; Fairfax, Thomas Fairfax, Baron, 1612-1671.; Cromwell, Oliver, 1599-1658.	1649 (1649)	Wing W1764; Thomason E548_6; ESTC R204063	14,284	20

THE COPIES of Severall LETTERS Contrary to the opinion of the present powers Presented to the Lord Gen. Fairfax AND LIEVT GEN. CROMWELL By Francis White Maior of his Excellencies Regiment of Foot London Printed by T. Paine for Tho. Slater and Stephen Bowtell 1649. To the Reader HAving for some yeares been an Actor in the Affaires of the late warres and likewise an observer of the proceedings of State in which I have been concerned more then every private person I have therefore offered my Judgement and declared my opinion in matters of highest concernment to my Lord Generall and Lievt Gen. Cromwell and had no great desire to have published what I have written But hearing by many of my friends that it is generally reported by most that have heard of me that I have now declined my principles and am turned Cavalier The reason of this Conception is because J declared my Discent to the taking away the life of the King But to manifest to the world the truth and innocency of my heart J have published these following Letters to shew that J was of the same Judgement formerly as J now continue as may appear in my Letter sent to Lievt Gen. Cromwell almost a yeare agoe and what J have written to my Lord Generall although contrary to the opinion of the present powers J thought my self bound in Conscience to performe to preserve my own inward peace For although some men make no conscience of their Ingagements Vowes and Oaths yet J hope God will give me power rather to suffer death then destroy my life J know that my Judgement is not infallible yet notwithstanding J must keep close to my Principles untill J am convinced of Error J have here declared my Principles and purpose to stand in the prosecution of the publique service with faithfulnesse whiles God by his grace doth inable me Francis White March the 20. 1648. The Copie of a Letter presented to his Excellency the Lord Fairfax Generall My Lord I Am a Member of your Army and included in all actions done by the Disciplinary power whiles I silently consent thereto and I would never appear a Discenter to any thing that tends to publick good although never so prejudiciall to my particular interest but rather then I would submit to any thing of essentiall publick prejudice to the people or to destroy my inward peace I would expose my self to a temporall destruction For God is my witnesse I do not so much fear them that can kil the body onely as I do him that is able to cast both bodie and soul into hell so farre as I have been imployed in the common work I have chearfully acted or born my publick testimonies and I hope for ever shall My Lord I have taken notice of many Petitions from almost all the Forces in England and from divers people of the Countreys which supplicate for many good things which they desire your Excellency to procure In all which good things I do heartily concur with their Petitions but I have observed this as one thing generally desired that they may have execution of Justice upon the King and as far as I can perceive it is generally intended by the Officers of the Army and the Members of the present House of Commons to take away the life of the King But with submission to your Excellency I desire leave to declare my discent and upon grounds conscientious for these Reasons following First Because there are no clear grounds by any Legall Authority to take away the life of the King Secondly It is contrary to our first Ingagement and our generall Professions Vows and Covenants to God and the world Thirdly I do not discern it will produce any generall good to the Nation but rather the contrary Having declared my opinion and the chief Reasons for the same I desire your Lordship to read these following Lines for the clearing of those Reasons and the justifying my integritie and innocency in former actings At the first taking up of Arms I was sensible of the oppression and injustice which was exercised by the King and his Ministers upon the people he exalting himself to act beyond all Laws which his Predecessors and himself had bound themselves by consent to observe He raising Arms to inforce the exercise of his power to the maintaining an absolute tyranny over the Nation was the chief ground of my opposing him and I have freely acted in the affairs of War to the subduing of his power and the vindicating of the peoples just Rights and claim to the disposall of the Military power without his consent In the prosecution of this service I have been as free from seeking revenge upon the Person of the King as to violate my own life The chief end I seek is the preservation of the righteous people with the safetie and well being of the whole and if possible without taking away the life of Charles Steward King of England First I say I do not understand how it may be done by any Legall Authority according to the Kingly Government though it may be a just thing yet I know not how it may justly be done I never heard of any Throne erected in the earth either by God or men for the judging of a King untill the erecting of this late tribunall at Westminster All the Judgement Seats that are legally erected in this Nation were made by King Lords and Commons but the King ever did exempt himself from personall judgement by vertue of the Military Regall and Legislative power which he retained in himself which was gotten by the Sword of his Predecessors and kept by Traditionall dissent although the people since the Conquest have had the libertie of choosing Laws so that he did not set up Laws and Judicatures legally at his will yet there was no Law made nor Judicatures erected but by his will although he agreed the people should have the power of choosing Laws yet he determined that he would keep the power of confirming Laws so that no Law was ever made without his will And if it be throughly examined we may finde that the King hath no other right to the Military Regall and Legislative power then the Sword did constitute and invest him with by divine permission the people submitting thereto for fear and to avoid greatest mischief But now the King and his partie being conquered by the Sword I beleeve the Sword may justly remove the power from him and settle it in its originall fountain next under God the people But to judge or execute his person I do not understand any Legall Authority in being can justly do it I doubt not but the Sword may do it but how righteous judgement that may be that God and future generations will judge It is clear that the Military power is exalted above the Regall and Legislative power and is now come to the throne of God and under no other Legall Judgement untill there be a Legall Authority