A Brief Memento, Text
A breif Memento to the preſent Vnparliamentary Iunto, touching their preſent intentions and proceedings to depoſe and Execute CHARLES STEVVARD their lawfull King of ENGLAND, &c.
GENTLEMEN.
IT is the obſervation of King Solomon Prov 25.11. That a word ſpoken in due ſeaſon, is like Apples of Gold in pictures of ſilver. And ſeeing I (and above two hundred Members more) being forcibly ſecluded from you by the Officers of the Armies unparaleld violence upon our Perſons and the Houſe, cannot ſpeak my mind freely to you in, or as the Houſe of Commons, I held it my duty freely to write my thoughts unto you, only as private Perſons under the force, conſulting in a Houſe, without your Fellow-Members advice or concurrence, about the ſpeedy depoſing and executing of KING CHARLES, your lawfull Soveraigne, to pleaſe the Generall, Officers and Grand Councel of the Army (who have unjuſtly uſurped to them the ſupream Authority both of King and Parliament) or rather the Ieſuits and Popiſh Prieſts among or neare them, by whoſe Councels they and you are now wholly ſwayed, and whoſe trayterous deſignes you really execute, in moſt of your late Votes and Actings.
I have only a few words and conſiderations to impart unto you: Dictum ſapienti ſat eſt.
Firſt, I ſhall minde you, that by the *Cook 3 Inſtitut. 1. Stamfords Plea… of the Crown. l. 1. c. 1.….Common Law of the Realme, the Statute of 25 E. 3. and all other Acts concerning Treaſon, it is no leſſe then High Treaſon, for any Man by overt act, to compaſſe or imagine the depoſition or death of the King, or of his eldeſt Son and Heire, though it be never executed: much more if actually accompliſhed. That many have been arraigned, condemned, executed for ſuch intended Treaſons in former ages; as the Earle of Arundell and others, by judgement in Parliament, 21. R. 2. Plac Coronae. N. 4.6.7. and the Gunpouder Traytors. 3. Jacobi, to omit others, whoſe Examples ſhould be others admonitions, the Heads and Quarters of ſome of them yet hanging on the Houſes where you now meet and ſit.
2dly That, in the Oath of Allegiance which you have all taken, immediately before your admiſſion into the Houſe as Members; You doe truly and ſincerely acknowledge, profeſſe, teſtifie and declare in your conſciences, before God and the World, That our Soveraigne Lord King Charles, Is lawfull and rightfull King of this Realme, and of all other his Majeſties Dominions and Countries, And that the Pope neither of himſelfe, nor by any authority of the Church or See of Rome, or by any Other meanes, Nor any other, hath any power or authority to Depoſe the King, or to diſpoſe of any of his Majeſties Kingdomes or Dominions, or to diſcharge any of his Subiects of his Allegiance and Obedience to his Maieſty, or to give leave to any of them, to offer any violence to His Maieſties Perſon, State or Government. NoteAnd that notwithſtanding any ſentence or Declaration of Deprivation made by the Pope, &c. or any abſolution of the ſaid Subjects from their obedience, you will beare true allegiance, to His Majeſtie, His heires and ſucceſſors, and him and them wil defend to the uttermoſt of your power. Againſt all attempts and conſpiracies whatſoever, which ſhall be made againſt his or their Perſons, their Crowne and dignity, by reaſon or colour of any ſuch ſentence or Declaration, or otherwiſe: And do thereby further ſwear, that you do from your harts abhor, deteſt, and abiure as impious and Hereticall, that damnable doctrine and poſition, that Princes which be excommunicated or deprived by the Pope, may be depoſed or murdered by their Subiects, or any other whatſoever. And that you doe belive, and in conſcience are reſolved, that neither the Pope, nor any perſon whatſoever, hath power to abſolve you of this Oath, or any part thereof; and that all theſe things you did plainly and ſincerely acknowledge and ſweare, according to theſe expreſſe words and their plain and common ſence, without any equivocation or mentall evaſion or ſecrèt reſervation whatſoever, And that you did make this Rècognition & acknowledgement heartily, willingly, & truly, upon thè true faith òf a Chriſtian. Now whether your preſent actings & intentions againſt the King, be not diametrically repugnant to this ſolemn Oath (which moſt of you have taken ſithence theſe wars; & ſome of you ſince the Treaty, when ſworn Sejeants at Law, &c.) let God and the world before whom you ſware, and your own conſciences, in which you then ſwore, determine your acting herein the Popes and Ieſuits deſignes.*Exact Collections p. 6.19.59.66.6.83.102.103.118.123.125.141.142, 143.173.180. 195.219.259.281.307.380.312.360.376.457. &c.
3dly. That your ſelves among other Members, have in above one hundred Remonſtrances, Declarations, Petitions, Ordinances and printed papers publiſhed in the name, and by the authority of one or both Houſes of Parliament, profeſſed, both to the King himſelfe, Kingdome, World, and forraign States, that you never intended the leaſt hurt, injury, or violence to the Kings Perſon, Crown, Dignity, or Poſterity: but intended to him and his Royall Poſterity, more honour happineſſe Glory and Greatneſſe, then ever was yet enjoyed by any of his Royall Predeceſſours: That you will ever make good to the uttermoſt with your lives and fortunes, the faith and allegiance, which in truth and ſinceritie you have alwayes horne to his Majeſty, that you have propoſed no other ends to your ſelves, but the performance of all duty and loyalty to his Majeſties Perſon. That all Contributions, and loanes upon the publike faith ſhould be imployed only to maintain the Prote…ant Religion; the Kings authority, his Perſon, his Royall Dignity, the Lawes of the land, Peace of the Kingdome, and priviledges of Parliament, and not to be imployed againſt his Majeſties perſon or authority. That the *A Collection. &c. 18.13 41, 43, 44 49.51 61.64.96.181.182.310.321.424.425.496.599.623.696.806.807.879. Appendix. p. 15.Armies and forces raiſed by the Houſes were raiſed for the ſafety and defence of the Kings Perſon, and of both Houſes of Parliament, &c. That his Majeſtes Perſonall ſafety, honour and greatneſſe, are much dearer to you then your owne lives, and fortunes, which you do moſt heartily dedicate, and ſhall most willingly imploy for the maintenance and ſupport thereof. That the Parliament will ever have a care to prevent any danger which his Majeſty may juſtly apprehend to his perſon. That both Houſes are reſolved to expoſe their lives and fortunes, for the defence and maintenance of the true Religion, The Kings perſon, honour and State the power and priviledges of Parliament: That notwithſtanding his Majesties proclamations againſt the General, and Army, as Traytors, yet to witneſſe their conſtant and unſhaken Loyalty to his Maieſty both houſes do ſolemny declare; That upon his diſbanding his forces, & return & harkning to the adviſe of his Great Councel, They will really endeavour to make both him & his as much beloved at Home, & feared abroad as any Pr. that ever ſwayed this Septer: which is their firm and conſtant Reſolution: from which they wil not be diverted for any private or ſelf reſpects whatſoever: That they will faithfully endeavour to ſecure his Maieſties Perſon & Crown, from all dangers: inculcating the apparent danger to his Royal Perſon among his popiſh & Malignants Armies & ill Councelors, & upon that reaſon, perſwading and inviting him to deſert them, and cloſe with his Parliament: proteſting, that the Parliament hath been, is & ever wil be more ready then they, to ſecure and uphold the …uthority, Prerogative and Honor of the King, and preſerve the ſafety of his Royal Perſon, which they have oft times teſtified by many humble Petitions and Declarations to Him the World and Kingdome: with many other ſuch like expreſſions. Which whether your preſent Actings and Counſels do not directly oppoſe, contradict, and give the lye unto, to your eternall infamy and breach of publique faith, as much as in you lies, let both Houſes, the world and all men judge; as they will doe in due ſeaſon.
4thly. Conſider, That when the *Exact Collection. p. 298.695.696.657.658.991.King and his party did taxe the Houſes for inſinuating, That if they ſhould make the higheſt preſidents of other Parliaments their pattern, there would be no cauſe to complain of want of modeſty or duty in them: That is, they may depoſe the King when they wil, and are not to be blamed for ſo doing: and that the army raiſed by the Parliament was to murther and depoſe the King. Both houſes by two ſolemne Declarations, did moſt profeſſedly declare and proteſt againſt it, as the falſeſt and moſt malicious accuſation that could be imagined: that the thoughts of it never entred nor ſhould enter into their loyal hearts. That as God is witneſſe of their thoughts, ſo ſhall their actions witneſſe to all the world, that to the honor of our Religion; & of thoſe who are moſt zealous in it, they ſhal ſuffer far more for & from their Soveraign then they hoped God would ever permit the malice of his wicked Councellors, to put them to, ſince the happineſſe of the Kingdome doth ſo mainly depend upon hi… Majeſty and the Royall Authority of that root. That they hoped the contrivers of theſe falſe and ſcandalous reports, or any that profeſſed the name of a Chriſtian could not have ſo little charity as to raiſe ſuch a ſcandall, eſpecially when they muſt needs know, the Proteſtation made by the Members of both houſes whereby they promiſe in the preſence of Almighty God to defend and preſerve his Maieſties Perſon, The Promiſe and Proteſtation made by the Members of both houſes upon the Nomination of the Lord of Eſſex to be Generall, and to live and die with him, wherein is expreſſed, That this Army was raiſed for defence of the Kings Perſon. Their often, earneſt and moſt humble addreſſes to His Majeſty, Which they oft profeſt both of the Army under the Earl of Eſſex, & Sir Thom. Fairfax to. Collection of all Orders. &c. 8.13.41.43.44.49.51.61.64.96.99.623.696.879. Appendix. pa. 15.to leave that deſperate and dangerous Army wherewith he is now encompaſſed, raiſed and upheld to the hazard of his own, and the Kingdomes ruine, and to come in Perſon to his Parliament, where he ſhould be ſure to remain in honour and ſafety, and their humble petition directed to be preſented to him by the hands of the Earl of Eſſex, before any blow given, to remove his Royal perſon from the Army: a requeſt inconſiſtent with any purpoſe to offer the leaſt violence to his perſon which hath and ever ſhall be dear unto them. Now put it to your ſoules and conſciences whether yours and the Armies preſent Councels and actions, doe not really juſtifie the Kings and his parties former ſuggeſtions, and give the lye to theſe Declarations of both Houſes? who certainly when ever reſtored to a condition of freedome and liberty of meeting together againe, will crave publike reparations and juſtice againſt you, if you violate both their Honour, faith, and engagements to the King, Kingdome and forraign States, againſt theſe their Declarations and Proteſtations too.
5thly. Remember, that the Lords and Commons aſſembled in Parliament, Octob. 2…. 1642. did in the preſence of Almighty God [which is the ſtrongeſt obligation that any Chriſtian, Exact. Collection p. 663.664 666.687.686.907.911.and the moſt ſolemne publik faith that any ſtate as a Parliament, can give] for the ſatisfaction of their own conſciences, and diſcharge of that great trust that lyes upon them, make this Proteſtation and Declaration to all this Kingdome and Nat on, and to the whole world, That no private paſsion or reſpect: No evil intention to his Maieſties perſon, no deſigne to preiudice his iuſt honour and Authority, engaged them to raiſe forces or take up Armes. That if he would return to his Parliament in peace, and by their counſels and advice compoſe the diſtempers and confuſions abounding in his Kingdomes, They would receive him with all Honour, yeeld him all true obedience, ſubjection, and faithfully endeavour to defend his Perſon & Eſtate from all danger, and to the uttermoſt of their power, eſtabliſh him, in all the bleſſings of a glorious and happy Reign, And that they had no intention or deſire to hurt or iniure his Maieſty either in his Perſon or iuſt power. Which they ſeconded by many ſubſequent Declarations. Since which, both Houſes and the three Kindomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland have entred into*A Collection, &c. p. 327.359 399.404.416.420.10.428.806.887.818.878.879.889. A ſolemn League and Covenant, For the Honor and happineſſe of the Kings Majeſty, and his poſterity [among other ends therein ſpecified;] That they ſhall ſincerely, really and conſtantly endeavour with their eſtates and lives, to preſerve and defend the Kings maieſties perſon and authority, in the preſervation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms that the world may beare witneſſe with their conſciences of their Loyalty; and that they have no thoughts, nor intention to diminiſh his maieſties iuſt power and greatneſſe. That they will, with all faithfulneſſe endeavour to diſcover all evill Inſtruments and Incendiaries *Thoſe who depoſe or divide his Head from his ſhoulders muſt be moſt guilty of this dividing. A Collection, &c. p. 420. &c.dividing the King from his people, that they may be brought to publike tryall: and receive condigne puniſhment. And ſhall never ſuffer themſelves directly, or indirectly, by whatſoever combination, perſwaſion or terrour, to be withdrawne from this bleſſed union, &c. which ſo much concerneth the glory of God, the good of the Kingdomes, and the honor of the King, but ſhall all the dayes of their lives zealouſly and conſtantly continue therein againſt all oppoſition. And conclude. This Covenant we make in the preſence of Almighty God the ſearcher of all hearts, with a true intention to obſerve the ſame, as we ſhall anſwer at the great day, when the ſecrets of all hearts ſhal be diſcloſed. This Covenant you have all taken your ſelves, (ſome of you often) and * impoſed it on all three Kingdomes: And will it not ſtare in your faces your conſciences, and engage God himſelfe, and all three Kingdoms, as one man againſt you, if you ſhould proceed to depoſe the King, deſtroy his perſon, or diſinherit his poſterity? yea, bring certaine ruine upon you and yours as the greateſt *2 Tim. 3.3, 4.Covenant-breakers, and moſt perjured Creatures under Heaven. O think, and think moſt ſeriouſly upon it before you proceed to further perjuries. *Rot. Pet. An. 24. E. 3 m. 2. in. dorſ. Rot. Pat. n. 25.. E. 3. par. 1. m. 17. Cookes. 3. Inſtit. p 141.223.In 24. E 3. William Thrope, cheife Iuſtice of the Kings Bench, for taking 80 l. bribes of ſeverall perſons, was by ſpeciall Commiſſion, indited, convicted and condemned to be hanged, and to forfeit all his Lands, Tenements Goods and chattels to the King: becauſe thereby Sacramentum Domini Regis quod ergo populum habuit cuſtodiendum fregit, malicioſe, falſo & rebelliter, quantum in ipſe fuit: which Judgement was affirmed to be juſt and reaſonable in full Parliament, where it was openly read by the Kings command, as is evident by 25. E, 3. Rot. Parl. nul. 10. If then this chief Juſtice for breaking his Oath to the King and his people, as a Iudge, only in taking two or three ſmall bribes, deſerved to be hanged, and to forfeit all his Lands, Goods and Life, by the judgement of full Parliament, then what will ſuch Members deſerve to ſuffer, who ſhall violate, not only their Oaths of Allegiance and Supreamicy to the King and his heires, but likewiſe the ſeveral Proteſtations, ſolemn League & Covenant, and the multiplied publique faith, engagements, declarations, Remonſtrances, & promiſes of both houſes of Parliament, made to God, the King, the whole Kingdomes & people of England, Scotland, and Ireland, the States of the united Provinces, and all the world; an that maliciouſly, falſely, and Rebelliouſly, as much as in them lies, and their own private Faith, Oaths, Vowes, and Covenants involved in them, in depoſing and executing the King, diſinheriting the Prince▪ violating the priviledges, uſurping the power of the parliament to themſelves, when moſt of the other Members are violently ſecluded by the army, to the ſubverſion of the freedom & liberties of all Parliaments? this being one article againſt King Rich. the 2d. in 1. H 4. Rot. Parl. 25 66, 70. when he was depoſed. That in the Parliament held at Salop, intended to oppreſſe his people, he did ſubtilly procure and cauſe to be granted, by conſent of all the States in the kingdom (which you have not) that the power of the Parliament ſhould remaine with certain perſons (* Lords and Commons) to determine certaine Petitions then delivered, but not diſpatched, after the Parl. ended;21. R. 2. c 16. by colour whereof? the ſaid deputed perſons proceeded by the Kings pleaſure and wil, to other things generally concerning the ſaid Parliament, to the great derogation of the State and priviledges of the Parliament, and the great inconveniences & pernicious example of the whole Realme, and to gain ſome colour and authority to their doings, the King cauſed the Parliament Rolls to be altered and deleated according to his Vote, contrary to the effect of the foreſaid Confeſſion; as you have preſumed to nul repeale, and unvote divers Votes, Orders and Ordinances of both Houſes made in purſuance of the foreſaid oathes, proteſtations, the ſolemn League & Covenant, Remonſtrances, Declarations of both houſes & the treaty, when the houſes were full, & not under the Armies force or violence: And if their proceedings & the whole Parliament of 21. R, were declared *L. 1. H. 4 c. 3.null and void, and the King worthy to be depoſed, for ſuch proceedings then; let Serjeant Thorp, and other Lawyers now acting with you, conſider and informe you what puniſhment you deſerve for ſuch breach of faith, priviledge of Parliament, & uſurpation of a monopoly of parliamentary power to your ſelves now, whiles under the Armies force, and moſt Members forced thence: in which caſe you ought not to ſit, vote, or conclude any thing, but only to*As the Houſe did in the caſe of the five Members, Exact. collection, p. 35.10.36. adjourn till the force removed & all Members may freely meet in full Parl. as is clear by that memorable Record of 6 E. 3. Par. apud Ebor, n. 1.2. Dor. clauſ 6. E. 3. m. 4.6. E. 3. apud Weſt. parl. 2. n. 1.13.3. parl. 2. n. 4.15. E. n 5.17. E. 3. n 2.6.18. E. 3. n. 1.2.5 2…. E 3. n. 5.21. E. 3. n. 4.22. E 3. n. 1.25 E. 3. n. 1.29. E. 3. n. 4.36. E. 3. n. 1.37. E. 3. n. 1.42. E. 3. n. 1.50. E 3. n. 1.51. E. 3. n. 3.1. R. 2. n. 1.3. R. 2. n. 1.4. R: 2 n 1. R. 2. n. 1, 4. R. 2. n. 1.5. R 2. parl. 1. n. 1. parl 2 n 1.6. R. 2 parl 1. n. 1. parl. 2. n. 18. H. 4. n. 28.30.54. 9. H. 4. n. 1.13. H. 4; n. 1. and many more rolls: where the Par. when any conſiderable number of the Members of either houſe were abſent, was conſtantly adjourned, & refuſed to ſit or do any thing, [though not under any force] till the houſes were full, much more then when under the Armies ſword: it being againſt Magna, Charta, as the *Matthew Paris. p. 882.885.818. Dan. p. 172.Barons declared in Parl, Anno Dom. 1257: in the reign of K.H. the third for a few Members to ſit when the reſt are abſent.
6thly, Conſider, that though many of the Kings of Iudah and Iſrael were extraordinary ſinfull and Idelatrous bloody and tyrannicall great oppreſſours of their people; yea ſhedders of Prieſts; of Prophets, and other good mens innocent blood, not only in the wars but in peace: yet there is not one preſident in the old Teſtament of any one King ever juditially impeached, arraigned, depoſed, or put to death by the Congregation, Shanhedrin, or Parliaments of Iudah or Iſrael. That thoſe who ſlew any of them in a tumultuous or treacherous manner, were for the moſt part ſlaine themſelves, either in a tumult, or *2 Kings. 14.6. c. 15.30. c. 21.10.14.25.24.elſe put to death by their Children who ſucceeded to the Crown, or people of the Land: & that the Iſraelites after their revolt from Rehoboham: had never any one good King, or good day almoſt among them: but were over-run with Idolatry, prophaneneſſe, tyranny: invaded by enemies, involved in perpetuall Wars, Civill or Forraign; and at laſt all deſtroyed and carried away Captives into Babylon: as the Books of Kings and Chronicles will informe you: That the rule in the Old Teſtament is, not to take any wicked Kings from their Thrones and behead them:Prov. 25.5 but *Rom. 13 1.2. &c. Tit. 3.1.2. 1 Pet. 3.13 14, 17.1. Tim. 2.1.2.3,Take away the wicked from before the King, and his Throne ſhall be establiſhed in righteouſneſſe. And the rule in the New Teſtament, To be ſubject to Kings and the Higher Powers, and to ſubmit unto them even for Conſcience and the Lords ſake: and to make Prayers, Supplications, and Interceſſions for them, that under them we may lead a peacable and quiet life, in all Godlineſſe and honeſty, for this is good and acceptable in the ſight of God our Saviour: not to depoſe or ſhed their bloud, for which there is no precept. And is not this plaine way of God the ſafeſt for you and the Army to follow, yea the only ſhort cut to Peace and ſettlement? Ruminate upon it, and then be wiſe, both for your ſoules good, and the Kingdomes too:
7thly. Conſider that you now meet, and ſit under the armed force and violence of a mutinous Army, who have leavyed Warre againſt the houſes to diſſolve them, impriſon'd many of your Members forcibly ſecluded more, and driven away almoſt all from the Houſes, That til the removal of this horrid force, & reaſſembling of all your ſcattered Members with freedome and ſafety in the Houſes al you Vote: Act, Order or Ordaine, by the Armies owne Doctrine in their Remonſtrance of Auguſt 18 and the Declaration and Ordinance of both Houſes (made at the Armies inſtance) Auguſt 20 1647. is nul and void, even at and from the time it was voted, acted, ordered, ordained, and ſo declared by your ſelves even by this unrepealed Ordinance and by former Parliaments to, as 21. R. 2. c 12.1. H, 4 c, 3.31. H 6 c 1 39 H 6, c 1. And however you may take upon you the name and power of the Houſes of Parliament, and unvote, vote order and ordaine what you pleaſe: yet take it for an infallible Truth, that none of the*See their proteſtation. Dec. 11. 1648.ſecluded and abſent Members, none of the Counties, Cities and Burroughs, for which they ſerve; not thoſe for whom you ſerve and repreſent: nor yet the Kingdomes of England, Sco…land and Ireland (who have as great or greater ſhares and intereſt in the perſon of the King, as their lawfull Soveraign, and are engaged by Oaths, Covenant, and all the forecited premiſes to protect his perſon and Crown with their lives and eſtates againſt all violence & danger) with Queen, Children and Allies in forraigne parts of what Religion ſoever, will never own you (in your preſent condition and conſtitut…on) to be a Parliament, but rather a Conventicle or Iuncto nor any thing you vote, order, or ordain to be*See A Collection &c. p. 9.3.2.21.2.22 2.25.2.53.vailed. And therefore what ever you vote, Order, or Ordaine concerning the Treaty, the depoſing or executing the King, the Diſinheriting or Baniſhing the Prince, diſſolving the preſent Parliament, ſetting up a new confuſed Repreſentative, or new forme of State Goverment, only to pleaſe the Officers and Army, or rather thoſe Jeſuits and popiſh Prieſts, who have overreached, & inſtigated them forcibly to proſecute theſe their treaſonable deſignes, and accompliſh this their long expected deſire & work; you muſt do only as private men, not as a Parliament: and if ſo, what leſſer offence then High Treaſon, againſt the King, Parliament and kingdom, your preſent actings and proceedings will prove in the concluſion, if you perſevere and perſiſt in them, I leave to a free Parliament, the learned Judges, and all Lawyers now ſitting and voting among you, to conſider and reſolve. Which the Officers and Councell of the Army conſidering, would caſt the Odium, and danger of all upon you, the better to exempt and acquit themſelves if after reckonings ſhould come, as probably they may, and certainely will in Gods due time, if you and they repent not, give over, and crave pardon ere it be over late.
8ly Remember, That no proteſtant Kingdome or State, ever yet defiled their hands, or ſtained the purity and honour of their Reformed Religion, with the depoſition, or blood of any of their Kings or Princes, much leſſe of a proteſtant King o… Prince, of a temperate and ſober life, as the King is, who never immediately imbrued his owne hands in any one mans blood, in any tyranical or bloody way before or ſince the wars; (for ought I can heare) but only in a Military, And for a Reforming proteſtant Parl. pretending the moſt of any to piety & religion, to ſtain their profeſſion or honour by the depoſition, or defile their hands with the blood of a proteſtant King, or for an army of Saints to do it, or they to pleaſe a Saint-ſeeming Army, and that againſt ſo many fore-mentioned oathes, proteſtations, declarations, Remonſtrances, Solemn League; and covenants one after another to the contrary, would be ſuch an unparall'd ſcandall to the proteſtant Religion & all profeſſors of it (who have upbraided the Ieſuits and papiſts with this perfidious & treaſonable practiſe, of which they have been deeply guilty, & themſelves innocent) both in our owne 3 kingdoms and the whole Chriſtian world, as would give the greateſt occaſion, advantage, and encouragement to the Jeſuites, papiſts, and all licentious perſons to joyne their hands heads, purſes to ſuppreſſe and extirpate it, and all the profeſſors of it, both at home and abroad, that ever yet they had, and make Parliaments for ever hereafter execrable and deteſtable, both to Kings and people.
9ly, Conſider that Scotland & Ireland are joynt tenants at leaſt wiſe tenants in Common with us in the King, as their lawfull Soveraigne and King, as well as ours; and that the Scots delivered and left his perſon to our Commiſſioners at Newcaſtle, upon this expreſſe condition: That no violence ſhould be offered to his Perſon, &c. according to the Covenant. How then you can un-king or depoſe him as to them, or take away his life upon pretext of juſtice, without their concurrent aſſents, is worthy your ſaddeſt thoughts. If you doe it without asking or receiving their conſents, you engage both Kingdomes to make a juſt Warre againſt you, to proclaime and to Crowne the Prince of Wales their King (though you ſhould lay him aſide) as being next heire apparent. And no Ordinance you can now make, will be any legal barre againſt him, to the Crown of Eng. where he will find ten thouſand perſons for one, who will joyn with Scotland and Ireland to ſet him upon his Fathers Throne, as king of England, and avenge his blood, upon all who ſhall be aiding or aſſiſting to its ſpillings or his dethroning. And what then will become of you and your army, when thus deſerted by moſt,*Walſingham. Hiſt. Aug. p. 107.108.109. Polichron. 1. c. 44. Se. Speed Holinſhed. Grafton. in Ed. 2. & Rich. 2. Henry the 4th. oppoſed by all 3 kingdomes▪ & all the Kings, Queens, & Princes Allies, united forces; where will you, where will your St. Cromwell, St. Ireton St. Pride, Saint Peters, (that faſt and looſe carnall prophet and Arch Jeſuited Incendiary in theſe preſent tumults (with other Grand Saints of the Army, [who now force you, the Generall, Army and whole kingdome, upon ſuch dangerous councels as theſe, by the Jeſuites principles and practiſes] then appeer, to ſave either themſelves, or you, or your poſterities from exemplary juſtice without mercy, or hopes of pardon? Conſider this then ſeriouſly, if not as Chriſtians, yet as Polititians and ſelfe ended men, and then repent and be wiſe in time.
Tenthly, Remember, that you have neither Law nor direct preſident for what you are going about: *1. H. 4. Rot. Parl. n. 1. to 60. where the whole proceedings are at large related.Edward the 2d. and Richard the 2d. were forced by Mortimer, and Henry the 4th to reſign their Crowns in a formall manner, the one to his Son, the other to his conquering ſucceſſor neither of them to the parliament, & then depoſed by a ſubſequent ſentence in Parliament, as unfit to reign without any formall legall tryall, or anſwer: and that not in an empty Parliament under a force, as now, when moſt Members were forced away and ſecluded, but in a full Parliament, wherein the articles drawen up againſt them were never ſo much as read; and their depoſitions made [upon their own voluntary conceſſions only] to confirme, their precedent Reſignations. Beſides, neither of theſe Kings though very bad and Papiſts, were ever condemned to looſe their heads or lives, but were to be well and honourably Treated. And thoſe proceedings were only by Popiſh parliaments in time of ignorance, who had no ſuch Oaths, Vowes, Covenants, Proteſtations and other forementioned conſiderations to tye their hands as you and we all have now, Yea this very Parl. hath ſolemnly & particularly protected,*Exact, Col, p 695 699. that they did never ſuffer theſe Preſidents to enter into their thoughts, and they ſhould never be their practiſe what ever they ſuffered from the King or hi…, and that for the honor of our Religion, and the moſt zealous in it, But that which is very obſervable, Roger Mortimer, the principle actor in depoſing King Edward the 2. & Crowning his Son Edward the 3. King in his ſtead, [as you muſt now Crown the Prince of Wales, in his Fathers ſtead, if you depoſe the King, elſe you purſue not this preſident as you ſhould do] in the Parliament of [E. 3. In which I find no record concerning this depoſall] was in *4. E 3. rot, par, n. 1. to 7.a full Parliament within four years after, with ſome other of his Confederates *4. E 3. n, 16.impeached, condemned, and executed as a Traytor and Enemy to the King and Kingdom, by the Iudgement of the Lords, and that by King Edward the third his owne aſſent, without any legall hearing or tryall, (juſt as he had there depoſed this King without it) for murthering King Edward in Berkeley Caſtle after his depoſall: and Sir Thomas de Berkeley, in whoſe Caſtle he was ſlain, being indicted of Treaſon likewiſe for the ſame murther before the Lords in Parliament, pleaded not guilty thereunto, & was tried at the Lords Bar in a legall manner, by a Iury of 12 Knights there ſworn and impannelled, and by them acquitted upon ful evidence and tryal? 4 E 3. n, 35.when as Sir Simon de Bereford was impeached, condemned and executed by a judgement given againſt him by the Lords alone, without any tryall, for murthering this depoſed King, and Thomas de Gourney & William Ocle, adjudged Traytors by them for the ſame offence without any evidence appearing on record. Theſe Preſidents then; will be of very hard digeſtion, and not parall'd to our times, or the Kings caſe: Who, having upon the late Treaty granted us, for the ſpeedy ſett…ement and ſecurity of our bleeding Kingdoms Churches and Religion, what ever we could in honor, juſtice, or reaſon deſire, and farre greater advantages and ſecurity then any of our anceſtors, or any Kingdom under heaven from the creation to this preſent, demanded or enjoyed from any of their Princes, (as I dare make good to you and all the world:) and that which the Commons Houſe, after two whole dayes and one whole nights debate, thought and voted, a ſufficient ground for them to proceed with the King to the ſpeedy ſe…ling of the Kingdoms peace: now you, or the army after ſuch large conceſſions; contrary to the votes of both houſes when full and free; can in honor, juſtice, reaſon, diſcretion, or conſcience proceed to depoſe or decapitate the King, as a violater of his faith, a Traitor, &c. Without making your ſelves more perjured; treacherous and greater Traytors in all kinds then he; & incurring the ſame judgement & execution as you ſhall paſſe & inflict upon him: I leave to your ſaddeſt conſultations to adviſe of. I have thus freely, faithfully and plainly diſcharged my mind and conſcience to you, without fear or flattery, for the Kings, Kingdomes, Parliaments, proteſtant Religions, (I am certaine, Irelands, almoſt irrecoverably loſt) your own and the Armies weale and ſafety too, if God in mercy pleaſe to give you heads or hearts to make timely uſe of it, and not ſuffer your ſelves to be Jeſuit-ridden any longer. Conſider, you have moſt of you Eſtates, all of you Heads or lives, and ſoules to ſave, or looſe both here and hereafter. If this, and all the precedent conſiderations will not prevaile with you to take you off from your preſent deſperate Councels and proceedings for your own, the Kingdoms, Churches, Religions, Irelands, Parliaments, your owne poſterities, and the Armies ſafety too, Ride on triumphantly ſtill in Ignatius Loyola his fiery chariot like ſo many young Phaitons, till you fall and periſh; It is ſufficient for me, hower you digeſt this preſent friendly Memento to you, and I can truly ſay, liberavi animam meam; what ever becomes of you or me. Who doe here ſolemnely proteſt to all the world againſt theſe your proceedings, as altogether nul, void, unparliamentary, illegall, unchriſtian, if not perfidious and Treaſonable in theſe reſpects.
I ſhall cloſe up all with that Golden ſentance, of God himſelfe, and the wiſeſt of men, King Solomon, which is twice repeated, verbatim, that it might be the better remembred and conſidered by you, and all others in ſuch Exigences of publique affaires, as we are now fallen into. Prov. 22.3. & 27, 12. A prudent man foreſeeth the evil and hideth himſelfe, but the ſimple paſſe on and are puniſhed. And with that which is paralel to it Prov. 14.14, 15, 16. The ſimple beleeveth every word, but the prudent man looketh well to his goings. A wiſe man feareth and departeth from evil, but the fool rageth and is confident, and ſhall be filled with his own wayes: which is thus interpreted, Prov. 1.18.38.32, 33: They lye in wait for their owne blood, they lurk privily for their owne lives, whoſe feet run to evil, and who make haſt to ſhed others blood. For, the turning away of the ſimple ſhall ſlay them, and the proſperity of fooles ſhall deſtroy them, But who ſo hearkeneth unto me ſhall dwell ſafely, and ſhall be quiet from fear of evill.
From the Kings head in the Strand. Jan. 1. 1648. Your affectionate freind and ſervant, as farre as you appeare to be Gods, your Soveraigns, the Kingdomes, the Parliaments, Religions, theirs who have intruſted you, or your owne true freinds. WILLIAM PRYNNE.
Prov. 28.23.
He that rebuketh a man, afterward ſhall finde more favour, then he that flattereth him with his lips.
A POSTCRIPT.
I Am confident that if the Members now meeting at Weſtminſter will but perſwade the Generall, and his Proteſtant Officers immediatly to render the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance, the ſolemn League and Covenant, and the New Oath of Abjuration, for the better diſcovery and ſpeedyer conviction of Ieſuits Popiſh Prieſts and Papiſts conſented to by the King in the late Treaty, to all the Officers Agitators, and Souldiers in the Army, they will preſently diſcover an whole Conclave of Ieſuits, popiſh Prieſts, and Ieſuited Papiſts amongſt them, who have inſtigated them, to diſobey and force both Houſes, impriſon their Members, to impeach, try, execute the King, diſſolve the preſent Parliament, ſubvert the preſent Government, and conſtitution of Parliaments, betray Ireland to the Rebels, and bring new preſent confuſion; the practiſes, deſignes, and ſtudies, of none but Ieſuits, and Papiſts; which all true Proteſtants cannot but abhor.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Prynne, A Brief Memento (1649)