A Brief Memento, Title page – Ordinance
A BREIFE MEMENTO To the preſent VNPARLIAMENTARY IVNTO Touching their preſent intentions and Proceedings to Depoſe and Exeute, CHARLES STEWART, their lawfull KING
By William Prynne Eſquire: a Member of the Houſe of Commons, and PRISONER under the Armyes Tyrany; who it ſeemes, have leavyed Warre againſt the Houſes of Parliament, their quondam Maſters; whoſe Members they now forcibly take and detaine Captives, during their lawleſſe Pleaſures.
Proverb 24. 21, 22.
My Son, Feare thou the Lord and the King, and meddle not with thoſe who are given to Change: for their calamity ſhall RISE SVDDENLY, and who knoweth the ruine of them both?
Gal. 1.10.
If I yet pleaſed men, I ſhould not be the Servant of Chriſt.
LONDON, Printed Anno Dom. 1649.
Die Veneris 20. Aug. 1647. An Ordinance for declaring all Votes, Orders, and Ordinances paſsed in one or both houſes, ſince the force on both Houſes, July 26. until the ſixth of this preſent Auguſt, 1647. to be nul and void,
VVHereas there was a viſible, horrid, inſolent, and actual force upon the Houſes of Parliament, on Munday the 26 of July laſt, where upon the Speakers, and many Members of both Houſes of Parliament, were *And yet never a Member forcibly impriſoned or ſecluded the Houſe as above 200. are now by the Army.forced to abſent themſelves from the ſervice of the Parliament, and whereas thoſe Members of the Houſe could not returne to ſit in ſafety, before Fryday the ſixth of Auguſt. It is therefore declared by the Lords and Commons in Parliament Aſſembled that the Ordinance of Munday the ſaid 26 Iuly, for the repealing & making voyd of the Ordinance of the 23 of the ſaid Iuly for the ſetling of the Militia of the City of London, being gained by force and violence. And all Votes, Orders, Ordinances, paſſed in either or both Houſes of Parliament, ſince the ſaid Ordinance of the 26 of Iuly to the ſaid ſixt of Auguſt, are nul and void, and were ſo at the making thereof, and are hereby declared ſo to be, the Parliament being under a force, and not free. Provided alwayes and be it ordained that no perſon or perſons ſhall be impeached or puniſhed for his or their actions by, or upon, or according to the aforeſaid Votes, Orders, or Ordinances, unleſſe he or they ſhall be found guilty of contriving, acting, or abetting the aforeſaid viſible and actual force, or being preſent at, or knowing of the ſaid force, did afterwards act upon the Votes ſo forced; or were guilty of entring into, or promoting the late Ingagement for bringing the King to the City, upon the tearmes and conditions expreſſed in his Majeſties Letter of the 12. of May laſt.
Iohn Brown Cler. Parliamentorum.