A Brief Memento 2, Memento
A brief Memento to the preſent Vnparliamentary Juncto, touching their preſent intentions and Proceedings to depoſe and Execute CHARLS STUART, their Lawfull King of ENGLAND, &c.
GENTLEMEN,
IT is the obſervation of King Solomon, Prov. 25.11. That is 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 unparalell'd violence upon our Perſons, and the Houſe, cannot ſpeak my mind freely to you, in, or as a free and legal Houſe of Commons, I held it my duty, freely to write my thoughts unto you, onelyonly as private Perſons, ſitting under an armed, horrid, viſible force, conſulting in the Houſe, without your Fellow Members advice or concurrence, about the ſpeedy depoſing and executing of KING CHARLS, your lawfull Soveraign, onelyonly to pleaſe the General, Officers, and Grand Councel of the Army, (who have unjuſtly uſurped to them the Supreme Authority both over the King and Parliament) or rather of the Jeſuits and Popiſh Prieſts among or near them, by whoſe Counſels they and you are now wholly ſwayed, and whoſe trayterous deſigns you really execute in moſt of your late Votes and Actings.
I have onelyonly a few words and Conſiderations to impart unto you: Dictum ſapienti ſat eſt.
Firſt, I ſhall mind you, that by the aCook 3. Inſtitut. c. 1. p. 5, 6. 12, 13. 7 Reports, Calvius Caſe, 10, 11. Stanfords Pleas of the Crown, l. … c. ….Common Law of the Realm, the Statutes of 25 E. 3. c. 2. 26 H. 8. c. 13. 1 Ed 6. c. 12. 1 El. c. 6. 13. El. c. 2. and all other Acts concerning Treaſon, *See Raſtal Tit, Treaſon.it is no leſſe than High Treaſon, for any man by overs act, to compaſs or imagine the death of the King, or of his eldeſt Son and heir, 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 Earl of Arundel and others, by Judgement in Parliament, 21 R. 2. Plac. Coronae. Nu 4.6,7. and the Gunpowder Traytors, 3 Jacobi. c. 1, 2, 4. to omit others, whoſe Examples ſhould be your Admonitions, the heads and Quarters of ſome of them yet hanging on the Houſe where now you meet and ſit.
2ly, That in the *3 Iac. c 4. 7 Iac. c. 6.Oath of Allegiance which you have all taken, & ought to take Immediately before your admiſſion into the Commons Houſe as Members; You do truly, and ſincerely profeſſe, teſtifie and declare in your Conſciences before God and the World, That our Soveraign Lord King Charls, Is lawfull and rightful King of this Realm, and of all other his Majeſties Domin…ons and Countries: And that the Pope neither of himſelf, nor by any authority of the Church or See of Rome, or by any other means, *See Prynne the Member reconciled to Prynne the Barreſter, p. 18 19.Nor with any other, hath any power or authority to depoſe the King, or to diſpoſe of any of his Majesties Kingdoms or Dominions, or to diſcharge any of his Subjects of his Allegiance and Obedience to his Majeſties Perſon, State or Government. And 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 bear true Allegiance to His Majeſty, His heirs & Succeſſors, and him and them will defend to the uttermoſt of your power, againſt all attempts and conſpiracies whatſoever, which ſhall be made againſt his or their Crown and Dignity, by reaſon or colour of any ſuch ſentence or Declaration, *That is by the Pope or any other Perſon or perſons whatſoever.or otherwiſe: And you therein further ſwear, that you do from your hearts abhor, deteſt and abjure, as impious and Heretical, that damnable doctrine and poſition, that Princes which be excommunicated or deprived by the Pope, may be depoſed or murthered by their Subjects, or any other whatſoev…r. And that you do believe, and in conſcience are reſolved, that neither the Pope *Therefore not the Weſtminſter Juncto.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 ſwear, according to theſe expreſſe words, and their plain and common ſence, without any equivocation, or mental evaſion or ſecret reſervation whatſoever; And that you did make this Recognition and acknowledgement, heartily, willingly and truly, upon the true faith of a Chriſtian. Now whether your preſent intentions and proceedings againſt the King, be not diametrically repugnant to this ſolemn Oath (which moſt of you have taken ſithence theſe wars, and ſome of you ſince the Treaty, when ſworn Serjeants of Law, &c.) let God and the world before whom you ſwore, and your own Conſciences, in which you then ſwore, determine; you acting herein the dSee Watſons Quodlibets. Th. Campanela de Monarchia Hiſp. c. 25.Popes and Jeſuits deſigns.
3ly. That your ſelves among other Members, have in above one hundred eExact Collections. p. 6. 19. 59. 66. 67. 83. 102. 103. 118. 123. 125. 141, 142, 143. 173. 180. 195. 219. 259. 281. 307. 380. 312. 360 376. 457. &c.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 himſelf, Kingdome, world, and forein States, that you never intended the leaſt injury, hurt or violence to the Kings Perſon, Crown, Dignity or Poſterity; but intended to him and his Royal Poſterity more honour, happineſſe, Glory, and greatneſſe, than ever was yet enjoyed by any of his Royal Predeceſſors: that you will ever make good to the uttermost with your lives and fortunes, the faith and allegiance, which in truth and ſincerity you have alwayes born to his Majeſty: that you have propoſed to no other ends to your ſelves, but the performance of all duty and loyalty to his Majeſties Perſon: That all Contributions and loans upon the publick faith ſhould be imployed onelyonly to mantain the Proteſtant Religion, the Kings authority, his Perſon, his Royal dignity, the Laws of the Land, Peace of the Kingdome, and Priviledges of Parliament, and not to be imployed againſt his Majeſties perſon or authority. That the fA Collection, &c p. 18 13. 41, 43, 44. 49. 51. 51, 61. 64. 96. 181, 182. 310. 321. 324, 325. 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 Majeſties Perſonal ſafety, honour and greatneſſe, are much dearer to you than your own lives and fortunes, which you do moſt heartily dedicate to, and 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 Majeſty, both Houſes do ſolemnly declare; That upon his disbanding his forces, & return, and hearkning to the advice of his Great Council, They will really endeavor to make both him and his as much beloved at home, and feared abroad, as any Prince that ſwayed the Scepter: which is their firm and conſtant reſolution, from which they will not be diverted for any private or ſelf-reſpects whatſoever: That they will faithfully endeavour to ſecure his Majeſties perſon and Crown from all dangers, inculcating the apparent danger to his Royal Perſon among his Popiſh and Malignant Armies and ill Counſellours; and upon that reaſon, perſwading and inviting him to deſert them, and cloſe with his Parliament: proteſting, that the Parliament hath been, and ever will be more ready than they, to ſecure and uphold the Prerogative and Honour 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 Kingdoms; with many other ſuch like expreſſions. Which whether your preſent Actings & Counſels do not directly oppoſe, contradict, falſifie and give the lie unto, to your eternal infamy and breach of publick Parliamentary faith, as much as in you lies, let both Houſes, the world, and all …en judge; as they will do in due ſeaſon, & your own conſciences too.
4ly. Conſider, That when the gExact Collection. p. …98. 695, 696. 657, 658. 991.King and his party did tax 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 will, & 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 ſolemn Declarations, did moſt profeſſ…dly 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. Nota."That as God is witneſs of their thoughts, ſo ſhall their actions witneſs to all the world, that to the honour of our Religion, and of thoſe who are moſt zealous in it, they ſhall ſuffer far more for and from their Soveraign, than they hoped God would ever permit the malice of his wicked Counſellors to put them to; ſince the happineſs of the Kingdome doth ſo mainly depend upon his Majeſty and the Royal 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, us to raiſe ſuch a Scandal, 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 Majeſties Perſon. The promiſe and Proteſtation made by the Members of both Houſes upon the Nomination of the Lord of Eſſex to be General, to live and die with him; wherein is expreſſed. That *Which they oft profeſſed both of the Army under the Earl of Eſſex, and Sir. Thomas Fairfax too. Collection of all Orders, &c. 8. 13, 41, 43, 44, 49, 51, 61, 64, 96, 99, 623, 696, 879. Apendix. p. 15.this Army was raiſed for the defence of the Kings Perſon. Their often earneſt and moſt humble Adreſſes to His Majesty, to leave that deſperate and dangerous Army wherewith he is now incompaſſed, raiſed and upheld to the hazard of his Own, and the Kingdom… Ruin and to come in Perſon to his Parliament, where he ſhould be ſure to remain in Honor 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 been & ever ſhall be dear unto them. Now put it to your ſouls and conſciences, whether yours and the Armies preſent Councels and actions, do not really juſtifie the Kings and his parties former ſuggeſtions, and give the ly to all theſe Declarations of both Houſes? who certainly (when ever reſtored to a condition of freedom and liberty of meeting together again,) will crave publick reparations and juſtice againſt you, if you violate both their Honor, Faith, and engagements to the King, Kingdom and forre a States, againſt all theſe their Declarations and Proteſtations too. 5ly. Remember, that the Lords and Commons aſſembled in Parliament, *Exact Collection p. 663. 664, 666, 687. 686, 907, 911.Octob. 22. 1642. in the preſence of Almighty God (which is the ſtrongeſt obligation that any Chriſtian, and the moſt ſolemn publick faith that any State or a Parliament can give) for the ſatisfaction of their own conſciences, and diſcharge of that great trust that lyes upon them, did make this Proteſtation and Declaration to all this Kingdom and Nation, and to the whole world; That no private paſſion or reſpect, No evil intention to his Majeſties Perſon, no deſigne to prejudice his juſt Honor and Authority, engaged them to raiſe forces or take up Armes. "That if he would return to his Parliament in peace, and by their counſel and advice compoſe the diſtempers and confuſions abounding in his Kingdoms; They would receive him with all Honor, yeild him all true obedience, ſubjection, and faithfully endeavour to defend his Perſon and 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 intentions or deſire to hurt or injure his Majeſty, either in his Perſon or juſt power. Which they ſeconded by many ſubſequent Declarations. Since which, both Houſes and the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, have entred into *A Collection, &c. p. 327. 359. 399. 404. 416. 410 to 418 806. 887. 898. 878, 888. 889.Aſolemn League and Covenant, for the honour 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 Majeſties perſon and authority, in the preſervation and defence of the true Religion & Liberties of the Kingdome; that the world may bear witneſs with their conſciences of their Loyalty, & that they have no thoughts nor intentions to diminiſh his Majeſties juſt power and greatneſſe. That they will with all faithfulneſs endeavour to diſcover all evil instruments and incendiaries *Thoſe who depoſe or divide his Head from his ſhoulders muſt be moſt guilty of this dividing.dividing the King from his people, that they may be brought to publick trial, and receive condign puniſhment: And ſhall never ſuffer themſelves directly, or indirectly, by whatſoever combination, perſwaſion or terrour, to be withdrawn from this bleſſed union, &c. which ſo much concerneth the glory of God, the good of the Kingdoms, and the honour of the King; but ſhall all the days of their lives zealouſly and canſtantly 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 ſhall be diſcloſed. This Covenant you have all taken your ſelves (ſome of you often) & *A Collection &c. p. 420. &c.Impoſed it on all our three Kingdoms: And will it not ſtare in your faces, your conſciences, and engage God himſelf, and all three Kingdomes, as one man againſt you, if you ſhould proceed to depoſe the King, deſtroy his perſon, or diſinherit his poſterity? yea, bring certain ruine upon you and yours, as the greateſt *1 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. Par. An. 24 F. 3. part 3. m. 2. in dor. Rot Par. n. 25 E. 3. par. 1. m. 17. Rot. Par. 25 E. 3. n. 30. Cooks 3 Inſtit. p. 145. 146.In 24 E 3 William Thorpe, chief Juſtice of the Kings Bench, for taking 80 l. bribes of ſeveral perſons, was by ſpecial Commiſsion, indicted, 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 erga populum habuit cuſtodiendum, fregit, malicose, false & rebelliter, quantum in ipſo 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. nu. 10. If then this chief Juſtice for breaking his Oath to the King and his people, as a Judge, onelyonly in taking two or three ſmall bribes, deſerved to be hanged, & to forfeit all his Lands, goods and life, by the judgement of a full Parliament, then what will ſuch Members deſerve to ſuffer, who ſhall not onlie violate their Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy to the King & his heirs, but likewiſe the ſeveral Protestations ſolemn League & Covenant, and the multiplied publick Faiths, engagements, Declarations, Remonſtrances, and promiſes of both Houſes of Parliament, made to God, the King, the whole Kingdoms and people of England, Scotland and Ireland, the States of the united Provinces, and all the world, and that maliciouſly, falſely, and rebelliouſly, as much as in them lies, and their own private Faith, Oaths, Vows and Covenants involved in them, by depoſing and executing the King, diſinheriting the Prince, violating the privileges, 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 Privileges and freedome of all Parliaments? this being one article againſt King R. the 2d. in 1 H. 4. Rot. Par. n. 25. 66. 70. when he was depoſed; That in the Parliament held at Salop, "intending 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 remain with certain perſons h21 R. 2. c. 16.(Lords and Commons) to determine certain Petitions then delivered, but not diſpatched, after the Parliament ended; by colour whereof, the ſaid deputed perſons proceeded by the Kings pleaſure and will to other things generally concerning the ſaid Parliament, to the great derogation of the State, and Privileges of the Parliament, and the great detriment and pernicious example of the whole Realm: "and to gain ſome colour and authority to their doings, the King cauſed the Parliament Rolls to be altered and deleted according to his Vote, contrary to the effect of the foreſaid conceſſion,as you have preſumed to null, repeal, and *Dec. 12, and 13. 1648.unvote divers Votes, Orders and Ordinances of both Houſes made in purſuance of the foreſaid Oaths, Proteſtations, the ſolemn League and Covenant, Remonſtrances, Declarations of both Houſes, and the Treaty, when the houſes were full, and not under the Armies force or violence; And if their proceedings, & the whole Parliament of 21 R. 2, were declared i1. 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 inform you what puniſhment you deſerve for ſuch breach of faith, privilege of Parliament, and uſurpation of a monopoly of Parliamentary power to your ſelves whiles ſitting, under the Armies force, and moſt Members forced thence: in which caſe you ought not to ſit, vote, or, conclude any thing, but onelyonly to kAs the Houſe did in the caſe of the five Members, Exact Collection, p. 35 to 56.adjourn till the force removed and all the Members may freely meet in full Parliament, 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. 3. n. 5. 17 E. 3. n. 26. 18. E. 3. n. 1. 25. 20 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. 20 n. 1 5 R. 2 parl. 1. n. 1. parl 2 n, 1. 6 R. 2. parl. 1. n. 1 Parl. 2. n. 1. 8 H. 4. n. 28. 30. 54. 9 H. 4. n. 1. 13 H. 4. n. 1. and many more rolls: where the Parliament when any conſiderable number of the Members of either Houſe were abſent, was constantly adjourned, and 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 lMatthew Parts, p. 882, 885, 888. 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.
6ly, Conſider, that though many of the Kings of Judab and Iſrael were extraordinary ſinfull, Idolatrous, bloody, tyrannicall and great oppreſſours of their people, yea ſhedders of Priests, of Prophets, and other good mens innocent blood, not onelyonly in the wars, but in peace: yet there is not one Preſident in the old Teſtament of one King ever judicially impeached, arraigned, depoſed, or put to death by the Congregation, Sanhedrim, or Parliament of Judah or Iſrael. That thoſe who ſlew any of them in a tumultuous or treacherous manner, were for the moſt part slain themſelves, either in a tumult, or elſe put to death by their children who ſucceeded to the Crown, or by the people of the Land: 2 Chron. 23.14,15,21. c. 24.25,26. c. 25.3,4. c. 33.24,25.& that the Iſraelites after their revolt from Reho boam had never any one good King, or good day almoſt among then: but were over run with idolatry, prophaneſſe, tyranny: invaded by enemies, involved in perpetual Wars, Civil or Forein; and at laſt all deſtroyed, and carried away Captives into Babylon: as the Books of Kings and Chronicles will inform you: That the rule in the Old Teſtament is, not to take any wicked Kings from their Thrones and behead them: but nProv. 25.5.Take away the wicked from before the King, and his Throne ſhall be eſtabliſhed in righteouſneſs. And the rule in the New Teſtament, oRom. 13.1,2. &c. Tit. 3.1,2. 1 Pet. 3.13,14,17, 1 Tim. 2.1,2,3To 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 Godlineſs and honeſty, for this is good and acceptable in the ſight of God our Saviour; not to depoſe or ſhed their blood, for which there is no precept, nor preſident in the Goſpel, but only of the bloody Jewes who with p wicked hands crucified Jeſus Chriſt, THE KING OF THE JEWES by birth right, and Lord of Glory, whom they rejected and diſclaimed for their King, before they crucifyed him; Acts 2.23. c. 13,14,15. John 19.12. to 23. Mat. 27.27. Luk. 23.38.which brought ſpeedy and exemplary deſolation upon their whole Nation ever ſince till now. And is not this plain way of God the ſafeſt for you and the Army Saints to follow, yea, the ſhort cut to Peace and ſettlement? Ruminate upon it, and then be wiſe, both for your ſouls 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 till the removal of this horrid force, and re-aſſembling of all your ſcattered Members with freedom and ſafety in the Houſes, all you Vote, Act, Order, or Ordain, by the Armies own Doctrine, in their Remonſtrance of Auguſt 18. and the Declaration and Ordinance of both Houſes (made at the Armies inſtance Auguſt 20. 1647.) is null 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 too, 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 ordain what you pleaſe: yet take it for an infallible Truth, that none of the ſecluded and abſent Members, none of the Counties, Cities and Boroughs, for which they ſerve; See the Proteſtation Dec. 11. 1648.not thoſe for whom you ſerve and repreſent; nor yet the Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, (who have as great, yea greater ſhares and intereſts by far than your ſelves, in the Perſon of the King, as their lawful Soveraign, and are engaged by Oathes, Proteſtations, Covenants, and all the premiſes to protect his Perſon and Crown with their lives and eſtates againſt all violence and danger) nor yet his Queen, Children and Allies in forein parts of what Religion ſoever, will ever own you (in your preſent condition and conſtitution,) to be a legal Engliſh Parliament, but rather a Conventicle or Juncto, nor any thing you vote, order, or ordain to be rSee A Collection, &c. p. 93, 221, 222, 225, 253.valid. And therefore whatever you vote, Order, or Ordain 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 form of State-Government, only to pleaſe the Officers and Army, or rather thoſe Jeſuits and popiſh Priests, who have over-reached, and inſtigated them forcibly to proſecute theſe their Treaſonable deſign…, and accompliſh this their long-expected, deſired work; you muſt do only as private men, not as a Parliament: and if ſo, what leſſer offence than High Treaſon, againſt the King, Parl and Kingdom, your preſent actings and proceedings will amount to in the concluſion, if you perſevere and perſiſt in them, I leave to a free and full Parliament, the learned ſSee Mr. Saint-Johns Argument at Law, at Straffords attainder, and Cooks 3 Inſtit. c. 1. 3 Jac. c. 1, 2.Judges, and all Lawyers now ſitting and voting among you, to conſider and reſolve. Which the Officers and Council 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 t1 Kings 2.9,10.28, to 46. 2 Kings 14.6. c. 15.30. c. 21.23,24.certainly will do 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 Kingdom 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 hereditary Kings or Princes, much leſſe of a Proteſtant King or Prince, of a temperate and ſober life, as the King is; who never immediately imbrued his own hands in any one mans blood, in any Tyrannical or bloody way before or ſince the Wars (for ought I can hear) but only in a Military, by his forces in the field. And for a Reforming Proteſtant Parliament, pretending the moſt of any to Piety, Religion and Loyalty, 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 Oaths, Proteſtations, Declarations, Remonſtrances, Solemn Leagues and Covenants one after another obliging them to the contrary, would be ſuch an unparallel'd ſcandal to the Proteſtant Religion and all profeſſors of it (who have upbraided the v3 Jac. c. 4. Dr. John whites Sermon at Pauls Croſſe and defence of the Way, c. 10, 11.Jeſuits and Papiſts with this perſidious and Treaſonable practice, of which they have been deeply guilty, and themſelves yet innocent) both in our own 3. Kingdoms and the whole Chriſtian world, as would give the greateſt occaſion, advantage, and encouragement to the Jeſuits, Papiſts, and all licentious perſons to join their hands, heads, purſes to ſuppreſs and extirpate it, and all the *See Ludovicus Lucius Hiſt Ieſuitica.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 and Ireland are jointenants, at leaſtwiſe tenants in common with us in the Kings perſon, as their lawfull Soveraign and King, as well as ours; and that the Scots delivered up 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 unking 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 do it without asking or receiving their conſents, you engage both Kingdoms to make a juſt War againſt you, to *This fell out accordingly.Proclaim and to Crown the Prince of Waſes their King (though you ſhould lay him aſide) as being next heir apparent. And no Ordinance you can now make will be any legal bar againſt him to his *1 Iac. c. 1.hereditarie declared right to the Crown of England, where he will probably find a 1000 perſons for one, who will join 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 ſpilling, or his dethroning. And what then will become of you and your army, when thus deſerted by moſt, oppoſed by all three kingdoms, and all the Kings, Queens, and Princes Allies, united forces? Where will your new St. Cromwel, St. Ireton, St. Pride, St. Peters (that faſt and looſe carnal Prophet and Areb-Jeſuited incendiary in theſe preſent tumults) with other Grand Officers of the Army, [who now force you, the General, Armie, and whole kingdome, upon ſuch dangerous Counſels as theſe, by the Jeſuites principles and practices] then appear, to ſave either themſelves, or you, or their and your poſterities from exemplary juſtice without mercy, or hopes of pardon? Conſider this then ſeriouſly, if not as Chriſtians, yet as Politicians and ſelf-ended men, and then repent and be wiſe in time.
10ly, Remember that you have neither Law nor direct preſident for what you are going about. aWalſingham Hiſt. Ang. 107. 108, 109. Polichron 1 cap. 44. See Speed, Hollinſhed, Grafton in Ed. 2. and Rich. 2. Henry the 4th. 1 H. 4. Rot. Par. n. 1. to 60. My Plea for the Lords, P. 424. to 429. 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 formal manner, the one to his Son, the other to his conquering ſucceſſors, neither of them to the Parliament, & then depoſed by a ſubſequent ſentence in Parliament, as unfit to reign, without any formal, legal trial, 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 drawn up againſt them were never ſo much as read before them; and their depoſitions made [upon their own voluntary confeſſions only] to confirm their precedent Reſignations. Beſides, neither of theſe Kings, though very bad and Papiſts, were ever condemned to loſe their heads or lives, but were to be well and honourably treated. And thoſe proceedings were onelyonly by Popiſh Parliaments in times of ignorance, who had no ſuch Oaths of Supremacy, Allegiance, Vows, Covenants, Proteſtations and other forementioned conſiderations to tye their hands as you and we all have now; yea this very Parliament hath very ſolemnly and particularly proteſted, bExact Col. P 695. 699.That they did never ſuffer theſe Preſidents to enter into their thoughts, and they ſhould never be their practice, whatever they ſuffered from the King or his, and that for the honor of our Religion, and the moſt zealous in it. But that which is very obſervable, Roger Mortimer, the principal actor in depoſing King Edward the 2. and 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 Parl. of 1 E. 3. [In which I find no record concerning this depoſal] was in a full Parliament within four years after, with ſome other of his Confederates, c4 E. 3. Rot Par. n. 1. to. 7. 23 E. 3. Rot. Parl. n. 9. to 14. Plea for the Lords, p. 275. to 283.impeached, condemned and executed as a Traytor and Enemy to the King and Kingdom, by the Judgement of the Lords, and that by King Edward the third his own aſſent, without any legal hearing or triall, (juſt as he had there depoſed this King without it) for murthering King Edward in Berkley Caſtle after his depoſall: and d4 E. 3. n. 16…Sir Thomas de Berkley, in whoſe Caſtle he was ſlain, being indicted of Treaſon likewiſe for the ſame murther, before the Lords in Parliament, pleaded not guilty thereunto, and was tried at the Lords Bar in a legal manner, by a Jury of 12 Knights there ſworn and impanelled, and by them acquitted upon full evidence and trial; when as e4 E 3. n. 35Sir Simon de Bereford was impeached, condemned and executed by a Judgement given againſt him by the Lords alone, without any Trial, for murthering this depoſed King, & 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 parallel'd to our times, or the Kings caſe: Who, having upon the late Treaty granted us, for the ſpeedy ſettlement and ſecurity of our bleeding Kingdoms, Churches and Religion, whatever we could in honour, juſtice, or reaſon deſire, and far greater advantages, and ſecurity than 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 above two whole daies and one whole nights debate, thought and voted fSee My Speech Dec. 4. 1648. and vindication of the ſecured and ſecluded Members, Jan. 20. 1648.a ſufficient ground for them to proceed with the King to the ſpeedy ſetling of the Kingdoms peace: how you, or the Army, after ſuch large conceſſions, contrary to the Votes of both Houſes of Parliament, when full and free, can in honour, juſtice, reaſon, diſcretion, or conſcience proceed to depoſe or decapitate the King as a violater of his faith, a Traytor, &c. without making your ſelves more perjured, treacherous and greater Traytors in all kinds than you repute the King, and without gRom 2.1,2,3,incurring the ſame judgement and execution as you ſhall paſſe and inflict upon him: I leave to your ſaddeſt conſultations to adv…e of.
I have thus freely, faithfully and plainly diſcharged my mind and conſcience to you, without fear or flattery, for the Kings, the Kingdoms, Parliaments, Proteſtant Religions, I am certain, for Irelands, (almoſt irrecoverably loſt) Scotlands, your own and the Armies weal and ſafety too, if God in mercy pleaſe to give you heads or hearts to make timely uſe of this Memento, 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 ſouls to ſave, or loſe both here and hereafter. If this, and all the precedent conſiderations will not prevail with you to take you off from your preſent deſperate Counſels and proceedings, for your own, the Kingdoms, Churches, Religions, Irelands, Scotlands, the Parliaments, your own poſterities, and the Armies Honour, Peace, Welfare and ſafety too, Ride on triumphantly ſtill in Ignatius Loyola his fiery Chariot, like ſo many young Phaetons, till you fall and periſh; It is ſufficient for me (however you digeſt this preſent friendly Memento to you) that I can truly ſay, liberavi animam meam, what ever becom… of you or me. Who do here ſolemnly proteſt to all the World againſt theſe your proceedings, as altogether null, void, unparliamentary, illegal, unchriſtian, antichriſtian, if not Perfidious and Treaſonable in theſe reſpects.
I ſhall cloſe up all with that Golden ſentence of God himſelf, 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 publick affair…, as we are now fallen into, Prov. 22.3. and 27.12. A prudent man foreſeeth the evil, and hideth himſelf, but the ſimple paſſe on and are puniſhed. And with that which is parallel to it, Pro. 14.14,15,16. The ſimple believeth every word, but the prudent m…n 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. 1.18,16,32,33. They lye in wait for their own blood, they lurk privily for their own lives, whoſe feet run to evil, and who make …aſte to ſhed others blood. For the turning away of the ſimple ſhall ſ…ay them, and the proſperity of fools ſhall deſtroy them: But who ſo hearkeneth unto me ſhall dwell ſafely, and ſhall be quiet from fear of evil.
From the Kings head in the Strand. Jan. 1. 1648. Your affectionate friend and ſervant, as far as you appear to be Gods, your Soveraigns, the Kingdoms, the Parliaments, Religions, theirs who have intruſted you, or your own true Friends. WILLIAM PRYNNE.
Prov. 28.23.
He that rebuketh a man, afterward ſhall find more favour, than he that flattereth him with his lips.
A POSTSCRIPT.
I Am confident that if the Members now meeting at Weſtminſter, will but perſwade the General, and his Proteſtant Officers immediately to tender the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance, the ſolemn League and Covenant, and the New Oath of Abjuration, for the better diſcovery, and ſpeedier 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 Jeſuits, 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 our Kingly Government, and conſtitution of Parliaments, betray Ireland to the Rebels, and involve us in new Wars and confuſion, inſtead of Peace and ſettlement, the practices, deſigns, 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 2 (1649)