Historical Vindication Part 1 and 2, To the reader (2 of 3)

Historical Vindication Part 1 and 2 · To the reader (2 of 3)

8. That as the whole Houſe of Commons in their**Exact Coll. p. 3, 4 &c. Remonſtrance of 15. December 1641. charge the Jeſuites, and late Jeſuited Court-Counſellors, with a Malignant and pernicious deſigne, of SUBVERTING THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS and Principles of Government upon which the Religion and Juſtice of the Kingdome are firmly eſtabliſhed. So William Watſon a Secular Prieſt, chargeth Father Parſons, the Engliſh Jeſuite, and his Jeſuited companions, in their Memorial for Reformation of England, when it ſhould be reduced under the power of the Jeſuites (as Parſons was confident it would be, though he ſhould not live to ſee it) written at Sevil in Spain, Anno Dom. 1590. that they intended to have Magna Charta, with our Common Fundamental Laws and Liberties, abrogated and ſuppreſſed: thus expreſſed by William Watſon in his Quodlibets, pag. 92, 94, 95. Father Parſons and the Jeſuites in their deep Jeſuitical Court of Parliament, begun at Styx in Phlegeton, have compiled their Acts in a compleat Volume, intituled: THE **Quere, whether the High Court of Juſtice had not its title from henceHIGH COƲRT OF REFORMATION FOR ENGLAND. And to give you a taſte of their intent by that baſe Court of A TRIBE of TRAITORS ſawcily (like to Gade, Jack Straw, and Tom Tiler) ƲSƲRPING the AƲTHORITY of both STATES, ECCLESIASTICAL and TEMPORALL in all their REBELLIOƲS ENTERPRICES: theſe were principall points diſcuſſed, ſet down, and ſo decreed by them, &c. He firſt mentions three of them relating to**Stew Watſons Dialogue between a ſecular Priest and Lay Gentleman▪ printed at Rhemes, 160…. p. 95. Churchmen, Scholars, and Church and Colledge-Lands: which were to be put in Fee off…s hands, and they all to be reduced unto Arbitrary Penſions, &c. And then proceeds thus to the Fourth. The fourth Statute was there made concerning the COMMON LAWS of this LAND; and that conſiſted of this one principal point, That, ALL THE GREAT CHARTERS of ENGLAND MUST BE BURNT; the manner of holding Lands in Fee ſimple, Fee tail; Kings ſervice, Soccage or Villanage, brought into villany, ſcogg…y and popularity; and in few, the Common Law muſt be wholy annihillated, aboliſhed, and troden down under foot, and Caeſars civill Imperials brought amongſt us, and ſway for a time in their places. All whatſoever England yeelds, being but baſe, barbarous, and void of all ſence, knowledge, or diſcretion ſhewed in the firſt Founders, and Legifers; and on the other ſide, all whatſoever is or ſhal be brought in by theſe outcaſts of Moſes, ſtain of Solon, and refuſe of Lycurgus, muſt be reputed for metaphyſical, ſeme-divine, and of more excellency than the other were. Which he thus ſeconds, Quodlibet 9. Article 2. p. 286. Firſt, it is plain, that Father Parſons and his Company (divide it amongſt them how they liſt) have laid a plot, as being moſt conſonant and fitting for their other Deſignments, That the Common Laws of the Realm of England muſt be (forſooth) either aboliſhed utterly: or elſe, bear no greater ſway in the Realm than the Civil Law doth. And the **And is not this the cheif Reaſon of their late endeavoured alterationschief reaſon is, for that the State of the Crown and Kingdome by the Common Laws is ſo ſtrongly ſettled, as whileſt they continue, the Jeſuites ſee not how they can work their wills. And on the other ſide, in the Civil laws, they think they have ſome ſhreds, whereby they may patch a cloak together to cover a bloody ſhew of their Treaſons for the preſent, from the eys of the Vulgar people. Secondly, the ſaid good Father hath ſet down a courſe how every man may ſhake off all authority at their pleaſures, as if he would become a new Anabaptiſt, or King John of Leydon, to draw all the world into Mutiny, …ebellion and Combuſtion. And the Stratagem is, how the**And was not this the very principal engin lately uſed to alter our old Fundamental Government, cut off the King, and diveſt his Poſterity of their three Kingdoms? witneſſe the Armies printed Declarations, and the Junctoes Votes in purſuance of them, Jan. 3. 1648. See Mene T…kel Percz by John Rogers. Common people may be inveigled & ſeduced to conceit to themſelves ſuch a liberty or prerogative, as that it may be lawfull for them, when they think meet, to place and diſplace Kings and Princes, as men do their Tenants at will, hirelings or ordinary Servants. Which Anabaptiſtical and abominable Doctrine, proceeding from a turbul…nt tribe of Traiterous Puritan…s, and other Hereticks, this treacherous Jeſuite would now foiſt into the Catholick Church, as a ground of his corrupt Divinity. And p. 330, 332. He intends to alter and change all Laws, Cuſtoms, and Orders of this Noble Iſle. He hath prejudiced the law of Property, in inſtituting Government, Governours, and Hereditary Princes to be, BENEPLACITƲM POPƲLI, and all other private poſſeſſions, ad bene-placitum ſui &c Whether any ſuch new deep Jeſuitical Court of Parliament, and high Court of Reformation for England, to carry on this old Deſign of the Jeſuites againſt our Laws, hath been of late years ſitting amongſt us in or neer Weſtminſter, or elſwhere, in ſecret Counſel every week, as divers intelligent Proteſtants have informed me, and**A great ſtickler againſt our Laws and a promoter of this Jeſuitical deſigne. Hugh Peters reported to divers on his own knowledge (being well acquainted with their Perſons and practiſes of late years) it concerns others neerer to them, and more able then I to examine. Sure I am, a greater man by far then Hugh Peters, in an Aſſembly of Divines and others, for reconciling all diſſenting parties, not long ſince**This he hath ſince this Epiſtle penned, affirmed in a printed ſpeech in the Painted Chamber before a greater Aſſembly, Sep. 4. 1654 p. 16, 17. averred to them on his own knowledge: That during our late innovations, diſtractions, ſubverſions in Church, State, and overturning of Laws and Government, the common adverſary hath taken many advantages, to effect his deſignes thereby in civill and ſpiritual reſpects. That he knew very well, that Emiſſaries of the Jeſuites **The more ſhame for thoſe who ſuffer it?never came over in thoſe ſwarms, as they have done, ſince theſe things were on foot. That DIVERS GENTLEMNE CAN BEAR WITNES WITH HIM, that they had a CONSISTORY AND COUNCEL ABROAD, THAT**Therefore of the army and others Rulers by this clear publike confeſſion in print. RULES ALL THE AFFAIRS OF THE THINGS IN ENGLAND. That they had fixed in England, in the limits of moſt Cathedrals (of which he was able to produce the PARTICULAR INSTRUMENT) an Epiſcopal power, with Archdeacons and other perſons, to pervert, ſeduce, and deceive the people: And all this, whiles we were in this ſad and deplorable diſtracted condition. Yea, moſt certain it is, that many hundreds (if not ſome thouſands) of them, within theſe few years, have been ſent over from Forraign Seminaries into England under the diſguiſes of**A… amongſt other, Eleazar and Joſeph Bar Iſaiah, 2 cheating Impostors and Villains, who bavecheated good people of ſome thouſands of pounds The 1 of them would have for tibly raviſhed a maid in March laſt, & fled away in the night to avoid apprehenſion, from Durſly in Gloceſterſhire. He confeſſed in his drink he was a ſouldier in Prince Ruperts army. converted Jews, Phyſitians, Chyrurgions, Mechanicks of all ſorts, Merchants, Factors, Travellers, Souldiers, and ſome of them particularly into the Army; as appears by the late printed Examination of Ramſey the Anabaptized, New-dipped Jeſuite, under the mask of a Jewiſh Convert, taken at New Caſtle in June 1653. and by ſundry ſeverall late inſtances I could name. To pretermit all inſtances of diverſe particular Jeſuites come over into England, not only within theſe few years but moneths, diſcovered by perſons of credit; with Sir Kenelm Digby; who though the ſon of one of the executed old popiſh Gunpowder Traitors; a dangerous active ſeducing Jeſuited papiſt, if not a profeſſed Jeſuit; **3 Jac. c. 1, 2. The arraignment of traitors, Speed, Stow. 3. Jac.Jas 1:2who in the years 1638 and 1639. conſpired with the Popes Nuncio and a Conclave of Jeſuites ſitting in Council at London, to ſubvert our Religion, introduce a univerſall tolleration of the popiſh Religion in our kingomes, new modle and ſhake our former eſtabliſhed government, and to poyſon, deſtroy the late King himſelf, in caſe he conſented not to them therein: and for this very purpoſe, both plotted, raiſed, promoted the firſt Wars between the Proteſtants of England and Scotland,**Romes Maſter piece p. 8. &c. 13, 24. Hidden works of darkneſſe brought to publike light p. 189. 190. 196. 202. 211. 253, 254. Exact Collection p. 12. 13. Canterburies Doom p. 453. which he abetted all he could, by his letters and ſecret Collections of moneys from all the Papiſts throughout England and elſwhere, who largly contributed to this war and deſigne: for which he, Sir John Winter, Maſter Mountague and others (who had a hand in this conſpiracy) were convented and brought upon their knees at the Commons Houſe-bar, Jan. 28. 1640. upon which he retyring into France was about May 1645. ſent as a ſpeciall Embaſſadour from the Queen to the Pope of Rome himſelf, to ſolicit him for ayds of monies, men, arms, againſt the Parliament; is first audience, he had the beſt reception; and faireſt Promiſes of Aid in general that could be wiſhed; writing hopefully of ſupplies of Moneys from Rome to the Queen and others, as both Houſes of Parliament in their ccA Collection of Ordinances, &c. p. 831, 832, 833 851, 852, 858, 869.Declaration and Letters, (publiſhed 26 March 1646.) proclaim to all the world) and likewiſe good Hopes of ddHidden Works of Darkneſs, &c. p. 252, 253, 254.a Cardinals Cap for himſelf, or the Lord Aubeny, or Mr. Mountagne, for which he and the Queen ſollicited. After that, upon his return from Rome, he was ſent over into England about Decemb. 1648. aseeSee the Letter in the Appendix to my Speech in Parliament, & Relation of the Armies Proceedings againſt the Members: The II. Part of the Hiſtory of Independency. a fit inſtrument to New-moddle us into a Commonwealth, and promote the violent Proceedings of the Army Officers and their Confederates (ſet on work by the Jeſuits and their Agents,) againſt the late King, Parliament, Members: where, upon his arrival, he was, inſtead of being apprehended and brought to juſtice for the premiſes, hugged by ſome Grandees whom he courted, permitted to ride and walk about at large, while the Members were under ſtrict guards and reſtraints; frequently repaired to Whitehall, where he was well received; his Sequestration totally taken off, without any Fees or gratification, by special order; and himſelf now at laſt permitted to lodge not only in Wildemans Houſe, (where the Queens Capuchins formerly reſided) but ſometimes in Whitehall it ſelf; to the admiration of many underſtanding Proteſtants, who juſtly ſuſpect, he hath there more diſguiſed Ieſuits to conſult with, and promote both their old and new deſigns againſt our Church, State, Religion, Laws, Liberties, till they have brought them and us to utter ruine. I ſhall for brevity ſake acquaint you with one memorable general inſtance, diſcovering what ſwarms of Jeſuites are now amongſt us, under other viſors. An Engliſh Proteſtant Nobleman (a perſon of honor) whoſe Anceſtors were Papiſts, being courteouſly entertained within theſe two years at Rome by ſome eminent Ieſuits, in their chief Colledge there, was brought by them into a Gallery having Chambers round about it, with Titles over every door for ſeveral Kingdoms, and amongſt the reſt, one for ENGLAND. Upon which, he enquiring of the Ieſuits, what theſe titles ſignified; was anſwered by them, That they were the Chambers of the Provincial Ieſuits, of each Kingdom and Province (written ever the respective doors) wherein they had any members of their ſociety now reſiding, who received all Letters of intelligence from their Agents in thoſe places every week, and gave account of the to the General of their Order. That the Provincial for England, lodged in the Chamber over which the title ENGLAND was written, who could ſhew him the laſt news from England: which he deſiring to ſee, they thereupon knocked at the door, which was preſently opened: the Provincial being informed who & what the Lord was, read the laſt news from England to them. Hereupon the Nobleman demanded of them. Whether any of their ſociety were now in England? & how they could ſtay with ſafety, or ſupport themſelves there, ſeeing moſt of the Engliſh Nobility, Gentry, and Families that were Papiſts, were ruined in their eſtates, or ſequeſtred by the late wars & troubles, ſo as they could neither harbour, conceal nor maintain them, as they had done heretofore? They anſwered, It was true; but the greater the dangers and difficulties of thoſe of their ſociety now in England were, the greater was their merit. And that they had then above fiftéen hundred of their Society in England,Nota, able to work in ſeveral Profeſsions & Trades, which they had there taken upon them, the better to ſupport & ſecure themſelves from being diſcovered; (who, together with ſome Popiſh Prieſts and Friers no doubt, upon diligent inquiry will appear to be the**See the Quakers unmasked. chiefeſt Speakers, Quakers, Disputers, Seducers, Rulers in moſt ſeparate Congregations, and the principle brochers of all New Opinions, Blaſphemies, now abounding amongſt us.) This Relation I have heard from the mouth of a Reverend Divine more than once; to whom this Noble Lord, upo his return into England not many Months ſince, ſeriouſly related the Premiſes, averring the truth of them upon his Honour. Yet for all this, ſince the ſtupendious pretended repeals and annihilations of the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, & that of Abjuration of Popery (conſented to by the late King in the Iſle of Wight) purpoſely made for the better detection and prevention of Ieſuites, and their treaſonable forementioned practiſes againſt our Church, Kingdoms, Princes, Religion, Parliaments,1 Eliz. c. 1. Eliz. c. 1. Jac. c. 1, 2, 3, 7 Jac. c. 6.Jas 1:2Jas 1:3Jas 1:7 and Government, by the wiſdom and zeal of our beſt affected vigilant * Proteſtant Parliaments; I can neither hear nor read of any effectual means, endeavoured or preſcribed by any in power, for the diſcovery of theſe Romiſh Ianizaries, or baniſhing, feretting, and keeping them out of England, where they have wrought ſo much miſchief of late years, and whoſe utter ruine they attempt: nor any incouragement at all given to the Diſcoverers of their Plots and Perſons; but many affronts and diſcouragements put upon them, and particularly on my ſelf, lately mewed up cloſe Priſoner, under ſtricteſt Guards in remoteſt Caſtles, near three years ſpace (without**My Impriſoners have lately profeſſed to me, that they knew▪ not the cauſe why I was thus cloſe impriſoned. any Accuſation, hearing or particular cauſe yet aſſigned or diſcloſed to me, though oft then and ſince demanded by me from my Impriſoners) whiles they all walked abroad at large, of purpoſe to hinder me from any diſcoveries of their practiſes by my Pen, where as they printed, vended publickly here in England above 30000 Popiſh Books of ſeveral kinds during my impriſonment, without the leaſt reſtraint, to oppugne our Proteſtant eſtabliſhed Religion (as**See Cauſia, the Jeſuites Holy Court printed in Folio. many of them do in terminis as moſt damnable Hereſie) propagate the Jeſuites Plots, and antichriſtian Romiſh Church and Religion amongſt us, as you may read at large in the Stationers Beacon fired; which ſeaſonable book, and Diſcovery of theſe Romiſh Emiſſaries books and plots, ſome **T. P. the new Faux is firſt.Officers of the Army, in their Beacon quenched, publickly traduced in print, as a New-Powder-Treaſon of the Presbyterian Party, to blow up the Army, and that pretended Parliament (of their own erection) which themſelves ſoon after blew up and diſſolved in good earneſt, pleading for a free Toleration of ſuch Popiſh Books, and all Religions, as agreeable to the Armies Engagements and Principles, to carry on their deſigns againſt our Religion and Laws. But moſt certain it is; there hath been of late years not only a General Councel of Officers of the Army ſitting many moneths together in Councel, to**See their Declarations, Propoſals, and printed Papers, 1647. 1648, 1649, 1652. & ſince for that purpoſe. alter and new model all our ancient Laws and Statutes, in purſuance of Father Parſon's deſign; but likewiſe two Conventicles of their own ſelection and election, ſitting of late in the Parliament Houſe at Weſtminſter, aſſuming to themſelves the Name, and far more than the Power, of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England; together with the tranſcendent ambitious Title of The Supream Authority of the Nation, (in derogation of the Army Officers Supremacy, who ſufficiently chaſtiſed them for this ſtrange Uſurpation) who have made it their chief buſineſſe, not only to Newmodel our ancient Fundamental Government, Parliaments, Miniſtry, Miniſters maintenance, by Glebes, Tithes, and our Univerſities, much according to Parſons and his Fellow Jeſuites forementioned Plat-formes, and Thomas Campanella his Inſtructions to the King of Spain, De Monarchia Hisp. c. 25. but likewiſe to New-mould, ſubvert, eradicate the whole Body of our **Qui tam facile receptas & patrias leges cum novis aliis commutant, certe legum ipſarum authoritalem debilitant atque enervant. Necenim tantum legis abrogatio proderit, quantum Magiſtratibus non obediendi mos oberit. Ariſtotle Polit. l. 2. c. 6.municipal Laws, and with them the great Charter of our Liberties it ſelf. And in their laſt caſ…iered, unelected Convention, (as ſome of their Companions, now in greateſt Power aſſure us, in theirſſAnd ſince this in a Printed Speech, Sept. 4 1654. True State of the Caſe of the Commonwealth of England, &c. London, 1654. p. 5, 16, 17, 18.) there was a ſtrong prevailing party whom nothing would ſatisfie, but A Total Eradication of the whole body of the good old Laws of England (the Guardians of our Lives and Fortunes) to the utter ſubverſion of civil Right and Propriety; who likewiſe took upon them (by vertue of a ſuppoſed right of Saintſhip in themſelves) to lay the foundation of a new Platform, which was to go under the Name of A Fift Monarchy▪ never to have an end, but To**Hath not the Army done this in our three Nations? See their own Chaplain Sedgewick, his Juſtice on the Armies Remonſtrance 1648. war withall other powers and break them to pieces, baptizing all their proſelites into this Principle and perſwaſion; that the Powers formerly in being, were branches of the ttThe Monarchy of England hath been, 1. In the Britons, 2. in the Saxons, 3. in the Danes, 4. in the Normans Royal Line', & now the 5. muſt be elective in others.Fourth Monarchy (of England, Scotland; and Ireland) which muſt be rooted up and deſtroyed. And what other Fifth Monarchy this could be, but that projected univerſal Monarchy of the Ieſuites, which would bring the whole Monarchy of Great Britain and Ireland, together with France, Spain, and all other Princes, States in Chriſtendome under the …eſuites ſubjection, and break all other powers in pieces; (mentioned by Watſon, in his Quodlibets p. 306, to 333. and Alphonſus de Vargas, Relatio de Stratagematis & Sophiſmatis Politicis ſocietatis Ieſu, Ad Monarchiam orbis terrarum ſibi conficiendam c. 8. &c.) or elſe, that Elective New Monarchy of Great Britain and Ireland, projected byvvDe Monarchia Hiſp. c. 25. See the Epiſtle to my Jus Patronatus. Campanella and Cardinal Richelieu, which ſome Grandees now endeavour by their Inſtrument to erect and perpetuate for ever xxArt. 1, 2, 12, 25, 32, 33, 41, 42.without alteration in themſelves and their Succeſſors, (though they thus expreſly brand it in others;) let themſelves, and wiſe men reſolve? it being apparent, by the practiſes and proceedings of all the Propugners of this new Project, that this Fifth Monarchy they intend to erect, is neither the spiritual **Luke 17. 21. Rom. 14. 17. 2 Pet. 1. 11. Col. 1, 13. Heb. 12. 28. Rev. 12. 10.Luke 17:21Rom 14:172 Pet 1:11Col 1:13Heb 12:28Rev 12:10Kingdom of Ieſus Chriſt in their own hearts, mortifying their ambitiō, covetouſneſs, pride, ſelf-ſeeking, unrighteouſneſs, violence, rapines, & other worldly luſts; nor the perſonal reign of Chriſt himſelf alone, in and over our 3 Kingdoms, and all other Nations for ever,**Non abripit mortalia, qui Regna dat coeleſtia. Sedulius in hymno acraſt: de vita Chriſti. Rex iſte quinatus eſt non venit Reges pugnando ſuperare, ſed moriendo mirabiliter ſubjugare. Venit enim non ut regnet vivus, ſed ut triumphet occiſus; nec ut de aliis gentibus auro exercitum quaerat, ſed pro ſalvandis Gentibus preti…ſum ſanguinem fundat. Hujus pueri regnum non est de hoc mundo; ſed per ipſum regnatar in hoc mundo. Ipſe eſt enim Sapientia Dei, quae dicit in Proverbiis, Per me Reges regnant. Tu enim regnum nullatenus habuiſſes, niſi ab iſto puero qui nunc natus eſt accepiſſes. Claudius l. 1. in Matth. depriving all Temporal Kings and Princes of their Crowns, Rights, and Government over their Subjects; which they falſly endeavour to evince from Dan. 2. 44, 45, c. 7. 14, 27. Micah 4. 1, 2, 7. Luke 1. 32, 33. Rev. 20. 1. to 8. 1 Cor. 15. 24, 25. Heb. 12. 26, 27, 28. but a meer ſupream, arbitrary, temporal Authority without Bounds or Limits, encroached by and erected in themſelves and their confederates, without any colour of Right or Title by the Laws of God or the Realm, and no ways intended, but refuted by all theſe ſacred Scriptures & others, which explain them. This deſign of the Jeſuites, to alter and ſubvert the whole body of our Laws, was ſo far promoted by the Ieſuitical and Anabaptistical party in this laſt Aſſembly, (elected only by the yyA True State, &c. p. 13.Army-Officers,) that on Aug. 20. 1653. (as our News-books print,) they Ordered, there ſhould be a Committee ſelected, to conſider of a A new Body of the Law, for the Government of this Commonwealth, who were to new-mould The whole Body of the Law: according to Parſons his mould. And hereupon our cheating Astrologers (eſpecially Lilly & Culpeper, thezzSee Th…: … Ieſuites grand Factors to cry down our Laws, Tithes, Miniſters) from the meer viſible earthly Conjunctions, Votes, Motions, Influences of theſe New wandring excentrick Planets at Weſtminster only, (not of any Coeleſtial Stars, as they would make Country-Clowns believe, alwayes moving and acting themſelves by an unalterable Law from the very Creation until now, Gen. 1. 14. to 19. c. 8. 22. Pſal. 104. 19. Pſal. 136. 8. 9. Ier. 31. 35, 36. c. 33. 20, 21. Iob 38. 32, 33. therefore no ways exciting men to alter Fundamental Laws and Governments here on earth) took upon them in theiraaSee …h…ir Alm…n…k… in Janurary▪ February▪ … Monthly Prognoſtications for this year 1654. verſity & College Lands by Monthly endleſs Taxes, Exciſes, & a perpetual Law, Tith-oppugning, Parliament-diſſolving Army, in whoſe Councels, we have cauſe to fear, the Ieſuites have been moſt predominant of late years, and will ſtill make uſe of them to our final ruine, if not effectually purged out, and the Army new moulded, new principled, if any longer continued under pretext of publick ſafety, and not wholy disbanded for the peoples eaſe and Liberty.

It is worthy obſervation, that Tho. Campanella aaDe Monarchia Hiſpanica c. 25. p. 204, &c.preſcribed the ſowing, and continual nouriſhing of Diviſions, Diſſentions, Diſcords, Sects and Schiſms among us, both in State and Church (by the Machivilian Plots and Policies he ſuggeſts, punctually proſecuted among us of late years) as the principal means to weaken, ruine both our Nation and Religion, and bring us under the Spaniſh and Popiſh yokes at laſt: witneſs his, IAMVERO AD ENERVANDOS ANGLOS NIHIL TAM CONDUCIT QUAM DISSENTIO ET DISCORDIA INTER ILLOS EXCIT AT A PERPETUOQUE NUTRITA, Quod cit… meli…res occaſiones ſuppeditabi…: and that principally, by inſtigating the Nobles and chief Men of the Parliament of England: UT ANGLIAMIN FORMAM REIPUBLICAE REDUCANT AD IMITATIONEM HOLLANDORVM: which our Republicans lately did by the power of the Army-Officers; or, by ſowing the ſeeds of an inexplicable war, between England and Scotland; By making it an Elective Kingdom, (as ſome now endeavour under another Notion) or by ſetting up Other Kings of another Race, without Legal Right, or juſt Title, againſt that ancient, unqueſtioned, undoubted Right and Title ſetled, eſtabliſhed in King Iames and his Royal Poſterity by Inherent Birthright, and lawfull right of Deſcent by **See 25 H. 8. c. 22. 31 H. 8. c. 4. 37 H. 8. c. 17. 1. Eliz. c. 3.God himſelf and his Laws, confirmned & ſtrengthned by all poſſible Titles and Rights of compact, Laws, Statutes, Oaths, perpetual uncontradicted cuſtome, Proteſtations, Covenants, the ſolemn Publick Faith and Engagement of our Engliſh Parliaments & Nation, for themſelves, Their Heirs & Poſterities for ever, as the Statutes of 1 Iacobi c. 1. 2, 3, Iac. c. 1. 4, 7. Iac. c. 6. which both houſes of Parliament in their Declaration of Nov. 2. 1642. Exact Collect. p. 705 reſolve. And that upon this ſuggeſtion to the People; Crudelem fore SCOTUM ubi ſemel Imperium in illos obtinuerit▪ … mente, repoſtum, quanta injuria Angli Scotos ſuperioribus illis annis afficerint. Praeterea ſuspicionem cis incu…iat, fore ut Jacobus CAEDEM MATERNAM VINDICATURUS SIT, &c. Exaſperandi ſunt etiam animi Epiſcoporū (Presbyterorū) Anglicorum proponendo illis REGEM SCOTIAE Calviniſmum amplexum eſſe SPE & CUPIDITATE REGNI, ADACTUMQVE VI, A BARONIBUS HAERETICIS; quod ſi vero Regnu… Angliae etiam …btineat, TVM ILLVM CITO PRIOREM RELIGIONEM REVOCATURUM ESSE: qùandoquidem non ſolum MARIA EJVS MATER moriens, virum etiā REX IPSE GALLIARVM SVMMOPORE EI RELIGIONEM CATHOLICAM COMMENDARINT, &c. yet now tranſcribed almoſt verbatim out of**De Monarchia Hiſp. c. 25. Thomas Campanella, (who ſuggeſted it againſt King James to alienate the Engliſh from him, & keep him from the Crown) & very freſhly by the Authors of, The True ſtate of the Caſe of the Commonwealth, &c. p. 48, 49. objected againſt the preſent King of Scots and royal Iſſue, to deprive him and them from the Crowne of England, and engage the whole Engliſh Nation againſt their Title, to veſt it in ſome other Family in greateſt power.) Or if theſe projects ſhould fail, then by dividing us into many Kingdoms or Republicks, diſlinct one from another; and by ſowing the ſeeds of Schiſms, and making alterations and innovations in all Arts, Sciences, and our Religion. The old Plots ofbbDe Monarchia Hispan. c. 25. Campanella, ccSeewatſons Quodlibets, p. 286. to 332. A Dialogue between a ſecular Prieſt and Lay Gentleman, printed at Rhemes, 1601. p. 93, 94, 95.Parſons, and late deſigns ofddConte de Galeazzo Gualdo Priorato, Hiſt. part. 3. Venetiis 1648. p. 175, 176. Cardinal Richelieu, of the Pope, Spaniard, Jeſuites, to undo, ſubvert our Proteſtant Churches, Kings, Kingdoms and Religion, as the marginal Authors irrefragably evidence: yet all viſibly ſet on foot, yea, openly purſued, and in a great meaſure accompliſhed by ſome late, nay preſent Grandees and Army-Officers, who cry up themſelves for our greateſt Patrons, Preſervers, Deliverers, and Anti-Jeſuits, when they have rather been but the**Et quidem quid refert an Mulieres (& Ieſuitae) praeſint an hi qui praeſunt mulieribus obedient? Ariſt. Polit. l. 2. c. 7. Jeſuites, Popes, Spaniards and other Forraign enemies instruments and factors, in all the late changes, new-models of our Government, Parliaments, & pretended reformations of our laws and Religion, through inadvertency, circumvention, or ſelf-ended respects, as many wiſe and godly men juſtly fear. For prevention whereof, I ſhall recommend to the whole Kingdoms ſerious conſideration, the memorable Preamble of the Statute of 25 H. 8. c. 22. diſcovering the like Plots of the Pope and our Forraign Enemies to … duplicate page duplicate page to prevent them for the future, in theſe enſuing words. In their moſt humble wiſe ſhewen unto your Majeſty, Your moſt humble and obedient Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons in this preſent Parliament aſſembled: that ſince it is the natural inclination of every man, gladly and willingly to provide for the ſurety, both of his Title and Succeſſion, although it touch his only private cauſe: We therefore, moſt rightful and dreadful Soveraign Lord, reck…n our ſelves much more bounden, to beſeech and inſtant your Highneſs, although we doubt not of your Princely heart and wiſdom, mixed with a natural affection to the ſame, to foreſee and provide for the perfect ſurety of both you and of your moſt lawful Succeſſion and heirs, upon which dependeth all our joy & wealth; Nota.in whom alſo is united and knit, the only meer true inheritance and title of this Realm, without any contradiction: Wherefore, We your ſaid moſt humble and obedient Subjects in this preſent Parliament aſſembled, calling to our mind the great diviſions, which in times paſt have been in this Realm, by reaſon of ſeveral Titles pretended to the Imperial Crown of the ſame; which ſometimes, and for the moſt p…rt, enſued by occaſion of ambiguity and doubts, then not ſo perfectly declared, but that men might upon froward intents expound them to every mans ſiniſter appetite and affection, after their ſence, contrary to the right Legality of the Succeſſion and Poſterity of the lawfull Kings & Emperors of this Realm, whereof hath enſued great effuſion & deſtruction of Mans blood, as well of a great number of the Nobles, as of other Subjects, and ſpecially Inheritors in the ſame. And the greateſt occaſion hath been, becauſe no perfect & ſubſtantial proviſion by law hath binmade within this realm it ſelf, when doubts and questions have been moved, & proponed of the certainty & legality of the Succeſſion & poſterity of the Crown. By reaſon whereof,Nota. The Biſhop of Rome, & See Apoſtolick, contrary to the great and inviolable grants of Juriſdictions By God immediatly to Emperours, Kings & Princes in ſucceſsion to their heirs, hath preſumed in time paſt, to inveſt who ſhould pleaſe them to inherit in other mens Kingdoms & Dominions; which thing, we your moſt humble Subjects, both Spiritual and Temporal, do moſt abhor & deteſt: And ſometimes other forraign Princes and Potentates of ſundry degrees,…ota. minding rather diſſention & diſcord to continue in the realm, to th'utter deſolatiō therof, then charity, equity, or unity, have many times ſupported wrong titles, wher by they might eaſily & facilly aſpire to the Superiority of the ſame, the continuance & ſufferance whereof deeply conſidered & pondered, were too dangerous and perillous to be ſuffered any longer within this Realm, & too much contrary to the unity, peace and tranquility of the ſame, being greatly reproachful and diſhonourable to the whole Realm. In conſideration wherof, your ſaid moſt humble and obedient Subjects, the Nobles and Commons of this Realm, calling further to their remembrance, that the good, unity, peace, and wealth of this Realm, and the ſucceſſion of the Subjects of the ſame,Nota. Moſt ſpecially & principally above all wordly things, conſiſteth and reſteth in the certainty and ſurety of the procreation, & poſterity of your Highneſs, in whoſe moſt royal perſon at this preſent time, is no manner of doubt or queſtion, Do therefore moſt humbly beſeech your Highnes, &c. to declare the eſtabliſhment of the ſucceſſiō of your royal poſterity in the Imperial Crowns of this realm: as he and they did by this & other ſucceeding acts of Parl. & in 1 Eliz c. 3. & 1 Jac. c. 1. to prevent the like civil wars and miſchiefs for ſucceeding ages, now revived, promoted by the Pope, Jeſuits, & Foraign Popiſh Princes to work our ruine.

Certainly, whoſoever ſhall ſeriouſly ponder the premiſes, with theſe paſſages in William Watſons Quodlibets concerning the Jeſuits,eeQuodlib. 3. ar. 4. p. 65. 41. 1. That ſome of the Jeſuits ſociety have inſinuated themſelves into all the Princes Courts of Chriſtendom, where ſome of their Intelligencers reſide, and ſet up a ſecret counſel, of purpoſe to receive and give intelligence to their General at Rome, of the ſecrets of their Soveraigns, and of all occurrents in thoſe parts of the world, which they dispatch to and fro by ſuch cyphers, which are to themſelves beſt, but comm̄only only to themſelves known, ſo that nothing is done in England, but it is known at Rome within a month after at leaſt, Nota.& reply made back as occaſion is offered, to the conſequent overthrow of their own natural Country of England, and their native Princes and Realms, by their unnatural Treaſons againſt them; that ſo the Jeſuits might be thoſe long gowns, which ſhould reign and govern the Iſland of Great Britain. To which I ſhall add that of Rob: Turner an Engliſh Jeſuit, in his Epiſtles printed at Ingolſtad, An. 1584. Ep. 19. Volui irrepere, volui irrumpere in intimas Aulas Principum; volui videre omnia, ut ad Juſtitiae norman praeclare exigerem. Vix coeperam obi…e Principū Aulas, cum viderim Hoereticorū illum Mundum ADMINISTRARI A STULTIS, &c. with that of Hospinian, Hiſtoria Jeſuitica l. 3. p. 148. That the Jeſuits are ſo ſubtil, vigilant, bold, laborious, and indued with ſuch a faci…lty of flattery, inſinuation, acting and hurting in Princes Courts, that they exactly diſcover, know, and fiſh out all their ſecrets, (which they eve…l to their Superiors, the Pope and Spaniard) and alone rule all things in them: ſo that the Courts of Europe are more grievouſly infeſted & afflicted by the Ieſuites, than the Court of Pharoah was of old by the Aegyptian …rogs. And may we not then juſtly fear our new Court hath been as much peſtered and infeſted by them of late years, as our old Court heretofore?

… ffQuodlibets p. 39. 209, 233, 234, 305, 306, 307, 30….That the Jeſuites hope and endeavour to have England, Scotland and Ireland under them, to make theſe Northern Iſlands a Iaponian Iſland of Ieſuites, and one Ieſuitical Monarchy,; and to infeoffe themſelves by hook or by crook In the whole imperial Dominions of great Britain with the remainder over To their Corporation, or puni-Fathers ſucceeding them, as heirs ſpecially in their ſociety, by a ſtate of perpetuity: Putting all the whole Blood Royal of England to the Formidon, As but Heirs general in one Predicament together, as now they have done.

3.ggQuodlibets p. 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 42, 45, 50, 283, 285, &c, 332, 333. A Dialogue between a ſecular Prieſt & a Lay Gentleman, An. 1601. That the Jeſuites have Magiſtracy, Kings, Magiſtrates, Miniſters, Prieſthood, and Prieſts in high contempt; publiſhing many ſlanderous, ſeditious; trayterous, and infamous ſpeeches, libels, and books againſt them, to render them odious and contemptible to the People, full of Plots, exaſperations againſt the Church and Commonwealth, like rebellious Traytors, to bring all into an uproar, that they may have all Countries, Kingdoms, Governments, Succeſſions, States, Inhabitants, and all at their pleaſure.

4. That thehhQuodlibets p. 295 to 313 61, 286, 287, See the Right & Juriſdiction of the Prelate and Prince, by J. E. 1617 Jeſuites have taught the people (in order to get England under their power, and in order to God or Religion, as they ſtile it,) That Subjects are bound no longer to obey wicked or heretical Princes and Kings deflecting from the Catholick Religion, and drawing others with them, but till they be able by force of arms to reſiſt and depoſe them. That the popular multitude may upon theſe grounds, when they think meet, place and diſplace their Princes and chief Officers at their pleaſure, as men may do their Tenants at will, hirelings, or ordinary Servants, putting no difference in their choice VponUpon any Right or Title to Crowns or Kingdome, by Birth or Blood or otherwiſe, then as theſe Fathers (forſooth) ſhall approve it, By this all things muſt be wrought and framed, conformable to opportunities of times and occaſions; as for example: The people muſt have a right and intereſt in them, and to doe what they liſt in choice of their Kings and Supream Governours, til they have ſet ſuch a perſon or Uſurper in the Crown,**See I. E. his Treatiſe of the Right and Juriſdiction of the Prelat & Prince, printed 1616. & re-printed 1621, by the Jeſuits. as they for their ends have deſigned; and then the times and occaſions changing, when ſuch a one is ſetled in the Throne, the former doctrine and practiſes muſt be holden FOR A MISTAKING; yet ſuch, as ſeeing it cannot be holpen, the people muſt beware herafter of attempting the like again. By this a check muſt be given to the publiſhers of ſuch paradoxes, (when they have accompliſhed their deſigned ends,) after that a diſpenſation procured for the Offenders, and then all ſhall be well ever after; till a new opportunity for their further advantage.

5. That theiiQuodlibets p. 26. Jeſuits by abſ…rd equivocations, counterfeited perjuries, Sacriledges, and couſenage, become all things to all men, that they may gain all; as to be Seminary Prieſts amongſt Seminaries; Secular Prieſts, among Seculars; Religious men, among Religious; Seditious men among Seditious; Factions Spaniards amongſt Spaniards; ENGLISH TRAYTORS AMONG TRAYTORS; SCOTISH VILAINS, AMONG SCOTS, &c. and amongſt all theſe, to deny and affirm, to object and anſwer, to ſwear and forſwear, whatſoever may be a gain to them, for their pragmatical Commonwealth and ſociety. No wonder then, if they transform themſelves into all ſhapes, and take upon them all profeſſions now amongſt us.

6. That thekkQuodlibets p. 62, 69, and elſewhere. Jeſuits by their devices and practiſes, have brought all to Machiavels rule, DIVIDE ET IMPERA, in ſowing diviſion, breeding of jealouſies, and making of hoſlile ſtrife, by oppoſition of King againſt King, State againſt State, Prieſt againſt Prieſt, Peer againſt Peer, Parents againſt children, children againſt parents, ſiſters againſt brothers, ſervants againſt maſters, wives against huſbands, huſbands againſt wives, and one friend againſt another, raiſing up rebellions, MVRDRING OF PRINCES, making uproars every where, until they make thoſe they cannot otherwiſe winne unto them, either yield to be their vaſſals to live quiet by them, or force them to flight, or drive them out of their wits, or otherwiſe plague them to death.

7. That thellQuodlibets p. 43. 61, 62, 64. 16. Jeſuits by their curſed poſitions, and machiavillian practiſes, have made religion it ſelf a meer political and atheal device; a pragmatical ſcience of Figboys, and but an art of ſuch as live by their wits, and the principles of Machiavel taught by their Rabb…es; yea, a very hotch potch of omnium gatherum, religious, ſecular, clergical, laical, eccleſiaſtical, ſpiritual, temporal, MARTIAL, civil, Aecomenical, political, liberal, mechannical, municipal, irregular, and ALL WITHOVT ORDER; ſo that they are not worthy to be called religious, eccleſiaſticks, catholicks, nor temporal mechannical Chriſtians; but rather Machiavillians, Atheiſts, Apoſtates; their courſe of life ſhewing what their ſtudy is; and that howſoever they boaſt of their perfections, holineſs, meditations and exerciſes, (as if they were all Superlatives, all Metaphyſicians, all entia tranſcendentia) yet their platform is heatheniſh, tyrannical, ſathannical, able to ſet Aretine, Lucian, Machiavel, yea, and Don Lucifer, in a ſort to ſchool.

Thoſe, I ſay, who ſhall ſadly ponder all theſe premiſes, and compare them with the late practiſes, policies and proceedings of ſome ſwaying politicians of our age (infected likewiſe with this Atheiſtical State-Maxime, amongſt others derived from the Jeſuits, and Machiavillian Spaniſh State-Counſellers:) In Reipublicae adminiſtratione, quaedam LICITA ESSE RATIONE STATVS, alia respectu Conſcientiae: which**De Monarchia Hiſp. c. 32. p. 297, 298. Thomas Campanella (as bad as he is) not only ſeverely cenſures, but thus declaims againſt with higheſt deteſtation, Qua opinione profecto NIHIL MAGIS ABSVRDVM AV… IMPIVM ne excogitari quidem poteſt: Nam qui conſcientiae univerſalem ſuam juriſdictionem in omnes res humanas TAM PVBLICAS QVAM PRIVATAS, ſubtrahit, oſtendit, SE NEC CONSCIENTIAM, NEC DEVM HABERE, &c. Siquidem omnia ſcandala Eccleſiae Dei, & PERTVRBATIONES ORBIS TERRARVM, INDE ORTA SVNT: that men may do againſt all Laws of God and Man, their own Conſciences, Truſts, Oaths, out of a pretext of the benefit, ſafety of the State, & publick good, as moſt now do; Or, compare thē with the conſtitution of our Church, State, Religion, publike affairs, muſt needs acknowledg, that theſe pragmatical Ieſuits have bin very active, prevalent, powerful, ſucceſsful, and not only militant but triumphant, of late years amongſt us, under ſome diſguiſe or other: that they have dangerouſly poyſoned us with theſe their Machiavillian and Atheal policies, practiſes poſitions, and have more real Diſciples, Factors, if not Tutors, now amongſt us, then in any former ages: And is it not high time then to endeavour to detect their perſons, and prevent their dangerous deſigns upon us, with greateſt care and diligence? Truly though moſt others be negligent and fearfull herein, yet that text of Ezek. 2. 6, 7. And thou ſon of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though bryars and thorns be with thee, and thou doſt dwell among ſcorpions, be not afraid of their words, nor be diſmayed at their looks, though they be a rebellions houſe. And thou ſhalt ſpeak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, for they are most REBELLIOVS; hath animated me to exonerate my conſcience herein, and to ſay with the prophet, Iſai. 62. 1. For Zions (Englands) ſake I will not hold my peace, and for Ieruſalems ſake I will not reſt, until the righteouſneſs thereof go forth as brightneſs, and the ſalvation thereof as a Lamp that burneth. Wherefore,

Upon ſerious conſideration of all theſe Premiſes, and of all thoſe Sacred Solemn Oaths, that Proteſtation, Vow, League, and National Covenant, which I have formerly taken (lying ſtill as ſo many)ffJoſh. 9. 19, 20. & Pſal. 89. 34. Pſal. 15. 4. Heb. 6. 17, 18.Josh 9:19Josh 9:20Ps 89:34Ps 15:4Heb 6:17Heb 6:18 indiſſoluble Obligations on my Soul, notwithſtanding the ingrate, malicious, unchriſtian Requitals of all my former unmercinary ſervices, Sufferings for Religion, Laws, Liberties, and the publique, in times of greateſt Danger, recompenced only with long cauſeleſs, cloſe impriſonments, injuries, affronts, loſſes of all kinds, by pretended friends and Patrons of our Liberties, as well as by profeſſed cauſeleſs Enemies. And notwithſtanding all other Diſcouragements from the general baſeneſs, cowardiſe, Sottiſhneſs, ſlaviſhneſs, degenerated Spirits of the whole Nation, and their ſtrange fearfulneſs even publiquely to own, much leſs cordially, to aſſiſt, defend, (according to the ſixth Article of the Covenant) thoſe few couragious Patrons who have hazarded their Lives, Liberties, Limbs, Eſtates, and all earthly comforts for the publique defence of our Religion, the Laws, Liberties, Priviledges of our Kingdom, Church, Parliament, againſt the old and late avowed ſubverters of them, whoſe veryggWhen our Saviour himſelf was apprehended, carried away priſoner, and like to be crucified, all his Diſciples forſook him, and fled, and Peter denyed him with an oath, Mat. 26. 56. 70. 10 75. And at Pauls firſt appearance before Nero, no mā ſtood with him, but all men forſook him, I pray God it be not laid to their charge, 2 Tim. 4. 9. 16. And ſo it is now with moſt publike ſufferers.Matt 26:56Matt 26:70Matt 26:102 Tim 4:92 Tim 4:16 Company, viſits the generality of their former friends and acquaintance have declined, (as if they had ſome plague ſores on them;) not only during their late restraints, but likewiſe ſince their enlargements out of them, (enough to perſwade them never to write, ſpeak, act, or ſuffer any thing more, for ſuch ingrate, unworthy Creatures, but rather to put their helping hands, to make them and their Poſterities ſlaves for ever.) I have yet once more, out of pure zeal, love, conſcience towards my native Country, adventured my life, liberty, and decayed eſtate, (conſidering the lawleſſneſs and Danger of the times, not the juſtice and goodneſs of the Common Cauſe, I plead) for the neceſſary defence of the Fundamental Liberties, Franchiſes, Lawes, Rights, Parliaments, Priviledges, and Government of our enſlaved Nation, (though every way**Zeph: 2. 1. unworthy to be beloved by God, or men of noble ſpirits) in this Seaſonable, Legal, Hiſtorical Vindication and Collection; wherein I have with all boldneſs, faithfulneſs, without the leaſt fear or flattery of any Mortals or created powers whatſoever, argued, evinced, maintained my own particular, with the whole Nations publique right and inheritance in them, (of which few or none take any care, but only of their own private gains, caſe, ſafely, though with the††Unuſquiſque majorem temporis ſui partē in rebus privatis curandis ponit, & Rempublicam nihil detrimenti ex hac ſua negligentia cap…re poſſe putat; ſed & aliquam alium eſſe exiſtimat qui Rempublicam curet, ei pro ſetpſo perſpiciat. Ita… cadem omnium privatorum opinionè Univerſam Rempublicam perdi, non animadvèrtit. Thucidides H…ſt. l. 1. pag. 110. Publike ruine) and endeavoured (as much as in me lies) to preſerve them and our Religion from the ſeveral Jeſuitical plots, counſels, ſpecified in the whole Commons Houſe Remonſtrance of 15 December 1641. Exact Collection, p. 3. to 14. of late years revived, and more vigorouſly purſued than ever, and to reſcue them out of the Claws of Tyranny, and all uſurping arbitrary powers, which have avowedly encroached on, yea trampled them under feet of late, more than ever the worſt of all our Monarchs, or beheaded King did, though declaimed againſt, as the greateſt of Tyrants by ſome who have tranſcended him in his worſt Regal Exorbitances; and particularly in this, which the Lords and Commons in Parliament, in their **Exact Coll. p. 492. 497. 494.Declaration of Aug. 4. 1642. thus grievouſly complained of, and objected againſt the Kings ill Counſellers, That the LAWS, were no protection or defence of any mans right, all was ſubject to will and power, which impoſed WHAT PAYMENTS THEY THOVGHT FIT, to drain the Subjects purſes, and ſupply THOSE NECESSITIES, which their ill counſel had brought upon the King, and gratify ſuch as were inſtrumental in promoting moſt ILLEGAL and OPRESSIVE COVRSES. Thoſe who yielded and complied were countenanced and advanced, all others diſgraced and kept under, (and are they not ſo now, as much as then?) that …o their minds made poor and baſe, (as they were never ſo poor and baſe as now) and THEIR LIBERTIES loſt and gone (as they were never ſo much as now) they might be ready to**Are they not now more ready to let it go, then ever? & have not thouſands done it? LET GO THEIR RELIGION whenſoever it ſhould be reſolved to alter it, which was, and ſtill is, the GREAT DESIGN, and all the reſt made uſe of as inſtrumental and ſubſervient to it. Upon which conſideration they thus concluded that Declaration, Therefore we the Lords and Commons are reſolved, to expoſe our lives and fortunes for the defence and maintenance of the true Religion, the Kings perſon, honor and eſtate, the power and priviledge of Parliament, the juſt rights and liberty of the Subject, And we do hereby require all thoſe who have any ſence of piety, honor or compaſſion, TO HELP A DISTRESSED STATE, eſpecially SVCH WHO HAVE TAKEN THE PROTESTATION, and are bound in the ſame duty with us unto their God, their King and Country, to come into their aid and aſſiſtance.

That which hath not a little encouraged me hereunto, is not only this their publick call, but likewiſe this memorable paſſage, vow, proteſtation of the Lords and Commons aſſembled in Parliament, in their printedhhExact col. p. 650. 659. 660. Declaration in anſwer to his Majeſties of October 23. 1642. Which I fear moſt of them ſince in power have quite forgotten; and therefore I beſeech them now ſeriouſly to remember it. Though we know very well, there are too many of the Gentry of this Kingdom, who to ſatisfy the LVSTS OF THEIR OWN AMBITION, are content, like Eſau, TO SELL THEIR BIRTH-RIGHT, AND CARE NOT TO SVBMIT THEMSELVES TO ANY ARBITRARY AND UNLIMITED GOVERNMENT,Nota. ſo they may FOR THEIR OWN TIME PARTAKE OF THAT POWER, to trample and inſult over others: (And have not, are not ſome of theſe declarers and cenſures ſuch themſelves?) yet we are aſſured, that there are of the Gentry many worthy and true hearted Patriots, (but where are thoſe many now?) who are ready to lay down their lives and fortunes, and of late have given ample teſtimony thereof, for maintenance of their Lawes, Liberties, and Religion; and with them and others of their reſolution we ſhall be ready to live and die. (But how many of theſe Declarers have made good this publike engagement? yea, have not ſome of them been, and ſtill are more ready to ſecure, ſeclude, diſoffice, impriſon, kill, ſlay any ſuch true-hearted Patrons, as I have felt by ſad experience, than to live and die with them?) And we muſt own it as our duty, to uſe our beſt endeavors, that the meaneſt of the Commonalty may enjoy their own Birth-rights, Freedom and Liberty of the Laws of the Land, being **Nota.equally entituled thereto with the greateſt Subject. I truſt therefore the greateſt Grandees in late or preſent power, neither will nor can be offended with me, and that all the Nobility, Gentry, Commons, and true-hearted. Patrons in the Nation, who bear any love to the Laws, Li-Liberties, Freedom of the people, for which their Anceſtors and they have ſo long, ſo ſtoutly contended heretofore, and lately with our Kings; will live and die with me in this their Vi…dication and Defence, againſt any of their fellow-Subjects, who ſhall endeavor to ſubvert or deprive them of the full and free enjoyment of all or any of them, according to this Engagement and Declaration: Wherein there are theſe further obſervable paſſages, relating to the Parliaments priviledges and its Members, which I deſire our Army-Grandees, who impeached, ſecured, ſecluded my ſelf with other Members of the laſt true Parliament, levied war againſt and forcibly diſſolved it; with the Contrivers of our late New-Modelled Governments, would ſeriouſly ponder; who in common juſtice muſt be content to be as freely told of and reprehended for their**Fraudes propemodū omnes at que Injuriae ab Ambitione & Ava…itia p…oficiſeuntur. Ariſt. Polit. l. 2. c. 7. frauds, faults in print (where the publike and every mans private intereſt, Right, Liberty, Security, is concerned) as they have cenſured others, as well their Superiors, as Equalls, oft in print, though perchance l…ſſe peccant than themſelves iiSee the Armies old & new Declarations againſt the Parliam. & Members. Their True ſtate of the Commonwealth &c. which, mutato nomin…, is but a direct Arraignment of themſelves under the name of others.in that they object againſt them. kkExact col. P. 652. 654. 655, &c.For the matter of his Majeſties raiſing an Army againſt the Parliament (wherein many Papiſts, Prieſts, Jeſuites were imployed) and taking away the priviledge thereof, we ſhall refer it to the judgement of every ordinary capacity, whether it be void of ſenſe to ſay, that this War is raiſed againſt the Parliament; But the truth is, that it is not a few perſons, but the Parliament it ſelf, is the thorn that lies in theſe mens ſides, which, heretofore when it was wont to …rick them, was with much eaſe (by a ſudden diſſolution) pulled out: But now that is more deeply faſtned by the Act of Continuance, they would force it out by the power of an Army. (Hath not this been the very practiſe of ſome Army-Grandees of late, here objected againſt the King Jeſuitical and Popiſh ill Counſellors?) And whoſoever will peruſe the ſeveral Speeches and Declarations, made upon the breaking up of former Parliaments, ſince the beginnning of his Majeſties Reign, will find, the pretences of thoſe unjuſt and illegal Diſſolutions, to be grounded upon the exceptions againſt ſome particular Members, under the name of A few factious and ſeditious perſons: ſo that the aſperſing and wounding of the Parliament through the ſides of a few Members, is no new invention: (And hath not this been the very Army-Officers practiſe, ſince the firſt year of their reign till now, to wound the laſt real Parliament; yea, their own late diſſolved Mock Parliaments ſince, through the ſides of a few corrupt Members, or a corrupt Majority in the Houſe, as all their PrintedllSee their declarations in May, June, Iuly, Aug. 1647 in …ovemb. Decemb. Jan. 1648. An. 1652, & 1653. & their True ſtate of the caſe of the Commonwealth of England, &c. p. 4. to 35. Ann. 1654. with ſome other Papers & Speeches ſince. Declarations upon their d…ſſolutions atteſt. And is this then no crime? or no Jeſuitical practiſe in them, though ſuch in the latemmExact collect. p. 3, 4. to 16. King and his ill Counſellors?) And for the ſatisfaction of all indifferent men, that this War is raiſed againſt the Parliament, we ſhall refer them to former Declarations, …iſſued out in His Majeſties name, being ſo many invectives and ground leſſe accuſations, not againſt particular Members only, but againſt the Vote and proceedings of both Houſes. (And are not many of the Armies Declarations in 1647. and 1648. yea, the late Pamphlet of ſome preſent Grandees, intituled, A True State of the Caſe of the Commonwealth of England, Printed 1654, Such? let them now then ſee whence they took their pattern, even from the beheaded Kings nnExact col. p. 3, 4, to 16. 651, 652, 653. Nota.Jeſuited evil Counſellors, whoſe ſteps they exactly trace in this:) But if the truth were, as that Declaration ſeems to imply, That this Army is raiſed to force ſomeooIf one Member ſuffer, all the Members ſuffer with it, 1 Cor. 12. 26.1 Cor 12:26 particular Members of this Parliament to be delivered up, yet upon that ground would it follow, that the ſame is levied againſt the Parliament. For it cannot be denied by any ingenious man, but that the Parliament by theirppSee Cooks 4 Inſtit. c. 1. p. 15, 16, 17. 23. 24, 25, and my Plea for the Lords. inherent rights and priviledges hath the power to judge and puniſh their own Members: [yet the Army Officers took upon them to ſecure, ſeclude them without Charge, and their future New-minted▪ Parliament Members, though only elected by the People, muſt be tryed, judged by the new Whitehall Members, ere they can be admitted to ſit, Article 21 of the New Government.] And we have often declared to His Majeſtie and the World, That we are alwayes ready to receive any evidence or accuſations againſt any of them, and to judge and puniſh them according to their demerits; yet hithertoqqNor yet againſt my ſelf, and other ſecured ſecluded and long impriſoned Members. no evidence produced, no Accuſer appearing: And yet notwiſtanding, to raiſe an Army to compel the Parliament to expoſe thoſe Members to the fury of thoſe wicked Counſellors, that thirſt for nothing more than the ruine of them and the Commonwealth: What can be more evident, than that the ſame is levied againſt the Parliament? For did they prevail in this, then by the ſame reaſon (pray obſerve it) They might demand 20 more, and never reſt ſatisfied until their malice and Tyrany did devour all thoſe Members they found croſſe and oppoſite to their lewd and wicked deſigns [And was not this the practice of the Army-Officers, who levied a real actual War againſt the Parliament? They firſt impeached, ſecluded XI. Members of the Commons-Houſe; and ſome Lords ſoon after. An. 1647. … then they ſecluded other Members, by their high Declaration of Aug. 18. 1647. after that they ſecured, impriſoned my ſelf, with 44 Members more, and ſecluded the greateſt part of the Commons Houſe, leaving not above 50 or 60 at firſt ſitting, who confederated with them, in December 1648. within two moneths after this, they beheaded the King; then ſuppreſſed the whole Lords Houſe, to carry on their deſigns ſince acted: At laſt they diſſolved their own Mock Parliaments, when they croſſed their ambitious aſpires: What they did in September laſt ſince this was firſt penned to thoſe now ſitting, is freſh in memory.] Touching the Privileges of Parliament, which the contrivers of that Declaration in his Majeſties name, (and the Contrivers of ſundry **See that of Iune 14. of Aug. 2 & 18. 1647, and the Letters of Iuly 29. 1647. The Declarations of Nov. 16. Dec. 6. 1648.Declarations ſince in the Armies name, who imitated them herein.) ſeem to be ſo tender of, and to profeſſe all conformity unto, and deny this Army to be raiſed in any degree to violate: we ſhall appeal to the judgement of any indifferent man, how little truth is contained in this their aſſertion, (or in the Army Officers printed Papers to the ſame effect.)

The Parliament is to be conſidered in three ſeverall reſpects: Firſt, As a Councell to adviſe. Secondly, As a Court to judge. 3. As it is the body repreſentative of the whole Kingdom, to make, repeal, or alter Laws: and whether the Parliament hath enjoyed its priviledges in any of theſe reſpects (under the Army-Officers and powers, as well as late King) let any that hath eyes open judge.

For the firſt, We dare appeal even to the Conſciences of the Contrivers themſelves, (and to the conſciences of the Army-Officers, Souldiers, and Whitehall men themſelves) whether matters of the higheſt importance, (witneſs all the publick proceedings againſt the late Parliament, King, Peers, Government; the Warrs with Scotland, Holland: their new Magna Ch…rta, repealing the old, Entituled, The Government of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, wherein they take upon them ſuch an Omnipotent Soveraign power, as, To paſs a decree upon the wavering humors of the people, and to ſay to this Nation, (yea to Scotland and Ireland too,) As the Almighty himſelf ſaid once to the unruly Sea,**Job 38. 11.Job 38:11 Here ſhall be thy bounds, hitherto ſhalt thou come and no further; as ſome of them moſt arrogantly, if not blaſphemouſly publiſh in print to all the world in their True State of the Caſe of the Commonwealth, p. 34. Their making of new binding Laws and Ordinances, repealing old Laws and Statutes in and by pretext of this Inſtrument, out of Parliament, as their manifold Whitehall Folio new Edicts, amounting to near 700 pages, atteſt) have not been agitated and determined (in and by the Army-Officers, General Councel, and other unparliamentary Juncto's,) not only without, but contrary to their Advice, (and Votes too;) and whether private unknown Councels (in the Army, Whitehall, and elſwhere, yea the private Councels, Plots, conſpiracies of Ieſuits, of Forraign Popiſh and Spaniſh Agents) have not been hearkned unto, approved and followed, when the Faithful and wholſom advice of the great Counſel hath been ſcorned & neglected (by the Army Officers and their Confederates.) And yet none can deny, but it is one of the Principle ends why a Parliament is called, To Conſult the great Affairs of the Church and State. And what miſerable effects and ſad events, this neglect of the great Councel, and preferring of unknown and private Councels before it, hath produced; let the preſent Diſtractions of this Kingdom bear witneſſe, (with all the bloody, unchriſtian Wars, Taxes, Oppreſſions, Diſtractions, ſince the Armies force upon the King, Members, Houſes, Anno 1647. and 1648. to this preſent time.)

Concerning the Second, it ſufficiently appears by the making the Kings Court, by the Force and Power of the Kings Army; the Sanctuary and refuge of All ſorts of Delinquents againſt the Parliament and Kingdom, and protecting and defending them from the Juſtice thereof: and by admitting ſuch to bear places of great truſt in the Army, and to ſtand in defiance of the Parliament and the Authority thereof; (and is it not a far greater crime to make the Parliaments Army it ſelf, a Delinquent againſt the Parliament and Kingdom; the ſanctuary of ſuch Delinquents againſt both, and to continue ſuch Officers in places of greateſt truſt in the Army, who have levied actual war againſt the Parliament, ſecluded, ſecured members of Parliament, kept divers years under their armed guards in defiance of the Parliament, without any particular Charge or Impeachment, refuſing to releaſe them, even when the Serjeant was ſent at firſt from the Houſe it ſelf, to demand the Members ſeiſed?)

By all which it is apparent, how our Privledges have been torn from us by piece-meals, from time to time. And we might mention many paſſages, whereby they were endeavoured to be**And are they not ſo now, almoſt paſt hopes of any future re-planting? pulled up by the root, and totally ſubverted. As the attempt to bring up the late Army from the North to force Conditions upon the Parliament: His Majeſties Letters and Commands to the Members of both Houſes (which found obedience in a great many) to attend him at York; and ſo, By depriving the Parliament of their Members, deſtroy the whole Body: (And was not the actual twice bringing up of the Parliaments own Army, by the Army Officers, againſt the Parliament it ſelf, to impeach, ſecure ſome principal Members of both Houſes; ſeclude the Majority of the Commons Houſe, ſuppreſs the whole Houſe of Lords; break off the Treaty, behead the King, (the **Modus tenendi Parliamentum. Cook 4. Inſtit. c. 1.Head of the Parliament) againſt the Parliaments Votes, alter the Government, force conditions on the Parliament it ſelf, to omit the 12, 21, 24, 32, 37, 38, 39 Articles of their New Government, with the ſecluding of all the Members lately admitted by Armed Souldiers, till they took a New Engagement, and keeping out all others) a taking of the Privileges of the Parliament from them all by Whole-ſale, and a more deſperate pulling up by the Roots, and total ſubverſion of all the Priviledges and whole Body of the Parliament, than this objected againſt the Northern Army, or the Kings Jeſuitical ill Councel?) Which is enough to prove the vanity of the Contrivers of that Declaration (and of the Army Officers too) to feed themſelves with hope of belief, That the Priviledges of Parliament are not Violated, but intended to be preſerved, with all due obſervance.

Concerning the Allegation, That the Army raiſed by the Parliament, is to murder the KING, (oft alledged by the **Exact Coll. p. 550. 595. 321, 322, 364. 618. 894, 895. 919, 920. A Collection of Ordinances, p. 28 39. 116. 117.King and his Party, in many printed PROCLAMATIONS, Declarations before and after this here mentioned) We hoped the Contrivers of that Declaration, or any that profeſſed but the name of a Chriſtian, could not have ſo little charity as to raiſe ſuch a SCANDAL, especially when they muſt needs know, the **Let thoſe who took it, remember their violations of it, & repent, See Exact Collect. p. 497, 498.Proteſtation taken by every Member of both Houſes (and Army Officers too) whereby they promiſe in the preſence of Almighty God, TO DEFEND HIS MAJESTIES PERSON. The Promiſe and Proteſtation made by the Members of both Houſes upon the nomination of the Earl of Eſſex to be General, and to live and die with him; wherein is expreſſed, THAT THIS ARMY WAS RAISED FOR DEFENCE OF THE KINGS PERSON, Our oft, earneſt, and moſt humble Addreſs to his Majeſty to leave that deſperate and dangerous Army, &c. A requeſt inconſiſtent with any purpoſe to offer the leaſt violence to His Perſon, which hath, and**Was this verified by many of theſe Remonſtrants? ever ſhall be dear unto us.

And concerning the imputation laid to our Charge, of Raiſing this Army, to Alter the whole Frame of Government and Eſtabliſhed Laws of the Land, (which the King and his party**Exact Coll. P. 262. 282. 284. to 289. 297, 298. 490. 424. 500, 502, 404, 514, 517, 521, 522, 526. 528, 530, 531, 534. 550, 551, 554, 558, 561, 564, 574. A Collection, p. 117. 452, 453. frequently objected in print) we ſhall need give no other Anſwer but this: That the Army Raiſed by the Parliament is to no other end, but for the Preſervation of his Majeſties Perſon, to Defend themſelves, the Laws of the Land, and the true Proteſtant Religion. After which, they there and elſwhere conclude. And by this time (we doubt not) but every man doth plainly diſcern through the Mask and Viſard of their Hypocrifie, what their (the Kings ill Counſels) deſign is, To Subject both King and Parliament and Kingdom to their needy, Ambitious, and Avaritious Spirits, and to the violent Laws, Martial law, of Governing the People by guards and by the Souldiers.

But alas for grief, how ſuperlatively have many of the Army Officers, and their confederate members (though parties to theſe Declarations and Proteſtations) violated them, and both Houſes Faiths, Truſts, intentions, ends in raiſing the Army, in every of theſe particulars? How have they verified, juſtified the Kings Declarations, Jealouſies, concerning the Parliaments Army, in every point, here (and**Exact Coll. p. 688, 689. 696, 697. elſwhere) diſclaimed by both Houſes? How have they exceeded, out-acted the Kings Jeſuitical Counſellers, and moſt deſperate Popiſh Army, in violating, ſubverting both the Parliaments Priviledges, Members and Parliaments themſelves, together with our**So ſtiled, Exact Col. p. 4. 12. 34. 61. 243. 262. 321. 500, 502. in the Decl. of the Lords & Commons concerning His Majeſties Proclamatiō. Iune 6. 1642. p. 4. beſides the authorities in the 1. chap. Fundamental Laws, Liberties, Government; for whoſe preſervation they were only raiſed, paid? How have they purſued the Kings and his worſt Jeſuited Counſellers footſteps in all the charges here objected againſt them by both Houſes, in relation to the Parliaments priviledges, Members, Conſtitution, Rights, Laws, to their utter ſubverſion, diſſolution, and waged war againſt them? And doth not every man plainly diſcern through the Mask and Viſard of their Hypocrifie, (to uſe both Houſes expreſſions) that their deſign is juſt the ſame with that here objected by the Parliament to the Kings ill Jeſuited Counſellers, and Popiſh army; even to ſubject both King, Parliament and Kingdom, to their needy, ambitious, avaritions spirits, and to the violent Laws, marſhal Law, of Governing the People, (yea Parliaments themſelves) by Guards, and by the Souldiers? and By Conqueſt to eſtabliſh an abſolute and unlimited power over the Parliament and good Subjects of this Kingdom; as the Houſes**Exact Coll. p. 617. 631, 730. elſwhere thrice objected againſt the late King, his Army and party: being the very deſign (as many wiſemen fear) of the 27 Article of their New Government; to ſettle a conſtant Annual revenue for the maintenance of 20000 Foot, & 10000 Horſe and Dragoones, (to be alwayes conſtantly, kept up Winter and Summer, without disbanding or diminution) for the Defence and Security of England, Scotland, and Ireland? Which muſt henceforth be kept under by Mercinary Fo…ces, to guard of Protectors, when as the**Horace. Heathen Poet aſſures us, …nteger vitae ſcel…riſ que purus, non eget Mauri jaculis nec arcu; much leſs our Engliſh Nation, ever formerly ſecured by their own unmercinary Militia of the Trained Bands, and thoſe Lords and Gentlemen who hold their Lands by Knight-ſervice. O that they would now in the name and fear of God (as they tender the eternal ſalvation of their Souls, the honour and priviledges of all future Parliaments, the eaſe, welfare, ſettlement of our Nation) Lay all this moſt ſeriouſly to their Hearts, and make it a matter of their greateſt lamentation, and repentance! Beſides this, have they not falſified that memorable**Exact Col. p. 686, to 730. late Declaration of the Lords and Commons aſſembled in Parliament, Novemb. 2. 1642. in Anſwer to his Majesties (well worthy peruſal now) and made good (both for the time paſt, and all ſucceeding Parliaments, whiles there ſhall be any ſtanding Army in England able to over-power them) all the odious, ſcandalous poſitions, in relation to the Engliſh Parliament, its Members and priviledges (deduced from the Kings Declaration, only by inference, but diſclaimed by the King) ſummed up by them, in the cloſe of that Remonstrance; and publiſhed in theſe enſuing terms, as will evidently appear, if applied to the Army, and their Generall Councel of Officers, by adding or exchanging their names, only for the Kings in a parentheſis?

1.**Exact coll. p. 729. See their Declarations & Papers of Aug. 7. 1647. D. c. 7. & Jan. 3. 1648 where they thus Declare and brand them. That the King (the * Army, General, and their General Councel of Officers) when he pleaſeth, may declare the Major part of both Houſes, (which in all ſorts of Republicks doth, yea ought of right to over ſway the Minority, & their Votes to be firm and binding to all men, as**Quod pluribus viſum probatumque fuerit, id in OMNIBUS REBUS-PUBLICIS VALET. In Oligarchia enim & Ariſtocratia, & Democratia, quod eorum qui Rempublicam gerunt, MAJORI PARTIS PLACUERIT, i. e. RATUM AC FIRMUM. Politicorum l. 4. c. 8. See 33 H. 8. c. 27. Ariſtotle himſelf reſolves;) a faction of Malignant, Schiſmatical, and ambitious Perſons: ſo that all Parliaments that have been heretofore and SHALL BE HEREAFTER, AND ALL LAWS MADE IN THEM▪ may by this means be called in queſtion at pleaſure; (yea nulled and repealed for ever, as ſome former Parliaments have been, when held and over-awed by armed power, or unduly elected, packed, ſummoned without Lawfull Authority, or ſome of the Members forcibly ſecluded, as you may read at large in the Statutes of 21 R. 2. c. 11, 12, 16, 17, 18. 1 H. 4. c. 3. 1 H. 4. Rot. Parl. n. 22, 23, 36, 48, 66, 70. 113. 39 H. 6. c. 1. & 17 E. 4. c. 7. worthy the ſerious peruſal of our preſent Grandees, and all illegitimate Parliaments, where they may read the fatal end of all new unparliamentary projects, laws, devices, wherein many now ſo much glory, as if they would continue form for ever: when as in a few years ſpace, they will all probably prove nullities, be for ever reverſed; yea, branded to poſterity, as moſt pernicious preſidents.

2. That his Majeſty (the Army and their General Councel) may declare what is the known Law of the Land, againſt the judgement of the Higheſt Court, and conſequently of all his Courts: So that the ſafety and right of King and people, and THE LAW IT SELF muſt depend upon his Majeſties (the Army, General, and their Councels) pleaſure.

4. That as the King hath a property in his Townes, Forts, and Kingdoms; ſo he (the Army and their General Councel) may**Which now they do. diſpoſe of them as he pleaſeth; and the Repreſentative body of the whole Kingdom may not intermedle in diſcharge of his Majeſties (the Armies, Generals, Councels) truſt, though by the advice of evil Councellers they ſee it diverted to the hazard of the publique peace & ſafety of the Kingdom.

5. That his Majeſty (the Army, General, and their Councel) or any other perſon, may upon ſuggeſtions and pretences of Treaſon, Felony, or breach of peace (or of their Truſts, a fourth **See their impeachment of the xi. Members, & the humble Anſwer of the Gen. Councel & Officers of the Army, &c. Jan. 3. 1648.Army new-minted cauſe) Take the Members of Parliament, without giving ſatisfaction to the Houſe, whereof they are Members, of the grounds of ſuch ſuggeſtion or accuſation, and without and againſt their conſent (as in the caſe of the late ſecured, ſecluded Members, and their two Junct…'s ſince) ſo they may **Have they not lately done ſo ſince this was penned, as well as heretofore?Diſmember a Parliament, when they pleaſe, and make it what they will, when they will.

6. That whoſoever ſhall follow the King (Army, General and their Councel,) in the wars (againſt the Parliament) though it were to deſtroy Laws, Liberty, Religion, the Parliament it ſelf, and the whole Kingdom; yet he ſhall be free from all crime or puniſhment. And that on the other ſide, to oppoſe by force any ſuch force, though in the moſt Legal way, and by authority of the Repreſentative body of the whole Kingdom, is to leavy war againſt the King (Army, General) and TREASON (within the Letter of 25 E. 3. or of their new Knacks ſince:) So our Lands, Liberties, Lives, Religion, and Laws themſelves, Whereby all the Rights both of King and People are due to them, and preſerved for them, ſhall be at the ſole will and pleaſ…re of the Prince (Army, General, and General Councel of Officers, in their new High Courts of Injuſtice, or other Martial Judicatories, as now they are.)

O conſider, conſider ſeriouſly by theſe particulars, to what a ſad, low, deſpicable condition all Engliſh Parliaments are now for ever reduced, and their priſtine antient Priviledges, Honor, Freedom, Power, violently raviſhed from them by the late Army practiſes, violences, and rebellious inſolencies againſt them, never to be parallel'd in any age; which hath really verified this clauſe in the Declaration of both Houſes, **Exact coll. P. 496.Auguſt 4. 1642. objected againſt the King and his popiſh Army, in relation to the Parliaments Army, purpoſely raiſed, commiſſioned, & engaged for their defence. That if the King (by his Army) may force this Parliament (as the Parliaments Army both forced and diſſolved it) they may bid farewell to all Parliaments, for ever receiving good by them; And if Parliaments be**And are they not ſo loſt now? loſt, they (the People) are loſt, their Laws are loſt, as well thoſe lately made, as in former times, ALL WHICH WILL BE CVT IN SVNDER WITH THE SAME SWORD, NOW DRAWN FOR THE DESTRVCTION OF THIS PARLIAMENT: (as we now find true by ſad experience.)

**Epiſtola ad ſolitariam Vitam agentes. Sir Chriſtopher Sybthorpe his Reply to an Anſwer made by a Popiſh Adverſary, Dublin 1625. p. 27, 28, 29.Athanaſius, Biſhop of Alexandria (about the year of our Lord 340.) objected this as a great crime, barbariſm, cruelty, and violation of the priviledges of Councels, to the Arrian Emperour Constantius. That whenſoever he called a Councel or Aſſembly of Biſhops, it was but for a ſhew: For he would not permit them to be guided by the Eccleſiaſtical Canons, but his Will alone muſt be their only Canon. And when they adviſed him, not to ſubvert the Eccleſiaſtical order, nor bring the Arrian Hereſie into the Church of God, he would neither hear, nor permit them to ſpeak freely; but grievouſly bending his brows (if they had ſpoken croſs to his deſigns) and SHAKING HIS SWORD AT THEM, COMMANDED THEM TO BE TAKEN AWAY. Whereupon he thus infers, What Liberty for perſwaſion, or place for advice is there left, when he that contradicteth, ſhall for his labour loſe either his Life, or his Country? Why hath the Emperour gathered ſo great a number of Biſhops, partly terrified with threats, partly inticed with promiſes, to condeſcend, that they will not communicate wi…h Athanaſius? And Hilary Biſhop of Poictou Ann. 360. in his firſt Book againſt this Tyrannical Arrian Emperour Conſtantius, thus cenſures his violent proceedings of this kind, to the ſubverſion of the freedom and priviledge of Councils and their members. Thou gathereſt COUNCILS, and when they be ſhut up together in one City, thou TERRIFIEST THEM WITH THREATS; THOU PINEST THEM WITH HVNGER, THOU LAMEST THEM WITH COLD, (as the Army Officers did the ſecluded Members 6 and 7 Decemb. 1648. when they ſhut them up all night in Hell, on the bare boards without beds in the cold, and kept them faſting all the next day at Whitehall, til 7 a clock at night) Thou depraveſt them with Diſſembling; O THOU WICKED ONE, what a mockery doſt thou make of the Church and Councels? Only Dogs return to their Vomit; and thou compelleſt the Prieſts of Chriſt, to ſup up thoſe things which they have diſgorged, and commandeſt them in their confeſſions, to allow that WHICH BEFORE THEY CONDEMNED. What Biſhops hand haſt thou left innocent? What tongue haſt thou not forced to falſhood? Whoſe heart haſt thou not brought to the condemning of his former opinion? Thou haſt ſubjected all to thy will, yea, to thy violence. And have not ſome ſwaying Army Officers, by their frowns, menaces, frauds, Swords, open force upon the Parliament and its Members, beyond all the preſidents in any ages, done the like, and exceeded this Arrian Tyrant herein? And is it not then high time for all friends to Parliaments, to proteſt and provide againſt ſuch deteſtable, treaſonable violences for the future, deſtructive to all Parliaments, if permitted, or ſilently pretermitted without queſtion, exemplary cenſure, righting of the impriſoned Members, or any proviſion to redreſſe them for the future?

Our prudent Anceſters were ſo carefull to prevent all violence, force, arms, and armed men, in or near any places where Parliaments were held, to terrifie, overawe, or diſturb their proceedings or Members;**See the Declaration of the Lords and Commons, June 6. 1642. concerning this Statute. That in the Parliament of 7 E. 1. (as you may read in Raſtals Abridgement, Armour, 1. Proviſion was made by the King, by common conſent of the Prelates, Earls, and Barons, by a general act, That in all Parliaments, Treaties, and other Aſſemblies, which ſhould be made in the Realm of England FOR EVER, every man ſhall come without Force, and without Armour, well and peaceably to the honour of the King, and of the peace of him, and of his Realm, and they together with the Commonalty of the Realm upon ſolemn adviſe, declared; That it belonged to the King, and his part it is by his Royal Signiory ſtrictly to defend Wearing of Armour, and all other Force, againſt his peace at all times, when it ſhall pleaſe him (eſpecially at ſuch times, and in places where ſuch Parliaments, Treaties, and Aſſemblies are held) and to puniſh them which ſhall doe contrary according to the Laws and uſage of the Realm▪ And hereunto they are bound to aid the Kind, as their Soveraign Lord, at all ſeaſons when need ſhall be. Hereupon our Kings ever ſince this ſtatute, by virtue thereof, and by the Law and Cuſtom of the PARLIAMENT, (as Sir Edward Cook in his 4 Inſtitutes c. 1. p. 14. informs us) did at the beginning of every Parliament, make a ſpeciall Proclamation, Prohibiting the bearing of Arms or weapons, in or near the places, where the Parliament ſate, under pain of forfeiting all they had; Of which there are ſundry preſidents cited by Sir Edward Cook in his Margin; whereof I ſhall tranſcribe but one (which he omits) and that is 6 E. 3. Rot. Parliament n. 2. 3. Becauſe that before theſe days, at the Parliaments and Counſels of our Lord the King, Debates, Riots and commotions have riſen and been moved, for that People have come to the **Is not the quartering of Horſe and Foot in or near ſuch places, to affright and overawe Parliaments and their Members, a Violation of this Law, Proclamation, Law and Cuſtom of all Engliſh Parliaments, fit to be redreſſed?places where Parliaments have been ſummoned and aſſembled, armed with privy coats of plate, spears, ſwords, long, knives, (or daggers) and other ſort of arms, by which the buſineſſes of our Lord the King and his Realm have been impeached, and the great men which have come thither by his command, have been affrighted: Our Lord the King, willing to provide remedy againſt ſuch miſchiefs, defendeth, that no man of what eſtate or condition ſoever he be, upon pain of forfeiting all that he may forfeit, to the King, ſhall be ſeen armed with a Coat of Male, nor yet of plate, nor with an Halberd, nor with a ſpear, nor ſword, nor long knife, nor any other ſuſpitious arms, within the City of LONDON, nor within the Suburbs thereof; nor any place near the ſaid City, nor yet within the Palace of WEST MINSTER, or any place near the ſaid Palace, by Land or Water, under the foreſaid pain: except only ſuch of the Kings men as he ſhall depute, or by his command ſhall be deputed to keep the peace within the ſaid places: and alſo except the Kings ſervants, according to the Statute of Northampton. And it is not the intention of our Lord the King, that any Earl, or Baron may not have his Lance brought to him in any place, but onelyonly in the Kings preſence, and in the place of Councell. The like Proclamations were made in the beginning of the Parliaments of 9. 1…, 17, 18. 20, 25 …dw. 3. and ſundry others: more neceſſary to be revived in all ſucceeding Engliſh Parliaments now than ever heretofore, ſince the unpreſidented forces upon the late Members of both Houſes, and the Parliament it ſelf, by the Army-Officers and Souldiers, raiſed to defend them from Violence: The Treaſonableneſſe and Tranſcendency whereof being at large related in my Epiſtle to the Reader, before my Speech in Parliament 4 December 1648, I ſhall not here criminally preſſe, nor inſiſt on, but referred them thereunto: However for the future ſecurity and freedome of our Parliaments from violence, I muſt crave liberty to inform theſe Army Parliament drivers, forcers, diſſolvers, (habituated to this trade) That if the**Exact coll. p. 34. 56. 66, 67, 68, 76, 77, 198, 200, 201, 202, 246, 695, 723. 729. late Kings march to the Houſe of Commons, accompanied only with ſome of his Penſioners and others, armed with Piſtols and Swords, meerly to demand but five Members thereof to be delivered up to Juſtice, particularly impeached by him of High Treaſon ſome dayes before: to wit,**Let thoſe obſerve this Impeachment, who are now really guilty of it in the higheſt degree. That they had traiterouſly endeavoured to ſubvert the Fundamental Laws and Government of this Kingdome: To deprive the King of his Royal power: To place over the Subjects an Arbitrary and Tyrannical power, To ſubvert the very Rights and being of Parliaments: and by force and terrour to compell the Parliament to joyn with them in their deſigns; for which end they had actually raiſed and countenanced Tumults againſt the King and Parliament.