Plea for the Lords and House of Peers, To the reader

Plea for the Lords and House of Peers · To the reader

To the Ingenuous READER.

THis Plea for the LORDS and Houſe of PEERS, was firſt ſuddenly compiled and publiſhed by me in the year 1647, when (a)(a)His Proteſtation againſt the Lords, Regal Tyranny diſcovered, with others here quoted, p. 2, 3, 4.Lilburn, Overton, with their Ieſuitical and Anabaptiſtical levelling Confederates endeavoured by ſundry ſeditious Pamphlets, libels, Petitions, then printed, diſperſed in the City, Army, Country, to extirpate the Lords and Houſe of Peers, together with the King and Monarchy, by engaging the vulgar Rabble, Souldiers, and Commons to ſuppreſſe, pull down, or caſt off their ſuperiour, juſt, antient, legal authority over them; not only againſt the (b)(b)Prov. 24.21. Rom. 13.1, 2, 3. Tit. 3.1. 1 Tim. 2.1, 2. 1 Pet. 2.13.14, 15.Prov 24:21Rom 13:1Rom 13:2Rom 13:3Titus 3:11 Tim 2:11 Tim 2:21 Pet 2:131 Pet 2:141 Pet 2:15expreſſe Laws of God and (c)(c)1 Eliz. c, 1.3. 8 Eliz. c. 1. 1 Jac. 1▪ 3 Jac. c. 1, 4, 5. 1 H. 7. c. 1.Jas 1:3Jas 1:4Jas 1:5Jas 1:1the Realm, their own Oaths, of Supremacy, Allegiance, Proteſtation, Covenant,; but the very Law of Nature it ſelf, univerſally received amongſt all Nations whatſoever: (d)(d)Dionyſius Halicarnaſ. Antiqu. Rom. l. 1. p. 7.Haec enim lex Naturae▪ apud omnes Gentes recepta est, quam nullum tempus delebit, UT SUPERIORES▪ INFERIORIBUS▪ IMPERENT: Which Law theſe unnatural Bedlams would now quite obliterate, endeavouring to ſet up that A…axy & diſorder in Government, which Solomon, and God himſelf by him ſo much complain of; Eccleſ. 10.5, 6, 7. There is AN EVIL, I have ſeen under the Sun ▪ as AN ERROR that proceedeth from the Ruler, Folly (or perſons of mean fortune, parts, birth) is ſet in high dignity, and the rich ſet in low place: I have ſeen Servants upon Horſes; and Princes walking as Servants upon the earth: Which diſorder he thus cenſures, Prov. 19.10. Delight is not ſeeml… for a fool, much leſſe for a Servant to have rule over Princes : The ſad effects whereof he thus relates; Prov. 30.21, 22. For three things the Earth is diſquieted, and for a fourth, which it cannot bear, (the … and chief whereof is this) For a Servant when he reigneth. To which David ſubjoyns another ill conſequence; Pſal. 12.8. The ungodly walk on every ſide, when the vilest of the Sons of men are exalted: which the Chald… paraphraſe thus gloſſeth; In circuitu improbi ambulant tanquam ſanguiſugae, ††31 H. 6. c. 1. 39 H. 6. c. 1.qui ſugunt▪ ſanguinem filiorum hominum; the peaſantry, when exalted above the antient Nobility and Gentry, being uſually both intollerably proud, inſolent, cruel, blo…dy, according to the old obſervation of (e)(e)In Eutropium l. 1 p. 67.Claudians, and others;

Asperius humili nihil eſt cum ſurgit in altum,

Cuncta ferit, dum cuncta timet; deſaevit in omnes

Ʋt ſe poſſe putent, nec bellua tetrior ulla

Quam ſervi rabies in libera coll… furentis;

Agnoſcit gemitus et paenae parcere neſcit.

This was experimentally verified, not only in (f)(f)Nubtigenſis l. 4. c. 14.Wil. Langhamp heretofore, and other particular perſons advanced from low degree to places of greateſt honour; but in the popular inſurrections of (g)(g)See Walſingham, Holinſhed, Speed▪ Stowes Survey of London, Truſſel, Grafton.John Cade, Jack Straw, Wat Tyler, and others, who intended to murther the King, deſtroy the Nobles, Judges, Prelates, Lawyers, and chief Gent. they could meet with, than to ſeiſe upon their lands, eſtates, and make themſelves Kings, Lords in their ſteads, and ſhare the Kingdom, Government between them ▪ and by the (h)(h)Sleidens Comment, l. 7.11. Munſteri Coſmogr. l. 3. c. 142. David Chyrraeus, Chron. Saxoniae, l. 12, 13, 14.Anabaptiſts proceedings of like Nature at Munſter and other places in Germany; whom the preſent (i)(i)See the Animadverſions on the Welſh Remonſtrance, and anſwer to Killing no Murder.Levellers of this ſect would doubtleſſe imitate, could they get but ſufficient power into their hands.

My abſence in the Country whiles this Plea was printing, cauſed many material miſtakes of words, and one groſſe mutilated tranſpoſition in Cheddars caſe, in its firſt Edition, p. 48, 52. which I could not correct, moſt of the Books being diſperſed before I could get an Errata printed; and the ſmall time I had to compile it, neceſſitated me to omit many material Records, Preſidents Hiſtories pertinent to this Argument: Whereupon to right my ſelf, with the Lords whoſe cauſe I pleaded, and the Readers, I ſoon after reſolved to publiſh a corrected much inlarged Impreſſion thereof; but other publike Imployments and publications retarding it, and the whole Houſe of Lords ſome few Months after being forcibly ſuppreſſed, my ſelf, with ſundry other Members of the Comunions Houſe ſecured, ſecluded, and after that diſperſed and ſent cloſe priſoners by Mr. Bradſhaws illegal Warrants unto ſeveral remote Caſtles, without any hearing or cauſe expreſſed, or recompence for the Injuries, damages thereby ſuſtained; this much augmented Plea hath lyen dormant ever ſince, and had never been awaked to walk abroad in publike, had not the late loud unexpected Votes at Weſtm. of, a **As at firſt propounded voted, and urged at ſeveral conferences. See their Declarations and Papers of Feb. and March 17 and 19, 1648.NEW KING AND HOUSE OF LORDS under the Name▪ Notion of ANOTHER HOUSE, paſſed by ſome who had lately (c) ſuppreſſed, decryed, engaged againſt them both as uſeleſſe, dangerous, oppreſſive, burthenſom, tyrannical, &c. revived, and raiſed it out of the Grave of Oblivion.

The Subject matters principally debated and vindicated in it are only two. Firſt, That all the Dukes, Marqueſſes, Earls, Viſcounts, Barons, Lords of England have an undoubted antient, juſt Right, Privilege to ſit, vote in all Parliaments of England, without any election by or Commiſſion from the people, with the true grounds thereof. 2ly. That the judicial power, Judicature, and Jugdements in Parliament, belong wholly and ſoly to the King and Houſe of Lords, not to the Commons Houſe, and that in all criminal, civil, or eccleſiaſtical cauſes whatſoever proper for Parliaments to decide, both in the Caſes of Commoners and Clergy men, as well as Peers; who are onelyonly triable both in and out of Parliaments by their Peers, here plentifully evinced.

In debating theſe two points, I have briefly proved the Antiquity of our Lords and Nobles ſitting, …oting in all Parliamentary Great Councils, both under our Britiſh, Saxon, Daniſh, Norman, and Engliſh Kings, before any Knights, Citizens or Burgeſſes were admitted into our Councils, or Parliaments; which having more particularly demonſtrated by undeniable preſidents, in my Hiſtorical Collection of all the antient Great Councils and Parliaments of England; in my Antiquity triumphing over Novelty, p. 9, 10.55. to 85. and in my 1, 2, & 3. parts, of an Hiſtorical, Seaſonable Vindication and Collection of the fundamental Rights, Privileges, Laws, &c. of all Engliſh Freemen, printed 1655. 1656. & 1657. (wherein all the Great Councils, and Parliamentary aſſemblies from Brute to William the Conquerer, are Chronologically collected and epitomized:) I ſhall referr the Reader thereunto for full ſatisfaction of the Antiquity of our Parliamentary Councils, and the Lords conſtant ſitting, voting, judging in them.

2ly, Becauſe (l)(l)Polydor Virgil, Speed, Holinſhed, in Anno 1216. See here, p. 165. Iudge Dodderidge, Mr. Agar, Mr. Cambden, & Joſeph Holland, in their Treatiſes of the Antiquity of the Parliaments of England, p. 18, 19, 20, 40. 85, 87. Sir Walter Raleigh his Prerogative of the Parliaments of England, p. 2, 3. The Freeholders Grand Inqueſt. p. 13, 14.many of our late Hiſtorians, Antiquaries, Lawyers, and others, derive our Parliament as now conſtituted, and the calling of Knights, Citizens, and Burgeſſes to them, from the Parliamentary Council held at Salisbury in the 16. year of King Henry the 1. or at leaſt from King Henry the 2. his reign, (which the forged Imposture ſtiled Modus tenendi Parliamentum, and (m)(m)4 Inſtitutes, p. 12.Sir Edward Cook, ſeduced by it, would advance as high as Edward the Confeſſor, as if there had been Knights, Citizens and Burgeſſes uſually ſummoned to all Parliaments in his reign and ever ſince;) I have herein given you an account out of our antienteſt and beſt Hiſtorians, of all the Parliaments and Proceedings in them, both under King Henry the 1. & 2. and moſt others under their immediate Succeſſors, infallibly proving there were no Knights, Citizens▪ and Burgeſſes in the Parliaments held under either of them, and that their firſt ſummons to Parliaments (for ought appears) was but in 49 H. 3. not before, ſince which they have been uſually ſummoned, but yet in a various manner.

3ly. I have evidenced by many memorable Hiſtories, Preſidents, Records in all ages: (the moſt whereof were never mentioned by any who have formerly written of Parliaments) that the Judicature in our Parliaments reſides ſolely in the King and Houſe Lords, not only in all **See Walſingham, Hiſt. Angl. Anno 1 H. 4. p. 402. DOMINI in praeſenti Parliamento Regis ASSENSU IUDICANT & DECERNUNT, &c. & ulterius DOMINI TEMPORALES REGIS ASSENSU IUDICANT & DECERNUNT, &c.Criminal caſes of Lords, Peers, Commons, and in all Civil and eccleſiaſtical buſineſſes, Appeals, and Writs of Error there deſcided; but likewiſe in all caſes of Elections, breach, or allowance of privilege of Parliament, and miſdemeanours relating to the Houſe of Commons themſelves, their Speakers, Members, and menial Servants. To which I ſhall only add, That the late King in his printed (n)(n)Exact Collection, p. 321.Anſwer to the 19. Propoſitions of both Houſes, June 1642. thus declares: That the LORDS being truſted with a Iudicatory power, are an excellent Screen and Bank between the Prince and People, to aſsiſt each againſt any incroachments of the other; and by juſt judgements to preſerve that Law, which ought to be the Rule betwéen every one of the thrée.

4ly, I have herein for the benefit of all Students, Profeſſors of the Law, and others, (who take all Sir Edward Cooks Opinions, Records, for undoubted Oracles, without examination, and ſwallow down all his miſtakes) diſcovered many of his groſs Errors, overſights, miſrecitals and pervertings of Records, in matters relating to our Parliaments; evidenced his much magnified Modus tenendi Parliamentum, to be a meer late Impoſture, full of miſtakes, concerning the Antiquity and Judicature of the Commons Houſe; and **Here, p. 147. to 161.refuted Sir Edward Cooks miſtaken Law, as in other points, ſo in this: (2)(2)1 Inſtit. f. 9 b. 10 b. See 4 Inſtit. p. 6, 7. 44, 45, 46.That the Kings general writ of ſummons to any Knight or Eſquire to the Houſe of Lords, (by the name of Knight or Eſquire, without any special clauſe of creating him a Baron or Lord in the Writ.) doth neither ennoble himſelf, nor his heirs, nor make them Lords and Barons, though they ſit in the Lords Houſe (as he aſſerts, it doth;) unleſs they held by Barony of the King before, and were Barons by their Tenure: the general writs of ſummons ſtiling them only Knights and Eſquires, as before, not Lords or Barons, and having no clauſe in them, that will amount to the creation of a Lord, much leſs of a Baron, which Title, or word Baron is not mentioned in the Writ; nor doth it affix their Lordſhip or Barony to any particular place, as all (3)(3)Seldens Titles of Honor, p. 745, 746, 747, 748, 749.Writs and Patents that create men Lords or Barons uſe to do. For the further clearing of this point, you may obſerve, that the writs of ſummons in the Clauſe Rolls, do ſometimes ſtile the perſons ſummoned, Barons: thus all or moſt of the (4)(4)See my 1. Table to an Exact abridgment, &c, & the writs of ſummons in that abridgement.writs of ſummons from 25. E. 3. to 1 E. 4. are directed, Willielmo Baroni de Grayſtocke Chivaler: Radulpho, Johanni, & Radulpho Baroni de Graystocke ▪ Sometimes the writs ſtile them Lords; as (5)(5)An Exact abridgement, p. 549, 558, 633, 636, 637, 639, 640, 640. 645, 648, 649, 655, 660, 661, 668.Johanni Talbot Domino de Furnival, in 4 H. 5, &c. In Ann: 25, 27, 28, 29, 31, 33, 38 H. 6. and 2 E. 4. the writs are, Henrico Peircy DOMINO de Poymiger, DOMINO de Poynings, DOMINO de FERRARIIS de Groby, Thomae DOMINO de Roos, Richardo Woodvil Militi, DOMINO de Rivers; Roberto Hungerford Mil▪ DOMINO de Mollings, Willielmo Beuchamp, DOMINO de Sto Amando, Jacobo de Fynes, DOMINO de Say et Seal; Edwardo Gray Mil. DOMINO de Groby, H. DOMINO de Poynings, Johanni Sturton Mil. DOMINO de Sturton, Johanni DOMINO de Clinton, Edoardo Nevil DOMINO de Burgaveny, Willielmo Bourchier Mil. DOMINO de Fitzwarren, Henrico Bromflet DOMINO de VESSEY, Thomae Grey DOMINO de Richmond, Tho. Percie Mil. DOMINO de Egremont, Ricardo Wells DOMINO de Willoughby Mil: Richardo Fynes DOMINO de Dacre. Though in moſt antient and later writs, the word Dominus is omitted; and the name of the Barony only uſed▪ Somtimes there is a ſpecial clauſe of Creation in the writ it ſelf, as in Clauſe 27 H. 6. m. 26. dorſo; **An Exact abridgement, p. 637. Seldens Titles of Honor, p. 745.Henrico Bromfleet▪ Mil▪ crea…ing him & the heirs males of his body lawfully begotten Barons of Veſſey. Theſe writs which thus ſtile th… Barons, Lords, & create them ſuch by ſpecial clauſes, as patents doe, will make thoſe Knights and Eſquires, Lords or Barons, who were none before: but a General writ which terms them only Knights or Eſquires; and gives them neither the Title of Lords or Barons; nor creates them ſuch, cannot make themſelves or their poſterity Lords or Barons, unleſs they held by Barony, and then they are Barons only by Tenure, not Writ. This is clear, as I conceive, by the very year-books of 22 E. 3. f. 18. a. where a Juror in the Grand Aſsiſe was challenged, becauſe he was a Baner, or Baron, and this Challenge not allowed; car ſil ſoit a BANER, & ne tient pas per BARONI, il ſeruera in l'aſſiſe; By 48 E. 3. f. 30 b. Brook Challenge 37. where Sir Ralph Everden Knight brought a writ out of Chancery, and alſo a privy Seal to the Juſtices, rehearſing that he was a Baron, and commanding them to (6)(6)Fitz. N. Brev. f. 165. e.diſcharge him from being ſworn in Aſſiſes, becauſe Barons ought not to be ſworn in any Enqueſt or recogniſance againſt their wills. Whereupon Judge Belknap examined him, Sil tient per Borony? & ſil avera tout ceo temps Venus a Parlement come Baron duiſt vener ▪ who anſwered, That he held by a certain part of a Barony, and that he and his Anceſtors had alwayes held ſo: After which, upon good advice he was diſcharged. The tenure by Barony, and comming to Parliaments in Belknaps opinion being that which makes men Barons, not the general writ of Summons, unleſs they held by Barony: which Opinion is fortified by An. 3 H. 3. Fitzh. Preſcription, 56. M. 4 H. 3. Dower 180. M. 23 H. 3. Partition, 18. Tr. 18. 2 E. 2. Fitz. Aſſiſe 383. 39 E. 3.35. b. 34 H. 6.50. Trial. 18.35 H. 6.40. a. Sir Edward Cooks 4▪ Inſtit. p. 47. Gilbert de Ʋmphrevils caſe; with what Sir Edward himſelf hath obſerved in his 4 Inſtit. p. 5. which I thought fit to add (for further clearing of this moot-point) to what I have herein collected touching this Subject.

5ly, I have here, p. 57. to 132.243. to 258.264, to 267. 192. to 206, &c. produced many memorable preſidents and Records of our Lords and Barons magnanimous, ſtrenuous, unanimous oppoſitions of all Regal and Papal Uſurpations, Oppreſſions, Exactions, Encroachments on the peoples Liberties, or properties in former ages in our Parliaments; of their care, vigilancy, induſtry, courage to gain, retain, confirm, and perpetuate to poſterity thoſe Grand Charters of our Liberties, and Fundamental Laws, privileges, franchiſes, which we formerly enjoyed by their valour, and ſo long conteſted for both in Parliaments and the field, againſt the late King, with the prodigal expence of much Chriſtian bloud, and many Millions of Treaſure; Which yet now at laſt are almoſt totally loſt, betrayed, deſerted, diſowned both by the Nobility, Gentry, Lawyers, Clergy and Commonalty of the Nation, through baſe, unworthy, unchriſtian, unEngliſh, ignoble fear and cowardiſe, to their eternal infamy and reproach, unleſs the ††Num. 16.22. c. 27.16.Num 16:22God of the spirits of all fleſh, ſhall infuſe new life, and Engliſh Spirits into their spiritleſs, ſtupid, timorous, faint-hearted, ſlaviſh, and almoſt deſpairing Souls, by the ſerious contemplation of thoſe heroick preſidents of their anceſtors here repreſented to their view, eſpecially when publikely aſſembled in Parliament, and preſſed to burden the people with new Aydes and Taxes, though very rare, ſmall and inconſiderable, in reſpect of the manifold heavy inceſſant Taxes, Exciſes, Impoſts, which we have for many years laſt paſt ſuſteined, to fight our ſelves into greater ſlavery, beggary, confuſion every year than other, and haſten the total and final deſolation of Church, State, Religion, Laws, Liberties, Parliaments, kingdom, if▪ God of his infinite goodneſs prevent it not, by induing the Lords of the Great Council of Parliament, and all the Nobility, Clergy, Lawyers, Gentry, Commonalty, and Soldiery of the Land with Grace, wiſdom, underſtanding, magnanimity, unanimity and activity to know and purſue **Luke 19.42.Luke 19:42in this their day, the things which belong to their peace, liberty, eaſe and ſettlement; which ſhall be my daily Letany for them.

6ly, I have here publiſhed to your view, the Articles, proceedings, …udgements in Parliament againſt the two Spencers, Roger M…rtimer Earl of March, King Edward the 2. and Richard the 2. out of the Records themſelves, more fully, truly, than they are related by our **Walſingh. Truſſel, Hall, Fabian, Holinſhed, Grafton, Speed, Baker, Stow, and others.vulgar Historians, to rectify ſome miſtakes in them, and preſented you with the memorable petition of the Commons, and the Kings anſwer thereunto in the Parliament of 1 Edw. 4. ſetting forth his pedegree, Title to the Crown at large, diſproving the Titles of Henry the 4, 5, 6. branding them as meer Uſurpers; condemning Henry the 4. his depoſition and murder of King Richard the 2. as a moſt tyrannical, wicked, bloudy, unchriſtian act, Murder, execrable both to God and men, which dr…w down exemplary Judgements on the land, and occaſioned bloudy intestine wars; repealing all proceedings, Acts, Ordinances for the eſtabliſhment of this Uſurper: and attainting K. Henry the 6. his Queen, Son, and all their adherents of High Treaſon: A record never formerly publiſhed. And I have cleared theſe preſidents from thoſe falſe inferences, to prove, the Commons joynt intereſt in the Judicature of Parliament with the Lords, and juſtifie thoſe exorbitant proceedings, which ſome have erroniouſly deduced from them.

7ly, In this plea, I have for the moſt part recited the paſſages of our antient Parliaments and Records, in the ſame language our old Hiſtorians and Records relate them, both to avoid all ſuſpitions of any miſtranſlation, and becauſe their own language more elegantly expreſſeth them; and will give greater ſatisfaction to the learned of all profeſſions (for whoſe benefit and inſtruction I have chiefly publiſhed them, not for the illiterate vulgars) than any tranſlation whatſoever. If there be any lack-Latin Lords or Lawyers of ſo ignoble education or extraction, that they cannot underſtand them, I preſume they have ſome Chaplains, Secretaries, Steward, or Clerk belonging to them, or learned friends near them, who can interpret thoſe paſſages in it, which will be a ſhame for any Nobleman or Lawyer to profeſs in publike he underſtands nor; for if Lawyers underſtand not Latin or French Records when printed; how will they be able to read or make uſe of them in the Tower, or Treaſuries, the principal Magazines both of that kind of learning and Law, which concerns either our Parliamentary or State-affairs; which will be wholly loſt in few years more, if all Students of the Law (as many now do) turn Engliſh Lawyers only, and caſt off the uſe both of Latine and Law-French in their publike Mootes; the readieſt method to make them real Ignoramuſſes, and as void of Law, as of theſe Languages wherein the Records are regiſtred.

It is our Saviours obſervation, John 3.19, 20. That light is come into the world, and men love darkneſs more than light, becauſe their deeds are evil: For every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, leſt his deeds ſhould be diſcovered or reproved. And **Gal. 3.1. c. 4.15.Gal 3:1St. Paul complains of the fooliſh Galathians, whom ſome had bewitched that they ſhould not obey the truth; that though at firſt they ſo reſpected him, that if poſsible, they would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to him; yet ſoon after, reputed him to be their enemy, becauſe he told them the truth. I doubt the old and new Lights, and unknown Parliamentary truths, proceedings diſcovered to the ignorant blind world in this Plea, though amiable, delightfull in themſelves, and gratefull to all true Philopaters, Philologers, and lear…ed Nobles, Stateſmen, Lawyers, Scholars, (in this degenerous age, wherein all ſorts of Learning, and inſight in Records or Parliamentary Antiquities are very much decayed;) will yet be very diſpleaſing to ſome ſorts of ignorant, heady, extravagant perſons, who love darkneſs▪ more than light, becauſe their deeds are evil; but more eſpecially to the Anabaptiſtical Levellers, Lilburnians, innovating Publicans and Republicans; much like the ††Hab. 1.6, 9, 10▪Hab 1:6Hab 1:9Hab 1:10Chaldeans of old, a bitter, and haſty Nation, lately marching through the bre…th of the Land to poſſeſ… the dwelling places that are not theirs: they are terrible and dreadfull; their judgement and dignity proceedeth of themſelves; they are all for violence; they ſcoff at KINGS, AND PRINCES ARE A SCORN UNTO THEM, as appears by their late Votes, Declarations, Engagements, not only againſt Kings and Kingſhip, but the whole Houſe of Lords, and to …lliterate ſelf-conceited Lawyers, and ignorant Members of the Commons Houſe, who deem that Houſe, and its Committees, if not every Member of it, the only Supream Judges and Judicature of the Realm, paramount our Kings, Lords, Laws, Liberties, Great Charters, and all other Courts of Juſtice, having an abſolute, arbitrary, unlimited power, to act, vote and determine what they pleaſe, without appeal or conſult, which this Plea irrefragably diſproves as a moſt groſs and dangerous miſtake; for which they will frown upon it, if not …ate and proſecute me as their Enemy. But the Sun muſt not ceaſe from ſhining becauſe weak and ſore Eyes will be offended with its ſplendor, nor ſeaſonable truths of moſt publike concernment be concealed, ſmothered in time of greateſt need, becauſe ignorant, erronious, ſottiſh, …air-braind, Levellers or Innovator ††Ezech. 2.3. to 9.Ezek 2:3–9will be diſpleaſed with, and ſtorm againſt them, they being always **Nihil eſt veritatis luce dulcius, Cicero Ac. Quaeſt▪ l. 3.Sweet and lovely in themſelves, yea precious to the beſt of men▪ and will prove victorious in concluſion, though clouded, ſuppreſſed, maligned for the pre…ent; yea he who by the publication of ſuch truths, ††Prov. 28.23.Prov 28:23rebukes wiſe, ingenuous mens extravagant actions and opinions for the preſent, ſhall afterwards find more favour with them (when they come to know themſelves and their miſtakes, by meditating on the truths revealed to them) he… he that flattereth them with his lips, in their exorbitant actions, or erronious opinions.

I ſhall therefore recommend this Plea for the Lords, and all the truths therein diſcovered, aſſerted, to the omnipotent …rotection, and effectual bleſſing both of, (c)(c)Deut. 10.17. Pſal. 136.3. 1 Tim. 6.15. Rev. 17.14. c. 19.8.Deut 10:17Ps 136:31 Tim 6:15Rev 17:14THE LORD OF LORDS, and (d)(d)Deut. 31.4. Pſal. 31.5. Ier. 5.3. Iſay 56.24, 15.Deut 31:4Ps 31:5Jer 5:3Isa 56:24Isa 56:15GOD OF TRUTH, whoſe Eyes are upon the TRUTH, in this ſad age of Errors, Falſhoods, Lies, Fraud, and deſperate Hypocriſie, wherein truth is fallen in the Streets, and he that dares boldly aſſert it, is reputed mad, and maketh himſelf a prey: And ſhall leave it as a laſting monument to poſterity of my Cordial affection to the antient Parliamentary proceedings, Lords, Peers, Laws, Liberties, Properties, Great Charters of the Engliſh Nation, and my ſincere endeavours to plead their cauſe in the worſt of times, againſt all their Antagoniſts and profeſſed Enemies, though never ſo numerous and formidable, albeit to my own private prejudice.

Whatever the Reader ſhall find wanting in this Plea relating to the Conſtitution, Summons, Proceedings of our antient, Engliſh Parliaments in general, or to the power, Judicature, Rights, privileges, tranſactions of our Kings, Lords, or Houſe of Com. in Parl. in particular, you may read at leiſure in my Preface and Tables to An Exact Abridgement of the Records in the Tower of London, from the reign of King Edward the 2. to Richard the 3. and in the Abridgement it ſelf, collected by that famous Antiquarie, Sir Robert Cotton, lately publiſhed; which will better inſtruct the Readers in all Parliamentary affairs, than all the ſlight unſatisfactory Treatiſes of our Parliaments, hitherto publiſhed, except this Plea; which I humbly ſubmit to the friendly Imbrace, and impartial Cenſure of every Judicious Reader, eſpecially of my own profeſſion, for whom it is moſt proper; whoſe general ignorance and miſtakes in Parliament Antiquities, proceedings, and matters of the Crown, hath brought ſome disparagement upon the function, and led others into dangerous publike Errors; which that this Plea may wipe off, and rectifie hereafter for the common benefit, eaſe, ſettlement, re-eſtabliſhment of our late diſſipated Parliaments, and confuſed, diſtracted Nations, ſhall be the Vote and dayly prayer of

Thy unfeigned Friend, and his Countries publike unmercenary Servant, WILLIAM PRYNNE. Lincolns-Inne 6 Decemb. 1657.