Reasons Assigned, Objection
Objection.
IF any object,This Objection muſt be added juſt before: Secondly, Should I voluntarily ſubmit, &c. that true it is, the Parliament by the Common Law and cuſtome of the Realm determines by the Kings death; but by the Statute of 17. Caroli: which ena…ts, That this preſent Parliament now aſſembled ſhall not be diſſolved unleſſe it be by Act of Parliament to be paſſed for that purpoſe; continues this Parliament ſtil in being notwithſtanding the Kings beheading, ſince no Act of Parliament is paſſed for its diſſolution. The only pretext for to ſupport the continuance of the Parliament ſince the Kings violent death.
To this I Anſwer,Anſw. that it is a Maxime in Law; That every Statue ought to be expounded according to the intent of thoſe that made it, and the miſchiefs it intended only to prevent, as is reſolved in 4. Ed. 4.12. 12. Ed. 4.18. 1. Hen. 7.12.13. Plowd. Com. f. 369. and Cooks 4. Inſtit. p. 329.330. Now the intent of the Makers of this act, and the end of enacting it, was not to prevent the diſſolution of this Parliament by the Kings death (no ways intimated or inſinuated in any clauſe thereof, being a clear unavoidable diſſolution of it to all intents not provided for by this Law) but by any writ, or Proclamation of the King by his Regal power without conſent of both Houſes; which I ſhall manifeſt by theſe enſuing reaſons.
Firſt, from the principal occaſion of making this act. The King (as the Commons in their *Exact Collect. p. 5.6.Remonſtrance of the State of the Kingdom. 15. Decemb. 1642. complain) had diſſolved all former Parliaments during his raign without and againſt both Houſes approbation, to their great diſcontent and the Kingdoms prejudice, as his Father King James had diſſolved others in his reign: and during their continuance adjourned and prorogued them at their pleaſure. Now the fear and preventing of the like diſſolution, prorogation or adjournment of this Parliament after the Scotiſh Armies disbanding, before the things mentioned in the preamble were effected by the Kings abſolute power, was the only gronud and occaſion of this law (not any fear or thoughts of its diſſolution by the Kings untimely death, then not ſo much as imagined being before the wars or Iriſh Rebellion brake forth) The King very healthy not ancient, and likely then to ſurvive this Parliament and many others in both Houſes judgment, as appears by the bil for Triennial Parliaments. This undeniable Truth is expreſly declared by the Commons themſelves in their foreſaid Remonſtrance: Exact Collection p. 5.6.14.17. compared together, where in direct terms they affirme; The ABRUPT DISSOLUTION OF THIS PARLIAMENT is prevented by another bil by which it is provided it ſhall not be diſſolved or adjourned without the conſent of both H…uſes: In the bil for continuance of this preſent Parliament there ſeems TO BE SOME RESTRAINT OF THE ROYAL POWER IN DISSOLVING OF PARLIAMENTS; NOT TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE CROWN, BUT TO SUSPEND THE EXECUTION OF IT FOR THIS TIME and OCCASION ONLY; which was ſo neceſſary for THE KINGS OWN SECURITY and the publick Peace, that without it we could not have undertaken any of theſe great charges, but muſt have leſt both the Armies to diſorder and confuſion, and the whole Kingdom to blood and rapine.
In which paſſages we have a clear reſolution of the Commons themſelves, immediately after the paſſing of this Act; that the ſcope and intention of it was only to provide againſt the Kings abrupt diſſolution of the Parliament by the meer royal power in ſuſpending the execution of it for this time and occaſion only; and that for the Kings own ſecurity, (not his Heirs and Succeſſors) as wel as his peoples peace and ſafety. Therefore not againſt any diſſolutions of it by his natural (much leſſe his violent) death; which can no ways be interpreted, an Act of his Royal power, which they intended hereby, not to take out of the Crown, but only to ſuſpend the execution of it for this time and occaſion, and that for his ſecurity: but a natural impotency, or unnatural diſloyalty, which not only ſuſpends the execution of the Kings power for a time, but utterly deſtroys and takes away him and it without hopes of revival for ever.
Secondly, The very title of this act (An Act to prevent Inconveniences which may happen by the UNTIMELY adjourning, proroguing or DISSOLU…ION of this preſent Parliament) intimates as much, comp…red with the body of it, which provides, as wel againſt the adjourning and proroguing of both or duplicate page duplicate page either Houſes without an Act of Parliament, as againſt the diſſolution of the Parliament without an Act. Now the Parliament cannot poſſibly be ſaid to be adjourned or prorogued in any way or ſence, much leſs untimely, by the Kings death, (which never adjourned or prorogued any Parliament,) but only his by Proclamation, writ, or royal command, to the Houſes or their Speaker, executed during his life; as all our Journals, ‖6. E. 3. Parl. 2 Rot. Parl. 3. 6 5. R. 2. n. 64.65. 11. R 2. n. 14.16.20. 8. H 4. n 2.7. 27. H. 6. n. 12 28. H. 6. n. 8.9.11. 29. H. 6. n. 10 11. 31 H. 6. n. 22.30.49.Parliament Rolls and *Cook 4. Inſtit. p 25. Dyer. f. 203.Law-Books reſolve, though it may be diſſolved by his death, as wel as by his Proclamation, writ, or royal command. And therefore this title and act coupling adjourning, proroguing and diſſolving this Parliament together without conſent of both Houſes, by act of Parliament, intended only a diſſolution of this Parliament by ſuch Prerogative wayes and meanes by which Parliaments had formerly been untimely adjourned and prorogued as well as diſſolved by the Kings meer will without their aſſents; not of a diſſolution of it by the Kings death which never adjourned nor prorogued any Parliament, nor diſſolved any formerly ſitting Parliament in this Kings reign, or his Anceſtors ſince the death of King Henry the 4th; the only Parliament we read of diſſolved by death of the King ſince the conqueſt; and ſo a miſchief not intended nor remedied by Act.
Thirdly, The prologue of the act implies as much; Whereas great ſums of money muſt of neceſſity be SPEEDILY advanced & procured for the relief of HIS MAJESTIES ARMY and PEOPLE (not his Heirs or Succeſſors) in the Northern parts: &c. And for ſupply of other HIS MAJESTIES PRESENT and URGENT OCCASIONS (not his Heirs or Succeſſors future occaſions) which cannot be ſo timely effected as is requiſite, without credit for raiſing the ſaid monies; which credit cannot be attained, until ſuch obſtacles be firſt removed as are occaſioned BY FEAR, JEALOƲSIES and APPREHENSIONS OF DIVERS OF HIS MAJESTIES LOYAL SƲBJECTS THAT THE PARLIAMENT MAY BE ADJOƲRNED, PROROGƲED OR DISSOLƲED (not by the Kings ſodain or untimely death, of which there was then no fear, Jealouſy or apprehenſion in any his Majeſties Loyal Subjects, but by his Royal Prerogative and advice of ill Councellors) before juſtice ſhall be duly executed upon Delinquents; (then in being, not ſprung up ſince) publick grievances (then complained off) redreſſed, a firm peace betwixt the two Nations of England and Scotland concluded and before ſufficient proviſions be made for the repayment of THE SAID MONYES (not others ſince) ſo to be raiſed: All which the Commons in this preſent Parliament aſſ…mbled having duly conſidered, doe therefore humbly beſeech your Majeſty that it may be declared and enacted &c. All which expreſſions, related only TO HIS late Majeſty only, not his Heirs and Succeſſors; and the prnicipal ſcope of this act, to gain preſent credit to raiſe moneys to disband the Scotiſh and Engliſh Armies then lying upon the Kingdom; being many yeers ſince accompliſhed, yea and juſtice being ſince executed upon Strafford, Canterbury, and other Delinquents then complained of; the publick greivances then complained of (as Starchamber, High Commiſſion, ſhip-money, Tonnage and Poundage, fines for Knighthood, Biſhops votes in Parliament with their Courts and juriſdictions, and the like redreſſed by Acts ſoon after paſſed, and a firm peace between both Nations concluded before the wars began; and this preambles pretentions for this act fully ſatisfied divers years before the Kings beheading; it muſt of neceſſity be granted, that this Statute never intended to continue this Parliament on foot after the Kings deceaſe; eſpecially after the ends for which it was made were accompliſhed. And ſo it muſt neceſſarily be diſſolved by his Death.
Fourthly, This is moſt clear by the body of the Act it ſelf: And be it declared and enacted By THE KING OUR SOVERAGIN LORD, with the aſſent of the LORDS & Commonsin this PRESENT PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED, & by the authority of the ſame, That THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT NOW ASSEMBLED, ſhall not be DISSOLVED unleſſe it be By ACT OF PARLIAMENT TO BE PASSED FOR THAT PƲRPOSE; nor ſhall any time or times DƲRING THE CONTINƲANCE THEREOF BE PROROGƲED OR ADJOƲRNED unleſs it be By ACT OF PARLIAMENT to be likewiſe PASSED FOR THAT PURPOSE. And that THE HOUSE OF PEERS ſhall not at any time or times DURING THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT BE ADJOURNED, unleſs it be BY THEMSELVES; or BY THEIR OWN ORDER. And in like manner that THE HOƲSE OF COMMONS ſhall not at any time or times DƲRING THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT be adjourned unleſs it be BY THEMSELVES, or BY THEIR OWN ORDER. Whence it is undeniable, 1. that this act was only for the prevention of the untimely diſſolving, Proroguing and adjourning of that preſent Parliament then aſſembled, and no other. 2. That the King himſelf was the Principal Member of his Parliament, yea, our Soveraign Lord, and the ſole declarer and enacter of this Law, by the Lords and Commons aſſent. 3. That neither this Act for continuing, nor any other for diſſolving, adjourning or proroguing this Parliament could be made without, but only by and with the Kings Royal aſſent thereto; which the Lords and Commons aſſembled in Parliament in their *Exact Collect. p. 69.70.736.709.722.Remonſtrance of the 26. of May 1642: oft in termin…s acknowledge, together with his Negative voice to bils. 4. That it was neither the Kings intention in paſſing this act to ſhut himſelf out of Parliament, or create Members of a Parliament without a King, as he profeſſed in his foreign. c. 5. p. 27. Nor the Lords nor Commons intendment to diſmember him from his Parliament, or make themſelves a Parliament without him: as their foreſaid Remonſtrance teſtifies, and the words of the act import: Neither was it the Kings, Lords or Commons meaning by this act to ſet up a Parliament only of Commons (much leſs of a remnant of a Commons Houſe ſelected by Colonel Pride and his confederates of the Army to ſerve their turns and vote what they preſcribed) without either King or Houſe of Peers, much leſs to give them any ſupertranſcendent Authority to vote down and aboliſh the King and Houſe of Lords, and make them no Members of this preſent or any future Parliaments, without their own order or aſſent, againſt which ſo great uſurpation and late dangerous unparliamentary encroachments this very act expreſly provides in this clauſe, That the Houſe of Peers (wherein the King ſits as Soveraign when he pleaſeth) ſhall not at any time or times during this preſent Parliament be adjourned (much leſs then diſſolved, excluded or ſuſpended from ſitting or voting, which is the greater, and that by their inferiours in all kinds, a Fragment of the Commons Houſe, who can pretend no coulor of Juriſdiction over them, before whom they alwayes ſtood bare-headed like ſo many Grand-Jury-men before the Judges and attended at their Doores and Barr to know their pleaſures:) unleſſe it be by Themſelves, or by their own Order. 5. That neither the King, Lords nor Commons intended to ſet up a perpetuall Parliament, and intayl it upon them, their Heirs and Succeſſors for ever, by this Act, which would croſs and repeal the Act for trienniall Parliaments made at the ſame time; and on the ſame *Brook Parliament. 80. Relation 85. Dyer. 85.day in Law: but to make proviſion only againſt the untimely diſſolving of this, till the things mentioned in the Preamble were accompliſhed and ſetled; as the Preamble, and thoſe oft repeated words, any time or times, during the continuance of this preſent Parliament, conclude; and that during His Majeſties Reign and life, not after his death; as theſe words coupled with, The relief of His Majeſties Army and People; and for ſupply of His Majeſties preſent and urgent occaſions, in the Preamble manifeſt. Therefore this Act can no wayes continue it a Parliament after the Kings beheading; much leſs after the excluſion both of the King and Lords Houſe out of Parliament by thoſe now ſitting, contrary to the very letter and proviſion of this Act; by which deviſe the King alone, had he conquered and cut off, or ſecluded by his Forces the Lords and Commons houſe from ſitting, might with much more colour have made himſelf an abſolute Parliament to impoſe what Taxes and Lawes he pleaſed, without Lords or Commons on the people by vertue of this Act, then thoſe few Commons now ſitting ſince his tryall and death doe. 6. The laſt clauſe of this Act: And that all and every thing or things whatſoever DONE OR TO BE DONE (to wit by the King or His authority) for the adjournment, proroguing or diſſolving of THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT, CONTRARY TO THIS PRESENT ACT, SHALL BE ƲTTERLY VOID and of NONE EFFECT: Now death, and a diſſolution of this Parliament by the Kings death, cannot (as to the King) be properly ſtiled, A thing done or to be done (by Him) for the adjournment, proroguing or diſſolving of this Parliament, contrary to this preſent Act; which cannot make the Kings death utterly void and of none effect, by reſtoring him to his life again. Therefore the diſſolution of the Parliament by the Kings death, is clearly out of the words and intentions of this Act, eſpecially ſo many years after its Enacting. 7. This preſent Parliament and every Member thereof, being ſpecially ſummoned by the Kings Writ, only to be HIS Parliament and Councell, and to conferre with HIM of the great and urgent affaires concerning HIM and HIS Kingdom; and theſe Writs and Elections of them, returned unto HIM and HIS COURT by Indenture, and the perſons ſummoned and choſen by vertue of them appearing only in HIS Parliament, for no other ends but thoſe expreſſed in HIS WRITS; it would be both an abſurdity and abſolute impoſſibility to aſſert, that the Houſes intended by this Act to continue this Parliament in being after the Kings beheading or death: unleſs they that maintain this paradox be able to inform me and thoſe now ſitting, how they can conferr and adviſe wirh a dead King of things concerning Him and His Kingdom; and that even after they have extirpated Monarchy it ſelf, and made it Treaſon to aſſert or revive it; and how they can continue ſtill HIS Parliament and Councell whoſe head they have cut off: and that without reviving or raiſing him from his grave, or enſtalling His right Heir and Succeſſor in His Throne to repreſent His Perſon; neither of which they dare to doe, for fear of loſing their own Heads and Quarters too, for beheading him. This Tax therefore being impoſed on the Kingdom long after the Kings beheading, and the Parliaments diſſolution by it, muſt needs be illegall and meerly void in Law to all intents; becauſe not granted nor impoſed in, but out of Parliament; by thoſe who were then no Commons nor Members of a Parliament, and had no more authority to impoſe any Tax upon the Kingdom, then any other forty or fifty Commoners whatſoever out of Parliament, who may uſurp the like authority by this preſident to Tax the Kingdom or any County what they pleaſe, and then Levy it by an Army or force of Armes, to the peoples infinite, endleſs oppreſſion and undoing: This is my firſt and principall exception againſt the Legality of this Tax, which I deſire the Impoſers and Levyers of it moſt ſeriouſly to conſider; and that upon theſe important conſiderations from their own late Declarations.
Firſt, themſelves in their own Declaration of the 9th February, 1648. have proteſted to the whole Kingdom: That they are fully reſolved to maintain, and shall and will uphold, preſerve, and keep the fundamentall Lawes of this Nation, for, and concerning the PRESERVATION OF THE LIVES, PROPERTIES and LIBERTIES OF THE PEOPLE, with all things incident thereunto: which how it will ſtand with this Tax impoſed by them out of Parliament, or their Act concerning New TREASONS; I deſire they would ſatisfie me and the Kingdom, before they levy the one, or proceed upon the other againſt any of their fellow-Subjects, by meer arbitrary armed power againſt Law and Right.
Secondly, themſelves in their Declaration, expreſſing the grounds of their late proceedings, and ſetling the preſent Government in way of a Free-State, dated 17. Martii, 1648. engage themſelves: To procure the well-being of thoſe whom they ſerve: to renounce oppreſſion, arbitrary power, and all oppoſition to the peace and Freedome of the Nation: And to prevent to their power, the reviving of Tyrannie, Injuſtice, and all former evils (the only end and duty of all their Labors) to the ſatisfaction of all concerned in it. 2. They charge the late King for exceeding all His predeceſſors in the deſtruction of thoſe whom he was bound to preſerve; To manifeſt which they inſtance in The Loanes, unlawfull Impriſonments, and other Oppreſſions which produced that excellent Law of the Petition of Right; which were moſt of them again acted, preſently after the Law made againſt them, which was moſt palpably broken by him almoſt in every part of it, very ſoon after His ſolemn Conſent given unto it. 1Is not this the Armies & their own late and preſent practiſe?His impriſoning and proſecuting Members of Parliament, for oppoſing His unlawfull Will: and of divers 2Alderman Chambers the eminenteſt of them, is yet ſince this Declaration diſcharged by you for his loyalty and conſcience only.worthy Merchants for refuſing to pay Tonnage and Poundage, becauſe NOT GRANTED BY PARLIAMENT; yet 3And is it not ſo by you now, and tranſmitted unto the Exchequer to be levyed?exacted by HIM expreſly againſt Law; and puniſhment of many 4And do not you now the ſame, yea, ſome of thoſe very good Patriots?good Patriots, for not ſubmitting to whatſoever be pleaſed to demand, though NEVER SO MƲCH IN BREACH OF THE KNOWN LAW. The multitude of projects and Monopolies eſtabliſhed by Him. His deſigne and charge to bring in 5Are not the Generals and Armies Horſe and Foot too, kept up and continued among us for that very purpoſe, being ſome of them Germans too?Germane-Horſe, to awe us INTO SLAVERY: and his hopes of compleating all by His grand project of 6Not one quarter ſo grievous as the preſent Tax impoſed by you for the like purpoſeShip-money, to ſubject EVERY MANS ESTATE TO WHATSOEVER PROPORTION HE PLEASED TO IMPOSE UPON THEM. But above all the Engliſh Army was laboured by the King to be engaged againſt THE ENGLISH PARLIAMENT. A thing of that 7And is it not more unnaturall in thoſe now ſitting, to engage the Engliſh Army, raiſed by the Parliament of England, and covenanting to defend it from violence againſt the very Parliament of England and its Members, and that ſucceſſively twice after one another, and yet to own and ſupport this Army without righting thoſe Members?STRANGE IMPIETY and ƲNNATƲRALNESS for the King of England, to ſheath their ſwords in one anothers bowels, that nothing can anſwer it but his owne being a Foraigner: neither could it eaſily have purchaſed belief, but by his ſucceeding viſible actions in ful purſuance of the ſame. As the Kings coming in perſon to the 8Was not Pride's and the Armies comming thither to ſeiſe, and actually ſeiſing above Forty, and ſecluding above Two hundred Members, with Thouſands of armed Horſe and Foot, a thouſand times a greater offence, eſpecially after ſo many Declarations of the Houſes againſt this of the Kings?Houſe of Commons to ſeiſe the five Members, whether he was followed with 9Was not Humphrey Edwards now ſitting, an unduly elected Member, one of them thus armed?ſome hundreds of unworthy debauched perſons, armed with Swords and Piſtols, and other Armes; and they attending at the Doore of the Houſe, ready to execute whatſoever their Leader ſhould command them. The oppreſſions of the Councell-Table, Star-Chamber, High-Commiſſion, Court-Martiall, Wardſhips, Purveyances, Afforeſtations, and many others of like nature, (equalled, if not farr exceeded now by ſundry Arbitrary Committees and Sub-Committees, to name no others, in all manner of Oppreſſions and Injuſtice) concluding thus: Ʋpon all theſe and many other unparalleld offences, upon his breach of Faith, of Oaths and Proteſtations; upon the cry of the blood of England and Ireland: upon the tears of Widows and orphans, and childleſſe Parents, and millions of perſons undone by him, let all the world of indifferent men judge, whether the Parliament (you mean your ſelves only which made this Declaration) had not ſufficient cauſe to BRING THE KING TO JUSTICE: And much more you if you imitate or exceed him in all or any of theſe, even by your own verdit?
3. Themſelves charge the King with with profuſe Donations of ſalaries and penſions to ſuch as were found, or might be made ſit Inſtruments and promoters of Tyranny: which were ſupplied not by the legal juſtifiable revenue of the Crown, but by Projects and illegal ways OF DRAINING THE PEOPLES PƲRSES; all which miſchief and grievance they ſay wil be prevented in their free State; though the quite contrary way; as appears by the late large donation of ſome thouſands to Mr. Henry Martin, the Lord Liſle, ‖Hon. Martin is accomptable to the State for above 8700 l. which the Committee of accounts in two years time could never bring him to account for, and yet hath 3000. voted him lately for moneys pretended to be disburſted: to whom and for whom query.Commiſſary General Ireton and others of their Members and Inſtruments, upon pretence of Arrears, or Service, ſome of them out the moneys now impoſed for the releife of Ireland. And muſt we pay Taxes to be thus prodigally expended?
Fourthly, They therein promiſe and engage, That the good old Laws and Cuſtoms of England THE BADGES OF OUR FREEDOM (the benefit whereof our Anceſters enjoyed long before the conqueſt, and ſpent much of their blood to have confirmed by the Great Charter of the Liberties) and other excellent Laws which have continued in all former changes, and being duly executed, are THE MOST JƲST, FREE and equal of any other Laws in the world; ſhall be duly continued and maintained by them; the LIBERTY, PROPERTY and PEACE OF THE SƲBJECT BEING SO FƲLLY PRESERVED BY THEM, and the common intereſt of thoſe WHOM THEY SERVE. And if thoſe Lawes ſhould be taken away, all Jnduſtry muſt ceaſe; all miſery blood and confuſion would fellow, and greater Calamities, if poſſible, then fel upon us by the late Kings miſgovernment, would certainly involve all perſons, under which they muſt inevitably periſh.
5. They therein expreſly promiſe. p. 26. To order the revenue in ſuch a way, That the publick charges may be defrayed; The Souldiers pay juſtly and duly ſetled: That free-quarter may be wholy taken away and THE PEOPLE BE EASED IN THEIR BURTHENS and TAXES:Nota. And is this now all the eaſe we feel; to have all Burthens and Taxes, thus augmented; and that againſt Law by pretended acts made out of Parliament, againſt all theſe good old Lawes and Statutes, our Liberties and Properties, which theſe new Tax-Maſters have ſo newly and deeply engaged themſelves to maintain and preſerve without the leaſt diminution?
Thirdly, Both Houſes of Parliament joyntly, and the Houſe of Commons ſeverally in the late Parliament, with the approbation of all & conſent of moſt now ſitting, did in ſundry ‖Exact. Collect. p. 5 6.7.14 342.492Remonſtrances and Declarations publiſhed to the Kingdom, not only Tax the King and his evil Counſellors for impoſing illegal Taxes on the Subjects, contrary to the forecited acts; the maintenance whereof againſt all future violations and invaſions of the Peoples Liberties and Properties they made one principal ground of our late bloody expenſive wars; but likewiſe profeſſed; *Exact Collect p. 28.29.214.263.270.491.492.495 496.497.660.That they were ſpecially choſen and intruſted by the Kingdom in Parliament and owned it as their duty to hazzard their own lives and eſtates for preſervation of thoſe Laws and liberties, and uſe their beſt endeavours that the meaneſt of the Commonalty might enjoy them as their birthrights, as well as the greateſt Subject. That EVERY HONEST MAN (eſpecially THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE LATE PROTESTATION, and Solemn League and Covenant ſince) IS BOUND TO DEFEND THE LAWS and LIBERTIES OF THE KINGDOM againſt WIL and POWER▪ which impoſed WHAT PAYMENTS THEY THOUGHT FIT TO DRAIN THE SUBJECTS PURSES, and ſupply THOSE NECESSITIES (which their il Counſel had brought upon the King and Kingdom) And that they would be ready TO LIVE AND DYE with thoſe WORTHY and TRUE-HEARTED PATRIOTS OF THE GENTRY OF THIS NATION and others, who were ready to lay down their lives and fortunes for the maintenance of THEIR LAWS and LIBERTIES: with many ſuch like heroick expreſſions. Which muſt needs engage me (a Member of that Parliament, and Patriot of my Country) with all my ſtrength and power to oppoſe this injurious Tax, impoſed out of Parliament, though with the hazard of my life and fortunes; wherein all thoſe late Members who have joyned in theſe Remonſtrances are engaged by them to ſecond me; under paine of being adjudged unworthy for ever hereafter to ſit in any Parliament or to be truſted by their Counties and thoſe for whom they ſerved. And ſo much the rather to vindicate the late Houſes honour and reputation from thoſe predictious and printed aſperſions of the beheaded King; *Exact Collect. p. 285.286.298.320.322.378.379.381.513.514, 515. &c. 618.619.620.623.647. &c. 671.679. &c. A Collect. &c.p. 100.102. &c. 117.That the maintenance of the Laws, Liberties, Properties of the People, were but only guilded diſſimulations and ſpecious pretences to get power into their own hands, thereby to enable them to deſtroy and ſubvert both Lawes, Liberties, and Properties at laſt. And not any thing like them, to introduce Anarchy, Democracy, Parity, Tyranny in the Higheſt degree, and new formes of arbitrary Government, and leave neither King nor Gentleman: all which the people ſhould too late diſcover to their coſts and that they had obtained nothing by adhering to and compliance with them, but to enſlave and undoe themſelves, and to be laſt deſtroyed. Which royal Predictions many complaine we finde too truely verified by thoſe who now bear rule, under the Name and viſour of the Parliament of England, ſince its diſſolution by the Kings decapitation, and the Armies impriſoning and ſecluſion of the Members who above all others are obliged to diſprove them by their anſwers as wel as declarations to the people, who regard not words but reall performances from theſe new keepers of their Liberties; eſpecially in this FIRST YEAR OF ENGLANDS FREEDOM engraven on all their publick Seals, which elſe will but ſeal their Selfdamnation and proclaim them the Archeſt Impoſtors under Heaven.
Secondly, Should I voluntarily ſubmit, &c.
ERRATA.
Page 2. line 17. read, Peruſers: l. 36. r. argued: p. 3. l. 14. r. by: l. 16. for 4. r. 14. p 4. l. 29 dele. by: l. 36. r conſenting: p. 5. l. 17. for 74 r. 49 H. 3 l. 20. r. and p. 6. l. 2. for Aſportatis Religioſorum: The Statute of Sheriffs, 9. E. 2. and of the Templers 17. E. 2. to mention no more: l. 20. dele have: p. 7, l. 2. r. ſwear: l. 7. r. 13 E. 3. l. 15. r. ſitting: l. 27. r. 8 H 6. p. 8. l. 4. r. an. p. 9. l. 9. r. read: l 21. dele as; p. 10. l. 13. for 27, r. 32. l. 14. r. Banneret; p. 11. l. 12. r. God: l 37. dele the: p. 12. l, 27, r. perjutious; p. 16. l. 2. r. thoſe.
End of the text · William Prynne, Reasons Assigned (1649)