The Sovereign Power of Parliaments and Kingdoms, Title page 3 – Dedication
THE THIRD PART OF THE SOVERAIGNE POWER OF PARLIAMENTS and KINGDOMES. Wherein the Parliaments present Necessary Defensive Warre against the Kings offensive Malignant, Popish forces; and Subjects taking up Defensive Armes against their Soveraignes, and their Armies in some Cases, is copiously manifested, to be Iust, Lawfull, both in point of Law and Conscience; and neither Treason nor Rebellion in either; by inpregnable Reasons and Authorities of all kindes. Together With a Satisfactory Answer to all Objections, from Law, Scripture, Fathers, Reason, hitherto alledged by Dr. Ferne, or any other late opposite Pamphleters, whose grosse Mistakes in true Stating of the present Controversie, in sundry points of Divinity, Antiquity, History, with their absurd irrationall Logicke and Theologie, are here more fully discovered, refuted, than hitherto they have been by any: Besides other particulars of great concernment. By WILLIAM PRYNNE, Utter-Barrester, of Lincolnes Inne.
2 Sam. 10. 12.
Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our People, and for the City of our God, and the Lord doe what seemeth him good.
Esther 9. 1, 2. 5, 10.
In the day that the enemies of the Iewes hoped to have power over them, the Iewes gathered themselves together into their Cities, throughout all the Provinces of King Ahashuerus, to lay hand on those that sought their lives, and no man could withstand them; for the feare of them fell upon all people. Thus the Iewes smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter and destruction; and did what they would with those that hated them; but on the spoile laid they not their hand.
It is this eighth day of May, 1643. Ordered by the Committee of the House of Commons in Parliament for Printing, that this Booke, Intituled, The third Part of the Soveraign Power of Parliaments and Kingdomes, be Printed by Michael Sparke, senior.
Iohn White.
Printed at London for Michael Sparke, Senior. 1643.
TO HIS EVER-HONOVRED, NOBLE, KINDE FRIENDS, THE Right Honourable Lord Ferdinando Fairfax, the Right Worshipfull, Sir William Waller, and Sir William Bruerton, Knights, Commanders in Chiefe, of the Parliaments Forces, in severall Counties.
Deservedly Renowned Worthies,
YOVR Incomparable Valour, Zeale, Activity, Industry for the preservation of Your Dearest Country, Religion, Lawes, Liberties, and the very being of Parliaments, all now endangered by an unnaturall generation of Popish and Malignant Vipers, lately risen up in Armes against them in diverse parts of this Realme; and those many miraculous Victories with which God hath beene lately pleased to Crowne your cordiall endeavours, to promote his glory and the Publicke safety, as they have justly demerited some gratefull generall Acknowledgements from the whole Representative Body of the State; so they may in some sort challenge a private gratulatory Retribution from Me, who have formerly had the happinesse to participate in your Christian Affections, and now reape much Consolation by your Heroick Actions.
Having therefore seasonably finished this Third part, Of the Soveraigne Power of Parliaments and Kingdoms; copiously Vindicating, the Lawfulnesse, Iustnesse of the Parliaments present Necessary Defensive Warre (in which you have had the Honour to be imployed, not onelyonly as Chiefe, but which is more, as most successefull Commanders, in your severall Countries,) in point both of Law and Conscience; and fully wiping off those blacke Aspersions, of TREASON and REBELLION, which the opposite party (really guilty of these crimes against both King and Kingdome, as I have*Part 1. Edit. 2 p. 108, to 112. elsewhere manifested, and here lightly touched) have out of Malice, Ignorance, or both conjoyned, most injuriously cast upon your Loyall, honourable proceedings, which rejoyce the soules of all true Philopa…ers, who cordially affect their Country or Religion; I could not, without much ingratitude, yea injustice, have published it to the world, but under the Patronage of your ever-honored res…lendent names, who have so valorously, so successefully pleaded this Cause already in the Field, that it needs the lesse assistance from the Presse.
My many inevitable interruptions and straites of time in its contexture, which may happily detract something from its perfection; shall I hope, derogate nothing from your Honourable, Friendly acceptation; whom I have thus conjoyned in the Dedication; because the Parliament hath united you in their present Warlike employments, and God himselfe joyntly honoured you with successe, even to admiration among the Good, indignation amidst Malignants, envy with the Malicious, and, I trust, to an active sedulous em…lation in all your Fellow Commanders, imployed in other Quarters in the selfesame Cause.
Your present busie publike, and mine owne private Imployments, prohibite me to expatiate; Wherefore earnestly beseeching the Glorious Lord of Hosts to be ever mightily present with your severall Noble Persons, Forces, and to make you alwayes eminently, active, Valorous, Victorious, as hitherto he hath done, till Peace and Truth, Tranquillity and Piety, by your severall triumphant Proceedings, shall once more lovingly embrace and kisse each other in our divided unreformed, sinfull Kingdome; And till the effect of these just warres You manage, shall be quietnesse and assurance to us and our Posterities after us for ever; I humbly recommend your Persons, Proceedings to his protection who can secure you in and from all dangers of warre, and rest,
Your Honours, Worships most affectionate Friend and Servant, WILLIAM PRYNNE.