The Dissonant Harmony of Sacred Public Oaths, Floating text

The Dissonant Harmony of Sacred Public Oaths · Floating text

p. 8¶A Solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and defence of Religion, the Honour and Happineſs of the King, and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

WE Noblemen, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgeſſes, Miniſters of the Goſpel, and Commons of all ſorts, in the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by the Providence of God living under one King, and being of one Reformed Religion, having before our eyes the glory of God, and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, the honour and happineſs of the Kings Majeſty, and his Poſterity, and the true Publique Liberty, Safety, and Peace of the Kingdoms, wherein every ones private condition is included; and calling to minde the treacherous and bloudy plots, Conſpiracies, Attempts, and practiſes of the Enemies of God, againſt the true religion and profeſſors thereof in all places, eſpecially in theſe three kingdoms ever ſince the reformation of Religion, and how much their rage, power, and preſumption are of late, and at this time increaſed and exerciſed; whereof the deplorable eſtate of the Church and kingdom of Ireland, the distreſſed eſtate of the Church and Kingdom of England, and the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland, are preſent and publike Teſtimonies: We have now at last, (after other means of Supplication, Remonstrance, Proteſtations and ſufferings,) for the preſervation of our ſelves and our religion from utter ruine and destruction, according to the commendable practice of theſe kingdoms in former times, and the Example of Gods people in other Nations; after mature deliberation, reſolved and determined to enter into a mutual and Solemn League and Covenant, wherein we all ſubſcribe, and each one of us for himſelf, with hands lifted up to the moſt high God, do ſwear.

p. 9I. THat we ſhall ſincerely, really and conſtantly, through the Grace of God, endeavour in our ſeveral places and callings, the preſervation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland, in Doctrine, Worſhip, Diſcipline and Government, according to the Word of God, and the Example of the beſt Reformed Churches; And ſhall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms, to the neareſt conjunction and uniformity in Religion, Confeſſion of Faith, Form of Church-Government, Directory for Worſhip and Catechiſing; That we and our poſterity after us, may as Brethren, live in Faith and Love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midſt of us.

II. That we ſhall in like manner, without reſpect of perſons, indeavour the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, (that is, Church-Government by Arch-Biſhops, Biſhops, their Chancellors and Commiſſaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Archdeacons, and all other Eccleſiaſtical Officers depending on that Hierarchy) Superſtition, Hereſie, Schiſme, Profaneneſs, and whatſoeuer ſhall be found to be contrary to ſound Doctrine, and the power of Godlineſs; leſt we partake in other mens ſins, and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues, and that the Lord may be one, and his Name one, in the three Kingdoms.

III. We ſhall with the ſame ſincerity, Quaere, whether this be not violated in every branch in the higheſt degree?reality, and conſtancy, in our ſeveral Vocations, endeavour with our eſtates and lives, mutually to preſerve the Rights and Privileges of the Parliaments, and the Liberties of the Kingdoms, and to preſerve and defend the Kings Majeſties perſon and authority, in the preſervation and defence of the true Religion, and Liberties of the Kingdoms; that the world may bear witneſs with our conſciences of our Loyalty, and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminiſh his Majeſties juſt power and greatneſs.

IV. We ſhall alſo with all faithfullneſs endeavour the diſcoverie of all ſuch as have been, or ſhall be Incendiaries, Malignants, or evil, Inſtruments, by hindering the reformation of Religion, dividing the King from his people, or one of the Kingdoms from another, making any Faction or parties amongſt the people, contrary to this League p. 10and Covenant, that they may be brought to publike trial, and receive condigne puniſhment, as the degree of their offences ſhall require or deſerve, or the Supreme Judicatories of both Kingdoms reſpectively, or other, having power from them for that effect, ſhall judge convenient.

V. And whereas the happineſs of a bleſſed Peace between theſe Kingdoms, denied in former times to our Progenitors, is by the good providence of God granted unto us, and hath been lately concluded, and ſetled by both Parliaments, we ſhall each one of us, according to our place and intereſt, indeavour that they may remain conjoyned in a firm peace and union to all poſteritie; And that Juſtice may be done upon the willfull oppoſers thereof, in manner expreſſed in the precedent Articles.

VI. We ſhall alſo according to our places and callings in this common cauſe of Religion, Liberty and peace of the Kingdoms, aſſiſt and defend all thoſe that enter into this League and Covenant, in the maintaining and purſuing thereof, and ſhall not ſuffer our ſelves directly or indirectly by whatſoever combination, perſwaſion, or terror, to be divided, and withdrawn from this bleſſed union and conjunction, whether to make defection to the contrary part, or to give our ſelves to a deteſtable indifferency or neutrality in this cauſe, which ſo much concexneth the glory of God, the good of the Kingdoms, and the honour of the King; but ſhall all the dayes of our lives, zealouſly and conſtantly continue therein, againſt all oppoſition, and promote the ſame according to our power, againſt all Lets and Impediments whatſoever: and what we are not able our ſelves to ſuppreſs or overcome, we ſhall reveal and make known, that it may be timely prevented or removed; All which we ſhall doe as in the ſight of God.

And becauſe theſe Kingdoms are guilty of many ſins and provocations againſt God, and his Son Jeſus Chriſt, as is too manifeſt by our preſent diſtreſſes and dangers, the fruits thereof; we profeſſe and declare before God and the World, our unfeined deſire to be humbled for our own ſins, and for the ſins of theſe Kingdoms, eſpecially, that we have not as we ought, valued the ineſtimable benefit of the Goſpel, that we have not laboured for the purity and power thereof, p. 11that we have not endeavoured to receive Chriſt in our hearts, nor to walk worthy of him in our lives, which are the cauſes of other ſins and Tranſgreſsions, ſo much abounding amongſt us; And our true and unfeigned purpoſe, deſire, and indeauour for our ſelves, and all others under our power and charge, both in publique and private, in all duties we owe to God and man, to amend our lives, and each one to go before another in the example of a real Reformation, that the Lord may turn away his wrath and indignation, and eſtabliſh theſe Churches and Kingdomes in truth and peace And this Covenant we make in the preſence of Almighty God the Searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the ſame, as we ſhall anſwer at that great day, when the ſecrets of all hearts ſhall be diſcloſed. Moſt humbly beſeeching the Lord to ſtrengthen us by his Holy Spirit for this end, and to bleſs our deſires and proceedings with ſuch ſucceſs, as may be deliverance and ſafety to his people, and encouragement to other Chriſtian Churches groaning under, or in danger of the yoke of Antichriſtian tyranny, to joyn in the ſame, or like Aſſociation and Covenant, to the glory of God, the enlargement of the Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt, and the peace and Tranquility of Chriſtian Kingdoms and Commonwealths. Subſcribed by William Lenthal Speaker, Sir Henry Vane junior, and moſt now ſitting.

Yet notwithſtanding all theſe moſt ſolemn, ſacred, legal Oaths, this Proteſtation, Solemn League and Covenant, ſweetly according with and ratifying each other, the remaining Fragment of the Commons Houſe, ſitting under the power of the Army, not only violated them all in the Higheſt degree, by their proceedings againſt the late King, his Heirs and Succeſſors to the Imperial Crown, the Royal poſterity, Kingſhip, Kingdom, Lords Houſe, and their ſecluded fellow Members, but alſo took upon them to ſuppreſs and ſet aſide theſe Oathes, yea to brand and ſtigmatize them, for Vnlawfull Oathes; to abſolve themſelves, with all others from them; and to ſet up an Ingagement of their own framing, in diametrical Oppoſition againſt all and every of them, impoſed on all the three Nations with ſtricteſt ſeverity, by their New Knack of 6. September 1649. diſabling all Freemen of this Nation to ſue in any Court of Juſtice whatſoever, or to enjoy any Civil, Eccleſiaſtical or Military Office, benefice, p. 12augmentation, trust, or degree of Learning in the Vniverſities or Innes of Court, and debarring all Lawyers, Attornies from their practice, by a new kinde of Praemunire, who ſhould not take and ſubſcribe this Engagement: which the whole Houſe of Commons (having not the leaſt legal Power toggExact Collelection, p. 769. Exact Abridgement of the Records in the Tower, p. 157. 176. 454. See Oath in the Table. administer any uſual Oath to Witneſſes, or any perſon whatſoever in any caſe or Age,) had neither Authority nor Power to impoſe upon the Nation, were it conſonant to the precedent Oaths, Protestation, Covenant much leſs then the Vnparliamentary Conventicle, ſitting after the Kings beheading, the Lords and Majority of the Commons forcible ſecluſion, and the hhSee my True and perfect Narrative, p. 22 to 40. 92.Parliaments actual diſſolution thereby; when diametrically repugnant to all theſe legal Oaths, and to the Petition of Right it ſelf, 3 Caroli, complaining, providing againſt the future adminiſtring of any Oath not warrantable by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm, in preciſe Terms; and whether this Engagement, be not ſuch, let all Lawyers, Divines, and conſciencious Engliſhmen reſolve.

I do declare and promiſe, That I will be true and faithfull to the Common-wealth of England, as it is now eſtabliſhed, without a King or Houſe of Lords▪

All the Officers, Souldiers of the Army, and Garriſons through England and Ireland, were the firſt men who ſubſcribed it, and returned their Subſcriptions in Parchment-Rolls to their Journey-men and Creatures at Weſtminſter; who thereupon thought themſelves and their Government, (though founded upon Bloud, Treachery, Perjury,) as laſting and perpetual, as if it had been founded on a Rock, and the ſincereſt Principles of Piety, Juſtice, Righteouſneſs, and general publick National conſent. But thoſe very firſt Engagers to them, when they had done their Drudgery, and oppreſſed the Nation with doubled and trebled Taxes to ſupport their bloody wars by Land and Sea againſt their Proteſtant King, and Brethren of Scotland & the Netherlands, on the 20th. of April 1653.iiThe true ſtate of the caſe of the Common-wealth, p. 9, 11. ſodenly turned them out of Doors, and power, with force and higheſt contempt, as perſons wholy perverting the ends of Parliament, oppreſſing the people, making Gain the main of their Buſineſs, and utterly impoſſible in that corrupt eſtate, in the judgements of the moſt moderate men to p. 13come the inſtruments of our long deſired Eſtabliſhment. And then ſetting up a Protector over their Infant Common-wealth much againſt their wills, the Mock-Parliament under him (whiles above 150 Members duly elected, moſt confided in by the Country were forcibly ſecluded) by their Additional Petition and Addreſſe, the 26th. of June 1647. impoſed this new Oath on all Counſellors of State, and Members of Parliament.

I A. B. do in the preſence of God Almighty promiſe and ſwear, That to the uttermoſt of my Power I will uphold and maintain the true reformed Proteſtant Religion, in the purity thereof, as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, and encourage the Profeſſion and Profeſſors of the ſame. And that I will be true and faithfull to his Highneſſe the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging as chief Magiſtrate thereof. And ſhall not contrive, deſign or attempt any thing againſt the Perſon or lawfull Authority of the Lord Protector; ſhall keep ſecret all matters that ſhall be treated of in Counſel, and put under ſecrecy, and not reveal them but by Command, or conſent of his Highneſſe, the Parliament, or the Counſel; and ſhall in all things faithfully perform the truſt committed to me, as a Counſellour, according to the beſt of my underſtanding, in order to the good Government, peace and wellfare of theſe Natiions. And ſhall endeavour as much as in me lyes, as a Member of Parliament, the preſervation of the Rights and Liberties of the People.

Theſe Oaths were ſworn (by many of thoſe, who had taken the premiſed Oaths, Proteſtation, Solemn League and Covenant, and the Engagement too,) both to their Protector Oliver and his Son Richard, with whom the Army-Officers, Souldiers, and ſundry others in the name of moſt Counties and Corporations of England, Scotland, and Ireland, in their ſpecial Addreſſes to Richard, faithfully promiſed to live and die: yet lo within few Months after, notwithſtanding theſe Oaths and Addreſſes, by a miraculous Divine providence (admirable in all conſiderate mens eyes) they not only all deſerted, but degraded him from his Protectorſhip, without one ſtroke, or drop of blood ſpilt, or Sword p. 14drawn in his quarrel; after ſo much Chriſtian bloud ſhed, ſo many Millions of Treaſure ſpent, and many years travel, care, by his Father Oliver, to eſtabliſh his Poſterity in this new-erected Supremacy, Protectorſhip; and that by his own Army-Officers, and neareſt, moſt endeared Relations, even in a moment, beyond all probability or poſſibility in humane apprehenſion.

To accompliſh this ſtrange unexpected work, the Army-Officers called in the old Vnparliamentary Iuncto ſitting ſince the year 1648. till April 20. 1653. whom they formerly diſſolved and unparliamented, ſecluding all the reſt of the old Parliament ſitting till December. 6. 1648. by force and armed guards, with the whole Houſe of Lords, re-creating them alone for a Parliament: who uſurping to themſelves the name and power of a Parliament. againſt both Law. Equity, Reaſon; diſmounted his Son Richard from his Protectorſhip, unlorded, degraded his New other Houſe of Muſhrom Lords, and new dubbed Knights, caſhiered ſome of the Army-Colonells, and other Officers, who helped to make them a Parliament, & him a Protector; and may gratifie the reſt in this kinde; Commiſſioned ſome, whom Oliver caſhiered; turned moſt of his Council, Commiſſioners, Judges, Creatures out of their Offices; and pulled down moſt of that he ſet up with force and blood. Who now thinking themſelves ſecure, and forgetting all their former, with theſe late ſodain Revolutions, Changes, as the juſt rewards of perfidious breaches of Oaths; Proteſtations, Covenants to their lawfull Soveraigns, they hav now afreſh to make us a Freestate, not only doubled our former Taxes in effect, and more than trebled them by a moſt arbitrary new Militia on many, but alſo by a New Bill, appointed an Oath to be taken by their Iudges, Iustices of the Peace, and other Officers, in form following.

You ſhall ſwear, That you ſhall be true, faithfull and conſtant to this Commonwealth, without a ſingle Perſon, Kingſhip, or Houſe of Lords.

Which‖‖Juramenta illicita, jurari. et jurata ſervari non debent. Gratian Cauſa 22. qu. 4. throughout. illegal Oath, ſo diametrically contrary to the former, it ſwallowed by their unarmed Judges, Juſtices, and other civil Officers out of fear, will in time be impoſed on the Army Officers, Soldiers, and all others, as their former Ingagement was, with as ſevere penalties.

p. 15Having preſented you with theſe contradictory, repugnant, irreconcileable Oathes, Proteſtations, Covenants and Engagements, I ſhall propoſe ſome few caſes of conſcience upon them, in this age, when Conſcience is ſo much pretended, and Liberty of Conſcience ſo much preſſed, that tendernes of Conſcience, and Conſcience it ſelf, are hardly to be found in the greateſt pretenders to them.

1. Whether all lawfull ſacred Oaths, Vowes, Covenants, Proteſtations. doe notiiSt. Aug. de Verbis Apoſtoli. Serm. 30. Gratian. Cauſ. 22. qu. 1, 2, 5. Grotius de Jure Belli & Pacis, l. 2. c. 13. Jusjurandum habetur apud omnes ultimum atque firmiſſimum & fidei mutuae & veracitatis pignus. Procopius Perſi… corum. l. 2. Ultima fides inter homines tum G…a…cos, tum Barbaro, quam nulla delebit aetas, eſt ea quam per jurata pacta ſponſeres adh…bet Deos. Dionyſ. Hallicarnaſt. Antiqu. Rom. Nullum Vinculum ad adſtringendam fidem, majores neſt…i Juramento arctius eſſe voluerunt. Cice… Offic. l. 1. firmly, immutably, inviolably bind the ſouls, conſciences, of all that take them, to an Abſolute, indiſpenſible, ſincere, faithful performance, and ſtrict obſervation of them, to the uttermoſt of their power in all eſtates and conditions, as is evident by Numb. 30. 2. to 14. Joſh 9. 19, 20. Gal. 3. 15. Deut. 23. 22, 23. Judg. 11. 30. 39. Job 22. 27 Pſ. 15. 4. Pſ. 22. 25 Pſ. 61. 8. Pſ. 66. 13. Pſ. 116 14, 18. Pſ. 132. 2, 3, &c. Eccleſ. 5. 4. Jer. 44. 25. Jonah 2 9. Iſay 19. 21. Nah. 1. 15. Gen. 21. 23, 24, 31. c. 24. 3. to 10. 37. to 47. c 26. 3 31. c. 47. 31. c. 50. 5, 6. Levit. 19. 12. Joſh. 2. 12. 17. 20. Judg. 15. 12, 13. Deut. 8. 12. Joſh. 21. 43, 44. 1 Kings 1. 13. 17. 29, 30. 2 Chron. 36. 13. Ezra 10. 5. Neh. 13. 25. Jer. 4. 2. c 11. 5. Mat. 5. 33. 1 Kings 15. 3, 4, 5. 2 Chron. 21. 5, 6, 7. compared with Hebr 6. 16, 17, 18. An Oath for confirmation is to men an end of all strife: wherfore God willing more abundantly to ſhew unto the heirs of promiſe the immutability of his Counſel, confirmed it with an Oath, that by two Immutable things (his Oath and Covenant) in which it is impoſſible for God to lie, we might have ſtrong conſolation. Pſ. 89. 3. 34. I have made a Covenant with my choſen, I have ſworn unto David my Servant. My Covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lipps. Once have I ſworn by my holineſs that I will not lie unto David, Pſ. 132. 11. The Lord hath ſworn in truth unto David, he will not turn from it. Jer. 33. 20. 21. Thus ſaith the Lord, If you can break my Covenant of the day, and my Covenant of the night, and that there ſhould not be day and night in their ſeaſon. Then may alſo my Covenant be broken with David my Servant, that he ſhould not have a Son to reign upon his throne. If Gods Oaths and Covenants to mortal ſinful men be thus true, conſtants, ſincere, firme, unalterable, immutable; then by like p. 16reaſon ſhould mens Oaths and Covenants to God and their lawfull Kings be ſuch, as Pſal. 15. 4. Eccleſ. 8. 2. Gal. 3. 15. Levit. 30. 2. to 14. and the other forecited Texts reſolve.

2ly. Whether the late violation through fear, or ſelf-reſpects, much more the wilfull juſtification, perjurious repeal, abrogation, abjuration of our ſacred lawful Oaths, proteſtation, Covenant, be not akkS. Auguſtin, Gratian, & Grotius: ibidem. Caelius Rhodiginus Lectionum Antiq. l. 21. c, 15, moſt deteſtable, crying, ſcandalous, damning ſin, exceedingly diſhonorable to God, injurious to Religion; & drawing down ſad, private, perſonal and National judgements, on thoſe who are notoriouſly guilty thereof, as is moſt apparent by Ezech. 16. 59. c. 17. 13. to 27. Zech. 8. 17. c. 5. 3, 4. Hoſ. 10. 4. Lev. 6. 3, 4. c. 19. 12. Prov. 24. 21, 22. Jer. 5. 2. c. 7. 9. to 17. c. 34. 8. to 22. c. 52. 3, 4. Deut. 31. 20. c. 29. 20. to 29. Pſ. 78. 10. 37. 57. to 65. 2 Chron. 36. 13. Joſh. 9. 20. 2 Sam. 21. 1. to 11. Jer. 23. 10. Rom. 1. 31, 32. 1 Tim. 1. 10. worthy ſad and ſerious peruſal. And whether thoſe who are deeply guilty of theſe ſins, can ever expect to enter into heaven, ſince this is made the ſpecial character of a Citizen of Zion, Who ſhall dwell in Gods holy hill, Pſal. 15. 1, 2, 4. He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteouſneſs, and ſpeaketh the truth from his heart, He that ſweareth to his own Hurt and changeth not, much more then when for his own and the publick good.

3ly. Whether thoſe who have made, taken, and equally violated all or moſt of theſe contradictory Oathes, Proteſtations, Covenants, Ingagements alike, be not perjured perſons, and Covenant-breakers in folio, void of all real fear of God, truth, faith, conſcience, honeſty, religion, if the premiſed Scriptures, or Eccleſ. 9. 2 Acts 5. 3, 4, 5. may be credited? And whether thoſe who have been thus perfidious, perjurious, fidef…agus, treacherous to all others, can in point of juſtice, conſcience, prudence, policy, impoſe an Oath upon all or any others, to be true, faithfull and conſtant, in their Oaths Covenants, trusts and obedience unto them? (eſpecially before themſelves have taken any ſuch Oath, to be true, faithfull, conſtant to their own principles, or any fixed ſetled Government:) ſince they have taught them to be treacherous, perfidious, diſloyal, by their own precedent examples; and God himſelf hath denounced this Wo, and retaliation againſt ſuch, Iſay 33. 1. Wo unto thee that dealeſt treacherouſly, and they dealt not treacherouſly p. 17with thee; when thou ſhalt make an end to deal treacherouſly, they ſhall deal treacherouſly with thee. Which we have ſeen verified of late in ſundry particulars even to admiration, by divine retaliation, to deterr all henceforth from the dangerous ſin of Perjury, Treachery, Oath and Covenant breaking.

4ly. Whether it be not a moſt impious, unchriſtian, execrable, if not Atheiſtical practice, for any perſons whatſoever (eſpecially without any colour of Parliamentary Authority) to impoſe any Oath, Vow, or illegal Ingagement upon others, diametrically repugnant to, inconſiſtent with their former legal Oaths, Proteſtations, Covenants, impoſed on them by unqueſtionable Parliamentary Authority, to their lawfull Soveraigns, to enſnare, wound their Conſciences, and involve them in the guilt of unevitable, moſt apparent**Qui perjurare compellit et qui compellitur utrique ſunt perjuri & homicidae: Dominus quia praecepit, Miles quia plus Dominum quam Deum & animam ſuam dilexit. Gratian Cauſa, 12. qu. 5. Auguſtin, Serm. 30. de verbis Apoſtoli. Perjury, and breach of all their former Oaths, Proteſtations, Covenants? And whether ſuch incur not that wo in Iſay 10, 1, 2, 3. Wo unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievouſneſſe, which they have preſcribed, to turn aſide the needy from Judgement, to take away the right from the poor, (exiled Royal Iſſue) and that they may rob the Fatherleſs; And what will ye do in the day of Viſitation, and in the deſolation which ſhall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help, and where will ye leave your glory? If Ahabs and Jeſabels ſuborning of falſe Witneſſes againſt Naboath to gain his Vineyard, who atteſted, that Naboath did blaſpheme God and the King, brought ſuch a heavy doom upon their perſons and royal Poſterity, to their utter extirpation. 1 Kings 1. 21, & 22. how much ſorer judgements ſhall they incur, who ſhall endeavour to make our whole 3. Kingdoms perjured in the higheſt degree, by ingaging them to renounce, blaſpheme both God and the King, & abjure their former Oaths, Covenants, Proteſtations, of purpoſe to diſinherit the royal Poſterity of their Crowns and Royalties, which they have ſo preciſely ſworn, proteſted, covenanted over and over, inviolably to defend and preſerve?

5ly. Whether it can be juſt, equitable, prudential, rational, for any in preſent power, to Commiſsion, intruſt, imploy Anabaptiſts, Quakers, with other Military Officers, Souldiers p. 18by Land and Sea, without preſcribing any Military Oath unto them, (after ſo many meetings, and violations of their truſts to the late King, Parliament, and other new Governours, Governments of their own erecting, to their total ſubverſion) to be true, faithfull, obedient, and conſtant to them; contrary to the Diſcipline of all former Ages amongst the Romanes, Graecians, and moſt other Nations, who alwaies**See vegetius de Re Militari, 1. 2. Alexander ab Alexandero. Genial Dierum, l. 1. c. 21. l 6 c. 23. Calvini Lexicon Juridicum: Tit. Juramentum Militare, Fr. Connanus, l. 5. c. 3. Grotius de Jure Belli, l. 1. c. 2. impoſed a Military Oath on all their Army-Officers, Souldiers, (warranted by 2 Tim. 2, 3, 4) And in the mean time, to inforce ſuch a Oath upon all their Judges, Juſtices, and Civil Officers, againſt their Judgements, Conſciences, who are Orthodox in Religion, approve of lawfull Oaths, (impoſed by legal Authority of Parliament) Magistracy, and Miniſtry, which Anabaptiſts, Quakers, and other Sectaries profeſſedly oppugn, and now violently endeavour to ſuppreſſe? And whether thoſe now ſitting, or any others who have taken the forecited Oaths to the late King and his Heirs, or the Proteſtation, League, and Covenant, can without apparent perjury, and direct violations of them, repute thoſe few Reliques of the old Parliament, now ſitting (forcibly ſecluding the Lords and Majority of their Fellow Members) to be a lawfull Parliament within the Statute of 17 Car. c. 7? or ſubmit to any Oaths, Taxes, Edicts of theirs as Parliamentarie or legal?

6. Whether the forecited Oaths of Supremacy, Allegigiance, Maiors, Sheriſſs, Judges, Recorders, Bayliffs, Parliament-Members, and others, in direct words, extending not only to the late Kings perſon, but his Heirs and Succeſſors, do not inviolably bind both them, their Poſterities and our whole three Nations, Kingdoms in perpetuity, in point of Law and Conſcience, ſo long as there is any Heir of the Crown and Royal line in being? and that upon theſe unanſwerable Scriptural preſidents and legal conſiderations.

7. Becauſe Gods Oath and Covenant made to Eve, Abraham, Noah, their Seed and Poſterity, and to the Iſraelites and their children, and their Covenant made to God, by Gods own reſolution, did oblige God himſelf and them in perpetuity from Generation to Generation, Gen. 3. 15. c. 8. 21, 22. c. 9. 1, to 17. c. 13. 16. c. 15. 18. c. 17. 2, to 22. c. 21. 13. c. 24. 7. c. 28. 4, 13, 14. Exod. 28. 43. c. 34. 7. Levit. 22. 3, 4. Numb. 14. 24. c. 18. p. 1919. c. 25. 12, 13. Deut. 1. 8. c. 4. 31. 37. c. 5. 2, 3. c. 7. 9, 10, 11. c. 8. 18. c. 11. 9. c. 28. 46. c. 29. 1. 4, to 20. c. 30. 6, 9. c. 31. 21. c. 34. 4. Joſh. 7. 11, 15. c. 24. 3, to 29. 2 Chron. 20. 7, 8. Neh. 1. 5. c. 9. 8, 32. Pſ. 25. 13. Iſay 34. 5. c. 44. 3. c. 59. 21. c. 61. 8, 9. c. 62. 22. Mal. 2. 4, to 15. c. 4. 6. Acts 2. 39. c. 3. 25. c. 7. 5, 45. c. 13. 23. Rom. 4. 13, 16. c. 9. 7, 8. c. 11. 1, 2, 27. Gal. 3. 16. to the end. Heb. 8. 6, to 11. c. 11. 18. c. 13. 20. Lu. 1. 72, 73. Rev. 12. 17. Levit. 26. 9, 15, 25, 42, 44. 2 Kings 17. 15, to 41. Pſal. 44. 17, 18. Pſ. 78. 10. 38. Pſ. 89. 3. 4, 5, 34, 35. Pſ. 103. 17. 18. Pſ. 105. 8, 10. Pſ. 111. 5, 9. Iſay 24. 5. c, 42. 6. c. 49. 8. c. 54. 3. Jer. 11. 2 to 12. c. 22. 9. c. 31. 31. 32, 33. c. 29. 10. to 20. c. 33. 20. 21. c. 50. 5. Ezech. 16. 60. 62. c. 37. 28, 29. c. 44. 4. Hoſ. 8. 1. Heb. 6. 16. 17. Therefore mens Oaths, Covenants to Kings and their Poſterity, muſt likewiſe bind in ſucceſſion and perpetuity.

2ly. Becauſe Gods Oath and Covenant made to David, and to his Houſe, Royal Seed and Poſterity, touching their ſucceſsion in the Royal Throne of Iudah, was hereditary, ſucceſſive, extending to all his Iſſue and Poſterity: and though many of them were wicked, rebellious, yet this did not cauſe or provoke God to dethrone, or diſinherit them, or infringe his Oath and Covenant to David, 2 Sam. 3. 12. to the end. c. 22. 51. 1 Kings 2. 33. Pſal. 89. 2, 3, 33, to 38. Pſ. 132. 11, 12, 13. Pſ. 18. 50. Jer. 33. 17, 19, 20, 21. 1 Chron. 28. 4, to 10. Jer. 17. 24, 24, 25, 26. 1 Kings 11. 12. 13, 36, 39. 2 Kings 8. 9. 2 Chron. 21. 5, 6, 7. 2 Chron. 23. 3, &c. Jer. 23. 4 5. Zezh. 9. 9. John 13. 13, 15. Lu. 1. 32, 33. Therefore much more where Oaths, Covenants are made by Subjects to their Hereditary Kings and their Poſterity, they muſt remain inviolable, and not be abrogated by their tranſgreſſions.

3ly. Becauſe the Oath, which Joſeph took of his Brethren, the children of Iſrael, to carry up his Bones, out of Aegypt into Canaan, when God ſhould bring them out of Aegypt, Gen. 50. 24, 25. though not made preciſely for them and their Poſterity, was reputed by Moſes and them, to be obligatorie to their ſeed, as if made by them, even in point of Conſcience: as is evident by Exod. 13. 19. And Moſes took the Bones of Ioſeph with him, (though driven out of Egypt by Pharoah) for he had ſtraitly ſworn to the Children of Iſrael, ſaying, God will ſurely viſit you, and you p. 20ſhall carry up my bones hence with you. Which bones of his they (by vertue of this Oath) notwithſtanding Pharoahs purſuit after them, carryed along with them through the red Sea, and through the wilderneſſe forty years, and through the Land of Canaan, till they had quite conquered it, notwithſtanding all their wars, Ioſh. 24. 32. near 500 years after this Oath firſt made. If then Moſes, Ioſhua, and all the Iſraelites held themſelves thus conſcienciouſly obliged by the Oath of their deceaſed Anceſtors above four hundred years before, to carry up Ioſephs dead bones out of Aegypt, notwithſtanding all Objections of haſt and danger from Pharoah and his Hoſt, their forty years wandring in the wilderneſſe, their wars in Canaan; and meaneſſe of the matter in relation to their publick ſafety, no wayes concerned in it. Then much more muſt our Anceſtors, and our own particular reiterated Oaths in preciſe terms to our Kings, their Heirs and Succeſſors, which ſo much concern our publick Government, Peace, Settlement, Safety, Proſperity, engage our whole Kingdom and three Nations to a conſciencious obſervation of them to the uttermoſt of their power.

4ly. Becauſe Davids Oath to Saul and Jonathan extended to their ſeed, 1 Sam. 24. 21, 22. Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not cut off my ſeed after me, and that thou wilt not deſtroy my name out of my Fathers Houſe: And David ſwore unto Saul: 1 Sam. 20. 14, to 18, 42. And Jonathan ſaid to David, thou ſhalt not only while I yet live ſhew me the kindneſſe of the Lord, that I die not, but alſo, thou ſhalt not cut off thy kindneſſe from my Houſe for ever, no not when the Lord hath cut off the Enemies of David, every one from the face of the Earth. So Jonathan made a Covenant WITH THE HOUSE OF DAVID; And Jonathan cauſed David to ſwear again, becauſe he loved him. And Ionathan ſaid to David, go in peace, for as much as We have ſworn both of us in the name of the Lord, ſaying, the Lord be beeween thee and me, and between thy Seed and my Seed for ever. How conſcienciouſly David obſerved theſe Oaths after the deaths of Saul and Ionathan, is apparent, not only by his love, favor, and affection to Mephiboſheth for Jonathans ſake, whom he reſtored p. 22to all that was Saule, & made him eat continually at his Table. 2 Sam. 9. 1. &c. and by his slaying of Baanah and Rechab for murdering Iſhboſheth, Sauls ſon, his Competitor, when they brought his head unto him, expecting a great reward, 2 Sam. 4. But more eſpecially by his ſparing Mephiboſheth, the Son of Jonathan, the ſon of Saul, becauſe of the Lords Oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan, (extending to their ſeed and poſteritie) when the Gibeonites demanded 7. of the ſons of Saul to be delivered up to them, 2 Sam. 21. 5, 6, 7.

5. Becauſe Eſther 9. 27, 28, 31. The **See Levit. 23. 41.Lev 23:41Iews ordained and took upon them and upon their ſéed, and upon all ſuch as joyned themſelves unto them, ſo as it ſhould not fail, that they would keep theſe two dayes of Purim, according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year (as thoſe in the Parliament of 3 Jac. c. 1. and their Poſteritie have obſerved the 5 of November annually ever ſince.) and that thoſe dayes ſhould be remembred and kept throughout every Generation, every Family, every Province, and every City: and that thoſe dayes of Purim ſhould not fail from among the Iews, nor the memorial of them periſh from their ſéed: which they decreed for themſelves and for their ſeed. If the whole Nation of the Jewes by an Ordinance and Decree, might thus binde their ſeed, poſterity, to obſerve the daies of Purim for ever: With like reaſon they might by an Oath & Covenant oblige themſelves and their poſterities for ever to their hereditarie Kings, their heirs and poſterities for ever: And ſo may we and all other Nations, by the like Acts, Decrees, and the forecited Oathes, as is clearly reſolved, declared, enacted by the Statutes of 25 H. 8. c. 22. 26 H. 8. c. …. 28 H. 8. c. 3. 35 H. 8. c. 1. 1 Eliz. c. 1. 3. 5 Eliz. c. 1. 1 Jac. c. 1. 3 Jac. c 4. 7 Jac. c. 6.

6ly. Becauſe the preſident of the Rechabites, (who upon the command of their Father Ionadab the ſon of Rechab, That neither they nor their Sons for ever ſhould drinke Wine, nor build houſe, nor ſow ſeed, nor plant, nor have any vineyard, but dwell in tents all their dayes; held themſelves bound in duty, conſcience to obey it, which God himſelf commends, records. rewards, for others imitation, Jer. 35. 1. to 15. who might in like ſort oblige them by his Oath and Covenant;) Is a convincing p. 22gument that as the **Littleson, Firzh. Brook, Aſh, Tit. Warranty, Covenant, Obligation, Condition, Tenure.Warranties, Covenants, Bends, Contracts, Feofments, Grants, Reſervations of Rents, Services, Tenures in ſee, by the Laws of England, and other Nations, firmly oblige mens Heirs, Poſterity, Aſsignees, Executors, Adminiſtrators, on both ſides in ſucceſsion and perpetuity; So likewiſe their Oaths, Covenants, Proteſtations, to their here litarie Kings, their Heirs and Succeſſors, oblige them equally to them in Perpetuity and ſucceſsion.

7ly. Becauſe it is moſt evident by Gen. 3. 14, 15. c. 4 5. Exodus 17. 16. c. 20. 5. c. 43. 7. 1 Kings 2. 33. 2 Kings 5. 27. Jer. 22 30. c. 36. 31. That Parents by their iniquities and tranſgreſsions may draw down and entayl the curſes, the judgements of God on them, and their Poſterityes after them to their prejudice: Therefore they may much more oblige them by their Oaths, Covenants, to Obedience, Loyalty, Subjection to their hereditary Kings and their Heirs, for their own particular, and themmprov. 24. 20. 21. Rom. 13. 3. 4, 5, 6. 1 Tim 2. 2, 3. 1 Pet. 2. 13. 14.Rom 13:3Rom 13:4Rom 13:5Rom 13:61 Tim 2:21 Tim 2:31 Pet 2:131 Pet 2:14 Publick good, ſafety, as well as Freehold and Copyhold Tenents in Honors, Manors, may oblige themſelves, their Heirs and Succeſſors for ever, by Homage, Fealty, Tenures, Contracts to their Landlords, their Heirs and Aſſignees for ever, by the Common, Statute-laws, of our own and other Realms, though they be no Soveraign Lords and Kings over them.

8ly. Becauſe the Saints and Churches of God in all Ages have held themſelves and their poſterity bound in Duty and Conſcience to pray to God for the life, ſafety, proſperity of their Kings, and their Sons and Royal Poſterity, in all hereditary Kingdoms, as is apparent by Ezra. 6. 10, 11. Pſal. 72▪ 1, 2, 15. 1 Sam. 11. 14. 2 Sam. 16. 16. 1 Kings 1. 25. 34, 39. 2 Kings 11. 12. 2 Chron. 23. 11. Pſal. 149. 2. Ezech. 9. 9. Dan. 2. 4. c. 3. 9. c. 6. 6. 21. Mat. 21. 5. 9. John 12. 13, 15. 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2, 3. by all the antient, modern Liturgyes, Collects, Letanyes, Canons of the Churches of England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, and other hereditary Kingdoms; The Teſtimony of ſundry Fathers, Councils, Hiſtorians, and our own Clauſe Rolls in the Tower, nnmy True & perfect Narrative, p. 95.elſewhere quoted. Therefore they may lawfullie oblige themſelves and their Poſterity, by Solemn Oaths, Covenants, Proteſtations to obey, protect and defend their, and their poſterities Royal Perſons, Crowns and Royalties.

p. 239ly. To put this out of further queſtion, I ſhall only preſt one Scripture preſident and teſtimonie more, wherewith I ſhall conclude this point, and that is the Hiſtorie of the Gibeonites, recorded Joſh. 9. & 10. and 2 Sam. 21. 1. to 13. The Gibeonites (a remnant of the Amorites, with whom the Iſraelites by Gods expreſs command were to make no peace nor covenant, nor ſhew any mercy to, but ſmite with the edge of the ſword and utterly deſtroy, Deut. 7. 1, 2, 3. c. 20. 16, 17, 18.) circumventing Joſhua and the elders of Iſrael by a ſtratagem, of old bottles, ſhooes, bread, clothes, and a lying information, that they came from a farr country to make peace and a league with them. by reaſon of the glorious victories God had given, and the miracles he had wrought for them; thereupon, without asking any advice of God or the Congregation, or examining the truth of their information, Joſhua and the Elders of the Congregation entred into a league with them, to let them live, and ſware unto them in the name of the Lord. Within three dayes after they heard they were their neighbours and dwelt amongſt them, and they came unto their Cities the third day.**Jeſus pacem quam dederat revocandam non cenſuit, quia firmata erat Sacramenti Religione, ne dum alienam perfidiam arguit, ſuam fidem ſolveret. Ambroſius de Officiis, l. 3. c. 10. But the children of Iſrael ſmote them not, Becauſe the Princes of the Congregation had ſworn unto them by the Lord God of Iſrael. Hereupon all the Congregation murmured againſt the Princes. But all the Princes ſaid unto the Congregation: We have ſworn unto them by the Lord God of Iſrael, therefore we may not touch them. This we will do unto them, we will let them live leſt wrath be upon us, becauſe of the Oath that we ſware unto them And the Princes ſaid unto them, let them live as the Princes had promiſed them, but let them be he wers of wood and drawers of water to all the congregation. And Joſhua called for them, and ſpake unto them ſaying; Wherefore have ye beguiled us, ſaying, We are very far from you, when you dwell among us? Now therefore ye are curſed, and there ſhall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and bewers of wood and drawers of water for the houſe of my God. And they anſwered Joſhua and ſaid; becauſe it was certainly told thy ſervants, how the Lord thy God commanded his ſervant Moſes to give you all the Land, and to deſtroy all the Inhabitants of the Land before you; therefore we were fore afraid of our lives becauſe of you, and have done this thing. And now behold we are in thine hand, as it ſeemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do. And ſo p. 24did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Iſrael, that they ſlew them not. And Joſhua made them that day hewers of wood, and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the Altar of the Lord even to this day, in the place which he ſhould chuſe. After this Oath and League the Princes and Congregation were ſo farr from ſlaying or ſuffering them to be ſlain by their enemies contrarie hereunto, that when as 5. Kings ſoon after came up with all …h…ir hoſts and encamped againſt Gibeah, to deſtroy is becauſe they had made peace with Iſrael; the Giheonite ſending this meſſage to Joſhus & the camp at Gilgal; slack not thy hand from thy ſervants, to come up to us quickly & ſave us, for all the Kings of the Amorites that dwell in the Mountains are gathered againſt us; thereupon Ioſhua and all the men of Warr with him went up from Gilgal all night, and came upon their Enemies ſodenly, and ſmote, & deſtroyed them with a great slaughter, delivering them from that danger. About 395 years after this Solem Oath & League, King Saul out of his zeal to the children of Iſrael and Iudah, ſought to deſtroy all, and slew ſome of thoſe Gibeonites poſterity, contrary to this Oath and League, For which (35 **Archbiſhop vſhers Annal. Vet. Teſtamenti, Anno 2553. 2983. 2986.years after its violation, and 430 years after its firſt making) God ſent a famine in the Land for three years, year after year: upon this David inquiring of the Lord, what was the true cauſe thereof? The Lord anſwered him, It was for Saul, and for his bloudy houſe, becauſe they ſlew the Gibeonites, who were not of the Iſraelites, but of the remnant of the Amorites, and the children of Iſrael had ſworn unto them. whereupon David called the Gibeonites, and ſaid unto them: What ſhall I doe for you, and Wherewith ſhall I make the Attonement, that ye may bleſſe the Inheritance of the Lord? And they ſaid unto the King, The man that conſumed us, and deviſed againſt us that we ſhould be deſtroyed from remaining in any of the coaſts of Iſrael, let ſeven of his ſons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up in Gibeah of Saul which the Lord did chuſe; which being accordingly done, after that God was intreated for the Land, and removed the famine, 2 Sam. 1. 1. to 15.

Here we have an Oath and Covenant binding the Iſraelites, their Governours. Heirs and poſterity in perpetuitie to the Gibeonites and their poſteritie; which I ſhall parallel with our forementioned Oaths, Proteſtation, Covenant to our hereditarie p. 25Kings, their heirs and ſucceſſors, to prove them more obliging to us and our poſterities, than this Oath & League of the Iſraelites to the Gibeonites, in regard of theſe obſervable circumſtances & particulars, not hitherto inſiſted on by any; which I beſeech God in merciemercy to ſet home effectually upon all our hearts, ſpirits, conſciences, both for our information, reformation, ſettlement, and avoiding Gods avenging juſtice on us and our poſterities, for our tranſcendent perjuries, breach of Oathes and Covenants to our Soveraigns.

1. This Oath and Covenant with the Gibeonites Embaſſadors, was procured by meer fraud, circumvention, miſinformation, and apparent falſhood, ariſing meerly from thoſe to whom it was made and ſworn: yet it obliged the Iſraelites and their poſteritie, to the Gibeonites and their progenie in perpetuitie: But the forementioned Oathes, together with the Proteſtation, and Solemn League and Covenant, were made without any fraud, circumvention, miſinformation, or falſe ſuggeſtion, upon grounds of loyaltie, dutie, juſtice, prudence, chriſtianitie, Religion, and State-policie, voluntarily propounded by the makers, takers of them, and ratified in full Parliaments: Therefore they muſt needs be farre more valid, obligatory to the whole Engliſh Nation and their poſterities, than this Oath, Covenant to the Gibeonites.

2. This League and Oath was made very ſodenly, raſhly, unadviſedly, without any advice with God and the whole Congregation, or examining, debating the truth of the Gibeonites ſuggeſtion; yet it bound them when once made: But our Oathes, Proteſtation, League, Covenant, were all made enacted, enjoyned upon long and ſerious debate, mature deliberation in ſeveral ſucceſſive Parliaments: Therefore ours muſt be much more obliging than theirs.

3ly. This League, Oath, was made only by the Princes of Iſrael, without the Congregations privitie, aſſent or advice, who were diſcontented with and murmured againſt them for it, yet it obliged both the Princes, people, and their poſterities: But our Oathes, Proteſtation, League and Covenant, were made not only by all our Princes, Nobles, Peers, but likewiſe by the whole Houſe of Commons in full Parliaments, and aſſented to by the whole Engliſh Nation both p. 26in and out of Parliament, the**See 7 Jac. c. 6. 17 Car. c. 7. & here, p. 7. Commons being the original movers, promoters, contrivers of all or moſt of them: Therefore they muſt be much more obligatorie to us and our po…eri…ies, than theirs.

4ly. Their League, Oath, was never ratified by any publique Law or decree of the whole Congregation and people of Iſrael in any publike Convention, but only by Ioſhua and the Princes alone; yet they bound the whole Nation: Ours have been approved, ratified, eſtabliſhed, perpetuated by ſundry ſucceſſive Acts, Ordinances, Votes of Parliament from time to time, continuing ſtill in their full legal force: Therefore much more valid and binding to us and our poſterities, than theirs.

5ly. That Oath, League, was taken, ſworn only by the Princes themſelves, not by the Congregation and people of Iſrael, yet they were all obliged by them. Our Oaths, Proteſtation, League, Covenant, have been ſworn, taken not only by all our Princes, Nobles, Officers of State, Iuſtices, but likewiſe by all or moſt of the Commons, & people of the Land from time to time, both in and out of Parliament: Therefore much more obliging to us and ours, than theirs.

6ly. This Oath, League of theirs to the Gibeonites, was never taken and entred into for ought appears, but once, and that ſodeinly, without any ſubſequent renovation or ratification; But our Oathes, Proteſtation, League, Covenant, have been ſwore, taken again and again, by all Members of Parliament, Officers of State, Iuſtices, Graduates, Lawyers, Miniſters, moſt Souldiers, and others; upon ſundry emergent occaſions, both in and out of Parliament: Therefore much more obligatory to us and our poſterities, then theirs.

7ly. This Oath, League, for ought wee read, was not made explicitly in preciſe terms with the Gibeonites, their heirs and poſteritie for ever, but only indefinitely, with the Gibeonites then in being, whoſe lives they ſpared, as the words import; yet becauſe they were a People, State, Citie, Body politick, having a permanent ſucceſſion; it virtually and intentionally in their own and Gods account p. 27too, extended not only to the Gibeonites then living, but to their ſucceeding iſſues in Sauls time, near 400 years after, and all ſucceeding Generations (asqq1 Kings 15. 19. Cook 4 Inſtit. c. 26. p. 155, 156. 4 II. 5. Rot. Parl. n. 24. … E. 4. 2. See Br. & Fith. Tit. Corporation, Abbie, Cooks 1 Inſtit. f. 2. 94. 102, 150. Grotius de Jute Delli, l. 2. c. 13. Sect. 4. 7. See Magna Charta the Prologue, and cap. ult.1 Kgs 15:19 perpetual National Leagues uſe to do,) But our Oaths, League, Covenant in direct terms extend not only to our Kings to whom they were firſt made and ſworn, but likewiſe to their heirs, ſucceſſors, and Royal Poſterity for ever, (ſee 1 Jac. c. 1. 3. Jac. c. 4. 7 Jac. c. 6. 1 Eliz. c. 1. 3.) Therefore they muſt needs be more binding to us, our Heirs and Poſterities in preſent and ſucceeding Generations, than their to the Gibeonites.

8ly. Their League, Oath, was only with foreign Pagans, Strangers, who became their mere ſlaves and bondmen in perpetuitie, and had not the leaſt power, juriſdiction over them; yet it bound them to ſtrict obſervation. Ours are made, ſworn to our own Chriſtian, natural Kings, Princes, Soveraigns, of our own fleſh, bloud, Nation, to whom we are natural borne Subjects, and owe all dutifull allegiance by the Laws of God, Nature, Nations; Therefore much more obliging to and moſt religiouſly to be kept by us and our poſterities after us, than theirs.

9ly. (Which is moſt conſiderable) this their Oath, League, was made with ſuch an idolatrous remnant of the Ammonites, as God himſelf by expreſs precepts had commanded the Iſraelites to make no League, nor Covenant with, upon any terms, but utterly to destroy with the edge of the ſword without merciemercy, without ſaving any of them alive, Exod. 23. 32. c. 24. 12. 13. Deutr. 7. 1, 2, 3, &c. c. 20. 16, 17, 18. Pſal. 106. 34. 35.) yet notwithſtanding having once entred into a League with, and ſworn to them in the name of the Lord, that they ſhould live, (though by their own fraud, circumvention, and miſinformation) God was ſo jealous of his own name, honour, glory, ſo unwilling that his own people ſhould perjuriouſly, treacherouſly, perfidiouſly break their Oathe, Covenant ſworn in his name,rrHebr. 6. 16, 17, 18. Grotius de'Jure Belll.Heb 6:16Heb 6:17Heb 6:18 being the higheſt, the moſt ſacred inviolable Obligations, ſecurities that can be betweene God and men, man and man, Nation and Nation; that he would rather have his p. 28poſitive judicial Law, (whichſſGrotius de Jure belli, l. 2. c 13. §. 4. 7. ſome conceive to bave a tacit condition in it) violated and diſpenſed within this caſe, (it being not ſimplie evil in its own nature to ſpare the Gibeonites upon their ſubmiſsion, but onlie a prohibited evil by particular Precepts) than his Name prophaned, diſhonoured, Religious Oaths wittinglie infringed, and perjurie committed by his own people, againſt his moral Law, Precept, being ſinful, ſcandalous in their own nature, and of dangerous conſequence to all Poſteritie, if admitted, approved, to encourage them to commit perjurie, and violate all lawfull Oaths, Covenants, in ſucceeding Ages, to the ſcandal of Religion, and prejudice of Mankind. Wherefore this Oath, League, though againſt theſe judicial Precepts, not only, firmly bound the Princes who made them, and all the Congregation in that Age, but King Saul himſelf, and all the Iſraelites in ſucceſſion four hundred years after. Of which we have another Preſident of Joſhuaes and the Iſraelites care to perform their Spies Oaths made to Rahab, and ſworn unto her by the Lord, to ſave her, her Parents, Kindred, and Family alive (though Canaanites devoted by God to deſtruction) Ioſh. 2. 1, to 24. compared with c. 6. 21, 22, 23. Heb. 11. 31. But our Oaths, Proteſtation, League, Covenant were all made not to, or with Amorites or Canaanites particularly deuoted by God to the Sword, Slaughter, and utter extirpation without any Truce or League of Peace; but to and with our own hereditary lawfull Chriſtian Kings, their Heirs, Poſterities, and Succeſſors, whoſe Perſons, Lives, Crowns, Rights, and Royal Authoritie we are all expreſly obliged, commanded by God himſelf, to defend, protect with our own lives, fortunes, eſtates to the uttermoſt of our Powers, againſt all Attempts, Treaſons, Conſpiracies, Traytors, and Invaſions whatſoever. yea preciſely prohibited to offer the leaſt violence, injury to their Perſons, Lives, and Regal Authority, in thought, word, or deed, Prov. 24. 20, 21. Eccleſ. 8. 2 c. 10. 10. 1 Sam. 24. 3, to 20. c. 26. 8, to 12. 2 Sam. 1. 12, &c. c. 4. 10, 11, 2 Sam. 18 3 c 21 17 Eſtch. 2. 21. 12. 23. c. 6. 2 Rom 13. 1, 2. 3. 1 Pet. 2 12. 13, 17. Tit. 3. 1 1 Tim 2. 2. 3. John 18 36. Therefore our Oaths, League, Covenant, are much more obliging, and conſcienciouſlie to be obſerved p. 29by us, and our Poſterities for ever, than theirs to the Gibeonites, as the only ready way to our peace and ſettlement.

10ly. This League of theirs to the Gibeonites was ratified only with one ſingle Oath, yet it bound both them and their Poſterity; but ours to our Kings, their Heirs and Succeſſors, is ratified with ſeven ſucceſſive Oaths, Proteſtations, Covenants, here recited, beſides ſundry others of like nature taken by our Anceſtors in former Ages, which I pretermit. Therefore much more ſtrong, indiſſoluble, obliging to us and our Poſtericies than theirs. If a threefold cord be not eaſily broken, Eccleſ. 4. 12. much more then a ſevenfold Oath ſucceſſively renued, ſhould not eaſily or quicklie be broken, but remain inviolable to all poſteritie.

11. The violation of this Oath League to the Gibeonites by Saul, and the Iſraelites near 400 years after its firſt making, when perchance quite forgotten by them, or conceived to be unbinding to them as gotten by ſurpriſe, as not made or taken by themſelves, perſonal to the Gibeonites and Iſraelites then living when firſt made, or at leaſt expired and grown quite out of date by ſo long a tract of time; was reputed by God himſelf a great ſinne, perjury in them, and exemplarie puniſhed by God with three years famine on the whole Land, though Saul and the Iſraelites then living never took this Oath, nor made that League themſelves, but onlie their Anceſtors, ſo long time before their births. Therefore our violations of the forecited Oaths, Proteſtation, League, Covenant, ſo freſhlie made, taken, ſworn, ſubſcribed with hands lifted up to Heaven, ſucceſſivelie one after another, by whole Parliaments, the generalitie of our Nation; and not onlie by our deceaſed Anceſtors, but by our ſelves in perſon, and ſo oft reiterated, yet infringed by us time after time in the higheſt degree, moſt needs be a more deteſtable damnable Perjurie, crime, in the eyes of God than theirs, and draw a more long-laſting famine, and other ſorer judgements of God upon our particular Perſons,**Vaſtat ſtirpemque, domumque, Herodotus, lib. 11. Families, Nation, than that breach of their Oath and League with the Gibeonites, brought down on them.

12ly. That Oath, League, continued in force to bind the Iſraelites, both to obſervation and puniſhment, when p. 30violated by King Saul and them, after the whole frame of their Government was quite changed from a Principality or Common-wealth (as moſt of our preſent Grandees would have it) into a Kingſhip and Kingdom, by the earneſt unanimous deſire, conſent of all the Elders of Iſrael, the generality of the people, and by Gods own approbation, as is evident by the 1 Sam. c. 8, to c. 13. Joſh. 9. 2 Sam. 21. compared together. Therefore our Oath, Proteſtation, League, Covanant forecited, muſt by like reaſon, conſequence, much more oblige our whole Nation in preſent and future to our Kings, their Heirs and Succeſſors, notwithſtanding all late violent forcible illegal Alterations, Revolutions of our Governments and Governours, againſt the Votes of both Houſes of Parliament, the deſires of the generality of our three Nations, ſince our Laws admit no Interregnum nor Diſſeiſin of the Crown, Kingſhip, Kingdom, (as the Statutes of Praerogativa Regis, 1 Iacobi, ch. 1. Cooks 7 Rep. f. 10. anduuSee … B…ook, Aſh. Title Intruſion, Prerogative. other Lawbooks reſolve) And ſo our violations of them muſt be more perjurious, ſinfull, and exemplarily puniſhable, than theirs.

13. This Oath, League with the Gibeonites was violated by King Saul, only out of zaeel to the Children of Iſrael, & Iudah, who (it ſeems) ſolicited him thereunto for their own ſelfends or advantage: yet this was no ſufficient excuſe, nor juſtification thereof in Gods eſteem, being puniſhed with exemplarie juſtice on his poſterity, and a three years famine upon all the Land. Therefore the violation of all our precedent Oaths, Proteſtations, Covenants, by the Army-Officers, confederate Members, and their Adherents (againſt the Votes of both Houſes, the dehortations of our Miniſters, and deſires of our three whole Kingdoms) muſt needs … a far more deteſtable crime, and be avenged with a more heavy puniſhment both on them and us, than theirs was heretofore.

14. This breach of Oath, Covenant, notwithſtanding all circumſtances which might extenuate it, was moſt exemplary puniſhed, though not on Saul the chief Offendor during his life, yet upon ſeven of his Sons, and Family after his death, in King Davids Reign, 35 years after this Offence committed, and upon the whole Nation by a three years famine, p. 31though it was never infringed but only by one ſingle Act, in ſlaying ſome of the Gibeonites poſterity, and not re-violated by any other ſubſequent ſlaughter of them. Therfore though many of the grand Infringers of the precedent Oaths, Proteſtation, Covenant, may perchance ſcape ſcot-free for a time in their own perſons, and die without exemplary juſtice inflicted on them for it, yet let them from this memorable Preſident conclude for certain, that God will ſooner or later avenge it upon their Children and Posterity to their utter extirpation, (and on the whole Nation too, as he hath done in a great meaſure already,) it may be 35 years after the Perjuries, Treaſons, committed in this kind, eſpecially when not committed only once, but perpetrated and acted over ſundry times by a continued, uninterrupted ſucceſsion of New Perjuries, Treaſons, and Violations of them in the higheſt degree from day to day without fear or ſhame, as Exod. 20. 5. c 34. 7. Gen. 3. 14, 15. 1 Kings 2. 33. 2 Kings 5. 27. Jer. 22. 30. c. 36. 31. Iſay 14 20 21. Mich. 2. 2, 3, 4, 5. Jer. 6. 15 c. 8. 12. may aſſure all our late and preſent. Delinquents in this kind and their Poſterity, which texts they may do well moſt ſeriouſly to peruſe, with bleeding and relenting hearts.

15. This their violation of their League, Oath to the Gibeonites was never openly juſtified, pleaded, written, preached, printed for, nor carried on with ſolemn Faſts and Humiliations, (moſt**Iſay 58. 3, 4. 6. &c. c. … 1…. to 16 c. 6…. 3. Prov. 21. 27.Isa 58:3Isa 58:4Isa 58:6Prov 21:27 deteſtable unto God when thus abuſed) nor yet ſolemnly abjured by new contrary Oaths or Engagements forcibly impoſed on all the Iſraelites, by Saul and his Counſel of State, to extirpate the Gibeonites: yet it was thus ſeverely puniſhed by God himſelf on Sauls poſterity and the Iſraelites. O then what ſoarer overflowing, deſolating Judgements, may our perjurious, Fidifragus Grandees, Saints, Nations, moſt juſtlie fear and expect will undoubtedly befall themſelves, their poſterities and our Kingdoms, (now almoſt ripened for deſtruction in wiſe mens apprehenſions) who have not only infringed all our Oaths, Covenants, Proteſtations, to our lawfull Kings, their Heirs, Succeſſors, and Poſteritie over & over in the higheſt degree, but moſt impudently juſtified, pleaded, preached, written, for the lawfulneſs thereof; yea kept manie Hypocritical, Atheiſtical Mock-Faſts p. 32and Humiliations, to promote our moſt deteſtable Perjuries, Treacheries, Abominations; and publicklie abjured all our former loyal Oaths, Proteſtations, Covenants, by new Treaſonable enforced Oaths and Engagements, diametrically repugnant to them. Certainlie if this breach of Oath by Saul in ſlaying the Gibeonites could not be expiated, nor the … years famine inflicted on the whole Land for it, removed by all King Davids and the Iſraelttes Faſts Prayers, Tears, Sacrifices; till this ſin of theirs was particularly be wailed, repented, removed, and full ſatisfaction made to the murdered Gibeonites by David and his people, by delivering up ſeven of Sauls Sonnes and Poſteritie to be hanged up before the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, for this perjurie and bloodſhed committed ſo long before by Saul their Anceſtor, the principal Malefactor. We may juſtlie fear and conclude, that all our prayers, tears, faſts, humiliations, will never expiate the manifold open violations of theſe our Oaths, Proteſtations, Leagues, Covenants, by the murders of our late King, and manie thouſands of our Proteſtant Brethren of all ſorts for adhering to him, his heirs and poſteritie; the violations of the rights, privileges of Parliament, beyond all Preſidents of former Ages; and ſecuring, ſecluding the whole Peers Houſe, and Majoritie of the Commons heretofore and now again, and trampling our fundamental Laws, Liberties, Properties, Remonſtrances, Declarations, as well as Oaths quite under foot, by new Arbitrarie, Tyranical Acts, Impoſitions, proceedings of all kinds, exceeding the worſt of our former Kings; unleſſe all theſe perjuries, treacheries, breaches of Oaths, Proteſtations, Covenants in this kind be particularly and publickly confeſſed, bewayled, reformed, repented if not expiated with the like Juſtice and Executions upon the perſons or Sons of ſome of the moſt capital Delinquents in this kind, to appeaſe Gods wrath, and preſerve our whole three Kingdomes from utter ruin; our perjuries and breaches of all Oaths, Faith, Truſts, being now ſo generallie and univerſally infamous throughout the world, that FIDES ANGLICA, is become as proverbial ASccEraſmi A dagia. Walſingham Hiſt. Ang. Antiquit. Eccl. Brittan. p. 295, 296. Giraldus Cambrenfis Typographiae Hyberniae, c. 20, 22, 24. FIDES PUNICA, SCOTICA, or HYBERNICA in former Ages, to our perpetual infamie: Which, if this Publication may redreſſe, reform p. 33for the future, I ſhall bleſs God for it, and have ſome hopes of better times, things, then yet we can poſſibly expect whiles under the guilt, breach of ſo many contradictory Oathes, Proteſtations, Leagues, Covenants, Ingagements.

By the antient Oath of Fealty and Allegiance, (which both the Subjects of England, and Kings, Biſhops, Nobles, and Subjects of Scotland, made to the Kings of England and their heirs, as ſupreme Lords of Scotland, in theſe words.) Ero fidelis & legalis, fidemque & legalitatem ſervabo, Henrico (& Edwardo) Regi Angliae, et Haeredibus ſuis, de vita & membris, & terreno honore, contra omnes qui poſſa it vivere & mori: Et nunquam pro aliquo portabo arma, nec ero in conſilio vel auxilio contra eum vel Haeredes ſuos, in aliquo caſu qui poſſit contingere, ſed fideliter recognoſcam, et fideliter faciam ſervitia quae pertinent ad tenementum quod de eo tenere clamito, Sic me Deus adjuvet & omnes Sanctos ejus. (Which Oath11Roger de Hoveden, Annal. pars porior, p. 545, 546 William King of Scots and all his Nobles ſwore to King Henry the 2. et Haeredibus ſuis, ſicut ligio Domino ſuo: And22Tho, Walſingham Hiſt. Angliae, p. 22. 33, 34. Mat. Weſtm. Anno 1293, 1294, 1297. Iohn Balliol, Iohn Comyn with all the Nobles of Scotland to King Edward 1. and his heirs: Anno 1293, 1294, 1297.) they all in expreſs terms obliged themſelves and their heirs, to be true and faithfull Subjects to the King and his heirs: Which though valid, obligatories in it ſelf to our Kings poſtertie, yet ſome of our Kings in their life-times, made both the Scots and Engliſh Subjects to take a new Oath of Fealty and allegiance to their heir apparent and his heirs, ſaving the fealty, homage and allegiance done to themſelves. ThusccHoveden, p. 545, 546, 549, 550, William King of Scots with all his Nobles, Barons, and Knights of Scotland, did Fealty and Homage to king Henry the 2. and to Henry his ſon, and his heirs, as to his Liege Lords, ſalva fide Domini Regis patris ſui. Hovenden Annal. pars poſterior, p. 480. Simeon Dunclmenſis Hiſt, col. 254. Radulphus de Diceto Abbrev. Chron col. 504. Chronicon Johan. Bromoton.col. 1006. Henry de Knyghton de Eventibus Angliae l. 2. c. 9. Gul. Nubrigenſis, Hiſt. l. c. 3. 4. 30, 3 a. Mart. Paris, Mat. Weſtminiſter, Holinſhed, Caxton, Fabian, Speed, in the live of H. 1. Stephen, & H. 2.Anno 1175. Yea before this, Anno 1128. by the commad of king Henry the 1. the Archbiſhops, Biſhos, Abbots, David King of Scots, with all the Earls and Barons of England, ſwore homage and ſealtie to Maud his daughter and heir ut filiae ſuae Imperatrici Fide ſervata, regnum Angliae Haereditario jure poſt dies ſuos sibi et haeredibus ſuis legitime p. 34procreatis ſervarent niſi ſobolem virilis ſexus ipſe Rex in poſterum procrearet. The perſidious violation of which Oath by them after King Henries death in crowning Stephen, brought **Holinſhed, Vol. 3. p. 46.exemplary judgements on the wilfull violaters therof, and a bloudy, long-laſting civil warr within the bowels of the Realm between Maud, her ſon Henry, and the Uſurper Stephen, to the great oppreſſion, devaſtation, deſolation of the publique, & peoples, as our Hiſtorians obſerve; all the good they hoped for by diſinheriting Maud, and crowning Stephen upon their own terms, againſt his own and their Oathes, becomming void and null by his perfidiouſneſs, through divine, Juſtice, which will never permit any good things to ſpring out of ſuch enormous evils as perjury and treachery; which produced ſundry judgments and civil wars, never ceaſing till Henry the right heir was reſtored to the Crown by a friendly agreement; the only probable, ſpeedy way not now to end our preſent wars, oppreſſions, diſtractions, Military Government, and reſtore peace, and proſperitie in our Nations. After this, An. 1191. upon the dejection of the inſolent Biſhop of Ely from his Vicegerentſhip under King Richard the firſt,eeHoveden Annal. pars poſterior, p. 702. 718. all the Nobles of England aſſembling together, ſwore Fealty to Richard King of England, and to his heir againſt all men. The Citizens of London ſwore the like Oath; and that if King Richard ſhould die without iſſue, they would receive Earl John his Brother for their King and Lord, & juraverunt ei Fidelitatem contra omnes homines, ſalva fidelitate Regis Richardi fratris ſui as Hoveden relates.

In Clauſ. 24 H 3. m. 15. dorſo, ſoon after the birth of Edward the 1. ſon and heir apparent to King Henry the third, I find this memorable writ iſſued to all the Sheriffes of England, to ſummon all perſons above 12. years old, to ſwear Fealty to him, as Heir to the King, and to ſubmit themſelves faithfully to him as to their Liege Lord after his death.

Rex Vic. Eborum▪ ſalutem; Praecipimus tibi quod in fide qua nobis teneris, et ſicut teipſum et omnia tua diligis venire facias ad loca certa & ad dies certos, ſicut commodius fiery potevit, Omnes liberos homines de balliva tua aetatis 12. Annorum et ſupra, et eos omnes coram te jurare facias; p. 35ita quod haec ſit forma juramenti ſui, ſcilicet: Quod ipſi ſalvo Homagio et fidelitate noſtra, qua Nobis tenentur, & cui in vita noſtra nullo mode renunciare volumus, Fideles eritis Edwardo filio noſtre primogenito, ita quod ſide Nobis humanitus contigerit, eidem tanquam hearedi noſtro et Domino ſuo ligio erunt fideliter intendentes, et eum pro Domino ſuo ligio habentes. Et talem circa hoc exhibeas diligentiam, ut inde merito debeatis commendari. Teſte meipſo apud Weſtm. 24 die Febr. Ann. r. n. 24. Eodem modo ſcribitur omnibus Vicecomitibus: and it appears by Dorſ. 12. they were ſummoned and ſworn accordingly.ffExact A. bridgement of the Records in the Tower, p. 426, 427. 662. 663. In the Parliament of 5 H. 4. rot. Parl. n. 13. & 17. The Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, were ſworn to bear faith and true allegiance to the King, to the Prince, and to his iſſue, and to every one of his Sonnes ſeverally ſucéeding to the Crown of England; and that of their own accord. The like Oath was taken to the King, Queen, Prince Edward, and the Heirs of the Kings body in the Parliament of 38 H. 6. rot Parl. n. 26. And toggThe firſt Part of my Regiſter of Parliamentary Writs, p. 108, 109. Prince Edward Son and heir apparent to King Edward the 4th and his Heirs, in the Parliament of 11 E. 4. entred in the Clauſe Roll of 11 E. 4. m. 1. dorſo. Yet in point of Law, Conſcience, the firſt Oathes of Fealty and Allegiance to each of theſe Kings his heirs and ſucceſſors, **26 H. 8. c. 2. 28 H. 8. c. 7.obliged all that took them as firmly to their heirs and ſucceſſors, as their Homages made by them to theſe Kings or other Lords, (which extend equally to their heires, and ſhall not behhLittleton, Sect. 148, 149. Britton f. 175, 176. Cookes 1 Inſtit. f. 103, 104. reiterated, nor renewed to them upon this Account, unleſs in ſome ſpecial caſes) and binde not only thoſe that took them, but their heirs and poſteritie likewiſe, although they never tooke theſe Oaths themſelves, at leaſt to a religious conſcientious obſervation, though not to the actual legal penalties of Perjury; as Angelus de Clavaſio in his Summa Angelica, tit. Juramentum 5. ſect: 24. 40. and other Canoniſts diſtinguiſh; and the forecited Scriptures infallibly demonſtrate; eſpecially being made for the publick good, peace, ſettlement. of the Kingdom, warranted by the policie, preſidents of all ages, preſcribed by our Lawes, Parliaments, for the ſafetie, ſecuritie, ſettlement, as well of our Religion, Church, Kingdoms, p. 36Government, as of our Kings and their poſterities, and ſo not o to be violated, through fear, menaces, hopes of worldly gain or preferment, nor diſpenſed with by any Papal or other human power whatſoever; theiisee Aug. ſerm. 30. Gratian Cauſa 22. q 1. 25 summa Angelica, Tit. Juramentum & Perjurium. Bochellus Decreta Eccleſ. Galli. canae, lib. 8. Tit. 13. De Jurejurando & Perjurio. Chryſoſtom Homil. 17 in Mat. & Hom. 9 12. in Acta Apoſt. Dr Beards Theatre of Gods Judgements, l. 1. c. 28 Cooks 3 Inſtit,. c 74. breach of Oaths, Leagues, Covenants, being A GRAND VICKEDNESSE and high prophanation of the TRUTH, FAITHFULNESSE, NAME, AND CONSTANCY OF GOD HIMSELF, as well as tranſgreſsion of his Law and Goſpel, deſerving the higheſt temporal and Eccleſiaſtical cenſures in this world, as well as eternal condemnation in the world to come, Ezech. 17. 16, to 22. & Jer. 34. Neh 5. 12. 13.

7. Whether the late illegal Oaths, Ingagements to the New Republicans and Protectors, enforced on the people againſt their Conſciences, without any lawfull Parliamentary Authority (which only legally make, preſcribe, impoſe new Oaths upon the Nation, as the marginalkkMag. Charta c. 28. 51 H. 3. Stat. of the Eſchequer, 51 H. 3. c. 22. 3 E. 1. c. 14. 40. 6 E. 1. c. 8. 9 E. 3. Stat. 2. c. 6, 14 E. 3. c. 5. 18 E. 3. stat. 3. 20 E. 3. c. 1, 2. 25 R. 3. c. 1. 27 E. 3. Par. 2. c. 1. 10. 16. 24. 26. 5 R. 2. c. 2. 12, 13. 6 R. 2. c. 12. 12 R. 2. c. 28. 17 R. 2. c. 9. 21 R. 2. c. 5. 4 H. 4. c. 10. 18. 20. 21. 2 H. 5. c. 4. 6, 7. 4 H. 5. c. 2. 4. 2 H. 6. c. 10. 18 H. 6 c. 4. 10. 20 H. 6. c. 10. 23 H. 6. c. 2. 33 H. 6. c. 3. 5. 3 E. 4. c. 3. 7 E. 4. c. 1. 8 E. 4. c. 2. 12 E. 4. c. 2, 3. 17 E. 4. c. 2. 1 R. 3. c. 6. 19 H. 7. c. …4. … H. 8 c. 8. 3 H. 8. c. 2. 14. & 15 H. 8. c. 3. 21 H. 8. c. 16. 21 & 22 H. 8. c. 7. 23 H. 8. c. 5. 25 H. 8. c. 20. 26 H. 8. c. 2. 4. 13. 27 H. 8. c. 27. 28 H. 8. c 7. 10. 32 H. 8. c. 45. 35 H 8. c. 1. 5 E. 6. c. 5. 1 Eliz. c. 1. 5 Eliz. c. 1, 23 Eliz. c. 6. 2… Eliz. c. 12. 43 Eliz. c. 12. 1 Jac. c. 31. 3 Jac. c. 14, 15. 7 Jac. c. 2. 6. 21 Jac. c. 7. 20, 21. The Petition of Right 3 Car. 17 Car. c. 7. 1 Car. c. 1. 2 Car. c. 1.Jas 2:6Jas 2:21 Statutes reſolve, paſt all diſpute) being directly contradictorie to their former lawfull Oaths to our Kings, their Heirs and Succeſſors, be not abſolutely void in conſcience, yea mere prophanings, abuſes of Gods ſacred Name; and if taken out of fear or weakneſſe, no wayes to be obſerved, no more than Davids Oath, reſolution to ſlay Nabal with all his Family, 1 Sam. 25. or Herods Oath to Herodias, which he had more juſtly violated than obſerved in beheading John the Baptiſt, Mat. 14. 6, to 13. or thoſe Jews Vow, who vowed they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul, Acts 23. 21. &c. Which ſinful Oaths, Vows, were no wayes to be obſerved by ſhedding innocent blood, as both the Fathers, Councils, Canoniſts, Caſuiſts, and Scoolmen reſolve, as you may read at large in Gratian Cauſ. 22. queſt. 4. Summa Angelica, Tit. Juramentum, ſect. 3. 45. Peter Lombard, Sent. l. 3. diſtinct 29. & moſt Schoolmen on his Text, whoſe definitive Doctrine is this: Si quis alicui juraverit contra fidem, charitatem p. 37& officium, quod obſervatū pejorem vergat in exitum, potius est mutandum quam implendum: Qui enim ſic jurat vehementer peccat, cum autem mutat benèfacit: Qui autem non mutat dupliciter peccat; Et quia injuſte juravit, et quia facit quod non debet. AndllSumma Angelica. Juramentum 5. ſect. 16. that when a man hath once obliged himſelf by a legal Oath to God and his Soveraign, any latter Oath repugnant to, or inconſiſtent with it is unlawfull: Upon which account our mmGlanvil l. 9, c. 1. Mirrour. c. 3. Bracton, f. 78, 80. Britton, f. 170, 171. Littleton, ſect. 85. Cook 1 Inſtit. f 64. 65. spelmanni Gloſſarium, p. 356, 357, 358.Lawbooks and Laws reſolve, that when ever any man ſwears Fealty, or doth Homage to his Landlord for the Lands held of him, it ſhall be with this ſpecial exception, ſaving the Faith which I owe to our Lord the King, who is the Soveraign Lord of all his Subjects, principally ſworn unto, and to be obeyed in the firſt place before all or any others. HereuponnnCooks 1 Inſtit. f. 65. Walter Biſhop of Exeter, Anno 6 E. 1. for omitting this Clauſe out of the Homage he received of his Tenants in Cornwall, IN CONTEMPTUM DOMINI REGIS, & ad manifeſtam, quo ad PRIVILEGIUM IPSIUS DOMINI REGIS EXHAEREDATIONEM, ET DAMNUM IPSIUS DOMINI REGIS ad valentiam DECEM MILLE LIBRARUM, he had judgement given againſt him for it upon an Information, and was put to a great fine and ranſome for this his tranſcendent offence. Upon this very account Honnore Bonhor Prior of Salon, an eminent Doctor of the Canon law, in his Larbre des Battailles, ch. 50, 51. reſolves, out of other Doctors, That if the King moves war againſt any Baron of his Realme, his Tenants and Homagers are not bound to aſsiſt him in his wars againſt the King by their Homage or Fealty, but rather to aſsiſt the King against him, BECAUSE THE KING IS SOVERAIGN LORD TO THEM BOTH; and the Barons leſſer and inferiour Dominion, is ſwallowed up or ſuſpended by the preſence of the King, the greater and ſuperior Lord; and becauſe the Baron commits both Treaſon and Perjury against the King, by violating his Homage, in taking up Arms againſt him;) Whereupon his Tenants are not bound to ayd him in his Perjury and Treaſon againſt his Soveraign. And ch. 100, 101, 102. he determines, That if a man be a Subject to two Kings, States, or Cities, which afterwards wage war againſt each other, he is bound to ſerve the King, State, City in p. 38the wars, to which HE WAS FIRST SWORN AND OBLIGED, becauſe his latter Oath and Homage to his laſt Soveraign cannot invallid nor diſcharge his firſt Oath and Allegiance to his old one; Much leſſe then can theſe later Treaſonable Oaths, Engagements to a New Protector or Republick, diſpence with thoſe antecedent legal Oaths, Proteſtation, Covenant to our lawfull King and his Heirs, nor oblige us in the leaſt degree to fight againſt or oppoſe their Perſons, Titles, Rights, to perpetuate our wars, miſeries, taxes, oppreſſions, confuſions, and prevent our future ſettlement.

Let us therefore all now ſeriouſly remember, conſider in the fear of God, That as all who have been Judges, Juſtices, Maiors, Bayliffs of Towns, Barreſters, Benchers, Miniſters, Graduates in Vniverſities, Attorneys, Civil or Eccleſiaſtical Officers in any kind, Members of the Commons Houſe, or Tenants to the King, before the year 1649. have oft taken the premiſed Oaths of Maiors, Iuſtices, Fealty, or at leſt of Supremacy and Allegiance; So all Aldermen, Governors, Aſsiſtants, Livery men, Common Counſel-men, and Freemen whatſoever of every City, Corporation, Society, Company, Fraternity, throughout the Realme, have likewiſe taken another Oath beginning thus, You ſhall ſwear, to be good and true, or true Liegeman to our Soveraign Lord the Kings Majeſty, and to his Heirs and Succeſſors. Which if they will all now conſcienciouſly verifie and reſolutely fulfil to the Right Heir and Succeſſor of the Crown, they may ſoon put a period to all their preſent Oppreſsions, Taxes, Exciſes, arbitrary Militiaes, Diſtractions, Fears, Dangers, under their New Aegyptian Tax-Maſters, and make themſelves real ENGLISH FREEMEN, without any new Warr, or much feared forein invaſion, inſtead of continuing Bondſlaves under a miſnamed Free-State, in which no wiſe men can yet diſcern the leaſt ſhadow of Freedom or Security, but inovitable deſolation in the preſent poſture of its publick Affairs, and a neceſsity of involving himſelf in the guilt of New Oaths, more treaſonable than the**See Cooks 3 Inſtit. cap. 1. 74. Capterburies Doom, p. 19. 26. 40. Biſhops late &c. Oath, which can neither be impoſed, nor adminiſtred without danger, and the guilt both of Perjury and High Treaſon to the King, kingdom, and Parliament, by all our known Laws reſolution.

p. 39I ſhall cloſe up all with this memorable ſeaſonable antient Canon, Reſolution, and Anathema of the 4th. Council of Tolede in Spain Anno 681. Can. 74. as an effectual means (through Gods bleſsing) to reclaim us from our former Perjuries, Treacheries, Regends Diſloyalties to our lawfull Kings and their Poſteritie, to reſtore them to their hereditarie Rights, divert Gods heavy Judgements from us, to ſettle us in firm, laſting peace for the future, and reſtore our priſtine Tranquility, Unity, Trade, Honour, Proſperity ſo long expected, deſired.kkSurius Concil. l. 2. p 736, 737. See King James his Apoligy for the Oath of Allegiance. Multarum gentium (ut fama eſt, being then principally intended of the antientllGildas de excidio & conqueſtu Britanniae Concil. c. 12 Calcuth, Spelmanni Concil. p. 295, 296. Malmeſburi de Geſtis Reg. l. 1. c. 3. p. 16, 27. Mat. Weſtm. Anno 838. Britains, Saxons, Northumberlanders, exceeding all other Nations in Perjury, Treachery to, rebellions againſt and murders of their Kings, and now exceeded therein by us of this Age) tanta extat perfidia animorum, ut fidem ſacramento promiſſam Regibus ſuis obſervare contemnant, et ore ſimulant Iuramenti profeſsionem, dum retinent mente perfidiae impietatem. Iurant enim Regibus ſuis, et fidem, quam pollicentur, praevaricantur; nec metuunt volumen illud judicii Dei, per quod inducitur maledictio, multaque poenarum comminatio ſuper cos, qui jurant in nomine Dei mendaciter. Quae ergò ſpes talibus populis, contra hoſtes laborantes, erit? Quae fides ultra cum aliis gentibus in pace credenda? quod foedus non violandum? quae in hoſtibus jurata ſponſio ſtabilis permanebit, quando ipſis propriis Regibus juratam fidem non ſervant? Quisenim adeò furioſus eſt, qui caput ſuum manu ſua propria deſecet? Illi (ut notum eſt) immemores ſalutis ſuae, propria manu ſeipſos interimunt, in ſemetipſos ſuoſque Reges proprias convertendo vires. Et cum dominus dicat, Nolite tangere Chriſtos meos, & David: quis inquit, extendet manum ſuam in Chriſtum Domini, & innocens erit? Illis nec vitare metus ett perjurium, nec Regibus inferre exitimn. Hoſtibus quippe fides pacti datur, nec violatur. Quod ſi in bello ſides valeat, quanto magis in ſuis ſervanda eſt? Sacrilegium quippe eſt ſi violetur a gentibus Regum ſuorum promiſſa fides, quia non ſolum iu eos ſit pacti tranſgreſſio, ſed et in Deum, in sujus p. 40nomine pollicetur ipſa promiſſio. Indè eſt, quod multa regna terrarum, caeleſtis iracundia ità permutavit; ut pro impietate fidei et morum, alterum ab altero ſolveretur. Unde & nos cavere oportet, caſum hujuſmodi gentium, nè ſimiliter plaga ſeriamur praecipiti, et poena puniamur crudeli. Si enim Deus Angells in ſe praevaricantibus non pepercit, qui per inobedientiam coeleſte habitaculum perdiderunt; unde & per Eſaiam dicit: Inebriatus eſt gladius meus in coelo: quantò magis nos noſtrae ſalutis interitum timere debemus, nè per infidelitatem eodem ſaeviente DEI gladio pereamus? Quòd, ſi divinam iracundiam vitare volumus, et ſeveritatem ejue ad clementiam provocare cupimus, ſervemus erga Deum religionis cultum, atque timorem, cuſtodiamus erga Principes noſtros pollicitam fidem atque ſponſionem. Non ſit in nobis, ut in quibuſdam gentibus, infidelitatis ſubtilitas impia, non ſubdolae mentis perfidia, non perjurii neſas, et conjurationum nefanda molimina. Nullus apud nos praeſumptione regnum arripiat, nullus excitet mutuas ſeditiones civium, nemo meditetur interitus regum; ſed, deſuncto in pace Principe, Primates gentis cum ſacerdotibus (filium ejus) Socceſſorem Regni Conſtlio communi conſtituant, ut dum unitatis concordia à nobis retinetur, nullum patr…e gentiſque diſſidium, per vim atque ambitum moliatur. Quòd ſi haec admonitio mentes noſtras non corrigit, et a… ſalutem communem cor noſtrum nequaquàm perducit, audi ſententiam noſtram. Quicunque ergò ex nobis, vel totius Hiſpaniae populis, qualibet conjuratione vel ſtudio Sacramentum Fidel ſuae, quod pro patriae gentiſque Gotthorum …, vel conſervatione Regiae ſalutis pollicitus eſt temeraverit aut Regem nece attrectaverit aut poteſtate Regni exuerit, aut praeſumptione tyrannica regni faſtigium uſurpaverit. Anathema ſic in con…pectu Dei Patris, et Angelorum, Chriſti, … Apoſtolorum ejus, Spiritus Sancti et Martyrum Chriſti, atque ab Eccleſia Catholica, Quam perjurio prophanaverit, efficiatur extraneus, & ab omni caetu Chriſtianorum alienus, cum omnibus impietatis ſuae ſociis, p. 41quia oportet, ut una poena teneat obnoxios, quos ſimilis error invenerit implicatos. Quod iterum, ſecundo, et tertio, replicamus et acclamamus. Qui contra hanc noſtram definitionem praeſumpſerint, Anathema, Maranatha; hoc eſt, perditio in adventu Domini ſint, et cum Juda Scarioth partem habeant ipſi & ſocii ſui, et cum Diabolo et Angelis ejus aeternis ſuppliciis condemnantur Amen,

FINIS.