Discovery of Free-State Tyranny, Letter 4

Discovery of Free-State Tyranny · Letter 4

p. 34The fourth Letter to Mr. Bradſhaw, and his Aſſocîates.

Gentlemen,

THeſe are to mind you, that after all my heavy ſufferings of three Pillories, a double loſſe of my ears, ſtigmat…zing on both Cheeks, two Fines of 5000 l. apiece, expulſion out of the Univerſity of Oxford and Lincolns Inn, degradation in both, the ſeiſure of my Papers, Books, Eſtate, near 9 years loſſe of my Calling, above 8 years impriſonment in the Tower of London, Fleet, Carnarvan, and Mount Orgueil Caſtle in Jerſey, through the Tyranny of the late Prelates, Starchamber and Council Table, only for my publike Defence of the Proteſtant Religion, Laws, and Liberties of the Kingdom, againſt Popery and Tyranny, in the worſt of times, when few durſt openly ſtand up on their behalf, to my Damage of ten thouſand pounds at leaſt; After above 8 years, faithfull, painfull ſervices, ſince my enlargement, in maintenance of the Kingdoms, Parliaments juſt Rights, Privileges, Liberties, againſt all oppoſers; and other publike employments for the Common good, with the almoſt total neglect and loſſe of my Practice, and expence of many hundred pounds out of my purſe; After 3 Months coſtly, moſt injurious impriſonment by the Army, for diſcharging my duty, and ſpeaking my Conſcience in the Commons Houſe, whereof I was then a Member (and am ſo ſtill, if that Houſe be yet in being, as you affirm, and ſo not ſubject to your New Whit…hal Juriſdiction▪ contrary to Law and the Privileges of Parliament; After ſundry other Affronts, Injuries, Preſſures, for my ſincerity, fidelity to my Native Country (for all or any of which unjuſt ſufferings, loſſes, meritorions ſervices, by which our Religion, p. 35Republick, Parliament, Nation, received many great advantages, I never yet received one farthing recompenſe, nor the leaſt advantage or preferment, of which I was never ambitious,) I have (to augment my former damages, oppreſſions, in ſtead of repairing them) received this great accumulation to them, by colour of your illegal Warrants under Mr. Bra…ſbaws hand (who lately profeſſed your ſelves my Friends, and lamented my former injurious ſufferings, though ſenceleſs of my preſent) before & without the leaſt notice, ſummons, aaContrary to 2 and 3 Phil. and Mar. c. 10. …nd the common …aw, Cook 2 Inſtitu…es. p. 51, 52, 53, 54.Mark 10examination, or legal accuſation; even a forcible infringement, ſearch, rifling of my Studies, Trunks, Writings, Papers in Lincolns Inn, & houſe at Swainſwick, by a company of armed Souldiers▪ who …e…ſed ſundry of my Writings, Papers, Bo…ks, … Records, againſt Law, and ſent them Whitehall; together with a violent Attachment of my own Perſon, (though no Fugitive, nor perſon in Armes) not by any known, ſworn, lawfull Officers, but a ſtrong Party of unknown Troops, in my own houſe and Bedchamber, about eleven of the clock at night, on the Lords day, the 30 of June laſt; who carryed me through the County in triumph, as their Priſoner to Dunſter Caſtle, (no ordinary Priſon but a private Garriſon) 50 miles diſtant from my habitation, where I have been kept cloſe Priſoner (with my Servant who attends me) by more than four Quaternions of Souldiers (as bbActs 12. 3, 4, 5, 6.Acts 12:3Acts 12:4Acts 12:5Acts 12:6Peter was under perſecuting Herod) above 3 moneths space, though the walls thereof be demoliſhed of late by your Order, to my …xtraordinary expen…e▪ and great damage, through my abſence from my Family all the Harvest; during all which time neither I nor my Servant have been permitted the leaſt acceſſe to Gods publike Ordinances, on Lords-days, or Lecture dayes; nor to stir out of the Caſtle (where are no proviſions at all to be had for any thing I want) nor to ſpeak with any Perſon, but in the Governours preſence, or hearing; nor to receive or write any Letters upon any occaſion, but what he muſt firſt peruſe. And although I have written at the leaſt Seven Lett…rs to Mr. Bradſhaw, and others of you (my late p. 36i…timate f…iends, …omol ining of this unparalleld Injuſtic… and Tyranny, anſwering all Pretences of neceſſity and publick Danger, to juſtifie or excuſe it, and manifeſting it to be contrary to MAGNA CHARTA c. 29. 25 E. 1. c. 12. 28 E. 3. c. 1. 5▪ E. 3. c 9. 25 E. 3. c. 4. …8 E. …. c. 3 37. E. 3▪ c. 18. 38 E. 3 c. 9. 42 E. 3. c. 3. 17. R. 2. c 6. 2 H. 4. Rot. Parl. n. 60. the Petition of Right & other Statutes, the very Common Law of England. the Liberty of the Subject, the Law s of God and Nature, the Reſolutions and printed ccExact Collection, …. 8 11, 12, 13. 312, 322, 666▪ 364, 462, 466, 470, 472, 483, 550, 551, 767, to 773, 812, 813. 845. 846, 851, 852, 854, 855, 887. A Collection. p. 424, 425. 877, 879.Declarations of the 3 laſt Parliamen…s, the expreſſed dda N…w Diſcov ry of the B ſhops Tyranny, p. 139. to 179.Votes of the Commons, & Iudgement of the Lords Houſe, in my own particular Caſe and my Fellow Sufferers; yea a Greater Cruelty and Tyin ſome reſpects, than ever the late King, Star-Chamber, or be headed Canterbury …flicted on me, who at firſt only ſummoned me by a Meſſenger, to appear before them, but never attached me by armed Officers or Souldiers; accuſed me of a particular bock upon which they examin…d heard, before they reſtrained me, and never committed me cloſe Priſoner at firſt, nor laid any ſuch reſtraints, upon me or my ſervant, as you do now for above 4 years ſpace; permitting me free acceſſe to Gods publick Ordinances; free conference in publick and Private, with whom, and Liberty to write to, and receive Letters from whom, I pleaſed, without any over-hearing or Juterviſing; and to ſend my Servant abroad, upon all occaſions (A Liberty which the Laws of England allow to all Traytors and Fellons whatſoever, and which beheaded Strafford, and Cant…rbury enjoyed, though impeached of the Highest Treaſons by the whole Commons Houſe, and yet deuyed unto me, by you, ſuch Great Pretenders to Publick Liberty, both of Perſon and Conſcience, though hitherto accuſed, impeached of no Crime) yet notwithſtanding, I can hitherto receive no relief, nor ſatisfactory anſwer to my juſt Demands from any of you; Whereupon I have been neceſſitated to addreſſe this brief precedent Narrative of your harſh proceedings againſt me, to you all in general, to leave you without excuſe, and thereupon, as a Free▪born Engliſh p. 37man (who, as you well know, hath written, ſuffered more than any, or all of you, for the publick Liberty of the Nation, without the leaſt reward (upon which account I may Juſtly challenge, as great an Intereſt in the Laws and Liberty of the Nation, as any man this day breathing;) I ſhall make bold (being thus inforced by you thereunto) to make ſome Propoſals unto you (who have eeDeclaration of th… 17 March, 1648.Declared an unaccountable Power, or Officer in any State, to be A MONSTER both in Nature and Politicks;) for the publike and your own particular good, and my better relief, which I beſeech you ſadly to conſider, becauſe I fear, you now meet with more * Sycophants than Faithfull Adulatio perperuum m… lum Regum. Qu. Curtius, … hi…l. l. 8.Friends and Monitors to inform you of your extravagances.

Firſt, whether theſe exorbitant Proceedings againſt me, contrary to all the forementioned Laws, Statutes, Declarations, Parliamentary Votes and Reſolutions of both Houſes in my very Caſe, be an inviolable maintaning, upholding, preſerving of the fundamental Laws of the Land, Liberty and property of the people, according to the ffExact Collection, p. 663. 666. A Collection, p. 227. 310, 420, to 428. 458, 459, 878, 879, 889.Solemn Proteſtation, Vow, Covenant, you have made, ſubſcribed, in the preſence of the everliving God, with a real intention to perform the ſame, as you ſhall anſwer the contrary, at the great day of Iudgement, or of your own ggExact Collection p, 267 666. 491, 492, 493, 852, 854.former late printed Declarations, publiſhed to this Kingdom, Nation and the whole world? And by what authority derived to you from God, or men you can juſtifie or excuſe this extream violation of all theſe Laws and Premiſes, contrary to the very Letter of your Proteſtations, Covenants, and publike hh11 Feb. and 17 March, 1648.Declarations, in this ſecond year of Englands pretended Redemption from Tyranny and Slavery, which never felt, nor complained ſo much of both of them, as now under you.

2ly. How you, who profeſſe your ſelves ſuch Eminent Saints, yea Patrons of publique Liberty and Piety and juſtifie the caſting, detaining of Saints in Priſon, which is the proper work of the Devil, and his Inſtruments. R… Iſay 14. 17. Acts 5. 18. c. 12. 3, 4, 5. Mat. 14. … p. 3817 18, 21. but the opening of Priſon doors, the looſing, releaſing Priſoners, the proper office, work of God, Jeſus Chriſt, and all good Angels, Pſal. 146. 7. Iſay, 61. ▪1. Acts 5. 18, 19. c. 12. 5. to 20. …he debarring me and my Servant above three moneths space, from all Gods publike Ordinances, on Lords days, and week days, and denyal of me ſo much freedom, Liberty, under your New Gaolers and Free-State Government in Chriſtian England, as St. Paul (though accuſed for a iiActs 24, 5.Acts 24:5Peſtilent Fellow, and a ſtirrer up of ſedit ion amongſt the Jews throughout the world) enjoyed under the Pagan, bloody perſecuting Tyrant kkSee a new Diſcovery of the Biſhops Tyranny, …. 172, 173, 174.Nero in Heathen Rome it ſelf, Acts 28. 15. to the end: Yea, as all publike Traytors, Malefactors whatſoever, by the Laws of the Kingdom … enjoy, and all late reſtrained Cavalliers in Armes have enjoyed? And how you will at laſt eſcape that heavy Doom denounced againſt ſuch, as do but only, not viſit Chriſts impriſoned Members; or ſuch as trouble and oppreſſe, without impriſoning them, recorded Mat. 25. 41. to the end, 2 Theſ. 1. 4. to 10. if you thus cloſe impriſon, ſtarve, undoe me, without any juſt or real cauſe, only becauſe you have preſent power in your hands, and the longeſt ſword; againſt which practice and ground of preſent power, there is an heavy woe and judgement particularly denounced, Mich. 2. 1, 2, 3, &c. Which I deſire you will ſeriouſly read and conſider.

3ly. Whether it will not be eſteemed an argument of extraordinary Cowardice, Guiltineſſe in you, who have all the Militia and power of the Kingdom, both by Land & Sea, in your hands, and ſuch great ſucceſſes, as you publiſh; to ſtand in fear of ſuch a mean, unarmed, despicable Perſon as my ſelf; and thereupon only to mue me up cloſe Priſoner, as you doe, in a remote private Caſtle, againſt all Rules of Iuſtice, llSee 5 E. …. c. 8. 5 H 4. c. 10. 29 H. 8. c. 2. 27 E. 4. 71. Brook impriſonment. 80. Cooks 2 Inſtitutes p. 43.Law, and Chriſtianity?

4ly. Whether▪if you purſue, equal, exceed the Injuſtice, oppreſſions, Tyranny & greateſt Exorbitances of beheaded Canterbury, Strafford, the ſuppreſſed Star-Chamber, Council Table, or late King (condemned, executed by you ſo freſhly, for p. 39a Tyrant, muſt you not in all juſtice, reaſon expect, and in gods due time undergo the ſelf ſame, or far worſe Tragical, fatal ends, as they have done, with eternal Damnation to boot, notwithſtanding your preſent power, Greatneſſe, not half ſo well ſettled, bottomed, backed by Law, or otherwiſe, as theirs was, when they ſare and acted in State, where you doe now? For which I intreat you, adviſedly to peruſe, with ſincere hearts. Rom. 2. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 21, 22, 23, 24. Ezech. 18. 12, 13, 24. and Iſay 14. 4. to 24.

Theſe Propoſals premiſed, I have only as ma ny Demands to make unto you; to which I deſire your undelay…d anſwer, not out of any favour, but meer right and Juſtice.

Firſt, that if you have an… …riminal or Capital Charge againſt me, by any known Laws or Statutes of this Realm (as I am ſure you have none) you will then bring me to a ſpeedy, Juſt and Legall Tryall for it, upon an Inditement or Preſentm…nt of the good and Lawful People of the Neighbourhood, where my pretended Offence was c…mmitted, before a Law…ull Tribunal and Legal Iudges; (if there be mmSee Magna Cha…ta …. 12. 13. 29. 4… …. 3. c. 1 5 9. 13. 26▪ 20 E. 3. …. 12. 13. 27. H, 8. c. 16. 24. 1. E▪ 6. c. 7. 10▪ which prove that there are now.any ſuch now in being:) and that I may be tryed by the Lawfull Judgement of my Peers, according to the good old Laws of the Land; and have all juſt exceptions and challenges allowed me; and not to be murdered, deſtroyed as ſome lately have been, by Tyrannical and Arbitrary Courts▪ Marſhal, or mi…-named▪ New Courts of high Iustice, ſet up in direct oppoſition ſubverſion and deſtruction, of the very nnSee Cooks 2▪ Inſtitutes on Magra Charta c. 14. & 29. 3. Inſtit. c 12. &c. Brooks and Fi…cz. Title Tryall and C… ron…, and ſo adjudged in Parliament in the Earl of Lancaſters caſe, Mo…t…mers caſe, and the 2 Spencers caſe, and others. Cook 2 Inſtit. p. 48. 4E. 3. R…t. Par. n. 14. 15 E. 8. …. 6 8. 44. 49. 51. 17 E. 3. n. 22. 28 E. 3. n. 7. 10. 16. …0 R. 2. n. 7, 8. 2 H. 5. n. 15.Common Law of England, (the Higheſt Liberty of the Subjects, the very ſafety, preſervation of their Lives, their ooIob. 2. 4.Job 2:4c…ief…ſt Bulworks againſt all Arbitrary Powers, which are all now proſtituted to the Lawleſs wils of others) & the expreſſe Statutes of Magna Charta, c. 14. 29. 25 E. 1. c. 1, 2, 3. 28 E. 1. c. 1. 1 E. 3. c. 19. 2 E. 3. c. 1. 4 E. 3. c. 1. 5 E. 3. c. 1. 9. 10▪ E. 3. c. 1. 14. E. 3. c. 1. 15 E. 3. c. 1, 2, 3. 20 E. 3. c. 1. 3. 28 E. 3. c. 2▪ 4. 28 E 3. c. 1. 31 E. 3. c. 1. 37 E. 3. c. 1. 18. 38 E. …3. c▪ 1. 9. 42 E. 3. c. 1. 3. 45 E. 3. c. 1. 50 E. 3. c. 2. 1 R. 2. c. 1 2 R▪ 2. c. 1. 3 R. 2. c. 1. 5. R. 2. c. 1. 5. 6▪ R. 2. c. 1. 7▪ R. 2. c. 2▪ 3. p. 408 R. 2. c. 1. 9 R. 2. c. 1. 12 R. 2. c. 1 13 R. 2. c. 2. 5. 14 R. 2. c. 1. 12. 1 H. 4. c. 1. 10. 2▪ H. 4. c. 1. 11. 19. and Rot. Parl. n. 60. 4 H. 4. c. 1. 7 H. 4. c. 1. 9▪ H. 4 c. 1. 13 H. 4. c. 1. 2 H. 5. c. 6. 8, 9. 2 H. 5. Stat. 2. c. 3. 3 H. 5. c. 1. 7. 4 H. 5. c. 1. 7 H. 5. c. 1. 2 H. 6. c. 1. 6 H. 6. c. 1. 8 H. 6. c. 10. 29. 9 H. 6. c. 3. 10 H. 6. c. …0. 14 H▪ 6. c. 1. 15 H. …. c. 5. 18 H. 6. c. 12. 20 H. 6. c. 9. 31▪ H. 6. c. 1. 33 H. 6. c. 2. 1 R. 3. c. 3, 4. 11 H. 7. c. 1. 11 H. 7. c. 21. 4 H. 8. c. 2. 6 H. 8. c. 6. 22 H. 8. c. 2. 14. 23 H. 8. c. 3. 13. 25 H. 8. c. 6. 22. 26 H. 8. c. 5. 6. 13. 27 H. 8. c. 4. 24. 26. 28 H. 8. c. 1. 7. 15. 32 H. 8. c. 4. 33 H. 8. c. 12. 20. 23▪ 24. 35 H. 8. c. 26. 35 H. 8. c. 1. 2. 37 H. 8. c. 5. 6. 8. 1 E▪ 6. c. 1. 10. 12. 2 and 3 E. 6. cap. 1. 2. …4. … & 6 E6. c. 4. 9. … 11. 14. 1 Mar. c. 3. 6. 1 & 2 Phil. & Mar. c. 10. 4 & 5 Phil. & Mar. c. 3. 4. 1 E. c. 1. 2. 5 Eliz. c. 1. 4▪ 10. 11. 15. 21 Eliz. c. 3. 4. 13 El. …. 1. 2. 14 Eliz. c. 1. 2▪ 3▪ 18. Eliz. c. 1. 2… Eliz. c. 1. 2. 27 Eliz. c. 1. 2. 29 Eliz. c. 1. 35 Eliz. c▪ 1…. 39 El. c. 15. 43 El. c. 13. 1 …ac. c. 28. 11. 12. 27. 31. 3 Jac. c. 2. 4. 5. 13. 4 Jac. c. 1. 7 Jac. c. 1. 6 10. 13. 21 Jac. c. 4. with ppAll P…n…l S …t…es, c…e…ting any …nact, that No Of fe…ders ſhall be pun…ſhed by …nd…ctment▪ and freed by a Ju…y of▪their Peers, acco… ding to M…gna Charta, & the Common Law, and by the Statutes of 18 H. 6. c. 19. 2 E. 6. c. 2. … & 5 Phil. & Mar. c. 3. S…uldiers departing without licenſe f…om their Service, are to be puniſhed with indictment, and tryed by a Jury, not by Martial Law▪ Cook 6. Report. f. 27. & the Petition of Right. 3 Carol▪Mark 3ſundry other Acts, and the very Letter of the Petition of Right (ſo highly magnified fo… the moſt excellent▪ moſt juſt, free and equal of any other Laws in the World, by thoſe now ſitting at Westminſter, in their Declaration of March 17. 1648. for ſetling the preſent Government in way of a Free State, wherein they ſolemnly engage inviolably to maintain them; and yet now trample them all under feet by theſe illegal arbitrary …udicatories, ſo much qqExact Collection. p. 8▪declaimed againſt heretofore) of purpoſe to deſtroy all ſorts, degrees of Subjects, and Freemen of England,) Though no Souldiers under Military Diſcipline, contrary to all theſe Laws and Franchiſes of the Land; when and where, no Legal Iury, nor Court of Iuſtice; will or can condemn them; adju…ged wilfull murder here…ofore, and ſo reſolved▪ in P…rliament, as Sir Edward Cook rrSe… ch. A…urder … … ſtit. p. 48. and 4 Inſti…. … Co…t.informes us in his 3. Inſtitutes (printed by Order of the Houſe of Commons,) and ſo eſteemed by G…d himſelf, though coloured by a …re…ext of Law, Pſal. 94. 20; 21. 1▪ Kings 21▪ … …o 2▪5. Iohn 19. 7. 16. 18. compared with Acts 2. 23. c. 3. 14, 15. c. 7. 52. yea a more p. 41tranſcendent publickly avowed Act of abſolute Arbitrary Power; and Tyranny, than ever the late King or any of his Predeceſſers were guilty off, which endangers every mans life, and chopps off every mans head, in taking off any ones, yea▪ ſuch, as in concluſion, may prove a new Perillus his Bull, to torture, deſtroy the firſt …uve…tors by Gods juſt judgements; the Heathen Poet …vi… obſerving,

—N…c …nim Lex juſtio… ulla,

Quam necis artifices Arte perire ſua.

Whereof we have a memorable Scripture Preſident in that Tyrant, Adonibezek, Judg. 1. 6, 7. and in the ſhedders of the blood of Saints, Rev. 16. 5, 6. ſeconded with four ssPſam. 137. 8. …er. 51. 34. 36, 37. 56. … 10. 14. I…ay. 31. 1. Judg. 15. 10, 11. f…r. 50. 15. 29. 2. Sa…. 3. 39. Pſ. 94. 20, 21, 23. Pſ. 109. 15, 16. Iſay. 3. 11.Judg 15:10Judg 15:11Ps 94:20Ps 94:21Ps 94:23Ps 109:15Ps 109:16Isa 3:11formidable Comminations both in the old & new Teſtament, G…n. 9. 6. Ezech. 35. 5, 6. Obad. 10. 15. &c. Jam. 2. 13. Rom. 2. 1, 2, 3. and with a moſt obſervable example in Thomas▪ Lord Cromwell, recorded by Hall, and Sir Edward Cook, in his 4 Inſtitutes p. 37, 38. who in the height of his greatneſs & power, endeavouring to procure an Act of Parliament, to take away ſome other m…ns lives, without any Lawful Inditement Tryal & by their Peers, contrary to the forementioned Laws, by the meer Legiſlative power of the Parliament, was the firſt and only man that ſuffered and l…ſt his head, wi…hout any Legall Tryal, by a bare Act of Parliament. 31. H. 8. c. 3. which kind of illegal taking away mens lives, being next degree, & very near of kindred to a private Aſſaſination, or Publick Maſſacre of thoſe we fear or …ate; and in one reſpect worſe than either of them, becauſe diſguiſed with a pretended ſhew of Juſtice, is for ever to be abominated and exploded by all Pretenders to Piety and Publick Freedome, and not ▪to be tolerated in any free Monarchy or Republick upon any pretence of neceſſity or Publick ſafety whatſoever: and ſo much the rather, becauſe the blood of ſuch ſo murthered and deſtroyed, will ttSee Gen. 4. 10. to 16. c. 9. 5▪ 6. c. 42. 22. Nu. 35. 30, 31, 32, 33. Deu. 19. 10 to 14. c. 32. 43. 2. Sam. 4. 11. 12. 1. Kings 2. 5▪ 9. 31, 32, 33, 37. c. 21. 19. c. 22. 38. 2. K. 9. 7, 8. c. 24. 4. Pſ. 9. 12. Pſ. 19. 10. Pſ. 94. 21, 22. Prov. 1. 16. 18. c. 28. 17. Iſay 59. 2. to 13. J…r. 19. 3, 4. c. 51. 35. Ez…h. 16. 38. c. 22. 2. to 12. c. 24. 6. …o 10. c. 35. 5, 6. Hoſ. 4. 29. c. 6. 8. Joc…. 9. 19. Mi…h. 3. 9. 10. 12. c. 7. 2. 4. Hab. 2. 8. 12. 17. Math. 23. 35. c 27. 25. Acts. 5. 28. R…v. 6. 10. c. 19. 2. 2. Sam. 21. 12. &c.Gen 4:10–16Deut 19:10–142 Sam 4:112 Sam 4:121 Kgs 2:51 Kgs 2:91 Kgs 2:311 Kgs 2:321 Kgs 2:331 Kgs 2:37Ps 9:12Ps 19:10Ps 94:21Ps 94:22Prov 1:16Prov 1:18Isa 59:2–13Hos 4:29Hab 2:8Hab 2:12Hab 2:17Matt 23:35Acts 5:282 Sam 21:12cry loud to God for exemplary Vengeance, as Naboth… did, 1. Kings. 21. 10. to 25. And if he that only hateth p. 42his Brother, be a Murderer and hath not …ternall life abiding in him. 1 John▪ 3. 15. Then certainly thoſe who thus not only hate, but illegally deſtroy and execute their Chriſtian Engliſh Brethren, yea ſ…ay their B…ethren in Covenant, by thouſands, with a rage reaching up to Heaven, 2. Chron. 28. 9. 13. muſt much more be bloody vv…am. 2. 11. Num. 35. 20, 21 to 34. Pſ. 10. 8. 2 Kings. 6. 32. Iſay 1. 21. Jer. 4. 31. Acts. 7. 52.Num 35:20Num 35:21–34Ps 10:82 Kgs 6:32Isa 1:21Jer 4:31Acts 7:52Murderers in Gods accoutnt, and ſha… never inherit eternal Life, unleſſe they ſeriouſly repent and abandon all ſuch Barbarons Cruelty, and new Butcheries of men, which every Heroick Chriſtian and true Engliſh Spirit cannot but with higheſt indignation p…oteſt againſt, out of zeal to Gods Honor, his Native Countrys, hereditary Liberties, his own and poſterities ſafety, which I deſire you to …ay cloſe unto your ſpirits, as you will anſwer the contrarie before Chriſts Tribunal at the laſt, upon the ſeaſonable information and admonition of him, who hath ſuffered ſo much for his Countries Freedome, and would rather dye ten thouſand de aths than ſee it (after ſo much expence of Treaſure. blood in defence, of the for ecited Laws, and publick Freedome) enthralled to ſuch a ſtrange new Butchery and Tyranny, as this (and that in Weſtminſter Hall it …elf in the higheſt Court of Law and Juſtice in former times) under the monſtrous contradictory Title of High or Highest Iuſtice; true only in the Proverbs ſence,

**Ci…ro & E…aſmi Adagia.Summum jus ſumma Injuria.

2. If you have no particular Charge or Crime, for which by Law you can thus restrain me; that you will then immediatly enlarge me, without any limitations or conditions whatſoever; and render me full Dammages for my falſe Impriſonments paſt; and not thus mo…est and oppreſ…e me for the future, against all Rules of Iuſtice and Piety.

3. That you will preſently reſtore all my ſeiſed Trunks, Books, Records, Papers, Writings, being moſt of them my own peculiar; the reſt the only xxAnd thereof Right be longing to me, as was reſolved in Juſtice Ric…els caſe 1. H. 4. ro…. Pa l. Memb▪ 2▪ n. 1Iustification and Defence I have…, if ever I ſhould be hereafter questioned for any Treatiſes I have publiſhed concerning the late King, Canterbury or others (out of my ſ…iſed Originals or Tranſcripts) for the Common good; which certainly deſerve a far more honourable reward, and gratefull requital, than ſuch a violent publique ſearch of my houſe, ſtudies, ſeiſure of my Truncks, Papers, by Souldiers, and ſo long ſtrict, chargeable a cloſe impriſonment of my Perſon, as I have ſuſtained.

4ly. That, if you will ſtill cloſe impriſon me againſt Law & Conſcience, you will then either defray the charges of my impriſonment, or elſe cauſe the Treaſurers of Biſhops Lands immediatly to pay me the 800 pounds ſalary due unto me as a Contractor (for which I never yet received one cue, and ſhould never have deſired any thing, but upon this extraordinary occaſion of expence) and the Committee for your Army, to pay me all ſuch moneys, as are or ſhall be certified to be due unto me for free quartering of your Souldiers, to help ſupport me in Priſon, and defray thoſe Debts, which your preſent oppreſſion, the loſſe of my Calling thereby, and your illegal heavy Taxes have contracted, in ſtead of receiving any recompenſe for my former illegal ſufferings, damages, and manifold faithfull Services for the publique, according to yyThe Kingdom of England and Scotland in their joynt De…laration of 3 Jan. 1643. A Coll. p. 417. 418▪ find themſelves …ound in Conſcience to declare, that no man who h…th been emin…nt in action, or hath ſuffered any notable loſſ… for publike, ſhall be neglected or ſlighted, but one way or other ſhall be thankfully remembred to his own honour, and the good of his Poſt…ity. And is your cloſe impriſonment of me and ſeiſing of my writings, &c. a real fulfilling of thi… promiſ…?former publique Engagements and Votes.

And ſo expecting your undeferred poſitive anſwer to all theſe juſt demands, I ſhall till then remain,

Your over-oppreſſed cloſe Priſoner and Captive, WILL. PRYNNE, To Mr. Iohn Bradſhaw Serjeant at Law, and the reſt of his Aſſeſſors at Whitehall, preſent theſe. Dunſter Caſtle, Octob. 30. 1650.