Expedient to Settle the Present Distractions of Both Kingdoms, Text
A PLAIN, SHORT, AND Probable Expedient, To ſettle the preſent DISTRACTIONS OF BOTH KINGDOMES.
Printed in the Year. 1647.
A Plain, Short, and Probable Expedient, to ſettle the preſent Diſtractions of both KINGDOMES.
THE Kings former and late Refuſals to ſigne the PROPOSITIONS tendred him by the Parliaments and Commiſsioners of England and Scotland, for the Eſtabliſhment of a laſting Peace in both, hath well nigh put them to a loſſe, how to proceed farther, and what courſe next to reſolve on, for the future ſettlement and ſecurity of both Realms, in this their Diſtracted Condition. D…rs men (according to their different Principles and Intereſts) have propoſed Various wayes. Some a publike impeachment in Parliament to be preſently drawn up againſt the King, to the hazzard of his Crown and Life (as in the caſes of Kingd Edward; and Richard the ſecond of England; and of … the firſt, … and other Kings of Scotland) to which the Sectaries and Agitators moſt incline. Others, a preſent change of the Monarchicall Government into a Democraticall, (which the Anabaptists endeavour) or into an Aristocraticall, (which the Independents ſeem to drive at. The Presbyterians and Eraſtians, apprehending theſe former propoſals very dangerous, and inconſiſtent both with their Principles and Solemn Covenant, meditate ſome milder and ſafer courſes▪ but what particularly to fix on, they are yet altogether unreſolved.
Theſe varieties of Opinions multiplying our Diviſions have occaſioned the Propoſall of this ſhort and cleer Expedient, (not hitherto thought on) humbly ſubmitted (as a probationer) to the teſt of more exquiſite Judgements, as the moſt advantagious, honorable and ſecure for both, Kingdomes to faſten upon, being warranted by divers Preſidents of like nature in both Realms, and moſt conſonant to the Solemn League and Covenant, by which they are mutually engaged and uni… each to other.
It is evident by ſundry Preſidents in Hiſtories and Records that the Parliaments of England and S… (as well as of moſt other Kingdomes) have during the Minority, abſence, ſickneſs, frenzie, dotage, or other … rall, accidentall, or criminall diſabilities of their Kings to diſcharge their Royall Office, and Dutie uſually conſtituted a Viceroy, Regent, Protector, or Cuſtos Regni (being commonly a P…e of greateſt Wiſdome, Power, and Honour, and of Royall extraction) to guard both their Perſons and Realms, and execute all Regal Acts belonging to the King himſelf; but more particularly, to ſummon and hold Parliaments, and to give the Royall Aſſent to Laws and Statutes, and iſſue out all Commiſſions under the great Seal, in the Kings Name and ſtead: The Reigns of King Richard the 1. & … Henry 3. 5. & 6. Ed. 3, 4, 6. of England; and of King …erleg, Ruthe…, T…r…, Gill…, Corbred▪ Ethodius (firſt and ſecond) Kenneth the third and his Law, John Bayvil James the 1. 3. & 6. Queen Mary and others of Scotland, and one Scripture preſident of King Vzziah during his Leproſie, 2 Kings 1…. 5. 2 Chro. 25. 21. wil furniſh us with variety of Examples of this kind; in which France it ſelf hath abounded, and affords a preſent inſtance in this infant King. If then the Parliaments of both Kingdoms ſhal think meet to create a Viceroy, Regent, Protector or Cuſto… Regni in each Realm forthwith (as they have frequent- done in former times) to execute all Regal Acts, ſummon and hold Parliaments, and give the Royal Aſſent to all ſuch Bils and Statutes as ſhal be neceſſary for the preſent ſettlement of both Kingdoms Peace, according to their reſpective Propoſitions tendred to his Majeſty; end eſtabliſh by Act of Parliament in both Realms this enſuing Oath, or the like for the King & all his Succeſſors Solemnly to take before their admiſſion to the Royal Government; extracted out of the Coronation Oaths of the Kings of England, Scotland, Aragon, Navarre, Bohemia, Hungary, Poland, Sweden and▪ Denmark (conceived a better ſecurity for both Kingdoms then any hitherto propounded.)
We C. R. in the name and preſence of the moſt high God; do ſolemnly ſwear to all our Leige people of England and Scotland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging; that we wil all the days of our life, inviolably maintain, keep and preſerve all juſt Laws, Cuſtoms, Rights, Franchiſes and Liberties heretofore granted to them, or any of them, by our Royal Predeceſſors or Our ſelf, together with the reſpective Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments of both Kingdoms; the true Reformed Religion and Church Government now eſtabliſhed in them. That we wil do the beſt of our skil and power, endeavour intirely to preſerve Peace and Amity between all our Realms and People, and cauſe equal Juſtice to be adminiſtred to them in Mercy and Truth, without Partiality, affection, hatred or delay.
That we wil neither proclaim, nor make any open War, Peace or Truce, nor raiſe any Forces in, nor invite, nor bring any Forraigns power into any our Realms and Dominions; nor impoſe, nor levy any Tax, Tallage, Subſidy, Contribution or Benevolence, within our ſaid reſpective Kingdoms and Dominions; nor embaſe, nor enhance the current coyn thereof; nor alianate any Honours, Manners, Caſtles, Forts, Folds, Rents, Revenues, Jewels, Ships, or Ordinance belonging to our reſpective Crowns; Nor diſpoſe of ourſelf, or of our heire apparent to the Crown in marriage; Nor diſpoſe of any the great Offices of State or Judicature in our reſpective Realms; Nor creat any New Peers therein, but by common conſent of our reſpective Parliaments of both Kingdoms.
And that we wil likewiſe give our Royal aſſent from time to time, for the altering or repealing of all ſuch publike Laws and Statutes as ſhal be held prejudiciall, and the paſſing of all ſuch New Laws and Statutes as ſhal be judged neceſſary and beneficial for our people, and preſented to us as ſuch, by the Parliaments of our reſpective Realms.
And if we ſhal at any time (which God defend) wilfully violate all or any the premiſed Particulars, to the griev…ces or oppreſſion of our people, and ſhal not upon due information t…ereof, given us by our reſpective Parliaments, Nobles, Counſellers, Officers, or Commons of both Kingdoms, duly reform the ſame, to their general ſatisfaction; We do here freely and voluntarily profeſs before God and all the World, tha… then, and from thenceforth, we do and ſhal hold all our people totally diſcharged from all bonds of duty, and Oaths of Alegiance made unto us, til ſuch ſatisfaction be given them. And that in ſuch caſes, it may & ſhal be lawful for then, and any of them, if they think meet, and neceſſary freely to aſſemble together, and to unite their Counſels, Purſes and Forces, and to crave and bring in forraign Forces from their confederate Princes and Nations, to withſtand and redreſs, all wilful violations of our ſaid Oath, and to ſuppreſs all ſuch perſons and forces, as ſhal be ayding or aſſiſting to us therein, in maintenance of their juſt Rights, Laws, and Liberties, and the publike ſafety (to which they were obliged by the Laws of God, Nature, Nations, and of this Realm) without incurring the guilt of Treaſon▪ Inſurrection, Sedi…ion, Rebellion, or any crime, Forfaiture or penalty for the ſame. And that all and every perſon or perſons, who ſhal be wittingly ayding or aſſiſting to us againſt our Oath and people in ſuch caſes: ſhal be declared, and judged, and proceeded againſt, to all intents and purpoſes, as Traytors, and publike enemies to us and our reſpective Kingdoms.
All this we do cordially and ſincerely ſwear and proteſt without any Equivocation or mental Reſervation, and that we wil neither directly nor indirectly ſeek to be abſolved from this Our Solemn Oath. So God us help.
The ſpeedy eſtabliſhing of ſuch Laws, and this Solemn Oath by the Parliaments of both Kingdoms in manner aforeſaid, and ſecuring the Kings perſon in a ſafe and honorable way, til he ſhal really accord there…y, and fully comply with the deſires both of his Parliaments and Kingdoms, is humbly conceived the ſafeſt, beſt and ſpeedieſt Means (by Gods effectual concurrence) to produce a firm happy Peace and Settlement in, and cordial Union between both Kingdoms, without any breach of Covenant, or danger to his Majeſties perſon; the only end of publiſhing this Expedient; which deſerves conſideration til a better be propounded.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Prynne, Expedient to Settle the Present Distractions of Both Kingdoms (1647)