Vindication of Old Fundamental Liberties 2, Vindication
A Seaſonable, Hiſtorical, Legal, VINDICATION, AND CHRONOLOGICAL COLLECTION
Of the good Old Fundamental Liberties, Franchiſes, Rights, Laws, of all Engliſh Freemen; (their beſt Inheritance, Birth-right, Security, againſt Arbitrary Tyranny, Egyptian Slavery and Burdens) of late yeers moſt dangerouſly undermined, oppugned, and almost totally ſubverted, under the ſpecious feigned Diſguiſe of their Defence, Enlargement, and future Eſtabliſhment upon a ſure Baſis.
IT is an univerſal received Principle, and experimental Truth, beyond all contradiction, That no natural ſtructure, no artificial Building, no Civil or Eccleſiaſtical Corporation, Realm, Reipublike, Government, or Society of men; no Art nor Science whatſoever, can poſſibly be erected, ſupported, eſtabliſhed, preſerved, or continued in their being or well-being, without FOUNDATIONS; whereon as they were at firſt erected, ſo they muſt neceſſarily ſtill depend, or elſe they will preſently fall to utter ruine.
Hence it is, (to wave all Humane Authorities in ſo clear a Verity) that in God's own ſacred unerringaJo…. 17. 17. 2 Cor. 6. 7. Eph. 1. 13. Jam. 1. 18 Word of Truth, we find frequent mention of the naturalb2 Sam. 22. 8, 16. Jo… 38. 4, 6. Pſal 18. 15 & 102. 25. & 104. 5. Prov. 8. 29 Iſa. 24. 18. & 40. 21. & 48. 13. & 51. 13, 16. …er. 31. 17. Zech. 12 1. Mica. 1. 6. Jo…. 17. 24. Epheſ. 4. 4. Heb. 1. 10. & 4. 3. & 9 26. 1 Pet. 1 20. FOUNDATIONS of the vaſt natural Fabrick of the Earth, Heavens, and World it ſelf; of the Artificial Materialc1 King. 5. 17. & 6. 37. & 7. 9, 10. Ez…. 4. 13 & 6. 3. Pſa. 137 7. Ezek. 41. 8. Hag. 2. 8. Zech. 4 9 & 8. 9. Mat. 7. 26, 27. Luke 6 48, 49. FOUNDATIONS of the material Temple, walls, City; of Gods own moſt famous city Jeruſalem; and of private houſes: of the SpiritualdIſa. 28. 16. & 54. 11. Pſal. 87. 1. 1 Cor. 3. 10, 11, 12. Heb. 11. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 6. Rev. 21. 14, 19. FOUNDATION of the Spiritual Temple, City Jeruſalem, and whole Church of God; even Jeſus Christ himſelf: of the Doctrinale2 Tim 1. 19. Heb. 6 1, 2. FOUNDATIONS, and firſt Principles of Religion, Chriſtianity, Salvation: yea, of the Political fJer. 50. 15. Micah 1. 6, 7. Luke 6. 48, 49. M…t. 7. 26, 27.FOUNDATIONS of Kingdoms, Reipublikes, Churches, Governments, States: which being once ſhaken, undermined, ſubverted, razed, or deſtroyed, bring unavoidable ruine and deſolation upon them, (Pſal. 11. 3. Pſal. 82. 5, 6. Jer. 50. 17. & 51. 15, 16. Mic. 1. 6, 7, 9.) even as we daily ſee Caſtles, Walls, Houſes, to fall inſtantly to the ground, and become an heap of Confuſion, when their Foundations are blown up, decayed, or demoliſhed.
Upon which conſideration, thoſe Publike Laws, which eſtabliſh, fence, fortifie, ſupport the Fundamental Conſtitutions, Rights, Liberties, Priviledges, of any Nation, Kingdom, Reipublike, (eſſential to their being and ſubſiſtence, as a free or happie people, againſt the Invaſions, Underminings, Encroachments, of any Tyrants, Uſurpers, O preſſors, or publike Enemies, are uſually ſtiled FUNDAMENTAL LAWS; and have ever been reputed ſo ſacred, inviolable, immutable, in all ages, upon any Pretences of Neceſſity, or Publike Safety, that moſt Nations, and our own Engliſh Anceſtors, above others, have freely choſen to hazard, yea loſe their Eſtates, Lives, in their just defence, againſt ſuch exorbitant Tyrannical Kings, and other Powers, who by force or policie have endeavoured to violate, alter, or ſubvert them, rather then out of Cowardize, S…tt…ſhneſs, Careleſneſs, or want of cordial love to the Publike, to ſuffer the leaſt infringement, repeal, or alteration of them, to the inthralling of Themſelves, or their Poſterities, to the arbitrary Wills of ſuch Domineering Tyrants, and Uſurping Powers.
Now becauſe, after all our Old and New (many yeers) bloody, coſtly, dangerous Contests and Wars, for the maintenance of our Good Old Fundamental Liberties, Laws, Rights, Priviledges, againſt all ſecret or open underminers of them, I clearly behold, with grief of heart, that there is a ſtrange monſtrous Generation of New TYRANNICAL STATE-HERETICKS ſprung up among us; who are grown ſo deſperately impudent, as not onelyonly to write, but publikely to aſſert in Print, (inaLilb. tryed and cast, p. 39, 40, 142, to 148. 154. J. Canne's Voice from the Temple, which perſwades the ſubverſion and aboliſhing of all former Laws, eſpecially for Tythes & Miniſters ſupport. Books printed by AUTHORITY, even in Capitals in the very Title-page) That the Free-men and People of England have no ſuch unalterable Fundamental Laws and Liberties left them by their forefathers, (as our Anceſtors heretofore conteſted for, both in the Field and Parliament-Houſe, with William the Conqueror, Henry the firſt, King John, Henry the third, Edward 1, 2, 3. Richard the ſecond, with other Kings and Princes; and our late Parliaments and Armies too, with King James, and King Charles.) That neither Magna Charta, nor the Petition of Right, nor the Laws for trying malefactors by Juries of their peers, are Fundamental, or unalterable; but that the STATE-PHYSITIANS (or rather Mountebanks) of our time, (who are not tied up to them, but left free unto themſelves) may lay them quite aſide, either in part or whole, as they ſee cauſe: Yea, (having now attained to ſuch a ſuper-tranſcendent Authority, as) may (as they aſſert) LAY ASIDE ALL PARLIAMENTS and PARLIAMENTARY WAYS, and appoint SOMETHING ELSE, as more ſeaſonable and proper to us, and as Providence makes way for it, if they ſee it more conducing to the ſafety and good of the Commonwealth, (that is, to their own private Intereſts, Honours, Profits, Securities, Deſignes, Oppreſſions, Rapines, gilded over with this ſpecious pretext.) And then peremptorily conclude, That to plead for theſe and ot…er Fundamental Laws and L…berties, as unalterable, (though the onelyonly Bulwarks and Badges of our Freedom) is nothing elſe but to enſlave the Nation: for by ſuch a Principle, People do not onelyonly loſe their Liberty, but are brought under ſuch a kinde of Tyranny, out of which (AS BEING WORSE THEN THE AEGYPTIAN BONDAGE) there is no hope of deliverance. An abſurd Tyrannical Paradox, tranſcending any I ever yet met with in any Author; ſtripping us naked of all our long-enjoyed Laws, Liberties, Franchiſes, Great Charters, at once; tending onelyonly to reduce, and perpetually inthral us under ſuch an abſolute AEGYPTIAN BONDAGE and Tyranny, without any hope of future deliverance from it, which ſome now endeavour to enta…l on us and our poſterities for ever, by an Iron Law, and Yoke of Steel, in ſtead of reſtoring to us that Glorious Freedom, which we have ſo long expected from them in vain.
And becauſe I finde the Generality of the Nobility, Gentry, Clergie, Commonalty, of our Nation, after all their late yeers expenſive bloody wars, and Parliamentary Diſputes, for the defence and preſervation of theſe our Ancient Hereditary Fundamental Charters, Laws, Liberties, Priviledges, ſo ſtrangely degenerated both from themſelves, and their Heroick prudent Ancestors, as that they are more readily inclined, upon every occaſion, out of a baſe, un-Chriſtian, unmanly, un-Engliſh fear, or ſottiſh cowardice and ſtupidity, wittingly to deſert, betray, ſurrender them all up into the hands of any invading Uſurpers, without the leaſt Publike Claim, Diſſertation, Defence, or Diſpute; then diligently or couragiouſly to contend for them, as of late they did: So as that which Paul once taxed in the ſlaviſh beſotted Corinthians, 2 Epiſt. 11. 20. may be moſt truly averred of our degenerated, inſatuated, Engliſh Nation: Ye ſuffer if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himſelf, (above your Laws, Liberties, Franchiſes, Parliaments, Kings, Nobles, Properties, Lives, Conſciences, anda2 Theſ. 2. 4. all that is called God, or worſhipped) if a man ſmite you on the face; notwithſtanding all their manifold latebSee Exact collect. and a general Collect. of all Ordinances, &c. Protestations, Vows, Covenants, Remonſtrances, Declarations, and Publike Engagements, to the contrary. And withal, after diligent enquiry, diſcovering ſcarce one man of Eminencie or Power in the Nation, nor ſo much as one of my degenerated temporizing Profeſſion of the Law, (even when thecSee Culpep…r's & Lilly's Merlins & Almanacks, John Can's 2 Voice, Lilb. tried and caſt; with many Pe…itions and Pamphlets againſt the Law and Lawyers. The Order of Aug. 19. 1653. That there ſhould be a Committee ſelected to conſider of A NEW BODY of the Law, for the government of this Commonwealth. whole Body of our Laws, and all its Profeſſors, are violently aſſaulted, and devoted unto ſudden ruine, by many lawleſs ſpirits) who hath ſo much Courage, Magnanimity, Honeſty, Zeal, or cordial Love to his native Country, remaining in his breſt, as manfully to appear in Publike, for the ſtrenuous neceſſary defence of theſe our Hereditary, Fundamental Laws, Liberties, Rights, Franchiſes, (though their own, and every other Engliſh Freeman's beſt Inheritance and Security) for fear of being perſecuted, impriſoned, cloſe impriſoned, exiled, condemned, deſtroyed, as a Traytor, Rebel, Seditious perſon, Enemy to the Publike, or diſturber of the Kingdoms Peace, by thoſe who are truely ſuch: I thereupon conceived, I could not undertake or perform a more neceſſary, ſeaſonable, beneficial Service for my Country, (and not to be like thoſe, who are aſhamed, afraid, for the moſt part, to own, viſit, or be ſeen in the company of thoſe Gallant men, much leſs to aſſiſt, defend, and ſtick cloſe unto them in their dangers, according to the ſixth Article of their late Solemn League and Covenant, who have ſuffered, acted, and ſtood up moſt for their Common Liberties, Rights, Freedoms, Religion, againſt all invading Tyrants, to their great diſcouragement and betraying) nor pitch upon any Subject more proper for me, either as a common Lawyer, or as a conſtant Advocate and Sufferer for the Publike Cauſe, and Liberties of the Nation, as well under our late extravagant Free-State, as former Regal and Epiſcopal arbitrary Tyranny, then in this juncture of our publike affairs, to preſent our whole diſtracted unſetled Kingdom with An Hiſtorical and Legal Vindication, and Chronological Collection, in all Ages, of theſe Ancient Hereditary Liberties, Franchiſes, Rights, Conteſts, Laws, Charters, Records, Monuments of former and late times, for their Confirmation, and inviolable Obſervation, which our Anceſtors and our Selves have always hitherto reputed FUNDAMENTAL, UNALTERABLE, INVIOLABLE, upon any pretext; and have moſt eagerly contended for, with the prodigal expence of many millions of Treaſure, and whole oceans of gallant Christian Engl…ſh blood.
And if, upon the ſerious peruſal of them, the univerſality of our degenerated Nation, after their many late ſolemn Proteſtations, Vows, Leagues, Covenants, Remonſtrances, inviolably to defend and maintain them, ſhall ſtill ſo undervalue them now at laſt, (as moſt actually have done) as not to eſteem them worth the owning, maintaining, vindicating, or perpetuating any longer; and thereby draw upon their heads the real guilt of all thoſe bloody Wars, Murders, Tumults, Violencies, Rapines, Oppreſſions, Sins, Miſchiefs, Illegal Taxes, Exciſes, Exorb tancies, which their many late yeers pretended Neceſſary Defence and Preſervation have brought upon our three whole Nations; let them henceforth, like ſo many daſtardly conquered Bondſlaves, bored thorow the ears, publikely diſavow, diſclaim, renounce, abjure them, for themſelves and their Poſterities for ever, as meer worthleſs toys, or pernicious inventions, fit onelyonly to kindle perpetual Wars and Diſcords between King and People, Head and Members, Superiours and Inferiours; or, as poor ſlender Cobwebs, (as now they prove) fit to hold none within compaſs but the very weakeſt flyes; broken thorow with eaſe and impunity by every greater fly, creeping up into any Power or Supreme Authority, by Right or Wrong; and ſwept down to the very ground, by every New Broom in the hand of upſtart Innovators.
But if, upon ſaddeſt deliberation, they ſhall really eſtimate them to be ſuch incomparable, rich, precious jewels, and ancient inheritances, as are every way worth the infinite Treaſures, Wars, Blood, Cares, Conſultations, Troubles, heretofore and of late yeers expended, both to gain, retain, confirm, and perpetuate them, to them and their poſterities for ever, as their principal earthly Security and Pea…itude; I hope they will all then unanimouſly henceforth conclude with the Poe…,
Non minor eſt virtus quàm quaerere, PARTA TUERI: and both by their Votes, and Actions, return the ſelf-ſame peremptory magnanimous anſwer to any Caeſar, Conqueror, Potentate, Power, or Combination of men whatſoever, (who ſhall endeavour by force, fraud, or flattery, to compel or perſwade them, to ſell, reſigne, betray, or give up theſe their Anceſtral Priviledges, Inheritances, Birth-rights, to them) as Naboth once did to King Ahab, 1 King. 21. 3. The Lord forbid it us, that we ſhould give (ſell, or betray) the INHERITANCE OF OUR FATHERS (and our Poſterities likewiſe) unto thee, or you; though they ſhould ſuffer for this Anſwer and refuſal, as much as Naboth did from bloody Ahab and Jezebel.
But whatever lowe price or estim…te this ſpurious, ſtupid, ſordid, ſlaviſh Age may ſet upon theſe richeſt Pearls; yet for my own particular, upon ſerious conſideration of theſe Chronological Collections, and the Solemn Oathes, Prote…ations, Vows, League and Covenant, obliging me to defend them to the uttermoſt; I value the whole Nations publike, and my own (with my cordial friends) private intereſt in them, at ſo high a rate, that I would rather chearfully part with ten thouſand lives, and all the treaſures of the Nation, were I owner of them, then wittingly, negligently, or unworthily ſell, betray, or reſigne them up to any Mortals or Powers whatſoever, upon any Pretences or Conditions, after all my former Publications, Conteſts, Sufferings, &c. for their juſt Defence.
Now to the end all others might now take ſpecial notice of the ineſtimable value our Anceſtors in all Ages have ſet upon them, and what ſucceſſive Wars, Conflicts, they have chearfully undertaken for their preſervation; I have, at vacant hours compiled this enſuing Vindication and Collection of the O…d Fund…mental Liberties, Franchiſes, Laws of all E…gliſh Free-men, which I ſhall bequeath to my moſt beloved native Country in general, and every real Heroick Patron of them in particular, as the beſt Legacie I can leave behinde me, both for their preſent and future Enfranchiſement, Immunity, Security from all Arbitrary tyranny, Slavery, and yokes of Bondage, under which they have a long time langu…ſhed, and lamented, in the bitterneſs of their ſpirits.
The Method I reſolve herein to purſue, is this:
1. I ſhall produce ſome punctual Authorities of moment, to evidence, That the Kingdom and Free-men of England have ſome ancient Hereditary juſt Rights, Liberties, Priviledges, Franchiſes, Laws and Customs, properly called FUNDAMENTAL; and likewiſe a FUNDAMENTAL Government, no ways to be altered, undermined, ſubverted, directly or indirectly, to the Publike prejudice, under pain of high-Treaſon in thoſe who ſhall attempt it, eſpecially by fraud, force, or armed power.
2. I ſhall in brief Propoſitions preſent you with the chiefeſt and moſt conſiderable of them, which our Anceſtors in former ages, and our lateſt real Parliaments have reſolved to be, and eagerly contended for, as FUNDAMENTAL, eſſential to their being and well-being, as a Free People, Kingdom, Reipublike, unwilling to be enſlaved under any Yokes of Tyranny, any Arbitrary Impoſitions or Powers whatſoever. And then give you a brief Touch of their ſeveral late unparallel'd violations, both by the Edicts and Actions of uſurping Powers.
3. I ſhall in a Chronological way tender you a large Hiſtorical Catalogue of Conteſts, Votes, Declarations, Remonſtrances, Oathes, Vows, Proteſtations, Covenants, Engagements, Evidences, Statutes, Charters, Writs, Records, Judgements, and Authorities, in all ages, undeniably evidencing, declaring, vindicating, eſtabliſhing, perpetuating theſe Fundamental Hereditary Rights, Liberties, Priviledges, Franchiſes, Cuſtoms, Laws, and abundantly manifeſting the extraordinary care, induſtry, zeal, courage, wiſdom, vigilancy of our Anceſtors, to defend, preſerve, and perpetuate them to poſterity, without the leaſt violation or diminution.
4. I ſhall vindicate the excellencie, indifferencie, and legality of trying all Malefactors whatſoever by Juries of their peers, upon legal Proceſs and Indictments; and manifeſt the illegality, injuſtice, partiality, dangerous conſequences, of admitting or introducing any other form of Trials, by New, Arbitrary, Martial Commiſſions, or Courts of High Juſtice, (or rather*Summum jus, eſt ſumma injuria. C…c. de Offic…s, p. 611. Injuſtice) inconſiſtent with, and deſtructive to the Fundamental Rights, Liberties, Priviledges, Laws, Franchiſes of the Engliſh Nation, and of moſt dangerous Preſident to Poſterity; being ſet up by the greateſt Pretenders to Publike Liberty, Law, and the chiefeſt inveighers againſt Arbitrary Regal Tyranny and Power, which never publikely eſtabliſhed them by any Law, and may fall to imitate them in future Ages.
Each of theſe I intend to proſecute in diſtinct Chapters in their order.
For the firſt of theſe: That the Kingdom and Free-men of England, have ſome Ancient Hereditary Rights, Liberties, Priviledges, Franchiſes, Laws and Cuſtoms, properly called FUNDAMENTAL; and likewiſe a FUNDAMENTAL …OVERNMENT, no ways to be altered, undermined, ſubverted, directly or indirectly, under pain of High-treaſon in thoſe who ſhall attempt it, eſpecially by fraud, force, or armed power.
I ſhall confirm the firſt part of it, by theſe enſuing punctual Authorities of moment, againſt thoſeaLilb. tryed and cast, p. 39, 40, 142. to 148 and elſewhere. John Canne's 2 Voice from the Temple. John Rogers Mene, T…k…l, Per…z, p. 6. Lilly and Culpeper in their prognoſtications Anno 1653. & 1654. See the Armies Propoſals. traytorous late-publiſhed Pamphlets, which profeſſedly deny it, and endeavour a total abrogation of all former Laws, to ſet up a New Model and Body of the Law, to rule us for the future, according to their Pleaſures.
The firſt is, the expreſs words of the Great Charters of the Liberties of England, granted bybSee Matth. Paris, p. 216 & Magna Chart. 9, 11. 3 H. 3. c. 1. & 38. 25 E. 1. c. 1, &c. 28 E. 1. c. 1, &c. Cook's 2 Inſtit. p. 2, 77. King John, Anno 1215. in the 17 yeer of his Reign; regranted and confirmed by King Henry the third, in the ninth yeer of his Reign, and ſundry times afterwards; and by King Edward the firſt, in the 25 and 28 yeers of his Reign: wherein theſe three Kings ſucceſſively, by their ſeveral Grand Charters under their Great Seals, did grant, give, and confirm, to all the Free-men of the Realm of England, FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR HEIRS FOR EVER, the Customs, Liberties therein contained; TO HAVE AND TO HOLD THEM, TO THEM AND THEIR HEIRS, FROM THEM AND THEIR HEIRS FOR EVER. Concluding their Charters thus: All theſe Customs and Liberties aforeſaid, which we have granted to be holden within this our Realm, as much as appertaineth TO US AND OUR HEIRS, WE SHALL OBSERVE. And ALL MEN OF THIS OUR REALM, AS WELL SPIRITUAL AS TEMPORAL, (as much as in them is) ſhall obſerve the ſame againſt all perſons in likewiſe. And we have granted unto them, THAT NEITHER WE NOR OUR HEIRS SHALL PROCURE OR DO ANY THING WHEREBY THE LIBERTIES IN THESE CHARTERS CONTAINED, SHALL BE INFRINGED OR BROKEN. We ratifying and approving theſe Gifts and Grants aforeſaid, CONFIRM and CORROBORATE ALL THE SAME, FOR US AND OUR HEIRS PERPETUALLY: and by theſe Pr…ſents (as the later Charters run) do renew the ſame: Willing and granting, FOR US AND OUR HEIRS, THAT THESE CHARTERS, AND ALL AND SINGULAR THEIR ARTICLES, FOR EVER SHALL BE STEDFASTLY, FIRMLY, AND INVIOLABLY OBSERVED.
Sir Edward Cook, (that reverend learned Judge and Profeſſor of our Laws) in his Preface to his ſecond Inſtitutes, and p. 2. and 77. thereof, wherein he comments on this Great Charter, (printed by two Orders of the Houſe of Commons in Parliament, dated 12 Maii 1641. and 30 Junit 1642.) reſolves in direct terms, That the Great Charter was for the moſt part declaratory of the Principal Grounds of THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS OF ENGLAND: That theſe words therein, [for us and our heirs for ever] were added, to avoid all ſcruples; THAT THIS GREAT PARLIAMENTARY: CHARTER MIGHT LIVE AND TAKE EFFECT IN ALL SUCCESSIONS OF AGES FOR EVER. A clear Reſolution, that the principal Liberties, Cuſtoms, Laws, contained in theſe Great Charters, and ratified by them, are both Fundamental, perpetual, and unalterable; being ſince confirmed in all points by neer fourty ſeveral ſpecial Acts of Parliament in ſucceeding Parliaments: and likewiſe by the Solemn Oathes of our Kings, Nobles, Judges, Great Officers, and of the People too, (all ſeveral times ſworn to defend and maintain the ſame) and by ſundry Solemn Excommunications againſt the infringers or contemners of them in any kinde; as I ſhall prove more fully in the third Chapter.
The ſecond is, the punctual Reſolution of the whole Parliament of 1 Jacobi, even in a Printed Act of Parliament, chap. 2. and of King James himſelf, in his Speech therein, as is evident by this Prologue to that Act: Whereas his moſt excellent Majeſtie hath been pleaſed, out of his great wiſdom and judgement, not onelyonly to repreſent unto us, by his own prudent and Princely Speech on the firſt day of this Parliament, how much he deſired (in regard of his inward and gracious affection to both the famous and ancient Realms of England and Scotland, now united in Allegiance, and by all ſubjection IN HIS ROYAL PERSON, TO HIS MAJESTY AND HIS POSTERITY FOR EVER) that by a ſpeedy, mature, and ſound Deliberation, ſuch a future Union might follow, as ſhould make perfect that mutual love, and uniformity of Maners and Cuſtoms, which Almighty God in his providence, for the ſtrength and ſafety of both Realms, hath ſo far already begun, in apparent ſight of all the world; but alſo hath vouchſafed to expreſs many ways, how far it is, and EVER SHALL BE, from his Royal and ſincere care and affection to the Subjects of England, TO ALTER OR INNOVATE THE FUNDAMENTAL AND ANCIENT LAWS, PRIVILEDGES, & GOOD CUSTOMS OF THIS KINGDOM; whereby not onelyonly HIS ROYAL AUTHORITY, but THE PEOPLES SECURITY OF LANDS, LIVINGS, and PRIVILEDGES (both in General and Particular) ARE PRESERVED AND MAINTAINED;Nota. and, BY THE ABOLISHING OR ALTERATION OF THE WHICH, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE BUT THAT PRESENT CONFUSION WILL FALL UPON THE WHOLE STATE AND FRAME OF THIS KINGDOM, &c. In which memorable Clauſe, theſe four things are obſervable 1. That the Kin…dom and People of England have Fundamental ancient good Laws, Priviledges, and Cuſtoms. 2. That theſe are no ways to be altered or innovated; and that it always hath been, is, and ever ſhall be, far from the thoughts and intents of all good Kings, Governours, and Parliaments, who bear a ſincere care and affection to the Subjects of England, to alter or innovate them. 3. That by theſe ancient good Laws, Priviledges, and Cuſtoms, not onelyonly the Kings Regal authority, but the Peoples Security of Lands, Livings, and Priviledges, (both in general and particular) are preſerved and maintained. 4. That by the aboliſhing or altering of them, it is impoſſible, but that preſent confuſion will fall upon the whole State and frame of this Kingdom. Which I wiſh all Innovators and New Modellers of our Laws, would now at laſt ſay ſeriouſly to heart, and the whole Kingdom and Engliſh Nation ſadly conſider, who have found it an Experimental truth of late yeers, and no imaginary feigned Speculation.
The third is, The Remonſtrance of the whole Houſe of Commons in Parliament, delivered in writing to K. James, in the Parliament of 7 Jac. anno 1610. which begins thus.