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