Redintegratio Amoris OR A Union of Hearts between The Kings Most Excellent Majesty the Right Honorable the LORDS and COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army Under his Command The Assembly and every honest man that desires a sound and durable Peace accompanied with speedy Justice and Piety By way of respective Apologies so far as Scripture and Reason may be Judges By JOHN COOK of Grayes-Inne Barrester The falling out of lovers is the renewing of love London Printed for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at his shop at the black spread-Eagle neer the West-end of Pauls The principal matters are That 1. NAture is of Gavelkind Tenure 2. All lawful authority is derived from the people who cannot by any Covenant inslave themselves 3. Good Kings raign by Gods approbation Tyrants by his permission till the people can free themselves 4. What Law is what Rebellion is 5. That Anarchy is better then Tyranny 6. That in quiet Kingdoms much Iniustice is to be suffered rather then to oppose the Governors till it be insufferable and then it is ne resistance of authority because God never did nor man can give any such authority 7. Some Scriptures answered and such reverence to be given to divine authority as to beleeve that there was a reason for every thing though we cannot reach it 8. That Bishops for Religion and some former Judges in point of Prerogative are of equal credit 9. What undâ—d Lord Keeper Littleton and others 10. Twelve politick Judges to execute quick and cheap Justice requisite to felicitate this Kingdom with an Expedient for it 11. Essentials not to be lost for Formalities 12. The Law and the Prophets to be rather studied then law and profit 13. A Cause at first as plain as a bul-rush comes to be as hard as an oak 14. That Parliamentum is parium lamentum and that Kings originally agreed to refer the peoples complaints to whom soever they would choose and that Parliaments never dye intentionally 15. The mixture of the three estates commended yet if one of three oâ—ligors fail the other two must pay the debt for Justice must be dâ—nâ— 16. That the Judgment of Parliament is inevitable for all positive Laws by vertue of the fifth Commandment 17 Kings are not less free by reason of Parliaments no more then men are less safe upon Pauls for the Rails 18. To question the Justice of the Parliaments Cause is to doubt whether Protestant or Popish be the true Religion 19. Yet so as the King had some colour for what he did in Gods Ordinance which the Parliament if they should break trust have not and his late party adhering to the letter of Scripture and some Law cases Touch not mine anointed c. had the same colour as Papists for transubstantion by This is my body 20. Mr Jenkins easily answered and Dr Fearns matter combustible 21. Reasons to induce his Maiesty to beleeve that the Parliament did nothing but in discharge of their great trust without which they could not have answered it to the Kingdom and that his Maiesty would frame arguments for that purpose 22. That the Parliament would conceive that his Maiesty acted according to his present light for the satisfaction of his Royal Conscience his Royal Allies and many of his people at home would frame arguments for his Maiesty besides that the Law lays all the blame upon his evil Counsellors 23. That this is a principal expedient to beget a right understanding and endeared and loyal Affection between his Maiesty and people 24. How his Maiesty is head of the Church and one Argument for his Maiesty when the several Parliaments in England and Ireland present acts for establishing of the Protestant and Popish Religious severally what his Maiesty is to do and that the King of Poland swears to maintain both those Religions 25. That the Lords are intrusted by the people though not elected as Guardians of the Kings Contract with the people and that all subordinate Officers are to mind the duty of their places more then the desires of those that preferred them 26. Two things in the House of Commons questioned the Members not being sworn and their not Administring oaths and Answered 27. The Lords supplicated to be indulgent to tender Consciences being exempted from the Presbyterian discipline 28. Three Ordinances begg'd 1. Redemption for our poor brethren slaves to the Turks 2. Liberty for poor Prisoners that are ready to starve 3. Some speedy course to abate the price of corn least poor people be famish't 29 An Apologie for the Armies not disbanding who have bin true to the Covenant and seek nothing but for what they first ingaged and have been the breath of many of their nostrils who would not have their breath in the Kingdom 30. The Declaration against them a Nullity the Revocation of it a great honor to the Parliament and Army What spirits the Armies opposers are of 31. The two great expedients for a substantial settlement of the Kingdom Reformations in Courts of Justice and Liberty for tender Consciences cannot as mens interests now stand be effected without the Continuance of the Army 32. That the main interest of this Kingdom is to be as zealous for the Protestant Religion as Spain is for Popery 33. The Interest of all honest men is speedily to Vnite specially for Gods people 34. That the difference was not whether the Kingdom should be Protestants or Papists but Protestants at large or strickt Professors 35. That should the Army disband til Liberties are secured they would be a ludibrium to all the world and culpable of all the sufferings of Gods people 36. Some late Arguments against the Parliament answered and the Honor of that high Court in all things to be maintained so as the Honor of God do not suffer nor the peoples liberties destroyed 37. No man to grow rich in a time of Civil War Nor usury then to incur some Vsurers within the statute de judaismo and a provision that there may not be a begger in Israel 38. God wil not suffer any good Governors to be destroyed so long as they Administer Justice but t is dangerous for the supream Court to deny the people their Just Liberties 39 Forreign Negotiations against Protestants and the private Interests of some which are contrary to Publique Liberties are Grounds for the Armies continuance 40 Religion introduced by blood every where but in England a Prophesy concerning the sword to that purpose therefore truths which cost dear are to be loved 41. That war is lawful to defend Religion not to promote it that the sword maybe imployd for Religion as the servant of justice 42. Who are the hinderers of Irelands Releif and how Antichrist with his left hand may fight against his right 43. That H. 7. did wel to kil R. 3. and long may his Royal race inherit in our present Soveraign Lord King Charles and his princely Progeny 44. The Author
as one of the most necessary works to be done in this Kingdom and that wherein there wil appear much opposition and if it be not suddainly done it wil not be done in this Generation our Laws are actually or potentially the best in the world for if any thing be amiss the Parliament may reform it according to right reason which is the soul of al humane Laws without exception no Law ought to live longer then the reason of it continues away with all bugbear objections and after Naseby fight lets never distrust God for any thing I mean let us have such Laws as are not directly against Scripture and for which some reason may be given besides the course of the Court for that for which probable reason may be rendred on both sides is not fundamental as the eldest son to inherite the whole estate certainly there ought in all reason some provision to be made for the young Children if the Father make none for them in his live time but true it is that many positive Laws are fundamental secundarily to alter which would be ful of danger and inconveniences unless it were most evident that great utility would thereby arise and accrue to the Kingdom but that is not my present work something I intend concerning Government in general rules by which no man can conceive himself prejudiced as by general rules of Physick no wise man can expect to be cured 1. That the people girt the sword about the King the King says our Law books is the fountain of honor and it is true for the peoples good therefore doth the King make Judges and Magistrates great that they may not be afraid to do right and justice to their brethren so that indeed the state confers honors by the King as the King gives the Alms by his Almoner they presume that the King wil make no Lords but such as shal be an honor to the Kingdom in whom the Kingdom shal be preferred the Judges Robes are for the Kingdoms good to strick a terror into offenders if the Kingdom or the Parliament which is the state contract can justly except against those which are honored that is if they by their greatness oppress the people and Lord it over poor men the honor ought not to continue for all Priviledges and Preeminences are forfeited by abusers no Priviledg which is a private Law must oppose Publique welfare Indeed nothing done without the states allowance is allowable that is nothing against the fundamental good of the people and truly the main end of Parliaments is to supervise the Publique Magistrates to see that Ministers of justice be just and execute justice impartially If Kings did always prefer good men and conferr the great offices of trust and judicial places upon the most idoneous and best men in the Kingdom which are Infra Causam meriti that best deserve them there would be the less need of Parliaments I mean officers of the Kingdom for there are officers of the Empire for the Administration of Publique justice and officers of the Emperors as his Domestical servants answerable to our distinction of the Kings natural Capacity and his politique Capacity art is always the perfection and never the destruction of nature Let me but humbly observe a little defectiveness in state policy concerning the Kings Councel That the Regal heires have not in their princely education Tutors to instruct them in that which most concerns the good of the Kingdom which is Councellors to acquaint them in the fundamental laws of the land how improper is it that the Kings Counsel should be least of Counsel with his Majesty but by per-audience to gain other Clyents and be ingaged in other mens business when they should be attending his Majesty stil presenting the law before him which is the golden rule of justice Judg Fortescue holds it necessary for the peoplâ—s happiness that the King see with his own eys what is for his peoples good that so he may reward the most vertuous the Frâ—nch King is enioyned to pray so much every day to be exemplary to the people how happy would it be if the nobles and Grandees of state would study that fundamental and true end of Government which is the wâ—lfare of the people The young Prince of Persia hath 4 Tutors for Religion as many for the Law but 2 for Martial Exploits for they said for the King to know how to ride the Great horse is but half as good for the Subiects as to know the law by which he wears his Crown and one Tutor for every moral vertue patience courtesy temperance chastity c. 2. Not to argue whether we live under a Government mixt and co-ordinate or simple and subordinate 't is a common Tenent that the Empire France and Spain are merum Emperium England Sweden Denmark and Poland a mixt Empire the Venetians a pure Aristocracy Holland Geneva c. Jurisdictio sine Imperio that of the 6. Kings that be in Christendom Franâ—e and Spain have too much power Sweden and Poland too little for their title England and Denmark just enough to make themselves splendid and their people happy All agree that the King cannot make a Law without a Parliament and I cannot but exceedingly magnifie the mixture of the 3. estates the superlative trust by Law is in the King Lords and Commons 't is but loss of time to look back into the power of the Bishops for 't is not much above 100. years since there were Statutes enforced for the Popes supreamacy yet so as if the Lords and Commons perceive that the King by evil advice undermines the subjects liberties to the manifest indangering of Salus they must then necessarily suspend the operation of that mixture as when 3. men are to cary a weight if one plucks back his haÌ„d the other 2. must bear it for the consideration of publick utility is always equivalent to a necessity Causae necessitatis util tatis aequiparantur in Jure and therefore it is an error to say the people do not trust the right honorable Lords because they do not choose them Their Nobility was acquired and is continued by noble actions those noble Peers that have not deserted the Parliament but continued faithful and adventured their lives and honors for the publick safety deserve eternal praises and in the multitude of such Counsellors there is much safety to this Kingdom for all true Honor consists in vertuous endowments and their improvements the principal whereof is faithfulness to the Kingdom expressing their honorable endeavors after that in works of mâ—rcy justice peace and love The King is ever present by his power the Lords present in their persons and the Kingdom represented by their choycest members who are impowred for themselvâ—s and the whole Kingdom so the whole Kingdom is figuratively present by a part taken for the whole therefore the words Commâ—ssioners or Arbitrators or Feoffees in trust of exceeding their power and such
husht and subdued I think no History can be produced that ever any good Magistrates were subdued by force for God sits upon the Bench with them but many times Kings and Governours have refused to do justice till the people have enforced them Hitherto the Army hath had the justice of Heaven and so long as they intreat in the Kingdoms behalf things Honourable and safe for the Parliament to grant their Continuance is the best assurance that our Worthyes in Parliament can desire For what great King or Court but receives honour by a faithfull and victorious Army who will exceedingly facilitate the work and prepare the way for our Parliamentary Worthyes as John the Baptist did for our blessed Saviour I hope I have satisfied every rationall man that it is not possible in a prudentiall consideration that without the intervention and intercession of this Army this Parliament as things stand can never be able to settle the publike Liberties and happinesse of this Kingdom for who sees not what a spirit of malignity there is stâ—ll working in this Kingdom Is all the malignant bloud drawn out or dryed up Did never Serpents re-assume their poyson upon occasion Are not the Jesuites negotiating a reconcâ—lement between the Catholike Princes hoping to eat up Holland at a breakfast England and Scotland for their dinner and all other Protestants at supper and all to erect a universall monarchy and what 's their pretence Mark it I beseech you to avoyd disorder and confusion for it can never be well sâ—y they till one man have the sole power over souls and another over bodies and estates I am confident that before Rome's fall there will be a generall Warre between Protestants and Papists without any other ground of the quarrell Is it not the extremity of madnesse for Protestants to fall out to maintain Antichrists cause who is our sworne enemy How lovingly doe Protestants and Papists associate in France Poland c The French Ministers preach that the French King Queen and all are damned unlesse they forsake their Idolatry the Priests quite contrary that not a Hugonet can be saved in the name of God what ails us cannot we like bees hive into one body politique because we differ in opinion yet are of the same Religion shall small matters disjoyne them whom one God one Lord one Faith one Spirit and one common cause bonds of such great strength and force have linked together Oh yee learned Presbyterians such of you as are like dead flies in the ointment of our good names to make us unsavoury to our Noâ—le Parliament which yet I trust yee shall never be able to doe Will yee not take warning by the Bishops Did not they tell the King that the wâ—y to prevâ—nt errours was to suppresse the Puritans The Rams of the flock are demolished will not you tremble I tell you that the way to make us all of one minde in the things of God is to grant liberty to all in things not fundamentall possibly there are some by whom the way of truth is scandalized wee may thank the Bishops and their Successours for it let the waters alone and they passe away quietly but stop the Current and throw in stones and the waters rage An Englishman scorns to have his Religion cudgelled out of him but deale with him in the spirit of Christ shew him where his feet slide you take his judgement and affections prisoners If the Bishops had not prest Subscriptions and Conformity to the Statute of 13 Eliz. they might have been longer lived for any thing I know It grieves me that you should take such pains to destroy your selves but come there is no falling from grace true repentance is half innocent tell our Parliament Worthyes that onely a liberty to tender consciences can break the heart-strings of popery tâ—at never any but Antichrist denyed a freedome of conscience to people of our quality and profession who desire it no longer then we are Protestants and live in all dutifull Conformity to the Civill Government tell them that Jesus Christ will never prosper those that persecute such as are humble suitors in the behalf of his Kingdom Doe yee think he will tell them that the free exercise of the Gospel for Doctrine Discipline is of so harmlesse and peaceable a nature and carriage so far from wronging any Magistrate in Sovereignty and Power that the Persiâ—ns and the Turks admit it The Roman Emperours in policy gave leave to build Temples Politike Charles the fifth sayd There was no other way to peace but by a liberty for all Protestants so Maximilian that succeeded him H. 3. of France Ah saith Philip the second when he was dying If I were to live again my first thing should be to grant liberty to Protestants Ah sayes the Emperour How gladly would I grant a liberty of conscience if that would now serve the turn and that would have served at first I beseech you marke me when the King of Sweden entered Germany he propounded nothing but what was most just liberty for Protestants banishment of Jesuites restitution to the Palatinate his cosen Mechelburg and some other oppressed Princes with the Emperour would not grant but being victorious nothing would content him then but to be declared King of the Romans and so heire apparent of the Empire Be wise in time A moderate meet liberty will not satisfie every man and you may proceed in your own way if hereafter you suffer in point of Tithes you may thank your selves you know whose pride and covetousness hath brought their honour into the dust Your ridged Presbytery is no more Jure Divino then Episcopacy was you may as well call Divinity damnation Doe not think that this Kingdom will suffer you to be Judges in your own Cases Your Ipse Dixit will not do it your Votes cannot make Hereticks nor Schismaticks men are wiser in the South then far North the Sun cleers the judgement to that Son of Righteousness I commend you desiring to walke with you in love and peace I shall conclude with a request to the Army you precious souls as ye have been presidents to others for honesty and justice so be a president to your selves what to continue continue just be content with what you can get and take not the value of a pin from any man but in case of necessity 't is fit that you who have saved the Kingdome should not starve injustice is a very great sin the want of morality excludes from Heaven His Majesty was wont to say that there were none in arms but Independents Anabaptists and Brownists who would destroy all Laws and Religion the eyes of all the World are upon you you know best why you tooke up arms was it not for Laws and Liberties stand fast in the Lord and in the power of his might be true to your first principles as ye are Englishmen as ye are Souldiers and as ye are Christians treason is the betraying
Majesty we shal use all dutiful means to procure Your Royal Assent but if You still refuse we mst not sit still and see our selves ruined we must save the Kingdom without Your Consent though we hope not against it But then saith the Obiector where is the Kings power I answer nothing at all diminished his Maiesty hath more power then he can imagine for the preservation and happiness of the Kingdom which is the end of all Superiority but nothing for the destruction and desolation of the people we say God is omnipotent and yet he cannot sin nor do any iniustice shal we say that the Kings power is diminished because he may not hurt the people or that a man is less in health becaus he hath many Physitians to attend him nothing less for 't is impotence and weakness to do hurt and iniury but the King is impowred for the good of the people true but he may not say that is for the Kingdoms good which they say is for their hurt what I do for my own good I may undo Methinks this should satisfie every noble Prince let my Subjects in Parliament propound what Laws they please for their own security 't is a great ease to me if the Laws be not good they may thank themselves if they be good the honor is mine my consent being as the Master-builder that gives the form and life to the Architecture and if the Subiect suffers I cannot be blamed but if the contrary should be Law what miserable things were Subiects who wil trust his own father with his life And who can be merry if a King or Governor may divide his head from his body or him from his dearest relations by imprisonment or otherwise when he pleaseth but here lies the root of all our misery we take all for gold that glisters every thing to be reason that looks like it and every case to be Law which we find written in our Law books whereas Law is reason adiudged in a Court of Record where reason is the Genus the Court makes the difference from extraiuditial discours which may be rationally yet is not legally iust if it be not reason the pronunciation of 10000. Judges cannot make it Law no more then the Venetian Madonnas can by their huge high heels in reality add one Cubit to their stature as for example 't is a Max me in Law that the King can do no wrong therefore if he kill or ravish 't is neither Murder nor Felony I say 't is against reason therefore against Law for if the King may kill one man he may kill one hundred and what Courtier dare give any faithful advice when the King may without controul kill him or strangle him and so not be guilty of blood as the grand Turk that having promised to spare a mans blood caused him to be strangled and so shed no blood or something like the case of the Duke of Glocester by King H. 7. this was acknowledged by the Tyrant who having a mind to kill his brother his Chancellor told him he might not by Law commit Fratricide but saith he is there not a Law that I may do what I please and let but Mr Jenkins answer whether those Judges whose Authorities he vouches were not of opinion that whatsoever the King did it is in Law no offence and then all that he hath written or can write against the Parlâ—ament wil not bear the weight of a feather and I humbly intreat all indifferent men that read books more for satisfaction then a desire to contend for any party but to answer me this question Why should there be any more credit given to the opinion and authorities of the Judges specially such as payd dear for their places in matters of difference between the King and his Subjects in point of property then there was to the Bishops for matter of Divinity were they not both the Kings creatures alike Was it the way of preferment by standing for the liberty of the Subject to get great estates Have not the Iudges in many Countries been the raisers and first founders of great and noble Families And were those estates got by pleading for the liberty of the subject against the Prerogative We know who it was not long since that got a vast estate and thinking to ingratiate himself with his Prince said he was seldom or never of counsel in passing any Pattent but he reserved some starting hole to make it voyd in Law if need were which was as good as an act of Resumption This is the grand Error that subordinate officers are accountable only to the King and the King to God whereas all Judges and Magistrates are intrusted by the people if the people give power to the King to chose them 't is out of a confidence that his Majesty wil nominate such as shal most faithfully serve the peoples good and when Arbitrators are impowred to choose an Vmpire he may be truly said to be chosen by the parties litigant this ruines Justice when men in places of Authority more esteem him that gives them their Commission then the business that they are imployed about when their eyes are more intentively fix't upon the stars of their inclinations who preferred them then upon the publick good of the Kingdom for whose sake they were preferred for when a Magistrate is made great the principal intent and meaning of the Law is not his greatness and honor but to advance publick justice I but says one he is such a mans creature raised by him E vilissimo pulvere must not he requite his love and pleasure his Father No justice is blind and knows neither father nor mother the Judg looks not at the manner of the conveyance of his power how he comes by his Authority but at the matter of his Commission and the true end of Judicature the right understanding of one Scripture 1 Pet. 2.13 14. makes a good Judg the words are plain and being learned for learning is a special gift sanctified for matters of policy and government observes that Kings are a humane Ordinance as wel as Corporations and Societies and concludes that all those Scholastical discourses of Kings being Jure Divino are but tryals of Wit and by Supream he intends that the King is supream to administer the Law not to make Laws much less break them and Governors sent by him are for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do wel the want of this consideration ruined the Judges in point of ship-money the greatest part whereof were very very learned men Haec est crede mihi cunctorum causa malorum Scripturas Domini non didicisse sacras I know this Error in judgment undid the Lord Keepers Finch and Littleton men of brave spirits had they been for publick liberties Lord Chief Iustice Banks a man profoundly studied And Mr Jenkins being made a Iudg thinks himself bound in honor Junare in verba English men
for quick and cheap justice would do it abundantly that the poor may have justice for Gods sake and the rich for reasonable Considerations The favorites of state have always magnified the happiness of English men above all other nations in regard of the Assizes that twice a year Queen justice rides her Progress and Justice is sent them home to thier doors but I profess the Kingdom is a great looser by it 't is a meer spunge to suck away their moneys for little or no Consideration matters of the Crown only excepted and why more hast to hang a man for stealing a sheep then to help a poor man to his just Debt for what a charge is it to try a Nisi prius and when the matter of fact is tryed the party is never the neerer judgment is far of the Defendent may dye or elss writs of Error brought that a man is not beholding so much to the Law as to a good purse to obtain his right therefore this I would humbly beg of the Parliament for the present because to settle a Court of Judicature in every County wil require time and much wisdom to foresee and prevent subsequent inconveniences that the Reverent Judges may every Circuit if possibly to begin this Summer circuit be enabled by Commission to hear and determine besides the Nisi prises all private differences between party and party throughout the whole Kingdom the matter to be brought before them by Petition the Defendent to have timely notice in person or at his dwelling house by Affidavit of two witnesses in case he appear not both parties to bring their witnesses and evidences and the matter being heard to be speedily ended and execution by the Sherif accordingly unless it be very weighty and then to be adjourned to Westminster whereby a difference may be ended in a moneths time for 5. l. charge at the most which now costs 50 or 100. l. and is 3 years at the least in deciding and ends most commonly with the ruin of one party and the other gets such a blow that is long in recovering I know this wil be counted a dangerous design tending to overthrow the Law but it is only by such as fear rather the overthrow of their own profit more then they value the Law and the Prophets for I am sure they cry out for quick and cheap justice and I wil burn my books nay venture my life upon it that no man can render a reason nor frame an objection against this but that I can easily refute it if this be granted as a maxime of state that the Publique good and quiet of many is to be preserved before the private profit of a few say not that I shal hereby wrong my own profession 't is all one if I did in reference to the Publique good but this is a great mistake Lawyers would get more by speedy Justice for who had not rather give his Councel 40. s. to end his business in a day then attend many moneths and give him 10. s. a time for motion upon motion references and references besides no wise man wil go to Law for as matters are carryed the worst end by Arbitriments is better then the best can be expected by the Law all things computed unless in special cases and so what is lost in the hundred is found in the Shire pray do not say this wil prejudice the City and keep away Termers suppose it were so why should all the blood in the body be drawn into one veine When one member swels too much the body pines but that 's another mistake for men would bestow that in Cloaths and Commodities which they now spend in Law-suits but I hope time wil make us wise but then comes the old objection wil you have all things arbitrary and uncertain Nothing less but every Controversie to be ended according to reason and every former President and Judgment to be authentical and binding so far as there is reason for it and not otherwise the contrary practise is as dangerous to the state as implicite faith in matters of salvation for I would but ask this question If a Judg beleives in his Conscience that former Presidents were against reason whether if he observe them he doth not therein condemn himself but if he see reason for the Judgment then it is his own Judgment that leads him and not the bare Authority of his Predecessors but it wil be alledged that reason is malleable and one reason may be brought against another truly in matters of moral Justice t is hard to imagine any great difficulty that cause which at first is a bul-rush comes to be a Gyant differences for the most part are plain and very easie at the first beginning of the suit but when by motion upon motion the cause is put out of its course the matter grows so intricate that a poor Clyent can scarce get out of the Labyrinth but my meaning is not that every rational man should be able to understand the reason of a Law-case but that that cannot be given Law when there is a good reason to be given against it as put the case there is a verdict for a Just debt now whatsoever can be alleadged that such a process did not issue regularly yet reason says that the Debt ought to be presently paid and this can be no more called confusion then Mithridate deserves the name of Poyson And now if I should proceed Methodically I should argue whether the Parliament have sufficient grounds to raise Armies as they did but that is but to argue whether the Protestants or the Papists be of the true Religion and next I should lay down what those just grounds and Arguments were but that would savor of Presumption having been so fully and ungainsayingly declared by both Houses and might be unsafe if I should omit any and at the best prove tedious to the reader my desire being not to build upon any mans foundation nor to bring Arguments which have been exposed to Publique view already though I judg them better then my own yet 't is but a kind of cosenage to the reader to invite him to make several purchases of the same matter a trick more Common then Commendable in this Printing age yet something I must say concerning those matters which is this that the Arguments and motives which swayed me to adhere so cordially and constantly to the Parliament against the late Oxford party were rather Scripture grounds and reasons of state and self preservation then Law-cases and Printed authorities for I always conceived that the King was obliged to call Parliaments as often as the generallity of the people besought him and to disolve them til the Parliament said omnia bene was against his oath and that he was to consent to all such Laws as should humbly be presented to his Majesty by both Houses and when I find in our Law books that the King is a God upon earth as
instances used by many are in my opinion very improper now the honorable House of Commons being best acquainted with the Kingdoms Condition all good laws do move primarily from them which being transmitted to the Lords for their Lordships concurrence it is no smal security to this Kingdom in peaceable times to have the reasons of the Law solemnly debated perpended in the presence of the reverend Iudges for ever amongst Eagles eyes two eyes may see more then one and after their Lordships Concurrence the Kings Majesty desires to be satisfied of the reason and equity of the Law before he gives his Royal Assent by such wise and great deliberations Counsels prove most mature and happy as Corn that is long in ripening I conceive that the noble Peers were originally intrusted by the people as Guardians of the Contract which the King made with them and these noble Lords follow the King as the Planets the Sun in the Zodiack from whom they receive their light and splendor for the publick good and the prevarication of some which have given his Majesty pernicious Counsel as Eve tempted Adam that had been sufficient to have undone himself and his posterity but that the Law of England lays the blame upon the evil Counsellors makes the fidelity and gallantry of the rest more glorious and illustrious I would but humbly beg from that noble body those great luminaries of State that as their Lordships and their noble Families are exempted from the Presbyterian Diâ—cipline so they would be nobly pleased to dispense with such who with any quiet of conscience cannot conform thereunto that no coactive violence may be offered to such as be religious and peaceable in their differences for that no rational doubt can be destructive of State-policy as that noble Peâ—r saith Lo. Brooks who went to heaven in a fiery Charriot And being upon my knees I would humbly beg of our most honorable Worthies 3. things 1. An Ordinance for the Redemption of our poor brethren in Argiers and Tunis which are Captives and Galley-slaves to the Turks If money be wanting oh why is there not more general Collectâ—ons for that blessed purpose far better then to give to free-schools and because they are far of 2. That in the interim the many poor slaves and hunger-bitten Prisoners in and about this great City and other places of the Kingdom which are ready to starve and no more able to pay those moneys which they lie in for then to flie and certainly to clap a man in prison til he can flie or pluck down Pauls would be a great blemish to the Government of this Nation Reason commands no impossible things and a good Ordinance to be made for the sale of mens estates for the paymâ—nt of their just Debts 3. That some effectual cours maybe thought upon to abate the price of Corn specially barley that the poor might not starve which might easily be done by allowing fewer ale-houses and the statutes for selling a quart of beer or ale for a peny speedily put in execution What a sad thing is it that in a plentiful Kingdom many poor people should be ready to starve oh where are the bowels of English Magistrates why should rich men have superfluities til poor men have necessaries Let the King and great ones feast and the poor many times fast but let no man starve truly the â—ery Essence of a Parliament is freedom a new Pope kept a Gawdy day to reioyce because all his sins were forgiven and that he was now free from the censure of all men and being a Gentleman ask't a Cardinal what shal I do now to shew my love to the Romans said he pray Sr. forgive us all our siâ—s and make us as free as your Holines The Honor shal be the Parliaments the happiness the peoples And here I would humbly pray those excellent Justiciaries to receive all complaints Petitions and Informations from whomsoever they come I have thought sometimes attending some clients business and hearing poor suitors complain of their long attendances but if a man had some Information to give of a new Spanish-Fleet or some dangerous â—nvasion to be made against this Kingdom he could scarcely be heard in Holland when the general states are in Councel at the Hague there are always some appointed to come forth to receive any information that can be given for the Publique good and if any man says he hath business of Importance to Communicate he goâ—s into the Counsel house if it be frivolous he is wel laughed at for his pains and it may be fined but to what purpose should there be a freedom of debate in a Counsel if there be not freedom of Information to the Counsel In the last great frost the River near Anwerp that beautiful town in Flanders which Charlâ—s the 5. said was fit to be seen only upon Holidays was all frozen over as the Thames was and about 2. a clock in a fair Sunshine afternoon there being at the least 1000. people upon the River the Councel being sate there comes an old fisherman running and sweating to the Common-Councâ—l door and said he must be admitted instantly about extraordinary business who went in and told the Councel that if they did not use some policie to get the pâ—ople of from the River they would instantly be drowned for he perceived by the clouds or some skil that he had that the Thaw would be so suddain that the ice would break within a quarter of an hour The Councel without any further dispute for the matter had not been great if he had been mistaken Commanded instantly the bells to be rung backwards and the drums to be beat up which the people upon the River hearing thought it was a fire in the City or that the enemy was approaching or some other extraordinary matter made all possible speed From the river yet not so fast but that there were at the least 50 drowned for it grew dark of a sudden there was a great shower the Ice broke and the Thaw so unexpected that in probability had not this poor mans information been received the most of them had lost their lives How hard a thing is it for Clients and Counsel too to get into many places of Justice The Door-keepers are so hasty and angry if a man do but ask them any question in the most submissive language and many of the Clerks so teasty and brinish as if they were composed of that pillar of salt that Lots wife was turned into and so unaccostable that I profess a man may far easier have success to a noble Lord or a worthy Member then to them 't is a shame to see how they make poor Clients dance attendance after their pipes I profess if they do not reform their currishness they shal be known to all the Kingdom for their inhumanity I confess the ingenuity and readiness to give content with all civility of those which attend the right honorable
be resisted Q. But is not this contrary to Rom. 13 R. Truly ' tâ—s very observable that that Chapter should be sent to that people which are the only opposers of Civil Magistrates but the meanâ—â—g is that none may resist Gods Ordinance a people may resist all but the Oâ—dinance now no Tyranny is Gods Ordinance there is no such authority if I be bound not to resist authority 't is a good plea to say there is no such authority therefore all Tyranny is resistable and that is but to resist the violation of the Ordinance if a King would kill any man against Law there is no question but he may resist to save his life for self-preservation is by the Law of Nature for when I can have no Justice the Law makes me a Judg in my own case as if a thief set upon me to rob me I may kill him because there is no justice neer to help me so if the highest Court in any Kingdom would kil the Kingdom they may kil and dissolve that Court because otherwise they can have no justice upon it for no man can give away the right of defending his life until he hath forfeited it I assure you if Kings and Governors be cast at the Bar of Reason the Scripture wil never relieve them for God and Reason never differ but in metaphysicks Did ever God impower any man to do injustice or to erect a Court to inslave their brethren Shal not the Judg of all the earth do right God fâ—rbid the end of Governors is justice safety and protection which must not be lost to preserve forms or private priviledges which must never stand in competition with Salus Substances must not be lost for formalities Justice must be done God commands it if the Commanders wil not do it the people must have a care of the main is a good Proverb the main of all is to prefer the main I speak all this while when Governors act apparently against their Commssiions and the safety of the people he is a Tyrant whom all the people shal call so and that supream Court is Tyrannical of whom all the people shal say so which is hard to imagine of any general convention for it is not possible to vassalize the people but themselves must likewise be inslaved Quest But if in such cases blood be shed who shall be said to be guilty of it Resp The neglective Magistrate is guilty of all following exorbitances and extravagancies he breaks the peace that constrains me to break it for my own preservation nothing is more lawlesse then that Law that would endanger the Publique welfare not the Actor but the Enâ—orcer rebels against right reason and ought to suffer for double enforcing and accusing Quest But which is better of an Anarchy or a Tyranny Resp I have read much for satisfaction in that particular and truly I conceive it farre better to have no Government at all then a Tyrannicall one as being better to have no Governours then to misse of the end of Government which is the peoples good I agree it better to have continuall sore eyes then to be stark blind and that is no good cure for the tooth-ach to pluck out all the teeth but the principals of common Justice and honesty are still remaining in every man though much defaced yet not quite obliterated and that which is sufficient to condemn the Gentiles would be a better light to the people then to give absolute obedience to the will of a Tyrant for what difference is there between being governed by the Devill and a man that is possessed with the Devill if there were no Governours in a Kingdome but every one stood upon his guard if a man were foiled at one time he might get the better at another if to day he were grieved to morrow he may be relieved and no man durst kill for fear of being killed for who is so strong but may meet with his match therefore lesse mischiefe certainly to have it so then a perpetuall slavery Obj. But it will be objected that Magistrates are but in a dangerous condition if the people upon every discontent shall be mutinous and quarellous and upon a supposition of injustice done presently take armes to destroy Governours and Government Resp Indeed this is diligently to be pondered and this I take clearly to be the minde of God that in Kingdomes and States well setled many Acts of Injustice are to be suffered without resistance and to bee past by insensibly In a great building a stone that is ill placed must not be removed certainly when God commanded obedience to Kings he considered that they were passionate men with like affections and would have Favourites as others As sufferance is counted by the Papists the highest point of merit so certainly sufferance is the greatest wisdome to prevent a greater sufferance in matters which are sufferable and I could be content to loose any thing but my Conscieâ—ce and Liberty and specially for Christians to suffer in matters of common Iustice and the things of this world truly I should highly commend it because their Kingdome is not of this world the losse of a Christians outward estate is not the losse of his inward comforts nor is every cruell Government Tyrannicall it is much better to suffer much under the gracious influence of Iupiter and Venus then to live as Vulturs and Cormorants under malignant Saturn and Mars like Cannibals feeding upon one anothers bloud If I knew that my Father would come into my chamber and beat me for nothing I would not resist him but if I were perswaded that he were resolved to kill me then I should defend my selfe and if it should come to that sad strait that I must be killed or kill though possibly my affection might chuse rather to lose my own life then to be the death of him that gave it me yet my judgement would prompt that it is selâ—e murder in me to betray my own life when I may preserve it and though I should esteem my selfe most unhappy and rather wish that hand that did it had been cut off yet not dispaire because it was against my intention and my will If I were asked who was the most unfeigned lover of his Countrey and the Kingdoms best friend I should answer in two things He that is most forward to go wayes which are dangerous to himselfe and safe to his Countrey whereby I exclude Neuters that will be sure to sleep in a whole skin 't is not the Innocent Sheeps skin but the Foxes skins when the King of Sweden approached Frankford the Citizens sent to him that they might be Neutrall till their Faire was past what sayes he Are your Faires dearer to you then your Consciences by Solons Law Neuters were to be hanged 2. He that is content to suffer when his private sufferings may conduce to the Publike good for every English man is a member of the body Politick and what is
that would have many men as free from errors peradventure as themselves in their dayes burnt for Hereticks upon the Stat. of 5. H 4. made against Protestants Was not that H. 4. a Usurper Who was it that murthered R. 2 Who but purpurated Persecutors and bloudy wolves will deliver poore Christians to death or to cruell jaylors which is all one for there is no magis and minus in persecution Matters of wrong and offence are punishable but not matters of Conscience unlesse they bee proditorious positions If Protestants had been guilty of a Powder Plot in France I believe they would never have been tolerated longer hath not England paid deare enough for innocent bloud God hath been reckoning with Us for the bloud of Barrow Greenwood Tisdale Vdall Cappinger and Oyers doe but reade that excellent Treatise of that Worthy Author Sir Simon Dewes concerning this Subject which is sufficient in reason to end the great controversie of the Kingdome and to cast water upon and extinguish all the flames of our present differences in matter of errour 2. There is no other expedient left to settle the subjects liberties but by the continuance of this Army for he that knowes any thing of the temperature and constitution of our Governours and Government must acknowledge that in probability a Reformation in Courts of Iustice and a meet liberty for tender Consciences two things of the highest concernment cannot without the intervention and assistance of this Army be expected for who will consent to prejudice himselfe or derogate from his own profit for the publique good put case the Bishops were sitting in the House of Lords and the greater part what hopes were there to passe an Act for the abolishing of Episcopacy Let all Histories be inspected and it will clearely appeare that the heart of oppression in any Kingdome or State was never broken but by the mediation of some strength and therefore we should love those truths which cost so deare and this not only in matters of Religion which was introduced by blood in Germany France Scotland Poland Sweden Holland and all places where it is establisht save only in this Kingdome yet the Prophecy was By Grosted Bishop to H. 3. Populum Dei in Anglia non liberari à Papatu nisi in ore gladii cruenti but in matters of Civill Right and Common Iustice And now that God has prospered our Worthies in Parliament and made this Army so succesfull shall the Kingdome be content with halfe their liberties or remove the Court of Wards only and let the poore Client be plagued and perplexed in other Courts as he is and no hopes of redresse oh happy Indians that have no Law Suits or suddenly ended Concerning both I trust this Kingdome will ever magnifie and reverence them as the supreame Court and as all the members of the body have a care of the head and venture all to save that so must all the people of the Land venture their lives to maintaine the Honour and just priviledges of the King and Parliament my meaning is that wee ought to have this esteeme not only of this supreame Court and the constitution of the Government but of every particular member untill it plainely appeares that the Acts and Votes against the liberty of the Subject and mindes his own profit gaine and the preferment of himselfe and his friends driving on furiously like Iehu amicable and peculiar interest and neglecting the publique welfare of the people that being priviledged himselfe from all suites is not sensible of the Clyents sufferings I have often thought that it were to be wisht that Magistrates had suffered in their own private conditions that so they might learn to pitty others certainly for a Parliament man that is elected to guide the Ship of State to looke after the Cockboate of his own private fortunes and cares not whether the Kingdome bee Shipwrackt so as he may with the broken plankes build himselfe a habitation as it is the highest Treason that possibly can be committed as being a breach of greatest trust so certainly such a man to say no more deserves expulsion from the Honourable society And if by the long continuance of Patliaments which I take to bee the present case some members shall joyn confederate together to advance themselvs and their own party and dâ—presse all others that shall oppose their ambitious designes and by their active vigilance and studied premeditations present matters so plausible in the House and having the moon and starre-light of naturall parts and other politique advantages shall so prevayl to carry a Vote to the infringing of the peoples Liberties if such an extraordinary case happen it will require an extraordinary remedy I confesse when a Vote of great concernment is carried but by 3 or 4 the lesser number is included in the greater as 4 in 5 and when there is 203 vote for it and 200 against it the Vote is not past by 3 but by 203 and as Solomon sayd two are better then one therefore no better way hath been devised yet it cannot bee imagined that a fourth part in the Honourable House should ever vote against the Liberty of the subject if the design be rightly apprehended unlesse it be in a matter wherein they are exceedingly concerned in point of profit in which case they are to be intreated to be absent but must a kingdom be undone in such a case his Majesty agrees that there is a power in both Houses more then sufficient to restrain Tyranny and that his Prerogative is but to defend his peoples Liberties sure then the Parliament will give mee leave to inferre without any offence to that supream Court which is the honour and glory of the English Nation that there is in the people a sufficient power reserved to preserve themselves from slavery and oppression if those whom they have chosen to infranchise them should be the infringers of their liberties But here I shall be demanded why should not the Army beleeve that the Parliament will as they declare settle the just rights of the King and his subjects Truly not to beleeve a Parliament is morall Infidelity specially such a Parliament which hath done such wonderfull things for the good of the subject as this hath done for our forces had not been so victorious abroad had not our Councels beene most wise at home but yet reason against sence is sophisticall Nor can I beleeve what some of the Assembly pretend that hee which is imprisoned for his conscience has the liberty of his conscience and now I have named that which is the great Apple of contention in this kingdome for to speak my thoughts freely though I beleeve most of the Assembly are men regenerate and good Christians and therefore I love them yet had they never met I am as confident as confidence it selfe can make me that this kingdome had long since been setled in a peaceable posture for we may thank them for their
not intend to argue it but to the former question can the sword be better imployed then to defend good Christians what injury hath the Gospel of grace done to this Kingdom this 100 years that all men should not venture their lives to maintaine it if any should unjustly goe about to deprive us of it but did not the Christians in primitive times suffer Martyrdome T is true Christ Jesus had newly suffered and â—od would have the first seeds of Religion watered with bloud and Religion then was but a novelty and in its infancy children are subject to be abused by every one which being of age will defend themselves but for a considerable number of men to fly or suffer death is rather to be sheep then men does Religion overthrow nature That example of the Theban Leaguer under Maximilian was mistaken by Tertullian for the Christians were dispersed and knew not their own strength and that Saint Maurice had 5000 in Armes and would not fight against the King of Thebans is not reported by any credible Author but that 20000 Christians were martyred on Christmas Day under Diocletian possibly it may be so and so it was in Paris at the S. Bartholomew 1575. ten thousand Protestants massacred But all these Arrowes fall short of the mark whereat they are shot 'T is certainly more valour and Religion to fight for the maintenance of the true Religion establisht by a Law then to suffer patiently active Martyrdome in such a case is better then passive and this is no Hostility they begin no warre they provoke not the persecutors may have peace when they please let them not strike and give assurance of it to those which are in Armes for their Religion and they will lay down Armes presently as the French Protestants told their Kings Will the Cardinalls suffer an hereticall Pope as they call heresy no will the Bishops suffer hereticall Cardinalls no will the Priests suffer hereticall Priests no will the common Papists suffer hereticall Bishops no do wee not defend against God himself by physick and by food against sicknesse If a man have a sword in his hand 't is absurd to tell a Theife of Law and Iustice but fall upon him Constantine fought against Licinius in Palestine and made him give Liberty to the Christians to stand by and suffer a brother to bee killed is worse then the Murtherer for the one may be through choler and the violence of a temptation but not to help my brother argues a base spirit and is it not fratricide in me not to seek for justice upon him that hath kil'd my brother I fear the death of Barrow and Greenwood c. lay heavie upon some who might have opposed the Bishops What must the pillars of justice and truth be shaken for Uniformity must rights be invaded and violated for Formes and Ceremonies tell mee thou Beleeving soule does thy Religion consist in an ocular beauty and out-side uniformity or in a reall love and inward conformity to the Lawes of Christ is thy soule at rest in the enjoyment of thy God in the face of Christ and dost thou vex and disquiet thy selfe at Formes and shadowes dost thou persecute thy poore brethren partakers of the like precious faith with thy selfe imprison his body and vex his righteous soule because his eye-sight possibly is not so clear as thine and yet pretend that Conscience is not enforced but only the outward man and so mock and jeere at the calamity of thy brother who possibly hath greater enjoyments of God and lives more by faith and lesse by sence then thy selfe but sayes one may not God sanctifie this way to reclaime him from his errour must it bee an errour because thou sayst so and if it be so wilt thou bee unjust because I am erronious I pray thee which is the greatest sinne the manner of Gods worship is no matter of justice many Christians doe not meet in the publick places having been consecrated to Idolatrous uses and there was no naturall use for them and are not satisfied when I tell them that by the same reason they may not worship in this Kingdom because dedicated to S. George nor upon any day in the week every day having been dedicated to some Saint or other it satisfies them not for of the dayes and times there is a naturall necessity but none for the places and grounds which by speciall command were to be abolished for my one part I conceive this to be an errour but may any man therefore violate justice the queen of morall vertues the supporter of Thrones and States and commit palpable injustice the quean of vices and supplanter of States and Kingdomes by invading these mens houses which are by law their Castles and offer violence to their persons who are praying for the Magistrate that under him they may live godly and quiet lives and destroy all civill and naturall relations haling the poore husband from his wife to a prison and punishing the innocent wife and children who are not erroneous for the husbands errour if this bee not injustice there was never any done under the cope of Heaven Can it be for the publick good to imprison a man because he will not sin therefore can this Kingdome be happy without such a Liberty of Conscience and is it likely to bee obtained if this Army were disbanded speak plainly did not persecution come on like an armed man would not cruell persecutors and Oppressors have had if they might the same power over Gods people as the Romans had over their slaves if they spared it was a courtesie had not every man in the Army the next day after their disbanding been in the same condition for his Conscience as the Papists are if these men might have had their wils upon them And are not some which have ventured their lives against Popery and Tyranny indited upon the Statutes of Recusants which were made to distinguish betweene the Iesuited practising Papist and the peaceable Recusant who till the eleventh yeare of the Queene repaired constantly to our Churches and after fearing least the Papists should bee too rich the wisedome of State imposed a penalty upon them of twenty pound a Moneth for their absenting from Church and what comminations have there lately beene to proceed against poore Christians upon the Statutes of Heresy made in time of Popery against the Lollards which were Protestants and Wickliffes followers one of our protomartyrs of England truly Superstition is an unreasonable thing such bloody opinions prove the Authors to bee rather beasts then men Honest faithfull men because they cannot in all things come up and conform to the opinion of some Prelaticall spirits must be denyed the liberty to breathe and civill cohabitation or if that favour be obtayned they must be made hewers of wood and drawers of water as if the ten Tribes should have been slaves to the Gibeonites nay worse then slaves their very Oxen to plough for them and
heaven on their sides so far they will prevail against all the world of opposers and no further what will any rationall man be afraid of him that draws his sword in his defence Put the case that I. S. and his followers travelling through a dangerous Forrest meeting with I. D. and his servants should intreat I. D. to draw his sword for all their defences who does so and meeting with such as would rob them I. D. and his friends most manfully and valiantly make good every passage by killing many till they are past the most dangerous place then sayes I. S. now pray thee I. D. put up thy sword nay says he there may be more wolves yet â—uickly start out of the wood let 's stand upon our guard till we be past all danger and discoursing they differ by the way in matters of opinion and some of I. S. party tels him that he is not fit to live in a Common wealth let him change that opinion or he must be opposed pray sayes I. D. since our way lies together let us journey lovingly let us live and blesse God that hath preserved us all sayes one of I. D. friends better our lives had not been preserved then to be saved by such dangerous fellows as you are I intend this Treatise wholy for the Readers brain in point of explication little to his affection in point of application but let no man be so grosely erroneous as to say that the Army is Anti-magistraticall and Anti-parliamentary what ayme can a House of Commons have but the common good The Parliament being intent to the true ends and noble grounds of their raising Forces and the Army wholy minding the reasons of their ingaging and both sincerely really and constantly the Parliament as the supreame Councell of the Kingdom and their Army as the servants of Justice endeavouring a speedy accomplishing of the most honourable and glorious ends viz. the just rights of the King just priviledges of the Parliament and just liberties of the subjects common safety just liberty and equitable propriety to which the Armies proceedings have a naturall tendencie and proclivity as the stone to fall downwards 't is impossible any differenc should arise Counsell is the right hand of Policy and the sword is the left which may assist and promote without any face of opposition the truth is that there are some whose private interests are contrary to the publique interest of this Kingdom they are the troublers of the pure waters that the people should not drinke they trouble and disquiet the fountain and then the streams must needs run muddy they are men of the same spirits from whence the miseries of this Kingdom did at the first flow that is obstructers of the free course of Religion and Justice and consequently the obstructers of poore Irelands reliefe But who must be Judges of the matters in agitation Truly the Parliament in all matters judiciall we must have no Judge of Scripture but it selfe that point of Popery hath cost us deare we must not light a candle to see whether it be day who knowes not that every man ought to have his own without vexatious attendance and that it is injustice to make a man spend 10 lib. to recover 5 lib. who shall judge whether those that have saved the Kingdom ought to have the liberty of subjects who knows not but that Petitioning is a way of peace and submission and that for Christians to meet in private to serve God is no breach of the peace The Lord grant that this Parliament by the help of the Army may be the setlers and the restorers of this divided Kingdome the neck-breakers of all oppressions in soules bodies and estates the repairers and relievers of poor Ireland which was formerly called the Island of Saints Another Objection is that the Armies not disbanding obstructs the reliefe and indangers the losse of dying Ireland Ah poore Ireland my soule is much troubled for thee I knew thee not long since Englands younger sister but thou art now the land of Ire but he that runs out to quench the fire in his neighbours house when his own is almost burnt I shall rather admire his zeale then commend his discretion I confesse poore Ireland is on such a flame that nothing but Gods infinite blessing upon the wisdome and endeavour of this Parliament can be able to quench it but English liberties which have been bought at so deere a rate must first be setled and secured The Army declared their resolutions to have ingaged in that service in one entire body which was not thought convenient if then the Army were hindered by any plot or contrivement from going thither not they but the hinderers are culpable of Irelands continued miseries but as the Army hath ever been observant to all the just commands and orders of Parliament so I hope that if hereafter they shall ingage in that service they will be well satisfied in point of conscience what it is that they fight for It is possible that Antichrist with his left hand may fight against his right To fight against Popery further then it is destructive of State policie to introduce a uniformity in the Protestant Religion is in my opinion little better but if it be to bring those bloud-thirsty Rebels to condigne punishment and not to spare a man that hath had his hand in bloud so far it is of God and he will own it but for those expressions which some pulpits ring of of rooting out that Nation and dashing the little childrens bones against the stones I confesse it makes my heart to tremble to thinke of it but those that will not submit to a generall Government must be destroyed Object But we feare the Army will over-awe the Parliament and Counsels not free stand but for Cyphers and that Justice it self may not be forced but timely hastned Sol. 1. The Parliament hath answered this Objection in his Majesties Case The King sayes they refuse to treat unlesse wee deliver the Sword into his hands which is to yield the question when any differences arise all things must rest as they are untill all be determined and concluded 2 Inforcements are just when just things are inforced the sword is a servant of Justice and is never better employed That which the Hollanders alledge for themselves is universally true if a Magistrate will not do justice the Laws mayn intention for justice must not be lost and King Philip not doing them justice was the Authour of all the mischiefs that hapned Rebellion is not to obey a lawfull Magistrate in a lawfull Act not contrary to the Laws of God or Nature besides which all Laws are Arbitrary by the Supreame Court of every Kingdome If the Army shall entreat any unjust things as the Sun may be in an Eclipse Never were any just Rulers destroyed by force there was a rising against David and great stirs in Edward the sixth's and Queen Elisabeths time but quickly