as that they shall not find whereon to rest their feet And let them remember and have always in mind how the King of Spain hath lately dealt with the Prince * He cut off their heads as traytors and confiscated their estates De Ognate and others of Naples who receiving his rewards and confiding in his written Grants and promises did basely and treacherously comply and condiscend to re-admit his Viceroy to the ruin of the people A just guerdon for such abhorred falsifyers of their trust and detestable Traytors to their Country But what need I go so far did not Rich. 2. in his time contrary to his faith solemn promise and engagement cause the Duke of Glocester to be basely murihered at Callis the Earl of Arundel to be as basely beheaded and the Earl of War wick which 3 had acted for the Publique and strongly opposed his tyrannous courses albeit he granted him his life to be kept prisoner all his days in the Tower of London See the English Chronicle And now give me leave only to relate one particle of a Spanish Chronicle 1. Vol. of the life and death of Charls the 5 K. of Spain written by Father Prudent Sandival and I will conclude and leave all I have here rudely penned to the application and serious consideration of all judicious unbiassed judgments In the yeer 1519. in the Reign of turbulent Charles the fifth King of Spain there was a Parliament called in that Kingdome which acted in the beginning as this of England did for Liberty whereupon Charles their King raised War against them and they for the defence of themselves and the peoples rights and liberties raised several Armies and by force of Arms visibly subdued the King as we have really done ours and rescued the Kingdom from all Prerogative Tyranny This Spanish Parliament did at the first make such special Ordinances for the good of the Publique as their very enemies stiled them holy and religious And saith the Chronicle had they been duly executed Spain had been the most glorious Kingdom in the world and the said King Charles had appeared a most cruel and tyrannical Prince if he had not confirmed them But saith the Chronicle That Parliament spoiled all when the Wars were ended by falling into ambition covetousness and faction betraying and selling one another and sharing the Kingdoms treasure amongst them And so notwithstanding all their famous Acts in the beginning they not keeping and observing them themselves but looking after private ends did thereby lose the affections of the people destroyed themselves and betrayed their 3 victorious * Beware Lord Fairfnx c. Generals viz. the Earl of Salvatora the Bishop of Samoora and Don Iohn of Padillia with 70 of their best * Look about you ye that are honest men in both Houses Parliament men into the hands of their conquered King who did forthwith put them all to death And that Parliament saith the Author was the last in that Kingdom that acted for the Peoples Freedoms ever since hath the whole Nation layen under inextricable bondage tyranny and oppression And doth not this seem to be written for our admonition and instruction Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum Lastly What benefit can we the Commons of England receive by this Treaty in case all be granted that is required while the name of the Norman Conquest and so many several shameful badges thereof as multiplicity of Laws and they in Pedlers French or the Norman language super-abundant vexatious Courts and Officers strange slavish tenures fealties and services such as this Nation never before knew do still continue And that still after so much bloodshed and expence of treasure about the Militia of the Land in whom it is originally whether in the King or People it must be granted and continued to be in the King and in his power and dispose at his will and pleasure as he hath already done to cut our throats Grant him this and grant him all Grant him but this to remain according to his request unquestionably in the Crown and his Negative Vote also and grant him to be a Tyrant per statutum imperpetuum both him and his for indeed they would be so likewise from generation to generation And for us now to accord that after so many years were the twenty years an hundred he or his should have the Militia again in their own hands and dispose is but as if a man that had by a a long and strong contest recovered his inheritance from one that had a long time illegally and injustly held it from him should notwithstanding for quietness-sake as fools often say agree to accept of a lease of it for certain years and still to grant the title to be in his adversary and after the expiration of those years for ever to exclude himself and his And this his Majesty plainly shews in propounding to lease the Bishops Lands and not to sell them to the end that the propriety of them may still continue in the Bishops If we have a right in the Militia for years why not for ever But it is undeniable that at this time it is absolutely and wholy where it was in origine in us the People and in our power and dispose and why should we give or grant it be it but for a moment to another In a word to grant the Kings desire in this would be like the hewing down Nebuchadnezzars mighty Tree and cutting off the branches and leaves thereof yet leaving the stump of the roots thereof in the earth with bands of iron and brass No let us up with root and all that there may be more remembranca of Prerogative Tyronny and Norman Bondage amongst us Note that while the K. pretends a Treaty for Peace He intends and countenanceth a War against us What else mean his Sons and Confederates their preparations If any say It is not by his Command I answer Why doth he not prohibit or countermand it Qui non prohibet cum potest jubet FINIS
THE Royal Project OR A clear Discovery of his Majesties Design in the present Treaty Whereunto is annexed a seasonable Caution for the Parliament of England the Army under the Command of Tho. Lord Fairfax and all that thirst to be for ever freed from a long established Course of Tyranny and to see this Nation restored to its pristine Glory Freedom and Tranquility Wherein the rottenness of the present Treaty and the impossibility of making the People thereby secure and absolutely free is palpably declared and detected By Verity Victor Prov. 26.24 25. He that hateth will counterfeit with his lips but in his heart he layeth up deceit Though he speak favorably beleeve him not for there are seven that is many abominations in his heart Veritas non quaerit angulos Printed in the year 1648. For the Parliament of England the Army under the Command of Tho. Lord Fairfax and all that thirst to be for ever freed from a long established Course of Tyranny and to see this Nation restored to its pristine Glory Freedom and Tranquility TO omit William the Conquerors own persidiousness and false dealing in confounding obfuscating and altering the Laws and Customs of this Realm which were those just and good old Laws of Ed. the Confessor after he had solemnly * See Dan. Hist fo 31 33. fo 36. he grants them by Chr. sworn to maintain and keep them and of his whole progeny successively especially of King Iohn who was of Dr Barnards mind that proud prelatical Priest now justly Prisoner in the Fleet that * See the articles exhibited against him this Parliament 1642. when he was Curate of Burntwood Weal in Essex under Dr Baker wisht the King had ten thousand Turks to assist him against the Parliament I will come to instance certain late and fresh examples of Princes and great men their perjury perfidiousness and false dealing with the common people in point of publique trust and liberty that so all the world may see as in a glass the incertainty and instability of building and depending on such mens Oaths Vows Promises Contracts and Articles Old Christianus the late King of Denmark endeavoring in the beginning of these dire Wars between the King and Parliament to send over a ship with Arms and Ammunition for the supply of his Nephew our now King had the said Ship and all therein taken at sea and made prize for the Parliament the which old Christianus resents so ill as that he purposeth for this just fact of the Parliaments to seize on the next ships and goods the Merchant-Adventurers of London should send into those parts the which the provident Company foreseeing and fearing sent over Commissioners to know the Kings mind Whether they might safely trade as formerly without having their Ships or goods seized He answered It would be time enough to resolve them when their ships came But they press to be assured before-hand otherwise their ships should not come whereupon he promiseth free Trade and giveth an assurance under his hand and seal Yet nevertheless so soon as the Merchants ships came he caused one of them and all the goods therein to be ceased at Luxstadt and enforced the Merchants to redeem it with 40000 l. The Prince of Wales promised the States of Holland upon his honor and Princely word that he would not stop Merchants ships at sea nor any way impede Merchandizing and Traffique if that they would give him leave to accommodate the revolted Ships and loose from Gory Harbor to assist his Father or to this effect How truly he kept his Promise and Princely â—ord and valued his own Honor let all men judg and the Merchants testifie As the old Cock crows saith the proverb so doth the young Why shall I stand to remember those worthy of no remembrance the perjured perfidious Earls of Bedford and Holland with many more of like tallness and statute both of this Kingdom and of Scotland Truly I have observed That our Nobles and Grandees have generally of late years had no more regard to their Oaths and Honors then I have to my old slippers or a thing of nought Yet these must be termed honorable and honored The old rule is Virtus est unica Nobilitas But this is obsolete and like an old Almanack quite out of date Thus much for the Prerogative branches and sprigs Now to the root CHARLES REX Did he not in his first expedition into the North against the Scots upon the Bishops quarrel conclude and assign Condititions or Articles of Peace with them and nevertheless so soon as he returned disclaimed the Agreement and declared against it and crused the Papers containing it to be burnt by the hands of the common Hangman as if it had been inforced or surreptitiously got from him and contrary to his Agreement raise Forces and march with an Army against them Are these things already forgotten Did he not openly swear upon the holy Evangelists and solemnly promise at his Coronation to keep all the Laws and rightful Customs of this Land and to uphold and defend the same How he hath fulfilled this Oath and Promise in the behalf of our Laws and Liberties I will not determine Let his own Party if they can speak truth be Judges In Iune 1642. He professeth and declareth before God and the world that he intended not to make War against the Parliament book Dâ—c 1 part pa. 356. Yet in August following he sets up his Standard at Nottingham proclaims open War against them and all those Rebels and Traytors that adhere unto them or that do any ways ayd and assist them At Stamford 1641. He makes a Proclamation strictly commanding all Officers of Justice to put the Laws in execution against all Papists and Popish Recusants book Decl. pa. 19. And afterwards he generally entertains all the Papists in the Kingdom the most inveterate and implacable Enemies of this Church and State and secures and protects them in his Garrisons giving to some of them the chiefest places of trust and command in his Armies as to the * And was not this a dishonor to all the Protestant party that was with him Lord Leven his General Sir Arthur Ashton the Earl of Glamorgan Cum multis aliis c. And at Oxford 1642. even before his face he did tolerate Mass to be publickly said and used in Merton Colledg Chappel whither all that would might freely resort and who durst except or contradict And whereas he avows that he is grieved at his very soul for the calamity of his good Subiects in Ireland I fear he meant the bloody Rebels for so he calls them as you shall hear afterwards and therefore was resolved to go in person to chastise those wicked and detestable Rebels See his Message book Decl. pa. 133. Yet did he after order of restraint by both Houses of Parliament give Warrant under his hand for passing several notorious Irish Papists into Ireland who joyned with the
Rebels and became chief Commanders in their Armies And whereas he seemeth by his passionate expressions so vehemently to abhor that odious Rebellion as that he would joyn with his Parliament to execute the utmost exemplary vengeance on all that should be discovered to have a hand in it See his Declar. in book Decl. fol. 106. He not only deteined the Ear of Leicester from going thither from the Parliament as Lord Deputy chosen by them with clothes and supplies for the Protestants assistance but also seized all the said clothes and supplies to clothe his new-levyed ragged Romish Soldiers And afterwards not only remaund the Forces that the Parliament had sent into Ireland to subdue the Rebels and so expoted the remainder of the unmassacred Protestants to destruction but also made Peace with the Rebels those blessed Creatures and called them over to assist him to destroy the Parliament and people of England terming them as I have said his good Catholique Subjests And who were more in favor countenance with him at Oxford then the L. Dilsâ—n and the L. Taff two Cardinal Irish Papists and the L. Taff since a chief General of the Rebels against the poor deserted Protestants but no more lest I turn your stomacks For who and where is he that can enumerate all his lyes falshoods and fallacies or dilate his clandestine practices and continued Series of conspiracies and treacheries from time to time throughout his reign against this Nation What have we ever gotten by him or his Country any thing but trouble beggery slaxery and ruine And yet we must idolize his person and dote upon a deceitful now most happily violated union I will only here relate what I well remember Iustus Lypsius that exact Observator and grand Politician of his time denotes in his Epistle to the Bishop of Croia of his Majesties late Father King Iames. viz. Elizabetha saith he Anglorum Regina abjit Cui succedit Iacobus Scotorum Rex summus simulandi dissimulandi Artifex Such a Father such a Son But when the Fox preacheth let the Geese beware These things seriously pondered with multitudes of other occurrences too many here to demonstrate of like nature and consequene together with his impenitency the virulency and indefatigability in destructive plots and conspiracies of his party and adherents and their insatiable desires and sedulous endeavors per fas nefas of ruine and revenge upon the Parliament and all their friends may surely serve for sufficient cautions to avoyd the snares of a Treaty Anguis latet sub herba and not to lose that by feigned words which we have redeemed and delivered our selves from wich the expence of so much treasure and blood by our swords What faith or truth can there be expected from him who hath all his life-time manifested himself an Enemy to God and good men honored and favored none but persons unworthy and wicked men of corrupt principles and destructive councels haters of the Laws and caterpillars to the Common-wealth And is his mind and affection changed I wish they were then there were hopes But it is too apparent pretend he what he will and did ever any pretend alway more fairly and intend as all his Acts do testifie more falsly that he is as he always was and that his mind and affections are not changed For hath he not lately shewed more sorrow and discontent of spirit for the just execution of two of his party blood-thirty men firebrands of the Kingdom Lucas and Lisle who were principal Authors and Instruments of the misery and ruine of hundreds in Colchester that never offended then for the sea of innocent blood which he hath not only occasioned but commanded and encouraged to be shed both in England Scotland and Ireland I will not here mention his primary design against the Isle of Ree to the overthrow of Rochel and all the Protestant interest in France not his sending a Fleet to Cales to dishonor the English and shew the Spaniard where we could hurt him nor his private Letters to the Pope and many negotiations and transactions with Rome and Spain to what end the true Protestant party in all the three Kingdoms have wofully found King Edward the second of this Land a Prince more weak then wicked and far inferior in evil to King Charls for he is more wicked then weak and so much the more dangerouâ— and the less to be trusted by how much he is the more impowered with abilities was * See Dan. Hist at the end of the life reign of Ed. the 2. deposed by the then Parliament for far less mischief and enormities by a tenth then this our King hath committed And nevertheless when that mortifying Message of the Parliaments rejection of him from being any longer King and of their election of his Son to reign in his stead was told him by some of the Commissioners sent for that purpose from the Parliament unto him at Killing worth Castle in Warwick-shire where he was kept Prisoner he expressed that unfeigned sorrow for his misgovernment the which this obstinate obdurate Prince never did confessing how he had been misguided the common excuse of wilful Princes and done many things whereof he now repented but this man is so far from repenting of the abundance of blood he hath spilt and manifold evils he hath done that he hath lately given countenance and consent to the spilling of more blood and still persists in his destructive plots and practises the which was he to govern again he would become a new man did this man ever promise any such thing and was most sorrowful to have so much offended the State this is rather sorrowful that he hath not utterly destroyed the State and cannot avenge himselfe of them as it should thus utterly reject him But yet he gave them thanks that they were so gracious unto him as to elect his eldest son the which was Ed. the third who indeed was then young And I b leeve this example upon the Father did the Son eminâ—nt good all his life For of all the Princâ—s that evâ—r I read of of the race of the Conquerer that enjoyed this Crown he was one that was most observant of the Laws and Libeâ—tâ—es of his Nation and reigned long both fortunately and righteously and so dyed boâ—h hâ—nored and beloved And it is observable this K. Ed. the 3. when he came to years did Justice on those who murthered his Father but our K. that now is would never so much as d nit the Duke of Buckingham the manifest murtherer of his Father to bâ— questioned Mal … Omen But to the point and the argumentative part of this subject The King and his Court Sycophants did always say and affirm that as he was a successor to the Conqueror he held his Crown by the sword and that whatsoever Charter Law or Statute he passed either for confirmation or augmentation of any immunity or benefit to his people it was ex
mera gratia of his meer grace and favor and not as his duty or our due yea his clawback helbred Clergy taught publikely in their pulpits that both our persons and estates were at his Majesties dispose and that he might take whatsoever he pleased Well grant that his tenure of the Crown was by the sword and so ours by his meer will and favor as he and some of his creatures have vainly conceived and impudently asserted And true it is that the Conqueror may by the right of Conquest change the Laws and Customs of any Nation and impose what Laws and Customs he pleaseth yet then by the same Law and right of Conquest we having conquered the Conqueror have not only put the Crown aagain upon our own heads got the scepter into our own hands and to use Mr * mr Ja. Howel is in that treatise quite beside the cushion he should have first rightly stated the case but sure he was either a cup too low or a cup too high for he loves to steep his brains in sack and then he turns antick Ja. Howels own phrase in his late printed simple peece of flattery called The Instruments of a King put the sword to our own sides but have now power also to dispose of and to impose upon the King as we please and to speak plainly though in Court language it is of our meer grace and favor if that the Parliament do suffer him to reign upon any terms or conditions whatsoever He put us out of protection disolved the Government and disobliged us of our allegeance and obedience to him the day that he set up his standard in defiance of the Nation And as I have been credibly enformed he hath often said and his obstinacy and obtumacy to the last declares evidently he was so resolved that he would win it by the sword or lose all the which in the effect is only thus much that he would either rule us by power as slaves or lose all his three Kingdoms And seeing that by Gods just hand it is come upon him according to his wish or purpose That he hath not only forfeited all by way of equity and justice but also lost all by way of war and force Why should he have any thing let it be given to one that is more worthy At least why do we treat or rather intreat for our own Why do we stand to word it for that which we have so dearly and difficultly won and purchased and is now irrevocably in our own hands and commands with him that would never treat or parl with any purpose of peace or good to this Kingdom while he was able to hold up a sword against us Did he not alway baffle and abuse us upon all treaties and use them only for the more inabling him to the prosecution and atchievement of his tyrannous destructive purposes And are not his intentions palpably discovered to be the same at this instant Read and consider the Letters that have of late been written by some of his Agents and intercepted Let him but get in his hand and he will soon have in his head and then how easily will follow his whole body with that tail of scorpions which will soon sting us to death Although as Edward the second he should repent confess and promise amendment the which I know his gracious Majesty hath so much grace as to scorn let not us trust him What will not a dissembling Synon feign and do to accumplish the ruin of Troy when all the power of Greece could not do it He that cannot act the Lyon must act the Fox The old Maxime is in policy Trust not a reconciled enemy that is one so seeming to be least Ioah like he smite thee under the fifth rib when thou neither fearest nor suspectest If a potent man had a long time kept mine inheritance from me and would hearken to no reason or perswasion nor be induced to stand to any referrence or abistrament but put me to sore trouble hazard and charges by Law to recover it and that after I had so recovered it and he could no longer hold it he should offer to treat with me about it and desire to have it referred Wouldst thou not account me a fool if I should condescend What need I then to treat what or how much I should have or enjoy of that and in what manner which I have wholly recovered as mine own and is wholly and solely in mine own power and command Was not this tacitly and by consent to grant him still a right where he hath none Again If a thief upon the way should by force take thy purse and therewith escape and afterwards thou meetest him and by force recoverest thy purse and takest him captive wouldst thou now stand to dispute the cause with him whether thou shouldst have all or only part of thy money or refer it to be debated whether it was thine or his sure no. For it followeth not that because another hath stolen my cloak or taken it away fraudulently or by force and worn it that therefore he is the true owner of it Again If a Tenant wilfully forfeit his lease be his Farm never so good and his priviledges never so great and the Lord make a re-entry may not the Lord then if he will justly let this Farm to another or if he will be so favorable because he that forfeited was an ancient Tenant as to let him repossess it may he not if he will increase his rent diminish his priviledges and impose upon him stricter terms and conditions then before He may without doubt and none can justly censure or condemn him If the King must raign yet it is meet we should first see a change of spirit in him or else we do but beat down a Tyrant and raise him up again let us propound our own Laws prescribe to him strict limits and boundaries and let him take his Crown as of favor from the people on a new agreement and stipulation and be thereunto publikely solemnly sworn and not treat with him on old terms and lame broken Propositions and grant him a right where he hath none No let us deal plainly and positively This you shall do these things you shall subcribe and according to these Laws you shall rule if you wil govern or enjoy your Crown if not your destruction is of your self we will turn to another For let him grant the Propositions fully and totally We are all in eminent hazard For he is retaining his old poyson his Queen whose spirit is like her mothers a Member of the Church of Rome and her principles inconsistent with the Religion Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom wil by their Jesuited Agents and Machiavilian Instruments so insinuate deceive the people that within a short time the Parliament if not the very next after this shall be compact of such Members his friends and favorers and this Parliaments now enemies and opponants
that all which his Majesty shall now grant and enact shall be reversed and made null and so we shall be fitted with a Colchester Bull. And where are we then What course shall we take Stand and cry what shall we do Post est occasio calva Let us therefore beware in time least we repent when it is too late And what need the Parliament their friends and Armies in this case either a deceitful Pardon or a stinking Act of Oblivion To crave or receive either in my judgment is but to cry peccavi and render that their cause injâ—st which his Majesty himself hath justified and acknowledged to be just Let them rather demand an Act of Iustification and perpetual Commemoration Let a Pardon or Act of Oblivion in this case rather pass for his Majesty and his adherents who are herein the only offendants and transgressors against the fundamental Laws and peace of the Kingdom And this mercy I conceive to be more then they do demerrit To me it is a Paradox that we should upon the rules and principles of right Reason and of the Law of Nature be enforced to take up arms for self-defence and the preservation of our lives wives children estates and which is more precious and valuable then all our native liberties against a tyranous destructive blood-thiâ—sty enemy and then after we have subdued him to seek or accept an act of Indeâ—…pnity or Pardon from him or any one My reason is surprized I understand it not Is not this in the eyes of all judicious men to rejustifie the King in this case and all his proceedings and condemn our selves I would have the Parliament seriously to consider whether the King if he had conquered and prevailed by the sword would afterwards admitted us to treat for our estates and liberties Then it only remains to do unto him as he would have done unto us He was dividing the skin before he had caught the Bear For he gave divers of the Parliaments friends estates a way to some of his ruffâ—…n Cavaliers before he had made a Conquest by which it is easie to conclude how he would have dealt with us for the whole if God as blessâ—d be his name he hath not and I hope never will had delivered us up into his hands And now I will only mind the Parliament of a wise saying and observation of their own concerning the King when in their fears he had given them as strong assurance of security as any morâ—al could device or expect and nevertheless at that very instant had he thoughts of dâ—ssipating and destroying them and to them all Parliaments and our liberties See book Deels pag. 101. 102. But it is not words saith the Parliament that can secure us in these our humble Desires we cannot but too well and sorrowfully remember what gracious Messages we had from you this Summer when with your privity the bringing up of the Army that is the Army which was then in the North was in agitation We cannot but with like affections recal to our minds how not two days before you gave directions for the above-named accusation that is the Accusation which then was against the five Members and your own coming to Commons House that House received from your Majesty a gracious Message that you would always have as much care of their priviledges as of your own Prerogative and of the safety of them persons as of your own children What could be said more especially from a Prince to assure Nor was the Lyon then half so provoked and inraged yet what then destruction was at that time more intended Are these notorious dissembled treacheries so soon out of mind and remembrance Let it never be said in future ages that this Parliament of England were at the first wise and sagacious and afterwards became stupid blind and foolish Besides this true example of our wings own making behold another since even of yesterday of a brothers of his the perfidious King of Spain with the people of Naples who after he had granted whatsoever they demanded together with a general pardon a thing much insisted on at this time and obliged himself by solemn oath and receiving of the Host or holy Sacrament and all other Religious Ceremonies as in all Popish Kingdoms are generally used in such cases for the true performance Did notwithstanding so soon as he had by these means recovered the chief Holds and regained his power put multitudes of the principal men of Naples that had been most active and zealous for the people and publike liberties to death and at present exerciseth more cruelty and violence upon them then ever before But let the Spaniard know for all his great as he supposeth policy that nil violentum est perpetuum and this very action shall be his ruin And in the mean time he deserves to be branded for a Caitif and one denying his God to the worlds end And have not we notwithstanding all these known Presidents the abominable wickedness and perfideousness of Princes and great men and of the little faith credence and confidence that is to be given to them a company of Members of both Houses of Parliament and of scotified London as wicked and perfidious as any who contrary to their trusts and duties Oaths and Declarations and the manifold Bonds of gratitude that are upon them from the people have privately complotted and conspired and are willing and ready studious diligent and active even at this instant if they can accomplish it and that under the notion of this Treaty to fell us and our posterities our lives estates and liberties to the will of a merciless irreconcilable Tyrant and his adherents so that they can but secure their own trayterous heads and the vast sums which they have purloined and stolen from the Kingdom I wish we had no such creatures but if there be a Sun in the firmament there are such both in Parliament and City and we shall never be at peace nor prosper until these Achans be brought forth unto justice Albeit so desperately are they wicked that having through insatiable converousness and ambition for want of conscience and the fear of God to restrain them contracted to themselves the guilt of publike shame and death they had rather see the whole Nation laid in ashes and turned into an Aceldama or shackled for ever in fetters of iron then to have themselves made publike examples and rendered according to their just demerits a scorn and an abhorring to succeeding generations For it is with them as with a thief beset who had rather kill or be killed then be taken Happily I could name some of them but it is needless for they are already discovered only I will assure them that it shall be with them as it was with the Dove which Noah sent out of the Ark so double and dangerous shall they find the King and his friends in all their ways and Councels and the present state of things