Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	king_n	law_n	liberty_n	6,707	5	6.5575	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56227	A seasonable, historical, legal vindication and chronological collection of the good old fundamental liberties, franchises, rights, laws of all English freemen ...; Seasonable, legal, historical vindication of the good old fundamental liberties, franchises, rights, properties, laws, government of all English freemen.	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1654 (1654)	Wing P4122; ESTC R13248	47,108	63

this businesse in the Army where it was first coined and return an Accompt hereof to this House These Votes were seconded soon after with these ensuing votes entred in the Commons Journall and printed by their special Order 23. November 1647. A Petition directed to the Supream Authority of England the Commons in Parliament assembled The humble petition of many Free born people of England c. was read the first and second time Resolved upon the Question that this petition is A sedititious and contemptuous avowing and prosecution of a former petition and paper annexed stiled an agreement of the people formerly adjudged by this House to be Destructive to the being of Parliaments and Fundamentall Government of the Kingdome Resolved c. That Thomas Prince Cheesemonger and Samuel Chidley be forthwith committed prisoners to the Prison of the Gatehouse there to remain prisoners during the pleasure of this House for a Seditious avowing and prosecution of a former Petition and Paper annexed stiled An Agreement of the people formerly Ajudged by this House to be destructive to the being of Parliaments and fundamentall Government of the Kingdome Resolved c. That Jeremy Jues Thomas Taylor and William Larnar be forthwith committed to the Prison of Newgate there to remain Prisoners during the pleasure of this House for a seditious and contemptuous avowing and prosecution of a former Petition and Paper annexed stiled An Agrement of the people formerly adjudged by this House to be destructive to the being of Parliaments and Fundamentall Government of this Kingdome Resolved c. That a Letter be prepared and sent to the Generall taking notice of his proceeding in the execution according to the Rules of Warre of a mutinous person avowing and prosecuting this agreement in the Army contrary to these Votes at the Rendezvouz near Ware and to give him thanks for it and to desire him to prosecute that Businesse the to bottome and to bring Such guilty persons as he shall think fit to condigne and exemplary Punishment Resolved c. That the Votes upon the Petition and Agreement annexed and likewise the Votes upon this Petition be forthwith printed and published After which by a Speciall Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament 17 December 1647. No person whatsoever who had contrived plotted prosecuted or entred into that Engagement inti●uled The agreement of the people declared To be destructive to the being of Parliaments and Fundamentall Government of the Kingdome for one whole year was to be elected chosen or put into the office or Place of Lord Mayor or Alderman Sheriffe Deputy of a Ward or Common Councel man of the City of London or to have a voice in the Election of any such Officer All these particulars with the Capitall Proceedings against White and others who fomented this Agreement in the Army abundantly evidence the veriey of my foresaid Proposition and the extraordinary guilt of those Members and Souldiers who contrary to their own Votes Ordinances Proceedings and Censures of others have since prosecuted this the like or far worse Agreement to the destruction of our ancient Parliaments and their Priviledges and the fundamentall Government Laws and Liberty of our Nation which I wish they would now sadly lay to heart The third is the memorable Statutes of 3. Jacobi ch 1 2 4 and 5. Which relating the old Gunpowder Treason of the Jesuites and Papists and their infernal inhumane barbarous detestable plot to blow up the King Queen Prince Lords Commons and whole House of Peers with Gunpowder when they should have been assembled in Parliament in the upper House of Parliament upon the fifth of November in the year of our Lord 1605. do aggravate the hainousnesse and transcendency thereof by this circumstance That it was as some of the principall Conspirators thereof confessed purposely devised and concluded to be done in the said House That where sundry necessary and Religious Laws for Preservation of the Church and State were made which they falsely and standerously term Cruel Laws enacted against them and their Religion Both Place and Persons should be all destroyed and blown up at once And by these dangerous consequences if it had not been miraculously prevented but taken effect That it would have turned to the utter ruine overthrow and Subversion Of the whole State and Common-wealth of this flourishing and renowned Kingdome and Gods true Religion therein established by Law and of our Laws and Government For which horrid Treason they were all attainted and then executed as Traytors and some of their Heads Quarters set up upon the Parliament House for terrour of others Even so let all other Traytors Conspirators against our Fundamental Laws Liberties Government Kings Parliaments and Religion treading presumptuously in their Jesuiticall footsteeps * perish O Lord but let them who cordilally love and strenuously maintain them against all Conspirators Traytors Underminers Invaders whatsoever be as the Sun when he goeth forth in his might That the Land may have rest peace settlement again for as many years at least as it had before our late innovations Wars Confusions by their restitution and establishment CHAP. II. HAving thus sufficiently proved That the Kingdome and Freemen of England have some ancient hereditary Rights Liberties Franchises Priviledges Customes properly called FVNDAMENTALL as likewise a Fundamentall Government no wayes to be altered under mined subverted directly or indirectly under the guilt and pain of High Treason in those who attempt it especially by Fraud Force or armed Power I shall in the second place present you in brief Propositions a Summary of the chiefest and most considerable of them which our prudent Ancestors in former ages and our latest reall Parliaments have both declared to be and eagerly contested for as Fundamentall and Essentiall to their very being and well being as a Free people Kingdome Republick unwilling to be enslaved under any yokes of Tyranny or arbitrary power that so the whole Nation may the more perspicuously know and discern them the more strenuously contend for them the more vigilantly watch against their violations underminings in any kind by any Powers or Pretences whatsoever and transmit perpetuate them intirely to their posterities as their best and chiefest inheritance I shall comprise the Summe and Substance of them all in these 9. Propositions beginning with the Subjects Property which hath been more frequently universally invaded assaulted undermined by our Kings and their evill instruments and thereupon more strenuously frequently and vigilantly maintained retained by our Nobles Parliaments and the people in all ages till of late years than any or all of the rest put together though every of them have been constantly defended maintained when impugned or incroached upon by our Ancestors and our selves 1. That no Tax Tallage Aid Subsidy Custome Contribution Loan Imposition Excise or other Assessement whatsoever for Defence of the Realm by Land or Sea or any other publick ordinary or extraordinary occasion may or ought to be imposed or levyed

just suits deprived of their lawfull Rights and subjected to his Tyrannicall will to their ruine and destruction Fourthly That he hath Trayterously endeavoured to corrupt the other Courts of Justice by advising and procuring his Maiesty to sell places of Judicature and other offices contrary to the Laws and Customes in that behalf Fifthly He hath Trayterously caused a Book of Canons to be compiled and published without any Lawfull warrant and authority in that behalf in which pretended Canons many matters are contained contrary to the Kings prerogitive to the Fundamentall Laws and statutes of this Realm to the Rights of Parliament to the property and Liberty of the subject and matters tending to sedition and of dangerous consequence and to the establishing of a vast unlawful presumptuous power in himself and his successors c. Seventhly That he hath trayterously endeavoured to alter subvert Gods true Religion BY LAW EST ABLISHED and instead thereof to set up Popish Religion and Idolatry And to that end hath declared and maintained in Speeches and printed Books divers popish doctrines and opinions contrary to the Articles of Religion ESTABLISHED BY LAW Hee hath urged and enjoyned divers popish and superstitious Ceremonies WITHOUT ANY WARRANT OF LAW and hath cruelly persecuted those who have opposed the same by corporal punishments and imprisonments and most unjustly vexed others who refused to conform thereunto by Ecclesiastical Censures Excommunication Suspension Deprivation and Degradation contrary to the Laws of this Kingdome 13. He did by his own authority and power contrary to Law procure sundry of his Majesties Subjects and enforced the Clergy of this Kingdome to contribute towards the maintenance of the war against the Scots That to preserve himselfe from being questioned for these and other his Trayterous Courses hee hath laboured to Subvert the Rights of Parliament and the ancient Course of parliamentary proceedings and by false and malicious slanders to incense His Majesty against Parliaments All which being proved against him at his Tryall were after solemn Argument by Mr. Samuel Brown in behalf of the Commons House proved and soon after adjudged to be High Treason at the Common Law by both Houses of Parliament and so declared in the Ordinance for his Attainder for which he was condemned and beheaded as a Traytor against the King Law and Kingdom on Tower-hil January 10. 1644. 11. In the a same Parliament December 21. Ian. 14 February 11. 1640. and Iuly 6. 1641. Sir John Finch then Lord Keeper chief Justice Bramston Judge Berkley Judge●Crawley Chiefe Baron Davenport Baron Weston and Baron Turnour were accused and impeached by the House o● Commons by several articles transmitted to the Lords of High Treason for that they had Traitorously and wickedly endeavoured to subvert the Fundamentall Laws and established Government of the Realm of England and instead thereof to introduce an arbitrary and Tyrannicall Government against Law which they had declared by traiterous and wicked words opinions judgment and more especially in this their extrajudical opinion subcribed by them in the case of ship-money viz. We are of opinions that when the good and safety of the kingdome in general is concerned and the whole kingdome in danger your majesty may by wr●● under the great Seal of england without consent in parliament command all your subjects of this your kingdome at their charge to provide and furnish such a number of ships with men victual and ammunition and for such time as your Majesty shall think fit for the defence and safeguard of the kingdome from such danger and peril and we are of opinion that in such case your Majesty is the sole Judge both of the danger and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided and likewise for arguing and giving judgment accordingly in Master Iohn Hampdens case in the Exchequer Chamber in the point of ship money in April 1638. which said opinions are Destructive to the Fundamentall Laws of the Realm the subjects right of propriety and contrary to former Resolutions in parliament and the petition of right as the words of their several Impeachments run Sir John Finch fled the Realm to preserve his head on his shoulders some others of them died through fear to prevent the danger soon after their Impeachments and the rest put to Fines who were less peccant 12. Mr. Iohn Pim in his Declaration upon the whole matter of the Charge of High Treason against Thomas Earle of Stafford April 12. 1641. before a Committee of both Houses of Parliament in Westminster hall printed and published by order of the house of Commons proves his endeavour to subvert the fundamentall Law of England and to introduce an Arbitrary Power to be High Treason and an offence very hanious in the nature and mischievous in the effects thereof which saith he will best appear if it be examined by that universall and supream Law Salus Populi the element of all lawes out of which they are derived the end of all Lawes to which they are designed and in which they are perfected 1. It is an offence comprehending other all offences Here you shall finde severall Treasons Murthers Rapins Oppressions Perjuries There is in this Crime a Seminary of all evills hurtfull to a State and if you consider the Reasons of it it must needs be so The Law is that which puts a difference betwixt Good and Evill betwixt just and unjust If you take away the Law all things wiill fall into Confusion every man will become a law to himself which in the depraved condition of humane nature must needs produce many great enormities Lust will become a Law and Envy will become a Law Covetousnesse and Ambition will become Lawes and what Dictates what decisions such Lawes will produce may easily be discemed in the late Government of Ireland and England too since this The Law hath a power to prevent to restrain to repair evils without this all kinds of mischiefes and distempers will break it upon a State It is the Law that doth the King to the alegiance and Service of his people it intitles the people to the Portection and Justice of the King c. The Law is the Bondary the measure betwixt the Kings prerogative and the peoples liberty whiles these move in their own Orb they are a support and security to one another but if these Bounds be so removed that they enter into contestation and conflict one of these mischiefs must needs ensue If the Prerogative of the King overwhelme the liberty of the people it will be turned into Tyranny If liberty undermine the peprogative it will turne into Anarchy The Law is the safegard the custody of all private interests your honours your lives your liberties and estates are all in the keeping of the Law without this every man hath a like Right to any thing and this is the condition into which the Irish were brought by the Earle of Strafford and the English by

when the c whole Body of our Laws and all its Professors are violently assaulted and devoted unto sudden ruine by many lawlesse spirits who hath so much Courage magnanimity Honesty Zeal or cordial Love to his native Country remaining in his brest as manfully to appear in publike for the strenuous necessary defence of these our Hereditary Fundamental Laws Liberties Rights Franchises though their own and every other English Freeman's best Inheritance and Security for fear of being persecuted imprisoned close imprisoned exiled condemned destroyed as a Traytor Rebell Seditious person Enemy to the publike or disturber of the Kingdoms Peace by those who are truly such I thereupon conceived I could not undertake or perform a more necessary seasonable beneficial Service for my Country and not to be like those who are ashamed afraid for the most part to own visit or be seen in the company of those Gallant men much lesse to assist defend and stick close unto them in their dangers according to the sixth Article of their late Solemn League and Covenant who have suffered acted and stood up most for their Common Liberties Rights Freedoms Religion against all invading Tyrants to their great discouragement and betraying nor pitch upon any Subject more proper for me either as a common Lawyer or as a constant Advocate and Sufferer for the Publike Cause and Liberties of the Nation as well under our late extravagant Free-State as former Regal and Episcopal arbitrary Tyranny then in this juncture of our publike affairs to present our whole distracted unsetled Kingdome with An Historical and Legal Vindication and Chronological Collection in all Ages of these Ancient Hereditary Liberties Franchises Rights Contests Laws Charters Records Monuments of former and late times for their Confirmation and inviolable Ob●rvation which our Ancestors and our Selves have alwayes hitherto reputed FUNDAMENTAL UNALTERABLE INVIOLABLE upon any pretext and have most eagerly contended for with the prodigal expence of many millions of Treasure and whole oceans of gallant Christian English bloud And if upon the serious perusal of them the uniuersality of our degenerated Nation after their many late solemn Protestations Vows Leagues Covenants Remonstrances inviolably to defend and maintain them shall 〈◊〉 so undervaelue them now at last as 〈◊〉 actually have done as not to esteem them worth the owning maintaining vindicating or perpetuating and longer and thereby draw upon their headache real guilt of all those bloudy Wars Murders Tumults Violences Rapines Oppressions Sins Mischiefs Illegal Ta●es Excises Exorbitancies which their many late yeers pretended Necessary Defence and Preservation have brought upon ou● three whole Nations let them henceforth like so man ●astardly conquered Bond slaves bored thorow the eares● publikely disavow disclaim renounce abiure them for themselves and their Posterities for ever as meer worthlesse toyes or pernicious inventions fit onely to kindle perpetuall Wars and Discords between King and People Head and Members Superiours and Inferiours or as poor slender Cobwebs as now they prove fit to hold none within compasse but the very weakest flyes broken thorow with 〈◊〉 and impunity by every greater fly creeping up into any Power or Supreme Authority by Right or Wrong and swept down to the very ground by every New Broom in the hand of upstart Innovators But if upon saddest deliberation they shall really estimate them to be such incomparable rich precious jewels and ancient inheritances as are every way worth the infinite Treasures Warres Blood Cares Consultations Troubles heretofore and of late yeers expended both to gain retain confirm and perpetuate them to them and their posterities for ever as their principal earthly Security and Beatitude I hope they will all then unanimously henceforth conclude with the Poet Non minor est virtus quam quaerere PART A TVERI and both by their Votes and Actions return the self-same peremptory magnanimous answer to any Caesar Conqueror Patentate Power or Combination of men whatsoever who shall endeavour by force fraud ●●flattery to compel or perswade them to sell resign betray 〈◊〉 these their Antistrial Priviledges 〈…〉 to them 〈…〉 once did to King Ahab 1 King 21. 3. The Lord forbid ● us that we 〈◊〉 give sell or betray the INHERITANCE OF OVR FATHERS and our Posterities likewise unto thee or you though they should suffer for this Answer and refusal as much as Naboth did from bloudy Ahab and Jez●bel But whatever low price or estimate this spurious stupid sordid slavish Age may set upon these richest Pearls yet for my own particular upon serious consideration of these Chronological Collections and the Solemn Oathes Protestations Vows League and Covenant obliging me to defend them to the uttermost I value the whole Nations publike and my own with my cordial friends private interest in them at so high a rate that I would rather chearfully part with ten thousand lives and all the treasures of the Nation were I owner of them then wittingly negligently or unworthily fell betray or resign them up to any Mortals or Powers whatsoever upon any Pretences or Conditions after all my former Publications Contests Sufferings c. for their just Defence Now to the end all others might now take special notice of the inestimable value our Ancestors in all Ages have set upon them and what successive Wars Conflicts they have cheerfully undertaken for their preservation I have at vacant hours compiled this en●uin●Vindication and Collection of the Old Fundamental Liberties Franchises Laws of all English Free-men which I shall be que●th to my most beloved native Country in generall and every reall Her●●●k Patron of them in particular as the best Legacie I can leave behind me both for their 〈…〉 future Enfranchisement Immunity Security from all 〈…〉 tyranny Slavery and yokes of Bondage under 〈…〉 have a long time languished and 〈…〉 The Method I resolve herein to pursue is this 1. I shall produce some punctual Authorities of moment to evidence That the Kingdome and Free-men of England have some ancient Hereditary just Rights Liberties Priviledges Franchises Laws and Customs properly called FVNDAMENTAL and likewise a FVNDAMENTAL Government no wayes to be altered undermined subverted directly or indirectly to the Publike prejudice under pain of high Treason in those who shall attempt it especially by fraud force or armed Power 2. I shall in brief Propositions present you with the chiefest and most considerable of them which our Ancestors in former ages and our latest real Parliaments have resolved to be and eagerly contended for as FUNDAMENTAL essential to their being and well-being as a Free People Kingdom Reipublike unwilling to be enslaved under any yokes of Tyranny any Arbitrary Impositions or Powers whatsoever And then give you a brief Touch of their several late unparallel'd violations both by the Edicts and Actions of usurping Powers 3. I shall in a Chronological way tender you a large Historical Catalogue of Contests Votes Declarations Remonstrances Oathes Vows Protestations Covenants Engagements Evidences Statutes Charters Writs Records

established by a Law consented to by your Majesty is in effect denied to be a Parliament c. And hereupon we think our selves bound to let your Majesty know That since the * continuance of this Parliament is setled by a Law which as all other Laws of your Kingdom your Majesty is sworn to maintain as we are sworn to our Allegiance to your Majesty these Obligations being reciprocal we must in duty and accordingly are resolved with our lives and fortunes to defend and preserve the just Rights and full Power of this Parliament To which the Earl of Essex then General by both Houses direction in his Letter to the Earl of Forth Jan. 30. 1643. adds this Corollary My Lord the maintenance of the Parliament of England and the Priviledges thereof is that for which we are all resolved to spend our bloud as being THE FOUNDATION WHEREON ALL OUR LAWS and LIBERTIES ARE BUILT Which both the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament in their Declaration of 23. Martii 1643. touching their proceedings upon his Majesties Letter concerning a Treaty of Peace wherein this Earls former Letter is recited thus second The Parliament of England is the only Basis the chief Support and Pillar of our Laws and Liberties c. And if notwithstanding all these Obligations the King shall * at his pleasure dissolve this Parliament the Kingdom is not only deprived of the present but made uncapable of enjoying the benefit of any future Parliament or Laws any longer then shall stand with the will and pleasure of the King and consequently THE FUNDAMENTALS OF ALL OUR LAWS GOVERNMENT ARE SUBVERTED Let the Parliament-dissolving officers Army and their Confederates seriously ponder this with all who shall hereafter sit in Parliament consider it in the first place The eleventh is the a Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament 13. Junii 1644. for the Forces raised in the County of Salop which begins thus The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament taking into their serious considerations the great oppressions under which the Inhabitants of the County of Salop by reason of insupportable Taxes c. and the present condition of the County by reason of the great number of Irish Rebels that have invaded it and joyned with Papists and other ill-affected persons now in those parts doth threaten the extirpation of the Protestant Religion and the subversion of the FUNDAMENTAL LAWS and GOVERNMENT of the Kingdom For prevention whereof c. The twelfth is b A Declaration of the Commons of England assembled in Parliament 17 Aprilis 1646. of their true intentions concerning the ANCIENT FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM securing the people against ALL ARBITRARY GOVERNMENT c. wherein they complain that the Enemy being in despair to accomplish his designs by War do misrepresent our intentions in the use we intended to make of the great Successes God hath given us and the happie opportunity to settle Peace and truth in the three Kingdoms to beget a belief that we now desire to exceed or swerve from our first Aims and Principles in the Undertaking of this War and to recede from the Solemn League and Covenant and Treaties between the two Kingdoms and that we would prolong these uncomfortable troubles and bleeding Distractions IN * ORDER TO ALTER THE FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTION FRAME OF THIS KINGDOM to leave all Government in the Church loose and unsetled and our selves to exercise THE SAME ARBITRARY POWER OVER THE PERSONS ESTATES OF THE SUBJECTS which this present Parliament hath thought fit to abolish by taking away the Star-Chamber High Commission and other Arbitrary Courts and the exorbitant Power of the Councel Table all which we have seen since experimentally verified in every particular in the highest degree notwithstanding this Declaration by some in late and present Power notwithstanding this Publication All which being seriously considered by us c. We do declare THAT OUR TRUE REAL INTENTIONS ARE OUR ENDEAVOR SHALL BE to settle Religion in the purity thereof * TO MAINTAIN THE ANCIENT FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENT OF THIS KINGDOM TO PRESERVE THE RIGHTS LIBERTIES OF THE SUBJECT to lay hold on the first opportunity of procuring a safe and well-grounded Peace in the three Kingdoms and to keep a good understanding between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland according to the grounds expressed in the Solemn League and Covenant And lest these Generals should not give a sufficient satisfaction we have thought fit to the end men might no longer be abused in a misbelief of our intentions or a misunderstanding of our actions to make this further enlargement upon the particulars And first concerning Church-Government c. because we cannot consent to the granting of an Arbitrary and unlimited Power and Jurisdiction to neer ten thousand Judicatories to be erected within this Kingdom and this demanded in such a way as is not consistent with THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS GOVERNMENT OF THE SAME c. our full Resolutions still are sincerely really and constantly to endeavour the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of ENGLAND IRELAND in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and according to the Covenant WE ARE * SO FAR FROM ALTERING THE FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENT OF THIS KINGDOM BY KING LORDS COMMONS That we have only desired that with the consent of the King such Power may be setled in the TWO HOUSES without which we can have no assurance but that the like or greater mischiefs then those which God ●ath hitherto delivered us from may break out again and engage us in a second and more destruct● ve War whereby it plainly appears OUR INTENTIONS ARE NOT TO CHANGE THE ANCIENT FRAME OF GOVERNMENT WITHIN THIS KINGDOM but to obtain the end of the Primitive Institution of all Government THE SAFETY WEAL OF THE PEOPLE not judging it wise or safe after so bitter experience of the bloudy Consequences of a * pretended Power of the Militia in the King to leave any colourable autho●ity in the same for the future attempts of introducing AN ARBITRARY GOVERNMENT OVER THIS NATION We do declare That we will not nor any by colour of any Authority derived from us shall interrupt the † ordinary course of Justice in the several Courts and Judicatories of this Kingdom nor intermeddle in cases of private interest otherwhere determinable unless it be in case of Male-Administration of Justice wherein we shall see and provide that Right be done and punishment inflicted as there shall be occasion ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF THE KINGDOM Lastly Whereas both Nations have entred into a Solemn League and Covenant we have and EVER SHAL BE VERY CAREFUL DULY TO OBSERVE THE SAME That as nothing hath been done SO NOTHING SHALL BE DONE BY US REPUGNANT TO THE TRUE MEANING AND INTENTION THEREOF c. WHO WILL NOT DEPART FROM THOSE GROUNDS