originally was and for whose service it was created as these memorable particulars evidence 1. They did quite set aside all those 5. againstâ—esuites â—esuites Seminary Priests Popish Recusants and the exercise of any tâ—eir Romish Superstitions in any place within our Realms which the secluded Members and Army-Officers too at first eagerly pursued and the King in the Treaty of the Isle of VVight assented to at the first without any scruple For which the Iesuites in France at a general Meeting there presently resolved to bring him to Iustice and take off his Head by the power of their Friends in the Army as the King himself was certified by an express from thence and wished to provide against it but two dayes before his removal by the Army from the Isle of VVight in order to his execution 2ly They totally set aside and repealed by express Votes and printed Knacks the very Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance as unlawfull Oaths which themselves took and ought to take before they sate or could sit as Members in the Commons House by the Statutes of 5 El. c. 2. 7 Iac. c. 6. which Oaths were specially made by the great wisedom care and piety of our Protestant Parliaments purposely to detect the persons and prevent the plots conspiracies Assasinations Treasons Vsurpations and new Gun-powder plots of the Romish Iesuites popish Priests Papists and their Instruments against the Lives Crowns Prerogatives of our Protestant Kings Princes their Royal posterity Realms Parliaments our protestant Church and Religion as the Statutes of 1 Eliz. c. 1. 5 Eliz. c. 1. 3 Iac. c. 4. 7 Iac. c. 6. and other Acts with King Iames his Apology for the Oath of Allegiance and sundry learned Treatises in defence of these Oaths declare at large Which Oaths were refused opposed only by the most Iesuited and desperate Papists at home and abroad but approved by the moderatest and loyallest Priests and Lay-Papists who writ in justification of them and repealed to their greatest joy and advantage by our Jesuitized zealous Republicans 3ly They discharged absolved themselves and all other Members Subjects Officers who had taken these Oaths as most had frequently done from the future Observation of them and of their Solemn Protestation Vow League National Covenant made in pursuance of them contrary to this expresse Clause in the Oath of Allegiance I do believe and in Conscience am resolved That neither the Pope nor any Person whatsoever hath Power to absolve me of this Oath or any part thereof which I acknowledge by good and full Authority to be lawfully administred to me and do renounce all Pardons and Dispensations to the contrary And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to the expresse words by me spoken and plain and common sense of the said words without any equivocation or mental reservation And I do make this recognition and acknowledgement Heartily Willingly and Truly upon the Faith of a Christian. Yet these faithlesse Republicans who took this Oath as Members and several times else upon other occasions thus atheistically like so many absolute Popes against all Laws of Nations Nature absolved themselves and all others from it and set it with the Oath of Supremacy Covenant Protestation quite aside like old Almanacks out of date 4ly Not content herewith they imposed a new Engagement diametrically contrary to these Oaths the Protestation Vow Solemn League and Covenant which every one must subscribe with his hand To be true and faithfull to their New Common-wealth as established by them without a King or House of Lords putting all English Freemen whatsoever into a New praemunire upon a bare suggestion only before proof or conviction and disabling them to sue in any Court of their Republick or to receive or enjoy any degree office augmentation or preferment whatsoever Spiritual Ecclesiastical Civil or Military or sit as Members then and now again unless they would publickly subscribe it Which Engagement thousands of our Godly protestant Ministers Gentry Freemen refusing to subscribe were thereupon barred of their Actions Executions Iudgements to recover their just Debts Rights Inheritances Goods Offices denyed their degrees of Learning ejected out of their Benefices Headships Fellowships Vice-Chancelorships Augmentations Offices Freeholds Callings against all rules of Law Conscience Iustice Equity Religion the Fundamental Laws and Liberties of the Land their Native Birth-Rights after all their Conteâ—â—s Wats Contributions Prayers Fasts endeavours for their defence And all by these Free-State-Men A Tyranny Treachery Perjury Apostacy transcending any since the Creation yet most eagerly pursued by them all their Reign to the utter ruine of many consciencious honest Protestants and great rejoycing of all Iesuites and Popish Enemies both at home and abroad 5ly The very first Act of Iustice they did by the first Commission of the peace they passed under their New Republican Great Seal for Middlesex at the first Sessions held under them at Hix-hall Febr. 1628. was the enlarging of a dangerous Iesuite and another old seducing Papist formerly imprisoned in the New prison the only Acts done in this first Session as those present then informed Mr. Prynne with much regret Which was seconded with the subsequent enlargement of other Iesuites Priests Papists elsewhere imprisoned whereas on the contrary they shut up Sir William Waller Sir Will. Lewes Sir Iohn Clotwoâ—thy Major General Brown Comissary Copâ—y Mr. Prynne Mr. Clement Walker close prisoners in sundry remote Castles divers years together without any cause expressed and Mr. Gewen with other Members several Monthes and sundry Godly Ministers Protestants of all sorts throughout the Land as well Paliamenteers as former Cavaliers yea beheaded Mr. Love an eminent Protestant Minister and other Protestants but not one Papist in their illegal High-Courts of Justice erected by them against all our Laws whiles these Romish Locusts were thus enlarged unprosecuted and had free liberty to wander up and down our three Nations and act what they pleased to work out Kingdoms Churches and Religions ruine 6ly The first who publikely owned them for a Common-wealth congratulated this their glorious change atchievement and entâ—ed into a League with them was the most Catholick K. of Spain the Popes Iesuites chief Patron and Propagator of their Catholick Faith and designs whose interests they prosecuted during all their Republican domination 7ly They entted into a bloodie invasive war against their Brethren of Scotland onlie for owning their rightfull Soveraign King CHARLES after his Fathers beheading according to their Laws Oathes Duties and Solemn League and Covenant invaded their Country without any provocaion slew many thousands of them with furie and cruelty in the Field starved destroyed hundreds of them taken prisoners by them and sold others of them into forein plantations for Slaves imprisoned sequestred banished most of their zealous Godly Protestant Ministers Nobles Gentry took all their Cities Castles Forts Amunition Arms conquered inthralled their whole Kingdom put
them under intollerable Taxes Tributes and Iron-yokes of armed Governors Garrisons still continued amongst them to our cost destroyed their presbyterial and civil Government and for an everlasting Monument of this their barbarous unbrotherly kindnesse and gratitude towards them for their former assistances not only kept Solemn publick Thanksgiving-Dayes throughout their Republicke for their Slaughters of and Victories over them but hanged up all their Ensigns in Westminster Hall and transported all their Records close prisoners to the Tower of London where they yet continue 8ly They instigated the Dutch to set aside the Prince of Orange his Family and put them out of the superiour Commands places of Trust they formerly merited and enjoyed out of malice to the beheaded Kings Progeny mutined the States against each other and then entred into a most costly bloody dangerous unchristian War with those our old Protestant Friends and Allyes continuing all their Regency to the losse of many thousands of gallant Protestants lives the ruine of sundry Familyes the great weakning impoverishing of both Nations the scandal detriment of the Protestant Religion the griefs of all forein Protestant Churches the great joy and advantage of both our prosessed Popish Adversaries and King of Spain especially who long since designed both our ruines by these very practises prescribed to him by Campanella in direct words as those who please may read at large in his Book De Monarchia Hispanica c. 25. 27. 9ly They freely permitted if not encouraged all their Republican Government Diurnallists in their News-Books and those scurrilous grosse Impostors Lilly Culpepper and other Prognosticators in their Almanacks besides sundry other Scriblers insufferably to revile and rayle against our Oxthodox Godly Protestant Ministers especially Presbyterians to prophecy their downfull extirpation execution banishment the utter ruine of them their Tithes Glebes Presbytery to incense both Souldiers and people to disown their Ministry detain their Tithes revile abuse their persons as being worse than any Priests Iesuites and greater Enemies Traytors to their Republick than they who readily complyed with it as a Child of their own begetting Xly. They permitted many thousands of Popish Primers and other Books to be freely imported and above thirty thousand Popish and Atheistical pamphlets of all sorts against our Church Religion Ministers to be printed and vended in England without controll as the London-Stationers moved out of Conscience declared and published to them in their Beacon fired 1652. and Scintilla which Book was presently answered by the Beacon quenched subscribed by Colonel Pride the new Faux and other Army-Officers though writ by a Iesuite as Mr. Prynne was credibly informed and presented to those then sitting at Westminster erecting them against the Stationers and their Beacon fired as a New Gunpowder-plot to blow up the Army Parliament and New Common wealth though a true honest harmlesse pious timely Discovery of the Papists and Iesuites designs to blow up our Religion Church Ministry Amongst other popish Books then printed Mr. Prynne met with one as far as Pendennis Castle in Folio inittuled The Holy Court written by Edmund Causin a Iesuite translated into English by Iesuites dedicated to our Queen Mary and the Dutchesse of Buckingham printed in London by William Bentley 1650. and sold by Iohn Williams in Pauls Church-yard as the Title page attests having the Iesuits Badge and S. I. Societatis Iesu in Capitals printed in its front In which Folio Book consisting of divers Tomes Tom. 1. p. 30 to 38.63 64 68 74 75. Tom. 2. p. 168. Tom. 3.425 to 430 461 462. Tom 5.173 174.304 to 319. and other pages The Popes Supremacy prayer to Saints and Angels Purgatory Masse Transubstantiation and all other points of grossest popery were not only maintained assered but our very Protestant Religion branded for Heresy our late Queen Elizabeth our Ministers and all other Professors of it reviled censured for damnable Heretiques as Mr. Prynne then observed 11ly Themselves in divers of their printed Declarations Knacks and their Instruments in sundry Books as Iohn Goodwin Markham Needham Melton and others justified maintained the very highest worst treasonablest execrablest of all Popish and Jesuitical Unchristian tenents practiseâ— Treasons as the murdering of Christian Protestant Kings under the notion of Tyrants the blowing up of Parliaments the subverting of Kingdoms the altering of all setled Laws Governments the forcible usurpation of others Crowns Honors Officers Estates without Right or Title by force murder treachery the breach of dispensation with absolution from all sacred Oaths Leagues Covenants Promises Contraâ—â—s rebellion against all lawfull Superiours and the open Violation of the 5 6 8 9 10. moral Commands of God himself under the pretences of publick Iustice Necessity Self-preservation Reformation Religion publick good safety advancement of the Gospel and Kingdom of Iesus Christ repayed with their own ejection 12ly They closed in an offensive and defensive League with Owen Ro Oncal and the popish Irish bloody Rebels against Marquesse Ormond Inchequin and the Protestant party there who had been the Parliaments chief Generals and Officers against the Rebels in opposition to Monarchy and when to couler the odium of it Col. Monke was questioned in the House for making this League with them as done without their privity and one of them moved That he might be committed for it to the Tower that famous Saint Henry Martin stood up and retorted That he desired the Tower might be rather committed unto him for this good service What high places of trust by Sea and Land he hath been advanced to since for this service is very well known whereas Marquesse Ormond the Lord Inchequin and other Protestants in Ireland who faithfully served the Parliament against the Irish Rebels and bare the brunt of the first wars against them were yet the very first persons excepted in their printed Catalogues and News-Books from all manner of pardon or composition either for their Lives or Estates and are quite stript of all their Lands in Ireland out of odium unto Monarchy the Kings posterity And all this to advance the Protestant Religion and Christs Kingdom by and under their New Jesuitical Republick the quite contrary way These 12. particulars like so many true good honest sworn Grand-Iury-men impanelled by Mr. Prynne out of mere zeal to his native Countryes Church Religions preservation will give in a true impartial verdict whose proper child our New Commonwealth whose Instruments the Guardians of it but Goalors of all our liberties under it have been and now are again and whose works they do He shall subjoyn a few sad Observations of like nature during their Infant Republicks second wardship under their late Protector to promote the Protestant Cause and Religion 1. His making peace with the Hollander after he had dismounted the Republican Grandees to set up himself in their places was in it self a Christian pious prudent and commendable Act beneficial to both Nations But if the principle
motives of it were a vast sum of mony from the Dutch put into his private purse as some report or a desire to ecclipse the Honour power of the Prince of Orange their chief Protector and his Family to banish the late Kings Royal posterity and Adherents out of the Netherlands and leave them no subsistance nor being there amongst Protestants of our and their Religion to force them to seek new Quarters amongst Iesuites Papists and cast themselves wholy on their Charity on purpose to pervert them in their Religion and destroy both their Souls Bodies at once which is visible and irreâ—ragable they being all actually exiled thence by special Articles upon the peace with the Dutch What Protestant can think upon it but with horror as the highest Act of Impiety cruelty barbarisme injustice uncharitablenesse and malice ever yet recorded of any professors of Christianity in the Protestant Religion 2ly His quarrelling with the King of Spain in hopes to gain his Indian Mines and sending such a Fleet with so many thousand English Protestants and Souldiers thither upon the bare project of Gage a Iesuited professed Papist and Spainiolized Priest who had lived there sundry years under the Spanish King as a Priest all whose family and relations have been desperate popish enemies to our Religion King Kingdoms with the disasterous successe and fruits thereof to the expence of such vast sums of our own Treasure the loss of so manie thousand protestant Souldiers Mariners and undoing endangering of our other American plantations if rightly weighed was in truth rather a Spanish and Iesuitish plot to ruine us and our religion than to advance them as Mr. Prynne at first reputed them predicting the ill event before it happened 3ly His closing with France and the French-Cardinal Mazarine upon the breach with Spain of purpose to banish poor distressed K. Charles whom he drove out his 3 Protestant Kingdoms banished out of Holland deprived of all charitable supplies or hopes of relief from either for his necessarie subsistance and banish his Brother the Duke of York who had a command great repute in the French Army with all their Dependents out of France too that he might the more securely establish himself and his posterity in their hereditarie Kingly power dominions and leave them no place to hide their heads in the effect and chief end of that peace and that in pursuit of Cardinal Richelieus forementioned Instructions to ruine our Monarchy Kingdoms and work his infernal designs against us was such an inhumane unchristian policy as verie ill accords with our Saviours expresse precepts Mat. 5.44 c. Lu. 6.27 c. Rom. 12.20 21. But I say unto you love your Enemies Therefore if thy Enemie hunger feed him if he thirst give him drink Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with goodnesse And a President hardlie paralleld Alaâ— how shall the memorable Heroick charity generosity pietie justice of our Norman Conqueror King William censured by this new Conqueror and his Army Saints as the worst of Tyrants in sundry Pamphlets and of his Sons William Rufus and Henry 1. towards Edgar Atheling Heir to the English Crown after the death of Edward the Confessor when hee took it from him by the Sword under pretext of King Edwards last Will and being next Heir to him in blood not as a Conquerour by war Who though after his Oath of Homage Fealty and Subjection to William twice set up as Heir to the Crown by the English Nobility in opposition to him twice routed by him in the Field driven into Scotland and quite left destitute of forces friends and supplyes to gain the Crown yet upon his repair to him in Normandy without any precedent Articles for his securitie Anno 1069. he not only pardoned his former insurrections but gave him a large gratuity entertained and lodged him in his own Court divers years allowing him a pound of Silver for his honourable maintenance everie day a great sum in that Age After which when he desired to go into Apulia to the holie wars Anno 1089. he furnished him with many Ships and 200 Souldiers whence he returning after the losse of Robert his chief Commander and best men though the Emperours of Greece and Germany whom he visited in his recesse thence honourably received and profered to entertain and maintain him in their Courts according to the greatnesse of his birth all his life time yet he contemning to their proffers out of a desire to enjoy his native Country returned into England where he was courteously entertained by William the Conqueror as before till his death After which Edgar fiding with Robert Duke of Normandy his eldest Son against William Rufus the younger he thereupon Anno 1091. deprived him of all the honours conferred on him by Robert and banished him out of Normandy into Scotland But afterwards upon the accord between the 2 Brothers touching the Crown and peace with Scotland he was reconciled to King Rufus and returned into England where he lived securely without the least restraint and was in so great favour with Rufus that in the year 1097. he sent him as General into Scotland with an Army to restore his Nephew Edgar Son of Malcomb who maried Edgars Sister to the Crown which his Uncle Dufnald had invaded after Malcombs death to expell Dufnald and make Edgar King Which having effected he returning again into England lived there quietly without the least danger or restraint all Rufus his reign and some years under King Henry the first betaking himself in his old Age to a retired private Country life and dyed in peace as our Historians then living record Oh that there were the like Charitie Ingenuity Christianitie Piety in the Saints of this Iron Age against whom these 3. first Norman Kings shall rise up and condemn in the day of judgment when Christ himself will pronounce this heavy sentence against them for all their pretended Saint ship Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Divel and his Angels for I was an hungred and you gave me no meat I was thirsty and you gave me no drink no not out of my large hereditarie Revenues of three Kingdoms you have forcibly invaded against your Oaths I was a Stranger and you took me not in no not into my own Protestant Realm Court out of which you thrust me by violence neither would you permit those of Holland and France where I was a Stranger to take me in but inforced them to banish and cast me out after their former entertainment of me as a stranger I was naked but ye cloathed me not but stripped me and mine stark naked out of our Inheritances Wardrobes and all we had sick and in prison into which you cast both me and mine and you visited me not yea made it High Treason for any to do it or so much as to pray for me in this my distressed condition
you again with hereditarie Kings and Kingship which you have so rashly brutishly perfidiously abjured out of meer self-ends and interests having not the least syllable in Scripture to justifie either the forcible bloudie manner of erecting new modelling your Illegitimate Commonwealth or your adopting it in the place of our old Kingdom and Kingship First of all consider that as Jesus Christ himself is a King by birth and inheritance Mat. 2.2 Lu. 1.32 33. So it is also his supremest royallest Title Attribute in the very Gospel that hee is King Lord of Kings Lord of Lords the Prince of the Kings of the Earth and the head of all Principalities and Powers Now the abolishing of Kings kingship Princes Lords divests Jesus Christ himself of these his most royal Titles and Soveraigntie Because he is thus stiled only in relation to earthly Kings Princes Lords who rule and reign over Kingdoms Nations by for through under him as his Ministers Officers Viceroyes Deputies and are appointed commissioned accountable to judged removed by him alone as subordinate Kings were by the Emperors Kings of Babylon Assyria Parthia and our Edgar who were stiled King of Kings because Kings were Subjects to them held their Crowns by from and under them and did homage to them as their Subjects as you may read at large in Mr. Seldens Titles of Honour part 1. ch 3. sect 2. and Dan 2.21 37 38.47 c. 17.25 many of these Kings losing this Title of King of Kings when their subordinate Kings and kingdomes revolted ceased or escheated into their own hands In relation to these Titles of Christ it is expresly prophecied Ps. 72.10.11 The KINGS of Tarshish and OF THE ISLES shall bring presents principally intended verified of this our Island of Great Britain which had the first Christian King we read of in all the world Lucius the first Christian Queen Helena the first and most glorious Christian Emperor Consiantine the Great the first Christian King who opposed abolished the Popes Supremacie Henrie the 8. the first Protestant King who by publike Acts of Parliament abolished both the Pope and Poperie and established the reformed Protestant Religion the first Protestant Queen who did the like to wit King Edward the 6. and Queen Elizabeth and more devout pious Kings Queens martyred for religion canonized for SAINTS and reputed such in the Churches of Christ and Kalendars of Saints than anie other Kingdom or Countrie in the world how great or populous soever as our own and forein Histories record to our immortal Honor. It then follows the Kings of Sheba Seba shall offer gifts yea ALL KINGS shall fall down before him in way of adoration by their president and leading example all Nations under them shall serve him How can how dare you then abolish Kings Kingship Lords especially in our Island without committing the highest Treason not only against our Kings and Lords but the Lord Jesus Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Since REGNUM ANGLIAE EST REGNUM DEI IPSE SIBI REGES PROVIDEBIT as our Historians inform us And can you resist his power with all your armed forces are you stronger than he when he shall enter into judgment with you for depriving him of these Titles 2ly Consider It is Gods special promise covenant made to Abraham the Father of the Faithfull Gen 17.6 I will make thee exceeding fruitful I will make Nations of thee Kings shall come out of thee And his extraordinarie blessing on Sara v 16. I will bless her she shall be a Mother of Nations Kings of People shall be of her 3ly It was Iudah his blessing Prerogative Gen. 49.8.10 Thy Fathers children shall bow down before thee The Scepter shall not depart from Iudah nor a Law-giver from between his feet until Shiloh come 4ly When Balaam prophecied of the happiness prosperity of Israel he useth these as the highest expressions thereof Num. 23.21 c. 24.7 The shout of a KING is among them and his KING shall be higher than Agag and his Kingdoms shall be exalted 5ly It is recorded by the Spirit of God 2 Sam 5.12 David perceived that the Lord had established him King over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israels sake And when God after he made him King over them had promised by the mouth of the Prophet Nathan 2 Sam 7.10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them as before time under their Iudges How did God effect this promise but by establishing an hereditarie kingdom amongst them in David during his life whom he caused to rest from all his Enemies round about And when thy dayes be fulfilled and thou shalt sleep with thy Fathers I will set up thy seed after thee which shall proceed out of thy bowels and will establish his Kingdom And thine House and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee and thy Throne shall be established for ever Ver 11 12 16. How much holy David was transported yea ravished with this News from heaven and with what enlargement of Spirit he blessed God for and prayed for the accomplishment of it as the greatest blessing and confirmation of his people Israel by God himself v 23 24 and the highest honor blessing to his own house you may read to the end of the Chapter Thus again amplified by him in his Speech to his Princes to his Captains of thousands of hundreds Officers and other mighty men 1 Chron 28.4 to 10. The Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my Father to be King over Israel for ever and he hath chosen Iudah to be Ruler of the house of Iudah the house of my Father and among the sons of my Father he liked me to make me King over all Israel and of all my sons he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the Throne of the Kingdom of the Lord over Israel And he said unto me I will be his Father Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever if he be constant to doe my commandements and my judgements as at this day Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord and in she audience of our God keep and seek for all the commandements of the Lord your God that you may possess this good Land and leave it for an Inheritance for your children after you for ever An hereditarie Kingdom being the chiefest means and blessing under God to preserve the inheritances not only of the Princes Nobles and mightie men but even of Colonels Captaines and Souldiers themselves in Gods and Davids computation who lost all they had by forsaking their lawful Hereditarie Kings and were carried into captivitie 6ly The accomplishment of this Promise to David his seed was reputed an
a King and House of Lords are not only Seditious but destructive to the very Being of Parliaments and the Fundamental Government of the Kingdom by King Lords and Commons And is this then the way to peace or settlement If the Foundations be destroyed what can the righteous doe to save or settle us O therefore let not that brand of the Holy Ghosts owne imposing rest anie longer on you Ps. 82.5 They know not neither will they understand all the Foundations of the earth are out of course And although you say think you are Gods and are all the children of the most high in this pursute yet you shal die like men and fall like one of the Princes yea be buried in your own and your Republikes ruines again with greater infamie shame loss than you were on April 20. 1653. when you were shamefully turned out of House and power together by those who now recall you and yet will not take warning Mr. Prynne is in good hopes that all these undenyable unanswerable Scriptural considerations will fully convince and convert our Republican Conventicle and Army-Officers too from their Jesuitical destructive modle of A Common-wealth unto the love and restitution of our antient hereditary Kings Kingship as the only Divine Saint-like Gospel safe probable way to our future lasting peace and settlement which he intended to have propounded to them Finally if you are resolved notwithstanding the premises to Act as a Parliament without your secluded fellow Members King or House of Lords then follow the Presidents of all your Protestant Predecessors in these particulars 1. Take into your saddest considerations the great increase disguises of dangerous Iesuits and other Romish vipers now amongst us which A. B. a Jesuite in his Mutatus Polemo Or The Horrible Stratagems of the JESUITS lately practised in England during the Civil Wars and now discovered by him a RECLAIMED ROMANIST imployed before as a Workman of the Mission from his Holiness dedicated by him to your own President Bradshaw published by SPECIAL COMMAND of your New Republike London Printed for Rob. White 1650. thus relates to your selves and the world p. 3 4. That he could bring in to your COUNSEL-TABLE a horrible long Catalogue of more perniciously damnable Actors of JESUITICAL Devils in mens shapes yea in MINISTERS too crept in from forein Seminaries to undermine our Church and State then was in the yeer 1605. in that infernal Powder-plot That there was one Regiment or more of them under Sir Iohn Kempsfield a Commander of the Horse in the late Kings Armie who discerning the Kings inclination to close with the Scots and Presbyterians and expecting no advantage to their Cause by siding with him held their private Conventicles and Councels at Oxford wherein they resolved to desert and draw off all their own and all his other Forces from him and close with the prevailing Parliament partie which they accordingly effected That upon the Kings departing to the Scots Armie and surrender of Oxford the Jesuits Priests and Popish partie under him not only changed the habits of their minds but bodies also turning from upside Cavaliers and High Royalists and God-dammees holie Converts and Parliamenteers nothing but the Holy Covenant being heard in their mouthes For our bodies Proteus is lesse than a fiction to us He that ere while was a Commander in a ranting equipage is now slinking into a Coblers stall or Weavers loom or Tapsters Apron or Coachmans box or Beggars weed or Horsemans frock or Serving-mans liverie or Tailors shop or Pulpit-thumping Presbyters Gippo into what not It is not unknown what trade we drive beyond Sea when no Trade comes amisse to us To make this good our Governors the States of this Commonwealth if they will deign to hear me now their true Servant shall bee eftsoon able to cull out manie a sheep-clothed-wolffrom their stations stalls looms aprons weeds liveries shops yea and Buff coats what say you to Pulpits too Let not Engl. now like a bird ah me pursued by several fierce flying Falcons and too too near the intended hard gripes of their cruely sharp tallons either out of a dull or drowsie sottishness or a phantastical humour of contradiction suppose I speak what I know not if I should tell them I can and now being about to do it will but privately before Authoritie produce a Catalogue of Catholicks Fathers so we will be called of several Orders and others that are Natives gone into remote Counties who duly go to Church too and of an incredible number now living in this Commonwealth under several Notions whcih I my self can point at with a drie finger I tell thee in general there is scarce a Town or Citie but in few miles of it I can furnish the Reader to thy Amazement be it spoken with some who have lived in England 1 2 3 4 5 6 10 20 40 50 years I. B. of Ne. in Es. unknown unsuspected but taken for clean contrarie let them avoid me if they can They are his own words Page 26. to 37. he shews how Mons. Montril the French agent trepand the poor Cavaliers of the Kings partie in transporting them out of Scotland into France how they were there butchered by the French Such is their love to the Royal party of England what endeavours were used by Card Mazarine Father D. and le M. to seduce and corrupt Prince Charls in his Religion both before and after his Fathers death and what promises were made both by the French and Spaniard that all Catholick Princes should be invited and consulted with for an unanimous invasion of England if he would turn Catholick Page 32 33. hee hath this memorable passage During these Sollicitations news comes aloft upon the wings of the wind That the People and State of England had summoned his Father to an High Court of Judicature to bring him to a trial for all the innocent bloud he had spilt and the hideous devastations he had caused This was no little good News to the Cardinalitical party I mean the Iesuitical this Jesuit himself being then at the French and Princes Court in Paris For in my next I shall satisfie thee concerning their cunning workings how even those who pretend so much charitie to the Son did séek by all Machinations to expedite and accelerate this high piece of Iustice upon the Father And now say his Tutors to him If they proceed to death with your Father it will prove the better for you for it shall utterly alien the hearts affections of the people from them and you shall finde them to be more eagerlie violent for your reinvestment not considering the change of your Religion which by anie means shall not be known but to your good Catholick Subjects of England till such time as you have vested power enough into your own hands to protect it and your self in it But indeed the Lad had somewhat of his Fathers astutiousnesse in him and presently asked the
to keep out what Members they pleased Then returning again into the Hall a secluded Member he there met pressing him to know what passed in the Lobby he related the sum of what was done and said which divers pressed about him to hear and some common Souldiers among others who when he had ended his Relation said he was an honest Gentleman and had spoken nothing but truth and reason After which meeting with Colonel Oky in the Hall who came over to transport him from Iersy into England they had some discourse touching his forcible seclusion and the great scandal and ill consequences of it which divers pressing to hear Mr. P. went out of the Hall to avoid Company and meeting with the Member who drew up the Letter to the Speaker perused and signed the fair Copy and so departed to Lincolns Inne without any Company This being an Exact Narration of the truth substance of what passed between Mr. P. the Army-Officers and those now fitting on the 7th and 9th of this instant May both in the Lobby House and elsewhere Mr. Prynne being since necessitated to publish it to prevent and rectifie the various misreports thereof He shall now relate as a Corollary thereunto the true and only reasons then inducing him after earnest Prayer to God for direction and protection in this Grand Affair to press the admission of himself and other Members into the House to correct the manifold contradictory censures of what he then did and spoke Some have been staggared and amazed at it as if he were now turned an Apostate from his former principles acting both against his Judgement and Conscience to cry up and make himself a Member of that old Parliament which he publickly printed to be dissolved above ten years since by the Kings death Others have censured it for a rash foolish and desperate attempt A third sort condemn it as a seditious tumultuous if not treasonable Action prejudicial to the publick peace and settlement deserving severe exemplary punishments A fourth Classis doome it as a scandalous Act dishonorable destructive to our Religion A fifth sort cry it up as a most necessary heroick national zealous Action deserving everlasting honor prayse thanks from the whole English Nation and a necessary incumbent duty as a Member of the old Parliament though legally dissolved being pretentionally now revived against Law Truth by those very Army Officers who six years past ipso facto dissolved and declared it to be dissolved yea have held many new Mock-Parliaments of their own modelling since all proving abortive by forcible ruptures as the long Parliament did It is not in Mr. Prynnes power to reconcile or controll these contradictory censures neither was he ever yet so foolish or vain-glorious as to be any wayes moved with the censures opinions or applauses of other men nor so ambitious covetous as to pursue any private interest of honor profit revenge c. under the notion of publick Liberty Justice Reformation as many have done nor so Sycophantical as to connive at others destructive exorbitances guilded over with specious Titles this being his constant rule to keep a good Conscience in all things both towards God and man Acts 24.16 to discharge his publick trust duty towards God and his Native Country though with the probable hazard of his life liberty estate friends what else may be precious to other men to trust God alone with the success reward of his endeavors to let others censure him as they please to fear no Mortal or power whatsoever in the discharge of his duty who can but kill the Body Mat. 10.23 nor yet do that but by Gods permission being utterly unable to touch the Soul but to fear him alone who can cast both Soul and Body into Hell The only ground end motive inducing Mr. Prynne thus earnestly and timely to get into the House was no wayes to countenance any unparliamentary Conventicle or proceedings whatsoever nor to own those then sitting to be the old true Commons House of Parliament whereof he was formerly a Member as now constituted much less to be the Parliament it self then sitting but to discharge the trust to which he was once â—nvoluntarily called without his privity or solicitation by an unanimous election a little before the last Treaty with the King having refused many Burgesships freely tendred to him with importunity both before his election at Newport and since being never ambitious of any publick preferments which he might have easily obtained had he but modestly demanded or signified his willingness to accept them After his election against his will and inclination he came not into the House till the Treaty was almost concluded and that at the request of divers eminent Members only with a sincere desire to do that cordial service for preservation of the King Kingdom Church Parliament Laws Liberties of England and prevention of those manifold Plots of forein Popish Adversaries Priests Jesuites Sectaries seduced Members Army-Officers and Agitators utterly to subvert them which other Members overmuch or totally neglected coldly opposed or were totally ignorant of What good service he did in the House during that little space he continued in it is fitter for others then himself to relate How fully he then discovered to them the true original Plotters fomenters of that Good Old Cause now so much cryed up and revived how strenuously he oppugned how truly he predicted the dangerous conseqnences of it since experimentally verified beyond contradiction his printed Speech Decemb. 4. 1648. can attest and his Memento whiles he was a prisoner For this Speech good service of his in discovering oppugning the New Gunpower-Treason then plotted and ripened to perfection to blow up the King Parliament Lords Laws Liberties Religion at once violently prosecuted by the force Remonstrance and disobedient practises of the rebellious Army Officers and Souldiers he was on the 6th of December 1648. forcibly seised on at the Lobby-Door as he was going to discharge his trust and caried away thence by Col. Pride and others How unhumanly unchristianly Mr. Prynne seised with other Members at the House door Decemb. 6. was used by the Army-Officers who lodged him them in hell on the bare boards all that cold night almost starved him and them with hunger and cold at Whitehall the next day imprisoned him many weeks in the Strand and after seised kept him by a new Free-state warrant a strict close Prisoner in three remote Castles nigh three years for his Speech in the House against their most detestable Treasons and Jesuitical proceedings against the King Parliament Privileges and Members of it is elsewhere at large related This being all he gained by being a Member and for asserting that true Good Old Cause against the new Imposture now cryed up afresh to turn our antient Kingdom into a New Republick and our Parliament of King Lords and Commons into a select unparliamentary juncto or forty or fifty Members of the old
Quodlibets printed 1602 and William Clerk a Secular Priest in his Answer to Father Parsons Libel 1604. p. 75. c. then best acquainted with the Iesuites designs against England of all others did in precise terms publish to the English Nation in these their printed Books a That Father Parsons the English Iesuite the most active professed enemie to our English Kingship Kings Realm Church Religion his Confederate Iesuitical Society did so long since give out and prophesied That they have it by Revelation and special command from God that their order and Society was miraculously instituted for this end to work a dismal change amongst us wherein all Laws Customes and Orders must be altered and all things turned upside down and that they being the only men who have the name Title and authority of Iesus by them it is that this marvelous change and alteration shall be wrought in such sort as from the beginning of the world was the like never heard of before to this present That this Iesuite Father Parsons in his Book Of the Reformation of all the States of England as he prescribes a Reformation of the Prince Court Counsellors Noblemen Bishops Prelates Pastors Universities Lawyers and Laws in all which he will have strange Metamorphoses so he will have the Court of Parliament it self brought to better order to effect all these dismal changes That the way whereby he they intended to bring about all these changes was to bring all England into an uprore for common Souldiers to examine their Soveraigns what Titles they hold by and by infusing this their Iesuitical principle into the Souldiers and people That every Pecope or Tartarian multitudâ— getting once the title and stile of a publick State or Helvetian Common wealth may alter change innovate the Course Inheritance and Succession of the Crown and Lands under them to make the Island a Iaponian Island of Iesuites and infeoff themselves by hook or crook in the whole imperial dominion of Great Britain putting all the whole Blood-Royal of England to the Formidon as but Heirs general in one Predicament For their better accomplishment whereof this William Watson subjoyns his own opinion in these words I verilie think that all the Puritans and Anabaptists will joyn with the Iesuites to effect these changes at length how far soever they seem to be and yet are in external profession of Religion there being at least half an hundred principles and odde Tricks concerning Government Authority Tyranny Popularity Conspiracy c. wherein they jump as just together as if both were made of one mould But when they shall thus joyn together he predicts That the Iesuites having more singular fine wits amongst them and manie learned men on their side whereas the Puritans and Anabaptisâ—s have none but grossum Caputs the Iesuites manie Gentiles Nobles and some Princes to side with them the Puritans but few of the first rare to have anie of the second and none of the last on their side By consequence if matters come to hammering between the Iesuites and Puritans the latter are sure to be ridden like Fools and come to wrack He superaddes to this That Father Parsons and his Companie have laid a plot as most consonant and fitting for their other Designments That the Common law of the Realm of England must be forsooth utterly abolished or else bear no greater sway in the Realm than the Civil law doth And the chief Reason is for that the State of the Crown and Kingdome by the Common laws is so strongly setled as whilst they continue the Iesuites see nor how they can work their wills Secondly the said good Father hath set down a Course how every man may shake off all Authority at their pleasures as if he would become a new Anabaptist or Iohn of Leydon to draw all the World into a Mutiny Rebellion and Combustion And the Stratagem is how the common People and Souldiers must be inveigled and seduced to conceit to themselves such a Liberty or Prerogative as that it may be lawfull for them when they think fit to place and displace Kings and Princes as men do their Tenants at will Hirelings or ordinary Servants Which Anabaptistical and abominable Doctrine proceeding from a turbulent Tribe of trayterous Puritans and other Hereticks this treacherous Iesuite would now foist into the Chatholick Church as a ground of his corrupt Divinitie Mr. Prynne having some year since diligently observed all these passages with sundrie others of this nature in those Secular Priest-books and comparing them with Campanella de Monarchia Hyspanica c. 25. 27. Cardinal Richlieues Instructions forecited having likewise read in the Iesuites own printed Books That they had no lesse than 931 Colleges and Seminaries of Iesuites erected in several parts of the World within the space of 120 years and no fewer than 15 Colleges and Seminaries in Provincia Anglicana in the English Province in the year 1640. wherein they had 267. Socii Societatis Fellows of their own Societie besides Novices and 4 Colleges more of English Iesuites beyond the Seas and no less than eight Colleges of Irish and several Residenciaries of Scotish Iesuites in Ireland Scotland and other places And being assured by the publick Speeches of Oliver Cromwell himself first to an Assemblie of Divines and others at Whitehall 1653. and after to his new modelled Parliament at Westminster September 4. 1654. published in print p. 16 17. That he knew verie well that Emissaries of the Iesuites never came over in such swarms as they have done since our late wars and changes were on foot and that divers Gentlemen can bear Witness with him That they have a Consistory and Counsel that rules all the Affairs of the things of England and had fixed in England in the Circuit of most Cathedrals of which he was able to produce the particular Instrument an Episcopal power with Archdeacons and other persons to pervert and seduce the people And being most certainlie informed That the Arch-Iesuite Sir Toby Mathew though banished by both Houses Sir Kenelme Digby a Jesuited papist whose Father had a chief hand in the old Gunpowder Treason and was himself particularlie imployed to Rome by the Queen to procure men and monies from the Pope against the Parliament where he expected to receive a Cardinals Cap Sir Iohn Winter a person excepted from pardon Mr. Walter Mountague two notorious Jesuited Papists who conspired with the Popes Nuncio and College of Jesuites in Longacre to destroy the King and alter the Government of the Kingdome if he refused to turn Roman Catholick and repeal all Laws against Romish Priests Iesuites Papists and for that very end raised the first Scotish wars and which is most observable that Orelly the Popes own Nuncio in Ireland who promoted the late horrid Irish Rebellion and massacre of the Protestants sate President in the General Counsel of the Popish Rebels there for
notwithstanding Gods own Evangelical precepts to the contrary 1 Tim. 2.1 3. 1 Pet. 2.17 Acts 10.5 12. 2 Cor. 1.9 10 11 2 Thes. 3.1 2. Rom. 15.30 31 32. If the most righteous and charitable Saints shall scarcely be saved in this great day O where shall these ungodly unrighteous uncharitable and transcendently malicious Sinners not Saints appear O that they would sadlie consider it and repent thereof as the onlie means to avoid this fatal doom of Christ at the last day This truth they cannot dare not deny with their Tongues but they contradict it by their lives ' Non contradicunt lingua sed vita Moneo rapit doceo rapit praecipio rapit arguo rapit Quomodo non contradixit Si ergo in ignem aeternum ibit cui dicturus est Christus nudus fui non vestisti me quem locum in igne aeterno habebit cui dicturus est vestitus fui spoliasti me Hic fortasse ut evadas hanc vocem mutata consuetudine cogitas spoliare Paganum vestire Christianum Ad hoc respondebit tibi Christus immo respondet tibi nunc per servum qualemcunque Ministrum suum Etiam hic parce damnis meis Cum enim qui Christianus es spolias Paganum impedis fieri Christianum Etiam hic fortasse respondebis Ideo spolio Paganum ut per hanc asperam salubrem Disciplinam faciam Christianum Audirem crederem si quod abstulisti Pagano redderes Christiano c. O that our Harpyes and Beasts of prey who have obliterated the tenth Commandement out of all their Decalogues as the Papistâ— have done the second would lay it close to heart being Saint Augustines 21. Sermon to them as well as Mr. Prynnes The rather because the night before O. Cromwell Pro. died Mr. Prynne then being at Swainswick near Bath having never dreamed of him before dreamt he was dangerously sick at Bath and that he then sent a special Messenger to him importunatly desiring he would presently repair to Bath for he was very sick and desired much to speak with him Whereupon though he never saw him since 1647. he presently went to Bath where finding him lying on his bed he told Mr. P. he was very sick and had sent for him to tell him what he should do in this condition Mr. Prynne thereupon forthwith answered That he could give him nâ— better nor other Counsel than that of Saint Augustine asserted by all Divines as an undoubted truth Non Remittetur peccatum nist restituatur ablatum That there was no remission of Sin without full restitution of Rapine Therefore he must forthwith restore the banished King to his Crown and Kingdoms of which he bad most unjustly deprived him the Parliaments to its just rights freedomes and privileges which he had utterly subverted and the people to their fundamental Laws Liberties Properties of which he had most unjustly and perfideously defrauded them more than any man against his Oaths trust duty under pretext of defending them repent of all the blood he had shed and mischief he had done then there was hope of mercy and pardon for him both from God and Men otherwise there was none at all for ought he knew At which he standing mute as much amazed without any Reply Mr. Pr. thereupon departed without more words and the next morning told this dream to his Sister and sundry others telling them he was confident he should hear some strange news of Cromwell very speedily since he never dreamed of him before and within three daies after he heard of his death about 12. hours after his dream O that all other Usurpers of others Estates Offices Lands places by bloud and rapine would sadly consider of it and make real restitution of them before they die then would our peace be soon restored without war or bloudshed and their souls saved which else in all probability will be damned without real restitution when possible to be made 4. His relieving interceding for the massacred persecuted Protestant Albigenses in Piedmont charitable Collections for them and others was a Christian work worthy applause But his giving just provocation to Popish Princes abroad by the Jesuites instigation to extirpate their Religion as a very Seminary of Treason Sedition Rebellion and to massacre eradicate them as a Company of Traytors Antimonarchists Regicides Hypocrites Rebels and Seditious persons from his own and his Confederates Antimoâ—archical principles practises Treasons Rebellions of this kinde both against their King Parliament Monarchy their confederated Brethren of Scotland and their King as being all of one Religion perswasion his accommodating the King of Spain with whole Regiments of bloudie Irish Papists who had embrewed their hands in so much Protestant bloud in Ireland and were the chief Instruments in murdering these poor Protestants his negligence in examining the misimployment of this and other Collections under him for distressed foreign Protestants the greatest part of which are yet in the Collectors hands or diverted otherwise Was in truth but first to kill wound plunder and then relieve them when too late 5. His Confederacy with the King of Sweden to invade the Kingdom of Poland and usurp that Crown by force without right or colourable Title upon pretext to advance the Protestant cause relieve the Protestant Churches propagat the Gospel there had some specious shew of zeal to Religion But to doe apparent evil that good might come of it to ingage in such a war to propagat the Gospel of peace which ended in the total extirpation of all the Protestants and their Churches in Poland whence they are now totally extirpated as himself related in his Briefs papers for their over-late relief and produced a new bloudie warr wherein he also sided with him against the King of Denmark a Protestant King the Marquess of Brandenburgh the Dutch and other our Protestant allies sadly divided against each other in late bloudy battles by Land Sea to the endangering of all the Protestant Churches throughout the world and engaging them all in a New Warre and our three Nations in all probability against our Protestant Brethren now the Popish Kings are reconciled and ready to destroy us all being broken in pieces amongst our selves impoverished butchered by one another rather like savage beasts than men or Christians and that in direct pursuance of Campanellaes Richelieus and other Iesuited Plots who expresly write That the Catholicks are to use all arts and means to divide the Protestants Lutherans Calvinists and Sectaries one from and against each other by various arts and means and all occasions laid hold of for that purpose that they may with more ease oppress destroy them all and that they ought not to neglect the opportunity to accomplish their utter extirpation when their monies are exhausted their forces weakned and they divided by their intestine wars The best means being thus to destroy them by themselves till they like the
Kingdome of Heaven Upon which account they are now stiled Heirs of the Kingdom and shall hereafter inherit possesse this Kingdom receive the Crowns wear the Royal Robes sit upon the Thrones provided for them in it How then have the Enchanters of Rome Spain France so far infatuated your understandings blinded your Judgements intoxecated your Brains perverted your Wills corrupted your Affections seared your Consciences engaged your unrulie Passions as notwithstanding all this to make you Bedlam madde against all Kings Kingship Kingdoms Crowns Scepters Thrones Principaliteâ— and Kingly power as to a abhor and engage against both the things themselves and their verie names yea to extirpate them root and branch against his expresse Evangelical precepts word and practise of all his Saints in either Testament to dote upon such a strange Vtopian Common-wealth and new Freestate the verie names whereof much lesse the things you find not once in Scripture in your sense and never yet read of in the militant or triumphant Church of Christ. Let Mr. Prynne a little expostulate the case with you not as a Lawyer but as a Christian. Do you indeed believe the Scripture to be the very will and word of the Great King the Soveraign Lord and Iudge of all the Earth and of Jesus Christ the King of Kings the Lord of Lords and King of Saints which you are bound in Conscience under pain of eternal damnation to believe and obey If not proclaim it as loâ—d to the world with your Voyces as you do by your Sworde Actions and then all will know you in your Native colours to be no Saints but real Atheists and all reasonings with you will be in vain But having better perswasions of you That you believe the Scripture to be the only rule of your Consciences Iudgements Lives both as Souldiers and Christians Then answer clearlie to these interrogations The Lord of Hosts himself most peremptorilie and preciselie commands you To fear God honour the King 1 Pet. 2.17 Rom. 13.7 Yea to fear the Lord and the King coupling both these together as unseperable and not to meddle with those who are given to change Prov. 24.21 How can how dare you then dishonour vilifie reproach destroy both your natural Kings and Kingship too without the least fear at all of God or the King and change them into a New Republican Conventicle He commands you to subject your selves to the King as Supream both by the Ordinance of God and man and that for the Lords sake and avoiding scandal to Religion 1 Pet. 2.12 13. To be subject to the Higher Powers and amongst them more especiallie to Kings and Principalities and that not only for fear of wrath but for Conscience sake for these Reasons clearlie expressed Because they are of God and ordained by God Because they are the Ministers of God for your good Because they are Gods Avengers to punish you if you disobey resist or do evil Because they who resist them resist the Ordinance of God and shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13.1 to 8. Tit. 3.1 2. VVith what face heart confidence conscience then can or dare you not onlie not submit subject your selves to but exalt yonâ— selves above against your lawfull Soveraign Kings and Higher powers so far as not onlie to reâ—ist but destroy their Persons Powers Kingships Principalities themselves though Gods own Ordinance and that out of pretended Zeal and Conscience too and hope to receive a Crown on Earth or in Heaven for it when as God himself denounceth Damnation to you for your verie unwarrantable resistance of them alone and much more for their destruction God requires you to make Prayers Supplications Intercessions and giving of thanks first of all FOR KINGS that YOU may live a peaceable and quiet life under them in all Godliness and honestie for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour To make prayers to the God of Heaven FOR THE LIFE OF THE KING AND OF THE KINGS SONS Ezra 6.12 13. To prâ—y with all the primitive Church and Saints of God Psal. 72.1 Give the King thy Judgement O God and thy Righteousness unto the Kings Son How can how darâ— you then not onlie neglect these Duties but prohibit condemn punish them as no lesse than High Treason in others and not onlie fight but curse revile pray against the King and the Kings Sons too and take away their lives livelihoods instead of praying for them reputing it both your godlynesse honesty yea a Duty acceptable and well pleasing unto God Hear Heavens and tremble O Earth at this great impietie God commands you Eccles. 8.2 To keep the Kings Commandement and that in regard of the Oath of God And dare you against all your Oaths of Fealty Homage Supremacy Allegiance Protestation League Covenant printed Declarations and your own Propositions 1 August 1647. That the Kings Person and Royal issue may be restored to a condition of safety honor and freedom in this Nation without diminution of their personal Rights both abjure eradicate King Kingship and the Royal Posterity that you may no more keep nor obey anie of their Superior Commands and prefer the Commands of anie undutifull Army-Officers raised onlie to defend the King and Parliament from all force and violences before both their Ordinances Proclamations Commissions Votes to both their ruines God injoyns you not to Curse the King no not in your thoughts not to revile or speak evil of the Ruler of your People Eccles. 10.20 Exod. 22.28 Acts 23.5 Tit. 3 2. And can you like those wicked Idolators Isay 8.21 Curse your King and your God and look upward and like those unjust carnal bruitish Beasts made to be destroyed and reserved to the day of Iudgement to be punished despise Dominion speak evil of Dignities Kings Kingship 2 Pet. 2.9 to 14. Jude 8 9 10. for which the â—ospel it self denounceth Woe unto you perishing in the gain-saying of Core Jude 11. that you shall utterly perish in your own Corruption and receive the reward of unrighteousnesse 2 Pet. 2.12 13. Christ himself more than once enjoyns you in the â—ospel To render to Caesar the things that are Caesars to wit all his Dues Tributes Custom Fear Honor Mat. 22.17 21. Mar. 12.16 17. Lu. 20.22 24 25. Rom. 13.7 how can or dare you then wrongfully forciblie take away and detain from your rightfull King Caesar not onlie all these his Dues and Crown-lands too but his verie Crown life to boot instead of making restitution of them to his Son when he came to demand the fruits of his Fathers Vineyard do and say with those wicked Husbandmen in the Gospel Mat. 21.38 39. Lu. 20.14 this is the Heir come let us kill him and the Inheritance shall be ours and cast him out of the Vineyard O remember the sad doom which Christ himself and all his Auditors have denounced against you for it
Captainâ— of thousands or hundreds nor yet of Souldiers or Armed men but of mean Fisher-men and others altogether averse from war commanding them in expresse terms to take neither Gold Silver nor Brasse in their purses nor scrip nor two coats nor yet Staves much lesse Sword Pikes Horses Pistols nor any thing else belonging to a Souldier no offensive or defensive Arms at the most but a single walking staffe like Travellers to help support them Yea Christ expresly resolves That his Ministers are and must be no Fighters no Strikers nor Strives much lesse than professed Warriers Iohn 18.36 1 Tim. 3.3 2 Tim. 2.24 They have no Sword but that of the Spirit and their Mouth the word of God and fight with it only against mens Sins Lusts not Persons Eph. 6.17 Heb. 4.12 Rev. 19.15 21. Yea when Peter once did but draw his Sword to defend King Jesus against the Souldiers who came with Swords and Staves to apprehend him he said unto him Mat. 26.52 Put up thy Sword again into its place for they that take the sword shall perish with the sword Nay the state of the Gospel is so inconsistent with Souldiers Arms War That upon the sincere profession of it God requires the Professors thereof to beat their Swords into Plowshares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation Neither shall they learn VVar any more but to live in peace with all men and keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace Isay. 4. Mich. 4.3 Luke 2.14 1 Cor. 7.15 c. 14.53 Gal. 5.22 2 Cor. 13.11 Eph. 4.3 Col. 3.15 2 Thes. 3.16 Heb. 12.14 Never was the Kingdom Gospel Church of Jesus Christ promoted advanced in any Age or place by war Swordmen but many Churches have been utterly destroyed extirpated depraved corrupted none ever edified planted enlarged much lesse reformed by them Our present Armie-Saints and new Military-Apostles by their fighting praying preaching fasting instead of promoting the Gospel Protestant Religion and Church of England have almost totally subverted them by broaching countenancing protecting all sorts of Heresies Blasphemies Sects Schisms Errors Opinions Religions setting up new Conventicles of Sectaries Seducers in all places opposing slighting traducing the very Church Doctrine Ministry of England the very Function Ordination of Ministers by decrying detaining their Tithes and former maintenance as litigious Jewish Antichristian by swallowing up all the Lands Revenues of Bishops Deans Chapters Arch-Deacons and a great part of our Ministers maintenance by sequestrations and monthly Contributions to maintain their Army Evangelists now ready to swallow up the remainder that is left and continuing in a body for that purpose by the very Jesuites instigation who not only professedly teach in their publick University at Madrid the Art of War by Land and Sea the making of Guns Gunpowder fireworks all manner of Military Engines of which they read Lectures as most agreeable to the Name Profession of their Martial Father Ignatius as Alphonsus Vargas a Spanish Priest records but boast That the General of the Iesuites can bring into the Field more Souldiers of his own order in a shorter time than any Christian King whatsoever and likewise expresly affirm That their Gopsel and Religion is to be propagated set up the Heretiques and Evangelical Sectaries who resist them refuted extirpated abolished with Fire Armies Sword and War in England elsewhere as Iacobus Cruciger Rector of the Iesuites at Lansperg in his explication of the Rules of their Order Paulus Windeck De extirpandis Heresibus Antid 10 11. p. 404 412 480. Thuanus Hist. l. 65. p. 238. l. 66. p. 299. Franciscus Verona Apol. pro Iohanne Castle par 5. c. 13. Hospinian Hist. Jesuitica l. 4. p. 212 213 214. Hasenmullerus Hist. Jesuit c. 1. Spec. Jesuiticum p. 61. unanimously attest O then discern at last whose Gospel Kingdom you are now propagating by your Army Arms and Westminster Conventicle not Iesus Christs but the very Jesuites his greatest Underminers Many of you especially Millinaries and Fifth Monarchy-men pretend that Jesus Christ is now comming to reign personally on Earth a thousand years and that you shall all reign together as Ioynt-Kings with or Vice-royes under him But the setting up of a New Republick and Aristocracy is wholly inconsistent with this Kingdom and Monarchy of Christ you now expect which suites only with a Temporal King and Kingdom How this Opinion will accord with Christs own description of it John 18. 16. My Kingdom is not of this World or Pauls Rom. 14.17 The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink nor yet Arms and Armies but Righteousnesse and Peace and Ioy in the Holy Ghost which Souldiers Armies usually destroy not produce or propagate let those who maintain it consider When Mr. Prynne was kept close Prisoner in Pendennis Castle by Iohn Bradshaws and our New Republicans illegal warrant in July 1651. some four dayes after his imprisonment there divers Officers and Souldiers of the Garrison who had long debated every day for sundry Months before their present expected personal reign of Christ on Earth repaired to him to know his Opinion concerning it as he was taking fresh Air in the Bowling-Alley standing in a ring about him Upon which he first demanded their Opinions of it when they had all fully uttered their Conceits in the Affirmative with much confidence M. Pryn briefly answered That now they had beheaded one of our Kings and almost conquered another and our 3. Kingdoms they thought talked of nothing but being all Kings themselves and of reigning personally on Earth cheek by joll with Christ himself as his Fellow-Kings no Earthly King being fit to be a Companion for such transcendent sublimated Saints as they thought themselves But they were all most grosly mistaken for that very Text of Rev. 20.4 5. which he read out of one of their Bibles whereon they principally grounded their Opinions and Reign was pointblank against them And I saw the Souls OF THEM THAT WERE BEHEADED not of them who took off their own Christian Protestant Kings and Nobles Heads for the Witnesse of Iesus and the word of God and which had not worshipped the Beast nor his Image neither had received his mark upon their foreheads nor in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years is it not added on the Earth and Chap. 22.5 rather proves their reign to be in the New Ierusalem in Heaven But the rest of the dead who were not thus beheaded lived not again much lesse then reigned with Christ till the thousand years were past By which it is most apparent That if Christ shall reign personally on Earth for a thousand years as they all conceived and that this time was now at hand yet not one of them should or possibly could reign with him if this Text be Vmpire For the words are most positive that none else shall thus reign with Iesus Chrisâ— a thousand years but
only the souls of those who were beheaded for the testimony of Iesus Christ c. It bâ—ing expresly averred in the affirmative then in the Negative But the rest of the Dead lived not till the thousand years were past Upon which account the late King and other Protestants whose Heads they had cut off and those Godly Christians they had slain murdered in the Wars and perchance himself and others who had lost their Ears Liberties Estates and were shut up close Prisoners for the Testimony of Iesus Christ and had not worshipped but opposed the Beast of Rome his Image Superstitions innovations Proceedings against the late King Parliament Religion nor received the mark of the Beast in their Foreheads or hands might peradventure reign with Christ a thousand years But as for themselves and other Army Saints who made it their businesse and reputed it their honour Saintship to cut off the Heads of their own Christian Kings Nobles Brethren to destroy Kingdoms Parliaments their Privileges secure imprison close imprison their Members worshipping the very beast and his Image and visibly receiving his mark in their Foreheads hands by these their Jesuitical practises keeping up an Army and Iron-Sword still drawn amongst us to the great oppressing undoing of their Native Country of purpose to keep off the wooden Crosse of Iesus Christ which he expresly enjoyned them with self-denying Spirits to take up daily and follow him and that other Crosse their own Consciences tell them these perfideous treacherous practises of theirs justly demerit they could have no ground at all from this or anie other Text to reign with Christ in his Heavenly or earthly Kingdom out of which these their seditious unrighteous and bloody practises did eternally exclude them as the 10 14 15. verses of this very Chapter Rev. 22.11 15. 1 Cor. 6.8 9 10. Gal. 5.20 21. resolve Therefore if ever they desired or expected thus to reign with Christ they must all presently repent of these their former Exorbitances put off their Swords from their sides take up Christs daily crosse lay down their own heads upon the Block and then willingly chearfully lose them not for their Treasons and Rebellions but for the Testimony of Iesus Christ and the word of God and opposition of their former treasonable Plots of the Beast of Rome then they might expect to reign with him otherwise they had no hopes by the resolution of this Text and that parallel'd place 2 Tim. 2.11.12 which excellently explains it If we be dead with Christ we shall also live with him If we suffer we shall also reign with him If we deny by him by refusing to suffer with or for him he will also deny us With which words these formerly confident Swordmen were so non-plussed that they had not one word to reply and gave over all future discourses of this subject ever since being as unwilling to lose their Souldiers pay or Heads for the testimony of Christ as the young man in the Gospel was To sell all he had and give it the poor to gain eternal life and Treasures in Heaven Lastly consider That as it is the highest glory excellency of God himself the greatest comfort felicity security of his Church Saints that he is the living God stedfast for ever Dan. 6.26 That he is the Lord and changeth not Mal. 3.6 That with him is no variablenesse or shadow of change James 1.17 That he is the same immutable God for ever from everlasting to everlasting That his Counsels thoughts of heart purposes truth faithfulnesse commands loving-kindnesse Covenant stand fast firm unalterable to all generations for ever and ever Psal. 33 11. Psalm 90.1 2. Psalm 100.5 Psal. 02.16 17. Lam. 5.19 Hebr. 8.13 Psal. 110.4 So it is the most transcendent Honour Dignity Glory of God the Fathers and Jesus Christs Kingship Kingdom and the chief consolation exultation Beatitude of their Subjects and chosen Saints That the Lord is and fitteth King for ever That he is an everlasting King which reigns and shall reign for ever and ever that his Kingdom Dominion Throne are all everlasting established and enduring for evermore for ever and ever throughout all Generations that they cannot be moved and shall have no end Psalm 10.16 Psal. 29.10 Psal. 92.8 Psal. 45.6 Psal. 145.13 Psal. 146.10 Isay. 9.7 Dan. 4.3 34. c. 7.14 27. Jer. 10.10 Mar. 4.7 Lu. 1.32 33.2 Pet. 1.11 Rev. 11.15 Hebr. 12.28 Lam. 5.19 So also it is the praise honour glory of all Nations Churches People Kingdoms Governments aud every particular person both as a man Christian Counsellour or publick Minister of State to be constant stedfast fixed resolute immoveble and unchangeable in their Oaths Religion Worship Faith Principles Counsels resolutions courses when true just honest upright sincere commendable and in their Kingly publick Government evidenced by its Antiquitie the experiences of many successive generations to be beneficial safe just profitable honorable for the gegeneralitie of the people and firmlie established by Laws Oaths Covenants prescription with all other civil and sacred ratifications as is most apparent by Josh. 24.15 16. to 28. Psal. 15 4.1 Chron. 28.7 8 9. Prov. 24.21 Psal. 57.7 Psal. 46.1 2 3. Ps. 27.1 3. Jer. 2.11 Rom. 8.35 36 36 37 38 39. 1 Cor. 15.58 cap. 7.37 Heb. 6.18 19. Col. 2.5 6 7. 2 Thess. 2.17 c. 3.3 Eph. 6.13 14. Col. 1.23 Acts 20.24 c. 21.13 14. Rom. 13 1 2 3. 1 Pet. 2.13 14 15. Tit. 3.1 2 Chron. 13.5 6. c. 11.13 14 15 16 17. c. 23.1 2 3 4 c. c. 26.1 c. 33.24 25. 2. Sam. 7.13 20 29. 1 Chron. 17.13 14 22. to 28. c. 22.10 2 Chron. 9.8 c. 21.7 Ez. 37.45 Prov. 29.14 worthy special observation But it is the sinne shame reproach infamy dishonor ruin of any Nation Church people kingdom State Counsel person to be addicted to changes unstable variable unconstant fickle mutable tossed to and fro backward and forward upward and downward this way and that way like children fools reeds Vanes weathercocks empty clouds wandring stars the restless sea and its waves tossed and turned about with every wind and storme like wild asses dromedaries traversing their wayes or whorish women gadding about to change their lovers wayes and doting upon every Novelty or New lover they meet with as Gen. 49.4 Ps. 78.8 9 10. to 40. Ezech. 16.25 to 60. Jer. 2.11 to 37. Pro. 7.11.12 Jam. 1.6.8 Hab. 1.14 15. Pro. 24. 21 22. Isay 24.5 Ps. 106.20 Mat. 11.7 Rom. 1.23.25 Acts 28.6 2 Pet. 2.1 2 14. to 22. c. 3.17 2 Tim. 3.6 7. Eph. 4.14 Jude 6 12 13 16 24. resolve Why then are yon alwayes ringing the changes in our Churches Kingdoms Parliaments Government Religion modelling unmodelling chopping changing altering building them up and pulling them down again from day to day against all Oathes Vowes Covenants Laws Establishments Policy Prudence Justice Safety Settlement by which you become the highest transgressors Gal. 2.18 Is this to shew your selves Saints men
of God or prudent Senators or Statesmen No no but to be that generation of spoylers and treacherous men no more to be believed trusted by any though you speak fair words nay swear and vow who have spoiled and dealt very treacherously with your brethren and the House of your Fathers who raised entrusted you for their defence and preservation against whom God denounceth a Woe and answerable retaliation in conclusion to be spoiled and dealt treacherously with your selves as some of you your new Protector and those now sitting have been already dealt with and others who made them treacherous Is. 33.1 Jer. 12.1 2 6. c. 3.4 Yea such Neighbors brethren as will utterly supplant deceive slander their very nearest dearest relations whose habitation is in the midst of Deceit whom God himself commands us to take heed of and not to trust for they are all an assembly of treacherous double-minded men unstable in all their wayes empty clouds carried about with a tempest raging waves of the sea which cannot rest foaming out their own shame casting out mire and dirt wandring stars to whom are reserved the blackness of darkness for ever as three Prophets and 3 Apostles resolve in express terms Isay 57.20 21. Ier. 9.2 3 4 5 6. Mich. 7.5 6. Iam. 1.6 7. 2 Pet. 2.17 Iude 12 13. O therefore now at last repent repent with greatest grief shame horror of this your Treachery Inconstancy and harden not your hearts as in the day of temptation and provocation Decemb. 6. 1648. May 7. 1659. when you erred in your hearts wandred out of the way of God peace truth justice righteousness honesty piety duty into such Iesuitical paths wherein there is nothing but wasting and desâ—râ—ction as God resolves all men find by 11 years sad experiment else he will swear in his wrath you shall never enter into his rest If these Evangelical Scriptural Expostulations will not perswade you to sound a present retreat sue out a Bill of divorce from your false Good Old Cause for our future publike safety peace settlement M. P. shall then intreat you to believe your own Declarations In your last May 6. 1659. you truly declare to the world That the only wise God in the course of his providence hath disappointed all your endeavours and rendered all your means to obviate the dangers and settle these Nations in peace and prosperity VTTERLY INEFFECTVAL Will you know the true reason of it It is because ever since you have interrupted and forcibly dissoved the Treaty of Peace between the late King and his Parliament Decemb. 6. 1648. you have walked in such crooked counsels pathes of iniquity bloud violence Treason destruction as whosoever goeth therein shall NOT KNOW PEACE and have neither known nor pursued the true way of Peace as God himself resolves you if you dare credit him Isay 59.2 to 16. which you may do well to study If you will not believe God nor Mr. Prynne herein pray then believe your own selves whiles in your right senses before the good spirit of God departed from you and now pursue that only way to our peace and settlement you then at least 4. times successively prescribed In your humble Remonstrance from his Excellency and THE ARMY under his command presented to the Commissioners at St. Albans 25 June 1647. p. 12. these are your own printed words We doe further clearly confess We do not see how there can be any peace to the Kingdom firm or lasting without a due consideration of and provision for the Rights Quiet and Immunity of His Majesties Royal Family and late partakers And herein we thinke that tender and equitable dealing as supposing their case had been ours and a Spirit of Common love and Iustice diffâ—sing it self to the good and preservation of all will make vp the most Glorious Conquest over their hearts if God in mercy see it good to make them and the whole people of the Land lasting friends The like words expressions to the same effect you use in your Representation of the Army 14 Iune 1647. in your Generals Letter to both Houses of Parliament 6 Iuly 1647. Declaring it the General sense of all or most of the Officers of the Army to avoid all Harshness and afford all kind usage to his Majesties person Family aud late Party as the most honourable prudent and Christian way and the most hopefull course to take away the present and future seeds of Warr amongst us to posterity and to procure a lasting Peace and a Government in this distracted Nation And in your Proposals 1 Aug 1647. for The settlement of a firm peace you have the like expressions again as Mr. Prynne in his Speech in Parliament Dec. 4. 1648. p. 79 80 81 82. evidenced to the House of Commons perswading them to pursue this only way of Peace and not your quite contradictory Remonstr 20 Nov. 1648. when debauched by the Iesuits the only way to unsetlement tumults warres desolation as experience hath now sufficiently demonstrated O therefore now at last embrace pursue this true and only way to safety peace settlement by your own quadruple Resolutions and then we shall soon have peace quietness safety and assurance for ever Mr. Prynne having thus discharged his Conscience towards the Army-Officers and Swordmen the Primum mobile of all our late present motions and commotions wheeling about all the rest he shall in the second place addresse himself to their subordinate selected Westminster Conventicle now sitting under their force and lure to act vote what they prescribe them forcibly separating their old fellow Members from their company and himself above all others who hath lost suffred spoken written acted more from time to time for God Religion Laws Liberties Properties Parliaments and their privileges against all Iesuitical underminers than all of theÌ„ put together notwithstanding all discouragements ingrate requitals from them and others He shall only desire them in relation to the old and newly secluded Members to answer that one expostularie Text Mal. 2.9 Have we not all one Father Hath not one God created us yea one Mother Church Countrey engendred nourished entrusted us all alike Why then doe ye deal treacherously every man against his brother by prophaning the Covenant of our Fathers As for your New erected revived Republike you so much dote on Wherin ye have reigned as Kings without yea against us and we would to God ye did reign that we also might reign with you He shall desire you for your own our Churches Religions sake safetie honour to consider its Papal Jesuitical Antichristian Spanish French originals and its sad effects to their advantage and the ruine of our Religion alreadie discovered which you cannot gain say To weigh his former expostulations with the Army-Officers Soldiers and these few Scriptural to omit manie other Political Historical considerations beyond all refutation and more to be valued than all Politicks of carnal heads or hearts to enamor
CARDINAL the same question as his Father once did the King of Spaine when he was almost easilie intreated to have turned to the Faith Catholick How shall I said he ever expect to be King of England if once the English should understand I have turned Catholick To which they easilie gave a satisfactorie resolution telling him That as the case now stood he must never look to be admitted but by fire and sword the main force of Armes must make way for him neither could he in the least atchieve that or put it in execution without the ayde of Catholike Princes which they will never be brought to act in without a firm assurance of your real and faithfull conuersion What impressions the News of his Fathers decollatioÌ„ made upon him what use the Cardinal and Iesuits made of it to induce him and others to Poperie and what endeavors were used by the Iesuits to make up a peace between the Spanish and French to invade England and make it their prey if he would turn Papist under pretext of restoring him to his Crown you may read in this Iesuit p. 33 34 35 36. and in Militiere his Victorie of Truth dedicated to King Charles after his Fathers death to pervert him in his Religion as the only means of his restitution These Passages of this Iesuit who stiles himself p. 39. The faithful Servant of the Common-wealth of England dedicated to President Bradshaw himself and printed by his SPECIAL COMMAND and our Republican Governours now sitting Ann. 1650. when Mr. Prynne was committed close Prisoner by them without hearing or accusation will justifie the truth of all his former Discoveries That your beheading the King and degrading our Kingdom into a New Free-State was the verie French Cardinals Spaniards Popes and Iesuits plot to ruin both our Protestant Kings Kingdom Church Religion even by your own confessions and that it gave unto them strong arguments to perswade the Kings posteritie and partie for ever to abominate our Religion as manie of them have done upon this very account though the King himself and his Brothers yet continue constant through Gods mercie against all provocations to their eternal honour but your perpetual infamie who have put them upon such direfull Temptations 2. Before you engage in any other Business peruse all former Acts and Petitions of our Protestant Parliaments since 1 Eliz. to this present against Iesuits Seminarieâ—Priests Papists Poperie the manifold mischiefs dangers accrewing by their increase toleration and suspension of our Lawes against them the causes of their growth amongst us and remedies to prevent the same Then put them all with the Oath of Abjuration and 5. Bills against them assented to by the late King in the last Treatie into immediate impartial vigorous execution 3. Imploy faithfull knowing stout active persons with sufficient power and encouragements to discover detect apprehend them under what ever disguise and shelter they now secure themselves Especially take diligent care to ferret these Romish Vermin and Troublers of our Israel out of all your Armies Garrisons Camps and all Sectarian separate Congregations the Boroughs wherein now they lurk securely by putting them all to the Test of the Oaths of Abjuration Supremacie and Allegiance 4. Permit no Seminarie Priests Friers Romish Emissaries of any Nation but especially no Iesuits of any their 4. ranks to remain in our Realms or Dominions it being impossible to enjoy any peace settlement in Church or State or to expect anie dutifull obedience quiet in or from the Armie whiles these firebrands of Sedition Treason remain within our coasts upon which account they have been by sundrie Proclamations of Queen Elizabeth King Iames and King Charles not only banished out of England Scotland Ireland and all their Dominions but likewise out of France Germanie Poland Bohemia Austria Moravia Transilvania Hungarie Venice and other Popish Kingdomes States as well as out of the Netherlands Denmark Sweden and Protestants Territories as the Authors of all their Wars Troubles Tumults Insurrections Rebellions Treasons Regicides and the publike Pests of Church and State 5. Put no arms into Anabaptists or Quakers hands formerly decrying them as unlawful lest London become another Munster and England another Germanie in few moneths space 6. Since Christ Iesus who is truth it self hath laid down these 3. Gospel-maxims of infallible veritie Mat 7.15 to 21. Lu. 6.43 c. That Ravenous wolves in sheeeps clothing as well as trees are and shall be known by their fruits John 8.44 You are of your Father the Devil for his works ye doe Rom. 6.16 That to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey If all the premises infallibly convince your Consciences Judgements as they will and must do That all the forementioned fruits you have produced since December 4. 1648. are the proper fruits of Iesuits and Romish wolves in sheeps clothing yea the very worst sowrest of all their Fruits and Powder Treasons That the workes you have done in murdring our Protestant King destroying our Parliaments Kingdoms Government Laws secluding your fellow-Members and Lords House by force erecting your New Republike and Parliamentarie Conventicle c. are the Works of the Iesuites and Devil That you have yielded up your selves as obedient servants unto them in everie of these against your own former Oaths Protestations Vows Covenants Declarations Commissions Principles Professions Judgments rightly informed consciences the Votes Obsecrations Disswasions of your Fellow Members and most indeared Protestant Friends Ministers Relations the Indentures Desires of those Counties Burroughs you represent And that the very Principles by which you have acted since Dec. 1648 and now again are the very Jesuits principles as you may read at leisure in Iohannis Mariana De Rege Regum Institutione l. 1. c. 6. Creswels Philopater Franciscus Verona Constantini Apologia pro Johanne Castellio et Jesuitis Iesuitae Reinaldi liber De Iusta Reipublicae Christianae in Reges Impios et Haereticos authoritate c. published under the name of William Rosse in Ludovicus Lucius Historia Jesuitica l. 2. c. 3. Hospinian Hist. Jesuitica l. 3. 4. Speculum Jesuiticum printed 1644. wherein you may truly view your Iesuitical Physiognomies heads perrewigs instead of your old genuine Protestant complexions brains notions hair And if the present fresh Addresses Petitions of Anabaptists Quakers Sectaries from Southwark Warminster Hertfordshire Kent and other places to the Army-Officers and your selves with their late listings in the Army affronts to Ministers in their Churches ejection of some of them to intrude themselves alreadie budding forth sufficiently discover whose Servants you are and whose drudgerie you must execute O then immediately abjure rescinde and null them all with highest indignation and persist no longer in any such destructive waies counsels projects under any pretext consideration interest or perswasions whatsoever But rather remember Mr. Oliver Saint-Iohns words now sitting amongst you in his Argument at Law
Exorbitances Insolencies they have hitherto suffered by their own armed hirelings and are the saddest symptomes of our approaching imminent desolation if not speedily repented redressed ere it be over late 2ly To pursue these Gospel advises 1 Cor. 16.13 Watch ye stand fast in the Faith quit ye like men be strong Gal. 5.1 Phil. 1.27 28. Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free and be not intangled again with the yoke of Bondage in one Spirit striving together with one mind for the Faith of the Gospel the fundamental Laws Liberties Government Privileges of the Nation And in nothing terrified by your Adversaries which will be to them an evident token of perdition but to you of salvation and that of God 3ly Do you all now publickly resolutely constantly unanimously according to the tenor of the Solemn League and Covenant claim assert vindicate and endeavour to preserve with your Lives and Fortunes the Reformed Religion Worship Doctrine of the Churches the Rights and Privileges of the Parliaments the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and the Kings Majesties Person Authority and Posterity in the defence and reformation of the true Religion and Liberties of these Kingdoms And with all faithfulnesse endeavour the discovery of all such as have been are or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evil Instruments by hindring the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from his People or one of the Kingdoms from the other making any factions or parties among the People contrary to this League and Covenant that they may be brought to publick Tryal and receive condign punishment assisting defending each other in the maintenance and pursuit thereof without any division withdrawing defection or detestable indifferency or neutrality whatever For which end in a brotherly friendly christian yet stout and resolute manner demand publickly of the General Counsel of Army Officers and their Westminster Conventicle 1. By what lawfull Commission Authority or Warrant from God our Laws or the generality of the people of England whom they have voted the Supream Authority and whose Servants they pretend themselves they have formerly and now again forcibly secluded the whole House of Lords and Majority of the Commons House from sitting in our Parliamentary Counsels or the Old Parliament if yet in being and made themselves not only a Commons house but absolute Parliament without a King or them contrary to the very Letter scope of the Act of 17 Car. c. 7. by which they pretend to sit 2ly By what Authority they presume to turn our most antient glorious famous honourable first Christian Kingdom into an infant base ignoble contemptible Sectarian Free-State or Commonwealth and disinherit our hereditary Kings and their Posterity against all our Laws Statutes Declarations Remonstrances Oaths Vows Protestations Leagues Covenants Customs Prescription time out of minde Liturgies Collects Canons Articles Homiliâ—s Records Writs Writers and their own manifold obligations to the contrary for their inviolable defenâ—e support and preservation only in pursuit of the Jesuites Popes Spaniards and French-Cardinals forecited plots And who gave you this Authority The rather because the whole English-Nation and High Court of Parliament wherein the whole Body of the Realm is and every particular Member thereof either in person or representation by their own Free-elections are deemed to be present by the Laws of the Realm did by an expresse Act 1 Iacobi c. 1. worthy most serious consideration with all possible publick joy and acclamation from the bottom of their heart recognize and acknowledg as being thereunto obliged both by the Laws of God and Man that the imperial Crown of this Realm with all the Kingdoms Dominions and Rights belonging to them immediately after the death of Queen Elizabeth did by inherent birth-right and lawfull and undoubted Succession descend come to King Iames as next and sols Heir of the Blood Royal of this Realm And therunto by this publick Act oâ— Parliament to remain to all Posterity they did humbly and faithfully submit and oblige themselves their Heirs and Posterity for ever untill the last drop of their bloods be spent as the First fruits of this High Court of Parliament and the whole Nations Loyalty and Faith to his Majesty and his Royal Posterity for ever upon the bended knees of their hearts agnizing their most constant Faith Obedience and Loyalty to his Majesty and his Royal Posterity for ever After which the whole English Nation and all Parliaments Members of the Commons House ever since and particularly all Members of the Parliament of 16 Caroli continued by the Statute of 17 Car. c. 7. pretended to be still in being did by their respective Oaths of Allegiance Fealty Homage and Supremacy containing only such Duty as every true and well-affected Subject not only by his duty of Allegiance but also by the comâ—â—mandement of Almighty God ought to bear to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors as the Parliament and Statute of 7 Iac. c. 6. declares joyntly and severally oblige themselves To bear Faith and true Allegiance not only to his Majesty but his Heirs and Successors and him and them to defend to the uttermost of their power against all Attempts and conspiracies whatsoever which shall be made against his or their Persons their Crown and Dignity or any of them and to maintain all Iurisdictions Preheminences Authorityes justly belonging united or annexed to the Imperial Crowu of this Realm Which all Members of the long Parl. those now sitting ratified not only by hundreds of printed Declarations Remonstrances Ordinances but likewise by a Religious Protestation Vow and Solemn National League and Covenant publickly sworn and subscribed with all their hands in the presence of God himself and by all the well-affected in these three Kingdoms but by all our ordinary publick Liturgies Collects Directory Articles Homilies Prayers before Sermons in all or most of their Families Closet-Prayers yea Graces before and after meaâ— wherein they constantly prayed to God according to the practise of the Saints in the Old and new Testaments the Primitive Church of God and Heathen Nations of the Church Parliaments of England themselves in all Ageâ— not only for the health life wealth safety prosperity preservation salvation of our Kings and their Realms but likewise of their Royal Issue and Posterity That there might not want a man of that Race to sway the Scepter of these Realm so long as the Sun and Moon shall endure or to the like effect And if they cannot sufficientlie satisfie your judgements consciences in this particular nor answer the precedent reasons in defence of our hereditary Kings Kingship against their Vtopian Republick Then take up the peremptory resolution of all the Elders and Tribes of Israel when oppressed by Samuels Sonnes Mis-Government turning aside after filthy lucre and perverting Iudgement 1 Sam. 8. and say resolutely to them We will have no New Common-wealth nor Vnparliamentary Conventicle to rule