A proclamation, to all, of all sorts, high and low, rich and poore, wherein is proclaimed the law-royall, which is in keeping thereof is true liberty given forth by force and power for every one to observe, upon pain of death. Covel, William. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A80700 of text R212325 in the English Short Title Catalog (Thomason 669.f.19[29]). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 17 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-IV TIFF page image. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A80700 Wing C6613 Thomason 669.f.19[29] ESTC R212128 ESTC R212325 99870957 99870957 163367 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A80700) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 163367) Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 246:669f19[29]) A proclamation, to all, of all sorts, high and low, rich and poore, wherein is proclaimed the law-royall, which is in keeping thereof is true liberty given forth by force and power for every one to observe, upon pain of death. Covel, William. 1 sheet ([1] p.) s.n., [S.l. : 1654] Signed at end: William Covell. Imprint date from Wing. Against the government - Thomason Catalogue. Annotation on Thomason copy: [illegible; Thomason copy cropped at bottom, affecting annotation]. Reproduction of the original in the British Library. eng Great Britain -- History -- Commonwealth and Protectorate, 1649-1660 -- Early works to 1800. A80700 R212325 (Thomason 669.f.19[29]). civilwar no A proclamation, to all, of all sorts, high and low, rich and poore, wherein is proclaimed the law-royall, which is in keeping thereof is tru Covel, William. 1654 3386 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 B The rate of 6 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the B category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2007-10 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-10 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2008-01 Judith Siefring Sampled and proofread 2008-01 Judith Siefring Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A PROCLAMATION , to all , of all sorts , high and low , rich and poore , wherein is Proclaimed the Law-Royall , which in keeping thereof is true Liberty : Given forth by force and Power for every one to observe , upon pain of death . AS there was , is , and alwayes shall be an Omnipotent , Eternall , Infinite Essence , and Being , GOD , which created and fashioned the Earth and all that therein is , by which , whom , and none other , all things and appearances ( light and darkness ) were created and made : ( and by which and whom they shal be ended , and by none other . ) In which Creation of Light , he placed Man chiefe King , Ruler , Father & Governor , to Rule , & Govern himself first : then all other Creatures upon the Earth , according to their several natures : And gave unto him Laws , as adherent and inherent to his perfection , profession , office , and nature : in , and according to which , he was , and is to walk , rule , and govern himself , & all others under him in the universe : which Laws were actually observed , performed , and kept , by our fore-Fathers inviolable , and stedfastly maintained to bee the fundamentals , foundations , pillars , and props of Government , by which they injoyed life and light , and were free : holding it better the Fabrick to break in sunder , then the Law to be violated or broken . Hearken therefore , O People , learn to know your Laws which make you free , ( they are short and easie ) Make good all your conclusions with your mouths and hearts , and kindle your benummed senses with a constant zealous obedience to your greatest Law-giver , greatest King and Father JEHOVAH ▪ ( the only end , center , and foundation of your understanding , judgement , peace , and rest , ) not regarding pleasure , profit , honour , popularity , and the like glittering interest : but stand stedfast and close in , and to his honour , worship , goodness , naked truth , and obedience , as it is prescribed in the Law of our fore-Fathers , abridged in two sentences , Love God withall thy heart , thy Neighbour as thy selfe . Every man is a King , Priest , & Governor in , to , & over himself : Every one in his family is himselfe , & every thing in that family is for good in that family to every particular person . And none hath any thing to do with him , but by his assent , ( except in a publick necessity ) if any one taketh any thing from him ( otherwise ) without his consent , it is no less then Theft and Robbery , and absolutely against the Law of our fore-Fathers , the Law of Nature , and against the liberty and freedome of the People and Nation : But if any one ruleth not well , let his judgement come from the Neighborhood , the people who best know him , yet gradually from the Peoples Trustees or Officers . ) For judgement centers at every mans doore . Man of himselfe is absolutely free , so long as he keepeth himself from Contract : but in case he enters into Contract with another , he is no longer free , but bound : therefore that he is in bondage , it proceedeth from himselfe , and thereby destruction is of himselfe , and there lieth his bondage ▪ for having once contracted , he and they ought to keep faith , &c. No man would make a Contract , if he were not thereunto compelled by some exigence ; for Contract : leads to be performed in time and place ; but no Man can command time , place , ability , or power . Surely he is only free , happy man , which keepeth himself from any Contract , but what God in Nature hath injoyned him . God in Nature hath made men Kings and Governors ( as I said before ) to govern well themselves ; now see wherein he is bounded by God in Nature , Do as thou wouldest be done unto , and no otherwise : for therein lies the foundation of the Law , which shall judge every particular person ; for in every particular person is the Judge plac'd which shall either justifie or condemn . Follow not the opinions of others , which ( rightly considered ) are meere fancies , and depend more upon your concession , then truth . But ( study the Law of God in Nature ) look into thy selfe ; remember thou art a Stem proceeding from the Stock of the greatest King , Father , Priest , and Prophet , JEHOVAH : that thou art King , Father , Priest , Prophet , and Governor over thy selfe , and all that he hath given unto thee . Rule Well , and thou art well , for hee that Ruleth must be just , Ruling in the feare of the Lord : if thou Rule not well , thou art not well , and disquieted in thy selfe : there is thy liberty and thy bondage . Return first into thy selfe , dost thou Rule well thy minde , thy thoughts , thy words , thy hands , thy feet , nay , even all thy action ? ( then to others as to thy self ) if so , then thou art well , and happy shalt thou be , for He that Ruleth well is worthy of double honor . To Rule your selves well is the high way to be chosen to Rule them which cannot rule themselves well . Remember unruly Cain who murthered his brother Abel ; the Scripture is full of them , as rebellious Absolom , covetous Ahab , proud Haman , lascivious Jezabel , and others ; did they Rule well ? Wherefore were Rulers and Governors chosen , but to Rule those well that would not rule themselves well ? which Rulers , and Governors , as elected and chosen by the people , are as servants to the people : and in Ruling well , immediate Officers and Servants to JEHOVAH : for they in their administration , instruct and admonish those which Rule not well : and from hence springs the Magistracy , and Ministeriall function , Aarons Rod , and Pot of Manna ; Civill and Ecclesiasticall proceedings . Heere you may see the beginning of Writings , how Moses began , the rest followed him : here O Men may you discern the end of all . Now let us beare our shame : we have lost our knowledge , we have perished : hath not Covetousness , Pride , and Hypocrisie beene a continuall stumbling block ? the Judges of the Land have judged unjustly , and administred false judgement for bribes , and have led the people in ignorance . The Preachers ( called the Clergy ) have preached false Doctrine , venting those things which accrued to their profit and advantage , practising covetousness , pride , oppression , lasciviousness , superstition , Idolatry , and hypocrisie : Indeed preaching and practising any thing , for base lucre , profit , and gain . Thou hast nothing to do but thy Fathers will : what is that will ? ask the Law inherent in thy Nature . Where a chiefe Ruler is chosen , his Office and duty is , to defend and preserve those that Rule well : from the pride , couetousness , and oppression of those that Rule ill , and to remove , take away , and destroy the cause of Ruling ill , and to support and cherish those that Rule well . Perhaps you will say , you have chose none to Rule over you : indeed every one is not fit to choose , because they have lost their understanding ; how can he which Ruleth ill himselfe , choose well ? his eyes are dim , and his understanding clouded ? is the blind fit to lead the blind ? ( no ) yet it is the indubitable right of the People to choose . Now that the Government is not understood , you that have had the Ruling , and Teaching Powers , are to be blamed and fhamed , for you have lead the People in ignorance , and onely Ruled , taught , and Lorded for your selves . If you chalenge a right of governing , as being chosen ; then as Governors and Rulers you ought to have the Laws of our fore-Fathers planted in your hearts : which you are to observe and practise : for if you challenge our fore-Fathers Powers in ruling over the People ; then is it but just , that the People challenge , you Rule in our fore-Fathers wayes and Lawes , and therein be limitted and bounded ; for therein lies the liberty and freedome of the People , and your safety . Therefore they which choose , ought to have skill in Ruling well , in regard those Officers , and Governors are to be chosen , who have skill in Ruling well : which Officers , and Governours , are no other then Servants , or Trustees to , and for the People : and ought not to make any by-Laws , but such as center upon the fundamentals , which before they be confirmed and enacted , ought of right to be presented to the People by the Sheriff of every County , at their County Courts : as also by the Stewards of every Hundred and Liberty at their Courts ( which Steward ought to be sworn for the execution of his Office , which is altogether neglected ) to be approved and allowed of by the People : And in case the People find them not good as to the Publick , they may refuse obedience to that Law , and that Law ought to lie dormant untill the People have chosen wiser and more faithfull Trustees , for the altering , or rectifying of such Law : For all by Lawes are alterable , but the fundamentall Law is unalterable : Is not the People greater then their Trustees , and Officers ? The Master is more worthy then the Servant . You Powers , you Kings in power that give Power , Offices , and places of Trust ( by the Peoples power ) are impowred to call them to an account : Therefore look to it , for the People the Kings eyes are upon you . Did the by-Law-makers Rule well in running ad infinitum with by-Lawes Sans number , till they run themselves out of doors , and left an odium behind them ? do not you over-run your selves , the Royall Law , the Peoples Right ; it is better to stand still , lest you run into confusion . As the People have right to choose their owne Officers , it being their Liberty , an Appendix to their Birth-right and Freedome which doth gradually ascend from the People to their chiefest Officers : So are they to let justice gradually descend and center to , and in the People againe . Did those Rulers Rule well , when their benummed Senses preferred their own pleasure , profit , honour , and the like , not regarding the honour , worship , and obedience to JEHOVAH , when they flighted the Stock ( from whence they proceeded ) JEHOVAH the greatest King , the Laws of God in Nature , the Laws of our fore-Fathers , the good and welfare of the People . Nay , suffering the pure and perfect Law of God to be Monopolized into a Trade , permitting the inventions of men to be preached to the ignorant ( for gain ) which the wisest could neither understand nor know how to reform , so that the People perished in want of knowledge , keeping the People in subjection , only Ruling and Lording it for themselves . Did they Rule well , when they converted the Publick Treasure to their own Interest ? contracted themselves into a smaller number , that the Divident might be the greater to them that were left : conniving at each others ill ruling : gratifying one another ( as they term'd it ) with thousands , ( when the Common-wealth wanted money to perfect their great affairs ) fully intending never to give an account thereof ; they endeavoured to perpetuate themselves in their unlimited power ; laying yoaks upon the Peoples necks , which makes them complain and groan under the burthen of them : denying the People to choose other Trustees ( in their places who were secluded ) whereby their actions might have been discovered , and the People eased . Did they Rule well , when there was not an oppression in the Nation , but ( if not contrived and acted by them ) was solicited by some of their Clerks , or Favorites , and connived at by them , whereby justice was perverted , and Bribery and oppression practised by Authority , ( forgetting to be just , Ruling in the fear of the Lord ) forcing many to travel after them and their Lawes , till they have worne out their Petitions at the doore : denying assistance to just requests , when by a little lip labour they might have made those happy , who have beene compelled by excessive expence , ( the Mother of want ) to leave the prosecution of a just Cause , to the ruine and destruction of them and theirs . Did they Rule well , in making so many Lawes the People can neither number , nor understand them ; ( if they keep them from their shoulders : ) for in reading them , no man knows where to center ; by which and their own wills ( being their reasons ) they made double , and treble consequences , of mens words , according to their own constructions , whereby to accuse , imprison , and afflict them . ( By the like practise Christ suffered as a Blasphemer ) Mens Words are their own , and the interpretation of them . Did they Rule well , when they suffered the poor , blind , and lame to perish in the streets , & high-wayes , ( permitting them to want work , and their children bread , ) setting up the Metall Money ( which hee that hoords it deserves to eat and drinke nothing else untill the poore be satisfied : ) above the whole Creation : Monopolizing the Earth , which if ( by the project of a Kilvertist ) they could have Monopolized totally to themselves , ( by their owne Lawes ) they might have ejected the people ( their Masters ) out of the Land : and it is thought they would have Monopolized the Sun , Moone , and Stars , if it had beene possible ; nay , God himselfe , if they could have known where to have found him . Did they Rule well , when they were ten Months of twelve in the Country ; WAITEing to catch necessitated men in Bargains , ( extorting and oppressing the People ) for themselves and others ? what excused them in their absence ; who when they were in Town , could make their appearance in the morning , and all the day after sit drinking in Taverns , Bowling Alleys , or — making the members of their bodies ( the Temples of the Holy Ghost ) to be the members of Harlots ? Particular failings produce inevitable destruction : were they not all breakers of the Royall Law of God planted in Nature ? A word to those that Rule not well : Dost thou say , do not murder , and wilt thou murder ? Dost thou say , do not commit Adultery , and wilt thou commit Adultery ? Dost thou say , do not steal , and wilt thou steal ? Dost thou say , do not covet , and wilt thou covet ? Dost thou say , be not drunke , and wilt thou be drunke ? Dost thou say , be not envious or malicious , and wilt thou be envious and malicious ? Dost thou say , do not oppress thy neighbour , and wilt thou oppress thy neighbour ? Dost thou say , doe not sweare , cheat , and lye , and wilt thou sweare , cheat , and lye ? Do so still : he that is filthy let him be filthy still : you are the causes of confusions : There would be no need of Stocks , Houses of Correction , Whips , Prisons , nor Gallows , but for you , whosoever thou art ; Governors , Rulers , and Councels , ( yea , and Parliaments too ) might meet and have nothing to doe , were it not for you unruly Members ; but goe your wayes , you have lost your Kingly Government , your Priestly Government , and Propheticall Office ; and so are laid aside , as useless : Will you over-run God in Nature , the Royall Law inherent in you ? O the darkness within , which makes the confusion without ! A word to all Rulers , and to all of all sorts : The greatest King with the greatest Powers is at your heels ; he comes with such force and Powers , that neither Crowns nor Castles , walled Cities , nor your weapons of war shall prevail : he will put an end to your Tumults , and evil doings by the brightness of his coming ; then shall you come , and give an account of your Kingship and Governments : have you Ruled well , or not well ? hearken ! what means the noyse from the North , from the South ; nay from all quarters ? some crying out of Prisons , some in Prisons , some in the Streets and High-wayes ; the Creation groanes , and their cries are gone up to the greatest King JEHOVAH : if you will not amend , and help , and plead the cause of the poore , and oppressed ; and set open the Prison doors , the greatest King comes with salvation and deliverance ; and you shall stand by as Cyphers , and be ashamed . Here I have set down your work , you need not trouble your selves , except to do well be a trouble to you ; ( if you please ) understand the excellent foundations of God , his Lawes planted in Nature , which will instruct you to the understanding of his Prophets , Apostles , the Scriptures ; yea , things to come : Wherefore if you covet any thing , let it be Love and Meekness , towards all ; Man being indeed limitted , and bounded within that excellent Law of God in Nature : which is for the ordering of every particular Member , in every particular Man in good and for good ; and if he steps out of that bound to govern another , it must be by contract ; for otherwise it begetteth enmity ; from hence springeth the great confusions in the world : If we see one that Ruleth not well , it is our duty to advise him in love and meekness , that he Rule well . Your Well-Wisher , William Covell .