The first and Second Part of A SEASONABLE, LEGAL, AND HISTORICAL VINDICATION, AND Chronological COLLECTION of the Good, Old, Fundamental Liberties, Franchises, Rights, Laws of all English Freemen their best Inheritance, Birthright, Security, against all Arbitrary Tyranny, and Egyptian Burdens) and of their strenuous Defence in all former Ages; of late years most dangerously undermined, and almost totally subverted, under the specious Disguise of their Defence and future Establishment, upon a sure Basis, by their pretended, Greatest Propugners.  
WHEREIN IS, Irrefragably evinced by Parliamentary Records, Proofs, Precedents, That we have such Fundamental Liberties, Franchises, Rights, Laws. That to attempt or effect the Subversion of all or any of them, (or of our Fundamental Government) by Fraud or Force, is High Treason. The principal of them summed up in X. Propositions; The chief printed Treatises asserting them, specified: A Chronological History of our Ancestors, zeal, vigilancy, courage, prudence, in gaining, regaining, enlarging, defending, oft confirming and perpetuating them to Posterity, by Great Charters, Statutes, New Confirmations, Excommunications, Special Conservators, Consultations, Petitions, Declarations, Remonstrances, Oaths, Protestations, Vows, Leagues, Covenants, and likewise by their Arms, when necessitated, during all the Britons, Romans, Saxons, Danes, Normans and English Kings Reigns, till this present; collected for present and future public benefit: with a Brief Touch of their late unparalelled Infringements and subversions in every particular: The Trial of all Malesactors by their Peers and Juries, justified, as the only legal, best, most indifferent, and all other late arbitrary Judicatories, erected for their Trial, exploded, as destructive both to our Fundamental Laws and Liberties.  
Collected, recommended to the whole English Nation, as the best Legacy he can leave them, By William Prynne of Swainswick, Esquire.  
The Second Edition Corrected and much Enlarged.  Psal. 11. 3. If the Fundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? Psal. 82. 5. They know not, neither will they understand, they walk on in darkness: all the Foundations of the earth are out of course. 
London, Printed for the Author, and are to be sold by Edward Thomas in Green Arbour, 1655.   

Errata.  
IN the Epistle, letter C. page 8. l. 6. read effect, D. p. 2. l. 9 〈◊〉 Tesmond, H. p. 5. l. 19 Censurers, I. p. 5. l. 13 of r. our K. p. 7. l. 28. r. Heirs, L. p. 4. l. 20. r. exercerunt. In the Margin H. p. 3. l. 42. aliquem, I. p. 6. l. 27. pacti L. p. 8. 13. r. 23.  
In the Book p. 4. l. 25. r. as of, p. 13. l. 36. r. were resolved. p. 19 l. 14. r. Vote of p. 24. l. 16. of p. 26. l. 15. of and p. 29. l. 33. Statutes. p. 32. l. 26. r. E. 6. c. 5. p. 35. l. 6. to sedition p. 38. l. 19 r. parts.  
Margin, p. 27. l. 13. ther r. other, p. 64. l. 3, 4, 5. r. 10. R. 2. cap. 1. 1 H. 5. c. 1. 28 H. 6. n. 51. l. 11. r. 4. E. 4.   

To all truly Christian Free men of England, 
This Epistle should have been printed before the first part; but was omitted through haste.  Patrons of Religion, Freedom, Laws, Parliaments, who shall peruse this Treatise.  
Christian READER,  
IT hath been one of the most detestable Crimes, and highest Impeachments against the Antichristian 
a See the several Epistles of Frederick the Emperor against Pope Gegory the 9, and Innocent the 4 recorded by Mat. Paris, p. 332. to 693. sparsim.  Popes of Rome, that under a Saintlike Religious pretext of advancing the Church, Cause, Kingdom of Jesus Christ, they have for some hundred years bypast, usurped to themselves (as foal Monarches of the World in the Right of Christ, whose Vicars they pretend themselves to be) both by Doctrinal Positions and Treasonable Practices, 
b See Extra● de Majoritate & Obedientia: Augustinus Triumphus: Bellarminus, Becanu●, and others, De Monarchia Remani Pontificis. Hospinia● Hist. Jesui. l. 3, & 4.  an absolute Sovereign, Tyrannical Power over all Christian Emperors, Kings, Princes of the World (who must derive and hold their Crowns from them alone, upon their good behaviours at their pleasures) not only to Excommunicate, Censure, Judge, Depose, Murder, Destroy their sacred Persons; but likewise to dispose of their Crowns, Sceptres, Kingdoms, and translate them to whom they please.  
In pursuance whereof, they have most traitorously, wickedly, seditiously, atheistically, presumed to absolve their Subjects from all their sacred Oaths, Homages, natural Allegiance, and due Obedience to them, instigated, encouraged, yea expressly, enjoined (under pain of interdiction, excommunication, and other censures) their own Subjects, (yea own sons sometimes) both by their Bulls and Agents, to revolt from, rebel, war against, depose, dethrone, murder, stab, poison, destroy them by open force, or secret conspiracies: and stirred up one Christian King, Realm, State, to invade, infested, destroy, usurp upon another; only to advance their own Antichristian Sovereignty's, Usurpations, Ambition, Rapines, worldly Pomp and Ends: as you may read at leisure in the Statutes of 25 H. 8. c. 22. 28 H. 8. c. 10. 37 H. 8. c. 17. 13 Eliz. c. 2. 23 Eliz. c. 1. 35 Eliz. c. 2. 3 Jacob. c. 1, 2, 4, 5. 7 Jacob. c. 6. The Emperor Frederick his Epistles against Pope Gregory the 9 and Innocent the 4. recorded in Matthew Paris, and 
* Henricus de Knighton, de Eventibus Angliae, l. 2. c. 14, 15.  others, Aventinus Annalium Boiorum, Mr. William Tyndal's Practice of Popish Prelates; the second Homily upon Witsunday; the Homilies against disobedience, and wilful Rebellion; Bishop Jewels view of a seditious Bull; john Bale in his lives of the Roman Pontiffs; Doctor Thomas Bilson in his True difference between Christian subjection, and unchristian Rebellion; Doctor John White his Sermon at Paul, s Cross, March 24. 1625. and Defence of the Way, c. 6, 10. Doctor Crakenthorpe of the Pope's temporal Monarchy; Bishop Morton's Protestant Apology; Doctor Beard 's Theatre of God's Judgements, l. 1. c, 27, 28. Doctor Squire of Antichrist; John Bodin his Commonwealth, l. 1. c. 9 The learned Morney Lord du Plessy, his Mystery of Iniquity, and History of the Papacy. The General History of France. Grimston's Imperial History. Matthew Paris, Speed, Holinshed, Cambden, and others, in the lives of King John, Henry the 3. Queen Elizabeth, and other of our Kings, with hundreds of printed Sermons on the 5 of November.  
The principal Instruments the Popes employed of late years, in these their unchristian Treasonable Designs, have been pragmatical, furious, active Jesuits, whose Society was first erected by Ignatius Loyola (a Spaniard by Birth, but A 
c See Massaeus Vegius & Petrus Ribadeniera in vita Ignatii Loyolae. Heylins' Micracosme, p. 179.  SOLDIER by Profession) and confirmed by Pope Paul the 3. Anno 1540● which Order consisting only of ten persons at first, and confined only to sixty by this Pope, hath so monstrously increased by the Popes and Spaniards favours and assistance (whose chief Janissaries, Factors, Intelligencers they are) that in the year 1626. 
d See Lewis Owen his Jesuits Looking-glass, printed London 1629. the Epistle to the Reader, and p. 48 to 58. Jubilaeum, sive speculum Jesuiti●um, printed 1644. p. 307 to 213. Hospinian Hist. Jesuitica, l. 2.  they caused the picture of Ign●tius their Founder to be cut in Brass, with a goodly Olive Tree growing (like Jessees root) out of his side, spreading its branches into all kingdoms and Provinces of the World, where the Jesuits have any Colleges and Seminaries, with the name of the Province at the foot of the branch, which hath as many leaves as they have Colleges and Residencies in that Province; in which leaves, are the names of the Towns and Villages where these Colleges are situated: Round about the Tree are the Pictures of all the illustrious Persons of their Order; and in Ignutius his right hand, there is a Paper, wherein these words are engraven, Ego sicut Oliva fructifera in domo Dei; taken out of Ps. 52. 8. which pourtraictures they then printed and published to the world: wherein they set forth the number of their Colleges and Seminaries to be no less than 777. (increased to 155 more, by the year 1640.) in all 932. as they published in like Pictures & Pageants printed at Antwerp, 1640. Besides sundry New Colleges and Seminaries erected since.  
In these Colleges and Seminaries of theirs, they had then (as they print) 15591 Fellews of their Society of Jesus, besides the Novices, Scholars, and Lay-brothers of their Order, amounting to near ten times that number. So infinitely did this evil weed grow and spread itself, within one hundred years after its first planting. And which is most observable, of these Colleges and Seminaries they reckoned then no less than 15 (secret ones) 
* Speculum Jesuiticum. p. 210. See Rome's Masterpiece & Conterburies' Doom, p. 435, etc. Hidde● works of Darkness. 88, 144.  IN PROVINCIA ANGLICANA, in the Province of ENGLAND, where were 267 SOCII or Fellows of that Society: besides 4 COLLEGES OF ENGLISH JESUITS ELSEWHERE. In IRELAND and elsewhere 8 Colleges of IRISH JESUITS: and in SCOTLAND and otherwhere 2 Residencies of SCOTTISH JESUITS.  
What the chief employments of Ignatius and his numerous swarms of Disciples are in the World, his own Society at the time of his Canonization for a Romish Saint, sufficiently discovered in their painted Pageants, than showed to the people, 
e Mercure Iesu●le, tom. 1. p. 67. Speculum Jesuitieum p. 1. 56.  wherein they portrayed this new Saint holding the whole world in his hand, and fire streaming out forth of his heart (rather to set the whole world on fire by Combustions, Wars, Treasons, Powderplots, Schisms new State, and old Church-Heresies, then to enlighten it) with this Motto; VENI IGNEM MITTFRE: I came to send fire into the World; which the University of Cracow in Poland objected (amongst other Articles) against them, Anno 1622. and Alphonsus de Vargas more largely insisteth on in his Relatio, de Stratagematis & Sophismatis Politicis Jesuitarum, etc. An. 1641. c. 7, 8, 24.  
Their number being so infinite, and the 
f See Lewis Owen his running Register, & his Jesuited Looking glass. The Anatomy of the English Nunnery at Lisbon.  Pope and Spaniard too, having long since (by 
g De Monarchia Hispanica, p. 146, 147, 148, 149, 204, 234, 235, 236, 185, 186.  Campanella's advice) erected many Colleges in Rome, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and elsewhere, for English, Scottish, Irish Jesuits (as well as for such secular Priests, Friars, Nuns) of purpose to promote their designs against the Protestant Princes, Realms, Churches, Parliaments of England, Scotland, Ireland, & to reduce them under their long prosecuted 
h See Thomas Campanella de Monarchia Hispaniae. watson's quodhbets, Co●loni Posthuma, p. 91. 10 107. Cardinal de Ossets' Letters. Arcana Imperii Hispanici Del●h. 1628. Advice a tous les Estat's de Europe, touches les maximas Fundamentales de Government & diss●iennes Espaginols, Pa●is, 1625.  UNIVERSAL MONARCHY over them, by Fraud, Policy, Treason, intestine Divisions, and Wars, being unable to effect it by their own Power; no doubt of late years many hundreds, if not thousands, of this Society, have crept into England, Scotland and Ireland, lurking under several disguises; yea, an whole College of them sat weekly in counsel, in or near Westminster, some few years since, under Conne the Popes Nuntio, on purpose to embroil England and Scotland in bloody civil wars, thereby to endanger, shake, subvert these Realms, and destroy the late King (as you may read at large in my Rome's Masterpiece, published by the Commons special Order, An. 1643.) who occasioned, excited, fomented, the first and second intended (but happily prevented) wars between England and Scotland, and after that, the unhappy Differences, Wars, between the King, Parliament, and our three Protestant Kingdoms, to bring them to utter desolation, and extirpate our reformed Religion.  
The King's Forces (in which many of them were Soldiers) after some year's wars being defeated, thereupon their Father Ignatius being a SOLDIER, and they his Military sons, not a few of them 
i Set my Speccb in Parliament, p. 107. ●o 119. and the History of Independency.  secretly insinuated themselves as Soldiers, into the Parliaments Army and Forces, (as they had formerly done into 
k Exact Collection, p. 651, 652, 662, 666, 813, 814, 8●6, 826, 827, 832, 902, 904, to 920. A Collection of Ordinances, p. 267, 313, 354, 424.  the Kings) where they so cunningly acted their parts, as extraordinary illuminates, gifted brethren, and grand Statesmen, that they soon leavened many of the Officers, Troopers and common Soldiers, with their dangerous Jesuitical State-politicks, and 
l See Put●●y Projects, the History of Independency, and Armies Declarations, Papers, Proposals. printed together, London, 1647.  Practices, put them upon sundry strange designs, to new-mould the old Monarchical Government, Parliaments, Church, Ministers, Laws of England; erecting a New General Council of Army-Officers and Agitators for that purpose; acting more like a Parliament and Supreme Dictator's, than Soldiers. And at last instigated the Army by open force▪ (against their Commissions, Duties, Oaths, Protestations and Solemn League & Covenant) to Impeach, imprison, seclude, first eleven Commoners; then some six or seven Lords; after that to secure, seclude the Majority of the Commons House, suppress the whole House of Lords, destroy the King, Parliament, Government, Privileges, Liberties of the Kingdom & Nation, for whose defence they were first raised, which by no other adverse power they could effect. This produced new bloody divisions, animosities, wars, in and between our three Protestant Realms and Nations; & after with our Protestant Allies of the Netherlands, (
* De Monarchia Hisp. c. 25, 27.  Campanella's express old projected Plots to subject us both to the Popes and Spaniards Monarchies, effected by the Spaniards Gold and Agents) with sundry heavy Monthly Taxes, Excises, Oppressions, Sales of the Churches, Crowns, and of many Nobles and gentlemen's Lands and Estates, to their undoing, our whole Nations impoverishing, and discontent, an infinite profuse expense of Treasure, of Protestant blood both by Land and Sea, decay of Trade, with other sad effects in all our three Kingdoms; yea, sundry successive New changes of our public Government, made by the Army-Officers, (who are still ringing the changes) according to Campanela's and Parsons Platforms. So that if Fire may be certainly discerned by the smoke; or the Tree commonly known by its Fruits, as the Truth itself resolves, Matth. 12. 33. we may truly cry out to all our Rulers, as the Jews did once to the Rulers of Thessalonica, in another case, Act. 17. 6. THOSE (Jesuits) WHO HAVE TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN, ARE COME HITHER ALSO; and have turned our Kingdoms, Kings, Peers, Monarchy, Parliaments, Government, Laws, Liberties, (yea, our very Church and Religion too, in a great measure) UPSIDE DOWN, even by those very Persons, who were purposely raised, commissiond, waged, engaged by Protestations, Covenanes, Vows, Oaths, Laws, Allegiance and Duty, to protect them from these Jesuitical Innovations and subversions.  
And those Jesuits, Spanish Romish Agents, who have so far seduced, so deeply engaged them, contrary to all these Obligations, and to their own former printed Engagements, Remonstrances, Representations, Proposals, Desires, and RESOLUTIONS, for settling this Nation in its just Rights, the Parliament in their just Privileges, and the Subjects in their Liberties and Freedoms; published to all the World, in the name of Sir Thomas Fairfax, THE ARMY, AND THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE ARMY, none Volume. London, 1647. (which they may do well to peruse) yea, against the Votes, Entreaties, Desires, Advices, of both Houses of Parliament, the Generality of the good Ministers, people of the three whole Kingdoms, and their wisest, best affected Protestant Friends, who commissioned, raised, paid, assisted them for far other ends O whether may they, will they not (in all humane probability) rashly, blindly, suriously henceforth lead, drive, precipitate them, to our whole three Kingdoms, Churches, Parliaments, Laws, Liberty's total, final desolation, and the Armies too in conclusion, beyond all hopes of prevention, unless God himself shall miraculously change their Hearts, Counsels, and reclaim them from their late destructive, heady violent courses: or put an hook into their Noses, to turn them back by the way by which they came: or, set a timely period to their usurped Armed power and extravagant late proceedings, of such a desperate unparallelled, unprotestant strange Nature, as none but the very worst of Ignatius his Disciples and Engineers durst set on foot, or still drive on amongst us Protestants. Which I earnestly beseech, adjure, and conjure them now most seriously to lay ●o heart, before it be over-late.  
Those who will take the pains to peruse all or any of these several printed Books (most of them very well worth their reading) written against the Jesuits and their Practices, as well by Papists as Protestants, as namely, Fides jesus & jesuitarum, printed 1573. Doctrinae jesuiticae praecipua capita, Delft. 1589. Aphorismi Doctrinae Iesu●ticae. 1608. Cambitonius, De Studiis Jesuitarum abstrusioribus. Anno 1608. jacobus Thuanus, Passages of the Jesuits. Hist. l. 69, 79, 83, 94, 95, 96, 108, 110, 114, 116, 119, 121, 124, 126, 129, 131, 132, 134, 136, 137. 138. Emanuel Meteranus his Passages of them. Belgicae Hist. l. 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 26, to 34. Willielmus Baudartius, Continuatio Meterani, l. 37, 38, 39, 40. Donatus Wesagus, Fides jesus & jesuitarum, 1610. Characteres jesuiticae, in several Tomes. Elias Husenmullerus, Historia jesuitici Ordin●, Anno 1605. Speculum sive Theoria Doctrinae jesuiticae, necnon Praxis Jesuitarum, 1608. Pasquier his Jesuit displayed. Petrus de Wangen, Physiogmonia Jesuitica, 1610. Christopherus Pelargus, his Novus Jesuitismus. Franciscus. de Verone, his Jesuitismus Sicarius, 1611. Narratio de proditione Jesuitarum in Magnae Brit. Regem, 1607. Consilium de lesuitis Regno Polonia ejiciendis. The Acts of the States of Rhetia, Anno 1561, & 1612. for banishing the Jesuits wholly out of their Territories, NE STATUS POLITICUS TURBARETUR, etc. mentioned by Fortunatus Sprecherus, Palladis Rheticae, l. 6. p. 251, 273. Melchior Valcius, his Furiae Gretzero, etc. remissae, 1611. Censura Jesuitarum, Articuli Jesuitarum, cum commonefactione illis oppositae Anti-Jesuites, au Roy par. 1611. Variae Doctorum Theologorum Theses adversus quaedam Jesuitica Dogmata. The Remonstrance of the Parliament of Paris to Henry the Great against the re-establishment of the Jesuits; And their Censure of Mariana his book, to be publicly burnt, printed in French, 1610. recited in the General History of France, in Lewis 13. his life, & Peter Matthew, l. 6. par. 3. Historia Franciae. Variae Facultatis Thologiae & Curiae Parisiensis, quam aliorum Opuscula, Decreta & Censurae contra Jesuitas, Paris 1612. Conradus Deckerus, De proprietatibus jesuitarum, 1611. Quaerelarum inclyti Regni Hungariae adversus corruptelas Iesuiticas defensio. Lucas Osiander, his writing about the Jesuits bloody Plot, Han. 1614 jesuitarum per unitas Belgii Provincias Negotiatio, Anno 1616. Radulphus 
An Excellent cove●y of 〈◊〉 stable, asonakle 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉.  Hospinianus, Historia jesuitica, 1619. Bogermannus his Catechismus jesuiticus. Lodovicus Lucius, Historia jesuitica, Basil. 1627. Arcana Imperii Hispanici, 1628. Mercure jesuit, in several Tomes, Geneve 1626., De Conscientia jesuitarum, tractat. Censura sacrae Theologiae. Parisiensis, in librum qui inscribitur, Antonii Sanctarelli societatis jesu, de Haeresi, Schismate & Apostasia, etc. Paris, 1626. Anti-Cotton; joannes Henricius, Deliberatio de compescendo perpetuo crudeli Conatu jesuitarum, Fran. 1633. A Proclamation of the States of the united Provinces, Anno 1612. And another Proclamation of theirs: with two other Proclamations of the Protestant States of the Marquisate of M●ravia, for the banishing of the Jesuits, London 1629. Alfonsi de Vargas Toletani, Relatio ad Reges & Principes Christianos, De Stratagematis & Sophismatis Politicis Societatis Jesus, ad Monarchiam Orbis terrarum sibi conficiendam: in qua Jesuitarum erga Reges & Populos optimè de se meritos infidelitas, erga ipsum Poutificem perfidia, contumacia, & IN FIDEI REBUS NOVANDI LIBIDO, illustribus documentis comprobatur, Anno 1641. Jubilaeum, sive Speculum Jesuiticum, exhibens PRAECIPUA JESUITARUM SCELERA, MOLITIONES, INNOVATIONES, FRAUDS, IMPOSTURAS, ET MENDACIA, CONTRA STATUM ECCLESIASTICUM POLITICUMQUE, in & extra EUROPEUM ORBEM; primo hoc centenario, confirmati illius Ordinis INSTITUTA ET PERPETRATA: ex variis Historiis, inprimis vero Pontificiis collecta, Anno 1644. (a piece worth perusing) Or else will but cast their eyes upon our own forecited Statutes, and the 
* No● 〈◊〉 date.  Proclamations of Queen Elizabeth, King James, and King Charles against Jesuits, and Seminary Priests. A brief Discovery of Doctor Allens Seditious Drifts, London 1588. Charles Paget (a Seminary Priest) his Answer to Dolman, concerning the succession of the English Crown, 1601. William Watson (a secular Priest) his Dedachordon or Quodlibets, printed 1602. now very well worthy all Protestants reading. A Letter of A. C. to his Dis-Jesuited Kinsman, concerning the Jesuits, London 1602. Romish Positions and Practices for Rebellion, London 1605. The Arraignment of Traitors, London 1605. John King Bishop of London, his Sermons on November 5. 1607, 1608. King James his Conjuratio Sulphurea, Apologia pro Juramento fidelitatis: &, Responsio ad Epistolam Cardinalis Peronii. An Exact Discovery of the chief mysteries of the Jesuitical iniquity: and, The Jesuits secret Consultations; both printed London 1619. William Crashaw his Jesuits Gospel, London 1621. William Feak of the Doctrine and Practice of the Society of Jesus, London 1630. The many printed Sermons of Doctor john White, Bishop Lake, Bishop Andrews, Doctor Donne, Doctor Featly, Doctor Clerk, and others, preached on the fifth of November. Lewis Owen, his Running Register, London, 1620. His Unmasking of all Popish Monks and Jesuits, 1628. And his Jesuits Looking-Glass, London, 1629. John Gee, his Foot out of the Snare, etc. London, 1624. with the Jesuitical Plots discovered in my Rome's Masterpiece; and, Hidden works of darkness brought to public Light, London 1645. shall see the Jesuits and their Seminaries charged with, convinced of, and condemned for these ensuing Seditious, Treasonable, Antimonarchical, Anarchical Positions and Practices; for which, their Society hath by public Acts and Proclamations been several times banished out of Hungaria, Bohemia, Moravia, Poland, the Low Countries, Rhetia, France, Transilvania, Sweden, Denmark, the Palatinate, Venice, Aethiopia, Japan and Turkey, as well as out of England, Scotland and Ireland, as most insufferable Pests and Traitors; in many of which they have yet gotten footing again.  
1. That at least ●ifty several prime Authors of that infernal Society of Jesus▪ in several printed books (which you shall find specified in Doctor John Whites Defence of the Way, c. 6, 10. Aphorismi-Jesuitarum: jubilaeum, or, Speculum jesuiticum, p. 187, 188. and the Appendix to my Fourth part of the Sovereign power of Parliaments, p. 187, 188.) have dogmatically maintained; 
* Hospinian. Hist. Jesuit. l. 4.  That the Pope hath absolute power, not only to excommunicate, but judicially to suspend, mulct with temporal penalties, depose, dethrone, PUT TO DEATH, and destroy any Christian Emperors, Kings, Princes, Potentates, by open Sentence, War, Force, secret Conspiracies, or private assasinations, and to give away their Crowns and Dominions to whoever will invade them, by Treason or Rebellion, at the Pope's command; and that in cases of Heresy, Schism, Disobedience to, Rebellion against the Pope or See of Rome, Maladministration, refusal to defend the Pope or Church against her adversaries, Insufficency to Govern, Negligence, Tyranny, Excesses, Abuses in Government, Incorrigibility, Viciousness of Life, and 
m Quando eorum malitia hoc exigit & Reipub. vel Ecclesiae NECESSITAS sic requirit. Speculum Jesuiticum, p. 168, 169, 170. Mercure Jesuit, Part. 1. p. 884, 885. Alfonsi de Vargas Relatio. etc. ●. 55.  NECESSITY OF THE PUBLIC GOOD, OR SAFETY OF THE CHURCH, STATE, OR 'CAUSE OF GOD; as Antonius Sanctarellus the Jesuit particularly defines, in his Book De Haeresibus, Schismatibus, etc. printed in Rome itself, Anno 1625. who affirms it to be, Multum aequum & Reipublicae expediens, ut sit aliquis supremus Monarcha, qui Regum hujusmodi excessus possit corrigere, & DE IPSIS JUSTITIAM MINISTRARE; sicut PETRD concessa fuit facultas PUNIENDI PAENA TEMPORALI, imo etiam, PAENA MORTIS, DICTAS PERSONAS AD AL●●●VM COKKEECMIONEM ET EXEMPLUM. (Whether the Erection, Title of, or Proceedings against our beheaded King, in the late misnamed High Court of Justice, had not their original from hence; and whether the Army-Officers derived not their very phrase, 
n See thei● Remonstrance from Sl. Alban, 16 Nou. 1648, and Decem. 7. with other Papers.  of bringing the King TO JUSTIEE, with their pretended NECESSITY OF PUBLIC GOOD AND SAFETY, for it, from these very Jesuits, or their Agents in the Army; let themselves, the whole Kingdom, and all Wisemen now consider.) Moreover, some of the fifty Authors, (as Creswel, or Parsons the English Jesuit, in his Philopater, Sect. 2. and 
* Attributed to ●ne Jesuit Tresham.  De Officio Principis Christiani, chap. 5. affirm, That the whole School both of (their) Divines and Lawyers, make it a Position certain and undoubtedly to be believed, That if any Christian Prince whatsoever, shall manifestly turn from the Roman Catholic Religion, or desire, or seek to reclaim others from the same; or but favour, or show countenance to an Heretic (as they deem all Protestants, and Dissenters from the See of Rome in any punctilio, such) HE PRESENTLY FALLETH FROM, & LOSETH ALL PRINCELY POWER & Dignity; & that By Vertus & Power OF THE LAW ITSELF, BOTH DIVINE AND HUMAN, EVEN BEFORE ANY SENTENCE PRONOUNCED AGAINST HIM BY THE SUPREME PASTOR AND JUDGE. That thereby his Subjects are absolved from ALL OATHS AND BONDS OF ALLEGIANCE TO HIM AS TO THEIR LAWFUL PRINCE. Nay, THAT THEY MAY AND AUGHT (
* See watson's Q●●libets, P. 295. etc.  PROVIDED THEY HAVE COMPETENT POWER AND FORCE) TO CASTANNA OUT SUCH A PRINCE FROM BEAKING RULE AMONGST CHRISTIANS, as an Apostate, an Heretic, a Back-slider, a Revolter from our Lord Jesus Christ, AND AN ENEMY TO HIS OWN ESTATE AND COMMONWEALTH; lest perhaps he might infect others, or by his example or command, turn them from the faith. And that the Kingdom of such an Heretic or Prince, is to be bestowed at the pleasure of the Pope, with whom the people upon pain of Damnation, are to take part, and Fight against their SOVEREIGN. Out of which detestible and Treasonable Conclusions, most Treasons and Rebellions of late time have risen in the Christian World; and the first smoke of the Gunpowder-treason too, as John Speed observes in his History of Great Britain, p. 1250. Whereupon the whole 
* Alphonsi de Vargas Relatio, etc. c. 55. Spe●ulum Jesuiticum, p. 162, 163.  University of Paris censured them, An. 1625, and 1626. not only as most pernjoyous, detestable, damnable, erroneous, and perturbing the public Peace; but likewise, as Subversive of Kingdoms, States, and Republics, seducing Subjects from their Obedience and subjection, and stirring them up to Wars, Factions, Seditions, & Principum parricidia, and the Murders of their KINGS.  
2. That the Jesuits have 
* Hospinian. Hist. Jesuitica, l. 3.  frequently put these Treasonable, Seditious, Antimonarchical, Jesuitical, damnable Doctrines into practice, as well against some Popish, as against Protestant Kings, Queens, Princes, States: which they manifest,  
1. By 
o Hist. Gallica, & ●elgica, l. ●. p. 126. Speculum Jesuiticum p. 46. Hospinian. Hist. Jesuitica, l. 3. ●. 159.  their poisoning Jone Albreta Queen of Navarre, with a pair of deadly perfumed Gloves, only for favouring and protecting the Protestants in France against their violence, Anno. 1572.  
2. By their suborning and animating 
p See Speculum Jesuiticum and the General History of France in H. 3. Hospinian. Hist. Jesuitica, l. 3. f. 151, 152.  James Clement a Dominican Friar, to stab King Henry the third of France in the belly with a poisoned Knife, whereof he presently died, Anno. 1589. for which they promised this Traitor, a Saintship in heaven. Pope Sixtus the fifth himself commending this foul Fact in a long Oration to his Cardinals, as Insigne & memorabile sacinus, non sine Dei Opt. Max. particulari providentia, & dispositione, ET SPIRITUS SANCTI SUGGESTIONE DESIGNATUM: facinusque longe majus quam illud S. Judith, quae Holofernum è medio sustulit.  
3. By 
q Speculum Jesuiticum, p. 75.  Cammolet the Jesuits public justification of this Clement in a Sermon at Paris Anno 1593. wherein he not only extolled him above all the Saints, for his Treason against, and murder of Henry the 3. but broke out likewise into this further Exclamation to the people: We ought to have some Ehud, whether it be a A Monk, or A Soldier, or a Varlet, or at least a Cow-herd. For it is necessary, that at least we should have some Ehud. This one thing only yet remains behind: for than we shall compose all our Affairs very well, and at last bring them to a destred end. Whereupon, by the Jesuits instigation, the same year 1593. one Peter Bariere, undertook the assasination of King 
r See the General History of France in the life of Henry 4. and Lewis 13. Speculum Jesuiticum, p. 77, 80, 126, 235. Hospinian. Hist. Jesuitica, l. 3. p. 153, to 158.  Henry the 4 of France: which being prevented, and he executed, thereupon they suborned and enjoined one of their own Jesuitical Disciples, John Castle, a youth of 19 years old, to destroy the King: who on the 27 of December 1594. intending to stab him to the heart, missing his aim, wounded him only in the cheek, and stroke out one of his teeth; for which Treasonable act he was justified, applauded, as a renowned Saint and Martyr, by the Jesuits, in a printed Book or two, published in commendation of this his undertaking. As namely, by Bonarscius the Jesuit, in his Amphitheatrum, Franciscus Verona Constantinus, (a Jesuit) in his Apologiapro johanne Castello, contra Edictum Parliamenti, & supplicium de eo ob Parricidium sumptum, An. 1595. Where he thus writes of the attempt upon Hen. 4. Whosoever diligently ponders, that Henry was excommunicated, an Heretic, relapsed, a profaner of holy things, a declared public enemy, an oppressor of Religion; and (thereupon) a person secluded from all right to the Kingdom; and therefore a Tyrant, not a King; an Usurper, not a lawful Lord; he verily, unless he be mad, and destitute of humane sense, and love towards God, the Church, and his Country, cannot otherwise think or speak; but that the fact of Castle was generous, conjoined with Virtue; and Heroical, to be compared with the greatest and most praiseworthy facts which the ancient Monuments of Sacred and Profane Histories have recorded. One thing only may be disliked, namely, That Castle hath not utterly slain and taken him from the midst of us. In sum, He denies this Henry to be any King of France, by right or inheritance, because, (in his and the Jesuits Opinion only, not in Truth) he was both an Heretic, and A TYRANT. Asserting, That it was lawful for Castle, or any other private man, TO DESTROY AN HERETIC OR TYRANT, much more then, him that was both.  
And 
* Speculum Jesuiticum, p. 80, 81. Hospinian. Hist. Jesuitica, l. 3. f. 156, 157.  John Guignardus a Jesuit, (Fellow of the Jesuits College of Claremount) in his Papers then seized by, and reported to the Parliament of Paris, Anno 1595. not only compared Henry the third and fourth to Nero and Herod, and justified Clement's murder of the one, and Castles attempt upon the other, as most Heroical and praiseworthy Actions: but likewise added, That if we in the year 1572. on Saint Bartholmews day, (in the General Massacre of the French Protestants) had CUT OFF THE BASILICON VEIN, (Henry King of Navarre) we had not fallen out of a fever, into that Plague, which now we find. Sed quicquid delirant Reges plectunctur Achivi, SANGVINI PARCENDO. That King Henry should be but over-mildly dealt with, if he were thrust from the Crown of France, into a Monastery, and there had his crown shaved. That if he could not be deposed without a war, than a war was to be raised against him: but if a war could not be levied against him, the cause being dead, CLAM E MEDIO TOLLATUR: he should then be privily murdered and taken out of the way. For which the Parliament of Paris adjudged and executed him for a Traitor. Yea, so desperately were the Jesuits after this, bend to destroy this King, that 
* Hospinian. Hist. J●su. l. 3 ●. 157, 158.  Alexander Hay (a Scottish Jesuit of Claremont,) privy to Castle's villainy, used to say, That if King Henry the fourth should pass by their College (the first there built for them) he would willingly cast himself out of his window headlong upon him, so as he might break the King's neck, though thereby he broke his own. Yet was he punished but with perpetual Banishment. After which Jesuitical conspiracies detected and prevented, notwithstanding this King Henry (before these two attempts to murder him) had by their solicitations, renounced the Protestant Religion, professed himself a zealous Romanist, recalled the Jesuits formerly banished for the murder of Henry the third, against his Parliaments and Counsels advice, reversed all the decrees of Parliament against them, razed the public Pillar set up in Paris, as a lasting Monument of their Treasons and Conspiracies; built them a magnificent College in Paris, endowed them with a very large Revenue; entertained Pere Cotten (one of their Society) for his Confessor (who revealed all his Secrets to the King of Spain;) bequeathed a large Legacy of Plate and Lands to their Society by his will, and was extraordinary bountiful and favourable towards them; yet these bloody ingrateful Villains, animated that desperate wretch, 
* See the General History of France in Hen. 4. and Lewis 13. Dr. John Whites Defence of the ●●●y, c. 10. p. 46.  Ravilliac, to stab him to death in the open street in Paris, Anno 1610. Albigni the Jesuit being privy to this murder, before it was perpetrated. Yea, Francis de Verona in his Apology for John Castle, p. 258. thus predicted his second mortal stab, in these words, Though this Prince of Orange scaped the first blow, given him in his cheek, yet the next hit, whereof this was a presage; as the blow given by Castle SHALL BE THE FORERUNNER OF ANOTHER BLOW. Such implacable Regicides are the Jesuits.  
4. By their suborning, instigating sundry bloody instruments one after another, to murder 
s See Grimstons' History of the Netherlonds p. 764. Thuanus l. 79. p. 186. Speculum Jesuiticum. p. 60, 61.  William Prince of Orange, prevented in their attempts by God's providence, till at last they procured one Balthasar Gerard to shoot him to death with a Pistol, charged with three Bullets, An. 1584. the Jesuits promising him no less than HEAVEN itself, AND A CANONIZATION AMONG THE SAINTS AND MARTYRS, for this bloody Treason, as they did to James Clement before, for murdering the French King. And it is very remarkable, That after this murder of his, 
* De Monarch. Hisp. ●. 27. p. 258.  Thomas Campanella (a Jesuited Italian Friar) prescribed this as a principal means to the King of Spain of reducing the Netherlands under his Monarchy again, to sow emulation and discords amongst their Nobles, States, and to murder Prince Maurice his son and successor, which he expresseth in these direct terms. Maxim opus est, ut Serpens seditionis, Comes Scilicet Mauritius Interimatur; non vero per bellum diuturnum, copia illi danda est, magis magisque succrescendi: which they 
* Chron. Belgiae Tom. 1. p. 719. Tom. 2. p. 97. Meteranus l. 17. p. 575. Hospinian. Hist. Jesuitica, l. 3. f. 205.  twice likewise attempted to affect; An. 1594, and 1598. No wonder that they so much endeavour by all means & instruments to suppress that noble family now, to whom the Netherlands principally owe their enfranchisement from the Spanish yoke of bondage.  
5. By 
t Speculum Jesuiticum, p. 127.  their poisoning Stephen Botzkay Prince of Transylvania, for opposing their bloody persecution.  
6. By their manifold bloody Plots and Attempts from time to time, 
v See Speed and Cambden in her life. Bishop Carletons' Thankful Remembrance of God's Mercy, London 1624.  to murder, depose, stab, poison, destroy our famous Protestant Queen Elizabeth, by open Insurrections, Rebellions, Invasions, Wars, raised against her both in England and Ireland; and by intestine clandestine Conjurations; from which Gods everwaking providence did preserve her. Amongst other Conspiracies, that of Patrick Cullen, an Irish Friar, (hired by the Jesuits and their Agents to kill the Queen) is observable. 
x Hospinian. Hist. Jesuitica, Speeds History, p. 1181. Cambden, Stow, Holinshed in the Life of Queen Elizabeth. Speculum Jesuiticum, p. 73.  Holt the Jesuit, (who persuaded him to undertake the murdering of her) told him, that it was not only lawful by the Laws, but that he should merit God's Favour, and Heaven by it; and thereupon gave him remission of all his sins, & the Eucharist, to encourage him in this Treason; the chief ground whereof (and of all their other Treasons against this Queen) was thus openly expressed by jaquis Francis, for Cullens further encouragement; That the Realm of England, then was and would be so well settled, that unless Mistras Elizabeth (so he termed his Dread Sovereign, though but a base Landressson;) were suddenly taken away, All the Devils in Hell would not be able to prevail, to shake and overturn it. Which than it seems they 
* See watson's Quodlibets.  principally endeavoured, and ofttimes since attempted, and have now at last effected, by those who conceit they demerit the Title of Saints (though not in a Romish Calendar) and no less than Heaven, for shaking, overturning, and making it No Kingdom.  
7. By their 
y See Speeds Hist. p. 1240, 1242, 1243. John S●ow, and How; 1 Jac.  Conspiracy against King James, to deprive him of his Right to the Crown of England, imprison, or destroy his person: raise Rebellion, alter Religion, and Subvert the Stat● and Government; by virtue of Pope Clement the eighth his Bull directed to Henry Garnet, Superior of the Jesuits in England: whereby he commanded all the Archpriests, Priests, Popish Clergy, Peers, Nobles and Catholics of England, That after the death of Queen Elizabeth by the course of Nature, or otherwise, whosoever shall lay claim or title to the Crown of England, (though never so directly or nearly interessed by descent) should not be admitted unto the Throne, unless he would first tolerate the Rom●sh Religion, and by his best endeavours promote the Catholic cause; unto which by his Solemn and Sacred Oath he should religiously subscribe, after the death of that miserable woman; (as he stilled Queen Elizabeth.) By virtue of which Bull, the Jesuits, after her decease, dissuaded the Romish-minded Subjects, from yielding in any wise obedience to King James, as their Sovereign; and entr●d into a Treasonable Conspiracy with the Lord Cobham, Lord Grace, and others, against him, to imprison him for the ends aforesaid; or destroy him: pretending that King james was no King at all before his Coronation; and that therefore they might by force of Arms, lawfully surprise his person, and Prince Henry his Son, and imprison them in the Tower of London, or Dover-Castle, till they enforced them by duress, to grant a free toleration of their Catholic Religion, to remove some evil Counsellors from about them, and to grant them a free Pardon for this violence; or else they would put some further project in execution against them, to their destruction. But this Conspiricy being discovered, The Traitors were apprehended, arraighned, condemned, and Watson and Clerk (two Jesuited Priests who had drawn them into this Conspiracy, upon the aforesaid Pretext) with some others, executed as Traitors; 
z Cook 3 In●●itutes, p. 7. and calvin's Case 7● Report, f. 10, 11. 1 Jac. c. 1.  all the judges of England resolving, that King james being right Heir to the Crown by descent, was immediately upon the death of Queen Elizabeth, actually possessed of the Crown, and lawful King of England, before any Proclamation or Coronation of him, which are but Ceremonies, (as was formerly adjudged in the case of 
* See Fox, Holinshed, Speed, 1 Mariae,  Queen Mary, and Queed jane, 1 Mariae) there being no Interregnum by the Law of ENGLAND, as is adjudged, declared by Act of Parliament, 1 jac. c. 1. worthy serious perusal.  
8. their 
a See 3 Jac. c. 1, 2, 4, 6. Speeds History, p. 1250, to 1256. The Arraignment of Traitors, with others. Prayers for the 5 of November. Hospinian. Hist. Jesuitica l. 3. f. 163, to 170.  horrid Gunpowder Treason Plot; contrived, fomented, by Garnet (Superior of the English Jesuits) Gerard, Tensmod and other Jesuits; who by their Apostolical power, did not only commend, but absolve from all sin the other Jesuited Popish Conspirators, and Faux The Soldier, who were their instruments to effect it. Yea, the Jesuitical Priests were so Atheistical, as that they usually concluded their Masses with Prayers, for the good success of this hellish Plot, which was, suddenly, with no less than 36 Barrels of Gunpowder, placed in a secret Vault under the House of Lords, to have blown up and destroyed at once, King James himself, the Queen, Prince, Lords Spiritual and Temporal, with the Commons assembled together in the Upper-House of Parliament, upon the 5 of November, Anno Dom. 1605. and then forcibly to have seized with armed men prepared for that purpose, the persons of our late beheaded King, than Dake of York, and of the Lady Elizabeth his Sister (if absent from the Parliament, and not there destroyed with the rest) that so there might be none of the Royal Line left to inherit the Crown of England, Scotland and Ireland; to the utter overthrow and subversion of the whole Royal Family, Parliament, State and Government of this Realm. Which unparallelled, inhuman, bloody Plot, being miraculously discovered, prevented, the very day before its execution, in perpetual detestation of it, and of the Jesuits and their traitorous Romish Religion, (which both contrived and approved it) the 5 day of November, by the Statute of 3 Jacobi, ch. 1. was enacted to be had in perpetual Remembrance, that all Ages to come, might thereon meet together publicly throughout the whole Nation, to render public praises unto God, for preventing this infernal Jesuitical Design, and keep in memory this joyful Day of Deliverance; for which end, special forms of public Prayers and Thankesgiving were then appointed, and that Day ever since more or less annually observed, till this present. And it is worthy special observation, that had this Plot taken effect, 
b Speeds Hist. p. 1242. The Arraignment of Traitors, and M. John Vicars History of the Gunpowder Treason.  It was agreed by the Jesuits and Popish Conspirators beforehand, That the Imputation of this Treason should be cast upon the Puritans, to make them more Odious: as now they father all the Powderplots of this kind, which they have not only laid, but fully accomplished of late years against the King, Prince, Royal Posterity, the Lords and Commons House, our old English Parliaments and Government, upon those Independents, and Anabaptistical Swordmen, (whom they now repute and stile, 
* See Militiere his victory of Truth, 1654. dedicated to the King of Great Britain.  the most reformed PURITANS,) who were in truth, but their mere under- Instruments to effect them; When as they 
c See my Epistles to Jus Patronatus, and Speech in Parliament.  originally laid the Plots; as is clear by Campanella's Book, De Monarchia Hisp. ch. 25. and Cardinal Richelieu his Instructions at his death, to the King of France. And it is very observable, that as Courtney the Jesuit, Rector of the English Jesuits College at Rome did in the year 1641. (when the name of Independents, was scarce heard of in England) openly affirm to some English Gentlemen, and a Reverend Minister (of late in Cornwall) from whom I had this Relation, then and there feasted by the English Jesuits in their College, That now at last, 
Nota.  after all their former Plots had miscarried, they had found out a sure way to subvert and ruin the Church of England (which was most formidable to them of all others) by the Independents; who immediately after (by the Jesuits clandestine assistance) infinitely increased, supplanted the Presbyterians by degrees, got the whole power of the Army, (and by it, of the Kingdom) into their hands, & then subverted both the Presbyterian Government and Church of England in a great measure, with the Parliament, King and his Posterity; as 
* In his Victory of Truth, 1654. p. 15, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27.  Monsieur Militiere a Jesuited French-Papist observes. So some Independent Ministers, Sectaries and Anabaptists, ever since 1648. have neglected the observation of the fifth of November, (as I am credibly informed) and refused to render public thanks to God for the deliverance thereon, contrary to the Act, for this very reason, which some of them have rendered; That they would not mock God in public by praising him for delivering the late King, Royal Posterity, and House of Lords from destruction then, by Jesuits and Papists, when as themselves have since destroyed and subverted them through God's providence; and repute it a special mercy and deliverance to the Nation from Tyranny and Bondage, for 
* Upon which ground, many of them have since solemnised the 30 of January, instead of November 5.  which they have cause to bless the Lord: Performing that for the Jesuits and Powder-Traytors, which themselves could not effect. The Lord give them grace and hearts to consider, how much they acted the Jesuits, and promoted their very worst Designs against us therein; what 
* See Militiere his Victory of Truth, p. 4, to 50  infamy and scandal they have thereby drawn upon all zealous Professors of our Protestant Religion, and 
* Jer. 5. 31.  what will they do in the end thereof?  
9 (To omit all other Foreign instances cited in Speculum Jesuiticum, p. 124, to 130. where you may peruse them at leisure) By 
d Rome's Masterpiece, p. 8, 18, 19  their poisoning King james himself in conclusion, as some of them have boasted.  
10. By the Pope's Nuntios, and a Conclave of Jesuits Conspiracy at London, Anno 1640. 
* Rome's Masterpiece, p. 8, to 22.  to poison our late King Charles himself, (as they had poisoned his Father) with a poisoned Indian Nut, kept by the Jesuits, and showed often by Conne the Popes Nuntio to the Discoverer of that Plot; or else, to destroy him by the Scotish wars and troubles, (raised for that very end by the Jesuits,) in case he refused to grant them a universal liberty of exercising their Popish Religion throughout his Realms and Dominions: and then to train up his Son under them, in the Popish Religion; To which not only heretofore, but now likewise they strenuously endeavour by all possible means to seduce him; as appears more especially by Monsieur Militiere his 
c The Victory of Truth, Anno 1653.  late book dedicated to Him for that purpose, to invite him to the Roman Catholic Faith. Surely all these premised instances compared together, and with that memorable passage of the English Jesuit 
* Hospinion. Hist. Jesuitica, l. 3. f. 214. l. 4. f. 264.  Campian, in his Concertatio Ecclesiae Catholicae: (or Epistle to Queen Elizabeth's Council.) Treviris' 1583. p. 22. Velim sciatis, quod ad Societatem nostram attinet, omnes nos, qui per totum Orbeni long lateque diffusi sunt, quarum est continua successio, & magnus numerus, Sanctum foedus infisse, nec quamdiu unus nostrum supererit, studium, & consilia nostra intermissuros, ad Reges Hereticos quovis modo tollendos (as Hospinian relates, and expounds his words and meaning) & Religionem vestram exting●ere. jampridem jacta est ratio, & inchoatum certamen nulla vis, nullus Anglorum impetus superabit; so as to hinder this their holy League and Covenant long since entered into, To destroy, take out of the way, ruin all Protestant Kings throughout the World, under the Notion of Heretics by any means whatsoever, (and the Protestant Religion togetherwith them.) With a 
* Printed by itself, and at the end of my Speech in Parliament.  Copy of a Letter sent by an Independent Agent from Paris, some few weeks before the King's removal from the Isle of Weight, by the Army-Officers, declaring the Jesuits implacable Enmity to the King, and to hereditary Monarchy throughout the World. And an Express sent from Paris to the King himself, some three days before his seizure and translation from Weight, to this effect, (as I have heard from persons of Honour) That the Jesuits at a general meeting in France, had resolved, by the power of their friends in England, to seize on his Majesty, bring him to justice, and cut off his head, because he had, contrary to their expectation, closed with the Parliament, consented to the abolishing of Episcopacy, and) to five new Bills against Jesuits, Popish Priests, Mass, Popery, and all Popish Ceremonies, in the last Treaty; and advising Him, to prepare for this new storm, which within few days after fell upon him: will sufficiently inform the world, that the late unparallelled capital proceedings against our Protestant King, (contrary to the Votes of both Houses of Parliament) the Parliament Members, Peers House, and forced, dissolved late Parliament too, 
* See An Apologetical Declaration of the Province of London, etc. Jan. 24. 1649.  proceeded not from the Principles of our reformed Protestant Religion, as this 
f Page 5, 7. 8, 18, 33, 39 etc.  Monsieur in his printed Pamphlet, would make his Reader, the young King; to whom he dedicates it, and all the World believe; but from the Popes and Jesuits forecited Treasonable Opinions, seconded with their clandestine Solicitations and Practices: and that they, with some French Cardinals, Jesuits, as well as Spanish and English, (than present in England to promote their Designs) were the chief original Contrivers, Promoters of them, whoever were the immediate visible Instruments, as I have 
g See my Speech in Parliament, and Memento. The Epistle to my Jus Patronatus, & Tho. Campanella De Monarchia Hisp. 6. 25.  elsewhere more fully demonstrated, for the wiping off this Scandal from our reformed Religion, & the sincere Professors of it, who both abominated and 
* See the Declaration of the secluded Members, The London- Ministers and others, Representation to the General, and the second part of the History of Independency.  protested against it in print. 〈◊〉 Radolphus Hospinian in his excellent Historia Jesuitica, l. 4. f. 244, 245. reckons up these three prime causes of the Jesuits Regicides, & other Notorious Treasons. The first is, that blind Obedience, which they vow to their Superiors, to execute with great celerity, spiritual joy, and perseverance, whatever their Superiors shall enjoin them, by being persuaded, That all their Cemmands are Just to them; by renouncing their own Opinion and judgement with a certain Blind Obedience: and by believing, that those who live under Obedience, are carried and governed by Divine Providence, (a word now most in use with our Army-Saints, and Soldiers, wholly infected with this Jesuitical Doctrine of 
* To their General & Officers, even in unlawful acts against the Parliament, King, Kingdom.  Obedience) by their Superiors, whithersoever they shall suffer themselves to be carried, or in what sort soever they shall be dealt with by them, (like a staff in the hand of a man, which readily obeys him that holds it, wheresoever and in what thing soever he will please to use it,) especially when backed with a pretext of Necessity, Religion's Safety, Public Good, Exemplary Justice, and promoting the common Cause for which their Society was first instituted. 2. That they hold themselves obliged to no Kings, Princes, or Civil Magistrates by any Oath of Allegiance, but only to the Pope and their Generals; and therefore think themselves free and unable to commit any Treason at all against them, although at the Popes and ●heir Superiors commands they still rise up against, murder, astroy them. 3. That they deem those Kings, Princes, which the Pope and Jesuits, or other learned men of their Religion, or the common people shall deem Heretics, to be thereby wholly made uncapable of any Empires, Kingdoms, or Principalities, or any other civil Diguity; yea, to be accursed Tyrants, unworthy of the name of Kings; that thereby their Subjects are totally absolved from the bond of Allegiance to them; and that thereupon it is lawful to kill and destroy them, and the murders of such are meritorious. Now that these three Jesuitical Grounds and Principles, (infused into our Army-Officers and Soldiers by the Jesuits and their Instruments of late years, against their Primitive Orthodox Positions, Protestations, Declarations, Oaths, Covenants, Engagements) backed with secret Avarice, Ambition, and Self-ends, were the principal impulsive Causes of all the extravagant violent Proceedings both against the late King, and Parliament (not the loyal Principles of the Protestant Religion) is apparent unto all the World, by the Armies own Declarations of Nou. 16. and Decemb. 7. 1648. Their True State of the Commonwealth of England, etc. 1654. and other Pamphlets for their justification, which all true Protestants blush at. 〈◊〉  
3. That the Jesuits ever since the Establishment of their Military Order, under Ignatius their Martial General, have been the 
* Hospinian. Hist. Jesuitica, l. 3. Rome's Masterpiece.  principal Firebrands, Bellows, Instruments of kindling, fomenting, raising, continuing all the public commotions, wars, seditions and bloody feuds that have happened in or between any Kings, Kingdoms, States, Princes, Sovereigns or Subjects throughout the Christians world; and more particularly, of all the Civil commotions, wars in France, Germany, Transylvania, Bohemia, Hungary, Russia, Poland, England, Scotland and Ireland, to the effusion of whole Oceans of Christian blood: which one poetically thus expresseth, 

h Jubilaeum, five Speculum Jesuiticum Epigramma.  Quicquid in Orb mali passim Peccante Gradido est,  
Quicquid turbarum tempora nostra vident,  
Cuncta Sodalitio mentito Nomine Jesus  
Accepta Historiâ teste, refer licet.  
It● modò & vestrae celebrate Encaenia Sectae,  
Militis inventum, Loiolana cohors.   
Yea, it is well worthy observation, what Jacobus Crucius, 
i Hasen mullerus Hest. Jesuit. c. 1. Speculum Jesuiticum, p. 61.  a Jesuit (Rector of the Jesuits Novices at Landsberge) presumed to publish, in his Explication of the Rules of the Jesuits, Anno 1584. in these words: The Father of our Society ought to be a Soldier; because, as it is the part of a Soldier, to rush upon the Enemy with all his Forces, and not to desist, till he become a Conqueror; so it is our duty to run violently upon all, who resist the Pope of Rome; and to Destroy and Abolish them, not only with Counsels, Writings, and Words; Sed invocato etiam brachio seculari, Igne & Ferro tollere & abolere, sicut Pontifer & nostra Vota;; (contra Lutheranos suscepta) Volunt & Mandant. But likewise by calling in to our assistance the secular Arm (of an Army) to take away, and destroy them with Fire and Sword, as the Pope and our Oaths (taken against the Protestants) Will and Command. And may we not then safely conclude, they have been the Original Contrivers, Fomenters, Continuers of all our late intestine and foreign wars, by Land and Sea, with our Christian Protestant Brethren and Allies, (as 
k Exact Collection, p. 12. 10 20 97, 98, 106, 108, 207, 461, to 465. 491, 492, 498, 508, 574, 616, 631, to 670. 812, to 828, 832, 834, 849, 890, to 918, 651, 652, 653.  sundry Parliament Declarations of both Houses aver and attest?) And that many of them have secretly crept into, and listed themselves Soldiers in our Armies, on purpose to put on foot their designs against our King, Kingdoms, Churches, Religion, and perpetuate our Civil Wars? And so much the rather, because, 
a Relatio de S●ratogematis & Sophismatis J●suitarum, c. 4, 6, 7.  Alphonsus de Vargas (a Spanish Popish Priest) informs us: That the Jesuits, being a Generation of Incendiaries, are so welpleased with the name of their Founder Ignatius, derived from Fire, and signifying a Caster about of wildfire, or an Incendiary; that though his christened name at first was Innicus, or Inighistas;; Yet johannes Eusebius Nirenberger, a Jesuit, in his Book, De Vita Ignatii, printed at Madrid, 1630. most falsely records, That his Parents at his Baptism, being in doubt what name to give him, thereupon the Infant himself, with a loud voice, said, He would be named Ignatius, to signify what office he should obtain in the Church and world, even to cast abroad fire in them, and set them all in a flame. Hereupon his Disciples the Jesuits, considering that this their founder was by his name A firebrand, and a Soldier by his profession, professed publicly to the King of Spain, his council and the world, that it was no less consonant to the mind, institution and statutes, then to the name of their warlike Father Ignatius, that they should not only exercise, but Publicly profess and teach to others, Artem Pyrotechnisam, etc. the art how to make and cast abroad fire-balls, fireworks and wildfire, to fire and burn houses and Cities: and likewise the art of war, of setting Armies in battle array, of Assaulting cities, the manner of making Gunpowder, bullets, fireballs; of casting Guns, and the manner and ways of making all other Military works, Engines, together with rules and precepts belonging to Navigation, & omnia maritini belli munia: and all duties and incidents belonging to Sea-fights. Upon which they persuaded the King of Spain (notwithstanding the opposition of all the Universities of Spain against it) to erect a public University for their fiery martial order at Madrid, and to endow it with an annual Revenue of ten thousand Crowns; wherein they set up a public Lecture concerning war and all incidents appertaining thereunto; with this Printed title: Acroasis, De re Militari; in qua pracipietur Doctrina & forma Militiae veteris & Hodiernae, & Species Mathematum arti isti subordinatarum: quae sunt Tactica, five De Acie instruenda, Topographica, Machinaria Militaris, Organo Poetica, Pyrotechnica,; etc. Hanc acrosia faciet, P. Hermannus Hago (a Jesuit) quarta pomeridiana usque ad quintam. This is the first public Military Lecture I ever read of erected in any University amongst Christians, and Professors of the 
a Rom. 10. 15  Gospel of peace; who are expressly enjoined by the 
b Rom. 15. 33 Heb. 13 29.  God of peace, and Prince 
c Isai. 9 6.  of peace 
d Mat. 26. 52.  To put up their swords into their scabbards, because all those that that the sword, shall perish with the sword. 
e Isai. 2. 4. Mica. 4. 3.  To beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hookes: not to lift up the sword against one another, neither To learn war any more. Yet such bloody incendiaries and delighters in war are the Jesuits, that they thus publicly teach others the art of war and fireworks, to set the whole Christian world in combustions and open wars against each other; which they have everywhere accomplished, and that upon this account: that the Gospel of Jesus is principally to be taught and propagated by armed power, exercitu & armorum usu; by An army and the use of arms (whereby they now propagate it in our Kingdoms the quite contrary way, to the ruin of our Church and religion:) whereupon 
f Cap. 7. p. 47 and c. 23. p. 132.  Vargas passeth this just censure on them: Hos velut Ignigenos illis Comici verbis recte quis a se amoliri, & in malam rem abire jusserit.  
Apage illum a me; nan ille quidem Vulcani irati est filius.  
Quaqua tangit, Omne amburit; si prope abstes, calefacit.  
And a Germane Friar in his Astrum inextinctum, gives this true Character of them: Discordias inter suprema Reipublicae Christianae capita seminare credimus esse veritati patrocinari; quam salvam esse negant, quamdiu Principes isti inter se non colliduntur Hoc est flammas in Europa suscitare, sicut gloriantur Patrem societatis Ignatium, esse illum, de quo Christus dexerit, Veni ignem mittere in terram, hoc est, classicum in aulis Principum canere, & illos inter so committere.  
4. That the 
g See Hospinian. Historia Jesuitica. l 4. f. 212, 213, 214. and l. 3. throughout. Thuanus Hist. l. 4.  Jesuits from the first erection of their Military order, have conspired, attempted to subvert and utterly extirpate (under the name of schismatics, Heretics, Gospelers, Heresy, and the Gospel) all professors whatsoever of the Protestant Religion and their Doctrines throughout the world, not only by Machivilian plots and treasons, but by war, fire, sword, holy leagues, Armies & armed power, as is evident both by their books and Practices. To instance in a few particulars both abroad and at home. Franciscus Veronas Constantiensis, a Jesuit, in his Apology for John Castle, Anno 1595. part 5. c. 13. resolves, That all wars to extirpate heretics (Protestants) Ar● lawful, yea more lawful then against all other Infidels, because Heresy according to God's word, is worse than all Infidelity. And if war be Just against Heretics, how much more just is it against the head of the Heretics? And if it be just to Extirpats heretical Kings out of all Christian Kingdoms (which the Jesuits entered into an holy League to effect, as you heard before out of Campian) How much more just is it in the most Christian Kingdom (France) to root out King Henry the 4? (whom they not only warred against, but stabbed and murdered as aforesaid.) 
h Genevae, 1620.  Thuanus' Historiae, l. 65. p 238. and lib. 67. 299. records; That it is the opinion and Sentence of the Jesuits, that it is a Pious and wholesome thing, that all Christians should lay violent hands upon Sectaries and Protestants, aught to be armed against them, and to make no peace, keep no faith nor truce with them; yea, that it would be more profitable for the Church, and more conducing to God's glory, for all Christians to give over their wars they wage against the Turks by common consent, and to let the Turks alone, and to turn all their arms and forces against the Evangelical Sectaries (or Protestants) which live amongst them, who are worse, and aught to be more odious to true Christians than Turk's and; 
* Yet these plead for a Toleration among us, and enjoy it.  utterly to destroy and persecute them to death, rather than to delete the unbelieving Mahometans, who are not so dangerous as they. Hoc quam pie, et juxta mansuetudinem Christianam dicatur, ipsi qui conscientias alioram moderantur, conscientiam suam rogant; Subjoins Thuanus, though a Papist. And Joannis Paulus Windeck, in his Book De extirpandis Haeres. antid. 10. p. 404. 412. antid. 11. p. 480. and p. 244. positively determines, That the Lutherans and Calvinists are to be persecuted with wars, and not only to be terrified, but likewise deleted, cut off, taken out of the way, and utterly extirpated with arms and flames. That all Catholic Princes ought to enter into Holy leagues, associations & confederacies, to destroy and root them out, as they did in France, Anno 1587. That the opportunity is not to be neglected, namely, 
Nota.  Quando Protestantes Pecuniis exhausti sunt; when the Protestants Purses and money are exhausted (as they are now amongst us by excessive endless Taxes, Excises, Civil wars, and a perpetual army too much swayed by Jesuitical counsels, to eat us out, and ruin us with our Religion in conclusion, ere disbanded.) And that the Catholics may more easily oppress and destroy these Sectaries, they are to be severed one from, and divided against each other, by sundry various arts and means, and all occasions laid hold on for this purpose. (And are we not so now in all our Realms and Dominions more than ever, by the Jesuits and Romish Emissaries?) Which the Emperor Charles the 5 observed (in his proceedings against the Protestants in Germany) to his great advantage. In pursuance of these Jesuitical 
i Richardi Dinothi Historia de pello Civili Gallico, l 6. p. 151. etc. The General History of France. p. 778. 779 Hospinian. Historia Jesuitica f. 149. 150 Thuanus Historia. l. 63.  Positions, Anno 1576. and 1577. the King of Spain, Duke of Guise, with sundry others, Jesuited Popish Princes, Nobles and Papists of all degrees, by the Jesuits instigation, and Pope's special approbation, entered into a bloody Conspiracy, or holy League, as they term it: To restore and retain the most holy worship of God, according to the form and manner of the holy catholic Apostolic Church of Rome: to abjure all errors or corruptions contrary thereunto, etc. To spend not only all their Estates, but lives, to repeal all public Edicts in favour of the Protestants and their associates; to extirpate all Heresies, heretics, and pursue all such as public enemies, with fire and sword to death, who should any way oppose or withstand this League, or refuse to join with them in it, or fall off from it upon any pretext, after this Oath to observe it. Which League they several times renewed: and in the 
k Dinothus, Peter Matthew, Thuanus' General History of France, Meteranus, and others.  renovation thereof Anno 1598. the Jesuits openly boasted, That they would use their utmost endeavours, that before the year 1600. begins, Evangelium (So they termed the Protestant Religion) Radicitus ex orbs toto extirpetur; Should be clean extirpated out of the whole world. The Massacres, Slaughters of how many thousand Protestants by open intestine wars and bloody Conspiracies, this League occasioned in France, Germany and the Netherlands, together with the murders of two French Roman Catholic Kings, the 
l Speculum Jesuiticum, p. 92.  French and Belgic Histories of those times, will sufficiently inform the Reader. 
m Meteranus Historia. l. 23. Speculum Jesuit. p. 100  In the year 1602. the Jesuits erected a new College and Society at Thonon in Savoy, to convert or utterly extirpate the Protestants, under the Notion of Heretics. 1. by Preachings. 2. by pious frauds. 3. by Vi armata: by force of arms: to which new Society, many Popish Kings, Nobles and others, gave their names; and in June that year listed above 25000 expert Soldiers, all Roman Catholics, to put this their Design against the Protestants in execution upon the next opportunity: there being above 50 Jesuits disguised in laymen's habits employed in England, to stir up the Papists and people there to join with them in this new Association, to root out the Protestants in all places by the Sword, the Principal Engine used by these Ignatians to effect it. To pass by 
n See H●spinian. Historia Jesuitica l. 3. f. 160. 161. 162  all the conspiracies and attempts of the Jesuits in Queen Elizabeth's reign, to extirpate our Religion and the Professors of it by open wars, Rebellions, Spanish and foreign invasions both in England, Ireland and Scotland, recorded by Mr. Cambden, Speed and others in her life, and William Watson in his Quodlibets; with their attempts of like Nature in the beginning of King James his reign, recited in the Statutes of 3. Jacobi, c. 2. where all may peruse them: I shall only acquaint you; That a little before the beginning of our late bloody wars, Divisions, (contrived, fomented by the Jesuits and Papists, as I 
o Hidden Works of darkness brought to public light. Rome's Masterpiece, Conterburies' Doom.  have elsewhere at large, discovered, and 
p Exact Collect. p. 651, 652. 662. 668. 813. to 832. 902. to 920.  many Parliament-Declarations attest) one Francis Smith an English Jesuit, openly affirmed to Mr. Waddesworth and Mr. Yaxly, That it was not now a time to bring their Religion by disputing or Books of controversy, but It must be done by an Army, and By the Sword. And it is very considerable, That when the Jesuits Spanish and Romish Agents had engaged the King and English Protestants against their Protestant Brethren of Scotland, 1639. to cut one another's throats; the King of Spain had provided a great new Spanish Armado by the Jesuits solicitation, and a great Land-Army of old Spanish Soldiers to invade the Western and Southern parts of England, then destitute of all forces, Arms & Ammunition to defend it, all drawn to the Northern parts against the Scots; and to join with the Popish confederates here, to extirpate the English he retickes and Protestants: which design of theirs, through the Hollanders unexpected encounter, which scattered their fleet upon the English Coasts, and the Pacification with the Scots, before any engagement of both Armies, was happily prevented. That this Spanish Fleet was then especially designed for England, appears (besides other Evidences, which I have 
q The Royal Popish favourite p. 58, 59 Hidden works of darkness brought to light p. 198.  elsewhere touched) by the confession of an English Pilot in that Navy upon his deathbed, mortally wounded in the first fight, to an English Minister and others, to whom he revealed it out of conscience; by some Letters I have met with; and by a Pamphlet made and printed by the Jesuits, Anno 1640. entitled 
r The Royal Popish favourite. p. 58. 59 Hidden works of darkness p. 198.  The Jubilee of the Jesuits, taken from a Papist at Redriffe, and presented by Sheriff Warner to the whole Commons House, November 14. 1640. Wherein among other Passages than read in the House, (entered in the Journal of that day, out of which I transcribed them:) there was a Particular prayer, For the holy martyrs that Suffered in the Fleet sent against the Heretics of England, 
Nota  1639. with this advice; That the Papists must fish in troubled waters, (to wit, whiles that The King was Engaged in the wars against the Scots:) with 
* Exact Collect. p. 12, 13.  certain prayers added, For their good success in that Design against the Scots. For the more effectual carrying on whereof, the Pope's Nuncio, with the 
s Hidden works of darkness brought to public light p. 189. to 199. and Rome's Masterpiece.  College of Jesuits then in Queen-street, secretly summoned a kind of Parliament of Roman Catholics and Jesuits in London, out of every County of England and Wales, in which Conne the Pope's Nuncio sat Precedent, by the Queen's commission and direction, in April, 1639. Who granted and collected an extraordinary large Contribution, by way of Subsidy, from the Papists, to carry on this war against our Protestant Brethren of Scotland, and raise forces to join with the Spainards', whom they then expected, to cut the English Protestants throats. The Jesuitical and Prelatical Popish party much displeased with the defeat of this their Plot, by the unexpected Pacification with the Scots, 1639. induced the King soon after to break and revoke it, 
t See the King's declaration concerning that Treaty, Hidden works of darkness.  Anno 1640. (the very year of the 
* Speculum sive Jubilaeum Jesuiticum.  Jesuits Jubilee, which they solemnised in all places, being the 100 year from the first Erection of their Order by Ignatius, Anno 1540) they caused a new Army to be raised and sent into the North against the Protestants of Scotland, to subdue & destroy them. At the same time they secretly 
u Hidden works of darkness p. 225. 226. Canterbury's Doom. p. 459.  listed an Army of no less than 7000. Romish Catholics, kept in private pay, of purpose To cut the Protestants throats who should resist them, and to Conquer the Protestants in England first, and then in Ireland; which Design they were to put in execution, when the Pope or his Legate, with the Spanish, French and Venetian Ambassadors should appoint; who designed them to begin to execute it, When the King went into Scotland against the Scots; as O Conner (the Queen-mothers' Priest) confessed to Anne Hussey, 
Nota.  who justified it to the Lords of the Council then, and afterwards, before the Lords in Parliament upon her Oath. The Jesuits were so confident of the good success of their designs amongst us, and complete Victory over all the Protestants throughout the world this year of their Jubilee (making 
* See Bellarmin. de No●is Eccl. Nota. 15.  Triumph over their Enemies, one of their Notes of the true Church) that 
x Speculum five Jubilaeum Jesuiticum. p. 220. to 224.  they appointed a solemn Interlude to be acted by their Society in the public Hall at Aquisgran in Germany, in honour of their Jubilee: wherein they signified to the people, by printed Tickets and Pageants, that the Popish Church of Rome should be brought in upon the Stage, happily fight against, triumphing and reigning over all her enemies every where throughout the world, in all ages till that present day, and especially of later times, by their means. The beginning of this Interlude being happily acted, and succeeding according to their minds; at last there were two Armies of soldiers brought by them upon the Stage, ready to encounter each other: the one of Jesuits and Papists, fight for the Church of Rome; the other, representing the Protestants warring against her. Before their fight, a Jesuitical actor, clad in black, personating a Popish Masse-Priest, divineth good success to the Popish Army, praying for it with an affected devotion and solemn invocation (or rather profanation) of God's name: after which, the Popish Army of actors, as being certain of the instant victory, uttered these words to their Captain (as their parts directed them) with a loud reiterated voice and shout; Pereat, Pereat, Quisquis est hostis Ecclesiae: Let him perish, let him perish, whoever is an enemy of the Church: whereupon a great part of the Stage on which they acted, together with the whole Popish Army (not one Soldier or Captain excepted) at the repeating of these words and wishes, fell to the ground immediately, with so great celerity, that many of them felt they were fallen down, before they discerned themselves to fall; their feigned enemies of the Church (representing the Protestants) standing all fast, at least in place, if not in mind, on the other part of the Stage, which fell not at all. With this sudden fall, many of the Popish Army were bruised in pieces with the beams of the Stage falling upon them; who through pain and horror, needed Monitors to silence their outcries; others having their bones broken and Limbs put out of joint, were carried to the Chirugions to be dressed; and all the rest confounded with shame, crept away secretly under the Veil to their Lodging. And so this Jesuitical Interlude, by divine justice, ended in a real unexpected bloody Tragedy and real rout of the whole pretended victorious Popish Army of Jesuits; and the Scotish Wars that year (which they so much depended on) through God's mercy, concluded in a blessed Peace and Union between both Nations. Whereupon, the 
y See Hidden works of darkness brought to public light, p. 219. to 250. The Rise and Progress of the Irish R. bellion, and others.  Irish Popish Rebels, by the Jesuits Plots and instigations, seconded with secret encouragements, and promises of assistance with Arms and Moneys from Cardinal Richliou, the King of Spain, Pope, and other foreign Popish Princes, undertook the late horrid bloody Massacre of all the Protestants in Ireland, and surprisal of all the Forts, Castles, Arms and Ammunition therein, on the 23 of October, 1641. 
z Hidden works of darkness, p. 243.  being Ignatius day, the Founder and New Canonised Saint of the Jesuited Society, for the greater Honour of their Patron, Order; they being the chief Plotters of this horrid bloody Treason. Which horrid Conspiracy, though happily discovered the night before its execution, at Dublin, and some few places else; yet it took effect in most other parts of Ireland, to the slaughter of near two hundred thousand Protestants there, in few month's space; seconded with a bloody War, for sundry years; to the loss of many thousands more lives. To this Plot 
* Hidden work● of darkness, p. 226.  all the Papists in England were privy, who intended the like Massacre in England; and soon after by the Popes and 
* Exact Coll. p. 662, 666, 813 to 832. A Collection of Ordinances, p. 267, 318, 354, 424, and the History of Independency.  Jesuits instigations, by the assistance of sorragin Popish Princes, they eugaged the King and Parliament in a long-lasting bloody uncivil, unchristian war against each other, concluding in the Kings and Parliaments joint ruins by an Army raised for their mutual defence, seduced thereunto through the Jesuits instigations and policies. After which, they engaged the Protestants of England and Scotland (formerly united by the strictest B●nds and Covenants against them) to war upon, invade and destroy each other by land; and soon after that (by the Spanish 
* See Tho. Campanella de Monarchic Hisp. c. 25, 27.  Agents Assistance) raised a most dangerous bloody War between our Protestant old Allies of the netherlands and the English by Sea; to the infinite damage, prejudice of both, and the effusions of whole Oceans of the Gallantest Christian Protestant blood, that ever yet was shed, the expense of more treasure and men in these intest●●e Wars, than would have conquered all Spain, Italy, and the Indies, had they been employed upon such a design; and to the entailing of a 
* See the 27 Article of the Instrument of Government.  perpetual Army on us and our Posterities; more ready (as we have of late years found by sad experiments) to hearken to the Jesuits clandestine suggestions, ●eductions, and execute their fore-plotted Designs to ruin our Kingdoms, Parliaments, Laws, Liberties, Monarchy, Church, Religion, then to follow the Advice, Votes Counsels, Directions, Commands of our Parliaments, Kingdoms, and the best affected Protestants of all ranks who first raised, and have so long maintained them, for quite other ends (hereafter touched) than what they (of late times) have most pursued, to the Popes and Jesuits great content.  
5. That the Jesuits have endeavoured, attempted the convulsion, concussion, subversion not only of the Empires, Realms, and ancient settled Governments and States of Germany, Russia, Bohemia, Hungaria, France, Poland, but likewise of England, Scotland and Ireland, and to new model them into 
* Exact Coll. p. 3, 4. 461, 462 491 497, 498, 917, 631.  other Forms of Government. What mould of Government they intended to cast England into, is thus long since described by William Watson (a secular Priest) in his Quodlibets, Anno 1602. page 309, 310, 330, 331. England is the main chance of Christendom at this present, by seditions, factions, tampering and aspiring Heads: the only But, Mark, White, the Jesuits aim at, as well in intention as execution of their pretended expedition, exploit and action. I am of opinion, that no man on earth can tell what Government it is they intent to establish, ratify and confirm, when they come to their preconceited Monarchy; no not any of their Plot casters. No question it is, but their Government shall be as uncertain as their New conceited Monarchy; their Monarchy as mutable as their Reign, and their Reign as variable as the Wind, or Proteus in his Compliments. But no question is to be made of it, but that the Government they do directly intend at this present is, A MOST ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY, DOMINION AND STATE, CLEARLY EXEMPTED from any subordination, TO ANY LAW or Legifer divine or humane; and therefore it is rightly called DESPOTICON in the highest degree of exemplary immuni●le, 
* Is not ours so ●ow?  IMPERIALITY AND ABSOLUTE REIGN, RULE AND AUTHORITY, as containing in it three sorts of Government; S●il. Monarchical, Aristocratical, democratical, in matters of Counsel and managing of Common wealth's causes; not in point OF REGALITY, HONOUR AND INHERITANCE; For there shall be neither Title, nor Name, nor Honour given, taken or done to any Prince, Duke, marquis, Earl, Viscount, Lord, Baron, or the like, (all the Jesuitical Governors being Puritan like, Seniors, Elders, Provincials, etc.) neither shall there be any successions by Birth or blood, TO ANY HONOUR, OFFICE OR MAGISTRACY from the Monarch, Pater General, to the Minor, P●ter Minister, but ALL SHALL GO BY 
* See the New Government of the Commonwealth of England, Artic. 25, 26, 32. 33, 34. 41.  ELECTION OR CHOICE. Whether our late and present variable floating New moulded Governments have not been cast by this long since predicted Jesuitical Mould, let wise men, with all our late, yea present Governors, now sadly consider and determine.  
6. That the 
* Alphonsi de Va●gas Relatio cap. 5.  Jesuits in a public Disputation held at Madrid, published by them under this Title; Conclusiones Politicae sub Regis Domini nostri praesidio, instructed the King of Spain (their Chief Protector, 
* Speculum Jesuiticum p. 217 218, 219.  whom they most extol above all other Kings, to promote both his universal Monarchy and their own thereby.) That in relation to his Empire, Power was necessary, which power they defined to be; A faculty, not only of retaining the Kingdoms he already possessed, but likewise of acquiring other men's. Persuading him by this Doctrine to believe: That he was therefore consecrated a Catholic King by God, that he might enjoy a faculty, not only of keeping his own, but also OF INVADING AND SEIZING UPON OTHER men's DOMINIONS. For to retain ones own, was the praise only of a private family: DE ALIENIS CERTARE REGIA LAUS EST: but it was a Royal praise to fight for that which is other men's: NEC REGNANDI CAUSA JUS VIOLARE CRIMEN EST, DUM CAETERIS REBUS PIETAS COLATUR: Neither is it a Crime to violate Law or Right, to reign or gain a Crown, whiles that Piety in other things shall be observed. Which Jesuitical Machivilian unrighteous Doctrine, though (as Alphonsus Vargas, a Spanish Popish Priest resolves) it be diametrically contrary to the doctrine of our Lord Jesus himself, instructing men, that 
* See Joh. 10. 1. Ezech. 18. 5. to 14. Levit. 6. 1. 4. Job. 20. 19, 20 c. 24. 2. to 15 Obad. 5. Jer. 49. 9, 10.  aliena obtinere non Potentis Principis, SED IMPOTENTIS AC VIOLENTI PRAEDONIS EST: Yet the Jesuits and their Instruments of late years have sufficiently propagated it amongst our English Grandees and Army-Saints; for a most sacred Oracle, as their violent invasions of other men's Realms, Powers, Offices, Palaces, Lands, Estates, and Possessions of all kinds, by mere armed power and might, demonstrate beyond contradiction.  
7. That the 
* Alphonsi de Vargas relatif etc. c. 5. 7. see c. 2, 3, 16, 18, 19 56, 57 & Hospinian Historia Jesuitical. 206 207.  Jesuits in their Book, De Zelo S. Ignatii in Religione sua instituenda, printed at Madrid, p. 13, do glory; Hoc Societatis proprium esse, ut quotidie nov●● promat inventiones quibus homines ad Deum perducantur: That this is the property of their Society, that it DAILY BRINGS FORTH NEW INVENTIONS, whereby men may be brought home to God (that is, to their Religion and Society) the principle whereof they, and Vargas record, to be these. Their persuading of men to embrace the Gospel, by AN ARMY; the use of ARMS, Power, Terror, Fire: Their Exercise of Merchandise (which many of them in most places & in 
* Hidden works of darkness brought to public light, p. 203, 204.  England too, now use, they being very great Merchants, Factors, and Returners of Moneys by Bills of Exchange) and of all other Secular Employments, Callings, in laymen's habits, the more easily to insinuate themselves into all Countries, Places, Companies and Societies of men to infect, seduce, and discover their secrets, according to this their received Maxim; JESUITA EST OMNIS HOMO: a Jesuit is every man: that is, a man of all Professions, Callings, Sects, Religions to effect his ends: Their questioning, traducing, oppugning, censuring of all the Articles of the Apostles Creed, and received Principles, Doctrines of Christian Religion; corrupting, slighting, falsifying the Scriptures themselves, together with Councils, Fathers, Schoolmen, and all other Divines; but those only of their own Order, which they incomparably extol above and prefer before all other: Their venting of new Opinions, Notions, Revelations, Expositions, Crotchets, heresies, Problems, both in Divinity itself, and all other Arts and Sciences in the Press, Pulpit, Universities, Schools. And if these (as Vargas assures us) be their properties and new inventions to propagate the Gospel, and draw men unto God (which our Lord Jesus himself and his true Disciples were wholly ignorant of) may we not certainly conclude, that they have of late years been extraordinary busy at this their harvest work amongst us, and more especially in spreading their Gospel by AN ARMY, and taking upon them the use of Arms, in 〈◊〉 of their Military Father Ignatius, with all other secular Employments, and New Sects to draw Proselytes and new separate Congregations to them, throughout our Realms, to destroy both our Church Discipline and Religion, as well as our Civil Government and Laws?  
8. That as the whole House of Commons in their 
* Exact Coll. p. 3, 4 etc.  Remonstrance of 15. December 1641. charge the Jesuits, and late Jesuited Court-Counsellors, with a Malignant and pernicious design, of SUBVERTING THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS and Principles of Government upon which the Religion and Justice of the Kingdom are firmly established. So William Watson a Secular Priest, chargeth Father Parsons, the English Jesuit, and his Jesuited companions, in their Memorial for Reformation of England, when it should be reduced under the power of the Jesuits (as Parsons was confident it would be, though he should not live to see it) written at Sevil in Spain, Anno Dom. 1590. that they intended to have Magna Charta, with our Common Fundamental Laws and Liberties, abrogated and suppressed: thus expressed by William Watson in his Quodlibets, pag. 92, 94, 95. Father Parsons and the Jesuits in their deep Jesuitical Court of Parliament, begun at Styx in Phlegeton, have compiled their Acts in a complete Volume, entitled: THE 
* Quere, whether the High Court of Justice had not its title from hence  HIGH COURT OF REFORMATION FOR ENGLAND. And to give you a taste of their intent by that base Court of A TRIBE of TRAITORS saucily (like to Gade, Jack Straw, and Tom Tiler) USURPING the AUTHORITY of both STATES, ECCLESIASTICAL and TEMPORAL in all their REBELLIOUS ENTERPRICES: these were principal points discussed, set down, and so decreed by them, etc. He first mentions three of them relating to 
* Stew watson's Dialogue between a secular Priest and Lay Gentleman▪ printed at Rheims, 160●. p. 95.  Churchmen, Scholars, and Church and Colledge-Lands: which were to be put in Fee offers hands, and they all to be reduced unto Arbitrary Pensions, etc. And then proceeds thus to the Fourth. The fourth Statute was there made concerning the COMMON LAWS of this LAND; and that consisted of this one principal point, That, ALL THE GREAT CHARTERS of ENGLAND MUST BE BURNT; the manner of holding Lands in Fee simple, Fee tail; Kings service, Soccage or Villanage, brought into villainy, scogg●●y and popularity; and in few, the Common Law must be wholly annihillated, abolished, and trodden down under foot, and Caesar's civil Imperials brought amongst us, and sway for a time in their places. All whatsoever England yields, being but base, barbarous, and void of all sense, knowledge, or discretion showed in the first Founders, and Legifers; and on the other side, all whatsoever is or shall be brought in by these outcasts of Moses, stain of Solon, and refuse of Lycurgus, must be reputed for metaphysical, seme-divine, and of more excellency than the other were. Which he thus seconds, Quodlibet 9 Article 2. p. 286. First, it is plain, that Father Parsons and his Company (divide it amongst them how they list) have laid a plot, as being most consonant and fitting for their other Designments, That the Common Laws of the Realm of England must be (forsooth) either abolished utterly: or else, bear no greater sway in the Realm than the Civil Law doth. And the 
* And is not this the chief Reason of their late endeavoured alterations  chief reason is, for that the State of the Crown and Kingdom by the Common Laws is so strongly settled, as whilst they continue, the Jesuits see not how they can work their wills. And on the other side, in the Civil laws, they think they have some shreds, whereby they may patch a cloak together to cover a bloody show of their Treasons for the present, from the eyes of the Vulgar people. 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 King John of Leydon, to draw all the world into Mutiny, rebellion and Combustion. And the Stratagem is, how the 
* And was not this the very principal engine lately used to alter our old Fundamental Government, cut off the King, and divest his Posterity of their three Kingdoms? witness the Armies printed Declarations, and the Junctoes' Votes in pursuance of them, Jan. 3. 1648. See Mene T●kel Percz by John Rogers.  Common people may be inveigled & seduced to conceit to themselves such a liberty or prerogative, as that it may be lawful for them, when they think meet, 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 Traitorous Puritans, and other Heretics, this treacherous Jesuit would now foist into the Catholic Church, as a ground of his corrupt Divinity. And p. 330, 332. He intends to alter and change all Laws, Customs, and Orders of this Noble Isle. He hath prejudiced the law of Property, in instituting Government, Governors, and Hereditary Princes to be, BENEPLACITUM POPULI, and all other private possessions, ad bene-placitum sui &c Whether any such new deep Jesuitical Court of Parliament, and high Court of Reformation for England, to carry on this old Design of the Jesuits against our Laws, hath been of late years sitting amongst us in or near Westminster, or elsewhere, in secret Counsel every week, as divers intelligent Protestants have informed me, and 
* A great stickler against our Laws and a promoter of this Jesuitical design.  Hugh Peter reported to divers on his own knowledge (being well acquainted with their Persons and practices of late years) it concerns others nearer to them, and more able than I to examine. Sure I am, a greater man by far then Hugh Peter, in an Assembly of Divines and others, for reconciling all dissenting parties, not long since 
* This he hath since this Epistle penned, affirmed in a printed speech in the Painted Chamber before a greater Assembly, Sep. 4. 1654. p. 16, 17.  averred to them on his own knowledge: That during our late innovations, distractions, subversions in Church, State, and overturning of Laws and Government, the common adversary hath taken many advantages, to effect his designs thereby in civil and spiritual respects. That he knew very well, that Emissaries of the Jesuits 
* The more shame for those who suffer it?  never came over in those swarms, as they have done, since these things were on foot. That DIVERS GENTLEMNE CAN BEAR WITNESS WITH HIM, that they had a CONSISTORY AND COUNCIL ABROAD, THAT 
* Therefore of the army and others Rulers by this clear public confession in print.  RULES ALL THE AFFAIRS OF THE THINGS IN ENGLAND. That they had fixed in England, in the limits of most Cathedrals (of which he was able to produce the PARTICULAR INSTRUMENT) an Episcopal power, with Archdeacon's and other persons, to pervert, seduce, and deceive the people: And all this, whiles we were in this sad and deplorable distracted condition. Yea, most certain it is, that many hundreds (if not some thousands) of them, within these few years, have been sent over from Foreign Seminaries into England under the disguises of 
* A● amongst other, Eleazar and Joseph Bar Isaiah, 2 cheating Impostors and Villains, who bavecheated good people of some thousands of pounds The 1 of them would have for tibly ravished a maid in March last, & fled away in the night to avoid apprehension, from Dursly in Glocestershire. He confessed in his drink he was a soldier in Prince rupert's army.  converted Jews, Physicians, Chirurgeons, Mechanics of all sorts, Merchants, Factors, Travellers, Soldiers, and some of them particularly into the Army; as appears by the late printed Examination of Ramsey the Anabaptized, New-dipped Jesuit, under the mask of a Jewish Convert, taken at New Castle in June 1653. and by sundry several late instances I could name. To pretermit all instances of divers particular Jesuits come over into England, not only within these few years but months, discovered by persons of credit; with Sir Kenelm Digby; who though the son of one of the executed old popish Gunpowder Traitors; a dangerous active seducing Jesuited papist, if not a professed Jesuit; 
* 3 Jac. c. 1, 2. The arraignment of traitors, Speed, Stow. 3. Jac.  who in the years 1638 and 1639. conspired with the Pope's Nuncio and a Conclave of Jesuits sitting in Council at London, to subvert our Religion, introduce a universal toleration of the popish Religion in our kingomes, new model and shake our former established government, and to poison, destroy the late King himself, in case he consented not to them therein: and for this very purpose, both plotted, raised, promoted the first Wars between the Protestants of England and Scotland, 
* Rome's Master piece p. 8. etc. 13, 24. Hidden works of darkness brought to public light p. 189. 190. 196. 202. 211. 253, 254. Exact Collection p. 12. 13. Canterbury's Doom p. 453.  which he abetted all he could, by his letters and secret Collections of moneys from all the Papists throughout England and elsewhere, who largely contributed to this war and design: for which he, Sir John Winter, Master Montague and others (who had a hand in this conspiracy) were convented and brought upon their knees at the Commons House-bar, Jan. 28. 1640. upon which he retiring into France was about May 1645. sent as a special Ambassador from the Queen to the Pope of Rome himself, to solicit him for aids of moneys, men, arms, against the Parliament; is first audience, he had the best reception; and fairest Promises of Aid in general that could be wished; writing hopefully of supplies of Moneys from Rome to the Queen and others, as both Houses of Parliament in their 
c A Collection of Ordinances, etc. p. 831, 832, 833 851, 852, 858, 869.  Declaration and Letters, (published 26 March 1646.) proclaim to all the world) and likewise good Hopes of 
d Hidden Works of Darkness, etc. p. 252, 253, 254.  a Cardinal's Cap for himself, or the Lord Aubeny, or Mr. Mountagne, for which he and the Queen solicited. After that, upon his return from Rome, he was sent over into England about Decemb. 1648. as 
e See the Letter in the Appendix to my Speech in Parliament, & Relation of the Armies Proceedings against the Members: The II. Part of the History of Independency.  a fit instrument to New-moddle us into a Commonwealth, and promote the violent Proceedings of the Army Officers and their Confederates (set on work by the Jesuits and their Agents,) against the late King, Parliament, Members: where, upon his arrival, he was, instead of being apprehended and brought to justice for the premises, hugged by some Grandees whom he courted, permitted to ride and walk about at large, while the Members were under strict guards and restraints; frequently repaired to Whitehall, where he was well received; his Sequestration totally taken off, without any Fees or gratification, by special order; and himself now at last permitted to lodge not only in Wildemans' House, (where the Queens Capuchins formerly resided) but sometimes in Whitehall itself; to the admiration of many understanding Protestants, who justly suspect, he hath there more disguised jesuits to consult with, and promote both their old and new designs against our Church, State, Religion, Laws, Liberties, till they have brought them and us to utter ruin. I shall for brevity sake acquaint you with one memorable general instance, discovering what swarms of Jesuits are now amongst us, under other visors. An English Protestant Nobleman (a person of honour) whose Ancestors were Papists, being courteously entertained within these two years at Rome by some eminent jesuits, in their chief College there, was brought by them into a Gallery having Chambers round about it, with Titles over every door for several Kingdoms, and amongst the rest, one for ENGLAND. Upon which, he enquiring of the jesuits, what these titles signified; was answered by them, That they were the Chambers of the Provincial jesuits, of each Kingdom and Province (written ever the respective doors) wherein they had any members of their society now residing, who received all Letters of intelligence from their Agents in those places every week, and gave account of the to the General of their Order. That the Provincial for England, lodged in the Chamber over which the title ENGLAND was written, who could show him the last news from England: which he desiring to see, they thereupon knocked at the door, which was presently opened: the Provincial being informed who & what the Lord was, read the last news from England to them. Hereupon the Nobleman demanded of them. Whether any of their society were now in England? & how they could stay with safety, or support themselves there, seeing most of the English Nobility, Gentry, and Families that were Papists, were ruined in their estates, or sequestered by the late wars & troubles, so as they could neither harbour, conceal nor maintain them, as they had done heretofore? They answered, It was true; but the greater the dangers and difficulties of those of their society now in England were, the greater was their merit. And that they had then above fifteen hundred of their Society in England, 
Nota,  able to work in several Professions & Trades, which they had there taken upon them, the better to support & secure themselves from being discovered; (who, together with some Popish Priests and Friars no doubt, upon diligent inquiry will appear to be the 
* See the Quakers unmasked.  chiefest Speakers, Quakers, Disputers, Seducers, Rulers in most separate Congregations, and the principle brochers of all New Opinions, Blasphemies, now abounding amongst us.) This Relation I have heard from the mouth of a Reverend Divine more than once; to whom this Noble Lord, upon his return into England not many Months since, seriously related the Premises, averring the truth of them upon his Honour. Yet for all this, since the stupendious pretended repeals and annihilations of the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, & that of Abjuration of Popery (consented to by the late King in the Isle of Wight) purposely made for the better detection and prevention of Jesuits, and their treasonable forementioned practices against our Church, Kingdoms, Princes, Religion, Parliaments, 
1 Eliz. c. 1. Eliz. c. 1. Jac. c. 1, 2, 3, 7 Jac. c. 6.  and Government, by the wisdom and zeal of our best affected vigilant * Protestant Parliaments; I can neither hear nor read of any effectual means, endeavoured or prescribed by any in power, for the discovery of these Romish janissaries, or banishing, feretting, and keeping them out of England, where they have wrought so much mischief of late years, and whose utter ruin they attempt: nor any encouragement at all given to the Discoverers of their Plots and Persons; but many affronts and discouragements put upon them, and particularly on myself, lately mewed up close Prisoner, under strictest Guards in remotest Castles, near three years' space (without 
* My Imprisoners have lately professed to me, that they knew▪ not the cause why I was thus close imprisoned.  any Accusation, hearing or particular cause yet assigned or disclosed to me, though oft then and since demanded by me from my Imprisoners) whiles they all walked abroad at large, of purpose to hinder me from any discoveries of their practices by my Pen, where as they printed, vended publicly here in England above 30000 Popish Books of several kinds during my imprisonment, without the least restraint, to oppugn our Protestant established Religion (as 
* See Causia, the Jesuits Holy Court printed in Folio.  many of them do in terminis as most damnable Heresy) propagate the Jesuits Plots, and antichristian Romish Church and Religion amongst us, as you may read at large in the Stationer's Beacon fired; which seasonable book, and Discovery of these Romish Emissaries books and plots, some 
* T. P. the new Faux is first.  Officers of the Army, in their Beacon quenched, publicly traduced in print, as a New-Powder-Treason of the Presbyterian Party, to blow up the Army, and that pretended Parliament (of their own erection) which themselves soon after blew up and dissolved in good earnest, pleading for a free Toleration of such Popish Books, and all Religions, as agreeable to the Armies Engagements and Principles, to carry on their designs against our Religion and Laws. But most certain it is; there hath been of late years not only a General Council of Officers of the Army sitting many months together in Council, to 
* See their Declarations, Proposals, and printed Papers, 1647. 1648, 1649, 1652. & since for that purpose.  alter and new model all our ancient Laws and Statutes, in pursuance of Father Parson's design; but likewise two Conventicles of their own selection and election, sitting of late in the Parliament House at Westminster, assuming to themselves the Name, and far more than the Power, of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England; together with the transcendent ambitious Title of The Supreme Authority of the Nation, (in derogation of the Army Officers Supremacy, who sufficiently chastised them for this strange Usurpation) who have made it their chief business, not only to New-model our ancient Fundamental Government, Parliaments, Ministry, Minister's maintenance, by Glebes, Tithes, and our Universities, much according to Parsons and his Fellow Jesuits forementioned Platforms, and Thomas Campanella his Instructions to the King of Spain, De Monarchia Hisp. c. 25. but likewise to New-mould, subvert, eradicate the whole Body of our 
* Qui tam facile receptas & patrias leges cum novis aliis commutant, certe legum ipsarum authoritalem debilitant atque enervant. Necenim tantum legis abrogatio proderit, quantum Magistratibus non obediendi mos oberit. Aristotle Polit. l. 2. c. 6.  municipal Laws, and with them the great Charter of our Liberties itself. And in their last cashiered, unelected Convention, (as some of their Companions, now in greatest Power assure us, in their 
s And since this in a Printed Speech, Sept. 4 1654.  True State of the Case of the Commonwealth of England, etc. London, 1654. p. 5, 16, 17, 18.) there was a strong prevailing party whom nothing would satisfy, but A Total Eradication of the whole body of the good old Laws of England (the Guardians of our Lives and Fortunes) to the utter subversion of civil Right and Propriety; who likewise took upon them (by virtue of a supposed right of Saintship in themselves) to lay the foundation of a new Platform, which was to go under the Name of A fifth Monarchy▪ never to have an end, but To 
* Hath not the Army done this in our three Nations? See their own Chaplain Sedgewick, his Justice on the Army's Remonstrance 1648.  war withal other powers and break them to pieces, baptising all their proselytes into this Principle and persuasion; that the Powers formerly in being, were branches of the 
t The Monarchy of England hath been, 1. In the Britons, 2. in the Saxons, 3. in the Danes, 4. in the Normans Royal Line ', & now the 5. must be elective in others.  Fourth Monarchy (of England, Scotland; and Ireland) which must be rooted up and destroyed. And what other Fifth Monarchy this could be, but that projected universal Monarchy of the Jesuits, which would bring the whole Monarchy of Great Britain and Ireland, together with France, Spain, and all other Princes, States in Christendom under the jesuits subjection, and break all other powers in pieces; (mentioned by Watson, in his Quodlibets p. 306, to 333. and Alphonsus de Vargas, Relatio de Stratagematis & Sophismatis Politicis societatis jesu, Ad Monarchiam orbis terrarum sibi conficiendam c. 8. etc.) or else, that Elective New Monarchy of Great Britain and Ireland, projected by 
v De Monarchia Hisp. c. 25. See the Epistle to my Jus Patronatus.  Campanella and Cardinal Richelieu, which some Grandees now endeavour by their Instrument to erect and perpetuate for ever 
x Art. 1, 2, 12, 25, 32, 33, 41, 42.  without alteration in themselves and their Successors, (though they thus expressly brand it in others;) let themselves, and wise men resolve? it being apparent, by the practices and proceedings of all the Propugners of this new Project, that this Fifth Monarchy they intent to erect, is neither the spiritual 
* Luke 17. 21. Rom. 14. 17. 2 Pet. 1. 11. Col. 1, 13. Heb. 12. 28. Rev. 12. 10.  Kingdom of jesus Christ in their own hearts, mortifying their ambition, covetousness, pride, selfseeking, unrighteousness, violence, rapines, & other worldly lusts; nor the personal reign of Christ himself alone, in and over our 3 Kingdoms, and all other Nations for ever, 
* Non abripit mortalia, qui Regna dat coelestia. Sedulius in hymno acrast: de vita Christi. Rex iste quinatus est non venit Reges pugnando superare, sed moriendo mirabiliter subjugare. Venit enim non ut regnet vivus, sed ut triumphet occisus; nec ut de aliis gentibus auro exercitum quaerat, sed pro salvandis Gentibus preti●sum sanguinem fundat. Hujus pueri regnum non est de hoc mundo; sed per ipsum regnatar in hoc mundo. Ipse est enim Sapientia Dei, quae dicit in Proverbiis, Per me Reges regnant. Tu enim regnum nullatenus habuisses, nisi ab isto puero qui nunc natus est accepisses. Claudius' l. 1. in Matth.  depriving all Temporal Kings and Princes of their Crowns, Rights, and Government over their Subjects; which they falsely endeavour to evince from Dan. 2. 44, 45, c. 7. 14, 27. Micah 4. 1, 2, 7. Luke 1. 32, 33. Rev. 20. 1. to 8. 1 Cor. 15. 24, 25. Heb. 12. 26, 27, 28. but a mere supreme, arbitrary, temporal Authority without Bounds or Limits, encroached by and erected in themselves and their confederates, without any colour of Right or Title by the Laws of God or the Realm, and no ways intended, but refuted by all these sacred Scriptures & others, which explain them. This design of the Jesuits, to alter and subvert the whole body of our Laws, was so far promoted by the jesuitical and Anabaptistical party in this last Assembly, (elected only by the 
y A True State, etc. p. 13.  Army-Officers,) that on Aug. 20. 1653. (as our News-books print,) they Ordered, there should be a Committee selected, to consider of a A new Body of the Law, for the Government of this Commonwealth, who were to new-mould The whole Body of the Law: according to Parsons his mould. And hereupon our cheating Astrologers (especially Lily & Culpeper, the 
z See Th●: 〈…〉  jesuits' grand Factors to cry down our Laws, Tithes, Ministers) from the mere visible earthly Conjunctions, Votes, Motions, Influences of these New wand'ring eccentric Planets at Westminster only, (not of any Celestial Stars, as they would make Country-Clowns believe, always moving and acting themselves by an unalterable Law from the very Creation until now, Gen. 1. 14. to 19 c. 8. 22. Psal. 104. 19 Psal. 136. 8. 9 jer. 31. 35, 36. c. 33. 20, 21. job 38. 32, 33. therefore no ways exciting men to alter Fundamental Laws and Governments here on earth) took upon them in their 
a See ●h●ir Alm●n●●k● in Janurary▪ February▪ 〈…〉  Monthly Prognostications for this year 1654. versity & College Lands by Monthly endless Taxes, Excises, & a perpetual Law, Tith-oppugning, Parliament-dissolving Army, in whose Counsels, we have cause to fear, the Jesuits have been most predominant of late years, and will still make use of them to our final ruin, if not effectually purged out, and the Army new moulded, new principled, if any longer continued under pretext of public safety, and not wholly disbanded for the people's ease and Liberty.  
It is worthy observation, that Tho. Campanella 
a De Monarchia Hispanica c. 25. p. 204, etc.  prescribed the sowing, and continual nourishing of Divisions, Dissensions, Discords, Sects and Schisms among us, both in State and Church (by the Machivilian Plots and Policies he suggests, punctually prosecuted among us of late years) as the principal means to weaken, ruin both our Nation and Religion, and bring us under the Spanish and Popish yokes at last: witness his, JAMVERO AD ENERVANDOS ANGLOS NIHIL TAM CONDUCIT QUAM DISSENTIO ET DISCORDIA INTER ILLOS EXCIT AT A PERPETUOQUE NUTRITA, Quod cit● meli●res occasiones suppeditabi●: and that principally, by instigating the Nobleses and chief Men of the Parliament of England: UT ANGLIAMIN FORMAM REIPUBLICAE REDUCANT AD IMITATIONEM HOLLANDORUM: which our Republicans lately did by the power of the Army- Officers; or, by sowing the seeds of an inexplicable war, between England and Scotland; By making it an Elective Kingdom, (as some now endeavour under another Notion) or by setting up Other Kings of another Race, without Legal Right, or just Title, against that ancient, unquestioned, undoubted Right and Title settled, established in King james and his Royal Posterity by Inherent Birthright, and lawful right of Descent by 
* See 25 H. 8. c. 22. 31 H. 8. c. 4. 37 H. 8. c. 17. 1. Eliz. c. 3.  God himself and his Laws, confirmned & strengthened by all possible Titles and Rights of compact, Laws, Statutes, Oaths, perpetual uncontradicted custom, Protestations, Covenants, the solemn Public Faith and Engagement of our English Parliaments & Nation, for themselves, Their Heirs & Posterities for ever, as the Statutes of 1 jacobi c. 1. 2, 3, jac. c. 1. 4, 7. jac. c. 6. which both houses of Parliament in their Declaration of Nou. 2. 1642. Exact Collect. p. 705 resolve. And that upon this suggestion to the People; Crudelem fore SCOTUM ubi semel Imperium in illos obtinuerit▪ 〈…〉 ment, repostum, quanta injuria Angli Scotos superioribus illis annis afficerint. Praeterea suspicionem cis incu●iat, fore ut Jacobus CAEDEM MATERNAM VINDICATURUS SIT, etc. Exasperandi sunt etiam animi Episcoporum (Presbyterorun) Anglicorum proponendo illis REGEM SCOTIAE Calvinismum amplexum esse SPE & CUPIDITATE REGNI, ADACTUMQVE VI, A BARONIBUS HAERETICIS; quod si vero Regnu● Angliae etiam ●btineat, TUM ILLUM CITO PRIOREM RELIGIONEM REVOCATURUM ESSE: qùandoquidem non solum MARIA EJUS MATER moriens, virum etiam REX IPSE GALLIARUM SUMMOPORE EI RELIGIONEM CATHOLICAM COMMENDARINT, etc. yet now transcribed almost verbatim out of 
* De Monarchia Hisp. c. 25.  Thomas Campanella, (who suggested it against King James to alienate the English from him, & keep him from the Crown) & very freshly by the Authors of, The True state of the Case of the Commonwealth, etc. p. 48, 49. objected against the present King of Scots and royal Issue, to deprive him and them from the Crown of England, and engage the whole English Nation against their Title, to vest it in some other Family in greatest power.) Or if these projects should fail, then by dividing us into many Kingdoms or Republics, dislinct one from another; and by sowing the seeds of Schisms, and making alterations and innovations in all Arts, Sciences, and our Religion. The old Plots of 
b De Monarchia Hispan. c. 25.  Campanella, 
c Seewatsons Quodlibets, p. 286. to 332. A Dialogue between a secular Priest and Lay Gentleman, printed at Rheims, 1601. p. 93, 94, 95.  Parsons, and late designs of 
d Conte de Galeazzo Gualdo Priorato, Hist. part. 3. Venetiis 1648. p. 175, 176.  Cardinal Richelieu, of the Pope, Spaniard, Jesuits, to undo, subvert our Protestant Churches, Kings, Kingdoms and Religion, as the marginal Authors irrefragably evidence: yet all visibly set on foot, yea, openly pursued, and in a great measure accomplished by some late, nay present Grandees and Army-Officers, who cry up themselves for our greatest Patrons, Preservers, Deliverers, and Anti-Jesuits, when they have rather been but the 
* Et quidem quid refert an Mulieres (& jesuitae) praesint an hi qui praesunt mulieribus obedient? Arist. Polit. l. 2. c. 7.  Jesuits, Popes, Spaniards and other Foreign enemies instruments and factors, in all the late changes, new-models of our Government, Parliaments, & pretended reformations of our laws and Religion, through inadvertency, circumvention, or selfended respects, as many wise and godly men justly fear. For prevention whereof, I shall recommend to the whole Kingdoms serious consideration, the memorable Preamble of the Statute of 25 H. 8. c. 22. discovering the like Plots of the Pope and our Foreign Enemies to 〈…〉 to prevent them for the future, in these ensuing words. In their most humble wise shown unto your Majesty, Your most humble and obedient Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled: that since it is the natural inclination of every man, gladly and willingly to provide for the surety, both of his Title and Succession, although it touch his only private cause: We therefore, most rightful and dreadful Sovereign Lord, reck●n ourselves much more bounden, to beseech and instant your Highness, although we doubt not of your Princely heart and wisdom, mixed with a natural affection to the same, to foresee and provide for the perfect surety of both you and of your most lawful Succession and heirs, upon which dependeth all our joy & wealth; 
Nota.  in whom also is united and knit, the only mere true inheritance and title of this Realm, without any contradiction: Wherefore, We your said most humble and obedient Subjects in this present Parliament assembled, calling to our mind the great divisions, which in times past have been in this Realm, by reason of several Titles pretended to the Imperial Crown of the same; which sometimes, and for the most p●rt, ensued by occasion of ambiguity and doubts, than not so perfectly declared, but that men might upon froward intents expound them to every man's sinister appetite and affection, after their sense, contrary to the right Legality of the Succession and Posterity of the lawful Kings & Emperors of this Realm, whereof hath ensued great effusion & destruction of Man's blood, as well of a great number of the Nobles, as of other Subjects, and specially Inheritors in the same. And the greatest occasion hath been, because no perfect & substantial provision by law hath binmade within this realm itself, when doubts and questions have been moved, & proponed of the certainty & legality of the Succession & posterity of the Crown. By reason whereof, 
Nota.  The Bishop of Rome, & See Apostolic, contrary to the great and inviolable grants of Jurisdictions By God immediately to Emperors, Kings & Princes in succession to their heirs, hath presumed in time past, to invest who should please them to inherit in other men's Kingdoms & Dominions; which thing, we your most humble Subjects, both Spiritual and Temporal, do most abhor & detest: And sometimes other foreign Princes and Potentates of sundry degrees, 
●ota.  minding rather dissension & discord to continue in the realm, to th'utter desolation thereof, then charity, equity, or unity, have many times supported wrong titles, where by they might easily & facilly aspire to the Superiority of the same, the continuance & sufferance whereof deeply considered & pondered, were too dangerous and perilous to be suffered any longer within this Realm, & too much contrary to the unity, peace and tranquillity of the same, being greatly reproachful and dishonourable to the whole Realm. In consideration whereof, your said most humble and obedient Subjects, the Nobles and Commons of this Realm, calling further to their remembrance, that the good, unity, peace, and wealth of this Realm, and the succession of the Subjects of the same, 
Nota.  Most specially & principally above all worldly things, consisteth and resteth in the certainty and surety of the procreation, & posterity of your Highness, in whose most royal person at this present time, is no manner of doubt or question, Do therefore most humbly beseech your Highness, etc. to declare the establishment of the succession of your royal posterity in the Imperial Crowns of this realm: as he and they did by this & other succeeding acts of Parl. & in 1 Eliz c. 3. & 1 Jac. c. 1. to prevent the like civil wars and mischiefs for succeeding ages, now revived, promoted by the Pope, Jesuits, & Foreign Popish Princes to work our ruin.  
Certainly, whosoever shall seriously ponder the premises, with these passages in William watson's Quodlibets concerning the Jesuits, 
e Quodlib. 3. ar. 4. p. 65. 41.  1. That some of the Jesuits society have insinuated themselves into all the Prince's Courts of Christendom, where some of their Intelligencers reside, and set up a secret counsel, of purpose to receive and give intelligence to their General at Rome, of the secrets of their Sovereigns, and of all occurrents in those parts of the world, which they dispatch to and fro by such cyphers, which are to themselves best, but commonly only to themselves known, so that nothing is done in England, but it is known at Rome within a month after at least, 
Nota.  & reply made back as occasion is offered, to the consequent overthrow of their own natural Country of England, and their native Princes and Realms, by their unnatural Treasons against them; that so the Jesuits might be those long gowns, which should reign and govern the Island of Great Britain. To which I shall add that of Rob: Turner an English Jesuit, in his Epistles printed at Ingolstad, An. 1584. Ep. 19 Volui irrepere, volui irrumpere in intimas Aulas Principum; volui videre omnia, ut ad Justitiae norman praeclare exigerem. Vix coeperam obi●e Principū Aulas, cum viderim Hoereticorū illum Mundum ADMINISTRARI A STULTIS, etc. with that of Hospinian, Historia Jesuitica l. 3. p. 148. That the Jesuits are so subtle, vigilant, bold, laborious, and endued with such a faci●lty of flattery, insinuation, acting and hurting in Prince's Courts, that they exactly discover, know, and fish out all their secrets, (which they evell to their Superiors, the Pope and Spaniard) and alone rule all things in them: so that the Courts of Europe are more grievously infested & afflicted by the Jesuits, than the Court of Pharaoh was of old by the Egyptian frogs. And may we not then justly fear our new Court hath been as much pestered and infested by them of late years, as our old Court heretofore?  
〈◊〉 
f Quodlibets p. 39 209, 233, 234, 305, 306, 307, 30●.  That the Jesuits hope and endeavour to have England, Scotland and Ireland under them, to make these Northern Islands a japonian Island of Jesuits, and one jesuitical Monarchy,; and to infeoff themselves by hook or by crook In the whole imperial Dominions of great Britain with the remainder over To their Corporation, or puni-fathers' succeeding them, as heirs specially in their society, by a state of perpetuity: Putting all the whole Blood Royal of England to the Formidon, As but Heirs general in one Predicament together, as now they have done.  
3. 
g Quodlibets p. 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 42, 45, 50, 283, 285, &c, 332, 333. A Dialogue between a secular Priest & a Lay Gentleman, An. 1601.  That the Jesuits have Magistracy, Kings, Magistrates, Ministers, Priesthood, and Priests in high contempt; publishing many slanderous, seditious; traitorous, and infamous speeches, libels, and books against them, to render them odious and contemptible to the People, full of Plots, exasperations against the Church and Commonwealth, like rebellious Traitors, to bring all into an uproar, that they may have all Countries, Kingdoms, Governments, Successions, States, Inhabitants, and all at their pleasure.  
4. That the 
h Quodlibets p. 295 to 313 61, 286, 287, See the Right & Jurisdiction of the Prelate and Prince, by J. E. 1617.  Jesuits have taught the people (in order to get England under their power, and in order to God or Religion, as they style it,) That Subjects are bound no longer to obey wicked or heretical Princes and Kings deflecting from the Catholic Religion, and drawing others with them, but till they be able by force of arms to resist and depose them. That the popular multitude may upon these grounds, when they think meet, place and displace their Princes and chief Officers at their pleasure, as men may do their Tenants at will, hirelings, or ordinary Servants, putting no difference in their choice Upon any Right or Title to Crowns or Kingdom, by Birth or Blood or otherwise, then as these Fathers (forsooth) shall approve it, By this all things must be wrought and framed, conformable to opportunities of times and occasions; as for example: The people must have a right and interest in them, and to do what they list in choice of their Kings and Supreme Governors, till they have set such a person or Usurper in the Crown, 
* See I. E. his Treatise of the Right and Jurisdiction of the Prelate & Prince, printed 1616. & reprinted 1621., by the Jesuits.  as they for their ends have designed; and then the times and occasions changing, when such a one is settled in the Throne, the former doctrine and practices must be holden FOR A MISTAKING; yet such, as seeing it cannot be holpen, the people must beware hereafter of attempting the like again. By this a check must be given to the publishers of such paradoxes, (when they have accomplished their designed ends,) after that a dispensation procured for the Offenders, and then all shall be well ever after; till a new opportunity for their further advantage.  
5. That the 
i Quodlibets p. 26.  Jesuits by absurd equivocations, counterfeited perjuries, Sacrileges, and cozenage, become all things to all men, that they may gain all; as to be Seminary Priests amongst Seminaries; Secular Priests, among Seculars; Religious men, among Religious; Seditious men among Seditious; Factions Spaniards amongst Spaniards; ENGLISH TRAITORS AMONG TRAITORS; SCOTISH VILAINS, AMONG SCOTS, etc. and amongst all these, to deny and affirm, to object and answer, to swear and forswear, whatsoever may be a gain to them, for their pragmatical Commonwealth and society. No wonder then, if they transform themselves into all shapes, and take upon them all professions now amongst us.  
6. That the 
k Quodlibets p. 62, 69, and elsewhere.  Jesuits by their devices and practices, have brought all to Machiavels rule, DIVIDE ET IMPERA, in sowing division, breeding of jealousies, and making of hoslile strife, by opposition of King against King, State against State, Priest against Priest, Peer against Peer, Parents against children, children against parents, sisters against brothers, servants against masters, wives against husbands, husbands against wives, and one friend against another, raising up rebellions, MURDERING OF PRINCES, making uproars every where, until they make those they cannot otherwise win unto them, either yield to be their vassals to live quiet by them, or force them to flight, or drive them out of their wits, or otherwise plague them to death.  
7. That the 
l Quodlibets p. 43. 61, 62, 64. 16.  Jesuits by their cursed positions, and machiavillian practices, have made religion itself a mere political and atheal device; a pragmatical science of Figboys, and but an art of such as live by their wits, and the principles of Machiavelli taught by their Rabb●es; yea, a very hotch potch of omnium gatherum, religious, secular, clergical, laical, ecclesiastical, spiritual, temporal, MARTIAL, civil, Aecomenical, political, liberal, mechannical, municipal, irregular, and ALL WITHOUT ORDER; so that they are not worthy to be called religious, ecclesiastics, catholics, nor temporal mechannical Christians; but rather Machiavillians, Atheists, Apostates; their course of life showing what their study is; and that howsoever they boast of their perfections, holiness, meditations and exercises, (as if they were all Superlatives, all Metaphysicians, all entia transcendentia) yet their platform is heathenish, tyrannical, sathannical, able to set Aretine, Lucian, Machiavelli, yea, and Don Lucifer, in a sort to school.  
Those, I say, who shall sadly ponder all these premises, and compare them with the late practices, policies and proceedings of some swaying politicians of our age (infected likewise with this Atheistical State-Maxime, amongst others derived from the Jesuits, and Machiavillian Spanish State-Counsellers:) In Reipublicae administratione, quaedam LICITA ESSE RATIONE STATUS, alia respectu Conscientiae: which 
* De Monarchia Hisp. c. 32. p. 297, 298.  Thomas Campanella (as bad as he is) not only severely censures, but thus declaims against with highest detestation, Qua opinione profecto NIHIL MAGIS ABSURDUM AV● IMPIUM ne excogitari quidem potest: Nam qui conscientiae universalem suam jurisdictionem in omnes res humanas TAM PVBLICAS QVAM PRIVATAS, subtrahit, ostendit, SE NEC CONSCIENTIAM, NEC DEUM HABERE, etc. Siquidem omnia scandala Ecclesiae Dei, & PERTURBATIONES ORBIS TERRARUM, IND ORTA SUNT: that men may do against all Laws of God and Man, their own Consciences, Trusts, Oaths, out of a pretext of the benefit, safety of the State, & public good, as most now do; Or, compare them with the constitution of our Church, State, Religion, public affairs, must needs acknowledge, that these pragmatical jesuits have been very active, prevalent, powerful, successful, and not only militant but triumphant, of late years amongst us, under some disguise or other: that they have dangerously poisoned us with these their Machiavillian and Atheal policies, practices positions, and have more real Disciples, Factors, if not Tutors, now amongst us, then in any former ages: And is it not high time then to endeavour to detect their persons, and prevent their dangerous designs upon us, with greatest care and diligence? Truly though most others be negligent and fearful herein, yet that text of Ezek. 2. 6, 7. And thou son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briars and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions, be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellion's house. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, for they are most REBELLIOUS; hath animated me to exonerate my conscience herein, and to say with the prophet, Isai. 62. 1. For Zions' (England's) sake I will not hold my peace, and for jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a Lamp that burneth. Wherefore,  
Upon serious consideration of all these Premises, and of all those Sacred Solemn Oaths, that Protestation, Vow, League, and National Covenant, which I have formerly taken (lying still as so many) 
f Josh. 9 19, 20. & Psal. 89. 34. Psal. 15. 4. Heb. 6. 17, 18.  indissoluble Obligations on my Soul, notwithstanding the ingrate, malicious, unchristian Requitals of all my former unmercinary services, Sufferings for Religion, Laws, Liberties, and the public, in times of greatest Danger, recompensed only with long causeless, close imprisonments, injuries, affronts, losses of all kinds, by pretended friends and Patrons of our Liberties, as well as by professed causeless Enemies. And notwithstanding all other Discouragements from the general baseness, cowardice, Sottishness, slavishness, degenerated Spirits of the whole Nation, and their strange fearfulness even publicly to own, much less cordially, to assist, defend, (according to the sixth Article of the Covenant) those few courageous Patrons who have hazarded their Lives, Liberties, Limbs, Estates, and all earthly comforts for the public defence of our Religion, the Laws, Liberties, Privileges of our Kingdom, Church, Parliament, against the old and late avowed subverters of them, whose very 
g When our Saviour himself was apprehended, carried away prisoner, and like to be crucified, all his Disciples forsook him, and fled, and Peter denied him with an oath, Mat. 26. 56. 70. 10 75. And at Paul's first appearance before Nero, no man stood with him, but all men forsook him, I pray God it be not laid to their charge, 2 Tim. 4. 9 16. And so it is now with most public sufferers.  Company, visits the generality of their former friends and acquaintance have declined, (as if they had some plague sores on them;) not only during their late restraints, but likewise since their enlargements out of them, (enough to persuade them never to write, speak, act, or suffer any thing more, for such ingrate, unworthy Creatures, but rather to put their helping hands, to make them and their Posterities slaves for ever.) I have yet once more, out of pure zeal, love, conscience towards my native Country, adventured my life, liberty, and decayed estate, (considering the lawlessness and Danger of the times, not the justice and goodness of the Common Cause, I plead) for the necessary defence of the Fundamental Liberties, Franchises, Laws, Rights, Parliaments, Privileges, and Government of our enslaved Nation, (though every way 
* Zeph: 2. 1.  unworthy to be beloved by God, or men of noble spirits) in this Seasonable, Legal, Historical Vindication and Collection; wherein I have with all boldness, faithfulness, without the least fear or flattery of any Mortals or created powers whatsoever, argued, evinced, maintained my own particular, with the whole Nations public right and inheritance in them, (of which few or none take any care, but only of their own private gains, case, safely, though with the 
† Unusquisque majorem temporis sui partem in rebus privatis curandis ponit, & Rempublicam nihil detrimenti ex hac sua negligentia cap●re posse putat; sed & aliquam alium esse existimat qui Rempublicam curet, ei pro setpso perspiciat. Ita● cadem omnium privatorum opinionè Universam Rempublicam perdi, non animaduèrtit. Thucydides H●st. l. 1. pag. 110.  Public ruin) and endeavoured (as much as in me lies) to preserve them and our Religion from the several Jesuitical plots, counsels, specified in the whole Commons House Remonstrance of 15 December 1641. Exact Collection, p. 3. to 14. of late years revived, and more vigorously pursued than ever, and to rescue them out of the Claws of Tyranny, and all usurping arbitrary powers, which have avowedly encroached on, yea trampled them under feet of late, more than ever the worst of all our Monarches, or beheaded King did, though declaimed against, as the greatest of Tyrants by some who have transcended him in his worst Regal Exorbitances; and particularly in this, which the Lords and Commons in Parliament, in their 
* Exact Coll. p. 492. 497. 494.  Declaration of Aug. 4. 1642. thus grievously complained of, and objected against the King's ill Counsellors, That the LAWS, were no protection or defence of any man's right, all was subject to will and power, which imposed WHAT PAYMENTS THEY THOUGHT FIT, to drain the Subject's purses, and supply THOSE NECESSITIES, which their ill counsel had brought upon the King, and gratify such as were instrumental in promoting most ILLEGAL and OPRESSIVE COURSES. Those who yielded and complied were countenanced and advanced, all others disgraced and kept under, (and are they not so now, as much as then?) that ●o their minds made poor and base, (as they were never so poor and base as now) and THEIR LIBERTIES lost and gone (as they were never so much as now) they might be ready to 
* Are they not now more ready to let it go, then ever? & have not thousands done it?  LET GO THEIR RELIGION whensoever it should be resolved to alter it, which was, and still is, the GREAT DESIGN, and all the rest made use of as instrumental and subservient to it. Upon which consideration they thus concluded that Declaration, Therefore we the Lords and Commons are resolved, to expose our lives and fortunes for the defence and maintenance of the true Religion, the King's person, honour and estate, the power and privilege of Parliament, the just rights and liberty of the Subject, And we do hereby require all those who have any sense of piety, honour or compassion, TO HELP A DISTRESSED STATE, especially SUCH WHO HAVE TAKEN THE PROTESTATION, and are bound in the same duty with us unto their God, their King and Country, to come into their aid and assistance.  
That which hath not a little encouraged me hereunto, is not only this their public call, but likewise this memorable passage, vow, protestation of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, in their printed 
h Exact col. p. 650. 659. 660.  Declaration in answer to his Majesties of October 23. 1642. Which I fear most of them since in power have quite forgotten; and therefore I beseech them now seriously to remember it. Though we know very well, there are too many of the Gentry of this Kingdom, who to satisfy the LUSTS OF THEIR OWN AMBITION, are content, like Esau, TO SELL THEIR BIRTHRIGHT, AND CARE NOT TO SUBMIT THEMSELVES TO ANY ARBITRARY AND UNLIMITED GOVERNMENT, 
Nota.  so they may FOR THEIR OWN TIME PARTAKE OF THAT POWER, to trample and insult over others: (And have not, are not some of these declarers and censures such themselves?) yet we are assured, that there are of the Gentry many worthy and true hearted Patriots, (but where are those many now?) who are ready to lay down their lives and fortunes, and of late have given ample testimony thereof, for maintenance of their Laws, Liberties, and Religion; and with them and others of their resolution we shall be ready to live and die. (But how many of these Declarers have made good this public engagement? yea, have not some of them been, and still are more ready to secure, seclude, disoffice, imprison, kill, slay any such truehearted Patrons, as I have felt by sad experience, than to live and die with them?) And we must own it as our duty, to use our best endeavours, that the meanest of the Commonalty may enjoy their own Birthrights, Freedom and Liberty of the Laws of the Land, being 
* Nota.  equally entitled thereto with the greatest Subject. I trust therefore the greatest Grandees in late or present power, neither will nor can be offended with me, and that all the Nobility, Gentry, Commons, and truehearted. Patrons in the Nation, who bear any love to the Laws, Li-Liberties, Freedom of the people, for which their Ancestors and they have so long, so stoutly contended heretofore, and lately with our Kings; will live and die with me in this their Vindication and Defence, against any of their fellow-Subjects, who shall endeavour to subvert or deprive them of the full and free enjoyment of all or any of them, according to this Engagement and Declaration: Wherein there are these further observable passages, relating to the Parliaments privileges and its Members, which I desire our Army-Grandees, who impeached, secured, secluded myself with other Members of the last true Parliament, levied war against and forcibly dissolved it; with the Contrivers of our late New-Modelled Governments, would seriously ponder; who in common justice must be content to be as freely told of and reprehended for their 
* Frauds propemodum omnes atque Injuriae ab Ambitione & Ava●itia p●oficiseuntur. Arist. Polit. l. 2. c. 7.  frauds, faults in print (where the public and every man's private interest, Right, Liberty, Security, is concerned) as they have censured others, as well their Superiors, as Equals, oft in print, though perchance l●sse peccant than themselves 
i See the Armies old & new Declarations against the Parliam. & Members. Their True state of the Commonwealth etc. which, mutato nomin●, is but a direct Arraignment of themselves under the name of others.  in that they object against them. 
k Exact col. P. 652. 654. 655, etc.  For the matter of his Majesty's raising an Army against the Parliament (wherein many Papists, Priests, Jesuits were employed) and taking away the privilege thereof, we shall refer it to the judgement of every ordinary capacity, whether it be void of sense to say, that this War is raised against the Parliament; But the truth is, that it is not a few persons, but the Parliament itself, is the thorn that lies in these men's sides, which, heretofore when it was wont to ●rick them, was with much ease (by a sudden dissolution) pulled out: But now that is more deeply fastened by the Act of Continuance, they would force it out by the power of an Army. (Hath not this been the very practice of some Army-Grandees of late, here objected against the King Jesuitical and Popish ill Counsellors?) And whosoever will peruse the several Speeches and Declarations, made upon the breaking up of former Parliaments, since the beginning of his Majesty's Reign, will find, the pretences of those unjust and illegal Dissolutions, to be grounded upon the exceptions against some particular Members, under the name of A few factious and seditious persons: so that the aspersing and wounding of the Parliament through the sides of a few Members, is no new invention: (And hath not this been the very Army-Officers practise, since the first year of their reign till now, to wound the last real Parliament; yea, their own late dissolved Mock Parliaments since, through the sides of a few corrupt Members, or a corrupt Majority in the House, as all their Printed 
l See their declarations in May, June, july, Aug. 1647 in ●ovemb. Decemb. Jan. 1648. An. 1652, & 1653. & their True state of the case of the Commonwealth of England, etc. p. 4. to 35. Ann. 1654. with some other Papers & Speeches since.  Declarations upon their d●ssolutions attest. And is this then no crime? or no Jesuitical practice in them, though such in the late 
m Exact collect. p. 3, 4. to 16.  King and his ill Counsellors?) And for the satisfaction of all indifferent men, that this War is raised against the Parliament, we shall refer them to former Declarations, tissued out in His Majesty's name, being so many invectives and ground less accusations, not against particular Members only, but against the Vote and proceedings of both Houses. (And are not many of the Armies Declarations in 1647. and 1648. yea, the late Pamphlet of some present Grandees, entitled, A True State of the Case of the Commonwealth of England, Printed 1654., Such? let them now then see whence they took their pattern, even from the beheaded Kings 
n Exact col. p. 3, 4, to 16. 651, 652, 653. Nota.  Jesuited evil Counsellors, whose steps they exactly trace in this:) But if the truth were, as that Declaration seems to imply, That this Army is raised to force some 
o If one Member suffer, all the Members suffer with it, 1 Cor. 12. 26.  particular Members of this Parliament to be delivered up, yet upon that ground would it follow, that the same is levied against the Parliament. For it cannot be denied by any ingenious man, but that the Parliament by their 
p See Cooks 4 Instit. c. 1. p. 15, 16, 17. 23. 24, 25, and my Plea for the Lords.  inherent rights and privileges hath the power to judge and punish their own Members: [yet the Army Officers took upon them to secure, seclude them without Charge, and their future New-minted▪ Parliament Members, though only elected by the People, must be tried, judged by the new Whitehall Members, ere they can be admitted to sit, Article 21 of the New Government.] And we have often declared to His Majesty and the World, That we are always ready to receive any evidence or accusations against any of them, and to judge and punish them according to their demerits; yet hitherto 
q Nor yet against myself, and other secured secluded and long imprisoned Members.  no evidence produced, no Accuser appearing: And yet notwithstanding, to raise an Army to compel the Parliament to expose those Members to the fury of those wicked Counsellors, that thirst for nothing more than the ruin of them and the Commonwealth: What can be more evident, than that the same is levied against the Parliament? For did they prevail in this, then by the same reason (pray observe it) They might demand 20 more, and never rest satisfied until their malice and Tyranny did devour all those Members they found cross and opposite to their lewd and wicked designs [And was not this the practice of the Army-Officers, who levied a real actual War against the Parliament? They first impeached, secluded XI. Members of the Commons-House; and some Lords soon after. An. 1647. 〈◊〉 than they secluded other Members, by their high Declaration of Aug. 18. 1647. after that they secured, imprisoned myself, with 44 Members more, and secluded the greatest part of the Commons House, leaving not above 50 or 60 at first sitting, who confederated with them, in December 1648. within two months after this, they beheaded the King; then suppressed the whole Lords House, to carry on their designs since acted: At last they dissolved their own Mock Parliaments, when they crossed their ambitious aspires: What they did in September last since this was first penned to those now sitting, is fresh in memory.] Touching the Privileges of Parliament, which the contrivers of that Declaration in his Majesty's name, (and the Contrivers of sundry 
* See that of june 14. of Aug. 2 & 18. 1647, and the Letters of july 29. 1647. The Declarations of Nou. 16. Dec. 6. 1648.  Declarations since in the Army's name, who imitated them herein.) seem to be so tender of, and to profess all conformity unto, and deny this Army to be raised in any degree to violate: we shall appeal to the judgement of any indifferent man, how little truth is contained in this their assertion, (or in the Army Officers printed Papers to the same effect.)  
The Parliament is to be considered in three several respects: First, As a Council to advise. Secondly, As a Court to judge. 3. As it is the body representative of the whole Kingdom, to make, repeal, or alter Laws: and whether the Parliament hath enjoyed its privileges in any of these respects (under the Army-Officers and powers, as well as late King) let any that hath eyes open judge.  
For the first, We dare appeal even to the Consciences of the Contrivers themselves, (and to the consciences of the Army-Officers, Soldiers, and Whitehall men themselves) whether matters of the highest importance, (witness all the public proceedings against the late Parliament, King, Peers, Government; the Wars with Scotland, Holland: their new Magna Ch●rta, repealing the old, Entitled, The Government of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, wherein they take upon them such an Omnipotent Sovereign power, as, To pass a decree upon the wavering humours of the people, and to say to this Nation, (yea to Scotland and Ireland too,) As the Almighty himself said once to the unruly Sea, 
* Job 38. 11.  Here shall be thy bounds, hitherto shalt thou come and no further; as some of them most arrogantly, if not blasphemously publish in print to all the world in their True State of the Case of the Commonwealth, p. 34. Their making of new binding Laws and Ordinances, repealing old Laws and Statutes in and by pretext of this Instrument, out of Parliament, as their manifold Whitehall Folio new Edicts, amounting to near 700 pages, attest) have not been agitated and determined (in and by the Army-Officers, General Council, and other unparliamentary Juncto's,) not only without, but contrary to their Advice, (and Votes too;) and whether private unknown Counsels (in the Army, Whitehall, and elsewhere, yea the private Counsels, Plots, conspiracies of jesuits, of Foreign Popish and Spanish Agents) have not been harkened unto, approved and followed, when the Faithful and wholesome advice of the great Counsel hath been scorned & neglected (by the Army Officers and their Confederates.) And yet none can deny, but it is one of the Principle ends why a Parliament is called, To Consult the great Affairs of the Church and State. And what miserable effects and sad events, this neglect of the great Council, and preferring of unknown and private Counsels before it, hath produced; let the present Distractions of this Kingdom bear witness, (with all the bloody, unchristian Wars, Taxes, Oppressions, Distractions, since the Army's force upon the King, Members, Houses, Anno 1647. and 1648. to this present time.)  
Concerning the Second, it sufficiently appears by the making the King's Court, by the Force and Power of the King's Army; the Sanctuary and refuge of All sorts of Delinquents against the Parliament and Kingdom, and protecting and defending them from the Justice thereof: and by admitting such to bear places of great trust in the Army, and to stand in defiance of the Parliament and the Authority thereof; (and is it not a far greater crime to make the Parliaments Army itself, a Delinquent against the Parliament and Kingdom; the sanctuary of such Delinquents against both, and to continue such Officers in places of greatest trust in the Army, who have levied actual war against the Parliament, secluded, secured members of Parliament, kept divers years under their armed guards in defiance of the Parliament, without any particular Charge or Impeachment, refusing to release them, even when the Sergeant was sent at first from the House itself, to demand the Members seized?)  
By all which it is apparent, how our Priuledges have been torn from us by piece-meals, from time to time. And we might mention many passages, whereby they were endeavoured to be 
* And are they not so now, almost past hopes of any future re-planting?  pulled up by the root, and totally subverted. As the attempt to bring up the late Army from the North to force Conditions upon the Parliament: His Majesty's Letters and Commands to the Members of both Houses (which found obedience in a great many) to attend him at York; and so, By depriving the Parliament of their Members, destroy the whole Body: (And was not the actual twice bringing up of the Parliaments own Army, by the Army Officers, against the Parliament itself, to impeach, secure some principal Members of both Houses; seclude the Majority of the Commons House, suppress the whole House of Lords; break off the Treaty, behead the King, (the 
* Modus tenendi Parliamentum. Cook 4. Instit. c. 1.  Head of the Parliament) against the Parliaments Votes, alter the Government, force conditions on the Parliament itself, to omit the 12, 21, 24, 32, 37, 38, 39 Articles of their New Government, with the secluding of all the Members lately admitted by Armed Soldiers, till they took a New Engagement, and keeping out all others) a taking of the Privileges of the Parliament from them all by Wholesale, and a more desperate pulling up by the Roots, and total subversion of all the Privileges and whole Body of the Parliament, than this objected against the Northern Army, or the King's Jesuitical ill Council?) Which is enough to prove the vanity of the Contrivers of that Declaration (and of the Army Officers too) to feed themselves with hope of belief, That the Privileges of Parliament are not Violated, but intended to be preserved, with all due observance.  
Concerning the Allegation, That the Army raised by the Parliament, is to murder the KING, (oft alleged by the 
* Exact Coll. p. 550. 595. 321, 322, 364. 618. 894, 895. 919, 920. A Collection of Ordinances, p. 28 39 116. 117.  King and his Party, in many printed PROCLAMATIONS, Declarations before and after this here mentioned) We hoped the Contrivers of that Declaration, or any that professed but the name of a Christian, could not have so little charity as to raise such a SCANDAL, especially when they must needs know, the 
* Let those who took it, remember their violations of it, & repent, See Exact Collect. p. 497, 498.  Protestation taken by every Member of both Houses (and Army Officers too) whereby they promise in the presence of Almighty God, TO DEFEND HIS MAJESTY'S PERSON. The Promise and Protestation made by the Members of both Houses upon the nomination of the Earl of Essex to be General, and to live and die with him; wherein is expressed, THAT THIS ARMY WAS RAISED FOR DEFENCE OF THE KING'S PERSON, Our oft, earnest, and most humble Address to his Majesty to leave that desperate and dangerous Army, etc. A request inconsistent with any purpose to offer the least violence to His Person, which hath, and 
* Was this verified by many of these Remonstrants?  ever shall be dear unto us.  
And concerning the imputation laid to our Charge, of Raising this Army, to Alter the whole Frame of Government and Established Laws of the Land, (which the King and his party 
* Exact Coll. P. 262. 282. 284. to 289. 297, 298. 490. 424. 500, 502, 404, 514, 517, 521, 522, 526. 528, 530, 531, 534. 550, 551, 554, 558, 561, 564, 574. A Collection, p. 117. 452, 453.  frequently objected in print) we shall need give no other Answer but this: That the Army Raised by the Parliament is to no other end, but for the Preservation of his Majesty's Person, to Defend themselves, the Laws of the Land, and the true Protestant Religion. After which, they there and elsewhere conclude. And by this time (we doubt not) but every man doth plainly discern through the Mask and Wizard of their hypocrisy, what their (the King's ill Counsels) design is, To Subject both King and Parliament and Kingdom to their needy, Ambitious, and Avaricious Spirits, and to the violent Laws, Martial law, of Governing the People by guards and by the Soldiers.  
But alas for grief, how superlatively have many of the Army Officers, and their confederate members (though parties to these Declarations and Protestations) violated them, and both Houses Faiths, Trusts, intentions, ends in raising the Army, in every of these particulars? How have they verified, justified the King's Declarations, Jealousies, concerning the Parliaments Army, in every point, here (and 
* Exact Coll. p. 688, 689. 696, 697.  elsewhere) disclaimed by both Houses? How have they exceeded, out-acted the King's Jesuitical Counsellors, and most desperate Popish Army, in violating, subverting both the Parliaments Privileges, Members and Parliaments themselves, together with our 
* So styled, Exact Col. p. 4. 12. 34. 61. 243. 262. 321. 500, 502. in the Decl. of the Lords & Commons concerning His Majesty's Proclamation. june 6. 1642. p. 4. besides the authorities in the 1. chap.  Fundamental Laws, Liberties, Government; for whose preservation they were only raised, paid? How have they pursued the Kings and his worst Jesuited Counsellors footsteps in all the charges here objected against them by both Houses, in relation to the Parliaments privileges, Members, Constitution, Rights, Laws, to their utter subversion, dissolution, and waged war against them? And doth not every man plainly discern through the Mask and Wizard of their hypocrisy, (to use both Houses expressions) that their design is just the same with that here objected by the Parliament to the Kings ill Jesuited Counsellors, and Popish army; even to subject both King, Parliament and Kingdom, to their needy, ambitious, avaritions spirits, and to the violent Laws, marshal Law, of Governing the People, (yea Parliaments themselves) by Guards, and by the Soldiers? and By Conquest to establish an absolute and unlimited power over the Parliament and good Subjects of this Kingdom; as the Houses 
* Exact Coll. p. 617. 631, 730.  elsewhere thrice objected against the late King, his Army and party: being the very design (as many wisemen fear) of the 27 Article of their New Government; to settle a constant Annual revenue for the maintenance of 20000 Foot, & 10000 Horse and Dragoones, (to be always constantly, kept up Winter and Summer, without disbanding or diminution) for the Defence and Security of England, Scotland, and Ireland? Which must henceforth be kept under by Mercenary Fo●ces, to guard of Protectors, when as the 
* Horace.  Heathen Poet assures us, ●nteger vitae scel●risque purus, non eget Mauri jaculis nec arcu; much less our English Nation, ever formerly secured by their own unmercinary Militia of the Trained Bands, and those Lords and Gentlemen who hold their Lands by Knight-service. O that they would now in the name and fear of God (as they tender the eternal salvation of their Souls, the honour and privileges of all future Parliaments, the ease, welfare, settlement of our Nation) Lay all this most seriously to their Hearts, and make it a matter of their greatest lamentation, and repentance! Besides this, have they not falsified that memorable 
* Exact Col. p. 686, to 730.  late Declaration of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, Novemb. 2. 1642. in Answer to his Majesties (well worthy perusal now) and made good (both for the time past, and all succeeding Parliaments, whiles there shall be any standing Army in England able to overpower them) all the odious, scandalous positions, in relation to the English Parliament, its Members and privileges (deduced from the King's Declaration, only by inference, but disclaimed by the King) summed up by them, in the close of that Remonstrance; and published in these ensuing terms, as will evidently appear, if applied to the Army, and their General Council of Officers, by adding or exchanging their names, only for the Kings in a parenthesis?  
1. 
* Exact coll. p. 729. See their Declarations & Papers of Aug. 7. 1647. D. c. 7. & Jan. 3. 1648 where they thus Declare and brand them.  That the King (the * Army, General, and their General Council of Officers) when he pleaseth, may declare the Major part of both Houses, (which in all sorts of Republics doth, yea ought of right to over sway the Minority, & their Votes to be firm and binding to all men, as 
* Quod pluribus visum probatumque fuerit, id in OMNIBUS REBUS-PUBLICIS VALET. In Oligarchia enim & Aristocratia, & Democratia, quod eorum qui Rempublicam gerunt, MAJORI PARTIS PLACUERIT, i. e. RATUM AC FIRMUM. Politicorum l. 4. c. 8. See 33 H. 8. c. 27.  Aristotle himself resolves;) a faction of Malignant, Schismatical, and ambitious Persons: so that all Parliaments that have been heretofore and SHALL BE HEREAFTER, AND ALL LAWS MADE IN THEM▪ may by this means be called in question at pleasure; (yea nulled and repealed for ever, as some former Parliaments have been, when held and overawed by armed power, or unduly elected, packed, summoned without Lawful Authority, or some of the Members forcibly secluded, as you may read at large in the Statutes of 21 R. 2. c. 11, 12, 16, 17, 18. 1 H. 4. c. 3. 1 H. 4. Rot. Parl. n. 22, 23, 36, 48, 66, 70. 113. 39 H. 6. c. 1. & 17 E. 4. c. 7. worthy the serious perusal of our present Grandees, and all illegitimate Parliaments, where they may read the fatal end of all new unparliamentary projects, laws, devices, wherein many now so much glory, as if they would continue form for ever: when as in a few years' space, they will all probably prove nullities, be for ever reversed; yea, branded to posterity, as most pernicious precedents.  
2. That his Majesty (the Army and their General Council) may declare what is the known Law of the Land, against the judgement of the Highest Court, and consequently of all his Courts: So that the safety and right of King and people, and THE LAW ITSELF must depend upon his Majesties (the Army, General, and their Counsels) pleasure.  
4. That as the King hath a property in his Towns, Forts, and Kingdoms; so he (the Army and their General Council) may 
* Which now they do.  dispose of them as he pleaseth; and the Representative body of the whole Kingdom may not intermeddle in discharge of his Majesties (the Armies, Generals, Counsels) trust, though by the advice of evil Councillors they see it diverted to the hazard of the public peace & safety of the Kingdom.  
5. That his Majesty (the Army, General, and their Council) or any other person, may upon suggestions and pretences of Treason, Felony, or breach of peace (or of their Trusts, a fourth 
* See their impeachment of the xi. Members, & the humble Answer of the Gen. Council & Officers of the Army, etc. Jan. 3. 1648.  Army new-minted cause) Take the Members of Parliament, without giving satisfaction to the House, whereof they are Members, of the grounds of such suggestion or accusation, and without and against their consent (as in the case of the late secured, secluded Members, and their two Junct●'s since) so they may 
* Have they not lately done so since this was penned, as well as heretofore?  Dismember a Parliament, when they please, and make it what they will, when they will.  
6. That whosoever shall follow the King (Army, General and their Council,) in the wars (against the Parliament) though it were to destroy Laws, Liberty, Religion, the Parliament itself, and the whole Kingdom; yet he shall be free from all crime or punishment. And that on the other side, to oppose by force any such force, though in the most Legal way, and by authority of the Representative body of the whole Kingdom, is to levy war against the King (Army, General) and TREASON (within the Letter of 25 E. 3. or of their new Knacks since:) So our Lands, Liberties, Lives, Religion, and Laws themselves, Whereby all the Rights both of King and People are due to them, and preserved for them, shall be at the sole will and pleasure of the Prince (Army, General, and General Council of Officers, in their new High Courts of Injustice, or other Martial Judicatories, as now they are.)  
O consider, consider seriously by these particulars, to what a sad, low, despicable condition all English Parliaments are now for ever reduced, and their pristine ancient Privileges, Honour, Freedom, Power, violently ravished from them by the late Army practices, violences, and rebellious insolences against them, never to be paralleled in any age; which hath really verified this clause in the Declaration of both Houses, 
* Exact coll. P. 496.  August 4. 1642. objected against the King and his popish Army, in relation to the Parliaments Army, purposely raised, commissioned, & engaged for their defence. That if the King (by his Army) may force this Parliament (as the Parliaments Army both forced and dissolved it) they may bid farewell to all Parliaments, for ever receiving good by them; And if Parliaments be 
* And are they not so lost now?  lost, they (the People) are lost, their Laws are lost, as well those lately made, as in former times, ALL WHICH WILL BE CUT IN SUNDER WITH THE SAME SWORD, NOW DRAWN FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS PARLIAMENT: (as we now find true by sad experience.)  

* Epistola ad solitariam Vitam agentes. Sir Christopher Sybthorpe his Reply to an Answer made by a Popish Adversary, Dublin 1625. p. 27, 28, 29.  Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria (about the year of our Lord 340.) objected this as a great crime, barbarism, cruelty, and violation of the privileges of Counsels, to the Arrian Emperor Constantius. That whensoever he called a Council or Assembly of Bishops, it was but for a show: For he would not permit them to be guided by the Ecclesiastical Canons, but his Will alone must be their only Canon. And when they advised him, not to subvert the Ecclesiastical order, nor bring the Arrian Heresy into the Church of God, he would neither hear, nor permit them to speak freely; but grievously bending his brows (if they had spoken cross to his designs) and SHAKING HIS SWORD AT THEM, COMMANDED THEM TO BE TAKEN AWAY. Whereupon he thus infers, What Liberty for persuasion, or place for advice is there left, when he that contradicteth, shall for his labour lose either his Life, or his Country? Why hath the Emperor gathered so great a number of Bishops, partly terrified with threats, partly enticed with promises, to condescend, that they will not communicate wi●h Athanasius? And Hilary Bishop of Poictou Ann. 360. in his first Book against this Tyrannical Arrian Emperor Constantius, thus censures his violent proceedings of this kind, to the subversion of the freedom and privilege of Councils and their members. Thou gatherest COUNCILS, and when they be shut up together in one City, thou TERRIFIEST THEM WITH THREATS; THOU PINEST THEM WITH HUNGER, THOU LAMEST THEM WITH COLD, (as the Army Officers did the secluded Members 6 and 7 Decemb. 1648. when they shut them up all night in Hell, on the bare boards without beds in the cold, and kept them fasting all the next day at Whitehall, till 7 a clock at night) Thou depravest them with Dissembling; O THOU WICKED ONE, what a mockery dost thou make of the Church and Counsels? Only Dogs return to their Vomit; and thou compelest the Priests of Christ, to sup up those things which they have disgorged, and commandest them in their confessions, to allow that WHICH BEFORE THEY CONDEMNED. What Bishops hand hast thou left innocent? What tongue hast thou not forced to falsehood? Whose heart hast thou not brought to the condemning of his former opinion? Thou hast subjected all to thy will, yea, to thy violence. And have not some swaying Army Officers, by their frowns, menaces, frauds, Swords, open force upon the Parliament and its Members, beyond all the precedents in any ages, done the like, and exceeded this Arrian Tyrant herein? And is it not then high time for all friends to Parliaments, to protest and provide against such detestable, treasonable violences for the future, destructive to all Parliaments, if permitted, or silently pretermitted without question, exemplary censure, righting of the imprisoned Members, or any provision to redress them for the future?  
Our prudent Ancestors were so careful to prevent all violence, force, arms, and armed men, in or near any places where Parliaments were held, to terrify, over-awe, or disturb their proceedings or Members; 
* See the Declaration of the Lords and Commons, June 6. 1642. concerning this Statute.  That in the Parliament of 7 E. 1. (as you may read in Rastals Abridgement, Armour, 1. Provision was made by the King, by common consent of the Prelates, Earls, and Barons, by a general act, That in all Parliaments, Treaties, and other Assemblies, which should be made in the Realm of England FOR EVER, every man shall come without Force, and without Armour, well and peaceably to the honour of the King, and of the peace of him, and of his Realm, and they together with the Commonalty of the Realm upon solemn advice, declared; That it belonged to the King, and his part it is by his Royal Signiory strictly to defend Wearing of Armour, and all other Force, against his peace at all times, when it shall please him (especially at such times, and in places where such Parliaments, Treaties, and Assemblies are held) and to punish them which shall do contrary according to the Laws and usage of the Realm▪ And hereunto they are bound to aid the Kind, as their Sovereign Lord, at all seasons when need shall be. Hereupon our Kings ever since this statute, by virtue thereof, and by the Law and Custom of the PARLIAMENT, (as Sir Edward Cook in his 4 Institutes c. 1. p. 14. informs us) did at the beginning of every Parliament, make a special Proclamation, Prohibiting the bearing of Arms or weapons, in or near the places, where the Parliament sat, under pain of forfeiting all they had; Of which there are sundry precedents cited by Sir Edward Cook in his Margin; whereof I shall transcribe but one (which he omits) and that is 6 E. 3. Rot. Parliament n. 2. 3. Because that before these days, at the Parliaments and Counsels of our Lord the King, Debates, Riots and commotions have risen and been moved, for that People have come to the 
* Is not the quartering of Horse and Foot in or near such places, to affright and overawe Parliaments and their Members, a Violation of this Law, Proclamation, Law and Custom of all English Parliaments, fit to be redressed?  places where Parliaments have been summoned and assembled, armed with privy coats of plate, spears, swords, long, knives, (or daggers) and other sort of arms, by which the businesses of our Lord the King and his Realm have been impeached, and the great men which have come thither by his command, have been affrighted: Our Lord the King, willing to provide remedy against such mischiefs, defendeth, that no man of what estate or condition soever he be, upon pain of forfeiting all that he may forfeit, to the King, shall be seen armed with a Coat of Male, nor yet of plate, nor with an Halberd, nor with a spear, nor sword, nor long knife, nor any other suspicious arms, within the City of LONDON, nor within the Suburbs thereof; nor any place near the said City, nor yet within the Palace of WEST MINSTER, or any place near the said Palace, by Land or Water, under the foresaid pain: except only such of the King's men as he shall depute, or by his command shall be deputed to keep the peace within the said places: and also except the King's servants, according to the Statute of Northampton. And it is not the intention of our Lord the King, that any Earl, or Baron may not have his Lance brought to him in any place, but only in the King's presence, and in the place of Council. The like Proclamations were made in the beginning of the Parliaments of 9 1●, 17, 18. 20, 25 ●dw. 3. and sundry others: more necessary to be revived in all succeeding English Parliaments now than ever heretofore, since the unpresidented forces upon the late Members of both Houses, and the Parliament itself, by the Army-Officers and Soldiers, raised to defend them from Violence: The Treasonablenesse and Transcendency whereof being at large related in my Epistle to the Reader, before my Speech in Parliament 4 December 1648, I shall not here criminally press, nor insist on, but referred them thereunto: However for the future security and freedom of our Parliaments from violence, I must crave liberty to inform these Army Parliament drivers, forcers, dissolvers, (habituated to this trade) That if the 
* Exact coll. p. 34. 56. 66, 67, 68, 76, 77, 198, 200, 201, 202, 246, 695, 723. 729.  late Kings march to the House of Commons, accompanied only with some of his Pensioners and others, armed with Pistols and Swords, merely to demand but five Members thereof to be delivered up to Justice, particularly impeached by him of High Treason some days before: to wit, 
* Let those observe this Impeachment, who are now really guilty of it in the highest degree.  That they had traitorously endeavoured to subvert the Fundamental Laws and Government of this Kingdom: To deprive the King of his Royal power: To place over the Subjects an Arbitrary and Tyrannical power, To subvert the very Rights and being of Parliaments: and by force and terror to compel the Parliament to join with them in their designs; for which end they had actually raised and countenanced Tumults against the King and Parliament.  
Or if the 
* Exact Coll. p. 118, 195, 207. to 237. 248, 273, 293. 523, 524, 525, 617, 631, 660, 695.  King's bare tampering with some Officers of his own Northern Army, to draw a Petition from them to the Houses, or march towards London from their quarters; (not to seize upon, force or dissolve the Parliament or its Members, but only to overawe them, and impeach the freedom of their debates, Votes touching Episcopacy, Church-Government, and the King's Revenues) were such high transcendent violations of the Privileges and Freedom of Parliament, and unsufferable injuries, as both Houses of Parliament separately, and jointly proclaimed them to all the world, in 
* Exact Coll. in the pages quoted before.  several Declarations, during his life; Or such capital crimes, as those who condemned and executed him for a Traitor and Tyrant, have published in their Declaration of 17 March 1648. (touching the grounds of their proceedings against him, and settling the Government in the way of a Free State, without King or House of Lords) since his beheading, in these very words. But ABOVE ALICE, the English army was laboured by the King to be engaged against the English Parliament; a thing of that strange in piety and unnaturalness for the King of England, that nothing can answer it, but his being a Foreigner; neither could it have easily purchased belief, but by his succeeding visible actions in full pursuance of the same; as the Kings coming in Person to the House of Commons, to seize the five Members, whither he was followed with some hundreds of unworthy debauched persons, armed with swords, and pistols, and other arms; and they attending him at the door of the House, ready to execute what the Leader should command them. Which they charged against the King, as the highest of his unparalleled Offences; for which they appeal to all the world of indifferent men to judge, whether they had not sufficient cause to bring him to Justice? Though neither he nor his followers then seized, secured, secluded, injured any one Member, when they thus went to the Commons House; Yea 
* Exact Coll. p. 51, 52, 54. 66, 67. and elsewhere.  presently retracted his Impeachment, and offered all satisfaction that should be desired by the House for this breach of Privilege: and though neither the Northern Army, nor their Officers ever advanced towards, or offered the least violence to the Houses, or their privileges, by Petition or otherwise.  
Then certainly the Parliaments own Armies Officers, Counsels, manifold high printed Declarations, of June 14. 23. July 7. Aug. 18. 1647. Nou. 16. & Decemb 7. 1648. and others before and since, their professed open Oppositions, Impeachments, against the very Proceedings, Votes, Orders, Ordinances, Members of both Houses of Parliament, which first raised them principally for their defence; [Printed by their order in their Book of Declarations, The History of Independency, and my Speech in Parliament,] their Impeachment of eleven Members of the House of Commons, and sundry Lords at once; their securing of above 40, and secluding of above five parts of six of the whole House of Commons at once; their 
* See their Declaration of June 23. 1647. & Aug. 18. Dec. 6. 1648  avowed marches with the whole Body of the Army, in Battalions, several times to force the Houses, seize their Members, overawe, affright, dis-member, dissolve the Parliament itself, and their own new erected Junctoes' since, and justification of it to all the world in print [in their humble Answer touching the secured and secluded Members, Jan. 3. 1648. The true state of the case of the Commonwealth of England, 1654. and their Declarations concerning their dissolution of their two Junctoes'] after these Misdemeanours of the King, without the least repentance for them, must needs be far more execrable, unwarrantable and criminal, than the Kings, and deserve a severer censure than his Peccadilioes in respect of their crimes. And if by the 
* And their General's Letter from Bedford, 29 July 1647.  whole Armies printed Remonstrances, August 2. and 18. 1647. the tumult of some unarmed London Apprentices, who offered some small force to the Houses, to the violation of their Privileges, (without securing or secluding any one Member) deserved a speedy and exemplary capital proceeding against the principal contrivers and Actors in it, 
* See a Declaration of the Gen. Council & Armies Engagements, etc. p. 49.  as they then declared, and vehemently urged again and again in those Remonstrances) Or if by their own Charge in the Name of the whole Army, June 14. 1647. against the XI. Members, it was so high an offence in them, That they jointly or severally invited, encouraged, abetted or countenanced several Reformadoes, and OTHER OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS TUMULTVOUSLY AND VIOLENTLY TO GATHER TOGETHER AT WESTMINSTER, TO AFFRIGHT & ASSAULT THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IN PASSAGES TO & FROM THE HO●SE, TO OFFER VIOLENCE TO THE HOUSE ITSELF, & BY SUCH UNRULY OUTRAGES & THREATS TO AWE AND ENFORCE THE PARLIAMENT; And that upon their bare suggestion thereof (without any proof at all, or colour of truth) they presently demanded, That the persons impeached MIGHT BE FORTHWITH SECLUDED FROM SITTING IN THE HOUSE, and removed thence, before any hearing or trial, which the Officers and Army eagerly pressed in their Paper of June 15. 1647. Nay, if by their own late printed Instrument of the Government of the Commonwealth of England, etc. Articles 14. 16. All and every person and persons, who have aided, advised, assisted, or abetted in any war against the Parliament since the first day of January, 1641. (unless they have since been in the Service of the Parliament, and given signal testimony of their good affections thereunto) shall be disabled, and be uncapable to be elected, or to give any Vote in the Election of any Member to serve in the next, or in the three succeeding triennial Parliaments: and all Votes and Elections given to the contrary, shall be null and void. And if any person so made uncapable, shall forfeit one full years value of his real estate, and one full third part of his personal estate, in case he shall give his Vote for election of Members to serve in Parliament: as they there adjudge; though such persons as they intent thus to disable, never waged any actual war against the Parliament itself, or its Members, immediately, but only against the Forces raised by the Parliament, and so mediately and indirectly only against the Parliament, (the case of all the late King's adherents and assistants, not within the letter, but meaning of these Articles:) then doubtless those Army-Officers, Soldiers, and their Confederates, who advised, sided, assisted abetted in one or more wars against the Parliament Houses, and Parliament Members themselves, whom they immediately assaulted, forced, secured, secluded, dissipated, dissolved, destroyed, and have justified it several times in print, without giving any signal testimony of their good affections to the Parliament; and in this their Instrument have laid 
* Article 10, 12, 21, 22, 24, 27, 30, 32, 36, 37, 38, 39  many Chains, clogs, restraints, on all new future Parliaments, of their own framing, inconsistent with the Honour, Freedom, Privileges, being of real English Parliaments; deserve a far higher and severer censure than these Apprentices, or impeached Members did in their repute; or those Members they most insolently accuse and impeach, in their Declarations of June 2●. and August 18. 1647. (not to be presidented in any age since the Creation, till then:) and they all are by their own Verdict, Instrument, totally disabled (as much as the archest Malignants and Cavaliers) by the very letter of these Articles, to be elected, or give any vote for the election of Members in the four next succeeding Parliaments; and those who have given their Votes in the late Elections, have thereby forfeited at least one full years value of their real, and one full third part of their personal estates; and deserve as high, (if not an higher) censure, as any sequestered, or other Delinquents condemned formerly by them, for bearing arms, levying or abetting any war, but only mediately against the Parliament; and as high an uncapacity to be put not only on themselves, but their Heir males to serve in Parliament, as the Statute of 21 R. 2. c. 6. imposed heretofore on others, for a far less offence; to secure the Members and Privileges of all succeeding Parliaments, from such unpresidented forcible violences, ruptures, dismemberings, dissolutions, as the last Parliament sustained, by the Army's outrage and confederacy against them, (of most dangerous precedent to Posterity;) of which I desire to make them truly sensible.  
The last real and 
* See Exact Collect. p. 320 321, 322. 561, the true and excellent constitution of our Parliament.  duly constituted English Parliament we had, were so deeply sensible, of the dangerous destructive Consequences of securing or secluding their Members, and keeping them from the Houses, upon any Impeachments or Surmises, without the Notice and consent of the House; that in their forementioned Remonstrance of Nou. 2. 1642. they claimed and asserted this. TO BE SO CLEAR AND ESSENTIAL A PRIVILEGE OF PARLIAMENT, 
* Exact Col! p. 723, 724. 726, 727  THAT THE WHOLE FREEDOM THEREOF DEPENDETH UPON IT. That NO MEMBER OF EITHER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT was to be proceeded against, or judged, NOR TAKEN AWAY, OR DETAINED FROM THE SERVICE OF THE HOUSE, WHEREOF HE IS A MEMBER; (no, not in case of Treason, Felony, or Breach of Peace, much less in any other) until such time as that House hath satisfaction concerning the cause: though in such cases they confessed, he might be arrested by the Officers of Parliament, or any other Ministers of justice, to the intent only, That he might be brought to the Parliament Corpus cum causa, and detained in safe custody till he may be brought to the Parliament; but not to be proceeded against in any inferior Court, before such time● as the cause be heard in Parliament, and dismissed from it. For (else) who se●s not, 
Nota.  that by this means, UNDER FALSE PRETENCES OF CRIMES AND ACCUSATIONS, SUCH AND SO MANY MEMBERS OF BOTH OR EITHER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT MAY BE TAKEN OUT OF IT AT ANY TIME, BY ANY PERSONS TO SERVE A TURN, AND TO MAKE A MAJOR PART OF WHOM THEY WILL AT PLEASURE. And as the grand Inquest of the whole Kingdom should be (by this means) subject to the grand Inquest of one particular County; So the whole Representative Body of the Kingdom should be at the Devotion of a Middlesex jury, (as since of their own Army, raised to protect them from these mischiefs.) And therefore, as THE FREEDOM OF PARLIAMENTS DEPENDETH IN A GREAT PART UPON THEIR PRIVILEGES, AND THE FREEDOM OF THIS NATION UPON THE FREEDOM OF PARLIAMENTS, 
Nota.  WE HAVE GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE, that the People of England knowing their Lives and Fortunes are bound up in this bundle, will venture their Lives and Fortunes in this Quarrel: Which I entreat all those who have so highly infringed this principle Privilege of Parliament of late years, with all the people of England now seriously to consider, to vindicate, preserve it in all succeeding ages from the like violations, if ever they expect to be Freemen, or to enjoy free English Parliaments again; 
* Exact Coli. p. 561.  which are such an ESSENTIAL PART OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE KINGDOM, that we can attain TO NO HAPPINESS WITHOUT THEM, and like Hipocrates twins, We must laugh and cry, LIVE AND DIE TOGETHER WITH THEM.  
Now farther to convince the Army-Officers, Soldiers, of their late great injustice to, and affronts, contempts against the Parliament which raised them, in relation to our ancient fundamental Government and chief Member of the Parliament; I shall desire them and all their confederates in cold blood, seriously to consider, whether they have not, by their undutiful, violent proceedings against them, contrary to the Votes, Declarations, Remonstrances of the PARLIAMENT, endeavoured (as much as in them is) to falsify this clause in both House's Declaration Nou. 2. 1642 
* Exact Coll. p. 696.  Although they would persuade his Majesty, That there is little confidence to be placed in our Modesty and Duty; yet, AS GOD IS WITNESS OF OUR THOUGHTS, SO SHALL OUR ACTIONS WITNESS TO ALL THE WORLD; that TO THE 
* How much it and they have been dishonoured by the contrary, let the Army Officers read at leisure in Militiere his Victory of Truth.  HONOUR OF OUR RELIGION, and OF THOSE WHO ARE MOST ZEALOUS IN IT (so much strucken at by the contrivers of that Declaration, under odious names) we shall suffer more for and from our Sovereign, than we hope God will ever permit the malice of evil Counsellors to put us to: And although the happiness of this and all Kingdoms dependeth chiefly upon God; Yet WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT DOTH SO MAINLY DEPEND UPON HIS MAJESTY, 
Nota.  and THE ROYAL BRANCHES OF THAT ROOT, that as WE HAVE HERETOFORE, SO WE SHALL HEREAFTER, esteem no hazard too great, no reproach too vile; but that we shall willingly go through the one, and undergo the other, That we, and the WHOLE KINGDOM MAY ENJOY THAT HAPPINESS, which we cannot in an ordinary way of providence expect FROM ANY OTHER FOUNTAIN OR STREAM, 
Nota.  than those from whence (were the poison of evil Counsels once removed from about them) no doubt, but we and THE WHOLE KINGDOM SHOULD BE SATISFIED MOST ABUNDANTLY. And on the contrary, have they not fully and actually verified, in respect of themselves and their Confederates in the Houses, this Odious aspersion, than (only in prediction) cast by the KING on the PARLIAMENT, but by them at that time renounced with greatest detestation; and drawn those sad consequences on the whole Kingdom, wherewith both HOUSES conclude that Declaration in these words?  
7. 
* Exact Coll. p. 730.  That the Representative Body of the whole Kingdom (since dissolved by the Army) is a Faction of Malignant, Schismatical, ambitious Persons, whose DESION IS AND ALWAYS HATH BEEN TO ALTAR THE WHOLE FRAME OF GOVERNMENT, BOTH OF CHURCH AND STATE, AND TO SUBJECT BOTH KING AND PEOPLE TO THEIR OWN LAWLESS ARBITRARY POWER AND GOVERNMENT, and that they DESIGN THE RUIN OF HIS MAJESTY'S PERSON and OF MONARCHY ITSELF: and consequently that they are TRAITORS and all the Kingdom with them, (for their act is the act of the whole Kingdom) And whether their punishment and ruin may not also INVOLVE THE WHOLE KINGDOM IN CONCLUSION, AND REDUCE IT INTO THE CONDITION OF A CONQUERED NATION (as some ARMY OFFICERS, & SOLDIERS openly aver we are now reduced to by and under them) NO MAN CAN TELL: BUT EXPERIENCE SHOWETH US (and now we find it most true in the 
* Who in their Letters of July 18. 1647. Propositions of Aug. 2. and other of their Declarations, professed to all the world, That it was fully agreeable to all their Principles, & should be their desires and endeavours to maintain Monarchy, the Privileges and Freedom of the Parliament; and the Rights of his Majesty and Royal Family, that so a lasting Peace and Agreement might be settled in this Nation, etc. Which otherwise, they confessed then in good earnest, could not be hoped for, nor expected. Whence they entitled their Printed Book, A Declaration of the Engagements, Remonstrances, Representations, Proposals, Desires, and Resolution from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fair●ax, and THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE ARMY, FOR SETTLING OF HIS MAJESTY IN HIS JUST RIGHTS, THE PARLIAMENT IN THEIR JUST PRIVILEGES, and THE SUBJECTS IN THEIR LIBERTIES AND FREEDOMS: Printed by their and the Lords House special Order London 1647. Let them now seriously consider and perform it in good earnest.  ARMY-OFFICERS, COUNCIL, SOLDIERS) THAT SUCCESS OFTEN DRAWS MEN NOT ONLY BEYOND THEIR PROFESSION; but also many times beyond their first intentions.  
Surely as the Armies and their Confederates late proceedings in relation to themselves, (though not unto the forced, dismembered, dissolved Parliament, and secured Members) have fully verified this charge in every particular, then reputed most false and scandalous; which I thus press upon their consciences at this time, and so largely insist on, not to defame or asperse them to the world, as many others do, who apply that black Character of jer. 9 2. to 6. c. 12. 6. Rev. 3. 10. to 19 (They are all an ASSEMBLY OF TREACHEROUS MEN: Thine habitation is in the MIDST OF DECEIT, etc. Destruction and Misery are in their ways, and the way of Peace they have not known; there is no fear of God before their eyes) unto them in a more eminent manner, as being really verified by their unparallelled exorbitances formentioned; but to vindicate the Innocency, Integrity of the Majority and secluded Members of both Houses, against the scandalous printed aspersions of Militiere and other Papists, to preserve and justify the Honour of our Reformed Religion, and of the most zealous Professors thereof; to restore, re-establish if possible, the Privileges, the Freedom of all Future Parliaments, much impaired, endangered by their heady violent Proceedings, and most pernicious Precedents to Posterity (if not publicly abominated, exploded by them, or exemplarily punished (to deter all others from their future imitation) to convince them by what Jesuitical, Popish, old Court-Principles, Counsels, Practices, they have hitherto been misguided; and to reclaim them, as much as in me lieth, for the future, from the like destructive. Practices, for the public Safety, Peace, Settlement of our distracted Kingdoms; and do most earnestly beseech them, as they are Englishmen, Soldiers, Christians, seriously to repent of and lay to heart, lest they perish eternally for them at last; as likewise to take heed, lest by teaching and instigating the Common Soldiers of the Army, to suppress, oppress, betray the Parliament, Kingdom, People, who raised, paid, and entrusted them only for their safeguard and defence, they do not thereby instruct and encourage them at last to betray and destroy themselves; it being a true observation of 
* De Clement. l. 1. c. 26.  Seneca the Philosopher, Aliquando Tyrannorum praefidia in ipsos consurrexerunt. PERFIDIAMQVE ET IMPIETATEM ET FERITAREM, ET QVICQVID AB ILLIS DIDICERANT, IN IPSOS EXECRERUNT: Quid enim potest ab eo quisquam sperare, QVEM MALUM ESSE DOCVIT? Non diu paret, nequitia, nec quantum jubetur, peccat; as we have seen by many late precedents: So the Army-Officers, Soldiers Great Successes in all their Wars, Designs, and forcible ill Proceedings against the King, Parliament, Kingdom, Government, Laws and Liberties; as it hath caused them not only beyond their Professions, but also beyond their first Intentions, Commissions, Protestations, to forget that Gospel-precept given to Soldiers, Luke 3. 14. to advance themselves to a more absolute Sovereign arbitrary Power over them, than ever any Kings of England claimed or pretended to, (as their late Proceedings, Remonstrances, and transcendent Instrument of the Government of the three Kingdoms, manifest;) so it hath been the 
f Psal. 37▪ 7 Psal. 73. 3, etc. Eccles. 8. 11, 12.  principal Ground, whereby they have justified all their unpresidented forementioned Exorbitances, as lawful, commendable, Christian: and that which hath struck such a stupifying panic fear, such a stupendious cowardice, baseness, sottishness, into the Generality of the Nobility, Gentry, Ministry, and Commons of our late most heroic English Naton, that there is scarce 
t Ez●k. 22. 30.  a man to be found throughout the Realm of any Eminency (though we should seek after him like Diogenes, with a Candle) that dares freely open his mouth against their most irregular, illegal, violent, destructive arbitrary Proceedings, Usurpations, Innovations, Oppressions, Taxes, Projects, to the shaking and utter subverting of our ancient Fundamental Laws, Liberties, Rights, Properties, Parliaments, Parliamentary privileges, Government, and taking away of the very Lives of some (and thereby endangering the Lives of all other) English Freemen of all Degrees, in mischristened High Courts of Justice. Such a strange Charm is there in Success alone, to metamorphize Men into mere 
v See 2 King. 10. 1, to 12. Esth. 8. 17.  temporizing, slavish, sordid sots and beasts; yea, to cause not only persons truly honourable, but the very 
x Deut. 32. 17. 1 Cor. 10. 20. Rev. 9 20. Ephes. 2. 2.  Devil himself, and the worst of beasts, to be wondered after, applauded, adored, not only as Saints, but Gods. We read Rev. 13. of a Monstrous deformed BEAST, to whom the Dragon (the Devil) gave his Power, Seat and Great Authority; whereupon, all the world wondered after the Beast, and worshipped not only the Dragon, that gave him power, but the Beast likewise; saying, Who is like unto the Beast? WHO IS ABLE TO MAKE WAR WITH HIM? And there was given unto him a Mouth speaking Great things, and blasphemies, and power was given him to continue and make war forty and two months. And power was given unto him to make war with the SAINTS, AND TO OVERCOME THEM; and power was given him over all Kindred's, and Tongues, and Nations. And (HEREUPON IT FOLLOWS) all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. And another Beast (under him) caused the earth and all that dwell therein to set up the Image of this Beast, and to worship it; and he caused all both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive the ma●k of the Beast in their right hand, and in their foreheads; and none might buy or sell, but he that had this mark; and as many as would not worship this Beast's Image, were ordered to be killed. Yet this Blasphemous Beasts reign and power continued but forty two Months, Rev. 13. 5. This Beast, (in the height of his Power and Victories) was by God himself, threatened to go into captivity, and be killed with the Sword, as he had led others into captivity, and killed them with the Sword, ver. 10. All his followers and worshippers shall (soon after) drink of the wine of God's wrath, and be tormented with fire and brimstone, etc. Rev. 14. 9, 10, 11. The Saints at last shall get the victory over this Beast, Rev. 15. 2. And the Beast himself (notwithstanding all his former Victories, Friends, and great Armies) was at last taken, and his false Prophet with him; and were both cast alive into a lake burning with fire and brimstone, and all his Forces were slain with the Sword, and the fowls were filled with their flesh, Rev. 19 18 19, 20, 21. From which Texts I have frequently silenced, confounded some of our conquering Army-Officers and Soldiers, whiles prisoner under them, when they were vapouring of their Great Victories, Successes, and concluding from thence, both their Saintship, and the Goodness of their Actions; saying ofttimes like the Beasts followers here, Who is able to make war with us? And that with these genuine deductions from these Texts, which they could not reply against; worthy all Soldiers and others saddest meditations.  
1. That God may, nay ofttimes doth give great power to the very worst and most blasphemous of all Men and Beasts; & that not only over one or two, but many Tongues, Nations, as in this Text, and Dan. 7. 3, to 29. c. 8. 4. to 27.  
2. That such Beasts many times may, and do not only make war with, but even overcome the very Saints themselves in battle, as the Babylonians, Assyrians, and other ungodly Beasts did the Israelites, Gods own Saints and People, Psa. 79. 1, 2, etc. Dan. 7. 21, 23, 24, 25. Isa. 10. 5, etc. c. 14. 16, 17. Jer. 26. 6, 7, 8. c. 25. 9 etc. yet they were but blasphemous Beasts, and wretches still, not Saints.  
3. That if such Beasts have but Great Power and Success in their Wars, Enterprises against their Enemies, or the Saints themselves; though their mouths utter blasphemy against the God of Heaven, his Name, Tabernacle, Saints; though their Actions, Designs be never so impious, atheistical, treasonable, detestable: their power but short and fading, yet whiles they are in Power and Prosperity, the whole world will wonder, run after, worship, flatter, Saint, Deify and Adore them for Gods, (as 
y Plutarch Arrianus, Quintus Curtius, Suetonius, Grimston, in the life of Alexander, and Julius Caesar, Balaeus, his Lives of the Popes. Mornyes Mystery of Iniquity.  Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar's friends, flatterers did them; and some wicked Pope's Favourites them too;) yea, set up, and worship their very Images, receive their marks in their hands, foreheads, and extol them to the skies, saying, Who is like unto the Beast? who is able to make war with him?  
4. That such adulatious Speeches, Vaunts, Practices as these, and such Arguments of Saintship, of the Goodness of men's causes, undertake, actions, only from their present Power, Victories and Successes, are the arguments, practices, of worldly, earthly, beastly men; of worshippers of the Beast and Dragon of 
z 2 King. 18. 33, 34, 35. c. 19 17, 18, 19 Isa. 10. 7. to 16.  Assyrians, Turks, Popes, not of the Elect real Saints of God, Whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of life; who will neither flatter, worship, nor adore such Beasts, nor receive their marks in their hands or fireheads, though they be prohibited to buy or sell, or slain for refusing it by their Instruments, Rev. 13. 8, 15, 17. Dan. 3. 12. to 29.  
5. That such Beasts in power, will never want under-Beasts and Instruments, nor yet 
a Rev. 13. 1. to 18. c. 16. 13. 14. c. 19, 20. 1 King. 22. 6. to 24.  false Prophets to persuade or enforce Obedience and Subjection to them, even by dis-franchisements, death, lying wonders, flattering Prophecies, Speeches, Sermons, and Hypocritical Mock-fasts.  
6. That the Power and Dominion of such Beasts, is given and derived to them immediately by the Dragon (the 
b Ephes. 2. 2.  Prince of the power of the Air) only by God's permission, not his approbation; Rev. 13. 2. Hos. 8. 4. 2 Thess. 2. 4, 8 9 And that in wrath, for the punishment of the People's sins, and destruction, greater condemnation of the beasts themselves at last. Hos. 13. 11. Rev. 13. and 14, and 19 Psal. 94, 23. jer. 51. 24, etc. c. 5 ●. throughout. Hab. 2. 6, 7, 8.  
7. That this their Dominion, Reign and Triumph, is commonly very short, like this Beasts here for forty two Months, Rev. 13. 5. which is but three years and an half 
c Paterculus, Pluta●●h, Su●tomus, Antonni Chronica, Grimston, and others, in hi● Life. Jacobus Usserius Ann●lium pars posterior, p. 366, 367.  Julius Caesar that great first Conqueror of this Island and a great part of the World; usurping the supreme Power over the Roman Senate, and changing the Government, lived only FIVE MONTHS A SOVEREIGN LORD IN PEACE (though some compute his whole dominion 3 years and 7 months) and then was suddenly stabbed to death in the Senate-House, by those friends in whom he reposed greatest trust; for his Tyrannical Usurpations, and alteration of their former Government; for endeavouring (as was suspected) to make himself KING OF THE ROMANS, (though he rejected the Title of King when offered unto him by M. Antonius, saying, That Jove was only King of the Romans, that so he might seem to be compelled to receive it by the people, (being their King before in deed, though not in name:) and for saying, That the 
* Do not some now by words and deeds, repute it and the People so?  Commonwealth was but a Voice or Name, without a Body or Substance. Nullum violentum est diuturnum, See Isa. 10, and 14. job. 20. 4, 5, etc. Psal. 37 and 73. Psal. 92. 6, 7. Isa. 17, 13, 14. 2 Chron. 23. and Sir Walter Rawlies Preface to his History of the World, worthy serious perusal by the Grandees of these times.  
8. That in conclusion such Conquering, Usurping Beasts, notwithstanding all their Power, Friends, Follower's, Confederates, Armies, Policies, are usually conquered, taken, slain on Earth, and cast into the Lake burning with fire and brimstone for ever, for their Tyrannies, Blasphemies, Bloodsheds Oppressions of the People and God's Saints, and their Confederates, Armies, false Prophets, followers, adorers 
* See Mat. West. an. 655. 1 Kings 16. 2 Kings 15. 2. Chron. 13. 17, 18, 19, 20. and our King Richard the third.  destroyed with them even on earth; and then made to drink the Cup of God's wrath, fury and torments for ever in hell, Isa. 10, and 14. Jer. 50. and 51. Rev. 19 19 20, 21. c. 6. 15, 16, 17.  
9 That though they continue Conquerors and victorious for many years; and conquer not only, one, two or three, but many Kings and Kingdoms; cut off not only the thumbs of their Kings, that they might not lift up a Sword against them, and their great toes, that they may not run from them, but their Heads too; Yet God at last (in his retaliating Justice) doth usually pay them home in their own coin, as is evident, not only by 
* See the Turkish History in his life.  Bajazet the Turkish Emperor, our 
* See Huntingdon, Mat. west. An. 655. Grafton, Speed, Holinshed, Fabian Brompton, in the life of Penda.  King Penda, (who slew no less than 5. Christian Kings in several battles, took sundry other King's prisoners, and at last was slain himself, with all his old victorious Captains and Soldiers, by King Oswi, and a small despicable Army of raw Soldiers, not half so many as they, Ann. 655. who thereupon seized on his Kingdom) and others in profane Stories; but by that memorable History of 
d Judg. 1. 2. to 8.  Adonibezeck; who after his Conquest of no less than seventy Kings, (who ever in this latter age, conquered one quarter so many?) and tyrannising over their persons, was, by a small party of Judah and Simeon, fought with on his own dunghill, his victorious old Army totally routed, ten thousand of them slain, himself forced to fly, pursued, and taken prisoner by these contemptible Enemies, who cut off his thumbs and his great toes. Whereupon Adoni-bezek (though an idolatrous Canaanite) used these memorable words, worthy all conquerors and Tyrants memorial; recorded by God himself to all Posterity, judges 1. 7. Threescore and ten Kings having their thumbs, and their great toes cut off, have gathered their meat under my table (like so many Dogs rather than Kings) AS I HAVE DONE, SO GOD HATH REWARDED ME: and they brought him (Prisoner) to jerusalem, and there he died. See the like retaliation threatened, inflicted. Hab. 2. 6, 7, 8. Isa. 33. 1. Dan. 7. 23. to 27. Obad. 15. Ezech. 35. 5, 6, 15. Rev. 16. 5. 6. jer. 51, and 52. Nah. 3. 1. etc. Rev. 13. 10. joel 3. 6, 7, 8. Deut. 32. 43. Isa. 10. & 14. 2 Chron. 22. 10. compared with c. 23. 12. to the end.  
10. That the Elect Saints of God, do by faith in the Word of God, and upon consideration of the usual Providence and Justice of God towards such Beasts and bloody Conquerors, most assuredly see their downfall, and with patience expect it, Rev. 13. 9, 10. If any man have an ear let him hear. 
e See Joel 3. 6, 7, 8. Mat. 26. 52. Sir Walter Raleigh's Preface to his History of the World, & Dr. Beards Theatre of God's Judgements, on the 6 and 8 Commandments.  HE THAT LEADETH INTO CAPTIVITY, SHALL GO INTO CAPTIVITY; HE THAT KILLETH WITH THE SWORD, MU BE KILLED WITH THE SWORD: Here is THE PATIENCE AND THE FAITH OF THE SAINTS. O that we had this Patience and Faith within us now!  
11. That upon this Faith and Assurance, the true Elect Saints of God, neither will, nor do, nor dare to admire after, follow, worship or adore such B●asts, or their Image, nor receive their marks in their hands, or foreheads, though all the world else readily do it without opposition; enduring patiently rather to be warred upon, killed, secluded from buying or selling any thing, then unchristianly to adore, subject, or enslave themselves unto them, Rev. 13. 2, 15, 17. Esther 3● 1, to 7. 2 Kings 3. 13, 14. john 10. 4, 5. Dan. 3. 4. to 30. 1 King. 19 18. 2 Chron. 11. 13. to 18.  
Which serious seasonable considerations, as they should daunt the hearts and allay the high Presumptuous Spirits of the most Successful Conquerors, Powerful Usurpers over and violent Invaders of the Liberties, Lives, Estates, Rights, Properties of their Lawful Superiors or Christian Brethren, and all Subverters of the Laws, Privileges, Parliaments, Government of their Native Country, especially against their Oaths and Trusts: So the Meditation on them, together with the contemplation of the infinite Power, Wisdom, Faithfulness, justice, Holiness, Presence, and gracious Promises of God, have at all times and seasons hitherto, invincibly animated, steeled, fortified my Soul in the midst of all my sufferings, both under the domineering Prelates, Parliament-assaulting Army-Officers, the late Tyrannical cashiered Republicans, and all other self-created oppressing Powers, which (if not already dead and buried in the dust, with all their thoughts and high aspiring Projects,) yet shall certainly 
f Isa. 51. 6. 12. c. 26. 13, 14. Psal. 82. 7. Psal. 146. 354.  die ere long like men, and become us dung; yea, they have enabled me by Faith and Patience to be 
g Rom. 8. 36. 37. Psal. 3. 6.  more than a conquering triumpher over them: and to sing aloud with magnanimous David (a man after Gods own heart) long before their down-fall, Psal. 27. 1, 2, 3. The Lord is my Light and my Salvation, wh●m shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an Host should encamp against me (as they did at Westminster, at my House, and in sundry Garrisons, where I was a Prisoner under Soldiers) my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this I will be confident. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about. And to cry out in Paul's words of defiance against all Enemies and Perils in the cause of my God and Country (uttered in his own and all true Elected Saints names) Rom. 8. 35, etc. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (or our Native Country, as well actively as passively considered;) Shall tribulation? or distress? or persecution? or famine? or peril? or SWORD? (of an whole Army, or other Powers) Nay, in all these things we are more than Conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor PRINCIPALITIES, NOR POWERS, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ jesus our Lord. And to say with him in all threatened Dangers for my sincere conscientious public Services, Act. 20. 22. 24. And now I go bound to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall there befall me, save, that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City, saying; That Bonds and Afflictions wait for me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto me, so ●s I may finish my course with joy, and the Ministry which I have received of the Lord jesus, etc. And verily me thinks the serious contemplation thereof, and of all the premises, with that of 2 Sam. 10. 12. Isa: 51. 12. 13. jer. 1. 8. Ezech. 2▪ 2, to 6. Matth. 10. 26. 28 coupled with Psal. 11. 2. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? Prov. 24. 22, 23. My Son, fear thou the Lord and the King, AND MEDDLE NOT WITH THOSE WHO ARE GIVEN TO CHANGE; For their calamity shall rise suddenly (which we have seen verified in many late Changers, Mock Parliaments, and self created new Powers,) and wh● knoweth the ruin of them both? should now at last banish all base carnal fears out of all timorous hearts, rouse up the languishing, fearful, dead, stupid Spirits of our degenerated English Nation, and engage them all unanimously, undauntedly to claim, vindicate, regain, re-establish those ancient undoubted Hereditary Fundamental Rights, ●iberties, Privileges, Franchises, Laws, Government, (purchased with their Ancestors & their own dearest Blood, sweat, Treasures) which belong to the whole Kingdom; to all true English Parliaments, Freemen in general, and to every of them in particular; whereof they have of late years been forcibly disseised, or hypocritically cheated by pretended Patrons, Preservers, and Propuguers of them; the substance whereof I have here set before their eyes in ten brief Propositions, and by Records, Statutes, Precedents, Histories, Contests, Resolutions in all ages, undauntedly, (as their Common Advocate) asserted, fortified to my power, for their Encouragement and precedent in this public work. And if they will now but courageously second me herein, with their joyn●, bold, rightful Claims, Votes, Declarations, and Resolute Demands of all and every of their enjoyments, and future inviolable Establishments; with strenuous Oppositions of all illegal perpetual Imposts, Excises, Contributions, Payments (the chief nerves and cords to keep them still in bondage by Mercenary Forces, supported only by them to keep them still in slavery) according to their Oaths, Vows, Protestations, Duties, manifold late Declarations, Remonstrances, Solemn League, Covenant, and the encouraging memorable Precedents of their Ancestors in former ages here, recorded; I dare assure them (by God's blessing) a desired good-Success, whereof their 
* See Part. 1. p, 14, 15, 16.  Ancestors never failed: no mortal Powers nor Armies whatsoever, having either Impudence or Ability enough to deny, detain them from them, if they will but 
b See 1 Sam. 8. 4, to 22. ch. 12. 2. 2 Sam. 18. 2, 3, 4. Jer. 38. 5.  generally, unanimously, courageously, importunately claim and demand them as their Birthrights. But if they will still basely disown, betray, and cowardly desert both them and their Assertors, and leave them to a single combat with their combined Jesuitical enemies (whom none take care to discover, suppress or banish out of our Realms, where they now swarm more than ever) and Armed Invaders; the Fate of our old English Britons, when they improvidently neglected to unite their Counsels, Forces against, and fought only singly with the invading united Armies of the Romans, is like to be England's condition now; 
i Tac●●us in vita Agricole.  Dum pugnant singuli, vincunntur universi: the single Champions of our Liberties, Laws, Rights, will be easily overpowered, destroyed, for the present; and all others (by their unworthy Treachery and Baseness, in not adhering to, but abandoning their present Patrons) discouraged, disabled to propugne, regain them for the future: and the whole Kingdom vanquished, yea enslaved for eternity in all humane probability, to those who have broken your 
k Jer. 28. 13, 14.  former yokes of wood, but instead thereof have made for, and put upon you yokes of Iron: and by the Jesuits Machiavilian Plots and Policies, will reduce you by degrees under a mere Papal yoke at last, having deeply leavened many in power and arms, with their forementioned most desperate Jesuitical Positions, Practices and Politics, which will soon usher in the whole body of Popery, and all damnable Heresies whatsoever, by degrees, to the ruin of our Religion, as well as Laws and Liberties.  
Wherefore, seeing it neither is, nor can be reputed Treason, Felony, Sedition, Faction, nor any Crime at all, but a commendable bounden Duty, to which our Protestations, Oaths, Leagues, Covenants, Reason, Law, Conscience, our own private and the public Interest, Safety of the Nation engage us, for all and every Freeborn Englishman, jointly and severally to claim, maintain, preserve, by all just, honourable, public and private ways they may, their unquestionable Hereditary Birthrights, Laws, Liberties, Parliamentary Privileges, etc. here asserted and presented to them, after so much Blood, Treasure, Labour spent to rescue them out of the hands of old and late oppressing Tyrants; nor any Offence at all, but a praiseworthy service now in me, or any other, publicly to encourage them to this duty, (and the strenuous defence of our endangered undermined Protestant Religion, subverted with our Laws & Liberties, and living or dying together with them) at this present season, as I have done heretofore upon all occasions; And seeing none can justly censure them or me, for discharging our Oaths, Consciences, Covenants, Protestations, Duties in this kind, but such as shall thereby declare themselves Public Enemies and Traitors to the whole Nation, Laws, Government, Parliaments of England, as the Resolutions, Precedents, 
* Part. 1. ch. 1.  herein cited, yea their own best friends, (and our 
† See the Homilies against Disobedience, & wilful Rebellion.  Reformed Religion too) have already adjudged them: And seeing 
* A Declaration of the Egagements, Remonstrances, & Resolutions of Sir Tho. Fanfax, & the General Council of the Army, London, 1647. p. 150.  Sir Thomas Fairfax and the General Council of his Army, held at Putney Sept. 9 1647. in their Declararation, concerning THE FUNDAMENTAL AUTHORITY & GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDON; printed by their appointment, in these words: Whereas a Member of the General Council of this ARMY, hath publicly declared and expressed himself, THAT THERE IS NO VISIBLE AUTHORITY IN THE KINGDOM, BUT THE POWER & FORCE OF THE SWORD, (as others of them say since, and now both by words and deeds, without control.) We therefore the said GENERAL COUNCIL (to testify. How far OUR HEARTS & MINDS ARE FROM ANY DESIGN OF SETTING UP THE POWER OF THE SWORD ABOVE OR AGAINST THE FUNDAMENTAL AUTHORITY & GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM & OUR READINESS TO MAINTAIN AND UPHOLD THE SAID AUTHORITY:) have by a Free Vo●e (in the said Council, no man contradicting) judged the said Member, TO BE EXPELLED THE SAID COUNCIL. Which we hereby thought fit to publish, as A CLEAR MANIFESTATION OF OUR DISLIKE & DISAVOWING SUCH PRINCIPLES OR PRACTICES, (which notwithstanding they have since avowed pursued in the highest degree; and I desire them now to repent of▪ reform, and really make good) have engaged to maintain and propugne with their Swords, what I here endeavour to defend, support, with my Pen. And seeing they entitled their Printed Papers, A Declaration of the Engagements, Remonstrances, Reprèsentations, Proposals, Desires, and Resolutions, from his Excellency Sir Tho: Fairfax, and THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE ARMY, for settling OF HIS MAJESTY IN HIS JUST RIGHTS, The PARLIAMENT in their JUST PRIVILEGES, and the SUBJECTS in their LIBERTIES & FREEDOMS. Also Representations of THE GRIEVANCES OF THE KINGDOM, & REMEDIES PROPOUNDED, for REMOVING THE PRESENT PRESSURES WHEREBY THE SUBJECTS ARE BURDENED (and EXCISES, TAXES amongst the rest) And the Resolutions of the Army, For the establishment of a firm & lasting peace IN CHURCH & KINGDOM, printed by their own, and the Lords House special Order, London 1647: the selfsame things I here contend, plead for, (which I wish they would now really make good by their future consultations and actions to avoid the just censures of mere Hypocrites and Impostors, as the whole World will else repute them.) I shall therefore exhort not only the whole Army, Army-Officers, and their General Council; but likewise the whole English Nation, and all real Lovers of their own or their Country's Liberties, Peace, Laws, Ease, Safety, Religion, and future establishment in this common Cause, in the words of the Philistines one to another in a time of need, when they were greatly afraid, 1 Sam. 4. 9 Be strong and 
l 1 Cor. 16. 13.  quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servant to the Hebrews, as they have been to you● quit yourselves like men, fight, etc. That so (as the Apostle writes in the like case, Phil. 1. 27, 28.) Whether I come and see you, or be absent from you▪ I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel; (and the ancient Fundamental Laws, Liberties, Rights, Privileges, Parliaments, Government and Religion of our Realm, which the Jesuits and their Instruments make their Masterpiece totally to undermine and subvert) And in nothing terrified by your Adversaries, which is to them an evident token of Perdition, but to you of Salvation, and that of God. If the Precedents of your renowned Ancestors here recorded; the Patterns of 
m Recorded in Livy, Tully, Plutarch, Valerius Maximus, and others. Recta honesta digna Imperio, digna populo Romano, omnia pericula pro Republica subire, mori pro patria. Cicero de Finibus bonorum, etc. p. 365. and Tus●c. Q●●aest. p. 445.  many gallant Pagan Romans, Grecians, who have spent their Lives, for their Countries, Laws, Liberties; Or if my example and these my Lucubrations shall provoke you hereunto; I shall think my labour well bestowed; and you and your Posterities worthy to live like English-Freemen. But if you will now neither manfully demand, speak, nor contend for them any more, out of a slavish fear of a prevailing Army raised only for their just defence, or any other humane Powers whatsoever; nor once adventure with united Spirits now at last, so much as confidently, boldly to ask these your unquestionable Birthrights at the Thrones of any mortal Grandees, your Fellow-Subjects, when God Almighty himself commands you, to come with boldness to his celestial Throne of Grace, that you may obtain (not mere right as here, but) Mercy itself, and Grace to help in time of need, Heb. 4. 16. Qui timide rogat, docet negare; you can neither hope for, nor ever obtain them for the future, but deserve eternally to forfeit them, and you and yours to be made slaves for ever: However I (though these Collections prove successless) shall carry this as a comfortable Cordial with me to my grave, That I have faithfully discharged my Conscience and bounden Duty to my degenerous Native Country, by endeavouring all I could both to make and preserve it free indeed; to detect and prevent all Jesuitical Plots and Practices, to undermine, embroil, divide, subvert, ruin it; and used my utmost sincerest constant endeavours in my place and calling herein. But if through the Malice, Tyranny or Injustice of any prevailing Enemies of public Freedom, or Jesuitical Agents, I shall chance to suffer for it in any kind, (as I have formerly done for most of my public services of this nature) be it close-imprisonments, Fines, Pillories, Stigmatizing or Death itself; I shall only say beforehand, as Gregory the Great did heretofore: Indict. 2. Epist. 78. In causa qua Deo place●e cupio, homines non formido: and as noble Heroick Esther did, in a like public case for her endangered captivated Nation, 
n Esth. 4. 16.  If I perish, I perish: and this my unrighteous suffering, shall be a new Glorious permissive, ordering, overruling Providence, doth no ways justify nor extenuate the guilt of any Traitors, Rebels, Murderers, Conspirators sins▪ Treasons, Rebellions, Murders, Regicides, Conspiracies, Rapines, Oppressions, or Wicked Devices, which he permits them to plot, act, accomplish; so it doth in no wise exempt them in Gods or men's esteem from being the true Original Plotters, Contrivers, and immediate instrumental Actors of them; nor from the divine or humane Punishments which they in justice demerit; as is most evident by Gen. 50. 15. to 21. Psal. 37. 7. 9 Prov. 24. 10, 21, 22. job 20. 5, 6, etc. 1 Kings 12. 12. to 25. c. 15. 23. to 30. c. 16. 1. to 30. specially ver. 7, 8. 2 Kings 11. 1. to 17. c. 14. 5, 6. c. 15. 8. to 32. c. 17. 21, 22. 1 Sam. 8. 2 Sam. 1. 2. to 17. c. 4. throughout. Hos. 1. 4. c. 8. 4, 5. Isay 29. 15, 16 c. 10. 5, 6, 7, etc. Acts 1. 16. to 21. c. 2. 23. 1 Thess. 2. 14, 15, 16. Mat. 27▪ 3, 4, 5. compared together. And if we should look upon all our late Changes, Revolutions in our Kingdoms, Government, Church, Parliaments, Religion, Laws, (wrought by the Jesuits and their Instruments) as the mere wonderful immediate Productions and Glorious Operations of God himself in the world, and upon the instruments employed in them, only as Gods own precious chosen Saints and Servants, accomplishing nothing but his own determinate Will, Providence, Council, (though to satisfy their own ambition, covetousness, malice, rapine, bloodthirstiness, lusts) as many now proclaim them, and not as Conspirators, Treacherous, Perfidious, Pernicious Malefactors in the highest degree, as well as jack Cade, Wat Tyler, Strafford, Canterbury, or the murderers of our Saviour, Joash, Ishbosheth, with other Kings heretofore, and of Henry the 3. and 4. of France, of late; there should then be no Traitors, Conspirators, Murderers, Sinners, Treasons, Conspiracies, Murders, Sins, in the world (being all perpetrated by God's permissive Providence) no Law, nor Hell to punish them: and it would be no less than a direct resisting, fight against God and his Providence, for any Christians, Kingdoms, Kings, or Loyal Subjects, to pray against, resist, oppose the Treasons, Murders, Conspiracies, Usurpations, Rebellions, Innovations, Plots, of any Jesuits or Romish Emissaries, or their under-Agents, against our Kings, Kingdoms, Governors, Parliaments, Laws, Liberties, Government and Religion; which would be professed Blasphemy, or Frenzy at least, for any man to affirm.  
2. That this jesuit Parsons▪ in his ●o●ks of the Reformation of all the States of England, as he prescribed Reformations to the Prince, Court, Counsellors, Noblemen, Bishops, Prelates, Pastors, Universities, Lawyers, Laws, in which he will have STRANGE METAMORPHOSES; so likewise, THE COURT OF PARLIAMENT HE WILL HAVE BROUGHT TO BETTER FORM, as W. W. (a secular Priest) in A Dialogue between a Secular Priest and a Lay-Gentleman, printed at Rheims, An. 1601. p. 95. Watson in his Quadlibets, p. 92. to 96. 320. to 334. William Clark (a secular Priest in his Answer to Father Parsons L●bel, p. 75. etc.) in direct terms attest. And may we not then justly suspect, that the late New-models and Reformations of our Kingdoms, Parliaments, Government, Laws, etc. (originally promoted by our 
* See their printed Declarations of june 14. 23. Aug. 1. 2. 1647. Their Agreement of the People, Jan. 1648. & Government of the Commonwealth of England, 1654. moulded by them.  Army Counsels, and Officers) proceeded primarily from the Jesuits Projections & Plots against them, if the Statutes of 23 Eliz. c. 1. 27 Eliz. c. 2. 35 Eliz. c. 2, 3. jac. c. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7. 7 jac. c. 6. and the manifold Declarations of both Houses of Parliament, Exact Collection, p. 491, 492, 497, 498, 616. 631, 666, 698, 813, to 828. may be judges?  
3. That the Jesuits drift directly is (immediately by means of 
* Do not many now boast, talk, write of such a Conquest by the Army over England?  CONQUEST intended for England) to bring it and all Christendom into an uproar, FOR COMMON SOLDIERS TO EXAMINE THEIR SOVEREIGNS, WHAT TITLE THEY HOLD BY; that thereupon themselves by craft, money and multitudes gathered together through their Policy, may bring England, (and then) Spain, and all the rest under their subjection and Monarchy: And that principally by this jesuitical Position; That every precopy or Tartarian multitude, getting once the stile and title of a PUBLIC STATE, or HELVETIAN COMMONWEALTH, may alter, change and innovate the course of inheritances and succession TO CROWNS AND KINGDOMS, and also to every private Persons heritage holden in Fee-simple: as 
b Quodlibets, p. 322, 323, 333, 334.  William Watson assures us in these very terms. And whether the Jesuits have not instructed our Army Officers and Common Soldiers upon this pretext, and for this very end, to examine their Sovereigns, yea, our Parliaments Titles, Privileges, and Powers too of late, and dispose of, reject, suppress them at their pleasure; let themselves, the whole Nation, with all in present power, in the fear of God, most seriously consider, without passion or affection, before it be over-late.  
4. That the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance (which all Members of Parliament ought by Law to take, before they can sit, or vote as Members) specially made and prescribed by our most wise, zealous 
c 1 Eliz. c. 1. 5 Eu. c. 1. 1. Jac. c. 4. 3. Jac. c. 4, 5. 7 Jac. c. 6. 16 Caroli. The Act for Triennial Parliaments.  Protestant Parliaments, to prevent the Treasonable plots and designs of Popes, Jesuits, and Papists, against our Protestant Princes, Realms, Parliaments, Religion, though confirmed by many Statutes, and containing in them, only the Declaration of such a Duty, as every true and well-affected Subject, not only by the bond of Allegiance, but also by the COMMANDMENT OF GOD, aught to bear to the King, his Heirs and Successors; and none but 
* See J. E. his Right & Jurisdiction of the Prelate and the Prince; cap. 15. Becanus, Bellarmine, Lessius, Eudoemon Johannis, & others against this Oath.  persons infected with Popish Superstition formerly oppugned, (as the Prologue of the Statute of 7 jacobi c. 6. positively resolves) have by late State innovators, not only been discontinued, suspended, but declaimed against and repealed (as much as in them lay) as 
d See the printed Edicts repealing them, & enforcing the Engagement, An. 1649.  UNLAWFUL OATHS; the old Laws against jesuits and Popish Seminaries, discontinued, abrogated, or coldly executed. 
e See the Propositions for the Treaty.  The New Oath for abjuration of Popery, with all Bills against Jesuits and Papists, presented to the late King by both Houses the last Parliament, and by him consented to in the Isle of Wight, wholly laid aside, and quite buried in oblivion. The Solemn Protestation, League and Covenant, prescribed by the last Parliaments taken by all the well-affected in all the 3 Kingdoms (to 
f See the Preface to the Covenant.  prevent the dangerous plots of Papists, Jesuits, and our common enemies to destroy our Religion, Churches, Realms, Government, Parliaments, Laws, Liberties) quite antiquated, decried, detested, and a 
g See the Edicts for the Engagement, An. 1649.  New Engagement forcibly imposed under highest penalties and disabilities upon all men, diametrically contrary to these Oaths, Protestations and Covenants, which have been (by a new kind of Papal power) publicly dispensed with, and the people absolved from them, to become sworn Homages to other new self-created Lords and Masters. And are not all these, with the late Proclaimed Universal Toleration and Protection of all Religions, to considerate zealous Protestants, strong Arguments of the Jesuits Predominancy in our late counsels, transactions, and changes of public Government?  
5. That the Notion of THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT, (in my weak apprehension) derived its original from the Jesuits late-invented 
h Bellarmin de Pont●f. Romano. Sir Hum: Lined his Via devia.  PRESENT CHURCH, the only Supreme Power and Judge of Controversies, which all men must submit unto, by a mere absolute blind Obedience, and implicit faith, without dispute by their determination: as they must do, by a like jesuitical blind obedience (newly taught and obtruded on us) to that present Republican Government, and new Optimacity, and Popularity, lately set up instead of our Monarchy. Which two forms of Government, and want of a King and Monarchy, as they are the punishment of a people's Sins, and the Transgressions of a Land by Gods own resolution, not a Mercy. Hosea 10. 3. c. 1. 4. jer. 18. 7. Prov. 28. 2. Ez●. 19 14. Lam. 4. 20. c. 5, 7, 8, 12. so they were the inventions of Factious Grecians at first, w●ch 
* Thucydides Hist. l. 1. 3. Plutarch, Lysander, Aristot. Polit. l. 4, & 5.  put all their Cities into Combustions, fury, frenzy, and civil wars against each other, to their utter overthrow in conclusion: witness these verses of 
i See Grotius de jure Belli & Pacis, l. 3. c. 15. P. 537.  Heniochus, a Greek Comedian:  
Tum geminae ad illas accesserunt Mulieres (TITAS QUAE CUNCTA CONTURBARUNT: OPTIMAEst nomen alteri: alteri POPULARITAS; (RUNT. Quarum incitatis PRIDEM EXTERNATAE FU●  
So the jesuits, 
k watson's Qu●dlibets, p. 320, 321, 312, 332, 333.  Parsons, 
l De Monar. Hisp. c. 25.  Campanella, 
m Conte de Galiazzo, Gualdo Priorato Hist. part 3. p. 175, 176.  Car. Richelieu, designed to introduce & set them up among so us in Engl. Scotl. and Ireland, of purpose to divide● destroy us by civil wars and combustions, and bring us under their Jesuitical power at last, as the marginal Authorities declare to all the world. And if this be undeniable to all having any sense of Religion, Peace or public Safety left within their breasts, is it not more than high time for us to awake out of our former lethargy, & fordid, selfish stupidity, to prevent our ruin, by these and other forementioned Jesuitical practices? Of can any Englishman, or real Parl. be justly offended with me for this impartial discovery of them? Or for my endeavours to put all the dislocated Members and broken bones of our old inverted fundamental body Politic, into their 
* Optandun quidem est, saint modo Respublica salva et incolumis futura sit, ut Civitatis part●s omnes quidem sibi constent, in suo statu permaneant. At ut praesen●●ti statu gaudeant, Reges Regiae dignitatis splendore commoventur; Optimates Senatoriae, haec enim illis pro virtutis suae praemio est: populus Ephoriae. Aristot. Polit. l. 2. c. 7.  due places, joints and postures again, without which there is no more 
n See 1 Cor. 12. 12. to 31. 25 H. 8. c. 22. 26 H. 8. c. 3. 1 Jac. c. 1, 2. 3 Jac. c. 1, 2.  possibility of reducing it to its, pristine health, ease, settlement, tranquillity, prosperity, or of preserving it from perpetual pain, inquietation, consumption and approaching death, than of a natural body whose principal members continue disjointed, and bones broken all in pieces, as all prudent State-Physicians must acknowledge.  
These five Considerations, together with the Premises; will I presume sufficiently wipe off all the malicious scandalous Imputations, which Militiere and other Papists, have injuriously cast upon the Principles and chief Professors of our Reformed Religion, in relation to the late exorbitant Proceedings against the King, Parliament, the public Revolutions, Confusions, Ataxies both in our Church & Kingdoms; and retort them on the jesuitical, Papal, seditious, Treasonable, Antimonarchical Principles and Professors of their Religion, especially the jesuits and French Cardinals (Militiere his late Lords and Masters) the original Contrivers, and chief clandestine Promoters of them, as every day more and more discovers to the world. And withal abundantly justify this my undertaking & impartial discovery of Jesuitical plots to ruin our Church, Religion, Kingdoms, Parliaments, Laws, Liberties, Government, against all malicious Enemies, Accusers Maligners whatsoever, before all the Tribunals of God or Men, where I shall be ready to justify them upon all occasions. In perpetual testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand, and by God's Grace shall ever be ready to seal them and the truth of God with my blood, if called out to do it.  
Swainswick, Aug. 12. 1654. William Prynne.   

A Seasonable Legal and Historical VINDICATION and Chronological Collection of the good Old Fundamental Liberties, Franchise●, Rights, Laws of all English Freem●n; (their best Inheritance, Birthright, Security, against all Arbitrary Tyranny, Egyptian Slavery and Burdens) of late years most dangerously undermined, oppugned, and almost totally subverted, under the specious feigned Disguise of their Defence, Enlargement, and future Establishment upon a sure Basis.  
IT is an universal received Principle, and experimental truth, beyond all contradiction, That no natural structure, no artificial building, no Civil or Ecclesiastical Corporation, Realm, Republic, Government, or Society of men; no Art or Science whatsoever, can possibly be erected, supported, established, preserved or continued in their being or well-being, without FOUNDATIONS; Whereon, as they were at first erected, so they must necessarily still depend, or else they will presently fall to utter ruin.  
Hence it is (to wave all Humane Authorities in so clear a verity) that in Gods own sacred unerring 
a John 17. 17. 2 Cor. 6. 7. Ephes. 1. 12. Jam. 1. 18.  word of Truth, we find frequent mention of the natural 
b 2 Sa. 22. 8. 16. Job 38. 4 6. Ps 18. 15. & 102 5. Pro. 8. 29. Is. 24. 18. & 40. 21 & 48. 13. & 51 13. 16. Zech. 12 1. Mic. 1. 6. Joh. 17. 24 Eph 4. 4 Heb. 1. 10. & 4 3. & 9 26 1 Pet. 1. 20  Foundations of the the vast natural Fabric of the Earth, Heavens and world itself; of the Artificial, Material 
c 1 Kin. 5. 17 & 6. 37. & 7. 9, 10 Ezr. 4. 13. & 6. 3. Ps. 137. 7. Ezech. 41. 8. Hag. 2. 8. Zech. 4 9 & 8 9 Mat. 7. 26, 27 Luke. 6. 48, 49.  Foundations of the Material Temple, Walls, City of Gods own most famous Jerusalem; and of private Houses: of the spiritual 
d Isa. 28. 16. & 54. 11. Ps. 87. 1 1 Cor. 3. 10, 11, 12. Heb. 11. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 6 Rev. 21. 14. 19  Foundations of the Spiritual Temple, City, Jerusalem, and whole Church of God; even Jesus Christ himself: of Doctrinal 
e 2 Tim. 1. 19 Heb. 6. 1. 2.  Foundations, and first Principles of Religion; Christianity, Salvation: yea, of the Political Foundations of Kingdoms, Republics, Churches, Governments, States: Which being once shaken, undermined, subverted, razed, or destroyed, bring unavoidable ruin and desolation upon them, (Psal. 11. 3. Psal. 82. 5. Jer. 50. 15. & 51. 25, 26. Micah 1. 6, 7, 9) Even as we daily see Castles, Walls, Houses to fall instantly to the ground, and become an heap of Confusion, when their 
f Jer. 50. 15 Mic, 1. 6, 7 Luke 6. 48, 49 Matt. 7. 26, 27  Foundations are blown up, decayed, or demolished.  
Upon which consideration, those public Laws, which establish, fence, fortify, support the Fundamental Constitutions, Rights, Liberties, Privileges of any Nation, Kingdom, Republic, (essential to their being and subsistence, as a free or happy people, against the Invasions, undermine, enchroachments of any Tyrants, Usurpers, Oppressors, or public enemies, are usually styled Fundamental Laws; and have ever been reputed so sacred, inviolable, immutable, in all ages, upon any pretences of necessity, or public safety, that most Nations, and our own English Ancestors above others, have freely chosen to hazard, yea, lose their estates, lives, in their just defence, against such exorbitant tyrannical Kings, and other Powers, who by force or policy have endeavoured to violate, alter, or subvert them; rather than out of a Cowardice, Sottishness, Carelessness, or want of cordial love to the Public, to suffer the least infringement, repeal, or alteration of them to the inthrawling of themselves or their posterities to the arbitrary wills of such domineering Tyrants and Usurping Powers.  
Now because, after all our Old and New (many years) bloody, costly, dangerous Contests and Wars, for the maintenance of our good Old Fundamental Liberties, Laws, ●ights, Privileges, against all secret or open underminers of them, I clearly behold with grief of heart, that there is a strange monstrous generation of new Tyrannical State-Hereticks, sprung up amongst us; who are grown so desperately impudent, as not only to write, but publicly to assert in print, in 
g Lilburn tried and cast p. 39, 142. to 148, 154. Ca●●es Voice from the Temple, which perswade● the subversion and abolishing of all former Laws, especially for Tithes and Ministers support.  Books printed by AUTHORITY, (even in Capitals, in every Title page) That the Freemen and People of England have no such unalterable Fundamental Laws and Liberties left them by their forefathers (as our Ancestors heretofore contested for, both in the Field and Parliament-House, with William the Conqueror, Henry the first, King John, Henry the third, Edward 1. 2. 3. Richard 2. with other Kings and Princes; and our late Parliaments and Armies too, with King James and King Charles.) That neither Magna Charta, nor the Petition of Right, nor the Laws for trying Malefactors by Juries of their Pears, are Fundamental or unalterable; but that the State Physicians (or rather Mountebanks) of our time (who are not tied up to them, but left free unto themselves) may lay them quite aside, either in part or whole, as they see cause. Yea, have now attained to such a super-transcendent Authority, that they may (as they assert) lay aside all Parliaments & Parliamentary ways, & appoint something else, as more seasonable and proper to us, and as Providence makes way for it, if they see it more conducing to the safety and good of the Commonwealth (that is, to their own private Interests, Honours; Profits, Securities, Designs, Oppressions, Rapines, gilded over with this specious pretext) And then peremptorily conclude, That to plead for these and other fundamental laws and liberties, as unalterable, (though the only Bulwarks & Badges of our Freedom) is nothing else, but to enslave the Nation: for by such a Principle, people do not only lose their Liberty, but are brought under such a kind of Tyranny, out of which (AS BEING WORSE THAN THE EGYPTIAN BONDAGE) there is no hope of deliverance. An absurd Tyrannical Paradox, transcending any I ever yet met with in any Author; stripping us naked of all our long enjoyed Laws, Liberties, Franchises, great Charters at once; tending only to reduce, and perpetually enthral us under such an absolute EGYPTIAN BONDAGE and Tyranny, without any hope of future deliverance from it, which some now endeavour 
* S●e the Government of the Common-wealth of England, etc. Artie. 3. 12. 21. 22, 24, ●7, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 38, 39, 41.  to entail on us and our posterities for ever, by an Iron law, and Yoke of Steel, in stead of restoring to us that glorious Freedom, which we have so long expected from them in vain.  
And because I find the generality of the Nobility, Gentry, Clergy, Commonalty of our Nation, after all their late years expensive bloody wars, and Parliamentary Disputes, for the defence and preservation of these our ancient Hereditary Fundamental Charters, Laws, Liberties, Privileges, so strangely degenerated both from themselves, and their Heroic prudent Ancestors, as that they are more readily inclined, upon every occasion, out of a base, unchristian, unmanly, un-english fear, or sottish cowardice and stupidity, wittingly to desert, betray, surrender them all up into the hands of any invading Usurpers, without the least Public Claim, Dissertation, Defence, Dspute; then diligently or courageously to contend or suffer for them, of late they did: So as that which Paul once taxed in the slavish besotted Corinthians, 2 Epist. 11. 20. may be most truly averred of our degenerated, infatuated English Nation: Ye suffer if a man bring you into bondage, if a man de●●ur you, if a man take of you, if a man ex●lt himself (above your Laws, Liberties, Franchises, Parliaments, Kings, Nobles, Properties, Lives, Consciences, and all 
* 2 The●●. 2. 4.  that is called God, or warshipped) if a man smite you on the face; notwithstanding all their manifold late 
* See Exact Collect. and a General collection of all Ordinances, etc.  Protestations, Vows, Covenants, Remonstrances, Declarations and Public Engagements to the contrary. And withal, after diligent enquiry, discovering scarce one man of Eminency or Power in the Nation, nor so much as one of my degenerated temporising Profession of the Law, (even when the 
* S●e Culpepers and tilly's Murlins and Almanacs, John Cannes Voice. Lilb. tried and cast, with many Petitions and Pamphlets against the Law and Lawyers. The Order of Aug. 19 1653. That there should be a Committee selected to consider of a New body of the Law for the government of this Commonwealth.  whole body of our laws, and all its Professors, are violently assaulted, and devoted unto sudden ruin, by many lawless spirits) who hath so much courage, magnanimity, honesty, zeal, or cordial love to his Native Country, remaining in his breast, as manfully to appear in public, for the strenuous necessary defence of these our Hereditary, fundamental laws, liberties, rights, franchises, (though their own, and every other English Freeman's best inheritance and security) for fear of being persecuted, imprisoned, close imprisoned, exiled, condemned, destroyed, as a Traitor, Rebel, Seditious person, enemy to the Public, or disturber of the Kingdom's peace, by those who are truly such: I thereupon conceived, I could not undertake or perform a more necessary, seasonable, beneficial service for my Country and ingrate unworthy Nation (who are now ashamed, afraid, for the most part, to own, visit, or be seen in the company of those Gallant men, much less to assist, defend, and stick close unto them in their dangers, according to the sixth Article of their late Solemn League and Covenant, who have suffered, acted, and stood up most for their Common Liberties, Rights, Freedoms, Religion, against all invading Tyrant●, to their great discouragement and betraying:) not pitch upon any Subject more proper for me, either as a common Lawyer, or as a constant Advocate and Sufferer for the public Cause, and Liberties of the Nation, as well under our late extravagant Free State, as former Regal and Episcopal arbitrary Tyranny, than in this juncture of our public affairs, to present our whole distracted unsettled Kingdom, with A Legal and Historical Vindication, and Chronological Collection, in all ages, of these Ancient, Hereditary liberties, Franchises, Rights, and all those National, Parliamental, legal and Martial Contests, Laws, Charters, Records, Monuments of former and late times, for their Confirmation and inviolable observation, which our Ancestors and ourselves have always hitherto reputed Fundamental, unalterable and inviolable, upon any pretext, and have most eagerly contended for, with the Prodigal expense of many millions of treasure, and whole Oceans of gallant Christian English blood.  
And if upon the serious perusal of them, the universality of our degenerated Nation, after their many solemn Protestations, Vows, Leagues, Covenants, Remonstrances, inviolably to defend and maintain them, shall still so undervalue them now at last, (as most actually have done) as not to esteem them worth the owning, maintaining, vindicating, or perpetuating any longer; & thereby draw upon their heads, the real guilt of all those bloody Wars, Murders, Tumults, Violences, Rapines, Oppressions, Sins, Mischiefs, illegal Taxes, Excises, Exorbitancies, which their many late years pretended necessary defence and preservation have brought upon our three whole Nations; let them henceforth, like so many dastardly conquered bondslaves, 
* Exod. 21. 6.  bored through the ears, publicly disavow, disclaim, renounce, abjure them, for themselves and their posterities for ever, as mere worthless toys, or pernicious inventions, fit only to kindle perpetual wars and discords between King and People, head and members, superiors and inferiors; or, as poor slender Cobwebs, (as now they prove) able to hold none within compass, but the very weakest Flies, broken thorough with ease and impunity, by every greater Fly, or armed Wasp, creeping up into any Power or Supreme Authority, by right or wrong; and swept down to the very ground, by every new Broom in the hand of upstart Innovators.  
But if upon saddest deliberation, they shall really estimate them to be such incompatable, rich, precious Jewels, and ancient Inheritances, as are every way worth the infinite Treasures, Wars, Blood, Cares, Consultations, Troubles, heretofore and of late years expended, both to gain, retain, confirm, and perpetuate them, to them and their Posterities for ever, as their principal earthly security, and beatitude; I hope they will all then unanimously conclude with the Poet,  
Non minor est virtus quam quaerere, PARTA TVERI: And both by their Votes and Actions, return the selfsame peremptory magnanimous answer to any Caesar, Conqueror, Potentate, power, or Combination of men, whatsoever, (who shall endeavour by force, fraud, or flattery to compel or persuade them, to sell, resign, betray, or give up these their Ancestrall Privileges, Inheritances, Birthrights to them) as Naboth once did to King Ahab, 1 Kings 21. 3. The Lord forbid it us, that we should give (cell or betray) the INHERITANCE OF OUR FATHERS (and our Posterities likewise) unto thee, or you; though they should suffer for this Answer and Refusal, as much as Naboth did from bloody Ahab and Jezebel.  
But whatever low price or estimate this spurious, stupid, sordid, slavish age may set upon these richest Pearls; yet for my own particular, upon serious consideration of these Chronological Collections, and the Solemn Oaths, Protestations, Vows, League and Covenant, obliging me to defend them to the uttermost; I value the whole Nations public, and my own (with my cordial friends) private interest in them, at so high a rate, that I would rather cheerfully part with ten thousand lives, and all the treasures of the Nation, Indies, were I owner of them, then wittingly, negligently, or unworthily sell, betray, or resign them up to any mortals or powers whatsoever, upon any pretences or Conditions, after all my former Publications, Contests, Sufferings, Losses, etc. for their just defence.  
And to the end all others might now take special notice of the inestimable value our Ancestors in all ages have set upon them, and what successive wars, conflicts, they have cheerfully undertaken for their preservation; I have at vacant hours compiled this ensuing Vindication and Collection of the old Fundamental liberties, franchises, laws of all English freemen, which I shall bequeath to my most beloved Native Country, in general, and every real Heroic Patron of them in particular, as the best Legacy I can leave behind me, both for their present and future Enfranchisment, Immunity, security, from all Arbitrary Tyranny, Slavery and yokes of Bondage, under which they have a long time languished, and lamented in the bitterness of their spirits.  
The Method I resolve herein to pursue, is this:  
1. I shall produce some punctual Authorities of moment, to evidence, That the Kingdom and Freemen of England, have some ancient Hereditary just Rights, Liberties, Privileges, Franchises, Laws and Customs, properly called FUNDAMENTAL; and likewise a Fundamental Government, no ways to be altered, undermined, subverted directly or indirectly, to the public prejudice, under pain of highest Treason in those, who shall attempt it, especially by fraud, force, or armed power.  
2. I shall, in brief Propositions, present you with the chiefest and most considerable of them, which our Ancestors in former ages, and our latest real Parliaments have resolved to be, and eagerly contended for, as FUNDAMENTAL, essential to their being and well-being, as a Free People, Kingdom, Republic, unwilling to be enslaved under any Yokes of Tyranny, any arbitrary, 〈◊〉 positions or Powers whatsoever, Then give you a brief touch of their several late unparalleled violations, both by the Edicts and Actions of usurping Powers.  
3. I shall in a Chronological way, tender you a large Historical Catalogue of National Parliamental, civil and military▪ Contests, Votes, Declarations, ●emonstrances, Oaths, Vows, Protestations, Covenants, Engagements, Excommunications, Confirmations, Evidences, Statutes, Charters, Writs, Records, Judgements and Authorities in all ages, undeniably evidencing, declaring, vindicating, establishing, perpetuating these Fundamental Hereditary Rights, Liberties, Privileges, Franchises, Customs, Laws, and abundantly manifesting the extraordinary care, industry, zeal, courage, wisdom, vigilancy of our Ancestors, to defend, preserve, and perpetuate them to posterity, without the least violation or diminution.  
4. I shall vindicate the excellency, indifferency, and legality of trying all Malefactors whatsoever, by Juries of their ●eers, upon legal Process and Indictments; and manifest the illegallity, injustice, partiality, dangerous consequences, of admitting or introducing any other form of Trials, by New. Arbitrary Martial Commissions, or Courts of High Justice, (or rather 
* Summumjus, est summa injuria, Cic. de Officiis p. 611.  injustice) inconsistent with, and destructive to the Fundamental Rights, Liberties, Privileges, Laws, Franchises of the English Nation, and of most dangerous Precedent to Posterity; being set up by the greatest pretenders to public Liberty, Law, and the chiefest inveighers against Arbitrary Regal Tyranny and Power, which never publicly established such arbitrary illegal Trials and new Butcheries of Christian English Freemen, by any law, and may fall to imitate them in future Ages, by their example. Each of these I intent to prosecute in distinct Chapters in their order.  

CHAP. 1.  
1. For the first of these: That the Kingdom and Freemen of England, have some ancient Hereditary Rights, Liberties, Privileges, Franchises, Laws and Customs, properly called FUNDAMENTAL; and likewise a FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENT, no ways to be altered, undermined, subverted, directly or indirectly, under pain of High Treason in those who shall attempt it; especially by fraud, force, or armed power.  
I Shall confirm the first part of it, by these ensuing punctual Authorities of moment, against those 
* Lilbourn tried and cast p. 39, 40, 142, to 148 and elsewhere. John Cannes ● Voice from the Temple. John Rogers Mene Tekel, Perez. p. 6. Lily and Culpeper in their Prognostications An. 1653, & 1654. See the Armies Proposals.  traitorous late published Pamphlets, which professedly deny it, and endeavour, a total abrogation of all former Laws, to set up a New model and Body of the law, to rule us for the future, according to their pleasures.  
The first is, the express words of the great Charters of the Liberties of England, granted by King John, Anno 1215. in the 16 year of his Reign; Regranted and confirmed by King Henry the third, in the 9 year of his Reign, and sundry times afterwards and by King Edward the first, in the 25 and 28 years of his reign: Wherein these three Kings successively, by their several grand Charters, under their great Seals, did grant, give, and confirm, to all the Nobility, is, and ever shall be, far from the thoughts and intents of all good Kings, Governors and Parliament, who bear a sincere care and affection to the Subjects of England, to alter or innovate them. 3. That by these ancient good Laws, Privileges and customs, not only the King's Regal Authority, but the people's Security of lands, livings, and privileges, (both in general and particular) are preserved and maintained. 4. That by the abolishing or altering of them, it is impossible, but that present confusion will fall upon the whole state and frame of this Kingdom: Which I wish all Innovators and New Modellers of our Laws and Government would now at last lay seriously to heart, and the whole Kingdom and English Nation sadly consider, who have found it an experimental truth of late years, and no imaginary feigned speculation.  
3. The third is, The Remonstrance of the whole House of Commons in Parliament, delivered in Writing to King James, in the Parliament of 7. Jacobi, Anno 1610. which begins thus:  
To the Kings most Excellent Majesty.  
Most Gracious Sovereign,  
Whereas we your Majesty's most humble Subjects, the Commons assembled in Parliament, 
See the 1 and 6 Proposition in cap. 2.  having received first by Message, and since by speech from your Majesty, a Command of restraint, from debating in Parliament your Majesty's Right of imposing upon your Subjects Goods exported out of, or imported into this Realm, yet allowing us to examine the grievance of these Impositions, in regard of quantity, time, and other circumstances of disproportion thereto incident: We your humble Subjects nothing doubting, but that your Majesty had no intent by that command, to infringe the ancient and fundamental Rights of the Liberty of PARLIAMENT, in point of exact discussing of all matters concerning them and their Possessions, Goods, and Rights whatsoever: Which yet we cannot but conceive to be done in effect by this Command; Do with all humble Duty make this Remonstrance to your Majesty.  
First, we hold it an Ancient, general and undoubted Right of Parliament, to debate freely all matters, which do properly concern the Subject and his Right or Estate: which freedom of debate being once foreclosed, the essence of the Liberty of Parliament is withal dissolved, etc.  
Here the whole House of Commons, in a special Remonstrance to King James, (printed and published by Order of a Committee of the House of Commons for licensing of Books, dated 20 Maii 17. Caroli 1641.) Declare, resolve, vindicate and maintain, one principal, ancient, fundamental, general, undoubed right of the Liberty of Parliament, against the King's entrenchment on it: Of which should they be but once fore closed, the Essence of the Liberty of Parliament is withal dissolved.  
And peradventure it may not be unworthy the most serious disquisition of the next ensuing nominal or real Parliament, to examine, whether some clauses and restrictions in the 9 12. 14. 16, 17. 21. 22. 24, 25. 27. 30. 32, 33. 36, 37, 38, 39, 40. Articles (or strings) of the New Instrument entitled, The Government of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging; as it was publicly declared at Westminster the 16. day of December 1653, etc. do not as much, nay far more entrench upon the ancient Fundamental, General undoubted Rights and Liberty of Parliament, and parliamentary free debates, to the dissolution of the Essential liberty of all future Parliaments, as this Command of King James did, or as the Bishop's late Canons, imposed on the Clergy in and by the Convocation, Anno 1640. ever did; and this clause in their, etc. Oath then made, (now 
* See the Government of the Commonwealth of England, etc. Arti● 12. the writs and printed returns for new ●lections; and enforced new Test and Engagement imposed on the three Kingdoms and new Members, secluding m●●●, of them.  imitated by others, who condemned it) I. A. B. do swear, that I will never give my consent to alter the Government of this Church, by Archbishops, Bishops, Deans and Arch-Deacons, etc. as it stands now established, and as by right it ought to stand. Which clause and Oath imposed only on the Clergymen.  
Resolved by the whole House of Commons and Peers too, in Parliament, without one dissenting voice, December 16. 1640. to be a most dangerous & illegal Oath, contrary to the Rights and Privileges of Parliament, and to the Fundamental Laws and Statutes of the Realu●, etc. and of dangerous consequence: the contriving whereof was objected to the late Archbishop of Caterbury, in his original Articles of High Treason, for which amongst other things he lost his head.  
The fourth is the notable Petition of Grievances of the whole House of Commons in Parliament, presented to King James in the seventh year of his Reign, after their Vote against his Right, to levy Impositions on goods imported, or exported, without assent and grant of Parliament, in these ensuing words.  
The Policy of this your Majesty's Kingdoms, appropriates unto the Kings of this Realm, 
See Proposition 1. in ch. 2.  with assent of Parliament, as well the Sovereign power of making Laws, as that of taxing or imposing upon the Subject's Goods or Merchandises, 
Nota.  wherein they have justly such a property, as may not without their consent be altered or changed: this is the cause, that the people of this Kingdom, as they have 
* O how are they now degenerated!  ever showed themselves faithful and loving to their Kings, and ready to aid them in all just occasions, with voluntary contributions: so have they been 
* And should they not be so now then?  ever careful to preserve their own Liberties and Rights, 
* And should we now at last fail herein?  when any thing hath been done to prejudice or impeach the same. And therefore when their Princes, either occasioned by war, or by their own bounty, or by any other necessity, have without consent of Parliament set on Impositions, either within the Land, or upon commodities exported or imported by the merchants, they have in open Parliament complained of it, in that it was done without their consents, and thereupon 
* How dare then any self created powers who are neither Kings nor Parliaments now arrogate to themselves, or exercise such a super-Reg all arbitrary power and Prerogative, against all our Laws and the●● own instrument and oaths.  never failed to obtain a speedy and full redress, without any claim made by the Kings, of any Power or Prerogative in that point. And though the Law of property be original, and carefully preserved by the Common Laws of this Real, WHiCH ARE AS ANCIENT AS THE KINGDOM ITSELF, yet those famous Kings, for the better contentment and assurance of their loving Subjects, agreed, THAT THIS OLD FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT (observe the words) should be further declared, and established by Acts of Parliament, wherein it is provided, That no such Charge shall ever be laid upon the People, without their common Consents, as may appear, by sundry Records of former times.  
We therefore your Majesty's most humble Commons assembled in Parliament 
Nota.  
* And oh that we would follow it now again, both in and out of Parliament?  following the example of this worthy care of our Ancestors, and out of our Duty to those for whom we serve, finding that your Majesty, without advice of your Lords and Commons, hath lately (in times of Peace) Set both greater Impositions, and far more in number, than any your Noble Ancestors did ever in time of War, do with all humility present this most just and necessary Petition unto your Majesty, THAT ALL IMPOSITIONS SET WITHOUT ASSENT IN PARLIAMENT, MAY BE QVITE ABOLISHED AND TAKEN AWAY. And that your Majesty likewise, in imitation of your Royal Progenitors, will be pleased, that a Law in your time, and during this Session of Parliament, may be also made, 
Nota.  to declare, That all Imposition of any kind, set, or to be set upon your people, their Goods or Merchandises, save only by common Consent in Parliament, are and shall b● Void; wherein your Majesty shall not only Give your Subjects great Satisfaction in point of their Right; but also bring exceeding joy and comfort to them, who now suffer partly through the abating of the price of Native Commodities, and partly through the raising of all Foreign, to the overthrow of Merchants, and shipping, the causing of general dearth, and decay of all wealth among your people; who will be thereby no less discouraged, than disabled to supply your Majesty when occasion shall require. In which memorable Petition, the whole House of Commons resolve in direct terms: 1. That the Subjects of England have old original Fundamental Rights (and more particularly) in the Property of their Goods, exempted from all Impositions whatsoever, in times of peace or war, without their common consent in Parliament; declared and established both by the ancient and common law of England and sundry Acts of Parliament, and records, of former times. 2. They declare, the constant vigilant care, zeal of our ancestors and former Parliaments in all ages, inviolably to maintain, defend, preserve the same, against all enchroachments, together with their own care, duty and vigilancy in this kind in that very Parliament. 3. They relate the readiness of our Kings to ratify these their Fundamental Rights by new Acts of Parliament, when they have been violated in any kind. 4. They declare the benefit accrueing both to Prince and People, by the inviolable preservation and establishment of this old Fundamental right, and the mischiefs accrueing to both by the infringement thereof, by arbitrary illegal impositions, without full consent in Parliament. 5. They earnestly (in point of Conscience, prudence, and duty to those for whom they served) Petition his Majesty, for a new Law and Declaration, against all new Impositions and Taxes on inland Goods, or Merchandises imported or exported, without the people's free consent in Parliament, as null, void, utterly to be abolished and taken away: Whether it will not be absolutely necessary for the whole English Nation, and the next ensuing National, or real Parliament, to prosecute, enact, establish such a Declaration and Law against all such former and future arbitrary, illegal, oppressive Taxes, Impositions, Excises, that have been imposed and continued for many years together on the whole kingdom, by 
* See the whitehall Ordinances for the six months' contribution, Excise, till 1656. tonnage & Poundage till 1658. beyond all Precedents in any age, and the very words and letter of the 30 Article of their government.  new extravagant, self-created, usurping ARMY-OFFICERS, and other Powers, without free and full consent of the people in Lawful English Parliaments, against all former Laws, Declarations and Resolutions in Parliaments, to their great oppression, enslaving, undoing, in far greater proportions, multiplicity, and variety, than ever in former Ages, without the least intermission; and likewise against their late declared design, to perpetuate them on our exhausted Nation, without alteration or diminution, (beyond and against all precedents of former Ages) both in times of Peace and War, for the future, by the 27, 28, 29, 30, 39 Articles of the Instrument entitled, The Government of the Commonwealth of England, etc. I remit to their most serious considerations to determine, if ever they resolve to be English Freemen again, or to imitate the wisdom, prudence, zeal, courage and laudable examples of their worthy Ancestors, from which they cannot now degenerate without the greatest Infamy, and enslaving of themselves with their Posterities for ever, to the arbitrary wills of present or future Usurpers on their Fundamental Rights and Liberties, in an higher degree than ever in any precedent Ages, under the greatest Conquerors or Kings, after all their late, costly, bloody Wars, for their Defence against the beheaded King.  
5 The fifth is, A learned and necessary Argument made in the Commons House of Parliament, Anno 7. Jacobi, to prove, That each Subject hath a Property in his Goods; showing also, the extent of the King's Prerogative in Impositions upon the Goods of Merchants, exported or imported, etc. by a late learned Judge of this Kingdom, printed at London by Richard Bishop, 1641. and Ordered to be Published in Print, at a Committee appointed by the Honourable House of Commons, for examination and Licensing of Books, 20. Maii 1641. In which Parliamentary Argument, p. 8. 11. 16. I find these direct Passages: That the New Impositions contained in the Book of Rates, imposed on Merchandizes, imported and exported by the King's Prerogative, and Letters Patents, without consent in Parliament, is against the natural Frame and Constitution of the Policy of this Kingdom, which is, JUS PUBLICUM REGNI, AND SO SUBVERTETH THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF THE REALM, 
Nota.  and introduceth a new Form of State and Government: Can any man give me a reason, why the King can only in Parliament make Laws? No man ever read any Law, whereby it was so ordained; and yet no man ever read, that 
* Yet those who have pulled down our Kings as Tyrants, now presume to do it: Witness their New Whitehall Laws and Ordinances, amounting to near 700. pages in folio in a few month's space.  any King practised the contrary; therefore IT IS THE ORIGINAL RIGHT OF THE KINGDOM, AND THE VERY NATURAL CONSTITUTION OF OUR STATE AND POLICY, being one of the highest Rights of Sovereign Power. If the King alone out of Parliament may impose, 
* And do not those do so, who now ●ay Monthly Taxes, Excises, Customs and New Imposts on us daily, out of Parliament, and that for many months and years yet to come, against the Letter of their own Instrument and Oath too?  HE ALTERETH THE LAW OF ENGLAND IN ONE OF THESE TWO MAIN FUNDAMENTAL POiNTS; he must either take the Subject's Goods from them, without assent of the Party, which is against the law, or else he must give his own Letters Patents the force of a law, to alter the property of the Subject's goods, which is also against the Law.  
In this and sundry other Arguments (touching the Right of Impositions) in the Commons House of Parliament by the Members of it, arguing against them, it was frequently averred, and at last Voted and Resolved by the House, 7. Jacobi. That such Impositions without consent in Parliament, were 
* And are they not so now?  AGAINST THE ORIGINAL FUNDAMENTAL LAWS AND PROPERTY OF THE SUBJECT, and Original Right, Frame and Constitution of the Kingdom; as the Notes and Journals of that Parliament evidence: An express parliamentary Resolution in point, for what I here assert.  
6. The sixth is, A Conference desired by the Lords, and had by a Committee of both Houses, concerning the Rights and Privileges of the Subject. 3. Aprilis 4. Caroli 1628. entered in the Parliament Journal of 4. Caroli, and since printed at London 1642. In the Introduction to which Conference, Sir Dudley Digs by the Commons House Order, used these expressions: My good Lords, whilst we the Commons, out of our good affections, were seeking for money, we found, I cannot say a ●ook of the Law, but many A FUNDAMENTAL POINT THEREOF NEGLECTED AND BROKEN, which hath occasioned our desire of this Conference: wherein I am first commanded to show unto your Lordships in general: That the Laws of England are grounded on Reason more ancient than Books, consisting much in unwritten Customs; yet so full of Justice and true Equity, that your most honourable Predecessors and Ancestors propugned them with, a 
* 20. H. 3. c. 9 See Cooks 2 In●●it. p. 97, ●8.  NOLUMUS MUTARI; and so ancient, that from the Saxons days, notwithstanding the injuries and ruins of time, they have continued in most parts the same, etc. Be pleased then to know, THAT IT IS AN UNDOUBTED AND FUNDAMENTAL POINT OF THIS SO ANCIENT COMMON LAW OF ENGLAND, 
Proposition 1, 4  THAT THE SUBJECT HATH A TRUE PROPERTY IN HIS GOODS AND POSSESSIONS, which doth preserve as sacred, that MEUM and TWM, that is the Nurse of Industry, and the Mother of Courage, and without which, there can be no Justice, of which MEUM and TWM is the proper object: But the VNDOVBTED BIRTHRIGHT OF FREE SUBJECTS, hath lately not a little been invaded and prejudiced by pressures, the more grievous, because they have been pursued by IMPRISONMENT, contrary to the Franchises of this Land, 
Proposition 2.  etc. Which the Commons House proved by many Statutes and Records in all ages, in that Conference, to the full satisfaction of the Lords House; since published in print.  
7. The Seventh is, The Vote the 
* See Canterbury's Doom, p. 19 Exact Coll. p. 12.  whole House of Commons, 16. December 1640. Nullo contradicente, entered in their Journal, and printed in Diurnal Occurrences, page 13. That the Canons made in the Convocation (Anno 1640.) ARE AGAINST THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS OF THE REALM, the Property and Liberty of the Subject, the Right of Parliament, and contain divers things tending to Faction and Sedition. Seconded in their Remonstrances of 15. December 1641.  
8. The eight Authority is, 
* Exact Collect. p. 112, 113.  The Votes of both Houses of Parliament, concerning the security of the Kingdom of ENGLAND and Dominion of Wales, 15. Martii 1641. Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament to be forthwith printed and published (as they were then by themselves, and afterwards with other Votes and Orders) Resolved upon the Question, nemine▪ contradicente; That in case of extreme danger, and his Majesty's refusal, the Ordinance agreed on by both Houses for the MILITIA (to secure the Houses, Members and Privileges of Parliament and Kingdom against ARMED-VIOLENCE, since brought upon them by the MILITIA of the Army) doth oblige the people, and aught to be obeyed, by the FUNDAMENTAL LAWS OF THIS KINGDOM. A very vain and delusory Vote, if there be no such Law, as some now affirm.  
9 The nineth punctual Authority is, 
* Exact Coll. p 850, 584, ●87, 888.  a Second Declaration of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, concerning the Commission of Array; Printed by their special Order of 12. January 1642. Wherein are these observable passages, The main drift of all the answer is to maintain, That the King by the Common Law may grant such a Commission of Array, as this is, upon this ground, because it's for the Defence of the Kingdom: And, that the power, which he hath to grant it by the Common law, is not taken away by the Petition of Right, or any former Statute, but the King notwithstanding any of them, may charge the Subject for Defence of the Kingdom; so as the charge imposed come not to himself, nor to his particular advantage.  
These grounds thus laid, extend not to the Commission of Array alone, but to all other charges that his Majesty shall impose upon his Subjects, 
See Chap. 2. Proposit. 1, 2. 3.  upon pretence of Defence of the Kingdom; for there is the same reason of Law for any other charge that is pretended for Defence, as for this. If his Majesty by the Common Law may charge his Subjects to find Arms, and other things in the Commission enjoined, because they are for Defence of the Kingdom; by the same reason of Law, he may command his People to build Castles, Forts and Bulwarks, and after to maintain them with Garrisons, Arms, and Victuals, at their own charges: And by the same reason he may compel his subjects to find Ships, and furnish them with Men, Ammunition and Victuals, and to find Soldiers pay, 
* Do not the Army Officers now enforce them to all this without a Parliament, to support their usurped new Powers and Possessions, and establish themselves in a most absolute Sovereignty over our three kingdoms?  Coat and Conduct money; provide victuals for Soldiers, and all other things NECESSARY FOR AN ARMY; these things being as necessary for Defence, as any thing that can be done in execution of this Commission. And for that exposition of the Petition of Right and other Statutes therein noted (if it should hold) doth it not overthrow, as well the Petition itself, at all other Laws that have been made for the subjects benefit against Taxes and other charges, either 〈…〉 or any other Parliaments?  
These Positions thus laid down and maintained, 
Nota.  Do shake the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom (the ancient Birth right of every Subject) both for the Property of his Goods, and Liberty of his Person: Nay, they strike at the root of Parliaments: What need his 
* These expostulations reach to them at Whitehall now, who presume to impose Taxes, Customs, Excises and make binding laws and Instruments for our whole 3 kingdoms, Nations, Parliaments, which no King there ever did in like nature, nor their Chancels in any age.  Majesty call Parliaments, to provide for Defence of the Realm, when himself may compel his subjects to defend it without Parliaments? If these grounds should hold, what need the subjects grant subsidies in Parliament for Defence of the Kingdom in time of real danger, if the King for Defence at any times, when he shall only conceive or pretend danger, may impose Charges upon his Subjects without their Consent in Parliament?  
Upon that which hath been said in this and our former Declaration, we doubt not but all indifferent men will be satisfied, that this Commission of Array, is full of danger, and inconvenience to the Subjects of England, AND AGAINST THE FUNDAMENTALS LAW OF THE LAND, both for PROPERTY OF GOODS, AND LIBERTY OF PERSON, etc. As it is against THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS OF THE REALM, so no statute makes it good, etc. And the Lords and Commons do upon the whole matter here conclude, That they are very much aggrieved, that after so many Declarations and solemn Protestations made by his Majesty to rule by the known Laws of this Land, his Majesty by advice of his ill Councillors should be persuaded to set such a Commission on foot, which is so clearly contrary TO THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS OF THIS LAND, the Rights of Property, and Liberty of the Subject, contrary to former resolutions of Parliament, and to the Petition of Right.  
I am certain, the generality of the Nation are now as much and more aggrieved, that some, who were Parties to this Declaration, and others, who have made as many or more Declarations & Protestations as his Majesty ever did, to rule by the known laws of the Land; should since this, far exceed his Majesty in the like, nay greater, more exorbitances in the Militia, Excises, Taxes, Impositions, Imprisonments arbitrary extravagant proceedings, capital executions in new erected Courts of Injustice, and whole volumes of new binding Ordinances, as they term them, and their ill-sounding Instrument, obliging all our three Nations, both for the present & all future ages, in 
* See the true state of the case of the Commonwealth of England, etc. p. 33, 34.  their intention; as diametrically contrary as the King's Commissions of Array, to the Fundamental Laws of the Land (four times together so styled and insisted on, as such, in this one Declaration of both Houses) the Right of Property of the Subject, contrary to former Resolutions, and the Petition of Right; yea (which is most abominable) to their own Declarations, Remonstrances, Votes, Protestations, Vows, Solemn Leagues and Covenants in Parliament, to their own eternal Infamy, as well as the people's intolerable oppression and slavery; who thereupon may justly conclude and protest against them, as both Houses did in the close of this Declaration against the Array, viz. 
* Exact Collect: p. 888.  And the Lords and Commons do and shall adhere to their former Votes & Resolutions, That all those that are Actors in putting of this Commission of Array (these Instruments, Ordinances new Taxes, Imposts, Excises) in execution, shall be esteemed disturbers of the Peace of the Kingdom, and of the Properties and Liberties of the Subject.  
10. The tenth Evidence is, 
* A Collection of all public Orders, Ordinances, and Declarations of Parliament, p. 451, 452, 457, 458.  the Vote and Letter of both Houses of Parliament sent to his Majesty at Oxford, 9 March 1643. in Answer to his Majesties, of the third of March▪ and wherein there is this passage: We the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England, etc. Have resolved, with the concurrent advice and consent of the Commissioners of Scotland, to represent to your Majesty in all humility and plainness as followeth; That this present Parliament convened, according to the known and 
* How have others of late (which they style Parliaments) been convened?  FUNDAMENTAL LAWS OF THE KINGDOM (the continuance whereof is established by a law consented to by your Majesty) is in effect denied to be a Parliament, etc. And hereupon we think ourselves bound to let your Majesty know; That since the 
* Yet forcibly dissolved by the Army, and some now in Power, against their Commissions, Oaths, Trusts, Protestations Covenant, and an Act of Parliament for their continuance; who may do well to peruse this clause. See c. 2. Proposition 6, 7.  continuance of this Parliament is settled by a Law, (which as all other laws of your Kingdom, your Majesty is sworn to maintain, as we are sworn to our Allegiance to your Majesty; those Obligations being reciprocal) we must in duty, and accordingly are resolved, with our Lives and Fortunes, to Defend and preserve the ●ust Rights and full Power of this Parliament: To which the Earl of Essex (then General) by both House's order, in his Letter to the Earl of Forth January 30. 1643. adds this corollary. My Lord, the maintenance of the Parliament of England, and the Privileges thereof, is that for which we are resolved to spend our blood, as being THE FOUNDATION WHEREON ALL OUR LAWS AND LIBERTIES ARE BVILT: Which both the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, in their Declaration 23. March 1643. touching their proceedings upon his Majesty's Letter, concerning a Treaty of Peace; (wherein this Earls former letter is recited) thus second: The Parliament of England is the only Basis, the chief Support and Pillar of our Laws and Liberties, etc. And if notwithstanding all these Obligations, the King shall at his pleasure dissolve this Parliament, the Kingdom is not only deprived of the present, but made uncapable of enjoying the benefit of any future Parliament, or Laws, any longer than shall stand with the will and pleasure of the King: and consequently THE FUNDAMENTALS OF ALL OUR LAWS AND GOVERNMENT ARE SUBVERTED. Let the Parliament-purging, securing, sequestering, dissolving Officers Army, and their Confederates, seriously ponder this, yea let all the whole English Nation and their trusties who shall hereafter sit in Parliament, consider and reform it in the first place, if ever they expect any Freedom, free Parliaments, Peace, settlement, enjoyment of their Fundamental Laws, Rights, or Liberties for the future, depending on our Parliaments Freedom, and exemption from all force and violence on its Members.  
The eleventh is, the 
* A Collection etc. p. 504.  Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, 13. Junii 1644. For the Forces raised in the County of Salop, which begins thus: The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, taking into their serious considerations, the great Oppressions under which the Inhabitants of the County of Salop lie, by reason the insupportable Taxes, etc. and the present condition of the County, by reason of the great number of Irish Rebels that have invaded it, and joined with Papists and other ill affected Persons, now in those parts, which threaten the extirpation of the Protestant Religion, and the subversion of the FUNDAMENTAL LAWS and GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM. For prevention whereof, etc. A direct Ordinance in point.  
The twelfth is, 
* A Collection etc. p. 877, 878, 879.  a Declaration of the Commons of England, assembled in Parliament, 17. Aprilis 1646. Of their true intentions concerning the ANCIENT and FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM, securing the people against ALL ARBITRARY GOVERNMENT, etc. wherein they complain, That the Enemy being in despair to accomplish his Designs by War, do misrepresent our intentions in the use we intent to make of the great successes God hath given us, and the happy opportunity to settle Peace and Truth in the three Kingdoms; to beget a belief that we now desire to exceed, or swerve from our first Ayms and Principles in the undertaking of this War, and to recede from the Solemn League and Covenant, and Treaties between the two Kingdoms; and that we would prolong these uncomfortable troubles, and bleeding distractions, IN 
* And is not all this now proved a real experimental truth, in some of these Remonstrants, to their shame?  ORDER TO ALTAR THE FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTION AND FRAME OF THIS KINGDOM, to leave all Government in the Church loose and unsettled, and ourselves to exercise THE SAME ARBITRARY POWER OVERDO THE PERSONS and ESTATES OF THE SUBJECTS, which this present Parliament hath thought fit to abolish, by taking away the Star-Chamber, High-Commission, and other arbitrary Courts, and the exorbitant Power of the Council Table, (all which we have seen experimentally verified in every particular, in the highest degree, notwithstanding this Declaration, by some in late and present power, and new Whitehall Council Tables, exceeding the old in illegal Taxes, Law-making, and other extravagances:) All which being seriously considered by us, etc. We do declare, THAT OUR TRUE and REAL INTENTIONS ARE, and OUR ENDEAVOUR SHALL BE, to settle Religion in the purity thereof, 
* And can most of these Remonstrants in late or present Power, now say this in truth or realty? and must not they be utterly ashamed, confounded, before God and man, when they consider how they have dissembled, prevaricated with God and men herein, in each particular?  TO MAINTAIN THE ANCIENT and FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENT OF THIS KINGDOM, TO PRESERVE THE RIGHTS and LIBERTIES OF THE SUBJECT; to lay hold on the first opportunity of procuring a safe and well grounded peace in the three Kingdoms, and to keep a good understanding between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland, according to the grounds expressed in the Solemn League and Covenant: And lest these generals should not give a sufficient satisfaction, we have thought fit, to the end men might no longer be abused in a misbelief of our intentions, or a misunderstanding of our actions, to make a further enlargement upon the particulars.  
And first, Concerning Church-Government, etc. because we cannot consent to the granting of an Arbitrary and unlicensed Power and Jurisdiction, to near ten thousand Judicatories to be erected within this Kingdom, and this demanded in such a way, as is not consistent with the FUNDAMENTAL LAWS and GOVERNMENT OF THE SAME, etc. Our full resolutions still are, sincerely, really and constantly to endeavour the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdom of England and Ireland, in Doctrine, Worship, and Government, according to the word of God, and the example of the best Reformed Churches, and according to the Covenant. WE ARE 
* And can the new Modellers of our Government over and over, who were parties to this Declaration, & then Members of the Commons House, say so now? or read this without blushing and self-abhorrence?  SO far FROM ALTERING THE FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENT OF THIS KINGDOM BY KING, LORDS and COMMONS, that we have only desired, that with the consent of the King, such Power may be settled in the TWO HOUSES, without which we can have no assurance, but that the like, or greater mischiefs than those which God hath hither to delivered us from, may break out again, and engage us in a second and more destructive war; whereby it plainly appears, Our intentions are not to change the Ancient Frame of Government within this Kingdom, but to obtain the end of the Primitive Institution of all Government, The safety and weal of the People; not judging it wise or safe, after so bitter experience of the bloody consequence of a 
* Is not a superintendent power in the Army over, above & against the Parliament or People, far more dangerous & likely to introduce such an arbitrary Government in the Nation, if lest in the General, Officers or their Counsels power?  pretended Power of the Militia in the King, to leave any colourable authority in the same, for the future attempts of introducing AN ARBITRARY GOVERNMENT OVERDO THIS NATION. We do declare, That we will not, nor any by colour of any Authority derived from us, shall interrupt the 
* Did not the imposing a strange New Engagement, and sundry arbitrary Commits of Indemnity, etc. interrupt it in the highest degree; and the misnamed high Courts of Justice, falsify this whole clause?  ordinary course of Justice, in the several Courts of Judicatories of this Kingdom, nor intermeddle in the cases of private interest other where determinable, unless it be in case of maladministration of Justice; wherein we shall see and provide, that Right be done, and punishment inflicted, as there shall be occasion, ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF THE KINGDOM.  
Lastly, Whereas both Nations have entered into a Solemn▪ League and Covenant; we have, and EVER SHALL BE VERY CAREFUL DULY TO OBSERVE THE SAME: that as nothing hath been done, SO NOTHING SHALL BE DONE BY US REPUGNANT TO THE TRUE MEANING AND INTENTION THEREOF, etc. WHO WILL NOT DEPART FROM THOSE GROUNDS AND PRINCIPLES, upon which it was framed and founded.  
Though the generality of the (afterwards,) secured and secluded Majority of the House of Commons, endeavoured constantly to make good this Declaration in all particulars; yet how desperately the garbled Minority thereof, continuing in power after their Seclusion, prevaricated, apostatised, and falsified their Faith herein in every particle, in the highest degree, we cannot but with greatest grief of heart, and detestation remember, to the subversion, ruin of our King, Lords, Commons, Kingdom, Parliaments, Fundamental Laws, Government, and the people's Liberties, etc. almost beyond all hopes of restitution or reparation in humane probability, without a miracle from heaven. The Lord give them grace most seriously to consider repent of, and really, sincerely reform it now at last, and to make it the principle subject of their prescribed public Humiliations, Fasts and Lamentations, as God himself prescribes; Isa. 58. 5, 6, 7, 8. Jer. 34. 8. to 22. Ezech. 19 1. 14. Hos. 10. 3, 4. and not still to add drunkenness to thirst, lest they bring them to temporal and eternal condemnation for it in Gods own due time, and engender endless Wars, Troubles, Taxes, Changes, Confusions in our Kingdoms, as they have hitherto done and will do till all be restored to their just Rights, Powers, Places, Possessions and Liberties.  
By this full Jury of Parliamentary Authorities, to omit many others, of 
* Exact Collect. p. 4. 12. 34. 61. 243. 260. 321. 500 502.  like, or 
* See the humble Remonstrance against the illegal Tax of Ship-money briefly discussed, p. 2. etc. England's Birth right & their Treatises. The Declaration of Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the Army under his Command, tendered to the Parliament, June 14. 1647. concerning the Just and Fundamental Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom.  inferior nature, and less moment, it is undeniable: That the people of England, have both ancient Fundamental Rights, Liberties, Franchises, Laws, and a Fundamental Government, which like the Laws of the Medes and Persians, neither may nor aught to be altered, or innovated upon any pretence, but perpetually maintained, defended, with greatest care, vigilancy, resolution; and he who shall deny or oppugn it, deser●●s no refulation by further arguments, since it is a received Maxim in all Arts, Contra Principia negantem non est disputandum; but rather demerits a sentence of Condemnation and public execution at Tyburn, as a Common Enemy, Traitor to our Laws, Liberties, Nation; it being no less than a transcendent crime, and High Treason by our Laws, for any person or persons, secretly or openly, to attempt the undermining or subversion of our fundamental laws, rights, Liberties, Government, especially by fraud, treachery, force or armed power and violence (the later part of my first proposal) which I shall now confirm by these twelve following Precedents and Evidences, corroborating likewise the former part, That we have such Fundamental laws, liberties, rights, franchises, and a fundamental Government too.  
In the 
* Walsingham, Stow, Holinshed Speed Grasion, Trussel, Baker in 5 R. 2. John Stow's Survey of London p. 89. to 103 Mr. St. John's Argument at Law, at strafford's Attainller p. 14.  fifth year of King Richard the second, the vulgar rabble of people and villains, in Kent, Essex, Sussex, Norfolk, Cambridge-shire and other Counties, under the Conduct of Wat Tyler, Jack Straw and other Rebels, assembling together in great multitudes (occasioned at first by the new invented Tax of Poll-money, granted by Parliament, and the overrigorous levying thereof, on the people, by the King's Officers (though nothing so grievous as our Excises, Contributions, & new Imposts now, so long exacted without any legal Grant in true, free and full English Parliaments) resolved by force and violence, to abrogate the law of Villeinage, with all other laws they disliked, formerly settled; to burn all the Records, kill and behead all the Judges, Justices, and men of law of all sorts, which they could get into their hands; to burn and destroy the Inns of Court, (as they did then the new Temple, where the Apprentices of the law lodged, burning their Monuments and Records of Law there found) to alter the tenors of lands, to devise new laws of their own, by which the Subjects should be governed: to change the ancient Hereditary Monarchical Government of the Realm, and to erect petty elective Tyrannies and Kingdoms to themselves in every shire: (A project eagerly prosecuted by some anarchical Anabaptists, Jesuits, Levellers, very lately) and though withal they intended to destroy the King at last, and all the Nobles too, when they had gotten sufficient power; yet at first to cloak their intentions from the people, they took an Oath of all they met; Quod Regi & Communibus fidelitatem servarent; that they should keep Allegiance and Faith to the King & Commons: Yea, Wat Tyler demanded a Commission from the King, to behead all Lawyers, Escheaters, and others whatsoever that were learned in the laws, or communicated with the law by reason of their Office, conceiving in his mind, that this being brought to pass, all things afterwards would be ordered according to his own and the common people's fancy. And he made his vaunt, putting his hand to his own lips; That before scure days came to an end, ALL THE LAWS OF ENGLAND SHOULD PROCEED FROM HIS MOUTH. (Which some of late times seem to speak not only in words, but deeds, by their manifold new laws and Edicts, repealing or contradicting our old) This their resolution and attempt thus to alter and subvert the Laws and Government, upon full debate in the Parliament of 5. R. 2. n. 30. 31. was declared to be High-Treason against the King and the Law, for which divers of the chief Actors in this Treasonable Design, were condemned and executed, as Traitors, in several places; and the rest enforced to a public submission, & then pardoned. Let these imitators now remember this old Precedent.  
2. In the 
* The Statutes at large, Stow, Holinshed, Speed, Grafton, Baker Trussel, in 10 & 21 R. 2. & 1 H. 4. M. St. John's Speech concerning the Shipmoney Judges p. 28. to 37. and argument at Law, at strafford's Attainder.  Parliament of 11. R. 2. (as appears by the Parliament Rolls and printed Statutes at large) three Privy Counsellors, the Archbishop of York, the Duke of Ireland, and the Earl of Suffolk, the Bishop of Exeter, the King's Confessor, five Knights, six Judges (whereof Sir Robert Tresylian Chief Justice was one) Blake, of the King's Council at Law, Vsk, and others, were impeached and condemned of High Treason, some of them executed as Traitors, the rest banished, their lands and goods forfeited, and none to endeavour to procure their pardon, under pain of Felony; for their endeavouring to overthrow a Commission for the good of the Kingdom, contrary to an Act of Parliament, by force of Arms, and opinions in Law delivered by these temporising Judges and Lawyers, to the King, (through threats and terror at Nottingham Castle) tending to subvert the Laws and Statutes of the Realm, overthrew the Power, Privileges and proceedings of Parliament, and betray (not 
* As some of late years have done.  all the House of Lords, but only) some of the Lords of Parliament. Which Judgement being afterwards reversed in the forced and packed Parliament of 21. R. 2. was reconfirmed in the Parliament of 1 H. 4. c. 3, 4, 5. and the Parliament of 21. R. 2. totally repealed, and anulled for ever, and hath so continued. Read Statut. at large.  
3. In the 
* M. St. John's argument at Law, at strafford's Attainder p. 13, 14, 17.  Parliament of 17 R. 2. n. 20. and Pas. 17 R. 2. B. Regis Rot. 16. Sir Thomas Talbot was accused and found guilty of High Treason, for conspiring the death of the Dukes of Gloucester, Lancaster, and other Peers, who maintained the Commission confirmed by Act of Parliament, 10. R. 2 and assembling people in a warlike manner in the County of Chester, for effecting of it, in destruction of the estates of the Realm; and the Laws of the Kingdom.  
4. In the 
* Hall, Fabian Holinshed, Speed, Grafto●, Stow, Martin, Baker.  29. year of King Henry the sixth, Jack Cade, under a pretence to REFORM, alter and abrogate some laws, Purveyances and Extortions importable to the Commons whereupon he was called JOHN AMEND ALL) drew a great multitude of Kentish people to Black-heath, in a warlike manner, to effect it: In the Parliament of 29 H. 6. c. 1 this was adjudged High Treason in him and his Complices, by Act of Parliament: and the Parliament of 31. H. 6. c. 1. made this memorable Act against him, and his Imitators in succeeding ages; worthy serious perusal and consideration by all, who tread in his footsteps, and overact him in his Treasons.  
Whereas the most abominable Tyrant, horrible, odious, and errand FALSE TRAITOR, John Cade, calling himself sometimes Mortimer, sometime Captain of Kent, (which Name, Fame, Acts and Feats, be to be removed out of the speech and mind of every faithful Christian man perpetually) falsely and traitorously purposing and imagining the perpetual destruction of the KING'S PERSON and FINAL SUBVERSION OF THIS REALM, taking upon him 
* And have not others of late assumed to themselves more Royal power than he? resolved to be Treason by 21. ●. 3. Rot. Parl. & Cooks 3. Institut p 9  ROYAL POWER, and gathering to him the King's People in great number, BY FALSE SUBTLE, IMAGINED LANGUAGE: and seditiously made a stirring Rebellion, and insurrection, UNDER COLOUR OF JUSTICE, FOR REFORMATION OF THE LAWS OF THE SAID KING, robbing, slaying, spoiling a great part of his faithful people: Our said Sovereign Lord the King, considering the premises, with many other, which were more odious to remember, by advice and assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and at THE REQUEST OF THE COMMONS, and by Authority aforesaid, Hath ordained and established, that the said John Cade shall be had, named and declared, A FALSE TRAITOR, to our said Sovereign Lord the King; and that all his Tyranny, Acts, Feats, & false Opinions, shall be voided, abated, anulled, destroyed, and put out of remembrance for ever. And that all Indictments, and things depending thereof, had and made under the power of Tyranny, shall likewise be void, anulled, abated, repealed, and holden for none: and that the blood of none of them be defiled, nor corrupted, but by the Authority of the said Parliament clearly declared for ever. And that all Indictments in time coming, in like case, under power of Tyranny, Rebellion and stirring had, shall be of no regard or effect, but void in Law: And all the Petitions 
* To wit by Cade and his Confederates for the alteration of the laws  delivered to the said King in his last Parliament holden at Westminster, the sixth day of November the 29. of his Reign, against his mind, by him not agreed, shall be taken and put in Oblivion, out of Remembrance, undone, voided, anulled and destroyed for ever, as a thing purposed against God and his Conscience, and against his Royal estate and pre-eminence, and also DISHONOURABLE and UNREASONABLE.  
5. In the 
* See Mr. St. John's argument against Strafford, p. 17. Hall's Chronicle and Holinshed.  8 year of King Henry the 8. William Bell, and Thomas Lacie, in the County of Kent, conspired with Thomas Cheney (the Hermit of the Queen of Fairies) TO OVERDO THROW THE LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF THE REALM: for effecting whereof, they with 200 more met together, and concluded upon a course of raising greater forces in Kent, and the adjacent Shires; This was judged High Treason, and some of them executed as Traitors. Moreover, it 
* Cooks 3. Institutes p. 9, 10.  was resolved by all the Judges of England, in the reign of Henry. 8. that an Insurrection against the Statute of Laborers, or for the enhancing of Salaries and wages, or against any Statute, or to remove Councillors, or to any other end pretending Reformation of their own heads, was TREASON, and a levying war against the King, BECAVSE IT WAS GENERALLY AGAINST THE KING'S LAW, and the Offenders took upon them THE REFORMATION THEREOF, which Subjects by gathering of power ought not to do.  
6. On 
* Cooks 4. Institutes c. 8. p. 89. to 96.  December 1. in the 21. year of King Henry the 8. Sr. Thomas Moor, Lord Chancellor of England, with fourteen more Lords of the Privy Council, John Fitz-James, Chief Justice of England, and Sir Anthony Fitz-Herbert, Herbert, one of the Judges of the Common Pleas, exhibited sundry Articles of Impeachment to King Henry the 8. against Cardinal Wolsey: That he had by divers and many sundry ways and fashions, committed High Treason, and NOTABLE GRIEVOUS OFFENCES, by misusing altering and subverting of his Grace's Laws, and otherwise, contrary to his high Honour, Prerogative, Crown, Estate, and Dignity Royal; to the inestimable great hindrance, diminution and decay of the universal wealth of this his Grace's Realm. The Articles are 43. in number, the 20, 21, 26, 30, 35, 37: 42, 43. contain, his illegal arbitrary practices and proceedings to the subversion of the due course and order of his Grace's Laws, to the undoing of a great number of his loving people. Whereupon they pray. Please therefore your mostexcellent Majesty of your excellent goodness towards the Weal of this your Realm, and subjects of the same, to set such order and direction upon the said Lord Cardinal, as may be to terrible example of other, to beware to offend your Grace, and your Laws hereafter: and that he be so provided for, that he never have any Power, Jurisdiction or authority hereafter, to trouble, vex or impoverish the commonwealth of this your Realm, as he hath done heretofore, to the great hurt and damage of every man almost, high and low. His 
* See Speed, Hollinshed, Grafton, Stow, Antiquitates Ecclesiae Brit. p. 378. & 379. and Godwin in his life.  poisoning himself prevented his legal judgement for these his Practices.  
7. The Statute of 3. and 4. Ed. c. 5, 6. enacts, That if any persons, to the number of twelve or more, being assembled together, shall intend, go about, practice or put in use with force and arms, unlawfully of their own authority, TO CHANGE ANY LAWS made for Religion, by authority of Parliament, OR ANY OTHER LAWS OR STATUTES OF THIS REALM, STANDING IN FORCE, OR ANY OF THEM; and shall continue together by the space of an hour, being commanded by a Justice of Peace, Mayor, Sheriff, or other Officer to return: or shall by ringing of any Bell, sounding of any Trumpet, Drum, Horn, etc. raise such a number of persons, to the intent to put any the things aforesaid in ure, IT SHALL BE HIGH TREASON, and the parties executed as Traitors: After this the Statute of 1 Mariaec. 
* Mr. St. John's Argument against Strafford p. 14, 15.  12. Enacted, That if twelve or more in manner aforesaid, shall endeavour by force to alter any of the Laws or Statutes of the Kingdom; the offenders shall from the time therein limited, be adjudged ONLY AS FELONS, whereas it was Treason before: but this Act continuing but till the next Parliament, and then expiring, the offence remains Treason, as formerly.  
8. In the 
* Cooks 3 Instit. c. 1. p. 9, 10. Mr. St. John's Argument at law against Strafford, p, 15, 16.  39 year of Queen Elizabeth, divers in the County of Oxford consulted together to go from house to house in that County, and from thence to London and other parts, to excite them to take arms for the throwing down of enclosures throughout the Realm; nothing more was prosecuted, nor assemblies made; yet in Easter Term 39 Elizabeth, it was resolved by all the Judges of England (who met about the Case) that this was High Treason, and a levying war against the Queen, because it was to throw down all enclosures throughout the Kingdom, to which they could pretend no right: and that the end of it was, TO OVERDO THROW THE LAWS AND STATUTES for enclosures. Whereupon BRADSHAW and BURTON (two of the principal Offenders) were condemned and executed at Ainstow Hill in Oxfordshire, where they intended their first meeting.  
9 To come nearer to our present times and case: In the last Parliament of King Charles, Anno 1640. 
* See the Journals of both Houses, & Act for his Attainder. Mr. Pyms Declaration upon the whole matter of the Charge of High Treason, against him, April 12. 1641. Mr. St. John's argument at law, at his Attainder, and Diurnal Occurrences.  The whole House of Commons impeached Thomas Earl of Strafford, Lord Deputy of Ireland, of High Treason; amongst other Articles, for this crime especially (wherein all the other centred) That he hath TREASONABLY ENDEAVOURED by his Words, Actions and Counsels, TO SUBVERT THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS and GOVERNMENT OF ENGLAND and IRELAND, and introduce an arbitrary and Tyrannical Government. This the whole Parliament declared and adjudged to be High Treason, in and by their Votes, and a special Act of Parliament for his Attainder; for which he was condemned, and soon after executed on Tower-Hill, as a Traitor to the King and Kingdom, May 22. 1641.  
10. The whole House of Commons the same Parliament, impeached 
* See the Commons and Lords Journals, his printed Impeachment, Mr. Pyms Speech thereat, Canterbury's Doom p. 25, 26, 27, 38, 40.  William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury, of HIGH TREASON; in these very terms, February 6, 1640.  
First, That he hath traitorously endeavoured to subvert the Fundamental Laws and Government of this Kingdom of England, and instead thereof, to introduce an arbitrary and tyrannical Government against Law: And he to that end hath wickedly and TRAITOROUSLY advised his Majesty, 
See Chap. 2. Proposition 1.  that he 
* Do not others now do it, who impeached and condemnedhim, in an higher degree than he?  might at his own will and pleasure, levy and take money of his Subjects without THEIR CONSENT IN PARLIAMENT; and this he affirmed was warrantable by the law of God.  
Secondly, He hath for the better accomplishment of that his Traitorous Design, advised and procured Sermons and other Discourses, to be preached, printed and published; in which the 
* Is it not so in the New Instrument Article 1. 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30▪ 31, 32, 33, 34, 37, 38, 39, 40. 42. of our New Government, and those that compiled and prescribed it to the 3 kingdoms.  Authority of Parliaments, and the force of the Laws of this Kingdom have been denied, and absolute and unlimited Power over the Persons and Estates of his Majesty's Subjects maintained and defended, not only in the King, but in himself and other Bishops, against the Law.  
Thirdly, He hath by Letters, Messages, Threats and Promises, and by divers other ways to Judges, and other Ministers of Justice, interrupted, perverted, and at other times by means aforesaid hath endeavoured to interrupt and pervert the course of Justice in his Majesty's Courts at Westminster and other Courts, TO THE SUBVERSION OF THE LAWS OF THIS KINGDOM, whereby sundry of his Majesty's Subjects have been stopped in their just suits, deprived of their lawful Rights, and subjected to his Tyrannical will, to their ruin and destruction.  
Fourthly, That he hath traitorously endeavoured to corrupt the other Courts of Justice, by advising and procuring his Majesty to sell places of Judicature and other Offices, CONTRARY TO THE LAWS and CUSTOMS in that behalf.  
Fifthly, That he hath TRAITOROUSLY caused a a Book of Canons to be compiled and published, without any lawful warrant and Authority in that behalf; in which pretended Canons 
* Are there not more such matters contained in the new Instrument of Government than in these?  many matters are contained, contrary to the King's Prerogative, to the Fundamental Laws and Statutes of this Realm, to the Rights of Parliament, to the Property and Liberty of the Subject, and matters tending Sedition, and of dangerous consequence, and to the establishing of a vast, unlawful presumptuous power in himself and his successors, etc.  
Seventhly, That he hath traitorously endeavoured to alter and subvert Gods true Religion BY LAW ESTABLISHED; and instead thereof to set up Popish Religion and Idolatry: And to that end hath declared, and maintained in Speeches and printed Books, divers Popish Doctrines and Opinions, contrary to the Articles of Religion ESTABLISHED BY LAW. He hath urged and enjoined divers Popish and Superstitious Ceremonies WITHOUT ANY WARRANT OF LAW; and hath cruelly persecuted those who have opposed the same, by corporal punishment, and imprisonments; and most unjustly vexed others, who refused to conform thereunto by Ecclesiastical Censures, Excommunication, Suspension, 
* Have not arbitrary Committees in most places done the like, or worse, in many cases?  Deprivation, and Degradation, CONTRARY TO THE LAWS of this kingdom.  
Thirteenth, He did by his own authority and power contrary 
* Have not others done the like in an higher degree?  to Law, procure sundry of his Majesty's Subjects, and enforced the Clergy of this Kingdom to contribute towards the maintenance of the War against the Scots.  
That to preserve himself from being questioned, for these & other his Traitorous courses, he hath laboured to subvert the Rights of Parliament, and the ancient course of Parliamentary proceedings, (and have not the Army Officers and others actually done it since upon the same account?) and by false and malicious slanders to incense his Majesty against Parliaments.  
All which being proved against him at his Trial, were after solemn Argument by Mr. Samuel Brown, in behalf of the Commons House, proved; and soon after adjudged, to be High Treason at the Common Law, by both Houses of Parliament; and so declared in the Ordinance for his Attainder: for which he was condemned and beheaded as a Traitor, against the King, Law and Kingdom, on Tower Hill, January 10. 1644.  
11. In the 
* See the Commons and Lords Journals, Diurnal Occurrences, p. 15, 16 19, 37, 191 to 264. and Mr. Saint John's Speech at a Conference of both Houses of Parliament concerning ship money & these Judges. Togegether with the Speeches of Mr Hide, Mr. Waller, M. Pe●rpoint, M Denzill Hollis at their Impeachments, July 6. 1641. aggravating their offences, in Diurnal Occurrences and Speeches, p. 237 to 264.  same Parliament, December 21. Jan. 14. Febr. 11. 1640. and July 6. 1641. Sir John Finch, than Lord Keeper, Chief Justice Bramston, Judge Berkley, Judge Crawly, Chief Baron Davenport, Baron Weston, and Baron Trevour, were accused and impeached by the House of Commons, by several Articles transmitted to the Lords, OF HIGH TREASON, for that they had Traitorously and wickedly endeavoured, to subvert the Fundamental Laws and established Government of the Realm of ENGLAND, and instead thereof to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government against Law; which they had declared, by traitorous and wicked words, opinions, judgements; and more especially in this their extrajudicial opinion, subscribed by them in the case of Ship money, viz. We are of opinion, that when the good and safety of the Kingdom in general is concerned, and the whole Kingdom in danger; your Majesty may by Writ, under the Great Seal of England (without consent in Parliament) command all your Subjects of this your Kingdom, at their charge to provide and furnish such a number of Ships, with Men, Victual and Ammunition, and for such time as your Majesty shall think fit for the Defence and safeguard of the Kingdom, from such danger and peril. And we are of Opinion, that in such case, your Majesty is the 
* Now others presume to do it without writ of consulting with the judges who condemned it in them. See c. 2 Proposition 1.  sole Judge both of the danger, and when, and how, the sum is to be prevented, and avoided And likewise for arguing and giving judgement accordingly, in Mr. John Hampdens' case, in the Exchequer Chamber, in the point of Ship money, in April 1638: which said opinions, are Destructive to the Fundamental Laws of the Realm, 
* Have not others been sole Judges of it, and other pretended dangers since?  the Subjects Right of Property, and contrary to former Resolutions in Parliament, and the Petition of Right; as the words of their several Impeachments run. Sir John Fin●h fled the Realm, to preserve his head on his shoulders; some others of them died through fear, to prevent the danger, soon after their Impeachments, and the rest who were less peccant, were put to Fines.  
12. Mr. John Pym, in his Declaration upon the whole matter of the charge of High Treason against Thomas Earl of Strafford, April 12. 1641. before a Committee of both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall; printed and published by Order of the House of Commons; proves his endeavour to subvert the Fundamental Laws of England, and to introduce an Arbitrary Power; to be High Treason, and an offence very heinous in the nature, and mischievous in the effects thereof; which (saith he) will best appear, if it be examined by that universal and supreme Law, Salu● Populi: the element of all Laws, out of which they are derived: the end of all Laws, to which they are designed, and in which they are perfected.  
1. It is an offence comprehending all other Offences. Here you shall find several Treasons, Murders, Rapines, Oppressions, Perjuries. There is in this Crime, a Seminary of all evils, hurtful to a State; and if you consider the Reasons of it, it must needs be so. The Law, is that which puts a difference betwixt good and evil; betwixt just and unjust. If you take away the law, all things will fall into confusion; every man will become a law to himself, 
Nota.  which in the depraved condition of humane nature, must needs produce many great enormities; 
* And are they not so now?  Lust will become a Law; and Envy will become a law; Covetousness and Ambition will become laws; and what Dictates, what decisions such laws will produce, may easily be discerned in the late Government of Ireland (and England too since this.) The law hath a power to prevent, to restrain, to repair evils: without this all kinds of mischiefs and distempers will break in upon a State. It is the Law that entitles the King to the Allegiance and Service of his people: it entitles the People to the Protection and Justice of the King, etc. The Law is the Boundary, the measure betwixt the King's Prerogative, and the People's Liberties; whiles these move in their Orb, they are a support and security to one another; but if these Bounds be so removed, that they enter into contestation and conflict, one of these great mischiefs must needs ensue: if the Prerogative of the King overwhelm the Liberty of the people, it will be turned into Tyranny; If Liberty undermine the Prerogative, it will turn into Anarchy. The Law is the safeguard, the custody of all private interests: your Honours, your Lives, your Liberties, and your estates, are all in the keeping of the Law: without this, every man hath a like Right to any thing: and this is the condition into which the Irish were brought by the Earl of Strafford; (and the English by others who condemned him) And the reason which he gave for it, hath more mischief than the thing itself: THEY ARE A CONQUERED NATION, (let those who now say the same of England, as well as Scotland and Ireland, consider and observe what follows) There cannot be a word more pregnant and fruitful IN TREASON, than that word is. There are few Nations in the world, that have not been conquered, and no doubt but the conqueror may give 
* And did not some at White-Hall do so of late, and now too witness their volumes of new Declarations, Edicts, Ordinances there made.  what Laws he please to those that are conquered. But if the succeeding Parts and Agreements do not limit and restrain that right, what people can be secure? England hath been conquered, and Wales hath been conquered, and by this reason will be in little better case than Ireland. If the King by the Right of a Conqueror give Laws to his people, shall not the people by the same reason be restored to the Right of the conquered, to recover their Liberty if they can? What can be more hurtful, more pernicious, than such Propositions as these?  
2. It is dangerous to the King's Person: and dangerous to his Crown: it is apt to cherish ambition, usurpation, and oppression in great men: and to beget sedition, discontent in the people, and both these have been, and in reason must ever be great causes of trouble and alterations to Prince and State. If the Histories of those Eastern Countries be perused, where Princes order their affairs, according to the 
* Have not others taken up such Principles in their practices, proceedings even against King's Kingdoms, Parliament, Peers, as well as private persons?  mischievous Principles of the Earl of Strafford, Lose and absolved from all Rules of Government, they will be found to be frequent in combustions, full of Massacres, and the tragical end of Princes. If any man shall look into our own Stories, in the times when the Laws were most neglected, he shall find them full of Commotions, of Civil distempers, whereby the Kings, 
Nota.  that then reigned, were always kept in want and disresse, the people consumed with CIVIL WARS: and by such wicked Counsels as these, some of our Princes have been brought to such miserable ends, As 
* Note this, all the whole Commons-House opinion then.  no honest heart can remember without horror and earnest Prayer, that it may never be so again.  
3. As it is dangerous to the King's Person and Crown, so it is in other respects very prejudicial to his Majesty, in honour, profit and greatness (which he there proves at large, as you may there read at leisure) and yet these are the Guildings and Paintings, that are put upon such Counsels: These are for your Honour, for your Service.  
4. It is inconsistent with the Peace, the Wealth, the Prosperity of a Nation. It is destructive to Justice, the mother of Peace: to Industry, the spring of Wealth; to Valour, which is the active virtue whereby the Prosperity of a Nation can only be procured, confirmed, and enlarged. It is not only apt to take away Peace, and so entangle the Nation with Wars, but doth corrupt Peace, and pours such a Malignity into it, as produceth the effects of War: both to the 
* Is not this an experimental truth now?  NOBILITY and others, having as little security of THEIR PERSONS OR ESTATES, in this peaceable time, as if the Kingdom had been under the fury and rage of War. And as for industry and valour, who will take pains for that, which when he hath gotten is not his own? or who fights for that wherein he hath no other interest, but such as is subject to the will of another? etc. Shall it be Treason to embase the King's Coin; though but a piece of twelve pence or six pence, and must it not needs be the effect of greater Treason to 
* And were they ever so base, cowardly, slavish as now?  embase the spirits of his Subjects, and to set a stamp and character of Servitude upon them, whereby they shall be disabled to do any thing for the service of the King or Commonwealth?  
5. In times of sudden danger, by the Invasion of an Enemy, it will disable his Majesty to preserve himself, and his Subjects from that danger: When war threatens a Kingdom, by the coming of a Foreign Enemy, it is no time then to discontent the people, to make them weary of the PRESENT GOVERNMENT, and more inclinable to a change. The supplies which are ●o come in this way, will be unready, uncertain; there can be no assurance of them, no dependence upon them, either for time or proportion. And if some money be gotten in such a way, the distractions, the divisions distempers, which this course is apt to produce, will be more prejudicial to the public safety, than the supply can be advantageous to it.  
6. This crime is contrary to the Pact and Covenant between the King and his People; by mutual agreement and stipulation, confirmed by OATH on both sides.  
7. It is an Offence that is contrary to the ends of Government.  
1. To prevent Oppressions; to 
* Was ever their power, violence so unlimited, unbounded in all kinds as now, against Kings, kingdoms, Parliaments, Peers, People?  limit and restrain the excessive power and violence of great men; to open passages of Justice with indifferency towards all.  
2. To preserve men in their Estates, to secure them in their Lives and Liberties.  
3. That Virtue should be cherished, and Vice suppressed; but where Laws are subverted, and Arbitrary, and unlimited power set up; a way is open not only for the security, (as now of all heresies) but for the advancement and encouragement of evil, Such men as are 
* Is it not most true of late and still?  ●ptest for the execution and maintenance of this power, are only capable of preferment; and others, who will not be Instruments of any unjust Commands, who make Conscience to do any thing against the law of the Kingdom, and liberties of the Subject, are not only not passable for employment; but SUBJECT TO MUCH JEALOUSY and DANGER. (Is not this their condition of late and present times, even in Parliament Members themselves, as well as others, secured, secluded, kept close prisoners perforce, for making Conscience of doing nothing against the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom, and their Oaths and Covenants too? and refusing to comply with usurping Innovators in all their selfseeking extravagancies and Treasons? expertus loquor.)  
4. That all accidents and events, all Counsels and Designs should be improved for the public good. But this arbitrary power is apt to dispose all to the maintenance of itself. (And is it not so now?)  
8. The Treasons of subversion of the laws, violation of Liberties can never be good or justifiable by any circumstance or occasion, being in their own nature, how specious or good soever they be pretended. He allegeth it was a time of GREAT NECESSITY and DANGER, 
Note  when such Counsels were necessary, FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE STATE; (the Plea since, and now used by others, who condemned him;) If there were any NECESSITY IT WAS OF HIS OWN MAKING. He by his evil Counsel had brought the King (as others the Kingdom since) into a Necessity; and by no rules of Justice can be allowed to gain this advantage to his Justification; which is A GREAT PART OF HIS OFFENCE.  
9 As this is Treason in the nature of it, so it doth exceed all other Treasons in this; that in the Design and endeavour of the Author, it was to be A CONSTANT and PERMANENT TREASON; a standing perpetual Treason; which would have been in continual Act, not determined within one time or age, but transmitted to Posterity, even from Generation to Generation. And are not 
* See Article 2, 2, 3, ●, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 39 & p. 45, 46. of the Government of the Commonwealth of England, etc.  others Treasons of late times such, proclaimed such, in and by their own Printed papers; and therein exceeding strafford's?  
10. As it is odious in the nature of it, so it is odious in the Judgement and estimation of the Law. TO 
* Doth not the Declaration of 17 March 1648 and the Instrument of the new Government do it, in the highest degree▪  ALTER THE SETTLED FRAME and CONSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENT, IS TREASON IN ANY ESTATE. (Let those consider it who are guilty of it in the highest degree, beyond Strafford, Canterbury, or the Ship mony-Judges in our own State.) The Laws whereby all parts of a Kingdom are preserved, should be very vain and defective, if they had not a power to secure and preserve themselves.  
The Forfeitures inflicted for Treason by our Law, are of Life, Honour, and Estate, even all that can be forfeited: and this Prisoner, although he should 
* And others as well as he, of far inferior place & estate.  pay all these Forfeitures, will still be a Debtor to the Commonwealth. Nothing can be more equal, than that he should perish by the Justice of the Law, which he would have subverted: neither will this be a New way of blood. There are marks enough to trace this Law to the very Original of this Kingdom. And if it hath not been put in execution, as he allegeth, this two hundred and forty years; it was not for want of LAW, but that all that time had not bred a man 
* But have not our times bred men much bolder than he, since this speech was made, and he executed?  bold enough to commit such Crimes as these: which is a circumstance much aggravating his Offence, and making him no less liable to punishment: he is THE 
* Since, he hath many followers.  ONLY MAN, that in so long a time hath ventured UPON SUCH A TREASON AS THIS.  
Thus far Mr. John Pym; in the Name and by the Order and Authority of the whole Commons House in Parliament: which I wish all those, who by their Words, Actions Counsels (and printed Publications too) have traitorously endeavoured to subvert the Fundamental Laws, Liberties, Government, Parliaments of England and Ireland, and to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government against law, as much as ever Strafford did, yea, far out stripped him therein (even since his execution) in all particulars, for which he was beheaded; would now seriously lay to heart, and speedily reform, lest they equal or exceed him in conclusion in capital punishments for the same, or endless Hellish Torments.  
13. The next Authority I shall produce in point, is, The Speech and Declaration of Master Oliver St. John, at a Conference of both Houses of Parliament, concerning SHIPMONEY, upon Judge Finches Impeachment of High Treason, January 14. 1640. printed by the Commons Order, London, 1641. wherein he thus declares the sense of the Commons, p. 12. etc.  
That by the Judge's opinions (
* p. 36.  forecited) concerning Shipmoney, THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS OF THE REALM CONCERNING OUR PROPERTIES and OUR PERSONS ARE SHAKEN: whose Treasonable Offence herein, he thus aggravates, page 20. etc. The Judges, as is declared in the Parliament of 11 R. 2. are the Executors of the Statutes, and of the Judgements and Ordinances of Parliament. They have made themselves the 
* Have none done so since them▪  EXECUTIONERS OF THEM; they have endeavoured the DESTRUCTION OF THE FUNDAMENTALS OF OUR LAWS and LIBERTIES. Holland in the Low Countries, lies under the Sea: the superfices of the Land, is lower than the superficies of the Sea. 
See Chap. 2. Proposition. 1.  It is Capital therefore for any man to cut the Banks, because they defend the Country: Besides our own, even Foreign Authors, as Comines, observes, That the Statute DE TALLAGIO, and the other Old Laws, are the Sea Walls and Banks, which keep the Commons from the inundation of the Prerogative.  
These 
* Have not other Pioners and Judasses' done the like▪  pioneers have not only undermined these banks, but have leveled them even with the ground. If one that was known to be Hostis Patriae, had done this, though the Damage be the same, yet the Gild is less; but the Conservatores Riparum, the Overseers entrusted with the Defence of these Banks, for them to destroy them; the breach of Trust aggravates, nay, altars the nature of the offence: Breach of Trust, though in a private Person, and in the least things, is odious amongst all men: much more in a public Person, in things of great and public concernment, because 
* This is grown a mere Paradon of late years, in Judges, soldiers & others.  GREAT TRUST BINDS THE PARTY TRUSTED TO GREATEST CARE AND FIDELITY.  
It is TREASON in the Constable of Dover Castle to deliver the Keys to the known enemies of the Kingdom: Whereas if the Housekeeper of a private person, deliver possession to his Adversary, it is a crime scarce punishable by Law. The 
* What are they now of late times of public Changes?  Judges under his Majesty, are the Persons trusted with the Laws, and in them with the Lives, Liberties and Estates of the whole Kingdom. This Trust of all we have, is primarily from his Majesty, and 
* See 27 H. 8. c. 24. 26. Magna Charta c. 12. 29. 52. H. 3. c. 1, 3, 5, 9, 20. 3 E. 1. c. 44, 45, 46. 13 E. 1. c. 10, 12, 30, 31, 35, 39, 44, 45. 25 E. 1. c. 1, 2. 27 E. 1. c. 2, 3. 34 E. 1. c. 6. 12 E 2. c. 6. 2 E. 3. c. 3. 14 E 3. c. 10. 16. Rastal Justices.  from him delegated to the Judges. His Majesty at his Coronation, is bound by his Oath TO EXECUTE JUSTICE TO HIS PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THE LAW; thereby to assure the People of the faithful performance of his GREAT TRUST: His Majesty again, as he trusts the Judges with the performance of this part of his Oath; so doth he likewise exact another Oath of them, for their due execution of Justice to the people, according to the Laws: hereby the Judges stand entrusted with this part of his Majesty's Oath. If therefore the Judges shall do wittingly against the Law, they do not only break their own Oaths, and therein the Common Faith and Trust of the whole Kingdom; but do as much as in them lies, asperse & blemish the sacred Person of his Majesty, with the odious and hateful sin of 
* Was it ever so frequent a sin as now in all sorts of late Judges, Officers, Subjects▪  Perjury.  
My Lords, the heinousness of this offence is most legible in the 
* Do none deserve as severe now?  severe punishment, which former Ages have inflicted upon those Judges, who have broken any part of their Oaths wittingly, though in things not so dangerous to the Subject, as in the case in question.  

* See Cooks 3. Institutes p. 146, 147, and page 133. Holinshed, page 284, 285. Speeds History page 651. Stow, Walsingham, Daniel in 18 E. 1.  Sir Thomas Wayland, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas 17. E. 1. was attainted of Felony for taking Bribes, and his Lands and Goods forfeited, as appears in the Pleas of Parliament, 18 E. 1. and he was banished the Kingdom, as unworthy to live in the State, against which he had so much offended.  
Sir 
* See Cooks 3. Instit. p. 145.  William Thorpe Chief Justice of the King's Bench, in Edward the thirds time, having of five persons received five several Bribes, which in all amounted to one hundred pounds, was for this alone, adjudged to be hanged, and all his Goods and Lands forfeited: The reason of the Judgement is entered in the Roll, in these words. Quia praedictus Willielmus 
* Have none of this name, or of this Function since done as bad or worse in an higher degree?  Thorp qui Sacramentum Domini Regis erga populum suum habuit ad custodiendum, fregit malitiose, falsò & rebelliter, quantum in ipso fuit. There is a notable Declaration in that Judgement, that this judgement was not to be drawn into example, against any other Officers, who should break their Oaths, but only against those, qui praedictum Sacramentum fecerunt, & fregerunt, & 
* Let Custodes Legum & Libertatum Angliae and those now called Judges, remember it▪  habent Leges Angliae ad custodiendum: That is, only to the Judge's Oaths, who have the Laws entrusted unto them. This Judgement was given 24 E. 3. The next year in Parliament 25 E. 3. Numb. 10. it was debated in Parliament, whether this Judgement was legal? Et nullo contradicente, it was declared, TO BE JUST AND ACCORDING TO THE LAW: and the 
* Let the Reporter and others now consider it  same Judgement may be given in time to come upon the like occasion. This case is in point, That it is death for any JUDGE wittingly to break his OATH in any part of it. This OATH of THORP is entered in the Roll, and the same Verbatim with the Judge's OATH in 18 Edw. 3. and is the same which the Judges now take. (And let those who have taken the same Oath, with the 
* 1 Eliz. c. 1▪ 3 Jac. c. 4. 7 Jac. c. 6.  OATHS OF SUPREMACY and ALLEGIANCE too, remember and apply this PRECEDENT, lest others do it for them.)  
Your Lordships will give me leave to observe the differences between that and the case in question.  
1. That of Thorp, was only a selling of the Law by Retail, to these five persons; for he had five several Bribes, of these five persons; the Passage of the Law to the rest of the Subjects, for aught appears, was free and open. But these Opinions are a conveyance of the Law by whole sale, and that not to, but from the Subject.  
2. In that of Thorp, as to those five persons, it was not an absolute denial of Justice, it was not a damning up, but a straitning only of the Channel. For whereas, the Judges ought Judicium reddere, that is, the Laws being THE BIRTHRIGHT and INHERITANCE OF THE SUBJECT, the Judge when the parties in suit demand Judgement, should re-dare, freely restore the Right unto them; now he doth not dare, but vendere, with hazard only of perverting Justice; for the party that buys the Judgement, may have a good and honest cause. But these Opinions, besides that, they have cost the Subjects very dear, dearer than any; nay, I think, I may truly say, than all the unjust Judgements that ever have been given in this Realm, witness the many hundred thousand pounds, which under colour of them, have been levied upon the Subjects, amounting to 
* This is nothing incomparison to the late Taxes, Ship money, Excises imposed on the subjects, without a Parliament, amounting to above 20 times as much as the King's Ship money, and more frequent, uncessant, and endless than it.  seven hundred thousand pounds and upwards, that have been paid unto the Treasurers of the Navy (in sundry years) besides what the Subjects have been forced to pay Sheriffs, Sheriffs Bailiffs (and now an hundred times more to Troopers, and Soldiers, who forcibly levy their unlawful Contributions and Excises, though adjudged HIGH TREASON in strafford's case, and proved such by Master St. John) and otherwise; which altogether as is conceived, amounts not to less than a Million (in five years' space, whereas we pay above two Millions in Taxes, Imposts, Excises, every year) besides the infinite vexations of the Subject, by suits in Law, binding them over, and attendance at the Council Table, taking them from their necessary employments, in making Sesses and Collections, and imprisonment of their persons (all now trebled to what then.) I say, Besides what is past, to make our miseries complete, they have as much as in them is, MADE THEM ENDLESS (as others since have done, by uncessant endless Taxes and Excises:) for by these opinions, they have put upon themselves and their successors, An impossibility of ever doing us right again, and an incapacity upon us of demanding it so long as they continue. (As the Compilers of the late Instrument, with 42 Strings, entitled, The Government of the Common Wealth of England, etc. Article 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 12, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 36, 37, 38, 39 have done, as far as they, and much beyond them.)  
In that sore famine in the land of Egypt, when the inhabitants were reduced to the next door to death; (for there they say, why should we die?) for bread, first they give their money, next their Flocks and Cattle; last of all, their Persons and Lands for Bread, all became Pharoahs'; but by this, Lex Regia, there is a transaction made, not only of our Persons, but of our bread likewise, wherewith our persons should be sustained; that was for bread, this of our bread. For since these Opinions, if we have any thing at all, we are 
* Are we now beholding to it for any thing against the only new Law of the longest sword? Which takes, imposeth what when, and how much it pleaseth, without account, or dispute, from all sorts and degrees of Persons; and that by those who were commissioned, trusted, engaged by Oaths, Protestations, Vows, League and Covenant to preserve our laws and properties.  not at all beholding TO THE LAW FOR IT, but are wholly cast UPON THE MERCY and GOODNESS OF THE KING.  
Again, there the Egyptians themselves, sold themselves, and all they had to the King: if ours had been so done; if it had been so done by our own free consent in PARLIAMENT, we had the less cause to complain. But it was done against our Wills, and by those who were entrusted, and that UPON OATH, with the preservation of these things for us. The Laws are our Forts and Bulwarks of defence: If the Captain of a Castle, only out of fear and cowardice, and not for any compliance with the enemy, surrender it, this is Treason, as was adjudged in Parliament, 1 R. 2. in the two Cases of Gomines and Weston, and in the Case of the Lord Grace, for surrendering Barwick Castle to the Scots, in Edward the thirds time, though good Defence had been made by him, and that he had lost his eldest Son in maintenance of the Siege: and yet the loss of a CASTLE loseth not the Kingdom, only the place and adjacent parts, with trouble to the whole. But by these Opinions, there is a Surrender made of all our Legal Defence of Property: that which hath been Preached, is now judged; that there is no Meum and Tuum, 
* Is there any between the late & present powers and them, further or longer than they please▪  between the KING AND PEOPLE; besides that which concerns our Persons.  
The LAW is the TEMPLE, the Sanctuary, whether Subjects ought to run for SHELTER and REFUGE: Hereby it is become Templum sine Numine, as as was the Temple built by the Roman Emperor, who after he had built it, put no Gods into it: We have the Letter of the Law still, but not the sense: We have the Fabric of the TEMPLE still, but the 
* Are they not so now?  Dii Tutelares are gone. But this is not all the case, that is, That the law now ceaseth to aid and defend us in our RIGHTS, for then possession alone were a good Title, if there were no Law to take it away: Occupanti concederetur, & melior esset Possidentis conditio: But this, though too bad, is not the worst: for besides that which is Privative in these Opinions, there is somewhat Positive. For now the Law doth not only not defend us, but the Law, itself, (by temporising Judges and Lawyers) is made the Instrument of taking all away. For whensoever 
* It is not so now, when others who condemned and beheaded him for a Tyrant, say, pretenda●d act it over and over.  his Majesty or his Successors, shall be pleased to say, that the good and safety of the Kingdom is concerned, and that the whole kingdom is in danger, the when, and how the same is to be prevented, makes our persons and all we have liable to bare Will and Pleasure. By this means, the Sanctuary is turned into a Shambles; the Forts are not slighted, that so they might neither do us good or hurt; 
Nota.  But they are held against us by those who ought to have held them for us, and the mouth of our own Canon is turned upon our own selves: (And that by our own Military Officers, Soldiers and others since, as well as the Ship money Judges then.) Thus far Master Oliver St. John (by the Commons Order) whose words I thought fit thus to transcribe at large, because not only most pertinent, but seasonable for the present times; wherein as in a Looking Glass, some pretended Judges and Grandees, of these present and late p●st times, may behold their own faces and deformities; and the whole Nation their sad condition under them. In the residue of that Printed Speech, he compares the Treason of the Ship-money Judges, and of Sir Robert Tresylium and his Complices in the 11 of R. 2. (condemned, executed for Traitors by Judgement in Parliament, for endeavouring to subvert the Laws and Statutes of the Realm by their illegal Opinions, then delivered to King Richard at Nottingham Castle, not out of conspiracy, but for fear of death, and corporal Torments, wherewith they were menaced:) whose offence he makes transcendent to theirs in 
* Worth consideration of those of the long robe.  six particulars, as those who please may there read at leisure, being over large to transcribe.  
I could here inform you, that the Fundamental Laws of our Nation, are the same in the Body Politic of the Realm, as the Arteries, Nerves, Veins, are in, and to the natural Body, the Bark to the Tree; the Foundation to the House: and therefore the cutting of them a sunder, or their Subversion, must of necessity, kill, destroy, disjoin and ruin the whole Realm at once: Wherefore it must be Treason in the highest degree. But I shall only subjoin here some material Passages, in Master St. John's Argument at Law, concerning the Attainder of High Treason of Thomas Earl of Strafford, before a Committee of both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall, April 29. 1641. soon after Printed and published by Order of the Commons House: Wherein p. 8. he lays down this Position; recited again, p. 64.  
That (strafford's) endeavouring, To subvert the Fundamental Laws and Government of England and Ireland, and instead therefore to introduce a Tyrannical Government against Law, is Treason by the Common Law. That Treasons at the Common Law are not taken away by the statutes of 25. E. 3. 1 H. 4. c. 10. 1 Mar. c. 1. nor any of them.  
The Authorities, Judgements, in and out of Parliament, which he citys to prove it, have been already mentioned, some others he omitted; I shall therefore but transcribe his Reasons to evince it to be Treason, superadded to those alleged by him against the Ship money Judges.  
Page 12. It is a War against the King (Let our Military Officers and Soldiers consider it) when intended. For alteration of the Laws or Government in any part of them. This is a levying War against the King (and so Treason within the Statute of 25. E. 3.)  
1. Because the King doth maintain and protect the Laws in every part of them.  
2. Because they are the King's Laws: He is the Fountain from whence in their several Channels, they are derived to the Subject. Whence all our indictments run thus: Trespasses laid to be done, Contra pacem Domini Regis, etc. against the King's peace for exorbitant offences; though not intended against the King's Person; against the King, his Crown and Dignity.  
Page 64. In this I shall not labour at all to prove, That the endeavouring by words, Counsels and actions, To subvert the Fundamental Laws and Government of the Kingdom, is Treason at the Common Law. If there be any Common Law Treasons at all left 
* And how mamy are guilty of this Treason See Hos. 3 4, 5. cap. 10. 3, 4. cap. 1. 4. cap. 1. 4. Zech. 9 v. 5. Hab. 1. 10, 14, 15. Mic. 4. 9, 10. Amos 1. 13, 14, 15. Lam. 5. 16. Ezech. 19 1. 14. Isay 17. 3. c. 7. 16. Jer. 17. 25. 27. cap. 18. 7, 8. cap. 22. 3. to 13. cap. 25. 8 to 38. cap. 51. 20. Proverb 28. 2. Ezech. 17. 14. cap. 29. 14, 25 Isa. 47 verse 5. Daniel 4. verse 17.  NOTHING TREASON IF THIS IS NOT, TO MAKE A KINGDOM NO KINGDOM. Take the Policy and Government away, England's but a piece of earth, wherein so many men have their commerce and abode, without rank or distinction of men, without property in any thing further than in possession; no Law to punish the murdering or robbing one another.  
Page 70, 71, 72. The horridness of the offence in endeavouring to overthrow the Laws and present Government, hath been fully opened before. The Parliament is the representation of the whole Kingdom, wherein the King as Head, your Lordships as the more Noble, and the Commons, the other Members are 
* Are they so now? and who have dissolved the Ligaments that formerly united and held them together?  knit together in one body Politic. This dissolves the Arteries and Ligaments that hold the body together, THE LAWS. He that takes away the Laws, takes not away the Allegiance of one Subject only, but of the whole Kingdom. It was made Treason by the Statute of 13 Eliz. for her time to affirm, That the Law of the Realm do not bind the descent of the Crown. No Law, no descent at all, NO LAWS NO PEERAGE, no ranks nor degrees of men, the same condition to all. It's Treason to kill a Judge upon the Bench; this kills not Judicem, sed Judicium. There be twelve men, but no Law; never a Judge amongst them. It's Felony to embezzle any one of the Judicial Records of the Kingdom: THIS AT ONCE SWEEPS THEM ALL AWAY and FROM ALL. It's Teason to counterfeit a Twenty shilling piece; Here's a 
* Have we not many counterfeit laws and Acts of Parliament of law? and yet some counterfeit Judges that execute and give them in charge as true ones?  counterfeiting of the Law: we can call neither the counterfeit nor the true Coin our own. It's Treason to counterfeit the great Seal for an Acre of Land: No property is left hereby to any Land at all: NOTHING TREASON NOW, AGAINST KING OR KINGDOM; NO LAW TO PUNISH IT.  
My Lords, If the question were asked in Westminster Hall, whether this were a Crime punishable in the Star Chamber, or in THE KING'S BENCH, by Fine or Imprisonment? They would say, It were higher. If whether Felony? They would say, That is an Offence only against the Life or Goods of some one, or few persons. It would I believe be answered by the JUDGES, as it was by the Chief Justice Thirning, in the 21 R. 2. That though he could not judge the Case TREASON there before him, yet if he were a Peer in Parliament; HE WOULD SO ADJUDGE IT. (And so the Peers did here in strafford's, and not long after in Canterbury's case, who both lost their Heads on Tower-Hill.)  
I have transcribed these Passages of Mr. Oliver S. John at large for five Reasons.  
1. Because they were the Voice and Sense of the whole House of Commons by his mouth; who afterwards owned and ratified them by their special Order, for their publication in Print, for information and satisfaction of the whole Nation, and terror of all others, who should after that, either secretly or openly, by fraud or force, directly or indirectly, attempt the subversion of all, or any of our Fundamental Laws or Liberties, or the alteration of our Fundamental Government, or setting up any Arbitrary or Tyrannical Power, Taxes, Impositions, or new kinds of arbitrary Judicatories, and imprisonments against these our Laws and Liberties.  
2. To mind and inform all such who have not only equalled, but transcended Strafford and Canterbury in these their HIGH TREASONS, even since these PUBLICATIONS, SPEECHES, and their EXEMPLARY EXECUTIONS, of the heinousness, in excusablenesse, wilfulness, maliciousness, Capitalnesse of their Crimes; which not only the whole Parliament in generality, but many of themselves, in particular, so severely prosecuted, condemned, and inexorably punished of late years in them: that so they may sadly consider, bewail, repent, reform them with all speed and diligence, as much as in them lies. And with all, I shall exhort them seriously to consider that Gospel terrifying passage, (if they have not quite sinned away all Conscience, Shame, Christianity, Religion and Fear of the last Judge, and Judgement to come) Rom. 2. 1, 2, 3. Therefore thou art inexcusable O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou CONDEMNEST THYSELF, FOR THOU THAT JUDGEST DOST THOU THE SAME THING. But we are sure that the Judgement of God is according to truth, against them who commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things; and dost the same, that thou shalt escape the Judgement of God?  
3. To excite all Lawyers (especially such, who of late times have taken upon them the stile & power of Judges) to examine their Consciences, Actions, how far, all or any of them have been guilty, in the highest degree of these Crimes and Treasons, so highly aggravated, so exemplarily punished of former and later times, in corrupt, cowardly time-serving, degenerate Lawyers, and Judasses', rather than Judges; to the disgrace of their Profession, (now generally spoken against) their own dishonour, infamy, reproach, the scandal of Religion, which some of them have eminently professed: the prejudice and subversion of the Fundamental Laws, Liberties, Rights, Privileges of our Nation, Peers, Parliaments, and of the ancient Fundamental Government of this famous Kingdom, whereof they are Members: and that contrary to some of their own late Judgements, sciences, Consciences, Votes, Printed Arguments, Speeches, Declarations, against others, even in and out of Parliament? and their own first Charges in their Circuits, repugnant to their later.  
4. To instruct those Jesuited Anabaptists, Levellers, and their Factors, (especially John Can, and the rest of the Compilers, Publishers, Abetters of the Pamphlet entitled, Lieutenant Colonel John Lilburn, tried and east; and other forementioned publications:) who professedly set themselves by Words, Writings, Counsels and overt Acts to subvert both our old Fundamental (with all other) Laws, Liberties, Customs, Parliaments, and Government, what transcendent Malefactors, Traitors, and Enemies they are to the public, and what Capital punishments they may incur, as well as demerit, should they be legally prosecuted for the same; and thereupon to advise them timely to repent of, and desist from such high Treasonable attempts.  
5. To clear both myself and this my seasonable Defence of our Fundamental Laws, Liberties, Government, from the least suspicion or shadow of Faction, Sedition, Treason and Enmity to the public peace, weal, settlement of the Nation, which those, (and those only) who are most factious, and seditious, and the greatest Enemies, Traitors to the public tranquillity, Weal, Laws, Liberties, Government, and establishment of our Kingdom (as the premises evidence) will be ready maliciously to asperse both me and it with, as they have done heretofore some other of my Writings of this Nature, with all which, they must first brand Mr. St. John, Mr. Pym, the whole House of Commons, the two last, with all other Parliaments forecited, and themselves too (from which they are so much changed and degenerated of late years) ere they can accuse, traduce, or censure me; who do but barely relate, apply their words and judgements in their purest times, without malice or partiality, for the whole Kingdom's benefit; security, and resettlement.  
To these punctual full Juries of Records and Parliament Authorities in point, I could accumulate Sr. Edward Cook his 3. Institutes, p. 9 printed and authorised by the House of Commons special Order, the last Parliament. The several Speeches of M. Hide, M. Waller, M. Pierpoint, and M. Hollis, July 6. 1641. at the Lords Bar in Parliament, by Order of the Commons House, at the Impeachment of the Shipmoney Judges of High Treason, printed in Diurnal Occurrences, and Speeches in Parliament, London, 1641. p. 237, to 264. M. Samuel Brown's Argument at law before the Lords and Commons at Canterbury's Attainder, all manifesting, their endeavouring to subvert the Fundamental Laws and Government of the Realm, to be High Treason; with sundry other printed Authorities to prove; That we have, 
* See Exact. Collection, p. 4. 12 243, 262. 321.  Fundamental Laws, Liberties, Rights; and a Fundamental Government likewise; which ought not to be innovated, violated, or subverted upon any pretences whatsoever, by any power or prevailing Faction. Which Fundamental Rights, Liberties, Laws, Sr. Thomas Fairfax, and the Army under his Command, by their Declaration of June 14. 1647. particularly promise and engage, to assert & vindicate against all arbitray power, violence, oppression, and against all particular parties or Interests whatsoever, which they may do well to remember and make good. But to avoid prolixity (the double Jury of irrefragable and punctual authorities already produced being sufficient to satisfy the most obstinate opposites formerly contradicting it) I shall only add three swaying authorities more, wherewith I shall conclude this point.  
The first, is a very late one, in a Treatise, entitled, A 
* Surely there are sundry falsehoods in it, as well as some truths.  true State of the Common Wealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging, in Reference to the late established Government by a Lord Protector and a PARLIAMENT. It being the Judgement of DIVERS PERSONS, who throughout these late troubles, have approved themselves 
* If we believe themselves in their own cases  faithful to the Cause and interest of God, and their COUNTRY: presented to the public, for the satisfaction of others. Printed at London, 1654. who relating the miscarriages of the last ASSEMBLY at Westminster (elected, nominated by the Censurers of them, the Army Officers only, not the people) use these expressions of them, page 13, 14, 16, 17, 21, 22. But on the contrary, it so fell out in a short time, that there appeared many in this Assembly of very contrary principles to the interest aforesaid, which led them violently on to attempt and promote many things, the consequence whereof would have been, A subverting of the Fundamental Laws of the Land, the Destruction of Property, and an utter extinguishment of the Gospel. In truth their Principles led them TO A PULLING DOWN ALL AND ESTABLISING NOTHING. So that instead of the expected settlement, they were running into FURTHER ANARCHY AND CONFUSION. As to the Laws and Civil Rights of the Nation, nothing would serve them, but a TOTALL ERADICATION OF THE OLD, AND INTRODUCTION OF A NEW: and so the good Old Laws of England (the Guardians of our Laws and Fortunes) established with prudence, and confirmed by the experience of many Ages and Generations: (The Preservation whereof, was a 
* Some men's act on's since, declare they had some other ground and aims than this.  principal ground of our late quarrel with the King) having been once abolished, what could we have expected afterwards, but an inthroning of Arbitrary power in the Seat of Judicature, and an exposing of our Lives, our Estates, our Liberties, and all that is dear unto us, as a Sacrifice to the boundless appetite of mere Will and Power, etc.  
Things being at this pass, and the House (through these proceedings) 
* Those who severe and disjoint one house from the other; and by force & armed power seclude, exclude and disjoin the members of the same House, one from another, so many times one after another, & justify it too, are the greatest disjoyners of the House and Parliament, and very unlikely to make any firm or real settlement of this Nation.  perfectly disjointed, it was in vain to look for a settlement of this Nation from them, thus constituted: but on the contrary, nothing else could be expected; But that the Commonwealth should sink under their hands, and the great cause hitherto so happily upheld and maintained, to be for ever lost, through their preposterous management of these affairs, wherewith they had been entrusted. Whereupon they justify their dissolution, and turning them forcibly out of doors by the Soldiers, with shame and infamy; to prevent that destruction, which thereby was coming on THE WHOLE LAND, by this New Powder Treason plot, set on foot by the Jesuits and Anabaptists, to destroy our Laws, Liberties, Properties, Ministers, and Religion itself, at one blow, and that in the very Parliament House, (where some destroyed and blowed up Kings, Peers and Parliaments themselves, as well as Laws and Parliament Privileges of late years) where they had been constantly defended, vindicated, preserved, established in all former Ages, by ALL TRUE ENGLISH PARLIAMENTS.  
The second is, 
* See my Speech in Parliament, p. 100 to 108.  The Votes of the House of Commons, concerning a Paper presented to them, entitled, An Agreement of the people for a firm & present peace, upon grounds of Common Right, 9 November 1647, viz.  
Resolved upon the Question, That the matters contained in these Papers, are destructive to the being of Parliaments, and to the fundamental Government of this Kingdom.  
Resolved; etc. That a Letter be sent to the General, and those Papers enclosed, together with the Vote of this House upon them; And that he be desired to examine the proceedings of this business in the Army (where it was first coined) and return an Account hereof to this House.  
These Votes were seconded soon after with these ensuing Votes, entered in the Commons Journal, and printed by their special Order, 23 Novemb. 1647.  
A Petition directed to the Supreme Authority of England, The Commons in Parliament assembled, The humble Petition of many Freeborn people of England, etc. was read the first and second time.  
Resolved upon the Question, That this Petition is, A seditious and contemptuous avowing, and prosecution of a former Petition, and Paper annexed, styled, An agreement of the People, formerly adjudged by this House, to be destructive to the being of Parliaments, and Fundamental Government of the Kingdom.  
Resolved, etc. That Thomas Prince Cheesemonger, and Samuel Chidley, be forthwith committed Prisoners to the Prison of the Gatehouse, there to remain Prisoners during the pleasure of this House, for a Seditious avowing, and prosecution of a former Petition and Paper annexed, styled, An Agreement of the people; formerly adjudged by this House, to be destructive to the being of Parliaments, and fundamental Government of the Kingdom.  
Resolved, etc. That Jeremy Ives, Thomas Taylor, and William Larnar, be forthwith committed to the Prison of Newgate, there to remain Prisoners during the pleasure of this House, for a seditious and contemptuous avowing, and prosecution of a former Petition and Paper annexed, styled, An Agreement of the People; formerly adjudged by this House, to be destructive to the being of Parliaments, and fundamental Government of the Kingdom.  
Resolved, etc. That a Letter be prepared and sent to the General; taking notice of his proceeding in the execution (according to the Rules of War) of a Mutinous person (avowing, and prosecuting this Agreement in the Army contrary to these Votes) at the Rendezvous near Ware, and to give him thanks for it; and to desire him to prosecute that Business to the bottom, and to bring such guilty persons as he shall think fit, to condign and exemplary punishment.  
Resolved, etc. That the Votes upon the Petition and Agreement annexed, and likewise the Votes upon this Petition, be forthwith printed and published.  
After which, by a special Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, 17 Decemb. 1647. no person whatsoever, who had contrived, plotted, prosecuted, or entered into that Engagement, entitled, The Agreement of the people, declared To be destructive to the being of Parliaments, and Fundamental Government of the Kingdom; for one whole year was to be elected, chosen, or put into the Office, or place of Lord Mayor, or Alderman, Sheriff, Deputy of a Ward, or Common Counselman of the City of London, or to have a voice in the Election of any such Officers.  
All these particulars, with the Capital proceedings against White, and others who fomented this Agreement in the Army, abundantly evidence the verity of my foresaid Proposition, and the extraordinary guilt of those Members and Soldiers, who contrary to their own Votes, Ordinances, Proceedings, and Censures of others, have since prosecuted this, the like, or far worse Agreement, to the destruction of our ancient Parliaments, and their Privileges, and of the fundamental Government, Laws, and Liberty of our Nation: which I wish they would now sadly lay to heart, with that saying of Augustine, approved by all sorts of Divines, and 
a See Gratian, Caus. 2. Qu. 1. 2. Summa Angelica, Rosella, & Hostiensis. Tit. Restituito.  Casuists; Non remittitur peccatum, nisi restituatur ablatu●●, & sciendum est, Quod Restitutio est IN PRISTINUM STATUM POSITIO.  
The third, is the memorable Statutes of 3 Jacobi, c. 1, 2, 4. & 5. which relating the old Gunpowder Treason of the Jesuits and Papists, and their infernal, inhuman, barbarous, detestable plot, to blow up the King, Queen, Prince, Lords, Commons, and the whole House of Peers with Gunpowder, when they should have been assembled in Parliament, in the upper House of Parliament, upon the fifth of November, in the year of our Lord, 1605. do aggravate the heinousness and transcendency thereof, by this circumstance, That it was (as some of the principal Conspirators confessed) purposely devised and concluded to be done in the said House, That where sundry necessary and religious Laws, for preservation of the Church and State, were made, (which they falsely and slanderously termed, Cruel Laws enacted against them, and their Religion) both Place and Persons should be all destroyed and blown up at once; and by these dangerous Consequences, if it had not been miraculously prevented, but taken effect; That it would have turned to the utter ruin, overthrow, and subversion of the whole State and Commonwealth of this flourishing and renowned Kingdom, of God's true Religion therein established by Law, and of our Laws and Government. For which horrid Treason, they were all attainted, 
* See Speeds Hist. p. 1250. etc. Mr. Vicar's History of the Gunpowder-Treason, The Arraignment of Traitors.  and then executed as Traitors, and some of their Heads, Quarters, set upon the Parliament House for terror of others. Even so let all other Traitors, Conspirators against, all Blowers up, and subverters of our fundamental Laws, Liberties, Government, Kings, Parliaments, and Religion, treading presumptuously in their Jesuitical footsteps, perish, O Lord, 
* Judg. 5. 21.  but let all them who cordially love, and strenuously maintain them against all Conspirators, Traitors, Underminers, Invaders whatsoever, be as the Sun when he goeth forth in his might; That the Land may have rest, peace, settlement again, for as many years at least, as it had before our late Innovations, Wars, Confusions, by their restitution and re-establishment.   

CHAP. 2.  
HAving thus sufficiently proved, That the Kingdom, and Freemen of England, have some ancient Hereditary Rights, Liberties, Franchises, Privileges, Customs, properly called FUNDAMENTAL, as likewise a Fundamental Government, no ways to be altered, undermined, subverted, directly or indirectly, under the guilt and pain of High Treason in those who attempt it, especially by fraud, force, or armed Power.  
I shall in the second place present you in brief Propositions, a Summary of the chiefest and most considerable of them, which our prudent Ancestors in former Ages, and our latest real Parliaments, have both declared to be, and eagerly contested for, as fundamental, and essential to their very being, and well being, as a Free People, Kingdom, Republic, unwilling to be enslaved under any York's of Tyranny, or Arbitrary Power: that so the whole Nation may the more perspicuously know and discern them, the more strenuously contend for them, the more vigilantly watch against their violations, undermine in any kind, by any Powers or pretences whatsoever, and transmit, perpetuate them entirely to their Posterities, as their best and chiefest inheritance.  
I shall comprise the sum and substance of them all in these Ten Propositions, beginning with the Subjects Property, which hath been most frequently, universally invaded, assaulted, undermined by our Kings, and their evil Instruments heretofore, and others since, and thereupon more strenuously, frequently, vigilantly maintained, fenced, regained, retained by our Nobles, Parliaments, and the people in all Ages (till of late years) than any or all of the rest put together, though every of them hath been constantly defended, maintained, when impugned, or encroached upon, by our Ancestors, and ourselves.  
1 That 
* See the Laws of King Edward the Confessor, confirmed by William the Conqueror, Lex. 55, 56, 57 The great Charters of King John, and Henry 3. c. 29, 30. 25 E. 1. c. 5, 6. 34 E. 1. De Tallagio. c. 1, 14 E. 3. Stat. 1. c. 21. Stat. 2. c. 1. 35 E. 3. Stat. 2. c. 1. 15 E. 3. Stat. 3. c. 5. 21 E. 3. Rot. Parl. N. 16. 25 E 3. Rot. Parl. N. 16, 27 E. 3. Stat. 2. c. 2. 36 E. 3. Rot. Parl. N. 26. 38 ●. 3. c. 2. 45 E. 3. Rot. Parl N. 42. 11 H. 4. Rot. Parl. N. 50. 1 R. 3. c. 2. The Petition of Right, 3 Caroli, the Acts against Ship-money, Knighthood, Tonnage, and Poundage, 16. & 17. Caroli.  no Tax, Tallage, Aid, Subsidy, Custom, Contribution, Loan, Imposition, Excise, or other Assessment whatsoever, for defence of the Realm by Land or Sea, or any other public, ordinary, or extraordinary occasion, may or ought be imposed, or levied upon all or any of the Freemen of England, by reason of any pretended or real Danger, Necessity, or other pretext, by the Kings of England, or any other Powers, but only with and by their common consent and grant, in a free and lawful English Parliament duly summoned and elected; except only such ancient, legal Aids, as they are specially obliged to render by their Tenors, Charters, Contracts, and the common Law of England.  
2 That 
* See Magna Charta, c. 29. & Cooks Institutes on it. 5 E. 3. c. 9 15 E. 3. c. 1, 2 25 E. 3. c. 4 28 E. 3. c. 3 37▪ E. 3. c. 18 42 E. 3. c. 3 2 R. 2. c. 2 4 5 H. 4. c. 10 19 H. 7. c. 10 23 H. 8. c. 8 The Petition of Right, 3 Caroli, and other Acts in ch. 3. 2 H 4. Rot. Parl. N. 60. & 69.  no Freeman of England ought to be arrested, confined, imprisoned, or in any private Castles, or remote unusual Prisons, under Soldiers, or other Guardians, but only in usual or Common Gaols, under sworn responsible Gaolers, in the County where he lives, or is apprehended, and where his friends may freely visit and relieve him with necessaries; And that only for some just and legal Cause expressed in the Writ, Warrant, or Process, by which he is arrested or imprisoned; which ought to be legally executed, by known, legal, responsible sworn Officers of Justice, not unknown Military Officers, Troopers, or other illegal Catchpolls; That no such Freeman ought to be denied Bail, Mainprize, or the benefit of an Habe as Corpus, or any other Legal Writ for his enlargement, when Bailable or Mainprizable by Law; nor to be detained Prisoner for any real or pretended Crime, not bailable by Law longer than until the 
* 4 E. 3. c. ● 17 R. ●. c. 10  next general or special Gaol-delivery, held in the County where he is imprisoned; when and where he ought to be legally tried and proceeded against, or else enlarged by the Justices, without denial or delay of Right and Justice. And that no such Freeman may, or aught to be outlawed, exiled, condemned to any kind of Corporal punishment, loss of Life or Member, or otherwise destroyed or passed upon, but only by due and lawful Process, Indictment, and the lawful Trial, Verdict, and Judgement of his Peers, according to the good old Law of the Land, in some usual Court of public Justice; not by and in new illegal Military, or other Arbitrary Judicatories, Committees, or Courts of High Justice, unknown to our Ancestors.  
3 That the ordinary 
* See the Laws of Edward the Confessor, and William, the Conqueror, Lex. 35. 55, 56, 58. Ras●●als Abridgement. Tit. Armour. 35 E. 3. c. 8. Rot. Parl. N. 23▪ The Statures for impressing Soldiers, 16 & 1● Caroli.  standing Militia, Force, and Arms of the Kingdom, aught to reside in the Nobility, Gentry, Freeholders, and Trained Bands of the Kingdom, not in Mercenary Officers and Soldiers, receiving pay, and Contributions from the people; more apt to oppress, enslave, betray, than protect their Laws, Liberties, and to protract than end their Wars and Taxes. That no Freemen of England, unless it be by special Grant and Act of Parliament, 
〈◊〉 E. 3. Stat. 2. c 5. 4 H. 4. c. 13. Exact collection, p. 878, 879.  may or aught to be compelled, enforced, pressed, or arrayed to go forth of his own County (much less out of the Realm into foreign parts) against his will, in times of War or Peace; or except he be specially obliged thereto by ancient Tenors and Charters, save only upon the sudden coming of strange enemies into the Realm; and then he is to array himself only in such sort, as he is bound to do by the ancient Laws and Customs of the Kingdom still in force.  
4 That no 
a See Magna Char. c. 29. 5 E. 3. c. 9 15 E. 3. c. 1, 2 21 E. 3. Rot. Parl. N. 28. 1● E. 3. N 35, 36, 37. ●5 E. 3. c. 4 Rot. Parl. N. 16. 28 E. 3. c. 3. 37 E. 3. c. ●8. 42. E. 3. c. 1. 3. 2 R. 2. Parl. 2. c. 2. 7 R. 3. c. 4. 2 H 4. Rot. Parl. N. 60. 69. 15 H. 6. c. 4. The Petition of Right, 3 Car. and the Statutes against Ship-money, Knighthood, Tonnage and Poundage, 16, & 17 Caroli.  Freeman of England may, or aught to be disinherited, disseised, dispossessed, or deprived of any Inheritance, freehold, Office, Liberty, Custom, Franchise, Chattles, Goods, whatsoever, without his own Gift, Grant, or free Consent, unless it be by lawful Process, Trial, and Judgement of his Peers, or special Grant by Act of Parliament; nor to be denied or delayed common Right or Justice in any case.  
5 That the old received Government, Laws, Statutes, Customs, Privileges, Courts of Justice, legal Process of the Kingdom, and Crown, ought not to be altered, repealed, suppressed in any sort; nor any new form of Government, Law, Statute, Ordinance, Court of Judicatury, Writ●, or legal proceedings, instituted, or imposed on all, or any of the Freemen of England, by any person or persons, but only in and by the 
b See 1 Sam. 7. 4, to the end. c. 11. 14, 15. c. 12. 1. 2 Sam. 5. 1, 2, 3. c. 16. 18. 1 King. 12. 3. to 21. c. 16. 1●. c. 20. 7, 8. 2. King. 11. 1. to 21. c. 21. 24. c. 23. 30.  Kingdoms, people's free and full precedent consent in a lawful Parliament, wherein the Legislative power solely resides.  
6 That Parliaments ought to be duly summoned, and held, for the good and safety of the Kingdom, every year, or every three years at least, or so soon as there is just occasion. That the Election of all Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, to sit and serve in Parliament (and so of all other Elective Officers) ought to be free. That 
c King john's Magna Cha●ta, Matth. Paris, p. 247. 5 R. 2. c. 4. cook● 4. Instit c. 1. My Plea for the Lords, My Ardua Regui, The Levellers leveled▪ and Epistle before my Speech in Parliament. 4 E. 3. c. 14. 36 E. 3. c. 10. 50 E. 3. N. 151. 1 R. 2. N. 95. 2 R. 2. N. 4, 5.  all Members of Parliament Hereditary or Elective, aught to be present, and there freely to speak and vote according to their Judgements and Consciences, without any over-awing Guards to terrify them; and none to be forced, sequestered, or secluded thence by force or fraud. That all Parliaments not thus duly and freely summoned, elected, freely held, but unduly packed, without due Elections, or by forcible secluding, securing any of the Members, or not summoning all of them to the Parliament, and all Acts of Parliament fraudulently, or forcibly procured by indirect means 
d See 39 H. 6. c. 1. 17. E. 4. c. 7. ● H. 4. N. 21, 22. 48. 1 H. 4. c 3. , aught to be nulled, repealed, reputed void, and of dangerous precedent.  
7 That neither the 
* See Rastals Abridgement of Statutes, Title, Provision● Praemunire, & Rome.  Kings, nor any Subjects of the Kingdom of England, may or aught to be summoned before any Foreign Powers or Jurisdictions whatsoever out of the Realm, or within the same, for any manner of Right, Inheritance, Thing belonging to them, or Offence done by them within the Realm, nor tried, nor judged by them.  
8 That all Subjects of the Realm are 
e Leges Edwardi Regis, c. 35, Lambards Arch. F. 135, 136. Cooks 7. Report, calvin's Case, f. 6, 7. Leges Willielm● Regis Lex. 58, 59 Seldens Notae ad Eadmerum, p. 191. 11 H. 7. c. 1. 18, 19, H. 7. c. 1. 25 H. 8. c. 22. 26 H. 8. c. 3. 28 H. 8. c. 7. 1 Eliz. c. 1. 3. 5. 5 Eliz. 2. c. 1. 1 Jac. c. 1, 2. 3. Jac. c. 1, 2, 4, 5. 7 Jac. c. 6. The Protestation, League and Covenant, and the ancient Oaths of Fealty, Homage, Mayor's, Sheriffs, Freemen.  obliged by Allegiance, Oaths, and duty to defend their lawful King's Persons, Crowns, the Laws, Rights, and Privileges of the Realm, and of Parliament, against all Usurpers, Traitors, Violence, and Conspiracies. And that no Subject of this Realm, who according to his Duty, and Allegiance, shall serve his King in his Wars, for the just defence of him and the Land, against Foreign Enemies or Rebels, shall lose or forfeit any thing for doing his true duty, service, and allegiance to him therein; but utterly be discharged of all vexation, trouble, or loss.  
9 That no public War by Land or Sea ought to be made or levied, with, or against any Foreign Nation: nor any public Truce or League entered into with Foreign Realms or States, to bind the Nation, without their common advice and consent in Parliament.  
10 That the Kings of England, or others, cannot grant away, alien, or subject the Crown, Kingdom, or ancient Crown Lands of England to any other, without their Nobles and Kingdoms full and free consent in Parliament. That the ancient Honours, Manors, Lands, Rents, Revenues, Inheritances, Rights, and Perquisits of the Crown of England, originally settled thereon for the ●ase and exemption of the people from all kind of Taxes, payments whatsoever (unless in case of extraordinary necessity) and for defraying all the constant, ordinary expenses of the Kingdom (as the expenses of the King's household, Court, Officers, Judges, Ambassadors, Guard, Garrisons, Navy and the like) ought not to be sold, alienated, given away or granted from it, to the prejudice of the Crown, and burdenning of the people. And that all Sales, Alienations, Gifts, or Grants thereof, to the impairing of the public Revenue, or prejudice of the Crown and people, are void in Law, and aught to be resumed, and repealed by our Parliaments and Kings, as they have 
* daniel's History p. 78 79. 80. 123. 10. 12 n. 2. r. 8. H 5. r. 9 1. 1. 6. n. 53. 31. H. 6. r. 7. 1. R. 2. n. 14●. 1. H. 4. n. 100 6 H 4. n. 4. 15. 8. H. 4. n. 12. 33. H. 6. n. 47. 4. G. n. 3●. 12 E. 4, n. 6.  freqeuntly been in all former ages.  
For the Readers fuller satisfaction in each of these propositions (some of which I must in the ensuing Chapter but briefly touch for brevity sake, having elsewhere fully debated them in print,) I shall especially recommend unto him the perusal of such Tractates, and Arguments formerly published, wherein each of them hath been fully discussed, which he may peruse at his best leisure.  
The First of these Fundamentals, (which I intent principally to insist on) is fully asserted, debated, confirmed by 13. H. 4. f. 14. By Fortescue Lord Chief Justice, and Chancellor of England, de Laudibus Legum Angliae, dedicated by him to King Henry the 6. f. 25. c. 36. By a Learned and necessary Argument against Impositions in the Parliament of 7. Jacobi: by a late reverend Judge, Printed at London 1641. By Mr. William Hakewell, in his Liberty of the Subject against Impositions, maintained in an Argument in the Parliament of 7 Jacobi, Printed at London 1641. By Judge Crooks and Judge Huttons. Arguments concerning Shipmoney, both Printed at London 1641. By the Case of Shipmoney briefly discussed. London 1640. By M. St. John's Argument and Speech against Shipmoney, Printed at London 1641. By Sir Edward Cook in his 2 Institutes p. 46. and 57 to 64. and 528 to 537. By the first and second Remonstrance of the Lords & Commons in Parliament. against the Commission of Array. Exact Collection p. 386. to 398. and 850. to 890. and by my own Humble Remonstrance against Shipmoney, London 1643. The Fourth part of the Sovereign Power of Parliaments and Kingdoms, p. 14. to 26. my Legal Vindication of the Liberties of England, against Illegal Taxes etc. London 1649. and by the Records and Statutes cited in the ensuing Chapter, referring for the most part to the first Proposition.  
The second, third, and fourth of them, are largely debated and confirmed by a Conference desired by the Lords, and had by a Committee of both Houses, concerning the Rights and Privileges of the Subject, 3 Aprilis 4 Caroli, Printed at London 1642. By Sir Edward Cook in his Institutes on Magna charta, c. 29. p. 45. to 57 By the first & second Remonstrance of the Lords and Commons against the Commission of Array, Exact Collection p. 386. and 850. to 890. By Judge Crooks, and Judge Huttons Arguments against Shipmoney. By Sir Robert Cotton his Posthuma p. 222. to 269. By my Breviate of the Prelate's Encroachments on the King's Prerogative, and the Subject's Liberties, p. 138. my New Discovery of the Prelate's Tyranny, p. 137. to 183. and some of the ensuing Statutes, and records, ch. 3. See 1 H. 4. rot Parl. n. 22, 23, 24, 26, 28, 43, 44▪ 47.  
The fifth and sixth of them, are fully cleared, vindicated in and by the Prologues of all our Councils, Statutes, Laws, before and since the Conquest. By 1. H. 4. Rot. Parl. n. 33, 34, 36. (an excellent full precedent.) Sir Edward Cooks 4 Institutes, ch. 1. Mr. Cromptons' jurisdiction of Courts, Title High Court of Parliament. Mr. St. John's speech against the Shipmoney Judges, p. 32, 33. my Plea for the Lords; my Levellers leveled; my Ardua Regni; my Epistle before my Speech in Parliament; my Memento, my Sovereign Power of Parliaments and Kingdoms, part. 1, 2, 3, 4. my Legal Vindication against illegal Taxes, and pretended Acts of Parliament, London 1649. Prynnethe Member, reconciled to Prynne the Barrister, Printed the same year. My Historical Collection of the Ancient great Councils and Parliaments of England, London 1649. My Truth triumphing over Falsehood, Antiquity over Novel●y, London 1645. 3 E. 1. c. 5, 4 E. 3. c. 14. 36 E. 3. c. 10. 1 H. 4. c. 3, 4. 5 R. 2. Stat. 2. c. 4. Rastal tit. Parliament. 1 H. 4. Rot. Parl. n. 21. 22. 48. 70. 31 H. 6. c. 1. 39 H. 6. c. 1. Rot. Parl. n. 8. 17 E. 4. c. 7. express in point, and some of the Records hereafter transcribed. In this I shall be more sparing, because so fully confirmed in these and other Treatises.  
The Seventh, is ratified by Sir Edward Cooks 1. Institutes p. 97▪ 98. 4 Institutes p. 89. and 5. report Cawdries case, of the King's Ecclesiastical Laws, Rastals Abridgement of Statutes, Tit, Provisors, Praemunire, Rome, and other Records and Statutes in the ensuing Chapter.  
The Eight, is verified by the Statutes quoted in the Margin to it, and by other Records in the third Chapter.  
The Ninth and Tenth, are fully debated in my Sovereign Power of Parliaments and Kingdoms, par. 2. p. 3. to 34. part. 4. p. 1. to 13. and 162. to 170. touched in Sir Robert Cottons Posthuma, p. 174. 179. confirmed by sundry Precedents in the next Chapter. & by 1 H. 4. Rot. Parl. n 32.  
How all and every of these Fundamental Liberties, Rights, Franchises, Laws, have been unparalledly violated, subverted, in all and every particular, of late years, beyond all Precedents in the worst of former ages, even by their greatest pretended Propugners, their own Printed Edicts, Instruments, Ordinances, Papers, together with their illegal Oppressions, Taxes, Excises, Imposts, Sequestrations, Rapines, Violences, unjust Proceedings of all kinds, will sufficiently evidence, if compared with the premised Propositions. Not to insist on any forepast illegal Imposts, Taxes, Excises, under which the nation lately groaned, imposed on us by unparliamentary Junctoes', or the Army Officers alone from Anno 1648 to 1653. without any real Parliament by their own armed jurisdiction. I shall here instance onyl in 3. or 4 particulars, relating wholly to the First Proposition, being of most general, greatest present and future concernment of all other to the whole English Nation, at this very instant most intolerably oppressed, grieved by them; directly sweeping away all their Fundamental Right of Property, and consequentially all their Liberty of person, Laws, Charters, at once, and that in perpetuity, beyond all hopes of Future redemption, if not timely prevented by the Universality, Body of the Realm, or their trusties.  
The first of them is, the present imposition, and continuance of the strange, oppressive, monstrous, general high Tax of EXCISE, imposed on most native and foreign Commodities throughout England, and its Dominions; which as it was a mere Stranger to all our Ancestors, and those now living, till within these few years; so it was no sooner projected by some evil Malignant Jesuited Counsellors about the late King, but it was 
a See my Declaration and Protestation against the illegal, detestable, oft-condemned new Tax, and Extortion of Excise, 1654. Exact collection, p. 885. Mr. St. John's Speech concerning Ship-money. p. 15, 16.  presently condemned, and crushed in the very shell, when first intended to be set on foot in England by King Charles, (with the advice and consent of his privy Council at White-Hall) by a Commission under the Great Seal of England, dated the last of February, 3 Caroli, issued to thirty three Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council and others: which authorized, commanded them to raise moneys BY IMPOSITIONS OR OTHERWISE, as they in their wisdoms should find most convenient; and that only for these public uses, THE DEFENCE OF THE KING, KINGDOM, PEOPLE, and of the King's Friends and Allies beyond the Seas, then in such imminent danger, that WITHOUT EXTREMEST HAZARD OF THE KING, KINGDOM, PEOPLE, KINGS Friends and Allies, it could admit of no longer delay. In which INEVITABLE NECESSITY, form and circumstance must rather be dispensed with than the substance lost. The Commissioners being thereupon specially enjoined, to be diligent in the Service, and not fail therein, as they tender his Majesty's Honour, and THE SAFETY OF THE KING and PEOPLE. This Commission was no sooner discovered, but it was presently complained of by the whole Commons House, in the Parliament, of 3 Caroli, and upon Conference with the Lords it was immediately Voted, adjudged by both Houses, without one dissenting voice, TO BEE (EX DIAMETHRO) AGAINST LAW, and CONTRARY TO THE PETITION OF RIGHT; after which, it was canceled as such in the Kings own presence, by his consent, order, and then sent canceled to both Houses, for their satisfaction, before ever it was put in execution, and all Warrants for, and memorial of it canceled, damned, destroyed; the Commons further urging, That the Projector thereof might be found out by strict inquiry, and EXEMPLARILY PUNISHED (as the Parliament Journal attests) notwithstanding all the specious pretences, of inevitable necessity, imminent danger, and the defence, safety of the whole Kingdom, People, King, and his foreign Protestant Friends and Allies (than in greater real danger, than any now appearing) This Original Parliamentary Doom, Judgement against that New Monster of Excise, was ratified, approved, pressed by both Houses of Parliament, in the Cases of Ship-money, and the Commission of Array, as you may read at large in Mr. Oliver St. John's Speech and Declaration, delivered at a Conference of both Houses concerning Ship-money, 14 January, 1640. (printed by the Commons Order) p. 13. to 20. and, The Lords and Commons second Declaration against the Commission of Array. Exact collection, p. 884, 885. from which they then drew this positive conclusion (fit to be now considered by our New Governors, and the whole Nation) 
* Exact Collection, p. 886. Nota.  THAT TO DEFEND THE KINGDOM IN TIME OF IMMINENT DANGER, IS NO SUFFICIENT CAUSE (for the King and his Council, much less than for those who condemned, suppressed them for Tyrants, and Oppressors of the People) TO LAY ANY TAX OR CHARGE UPON THE SUBJECTS WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT IN PARLIAMENT. Yea the whole House of Commons was so zealous against this Dutch Devil of Excise, that in their Remonstrance of the state of the Kingdom, 15 Decemb, 1641. Exact Collection, p. 3 4, 6. they expressly brand, censure, the first Attempts to introduce it, for A MALIGNANT and PERNICIOUS DESIGN, TO SUBVERT THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS and PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT, upon which the JUSTICE OF THIS KINGDOM WAS FORMERLY ESTABLISHED; as proceeding from JESUITED COUNSELS, 
Nota.  BEING MOST ACTIVE and PREVAILING; yea, for AN UNJUST and PERNICIOUS ATTEMPT, TO EXTORT GREAT PAYMENTS FROM THE SUBJECTS. Which was to be accompanied (as now it is) with Billeted Soldiers in all parts of the Kingdom, and the concomitant of Germane (as now of English) HORSE, That the 
* And is not this its present sad slavish condition?  LAND MIGHT EITHER SUBJECT WITH FEAR, or BE ENFORCED WITH RIGOUR TO SUCH ARBITRARY CONTRIBUTIONS AS SHOULD BE REQVIRED OF THEM. And when some rumours were first spread abroad, that the COMMONS HOUSE INTENDED TO LAY EXCISE UPON PEWTER AND OTHER COMMODITIES; they were so sensible of the injustice and odiousness thereof, that they thereupon published a special Declaration, printed 8 Octob. 1642. Exact Collection, p. 638. wherein they not only disclaim, renounce any such intention, but branded those Reports and Rumours, for FALSE and SCANDALOUS ASPERSIONS, raised and cast upon the House BY MALIGNANT and ILLAFFECTED PERSONS, TENDING MUCH TO THE DISSERVICE OF THE PARLIAMENT: and Ordered, That the AUTHORS OF THEM should be inquired aftèr, apprehended, and brought to the House TO RECEIVE CONDIGN PUNISHMENT. After which this Excise being notwithstanding this Disclaimer, and much public, private opposition against it, set on foot by some swaying Members (upon a pretence of necessity for support of the Army) to the great Oppression, and Discontent of the People; The General and general Council of Officers and Soldiers of THE ARMY themselves, were so sensible of this illegal oft-condemned New grievance, that in the Heads of their Proposals, and particulars of their Desires, in order to the clearing and securing of the Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom, tendered to the Commissioners of Parliament residing with the Army, the first of August, 1647. (printed in their Book of Declarations, p. 118, &. published by their own, and the Lords House special Order) they ●ade this one principal Desire to the Parliament; That the EXCISE may be taken off from such Commodities, whereof the poor of the Land do ordinarily 
* Do they not so on Beer, Salt, and other Manufactures, for which they▪ now pay Excise?  live, and A CERTAIN TIME TO BE LIMITED FOR TAKING OFF THE WHOLE. Yet notwithstanding all these Judgements and Outcries against it; some of those very persons who thus publicly branded it, both in the Parliament House and Army; by irregular paper Ordinances (as they entitle them) dated 24 December, 1653. March 17. 1653. and May 4. 1654. have by their own Self-derived supertranscendent Authority, without, yea against the People's consents, or any Authority from Parliament, imposed, continued Excise upon our own Inland, and Foreign Commodities, in very high proportions, from the twenty fourth of March 1654. till the twenty fourth of March 1655. And (which is most observable) prescribed it to be levied, by putting the Parties to an (EX OFFICIO) OATH against themselves; by Fines, Forfeitures, SEQVESTRATIONS, and SALES OF THE REFUSERS, OPPOSERS, PERSONAL and REAL ESTATES, DISSTRESSES, BREAKING UP OF THE PARTIES HOUSES, SEIZURES OF THEIR GOODS, IMPRISONMENT OF THE PERSONS OF ALL SUCH WHO SHALL HINDER OR OPPOSE THE MINISTERS, OR OFFICERS EMPLOYED IN LEVYING, or distraining for the same, BY LOCKING UP THE DOORS, or OTHERWISE. And by these their unparallelled Edicts they further order, That the Officers of Excise, BOTH DAY AND NIGHT, shall be permitted free entrance into ALL ROOMS and PLACES WHATSOEVER THEY SHALL DEMAND, in Brewers, Soap-boilers, and others Houses, under pain of forfeiture of fifty pounds for every refusal (by colour whereof all men's Houses may be robbed, plundered, and their throats cut by Thiefs and Robbers, pretending themselves Excise-men, Soldiers, authorised to make such Searches, as many of late have been.) And they with all their assistants shall be kept indenspnified in ALL CAUSES RELATING TO THE EXCISE, from time to time, against all Suits or Actions brought, or other molestations, against them by the Parties grieved; who are 
* Witness Mr. ●ony amongst others.  usually Fined, Imprisoned, enforced to pay Costs of Suit, only for suing for relief) yea (which I cannot think of without horror and amazement) ALL COURTS OF JUSTICE OF THIS COMMONWEALTH, and ALL JUDGE'S and JUSTICE'S OF THE SAME, 
Nota.  SHERIFFS, COUNSELLORS, ATTORNEYS, SOLICITORS, and ALL OTHER PERSONS, are thereby expressly required, to conform themselves accordingly, (in all things) WITHOUT ANY OPPOSITION OR DISPUTE WHATSOEVER; as the precise words of their Ordinance of 17 March, 1653. proclaim to all the Nation. Which declares further, That IT IS NECESSARY to provide A CONTINVAL SUPPLY for the carrying on the weighty Affairs of this Commonwealth OUT OF THIS REVENVE OF EXCISE. And do not these Clauses, (compared with the 27. & 29. Articles of their Instrument,) clearly discover, a fixed Resolution in these new Legislators, to continue, and perpetuate upon the whole Nation, this importable Grievance of Excise, from year to year, without intermission or end, to be levied by the means aforesaid? to hinder all and every the Freemen of England, from endeavouring to free or exempt themselves, or their Posterities from it hereafter, by any Suit, Action, Habeas Corpus, or other legal remedy in any Court of Justice whatsoever? yea peremptorily, positively to prohibit, enjoin all Courts of Justice, Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, Counselors, Attorneys, Solicitors, with all other persons of this Commonwealth, both for the present and future Ages, to give them the least legal assistance, advice, or relief against the same, or against any Officers, or Assistants which shall forcibly leasie it by distress, Fines, Imprisonnents, Confiscation of Goods, Sequestrations, Sales of their personal or real Estates, or otherwise?  
I appeal then (in the behalf of all the Freeborn People of England) the Souls and Consciences of these new Ordinance-makers, with all the Executioners of them in any kind, before all the Tribunals of Heaven and Earth, whether they have not by these their Dismal Ordinances, more desperately, irrecoverably, totally, finally (as much as in them lies) undermined, subverted; and quite blown up at once, all the Foundations of our hereditary Fundamental Properties, Liberties, Laws for eternity, and leveled them to the dust, than the worst of all our Kings or former Councill-tables ever did? Deprived the whole Nation, and every particular Freeman in it, of all future benefit of our Laws, Statutes and Courts of Justice, for their just relief against this intolerable Oppression; and thereby reduced us to the condition of the most slavish, captivated, fettered Bondslaves and conquered Vassals under heaven, without any visible means or hopes of future enfranchisement, under a pretext of fight for, maintaining, protecting, enlargeing our former properties and freedoms & to a more miserable, sordid, servile condition, than either we or our Ancestors sustained under the worst of all our Kings and their most pernicious Counsellors; who never in any age attempted, tither to make or impose such Extravagant enslaving Ordinances or Excises, with such strange penalties, Forfeitures, Imprisonments, Sequestrations, sales, & most unrighteous Monstrous Inhibitions of all legal suits, & means for cheirrelief in Courts of Justice, as they have done: King Charles himself (though condemned, beheaded by them for the worst of Tyrants and Oppressors) permitting his Subjects free Liberty, to dispute the Legality of Fines for Knighthood, 
See the Arguments concerning them in Mr. Hambdins and others cases.  Ship money, Tonnage, Poundage, Loans, Excise and other Impositions not— only in his Parliaments, (where they were fully debated without restraint, and Laws passed against them afterwards by his own Royal assent thereto) but likewise in all his other Courts, where they were first brought in question. Yet now in our N●w Free State, under these greatest pretended Patrons of our Laws and Liberties, all Courts, Judges, Justices, and other Officers must conform to these illegal Impositions, and their tyrannical ways of enforcement, without any opposition or dispute whatsoever; and all Counsellors, Attorneys, Solicitors and others, must neither argue, nor advise, nor act. in any kind against them. And is this the glorious old ancient English Liberty, Freedom, Property, Law, and free course of Justice, we have spent so many millions of Treasure, so many years of public Consultations, wars, Prayers, Fasts, Tears, and such Oceans of precious christian Protestant English blood, inviolably to maintain and perpetuate to posterity? If any Freeborn English men whatsoever dare publicly aver it, let them do it at the peril of their infamy, execration in all future ages, yea of their own heads and Souls. If they cannot but now absolutely disavow it, let them with shame and indignation disclaim, renounce such illegal Ordinances, Excises, as most detestable both to God and all trueborn English free men. 
2.   
The 2 is, The present continuing Impositions of Customs Tonnage and Poundage upon Goods, Merchandizes imported and exported, without any grant thereof by Parliament, by a new Printed Paper, entitled, an Ordinance of March, 23 1653. thus peremptorily imposing them without any Prologue or Inducement to satisfy the people either in Equity or Justice, much less in their Legality in respect of those who thus impose them for sundry years yet to come. Be it ordained by his highness, the Lord Protector, with the advice and consent of the Council, that one Act of Parliament (though no 
* See Cook; 4. Justi. c. 1. Brooks Parliament 4. 76 42. 107. and my Plea for the Lords.  Act at all by any known Laws, Statutes, Law-books, Records, Customs or Constitutions of the Realm, bu● a mere Nullity) entitled, an Act for the Continuation of the Customs, until the 26 of March, 1653, and all clauses and powers therein contained are, and ARE HEREBY CONTINUED, and SHALL and DO STAND IN FULL FORCE UNTIL THE 26 DAY OF MARCH in the year of our Lord 1658. etc. By which these New Legislators, by their own inherent Superlative Power, presume to impose this Tax upon the whole Nation, (without any grant in Parliament) for full 5 years' space, not only contrary to the 
* See Cooks 4. Justit. c. 1. and Rastal. Taxes.  Precedents in all former Kings reigns, who never claimed nor received it, but by special grant in Parliament; but likewise contrary to this memorable Remonstrance, made by the whole House of Commons in the Parliament of 3 Caroli, (never yet Printed to my knowledge.)  
Most gracious Sovereign, your Majesty's most loyal and dutiful Subjects, (the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled,) being in nothing more careful than of the Honour and Prosperity, of your Majesty and the Kingdom,) which they know doth much depend upon that union and relation betwixt your Majesty and your people) do with much sorrow apprehend, that by reason of the incertainty of their continuance together, the unexpected interruptions which have been cast upon them, and the shortness of time in which your Majesty hath determined to end this Session; they cannot bring to maturity and perfection divers businesses of weight, which they have taken into their consideration and resolution, as most important for the common good.  
Amongst other things, they have taken into especial care the preparing of a Bill for the granting to your Majesty such a Subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage, as might uphold your Profit and Revenue, in as ample manner as their just care and respect of Trade (wherein not only the prosperity, but even the life of the Kingdom doth consist) would permit. But being a work which will require much time and preparation, by Conference with your Majesty's Officers, and with the Merchants, not only of London, but of other remote parts; they find it not possible to be accomplished at this time; wherefore considering it will be much more prejudicial to the Right of the Subject, 
Nota.  if your Majesty should continue to receive the same without Authority of Law, after the determination of a Session, then if there had been a recess by Adjournment only (in which case that intended Grant would have related to the first day of the Parliament) and assuring themselves, That your Majesty is resolved to observe that your royal Answer, which you have made to the Petition of Right of both Houses of Parliament; yet doubting lest your Majesty may be misinformed concerning this particular case, as if you might continue to take those Subsidies of Tonnage and Poundage, and other Impositions of Merchants without breaking that Answer; they are forced, by that duty which they owe to your Majesty, and to those whom they represent, to declare, THAT THERE AUGHT NOT ANY IMPOSITION TO BE LAID UPON THE GOODS OF MERCHANTS EXPORTED OR IMPORTED WITHOUT COMMON CONSENT BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT, 
Nota.  WHICH IS THE RIGHT AND INHERITANCE OF YOUR SUBJECTS, FOUNDED NOT ONLY UPON THE MOST ANCIENT AND ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION OF THIS KINGDOM, BUT OFTEN CONFIRMED AND DECLARED IN DIVERS STATUTE LAWS? And for the better manifestation thereof, may it please your Majesty to understand, That although your royal Predecessors, the Kings of this Realm have often had such Subsidies, and Impositions granted unto them upon divers occasions, especially for the guarding of the Seas, and safeguard of Merchants, 
Nota.  yet the Subjects have been ever careful to use such Cautions and limitations in those Grants, as might prevent any Claim to be made, that such Subsidies do proceed from duty, and not from the free gift of the Subject, and that they have heretofore limited a time in such Grants, and for the most part but short, as for a year, or two; and if it were continued longer, they have sometimes directed a certain space of resensation or intermission, that so the Right of the Subject might be more evident. At other times it hath been granted upon occasion of War for certain numbers of years, with Proviso, that if the War were ended in the mean time, than the grant should cease. And of course it hath been sequestered into the hands of some Subjects to be employed for guarding of the Coasts; and it is acknowledged by the ordinary Answers of your Majesty's Predecessors, in their assents to the Bills of Subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage, that it is of the nature of other Subsidies, proceeding from the good will of the Subject. Very few of your Predecessors had it for life, until the reign of Henry 7. 
* Though he came in by the Sword, as a kind of Conqueror.  who was so far from conceiving he had any right thereunto, that although he granted Commissions for collecting certain Duties and Customs due by Law, yet he made no Commission for receiving the Subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage, until the same was granted to him in Parliament.  
Since his time, all the Kings and Queens of this Realm have had the like Grants for life, by the free love and good will of the Subject; and whensoever the people have been grieved by laying any Impositions or other Charges upon their Goods and Merchandizes without authority of Law, (which hath been very seldom) yet upon complaint in Parliament they have been forthwith relieved, 
Nota.  saving in the time of your royal Father, who having through ill counsel raised the Rates of Merchandizes to that height at which they now are, yet he was pleased so far to yee●d to the complaint of his people, 
Nota.  as to offer, that if the value of these Impositions which he had set, might be made good unto him, he would bind himself, and his Heirs by Act of Parliament, never to lay any other; which offer the Commons at that time, in regard of the great burden, did not think fit to yield unto.  
Nevertheless your loyal Commons in this Parliament, out of their especial zeal to your Service, and special regard of your pressing occasions, have taken into their considerations; so to frame a Grant of Subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage to your Majesty, that both you might have been better enabled for the defence of your Realm, and your Subjects by being secure from all undue Charges, be the more encouraged cheerfully to proceed in their course of Trade; by the increase whereof your Majesty's profit, and likewise the strength of the Kingdom would be very much augmented. But not being now able to accomplish this their desire, there is no 
* And are not all the Commons Merchants, Freemen of England bound to use the same course, and make the s●me Declaration now?  course left unto them without manifest breach of their Duty, both to your Majesty and their Country, save only to make this humble Declaration, THAT THE RECEIVING OF TONNAGE and POUNDAGE, and OTHER IMPOSITIONS NOT GRANTED BY PARLIAMENT, 
Nota.  IS A BREACH OF THE FUNDAMENTAL LIBERTIES OF THIS KINGDOM, and CONTRARY TO YOUR MAJESTY'S ROYAL ANSWER TO THE SAID PETITION OF RIGHT; And therefore they do most humbly beseech your Majesty to forbear any further receiving of the same, 
* And can our present Grandees take it in ill part if we refuse to pay them now, being demanded without Warrant of a Law, and the receivers of them in a Praemunire by express Act of Parliamen of 16 Caroli, made since this Remonstrance.  and not to take it in ill part from those of your Majesty's loving Subjects, WHO SHALL REFUSE TO MAKE PAYMENT OF ANY SUCH CHARGES WITHOUT WARRANT OF LAW DEMANDED. And as by this forbearance, your most excellent Majesty shall manifest unto the World your ROYAL JUSTICE IN THE OBSERVATION OF YOUR LAWS; so they doubt not hereafter, at the time appointed for their coming again, they shall have occasion to express their great desire to advance your Majesty's HONOUR and PROFIT,  
The King dissolving this Parliament on a sudden, and continuing to take Tonnage and Poundage by his Royal Prerogative without any Act of Parliament, sundry 
a Alderman Chambers, Mr. Rolls, and others.  Merchants upon the Commons Remonstrance, refused to pay the same; whereupon their Goods were seized: of which they complaining in Parliament, 16 Caroli, were Voted full Reparations against the Customers, with Damages for the same. And to prevent the Kings Claim thereunto by right; with all future Demands and Collections thereof from the Subject without grant in Parliament, they Declared and Enacted by three special Acts of Parliament 16, & 17, Caroli, That IT IS and HATH BEEN THE ANCIENT RIGHT OF THE SUBJECTS OF THIS REALM; 
Nota.  That NO SUBSIDY, CUSTOM, IMPOST, OR OTHER CHARGES WHATSOEVER AUGHT OR MAY BE LAID OR IMPOSED UPON ANY MERCHANDISE EXPORTED OR IMPORTED BY SUBJECTS, DENIZENS OR ALIENS, WITHOUT COMMON CONSENT IN PARLIAMENT, and that if any Customer, Controller, or any other Officer, or Person, should take or receive, or cause to be taken or received the said Subsidy, or any other Impost upon any Merchandise whatsoever, exported or imported, except the same be due, by Grant IN PARLIAMENT, shall incur the penalties and forfeitures OF A PRAEMUNIRE, to the which the King gave his Royal Assent. And to prevent any future prescription thereunto by the King, they discontinued it for some time, and then granted it specially from Month to Month, or some short space with sundry limitations, and the penalty of A PRAEMUNIRE if otherwise received, by several New Acts of Parliament, to which the King gave his assent. These Acts the King himself in his Proclamation of the sixteenth of December, in the eighteenth year of his reign, styles, THE FENCES OF THE SUBJECT'S PROPERTY, received from Us, and understood by Us, as one of THE GREATEST GRACES THE CROWN EVER CONFERRED ON THE SUBJECT; And by that Proclamation, he prohibited all his Subjects, both the payment and receipt of any moneys for Customs, or other Maritine Duties, contrary to this Act, by any Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament; under pain of a PRAEMUNIRE, and of being likewise proceeded against as illaffected persons to the Peace of the Kingdom.  
Whereupon the Lords and Commons in their answer to this Proclamation; though they declared; that the intent and meaning of that penal Clause of a PRAEMUNIRE and other Forfeitures (in these new statutes, which likewise disable every person, Customer, Officers who should take or receive, or cause to be taken or received any such subsidy or imposition upon any Merchandise, during his life, to sue or implead any persons, in any action real, mixed or personal in any Court whatsoever,) was only to restrain the Crown, from imposing any duty or payment on the Subjects, without their consent in Parliament: and that it was not intended to extend to any case whereunto the LORDS and COMMONS GIVE THEIR ASSENT IN PARLIAMENT (which they never did to this New Whitehall Ordinance, nor the pretended Act recited in it, therefore the imposers and receivers of it by virtue thereof, without such assent in Parliament, are within the penalties of the aforesaid Statutes:) Yet to avoid the danger of a Praemunire in their Officers, by exacting it only by an Ordinance of both Houses, without a special Act of Parliament; they did by their first 
* Exact Collection p. 790. to 797.  Ordinances, impose and demand Customs, Tonnage Poundage and new Imposts, not as a Legal Duty, but only BY WAY OF LOANE, till the Act of Parliament for their future continuance should be assented to by the King: as their Declaration of 31 December 1642. and their Ordinance of the same date, concerning the subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage attest. By what colour of Law, justice, Right, this ancient birthright of all English Subjects, so lately declared by three Acts of Parliament, to which most of our late and present Whitehall Grandees were parties, comes to be lost and forfeited by our contests to preserve it; or how the Customs, Imposts of Tonnage, and Poundage, can be now imposed, continued on, or exacted from the Subjects by any Powers, Officers, or persons Whatsoever, and levied by severest penalties, Forfeitures, Imprisonments, Seizures, by pretext of this Whitehal Ordinance, (though no ways granted by common consent and Act of Parliament,) without incurring a Praemunire; and forementioned penalties, disabilities; or without subverting the Fundamental Liberty, Property, Franchises, Laws, Statutes of the whole English Nation, in a far higher degree than ever in former ages, I cannot yet discern; and all our New Governors, Merchants, Customers, Officers and other persons, who have any Cordial affection, Love, Zeal to their own or the people's hereditary Rights and Privileges, may do well to demur in Law upon it, till they can satisfy their own and other men's consciences therein, to prevent the dangerous consequences of such an ill precedent to posterity. In the Parliament of 1 H. 4. rot. Parl. n. 32, 33, 34, 36. These were the principal Articles of impreachment exhibited against King Richard the Second; for which he was forced to depose himself, as unfit to Govern, and resign up his Crown to King Henry the Fourth. 
* See Historiae Anglicanae Londini. 1652. Col. 2750, 2751. Hall's Chronicle f. 7, 8. John Trussel in. 23. R. 2. p 46. Grafton p. 401.  That whereas the King of England out of the profits of the Realm, and the Patrimony belonging to his Crown, might live honestly without oppression of his people, so as the Kingdom were not burdened with the extraordinary expenses of war, that this King during the Truces between the Realm and the Adversaries thereof; gave and squandered away a great part of the Crown-Lands to unworthy persons, and thereupon exacted almost every year, so many Taxes and Grants of Aid from his Subjects of the Realm, that he thereby GREATLY and TOO EXCESSIVELY OPPRESSED HIS PEOPLE, TO THE IMPOVERISHING OF HIS REALM. That the same King being unwilling to keep and defend the just Laws and Customs of his Realm, and to do according to his pleasure, whatsoever should suit with his desires, frequently when the Laws of his Realm were expounded and declared to him by the Justices and others of his Council, who requested him to administer Justice according to those Laws, said expressly with an austere and frownning Countenance, THAT THE LAWS WERE HIS more suo, AFTER his own MANNER; and sometimes, THAT THEY WERE IN HIS OWN BREAST, and THAT HE ALONE COULD ALTER and MAKE THE LAWS OF HIS REALM, And being seduced with this opinion, he permitted not Justice to be done to very many of his Liege people, but compelled very many to cease from the prosecution of common Justice. That when as afterwards in his Parliament certain Statutes were made, which might always bind, till they were specially repealed by another Parliament, the same King desiring to enjoy so great Liberty, that none of these Statutes might so bind him, but that he might execute and do according to the pleasure of his own Will, which he could not do of right; subtly procured such a Petition to be presented to him in his Parliament, in the behalf of the Commons of his Realm, and to be granted to him in the general; THAT HE MIGHT BE SO FREE AS ANY OF HIS PROGENITORS WERE BEFORE HIM. By colour of which Petition and Grant, he frequently did, and commanded to be done, MANY THINGS CONTRARY TO THE SAID STATUTES NOT REPEALED, GOING AGAINST THEM EXPRESSLY, and WITTINGLY, AGAINST HIS OATH AT HIS CORONATION. That although by the Statutes and Customs of his Realm, in the summoning of every Parliament, his people in every County of the Realm ought to be free, to elect and depute Knights for the said Counties to sit 〈◊〉 Parliament, both TO RECEIVE their GRIEVANCES, and TO PROSECUTE REMEDIES THEREUPON, AS IT SHALL SEEM EXPEDIENT TO THEM; yet the said King, that he might in his Parliament be able to obtain the effect of his rash Will, frequently directed his Mandates to his Sheriffs, that they should cause to come to his Parliament CERTAIN PERSONS NAMED BY THE KING HIMSELF, AS KNIGHTS OF THE SHIRE; Which Knights verily favouring the said King, he might easily induce, as he frequently did, sometimes by divers threats and terrors, and sometimes by gifts, TO CONSENT TO THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE VERY PREJUDICIAL TO THE REALM, and VERY BURDENSOME TO THE PEOPLE; 
Nota.  and specially, TO GRANT TO THE SAID KING A SUBSIDY FOR CERTAIN YEARS, TO THE OPPRESSING OF His People overmuch. That although the Lands and Tenements, Goods and Chattels of every Freeman, by the Laws of the Realm used in all former ages passed, ought not to be seized, unless they had forfeited; Yet notwithstanding, the said King purposing & endeavouring to enervate these Laws, in the presence of very many of the Lords and Commons of this Realm frequently said and affirmed, That the Life, Lands, Tenements, Goods and Chattles of every one of his Subjects, are at his will and pleasure, without any Forfeiture (by the known Laws) which is altogether contrary to the Laws & customs of the Realm aforesaid. Whether all these high Misdemeanours charged against King Richard, have not been revived, and acted over and over both by words and deeds in a far higher degree than ever he was guilty of them, by some late, present Whitehall Grandees, Army-Officers, New Instrument-makers, Legitors, and Imposers of Excises, Customs, Imposts, Tonnage, Poundage, Contributions for many years yet to come; and of that constant Annual Revenue projected, intended by them in their 27 Article: I remit to their own judgements, consciences, and our whole Kingdom to resolve, and what they demerit for such extravagant high offences, for which he lost Crown and Regal power, let others determine.  
The 3. particular, is their late incumbent Imposition of 6. Month's new Contribution, by a mere Self-enacted Whitchall Jurisdiction, without any consent, grant, in or by the People in Parliament, by that they entitle, An Ordinance of the 8. of ●une 1654. beginning thus (in a most imperial Style, transcending all former Acts of Parliament, granting or imposing any Subsidies) without any Prologue to sweeten it, or court the people to its ready payment.  
Be it Ordained and Enacted by his Highness the Lord Protector▪ with the consent of his Council, and it is hereby Ordained, That towards the maintenance of the Armies and Navies of this Commonwealth An Assessment of one Hundred and Twenty Thousand Pounds per Mensem for Three month, commencing the 24 of june, 1654. and ending the 29 of Sept. following, shall be Taxed, Levied, Collected and Paid in England and Wales in such sort as is hereafter expressed. The full sum of the said Three months' Assessment of One hundred and twenty thousand pounds by the Month, to be at once wholly collected and paid in to the Receivers General at or before the tenth day of October next, etc. The Levying thereof upon the refusers hath been by distress of Goods by Soldiers, Troopers, and quartering them on the refusers till payment, and double the value many times paid to, and exacted by the Soldiers for their pains; adjudged (even by some of our New Grandees Votes who prescribe such Taxes and ways of levying them) to be No less than High Treason, and levying War in 
* See Mr. St. John's Argument at his Attainder. p. 36. to 52.  strafford's case, for which principally he was condemned, and lost his head on Tower Hill, as a Traitor.  
In this New Whitehall Tax without a Parliament (intended as a leading Precedent to bind the whole Nation in perpetuity, if now submitted to, as the 27 Article intimates) there is a double violation, subversion of the Fundamental Laws and Properties of the Nation in the Highest degree. The first, is by the reviving, imposing of 
* See Judge Crooks, & Judge Hutton's printed Arguments, & my Humble Remonstrance against the Illegal Tax of Shipmoney.  Shipmoney on the whole Realm, and all Inland Counties, as well as Maritine, for the Maintenance of the Navies by Sea, (which should be maintained only by the Customs) and that in a far higher proportion than the Shipmoney imposed by Writs by our late beheaded King; amounting to no less than Forty thousand pounds per Mensem at last, by way of Contribution alone, besides the Customs, Tonnage, Poundage and Excise paid towards it.  
This Imposition of Shipmoney, by the late King, (though ratified with the advice and consent of his Council, many colourable Precedents, Records in all former ages, and the precedent Resolution of all his judges, under their hands, as just, and legally imposed in case of Necessity and Public danger only, without consent in Parliament) together with the judgement and Proceedings of the judges in the Exchequer Chamber in justification thereof, were in the last Parliament, after solemn debate, by the 
* Printed at the end of Judge Huttoes' Argument, & amongst the statutes of 16 Caroli.  Votes and judgements of both Houses, on the 20. jan. and 26 February, resolved (Nemine contradicent●) To be contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm, contrary to the Rights and Properties of the Subjects of this Realm, contrary to former judgements in Parliament, contrary to the great Charter and to the Petition of Right: and voted to be so declared by the judges at the Assizes in the several Counties; the same to be entered and enrolled in the several Counties by the Clerks of the Assizes. After which, it was for ever damned by a special Act of Parliament, to which the King himself gave his Royal assent, (afterwards cited and enforced by both Houses. Exact Collection p. 886. 887. in the case of the Array.) And those judges who argued, That the King might lawfully impose Shipmoney on the Subjects, without a Parliament in cases of Danger and Necessity, of which they affirmed him to be the sole judge; were by all impeached by the House of Commons of High Treason, for these Opinions of theirs; whereby they traitorously and wickedly endeavoured to subvert The Fundamental Laws and established Government of the Realm of England, and instead thereof to set up an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government against Law; of which at large 
* Chap 1. p. Diurnal Occurences & Speeches, p. 191. to 265.  before. How any present Powers or Persons then, can either impose, justify, levy, enforce it upon any Pretext of Necessity, or public Danger, on the whole Nation, after all these late Resolutions, judgements, Votes, Impeachments, and a special Act of Parliament so fresh in memory (especially such who were parties to them) without incurring the selfsame Impeachments and guilt, as these Shipmoney judges did, or a severer Censure than they sustained, let their own Conscsences, and those who may on● day prove their judges, resolve them at leisure, being past my skill to do it?  
The 2. is, By the imposing of a direct heavy Tax, Tallage, and Monthly contribution, and that only (for the Maintenance of such a Land Army, which hath offered force unto the Members of both Houses, subverted, destroyed that Parliament, Government, Laws, Liberty, for whose preservation they were specially raised, Commissioned, engaged) without, yea against the People's assent in Parliament: which no King of England, with the advice and consent of his Council, had ever any Right or Power to do, or audacity enough to attempt, no not William the Conqueror, C●nute, Henry the 4th. Edward the 4th. or Henry the 7th, who came principally by power of the Sword, to their Sovereign Regal Authorities. By what Justice, Power, Legal Right, any other person or persons whatsoever, who are neither rightful Kings, nor Parliaments of England in their own or others repute, can either impose, levy, exact such extravagant Heavy Taxes, Contributions, from the exhausted Freeborn People of England, (especially being now pretended new Free State,) against all our Fundamental Laws, Statutes, Franchises, Charters, Properties, Liberties, Records, Parliamentary judgements, their own late Remonstrances, Declarations, Votes, the Precedents of all former ages, yea of all our Kings coming in by the Sword to their Thrones, let the Imposers of them seriously advise, as they will answer it at their utmost peril to God, Men, and the whole English Nation; who expected better things from them, even a total final exemption from all such illegal Burdens, after all their late Wars, Agonies, Expenses, to redeem and preserve their Laws, Liberties, Estates, Properties, Posterities, from such exorbitant Oppressions, diametrically contrary to all the forecited judgements. Resolutions, Remonstrances, Statutes, Votes, Precedents, and sundry others, which I shall hereafter insist on in the third Chapter of this Treatise to which I must refer you: And shall we not then adventure a distress, a Prison, quartering upon, or any other Duresse, yea Death itself, rather than volutarily submit ourselves and Posterities backs thereto, when as we spend our Bloods, Lives, Treasures, against lesser, easier, Royal Impositions? How shall we answer it to God, Men, or our enslaved Posterities, if we now most safely, unworthily submit thereto in perpetuity, without the least legal, strenuous, public oppression or debate of its legality.  
If any here allege (as some men do) in justification of these three, 
Objection.  (or rather four) forecited kinds of illegal universal Taxes, imposed, levied, on the whole Nation, without consent of Parliament; That they are all warranted by the Instrument of the new Gevernment, Article 27, 28, 29. That a constant yearly revenue shall be raised, settled and established, for maintaining Ten Thousand Horse and Dragoons, and Twenty Thousand Foot in England, Scotland, and Ireland for the Defence and security thereof, and also for a convenient number of Ships for guarding the Seas, besides two hundred thousand pounds per annum, for defraying other necessary charges, for Administration of justice, and other expenses of the Government, which Revenue shall be raised by the Customs, and such other ways and means which shall be agreed u●o●. By the Lord Protector and Council; and shall not be taken away, or diminished, nor the way agreed upon for the raising of the same altered, but by consent of the Lord Protector and the Parliament. That the said yearly Revenue shall be paid into the public Treasury, and issued out for the uses aforesaid. That in case there shall not because hereafter to keep up so great a Defence at Land or Sea, but that there be an abatement made thereof; The Money which shall be saved thereby, shall remain in bank for the Public service, etc.; All which they, in the True state of the Case of the Commonwealth, p. 43, 44, commend, for a most excellent Provision, A constant Revenue, A Public Bank or Treasury upon all occasions etc., which they intent to perpetuate on the whole Kingdom, without end or abatement, as well in times of peace, safety, as of war and danger. Therefore the Protector and his Counsel at Whitehall in pursuance hereof, may lawfully impose (by virtue of these Articles) both Excise, Customs, Tonnage, Poundage, Ship-money and contributions, for these ends upon our three whole Kingdoms and all the Freeborn English by printed Ordinances of their own, in what Proportions, and for what time they please (yea and for perpetuity) without consent or grant in Parliaments, and restrain all future Parliaments, both from taking away, or diminishing them, or altering the way agreed on for their raising, without their Protectors consent thereto; (as the express words run, and their practice yet expounds them:) notwithstanding all former Laws, Statutes, Charters, Resolutions, judgements, Remonstrances, Oaths, Vows, Declarations, Precedents) either in or out of Parliament) to the contrary.  
To this I answer, 
Answer.  first, that I cannot but stand amazed to hear any Army-Officers, Soldiers, Lawyers, or persons in present trust or power, who bear the name or hearts of English Freemen, Saints, Christians, Lovers, Patriots or Protectors of their Native Country of England, its Parliaments, Laws, and Liberties, to make such a stupendious irrational objection, as this, which justifies all the exorbitant Opinions, Proceedings, Taxes, Oppressions, Impositions, of our late beheaded King, Strafford, Canterbury, the Ship-money judges, old Whitehall Council Table, yea all our other former Kings, and their evil Counsellors most irregular Exaction of money in all ages from Brute till now; and will render the very worst of all our Kings, if compared with our late and present Tax-masters, and pretended Assertors of our Liberties, rather good, gracious, just, righteous, Princes, Benefactors, than Tyrants or Oppressors, for the future, seeing they never out of Parliament imposed, enforced on their subjects any such heavy, various, perpetual Taxes, Imposts, Excises, Ordinances, or new Articles of the Governments, as these forecited.  
2ly. This Objection (if admitted just or solid) gives a private Cabinet puncto, of obscure persons (yet unknown by name unto our Nation) a Superlative, Super-Parliamentall Authority, to contrive and set on foot, a new devised Instrument, to undermine and blow up all our former fundamental Laws, Customs, great Charters, Liberties, Franchises, Properties, Parliaments, former frame of Government at one crack, after all our late bloody, costly contestations for their preservation, both in the Supreme Courts of Public justice, and fields of War, without our privities or consents thereto, either in or out of Parliament, contrary to all their and our Protestations, Oaths, Covenants, Commissions, Trusts, Promises, Pretences; And instead of English Freemen (as we were before these contests and wars) to strip us quite naked of all our former Freedoms, Liberties, Properties, Customs, Rights, derived to us from our Noble Ancestors, as the purchas of their dearest blood & render us & our Posterities for the future, the most absolute issachar's, Vassals, slaves under Heaven, enthralled to all sorts of intolerable, illegal, unpresidented, incessant, endless Taxes of all kinds, without hopes of alteration or mitigation by any future Parliaments, (without their Protectors or his Successors voluntary consents, which they cannot expect) and to a constant standing Mercenary Army of Horse and Foot, by Land, and Navies of Hirelings by Sea, to keep us and ours in perpetual Bondage under such New irregular Successive Tax-Masters; who must elect their successors like themselves.  
3ly. All our former ancient Laws, Statutes, Parliaments till now, in all changes, Revolutions of State or Government, ever constantly asserted, maintained, provided, 
* See p. 12 to 20 before the 1 Proposition, and Statutes, Arguments thereunto: specially 23 E. 1. c. 5. 6. 34. E. 1. c. 1, 2, 3. 14 E. 3. c. 21, and Stat. 2. c. 1. 3 Caroli The Petition of Right.  That no Tax, Tallage, Custom, Contribution, Impost, Subsidy, Charge, Excise, Loan or Payment whatsoever, should be imposed on the Freemen of England, without their common consent and grant, in full, free, lawful English Parliaments; and if any were imposed otherwise by any Power or Pretext whatsoever out of Parliament, that it was Null, and void to all intents, to bind the people. But these Monstrous Articles quite turn the scales; impowring a few private persons (neither elected nor entrusted by the people for such ends) by colour of this ill tuned Instrument (contrived privately by themselves alone, as most conjecture, for their own self-interests) to impose perpetual Imposts, Excises, Customs, Contributions of all kinds, on our whole three Kingdoms and Nations, which neither they, nor their Parliaments (though never so grievous, extravagant, unreasonable or oppressive) shall have power to take away, diminish, alter, or regulate in the forecited illegal, oppressing, violent ways of levying them, unless their Grand Sovereign Lord Protector, shall first give his consent thereto; (which they cannot expect, nor enforce,) and in cale of his refusal, they are utterly left remediless; he having Thirty thousand armed Mercenary Horse and Foot in several Quarters by Land, and a strong numerous. Navy by Sea at his command, to keep them under endless Tributes to him and his Successors for ever. O England, England, (to omit Scotland and Ireland) consider seriously, and timely, to what a blessed Liberty, and long-expected freedom, this New invented Instrument and the Irish Harp, lately quartered with the English bloody Cross, as our Free-State Arms, hath now at last reduced thee, if these objected Articles must remain inviolable, maugre all our Laws, Statutes, etc. to the contrary; as our New Tax-masters and their Instruments, both literally and practically conclude, unless you use your uttermost, lawful, present, diligent, joint Endeavours to prevent it 〈…〉  
4ly, The whole House of Commons, yea some who were parties to this Instrument, lately impeached and with the Lords ●ouse, by judgement of Parliament condemned, beheaded the 
* See their Impeachments & printed trials, & Mr. St. John's Argument at Law against Strafford, p. 34, 35.  Earl of Strafford, and Archbishop of Canterbury, as guilty of High Treason; in subverting our Fundamental Laws, Liberties, and setting up an arbitrary Tyrannical Government; for resolving at the Council Table, beforehand, To assist the King to raise moneys on the Subjects to carry on the Wars against the Scots, by extraordinary ways, in case the Parliament should prove peevish, and refuse to grant such Subsidies as they demanded of them. And for strafford's affirming, That Ireland was a Conquered Nation, and that the King might do with them what he pleased: That they were a Conquered Nation, and were to expect Laws as from a Conqueror. And that he would make an Act of Council board in that Kingdom of Ireland, as binding as an Act of Parliament. And do not the Objectors, Contrivers of this New Instrument Articles, and those who now vigorously put it in execution in any kind (as too many do;) speak out, and do as much, as bad, as they in each of these particulars; nay far more and worse? Do not they (after the late violent breaches of our former Parliaments, and their own Junctoes' by the Army) raise moneys in more vast proportions, by more irregular, violent, extraordinary ways, by longer continued Taxes, Excises, Impositions, and constant yearly Revenues, than they ever did or designed, quite out of Parliament, by their own arrogated Legislative Tax-imposing Power? Do not they by this very Instrument, proclaim to all the world, that not only Ireland and Scotland, but England itself, is now a mere Conquered Nation? that thereupon they may do with us what th●y please; and we must not only expect, but receive Laws from them as Conquerors; having already published whole Volumes of New-Laws and Ordinances of all sorts at their New-erected Council board (which the Old never did) and made them as binding, not only to Ireland, but England and Scotland too, as an Act of Parliament? yea far more binding than any Parliament Acts, by binding the hands, power of future Parliaments themselves, and our three whole Nations (as aforesaid) and that in Perpetuity (which no 
* Cook 4 Inst. p. 42. 11 R. 2. c. 4. 1 H. 4. rot, Parl. n. 143. 2 H. 4. c. 22. 21 R. 2. c. 4, 5, 6. 1 H. 4. c 7. rot. Parl. n 48. 60. 68  Parliaments, nor Acts of Parliament can do) and by repealing, nulling all our former Fundamental Laws, Charters, Liberties, Free Government made by Parliaments, with our very Parliaments themselves? And if so, let the Objectors now seriously consider both the Treasonableness, unparliamentalness, sad Consequences of this Objection, and what ill effects it may produce in present or future ages.  
5ly, The Statutes of 25 E. 1. c. 2. & 42 E. 3. c: 2. yet in force, declare All judgements given or to be given by the Justices, or any other, contrary to the points of the Great Charter, to 
* See Sir Edw. Cooks Preface to his 2. Institutes.  be void and holden for Nought: and if any Statute be made to the contrary, it shall be holden for none. Therefore these Instrument Articles, and Paper Ordinances made by colour of them, in direct opposition to, and subversion of the points of the Great Charter, and all other Acts for their confirmation, must needs be holden for nought and void to all intents, to bind this whole Freeborn Nation, or any one Freeman of England in particular.  
6. If these Articles and Instrument (for the premised reasons, and defect of Legal power in the yet unknown Instrument-makers) be not void in Law, to all intents and purposes, as all wise men repute them; yet other clauses, and Articles of this very Instrument, (admit it valid and obligatory to our Nations) give a fatal blow to all the forementioned Excises, Impositions, Contributions by colour thereof, and to the Objected Articles.  
First the Prologue to the Oath, at the close thereof, proclaims the Government settled by it, to be such, as by the blessing of God might be lasting, secure Property, and answer The Great Ends of Religion and Liberty, so long Contended for: But these Articles (as the Objection and premises evidence) do no ways secure, but utterly subvert all Property, in the highest degree; and answer not, but eternally frustrate, abolish, the Great ends of our Religion (condemning all illegal, unrighteous Taxes and 
* Jer. 21. 12. c. 22. 3, 4, 5. Ps. 12. 5 Ezech. 18. 5. to 14. c. 22. 12, 13, 27, 29, 30. c. 45. 7. to 10. c. 46. 18. Mich. 3. 1. to 5. c. 2. 1, 2, 3. c. 7. 2. Isa 58. 6.  Tyrannical, Usurping, Oppressing arbitrary Powers) but especially of our Liberties, so long contended for; and are rather likely to raise new troubles and unsettlements, than make the Government lasting (as many late Precedents, with those ancient ones in Dr. Beard his Theatre of God's Judgements, l. 2. c. 36. to 42. may persuade us:) Therefore it must be exploded, as repugnant to the whole scope of the Instrument.  
2. The 6. Article of it is fatal and destructive to the objected Articles; viz: That the Laws shall not be altered, suspended, abrogated, or repealed, nor any New Law made, Nor any Tax, Charge, or Imposition laid upon the People, but by common consent in Parliament. Save Only, as is expressed in the 30th Article (not 27.) Now these objected 27, 28, 29 Articles, being diametrically contrary to every word, clause of this 6 Article, and agreeable to our Fundamental Laws (which the last clause of the Oath obligeth their Protector and his Successors to maintain, and to govern the People by) which Laws must be all 
* See True, etc. p. 17, 18.  altered, suspended, abrogated, repealed by these Articles alone, if reputed valid; in giving Power to them, to impose any Tax, Charge, Imposition upon the People, without common consent in Parliament; and being not within the saving of this, or the 30th Article, must needs be void and repealed by this very sixth Article, and the Oath itself.  
3. The 30th Article following them, diametrically contradicts, repeals them in these words. That the raising of Money for defraying the charges of present extraordinary Forces both by Land and Sea, in respect of the present wars, shall be by consent of Parliament: Save only, that the Lord Protector, with the consent of the Major part of the Council, for preventing the disorders and dangers which may otherwise fall out both at Sea and Land, shall have power until the Meeting of the first Parliament (on the 3. September 1654.) to raise moneys for the purposes aforesaid. The former part of this Article is consonant to, and expounded by the 6. forecited, which is more general: and the plain sense thereof is this. That all moneys raised for defraying the Extraordinary Forces both by Land and Sea (exceeding the ancient standing Garrisons, Guards maintained by the old constant Revenues of the Crown, without any Tax upon the People) shall be by consent of parliament. Therefore a fortiori; all perpetual standing Taxes, Excises, Contributions to maintain the ordinary and extraordinary Forces by Land or Sea, and ordinary expenses of the Government (which, in respect of their constancy, permanency, are far more grievous, dangerous to the Subject than rare extraordinary ones upon emergent occasions) must and ought not to be imposed by their new created Power out of Parliament, after the 3 of September.  
It any here object; 
Objection.  That the latter clause of the 30 Article Save only, etc. Authorized those at Whitehall, without a Parliament, to impose Excises, Taxes, Customs, (Impositions, Contributions forementioned, and any other constant annual Revenue they shall settle, according to the 27 Article; so as it be done before September 3. 1654. Therefore they are all lawful, because imposed before that time by their printed Ordinances forecited.  
I Answer, 
Answer.  1. That this saving, is utterly void in law, to all intents, 1. Because it is not only contrary to all our Fundamental Laws, Great Charters, Statutes, but repugnant to the body of the 6 Article, and first part of the 30▪ to which it is annexed. 2. Because it assigns the Legislative Tax-imposing Power (the inseparable incommunicable jurisdiction of our Parliaments alone) to a new Whitehall Council, by a void instrument made out of Parliament for a certain time, which biggest Sovereign power, the Parliament itself neither legally may, nor can, nor aught to transfer by any Ordinance or. Act of Parliament to any Committee of their own Members, no not for a moment, as is both resolved and declared by Act of Parliament. 1 H. 4. c. 3. and Rot. Parl. 1 H. 4. n. 26, 48, 6 6, 70. 31 H. 8. c. 8. 34 H. 8. c. 23. and 1. E. 6. c. 12. it being derogatory and destructive to the free State power, Rights of Parliaments, tending to the great incommodity of the whole Realm, and of pernicious example to Posterity, as the whole Parliament of 1. H. 4 long since resolved in positive terms.  
2ly. This saving is just like the Pope's old 
* Math. Paris Hist. Angliae London. 1640. p. 810. 818, 854 875.  Detestable Non Obstante, at the close of their Bulls; quae omnem subvertit praehabitam Justitiam, which subverted all the Justice and Privileges granted before to any in the Body of those Bulls; and as pernicious as that 
* See M●. Sr. John's Speech against the ship-money Judges, p. 16, 17▪ 18, 19 Exact. Collect. p. 885.  Proviso, which the House of Lords desired at first, to have inserted into the Petition of Right, which would have made it Felo de se, because it insinuated that the King by his Sovereign power where with the Law had entrusted him, for the protection, safety, and happiness of his People might impose any Aid, Tax, Tallage, or charge upon his People without a Parliament, though by his ordinary power he could not do it. which had left the Subjects in worse case than it found them, and wholly destructive to itself in all the parts thereof: whereupon after a conference had concerning it by the Commons, it was totally rejected by both Houses; as this Salvo must be for the self same reason.  
3ly. Admit it valid; yet it gives power to them to raise moneys for the maintenance by Land and Sea, only until September 3. 1654. and no longer; as is evident by the very words themselves; and the Confession, Exposition, (of those who made the Instrument, as most suppose) in their, True State of the Case of the Commonwealth of England, etc. 1654. p. 39 40. in these words This power is to continue only till the sitting of the next Parliament. Yea George Smith in his new Treatise, entitled, God's unchangeableness, etc. (in justification of the present Governor and Government) p. 54. writes thus; And for his seeking to have power to make Laws, and raise mon●ys, it is mere calumniation. He seeks it not, He claims it not, but leaves it to the wisdom of Parliament, as appears in Artiole 6. (as is thus excepted) for and in Cases of safety and necessity, till the time that this present Parliament was assembled, and yet to be done by him with the advice of his Council, so than he seeks not the strength nor treasure of the Nation, nor to have it in his own power. Therefore they can impose no Taxes, Excises, nor Contributions by their printed Ordinances to continue after its beginning; nor by any future Ordinances (as they term them) after that time. Now the first Tax of Excise, forementioned, is imposed till the 26 of March 1655 which is 7 months after the 3 of September 1654. The 2 of Customs, Tonnage and Poundage, is continued till the 26 of March 1658, which is 3 years and 7 months after this 3 of September. And the 3 for the 6 months' Contribution reacheth till the 29 of December 1654., which is near full 4 Months after the first sitting of that their next Parliament: And any constant yearly Revenue settled by them, will far exceed this limited time, and all former Taxes: Therefore all these premised, and all other future Excises, Customs, Impost, Contributions by pretended Ordinances for their levying after the 3 of September, exceeding the power and time limited by this Saving, must be void, and no ways warranted by the very Saving itself, and to be opposed as such.  
4ly. To say, That although these several impositions continue after the 3 of September 1654., yet they were imposed by their Printed Ordinances before it; therefore within this Saving is a most absurd excuse and shift, repugnant to the words, yea wholly destructive to the 6 Article, and first part of the 30, For by this reason had their forecited Ordinances (or any other dormant or future Antedated ones yet unpublished) imposed Excises, Customs, Tonnage, Poundage, Contributions on us for twenty, fifty, an hundred, or a thousand years yet to come, before the 3. of September, they must have been binding to us and our Posterities, during all that space, and unavoidable by the people, or future Parliaments, by this Saving and exposition of it. But the words of this Saving, giving only Power to raise moneys until the Meeting of the first Parliament; not to make New Edicts any time before it to impose and continue Taxes for any time or years after it, (which would have forestalled, affronted the next and all future Parliaments in their proper work, of granting, regulating all future Taxes (according to the 6. and 30. Articles) and made them mere Ciphers:) clearly takes away this evasion; with all their former and future Whitehall Impositions after the 3 of September; as contrary both to their Instrument and Oath.  
5ly, The words of the 30th Article whereto this Saving refers, are observable, That they shall have power until the meeting of the first Parliament, to raise moneys for defraying the Charges of the Extraordinary Forces both at Land and Sea, In respect of the present Wars: To which, for the purposes aforesaid, in the Saving relates. But the present Wars being many Months since ended, both by Land and Sea, by the Peace concluded with Foreign Nations: and so no need, nor use of Extraordinary Forces to be still continued by Land or Sea; the ancient Trained Bands and Militia of the Realm, being now well able to defend, secure us at their own cost, without any Mercenary Forces, Excises or Contributions, only to pay them; the power of raising moneys in this Saving, with the grounds thereof, are now at an end, as well as our Wars; and the whole 27 Article too: Since the old standing Militia, and Trained Bands of the 3. Nations, will be a sufficient Safeguard to them, without our Mercenary Army or Forces; which 
* See heylyn's Microcosm. p. 756, 757, 758, 395, 412. 507. 577. 578. 642. 672. 704.  usually prove Treacherous Supplanters, Usurpers; Oppressors to all who rely 〈◊〉 them; whereupon our prudent Ancestors, since 〈◊〉 gernes usurpation, 
* Exact Coll. p. 7. 575. 639, 640, 641. 807. 836. 850. to 890.  entrusted their Militia and Defence of the Realm, only in the hands of the Nobility, Gentry, Freeholders, and persons of best ability and estates, not in Mercenary Armies (which supplanted the Britons:) And our Wars now ceasing, the ancient Revenues, Lands, Customs of the Crown, and Perquisits of the Courts of Justice, will be sufficient to defray all the Ordinary expenses of the Government, Navy, old standing Garrisons, (if continued, though useless) Officers of State and Justice, as they did in 
* See the Act of Resumption, 28 ●. 6. 11. 53.  all former ages, and still ought to do, for the people's ease and benefit.  
6ly, It hath been the special policy, care of our prudent Forefathers and wise 
a See Cooks 4 Inst●t. c. 1. p. 33. Regal Taxes, & here ch. 3. sect. 4, 5, 6.  Parliaments, never to grant any annual Tax or Charge (except Tonnage ●and Poundage in some cases for a limited time) for Public Defence, unto their Kings and Governors; nor usually to give them above Subsidy, or one or two Fifteen, or a single Escuage, and sometimes not so much, in any one Parliament, upon any extraordinary occasion or necessity, and that upon these Grounds. 1. Because 
* See 14 E. 3. c. 21. & stat. 2. c. 1. 5. R. 2. stat. 2. c. 2, 3, & all Acts for 〈◊〉.  extraordinary Aids, aught to be granted only for, and proportioned to extraordinary, present, emergent Necessities, visibly appearing; which being not lasting, but momentany and various one from another, no standing certain Contribution can or aught to be allotted for them, but only a temporary and mutable; the ordinary settled Crown Revenues being sufficient to defray all ordinary expenses, without other Aids. 2ly, To keep a perpetual tye upon their Kings and Governors, to summon frequent Parliaments, and redress all their Grievances in them, before they should receive any Grant of new Aids or Subsidies from them, to supply their public Necessities; to preserve a Power and Right in Parliaments to examine the grounds and present necessity of all Taxes demanded: and to 
* See Henry de Knyghton, de Eventibus Angliae, l. 5. col. 2681. to 2690. 2 R. 2. rot. Parl. n. 20, 21, 24.  take an Account how former Taxes, & the King's Revenues had been disbursed, before they granted new ones: All which the granting of standing annual Aids for public Defence would frustule. 3ly, To prevent the encroaching of a constant Charge and Revenue on the People, which if granted but for years, life; or but twice or thrice in the same kind and proportion, without alteration, though but as a free gift in Parliament, would thereupon be claimed, exacted from them afterwards, as a mere just annual Right and Revenue, without their future grants, as Danegeld, was by some of our Kings of old; Imposts once granted, by Edward the 3. and other Kings heretofore; and the Customs of Tonnage & Poundage by King Charles of late. 4ly, To avoid all unjust Oppressions of the people by imposing on them more Taxes at once than the present urgent necessities required. 5ly, To prevent the enhancing, doubling of Taxes by any new dangerous Precedents; Sir Edward Co●k observes in his 4 Institutes, p. 33. That the Commons never used to give above one Temporary Subsidy, and two Fifteen, in any one Parliament, and sometimes less; till the Parliament of 31 Eliz. which gave 2. Subsidies, and 4 Fifteen; upon which first breach of this old circle and usage, their Taxes still increased afterwards by degrees; for in 35, & 39 Eliz. they rose to 3. Subsidies, and 6 Fifteen: in 43 Eliz. to 4 Subsidies and 8 Fifteen: in 21 Jacobi to 3 Subsidies, and 6 Fifteen, in shorter time than had been before: in 3 Caroli, to 5 Subsidies in shortest time of all: and now of late, to constant annual Imposts, Excises, & endless Monthly Contributions, amounting to at least 3 Subsidies every Month. 6ly, Because a standing extraordinary Tax (especially for years or life) when once claimed or received as part of the public Revenue, would be hardly relinquished, or discontinued, without much contest, and danger; as appears by Danegeld of old, and Tonnage, Poundage, Excise, Monthly Contributions of late imposed as of right upon us, by every new upstart Power; and when once customarily claimed, collected as a Duty, will no ways ease nor exempt the people from new Extraordinary Aids and Taxes. This is evident by that memorable Precedent concerning Abby-Lands, in King Henry the 8 his reign, settled on him as a large annual standing Revenue, of purpose to defend the Realm, and ease the People from all future Aids, by the Parliaments of 27 H. 8. c. 28. 31 H. 8. c. 13. 32 H. 8. c. 14. Yet were these Lands no sooner settled on the Crown for these ends, but in the same Parliament of 32 H. 8. the King demanded and ●ad of his Subjects, one extraordinary Subsidy both of the Clergy and Laity; and 34 H 8. c. 16, 17. & 37 H. 8. c. 24. he demanded and had the like Subsidy of them again: and his Successors the like and greater Subsidies every Parliament since. The like we see in the Case of Tonnage and Poundage, granted only for the Defence of the Seas and Realm against Foreign Enemies & Pirates: Which no sooner taken by the late King, as a standing Revenue of the Crown, but he exacted and levied against Law, a New annual Tax of Shipmoney, to guard the Seas, for which very use he received Tonnage, Poundage, and the ancient Customs; as our late Governors did, and present do; together with new Imposts and Excises; and yet impose Land rates of Forty thousand pounds a Month besides, to Maintain the Navy. To instance in one particular more: Our late new Governors made sale of all Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, Chapters, Delinquents, Kings, Queens, Princes, and Sequestered Lands and Goods, both in England, Scotland, and Ireland, one after another; under pretext, to ease the People in, and of their heavy Taxes: But what was the issue? all their Taxes, Excises, and other Impositions were still continuep on them, without any intermission or diminution, nay advanced higher than ever, to 120 thousand pounds Contribution by the Month for England, besides Scotland and Ireland, even whiles all these Lands and Goods were selling; the Lands and Goods sold, consumed, without any public Account yet given of the moneys, or their disposal; or any present ease to the oppressed people: and the ordinary standing Revenues of the Realm being now by this means decayed, dissipated, and almost brought to nothing; these New Projectors and Dissipators of this vast public Revenue; instead of easing, by colour of this Instrument, resolve to impose upon the undone, long-oppressed Peoples gauled, broken backs and Estates, such perpetual constant, annual Taxes, Excises, Imposts, Revenues as you have heard, for the Maintenance both of the Army, Navy, Administration of Justice, and other ordinary expenses of the Government; which no Kings of England ever yet received, or pretended to. Which if any future Parliaments shall be so mad, or improvident once to settle, or the Kingdom not unanimously to oppugn; if settled by them without a Parliament, instead of easing of the People of their long insupportable Taxes, now their wars are ended; in all succeeding Parliaments, they shall still be burdened with new extraordinary Taxes, upon new pretended extraordinary occasions, and Forces raised (as the words of the 30 Article, compared with the 27 and 29, declare) as if this new constant revenue had never been settled; and if our Parliaments refuse to grant them, these New Projecting Tax-Masters (who must dispose of all the moneys in the intervals of Parliaments) will impose and levy them at their pleasure, by their Supertranscendent usurped Tyrannical Power and Sword men, and dispose of them as they please without a Parliament, as they have already done, without rendering any other public Account to the people thereof, than hath hitherto been given to them of all the many millions of Treasure already extorted from them of late years, to no other end (as appears by these Articles of our New Government) but now at last, to bring and keep them under perpetual endless Taxes of all sorts, and the intolerable, worse than Turkish Slavery of a perpetual domineering Mercenary Army, Navy, instead of long promised Liberty, ease and exemption from them, till they are all brought to a morsel of bread, and till their private estates be utterly consumed, as well as the public Crown and Church Revenues, yet remaining.  
The lad and serious consideration of all which Premises, I humbly submit to the Impartial judgements, Consciences of our present Governors, Army Officers, Soldiers themselves, how discrepant they are from all their former printed Deolarations; Protestations, Promises, Vows, Engagements to the People, and what they expected from them; It was the Speech of the Scythian Ambassadors, to Alexander the Grand Conqueror of the world, 
* Q●. Curtius, Hist. l. 7. p. 831.  Nec Servire ulli possumus, nec regnare desideramus. Si Deus es, tribuere mortalibus b●nificia debes, non sua eripere, sic Homo●es, id qu●d es semper esse te cogita, Stultum est eorum memintsse propter quae tui oblivisceris: Let it be all Heroic English Freemen to our pretended Conquerors; who may do well to remember that Hermolaus and other Officers, and Soldiers of Alexander's own Guard, conspired his destruction, after all his Persian Conquests, for this very reason, which they justified to his face, 
* Qu. Curtius, Hist. l. 8.  Quia non ut ingenuis imperare caepisti, Sed quati in mancipia dominaris; because he had begun not to reign over them as Freemen, but to domineer over them like Slaves; and because Revelaetions in this age, may be more prevalent with some Men than Gods own Oracles, or our Laws; I shall inform our Tax-imposing Governors; that St. Bridget of Sweden in the 8 Book of her 
* Printed at Nu●●mbergh, 1521.  Revelations of the Heavenly Emperor unto Kings, cap. 6 records; That she had this Revelation from the Son of God, That Kings and Governors ought to love the People and Commonalty of their Realms: That they then show they truly love them, when they permit them to enjoy their approved Laws and Liberties; when cruel Exactors and Collectors domineer not over them; if they burden them not with new Inventions of Impost, Taxes, and Tributes, nor with grievous and unaccustomed Hospitality, Permanencies or Freequarter; For although for the resisting of Infidels they may humiliter petere auxilium a Populo; humbly request an aid from the People and Commons of their Realms (not imperiously impose it) when there is a necessity; yet let them beware quod necessitas illa non veniat in consuetudinem & legem, that the necessity comes not into a custom and law: 
* See Revelationum l. 4. c. 104, 105. l. 7. c. 16. l. 8. c. 48. & Rev●lationes extravagantes. c. 73, 80.  For that King (or Ruler) who lays not aside his unjust Exactions, and Fraudulent Inventions to raise moneys, and oppress his People, making his reigns and Kingdoms mere robberies and rapines, as most then did, and n●w too) let him know for certain he shall not prosper in his doings, but shall lead and end his life in grief, dismiss his Kingdoms in tribulations; his Son and Posterity shall be in such hatred, reproach and confusion, that all men shall wonder thereat; & his Soul shall be tormented by the Devils in Hell: which she manifests by the 
* Revelationum l. 8. c. 48.  example of an unjust Tax-imposing King, damned to Hell, and there tormented by the Devils: For that to retain the Kingdom to himself, and defend it from Invasions, he petended the ancient Revenues of his Exchequer would not defray the Expenses of the Government, and Realms defence; whereupon he devised certain new Inventions, and fraudulent Exactions of Imposts, Tributes, Taxes, and imposed them on his Kingdom, to the damage of the Natives, and oppression of innocent Merchants and Strangers; although his conscience dictated to him, Quod ista erant contra Deum, et omnem justitiam, et Publicam Honestatem: that these things were against God, and all justice, and Common Honesty; as our forementioned Excises, Imposts, Taxes are now. Let those who are now guilty of this sin in the highest degree, beware they incur not the selfsame temporal and infernal punishments, thus threatened to and inflicted upon others. And let our whole English Nation and their trusties, upon serious consideration of all the premises, beware how they in any kind, through fear or cowardice, submit their necks or backs to the forementioned illegal Yokes and Burdens, of perpetual standing Excises, Imposts, Contributions, and Taxes, to enslave themselves and their Posterities for ever to an oppressing Military New Government, and perpetual Army: For which end I shall only recommend unto their meditation and practice, this observation and policy of our prudent Ancestors, 
* Math: Paris Hist. Angl. p. 517.  Binus actus inducit Consuetudinem; that a double general submission to, and payment of such exorbitant illegal Taxes, will introduce a customary, future exaction and payment of them; which made them always (as we have greatest reason now to do) peremptorily to withstand the sirs, to prevent a second customary, future exaction and payment in like kind; pursuing the Poet Ovid's old sage Counsel, wherewith I shall conclude this point.  

* De Remedio Amo●s, l. 2.  Principiis obsta: serò medicina paratur  
Cum mala per longas invaluere moras,  
How transcendently all the other Fundamental Laws, Liberties, Rights of our English Freeborn Nation have by late and present Governors and their Instruments been infringed, subverted in an higher avowed degree than ever in former ages, by forcible tyrannical Proceedings of all kinds, in breaking open men's Houses, by armed Soldiers, and other unsworn illegal Officers, Excise-men, Sequestrators, both by day and night; seizing their Persons, Horses, Arms, Papers, Writings; ransacking their Studies, Trunks, Cabinets, upon false surmises, suspicions; close imprisoning their persons (by multitudes) without, before any examination, particular accusation, hearing, trial, in unusual places; and some of them in remetest Isles, Garrisons under Soldiers: Their pressing of men for Land and Sea service, and carrying them away perforce by Soldiers, Troopers, Officers, Mariners, (like so many Prisoners) out of their own Counties and the Realm, to unnatural, unchristian Wars, against their Wills and Consciences: Their disinheriting many Thousands of English Freemen of all sorts, of their Freeholds, Lands, Offices, Franchises, Honours, Authorities; spoiling them and theirs of theirs Goods, Chattles, Estates, Lives, in and by Arbitrary Committees, Martial, & other extravagant Courts of highest Injustice: Subverting, Changing our ancient Fundamental Laws, Statutes, and enacting New without the People's free consents in Lawful, English Parliaments: altering the whole Frame and Constitution of our Monarchy, Government, and Parliaments themselves: Depriving the people of the Free election of their Parliament Members, and other Elective Officers, contrary to our Laws, Charters, Usages; securing, secluding the Members of Parliament themselves, by armed Force; dissolving Parliaments by the Sword alone, without Writ or legal power, contrary to Acts and Privileges of Parliament; by erecting New Legislative, Tax-imposing, Self-created Powers, (not elected by the People) at Whitehall and elsewhere, not to be paralleled in any age. By creating New-Treasons contrary to the old ones, and the Statute of 25 E. 3. and condemning, sequestering, imprisoning, executing English Peers and Freemen, only for their loyalty, Duty to their lawful Sovereigns, and defence of the Rights, Privileges, Liberties, Laws of the Kingdom, Parliament, Nation, according to their Oaths, Protestations, League, Covenant, and Gods own Precepts, against the public Enemies, Oppugners, underminers, Subvertors of, and Conspirators against them. By making public wars at Land and Sea with our Christian Protestant Brethren, and other Nations; and concluding Leagues, Truces without common consent or advice in Parliament. By alienating, selling, giving, squandring away the ancient Demesnes, Lands, Honours, Rents, Revenues, Rights, Inheritances of the Crown of England, (yea of Scotland and Ireland likewise) to Officers, Soldiers of the Army, and others, for pretended Arrears, Services, or inconsiderable values; which should defray all the constant ordinary Expenses of the Government, public, State Officers, Ambassadors, Garrisons, Navy, Courts of the Kingdom, and ease the People from all kind of Taxes, Payments, Contributions whatsoever towards them (except in extraordinary emergent cases and necessities in times of war, requiring extraordinary expenses for their public safety supplied by Aids and Subsidies granted only by common consent in Parliament only, and not otherwise) which now must be wholly, or for the greatest part defrayed by the People alone, out of their own exhausted private estates, by endless Taxes, Excises, Contributions (as appears by the 27, 28, 29, 30. Articles of their New ill sounding Instrument foreinsisted on) whiles others, without right or legal Title, enjoy the old standing Demesnes, Lands, Rents, Revenues and Perquisites of the Crown for their private advantage without any Acts of Resumption (
* See Mat. Pa●●s p. 306. 308. Grafton, p. 90. 149. Daniel, p. 78, 79, 83, 123. 1 R. 2. Rot. Parl. to 148. 1 H. 4. n. 100 6 H. 4. n. 14, 15. 8 H. 4. n. 52. 1 H. 5. c. 6. 28 H. 6. rot Parl. n. 53. 31 H. 6. c. 7. 33. H. 6. n. 47. 4 E. 4. n. 39 12. E. 4. n. 6.  usual in all former ages) to keep the Kingdom, Nation from becoming Bankrupts, and people from oppression) which should ease the people of those intolerable constant burdens lately laid upon them, against all Justice, Law, Conscience, and make insufferable wastes, and spoils of the stately Houses, Timber, Wood●, Mines, Forests, Parks of the Crown, without restraint, to the Kingdoms extraordinary prejudice; for which they ought to give an Account and make full reparations, if the Earl of Devonshire's case, Cook 11 Reports f. 89▪ 90, 91 be Law. And by sundry other particulars (requiring whole Baronian volumes, to recite and specify to the full;) is so well known by daily experience, and multitude of Precedents fresh in memory, to our whole three Nations, that I shall here no further insist upon them. all which experimentally confirm the truth of our Saviour's own words. john 10, 1, 10. Verily, verily I say unto you, He that entereth not by the Do●r into the Sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a Thief and a Robber; The Thief cometh not but steal and to kill, and to destroy, Whatever his pretences be to the contrary. And this rule of Johannes Angelius Wenderhagen: Politiae Synopticae, lib. 3. c. 9 sect. 11. p. 3. 10. Hinc Regulae loco notandum. Quod omne Regnum vi Armata acquisitum in effectis Subditos Semper in durior is Servatutis conditiones arripiat, licet a principio Dulcedinem prurientibus spirare videatur; (which we now find most true, by sad, sensible experience) Ide● cunctis hoc cavendum, Ne temere se seduci patiantur.  
FINIS.