Plain English TO Our wilful Bearers with Normanisme; OR, SOME QUERIES PROPOUNDED To and concerning the Neglectours of ENGLAND'S grand Grievance and complaint lately published under the title of Anti Normanisme. Wherein is undeniably demonstrated, that while this Nation remains under the Title of the (pretended) Conquest, She and every Member of her are no other than Slaves properly so called; And moreover, that (while she retains the same Title) all her and her Representators contending with their Prince for ungranted privileges, upon any pretence whatsoever, is unwarrantable and seditious. Num inimicus sum vobis, dum veritatem vobis enarro? Gal. 4.16. London, Printed for George Whittington, at the Blue Anchor in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange, 1647. To the Reader. READER, THou mayst (perhaps) wonder that this poor piece of plain truth, without lie or flattery in it, and being also unfurnished of the Licensers' Passport, should without an Army's protection adventure into the public, in the month of an opposite piece of Ordnance charged with dire menances against such bold Intruders; But thou oughtest rather to wonder that in England, and at such a time at this, a Discourse of this nature should need to be written, or that being written, it should seems questionable; For is it not a monstrum horrendum, etc. that a Parliament of England assisted with an Army of the same, having consulted and fought these 7. years in the bahalfe of this Nation, and for her Rights and Liberties, and having the whole Kingdom in their hands like a piece of Porter's Clay, to be new moulded to their own pleasure, should not yet take it into their heads, nor after it hath been * viz. By the Edition of Antinormanisme. thrust into their heads, suffer it to enter their hearts to deliver the Nation from the slavery of an unjust, disgraceful, pretended, Conquest by foreign Enemies? But thou wilt say (perhaps) that we are since united, and become one Body, and that the Successors of the Conquerors are now our natural Heads, and part of our Nation; but I answer, that there can be nothing more absurd then to say so, For as there can be no Conquest of a Nation, but by foreign Enemies, Rome being never said to be conquered till the Goths came, though it had been often before forceably mastered, for that those Masterers (namely Caesar & many of his Successors) were members of herself; So the Heirs of a Conqueror, while they retain his right and title, though it be after a myriad of descents from him, do still retain the quality of professed foreign Enemies, only with this distinction, that the Conqueror is the Victor, and his Successors the Triumphers; Now that triumphing doth also of itself necessarily imply a foreign Enmity, appears also (to omit reason) from the practice of the said R●manes (who were no Novelists in these matters) for that no triumph could be acted among them, but only over foreign Enemies, Civill-warre Victories afforded no Laurels, whence (by the way) We may also observe the absurdity of some Who of late would needs march laureated through this City: But if any be censoriously inclined against me for this work, my defence is this. 1. That the Parliament have declared (as the chief warrant for all their actions) that Res Populi is the Supreme Law; Now I must new mould my Notions, if what I have here, and in my Antinormanisme propounded, be no: more for the service, not only of the People and Parliament, but also of the King, than any thing that hath been yet propounded, said or done, in this Kingdom, since the pretended Conquest unto this day; for that without this effected (namely the abolishing of the Right and Title of the Conquest) our Kings are (in naked truth, as Dr. Hudson in his Late Treatise of Government, p. 123. grants, and I have before manifested) no better than usurplug Foreigners, our people absolute slaves, and our Parliaments undutiful servitors to both; ye●, without this, not only the proceed of this Parliament are irregular (which is the sum of what my ensuing Discourse charges upon them) but also all our Laws and Liberties, even Magna Charta itself, are without any firm foundation, and may in point of strict Law (though not of Conscience) be blown down with the King's arbytrary breath; and thus much is evincible, not only by reason, but also from the tenor of Magna Charta itself, which runs thus; Spontaneâ & bonâ voluntate nostrâ dedimus & concessimus, etc. which shows it to be only a free and spontaneous Grant, and such free Grants are revokable at pleasure, the sole ground and consideration of it being expressed to be respect of duty toward God, and not of duty (though benefit) to the Nation. It is also manifest from a confession of Parliament, cited by Mr. Pryn, in his Sovereign power, p. 59 (though he (good man) cited it to prove the contrary) extant in a memorable Record (as he calls it) in the Parliament Rolls of the 1. of H. 4. Numb. 108. where it is recited, that King Richard should say, that the Kings of this Realm might turn (or change) the Laws at their pleasure, which assertion the Parliament did not deny to be true, but instead thereof, accepted of the King's gracious promise not to take advantage of such his Prerogative, but to keep the Laws, etc. So that by this time, I suppose it appears, that I have the warrant of the Supreme Law of Res Publica for my Enterprise; But if thou findest fault that it is too bold and plain, I answer, that I know nothing in it more bold or plain, then true, nor yet then necessary, seeing the softer and suasory language of my Antinormanisme obtained no regard. 2. It is commanded in the Mosaical Law, that Si Bestiam errantem videris, reduxeris in viam, and if we own such dutiful endeavours to Beasts, then, much more to the Pilots of our State. Lastly, admit an incredibility, that is, that our Statesmen should profess themselves Normanes, and so persecute the Assertors of the English Liberty as Enemies; yet should I not repent my adventuring in this Cause, for that Dulce et decorum est pro Patria mori. But it is high time to end, lest I meet with a Diogenes and hear of Myndas. Therefore farewell, JO: HARE. QUERIES. Propounded to and concerning the Neglectours of England's grand Grievance, etc. Quarie I. WHether among the Civil Rights of this Nation, If it be of no value, Why was the violation of it made one of the heinous Articles against the E. of Strafford, viz. for occasioning the dishonourable loss of Newcastle to the Scoes? which (in name) have been so highly and hotly contended for, her Honour be of so inferior a value, as not to be worthy the least consideration? Qu. 2. Whether it be not an absurdity to ascribe other Honour to our Nation then to a Slave, For what is a Slave but a Captive serving his Conqueror or his Heirs? And moreover, according to your own verdict, if the suffering of one Town to be conquered, was a betraying of the Nations honour; then what is the suffering of the whole Nation to lie under a Conquest? while she remains a Captive, & wears the Title and * If you know not what those are, see Antinormanisme, p. 2, 13, 14. Badges of Captivity? Qu. 3. Whether it be not an absurdity to pretend to restore or advance this Nation to her just Freed me, The just Freedom of this Nation consist in being under a Prince (or his Heirs) of her own Election, Blond, or (at least) Admission, and under her own Laws, of which Laws (also) the Supreme next unto God's glory (according to your own doctrine) ought to be Salus Populi; But ye make her to profess herself to be under the dominion of her usurping Enemies, (for what's a Conqueror, or any succeeding in his Right, but a prevailing and triumphing Enemy) of which sort of Dominions (namely those grounded upon Conquests) (also) the Supreme and Fundamental Law, and which is unseparable from that Title, is unquestionably (as I shall anon prove) the Will, Honour, and benefit of the Conqueror and his Heirs; And yet ye call yourselves Assertors of your Nations Liberties. and yet to leave her under the title and injuries of a (pretended) Conquest? Qu. 4. Whether they are not, Your own interests and claims you assert with Swords; But your Nations just Freedom and Honour, that might distinguish her from a Slave, not with a word. and are not to be reputed, of private spirits and interests (whatever they boast) whether they be Counsels, Cities, or Armies, that are so tender of their own honours and interests, and yet so negligent (or else ignorant) of their Nations? Qu. 5. Whether they are not contemptibly ridiculous, that call themselves men of honour, or so much as Freemen (how highly soever born, The Right Honourables of an Enslaved Nation, are but right honourable slaves. in what dignity soever placed, or whatsoever they have achieved against their own Countrymen) who yet with the same mouth confess and profess themselves Members of a Captive Nation? Qu. 6. Whether they are not also confessedly seditious, It is no other than as if one should say, Sir, I am and will be your slave in right and title, but your Master in Act. who professing their Nation, and consequently themselves, to be Captives by right of Conquest, and moreover being (like the Jews eare-bored slaves) nor minded to leave that quality and profession, do yet contend wi●h their Prince for free Subject's Privileges or rather (Mamaluck-like) to be sharers in the Supreme Authority? Objection 1. Yea, but our first Normane Prince was admitted upon Terms, as being Legatee and Kinsman of S●. Edward, and upon condition to preserve our Laws and Liberties. Answ. Ye contradict it yourselves, If perchance you deny that you say it, and so think to invalidate all my incusations with that Paradox. What means his title of Conqueror, which ye still allow him? the Doctrine of his Conquest of this Nation, which without your contradiction remains a received Maxim in this Kingdom? The Effects and Badges of such a Conquest, which you retain as Ornaments? Your suffering Magna Charta to be in the mouth of the Law, the foundation of our Liberties? And lastly) your a Conquestu, currant not only in past Acts of Parliament, which (until you gainsay them) enjoy your suffrage, but also in Fines passed by the Authority of your own Great Scale of England at this day? while ye say (how truly I have * Antinorm. p. 15. else where shown) that he came in by Conquest. Object 2. But we have since had a Charter of Liberties granted us. Answ But there is no clause in that Charter for liberty to contend for more, the granting you an Inch entitles you not to the taking of an Ell; And as for the Clause therein (which Mr. Pryn in his Sovereign Power, p. 74. sticks not to allege as an undeniable Warrant for all your proceed) That the Prince will not deny or defer justice or right to any man, by justice or Right is plainly meant Execution of Law, and not a fulfilling of your unlimited Desires, as is manifest by the rest of that Chapter, and confirmed by the Lord Cook's Exposition of that place. Object. 3. But the King is bound by his Coronation Oath to grant all such just and reasonable Laws as the People (that is the Commons in Parliament) shall choose. Answ. This I confess (if it were so, and according to your own interpretation; that is, to grant all such Laws as you shall say are just and reasonable) might seem a bottomless privilege, able to furnish you with Licentiousness enough (I Will not say Liberty, for were you invested with as many donations & privileges as Haman, or any Favourite in the Turkish Court, yet while you profess to serve in reference to a Conquest, you are but * For the mitigation of Slavery doth not take away the Essence of it. Now you cannot deny, that you serve in reference to a Conquest, seeing you are so fare from ever having declared him whom you call your Conqueror, an Usurper, that you place him, for the Root and Alpha of your right. fulll Kings in the Regal Catalogue. Slaves) Yet for Answer, I say, It is well known that our present King never took any such Oath. Reply. But he ought to have taken it. Answ. Whether he ought or not, since he did it not, he is not bound by it in Law; and as to his obligement to take it, if any such obligation was, it must be either by Statute or Custom, by Statute you will not say it was, and as for Custom, to make it obligatory, it must (according to your own * The Lord Cook and others. Oracle) have both Reason, and usage time out of mind; But this oath by your own * in your Remonstroof the 2. of Novem. 1642 confession, was used neither by Henry the 8. Edward the 6. King James, nor King Charles, So that in stead of usage, here is a disusage; and as for Reason, there is less; for what reason is there that some Princes and their Heirs doing some Acts of grace and favour (as I shall anon prove that you grant this to be) to their people, that therefore all there Posterity should be obliged to the same as duties? so that you see this Oath cannot in any wise bind your Prince, for that he neither took it, nor was bound to take it; But although he had taken it, yet I shall sufficiently prove, (notwithstanding all Mr. Prins impertinent volumes to the contrary) that (while you allow to his Blood the right of a conquest over your nation) the Oath would not serve your turn so as to give you authority to force to the performance of your desires; for first, you say it was an Oath, Now an Oath or votum hath not you but God for the object, so that if it be violated, he alone is the vindex, & that it is so, is testified by this, that the Oath is tendered not by you or your substitutes but by the Arch- Bishop, who is God's Representer testified by his Crowning and anointing the Prince which confers on him, or signifies the conferring of the Divine authority; now that it makes him not liable to you, appears also by our own Laws, for what Lawyer ever heard of an Action brought upon an Oath? In all the Register no such writ occurs; But if you will make it a Covenant or Promise, that it may be obligatory, it must be grounded upon a valuable consideration, now that here is no valuable consideration appears from your own confession, for you confess him to be your King by right of conquest and succession, and accordingly do reckon his reign from the death of his Predecessor, not his own coronation as being but a ceremony and that also administered neither by you nor your Substitutes, So that it is plain that you should have no sufficient right to exact the performance of it if he had taken it; But grant both that he had taken it, and also that he were thereby bound unto you, yet could you not from thence justly claim your demands, for that which the Oath binds to is the granting of just and reasonable things, but the things that you demand are proper and fit only for ingenuous subjects, or rather for Consortibus Imperij, whereas (you know) Non decet Liberorum panem Canibus objicere; you have no reason to disdain the comparison, since that Dogs themselves are so disdainable beyond other creatures only for this that they are beyond the rest, such Servi Voluntary. Object. 4. But the King is bound to these things by the Law of nature and inferences from Salus populi which is the supreme law: Answ. Ye have nothing to do with the privileges of the Law of nature or Salus populi, while you adhere to a subjectednesse by right of conquest, for in so doing, you renounce them: neither will any man say, you deserve them, while having Liberty (that is Obedience in reference to a succession from the legitimate Princes of your own blood) and Servitude (that his subjection in reference to a (pretended) Conquest) both which Titles are concurrent in His Majesty, who (no doubt) is willing to indulge aswell to the honour as to the benefit of his Subjects, while (I say) having these two set before you, you reject the first, and prefer the servitude: In this Case therefore you are to look only to the nature of the Law of Co●quest●, which as you may read in Caesar, lib 1. de Bello Gallico, is this, ut hi qui Vicissent his quos Vicissent quem admodum Vellent Imperarent, that the Conquered are under the arbitrary Government and power of the Conqueror; And consequently, while ye are pleased to remain in that quality, you are to make much of your Prince's Grants of favour, whether past, or future, and not to challenge more, for no more belongs to you: In sum it is plain, that while you retain your dear profession of Captivity (notwithstanding all allegations whatsoever, that have been, or can be raised to the contrary) in contending for ungranted Privileges, you do but act Sedition, and repeat the old Bellum Servile. Demonstrations from Scripture (for those that will not understand Reason) That to be under Conquest is to be in Slavery, and that such Servitude is a Curse, and consequently that it is absurd to pretend to make this Nation blessed (or happy) and yet to leave her in that quality. Of whom a man is overcome, 2 Pet. 2.19. of the same he is brought in Bondage. Now that such Bondage is a curse may sufficiently appear by Inferences from the following Texts. Cursed be Cham, Gen. 9.5., R●m. 9, 12, 13. he shall be a Servant of Servants. Th'elder shall Serve, etc. as it is written, Esau have I hated; where such Servitude is made a Demonstration of the divine hatred. The Stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high and thou shalt come down very low, Deut, 28.12. in that grand Charter if Curses. he shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not l●nd to him, (viz. Laws, Language, Customs, etc.) he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail, which is ou● very Case. In sum, while ye foster the Right, Title, and Evidences of this (pretended) Conquest, Ye make a cursed Slave of your Country an usurping Foreigner of your King, and yourselves strange Servitor's to both. And therefore one may justly say to our Reformers, in the behalf of England, as Cato once did to Pompey in the Cause of Rome, Miseram quid decipis urbem Si servire potes? Never pretend to lead us out of our Grievances into Blessedness, If you account the injuries and disgrace of a (pretended) Conquest, for no Burden, and can be content to suffer yourselves, and your Nation to wear forever the accursed Title and Badges of Captivity. If ye ask what then is to be done? ye may please to see what is set down in Antinorm. p. 19 which may be easily effected without injury to or just opposition of an● which is also required not only by this N●tions Right, but also by the Right of his Maj. just Title (derived from the English Blood-royal, one way, and from St. Edward's Legacy joined with this N●tions admission of the Normane Blood, another way) against the unjust usurpation of his other Title attributed to his Blood (at first by Traitors and Enemies to this Nation) from a (pretended) Conquest, which even Dr. Hudson in his late Book of Government, p. 123, 124. (though one of the greatest Royalists in the Kingdom) declares to be no bet●er then Sacrilegious Theft and Robbery, and that the same aught both in Honour and Conscience, to be oppugned by all dutiful Patriots with their utmost abilities. FINIS.