PREROGATIVE Anatomised: OR, AN EXACT EXAMINATION Of those Protestations and Professions, whereby she hath attempted and endeavoured to prefer herself above the PARLIAMENT. By a Lover of Truth, Peace, and Parliaments. JOHN 7.24. Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgement. Multa videntur quae non sunt. Published by Authority. LONDON, Printed for John Wright, in the Old-Baily. 1644. PREROGATIVE ANATOMISED. THE Disputes between the King and Parliament are so high, the Declarations so numerous, the Prerogative-Protestations, and Pretences so plausible, though tending to public destruction; the Parliament proceed so slow, so chargeable, so new, though just, no Parliament heretofore having power, or opportunity, to maintain the Kingdom's Rights, (the rod of dissolution being perpetually held over them) that the amazed People stand betwixt the King and Parliament, like the silly Popish Priest between the blessed Virgin and our Saviour Christ, and know not which way to turn them, or whence to expect their salvation: I think it fit therefore to take the liberty of this scribbling age, in setting down my sense of Prerogative, that the deceived people understanding the nature and end of it, may see the necessity that lies upon them, now or never to lay hold upon this their day, to uninslave their souls, persons and estates, from Ecclesiastical and Prerogative tyranny, by means of this present Parliament, so wonderfully given and preserved to us by the divine providence and mercy. Prerogative therefore, in the native, proper, and original acception and intention of it, is nothing else, but a necessary, just, and innocent accommodation of the Prince, to such a proportion of splendour, honour, and authority, as may enable him, without encroachment to balance the other two Estates, and bear himself in all things answerable unto his Office: for, they exceeding in number, were to add weight to him, to make a flourishing and sweet compliance: but as it is distinguished from the only end and bound of true Regality, (the good of the people) is a tyrannical power, destructive to Religion, Property, and Liberty, yea and to Regality itself, by narrowing and shrinking up the heart of a public person, to self-will, ends, and aims. The truth of this description is evidenced, by the miserable fruits of Prerogative before the Parliament, which are now generally known, though not generally acknowledged: our Religion was overgrown with superstition and profaneness, Popish opinions were publicly defended in the Universities, and preached in Pulpits, Pope's Nuntios admitted into the Kingdom, Covents of Friars erected, public Mass telerated, preaching, pictie, godly Preachers suppressed, suspended, banished: As for our Property and Liberty, they were quite lost, and all the grievances that were singly introduced in the times of our predecessors, did jointly, like a deluge, overwhelm us. For the redress of these pressures was this Parliament called, and cried up by the People, I fear, with as much, too much confidence in it, as the Jews of old had in the Temple of the Lord, when they cried, Templum Domini, Templum Domini, and in the mean time rebelled against the God of the Temple; and for this sin, amongst others, I doubt, the peace made with Scotland proves but a change of our adversaries, from them, to ourselves: And yet, though the continuance of our misery be very grievous, in my judgement, the state of the war is much better than it was, before the Parliament: For, now (whatsoever pretences are made) we conflict with our true enemy, the Popish party, and their adherents; whereas before we should have been led hood winked for the service of our enemies, mutually to destroy ourselves, and our Protestant Friends: And, me thinks, in this very thing, which draws the greatest odium upon the Parliament, they deserve infinite commendations, that since they could not keep off a war from the Kingdom, they occasioned this happy divertion. Yet hence the people complain, we hoped for help from the Parliament, and we are now in worse condition than we were before. So it fared with the children of Israel, after Moses appeared for their deliverance: their task was doubled, and Moses their deliverer is charged by them, to have put a sword into the hands of Pharaoh to slay them. Thus all the evils that by the adversaries of the Parliament have been mischievously multiplied, to hinder Reformation, are unjustly laid upon the Parliament; and thus God is dishonoured every way: for, when hopes of deliverance first appear, we idolise the means; and when our deliverance proves not so sudden, nor so easy as we expect, than we despise the means. By God's goodness, for his own glory, the Parliament hath appeared, as it is, an arm of flesh, unable to save; and yet by the same goodness, the major part continues faithful to him and the Kingdom, and God hath not left it without glorious testimony of his assistance, and good assurance to us, that God will give us the like success he gave our Brethren the Scots, if we would yet follow their zeal, to 〈◊〉 glory, and their unity amongst themselves; neither is it altogether to be contemned, that which is already effected by this Parliament: the Popish and Prelatical party are wholly discountenanced, and resolutely opposed, by the Parliament, by whom faithful Ministers are encouraged, and the purity of the Gospel maintained, and such Laws past, for the vindication of Property and Liberty, as better cannot be devised: and now the Scales are quite turned, Prerogative pleads nothing but Law, and conscience; Papists and Prelates defend the Protestant Religion, Delinquents the Law and Parliament: And the Parliament, clean contrary, destroys Religion, Property, King, Parliament, and Kingdom: and in a word, the Lion is turned Lamb, and the Lamb is turned Lion. But this is no new thing, we have an example of the first, Psal. 10. ver. 9, 10. He lieth in wait secretly, as a Lion in his den, he crowcheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. Whatsoever pretence the Lion makes of humility, his end is to devour. For the other, we know there is no juster indignation then that which proceeds from patience abused, or love contemned; the meekest man upon the earth, will be kindled into rage, when an Idol stands in competition with the God of all glory; or when the being of a Kingdom, and the Church of God are both endangered; in such a case as this, Moses tries what party he can make in Israel, and commands them every one to slay his brother: if God or good men, cause any to be troubled, it is of very faithfulness, and for their good. But here it is objected: what danger is our Religion, Property, or Liberty in? 1. Prerogative will defend the true Protestant Profession, as it was in the days of Q. Elizabeth, 2 It will defend the Property, and Liberty of the People, according the old and new Laws. 3 It will defend the just Power and Privilege of Parliament. To the first: Prerogative will defend the true Protestant Religion, as it ●as in the days of Queen Elizabeth. How good a defender of the Protestant Religion Prerogative was before the Parliament, you had a little Breviat at the beginning, and how good a defence she is like to make for the future, we see by the instruments she chooseth to defend it; Papists, Enemies, and Prelates, Trautors to Religion: but her solemn Protestations must be believed. Well then, let us admit the utmost of those Protestations, and the result is this; The same Religion, and the same Ecclesiastical Government, that was in the days of Queen Elizabeth, is that pitch of Reformation, which Prerogative will consent to, and maintain, but one jot further it will not go; and why should not this content the Parliament, as well as the Kingdom? were not the times of Queen Elizabeth the happiest that ever England saw? To this the parliament, and all good men, answer, that in the heginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign, she chose such men to be Bishops (for the most part) as had suffered persecution for the telamonie of the Gospel in Queen Mary's days, and by such sufferings had, both evidenced their fidelity to Christ their Master, and learned compassion toward the Church their Brethren: the succeeding Bishops were something worse, but civil authority was then so active to suppress Popery, and encourage good Ministers, to do their duty, that a slender and insufficient Ecclesiastical Government might not be much taken notice of: but now we have a Popish Queen, that hath a great influence into the Civil State; we have (for the most part) a dissolute, and degenerate Clergy, that hath once already betrayed and persecuted Religion, and yet now we must have no better guard for Religion, than the not unchaste, because untempted Prelacy, in the time of Queen Elizabeth: It's hard usage, because I need not any cloak when the Sun shines, to keep it from me in a storm: or, because in time of peace, I walk unarmed, to put me naked in the front of a Battle: surely in this (which is the greatest matter of all others) the Parliament is to be justified, that they seek another manner of defence for Religion now, then in the days of Queen Elizabeth: and in that they set not any times, or persons, to be a standard of Reformation, but the Word of God, which is, and aught to be the rule of all Reformation of the Church, both in Doctrine and Discipline: and this I suppose is satisfactory to the first: we will proceed to weigh the two other promises of Prerogative. It will defend the Property and Liberty of the People, according to the old and new Laws, and it will defend the just Privilege of Parliament. To satisfy for this, we must always direct our eyes, and fix them upon Prerogatives self, by considering what she is by nature, rather than what she speaks by art; and to discover the nature of Prerogative, we must consider what her constant actions are, how she carries herself, when her motions proceed only from her own internal disposition, when she is a free agent, without any interposition of true necessity, fear, or danger; for then, and then only, she acts herself: and how can you have a better and fuller discovery of her disposition, then by her constant course of proceed, before this Parliament, set down at large, in the Parliaments Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom: for the keeping of which from the people's view, there was so strong a party made in the House of Commons (consisting, as we may well suppose, of that Prerogative-party which have now deserted that House) that the debate of publishing it was two several times protracted ●ill midnight, the resolution curried but by 11. voices, and the printing of it 〈◊〉 protested against; so dangerous a thing was it counted, to let the people understand their danger, and see the evils intended, lest the should look out for redress, and endeavour for a remedy; nothing could be more contrary to the designs of Prerogative, who had formerly blinded their eyes by suppressing preaching, and the Law; and Found their stands, by taking away Property & Liberty, that thus blind fold and bound, they might be carried at pleasure by their stand leaders, till both fell into the ditch. This opening the eyes of the blind, was the sedition and faction of Parliaments; for this, after their former dissolutions, they were always charged to be led by a few dangerously affected persons, pests and vipers: and for this they were dissolved, because they also would not become a grievance, by giving money in the first place, with out redress or speech of their grievances. Thus you see the nature of Prerogative: but it is answered, that the unparallelled Acts of grace granted this Parliament, may justly challenge, not only oblivion of these things past, but confidence for the time to come, that the very nature and judgement of Prerogative is changed. From the good Laws granted this Parliament, this conclusion follows very naturally, that it is happy for the Kingdom when the King concurs with the advice of his Parliament, but I believe it will hardly follow from thence, that Prerogative is regenerate, there was something in the balance of those gracious Grants besides good nature: the presence of the Scotch Army which caused this Parliament, made it act more vigorously whilst it was here, than other Parliaments, but that Army being returned, and the Kingdom of Scotland settled, it was conceived that the tame Kingdom of England, which only Per Antiperistasin, had received a little heat from the North would quickly cool again, and be reduced to its former malleableness. For the better effecting whereof Prerogatives first act was, notwithstanding the rebellion in Ireland and the just fear of Popish Assassinate's, to discharge the Guard of the Parliament, and when they petitioned to have their Guard again, one was set upon them under a Commander they could not confide in, so they chose rather to be without. The next act of Prerogative was, to destroy the whole Parliament, by breaking the bundle, stick after stick, and this was attempted by an assault made upon the House of Commons, with an intent forcibly to have seized some of their Members, under the pretence of an accusation of high Treason, which was so much resented by the Kingdom, that all the Counties of England, though it necessary by numerous Petitions to present the pledges of their public affections to the Parliament, and to declare their unanimous resolutions, to maintain their Privileges, amongst which well-affected people, very many that were near hand, appeared in good numbers, voluntarily to guard the Parliament, some of them with all importunity, crying for Justice, and against Bishops, which last general discontent occasioned the passing some more good Laws for public satisfaction, though now, that Ebullition of public affection is the pretended cause of all our misery, under the name of tumults, which are so mightily declaimed against, and so continually complained of by Prerogative, who was contented to whip the Kingdom till it cried, and now makes that crying, a main argument of deserting the Parliament, and of bringing open force to destroy that, and the Kingdom: and indeed Prerogative had good reason to be incensed against these officious Assemblies; for thereby not only all her designs were made abortive, but all hopes of effecting any thing against the Parliament, in the Southern parts of the Kingdom wholly frustrate; therefore she must retire to a place of strength, where her servants (Fugitives and Traitors to the Parliament, and Kingdom,) may be avowed and protected: and then, for the better effecting a division in the Kingdom, Prerogative gins to withdraw her party from the Parliament; some by especial Letters upon their Allegiance, others for fear of being put out of their Offices and services, under His Majesty. In a word, all the trees were windshaken, and those that were not fast rooted, fell; who though they had stood out all the tumults, without danger or hazard, yet two months after they must withdraw themselves from the Parliament, as Prerogative saith, for fear of tumults, though themselves being summoned to return and give their attendance (according to their duty) in Parliament, allege only His Majesty's command for their absence. After this a journey is pretended into Ireland, that an Army may be raised with less suspicion: then His Majesty (that, in the greatest heat of discontent, went through London hunted at New-market; past through the whole Kingdom, secure and dangerless alone,) in the midst of that dutiful Country of Yorkshire, proposed as a pattern of affection and loyalty to the Kingdom, must have a guard, which now (by the assistance of Papists and Delinquents, at home, and by means of foreign supplies from abroad) is grown a royal Army, not only avowing His Majesty's Servants, but open war, against that traitorous Faction in both Houses of Parliament; and yet His Majesty's soul abhors the very thought of war against his Parliament, and yet the Parliament are now declared abettors of that Faction, against which the war is maintained, and nothing, that will or malice can devise, held bad enough, sufficiently to asperse and blast their proceed. Now after all this, he that can think Prerogatives nature changed, because of a few good words, and fair Protestations, let him think so; and he that will be deceived, let him be deceived; but wisdom is justified of her children: in vain shall we expect figs of thorns, or grapes of thistles; such as the tree is, such the fruit will be. Yet suppose that Prerogative should really intent to perform her Protestations, and engagements to the Kingdom, when this present Faction of both Houses of Parliament is subdued; though no man ought to question His Majesty's personal goodness, yet no man can doubt, but that this Army, thus composed, when it hath mastered the Parliament, will also give Law to His Majesty, as the Roman Army did to the Emperors, after the conquest of the Empire: and then, the question is not, Whether we will trust His Majesty? which no man will question; but whether we will subject ourselves, with the most desired, and best deserving Parliament that ever was, to Papists and Delinquents? But here it is objected: The Parliament is as justly to be blamed, and there lie as clear and manifold Objections against it, as against Prerogative. 1 It endeavours unnecessarily to perpetuate itself. 2 It seeks the alteration of the ancient frame of Government, and the abolition of the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom. 3 It destroys Property and Liberty, as much as ever Prerogative did. 4 They are seduced by a few factious Members, who are wholly transported with private ends and aims. 5 They seek the ruin of the King and his Posterity. To the first: This Parliament endeavours to perpetuate itself unnecessarily. Answ. I do not wonder that Prerogative is impatient of this check, and that it endeavours therefore to cut this Gordian knot, it cannot untie: but why the Parliament should not be infinitely more desirous to be dissolved, then continue, if the Religion, peace, and prosperity of the Kingdom were once throughly settled, no wise man can give a reason. The Prelatical Party proclaim every where, That if the Revenue of the Church be taken away (which is all they fear, though no man endeavours it) Religion and Learning will utterly decay; their very godliness will not stand without gain: and why the Parliament should be so much in love with a gainlesse uncessant labour, I cannot devise. Oh, but every man is ambitious of power. Truly, power in a multitude, where all equally bear the burden, (but the most active carry the most honour) will never be valued by the major part, whose private interests, and care of their family and estates, is nearer and dearer to them, than any other thing whatsoever, after their engagements shall be discharged to God and the public. And therefore that the desired dissolution of this Parliament might be effected, it were much the readier way, to endeavour the settling the distractions of the Kingdom, then by multiplying the dangers, to necessitate the continuance of the Parliament. But to the second Objection: The Parliament seeks the alteration of the ancient frame of government, and the abolition of the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom. Answ. Of the Ecclesiastical Laws and Government it doth, for the reasons given before; and because it ought to obey God rather than man: but for the authority of the civil Magistrate, and the common Law and Justice of the Kingdom, it hath always conformed to them, having never endeavoured any thing without the King's consent, but only to preserve itself and the Kingdom, in such a case: and I doubt not, but this Position of theirs will be found very legal, That the King's Authority, signified by his Courts, (especially by the high Court of Parliament, the representative Body of the Kingdom) is more obligatory to the Kingdom, than his personal Commands, out of his Courts, though his personal Commands are always to be reverenced, when they contradict not those Courts, and the Law: and therefore I assure myself, in conclusion, the loyalty and duty of the Parliament, and of that part of the Kingdom which obeys the Parliament, will be found unblemished. But to the third Objection: The Parliament invades the Property and Liberty of the Subject, as much as ever Prerogative did. An. When I consider, how often, and with how much art Prerogative inculcates this to the people, pretending great affection to them, and much care of their sufferings, together with much displeasure against the Parliament, for their oppression; I look upon this as the main design of Prerogative, to multiply the dangers and miseries of the Kingdom, thereby necessitating the Parliament to lay excessive charges upon the people, that the present sense of evils, which always make deepest impressions in men's minds, might induce the people, whose love lies most in their purses, to desert the Parliament; but the wise will consider, that the searching of a deep wound is more painful than the making of it: yet he that searcheth my wound, to cure me, is more my friend, than he that makes it, only to abuse me, and please himself. This is the true state of the case: Prerogative oppressed the people before the Parliament, for her own pleasure, without any necessity, and laid the foundation of these present evils; the Parliament, at the earnest desire of the people, undertake the cure: and, whilst they might operate without interruption, proceeded in the work, though with much difficulty and charge, yet with much good success, and general satisfaction; settling peace with Scotland, and good Laws in England. But the Jesuitish Adversary, fearing, thereby, our happiness, and their own ruin, stir up that cruel and universal rebellion in Ireland, which might very well put the Parliament into Fears and Jealousies, making them expect whatsoever the malice of hell could inspire into their rage and fury, who in cold blood could contrive a powder-plot. Yet for all this, the Parliament could not obtain a Guard, but instead of that, hath been assaulted, and pursued, with those continual mischievous and wicked plots before recited. And now for the Parliaments taxing the Kingdom, to the twentieth part of their estates, and imprisoning those that oppose, is there not a cause? a just, a manifest, and a necessary cause for it? shall this be called destruction of property and liberty? If the Parliament, entrusted for that purpose, may not employ the estates and persons of the Kingdom, for the necessary defence of itself; then let it be the wisdom of the Kingdom, to preserve themselves a fat, full, and easy prey for their enemies, but by no means to preserve themselves from their enemies: Let the Physician cure his patients, but let not them observe the prescriptions and ordinances of the Physician: let ill humours be purged, but let not the body be weakened: put any impossibilities upon the Houses of Parliament; let them be accused of infidelity, if they do not their best to deliver us: and let them be accused of oppression, if they do their best to deliver us. The Parliament hath a very happy time of it to serve such humours, and receive such encouragements: but the blessing of the Saints on earth is upon them, their way is with God, and their reward in heaven. As for those that repine at this charge, Sodom and Gomorrah, Rome and Antichrist, at the last day shall rise up in judgement against them, and shall condemn them. For, the Popish party spare for no cost, stick at no danger, venture all, both estates and life, for the Catholic cause: but we had rather our Religion, and all that's dear unto us, should be submitted to their cruel mercy, then contribute the twentieth part of our estates for our own deliverance. And thus much for the third Objection. For the fourth: Their factious leaders are carried with private ends and aims. Ans. Certainly, whatsoever their ends are, they that accuse them, are not so much of their counsel, as to know their ends; and as sure it is; they might have attained their private aims, (if they have any) much more speedily, by deserting the public, as others have done, then by adhering to it, as they do: but whatsoever their ends and aims be, we will leave that to God and their own consciences; let their ends be what they will, the Houses of Parliament have no relations to them, or dependence upon them, that they should serve their ends, if at any time they consent to their opinion; they are convinced by public reasons, and it very well beseems the honour of a Parliament, that he who speaks most reason, should rule the Parliament: I never heard that it was any disparagement, to the Apostles, and Church assembled in the first Synod, that they all submitted to the sentence of S. James, and out of his opinion framed the first Canons of the Church. The fifth objection is, They seek the ruin and destruction of the King and his Posterity. To that the Parliament answers, That the force they employ, to recover him and his children again out of the hands of those wicked Counselors; who have seduced him away from his Parliament and Kingdom, is a service to the King; as dutiful and loving, as it would be to endeavour the redemption of him by force, if he and his children were taken prisoners by Turkish Pirates, and detained by force. And for the hazard of His Majesty's Person, and his Princely Children at Keinton Battle, had it been in the power of the Parliaments forces to have kept them out of the danger of that Battle, as it was in the power of that Army about the King, they would not have suffered him or his children to have ventured an hair of their heads. But perhaps the leaders of that Army will say, the King's resolutions were so strongly set, and his commands so peremptory, that they could not keep him from the Battle. Fidelity never made such a plea. To compel the King for his safety, is more loyalty, then to obey him for his destruction: therefore the danger of the King's life, that day, and of his children's, let it lie (as it ought) upon that destructively obedient Army, which might have kept them from that hazard, and would not. But it is objected further: 1. The Houses of Parliament are favourers of Brownists and Anabaptists. 2. They have promised the Papists to repeal all the Laws-established against them, if they will join on their side. 3. Their reformation, will be a deformation. 4. They reject the Book of Common Prayer. 5. They differ so much amongst themselves, that if they had their own minds, they know not what they would have. These Objections are with so much art and cunning interweaved in the several Declarations and Libels of the Prerogative-partie, and with so much confidence affirmed, that a man who knows assuredly the contrary, must have a good resolution, if he be not outfaced in his own knowledge: yet take these Objections nakedly, as they are summed up here together: how contradictory are they in themselves? how impossible some of them, how scandalous all? the very likeliest of them bare surmises, and prophetical conjectures: nevertheless let the people be ensnared by them and it is enough. But certainly, if the Prerogative penmen did themselves believe them, they would put it to an issue, by procuring the Parliament their desired Synod, and then it would evidently appear, what the persons are the Parliament affects, what opinions they incline to, and what reformation they intent. But I fear their consciences misgive them; the womb of this intended birth being declared to be the Word of God, the fruit can be nothing but the child of truth, and therefore the surest way is to hinder the birth, and in the mean time make the people believe, the Parliament is in labour of a Moon-Calfe. But the Houses declare their intentions clearly enough, to satisfy any honest man. 1 They say it is safer for Religion, that we concur with other Protestant Churches in point of Discipline, then with the Papists, and it will beget a stronger mutual confidence between us and them. 2 They do and have declared against the pressing of indifferent Ceremonies, (though established by Law) upon weak consciences. And hereby let all the world judge, whether their proceed in all these things, be not pious, and moderate, and such as may be expected, from the representative Body of the Kingdom of England. And now, O England, why haltest thou between two opinions? If Prerogative be turned thy friend, cleave to Prerogative: if the Parliament be turned thy enemy, desert the Parliament: nothing will sooner destroy thee, than this thy neutrality. I have declared unto thee my sense of both: the judgement is thine, resolve wisely and speedily: which soever thou choosest, it is either life, or death; God direct thee in thy choice, as may be most for his glory: for my part, I think the Parliament may justly take up this ensuing complaint, against all those that withdraw their confidence from them. Parl. We have forsaken father and mother, wife and children, houses and lands, for the Gospels' sake and yours; we daily spend ourselves, decay our healths, venture our lives, for your service: for your sakes we have walked craggy paths, and not been wearied: the Lion hath roared against us, and we have not been terrified: mountains of opposition have been heaped one upon another, in our way, like Pelion upon Ossa, and we have not been discouraged. For your sakes we are cursed, reproached, killed all the day long, and yet for all this we complain not: That only which breaks our heart is, that you, even you, for whom we have done and suffered all these things; that you, I say, should grudge to assist us, murmur against us, revile and hats us. God knows, we desire your good, as our own souls, and all this unkindness of yours is not sufficient to turn our hearts from you, but we stand still, resolved to spend, and be spent for you, though the more we love you, the less we be beloved of you: God knows, we have no other intention, but for your good, to take away the dross from the silver, Tradition from the Church, and wicked persons from the King: that the Worship of God may be established in purity, and the throne of the King in righteousness; for the effecting whereof, we know no other way, but that. His Majesty (according to his own Proposition) follow the example of Queen Elizabeth, not in maintaining Prelates, but in esteeming Parliaments: She accounted them the Representative Body of the Kingdom, not a Faction: She sought their loves, not their lives: She called them often together, only to see her good people, and to inquire of their grievances, that she might redress them, and when return was made, Omnia bene, and then Subsidies given, she refused their thank-offering, saying, I seek not yours, but you. Then the blessing of God went along with the justice of the Prince, and the dutiful obedience of the People waited as a handmaid upon the eye of her Mistress: The love of Parliaments was that, and that only (under God) which made the times of Q. Elizabeth happy: and the contempt of, and opposition against Parliaments, is that, and that only, (the secret judgements of God for our sins, being left to God) which is the visible cause of all our miseries. Therefore O King and People, if ye desire to attain the happiness of blessed Queen Elizabeth, and her prosperous times, observe but this one precept, Confide in Parliaments. FINIS.