Letter and Proposals to King Charles
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A91208.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
Mr. Pryns Letter AND PROPOSALS, TO Our Gracious Lord and Sovereign King Charles: AND His Majesty's Gracious Resolves to all His Loving Subjects, of what Degree or Quality soever.
Published for general Satisfaction.
London, Printed for Nathaniel Cotes, 1660.
Mr. Pryns Letter TO His Sacred Majesty King Charles. AND His Majestes Gracious Declaration thereupon.
F Orasmuch, as there hath been many Objections, Excuses, and Pretences, purposely made to justify, extenuate or excuse the drinking of Healths, notwithstanding the odious, sinful & unheal • hful drinking thereof; It was judged meet to publish Mr. Pryns Dedicatory Letter to his Majesty (annexed to his Compendious Discourse, called, Healths-Sickness ) prefixed in these words;
To the most High and Mighty Prince, Charles By the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, &c.
Most Gracious and Dread Sovereign,
THe Reasons which swayed and imboldened me to Dedicate so small a Pamphlet unto so great a Patron as your Majesty were chiefly these.
First, Because your Highness in regard of these infinite and many Healths, which are daily caroused in your Royal Name throughout the Kingdom, and elsewhere, are more interested in the Theme and Subject of this compendious Discourse, then any other that I know.
In that your sacred Health, your Name, your Crown, and Dignity, by means of Healths, are made the daily Table-complement, Grace, and first salute of every jovial Courtier, and chief Allegiance of every petty Corporation, Court or Country-Officer; the phrase and valor of every deboist and roaring Soldier; the Livery and Table, Buttery and Cellar-talk of every good-fellow-serving-man; the first ingredient of every Drunkards cup; the first pot-service of every great or mean man's table; the only Raign or Poll-axe to assault, to force, and overcome the Sobriety and temperance of all true-hearted, real, practical, and blessed Christians, who make a conscience of excess (because the Scripture doth condemn it;) the chief alective Bait, or Stratagem, to draw men unto Drunkenness; and the only Protection and Patronage to justify and bear out the intemperance and riot of all such who deemed Excess and Drunkenness, a Virtue, and no Sin at all (at least but venial) if your Majesty's Health occasion it. And is not this a great affront, indignity, and Dishonor to your Majesty, that your Sacred health, your name, and Royal Crown should be thus profaned and banded up and down in every Drunkards mouth, in every Cup and Can; in every Tavern, Taphouse, Hall or Cellar; that every degenerous, infamous, and stigmatical Belialist, every deboist and brutish Pot-companion, should so far debase and undervalue them; as to prostitute them to their swinish sins and lusts.
Secondly, as Healths do thus dishonor, so they do likewise prejudice and wrong your Sacred Majesty in two respects.
First, In merging and quenching the fervency of prayers, turning them into profane, hellish Healths; the only means to draw down Curses and Diseases, yea Woes and fatal Judgments on King and Kingdom deeming it a greater breach of Allegiance not to pledge your Majesty's Health then not to pray for it.
Secondly, By interesting and engaging your Majesty in the excess and Drunkenness of many others; Your Name being made a party to it; Four Health an occasion, Apology or justification of it.
Thirdly, Because none is so able in respect of • and Power, none more obliged in regard of Duty, To purge these Hydropical noxious and superfluous humors, and unhealthy Healths, out of the Body of our State and Kingdom, now so distempered and over-charged by them.
Your Majesty's loyal and humble Subject, WIL: PRYNNE.
At the beginning of his incomparable Book, He urgeth many solid Arguments against drinking of Healths; proving it to be a vain, Carnal, Heathenish, and Foolish Custom; and that which is against the Rules of Charity and Justice; so that it must needs be sinful and utterly unlawful, because it is a violation of the Law of God, of Man, and Nature, &c.
And whereas his Gracious Majesty having set forth a Proclamation, prohibiting the spending of time in Taverns, Tipling-houses, and Debauches, further Care is now taken to prevent all such Riotings, and infamous Actions.
And whereas several Gentlemen at such times, have entered upon private quarrels, by Duel & single Combat, upon slight, and, which ought not to be, upon any provocation, His Majesty out of his pious care to prevent unchristian and rash effusion of Blood, hath set forth a Proclamation, strictly charging and commanding all loving Subjects of what quality soever, That neither they, by themselves, nor by others either by Message, Word, Writing or other ways or means, challenge or cause to be challenged any person or persons to fight in Combat or single Duel; nor carry, accept or conceal any such challenge or appointment, nor actually fight such Duel with any of his Majesty's Subjects, or others; or as a Second, or otherwise, accompany or become Assistant therein. And His Majesty hath further declared, That every person or persons who shall offend contrary to his Majesty's express Command, shall nor only incur his highest displeasure, but thereby become incapable of holding or entertaining either Office or Employment in his Majesty's Service, and never afterwards be permitted to come into his Court or Presence. And further, He or They to suffer such other pains and punishments, as the Law shall inflict, upon Offences of that horrid Nature.