The True Good Old Cause

The true Good Old Cause rightly stated, and the False un-cased.

W Hen the wilely Gibeonites attempted to circumvent Joshua and the Israelites, and draw them into a League with them, against God's express inhibition, they accomplished their design with this Stratageme, by carrying along with them, old Sacks, old rent Wine-bottles, old Shooes and Garments, and old dry mouldy bread and provisions to the Israelites Camp at Gilgal; which they alleged were all new on the day they came forth from their Country, but were all become old by reason of their very far journey, which they believing, without examination, were insuared by them.

This policy hath for many years past been pursued by Jesuits and other Gibeonites of Rome, to circumvent over-credulous Protestants to enter into a holy League with them to the shipwreck of their Faith and Souls, by crying up their new Superstitions, Relics, Errors, for the only old Religion, and decrying the ancient Protestant Religion as a late Novelty first broached by Luther and Calvin. Whether this be not the present stratagem of some of their Instruments, or Fraternity, to engage the Soldiers to join in a new confederacy with them, to bring our old Religion, Government, Parliaments, Laws, liberties to speedy desolation, & irecoverable destruction, under the disguise of maintaining the good old Cause, is not unworthy their strictest inquisition and most serious consideration, which will be evidently demonstrated to them by discovering the only true original Good Old Cause, Grounds, Ends, drawing the Houses of Parliament to raise and continue the Armies under their successive Generals; most clearly, fully, and truly expressed in their own Votes, Orders, Ordinances, Declarations year after year, printed at large in two distinct Volumes for Edward Husbands 1643. and 1646. by order of the Commons assembled in Parliament; which being almost quite forgotten, it will be both seasonable and necessary to refresh the memories, and awaken the stupid, if not seared Consciences of the Nation, with a recital of the chiefest of them, to countermine the new plots of all seducing Gibeonites.

The first Original of the unhappy breach between the late King and our long Parliament, was his coming personally into the Commons House to demand the five Members, 4 January 1641. whom the day before he had impeacbed of High Treason, and sent a Sergeant at Arms to apprehend: This breach of Privilege induced the Houses to require the power of the Militia to be at their disposal, for the safeguard of their Persons and Privileges: which being denied by the King, who condescended to it very far, but not in that latitude as demanded; soon after the King departing from the Parliament, and setting on foot the Commission of Array for his defense against the Parliament, and the Parliament raifing the Militia for their safeguard against the King, this first engaged them by degrees in a civil bloody war against each other, ending in their mutual destruction by the very new Militia they contested for, as their only security against each other.

The sole Cause, Grounds, Ends of the Parliaments raising the Militia, and after that an Army, are thus fully declared by the Lord's and Commons, in their Propositions for bringing in Plate and Money, Horse, Horsemen, and Arms for the defense of the King and both Houses of Parliament, printed and published by order of the Lord's and Commons, 10 Junii 1642. Whereas it appears the King, (seduced by wicked Counsel) intends to make war against his Parl. and in pursuance thereof, under pretence of raising a Guard for his person, hath actually begun to levy forces both horse and foot, &c. so as the orders of Parliament, which is the highest Court of Justice in this Realm, are not obeyed, and the authority thereof is altogether scorned and vilified, and such persons as stand well-affected to it, & declare themselves sensible of these public calamities, and of the violations of the Privileges of Parliament, and common liberty of the subjects, are bafsled and injured by several sorts of malignant men who are about the King; some whereof, under the name of Cavaliers, without having respect to the Laws of the Land, or any fear either of God, or man, are ready to commit all manner of outrage and violence, which must needs tend to the dissolution of this Government, the destroying of our Religion, Laws, Liberty and property; all which must be exposed to the malice and violence of such desperate persons as must he employed in so horrid and unnatural an act, as the overthrowing of a Parliament by force, which is the support and preservation of them. All which being duly considered by the Lord's and Commons, and how great an obligation lies upon them, in honor, conscience and duty, according to the high trust reposed in them, to use all possible means in such case, for the timely prevention of so great and irrecoverable evils; they have thought fit to publish their sense and apprehension of this imminent danger, thereby to excite all well-affected persons to contribute their best assistance, according to their Solemn Vow and Protestation, to the preparations necessary for the opposing and suppressing of the traiterous Attempts of those wicked and malignant Counselors, who seek to engage the King in so wicked and destructive an Enterprise, and to destroy the Privileges and Being of Parliaments.

1. They the said Lord's and Commons do declare; That whosoever shall bring in any proportion of Money or Plate, or shall underwrite to furnish or maintain any number of Horse Horsemen, or Arms, for the preservation of the public peace, and for the defense of the King, and both Houses of Parliament from Force and Violence, and to uphold the Power and Privileges of Parliament, according to his Protestation: it shall be held a good and acceptable Service to the Commonwealth, and a Testimony of his good affection to the Protestant Religion▪ the Laws, Liberties and Peace of this kingdom▪ and to the Parliament and Privileges thereof.

And lastly it is declared, That whatsoever is brought in shall not at all be employed upon any other occasion, than to the purposes aforesaid, which are; To maintain the Protestant Religion, the Kings authority, and his person in his Royal Dignity, the free course of Justice, the Laws of the Land, the Peace of the Kingdom, and the Privileges of Parliament, against any force that shall oppose them: And this by direction of Both Houses of Parliament.

Here you have the Good Old Cause truly, clearly and fully stated by both Houses of Parliament in every particular branch thereof, when they first engaged themselves, all the well-affected people of the kingdom, and Army in it, as they published to all the world in these their Propositions. Which how diametrically contrary it is in every branch to the misstaken Good old cause, now cried up and prosecuted with an high hand, & to the late practices, proceedings, counsels, papers, designs of those, who were first raised, commissioned by the Parliament for its just defense, yet are at last degenerated into the greatest Apostates from, and violentest enemies against it; their own consciences can best resolve, and the blindest eyes most clearly discern.

These Propositions were seconded with a Declaration of the Lord's and Commons to the same effect, printed and published by their Order, 5 Iulii 1642. in pursuance whereof July 12. the Commons House passed and published these Votes: Resolved upon the Question, That an Army shall be forthwith raised, for the safety of the Kings Person, the Defense of Both Houses of Parliament, and of those who have obeyed their Orders and commands, and preserving of the true Religion, the Laws, Liberty and Peace of the Kingdom: That the Earl of Essex shall be the General: That in this Cause, for the Safety of the Kings person, defense of both Houses of Parliament, and of those who have obeyed their Orders and commands, and preserving of the true Religion, the Laws, Liberty and Peace of the kingdom, they will live and die with the Earl of Essex, whom they have nominated General in this Cause. That a Petition should be framed, to move his Majesty to a good accord with his Parliament, to prevent a civil War. Which Petition and Votes were presented to the Lord's; who returned Answer; They did concur with the House of Commons, in omnibus.

After this the Lord's and Commons in their (b) Ordinances of 14 Martii 1642. and 3 August 1643. for the speedy raising and levying of money for the maintenance of the Army raised by the Parliament, and sundry other Ordinances, whiles the Earl of Essex was General, did declare; That the only Causes for which they have raised and do continue an Army and forces, are the necessary defense of the true Protestant Religion, of themselves and the Parliament from violence and destruction, of this kingdom from foreign Invasion, and bringing notorious offenders to condign punishment, the preservation of the Laws and Liberties of this kingdom, and the Kings person. And the Earl of Essex himself, in his Proclamation to prevent plundering, the 24. of April 1643. as he stiles himself, Captain General of the Army, raised and employed for the defense of the Protestant Religion, King, Parliament and Kingdom; So he declares, That this Army is raised for the defense of the King, Parliament, and kingdom, the preservation of God's true Religion, and the just rights and liberties of the Subjects from violence and oppression.

The year next following, when the Scottish forces were called and brought in for our assistance to join with the English Army and Forces; the self same Good Old Cause in every branch thereof was avowed and espoused by them, and no other, as both Houses of Parliament and the Scots themselves declared to all the world in several printed Ordinances, Declarations, Remonstrances, and in the Solemn league and Covenant, which the Officers and Soldiers of both Armies, as well as Members of the Parliaments of both Kingdoms, and all well-affected persons in England, Scotland, and Ireland, generally subscribed in a most cheerful, public, and sacred manner: yea Oliver Cromwell himself (both as a Member and Lieutenant General) being the 40th. Member who subscribed it.

The command of the Parliaments forces and Army, being afterwards translated from the Earl of Essex to Sir Thomas Fairfax, by an Ordinance of the Lord's and Commons in Parliament, 15 Febr. 1644. for raising and maintaining the forces under his command: both Houses ordained, That there be forthwith raised and armed for the defense of the King and Parliament, the true Protestant Religion, and the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom,, an Army consisting of 6600 Horse, 4000 Dragooners, and 14400 Foot, under the immediate command of Sir Thomas Fairfax Knight, who is hereby constituted Commander in chief of all the forces raised by this Ordinance, and shall from time to time be subject to such Orders and Directions as he shall receive from time to time from both Houses of Parliament, or from the Committee of both Kingdoms. And it is further provided by this Ordinance, that all Commanders and Officers that shall be employed in this Army, and to be approved by both Houses of Parliament, and all the common Soldiers of this Army shall take the National League and Covenant of both Kingdoms, within 20 days after they be listed in the said Army; and that all such who shall refuse the said Solemn League and Covenant, shall upon such their refusal be displaced, and shall not be admitted into any Office or command in the said Army, until they shall have taken the said Solemn League and Covenant, in such form as is there prescribed, and such their conformity approved of by both Houses of Parliament. In the Ordinance of the Lord's and Commons assembled in Parliament, for the speedy raising and impressing of men for the recruiting the forces under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, 27 Febr, 1644. They declared, Forasmuch as the true Protestant Religion, the Laws and Liberties of the Subject were in danger to be subverted, Idolatry, and tyranny, like to be introduced by the force and power of several armies raised by pretence of the Kings authority, &c. Be it therefore ordained by the Lord's and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Committee of the Militia for the City of London, the Deputy Lieutenants and Committees of Parliament in every County, City, or place within the Realm, shall from time to time raise, leavy, and imprest such number of Soldiers, Gunners, and Surgeons, for the defense of the King, Parliament, and Kingdom as shall be appointed by both Houses of Parliament, the Committee of both Kingdoms, or by Sir Thomas Fairfax. The like recitals of this Good Old Cause, and ends for which this Army under him and others was raised, are used in other Ordinances, If this be not sufficient evidence, that Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the General Counsel of the Officers and Army under him took up Arms, and engaged only for this Good Old Cause and ends, and none else, thus declared by both Houses of Parliament, the very title of their several Remonstrances, and Declarations penned by themselves, printed by their own order in one Collection, London 1647 will resolve the world, themlelves, and all other Soldiers since incorporated into the Army past all contradiction, being thus entitled, A Declaration of the Engagements, Remonstrances, Representations, Proposals, Desires, and Refolutions from his Excellency Sir Tho. Fairfax and the General Council of the Army, for settling his Majesty in his just Rights, the Parliament in their just Privileges, and the Subject in their liberties and freedoms. Also Representations of the Grievances of the Kingdom, and remedies propounded for removing the present pressures (by Taxes and Excises): And the resolution of the Army, for the estab • ishing of a firm and lasting peace, in Church and Kingdom. This being the Title, sum of all their Engagements, Remonstrances, Representations, Proposals, Resolutions, it is superfluous to recite all the particular passages in them tending to these ends: only it will not be unseasonable to remind them of this one passage in their Declaration of Septenber 9. 1647. concerning the fundamental authority and government of the Kingdom, p. 250. 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 and force of the Sword, (the only Good Old Cause now cried up by some in deeds if not in words) we therefore the said General Counsel, to testify how far our hearts and minds are from any design of setting up the power of the Sword above or against the authority & government of the Kingdom, and our readiness to maintain and uphold the said Adthority, have by a free Vote in the said Counsel, (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 and disavowing such Principles or practices (yet now revived, practiced.)

This being the right State of the true Good Old cause, and only ends for which all the Forces, Armies, under the forenamed or any other Generals since, were first raised, Commissioned, and hitherto maintained, continued, at the people's vast expense, as both Houses of Parliament; the Kingdoms, Parliaments of England, Scotland, the Generals, Officers, and General Councils of the Army themselves, have thus from time to time remonstrated in print to all the world, yea ratified by the Protestation, the sacred Vow and Covenant, the National League and Covenant, with othersacred Oaths and Obligations, obliging them faithfully, constantly, and sincerely to defend, maintain & persevere therein all the days of their lives; and to promote the same to their power against all Oppositions, Lets and Impediments whatsoever according to their power, without suffering themselves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination, persuasion or terror, to be divided, withdrawn or make defection from the same. Which Covenants, Vows, Protestations, they professed they all made in the presence of Almighty God, the searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the same.

If there be any other Cause now or lately espoused by any Members of Parliament, Officers, Soldiers, English, Scots, Irish, of what ever condition, Sect, or party, inconsistent with, or repugnant, destructive to this good old Cause, or any branch thereof; it cannot without an apparent contradiction, absurdity, & falsehood, be styled; either A Good or Old, much less, The Good Old Cause, for which the Parliament, Army, Soldiers, kingdom, or any others adhering to them, first took up arms, and so long engaged in; but rather a Bad, a New unrighteous Cause, or Gunpowder-plot, originally contrived and secretly fomented by Popish Emissaries, Jesuits, & their seduced Disciples: Or a Good cause, only as War is styled good, Bellum, quasi Belluinum, or minime Bonum: And Old only in these respects, (if conscientiously examined by any who shall either promote or engage in it) Because it proceeds originally from the Old Serpent, and Dragon, the Devil, (a seducer, liar, murderer from the beginning; the spirit who now rules in the Children of Disobedience, to engage them in this cause:) Because it suits with, and proceeds, issues from the Old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, which they have not yet crucified, nor put off with his deeds, after all their Fastings, Humiliations, Prayers; Because it strongly relisheth of the Old leaven of malice and wickedness, which they have not yet purged out, that they might be a new lump, and is carried on with a despiteful and revengeful heart, (to destroy, whatever they formerly engaged to preserve as the true good old cause) because of the Old Hatred: Because they perceive, that this new pretended good Cause they have set up and pursued, now decayeth, and waxeth Old, and is ready to vanish away; unless they put all their might, and the strength of the whole Army to support it. Because, it is the old Way which wicked men, (the old Gunpowder Traitors) have formerly trodden; which were cut down out of time; whose foundation was overflown with a flood: Or finally, because it was first set on foot and promoted, by certain men crept in unawares (into the Army and Nation from Jesuitical Seminaries, & J. Leydons) who were before o • Old ordained to this condemnatiō; ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ at lestwise in their works, (as Jude and Paul inform us by an unerring divine Spirit) being abominable, Disobedient (to all their lawful Superiors, and Parliaments themselves) and to every good work reprobate; Yea, lovers of their own selves, covetous, proud, boasters, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unboly, without natural affection, Truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God: Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: who have made these last days of ours perilous times, as St. Paul of old predicted. If then the false good OLD CAUSE lately and now cried up and prosecuted, upon serious Inquisition of any already engaged, or solicited to engage therein, shall upon St. Bernard's threefold inquiry, An liceat, an deceat, an expediat (which every Christian ought to make into every Action, before he undertake it) clearly appear to be the old, and The good Old Cause, only in these respects; which render it most desperately Wicked, Ill, and New, totally inconsistent with, professedly repugnant to, subversive of that real good Old Cause, wherein they first engaged: nere truly stated: Let all Officers, Soldiers of the Army, and others who have any remainders of Conscience, Ingenuity, Honesty, or endeared affections left in them to the Peace, Welfare, Safety, Settlement, fundamental Laws, Government, Parliaments, Liberties, Weal, Prosperity of our endangered, shaken, subverted Church, State, Parliaments; eternally renounce this Spurious Imposture, and Gibeoni • ish stratagem, inevitably to destroy them all: And remember the genuine, true, Good Old Cause here rightly stared, from whence they have fallen and repent, and do their first works, lest Christ come upon them quickly, and remove both them, their and our Candlestick out of its place, except they and we repent. And let all such Commanders, Officers of the Army, and their Confederates, who against their Commissions, Trusts, Duties, Covenants, Declarations, and Solemn Engagements, first mutinied the Army against the Houses, & Members of Parliament, for the defense of whose Persons, Privileges, and Session they were principally raised; and secluded, secured the Members, dissolved both Houses, and the Parliament itself, one after another: and have since been kept and thrust out of the Parliament House, secured, dissolved themselves by their Fellow-Officers, and Soldiers, directly or indirectly, several times; now seriously consider, How God hath scourged them with their own blackrod, and president of Disobedience, & taken them in their own snare: That ( Adonibezeck-like) as they have done to others, so God hath requited them, & recompensed unto them the deed they did to us. That with the same measure they meeted to others, it hath been, and shall be measured to them again. If any of them, or their Confederates, have an ear to hear, let him hear this further irreversible Decree of the immutable God, and Sovereign Judge of all the Earth, Rev. 13. 10. He that leadeth into Captivity, shall go into Captivity. He that killeth with the sword, shall be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and Faith of the Saints. And if any engaged in the new fictitious, against the real true good old Cause, believe and tremble not at the consideration thereof, he hath neither the faith nor patience of the Saints, though he usurp and engross the name of a Saint to himself: & shall find it experimentally verified in conclusion; as many others have already done, who • ow like Fools repent too late, of what is past their skill and power to redress.