Against the New Oath and Engagement
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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
Summary Reasons against the New OATH & ENGAGEMENT.
AND An Admonition to all such as have already Subscribed it.
WITH A Cautionarie Exhortation to all Honest English Spirits, to avoid the danger of Perjurie by taking of it.
PROVERBS. 24. 21. 22.
My Son, fear thou the Lord, and the King: and meddle not with them that are given to change.
For their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruin of them both.
PRINTED in the year 1649.
Summary Reasons against the New Oath and Engagement.
YOU shall Swear, [or] I Declare and Promise, That I will be True and Faithful to the Common-wealth of England, as the same is now Established WITHOUT KING OR HOUSE OF LORD'S.
FIRST, This Oath and Engagement is imposed by those who, by the Laws of God and the Realm, had never any Power (admit them a full and free House of Commons, under no Force, as they are not) to Administer, much less to Make or Impose any Oath in any Case. Cooks 3. Institut. p. 165. and less Authority then the Bishops and Clergy in Convocation, who made the &c Oath, not so bad as this; adjudged high-Treason in Canterburies Case, for which he lost his head: Canterburies Doome p. 26. 40. though not so bad as this.
Secondly, It is contrary to all the ancient Oaths of our Judges, Justices of Peace, Mayors, Sheriffs, Recorders, Clerks of Chancery and other courts of Justice: To the Oaths of Fealty and Homage, made by all the Kings Tenants: The ancient and late Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance; the Vow and Protestation; the solemn League and Covenant, and Engagement of the whole Kingdom to the King, his Heirs Successors, and Posterity forever, to defend their undoubted Right to the Crown with the last drop of their Bloods, contained in the Statutes of 1. Jacobi cap. 1. 2. and involves the Makers and Takers thereof, in manifold execrable perjuries; to the scandal of our Religion, Nation, [a] Dishonor and high Displeasure of God, and just damnation of their Souls.
Thirdly, It is a new Gunpowder-Treason, blowing up the King and his Posterity, Monarchy, the House of Lord's, the Constitution and Privileges of our English Parliaments, our ancient fundamental Government, Laws, Liberties, and our three Kingdoms at one crack; the very same and far worse then that of the Jesuits and Papists, condemned by the Statutes of 3. Jacobi cap. 1. 2. 4. executing far more then what they intended, and quite deleting the Infamy and memory of that, and all future celebration of that joyful day of November 5. never to be forgotten.
Fourthly, It disseiseth, disinheriteth, fore-judgeth the King of his Rightfull Crown and Revenues, the House of Lord's of their Peerage, Privileges, and the undoubted Rights our English Parliament and Kingdom of their very Liberties and beings; un-Kinging, un-Lording, un-Parliamenting, un-Kingdoming them all at once, without once summoning and bringing them to Answer by any legal Processe, to hear what they can say for themselves, and without any lawful Judgment of their Peers according to the Law of the Land, contrary to the express Letter of Magna Charta • . E. 3. c. 9. 25. E, 3. c. 4. 28. E. 3. c. 3. 37, E. 3. c. 18. 42. E. 3. c. 3. and the Petition of Right; yea debarres these Ministers, Officers, Lawyers, Students, from their Augmentations, Callings, Offices, Preferments and Degrees, who Refuse or Neglect to Subscribe it; contrary to all these Statutes and the Law of the Land, without any hearing or Trial; the extremity of Tyranny and Injustice; transcending that of King, Prelates, Star-Chamber or High-Commission.
Fifthly, It inevitably involves the Makers, Takers and Subscribers thereof in manifold High -Treasons against King, Kingdom, Parliament, for some of which only in a far lower Degree, Strafford, Canterbury and many others have lost their Heads, as you may read in Master St. John 's Argument against Strafford, and Sir Edward Cooks 3. Institutes cap. 1. 2. to the forfeiture of their Lives, Estates, Souls; yea, Infamy and Ruin of their Families.
Sixthly, It enjoins us to be True and Faithful to the new Common-wealth of England (the General Council of Officers of the Army; the new created Council of State, and their Westminster Conclave of Journey-men) as it is now Established WITHOUT KING OR LORD'S (without consent of Kingdom, People or Parliament) by force of Arms, Treachery, Perjury, &c that is, to assist and defend them with our Lives, Councils, Estates, and to submit to all their (illegal) Acts and Taxes (to the loss of Lives, Liberties, Properties against the Kings or Lord's just Titles; and our own Laws, Liberties, Byrth-Rights; which to do, is not only contrary to Law (since no Homage or Fealty is due from any Subject, whatsoever, to other Subject, but to the King alone, and with a saving of that Faith which he owes to our Sovereign Lord the King, and that only where there is a legal Tenure between them, as Sir Edward Cook Resolves, 1. Institutes f. 64. 65. 67. 68.) but no less then High-Treason within the Statute of 25. E. 3. c. 2. as he Resolves in his 3. Institut. c. 1, and therefore unreasonable and Treasonable for such as are True and Faithful neither to King, Lord's, Parliament, Kingdom or People, to exact or expect from any others.
Seventhly, It most ingratefully and unworthily obliterates the memorial of all the good Laws, Liberties, Franchises, Protection, Benefits, Deliverances we have received, and the Peace, Prosperity, Freedom and Happiness, We and our Ancestors have enjoyed under the Reignes of most Generous, Valorous, Bountiful, Pious, Religious Kings and Queens (especially our late renowned King, Edward the sixth, Queen Elizabeth, King James, and a great part of King Charles his Reign, which the Parliaments in their Reigns in sundry Acts, our own & foreign Historians and Writers have so highly magnified and blessed God for; and our very last Parliament remembered and thankfully acknowledged in some of their Remonstrances, of which we need no other testimony but our Kings & Coronation Oath; in extirpating Kings and Monarchy forever after, for some confessed extravagancies and Errors of the beheaded King, not half so grievous, oppressive, unjust or impious, as those themselves are guilty of, especially in Repealing as much as in them lies the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, and the solemn League and Covenant (the principal Bullwarks against the Pope and Papists encroachments) and imposing this new Oath and Engagement, against the very Letter, Scope of these and sundry other just and ancient Oaths, and forcing it against men's Consciences, to make them willfully perjured and damn their Souls.
Eighthly; The main end of this Oath is to extinguish, irradicate our English Monarchy and Kingship; though the Government of God himself over the whole World, and of our Savior Jesus Christ over his Church, who have the Titles of King of Kings, &c. so frequently given them in Scripture, though the first, ancientest, universallest, honorablest, freeest, best, happiest, safest, peaceablest, durablest Government of all others in the World; as the Scripture, Histories, Politicians and Divines accord: That Government under which all the Inhabitants of this Isle, since it was first Peopled, have ever lived, flourished; continuing unalterable in all Changes and Successions of those Nations which have invaded, peopled, or Conquered it, as best and most agreeable and pleasing to the People: That of which we have so long experience, and enjoyed the happiest, freest, peaceablest and most Religious we are ever like to see; that which is established, ratified with so many sacred Oaths, Laws, Vowes, Acts, Records and Fences of all sorts that Piety or Policy could invent, that Impiety, Impudence and Treachery it self might justly fear to invade it; and honored with such signal preservations and deliverances, in the Persons of Querne Elizabeth and King James, specified in our Annals, and some Acts of Parliament, as might daunt all Traitors from attempting its subversion; and all to introduce a Lowe-Country Government, under as many Kings and Tyrants, as there are new Lord's, Officers, Soldiers, supported by a numerous standing Army, and constant Garrisons in all Counties; which must be maintained at the Kingdoms and Peoples charge by a Perpetual Excise so much declamed against in the King, who did only once secretly attempt, (but not impose it) great arbitrary Monthly Contributions, renewed and augmented at our new Governors mere pleasures (who both impose, receive and dispose thereof as they please) and levy it by mere force of Arms (reputed Treason in Strafford's Case, and a levying War against the King and Kingdom ) and that accompanied with the undoing pest of Free Quarter, upon every March, or pretence of Arreares, or Pay: And what happy free new State and Government this will prove (the very best all rational men must expect, being supportable only by a perpetual Army, Garrisons, Excise, Contributions, &c. as the Low-Countries are) to justle out our ancientest Monarchy in the World, under which we were freed from all Armies, Garrisons, Excise, Contributions, Free-Quarter, and fears of Forraigne Invasions, which now affright us, granting only a Subsidy or two in devers years, only by Acts of Parliament, to which all consented (wherein the Commons never presumed to Tax the Lord's and Clergy at their pleasure, as they now unjustly do, without their own free consents) amounting not to one Moneths Excise and Contribution in many years; let all men judge bebefore they take or subscribe this new Oath and Engagement to abolish the one which was so easy, and erect the other, which must of necessity prove so grievous.
Ninthly, It will really verifiy and make good all the late King's Declarations and Remonstrances against the proceedings of the late Houses of Parliament; wherein He prophetically and frequently charged them (or rather a few Factious and ambitious discontented spirits, that over-swayed and seduced them, under the specious pretences OF RELIGION and LIBERTY) with a Trayterous RESOLUTION and DESIGNE to alter, destroy, dissolve, shake, and rent in pieces the whole frame and constitution of this Kingdom, so admirably framed and continued by the blessing of God and the wisdom of our Ancestors to the wonder and envy of all the Neigbouring Kingdoms. To turn the well founded Monarchy into a Democarcy: To ruin Monarchy it self and Regal Power, never before stricken at, To Depose, Murder, and Destory both Himself and His Royal Posterity, and Dissolve His Government and Authority. To alter and subvert the ancient Frame, Constitution, and Government of Church, State, Parliament, and Fundamental Laws, Liberties of the Kingdom and People▪ To destroy the house of Lord's▪ and the Privileges, Rights and Freedom of our Parliaments: To subject both King and People, Laws and Liberties, together with His and his good Subjects Lives and Fortunes, and bring them into perpetual slavery and bondage to their Vast, Unlimited, Lawlesse, Arbitrary, Seditious, Jurisdiction, Tyranny, Power Government, (which would revive that Tragedy Mr. Hooker relates of the Anabaptists in Germany) and to destroy both Religion and Liberty, King and People; over which they designed to make themselves perpetual Dictators: And that their Armies were raised purposely to effect all these Designes: (all which we now find effected, and fully accomplished by the treachery of the Army and those now acting) The timely prevention whereof, the King and his Party professed▪ was the only end and Design of taking up Arms against them, for the preservation of Religion, Laws, Liberties, Monarchy, and prevention of this fore-seen Anarchy, Tyranny, and Confusion, now brought upon us by our new pretended Governors (through perjury, treachery, and violence) against the Votes and Remonstrances of both houses, who particularly Renounced and Protested against them; And whereof the Westminster Conclave in the 16. and 17. pages of their late Declaration of September last (ordered to be read in Churches) do sufficiently acquit both Houses, and those who adhered to them only out of honest and public Intention; as Designes of their own, not revealed till of late, the timely discovery whereof would have deterred all from attempting or adhering to the chief Contrivers of them. Now our subscription to this new Oath and Engagement, will post factum, make both ourselves, the late Houses, and all their adherents apparently guilty of all these traiterous horrid Designes (to which they were no wales privy nor assenting, but ever abjured in their Protestation, Vow, Solemn League and Covenant, and abhominated from their souls) and thereby not only verify but justify the Declarations and Proceedings of the King in every particular, as most Just, Necessary and Honorable for the public Liberty and Safety; but likewise canonize (as it were) him with all his slain and suffering Party, as Martyrs for the Kingdoms and Peoples Safety, and the Public Liberty; (for which they lost their lives and estates; as all Prescribers and Subscribers of this Oath and Engagement must now necessarily acknowledge, and all the World will conclude against them) and brand ourselves, our Brethren of Scotland and all those who have lost their lives, limbs and estates in opposition or wars against them, with both the late Houses, for notorious Rebells, Traitors, Conspirators, Murderers; on whose Heads and Souls the guilt of all the precious blood shed in our late and present Wars, both in England, Ireland and Scotland, must now be translated from the King and his Party (on whom we have formerly charged it) and justly rest for the future, to their eternal infamy, condemnation, ruin. Which unavoidable consequence of our submission and subscription to this Oath and Engagement, with the horrers of Conscience, and divine Judgments that must necessarily seize upon us, when under the guilt of so much Treachery and Blood shed, is sufficient of it self alone to deter us from the least assent thereto, and to engage our utmost power against them, without any other arguments; 'specially if compared with the Loyall and Heroicall resolutions and engagements of our Ancestors in the Parliament at Lincoln. An. 28. E. 1. (Recorded in Walsingham Hist. Angliae. p. 49. to 56. Cooks 2. Instit. p. 97. 98.) 20. H. 3. ch. 9. 40. E. 3. rot. Parl. n. 8. Cooks 4. Instit. p. 13. 14. The notable Statute of 16. R. 3. c. 5. of Praemunire. 11. H. 7. c. 18. 19. H. 7. c. 1. 25. H. 8. c. 22. 35. H. 8. c. 1. 1. Mariae. Parl. 2. ch. 1. 1. Eliz. c. 1. 3. 5. Eliz c. 1. 23. Eliz. c. 1. 2. 1. Jacobi ch. 1. 2. 3. Jac. ch. 1. 2. 4. 5. & 7. Jac. ch. 6. which all perjured Judges, Sergeants and Lawyers ( • ho have dishonored their professions by their late subscriptions, and exceeded Judge Thorpe, Tresilian and his companions, and the Ship-Money Judges, in their Perjuries and Treasons against King, Kingdom, Lord's, People, Laws, Liberties, which they have basely and wickedly betrayed, against their Science and Conscience) may do well to chew the cudde upon and on Mr. St. Johns Speech at the Impeachment of the Judges concerning Ship-Money, and Argument at Law at Straffords Attainder (enough to hang and damn them all twenty times over, with all other Imposers and Subscribers of this Treasonable Engagement ) do well to-head other Straffords whose crimes were not half so treasonable and abhominable as the enforcing or subscribing of this Oath and Engagement, by the meet pretended Authority of those, who never had the least legal power to administer any old lawful Oath, in any case, when a full free and lawful Commons House; much less to make and impose a new treasonable and illegal Oath of Allegiance to themselves (who are obliged by no such reciprocal Oath to preserve our Laws, Liberties and free Customs, as our Kings always were) upon all the Nation, against the Laws and Statutes of the Realm, and above thirty legal Oaths yet in force, which sundry Officers are obliged to take before they may or ought to execute their respective Offices.
Tenthly, The Scripture is express, that Monarchical Government is God's own special Ordinance, Deut. 17. 14 15. and Prov. 8. 15. 16. Rom. 13. 1. 2. That the enjoyment of Kings and Kingly Government is a great honor, happiness and benefit to a Nation and a special blessing promised and given to them by God himself, Gen. 17 6. 16. Jer. 17. 25 c. 22. 4 2. Chron. 9. 8. Ez • ch. 16. 13. And can it then be a misery and Judgment to us? that is a most severe Judgment of God, and the cause of many miseries, oppressions, disorders and destruction to a Nation or Kingdom, to be without a King, by the Scriptures and God's own Resolution. Judge. 17. 6. c. 18. 1. c. 19. 1. c. 21. 25. Hosea 1. 4 c. 3. 4 5. c. 10 3. Jer 22. 3. to 13. Hosea 13. 11. 12. Mich. 4. 9. 10. Am • s 1. 13. 14 15. Zech. 9. 5. And can it be then any • appinest and no judgment unto us to be without a King? That Kings have been the greatest Reformers and Promoters of God's Worship and Religion and suppressors of Idolatry under the Law (is the Books of Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Ester, Nehemiah, Daniel the Psalms, Proverbs testify) and are specially prophesied and promised to be the chief Patriots, Fathers, Promoters, Propagators and Reformers of Religion, God's Church and Worship under the Gospel, in sundry texts, as Psal. 62. 29. Ps. 72. 10. 11. Ps. 112. 15. Ps. 138. 4. 5. Ps. 148. 11. Isaiah 41. 2. c. 45. 1. 2. 5. c. 49. 7. 23. c. 52. 15. c. 60. 3. 10. 11. c. 62 2. Rev. 11. 15. c. 21. 24. which Histories witness to be experimentally verified, and more especially in our Island (according to that Prophecio Psal. 72. 10. relating unto Islands ) which had the fifth Christian King Lucius, and first most renowned Christian Emperor, Constantine the Great, borne and Crowned in it; and many pious, devout and religious Princes since, of ancient and later times, by whose bonnty, care, zeal; religion and learning were advanced, continued and propagated amongst us, and are now likely to expire with our Monarchy, for want of protection, maintenance, encouragement, and punishment of Atheism, Heresy, Blasphemy and Profaneness • , and defrauding Ministers both of their Tythes and promised augmentations, eating them out with taxes, & turning them out of their Livings and livelihood, by arbitrary Committees against Law and Justice, upon the bare suggestions of every malicious Sectary, or Tythe-declaiming prosecutor. Upon which grounds Christians under the Gosp • ll are in th • first place enjoined to make prayers, intercessions and thanks-givings for Kings that under them they may live a peaceable life in all Godliness and Honesty: FOR THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABL IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR (therefore to abolish Kings is sinful and displeasing in his fight, and contrary to his reavealed will) 1. Tim. 2. 1. 2. To submis to Kings as unto the Supreme, and honor them for the Lord's sake; for so it is the will of God. 1. Pet. 13. 14▪ 15. 17. To be subject to Principalities and Powers. Tit. 3. 1. Rom. 13. 1. which Scriptures must be raised out of the Bible as Apocriphall, if we will extirpate Kings and Monarchy out of the Realm and Christian World, as some now endeavor: the attempting whereof must needs be an high affront to Christ himself, which robs him of one of his most glorious Gospel Titles, King of Kings, and Lord of Lord's. 1 Tim. 6 15. Rev. 17. 14. c. 19 16. Ad to this, that the Scripture relates it a great honor and prosperity to a Nation to become a Kingdom. Ezech. 16. 13. and a great judgment, misery, and dishonor to be un-Kingdomed, or made a base, or no Kingdom. Jer. 16. 7 9. c. 22. 4 5 6. &c. Ezech. 29. 14. 15. Dan. 11 9. Hosea 1 4 Dan. 2. 44. That the Church of Christ, the Gospel, and Heaven it self are always and very frequently styled a Kingdom never a Stat • or Republic (in contradiction to a Kingdom) throughout the Old and New-Testament. That the highest honor Christ hath purchased for us with his most precious blood is▪ to make us Kings to God his Father: to admit us into his Kingdom of Grace here, and of Glory hereafter, where we shall reign as Kings forever. Rev. 1. 5. 6. c. 5. 10 Lu. 1. 13. 1. Thess. 2. 12. 2. Tim. 4. 18. And that the Kingdoms only (not States and Republ • q ••• ) of the Earth are Prophecied and Promised to become the Kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Christ. Ps. 8. 31. 32 Rev. 1. 15. Obad. 21. upon all which considerations, we can never subscribe to the extirpation of our Kingly Government, or translating our ancientest Kingdom into the puniest Republiqu • in the World for fear we lose God's protect on of and interest, reign, presence by his Ordinances in our Kingdom, and be forever excluded ou • of his Kingdoms of Grace, Glory, and from reigning as Kings in either of them, which the prescribers and subscribers of this Oath and Engagement (who usurp upon God's special prerogative to dispose of the Kingdoms of the Earth at his own pleasure. Da. 4 32. 17. Je. 18 6. 7. 9.) against so many Oaths, Covenants, Reasons, Scriptures, have cause to fear and expect.
Eleventhly, We are persuaded in our consciences, that the change of our rightful King into many new self created States, our Kingdom into a Common-Wealth, and ancien • Parliaments of King, Lord's and Commons into a new Representative of Commons alone without King or Lord's, the principal Design of this new Oath and Engagement, against so many Oaths, Laws, and Engagements of former & later times inviolably to preserve them with our lives, estates, & last drop of our bloods, and that by the far lesser part of the Kingdom and House of Commons, against the wills and Protestations of the Major part who are most concerned therein, and without hearing their reasons and objections to the contrary, or convincing them of the necessity or conveniency thereof by a free hearing and debate thereof, in a full and free Parliament specially convened for that purpose; is not only a most unjust, illegal and tyrannical act, contrary to the Laws of God, Nature and the Realm, a great scandal to our Religion, and injury and dishonor to our whole English Nation, not to be presidented in any age, especially by so great pretenders to public Liberty; but likewise an undertaking of such dangerous consequence, as none endowed with right Reason, the fear of God, or any real love to their Country, durst once for to attempt, as is clear to us by these particulars.
1. It will involve us in perpetual Wars and troubles so long as there are any of the blood Royal who have title to the Crown, or any of the Nobility endowed with any sparks of honor left alive; who will never desist from attempting the recovery of their lost Rights and Privileges.
2. It will sever the united Kingdoms of Scotland and Ireland from, and engage them and all the Kings foreign friends and Allies against us; and necessitate us to mainta • n a perpetual Army and Garrisons by Land, and Navy by Sea; which will undo us, with Contribution, Excise, Free-Quarter; expose us to perpetual Murthers, Robbery, Outrages, Tumults, Opp • ssions, Discontents; Decrease and Decay all Trading, and end in our absolute Slaverie, Miserie, Ruin.
3. It will necessiate our new Governors, after the sale of the Kings and Deans and Chapters Lands, to help ease the People (for a time only) and support their Army and Navy, to seize and sell the Lands of all Corporations, Companies, Colleges, Hospitals, Schools, and Rectories of Churches in the Kingdom (a thing already projected by some) and to find out some device or other to make new Delinquen • s of purpose to Sequester and Confiscate their Estates, till the whole Kingdom be Sequestred & made Malignants to help pay the Soldiers: one feared Design of this new Oath and Engagement against those who out of grounds of conscience, Law and solid prudence, refuse to subscribe it,
4. It will dissolve all our ancient Leagues with foreign Kingdoms and States, made only with our King and Kingdom, and by the Law of Nations give them advantage and occasion to seize our Ships, Merchants, Merchandize without breach of League, in the behalf of the King and those who stand for the Kingdoms continuance, with whom only the Leagues were made and stand firm against others who oppose them.
5. It will lose our Interest, honor and reputation in and withal other Kingdoms or States, who will refuse to own or treat with us a State, thus forcibly and treasonably erected; on else treat with us, as the puniest and meanest State in the World, whose Agents and public Ministers must give place to those of all Kings, Princes and other States whatsoever which are ancientes then it, ever by the [u] Law of Nations and resolution of all Heranlds; which the generosity of the English Nation (the anci • ntst and first Christian Kingdom in the Christian World claiming proceedency of all other Kingdoms in General Councils add Assemblies heretofore) will hardly brook.
6. It will null, dissolve and extinguish all the Corporations, Tenures, ancient Customs, Rents, Services, Courts of Justice, ancient Seals, Processe, Writs, Legal Proceedings, Charters, Liberties, Customs, Forfeitures unpon penal Laws, Titles of Honou • that are either hereditary or during life, and currant Coynes of the Kingdom; which being derived only the Kings and ancient Parliaments of England for them, their Heirs and Successors, or reserved to them, their Heirs and Successors, and none others, and bearing their stamp and image on them; must all fall, expire and vanish together with them, as the House falls all to pieces when the foundation is subverted; the Rivers quite fail when the springs from whence they flow, the effects cease when the cause is destroyed, and the deriva • ives expire and vanish quite away when the primitives are abolished: And what confusions and mischiefs will ensue, let the World judge.
7. If we shall once give way that our Kings, Kingdom, Peers, and Parliaments; settled, established, secured and fenced with so long Prescriptions, Laws, Oaths, Covenants, Engagements and Securities of all sorts that human wisdom can invent, shall be thus overturned, destroyed, dissipated, annihilated in a moment, at the wills and lusts of our present Usurpers, against all their Solemn Oaths, Covenants and Protestations not to do it; we cannot but imagine, conceive and believe, that every particular persons estate, goods, life, liberties and enjoyments in the Kingdom not half so well estalibshed and fenced as they, can be secure or exempt from their violence▪ & rapine but subject to their lawless wills, courts, acts, seizures & disposals, to deprive us of them at their pleasures; which will render us the miserablest & slavishest People under Heaven, instead of a free Republic; of which the late illegal proceedings in martial arbitrary Courts and Committees against the beheaded King, Lord's and others, with their late imposed arbitrary Taxes, Excises, Acts for new Treasons, and this very Oath and Engagement give us undeniable experiments.
Upon which, and sundry other weighty considerations, we are pere • ptorily resolved, by the grace and assistance of our Omnipotent God, rather to endure ten thousand S • questrations, Imprisonments, Deaths; then to betray our King, Kingdoms, Parliaments, Laws, Liberties, Religion, all our earthly comforts, wound our Consciences, damnour immortal Souls by our submission or subscription to this irreligious, fl • gitious, pernicous, scandalous, illegal, irrational, unconscionable, treasonable New Oath and Engagement; and adhere to the death constantly and sincerely to our former Oaths▪ Covenants and Engagements, which they diametrically oppose, maugre any humans powers or forces whatsoever.
To close up all we heartily wish all perjured Prescribers of this New Oath and Engagement (especially apostate Assemblymen, D • vines and Lawyers, who contrary to their former Oaths, Covenants, Protestations and Subscriptions ) have subscribed this new Oath, Conscienciously and sadly to consider and peruse: Levite. 19. 12. Psal. 15. 1 2. 4. Josh. 9. 18. 19. 20. 2 Sam. 21. 1. & 1 King. 1 29. 30. c. 2. 42. 43 46. 2 Chron. 13. 5. 6 & Neh. 5 12. 13. Ier. 34. 8 to 20. Ezech. 17. 11. to 22. Zech. 5. 1. to 5. Mal. 3 5 Rom. 1▪ 28. 31. 32. 2 Tim▪ 3. 1. to 6. Dr. Beards Theatre or God Judgments L. 1. c. 27. 28. of Perjurers divine punishments (especially the example of Rodulph. p. 174. with another of that nature p. 176. and the example of that perj • red Usu • per of the Cr • w • e, against his Oath, King Hera • ld Math. West. An. 1066. p. 430. 438. with the sad Sto •••• of Archbishop C •• nm • rs tortu •• s of Conscience, and Mr. Bilneys for subscribing against their Consciences to save their Lives, in Mr. Fox his Mon • ments: And then they will either with Peter, after he had abju • ed his Lord and Master with an oath, go forth and •• ee • bitterly, if they have any sparks of Grace or hopes of Salvasion remaining in them; or else with tr •• cherous Judas, who betrayed his Lord and Master to gratify the High-Priests, go out despairing, and hang themselves to avoid the shame of the World, and anguish of their tormenting Consciences.
A Quaere touching an English Monarchy, and a Low-Country Free-State; which of them is the Freest, and most to be desired.
An English Monarchy,
Is a most Honorable free Government by an hereditary King according to the Laws of the Kingdoms, supplied only (without any standing Army, Garrisons, Free-Quarter, Excise, or Monethly Contributions, by a bare Ordinance of a few Commons) with a Subsidy or two, in divers years, freely granted by the Laity and Clergy in full Parliament by distinct Acts of Parliament.
A Low-Country Free-State,
Is an Ignoble Servitude under the Militarie Command of many self-Created new States, erected and supported by the mere Power of a standing Army, constant Garrisons, Citadels, accompanied with perpetual Monethly Contributions, Taxes, Excises and Free-Quarter imposed on the Clergy & Laity by these new States alone, without common consent or Act of Parliament, and augmented and disposed of at their own Will and Pleasures.