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 Sonne, feare 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 ruine of them both.

PRINTED in the yeere 1649.

Summary Reasons against the New Oath and Engagement.

YOƲ shall Sweare, [or] I Declare and Promise, That I will bee True and Faithfull to the Common-wealth of England, as the same is now Established WITHOUT KING OR HOUSE OF LORDS.

FIRST, This Oath and Engagement is imposed by those who, by the Lawes of God and the Realme, had never any Power (admit them a full and free House of Commons, under no Force, as they are not) to Ad­minister, much lesse to Make or Impose any Oath in any Case. Cookes 3. Institut. p. 165. and lesse 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 hee lost his head: Canterburies Doome p. 26. 40. though not so bad as this.

Secondly, It is contrary to all the antient Oathes of our Judg­es, Justices of Peace, Mayors, Sheriffs, Recorders, Clearkes of Chancery and other courts of Justice: To the Oathes of Fealty and Homage, made by all the Kings Tenants: The antient and late Oathes of Supremacy and Allegiance; the Vow and Prote­station; the solemne League and Covenant, and Engagement of the whole Kingdome to the King, his Heires Successours, and Posteritie for ever, to defend their undoubted Right to the Crowne with the last drop of their Bloods, conteined in the Sta­tutes of 1. Jacobi cap. 1. 2. and involves the Makers and Takers thereof, in manifold execrable perjuries; to the scandall of our [Page 2] Religion, Levit. 19. 12. Nation, [a] Dishonour and high Displeasure of God, and just damnation of their Soules. Deut. 5. 11.

Thirdly, Jer. 5. 2. c 7 9. It is a new Gunpowder-Treason, blowing up the King and his Posteritie, Ezech. 17. 12. to 20. Zech. 5. 3. 4. Mal. 3. 5. Monarchy, the House of Lords, the Constitution and Priviledges of our English Parliaments, our ancient fundamentall Government, Math. 5. 34. Lawes, Liberties, and our three Kingdomes at one crack; Rom. 1. 31 32. 2. Tim. 3. 3. 4. the very same and farre worse then that of the Jesuites and Papists, condemned by the Statutes of 3. Jacobi cap. 1. 2. 4. executing farre more then what they in­tended, and quite deleting the Infamy and memory of that, and all future celebration of that joyfull day of November 5. never to bee forgotten.

Fourthly, It disseiseth, disinheriteth, fore-judgeth the King of his 1. Jac c 1. 2 4. 3. Jacobi. 1. 2. Rightfull Crowne and Revenues, the House of Lords of their Peerage, Priviledges, and A Plea for the Lords. 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 legall Processe, to heare what they can say for themselves, and without any lawfull Judgement of their Peers according to the Lawe of the Land, contrary to the expresse 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 Votes of Octob. 11. 22. 1649. 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 Lawe of the Land, without any hearing or Tryall; the extremitie of Tyranny and Injustice; transcending that of King, Prelates, Starre-Chamber or High-Commis­sion.

Fiftly, It inevitably involves the Makers, Takers and Subscri­bers thereof in manifold High -Treasons against King, Kingdome, Parliament, for some of which only in a farre 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 Cookes 3. Institutes cap. 1. 2. to the forfeiture of their Lives, Estates, Soules; yea, Infamy and Ruine of their Families.

[Page 3] Sixtly, It enjoynes us to bee True and Faithfull to the new Common-wealth of England (the Generall Councell of Officers of the Army; the new created Councell of State, and their West­minster Conclave of Journey-men) as it is now Established WITHOUT KING OR LORDS (without consent of Kingdome, People or Parliament) by force of Armes, Treachery, Perjury, that is, to assist and defend them with our Lives, Councells, Estates, and to submit to all their (illegall) Acts and Taxes (to the losse of Lives, Liberties, Properties against the Kings or Lords just Titles; and our owne Lawes, Liberties, Byrth-Rights; which to doe, is not only contrary to Lawe (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 hee owes to our Soveraigne Lord the King, and that only where there is a legall Tenure betweene them, as Sir Edward Cooke Resolves, 1. Institutes f. 64. 65. 67. 68.) but no lesse 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 Faithfull neither to King, Lords, Parliament, Kingdome or People, to exact or expect from any others.

Seventhly, It most ingratefully and unworthily obliterates the memoriall of all the good Lawes, Liberties, Franchises, Prote­ction, Benefits, Deliverances wee have received, and the Peace, Prosperity, Freedome and Happinesse, Wee and our Ancestors have enjoyed under the Reignes of most Generous, Valorous, Bountifull, Pious, Religious Kings and Queenes (especially our late renowned King, Edward the sixt, Queene Elizabeth, King James, and a great part of King Charles his Reigne, which the Parliaments in their Reigns in 15 H 8 c. 12. & all Acts of the Subsi [...]ies granted by the Laity or Clergy in their reignes sundry Acts, our own & forreigne Historians and Writers have so highly magnified and blessed God for; and our very last Parliament remembred and thankfully acknowledged in some of their Exact. Collection [...] p. 14. 15. 16. [...]96. Remonstrances, of which we need no other testimony but our Exact Col­lection. p 712▪ 713. 714. Kings & Co­ronation Oath; in extirpating Kings and Monarchy for ever after, for some confessed extravagancies and Errors of the beheaded King, not halfe so grievous, oppressive, unjust or impious, as those themselves are guilty of, especially in Repealing as much as [Page 4] in them lies the Oathes of Supremacy and Allegiance, and the so­lemne League and Covenant (the principall 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 Oathes, and forcing it against mens Consciences, to make them willfully perjured Psal 15. 1. [...] Rom 1 31 32 and damne their Soules.

Eightly; The maine end of this Oath is to extinguish, irradi­cate our English Monarchy and Kingship; though the Psal 22. 11 Psal. 47 2. 7. Psal. 29 10. Government of God himselfe over the whole World, and of our Psal. 1 6 Isay 9. 7 Luke 1 33. Saviour Jesus Christ over his Church, who have the Titles of Psal. 10. 16 Psal. 47 2. Psal 89 18. Ps 48 2 Ps 95 3. Ps. 149. 2. Ps 33 17 20 1. Tim. 1 17. King of Kings, &c. so frequently given them in Scripture, though the Seldius ti­tles of honor part. 1. c. 1. 2. 3. first, antientest, universallest, honourablest, freeest, Acknow­ledged by Mr. Pym. himselfe and the house of Commons Canterburie's doome p. 29 Exact Colle­ctions p. 696. best, happiest, safest, peaceablest, durablest Government of all others in the World; as the Scripture, Histories, Politi­tians 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 Oathes, Lawes, Vowes, Acts, Records and Fences of all sorts that Piety or Policy could invent, that Impiety, Impudence and Treachery it selfe might justly feare to invade it; and honoured with such signall preservations and deliverances, in the Persons of Querne Elizabeth and King James, specified in our Annals, and 1 Jac. c. 1. 2 3. Jacobi c. 1. 2. 4. some Acts of Parliament, as might daunt all Traytors from attempting its subversion; and all to introduce a Lowe-Country Government, under as many Kings and Tyrants, as there are new Lords, Officers, Souldiers, supported by a nume­rous standing Army, and constant Garrisons in all Counties; which must bee maintained at the Kingdomes and Peoples charge by a Perpetuall Excise so Exact Col­lection. p. 6. much declamed against in the King, who did only once secretly attempt, (but not impose it) great arbitrary Monthly Contributions, renued and augmented at our new Governours meere pleasures (who both impose, receive [Page 5] and dispose thereof as they please) and levy it by meere force of Armes (reputed Treason in Mr. St. Jonns Argu­ment at Law. Strafford's Case, and a le­vying Warre against the King and Kingdome) and that accom­panied with the undoing pest of Condem­ned in the Pe­tion of Right 3. Caroli. 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 rationall men must expect, being supportable only by a per­petuall Army, Garrisons, Excise, Contributions, &c. as the Low-Countries are) to justle out our ancientest Monarchy in the World, under which wee were freed from all Armies, Garrisons, Excise, Contributions, Free-Quarter, and feares of Forraigne Invasions, which now affright us, granting only a Subsidy or two in devers yeares, only by Acts of Parliament, to which all consented (wherein the Commons never presumed to Tax the Lords and Clergy at their pleasure, as they now unjustly doe, without their own free consents) amounting not to one Moneths Excise and Contribution in many yeares; 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 Exact Col­lection p. 262. 282 284 to 289. 297. 298. 500. 514. 517. 521. 522. 526. 528. 530 531. 534 550 551. 554 558. 561. 562. A Col­lection, &c. p. 177 worthy our serious con­sideration. Declarations and Remonstrances against the proceedings of the late Houses of Parliament; wherein Hee 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 Kingdome, so admirably framed and con­tinued by the blessing of God and the wisedome of our Ancestors to the wonder and envy of all the Neigbouring Kingdomes. To turne the well founded Monarchy into a Democarcy: To ruine Mo­narchy it selfe and Regall Power, never before strucken at, To De­pose, Murther, and Destory both Himselfe and His Royall Poste­rity, and Dissolve His Government and Authority. To alter and subvert the ancient Frame, Constitution, and Government of Church, State, Parliament, and Fundamentall Lawes, Liberties of the Kingdome and People▪ To destroy the house of Lords▪ and the Pri­viledges, [Page 6] Rights and Freedome of our Parliaments: To subject both King and People, Lawes and Liberties, together with His and his good Subjects Lives and Fortunes, and bring them into perpe­tuall slavery and bondage to their Vast, Ʋnlimited, 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 perpetuall Dictators: And that their Armies were raised pur­posely to effect all these Designes: (all which wee now finde 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 Designe of taking up Armes against them, for the preservation of Religion, Lawes, Liberties, Monarchy, and prevention of this fore-seene Anarchy, Tyranny, and Confusion, now brought upon us by our new pretended Gover­nours (through perjury, treachery, and violence) against the Votes and Remonstrances of both houses, who particularly Exact Col­lection. p. 695. 696 657 658 A Collection, &c. p. 420. to 428 698 699. 700. 877, 878. 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 bee read in Churches) doe sufficiently acquit both Houses, and those who adhered to them only out of honest and publique Intention; as Designes of their owne, not revealed till of late, the timely discovery whereof would have deterred all from attempting or adhering to the chiefe Contrivers of them. Now our subscription to this new Oath and Engagement, will post fa­ctum, make both our selves, the late Houses, and all their adhe­rents apparently guilty of all these trayterous horrid Designes (to which they were no wales privie nor assenting, but ever abjured in their Protestation, Vow, Solemne League and Covenant, and abhominated from their soules) and thereby not only verifie but justifie the Declarations and Proceedings of the King in e­very particular, as most Just, Necessary and Honourable for the publique Liberty and Safety; but likewise canonize (as it were) him with all his slaine and suffering Party, as Martyrs for the Kingdomes and Peoples Safety, and the Publique Liberty; (for which they lost their lives and estates; as all Prescribers and Subscribers of this Oath and Engagement must now necessarily [Page 9] acknowledge, and all the World will conclude against them) and brand our selves, our Bretheren of Scotland and all those who have lost their lives, limbs and estates in opposition or warres against them, with both the late Houses, for notorious Rebells, Traytors, Conspirators, Murtherers; on whose Heads and Soules the guilt of all the precious blood shed in our late and present Warres, both in England, Ireland and Scotland, must now bee translated from the King and his Party (on whom wee have formerly charged it) and justly rest for the future, to their eternall infamy, condemnation, ruine. Which unavoyda­ble consequence of our submission and subscription to this Oath and Engagement, with the horrers of Conscience, and divine Judgements that must necessarily seize upon us, when under the guilt of so much Treachery and Blood shed, is sufficient of it selfe alone to deterre 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 Lincolne. An. 28. E. 1. (Recorded in Walsingham Hist. Angliae. p. 49. to 56. Cookes 2. Instit. p. 97. 98.) 20. H. 3. ch. 9. 40. E. 3. rot. Parl. n. 8. Cookes 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 disho­noured 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, Kingdome, Lords, People, Lawes, Liberties, which they have basely and wickedly betrayed, against their Science and Con­science) may doe 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 damne them all twenty times over, with all other Imposers and Subscribers of this Treasonable Engagement) doe well to-head other Straffords whose crimes were not halfe so treasonable and abhominable as the enforcing or subscribing [Page 10] of this Oath and Engagement, by the meete pretended Autho­rity of those, who never had the least legall power to admini­ster any old lawfull Oath, in any case, when a full free and lawfull Commons House; much lesse to make and impose a new treasonable and illegall Oath of Allegiance to themselves (who are oblieged by no such reciprocall Oath to preserve our Lawes, Liberties and free Customes, as our Kings alwaies were) upon all the Nation, against the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme, and above thirty legall Oathes yet in force, which sundry Officers are oblieged to take before they may or ought to execute their respective Offices.

Tenthly, The Scripture is expresse, that Monarchicall Govern­ment is Gods owne speciall 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 honour, happinesse and benefit to a Nation and a speciall blessing promised and given to them by God himselfe, Gen. 17 6. 16. Jer. 17. 25 c. 22. 4 2. Chron. 9. 8. Ez [...]ch. 16. 13. And can it then bee a miserie and Judgment to us? that is a most severe Judgement of God, and the cause of many miseries, oppressions, disorders and destruction to a Na­tion or Kingdome, to bee without a King, by the Scriptures and Gods owne Resolution. Judg. 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 bee then any [...]appinest and no judgement unto us to bee without a King? That Kings have beene the greatest Reformers and Promoters of Gods Worship and Religion and suppressors of Idolatry under the Law (is the Bookes of Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Ester, Nehemiah, Daniel the Psalmes, Proverbs testify) and are specially prophecied and promised to bee the chiefe Patri­ots, Fathers, Promoters, Propagators and Reformers of Religion, Gods Church and Worship under the Gospell, in sundry texts, as Psal. 62. 29. Ps. 72. 10. 11. Ps. 112. 15. Ps. 138. 4. 5. Ps. 148. 11. Isay 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 witnesse to bee expe­rimentally verified, and more especialy in our Island (according to that Prophecio Psal. 72. 10. relating unto Islands) which had the fift Christian King Math. West. An 185. 307. Speed, God­win, Spelman, Usher, De Ec­cles. Brit. Pri­mordi [...]s. Lucius, and first most renouned [Page 11] 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, zeale; 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 Atheisme, Heresy, Blasphemy and Prophaneness [...], 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 enjoyned to make prayers, intercessions and thanks-givings for Kings that under them they may live a peaceable life in all Godlinesse and Honesty: FOR THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABL IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR (therefore to abolish Kings is sinfull 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 honour them for the Lords sake; for so it is the will of God. 1. Pet. 13. 14▪ 15. 17. To bee subject to Principalities and Powers. Tit. 3. 1. Rom. 13. 1. which Scriptures must bee raised out of the Bible as Apocriphall, if wee will extirpate Kings and Mo­narchy out of the Realme and Christian World, as some now endeavour: the attempting whereof must needes bee an high affront to Christ himselfe, which robs him of one of his most glorious Gospell Titles, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. 1 Tim. 6 15. Rev. 17. 14. c. 19 16. Ad to this, that the Scripture relates it a great honour and prosperity to a Nation to become a Kingdom. Ezech. 16. 13. and a great judgement, misery, and dishonour to bee 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 Gospell, and Heaven it selfe are alwaies and Psal. 145. 11. 13▪ Isay 9 7 Dan. 4 35. c. 6. 27. Math. 3. 2. c. 5 7. 19 c. 12. 18 c 21. 43. c. 25. 34. c. 26. 25. u. 3. 33. c. 10 11 1. Cor. 6. 9. Col. 1. 13. 1. Tim. 4 1. 18 [...]. 2. 5. 2. Pe. 1 11. Rav. 12. 10. very frequently stiled a Kingdom never a Stat [...] or Republique (in contradiction to a Kingdome) throughout the Old and New-Testament. That the highest honour Christ hath purchased for us with his most precious blood is▪ to make us Kings to God his Father: to admit us into his Kingdome of [Page 12] Grace here, and of Glory hereafter, where we shall reigne as Kings for ever. Rev. 1. 5. 6. c. 5. 10 Lu. 1. 13. 1. Thess. 2. 12. 2. Tim. 4. 18. And that the Kingdomes 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 Kingdome into the puniest Republiqu [...] in the World for feare wee lose Gods protect on of and interest, reigne, pre­sence by his Ordinances in our Kingdome, and be for ever ex­cluded ou [...] of his Kingdomes of Grace, Glory, and from reigning as Kings in either of them, which the prescribers and subscri­bers of this Oath and Engagement (who usurpe upon Gods spe­ciall prerogative to dispose of the Kingdomes 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 feare and expect.

Eleventhly, Wee are perswaded in our consciences, that the change of our rightfull King into many new selfe created States, our Kingdome into a Common-Wealth, and ancien [...] Parlia­ments of King, Lords and Commons into a new Representative of Commons alone without King or Lords, the principall De­signe of this new Oath and Engagement, against so many Oaths, Lawes, 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 Kingdome 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 necessitie 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, illegall and tyrannicall act, contrary to the Lawes of God, Nature and the Realme, a great scandall to our Religion, and injury and dishonour to our whol English Nation, not to be presidented in any age, especially by so great pretenders to publique Liberty; but likewise an under­taking of such dangerous consequence, as none endowed with right Reason, the feare of God, or any reall love to their Coun­try, durst once for to attempt, as is clear to us by these particulars.

[Page 13] 1. It will involve us in perpetuall Warres and troubles so long as there are any of the blood Royall who have title to the Crowne, or any of the Nobility endowed with any sparkes of honour left alive; who will never desist from attempting the recovery of their lost Rights and Priviledges.

2. It will sever the united Kingdoms of Scotland and Ireland from, and engage them and all the Kings forraigne friends and Allyes against us; and necessitate us to mainta [...]n a perpetuall Army and Garrisons by Land, and Navy by Sea; which will undoe us, with Contribution, Excise, Free-Quarter; expose us to perpetuall Murthers, Robberie, Outrages, Tumults, Opp [...]s­sions, Discontents; Decrease and Decay all Trading, and end in our absolute Slaverie, Miserie, Ruine.

3. It will necessiate our new Governours, after the sale of the Kings and Deanes 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, Col­ledges, Hospitalls, Schooles, and Rectories of Churches in the Kingdome (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 Kingdome be Sequestred & made Malignants to help pay the Soldiers: one feared Designe 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 forraigne Kingdomes and States, made only with our King and King­dome, and by the Law of Nations give them advantage and oc­casion to seize our Ships, Merchants, Merchandize without breach of League, in the behalfe of the King and those who stand for the Kingdomes continuance, with whom only the Leagues were made and stand firme against others who oppose them.

5. It will lose our Interest, honour and reputation in and withall other Kingdomes or States, who will refuse to owne 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 publique Ministers must give place to those of all Kings, Princes and other States whatsoever [Page 14] which are ancientes then it, ever by the [u] Law of Nations and resolution of all Heranlds; Cassanae­ [...] Catalogue gloriae Mundi Hist of the C [...]w [...]ll of Trent. which the generosity of the English Nation (the anci [...]ntst and first Christian Kingdome in the Christian World Seld [...]ns Titles of Hen. part. 2. ch. 11. claiming proceedency of all other Kingdomes in Generall Councells add Assemblies heretofore) will hardly brooke.

6. It will null, dissolve and extinguish all the Corporations, Tenures, ancient Customes, Rents, Services, Courts of Justice, ancient Seales, Processe, Writs, Legall Proceedings, Charters, Liberties, Customes, Forfeitures unpon penall Lawes, Titles of Honou [...] that are either hereditary or during life, and currant Coynes of the Kingdome; which being derived only the Kings and ancient Parliaments of England for them, their Heires and Successors, or reserved to them, their Heires 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 faile 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 mischiefes will ensue, let the World judge.

7. If wee shall once give way that our Kings, Kingdome, Peers, and Parliaments; setled, established, secured and fenced with so long Prescriptions, Lawes, Oathes, Covenants, Engage­ments and Securities of all sorts that humane wisdome can in­vent, shall be thus overturned, destroyed, dissipated, annihila­ted in a moment, at the wills and lusts of our present Usurpers, against all their Solemne Oaths, Covenants and Protestations not to doe it; wee cannot but imagine, conceive and believe, that every particular persons estate, goods, life, liberties and en­joyments in the Kingdome not halfe so well estalibshed and fen­ced as they, can be secure or exempt from their violence▪ & rapine but subject to their lawlesse 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 Republick; of which the late illegall proceedings in martiall arbitrary Courts and Committees against the beheaded King, Lords and others, with their late imposed arbitrary Ta­xes, [Page 15] 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, Kingdomes, Parliaments, Lawes, Liberties, Religion, all our earthly com­forts, wound our Consciences, damnour immortall Souls by our submission or subscription to this irreligious, fl [...]gitious, pernic­ous, scandalous, illegall, irrationall, unconscionable, treasona­ble New Oath and Engagement; and adhere to the death con­stantly and sincerely to our former Oathes▪ Covenants and En­gagements, which they diametrically oppose, maugre any hu­mans powers or forces whatsoever.

To close up all wee heartily wish all perjured Prescribers of this New Oath and Engagement (especially apostate Assembly­men, D [...]vines and Lawyers, who contrary to their former Oathes, Covenants, Protestations and Subscriptions) have sub­scribed this new Oath, Conscienciously and sadly to consider and peruse: Levit. 19. 12. Psal. 15. 1 2. 4. Iosh. 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 Judgements 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 eyther with Peter, after he had abju [...]ed his Lord and Master with an oath, goe forth and [...]ee [...] bitterly, if they have any sparkes of Grace or hopes of Salvasion remaining in them; or else with tr [...]cherous Iudas, who betrayed his Lord and Master to grati­fie the High-Priests, goe 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 bee desired.

An English Monarchie,

Is a most Honorable free Government by an hereditary King ac­cording to the Lawes of the Kingdoms, supplyed 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 yeares, 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 selfe-Created new States, erected and supported by the meere Power of a standing Army, constant Garrisons, Citadels, accompanied with perpetuall 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 owne Will and Pleasures.

‘Utrum horum mavis, accipe.’
FINIS.

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